The forest loomed around them, silent yet oppressive. The air carried an unnatural chill, sending shivers down Leon's spine. Every step felt heavier, as though the earth itself resisted their advance.
Darius gripped his axe tightly, his eyes scanning the shadows. "Something's watching us."
Lyra, moving like a whisper, climbed a nearby tree, her keen eyes searching the darkness. "I see movement—northwest. Multiple figures, low to the ground."
Ethan adjusted his grip on his staff. "Be ready. Whatever this is, it's not ordinary."
Leon felt the weight of his sword against his back, his pulse steady despite the rising tension. "We stick together. No one wanders off."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the first creature lunged.
It was unlike anything they had seen before—wolf-like, but its body was covered in chitinous armor, its eyes glowing with an unnatural red light. Its claws, long and curved like blades, slashed through the air, aiming directly for Darius.
The warrior reacted instantly, bringing up his axe to intercept. The impact sent a jarring shock through his arms, but he stood firm, pushing back with sheer strength. "Damn thing's strong!"
More creatures emerged from the shadows, encircling them. Their guttural growls sent vibrations through the air, their hunger evident in their predatory stances.
Lyra leaped from her perch, landing gracefully behind one of the beasts. With a swift flick of her wrist, her daggers found their mark, slicing through the creature's exposed joints. It let out an unnatural screech before collapsing, but more took its place.
Ethan raised his staff, chanting under his breath. A sudden burst of blue energy erupted from his palm, striking a creature mid-air and sending it crashing into a tree. "They're fast," he muttered. "But not invincible."
Leon stepped forward, drawing his sword in one fluid motion. The weight of the battle pressed on him, but he had fought worse. The Cerberus had been stronger than these things, yet something about them felt... wrong.
The first beast lunged at him. Leon sidestepped, bringing his blade across its throat. Black ichor sprayed from the wound, but the creature didn't immediately fall. Instead, it twisted unnaturally, snapping its jaws toward him even as it bled.
"They're not dying easily!" Amelia shouted, driving her spear through another.
Leon's mind raced. There was something unnatural about these creatures. Their resilience, their eerie silence apart from their growls—it was as if something else was keeping them going.
Darius, now bleeding from a deep scratch on his shoulder, roared, swinging his axe in a wide arc. He cleaved one of the creatures in half, but it took considerable effort. "What the hell are these things?!"
Ethan's eyes glowed faintly as he analyzed their surroundings. His voice was urgent. "They're connected! There's a source nearby controlling them. We need to find it!"
Leon exhaled sharply, gripping his sword tighter. "Then we move. We can't waste time fighting if more keep coming."
The group tightened their formation, pushing forward through the onslaught. Every step was hard-fought, every strike precise. But the creatures showed no signs of dwindling.
Then, the air changed.
A pulse—almost imperceptible, like a heartbeat—rippled through the forest. The creatures froze, their heads snapping toward the same direction. Then, without warning, they withdrew, melting back into the darkness as if summoned.
Lyra wiped blood from her dagger. "That... was unsettling."
Ethan's brows furrowed. "Something pulled them back. That means whatever's controlling them knows we're here."
Leon looked toward the deeper part of the forest, where the oppressive energy felt strongest. His instincts screamed at him—this was only the beginning.
He tightened his grip. "We keep moving."
The group pressed on, unaware that their every step was being watched by something far worse than the creatures they had just faced.
To be continued...