The sun hung low in the sky as Tai, Ono, Sen, and Yuuki entered the quiet village. Its streets were eerily empty, with doors and windows tightly shut. The air felt heavy, as if the land itself was holding its breath.
"This is strange," Tai said, breaking the silence. "It doesn't look like there's been an attack recently, but something feels off."
Ono nodded, her sharp eyes scanning their surroundings. "The villagers might be too scared to come out. Monsters don't just attack randomly. There's always a pattern."
Yuuki gestured toward a small hut with smoke rising from its chimney. "Let's start there. Someone must know something."
The group approached the hut, and Tai knocked gently on the wooden door. After a moment, an elderly man cautiously opened it. His wrinkled face was etched with worry.
"Who are you?" the man asked, his voice trembling.
"We're here to help," Sen said softly, stepping forward. Her warm demeanor seemed to ease the man's tension. "We heard about the monster attacks and want to investigate."
The old man sighed and opened the door wider. "Come in, then. But I don't know how much I can tell you."
Inside, the hut was modest but clean. The man motioned for them to sit around a small table.
"It started a few days ago," the man began. "Monsters have been coming out of the dungeon nearby. At first, it was just a few. But now, there are more every day. We don't know why."
"Did anything unusual happen before the attacks began?" Ono asked, her tone direct but not unkind.
The man shook his head. "Not that I know of. But there's something strange about these monsters. They seem... stronger than usual. And they don't behave like they used to. It's as if something's driving them."
"Could it be the demon king's influence?" Tai wondered aloud.
Yuuki frowned. "It's possible. But we need more information before we can say for sure."
The old man hesitated, then added, "There's one other thing. A group of villagers went to the dungeon to investigate yesterday. They haven't come back."
Sen's expression turned serious. "Then we need to go to the dungeon and find out what's going on. We can't let this continue."
The group exchanged determined glances.
"Thank you for your help," Tai said, standing up. "We'll take it from here."
The man nodded, his eyes filled with both fear and hope. "Be careful. That place is cursed."
As they left the hut, Ono adjusted her gear. "We need to be prepared. If what he said is true, this won't be an easy fight."
"Agreed," Tai said, his voice steady. "Let's check the dungeon and see what we're dealing with. Stay alert and stick together."
The group headed toward the dungeon, their footsteps crunching on the gravel path. The forest surrounding the village grew darker as they approached, the shadows deepening with each step.
"Something's definitely wrong here," Yuuki murmured, her eyes scanning the trees. "I can feel it."
"We'll handle it," Tai said firmly. "No matter what's waiting for us."
As they reached the entrance to the dungeon, a chilling wind blew through the air. The group paused, their senses on high alert.
"Let's go," Sen said, her voice filled with resolve.
And with that, they stepped into the darkness, ready to face whatever lay ahead.