Darkness fell upon the island as Edmund and his men, still shaken by the day's discoveries, decided to camp on elevated ground, far from the forest with a clear view of their surroundings. Campfires were lit to ward off predators, but the unsettling silence of the night made it seem as if something was watching them, hidden in the shadows.
The wind blew strangely, carrying a nauseating stench of rotting seawater. Small cracks echoed through the forest, and a creeping mist began to slide across the ground as if it had a mind of its own. Edmund instinctively gripped his sword, while Voss, ever watchful, adjusted his crossbow. Kieza, breathing heavily, stayed close to Edmund, her hand tightly gripping the hilt of her dagger.
The tension grew with each passing moment. The men around them held their weapons with greater firmness, their eyes scanning the darkness for any sign of danger. Then came the first scream. One of the sentinels suddenly fell, dragged into the forest by hands that should not exist. The nauseating sound of bones breaking was heard before the absolute silence returned.
The men assumed combat positions, forming a circle around the campfires. The sound of heavy footsteps surrounded them, and shadows flickered between the trees. Then, without warning, the creatures emerged from the mist. Their thin, misshapen bodies moved unnaturally, and their eyes glowed with a mysterious blue light. Sharp claws gleamed in the dim firelight, while guttural sounds escaped from their deformed mouths.
Edmund did not hesitate. With a battle cry, he raised his sword and attacked the nearest creature. The steel cut through its chest, but the monster did not fall. Instead, it let out an agonizing scream and charged forward with even greater fury.
Voss fired his crossbow, the bolt piercing the skull of one of the monsters, which collapsed lifeless to the ground — only for three more to take its place. Kieza dodged a swipe from claws and drove her dagger into the neck of one foe, only to be thrown to the ground by brutal force. Edmund rushed to defend her, slicing one of the creatures in half, its black blood splattering onto the earth.
Chaos reigned. The men screamed as they were struck by quick and lethal blows. Blades gleamed in the firelight, cutting through twisted flesh and taking cruel hits in return. Some soldiers were dragged into the darkness, their agonized screams fading into nothingness.
The battle seemed endless, and for each creature slain, another took its place. The fighters began to retreat toward the rocky outcrop when a deafening roar made everyone freeze. Emerging from the forest was a much larger creature, its skin covered in bluish scales, its eyes as hollow as the abyss of the ocean. Its grotesque mouth opened in a terrifying howl, revealing fangs sharp enough to tear a man in half with a single bite.
A shiver ran down Edmund's spine. This being was not just a predator of the island — it was something ancient, something far more dangerous, and perhaps even intelligent. The time to fight or flee was running out, and the survival of the group would depend on a swift and decisive choice.