The Chase Begins
Ryu stood at the edge of the camp, the morning mist swirling around him as he prepared for the hunt. His claws flexed, and the weight of the task ahead settled heavily on his shoulders. Kierra approached, her expression as unreadable as ever.
"You're going alone?" she asked.
"I have to," Ryu replied. "Daegan's my responsibility now."
"I'm coming with you," Kierra said firmly. "You won't stand a chance if his shadows overwhelm you."
Before Ryu could argue, Fenn appeared, already armed. "If Kierra's going, so am I. Someone has to keep you both out of trouble."
Ryu hesitated but nodded. "Fine. But we move fast. Daegan won't wait for us."
The trio ventured into the forest, their senses sharp and their steps silent. The deeper they went, the darker the woods became. Shadows writhed unnaturally, as if alive, and a cold wind whispered through the trees.
"Stay close," Ryu warned.
The ground beneath them trembled suddenly, and shadowy tendrils erupted from the earth, reaching for them like hungry serpents.
"Here we go," Fenn muttered, drawing his blade.
Ryu snarled, his claws glowing faintly. "Daegan's testing us. Let's show him we're not afraid of the dark."
The battle had begun
The firelight faded behind them as Ryu, Kierra, and Fenn ventured deeper into the forest. The dense canopy above filtered the sunlight into thin streams, leaving the path ahead shrouded in shadows. The tension between the trio was palpable, their every step echoing the uncertainty of the task ahead.
Kierra broke the silence first, her voice low. "You know he's expecting us, right? Daegan doesn't leave loose ends. This is his game, and we're already playing."
Ryu glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Then we stop playing. We'll end it on our terms."
Fenn, walking slightly behind, snorted. "Bold of you to assume we get a say in how this ends. The guy's a walking nightmare. Shadows don't just follow him—they obey him."
"Then we make them fear us," Ryu growled, his claws flexing as he scanned the darkening forest.