Aiden's expression didn't shift, though there was the faintest flicker of amusement in his eyes. "Not when the boom paints a target on our backs. Let's move."
The team slipped back into the forest, their movements swift and disciplined. The air was thick with tension, but they were used to it. Silence was their ally now, and every step was measured, every breath controlled.
As they neared the extraction point, Aiden slowed, raising a hand to signal a halt. His Spirit Sense flared out, sweeping the area. Something felt... off. The forest was too quiet. No rustling leaves, no distant calls of nocturnal creatures. Just an eerie, unnatural silence.
"Myne," he whispered. "Shadows. Spread out."
She nodded, her eyes narrowing. The darkness around them seemed to deepen as her power surged. Tendrils of shadow crept out in every direction, probing the forest for signs of danger.
Reia materialized at Aiden's side, her voice barely audible. "We're not alone."
