Through the twisted, overgrown forest, the group pressed forward, their minds still reeling from the sudden appearance of the mindless Hybrids. Each step forward carried a weight of caution, as if the wilderness itself was testing their resolve. Despite the recent victory, a strange unease gnawed at Kazuichi. Those Hounds and Mercs—they hadn't acted like normal Hybrids. Their movements were erratic, almost mindless, as if something had stripped them of their reasoning.
Though the forest began to thin as they descended the mountain, Kazuichi couldn't shake the image of the blank-eyed creatures that had attacked them. He glanced at Lea, who was walking ahead, her gaze unwavering. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe he was just overthinking it. After all, there had been countless reports of Hybrids turning into mindless zombies after failing to control their transformations. The mutation process was risky for everyone involved, but for Hybrids, it was especially brutal.
