The forest loomed ahead like a wall of darkness, its towering trees twisting upward into a thick canopy that choked out the sunlight. Ye Shengtao stood at the edge, staring into the shadows where he and Fergio had barely escaped death the night before. His stomach churned with unease, the memory of that creature still fresh in his mind.
Behind him, the villagers gathered, their faces a mixture of determination and fear. They had formed a search party, armed with bows, swords, and torches, led by the village elder, Qin. Fergio stood beside Ye Shengtao, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. Despite his earlier bravado, he was still pale, his movements careful as if the pain from the encounter lingered.
"Ready?" Ye Shengtao asked, his voice low.
Fergio gave a stiff nod. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Elder Qin stepped forward, his staff tapping lightly on the ground as he addressed the group. "We'll split into two groups. One will circle the perimeter of the forest, searching for tracks or signs of this creature. The other will go deeper, to the area where these two men encountered the beast. Stay alert. This forest has its dangers, even if this creature turns out to be nothing more than a figment of fear."
The villagers nodded, dividing themselves into groups. Ye Shengtao and Fergio stayed with Elder Qin and a few of the hunters, prepared to venture deeper into the woods. The second group, led by the bearded man Ye Shengtao had met earlier, spread out along the forest's edge, their eyes scanning the undergrowth.
As they entered the forest, the thick canopy above swallowed the light, plunging them into a dim twilight. The only sounds were the soft crunch of leaves underfoot and the occasional snap of a twig. Every step felt heavier, the air thick with tension.
Ye Shengtao's eyes darted around, searching for any sign of the creature. His mind played tricks on him, shadows shifting in the corner of his vision, every creak of the trees sounding like a distant footstep. He fought to keep his breathing steady, focusing on the rhythmic steps of the group around him.
Fergio, walking just ahead, glanced back. "Do you feel it too? That... presence?"
Ye Shengtao nodded, swallowing hard. "It's the same as before. Like we're being watched."
Elder Qin paused, his sharp eyes scanning the trees. "Keep moving," he said quietly. "If there is something here, it's better we confront it head-on than wait for it to strike."
They pressed on, their steps growing more cautious as they ventured deeper. The thick undergrowth thinned out, giving way to a narrow, winding path. The air grew colder, and Ye Shengtao felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
And then, the stench hit them.
It was the same foul odor from the night before—rotten flesh and decay, so thick it seemed to coat the inside of Ye Shengtao's mouth. He gagged, covering his nose with his sleeve. Fergio cursed under his breath, his grip tightening on his sword.
Elder Qin stopped in his tracks, his face grim. "We're close."
Ye Shengtao's heart pounded in his chest as they moved forward. The trees seemed to close in around them, their twisted branches forming a tangled canopy above, blocking out what little light remained. Every step felt like walking deeper into the jaws of some unseen beast.
Suddenly, one of the hunters let out a sharp gasp. "There!" He pointed toward the base of a massive tree, its trunk gnarled and twisted like something from a nightmare.
At its roots lay a body, half-buried in leaves and mud. The flesh was bloated and discolored, the stench of death overpowering. But it wasn't the body that drew their attention—it was what lay next to it.
Long, thin scratches marred the tree trunk, deep grooves carved into the bark as if by something with claws far too large for any normal animal. The hunters exchanged uneasy glances, their hands tightening on their weapons.
"Gods above," Fergio whispered, his voice barely audible. "That's the same kind of mark I saw last night."
Ye Shengtao's stomach twisted. This was proof—something had been here, something unnatural. He could feel the weight of the forest pressing down on them, as if the very trees were watching, waiting.
Elder Qin knelt beside the body, inspecting the scratches and the remains. "These wounds are fresh," he said softly. "Whatever did this is close."
A low rustling sound echoed from somewhere deeper in the forest, and the group froze. Ye Shengtao's heart skipped a beat. The sound was soft, almost imperceptible, but it was there—something moving through the undergrowth.
Fergio raised his sword, his face pale. "Do you hear that?"
Ye Shengtao nodded, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his own weapon. The rustling grew louder, closer, as if something massive was slithering through the leaves. He strained his ears, trying to pinpoint the source of the noise, but it seemed to come from all around them.
Elder Qin stood, his voice calm but tense. "Stay together. Whatever it is, we face it as one."
The group huddled closer, their eyes darting toward the trees. The rustling stopped abruptly, plunging them into an eerie silence. Ye Shengtao's pulse pounded in his ears, his breath coming in shallow gasps. Every muscle in his body screamed for him to run, but his legs felt rooted to the ground.
He looked into the wilderness.
Something isn't right.
The system had also disappeared and Ye Shengtao was puzzled about her disappearance. It wasn't like her to not be around, and miss the chance to tease him.
The forest settled back into its eerie silence, the oppressive stillness broken only by the group's ragged breathing. They stood motionless, staring into the dark shadows ahead, waiting for something—anything—to emerge. But nothing came.
Minutes passed, and the tension began to dissolve, replaced by a hesitant murmur of voices.
"Must've been a bear," one of the hunters muttered, his voice trying to sound confident.
"Yeah, there've been bears in these parts before," another chimed in, seizing on the explanation.
Ye Shengtao, however, knew better. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the darkness where the creature had vanished. It wasn't a bear—he'd seen it. He'd smelled it.
The foul stench of rot that had choked the air moments ago now blended into the background, masked by the decaying body at the base of the tree. But the creature's absence wasn't a retreat.
It had camouflaged its scent.
He tightened his grip on his sword, his senses on high alert. The others might be ready to dismiss the threat, but Ye Shengtao wasn't fooled. Whatever it was, it wasn't gone.
It was still watching.