The map of the multiverse glowed brightly before the group as Aeloria continued her explanation. The five corrupted dimensions each had a Nexus Stone that needed to be cleansed. Only by purifying all five stones could the Ascendants hope to weaken the Watcher and protect their own world from destruction.
Jinwoo, Hyeri, Donghyuk, and their new ally, Gorath, stood in awe of the sheer scale of their task. The paths to the five dimensions twisted and shimmered like threads of light, each one representing an entirely different world filled with unknown dangers.
Aeloria pointed to the closest dimension, a world that pulsed with a sickly green glow on the map. "The first dimension you must visit is called Verdus. It was once a lush, verdant world, rich with life and nature's magic. However, the Watcher has corrupted its Nexus Stone, turning the natural magic of the world into something twisted and poisonous."
Hyeri frowned, leaning closer to examine the image. "So Verdus is... like a nature world? But now it's toxic?"
"Precisely," Aeloria replied. "The corruption there is spreading rapidly, infecting both the land and the people. The creatures of Verdus have mutated, becoming hostile and dangerous. You must find the Nexus Stone hidden deep within its forests and cleanse it. But be warned—Verdus's protectors have been twisted by the Watcher's influence. They will not let you pass easily."
Jinwoo tightened his grip on his sword, feeling the weight of responsibility settle over him. "We don't have time to waste, then. The longer we wait, the more the corruption will spread."
Donghyuk cracked his knuckles, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. "Sounds like my kind of place. Let's go give those corrupted monsters a good beatdown."
Hyeri smiled at his enthusiasm, though her own worries were clear in her eyes. "Just be careful, alright? If the natural magic there is corrupted, we don't know what kind of abilities those creatures will have."
Gorath, standing quietly at the edge of the group, finally spoke up. "I know the cost of giving in to the Watcher's power. I won't let another world fall to it. I'll fight by your side until Verdus is free."
Jinwoo gave him a nod of gratitude. "We're in this together, Gorath. Let's save this world."
Aeloria extended her hand, and the map of the multiverse shifted, zooming in on the dimension of Verdus. A portal formed in the air before them, swirling with green and gold energy. The path to Verdus was open.
"Step through the portal, and you will enter Verdus," Aeloria said, her voice calm but firm. "Once you arrive, you must seek out the Heart of Verdus, where the Nexus Stone is hidden. Be prepared for the worst—the Watcher's corruption has a strong grip on this world."
Jinwoo glanced at his friends, his resolve hardening. "Let's go."
One by one, they stepped through the portal, the swirling green energy enveloping them. As the light faded, they found themselves standing in a new world—Verdus.
The first thing Jinwoo noticed was the overwhelming scent of rot. The air was thick and humid, and the once-beautiful forests of Verdus had been twisted into a nightmarish landscape. Trees that had once been tall and majestic were now gnarled and blackened, their leaves withered and falling in clumps. The ground beneath their feet squelched with each step, the earth tainted by the corruption that had spread across the land.
Hyeri covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes wide with shock. "This... this is horrible."
Donghyuk looked around, his face grim. "Yikes. If this is what it looks like on the surface, I don't even want to know what's deeper in the forest."
Jinwoo took a cautious step forward, scanning the area for any signs of movement. "We need to stay alert. The creatures here have been corrupted, and they'll probably attack on sight."
Gorath, his massive form towering over the others, drew his blade, his eyes focused and ready. "I'll take the lead. My strength will be useful if we're ambushed."
As they ventured deeper into the forest, the full extent of the corruption became more apparent. The once-lush flora had mutated, with vines that dripped with toxic sludge and flowers that emitted a foul, poisonous odor. Strange, twisted creatures roamed the forest—creatures that had once been peaceful but now snarled and hissed at the mere sight of the intruders.
It wasn't long before the group encountered their first real threat.
A low growl rumbled through the trees, and before they could react, a massive creature lunged at them from the shadows. It looked like a wolf, but its fur was matted with dark, oozing slime, and its eyes glowed with an unnatural, sickly green light. Its jaws snapped dangerously close to Jinwoo's arm as he dodged back, drawing his sword.
"Watch out!" Jinwoo shouted, readying his blade. "It's been completely corrupted!"
Donghyuk leaped forward, fists crackling with energy. "Perfect! I've been itching for a fight!"
With a powerful punch, Donghyuk slammed his fist into the creature's side, sending it flying into a nearby tree. The corrupted wolf let out a pained howl but quickly recovered, its body twisting unnaturally as it prepared to strike again.
Before it could attack, Hyeri raised her hand, casting a brilliant beam of light magic that struck the creature square in the chest. The light seared through the corruption, and the wolf collapsed to the ground, dissolving into a pool of dark, tar-like sludge.
Hyeri lowered her hand, her expression somber. "Even the animals here are suffering... We need to stop this corruption as fast as we can."
Jinwoo nodded. "The Nexus Stone is the key. The longer we take, the more damage this world will suffer."
Gorath scanned the surroundings, his hand resting on his sword hilt. "The Heart of Verdus lies at the center of the forest. That's where the corruption will be strongest—and where we'll find the Nexus Stone."
The group continued deeper into the forest, each step bringing them closer to the source of the corruption. The further they went, the more twisted the landscape became. The trees grew thicker and darker, their branches curling like claws, and the creatures they encountered were more aggressive, their bodies bloated and distorted by the Watcher's influence.
As they neared the center of the forest, the oppressive weight of the corruption grew heavier. Even the air itself seemed to fight against them, thick with the foul stench of decay. But the group pressed on, their resolve unshaken.
Finally, after what felt like hours of trekking through the nightmare forest, they reached a clearing. In the center of the clearing stood a massive, ancient tree—its trunk blackened and oozing with dark energy. At its base, nestled in the roots, was a large stone, glowing with a malevolent green light.
"The Nexus Stone," Jinwoo whispered, his eyes narrowing. "It's completely corrupted."
Before they could make a move, the ground beneath their feet trembled, and a deep, guttural roar echoed through the forest. From the shadows emerged a massive creature—a twisted amalgamation of plant and beast, its body pulsating with dark energy. Its eyes glowed with the same sickly green light as the Nexus Stone, and its very presence radiated corruption.
Hyeri's eyes widened in horror. "That's... that's the protector of Verdus. It's been completely consumed by the Watcher's power."
Jinwoo tightened his grip on his sword, his heart pounding in his chest. "We have to take it down. If we don't, there's no way we can purify the Nexus Stone."
Donghyuk grinned, already charging forward. "Alright! Time for the main event!"
Gorath drew his blade, standing beside Jinwoo. "I'll hold its attention. You focus on the Nexus Stone."
As the massive creature charged toward them, Jinwoo and his friends prepared for their toughest battle yet. The fate of Verdus—and the first step in their quest to stop the Watcher—hung in the balance.
End of Chapter 16