"Dian, Yanai!" Nina called out to them, but no answer came.

What was going on? How had they suddenly disappeared? She desperately scanned her surroundings, but there was no sign of them anywhere.

Just as she was about to move forward and search, the withered tree ahead suddenly stirred. Countless dead branches burst from the ground and lashed toward her with surprising speed.

Nina reacted instantly, summoning vines to counter the attack.

A hoarse, murky voice echoed from the tree, like that of a dying old man.

"Heh... you actually possess abilities? How delightful. I like you even more now."

The tree’s voice grew more curious, almost muttering to itself.

"But why can you still use your powers so freely within an illusion? And this illusion... it’s directly connected to my true body? Strange. Truly strange..."

Nina’s gaze sharpened.

A talking tree?

An illusion?

Was she trapped inside one right now? And what about Yanai and the others? Were they caught in illusions too?

No matter. If she destroyed this tree, perhaps everything would break.

She increased her attacks, her vines lashing out relentlessly, severing the dead branches and striking at the trunk itself.

The tree was powerful and resisted fiercely.

Nina narrowed her eyes and called out inwardly, "Little Bun, is there anything in the system shop that can destroy this tree?"

[Yes, host. But you are currently inside a consciousness illusion. Your real body cannot move. You can control your abilities with your mind, but you cannot physically use weapons.]

"I see..." Nina exhaled softly.

Then she would try something else.

She reached for the power of the spirit pearl and spirit stones. Thankfully, their energy still responded.

Under her relentless assault, the withered tree began to falter.

"You damned creature, why are you so strong?" it snarled. "But this is my domain. You will never defeat me!"

More dead branches erupted from the ground, surging toward her in a frenzy. Yet the tree’s trunk had visibly shrunk.

Nina’s eyes flashed coldly as she unleashed even greater power.

The tide shifted.

The dead branches dwindled, while her vibrant green vines spread and overtook the tree’s territory.

"No... I will not lose!" the tree roared in fury.

Just as Nina was about to finish it, a sharp pain suddenly pierced her mind.

Her body froze.

Clutching her head, she lost control of her abilities.

The tree burst into eerie laughter.

"Hahaha! The Beast God truly favors me!"

Countless branches shot forward, wrapping tightly around her.

Nina could only watch as they bound her, unable to resist.

Damn it... the curse. It had awakened at the worst possible moment.

The branches coiled around her completely. Darkness swallowed her vision, and she lost consciousness.

The tree let out a chilling cackle.

"You are mine now. Your power will belong to me."

It tightened its grip around her body against the trunk, greedily siphoning her strength.

***

Elsewhere, Yanai suddenly realized Nina was gone.

"Nina! Nina, where are you?" Panic surged through him as he searched frantically.

After a while, a familiar voice called out.

"I’m here." A figure stepped out from not far away.

It was "Nina."

Relief lit up Yanai’s eyes as he hurried toward her. "Where did you go just now? I was so scared."

The false Nina moved closer, as if about to throw herself into his arms.

A flicker of cold light passed through Yanai’s eyes.

He stepped aside instantly.

"Where did you go just now?"

This female was not Nina. The real Nina would never speak like that.

A shadow darkened Yanai’s gaze.

And Nina would never approach him like that.

But... she looked exactly like her.

Where had real Nina gone? Had this imposter taken her? Or...

"I don’t know either," the false Nina said pitifully. "I was walking, and suddenly you all disappeared. I was left alone... it scared me so much."

She looked up at him with watery eyes. "I’m just glad I found you."

A sweet smile curved her lips as she pointed ahead.

"I saw a place over there. It’s so beautiful. I love it. If only we could live there forever..."

"Take me there," Yanai said.

Maybe Nina was there.

"Alright!" The fake Nina reached for his hand, but he shifted subtly, avoiding her touch as if he hadn’t noticed.

She didn’t seem to mind and led him cheerfully into a small valley ahead.

"Isn’t it beautiful?" she asked.

"Mm." His reply was absent-minded. His gaze kept sweeping the surroundings, searching.

Searching for the real Nina.

"It’s so beautiful here... let’s not go back," she said softly, her eyes shimmering. "Let’s stay here forever. Just the two of us. I’ll give you so many, many children..."

Yanai lowered his gaze to that face. That face identical to Nina’s.

A flicker of regret passed through him.

If those words had truly come from Nina, he would have abandoned everything without hesitation and stayed here with her forever.

But this...

His eyes turned cold.

This was a fake.

Hearing those words spoken with Nina’s face only filled him with anger.

In an instant, his hand shot out and seized her throat.

"Where is Nina?" he demanded. "What did you do to her?"

The false Nina clawed at his hand, struggling to breathe.

"W-what are you talking about... I... I am Nina..."

His grip tightened. "You’re not." His voice dropped, icy and sharp. "I’ll ask one last time. Where is she? If you don’t answer... I’ll kill you."

"I... I..." she gasped, hitting his arm weakly. "I am—"

Before he could press further, she vanished from his grasp.

Gone.

Yanai’s eyes darkened as he scanned his surroundings.

An illusion.

Of course.

But how did he break it?

A trace of urgency crept into his expression.

He had to get out. Fast.

If he didn’t, Nina could be in danger.

Dian had just turned to speak to Nina when the hand he was holding suddenly slipped away.

Empty.

His heart lurched.

"Nina...?"

He spun around, searching frantically.

Then he forced himself to calm down.

No. That wasn’t right.

He had been holding her hand the entire time. She couldn’t have just disappeared.

He examined the surroundings carefully, then pinched himself hard.

No pain.

So it really was an illusion.

Moments later, another "Nina" appeared.

"I finally found you," she said, walking toward him. "Where did you go just now?"

Dian let out a quiet, cold laugh.

"Nina... why don’t we ignore those males outside," he said softly. "Let’s stay here together, just the two of us. Forever."

The fake Nina’s face lit up with delight.

"Okay. Let’s stay here forever."

The moment the words left her lips, she disappeared.

Dian’s eyes turned icy.

How dare it impersonate her. It deserved to die.

He closed his eyes slightly, lips parting as he began to sing.

A clear, melodious voice flowed from him, gentle yet powerful.

The surrounding space began to warp and twist.

When he opened his eyes again, his pupils contracted sharply.

Not far ahead, Nina was bound tightly against a tree, countless dead branches coiling around her.

"Nina!"

Panic surged through him.

He rushed forward instinctively—only to be blocked by a wall of writhing, withered branches.