[Main Quest Complete!]

• Reward: 25,000 Rank Points.

[You Have Cleared The Sub-Dungeon: 'Forest Of Nightmares']

• Reward: 30,000 Rank Points.

[Additional Rewards]

• 30,000 Gold Pieces (Total: 30,000 Gold Pieces)

• 5,000 Exam Tokens (Total Exam Tokens: 6,000/100,000 Exam Tokens Required)

[You Have Slain The Dungeon Boss, The (Rank 22) 'Big Oak']

• Reward: 20,000 Rank Points.

[Your Skill (Outsider's Enhancement) Has Developed To Stage 2]

Joe crumbled to his knees as Syr's messages flooded in. His body ached, the toll of the battle weighing heavily on him. Turning his head, he flashed Bella a smile and a thumbs-up, the animosity he’d harbored toward her earlier largely forgotten.

"That was pretty awesome, princess!" he said, his voice tinged with cheerful relief.

Bella didn’t even spare him a glance. Instead, she turned away, striding confidently toward Shelly and Franklin.

The flicker of annoyance Joe had pushed aside reignited as he watched her retreat. His gaze lingered on her hands and arms, noticing faint burns scattered across her skin. He was certain her complexion had been flawless when they first met.

Must be from overusing her Fire skills, he mused. Still, he wasn’t about to ask her about it. The only response he’d get would be rude remarks designed to irritate him. If Bella didn’t want to talk, fine. He wasn’t about to stress over it.

Joe let out a deep sigh, shifting his focus to the remains of the Big Oak. The once-mighty Dungeon Boss was now nothing more than a pile of ash. The sight brought him a strange sense of comfort.

That fight was way more stressful than I thought it’d be, he admitted silently. Way too close for comfort.

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he turned his focus back to Syr's messages. To his surprise, he’d received full rewards despite Bella’s assistance during the battle.

Did Bella and the others get the same rewards? he wondered.

[You Have Ranked Up!]

[Rank Up Progress: 17 [56,500/70,000 Rank Points Required]

[Updated Attributes]

• Physical Attributes: 45 (+15 Rank Points From The Black Sheep)

• Mana Attributes: 75

• Psychological Attributes: 30

Joe couldn’t help but grin at his progress. He hadn’t even realized how many Rank Ups he’d achieved during the fight. It was a welcome payoff after such an exhausting ordeal.

If I can gain this much from just one dungeon, how much stronger could I get after clearing several more? The thought excited him. Syr was probably just as, if not more thrilled about his recent Rank Ups.

He tightened his grip on his blade and pushed himself upright. Though his body still felt sluggish, the effects of the Big Oak’s poison were nearly gone.

This fight had been a test—and he’d come out stronger for it.

[You Have Unlocked A New 'Passive Skill' (Poison Resistance)]

• Description: An Outsider Must Overcome All To Achieve Their Goal. Even The Most Potent Poisons Should Not Stand In Their Path.

• Effect: Increaases Your Resistance To Poison, Allowing Your Body To Flush It Out More Effectively.

• Boost: +100 Rank Points To Your Physical Attributes When Combating The Effects Of Poison.

Joe nodded in acknowledgment of his new skill. In a place like Grisha, where survival often hinged on adaptability, a skill like ]Poison Resistance] was vital.

From the remains of the Big Oak, he spotted a faint glow beneath the ashes. Taking careful steps forward, he approached the light and reached out to grab it.

[You Have Unlocked The Dungeon's Hidden Item: The 'White Fruit']

Joe held the glowing fruit in his right hand, watching its brilliance fade with each passing second. It was larger than any ordinary fruit and pulsed faintly with energy, as if alive.

"Before you add it to the inventory, can I see what it does, Syr?"

[Dungeon Item: The White Fruit]

• Description: A Precious Fruits Harbored By A Dangerous Creature.

• Effect: The Fruit Can Cure Poison From One’s Body. It May Be Ineffective If The Poison's Potency Surpasses Its Own Healing Capabilities.

• Boost: +100 Rank Points To Your Physical Attributes When Combating The Effects Of Poison.

"This would've been great if I hadn't just unlocked Poison Resistance," Joe muttered to himself. "Do I even need it anymore?"

Before he could dwell on the thought, the sound of a body hitting the ground snapped his attention. He turned sharply to see Shelly collapsed, her figure crumpled on the dirt.

