As Alex fought the urge to turn away from the grotesque sight, a sudden system notification echoed in his mind, halting him in his tracks.
The familiar chime pierced through the nauseating atmosphere, sharp and clear, pulling his focus despite the instinctive urge to flee from the unsettling scene.
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[Side Quest: Mysteries of the Poison Mist Forest]
[1. The host has found the source of the mysterious troubles plaguing Opal Village.]
[Quest Progress: 50%]
[Time Remaining: 1 day, 5 hours, 37 minutes]
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Alex fell into contemplation, pondering what could have triggered the completion of the first part of the side quest. 'Huh? Was it this ring that held the key, or was the system referring to this chamber as the nest of Carrion Rats?'
The rancid stench was bad enough, but after witnessing the grotesque pile of bones and flesh—the remains of unknown creatures—Alex decided not to linger a moment longer. He needed to leave this accursed place.
With quick efficiency, he stored all the monster cores and the carcass of the unknown mutant Carrion Rat. His gaze then shifted to the scattered remains of the human victims.
Despite the grimness of the task, Alex gathered what he could, determined to give them a proper burial.
Once the bodies were secured, he set the chamber ablaze. The flames consumed the lair, turning the breeding ground of horror into a pile of ashes. Satisfied that the infestation was purged, he moved to leave.
While searching for an exit, Alex found another passage. It was small and narrow, barely wide enough for a person to pass through, but it led in the opposite direction from where he had entered.
Squeezing through the tight gap, he pressed on, walking just a few hundred meters before the welcome sight of daylight greeted him.
Alex emerged into an open clearing, the sudden change from the dark, suffocating cave to the bright sky momentarily disorienting him. He glanced around. The area was vast, with nothing familiar in sight.
"Where am I? Is this outside the Poison Mist Forest?" Alex muttered to himself, pulling out his GoNav map, a handy map he had purchased from the Adventurer's Association.
The map had no data on this particular area, leaving Alex with no clear indication of where he had ended up. However, it did point him toward Opal Village.
Without hesitation, he followed the map's lead, soon finding himself back in the familiar grasp of the poison mist.
He navigated through it, carefully avoiding its densest parts, and managed to return to the village before the sun fully set.
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Evening had fallen, but a soft glow lingered in the sky, casting a warm hue over the village. Despite the fading light, the streets were nearly deserted as villagers hurried home, their footsteps quick and purposeful.
As Alex walked down the empty lanes toward the village chief's house, he couldn't help but notice the glances cast his way. Some faces held curiosity, others apprehension, yet a few showed a glimmer of hope—a tentative faith that hadn't been there before.
Just as he raised his hand to knock, the door swung open unexpectedly, and a group of villagers emerged. Their expressions brightened as they recognized him. A few stepped forward, eyes shining with gratitude, some brimming with tears.
An elderly man reached out, his hands trembling slightly as he clasped Alex's. "Thank you, young adventurer." he said, his voice thick with emotion.
Others joined in, murmuring their thanks, some reaching out to pat his shoulder, their relief and appreciation nearly overwhelming.
Caught off guard, Alex felt a rush of warmth but wasn't sure how to respond. A rare flush crept to his cheeks, and he nodded awkwardly, struggling to find words that matched the gratitude he felt in return.
Just then, the village chief's authoritative voice cut through the crowd. "Alright now, give the young lad a bit of space." he said with a grin. "Let him breathe before you shower him with thanks."
The villagers stepped back, their faces still full of gratitude as they dispersed slowly, murmuring among themselves.
Alex managed a small, appreciative nod to the chief, who clapped him on the back and guided him inside, away from the lingering gaze of the villagers.
Inside the chief's modest home, Alex took a seat as the old man settled opposite him, a relieved smile softening his face.
"You've given them hope." the chief said warmly. "After all they've been through, that's no small thing."
Alex noticed several villagers had lingered outside, their eyes fixed on him with a mix of hope and nervous anticipation.
He felt the weight of their expectations, but the memory of the grotesque nest of bones gnawed at him. They deserved the truth, yet he struggled to find the right words to convey such grim news.
The chief, sensing his hesitation, gave him a reassuring nod. "Young man" he said gently, "We've been waiting for word of those who disappeared. Whatever you've found… please, tell us."
Alex took a deep breath, his gaze shifting to the anxious faces around him. "I found a cave… a nest of Carrion Rats deep inside." he began slowly, his voice steady but somber. "There were remains… human skeletons." he paused, carefully choosing his words to soften the blow.
A murmur rippled through the crowd, and one woman clutched her hands to her chest, her face pale. "Are you saying they're… gone?" she whispered.
Alex nodded, feeling the weight of each word. "I believe the missing villagers are among them," he admitted quietly, his gaze dropping in respect for their grief. "I'm so sorry. I cleared the Carrion Rats and brought back the remains so they could receive a proper burial."
Silence settled over the room, thick with sorrow and acceptance. Finally, the chief spoke, his voice choked yet filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Alex." he said, his voice steady despite the grief. "For bringing us the truth and a chance for closure. And for saving us from another infestation."
Behind the chief's house, Alex carefully laid out the remains he had managed to recover.
The gathered villagers looked on, faces frozen in a mix of horror and sorrow as they recognized remnants of clothing, trinkets, and small personal items among the bones.
A gasp cut through the silence as a man spotted something familiar—a worn silver ring, one that had been buried with his father. "This… this was from the graveyard!" he choked out, voice trembling as the truth dawned on him.
The village chief's face tightened, and Alex's expression grew stony as he pieced together the unsettling truth. "The Carrion Rats—they must've burrowed all the way to the village graveyard, making tunnels beneath." he muttered.
A voice from the crowd, thick with grief and anger, called out, "Those vile creatures unearthed our dead."
Another villager shook his head in disbelief and outrage. "The rats weren't just feeding on those who went missing… they were digging up and defiling our loved ones' graves."
Alex wanted to offer words of comfort, but in the face of this violation, everything he could say felt hollow.
The chief turned to him, his voice steady but worn. "You've done more for us than we could ever repay, Alex." he said, his tone laden with gratitude. "We'll re-bury our dead and do whatever it takes to make sure no rat ever disturbs this ground again."
One by one, the villagers stepped forward, kneeling by the remains, each one lost in quiet reflection, reconnecting with memories of their loved ones.
Alex took a step back, allowing the villagers their moment of mourning. Nearly everyone in the village had gathered by now, searching the remains for traces of loved ones.
Yet no one seemed to recognize the skeleton in the black cloak with the strange, ominous ring. Whispers of confusion rose around him.
Alex's brow furrowed as he eyed the unfamiliar skeleton. 'Strange… who was this person if they weren't one of the villagers?' he wondered.
The cloak was of fine craftsmanship, not something a simple traveler would wear. The ring, too, held a sinister aura, seeming almost to pulse with some dormant energy.
The village chief noticed his puzzled expression and approached him quietly. "That one… he doesn't seem to belong here, does he?" Alex questioned.
In response he shook his head. "No. Whoever he was, he wasn't from our village or someone we know of."