The woman led Jackson into another chamber she had prepared, laying him down on the bed inside.“I’ll be right back,” she whispered before leaving and shutting the door firmly behind her.As soon as she left, Jackson quickly sat up. His hand summoned the system screen before him, and he read the new instructions that appeared.“So this is the hidden level?” he muttered softly. “If that’s the case, I need to find Smith as soon as possible, rescue him, then search for the Kane Collection they’re guarding. Once we add it to our collection, we can finally get out of here.”Joanne swam faster, following the trail of where Jackson had been taken. She stopped when she noticed a large number of guards gathered in front of the gate.“I need to come up with a way to get inside.” She opened her system screen, scanning for something that could help her infiltrate and locate both Jackson and Smith.“This will work.” Joanne grabbed a bottle containing pills that made the body invisible and swallowe

“Argh…” Smith clutched his chest as it burned hotter under the moonlight. Several figures rushed toward him, grabbing his arms and forcing him up.“Let me go!” Smith struggled in agony, but their strength was overwhelming. He couldn’t break free as they dragged him out of the room.“Smith…” Joanne and Jackson could only watch, bound by the vines that continued to coil around their bodies.Smith turned his head weakly. “My friends…” he whispered as he was pulled away. I can’t just stand by and let them suffer because of me. I can’t give up. I have to fight. Even if I fall, at least they’ll be able to continue the struggle to free Kay and the others.I have to fight…“Let me go!” Smith resisted as they dragged him across the floor. He glared at them with piercing eyes—his irises glowing blue, glittering like gemstones. Startled, his captors instantly released their grip.The woman who had been about to leave froze when she saw her subordinates letting Smith go. Her gaze locked on him.“

“You must be starving and lonely. If you come with me, I’ll give you far more than that water spirit ever did. I’ll make sure you have enough food so you won’t be thin anymore, and you’ll get to see the outside world because my friends and I will be traveling a long, far journey together. There will be so many things we’ll go through. Plus, you can retire from your current duty and instead help us guard our collection. How about that?” Jackson made his tempting offer.The guardian spirit fell silent. It was indeed a tempting proposal, one he longed to accept. The water spirit’s cold treatment had worn him down completely—he was sick of it.“Don’t think too long, I don’t have much time!” Jackson pressed. The old man remained quiet, weighing his options carefully.“Very well, I agree. But for me to leave, you must carry this shell with you wherever you go.” The guardian spirit moved aside, revealing the shell he referred to.“Fine, I’ll do it.” Jackson stepped forward, took the shell, a

Jackson and his two companions decided to rest for a while after their long journey out of the forest. They stopped by a river far from where they had originally continued their trek. “I’m so exhausted,” Joanne muttered as she lay down on the grassy ground, the blades reaching up to her calves. “How far have we walked? Why haven’t we found the place where the next level is yet?” Jackson frowned at the system screen hovering before him. They had walked a great distance, yet still there was no sign of the entrance to the next level. “I don’t know either,” Joanne replied. “Have you noticed something?” Smith finally spoke up, breaking his silence. Joanne and Jackson turned to him at the same time. “What do you mean?” Joanne frowned, not understanding what he meant by not noticing something. “What exactly did we miss?” Jackson pressed. “We’ve already passed Level 4,” Smith said, lifting his gaze to meet theirs. “Huh? Really?” “How do you know?” Jackson asked. “Didn’t you

“Are they really after the pendant I found?” Joanne’s thoughts raced as her eyes locked onto the beast gripping the necklace. Its clawed hand wrapped tightly around the chain, the red gem glinting faintly under the flickering torchlight.Her gaze darted around the room. Jackson and Smith were slumped against the wall, heads covered, arms tied cruelly behind their backs. They looked lifeless, still lost in unconsciousness.“Jackson? Smith?” Her chest tightened. She tried to speak, but the gag stuffed in her mouth turned her voice into muffled gasps. She squirmed, the ropes biting deeper into her wrists.The beast looming over her crouched down, a crooked grin twisting his muzzle.“It seems you’ve got something to say,” he said, tugging the gag loose.The moment her mouth was free, Joanne spat the filthy cloth straight at his face. Wet saliva clung to his fur and dripped down his chin.The crowd of beasts erupted in low laughter. The one standing before her wiped his face roughly, golde