Breaking Through the Forest Siege

Kelly had to choose between two evils.

Run into a forest crawling with monsters straight out of her worst nightmares—or stay and try her luck fighting off four grown men at once.

She only hesitated for a second before turning and sprinting deeper into the thickest part of the woods, hoping the trees might hide her tracks. Behind her, she could hear the heavy footsteps of her pursuers, closing in fast—but not fast enough to catch her. Not yet.

The odds were unfair, but then again, the world was cruel and this was reality. It didn't care whether things were stacked against you. It wouldn't bend just because life felt impossible. If she wanted to survive, she'd have to force her own path.

Kelly knew one thing: she needed to separate them to even have a shot. Men like them—egotistical, prideful, and dripping with arrogance—rarely worked well together, especially not when chasing after some "helpless" girl in the woods. Their pride had to be burning at the idea of sharing the hunt. That alone might be her edge.

But first, she had to survive the damn forest.

Which, at this rate, was starting to look impossible.

Without warning, something coiled tightly around her ankle, yanking her off balance. She barely had time to react before she was being dragged toward a darker, swampy patch of the woods covered in thick moss. Her eyes widened in horror as she looked down—tendrils were snaking around her legs, pulling her toward whatever plant monster lurked in the shadows, waiting eagerly for its next meal.

Desperation clawed at Kelly as she hacked at the tendrils wrapped around her legs, but the shallow cuts she made only confirmed the worst—she was barely scratching the surface. At best, she was tickling the damn thing.

The tendrils constricted, and before she could brace herself, they yanked her forward with brutal force. Kelly hit the muddy ground hard, her sword still clenched in her fist as she was dragged helplessly across the swamp floor—straight toward whatever creature was likely drooling at the sight, already setting the table for dinner.

And that was just the beginning.

Her flailing, mud-slicked body was apparently a five-star beacon for swamp predators. Which made sense—she was basically a sliding buffet with a glowing neon sign that read 'Free meal. Comes pre-tied'. It probably wasn't every day a swamp monster got such service.

So with nothing but irritation in her eyes and mud in her mouth, Kelly watched as a wave of grotesque, crab-like creatures burst out of the waterlogged terrain in a stampede, forming fountains of sludge as they rushed toward her—drawn in by the smell of an easy meal.

Kelly couldn't quite understand how her life had spiraled into this mess. Just this morning, she was in class, living the average life of a normal teenager. The next thing she knew, she was dropped into a world that belonged in fantasy novels. 

And to make matters worse, she wasn't some chosen protagonist with a cool system or secret powers. Nope—she was just a regular girl desperately trying not to get eaten on her first day.

How utterly embarrassing.

But this was her wake-up call. This world wasn't fiction—it was real. And unlike those stories back home, she might actually die here. Not in some heroic blaze of glory, but in the most meaningless, agonizing way possible.

Clenching her teeth and tightening her grip on the sword, Kelly took a steady breath, willing her pounding heart to calm. She had to survive.

The crab monsters reached her, and for a split second, all she saw was darkness—before everything erupted into chaos.

The tendrils dragging her seemed to panic, yanking her faster as if realizing their prize was at risk. Not that she was thankful. The damn plant still wanted to eat her too.

But the crabs weren't backing down. One massive pincer, easily as tall as she was, came crashing toward her, the creature letting out a shrill, chittering cry—probably thrilled about its fast food delivery.

Kelly tensed her muscles and raised her sword. She couldn't block the pincer head-on—doing that would be like booking a first-class flight straight into the monster's guts.

But she could deflect it.

She hadn't exactly paid much attention during physics class, but she remembered just enough about vectors to know that redirecting force was easier than absorbing it. So she focused, locking her eyes on the oncoming pincer. Her grip on the sword tightened. Unnoticed by her, a flicker of bright blue flashed in her eyes.

She didn't know what caused it—but she could feel the change.

The pincer, once rocketing toward her with blinding speed, suddenly seemed slower—just enough for her to act.

Summoning every last drop of strength she had, Kelly swung her sword sideways, striking the pincer at just the right angle.

The effect was explosive.

The pincer missed her head by a breath and slammed into the swampy ground. Mud and water erupted into the air like a geyser. 

Kelly's eyes widened as she watched the towering wave of filth crest above her—then came crashing down.

Disgust. That was the first thing Kelly felt as the muddy water crashed down on her, swallowing her whole. For someone who was practically germaphobic, she'd been holding it together surprisingly well so far—but this? This was pushing it.

She needed a shower. A long, scalding-hot, soul-cleansing shower.

But she shoved the thought to the back of her mind, holding her breath and squeezing her eyes shut. The tendrils were still dragging her forward, and the swamp was alive with noise—splashes, churning water, sharp shrieks. The crab monsters were still searching, tearing through the muck to find her.

Maybe being submerged wasn't the worst thing right now.

