Everyone was plotting a safe path into Miracle City when a figure appeared—a little girl, light as a reed, heading for Nightfall Forest.

Just as she was about to step into that unspeakably terrifying forest, Jelinka called out, urgency beating against her chest like a drum.

“Little sister, it’s dangerous—beasts prowl in there like knives in the dark.”

The girl halted, her childlike gaze resting on Jelinka like dew on a leaf.

Then everyone saw it: a rainbow butterfly whooshed from the forest and settled on the back of her hand, wings big as her head.

“Huh... Big sister, this your first time in Nightfall Forest?”

She stroked the butterfly’s head, then brushed its seven-colored wings, as if petting a faithful companion. Thinking of that pack of Demigod-tier beasts from before, everyone watched her like she was a lit fuse, terrified the butterfly would massacre them.

Jelinka kept her face soft, fear fluttering like a moth; Mmm... I’ve been here before, but there weren’t this many beasts then.

Power spilled from the butterfly like sunlight; even if it wasn't Tier Four, it was Tier Three at least. Remembering the old boat captain’s words, they guessed the girl was a resident of Miracle City.

“It’s fine. Rainbow Butterfly’s with me, and the forest pets won’t hurt me; I’m a resident of Miracle City!”

Her words made everyone nod—of course; only a resident would call those terrors pets.

She moved to step into the trees, and Jelinka stopped her again.

“Big sister, anything else?”

Jelinka swallowed her nerves like bitter tea; Look, little one, you’re from Miracle City, so beasts won’t hurt you—how do outsiders get in?

Eyes bright with hope, everyone watched the girl.

This time the girl stayed quiet, and the Rainbow Butterfly spoke in a bell-like voice. “To enter Miracle City, there are several ways. First, pay. Forest companions understand you; some, like me, can talk. Give them something, they’ll guide you.”

“Huh? We have to pay for directions?”

As confusion buzzed like a hive, a balding fat man waddled over, a big sack on his back and two sausages in hand. He stopped at the forest edge and shouted into the shade, voice like a conch: “Wangcai! Mr. Wangcai!”

Soon, a dog bounded out, barking; no words, but its eyes caught his meaning like nets catch fish.

“Wangcai, here—two sausages. Same as before. Take me to Miracle City.”

He hung the sausages on the pup’s neck. The dog nodded, flicked a paw—follow me—and man and dog vanished into the trees.

The scene left Jelinka’s group stunned, thoughts scattering like leaves.

“See? It doesn’t have to be coins. As long as you offer something that delights them, they’ll guide you to Miracle City.” Rainbow Butterfly added, “There’s another way: walk the World Corridor, a road straight to Miracle City. That path is safe, but few can find it.”

They grasped the rules: the World Corridor needs no bargains, but it’s dull; step off it and plants and beasts will attack. If you trade favors and let the forest guide you, you can roam and savor the scenery like drinking cool springwater. Pros and cons, like two scales.

The girl and the Rainbow Butterfly slipped into the forest, gone before Jelinka could speak again.

After the shock settled like dust, Jelinka sighed, regret tugging like a tide. “Should’ve asked the girl to take us in. We don’t even know where the World Corridor is.”

While Jelinka was berating herself, a pack of children trotted over, bright as sparrows, also headed for Nightfall Forest. Most were around ten, boys and girls, lively as spring shoots. Around them padded their pets.

A big black dog walked upright, a thighbone slung over its shoulder like a club. Winged cats flitted overhead like ink-brushed swallows. Horses stamped on clusters of flame, hooves glowing like embers.

No need to guess—they were Miracle City kids with their partner pets.

“Kids, could you take us to Miracle City? We can pay.”

Gold coins gleamed like sun on water; the children cheered, and Jelinka’s group cheered too—escorted by strange beasts, they finally felt safe.

After a bit of chatter, Jelinka learned the leader boy was named Grover, and the flame-hooved horse was his.

“Listen, the Fire Horse can fly; it’s faster than the city’s Pegasus!”

Grover climbed onto its back; to prove it, the horse soared, hooves pedaling flame across empty air like stepping stones.

After a loop in the sky, Grover grinned, chest puffed like a drum. “It can breathe fire too, and normal flames don’t hurt it. Little Fire, show big brother and sister your trick!”

But Little Fire didn’t obey; its voice flickered with caution like a lantern. “Master, no. If I breathe fire, I’ll spark a wildfire; if the flowers and grass burn, the Wish Fiend will trouble me.”

“Oh, right—we can’t burn the forest, or we’ll get scolded.” Grover exhaled, relief washing over him like rain; if a fire started, he’d be in deep trouble.

Legend says the forest is ruled by a fearsome being—the Wish Fiend. If anyone harms the woods, the Wish Fiend lets the Man-eating Flower swallow the culprit whole.

As they walked, a tremendous dragon’s roar rolled over the forest like thunder. Usually that cry makes beasts shiver like leaves, but today something strange unfolded.

The Fire Horse snorted toward the distance, sparks dancing: “That young dragon stuffed itself? So annoying!”

The upright black dog licked its bone club, eyes cold as iron: “If it keeps disturbing the peace, I might not hold back.”

A winged cat circled them, tail like a brushstroke: “So annoying. If it yells again, we’ll mob it and teach it to be a dragon.”

Hearing animals talk like that, Jelinka felt Nightfall Forest and Miracle City were oceans with hidden depths. Cats and dogs discussing a beatdown for a dragon—weren’t these the house pets she knew?

“Big sister, listen— that dragon was grabbed by the Beast God from another world. Back then, the City Lord said Nightfall Forest had everything except a dragon. So Lord Beast God fetched one and raised it here. It’s unhappy and hollers all the time, so the animals and plants often gang up to thrash it. But that dragon never learns—still asking for a beating.”

Beast God, dragons, gang beatings—Jelinka’s thoughts reeled like a spinning compass. Did she step into the wrong world? In her world, dragons sit at the top of the food chain, not getting jumped by cats and dogs.

Along the path, flowers took human shapes—handsome men, lovely women—petals like silk. Ancient trees strode past, trunks bearing a huge mouth like a cave. Stones rolled and sometimes hopped, playful as carp leaping.

It felt like stepping into another realm—this is Nightfall Forest; is this the power of Miracle Rain?

“Eh, little brother— what’s that?”

Ahead, black butterflies swarmed like soot around a dead tiger. Butterflies sipping flowers, I get; but meat?

“Those are Nether Butterflies. When a creature dies, they guide its soul to the land of the dead. Elsewhere, ordinary folks can’t see them; only within Nightfall Forest do they show themselves.”

Grover’s answer swept Jelinka’s doubts aside like wind.

“Up ahead sits Miracle City.”

Time flowed like a stream; Grover pointed toward a majestic city. They reached a stone-paved road that ran straight to the gates.

“We’ve got other errands, big sister, so you’ll walk from here. On this road, no animals will harm you.”

“Ahead... lies Miracle City...”