World Seedling {Book One}

The air was filled with chaos, the world spiraling into an unstoppable nightmare. People screamed, their voices blending with the inhuman roars that echoed through the city. The ground trembled beneath Alex’s feet as the sounds of dying mingled with the panicked cries of the living. Sydney was falling apart.

Buildings groaned and shattered, glass rained down from above, slicing through the air and anyone unfortunate enough to be in its path. Twisted forms—once people—now grotesque versions of themselves, roamed the streets, their limbs contorted, their faces warped beyond recognition. The once-bustling city had become a graveyard of flesh and steel, and Alex had no choice but to run.

Her breath came in ragged gasps as she sprinted through the crumbling streets, dodging debris and bodies. Behind her, the twisted ones shrieked, their voices high-pitched and unnatural, their footsteps relentless as they gave chase. She had no idea where she was going—there was no plan, only survival.

As she rounded a corner, her heart skipped a beat. A group of survivors stood in a tight formation, their weapons raised, firing into the swarm of twisted figures that charged them. Gunfire crackled through the air, bullets tearing through the abominations. For a moment, Alex hesitated, her legs begging her to stop, to rest, but there was no time. The only option was to keep running.

"Northwest! Building on the left! Open fire!" A voice barked orders over the cacophony of the city collapsing around them.

Alex barely registered the words as she passed them, her feet pounding against the pavement. She heard the sharp crack of gunfire and the guttural screeches of the twisted ones being cut down. It was a brief, brutal reprieve, but not nearly enough to make the world feel any less dangerous.

"What the fuck is going on?!" she screamed, more to herself than anyone else. Panic twisted in her gut, her mind racing with questions. Why is this happening? Why now?

Her legs burned, but she pushed forward, fear driving her faster. The streets were a maze of debris and bodies, some lying still, others twitching with unnatural life. Every step felt like a gamble, a desperate roll of the dice in a city that had become hell.

Ahead, something strange caught her eye—a man, standing completely still amidst the chaos. His skin was an unnatural, silvery-olive hue, his face calm, almost indifferent to the carnage surrounding him. He didn’t move, didn’t flinch, even as the screams of the twisted echoed through the air.

Alex slowed, her breath catching in her throat. The world around her was chaos—buildings collapsing, twisted screams of the transformed filling the air—but he just stood there, untouched by the madness. There was something profoundly wrong about the way he observed it all with a cold, uncaring gaze. He wasn’t running, he wasn’t hiding. He simply watched.

Her instincts screamed at her to keep moving, to run far from this eerie figure, but something about him held her in place. He was too calm. Too still. And as she looked deeper into his eyes—empty, void-like—she felt a chill run down her spine, an ancient fear crawling beneath her skin.

Behind him, half-hidden in his shadow, was a small child—maybe four or five years old. She was trembling, her wide eyes filled with terror as she clutched at her tiny hands. Alex’s heart clenched at the sight. The little girl was shaking in fear, her small body looking so fragile against the backdrop of destruction.

Suddenly, the ground beneath them rumbled. A deep, foreboding quake that shook the very air, making the buildings around them tremble. Alex gasped, her eyes widening in horror as a massive, twisted dark root burst from the earth, snaking its way toward them with terrifying speed.

The child’s terror was palpable, frozen in place, unable to even scream as the monstrous root tore through the ground. Alex’s legs moved before her mind could catch up. She sprinted toward the man and the girl, adrenaline and fear coursing through her veins.

Alex’s chest heaved as she tried to steady her breath, the chaos around her seemingly distant, muffled. The air was thick with the smell of burning metal and crushed concrete. Cars lay overturned, their windows shattered, smoke billowing into the once-blue sky that had turned an ominous shade of gray. The streets, once filled with life, were now a graveyard of debris, twisted metal, and the eerie screams of those who hadn’t yet succumbed to the devastation.

She tried to swallow, her throat dry and tight. The little girl in front of her, no more than five years old, stood trembling, her wide eyes brimming with tears. Her clothes—once a bright pink dress adorned with small flowers—were torn and stained with dirt. The girl clutched a tattered stuffed bunny, its once-white fur now darkened by soot, holding it as if it were her only lifeline. Her small hands were wrapped tightly around its neck, knuckles white from the pressure. The child was shaking uncontrollably, her tear-streaked face a mixture of fear and confusion.

“Move!” Alex screamed, reaching out to grab the man in front of her, trying to pull him away from the looming disaster.

But he didn’t budge.

Alex’s hands closed around his arm, but it was like trying to move stone—solid, immovable. He didn’t so much as flinch. His cold, void-like eyes were locked on the massive root twisting toward them, his expression disturbingly serene. His clothes, simple and dark, billowed slightly in the wind stirred up by the chaos, but he remained untouched by the destruction around him. He stood there, still as death, as if he belonged to the calamity unfolding.

"Come on!" she screamed again, panic rising like bile in her throat. Her grip on his arm tightened, but still, he didn’t move. His face remained passive, as though the root tearing through the earth meant nothing to him.

Her pulse quickened as she glanced down at the little girl, her heart breaking at the sight of her tear-streaked face. There was no time. The root was closing in, a monstrous force of nature, surging with corrupted energy, snaking through the earth toward them. Alex could feel the tremors intensifying, could hear the cracking of stone and metal as the ground ripped open under the root’s weight.

With a cry of desperation, Alex flung herself toward the child, wrapping her arms around the trembling girl. She pressed the child to her chest, shielding her with her own body, bracing for the inevitable blow. The girl's small body shuddered against Alex’s chest, her soft whimpers drowned by the sound of the approaching disaster.

The ground roared beneath them as the root finally burst through, sending a shockwave through the air. Alex gritted her teeth, waiting for the crushing weight, for the pain that would come with it. She clenched her eyes shut, her heart thundering in her ears.

But nothing happened.

There was no impact, no agony. Just... stillness.

Alex blinked, her breath coming in sharp, ragged bursts. Slowly, she opened her eyes. The root had stopped, its massive, twisted form hovering mere inches from where she stood. Dark, pulsating with malevolent energy, it writhed in the air like a living thing. But it didn’t strike. It simply loomed there, frozen as if some unseen force held it in check.

Her breath hitched in her throat. She lifted her head, eyes wide with disbelief, and looked up at the man. His expression remained unchanged, cold and detached. But his gaze had shifted, now focused on the root. His hand was raised slightly, almost as if he were commanding it.

With a subtle motion, the man tilted his head, and the root began to retreat. Slowly at first, its tendrils curling and twisting back into the ground, the earth closing over it as if it had never been disturbed. The rumbling of the ground ceased, and the oppressive weight in the air began to lift.

Alex could only stare. Her body was trembling, her mind struggling to process what had just happened. She held the little girl tighter, the child’s sobs now quieted to soft hiccups, her face buried in Alex’s shirt.

"You... stopped it," Alex whispered, her voice shaking.

The man finally looked down at her, his void-like eyes meeting hers. There was no warmth, no emotion, just an unfathomable emptiness that sent a shiver down her spine.

