The underground cavern was uninviting compared to the surface. Droplets of cold water pattered from the ceiling and stalactites. Eerie echoes whispered through the cavern. Few scaly lacertilia crawled on the walls and croaked. Strange mosses radiated warm light and puffed colorful pollens.

Milas slightly shivered and rubbed her arms. Rez lit up a makeshift torch, which Dipper handed him before. The cavern was so dark to distinguish anything that stands on the way. Nia tugged her outer garment closer for warmth. Corbin has been uneasy since they descended.

The adventurers carefully traversed the narrow paths of the cavern. One careless slip and they would fall to the abyss. Below them were pitch-black darkness and tall stalagmites. Rez threw one of the lit torch to see how deep the ravine was. Fortunately, they managed their bearings and footings. Corbin wrapped a lengthy rope around his waist. He handed down the rest of the rope to his companions. Milas, Rez and Nia also wrapped their waists with the rope. Then they scaled the narrow path by hugging the cavern’s wall.

As the adventurers reach a wider terrain, they spotted a garou vigilantly patrolling. It was unusual for a garou to march like a human soldier. A common garou walked on fours. Instead, the marching garou stands on twos. It even carries a crude cudgel as a makeshift weapon.

“That one looks way too smarter than the bunch.” Rez comments about the peculiar enemy.

“It’s protecting something important. Better take that one out” Corbin pointed Milas to tackle the garou. She sneaked behind the garou after it turned around. Kicked from its shin, grabbed from its waist from behind and planted to the ground. The garou stood no chance of counterattacking Milas’s quick combo.

Before entering a larger room, they spotted various monsters. Each of them were congregating in a single spot.

“They don’t look like the garou or elementals.” Milas squinted her eyes at the monsters.

“They’re golems, old war machines.” Corbin recalled fighting one of them back at Jagganatha. Human mages controlled golems to outmatch the strength of orcs. They were infamous for their unlimited stamina and resistance against bladed weapons. The golems in the underground looked different from their usual appearance. Other than their coarse stone bodies, a blob of shadow encapsulated their jagged core. Their eyes gleamed in sinister red. A few packs of armed garou accompanied the corrupted golems.

“Looks like we can’t sneak through them this time.” Milas cracked her fists, anticipating the coming fight.

“I’ll shoot the tiny ones, go handle the rest since they are few.” Rez reloaded his firearm’s magazine.

“Step back, Nia.” Corbin drew his sword from his back.

Nia retreated to a safe corner as the three engaged the enemies. The three charged towards the monsters. Corbin and Milas confronted three golems while Rez aimed at the hoard of garou. He signaled the two every time he makes an aimed shot. Corbin and Milas simply stepped sideways to dodge the incoming bullets. Since he can’t injure the golems, Corbin strike them with his sword’s fuller. He utilized his sword like a club instead of a bladed weapon. He incorporated vicious stomps whenever the golem advances.

Milas has experience of punching boulders back at Lotus Valley. Instead of using her nimble strikes, she concentrated and assumed a steady stance. She gathered strength while waiting for a golem to approach. At the right moment, she thrusted her right fists and hit the golem’s stomach. The golem crumbled, but the core remains intact.

“Be careful not to touch the shadow from its core.” Nia called from the back.

As Rez takes some potshots from the distance, he noticed an iron door with steps ascending towards it. Evading the enemy’s attention, he reached the ledge by running through the walls, stepping on the garou’s shoulders and hopping on the golem’s head. He stuck an improvised explosive and turns it on.

“Fire in the hole!” Rez anticipated the explosion.

The others noticed the implanted explosive so they retreat before it detonates. Rez flipped to the lower floor and safely lands below the steps. The iron door explodes and bits of metals fly. Some of the stray iron bits impaled the clueless garou and golems.

The adventurers took the opportunity and quickly climbed the steps. Nia caught up with the three while the monsters are distracted. They discovered a smaller metallic room above the wider room. Just as the garou and golems tried to climb up, Corbin hurled some large rocks lying on the floor and stalactites near the steps. He barricaded the door with broken furnitures, making sure nobody followed them.

Inside the smaller metallic room were metallic walls, used-up provisions, painted scribblings, and a tattered map.

“Finally, a breather. Too bad and it’s cramped inside.” Milas comfortably sat on the cold floor and exhaled.

Nia grabbed a tattered wooden box and rested on it. Corbin took a sliced porcus and fruits from his food sack, chomping at them quietly.

“Let’s see. This is a strange metallic structure conveneitnly trapped in the cavern.” Rez inspected the integrity of the small room. No cracks or rust present. He took the map planted on a wooden frame.

“Maybe this place sank from the surface? This looks like a miner’s camp.” Milas pointed out some miner’s supplies across the room..

“It could be the tremors swallowed this place. I heard stories about violent quakes and places that fell from the surface.” Nia recounted Rothar’s tales. Before the settlements were established, the Fluorescent Woods was once a barren plain. It took centuries for the spirits to make the plains into a forest.

