Floor 1: Stumped in the Forest

I approached the entrance to the tower with cautious steps, eyeing a void-like portal that hovered a few centimeters off of the ground. Looking at it, I felt an growing urge to jump through the opening, as if something on the other end was tugging on my soul and beckoning me to leap into another realm. As much as that should have concerned me, I am embarrassed to say that it didn't. The only thing on my mind was the suspense of what awaited me.

"Alright, here goes nothing," I muttered, attempting to psych myself up. I took a deep breath, trying to muster the bravery of a hero in a cheesy action movie. I put on what I hoped was a heroic expression and courageously leapt past the threshold.

Okay, fine, maybe I closed my eyes for a second or two. Don't judge, it's not every day you walk into a damn portal.

And then, just like that, I was transported. Blink and you'd miss it. One moment, I was standing in front of the portal, and the next... I found myself smack dab in the middle of a freaking forest. I mean, seriously, it was greener than a leprechaun's underpants. It was on a whole different level than anything I had seen before - and I'd grown up surrounded by nature. It almost felt purer than anything I had seen on Earth, as if untouched by pollution.

Towering trees reached towards the heavens, their branches intertwining to create a natural canopy overhead. It was like stepping into a secret realm, where nature held its own enchanting melody. The air was alive with the scent of fresh dew, and the ground beneath my feet felt soft and mossy, like walking on a nature-made carpet. The best part was that the space was surprisingly easy to navigate. The foliage wasn't too dense and the ground was flat for as far as the eye could see.

As I ventured further into the forest, I couldn't help but bask in the beauty of it all. The air carried that earthy scent mixed with a hint of wildflowers, creating a sensory delight that tickled my nostrils. The occasional rustle of leaves and the chirping of birds serenaded me, creating a peaceful symphony that made me forget the chaotic reality I had just left behind. It was a moment of tranquility amidst the unknown, and I couldn't help but soak it all in.

As I adjusted to my surroundings, I began to think about why I was here: a challenge. Was I just supposed to survive out here? If so, for how long? What would I eat or drink? Then, after a few minutes of pondering, I had the very bright idea to check my phone. You know, the only thing that had given me any explanation for the craziness that I had just endured. I facepalmed at that. Obviously, the app should have been the first place I checked. And as I predicted, the phone had another message for me.

[Location: Imperial Goat Forest]

And directly below that.

[Challenge: Find and retrieve a reality shard.]

Imperial goats? That was... unexpected. Did that mean there were goats strutting around here, wearing crowns and bossing everyone around? I mean, stranger things have happened, right? For example, being teleported out of your math class across dimensions multiple times over the span of a hour. As for the reality shard, I had no clue what that was about. Maybe it some kind of magical rock?

Armed with determination and the occasional mosquito bite, I delved deeper into the forest. I scanned my surroundings, hoping to stumble upon a sign or a clue, something that would point me in the right direction.

Unfortunately, that feeling of determination wore off pretty quickly. I was stumped. As the hours ticked by, I realized that finding this shard wasn't going to be a walk in the park. Well, technically, I was in a forest, so it was literally a walk in the park, but you get what I mean.

As the minutes drones on, the forest seemed to stretch on forever, with no end in sight. It was like being trapped in a never-ending maze of greenery. The only company I had were the buzzing insects and the occasional bird serenading me with its tune. And there's only so much bird song you can handle before it starts to drive you crazy.

Just when I was on the verge of contemplating a riveting game of "Count the Ants," a glimmer of hope appeared on the horizon. Or rather, the sound of rushing water caught my attention. Like a weary traveler in search of an oasis, I perked up and followed the siren song of the river. Hopefully, I could find a nice place to wash up and hydrate.

Emerging from the dense foliage into a small clearing by the river, a sense of relief washed over me. The calm, glistening water provided a nice chance of scenery, beckoning me to take a break and wade into its refreshing embrace. Plus, a little splash would do wonders to cool me off.

But just when I thought luck was finally on my side, fate decided to trip me up—quite literally. My foot collided with an invisible obstacle, maybe a root or a vine, sending me hurtling towards the riverbank in a spectacular display of grace. I landed with an undignified thud, my pride deflating faster than a popped balloon.

As I grumbled and dusted off the dirt from my clothes, I made a mental note to send an invoice to Mother Nature for the grace I never received. Once I regained my composure and double-checked that my phone was still intact, I mustered up the energy to sit myself upright.

And that's when I noticed her, right there in the river in front of me. The sight nearly knocked the breath out of my lungs. The woman was beautiful, an ethereal being with light blue hair that cascaded like a waterfall, and eyes the color of a clear summer sky. And let's not forget the cherry on top: she was completely naked. The hormones in my teenage brain launched into a full-blown party mode, and I struggled to keep my eyes from bulging out of their sockets.

