Chapter 7: Mushroom King's Judgment
The warrior lost his laughter when the gigantic form appeared above him. He looked at it first as an oversized mushroom that would serve as an easy kill, just like the ones he had been cutting down before. The truth became clear when he adjusted his vision to the dim light of the summoning circle, showing him that his opponent was no simple beast.
A curly black mustache hung over its face while a crown of golden embroidery sat upon its cap like a royal symbol. A heavy crimson cape drooped from its back while its movements caused it to sway. A dim ancient radiance emerged from its eyes, showing wisdom while simultaneously bringing fear through its judging nature.
[Level 60 – Mushroom King]
The warrior's breath hitched. He instinctively tightened his grip on the axe as beads of sweat dripped down his brow, even though the night's temperature remained cool.
The creature made him afraid enough to ask, "What… the hell is this?" with barely any volume in his voice.
The Mushroom King remained silent to the warrior's question. It did not need to.
The being synchronized purposeful, slow actions while lifting its enormous leg. The footstep of the giant seemed to send the surface of the earth into convulsive motion.
The warrior paused momentarily to think about fleeing the scene but kept still against his own instincts. But his legs refused to move. He felt like an invisible force was pinning him in place as the King's presence pressed down heavily on him.
The foot hit the ground with overwhelming force.
A horrifying sound of bone shattering spread throughout the woods. The warrior's feet sank into the earth as the impact from the heavy strike caused the ground to split apart. The massive entity's impact reduced his body to a crushed mass. There was no time to scream. No time to fight back. The ruthless moment ended his existence permanently.
Golden light burst from his body when the system teleported him forcefully back to the village. The system failed to notify anyone about his death through an announcement. It was too obvious.
For a moment, silence reigned.
The mage's hands shook violently while holding his staff. The archer drew quick, panicked breaths through her mouth.
The warriors had always considered him their most powerful fighter. The group depended on him because he always took the lead position. And yet…
Gone. Just like that.
A heavy mist of truth descended upon them, creating a suffocating atmosphere. This creature made them completely insignificant.
The Mushroom King directed its attention toward them.
That was all it took.
A trembling movement backward nearly caused the archer's legs to collapse. The mage struggled to control his breathing while he held his staff desperately. Their bodies wanted to escape from the situation.
And so they did.
They immediately ran away without saying anything or hesitating. They didn't look back. They didn't dare.
The injured and exhausted Yuno watched everything through hazy vision. His small body lay motionless on the forest ground while he remained both paralyzed and voiceless. His battered body showed signs of extreme weakness from the injuries he suffered.
All mushrooms that originated from the summoning circle shifted their attention toward the Mushroom King. The mushrooms communicated silently through their expressionless faces.
Then, the King drew its sword.
A massive blade reflected the dim light, its edge so sharp it seemed to cut through both the air and space itself. The Mushroom King lifted the sword into the air using a measured and unhurried movement.
Yuno's breath hitched.
The tiny mushrooms started to move in a jumping motion.
The small bodies of the mushrooms jumped up and down with energetic movements. Their bodies moved in perfect harmony while they danced to a soundless tune. The Mushroom King stood beside them while lifting and dropping his sword as a silent battle call.
It was… celebrating.
Yuno's vision blurred further. His mind continuously shifted between awareness and unconsciousness. His tiny fingers twitched.
Don't ignore me…
I'm… a mushroom too…
His body sought contact with others to initiate assistance. Darkness started to enter his field of vision before he could speak. His exhausted body reached its breaking point and surrendered.
Everything faded.
The faint crackling noise brought him back to awareness.
A fire's warm flames illuminated his body while creating a dim light that spread across the area. The combination of burning wood smoke with a faint earthy smell reached his nostrils.
Where…?
Yuno's eyes fluttered open.
The space where he found himself turned out to be a cave structure. The walls displayed natural patterns, shaped by time through its passage. Through a tiny hole in the ceiling, one beam of moonlight entered to shine upon the uneven stone floor below him.
Something moved nearby.
Yuno turned his head weakly.
His breathing paused as he swallowed the air.
The ground displayed fragments of mushrooms spread throughout it. The scene revealed torn plant stems and shredded fungi caps, showing the remains of those flying creatures. The dead bodies of the creatures lay scattered across the cave floor, as if they were useless debris.
The cave contained various lifeless mushrooms, but one of them was being devoured.
A low, wet chewing sound echoed in the space.
Yuno's tiny body tensed.
The large beast crouched over a dead mushroom while chewing it. The dim firelight cast its silhouette against the cave wall—bulky, powerful.
A pig.
The creature used its gleaming tusks to cut through its food while being fully engrossed in its meal.
Yuno's mind reeled.
Had it… killed them?
Had it eaten them all?
His body shook uncontrollably before the pig stopped its advance.
Yuno froze.
The pig began to face him.
Their eyes met.
A sharp, animal intelligence became visible in the pig's eyes. The way it looked at him—it wasn't just a mindless beast. It knew he was awake.
Panic surged through Yuno's veins. His instincts screamed at him to stay motionless, breathing only enough to prevent the animal from noticing him.
The pig snorted softly. The animal started advancing toward him in a horrifying manner.
Each movement the pig made sent terror waves through Yuno's weakened body.
It's coming. It's coming. It's coming.
He tried to escape, but his body refused to obey his command.
His body failed to register any sensations below his waist.
His heart pounded. He fought to keep his eyes fixed on the ground in front of him.
A freezing terror overwhelmed him completely.
His lower body… was missing.
The realization nearly broke him. It must have been the pig. It had eaten him. The pig had already consumed a piece of him, and now it had returned to finish the job.
Yuno managed to suppress his scream when the giant pig stood above him, breathing on his cap.
This is it. This is how I die.
He shut his eyes. He preferred not to witness his fate if the creature intended to consume him.
A moment passed. Then another.
Nothing.
The pig performed an action Yuno never expected when it approached him.
It regurgitated.
A chewed-up substance hit Yuno's open wounds as the pig vomited. The foul odor became unbearable at that moment, and his injuries started to heal themselves.
His health was… regenerating?
The pig… had healed him?
The events happening before Yuno's eyes created confusion in his thoughts. The creature that had seemed to devour his flesh was now assisting in his recovery?
The pig used its snout to softly touch his head. It wasn't an attack. It was… affection?
Yuno didn't dare move. The pig rested next to him, its warm body pressing against the cave floor.
Sleep soon overtook the beast.
The cave fell into silence.
But Yuno didn't sleep. He couldn't.
His mind raced. His body remained still.
He had to escape.
The moonlight had shifted position by the time something stirred.
The large body of the pig moved slightly before it woke up. A deep, guttural sniffing sound filled the cave.
It lifted its head.
The empty space next to it caught its attention.
The mushroom was gone.
The pig's ears twitched. It lowered its head to the ground, deeply sniffing the air.
Then, without hesitation.
It followed the scent.