The Dead Trees, once their roots had been severed, were nothing more than lifeless logs. If not for the grotesque faces still screaming on their trunks, one could easily mistake them for decaying remains in the Forest of the Dead.
"Dolly."
With a casual flick of his wrist, he called out to his tiny companion. His voice was indifferent, and his eyes—sharp as blades—continued scanning the battlefield.
The boss had yet to appear. Too slow. Suspicious.
"Kill."
A cold command.
Dolly appeared instantly. From her arm, a long, hollow sword materialized—its cold metallic gleam slicing through the shadows. She didn't ask questions, nor did she hesitate. Like a battle doll programmed for war, Dolly charged into the fray.
Her first slash struck the nearest monster. Despite its lack of resistance, the Dead Tree proved surprisingly resilient. It took real effort for Dolly to bring it down.
As it finally perished, a flash of green light burst around her.
Without missing a beat, she moved to the next. Her sword painted streaks of light in the air, cutting through silence with the sound of blades and shattering wood.
"Maybe I should get a tea set..." he muttered, arms crossed, watching her work.
"At least something to pass the time while waiting."
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ground suddenly trembled.
"There it is..."
From the earth, massive roots burst forth—each as thick as a grown man's arm, tipped with black thorns and dripping with oily sap. They skewered the surviving Dead Trees, tightened like punitive chains, and dragged them down underground.
Silence followed.
Only for ten seconds.
CRACK!
The ground split open. A colossal entity erupted from beneath—a massive tree that seemed to rise and tear the world apart with its emergence.
[King Dead Trees – Level 100]
It wasn't just a tree. It was the embodiment of a dead forest. Every step it took cracked the earth like thunder. Its decaying canopy swayed like matted hair, raining ash from brittle limbs.
Its body was a grotesque fusion of rotting wood, coiled roots, and anguished souls. A toxic mist reeking of decay rolled from its breath. With every movement came the sound of splintering nerves under the strain of a cursed soul.
It had only one eye—on its forehead—burning red, like a coal from the end of the world.
"[Wind Sword]"
He slashed. A blade of wind tore through the air, striking the monster squarely in the chest.
SLASH!
The wind cut deep. But even before the wound could settle, the wood healed instantly.
The cut vanished. As if it had never been there.
"Regeneration?"
Once the number of Dead Trees defeated exceeds a certain threshold, King Dead Trees – Level 100 appears, absorbing the remaining ones to restore its power.
He smirked.
"Let's try fire, then."
"[Fire Ball]...!"
A volley of fireballs shot out like cannon fire, without delay.
Only fire. And the will to burn everything.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions roared, lighting up the world red. Thick smoke billowed. The stench of burning wood filled the air.
King Dead Trees burned. At first, it resisted. Then... its bark turned red-hot, cracked, and exploded into chunks.
The flames clung to it like they had waited forever.
It howled, slamming itself to douse the fire. But the more it struggled, the wider the flames spread.
Ash rained down. Fire licked through branches and roots.
"Wood loses to fire, you idiot."
BOOM!
King Dead Trees collapsed. Its hands reached up in vain before its body disintegrated into glowing embers.
The ground still burned. From the ashes, a glowing item dropped. He walked over, reached into the dancing fire, and claimed it.
---
On the second floor of the Dungeon Forest.
A lone man in his fifties walked slowly among the thick trees. His hands were clasped behind his back, strolling like he was in his garden—not a monster-infested land.
He wore a black cloak embroidered with golden patterns, both flashy and dignified. His hair was immaculately styled. A glance was all it took to know this man held high status. Anyone who had met him before would never forget the impression:
Friendly, approachable, not arrogant, but absolutely formidable.
But do not be fooled by appearances.
Beneath the cloak was a scarred, muscular body—evidence of countless battles. His physique was not just strong; it was forged by ruthless discipline, brutal training, and years of survival on blood-soaked battlefields.
If Gen were here, he'd recognize him instantly: Aaron.
"This place... brings back memories."
Aaron murmured, taking in the gloomy air of the second forest floor.
Crunch... Crunch...
Rustling sounds from the bushes.
"Again?"
Aaron halted. Four small, thin figures jumped out to block his path.
Forest goblins—resembling underdeveloped Goblins. Big heads, thin limbs, green-gray skin. Wild, savage, primal. Long claws, twisted faces, and raspy laughter like dead leaves being crushed.
"More pests... I don't have time."
Aaron leaned forward.
His legs turned slightly to the side, as if warming up before a slow dance.
WHOOSH—!
A sharp wind screamed.
Before they could comprehend anything, the goblins were blown apart. Not a scream. Not a chance.
Aaron was already several meters away, untouched by the blood or gore.
He calmly dusted his cloak and walked on, as if he had stepped on dead leaves.
This journey—for his daughter, Celestia.
He knew: with just one hundred people, she wouldn't make it deep enough to rescue the princess and return alive.
Her limit would be the end of floor two.
Yet Aaron didn't stop her.
Because he knew. Some lessons can only be learned by falling.
He followed like a shadow. Quiet, hidden.
