The cart rumbled off the main road and onto a narrow, overgrown path that wound its way toward the Hollow Thicket. The change in terrain was marked by a series of crude warning signs nailed to trees and posts, each bearing ominous messages: "ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK" and "NO GUARD PROTECTION BEYOND THIS POINT". The driver hesitated, his gaze flicking nervously to the dense forest ahead.
"This is as far as I go," the driver said, pulling the reins to stop the cart. "You sure about this? The Hollow Thicket isn't a place most normal people come back from."
DK hopped off the cart, his blade strapped securely to his side. "We'll be fine," he said confidently. "Thanks for getting us this far. We will be back in no time"
Lucy followed, her cloak billowing slightly as she adjusted her staff. She shot the driver a reassuring smile. "Don't wait for us. We'll find our way back."
The driver didn't need to be told twice. He turned the cart around and left without another word, the sound of the wheels fading quickly into the distance. DK and Lucy stood at the edge of the thicket, the dense, twisted trees stretching high into the sky. The entrance was framed by vines that seemed to writhe faintly, as though alive. A chill breeze whispered through the air, carrying with it the faint scent of decay.
DK stepped forward, taking in the eerie stillness. "This place already feels wrong," he muttered, glancing at Lucy.
"It's not supposed to feel right," Lucy replied. Her voice was calm, but her eyes scanned the surroundings with careful precision. "The Hollow Thicket plays tricks on people. The silence? It's meant to disorient you, make you doubt your senses. Stay focused, and don't lose sight of me."
They entered the forest, the light dimming almost instantly as the canopy above blocked out the sun. The air was thick and heavy, and the oppressive silence was broken only by the faint crunch of leaves underfoot. The deeper they went, the more twisted and unnatural the trees became, their gnarled roots curling upward like claws.
"Do you hear that?" DK whispered after a while, his voice barely audible.
Lucy paused, tilting her head slightly. "Hear what?"
"Exactly," DK said, his grip tightening on his blade. "There's nothing. No birds, no insects, nothing. It's like this place swallowed all the life around it."
Lucy nodded, her expression grim. "That's the Hollow Thicket for you. It's designed to unnerve you. Just keep your head clear."
As they pressed on, the sense of unease grew. The forest seemed endless, with no discernible landmarks to mark their progress. After what felt like hours, DK stopped in his tracks and turned to Lucy. "Wait… haven't we passed that tree before?"
Lucy frowned, her gaze following his pointing finger. The twisted tree did look familiar, its trunk scarred by deep gouges that formed an almost humanoid face. "Stay calm," she said firmly. "This is part of the Thicket's tricks. It wants you to feel lost."
DK nodded, but his unease only deepened. As he turned back toward their path, something brushed against his leg. He jumped, drawing his blade instinctively. A vine slithered along the ground, its thorns glinting faintly in the dim light.
The first attack came suddenly. From the trees, vines shot out in every direction, writhing like living snakes as they lashed toward DK and Lucy. DK reacted quickly, his blade flashing as he cut through the nearest vine with a single strike. The severed plant fell to the ground, twitching violently before going still.
"Keep moving!" Lucy called, her staff glowing faintly as she blasted a vine that came too close. The flames from her spell licked at the surrounding vegetation, forcing the vines to momentarily retreat.
DK nodded, his focus sharpening as he slashed through another vine. Each strike was precise, his movements guided by the techniques he had been practicing. But something felt wrong. No matter how many vines he cut, they seemed to regenerate almost instantly, reattaching to the trees and growing back even thicker.
The system interface flickered in his vision.
ENEMIES DEFEATED: 0/150.
"What the hell?" DK muttered under his breath, slicing through another vine. "Why isn't this working? These things just keep coming back!"
Lucy sighed, sidestepping a vine that lunged for her ankle. "Because these aren't the real enemies," she said, her tone almost bored. "The Thicket is testing you. These vines are distractions. Annoying, yes, but not the actual threat."
DK gritted his teeth, frustration bubbling in his chest. He focused his mana, infusing his blade with a faint, dark glow as he cleaved through a cluster of vines. The plants recoiled, but still, the system's progress bar remained stubbornly at zero.
"You've got to be kidding me," he growled, dodging another attack. "So what's the point of all this?"
Lucy didn't answer immediately. Instead, she casually blasted another vine, her expression calm but her tone slightly exasperated. "The point is for you to figure it out. I could burn this entire thicket down if I wanted to, but that wouldn't help you learn anything. This is your fight, DK."
Her words stung, but they were true. DK took a deep breath, forcing himself to think. The vines weren't the enemies—they were just obstacles. Somewhere in this cursed forest, the real targets were hiding. He scanned the area, his eyes narrowing as he tried to make sense of the chaos.
Then, the ground beneath them rumbled. A low, guttural growl echoed through the trees, followed by a sudden rustling sound that grew louder with each passing second. The vines around them recoiled slightly, almost as if in fear, and the air grew even heavier.
Lucy straightened, her staff glowing brightly. "Looks like you've got its attention," she said, her tone sharp.
DK turned, his blade at the ready, as a massive form emerged from the shadows. The Vine Fiend was enormous, its body a writhing mass of thick, thorny vines. Two glowing, crimson eyes glared at them from within the tangled mass, and its movements were slow but deliberate, exuding an aura of raw power.
"Well," DK muttered, tightening his grip on his blade. "Guess it's time for the real fight."