The group of Flora moved cautiously through the dense forest, the weight of the oppressive atmosphere settling heavily around them.

The trees here felt alive, like they were whispering secrets just out of reach, the branches casting eerie shadows that made it feel as though they were being watched.

"Everyone, stay alert!" Flora's voice was low but firm, cutting through the silence.

Her hand rested lightly on the bow strapped to her back, her sharp eyes scanning every inch of their path.

She could feel the unease growing in her party, a tension building beneath the surface.

"By the way, leader," the tank suddenly broke the silence, his voice a little too loud in the stillness,

"I heard your brother cleared an orange-rank dungeon. Is it true?"

Flora’s expression softened for a brief moment, a small spark of pride flickering in her eyes. "Yes, it’s true."

Her brother had always been a step ahead of her, stronger, faster, more skilled.

He was something of a legend in their guild, and even though it was hard living in his shadow,

Flora was proud.

She had her own path to carve, and she intended to prove herself worthy of the same respect.

But there was no time to dwell on family now.

They were deep in the dungeon, and anything could happen at any moment.

As they continued through the maze-like forest, the mage's voice rang out, startling everyone. "Hey, there’s a wood golem ahead!"

The team instantly snapped to attention, weapons ready as their eyes locked onto the creature in the distance.

The golem stood still for a brief moment, its large, tree-like form blending into the surroundings, before it suddenly turned and bolted, moving surprisingly fast for its size.

"Not so fast," Flora muttered under her breath, her instincts kicking in.

In a single fluid motion, she pulled an arrow from her quiver, notched it onto her bow, and drew the string back.

The tip of the arrow flickered with flames—one of her special fire arrows, designed to take down enemies with precision and power.

She let it fly, the arrow slicing through the air with deadly accuracy.

It hit the wood golem square in the back, and flames instantly ignited along its wooden frame.

The golem stumbled, its movement slowing as the fire spread, crackling loudly in the otherwise quiet forest.

Flora didn’t waste a second.

She fired again—two, three more arrows—each one finding its mark.

The creature let out a deep, groaning sound before it collapsed to the forest floor, smoldering, its wooden limbs charred and broken.

"That was amazing, leader!" the mage exclaimed, her voice full of admiration as she jogged over to where the golem had fallen.

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Flora approached the fallen creature with more caution, her eyes narrowing as she inspected the remains.

There was something off about this.

The golem hadn’t been trying to fight; it had been fleeing.

Like it had a purpose.

She crouched beside the body, noticing something hidden among the charred wood—a small, broken, sphere-shaped object embedded in its chest.

"It seems like it was trying to lure us deeper into the forest," Flora said, her voice filled with suspicion.

As she reached out to touch the object, her fingers brushed against the smooth surface.

"What could this be?" she murmured, glancing back at her team.

"No idea. Perhaps we shall take it to guild for checking," the swordsman suggested, his tone thoughtful.

Flora nodded, studying the core with more interest.

"Let’s keep moving," she said, standing up and turning back to her team. "Stay sharp. There could be more."

The group continued onward, leaving the smoldering golem behind.

But unbeknownst to them, a pair of small, green eyes was watching from the shadows.

The tiny stone golem, no bigger than a child, had been observing the whole time, its bright eyes gleaming with intelligence and purpose.

Without a sound, it turned and scurried away, disappearing into the forest to deliver its message.

The hunters had fallen into its trap—the dungeon was alive and aware, and now it knew exactly how they fought, how they moved, and how to break them.

As Flora and her team pressed deeper into the heart of the forest, the dungeon was already preparing for them, twisting its pathways, summoning more of its guardians.

The hunters had been moving for what felt like hours, the dense underbrush and towering trees swallowing up any sense of time.

The forest had a way of disorienting them, as if it were alive, shifting, and breathing around them.

Each rustling leaf and creaking branch felt like the whisper of something unseen.

"Leader..." the priest's voice trembled slightly, breaking the tense silence, "I think we should go back now."

Flora glanced over her shoulder, her expression determined but showing the slightest crack of concern.

