He started to see the data again.
Beast core pattern comparison
Core 01-> frequency:0.17
Core 02-> frequency:0.17
Gaja's mark->frequency:0.17
Limbo's thoughts:
Exactly the same.
It's just like a network, Limbo comes to a conclusion.
It's an unusual frequency.
I see. The beasts... We're following a signal.
And the signal was inside Gaja.
His eyes darkened.
If somehow.... No.
I have to gather more cores... Maybe then I can decode the signal.
Or maybe I will succeed in finding original Source and its whereabouts.
And maybe... Then I will be able to figure out how to sever the link from inside.
But the two fragments he had were not enough.
He will need to gather more of them.
He needed at least five cores to complete the Alpha fragment.
Once the Alpha is complete, the system might allow....
"Signal Break."
He wasn't sure yet. But he was close.
Very close.. to be precise.
Gaja, Limbo speaks aloud.
"Gaja. You're not cursed."
"You're marked."
"...Marked?" Gaja said while blinking his eyes.
Yes. Something in that cave marked you as a 'key'. That tag or mark you can say is attracting beasts towards you, Limbo said.
Will they chase me forever? Gaja asked.
"I'm not 100% sure but... If we gathered enough cores, and merged, or used them to figure out a way to break this mark or link whatever it is."
Gaja's eyes filled with hope. He was about to burst into tears, but he held them somehow.
Rin was silently listening to all this, and she took a breath of relief.
But Limbo continues, the more corrupted beasts we fight, "the more dangerous they become.
The one we felt earlier, the coming one... feels different."
Limbo casually picks up a wooden stick and puts it in the fireplace.
While they were talking, the ground trembled again.
A cold wind flows from the east towards them.
The fading fire flared again by the blowing wind.
Rin holds the near stone tightly.
Gaja looked towards the dark trees.
Suddenly.
Limbo's console pop-up.
Updating target details...
[Unknown presence]
[ Distance: 1.1km ]
Size: large
Pattern: different from other beasts
Hostility: High
Limbo quickly stands up.
Rin, can you sense it? Yeah.
"But, I don't think this one is coming for food. Or territory." Rin said.
Everyone comes together to one place.
"It's coming after attracting to the Mark?" Gaja asked.
No one spoke, a silent spread across them.
But suddenly,
Rin's heart beats. Gaja froze.
Limbo took a deep breath.
"Prepare yourself, guys." Limbo takes command.
Then he looked at his console, taking a quick peek.
I still need two more cores. If I get them from these next beasts... The Alpha Fragment will be complete.
And then... I can hit two birds with one stone.
After the system's fragment is collected.
I can use it to update and unlock new features.
And... I can sever Gaja's link, then.
The night air becomes slowly heavy.
The forest was shaking violently.
Brushing aside branches, crushing roots beneath its weight.
The beast was approaching.
And Limbo whispered:
"This time... I will not let it touch you, brother."
Rin steps beside Limbo, her voice low.
"..How big do you think it is?"
Before Limbo could say system flickered.
Threat level: Rising
Signature strength:187%
Comparison: stronger than previous beasts
Target focus: Gaja
Limbo smiled,
Stronger than the last two, huh...
So this one... Might be carrying a higher grade fragment.
He's heart was pumping loudly like a drumbeat.
It wasn't a fear, not a shred.
But the excitement and pure calculation.
He thought,
If this beast holds a higher purity core...
I might be able to reach 50% Alpha completion with a single kill.
At 50%... Who knows what changes will take place?
If I get a chance.
I will unlock partial access to locked skills.
This thought was tempting enough to attempt taking a risk.
And generate skill "Signal Break".
But it will not be easy.
The risk will also be higher.
He looked at Gaja.
He was trying to stand tall and steady, with tight fists, but his legs were shaking...
Not from fear.
But from the attraction.
Limbo noticed clearly whenever the ground trembled.
The faint glow on Gaja's arm.
It was responding to the beast signal.
The beast was tracking him through his scent or signal..
It was calling to him.
And his body was responding to the call.
"Limbo.. his arm.." Rin noticed.
"I know..." Limbo interrupted. It's reacting to the beast signal.
Also, it is acting as a signal detector to us.
Gala said while holding his arm, he was confused.
I... it feels warm... Almost like it's pulling me.
Limbo put his hand on Gaja's shoulder.
"Stay strong on the spot, brother. No matter what happens."
Stay behind me. I'll handle this, Limbo confronted.
The beast was getting close enough... It might trigger the corruption to progress.
41% might become 60%.
Or worse, it might trigger something worse than yesterday.
They did understand.
The distance closes. A roar spreading in the forest was now clearly hearable.
It was a deep, deep enough to shake the stones and trees around them.
Limbo stretches and tightens his muscles.
The system's new alert comes.
Approximate arrival: 3 minutes
Recommended: retreat
Override: user's decision.
Retreat. Limbo smirked.
That's not going to happen.
It's not only about me.
This time, everyone is dependent on me.
I cannot back out now.
A normal Adventurer would have run until now.
A smart one would hide.
But he wasn't like normal...
And running now...?
The signal in Gaja's arm light again, this time it was a little stronger.
The other reason Limbo thought about was.
Even if they run.
The beast will still chase and find their location through Gaja's mark. And it will become a sneak attack, which will be fatal.
He tightened his teeth.
"No." He said in a low voice.
"We fight."
Rin also agreed with Limbo's thought.
Gaja was trying hard to be steady.
Limbo, can we win? This one looks different and strong.
Limbo didn't give any false hope,
He never did.
Winning isn't going to be easy.
Gaja looked confused, but he had full trust in Limbo.
Limbo said to everyone,
Listen, guys, "I need its core.
Once I get that, I might be able to break the link between Gaja.
As Gaja heard this, he looked into Limbo's eyes.
"And once the link breaks... No beast will ever chase you again.'
Gaja overflowing with,
Hope.
Fear.
And relief....
All emotions mixed together.
The sound that was coming from behind the trees suddenly stopped.
Everything went silent.
Too silent.
Not a single bird.
Not even a wind.
Just a sound of heavy breathing...
Hoosh..shhhh...
The mysterious breathing sound started to echo around the trees and the surrounding area in the shadows.
Rin's legs were trembling, but she still stood in attack mode, ready at any time to launch a vine strike.
Limbo lowered himself. He was getting ready for something.
The console light glows around him.
The target is within 300meters.
Visual contact is possible
He closed his eyes for a second.
This time I won't make mistake.
"I'll protect what I have to.
I will terminate whatever threatens it."
The sudden cracks started to appear on the ground. At the source of the cracks, a shadow moved slowly forward.
Limbo was analysing carefully everything.
Slowly, behind the shadow of trees, a glowing eye appears.
Then another.
Then the third one.
Gaja and Rin take a step back, unknowingly.
The system flickered,
The threat detected: the three-eyed Alpha beast.
Corruption Grade: Higher
Fragment detected.
Limbo, take a deep breath.
"Perfect."
I don't have to search for it.
It came to me, saving my efforts.
Limbo was calm, his gaze was sharp and ready.
The three eyes of the beast were glowing while he shook the ground as he walked.
His Gaze was locked only on Gaja.
Limbo moved Gaja behind with his hand.
Stay behind me, he said quietly.
The roared as he looked at Gaja.
The system flickered quick response.
[ Combat mode initialized ]
[ Gathering fragment data ]
Limbo said quietly to himself and the system.
Let's begin...
...The hunt...