He said nothing, only watched her. His presence was as unnerving as the chaos that had just unfolded—otherworldly, detached from the horrors happening around them.

The little girl sniffled, clutching her stuffed bunny tighter, her fingers still trembling. Alex stroked her hair gently, trying to offer some comfort, though her own heart was still racing.

"Who... what are you?" Alex's voice wavered, barely more than a whisper.

For the first time, the man blinked. It was a slow, deliberate motion, like someone awakening from a deep slumber. When he spoke, his voice was low, resonant, but there was an ancient weight to it—something that sent chills crawling up Alex’s skin.

“I don’t know yet,” he said. His words hung heavy in the air, lingering like a dark omen.

Alex felt a cold dread seep into her bones. Whatever he was, she realized, it was something beyond her understanding.

Cassandra Brooks POV

Deep beneath Washington D.C., the Arcane Intelligence Bureau's control room was a hive of activity. Monitors flickered with both mundane and magical information, arcane symbols interspersed with live news feeds from around the world. Spell matrices glowed faintly, showing the fluctuations in magical energy, and for the last few hours, the focus had been on Australia.

What had started as a curious spike in Brisbane’s ley lines had quickly escalated into a full-blown catastrophe. News reports from Sydney were now filling the screens, showing footage of dark roots tearing through the city, causing mass panic and devastation. But Cassandra Brooks, senior agent and analyst, saw more than the surface-level destruction.

The magical surveillance systems before her were picking up a much graver threat—arcane threads of corruption pulsing through Australia’s ley lines, twisting them like poisoned veins. The energy was growing stronger, spreading across the continent like a virus.

Cassandra sat in the dim glow of the control room, her fingers flying over her keyboard as she analyzed the rapidly escalating situation. Her eyes flickered between the ley line maps and the chaotic news reports from Sydney—what had once been a thriving metropolis was descending into ruin. People were screaming in terror, skyscrapers crumbling as massive roots tore through the ground, and dark clouds circled overhead like an omen of worse to come.

But it wasn’t just Sydney. Brisbane had been the first to fall.

Her gaze shifted to the map on her right, showing the magical ley line network under Australia. Normally a steady flow of bright energy, the lines were now a twisted, glowing mess—erratic and corrupted, shimmering with uncontrolled power. They pulsed wildly, a chaotic dance of energy that was threatening to burst.

“What the hell is going on down there?” Cassandra muttered, her hands flying over the keyboard as she tried to get a clearer reading on the corruption spreading through the ley lines.

The spikes in magical energy were off the charts. She had seen similar patterns before, but only in the most ancient records—prophecies of world-ending events, whispers of ancient gods awakening, and legends of realms colliding. She had never believed she’d live to see it happening in real-time.

A shadow moved behind her. “Agent Brooks.”

Cassandra turned to see Agent Thompson, her junior analyst, walking toward her with a stack of reports. His face was pale, and for once, his usually unshakable calm had faltered. His hand shook slightly as he held out the top report.

“We’ve got another reading,” Thompson said, his voice laced with unease. “It’s not just Sydney. Brisbane’s ley lines are completely out of control, and the corruption is spreading. Fast.”

Cassandra took the report, her eyes scanning it quickly. Her breath caught as she reached the bottom of the page. “And the field agents... they think it’s tied to something... ancient?” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Thompson nodded grimly. “Yes, ma’am. The Australia field division believes it’s not just random corruption. They’re saying it’s... an emergence.”

Cassandra’s blood ran cold. “An emergence,” she echoed, staring at the report in disbelief.

It wasn’t just a magical disaster. It wasn’t just twisted ley lines or chaotic energy surges. If this was an emergence, they were dealing with something far more dangerous. Something that had the potential to change the very fabric of the world.

“An emergence of what?” Thompson asked, the fear in his eyes mirroring her own.

Cassandra closed the report with a sharp snap. “If what’s happening in Sydney and Brisbane spreads... we’re looking at a force far older and far more dangerous than anything we’ve ever faced.” She paused, her voice turning grave. “It could be the birth of something godlike.”

She turned back to her console, her mind racing as she opened a secure communication line to the highest levels of the Bureau. They couldn’t handle this alone. They needed every resource available, and fast.

The line buzzed to life as she tapped into the emergency council’s network. Meanwhile, Thompson hovered behind her, shifting nervously as the magnitude of the situation began to sink in.

“Do we notify the public?” he asked quietly, his voice tinged with dread.

“Not yet,” Cassandra replied, her fingers still flying over the keyboard. “If we tell them now, we risk mass panic. We need to gather more information before we make any official moves.” She glanced over at him, her eyes hard. “But get in touch with our teams in Australia. Have them start preparing quiet evacuation procedures—especially for the major cities. We don’t have much time.”

Thompson gave a sharp nod and turned to relay the instructions, leaving Cassandra alone in the control room, her eyes glued to the ley line map.

The magical energy in Australia was continuing to rise, the corrupted ley lines now snaking toward Melbourne. The situation was spiraling out of control.

She had spent her career studying ancient prophecies, learning about forgotten deities and hidden realms. Most of it had seemed like folklore—vague predictions written by people terrified of forces they didn’t understand. But as she watched the chaos unfold on the monitors, felt the dark energy twisting through the ley lines in real time, Cassandra knew one thing for certain:

The world was on the edge of something catastrophic. And whatever was awakening in Australia wasn’t going to stop there.

A loud alarm blared, cutting through the tense air of the control room. Cassandra’s eyes snapped back to the ley line map as new warnings flashed across the monitors. The ley lines weren’t just brightening—they were expanding, branching off like veins of corruption, and Melbourne was now squarely in their path.

“Agent Brooks,” a panicked voice crackled through her earpiece. “The energy in the ley lines is surging again. We’ve lost contact with two of our field agents in Sydney, and there’s—” The voice cut off with static, the connection failing.

Cassandra’s breath caught in her throat. She felt it too, a pressure building in the air around her, the arcane systems flickering erratically as if overwhelmed by the sheer power coming from Australia.

Her gaze darted back to the screens, where Melbourne’s ley lines began to warp and twist, glowing with a sickly, pulsating light. The corruption was spreading faster than they had predicted. Much faster. Melbourne was next.

“This is bad. Really bad,” Cassandra muttered, her fingers flying over the keyboard as she pulled up more data. “If this keeps going...”

Another alarm chimed, this one from the far left monitor, flashing with bright red warnings. She looked up, her heart skipping a beat as she saw what it displayed.

Ley lines around the globe were reacting. Faintly, but unmistakably, the magical networks in other countries were starting to shift, flickers of light appearing on the maps of Europe, South America, and even parts of the United States.

She stood up, her pulse racing. "This isn’t just an isolated event anymore."

Behind her, Thompson, pale and visibly shaken, handed her another report. “Ma’am, we’ve detected... something. Anomalies in the energy signatures. It’s like they’re—”

“Awakening,” Cassandra finished, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes locked onto the global map. “The ley lines... they’re resonating with each other.”

Suddenly, the lights in the control room flickered, the hum of the magical systems growing louder, almost vibrating with tension.

