The formation pushed deeper into the forest, the canopy thickening above them as the road narrowed into a winding trail. Sunlight slipped through the leaves and made shifting shadows across the knights as they marched.
Hajin kept his eyes moving, scanning the tree line on both sides while his hand rested loose in his pocket. Something about this stretch of road was putting him on edge, though he could not put his finger on exactly what.
Then the system panel flickered in the corner of his vision.
[ Warning ]
[ Demonic presence detected ]
[ Origin: Surrounding forest ]
[ Threat level: High ]
His steps slowed for a fraction of a second before he caught himself and kept walking. He glanced at Juna, who had her ears pinned flat and her eyes fixed on the treeline to the right.
Loccy had stopped stumbling entirely, her ears swiveling as she scanned the shadows with an alertness he had not seen from her before.
