Vallynor woke up after being consumed by his grimoire. He found himself in the peaceful realm of the Queen of the Forest, once ancient but now majestic. Everything around him was in ruins, with holes everywhere. However, the floor was covered with gold, magical stones, and other magical objects that Vallynor couldn't recognize.

His confusion quickly turned into joy as his soul realized that all of this belonged to him. But then he quickly composed his thoughts and began gathering them into his ring, recalling various books he had read. Like a hero after a difficult battle, he couldn't take many treasures with him because he had to flee from a new enemy. Or some scoundrel appeared and stole everything, vanishing. He also recalled the melody.

Remembering the warnings about some new queen, Vallynor quickly gathered all the items in his hands and then placed them into the ring. Weapons, clothes, books, and a vast amount of gold—both ordinary and white—ended up in his possession.

Weary from collecting every coin, he pondered how great it would be to wave them around. Suddenly, he stopped and slapped himself on the face, which he hadn't had a chance to see clearly, only knowing that it had become more beautiful. He quickly summoned his undead, their numbers dwindling, and commanded them to gather everything into one pile as fast as possible.

While various types of undead collected all the treasures into a heap, Vallynor looked around to ensure he didn't miss anything valuable. Suddenly, he felt a powerful earthquake. Trees began to grow from all the walls surrounding Vallynor. When the distance between the trees and Vallynor reached about five meters, they stopped. Vallynor became frightened and tried to cast a spell, hesitating for a second, unsure of what to expect.

One of the branches slowly approached, and at its end, a single small green leaf sprouted. The branch approached slowly and delicately, as if not wanting to startle Vallynor. Vallynor, in turn, already had some associations with the Queen of the Forest and Ego. He understood that the tree wanted to communicate with him, and to do so, he had to touch the leaf with his forehead.

Considering that it could be a trap, he quickly realized that even if the trees had malicious intentions, they could attack or use another method of communication. After all, this leaf seemed to be the safest of all. If either side tried to harm the other through a mental connection, they would fail because the leaf would break into pieces. It served as a kind of safety mechanism, like a thin copper wire in a car's glass bulb that would break to prevent the car from being damaged.

Thus, as Vallynor approached, he touched the leaf with his head. In the next second, dozens of whispers echoed in his ears, uttering the same words. If he listened carefully, he could understand what they were saying.

"We thank you, child. For helping us... and saving our mistress once..."

Listening, Vallynor was able to retrieve some memories of the Queen of the Forest. Slowly, he realized the cause of the conflict. It all happened because the Queen sacrificed the power of the forest to save her unborn children.

The world was sealed and devoid of external forces and resources. The unborn children were slowly dying inside their eggs. The Queen used necromancy and betrayed the forest she served. In doing so, she accelerated the destruction of the entire world and gave birth to the cursed forest.

"We will soon vanish... But we have glimpsed your destiny and decided to ask you for one favor," the whispers continued.

"What favor?" Vallynor asked, eager to know what they saw in his destiny.

"Your path is very long, full of dangers and evil. You will be able to leave this world. That's why we ask you to take these two seeds with you." Two branches appeared in front of Vallynor—one green and the other black. Leaves on the branches unfolded, revealing two seeds. "The green seed belongs to our daughter; she will be able to give birth to a new forest. The black seed is our son; it contains our power and anger. We ask you to protect this world that doesn't belong to any god. Let our daughter grow here. In return, our son will forever serve you and become the strength you will need. And do not plant them in the same world... Even if they are brother and sister, they will attack each other until one falls. We implore you to accept our request."

Vallynor found himself in a dilemma. From the words of the trees, he understood that he would be able to leave this world. After a moment of contemplation, he concluded that it made sense. After all, if he managed to enter this world somehow, there must be a way to leave it.

However, he also pondered what he would gain from having two seeds. The memories gradually awakening in his mind when he touched certain subjects told him that these two seeds were meant for growth and power. The green seed belonged to the girl, embodying nature and the forest. She would grow into a large tree and then spread smaller trees, creating a new forest where she would be the mother.

The black seed, on the other hand, will grow to its full potential using all available resources. It will not give birth to new trees but will make itself stronger. Its sole purpose is to become as powerful as possible. Considering its hatred for the gods, it is clear that it will thirst for revenge.

