Chapter 2.3 — The Corruption of the Forest

  A burst of energy moved through the air, and hit our bodies hard. It was like being pushed back by a strong invisible force.

  The glow that came out from the stone had intensified. It pulsed like a heartbeat.

  “Hold on!” I shouted.

  The ground shook slightly while dust flew up into the air, circling around the stone.

  We raised our arms to protect ourselves. The humming sound turned into a deep boom—my body shook from the air pressure.

  “Leo! What in the world is that thing doing!” Rin shouted.

  “I need to get closer!” I gritted my teeth.

  Suddenly, I could hear growling sounds coming from behind us. I turned my head back, and looked over my shoulder.

  Hidden in the shadows I saw a couple of sharp teeth drooling. Then some paws, then a pair of red glowing eyes.

  A couple of wolves were approaching us. No—it was a pack… no, it was a horde of evil looking beasts—growling menacingly.

  “Ehh! They just keep coming?” I bellowed.

  Oh no! If the wolves are appearing now, that can only mean!

  A horde of glowing red eyes suddenly lit up from behind the trees. It was like the forest itself was angry at us.

  I stared at the scene as my face went blank—yep, right on cue!

  The monsters moved toward us as they emerged from the shadows.

  It was a mix of Klein and Graur Wolfs, Klein and Fels Horned Rabbits, Grauer Deer and of course all the types of slimes I have ever faced.

  Seriously, isn't that a bit overkill!

  It was a healthy mix of cuteness and terror. Just what a true adventurer needs in his daily meal to keep himself in shape.

  Somehow I felt like I was overthinking things?

  Ohh crap the stone?!

  I turned my head toward the stone, snapping myself out of my thoughts.

  The glow emanating from the stone had turned into a deep dark purple color.

  Shit its going into overdrive! We need to stop it, now!

  I immediately turned my head toward Rin, only to find her staring at the stone, frozen.

  “Miss Rin?” I shouted.

  But she didn't respond, her eyes seemed to be locked at the stone.

  Wait, I remember something, this is a scenario from the game!

  But isn't it happening too early!

  I glanced back toward the monsters, they were closing in but still far enough away. I looked at the stone, it was a bit closer but still too far.

  My eyes shifted down toward my pouch, containing my Manashells.

  “Hmm… type one, type two? What is the solution here?” I muttered to myself.

  The pulse from the stone hit me, and I felt a wave of nausea. Almost falling over myself.

  What the?!

  My vision flickered. One moment I stood in the forest, the next I was in a hospital room.

  “Huh?”

  The room was empty, but weirdly familiar. Then memories flashed before my eyes, memories I long had forgotten.

  My stomach twisted and I felt a sudden pain in my head.

  “Ahh… what's going on?!”

  I pressed both hands into my head, the pain intensified, feeling like my head was about to split open.

  I closed my eyes, trying to calm down… then a familiar voice called out.

  “Leo! Are you alright?”

  My eyes shot open—I stared down at the floor.

  “Mom is that you?” I said while slowly raising my head.

  But before I could see the person in front of me, the room disappeared and I suddenly stood outside.

  A casket was in front of me, ready to be buried. I looked down into it, but it was empty, yet it was familiar?

  Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder, a familiar voice called out.

  “Leo! Are you alright?”

  I looked up. “Dad! Is that you?”

  I turned my head to look at the person standing behind me—only to disappear.

  Suddenly, the sky flashed as the rain came pouring down.

  Smoke filled the air, the sound of scream could be heard in the background. I looked around me, only to see flames burst out from the buildings.

  It was a village—drowning in a sea of flames!

  My eyes shot wide.

  “No way? This is that memory, that scene of Heimzuch burning?!”

  I looked around the area. “Where is she? Where are they?”

  But I couldn't see them… that's when I realized.

  “Ohh, shit… I fell for it! dammit!!” I shouted into the sky.

  “Come on, stop wasting my time!”

  I made a fist and punched myself in the head.

  “Ohh, it's like that huh? Well how do you like this then!”

  I punched myself even harder! Almost falling over.

  One more time!

  I hit myself as hard as I could!

  Suddenly the world around me shattered like glass. I was back in the forest with Miss Rin. It felt like only a few moments had passed.

