The system message hung in the air like a bad joke. Nothing about this place felt serene. The ground was soft with moss that pulsed faintly, as if it had a heartbeat. Trees loomed tall and skeletal, bark peeling in strips that revealed raw, red wood beneath. Flowers wilted and bloomed in the same breath, their petals twitching like they were breathing.
Greg's voice broke the quiet, low and wary. "Serenity, huh? If this is serene, I'd hate to see what they call hostile."
"No birds. No wind," Aria said softly. "Even the air feels... held back."
Rachel turned slowly, her staff at the ready. "There's something wrong with the light. Look at the shadows. They're not falling where they should."
Lily crouched down and touched a patch of moss. Her fingers came away damp with something that looked too dark to be water. "This place isn't just creepy. It's bleeding."
Penny's brows drew together. "Okay, so what? This is another dungeon layer? Is this even part of the raid anymore?"
