Chapter 9: Lord Treant

 Lord Treant roared, his massive limbs creaking as he lumbered toward us, roots tearing up the earth with every ponderous step. ShadowStalker and I immediately moved into position, our weapons at the ready. The air around us was thick with tension, the forest seeming to hold its breath as the ancient guardian advanced.

I charged first, my sword glowing faintly as I activated my Quick Slash skill. I aimed for the creature's legs, hoping to slow him down. The blade bit into the bark, but it barely made a dent. The impact reverberated up my arm, a harsh reminder of the treant's sheer bulk and strength.

"This guy's tough," I muttered, dodging a massive swing of one of his branch-like arms. The force of the swing whipped the air around us, sending leaves and debris flying. I narrowly avoided the blow, my heart pounding in my chest.

ShadowStalker was quicker, darting in and out of the treant's reach with the grace of a seasoned warrior. His lance struck with precision, targeting the joints and knots in the creature's bark. Each hit seemed to draw a little more sap from the creature, but it was slow work. The treant's groans echoed through the forest, a sound that seemed to come from the very earth itself.

The fight dragged on, each of us landing blows that seemed to do little more than irritate Lord Treant. His attacks were powerful, but slow and predictable, giving us plenty of time to evade. Still, the battle felt almost anticlimactic, like we were fighting a giant wooden punching bag with a huge amount of HP. The forest around us was littered with splintered wood and crushed vegetation, the aftermath of our desperate struggle.

After what felt like an eternity, ShadowStalker finally found a weak spot. With a shout PENETRATION, he plunged his lance deep into the creature's bushy beard (1 MIL damage!) Lord Treant let out one last groan, the light in his eyes faded as he crumbled to the ground in a heap of splintered wood and withered leaves.

"Well, that was... something," I said, catching my breath. My arms felt like a wet mattress, and sweat dripped down my forehead. "Not as tough as I expected." Tough? No. Draining? Absolutely!

As the dust settled, I noticed a faint glow among the fallen branches—a piece of wood, shimmering with a soft light. I reached down to pick it up, feeling a strange warmth emanating from it. It was a rare drop item, perhaps something that would come in handy later.

Viewer 6: What the fuck was that?

Viewer 4: Penetration lmao

Viewer 7: Like stealing candy from a baby.

Daisy: Please don't steal candy from babies.

"Yeah, kind of underwhelming," ShadowStalker agreed, wiping the sap from his lance. "But hey, a win's a win."

>> The Techno Ruins: (c)

Before we could even check the loot thoroughly, our quest log updated again: Quest Updated: Investigate the Techno Ruins.

I looked up, and for the first time, noticed the shift in the environment around us. The dense, leafy forest was giving way to something entirely different. The trees, once towering and vibrant, abruptly ended, replaced by sleek, metallic structures that rose from the ground like futuristic skyscrapers. The air crackled with energy, and strange, glowing symbols floated in the air around us, casting eerie reflections on the metallic surfaces.

"Is this... supposed to happen?" I asked, staring in disbelief at the stark contrast between the lush forest and the high-tech landscape before us. The transition was jarring, as if we had stepped from one game into another entirely.

ShadowStalker looked just as confused. "This is definitely weird. But hey, it's a game."

We stepped forward, crossing the threshold into what felt like an entirely different world. The ground beneath us was no longer dirt and roots but smooth, polished metal that reflected our avatars with unsettling clarity. Hovercrafts zipped by overhead, their engines emitting a low hum, and strange, robotic creatures roamed in the distance, their movements precise and mechanical.

The path ahead was lit by glowing lines embedded in the ground, leading us deeper into the techno ruins. The air was thick with the hum of machinery and the faint buzz of electricity. I couldn't shake the feeling that we had stumbled into something far bigger than we had anticipated.

"At least the game's holding up so far," ShadowStalker said. "No glitches, no bugs—just... this."

"Yeah, let's not jinx it," I said. "Who knows what we'll run into next?"

As we ventured further, the mix of nature and technology created an eerie yet fascinating atmosphere. The techno ruins seemed alive with a pulsing energy, and I couldn't help but feel that we were just scratching the surface of what this place had to offer. The metallic walls hummed with an unknown power, and the glowing symbols seemed to shift and change as we moved, as if they were aware of our presence.

Eventually, we came across a series of platforms hovering above the ground, each one connected by thin, glowing bridges. The platforms were covered in symbols I couldn't decipher, but they seemed to shift and change as we approached, as if reacting to our presence. The air around the platforms buzzed with energy, the symbols glowing brighter with each step we took.

"Feel like this is more of a puzzle than a beat-'em-up stage," ShadowStalker muttered.

"Yeah," I agreed, glancing at the symbols. They pulsed rhythmically, as if waiting for us to make the first move.

IKYKYK: Is it me or did the graphics just skyrocket? I have played Tim 2 and even that doesn't compare to this!

We stepped onto the first platform, and the symbols beneath our feet flared brightly. For a moment, I thought we'd triggered some kind of trap, but nothing happened. We moved to the next platform, and then the next, each one lighting up as we passed. The process was nerve-wracking, the possibility of a sudden trap looming over us with each step.

"Definitely a puzzle," ShadowStalker nodded.

Jumping, and getting the timing right proved to be a hassle. The platforms moved with an unpredictable rhythm, requiring perfect timing to avoid falling into the abyss below. I fell three times, mistiming my jump each time. Each fall was followed by a long, frustrating wait as I respawned back at the beginning. Meanwhile, ShadowStalker, clad in his lovely scaly armor, meditated calmly on a nearby platform, waiting for me to catch up.

Viewer 5: Man, the platforming is rough, huh?

Viewer 8: Git gud!

Took forever but we were almost there. Almost... just as we reached the final platform, a loud, mechanical whirring sound echoed through the ruins. We both froze, glancing around for the source of the noise. The air grew thick with tension, the ground beneath us began to shake, and a massive figure emerged from the shadows ahead.

It was a towering, humanoid machine, its body made of sleek, metallic parts that glinted in the faint light. Its eyes were a pair of glowing red orbs, and its arms ended in massive, claw-like appendages. It looked like something out of a sci-fi horror movie, and it was heading straight for us, its steps shaking the very platforms we stood on.

"Wasn't expecting a boss fight like that. Thought we were going to do more puzzles. But I guess I shouldn't have expected so much," ShadowStalker said, his voice tense, yet with a hint of excitement.

"Yeah," I said, readying my sword. My heart raced as the machine drew closer, its red eyes locking onto us with an unnerving precision. "But it's always nice to get some action. Was getting bored."

"Puzzle games don't excite you?"

"Nope."