Hollow Ascension

Chapter 151: Signs of Corruption

The valley was quieter than it had been in days, but the stillness was wrong. The soft, steady pulse of magic that had filled the glade was now uneven, flickering like a flame in the wind. Kael stood at the edge of the clearing, his eyes narrowed as he scanned the once-vibrant landscape. Something was off.

"Do you feel that?" he asked, his voice low as he glanced toward Elda and Lena.

Lena had noticed it too. Her hand hovered near the hilt of her sword, her instincts already on high alert. "I feel it," she muttered, her eyes narrowing as she took a step toward the heart of the valley. "It's like the valley's magic is... fading."

Elda moved closer to the center of the glade, her staff glowing softly as she tried to tap into the valley's energy. The warmth that usually greeted her felt distant now, weaker and harder to reach. Her brow furrowed as she closed her eyes, focusing harder. "It's not just fading," she whispered. "There's something else—something dark."

Kael knelt by a patch of plants that had once glowed brightly with the valley's magic. Now, they looked wilted, their leaves drooping and their glow dimmed to a sickly green. "These were full of life yesterday," he said, touching one of the withered stems. "Now look at them."

Lena's frown deepened as she scanned the glade. Patches of the valley that had been alive with magic were now dimming, and the once-strong pulse of the valley's heart was irregular, like a heartbeat struggling to find its rhythm. "This isn't natural," she said, her voice tight. "Something's wrong."

Elda opened her eyes, her face pale. "I can feel it," she said softly. "The valley's magic is... being interfered with. It's like a cloud hanging over the heart, something dark trying to choke the light."

Kael stood, his jaw clenched as he looked toward the horizon where the Hollow Syndicate had last been seen. "They're already back," he growled. "Ithran and his forces must be trying to corrupt the valley again, but this time, they're not attacking directly."

Lena's hand tightened around her sword. "A subtle invasion," she muttered, her voice edged with frustration. "If they're doing this from a distance, we won't see it coming."

Elda shook her head, her eyes filled with worry. "It's not just an invasion. It's more than that. The Syndicate has found a way to infect the valley's magic itself. The corruption is slow, but it's spreading. If we don't stop it, the valley will lose its will."

Kael's eyes darkened, and his grip tightened on his sword. "Then we have to act fast," he said. "We can't let the valley fall. Not after everything we've fought for."

Lena nodded, her jaw set in determination. "What's the plan?" she asked, her eyes locking on Elda.

Elda closed her eyes again, reaching out with her magic to feel the threads of energy running through the valley. It was faint, but she could sense the corruption winding its way through the heart of the land, like dark tendrils burrowing deeper into the soil. "I need to get closer to the source," she said, her voice tense. "I can feel the valley's core, but it's slipping from my grasp. I think the Syndicate's dark magic is hiding within the valley's energy, blending in so we can't detect it outright."

Kael frowned, his mind racing. "So, what are we looking for?"

Elda opened her eyes, her expression grim. "Anything out of place. Patches of magic that feel... wrong. I'll try to tap into the valley's core, but I'll need you both to help me keep the area clear. If the Syndicate is trying to corrupt the valley, they could send something to stop us."

Lena nodded, already on the move. "Let's find this corruption before it spreads any further," she said, her voice filled with resolve.

Kael and Lena began scouting the perimeter of the glade, their eyes sharp as they searched for any signs of further decay. As they moved through the valley, they noticed more patches of magic fading, the plants wilting and the glow dimming in irregular spots. It was as if the life was being slowly drained from the valley.

Elda stayed near the heart of the glade, her staff glowing faintly as she tried to deepen her connection to the valley's core. She could feel the pulse of magic, but it was weaker than before, as though something was wrapping around it, suffocating it. "It's deeper than I thought," she whispered to herself, her voice trembling with worry. "The corruption is already inside."

Lena, moving quickly through the underbrush, came to a sudden stop. "Kael, over here," she called out, her voice urgent.

Kael rushed over, finding Lena standing over a patch of plants that had completely blackened. Tendrils of dark magic snaked through the soil, faint but unmistakable. "This is it," she said, pointing at the blackened earth. "It's spreading."

Kael knelt, frowning as he studied the tendrils. "It's subtle," he muttered. "Too subtle. They're using the valley's magic against itself."

Elda joined them, her eyes widening at the sight. "This is just the beginning," she said, her voice tight with dread. "The valley is still fighting, but if the corruption spreads, it'll take hold of the heart."

Kael stood, his expression determined. "Then we stop it here," he said firmly. "We can't let this go any further."

Elda nodded, raising her staff as she prepared to channel the valley's magic. "I'll need your help," she said, her voice steady. "The corruption is woven deep into the valley's energy. I can try to push it back, but it won't be easy."

Lena and Kael stood beside her, their weapons ready. "We're with you," Lena said, her eyes sharp with determination. "Let's end this."

Elda took a deep breath, focusing all her energy on the glowing staff in her hands. The valley's magic pulsed around them, faint but still alive, still fighting. She reached out with her power, tapping into the heart of the valley, and felt the darkness pushing against her, trying to resist.

For a moment, the air around them grew cold, and the ground beneath their feet trembled. The corruption fought back, lashing out with dark tendrils that wrapped around the plants, strangling the life from them.

But Elda didn't waver. She pressed harder, pouring her strength into the valley's core, pushing the darkness back inch by inch. The glowing plants began to brighten, their light slowly returning as the corruption was forced to retreat.

Kael and Lena stood ready, their eyes scanning the perimeter for any sign of attack, but the forest remained still, as though waiting.

Finally, Elda let out a sharp breath, her hands trembling as the last of the dark tendrils recoiled and faded. The valley's magic pulsed again, weak but steady. For now, they had pushed the corruption back.

But as Elda lowered her staff, her face pale with exhaustion, she knew the battle was far from over.

"This isn't the end," she said, her voice filled with quiet dread. "The Syndicate's corruption is still here, hidden in the valley's magic. We've only slowed it down."

Kael sheathed his sword, his expression grim. "Then we keep fighting," he said. "We protect the valley, no matter what it takes."

Lena nodded, her gaze hard. "We're not letting the Syndicate win," she said. "Not here. Not ever."

The valley pulsed softly beneath them, its magic flickering but still holding on. They had pushed back the darkness for now, but the shadow within was growing, and the fight was far from over.