With the Imugi defeated, the group gathered around what remained of the Aether Monolith. The flesh that had once pulsed with evil energy now seemed dead and cold, giving off a putrid odor.
Mollusk, still on high alert, walked to the base of the structure. It was then that he saw the markings—symbols and inscriptions made with disturbing precision.
"These markings… These were not the work of Complex, at least not directly," he said, leaning forward to examine the designs better. "These are inscriptions I recognize. It was done by someone… from our university!!?"
The group fell silent, the revelation hanging in the air like distant thunder.
"What? Are you saying one of our own did this?" Kaido asked, clenching his fists, his claws ready to be used again.
"It doesn't make sense," Astra replied, frowning as she stared at the bodies fused to the monolith's flesh. "Why would someone from the university trigger something like this? The Complex is dangerous enough as it is."
Before they could come to any conclusions, a deep, resonant sound began to echo from the monolith. Flesh began to shatter, piece by piece, falling to the ground in a macabre rain of flesh and blood.
"Stand back!" Mantis shouted, pulling everyone away as the monolith crumbled completely.
In the center of what was left, something glowed with a blood-red light. It was a crystal, small but intensely vibrant, as if pulsing with living energy. Astra took a step forward, feeling a strange shiver run down her spine.
"This... is not natural," she muttered.
"Don't touch it!" Mollusk shouted, blocking her path. "It could be charged with energy from the Complex. We don't know what it can do."
The group eyed the crystal warily. It was made of an unknown material, and its surface seemed to reflect grotesque images of beings fused together and distorted. It was as if it contained a fragment of the very essence of corruption.
"If this came from the monolith, then it could be the key to understanding what's happening," Mantis said, her voice firm but with a hint of hesitation.
Kaido snorted. "Or it could be a trap. Remember the last 'artifact' we found? I don't want anyone turning into a monster out of curiosity."
Despite the tension, Mollusk took a piece of cloth from his bag and carefully wrapped the crystal. "Whatever it is, we need to take this back to the university. The Dean needs to see this. He'll know what to do."
As the group prepared to leave, a distant sound echoed from the forest—a low rumble, almost like a muffled scream. It was impossible to tell if it was human or something else.
"We're being followed," Mantis said, already raising her scythes.
Astra looked at the others seriously. "We need to get out of here now. Something tells me this crystal won't be without its guardians for long."
Without another word, the group began their retreat, leaving behind the battlefield, the destroyed monolith, and the creatures that had perished. However, everyone knew that this mission was only the beginning of something much greater—something that would put not only Ebony Vale in danger, but perhaps the very balance of the world.
The return to the Primeval University was silent, but heavy. As they walked through the stone corridors adorned with relics from ages past, the members of the group barely exchanged words, each lost in their own thoughts. The sight of the Imugi, the blood crystal, and the revelation of the inscriptions were engraved in their minds.
When they reached the Rector's office, the large double doors opened with a deep creak. The Oracle of the Abyss, with his imposing presence, was already waiting for them behind his massive wooden desk. His dark, piercing eyes, which seemed to see beyond what any ordinary being could comprehend, passed over each of the four, studying them carefully.
"Report." His voice, as deep as the ocean, echoed through the room.
Mollusk was the first to speak, detailing the discoveries in Ebony Vale: the corrupted monolith, the Imugi, and most importantly, the marks on the monolith's flesh that indicated someone from the university had been involved. He removed the cloth-wrapped crystal, placing it carefully on the Dean's desk.
The Oracle leaned forward, studying the crystal carefully. For a moment, the room seemed colder, as if an invisible shadow had crossed the room.
"You did well to save the vale," he said, his voice low but heavy. "But this… this is only the beginning."
The four exchanged quick glances. Astra stepped forward. "Dean, what exactly is this? And what do the inscriptions on the monolith mean?"
The Oracle lifted his head, his expression grave.
"The crystal you brought is a fragment of a greater force, a corruption that was deliberately unleashed. The marks you saw... confirm my suspicions. Someone at the university—perhaps more than one—is conspiring to free the Complex from its natural bonds, transforming it into a weapon of eternal extinction."
"What!?" Kaido exclaimed, his fists clenched. "Are you saying we're fighting a traitor? Here? Among us?"
"More than a traitor, Kaido," the Dean replied, his tone somber. "We're dealing with a threat that understands our strengths and our weaknesses. One who knows our structure, our resources, and who is willing to sacrifice everything to achieve his goals. What you faced in the valley was just a prelude to a greater war."
A heavy silence filled the room. Even Mantis, normally the most restrained, couldn't hide the concern in her eyes.
"And what do we do now?" Astra asked, her voice determined, though with a slight hesitation.
The Oracle stood, his gigantic figure casting an imposing shadow over the group. "You must prepare yourselves. What is to come will test not only your skills, but also your bond as a team. Trust in each other, because your strength lies not only in your individual powers, but in the unity you have formed."
The Director's words echoed in the minds of the four as they left the room. The mission had changed them.
Kaido, normally impetuous, seemed more reflective.
Mollusk was lost in thought, probably trying to connect the pieces of the puzzle.
Mantis sharpened his scythes with methodical movements, as if prepared for what was to come.
And Astra looked at her companions, realizing that they were no longer just mission partners - they were a true team.
In that moment, one thing became clear to everyone: the world was on the brink of a battle that would change everything. And together, they would do everything they could to protect what was left.