The tunnel leading deeper into Mycoth Hollow narrowed as they pushed forward. Roots formed archways overhead, knotted like veins, dripping with dew that shimmered in the faint bioluminescent glow. Spores floated in the air like drifting snowflakes, harmless for now, but Kaiden kept a mental note of their density increasing the further they went.

  Their footsteps muted under the soft, mossy terrain. The ambient noise was little more than distant water droplets and the occasional thrum of movement in the walls.

  Naō pulled up the quest log. “Still says we’re supposed to investigate the fungal source. No way, that was just those Sporegnashers.”

  Kaiden replied, “Nah, those were like... watch dogs. It’s never that easy.”

  Ironstride, ahead by a few paces, didn’t say anything. She just raised a closed fist, stopping the group.

  From behind a tangle of glowing roots up ahead, a soft skittering noise clicked against the stone.

  Then another. And another.

  “Eyes up,” Ironstride said, getting into position.

  Kaiden’s blade appeared in his hand with a shimmer. He crouched low as he activated Petal Cloak, vanishing into stealth.

  The first creature emerged. A long-limbed, centipede-like abomination covered in bark plating and crowned with fungal antennae that twitched erratically. Its eyes glowed a dull orange.

  [ENEMY IDENTIFIED: Hollowroot Skulker - Tier 2]

  Two more crept out behind it. The trio slithered and hissed, splitting formation as if surrounding prey.

  Naō whispered, “They’re flanking.”

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  Ironstride stepped in front, anchoring her stance. “Let ‘em.”

  Kaiden moved silently behind the nearest Skulker. He watched its patterns, the way it twitched. He waited.

  Then he struck.

  [Thorned Strike: Critical Hit - Weak Point Exposed]

  [8 Cells]

  The creature screeched and reared up, flailing. Kaiden blinked back into view as the other two charged.

  Naō hurled a Corrosive Draught at the second Skulker. The flask exploded against its chest, sizzling bark away.

  [Debuff Applied: DEF -10% (Stack 1)]

  Ironstride took the charge head-on. She retaliated with a full-body bash, staggering the creature long enough to draw aggro.

  Kaiden ducked low under a wild strike and activated Vine Step, reappearing behind the damaged Skulker.

  He chained into a follow-up combo: Thorned Strike into a dash, then a backstep feint.

  “Naō, I need to cut through!”

  Naō hurled a second vial [Stack 2].

  Kaiden struck again, the bark broke.

  [Stem Exposed]

  He drove his weapon deep, and the creature convulsed violently before disintegrating into digital ash.

  Ironstride shouted, “Two left. Keep pressure on the one biting me.”

  Naō circled left, throwing a healing flask under Ironstride’s feet while launching his third debuff flask at the last Skulker.

  All three creatures went down within seconds of each other, cleaned up by tight coordination and practiced skill rotation.

  [Enemies Defeated: Hollowroot Skulker x3]

  Kaiden wiped his blade clean against a moss-covered rock. His LP hovered at 121/180. “I don’t like how quiet it is after each wave.”

  Ironstride rolled her shoulder. “Means the next thing we find is worse.”

  Naō’s HUD blinked. “Path just updated. Looks like a sub-objective triggered.”

  [NEW OBJECTIVE: Investigate the Hollow Heart]

  A strange pulse has been detected deeper within Mycoth Hollow.

  A faint marker appeared at the far end of the corridor. The spores ahead swirled unnaturally, tugged toward an unseen draft.

  Kaiden tightened his grip on his weapon. “Alright... let’s find the heart of this place.”