The ice sheets beneath Sera's feet were thinning fast as she sprinted through the swamp. The once-solid paths of frozen water were melting into pools of murky slush, each step sending a splash of icy droplets into the air.

When she risked a glance over her shoulder, Sera saw how the swarm of tall, lanky monstrosities were still closing in. She wasn't quite sure if it was because the monsters were fast or if she was somehow moving slower than expected.

Fortunately, she caught sight of the portal back to the dungeon in her peripheral vision. She quickened her pace, but the sense of the monstrosities gaining on her still grew stronger with every step. Just a little bit more and I can be rid of those abominations.

As Sera got closer to the portal, she stopped and spun around to face her pursuers, her feet digging into the ice sheet below. The thin layer of ice cracked beneath the weight of her left foot, plunging it into the swamp water with a splash.

She yanked her foot out before bringing it down again. The moment her toe touched the icy water's surface, a burst of magic shot through and instantly froze a new, thicker sheet of ice that spread outwards.

Channeling a larger portion of her magic, Sera commanded the decaying trees around her to stretch with loud creaks that filled the swamp. The trees slammed against the approaching monstrosities, wrapping their branches around the lanky creatures and dragging some into the water. The roots and branches coiled tightly, slowing their advance and giving Sera the precious seconds she needed.

But one abomination managed to break through the barrier. Its grotesque form rushed toward her, and its twisted grin widened as it closed the distance.

Sera sprinted toward the portal as fast as she could. She dashed through the opening, and once on the other side, commanded the flora that formed the portal to pull away: dismantling the structure piece by piece.

All of the vines and branches which had formed the portal's arch retracted as they returned to their original states. Each vine twisted back into the earth while the branches melded seamlessly into the trunks of nearby trees.

In seconds, the portal shrank rapidly as it diminished to a mere thread of light before finally vanishing. Yet, just as the portal dissipated and vanished, Sera nearly jumped as a gnarled limb from the abomination broke through.

The severed limb flailed briefly before the portal closed completely, cutting it off from the rest of the swamp. It fell to the dungeon floor, twitching before becoming lifeless.

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through her head, and she clutched her temples, wincing. It felt as though a memory was trying to break through, something important she was supposed to remember, but it slipped away like water through her fingers. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself and clear her mind, but the sensation left her uneasy. What… was I doing here?

Yet, before Sera could catch a break, a loud screech echoed through the dungeon, jolting her out of her thoughts. She spun around, her eyes widening as she saw a good chunk of the forest now engulfed in flames. The fire raged uncontrollably, sending plumes of smoke upwards.

She ran as fast as she could towards the chaos, the trees and bushes seemingly parting ways as they cleared a path for her. The air grew hotter as she approached the heart of the inferno.

Sera spotted Aermo, already transformed into his beast form and angrily swatting at a swarm of flies that never seemed to be able to truly disappear. His massive paws struck out with fury, but the swarm constantly replenished their numbers despite the many that burned to a crisp.

The elder dryad pressed her hands against the ground and channeled her magic into the soil. An array of thick roots surged up from below and wrapped around Aermo's limbs, lifting him into the air with a violent jerk before slamming him back into the ground further away.

While Aermo was dazed from the sudden assault, several large flower buds emerged from the ground around him. These blossomed rapidly into full bloom, then emanated a fine silver dust that clouded the air, quickly thickening into a shimmering haze. Gradually, while the cloud of dust thickened, Aermo's movements slowed until eventually he stopped moving altogether and fell into a deep sleep.

Sera approached Zoha, who bowed slightly at her arrival. "What happened?"

The demoness pointed at a man bound by layers of string against a tree. "This human and his colleagues started a fight with Aermo. When I arrived, he had already transformed."

Sera's eyes narrowed as she assessed the situation. "Why did you allow the humans to infiltrate the dungeon in the first place?"

Zoha met Sera's gaze with a calm, albeit slightly weary expression. "I was curious and wanted to see what they were capable of." She then bowed her head. "I apologize if my actions have displeased you, Mistress."

Sera's expression softened just a fraction. "I shall overlook your indiscretion for now. These particular humans posed little threat; however, should a genuine danger arise, you must be prepared to address it immediately."

The demoness bowed her head again. "Of course, Mistress, I will keep your words in mind."

Sera glanced around to take stock of the current situation. She was aware that Aermo wasn't capable of transforming at will. Which only meant that he transformed involuntarily, either by being injured or a heightened emotional response: perhaps both. In either case, that was all the more reason for her to squeeze every last bit of information out of the human survivor.

She looked at the human bound against the tree. He appeared resigned and exhausted, and his expression was one of stoic acceptance rather than fear: a response she planned on changing.

Raising her hand, she summoned a tree beside her, its branches ending in sharp, needle-like points that hovered menacingly close to the human. "I believe it's in your best interest to start talking."

The man forced a smirk, trying to maintain a facade of defiance. "You ain't getting shit from me."

