The Red Wolfgang guild hadn't planned on taking any more quests after their last expedition, a grueling two-week venture in the Mistgrove Hills, had left them weary and itching for downtime. But then came the letter from Valewood Village, inked with worry and desperation. It spoke of Crisanto Forest—of strange fogs that clung to the trees and dense clouds of twisted mana rolling over the woods like a storm. And the locals? They whispered of madness, of animals turning on one another, of plants wilting into rot in hours. Some even murmured of seeing ghostly eyes watching from the depths, though the forest was silent and still as death.
Rowan Lyall, the leader of the Red Wolfgang, hadn't hesitated. He'd read the letter, gathered his guild, and they had set off toward Valewood by nightfall, their curiosity and thirst for adventure far outweighing their exhaustion. And now, here they were, standing at the edge of Crisanto Forest, where the vibrant trees and golden flowers were half-swallowed by an unnatural fog so thick it looked like a wall, shrouding the woods in ominous silence.
Rowan adjusted his worn, leather armor, his spiky red hair bright even in the gray light. "Alright, team," he said, his tone a mix of command and reassurance. "The town thinks a basilisk might be roaming around these forests, causing the wildlife to act up."
Alys, his spear-wielding right-hand and relentless skeptic, snorted from her place near the edge of the trees. Her long, pink braid swung as she planted her spear into the soft earth, raising an eyebrow at Rowan. "Boss, seriously? A basilisk in these backwater woods? I bet they saw a snake and decided it was one. There is no way a mythical-ranked monster lives in these forests."
Rowan gave her a sidelong look but let her comment slide. Alys was always quick to doubt—and equally quick to put herself in the line of fire for her team. "Maybe," he replied, eyes scanning the dense fog ahead. "But the fog's been here for a week, and it's laced with mana. That's not normal, not even for a place like Crisanto Forest."
Oliver, the guild's young archer, fidgeted beside his twin sister, Erin, who served as the team's magic caster and healer. "Is it… is it safe to breathe that stuff?" he asked, wide-eyed as he adjusted his quiver.
Erin placed a reassuring hand on her brother's shoulder, though her brow furrowed in concern. "The mana feels twisted. It's faint but… I sense miasma. It's not much, but." She gave Rowan a steady look. "We should be careful. Miasma, no matter how small it is, that's altering mana like this is unpredictable."
Rowan nodded, glancing over the team to make sure they were prepared. Kalum, their thief, a quiet man with an unassuming demeanor, was nearly invisible in his dark gear. He was standing at the edge of the fog, his crow familiar, Sidian, perched on his shoulder, feathers ruffled as it scanned the shadowy trees.
"Everyone ready?" Rowan asked, voice low. A murmur of agreement rippled through the group, and with a nod, he turned toward the forest. "Let's move. Keep close, and stay alert."
They stepped into the fog, and immediately, the light dimmed. The dense mist clung to their skin, thick and damp, muffling their footsteps. The trees around them loomed tall and silent, draped in curtains of fog, and the golden flowers for which the forest was known peeked through the mist like eyes in the gloom, their glow muted under the heavy cloud.
Rowan led them forward, each step cautious, his hand on the hilt of his sword. He could feel the strange energy in the air, prickling along his skin, an almost electric charge that hummed through the fog. It wasn't long before they realized that the village's tales hadn't been exaggerations. The forest was… wrong. There was no birdsong, no rustle of small animals; even the trees seemed dead, their branches hanging limp as though drained of life.
After a few minutes, Rowan raised a hand, halting the group. "Kalum, can you scout ahead? We need to know what's causing this."
Kalum nodded, already slipping silently from the group, melting into the shadows with practiced ease. The thick fog clung to him as he moved forward, swirling around his boots like some sentient, watchful presence. This mist was strange—an unnatural purplish hue deepened as he ventured further from the others, its color vivid yet muted, shifting with eerie tendrils that seemed to pulse as if they had a heartbeat of their own. It wasn't just fog; it was dense, oily, carrying a faint, acrid smell that made his nostrils flare with unease.
