The moment they crossed beyond the outer line of trees—
The world changed.
The light didn't disappear completely.
But it thinned.
Sunlight struggled to break through the dense canopy above, slipping only in narrow beams that scattered across the forest floor like broken shards of gold.
The air grew heavier.
Cooler.
Damp.
Each breath carried the scent of soil, rotting leaves, and something faintly metallic beneath it—
Something unnatural.
The ground was uneven.
Roots twisted across the surface like veins, some thick enough to trip an uncareful step.
Patches of moss softened certain areas, while others sank slightly under pressure, holding moisture from unseen sources beneath.
Takemi moved carefully.
Not slow—
But deliberate.
"…Stay sharp."
There were no birds.
No insects buzzing loudly.
Just—
The sound of their footsteps.
The quiet rustle of leaves.
And occasionally—
Branches creaking above.
"…That's not normal," Lira whispered.
"…Forest this size should be louder."
Rauk tightened his grip.
"…Means something's clearing it out."
Elira's eyes scanned the ground.
"…Or something's feeding."
That made the silence heavier.
They didn't rush.
They couldn't afford to.
Takemi crouched near a patch of disturbed soil.
"…Here."
Deep indentations marked the ground.
Not clean.
Not sharp.
Jagged.
"…Too wide for normal wolves," Rauk said.
Lira knelt beside him.
Her fingers hovered just above the mark.
Not touching.
"…Mana residue."
"…Corruption?" Takemi asked.
She nodded slowly.
"…Yes… but stronger than before."
Elira's voice was quieter.
"…It's spreading."
The forest thickened.
Trees grew closer together.
Their trunks darker, bark rough and layered like armor.
Vines hung loosely between branches, some swaying slightly despite the lack of wind.
The ground sloped downward.
Gradually.
Toward something unseen.
"…We're being led," Takemi muttered.
Rauk frowned.
"…You sure we're not just following tracks?"
Takemi shook his head.
"…No."
A pause.
"…It wants us to follow."
A smell hit them.
Sharp.
Rotten.
Rauk immediately covered his nose.
"…What the hell is that?"
They stepped forward—
And saw it.
A caravan.
Or what remained of it.
The wagon was broken open.
Not like before—
Not scattered.
Destroyed.
Wood splintered outward.
As if something exploded from inside.
Goods lay torn across the ground.
Cloth shredded.
Barrels cracked open.
And—
Dark stains soaked into the earth.
"…Blood," Elira said quietly.
No bodies.
But signs of struggle everywhere.
Marks dragged across the dirt.
Deep gouges.
"…They didn't get away this time," Lira whispered.
A branch snapped.
Too loud.
Too close.
Takemi's head snapped up.
"…MOVE—"
Too late.
From the trees—
It came.
Not one.
Not five.
Eight.
Corrupted wolves burst from the shadows.
Faster.
Larger.
Their bodies twisted unnaturally, muscles overgrown, movements erratic but controlled.
Their eyes glowed faintly—
Not wild.
Focused.
Rauk stepped forward instantly.
"…COME ON!"
Two wolves slammed into him.
BOOM.
The ground cracked beneath his feet.
He held.
But barely.
"…They're heavier—!"
Lira raised her hand.
"Bind—!"
Magic surged.
Chains of light shot outward—
But snapped.
"…What?!"
"…They're resisting faster!" she shouted.
The handle ignited.
A blade formed—
Unstable.
Flickering.
"…Damn it—stay—"
He moved anyway.
A wolf lunged.
He swung.
SLASH.
The blade connected—
But didn't cut clean.
The creature twisted mid-air—
Claws grazing his shoulder.
"…Tch!"
Her breath caught.
Too many.
Too fast.
You won't make it.
The memory surged.
But—
Takemi's voice cut through it.
"…ELIRA!"
Her staff hit the ground.
"Barrier!"
Light expanded—
Blocking a second strike aimed at Lira.
This time—
She didn't freeze.
Now—
They adjusted.
Rauk shifted stance.
Lower.
Stronger.
"…I'll hold them—just don't let them surround us!"
Lira repositioned.
"…I need space!"
Takemi exhaled.
"…Alright…"
His grip tightened.
"…Let's do this properly."
He stopped forcing the blade.
Let it come.
Waited—
Then—
It formed.
Clearer.
Sharper.
"…There—"
He moved.
Faster.
Cleaner.
A wolf slammed into him from the side.
He rolled—
Barely avoiding its jaws.
"…They're coordinating!"
Lira's eyes widened.
"…That's not normal behavior!"
They tightened their formation.
But the wolves didn't rush blindly.
They circled.
Testing.
Waiting.
"…They're thinking," Elira whispered.
Then—
Everything stopped.
The wolves froze.
Not retreating.
Not attacking.
Just—
Still.
Rauk frowned.
"…Why'd they stop?"
Takemi's eyes narrowed.
"…No…"
From deeper within the forest—
A low, dragging sound echoed.
Heavy.
Slow.
Each step—
Deliberate.
The ground seemed to respond.
Leaves trembled.
Branches creaked.
The wolves backed away.
Not in fear—
In obedience.
It emerged slowly.
From the darkness between trees—
A larger shape.
Taller.
Broader.
Its body twisted far beyond natural form.
Bones visible beneath stretched flesh.
Dark energy pulsing through cracks in its skin like veins of shadow.
Its eyes—
Not glowing.
Burning.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Because instinct screamed one thing—
This is different.
The creature took one step forward.
The ground sank slightly beneath its weight.
Takemi's grip tightened.
"…That's the real one."
Behind him—
No one argued.
Because they all felt it.
This—
Was not something they could defeat easily.
And the forest—
Seemed to close in around them.