The Forest Hunt

The group moved through the forest, their steps careful as the towering trees blocked out much of the sunlight. The air felt colder, and the ground was uneven, covered in roots and patches of moss. The forest was quiet, except for the occasional rustling leaves and chirping birds. The silence felt heavier as they ventured further in.

Hito glanced around, breaking the quiet. "This place is huge. Anyone else feel like it's going on forever?"

"We're following the path," Tokira replied, his voice calm. "It just feels long because we're focused."

"Focused? I'd say bored," Hito muttered, glancing at the trees. "Not a single beast so far. Maybe they're scared of us."

Raiba smirked. "Or maybe they just know you're not worth the trouble."

"Funny," Hito said, rolling his eyes. "You talk big, but let's see how you react when we actually see one."

Josei sighed. "Will you two stop? We're supposed to be paying attention."

"Relax, Josei," Hito said with a small grin. "Nothing's even happened yet."

"That doesn't mean you should let your guard down," Mono cut in. His tone was firm, and Hito fell quiet for once.

The group continued walking, the path narrowing as the trees grew closer together. The light filtering through the canopy was faint now, casting shadows across the ground. Each step felt heavier, as if the forest itself was pressing in on them.

After a while, they reached a small clearing. The sunlight broke through here, lighting up patches of wildflowers and moss-covered rocks. The group paused to take a break, lowering their weapons and sitting on the ground.

"This place is kind of nice," Raiba said, leaning back against a rock. "Not what I expected."

"Don't get too comfortable," Tokira said, still scanning the trees. "We're not here for a picnic."

Hito stretched his arms. "Honestly, this feels like a waste of time so far. No beasts, no danger. Sensei really overprepared us."

"Don't jinx it," Josei said sharply. "We're still in the forest. Anything can happen."

As they sat, Josei spoke again, her voice softer this time. "I didn't even get to fight back at the dojo."

The others looked at her, confused. "What do you mean?" Mono asked.

Josei shrugged. "When we trained, I never got to fight. Not really. We practiced forms and drills, but I never actually faced anyone. I don't even know if I'm ready for something like this."

"You're ready," Mono said, his tone steady. "We all trained hard. If you didn't spar, it doesn't mean you didn't learn."

"Yeah," Raiba said with a grin. "And hey, if something shows up, you can prove yourself now."

Josei nodded but didn't say anything else. The group sat in silence for a moment before Hito stood up, brushing dirt off his pants.

"Well, we're not going to find anything just sitting here," he said. "Let's keep moving."

The group got to their feet, adjusting their weapons and gear before continuing. The forest seemed darker now, the trees thicker and the underbrush more tangled. Every sound—whether a snapping twig or a bird's call—made them glance around nervously.

Hito glanced at Josei and said with a grin, "You might get your wish soon. Maybe we'll run into a Seed-tier beast."

Josei rolled her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous. You don't just run into those."

"Why not? It's the forest," Hito replied. "Anything can happen, right?"

"Don't joke about that," Raiba said, his smile fading. "A Seed-tier beast would be no joke."

Before anyone could respond, a deep, rumbling roar echoed through the forest. The sound was low and powerful, shaking the ground beneath their feet. It seemed to come from deep within the woods, impossible to pinpoint.

The group froze, their eyes wide. Mono's hand went straight to his sword, his heart pounding in his chest.

"What... was that?" Raiba whispered, his voice shaky.

"It's close," Tokira said, his tone steady but tense.

Hito's grin was gone now, replaced by a nervous frown. "That sounded huge."

"Seed-tier?" Josei asked, her voice barely audible.

Mono didn't answer. His grip on his sword tightened, his mind racing. The quiet clearing now felt anything but safe.