Cold wind swept across the Bureau outpost as darkness settled over the mountains.
Searchlights illuminated the perimeter fences while armed awakened soldiers moved between defensive positions with visible tension. The atmosphere felt completely different from the academy expeditions.
This was not exploration.
This was containment.
Krishak stood beside the holographic map inside the command tent, studying the blurred image of the ancient stone gates hidden within the valley.
The silver symbols engraved across the structure pulsed faintly like a heartbeat.
Lunafang remained close beside him, fur slightly raised.
The silver wolf could sense it too.
Something inside the valley was alive.
Director Rao crossed his arms.
"We attempted three reconnaissance operations."
He enlarged the map.
"The first team disappeared."
A red marker blinked and vanished.
"The second retreated after encountering mutated beasts.
"
Another series of images appeared.
Massive wolf-like creatures with distorted limbs.
Serpentine beasts covered in crystalline growths.
Trees twisted unnaturally by unstabie spiritual energy.
"The third operation used drones only, Rao continued. "All signals were lost near the central structure.
Dev stared at the images.
"Those beasts don't look natural."
"They aren't," Krishak said quietly.
Everyone turned toward him.
"The spiritual energy in this region is unstable. Something is corrupting the environment."
Ananya frowned.
"Can spiritual energy become corrupted?"
"Yes," Krishak replied. "When ancient formations are damaged, sealed energy can destabilize. Weak creatures exposed to it mutate over time."
Professor Devika, who had joined the expedition as research support, looked troubled.
"And intelligent beings?"
Krishak's expression hardened slightly.
"The effects are worse."
Silence filled the tent.
Rao activated another projection.
"This valley was once a mining settlement nearly eighty years ago."
Old black-and-white photographs appeared.
Workers.
Excavation tunnels.
Heavy machinery.
Then came images of collapse and destruction.
"One month after excavation began, Rao said, "the entire settlement was abandoned overnight."
"Why?" Ishita asked.
"No survivors remained to explain."
The room grew colder.
According to the records, rescue teams found signs of violent conflict, but almost no bodies.
Only claw marks.
And strange symbols carved into stone walls.
Raghav shifted uneasily.
"So they accidentally uncovered something."
Krishak nodded slowly.
Most likely, the miners had disturbed a sealed area connected to the ancient civilization.
But without proper understanding, they would have triggered defensive mechanisms or awakened corrupted energy.
The result would have been catastrophic.
Headmaster Rudra entered the tent shortly afterward.
"We move at dawn, he said calmly.
He looked directly at the students.
"This mission is reconnaissance only."
Dev immediately looked suspicious.
"That usually means things will go terribly wrong.
Rudra ignored him completely.
"Our primary objective is identifying the source of the disturbance."
He paused.
"If conditions become uncontrollable, retreat immediately."
Krishak noticed the subtle emphasis in Rudra's tone.
The Headmaster understood the danger.
Possibly more than he admitted openly.
That night, the camp remained on high alert.
Armed patrols circled constantly.
Occasionally, distant howls echoed through the mountains.
None sounded entirely natural.
Inside a smaller support tent, Krishak and his companions prepared quietly.
Ishita organized portable formation plates.
Ananya distributed healing pills.
Raghav checked scouting equipment
while Skyrend sharpened his senses from atop a crate.
Dev polished his spear with unusual seriousness.
Finally, he looked toward Krishak.
"You think this mission is dangerous, don't you?"
Krishak met his gaze calmly.
"Yes."
The direct answer silenced the group.
After a moment, Dev exhaled slowly.
"Good. At least now I know I'm not imagining it."
Ananya tightened her grip on her medical pouch.
"What exactly are we dealing with?"
Krishak thought briefly before answering.
"Possibly a damaged sealing formation."
Raghav frowned.
"Sealing what?"
"That," Krishak said quietly, "is what worries me.
Later, while most of the camp rested,
Krishak sat alone outside beneath the
stars.
The Stellar Compass floated above his palm.
The bright desert marker continued pulsing intensely.
But now, thin black distortions flickered around it intermittently.
Corruption.
The ancient ruin was destabilizing faster than expected.
Lunafang suddenly lifted his head.
A low growl escaped his throat.
Krishak's eyes sharpened instantly.
Several hundred meters beyond the outer perimeter
Something was moving through the forest.
Silently.
Watching.
Without hesitation, Krishak activated a perception technique from the Stellar Body Refinement Art.
Spiritual energy gathered around his eyes.
The darkness beyond the trees shifted.
Then he saw them.
Pairs of glowing eyes.
Dozens.
Hidden among the forest shadows.
Not attacking.
Observing.
Lunafang stepped forward protectively.
At that exact moment, alarms erupted throughout the outpost.
Red warning lights flashed.
Soldiers grabbed weapons and rushed toward defensive positions.
Director Rao's voice thundered through the communication system.
"ALL UNITS ALERT! BEAST ACTIVITY DETECTED NORTHWEST PERIMETER!"
The forest exploded with movement.
Distorted beasts emerged from the darkness at terrifying speed.
Massive wolf-like creatures charged through the mist, their bodies covered in black crystal growths.
Behind them slithered enormous serpents with glowing veins of corrupted spiritual energy running beneath their scales.
Gunfire and spiritual attacks erupted instantly.
The night descended into chaos.
Stay together!" Rudra ordered sharply.
Dev spun his spear and grinned despite the danger.
"Well," he said, "there goes the quiet mission."
The first corrupted beast crashed into the perimeter barrier with enough force to shake the entire outpost.
And deep within the valley beyond the forest.
The ancient stone gates began glowing brighter.