Sera turned to glance at Zoha. "Can you break one of his legs?"

The demoness nodded. "Which one, Mistress?"

"Did you manage to catch if the human prefers to use his right or left foot?"

"I did, Mistress, and he's almost certainly right-footed."

"Then crush that one first."

The man's smile faltered. "Wait, please, I'll talk, I'll talk!"

Zoha pulled out a slender needle from within her cloak and weaved it through the air, conjuring thin, shimmering strings from nothingness. She directed the needle toward the man's legs, the strings following her command and wrapping tightly around his already-bound limbs.

The demoness wrapped the enchanted threads tighter and tighter, the pressure building until the man's legs trembled under the strain. Then, she twisted the needle sharply, causing the strings to constrict as the man's right leg buckled with a sickening crunch.

His screams echoed through the forest as the bones in his leg shattered under the relentless pressure. Zoha continued to tighten the strings, each turn of the needle bringing more excruciating pain, until the leg was nothing but a mangled mess of broken bone and torn muscle.

The man's cries of anguish subsided into ragged sobs. Zoha finally released her hold, stepping back and allowing the man to slump to the ground. "Was that sufficient, Mistress?"

"That was perfect, Zoha, I'll take it from here."

Sera took a few steps back and raised her hands before clapping them together sharply. Roots rose and twisted from the soil. They wove together seamlessly, forming the legs and surface of a table.

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Sera's gaze turned to Zoha again. "Put the human there."

The demoness responded with a silent nod. She lifted him from the ground and slammed him onto the root table, his head hanging precariously over the edge. His groans echoed in the smoky air, a pitiful sound against the backdrop of flickering flames.

More roots grew rapidly from the structure of the table, curling and twisting around the man's arms and legs. Stepping closer, Sera stood at the head of the table, her eyes cold and calculating.

With a slight flick of her wrist, Sera summoned another root that snaked out from the base of the table, its surface rough with tiny, hair-like fibers, and coiled upwards with deliberate slowness. The root’s tip pressed gently against the man's chin, tilting his head further downwards until his face was almost level with the table’s surface.

The man's eyes widened with terror as they darted upward. Just above him, the branches of the needle tree swayed menacingly, their sharp, glistening tips just barely hovering from his exposed skin.

Sera leaned in closer, her voice low and icy. "Last warning. Talk, or else."

The man’s eyes darted around frantically before locking onto Sera’s, the sheer terror within them unmistakable. He attempted to nod, sending waves of pain coursing through his body. Saliva dribbled from the corners of his mouth, forming rivulets that dripped onto the forest floor.

Seeing this, Sera snapped her fingers. The root table shuddered and morphed with a grinding noise before transforming seamlessly into a chair. The man was forced abruptly into a sitting position, his head slamming back against the backrest, eliciting a pained groan from him.

Then, Sera closed her eyes and knelt on one knee. It's time for a small demonstration.

Her right hand pressed firmly against the soil, while her left hand traced patterns through the air. The burning trees nearby responded one by one. Each fiery trunk shuddered briefly before collapsing inward. The inferno was swiftly subdued as thick, knotted roots surged upward from the ground, coiling around the flaming wood and their charred remains, smothering the flames and sealing away the last embers.

Soon after, tiny saplings burst forth, their slender stems pushing through the blackened soil. These young trees grew with remarkable speed, their leaves unfurling in all manner of vibrant colors that stood in stark contrast to the ashen remains of their predecessors.

Sera rose to her feet before shooting a cold glance upon the man, whose eyes were now wide with awe, his earlier fear momentarily replaced by sheer wonder. "What you saw was just a small taste of my power."

The man nodded fervently. "Y-yes, I understand, goddess. Please forgive me."

For a split second, Sera almost broke her composure and chuckled. While it was natural for a mortal to still believe in the gods and goddesses of old, the elder dryad almost found it insulting to be compared to entities that have long been dead. Regardless, there is no harm in him believing that I am divine.

"First question: who sent you and your men here?"

The man took a deep breath, his expression turning into a slight frown as he weighed his words carefully. "My men and I are part of the Black Eagles, a gang based in Marwood."

"Tell me more about Black Eagle operations and what they do exactly."

"We, uh, usually smuggle and sell just about anything and everything. Beastkin slaves, magical items, dungeon cores. You name it, we have it."

"Makes sense, but what type of products are the most profitable?"

"The big sellers are potions for both adventurers and even the military. While the alchemists's guild will charge people a fortune, we charge half or even a quarter of the price as long as nobody asks questions."

A small grin tugged at Sera's lips as she heard the human speak. She just thought of an idea which could lead to the Spirit Tree's exponential growth.

"Regarding these potions, do the Black Eagles put in any additives to enhance their properties?"

"We do, once the cheap stuff turned people away; the big boss told us to mix in herbs like Aetherwisp and Vipershade into stamina potions at first."

"And how did that go?"

