Erik followed suit.
Before her loomed a colossal tree, its trunk immense and its height unfathomable, vanishing into the heavens. Countless vines cascaded from above, nearly brushing the ground, each adorned with clusters of green and red fruits exuding an alluring fragrance that tempted Erik to reach out and pluck them.
The NPCs surged forward in a frenzy, jostling and quarreling with others already harvesting.
The cacophony jolted Erik back to her senses; she realized her fingers were mere inches from a ripe, crimson fruit.
She swiftly withdrew her hand.
Beside her, the NPCs, driven by greed, fought fiercely over the same fruit. Strangely, no matter how they bumped into nearby fruits in their scuffles, the fruits remained steadfast—only yielding when deliberately plucked.
One NPC brought a fruit to his nose, inhaling deeply. "Quite fragrant, though I can't place the scent. Aren't you picking any?"
Erik recognized him as a player.
She shook her head. "I have a bad feeling about this."
"Fair enough, this dungeon is indeed peculiar." The man pocketed the fruit, smiling. "I'll just take two—one red, one green. Look how eagerly these NPCs are harvesting; these fruits must be vital for their survival. When in Rome, right?"
His reasoning held merit.
These NPCs had their methods of survival; perhaps these fruits were the key.
Contemplating this, Erik raised her hand again, yet ultimately refrained from plucking the fruit within her grasp.
"You're really not picking any? We've all taken some," the man said, surprised.
Erik shook her head, her unease persisting.
"Don't listen to him. I haven't picked any either. You're just trying to drag others down after succumbing to temptation yourself. That's hardly ethical."
Another player approached, his words causing the man's expression to stiffen as he awkwardly stepped aside.
John nodded at Erik.
"Thanks for the warning," Erik expressed her gratitude.
"No need. You wouldn't have fallen for it anyway," John replied bluntly. "I approached you to propose a partnership. Let's get through tonight together."
In another context, his words might have carried unintended implications, but Erik understood his straightforward intent—a simple collaboration to navigate the unknown second night.
This dungeon's eeriness rivaled that of the Slaughter Train scenario; having an ally to share information seemed prudent. Yet, as she considered it, the memory of the seaweed-like figures from the previous night resurfaced.
John, perceptive, addressed her unspoken concern. "I heard those voices too last night. I suspect the mysterious force aims to ensnare us by luring us into responding. I understand your hesitation; honestly, I share it. Teaming up should amplify our strengths, not compound our risks. So, I have a plan to minimize the dangers of collaboration."
Erik pondered. "You're suggesting… finding a house, each taking a room, locking our doors at night…" They could cooperate when possible, yet if one fell into peril, the other retained a chance to escape.
"Exactly. Great minds think alike. So, what do you say?" John looked at Erik expectantly. Witnessing the NPCs' brutal killing of a player had convinced him of the necessity of an ally. Outnumbered and at a disadvantage, players needed to band together. Observing the scene, he had identified only four players: one already slain by NPCs, another a schemer luring others into danger, a third a fool swayed by the schemer's words, and finally, this monkey-like female player before him.
He had but one choice.
"Alright, let's partner up."
Both parties were satisfied with the preliminary agreement.
"We'll find a suitable vacant house soon. I've noticed most ground-floor shops are empty, uninhabited…" John paused as Erik shook her head. "You disagree?"
"I just think if NPCs avoid the ground-floor shops, it suggests they're unsafe."
"But we faced no danger last night, just those eerie voices."
"How can you be sure tonight will be the same?" Erik had already resolved to change her lodging, having selected a new refuge en route.
She glanced toward the NPC woman who had accompanied them earlier and whispered, "That lady lives alone."
John caught her meaning and hesitated. "They're not easy to deal with…" Though NPC ambushes were common, he had never witnessed such brutal, coordinated violence against players before. He harbored a profound wariness toward the NPCs in this dungeon.
"Exactly why I say the lady's place is safer than some abandoned house," Erik replied. Having resolved to accompany the woman home, John's agreement only bolstered her conviction.
John reflected briefly and concurred: fortune favors the bold, and this was indeed a prudent way to gain vital intel within the dungeon. The two reached an accord.
Careful not to attract unwanted attention, Erik and John slowly extricated themselves from the crowd, lost amid the NPCs' fervent harvesting of the ruby-hued fruits, unnoticed.
The scheming player had already retreated, his expression sour. Beside him stood a young man in his twenties, clutching a bag of fruits. Upon seeing John, he attempted a greeting; but catching sight of Erik's peculiar visage, his eyes widened comically. Amused, Erik mentally tagged him as "Big Eyes," since his name eluded her.
