Deep within the Third Zone, the air is thick with the scent of damp earth and spores. Pale, bioluminescent fungi pulse dimly, casting eerie green glows across the cavernous expanse. Myconid Workers toil relentlessly, their slow, rhythmic movements betraying no emotion as they scrape at the fungal masses clinging to the cavern walls, extracting raw mana to be funneled into the artifact at the heart of it all.

  Orbed stands tall beside the artifact, their imposing form radiating authority. Their broad, ridged cap extends into branching fungal protrusions that resemble antlers, giving them an air of unnatural grandeur. The steady green glow of their eyes matches the pulsating luminescence of the jagged stone before them—a crystalline shard of unknown origin, its edges sharp and uneven, radiating with concentrated mana.

  By their side, two figures wait in silence.

  Thalreek, a Myconid Sporecaster, stands rigid, their spore-laced appendages curling ever so slightly as they prepare to deliver their report. Their body is draped in a thin layer of bioluminescent spores, the faint glow shifting as they move.

  Yelinod, the Myconid Sage, once a trusted subordinate under Ypal, now serves reluctantly under Orbed. Their body is slimmer, their cap elongated and streaked with deep grooves, marks of age and wisdom. Their posture is careful, as though measuring every word before speaking.

  Orbed's voice cuts through the ambient hum of the cavern, calm but edged with expectation.

  "Report."

  Thalreek steps forward, speaking with practiced precision. "The mana cultivation progresses well. The artifact's absorption rate has increased by seven percent since our last assessment. If we continue at this pace, we will reach optimal capacity within a matter of days."

  Orbed nods once, their gaze never leaving the glowing stone. "Acceptable. Ensure there are no interruptions. Any irregularities in the flow?"

  "None."

  A moment of silence passes before Orbed shifts their attention to Yelinod. The Sage bows slightly before speaking.

  "The search for Sporehavens has been... problematic." Yelinod hesitates for the briefest of moments before continuing. "We were unable to capture Ypal’s subordinate. Our forces were intercepted."

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  Orbed turns their full attention to Yelinod, their glowing eyes narrowing. "By whom?"

  Yelinod’s tone tightens. "A group of caterpillars. And a wolf."

  A flicker of something unreadable passes through Orbed’s expression, but they remain silent, allowing Yelinod to continue.

  "The squad was almost entirely wiped out. Only a single Myconid returned, barely clinging to life. They reported that the attackers moved with unnatural coordination, displaying abilities beyond what we had accounted for."

  Orbed exhales slowly, their fungal protrusions shifting slightly. Their expression remains unreadable, but the weight of their presence darkens the chamber.

  "A failure," they state, their tone carrying no anger, only a cold finality. "And yet, a lesson. They have revealed themselves. We now know what stands against us."

  They glance once more at the artifact, watching as the raw mana pulses within.

  "No more mistakes. The next move will be ours."

  Yelinod shifts uneasily before continuing, their voice measured but tinged with unease. “That was no mere group of random caterpillars, Orbed. They were protecting Ypal’s subordinate. Among them stood a Royal Caterpillar, leading the brood, and the wolf pup… It was not just some stray. It fought alongside them. More than that—one of the caterpillars fought beside it as if it was one of their own.”

  Orbed’s gaze darkens, their glowing green eyes narrowing. “Irregularities. How unpleasant.”

  Silence falls over the chamber, the steady hum of mana flowing into the artifact the only sound. Orbed remains still, their fungal protrusions curling ever so slightly in thought before they speak again.

  "Royal Caterpillars fighting for Ypal is no strange event.” Their voice is steady, detached, as if recalling a bitter truth. “Our fool of an Emperor crafted a contract—a peace agreement with the Moth Queens—to keep their broods from interfering with our domain. Ypal’s subordinate must have informed them that the Emperor is dead and offered them a new agreement. Again, it wouldn’t be the first time one of the Moth Queens' bothersome spawn meddled in our plans—and it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve had to capture or even kill one, either.”

  They exhale slowly, their gaze returning to the artifact, watching its jagged edges pulse with the raw energy of cultivated mana.

  “But the wolf pup…” Their voice lingers on the words, their tone now carrying a note of genuine intrigue. “That is strange. I have never seen a wolf walk among caterpillars in my life.”

  Orbed’s ridged cap tilts slightly as they process the information, then they speak with cold authority. “If irregularities have presented themselves, then we must adjust accordingly. Reinforce our forces and tighten our defenses. We are not to be caught off guard again.”

  A deep hum rumbles from them, resonating through the chamber like a pulse of command. As if summoned by the very sound, a figure steps forward from the dimly lit corridors—a Myconid wreathed in faintly flickering embers.

  Yyshad, a Myconid Pyrocap, stands apart from the others, their fungal body bearing dark scorch marks where heat pulses from within. Their cap, irregular and lined with jagged vents, releases wisps of smoke with each movement. Their glowing orange eyes flicker with an internal flame, their presence bringing with it the scent of smoldering spores.

  Orbed turns to Yelinod, their expression unreadable but their tone sharp. “The squad we sent to intercept was merely a group of Workers. Now that we know what we are facing, we must respond accordingly. Take Yyshad with you, use them however you want and don't fail me.”

  Yelinod bows their cap slightly, while Yyshad lets out a low, crackling breath, their ember-lit gaze glinting with something akin to anticipation.

  Without another word, the two depart into the depths of the fungal domain, leaving Orbed alone with the artifact’s pulsating glow. They watch the jagged green stone, the flow of mana within it swirling like a storm contained.

  Their gaze narrows. “Let us see how long these irregularities last.”

  End of Interlude