image [https://i.imgur.com/eY2gF5l.png]
The darkness closed in behind them with each step, swallowing the light and casting long, ominous shadows along the walls. The air grew colder, and the silence was broken only by the faint echoes of their footsteps. Arbious's eyes gleamed with a sinister determination, his mind already plotting the next move in his grand scheme.
Navigating the unknown patterns of the caves, their path had led them to a foreboding chamber cloaked in darkness. Massive stalagmites dangled from the ceiling, their sharp points glistening with moisture as water droplets fell rhythmically, creating an eerie symphony that reverberated throughout the cavern.
With a resounding thud, Graybeard's iron boot unknowingly collided with an unidentified object, shattering it into fragments. The obscured view of the chamber floor prompted him to lower his torch, illuminating the macabre sight—bones were strewn across the ground like a grim tapestry.
"By the Gods..." Graybeard's voice trembled as he surveyed the ghastly scene. "What unholy presence is responsible for this?"
Aria interjected, her voice laced with a hint of knowledge. "Wraiths were known to haunt these woods, so it's not surprising to find remnants of their victims. Thankfully, because of Arbious's aid, we won't have to contend with any additional undead creatures that the wraiths might have summoned, had they endured."
As she spoke, a chilling draft brushed against Aria's skin, intensifying the unsettling ambiance enveloping them all. Mila, her unease palpable, inquired anxiously, "Where can we locate these mushrooms...?"
"They glow by nature, if that's any help." Graybeard explained, cautiously advancing to avoid disturbing the bones that stretched across the floor.
"Glow by nature..." Mila echoed softly, straining her eyes in an attempt to perceive her surroundings, only to be met with impenetrable darkness.
"This cursed fog," Graybeard growled in frustration, exasperated by the thick veil obscuring their path. "Mila, do you think you can disperse it?"
"The fog?" Mila questioned, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
"Yes, the fog!" Graybeard retorted. "What else?"
Mila appeared hesitant, visibly unsettled by Graybeard's request. "What troubles you, lass? You have the strength within you," he encouraged.
They collectively paused, waiting for Mila to gather her resolve. The dense fog posed a formidable challenge, rendering the ground beneath them invisible and making navigation treacherous. A single misstep could lead to disaster, and they were determined to avoid such a perilous fate.
Summoning her courage, Mila recognized that she was the only one capable of aiding them in this situation. "In the name of the eternal spirit of air, I call for your aid, unleash a mighty gust of wind to banish the obstructing fog. Air Shockwave!"
image [https://i.imgur.com/7fgH3qs.png]
3rd Tier Magic: Air Shockwave
Effects: Casting this spell sends out a shockwave from the caster in all directions. A burst of air that will push light objects away with ease. Perfect for clearing smokescreens.
Casting Requirement: Beginner Chant of the Heavens, Positive Alignment.
image [https://i.imgur.com/lhqCDcB.png]
Mila summoned a powerful gust of wind, unleashing shockwaves that rippled through the air, dispersing the obscuring fog for a fleeting moment. As the mist parted, the path ahead became visible, revealing the long-awaited mushrooms they sought.
Just beyond a precarious wooden bridge, the radiant fungi awaited their arrival. However, a formidable obstacle presented itself—a chasm stretched out before them, with the bridge as the sole means of progression. One wrong step could result in a fatal plunge into the abyss below.
"Over there," Graybeard's voice resonated with a touch of excitement as his gaze fixated on the shimmering mushrooms.
An air of silence settled upon them, filled with the weight of uncertainty regarding the rickety bridge that lay ahead.
"So, who will take the first step?" Graybeard inquired nervously, his confidence wavering in the face of the bridge's questionable stability.
Arbious' goal was to corrupt the mushrooms from the moment he set foot in the cave, perhaps even before then. The risk of whatever chemical Aria sought to produce to be used against his forces was too great to ignore. With this in mind, Arbious responded almost instantaneously. "I'll go,"
"Are you sure?" Mila's eyes brimmed with concern as she grasped his arm from behind.
"Why not?" Arbious questioned, a sense of audacity lacing his words.
The risk of plummeting to his demise held no consequence in this scenario, for Arbious was far from mortal. Death eluded him, rendering the dangers the bridge posed against him futile.
Before Mila could interject, Graybeard spoke up, offering a solution. "A splendid idea! Arbious shall lead the way, and the rest of us will follow closely behind. Does that sound fair?"
Aria nodded in agreement, and with all three of them committed to the plan, Mila could no longer voice her concerns.
