Warlock of Oceans: My Poseidon System-Chapter 388: Mutated Second Floor: The Grave of Grotesque Toads (6)

The grotesque creatures scrambled in disjointed motions, their malformed limbs struggling to carry them swiftly away. Their heavy, bloated forms smashed against the jagged walls of the dungeon as they fled, sending cascades of dirt and stone falling in their wake. Some of the monsters, too swollen or slow to keep up, were trampled by their panicked kin, their shrill cries echoing throughout the darkened corridors.

Their exodus spread across the edges of the dungeon floor like a ripple of chaos, each one racing to the very limits of the corrupted dungeon to escape the light of the aether. The sickly green vines and corrupted flora quivered as the beasts rushed past, as if even the dungeon’s twisted essence recoiled from the purity Cyrus had brought forth.

Pools of dark, murky water bubbled as creatures submerged within them erupted to the surface, their distorted forms breaking free in a desperate frenzy. Their grotesque heads bobbed above the water’s surface for just a moment before they, too, slithered and scuttled toward the furthest corners of the dungeon.

From overhead, the mutated insects that clung to the ceiling began to scatter. Their legs clicked frantically as they crawled along the stone in erratic patterns, abandoning the poisonous spores they had once gleefully released. Some of the insects, too weak or slow, plummeted to the ground below, their fragile forms bursting into clouds of thick, choking dust that faded quickly in the calming air of the aether.

The once suffocating dungeon floor, filled with the constant buzzing and shuffling of these grotesque beings, had been emptied in a matter of moments. Now, all that remained was the fading echo of their retreat, their twisted bodies vanishing into the darkness at the very edges of the dungeon’s vast expanse.

Cyrus watched the retreating monsters, his glowing trails of aether still spiraling through the air, purging the miasma as they floated. He turned toward Sylus, the golden-haired knight standing beside him, his piercing eyes still focused on the corrupted dungeon ahead.

"Is there a way to cleanse all of this?" Cyrus asked, his voice low yet steady, gesturing toward the twisted vines, the cracked stone floor, and the festering pools of murky water. "To return this place to what it was before... before the miasma took over?"

Sylus, still towering and radiant in his silver armor adorned with golden jewels, glanced back at Cyrus. His eyes, glowing like the sun, held a sense of calm wisdom beneath their intense gaze. He let out a breath, the weight of the question evident in his demeanor.

"There is a way," Sylus began, his voice smooth and composed. "But it’s not easy, nor is it quick. This dungeon has been deeply corrupted by the miasma, and simply killing the monsters won’t be enough to restore it. The corruption has seeped into the very walls, into the air itself." He gestured to the twisted vines and the eerie fungi clinging to the stone. "Even the dungeon’s essence has become warped."

Cyrus narrowed his eyes, listening intently. "So, what’s the process? How do we undo all this?"

Sylus crossed his arms, his golden hair shimmering slightly in the low light of the dungeon. "First, we’ll need to remove the source of the miasma. That’s the most crucial step. Whatever triggered this corruption—it could be a cursed artifact, a powerful creature, or even an ancient spell gone awry—must be found and destroyed. Until we cut off that source, any effort to cleanse this place will be in vain."

Cyrus nodded. "And after that?"

"After the source is dealt with," Sylus continued, "the dungeon must be purified, layer by layer. This can only be done by those who wield aether proficiently. People like us." He gestured to the knights from the church, who were standing nearby, watching cautiously. "We can channel our aether into the dungeon, purging the lingering corruption, healing the damage done. But it will take time. The deeper the corruption, the longer it will take to cleanse."

Sylus paused, his gaze hardening slightly as he looked deeper into the dungeon’s depths. "And then, there’s the matter of reconstruction. The creatures that have been twisted by the miasma... they won’t return to what they were. We’ll have to clear them out entirely. New life will eventually take their place, but it won’t be the same as it was before. The dungeon will change, for better or worse."

Cyrus let out a slow breath, taking in the enormity of the task ahead. "So, it’s possible, but it’ll take time and effort. The kind that most people won’t have the patience for."

