The air was heavy as the group pushed onward, the terrain shifting from scorched earth to cracked, dry soil littered with the remains of past skirmishes. The scent of charred flesh hung faintly in the breeze, a grim reminder of the battles fought in the region.
Astra led the way, her posture rigid but confident. Kalem followed, his hand resting on Onyx's head as they moved. Serka walked beside him, glancing back occasionally, her expression wary.
Kalem couldn't help but replay the recent encounter in his mind. The parasitic core, its grotesque form pulsating like a heartbeat, and the way it seemed to coordinate the creatures around it—none of it sat well with him. He absentmindedly rubbed the spot on his shoulder where the spear-like tendril had grazed him.
"Hey," Serka nudged him with her elbow. "You good? You've been weirdly quiet."
Kalem huffed. "Just thinking. Those things shouldn't have been here. The area was supposed to be clear."
"Clearly it wasn't." Astra's voice cut in, though not unkindly. She looked back at them, her eyes sharp. "The scouts reported signs of corruption, but nothing like that. The situation's changed."
"Corruption doesn't just spread that fast, though," Serka pointed out. "Even in the Abyss, it takes time to seep into the ground and spawn new life forms."
Kalem frowned. "Maybe it's not spreading naturally. It almost felt... guided."
Astra considered this, her gaze hardening. "If someone is planting these parasite cores intentionally, we'll need to adjust our entire strategy. That kind of sabotage could destabilize the entire front."
One of the other soldiers, a younger man named Cale, jogged up to join them. "Ma'am, we found something about fifty paces ahead. Looks like a camp, recently abandoned."
Astra nodded. "Lead the way."
The group approached cautiously, weapons ready. The camp was rudimentary—just a few makeshift shelters and a burned-out fire pit. Supplies were scattered, and several sacks lay open, spilling dried food and basic equipment.
Kalem knelt near one of the sacks, lifting a cloth bundle. It unraveled, revealing broken fragments of a containment vessel. A faint black residue lingered on the shards.
"Containment shards..." Kalem murmured. "Whoever was here was transporting something volatile."
Serka leaned in to inspect it, her nose wrinkling at the pungent odor. "Ichor residue... similar to the parasites."
Astra examined another crate, this one marked with a familiar emblem—a stylized crow's head. "This symbol... it belongs to the Corvine Syndicate. They're known for trafficking illegal arcane artifacts and weapons."
Kalem grimaced. "Great. So they're smuggling parasite cores now?"
"Looks like they lost control of one." Astra scowled. "Or released it intentionally."
Serka kicked a pile of ash near the fire pit. "Bastards probably thought they could use it as a weapon. Let it loose and see what happens."
Astra clenched her jaw. "We'll need to report this back to headquarters. If the Syndicate is experimenting with parasite cores, it's a major threat."
Onyx sniffed around the campsite, then let out a low growl. Kalem looked over and noticed a trail leading away from the camp, marked by faint, oily footprints.
"They moved on recently," Kalem said. "Maybe they abandoned the core when it became too unstable."
Astra nodded. "We'll follow the trail. Everyone, stay sharp."
The squad formed up again, following the winding path through the rocky terrain. As they moved, Kalem couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching them. His grip tightened on his spear.
After about half an hour of tracking, the trail led them to the edge of a ravine. The path ended abruptly, but down below, they could see movement—figures hauling crates and setting up a crude barricade.
Astra crouched, signaling the others to do the same. "That's them," she whispered. "Corvine agents. About a dozen, plus a few guards."
Kalem squinted, noticing one figure directing the others—a tall man with a wide-brimmed hat and a cane topped with a raven skull. "That must be their leader."
Serka grinned, fingers twitching around her daggers. "We taking them out?"
"Not yet." Astra shook her head. "We need intel. If they're the ones spreading parasite cores, we have to know how many they have and where they're planning to use them."
Kalem considered the terrain. "If we can get closer without being seen, I might be able to overhear their plans."
Astra glanced at him, weighing the risk. "Fine. Take Serka with you. Stay low, stay quiet."
Serka gave Kalem a playful shove. "Try not to step on anything noisy."
They descended the rocky slope, sticking to the shadows. As they crept closer, Kalem could hear snippets of conversation.
"...too risky... the last one broke containment..."
"Doesn't matter. Boss said we keep moving. The next batch is more stable."
Kalem's brow furrowed. Stable parasite cores? That didn't sound good.
The leader spoke, his voice a low rasp. "We have orders from the top. These cores will be deployed along the southern front. The Legion's forces will be too busy dealing with the infestation to notice our main operation."
Kalem shot Serka a look. She nodded—this was bad news.
One of the guards approached the leader. "Sir, what if the Legion tracks us? We lost contact with the advance unit."
The leader scoffed. "We have contingencies. The Abyss itself will cover our tracks. Prepare to move within the hour."
Kalem pulled back, motioning for Serka to follow. They returned to the squad, relaying what they heard.
Astra's expression was grim. "If they're planning a mass deployment, the entire region will be overrun. We need to stop them before they mobilize."
Kalem nodded. "We could take out their leader first. If they lose command, they'll scatter."
Serka grinned. "I like that plan."
Astra considered it, then made her decision. "Kalem, Serka, and Onyx—flank them from the right. The rest of us will hit from the front. Once their leader is down, we'll mop up the rest."
As they prepared to move, Kalem glanced at the ravine once more. The Syndicate was playing with forces they barely understood, and if they succeeded, the Abyss would be thrown into chaos.
Taking a deep breath, he steadied his nerves. This wasn't just another mission—it was a chance to prevent a catastrophe. And failure wasn't an option.