"You see that?" Shelly asked, her eyes locked on the two figures ahead of them. "The badges on their cloaks—those guys are members of the Amber Family."
Joe followed her gaze, spotting the symbols Shelly mentioned. The badges bore an emblem of a burning flame. Confusion clouded his face. He had no idea who the Amber Family were or why their insignia mattered. Were these people supposed to be famous? Dangerous?
There was no time to ask. One of the figures stepped forward, his movements lazy and slow. His face twisted into a sadistic grin, red gloves gleaming as he cracked his knuckles.
"These guys aren’t the Flame Troopers, Franklin. They're just your average adventurers. What should we do with them?" His voice was sharp, aimed at his companion a few steps behind.
Franklin, tall and wiry with a crimson mustache betraying his age, regarded them with icy indifference. "It doesn't matter who they are. They’ve seen our faces. They can’t leave. Take care of them, Tom."
"Sure thing, old man!" Tom’s grin widened as his gaze landed on Joe and Shelly. He shifted his stance, grounding himself before he surged forward.
The inscriptions on the back of his red gloves lit up, faintly glowing before one began to burn with fiery energy. A spark ignited, and his right hand erupted into flames. Tom reveled in the sight, his grin feral as he thrust his fist forward, launching a wave of fire through the air.
The blaze tore toward Joe and Shelly, its heat radiating like an untamed beast. [ Branch Skill: Fire Fist]
A faint green glow shimmered in front of them just as the flames collided, detonating into an explosion that sent smoke billowing through the trees.
The acrid smoke drifted on the forest’s cold breeze, obscuring the aftermath. Tom smirked, brushing off his hands. "That should do it. Let’s head out, Fra—"
His sentence faltered. From the smoke, a dark silhouette shot forward with blinding speed. It was Joe. [Black Sheep Skill: Enhanced Charge]
He crouched low before surging up with a straight jab to Tom’s gut. [Black Sheep Skill: Black Flash] The impact was brutal. Tom doubled over, blood spurting from his mouth as the force knocked the wind from his lungs. He was hurled backward, slamming into a tree with a sickening crunch, the bark splintering on impact.
Franklin’s eyes widened, darting between his fallen comrade and the figure of Joe standing unharmed.
Joe stared at his own hand, disbelief flickering across his face at his newfound strength.
Franklin’s jaw tightened. The bracelets on his wrists ignited with a fiery glow, a single inscription burning into life. Flames materialized around his hand, coalescing into the shape of a sword. [Branch Skill: Flame Twin Swords]
With a swift dash, Franklin lunged at Joe, swinging his blazing blade in a deadly arc aimed to cleave him in two. But before the sword could make contact, a shimmering green barrier enveloped Joe. [Barrier Skill: Green Veil]
The blade struck the barrier and rebounded harmlessly, sending Franklin staggering back. His eyes darted, searching for the source of the skill. He didn’t have to look far.
Shelly moved like a blur, closing the distance with her staff raised. She swung with precision, aiming squarely at Franklin’s chest.
Franklin barely managed to bring his fiery blade up in defense. The clash sent sparks flying, but Shelly’s strength overwhelmed him. The follow-through of her strike launched him backward into a tree, blood spraying from his mouth as he collapsed to the ground.
"You're okay?" Shelly asked, glancing at Joe.
"I’m fine. Guess I underestimated how strong I’ve gotten. Or maybe these guys are just weak?"
Their attention shifted to Franklin, who sat slumped against the tree, Tom unconscious beside him.
Joe stepped forward, his voice cold. "What the hell are you doing, old man? Why attack us like that?"
Franklin coughed, blood staining his lips. His gaze flickered between them before settling on Joe with a bitter smile. "You’re not ordinary adventurers. Who are you? Bounty Hunters? Well too bad! She’s already far away by now."
Joe and Shelly exchanged puzzled glances, but before they could press him further, Joe caught something—a faint flicker of mana just ahead.
"Shelly, watch out!" His voice rang with urgency.
[Branch Skill: Blue Fireball]
A blue fireball shot from the shadows, whizzing past Franklin’s collapsed form and hurtling toward them.
A blue fireball burst forth from the shadows, hurtling past Franklin's tree and streaking toward Joe and Shelly with terrifying speed.
Shelly moved instinctively, throwing herself in front of Joe. Her eyes burned with determination as the flames closed in. Raising her staff, a brilliant green light erupted from its tip, forming a protective barrier around them both. [Barrier Skill: Green Veil]
The fireball slammed into the barrier with a thunderous impact, the crackling flames growing louder as they sought to break through. Shelly gritted her teeth, sinking to one knee as the strain became overwhelming. Cracks began to spread across the shimmering barrier, seconds from shattering.
