The Forest's Haunting Symphony.

"Dig a tunnel!" the giant swung his weapon, striking down one scorpion and gripping the twitching tail of another.

The approaching sandstorm bore down upon us with terrifying speed. Fear and exhaustion permeated the air, sapping our remaining strength.

Summoning the Dark Threads, I swiftly erected a barrier, separating the left side of our formation from the encroaching horde. The magician extended her hands from the sand, channeling her magic to dig a tunnel downwards.

Lightning crackled, striking the sand nearby, transforming its once vibrant red hue into a murky mess, while ominous clouds cast an eerie darkness over the once blue sky.

Scorpions emerged from small sandy mounds, encircling us in an unrelenting horde. Ralph, known as "Shorty," leaned against the carcass of a fallen enemy and burst into laughter, a mix of hysteria and defiance in his voice.

"Damn, I've fought tooth and nail to survive in this godforsaken place. Ahahahah, and now I'm just one step away from death, all because of a twist of fate!"

His blades showed signs of wear, and his body was splattered with purple blood.

"We're all here and now. You can continue shedding tears over your misfortune or you can find the strength to extricate yourself from this plight," spoke the novice, raising five arrows—his remaining arsenal.

His glove emitted a dim glow, flickering like a fragile light in the wind.

The Lycan stood steadfast, his breath heavy, while the spikes on his back crumbled under the relentless assault of the swarm of enemies.

The giant with a pierced chest drew his final breath. Exhaling, I glanced at the window:

[Until the end of the Punishment of the Supreme Court:

1 hour 49 minutes remaining.]

"Everything is prepared, - the magician, a girl with a soft voice tinged with fatigue, announced.

A tunnel, once dug, could have saved us from the sandstorm. But someone needed to halt the advance of the scorpions.

The barrier the magician had erected proved futile against their unyielding assault.

"I may be... I may be old, but I believe I can hold back the Poisonous Scorpions," the giant stated, leaning on his club and scratching his wounded cheek.

"Are you joking? Ha-ha! You alone, by yourself, won't be able to withstand them. Well, I guess I don't have much choice. My blades are already worn out, and I lost my last Spiritual Stones in the House of Cards. I'll have to stick with you," Shorty declared, plunging his blade into the sand and grinning.

"Hurry, we have mere minutes left," - the magician covered the hole with her incantation.

The newcomer took the lead, venturing into the dark abyss. Before disappearing from sight, he cast a meaningful glance at the two desperate beings and nodded.

"I won't forget this."

Before they could respond, the Dark Threads enveloped their ankles, swiftly carrying them into the excavated tunnel.

The Lycan locked eyes with me, his pupils black and compressed, as he stood by my side, baring his teeth:

"Not now, friend." I said with a smile, using the threads to restrain him. Against his will, I propelled him towards the group.

The mage pursed her plump lips and leaped into the depths, joining the others in their descent.

Closing the hole with the power of Dark Threads, I witnessed the sight as the scorpion viciously tore a piece of flesh from the giant's lifeless hands, emitting a guttural scream in its own language. The scorpions were closing in at an alarming pace.

Igniting my hands would drain all of my Endurance points, so I had to resort to a different tactic. I reached for Sickle-Shaped Tail.

With swift and calculated strikes, I fought off any scorpion that dared to approach the patched hole, sensing the vital energy pulsating beneath it. I was buying precious time.

The poison-coated tail brushed against my exposed back, but the system swiftly neutralized its toxic effects. However, the sensation of flesh melting away lingered, leaving behind an unpleasant residue.

Baring my fangs and spreading my wings, I swiftly retreated from the affected area.

[The enemy has attacked you outside the Battlefield.

The poison has been identified.

All negative properties are canceled.

Bonus:

The mission grants you the ability to use Acceleration.

Validity period:

1 hour.

Until the end of the Punishment of the Supreme Court:

1 hour 24 minutes.]

Suddenly, a sandstorm engulfed me, its ferocity grinning in the face of adversity. I hastily donned a ski mask I had acquired from the System Store, using 80 points, and settled upon the shell of a deceased enemy.

The Dark Threads aided in shielding me from the onslaught of fine grains of sand, absorbing the majority of the damage.

The scorpions, frozen in their tracks, were soon buried alive under the relentless onslaught of the storm. Seizing the opportunity, I carefully extracted the venom-filled stingers, smearing the blades of my Sickle-Shaped Tail with the dark, viscous goo.

