Olorun's voice broke the eerie silence, panic tightening in his chest. “Guys, wake up! We’re about to be eaten!” His voice was hoarse, trying to shake off the grogginess while frantically yanking against the cocoon that bound him.

Eleo stirred first, groaning as he blinked awake, his head throbbing. “Ugh... what the heck happened?” His eyes went wide as he realized his situation. He could feel the strange, pulsating material holding him in place.

Timmy, perched on the ledge above, was the first to answer. His tiny voice trembled. “The mushroom people... they’re going to eat us all!”

Olorun’s heart pounded. “Yeah, and I’m definitely not ready to die!”

Kenji, still sluggish from the gas, scowled at Olorun. “Can you shut up for just two seconds? You’re too damn loud!” His eyes narrowed. “This whole mess is your fault, anyway. You were the one who wanted to party like a damn idiot.”

Olorun shot him a sharp look, his frustration bubbling over. “Hey, I tried to warn you guys, alright? None of you listened!”

Kenji snorted in disbelief, then leaned forward and slammed his head into Olorun’s, the sound of the impact echoing in the cavernous space. “No, you didn’t, bastard! You didn’t say shit!”

Olorun, eyes blazing, headbutted him right back. “Did too!”

“Did not!” Kenji snarled, slamming his head forward again, the two of them locked in a ridiculous, escalating battle of headbutts, completely ignoring the dire situation.

Timmy watched them with a sad, resigned smile, shaking his tiny head. “We’re doomed,” he muttered, his voice carrying a tone of bittersweet acceptance.

Eleo, trying to block out the noise of the headbutts, took a deep breath and examined his restraints. “Alright, alright, everyone chill. Let me try to get us out of this,” he said, his voice steady, though uncertainty gnawed at him.

He flexed his muscles and tried to break free, focusing all his energy on the bonds around his wrists. His muscles strained, veins bulging as he pushed himself to the limit, but nothing happened. The cocoon didn’t budge.

A bead of sweat trickled down Eleo’s forehead as panic set in. “W-what the heck? I can’t break this!” His voice shook with disbelief

Timmy frowned, inspecting the strange material holding them captive. “It must be what they used during the War between the animals and the Mushroom Kingdom,” he muttered, his voice thoughtful yet laced with fear.

Tony, still groggy but now more alert, glanced at Timmy. His voice was raspy as he spoke, “Oh yeah... I think I remember hearing about that. I was only, what, 900 years old back then? Everyone talked about that war... but, Timmy, how could they have used this stuff during the war?”

Timmy nodded, his expression darkening. “This cocoon—this material—it used to be the shields they used to protect their armies. It was impenetrable back then. Nothing could break through it. I guess... they must’ve repurposed it, turning it into cocoons to trap their prey.” His voice was tinged with dread as the reality of their situation settled in.

Olorun stopped headbutting Kenji long enough to process what Timmy said. His brows furrowed as he glanced around the room, watching the mushroom people feed on the remains of their previous victims. “Wait, so you’re telling me we’re stuck in something nobody could break through? Not even back then?”

Timmy nodded grimly. “That’s right. It’s practically indestructible.”

Kenji let out an annoyed huff, finally sitting back, his head pounding from the exchange with Olorun. “Great. So we’re screwed.”

Eleo, still panting from his failed attempt to break free, glanced toward the mushroom creatures again. “If we don’t figure something out soon, we’re not just screwed—we’re dinner.” His voice was steady, but there was an underlying fear that was hard to miss.

Olorun sighed deeply, feeling the weight of the situation press down on him. “We can’t just sit here and wait to die. There’s gotta be a way out. These mushrooms have to have a weakness, right?”

Timmy’s small voice interrupted. “If they’re still using tactics from the war, they might not expect us to fight back. The shields were designed to withstand physical attacks, but maybe... maybe there's another way.”

Eleo perked up at that. “You think? What are you getting at, Timmy?”

Timmy’s eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope. “I’ve read that the Mushroom Kingdom’s shields were highly sensitive to sound. A specific frequency could disrupt their structure. It was a closely guarded secret during the war.”

