The escape from the Heart of the Tree was not a simple one. The roots that had once seemed to pulse with serene energy were now restless, as if the Tree itself knew something serious was approaching. Akihiko led the group through a hidden path through the dense vegetation, relying on Thalos's knowledge of the terrain.
"We can't keep running indefinitely," Kael said, checking his communicator as he tried to pick up any sign of the Order's movements. "If Viktor has agents here, they'll already be on our tail."
Thalos nodded, his face hard. "And not only that. The Heart is no longer safe. If they want to take control of the Tree, they'll try to destroy any vestige that connects us to it."
Isabella, who was holding the golden fragment wrapped in a black silk cloth, looked at the group with her signature crooked smile. "Whatever it is, bring it here. I'm tired of hiding."
Akihiko, without taking his eyes off the road, replied coldly. "This is not the time to seek unnecessary confrontation. If we want to protect the Tree, we must reach the next shrine before they do."
The Ambush
The first sign of danger came with a whisper on the wind. Aria was the first to stop, her sensory ability picking up on something out of place. "We're not alone," she said softly, forming a luminous barrier in front of the group.
An instant later, a shot rang out through the air, colliding with Aria's barrier and disintegrating into flashes of light. From the shadows, hooded figures emerged with the symbol of the Order of the Eternal Night etched on their robes.
"I knew they'd find us," Kael muttered as he pulled out one of his explosive devices. "Get ready!"
The fight was fierce. Akihiko lunged forward, drawing his katana in a swift motion that brought down two attackers before they could react. Isabella, with deadly grace, unleashed her Soul Echo Manipulation power, filling the battlefield with an oppressive aura that weakened the wills of her enemies.
"Viktor won't let us get away that easily!" one of the Order agents shouted before being knocked back by a controlled blast from Kael.
In the chaos of the battle, Aria kept her barriers up, protecting the group from enemy fire while Akihiko and Thalos took care of neutralizing the remaining attackers.
As the last figure fell, silence returned to the forest, but not without leaving a trace of tension in the air.
The Message of the Order
One of the officers, wounded but conscious, tried to crawl away from the group. Akihiko stopped him by placing his katana against his neck.
"Speak," he said coldly. "What does Viktor want from the next sanctuary?"
The man laughed, despite his condition. "Viktor doesn't need the shrines. This is all just a game to him. He already has what he needs to dominate the Tree." His eyes flicked to the golden shard in Isabella's hands. "Whatever you want to protect, you're just leading right to it."
Isabella knelt in front of the man, tilting her head curiously. "And what does he have that we don't?"
The man smiled before letting out a final breath. "The key."
The group exchanged glances, the word echoing uneasily in their minds.
The Presence of the Hunter
As they continued their march, the tension between them was palpable. Thalos finally broke the silence. "It's not just Viktor who's a problem. There's another working in the shadows, a Hunter who has served the Order for generations."
Aria frowned. "A hunter? Why didn't you mention this before?"
"Because I wasn't sure it was active," Thalos replied. "He's known as Alastor, the Silencer of Shadows. No one knows his true face, but his ability to track and hunt is legendary."
"Shadow Silencer," Akihiko repeated softly. "What kind of power does it have?"
Thalos looked at him gravely. "Alastor commands the echo of death and sound, eliminating any trace of his presence. He can move undetected and use cutting sound waves that resonate with the fear and suffering of his victims. Even in combat, he is able to silence the movements and screams of his enemies, leaving a terrifying void in his wake."
Kael adjusted his communicator, frustrated. "Perfect. As if we didn't have enough problems."
"If he finds us," Akihiko said, his tone icy, "we'll make sure he doesn't come back to report."
The Tower of Whispers
The group's next destination was a place known as the Tower of Whispers, an ancient structure located on the outskirts of Gaelius. According to Thalos, it contained another key fragment to understanding the Tree.
When they reached the vicinity, the tower stood imposingly against the cloudy sky. Its surface was covered with inscriptions that seemed to move in the dim light, and the air was charged with an energy that made each step feel heavier.
"This won't be easy," Aria said, placing a hand over one of the inscriptions. "The place is protected."
"We know," Akihiko replied, drawing his katana. "But if we want to stop Viktor, we have no other choice."
As they entered the tower, a shadow moved swiftly among the nearby trees. Alastor had arrived, and the real danger was about to begin.