We continued deeper into the forest, our nerves still frayed from the encounter at the archway. The trees seemed closer now, their trunks looming like silent sentinels as the light dimmed to a muted green. Every rustle of leaves or snap of a branch set us on edge, the memory of the humanoid creature lingering in the back of our minds.
Raijuu stayed ahead of us, his movements cautious but precise. His growls had subsided, but his ears remained alert, swiveling at the faintest sound. Kijin walked beside me, uncharacteristically quiet, her focus directed at the path ahead. Even Tenko, usually a source of calm and commentary, kept her camera aimed at the surroundings in case anything else emerged from the shadows.
The chat was unusually subdued, their messages tinged with concern:
: That thing back there wasn't just a guardian. It felt... intelligent.
: What if the obelisk's signal woke more of them up? You need to stay ready.
