Chapter 59 – Turmoil in the Dungeon (3)

“Instructor, the dungeon! The dungeon is in chaos!”

At the dungeon’s exit, Sooyoung appeared, her cadet uniform slightly torn, and cried out urgently.

“Calm down. What happened?”
“Damn it. I can’t calm down!”

Sooyoung stamped her feet in agitation. The cadets and instructors began to gather. With a somber expression, Dal-rae spoke in a low, half-melancholic voice.

“Quickly, halt the dungeon.”
“What?”
“An activated magic stone has been discovered. Magic has been unleashed as well.”

Upon hearing about the magic stone, the dungeon’s turmoil, and the explanation, the instructor calmed the cadets and contacted the management department.

The situation itself quickly settled down.

First and foremost, the management department, upon being contacted, severed the mana artery, stopping the operation of the artificial dungeon. As soon as the dungeon was halted, the cadets began to exit.

However…

“What just happened so suddenly? The monsters disappeared.”

There were no wounds or signs of an attack on the bodies of the returned cadets.

“The rampage…”
“What? A rampage?”

A puzzled remark from a cadet who was in the midst of the battle.

A moment of silence filled the room.
Such a subtle change that one wouldn’t even realize it was a rampage. However, Sooyoung and Azalea’s experiences contradicted that.

The number of monsters that appeared at that time was undoubtedly strange.
They were constructing a stronghold as if they were rational creatures. It was also odd that strange magic flew from behind.
It was clear that the dungeon had gone into a rampage due to someone’s scheme.

So, what was their objective?

As time passed, Azalea asked the instructor in an anxious tone.

“Um, Instructor, are there any other cadets…?”

The instructor’s face grew stern.

“I don’t see any.”

There was no harm done, yet one person had vanished.
It was evident who their target was.

* * * * *

I felt utterly doomed.
It was real.

[Gasp, gasp]

No, damn it, this can’t be.
Why send me to a place like this?
I said I didn’t want to die, but they should’ve just killed me instead of this. These lunatics need to know when enough is enough.

[Man.]
[Sigh, man.]
[Tasty, isn’t it?]
[His ass must be tasty too, right?]

“Sh-shit.”

Forgetting the pain coursing through my body, I retreated at a frightening speed. Enormous tree roots were crawling towards me.

Once I go inside, I feel like I won’t be myself anymore.
Was it the right choice to send Azalea and Soo-young back then?
As I agonized over this, I racked my brain intensely to find a way to escape this place.

Should I try to devise a teleportation spell?

Since I don’t know the coordinates of this place, using it incorrectly could lead to a major problem. To begin with, spatial magic isn’t something that can be easily created.

[Sigh. The water is already flowing…]

So, should I just stand by and let those trees have their way with me? To be poked and prodded? No, that’s not an option. A man can’t be born and be devoured by trees twice.

I gently close my eyes and gauge the remaining magical energy. It’s not enough to wipe them all out. I need to think fast.

In my life, I had never made my mind work as quickly as it did in that moment. My brain was spinning furiously.

“Wait, hold on a moment! Esteemed trees!”

[?]
[Can you communicate?]
[Human… Give us semen.]
[I want to do it just once.]

“Ah, I understand. But, you see, I am not human.”

[Huh.]
[That’s right… That’s why it’s even more tempting.]
[You’ll give us your ass too?]

“No, not my ass… Anyway, wouldn’t humans have limits to their stamina?”

Trees swayed, their trunks quivering and heads nodding. At least communication was possible.

I mustered all the strength of my infancy and began to grit my teeth. It was a desperate, heartfelt plea.

“If you go all out from the start, I’ll be done for immediately. Is that what you want?”

[…But I still want to have sex.]
[Can’t we just take it?]
[…I want to smell it. And the semen too.]

“Please, everyone, think carefully. Human affection is something that depletes while also gradually growing. Are you intent on cutting open the belly of the goose that lays golden eggs?”

[Is that so?]
[Let’s keep it captive and have our way steadily.]
[…Can’t we just take it now?]
[Butts don’t wear out, after all.]

The ignorant trees began to bicker amongst themselves, bit by bit. I slowly stepped back, surveying my surroundings.

‘It looks like a dungeon… Damn, there should be one or two dungeons to determine the location.’

It’s said that if certain conditions are met, one can connect the spaces between dungeons.

The spell cast upon me must have been a type of spatial magic. I had never heard or seen a dungeon with trees like these before, but there was no other way to explain the situation.

`How to escape…`

All I needed to do was find an entrance or an exit. I couldn’t fathom the thoughts of those who had caused this dungeon’s chaos. Judging by the trees that sought to devour me, it was evident that they were far from normal.

I glanced back at the trees.

[Semen isn’t infinite. Let’s grow it and eat.]
[…Ugh, I just want to eat it now.]
[Hey, be patient!]
[Let’s just eat!]

The trees began to fight, extending their branches as if engaged in some sort of arboreal combat.

[Are you going to give it a try?]
[Yeah, you fool! We have a rare man here, let’s savor it!]

Soon, the battle escalated, centering on the method of devouring their prize. This was horrifying.

*Gasp, pant.*

My hands trembled, and I struggled to catch my breath.

As I stepped back, brushing my chest with my right hand, I felt something heavy and hard press against my back.

“Ah.”

A chill ran down my spine. Struggling to turn my creaking neck, I looked behind and saw an enormous tree with sinister branches reaching out.

[The buttocks…]

An oddly shaped tree, bringing its thick, large branches to my cheek. There’s no knothole. My face rapidly stiffened.

[The buttocks!!!]

“Argh, fuck!”

Channeling all my power into my right fist, I struck it with all my might. The massive branch tore away with a rough force.

