GameDev Reincarnated into His Own Creation

Vol 2 - Chapter 29.3: Stack Overflow

"This will prevent anyone from hearing us," Voss explained.

Vel wasn't surprised—Eliander was a follower of Morya, God of Resonance. Sound manipulation would be within his domain.

Vel hesitated. What he was about to reveal would incite questions, but his sister would be in danger if he said nothing.

"I know she was assigned to visit a village in the north, to investigate a strange illness," Vel said. "She told me that much, but..." He paused, choosing his next words carefully.

"It's not an illness."

Vel's gaze swept across the five students gathered around the table. So young. So eager to discuss connections and favors, weighing each opportunity for advancement, unaware that real darkness was already stirring in the north. Soon enough, they would inherit a world where such calculations meant life or death.

But the blame belonged to him alone. The monster hunting his sister had crawled from the depths of his own imagination.

"The villagers have been turned into husk-like creatures, devoid of life," Vel said, watching their reactions carefully.

The student wearing Tir's emblem—Alina—sucked in a sharp breath. "No... that can't be right." She pressed her fingers against the table, steadying herself.

The others turned toward her immediately. Voss leaned forward with interest.

"Alina? You recognize this?"

She shook her head quickly, but her voice wavered. "It's just... whispers among Tir followers, vague warnings from the seer network, reports from travelers returning from the north. Incidents that match what you're describing. But they're dismissed as scattered rumors—"

"They're not stories," Vel interrupted quietly. "I know what caused this."

"What is it that you know?" Voss pressed, his scholarly curiosity fully engaged.

Vel took a deep breath. "Alukah."

Alina paled further, her worst fears confirmed. Most of the other students looked confused, but one—a girl with flowing green robes and intertwined leaf patterns on her stole-like feature—gasped audibly.

"Alukah?" she whispered. "The Devourer of Essence?"

The others turned between Alina and Ravena in surprise.

"Both of you know of this creature?" Voss questioned.

Ravena nodded. "It's in the oldest texts of Jules's temple. A corruption that feeds on life itself, turning the living into husks."

Vel leaned forward, his voice dropping even lower within Voss's sound barrier. The Circle members had drawn closer, hanging on his every word.

"Listen to me carefully—this isn't the Alukah from your texts anymore. Something's wrong with it. The husks should crumble to dust, but they're not. They're gathering, moving together like..." His voice cracked slightly. "It's building an army. And if I'm right about what's corrupted it..." He met each of their eyes. "It's been voidtainted."

The word sent a visible shudder through the group. Ravena leaned back in her chair as if physically struck.

"Voidtainted?" Voss repeated, his scholarly composure cracking slightly. "You're certain?"