The village square was quiet as Idan and Raya returned, the faint glow of dawn on the horizon casting a soft light over the familiar streets. The knowledge of the corruption they'd found weighed heavily on both of them, a reminder that something dark lurked beneath the surface of Evo-Realm.
As they reached the village chief's house, Idan couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something far larger than a mere territorial shift of wildlife. The corrupted tree, the miasmic hound—it all pointed to an influence that was spreading, infecting the very land.
The chief stood waiting at his door, his gaze scanning their faces as they approached. "You return," he said, his voice gruff but curious. "What did you find?"
Idan and Raya exchanged a look before he spoke. "The source of the bears' aggression was tied to a corrupted tree. There was a creature guarding it—a Miasma Hound, something I haven't seen before. It took some effort, but we managed to cleanse the area. However…" He hesitated, searching for the right words. "The corruption felt… intentional, as if it had a purpose."
The chief's face hardened. "I feared as much." He folded his arms, his gaze dark and contemplative. "There are whispers in the old legends, tales of those who would twist the earth itself to their will, spreading miasma to consume all life. We thought them only stories." He paused, then motioned them inside, away from prying ears.
Once inside, the chief leaned close, his voice a low murmur. "There's an old temple hidden deep in the eastern woods, long abandoned. In its depths lies an artifact, one that was said to guard against dark forces." His gaze grew serious. "If this corruption is indeed intentional, that temple may hold the key to understanding it—and stopping it."
Idan's HUD blinked, confirming the new quest.
[New Quest: The Forgotten Temple]
Objective: Explore the temple in the eastern woods to uncover the source of the corruption.
Reward: Artifact Fragment (Unknown Effect), Increased Reputation with Lyndon Village
Idan glanced at Raya, who gave a resolute nod. She shared his determination to see this through. They gathered their supplies, checked their equipment, and prepared to set out. The forest felt denser as they moved eastward, its shadows deeper, the atmosphere tinged with an uneasy stillness.
As they walked, Idan noted the change in the surroundings. The vibrant greens of the forest were replaced by muted colours, the plants and trees appearing faded as though drained of life. It was as if the corruption was spreading from the earth itself, tainting everything it touched.
"Something's definitely here," Raya murmured, her eyes scanning the area. "The land feels… off."
They soon found themselves at the entrance of the temple, a crumbling stone archway overgrown with vines and moss. Ancient symbols lined the arch, worn by time but still faintly visible. As they crossed the threshold, a wave of cold air greeted them, carrying the scent of damp stone and something older, almost decayed.
Inside, the temple was shrouded in shadows, with only narrow beams of light piercing through cracks in the stone ceiling. The silence was thick, broken only by the occasional drip of water echoing through the vast, empty halls. Idan activated Identify, hoping to gain insight into the layout, but the HUD offered no guidance, almost as if the temple itself resisted his attempts to analyze it.
"Stay close," Idan whispered, gripping his naginata tightly. "Whatever's here doesn't want us to find it."
They ventured deeper, moving through long, winding corridors lined with faded murals. The images depicted scenes of guardians battling dark creatures, their forms twisted and monstrous. One mural caught Idan's attention—it showed a figure holding a gleaming artefact, a radiant orb that cast light upon the darkness.
"That must be the artefact the chief mentioned," Raya observed, her voice calm. "If it's here, it could be our best chance at stopping the corruption."
As they moved on, a faint sound reached their ears, like the whisper of many voices overlapping, coming from deep within the temple. The further they went, the louder it grew, a low murmur that set Idan's nerves on edge. The voices seemed to tug at his mind, their tones laced with an almost hypnotic pull.
Suddenly, the hallway opened into a vast chamber. At its centre stood a stone pedestal, empty but for a thin layer of dust. Surrounding it were rows of withered statues, their forms twisted and warped, each one clutching its face as though in anguish.
"This must be where the artefact was kept," Idan muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. He stepped closer to examine the pedestal, but a chill crept over him, and his HUD flickered with another warning.
