Reincarnated in trash of the count family

14: "A little adventure. A new ancient power? And a new ally." Adrian's POV.

The moon hung high in the night sky, casting a silvery glow over the ancient forest. Adrian Nightshade stood at the edge of the clearing, his keen eyes scanning the dark treeline. The air was thick with anticipation, the silence only broken by the distant howl of his dire wolf, Raven.

Adrian took a deep breath, feeling the cool night air fill his lungs. The encounter with Venion Stan still lingered in his mind, but tonight, he needed to clear his head and gather his thoughts. Cale and Choi Han were safe back at the tavern, planning their next move. Adrian, however, felt the pull of the forest and the need for a solitary journey.

Turning to Raven, who stood loyally by his side, Adrian patted the wolf's massive head. "Ready for a little adventure, Raven?"

The dire wolf let out a low growl, his eyes glinting in the moonlight. With a nod, Adrian started into the forest, Raven following closely. The trees seemed to whisper secrets as they moved deeper into the woods, the path ahead lit only by the moon and stars.

As they walked, Adrian's mind wandered to the map he had been studying. There was an ancient ruin marked not far from their current location, rumored to hold artifacts of great power. It was a perfect opportunity to test his skills and maybe even find something useful for their upcoming battle.

After a while, they reached a clearing where the ruins stood, half-hidden by overgrown vines and moss. Adrian approached cautiously, his senses heightened. "Stay alert, Raven," he whispered, knowing the ruins could be guarded by creatures or traps.

The night was silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves. Adrian's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword as he stepped into the ruins. The air was cool, and the stone walls seemed to hum with ancient energy. He felt a thrill of excitement and curiosity, wondering what secrets these ruins might hold.

Suddenly, Raven growled softly, ears perked. Adrian froze, listening. From the shadows, a faint glow emerged, illuminating a hidden chamber. He moved towards it, feeling a strange pull. Inside, a pedestal stood, holding an intricately carved amulet that seemed to pulse with light.

Adrian approached the pedestal, feeling a surge of energy as he reached for the amulet. "This might be exactly what we need," he murmured, carefully lifting the artifact. The moment he touched it, a wave of power coursed through him, and he knew this discovery was significant. He named it the **Amulet of Aetherium**, feeling its ancient energy resonate within him.

As he was about to leave, a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness. Adrian's instincts kicked in, and he began to run, gripping the Amulet of Aetherium tightly. None of this was ever mentioned in the novel, he told himself, feeling the adrenaline course through his veins. He sprinted through the ruins, Raven close at his side, until they stumbled upon an ancient chasm, illuminated by the moonlight.

The chasm was breathtaking, its beauty rivaling the moonlight that shone bright inside it. It was there, amidst the ancient stones and the ethereal glow, that Adrian discovered the unknown ancient power, Mythos Sculpting. However, it was guarded by a malevolent shadow, a dark entity that seemed to absorb the light around it.

Adrian knew he had to confront this shadow to gain the ancient power. As he approached, the shadow writhed and twisted, forming into a monstrous shape with glowing red eyes. It lunged at him, and Adrian barely had time to dodge.

"Raven, stay back!" Adrian shouted, drawing his sword. The shadow was fast, but Adrian was faster. He focused his mind, recalling the techniques from the two fighting books he had absorbed using his shop in his system.

The battle was intense, the shadow striking with dark tendrils that Adrian parried with his blade. He realized he couldn't defeat it with brute force alone. Remembering the Amulet of Aetherium, he quickly wrapped it around the handle of his sword, feeling its power surge through the weapon.