The village of Welten lay before them, a small cluster of thatched-roof houses surrounded by fields and bordered by the dense forest. Though the sun was still up, an eerie quiet permeated the air, as if the village held its breath in anticipation of nightfall. As Mio, Reina, and Aron approached, they caught glimpses of wary faces peeking through curtains, only to disappear as quickly as they’d appeared. It was clear that fear had taken root here, feeding on the mystery of the disappearances and strange occurrences.
They made their way to the center of the village, where an elderly man with a stooped posture and sharp, weary eyes awaited them. His clothing was simple but well-kept, hinting at a sense of pride even amid the village’s troubles.
“Are you the adventurers from the guild?” he asked, his voice steady but tinged with concern.
“Yes, we’re here to investigate the disappearances,” Mio replied, stepping forward. “We’d like to know as much as you can tell us.”
The man introduced himself as Dalen, the village chief. With a gesture, he led them toward a modest building that served as the village meeting hall. Inside, he motioned for them to sit at a long wooden table, its surface worn smooth from years of use.
Once they were settled, Dalen’s expression grew grave. “These disappearances started nearly a month ago,” he began, folding his hands on the table. “At first, it was just a few animals gone missing—livestock disappearing without a trace. But soon, it escalated. Three villagers have gone missing, one after the other. No signs of struggle, no sounds in the night. It’s as if they vanished into thin air.”
Reina frowned, her brow furrowing. “Were there any witnesses? Anyone who might have seen or heard something unusual?”
Dalen shook his head. “None. Those who vanished were last seen in their homes before nightfall. By morning, they were gone. And those who remain are too afraid to leave their houses after dusk. We’ve heard… strange sounds in the forest, and some say they’ve seen flickering lights among the trees. It’s unlike anything we’ve ever experienced.”
Aron leaned forward, his eyes sharp. “And there haven’t been any tracks? Nothing to show where these villagers might have gone?”
“No tracks,” Dalen confirmed, his voice barely above a whisper. “Whatever is taking them leaves no trace.”
Mio exchanged a glance with her companions, the memory of the twisted creature they’d encountered lingering in her mind. “Has there been any sign of dark magic around the village? Strange symbols or unnatural disturbances?”
Dalen hesitated, then nodded slowly. “A few villagers have mentioned feeling a chill in the air, even when the weather is warm. And one of our farmers swears he saw shadows moving in ways they shouldn’t, as if something was lurking just out of sight.”
Mio’s suspicions solidified. The necromantic energy they’d sensed earlier likely extended to this village. Whoever—or whatever—was behind these disappearances seemed to be operating with both skill and discretion, working in the shadows and instilling fear among the villagers.
Dalen’s eyes, filled with a mixture of desperation and hope, met Mio’s. “We’ve lived here peacefully for generations. If this continues, I fear the village will be abandoned. We need your help.”
“You have it,” Mio assured him. “We’ll do everything we can to stop this.”
The trio left the meeting hall, their minds racing with possibilities. The villagers’ anxiety was palpable, and Mio could feel the tension in the air as they moved through the town, gathering information from any who were willing to talk. Most spoke in hushed tones, casting furtive glances over their shoulders, as though afraid the darkness itself might overhear.
A farmer shared his account of strange lights flickering in the forest, lights that seemed to pulse with an unnatural rhythm. Another villager described hearing faint whispers in the dead of night, whispers that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. Each account added a layer of dread to the mystery, confirming that something was indeed amiss.
As dusk began to settle over Welten, the trio gathered near the edge of the village, close to the forest where the strange lights and sounds had been reported. Mio looked to Reina and Aron, her expression resolute.
“Whatever’s hiding in these woods, it’s likely the source of the necromantic energy we sensed earlier. If we’re going to find any answers, we’ll need to investigate there.”
Reina nodded, gripping her staff tightly. “I’m ready. If we encounter another creature like the one from before, I won’t hold back.”
Aron gave a nod of agreement, his sword glinting faintly in the fading light. “Let’s do this. We’ll keep the villagers safe, no matter what it takes.”
