As the ship slowly approached the island, the atmosphere began to darken.
Waves that had seemed normal at first began to hit the sides of the ship irregularly, as if the sea itself felt unstable.
The sky was filled with dark grey clouds that blocked out the sun, while the wind carried an unfamiliar salty smell.
"Can you feel it?" Len said as he stood at the edge of the ship, staring at the horizon.
Yumi, who was beside him, hesitated slightly before saying: "There's something strange here. The sea isn't moving normally."
Rin, who was sitting not far from them, commented in a sarcastic tone: "Maybe a sea monster is looking at us. You better be ready, heroes."
Meanwhile, Maru was preoccupied with his observations.
He kept jotting down details of wind and odour changes, speaking in a hushed voice as if writing for the archives: "Phenomena cannot be random.
There is something that connects the environment here to the symbols we found."
The island finally appeared on the horizon.
It looked like something out of a mysterious legend; a dense forest covered in grey mist, steep rocky shores that warned of danger, and an old tower that stood in the middle of the forest, as if inviting them to venture in or warning them not to enter.
"Didn't I tell you?" Ren said, staring at the tower.
"This looks like something out of a fairy tale."
The team members exchanged glances as the ship made a deep rumbling sound as it touched the rocky shore.
The team split into two groups to explore the area and secure a campsite.
The atmosphere was full of tension, with frequent exchanges of comments reflecting the differences between members of the two organisations.
Yumi, as always, took the lead carefully, directing her words precisely: "There is no time to argue now. We have to make sure the area is safe first."
Lin, who was feeling a little nervous, said, "Don't worry. If anything happens, I'll be ready."
As the other group moved towards the nearby rocks, one of the warriors discovered the remains of symbols similar to those they had found earlier, mysteriously etched into the rocks.
Everyone paused for a moment, and Maru began to examine the new symbols, his eyes narrowing as he took new notes.
"This is no coincidence." Maru said calmly, but his tone held a hint of concern.
After hours of exploration, the team decided to return to the campsite near the entrance to the forest.
They began to set up camp, and the atmosphere was not without a few light moments, as Ren tried to add some humour to relieve the tension.
Lin was watching the tower that was clearly visible from their position, his mind filled with questions about what secret the island was hiding.
But those quiet moments didn't last long.
Strange sounds began to echo in the air, as if they were coming from inside the forest.
The sounds were unintelligible whispers and heavy voices moving through the trees, causing everyone to stop and look towards the shadows.
"Did you hear that?" Zane, a member of the Second Legion, said, trying to focus on the source of the sound.
Kira, a brave warrior of the guards, added in a low voice: "There seems to be something... moving around out there."
Everyone was divided between curiosity and caution, but Ren, as usual, said, "What? Don't look too much. Maybe we should just go see."
As the team progressed through the dense forest, the silence that had enveloped them seemed to fade away, replaced by the sounds of intermittent whispers and unintelligible echoes.
The trees, with their strange, dark leaves, seemed to be silently watching them.
The tension was palpable in the air, and everyone was walking cautiously.
A strange creature suddenly emerged from the shadows.
It was tall and thin, with dark, cracked skin that bore the marks of time itself.
Its eyes, glowing a deep red colour, pierced the darkness and seemed to light up the entire forest.
The creature looked like a part of the place, but it had an eerie, unsettling presence.
Everyone stopped where they were, exchanging glances without saying a word.
The creature stood confidently and said in a deep, sober voice: "Where are you going?"
Rin was the first to speak, as usual unable to hold his tongue: "And who are you to ask us?"
The wolf, he took a step forward, his paws clawing at the silence.
"I am the guardian here. No one crosses this land without passing me first. If you are looking for the tower, I must warn you."
Len, who was feeling irritated, moved slightly towards the creature.
"We don't need to warn you. We know where we're going, and nothing will stop us."
The creature chuckled, then said, "You think you know the way. But you will not know what awaits you until it is too late."
He paused, then added in a more enigmatic voice: "I can guide you, if you want me to."
Yumi watched silently, before saying firmly: "We will not trust you, and we will not accept your offer. We will continue on our own."
The creature smiled an eerie smile and said, "As you wish. But beware of the shadows, for they have no mercy on the ignorant."
It then turned and disappeared into the trees, leaving behind a sense of dread and uncertainty.
The team continued into the forest, which became more mysterious and dense.
Branches hugged the sky, and shadows moved as if they were following them.
Suddenly, a pungent odour wafted through the air, and their footsteps led them to a horrifying sight: The corpse of a giant monster, completely decomposed, its ribs exposed and covered in strange, tangled vegetation.
"What is this?" Lin said, trying to get away from the smell.
Maru bent down to examine the corpse, while he said in a hesitant voice: "This is not normal. There are human remains preserved inside it."
Everyone was standing in a daze when another creature appeared from the shadows.
He was huge with long limbs, and his body bore the scars of bloody battles.
His pale eyes fixed on the group, and his voice was low and raspy: "Do not continue on your way."
Everyone backed off a little, but Lin took a step forward and said, "Why? What awaits us?"
The being, despite its obvious wounds, stood firm and said, "The tower is not for you. Something stronger than you is waiting for you, and it will not spare you."
Yumi tried to make sense of his words: "Do you mean the being who calls himself the Guardian?"
The creature did not reply, but looked at the ground as if carrying a great burden.
"You have been warned. But the shadows do not forgive."
Then he fell to the ground, and his last breath was gone
Everyone stood in silence, but the last creature's words kept echoing in their minds.
Despite the warning, there was no wavering in their determination.
Lin looked at the others and said, "We won't stop now. The tower is the key, and we need to know it."