diff --git a/scenes/combatUIScene.tscn b/scenes/combatUIScene.tscn
index f7fe1e1..3313a64 100644
--- a/scenes/combatUIScene.tscn
+++ b/scenes/combatUIScene.tscn
@@ -195,6 +195,7 @@ alignment = 1
 custom_minimum_size = Vector2(64, 64)
 layout_mode = 2
 attack_range = 9999
+auto_damage = 1000
 
 [node name="AbilityA2" parent="MarginContainer/UIBottom/UIBottomCenter/AbilityBar" instance=ExtResource("6_8hwtc")]
 visible = false
@@ -296,5 +297,6 @@ size_flags_horizontal = 3
 layout_mode = 2
 theme = ExtResource("4_4e8vj")
 
+[connection signal="pressed" from="MarginContainer/UITop/ContinueButton" to="." method="_on_continue_button_pressed"]
 [connection signal="pressed" from="MarginContainer/UIBottom/UIBottomCenter/MenuButtons/DebugMenu/ButtonTest" to="." method="_on_button_test_pressed"]
 [connection signal="pressed" from="MarginContainer/UIBottom/UIBottomCenter/MenuButtons/DebugMenu/ButtonExit" to="." method="_on_button_exit_pressed"]
diff --git a/scripts/Globals.gd b/scripts/Globals.gd
index 215fabb..96ad293 100644
--- a/scripts/Globals.gd
+++ b/scripts/Globals.gd
@@ -46,3 +46,7 @@ class Ability:
         DOTB,
         DOTE
     }
+
+func debug_print(value) -> void:
+    if OS.is_debug_build():
+        debug_print(value)
diff --git a/scripts/NPCEnemy.gd b/scripts/NPCEnemy.gd
index 8933ba3..28c39b4 100644
--- a/scripts/NPCEnemy.gd
+++ b/scripts/NPCEnemy.gd
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
 func _physics_process(_delta):
     velocity = position.direction_to(target) * speed
     # look_at(target)
-    # FIXME: want enemy to stop when touching something, to prevent vibrating
+    # BUG: want enemy to stop when touching something, to prevent vibrating
     if position.distance_to(target) > 10 and get_slide_collision_count() == prevCollisions:
         move_and_slide()
     prevCollisions = get_slide_collision_count()
diff --git a/scripts/SignalBus.gd b/scripts/SignalBus.gd
index 29977ed..61d6500 100644
--- a/scripts/SignalBus.gd
+++ b/scripts/SignalBus.gd
@@ -10,3 +10,4 @@ signal enemy_died(
 signal enemy_damaged_player
 signal quest_generated(quest: Quest)
 signal quest_completed
+signal area_continue_pressed()
diff --git a/scripts/WorldArea.gd b/scripts/WorldArea.gd
index f803926..b7b956f 100644
--- a/scripts/WorldArea.gd
+++ b/scripts/WorldArea.gd
@@ -3,20 +3,22 @@ class_name WorldArea
 extends PanelContainer
 
 
-enum GoalType { KILL, FIND }
+enum GoalType {KILL, FIND}
 
 @export var area_type := Globals.World.AreaType.WILDS
 @export var spawnTimerValue = 10.0
 
 
-var middleX : float
-var playerPos : Vector2
+var middleX: float
+var playerPos: Vector2
 
 
 func _ready() -> void:
     middleX = get_viewport_rect().size.x / 2
     playerPos = Vector2(middleX, get_viewport_rect().size.y * (0.75))
     
+    SignalBus.area_continue_pressed.connect(_on_area_continue_pressed)
+    
     _generate_quest()
 
     $SpawnTimer.start(spawnTimerValue)
@@ -68,3 +70,13 @@ func _spawn_enemies(numEnemies: int) -> void:
 func _on_spawn_timer_timeout() -> void:
     _spawn_enemies(randi_range(1, 5))
     
+
+func _on_area_continue_pressed() -> void:
+    $SpawnTimer.stop()
+    Globals.debug_print("spawn timer stopped")
+    while get_child_count() > 1:
+        await get_tree().create_timer(1.0).timeout
+        Globals.debug_print("waiting for children to go to 1 or less")
+        Globals.debug_print(get_child_count())
+    self.queue_free()
+    Globals.debug_print("area queued tor free")
diff --git a/scripts/combat_ui_scene.gd b/scripts/combat_ui_scene.gd
index 59c0703..de83cfd 100644
--- a/scripts/combat_ui_scene.gd
+++ b/scripts/combat_ui_scene.gd
@@ -3,14 +3,13 @@
 extends Control
 
 
-
 var deltaCount := 0
 var enemyMoveSpeed := 5.0
 # var questComplete := false
 var canContinue := false
 
-var middleX
-var playerPos
+var worldArea: WorldArea
+var currentAreaQuest: Quest
 
 
 func _ready() -> void:
@@ -31,7 +30,7 @@ func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
 
 
 func _create_area() -> void:
-    var worldArea = load("res://scenes/world_area.tscn").instantiate()
+    worldArea = load("res://scenes/world_area.tscn").instantiate()
     add_child(worldArea)
     move_child(worldArea, 0)
 
@@ -48,14 +47,31 @@ func _continue_show() -> void:
     %UITop/ContinueButton.modulate.a += 0.05
     
 
+func _go_next_area() -> void:
+    var prevAreaQuest = currentAreaQuest
+    # FIXME: breaks at some point?
+    SignalBus.area_continue_pressed.emit()
+    Globals.debug_print("gna signal emitted")
+    %QuestsContainer.remove_child(prevAreaQuest)
+    Globals.debug_print("gna quest removed")
+    prevAreaQuest.queue_free()
+    Globals.debug_print("gna quest queued to free")
+    _create_area()
+    Globals.debug_print("gna new area created")
+    
+
 func _on_quest_generated(quest) -> void:
-    %QuestsContainer.add_child(quest)
+    currentAreaQuest = quest
+    %QuestsContainer.add_child(currentAreaQuest)
 
 
 # TODO: move all quest stuff to quest class?
 func _on_quest_completed() -> void:
     if %UITop/AutoCheck.button_pressed:
-        # TODO: eventually add new area progress trigger
-        pass
+        _go_next_area()
     else:
         canContinue = true
+
+
+func _on_continue_button_pressed() -> void:
+    _go_next_area()