The emergence wasn’t confined to Australia. It was a global ripple effect.

“We need to warn the council,” Cassandra said, her voice sharp. “This isn’t just an Australian problem anymore. If we don’t stop it here, the whole world’s ley lines will go critical.”

Thompson paled. “How do we stop it? We don’t even know what it is.”

Cassandra stared at the screens, the world map lighting up in patches, energy building beneath the surface. She clenched her fists. “We might not have a choice. We’ll need to go in there ourselves.”

The room fell into a heavy silence. They were staring down the unknown—a force older than any of them could comprehend. But Cassandra knew one thing for certain:

Whatever had been dormant in Australia was now waking up the world.

And stopping it might mean confronting something no one was prepared to face.

World Tree Few Hours Later POV

The sapling shuddered violently, its fragile form trembling as though in agony. Deep within its core, something vital was slipping away. Its young roots, which had only begun to stretch out and weave through the ley lines of the earth, were already withering.

If anyone could see it now, they would witness a slow and agonizing transformation. The few small leaves that had once shown a promising green, symbols of life and potential, were turning dark. Sickly green veins crawled across them, pulsating with a sinister energy. On one side, the sapling desperately tried to resist, but its strength was diminishing, and the corruption was overtaking it.

A tremor passed through its slender trunk, shaking its fragile leaves loose. The roots, once small and eager, now recoiled from the earth as dark tendrils of corruption crept through the soil. What had once been a tiny, budding network connecting it to the world's energy was unraveling before its very being, rotting from within.

The sapling’s mind—new, fragile, yet instinctively tied to the flow of life—sensed it all. A deep-seated fear, primal and panicked, stirred within its young consciousness. It had not yet grown into its purpose. It hadn’t yet become the towering World Tree it was meant to be. But now, it was losing itself before it had ever truly begun. The dark energy that had slithered into its roots and trunk was suppressing its growth, warping its form into something grotesque.

Time was slipping away.

The ley lines beneath it—dim and barely alive when it had first taken root—had begun glowing faintly over the past few days, feeding it the vital mana it needed to grow. But now, those same ley lines flickered and bent, corrupted by the very force that sought to destroy it. The sapling could feel the pressure building, threatening to tear it apart. There were only hours left before it was consumed entirely.

Its delicate leaves, once vibrant with potential, now blackened at the edges, curling inward as the corruption spread faster. The side of the sapling that still held onto life pulsed weakly, trying to fight back. But the dark energy, like poison coursing through its veins, pushed deeper into its roots and up through its frail trunk.

It had so little time left.

With each passing moment, the sapling’s sense of self—its identity, its purpose—was eroding. Where there had once been hope and connection to the earth, now there was chaos, distortion, and fear. The corruption twisted its thoughts, fracturing its awareness. The purity it had known in those first fleeting moments was slipping away.

At the heart of the sapling, where its core pulsed with its essence, something dark was stirring—an ancient presence it had no power to fight. The sapling felt this dark force wrapping itself around its core, smothering the life out of it, turning it into something unrecognizable.

The sapling—meant to grow into the World Tree, a symbol of life and balance—was now on the brink of becoming something grotesque, a twisted shadow of what it was supposed to be. Its once-bright core, the essence of its purpose, flickered weakly beneath the onslaught of dark energy. The corrupted veins crawled further up its fragile form, coiling around its trunk like suffocating vines, slowly choking the life from it.

With what little strength it had left, the sapling let out one final, silent cry, a desperate plea that rippled through the thinning threads of its consciousness. It could sense the looming darkness pressing in, but it wasn’t ready to give up—not yet.

It wasn’t too late. Not while its guardian remained safe. The sapling's small hope clung to the connection it shared with him, the one person who might still hear its call for help.

Noah.

He had protected it before, tended to its fragile roots when it was just beginning to take hold. He had been its guide, its protector. Now, more than ever, the sapling needed him. It reached out to him, stretching its waning essence toward that bond, hoping beyond hope that he would sense the urgency, the looming threat that was swallowing it whole.

But the clock was ticking.

Noah’s POV

The sun had begun its descent, casting long shadows over the desolate landscape. Hours had passed, and Noah found himself kneeling in the dirt, his hands coated with dark soil as he sifted through the remnants of the latest meteor site. The search for the Starfall Crystals had taken longer than expected. Frustration gnawed at him. Every second counted, and he could feel the weight of impending doom, though he wasn’t sure why. Something in the air felt… wrong.

Sylphora hovered nearby, her watchful eyes scanning the horizon. The tension between them was unspoken but palpable. They both knew that time was running out, though they couldn’t place their fingers on what exactly was slipping away.

His fingers scraped against something hard in the soil, and Noah's pulse quickened. He dug deeper, revealing a faint glow beneath the surface—another crystal. He yanked it free, feeling the surge of energy pulse weakly from the pure stone. But even as he held it, the usual satisfaction was missing, replaced by a hollow sense of urgency that had been gnawing at him all day.

And then it happened.

A soft, almost imperceptible whisper brushed against the edge of his mind. Help… me.

Noah froze, his breath catching in his throat. He blinked, unsure if the voice was real or some trick of his exhausted mind. He stood slowly, eyes scanning the horizon, but there was nothing around him except the barren earth and the distant silhouette of mountains.

But then it came again—stronger this time. Help… me.

The voice was unmistakable now. It wasn’t just any voice; it was the sapling’s. The World Tree, still so fragile in its infancy, was crying out to him. His chest tightened, and a sudden wave of dread washed over him.

“Noah?” Sylphora’s voice broke through his daze, her sharp eyes narrowing as she sensed the change in him. “What’s wrong?”

He swallowed, his mouth dry. “The sapling… it’s in trouble.”

Without warning, the connection between them flared to life, more intense than ever before. Images and feelings flooded his mind—a twisted, darkened version of the sapling, its tiny branches trembling under the weight of corrupted mana. One side of it was withering, sickly green veins spreading across its bark like a virus. The once-bright energy it had pulsed with was fading fast, drowning in the corruption.

He staggered, his hands clenched into fists as the sapling’s pain echoed inside him. He could feel it struggling, fighting to hold on. But time was running out. If he didn’t act soon, it would be consumed—lost to the corruption entirely.

Sylphora stepped closer, her large wings rustling with unease. “We don’t have much time, do we?”

Noah shook his head, his pulse pounding in his ears. “No. I can feel it. We’re running out of time.”

He looked down at the crystal in his hand. It wasn’t enough. They needed more. They needed all of them if they were going to save the sapling. But there were only so many places left to search, and each site took precious time. Time they didn’t have.

His mind raced. What could he do? He needed to find the remaining crystals faster, needed to get back to the sapling before it was too late. But how? There were still too many unknowns, too many obstacles.

“I don’t know if we’ll find enough in time,” he admitted, his voice tight with frustration. “I don’t even know if the crystals will be enough to stop the corruption.”

Sylphora’s gaze hardened. “Then we find another way. But we don’t give up now.”

The whisper came again, fainter this time. Help… me.

