The Abyssal Wilds pulsed with a life of its own. The ground beneath Daniel and Mira's feet seemed to shift subtly, as though breathing, and the dense forest of coral trees swayed despite the absence of any discernible wind. The eerie glow from their branches cast elongated shadows that flickered like ghostly figures in the dim light.
The Stalkers, their bodies a grotesque fusion of organic flesh and jagged coral, circled them with an unsettling patience. Each movement was accompanied by a faint clicking noise, as if their bodies creaked under their own weight.
"We can't let them box us in," Daniel said, tightening his grip on the Fragment of Insight.
Mira snorted, keeping her blade steady. "Don't plan to. Let's cut through before they get the chance."
The creatures lunged in unison, their sharp claws and coral-covered limbs moving with alarming speed.
