Leo and Dan stood at the stone gate of the mountain castle for a moment, watching the large groups of monstrous creatures slowly wander under the dim moonlight. Their movements were mechanical, as if they had no awareness, merely following a fixed path. Each creature was enormous, exuding a chilling aura. Even from a distance, Leo and Dan could feel an inexplicable pressure.
"These creatures aren't like ordinary beasts..." Leo murmured. He had never seen such unsettling creatures, especially their eyes, which seemed devoid of any human trace.
Cohen stood aside, his eyes filled with deep concern. He sighed and explained, "These creatures were not always like this. Decades ago, when we dwarves were mining here, we discovered that black stone. It looked like an ordinary rock, almost inconspicuous. But after it was unearthed, it began to release swarms of black butterflies. These butterflies parasitized any living thing, devouring both their flesh and soul, leaving only an empty shell."
"So, these creatures..." Dan frowned, clearly understanding the terror behind Cohen's words.
"They have no consciousness, fully controlled by the black stone," Cohen continued. "They can only move at night and will return to the soil to sleep during the day. The dwarves have tried to destroy these creatures many times, but we failed every time. Not even the black stone can be destroyed. In the end, the dwarves decided to relocate, leaving only the elderly to stay behind and guard what used to be our homeland."
As Cohen spoke, it was clear he carried a heavy heart. Leo also sighed, realizing these creatures were not only a nightmare for the dwarves, but they had also become part of the mountain's vicious cycle. The black stone was like an inescapable curse, consuming everything.
"So, what do we do now?" Dan asked. He wasn't afraid of a fight, but he didn't know how to deal with these creatures.
Cohen looked up at the monsters still wandering around, silent for a moment before speaking. "We must keep moving; we can't stay here for long. As long as the creatures are roaming this area, we must avoid them. Tonight, we will rest in the castle. We will depart first thing in the morning. You both should rest while I prepare something."
Leo and Dan followed Cohen into the dim castle, where the air was thick and suffocating. It felt like an abandoned fortress, with time seemingly frozen. Dust had gathered thickly on the walls, and the once-grand decorations were now eroded by time. The only sounds were the occasional wind and the clinking of chains in the distance, reminding them that the castle was not entirely deserted.
When they entered the hall, Cohen moved to a corner and took out a few worn items. Despite the lack of light, he moved with practiced ease, as though he knew every corner of the castle.
"You two rest, I'll make some food," Cohen said with a resigned smile.
Leo and Dan nodded in silent understanding, finding a spot to sit without exchanging words. Dan occasionally glanced around, his eyes wary, while Leo closed his eyes, reflecting on everything that had happened. He had carefully placed Luna's mechanical body beside him; though it couldn't be repaired yet, he refused to give up hope.
"If Cohen can fix Luna, we'll be one step closer to our goal," Leo muttered under his breath, his voice filled with a mixture of hope and determination.
When Cohen returned with a simple meal, the night had already fallen. They didn't pay much attention to the taste, quickly eating and preparing to rest. Just as they were about to sleep, a heavy tremor rumbled from the castle's front gates, followed by a deep, guttural roar.
"What is it?" Dan stood up cautiously, his hand reaching for the hilt of his sword.
Cohen didn't seem alarmed, instead calmly saying, "Don't worry, it's the regular pattern of the creatures. They sleep during the day and come out to hunt at night. This is nothing new for them."
Despite his reassurance, Leo and Dan still felt uneasy. They didn't respond immediately but followed Cohen outside the castle to a cave halfway up the mountain. From this vantage point, they could see everything outside.
"Look at those creatures," Cohen pointed into the distance, his eyes showing some sorrow. "They're circling our castle, as if they will never leave. No awareness, no goal, just endlessly wandering."
Leo and Dan looked closely and saw the enormous creatures becoming clearer in the night. They were massive, radiating a deathly aura, each step seeming to announce their presence to the world. Their skin was a dull gray, their eyes hollow, devoid of any spark of life. Looking at these creatures, Leo couldn't help but feel a shiver run down his spine.
"Do these creatures have no souls?" Leo asked softly.
"No," Cohen answered. "They are the products of the black stone's infection. They are just tools, or rather, the remains of tools. The black stone drained their life instincts, leaving only a violent shell."
"So, what do we do?" Dan still seemed a little anxious.
Cohen sighed. "We can't confront them head-on. We can only wait for them to leave. Tomorrow morning, we will continue to the Peach Blossom Village of the elves. The mechanical bird has already guided us here. As long as we cross this forest, the village isn't far."
The night passed unnaturally slow. Although they didn't directly face the creatures, every time a low growl echoed outside, Leo and Dan's hearts would race. In the dead of night, Leo's mind kept drifting back to Luna—the once lively and intelligent girl, now only existing in mechanical form. He swore that, no matter what, he would restore Luna's body.
At dawn, the creatures had disappeared quietly, and the outside of the castle was calm. Cohen handed them a mechanical bird that glowed faintly in blue and flew gently ahead.
"It will guide you to the Peach Blossom Village," Cohen said.
"Thank you, Cohen," Leo said, giving Cohen a deep, grateful look.
