"Uh, guys?" Selene said, her voice uncharacteristically uneasy. "I think we've got company."
From the far edge of the field, figures began to emerge—cloaked in shadow, their forms indistinct yet menacing. Their movements were unnatural, like marionettes pulled by invisible strings.
Wei Lin felt a chill run down her spine. The Codex flared in her hands, its energy surging as if reacting to the approaching threat.
Darian drew his sword, the blade gleaming in the morning light. "Ready yourselves," he said, his voice a calm command. "This isn't over yet."
The figures grew clearer as they approached. Their bodies, though human-like in shape, shimmered with an unsettling translucence. Where faces should have been, only blank voids greeted the group's stares, and their steps made no sound against the soft earth.
Selene cursed under her breath, daggers flashing into her hands. "Why is it never a welcoming committee with snacks?"
