Trapped In Elysium: A Virtual Reality Nightmare-Chapter 78: The Jungle

The sun crept over the distant hills like a gentle yawn stretching across the sky, casting golden light through the windows of the inn. Morning had broken, and with it came the quiet clatter of boots on wooden floors and the smell of baked bread drifting up from the kitchen below.

Inside the shared room of Liam, Jason, Marcus, and the dwarf, a few groggy curses and yawns filled the air.

"Gods, my back is broken," Jason muttered, rubbing his neck as he sat up from the straw-filled mattress.

Marcus was already lacing his boots, scowling at the dwarf who was still buried under the covers. "Oi! Get up, lazy stump. This ain’t no royal inn."

"I am up," the dwarf grumbled, voice muffled in the blankets. "Just spiritually... not physically."

Liam chuckled quietly and stood, already dressed, his sword strapped to his belt. He looked more focused than usual, his eyes narrowed with thought. Today marked the beginning of the next phase of their journey — the trek to the ruins hidden deep beyond the jungle .

Downstairs in the tavern hall, the others had begun gathering, pulling together whatever gear they could carry. Sera handed out bread rolls wrapped in cloth while Eleanor checked over their waterskins and basic supplies. Sophia stood by the doorway, adjusting her shoulder straps, her gaze wandering.

Her eyes settled on Liam as he approached Mariel, who was seated near the corner, struggling to adjust a small belt around her waist.

"You’ll need this," Liam said, reaching into his satchel. He pulled out a short blade—sleek, clean, and clearly sharpened just this morning. The hilt was wrapped in dark leather and the metal shimmered faintly in the morning light.

Mariel looked up, surprised. "For me?"

Liam nodded, kneeling a little. "I don’t expect you to fight unless it’s absolutely necessary, but... it’s better to have something than nothing at all." He placed it gently in her hands. "Keep it close. Blade facing down when you run."

Mariel smiled softly. "Thanks, Liam. I promise I won’t be a burden."

Liam smirked and gave a light shrug. "You haven’t been one so far."

Across the room, Sophia watched the exchange, her jaw tightening just a bit. Her arms folded unconsciously over her chest, and her expression was unreadable. She turned slightly and leaned toward Eleanor, who was tightening the leather on her gloves.

"She’s really warming up to him," Sophia said casually, her voice quiet but with a sharp undertone.

Eleanor glanced sideways at her, eyebrow raised. "Who? Mariel?"

Sophia didn’t answer at first, but the silence was enough.

Eleanor gave a soft sigh. "It’s nothing. Liam’s just being... Liam. He wouldn’t leave anyone unprotected."

Sophia didn’t seem satisfied. "You saw the way she looked at him." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Eleanor gave her a look — half knowing, half amused. "Sophia... are you jealous?"

Sophia scoffed, a little too quickly. "Of course not. I just think... we don’t know her well. That’s all."

"Hmm," Eleanor said with a smirk, fastening her last strap. "Right."

Sophia turned away with a quiet breath through her nose. "Just keep an eye on her."

Eleanor nodded but said nothing more.

A sudden loud knock came at the doorframe, drawing everyone’s attention. Von stood there, broad as ever, his club slung over his back and his companions behind him.

He looked at the group with his usual expressionless gaze, then nodded toward the open road. "Time to move. I’ll be your guide through the path to the ruins. Stay sharp. The jungle doesn’t like visitors."

The dwarf, now finally awake, waddled over with a half-eaten bun. "Great. More trees and mud."

Marcus clapped Liam on the back. "Ready, brother?"

Liam gave a short nod, casting one last look at Mariel to ensure the sword was securely tucked against her belt.

And with that, they stepped out of the inn and into the morning light, heading toward the jungle .

The air grew thicker as they left the roads behind and began treading into the dense greenery of the surrounding jungle . Twisting roots and damp earth replaced the stone beneath their boots, and sunlight filtered through the thick canopy above in golden beams. The chirping of unseen birds and the rustling of unseen creatures became their background music. The group moved in a loose line, their breath fogging slightly in the cool morning air.

Liam walked beside Marcus and Jason near the middle of the group, his eyes scanning the undergrowth while his hand rested comfortably on the hilt of his blade. Behind them, Mariel kept pace with Sera and Sophia, who remained quiet but vigilant. Eleanor moved with practiced steps, her gaze darting around like a seasoned predator.

The dwarf, as usual, trudged along with short, deliberate strides, muttering curses under his breath every time his foot caught a root.

It was Jason who broke the silence first.

"You know," he said, glancing over his shoulder at the dwarf, "I just realized something. We’ve been traveling with him for days and still don’t know his name."

Liam blinked, then turned toward the dwarf. "He’s right. You’ve been with us since the coast, fought alongside us, ate with us... but you’ve never told us what to call you."

The dwarf grumbled something inaudible, pretending not to hear.

Marcus called out, "Oi, stump. We’re not calling you ’Dwarf’ forever."

The dwarf sighed heavily, clearly reluctant, but eventually relented. "It’s Borik," he muttered. "Borik Stonehelm."

Jason raised a brow. "Stonehelm. That’s... kinda badass."

"Damn right it is," Borik said with a sniff. "Was my grandfather’s name too. Family of warriors, blacksmiths, and bad tempers."

Marcus gave a wide grin. "Figures. You’ve got the ’bad temper’ part down perfectly."

Borik gave him a flat look. "Say another word and I’ll ’temper’ your head with the flat side of my hammer."

Everyone laughed—light-heartedness a welcome guest in the tension of their journey.

But the levity faded quickly when Von raised a hand and stopped walking. He turned toward the group, eyes narrowing at the path ahead. His broad frame was still, quiet like a boulder before a landslide.

