Chapter 396: Ghost Town

The dense forest shifted subtly as Kain and the others approached the boundary of the dragon's territory. The air grew heavier, charged with an unnatural stillness, as though the forest itself was holding its breath. Even the Midnight Stag beneath Kain seemed uneasy, its glowing antlers dimming slightly.

Eventually, they reached a point in their journey where any of the mounts borrowed by the Order refused to go further. They bucked and dug their heels in, determined not to take even one more step forward.

Ashen Voril raised a hand and exuded a powerful pressure far stronger than anyone else present, bringing the group's momentary chaos to a halt.

His sharp eyes scanned the treeline ahead, where the faint shimmer of a barrier became visible, stretching like a translucent curtain between the towering trees.