I glanced toward where the Vireloch Lord had stood.
The dust had settled.
What remained was wrong.
The ground there was dead—gray, brittle, stripped of life by the stone's explosion. No trees. No grass. Just a wide, withered crater.
And the Vireloch?
Gone.
All that remained was a puddle of ruined flesh—skin collapsed into the earth where the lord had been, like the world itself was trying to swallow the evidence.
I pushed myself upright, my body still heavy from the blast.
Blood Frenzy hadn't fully faded.
My flesh felt uncomfortable, like it didn't quite belong to me, and my thoughts were… tangled. Frayed at the edges.
Blood Frenzy plays with my mind too often.
I clenched my fists.
I wish I never had to rely on it.
If I keep using it—
Eventually, it's going to change me forever.
I moved slowly toward the crater, every step deliberate.
At the center, something flickered.
I focused.
The stones.
The purple stones that had powered the Virelochs' regeneration lay scattered across the impact zone.
Most of them were cracked.
Dead.
Their glow gone, just as lifeless as the soil beneath them.
But one—
One still pulsed.
Barely.
I stepped down into the crater and grabbed it.
The Vireloch's flesh tried to cling—stretching, pulling—
And I tore it free.
The light inside was weak, flickering faintly like a dying heartbeat.
The moment it touched my palm, that sensation returned.
Death.
Overwhelming.
Cold and absolute.
I turned the stone in my hand, studying the fractures spiderwebbing across its surface, purple light leaking through the cracks like a wound that wouldn't close.
The power inside felt wrong.
Corrupted.
System, do you know what this is?
Yes. It is a mana crystal.
…Mana crystal?
My brow furrowed.
Is this what Verren wants?
Corrupted mana crystals?
That doesn't make sense.
He wants to save his people—not corrupt them further.
I stared down at the crystal again, uneasy.
Do you know what colors mana crystals usually are?
The most common is blue. However, there are many variations. Color correlates directly to the type or density of mana contained within.
I rolled the stone in my palm, thinking hard.
Is it possible these were tampered with?
The system paused.
Yes. It is possible.
Then, after another moment—
However, the energy required to alter a mana crystal in this manner would far exceed anything known within this region.
I stared at the stone.
Before I could think further, it cracked completely.
Purple light flared once—
Then vanished.
The crystal split apart in my hand and dropped into the dirt, breaking into lifeless shards.
I let it fall.
And turned away.
I walked back toward the Brambleharts.
I expected tension.
Defensiveness.
Maybe even hostility.
Instead…
They allowed me to approach.
The Bramblehart that had fought beside me lay on the ground, its massive body trembling.
Dark veins of corruption crawled beneath its bark-like hide, pulsing faintly like something alive in all the wrong ways.
It was in pain.
What is happening to it?
This is withering poison. Certain monsters possess the ability to corrupt the life-force of others.
My gaze hardened.
Is there any way to stop it?
There are methods. They are not easily acquired.
What are they?
If the corruption has not reached vital organs, counteracting it with pure energy may halt its spread. However, this would not heal the damage already done.
I studied the Bramblehart's slow, labored movements—every breath a shudder, every twitch a fight.
A thought surfaced, sharp and ugly.
What about… a mana crystal?
The system hesitated.
In theory, yes. However, unless you intend to raid a human kingdom, acquiring one would be unlikely.
I glanced back at the crater.
Those stones… they were mana crystals, right?
Yes.
Then they came from somewhere in this region.
Theoretically, that is correct. However, finding an uncorrupted one would be highly improbable.
My mind snapped back to Verren's warning.
Didn't he say the dungeon here was controlled by something sinister?
Could that be the source?
System… could the dungeon be where these came from?
Potentially.
Then inside the dungeon—
There might be more mana crystals.
Maybe even one that isn't corrupted yet.
The system paused.
This line of thinking is dangerous.
That would require approaching the dungeon core
And if I did?
You would die.
A quiet scoff escaped me.
Dungeon cores are not to be taken lightly, Their power is immense.
I looked back at the Bramblehart.
Its body shuddered as the corruption spread, slow but relentless.
It saved my life.
More than once.
The least I can do… is risk mine to try and save it.
You are foolish.
Maybe.
But I'd rather be foolish than selfish.
I placed my hand gently against the Bramblehart's body.
"Thank you," I said softly. "For saving me."
"I'll do my best to return the favor."
The Bramblehart turned its head slightly, emerald eyes meeting mine.
It understood.
Around us, the other Brambleharts pressed their bodies into the earth.
Nature answered them.
A faint green energy pulsed through the ground, flowing into the injured one like a slow, stubborn tide.
What are they doing?
They are wasting their efforts.
That's not what I asked.
The system sighed.
They are attempting to slow the poison.
Can they?
Yes. But not for long.
Then I don't have a choice.
I need to go now.
Where is the dungeon?
A map unfolded in my vision.
The entire region spread out—
And at its center, a purple, radiating blur that made my instincts recoil.
What is that?
I traced the residual energy from the crystals. That is the source.
Then that's where I'm going.
I'll rest on the way.
I turned to leave—
And felt a gentle tug.
A young Bramblehart caught my side with its antler, careful not to push, just… asking.
I knelt and tapped its head lightly.
"I'll be back," I murmured. "Don't worry."
It couldn't understand my words.
But I hoped it understood my tone.
I stood.
The young Bramblehart returned to the injured one, pressing close as if lending warmth.
I looked back one more time, jaw tight, and nodded silently.
Whatever that dungeon is hiding—
I'll find it.
And I'll put an end to it.