Editor’s Pen activated!

Delay the effects of demonic plants’ pollen by 6 hours.

Edit granted!

Since I hadn’t written about this world extensively, Editor’s Pen would have far more influence over this situation.

It seemed like any contact with observers or gods was cut or diminished, but at least skills still worked. I’d worry over the communication error assuming I didn’t die.

Editors Pen activated!

Increase the mental capabilities for victims of demonic plants’ pollen.

Edit granted!

Zhige violently shook on the ground, having come in contact with another demon’s poison. While Zhige wouldn’t be impacted, there was no doubt the blade would be violently enraged.

I hacked up my lungs, gripping the cobblestone with my dirtied fingers and trying to regain my breath. It felt like my entire body had been lit on fire, and the demonic figures were quickly approaching.

Wei shifted his feet forward until he bumped into the back of my leg, and he quickly swung his blade around us in an attempt to defend me.

Suddenly, I looked up, and through my fading vision, I saw the path to the end of the forest illuminated by a fuzzy gold halo.

“You’ve got to be kidding me…”

Only those infected by the demon plants could see how to exit the forest.

“Ha ha ha, look at her writhing on the ground like a fish!” One of the now humanoid flowers called out, her hair growing past her waist in long black curls.

All the figures were undeniably beautiful—with jade skin and long vines that wrapped around their bodies like makeshift clothes. Lavish wreaths adorned the tops of their heads, and bright red flowers blossomed off of them.

With long green lashes and endlessly deep eyes, it was easy to see why this was a dream for many and also a demon’s lair.

For Yang, however, this was the worst day of his life.

“Ooh, who is the man next to her? Let’s get him next!”

Another figure joined, cackling as she circled around the blind Wei, like a predator encircling prey. “I want this one.”

Licking her lips, she took another step forward, and her feet were still made of the writhing roots as she extended a hand. “What do you think he’s hiding under his robes?”

“What a conservative man! Oh, someone like him is so easy to break.”

“One look at us and it’s over!”

Another one of the figures let out a laugh equivalent to the beauty and resonance of ringing bells, and flowers erupted all around her.

“Ah, doesn’t he remind you of someone? Perhaps he’s paid us a visit before.”

“Now that you mention it, I do recognize him. He’s most certainly been here! I could never forget such a handsome face.”

“Ha ha, maybe he’s led them all down here for us! Oh, how lovely!”

Wei’s calm facade finally broke, and his face twisted into one of rage as he suddenly thrust his sword out and cleanly stabbed the flower demon through the throat.

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Editor’s Pen activated!

Demonic plants’ pollen does not affect children.

Edit granted!

“Wei didn’t do that,” I lied, spit dripping from my mouth as I wiped it away. “Don’t believe them.”

Yue and Yang circled around me, helping Wei as he pushed back the figures.

“Yue,” I began to plead at her weakly while still crawling on the ground, “Give Amelia headphones or earplugs. Buy the best ones from the shop. I’ll reimburse you”

“Peijin,” Amelia cried out for me, the blindfold still over her face.

“Shh, don’t speak. Can you hand me the ribbon? Keep your eyes closed, alright?” I hushed her, gently grabbing the ribbon from her hands as she kept her eyes squeezed shut.

I was glad Yue couldn’t open her eyes, because she would have given me one of the most pathetic and judgemental expressions ever. Still, a pair of sleek black headphones appeared in her hands, and she quickly brushed back Amelia’s hair and put them on.

“E-everyone, follow me. I see the path out.”

I pulled the ribbon taut between my hands before weaving it along the wrists of everyone else in the group, effectively creating a rope to connect all of them. My breath hitched in my throat once more, my face burning as I stumbled forward, tugging the rope down the path.

Zhige violently shook in my hand as if it were tossed into a flaming pit, desperately jerking toward me.

“Stop it,” I hissed, banging the hilt with my hand before wincing again, nearly falling onto the ground.

Tugging the rope forward, I heard Wei’s frustrated voice behind me.

“Peijin! What’s going on? Who are all these voices from?” Wei was still swinging wildly around, yet the demons were now quietly lurking beside him, dodging his blind slashes.

Yang filled in for me, most likely having connected my state with the demons. “They’re flower demons,” his voice shook after every word, “I’m guessing they’ve infected Peijin, but don’t do anything crass! It’ll only rile them up!”

"How the hell does your twisted brain even come up with this?" Yue shouted angrily, still swinging her spear wildly at the demons.

The path out of the forest was a straight stretch of black soil that occasionally dipped or weaved with the forest’s layout. Yet, it would only appear to those already affected by the pollen.

“Fuck, this shit really sucks,” I gasped.

Spewing profanities, I felt an unspeakable rage building up in me, and my grip only tightened on the rope. Instead of responding to Wei, I could only let out a loud, angry groan and violently tug the rope forward.

“Ha ha, do you see the girl in the front! I think we’re really getting to her,” cooed one of the figures as it slowly began to morph, changing into the figure of a young man. “Huh, beautiful?”

“Fuck!” I screamed, throwing Zhige straight at the figure while blindly wiping at my face, sweat beginning to cloud my vision. My skin was practically dripping with sweat now, and when Zhige flew forward, it was with an absolutely indomitable speed and fury.

Yet, Zhige’s strikes were sloppy and frantic, and the figure let out a brutish scream as it tried to grapple with the blade.

Hindsight is wavering!

Suddenly, Yang’s staff elongated and stabbed straight through the demon’s head, pinning her against the trunk of the tree. A splitting sound crackled before erupting, sending the demon flying straight through the shattered tree.

Wei jerked his head over to me, grabbing my shoulder firmly. “Talk to us, Peijin,” he pleaded, unable to see me.

The demons began to turn their attention toward Yang due to his sudden attack.

At the contact, I let out a surprised gasp and immediately crumbled onto the ground, writhing in agony. For a moment, the pain fully stopped, but it pursued five fold after.

“D-don’t touch me,” I gasped, calling Zhige back over, my mind just as foggy as my vision.

My ears rang and my entire body swayed from the sheer pain. How was this a diminished version of the initial effects?

With Zhige now firmly in my hands, I took in a deep breath while kneeling on the ground, trying to clear my mind. Yue and Yang began to shout in the background once more, but I couldn’t hear them over the sound of the violent ringing in my head.

The blade shook in my grip, but I readjusted it and prepared myself, trying to calm my shakiness.

When I initially came up with this forest, I figured it would prey on men’s deepest desires. Typically, it ended up being lust, and with so many demons ready to prey on such a thing, it was convenient.

But, there was something that snaked around that very same desire—violence. Brutality.

Murder.

After one last inhale, I stabbed Zhige straight through my forearm.

"Gah!"

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