As I entered the next room, I was greeted by a large, open space with a few small trees and bushes. The room was dimly lit and I couldn't make out any specific features.
"Is there anything we should know about this room, Erol?" I asked.
Erol looked around and sniffed the air. "No, there's nothing special about this room. Just be careful. The Great Tree likes to use its powers to make the environment dangerous. There could be traps anywhere." I nodded and cautiously walked forward.
The air was thick with the scent of decay, and I could hear the faint sound of dripping water. The floor was damp and sticky, and it squelched beneath Erol's hooves. I could feel the cold seeping into my bones, and I could see my breath in the air. I could hear the sound of insects buzzing, and I could feel the slimy touch of something crawling on my skin.
I hopped off Erol's back and inspected the ground beneath me. The ground was covered in a thick, slimy substance, and I could feel it sticking to my shoes. I could see the outlines of large, round shapes in the darkness. They were covered in a thick, slimy substance that glistened in the dim light.
What the hell are those things?
I reached down and touched the edge of the nearest shape. It was smooth and cold, and I could feel the slimy substance on the surface of my finger. Then a clicking sound resonated throughout the room. Suddenly, the floor started to crack and break apart. Huge chunks of ground began to fall into the dark abyss below.
"Get on my back, Thomas!" Erol yelled. He was standing on a small island of rock, surrounded by the darkness. I ran to him as quickly as I could, but the ground kept cracking and falling away. I leaped onto his back and he took off. We flew through the air, dodging the falling rocks and the gaping holes in the ground.
We jumped from platform to platform as the ground continued to crumble. I could see the walls and ceiling of the room starting to fall apart. The clicking noises got louder, and I could feel the vibrations in my body.
"What the fuck is happening?" I said.
"You appeared to have triggered a trap," said Erol. "We have to find a way out of here."
Suddenly, a large, black, slimy tentacle shot out of one of the holes in the ground and wrapped around Erol's hind leg. Erol screamed in pain and tried to pull free, but the tentacle was too strong. The tentacle dragged us to the edge of the hole and we fell in. We were falling, and I could feel the air rushing past my face.
Oh great. If the fall is too deep, then we'll be right back at square one!
"We have to slow down our fall somehow," I said. I used my imagination to create a pair of wings and angled myself to hold on to Erol. I grabbed hold of his neck and pulled him close to me. I flapped my wings as hard as I could and we started to slow down. But the walls were getting closer and closer. I had to keep flapping, but I could feel the strain in my muscles. I didn't know how long I could keep it up.
We were getting closer and closer to the walls, but I was still managing to slow us down. Eventually, we managed to land in a different room within the dungeon. This room in particular gave off cozy vibes, almost like a rest stop. The walls were a warm orange color, and the room was bathed in a soft light. The air smelled like cinnamon and vanilla, and I could hear the sound of a crackling fire.
In the center of the room, there was a large, comfy couch, and a small coffee table. On the table, there were several books and a plate of freshly baked cookies.
This was eerily similar to a coffee shop. How could the Great Tree replicate something beyond this world? Maybe it peered into my mind at some point without me noticing or maybe... we're connected somehow.
The thought of that made me feel uneasy.
"Looks like we're safe for now," Erol said. He was shaking slightly, and his eyes were wide with fear. "We should rest here for a while and then continue our journey." I could see that Erol was tired, and I knew that we would both benefit from a break.
I nodded and sat down on the couch.
"So Erol, what's up with this room? Why is it so cozy?" I asked.
"I'm not sure, but the Great Tree has a twisted sense of humor," Erol said. "It's probably just a way to mess with us."
"I don't like the idea of being messed with," I said. "But I suppose we don't have a choice. We should just enjoy the peace and quiet while we can." I took a cookie from the plate on the table and bit into it. If it was poisoned somehow, I could just use Imagination Amplification to heal myself although I was nearly drained completely.
When I make it back to my own world, I more than likely would pass out for a few days to recuperate. These last few days had been exhausting in every sense of the word.
As I finished the cookie, a strange feeling came over me. I felt a warmth in my chest, and I could hear a soft humming noise. It was comforting, and it made me feel relaxed. I could feel the stress leaving my body, and I could feel my muscles relax. Erol and I sat on the couch for a few more minutes, and then we got up to continue our journey through the labyrinth.
What was up with that room anyway? Why would the Tree create a safe haven for me? This really was similar to role-playing game.
I hopped on Erol's back and we walked to the exit of the room. Before we could enter the next, Will zipped in front of me and began to glow in various colors. He seemed to be trying to tell me something, and I had a feeling that whatever was ahead would not be good.
"What's wrong, buddy?" I asked.
"I think he's trying to tell us that the next room is dangerous," Erol said. "It would make sense considering the next room has another sentient demon. This one in particular has similar attributes to the Great Tree. It has control over the plants in its room and is able to create and manipulate them at will. We'll need to be extra careful."
I nodded. "Alright, let's go." I hopped off of Erol's back and unsheathed my sword. I was ready for whatever the Great Tree would throw at me. We walked through the doorway and entered the next room.