Joe didn't expect to meet a princesses, especially not in a place like this. A dark, creepy and depressing forest with no signs of life. But there she was, he was looking at a princess.

Joe was also interested in the other name Shelly mentioned. Diana. Who was that? A queen maybe? And why was this princess called the cursed princess?

He shook his head vigorously, chasing away his thoughts. The questions he had weren't important right now, he needed to focus on what was in front of him.

Joe squared his shoulders, solidifying his stance and grip on the black blade. Bella may have been a princess, but to Joe that didn't change anything. She tried to murder them, she was still an enemy and he was going to treat her as such.

The princess casually strolled towards them. Joe adjusted his stance slightly, preparing himself in case she attacked. But oddly, the princess didn't even spare Joe a glance. Her eyes zeroed in on Shelly, ignoring Joe completely.

She halted a few meters before them, her gaze still focused on Shelly. “I'm surprised to see you here Shelly.” She said, with what looked to be a smile on her face. But it was more accurate to label it a smug. “What are you doing here? And with a filfthy commoner no less.” She glanced at Joe ever so briefly, but the disgust in her eyes was palpable.

Joe didn't care for the princess's affection, but something about being looked down on like a rotten animal rubbed him the wrong way.

“I should say the same thing about you Bella. I'm surprised you're still alive after that incident. I was sure you'd be dead by now.” Shelly didn't mix her words.

Bella’s brows furrowed, “You should watch yourself Shelly.” She warned. “Don't go speaking on things you don't understand.” Bella raised her hand, traces of blue sparks dancing around her fingers. “I could kill you where you stand, you know that? Just because you're a Hira Family princess doesn't mean you get to run your mouth in front of me.”

Joe was taken aback. A princess? Shelly was a princess? He threw a surprised glance at her but Shelly had her full attention on Bella.

“I'm not afraid of you Bella.” She strengthened the grip on her staff, although her eyes didn't seem to match her words.

“Oh really?” The flashes of blue light around Bella’s hand became more apparent. She looked ready to activate a skill, but something stopped her.

Franklin gripped Bella’s shoulder from behind, “I don't think killing her would be wise princess. If she's really a princess from the Hira Family, it would be dangerous to do so. We both know the consequences that come with killing a princess from the Great Families.”

Bella shrugged her shoulder violently, pulling away from Franklin's grasp. “Don't touch me!” She turned her head sharply, her eyes seething with rage.

“Forgive me princess,” Franklin clasped his hands, and bowed slightly. “But please let's not lose track of our goal. We're not looking to start a war with the Hira Family.”

“You can't tell me what to do Frankin.” Bella responded sharply. “I can do whatever I feel like, know your place!”

Franklin was slicenced and so was the entire forest. After Bella’s words everything went quite. But that didn't last for long.

“Help me!” A guttural cry for help, cut through the building silence. Everyone turned their heads.

It was Tom.

Tom clawed and dragged himself towards Bella and Franklin. His fingers leaving gaping lines on the ground.

But he couldn't escape, something had caught him.

Slithering vines wrapped themselves around Tom. They started with his legs before proceeding to his upper body. The more he pulled himself forward, the more the vines resisted. They yanked him back, hauling him along the earth. Their sharp thorns dug deep into Tom's body forcing a gut wrenching scream that made Joe shudder.

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They entangled his arms and neck, before infiltrating Tom's open mouth. They went down his throat invading his insides. Tom choked, his body convulsing violently. The vines squeezed, crunching his bones one by one. Blood gushed out as the thorns punctured every part of his body. Tom's head hung low, his body stopped moving and his signature disappeared.

The vines tossed his body skyward, and the culprit behind the assault came into view. An enormous green plant made entirely out of slithering vines came out of the shadows. The plant towered them all at 10m tall, it had an enormous flycatcher like head that was held up by its vines.

It looked up at Tom's descending body and positoned itself appropriately. Its gigantic mouth opened and massive jagged teeth jutted out. Tom fell deep into the creature's maw and was hastily chewed up before being swallowed without an issue.

