The two remaining Kalians landed carefully this time, their eyes fixed on the ground beneath their feet, watching for any sign of collapse like the earlier pit traps, but the ground did not give way immediately.
Instead…
Their legs sank, not into a pit but into mud.
The surface looked normal at first glance, but the moment their weight settled, the soil softened and pulled at their feet, trapping them halfway as the thick, wet ground resisted every attempt to move freely.
They tried to step, forcing their legs up and stamping on the mud…
Pain followed.
Sharp stakes hidden beneath the mud pierced into their feet with each movement, not deep enough to immobilize instantly, but enough to slow them down and make every step costly and painful.
The more they moved, the more the hidden stakes struck them from below, both Kalians roared in frustration and pain now understanding they had not been chasing Ezra.
They had been led, every step and their movement.
Controlled.
