MMORPG: I was BUGGED-Chapter 333: Shambles

However, even in the face of vigilant caution, the Lost Forest lived up to its treacherous reputation.

Unbeknownst to the group, a vicious trap lay hidden beneath the underbrush, carefully concealed to ensnare the unwary.

As they continued their wary progression, the forest floor beneath them gave way suddenly and violently. The ground crumbled beneath their feet, and with a collective gasp, the group plummeted into a dark abyss.

"What the–!" Victor exclaimed, taken by surprise.

"We’re falling!" Ignis pointed out the obvious.

"It’s a trap!" Drakoon added, his voice edged with urgency.

"Hey, leader! Why didn’t you warn us?!" Luna complained, frustration evident in her tone.

Sylvan took a deep breath, maintaining a calm demeanor amidst the sudden descent into the unknown. "Not all traps can be detected. This one seems to be more of a curse or a spell than anything else."

"What does that mean?!" Luna demanded an explanation, her voice tinged with anxiety.

"Hey, where’s Xin?" Victor inquired.

But no one answered him as the black hole swallowed them whole.

The sensation of free fall was disorienting, the air rushing past them as they descended into the unknown.

The fall seemed to stretch on endlessly, the group members separated from each other in the chaotic descent.

Suddenly, the fall came to an abrupt halt, and each member of the group found themselves in a different part of the map. The impact was jarring, disorienting them further as they struggled to regain their bearings.

The once-cohesive team now faced the challenge of navigating the unfamiliar surroundings alone.

The distant echoes of their comrades’ calls mingled with the eerie sounds of the forest, creating a haunting symphony of uncertainty.

The trap had succeeded in scattering them across the map, turning their carefully coordinated group into isolated individuals in a perilous and unknown landscape.

Meanwhile, Hilda acted swiftly, saving Xin just in time as the ground beneath them gave way, causing the others to plummet into the abyss.

"W-what . . . what happened?" Xin asked, disoriented, as he suddenly found himself in Hilda’s arms.

"Lord Scrooge, are you okay?"

"Yeah." Xin stepped away from Hilda’s hold, and she refrained from crying out in protest, barely just managing to control herself.

That was my chance to get close to him! Hilda lamented inwardly.

"What happened?" Xin inquired.

Hilda explained while suppressing her internal turmoil, "It was a sudden attack. A powerful spell that cast everyone into the abyss and scattered them to different parts of the map."

"So that’s why Sylvan and Shadow didn’t detect it. It’s not a trap," Xin mused. "But then who attacked us?"

Hilda’s expression turned serious as she gazed into the depths of the forest. "Even I don’t know. It must be a god, a deity, or something else entirely powerful."

"Something . . . powerful?" Xin followed her gaze. "Could it be a world boss?"

If even Hilda wasn’t sure, then that meant it might truly be a world boss, Xin thought.

The forest was becoming increasingly dangerous.

"Anyway, are the others still alive?" Xin checked his group to ensure their well-being.

He examined his screen, releasing a breath of relief when he found that they were all fine.

However, they were now transported to different parts of the map, and the unfortunate part was that they were far apart from each other.

And to make matters worse, Victor and the others were isolated.

"What are we going to do?" Luna messaged in the group chat.

"Should we log out and go back to the save point?" Ignis suggested. "It’s a bit risky traversing this forest alone."

"No," Sylvan interjected with a hard voice. "We should continue the search. We’re already here, so we might as well cover more ground and mark the maps. This way is faster in locating the Kitsune."

"It is, but we’re also easy targets for other groups," Victor said seriously.

"Just don’t engage them then," Sylvan dismiss.

"Easy for you to say, but what about the beasts here?" Luna expressed her concern. "I’m a mage, so I need someone to tank for me."

Sylvan sighed, as if Luna’s complaint were insignificant. "Then just run away. How hard could it be? Anyway, if you die, that means you weren’t strong to begin with, and I’ll compensate you, just like in the contract."

"Huh?! What do you mean, not strong? For your information, I’m a solo player who survived being alone."

"Exactly," Sylvan explained. "I made sure to hire you solo players because you can survive alone. So don’t make me regret choosing you. Contact me again if you’ve found the Kitsune."

And then Sylvan didn’t message anymore.

"What a jerk!" Luna spat.

"Anyway, everyone be careful, and don’t forget to save your progress whenever there’s a saving crystal. It’s important so we don’t have to revive in the last point if ever we end up dead here." said Ignis, and whispered to the side, "Which likely would happen."

"Let’s meet up if our paths allow it. Keekeekee," Drakoon laughed.

These guys sure are carefree, Xin thought.

"Lord Scrooge, I’m heading north from here. Just continue on your way, and you’ll probably be heading to a save point. If my speed permits, I’ll catch up to you," Grey Smoke messaged.

"Sure," Xin replied. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"So we’re not going to discuss how Lord Scrooge, Hilda, and Seraphim didn’t fall into the abyss?" Luna commented.

Seraphim? Xin was surprised and found that Seraphim was indeed around.

Xin quickly checked his surroundings.

"Looking for me?"

Seraphim emerged from the shadows, her appearance reminiscent of Midnight Duchess. The way she appeared made Xin wonder if she was truly Midnight Duchess in a different name.

Wait . . . was she there all the time?

It didn’t matter. He was sure that he hadn’t disclosed any secrets with Hilda just now.

"How did you escape the attack?" Xin asked her.

Seraphim only answered, "I have my ways."

Even the way she answered and her voice resembled Midnight Duchess.

Could it be . . . she’s really Midnight Duchess, and she just changed her name?

That was possible.