Legendary Broken Player - VRMMORPG

Chapter 624: Chapter 624 - Pawns of the Dreamwood Curse



Broken braced himself for yet another grueling journey. He had already endured the trek from Slumdon to the Capital, and now he and Aerin were soaring through the skies atop Polly. They needed to reach their nearest destination before the break of dawn.

The South Continent stretched from east to west, its vast expanse split in two by a jagged chain of plateaus and mountains that ran from north to south. To the west lay the realms of Dissidia and the Kesseon Kingdom, while the east was home to three other kingdoms.

Tucked deep within the eastern reaches of Slumdon Town, cradled by the mountain range, stood a mysterious woodland known as The Dreamscape Forest. Aerin had explained that this was where the elusive forest elves resided.

The forest bore its name for good reason. Those who dared to enter often found themselves ensnared by its peculiar magic. Anyone who fell asleep within its bounds would awaken with no memory of their purpose and, worse still, lose all sense of direction, forever unable to find their way out.

Still, there were always a few thrill-seekers lured by promises of extraordinary treasures. Yet their ambitions often ended in disaster, as bandits lurking in the outskirts preyed on these hapless adventurers, robbing them of everything they had.

"So, will the curse affect you too when we enter the Dreamscape Forest, Aerin?"

"Yes," Aerin replied with a nod. "Anyone who falls asleep in the forest will be caught by the curse and forget why they came. The only way to avoid this is simple, don't sleep at all."

"But," Broken said thoughtfully, "we could bypass the curse by entering my pocket dimension to rest. That should solve the problem, right?"

"Yes, it could," Aerin agreed, then added with a frown, "but don't forget the forest is crawling with high-level monsters. Didn't you mention that your pocket dimension can't be accessed during battle mode?"

"Are there really so many monsters in the forest that we can't stay out of battle mode for just ten minutes?"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Aerin shook her head. "This is actually my first time entering the forest without someone of a high level accompanying me," she admitted. "The last time I was there, I was with my father. So honestly... I don't know exactly what to expect. But I suppose we still need to stay alert, right?"

"Absolutely," Broken agreed with a firm nod.

Pawpaw had assured Broken that he would handle the monsters himself, even going as far as to vow he would eat every single one of them. Yet, despite Pawpaw taking on the battles, Broken would still remain in battle mode. This limitation meant his ability to summon minions wouldn't solve their predicament.

"Aerin, do you think we could avoid triggering battle mode by flying over the forest?"

Aerin paused to consider the idea before shaking her head.

"No, I don't think that's a good plan. If we're flying, we'll probably be much easier to spot. There are plenty of creatures in the forest that can fly too, and they'd have the advantage in their own territory."

"Okay...." Broken murmured. "Looks like we don't have much of a choice. I guess our best option is to take out the monsters as quickly as we can and keep moving."

As the first rays of sunlight painted the horizon, they spotted a small village nestled near the edge of the vast forest. Wanting to avoid unnecessary attention, Broken directed Polly to land a safe distance away from the village, choosing a quiet area near the forest's entrance.

Broken had intended to log out for a few hours, determined to ensure Aerin's safety within his pocket dimension before continuing their journey.

But just as he was about to activate the necklace, his interface flashed a warning-he was already in battle mode.

Emerging from behind the dense trees, a group of people stepped into view. They were dressed like hunters, clad in leather attire reinforced with light armor. Each carried a weapon -swords, bows, and other armaments-and there were dozens of them.

One of them, a man with sharp eyes and a confident air, strode forward. He offered Broken a slow bow before turning to Aerin with a charming smile. Then, his gaze shifted back to Broken.

"Good morning, esteemed guests from afar," the man greeted.

"What do you want?" Broken replied cautiously.

"Are you planning to venture into the forest?"

"Yes, that's right."

"In that case," the man said, "allow me to suggest hiring us as mercenaries to guide you through the forest. We know this place like the back of our hands and can guarantee you an unforgettable journey to your destination."

Broken carefully assessed the group's levels. Most of them hovered around level 120, with one individual reaching 140-a level that Pawpaw could easily manage if things turned hostile.

Yet, there was more to consider. Alora, as the Princess of the Dissidia Kingdom, faced a far more complex dilemma. Engaging in a battle that resulted in harm-or worse, taking their lives-was not something she could do lightly. After all, they were still citizens of Dissidia. But criminals, weren't they? Shouldn't that simplify the decision?

Or was it foolish to think that the mind of a crowned princess could operate so simplistically? "I'm afraid I don't really need any services from you," Broken said, his tone calm. "Oh no, no, no," the man replied with a grin. "I really think you're making the wrong decision here. You must understand, this forest is incredibly dangerous. The creatures lurking within are powerful, and the curse... Well, it's relentless. We don't want anyone foolishly risking their lives. That's precisely why we offer our services-to keep you safe."

"And if I refuse? What happens then?"

Broken glanced at Aerin, silently seeking her opinion, but she only shook her head slowly. She didn't want a confrontation?

Even if this group turned out to be robbers, Aerin or rather, Princess Alora-seemed to be weighing the bigger picture. These were citizens of Dissidia, and the kingdom's laws demanded due process.

A proper trial would determine their guilt, with imprisonment being the likely consequence rather than execution. Such a perspective was undoubtedly shaping her reluctance to escalate

the situation.

Broken sighed quietly, his gaze lowering as he whispered, "Pawpaw, scout the area. Figure out how many of them there are and how close they're positioned to us."

Broken had, on several occasions, taken immediate and decisive action against anyone who stood in his way. Was that approach wrong?

He couldn't help but reflect on incidents like what had happened with the Moonlight Fae. While his actions had been aggressive, wasn't it true that they had distrusted him from the start? And in the end, they had launched a devastating attack on Deadbay City, nearly leveling

it to the ground.

The more he thought about it, the clearer it became: when someone-or a group-harbored bad intentions from the outset, those intentions wouldn't simply vanish. They would linger, festering, until they achieved their goals or were dealt with decisively.

But this realization came with a sobering cost. Acting against such threats would inevitably invite more enemies.

He sighed. Even when he did nothing, enemies came for him. The attacks from Valantar City, the factions vying for the throne against Princess Alora-trouble always seemed to find him.

Negotiation? Sure, he wasn't opposed to it. He had successfully brokered peace and formed an alliance with the Ass Guild, eventually merging them into his own guild. That had been a triumph born of dialogue and mutual respect.

Yet, he couldn't ignore a fundamental truth. In this world-or rather, in this game-strength was paramount. Being strong, standing firm, and holding his position without faltering were the only ways to win and survive.