Eyes widening, Joe dashed toward her, still clutching the fruit. "What happened?" he asked urgently, looking at Franklin and Bella, who stood over her.

"I don't know. She just collapsed," Bella replied, her tone uncharacteristically serious. "She seemed fine a moment ago."

As Joe looked closer, he noticed a sickly purple hue spreading along Shelly’s arms, even visible on her cheeks. His heart sank. It’s poison.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"How the hell did she get poisoned?" Joe demanded, his voice sharp. "Didn’t she protect herself with her skill?"

"She did," Franklin said grimly. "I was right next to her the entire time. There’s only one explanation—she didn’t have a Blank Herb with her."

"A Blank Herb?" Joe repeated, confused.

"Yes," Franklin explained. "Healers carry them when traveling. They're used to absorb poison cleansed from others, transferring it safely into the plant instead of their own body. It’s a safer alternative to taking the poison directly. Most healers carry antidotes as well for emergencies. She must’ve had neither. Strange, considering she’s from the Hira Family."

Joe clenched his teeth, frustration bubbling. "Damn it! Why would she use the skill knowing she didn’t have a way to protect herself?"

Kneeling beside Shelly, Joe brought the White Fruit closer to her mouth. Her eyes were watery but still open, a flicker of awareness visible beneath the pain.

"Here, Shelly," Joe urged. "Take a bite of this."

Shelly tried to speak, but Joe shook his head, his expression firm. "No, don’t argue. Just bite it."

With effort, Shelly bit into the fruit. The moment she did, the fruit dissolved into a radiant white glow, wrapping around her body like a protective cocoon.

[The Dungeon Item The 'White Fruit' Has Been Consumed]

Joe stepped back, holding his breath as the light continued to envelop Shelly, waiting anxiously for the fruit to take effect.

"What did you give her?" Bella asked, stepping up beside Joe, her arms crossed.

"It's a Dungeon Item," Joe replied curtly. "It’ll help her recover from the poison."

Bella’s tone turned sharp, her words dripping with disdain. "Spoken like a true commoner, relying on Dungeon Items like some beggar. It sounds like a decent item—why would you hand it over just like that?"

Joe’s irritation was evident, his jaw tightening. "Because if I don’t, she’ll die. She only got poisoned because of us. The least I can do is help her."

"Keep me out of it," Bella shot back. "I told her I didn’t need her little skill. I—"

"Shut your mouth!" Joe snapped, cutting her off. "If it wasn’t for her, you’d be dead. Show some decency and be grateful."

"I didn’t need her help," Bella retorted, her eyes narrowing. "I would’ve been fine by myself."

Joe opened his mouth to argue, but the soft glow around Shelly suddenly faded, drawing his attention. He turned to see her slowly sitting upright, her movements shaky but deliberate.

"Are you okay?" Joe asked, kneeling beside her.

"Yeah… I’m fine…" Shelly murmured, rubbing her eyes as if waking from a bad dream.

The sickly purple hue had vanished from her skin—the White Fruit had worked.

"What were you thinking?" Joe demanded, his voice low but firm. "You could’ve died!"

Shelly’s gaze softened as she looked at him. "If I didn’t do what I did, we’d all have died. It’s better me than everyone else. I’m the healer—it’s my job to keep everyone alive."

"Don’t be an idiot," Joe shot back. "I need you alive. Our party just got registered. You can’t keep risking your life like this!"

Shelly offered him a gentle smile, her voice calm. "I’m fine now, so everything’s fine."

Joe sighed, running a hand through his hair. "That’s not the point," he muttered, realizing his words were falling on deaf ears.

He stood and extended a hand to her. Shelly took it, and he helped her to her feet. Though slightly unsteady, she seemed to be recovering well.

"My princess, are you all right?" Franklin’s voice rang out, thick with concern as he examined Bella's arm.

"I’m fine!" Bella snapped, yanking her arm away as Franklin reached for her.

"My princess, you should’ve let me fight those plants instead," Franklin pressed. "You could’ve been seriously hurt."

"This is my power, Franklin. These flames are mine. I’ll use them however I wish." Bella’s voice was firm, almost defiant. "Let’s just keep moving—we’ve wasted too much time already."

"If you don’t mind me asking," Shelly said gently, "where are you two heading?"