Still, she wasn't safe. One lucky swipe from a pincer and she could be yanked out—or worse, get skewered. She couldn't open her eyes, not with all the sludge clinging to her face, so she was effectively blind. It reminded her of those arcade claw machines, the kind that snatched up stuffed animals with mechanical arms.

Only now, she was the teddy. And suddenly, being a teddy didn't seem so cute.

So, with a heavy dose of resignation, Kelly did the only thing she could—she waited and hoped that, for once, her crap luck would cut her some slack.

The pool eventually stilled. The sounds died down. For a moment, Kelly let herself feel relief.

Then, without warning, the tendrils yanked her free and flung her through the air—right into what could only be described as hell, part two.

***

The world around her was green—and stunning. It reminded Kelly of spring: blooming flowers, lush grass, and colors so vivid they looked painted by hand. The flowers shimmered with mesmerizing hues, their petals adorned with gradients that seemed almost unreal. The air was laced with a sweet, perfumed scent that filled her lungs and overwhelmed her senses.

Pollen drifted lazily through the air as the flowers gently swayed, as if dancing to a rhythm only they could hear. Everything about the place screamed wonder, like a fantasy brought to life.

But Kelly was terrified.

Sure, it was common sense to be suspicious of beauty in a forest filled with flesh-eating monsters—but this? This was something else entirely.

Because right in front of her, something much more disturbing was unfolding.

As the tendrils dragged her across the ground, she saw them—creatures, and even alien humans—lined up in front of the glowing flowers, eyes glazed with fanatical devotion. 

And then the flowers opened their "petals," revealing rows of sharp, glistening teeth.

Kelly almost threw up.

But the worst part wasn't the flowers. It was the people. One by one, the devoted followers stepped forward and leapt into those gaping jaws—smiling, like they were ascending to paradise.

Kelly had never felt fear like this.

She had always imagined how she might die in this brutal world ruled by strength—fighting to the end, bones broken, fists bloodied, dragging her killer down to hell with her.

But this?

Dying like this wasn't just horrible—it was unacceptable.

With defiant will, Kelly gritted her teeth, clutching her sword and forcing herself to sit up. Every inch of her body screamed in protest—her back throbbed, her muscles burned—but she pushed through the pain. She began hacking at the tendrils with everything she had, slashing with desperation.

It was useless.

No matter how many times she cut, struck, or pulled, the tendrils didn't budge. They dragged her forward, merciless and indifferent, toward what had to be the most ridiculous and humiliating death imaginable.

Panic set in.

She had been holding her breath for what felt like forever—ever since the swamp, she'd kept herself from breathing in anything questionable. But her lungs were done. Her vision blurred, her mind dizzy, and despite herself, she gasped.

And that's when everything changed.

Color exploded behind her eyes. Bliss swept through her in waves. The world shimmered—beautiful, surreal, intoxicating. The tendrils suddenly stopped, unwinding from her thigh, retreating toward a massive lotus-shaped flower, its petals a soft, glowing pink.

Around it stood monsters and alien humans, their expressions blank and euphoric. One by one, they jumped between the petals—into a mouth lined with bloodied, flesh-coated teeth. But Kelly couldn't see the horror anymore. The teeth were gone. All she saw was a radiant light—a rainbow glow that pulled at her soul.

It was gentle.

It was warm.

It promised eternal bliss.

"What is that…" Kelly murmured, her voice soft and hollow, eyes wide and locked onto the shimmering petals. She turned to the alien human in front of her, barely aware of her own words. Her lips parted in awe, her body already leaning toward the light.

And the compulsion grew.

The alien human turned to her, his expression glazed with the same dreamy haze, a soft smile curling on his lips. 

"So you heard the god's call too," he said gently. "How lucky you are, child. Just beyond those colored gates lies the peace the god has gifted us. Keep walking toward the light—it is our fated redemption."

Kelly nodded absently, her gaze locked on the swirling brilliance ahead. She watched as one by one, monsters and alien humans entered the light, their faces lit with unfiltered joy and ecstasy.

But that word—the last one he said—clung to her mind.

Redemption.

Why did it make her skin crawl?

Her hands trembled, and she glanced down at the sword clutched in her grip. Why was she even holding it? Why couldn't she remember?

A sharp pain lanced through her skull, and her vision swam. Her thoughts were shaking loose from her grasp. Something inside her—deep, dark, and buried—began to stir.

It felt like… hatred.

Kelly blinked and looked again at the radiant light, hoping the warmth would soothe the roiling in her chest.

But it didn't.

The feeling only intensified. The more she stared, the more that rage clawed its way out of her. It ignited—wild and merciless—until it felt like fire in her veins.

This hatred—what was it?

It had no shape, no direction. Not yet. But each time she saw one of those smiling, enraptured faces stepping into the light, the fire inside her burned hotter.

Like her soul remembered something her mind didn't.

