An enormous, decrepit tree blocks off one of the massive, square chamber’s two exits. The tree’s sprawling branches reach outwards along the yellow, stone ceiling of the chamber, the chamber’s walls and floor also being of a yellow stone. Along the walls, spaced out torches burn, casting their orange-tinged light and illuminating the huge decaying tree. No leaves show on the tree’s many branches, the network of said branches reaching to all corners of the chamber.

[Class: Tree of Rot

Strength: Error

Mind: Error

Soul: Error

Skill: Creation (Fruit of Rot)]

You stand at the opposite side of the stone room in front of its other exit, the exit you have just entered through. Your breath comes out in pants, your skin covered in sweat. At your sides, Koko and Irie stand, the cat girl and the elf also out of breath. Well, the three of you have just come to a stop after running madly from a sea of rats. Said rats seal off the exit just behind you, having stopped giving chase the moment you stepped foot in this chamber. Now they just wait at that exit, incessantly squeaking. Well, at least it looks like you don’t have to worry so much about being caught by that rat army anymore, not for now anyway.

“What’s with that thing’s weird status?” Koko queries, having caught her breath.

You check the [Tree of Rot]’s status and raise an eyebrow at the [Errors] in it. Wondering if Irie has an explanation, you turn your pink eyes to her, your blue twin tails swaying. Unfortunately, Irie appears to be at a loss for words, her purple eyes wide and her lips slightly parted, a perplexed look on her face. Well, she clearly doesn’t have the explanation you seek.

A large, reddish bulb of flesh plops down a short distance before you. You jolt back at the revolting plop and accompanying smell of spoiled fruit. The thing pulses and writhes, leaving you to fight back your gag reflex. One by one, long, spindly, insect-like legs protrude out from the thing’s main body, the stench getting worse with each rupture of the thing’s skin. Before long, a six-legged monster looms in front of you.

[Class: Fruit of Rot

Strength: Lvl 1

Mind: Lvl 1

Soul: Lvl 1]

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The [Fruit of Rot] may be weak, but that putrid smell of decaying plant flesh coming from it is horrifying in its own right. Making a fist, you throw a punch, striking it dead center. Its flesh splits along its top, and a wave of nausea washes over you from the resulting increase in the beast’s putrid aroma. Fighting back the urge to hurl, you watch as your opponent vanishes. However, no drop remains in its place, just some red splatters.

“What gives? No drop?” You turn your eyes to the [Tree of Rot], a cute pout on your face.

“That would be my guess,” Irie answers, also looking at the creepy tree. “Perhaps it was considered part of that thing.”

“That makes sense,” you respond to her, bringing a hand to your chin. “It did create it.”

“Uh … Guys …” Koko cuts you both off, her tail swishing restlessly. “Look up.”

High overhead, many more [Fruit of Rot] have begun growing along the [Tree of Rot]’s branches. Soon, the new fruit will be raining down upon the battlefield. Guess the [Tree of Rot] has the capability of growing its fruit fairly rapidly. Do you really want to be fighting a bunch of fruit though? You glance back at the exit you had entered through. The rats have yet to leave and excitedly squeak as if watching some sort of sporting event. Do they find this entertaining? Do they want to see you fight a bunch of fruit?

“Should we go back?” Koko finally pipes up.

You take another look at rat nation. “Do you want to swim through a sea of rats?”

“Uh … No …” the cat girl’s ears droop, her attention going back to the growing number of monstrous fruit that have already fallen to the floor. “Fruit it is.” She draws her dagger. Her red ponytail bobs as she readies herself.

“Guys,” Irie finally speaks up, “I’m going for the [Tree of Rot]. Are you two good fighting these [Fruit of Rot] in the meantime?”

Your eyes go to her. “We got this. You deal with that freaky tree.”

“Thanks.” She darts away, moving with grace as she weaves around the clumsy fruit. Occasionally, she bats a [Fruit of Rot] that got a little too close away with her staff, defeating it in the process.

“You ready, Koko? Let’s make some fruit salad.” You sweatdrop, your eye twitching a tad. “I can’t believe I just said that.”

You raise your fists and take on a battle stance. Beside you, your cat girl girlfriend takes on a battle stance as well, holding her dagger at the ready, her tail swishing cutely. Then it begins, a plethora of [Fruit of Rot] coming at you two. You duck a swipe of a fruit’s leg before splitting its flesh with an uppercut. Another fruit tries to sweep your legs out from under you. You jump over the sweeping attack and swing your leg around in response. Your shoe’s heel bites into the creature’s flesh, finishing that [Fruit of Rot].

At you side, Koko does her own dance with the creatures. She ducks and weaves as they clumsily lash out at her. Her dagger easily cuts into their rotten flesh, spilling a mess of putrid, red goo with each slash. Yet another [Fruit of Rot] swings a leg at her. This time, the agile cat girl blocks it with her blade, her tail giving another swish as she chops the offending limb off. The large, bulbous fruit stumbles back sans a leg, seemingly shocked at the amputation. Koko smiles cutely before rushing past it, slashing it with her blade and ending in a crouch. The bloated fruit vanishes in defeat.