Vallynor reached out and took both seeds, carefully placing them in his ring. The trees bowed to him and quickly retreated, revealing a path to a huge pile of gathered undead. Vallynor felt that he had spent too much time here, and if he stayed for a few more minutes, something bad might happen. So, without hesitation, he threw his books, gold, various artifacts, and the remains of the eggs he had tried to save for the Queen of the Forest into the ring. But her son had consumed her body, and it was tragic.

Confirming his actions, Vallynor looked once again at the Queen's resting place and then walked out through the hole created by the forest. He did not explore the entire palace. Yes, a palace. It was created by the Queen's first son and, at the same time, her husband, the god of dragons. He built it for his mother and wife, who were one and the same. The palace had long been almost empty, and everything that remained had been collected by the Queen. Another reason he didn't explore it was the stone guardians created by the bone dragon of death, the stone dragon, and the dragon of battle and blood. They created stone golems, and the whole palace was guarded by them. After the Queen's death, they were supposed to activate and roam the corridors.

"Wait. Where is the body of the Queen of the Forest?" Only now did Vallynor remember the Queen of the Forest and her corpse. When he returned, he did not see the body and forgot about it, hastily gathering his belongings and thinking only about someone coming and stealing his gold. This is my gold. He neglected the corpse, forgetting about it.

Vallynor was ready to leave when a blue panel appeared before him. It had the following text written on it:

[

Tasks

"Squeeze and Collect Treasure" and "Soul Restoration" quests are completed.

The wounded soul, which threw itself into the storm, is filled with deadly dangers. You not only managed to survive but also obtained many pleasant things.

You were able to heal the soul by consuming the souls of the Queen of the Forest and her son. P.S.: I didn't think you would survive. I even prepared a grave.

You proved to the necromancer in the grimoire that he should teach you his skills and knowledge. For a reasonable fee, they will be ready to teach you everything they know themselves, except for the four necromancers who have become your teachers.

Reward: The gates to the Realm of Eternal Death have opened, and you have the opportunity to learn from necromancers.

Also, due to the critical situation, the grimoire had to take the corpse of the Queen of the Forest to prevent the fallen soul from getting into it and returning to life. You can retrieve it at any time.

]

After reading all this, Vallynor covered his face with his hand and began massaging his eyes, muttering to himself:

"Is this a system with status or what?" he couldn't finish as a hellish melody pierced his brain and soul. These infernal sounds no longer seemed as terrifying to him, but still... It's better not to try. Vallynor forgot that some words were forbidden. All these recent events were getting on his nerves. When most of his worries were left behind, he relaxed a little and, without thinking, made a mistake. Quickly stopping the hellish melody, he left the palace as if nothing had happened.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Leaving the mountain, he saw a girl not far away in the sky, sitting on a royal throne and holding a glass of red wine in her hand. Her long, straight violet hair was so long that it reached the lower part of her back.

She looked at him attentively, analyzing him. But after a long gaze, she sighed in disappointment. Shaking her head, she raised her hand and said, "It must have been difficult for you. Come, let's sit at the table and talk." She invited Vallynor to the table with an innocent smile.

"And where are Eyelid and Annie? I can sense them. Are they still alive?" Vallynor asked. Did he fly? Was he not given a choice? She is beautiful, but an inner instinct tells him she is dangerous. Smirking, he sat on the chair that emerged from the crack in the girl's back. This chair, with its elongated tentacles, looked just like the girl's but was slightly cheaper. It was wooden, without a cushion.

She looked at the tentacles and frowned. Then she snapped her fingers, and a cry of pain rang out. When the cry subsided, a voice filled with resentment spoke, "For what?"

"For the chair," she answered curtly. She pulled out a chair identical to hers and replaced the old one with a new one without making Vallynor stand up. The appearance of the new chair happened instantly, as if through teleportation. Vallynor couldn't understand how he ended up in the air and didn't fall.

"But you're our queen. How can some servants sit on the same chair where you once sat? And to prevent improper thoughts from arising in their filthy minds. That can only happen with kings like me," Tifius said.

"Are you implying that you want me?" she asked, frowning strangely and looking towards the crack.

"WHAT? No, no, no! At most, a third-rate mistress. But not the chosen one you dream of. Who would want such an old queen... a scary girl... I mean, the mistress of nightmares?" Tifius replied. After his words, a cry of pain resounded.

