As John reclined against the mossy bark of a broken tree, his body still aching from the brutal clash with Brandon, his breathing gradually steadied.
The warmth of the healing pill pulsed through his veins, numbing the worst of the pain.
Nearby, Caros was crouched beside a pile of corpses, humming quietly as he rummaged through their spatial bags, occasionally muttering critiques under his breath about their fashion sense or poor loot choices.
But then, without warning, the forest shifted.
The wind stilled.
A chilling silence swallowed every sound.
It was as if the jungle itself had stopped breathing.
Suddenly, an invisible force, dense and suffocating, descended upon the area like a vice around the chest.
John's eyes snapped open.
The sense of tranquility he'd been clinging to instantly shattered.
A cold bead of sweat trickled down the side of his temple as he sat up straight.
