A short while later, the preparations were finished, and the group finally stood before the Forest of Nightmares.
Even from the outside, the place felt wrong.
The trees were tall and twisted, their branches bending inward like crooked fingers trying to claw at the sky.
Thick mist crawled between the roots, clinging to the ground like something alive. The light dimmed unnaturally the closer they got, as if the forest itself was swallowing the day.
From far away, it looked creepy, but it just looked fucking scary.
A few meters from the mist, Leon suddenly stepped forward, increasing his pace before turning around to face everyone.
"Before we enter… I need to make something clear."
The casual air vanished.
"This forest isn't a joke," Leon continued.
"Some people call it a trial. Others think it's just another dangerous area filled with beasts and traps." His eyes swept over the group before stopping openly on Gray.
"That's a mistake."
His gaze lingered.