"Precisely," Sylus replied, his eyes meeting Cyrus’s. "Most adventurers will move on, leave this dungeon to fester. But for those of us who care about balance and the sanctity of places like this, we’ll have to commit to the long haul."

Cyrus glanced at Athena, who stood quietly beside him, her sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. Then he looked back at Sylus, the weight of responsibility settling over him. "I guess we don’t have much choice, do we?"

Sylus offered a slight, knowing smile. "No. But that’s the way of things, isn’t it? The strong take on burdens that others cannot."

"Oh yeah? And what makes you say that?"

"Because that is the responsibility of the church and the strong," Sylus smiled with Cyrus lightly frowning.

"I wish all strong people were like you," Cyrus clicked his tongue.

"I wish that as well…"

Athena, who had been quietly observing the conversation between Cyrus and Sylus, suddenly stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she shifted the topic. "Before we dive headfirst into purging this entire dungeon, there’s something we need to address," she said, her voice cutting through the tension in the air. "Cyrus and I came across a ruined church on our way here—a forgotten place, covered in dust and decay. Inside, we found a blue gem. It seemed... unnatural."

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Sylus turned his attention to her, his golden eyes flickering with curiosity. "A blue gem?"

"Yes," Athena continued. "It radiated an energy unlike anything I’ve ever encountered. But we didn’t have time to investigate further. If we’re talking about ancient spells or cursed artifacts, that place might hold the key to what started all of this. We should start there."

Cyrus nodded in agreement. "She’s right. That gem felt off, like it was tied to the corruption somehow."

Sylus considered their words for a moment, then gave a firm nod. "Very well. Lead the way."

The group moved swiftly, retracing Cyrus and Athena’s earlier steps until they reached the ruined church. The structure stood decrepit and broken, its once-proud stone walls crumbling and overtaken by vines and decay. Inside, the air was still, thick with the weight of forgotten history. Shadows danced along the floor as they entered the heart of the church, where the blue gem had once rested.

However, when they arrived, the sight that greeted them was unexpected. The blue gem had been shattered, fragments of it scattered across the floor, glistening like the shards of a fallen star. A thin layer of dust covered the remains, but the room still held an eerie, lingering energy.

Athena’s expression darkened as she knelt by the broken pieces. "It’s been destroyed," she said, her voice tinged with frustration. "Whatever power it held, it’s gone now. But this... this changes things."

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Sylus stepped closer, his eyes studying the shattered gem with a sharp intensity. "I know exactly what this is," he said quietly, his voice filled with both recognition and concern. "That gem was a conduit, most likely containing an ancient spell. A gem of that nature doesn’t just appear in a place like this—it was placed here intentionally."

Cyrus frowned, glancing at Sylus. "An ancient spell? Released into the dungeon?"

"Yes," Sylus confirmed. "The spell it contained likely triggered the corruption we’re seeing now. Gems like this one were used in old times to trap or contain powerful magic, to be unleashed at a specific time or under specific conditions. The fact that it’s shattered means the spell has already been activated."

Athena stood up, brushing the dust from her hands, her expression grim. "That explains the sudden change in the dungeon. But who placed it here? These things don’t just appear on their own."

Sylus’s gaze hardened. "That’s the real question. Whoever placed this gem had the knowledge and power to set this entire chain of events in motion. And they didn’t leave it here by accident. This was a calculated move."

Cyrus clenched his fists, his eyes scanning the ruined church, his mind racing. "So, someone is behind this corruption. But what’s their end goal? And why this dungeon?"

Sylus shook his head slowly. "That, we don’t know yet. But one thing’s for certain—whoever did this didn’t expect us to find it so quickly. We need to be on guard. This corruption isn’t just a random occurrence... it’s part of a larger plan."

Athena glanced at Cyrus, her eyes filled with determination. "Then we should be ready for whoever—or whatever—comes next."

"Do you have to speak in movie lines?" Cyrus cringed.

"Once again, I have no clue what a movie is."