"This is where it starts," Von said. His voice was low but firm, the kind that silenced everything around it. "Beyond this point, it’s no longer just a jungle . It’s a living beast."

Liam stepped closer, furrowing his brow. "What do you mean?"

Von turned his head toward the thick trees ahead. "These woods are old... older than any of your books can tell. Some say it breathes. It watches. It doesn’t like strangers walking through its spine."

Sera tilted her head. "What kind of dangers are we talking about?"

"Everything," Von answered. "Snakes that hang like vines. Roots that move. Creatures that don’t leave tracks. And if you’re foolish enough to wander alone..." He paused, glancing at each of them. "...you might just disappear."

The group grew silent.

"Rule number one," Von continued, lifting a finger, "Stay together. No matter what you hear, no matter what you see. The jungle plays tricks on the mind. It will use your fears, your memories... even your voices."

Sophia narrowed her eyes. "Illusions?"

Von nodded. "Of a sort. It’ll sound like someone calling your name. It’ll look like someone you know walking ahead. Don’t chase it. Don’t answer it."

Jason gulped. "Great. That’s just what I needed. A haunted jungle ."

"Second," Von said, ignoring the comment, "always mark where you’ve passed. I’ll be doing that, but keep your eyes sharp. Trees shift. Paths vanish."

Mariel asked, "Can’t we just turn back if it gets too dangerous?"

Von looked at her with something that might’ve been sympathy—or perhaps just resignation. "No. If we turn back now, we may never find the ruins. And worse, we may not find our way out."

That sobered everyone.

Borik muttered, "And here I thought pirates were bad."

Von continued, "We move swift, but cautious. If we camp, we camp in tight formation. No fires unless I say. No shouting. No wandering. Stay in the line."

Eleanor stepped forward. "You’ve led groups through here before?"

"A few," Von replied. "Some made it through. Others... didn’t listen."

The silence that followed was thick.

Liam nodded slowly, gripping his sword tighter. "Then we listen. Every word."

Von gave a short grunt of approval, then turned and resumed walking, his broad back disappearing into the green shadows ahead.

One by one, the others followed—leaving the light of the open world behind and stepping into the mouth of the jungle .

After walking for a while, Von came to a halt and raised his hand in a silent gesture. The group stopped, all eyes turning to him as he turned around with a firm expression etched across his weathered face.

"We’re not on friendly ground anymore," Von said, voice low but clear.

The group stood in a loose cluster, some adjusting their packs, others already scanning the surrounding trees nervously.

Von pointed to the thick brush ahead. "From here on, we’re moving in a formation. No freelancing, no straying too far to take a piss, and no loud talking. You do what I say, when I say it."

Eleanor looked a bit taken aback by the sudden authority in his voice. Mariel tightened her grip on the small sword Liam had given her, glancing his way. Liam gave her a quiet nod of encouragement.

"Alright," Von continued, gesturing as he spoke. "Sera and Mariel—you two stay in the middle. You’re not trained fighters, and if shit goes south, you’ll be safer there. Jason, Sophia, Eleanor—you three stay just behind them. Watch their backs and keep your eyes sharp."

Sophia frowned slightly but nodded. She glanced sideways at Mariel for a second, then looked away without a word.

Von’s deep voice pressed on. "Liam, Marcus—you two are just behind me. Strong arms, sharp instincts. If anything jumps out, you’ll be the first to cut it down."

Marcus gave a short chuckle. "Been waiting to stretch my arms again anyway."

Von didn’t smile. "Good. Don’t let your guard down."

He then motioned toward the rear. "My two companions will hold the back. They know this jungle better than most. Quick with blades and smarter than they look. They’ll carry most of the supplies and make sure no one sneaks up behind us."

The two men nodded quietly, one of them adjusting the long pole that held much of their equipment. The other scanned the treeline, his eyes narrow and alert.

Von took a step forward, lowering his voice now to a near growl. "And listen to me carefully—this part of the jungle belongs to more than just animals. There are natives in these woods. Tribes that don’t speak our language. Some of them are peaceful... others?"

He paused, letting his gaze sweep across the group.

"Others are cannibals."

A sharp silence followed his words.

Mariel swallowed hard. "C-cannibals?"

"They don’t take prisoners," Von said flatly. "They’ll stalk you for hours. Watch you from the trees. You won’t hear them till it’s too late. That’s why I’m taking point."

"You mean... you’re going alone up front?" Jason asked, a trace of concern in his voice.

Von nodded. "I’ll be the vanguard. I’ll scout ahead, keep the path clear, and warn you if anything’s amiss. You’ll follow behind in the formation I gave. If I give the signal to stop—you stop. If I say run—you run. And if I say fight..." He looked directly at Liam and Marcus. "Then you fight without hesitation."

Liam drew in a breath and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Understood."

Von gave a small grunt of approval, then turned around and began making his way into the jungle with careful steps, his massive club slung across his back and his eyes sharp.

The rest of the group slowly fell into position as instructed. Liam took his place behind Von, Marcus beside him, both of them exchanging a nod. Mariel and Sera walked close together, in the center of the column. Behind them, Sophia adjusted her stance and stayed alert, her eyes occasionally darting to Mariel with something unreadable in her expression. Eleanor and Jason trailed close, whispering to one another about terrain and movement strategy.

At the rear, Von’s two companions moved with quiet precision, one occasionally stopping to mark trees or look for signs of wildlife.

And so the journey into the heart of the wild began—not with shouting or battle cries, but with tense footsteps, sharp eyes, and the silent, growing awareness that every shadow could be a threat... and every rustling leaf might not just be the wind.