“‘What matters is we’re safe.” Corbin wiped his mouth to talk.

“On the other side of this room is another door. According to the map, it leads to a massive area near the surface. I hope it’s the Motherlode.” Rez wished the end of their tiring quest.

The adventurers took a quick rest to reinvigorate themselves. Corbin offered his leftover fruits to the group. Nia gently picked a tiny cluster of fruit. Milas lied down on her side and impatiently waits for the next move. Rez counted the remaining bullets from his spare magazine.

After two hours pass, they decide to open the second door. They felt refreshed despite the brief break. They anticipated some kind of ambush once the door opens. The narrow tunnel towards the massive area was tight. It has rocks and gems sticking on the walls. The floor was bumpy and uncomfortable to walk in. Nia removed off her slippers since the heels are impeding her balance. Foul stench permeated at the narrow tunnel. It was the smell of the gas from the vents and minerals. Milas covered her mouth and nose with her elbows. Corbin and Rez held their breath to avoid inhaling the noxious gasses. Nia used her outer garment to shield her lower face. The adventures reached the end of the tunnel, looking fatigued and worried.

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“Can’t hold my breath longer.” Rez exhaled deeply and caught some air. Corbin coughs as the air becomes more breathable.

“It’s easier to breathe now. We might be near the surface.” Milas stretched her arms out of exhaustion.

Nia wore her slippers again upon standing on a flat surface. As they exit the putrid and small tunnel, a colossal room stood in front of them. The room is stony and moist. The ceiling is on the verge of collapsing as dust and debris fell down. A ray of sunshine peaked from the cracks in the ceiling.

A tainted obelisk was upright in the middle of the room. Four tall crystals encircled the obelisk. Each one has bright colors, resembling the primordial elements of the forest. Inside them were the petrified greater elementals. A dark pentacle encircled each crystal. Each dark circle has trails pointing towards the obelisk.

“Who dares to disturb my peace?” An ominous voice roared to the adventurers. The adventurers can’t discern if the disembodied voice is even a living being.

“Face us, coward!” Corbin points out his sword towards the obelisk.

“I am the Messenger of the Visitors. Made with perfection. My goal is to spread prosperity through the land.”

“In what way? Turning them into your mindless subjects? Milas angrily answered back.

A pack of walking garou shielded the obelisk with their cudgels. On their backs were the corrupted elementals commanding them. Tall golems took the forefront of the monsters.

“Ignorant children, I have perfected the inhabitants of this fertile forest. They no longer carry the burden which you indebted them. I will judge accordingly those who oppose me.” The disembodied voice roars over the adventurers.

“Including pillaging? You’re no different from a typical nobility.” Rez playfully bit back.

“The ones you judge have their own rights to live. They have the right to decide for themselves. The garou and elementals don’t want any of this. They are suffering because of your selfishness. You’re just manipulating the Motherlode with your own whims.” Nia bravely stood forward.

“Silence! Your narrow mindedness is my reason for cleansing this world. Wars, famine, pestilence. I shall eradicate them by forcing my will!”

“Suffering, making mistakes, unwanted conflicts. Despite our shortcomings, we rise again and correct them. That’s what makes us alive. We have the capability to learn and grow. Enslavement will only cause stagnation. That’s how civilizations slowly die.” Nia remembered past stories about failed civilization. She learned about them during her travels by herself.

“Enough talk. I can no longer reason with you. Perish!” The disembodied voice ordered the monsters to attack. The garou rose their arms and screamed. More garou spawned as the elementals raised their glowing hands. The golems intimidatingly cracked their craggy knuckles.

“Bring it on!” Corbin taunted the horde and pounded his chest with his left hand. He released an explosive howl in front of the monsters.

Rez shot the monsters from a distance. He used a special magazine full of bullets with elemental dust. One shot is enough to dissolve a garou. He made sure no bullets go into waste.

Milas protected Nia as she attempted to liberate the greater elementals. The women rush forward to the first crystal in the room’s southeast corner. Rez made a covering fire to pave the way for the two.

The dark pentacle on the first crystal slowly lifted and disappeared with Nia’s magecraft. The crystal shined brightly with red rays. Embers floated above the red crystal. Milas made quick jabs on the pair of garou, then stomped the other golem. Before they could reach the second crystal, golems blocked their way. Corbin used his shoulder and rammed both of the golems.

“Go!” Corbin spined in a counter-clockwise motion and swung his sword at the fallen golem. The force was powerful enough to crumble the golem into pieces of rocks.

The second crystal got purified by Nia and glowed blue. Cool water splashed from the blue crystal. Rez went ahead of Milas and Nia to plant explosives ahead of them. More golems and elementals heavily guarded the third crystal. The garou spots Rez, and they tried to stop him. Corbin lifted one of the golem and hurled it at the charging garou.

