---(ABOUT TEN MINUTES AGO)—
The Mining team had left the desolate world to the Raid team, a group of two Rank A members, a Rank C, and a Rank D.
Seeing the last miner (Pete) leave, they settled down for business.
"Okay! How far is the distance to this wasteland's core?" The leader, Ryker, a Fire Elemental Ni-user, asked.
"Approximately a few kilometers from where we stand," the second Rank A, Liza, replied, adjusting the pair of 'mad-scientist' goggles on her eyes. "With the short distance, I'm taking it that the Gate opened so close to the core—we should be done in less than five minutes."
She was the genius of the team—a Techno-magic Ni-user.
"G-Guys, pl-please, we need to mo-move as soon as possible. I don't like s-seeing the desolate wasteland and the wandering Corrupted souls," the Rank C, Diamond—the Healer Ni-user—said, clutching an old book to his chest.
With wobbly legs, the last member stepped forward. The D-rank, Finch, a low-level elemental Ni-user. His heart pounded loud enough to be heard in their midst.
"W-W-W-WHYYY?!" He yelled, stumbling backward with sweaty palms. Some of his spiky blonde hair stuck out wildly. "WHY A MODERATE-RISK GATE?!"
Ryker rolled his eyes before stating the reason. "We have zero time to contemplate! We got a good job alongside a beautiful pay! And, I care less even if we are going into the most dangerous Gate!" He looked at Finch with a wide grin. "I've battled mutant spiders, shadow demons, and spirit monsters—what's the worst that could ever happen? Right, Liza?"
In response, she only frowned, then replied. "You're so cocky! We shouldn't jump right to conclusions."
"Y-Yes, she's right!" Diamond chimed in, gaining everyone's attention. "Things don't go well when people boast—"
"Keep it quiet, you all!" Ryker snapped, interrupting Diamond, who clamped his mouth shut. "Liza! The direction?"
"North!" she replied, changing the lens of her goggles. "No odd energy, just the Corrupted... So... no monsters?"
She took off the goggles and placed them back on. Even in a Normal-Risk Gate, there should've been a spike in the readings... But now, it showed low magnitude in 'Gi.' The dark energy was at its lowest, she removed the goggles, missing a high spike in the reading, "Ryker, I think we—"
Ryker had already moved forward, with Finch right behind him, using his body as a shield.
Liza took a deep breath. "Diamond..."
"Y-Yes?"
"Let's go."
********
They passed through the valley of the crystallized red splash, taking every detail into consideration.
Just then, after taking the right path off the valley, the team found themselves in the forest of dry bones.
Liza readjusted her goggles before they approached a cave, an eerie feeling seeping out.
"The core is in there," she said.
Finch looked into the cave, then back at the forest. "Are you sure?"
Liza's eyes twitched, with a vein popping out.
"OF COURSE I AM SURE!" She stomped her foot against the ground, pointing at him. "OR WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY? THAT MY READINGS ARE WRONG? OR DO YOU WANT TO STAY BEHIND THIS TIME? AND LET US SHATTER THE CORE AND MEET YOU OUTSIDE, THEN WE CAN ALL GO HOME?!"
Finch weighed the decision.
He looked around the dead forest of dry bones, feeling the odd sensation of lingering death that had long stained the world. Every tree here had no branches—only trunks. And the ground itself had numerous bones, broken beyond recognition.
In the cave, however, was darkness. But going in with the group would be better. So...
"I choose the cave!" he said after weighing the scale.
Ryker, hearing his choice, smiled.
"That's the start of a courageous spirit!" he said to Finch before turning to face the entrance of the cave.
Opening his palm, Ryker produced a floating flame of burning fire. He was a Fire Elemental Ni-user—and a handy one when it came to lighting dark places.
With a torch in hand, the group trailed behind, entering the cave.
***
No sounds echoed except for the footsteps they took.
And every breath felt like a gust of wind—not from anyone, but Finch.
Ever since they had entered the cave, his wobbly movements had gotten far worse than before.
Fear swallowed his soul.
Diamond leaned closer. "H-Hey, Finch?.."
Finch jolted backward before realizing it was just the healer speaking.
"Oh, Diamond... I'm sure you are as rigid as your name says," he muttered, wiping his sweaty palms against the other, ignoring a piece of item in the distance.
"Oh no!" Diamond replied, tugging the old book tighter against his chest. "I am as scared as you are, but I try to keep my fear covered over the fact that we're on a mission!"
Liza spoke up from ahead, adding a few words. "And in every mission, we're family! No one is going to get hurt, and we'll make it out of here and enjoy that delicious milky sugary custard pie! Right, Ryker?"
"YES!" he replied, allowing the flame to float toward a dead core, its light already faded. "Guys! I think we've found the housing core of the drained Creator Key."
Liza watched him move closer. "Be careful," she warned, before turning back to the readings on her goggles' lens. Ever since they had entered into this world, she had the feeling... Something wasn't right.
Meanwhile, Ryker recreated another flame, this time shaping it into a sword.
Liza continued scanning the readings when she suddenly spotted a rapid spike in magnitude. She froze, then looked around, taking readings from every direction.
"Hey, erm… Liza…" Finch called out, already scared. "Is everything alright?"
Ryker on the other hand, held the sword high, shattering the dead core with one swipe of the blade.
"...No..." Liza replied to Finch. "Something IS WRONG!"
When Ryker heard this, he turned toward her, "Then, we should leave. Liza, core's destroyed. We should get moving before—," He blinked.
Before the blink, he had seen her body intact.
After the blink, her head was gone.