The corrupted stag's body sizzled into ash, carried away by the rotting wind.
Yuto wiped stray spirit light off his arm like it was sweat. The forest quieted, trembling in unnatural stillness.
His party approached cautiously.
Mimi sniffed the air. "…It smells cursed. Eww."
[Scientific term: "Rotting demonic sewage fog." Very technical.]
"Thanks for the clarification," Yuto muttered.
Zarek crossed his arms, jaw tightening. "This corruption… feels like more than monsters. Like something thinking."
Seraphina nodded, her holy emblem trembling faintly. "It isn't natural. This is orchestrated."
Yuto felt the same...something intelligent, ancient, watching.
Then....
Footsteps. Multiple. Heavy armor.
Through the dead trees emerged figures clad in royal silver armor… corroded black in streaks, helmets cracked, breathing ragged.
Royal Knights.
But their eyes glowed faint crimson, like embers in dying souls.
"...They're corrupted too," Yuto said softly.
One knight staggered forward, blade dropping from shaking hands.
"H-help… spirits… corruption… it—"
A pulse of black mana ripped through his body, cutting off his voice. His scream twisted into a warped roar as corruption veins burst across his armor and skin.
"Everyone behind me!"
The knights lunged.
---
Yuto's feet dug into the earth, aura blasting outward. Spirit energy surged in his veins like white fire.
Acceleration Burst!
He blurred, catching the first knight's blade mid-swing. Metal screeched, sparks raining.
The knight snarled, red mist pouring from his helm.
Yuto twisted, elbow slamming into the knight's faceplate.
CRACK.
Armor bent like soft tin.
But another knight rushed from behind..blade coated in corruption.
[ Incoming backstab. Suggest not tanking this one. Pain bad.]
"Noted."
[Mana Shaping : Mirage Step]
Yuto flickered, leaving behind a fading spirit afterimage. The knight pierced the illusion..then Yuto kicked downward from above, blasting him into the dirt.
But the knights kept getting up, limbs jerking unnaturally, bones popping.
[Persistent armored zombies. Joy.]
Mimi fired wind bullets, Zarek cleaved two apart, Seraphina's holy magic burned black tendrils..
but they kept regenerating.
Seraphina gasped. "My purification magic..it's struggling?!"
"Yeah, that's my job," Yuto muttered.
[ Finally, someone acknowledges your main character responsibilities.]
Yuto raised his hand; spirit energy coiled around it like silver lightning.
[Spirit Purge : Radiant Pulse!]
Light erupted, blasting through the clearing. Corruption shrieked, peeling off armor like burning wax. Knights dropped to their knees, gasping as red faded from their eyes.
They looked at Yuto in awe and fear.
"Y-you… spirit… lord?"
"Uh… just a guy," Yuto coughed.
[Liar. Half the forest saw your dramatic hero pose.]
"Shut up."
The oldest knight bowed, trembling. "A spirit… walked among us…"
Before Yuto could reply...
A familiar voice cut the air.
"Yuto?"
His heart froze.
Elira stood at the treeline, staff in hand, emerald dress fluttering. Her violet eyes softened the moment she saw him, then widened at the battlefield carnage.
"You're… safe…"
Yuto blinked. "Elira? What are you doing here? I thought.."
She ran forward and hugged him without warning.
The world paused.
Mimi gasped. "She beat me to it?!"
Seraphina looked away, cheeks pink. "…Bold."
Zarek whispered, "This boy leveling in romance too."
[HP stable. Heart rate spiking. Recommend calm-down breathing before you explode like a teenage anime protagonist.]
Yuto cleared his throat awkwardly. "…Hi."
Elira pulled back, face red. "I heard rumors the forest was corrupted. I...I was worried about you."
Yuto scratched his cheek. "Well, I didn't die, so… success?"
[ Smooth. Shakespeare would cry.]
"Please do not encourage him," Elira murmured.
---
[ Status Update]
Level: 20 → 21
HP: 520 → 560
MP: 780 → 820
Strength: 92 → 103
Agility: 110 → 120
Endurance: 78 → 85
Intelligence: 103 → 108
New Passive:
✅ Spirit Resonance — Presence strengthens allies' mana & morale
Evolution Progress: % → %?
[Evolution crawling like a lazy turtle. Need bigger threats. Preferably not lethal ones. Probably lethal ones.]
" Why won't I see the progress?"
[ It's miserable]
---
Elira stepped forward, touching a wounded knight, healing light flowing.
"You purify corruption…" she whispered. "Yuto, only ancient spirits could do that."
Yuto exhaled. "Yeah well, I'm built different."
[ Congratulations. You are legally obligated to say "no cap" next.]
"Don't push it."
The forest trembled. A deep growl rolled through the ground...far away but massive.
Zarek gripped his blade. "Something huge just woke up."
Mimi gulped. "Can I vote we don't fight the giant corruption monster yet?"
"Nope," Yuto said.
[ Incorrect answer. Correct answer: Absolutely yes. Violence time.]
Yuto smiled faintly, eyes glowing silver-blue.
"Let it come. I need tougher training anyway."
Elira stared.
Soft blush.
Tiny panic for his safety.
Tiny spark of admiration.
"…You're insane."
"Probably."
The wind whispered like prophecy again.
Something in the depths of the corrupted land… roared back.
The boss was finally here...
---