[EDITING] The Legend of Zelda: Goddess of Secrecy

Boss 1 - Parasitical Overgrowth Vinios

...only to have to pause as a horrible stench intruded his senses as he passed beyond the threshold. Holding his arm up to his nose, Link looked around the room for what could possibly be creating such an awful smell as the doors swung shut behind him.

The room had been covered in dirt, a haphazard construction built in the grand hall of the temple. The fanged peaks of granite pillars stuck up through the base of the floor and a purple water that covered almost everything else between the brought in dirt mounds. Vines coiled around almost anything they could touch.

Link noticed long hollow roots gaping near the ceiling of the room. Fresh water poured in from them, helping revive the putrid pool of filth. How plant life survived in this environment, Link would never know. Yet, something did live in here. Beside the vines, wide lily pads drifted around the pool, their roots catching on anything underground.

In the center of the room was an island. It was big enough for about five horses to move comfortably on, and covered in dark green grass. Lying in the middle of the island was Derek. Even without seeing the young man's face, Link recognized the tattered sigil of the Royal Guard hanging over his chain mail, a token from Derek's family rank.

Bruce gripped his nose as Yore flew in behind them. "Goddesses, what is that smell?"

"Toxin. Very dangerous toxin."

Link turned his attention to a vine hanging above the room. A slender, pale shape hung from it, swinging gently back and forth. It was a woman, or so it appeared. She had night black hair, with vibrant streaks of white that seemed to be spreading and bright cyan eyes.

"Zeal!"

"I am indeed," the woman replied lazily as she continued to swing. "It's a hard thing to fool the Drex, so wise as you are."

Yore grew frantic overhead. "Link, this woman is beyond your ability. Find a way out of there! Quickly!"

"Oh, hush, now," the woman said, waving her arm in muted frustration. "I'm not here to fight him. I'm just making sure he's alive. See what there is to report. A proper age for a Hero. Already dressed the part. Supposing you haven't found a poor imitation." Zeal leaned out on her swing towards Link. "You are the Hero, aren't you?"

Link opened his mouth, to answer, only to be cut off.

"Do not answer her."

"Now you're no fun, dear," Zeal stated with a tip of her head. "But, like I said, I'm not here to kill him. That would be simply too easy. Come back and visit me when you have a powerful sword, Hero, and maybe we'll cross blades then. If you survive this, of course."

Zeal snapped her fingers, the noise much higher pitched than it should have been. It resonated throughout the room, and something stirred inside the water. Link watched the surface slowly drain of the side of something, a large mass rushed to the surface from where it had been lying on bottom of the infected pool.

The island in the center of the room began to move, shifting further away as the form raced to the surface. Link knew that once he jumped in, there would be no turning back. But as Derek began to be pushed further away, he didn't see having much choice.

"Have fun, Hero," Zeal chuckled, her form slowly disappearing into nothing. "Hope we meet again."

Four huge vines shot up out of the water, connected with the largest hollow roots. The thick, green-brown creepers lifted an even larger mass out of the water. It had a big, brown body, secreting filth into the water. An ugly purple head waved itself above the island, drooling a vile liquid through brown fangs like a grotesque Deku Baba. Through one yellow eye resting atop the purple head, the creature watched Link from the platform, its head swaying back and forth, and its tongue beginning to find its way out of the mouth.