Jackson and Coraline stood in the long stretch of the strange passageway, their expressions mirroring the frown on Ebony’s face as he perched on Coraline’s shoulder.

They had been unable to find any way to open the sealed-off passage, and their attempts to examine the strange, tendril-like growths on the walls had ended in failure. The tendrils had lashed out at them like whips the moment they got too close.

Fortunately, both Jackson and Coraline had managed to avoid the sudden attack, having kept a safe enough distance. Ebony, however, had not been so lucky. Failing to recognize the tendrils as a threat, he had let his guard down and was now sporting three fresh marks as proof of his misjudgment.

Now, as he sat on Coraline’s shoulder, his displeasure was evident. He stared intently at the writhing mass of tendrils that had struck him, his gaze filled with irritation. Coraline’s expression was much the same—her frustration mirroring that of her pet as she glared at the plant that had attacked him.

With a sympathetic yet sheepish grin, Jackson spoke to both of them. “It’s best if we avoid those things for the time being!”

Coraline turned her body, pouting slightly, but found little comfort in his words. It was then that she noticed something odd about their surroundings.

The bioluminescent fluid that coated parts of the passageway had increased in volume, forming small puddles across the floor. As she shifted her foot, dragging it through one of the glowing puddles, a splash of the liquid landed on her leg—eliciting a sharp hiss of pain.

Alarmed, Jackson moved closer to check on her, only to experience a similar sensation as the bioluminescent fluid splashed onto him.

Realization dawned on them in an instant.

Whatever they were trapped inside was no ordinary passageway—it was a carnivorous plant. And it had begun the process of digesting them. Their suspicions were confirmed as they noticed the puddles of bioluminescent fluid steadily growing in size, encroaching upon them with an ominous certainty.

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Jackson reacted quickly, using his immense physical strength to swipe at the open air, creating powerful shockwaves that displaced the bioluminescent acid. This bought them a few precious seconds of safety as the displaced acid needed time to refill the space.

However effective the strategy was, it wouldn’t last for long. The passageway was rapidly filling with the strange bioluminescent acid, leaving them with fewer and fewer options.

Though it was an afterthought in their dire situation, their clothes would likely be the last thing to dissolve. Ascended clothing was designed to withstand extreme conditions,but it wouldn’t save them from what was coming.

With Jackson fully occupied creating shockwaves to keep the acid at bay, it was up to Coraline to figure out a way to escape. Unfortunately, despite her experience with nature, she was no expert in plants—especially not ones trying to digest her alive.

A panicked expression crossed her face as she frantically racked her brain for a solution. Meanwhile, Jackson had to move faster, his strikes becoming more frequent as the acid surged toward them.

It felt like they were trapped in the eye of a storm—momentarily safe, but with danger closing in on all sides.

As Jackson prepared to unleash another shockwave, he accidentally stepped too close to one of the tendril-like growths. In an instant, it lashed out, striking him in the back. Normally, he would have dodged with ease, but given the circumstances, he had no chance. He wanted to roar in frustration but held it in—there were more important things at stake. He had to protect Coraline and Ebony.

Neither Coraline nor Ebony could intervene; doing so would put them at greater risk of being swallowed by the undulating waves of acid.

Yet, the attack turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Coraline's sharp eyes narrowed as a realization struck her. Some plants, like Venus flytraps, have sensory triggers that signal when to close. If those sensors are damaged, the trap is forced to open.

If this entire passageway was a giant carnivorous plant, then what if those sensors were the key to its grip? What if they existed to prevent it from releasing its prey too early by ensuring they remained protected?

The answer was suddenly clear.

Lowering herself into a stance, Coraline extended her claws, ready to strike. Though Ebony was in his reduced form, he, too, looked poised to pounce.

In a confident yet slightly nervous tone, she called out to Jackson, “I know how to get out of here! I need you to create an opening so I can attack the tendrils.”

Jackson, still focused on keeping them safe, gave a simple nod of confirmation.

With that, Coraline and Ebony locked onto the mass of tendrils that had struck earlier. Their muscles tensed. Their eyes gleamed with resolve.

It was time to strike.