Rosemar announced that she had a way to locate the source of the fog, but it would consume a great deal of her energy. Morpheus assured her that he and Isaac would cover her, reminding her that they had brought healing potions for emergencies.
Rosemar knelt down, placing both hands firmly on the ground, and began spreading her vines deep beneath the earth over vast distances. This technique allowed her to sense what lay beneath and above the surface, but it drained nearly all of her energy. Finally, she exclaimed, "I found it!" A single vine shot out, forming a straight path heading east, astonishing the team.
With confidence in Rosemar's technique, they began their trek eastward. After approximately twenty minutes, following the vine's guidance without losing their way, they finally discovered the source of the fog—a nearly decomposed human corpse, covered in mold and writhing slowly.
Isaac grimaced in disgust. "Ugh, this thing is revolting."
As the creature noticed their presence, it began releasing fog at a faster rate.
Morpheus called out, "Quick, attack it before it does more damage!" The team launched an all-out assault. However, to their shock, the moment their attacks made contact, the creature turned into mist and reappeared about ten meters away.
Rosemar observed the creature and said, "It seems like it doesn't have any offensive abilities, but it's incredibly skilled at escaping."
Isaac growled in frustration. "We'll never catch it if it keeps moving this far!"
Morpheus, his voice sharp, said, "We don't have time to waste. Let's keep attacking!"
They launched another coordinated attack, but the result was the same—the creature shifted into mist and relocated. However, this time, Morpheus noticed something. "It seems the creature can only move about ten meters when it shifts," he remarked thoughtfully.
Turning to Rosemar, he asked, "Do you have any energy left?"
"Why?" she asked, frowning in exhaustion.
"I have a plan," he replied. "Isaac and I will strike together. The moment it shifts, I need you to use every bit of your strength to trap it in a massive cage of vines."
Rosemar nodded reluctantly, and the plan was set in motion. Morpheus and Isaac synchronized their attacks, and as soon as the creature shifted, Morpheus shouted, "Now, Rosemar!"
The creature materialized in its new location, only to find itself ensnared in a colossal prison of vines. Rosemar's timing had been perfect.
Isaac grinned, finally relaxing. "Gotcha, you slimy bastard. I'm going to roast you like a salted fish."
Morpheus nodded. "Rosemar, use poisonous flowers to finish it off."
Without hesitation, Rosemar summoned her toxic blooms, surrounding the creature with deadly plants. As the poison took effect, the creature let out a guttural, rasping sound. In its final moments, it managed to utter a single word in a deep, grating voice:
"Zaharos."
Then, it fell silent, lifeless.
**As the creature finally perished, the fog dissipated, and the castle emerged before their eyes. It was beyond anything they could have imagined, as if it had stepped out of a nightmare. In a world drowned in darkness and mystery, the massive castle stood atop a jagged mountain peak, defying the very essence of time. Its gothic architecture exuded both dread and majesty, with its sharp, spiked towers intertwining with the dark clouds surrounding it. The crumbling walls were coated in layers of dark mold, bearing witness to centuries of neglect and moisture seeping deep within, as though devouring the soul of the place.
Below the castle, waterfalls cascaded down like streams of tainted blood, thick with mold that sent out suffocating fumes blending with the cold air. The water, once a symbol of life, had transformed into a vile liquid reflecting the castle's silhouette like haunted specters dwelling within its depths. The surrounding rocks were slick with layers of black algae, as if nature itself had surrendered to the decay.
The mountain that bore the castle appeared to be in its death throes, harsh yet riddled with deep cracks that exhaled the stench of dampness and rot. The dead trees encircling the valley stood naked, their branches twisted and bent under the mercy of harsh winds and the suffocating atmosphere. The full moon bathed the scene in a pale light, intensifying the dread and revealing the grotesque details hidden in the shadows.
Isaac grimaced and muttered, "Damn it. What could have turned this beautiful castle into such an abomination?"
Morpheus, his voice steady and firm, replied, "We're about to find out."
After a long trek, they finally reached the castle. Its stench was so unbearable that the team had to cover their faces with scarves.
Cautiously, they entered, only to be stunned by the emptiness that greeted them. There was no sound, no movement—just suffocating air and an oppressive silence. There was no sign of the monster called "Zaharos the Corrupt."
Isaac growled in frustration, "Was that mysterious voice just playing tricks on us? Or is this another illusion like the previous challenge?"
Morpheus, who had been focusing intently on every sound, raised a hand to signal silence. "Wait... there's something moving."
The entire group froze as they heard a strange noise—like something massive crawling up the castle walls.
Morpheus, his tone calm but sharp, instructed, "Isaac, light a fire and aim it upward."
Isaac obeyed immediately, and the flames revealed something that made their blood run cold.
What emerged was a nightmare incarnate, a creature seemingly pulled from the depths of cosmic horror. A giant being with multiple twisted, tentacle-like limbs extending from a dark, amorphous body that appeared to blend into the shadows. Its head was a chaotic amalgamation of terror, with indistinct features and faintly glowing eyes that radiated an ominous aura. Its mouth was filled with long, jagged fangs and interwoven, hair-like tendrils that resembled death traps.
Every breath it took radiated sheer dread, distorting the very fabric of reality around it. The sound of its movements wasn't mere noise—it echoed like the screams of forgotten ages.
Isaac, trying to maintain his composure, shouted in terror, "What the hell is this hideous, massive thing?!"
The team readied themselves for battle, fully aware that what awaited them was not just another test—it was a fight for their very survival.