The final creature lumbered out of the node, its massive, twisted form towering over us. Kaelion’s eyes narrowed as he stepped forward, his greatsword glowing faintly. “Focus fire on that thing. Don’t let it grab you!”

  I activated Blood Pact, sacrificing 40% of my HP to boost attack damage and movement speed. The rush of energy coursed through me, and I darted toward the abomination, sshing at its legs with Midnight Fang. [Critical Hit: 4,500 Damage.]

  The abomination roared, smming the ground with a Glitched Sm that forced us all to scatter. Selene reappeared behind it, her daggers fshing as she nded another critical strike. Kaelion followed up with [Phoenix Fre], a fiery explosion that engulfed the creature.

  Its health bar dropped to 10%, and I saw my chance. I raised my dagger, activating Abyssal Maw. A shadowy void appeared beneath the abomination, pulling it in with a deafening roar. Its health hit zero, and it disintegrated into glitched fragments.

  [Corrupted Node Stabilized – 1/7 Cleared.] Rewards: 3,000 EXP, 1,500 Gold, +1 Rare Drop: Glitched Fragment.

  “Good work,” Kaelion said, his voice breathless but triumphant. “One down, six to go.”

  I leaned against the Dire Wolf, catching my breath as my HP bar slowly ticked upward. The fight was over, but the Wastes were far from done with us.

  The air around the second node was suffocating, thick with corrupted energy. The terrain glitched beneath our feet, pulsing with faint red light. My HUD flickered again as we approached the glowing, unstable mass of data. Another notification appeared, dispying the node’s status and its accompanying dangers:

  [Corrupted Node – Node 2/7] Status: Active Effects: Increased NPC Aggression, Environmental Hazards Detected.

  “This one’s worse than the st,” Kaelion muttered, his greatsword resting against his shoulder. “The corruption’s spread further, and these environmental hazards aren’t just for show.”

  I gnced at the fractured ground, where glowing craters shimmered with votile energy. One wrong step, and you’d take damage from the Glitched Terrain hazards. My heart pounded, but I forced myself to focus. The first node had been rough, but we’d managed. This one couldn’t be that much harder—right?

  “Stay sharp,” Selene said quietly, her daggers already in her hands. “The enemies will escate, and the terrain will fight us just as hard as the creatures.”

  The corrupted node pulsed again, and the ground cracked open with a burst of red light. Shadows poured out, taking shape as a horde of corrupted creatures. Their forms flickered and distorted, their snarls broken and unnatural, like static from a damaged speaker.

  [Wave 1: Corrupted Runners x8 – Level 26] Abilities:

  Glitched Swipe: Fast melee attack with a bleed effect.Overload Rush: Charges at a target, exploding on impact for AoE damage.Kaelion didn’t hesitate. With a roar, he charged forward, activating [Phoenix Strike] to cleave through two of the runners in a fiery arc. Their health bars plummeted, though the rest of the horde immediately turned their attention toward him.

  I gripped my Midnight Fang dagger tightly, the shadowy bde pulsing faintly in my hand. My HUD dispyed a small notification in the corner:

  [New Skill Unlocked: Abyssal Shroud] Effect: Envelop yourself in shadow, reducing incoming damage by 25% and boosting movement speed by 15% for 20 seconds. HP Cost: 15%. Cooldown: 30 seconds.

  A new move. Perfect timing.

  I activated Abyssal Shroud, feeling a rush of shadowy energy envelop me. The shadows clung to my form like a second skin, muffling the blows from the first runner that lunged at me. Its Glitched Swipe barely grazed me, and the reduced damage allowed me to counter quickly. I darted forward, the speed boost letting me close the gap instantly, and drove my dagger into its chest.

  [Critical Hit: 3,200 Damage.]

  The runner flickered and disintegrated into shards of corrupted data. Selene was a blur beside me, her daggers fshing as she targeted another runner. She unleashed Shadowstep Barrage, a flurry of rapid strikes that shredded through her target’s health bar.

  “They’re faster this time,” she called, her tone sharp. “Don’t get overwhelmed.”

  On the far side of the battlefield, Kaelion unleashed another Phoenix Fre, engulfing three runners in a fiery explosion. Their distorted screeches filled the air as they colpsed, leaving only two remaining.

  I turned toward one of them, activating Life Drain. Tendrils of red energy wrapped around the creature, siphoning its health into me as my HP bar ticked upward.

  [+1,000 HP Restored.]

