I slowly approached the woman.
Pitter. Patter.
The sound grew louder and clearer. I didn't need to see her face to know—I was in serious danger.
What I thought was water dripping turned out to be blood. Human, most likely.
The red of her traditional clothing wasn't dyed fabric. It was soaked in dried blood, sticky and dark. Her elaborate head accessories? Human bones, delicately arranged like art. A silent horror.
I covered my mouth, barely daring to breathe as I took a careful step back.
That was when she lifted her head.
Blood dripped from her lips as she smiled, her pale fingers gripping a burnt, half-melted human corpse. My eyes froze on the charred body… then drifted to her smile.
A smile too beautiful to be human.
"Since you're busy," I whispered, "I'll come back later. Ciao."
And I turned and ran like hell.
The body dropped to the floor with a sickening thud, and the woman transformed mid-chase—her beauty vanishing into a twisted abomination. An ugly thing with too many joints, too many bones that cracked the wrong way. Her jaw unhinged like a snake's, revealing a gaping maw lined with rows of jagged teeth.
Swish!
Darts flew from her mouth, whistling through the air.
"Are you serious?!" I ducked, but she was too fast. The darts grazed my arms and legs.
Gah!
[Warning! You have been inflicted with burn. The burn effect will decrease your HP slowly.]
The moment the darts touched my skin, it felt like my entire arm was being roasted alive.
"Dammit…!"
I gritted my teeth and kept running. Even with 'Dash', she was catching up—but then, salvation. An open door up ahead.
No thinking. I dove inside and slammed it shut behind me.
I collapsed to the floor, chest heaving. "Oui… My heart's doing overtime here, I swear."
[Congratulations! You have survived the boss of World of Dreams: Lady Lashka. Due to your enemy's level difference, you are given extra EXP.]
[You and your teammates have leveled up to Level 37!]
[Skill level up: Dodge LV 7 → 8, Dash LV 5 → 6]
"Just surviving gave me two levels? What the hell was that monster's level…"
I stood up and looked around the room I'd landed in. It looked safe. "So... where the hell am I now?"
There were no obvious signs, no indicators, no glowing paths.
I picked a direction. "Guess I'll go straight."
A few steps in, the blue screen popped up.
[Congratulations! You have gained a permanent debuff: 'Incurable Terrible Sense of Direction Disease'.]
"…You're kidding me."
[Unfortunately, no doctor can cure such a disease.]
"Stop screwing with me and just tell me where to go!"
The screen casually pointed left.
"…You could have done that earlier."
I followed the screen's direction with a deadpan stare.
After a long, exhausting walk, I finally reached what looked like a safe zone.
[HP and MP fully recovered.]
[Congratulations, you have FINALLY reached the resting area.]
I ignored the sarcasm and headed to the campfire. Isaac and Rona looked up. Rona sprinted toward me.
"Lil! You're not dead!" She jumped on me like a cannonball.
"Rona, OFF! You're breaking my back!"
"Nuuuuu." She clung tighter.
I carried her over to the camp, wheezing.
"You got here just in time." Isaac was calmly roasting boar meat over a fire.
The scent alone made me tear up. I collapsed near the fire and took a bite.
Juicy. Tender. Absolutely divine.
"This is amazing. So worth the pain."
"Told you." Isaac smirked. "We're lucky we got it. Boars like that are almost extinct."
"Found it, killed it, and ate it. With all my blood, sweat, and tears."
Rona's face was a mess of grease and happiness. "Thanks, Lil!"
Isaac looked at me seriously. "By the way… what was that tremor earlier? You felt it too, right?"
I wiped my mouth. "Long story."
"We've got time."
"Story! Tell!" Rona raised her arms like a child asking for candy.
I sighed and told them everything—about the boar, the mimics, the 999 treasure chests (of which only five were real), and the woman from the World of Dreams.
Isaac blinked slowly. "You… really have the worst luck I've ever seen."
"You don't have to say it twice, shorty."
I looked over. "Rona? You good?"
She was staring at something, drooling slightly. "Is that bone edible?"
"Rona, that's a human bone."
"I know. So, is it?"
I took the bone out of my inventory and tossed it to her. "You can try."
She chewed it. "No taste…"
Isaac sighed and took it away from her. "Anyway, this team system is busted. I did nothing and still hit Level 37."
"That's because I nearly died, multiple times. How's it feel being carried?"
"Fantastic."
We stood up to continue.
[Congratulations! You have passed the 2nd stage. Welcome to the 3rd and final stage.]
"Oui… finally. How long did this take?"
"You mean you took."
"Wanna die?"
[For the third stage, only one of you may enter. If the person fails, the entire team will receive the Death Penalty.]
"…What kind of death game nonsense is this?"
"No hints?" Isaac asked.
[No.]
"Cheapskates."
"Guess we're picking you, Llyne."
"…Excuse me?"
"You've got plot armor."
"What does that even mean, you rat?"
Isaac pointed at the screen. "Llyne, it is."
"I didn't agree!"
"Good luck!" Rona cast Merry Go Lucky! on me.
"…Traitor."
A door appeared.
[Stage 3 has been constructed. Please enter through this door, player Llyne.]
"Why is it always a door…"
"We'll be watching," Isaac said.
A screen appeared beside them, showing a feed of me.
"You got this!" Rona cheered.
I took a deep breath and pushed the door open. Blinding light poured out.
"Okay, tone it down, please."
I entered. The brightness faded, replaced by flickering torchlight lining an old stone corridor.
I touched the walls. They were cold and lifeless—just stone bricks. I grabbed a torch and moved forward.
This place reminds me of an underground castle in those stories.
I walked cautiously, watching for traps.
They should really add some moss. Maybe a cobweb. Too clean.
Then, a breeze.
I followed it and found a stairway.
Ugh, more stairs. Why is every trial trying to win an architecture award?
Clack. Clack. Clack.
At the top, I saw a towering man. I flinched. "Oui… busted."
I raised my hands to surrender… but he didn't move.
I stepped closer.
"…It's just a painting?"
It was masterfully done—so real it felt like the eyes were watching me. The man radiated power. Regal. Intimidating.
"All hail the King, huh?"
I glanced around. More portraits—men and women in lavish clothing, all with that same commanding presence.
"A royal family gallery… am I in the royal castle or something?"
More questions than answers. But one thing was certain: the boss was here.
If I failed… Isaac and Rona would die.
The boss isn't the King… right?
I let out a nervous laugh. "Hopefully not."
I scratched my head. "Where's the throne room?"
I decided to walk down the hall.
"Maybe someone here can give directions… preferably someone who won't stab me on sight."