Timmy led the group deeper into the wilderness. The scent of damp earth and wood mingled with a faint sweetness carried by the air—the unmistakable smell of wild mushrooms, growing denser as they approached their destination.

“So, Timmy,” Eleo piped up, his voice full of curiosity, “is Lúmenoc Grotto in World 1? If it is, does that mean the strongest people are here too?”

Timmy, walking ahead with the eagerness of a child sharing a secret, shrugged without turning around. “Well, we don’t really know where Lúmenoc Grotto is exactly. It could be in any world.” He paused, his tone becoming more thoughtful. “Only the Supreme Court knows for sure. If you want to find out, you’d have to go to their main base.”

Eleo’s face scrunched in thought. “And how do we get to their base?”

“Uhh...” Timmy scratched the back of his head. “That’s the tricky part. I don’t know where it is. I never really cared much about them, to be honest. But I can tell you this—they’re strong. Super strong.”

“How strong?” Olorun asked, his usual laid-back tone now carrying a hint of interest.

Timmy grinned, turning slightly. “Super, super strong. Like... the capital of strong things.” He made a sweeping motion with his tiny hands, as if that settled everything.

Kenji, always the strategist, sighed. “Guess we’ll need to train a lot more if we’re even going to stand a chance against them.”

Tony, ever the voice of measured wisdom, nodded. “Quite right. We’ll need more people, more allies.”

Eleo’s eyes lit up at the thought. “Oh man, I can’t wait to add more people!”

“Okay, okay,” Olorun interrupted, glancing around. “But what about the monster? We all heard those noises back there, right?”

Timmy stopped in his tracks, looking over his shoulder with a cheeky smile. “Oh, that? That was me, silly.”

Tony, bemused, raised a bony brow. “You?”

Timmy pulled a small bag from his side, fishing out a tiny horn. “I used this to keep the mushroom people from attacking us.”

“Mushroom people huh” Kenji’s tone sharpened, his tactical mind already whirling.

Timmy nodded, his expression turning more serious. “Yeah, they get... territorial. My village used to be full of my people, but it’s empty now. They’ve all gone to World 2 to explore it.”

“And you stayed behind to protect it?” Eleo asked, his wide-eyed admiration growing.

“Not exactly. I stayed because I wanted to explore more of this place, learn to make better healing potions for my people. But now, the village is just... empty.” There was a note of melancholy in Timmy’s voice, as if the weight of responsibility pressed down on him more than his cheerful demeanor let on.

Kenji crossed his arms, narrowing his eyes. “So you were the healer?”

“I guess you could say that,” Timmy answered with a shrug. “I always tried to be the smartest, the one who could figure things out. But... compared to the higher-ups in the world, I’m way outclassed.”

Olorun raised an eyebrow. “Wait, Timmy. Did you get that bag from some old hag who made you sell your soul?”

Timmy blinked, confused. “Uh, no. A piggy man gave it to me for a dollar.”

Olorun with a sad face, leaning in to whisper to Kenji, “My vway better.”

Before anyone could say anything else, Timmy pointed ahead. “Look, we’ve made it—the mushroom village.”

Eleo stopped in his tracks, eyes wide with excitement. “Wow! That’s Mushroom Village!”

Timmy, who had been trailing slightly behind, tensed. “Oh yes... and it’s best we avoid the village,” he said quickly. “Uh, guys?”

But his words fell on deaf ears. Eleo and the rest of the group were already walking toward the village, oblivious to his growing concern.

“GUYS!” Timmy yelled, but they kept going, ignoring his pleas as they approached the village.

As they entered the village square, the mushroom people froze in their tracks, turning to look at them with wide, confused eyes. The silence hung in the air, thick and expectant.

Timmy, panicking, quickly scurried up Tony’s clothes, perching on his shoulder. “This is bad, really bad! They should’ve attacked by now!”

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But instead of hostility, the mushroom people’s faces lit up. There was a sudden burst of joyful chatter, and they rushed forward, surrounding the group with cheers and laughter.

Eleo, oblivious to the tension that had been building, waved at the crowd with a wide grin. “Hi!”

Tony, ever composed, looked around calmly. “Hmm, seems they’re happy to see us.”

Kenji glanced around, one eyebrow raised. “Weird. Very, very weird.”

