The sun was setting behind the towering mountain, casting long shadows across the valley below. Squad 16, a specialized unit sent to investigate the mysterious devastation in Perey, was nearing the end of their fourth day of scouting.
The captain, a seasoned warrior named Garron, led his small group of men through the narrow paths winding up the western mountain. Their mission was clear: search for survivors, uncover the source of the devastation, and report back any anomalies.
The group, comprised of Garron, two soldiers, and a healer, was well-equipped for mountain terrain. They had combed through the forests and rocky slopes for hours but found little more than scorched earth. Just when Garron thought they would be forced to return empty-handed, one of the soldiers called out from up ahead.
"Captain! Over here!"
Garron hurried to the soldier's side. They stood on a small outcrop of rock, gazing down at the carcass of a massive magical beast lying in a clearing below. The creature had been dead for days. Its enormous body was twisted in unnatural ways, and it looked as though it had fallen from a great height.
Garron motioned to his men. "Secure the area," he ordered, his voice low and commanding. The soldiers moved swiftly, forming a perimeter around the clearing, their weapons drawn, eyes scanning the dense forest for any signs of danger.
The healer, a young man named Brin, approached the carcass. He knelt beside the body and extended his arm, his hand hovering over the creature's chest. Small white mana particles began to emit from his fingers, forming a delicate glow that spread across the beast's form.
Brin closed his eyes, focusing as he sent his mana into the body of the dead creature. His mana probed each part of the beast's massive body, searching for any remaining traces of life or magical energy.
Several minutes passed in silence, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the wind and the distant calls of birds. Brin's brow furrowed as he concentrated harder. His mana continued to flow into the beast, but something was wrong—something he couldn't quite place.
After what felt like an eternity, Brin stood, his face pale. "Captain," he began, his voice unsteady, "the beast… it's completely devoid of mana. Whatever attacked the townsfolk… killed this thing too."
Garron's expression hardened as he processed the healer's words. It was unheard of for a magical beast to die in such a way. All living creatures, especially magical ones, possessed a certain amount of innate mana, even in death. To have it completely drained suggested something alien is at work.
"Are you sure?" Garron asked, his voice low.
Brin nodded solemnly. "Yes, sir. There's no mana left in its body. It's as if something siphoned it all away."
The captain didn't hesitate. He reached into his satchel and pulled out a small wooden device, about the size of his hand. It was roughly carved, but intricately engraved with runes that glowed faintly in the dimming light.
Garron pressed the device against the nearest tree and activated it, channeling his mana into the carved runes. As his mana flowed into the device, the runes brightened, and a faint hum filled the air.
Garron spoke clearly into the device, his voice calm despite the grim discovery. "Squad 16 reporting. We found a magical beast's body devoid of mana. Awaiting further orders."
The device absorbed Garron's mana and transferred it into the tree, sending the energy down through the roots. The mana traveled through the forest, from tree to tree, until it reached a large device powered by two mages stationed at the base of the mountain.
The mages carefully monitored the communication system. The device converted the mana into sound waves, and Garron's message echoed in the chamber where the commander overseeing the investigation was stationed.
After a brief pause, the commander's voice came back through the device. "Understood, Squad 16. Proceed with caution. If possible, capture the creature responsible. If not, kill it and bring back the body. Report any further findings."
The mana followed the same path back through the trees, and the device in Garron's hand hummed once more, relaying the message. Garron took a deep breath and turned to his men, his expression grim.
"Orders from command," he began, gathering his unit around him. "We're to capture the creature responsible for the massacre if possible. If we can't, we kill it and bring the body back. From the evidence we've gathered so far, the creature has only one leg and is capable of jumping long distances."
The soldiers listened intently, their faces serious. They had all heard the rumors about what had happened in Perey, but this was the first confirmation that something more dangerous than just a raid was at play.
"Stay alert," Garron continued. "We don't know what we're dealing with, but whatever it is, it's dangerous. Keep your eyes open."
The unit responded with a firm "Yes, sir!" before spreading out to begin their search. Brin, the healer, took to the skies, hovering above the trees using a wind-based levitation spell. From his vantage point, he scanned the surrounding forest for any signs of movement, while the three soldiers below carefully picked their way through the thick underbrush.
One of the soldiers, a man named Ryn, moved cautiously through a dense patch of bushes. His sword was drawn, his eyes darting back and forth as he listened for any sound.
Suddenly, a faint rustling noise came from the bushes behind him. Ryn whirled around, his sword raised defensively, only to see a small reppit—a harmless rabbit-like creature with horns—emerge from the foliage.
Ryn exhaled in relief, lowering his sword. "Just a reppit," he muttered to himself, shaking his head. He turned to continue his search when something cold and wet latched onto his face. His eyes widened in horror as he clawed at the black substance that had suddenly appeared, trying to tear it off. But the more he struggled, the tighter the black goo clung to him, slowly dripping into his mouth, nose, and eyes.
Ryn's thrashing grew more frantic as the goo spread, cutting off his airways. He fell to the ground, gasping for breath, but it was too late. The goo continued to expand, enveloping his entire body in a black cocoon.
It began siphoning the mana from his body, absorbing every last particle of energy. Ryn's struggles weakened, his gasps for air becoming shallow, until finally, he went limp. The black goo pulsed as it fed on his mana, leaving nothing behind.