CHAPTER 39: ORIGIN OF MOONMIST II

Rhys paused at the arch, his hand instinctively reaching for the hilt of the longsword strapped to his back. Black Moon Hollow. The name itself sent a shiver down his spine. He checked his level one last time – 32. The recommended level range was 30 – 80. He was just within the edge, but this was still going to be challenging.

He took a deep breath, steeling his resolve. Hidden quests rarely offered easy victories. And the promise of an unknown reward, along with the unsettling mystery surrounding the Nameless White, was too enticing to ignore.

He checked his inventory one last time. Healing potions? Check. Mana restoration crystals? Check. A handful of silverleaf berries for temporary poison resistance? Check. He was as prepared as he could be, given the limited information he had.

With a final sigh, Rhys stepped beneath the decaying arch and into the Black Moon Hollow.

The change was immediate and striking. The warm sunlight that had bathed Moonmist Heart vanished, replaced by a perpetual twilight. The air grew cold and damp, heavy with the scent of decay and something else... a subtle, almost metallic tang that made his teeth ache. The trees were twisted and gnarled, their branches reaching out like skeletal arms, and a thick, black mist clung to the ground, obscuring the path ahead.

The forest was eerily silent. No birds sang, no insects buzzed. Only the crunch of Rhys’s boots on the decaying leaves broke the oppressive stillness. He drew his longsword, its polished steel reflecting the dim light, and activated his Detect Magic skill.

A faint blue aura shimmered around him, revealing the intricate network of mana currents that flowed through the Black Moon Hollow. But unlike the harmonious, vibrant mana he sensed within Moonmist Heart, this mana was corrupted, fractured, and chaotic. Pools of dark energy pulsed beneath the mist, swirling like malevolent eyes.

He carefully followed the path, his senses on high alert. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of a twig, made him jump. The deeper he ventured into the Hollow, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. He could feel the weight of the corrupted mana pressing down on him, slowly draining his stamina despite his rest at the inn.

Suddenly, a guttural growl echoed through the trees. Rhys whirled around, his sword raised, and saw two glowing red eyes staring back at him from the darkness. Then two more pairs. Then four more. A massive, shadowy figure emerged from the mist – a Corrupted Dire Wolf. And it wasn’t alone. A whole pack of the beasts, their eyes burning with malice. His [Analyze] skill flared to life.

[Corrupted Dire Wolf Pack]

Leader: Corrupted Dire Wolf (Level 35)

Members: 7x Corrupted Dire Wolf (Level 33)

Type: Aberration

Notable Traits: Corrupted Mana Infusion, Pack Tactics, Enhanced Strength, Corruption Sickness (Debuff)

Rhys smirked. This was almost insulting. At level 32, with his gear and stats, this was barely a warm-up. He activated [Ancient Light Magic – Level 2], the skill of Puddle, he is currently sharing.

He channeled his mana, feeling the familiar surge of power as the light magic coursed through him. It was time to show these corrupted mutts what true power looked like.

The wolf pack lunged, a snarling mass of claws and teeth. Rhys reacted instantly. He raised his hand, and a shimmering [Light Shield] sprang into existence, deflecting the initial wave of attacks. The wolves crashed against it, momentarily stunned.

Taking advantage of the opening, Rhys unleashed [Radiant Pulse]. A wave of purifying light erupted from him, washing over the pack. The wolves shrieked in pain, their corrupted fur smoking and sizzling as the light burned away the taint. They stumbled back, weakened and disoriented.

Now it was time to go on the offensive. Focusing his mana, Rhys summoned [Halo Spear]. A gleaming spear of pure light materialized in his hand. He hurled it with pinpoint accuracy, the spear piercing straight through the pack leader’s heart, ignoring its corrupted defenses. The leader, the level 35 wolf, let out a choked whimper before collapsing into the mist.

With their leader gone, the remaining wolves hesitated, their pack tactics unraveling. Rhys pressed his advantage, unleashing a barrage of [Light Bullets]. Tiny projectiles of pure light zipped through the air, striking the remaining wolves with deadly precision. Each impact was like a miniature explosion of holy energy, tearing through their corrupted flesh.

The remaining wolves, levels 33 and now severely weakened from the Radiant Pulse, were no match for the barrage of Light Bullets and spear. Within seconds, the entire pack lay defeated, their bodies dissolving into the mist, leaving behind only a faint, lingering scent of ozone and burnt corruption.

Rhys lowered his hand, the last of the light dissipating. He hadn’t even broken a sweat. A series of notifications flashed across his screen:

[Corrupted Dire Wolf Defeated! 350 XP Gained.] (x1)

[Corrupted Dire Wolf Defeated! 300 XP Gained.] (x7)

[Status Effect "Corruption Sickness" resisted due to Ancient Light Magic!]

[Skill "Radiant Pulse" proficiency increased!]

[Skill "Light Bullets" proficiency increased!]

He had cleared the pack easily, barely even needing to tap into his potion reserves. The Ancient Light Magic was far more potent against corrupted creatures than he had initially anticipated. He wiped the nonexistent sweat from his brow and continued his journey.

Days blurred into nights as Rhys ventured deeper into the Black Moon Hollow. The terrain grew increasingly treacherous, the corrupted mana more intense. He navigated twisted canyons choked with black mist, scaled crumbling cliffs slick with unnatural moisture, and crossed rivers of brackish water that seemed to writhe with unseen horrors.

But he was no longer alone in the truest sense. Puddle, his tamed beast, was now an indispensable companion. The little slime, despite his seemingly innocuous form, was a force to be reckoned with. Rhys often relied on Puddle’s [Absorb] passive, which allowed him to devour corrupted energy, purifying small areas and providing temporary relief from the Hollow’s oppressive atmosphere.

Puddle, radiating a soft, internal glow, hopped along beside him.