The deeper they went, the less the world resembled a forest and more a body, pulsing, overgrown artery system of roots, veins, and nerves. Vines hung like skeletal arms from above, and the pathways twisted behind them, roots growing where once there were steps. It was Naō who marked each turn, bursting glowing phials to keep light alive, their liquid arc painting the walls with golden flame before fading into fungal shimmer.

  [Status Alert: Rot Accumulation 34%. Bioluminescent cleansing required.]

  “Think I saw a shrine just up ahead,” Naō muttered, leading them into a bulbous clearing with spore mist swirling in the air.

  Kaiden moved slowly, blade ready. “This place is off. The system didn’t build this... not like this.”

  Ironstride touched the side of her shield. “It feels intentional.”

  The shrine was a hollowed Seelie statue, eyes weeping with glowing sap. As they stood beneath it, their meters began to lower, the pulsing sensation in their bodies receding.

  “Whatever this Rot is...,” Naō said. “The longer you stay in the dark, the more life points it takes.”

  They moved on, passing flickers of other Players in distant tunnels. Some crouched near glowing bulbs, others muttered to themselves about the ‘Ghost’ walking through the Grove.

  “He doesn’t even have a Rot bar. Must be dev-tier or something.”

  “You think he hacked the expansion files?”

  It was only when they reached the root-locked basin, the remnants of a shattered shrine lying in jagged spirals across the moss, that they realized they were not alone.

  [Mini-Boss Encounter: Festerpine Wretch - Corrupted Seelie Remnant]

  The thing erupted from the ground like a peeled tree, its bark made of stretched flesh, bone and pulsing green rot. It screeched in broken harmony, limbs extended into splintered branches.

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  Naō immediately tossed a Purge Capsule, its detonation spreading a blue mist that cleansed the area.

  The Wretch lunged at Ironstride, who raised her shield just in time, her Thorn Shield Slam sending a wave of splinters into its chest. It recoiled, howling.

  Kaiden rushed forward, blade sweeping across its tendrils. The scythe rang with watery force.

  “It just used your last move,” Ironstride growled as the creature mimicked her shield bash.

  “It copies the last action of the target. Switch your attacks,” Nao said.

  Kaiden rotated to its back, slashing with precision, as Naō lobbed a Stunburst Phial to interrupt its cast.

  [Festerpine Wretch - 22% LP Remaining]

  Ironstride activated Linked Chain Defense, tethering their defenses as she tanked a heavy slam.

  “Finish it!”

  Kaiden’s eyes narrowed, and in a flash of movement, he darted in, planting both feet and cleaving the corrupted trunk clean through. It shuddered, screamed, then collapsed into ash and bone.

  [Victory: Festerpine Wretch Defeated]

  [Loot Acquired: Vine-Spun Boots (Light Armor)] [Loot Acquired: Decaying Flask Upgrade – Chemist Exclusive] [Loot Acquired: Shard of Forgotten Root (Quest Item)]

  Kaiden stepped back, heart still hammering.

  “That shard,” Naō said, picking it up, “this has the same glyphs as that ruined temple. Same as Belgrave’s pod.”

  Ironstride nodded. “The Seelie tried to fight the Rot. And failed. This is what’s left.”

  Kaiden stared at the shard, then quietly pocketed it.

  [New Trait Gained: Myco-Sense – Passive: Slows Rot accumulation. Grants brief warning before corrupted encounters.]

  [Achievement Progression: Fungal Resistance – Stage 3 Complete.]

  Back in the sanctuary alcove, they cleansed their meters and checked their logs.

  Ironstride tapped a blinking marker on her map. “Ashglass Market. Blackcoral is the only town near it. That’s where we go next.”

  Naō grinned. “Please tell me it doesn’t smell like mushrooms.”

  Kaiden chuckled faintly, gaze still lingering on the corrupted shrine. “We’ll find out soon enough.”