To ensure Celestia's safety. And to intervene only if needed.
Soon, the sounds of battle rang out deeper within the floor. Aaron picked up the pace. It didn't take long to find the battlefield.
Celestia was leading her troops, fighting two massive creatures blocking the path.
The situation was grim. Less than half her force remained. Casualties continued to rise.
The creatures resembled the Dead Trees Gen had faced. But they were only level 42 and lacked the mobile roots of their stronger kin.
Still, they were dangerous.
Instead of moving, they used whip-like branches—each up to three meters long—lashing at anything nearby. Each strike could shatter a heavily armored warrior. Had they been mobile, Celestia's team would have been wiped out long ago.
Behind her stood twenty other adventurers. None moved to help. They just watched.
"Do you think we can make it through? I mean..."
"Shh! Quiet."
"Huh? Why?"
"Look around. Everyone's tense as a drawn bow."
Two adventurers whispered. They were Lee's teammates, standing among the crowd, faces unsure.
Celestia turned back, furious.
"Don't you all want to pass?!"
"If we attack together, those two can't last!"
No one responded.
They exchanged glances and looked away.
Not out of cowardice.
But because they knew: beyond those two guardians... was the final room.
To enter it, they needed at least three level 50 adventurers.
Their strongest member was only level 46.
"They're not going to help," Lee muttered, about to step forward.
His teammates grabbed him. One bald one shook his head. "You're only level 30. You'd just be cannon fodder."
Lee clenched his teeth.
Meanwhile, Celestia held the line, struggling against the gatekeepers.
Despair crept in with every second.
Anatolia stood beside the battle line, quietly observing.
She sighed. Her eyes reflected exhaustion and resignation.
Her involvement was just fate's whim. But if she could grow stronger here, it was worth it.
As a Dusf Elf, once she reached level 50, she would undergo her first evolution—into something far stronger.
But these enemies exceeded all expectations. There wasn't even a sliver of hope for victory.
If not for being stuck with Celestia, she might have returned to the upper floors to find more suitable foes.
But she couldn't leave. Her nature wouldn't allow it.
Above, hidden among thick branches, Aaron watched silently.
His gaze sharp as a blade, fixed on the battlefield.
He knew Celestia's limit would end here.
Aaron moved. Preparing to act.
WHOOSH!!!
A sudden gust tore through the stalemate.
From the left woods, a shadow shot out, screeching like a whip cutting the air.
One strike. The two gatekeepers shattered.
BOOM!
The giant tree bodies fell like splintered logs. Obliterated.
Silence.
The world froze.
No one saw what happened.
Only Aaron—thanks to eyes tempered by countless battles—saw the blur.
While all were still in shock, the figure stopped.
A girl.
A girl too beautiful to be real. Eyes of frozen void. A face so cold it sent chills down spines.
No words. No expression.
She stood amidst the broken guardians.
From the forest—another figure emerged.
Clad in full black armor, polished metal gleaming with reflected stares.
A long black cloak trailing behind, like Dracula from hell.
Gen.
And the girl: Dolly.
The whip in her hand glowed an eerie green—a rare drop from the level 90 Dead Trees. A weapon that drained life and shattered monster structure.
She wore a glowing jade ring—a high-tier healing item dropped by the King Dead Tree, boss of the Dead Forest. Matching the Deadroot King Set armor Gen wore.
Everyone stood mute.
No one knew what had just happened. No one dared ask.
Only silence. Suffocating.
Gen walked toward the gate.
No rush. No arrogance. Just calm, steady steps.
But each one pressed into the hearts of those watching, making them feel like dust.
The gate opened. Light from the final room spilled out, reflecting on Gen's armor, making him seem like an invincible shadow.
But no one followed.
All were frozen.
Celestia's eyes widened. Her body stiffened. Her heart skipped.
"What... just happened?"
Before her, the infamous guardians had been obliterated in a second. No—not beaten. Annihilated.
With a single whip strike?
She swallowed.
She had never seen such speed, strength, or pressure from such a small figure. And what confused her most:
She sensed no mana. No warning. Just death.
Her eyes shifted to the man in black armor.
"Who... is he?"
Above, Aaron frowned—a rare expression for him.
He smirked.
"Interesting, Celestia. Looks like you're not alone."
All the adventurers following Celestia were frozen. Wide-eyed. Speechless.
They didn't whisper. They didn't murmur. Only shock.
One young swordsman turned to his companion.
"I didn't see the strike. Did you?"
"No... just saw the trees explode like they were split in half..."
"Who is that girl? A human? Or... something else?"
Lee's teammates no longer held him back. Both sweating cold.
Lee had freed himself. His eyes full of awe. Seeing Dolly, they had an idea of who the man was.
Behind the gate lay the second floor's challenge chamber.
Unlike the dark outside, it glowed with magic stones embedded in walls and ceilings like lanterns from another world.
Inside were four creatures.
[Dead Trees – Level 50]
Each twice the size of a grown man. Bodies like ironwood. Covered in fungi and deadly vines. Their limbs stretched five meters, thorn-covered, swinging like massive warhammers.
"You again."