Noah’s chest constricted. He couldn’t let the sapling die. He couldn’t let everything they’d fought for slip away. But the solution eluded him, slipping through his fingers like the soil beneath his feet.

“There’s got to be something we’re missing,” Noah muttered, pacing as the images of the sapling’s slow demise filled his mind. He could almost feel its roots twisting in pain, the corruption creeping deeper.

But then, something shifted.

The air around him thickened, buzzing with energy, but it wasn’t just the tension he’d felt before. It was more than that—deeper. The ground beneath his feet pulsed, almost like a heartbeat, sending a ripple up through his legs. He paused mid-step, glancing down at the soil. At first glance, it looked like the same scorched, ruined earth he’d been digging through for hours. But then his eyes narrowed.

There—just beneath the surface, barely visible—he saw it. A dark pulse of energy, almost like veins of corruption, threading through the soil. It was faint, but once he saw it, he couldn’t unsee it. His pulse quickened, a mix of dread and fascination twisting in his chest. The corrupted energy wasn’t just in the sapling—it was spreading through the earth, infusing itself into the land, choking it from the inside out.

The ground pulsed again, and this time, Noah felt a tingling in his fingertips. His eyes widened. He could feel the energy—see it. The mana, raw and unfiltered, danced through the air in shimmering threads, like glowing rivers coursing through the atmosphere. It was chaotic, wild, and unfamiliar, but there was a strange sense of connection.

“Noah?” Sylphora’s voice cut through the haze, but it sounded distant, muffled. His focus was drawn elsewhere—into the earth itself, into the very fibers of the corrupted mana beneath his feet.

It was like a door had opened inside him, something unlocked by his bond with Sylphora. This wasn’t just ordinary magic—this was the flow of life itself, the raw currents of mana that shaped the world. He could feel the rhythm of the ley lines, the gentle hum of pure energy far beneath the surface. But now, tainted by the corruption, those ley lines flickered erratically, like a heartbeat struggling to keep pace.

And then it hit him.

The sapling wasn’t just crying out for help. It was trying to reach him, sending him glimpses of its pain, connecting him to the very earth it was rooted in. The bond between him and the sapling was stronger than he’d ever realized. He could feel it now—the sapling’s pulse echoing through the land, weak and fading. The corrupted mana was choking it from all sides, but there was still a spark of life left. A flicker of hope.

I can fix this, Noah thought, his mind racing. The Starfall Crystals were part of the solution, but he had something more now. Something different.

“I can see it,” Noah whispered, his voice filled with awe and disbelief. “The mana. The corruption. It’s spreading through the earth, like veins of poison.”

Sylphora tilted her head, her eyes narrowing. “What do you mean?”

He turned to her, his eyes wide with a new intensity. “I can feel the sapling’s connection to the land. It’s like the mana is part of me now. I can see it—sense it—coursing through the soil, twisting around the roots. I think… I think I can influence it.”

Sylphora’s gaze sharpened, her wings shifting uneasily. “This could be dangerous, Noah. Messing with raw mana like that—especially corrupted mana—it could kill you.”

Noah clenched his fists, his gaze dropping back to the ground as the dark pulses of corruption flickered beneath him. He knew the risk, but he also knew they were out of time.

“I don’t have a choice,” he muttered, his voice firm. “The sapling is dying, Sylphora. I can’t let it fall. Not when I can feel it like this.”

He knelt down, placing his hands on the ground. The earth beneath his palms pulsed in response, and the mana—both pure and corrupted—seemed to hum in recognition. He closed his eyes, focusing on the energy, trying to sift through the chaos to find the sapling’s fading lifeline.

At first, it was overwhelming. The corrupted mana lashed at him, trying to drag him down, its vile presence seeping into his thoughts. But Noah pushed back, his mind sharpening, honing in on the flicker of pure mana still left in the sapling. He could feel it—a thin thread, barely holding on, but alive. He latched onto it, using every ounce of focus to follow the thread back to the source.

There. In the heart of the sapling, surrounded by the darkness, was a small, glowing core of pure energy. It was weak, barely enough to survive, but it was there. And it was calling to him.

With a deep breath, Noah reached out, willing the corrupted mana to retreat, to release its grip on the sapling. His hands tingled, a rush of energy surging through his body as he poured his strength into the earth. For a moment, the world seemed to hold its breath.

And then, slowly, the dark veins of corruption around the sapling began to flicker, their grip loosening.

Noah gasped, his eyes snapping open. The sapling’s lifeforce had grown brighter—just barely, but enough to buy them more time.

“We’re not done yet,” Noah said, his voice resolute. “But I can feel it. We can still save it.”

Sylphora stepped closer, her wings rustling as she gazed down at him. “Then let’s move. We don’t have much time.”

With a nod, Noah rose to his feet, the faint whisper of the sapling still echoing in his mind. He had a new power now, a connection to the land itself—and with it, they had a chance. But the corruption was still spreading, and the clock was still ticking.

And as Noah and Sylphora prepared to move, the weight of what they were up against settled over him like a dark cloud. They were in the fight of their lives—not just to save the sapling, but to stop something far older and far deadlier than they’d ever imagined.

Noah and Sylphora had gained ten more crystals, bringing their total to 79. The tension of their mission weighed heavily on Noah as they hovered above the landscape. They needed 100 to complete the process, and with 21 more crystals to find, time was running out.

The faint whisper echoed in his mind again, growing weaker. "Help me."

Noah gritted his teeth. He could feel the corruption spreading through the earth, pulsing through the soil like dark tendrils trying to choke out all life. Every moment they delayed, the sapling was slipping further away, transforming into something monstrous.

Noah's breath hitched as his fingers made contact with the swirling threads of mana. The sensation was unlike anything he'd ever felt before—alive, fluid, and ancient. The connection deepened, and the once invisible web of energy now appeared vividly before his eyes. He could see how it intertwined with the earth, the plants, even with his own body. The mana was everywhere, part of everything. But what disturbed him the most was the corruption spreading beneath his feet.

The once vibrant, natural flow of mana coursing through the ground was being overtaken by something darker. The corrupted mana writhed like serpents in the soil, coiling around the natural energy, squeezing the life out of it. Noah felt it in his bones, a cold, gnawing sensation creeping upward from the earth, threatening to choke the very essence of life around him.

His mind raced as the whisper came again, fainter this time. Help… me.

The sapling. It was dying. The corruption wasn’t just spreading—it was suffocating the sapling’s roots, draining its life force.

Noah clenched his fists, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn’t let it fall. Not after everything they had fought for. The image of the twisted, dying sapling filled his mind, its once pure leaves darkening, veins of corruption crawling across its fragile bark.

“We need to go back,” Noah muttered, his voice low but firm. He turned to Sylphora, who hovered nearby, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. “The sapling is in danger. The corruption is spreading faster than I thought.”

Sylphora’s wings twitched in acknowledgment, her gaze locking onto him. “Are you certain?”

Noah nodded, his jaw clenched. “I can see it now—the corrupted mana is taking over the natural flow. If we don’t act fast, the World Tree will become something twisted, something that could destroy everything.”

