The time had come. After days of preparation and recovery from the tournament, the players were ready to venture to the Woodland Mansion, where the next relic awaited. It was the next major step in their quest to escape this twisted game world. Aimi, Farah, Marcus, and a group of elite players gathered in the village, their weapons sharpened, their armor gleaming in the sunlight.
As they stood at the edge of the village, Marcus addressed the group. "This will be one of the most dangerous missions we've faced yet. The Woodland Mansion is no ordinary structure. It's filled with powerful mobs and traps designed to destroy even the strongest players. But we have no choice—we need the next relic to continue."
Aimi felt a sense of dread wash over him, but he pushed it aside. They had survived so much already. They would survive this too.
Farah, standing beside him, squeezed his hand. "We've got this," she whispered, giving him a reassuring smile.
With Marcus leading the way, the group set off toward the Woodland Mansion, their footsteps echoing in unison as they ventured into the dense, dark forest that surrounded the mansion.
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Arrival at the Mansion
When they reached the clearing where the mansion stood, the players stopped in their tracks, staring in shock at the scene before them. The Woodland Mansion, once an imposing, labyrinthine structure of dark wood and stone, was in ruins. Flames licked at the walls, and smoke billowed into the sky. The building had been utterly destroyed—burned to the ground.
The air was thick with the smell of smoke and charred wood. It was eerily quiet, save for the crackling of the flames.
Aimi's eyes widened in disbelief. "What... happened here?"
Farah looked around, just as confused. "We were supposed to fight our way through this place... but it's already destroyed."
The group moved cautiously closer, their weapons drawn, unsure of what they would find. As they neared the burning remnants of the mansion, a figure emerged from the smoke—Nier.
She stood at the center of the ruins, her dark armor reflecting the glow of the dying flames. Her expression was calm, almost bored, as if the destruction of the mansion had been little more than a trivial task for her. Her sword hung at her side, still faintly glowing with the residual energy of battle.
Marcus stepped forward, his voice cutting through the silence. "Nier. What have you done?"
Nier glanced at him, her face betraying no emotion. "I did what you were going to do. I just did it faster."
Aimi's heart pounded in his chest. He had known Nier was strong, but to defeat the Woodland Mansion—a place that had terrified and killed countless players—on her own and then burn it to the ground... it was beyond comprehension.
Farah whispered, her voice filled with awe, "She destroyed the entire mansion... by herself."
Nier walked toward Marcus, holding something in her hand. As she drew closer, Aimi saw what it was—the relic. It shimmered in the dim light, a small, glowing object that seemed to pulse with a life of its own.
Without a word, Nier held the relic out to Marcus.
Marcus looked at it for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then, he took the relic from her hand, his eyes flicking to the ruins of the mansion behind her. "You didn't leave anything for us, did you?"
Nier shrugged. "You were taking too long. Besides, the relic's the only thing that matters. The mansion was just an obstacle."
The other players murmured in disbelief, still trying to process what they had witnessed. They had prepared for a deadly battle, but Nier had beaten them to it. She had single-handedly conquered the mansion, killed every mob, bypassed every trap, and now stood before them, having completed the task they had spent weeks preparing for.
Aimi clenched his fists, a mixture of admiration and frustration bubbling inside him. Nier was leagues beyond any of them. She wasn't just strong—she was untouchable.
Marcus studied Nier carefully. "Why did you do it? You're not part of this group. You could have kept the relic for yourself."
Nier's eyes narrowed slightly. "I'm not interested in relics. My goal is the Creator—the one who trapped us all here. And the only way to get to him is to keep moving forward. I don't need relics to prove my strength."
Her words hung in the air, and Marcus nodded slowly, understanding her intent. "You're using us. Letting us gather the relics so we can get to the Creator."
Nier didn't deny it. "You're not wrong. But it works for both of us. I'll help you get the relics, and you'll help me get to him."
A tense silence followed, broken only by the crackling of the remaining flames.
Marcus looked at the relic in his hand, then back at Nier. "Fair enough. But this changes things. You've proven how strong you are, but we need a team. This isn't a solo mission anymore."
Nier smiled faintly, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I'll help when I feel like it. But don't think for a second I'm part of your little kingdom. I work alone."
Without another word, Nier turned and began to walk away, disappearing into the forest as quickly as she had appeared.
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After the Ruins
As the smoke began to clear, the players gathered around Marcus, who still held the relic in his hand. Aimi and Farah exchanged glances, both feeling the weight of the moment.
"We should've known Nier would be ahead of us," Aimi said quietly. "She's not like anyone else in this game."
Farah nodded. "She's not just powerful—she's... something else."
Marcus, overhearing them, turned to the group. "Nier's actions might change the game, but our goal remains the same. We still need to gather the relics, and the next one is just as important as the last."
He held up the relic, its glow casting faint shadows on the faces of the players. "This is a victory, whether we fought for it or not. We'll regroup and plan our next move."
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To Be Continued...
The destruction of the Woodland Mansion has left Aimi and Farah in awe of Nier's unmatched strength. With the relic now in Marcus's possession, the path forward becomes more treacherous. Nier may have helped them this time, but her true motives remain a mystery. As they prepare for the next stage of their journey, the stakes have never been higher.