They had walked for nearly two hours with caution after defeating the corrupted beast. The mist was fading slowly now, but the air held low like a faint hum.
Mana felt like vibrating throughout the air as they moved, wind was carrying dust from the ground. As they moved carefully, they saw many plants, herbs, as well as trees, most of them was on Rin's list. She collects as many as she can while leaving some that were precious but not on the list.
Hey, did you collect what you wanted?
While they were planning how to deal with corrupted beasts that were appearing, Limbo also suggested we should collect herbs, which we came for. The path ahead was uncertain, they didn't know what dangers were waiting for them. Rin said in a low voice, Yeah, almost all. If we weren't on high alert, then I have collected many, we can't waste more time.
You're right, we should collect what we want, Rin replied, also return as soon as we can.
Rin, scout the road ahead with your affinity, while I'm guarding. We should also prepare for an ambush.
System, Limbo muttered silently, eyes scanning around the area... Is this place strange?
[ Scanning area..]
[ Mana concentration: 240% above normal range. ]
[ Strange mana patterns unstable.]
This is not a good sign, Rin Said. Limbo forest ahead his chaotic there's more than usual disturbance we see up to now. Limbo nodded his head.
Limbo asked to system, "Do you think it's related to the fragment we are looking for?" No reply...
A few minutes of walking..
[ Warning: Abnormal mana detected 800m to the North East. ]
Rin, "Something is ahead, stay on guard, okay Limbo said. Stay close."
Finally, something interesting, she grinned her teeth, but at the same time, she was filled with a little hesitation and fear.
They moved under the dense vines hanging on trees, vines were touching shoulders. These vines blocked the sunlight. Barely light was coming. Some areas were covered in darkness.
Noise of strange movement, Rin grabbed Limbo's hands instinctively. "What was that?"
The system flickered, a blue line of text flashing before his eyes.
[ System alert: Environmental instability detected. ]
[ Possible rift formation in progress. ]
[ User synchronisation required. ]
User..? Did you hear that Limbo? I think I heard someone talking. Limbo shocked, I... I didn't hear? You might have thought that?
He couldn't answer any more, not now.
Before he could speak, the ground started to tremble, the ground erupted.
A red energy burst while tearing the soil,
In an instant, that energy takes the form of a floating crystal spinning slowly midair. It was radiating energy rhythmically, each beat sending shockwaves of mana that made nearby trees tremble.
[ Alert: Mana Fragment Signature Detected ]
[ Identification: sub Alpha fragment (Type: corrupted) ]
[ Purification required to proceed ]
What? Purification..? How can I get that? Rin was covering her eyes. Her hair was floating like a wipe with air.
Like they were alive.
Limbo stepped forward, eyes focused.
"System... Run purification protocol". Limbo thought that if he could use purification, just like a he run modification. And try purification.
[ Error: user lacks required stability to purify fragment.] Limbo's hope was shattered. The next window shows up,
[ User can use Alternative ]
Is there a way, show without wasting time?
[ Alternative: User can enter link mode. ]
[Absorb corruption manually, Risk 78% uncertain effects. ]
Link mode? Manually?. How..? Limbo muttered. "This sounds like suicide."
78% risk..
Rin yelled, "Mana storm, what's happening?"
Who knows, a loud. We might have triggered something we shouldn't. Limbo said, while grinning. "B...But I have no choice."
He mentally prepared, while stretching his hand forward, the system line appeared again. A glowing circuit wrapping his palm like a digital tattoo.
[Linking to Host Neural Patterns...]
[ Warning: Mana Overload imminent. Proceed? ]
"Yes." While taking a deep breath.
The moment he said yes, the fragment responded to his call. It shot towards him instantly without delay, piercing through his chest like a beam of light.
He felt immense pain. There's a twist,
It wasn't a physical. It was way deeper, like his own soul was being rewritten.
Breaking and assembling.
System informs,
[ Integration has been started...]
[ Host Synchronisation begins: 20%...40%...60%...]
It was going smoothly, but suddenly,
[ Warning!: Foreign Code detected!. ]
Limbo, whatever proceeds, this is not the time to think back...