With their determined gazes fixed on the path ahead, Arbious cautiously placed his foot onto the bridge. It creaked and swayed slightly, emitting an unsettling sound. Undeterred, he continued his advance, carefully placing his second foot and then his third.
Meanwhile, at the rear of the group, Mila and the others exchanged whispers, their voices barely audible amidst the suspenseful atmosphere. "He doesn't seem bothered at all. Look at him," Graybeard murmured to the group, admiration lacing his words.
"He certainly has the confidence, and it suits him well, especially considering he triumphed over the wraiths," Aria replied, her voice filled with respect for Arbious's accomplishments.
"I find it rather charming," Mila interjected, her gaze fixed upon Arbious as he confidently strode forward.
"Charming, perhaps, but also reckless... If something were to go awry..." Graybeard's voice trailed off, his concern palpable.
"It won't go wrong," Mila declared with unwavering assurance.
Arbious successfully crossed the bridge. As he turned back to check on the rest of the group, he noticed they hadn't made any progress. Their hesitation was apparent, each member grappling with their own apprehensions and doubts.
The glowing mushrooms were right in front of him, their stems growing out of the stalagmite of the cavern's floor. His red eyes set their sights on the mushrooms as he mulled over his plans once more.
He turned his attention back to the group who were hesitating and deliberating, their unity faltering. He noted that this was the perfect time to set his mischievous plan into motion. Silently, he began to channel the dark arts, invoking the incantations of the infernal scripture—the forbidden magic of the demons.
"Chaotic energies that whirl in the abyss, I command you to grant these mushrooms a fraction of your power," he whispered, his voice echoing with a sinister resonance. "Corrupt them with your unholy energy, extinguish their once radiant light, and shroud them in an abyssal darkness. Let them become the harbingers of the destruction I shall unleash. Ultimate Corruption."
image [https://i.imgur.com/7fgH3qs.png]
10th Tier Magic: Ultimate Corruption
Effects: This potent spell channels a surge of malevolent energy into the target, whether it is a living being or an inanimate object. As the dark energy permeates its essence, it initiates a gradual corruption of the target's soul and physical form, ensuring a permanent alignment with the forces of evil.
Casting Requirement: Unholy Divinity, Infernal Scripture, Mastery of Dark Arts.
image [https://i.imgur.com/Qj0qq7o.png]
As the final words of the incantation left Arbious's lips, an eerie black mist billowed forth from his fingertips, brimming with dark and sinister energy. The malevolent miasma swiftly enveloped the unsuspecting mushrooms, their previously vibrant and radiant glow succumbing to an unholy darkness.
After a lengthy discussion, Mila embarked upon the bridge, assuming the role of the second person to cross. Trailing behind her, Aria proceeded with a mix of caution and deliberation, carefully measuring each step she took.
As the two successfully reached the other side, they turned back and exchanged waves with Graybeard.
"Why didn't he join you?" Arbious asked, approaching the two as they arrived.
Mila, with a playful tone, responded to Arbious's question, "We thought it would be prudent to have him watch over the other side of the bridge, just in case unforeseen events unfolded."
"So, essentially, he's afraid," Arbious remarked with a half-smile.
"Hush," Mila whispered, a mischievous glimmer in her eyes. "He might hear you."
Suppressing a faint chuckle, Arbious found himself thoroughly amused by Graybeard's demeanor.
Aria bent to her knee, focused on the mushrooms scattered on the ground, their reach stretching onto the stalagmites nearby. She swiftly retrieved a sharp scalpel-like tool from her bag and delicately began harvesting.
Aria appeared troubled while harvesting the mushrooms as she constantly hummed while inspecting each one. Nevertheless, she picked the mushrooms and placed them into her bag.
Ever so cautious, directing his attention to Aria, who was meticulously examining the mushrooms, Arbious posed his question, seeking to evaluate whether or not Aria could tell if the mushrooms were altered. "So, are these the mushrooms we've been searching for?"
Aria appeared perplexed about the mushrooms. "I'm not entirely certain... I haven't encountered them in person before. The books described them as having a distinctive glow, and while these mushrooms do emit light, it's not quite the glow I was expecting."
She chuckled as she mulled over the idea. "It's rather underwhelming if I do say so myself."
"Could it be a case of misinterpretation or mistranslation from the books?" Arbious suggested, contemplating the possibilities.
"Mistranslation? Do you think so?" she responded softly, her tone tinged with uncertainty.
"Yes, such errors can occur, don't they? After our own countless hours of searching and finding nothing, it seems likely that these mushrooms are indeed the ones we seek."
