Chapter 16: Madam Ghastly Trident
“Drones out,” came the commanding voice of Madam Ghastly Trident, her tone steady and serious, cutting through the quiet forest like a blade. The order triggered movement among the squad of eight, as several cultivators reached into their robes or satchels with swift precision. Each one retrieved a black cube the size of a fist, the dull surface showing no indication of the technological marvel it held within.
With a press on the center of the cube, a faint blue light pulsed from its core, and the cubes rapidly transformed into sleek, hovering drones. Four small propellers whirred to life on each side of the devices, sending them into the air with a quiet hum. In unison, the drones were released into the forest canopy, their glowing lights disappearing into the dense greenery like birds sent out to scout the surrounding area.
The cultivators watched the drones ascend with a mixture of fascination and apprehension. Despite their training, a palpable tension hung in the air. For some of them, this was their first true mission outside of the safety of their home country. Here, in the wilds of Costa Rica, the stakes were real, and the threats weren’t just hypothetical anymore.
Madam Ghastly Trident, with her imposing bronze trident strapped to her back, remained composed, her sharp eyes following the drones’ paths. Beneath her cool demeanor, she felt the same edge of uncertainty that the others did. This mission was far more dangerous than any of them cared to admit, but she couldn’t allow herself to show it. Not here, not now. They had taken care of the vile creature they were assigned to kill a few days ago, and to her surprise, no one died. The Island’s experts explained that there was a likelihood that 50% of the cultivators in this mission would perish.
As she checked the communicator strapped to her wrist, the display lit up, showing the positions of the drones in real time. Tiny dots representing each drone moved steadily through the forest, scanning for hostile entities, rare ores, or anomalies. The Cultivation Island had provided them with the best tools for the job—alien technology repurposed for humanity’s gain. She couldn’t help but admire the craftsmanship, despite her distaste for the alien origins of such devices.
The last two days had been grueling. They had gathered soil samples, observed the local flora, and established a base camp. Now, they were finally ready to push forward with the mission: exploring the cave that lay several meters ahead, rumored to house valuable medicinal plants capable of healing even the most grievous wounds. These plants were crucial to the Cultivation Island’s research, and the team had been tasked with retrieving samples for study and cultivation.
Her communicator’s screen showed no immediate danger. No red markers indicating hostile life forms, no green blips showing radiation anomalies—just a stretch of unassuming wilderness between them and their target. Still, Madam Ghastly Trident remained wary. A mission without challenges was rare, and the quiet often preceded the storm.
“Move out,” she commanded, her voice low but firm.
Masked Mace took the lead, stepping forward with his circular shield strapped to his left arm, his trusty mace gripped tightly in his right hand. His eyes scanned the forest floor as he carefully navigated the uneven terrain. The forest was alive with sound—the chirping of unseen insects, the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze—but his senses remained focused on the task ahead. Though he was experienced in combat, having slain beasts in his homeland, this mission was on a scale beyond anything he had faced before.
Behind him, Guru Six Summer, the self-proclaimed “Guru,” flashed a wide grin. His upbeat personality had been a source of both amusement and exasperation for the group over the past few days, but his oddball charm had won him some friends.
“Are we there yet?” Six Summer joked, his voice carrying a playful lilt.
Madam Ghastly Trident shot him a deathly glare, her eyes narrowing in warning. Six Summer simply chuckled, unfazed. Despite his whimsical nature, everyone knew he was a capable cultivator, but sometimes, his antics grated on the nerves of the more serious members of the squad.
“Halt,” Madam ordered abruptly.
The squad came to an immediate stop as the cave came into view—a dark maw partially concealed by vines and undergrowth. Wide enough for three people to enter side by side, the entrance exuded a sense of foreboding. Even from here, they could feel the shift in temperature, the moisture in the air hanging thick and heavy. Small puddles dotted the entrance, shimmering with the day’s fading light.
“The drones will scout inside first,” Withered Sapling Master suggested, his voice deep and resonant. He was a tall man dressed in a simple green robe, with a thin leaf crown adorning his head and bamboo sandals on his feet. His presence radiated a calm, earthy energy, as if he were part of the forest itself.
The drones, having already mapped out the immediate area, now flew into the cave’s depths, their lights illuminating the jagged walls and narrow passageways. The cave didn’t seem too deep at first glance, but the squad knew better than to take anything for granted.
Suddenly, a red marker flashed on the screen of Masked Mace’s communicator, sending a jolt of adrenaline through the group.
“Red dot,” he muttered, his voice tense. The dot hovered near the end of a forked passageway deep within the cave.
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Madam Ghastly Trident wasn’t surprised. Danger always surrounded treasures, and nothing valuable ever came without risk. She had been briefed extensively about the possibility of encountering hostile life forms or natural hazards. The Cultivation Island’s data was clear: treasure and danger went hand in hand.
“Stay sharp. No touching, no wandering off, and no acting on impulse,” she warned, her voice sharp and authoritative.
The team nodded, and with their orders clear, they began to enter the cave one by one, moving with deliberate care. The interior was a web of vines, thick and pulsating with a humid, musky scent that clung to their skin. As they moved deeper, the natural light from outside faded, plunging them into near darkness.
