The forest around them seemed alive in the worst way. Twisted trees groaned as unseen creatures stirred in the darkness, their eyes glowing with a sickly, unnatural light. Every snap of a twig echoed like a gunshot, and the tension wrapped tight around the group.
Lior's fingers tingled as the Celestial Code pulsed beneath his skin, urging him to stay alert. The fragments in this place were fragile, slipping through reality like whispers on the wind. He could feel their faint glow somewhere deeper in the forest—but reaching them meant facing whatever had corrupted this land.
Suddenly, a beast erupted from the shadows—a hulking creature with cracked, bark-like skin and eyes burning like coals. It lunged with terrifying speed, claws slashing through the air.
"Formation!" Elyra's sharp command cut through the chaos as she drew her sword, stepping between the creature and the others.
Mira's laughter rang out, strange and eerie, as she summoned sparks of chaotic magic that danced like fireflies around her fingertips. "Let's see how it handles a little light show."
Kaelen's arrow flew true, striking the beast's glowing eye, but it only seemed to fuel its rage. The creature roared, shaking the ground beneath them.
Lior clenched his fists, the wind swirling weakly around him. With every ounce of focus, he pushed, coaxing the breeze into a sharper edge. A gust sliced through the underbrush, forcing the beast back.
Sylvi's voice was steady as she chanted softly, weaving healing energy that bolstered her companions and weakened the corruption's hold.
The battle was fierce—a dance of shadows and light, chaos and control. The forest itself seemed to resist their presence, but together, the group fought to reclaim the fragments hidden within.
As the creature finally fell, silence settled like a fragile veil. Lior's breath came hard, but his resolve burned brighter than ever. The road ahead would only grow darker—but so would their strength.