The further they descended, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.
Aurielle glanced at the faint outline of a once-grand underwater city in the distance. Its spires were coated in blackened flux, and its vibrant domes, which once shimmered with prismatic light, were dull and fractured.
"It's like a ghost town," Aurielle murmured, her tone unusually subdued. "The infection doesn't just destroy. It takes everything beautiful and twists it."
Lucy's voice was steady, though her golden light dimmed slightly under the weight of the corruption. "The Outer Gods thrive on despair. This is their signature—a world drained of life and hope."
As they approached the city, the protective bubble shuddered under a sudden surge of energy. Linsley's white flux flared, reinforcing the barrier. "We're close," he said, his voice firm. "The source is here."
The team entered the center of the city, where the infection was at its most concentrated.