The Hunt Begins

"Woah, the sky..." Finn exclaims, his voice a mix of awe and disbelief.

The team stands amidst an otherworldly scene, their gazes locked onto a sky that feels both hellish and mesmerizing.

Above them, the expanse is dark, akin to Earth's night sky, but devoid of twinkling stars. Instead, faint reddish spots shimmer in rhythmic, pulsating waves, casting a surreal glow over the landscape.

There is no sun, no moon to mark the passage of time. Instead, golden particles of pure essence float across the air like fireflies. These luminous specks drift aimlessly before flowing into massive, golden cracks piercing the fabric of reality.

One such crack looms directly behind them—the Void Breach they had crossed to reach this foreboding domain. It gapes like a jagged wound, a portal that connects the Abyss to East Suppon.

The floating essence illuminates the world around them, giving light to the oppressive darkness. The ground beneath their boots is unyielding, a terrain of blackened rock that radiates an unsettling warmth.

It feels lifeless yet oddly resilient, a stark contradiction to the towering trees that somehow thrive here. The massive trees, their trunks stretching at least 50 meters into the air, surround the team like ancient sentinels, their branches clawing at the golden and reddish-lit sky.

Far to the north, a range of colossal mountains dominates the horizon. Their icy peaks glitter faintly under the reflected light of the essence, a sharp contrast to the dark terrain below.

For a fleeting moment, Seren finds herself drawn to the icy brilliance, its clarity mirroring her own piercing blue eyes.

Robert's steady voice cuts through the tense silence. "Stay focused," he says, his tone calm but commanding.

"We need to locate the anchored monster and remain vigilant for any other threats," Robert says, his voice steady as he surveys the dark landscape.

"Wait!" Seren interrupts, her voice cutting through the team's focus.

She raises her hand and points toward something to their right, her sharp eyes catching an unusual sight.

"Look over there! That… that looks like an old campfire."

The team shifts their attention to where she's pointing. Beneath the towering trees, a faint ring of scorched earth is barely visible, surrounded by charred wood and cold ash. The remnants of a fire long extinguished, but unmistakably human in its origin.

"Did another team get here before us?" Seren asks, her brow furrowed in confusion.

Robert moves closer, crouching by the fire's remains. He picks up a piece of the charred wood, turning it over in his hand.

His sharp gaze takes in every detail—the carefully arranged stones, the controlled burn that kept the fire small.

"Unlikely," he replies after a moment, his voice laced with skepticism.

"Even if they did, why would they light a fire? It's a beacon, even if it's a small one, and no trained team would risk that out here."

The group grows silent as Robert stands, brushing the ash from his hands.

"This fire is days old," he says, glancing toward the direction of the Void Breach they just passed.

"Whoever lit it is long gone. But this changes things, we might not be the only ones moving through this area."

The moment his words fade, a piercing screech tears through the forest like a blade through flesh. The sound is unbearable, a high-pitched wail that reverberates in their skulls.

"Ahh, my ears!" Kiaran yells, clutching his head as blood trickles from them.

The rest of the team staggers under the assault, except for Robert and Seren, who remain mostly unaffected.

Finn's hands tremble as he tries to steady himself, his normally composed demeanor cracking under the relentless sound.

"Finn!" Seren's voice is sharp. "Can you establish a sound barrier?"

With a strained nod, he raises his hands, a soft blue glow emanating from his palms. A shimmering barrier materializes around the team just as another screech rips through the air.

The sound slams into the barrier like a tidal wave against a breakwater, but this time, the team is shielded.

"It's got to be some kind of ultrasonic attack," Seren mutters, her voice firm despite the chaos. Her mind races, trying to piece together their next move.

"I agree-" Robert begins, but his words are cut short as a sharp cracking sound comes from behind them. The team whirls around in alarm.

The barrier trembles under the weight of a new assault. Massive claws rake against its surface. Cracks, like a spiderweb form across the translucent dome as a monstrous figure stands before them.

It resembles a wolf, but its proportions are grotesque, its body unnaturally large and muscular. Its obsidian-black eyes glint with malevolent intelligence.

The beast's claws gleam like polished onyx as they repeatedly strike the barrier.

"Goddammit," Seren growls, her frustration bleeding into her voice. "These vile creatures are smart."

She steps closer to the barrier, her sword drawn and ready, as she assesses the situation.

"The barrier's blocking the sound, so it's exploiting our inability to hear anything from outside. That's why it managed to sneak up on us."

The Shadow Hound growls low, a guttural sound that vibrates through the air, the barrier no longer fully protecting making the sound sound dull.

Its gaze locks on Seren, who realizes with a sinking feeling that Finn's barrier won't hold much longer. The creature is relentless, its strength far exceeding what the barrier was designed to withstand. It's a sound-blocking defense, not a fortress against physical assault.

"What to do, what to do..." Seren's mind thinks as she struggles to devise a plan.

Before she can act, Robert's voice cuts through the tension like a lifeline. His years of experience as a soldier shine through, his commands clear and decisive.

"Seren, Nico, you take the Shadow Hound. Ahri, support them with your Stigma," he orders, his tone leaving no room for hesitation.

"I'll take Kiaran and Finn with me to find the source of the sound attack."

The group snaps into action, the clarity of Robert's instructions grounding them amidst the chaos. Seren tightens her grip on her sword, the cold metal reassuring against her palm.

"Stay alive" Robert adds, his gaze briefly meeting Seren's. His words are simple, but they carry the weight of an unspoken promise: they'll regroup, no matter what.

As the team splits, the Shadow Hound lets out another guttural growl, its claws tearing through the final remnants of Finn's barrier. The protective dome shatters in a burst of blue light, and the beast lunges forward, its maw wide and dripping with malice.

Seren moves first, her blade gleaming as she steps into the monster's path.

The battle has begun.