“Hey Guru, think you can light up the place? Not all of us are blessed with night vision like Skull Crusher over there,” Ivory Tower James called out, his massive frame hunching to avoid the low-hanging vines.
“Light up the place? What am I, a walking lantern? Just because I’ve got ‘summer’ in my name doesn’t mean I can light the way like some magical torch,” Six Summer quipped, shaking his head in mock indignation.
Masked Mace, unamused by the banter, pulled out a small orb from his robe, shaking it vigorously. The orb began to glow, illuminating the cave with a soft, steady light.
“We do have these gadgets, remember? Day 20 of training,” he muttered, glancing toward Madam Ghastly Trident, who had already activated her own glowing orb.
The group shared a collective sigh of embarrassment before pressing on. The cave widened as they moved deeper, and the air grew thick with tension. Then, a faint green glow began to emanate from a vine on the cave wall. It pulsed with an otherworldly light, drawing the group's collective gaze.
For a moment, they all stared, mesmerized by the vine’s beauty. It was hypnotic, almost alive in the way it seemed to beckon them closer. Their focus narrowed until nothing else mattered but that vine, as though the rest of the world had faded away.
“Hmph!” A sharp sound pierced the trance, and in an instant, the purple form of Madam Ghastly Trident materialized beside the glowing vine. With a swift motion, she slashed her trident through the vine, severing it with a clean strike.
A rush of air followed, the green light dissipating as the vine fell to the cave floor, lifeless. The spell was broken. The group shook themselves out of their daze, their faces pale with realization.
“Prepare yourselves,” Madam warned, her voice low and dangerous. “This place is alive.”
As if her words were a trigger, the cave exploded into motion. Vines whipped down from the ceiling like spears, lashing out at the group with terrifying speed.
Chaos erupted.
Withered Sapling Master was the first to react, surrounding himself in a swirling shield of withered leaves. The vines struck at him but were torn apart by the sharp, regenerating leaves that formed his armor. He extended his hand, sending a wave of withered leaves that sliced through the attacking vines, but for every vine he cut, more seemed to emerge from the walls.
Masked Mace, too, was caught in the storm of vines. He raised his shield, activating his defensive technique, [Unmoving Wall of Pantera], which created a translucent, white barrier in front of him. Vines slammed against it, but the wall held firm.
But not everyone was so fortunate. Southern Skull Crusher was ensnared by a thick vine that wrapped around his leg, yanking him to the ground. In seconds, more vines lashed out, binding him like a mummy.
“No! Skull Crusher’s down!” the Rotting Knight shouted, raising his short sword in a desperate attempt to free his comrade.
“Stop! You’ll hit him too!” Ivory Tower James barked, holding the Rotting Knight back.
“We need to find the source of this!” Masked Mace shouted, his eyes scanning the cave. “The red dot!”
The group pressed forward, dodging the vines as they made their way toward the source. At the center of a large chamber, they finally saw it—a grotesque sight. In the middle of the room stood a tree stump, crowned by a large, pulsating brain, glowing with the same eerie green light as the vine that had entranced them earlier.
“Swoosh!”
Vines rained down again, this time with greater intensity. Ivory Tower James activated his [Ivory Tower] technique, conjuring a protective wall around himself, Masked Mace, and Withered Sapling Master. The others were left to fend for themselves.
The Wicked Doll Master moved forward, his marionette-like body absorbing hit after hit, his doll-like limbs bending unnaturally as he made his way toward the brain. The Rotting Knight swung his weapon in wide arcs, cutting down vines as they tried to ensnare him.
“This thing is too strong!” the Rotting Knight grunted, frustration clear in his voice as he moved closer with Ivory Tower James' support.
“We need to take out the brain!” Masked Mace called out, watching as Madam Ghastly Trident disappeared and reappeared near the creature, her trident poised to strike.
“Die, you vile beast!” she shouted, plunging her weapon into the brain.
The brain deflated instantly, green goo spilling from the wound. The vines around them recoiled, retreating back into the walls as the tree stump withered before their eyes.
A collective sigh of relief washed over the group. It was over—at least, it seemed so.
But Madam Ghastly Trident’s face remained grim.
“No! Retreat!” she shouted, her form flickering as she vanished in a ghastly form once more.
Before anyone could react, the stump began to swell, the brain inflating again. Then, with a deafening boom, the stump exploded, sending hundreds of sharp vines in all directions.
Masked Mace’s barrier held firm, protecting him and those behind him. The Wicked Doll Master’s strange, puppet-like body absorbed the blows but was sent flying back due to the impact. But Guru Six Summer wasn’t as lucky. A vine pierced through his face, killing him instantly. Ivory Tower James and the Rotting Knight fell next as the Ivory Tower crumbled, their bodies struck by multiple vines, blood splattering the walls of the cave.
As the dust settled, the remaining vines withered away, revealing the cave walls now covered in small, glowing blue flowers. The mission was complete, but at a heavy cost.
Madam Ghastly Trident reappeared, her eyes scanning the carnage. She looked at the fallen with a solemn expression before turning to the surviving members. The flowers they had come for lined the cave walls, their soft glow illuminating the scene of destruction.
The victory felt hollow.