Above him, Sidian took flight, the crow's black feathers disappearing into the violet fog, his caws soft but constant, a quiet anchor to Kalum's presence below. He moved carefully, stepping lightly, each motion calculated to avoid snapping a twig or crunching dried leaves beneath his boots. The forest was silent, unnaturally so, not a single rustling of small creatures in the underbrush or chirp of birds in the trees. It was as though every living thing had been warned away, leaving him alone with the strange fog that cloaked everything in mystery.
Kalum crouched low as he neared a tree with deep claw marks slashed across its bark, dark and jagged. The grooves were raw, as if some large creature had carved them recently. Sap oozed from the tree's wounds, glistening in the low light, and Kalum reached out a hand, brushing his fingers against the gouges. They were deep, wide—far too large for any typical forest predator.
As he pressed forward, he began to notice a faint sizzling sound, quiet but growing louder with each step. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the ground, searching for the source of the sound. He saw it then, scattered across the forest floor in irregular pools—dark green, thick, and bubbling slightly as they ate away at the earth beneath them.
Acid drool.
The pools were fresh, still shimmering with a faint heat, the acid hissing as it dissolved leaves, small stones, even bits of bark that had fallen into it. The air around the pools was sharp, laced with an acrid scent that burned his throat as he inhaled, forcing him to stifle a cough. Whatever had left this behind was close, and it was large—large enough to have left several pools in its wake, the acidic saliva indicating a creature of significant size and power.
Kalum moved carefully around the pools, his gaze darting to the shadows, alert for any sign of movement. The claw marks and acid drool were disturbing enough, but it was the fog that unsettled him most. It felt alive, pressing in around him, almost thick enough to cut. Even the patches of golden flowers, the forest's usual beauty, seemed muted and sickly, their color drained beneath the purplish haze. He could feel a faint, twisted mana pulsing within it, brushing against his own like the cold hand of something dead.
Sidian, circling overhead, gave a soft, urgent caw, a warning Kalum knew well. The crow's feathers ruffled in agitation as it hovered in the fog, unwilling to venture further. Sidian sensed it too—the darkness that lay just beyond Kalum's vision, lurking in the depths of the mist.
Kalum lowered himself to the ground, feeling his pulse quicken as he took stock of the scene. There were fresh gouges in another tree just ahead, leading toward what looked like a wide clearing bathed in an even denser patch of fog. He noted the deep prints in the earth, enormous and clawed, partially obscured by the mist but unmistakable in their size. It was almost as if something had rested here, leaving an impression on the forest floor—and those clawed feet were unlike anything he'd seen before.
Kalum's breath slowed as he studied the claw marks more closely, noting the faint traces of purplish mist that clung to them, as if they radiated a residual mana. Whatever creature this was, it was saturated with power, its very presence leaving a mark on the land. A massive serpent-like tail had dragged through the soil, the faint trail curving deeper into the trees, leaving the same strange, acidic residue.
The fog around him shifted, thickening in response to his proximity, and Kalum realized with a chill that the creature might be aware of him, lurking just out of sight. He took a step back, wary, every instinct telling him to retreat before the basilisk—or whatever it was—caught him in its line of sight. He had seen enough.
Turning, he activated his [Shadow Step] ability, slipping silently into the shadows. The world around him darkened further as he moved swiftly from one pool of shade to the next, his body and footsteps swallowed by the darkness he manipulated, leaving only faint traces of disturbed mist in his wake. He moved like a ghost, his breath shallow, as he retraced his steps, guided by the distant calls of Sidian, who had flown back to the guild's position.
When Kalum finally returned, stepping out of the shadows to rejoin his team, his face was drawn and serious, the warning plain in his eyes.
"There's something else here," he whispered, his voice barely audible but carrying a weight that made everyone fall silent. "I found large pools of acid drool. Fresh. Whatever made them is huge… much bigger than a basilisk."