Sylphora let out a low growl, her wings shifting as she prepared for flight. “Then we must hurry.”

Without wasting another moment, Noah swung onto her back, gripping the crystals they had worked so hard to gather. He now had 89 pure Starfall Crystals, but even with their power, time was running out.

As Sylphora took off, soaring into the sky, Noah’s gaze fixed on the horizon. The landscape blurred beneath them, the corrupted roots snaking their way through the ground, spreading like a plague. The air shimmered with the pulse of mana, both pure and tainted, and Noah could feel it all now—the weight of the world’s energy flowing through him, urging him forward.

The whisper grew weaker, fading into the distance, but Noah wouldn’t let it die. He wouldn’t let the sapling die.

“Hold on,” he whispered, more to himself than to anyone else. “We’re coming.”

Noah prayed silently, hoping that Nova, Jade, and Claire had found the remaining crystals and understood the urgency of what needed to be done. Every second felt heavier with the weight of the unknown, and the world around him seemed to grow more hostile.

Jade and Claire POV

They sat in the car, parked just out of sight from the sprawling camp setup ahead. The distant hum of generators and the faint glow of floodlights marked the perimeter, giving the facility an imposing presence. Claire gripped the steering wheel for a moment, then let out a frustrated sigh before turning to Jade.

“Stay here," Claire said, her voice firm but tinged with unease. "I’m going in to collect as many crystals as I can. This is a top-secret research facility, and you won’t be able to get inside—let alone get close without raising alarms.”

Jade narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms. “You don’t trust me to handle myself?”

“It’s not about trust,” Claire replied, softening her tone slightly. “This place is locked down tighter than anything you’ve ever seen. They’ve got sensors, guards, the works. The minute they detect someone unauthorized, we’re both in trouble.”

Jade glanced out the window at the towering walls and clusters of armed guards patrolling the perimeter, her frustration simmering. “Fine, but if something goes wrong—”

“I’ll get out,” Claire cut her off. “Just stay alert. If things go south, we’ll need to leave fast.”

With that, Claire started the car and began a short drive toward one of the camps she had worked in a while ago. The vehicle moved quietly along the dirt road, the facility’s floodlights growing brighter as she neared. Jade sat beside her, silent but alert, her eyes scanning the camp.

As Claire approached the entrance, she spotted Scott standing near the gate, his hand resting lightly on his stun gun as he watched her approach. The tension in the air was palpable, but Claire kept her expression neutral, trying not to betray the unease simmering beneath the surface.

“Evening, Scott,” she called out as she brought the car to a stop, her voice casual despite the knot of tension tightening in her chest.

Scott stepped forward, his eyes flicking over Claire and her car. He gave a slight nod, but his hand still hovered near his stun gun.

“Claire,” he said gruffly. “Been a while since I’ve seen you around here. Thought you were reassigned.”

“I was,” Claire responded smoothly, stepping out of the car. “Just here to collect some samples for a project. Got clearance for a quick run, nothing major.”

Scott frowned slightly, his gaze scrutinizing her. “No one mentioned you coming by tonight.”

Claire gave a casual shrug, trying to diffuse the growing tension. “It was last minute. You know how these things go—sudden deadlines, urgent requests. I won’t be here long.”

Scott glanced at her car again, his suspicion still lingering. “I’ll need to check your clearance.”

“Of course,” Claire replied, pulling out her ID card and holding it up. She kept her expression neutral, even though she felt her pulse quicken. Scott studied the card for a moment, then looked back at her.

“All right,” he said, though his tone was cautious. “You can go in. Just don’t take too long. Place has been jumpy lately.”

Claire paused, catching the tension in his voice. “Jumpy? What do you mean by that?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Scott glanced around, as if making sure no one else was within earshot, then stepped closer. “Hadn’t you heard about what’s been happening in Brisbane and Sydney?”

Claire frowned. “No, I’ve been a bit... out of the loop. What’s going on?”

Scott’s face tightened, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Things are bad, Claire. Really bad. Part of Brisbane is overrun by these massive tree roots—buildings crushed, even some bridges. But it’s worse in Sydney. From what we’ve been hearing the last few days, the city’s nearly overrun by these twisted-looking creatures... and the people who’ve come into contact with them.”

“Twisted people?” Claire’s breath hitched.

“Yeah,” Scott continued, his voice low and grim. “They say anyone who touches this gooey, inky sap gets... changed. Turned into something else. Something... inhuman.”

Claire felt a chill settle in the pit of her stomach, but Scott wasn’t done.

“And it’s not just people. Hell, they’ve been seeing animals—things almost 20 feet tall—popping up all over Australia. People are calling it the end times. Some of the guys here, they’re blaming it all on those crystals we discovered.”

Claire’s heart raced as Scott’s words sank in. The crystals. Everyone was blaming the crystals, but she knew better. It wasn’t them—it was the World Tree causing all this. Her mind whirled with the implications of that knowledge, and the growing threat that no one else seemed to see.

“Scott, do they know for sure it’s the crystals?” she asked, her voice steady but laced with urgency.

Scott shook his head. “Not officially, but come on, Claire. First the meteor fragments, then this... It’s all too much of a coincidence. Just be careful in there. We don’t know what’s going to happen next.”

Claire nodded, though her thoughts were spinning. The situation was spiraling out of control faster than she’d anticipated. If the World Tree was involved, then the danger was far more complex than anyone realized. She had to move fast, collect what she needed, and figure out just how deep this all went before things got worse.

“Thanks for the heads-up, Scott. I’ll be quick,” she said, offering a tight smile before turning toward the entrance.

Claire walked through the gate, her pulse quickening as she moved deeper into the facility. The sterile, fluorescent-lit corridors stretched out before her, cold and unnervingly quiet. The hum of distant machinery echoed through the hallways, adding to the sense of isolation. The crystals she needed were stored in the back, locked away under heavy security. But that wasn’t her biggest concern anymore.

The World Tree.

She couldn’t stop thinking about it, the roots spreading beneath the earth, twisting through cities like Brisbane and Sydney, corrupting everything they touched. The others blamed the meteor fragments, but Claire knew the truth. She had seen glimpses—fragments of what the World Tree could become if left unchecked. And now it was evolving faster than they could manage.

As Claire reached the storage area, she took a deep breath and scanned her ID, hoping the clearance would work without raising any suspicion. The door hissed open, revealing the familiar rows of containment chambers, each holding the crystals that pulsed with a soft, faint glow. She stepped inside, her eyes adjusting to the dim lighting.

But something was off.

At first glance, the crystals seemed as she remembered them—most of them glowing with the usual pale white light. Yet as she moved closer, her gaze fell on a few chambers that flickered with a different hue. Instead of the familiar glow, some crystals emitted a faint, eerie greenish-black light. The sight made her stop in her tracks, a cold chill creeping up her spine.

The pale green-black glow felt wrong—unnatural, as though the crystals had been altered. These weren’t like the others.

Claire crouched down beside one of the chambers, her brow furrowed in confusion. She leaned closer to examine the corrupted crystals, noticing the thin, web-like veins of darkness weaving through their cores. They pulsed slowly, as though something was alive inside them, feeding off their energy.