After a moment that felt like an eternity of me gawking like a mesmerized fish, I managed to regain some semblance of coherence and muttered a barely audible "Hi." Smooth move, Joe, real smooth.

To my surprise and relief, she responded with equal cautiousness and friendliness, "Hey there." The sound of her voice sent a pleasant shiver down my spine, and I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope… and a slight hard-on.

My brain raced, trying to come up with something clever or witty to say, but all that came out was an awkward grin and a chuckle that probably sounded more like a hyena in distress. To my relief, it seemed my goofball aura worked in my favor, as she swam a little closer, her curiosity piqued.

"I'm Nerissa. What are you doing here?" she inquired, as she swam closer. I couldn't help but notice her feet kicking under the water as she gracefully swam. The shimmers of the water concealed her naked legs, adding a tantalizing allure to the scene. It was both captivating and frustrating, as my imagination ran wild with thoughts of what lay beneath the surface.

Caught between uncertainty and the irresistible allure of this mysterious girl, I hesitated. Could I trust her with the knowledge of my mission? In the end, I decided to go with my gut since she seemed trustworthy enough. It also helped that she was fucking hot. In retrospect, my hormones has definitely compromised my judgment.

Trying to play it cool, I replied, "I'm Joe. Right now I’m supposed to be searching for a reality shard.” With each word, I carefully observed her reaction, searching for any flicker of recognition. To my disappointment, her expression remained blank.

She tilted her head as if thinking about what I said. After a moment, I added, "Honestly, I have no idea what a reality shard even is. I'm just here, wandering around aimlessly, hoping to stumble upon something interesting. And this river seemed like the nicest place around." I conveniently left out the part about its main draw being that it was one of the few things in the forest that wasn’t a shade of green.

She seemed seemed to have like what I said. Her attitude brightened and her voice held a hint of excitement as she offered, "I don't know about any shards, but I can take you to the coven. If it has anything to do with magic, then maybe the witches will know about it."

"Witches?" I echoed, my eyebrows shooting up in surprise.

"Yeah, witches," she replied happily. But then, she seemed to second-guess herself. "But you'll need to be careful. They don't take too kindly to outsiders." After a momentary pause, she added, her voice filled with uncertainty, "On second thought, maybe it's not a good idea. They might just kill you."

I gulped, my heart racing at the thought of potentially facing ****. The app conveniently left out that possibility in its message. Still, I made a choice to pursue the only lead I had. With a **** confidence, I replied, "No, please take me there. I think this coven is exactly what I’m searching for.”

When she didn’t seem convinced, I pushed, “I have reason to believe I'll be fine." I had no reason to believe anything of the sort. After a few rounds of negotiation, I managed to convince her to guide me to the coven. She instructed me to hop into the river, and without thinking twice (or even once, for that matter), I stripped down to my underwear. My nerves were on edge, worried she might catch a glimpse of a certain conspicuous bulge, but if she did, she didn't seem to mind.

Once I was in the river, she swam closer to me and instructed me to hold on. Not quite sure where to grab onto, I clumsily wrapped my hands around her neck. And then, in a motion that felt straight out of a movie, she leaned forward, and we glided through the water with an uncanny grace. It was as if we were one with the river, the thrill of the ride fueling my adrenaline.

I tried my best to distract myself from the fact that my hands, wrapped around her neck, were just inches away from her naked breasts. It was a challenge, to say the least. Every ripple and movement of the water seemed to make her tits sway and jiggle, as if they had a mind of their own. They taunted me with their perfect curves, and a few times I even felt them brush against my hands. It took every ounce of self-control not to reach out and give them a gentle squeeze, to feel their softness and warmth in my hands. But hey, I wasn't about to ruin this moment with an inappropriate grope. I had to keep it together... somehow.

And, to my credit, I did keep it together for all of ten minutes, before the tension building up inside of my pants became unbearable. Finally, I blurted out, "You're amazing."

I couldn't see her face, but there was a subtle shift in her posture, as if she approved of my flattery. The back of her head inched closer to me, teasing my senses with the alluring scent of her light blue hair. It was like a seductive mix of cotton candy and sea salt, a fragrance that intoxicated me and ignited a burning desire within. I couldn't help but imagine burying my face in her silky locks, losing myself in their intoxicating aroma.

After a few more minutes, my self-control waned, and I couldn't resist the magnetic pull between us any longer. Leaning my head against the back of hers, I inhaled deeply, savoring the intoxicating scent of her hair.