  The final runner charged toward Era at the backline, its body flickering with unstable energy. Before it could reach her, I raised my hand and activated Shadow Embrace. Dark tendrils erupted from the ground, immobilizing the creature and dealing damage over time. It writhed against the shadows, but it couldn’t escape.

  “Finish it!” I shouted.

  Myy summoned Dire Wolf Hell Hound and lunged forward, his massive jaws closing around the runner. The damage notification floated above its head as it disintegrated:

  [Infernal Bite: 2,500 Damage.]

  Era let out a relieved breath. “Thanks, Kiera.”

  “Don’t mention it,” I said, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me.

  As the st runner fell, the corrupted node pulsed again. The ground cracked wider this time, and rger figures emerged from the void. These creatures were slower but far more dangerous, their massive frames radiating corrupted energy.

  [Wave 2: Corrupted Brutes x4 – Level 28] Abilities:

  Ground Quake: High-damage AoE knockback.Unyielding Code: Temporarily immune to crowd-control effects.

  “Big ones!” Kaelion shouted, raising his greatsword. “Focus fire! One at a time!”

  The first brute smmed its fists into the ground, triggering Ground Quake. The shockwave rippled outward, forcing everyone to dodge-roll to avoid the high-damage knockback. Kaelion recovered quickly, charging forward with a shout as he swung his bde in a wide arc. The brute’s health bar dropped, but its Unyielding Code made it resistant to his stuns.

  I darted toward another brute, activating Blood Pact to sacrifice a portion of my HP to boost my attack damage and speed. My dagger moved like a blur, each strike carving chunks from the brute’s health bar.

  [Critical Hit: 4,500 Damage.]

  “Keep it up!” Selene called, vanishing into the shadows with Shadowstep before reappearing behind a third brute. Her daggers fshed as she unleashed a Critical Hit, targeting a weak point in the brute’s glitched armor.

  Era supported us from the backline, casting Barrier Sphere over Kaelion as he tanked the brute’s attacks. “You’re covered!” she shouted.

  I activated Essence Feast to sap health from the brutes while restoring HP to the group. Tendrils of red energy wrapped around the battlefield, their damage ticking steadily as my mana bar drained.

  [+1,500 HP Restored to Party.]

  The final brute colpsed after a coordinated attack from Kaelion and Selene, its body disintegrating into shards of corrupted data. The node’s glow dimmed, stabilizing as a new notification appeared.

  [Corrupted Node Stabilized – 2/7 Cleared.] Rewards: 3,500 EXP, 1,800 Gold, +1 Epic Drop: Void-Touched Amulet.

  Kaelion let out a breath, wiping the sweat from his brow. “Two down. Five to go.”

  I leaned against a jagged rock, catching my breath as my HP and mana bars slowly recovered. My body felt heavy, the toll of using multiple abilities in quick succession weighing on me. But there was something else, too—a flicker of pride. I was stronger now than I’d been when this journey began. And with every node we cleared, I felt myself growing into the power I’d been given.

  “Not bad,” Selene said quietly as she stepped beside me, her voice conveying approval.

  “Not bad yourself,” I replied, managing a small smile.

  As we regrouped, Kaelion gnced at the map, his expression serious. “The next node is a little further out. We’ll encounter more hazards and stronger enemies as we go. Everyone good to keep moving?”

  A chorus of nods followed though the tension in the group was palpable. The Wastes weren’t just testing our skills but our limits. And as the corrupted energy pulsed around us, I knew this was only the beginning.

  ?????°???°?????

  An oppressive stillness marked the trek to the third node. The corrupted energy pulsed faintly beneath the ground, and the static hum that filled the air grew louder with each step. The terrain was more treacherous now, with jagged rocks jutting out like the bones of some long-dead creature and pools of glitched energy simmering in the cracks.

  Kaelion gnced over his shoulder, his greatsword resting casually on his shoulder. “Stay alert. These zones don’t py fair or care about giving you a break.”

  “Not exactly comforting,” Selene muttered, her tone as sharp as her daggers.

  I tightened my grip on my Midnight Fang, my eyes scanning the horizon for any movement. The fights so far had drained a significant amount of my resources, and while my HP and mana were recovering slowly, I’d need to conserve my abilities if we faced anything bigger.

  [Zone Effect: Glitched Anomaly Detected.] Status: Increasing NPC Aggression, HUD Instability.

  My HUD flickered, the edges of the interface glitching momentarily before stabilizing. “Anyone else seeing that?” I asked, my voice low.

  “It’s the Wastes,” Kaelion said grimly. “The closer we get to the center, the worse it gets. Just keep your focus.”

