Utter silence.
The entire conference room was drowned in it—thick, suffocating, and cold.
Inside the Umbral's main base, not a single person spoke. Everyone was lost in thought.
Ever since they had returned from the site—one that had been under Umbral's close surveillance for days—not a word had been exchanged.
The air was heavy, their minds still replaying what they had witnessed.
Finally, Jean broke the silence. Her voice was faint, uncertain. "Was… it just me, or did that creature—"
Ariana let out a quiet sigh, cutting her off. "No… it wasn't just you. We all saw it."
As she spoke, her eyes drifted toward Adrian. He wasn't looking at anyone. His gaze was fixed on his own hand—motionless, trembling ever so slightly.
The memory of what happened an hour ago still clung to them like a shadow.
---
[An hour ago]
"Waaah!" Annabelle's startled cry echoed through the clearing as the ground shook beneath them.
