Chapter 128: The Withering Hollow

[FLOOR 3]

The third floor greeted them not with a doorway, but a gaping maw in the earth—twisting vines and decayed roots framing its jagged mouth like teeth. A low mist curled outward from the descent below, reeking of decay and old magic. It was colder here. Hungrier.

"This place... it feels like it remembers," Lyra murmured, her ice-clad fingers brushing against a vine pulsing faintly with corruption.

Noah nodded grimly, his hand tightening around the hilt of his blade. "Be ready. This won't be like the others."

They stepped inside.

Black water lapped at their boots. The air shimmered with illusions, light flickering from bioluminescent fungi dotting twisted, rotting trees. Branches hung low with flowers dripping black ichor, and thick vines crisscrossed overhead like a canopy. The entire hollow felt alive—but wrong.

Scarlett sniffed the air. "Poison. Watch for spores."

"And illusions," Layla added, eyes glowing faintly as she activated her curse sense. "Something's trying to dig into our minds."

Noah extended his hand. Purification. A soft golden light pulsed out from him, forming a dome that shimmered briefly before fading. The haze around them thinned.

A growl rumbled from the shadows.

Then the forest moved.

 Suddenly they were all ambushed by a large group of monsters , Blightroot Sentinels , 12 Hollow Widows and 8 Drowned Wraiths..

And from deeper in the shadows—

2 Corrupted Ent Lords—twisted titans of roots and ancient wood, pulsing with red runes were Staring at us.

"Positions!" Noah called, eyes glowing. "Lyra, suppress the sentinels. Scarlett, cover our right. Layla—shatter the wraiths. I'll draw the Ents."

They moved.

Lyra inhaled, her breath fogging the air. Snowfall.

A chill swept through the battlefield. She raised both hands—Ice Shard, Frost Lance, then leapt forward, her lance glowing white-blue.

Frozen Spear Art – Glacial Strike!

One Sentinel's limbs froze solid mid-swing and shattered under its own weight. Two more stumbled as snow crusted their joints.

Scarlett blurred—Shadow Step → Dagger Storm → Shadow Spear.

Her daggers spun through the air, imbued with wind, slicing tendrils and vines apart.

Then she held out a hand.

"Come, Fenris."

Shadow Summon – Fenris, the Shadow Wolf.

From her shadow burst a lupine beast, eyes glowing crimson. It snarled and lunged, tearing into the chest of a Hollow Widow, ripping its core out in a spray of black sap.

Layla spun her scythe—Reaper's Slash → Cursed Flame.

The black fire hissed as it coated her blade. She slashed downward.

Hex of Misfortune. The wraiths reeled.

"Soul Drain."

A vortex of shadow exploded from her chest, ripping the essence from the nearest three wraiths, pulling them into her blade.

They screamed.

She smiled.

But the Ent Lords advanced.

They were massive—nearly four meters tall—roots writhing from their backs like tentacles.

One raised an arm. Blight Pulse.

A wave of rot rippled through the ground, decaying even Layla's flames.

"Noah! Now!" Lyra yelled.

Noah narrowed his eyes.

He activated Azure Blue Flame.

A burst of brilliant sapphire erupted from his body, wrapping his sword in divine fire. He sprinted forward.

Sword Art – Gale Dance.

His figure blurred, weaving between the tentacles.

"Combo with me!" he shouted to Scarlett.

She and Fenris leapt in. Shadow Dance. Shadows cloaked her body.

Noah swung.

Phantom Edge. A devastating arc tore through the Ent's bark, opening a burning gash.

Scarlett followed—Assassin's Mark, then threw her dagger.

Wind Slash.

The blade burst into the wound, detonating in a whirlwind. The Ent stumbled.

"Flame Wheel!"

Noah spun, carving a burning circle around the monster, trapping it in fire.

Then—Radiant Nova.

Golden light exploded outward.

The Ent disintegrated.

The remaining enemies fell soon after—one by one, under the combined might of shadow, frost, fire, and curse.

At last, the hollow was silent.

They collapsed near a glowing circle—arcane, sacred, untouched by decay.

A rest point.

Noah leaned against a stone. "We did it."

Scarlett rested her head on his shoulder. "Barely."

Layla didn't sit—she cleaned her blade. "It's not over. This place... it wants to kill us."

Lyra stared at the path ahead.

A stone tunnel, narrow and carved with ancient golden runes, led deeper—toward something older than the corruption.

Noah closed his eyes. "One hour. Then we descend."

None of them disagreed.

They had survived the Withering Hollow.

But the heart of the dungeon still awaited.

-To be continued...