“Heads up!” Rez detonated the explosives. The golems and elementals flew in the air along with the explosion. The garou got dazed as the elementals temporarily lose control over them. Milas and Nia halted in a nick of time before the explosion reached them. Corbin began clearing their path and swiped the garou with his sword.

Nia chanted another spell and started to free the third greater elemental. A green light illuminated the corner. Patches of greenery spread near the spot of the green crystal.

The last crystal was located in the southwest corner. The adventurers were nearly done, but more work has to be done.

“You have done enough! I shall take you by myself!” Dark tendrils sprouted from the obelisk. Each tendril entwined together to form a massive arm. The arm tried to crush Nia, but Corbin shielded her with his sword. The floor was slightly submerged with the immense force.

“Man, I ran out of enchanted bullets.” Rez complained. He placed back his firearm and throws the rest of the lit explosive to the massive arm. The explosives landed, but it barely dented the arm. Another pack of garou engaged Rez, and he had to use his kicks.

The arm disassembled into tendrils again. One of the golem grabbed Corbin’s arm and an armed garou strike his knee. The tendril stealthily slithers on the side and impales Corbin’s chest.

“Corbin!” Nia shouts out of fear.

The tendril pulled out from Corbin’s body and drips with blood. He slumped down but balanced himself with his sword. The pack of garou proceeded to bash him with their cudgel. Corbin was left defenseless. Milas tried to run towards Corbin, but her leg got caught by a stray tendril.

“Let go of me!” Milas tried to untangle the tight tendril. She hanged upside-down and violently shaken in the air.

It was getting hazy inside Corbin’s head. He can barely see anything. His ears buzzed with white noise. He can smell his own blood. His hands became numb to feel anything.

Fragments of memories flooded his mind. His human mother caressed him. A bearded orc shouted at him. Young orcs teamed up to beat him. An obstacle hit him just as he reached the end of the path. The orcish chief commended the new orcish recruits. The sergeant commanded him to smite an unarmed human soldier. Bodies of dead orcs and humans slumped on the battlefield.

Out of the looming shadow of death, a disembodied voice whispers to Corbin. Its presence was beyond imaginable. They were once mythical beasts that withstood the first orcish warriors. Maybe this was what the older orcs called ancestral spirits. They have been existing before them. They drew most of their primal rage from the ancestral spirits.

“Your choice, let loose and I shall grant you power. Flee and you falter with your brethren on the battlefield”

Blood began to pump crazily. The spurting of blood stopped from his chest. His bloodshot eyes dilated again.

“GRAAAAHHH!”

Corbin released a stronger bellow like a wounded lupus. He went amok and broke out of the garou’s circle. He mercilessly swung his sword with his one hand. Appendages and giblets of garou flew in the air. Some garou splashed black liquid and fizzled to dust. He even tried slashing down the elementals, but forgetting they are intangible. He charged instead to the remaining golems and smacked down his sword. His sword cracked, but he repeatedly bashed the golem’s head until it pulverized.

Milas swung in the air and caught the tendril. She furiously bit the tendril on her leg. The tendril wiggled away from her leg and she thudded immediately. She composed herself and ran towards Nia, who is still in shock.

“You okay? There’s the last crystal.” Milas placed her arms over Nia’s shoulders and dragged themselves to the last yellow crystal.

“Okay, focus.” Nia collected herself and began to release the last elemental. The previous three crystals broke and shined intensely. Out of the rubble come the greater elementals in their glory. Corbin chopped down the garou in half. He grabbed one golem and slammed it to the ground. His orcish instincts drove him on an uncontrollable rampage.

The last elemental emerged from the crystal and shined brightly. Gust of wind encircled the yellow crystal. The four greater elementals rose their spindly arms. Prismatic rays enveloped the whole room. The corrupted garou and elementals started to disappear in the mortal realm.

“Now what? The gleaming spirits get free, some of the enemies are gone, but the obelisk still stands.” Rez retreated to one side of the room and assesses their situation. A strong tremor shook the whole room. Pebbles began to fall. In the midst of the commotion, Rez noticed the cracks in the ceiling. The ceiling looked heavy enough to break the obelisk.

“Hey you two, try breaking the ceiling. It could crush the obelisk.” Before shouting more instructions, a golem sucker punched Rez in his jaw, knocking him cold.

“Corbin, break the ceiling!”. Milas waved her arms upward and pointed toward the ceiling. Despite being inebriated by rage, Corbin complied. He faced backwards, rotated himself until generating momentum, and then tossed his sword upwards. Nia immediately enchanted the soaring sword with her remaining magecraft. Milas sprinted towards Rez and carried him on her back. The sword successfully impaled the ceiling, generating more cracks. Nia used her last magecraft to shield Corbin from the falling debris. Milas and Rez sneaked to a roofed corner. The ceiling finally collapsed and crushing both the golems and the obelisk.

“You will pay for this. You haven’t seen the last of me!” The disembodied voice wavered until they heard nothing.