Everything slipped away while Quintin sat in solitary. His head rested in the prison valley of his chest-scrunched knees. It was bound to happen. An inevitable outcome—his ignorance had cost him dearly. Someone or something had his signature on the contract and came early to collect on some grand, cosmic pay plan. It had worked like a charm, really.

The fetters of Corruption were everywhere—heavy on his mind, and everywhere. Yet it never intruded on his space. The raw pureness that shone from his left eye seemed to create a borderline the stuff was unwilling or unable to cross. A new sound, one apart from the general drips and drops, approached like a wounded crawl across the mud-rich ground. The volume grew, and with it, his curiosity won out. Ever so slightly he peered out from inbetween his knees.

What met his gaze was an abomination. A corrupted creature, fully immersed in the tainting influence. The oddest thing was how it appeared to be holding onto a dozen or so balloons, though nothing was cheery and colorful about it. As the thing drew nearer, so to did the sight of its unholy appendage cause him to wish it really was that way. The balloons were actually a collection of heads with thick neck tendrils that wound their way down to connect at the being's shoulder socket.

The squirm of tendrils and heads were easily three times as long as the creature's body was, standing out in comparison to its hunched over form. It was covered from head to toe in a gloss of black ichor. Realization dawned on him as he slowly stood up—the Headbearer.

That little bastard just won't stay down! Quintin's anger was manifested in a snarl nearly escaping his mouth.

The [Shaman] came to a wet halt just outside of the brightened area he occupied. However, what came next was out of his expectations entirely.

"I watch for a time. The Overtaint devours, but not you—Corebearer. I see it... Over-Over, moment pass- then gone. Cycle go on-on."

The abomination made an animated hand gesture with its one normalish arm when it said 'Over-Over'. Its voice was that hoarse sort of raspy from a throat sickness.

"How do? I-I scare; you scare! Now-now changes. You Corebearer. I not scare; you not scare. Kill; can't kill. Scare not kill; not scare can't kill."

The animated way in which the Headbearer spoke now stopped as it tilted its many heads to one side. Quintin was vaguely aware that it wanted an answer of some sort, but he had nothing to give this monster. Never-the-less, and finding the creature surprisingly sentient, he sighed and dropped his fists to the side.

"How long have you been watching me?" Quintin shook his head, "What's a-a Corebearer? I don't have any answers to give."

The floating heads sulked downward at the response, and it seemed to fight amongst itself for a moment—the collective bundle versus the main. Eventually, the main head of the sullied goblin croaked out in defeat.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

"Many on-on passes. Over-Over, Over-Over. Long goblin time; baby make tool, learn fight. Corebearer is Corebearer. Headbearer is Headbearer. Get?"

In a sick sort of way, he somewhat understood. He brought a metal-merged hand up to gingerly touch around his left eye. The gem was there, securely imbedded in the once empty socket. As he did so, he asked, "I'm the bearer of a core, right? Core of what, though? I don't understand that."

After a pause of some consideration, "Back, you-me Sozze'rift. Now, you-me Dungeon... Dungeon need Core. Core-You; Corebearer. Magic need Heads. Heads-find; Headbearer."

Its explanation a blur of pointing at him, then back to itself; the bundle of heads nodding the whole while.

Quintin observed his hands. Even now, my Master protects me from this filth. I have to believe I can see him again.

He clenched them into fists, biting his lower lip as he squeezed ever harder. I swear by everything; I will find a way to destroy that damnable Glyph!

A steady stream of blood made a line down to his chin. For the time being, he was better—he would be better. With his new determination in mind, he took a look at his [System]. All the while, in the background, the Headbearer fought amongst its many selves. 

[Titles]:

[Corebearer]

—Location: Sozzelrift Corruption Dungeon

—Core Position: Left Eye

—Special Dungeon Core

You are the bearer of the Sozzelrift Dungeon Core.

*Sozzelrift Dungeon monsters won't attack you.

*The more intelligent lifeforms will heed your commands.

*A special [Dungeon Core] which has no tether area. [Walking Calamity]

—Nihilistic Aura

—Negative Social Impact

Your actions on Whorrl have initiated a Calamity.

*Naturally evokes dread and uncertainty in those around you. 

*Be aware: other {Auras} can help mitigate this.

Although he wasn't thrilled to be in this position, he still intended to do everything necessary. Looking over the new [Titles] presented a unique opportunity to at least do some good. Before looking over the last notification, he called out to the abominable goblin.

"You- what can I call you by?"

The goblin noticeably straightened. "Chief Hedon-"

Quintin cut in, "Don't finish that. Hedon will do. Are there other beings such as you down here? I mean, have intelligence."

Some of Hedon's heads shook left to right, others up and down. One gnawed absently on another's earlobe. "Some, one, maybe none."

The Headbearer pointed up at the bundle of heads. It turned out they could detach themselves, with each having a certain sense of personality. Their tendrils were as fine as braided steel cord, waggling to and fro from severance wounds as they flew through the immediate area.

In equal parts revulsion and panic-laughter, "Please tell me you're the one doing that... Just in case you're not, these... heads are what passes for intelligence down here, as far as you know?"

Hedon deadpanned, "Yes." Quintin couldn't help but let out a few nervous laughs before all seriousness returned.

"Seriously!?" he scrubbed at his head furiously, "Ok, fine. Fine. I don't suppose this could get any crazier than about twenty disembodied heads floating around doing god-knows-what."

"Yes."