"I do mind," Bella shot back coldly. "It’s none of your business, Shelly. Let’s go, Franklin!" She stormed ahead, her steps quick and purposeful.

Joe and Shelly exchanged a glance before walking over to Franklin, who remained behind.

"What’s her problem?" Joe asked, unable to hide his annoyance.

Franklin sighed heavily as they began to walk, Bella keeping her distance from the group.

"The princess wouldn’t like me telling you this," Franklin said softly, his voice tinged with regret. "But after everything you’ve done to help us escape this dungeon alive, it’s only fair I explain." He paused, glancing toward Bella’s retreating figure.

"The princess needs help," Franklin continued. "Those blue flames of hers are… troublesome. They’re too powerful, and they’re a danger not only to those around her but to herself as well. That’s why we’re heading to The Hunt this year. I’m afraid she won’t be able to control those flames for much longer."

"You're going to The Hunt?" Joe asked, his surprise evident.

"Yes," Franklin replied with a nod. "As you know, The Hunt offers many of the King's items as prizes. One of those items is the Black Bracelet. It's an artifact that will help the princess control her mana and the power of her flames. We must obtain it. Without it, I fear her flames will eventually consume her."

Joe felt a twinge of sympathy, his frustration with Bella momentarily overshadowed by pity. Despite her abrasive personality, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for her situation. "We’re going to The Hunt too. Why not join us? You’ve seen how dangerous these dungeons can be. We stand a better chance together. I can stomach the princess until we get there."

Franklin seemed to consider the offer. "You make a valid point, but I don’t think the princess will approve of this idea."

"We’re all heading in the same direction. There’s not much she can do about it," Joe replied with a shrug.

From ahead, Bella glanced back. "Why are you chatting with them, Franklin? Let’s go!"

"The old man’s coming with us!" Joe called back.

Bella halted, crossing her arms as they caught up. Once they reached her, she addressed Joe directly, her tone icy. "What are you talking about, commoner?"

"The old man says you’re heading to The Hunt. Since we’re going there too, we decided to join forces," Joe explained matter-of-factly.

"I don’t need you tagging along," Bella retorted sharply. "We’ll be fine on our own." She turned her glare to Franklin. "Why did you even tell them where we’re going? It’s none of their concern."

Franklin lowered his head slightly. "My apologies, princess, but I believe having them with us will be beneficial—especially after losing Tom."

Bella scoffed. "You think that because you’re weak, Franklin. I don’t need their help. And if bringing them along is part of the deal, I don’t need you either." Her glare moved to Joe and Shelly. "I can handle this alone."

"Look, princess," Joe said, his voice firm but calm, "the old man is right. Whether you like it or not, you need us. You’d be dead right now if it weren’t for us."

Bella’s eyes narrowed. "I can see some usefulness in Shelly, but you, commoner? I don’t need you. I don’t even know why Shelly bothered forming a party with you."

Joe sighed, shaking his head. "Man, I don’t know how the old man puts up with this attitude. He’s a saint."

Bella turned away, her tone cold. "You’d better stay out of my way. If you don’t, I won’t hesitate to burn you both to a crisp."

Joe clenched his jaw but swallowed his comebacks. Instead, he marched forward, eager to put some distance between himself and Bella.

[You Did Good Today. You’ve Made Progress. Maybe We Just Might Make It Before The Deadline.]

"Deadline?"

[I Told You Before, Didn’t I? We Don’t Have Much Time. The Deadline Is Coming.]

"What deadline? What are you talking about?"

[You Just Need To Be Ready, Joe.]

"Ready for what?"

[Don’t Worry About It. Just Get Stronger. For Both Our Sakes.]

With that, Syr’s notification screen vanished, leaving Joe to mull over its cryptic message.

After a grueling trek, the four finally emerged from the Forest of Nightmares, finding themselves before a new challenge: The Scorching Cave Dungeon.

"We just need to get through this dungeon," Shelly said, her voice subdued, "and then we’ll reach The Hunt."

The cave’s entrance appeared deceptively normal, save for the faint red glow emanating from its depths.

Without hesitation, Bella strode forward, followed by Franklin and Shelly. Joe brought up the rear. He stared into the ominous red-lit cavern, his grip tightening on his blade. Whatever awaited him in the depths of the Scorching Cave, he would face it head-on.

With resolute determination, Joe stepped into the unknown.