Chapter 157: Venturing into the SS-Rank Dungeon’s Forest

The group didn’t stop until they had completely left the mist behind.

Liam was the first to slow down when he found a small cluster of trees that could serve as shelter. Everyone headed there, and they finally stopped to catch their breath.

Jordan rested his hands on his knees.

"That was close..."

Chuck leaned against the trunk of a tree.

"Too close, buddy."

Lena looked back, making sure the creature hadn’t followed them.

"That little thing scared me more than the giant mole."

Carol nodded.

"I thought exactly the same thing."

Emily took a deep breath and then looked at Jordan.

"Hey, Jordan."

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for the chips."

Carol nodded as well.

"That was pretty clever. If you hadn’t thought of that, we’d probably have ended up fighting that creature."

Jordan raised his head.

"Yeah..."

He looked at his back pocket.

"But I lost my chips."

Chuck burst out laughing.

"I can’t believe you’re worried about that!"

"They were my chips!"

"You saved our lives in exchange for a bag of chips, buddy."

Jordan crossed his arms.

"That doesn’t mean I can’t be upset about it."

Liam smiled slightly as he watched them.

Despite everything that had happened since they entered the dungeon, they could still joke around.

That was something Liam was grateful for.

However, there was one question that continued to linger in his mind.

He looked toward the sky and then closed his eyes.

’Pix.’

A moment later, the message appeared in front of him.

[Pix: Yes, Liam?]

’What kind of creature was that?’

The answer came quickly.

[Pix: It was another sub-boss.]

Liam opened his eyes.

’Another?’

[Pix: Yes. According to my analysis, that creature also possesses power equivalent to that of an S-Rank Dungeon boss.]

Liam remained silent and looked toward the direction they had escaped.

A small creature covered in orange fur.

No eyes.

Small fangs.

It had been able to kill several red-skinned humanoids, yet it had been completely distracted by a bag of chips.

’I can’t believe it...’

A creature that seemed so harmless was as powerful as an S-Rank Dungeon boss.

And the worst part was that it wasn’t the only one.

’There are multiple sub-bosses in this dungeon...’

Liam put a hand to his head.

They had already had trouble with the giant mole.

Then they had encountered that creature.

And they still had no idea what else this place might be hiding.

’I hope we don’t run into any more of them.’

Lydia approached him.

"What did Pix say?"

Liam explained what he had discovered.

Lydia was surprised.

"Another sub-boss?"

"Yeah."

"Then we should find the exit as soon as possible."

Liam nodded.

At that moment, Lydia raised a hand.

"I could split."

Liam looked at her.

"What?"

"If I split, I could search different areas at the same time. It could help us find the exit much faster."

Liam remained silent.

It was a good idea. A very good one.

But he immediately remembered everything that had happened since they entered the dungeon.

Lydia had accidentally consumed the camera.

She had used [Mosquito’s Horde] when she hadn’t intended to.

She had lost control of [Burst].

She had stored an Explosive Worm instead of consuming it.

And throughout all of it, her abilities seemed to be functioning in completely erratic ways.

Liam didn’t know what was happening.

And precisely because of that, he didn’t want to risk her.

"It’s a good idea."

Lydia smiled.

"So...?"

"But I’d rather not put you at that much risk, honey."

Lydia’s smile faded slightly.

Liam continued.

"We don’t know what’s happening with your powers. If you split and something goes wrong, we could end up separated or even have another problem like before."

Lydia lowered her head slightly.

"I understand."

"I’m sorry."

She looked up and forced a smile.

"Don’t worry, honey. I can adapt to the situation."

Liam knew she was probably trying to reassure him.

But he decided not to press the issue.

Lena looked at the group.

"So, Boss... where are we going?"

Liam looked around.

They had left the mist behind.

The meadow was still illuminated by that strange sun.

On one side was the mountain where they had found the Raxan’s cave.

On the other side was a small forest.

Liam thought for a moment.

If they had appeared in the meadow, already explored the area around the mountain, and had come from the direction of the mist, then perhaps the best option was to continue toward the forest.

"I think we should go that way."

He pointed between the trees.

"The forest."

Emily looked toward it.

"Sounds like a good idea."

Then she smiled.

"What’s the worst that could happen?"

Liam looked at her.

’We could run into another sub-boss.’

But he decided not to say it.

"Let’s go."

◇◆◇

The group entered the forest.

They weren’t in a hurry.

After everything they had been through, Liam preferred to move slowly and observe every corner before making another mistake.

For now, the place seemed completely normal.

There were tall trees.

Bushes.

Small flowers.

And a few rays of light passed through the upper branches, illuminating the ground.

There were no creatures.

No strange noises.

There wasn’t even any sign of the strange energy they had encountered in other parts of the dungeon.

Liam walked a few yards ahead of the group.

Every now and then, he stopped to inspect a bush.

He found small berries of strange colors.

Some were blue.

Others had a purple hue.

He even found some small orange fruits that seemed to have a texture similar to a plum.

He picked them and carefully stored them in his backpack.

Lydia watched him.

"Why are you saving so many?"

"For you."

"For me?"

"Yeah. If we find something you can consume, I want you to have it when your powers start working normally again."

Lydia smiled.

"Thank you, honey."

Liam continued gathering them.

He didn’t know if those fruits could actually help her.

But he preferred to have them just in case.

The rest of the group explored the surrounding area without straying too far.

Carol watched the trees.

Chuck walked with one hand in his pocket.

Jordan searched for anything he could eat that didn’t look poisonous.

Lena seemed particularly interested in the plants.

Emily, on the other hand, slowly approached Liam.

"Hey, Boss..."

Liam raised his head.

"Yeah?"

Emily lowered her voice slightly.

"What’s going on with Lydia?"

Liam stopped picking berries and, for a moment, didn’t know how to answer.

Eventually, he decided to tell her the truth.

"I don’t know."

Emily blinked.

"You don’t know?"

Liam shook his head.

"Even she doesn’t know what’s happening to her."

He looked at Lydia, who was a few yards ahead, examining a flower.

"Her powers have been malfunctioning. Or they’re working in completely different ways from how they’re supposed to."

Emily frowned.

"It’s strange that you’re not letting her fight."

"I don’t want to risk her."

"But she could be useful for scouting."

"I know."

Liam sighed.

"That’s the problem. Every time she uses her powers in this dungeon, something unexpected happens."

Emily remained silent.

Liam continued.

"First, she accidentally consumed my camera. Then she used an ability she wasn’t trying to use. After that, she couldn’t stop her Burst, and she couldn’t return to her human form either."

Emily listened attentively.

"And we don’t know why."

"No."

Liam looked at Lydia again.

"She doesn’t understand what’s happening to her either. I can’t think of any explanation."

Emily began to think.

"Maybe..."

Liam turned toward her.

But before she could finish her sentence, something happened.

A light appeared in the center of the forest.

At first, it was tiny.

A bright point between the trees.

Then it began to grow.

Liam raised his head.

"What...?"

The light shot into the sky.

A massive beam pierced through the treetops and rose until it disappeared among the clouds.

The entire squad stood frozen.

Chuck stopped chewing.

Jordan stopped searching for food.

Carol and Lena looked up.

Emily completely forgot what she had been saying.

Liam watched the beam with a serious expression.

Lydia slowly approached him.

"What was that?"

No one answered.

Because none of them had the slightest idea.