The monstrous buffalo stood there, massive and imposing, its hooves firmly planted in the mist-soaked earth, as if it had been born from the very ground—or worse, as if it were its guardian.
Its ragged breath escaped in slow, powerful bursts, making the surrounding bamboo tremble. A tense silence hung in the air, thick like a rope stretched to its limit.
Maggie didn't move. She stared at the creature, standing tall, arms ready to strike again despite the shock of their first clash.
Dylan, crouched behind his rock, caught his breath, his gaze fixed on the red veins pulsing softly along the beast's flanks. That was the spot. That's where they needed to strike. But first, they had to reach it.
Meanwhile, Élisa was already slipping around the perimeter, using the shadows and ruins to reposition herself. She said nothing, but her eyes gleamed. She was just waiting for the right moment.
