Despite the adventurers' constant patrols, the situation in the village remained tense. The unsettling aura of corruption still clung to the air, a constant reminder of the looming threat. The villagers knew true relief would only come once the source was destroyed.
The plan was to explore the cave – the suspected origin point – in three days. However, a day earlier than anticipated, a pillar of black light erupted from the earth, a beacon of darkness rising towards the sky.
The adventurers, alerted to the ominous phenomenon, gathered in front of Gorn's house.
"It's coming from the direction of the cave," Kael announced, his brow furrowed with concern. "We'll have to go there and put an end to this."
Borin and Aella nodded in agreement. Gorn, his expression grim, concurred. And William, despite the obvious danger, felt a surge of determination. He needed to push himself, to face challenges head-on if he wanted to grow stronger.
Gorn, as the one financing the adventurers and a formidable warrior in his own right, naturally assumed leadership. He commanded the respect of the group.
"Let's head there," he declared, his voice ringing with authority. "Today, this situation ends!" He turned towards the house. "Elara, Maya, stay inside and keep everything locked," he instructed. "William will be coming with me this time."
"What?" everyone exclaimed in unison.
Elara and Maya were shocked. In their eyes, William was still too inexperienced to face such a threat. The adventurers, too, were taken aback.
"Are you sure?" Aella questioned, her voice laced with worry. "This will be dangerous, and he's just a young, untested Acolyte."
Gorn, a man of his word, wouldn't go back on his promise to William. "Yes, I'm sure," he stated firmly. "Let's go."
They sped through the forest, their pace brisk. William struggled to keep up; the adventurers and Gorn were undeniably powerful, their strides eating up the terrain with ease. But he pushed himself, his agility, his greatest strength, propelling him forward. He refused to fall behind.
Soon, they arrived at the source of the ominous pillar of black energy. As they had suspected, it emanated from within the cave, its entrance shrouded in an unnatural darkness.
"This is the place," Kael said, his voice low and serious, "the source of the energy corrupting the magical creatures. We need to proceed with caution."
"Indeed," Borin added, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "With this much energy pouring out, if a creature has been corrupted here, it will be incredibly powerful."
They advanced slowly into the cave, weapons at the ready. Kael notched an arrow in his bow, Aella clutched her wooden staff, and Borin hefted his greatsword. Gorn and William mirrored his stance, swords drawn, their senses alert for any sign of danger.
It was nighttime, and William realized this area was where he had materialized after being teleported by Elric's magic. He remembered it vividly because of the wolf attack and Gorn's timely rescue. Of course, it wasn't the exact same spot, and he had no recollection of the cave itself, but the familiarity of the surroundings offered a strange sense of déjà vu.
Aella, a mage specializing in long-range magic, conjured an orb of light, illuminating the cavern with an ethereal glow.
'Incredible!' William thought, impressed. It was like a floating torch, providing illumination without occupying either of her hands. Aella summoned several more, expertly directing them to reveal hidden corners and crevices.
"It's eerily quiet," Gorn commented, his voice echoing in the cavern. "But we need to reach the end. The source of the dark energy must be there."
Everyone agreed. William felt a knot of anxiety tighten in his stomach, his heart pounding, and a thin sheen of sweat forming on his brow. Gorn, noticing his apprehension, placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Relax, lad. I'm here to protect you."
His words calmed William somewhat, but he remained vigilant. Thankfully, no beasts attacked them on their journey deeper into the cave. And then, they reached the end.
What they found there was completely unexpected. A lone man stood before an altar, clad in leather garments, resembling a hunter from the surrounding woods. He grasped a sword plunged into the stone, a blade as black as obsidian, radiating the malevolent energy that had plagued the village.
The hunter, startled by their arrival, erupted in manic laughter. "You're too late!" he cackled. "I will be the one to claim this treasure! This power will be mine!"
He wrenched the sword free, and the pillar of dark energy surged into his body. Black veins spider-webbed across his skin as his mana spiked dramatically. It was a different kind of mana, chaotic and sinister.
"Damn it," Gorn cursed, his eyes narrowing. "That's a demonic artifact. Prepare for battle! This man is about to become a serious threat!"
A dark aura crackled around the hunter's transformed body, his former weakness replaced by an ominous power. The black veins pulsed with an alien energy, and his eyes burned with malevolent intent.
William's mind reeled. 'A demonic artifact? This is bad! This wasn't part of the plan!' He knew little about such artifacts, but the name alone spoke volumes.
The hunter, now a vessel for demonic power, swung the obsidian sword in a horizontal arc. A crescent of dark energy materialized, hurtling towards William and the others.
Evasion was impossible. But Aella reacted with impressive speed, conjuring a shimmering blue barrier just in time. The dark energy slammed against it, the contrasting colors painting the cavern in an eerie light.
"I can't hold this for long if he attacks like that again!" Aella shouted, her voice strained with effort. "Please, attack!"
Kael was the first to strike. With practiced precision, he etched runes onto his arrow, imbuing it with an icy aura. Then, with a smooth draw and release, he loosed the projectile.
The force behind the arrow was incredible. It struck the hunter squarely in the chest, the impact echoing through the cavern. For a fleeting moment, hope surged through the group. The attack had landed cleanly, and the wound appeared grievous. But then, the hunter simply ripped the arrow from his chest, the injury closing with unnatural speed.
A chilling laughter echoed through the cavern. "You will all die here today!" he roared, his voice infused with demonic power.