The further they ventured, the more her instincts screamed at her that something was off. Still, she couldn’t let fear rule them.

They were an experienced group, capable of handling whatever this dungeon threw their way.

"Don’t worry. Let's keep moving." Her voice was firm, but even she couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.

As they pressed deeper into the forest, the oppressive atmosphere thickened.

Then, without warning, movement flickered in the trees.

Shapes began to form from the shadows, emerging from behind the thick foliage—wood golems.

Dozens of them, camouflaged perfectly with the forest, their eyes glowing faintly like embers hidden in the dark.

"They’re surrounding us," the mage muttered, her voice low but steady.

The hunters, however, were not fazed.

They’d fought their way through worse.

Flora drew her bow in a smooth motion, firing an arrow that burst into flames mid-flight, lighting up the surrounding forest.

The mage followed up with blasts of fire and ice, the crackling heat and freezing air mixing as they surged toward the golems.

Meanwhile, the tank and swordsman held the front line, deflecting blows and keeping the creatures at bay.

The priest kept their strength bolstered with healing spells, while the assassin moved like a shadow, darting between the golems, striking at their weakened joints.

But then, the ground rumbled beneath them.

A low, menacing sound that seemed to come from the earth itself.

From between the trees, larger forms emerged—stone golems, their bodies towering and heavy, followed by brick golems whose rough exteriors gave off a terrifying aura of durability.

These weren’t like the fragile wood golems; they were built for power.

One of the stone golems lunged forward, its fist crashing down with immense force.

The tank barely blocked it with his shield, but the impact sent him stumbling back, his shield arm shaking from the sheer strength behind the blow.

The hunters, for the first time, began to falter.

More golems pushed forward, their heavy footsteps echoing through the forest.

"These things are a lot stronger than before!" the swordsman shouted, his blade sparking as it clashed with the stone of another golem.

Flora fired arrow after arrow, but the golems were relentless.

They just kept coming, the forest seeming to spawn them endlessly from the shadows.

Suddenly, a powerful brick golem broke through their defenses, its fist slamming into the tank.

He grunted in pain as he was knocked back, his armor dented and blood seeping from a wound on his side.

"Tank’s injured! We need to fall back!" Flora ordered, her eyes darting around for an escape route.

The mage, sensing the urgency, raised her staff high.

A swirl of ice formed around her, and with a muttered incantation, she unleashed a freezing spell that spread across the ground, locking the golems in place for a few precious moments.

The priest quickly cast a binding spell to slow their movements further, and together, they turned to flee, helping the tank limp away.

"Leader, I think we should exit the dungeon," the priest said, her voice shaky but resolute.

Flora, her heart pounding in her chest, nodded. "Yes. Let’s get out of here, now!"

The group bolted through the forest, moving as fast as they could, the tank’s injury slowing them down.

They were all on edge, their heads swiveling in every direction, anticipating the next attack.

As they ran, the traps they’d previously encountered started to spring up again—pits lined with spikes, vines that tried to ensnare their feet, and shifting trees that blocked their path.

But thanks to their skill and experience, they narrowly avoided them all, leaping over danger and cutting through obstacles with precision.

However, in their haste, something went wrong.

The twisting paths of the forest were designed to confuse, and despite their best efforts, they found themselves veering off course.

Flora, leading the group, slowed to a stop, her chest heaving with exertion as she looked around, panic creeping in.

"Wait... this isn’t right," she muttered under her breath, her eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.

The trees here seemed thicker, darker, their branches reaching out like claws to block their way back.

"What do you mean? This was the way out!" the mage exclaimed, her voice tinged with fear.

Flora clenched her fists, her mind racing.

The forest had tricked them. In their rush to escape, they had taken a wrong turn, and now they were deeper than ever in the dungeon’s maze.

"No..." the assassin whispered, his normally calm demeanor shaken. "We’re lost."

As the realization sank in, the oppressive silence of the forest returned, heavier than before.

The hunters’ breaths were loud in the stillness, their hearts pounding as they realized the truth.

They were trapped.

And the dungeon knew it.