[Warning: Miasma Surge Detected]
"Something's coming," he said sharply, raising his naginata as he scanned the shadows. Raya drew her bow, her expression tense.
The shadows coalesced at the chamber's far end, forming into a creature that barely seemed bound to physical form. Its body writhed with dark energy, its face hidden beneath a cloak of miasmic mist, only its glowing eyes visible.
[Identify: Wraith of the Corrupted]
Type: Spectral Creature
Weakness: Light Magic, Holy Artifacts
Abilities: Miasmic Touch (drains health), Ethereal Form (reduces physical damage)
Idan's grip tightened on his weapon. Physical attacks would be less effective against a creature of this nature, but he had to think quickly. He remembered the purification skill he had gained from cleansing the tree—the Medic's Purifying Touch. It wouldn't be as powerful as holy magic, but it might weaken the creature's defences.
"Raya, keep your distance and fire at its core," he instructed, his voice calm but commanding. "I'll try to use Purifying Touch to disrupt its form."
Raya nodded, releasing an arrow that struck the wraith's centre. The creature recoiled, its body flickering as though destabilized, and Idan moved in, activating Purifying Touch. His hand glowed with a faint light as he struck the ghoul, the energy dispersing the miasmic mist for a moment, revealing the creature's true form—a twisted, spectral figure bound by chains of shadow.
The wraith let out a piercing screech, its chains clattering as it surged toward them. Idan struck again, his purifying skill searing through the creature's defenses, each hit weakening it further. Raya's arrows found their mark, destabilizing the wraith's ethereal form as it writhed and shrieked, its attacks growing more frantic.
But the creature's power was immense. With a sweep of its hand, it unleashed a wave of dark energy, knocking them both back. Idan hit the stone floor hard, his vision blurring for a moment as he struggled to regain his footing.
"Idan!" Raya called, her voice laced with concern. She aimed another arrow, but the wraith turned its full attention on him, its misty form coiling with dark energy as it prepared to strike.
He forced himself to stand, activating Cognitive Shield to steady his mind. The purification had weakened the wraith, but it was not enough. He needed to strike at its core, the heart of the corruption binding it to this place.
Drawing on every ounce of focus, Idan charged forward, his naginata glowing faintly with the purifying energy as he aimed for the wraith's center. The creature screeched, its form writhing as he drove his weapon into its core, the purifying touch searing through the darkness.
With a final, anguished cry, the wraith shattered, its form dissolving into mist and fading into the shadows. The oppressive air in the chamber lifted, the darkness receding as the miasma faded.
A notification appeared on Idan's HUD.
[Quest Complete: The Forgotten Temple]
Reward Unlocked: Artifact Fragment (Wraithbound)
Effect: Grants resistance to miasma and shadow-based attacks.
Idan breathed a sigh of relief, examining the artifact fragment in his inventory. It was a small shard, etched with faint symbols, humming with a quiet energy. This fragment was part of something larger—a piece of the artifact the chief had spoken of.
Raya approached, her gaze fixed on the empty pedestal. "This artifact… it's been broken. Whatever we just fought was only a guardian, left to protect a fragment of the original power."
Idan nodded, understanding dawning. "If the artifact was meant to guard against dark forces, breaking it would weaken its influence, allowing the corruption to spread. Someone—something—did this intentionally."
They left the temple in silence, each lost in thought as they emerged into the cold light of dawn. The village was still asleep, unaware of the darkness lurking on its borders.
As they reached the edge of the forest, Idan felt a renewed sense of purpose. The corruption wasn't a natural occurrence—it was the work of something far more sinister, something intent on tearing apart the delicate balance of Evo-Realm.
And as they returned to the village, he knew their quest was only beginning. The artifact's fragments were scattered, the corruption spreading like a shadow across the land. But Idan was determined. Together with Raya, he would find each fragment, piece by piece, until the full power of the artifact was restored.
Only then could they hope to stop the coming darkness.