"Queen... Queen of Nightmares. So I was warned about her. Good thing I didn't say anything yet... I unconsciously took a sip. I must be careful with what I say, or I might join those creatures in their screams," Vallynor thought, dismissing his annoyance. Lia looked at Vallynor and the empty table. She snapped her fingers, and various dishes and delicacies began to appear from the crack. They were still warm, as if freshly prepared. The scent was so strong and enchanting that even the soldiers and everyone else could sense it.

The soldiers and their leader, as well as the fallen monk and Alexander, raised their heads. The soldiers looked at the boy with greed and envy, wondering how he could enjoy such delicacies. Not only did they have a divine taste, but they could also help improve the body, mind, and soul. Young Lev and the monk watched with a bit of regret. The monk looked at the campfire, more precisely at the meat roasting over the fire to prevent it from burning, sighed to himself, and murmured, "It's not destined for us to take the boy with us."

"Why?" young Lev asked, hearing his muttering.

"The Queen of Nightmares treated him. That alone shows that she's interested in him. Of course, not greatly, but as long as she's interested, he's under her protection," the old man explained. He took a piece of meat from the fire and divided it into two parts. He took his portion, prayed, and began eating slowly.

"How do you know she's not very interested in him?" Lev asked, recalling how Lia was friendly with Vallynor. At first, he had already started ordering his men to return, but the old man's words revived his hope.

"It's quite simple. She didn't offer him a glass of wine. The Queen of Nightmares is a lover of good wine. She has thousands of bottles and barrels of wine and more. You could see that for yourself if you observed her," the old man replied.

"Yes, I thought she drank out of boredom and sadness in her heart," young Lev agreed.

"Perhaps, but..." the monk began, but unexpectedly, Lia interrupted him and made them both fall asleep in a nightmare. Then she turned to Vallynor with an innocent smile.

Vallynor, observing everything, remembered that he had already seen this girl and heard this voice somewhere before. Moreover, he had already seen the Queen of Nightmares when he was in the memories of the Forest Queen and witnessed a part of the war between gods, demons, and the alliance of heroes and villains.

Then he saw her fighting a demon who was in the same domain as the Queen of Nightmares. As he remembered her, memories of Lia, connected to the Queen of Nightmares, slowly awakened in his mind.

Lia looked at Vallynor with an innocent smile and said, "You must be confused? Don't worry; they are just a group of idiots. And he is their king, isn't he?" She raised a finger, and in the next second, Vallynor heard a cry of pain. He vaguely guessed who was screaming.

"Don't hesitate; try the food... Aren't you hungry?"

"Who would dare to try your food? I'm sure it's either poisoned or contains something alien," Tifius unexpectedly said.

Lia silently raised her finger, and Tifius, frightened, said, "No, no, sorry. The food you offer is divine. Whoever tries it will be in ecstasy, and their mind will soar into the stratosphere... Aaaah."

"Ah, this fool ruined everything. No matter how hard I try, he remains the same," she said with pity.

"Aaaah... Didn't try hard enough. Aaaah..." Tifius replied.

"Yes, maybe you're right... I need to be even harsher. We'll leave that for later," Lia said, looking at Vallynor and asking, "What's your name, and how did you end up in this world?"

Until this moment, Vallynor had tried different types of food, but unfortunately, he didn't taste much. Hearing the question, he pondered and answered, "Vallynor... I don't know how I ended up here. I only remember dying in my own world and then waking up here in a foreign body. It was completely black, and the skin resembled wood."

"I see. So that's not your real name, right? Perhaps it's better for you... Tell me, what were you doing before you ended up in this world?"

"I was working as a programmer," Vallynor replied, picking up a glass of water. He took a sip and then placed the glass back on the table.

"A programmer?" Lia asked, her eyes filled with an interesting glow.

"Yes, someone who writes codes. Giving commands and instructions for the program to perform what is required of it and know what to do at specific moments. Programming is not just a set of code lines; it is also Vallynor paused, realizing that Lia might not know the meaning of programming, and began explaining.

Lia listened attentively and nodded. Then, excitedly, she asked, "In which field did you work?"

"Cybersecurity. I was responsible for data security. Mostly, I stole them," Vallynor answered.

