A massive bronze gate towered majestically before Dustin and the others. Behind it might lie the fabled Aether Garden, or perhaps a far deadlier trap.
Dark gold vines twisted through gaps in the doorway, looking brittle and dead. But they felt like forged metal to the touch and were unnaturally tough.
The cloud-scripted runes on the gate pulsed with a faint light, forming an ancient and powerful seal Forcing it open would be no simple feat and could trigger unforeseeable consequences. Dustin spent considerable time examining it with his divine sense before finally shaking his head.
“This gate is sealed intact and anchored deep into the bedrock,” he said. “Forcing it open could be disastrous. There’s probably another entrance, or a specific condition required to open it.”
Coming so close only to hit a wall left everyone frustrated.
Grace studied the misty fissure along the mountainside and reasoned, “Since this path is currently blocked, why not explore along its edge? We might find another route. Also, the Vitalis Pool mentioned in the mural is nearby.”
Dustin nodded in agreement. He could sense more active energy fluctuations emanating from the direction of the fissure.
The team advanced cautiously along the edge of the great chasm, delving deeper into the island. After walking just a few miles, the surroundings began to undergo a strange transformation. Their once-clear vision was gradually engulfed by a grey-white fog
This was no ordinary mist as it was thick, heavy, and flowed like a living entity. It severely reduced visibility and absorbed sound, warping voices so that even shouts between the guards reached muffled and unclear.
More unnerving was the mist’s corrosive energy. It didn’t burn skin, but seeped through exposed flesh like invisible needles, quietly siphoning away their spiritual energy.
The guards soon felt their circulatory pathways stagnate, their inner strength draining far faster than normal, and a weariness that gnawed at their very souls began to spread throughout their bodies.
“Fight it off. This fog is unnatural and drains our true energy,” the guard captain shouted, though his voice was muffled by the thick fog.
Everyone immediately focused on channeling their internal energy to form a thin layer of protective armor energy around their bodies. A soft hiss filled the air when the protective armor met the mist. It was effective, but the effort was draining their energy at twice the normal rate.
“Ms. Linsor, I… I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up,” Judith said, color draining from her face. Among the group, her cultivation was one of the weakest, and she was already struggling to keep up.
Grace felt her own true energy slipping faster than normal despite her considerable strength. She glanced toward Dustin with concern, only to notice the mist recoiling from him as if hitting an invisible barrier. He appeared as calm as ever, as if the strange haze held no power over him.
“Stay close to me and don’t spread out,” he said.
His voice rang clearly in everyone’s ears, carrying a subtle but undeniable sense of reassurance. The invisible field around him expanded slightly, enveloping Grace and the nearby guards. Instantly, the pressure on the group eased.
“Thank you, Mr. Rhys,” they said gratefully. Dustin shook his head slightly, though his expression stayed serious as he surveyed their surroundings.
“This fog doesn’t just erode spiritual energy, but also suppresses divine sense.”
He attempted to extend his divine sense but found it was like struggling through mud. His perception range was compressed to less than 300 feet, and even that was hazy
“There’s something in the fog. Stay sharp, “he warned, and a chill ran down everyone’s spines. With both vision and divine sense severely limited, the unknown was far more terrifying than any visible threat could be.
Under Dustin’s guidance, the group advanced slowly through the dense fog, like blind men groping their way. The ground beneath them was slick with moss-covered stones. All around, silence pressed down, broken only by their labored breathing and pounding hearts.
Suddenly, a short, blood-curdling scream echoed from the back of the group.
Everyone whipped around. Through the churning fog, they glimpsed one of the outer guards jerking backward violently, as if something had grabbed him and dragged him into the depths of the mist.
He couldn’t even struggle and vanished in an instant. Only a smeared trail on the ground and drops of blood seeping into moss marked where he’d been.
“Defensive positions! Everyone, back to back,” the guard captain roared hoarsely.
The remaining guards quickly tightened their formation and drew their blades. Their tense faces turned toward the churning fog around them, and their backs were slick with cold sweat.
“What was that?” Grace asked, gripping her dagger with a hardened expression.
Dustin’s gaze sharpened, locked on the direction where the guard had disappeared. Although his divine sense was suppressed, he still caught a wisp of an incredibly faint, swift, and radiating pure malice.
“It’s not a physical entity or at least, not entirely,” Dustin said grimly. “These are wraiths born from the fog itself with a mix of its corrosive energy and the lingering resentment of this place. They have no solid form and feed on life essence.”
As if to prove him right, whispering noise seeped from the mist. It wasn’t a sound heard with the ears, but one that crawled directly into the mind, unsettling and nauseating.
At the same time, several translucent, shifting shapes emerged from the shadow. They had no fixed form-one moment like grasping tendrils, the next like twisted faces. With a silent shriek, they surged toward the group.