"I... can't stop it! It's too strong!" she gasped, her voice shaking.
"Just hold on a little longer, Shelly!" Joe shouted, his voice steady but urgent. A surge of mana erupted from his body as he prepared to act.
[-350 Rank Points To Your Mana Pool]
[You Have Activated The Skill (Outsider's Enhancement)]
[+190 Rank Points To Your Physical Attributes (Total: 223)]
[+180 Rank Points To Your Mana Attributes (Total: 230)]
[You Have Removed One Seal from 'The Black Blade']
[-25 Rank Points To Your Mana Pool]
[Current Mana Pool:2,895]
[+10 Rank Points To The Black Blade]
[You Have Activated The Black Blade’s Skill (Charge)]
[The Black Blade Is Gathering Mana...]
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
"I'm sor—" Shelly's voice broke as the barrier shattered into fragments of light.
Joe leaped forward without hesitation, shielding her with his body. "I got this!" he declared, gripping his sword tightly.
[Charge Complete]
[Current Mana Output From The Black Blade:335 Rank Points Has Doubled]
[New Mana Output From The Black Blade: 670 Rank Points]
[The Black Blade’s Weight Has Doubled]
The searing flames collided with Joe's blade, their heat licking at his exposed skin. Pain surged through him as his hands began to blister.
[The Black Sheep Is Reducing The Fire’s Effectiveness]
"Argh!" Joe roared through clenched teeth, forcing himself to endure. With a sharp, decisive arc, he swung the Black Blade. The flames split apart, scattering to either side. [Black Blade Skill: Disconnection]
The fiery assault flickered out, leaving behind only silence. Joe fell to his knees, his chest heaving. Sweat poured down his face, mixing with the burn mark now visible on his cheek. His arms were scorched, the raw pain nearly overwhelming. Gritting his teeth, he clenched his fists, refusing to give in to the agony.
Joe's hazy eyes struggled to focus as the unknown attacker stepped out from the shadows. Their mana signature, now steadily intensifying, had been nearly undetectable until it was too late. If not for [Outsider’s Perspective], the attack would have caught them completely off guard. The skill’s warning had been the only thing preventing disaster, as the attacker's presence had been unnervingly faint.
The sound of deliberate footsteps echoed through the stillness. Slowly, moonlight revealed the figure—a tall girl with striking red hair flowing just above her shoulders. With a graceful flick of her hand, she swept her hair down her spine. Golden bracelets adorning her wrists caught the light, glimmering faintly. At the center of her forehead gleamed a red diamond tattoo.
Her golden earrings swayed as her piercing gaze locked onto Joe, only to slide past him as if he were beneath her notice. Her attention settled on Franklin, who lay slumped beside her.
"What’s the meaning of this, Franklin?" she asked, her voice calm yet carrying an edge that chilled the air.
Franklin groaned as he struggled to his feet, his movements slow and strained. "My princess... we told you to wait," he said, his tone wavering.
"And how long was I supposed to wait?" she retorted, her tone sharpening. "Clearly, you don’t have things under control as you claimed!"
Franklin bowed his head, shame clouding his expression. "Forgive us, Princess. These adventurers were more troublesome than we anticipated. I think they’re bounty hunters!"
The princess turned her sharp gaze back to Joe and Shelly.
By now, Joe had managed to steady himself, though his body still bore the weight of his injuries. Shelly stood beside him, her hands glowing with faint green light as she worked to heal him with the mana she could still muster. [Regeneration]
"They’re not Bounty Hunters," the princess declared with cold certainty, her crimson eyes narrowing. "I know her. That’s Shelly of the Hira Family. I’ve seen her before."
Shelly’s hands froze for a moment, her eyes widening in realization. "I should’ve known..." she murmured, her voice grim. "That attack—it could only have been hers. That’s Bella, one of Diana’s Princesses."
Joe grimaced, his discomfort evident despite Shelly’s healing efforts. The burn marks from the earlier attack remained visible, and though the pain had begun to recede, his body felt far from ready for another fight.
Bella strode toward them, the crimson fabric of her dress flowing like liquid fire around her ankles. Her presence was commanding, and the insignia of the Amber Family shimmered on her chest.
"I’m surprised," Bella said, her tone dripping with disdain. "I didn’t think I’d see one of the Hira Family’s Special Princesses in a place like this—traveling with a mere commoner, no less." Her gaze shifted to Joe, her contempt palpable, as if his very existence offended her.
"Tell me, Shelly, what are you doing here?" Bella’s voice was sharp, commanding the attention of everyone present.
