"This distance is safe, no need to run."
I signaled the others to stop as I looked around us.
We were at the edge of a dense forest—well, you could call it a forest if thousands of trees were all dead and gray mean forest.
"It seems we have no choice but to enter the forest. You must be careful—who knows what might attack us."
The two agreed with my words, and we quietly entered the forest.
The broken tree trunks and branches littered the ground, making it difficult to walk.
Crack!
I turned toward the sound and found Ronan had stepped on a trunk and broken it.
"S-sorry."
He apologized nervously when he saw me staring at him.
"Be careful, we don't want the monsters to hear us."
I warned him, and we continued on our way.
"This situation is really strange. These trees are incredibly solid, even though they've been dead for hundreds of years," Elena said as she tapped a tree lightly.
"We're in the Abyss World, girl—everything is strange here."
After walking for another hour, we stopped when I saw an open space ahead.
"It's a lake… no, it's become a foul swamp."
Before us was a large lake, its water blackened and thickened, with broken trunks, branches, and rotting green moss floating on it. In the middle of the lake stood a massive dead tree, taller than the rest.
"The stench is unbearable—it makes me want to vomit."
Elena complained, covering her nose to block the smell.
"Stop acting like a little girl and watch the surroundings. Who knows what's lurking around."
I scolded her and refocused on the environment.
"Guys… I might be wrong, but isn't that a human?"
Ronan pointed fearfully toward the middle of the tree, where a person lay unconscious, as if the tree itself had swallowed them.
"She's one of those who entered with us—if I'm not mistaken, her name is Riana."
Elena said, summoning her sword and taking a combat stance.
Ronan and I also readied ourselves for battle.
"Be careful, especially of the water and the tree. It seems to be a monster itself."
I warned as I summoned a spear of darkness and hurled it toward the tree.
The moment the spear neared, a massive root shot out of the ground, smashed the spear, and shattered it.
"Great—first a flower, now a tree. Are all the enemies here some kind of plant?"
I mocked our current situation with a tense smile, thinking through our options.
"Nox, this tree doesn't have flowers—doesn't that mean it isn't under her control?"
Ronan said, summoning shurikens of wind spinning around him, ready to attack at any moment.
"You're right, but be careful. Who knows if other monsters will appear."
I said this as I rushed forward—we needed to get closer quickly.
Dozens of roots burst from the ground, writhing like snakes.
One root lunged forward, crossing the distance between us with incredible speed.
It's way too fast.
I thought as I leapt into the air, dodging the root, then dashed along its length at full speed.
"Stupid tree, now I have the advan—!!"
Before I could finish mocking, the root whipped like a lash, flinging me high into the air.
"Tch, at least let me finish my sentence."
Another root attacked me mid-air, but Ronan's wind shuriken sliced it apart before it reached me.
What do I do? My bones will shatter if I fall.
I thought, watching the ground rush closer.
Before impact, I swung my darkness-coated sword, releasing a slash of shadow at the ground.
The force of the strike slowed my fall, softening the impact.
I tumbled across the dirt before stabbing my sword into the ground, anchoring myself.
Back at the battlefield, Elena conjured beams of light and fired them at the tree.
But its roots quickly merged into a massive wall, blocking the incoming attacks.
"Damn it—if it didn't have a hostage, I'd blast it with my sun."
Elena cursed as she swung her sword, cutting down another root that lunged at her.
"Nox! Do you have a plan?"
She shouted while fending off the endless, regenerating roots.
"We need to reach the tree itself, or our attacks will be pointless."
I said, hurrying to Ronan's side.
Slash! I cut down a root that nearly ambushed him from behind.
"Thanks."
Ronan said, then waved his hand, sending three shurikens forward that shredded the roots ahead.
"Save your thanks for later. Can you launch me toward the tree?"
I conjured a wall of darkness so we could talk safely.
"Yes, I can—but are you sure about this?"
Ronan hesitated—it was dangerous for one person to enter the nest of roots.
"Just do as I say."
Ronan gave in, summoning a whirlwind of wind.
I felt its pull dragging me in, then jumped upward, entering the cyclone's heart.
The instant I did, the whirlwind tilted forward, ready to launch me.
The tree seemed to realize my intent—dozens of roots surged toward me, trying to intercept. But a massive beam of light obliterated them, clearing my path.
Ronan didn't waste the chance—he hurled me forward with full force.
Just a little more.
I thought as I closed in on the tree, but my hopes shattered when two massive roots rose from the foul swamp and coiled around me.
This tree… it planned this from the start.
I cursed as I was dragged into the vile water, sinking fast.
"Nox!!"
Elena screamed in fear as she saw me swallowed completely by the swamp.
Damn it—I can't see anything.
I cursed, crushed by the tightening roots. My mouth opened from the pain, letting water flood my lungs, choking me.
You bastard—I won't die, no matter what you try!
I roared, cloaking myself in darkness and unleashing it outward as countless spikes.
The roots shredded apart, finally giving me room to move.
I swam upward with all my strength—only a fool would try to fight underwater.
Breaking the surface, I saw the roots—now even more numerous—closing in on both Ronan and Elena, who was furious after I'd been dragged under.
Taking advantage of the distraction, I formed four shadowy arms from my back, pulling myself rapidly toward the tree.
Reaching it, I swung my sword and slashed its trunk. The wound was shallow compared to its enormous size,
The tree shuddered violently, lashing out in all directions.
"Taste a little pain like the pain you gave me!"
I sneered, delivering another slash.
It convulsed harder, and the ground beneath me began to quake violently.
I leapt back just in time as a root burst upward, trying to impale me.
The earth crumbled as countless roots erupted, embedding themselves deep into the soil—lifting the massive tree high into the air.
"Damn it—it's standing!"
I cursed in disbelief, retreating fast. Only an idiot would stay near a walking tree.
"Nox! Are you alright?!"
Elena shouted behind me, her voice full of worry.
"Of course. Who do you think I am? That tree would need another hundred years before it could kill me."
I shot back with a mocking grin, then refocused on the towering tree now looming above us.
Before I could decide my next move, a faint, pain-filled voice reached my ears.
[It hurts! It hurts so much… please… help me.]
....