Olorun, already caught up in the mood, chuckled. “Oh, I hope we get to have another party. I’m still recovering from the last one.”

Eleo, nodding enthusiastically, added, “Seems like a party is exactly what we’re about to get.”

Before anyone could respond, a mushroom with an elaborate headdress—clearly the mayor—stepped forward and gestured toward a large mushroom-shaped hall at the far end of the square. “Come, come! Eat! We shall party!”

Timmy, still clutching Tony’s shirt, leaned in to whisper, “This is so weird... I thought they’d attack you by now. They usually don’t like visitors.”

Tony, unbothered, gave a slight nod. “It seems they’re friendly... for now.”

Led by the enthusiastic mushroom people, the group was ushered into a giant hall filled with long tables made from sturdy stalks and plates crafted from mushroom caps. Food—mushrooms of every size, shape, and color, prepared in ways none of them had ever seen—was already being served. The music, a strange blend of earthy drums and high-pitched flutes, filled the air, giving the entire hall an otherworldly feel.

The celebration began in earnest. Plates of food were passed around, the mushroom people offering up their delicacies with eager smiles. Eleo, ever adventurous, immediately dug in, trying everything with gusto. “This is amazing!” he said, his mouth full of food. “I’ve never had anything like it!”

Olorun raised a cup made from a hollowed-out mushroom, the drink inside glowing faintly. “To another unexpected adventure,” he said with a grin, taking a swig. “And to more parties.”

Kenji was less enthusiastic about the food, poking at it cautiously with his fork. “This is the weirdest dinner I’ve ever had,” he muttered under his breath, though he eventually joined in, taking a few tentative bites.

Tony, ever the gentleman, sipped politely at his drink and nodded at the mushroom people’s hospitality, though he couldn’t help but shoot a skeptical glance at Timmy every now and then.

The party continued late into the night. The mushroom people danced in circles, their movements synchronized in a way that seemed almost hypnotic. Eleo, not one to miss out, jumped up and joined them, laughing as he twirled around with the smaller mushrooms.

Olorun leaned back in his chair, watching the scene with a smile. “This is exactly what we needed after all that craziness,” he said, stretching his arms behind his head.

Kenji smirked, though his eyes remained sharp, scanning the room. “Yeah, let’s just hope it stays this peaceful.”

Timmy, sitting on Tony’s shoulder, fidgeted, still uneasy. “I don’t know, guys. This is all really strange. I’ve been here before, and this is... different.”

Tony looked up at him, his bony fingers tapping the table softly. “It’s possible that circumstances have changed. But for now, let’s enjoy the night.”

Eventually, the energy of the party began to die down. The mushroom people, having danced and feasted to their heart’s content, slowly retreated back to their homes, leaving the group alone in the grand hall.

Eleo yawned, stretching his arms wide. “That was awesome,” he said, his voice heavy with exhaustion. “I’m so tired.”

Olorun chuckled. “You’ve got the right idea, kid. I think it’s time we all get some rest.”

The group settled down, using whatever soft surfaces they could find. Olorun leaned back against one of the sturdy tables, his hands behind his head, eyes half-closed. Kenji sat cross-legged nearby, always alert but clearly more relaxed than usual. Eleo curled up in a ball on a patch of soft moss, his tiny bunny ears twitching in his sleep. Tony, as ever, remained upright, though his skull tilted slightly downward, as if nodding off.

Timmy, still perched on Tony’s shoulder, looked around at his friends, the weight of the day’s strange events finally beginning to lift. For the first time since entering the village, he allowed himself a small, tentative smile.

“Maybe things aren’t as bad as I thought,” he whispered to himself before drifting off. Olorun stirred awake, blinking in the soft glow of dawn, feeling a light weight on his head. He groaned, wiping his eyes. As he sat up, he noticed Timmy was the only one still with him, lying on the ground nearby, stirring from sleep.

Olorun blinked a few times, rubbing his temples. “Hey... where is everyone?” he mumbled, pointing at Timmy’s tiny form. “I don’t remember them leaving.”

Timmy yawned, stretching out his small arms. “I... have no clue,” he murmured, rubbing his eyes, scanning the empty space around them. “Where’d everyone go?”

Olorun sighed, the memory of the party already fuzzy. “Man, the food was trash. While nobody was looking, I tossed most of it away... even threw up in the trash.” He glanced at Timmy with a sheepish grin.

