Kaiden and Naō entered the Evergrove Forest, the thick canopy overhead filtering the golden sunlight into streaks of green. The air was damp with the scent of moss and fresh earth, and the rustle of leaves and the chitter of monsters filled the air. Unlike the outskirts of Sunveil, this place was brimming with monsters lurking in the shadows, waiting for unsuspecting prey.
Naō adjusted the straps of his satchel and turned to Kaiden. “I have three antidotes stocked up,” he mentioned, eyeing some of the more ominous plant-like creatures shifting in the distance. “Something tells me we’ll need them.”
Kaiden exhaled in relief. “Good to know. Let’s be careful.”
They ventured deeper into the forest, keeping their eyes on the quest marker leading them to their target. As they walked, the trees seemed to close in, their gnarled roots twisting around the damp soil. The feeling of being watched was constant.
It wasn’t long before hostile monsters blocked their path. A [Venomvine Crawler (Level 4)] A writhing mass of vines with thorned tendrils dripping a toxic substance. [Sicklepetal (Level 3)] A razor-edged flower that moved in unpredictable bursts, attempting to slash at its prey. And a [Hollow Husk (Level 4)], a decayed plant with a gaping maw that exhaled poisonous spores.
Naō went on the defensive. “Yeah, I was right. Those things are definitely poisonous.”
“It’s what we signed up for,” Kaiden said, twirling his scythe in preparation. “We’ll just have to be extra cautious.”
Kaiden rushed in first, slicing at the Sicklepetal, its razor-thin petals shrieking as he tore through its Cells [-20 RPD]. Naō hurled a Toxic Mist vial at the Venomvine Crawler, but his HUD flashed:
[Ineffective: Target is Immune]
“Figures,” Naō groaned, switching tactics. He quickly threw a Vital Sap vial at Kaiden [+10 LP], ensuring his partner could keep up the pressure.
The Hollow Husk exhaled a cloud of noxious gas, enveloping the battlefield [Poison Effect: -3 LP per second]. Within seconds, Naō felt the effect seeping into his system [-3 LP]. Wincing, he quickly grabbed an antidote and used it on himself.
Kaiden fought through the haze, hacking away at the Sicklepetal’s Stem [-40 LP], watching it disintegrate into pixels [Experience Gained: 18]. Naō followed up by tossing an explosive concoction at the Venomvine Crawler, cracking its Cells [-25 RPD].
After an intense battle, the creatures were defeated, though both players were left winded.
Kaiden’s HUD flashed:
[Level Up!]
Level: 4
LP: 150/150
AP: 80/80
ATK: 26
DEF: 18
DEX: 17
AGL: 30
INT: 14
WIS: 12
“Not bad,” Kaiden commented, stretching his arms. “But we’re out of antidotes.”
“Yeah,” Naō agreed, checking his inventory. “Let’s make sure we don’t take any more poison damage.”
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They pressed forward, reaching the area marked by their quest indicator. In the clearing ahead, their target lurked a Snareweed Sprout (Level 5), a massive, lumbering plant-based creature with a thick fungal hide and glowing sacs filled with toxic spores.
Kaiden propped his scythe on his shoulder. He let out a grumbled annoyance. “Well, that name’s deceiving.”
The Snareweed Sprouts spewed poison clouds, and even with Naō’s efforts, he could only heal one of them at a time. Kaiden relied on Naō’s new defensive skill, which slightly reduced damage taken, but the poison’s DOT effect steadily drained his LP.
Then, things got worse. Kaiden’s HUD flashed red, an alert overriding his vision:
[Warning: Heart rate levels dangerously high]
[System shutdown in 5 seconds]
Kaiden’s breathing hitched. “Naō, my headset’s forcing a logout.”
Naō’s eyes widened. “What? Why? We’re fine.”
Kaiden gritted his teeth as the system countdown began.
5...
The Snareweed Sprouts roared, slamming a massive limb down toward him.
4...
Naō threw another Vital Sap at Kaiden [+10 LP].
3...
Kaiden tried to brace himself, but the force sent him staggering [-25 LP].
2...
Naō was already trying to get to him, but the monster had them cornered.
1...
And then… nothing happened.
The game didn’t log him out.
“What the–?” Kaiden furrowed his brows in confusion.
Suddenly, the Snareweed Sprouts' aggression spiked; a flaring red aura enveloped the monster. Its attacks now deal more damage [-30 LP]. Kaiden clenched his jaw. “It’s like it knows I was supposed to log out...”
Naō tried to keep up with the amount of damage that it was doing to Kaiden’s LP, but he couldn’t keep up.
Just as things started to look dire, a new figure entered the fray.
A Level 4 Guardener, clad in reinforced armor, charged into battle.
Player Name: Ironstride
She tossed a potion and an antidote to Kaiden, restoring his LP and clearing his Poisoned Status. “Stay up.”
Kaiden coughed. “Thanks.”
She attempted to taunt the Snareweed Sprouts, but they resisted her skill. “What the—? It’s ignoring my aggro!”
Kaiden’s HUD blinked; his PhotoSphere was glowing. [Activate item? Y/N] appeared, but he refused. Instead, he steeled himself, choosing to rely on Naō and Ironstride to finish the fight.
After a final, coordinated assault, they defeated the Snareweed Sprouts and secured the Tether Seeds.
[10/10 Tether Seeds Collected]
Kaiden’s level-up notification chimed, and a new skill was unlocked, but he barely paid attention, his mind racing over what just happened. Kaiden and Naō thanked the Guardener for her assistance, but she crossed her arms. “No need. It was just easier to take down a monster that was already weakened,” she stated flatly. “No point in making things harder by spawning a fresh one.”
Kaiden raised a brow. “You could just say ‘you’re welcome.’”
Ironstride shrugged. “I didn’t do it out of kindness. Just efficiency.”
The tension was cut short when a frantic-looking NPC Farmer ran toward them, waving his hands wildly. “Wait! Please, you have to listen to me. The Farmer in town, he’s deceiving you.”
Naō frowned. “What?”
The Farmer caught his breath before pointing toward the seeds in their inventory. “Those seeds, he only wants them to copy my work. He’s been sending Dayslayers out here to gather the seeds, but they're part of my recipe for sustainable crops, not his. He’s using you all to steal my formula. You have to believe me!”
Kaiden narrowed his eyes. “And you just happened to show up now? Right after we got the seeds?”
Ironstride tilted her head. “What do I get if I hand them over?”
“Triple your current coin,” the Farmer promised.
Without hesitation, Ironstride accepted the deal, completing her quest. She frowned. “Strange. I figured there’d be a follow-up quest...”
Naō whispered to Kaiden. “That guy showed up way too conveniently. I think he’s lying.”
Kaiden nodded, gripping the seeds in his inventory. “We’re taking ours back to the original Farmer.”
Ironstride shrugged and walked off, leaving them alone.
Kaiden let out a breath, still rattled from the fight, as his eyes lingered on the inactive PhotoSphere.
What the hell just happened?
