Chapter 32: Infiltrating the Emerald Vein

Chapter 32: Infiltrating the Emerald Vein

----

The moon hung high in the sky, its silver light casting an eerie glow over the dense forest surrounding the Emerald Vein. 

Kent adjusted his hood, trying to calm his nerves as he approached the designated meeting spot near the forest entrance.

The air was thick with tension, and every sound— from the rustling of leaves to the distant hoot of an owl— felt amplified.

Kent clenched his fists, his spiritual energy swirling faintly around him.

From the shadows, a figure emerged.

Lyra, the silver-haired lone cultivator, was dressed in a black cloak that seemed to blend seamlessly with the night. Her piercing green eyes glinted as she sized up Kent.

"You came alone?" she asked, her voice low.

Kent nodded. "Yeah. Let's get this over with."

Lyra smirked. "You've got guts, kid. I like that. Follow me, and stay quiet."

Lyra led Kent through the thick underbrush, her movements swift and silent. Kent struggled to keep up, his footfalls crunching against the dried leaves despite his best efforts.

"You're loud," Lyra muttered, glancing over her shoulder. "You'll get us caught if you don't keep it down."

"Sorry," Kent whispered, his cheeks flushing.

As they moved deeper into the forest, the air grew heavier with spiritual energy. Kent could feel it prickling against his skin, a sensation both exhilarating and unnerving.

"Do you feel that?" Lyra asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yeah," Kent replied. "The spiritual energy here is intense."

"That's the Emerald Vein for you," Lyra said. "It's like a magnet for spiritual energy. No wonder Nexus keeps it under lock and key."

After what felt like an eternity, they reached the edge of a clearing. Lyra held up a hand, signaling Kent to stop.

"There," she whispered, pointing ahead.

Kent followed her gaze and saw the Nexus outpost. A high-tech barrier surrounded the entrance to the Emerald Vein, glowing faintly with spiritual energy.

Armed Watchers patrolled the perimeter, their sharp eyes scanning the area.

"Looks like there's no way in," Kent muttered, a sinking feeling settling in his stomach.

Lyra grinned. "That's where you're wrong. I've got a trick up my sleeve."

She pulled out a small, rune-etched device from her pocket. It hummed softly as she activated it, a faint shimmer appearing around them.

"Invisibility cloaks?" Kent asked, his eyebrows shooting up.

"Something like that," Lyra said. "It's a spiritual concealment device. As long as you stay close to me, they won't sense us."

'But we have to hurry. It won't last long.'

Kent thinks, "Isn't this similar to my spiritual clock… unlike my skill- This has a time limit. System surely gives useful rewards."

Kent nodded, his heart pounding. "Alright. Let's do this."

With Lyra leading the way, the two carefully approached the barrier. The concealment device did its job, masking their presence from the patrolling Watchers.

Kent held his breath as they slipped past a pair of guards. One of them paused, frowning as if sensing something.

"What's wrong?" the other guard asked.

"Thought I felt something," the first guard replied, narrowing his eyes.

Kent's heart raced, but Lyra remained calm, pulling him further into the shadows.

"Relax," she whispered. "We're almost there."

Once they passed the barrier, Kent was struck by the sheer beauty of the Emerald Vein. The ground glowed faintly with green light, and massive crystalline structures jutted out of the earth, pulsating with spiritual energy.

"It's like another world," Kent murmured, his eyes wide.

"Don't get distracted," Lyra said. "We're not here for sightseeing."

Kent nodded, focusing on the task at hand. The system's mission was clear: investigate the source of the Vein's abnormally high spiritual energy.

"Where do we start?" Kent asked himself.

Kent asks Lyra. I am looking for something unusual. Do you know where it could be? 

Lyra pointed to a cluster of larger crystals in the distance. "That's the core of the Vein. If you are looking for anything unusual, it'll be there."

As they approached the core, Kent felt the spiritual energy intensify, pressing down on him like a heavy weight.

Lyra stopped abruptly, her eyes narrowing. "Something's not right."

"What do you mean?" Kent asked.

"Look at the crystals," Lyra said, pointing to the glowing structures.

Kent squinted, noticing faint cracks running through the crystals. Dark, inky energy seeped from the fractures, a stark contrast to the pure green glow.

"What is that?" Kent asked, his voice tinged with unease.

"Corruption," Lyra said grimly. "I've seen this before. It's caused by negative spiritual energy—resentment, hatred, fear. If it spreads, it could destabilize the entire Vein."

Ding!

System Notification:

Objective Updated: Investigate the source of the corruption.

Kent sighed. "Of course it's never simple."

As they ventured closer to the core, the corrupted energy grew stronger, swirling ominously around them.

Suddenly, a low growl echoed through the air. Kent tensed, his fire aura flaring instinctively.

From the shadows emerged a monstrous beast, its body twisted and deformed by the corruption. Its glowing red eyes locked onto Kent and Lyra, and it let out an ear-piercing roar.

"Great," Kent muttered. "Because this night wasn't dangerous enough already."

Lyra drew a pair of daggers, their edges gleaming with spiritual energy. "You take the left; I'll take the right."

Kent nodded, summoning his soul slasher dagger. "Let's do this."

The beast charged, its massive claws slashing through the air. Kent rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack.

"Over here, ugly!" he shouted, aiming a slash strike at the beast's side.

The dagger singed its fur, but the beast barely flinched, its corrupted energy healing the wound almost instantly.

"Okay, that's not fair," Kent muttered.

Lyra leaped onto the beast's back, driving her daggers into its neck. The beast howled, thrashing wildly as it tried to shake her off.

"Now, Kent!" Lyra shouted.

Kent didn't hesitate. Channeling all his energy into his dagger, he lunged forward, plunging the blade into the beast's chest.

The creature let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing, its corrupted energy dissipating into the air.

+1,500 SP copied from corrupted beast. (Death)

As the beast's body faded, a small, glowing orb was left behind. Lyra picked it up, her eyes narrowing.

"This is…" she began, but Kent interrupted her.

"Let me guess. Bad news?"

Lyra nodded. "Not really, but this is a beast core. That creature evolved so far that it formed a beast core."

If this corruption is spread, many animals will evolve in violent ways, that could cause some problems. 

No wonder Nexus and watcher sealed this entire area. 

Kent's eyes widened. "You mean this could spread.?"

"Exactly," Lyra said. "But we don't have enough time. Someone is coming this way."

The guard must have heard the noise of our fighting. We have to leave now. 

Suddenly a sound comes

Ding!

System Notification: Mission Complete.

Reward: Spiritual Treasure (Soul Refinement Orb). 🌑

[A fire source is detected. System advises the host to quickly absorb the fire. 🔥]

A glowing object materialized in Kent's hand. He inspected it, his mind racing with questions.

"What now?" Where's the fire source? Kent murmurs. 

Lyra glanced at him, her expression serious. "Move now, we get out of here before Nexus finds us."

----

Give a small gift 🎁 please if you are enjoying the story.