  “Yes, I did it! I broke the illusion!” I grinned.

  I looked up at the stone, then turned my head back toward the enemy. The monsters had moved closer but were still far enough away.

  Huh? Why haven't they attacked yet?

  I tilted my head slightly, but snapped myself back to reality.

  “Dammit—stop overthinking and do something!”

  I bolted toward Miss Rin and grabbed her by the shoulders.

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  “Wake up!” I shook her, but no response.

  “Come on!”

  I shook her even harder, but she didn't respond.

  “Ahh, I'm really sorry for this Miss Rin!”

  I slapped hard across her face, snapping her out of it.

  “Huh? What's going on!” Rin said, confused.

  There is no time, I need her now!

  “Can you hold them off!” I shouted.

  Rin's eyes blinked in rapid succession. “Huh?—What?!”

  I raised my finger—pointing it past her.

  She turned her head and looked over her shoulder.

  “Where did they come from?!” Rin panicked.

  I placed both my hands on her shoulders.

  “Please tell me you can hold them off for a moment!”

  I turned and pointed toward the stone. “I need to shut that down!”

  “Can you do it?!” I glanced back at her.

  Rin turned her head back and forth between the monsters and me. Then nervously took a deep breath.

  Her expression turned serious. “Got it! I'll buy you as much time as I can!”

  I nodded. “Good, I’ll take care of the stone!”

  Rin turned toward the monsters, drawing her blade.

  I ran toward the stone as fast as I could, the air pressure made it hard to move at full speed but I forced my way through it despite that.

  Suddenly, the wolves howled and the monsters moved in to attack.

  “Here they come!” Rin shouted, “Terra Guard!” a green aura enveloped her body.

  The wolves were the first to approach her, but before they could attack.

  Rin suddenly slammed her hand into the ground. “Terra Pit!” The ground broke beneath some of the wolves, sending a few into a deep pit.

  The other wolves seemed unaffected as they picked up speed.

  Rin grinned and slammed the other hand with her sword into the ground.

  “Terra Pit!” The ground broke, swallowing another couple of wolves.

  The other monsters didn't stop or move around the holes, on the contrary.

  They were blinded by rage to such an extent, that many of them fell straight down into the pits.

  Rin stood up and raised her blade, the remaining wolves were now only a few meters away.

  She tightened her grip on the handle, the green aura around her intensified.

  “Almost there!” She gritted her teeth.

  The wolves growled as they opened their mouths wide—to attack.

  “Terra Blade!” Rin shouted as she slammed her sword into the ground, releasing a shockwave.

  The ground shook hard as the monsters came to a sudden stop. Sweat ran down Rin’s face, she raised her sword once again.

  The monsters tried to regain their balance but before they had the chance, Rin brought her sword down with all of her might.

  “Terra Blade!” Rin shouted.

  The moment her sword hit the ground she released another shockwave. The ground shook and broke off the top layer of the earth, into smaller pieces that resemble sand.

  The monsters cried out as they sank slowly into it—trapping them.

  Rin panted hard while being drenched in sweat. “I hope this buys you enough time Mr. Nachman?”

  I had finally forced my way to the stone. I took out a small notebook from my pocket, opening it.

  “Come now, how did that go again?” I gritted my teeth.

  I remembered this scene, but I couldn't quite remember the correct solution.

  “It was a big game, not like I remembered everything perfectly! And I’ve been sort of busy with other stuff!”

  I flipped through the book, trying to remember. “Gahh, why now? Isn't this thing with the corrupted stones supposed to happen much later?!”

  Suddenly, I landed on the correct page.

  “There it is!” I said excitedly, and scanned the context as fast as I could.

  My eyes widened. “Huh? The stones are supposed to appear in sequence, but late in the game… however, this specific one could be found in one of the side quests?”

  I scratched my head. “No wait, this stone was originally a part of the late game but could be discovered by accident?”

  Ahh… now I remember!

  Sometimes in role playing games, you would take on a normal side quest only to run into something important in the middle of it. Something that would or could affect the story later.

  Now that I think about it, you could delay the attack on Heimzuch village by destroying this stone early on… but still, the fact that it's already active is something that shouldn't be possible yet.