Her mind raced. The World Tree. Was this part of its influence? Was it corrupting the crystals now, using them for some darker purpose?

She carefully reached for one of the samples, using a set of tongs to lift the crystal out of its chamber. The closer she looked, the more certain she became that these crystals weren’t simply tainted—they were changing. Mutating, just like the creatures outside. She could feel a strange pull coming from them, like they were resonating with something much deeper beneath the surface.

Setting aside the used tongs, Claire quickly refocused, her hands steady as she began to gather the uncorrupted crystals. Out of the 59 crystals stored in the containment chambers, only 14 remained untouched by the eerie greenish-black taint. The others, twisted and darkened, pulsed with an unnatural energy, making her uneasy even looking at them.

She worked swiftly but carefully, securing the 14 untainted crystals in her container. Each one gave off the familiar pale white glow, their energy still pure—untouched by whatever had infected the others. As she placed the last crystal into her pack, she glanced at the corrupted chambers again, her mind racing. Only 14 left. Whatever was happening, the infection or corruption was spreading faster than she had anticipated.

The World Tree's influence, she realized, was already deeper than they could imagine. If these crystals had fallen under its control, then it was only a matter of time before the rest were consumed. She needed to get these out and figure out a solution before it was too late.

With her pack secured and the uncorrupted crystals in place, Claire took a final look around the storage area. The corrupted crystals seemed to pulse more aggressively now, as if aware of her presence—of what she was taking. She shook off the unnerving feeling and turned toward the door.

Suddenly, a deep rumble shook the facility again, causing the lights to flicker. Claire steadied herself, heart pounding. It wasn’t just a tremor—something was happening. She had to move fast.

Gripping her pack tightly, she slipped out of the storage area and into the hallway, listening for any sounds of movement. The dragging sound from earlier had disappeared, but that didn’t mean she was safe.

She checked the clock on her wrist—time was running out. She had the uncorrupted crystals, but now she had to get them out of the facility and back to safety, all while avoiding whatever else lurked within.

Suddenly, the rumble was followed by the sound of cracking—like the very walls of the facility were being torn apart. She barely had time to react before part of the ceiling collapsed behind her with a deafening crash, sending chunks of concrete and dust billowing through the air. Claire threw herself forward, hitting the ground as debris rained down around her.

Coughing, she scrambled to her feet, her eyes darting toward the storage area she’d just left. The ceiling had caved in, and now there was only one way out. The corrupted crystals were lost beneath the rubble, pulsing faintly from within the wreckage.

A low growl echoed through the hallway, and Claire's blood ran cold. She turned just in time to see a twisted creature rounding the corner, its form barely recognizable as human anymore. Its limbs were elongated and jagged, covered in black sap that oozed from its skin. Its eyes, dark and hollow, locked onto her.

Without hesitation, the creature lunged.

Claire dodged to the side, her adrenaline surging. The creature’s claws scraped the floor where she’d stood just moments before, leaving deep gouges in the metal. She didn’t wait for it to recover. Sprinting down the hallway, she weaved between fallen debris, her mind racing.

The rumble wasn’t over. The floor trembled beneath her as more sections of the facility began to collapse. Pipes burst overhead, spewing steam and water, creating a chaotic maze as Claire ran for the exit. Behind her, the creature’s guttural growls echoed, and she could hear its heavy footsteps, faster than she expected.

Another tremor hit, this one so powerful it nearly knocked her off her feet. The walls to her left buckled, a massive crack splitting them open. Claire swerved, narrowly avoiding being crushed as the wall collapsed, blocking the path behind her. The twisted creature screeched, momentarily cut off by the debris.

Breathing heavily, Claire darted down a side corridor, searching for an emergency exit. The facility was falling apart, and the tremors were getting worse. She couldn’t tell if the collapse was natural or if something more sinister—something tied to the World Tree—was causing it.

As she turned another corner, she saw it: the emergency exit, illuminated by flickering red lights.

But just as she reached for the door, the twisted creature burst through the debris behind her, its body half-covered in dust and rubble. It was faster than before, enraged and closing the distance rapidly.

Claire had no time to think. She slammed her hand against the emergency release, the door hissing open just as the creature lunged again. Without looking back, she dove through the door, rolling across the ground as the creature's claws swiped at the air just inches from her.

The door sealed shut behind her with a heavy thud.

Panting, Claire scrambled to her feet. She was outside now, standing on the edge of the facility grounds. The night air was cold, and the ground beneath her still rumbled, though it felt less intense out here. She could hear alarms blaring inside the building, but the creature’s screeching was muffled behind the door.

She couldn’t stop. She needed to get back to the car, get to Jade, and figure out what to do with the crystals she had gathered. Time was running out—not just for her, but for everyone.

With one final glance at the facility, now crumbling and consumed by the chaos within, Claire sprinted into the night, the weight of the untainted crystals heavy in her pack, and the realization of the growing threat looming over her.

Claire sprinted through the darkness, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she darted between trees and debris. The distant lights of the facility flickered behind her, swallowed by the chaos as the rumbling of the ground subsided, leaving an eerie stillness in its wake.

She was safe, for now.

But the weight of the untainted crystals in her pack reminded her that safety was temporary. Whatever was happening in the world—whatever the World Tree was doing—was accelerating, and she had very little time to figure out the next step.

As Claire reached the ridge where she’d hidden the car, she scanned the area for any signs of danger. The forest was quiet, unnervingly so. No movement, no twisted creatures. But she couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching her, something far more insidious than the twisted she had just escaped.

She reached the car and pulled the door open, climbing inside. Her hands shook slightly as she gripped the steering wheel, her mind racing with what to do next. Jade wasn’t far, waiting in another vehicle hidden further up the road. They had to regroup and figure out their next move, but Claire couldn’t stop thinking about the corrupted crystals. What had tainted them? Why were only a few still pure? Was the World Tree evolving faster than she had anticipated?

She started the car, the engine’s rumble comforting in the silence, and sped toward the meeting point with Jade. Time was running out.

Claire’s knuckles turned white as she gripped the steering wheel, the car tearing through the dusty outback at breakneck speed. The glow of the collapsing facility still lit the sky behind them, a mix of fire and dark roots spreading like veins through the earth. The twisted screams of creatures and the distant crack of gunfire had faded into the distance, but inside the car, the tension only grew thicker.

“What do you mean by Brisbane and Sydney?” Jade’s voice cut through the roar of the engine, her eyes fixed on the road ahead, but the question hung heavily in the air.

Claire hesitated, her mind racing. She glanced at Jade briefly, then focused back on the road. “It’s already started. The World Tree’s roots are spreading faster than anyone realized. Brisbane... it’s being torn apart. Massive roots are ripping through buildings, bridges—everything in their path. And Sydney... it’s even worse.”

Jade’s brow furrowed. “Worse how?”