The tempest raged on for over half an hour before the surroundings gradually cleared. The vital fluctuations below became more distinct, and taking advantage of the additional time, I excavated several individual scorpions with the assistance of the Dark Threads. Swiftly, I severed their tails, collecting the venom in an ever-growing collection of glass jars.

---

[Until the end of the Punishment of the Supreme Court:

15 minutes remaining.]

The strain on the Dark Threads became evident as they were gradually severed by the giant's desperate efforts.

Purple fingers and a muzzle adorned with yellow pupils emerged from the damaged barrier.

"Are you alive?" Shorty's menacing voice sounded slightly softened.

"Still kicking," I replied, mentally calculating the lethal dose of poison I had collected.

"Hmm, you've held your ground well," Shorty remarked, sheathing his blades as he surveyed the charred remains of the scorpions.

Attempting to intertwine both skills, I threaded them together and skipped the ignition step, creating a menacing and deadly combination.

The novice extended a helping hand to the magician, while the Lycan was the last to rise from the crimson sands.

"My name is Heyd," the novice introduced himself, offering a pale and scarred palm.

"Achias," I greeted him with a smile, firmly shaking his hand.

---

We found ourselves standing on a grand podium at the heart of a familiar hall, now adorned with a breathtaking display of renovated splendor. The skyscraper gleamed with new decor, exuding an air of opulence and power.

As we ascended the platform, we were met by skeletons cloaked in elegant robes, their hollow eye sockets peering at us with an air of scrutiny. They carefully examined the tokens that each of us possessed. Their bony fingers tracing the intricate markings etched upon them.

Standing regally at the entrance, a majestic lion with wings awaited our arrival, its golden mane shimmering under the radiant light.

"I thought you wouldn't return," Bart sighed, his voice laced with relief and a hint of weariness.

The Lycan was barred from passing through the threshold, causing Ralph to engage in a heated argument with one of the skeletal beings. He vehemently pointed at us and the beast, making a fervent case for his right to accompany us.

"This is unacceptable! He fought alongside us, risking his life. He deserves his place here, just like all the creatures within the Arena!" Ralph's voice echoed through the hall.

"What is happening?" the magician inquired, approaching the scene of the dispute.

"He's considered food," Ralph jeered. "Imagine, we managed to escape with a delicacy!"

Surprised by the revelation, Hayd inquired, "But why is he deemed as food? Doesn't his token signify his ability to fight?"

"That's precisely the point," Ralph retorted, glaring at the feathered creature obstructing the Lycan's path.

"He was supposed to be served on the dining table three days ago," the feathered creature responded, its voice tinged with a sense of authority.

Seeking clarity, I asked, "How much is his worth?"

The creature turned towards me, its multicolored eyebrows furrowing in contemplation. With a nod, it signaled the skeletons to stack the talismans a meter above the Lycan.

"57 Spiritual Stones," it replied firmly.

"What?" Ralph scoffed, jabbing the edge of his palm into the Lycan's side. A mischievous grin formed on his face. "He's so scrawny, he's not even worth five."

"57," the creature reiterated, unyielding.

"Deal," I acquiesced, reaching into my spatial bag and withdrawing the requested 57 Spiritual Stones. With a sense of finality, I removed the token from the Lycan's neck. "Now, he's my snack."

The journey to the red zone consumed more than four hours of arduous travel. In the end, the giant extended an invitation to all of us to join him in Alhons the following day, a celebration in honor of our hard-fought victory.

Bart escorted us to the entrance of the Nightmare Forest, bidding us farewell. The magician, the giant, and Ralph resided within the safety of the white zone. Only Hayd, the Lycan, and I remained in the outskirts, at the lowest rung of the hierarchy.

Before venturing into the depths of the maroon forest, we encountered a weathered wooden board greeted us with a foreboding inscription:

"A place where you can fight, but not kill."

However, several of the letters had been ruthlessly struck through by some sharp object, leaving behind faint traces of dried blood that had long seeped into the wood's grain.

As we approached the board, an eerie symphony of mocking laughter and incessant screeching reached our ears, carried on the winds from the depths of the forest. The haunting cacophony echoed through the trees, creating an unsettling ambiance that sent shivers down our spines.