As the group ventured into the once-vibrant grassland, an eerie silence hung in the air, shrouding the landscape in an unsettling stillness. The once lively grasses now languished in despair, their verdant vibrancy sucked away, replaced by a lifeless, pallid complexion that mirrored the air of death hanging in the atmosphere. The once-intoxicating perfume of medowflowers was now superseded by a fetid stench, an unnatural rot that seemed to seep into every breath.

“This is the last checkpoint before we reach the core of the infected area, be wary,” warned Gio, his voice echoing into the oppressive stillness.

The sky overhead, once a brilliant blue expanse, now held a dark and brooding quality. The sunlight struggled to penetrate the thick canopy of ominous clouds, casting a dim and gloomy light upon the desecrated grassland. Shadows danced eerily across the ground as if they were alive and harboring the malevolent presence that plagued the land.

The atmosphere was suffocating, corrupting their thoughts and filling them with a sense of despair. It was as if the very air they breathed was tainted with some kind of dark magic, threatening to consume them from within.

As they made their way through the darkness, the adventurers could feel their strength and willpower being sapped away, drained by the malevolent energy that surrounded them. It was a battle of wills, a struggle against a force that seemed intent on breaking them down and devouring them whole.

“There,”

A moment of stillness was shattered as Gio pointed into the darkness, where the subtlest hint of movement betrayed the presence of something sinister.

WHOOSH

A symphony of projectiles pierced the stillness; arrows whistled through the air like deadly serenades, interspersed with the more guttural roars of throwing spears and the silent whisper of deadly daggers, all converging onto the shadowy figure.

Yet, as if borne from the very essence of darkness itself, the figure skillfully danced between the rain of incoming threats.

Emerging from the twisted underbrush of the corrupted grassland, the demonic fox revealed itself to the group with an eerie grace. Its fur, once a vibrant russet hue, had turned a sickly shade of dark crimson as if tainted by the malevolence that permeated the land. Jagged streaks of obsidian black marred its coat, resembling ominous cracks that hinted at the abyss from which it had emerged.

"Brace yourselves!" Gio's voice broke through the imminent tension. "This eonfox's venom is potent; one touch and you'll be knocked out. Formation C, prioritize defense!"

The team snapped into action. The vanguard was manned by Gio, Lionel, and Baron, preparing to bear the brunt of the onslaught. Providing cover from the rear was Boronthal, his eyes never straying from the terrifying creature.

Lionel's body began to gleam with an ethereal silver light. He clashed his gauntlets, the intricate designs on their surface shimmering.

Boronthal took position at the rear, never allowing his eyes to stray from the terrifying creature. With swift and practiced movements, he notched an arrow imbued with darkfire onto his bow. Drawing back the string, he aimed his arrow.

Baron grew more menacing, his muscles bulged, and his teeth and nails grew longer and sharper. His features took on a more feral and menacing appearance. He crouched low, ready to strike with the ferocity of a predator.

Gio was engulfed in dark flames that danced menacingly over his frame. He tightened his grip on his dual-bladed sword, his eyes gleaming with fierce determination.

“Strike,”

An arrow coated in darkfire streaked through the air, finding its mark and piercing the creature's hide, causing it to howl in pain.

“CRRRL” The eonfox howled in pain, leaning towards the team, lunging at the team, teeth bared and claws filled with potent venom..

Lionel darted around the fox with lightning-fast movements. His strikes precise and deadly, aiming at the opening made by the arrow, cutting through the creature's defenses.

Gio and Barom engaged its advance, limiting places of retreat.

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As the battle raged on, the eonfox realized it was facing a formidable force. Its attacks grew desperate, lashing out with wild abandon. It spit venom, trying to create distance between them, but the team expected this, thus, their movements remained calculated and coordinated. With each passing moment, the team methodically cut down the opposition, exploiting weaknesses and working in harmony.

Realizing its imminent defeat, in a last-ditch effort to escape, the demonic fox leaped into the air, surrounded by a burst of dark energy. But the group was prepared. Anticipating its move, Gio rushed forward, his sword raised high. With a swift motion, he plunged his blade into the wounded part of the fox, preventing its escape. The dark flames that engulfed Gio intensified, burning with an infernal heat as he channeled the flames to burn the trapped creature.

With a collective effort, the team closed in, their weapons and abilities focused on the weakened creature. In his shapeshifted form, Baron lunged forward, teeth-gnashing and claws slashing. His relentless attacks tore through the creature's defenses and left it vulnerable.

