Dinis's mind, now on high alert, tracked every movement around him as he faced the pale and imposing creature that observed him from atop a thick trunk. The creature, tall and slender in appearance, with whitish skin and expressionless eyes, seemed to move in a curious manner, as if evaluating Dinis. Its head tilted to the sides, as if trying to capture the slightest sign of his location in the air.
Dinis unsheathed his sword, ready to attack, but remained attentive to any other sign. He couldn't ignore the possibility of a second aggressor in the shadows, and now, focused on every detail, he awaited the exact moment. He leaped forcefully, aiming at the Ghoul, with the blade poised to strike. But before he could reach the creature, a long spear came toward him, slicing through the air with deadly precision. He deftly dodged the attack, deflecting the spear with his sword. As he landed on a nearby branch, he noticed that the first creature had already quickly moved away, leaping far with disturbing agility.
The oppressive silence was broken by a disconcerting sound: a soft, high-pitched, shrill laugh, like a child playing in the distance. Dinis frowned, trying to locate the source of the sound. The forest was permeated by that laughter, blending with the somber environment and leaving him even more disoriented. Remembering Everard's instructions, he remained motionless, taking advantage of the Ghouls' lack of vision to camouflage himself in the dense vegetation. He knew that the Ghouls' echolocation depended on sound and ground vibrations, so any unnecessary movement could betray him.
Dinis channeled his strength into his feet, preparing for a decisive and silent attack. He leaped with incredible speed, targeting the creature that held a heavy mace attached to chains. As he approached to deliver the blow, the creature detected the movement and, in response, hurled the mace toward him with brutal force. The heavy weapon spun through the air, ready to strike him with crushing force.
Dinis prepared to block the impact, but, surprisingly, a knife was thrown from the shadows, diverting the mace from its course with precision and sending it out of sight. Stunned by the precision of the throw, he hesitated for a second—time enough for the second Ghoul, wielding a spear, to advance toward him.
At the moment his blade cut the arm of the first Ghoul, Dinis felt a sharp pain in his left flank: the tip of the second enemy's spear had grazed him, opening a deep cut on the side of his body. The pain pulsed in his flesh, but he remained focused, gritting his teeth to prevent the wound from distracting him.
Even so, the impact made him stagger for a brief moment, and the first Ghoul, even with its arm severed, took the opportunity to move away, letting out desperate screams that resembled a little girl's cry. Dinis considered pursuing them, driven by adrenaline and the instinct to eliminate the threat, but the deep cut in his flank limited his movements more than he could afford to ignore. He knew that insisting on a pursuit in that state would put him at a disadvantage, so he restrained himself, keeping his guard up and watching the Ghouls retreat, his breathing heavy and the warm blood still running down the side of his body.
Dinis attentively observed his surroundings, still without lowering his guard, trying to identify the author of the precise knife attack. The feeling of being watched and the perception that he was not the most dangerous predator at that moment kept him in a state of alert. In his mind, he recalled Everard's instructions for such situations. In circumstances where the enemy is unknown and unpredictable, caution is the greatest asset.
Now, alone and surrounded by the dense shadows of the forest, Dinis remained completely still. His muscles were rigid, ready to react to any movement, while his eyes scanned every point around him. He knew that facing an invisible enemy, whose intentions and abilities were a mystery, demanded an extreme level of caution.
As the minutes passed and the day advanced, Dinis remained in the same position, attentive to every whisper of the wind and every shadow that seemed to move around him. At the end of that afternoon, he had not sensed anyone approaching or moving away, but he realized that there were indeed forces more powerful than him in those shadows. This was knowledge he knew he would never forget.