The message Arc (11)

Scene —Thorn Forest

The moonlight barely pierced the dense canopy above, casting fractured silver patterns on the ground like shattered glass.They had just escaped death—a battle with a beast unlike any known to this land—and yet, this silence felt worse. It felt wrong. Not the peaceful kind of silence that comes with moonlight and dew—but the suffocating hush that precedes something dreadful.Leaves, once rustling gently, now hung motionless in the thick, heavy air.

The squad moved swiftly through the underbrush, their footsteps softened by the moss-laced ground. Breaths were heavy, but measured. Captain James Rodricks led the way, ever watchful. Behind him, the twins—Jack and Daniel Dawn—moved like flickers of light, while Hans Luther, the quiet shadow, brought up the rear with the silent grace of a trained predator. But then—Jack stunned.

His eyes widened, scanning the shadows around him.From nowhere—and yet from everywhere—a voice had slid into his mind.

"Hey, you… golden sword guy."

Mocking. Deep. A whisper that crawled through the crevices of his mind like smoke.

He turned sharply, hand flying to his sword hilt, eyes narrowing into the forest .

But there was no movement. No shape. Nothing.

Then it spoke again.

"Did you really think you won? That you could kill me?""What a fool you are…"

Jack stumbled back a step.

"Jack?" James turned, brows furrowed. "What is it?"

"Didn't—didn't you hear that?" Jack asked, voice tight.

"Hear what?" Daniel replied, glancing at the trees. "The forest's dead quiet."

Jack swallowed hard. "They can't hear me," the voice hissed again, soft as breath on glass. "There's no use telling them… not until I allow it."

A cold sweat began to trail down Jack's neck. The shadows between the trees looked deeper now. Hungrier.James stepped closer, gaze sharpening. "Jack, talk to me."Jack's lips parted, but the words came slow."I...don't think we're out of this yet."

Jack suddenly stopped, his breath ragged and eyes burning with rage.

"Where are you, bastard?! Come out!" His shout echoed through the woods, piercing the strange silence. "You'll regret this prank!"

James skidded to a halt beside him."Jack, what's going on? Tell us everything—now!" Before Jack could reply, something else spoke.

A voice—no, a presence—slithered into their minds.Not from behind the trees, not through their ears, but directly into their thoughts.Low. Mocking. Unmistakably dark.

"Heh... you three. Your friend Jack was enjoying this , and talking about this. Isn't it cool or is it scary?""What do you think, guys?"

A chill ran down their spines.Daniel's lips parted in disbelief.Hans's hand went to his blade on instinct.James clenched his fists and demanded,"Who are you" and from a cold tone "where are you? Show yourself!"

But there was no answer—only laughter. Distant, yet inescapably close.

And then… James's sharp eyes narrowed.Something was off.They'd been running for what felt like hours, but…The twisted trees.The slanted rock.The same stream with three cracked stones.They had passed it—again.

His thoughts screamed."No turns. No curves. Just straight… but we're in the same place again."He spun around."Stop!" he ordered."Don't move!"

Hans caught up, panting slightly, eyes flicking to the surroundings.

"Captain… you noticed too, right?"

James gave a grave nod."This... this forest is looping us."

"We've been running in loop."Without a moment's pause, James turned on his heel.

"Follow me. We're heading back."

Hans, Daniel, and Jack exchanged glances, their confusion fading into grim resolve.

They were returning to the battlefield.

The four warriors moved swiftly, their footsteps light, senses sharpened. The forest seemed quieter now—too quiet. Even the usual chirping of insects and rustle of leaves had vanished. Only the crunch of soil beneath their boots accompanied them.They emerged back into the clearing—the place where their battle had raged not long ago.But what they saw...Was unbelievable.

The trees that had been shattered by the beast's fury were whole again. The broken terrain, the torn ground, the blood-soaked grass—gone. The destruction had been reversed, as if time had rewound itself. Nothing damaged everything even the leaves are not damaged And the beast?

Gone. No trace. No blood. No scars of the battle.

Just an untouched field of ancient grass and fog drifting low across the floor.

A cool Breeze of wind passed through the grass land hitting them softly.

James halted, eyes wide, breath caught in his throat.

His voice dropped to a whisper, dry and tense.

"What's…What's really going on…?"

James stood frozen, the fog swirling gently around his boots, whispering like spirits too shy to speak. His breath came ragged, eyes wide—haunted.

"What's… What's really going on…?" "How… How… How—"

His hands clenched at his sides, trembling.

And then he broke — "HOW CAN THIS BE POSSIBLE!?"

The scream echoed through the valley, unanswered by birds, beasts, or breeze.

Behind him, the others were just as shaken.Jack blinked rapidly, as if hoping the scene would shatter like a dream.Daniel kept glancing around, his blade drawn, fingers twitching.Hans stood like a statue, eyes narrowed, silent but disturbed.

No wounds. No blood. No beast.Even the fallen leaves had returned to the branches.It was as though the battle… had never happened.