The terrain became rougher, twisted roots clawing at their boots. Leon's instincts screamed at him—something was wrong. The air had changed, carrying a stillness that felt unnatural.
A low growl rumbled in the distance.
"Get ready!" Arden shouted, raising his sword.
A trio of shadowy figures emerged—Shadowhounds, their fur bristling, fangs bared. Their eyes glowed with an eerie hunger.
The first hound lunged at Jonas—SNAP!—its jaws missing him by inches. He swung his axe—THUD!—but the creature danced away.
Elena fired—TWANG!—the arrow striking its leg. The hound staggered, but the second beast closed in.
Leon faced the third. The hound charged—WHOOSH!—and he barely sidestepped. His sword slashed—SHINK!—scraping across its thick hide but failing to wound deeply.
The beasts were fast, far faster than Leon had anticipated. His heartbeat thundered in his ears. He adjusted his stance, trying to predict the hound's next move.
Suddenly, one hound veered toward Marcus, knocking him off balance. "Ahh!" he yelped.
Leon acted on instinct, intercepting the beast—CLASH!—their weight colliding. He swung his sword upward—SHING!—forcing the hound back.
But he didn't see the second one coming.
It tackled him from the side—CRASH!—its claws raking across his arm. Pain flared through his body as he struggled against its weight. The hound's breath was hot against his face, its fangs snapping dangerously close.
Leon gritted his teeth, forcing his knee into the beast's ribs. With a final surge of strength, he pushed it off—THUD!—and scrambled to his feet.
"Leon! Fall back!" Arden barked.
Leon's grip tightened on his sword, his muscles screaming in protest. He could hear the others fighting, their weapons clashing, arrows slicing through the air. But the hounds showed no signs of relenting.
One of the beasts lunged at him again—WHOOSH!—but Leon was ready. He sidestepped and drove his sword into its side—SCHLIK!—a deep, wet sound as steel met flesh.
The hound yelped, twisting violently before collapsing.
Breathing heavily, Leon barely had time to react before another beast knocked into him, sending him staggering backward.
The ground beneath him suddenly shifted.
Time slowed.
Leon felt his footing give way as the edge of the terrain crumbled beneath him.
"LEON!" Arden's voice rang out.
The world spun as he tumbled down the slope, his body crashing through branches and brambles—THWACK! CRACK!—before he plummeted into open air.
And then—
SPLASH!
The river swallowed him whole.