Avince pressed deeper into the vibrant forest, his senses heightened with each step. The trees towered above him, their trunks thick and gnarled, resembling ancient sentinels keeping watch over a hidden world. He could feel the mana pulsing in the air, a tangible force that thrummed beneath his skin, igniting his newfound ability. But that sense of power was tempered by the danger lurking nearby.

The forest guardians, monstrous beings made of stone and bark, roamed this mystical expanse. Their eyes glowed with an eerie green light, and their movements were fluid, despite their massive, cumbersome forms. He had seen one up close and knew he had to stay hidden, but fear coiled in his gut like a live wire, urging him to run.

Focus, Avince. Find the way out.

He ducked behind a massive tree, peering cautiously around its rough, textured bark. His heart raced as he spotted one of the guardians lumbering past, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground. It paused for a moment, its head tilting as if sensing something in the air. Avince held his breath, willing his heart to slow as he waited for the guardian to move on.

After what felt like an eternity, the guardian continued its patrol. Avince let out a shaky breath, silently thanking whatever fate had spared him this time.

I have to keep moving, he thought, adrenaline coursing through him. He slipped away from the tree and hurried along a narrow path that wound deeper into the woods. The pulsing energy around him surged with each step, empowering him and filling him with both dread and anticipation.

As he navigated through the foliage, the underbrush grew thicker, obscuring his view of the surrounding area. The forest seemed to come alive with sounds—whispers of leaves, the distant calls of unseen creatures, and the low rumble of the guardians echoing through the trees. He pushed on, each rustle and snap of a twig making him more jumpy.

Then, as he moved further along, something caught his eye. A flash of color amidst the greens and browns of the forest. Curiosity piqued, he paused and scanned the area. There, nestled between the roots of an ancient tree, was a rare fruit—brightly colored and pulsating with energy. Its surface sparkled like gems in the light, casting reflections that danced across the forest floor.

Is that… the mana-enhancing fruit they talk about? But I heard it was extremely rare even in highly ranked dungeons..

Despite the risks, he couldn’t resist. He approached the fruit cautiously, glancing around to ensure no guardians were watching. The closer he got, the more the fruit seemed to call to him, its vibrant glow a beacon of potential.

He reached out, fingers brushing against the warm surface of the fruit. A thrill shot through him, a feeling that this could change everything. With a swift motion, he plucked the fruit from its perch, cradling it in his hands. The sensation was intoxicating, as if the fruit were alive, thrumming with energy.

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But as he turned to escape, a sudden rustle erupted behind him. He whipped around, and to his horror, he saw several guardians emerging from the shadows, their eyes glowing ominously.

Panic surged through him, and he bolted, sprinting through the underbrush. He could hear the guardians crashing through the trees behind him, their heavy footsteps thundering as they pursued him. Adrenaline coursed through his veins, and for a moment, he felt invincible.

Every instinct screamed at him to run faster. He zigzagged through the trees, desperately searching for a place to hide. The guardians were relentless, their movements swift and powerful. Just as he thought he was gaining distance, a massive root snagged his foot, sending him sprawling to the ground.

“No!” he yelled as he fell, his grip on the fruit slipping. He landed hard on the forest floor, the wind knocked out of him. He reached for the fruit, but it rolled away, vanishing into the underbrush. The guardians were closing in, their glowing eyes piercing through the shadows.

No! I can’t let them catch me!

Avince pushed himself off the ground, but the weight of panic slowed him. He could hear the heavy footsteps pounding closer, the rustling of branches as the guardians navigated the trees. He turned to flee, but it was too late. A massive stone arm swung down, connecting with his side and sending him hurtling across the ground.

Pain erupted in his body as he crashed into the earth, darkness beginning to creep into the edges of his vision. This can’t be how it ends... he thought desperately. He tried to move, to fight back, but his body refused to respond.

The fruit... he remembered, clenching his hand around it instinctively, still firmly gripped in his palm. The last thing he saw was the shadow of a guardian looming over him, and then everything faded to black.

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Avince awoke slowly, his mind clouded with confusion and pain. Blinking against the harsh white light, he felt a sterile coldness surrounding him. A soft beeping sound pulsed rhythmically in the background. He turned his head, trying to make sense of his surroundings, and there she was—Amyra, his sister, sitting beside him with tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Avince! You’re finally awake!” she cried, her voice trembling with emotion.

“Amyra?” he croaked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Thank the stars! I thought… I thought I lost you!” she sobbed, rushing to embrace him.

Her warmth enveloped him, and he could feel her body shaking. Confusion swirled within him as he tried to process everything. The dungeon, the guardians, the fruit—it all felt like a distant memory, fading into the background of his mind.

“What happened? Where am I?” he asked, panic rising in his chest.

“You were in a coma for days after the awakening. You… you got hurt,” she said, pulling back to look into his eyes, worry etched across her face. “I was so scared.”

Days? His mind raced back to the dungeon, the pursuit, the fruit he had grasped so tightly. “What happened… I—”

“It’s okay,” she interrupted gently, squeezing his hand. “You’re safe now. Just focus on getting better.”

As he lay there, the memories swirled in his mind, leaving him with a haunting question: What truly happened in that dungeon?