  What's going on? The only way for this to happen… hmm, could it be?

  My mind was racing, trying to figure it out…

  Suddenly, the surge from the stone intensified as the cry from more monsters echoed through the forest.

  I slapped my cheeks with both hands, snapping myself out of it.

  “How do I stop it?”

  I leaned in closer to the stone, my heart pounded, my body shook.

  “I have to keep my focus! I can't let fear control me!”

  I quickly opened my pouch containing my Manashells. “I might be able to use a fire spell, but I'm not sure it will work on a stone that's already activated?”

  When Miss Rin showed me the paper with the symbol, I wasn't sure if it was related to this event or not.

  I messed up, I didn't prepare for an active stone!

  I knit my brows together, trying to think up a plan only for the glow from the stone to change into a dark purple color.

  My eyes shot wide. “I need to act now—there's only one thing I can think of doing!”

  I quickly dropped my bag down to the ground in front of me. I pulled out a miniature ShellCraft kit and flipped it open, ripping out the pen-shaped magic tool.

  I leaned down with the tool and brought it closer to the stone… A bead of sweat ran down my forehead.

  I gritted my teeth, “I really hope this works.”

  The symbol burned with an intense aura, I felt fear creeping up inside of me.

  “Just a little more.” I leaned in closer.

  A loud booming sound came from behind me, I quickly glanced back.

  “Whatever you need to do—do it now!!” Rin shouted, exhausted.

  She had unleashed yet another shockwave against the monsters, cracking the ground even more.

  Woo, she's really going all out!! I need to finish this!

  I swiped my pen over the symbol as I scribbled over it, carving my own symbol into it.

  The color changed from dark purple into a light purple color, as the intensity slowly subsided.

  “Ohh, that did something.” I grinned.

  I continued to scribble as fast as I could, trying everything I could think of.

  “Hmm, maybe like this… no like that!” My hand moved frantically.

  “What's going on!” Rin shouted from the back.

  “I almost got it!” I replied.

  The energy hit my pen-tool, forming a visible electric current between the tool and the symbol… pain shot through my body—I pressed on.

  “Come on!” I bellowed.

  The pain intensified and I bit my lips, to prevent myself from passing out. I held the pen in both hands, carving the last symbols into it.

  Suddenly—

  The glow from the stone dimmed… The purple aura dissipated into thin air, and the cry from the monsters died down.

  I turned my head back. “I did it!”

  Rin glanced back and nodded.

  My eyes widened and I immediately unsheathed my sword—ready to fight!

  The beasts stood frozen. Their heads drifted around as if they didn't know what was going on… then they stared at us for a moment, only to turn around and walk away.

  Rin furrowed her brows. “Huh? They're leaving us alone?”

  “Yes… it seems so!” I replied in relief.

  Rin turned toward me. “What's going on? Did they attack us because of the stone?”

  I nodded. “Yes, unfortunately the stone was affecting the monsters in this forest to become violent… like it was corrupting them!”

  “What? The stone was corrupting them?” Rin’s mouth dropped.

  She lowered her head. “This cannot be a natural phenomenon! Can it?!”

  “No, this is definitely by design! Someone activated that stone on purpose!!” I said with a concerned expression.

  But who? Why? It's way too early for this to happen?!

  I could hear the gears in my head grinding, trying to come up with an answer.

  Rin looked around with a concerned expression. “I need to report this immediately!” she said while sheathing her sword.

  I looked up at her. “This needs further investigation… we cannot leave until we find the cause for the stone’s activation!”

  Rin's eyes narrowed. “That might be true! However, I need to go back and report this as fast as possible—”

  Suddenly, the air shifted.

  A weird and sinister presence filled the forest.

  A laugh echoed behind me.

  I slowly glanced back.

  A figure slowly descended from the sky.

  She landed softly with one leg on top of the stone.

  Her dark wings were stretched, blocking out the sun.

  She was slender…

  Elegant.

  Tall—with bright purple eyes.

  Smiling…

  “Ohh, so you're the one who’s causing me trouble!” She grinned menacingly.

  I froze.

  A cold sweat ran down my spine.

  This is…

  No way, why here, why now?!

  I took a step back.

  “It's one of the Shadow Kings generals—”

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