Plugged In: I got Isekai'd into a Sexbot (Now I Must Save The World)-Chapter 69: Into the Fog

The sun rises lazily over the Green Vale, casting golden rays on the quiet village still basking in the afterglow of salvation. The streets are once again full, not with despair, but with celebration. Villagers gather in front of the inn, crowding around Pip and the rest of the team, their cheers deafening.

"Thank you, Golden One!"

"Don’t forget us, Ka’Lula!"

Pip stands proudly, beeping politely as women hug him, kiss his faceplate, and offer farewell gifts. He returns each gesture with warm pulses of gratitude that rippled like sunshine through the crowd.

Ka’Lula, still human-shaped and wrapped in a new travel cloak stitched together by the town’s grandmothers, finds herself surrounded by teary-eyed villagers. One small boy tugs on her hand, handing her a carved wooden dragon.

"Promise you’ll come back?"

Ka’Lula blinks, then scoops the boy into a hug. "I promise. And next time, I’ll bring more treasure. Maybe even something shiny for you."

A collective aww went through the crowd.

Meanwhile, off to the side, Veena, Vuvi, and Sera kneels beside a large parchment map spread across a barrel.

"We’ll follow the path west, toward the Dwarven Kingdom," Veena points. "It’ll take us near that mountain... where Ka’Lula was hiding out."

Sera taps the map with a gloved finger. "I’m curious about it. She said it was full of treasure. Plus, anything powerful enough to be a dragon’s den might hold secrets."

"I agree," Veena says. "And I still think there’s more to Ka’Lula’s transformation than she realizes."

Just then, a cluster of townsfolk who had overheard them steps closer, their expressions grim.

"You’re not thinking of heading to that mountain, are you?" one old woman asks, her voice quivering.

Vuvi raises a brow. "Why? What’s wrong with it?"

The villagers exchange glances, then one brave soul speaks up. "That mountain is cursed. Has been for decades. Any living thing that tries to approach it is... attacked. By something unseen."

Another nods. "Birds avoid it. Animals scream and run if they wander too close."

"That’s why we thought Ka’Lula was crazy for going there," adds a man, "but somehow she always came back fine."

Vuvi crosses her arms. "She’s a dragon, of course she came back fine."

"But it’s not safe," the woman insists. "Even if you’re strong... that place isn’t normal."

The team exchange thoughtful glances, but none of them turned away from the idea.

They leave the village to the sound of cheers, Ka’Lula waving at everyone like a departing celebrity. "I’ll be back!" she calls. "Don’t eat all the cake while I’m gone!"

Vuvi rolls her eyes as she adjusts her pack. "That dragon has more fans than Pip now."

Pip gives a questioning beep. Veena pats his head. "Don’t worry, you’re still our number one."

They hadn’t walked far when Ka’Lula suddenly stops, spinning around with a gleam in her eye.

"You know... I could fly us," she suggests, puffing out her chest proudly. "One dragon ride coming up?"

Vuvi blinks. "That would save a lot of time, actually—"

"ALL ABOARD!" Ka’Lula declares before anyone could protest. She shifts in a flash of gold, wings bursting from her back, tail unfurling behind her. Pip hopped on eagerly. The others climbed aboard hesitantly.

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Two minutes later...

Back on the ground, the team collapses in a heap of nausea and moaning.

Veena was green. Penelo clings to a bush for dear life. Sera lies face-down in the dirt muttering, "Make it stop..."

Ka’Lula winces sheepishly, now back in human form. "Okay... maybe flying wasn’t the best idea... Sorry."

Pip stands perfectly fine, gyro-stabilizers whirring in his joints as he pats Penelo’s back while she dry-heaves. He lets out a soft, apologetic beep.

Vuvi groans, flat on her back, the world spinning around her. "No more flying. Ever."

As they continue on foot, the scenery begins to change. The fields become barren and sparse. The sunlight dulls. Trees turn skeletal and grey, their branches clawing at the sky. A heavy fog rolls in, thick and suffocating, tugging at their feet.

"This is definitely cursed," Sera mutters, sword already in hand.

"I can feel it," Veena whispers, her eyes glowing faintly with magical light. "There’s something... off. The air’s dense with old power. A lot of power."

"I don’t like this place," Penelo whimpers, gripping Pip’s arm tightly. "We should go around."

Ka’Lula stands a few steps ahead, peering into the forest. "We don’t have to be scared. If there’s something bad here, I’ll protect us."

She curls her arms into a flex a snorts out two puffs of black smoke.

With that, she steps forward and vanishes into the fog.

Pip lets out a soft alarmed beep and immediately follows after her, whistling for her to slow down.

"Pip!" Vuvi calls out, groaning.

The rest of the team had no choice but to follow.

The cursed forest proves to be unnaturally quiet. No birds. No wind. Only the soft crunch of dead leaves beneath their feet and the occasional low hum of Pip’s scanners as he constantly checked for danger.

Suddenly, a twig snaps.

Then another.

Then something moves between the trees.

Veena spins. "Left!"

From the soil, a gaunt, rotting hand breaks through the ground.

Then another.

Then dozens more.

Sera draws her sword. "We’re surrounded!" She grunts, and her blade flashes with magical power.

From all sides, the dead rise from the ground. Empty eyes glowing faintly blue. Armor corroded. Skin stretched and patchy. Skeletons in ancient gear dragged rusted blades from the dirt.

"Undead," Veena growls. "Definitely cursed."

Penelo screams and latches onto Pip. "I hate zombies! I hate zombies! Pip!"

Ka’Lula’s wings begins to flicker out instinctively, her eyes wide. "They’re everywhere!"

Vuvi, shaking, lifts her Boombuster. "There’s at least twenty... maybe more..."

Sera takes the front line, blade gleaming. "Then let’s hope twenty’s all they’ve got."

Veena stepped beside her, fists pulsing with crackling energy, horns sparking with demonic magic.

The team stands together, shoulder to shoulder.

The fog thickens.

And the first of the undead steps forward, blade raised.

It lunges.

Penelo gasps.

Ka’Lula roars.

A flash of flames.

And a row of undead instantly turns into ash.

Ka’Lula giggles.

"Guess they don’t like dragon fire."

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