The forest went still.
Not silent—still.
Birdsong ceased. The rustling leaves quieted. Even the wind itself seemed to vanish, as if holding its breath.
Nova turned his gaze in the direction the strange pressure was coming from.
And then it moved.
A black-and-red blur tore through the underbrush with impossible force, and the very next moment, claws slammed into the tree trunk just inches from where Nova stood.
He leapt back as bark exploded in a shower of debris.
The creature stepped into the clearing, massive and rippling with unnatural muscle. Its body was the size of a compact fighter ship—its striped fur resembling molten metal, glowing faintly with veins of orange energy.
A tiger's head sat atop a bear's monstrous shoulders, jaws parted to reveal rows of curved, blade-like teeth.
Its eyes locked onto Nova's, glowing a deep violet that pulsed with hostile sentience.
Nova narrowed his eyes.
"So you're the one they sent."
With no warning, the chimera lunged.
