Chapter 391: Peach Kingdom’s Fantasy Castle

Chapter 391: Chapter 391: Peach Kingdom’s Fantasy Castle

Since it was time to choose a Profession.

Seraphina Sullivan had to assess her own situation.

In terms of offense, she had the powerful attacks of the [Universal Sniper Rifle] and the Spirit Attacks from her [Demon Eyes] Talent.

Her defense and Control were relatively weak.

The strong Control from [Sticky Frost Sugar] could perfectly compensate for this weakness.

’I don’t lack weapons, but a powerful Control Skill could be extremely useful, especially in a dream world with such special rules.’

Seraphina Sullivan made her decision in an instant.

’Besides, [Pastry Chef] is obviously a better fit for the upcoming banquet in the Peach Kingdom. It might bring some unexpected, hidden benefits.’

’Like making it easier to gain the favor of that so-called Madame Spider, which would simplify the mission.’

’So, I’ll choose [Pastry Chef]!’

With her mind made up, Seraphina no longer hesitated.

She locked onto the [Pastry Chef] option in her consciousness.

[Ding! Profession selection confirmed! You have successfully become a [Pastry Chef]!

Related Abilities have been unlocked!]

The system prompt’s tone carried a rare, almost teasing quality.

A warm, sweet current, as if mixed with cream, vanilla, and the Aura of sunlight, flooded into Seraphina’s consciousness.

Her understanding of "desserts" and some of the skills for making delicious sweet treats instantly leveled up.

At the same time, the methods for using the two Skills, [Sticky Frost Sugar] and [Delicious Desserts], were also clearly imprinted on her mind.

With her Profession chosen, Seraphina didn’t delay any longer.

’I have to catch up to the group quickly.’

’Everything about this dungeon feels strange. It’s definitely not as easy and simple as that sheep made it out to be.’

Seraphina looked in the direction where Lamb had disappeared, her gaze hardening slightly.

Lamb acted so relaxed largely because he was a [Beloved of the God of Sweet Dreams].

With his [Dream Traveler] Talent, he was like a fish in water here.

But for her and the other ordinary Players, this seemingly fairytale dream world likely concealed dangers no less severe than those in the Zombie Kingdom.

’The Peach Kingdom... where is it, really?’

’Do I really have to rely on luck or a flight of fancy to find it?’

Seraphina surveyed the dreamlike yet empty surroundings and decided to catch up to the others first.

With a slight shift in her thoughts, she activated a Skill—[Bounce]!

Although it was just a basic Skill.

In her pure spirit form, the consumption was extremely low, but the Effect was quite good.

She bent her knees slightly, spiritual power gathering at her feet before erupting!

SWOOSH!

Her figure leaped up lightly, crossing several dozen meters in a single bound.

She landed silently, then leaped again.

While not as fast as Vincent Vaughn’s [Wind Power] or Clayton Quinn’s shadow-sneaking, her speed was far greater than a normal run as she chased after her companions.

Under Lamb’s seemingly unintentional guidance, the four people ahead of her hadn’t actually gotten lost.

They seemed to be following some simple principle, like "follow the most conspicuous target" or "head toward the most fantastical colors."

And surprisingly, they were gradually drawing closer to their destination.

By the time Seraphina finally caught up to them using her [Bounce] Skill, Lamb had led them to the edge of an area where the colors were especially vibrant and a faint, sweet fragrance began to drift through the air.

The sight that appeared before them made everyone stop in their tracks, including Seraphina, who had just landed.

Vincent Vaughn couldn’t help but gasp in amazement:

"Holy cow! This... this castle is just... too extravagant, isn’t it?!"

Not far ahead, suspended in mid-air, was an enormous castle, looking as if it had stepped right out of a fairy tale picture book!

The entire castle seemed to be built from countless types of soft-colored, sparkling "candies" and "pastries"!

The Walls were like giant gingerbread, sprinkled with Sugar Frosting.

The tops of the towers were decorated with spiral-shaped, colorful lollipops and glowing gummies.

The windows were transparent rock candy, refracting rainbow-colored light from some unknown, gentle light source.

Beneath the castle, there was no foundation.

Only vast, fluffy white clouds, like piped buttercream, supported it.

Allowing it to float steadily about a hundred meters above the ground.

A wide "road" paved with a rainbow-like ribbon of light extended down from the castle’s main gate, diagonally connecting to a "welcoming plaza" below—a place just as dreamlike, filled with giant flowers and cotton candy trees.

The sweet fragrance in the air grew stronger, and one could even faintly hear the cheerful, ethereal sound of a music box coming from the castle’s direction.

This was, without a doubt, the "Kingdom Center" mentioned in the mission prompt.

The floating Fantasy Castle belonging to "King Peach"!

Even Seraphina, who had experienced all sorts of bizarre and brutal scenes like zombie sieges, Aberrant Radiation, and Divine gambles, was deeply shaken by the sight of the Fantasy Castle floating before her.

The dungeon worlds she had seen were all ruins ravaged by natural disasters, overrun by monsters, and shrouded in death and despair.

Dark apocalypses.

Irradiated wastelands.

Bloody arenas.

Every corner of every dungeon was inscribed with the cruelty of the apocalypse.

But this world before her, with its bright, saturated colors, its sweet and joyful Aura, its architecture so surreal yet so magnificent... it completely overturned Seraphina’s understanding of apocalyptic disaster dungeons.

"A dungeon this fantastical... This is a first for me," Seraphina said, genuinely surprised.

’Hmm, it really is like a dream,’ Seraphina thought. ’Since the castle is made of these materials, I wonder if it’s edible? If I can eat it, can I pack it up and take it with me? Maybe I can put a Fantasy Castle in my Scavenger’s Farm.’

Despite these thoughts, the vigilance in her heart did not relax in the slightest.

On the contrary, it grew even tighter due to the stark contrast.

There’s always a Demon when things are out of the ordinary. The more beautiful and harmless a place seems, the stranger the dangers it might hide.

"Are we... just going to go in like this?"

Vincent Vaughn asked, looking at the brilliant rainbow path of light. He hesitated, his eyes on the faintly visible figures of Guards at the castle entrance.

After all, they were uninvited intruders.

Seraphina didn’t answer immediately.

Her gaze fell on Lamb, who had been the first to reach the "welcoming plaza" below the castle.

The guy looked like he knew his way around. He straightened the hem of his clothes and swaggered toward the entrance of the rainbow path.

However, just as the tip of Lamb’s foot was about to touch the rainbow path—

"Halt!"

Two shouts rang out simultaneously in a strange, gurgling accent!

From the shadows of the buttercream-like clouds on either side of the rainbow path, two figures leaped out with a SWISH!

Their appearance... was rather peculiar.

They were about the height of an adult human.

They had round, emerald-green frog heads.

On their frog faces were bulging eyes and wide-open mouths.

But their bodies were humanoid, and they wore comical uniforms resembling those of palace guards, adorned with jelly bean buttons.

Hanging at their waists were... uh, clubs that looked like they were made of hard candy?

They also held spears in their hands.

The spearheads were sparkling, apparently carved from rock sugar.

The two "frog-person" guards, one on the left and one on the right, crossed their Ice Sugar Spears to block Lamb’s path.