Timmy wrinkled his nose. “Uh, okay... but why are you telling me this again?”

Olorun shrugged, brushing his dreads back. “No idea. Anyway, let’s find the others.”

Timmy quickly hopped up, climbing onto Olorun’s head, finding a perch among his dreads. The little Minari looked anxious as he scanned the village. “This is weird... too weird,” he muttered.

As they walked through the now eerily quiet village, it became clear that something was off. No mushroom people greeted them, no sounds of music from the night before—just silence.

Olorun’s eyes narrowed as he muttered, “This is definitely weird. Where did everyone go?”

Timmy’s tiny hands gripped Olorun’s dreads tighter. “See, see! I told you something was wrong!” he squeaked, his voice tinged with panic.

“Ow, ow, ow! Easy on the hair, little guy!” Olorun winced, pulling Timmy's hands away gently. “Okay, okay, I get it, we should’ve listened to you.”

A rustling sound came from the shadows, and both of them turned their heads sharply. “What was that?” Timmy whispered, his voice shaking.

They cautiously approached the source of the noise, only to see Kenji standing there. But something was very, very wrong. His normally pale skin had turned a sickly gray, and strange mushrooms sprouted from his body. His eyes glowed an unnatural green.

Olorun swallowed hard. “Uh, buddy... maybe you should’ve laid off the mushrooms last night.”

Kenji just stared at them, blinking slowly. “Huh?” His voice was sluggish, like he wasn’t fully there.

Olorun took a step back, keeping his tone calm but wary. “I said, maybe you should lay off the mushrooms.”

Kenji’s blank expression didn’t change. He tilted his head slightly, stepping closer. “Huh?”

Timmy’s voice was barely a whisper as he tugged on Olorun’s hair again. “Uh, Kenji, maybe you should back up a little... something’s not right.”

“Agreed,” Olorun muttered, inching backward as Kenji took another step forward, the green glow in his eyes growing brighter. “Enough with the ‘huh,’ Kenji. Seriously, you’re freaking me out.”

Kenji repeated, “Huh,” taking another step forward, his movements jerky and unnatural.

Olorun’s back hit something solid, and he turned to find Tony, also covered in mushrooms, his skeletal face expressionless as he stared down at them. “Aw, hell no,” Olorun muttered under his breath.

Then, Eleo appeared, walking up beside them, his body also overrun with mushrooms. His once bright eyes now dull, glowing faintly like Kenji’s. They all seemed to be in a trance, their voices a hollow echo. “Huh...” they said in unison.

Timmy gasped, gripping Olorun’s dreads tighter. “Olorun... I don’t think this is the real them.”

Olorun shot him a look. “Ya think?!”

Before they could react further, all three—Kenji, Tony, and Eleo—opened their mouths, releasing a golden, sparkling gas that filled the air around them. Olorun’s vision blurred as the gas overwhelmed his senses. Timmy tried to leap off Olorun’s head, but it was too late. The world spun, the strange gas filling their lungs.

Olorun’s last thought before blacking out was how wrong everything had felt since the start.

When he came to, his head was pounding, his body stiff. Groaning, he tried to move but found himself bound, his arms and legs pinned against something soft but unyielding. “What... what happened?” he muttered, blinking to clear his vision.

He glanced around, finding himself in a dimly lit space, surrounded by a web of thick, fleshy fibers upsidedown. Next to him were his friends, all still unconscious and trapped in the same cocoon-like structures. Only their heads were free.

“Timmy?” Olorun rasped, turning his head to look for the tiny Minari.

Timmy’s voice came from above. “I’m here, Olorun. And it’s all true...” His voice was small, filled with fear.

Olorun looked around, seeing Timmy perched on a nearby ledge, his eyes wide with terror. “What do you mean?” Olorun asked, his mind still hazy.

Timmy pointed his tongue toward the center of the room, and Olorun’s stomach dropped. There, in the heart of the space, the mushroom people—the same ones who had welcomed them—were hunched over, feasting on something. And as Olorun’s vision cleared, he realized with horror that they were eating human flesh.

“Shit...” Olorun breathed. “We’re on the menu...”

The sight made his blood run cold, and as he tugged uselessly against his restraints, he knew they had to escape—fast.