The Forsaken Heir's Ascension
Chapter 77: Trapped in a Forest of Flesh

Chapter 77: Trapped in a Forest of Flesh

In a rotting forest blanketed by a creamy-white, fleshy ground, slithering movements pulsed beneath the surface like worms under skin. Five figures sat atop decayed tree trunks, and a grey and purple furred wolf bounded playfully across the squirming terrain as if it were a game.

On the thickest, most elevated trunk, three girls clung desperately to the dead wood, as if stepping down meant certain death.

On another trunk, a shirtless boy stood gritting his teeth, muttering curses at the revolting ground.

Meanwhile, on a shorter tree, a white-haired boy with a carefree expression sat cross-legged, staring calmly at the gloomy sky like he was on a picnic.

Alex’s thoughts:

First, we need to find the door to the next floor. Second, we can’t use explosive power—we’ll only end up hurting ourselves. We have to deal with these slithering flesh-masses precisely and carefully.

"I think it’s doable," Alex muttered. "Better than the dark realm, I guess."

He rose to his feet, sighing as he watched the wolf leap joyfully over the maggot-infested ground.

"This guy..." he said with a defeated smile.

Turning to the others, he called out, "Hey guys, we need to move. We have to find the exit to leave this floor."

Lyra shrieked from her perch, "We are not stepping down from this tree!"

The other two girls nodded vigorously, hugging the trunk like it was their last hope against the grotesque crawling sea below.

Kaelan laughed mockingly.

"Hah! Afraid of a few damn maggots? I’d burn them all to ash if I could."

Alex raised his voice sharply, "Don’t do that, Kaelan."

Kaelan scoffed, folding his arms.

"Great. Now a filthy commoner’s barking orders at me..."

He muttered the words under his breath, but the girls heard. None of them responded.

Alex stepped down from the tree. At once, Hati bounded over and circled him excitedly.

Alex smiled warmly. "Yeah, buddy. I’ll play with you once we’re out of this cursed tower."

"Woof, woof!" Hati barked in approval.

Alex turned to check on the others. The girls were still glued to the tree, but Kaelan had stepped down, smirking.

"Leave them," Kaelan said. "Let the men handle this."

Alex nodded, not fully registering the arrogant jab. Together, the two of them moved forward, stepping gingerly across the maggot-covered ground.

Every step was like walking on raw flesh.

Squench... squench...

The sound followed them as they tiptoed over the writhing ground, careful not to provoke the masses.

They walked the entire day, but everything looked the same: decayed trees, maggots, and the nauseating white ground. Nothing changed.

Until the earth began to tremble.

RUMBLE.

Alex shouted, "It’s shaking again! Hold onto the trees!"

Kaelan grabbed onto the nearest trunk just in time as the land swelled upward like a mountain forming beneath them.

The tree tilted, and Kaelan dangled from it like a broken puppet.

Maggots began to slip downward in waves.

Alex tried to grab the tree but lost his grip, sliding down the rising slope.

Hati leapt and latched onto a rotting branch with his jaws.

As Alex tumbled, he saw a patch of pale, creamy ground that had cleared of maggots.

Without thinking, he summoned two shadow daggers and stabbed at it.

The first attempt failed. He gritted his teeth and tried again.

This time, the dagger pierced the surface—and immediately, the tremors intensified.

The land shuddered violently, then... stopped.

The mountainous rise sank back into a flat plane once more.

Alex pulled out his daggers. They dripped with a slimy, yellow discharge.

His eyes widened. He stood frozen, the realization dawning.

Looking down beneath his feet, a chilling fear washed over him. His entire body shuddered.

He looked up at the endless forest of decay and maggots, dread crawling up his spine.

His fists clenched.

His legs trembled.

Fear overtook him.

He vanished his shadow daggers and looked at Kaelan, who was still having fun stomping around with a wide grin.

Kaelan had become more... unhinged since leaving the Floor of Darkness.

Alex called out in a trembling voice, "Kaelan!"

Kaelan paused mid-stomp and looked back, irritation creeping into his voice. "WHAT?"

Alex, still trembling, said, "Look at the ground."

Kaelan tilted his head, confused. What is he talking about?

He glanced at the ground... then at the maggots... then back at the ground. His eyes slowly widened. He repeated the motion again and again, each time more horrified than before. Then he froze—his body drenched in cold sweat.

