Journey

Ryu: "You sure you're ready for this, bro? It's not just a stroll in the park. We've got a long road ahead."

James: "I'm ready. We have to get to Verdict City no matter what. I can't sit around waiting anymore."

Ryu grinned, though there was a hint of worry behind his usual playful demeanor. They both knew that what lay ahead wasn't going to be easy.

The sun was beginning to set as they set out on the road, the landscape changing from the familiar green fields of Holem to the rugged terrain as they ventured towards the mountains that separated them from the city. The path was narrow, winding through jagged cliffs, and the sound of rushing water from the nearby stream echoed in the distance.

James: " We should make a camp. We need to rest before tomorrow."

Ryu: "You always know how to take charge, huh? Alright, alright. I'll set up the fire."

As they walked, Ryu wandered ahead, joking and humming to himself, while James stayed a little behind, eyes scanning the area around them. The sense of unease hadn't left him. That feeling... the same one he'd had after the attack on Holem. Something was lurking, and it wasn't just the unknown tournament fighters.

Suddenly, Ryu let out a loud shout, his voice breaking through the stillness of the evening.

Ryu: "WHOA, DAMN IT!"

James spun around just in time to see Ryu slip on a loose stone, his feet skidding dangerously close to the edge of a cliff. He reached out instinctively, grabbing Ryu by the arm and pulling him back to safety.

James: "Ryu! What the hell are you doing?!"

Ryu, still breathing heavily, looked down at the drop below, his face pale. "I... I didn't see it. That was too close. Thanks, bro."

James: "You need to be more careful. This isn't a game."

Ryu nodded, still shaken. "Yeah, I know. I got too cocky."

As the night fell, they found a suitable spot to set up camp near a small outcrop. The fire crackled, casting long shadows across the rocky landscape. Ryu had finally calmed down, but James couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The air seemed to buzz with a strange energy, as though something—or someone—was watching them.

James: "Ryu... Do you feel that?"

Ryu raised an eyebrow, looking around. "Feel what? It's just the wind, bro. Relax."

But James's senses were sharp. He couldn't explain it, but his instincts were telling him they weren't alone. Slowly, he turned his gaze to the darkness surrounding them, his eyes narrowing.

Ryu: "What's with you? You're acting like there's something out there."

Before James could respond, a chilling sensation crawled up his spine. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Something was watching them. He could feel it—eyes, unseen, hidden in the shadows.

And then, as if responding to his thoughts, a pair of glowing eyes appeared in the darkness, just beyond the light of the fire. Then another pair. And another.

James's heart raced as he instinctively reached for his weapon, but there was no sound. No movement. Just those glowing eyes, watching them.

Ryu: "James, what's going on?"

James's voice was barely a whisper as he stared into the darkness.

James: "We're not alone."

The fire flickered as the temperature dropped, the shadows stretching further and further, as though they were being surrounded. Every direction was filled with those glowing eyes.