After coming from the priest's house, Alden took Mark, Ahmed, Amit and Diljeet to the Door of the Mysteries and told them that their next mission will be, to enter the door and there, they may ask anything related to their tasks or direction with the system and it will respond. But some of them need to be explored.
All the friends were ready, they were on the jeep and opened the Door of Mysteries and entered inside it. First, they saw a jungle and had no idea where they have to go. Mark immediately asked the system to tell them about the place where they have to go and their mission.
The system appeared and it was written that they have to move straight and reach the pond, there is a hotel named Hotel Crescent opposite to it, go there and stay and the rest of the mystery will reveal itself.
Mark did the same and found the hotel. They all parked their jeep and met the manager of the hotel. His name was Peter and he welcomed them openly. Mark asked him for two separate rooms with two beds each. The manager called his servant who came with keys, gave them to Mark and Diljeet and took their luggage to the rooms. Mark and Amit stayed in a room while Ahmed and Diljeet stayed in another room. All of them took shower and changed their dresses.
They all met in the dining room and had some tea with wafers and started discussing the mystery. They were so busy discussing that dinner time had arrived.
The kitchen staff of Hotel Crescent pulled out all the stops for their evening meal. The table was soon laden with a magnificent, steaming spread of deep-sea delicacies. A platter of crimson rock lobsters with their shells split open to reveal tender, snow-white meat glistening with melted garlic-herb butter stood at the center of it all. Accompanying them was a large iron skillet of plump, sizzling tiger prawns tossed in spicy sea-salt glaze, with fillets of perfectly seared sea bass garnished with wild citrus leaves that gave off an exotic fragrance. The dining room was thick with the scent of the ocean, and the four friends feasted heartily, the indulgent meal giving their party a minor rejuvenation buff.
Now, they were tired and went to their rooms to sleep.
In the middle of the night, Mark heard screaming noises, Amit also woke up and both started gossiping that, that could be the indication that something is fishy out there. There was a knock on their room, Ahmed and Diljeet also came to their room and asked them if they also heard the screaming noises.
The system appeared with the message:
[Notification: The spirit is walking in the midnight, keep safe and try to know what is its purpose.]
All four friends went to Peter and asked him what is the matter there? Peter hesitated and said that these are the voices of Jackals that resemble screaming and nothing to worry. Ahmed insisted the manager to tell them the truth. After hesitation, Peter told them the story of the evil spirit that wanders around at midnight and no one dares to go outside. He begged them that it is related to the reputation of the hotel and asked them not to tell other guests in the hotel upon which, Mark said, we have come here to solve the mystery of the wandering spirit. The system appears and tells them that they have found the clue and 100 coins as a bonus.
[NOTIFICATION: PARTY WALLET UPDATED]
+100 Silver Coins added. Total Party Balance: 100 Silver, 0 Gold.
The chime of the system interface briefly illuminated the dim, candle-lit lobby of the Hotel Crescent. Peter the manager trembled, his eyes darting toward the heavy oak front doors as another distant, blood-curdling wail cut through the midnight air.
"You do not understand," Peter whispered, his voice cracking as he gripped the edges of his wooden reception desk. "Many adventurers have claimed they could solve the mystery of the wandering spirit. They came back in very bad condition and checked out the next day. If the other guests realize what is out there in the fog, the Crescent will be ruined."
Mark adjusted the strap of his Goggles of the Tactician, the blue glowing lenses whirring softly as they scanned the environment. The interface overlay projected thin, glowing lines across the floorboards, highlighting faint cold-energy residue seeping in from beneath the entrance door.
"We aren't ordinary adventurers, Peter," Mark said calmly. He turned toward his party, his eyes tracking across their floating status bars.
