Prologue [3]

In the dead of night, the moon cast a wan glow upon the trees, its soft light a spectral companion. Yet, amidst the tranquility of the forest, something stirred.

A rhythmic thump-thump-thump echoed through the silent woods, multiple shadowy figures blurring through the dense undergrowth. Trails of lifeless corpses – countless mana beasts slain with brutal efficiency – littered the forest floor. The acrid stench of blood hung heavy in the air.

Their eyes were fixed on a singular destination, and nothing, they believed, could impede their objective. Or so they thought.

-Swoosh

-Spray

A spray of crimson erupted as one of the shadowy figures was decapitated, collapsing with a sickening thud. Blood spurted from the severed neck, staining the forest floor a deeper shade of red.

"What in Renica's name was that?!" Panic ripped through their ranks, shattering their confident advance. A figure from the unseen ranks cried out in terror.

A whoosh, followed by a gush of wind, filled the air. The leader, with the reflexes of a cornered cat, raised his hand to ward off an unseen attack. But it was too late. A blade of wind tore through the air, severing his hand at the wrist. A bloodcurdling scream escaped his lips as he crumpled to the ground.

The invisibility spell shrouding them instantly flickered and died, revealing a group of men clad in loosely woven robes that concealed their forms entirely. A strange symbol, a chimera of a cobra and a dragon, was emblazoned on their chests.

"Come out and face us, coward!" one of the men roared, his voice laced with a desperate bravado.

"Senior, what do we do?" another rasped, turning to the leader for guidance.

"We wait," the leader growled, his voice strained with the effort of suppressing his fear. "Be on guard. Whoever is doing this can't maintain perfect invisibility. There must be a gap, a weakness we can exploit."

His orders were punctuated by a series of choked groans, betraying the turmoil churning within him.

"Yes sir!" the remaining five men chorused in reply.

However, unbeknownst to the leader, with each sweeping glance he cast around the forest, another one of his men vanished, dragged silently up into the dense canopy.

"Senior!" another man bellowed, but before he could turn around, he was left staring at a scene of utter desolation. Gone. His comrades had all vanished without a trace.

A primal scream of rage erupted from the leader's throat. "Show yourself, coward!" he roared into the silent night. But then, both his arms and legs gave way, his torso collapsing without their support.

"Huh?" Confusion clouded his mind. What just happened? His gaze darted around the forest, searching for an explanation.

Then his eyes landed on something perched high up in a tree.

Terror welled up within him as he recognized the grisly tableau before him. The dismembered remains of his men were skillfully arranged, their body parts displayed as macabre ornaments upon the branches and trunks.

A chilling chuckle echoed through the trees. His gaze snapped upwards, landing on a figure shrouded in a dark cloak. A single, sinister smile was all he could discern in the darkness.

"You have seen the coward," a voice, oddly soothing yet laced with a predatory edge, slithered into his ears. "Now die."

The world spun as his vision faded, his head lolling lifelessly to one side.

"Hm, I wonder when I can see him?" A wide smile spread across her face as she gazed up at the vast canvas of stars twinkling like a million distant promises.