"Demonized?"

Mirai asked quizzically.

Kyson glanced at her face filled with curiosity, he said, "That's right, demonized."

"I told you, right? When I get there, the goblins are already heavily contaminated by the demonic energy."

"At some point, after long exposure to it, they become demonized."

After saying that, Kyson stopped talking anymore and kept his mouth shut.

Even when Mirai tried to talk him out of it, he didn't budge and no longer told her any information.

In the end, Mirai could only give up and retreat with a thoughtful face.

Kyson glanced at her retreating back, before turning away.

Since he already did his part by telling her that there's danger here, it is now up to her whether they will go back or stay.

If they stayed and got hit by some accident or danger, that is no longer on him.

Time seems to have flowed fast, but in reality, it's been only a couple of minutes.

After a quick talk and preparation with the task force, Director Gil ordered everyone to start moving.

Walking through the settlement, a lot of curious eyes are cast on them, but neither Director Gil nor any of the task force members pay attention to them.

So just like them, Kyson didn't mind any of them.

Standing beside the dignified Director Gil, Kyson can't help but feel that lack a certain feel to him.

'Maybe that's the air of authority. Hmm… I wonder when I'll get that kind of vibes around me?'

While having some whimsical thoughts run on his mind, their group finally stepped into the forest.

"Okay, all of you, stay alert. We are tackling a major danger here."

"If we fail to resolve this, the future of Porac City might be… compromised."

Hearing that, the already serious atmosphere turned more solemn.

Next, Director Gil turned his head to face Kyson and said, "Adventurer Kyson, I will have to ask you to lead the way from here on."

Kyson nodded, "Since that's the purpose of me being here, I have to do it. Let's go."

Kyson still walked beside Director Gil. But this time, he is the one dictating where they are going.

After walking for a while, they smoothly arrived at the location where the tree grew denser and the contaminated trees started to appear.

Seeing the trees filled with black spots, Director Gil has a deep frown as he said, "It really is demonic energy…"

Then he lowered his head and muttered to himself, "They didn't say that it would appear this fast. Are the demons already making a move?"

Kyson heard those words drift off to his ears, but he remained silent.

In situations like this, it is much better to keep quiet instead of saying something unnecessary.

Director Gil raised his head back and looked at the trees spotted with black.

"So now we have to go through this path, right?"

Nodding, Kyson said, "That's right, Director. And as I've said before, coming into contact with it might cause some negative reactions so…"

Kyson didn't finish his words, but his meaning is apparent.

He just wants to ask how Director Gil and the task force members will avoid hitting those contaminated parts.

Understanding that, Director Gil said, "You don't have to worry about us. We came here prepared."

Facing the task force, he ordered, "Everyone, take the Golden Bell Potion immediately!"

Like programmed robots, the task force moved in unison and took out a vial with yellow potion from a pocket of their armor.

Without hesitation, they took off the cap and chugged it down.

Similarly, Director Gil also took out the same potion and poured it down his throat.

A second later, a soft golden glow showed on their skin.

Like being sheltered by the golden bell from all the negative energy around them, all of them suddenly felt secured and confident.

After doing all this, Director Gil said, "We're now ready. We can continue and those things should not be able to contaminate us."

Kyson stared at them, looking a little listless.

Then he pointed at himself and asked, "Uhm, how about me, Director? Don't I have one?"

Director Gil suddenly froze.

The authoritative energy around him seems to diminish a little.

Then, an embarrassed look spread on his face.

"This… actually, we forgot about it. We only prepared enough for ourselves."

"After all, we thought that you have your own means…"

Kyson stared at him for a while then nodded.

"That's alright."

After saying that, he stopped talking about it.

"Since everyone is now ready, let's go ahead and continue moving."

At Kyson's urging, the group walked through the dense woods while still remaining careful.

Kyson already casted Qi Protection on himself after seeing that he wasn't given a potion.

Unlike before, Kyson only needed to silently chant its name in his head to cast it.

That is thanks to it being registered as a skill.

Anything that's registered as a skill can be casted more easily with the help of the Gaia System.

Anyway, Kyson and his group rushed forward, but it didn't take long for them to suddenly stop.

"Halt!"

Director Gil suddenly ordered everyone to stop and they just stood there on the spot.

However, all eyes are looking in front of them, at the black miasma floating in the air.

A grave look covered Director Gil's face after seeing that.

Even Kyson, looking at the miasma, his face looks dark.

At this time, Director Gil opened his mouth and said, "Adventurer Kyson, I just want to confirm something with you. Are we near the cave you mentioned?"

Kyson shook his head and straight up said, "Unfortunately, Director, we're not. The cave is still about more than a kilometer away."

With just that short exchange, a dark atmosphere loomed over the group.

After seeing that everyone remained silent, Kyson couldn't help but ask, "So, Director… What are we going to do now?"

Director Gil didn't immediately answer his question.

Instead, his eyes remained on the miasma for a while before he said, "We will continue moving. Since the miasma has already spread up to here, we need to take action."

"If we delay it any longer, it might really cover the whole Batalan Forest, making the situation worse."

At this time, Dirfrontline is thinking about the words that the higher-ups told him before he left.

'No matter what, suppress the demonic miasma from spreading. Only by doing that can we keep the Batalan Forest.'

'If not… demons will use it to establish their own camp here in our world.'

Those words meant one thing. The mission they are conducting right now is very critical to the safety of the whole city, maybe even of the world.

So right now, they can't fall back. They are now the one who'll fight at the frontlines.

He already briefed every member of the task force, so when they heard his words, they didn't show any reaction.

On the other hand, Kyson can't help but show admiration towards them.

'These guys are really duty-bound personnel…' he thought.

But despite his admiration, he still needs to ask something that he's concerned about.

"Director, do you have a way to get rid of this miasma?"

After all, their purpose here is to resolve the miasma.

If they are just going there without even a solution, aren't they just delivering themselves to their death?

At his words, Director Gil nodded and took out a rectangular crystal from his pocket.

On the surface of it, multiple inscriptions of unknown origin are written.

Showing it to him, Director Gil said, "This thing is called a Purification Crystal. It is an item from the Famigcia made by a Spell Master, a profession from their world."

"Based on the information we have, the cave you went to is called a demonic cave. Its purpose is simple. To become the cradle for demons who will rise up to the surface, our world."

Kyson listened carefully and was surprised at the new information he heard.

Director Gil continued, "Demonic caves usually have a central core which is the source of the demonic energy."

"From what you have just reported, the central core of the demonic cave you went to is the crystal at the settlement of the goblins."

"Now, all he has to do is place this Purification Crystal to that central core to purify all the demonic energy around."

"For us, that is the only way to resolve this situation."

At the end of his words, Director Gil's stern face became even more serious.

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