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"Hm... Maybe... I might be alert because we haven't faced any actual dangers... I might also be overthinking it..." Aria voiced her fears as she cut the last mushroom. "But I guess science is in its trial and error huh? Might as well take these."
Mila posed a question, "Do you think it would be a good idea to continue searching?"
Arbious felt a surge of frustration at her inquiry, as he had only managed to corrupt the mushrooms in this specific area. If there were more elsewhere, it would complicate his task.
"Yes, I think we should keep looking. The more we gather now, the better. Larger sample sizes increase our chances of success, and I didn't come all this way to leave with just a few," Aria responded.
"That makes sense. I figured you'd say that," Mila said, acknowledging the practicality of Aria's suggestion.
Frustration took root in Arbious by Aria's request to explore further. There were no guarantees that they would find more of the mushrooms Aria sought, yet if they were to come across another batch, he would not be able to stop them.
"Alright then, let's get going." Aria said, standing to her feet with her gathered samples. "I'd rather not linger in one place."
"But which way should we go?" Mila questioned.
The cave around them was dark and foreboding, its walls slick with moisture and covered in patches of luminescent moss. Stalactites hung from the ceiling like jagged teeth, and the air was thick with the earthy scent of damp stone. A decision had to be made for the path before them forked into three different routes.
"Left." Aria said, her voice carrying confidence.
Arbious and Mila did not question Aria's judgement and nodded in affirmation. With each step, the cave echoed eerily, the sound amplified by the cavernous walls.
Arbious remained in the lead, his torch's fire casting the way forward clear. To Mila and Aria who followed behind him, he appeared resolute, confident, grand. Yet to Aria, she felt that there was more to Arbious's confidence than they were made to believe. Had she been in any other party, she would never have pushed to enter such a treacherous cave.
Sounds of falling gravel echoed from deeper within the cave. In the midst of their exploration, Arbious came to a stop. The flickering light from their torches cast long, dancing shadows that seemed to move independently, adding to the sense of unease.
"Are you okay?" Mila called asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"Aria."
Arbious's voice cut through the silence, startling them both. He had never spoken so directly before. A chill ran down Aria's spine as she caught up with him. "Yes?"
"You mentioned expecting danger... But from what?"
"The wraiths?" Mila questioned.
Arbious turned to face them both. "Yes, but I already dealt with the wraiths. What other possible dangers could this cave hold?"
Mila understood Arbious's implication and remained silent.
Aria hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile. "Oh, it’s just a precaution. You know, caves can be unpredictable. I didn't want to alarm anyone without reason."
Arbious's eyes narrowed. "Unpredictable how? What exactly are we dealing with?"
Aria's mind raced. "There might be wild animals, maybe some unstable rock formations. I’ve heard rumors, but nothing specific."
Mila frowned, sensing something was off. "Rumors about what, Aria?"
Aria shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. "Just the usual cave dangers. Nothing we can’t handle."
Arbious remained unconvinced. "Are you sure there’s nothing else you’re not telling us?"
Aria met his gaze, fighting to keep her voice steady. "I’m sure. We just need to stay cautious."
Both Arbious and Mila remained cautious of Aria. Her story did little to ease their concerns, but Arbious was confident that he could handle any unknown danger lurking within the cave. "Very well," he said. "But if there’s anything else we need to know, now is the time to tell us."
"There's nothing else," Aria insisted, hoping her lie would hold.
Suddenly, a low rumble reverberated through the cave, causing the ground to tremble beneath their feet. Arbious halted, his eyes narrowing as he listened intently. "Did you hear that?" Mila whispered, her voice barely audible.
Arbious nodded, his gaze fixed on the dark tunnel ahead. "You need to leave," he instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Mila and Aria hastily made their way to the bridge, their urgency palpable. Arbious remained rooted in place, driven by an insatiable curiosity that urged him to confront whatever audacious threat dared to challenge him.
With the two gone, Arbious's torch shed light on the path before him.
Arbious turned his head, eyes narrowing into the depths of the cavern. A wave of intense heat preceded the arrival of a majestic, dark dragon.
The dragon's immense wings brushed against the cave walls, casting the cavern into a shadowy gloom.
Arbious stood tall, his glowing eyes piercing through the darkness.
The dragon's scales glistened with an ominous sheen, and its eyes, like molten gold, locked onto Arbious. With a mighty step, it moved closer, its claws digging into the rocky floor.
The dragon roared, the sound reverberating through the cave. With a powerful swipe, it lashed out at Arbious with its massive claws.