Rowan's expression hardened, and the rest of the team exchanged nervous glances, all of them feeling the weight of Kalum's words.
Alys muttered under her breath, turning her spear in her hands. "If it's a basilisk, I'll eat my spear. This is too creepy even for a snake."
Rowan's jaw clenched. "An alpha basilisk?" he asked, voice tense.
Kalum shook his head. "I don't think so. The claw marks are huge. This isn't just a basilisk. It's… something older."
A shiver ran through the group, and Oliver swallowed hard, eyes darting around the fog as if expecting something to lunge from the shadows. "Great," he muttered. "Just what we need."
Rowan gave the young archer a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Stay sharp. Erin, anything else you can sense?"
Erin closed her eyes, reaching out with her mana. Her face paled, and she opened her eyes with a look of dread. "There's a core of twisted mana deeper in the forest. It feels like… like it's alive."
Alys glanced at her, brows raised. "Twisted mana? Like… cursed?"
Erin nodded, her voice a whisper. "Or something worse."
Rowan steeled himself, adjusting his grip on his sword. "Alright, let's move carefully. Stay together, and don't look directly at anything you don't recognize. This thing is dangerous."
The group moved forward as one, their pace slower, weapons at the ready, eyes darting through the fog. The deeper they ventured, the thicker the mist became, swirling around them, almost sentient in its intensity. They came upon a clearing, where a large pool of acid drool bubbled in the center, a viscous green that reflected the faint light with an ominous glow. Deep claw marks gouged the surrounding trees, leaving trails of blackened, decayed bark.
Rowan took a step back, his instincts screaming danger. "This isn't normal. Whatever's here… it's been here a long time, hiding."
As they examined the scene, a low, rumbling growl echoed through the mist, vibrating through their bones. The sound was so deep it seemed to come from the earth itself. Rowan turned, sword raised, his eyes scanning the fog. The others fell into formation, eyes wide, breaths shallow.
Then, out of the mist, a hulking figure emerged. It was covered in scales, thick and ridged, dripping with acid that sizzled as it hit the ground. The creature's eyes glowed an eerie yellow, unblinking and ancient, filled with a malevolent intelligence. It was larger than any basilisk they'd ever seen, its body coiled and tense, watching them as if waiting for their next move.
Rowan's voice was a hiss. "We need a plan. Alys, keep it distracted. Oliver, find a clear shot. Kalum, get behind it if you can, and Erin, keep that barrier up."
The basilisk lunged, faster than they could react, its maw opening in a hiss that sprayed acidic saliva across the clearing. Alys leapt to the side, her spear slashing at its thick scales, while Oliver scrambled into a nearby tree, drawing his bow and aiming for its eyes.
Kalum vanished into the shadows, his movements quick and silent as he slipped around the creature, searching for a weak spot. Erin, her face drawn in concentration, murmured an incantation, a soft blue barrier shimmering around her guildmates as she channeled her mana.
The creature reared back, hissing in frustration as Alys's spear found a gap in its scales, but it wasn't enough to deter it. With a furious roar, it turned, its tail swinging like a battering ram. Rowan dove out of the way, narrowly avoiding the acidic drool that splattered the ground.
Then Erin's voice broke through the chaos, urgent and strained. "There's another one coming. We need to move. Now!"
The guild didn't need to be told twice. With one last glance at the towering basilisk, its glowing yellow eyes narrowing with murderous intent, Rowan signaled for retreat. The Red Wolfgang guild bolted into the mist, hearts pounding and breaths ragged, the creature's furious growls echoing behind them like a dark promise. They raced through the fog, guided only by instinct and the faint glimmer of golden flowers that lined the path, the vibrant petals their only signpost in the swirling purplish haze.
Rowan led the group, his sword still drawn, glancing back to ensure everyone was keeping pace. But a sound behind them—a low, ominous rumble—sent a chill through his spine. He turned to see one of the basilisks, sleek and deadly, slithering after them, its massive form coiling through the mist with terrifying speed.