"Very good, if you neutralize the poisonous components, both Aetherwisp and Vipershade are a great way to get high."

Sera raised an eyebrow. "Define 'high' for me."

The man tapped his remaining leg restlessly for a moment. "Sure… basically, people get very happy and loose, you know what I mean?"

"Ah, you mean to say they experience euphoria?"

"Sort of, Vipershade makes you all happy and jumpy. Aetherwisp makes you more mellow and relaxed. Either way, both made people come back for more and more of our potions."

Sera began to pace around the chair, the forest floor softening the sound of her movement. As she completed her circuit, she leaned in close, her breath a whisper against his skin. "Who is your leader and where can I find them?"

The man’s throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, a sheen of sweat breaking out on his forehead. "H-his name is Vittorio, but everyone just calls him Vito. I don’t know where he is right now."

Seeing this, Sera’s expression darkened. She gestured towards the needle tree, causing one of its sharp, slender needles to shoot out, piercing deeply into the man’s remaining leg. The needle withdrew just as quickly, leaving behind a deep puncture wound.

The man’s scream tore through the forest. The skin around the wound changed almost immediately, the flesh hardening and darkening into rough bark. All while small green leaves sprouted from the newly formed wooden surface.

Sera leaned back, crossing her arms over her chest. "Start being honest, or else you'll be turning into a tree within sixty seconds."

Panicked, the man's eyes widened in terror. "I'm serious! Vito never tells anyone where he is!"

Sera scrutinized every nuance of the man's demeanor: the raw terror glistening in his eyes, the uncontrollable quivering of his limbs, and the sheer desperation in his voice. The man seemed sincere at the very least, if he had wanted to try and appease her, he likely would have tried to fake knowing Vitorrio's location instead.

Satisfied with his apparent honesty, Sera extended her hand over the man's rapidly transforming right leg. Her fingers hovered just inches above the bark-covered limb, the air around them shimmering with a faint, verdant glow.

Under the influence of her magic, the rough bark receded gradually. The gnarled texture softened and dissolved, revealing patches of human flesh beneath, partially healed but still raw and tender. But she stopped the healing process mid-way, leaving his leg still half covered in bark. "Give me more information, unless you prefer both of your legs to be dysfunctional."

Gasping for breath, the pain evident in his voice, the man hurriedly divulged more. "There's only one person Vito really trusts, his name's Vega."

At this revelation, Zoha suddenly stepped forward. "You mean Vega the Poison?"

The man nodded. "Yeah, him."

Sera shot a glance at Zoha, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Have you met Vega before?"

The demoness reached into her cloak and took out a small vial of deep purple liquid. "I've done business with the Black Eagles before and have spoken with Vega a few times. He's greedy, but shrewd. Not the worst person to negotiate with."

Sera extended her hand, her fingers delicately curling around the vial as she took it from Zoha. "And this is?"

"One of Vega's personally crafted poisons, Mistress. This one is designed to only kill after twelve to twenty-four hours have passed. Excellent for if you need to kill someone quietly."

Sera handed the vial back to Zoha, her mind already calculating the possibilities. Part of her considered removing Vega personally and inserting herself into the Black Eagle's command structure. But that move could prove to be too inefficient depending on how much loyalty Vega commanded.

She then turned her gaze back towards the man. "Where can we find Vega?"

The man gazed down for a moment. "He likes to hang around the underground arena in Marwood's slums."

Zoha looked towards Sera. "I've been there before, Mistress. Despite the name, the place is actually much larger and can be more accurately described as an underground complex that happens to have an arena inside."

Sera nodded, then glanced at the man again."Interesting, and you wouldn't happen to be able to lead me to Vega, can you?"

The man's face was drained of color. "I can't, but it's not my fault! He also never tells his plans to anyone except his own direct entourage and Vito."

"Then you should come up with something to prove yourself useful to me, and fast,"

Panic seized the man as he trembled in his chair. "W-wait! I can actually lead you to Vega myself, I just—"

While the human continued his frantic plea, Sera narrowed her gaze, dissecting each of his movements with meticulous precision. She noticed the slight quiver in his voice, the way his gaze flickered away from her eyes as he spoke, and the nervous fidgeting of his fingers. The desperation in his tone sounded less about genuine fear of his leader and more about his immediate desire to avoid further pain.

If he truly had the means to lead them to Vittorio, then there wasn't much reason for him to not say it earlier. Which meant that the human was either covering for his leader, or he was just saving his own skin. Either way, he's no longer useful.

The moment the man finished speaking, Sera shook her head slowly, her hair catching the faint glimmer of light filtering through the canopy. "How very disappointing."

She turned away and she walked towards Aermo, her gaze briefly drifting to the demoness. "Zoha, remove him."

"Yes, Mistress."

Moments later, the air was rent by the man's desperate screams. The piercing sound echoed among the trees, gradually fading as the distance between Sera and the source grew.