Arbious dodged nimbly, the claws missing him by inches. He countered with a blast of dark energy, striking the dragon's side. The beast roared in pain but quickly retaliated with a stream of fiery breath.
Arbious conjured a shield of shadows, absorbing the flames. The heat was intense, but Arbious remained far superior. As the fire subsided, he lunged forward, slashing at the dragon's chest with a blade that emerged from his hand with dark magic.
It was almost as if Arbious was playing with the dragon. His moves were precise, yet they were not aimed to kill. The dragon fully understood this, which provoked it further.
The dragon reared back, its scales deflecting most of the blow, but Arbious's attack left a deep gash. Enraged, the dragon swung its tail, catching Arbious off guard and sending him crashing into the cave wall.
The attack had dealt no damage to Arbious, however, his torch had fallen out of his hand, and the light that emanated form it had dissipated. This proved no trouble for Arbious, whose eyes saw through the veil of darkness.
This damned body does not react in time to my orders... But that was quite impressive...
Arbious embarked on his retreat, his thoughts focused on catching up with Mila and Aria. However, the dragon pursued him down the narrow path, its massive body slamming into the cavernous walls. The beast's sharp fangs were poised to strike at Arbious, its roars echoing through the tunnel.
Mila and Aria raced across the cavern, their footsteps echoing off the uneven stone floor. They were halfway across the bridge when the distant roar of the dragon reached their ears, a sound filled with fury.
Mila glanced back, her heart pounding in her chest. "We need to hurry! The dragon is closing in!"
Aria nodded, her eyes wide with fear. "We'll make it. Just keep moving!"
The two successfully crossed the bridge, yet a tremor shook the ground beneath them. The cavern walls rumbled, and a gust of hot, acrid air blasted from the other side of the cave. They turned in unison, eyes widening as the dragon burst into the chamber, its massive form filling the space.
The dragon's eyes locked onto Arbious, who had just emerged from the narrow path and appeared to be engaged with the dragon. With a roar that shook the very foundation of the cavern, the dragon lunged forward, its claws scraping against the stone as it charged.
Graybeard's voice echoed with alarm as he witnessed the green drake emerge, "BY THE GODS! RUN! WE'RE NO MATCH FOR THAT BEAST!"
Aria, Mila, and Graybeard swiftly made their way toward the exit, with Mila casting hesitant glances back at Arbious. However, he remained rooted, observing the dragon before him.
With everyone gone, a sinister sense of relaxation coursed through Arbious' body. The chaotic energies within him were becoming increasingly difficult to control, and with each invocation of the infernal scripture, his powers grew stronger.
Facing the mighty dragon, it bellowed a thunderous roar, causing stalagmites to collapse. The dragon exuded undeniable pride. "You dare to steal from me?!" the dragon's voice reverberated, its intense gaze fixed upon Arbious.
"Did you possess something of value?" Arbious responded, a grin stretching across his face as he raised his hand, summoning a communication orb with Alpos.
Carried from the other side of the orb's communication, Alpos's voice resonated through the cave. "Master? Is there something you require?"
"How would you like an undead dragon?" Arbious inquired, mischief and anticipation lacing his words.
The dragon felt a shiver run down its spine as it watched Arbious openly display his formidable magic. Arbious exuded a power that not only withstood the dragon’s fiery breath but also effortlessly dodged every attack. The dragon's unease deepened as Arbious, with chilling nonchalance, discussed plans with the unknown entity within the flaming orb—plans to not only slay the dragon but to transform it into an undead creature.
Instantly, Alpos replied with unbridled excitement. "An undead dragon?! Are you serious?! That would be absolutely awe-inspiring!"
Closing his grasp, the communication orb dissipated, and Arbious returned the dragon's icy gaze.
His voice resonated within the cave with sinister authority as the next words came out of his mouth. "Darkness, consume thee, engulf thy host, for they shall serve as a mighty vessel to fulfill my bidding. You, a pitiful puppet, a mockery of existence, shall be a vessel of unimaginable horror and shadows!"
"A practitioner of the dark arts? No... This is the Infernal Scripture... Who are you?" The dragon questioned; its voice tinged with caution.
The dragon's words echoed desperately in the cavern as a shadowy abyss unfurled beneath it, spilling out inky tendrils that crept upward like living nightmares.
The dragon roared in defiance, unleashing a fierce torrent of fiery breath to push back the encroaching darkness to no avail.
"You cannot fight the darkness..."
The dragon retorted, its flames continuing to consume all in its path. "And yet here I am!"
