Adil fell to the ground his back against the cave wall and put his hands over his head as he lent in.

"Is this ever going to end?" he asked.

Swift had walked through the camp lighting torches, fashioned from the sticks, cloth, and oil like liquid still present in the camp and peered into the cave system.

"How big are the catacombs?" Seras asked the Dryad.

"The caves can extend further down than the mountains go high. We can only hope that the taint does not stretch into its deepest depths."

Adil looked into his inbuilt interface, inspecting the choices around him. he looked through the choices and found what he thought would be the best for the time.

*Alchemy

an intuitive understanding of the processes within all you have eaten, able to know what combinations catalyze for the most effective use. Further able to enhance its effects by an injection of mana.

*Levitation

The power to control the power of air for moments of levitation which can be further enhanced into flying.

*Air spear

The power to focus the force of air and spin it into a whirling drill so thin and fast it is shot out like a spear of lightning.

*Mighty gust

To focus the power of air into a mighty burst of air, shooting everything away from the caster suddenly and with a great cost of mana.

*Agility 2

Further enhance agility, through strengthening bones, the flexibility of muscles and intuitive reflexive action to allow for the most impressive feats of acrobatics.

*Strength 1

enhance bone structure skin density and the power of muscle tissue to allow for feats of strength disproportional to one's size.

*Sense mana

To use the opened tendrils of essence as enhancements of one's own senses. Looking into the surrounding landscape to see high concentrations and differences in essence even through the walls.

Adil wanted to levitate, soaring through the air could be unbelievable, but in a system of caves, he felt as though it had to be the first to go. Only two choices were available and with more levels to come, he thought about only what could be used within the catacombs. In the end, he chose mighty gust and sense mana. To know where your enemy is and to escape felt like his best options. He formulated a plan of gorilla warfare. in which after each attack he uses gust to run away, only to wait for his mana to recharge and dive in again.

Swift had a different selection, and with it immediately he chose a single skill, taking both ability points. titled "That which illuminates heaven." It gives him greater control over a longer-lasting fire created by an infusion of a more solid essence.

All members of the party were handed a torch by Swift and gathered together, ready to enter the depths. The dryad held out her hand to Adil getting him up from the ground. They then walked into the entrance of the catacombs. The cave held a faint illumination from the glowing insects and mushrooms spread across the walls.

Adil walked up to Seras and gave her a slight smile "I just upgraded my air magic and ability to sense mana." He said.

"When did you learn magic," Seras asked.

"When I fixed the magic of the Dryad, I think when her mana ran through me it triggered something." He replied.

Seras looked towards him and wondered for a moment. "Can you?" he saw the expression that Adil had and knew it would risk him seeing her memories. That was not something she wanted him to see. "never-mind." She added. And they walked further into the cave.

A small creature scattered across the floor in front of them, just catching the light for part of a second.

"It's not tainted." Adil said. "at least not completely."

They still stood on guard waiting for the next event to take hold.

"Over there," Adil said. He pointed down a path to the side where he could sense a dark corrupt energy.

They started walking in that path when the thing crawling about came rushing out of the side and took their notice as it was illuminated in the light.

"No, do not go that way. Bad thing down. Evil" it said in goblin speak scuttling to the side. It was a small goblin, an infection slightly present over its side, but stagnant. Almost like their natural growth.

"Come here child." the dryad said to the creature. The goblin came forward keeping low to the ground, as it approached. She used her powers enveloping the creature and sucked the tainted energy from it leading it up and in a ring above its head. Swift came forward and set it alight. It hung in the air like a halo of fire above a purified goblin. An animal like scream echoed from down the tunnel.

He shot the fire forth into piles along the cave, illuminating the space. The goblin had the corruption removed from his mind and body, his eyes now with pure untarnished pupils and Iris looked at himself anew in awe.

"I, I . great mother of the blue moon, thank you." He said prostrating himself on the floor.

"Lift your head, we are not in a place for this. Now speak of what lies beyond" She replied.

"The cave?" The goblin said remembering what his corrupted mind kept contained. "There is a Cursed dark evil. It covers the walls and watches. you must run, escape"

"Relax, and tell me what you know." She insisted

"Tentacles of madness, eyes, always watching. It is evil, it corrupts your mind eats you from within. I beg you please leave. It is not safe." he said in a hushed tone.

"Are there any others past this point?" She asked.

"Few. many turned, many eaten. Maybe none live I cannot remember."

The dryad Morganna held out her hand and placed it on the goblins head. "You have done well, now run back to the camp and barricade the entrance. nothing must escape or be let into this area until we are back."

The goblin in puzzled realisation looked around at the other members of the party, a more confused agitated expression when he saw Seras. "As you wish moon mother."

He ran to the exit of the cave.

The group looked towards the darkness of the path and progressed down the pathway which held the evil corruption. Adil saw the black tar liquid dripping down the side of the wall.

"the force is strong in this area."

"Anger, fear, aggression the dark side of the force are they, easily they, flow," Adil said putting on his best Yoda impression. Seras punched him in the arm.

A drip of black tar landed on Swift's shoulder and he spun around, the oozing mass started slowly spreading and covering his arm until he set it alight illuminating the area as he lurched in pain from the heat. A growl emanated from above.

The group looked up and saw a seething mass of darkness smile down on them, a sharp pointing jaw of teeth hung on a slender creature clawed to the ceiling, covered by a thick cloak of shadow exuding a fog of death.

It roared and dropped down between them, slamming down on Swift, a leg piercing his upper chest and a sharp spinal tail whipping round to smash at Seras. Seras dove in blocking the attack from the tail and went to hack at the leg chopping it off to free Swift. Seeing the creature wreath in pain and fall away Adil launched out a fierce gust knocking it against the cave wall. This caused Adil to collapse onto a knee as he suddenly felt depleted, but now the beast was away the dryad held it in place with her magical force seeing, it squirmed and thrashed as ti tried to break free.

"Vial!" Seras shouted. And Adil remembered the liquid healing potion he was given earlier. He threw it to Seras who nimbly caught it and held Swift as she fed it down his throat, Slowly Swift regained his strength and got to his feet, a fury inside him as he formed fiar within his hands and shot it out like a bean towards the beast. Its long face pointed up and opened wide to let out a guttural screech.

Up now, Swift launched fire towards the creature, coating it in mana infused napalm, the corruption and flame mixed together creating a fire that burst into black red and orange licks. Adil brought up his bow and tried to focus a shot with all his power shooting it into the creature. It burst on impact in an explosion as a charge of air was carried within. The creature was on the floor now as Swift stopped pressing in. it tried to crawl forward, as parts of it flaked away in the heat, molten flesh like a balrog covered most of its body. It let out a last croak before collapsing to the ground.

*Enemy slain XP

Mutated taint wolf, stage 6. 400xp

"Holy shit, that was a wolf!" Adil said.

"Shut the fuck up," Seras said in a hushed tone. Looking around to see if anything was left.

Swift coughed as he tried to get up, collapsing again before Seras got under his arm.

"This will be harder than we thought. Do you know how deep this path is?" She asked the Dryad.

"As I said before, the catacombs can go to the depths as a mountain goes high. It is impossible to map their routes."

Seras looked to Adil.

"I can only see a mass of corruption past this point. It would be impossible to tell."

An eye appeared on the wall to their right within a stream of black tar-like slime, closing itself when they met eyes. A rumbling occurred and the path they had taken appeared to shut down.

"Well, I guess its too late now," Seras said.