The trio had moved forward from the stones, and as they began to march deeper, the surroundings started to change.
The bright and colourful forest was slowly covered in moss and shadows, and the air was becoming thicker.
Rin noticed this first, "Hey, did you feel the change in surroundings?" She said while carefully analysing the path.
Limbo glances at his compass, it wasn't trembling but, this time it's spinning.
He, stop for a sec. "Damn, why now?" He said, "System stabilizes the readings."
[ Execution failed: Environmental Interference. ]
[ Too much Mana distortion. ]
"Not you too?" Limbo reacted. He is hoping that the system can help, but things do not go as planned.
A stick-breaking sound came from behind. Gaja falls a step back, while with his left hand, pressing on his chest. Rin looked at him, he confronted her, "I'm fine.. with a smile.'
"It's just mana is too thick, nothing serious."
He he's lies didn't last too long. His body betrayed him. Sweat lined his neck, but the cold air was flowing. On the other hand, Limbo was lost in other thoughts. He saw something for a sec. A dark mana vanished as quickly as it came.
Rin saw it, "Gaja, your arm?" "I said I'm fine..." But Gaja snapped her hand when she tried to confront him. "Uhh, I'm sorry Rin... I didn't mean that, guess I just need a rest for a while."
No was said anything, Rin and Gaja didn't tell Limbo, without confirmation, Limbo also didn't say anything about the shadow. Silence was getting heavier.
The walk through the trees, the way was clearing. As they reached the centre, a half-buried structure made of stone and a root surrounding was glowing with dull light. The ground gives a strange vibe, soft but same time as if it is alive.
Limbo, with narrow eyes, asked the system to scan the structure,
Scanning...
[ Result: unknown relic root- core formation detected. ]
[ Status: Corrupted. Residual curse signature active. ]
"Corrupted!" He was trying to say in his mind, but said a loudly, and he quickly shut.
Too late, Rin had heard. "Corruption, did you just say... corruption, right?" She asked.
"That's not confirmed yet." Limbo said, "But yes, maybe."
He touched the stone and tried rubbing it, to see if any information it gave. As he thought, the system also flickered his vision.
[ Error: Unstable link, reading interfering pattern... ]
[ Decoding: Roots of... Bound...]
System closes soon, he didn't read them properly. "Hey, are you trying to help me or just here to irritate, tell me?" Limbo said to the system, "Are you okay, buddy, what is happening?"
Behind him, Gaja was bending on the spot and he also started to groan faintly.
On next second suddenly, he fell on his knees, his one arm was touching the ground. On his righthand strange line started to form, like crawling ant but this time it was looking ink lines.
"Gaja!" Rin rushed to him, but he raised his trembling hand. "I'm... fine," lying like earlier. But his voice wasn't as usual.
While listening to the groaning and Rin's reaction. He turned back quickly.
As he turned, he ordered the system to diagnose Gaja.
[ Analysis complete. ]
[ Result: internal corruption detected.
Type: curse. ]
[ Origin: unknown, but guardian-class entity. ]
[ Status: triggered by environmental fluctuations. ]
"Damn it.." Limbo grinds his teeth.
He rushed and knelt beside him, as he held him, a strange blue line appeared on his hands, glowing faintly with white-blue mana. "Debug... activate."
[ Executing Debug Lv. 1 ]
[ Error: Interfere by unknown. ]
Something resisted strongly. A strong energy burst pushes Limbo back a few steps. A huge shadow moved from underground, from roots to vine around like a pulsing heart of silver light.
Then it suddenly vanished before our eyes.
Rin helps Limbo after helping Gaja.
"You okay?"
"Yeah," he exhaled, while blinking.
"Whatever that was...cur... It's connected to something under us."
Gaja was shaken. His usual confidence was gone, replaced by quiet. "I thought... it was gone after that fight. Guess I was wrong."
Limbo softened his expression. "We'll fix it, I promised whatever it is."
System flickered again, faintly,
[ Emotional fluctuations detected- group sync stable. ]
[ Suggestion: Maintain close mana distance - hint: during rest cycle. ]
Rin sighed. "So... It's getting worse now, huh. And here I thought this time we managed smoothly."
Limbo smiled faintly, "Guess that's in our plate, but we have work as a team."
He Rin, "Can you scan the surroundings?" Limbo asked to" look for a safe spot."
"I don't know why?
But until now my compass is working properly, I think due to strong magnetic fluctuations in this area, it's malfunctioning.
By the way soon, the sun is going to set, Limbo said... and we have to find a safe place to set camp, before it's get too dark."
As sunlight had started to dim, the surrounding glowing plants started to glow, they were acting as a torch for them.
That was not enough though.
But the trio still needed a safe place to rest.
Rin agreed without saying a word.
Soon, Rin used her power and search here there, and soon she located a safe place, and as the sun dipped lower, they decided to set camp there.
Rin prepared the small fire while Gaja leaned against a tree. He was exhausted and half asleep.
Limbo was lost in thought while looking at the flames.
His system flickered. One notification didn't close.
[ New subfunction Unlocked: resonant Detection ]
[ Passive trigger: Corruption frequency linked to Southern mana anomaly. ]
[ Direction trace: Southwest. ]
"Southwest again, huh. What is waiting for this time?"
The same direction system has been showing since earlier.
Night fell,
A faint light flickered beyond the trees, silver and silent.
Limbo's system activated.
[ Unknown entity detected: "Observer." ]
[ Danger level: Variable. Response: Monitoring only. ]
'He didn't move just watching..."
That shadow tilted his head and vanished, until now it feels like he was studying them, a sudden disappearance in the dark.
Rin, with hesitation, said,
"Hey, Limbo, I'm not sure."
But, I think someone is maybe spying on us.
Rin adds more, "I'm getting a strange feeling."
Limbo eyes were still on the side of shadow, "I know," he said.
"I think it's waiting for something or someone."
Deep in the forest, something has begun to move...
But what?