"Go, and good luck," Cohen clapped them both on the shoulders and turned to return to his room.
Leo and Dan followed the mechanical bird's lead, entering the mysterious forest. With each step, the scenery around them began to change. The trees grew thicker, and the morning sunlight filtered through the gaps, bringing life to this unfamiliar world.
"We should be close," Leo murmured, his eyes focused on the little mechanical bird ahead.
The mechanical bird didn't stop, continuing to fly ahead and guide them through the unknown forest toward the Peach Blossom Village of the elves.
Leo and Dan moved through the dense forest, where towering trees formed an unbroken wall around them. The interwoven canopy of leaves overhead was so thick that almost no sunlight could penetrate. The air was damp and heavy, filling the surroundings with an eerie atmosphere. The ground beneath them was covered in a thick layer of decaying leaves and rotting wood, making each step produce a muffled crunch, as if no one had walked this path for a long time. Despite the silence, one unsettling detail stood out—there were no birds, no insects, and even the whisper of the wind was barely perceptible.
"Something's not right here," Dan muttered, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings with caution.
Leo did not respond, only nodding in agreement. He, too, felt uneasy. The unnatural stillness of the forest suggested the presence of something hidden and unknown.
Suddenly, dark clouds gathered overhead. In an instant, a thick fog began to roll in, spreading like a tide and rapidly engulfing their surroundings. The mist was so dense that it became nearly impossible to see the path ahead. Their vision blurred as the towering trees around them vanished into the swirling white void.
"Why is this fog so thick?" Dan frowned, keeping his stance tense and alert.
Leo touched the void ring at his waist, focusing his thoughts. The wind element surged into his broken sword. With a swift motion, he swung the blade, generating a powerful gust that dispersed the surrounding mist. As the fog thinned, Leo and Dan were met with a startling sight—their surroundings had completely changed.
What had once been a lush forest had transformed into a damp, chilling swamp. The muddy ground was covered in black, withered vines, and a thin layer of green duckweed floated atop the stagnant water. The area was utterly desolate, with no sign of life. Even the distant echoes of bird calls had been swallowed by the deathly silence. They both stopped in their tracks, scanning their surroundings warily.
"This... isn't where we were just now," Leo said, a hint of confusion in his voice.
"Obviously not," Dan replied, his gaze darting around with growing caution. "We were just in the forest—how did we suddenly end up here?"
Exchanging a glance, both of them felt an uneasy foreboding creeping into their hearts. This swamp exuded an unnatural stillness, an oppressive, lifeless presence that made it seem like they had stumbled into something sinister. The ground was treacherously slick, the mud clinging to their boots, making each step more difficult.
As Leo trudged through the swamp, his unease deepened. The suffocating atmosphere weighed on him, urging him to move faster and leave this place as soon as possible.
However, as they pressed forward, a creeping pressure settled upon them. A cold chill ran down their spines, as if some unseen entity was watching them from the shadows.
Dan suddenly froze, his eyes narrowing sharply. "Something's wrong—get down!"
Before Leo could react, Dan shoved him aside. Stumbling, Leo fell into the murky water, sending a spray of muddy droplets into the air. Just as he struggled to get up, he caught sight of a thick vine lashing toward him with terrifying speed and force—it had nearly impaled him.
"Danger!" Leo scrambled to his feet, eyes locked onto the vine's erratic movements.
As he steadied himself, he noticed that the withered trees and the waterlogged vines around them were starting to writhe violently, as if coming to life. More vines slithered out from the decaying trunks and the muddy ground, twisting and lunging toward them like predatory serpents.
"These vines…" Dan muttered, a flicker of shock crossing his face. "They're not ordinary!"
Leo had no time to hesitate. He gripped his broken sword tightly, channeling fire energy from his void ring into the blade. The sword's tip ignited with roaring flames, the fire spreading like a tempest. With a powerful swing, he slashed at the approaching vines.
With a sharp crack, the flames seared through the first vine, producing a loud hissing sound. However, to his dismay, the vine barely burned—it only charred slightly before rapidly regenerating. The vines were unnaturally resilient.
"They're getting stronger!" Leo gritted his teeth, slashing again. The flames could weaken the vines but not destroy them completely.
Meanwhile, Dan relied on his agility, darting between the attacking vines. He leapt, twisted, and struck, severing a few that came too close. But the vines were endless, attacking from all directions. It was like fighting an army of writhing serpents, an unrelenting siege.
"Leo! We can't stay here!" Dan called out, his voice strained. He had noticed that more vines were emerging from the murky water, their numbers growing at an alarming rate.
Leo nodded, cursing under his breath as he sliced through a vine that had nearly wrapped around his neck. He knew that their only chance of survival was to escape. Without hesitation, he and Dan moved in unison—slashing and dodging while forcing their way toward open ground.
The mud sucked at their boots, slowing them down, but they pushed forward relentlessly. As they neared the edge of the swamp, the vines became increasingly frenzied, swarming to encircle them.
A powerful force suddenly yanked at Leo, threatening to drag him into the quagmire.
"Hold on!" Dan lunged from the side, his twin blades slicing through the entangling vines, freeing Leo just in time.