After regrouping at the basin, the atmosphere felt heavier than before, like the island itself was aware of our survival and displeased by it. The mist that had thinned after the vortex consumed the creature began to thicken again, swirling around us as we prepared to move on. The crystal's pulse was faint but insistent, its glow pointing us toward another hidden waypoint deeper within the forest.
Raijuu took the lead, his movements deliberate and cautious as he sniffed the air. Kijin trailed close behind, her hands glowing faintly as she kept her barrier spell on standby. Tenko stayed near me, her camera capturing the shifting shadows and eerie beauty of the trail ahead. None of us spoke for a while, the quiet punctuated only by the crunch of leaves underfoot and the occasional drip of water from the trees above.
The chat's usual antics broke the silence, their messages pinging against my wrist display:
