Chapter 80: The Echo Swarm!

Chapter 80: The Echo Swarm!

The group finally crossed into Northwind proper, moving past the tall iron gate that marked the boundary between the city and the wilderness surrounding it.

The towering structures of Northwind High loomed over them, the scholars in their neat uniforms barely paying the travelers any mind as they passed. The stark contrast between the city's intellectual hub and the group's impending journey weighed heavily on their minds.

Tessa kept her eyes fixed ahead, her senses sharpened by an unease she couldn't quite shake. As they moved through the city's districts, they passed through bustling marketplaces where merchants hawked their wares, factories where smoke billowed into the air, and streets where the clang of industry echoed. But it was clear they were nearing the edge—the final zone of Northwind, beyond which lay the perilous path to Akanon City.

Ikehara's grin hadn't left his face since they entered the city, but there was something different about it now. It wasn't the smirk of someone who enjoyed the tension. It was the smile of someone who knew too much. He pulled the hood of his cloak tighter over his head, veiling his face from view.

Tessa narrowed her eyes, every nerve in her body screaming for caution. She stopped abruptly, and as if by instinct, the group of fifty that trailed behind her also came to a halt.

Adrian stepped closer, his brow furrowed. "What is it, Tessa?"

"Something's wrong," Tessa said, her voice low but certain. She felt the faint connection with the moon goddess flicker, and she reached out to her for clarity. What do you see? she asked silently.

The moon goddess answered, her presence dimmed under the glare of the afternoon sun. Today is not a day for both sun and moon to share the sky, the goddess intoned. But even with the little sight I have, I can sense something...insects, perhaps, hovering just 180 yards ahead. Their presence is strange. I can see no more unless you draw closer, allowing me to channel through you more clearly.

Tessa's eyes flickered to the front where Ikehara continued leading the way, his face still hidden beneath the mysterious veil. She turned to the others who had gathered around her—Adrian, Nyala, Ecdy, and Nymff.

"Something is ahead," she said, her voice tight with the weight of her growing suspicion.

"What do you mean, something?" Ecdy asked, his usually playful demeanor slipping as he scanned the path before them.

"I don't know exactly," Tessa replied, glancing again at Ikehara. "But I feel Ikehara is steering us into the first trap. His face is covered, and he's not saying a word. I can sense something dangerous ahead, but all I can discern from here are...strange flies. That's all the moon goddess could reveal with her limited power in this light."

Adrian's gaze darkened. "Flies? That doesn't sound right."

"No, it doesn't," Tessa agreed. "But whatever those insects are, they're not normal. They feel...malicious. We should proceed with caution."

Nyala, her eyes flickering with apprehension, drew closer to the group. "So what do we do? Keep moving and hope it's nothing? Or do we face it now?"

Tessa's gaze hardened. "We need to get closer. If we're near enough, I can channel the moon's power more fully, and then I'll be able to figure out exactly what's ahead. But we keep a close eye on Ikehara. He knows something, and we can't trust him not to throw us straight into danger."

Adrian nodded, his expression unreadable but his posture tense, ready for action. "Then let's keep moving. Slowly. But the moment something feels off, we act. No hesitation."

The others murmured in agreement. Tessa cast a final glance toward Ikehara, who was still leading the way, seemingly oblivious to their concerns. His steps were light, his movements unhurried, yet there was something about the way he carried himself that set off alarm bells in her mind.

They resumed their march, the air around them growing thicker with tension. The once bustling streets of Northwind were starting to thin out, and the buildings became sparser as they neared the city's outskirts. The path ahead, shrouded in mist, seemed ominously quiet.

As they drew closer to where the moon goddess had sensed the presence of the insects, Tessa felt a shift. The air grew cooler, sharper, as if something unseen was pressing down on them. Her pulse quickened. She glanced toward Adrian, who nodded slightly in silent understanding. They were close now—too close.

Without warning, Ikehara stopped just ahead of them, raising one hand as if signaling the group to halt. His smile was still plastered on his face, but now it seemed darker, more twisted.

"Ah, we've arrived," Ikehara said softly, his voice carrying a strange edge. "The threshold of Northwind...and the beginning of our little test."

Tessa's heart hammered in her chest. Her gaze snapped toward the trees lining the path. That's when she saw them—shimmering in the fading light, a swarm of small, dark insects, hovering in the distance. But these weren't ordinary flies. They glimmered faintly, their wings pulsing with an unnatural light, and their movement was almost...intelligent.

"I knew it," Tessa whispered under her breath. "We're walking straight into his trap."

The others followed her gaze, eyes widening as they too saw the swarm. Adrian stretched his muscles as if he had picked out his opponent in battle, his expression hard as steel. "What are those?"

Tessa's voice was grim. "I don't know. But whatever they are, we need to be ready."

Ikehara turned to face them fully now, his veil slipping back just enough for his wicked grin to shine through. "Ah, I was hoping you'd notice them sooner. These, dear friends, are not your ordinary pests. They're the Echo Swarm—designed to pick apart your mind, your memories, your sanity. I do hope you're prepared."

Before anyone could respond, the air around them buzzed with a sudden intensity. The swarm surged forward like a dark wave, rushing toward them with terrifying speed.

"Everyone, brace yourselves!" Tessa shouted, her heart racing as the first wave of insects descended upon them.