I slowly approached the woman. This... Why is my body moving closer? Am I under a charm spell?

  Pitter. Patter.

  The sound grew louder and clearer. I didn't need to see her face to know I was in serious danger.

  What I thought was water dripping turned out to be blood. Human, most likely.

  The red silk didn't sway in the breeze; it was heavy and stiff, matted to her skin with layers of old, oxidized blood. Her elaborate head accessories? They were yellowed teeth and shards of bone, delicately arranged like art. A silent horror.

  Oui. Oui. Oui.

  I covered my mouth, barely daring to breathe as I took a careful step back.

  That was when she lifted her head.

  Blood dripped from her lips as she smiled, her pale fingers gripping a burnt, half-melted human corpse. My eyes froze on the charred body… then drifted to her smile.

  A smile too 'beautiful' to be human.

  "Since you're busy," I whispered and tip-toed backward, "I'll come back later. Ciao."

  And I turned and ran like hell.

  The body she was holding dropped to the ground with a sickening thud, and the woman transformed mid-chase. Her beauty vanishing into a twisted abomination. An ugly thing with too many joints, too many bones that cracked the wrong way. Her jaw unhinged like a snake's, revealing a gaping maw lined with rows of jagged teeth.

  Swish!

  Darts flew from her mouth, whistling through the air.

  "Are you serious?!" I ducked, but she was too fast. The darts grazed my arms and legs.

  Gah!

  Heat. Not pain yet. Just heat, flooding through my nerves. My skin tightened, then screamed.

  [Warning! You have been inflicted with burn. The burn effect will decrease your HP slowly.]

  Oh no! I might turn into a roasted rabbit!

  "Dammit…!"

  I gritted my teeth and kept running. I pushed Dash harder, but I could still hear the wet, heavy thwack-slide of her many-jointed limbs hitting the void-floor behind me.

  An open door appeared up ahead. My only salvation.

  I lunged for it, but a cold, monstrous shadow loomed over me. Just as my fingers gripped the doorframe, a deafening SNAP echoed behind my ear. I felt the rush of air as Lady Lashka's jagged teeth missed my heel by a fraction of an inch, her unhinged jaw slamming shut with enough force to shatter stone.

  No thinking. I dove inside and slammed the door shut. BAM! Something heavy thudded against the other side, making the metal groan, but the latch held.

  I collapsed to the floor, chest heaving. My hands wouldn't stop shaking. "Oui… My heart's doing overtime here, I swear."

  [You have exited the lethal influence zone.]

  [You survived 40 seconds within 'The Mourning Mother's' aura. Bonus EXP for not dying of sheer terror.]

  Mourning? You mean eating, right?

  [Survival recorded. Statistical anomaly detected.]

  [Burn effect gone. You and your teammates have leveled up to Level 37!]

  [Skill level up: Dodge LV 7 → 8, Dash LV 5 → 6]

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  "Just surviving gave me two levels? What the hell was that monster's level…" I wheezed. I looked around the room. It looked safe, but the System wasn't done with me. "So... where the hell am I now?"

  There were no obvious signs, no indicators, no glowing paths.

  I picked a direction. "Guess I'll go straight."

  A few steps in, the blue screen popped up.

  [Congratulations! You have gained a permanent debuff: 'Incurable Terrible Sense of Direction Disease'.]

  "…You're kidding me."

  [Unfortunately, no doctor can cure such a disease.]

  "Stop screwing with me and just tell me where to go!"

  The screen casually pointed left.

  "…You could have done that earlier."

  I followed the screen's direction with a deadpan stare.

  After a long, exhausting walk, I finally reached what looked like a safe zone.

  [HP and MP fully recovered.]

  [Congratulations, you have FINALLY reached the resting area.]

  I ignored the sarcasm and headed toward the flickering orange glow in the distance. When I finally reached the resting area, the heat of the campfire felt like a physical hug. I wasn't in the ink-black void anymore. I was back with the idiots.

  "Lil! You're not dead!" Rona sprinted toward me and jumped like a cannonball.

  "Rona, OFF! You're breaking my back!" My spine folded nearly one hundred and eighty degrees.

  "Nuuuuu." She clung tighter. I heard my ribs groaning under the pressure. At this rate, I might have to learn how to move like a snake. I better get rid of Rona fast.

  I carried her over to the camp, wheezing, where Isaac was calmly roasting boar meat.

  "You got here just in time." Isaac said nonchalantly as he gave me a skewer.

