Chapter 124: The Crystal Eye

The death of the Keeper marked the fall of the corrupted forest. Bit by bit the remaining horrors were hunted down until there was near to none left. And it all happened thanks to the hero party's renewed strengths.

Being able to control darkness like a semi-solid extension of his body–Raven's skills were buffed tenfold. Aria was the same with her now being able to control more clones and charge more powers into her blows. Mel's control of woodland magic was no longer limited to trees, vines, and other vegetation, but she could also summon bugs, vipers, and plenty of carnivores.

As for Amedith, his holy magic and defense were growing surprisingly quickly. Pillars of light to defend a nearby ally, ethereal wings made of pure magic that gave him a much-needed boost in agility, not to mention an even higher resistance to status effects and attacks that may try to debuff him.

Erika, the priestess's heart had only submitted to her internal corruption further–something the devil in her heart enjoyed quite a bit. Then there were even more spells unlocked in her status screen as well as a boost in her mana to add more usage of her powers.

Lastly, Mino–the spirit mage, much like the priestess was now able to cast more spells like a barrage of spirit minotaurs that rushed the enemies with their horns.

"A fine specimen you brought me last week," coming out of the back of the shop, Linkle the opportunistic witch pulled Raven out of his thoughts about everything that has happened since they killed the keeper. "Just half of its core was enough to make you what you wanted, obviously I kept the rest–It was part of the deal so don't dare backtrack anymore."

Floating over to her desk, she placed a small oakwood box on the counter. Pushing it towards Raven, she looked him in the eye. Getting him to follow her gaze, she had him gently pick the box in the front and bring it up to his face.

"A Keeper, they grow stronger the more their influence increases, the corruption they spread, and most importantly the more souls they consume from their victims," lifting her right hand, she urged Raven to open the box. And as he did so, she continued to talk. "With time those souls get crystallized in their bodies, physical or ethereal.

They turned into crystal-like balls full of pure unadulterated magic."

Looking at where the dark flames of the corrupted forest used to be, he felt a sense of calm in watching nothing but a long clearing with shriveled trees with nowhere for the horrors to hide. As far as his vision stretched that was all there was, a dead forest grazed by their own hands, because not even the smallest speck of corruption could be allowed to live or else it'll return with time.

'A day or two more and we'll be on the other end.' He couldn't have imagined a day would come when even without Helga, he and his party would be fighting horrors like it was nothing. Sure the place was meant to be a start, but their overwhelming victory had started to inspire more confidence.

"Haaaa~" Walking out of her tent with a yawn, Kara the high priestess waved at the dark mage. "You're back already, huh? Your friends told me to have you stay here until they get back."

"Why?" He asked, slightly confused by the request.

"Everyone wanna know how they'd fare against the now gone horrors, they wanna do a before and after if you will," with that explained, she stretched her arms upwards and began walking up to the teapot bubbling on a makeshift mud stove.

Grabbing its handle, she casually conjured two glasses that floated in the air. Filling both of them up, she let the pot down and grabbed the tea cups instead.

"Until then, want me to take a look at that new eye of yours?" Kara suggested smiling, her left hand offering Raven one of the cups.

Walking up close, Raven grabbed the tea but rejected her offer.

"I'm not gonna be a toy for your amusement priestess, find another lamb," even though his words were harsh, Kara's smile only grew further.

"Seems like Helga's blood bled into her apprentice." Unable to convince him, she sat on a log and enjoyed her cup of tea alongside him.