Olorun exchanged a quick glance with Eleo. “And you’re just telling us this now?”

Timmy smiled sheepishly. “Well, it didn’t seem relevant until now!”

Kenji rolled his eyes. “Great, so what do we do? Hum them to death?”

“No,” Timmy said, his voice steady, thinking hard. “We just need to create enough sound. A sharp, high-pitched noise, anything that’ll destabilize the cocoon.”

Olorun smirked, his eyes lighting up. “That I can do. I know how to make some noise.” He grinned mischievously.

Kenji groaned. “You? Making noise? Big surprise.”

But Olorun was already taking a deep breath, preparing for something. He opened his mouth, and a loud, piercing whistle filled the air, so sharp and high that it seemed to vibrate through the very walls around them. Everyone winced,

Olorun’s desperate attempt to make noise faded into silence. He stopped, panting slightly, his eyes wide with confusion. “Uh… nothing happened,” Timmy said flatly, perched on Olorun’s shoulder, his tiny arms crossed.

Olorun shrugged, his voice wavering as he tried to laugh it off. “Welp, I tried.”

“Maybe they’ve... advanced since the war,” Timmy suggested, his voice low, as if hoping it wasn’t true.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Before anyone could respond, the soft clink of glass caught their attention. The Mushroom Mayor, a tall figure with a wooden staff, tapped his cup, the hollow sound reverberating through the room. His voice was deep, slow, almost methodical as he addressed his people. “My people… we shall feast well tonight, for we have new volunteers for the table.”

Olorun, panic bubbling up again, shouted, “Hey, Mr. Mayor! Maybe we can work something out? You really don’t want to eat us, right? I mean, I don’t taste that good—trust me!”

The Mayor’s expression didn’t change, though a faint smirk played on his lips. He turned slowly to Olorun. “Do not worry, my dear volunteer. We shall make it quick. You won’t feel a thing.” His tone was unsettlingly calm, as if he were discussing the weather.

Kenji, always the first to act, grunted and began thrashing against his bindings. His muscles bulged, veins popping as he struggled to break free. “I’m not dying here!” he growled through clenched teeth.

The Mayor shook his head, his glowing green eyes locking onto Kenji. “Enough, blue-haired one. You cannot break what has bound greater warriors than yourself. Your efforts are futile.”

Kenji glared at the Mayor, his jaw tight, but his struggles began to slow. His body ached with the effort, and he could feel the futility of it gnawing at him.

The Mayor turned back to his people. “Now,” he said, his voice a formal decree, “we shall decide which of these volunteers will grace our banquet first.”

From the shadows, two mushroom soldiers appeared, wheeling out an ancient, creaky wooden wheel. Painted crudely on it were the faces of Eleo, Tony, Kenji, Olorun, and Timmy. The wheel looked worn, as though it had decided many fates over the years. The faces, however, were fresh—painted with unsettling care and detail, making them unmistakable.

Eleo’s stomach twisted as he watched the wheel being placed before the crowd. “No… no way,” he muttered under his breath, fear creeping into his usually calm demeanor. His heart raced as the grotesque ceremony began.

Tony, despite his usual stoic nature, swallowed hard. His eyes darted between the wheel and the mushroom people, his mind racing for any kind of plan. “This is madness,” he whispered, trying to keep his voice steady.

Kenji, teeth clenched in frustration, glared at the spinning wheel as if his sheer willpower could break it apart. “This isn’t how I’m going out,” he growled.

Olorun’s voice cracked as he tried to laugh, though the fear in his eyes was impossible to hide. “A wheel? Seriously? We’re getting picked for dinner like it’s some twisted game show?”

Timmy, shivering whisper, “This isn’t good...”

The Mayor raised a hand, and with a flourish, he spun the wheel. The old wood creaked as it turned, each click echoing ominously through the room. The mushroom people watched in hushed anticipation, their glowing eyes fixated on the spinning wheel, waiting to see who would be the first course.

Eleo, Tony, Kenji, Olorun, and Timmy all watched in silence, their breath held, hearts racing. Each tick of the wheel felt like a hammer driving nails into their fate. No one dared speak. There was no point in trying to negotiate with these creatures anymore.