"The more you struggle, the more you suffer," Arbious countered, his voice resonating with chilling certainty.
"You think you can defeat me?! You, dark mage, are nothing more than a puppet controlled by forces beyond your understanding!" The dragon's voice boomed with arrogance and defiance.
"Hahaha! HAHAHAHA!" Arbious burst into laughter, his amusement sending waves of despair coursing through the depths of the dragon's heart, suffusing it with a sense of hopelessness.
"A mere puppet? HAHAHAHA! I shall show you what a puppet truly is, once you lie lifeless on the grounds you call home!"
With an erratic demeanor, Arbious moved his hands in a chaotic display, seamlessly melding with the darkness that surrounded him. Tendrils sprouted from all directions, ensnaring the dragon in their gripping coils.
As the dragon fought back, a maw of shadow materialized, its teeth formed of darkness sinking deep into the dragon's flesh, eliciting roars of rage and agony. The dragon thrashed, slamming its head against the cavern wall, causing stalagmites to crumble and shatter.
"What are you?!" the dragon bellowed, its eyes filled with a sense of terror, its voice filled with both fear and fury.
Laughter echoed from the shadows as Arbious continued to torment the dragon, sporadically tearing chunks from its flesh. The once mighty creature found itself ensnared, a helpless prey facing an implacable predator.
The dragon fought valiantly, but its efforts proved futile. Each bite Arbious's maw took brought forth torrents of gushing blood, while his laughter eroded its strength and courage.
After his sixth bite, the dragon succumbed to its wounds, life ebbing away as Arbious stood before the mighty dragon's corpse unamused.
"Now, arise..." Arbious commanded, his hands radiating darkness as he cast it upon the dragon's lifeless form. "Rise, fallen beast, and heed my call. Bind your existence to eternal servitude for I am your master, the master of all creatures of darkness and chaos."
The dragon's once majestic eyes now glowed with a sinister green necromantic hue, its decaying flesh unraveling at an unprecedented pace. Its once grand wings were now bare of flesh, a grim reminder of its might. Yet now, the dragon was immune of pain, its once mortal coil no longer proving to hinder it. With the essence of undeath coursing through its veins, the dragon stood upright, and beneath Arbious's tremendous might, it awaited him for his command.
Arbious raised his hands into the air, and between his hands, a flame-like entity swirled as a vortex. The flames grew in size, and the fire illuminated its sinister light across the cave. The winds paced, and the cave trembled. The vortex expanded at a rapid pace, its searing heat palpable, casting grotesque shadows that danced wildly upon the cave walls. Arbious's red eyes glowed with the same intensity of the inferno he controlled, as he chanted incantations in a forgotten tongue, each word dripping with dark power. The swirling fire began to change, its colors shifting from deep crimson to an eerie shade of its former self.
With a final, thunderous incantation, Arbious thrust his hands outward, and the vortex exploded into a massive, swirling portal. The fiery edges licked at the air like the tongues of ravenous beasts, and the portal's center rippled, revealing glimpses of a world beyond—a gateway to the Hellfire Citadel itself.
"Enter the portal and await Alpos. He will instruct you on what to do next."
Without hesitation, the dragon stepped through the portal.
Arbious stood before the portal, a swirling maelstrom of violet flames and chaotic energy. The cave around him trembled, the very air crackling with the raw power emanating from the rift. With a commanding presence, Arbious raised his hand, palm open toward the vortex. The portal's edges flared, as if recognizing the will of its creator. His eyes blazed with an infernal light as he exerted his control over the chaotic energies.
With an abrupt, forceful motion, Arbious clenched his fist. The effect was immediate and violent. The portal shuddered, its swirling depths collapsing inward under the immense pressure of his will. The flames, once wild and uncontrolled, were sucked back into the vortex, their light flickering and dimming.
The portal, now reduced to a mere pinprick of light, struggled against the force of Arbious's will. The energy within it surged one last time, a desperate attempt to resist its destruction. But Arbious's power was absolute, unyielding. With a final, decisive clench of his fist, Arbious exerted his authority. The portal imploded with a deafening roar, the sound of reality itself being torn asunder. The light vanished, leaving behind only darkness and the faint echo of its collapse.
The cave trembled and crumbled under the strain left behind by the portal and its abrupt end. Realizing the precariousness of his situation, Arbious melded into the shadows, his ethereal form effortlessly traversing over the collapsed bridge, across the grand chasm. Leaving behind a trail of darkness in his wake, he reemerged as a human on the other side and swiftly made his way out of the crumbling cave.