The demonic fox let out a final, mournful howl as it was overwhelmed by the group's combined might, falling limp on the damp grass.

The forest grew quiet once more, the malevolent presence dissipating into the night.

The team stood together, their chests heaving with exhaustion but their spirits high.

Creatures of the same Rank often surpassed humans of the same level, owing to their significant advantage in size, physical defenses, and offensive capabilities. However, the encounter with the demonic fox proved to be swift and decisive when confronted by a team of four Rank 1s.

Wiping the sweat off his brow, Lionel huffed, his words coming out in clipped bursts. “We need to avoid any confrontation. We’re here to find the grade of this infected area. Not fight again and again.,” he admonished sternly, his voice draped with an undercurrent of fatigue, “Boronthal, your pathfinding needs to show improvement next time.”

Interrupting the mounting tension, Gio interjected in a conciliatory tone, “Ease up, Lionel. We can rely on Boronthal to adequately cloak our tracks, ensuring we’re not easily trailed.”

Boronthal nodded curtly, promptly turning his attention to the remnants of the recent skirmish. His eyes, fierce and brimming with indignation, held Lionel's gaze unflinchingly.

Unperturbed, Lionel returned his fiery stare.“ We only killed the eonfox because we knew its attacks and it’s habits. Had we faced an unknown adversary, we would be nursing serious injuries right now. We did not bring a healer this time, so we would have had to quit the mission.” His gaze remained stern, yet his tone softened in understanding, “My professional pay is coming soon because of the infected area. So I cannot fight that much recklessly.”

Joining the fray, Baron chimed in support of Lionel, “I agree. My pay is coming soon too,”

With a resigned sigh, Gio added, "This has happened only twice. If we run into another enemy, we will make a tactical withdrawal. And if we lose our way again, Boronthal, your contribution will reflect your errors."

Appearing unperturbed, Boronthal reassured them, his voice as steady as a mountain's base,

“We should have this task wrapped up within the next hour.”

***

Osric sat still, continuing the fracturing process.

He had been non-stop spending his days making the barrier since the elementary barrier needed to be finished in one go.

Slowly, Osric manipulated the swirling energy within the membrane, guiding it, shaping it, and integrating it into his very skin as if orchestrating a symphony of pure energy. Days of intense mental exertion had taken a toll on him, with his every thought and ounce of focus devoted to this one crucial task.

This was the art of fracturing, a dance of energy and focus, a delicate balance between control and release. And Osric was its maestro, conducting a symphony of energy within the silence of his mind.

As he began to shape the energy into a membrane, Osric felt a sudden surge of chaos, as if the energy within his body began to revolt. The vibrant and wild energy threatened to burst forth, the burgeoning power within straining against his control. His heart pounded in his chest, a thunderous echo of the conflict unfolding within his hand. Sweat trickled down his brow.

The membrane began to waver, its form trembling like the surface of a disturbed pond. It shimmered erratically, the calm glow replaced with a frantic flicker. It was on the brink of collapse, a catastrophe waiting to happen.

Osric's mental prowess strained against the turmoil, like a lone sailor wrestling to control a ship amidst a storm. His brow furrowed in concentration, the tension in the chamber rising palpably. A wrong move, a momentary lapse in focus, and the membrane could rupture, disrupting the fracturing process and potentially causing irreparable damage to his left arm.

Drawing in a ragged breath, Osric summoned reserves of his mental strength, pouring it into the creation of the membrane. The chamber reverberated with the silent roar of his concentration. He grabbed another essence stone, multitasking on containing the membrane and restoring his energy reserves. His hand, bathed in the flickering light of the struggling membrane, appeared ghostly in the otherwise dim surroundings.

Gradually, with a fortitude born of determination, Osric steadied the energy within his hand. The membrane, so close to failing just moments ago, started to regain its stability. The frantic flickering slowed, and the glow of the barrier returned to its steady luminescence.

Osric exhaled slowly, feeling the tension draining from his body. His hand, now encased in the energy membrane, felt both familiar and alien. The membrane shimmered around his hand.

"Finally," Osric breathed, the words barely more than a whisper, "the elementary barrier is complete."

Having successfully formed the membrane, Osric took a moment to catch his breath, the tension of the past few days gradually easing from his body.

And then, just as suddenly, exhaustion crashed into him like a tidal wave, pulling him under its overwhelming weight.

His world turned dark as sleep, long overdue, came to him suddenly.