They gathered their supplies and prepared to set up a watch near the edge of the forest. As the last rays of sunlight dipped below the horizon, the village grew still, and the oppressive weight of night settled over them. The silence was thick, punctuated only by the occasional rustling of leaves and the distant call of an owl.
Mio, Reina, and Aron huddled near the edge of the woods, concealed within the shadows of the trees as they scanned their surroundings, every sense heightened. The minutes stretched into hours as they waited, the stillness of the forest gradually amplifying the tension in the air.
At one point, Reina leaned closer to Mio, her voice a hushed whisper. “Do you really think the same kind of creature could be behind this?”
“It’s possible,” Mio replied, her gaze fixed on the treeline. “But there’s something different here. The creature we encountered before was crafted with precision and skill, as though it were a deliberate experiment. Whoever created it has a mastery of necromantic magic, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve made other, equally dangerous creatures.”
Reina shivered, her grip on her staff tightening. “Then we’ll have to be ready for anything.”
The forest was silent, almost unnaturally so. The trio remained vigilant, their eyes scanning every shadow, every flicker of movement. Then, just as the moon rose high above the trees, a faint rustling sound broke the stillness. It was subtle, almost like the wind stirring the leaves, but there was a heaviness to it—a presence that set Mio’s instincts on edge.
She raised a hand, signaling for Aron and Reina to stay alert. They crouched low, each of them tensing as the sound grew closer, accompanied by an unsettling, rhythmic scraping. The noise moved through the underbrush, slow and deliberate, as though whatever was making it was stalking them from the shadows.
Then, from the darkness, a faint glow appeared—an eerie, sickly green light that pulsed faintly, illuminating the twisted shape of a figure moving through the trees. Mio’s breath caught as she took in the sight: a humanoid form, hunched and grotesque, with elongated limbs that ended in claws. Its skin was pale and taut, stretched over a skeletal frame with patches of decayed flesh clinging to the bone. The creature’s eyes glowed with the same sickly green light, fixed on them with an unsettling intelligence.
Aron’s grip tightened on his sword, his face set in determination. Reina’s gaze was wide with a mixture of fear and resolve, but she held her ground, her staff at the ready.
Mio’s voice was barely a whisper as she spoke. “This is no ordinary undead. It’s been crafted, like the one we fought before—modified to be stronger, faster.”
The creature took a slow, shuffling step forward, its eyes never leaving them. Its movements were deliberate, almost calculating, as if it were sizing them up, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. Mio could feel the dark magic radiating from it, a twisted energy that pulsed in rhythm with the sickly glow in its eyes.
“Stay focused,” Mio murmured, her gaze steady. “We’ll need to use everything we have to take it down.”
The creature let out a low, guttural growl, and in a burst of unnatural speed, it lunged toward them, claws outstretched. Aron reacted first, stepping forward with his sword raised, intercepting the creature’s attack. The force of the blow sent a shockwave through the air, but Aron held firm, his reinforced body absorbing the impact.
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“Reina, now!” Mio called, stepping to the side as Reina raised her staff, summoning Thunder Strike to send a bolt of lightning surging toward the creature. The electricity crackled through the air, striking the creature and briefly illuminating its twisted form. The creature shuddered, but the attack seemed to do little more than stagger it.
“It’s stronger than the last one,” Reina muttered, a hint of frustration in her voice.
“Then we’ll wear it down,” Mio replied, her voice calm but focused. “Alternate your attacks, keep it off balance.”
Reina nodded, her expression fierce as she cast Ice Arrows, aiming for the creature’s joints to slow its movements. Aron moved in tandem, his sword flashing as he aimed for its exposed areas, his strikes deliberate and precise.
The creature snarled, its glowing eyes flickering as it took a step back, its form shifting as it adjusted to their attacks. Mio could see the dark energy pulsing within it, holding its decayed flesh together with an unsettling resilience.
