The chamber pulsed with an unnatural energy as the beastman stepped forward.
Its once-proud figure was now a grotesque mockery of its former self—fur blackened, muscles unnaturally swollen, veins pulsating with a sickly dark glow.
The whispering darkness surrounding it thickened, coiling around its limbs like living chains.
Leon's grip tightened on his sword. This wasn't just a guardian. It was a warning.
Kaelen's daggers flashed into his hands. "That's no ordinary opponent."
Rhun's expression was grim. "This should not be possible. The ancestors protect this place—nothing like this should be here."
But it was.
And now, it was staring directly at them.
---
A Mindless Roar
The corrupted beastman let out a deafening roar.
The sound wasn't natural.
It reverberated against the stone walls, carrying with it an unsettling resonance that made the very air feel heavy.
Jarek stumbled back. "Oh, that's just fantastic. Loud AND horrifying."
Leon barely had time to process the situation before the creature charged.
Fast.
Too fast for something so massive.
Leon barely twisted out of the way as clawed hands slashed through the air, carving deep scars into the stone where he had stood.
Kaelen moved like a shadow, his daggers striking the beast's side. The blades bit deep—but then something unnatural happened.
The wounds closed instantly.
Kaelen cursed under his breath, flipping back. "It's regenerating too fast."
Leon gritted his teeth. This wasn't just an ordinary corruption—it was something worse.
And it wasn't going to let them leave alive.
---
Testing the Limits
Leon dashed forward, swinging his blade in a precise arc.
The sword sliced cleanly through the beastman's thigh—but before blood could even spill, the wound sealed shut.
Leon jumped back.
No delay. No hesitation.
The corruption was sustaining the creature, preventing any meaningful damage.
Rhun took a defensive stance. "This isn't right. Even corrupted creatures have limits."
Leon's mind raced. He had fought many enemies in Devia, but this regeneration speed was beyond normal.
Something was fueling it.
Kaelen's sharp gaze flickered to the pedestal. "The corruption started from this place. Maybe it's still linked to it."
Leon nodded. "Then we find a way to break the link—before this thing wears us down."
But before they could act, the corrupted beastman let out another roar.
And this time—
The whispering darkness answered.
Shadows began to rise from the cracks in the stone floor—twisted forms, barely humanoid, with eyes of hollow black.
Jarek groaned. "Oh, COME ON! It can summon minions too?!"
Leon exhaled, raising his sword. This was going to be a long fight.
And if they didn't find a way to break the corruption's hold—
They weren't getting out of this chamber alive.
---