The Corrupted Wound

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The wind swept through the valley, letting out a low moan, while the leaves rustled restlessly, as if foreshadowing an approaching omen.

In the dead of night, an ear-splitting roar shattered the forest's silence. The Mo-Moos responsible for patrolling the border stumbled back into the valley in a panic. Their bodies bore distinct bite marks, and blood mixed with a sinister aura seeped out, staining their glowing patterns and bone masks.

One of them, the Black King Mo-Moo, collapsed in full view of the others. An Antler Mo-Moo rushed to support him, only to see the bulging, trembling wound on his chest suddenly sprout several writhing tentacles. They shot out rapidly, entangling the partner beside him.

Seeing this, the Elder waved his artifact, emitting a blinding fluorescent glow. He dashed forward to suppress the mutation. The artifact, channeling the power of the Earth Vein mixed with spring water, immobilized the frantic tentacles, yet it could not make them vanish.

Hearing the commotion, J arrived and immediately crouched down to examine the scene... It was identical to the signs of demonization he had once witnessed in the Fog Forest.

"Carry him to the Heart of the Earth Vein, quickly!" the Elder commanded. Several burly Mo-Moos lifted the injured and rushed toward the cavern.

The originally silent cave seemed to sense the anomaly. Along the path, the light of the Earth Vein began to glow. Upon entering the cave, the tentacles that had been flailing ceased to grow. They gradually stopped writhing, withering into dry threads that retracted quietly.

J whispered to himself, "It seems... this place suppresses the mutation." A complex thought flashed through his mind: This land is not just the birthplace of the Mo-Moos; perhaps it is also a barrier for me against the encroachment of the Alien God.

At the source of the spring, several Elders prayed. One Elder took out a censer, burning a mixture of special herbs and power to treat the wound, but it was of no avail.

J stepped forward to take over the treatment. He knew deep down this was no simple physical trauma, but an erosion caused by the Alien God’s power. He produced an alchemy potion designed to suppress demonized creatures. The potion’s effect was significant; the mutated tentacles dissipated. Combined with the Elder's magic, the wound finally healed.

The Elders looked at one another, whispering in low voices.