The forest didn't feel safe anymore.
Not after that.
Nime walked a few steps behind the lion, quieter than usual. For once, he wasn't complaining, wasn't asking questions every second.
His body still hurt.
His ribs ached with every breath, and his shoulder felt stiff from the impact earlier. But that wasn't what bothered him the most.
It was the way those people looked at him.
Not like a person.
Like something they already understood.
"…Something they fear," Nime muttered under his breath.
The lion didn't respond.
Nime glanced up at him. "…You're really not going to explain anything, huh?"
"…Not yet."
Nime let out a small, tired laugh. "You've been saying that a lot."
Silence.
"…We need to move faster," the lion said after a moment.
Nime frowned. "Why?"
"They retreated too easily."
"…So?"
"That means they are not finished."
Nime's steps slowed.
"…You're saying they're coming back?"
"Yes."
"…Great."
Nime rubbed the back of his neck, exhaling slowly. "You know, I was just starting to think today couldn't get worse."
"It can."
"…Please stop being right."
They kept moving.
The forest stretched endlessly ahead, shadows growing longer as the light above dimmed slightly. The deeper they went, the more it felt like they were being watched again.
Not close.
But not far either.
—
Miles away.
Hidden beyond layers of trees and terrain—
A temporary camp had been set.
No tents.
No fire.
Just equipment.
Clean. Organized. Efficient.
The three hunters from before stood in front of a fourth figure.
He hadn't been there earlier.
"…Report," the man said calmly.
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried authority.
"The vessel has awakened," the leader replied. "Energy output unstable, but high."
"And the guardian?"
A pause.
"…Active."
The man's fingers tapped lightly against his arm.
"…Level?"
"Unknown."
"Estimate."
Another pause.
"…Beyond standard classification."
Silence followed.
Then—
"…Good."
The hunters exchanged brief glances but said nothing.
The man turned slightly, looking at a small device hovering beside him. Its surface flickered with faint light, displaying shifting patterns.
"Phase Two," he said.
The device responded instantly.
Several points lit up across its surface.
"…We don't engage directly?" one of the hunters asked.
The man shook his head slightly.
"No."
His gaze sharpened.
"We pressure."
—
Back in the forest—
Nime stopped walking.
"…Did you feel that?"
The lion didn't answer.
But he stopped too.
That was enough.
"…It's back," Nime said quietly.
Not the same as before.
This time—
It wasn't just one direction.
It was everywhere.
"…Lion…"
"Stay alert."
"…That's not helping."
A faint sound echoed through the trees.
Not footsteps.
Not movement.
A click.
Then—
Something shot past Nime's head.
Fast.
He barely had time to react before it struck a tree behind him with a sharp impact.
Nime turned quickly.
"…What is that?"
Embedded in the tree was a thin metallic object. Small. Almost like a needle.
"…Don't touch it," the lion said immediately.
"…I wasn't planning to—"
Another one came.
This time—
From the side.
Nime jumped back, barely avoiding it as it pierced the ground where he had just been standing.
"…Okay, now I'm planning to run."
"Move," the lion said.
Nime didn't argue.
He took off immediately.
More of the projectiles came from different directions, slicing through the air with precise timing.
Not random.
Calculated.
"They're not even showing themselves!" Nime shouted as he ran.
"That is the point."
"…I hate these people!"
Another shot—
This one closer.
Too close.
It grazed his arm.
"—tch!"
A sharp sting spread instantly through his skin.
Nime's steps faltered slightly.
"…What was that…?"
The burning sensation grew.
Fast.
"…Lion…"
"Keep moving."
"…I don't think that's a good idea—"
His vision blurred for a second.
Just a second.
But enough.
His foot caught on something—
And he stumbled.
Hard.
"…Damn it!"
He pushed himself up quickly, shaking his head.
"…That thing—something's wrong…"
"Your body is reacting," the lion said.
"…Reacting to what?!"
"Sedative."
Nime's eyes widened.
"…They're trying to knock me out?!"
"Yes."
"…Oh, that's actually worse!"
More shots came.
Faster now.
More aggressive.
They were adjusting.
Learning his movement.
"…They're predicting me," Nime said, breathing harder.
"Then stop being predictable."
"…I'm literally just trying not to die!"
Another shot—
Too fast.
This one hit.
Directly.
Nime froze for half a second as the needle embedded into his side.
"…Ah…"
The strength in his legs weakened instantly.
"…No… no, no…"
His body felt heavier.
Slower.
"…Lion…"
"Stand."
"I—can't…"
His knees hit the ground.
The forest spun slightly around him.
"…This is bad…"
The sound of footsteps approached.
Slow.
Confident.
From the shadows, one of the hunters stepped out.
Then another.
Then the leader.
"…Phase Two successful," one of them said.
Nime tried to push himself up again.
Failed.
"…You people…" he muttered weakly. "…are seriously… annoying…"
The leader stopped in front of him.
"…End of resistance."
He raised his hand.
Nime's vision blurred further.
"…Lion…" he whispered.
No response.
"…Don't tell me… you're waiting again…"
Silence.
For a second—
Nothing happened.
Then—
"…I warned you."
—
The air changed.
Violently.
The ground beneath Nime cracked slightly as a pressure dropped over the area like something heavy had just arrived.
The hunters froze.
"…That presence—"
Too late.
—
Something moved.
And this time—
It wasn't controlled.
—
It was angry.