Finn moved to dive after Woods as he was pulled under, but stopped himself, remembering that Matt was laying on his back. The jerking motion jostled the unconscious farmer, and Finn heard the small crystal Woods had placed on his chest fall into the water with a plinking noise.
Matt suddenly gasped for breath before descending into a fit of wet coughs, rolling to his side and spitting out mouthfuls of water. Finn steadied himself to keep the farmer from rolling off his back. Matt still had his wrists restrained, and Finn doubted he could swim well enough to stay afloat with them bound.
“What—a crocodile? Finn?” Matt asked, his eyes wide with alarm. He sat up, hitting his head on the dungeon’s ceiling, and promptly collapsed onto Finn’s back, unconscious.
Finn sighed, his nostrils flaring above the water. Humans were far too delicate, and Matt seemed more so than most. Or at least more accident prone.
The River Spirit started at the farmer’s self-inflicted injury, grabbing his wrist to find his pulse. After a few seconds, she cast a simple healing spell. “A concussion on top of drowning. It’s amazing he’s still alive.” She shook her head before glancing down into the water. “I’m going to go help Woods. Keep Matt afloat,” she instructed before she descended below the surface, leaving Finn with the useless—albeit alive—Matt.
Finn dipped his head slightly, straining to see what was happening in the murky depths. It was difficult to make anything out—shadows twisted and writhed beneath him—but he was able to catch a glimpse of Woods wrestling with something near the dungeon’s floor. Was that Corruption? The being appeared gaunt, ravaged somehow, with missing limbs and wounds that leaked dark clouds in the water, but many new tentacles had sprouted from the entity’s body and were currently wrapped around Woods, trying to suffocate him.
Finn shifted helplessly with Matt on his back. The River Spirit would have to help Woods, now. Matt groaned, coughing miserably, but he had the good sense to stay down for now, keeping his movements minimal. His wrists were still bound, and he had a chain fastened to his ankle. Even if Matt were coherent enough to swim, he would probably still drown with his restraints.
“Ugh, what… happened?” Matt asked before descending into another fit of coughing.
Finn couldn’t answer, as his mouth was underwater and his attention was entirely absorbed by the unfolding battle beneath him.
Matt coughed once more, retching water all over Finn’s back, before falling limp once again. Ignoring him, Finn was filled with panic as he witnessed Corruption dragging his brother deeper into the dark water.
***
Woods was pulled deeper, the shadows closing in around him. For a moment, he wondered if he would share the same watery fate as Matt. It would be easy enough for Corruption to drown him here, so why bring Woods so close? Was it a fight Corruption wanted? The River Spirit approached, drawing back the water from around Woods and Corruption and forming a bubble of air around them. The shadowy tendrils didn’t relent as the water disappeared and he collided with dry ground.
Despite the audible crack of his ribs, Woods disregarded the pain and turned his attention to Corruption. He shifted back into his bear form, and a wicked smile split Corruption’s visage as the two faced each other under the dome of water.
“Can’t you feel yourself growing stronger as the world becomes more corrupted? Doesn’t it feel… empowering?”
His words gave Woods pause. He was much stronger now, stronger than he’d ever been.
Corruption continued. “My magic is mingled with your essence, sprite. It flows through your veins. If you kill me, it’ll only be a matter of time before you wither and die like a tree without its roots.”
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“Liar,” Woods growled. The monster was only trying to save himself. He knew that he couldn’t defeat Woods in a straight fight—not in his weakened state—so his only option was persuasion.
Corruption cackled. “I’m part of this world—part of the great cycle that governs all living things. What do you think will happen if I’m destroyed? The balance of magic will be irrevocably shattered. The world itself will slide into an eternal state of chaos and everyone, everything, will die.”
Woods snarled. “The Harvest Goddess will make things right.”
Corruption scoffed. “Even my sister is bound by natural law. The Forest Spirit knows this, as does the River Spirit. Even now, they know they cannot kill me, for without entropy—without Corruption—there can be no life. You know what I’m saying is true.”
