The portal spit us out into a place far removed from the bleak mist-filled space we'd just left behind. Here, the air was less oppressive, carrying a faint scent of pine and smoke. The surroundings were dim, lit by scattered rune torches and the embers of campfires, their flickering light dancing on the crude wooden structures that made up this camp.
This one was different. Larger, more populated. Survivors or Wanderers I suppose, moved about with cautious efficiency, their weary faces etched with the same grim expressions I'd seen on my own team's reflections.
Ahead, I noticed familiar figures... Team 1 and Team 3 had made it here too. Their respective team leaders stood apart, locked in what appeared to be a tense conversation. But there was no sign of Team 4 or their leader. A shadow of unease settled over me.
We trudged silently to a free camp tent assigned to us, each of us claiming one for ourselves. I barely acknowledged my surroundings as I stepped inside, exhaustion tugging at my body. It didn't take long for the others to retreat into their tents too.
Night fell, the camp settling into an uneasy quiet.
Sleep evaded me. I rolled over on the stiff mat, frustration gnawing at my mind. I let out a low, bitter mutter to myself, "I can't even feel peace to sleep."
With a huff, I sat up and threw off the thin blanket. My muscles ached, but my thoughts were louder than the weariness in my body. Pushing myself to my feet, I stepped outside, the cool night air brushing against my skin.
The camp looked different at night, shadows stretching and curling like creeping phantoms. My gaze landed on a solitary figure crouched near a campfire.... Jess. The firelight flickered across her face as she methodically turned something on a crude spit over the flames.
Curious, I walked over and squatted beside her. The smell hit me first.... rich, smoky, and tantalizing.
"What are you roasting?" I asked, eyeing the meat.
She glanced at me, her face lit faintly by the orange glow. "Wild peacock," she replied curtly.
I nodded, my curiosity morphing into hunger. The smell was enough to make my stomach churn in anticipation. My eyes scanned the campfire again, and I realized I hadn't seen Uvan or Celia. "Where are Uvan and Celia?" I asked.
Jess didn't pause her work. "Uvan's with the other team leaders. They're discussing why Team 4 hasn't come out of the tower yet." She hesitated slightly before adding, "Celia's helping me catch more wild peacocks."
A faint smile tugged at my lips as I sat back on the cool dirt, my knees pulled up. Jess continued to turn the spit, the fire crackling softly between us.
Moments later, Celia returned, her armored boots crunching softly against the dirt. She carried a freshly caught wild peacock, its feathers glinting faintly in the firelight. When she saw me sitting there, she smiled, an easy warmth in her expression.
"Another one," she said, handing the bird to Jess before plopping down beside me.
Her blue eyes lingered on me for a moment before she tilted her head. "What did you dream about?" she asked, her tone playfully mocking.
I smirked. "Well… I think I dreamt about flying peacocks roaming inside the tower while we tried to catch them." I paused, a dry laugh escaping me. "Come to think of it, wouldn't it be great if the next wave was just about catching wild peacocks?"
Jess snorted a laugh as she adjusted the roasting meat. "If that actually becomes our next wave, I wonder what we'll look like after completing it," she said, her voice laced with amusement.
Celia joined in, her laughter soft but genuine. "Maybe if we kill enough and evolve, we'll actually become one of them."
The three of us laughed, the sound oddly refreshing amidst the heavy atmosphere of survival. It wasn't long before Uvan returned, his expression tired but calm. He joined us around the fire, and together we shared the meal Jess had prepared. The peacock meat was rich and tender, its smoky flavor grounding us in the rare comfort of a full stomach.
After some idle chatter, we eventually retired to our tents one by one.
The hours passed slowly, and I still couldn't sleep. My mind churned with thoughts of the next wave, the unknown threats we'd face, and the traits I still hadn't fully understood after my First Evolution.
Unable to bear the stillness, I pushed myself up from the mat and stepped outside again. The camp was silent now, the fires burning lower, their embers glowing faintly in the dark.
I started walking, letting my feet carry me toward the edge of the woods. The towering trees loomed like sentinels, their branches clawing at the moonlit sky.
"I can't believe I can't sleep now," I muttered to myself, frustration bubbling beneath my skin. "I have to train tomorrow… figure out what I can actually do with this Mist Parasite Trait."
The thought tugged at me, and I stopped. "Why not start now?" I murmured.
But just as I was about to focus, a sound cut through the stillness.
A scream. Low, faint, and fading quickly.
I froze, every muscle in my body tensing.
Someone was being attacked.....