"Limbo!" Rin shouted, rushing forward to help, but an invisible barrier of light blocked her. She slammed against the barrier. "Ah...Dammit! I.. I can't reach you?".
Meanwhile,
In that storm of light, Limbo clashed with his thoughts, which were flickering like static. He saw flashes, many at a time. Fragments of memories, symbols and something else... A figure clock in gold and a faint blue aura whispering.
"Recover them all, or you might fade away..."
A cold shiver travels through every pulse of his body.
[ Synchronisation complete.]
[ Host has absorbed corrupted sub-fragment. ]
[ Generating system upgrades... 0%..30%..100%. ]
[ Unlocking passive protocol: Pure Mana Resonance. ]
"Ah..ahh..." Limbo gasped as the light faded. His struggling to breathe, unable to control. The air went still and calm again.
Rin rushed while running and caught his shoulders. "You idiot! What did you do this time?"
While calming and stabilizing his breath, he looked at his hands. Tiny mark lines of white light were run across his veins like a flowing circuit. His wounds, even the minor cuts, were closed in an instant.
"It worked,' he whispered. "I can feel it..
Mana everywhere."
[ Passive skill unlocked. Pure Mana Resonance]
[ Effect:
If User(makes contact with pure mana): Recover HP constantly.
If user(repeat exposure within 60sec):
Auto generate new skill();
Enable auto mana regeneration. ]
Rin blinked at him. "You're glowing.. literally. Are you okay?"
"Never better." He said with a weak smile
"Just feeling a little..dizzy."
Then the ground starts to tremble again, this time, harder than before. Limbo, Rin said, the fragment we were looking at has shattered. But the red mist it held now has started flowing into the air, and taking form.
The corrupted mana has taken a form.
A new beast, twice the size of the beast they encountered before, rose from the smoke. His body was crackling with red veins and little crystals embedded across his chest. It howled, shaking the forest.
"Limbo", Rin said, eyes wide. "Are you kidding me..." This looks like a disaster.
The system pulses again:
[Warning: Corrupted Guarding Appeared ]
[ Objective: survive the encounter. ]
Limbo grinds his teeth. " So ... It came with a guardian." Huh..
He drew his light spear, the weapon humming with far Greater stability now.
The glow intensified, reacting to his new resonance.
"Rin, execute plan 2." "Got it!".
The beast charged. Limbo rolled aside on the ground, and Dodge.
[ Skill cast: Light Field ]
[ Effect: Reduce incoming damage by 35%. Duration: 30s. ]
"Defense barrier!" He shouted.
The creature smashed into the barrier, its impact shaking the surroundings while scattering dust.
Rin moved fast, summoning vines that
emerged from the ground, wrapping the beast's legs.
"Now!" She yelled.
Limbo raised his spear, which was glowing white with hot flames. Light wraps around it, forming trails that curved upward like shooting stars.
" System, attention! Override?"
[ Warning: Mana drain critical. Confirm override? ]
" Do it!"
[ Override confused. Now channeling full mana flow. ]
Limbo's eyes blazed with golden light.
"Light Spear, Pierce Mode!".
He throws the spears.
The spear pierced through the air like a comet, cutting through the mist, shattering the corrupted guardian in a burst of radiant light with a huge explosion.
Booooom....
For a moment, with the silence, light was falling with ash.
The system flickered once more.
[ Combat Completed. ]
[ XP +2400 ]
[ Light spear upgraded to Lv. 2 ]
[ New Passive: Mana Efficiency +10% ]
[ Achievement: "Fragment Purifier" Unlocked. ]
Rin takes a breath, in a calm, while taking support against a tree. "You're a freak, you know that, right?".
She takes a breath of relief.
Limbo laughed weakly. "Yeah..." but at least we're alive. She smirked. "Fine, Mr. Hero. Let's rest before the forest throws another surprise."
Yeah, I also agree on this.
Meanwhile, the system's voice interrupted again.
[ Warning: Residual anomaly detected nearby. Tracking source...]
[Unknown entity detected, distance 2.3km. ]
Limbo and Rin exchanged looks. Rin, I think there's another one ahead. Limbo stood up, gripping his spear tightly
Should we take a rest, Rin?
But, can we? Rin replied.