Fantasy Realm [One Piece] [Harry Potter] [Naruto] - [Progression] [LitRPG]

Chapter 44: Desperate Escape and an Uncertain Path Forward

The group races through the forest, chased by an onslaught of Plant Spiders. Like the Plant Brain, these creatures lash out with sharp, tentacle-like limbs and are even capable of casting deadly thunder spells if given the chance.

They leap down a small cliff, into a ditch, but the spiders quickly surround them.

"We have to fight our way out!" Zidane shouts.

At the same moment, Alex charges forward and strikes one of the spiders with his powerful [Sword of Pluto].

You have dealt 39 damage to Plant Spider

He swiftly jumps back, evading a strike from a nearby spider. With his free hand, he pulls out his [Mr. 5's .44 Caliber 6-Shot Revolver] and delivers a point-blank shot to the spider he struck moments earlier.

You have dealt 25 damage to Plant Spider
You have killed Plant Spider
You have received 100 gil

Meanwhile, Vivi launches a fierce fire spell at another Plant Spider closing in on Alex, while Blank and Zidane work together to take down a third spider blocking their way. Steiner, burdened with the unconscious princess, can't assist but skillfully dodges the encroaching enemies.

Alex, raising his shield high, leads the way, bashing aside an intercepting Plant Spider as he clears a path. Steiner and Vivi follow closely, barely able to keep up with Alex's relentless pace.

More and more spiders join the chase, scuttling through the trees until Alex notices not just roots shooting out wildly, but the entire forest beginning to petrify. "Oh, shit! This looks scary as fuck," he thinks as they flee, the very ground freezing beneath them.

In the chaos, he barely catches sight of Zidane, who is rescued at the last second by Blank who gets trapped by a monster instead. Zidane manages to catch the map Blank throws at him before the latter is swallowed by the petrification wave, frozen in place as the group finally breaks free from the Evil Forest's grasp.

The exit looms closer, and Alex stumbles through the clearing, relieved to be out of the forest. Steiner and Vivi follow, and just as a giant plant tendril reaches for Zidane, Alex whips out his revolver, firing a shot that slices through the root, giving Zidane just enough time to make it out.

Outside, the group watches in awe as the petrifying roots solidify, blocking the only exit and sealing off the Evil Forest. Alex, barely able to catch his breath, is stunned. It may have looked cool in the game, but experiencing the panic of dozens of giant plant spiders and gnarled roots chasing them while everything behind froze in stone was terrifying. "One wrong step, and we'd be goners," he thinks, feeling the thrill of survival ebbing into exhaustion.

The group takes shelter beneath a nearby cliff. They give Garnet the antidote, arrange a few blankets, and Alex is startled to see a tiny tent somehow appear out of nowhere. "Did Steiner or Zidane pull that out of thin air?" he wonders, too exhausted to care. They gather around a small fire set up beside the tent, each sinking into the warmth and stillness.