As they stood at the edge of the ominous black fog, a palpable tension filled the air. Roderick raised his hand, channelling his magic as golden light surged from his palm. A shimmering barrier of light expanded outward, enveloping his comrades—Lyra, Dorian, Magnus and himself.
"Radiant Aegis!" Roderick declared, his voice resolute as the protective spell settled over them, shielding them from the corrupting influence of the fog. Samantha, standing slightly apart, observed the spell with a composed expression. As a Light magic user, her natural resistance to corrupted mana rendered her unaffected.
With weapons in hand, the group advanced into the dense, suffocating darkness. Each step deeper into the fog felt like walking into the unknown, but their determination remained steadfast. One by one, they activated their perception skills, their eyes glowing faintly with magical energy as they adjusted to the obscured surroundings.
"This fog… It's different from the ones that afflicted the injured before," Samantha murmured, narrowing her eyes as she observed the swirling darkness.
Magnus glanced at her, his brow furrowing. "So, what does that mean? That this isn't as dangerous?"
Samantha gave a slow nod. "Yes. This fog is primarily a visual obstruction. It's not as concentrated with corrupted mana as the previous instances."
Roderick exhaled slightly in relief but kept his grip firm on his sword. "That makes things a little easier, but stay on guard. We don't know what's waiting for us."
Their caution was soon justified as grotesque figures emerged from the fog—Ghouls, their bodies twisted and radiating a vile aura of corruption. Hollow eyes fixated on the intruders, and with inhuman snarls, they lunged forward.
"They're not particularly strong," Lyra noted, her sword igniting with a blaze of fire, "but their magic is tainted."
Roderick's voice rang out in warning. "Do not block their attacks unless you're absolutely sure you can withstand them! If their magic touches you, it'll take too long to heal!"
A feral Ghoul leapt at Dorian, its clawed hand crackling with malevolent energy. In a flash, Dorian twisted his spear, electricity crackling along its length. With a single thrust, he impaled the creature, sending a surge of thunderous energy through its body, disintegrating it instantly.
Lyra danced through the battlefield with fiery precision, her blade cutting down the corrupted beasts as flames consumed their remains. Magnus, wielding his spear with practised ease, summoned gales of wind and tremors in the earth, knocking the creatures off balance before finishing them with deadly thrusts.
Samantha and Roderick fought side by side, their Light magic slicing through the darkness like a beacon of hope. Each strike burned through the Ghouls, leaving nothing but ash and fading corruption in their wake.
After several intense minutes, the last of the creatures fell. The fog still loomed thick around them, but ahead, an eerie glow flickered. Moving forward, they reached the central area, and what they saw made them freeze in place.
A magic circle pulsed with sinister energy. At its centre lay a lifeless body—once human but now filled with swirling Corrupted Mana. Surrounding the circle stood six hooded figures, their robes black as the abyss. Five of them rose to their feet at Roderick's commanding yell.
"Stop this at once!" Roderick's voice boomed through the space, but one figure on the edge of the magic circle remained seated, continuing the ritual with an unsettling calm.
Weapons were drawn in unison as the realisation sank in—these men were powerful, their magical presence overwhelming.
"They're at least two or three tiers above us," Roderick muttered under his breath. His grip on his sword tightened.
Magnus didn't hesitate. He raised his hand, sending a bright flare into the sky. "Reinforcements will come! We just need to hold out!"
A knowing smirk played on one of the hooded figures' lips. "How amusing," he murmured. "You believe you have time."
In the next instant, battle erupted.
Dorian, his spear crackling with divine thunder, lunged forward, clashing with a hooded adversary. Sparks flew as their weapons met, the sheer force of the impact sending shockwaves through the air.
Lyra's sword blazed like a sun as she clashed with another, her fire searing through the darkness. But her opponent was unfazed, countering with deadly precision, forcing her on the defensive.
Samantha moved with elegant fluidity, her blade glowing with sacred light. She struck with swift, decisive cuts, but her enemy barely seemed to be exerting effort, blocking each strike with unsettling ease.
Magnus fought ferociously, his mastery over earth and wind allowing him to manoeuvre with surprising agility, but he, too, found himself struggling against an enemy who seemed to predict his every move.
Roderick, breathing heavily, took a step back as realisation dawned. "They're toying with us…"
Then, a sharp sensation rippled through Dorian's senses. Something was wrong.
"Everyone, fall back!" he shouted, his voice urgent.
But it was too late. One of the hooded figures raised a hand, and a wave of darkness surged forth. Tendrils of Miasma coiled around them, seeping into their skin.
"Ngh…!" Lyra gritted her teeth. "This is Miasma!"
Roderick and Samantha, protected by their Light God's blessing, resisted its effects, but Lyra struggled, her flames burning away the corruption at the cost of a lot of her energy.
Dorian and Magnus, however, had no protection. The two warriors fell to their knees, their bodies paralysed by the numbing darkness. Lyra gasped for breath, her vision blurring.
Roderick summoned all his strength. "Radiant Purge!"
A luminous figure emerged behind him—a towering goddess of light, her six wings unfurling. With a sweep of her radiance, the corrupted mana was obliterated, and the hooded man wielding Miasma staggered back, injured.
A slow, mocking clap echoed in the area.
The man in the magic circle finally stood, his voice filled with amusement. "Never thought the blessing of the Goddess would grant such power."
Before they could react, the Ghoul at the centre of the circle moved in a blur. In an instant, it was upon them, its monstrous strength sending Lyra flying. Its decayed hands wrapped around Roderick and Samantha's throats.
Their eyes widened as they felt their mana being siphoned away.
"Damn it…!" Roderick choked out.
The last thing he saw before the figures vanished into a closing Rift was the Ghoul disappearing with them, its eerie grin the only thing remaining in his mind.
As silence fell, Roderick slammed his fist against the ground, his voice filled with frustration.
"We lost… again."
Samantha, catching her breath, placed a hand on his shoulder, her voice steady yet firm.
"No. This isn't over."