The entire party was shocked and puzzled as they checked their status windows and saw the significant drop in their levels and grades. Darius scratched his head in disbelief, muttering, "What in the world just happened? How did my level and grade drop so drastically?"
Elara looked equally bewildered, her eyes scanning the status window again and again. "This can't be right," she said. "I was a level 40 mage expert before, and now I'm down to level 7 mage novice! This forest is playing tricks on us!"
Gromm's brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of the situation. "Something's not right here," he grumbled. "We need to be cautious. Maybe it's some kind of curse or illusion."
Lyra nodded, her hand instinctively reaching for an arrow in her quiver. "I've heard rumors about this forest," she said. "They say it messes with adventurers' minds, making them see things that aren't real. It's a test of strength and resilience."
