Another world, Celeste

Chapter Seventeen, pt 2

Lorelai and a selected group of guards are going through the opening first and the remaining guards are staying behind in case any monsters currently trap within the isolation wall comes out behaving aggressively, or worst-case scenario, the cause of the sanctuary's residents uneasiness manage to slip through. Lorelai and guards under her command stealthily disperse, commencing the rescue mission. Following after Lord Sol, Bane and I are the last to enter the isolation ward, unarmed, unlike the guards carrying glistening silver shields. I focus entirely on 'Presence Detection' while riding on Bane, once in a while checking up and relaying everyone's progress to Lord Sol.

"The first group already found the five keepers and are on their way back and Lorelai's group is advancing smoothly towards the middle tier. We're almost - "

Bane abruptly halts when I'm about to notify Lord Sol that we're approaching closer to Luna and Roy's location. I scrunch up my nose as an indicator of the changes of mana flow in the air, not that it's emitting any particular scent.

"It's the same unpleasant feeling I got from the unknown presence."

I get off of Bane and we advance cautiously after hearing the sound of a blast getting louder once we reach the edge of a small clearing. I immediately spot Luna at the one side of the clearing, but where's the single tree with a hollow? I don't see any, except for a thick charred tree stump.

"Its finally awoken," Lord Sol mutters as he observes the unfolding battle between Roy and the rampaging monster.

I was purposely avoiding looking in the direction of where the unpleasant feeling coming from, but my curiosity takes over and also, I need to see what a tainted monster looks like with my own eyes for future reference. After gathering my resolve, I watch Roy exchange punches with a monster resembling a monkey with a red coat, standing as tall as a man and fiercely glaring with red eyes. I recognise that look. It's the same with the magical beast I first encounter during the festival. So, that's what it was. It almost turned into a tainted monster if Bane and I had not intervened.

While Roy is keeping the tainted monster's attention fixed on him, Luna acts as a support by deflecting fireballs erratically spewing out of the tainted monster's hands and tail from burning anything with her magic. The tainted monster must've noticed because of the increasing fireballs, causing Luna a hard time to deflect it all in time. Lord Sol steps into the clearing, using wind blade to counter the fireballs.

"You're late!" Roy shouts.

"That monster should've been dealt with by now. Lingering will complicate things, you understand that Roy." Lord Sol chides.

"It's not that simple."

Roy gathers magic on his right fist and punches the tainted monster in the abdomen. Once more in its chest for the finishing blow. According to what I read, hitting light magic near the core is the most effective method to purify tainted monster. It should've worked but, when the tainted monster in front of us falters to the ground, its body instantly covered in black mist and stands on its two feet in full strength. Lord Sol creases his brows at this unexpected development.

"This is troublesome."