Chapter 96: Ch 96: It’s because of Lack of Sleep - Part 2
Selene stepped through the shimring blue gate, and the world around her transford.
Instead of the harsh, rocky landscapes typical of C-ranked dungeons, she found herself standing in a vast, flowery field.
The sun hung in a pastel sky, its light diffused and soft.
’So this is the dungeon I heard about? It doesn’t look anything special. But it’s very beautiful...especially these flowers...no, stop it! I need to stay awake and vigilant. I cannot let myself stagger like this.’
But despite how much Selene struggled, she felt like her body was winning this war against her mind. Her exhaustion wrapped around her like a blanket.
She swayed, knees buckling as if the ground itself was pulling her down.
The flowers looked so inviting, like a bed she could sink into and finally sleep.
’It feels so inviting. Should I just rest...for a few minutes? I need to close my eyes for just 5 minutes....’
Just as her body started to tip forward, a strong hand grabbed her arm.
"Selene!"
Ethan’s voice cut through the haze. He yanked her back, and she stumbled against him, his grip firm and unyielding.
Powerful arms warped around her fra and Selene was pulled into a hug she did not ask for.
She blinked up at him, the drowsiness receding like a tide. The sharpness in his eyes pulled her back to reality.
"Snap out of it! You cannot fall asleep here."
He hissed.
Selene’s eyes widened as she looked at the flowers below.
Their vibrant petals quivered, a faint mist rising from them. Her Insight flared, and she felt it—an insidious energy, creeping and soothing, dragging the mind into a dreamlike state.
"Those flowers...They’re poisonous."
She shivered, the chill of realization prickling down her spine.
Ethan released her, but he stayed close, his body a barrier between her and the field.
"This is why I didn’t want you coming into this dungeon in your current state."
His words stung, but Selene couldn’t deny he was right. She had almost walked right into a death trap, too tired to think straight. She bit her lip, swallowing her pride.
"If I say that this is happening because of my lack of sleep, will you forgive ?"
Ethan’s expression softened, but he said nothing more. Instead, he turned, scanning the field with a wary gaze.
"We need to clear this dungeon. Fast."
Selene nodded.
She kept close to him as they moved, her steps careful and deliberate. The flowers seed to lean toward her, their colors pulsing, but she kept her focus ahead.
Halfway through the field, a shiver ran up her leg.
She froze, her breath hitching as sothing cool and smooth brushed against her ankle. The sensation was fleeting, but instinct scread at her.
"Ethan, grab
and jump. Now."
She whispered.
He didn’t ask why.
In a fluid motion, he slung her over his shoulder and leapt into the air.
The world blurred, and Selene clung to him, her hands fisting into his jacket.
The ground below erupted. Roots and vines, as thick as her arm, burst from the soil.
They twisted and coiled, thorny tendrils reaching for them as Ethan ascended. The plants moved with unnatural speed, weaving through the air in an attempt to catch them.
Ethan’s abilities flared.
His movents beca a blur, his body carrying them higher than any human should be able to jump. His feet found purchase on a thick tree branch, and he dropped Selene gently in front of him.
The tree’s canopy shielded them, but the vines were persistent. They slithered up the trunk, tightening and cracking the bark.
Selene fumbled through her inventory, her hand closing around a small glass bottle. The perfu inside shimred, and she pulled off the cap, spraying it in a wide arc around them.
A pungent, citrusy sll filled the air.
The effect was imdiate.
The vines recoiled, their tips curling as if burned. The flowers below shuddered, and the entire field seed to draw back, the aggressive energy ebbing away.
Ethan exhaled, his breath rustling the leaves around them.
"What was that?"
Selene opened her mouth to explain, but he raised a hand, cutting her off.
"Never mind. I don’t want to know."
She smacked his arm, a weak but genuine laugh bubbling up.
"Stop joking around."
A small smile tugged at his lips, and the tension eased, just a bit.
Selene settled against the tree trunk, her body sinking into the rough bark.
The danger had passed, but her exhaustion hit her full force. Her eyes fluttered, her vision dimming at the edges.
Ethan’s expression shifted, concern clouding his features. "
Selene, don’t—"
Too late. Her body slumped, and she started to slide off the branch.
Ethan’s arm shot out, catching her before she could fall. He pulled her back, positioning her against him, his grip gentle but secure.
"Stay awake."
He whispered, his voice a tether keeping her grounded.
Selene forced her eyes open, fighting the weight of sleep.
"I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with ."
She murmured, her voice thin.
"You don’t? Does exhaustion sound like sothing to you?"
Ethan said.
She didn’t answer, but her silence was enough.
Ethan let out a low breath.
"You’re running on fus."
A surge of guilt washed over her.
She had dragged him into this, making him worry.
And now, because of her recklessness, they were both perched in a tree in the middle of a dangerous dungeon, with nothing but a bottle of perfu and sheer stubbornness keeping them alive.
Her fingers tightened around his jacket.
"I’ll make it up to you."
Ethan’s expression softened, and he brushed a strand of hair away from her face.
"That’s what you always say. I would rather have you act on it than to say it."
For a mont, they sat in silence. The world around them seed to hold its breath, the dungeon’s dangers lurking just beyond the edge of their sanctuary.
But as she sat there, cradled against him, Selene found a sliver of strength. She wasn’t alone. And maybe—just maybe—that was enough to keep her moving forward.
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