Green mana exploded out of the plant after its meal, its vines thrashed with excitement before it swung its head around to face its next victims.

Joe could not belive what he just witnessed, his jaw hung low, dazed for a moment before he quickly snapped himself back into focus.

The plant revealed its teeth in what looked like a sadistic grin. Its vines carried it foward as it charged at the four of them without fear. Its first target was Bella. The plant launched several vines from multiple angles, they whipped through the air making it difficult to discern their trajectory. [Skill Activation: Vine Whip]

Despite the vines coming towards her, Bella was not moving. Her eyes dilated, as she stood frozen.

“Princess!” Franklin shouted, but Bella was unresponsive.

Taking matters into his own hands, Franklin threw himself between Bella and the vines. Flames sparked around his hands and two swords of fire molded in his grasp. [Skill Activation: Burning Twin Blades] Franklin exhaled, before his body vanished without a trace.

What happened next was a blur, even to Joe. Flashes of orange manifested here and there. Then suddenly, all the incoming vines were shredded to pieces. Engulfed in flames, every single one of them fell to the ground as nothing but a puddle of dust.

In a flash, Franklin materialized before the plant. A straight orange line was carved into the plant's head. It went downwards even reaching the lower vines. And just like that, the plant was set ablaze.

Franklin leaped back and watched the pitiful creature thrash, twist and turn to no avail. The flames intensified, their crackling and snapping drowning the plant's horrific screech. In less than five seconds, the plant was incinerated.

The orange around Franklin dimmed and he slowly turned around. Joe was left flabbergasted, he couldn't belive what he just witnessed. Out of all of Franklin's assaults, Joe couldn't register a single one of them. He only saw snippets of the final results and that was it. Chills went down his spine as he realized something. This old man, was on an entirely different level.

“What the hell was that? Was the old man holding back during our fight. He must've because, even though it was only for a moment. That old man's mana signature, was several times greater than even Mikey's.” Joe's heart pounded, he couldn't stop shaking. “Awesome, awesome.” Even after Franklin's display, a single thought was glued into Joe's mind. “I want to fight him. I want to fight him so badly.”

Franklin strolled towards them, still touching his ribs periodically. He stopped in front of Bella. “Are you alright my princess.” He reached out his hand looking to touch her.

“I'm fine!” Bella waved her arm, pushing away Franklin's advances. “I didn't need your help!” She yelled. “I had it covered!”

Franklin kept his hands to himself, he lowered his head. “Forgive me, my princess.”

Joe scowled, he grabbed Bella by the shoulder and forcefully swung her around to face him. He planted one hand on her shoulder, “What the hell is wrong with you!” He shouted. “That old man just saved your life! The least you can do is apologize!”

“Don't touch me!” Bella shoved Joe back, sending him sliding across the earth.

Joe picked himself up quickly, he held up his black blade ready to initiate combat. But something happened.

The earth trembled vigorously, stones jumped up and down as the rumbling intensified.

Joe had to balance himself. “What the hell?”

The ground cracked open as an enormous plant sprouted from the earth. It was identical to the one Franklin just killed.

But it didn't stop there, another plant sprouted, then another. In rapid succession more than 50 Plants shot up from the ground.

[55 Mana Plants Have Appeared.]

[The Sub-Dungeon: Forest Of Nightmares Is Active]

[Sub-Dungeon Grade: D]

[Sub-Quest]

▪︎ Objective: Slay 15 Mana Plants

▪︎ Reward: +15, 000 Gold Pieces

▪︎ Progress: 0/15 Mana Plants Slain

Joe had no time to focus on his screen because the earth vibrated again, this time harder. Out of nowhere, an enormous treee erupted from the earth. It loomed behind the army of plants, standing at a height that made the mana plants look like insects. The tree had no visible leaves, but it had countless branches. In one of these branches hung a white ball, that also resembled some kind of plant or fruit.

[The (Level 48) Big Oak Has Appeared]

[Main–Quest]

▪︎ Objective: Slay The Big Oak

▪︎ Reward: +35,000 Gold Pieces

Joe and the rest of them just froze.

The Forest of Nightmares was awake.