Awful situation

Walking through the forest, Kai kept his senses sharp. The night air was cool, and the soft crunch of leaves beneath their feet was the only sound. No one spoke. Fear sat heavy in their silence, but Kai didn't blame them. He felt it, too.

Meredith led the way with an ease that made Kai uneasy. While the others struggled through the thick grass, she moved like it wasn't even there. Her white robe shimmered faintly, untouched by dirt, while everyone else was covered in filth.

Kai watched her closely. "Is it her robe?" He thought back to their fight. Their attacks had gone right through her, just like she was walking through the grass now. "Does she have a weakness? A limit?" The thought sent a strange thrill through him. It was the first time he'd seen something so blatantly supernatural, yet... it excited him.

Sure, he'd seen those man-eating rabbits drop from the moon. But this was different. It truly felt like a skill in a game.

The forest grew quieter as they walked. The trees began to thin, and moonlight spilled onto the path ahead. Jade and Ellie hesitated, exchanging nervous glances. This was the farthest they'd gone since arriving in this place. Kai could feel their unease, but he kept his focus on Meredith, his grip tightening on his sword.

Then, in a small clearing, they saw it—a large, dome-shaped tent in the center. Its fabric was smooth and unmarked, glowing faintly in the firelight of a bonfire nearby. There was a wooden table, a few chairs, and some meat being roasted over the fire.

The sight made Kai's mouth water. It had been so long since he'd seen proper food. He isn't picky—far from it—but it's been a week where he has been eating nothing but wild berries. Even Tanyia seemed to have the same reaction as him, which surprised him as she would usually be the one who would keep her composure.

However, this moment of weakness only lasted for a moment. He turned his attention to the other people around the camp.

A few people sat around the fire. Kai counted two, and as they approached, the group turned to look. A burly man with a scar across his cheek studied them with narrowed eyes while a woman with short-cropped hair leaned back in her chair, her expression unreadable. Kai's grip on his sword tightened.

"This is our camp," Meredith said, gesturing to the tent.

"Uh? Oh! Welcome, newbies!" The voice was light, almost playful.

A young man stepped out of the tent, grinning like he'd just told the world's best joke. He was tall and lanky, with messy brown hair and a scruffy jawline. His clothes were simple, but his sharp eyes gave him away—he was paying attention.

"I'm Ethan," he said, sticking out a hand to anyone in the group. Yet, all the girls decided to ignore him.

Kai hesitated before shaking it. His grip was firm, but his skin was cold. "Kai," he said.

"Already know," Ethan replied, his grin widening.

Tanyia stepped forward, her voice low and steady. "You're the one who's been following us, right?"

"Guilty," Ethan said, not even bothering to look apologetic. "Scouting's my job. Gathering information, you know the deal."

"What else do you know about us?" Tanyia asked, her tone flat.

Ethan scratched the back of his head, his grin faltering for a second. "Not much. Just your names, that you went to the same school, that you guys ate a shit load of berries. Oh, and..." His gaze landed on Ellie, lingering just a little too long. She froze, her face already turning red.

"Don't worry," Ethan said, his tone casual like he was commenting on the weather. "Having one breast bigger than the other is totally normal. You should stop stressing over it."

The silence that followed was deafening. Ellie's face went beet red, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "What—how did you— I only told Tanyia about that!" she stammered, her voice trembling as she glanced at Tanyia as if she was the one who told Ethan.

Ethan paused, his grin slipping for a moment. "Sorry," he said, his tone softer now. "Didn't mean to embarrass you. Just... trying to break the ice?" He shrugged, but the damage was done.

Tanyia stepped forward, her eyes blazing. "If you think messing with us is funny, you're in for a rude awakening, you fucking pedo."

Ethan held up his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, no harm intended. I'm just making conversation." He turned toward the fire, stretching his arms, and then pointed at the man and woman sitting beside it. "Anyway, those guys are Marco and Lena. They are not very talkative, but... Uh, are very... strong?"

"I'm not sure if you're trying to compliment us or insult us," Marco grumbled, his scarred face twisting into a scowl.

Lena didn't say anything. Instead, she kept staring at the fire as if it were the most interesting thing in the world.

Ethan then walked away like nothing had happened, leaving the group stunned. Ellie looked like she wanted to disappear, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Jade placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, but even she seemed shaken by how they discovered something this intimate.

Kai glanced at Tanyia, his expression grim. This place, these people—they were dangerous. Forget about Meredith; if Ethan could have heard a conversation this private, he could have even harmed them when they were vulnerable.

Meredith said nothing and simply walked to the fire and sat down, her translucent eyes glinting in the firelight. "Make yourselves at home," she said, her smile as unsettling as ever. "You're among friends now."

"How do you guys know we won't stab you in the back?" Kai asked, his tone blunt.

Meredith's smile didn't waver, but she asked a question that caught him off guard. "Do you want to?"

Kai didn't answer.

"Exactly," Meredith said, her tone light. "We're all in the same boat. We're all trying to survive. Moreover..." She paused, her gaze flicking to the others. "Moreover, it won't be a bad deal for us to stick together."

Kai didn't say anything, but what she said was true. They were currently in an unknown environment, and sticking with a group this strong should have been a better choice.

"Come," Meredith said, gesturing to the fire. "Have some food."

Kai glanced at the others. They were all tense, their expressions guarded. But there was no denying the hunger in their eyes. As if he was sacrificing himself, Kai stepped forward.

"Fine," he said, his tone firm. "We'll stay."

"Excellent," Meredith said, her smile widening. "Welcome to the party."

The others hesitated, but eventually, they followed. One by one, they sat around the fire, their expressions wary.

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In the Titan's corpse rift.

Lex trudged through the fleshy tunnel, his steps heavy and uneven. Every breath felt like a knife twisting in his ribs, and the metallic taste of blood lingered in his mouth. He kept one hand pressed against his side, trying to steady himself as he moved toward the exit. The brown mist clung to him, making the air feel like sludge in his lungs. He just needed to get out, heal, and return to continue farming coins and pouches. That was the plan.

But plans had a way of falling apart.

A skittering sound echoed from ahead, sharp and unnatural. Lex froze, his hand instinctively tightening around the hilt of his knife. From the mist, two figures emerged—smaller than the parasite he'd just fought, but not by much. Their insect-like bodies were cracked and broken, held together by writhing tentacles that pulsed with a sickly rhythm. Their faceless heads snapped toward him in unison, antennae twitching.

Lex cursed under his breath. "You've got to be kidding me."