Tailless wanders the tunnel warily to see if the elf was alone, as I still have not taken over it, for that was already a done deal. The threat of another one or a whole team is worse than him swimming inside my nothingness searching for the exit.

The first thing I see is poor alpha. Dead and gutted. Out of his head grows a tree. How in the Void does a tree grow in here and out of poor alpha was my first question, but have more as I saw him ripped open but nothing missing.

Ah, wait a second I was wrong. There is something missing, and it is the core. I had to search the intestines with tailless to see the reasoning for the gutting. Not even taking some materials, are elves in this World that barbaric?

Being as careful as I can, I did not find any other person or Monster in the vicinity. Nothing to do but bringing back the tree with alpha in tow. But before that I take tailless back to the house and start converting that damnable elf.

…

Eastern Redwind, his name was always said with a troubled expression, as he was the most problematic of the root elves. His love for bloodshed was a problem the Roots had to live with. Not respecting the matriarchy and even hunting for fun were just a few problems with him. As the Roots believed killing is only reasonable for the good of the woods. When he finally crossed the line, by disrespecting the Queen in hearing range of herself, he was made to do a task. Find out what changed in the Starfall area and look for proper hints about the sudden relief of Miasma in the forest. Only two options were acceptable: bringing back credible leads to any happenings or not come back at all.

It was out of respect for his late mother tree, they did not banish him directly, although it was a rather obvious tell to him to just ‘go die’.

He was the last one to be pulled of from his mother tree. Why it died was because of rotting roots, so he was himself a bit rotten, as many said. But that was not really the reason of his lashing out. He was just angry. His mother tree died, and everyone looked at him with pity, as if this would help. His brethren were totally fine, as they were fully integrated in the community, but as he was the last, they looked at him differently and he was hurt. Killing things just took the pressure of him and disrespecting everyone around him was a way to get back at them for treating him that way. But now it was already too late to really change a new leaf. The seed sprouted and where he lies, he will have to grow or wither.

On his way to the Starfall area, he noticed one lonely wolf. Normally they are in a pack so it was definitely an outcast. At first he wanted to kill it and even had his arrow nocked to slay it then and there, but then just watched it move strangely and hunting somewhat odd. The snake was killed nicely, but wolves hunt normally in a different way. They do not jump from above, they stalk their prey and eat them that way. Something seemed wrong with it, so he followed it and was shocked to find where it had its lair.

A hole inside the shell of the Starfall area spewed out Mana instead of Miasma and the wolf brought its catch back. It must be domesticated by whatever lived inside this hole.

Redwind made his plan. Kill the wolf, when it came out, sneak inside and find whatever lives inside. If it is in his capabilities kill it and bring the head back to the matriarch. Afterwards he would be able to even curse in front of the matriarch without repercussions as he did already a great boon for solving the mystery of the Starfall area.

The wolf was killed easily and after taking out the core, he threw a bit of scent masking dust on the wolf. Very slowly started Redwind searching for traps, and got more and more nervous, as he did not find any. If there were none, either the being inside was an idiot or strong enough it did not need any traps. Therefore he used his utmost care to follow the path.

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

It took close to half an hour as he carefully searched every ounce of the place to be totally sure of his safety and only stopped as he noticed the air change with an ominous presence ingrained in it. Looking for any kind of hint if he was discovered, he readied his retreat, but after a while nothing came from it.

The path found its end to a bricked wall definitely manmade by one of the Grassers or Mountainfolk. Both savages, living in places made of cold stone and dead trees. Their whole thing is killing the forests and using it to fuel their expansion. If this is their doing, nothing good can come from it, and should be destroyed immediately.

Redwind thought about having enough evidence to get back to the Roots and be welcomed back, but his own ego would not allow it, as he wants to show exceptionally work as to never questioned again, so he continued.

The Door was a simple rock and a chain. Mountainfolk would make such, but it is out in the open, so more like a Grasser is living here. The door is so simple and stupid, Redwind relaxed a bit. A being with such craftsmanship is no one who can create a proper trap, so it should be easy to at least flee if necessary.

Using a bit of mud and growing a dripvine was enough to let this door never close again in the near future. The way is open and more evidence can be collected.

The cockiness faded right away after seeing the black sphere hovering over some kind of pedestal or altar. It has an ominous vibe to it and seems to be the amalgamation of wrongness in the World. Whatever it is, it is nothing that should be existing and deserves to be destroyed. While looking around more he finds two houses, while being wary of the sphere. One seems to be a stockpile for something and the other a house with no door. Maybe this is where the Grasser lives, but it is rather simple for it being something those pompous degenerates live in. It would be nice to kill him in its sleep to make it easier, especially if it is some kind of mage.

One try should be done before escaping, as he already sees the miserable face of the Matriarch Queen thanking him for a job well done.

The horrible howl of wolves were heard and Redwind was clearly spotted in some way, but one or three shots right at whatever comes through this door will make the escape easier. While aiming the arrow, the shock of losing footing was gut wrenching. A trap and he stood on it without even noticing! A quick jump nearly helped him escape but alas, was too shallow.

Shocked beyond believe was what made its way to the pitfall. It was not the owner but the black sphere! Shaken by the shock, Redwind needed precious seconds to blast into action before all is too late. Shooting the thing seems to do nothing at first, so escape via quickvines were the best way. Putting Mud and a quickvine seed on the wall made something react with horrible intent. Something pressed against him like it wants to lick him all over, breaking his concentration slightly but not enough. The vines grew fast and right as he wanted to escape the black thing descended right where the vines were. As a last resort he fired more arrows to an effect, so more arrows followed.

Breathing got harder and his strength started to fade so a quick climb and jump at the opposite end the pitfall was a likely escape. With clawing at the rock, right at the time he wanted to pull himself out of the nightmarish pitfall a piercing pain radiated from his right shoulder. The next few seconds were rather blurry, as he did not remember anymore how he fell or why he was so much in pain, the only thing he did know was he had to escape somehow.

Desperate Redwind crawled in the small burrow of whatever made this and sealed the Entrance with the rest of the quickvines he had at hand. Crawling slowly he thought there must be some exit, as he felt slight wind in front but after a while he noticed only air leaving form the back and not getting replaced.

Engulfed in the Darkness was the most horrible experience he ever thought possible. It was as if Nature just stopped existing, no song of the trees and no whispers of the World. Nothing. Trying to escape he moved through the world to the sphere, hoping it would bring him back but with a cruel joke of fate the sphere he feared so much now ran away and let him be inside this place.

It took maybe an hour before things got even worse. Something started to invade his entire being. Like a fungal growth or a infestation of larvae from ravenous bark beetle it tried to enter him. The whole ordeal made him not only fear for his life but for his existence in general. Whatever it is, it is not from his world, as this is a being beyond comprehension.

The torture kept going and going. Out of fear and desperation Redwind cried, soiled himself. It is like nothing can stop the invasion and he will be worse of than dead. ‘Treemother save me’, was his last comprehensive thought before he broke into instinctual resistance to keep the last bit of his sanity.

And then it all ended…