As the wheel slowed, the clicking sound became more pronounced, each one like a countdown. Tick. Tick. Tick.

Timmy squeezed his eyes shut, whispering under his breath, “Please not me… please not me...”

Olorun clenched his jaw, muscles tensing as the wheel neared its end. He glanced at Kenji, who was still thrashing against his bonds, his eyes wild with frustration.

The wheel finally stopped. The room was silent, all eyes locked on the name it had chosen.

Kenji’s face stared back from the wheel, marked by a crude red line. The crowd erupted into cheers, their voices a sickening mix of excitement and hunger. “It seems... the blue-haired one shall be our honored guest tonight,” the Mayor announced, a twisted smile forming on his lips.

Kenji’s heart sank. His eyes burned with rage, but beneath it, there was something else. Something primal—fear. Real, raw fear. He looked at the others, his voice low and shaking. “You’ve gotta be kidding me…”

Olorun’s face paled. “Kenji...”

"Kenji!" Timmy cried out. "No, no, this isn't fair!"

Kenji inhaled deeply, his voice calm but trembling with determination. "No, Timmy. If it means I can sacrifice myself for the team, then I’ll gladly do so." His words hung heavy in the air, his acceptance almost breaking the others.

Eleo, still grappling with disbelief, yells. "Wait! You should eat me instead!" he shouted, desperation growing in his voice. "You had a whole war against my people. If anything, I deserve it more than he does!"

Tony,chimed in, "No, eat me! Those kids haven’t even lived their full lives. I’m a skeleton already, so... it might be hard to eat me, but better me than them!" .

Olorun clenched his fists in the cocoon. "This is my fault. Eat me. Just leave the others alone." His face was filled with guilt, every word spoken with a heavy weight.

Timmy, small and frail, stood as straight as he could. "No, eat me! I’m the newest, the weakest. Maybe that’ll satisfy you more." His voice cracked, but his courage was real.

The mushroom mayor, towering above them, chuckled darkly. "Silence! The wheel has already decided. Kenji is the one. You must all accept this fate!" The crowd of mushroom people roared with approval as the mayor signaled to his guards.

A massive mushroom sword was drawn, glistening with a sharpness that belied its fungal origins. Kenji’s cocoon was pulled from the wall, placed on the ground as he closed his eyes. Eleo, Olorun, Tony, and Timmy looked on helplessly, all sadness and desperation as the guards prepared for the execution. Kenji, though shaken, had already accepted his fate, his eyes closing as his breathing steadied. There was a quiet resolve in his stillness.

Then, a sudden boom shook the air. The ground trembled, and the mushroom crowd gasped, turning toward the source of the noise. Standing amidst the chaos was Lucian Solaris, a formidable figure with shimmering pale blonde hair and glowing amber eyes. His white-and-silver suit caught the dim light, making him look otherworldly. In his grip was Frank, cuffed and bruised, dragged like a ragdoll.

"Yo, mushroom people," Lucian said casually, his voice oozing confidence, "I think it’s time you all pack up and leave this place."

The mayor, regaining his composure, frowned. "What do you mean, outsider? We are in the middle of something important!"

Lucian’s expression darkened. "What I mean, Mayor, is that there’s a war about to break out. The Supreme Council needs all the help it can get, including your people. That means everyone, even your little mushroom kids."

The mushroom crowd murmured in confusion and fear as Lucian took another step forward, his eyes surveying the scene. Dead bodies littered the ground, signs of earlier conflict and a grim reminder of the violence that had unfolded. Frank, who had been silent, finally spoke up, his voice shaky but defiant.

"Look, man, we can work this out—"

Lucian grabbed Frank by the collar, lifting him slightly off the ground. "You shut your damn mouth." His voice was low and cold, filled with disdain. "You’re the reason the Supreme Court is paying millions to Orka City in damages. You summoned the Morphian Sovereign without authorization, caused countless deaths, and used a technique way beyond your rank. You’re just a Novice Sentinel, Frank. You're playing with fire you don’t understand."