“There are creatures, twisted versions of animals and people. The inky black sap, it’s transforming anyone who comes into contact with it. Whole sections of the city are gone, overrun. The military’s trying to fight back, but it’s like they can’t keep up. If we don’t find a way to stop this, it’s going to spread across the entire continent.”

Jade was silent, absorbing the enormity of what Claire was saying. This wasn’t just a local outbreak—it was becoming a global threat, and they were running out of time.

“So Noah’s our only shot?” Jade asked, her voice steady but strained.

Claire nodded, her gaze hardening. “He understands the crystals better than anyone else. If there’s a way to use these untainted ones to stop the spread, it’s with him.”

“And if there’s not?” Jade pressed, her voice laced with urgency.

Claire’s jaw tightened, and her grip on the steering wheel grew more rigid. “Then we’ll need a backup plan. Fast.”

Before either of them could speak again, a sudden thud hit the roof of the car, shaking the entire vehicle. Something heavy landed above them, the metal groaning under the weight. A screeching sound echoed from above, the unmistakable noise of claws scraping against the roof.

“Shit!” Claire cursed, her heart pounding in her chest. “Jade, see if there’s a gun in the glovebox!” she shouted, her voice sharp with panic.

Jade lunged forward, frantically digging through the glovebox. Papers and odds and ends spilled out, but nothing useful. Her fingers brushed against something metallic, and she pulled out a small pocket knife, its blade dull from wear.

“All I’ve got is a pocket knife!” Jade yelled, her eyes wide.

Massive claws dug into the metal roof of the car, screeching as they ripped into the steel, tearing it open like paper. Both girls screamed as the creature’s weight shifted, and the roof started to cave under the pressure.

Jade didn’t hesitate. Unfolding the knife with a quick snap, she stabbed upward at the creature’s paw, driving the blade deep into the twisted flesh. The creature let out a bone-rattling shriek, its inky blood splattering down from the roof. The car swerved violently as Claire fought to keep control.

“Hold on!” Claire yelled, slamming on the brakes. The car screeched to a halt, sending the creature flying forward. With a sickening rip, part of the roof was torn away, the creature tumbling off the car and crashing into the dirt ahead of them.

It lay still for a moment, twisted and broken, but slowly it began to rise, its distorted limbs snapping back into place with unnatural ease.

“Run it over!” Jade screamed, her voice hoarse with fear.

Claire didn’t hesitate. She slammed her foot on the gas, the tires kicking up a thick cloud of dust as the car roared forward. The twisted, k9-like creature turned to face them, its glowing green-black eyes locking onto the car just before the front bumper slammed into it with a sickening crunch. The impact sent the creature flying, its body crumpling under the force.

A yelp echoed through the night, and the creature disappeared beneath the wheels. The car jostled as it ran over the body, speeding off into the darkness. For a moment, the night was quiet, save for the sound of the engine roaring as they raced away from the collapsing facility.

But Claire’s hands still trembled on the wheel, her pulse racing. “What the hell was that thing?” she muttered under her breath.

Jade’s eyes were glued to the side mirror, her heart still pounding in her chest. “It’s not over,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.

Behind them, the twisted creature’s body lay motionless in the dirt. But as the dust settled, its limbs began to twitch. Black, inky blood flowed back into its veins, its broken bones snapping back into place. Slowly, its twisted form began to rise again, the dark green-black glow in its eyes intensifying.

It wasn’t alone.

From the shadows, more creatures emerged—twisted versions of dingoes, their elongated limbs and glowing eyes reflecting the corruption spreading through the land. They loped across the desert in eerie silence, their movements unnatural as they locked onto the distant sound of the car’s engine.

The first creature, now fully reformed, let out a low, guttural growl and began to run, its paws pounding against the earth. Four more followed, their twisted forms moving faster than anything human, closing the distance as they gave chase.

Claire glanced at the rearview mirror, her eyes widening as she saw the growing swarm of creatures in the distance. “We’ve got company.”

Jade turned to look, her stomach dropping as she saw the pack gaining on them. “Faster, Claire! They’re right behind us!”

Claire pressed the gas pedal to the floor, the car speeding through the outback, but the twisted creatures were relentless. The road ahead stretched on for miles, barren and empty, with no sign of shelter. The creatures were gaining on them, their glowing eyes like beacons in the night.

The engine roared, the tires kicking up dirt as the car hurtled forward, but the twisted pack was faster—far faster than they should’ve been. One of the creatures leaped onto a nearby ridge, its powerful limbs propelling it forward as it closed in.

“Hold on!” Claire shouted, swerving sharply to avoid a massive boulder. The car veered dangerously close to the edge of the road, skimming along the loose gravel as the pack of creatures descended upon them.

The lead creature leaped, claws outstretched as it soared through the air. Claire jerked the wheel to the left, narrowly dodging the attack. The creature slammed into the ground beside them, rolling before quickly recovering and resuming its pursuit.

“We can’t outrun them!” Jade yelled, her voice filled with panic. “What do we do?”

Claire’s mind raced as she searched for options, her pulse pounding in her ears. “There’s no choice—we have to fight them off.” She glanced at Jade, her face pale but determined. “You still have that knife?”

Claire swerved again, her heart hammering in her chest as another twisted dingo lunged, this time managing to land on the roof. The car shuddered under its weight as claws scraped against the already damaged metal. Jade slashed at the creature’s feet with the small knife, trying to dislodge it.

“They’re not slowing down!” Jade screamed, stabbing wildly.

Claire gritted her teeth and yanked the wheel to the side, the car swerving violently. The sudden turn threw the creature off balance, sending it tumbling across the roof and off the side, disappearing into the dust behind them. But the pack wasn’t giving up. More twisted creatures lunged, some barely missing the car, others managing to scrape and claw at the sides.

Then, out of nowhere, the ground rumbled beneath them. Claire’s eyes widened as she spotted a massive, worm-like creature bursting from the earth, arching into the air like a monstrous whale breaching the surface of the ocean. Dirt and rocks exploded outward as it soared above them, casting a shadow over the car.

“What the hell—” Claire began, but her words were cut short.

From atop the creature, a familiar figure screamed in joy, her voice cutting through the chaos. “YAHOO!” Nova was clinging to the worm’s back, her sword buried deep in its flesh. She twisted the blade and pulled it free as the worm plummeted toward a rocky outcropping.

As the creature descended, Nova’s eyes caught sight of the car, followed by the twisted pack of k9-like creatures in hot pursuit. With one fluid motion, she sheathed her blade and drew her bow, pulling out four arrows at once. With practiced ease, she aimed and fired, the arrows cutting through the air like deadly whispers.

One by one, the twisted dingoes fell, their bodies crumpling to the ground as Nova’s arrows found their marks. The pack was decimated in seconds, their twisted forms lifeless on the desert floor.

The massive worm-like creature crashed into the outcropping with a deafening impact, rocks splintering and dust rising into the air. The creature’s body split open, its grotesque innards splattering across the rocks in a shower of blood and gore. Nova leapt off at the last second, landing gracefully on her feet as the worm’s remains exploded behind her.

Claire and Jade watched in stunned silence as Nova stood amidst the carnage, her bow in hand, watching the badly damaged car approach. The car slowed, the engine sputtering from the abuse it had endured.