"Hmph, you think I'm harming you, so neither of you are picking any fruit? Let's see how you survive the night!" the schemer sneered, a dark grin curling his lips.
"That's none of your concern. Why meddle?" John rolled his eyes, motioning for Erik to keep a distance and avoid contamination from the fool's mind games.
Beneath the vast canopy of the fruit tree, the air felt more sinister than refreshing.
After a brief pause, the NPCs suddenly clamored to depart.
"Quick, time's running out!"
"Nightfall approaches!"
Erik's eyes sharpened; she targeted the NPC woman and shadowed her. The woman, fully engrossed in thoughts of her harvest and journey home, remained oblivious to her follower.
On the return, NPC pace quickened. Crowded together on the narrow street, accidental shoves caused some to stumble and cry out in pain, yet the relentless tide surged forward without hesitation. Swift to act, Erik caught the nearly fallen NPC woman, who spun around, surprised, eyes grateful as she exclaimed, "Oh dear, thank you, child!"
"Big sister, my brother and I will escort you home—it's far too dangerous!"
John's sheepish grin accompanied his silent acceptance of the "little brother" role, hoping to ease NPC suspicions.
Indeed, the woman glanced at John and, despite noting his slightly mature appearance, deemed him an earnest youth.
"Well then, thank you both! I hope we're not delaying you."
"Not at all, on our way anyway," Erik signaled John discreetly, positioning themselves on either side as they steered the NPC woman away from the congested thoroughfare's heart.
"Hurry now, quick! Night is falling," the woman murmured anxiously.
Neither Erik nor John questioned why darkness would follow so swiftly after dawn; instead, they silently quickened their pace, escorting her onward.
Gradually, NPCs reached their homes; the street's throng thinned.
The trio broke into a run.
Other NPCs dashed alongside; when a fruit tumbled to the ground, one reached to retrieve it but was slapped away by a companion: "Don't you want to die? It's nearly dark! Move!"
The NPC woman panted heavily, almost carried up the stairs by Erik and John. Upon reaching her doorstep, she winced, "I twisted my ankle—"
"No worries—we'll carry you the rest of the way!"
Overwhelmed with gratitude, tears threatened as Erik and John hoisted her inside, her thanks flowing incessantly, praising their kindness and the justice of good deeds being rewarded.
At the fourth-floor door, she unlocked and they guided her in.
"Thank you so much! You must hurry back—"
Erik swiftly gathered a tangle of discarded clothes from the couch and gagged her, while John bound her hands with a pair of pants.
Her words stilled abruptly; the gratitude in her eyes faded, replaced by incredulous fury.
"Waaaah!!"
John tied a tight knot and hurried to the entrance to close the door.
In that instant, daylight dimmed precipitously.
The NPC woman trembled violently, eyes fixed on the windows. Erik hurried to secure and lock both living room and bedroom windows before drawing the curtains.
The interior plunged into darkness. John scouted back quietly. "We shouldn't light any lamps—none of the houses showed illumination last night."
Silence swallowed all sound; the earlier struggles fell entirely mute.
Erik, aided by her night vision, saw the woman's terrified gaze fixed on the doors and windows.
She restrained herself from making noise. Erik grasped John's hand and slowly wrote in his palm: "No talking. Two rooms. One each."
She penned deliberately, ensuring he comprehended.
He clasped her hand in return, writing back a simple "Good."
Before entering, they reinforced the bindings on the NPC woman's limbs, preventing any escape attempts. Her large sack of fruits remained strewn on the floor. Erik removed the gag—silently, the woman clenched her teeth, narrowing her gaze on Erik.
Unmoved, Erik turned and locked herself inside the room.
Darkness enveloped the chamber. She sat patiently upon the floor and waited.
Initially, faint rustling stirred. She could just make out whispered words, fragmented and uncertain.
Cautiously rising, she leaned against the door to listen.
"…Still awake?…Are you sleepy?…I'm so hungry, is there anything to eat?"
The NPC woman shivered in terror—how could so many monsters invade her home tonight?
She must not respond.
Drawing on experience, she hurriedly reached for the fruits, lowered herself to the sack, bit into one, chewing hastily. A numbness crept to her tongue's root. After swallowing, a familiar sense of satiety and drowsiness washed over her. A relieved smile emerged as she surrendered to sleep.
Once she succumbed, silence returned. Hesitant, Erik contemplated venturing out, when suddenly a chilling whisper caressed her ear: "Are you looking for me?"