The further the Cybersquad and their newfound friends wandered, the quicker the landscape of the Overworld began to change.
The thick forest disappeared behind them, and in the distance, an open plain stretched as far as the eye could see. Scattered oak and birch trees dotted the horizon, their leaves rustling slightly in the breeze.
The sun hung high, casting warm light over the blocky terrain. Patches of wildflowers swayed gently, with large blocky bees buzzing around them. Distant herds of animals roamed the grasslands, paying no mind to the travelers passing through.
Their journey was anything but easy. When crossing a winding river, they were suddenly attacked by a strange zombified creature that emerged from the depths of the lake, wielding a trident.
Within seconds, it lunged at them, throwing its weapon at them, but missed. They barely made it across, their shoes slightly wet from their desperate escape.
"Are we there yet?" Jackie panted, stopping to catch her breath. "We've been traveling for ages!"
"I'm not quite sure," Villager replied, glancing around the unfamiliar terrain. "The railway should be around here somewhere..."
Stewie raised a brow, crossing his arms. "Oh, should it? That's so reassuring. Just admit it—you have no clue where we're going! You've just been leading us in circles through the middle of nowhere!"
Villager frowned, shifting uncomfortably. "I know where it is! It's just... been a while," he muttered under his breath.
"Let's just keep moving," Inez said, trying to remain optimistic. "We'll find it eventually."
As they pushed forward, Steve glanced over at WordGirl, who was wrapped around Chris's shoulders, still unconscious, his concern growing on his face. "So... about your friend. Is she going to be okay?"
"We're not sure," Chris muttered. "Back in the previous world, while we were looking for the Second Crystal, we got ambushed by some of the other villains. She tried to stop them, but they used Lexonite against her."
"Lexonite?" Steve asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It's her weakness," Inez explained. "Whenever she's exposed to it, she becomes very weak and loses her powers."
"Oh no! That's terrible!" Villager gasped.
"Yeah," Matt murmured. "She's never been out this long before. I just... I hope she's okay."
"Hey! WordGirl is tough! I'm sure she'll be okay! Who knows, maybe she'll wake up soon!" Digit said confidently.
Inez nodded slightly, though her face remained uncertain. "I sure hope you're right."
As they continued their journey, a heavy silence began to dawn over the group. Their thoughts lingered on WordGirl's condition, their concerns pressing down like heavy weights.
Slowly, the landscape began to change once again. The soft grass gave way to rough patches of podzol and coarse dirt. Towering spruce trees rose over the horizon, their blocky shapes extending long and jagged in the fading glow of the setting sun.
A faint coolness filled the air, sending shivers through them as they wandered deeper into the taiga. The distant howls of wolves echoed through the trees, their haunting calls cutting through the quiet air. The uneasy feeling that'd been lurking at the back of their minds increased.
As they continued walking, their sense of unease intensified. At first, it was a faint sensation, like unseen eyes watching them from the shadows. But then, every so often, someone would catch a glimpse of something lurking behind the trees. But whenever they turned to look, nothing was there.
"I don't like this," Matt muttered, glancing over his shoulder. "I swear I just saw something move."
"You saw it too?" Jackie asked, keeping her voice low. "I thought I was imagining things."
The others exchanged uneasy glances, their eyes flickering between the towering trees. "M-maybe you were just seeing things," Digit stammered, his wings twitching. "Forests like this can play tricks on you, especially when it gets dark."
Stewie scoffed, folding his arms. "Oh please, don't tell me you're all frightened by some oversized twigs and some shaggy canines?" He asked, his voice filled with an air of confidence, though deep down, he was just as on edge.
Chris shook his head, glancing warily at the dense vegetation around them. "After everything we've encountered so far, I think we should be careful. Just in case."
Martin nodded, his posture tense as he scanned their surroundings. "Yeah... who knows what else could be hiding out here?" His voice was low and wary as if speaking too loudly might draw something out of the darkness.
"Heh. You know, this reminds me of a legend my people tell. It's about a monster that lurks in forests just like this one." Villager explained, his voice barely above a whisper. The others turned to him, curiosity flashing across their faces.
Stewie crossed his arms. "Oh, great. Please, do enlighten us with another one of your backwater campfire stories."
Villager ignored him and continued. "They say there's a monster that lurks in forests like this. A creature that looks just like the trees. It never moves when you're watching, but the second you look away—" He paused, lowering his voice. "That's when it strikes."
"Whoa, what's it called?" Chris asked, a mix of intrigue and unsettlement.
"It goes by many names." Villager explained, his voice filled with hesitation. "But many refer to it as 'The Cracker!'"
"The Cracker?" Jackie asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yeah." Villager nodded. "Because of the cracking sound it makes when it moves—like branches snapping in the wind." He explained.
Right as if on cue, a sharp crack echoed from somewhere deep in the forest, causing the group to freeze in stunned silence, their eyes darting around.
Peter gulped. "That was just a regular branch breaking... right?" He asked, his eyes scanning the group. Nobody answered.
After a long pause, Steve sighed and adjusted his grip on his sword. "Alright, I think that's enough ghost stories for one night. It's getting late, and we need shelter before anything—real or not—decides to come after us." He turned to the group. "I'll go gather wood. You guys stay here and start clearing a spot for camp."
"Wait, you're going alone?" Matt asked.
"I'll be fine," Steve assured him. Without waiting for objections, he turned and vanished into the trees, quickly disappearing into the deepening shadows of the forest, leaving them alone once again.
By that point, the sky had darkened completely, casting the taiga forest with eerie shadows. A faint mist crept through the trees, swirling around them like ghostly tendrils.
"This place just keeps getting creepier," Jackie muttered, wrapping her arms around herself.
"Yeah, not exactly the most welcoming place," Chris added, shifting uncomfortably.
"Come on, let's start clearing a spot," Matt said as he crouched down, ready to get to work.
Jackie eyed the uneven layers of dirt blocks and let out a disgusted sigh. "Ugh. Does anyone have a shovel? Because I'm not touching this with my bare hands."
