I suspect that the environment here started to change after the artifact core fragment fell. So far I haven't found out what power the fragment has, but I can tell that it is changing the creatures at the canyon.

The mutated ancient creatures that appear at Ancient Altar and Jotun Garden are proof enough.

I need you to defeat Furtive Kaisan or Corrupt Kaisan and then report back to Otar.

Player: Accept

Are you saying you killed Mutated Creature and obtained some kind of power that helped you in battle?

It looks as if the instable core fragment changed them, but the energy of the artifact didn't change itself.

We have to hurry and retrieve the artifact core fragment before the Elyos get to it.