  We reached the third node just as the static hum reached an almost unbearable pitch. The corrupted energy here was denser, the ground pulsing with an angry red light that made it seem alive. My HUD lit up with another notification:

  [Corrupted Node – Node 3/7] Status: Active Effects: Constant AoE Damage (Corruption Pulse), Enhanced NPC Spawns.

  Kaelion stepped forward, his voice steady. “Focus on clearing the waves. I’ll tank the frontlines. Era, keep the shields up. Everyone else, deal as much damage as you can without getting caught in the corruption pulses.”

  The node pulsed again, and the ground beneath us cracked open, releasing a new horde of enemies. These were rger and far more aggressive than before, their forms almost humanoid but twisted beyond recognition.

  [Wave 1: Corrupted Revenants x6 – Level 30] Abilities:

  Pulse Aura: Constant AoE damage to pyers within 5m.Shadow Grasp: Immobilizes a pyer, dealing damage over time.Kaelion roared, charging forward to intercept the revenants before they could reach the backline. His [Phoenix Strike] carved through two of them, their health bars dropping but not depleting entirely.

  I activated Abyssal Shroud, the shadows wrapping around me like armor as I darted around the battlefield. The speed boost allowed me to fnk one of the revenants, driving my dagger into its side.

  [Critical Hit: 3,800 Damage.]

  The revenant shed out with Shadow Grasp, but I dodged just in time, the tendrils of dark energy missing me by inches. “Watch out for those grabs!” I shouted, circling back for another strike.

  Selene appeared beside me, her daggers fshing as she nded a flurry of attacks on another revenant. “I’m not a fan of these things,” she muttered, her tone clipped.

  “Join the club,” I replied, activating Essence Feast to siphon HP from the enemies and heal our group. The glowing tendrils tched onto the revenants, their health ticking down as mine and the party’s ticked up.

  [+1,200 HP Restored to Party.]

  On the far side of the battlefield, Mason brought his hammer down on a revenant, the impact sending shockwaves through the ground. [Earthshatter: 4,200 Damage.] Fi followed up with a precise arrow to the head, finishing it off.

  “Nice teamwork!” Kaelion called as he swung his greatsword in a wide arc, cleaving through the remaining revenants.

  The node pulsed violently, and a massive figure emerged from the cracks in the ground. Its form was vaguely humanoid, but its body flickered and warped with corrupted energy.

  [Wave 2: Corrupted Overseer – Level 32] HP: 15,000 Abilities:

  Data Disruption: Disables HUD for 10 seconds.Corruption Bst: High-damage AoE attack.Glitched Fury: Increases attack speed and damage by 20% when HP drops below 50%.“Big one incoming!” Kaelion shouted, his greatsword glowing faintly as he activated Phoenix Fre. The fiery explosion engulfed the Overseer, but its health bar barely moved.

  Selene darted in, nding quick strikes with her daggers, but the Overseer countered with Data Disruption. My HUD flickered and vanished, blinding me to my health, mana, and cooldowns.

  “This is bad,” I muttered, relying on instinct as I dodged the Overseer’s wild swings.

  I activated Blood Pact, feeling the familiar rush of power as my attack damage and speed increased. The tradeoff was steep—my HP dropped significantly—but it was a risk I had to take. I darted behind the Overseer, sshing at its back with all the force I could muster.

  [Critical Hit: 5,000 Damage.]

  The Overseer roared, smming the ground with Corruption Bst. The AoE attack scattered everyone, but Era quickly cast Barrier Sphere, shielding us from the worst damage.

  “Keep it together!” Kaelion shouted, nding another heavy blow with his greatsword. “We’ve got this!”

  The Overseer’s health bar dropped to 50%, and its body began to glow faintly. [Glitched Fury Activated.] Its attacks became faster, more erratic, and far more dangerous.

  I activated Abyssal Maw, summoning a shadowy void beneath the Overseer. The ground warped and twisted as the void consumed it, dealing massive damage.

  [Abyssal Maw: 7,500 Damage.]

  Selene nded the final blow, her daggers plunging into the Overseer’s chest. With a distorted scream, the creature disintegrated into shards of corrupted data. The node’s glow dimmed, and a new notification appeared:

  [Corrupted Node Stabilized – 3/7 Cleared.] Rewards: 4,000 EXP, 2,000 Gold, +1 Legendary Drop: Corrupted Relic Shard.

  Kaelion let out a breath, his grin returning. “Three down. We’re making progress.”

  I leaned against a nearby rock, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. The Wastes were relentless, and we still had four nodes to go. But for now, we’d won.