Shelly stepped back cautiously, signaling that her treatment of Joe was complete. Her expression hardened as she spoke. "I should be asking you the same question, Bella. I thought you’d be dead by now after what—"
"Shut your mouth!" Bella snapped, her calm veneer fracturing. Her voice was venomous, and spittle escaped her lips as her fiery gaze locked onto Shelly. The sheer intensity of her anger made Shelly flinch, her confidence momentarily shaken. "Know your place, Shelly! You don’t want to see me angry! I don’t care about your connection to the Hira Family!"
Joe, now steady on his feet, tightened his grip on his blade. Shelly’s [Regeneration] skill had dulled the pain coursing through him, but the vivid burn marks on his hands and cheek remained stubbornly etched into his skin. Even her skill couldn’t erase them entirely.
"What’s this?" Bella’s attention shifted to Joe, her lips curling into a mocking smirk. "You still want to fight me, commoner?" Her voice carried a mix of amusement and disdain.
From behind Bella, Franklin timidly crawled forward, his hand hesitating before touching her shoulder.
Bella shrugged him off immediately, her glare slicing through him like a blade.
"I’m sorry, my princess," Franklin murmured, bowing his head in submission. "If that girl really is from the Hira Family, I don’t think engaging them further would be wise."
"I can do whatever my heart desires, Franklin," Bella replied icily, her gaze unwavering.
"Of course, my princess, but—"
A blood-curdling scream tore through the tense atmosphere, silencing Franklin mid-sentence. All four of them turned toward the source of the horrific sound.
It was Tom.
Thick, green vines had ensnared his legs, and with a sickening twist, they tore them apart. His anguished screams filled the forest as blood poured from the stumps of his legs. The vines coiled around his torso, dragging him along the ground and leaving a gruesome trail of crimson in their wake.
The attacker revealed itself, a monstrous plant with a massive, flytrap-like head bristling with jagged teeth. Its body was a tangled mess of writhing green vines that slithered ominously across the forest floor.
"Tom!" Franklin shouted, his voice cracking with panic.
Tears streaked down Tom’s face as he turned his desperate eyes toward Bella. "Help me... Bella..." he croaked weakly. Blood bubbled from his lips as his voice faded.
With a snap of a finger, a flicker of blue flame burst into existence. It expanded rapidly, transforming into a roaring inferno that engulfed Tom’s body entirely. For one brief moment, the fire reignited his voice in a final, agonized scream.
The flames continued their relentless path, racing along the vines and reducing them to cinders. The monstrous plant thrashed violently as the fire consumed it, but in mere seconds, both the creature and Tom were reduced to smoldering ashes. [Branch Skill: Spark]
The forest fell eerily silent once again, the acrid smell of burning flesh and vegetation lingering in the air.
Joe's eyes locked onto Bella, his face twisted in fury. "How could you? We could’ve saved him! Why did you kill him?"
Bella turned sharply, her icy gaze meeting Joe's with an expression devoid of remorse. "He was already dead. There was nothing you or anyone else could’ve done to save him. If that Mana Plant had devoured his body, it could’ve put all of us in danger. He died by my hands—that’s a far greater honor than being consumed by some mindless plant." Her voice was calm, her demeanor disturbingly indifferent, as if the act meant nothing to her.
Joe stepped forward, the grip on his blade tightening while his free hand curled into a trembling fist. "He was in your party! How could you—"
"Stop pretending to be some righteous hero," Bella cut him off, her voice sharp. "People die. This is reality, not some fairytale. Get your head on straight."
Before Joe could respond, the ground beneath them began to tremble. One by one, plants identical to the one Bella had killed began sprouting from the earth, their twisted forms clawing their way to life.
[The Sub-Dungeon 'Forest Of Nightmares' Is Now Active.]
[Dungeon Grade: C]
The group froze, their eyes widening as an army of grotesque plants—nearly fifty in total—emerged, dragging their twisted vines forward with an eerie determination.
[Sub-Quest.]
• Objective: Slay 10 Mana Plants
• Reward: 10,000 Rank Points
• Progress: 0/10 Mana Plants Slain
The earth shuddered again, this time with greater force. From behind the army of plants, something massive burst forth—a colossal tree, dwarfing the Mana Plants in size. Its thorn-covered branches swayed menacingly, and its crimson leaves rustled in the wind. Dangling from one of its upper branches was a large, glowing white orb, pulsating ominously like a heartbeat.
[Main Quest.]
• Objective: Slay The Dungeon Boss, 'The Big Oak'
• Reward: 25,000 Rank Points
• Failure: Death
The four stood frozen, staring at the monstrous tree as it loomed over them. Joe’s face was pale, disbelief etched in every feature. His heart pounded in his chest, the harsh reality settling in. Joe wasn't sure if any of them were making it out of this forest alive.