Jason stood amid the broken bodies and did not wait for the remaining creatures to speak first.
He took one deliberate step into the center of their loose circle, eyes moving from one dense signature to the next. The largest among them—the one that had grown heavier with every death—held his attention longest.
"You're not from Gehenna," Jason said. It was not a question. "And you're not from the realm where I made my deal. So start talking. Why are you really here?"
The lead creature's layered voice answered with reluctant precision. "The Marrow."
"I already know you want it." Jason's tone stayed flat, almost bored. "I'm asking why it matters enough to burn cities and chase children."
A ripple of shared tension moved through the circle. The creatures shifted in perfect unison, confirming what he had already observed: they were linked.