Frank struggled, but Lucian’s grip was unyielding. The silence in the air was thick with tension. Lucian pulled him closer, whispering with menace, "If you don’t shut it, I’ll break every bone in your body and put you to sleep again. Permanently."

The mushroom mayor, who had remained speechless until now, finally spoke, his voice quivering with uncertainty. "W-What does this have to do with us?"

Lucian’s cold eyes snapped back to the mayor. "It means your little feast is over. The Supreme Council has bigger plans, and you’re either going to help, or you’ll die." His gaze swept over the mushroom guards, who had visibly paled under his commanding presence.

Eleo, Tony, Olorun, and Timmy paralyzed by the sudden shift in the situation. Kenji, still on the ground, cracked one eye

open as hope flickered in his heart. The mushroom people, sensing the gravity of Lucian’s presence, began to disperse outside, murmuring amongst themselves. The mayor, begrudgingly lowering his head.Lucian’s light beam blasted through the air, crashing into the cocoon that held Eleo, Tony, Kenji, Olorun, and Timmy. The impact sent them sprawling, but the energy quickly dissipated. Lucian stood above them, his amber eyes glowing as he turned his back on the group. "You’re lucky I’ve got orders to take everyone back to World 2," he muttered, his voice dripping with both authority and indifference. He strode toward the mushroom mayor, each step echoing with purpose.

"Mayor," Lucian demanded. "I know you’ve got a teleporter to World 2. Get it ready."

The mushroom mayor trembled under Lucian’s gaze. "Y-Yeah, yeah," he stuttered, spitting out a strange, glowing device from his cap. He activated it, a swirling vortex of energy materializing in front of them.

Lucian turned to the group. "Get moving. All of you."

Eleo, Tony, Kenji, Olorun, and Timmy were sluggish to move, their bodies aching from the strain, but they complied. One by one, they stepped into the portal, vanishing from the world of mushrooms.

When they emerged on the other side, Tony stumbled, catching his breath. He fumbled with his bag and pulled out a tattered map, dusting it off. "Well, would you look at that," he said, holding the map up to the light. "They didn’t take it."

Kenji, still shaken, tapped the hilt of his swords at his waist. "Or my swords."

Olorun scoffed, crossing his arms. "Doesn’t matter. The map’s useless here in World 2."

Tony gave him a sideways glance. "No, it’s not. This thing could still help us navigate. Might be outdated, but it’s better than nothing."

Timmy, wide-eyed, looked from one to the other. "Do you guys know who that was? Lucian Solaris. He’s part of the Supreme Court, ranked as a Silverguard. He’s no joke—those guys are elite."

Tony let out a small chuckle. "Yeah, I know. I’ve fought him before."

Timmy blinked, eyes sparkling in disbelief. "What? You fought him?"

Tony nodded, scratching the back of his head. "Yep. Didn’t go so well, though. He beat me, but that just means I’ve got to train harder. Next time, it’ll be different."

Timmy’s admiration only grew, his face lighting up. "Wow, Tony, you’re so cool!" His awe was almost palpable as he gazed up at Tony, who smirked with pride.

"Yes, young one," Tony said with a dramatic flair, "I am."

Olorun, rolling his eyes, stepped in. "Yo, Timmy, don’t get all starry-eyed just yet. I’ve fought something even stronger than Lucian Solaris." His voice dropped to a serious tone. "Ever heard of the Morphian Sovereign?"

Timmy’s jaw dropped, his eyes sparkling even more. "The Morphian Sovereign? That’s incredible! You guys are all so cool"

Kenji, standing off to the side, clenched his fists as the others talked. His mind raced with doubt and frustration. I was too weak… The image of the mushroom people closing in on them, nearly killing them, flashed through his head. We almost died to a bunch of mushroom people. If Lucian hadn’t shown up, we’d all be dead. I’m too weak…

He glanced at Eleo, who was casually stretching, seemingly unbothered by the near-death experience. Is that why Eleo wants to become the strongest? Does he feel it too? I don’t know. But I need to become the strongest swordsman. I need to be better than this.

Eleo caught his eye and nodded toward the horizon. "Yo, Kenji. We’re heading out."

Kenji nodded silently, his resolve hardening. As they started walking