The journey to Deadwood Basin was a stark reminder of how broken Astraleon was. Once-fertile fields lay barren, their soil cracked and lifeless. Trees were twisted into unnatural shapes, their branches clawing at the sky like skeletal fingers. Even the air felt heavier here, oppressive and stifling, as though the land itself had surrendered to despair.
Hikaru adjusted the straps of his coat and glanced at Lira, who walked in silence beside him. Despite her calm demeanor, her clenched fists betrayed her unease.
"So," Hikaru said, breaking the silence, "what's the deal with this place? It's called Deadwood. Does that mean spooky skeleton trees, or are we talking literal undead popping out of the ground?"
Lira didn't look at him but replied softly, "Deadwood was once a thriving forest, teeming with life and magic. But one of the Tyrant Gods—Ekran, the Corruptor—poisoned the land centuries ago. The trees withered, the rivers turned to sludge, and the creatures that survived… changed."
"Changed how?"
Lira hesitated. "They became abominations. Twisted, monstrous versions of what they once were."
Hikaru sighed dramatically. "Of course they did. This is an isekai, after all. Can't have a magical world without some eldritch horrors running around."
Lira shot him an exasperated glance. "You really can't take anything seriously, can you?"
"Why bother?" Hikaru asked with a grin. "If something tries to kill us, I'll just unkill it. Easy."
"That's not how—" Lira started but stopped when a low growl echoed from the shadows ahead.
Both of them froze, their eyes scanning the twisted forest. Hikaru's grin widened. "Looks like we've got company."
A creature emerged from the gloom, its body a grotesque fusion of wood and flesh. Its limbs were elongated and jagged, like branches sharpened into spears. Multiple eyes, glowing a sickly green, blinked at them from its malformed head.
"Yup," Hikaru said, cracking his knuckles. "Abomination checks out. You got a name for this thing, or should I just call it Ugly?"
"That's a Verdant Stalker," Lira said, drawing her staff. "It's fast, strong, and venomous. Don't let it get close."
Hikaru laughed. "Don't let it get close? Lira, you've seen what I can do. I don't—"
The Stalker moved faster than Hikaru expected, lunging at him with a speed that defied its size.
"Oh, crap!" he yelped, dodging to the side just in time.
"Maybe take it a little seriously?" Lira shouted, firing a bolt of light magic at the creature. It hit one of the Stalker's legs, causing it to stumble, but it recovered quickly, turning its glowing eyes on her.
"Hey, don't ignore me!" Hikaru yelled, his palm glowing with energy. "Reality Override: Splinter Break."
The Stalker froze mid-lunge, and with a sickening crack, its wooden limbs shattered into countless shards. The creature let out a distorted shriek before collapsing into a heap.
"Well, that wasn't so bad," Hikaru said, brushing his hands together.
Lira glared at him. "You almost got yourself impaled."
"Key word: almost."
Before she could respond, a series of growls sounded from the forest around them. More Stalkers began emerging from the shadows, their green eyes glowing in the dim light.
"Uh-oh," Hikaru muttered. "Guess Ugly brought friends."
"There are too many," Lira said, backing toward him. "We can't fight them all."
"Don't worry," Hikaru said, his confidence returning. "I've got this."
He raised his hand, but before he could unleash his power, a voice called out from the trees.
"Enough!"
The Stalkers froze instantly, their eyes dimming as they turned and slunk back into the darkness. Lira and Hikaru both turned toward the source of the voice.
A woman stepped out from the shadows, her presence commanding and ethereal. Her skin was dark like polished obsidian, and her hair cascaded around her shoulders in thick waves. Her emerald-green eyes glowed faintly, matching the magic swirling in the air around her. She was clad in leather armor that accentuated her lithe form, and a pair of daggers glinted at her sides.
"Who's this?" Hikaru asked, tilting his head.
"I could ask the same of you," the woman said, her voice smooth and edged with authority. "Who are you, and why have you come to the Deadwood?"
"We're here to investigate," Lira began cautiously. "The Resistance heard reports of unusual activity in this region."
The woman raised an eyebrow. "Unusual activity in the Deadwood? That's like saying water is wet. Try again."
Hikaru grinned. "I like her. Sassy and mysterious. What's your name, gorgeous?"
The woman's expression didn't change, but there was a glint of amusement in her eyes. "I am Kaelith, the Warden of the Deadwood. And you… are an idiot."
"Ouch," Hikaru said, clutching his chest in mock pain. "You wound me, Kaelith."
Kaelith ignored him, her gaze shifting to Lira. "The energy shifts you've detected are real. Something stirs within the heart of the Deadwood. I've been investigating it myself, but… it's beyond anything I've encountered before."
"Great," Hikaru said. "More godly nonsense for me to smash. Lead the way."
Kaelith regarded him for a long moment, then finally nodded. "Very well. But if you slow me down, I'll leave you to the Stalkers."
Lira sighed. "This is going to end badly."
The trio continued deeper into the forest, the air growing colder and more oppressive with each step. Kaelith moved with the grace of a predator, her movements almost silent despite the uneven terrain. Hikaru watched her with a mix of curiosity and appreciation, though he didn't comment aloud for once.
After several minutes of walking, Kaelith paused, her eyes narrowing. "We're close. I can feel it."
"Feel what?" Hikaru asked.
"The corruption," Kaelith replied. "It's alive, writhing beneath the surface."
Before anyone could respond, the ground beneath them shuddered, and a massive fissure split the earth. A surge of dark energy erupted from the rift, sending Hikaru and the others stumbling back.
"Well, that's dramatic," Hikaru said, brushing dust off his coat. "Alright, big bad. Show yourself!"