MMORPG: I was BUGGED-Chapter 338: The Uncharted Woodlands

The trio advanced cautiously into the uncharted territories of the Lost Forest. The map now showed nothing but a blank expanse, leaving them to rely solely on their instincts and skills.

As they ventured deeper, the ambient glow of luminescent flora became their guiding light in the mysterious realm.

The air grew thicker, charged with an otherworldly energy. Unseen creatures stirred in the shadows, their presence felt rather than seen.

Xin and Hilda led the way, studying the surroundings keenly. Every step brought them further away from the safety of the known, and the sense of foreboding intensified.

Hilda kept her massive hammer at the ready, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings.

Seraphim moved silently behind them, her watchful gaze betraying nothing of her true intentions.

The trio encountered strange rock formations and twisted trees with branches that seemed to reach out like skeletal fingers.

The Lost Forest lived up to its name, disorienting and unnerving those who traversed its depths.

As they pressed forward, a sudden rustle in the foliage alerted them. Hilda tightened her grip on her hammer, ready for a confrontation.

Xin signaled for silence, and the trio hid behind the cover of large ferns.

Out of the shadows emerged a group of humanoid creatures with elongated limbs and eerie, glowing eyes. They moved with an unnatural grace, their presence unsettling.

Xin studied the creatures and consulted the blank map. This was the first encounter with the denizens of the uncharted realms.

The creatures noticed the intruders and halted. The eerie glow in their eyes intensified as they assessed the trio.

Xin, Hilda, and Seraphim stood their ground.

"What’s our plan?" Seraphim inquired. "Should we engage them?"

"Let’s observe for now. If we manage to proceed without confronting monsters, that would be our ideal scenario," Xin suggested.

Choosing their battles wisely would undoubtedly serve them well as they delved further into the forest in pursuit of the elusive Golden Tail Kitsune. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

However, without warning, the creatures lunged forward with surprising speed.

Hilda swung her hammer, creating shockwaves that knocked some of them back.

Xin summoned his gun, and strikes multiple magical bullets at once. He fended off the advancing foes.

Seraphim dispatched several creatures with a set of concealed daggers.

The skirmish was intense but brief.

The creatures, defeated, dissolved into motes of light, leaving behind traces of ethereal essence.

Xin took note of their characteristics, updating the map with the newfound information.

"Strange beings," Hilda remarked, wiping a trickle of sweat from her brow. "Never seen anything like them before."

Seraphim inspected her daggers, seemingly unfazed by the encounter. "They’re just the beginning. The deeper we go, the stranger and more dangerous things we’ll face."

"Have you been here before?" Xin asked.

Seraphim only shrugged. "I just got the feeling that would be the case."

The innermost regions of the Lost Forest, as per Xin’s knowledge, were referred to as the uncharted woodland, a mysterious realm that had eluded even the most experienced players.

Rumors circulated that mapping the uncharted forest was impossible, as the forest seemed to come alive.

No matter how skilled a hunter or seasoned adventurer attempted to map it, they would invariably fail. The terrain constantly shifted, making it easy to get lost.

Each step demanded caution and swift adaptation to the ever-changing surroundings.

As they continued, the landscape became increasingly surreal. Giant mushrooms glowed in various hues, casting an otherworldly glow on the surroundings. The air shimmered with magical energy, and distant sounds of unknown creatures echoed through the forest.

After navigating through a dense thicket, the trio entered a clearing dominated by a massive, ancient tree. Its twisted branches reached out like gnarled fingers, and at its base, an ethereal pool glowed with a mesmerizing light.

Xin examined the map, noting the landmark. "This tree could be a key point in the Lost Forest. Let’s mark it as a reference."

Hilda asked, "Why do you think this tree is important?"

Xin pointed to the map. "In mapping, natural landmarks often serve as points of interest or quest triggers. It’s worth noting them for future reference."

As they marked the location, a voice echoed in the clearing. "Welcome, travelers, to the heart of the Lost Forest."

Startled, the trio turned to see a figure emerging from the shadows. It was a humanoid figure, clad in a cloak that seemed to shift between shades of green and brown. The hood obscured the face, but the presence exuded an aura of ancient wisdom.

"Who are you?" Hilda asked, guarded.

"I am the Guardian of this area," the figure spoke. "I have no name, but you can call me Twig."

No name but had a name, and the name Twig befit him so well. Xin thought and noted it down the location of Twig in the map.

He was getting used to this and he kind of enjoyed mapping now.

"What are we going to do with him?" Seraphim asked. "Is this a trick?"

"As long as he doesn’t do anything, we won’t act either," Xin reminded her.

But wait . . . wasn’t he an NPC? Xin thought, and his face lit up a little. Maybe this was an opportunity.

"Come to think of it, this is the first NPC we have encountered since entering here," Xin muttered in a low voice.

"What’s that?" Seraphim asked, but Lord Scrooge ignored her and went to Twig.

"Do you know where we can find the Golden Tail Kitsune?" Xin asked straight to the point.

A notification appeared on Xin’s screen, and he was glad that his BUGG was still working. As expected, his relationship level with him shot to MAX right away.

On the side, Seraphim noticed the obvious change in Twig’s posture, becoming accommodating when Lord Scrooge talked to him.

But there was no way that an NPC would tell them where the Golden Tail Kitsune was.

In all her years in the game, she hadn’t encountered a random NPC that would provide direct information unless the NPC was directly related to a quest.

However, random NPCs like this usually told stories or riddles.

"Ah, the Golden Tail Kitsune?" Twig laughed. "Ohohoho. Of course, I know where it is!"

Seraphim’s mouth dropped.