[PARTY STATUS]
Mark (Lv. 6 Tactician / Vanguard) - HP: 160/160 | MP: 50/50
Ahmed (Lv. 8 Warrior) - HP: 240/240 | MP: 20/20
Amit (Lv. 6 Mage) - HP: 110/110 | MP: 140/140
Diljeet (Lv. 7 Rogue) - HP: 135/135 | MP: 40/40
The friends decided to go outside, despite the resistance shown by the manager.While they were all standing adjacent to each other and preparing themselves for the unknown. The system appeared and started showing the message:
[ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD DETECTED]
Spectral Miasma (Tier 1): Causes a 5% reduction to movement speed and a slow degeneration of mana (-1 MP per 30 seconds) while exposed to the open air.
"Drink your minor resistance potions now," Mark ordered the group, pulling a small vial of green liquid from his inventory and downing it. The others followed suit, their health and mana bars flashing green as the temporary buff nullified the miasma's passive drain.
The world outside was eerily quiet, save for the rhythmic, unsettling sound of water lapping against the banks of the pond across the road. The tactical jeep sat parked beneath a flickering oil lantern, its metallic frame covered in a thin layer of crystalline frost.
"Stay in a tight diamond formation," Mark instructed, drawing his Holy Vanguard Greatblade. The weapon gave off a faint, reassuring golden light that cut through the dense white mist for about five feet. "Ahmed, take point. Diljeet, watch our flanks from the mist line. Amit, stay in the center."
They moved down to the mud road nearer to the hotel. Every step felt heavy. The silence of the jungle surrounding the pond was unnatural; not a single insect or bird made a sound.
Suddenly, the air pressure dropped drastically.
HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
The agonizing shriek tore through the night air, far louder than it had sounded from inside their hotel rooms. The sound waves physically vibrated through the mud, causing ripples to spread across the dark surface of the pond.
[SAVING THROW REQUIRED: WILLPOWER / MORALE]
Mark: SUCCESS (Tactician Mind passive active)
Ahmed: SUCCESS
Amit: FAILED (Inflicted with status: [Dismay] - 10% Cast Speed reduction for 60 seconds)
Diljeet: SUCCESS
"Amit, hold your focus!" Mark barked, noticing the mage stumble slightly as his hands trembled. Mark immediately activated his leadership trait. "Tactical Rally!"
A warm, yellow pulse radiated from Mark's position, cleansing Amit's [Dismay] status effect and restoring his casting speed to normal.
"Thanks, man," Amit gasped, shaking his head. "That sound... it felt like iron needles piercing straight into my brain."
"Look at the water," Diljeet said from the left flank, pointing his dagger toward the center of the dark pond.
The mist over the pond began to swirl violently, drawing inward into a localized vortex. From the center of the black water, a figure slowly rose. It did not splash; it simply hovered a few inches above the surface. The entity wore the tattered, glowing remnants of a white dress that drifted in the wind like ash. Its face was completely obscured by long, tangled black hair, but two hollow, piercing white points of light gleamed where its eyes should have been.
Mark focused his gaze, triggering his Inspect skill through his tactical goggles.
[TARGET INFO]
Name: The Weeping Widow (Spectral / Undead Elite)
Level: ?? (Target level exceeds your Inspect threshold)
HP: ???/???
Attributes: High Magic Resistance, Immune to Physical Bleed, Vulnerable to Holy/Light Damage.
Current State: Searching / Angered
"We can't brute force this one," Mark analyzed out loud, his eyes scanning the combat metrics. "Her level is hidden, which means she's at least level 9 or 10. Ahmed, do not engage with basic physical attacks; they will phase right through her. Amit, prepare your highest-tier fire or light-based spell, but don't cast until I give the word."
Mark also realized that the entity was just screaming and started wandering here and there. He then realized that she is not about to harm them. Every spirit is not evil. It is trying to tell us something. Now we should leave the place and no one will try to attack her. Mark told them that they should move inside the hotel and that is exactly what they did. Went into their rooms and slept. They had already decided that the next day, they will investigate first, then conclude something.
ns216.73.217.123da2
and then Add to home screen.