Woods hesitated. He didn’t know what to think. The logic of his words made sense to him, and yet, if left unchecked, Corruption would destroy the world anyway, reshaping it in his own vile image. It was an impossible situation, and the gravity of what might occur left Woods frozen with indecision.
Corruption came closer, his tendrils encircling him like a twisted embrace. “Join with me,” he hissed. “Lend your strength to mine, and together we can avoid calamity. We can forge a new world—a better world—where all things bend to our will. Think of your friends, your family. You’ve always been too weak to protect them. But with me by your side, you can ensure that nothing bad ever happens to them again. You can keep them safe.”
Images of the other sprites flashed in his mind’s eye—Reed, Ivy, Rock, Maple, Holly, and Flint. He did want to keep them safe. More than anything. But when he saw Clay and his missing arm, something snapped within him. He knew what the youngest sprite would say at a moment like this. Fight. Woods bared his teeth as a sudden rage flared in the center of his being, a white-hot anger that no logic or honeyed words could quell. All the destruction, all the pain and loss that had been inflicted upon those he loved was the fault of Corruption.
And he needed to pay for his crimes.
“I’ll never join you,” Woods growled. “I’d rather die than help you corrupt the world and everything in it.”
Corruption’s too-wide grin turned into a scowl. “A pity that you’ve chosen not to see reason,” he said. “Then I suppose I have no choice but to heal myself with your essence and destroy your friends one by one. Perhaps I’ll even try and corrupt that dragon. He’ll be a more powerful ally, anyway.”
The air grew colder and the shadows lengthened. Woods felt the oppressive weight of despair pressing in on him. His strength began to fade, and at the same time, Corruptions wounds knit themselves back together and his missing arms reappeared.
But even as Corruption loomed closer, Woods braced himself. The memories of his loved ones, their faces, their smiles, flashed again before his eyes. He would not let this creature take control—not again. With a deep breath, he steadied himself and pushed back against the darkness, using the same power he’d used to close the corrupt portals.
Corruption reached out, dark magic crackling at his fingertips, but Woods stood his ground. His voice, though soft, was filled with unwavering determination. “You won't break me.”
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Then, with a roar of defiance, Woods lunged forward, ready to fight to his last breath.
Corruption’s shadow tendrils descended to stop him. He wrestled with the shadows, feeling their familiarity as he did so. The truth was, Woods was indeed still a corrupted being. He always would be. He and Corruption were now made of the same magic. But only one would leave this dungeon alive. The shadows were strong, and they cut long gashes through his skin and fur. But Woods was stronger. He tore through the shadow tendrils and grabbed hold of Corruption with his claws. Black ichor sprayed, and Woods realized in horror that some of it was his.
Corruption struck back, deploying his shadows to hoist him into the air before slamming him down. Bones cracked, yet Woods clenched his teeth against the searing pain.
In a decisive move, the River Spirit intervened, unleashing a surge of water at Corruption and causing his tendrils to relinquish their grip on Woods. This granted him a final opportunity to retaliate.
Tackling Corruption, Woods tore into the entity without restraint. Corruption’s anguished screams echoed through the confined space until, at last, he fell silent, nothing more than a collection of limbs, broken shadows, and a black puddle of blood. Woods looked on wearily as Corruption disintegrated into inky black dust. The same fate that met all corrupted creatures. The same fate that would meet him one day.
Among Corruption’s disappearing limbs was a single stone, left behind in the wake of the dissolving entity. It was only visible to Woods’ purple eye and looked akin to the other nature stones. It called to Woods, promising great power if he would only give in. He felt a final wave of anger wash over him. If he could somehow bring Corruption back and kill him a second time for coming after his family, he would have done it in a heartbeat.
But, exhausted, broken, and near death himself, Woods succumbed to unconsciousness.
Darkness and water enveloped him.