Mechanically, Kaelan raised his head and looked at Alex. His eyes were filled with panic, silently begging for denial.

To his horror, Alex nodded solemnly.

"F-Fuck... maggots," Kaelan blurted out with a shriek.

Alex began slowly backing away, then climbed the nearest tree.

Kaelan remained frozen in place, paralyzed. Eventually, he managed to move and climbed the tree beside Alex, still trembling.

In a whisper, he asked, "What do we do now?"

Alex glanced at Hati, who was still happily playing in the squishy remains below. "There’s... no... no need... to fear."

Kaelan scoffed under his breath. "Says the guy who sounds like he’s about to cry."

Taking a deep breath, Alex closed his eyes and centered himself. When he opened them, a dim purple glow flickered in his irises—or perhaps it was a fire of resolve.

In a calm voice, Alex said, "We can’t stay here. We have to move to the next floor."

Kaelan raised an eyebrow. "Oh, the next floor? And where exactly is it? In this colossal thing’s anus?" he said, pointing at the ground below.

Alex pondered for a moment. "You might be right."

Kaelan nearly fell out of the tree. "WHAT?!"

He grabbed the branch tightly and stared at Alex in horror. "What did you just say?"

Alex, completely serious, replied, "You might be right. The exit could be... there."

"STOP. Stop, stop, STOP!" Kaelan shouted, waving his hands frantically. "I was joking. JOKING! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"

"But it’s a good idea," Alex said, still thoughtful.

Kaelan slapped his own forehead. How is this guy so dense?

Then an idea lit up in Kaelan’s eyes. "Fine. But you’ll be the one to convince the girls. And don’t tell them it was my idea!"

Alex blinked. "Why not? It was a great idea."

"Please," Kaelan pleaded, shaking his hands. "Just don’t tell them."

Alex shrugged. "As you wish."

Kaelan smirked internally. I can’t wait to see this.

With renewed courage, Kaelan climbed down the tree. "Let’s go then."

Alex hesitated slightly, but followed.

As they approached the tree where the girls were sitting, Kaelan slowed down, letting Alex take the lead.

Alex looked up at them seriously. "Everyone, we have to leave. Immediately."

The girls stared at him, confused. "Why?"

Alex clenched his fists, his voice trembling. "This forest... isn’t on the ground. It’s on the back of a colossal maggot."

Their eyes widened in shock.

Meika’s voice quivered. "What did you say?"

Alex repeated, "The ground... it’s the back of a colossal maggot. And the trees are growing out of it."

"Kkkyyyyyaaaa!!"

Three synchronized screams echoed through the decaying forest.

After a moment, the girls calmed down slightly. Eyes brimming with tears, they clung to one another on the tree branch, which creaked under their weight and looked ready to snap.

Alex let out a sigh. "That’s why we need to leave this floor. Immediately."

All the girls nodded in agreement, still visibly shaken.

Alex continued, "We’ve explored the entire forest. There’s no door... no exit to the next floor."

The girls clenched their hands tightly.

Alex paused, then added with grim finality, "There’s only one place left to explore... the anus." He pointed at the writhing ground below.

The girls blinked in disbelief. Did they just hear what they think they heard?

"NO!" Lyra screamed.

CRACK!

The branch finally gave way—and all three girls tumbled down into the maggot-infested ground.

A fresh cacophony of shrieks followed.

Some time later, each of them sat on separate trees, far away from the others, their expressions a mix of dejection and fury. Rina’s eyes were red with tears.

Lyra glared daggers at Alex. "How could you even suggest that?!"

Alex opened his mouth to reply, but—

"NO! No, no, no. Don’t reply. Don’t even try," she snapped, raising her hand in a clear stop right there gesture.

Meika stared at him with a gaze that could kill.

Rina looked utterly betrayed, her face twisted in disbelief.

Kaelan, meanwhile, was howling with laughter, nearly falling off the tree branch as he clutched it for support. In between gasps, he kept repeating, "He really said that?... He really did!"

Alex stood there, completely baffled. What did I say wrong? Was it bad to say we needed to explore the colossal maggot’s anus? That’s logical... right?

Even Hati, who had been rolling in maggots moments ago, now shot him a disgusted look. Tail tucked between his legs, he seemed to want nothing to do with Alex.

Alex looked at everyone, still wearing a clueless expression.....