Upon hearing the response, Lia became saddened. She didn't expect such an answer. However, she didn't give up and continued asking, "Before becoming a programmer, where did you dream of working, and what were your plans?"

Vallynor couldn't understand why Lia was asking such questions, and perhaps they were related to his appearance in this world. If so, it seemed like all programmers died and ended up in a world of magic and swords. However, he decided to answer honestly, not to upset her. "My hobby is reading books. And I dreamed of working as a streamer. But I have an aversion to cameras, and I don't like being filmed. I get lost when I see myself in photos or videos."

When Lia heard the answer, she fell into thought. Then she slowly lowered her hand, making a gesture for Vallynor to fall to the ground in front of Alexander, and said, "He is yours. If something happens to him, you know what will happen," she said, after which she turned to the group of soldiers and their leader and said, "Disappear if you don't want to know what horror is."

The monk and the young lion felt regret and fear. Quickly giving orders to their people, they left the place and departed.

The soldiers gathered their belongings and headed back. When they were sure they had distanced themselves enough from the Queen of Nightmares, they spoke quietly:

"We just left like that?" one of the soldiers asked, addressing his friends.

"Yes," one of them briefly replied.

"Richard, does that mean we came here for nothing? Why did we come?" The soldier didn't finish his sentence as a strong and mighty voice interrupted him.

"Silence!" the young lion shouted at his soldiers, then turned to the black monk and asked, "Old man, what have you been able to learn about that guy? You understand magic better than me, a warrior."

"Young, inexperienced... From what I could see at first glance and carefully analyze, I sensed the aura of death. This means he is an apostle of death. Now the question remains whether he is a death mage or a necromancer, or perhaps both at the same time."

"Death mage or necromancer?" the young lion repeated thoughtfully after the monk.

"A death mage is a spellcaster who works with spells related to death, such as decay magic, aging, life theft, and so on. They are more focused on the living. Necromancers, on the other hand, are more connected to corpses and the undead. But that doesn't mean death mages can't use necromancy, or vice versa. They may simply be more specialized in one area and have superficial knowledge in the other."

"I see. But in your opinion, which of them is the most dangerous?"

"Both," the old man answered without hesitation. After a brief silence, he continued, "Each of these options is very dangerous in its own way, but together they become even more terrifying."

"Alright. Is there anything else you wanted to say?" The young lion asked his subordinate after a moment of contemplation.

"For now, just thoughts. No need to dwell on them."

"Hmm... Alright. Let's return quickly, then."

"As you wish."

***

Vallynor, looking at the towering and mighty-maned lion before him, couldn't help but swallow, remembering the unimaginable speed he possessed.

Alexander, witnessing Lia's transformation into a mirage and her swift disappearance, nodded gratefully and then turned to Vallynor. After carefully analyzing him, Alexander nodded several times and said:

"We meet again. I never imagined that one day I would have to come for you. I didn't introduce myself last time, so allow me to do it now. My name is Alexander, Lord of War and General of the entire army."

"Vallynor," he replied, contemplating whether he should trust these people or not. Should he try to escape? But he couldn't do that.

Alexander nodded, turned around, and took a step, saying, "Let's go."

"Where?" Vallynor couldn't help but ask upon hearing Alexander's words.

"Perhaps you know, or perhaps you don't. But in this world, there is only one city left where normal life still exists. We are heading there. We are going to the capital of Sinif."

***

Far atop the ruined temple of Gara, spiders scurried back and forth. After much of the temple had been destroyed, the spiders, having lost their queen, began to envelop everything in webs. Over time, they covered a vast portion of the forest.

The little spiders, collecting prey and dragging it to their nests, suddenly stopped and turned their eight-eyed heads toward the dark woods. In the shadows, they saw a multitude of glowing red eyes.

Sensing something, the spiders swiftly descended onto the sand and waited for the owners of those eyes to approach. Emerging from the darkness were spiders several times larger than the ones on the sand. Behind them were others of different shapes and sizes.

In the center of the group appeared a girl with silver hair.

Seeing the tiny spiders, having caught their prey, sitting with bowed heads, she walked past them, heading toward the temple.

When she was about five meters away from the small spiders, a colossal spider with long legs impaled their bodies and consumed them within seconds.

***