By the afternoon, the entire group—Mr. Alden, Mr. Alaric, Ronan, Orin, Aria, Eryk, Leon, and Selena—gathered at the Rift entrance. The swirling vortex of the Dimensional Rift loomed before them, its surface rippling like disturbed water. Without hesitation, they stepped through.
Upon entering, a familiar sensation overtook both Mr. Alden and Ronan. Their Keen Eye skill activated instinctively, their vision sharpening as if nature itself was lending them sight. In the Dimensional Rift, Keen Eye did not consume the user's mana but rather tapped into the Rift's ambient energy.
Mr. Alden turned to the group, his gaze serious. "You can explore as you wish, but do not venture into the Corrupted Zone."
His eyes then settled on Ronan, his voice dropping to a firmer tone. "Especially you. Stay away from the Corrupted Zone. Your wounds will react to the corruption. You can complete the four trials again to improve the Keen Eye skill further. Do you understand?"
Ronan rolled his eyes but nodded. "Yes, yes, I understand."
Mr. Alaric handed him a few bottles. "This is holy water. Apply it when you have some free time."
Ronan raised an eyebrow and waved a hand dismissively. "I already brought my own. You two are heading into the corrupted zones—you need it more than I do."
Mr. Alaric exchanged a glance with Mr. Alden. Finally, Mr. Alden nodded. "Then we'll take our leave. We'll be back in seven or eight days."
With that, the two instructors sprinted towards the heart of the Rift, their figures vanishing into the distance. Ronan watched them go before turning to the rest of the group.
"I'll be heading out as well," he said nonchalantly before striding away.
As he disappeared into the mist, Selena murmured, "His wounds… they were caused by Corrupted Mana."
Aria sighed. "Let's go to the high mana zone. We need to make the most of our time here."
Meanwhile, in another part of Serenwyn Kingdom, Roderick and his team prepared for their mission.
As they made their way to Ironvale Village, the road stretched before them, flanked by dense forests and rolling hills. The scent of damp earth lingered from the morning rain.
"These Rift occurrences are becoming more frequent," Samantha remarked, "No matter how many we investigate, we still have no clue what's behind them."
Dorian exhaled sharply. "It's frustrating. Every time we think we're close to something, we hit a dead end."
Roderick, who was leading the group, nodded in agreement. "That's why we need to take this seriously. Reports say monsters are gathering unnaturally near this Rift. Worse, a thick black fog has appeared."
The group exchanged glances, each one sensing the weight of the mission ahead. As the village came into view.
Arriving at the guild, they were greeted by the guild master, Magnus, a burly man with a thick beard and a stern expression. He led them through a series of hallways before stopping in front of a door.
"You'll want to see this," he muttered before opening the door.
Inside, the sight that met them was horrifying.
Rows of beds lined the room, each occupied by a man or woman writhing in agony. Their bodies were drenched in sweat, and their mouths parted in endless screams for help. Black sludge oozed from their skin, pooling onto the sheets.
Samantha's fists tightened. "Have you given them Holy Water?"
"Yes, but it doesn't cure them," Magnus replied grimly.
Samantha took a deep breath, her resolve firm. "Holy Water alone won't work. I'll use my purification skills first. After that, administer the Holy Water again."
Kneeling, she clasped her hands together in a praying position, closing her eyes. A gentle hum escaped her lips as she activated her skill.
"By the Goddess's will, I command the light! Let all shadows be undone. Divine Radiance!"
The ground beneath them transformed into white marble, the walls vanishing into an endless expanse of light. Gigantic white pillars rose around them, emanating an ethereal glow. In the centre, a majestic statue of the Light Goddess, radiating divine brilliance. From the statue, a cascade of golden light poured forth, washing over the afflicted. The black sludge hissed and evaporated into nothingness, their agonised screams turning into soft gasps of relief.
As the divine light faded, the room returned to its normal state. The once-suffering villagers now lay motionless, their expressions peaceful.
Samantha exhaled, her forehead glistening with sweat. "Now, administer the Holy Water. Stop anyone from going into the black fog, and pull back your investigation team. We will take it from here. I won't be able to use this skill again for at least twenty-six hours. So don't let anyone come into contact with the black fog."
Roderick placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You need to take a rest. After an hour, we will continue to scout the area. Whatever is causing this… we need to find it and put an end to it."
With determined gazes, the team prepared for the next phase of their mission.
The guild hall was alive with the murmurs of adventurers and the crackling of fire from the grand hearth. Wooden beams stretched high above. Yet, amidst this warmth, a heavy tension clung to the air around a particular table where four figures sat in quiet contemplation.
Roderick, Dorian, Lyra, and Samantha were resting before their mission, their bodies weary but their minds sharp. The recent reports of adventurers succumbing to the black fog's strange affliction left them unsettled. Samantha remembered the wounded men lying out across the room, their bodies trembling even in unconsciousness, faces pale with terror.
"If those people suffered this much just from being near the black fog," Samantha said, her voice calm but laced with concern, "Then I doubt we can venture into it unscathed."
Roderick, ever the leader, narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"
Samantha folded her arms, her brows furrowing in thought. "This phenomenon… it matches something I read in an old tome. If I recall correctly, it is described as a form of Corrupted Mana, something entirely different from regular mana. What can I say, Misasma has the same effect as Corrupted Mana, but less powerful. But I fear what could happen if one could merge those things."
A guild employee, dressed in the standard brown and gold uniform, bowed slightly before speaking.
"Excuse me, but please come with me. One of the injured men has woken up."
The four exchanged glances before rising, their previous conversation momentarily set aside. They followed the employee through the hall and into a dimly lit infirmary. The stench of sweat and dried blood mixed with the sharp aroma of healing herbs.
On one of the cots, a man struggled to sit up, his body trembling. His eyes were wide with fear, his breathing ragged. As they stepped closer, he turned to them, his voice weak and unsteady.
"In the black fog... There was a Ghoul... unlike anything we've seen before," he rasped. "Be careful… if you find it… It can disrupt the mana flow in your body… and… and it uses illusions…"
His breath hitched, and before anyone could ask more, he collapsed back onto the cot, unconscious once more.
A chilling silence settled over them. Roderick clenched his fists. "Ghoul?"
Lyra swallowed hard. "This isn't good."
"We should go check the area," Roderick decided. "We need to confirm this ourselves."
Before they could leave, a strong voice interrupted them. "I'll be coming with you."
They turned to see Guild Master Magnus standing at the entrance, his imposing figure framed by the dim light. His presence alone was reassuring—his name carried weight in the adventurer's guild, a man known for his unshakable resolve and immense power.
"Having an extra set of hands will be useful," Magnus said. "Let's move."
The group left the guild hall, stepping into the cool night air. The streets were eerily quiet, the usual bustling energy of the city subdued.
As they neared the fog's edge, Dorian stepped forward. Chanting softly, he traced a magic circle in the air. A soft blue light emanated from it as he withdrew four jade pendants and handed them to Samantha, Lyra, Roderick and Magnus.
"Like always, if you're in danger, break the jade pendant," Dorian instructed. "It will teleport you back to safety."
Samantha clutched the pendant tightly, feeling its cool surface against her palm. She met Roderick's gaze, seeing the concern in his eyes.
Dorian sighed. "No matter how many times we do this, it never gets any easier."
The black fog loomed ahead, swirling ominously like a living entity. With a final glance at one another, they stepped forward, disappearing into the darkness.