I woke to the golden light of dawn filtering through the forest canopy above, streaks of sunlight dancing across the verdant leaves like the forest was alive with its own quiet breath. For a moment, I just lay there, the sounds of rustling branches and distant birdsong lulling me into a rare moment of peace. It was such a sharp contrast to the oppressive, tangled horrors of the twisted forest I’d left behind that I almost didn’t trust it.

  It was so… calm, I spent a day just lazing around and eating. Unexpectedly the environment inside the dungeon was so calm and beautiful that I had to take a rest…rest to put all the thoughts to rest and sort my way forward.

  “Alright,” I muttered, sitting up and stretching. “Time to make myself useful, can’t have crying of the my twisted destiny…haaa”

  I started by exploring the immediate area around the area I decided to set up a temporary camp. The forest was denser than I’d first realized, but not in a claustrophobic way. Towering trees with thick, sturdy trunks stretched high into the sky, their interwoven branches creating a natural roof of green. The sunlight filtered through in patches, dappling the ground in patterns that shifted with the breeze.

  The underbrush was lush but manageable, the occasional ferns and bushes growing low enough not to obstruct my path completely. As I moved, I kept my swords at my sides, though they felt more like a precaution here than a necessity.

  This place didn’t feel hostile.

  But I wasn’t stupid. The quiet was a double-edged sword. It could mean there weren’t any immediate threats nearby… or it could mean the threats were very good at hiding.

  “Better safe than sorry, haa focus Lexi you are in a dungeon and…and damn it haaa…” Regardless of how much I try to distract myself my stupid brain keeps homing on the fact that I’m lost, lost my way back home, huff…

  I scanned the foliage, looking for anything that attracted my gaze stupid for sure very unclear what exactly was going on in my mind but well I had to try and scavenge. It didn’t take long to spot a cluster of berries growing on a bush near the base of a tree.

  Crouching down, I inspected the berries closely. They were a deep purple, almost black, with a faint sheen that caught the sunlight.

  “Okay, these look like something I’d eat… if I wasn’t worried about dying horribly.”

  Pulling out my knife, I carefully cut a few of the berries free and dropped them into a small pouch. Testing them would come later, but for now, I wasn’t taking any chances.

  Further along, I found what looked like wild tubers growing in the soft soil near the roots of a tree. Their earthy smell reminded me of sweet potatoes, though their shape was slightly more elongated.

  “Good find,” I muttered, digging them out with the knife and brushing off the dirt.

  By midday, I’d gathered a decent haul: berries, tubers, a handful of leaves that smelled faintly of mint, and some mushrooms I recognized from foraging trips back home.

  “Not bad,” I said, tying the pouch closed and slinging it over my shoulder. “Could use some meat, though.”

  As I moved deeper into the forest, I couldn’t help but notice how alive everything felt.

  Insects buzzed faintly in the distance, their hum blending with the soft rustle of leaves. Birds flitted between the trees, their songs high and clear, adding a rhythm to the forest that was strangely comforting.

  The air itself was fresh, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and wildflowers. It was a far cry from the oppressive, suffocating atmosphere of the twisted forest, where every breath had felt like a struggle.

  Here, it was easy to forget that I wasn’t supposed to be here at all.

  "Peaceful, unlike that damn twisted forest…that place was giving me creeps..ugh if the outer monsters were like that bony monstrosity…wait…since there was a parasite type thing inside, or was that the actual body…umm great now I have freaking monster species piloting mechs…" I murmured, running my fingers along the rough bark of a tree as I passed. “And this place is too peaceful.”

  Despite the calm, I stayed alert. My eyes scanned the ground for tracks, my ears tuned to every sound that stood out from the forest’s natural rhythm. The last thing I needed was to stumble into something nasty while I was distracted by the scenery.

  At least my mood had improved a little and no longer did I want to just smash open things…

  But every now and then, I’d catch myself pausing, my gaze lingering on the horizon as the weight of my situation crept back in. I wasn’t just wandering a forest. I was wandering an entirely different world, one where every step took me further from the life I’d left behind.

  The thought was enough to tighten the knot in my chest, but I pushed it down.

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  “Not now,” I muttered, shaking my head as I adjusted the pouch on my shoulder. “You’ll figure it out. One step at a time.”

  fuuu

  The forest’s calm was abruptly broken by faint noises—scattered rustling, punctuated by high-pitched chattering. I froze, my body going still as my ears strained to pick out the direction. It wasn’t the sound of the wind brushing against leaves or the rhythmic hum of insects. No, this was deliberate. Something—or someone—was moving nearby.

  I crouched instinctively, staying low to the ground as I scanned the area. The sounds came again, a bit clearer this time, from the west. A chorus of sharp, guttural voices, mixed with the soft crunch of footsteps on foliage.

