"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?
