The outer edge of Cindralis shimmered under morning haze as Kaiden and Naō rode along the ivy-cracked cobblestone road leading out of the city. A thick fog rolled in ahead, settling over the trail like smoke, and the distant outline of what might’ve once been a research outpost blurred against a wall of vine-choked trees.

  [QUEST ACTIVE: Where the Spores Fall]

  Objective: Locate the alchemist, Belgrave, last seen near the Cindralis outskirts while gathering fungal samples.

  The game tracked their movement with a faint marker pulsing on their minimaps. As they approached the fog-wrapped woods, Kaiden’s raptor began to pace more cautiously.

  “Man, it’s way too quiet out here,” Naō said. He squinted into the pale mist. “Not even the usual lowbie mobs.”

  Kaiden couldn’t help but agree. His eyes trained forward scanning the area for enemies. “Maybe they all moved on?”

  Naō shivered. “Yeah, but where, and why? That usually means something even scarier pushed them out.”

  They reached a collapsed bridge overrun with moss and fungus. Strange puffballs shriveled at its edge, releasing faint bursts of yellow mist that danced across the path. Kaiden dismounted first, hand resting on his blade.

  [Environmental Hazard: Spore Exposure - Effect: None]

  They crossed cautiously, weapons drawn.

  A chirp in Kaiden’s ear.

  [New Objective: Search the spore-glade for clues to Belgrave’s location]

  The fog thickened as they moved deeper into the corrupted glade. Broken crates lay scattered across the overgrowth, glass vials half-buried in soft dirt. Some still glowed faintly.

  Naō knelt by one. “Alchemist supplies. We’re close.”

  Kaiden turned toward a toppled metal canopy half-submerged in a patch of phosphorescent ferns. Just beyond it, slumped against a tree, was a man wrapped in a green cloak stained with mold. A damaged satchel hung from his shoulder.

  [NPC Located: Belgrave]

  Belgrave stirred as they approached, blinking sluggishly. His skin was pale, lips cracked. Faint green veins were located under his eyes, but the game offered no other alerts about him.

  “Dayslayers?” he asked, voice hoarse. “You’re here, finally.”

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  Kaiden exchanged a glance with Naō, then back to the alchemist NPC. “You alright?” he asked, crouching down to where the NPC sat.

  Belgrave nodded slowly. “Got caught in the bloom surge. Lost my escort.”

  Naō stepped forward, uncorking a vial of purified water from his belt. “Here. You look rough.”

  Belgrave accepted it, downed it in seconds. The alchemist’s hand shook as he reached into his bag. “I salvaged what I could. But something’s... changed. These spores aren’t like the others. I’ll have to get back to my lab immediately. “

  He pulled out a sample vial. Inside, a black-green spore spun like it was alive.

  No quest marker updated.

  Kaiden stepped back. His raptor growled low behind him, reacting to the vial in agitation.

  “We’ll get you back to town,” Naō said carefully. “You good to walk?”

  Belgrave didn’t answer right away. Then, he nodded, and stood on shaky legs.

  As they turned to escort him back toward the road, Kaiden’s HUD blinked red.

  [Detected: Multiple Hostile Signatures]

  He barely had time to react before the ground behind them catapulted open.

  A creature of twisted amalgam of vines and bark appeared. Its petals were blackened, and its roots glowed red.

  [NEW ENEMY: Sporeflayed Maw Mutated Variant]

  Two more burst from the ferns, shrieking. Their cell counts both equaled up to ten. Kaiden dashed forward without thinking, intercepting the closest one. He cut through the first five cells and then the next cells until he exposed its general core.

  [Stem Exposed]

  He went for an attack on its life points. His blade flashed, carving through its arm. The creature didn’t flinch.

  [-28 LP].

  Naō tossed a flask. The burst staggered the second mutant, but even as it stumbled, it lunged for Kaiden instead of Belgrave.

  [-36 LP]

  “It’s still on me!” Kaiden shouted.

  “Dude, they’re not even looking at me,” Naō replied. “What the hell is going on with your—”

  One of the monsters let out a strangled noise. Kaiden grit his teeth and activated Vine Step, reappearing behind the third one and cleaving its spine.

  The creatures fell in tandem, thrashing before dissolving into corrupted digital ash.

  [ENEMIES DEFEATED: Sporeflayed Maw x3]

  Kaiden exhaled. He turned to look at Belgrave who hadn’t reacted since the monsters attacked.

  Naō frowned. “Those weren’t normal.”

  “Not even close.”

  Belgrave said nothing. He stared off into the fog, the vial of spinning spores still clutched in his hand.

  Kaiden’s jaw clenched. The weight of the Photosphere in his inventory suddenly felt heavier.

  Naō clapped him on the back. “Come on. Let’s get the guy home before he keels over.”

  Kaiden nodded. But even as they turned toward Cindralis, he kept his eyes on the alchemist’s hand, the way it continued to tremble.