Springcarres Forest, Newbie Zone, Aegorune, Eternal Realms

The forest was thick with mist and silence. What little light filtered through the towering canopy shimmered across wet leaves and slick moss, painting everything in shades of gray and green. The deeper they went, the quieter it became.

Nine players moved cautiously through the undergrowth, their footsteps crunching softly on damp soil and fallen leaves.

They had been laughing when the session began hours ago, trading jokes and teasing. Now, their voices were gone, replaced by the rhythmic sound of their boots.

Liam led them through the fog, looking calm and composed as always. Matt, the archer, walked on his left. Harper, the assassin, kept to the shadows, his twin daggers glinting faintly as he scouted ahead. Kristopher and Alex—both tanks—walked near the center, their heavy shields brushing branches aside as they passed. Behind them were Stacy and Lana, the mages, and Kristy and Elise, the healers.

They had ventured into the infamous Springcarres Forest, a Level 20–25 zone—a high-risk area for players who hadn't even broken Level 15 yet. A very dangerous place for them all, except Liam.

At Level 35, he was the group's anchor. His confidence had always made them feel invincible. But even now, his expression was sharp, uneasy.

"This doesn't feel right. It's too quiet," Liam muttered, slowing his pace. His eyes scanned the fog-choked trees.

"Maybe they got scared off by your level," Matt gave a half-laugh, trying to lighten up the mood.

"Or maybe something scarier already cleared the area," Harper said.

They all immediately tensed up, as they realised the truth in what he said.

They continued forward, tension crawling up their spines. The deeper they went, the thicker the mist became.

"Are we close?" Kristopher asked, breaking the silence.

"Almost," Liam replied. "The dungeon should be beyond that ridge."

"Good. I was starting to think we were walking in circles," Alex exhaled, resting his massive sword on his shoulder.

Stacy, walking beside Lana, frowned. "No monsters for this long… it's not natural."

Liam stopped and turned. "Stay alert. I don't like this."

The group tightened formation instantly, as tanks moved forward, healers and mages moved to the center, with Liam taking point.

A single drop of water hit the ground with a loud plink. The sound was small, but in the suffocating quiet, it echoed like thunder.

Then a roar tore through the forest with the force of a shockwave, shaking leaves from branches. The ground quaked beneath their feet. Birds exploded from the canopy in a screaming cloud.

"What was that?!" Lana gasped.

"Something big. And it's moving fast," Harper said, his eyes narrowing.

The next moment, they heard the sounds of crashing trees, snarling growls, the thunder of hooves and claws pounding the earth. The sound was coming straight toward them.

Liam turned sharply toward the noise, and shouted to the group, "Everyone, fall back!"

But before they could even move, the mist split open and a tide of monsters came pouring through the forest like a living storm—wolves the size of horses, orcs, ogres. Dozens of them charging straight at them.

"Positions!" Liam barked.

Kristopher and Alex slammed their shields down, forming a barrier at the front.

"Brace!" Kristopher shouted.

The first wave hit like an avalanche. Claws scraped metal and fangs bit into the shields. The tanks grunted, holding the line.

Matt fired, arrows streaking through the fog. Each shot hit was clean and accurate, hitting either the eyes, throats or hearts. But there were too many of the monsters.

"They're everywhere!"

Stacy raised her staff, runes flaring to life around her.

"Inferno!"

A jet of flame burst forward, engulfing the front line of beasts. Screeches filled the air as charred bodies disappeared into motes of lights, but the flames barely slowed the tide.

Harper vanished into the mist, reappearing behind the monsters. His daggers flashed in and a monster disappeared into motes of lights. He darted between them like a shadow, cutting through weak spots. But even he couldn't keep up.

"Fall back to the ridge!" Liam shouted.

Lana raised both hands, chanting. Lightning rained down from above, striking a troll and killing it.

"Go!" she yelled. "I'll cover—"

A hulking beast lunged through the smoke, its claws impaling her mid-cast. She screamed and her health bar dropped to zero before anyone could reach her, and her character disappeared into motes of lights.

"Lana!" Kristy screamed, her voice breaking.

"Keep formation!" Liam ordered.

Matt fired again, hitting the creature that killed her, but another took its place immediately.

Harper landed beside Liam, panting. "Too many! We need to get out of here!"

"No way out," Liam said grimly, slicing through a wolf's skull. "We fight."

Stacy shouted, "Inferno Pulse!"

A wave of fire erupted outward, scorching the forest floor. The attack didn't do much as the next wave came through the flames.

Alex blocked a club, grunting under the impact. "I can't hold much longer!"

Kristopher braced beside him. "Then we die fighting!"

An ogre swung its club and the impact shattered both shields. Kristopher stumbled back, catching the blow with his body. He coughed blood and fell to one knee.

"Kristopher!" Elise ran forward, glowing light gathering in her hands. "Heal—"

A wolf pounced, knocking her to the ground. Its fangs tore through her chest before she could cast. Her avatar shattered in a spray of light.

Kristy screamed again, trying to cast a resurrection spell—but claws ripped through her back before the chant could finish. She fell forward, her character disappearing before it hit the ground.

Matt's bowstring snapped, as he fired an arrow.

"Damn it!" He drew his dagger instead and jumped in beside Liam. "Let's make it count!"

Liam nodded once. "Together."

They charged side by side. Liam's sword cut through the tide and Matt assisted him with his dagger. They fought with everything they got but the monsters just kept coming.

Harper appeared behind a wolf, stabbing it twice before it collapsed.

"Stacy, blast them again!"

Stacy raised her staff—but her mana bar was empty.

"I'm dry!" she shouted.

"Then fall back!"

She tried, but an ogre caught her mid-run, hurling her into a tree. She hit with a sickening crack and shattered into motes of light.

"Stacy!" Harper shouted, then froze as a massive paw slammed into him from the side, sending him flying. His vision flickered red, then black.

"Harper!" Liam roared, cutting through the monster that killed her—but by then, the line had collapsed.

Only he, Matt, and Alex were left.

Alex stood at the front, with armor cracked, breathing hard.

"Go, Liam. I'll buy you—" he said but was cut short as a giant club came down on him, and was what left was dissipating lights.

Liam's vision blurred. Matt was beside him, covered in blood, still grinning despite everything. One could see that he was enjoying every moment of the game.

"Guess this is it, huh?"

"We are not done yet," Liam replied.

The next moment, a shadow fell over Matt. He turned but it was too late, as w troll's fist came down, crushing him.

Liam's breath sighed softly and became a blur of motion, his blade slicing through monsters faster than the eye could follow. Dozens fell and dissipated into motes of lights.

But even he couldn't fight forever.

The beasts swarmed, tearing into him from all sides. His health bar plummeted. His armor shattered. Still, he swung, refusing to fall.

A wolf leapt for his throat; he cut it down mid-air. An ogre smashed a club at him and he barely stopped it with everything he had, but another blow hit him from behind.

He was sent flying, crashing through a tree and his body shattered into light.

{You have died.}

{Respawn available in: 00:09:59}

***

In the real world, Liam smiled as he took off his Lucid. He looked at his friends who equally had the same excited smiles on their faces.

"That was insane!" Matt muttered, collapsing into the couch

"It was but I'm in no mood to continue playing that game right now. It was brutal," Elise said.

"Well, there are other games we can play. Why don't we try out Terra? It's an Earth Sim game," Kristopher said.

Everyone nodded, including Liam and they wore their Lucid back. They have more than a hour left on their daily usage limit and they intend to use it up completely.

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