I Received System to Become Dragonborn-Chapter 860: Raised Danger

The rift sealed shut with a sharp snap followed by a faint vibration in the air as if the fabric of reality itself recoiled, angry at being closed.

It trembled briefly giving a dying shudder like a beast cut off mid-roar.

Eccar hovered above it, hand still glowing with residual energy with grim expression.

The rift had been moments away from spewing out another wave of grey creatures. But not anymore.

He rose higher into the sky again and scanning the forest below. His eyes flicked left to right, searching for any flicker anad disturbance in the mist.

But then he sighed deeply, a line of frustration forming on his face.

There were too many.

"Erend… damnit, where are you?" Eccar muttered under his breath, scanning the horizon in vain.

But Erend didn't answer, and Eccar knew he couldn't afford to wait right now.

He turned, ready to dive back toward the forest, when something strange prickled at the edge of his senses.

A presence.

No, multiple presences.

Different from the regular grey creatures. He'd felt enough of those to know their scent in the air. But this… this feels heavier. Charged with thick intent. A kind of pressure that only came from those who commanded these creatures.

At first, it was just one. Then another came out, and then another one. they emerging not all at once but in deliberate succession.

Eccar's eyes narrowed. "What the hell…?"

"They're not just spewing out foot soldiers anymore," he thought grimly. "Now they're releasing commanders type?!"

He focused. The faint signatures of two of them pulled his attention toward a cluster the adventurers that about a few dozen kilometers west from where he was hovering.

He sensed the party running while bloodied and exhausted, unknowingly moving toward danger.

They maybe even being hunted by it.

Without another word, Eccar tore through the sky in a blur, leaving streaks of Magic energy behind as he soared toward them.

---

Down below, Jan led the party through the twisted woods, his steps sure even on the uneven ground.

The forest was dense with thick mist, hanging vines, creeping tendrils, and jagged roots. But to Jan, this was home. The mist, the darkness, even the lingering foreign Magic in the air didn't slow him.

But the others struggled.

None of them had rested since the battle before. their breaths came harder. Though they were all well above average adventurers the forest's terrain was relentless and fatigue was catching up.

But fortunately they still able to kept pace with him.

Behind them, three more figures followed. They also bloodied, and more battered that them. They were the only survivors from the other party that attacked them.

There was no time to argue for now, no time for questions. Survival is more important right now.

Jan glanced back briefly. The others had noticed the new arrivals too, but none spoke of it.

They all felt that the air has become more… wrong.

A looming pressure crawled over their shoulders like invisible hands tightening around their throats. Danger was closing in but they didn't know where were they came from. As if they just coming from all sides.

Then something stirred ahead.

From the mist, a shape emerged.

"Watch out!" Jan snapped. He didn't hesitate. His bowstring stretched and an arrow shot forward with lethal speed.

The others halted instantly and raised their weapons and spells.

But Jan had already seen it. The form was clear now. It was taller than most grey creatures, leaner, but marked with sharp black lines that pulsed.

Two green eyes stared back at him with unnatural calm. It have two green eyes not like the other grey creatures that only have one.

The arrow never reached it. The creature's hand moved and caught it mid-air.

"What the fuck is that?" Hund breathed from behind, voice tight with disbelief.

The others saw it now too. It was one of the grey creature, but something more. Its presence was different.

And it was blocking their path. More movement came from behind the mist. It was another grey creature with two green eyes like the one in the front.

Darel, Varn, and Yara who were at the rear of the group, were the first to see them. Two grey creatures emerging from the mist with black lines and with two green eyes.

They weren't like the others. They were stronger. Their presence clung to the air pressing against their body. All three felt it instantly and it made them tremble. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

"Shit… argh—" Darel grunted, clutching his side where cracked ribs throbbed with every breath. His sword arm twitched, but his eyes stayed locked on the creatures.

Yara and Varn who flanked him equally shaken. The aura pouring off these things was suffocating. It wasn't just strength but also control and purpose. These were no mindless beasts.

"Are we gonna die here?" Varn muttered, teeth clenched tight.

No one answered. But in their silence the truth hung heavy. The possibility wasn't far from that.

Then, in perfect unnatural unison, both grey two-eyed creatures raised their hands. The one in front, one behind.

A flicker of energy crackled. A heartbeat later twin blasts of green light exploded toward the adventurers like lances.

Mark stepped forward instinctively, raising his rune-etched sword. The blast slammed into it with a thunderous impact, pushing him back hard.

Jan caught him, steadying him before he could stumble.

Behind, Darel mirrored the movement, his own blade intercepting the second blast. The force rattled through his wounded frame, nearly knocking him off his feet.

Yara moved fast, bracing him from behind, anchoring him with both hands.

Their formation held. But just barely.

Then at the same time they can see that the grey creatures opened their almost human lips and show them a grin.

Mark widened his eyes. He gritted his teeth, finaly noticing for real that the enemy has raised in levels.

Before he can say anything the grey creatures lunged at them with terryfying speed. Mark braced himself.

---