"It's following us!" Erin shouted, her voice wavering with fear. Her fingers fumbled as she prepared a barrier spell, but her magic was nearly depleted from the earlier skirmish.
Rowan cursed under his breath, eyes narrowing. "Keep running! Don't look back. If we reach the edge of the forest, it might lose interest."
Oliver's gaze darted to his twin sister, panic clear in his freckled face, but he forced himself to keep moving, his bow held tight in his shaking hands. Alys, running just ahead of him, gripped her spear so tightly her knuckles turned white, her usual bravado replaced by raw determination.
They pushed forward, the forest seeming to close in around them, the fog growing thicker with every step. The golden flowers, their last semblance of guidance, were fewer and farther between, barely visible in the dense mist. The basilisk's relentless pursuit echoed in the shadows, its scales scraping against branches and roots as it closed in, its growls turning into a low, hissing chuckle, as if sensing their desperation.
Then, as they neared what they hoped was the forest's edge, Rowan's heart sank.
The basilisk appeared ahead of them, blocking the path. Its massive, scaly form loomed over the guild, yellow eyes blazing with a cruel intelligence. It had cut them off, anticipating their route. They skidded to a halt, weapons drawn but breaths shallow, realizing with horror that they were trapped. Rowan stepped in front of his team, sword raised, the determination in his eyes clear.
"Together," he whispered, trying to muster courage. "We fight together."
The basilisk let out a chilling hiss, lowering its head and locking its gaze onto them, its eyes glowing with an unearthly light. The guild braced themselves, each member knowing they were facing a power far beyond their strength, yet refusing to back down.
But before they could raise their weapons, they felt an eerie stillness creeping over their bodies. Rowan's grip on his sword slackened, his fingers turning stiff and heavy. He tried to call out, to tell the others to look away, but his voice caught in his throat as his chest seized, his lungs locked in place.
"No… not like this…" Alys managed to gasp, but her voice faded as her skin began to pale, a stony texture crawling up her arms and across her face. Her last look was one of defiance, her eyes wide with disbelief as the petrification consumed her.
Oliver, in the middle of drawing an arrow, froze mid-motion, his young face twisted in terror as his body turned to stone. Beside him, Erin's hand was outstretched in a last, futile attempt to shield her twin, her lips parted in a half-spoken incantation before she, too, was locked in an eternal stance of desperation.
Kalum, who had been at the rear, felt the chill of the basilisk's gaze creeping up his spine, his senses screaming at him to run. The world slowed, and he glanced at his friends—Rowan, frozen in a final act of protection; Alys, defiant and unyielding; Oliver and Erin, their faces frozen in horror and sacrifice.
With a shuddering breath, Kalum did the only thing he could do. He slipped into the shadows, activating his [Shadow Travel] ability. The world around him darkened, and the fog and forest faded as he passed through the shadow realm, fleeing through the darkened pockets of the forest.
The basilisk's furious hiss echoed around him, but it couldn't follow him here. He moved from one patch of darkness to the next, his heart pounding as he slipped further and further away. He had to make it out, had to get back to the village, had to tell them what had happened to the others.
When he finally emerged from the shadows, he stumbled into the dim, pale light of dawn, his knees hitting the ground just beyond the town's gates. His strength was sapped, his mana reserves dangerously low. Villagers who had risen early for morning chores turned in shock, rushing to him as he collapsed, his vision blurring.
"Crisanto Forest…" he managed, voice choked with grief and exhaustion. "It's… it's worse than we thought."
He struggled to continue, his throat tight. "Rowan… Alys… Erin… they didn't make it…" His eyes closed as he struggled to breathe, forcing one last, desperate word.
"Basilisk."
And then, as darkness finally claimed him, Kalum fell unconscious, the townspeople around him gripped by the horror of his words and the knowledge that Crisanto Forest now held an even darker threat than they had ever imagined.