Chapter 372: Behavioral pattern
Chapter 372: Behavioral pattern
As the sun sank below the horizon and the moon began its quiet ascent, the soldiers prepared for their next attempt. This time, they would heed Lyerin’s words—or at least, they thought they would. Clad in darkened armor to blend with the shadows, their weapons sharpened and their nerves stretched thin, they ventured into the dense, quiet forest under the cover of night.
The once-familiar terrain now felt alien, cloaked in an oppressive darkness that seemed to swallow their every step. The forest was eerily still, the usual rustle of leaves and chirping of insects absent. The soldiers whispered among themselves, their voices low and uncertain, as if afraid to wake something sleeping.
Caron, leading the group, gestured for silence. His eyes darted around the clearing ahead, scanning for any sign of movement. Behind him, the younger soldier who had been wounded the previous day gripped his weapon tightly, his knuckles white. “Do you think it’s watching us?” he murmured, barely audible.
“Quiet,” Caron hissed, though his own grip tightened on his blade. “If it’s out here, it’ll hear us before we see it.”
Hours passed as they moved carefully through the forest, each shadow a potential threat, each rustle a sign of the beast. But no matter how far they traveled, there was no sign of the Noctis Predator. No glowing eyes in the dark, no heavy footfalls or guttural growls. The forest remained stubbornly silent.
Frustration began to seep into the group as the night wore on. They exchanged uneasy glances, their confidence faltering with each passing moment.
“This is ridiculous,” one of the older soldiers muttered under his breath. “We’re out here chasing ghosts.”
“Maybe it’s not even here anymore,” another whispered. “What if it moved on? Or worse, what if it’s waiting for us back at the tribe?”
Caron’s patience snapped. “Enough,” he growled, his voice low but commanding. “We’re not leaving until we find it. Keep looking.”