  Gripping the hilts of my swords, I moved silently toward the noise, keeping to the shadows of the trees. My footsteps were slow and deliberate, each one carefully placed to avoid snapping any twigs or disturbing the brush.

  The closer I got, the clearer the voices became—raspy and uneven, like the chatter of animals trying to mimic human speech.

  Peering through the underbrush, I spotted them.

  Four small figures stood in a rough circle, their misshapen bodies hunched and jittery. Their skin was a sickly green, mottled with patches of darker shades, and their faces were twisted caricatures of humanity—broad noses, sharp teeth, and narrow eyes that glinted with a feral cunning.

  Goblins, a memory surfaced about the creature.

  They were smaller than I’d expected, standing just over three feet tall, but their movements were quick and erratic, their wiry frames taut with nervous energy. Each one carried a crude weapon—two with rusted daggers, one with a club made from a gnarled tree branch, and the last with a jagged bone knife that looked like it had been carved hastily.

  Goblins weren’t just pests—they were opportunistic and vicious. If they were here, they were likely scouting, hunting, or worse… preparing for an ambush, and worst of all these fucks are horde type creatures…likely there will be outposts or their camps.

  Ughh and if I remember correctly these bastards reproduce way too quickly too… I may be facing hundreds of goblins if I ever attacked their camp.

  I stayed low, watching them closely from the shadows. They were arguing about something, though their guttural language was incomprehensible to me. One of them jabbed a finger at the other’s weapon, snarling as it gestured wildly.

  keuk…heuk..jeukkk

  The others laughed, a sharp, cruel sound that grated on my ears.

  For a moment, I debated leaving. There was no sign of more goblins nearby, and picking a fight might be more trouble than it was worth.

  “I’m in a dungeon for god’s sake Lexi, for how long can I avoid confrontation” I said softly, gripping the hilts of my swords. “Let’s make this quick.”

  I moved swiftly, stepping out of the shadows with both swords drawn. The goblins froze at the sudden movement, their heads snapping toward me as their laughter died in their throats.

  Fuuuu

  Taking a deep breath as I roused Exira and entered battle trance, my full focus on the enemies.

  More than them I need the kills, the blood.

  The first one, the closest to me, barely had time to react before I lunged. My blade cut through the air in a clean arc, slicing across its chest. Blood sprayed as it crumpled to the ground, its crude dagger clattering uselessly beside it as the body fell to the ground I stomped the head as it burst open spraying blood all over.

  The other goblin froze as they hesitated, their eyes widening in shock.

  I didn’t give them time to recover. Cracking my neck as I dashed towards them.

  The nearest goblin raised its club, but its attack was sloppy, telegraphed by its exaggerated movements.

  I sidestepped easily, bringing my second sword down in a swift strike that cleaved through its shoulder, but I felt that anger bubbling up as instead of slicking clean I hacked at its body with both my swords, until it was nothing but minced meat.

  Keuk!...keu…grr..sss

  fuu…fu…huffff

  Something from the dying screams of the goblin woke me up as I gritted my teeth and threw away its body. Channeling Exira and raising it to level 2 as I felt myself calming.

  The rest of the goblins reacted together, rushing me with screams and raised weapons.

  The one with the jagged bone knife moved faster, its weapon flashing toward my side in a wide, horizontal slash. I parried with one sword, deflecting the blade with a sharp clang before spinning and driving my other sword into its gut.

  It gasped, its sharp teeth bared in a final, desperate snarl before collapsing to the ground.

  The last goblin hesitated, its dagger trembling in its grip as it stared at me with wide, panicked eyes. For a moment, I thought it might run, but instead, it let out a shrill screech and lunged wildly.

  Big mistake.

  I stepped forward, closing the distance in an instant. My blade arced upward in a precise, brutal strike, cutting through its neck in one clean motion. The goblin’s head toppled to the ground, followed by its lifeless body.

  The clearing fell silent, the only sounds the soft rustle of leaves and the faint gurgling of blood pooling on the forest floor.

  I stood there for a moment, my chest rising and falling with controlled breaths as I surveyed the scene. The fight had lasted less than a minute, the goblins too slow and disorganized to pose a real threat. But I nearly lost myself in anger there…that…that would have destroyed my psyche.

  Fuck! Lexi… I know I’m lost but going berserk on these goblins who barely put up a fight would change that situation…I know even If I don’t remember my full life I know Mom hates these actions the most…haaaa

  I crouched low, scanning the surrounding trees for any sign of movement. Goblins were opportunists, but they weren’t stupid. If there were more nearby, they would have heard the commotion.

  After a few tense moments, I was satisfied that I was alone.

  I really need more self-therapy sessions or I swear I’m gonna turn into a blood-crazed monster… worst of all my essence also transforms me into monster-like characteristics…let’s not lose my grip okay…

  Standing, I wiped my blades clean on the grass before sheathing them.

  The forest was quiet again, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that this encounter was just the beginning.

  HOUSE OF END DISCORD

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