Seven -Cloaked

As dawn broke, Ryuu woke up, the enchanted forest was now dark. He shook off the disorientation from the mist but couldn't help feeling a lingering unease after the vision. The figure he saw may have been an illusion, but it felt too real, a ghost from a past he could not remember. The dark cloaked figure lingered in his mind, its presence intertwined with thoughts of the black scorpions that haunted his mind. Was it a warning, or merely a trick of the mind?

"Jiro!" Ryuu called out as he tried to assess the situation. His crew member was crouched on the forest floor, eyes wide with fear, as he tried to push aside the phantoms that haunt him. Ryuu knew the illusions could manifest fears and regrets, making friends enemies and the real dangers lurking in the shadows worse.

"General, I… I saw them! They were everywhere!" Jiro panted, shaking. "They spoke to me, told me to abandon you! They said I would perish if I stayed…" His voice trailed off as the memories came rushing in, flickering like the shadows that danced around them.

Ryuu momentarily wondered if they should have taken another different route as he saw how Jiro was being severely being attacked by illusions. But the other route would have taken them weeks to reach thier destination and by then it would have been useless and almost impossible to track the hunters. Through the enchanted forest was the fastest way, at most it would take them a three days.

Hana , a stalwart figure, stepped forward. "I've heard stories-a living entity fueled by magic resides in this forest. It feeds on anxiety and fear, preying on your mind."

The beastmaster glanced up at the dark canopy above, where the stars seems to dim as if the forest itself was reacting to their plight. "We need to stick together. This place isn't just playing tricks; it wants to consume us."

Ryuu nodded, resolving to maintain his composure. "We need a plan. Jiro, focus on me, listen to my voice. Trust that we're all in this together.The last time l ventured here, it wasn't like this or maybe it's because l was alone" He couldn't shake the feeling that the cloaked figure he saw might be connected to this .

"I… I'll try, General," Jiro stammered, taking a deep breath to ground himself.

The group continued cautiously, every rustle in the bushes causing Jiro to flinch. Ryuu kept his senses sharp, aware that the forest could twist their perceptions at any moment. They encountered other twisted trees adorned with vibrant but unnatural flowers, their petals shimmering like jewels but possessing a darkness that lingered beneath the surface.

As they walked, Ryuu began to formulate a strategy. "The forest reacts to our fears, we need to confront them head-on. Let's share whatever fears the forest has awakened in us. Jiro, what did you see?"

Jiro hesitated but ultimately decided to confide. "I saw… my family. They were reaching out to me, but they—" his voice broke , "they told me I had betrayed you all."

Masaya frowned, disoriented to see the giant struck with such fear and also sensing the atmospheric shift of the forest . "This is exactly what the forest wants—to turn us against one another. I've dealt with similar creatures before. We need to be united. I saw the creatures of my past, too when l was here for the first time. But I know they can't hurt me unless I let them."

Ryuu took a decisive stance. "Let's counter their illusions with truth ."

The forest, had taken on a sinister atmosphere, its shadows stretching unnaturally in the dim light. The air felt thick with tension, and the whispers of the trees suggested that something was amiss.

As they maneuvered the dark forest, Ren felt something unsettling and dark moving towards them and he instantly positioned himself in front of Miko just as a demon lunged forward, its clawed hand swiping towards her. "No!" Ren shouted, throwing himself into the path of the attack. He felt the excruciating pain as the claws raked across his side.

The moment Ren let out a scream, they all froze. The sound had come from the back, a sudden sharp cry that shattered the stillness. Ryuu spun around, his eyes wide with shock, but it was already too late. Ren was standing, frozen in place, a strange, jagged wound across his chest, blood seeping into the ground beneath him. At first, Ryuu thought it was some sort of illusion—an echo of the forest's deceitful magic—but the pain in Ren's face was too real, too raw. The forest had turned against them.The forest was a place of dark magic, but they hadn't anticipated its deadly potential.

"Ren!" Miko cried out in horror, eyes wide as she rushed to his side. The injury was deep, but Ren gritted his teeth, trying to stay on his feet. "I can still fight! Just... just help... "

Ren had been struck by a demon in a brutal surprise attack, and the urgency of their situation became palpable.

As Miko struggled to conjure the tiniest sparkle of fire against their assailants, an unsettling realization dawned on the group: their magical abilities had been rendered ineffective. Hana found herself unable to sway the very ground beneath her feet, making her feel vulnerable and exposed.

Hana, immediately assessed the situation. "We can't use our magic here! It's been suppressed by the forest!" Her voice was filled with urgency. "We're on our own!"

Panic struck their group as they realized the magnitude of their situation. Miko stepped forward, eyes wide with fear, her hands trembling. "We need to move, now!" she shouted, but before anyone could react, a series of shadowy figures emerged from the trees, their forms shifting and flickering like wraiths. They were demons—real demons, not mere illusions.

Despite the dark atmosphere, Ryuu took a deep breath. "We need to push through! Let's create an opening!" He stepped forward, leading the charge through the darkness, rallying his companions.

In that moment of despair, Ryuu's gaze fell upon his sword. He summoned it , blade shimmered brightly in the darkness , a beacon of hope amidst the encroaching darkness. It had been forged from the battles of old, imbued with ancient energy of the royal dragons and it thrived in the presence of true intent.lt was a weapon in its purest form-a weapon that could cut through the malevolent forces that surrounded them.The power that ran through the sword was of ancient order, the royal power of the royal dragons thus the enchanted forest tricks were an futile attempt.