She didn't need anyone to tell her—it was the lights.

Kelly was spiraling in contradictions. A part of her longed to give in, to bask in the warmth of that shimmering light. But her body—every inch of it—recoiled in revulsion. It wasn't just discomfort. It was loathing. 

Loathing at the very thought… of redemption.

Then something cracked inside her.

She blinked—and for a split second, the beautiful, swirling colors warped into jagged rows of teeth, soaked in gore and torn flesh… before shifting back to radiant bliss.

And this time, she remembered.

The crack widened, and through it poured a blurry, agonizing image—her brother, engulfed in flames. The reason why the word redemption sickened her soul.

Then she remembered the boy. 

The one she swore to kill.

The memories surged. Her grip on the sword tightened. The more her mind fractured, the more her clarity returned. And with it came the truth:

She had no right to peace. 

Not while her new family lived under a monster's shadow. 

Not while her friends—dragged into her mess—risked gruesome deaths.

"That's why…" Kelly muttered, eyes narrowing at the lights as she raised her sword. "I'll destroy my heaven with my own hands."

Because for her, there was only hell.

Like the sound of breaking glass, the illusion shattered. Kelly could now see reality for what it truly was. The alien man she had spoken to was now trapped inside the monster's mouth, his eyes dreamy and filled with fanaticism as the creature tore out his intestines. The sickening sound of chewing filled Kelly with unfiltered disgust. 

But she understood her own situation clearly. If she did nothing, she would end up the same way—only difference was, she'd have clear eyes and a functioning mind while being eaten alive. And that was far worse.

Kelly was running out of options. It had taken every ounce of her strength and willpower just to leave a scratch on the tendrils. Doing more damage felt impossible.

Yet, there was one thing she hadn't tried.

Closing her eyes, she focused on the Cosmic Dust in the air, this time welcoming it and basking in the feeling. Slowly but steadily, the world shifted into a sea of purple. The particles danced around her, clinging to her skin and lighting her in a glowing violet aura.

Taking a deep breath, her voice calm and steady as she opened her eyes to face the monster, Kelly said, "You know, throughout this journey I think that I have been underestimating myself a little too much."

Kelly felt a euphoria she had never known before, like something missing had finally returned and made her whole. The strength coursing through her veins was intoxicating. She lifted her other hand, holding a ball of swirling Cosmic Dust, the purple particles dancing across her palm filling her with a joy she couldn't explain.

The plant monster stopped chewing on the alien man's corpse and shrieked, turning its monstrous face toward her.

"You feel threatened, don't you?" Kelly said, her eyes narrowing with disgust. Stepping forward, she drew her sword, now encased in a glowing purple light. "I don't know how strong I've become, or if it's enough to kill you. But I hate you so much, I'd rather one of us walks away alive."

The tendrils lashed out, their movement whipping up violent winds.

But Kelly already knew she would win. The Cosmic Dust felt like an extension of her own body—free to control and command. Maybe this power was unique to her, but she hadn't been in this world long enough to say for sure.

Feeling the unimaginable power flowing inside her, Kelly felt foolish for not fighting those third-rate villains earlier. But she didn't blame herself—having never fought before, she had no idea how Cosmic Dust could change the game.

Still, she wasn't willing to risk her life battling four of them to the death. But this monster? It had ticked all of her personal boxes for a death match.

Looking at the tendrils coming at her, Kelly felt nothing but the urge to shred them to pieces. The Cosmic Dust in the air began to tremble violently, as if it responded to her fierce mood.

She raised her sword, glowing bright purple, and swung in a powerful arc.

The world seemed to freeze.

A flash of purple light exploded, and the tendrils she had barely scratched were obliterated into oblivion.

The plant monster shrieked in agony, then lunged at her with lightning speed, mouth wide open, sharp teeth jutting from its jaws.

Kelly stared coldly and muttered under her breath, "Please die."

Gripping the tip of her sword, she hurled it straight into the monster's open mouth.

The blade shot like a sonic blast, piercing through the beast and emerging from its back. The impact echoed like thunder, and for a brief moment, the world was bathed in purple.

With one final scream, the monster collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.

Kelly stood silently for a moment, eyes fixed on the corpse with mixed emotions. She stepped forward, retrieved her sword, and turned to face the dozens of plant monsters thrashing and shrieking around her—probably trying to intimidate her.

"Let's get this party started, shall we?" she said, her sword glowing even brighter. "It's too cruel to send your brother to the afterlife alone."

The tendrils were already in motion. Their sheer number, stretching from countless plant monsters, created an avalanche of green that seemed to wrap the entire world—focused on the lone girl with a sword.

Kelly's eyebrow twitched as she took in the overwhelming mass of tendrils rushing toward her. Without hesitation, she encased her legs in Cosmic Dust and spun around, running in the opposite direction.

Like a bolt of lightning, she fled.