Chapter 36: Culling the whispers of our minds.

As the fire subsided, I surveyed the aftermath. The once-menacing floral abominations now lay lifeless, their sunflower-like skulls extinguished, leaving only scorched earth and charred remnants. As I caught my breath, I couldn't help but wonder about the origin of these horrific creatures and the dark forces that had twisted them into such grotesque monstrosities. With a heart still pounding, I realized that there was much more to uncover in the shadowy depths of this enigmatic world…are there more lurking in the shadows? As I turn to my other bodies I learn that they were also subjected to similar fates. We were at the time surrounded by such hideous creatures… I'm glad we made it out alive, we never fought anything with magic up to this point so this was a good learning experience.

The encounter with the macabre floral creatures had left us shaken, our fungal forms still tingling from the remnants of the flames that had engulfed us. Master Shikan observed from a distance, his expression stoic, acknowledging our triumph over this unexpected magical threat.

We begin to use our Regenerative Growth skill to heal ourselves. I silently started absorbing the creature using my hyphae, gaining one biomass in the process.

As we regrouped, His Elegance, Captain, and Zenmaster shared their experiences, each recounting the harrowing struggle against the sinister floral entities. Their descriptions painted a vivid picture of the twisted magic that fueled these creatures, leaving us with a newfound respect for the dangers that lurked beyond the safety of the dojo.

We quickly examined the bodies for cores. Finding four in total, they passed them over to me.

[Would you like to reinforce your core or reconstitute the monsters?]

I quietly ingested them all leaving nothing behind. My core is now going from a 16 oz bottle to well over a gallon in size, possibly even two if i did my calculations correctly.

Master Shikan approached, his eyes reflecting both approval and a hint of concern. "You have faced the influence of dark magic," he remarked, his voice calm yet filled with seriousness. "These creatures are twisted by forces beyond the natural order. It is a reminder that our journey is fraught with unknown perils."

He continued, "Magic is a realm that extends far beyond the physical. You must learn to adapt and overcome. Seek mastery not only in martial skills but in the understanding and manipulation of the mystical energies that flow through this world."

With his words lingering in the air, we nodded in acknowledgment. The encounter had indeed opened our eyes to the broader spectrum of challenges we would face. Magic, it seemed, was an integral part of this world, and we needed to adapt quickly to navigate its complexities.