Forest Dungeon Part 1: Finding the River

The two men strolled leisurely through the thick, verdant forest, their every step punctuated by the sound of crunching leaves and snapping twigs underfoot. The gentle breeze wafted through the trees, rustling the leaves and causing dappled sunlight to dance across the forest floor. The air was rich with the sweet, earthy scent of the forest, and the melodious sounds of birds singing in the canopy above. It was a tranquil, idyllic scene, one that filled Garcis with a sense of contentment he hadn't felt in years.

As the two men walked, Garcis turned to Siverra with a playful grin on his face. "So, why do you think there are mana crystals in monsters?" he asked, his tone light and joking. But Siverra's expression remained serious, lost deep in thought.

"I have a few theories," he replied, his voice tinged with contemplation. "One of them is that the monsters hold mana there, perhaps consciousness or spirit. Another, more outlandish theory, is that monsters are just humans, and their souls are being kept in the crystals." Siverra had been pondering this question for a long time, even though he himself was a monster, he did not have the answer.

Garcis chuckled nervously at the second theory. "That's a little creepy," he said before quickly changing the subject, his curiosity piqued. "Well, what god do you believe in?"

Siverra hesitated for a moment before replying, "Hmm, I haven't really decided yet." He did not want to reveal his faith in the God of Chaos, nor did he know many other choices.

"For me, it's Dwela, the Goddess of Life," Garcis answered with a wistful sigh, his smile fading as he remembered his past. "I see," Siverra replied softly. "Do you mind helping me find one that fits me?"

Garcis nodded thoughtfully. "We can do a test later once we set up camp," he said, changing the direction of their path abruptly.

Siverra eyed him cautiously. "Where are we going? This isn't the way to the core," he said warily.

"I've got something I'd like to show you," Garcis said, a glint of excitement in his eye. He darted towards some bushes and pushed them aside, striding ahead with a quick pace, occasionally glancing back to make sure Siverra was following him. Finally, they reached their destination, and Siverra stood in awe at what he saw.

"What... what is that?" he stammered, his words failing him. The river before him wasn't water, but mana! It was a flowing stream of mana!

"The continent is leaking, and the mana all leads down here. We think there's a type of beast that is causing these leaks by repeatedly attempting to fuse with every Dungeon Heart in the area," Garcis explained, his eyes locked onto Siverra's. "I'm showing you this because not only do I trust you, but if you hear or see anything strange, or sense a large amount of mana..."

"Understood," Siverra interrupted, turning to walk back. "Let's begin leveling. Don't worry, I'll keep it in mind."

As they walked, Siverra's mind raced with ideas. 'I need that river... if I had that overflowing mana river for the cultivators... their strength would peak!' he thought, his mind already formulating a plan. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he was determined to make it happen.