[Groooaaan!]

The tree toppled backward, screaming in agony.

【The World Tree of Purity breathes a sigh of relief. 】

“Insane woman! Don’t just stand there and breathe, help me!”

【The World Tree of Purity apologizes with a tear-streaked face. 】

The atmosphere turns tense. Trees with vacant expressions gaze in my direction. Having already killed one of them, there’s no turning back. My only option now is to flee.

[Oh? The man is running away.]
[Running away?]
[Catch him!]
[Give us your seed before you go!]

In this desperate situation, I clench my fists and muster all my strength to attempt escape.

My vision narrows. Despite running at a pace that kicks up sand in my wake, the sheer number of trees makes it difficult to shake them off.

[A man!]

Suddenly, a tree with its limbs outstretched lunges at me. Two large, firm-looking breasts come into view.

[Devour my fruit ♡]

“Aaah!”

Desperate to survive, I instinctively thrust my right fist into the tree’s knothole.

– Thud!

[Ugh!]

The tree collapses, emitting a bizarre sound. As I withdraw my fist, a viscous fluid oozes out, coating my wrist.

I feel nauseated.

[Human!]

I bent my knees to dodge the branches attacking from behind, then swiftly swung my leg to kick the creature in the waist.

Wood-crack. The creature was uprooted. I leaped into the air to avoid the assault of another tree closing in from the side.

– Whoo!

From my vantage point high above, I saw dozens of malevolent eyes staring up at me.

All of them sinister gazes. It seemed like there were at least forty, if not fifty trees.

‘Can I win if I fight like this?’

If only I had a buff. I shook my head.

Escaping still remained the best course of action.

‘A body that will get dirty anyway.’

It shouldn’t matter if it endures some rough treatment. It had already been consumed by the World Tree once before.

Suddenly, tears welled up in my eyes, and I lifted my head.

– Whoo!

The wind blew from behind.

No, it isn’t the wind blowing; I am the one creating it.

Feeling the resistance of the air against my entire body, I gradually fell towards a hellish abyss. Dozens of trees contorted their knots, their faces filled with wicked delight.

The sight was so horrifying that I squeezed my eyes shut.

The sensation of swaying bangs brushing against my forehead. Gradually accelerating, I tried to regain my composure.

If I die like this, my name will surely make the news. Somehow, a TV screen seemed to enter the trembling corners of my eyes. A man, solemnly dressed, wore a regretful expression as he spoke.

“Next breaking news: A cadet at El Academy has tragically died after being sexually assaulted by trees multiple times.”

“Damn it, that can’t happen!”

With a resounding *paaang!*, I unleashed my wind magic with all my might. My body, which had been helplessly plummeting, bent at a right angle and surged forward at sonic speed.

“Human!”

A poignant (?) cry echoed from behind me.

Biting down hard, I landed on the empty ground and began running at full speed. Although feeling nauseous and possibly to be violated, I couldn’t allow myself to die after engaging in an orgy with the trees.

Upon leaving the forked path and exiting the cave, a forest where the trees lived came into view.

…A forest. This is their home turf.

[Human.]
[…A human with a lewd scent.]

More trees than before encircled me. The densely packed branches gradually closed in, and I felt desperation creeping up to my throat.

“Ah, shit.”

I muttered despondently.

“Did I ever tell the teacher to take care of my daughter?”

No, I hadn’t.

The thought occurred to me that Shiba, who would be awake by now, might be searching for food.

I want to return before tonight ends. Is there no way? Sneering at the trees, I clenched my fists and steeled my resolve.

I wasn’t certain if I could pierce through, even at this very moment.

I searched for an opportunity.
I focused my mind.

I struggled in any way I could, hoping someone might come to my aid.
I needed to buy time, at least until then.

-Slither.

The tendrils wrapped around my shins.

I tensed my legs and activated one of the spells I had memorized.

Advanced magic, located at the very end of the spellbook.

‘Wind Halls.’

…A slightly modified version of it.

-Whooosh!

The wind raged like a storm beneath the sky, swirling around me.
High-density air stretched outward.
The strong repulsion pushed the roots away from the trees. I cautiously stepped forward.

[Human!]

I barely replenished my ever-decreasing mana by absorbing the energy of the surrounding natural elements.
Blood trickled down my nose. I felt a searing pain as if my blood vessels were melting away.

Though undoubtedly overburdened, she sustained her magical circuit with her healing abilities.

‘Is this too much?’

Amidst short-lived complaints, she advanced slowly, spitting blood between her breaths.

Trees unable to withstand the wind were snapped at the trunk, their lives extinguished.

-Kwagagak!

The falling lightning set them ablaze. It would be ideal to maintain this state, but was that even possible?

10 minutes. 20 minutes.
…30 minutes.

The gradually dwindling magic signified her impending end. Despite the harsh wind, the pursuing trees eventually came into contact with her back, bit by bit.

-Click.

The storm ceased. The rising cumulonimbus clouds billowed overhead. Realizing that she was in a dungeon, she was soon pelted by falling rain. Her entire body soaked, steam rose like a mist over her muscles.

-Plod, plod.

The sound of two pairs of footsteps echoed between the tree-like beings.

[Huff. Huff.]

The eerie, heavy breathing of the unyielding trees.

-Tang-tang-tang-tang-tang, Tar-r-r-r-r.

An unusual mechanical sound followed. The noise of a chain’s teeth rolling, as if something was spinning rapidly. An ominous aura approached, and I turned my head to look at him.

“Lee Si-heon.”

The brown-haired girl stood right before me.

-Whii-ing!

“I found it.”

She gripped a whirring red chainsaw in both hands and suddenly swung it toward my neck.

-Kwajik!

Blood splattered.