She took a step forward, focusing as she channeled her mana to cast Analyze Soul. Her vision shifted, revealing the intricate network of necromantic energy woven within the creature’s body. It was bound together with layers of corrupted magic, a dark core nestled deep within its chest—a nexus of energy that sustained it.
“Mio, what do you see?” Aron called, his sword at the ready as he held the creature’s attention.
“It has a core—a dark nexus that’s keeping it alive. If we can destroy that, we can take it down,” Mio replied, her gaze never leaving the creature.
Aron nodded, determination flashing in his eyes. “Then we go for the core.”
The creature let out a roar, lunging at them with renewed ferocity, but Mio’s voice remained steady. “Reina, Aron, be ready. We’re ending this.”
The creature’s roar reverberated through the night, a twisted, guttural sound that seemed to chill the very air around them. Mio felt the dark energy pulsing from its form, like a heartbeat made of shadows and death. This creature was unlike anything they’d faced before—its power, its resilience, the sheer malice in its gaze. Whoever had created it was not only skilled in necromancy but relentless in perfecting these abominations.
"Stay sharp!” Mio warned, her voice cutting through the tension. “Aron, keep it focused on you. Reina, we’ll target that core together.”
Aron tightened his grip on his sword, his face set in determination. He moved forward with purpose, positioning himself as a shield between the creature and his companions. With a shout, he lunged, delivering a powerful swing aimed at the creature’s shoulder. The creature reacted with shocking speed, twisting its body to avoid the blow, its elongated limbs flexing as it moved. Aron’s sword scraped against the dark armor fused into its flesh, sending sparks into the air, but the creature didn’t flinch.
Reina took a steadying breath, her eyes blazing with resolve as she raised her staff, summoning Thunder Strike once more. A bolt of lightning crackled from her staff, illuminating the creature’s decayed form as it struck. The electricity surged through the creature, momentarily freezing it in place, and Reina immediately followed up with Ice Arrows, aiming at its legs and joints. The creature staggered, its movements slowing as frost crept along its limbs.
Mio seized the opportunity, weaving her mana into a focused spell. She called upon Sap Strength, directing the energy toward the creature to drain its vitality and weaken its defenses. The dark energy within it pulsed erratically, its movements becoming jerky as it fought against the draining effect.
Aron didn’t miss a beat. With the creature momentarily disoriented, he surged forward, delivering a powerful strike to its torso, aiming to drive it back. His blade found purchase, slicing through decayed flesh and striking against the pulsing, dark core hidden beneath. The creature howled, its form shuddering as the force of the blow reverberated through it, but it refused to fall, its twisted limbs twitching as it gathered itself to attack once more.
Reina raised her staff, casting Searing Bolt to send a blast of intense heat straight at the creature’s exposed torso. Flames burst against its armor and flesh, searing through decayed muscle and exposing more of the dark core within. The creature let out an ear-splitting shriek, its form convulsing as it recoiled from the fiery assault. For a moment, it seemed weakened, the glow in its eyes flickering.
Mio took a deep breath, focusing on the core she had glimpsed within the creature’s chest. “It’s vulnerable—aim for that core directly. If we hit it hard enough, we might be able to disrupt its magic.”
The creature, sensing the threat, lashed out with renewed fury, its claws swiping in wild arcs as it advanced on them. Aron stepped forward, meeting each attack head-on, his sword flashing as he blocked and parried, his strength bolstered by the Fortify Body spell Mio had cast on him earlier. His movements were fluid, his strikes precise, but even so, the creature’s strength was formidable, each blow landing with bone-jarring force.
Reina, meanwhile, alternated her attacks, casting Earth Wall to momentarily trap the creature and then following up with Fireball and Ice Shards to wear it down. Each spell struck with deadly accuracy, chipping away at its defenses, but the creature fought back with relentless aggression, its eyes glowing with an unnatural, malevolent light.
Mio could feel the strain of the battle beginning to wear on her companions, their breathing growing heavier with each exchange. She knew they couldn’t keep up this pace forever. With a surge of determination, she extended her hand, channeling her mana into a new spell—Energy Transfer—funneling a portion of her own strength into Reina and Aron to rejuvenate them.