To my surprise, she didn't pull away or show any signs of discomfort. In fact, I even sensed a hint of satisfaction, as if my action had pleased her in some way. I guess magical creatures really are as horny as people say.

Encouraged by her response, my hands, still wrapped around her neck, ventured forward slightly, testing how far she would let me go. Confidently, she placed her hands over mine, guiding them lower with a reassuring pressure, inviting me to discover more.

Emboldened by Nerissa's encouragement, my hand continued its exploration, venturing downward along the gentle curve of her chest, feeling the softness of her skin beneath my fingertips.

Soon, a surge of desire coursed through me, intensifying my touch. My fingers teasingly tracing the outline of her cleavage. The air crackled with anticipation as I decided to go further, my hand cupping the soft mound of her breast, feeling its warmth and firmness in my palm.

"Wow," I whispered.

Nerissa's breath caught in her throat, an imperceptible gasp of pleasure escaping her lips. Encouraged by her response, I applied a gentle pressure, my thumb brushing against her hardened nipple. The sensation elicited a slight sigh from her, spurring me on to explore even more.

Minutes passed, and I found myself content to lie in this position, enjoying the sensation of Nerissa's soft boobs, the fragrance of her hair, and the lulling motion of the water. It was as if time had suspended, and the outside world ceased to exist. I let my worries and inhibitions wash away, replaced by a blissful sense of indulgence.

My hands kept playing with her breasts as we glided through the river, the water creating a soothing rhythm. Damn, it felt good to just enjoy the moment. I couldn't help but entertain the thought of taking things further, but I knew better than to rush. Patience, Joe, patience.

My mind wandered back to how I even got in this position. Despite the app's mysterious and ominous nature, maybe it wasn't such a bad thing after all. If it meant I could have more encounters like this with hot girls like Nerissa who were open to having some fun, then maybe it was a blessing in disguise.

I felt a wave of ease and comfort settle within me. With a mischievous grin, I posed the question that had been on my mind.

"So are all…” I began. Halfway through my sentence, I realized that I didn’t actually know what type of creature Nerissa was. Clearly, she wasn’t human. Her body moved effortlessly through the water, her arms and legs only swaying gently with the motion of the river. Yet, she could talk and act like a person. And she certainly felt like one. Maybe I had made friends with some sort of water creature from mythology? I decided not to ruin the moment by dwelling on it.

“So are all I mermaids as beautiful as you?" I asked dreamily.

Apparently, that was the wrong question to ask. In an instant, everything changed. The gentle rhythm of the river halted abruptly, and I was propelled forward, tumbling into the water with an undignified splash. Coughing and sputtering, I resurfaced, gasping for air, only to witness a remarkable transformation taking place in the river. The once calm waters turned into a chaotic maelstrom, churning and swirling with intensity. It was like the river itself was expressing its displeasure at my question.

"A mermaid?" Nerissa's voice crackled with indignation, her eyes ablaze with fury. "You think I'm some scaly, bottom-dwelling jerk?"

Yep, it should come as no surprise that I blew it. Story of my life, really. But hey, at least I got to touch some titties along the way.

But before I could linger on that thought, panic gripped my chest as the raging waters began to swirl around me. The romantic idyll had shattered, replaced by the harsh reality of Nerissa's wrath. I was a decent swimmer, but this was a situation I wasn't fully equipped to handle.

"After guiding you through my domain, this is the gratitude I receive?" she shouted, the fury evident in her voice.

As I thrashed about in the turbulent water, my mind raced to find a way to defuse the situation. Desperation tinged my voice as I struggled to find the right words. "Nerissa, please! Forget I said that," I pleaded. It was a last-ditch effort to salvage the moment, trying to convey genuine remorse with every fiber of my being. Surprisingly, it seemed to work. That, or she saw how pathetic I looked and decided to take pity on me. Whatever the reason, the raging waters seemed to calm, if only by a fraction.

She appeared to be slightly pacified, although a lingering expression of annoyance or disdain remained on her face.

"Obviously, I know you're not a mermaid. You don't even have a tail!"

She narrowed her eyes at me, clearly displeased. Trying to pacify her, I added, "It was just a joke, I swear. I'm really sorry." I mustered up the courage to throw in a compliment. "Besides, you're much prettier than a mermaid."

Her scowl persisted, but there was a subtle shift in her demeanor. The anger that once blazed within her seemed to simmer down, albeit just a touch. Still, she remained in a somewhat sour mood. After a brief moment, she pouted and muttered.

"It was a dumb joke."

Want some bonus content? There's a link to another picture of Emily Heart, the sister, in this poll:

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