The forest was showing signs of corruption the moment Mors and Zhihui walk in. The life that grew from the ground is now barren and empty. Its biomass consumes by the growing hive. Some trees have been cut down, and not even their roots remain. Only the empty spot serves as their home.
Dry blood pains the barren brown ground. Signs of how brutal the fight has been to the monsters of this forest. Not even the singing birds can be heard. An atmosphere of silence and death covers them both. Whatever this mind corruption thing is doing to the forest, if not stop, soon there will be no forest to worry about, and no monsters to harm.
But as any biologist will tell you, survival of the fittest. But when one has a species that tops the food chain, with no other competitor, no one to challenge their mortal throne, they will set their eyes forward. To new lands to conquer and dominate.
If this corruption becomes strong enough, its eyes will be set on the city right outside of its domain. Death will follow and more will feed its growing strength. Mors could see why this could be one of the causes of the downfall of Zhihui sect and clan.
An empire can fall by several things, but invasions and pillaging of its homeland. A crisis that requires money and people, will start the decline. But they can recover if they have the opportunity. The couple continues to walk, trying to find better clues on where the origin of the corruption is, and destroy it.
With soft steps, ready for war. The couple encounters a group of beasts, on top of their newly kill prey. The dead bodies of large ants lay beneath their four legs. These monsters have four long legs, and their feet with three toes.
Hanging from their backs, almost like wings are two extra limbs. Almost look like arms, but instead of hands at the end, long biological blades protrude from them. The blade is made from a material like bone, with countless sharp edges to cause massive bleeding on their targets.
No eyes or nose decorate their heads. But two long antennas, that twitch and shake the moment the couple see the group of monsters. A total of 8 monsters, all look at them. Their bodies, cover in thin green scales, turn towards them. Without warning and without rest. These creatures, their blades still coated with fresh blood. They run towards the couple at great speed.
Their legs move like a good oil machine, these creatures have perfect control of their bodies. That made them that much scarier. But as the battle commence, Mors could only say two words.
"Fucking Hell!"
Mors swings his sword around as he makes 50 spears appear from the ground. He makes them thrust toward the running monsters. Wanting to stop their mad dash. But to his surprise, these creatures are commanded to dodge the spears. Some jump over the spears, their jump distance and high almost not making sense with their small bodies. While others run around it to surround the couple.
As the spears disappear, two of the monsters landed in front of Mors. As they swing their blade arms towards his arm and legs. But Mors is not alone, as two earth pillars hit the creatures in the face. Stunning them for enough time, that Mors made two swords appear, swinging the two swords to cut the heads of the creatures off their bodies.
Their green blood forms an arc as their heads lay on the ground. Their bodies without control laying on the ground, painting the barren ground green.
"Thanks!-"
Mors said as he turns around, he makes two spears appear behind Zhihui as two more of the creatures get impaled and their blood paints the ground. Catching them mid-air, Mors was able to stop their jump before they landed on Zhihui. The spears pierce their chest, and as the spears disappear, the creatures spring back to life. As such a wound won't stop them.
Zhihui does not want to get surrounded, as the other four creatures jump toward them. Spin around, sending her QI to the wind current she created. Sharp winds surround the two of them, as the creatures clash against the spinning windshield. They are sent back by the force of the barrier.
Giving the two of them time to think and talk.
"Normal wounds won't stop them"
"Maybe cutting their heads will work, Mors I am about to stop the barrier, I need you to handle the front line and I will support you from the back."
"Leave it to me"
As Mors spoke, Zhihui stop supporting the barrier. But before the creatures can jump on them again, Mors grab her right arm and throws her over himself. To send her to the back and away from these creatures. She let herself be thrown, as this works perfectly for her.
As the creatures rush toward the lone Mors. Zhihui snaps her fingers. Using the friction and heat from it to send a lightning bolt to the wounded creatures. As a lighting cruel strike land on them. Cooking them up from the inside out. Their brains overheated and made them drop down to the ground with no movement.
"it's the brain! That it's their weak point!"
Mors screams as he turns to two of the creatures and swings his blade sideways, channeling all his QI into it, his mind only wanting to cut these creatures in half from a distance. His will is so strong that a small cut in the air happens. A small vacuum slash spread across the two running creatures. Cutting in half, their bodies send flying as their legs crash to the ground.
But as their legless bodies were about to hit the barren ground, yellow spears appear from it. Piercing their heads and ending their soulless life. But of course, there are two more creatures to deal with. As these creatures were about to land an attack on Mor's exposed back.
A sharp earth pillar appears and pierces their heads in a swift movement. Their life ended in a second, as Mors turns around to see Zhihui, on the ground with her hands pressed against the soil. Their first fight ended with no problem.
"Zhihui how much do you know about this corruption?"
"Well, I know that it's an old-world corruption, that it can make a large army of monsters. That their leader is a very powerful humanoid monster. But it's all second-hand information"
"I think I might know what this corruption is all about"
"Really? Then enlighten me"
"We can't destroy this with only us two, we need some meat shields"
"Wha-"
But before Zhihui could finish talking, the round of countless footsteps enters her ears. The marching of a monster horde was getting closer. As she turns around, she saw 50 or so monsters running toward her. Not monsters of this forest, but monsters like the 8 they just kill.
Following the small blade creatures, there are now worm-like things, with four arms, and open mouths. A shiny spike could be seen from the depths of their mouths. On top, flying above the small horde, are legless monsters. That consist of just a largemouth, four large wings, and four long arms with sharp claws.
As Mors sees this, he rushes toward her, taking out his spear as he swings it down with all his might. Channeling his QI across it, the blade hits the ground. A large explosion happens, as a large hole appears on the ground and across the horde. Killing a bunch of the running monsters.
But as the snake-like things got closer, they started to shoot their large spikes out of their mouths. Aiming at Mors and Zhihui. But with quick thinking, Zhihui stomps her feet on the ground and makes a large earth wall appear. To block the spike attacks.
But this does not stop the flying creatures as they fly over the wall and towards the couple.
"So, this is why we need meat shields!"
"Yea! But first, let's kill these abominations first!"
The couple said to each other, as they got ready for their second match. Neither was worried as they knew they could take this on. The only question is, how many more of these small hordes does the enemy have, and for how long they can hold