  The scent alone made me tear up. I collapsed near the fire and took a bite.

  Juicy. Tender. Absolutely divine.

  "This is amazing. So worth the pain."

  Isaac smirked. "We're lucky we got it. Boars like that are almost extinct."

  "Found it, killed it, and ate it. With all my blood, sweat, and tears."

  Rona's face was a mess of grease and happiness. "Thanks, Lil!"

  Isaac looked at me seriously. "By the way… what was that tremor earlier? You felt it too, right?"

  I wiped my mouth. "Long story."

  "We've got time."

  "Story! Tell!" Rona raised her arms like a child asking for candy.

  I sighed and told them everything. About the boar, the mimics, the 999 treasure chests (of which only five were real), and the woman from the World of Dreams.

  Isaac blinked slowly. "You… really have the worst luck I've ever seen."

  "You don't have to say it twice, Shorty." I looked over. "Rona? You good?"

  She was staring at the human bone I'd acquired from those treasure chest, drooling slightly. "Is that bone edible?"

  "Rona, that's a human bone."

  "I know. So, is it?"

  I tossed it to her. She chewed it with a loud crack. "No taste…"

  Isaac sighed and took it away from her. "Anyway, this team system is busted. I did nothing and still hit Level 37."

  "That's because I nearly died, multiple times. How's it feel being carried?"

  "Fantastic."

  We stood up to continue.

  [Congratulations! You have passed the 2nd stage. Welcome to the 3rd and final stage.]

  "Oui… finally. How long did this take?"

  "You mean you took."

  "Wanna die?"

  [For the third stage, only one of you may enter. If the person fails, the entire team will receive the Death Penalty.]

  "…What kind of death game nonsense is this?"

  "Are there no hints?" Isaac asked.

  [No.]

  "Cheapskates."

  Isaac turned to me and said, "Guess we're picking you, Llyne."

  "…Excuse me?"

  "You've got plot armor."

  "What does that even mean, you rat?"

  Isaac pointed at the screen. "Llyne, it is."

  "I didn't agree!"

  "Good luck!" Rona cast Merry Go Lucky! on me.

  "…Traitor."

  A door appeared.

  [Stage 3 has been constructed. Please enter through this door, player Llyne.]

  "Why is it always a door…"

  "We'll be watching," Isaac said, pointing to a screen showing my feed.

  "You got this!" Rona cheered.

  I took a deep breath and pushed the door open. Blinding light poured out.

  "Okay, tone it down, please."

  I entered. The brightness faded, replaced by flickering torchlight lining an old stone corridor. I touched the walls. They were cold and lifeless, just stone bricks. I grabbed a torch and moved forward. This place reminds me of an underground castle.

  I walked cautiously, watching for traps.

  They should really add some moss. Maybe a cobweb. Too clean.

  Then, a breeze. I followed it and found a stairway.

  Ugh, more stairs. Why is every trial trying to win an architecture award?

  Clack. Clack. Clack.

  At the top, I saw a towering man. I flinched. "Oui… busted."

  I raised my hands to surrender… but he didn't move. I stepped closer.

  "…It's just a painting?"

  It was so real it felt like the eyes were measuring me. The man radiated power. Regal. Intimidating.

  "All hail the King…" I muttered, giving a mock bow just to keep my nerves down. For a split second, the light hit the oil paint just right or maybe it didn't. I was sure the painted pupils had tracked my movement.

  Nope. Didn't see that. Absolutely not. I turned my back on the portrait, feeling a cold prickle of sweat run down my spine. I'd rather face a thousand boars than a painting that follows me with its eyes.

  I glanced around. More portraits; men and women in lavish clothing, all with that same commanding presence.

  "A royal family gallery…"

  The silence pressed in around me. Whatever ruled this place was close.

  If I failed… Isaac and Rona would die.

  The boss isn't the King… right?

  A nervous laugh escaped me. "Hopefully not."

  I rubbed the back of my head, eyes drifting down the corridor. "Where's the throne room?"

  The only answer was the long, silent hall, so I moved toward it.

  "Oh well. Maybe someone here can give directions… preferably someone who won't stab me on sight."

  Lady Lashka marks the close of the “World of Dreams” segment. A horror-heavy section I really enjoyed crafting.

  The next chapter begins the Castle Arc, where tone shifts back toward psychological tension and mystery.

  Thanks for reading! As always, feedback and theories are appreciated.