Branches snapped under their feet.
Wet soil sucked at their shoes.
Within seconds, the forest was already swallowing them whole.
The trees were large. Massive trunks rising straight into the sky, so tall that Daiki couldn't even see where the canopy began.
Looking up made his neck ache.
Moss clung to anything and everything.
Vines twisted like veins along the bark.
The air was thick, damp, and loamy, carrying a feral scent that sat heavy in the nose.
Rot, sap, something animalistic.
"This place even smells like it wants to eat us," Daiki muttered, slowing to a stop.
Ren bent forward, hands on his knees, breathing hard but grinning.
"Yeah. I kinda love it. It's exciting."
Yui scanned their surroundings carefully, eyes sharp despite everything.
"We shouldn't move too far yet..."
Daiki nodded.
"Right. Talisman first."
They formed a quick circle, lowering their voices.
"I think you should hold it," Daiki said, looking at Yui. "If things go to shit, you can hand it off to one of your summons and send them running."
Ren snapped his fingers in the air.
"Yeah. That's smart. Way smarter than me holding it and accidentally losing it. Or Fushino breaking it."
Yui hesitated, fingers tightening around her sleeve. "....If I lose it..."
"You won't," Daiki said immediately.
Ren nodded.
"And even if you do, we'll just steal it back. Simple."
Yui exhaled slowly, then nodded.
She took the talisman, the faint glow of Reiki pulsing softly against her palm. After a moment's hesitation, she tucked it securely underneath her blazer.
"...Okay," she said. "Let's move."
They pushed deeper into the forest, carefully. Every step felt like they were being watched. The undergrowth rustled and moved even when there was no wind.
Somewhere far off, something let out a low, echoing howl.
Then....
The ground shuddered.
Daiki froze immediately.
"Am I the only one feeling that?"
Before anyone could answer, the forest ahead exploded with movement.
It was a stampede.
Dozens of Yurei.
Warped, animalistic shapes made of twisted Reiki and malformed flesh charged straight at them, crushing herbs and snapping saplings like toothpicks.
Their snarls blended into a single, deafening roar.
"Holy shit," Daiki breathed.
Ren stepped forward with a wild smile.
"I got this!"
He slammed the palm of his hand against the trunk of a nearby tree.
Reiki flared immediately.
His arms reinforced themselves instantly, wood grain crawling up his skin as his muscles bulked and hardened, becoming a mixture of flesh and timber.
The herd was seconds away.
Ren swung his arm downward.
The ground ruptured on impact.
Earth and roots exploded upward in a violent motion, throwing the front line of the stampede completely off balance.
Yurei collided with each other, tumbling, snarling, and screeching as momentum betrayed them.
Before they could recover...
Ren ripped a fallen log from the ground, spun once, and swung it violently with everything he had.
At them.
The impact was devastating.
The log tore through the disoriented herd like a battering ram, sending Yurei flying, bodies dissipating into bursts of unstable Reiki.
In seconds, the clearing was silent again... save for Ren's heavy breathing.
Daiki stared, eyes wide.
"...Holy shit!"
Then, he ran up and put both of his hands on Ren's shoulders.
"You're badass!"
Yui blinked, stunned.
"You just... ended it."
Ren dropped the log, rolling his shoulders.
"Guess they weren't very... rooted."
Daiki stepped back and groaned.
"...I take back what I said. Never speak again."
Yui actually let out a bit of a giggle.
Ren grinned and put his hands on his hips proudly.
"You're welcome. You both owe me cash and snacks after this."
Then...
Clap.
A single, slow clap echoed through the trees.
Clap. Clap.
Daiki's smile vanished just like that.
From between the massive trunks ahead, three figures stepped into view, bodies almost impossible to see against the green gloom.
"Wow," a voice call out, amused. "Did you see that?"
"Impressive," Another added calmly.
Daiki clenched his fists.
"...Looks like we found our first problem."
The trio squared up as the figures approached.
And the forest watched in silence.