Aron felt the surge of energy coursing through him, his fatigue fading as his muscles were revitalized. He gave Mio a grateful nod before focusing his gaze on the creature’s core, the dark nexus that pulsed with twisted necromantic energy. With renewed strength, he lunged forward, aiming directly for the core.
The creature snarled, twisting away, but Aron’s blade struck true, sinking deep into its torso. The impact sent a shockwave through the creature’s body, its form convulsing as dark tendrils of energy writhed around the blade. Reina followed up with a perfectly timed Thunder Strike, the electricity crackling along Aron’s sword and driving deeper into the creature’s core.
The creature let out a furious shriek, its limbs thrashing as its strength began to wane. Its once menacing glow dimmed, its movements becoming sluggish as the life force within it began to unravel. Sensing that they were close to victory, Mio stepped forward, her expression resolute.
“This ends now,” she said, her voice calm and deadly. She extended her hand, casting Destruction Wave, a spell from the Destruction school designed to disrupt magical constructs and entities. A pulse of raw destructive energy surged from her hand, washing over the creature and tearing at the necromantic threads that held it together.
The creature convulsed, its form breaking apart as the spell tore through its core. The twisted energy within it unraveled, dissipating into the night as its body crumbled to ash. A heavy silence fell over the clearing, the only sound their labored breathing as the remnants of the creature’s essence faded into the darkness.
Reina lowered her staff, her expression a mixture of exhaustion and relief. “That was… intense. It felt almost like it knew how to counter our attacks.”
Aron nodded, his face grim. “Whoever created that thing has skill. This wasn’t just a mindless undead—it was a crafted weapon, designed to fight and withstand groups like ours.”
Mio took a deep breath, her gaze lingering on the spot where the creature had fallen. “The necromancer behind this is no amateur. They’re experimenting, pushing the limits of necromantic magic in ways that require precision and knowledge. We’re dealing with someone dangerous.”
As they gathered their belongings, Mio’s mind raced with questions. The dark energy she had sensed within the creature had been disturbingly similar to her own abilities, yet twisted in a way that spoke of someone with a deep understanding of necromantic arts. This wasn’t a rogue mage dabbling in forbidden spells—this was someone who knew exactly what they were doing, someone who was using necromancy as a tool to create something far more sinister.
They started back toward the village, their footsteps heavy but their resolve stronger than ever. As they approached the edge of the forest, Mio turned to Reina and Aron, her expression serious.
“This encounter was a warning. Whoever’s behind these creations is likely close by, and they’re not afraid to experiment on a large scale. We’ll need to be vigilant and prepare for whatever lies ahead.”
Reina nodded, a fierce determination in her eyes. “I’ll keep training, keep pushing myself. If we face another creature like that, I want to be ready.”
Aron gripped his sword, his jaw set in resolve. “We’ll face it together. Whatever it takes, we’ll protect the village and stop this necromancer.”
They stepped out of the shadows of the forest, the warm lights of Welten’s houses a welcome sight against the night. But the comfort of the village’s glow did little to ease the sense of foreboding that lingered over them. Mio knew that this was just the beginning—that their true enemy was still lurking in the darkness, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
As they made their way back to the village center, Mio’s mind raced with possibilities. The encounter had given her a glimpse into the necromancer’s methods, but it had also revealed a dangerous truth: this enemy was capable of creating creatures with resilience, intelligence, and deadly strength. If they were to protect Welten—and perhaps the kingdom beyond—they would need to confront this threat head-on.
With the weight of the battle still fresh in their minds, the trio made their way to the village chief’s home to report their findings. As they approached, Mio cast a final glance back toward the forest, her eyes narrowing as she silently vowed to uncover the truth behind these twisted creations and the mage who commanded them.
For now, the village was safe, but Mio knew that the shadows held more threats, lurking just out of sight, waiting to be unleashed. And this time, she would be ready.