Claire brought the car to a stop a few feet away from Nova, her hands still shaking from the adrenaline. She leaned her head against the steering wheel, trying to catch her breath. Jade, equally winded, let out a disbelieving laugh.

“Nova... what the hell was that?” Jade managed to say, her voice a mix of shock and relief.

Nova smirked, casually wiping some of the worm’s blood off her cheek. “Just taking care of a little pest problem.” She glanced at the wrecked roof of the car, raising an eyebrow. “Looks like you had some pests of your own.”

Claire looked up from the steering wheel, still trying to process what had just happened. “You... you rode in on a giant worm?”

“Yep!” Nova replied cheerfully, slinging her bow over her shoulder. “Had to improvise. Seemed like a good ride for the occasion.”

Jade shook her head in disbelief. “You’re insane, you know that?”

Nova shrugged. “Gets the job done.” Her smile faded slightly as she looked back at the bodies of the twisted creatures littering the ground. “But things are getting worse out here. These creatures... they’re spreading faster. We’re running out of time.”

Claire nodded, the weight of the untainted crystals in her pack reminding her of the urgency. “We have to get these to Noah. They might be the only chance we have to stop this.”

Nova’s expression darkened for a moment, her gaze shifting to the horizon where the twisted roots of the World Tree were spreading, ever closer.

Mia POV

Mia stood at the edge of the clearing, her chest still shaking from laughter as she wiped away another tear. "Oh, Kate’s gonna lose it," she muttered to herself, imagining the look on her friend’s face when she saw the recording. The sheer absurdity of what had just unfolded was enough to keep her spirits high for a while, but as she straightened up and caught her breath, her smile faded.

The landscape in the distance was unsettling. Dark, twisted roots spread through the earth like a disease, a reminder of the growing chaos. Mia’s eyes narrowed, the carefree moment slipping away as the gravity of the situation settled back in.

She glanced down at the crystal in her hand, now filled with the recording, and sighed. "This isn’t good. Things are spiraling faster than I thought." The thought of letting it get out of control nagged at her, but she’d never been one to follow the rules too closely. "Guess it’s time to break my own rules if I have to," she muttered.

With a wave of her hand, a pale blue portal shimmered into existence in front of her. The swirling energy crackled softly as it opened, revealing the familiar sight of Kate’s dorm on the other side. Mia took one last look at the distant chaos before stepping through the portal.

As the portal closed behind her, Mia found herself standing in the middle of Kate’s room, which was just as cluttered as usual. She smiled to herself, her earlier tension easing just a bit. She couldn’t wait to share this.

“Kate, you are not going to believe me when I tell you this part,” Mia called out with a laugh, still amused by the wild memory replaying in her mind.

Noah POV

They flew as fast as Sylphora’s powerful wings could carry them, cutting through the heavy air with a sense of urgency. Noah sat tense in the saddle, his hands gripping the harness tightly as he scanned the landscape below. He hated waiting, but that was all he could do now—hope that Claire and Jade made it in time with the untainted crystals.

As they flew, Noah began to notice the dark shapes below—thick roots curling over the ruins of buildings, pulsing with a sick, dark energy. Sylphora growled low, the sound reverberating through Noah’s body, and he could feel her growing unease through their bond. The roots were pulsing in time with something deep beneath the earth, a rhythm that felt unnatural, ominous.

“This is bad, Sylphora,” Noah muttered, his gaze fixed on the landscape below. The roots were everywhere, spreading faster than he had ever imagined. It wasn’t just buildings that were overtaken—entire stretches of land had fallen to the World Tree’s corruption.

Sylphora growled again, her massive wings beating harder as she adjusted their course. Noah could sense her tension, the connection between them vibrating with shared anxiety. They were getting closer to the World Seed, and with every beat of her wings, Noah felt the weight of the World Tree’s dark influence pressing on his mind, a creeping pull that he had to resist with everything he had.

The dragon’s gaze shifted downward, her sharp eyes focusing on the writhing mass of roots. Noah felt a spike of frustration. They were nearing the World Seed, and the roots were pulsing more fiercely now, as though they could feel their presence approaching.

“We need to push on,” Noah urged, his voice low. Sylphora didn’t hesitate. With a powerful surge of her wings, they soared forward, closing the distance to the heart of the corruption.

As they neared the World Seed, the air grew thicker, almost suffocating. Noah could feel it—the malevolent power of the World Tree pressing against him, trying to pull him in, as if it sensed his bond with Sylphora and wanted to consume them both. He gritted his teeth, resisting the pull. They had to stay focused.

Sylphora rumbled beneath him, her resolve clear in the way she powered through the growing darkness. Their bond was unbreakable, but the closer they got, the more Noah could feel the subtle tug of the World Tree, trying to twist that connection into something darker.

“We’re running out of time,” Noah muttered, his eyes locked on the distant shape of the World Seed, now visible through the tangled web of roots. Claire and Jade had to make it. The fate of everything was riding on those untainted crystals.

Sylphora let out a low growl, her wings beating faster as they closed the final distance to Noah’s home. But as they approached, Noah’s heart sank. The once-familiar sight of his home was now unrecognizable, overrun by the dark, tainted sap of greenish-black ink that oozed over everything. Twisted roots curled around the walls and roof, choking the life out of the structure. His sanctuary was gone.

Sylphora circled overhead, her unease growing, and Noah’s eyes scanned the destruction. The backyard, where the World Tree had once stood tall and proud, was now consumed by corruption. Dark, pulsating roots spread from the tree like a web of poison, writhing and hissing as though they were alive. The tree itself, once a symbol of hope, was collapsing under the weight of the taint.

Noah's heart clenched as they landed. He could feel the powerful, dark energy radiating from the World Tree, its once-pure magic now twisted into something foul. But amidst the overwhelming corruption, there was something else—a faint glimmer of life. Deep within the tree, buried beneath the layers of rot and decay, he could still feel the smallest part of it fighting, struggling to survive.

He dismounted Sylphora slowly, his boots sinking into the corrupted earth as he approached the tree. The roots shifted beneath his feet, as though aware of his presence. A low, sinister hiss echoed from the tree as black sap dripped from its branches like venom.

“No...” Noah whispered, his chest tightening. He had known the corruption was spreading, but seeing it here—at the heart of his home—made it all too real.

Sylphora lowered her head beside him, her massive form tense and alert. She could feel the same pull that Noah did—the World Tree’s dying cry, barely audible beneath the cacophony of corruption that had overtaken it.

Noah reached out toward the tree, his hand trembling as he touched one of the roots. Instantly, the tainted energy surged toward him, like a living thing, trying to wrap itself around his arm, to pull him in. He jerked his hand back, his pulse racing. The tree was fighting, but the taint was winning.

“There’s still a chance,” Noah muttered, his voice tight. “It’s not completely gone. There’s still a part of it alive.”

Sylphora rumbled softly, her eyes fixed on the World Tree, her body tense as if ready to defend Noah from the corrupted roots if they tried to strike.