The sound of clanking metal continued in the distance. Kai and the others stood in silence as a group approached—six figures in total. Three wore brown and white robes, while the other three were clad in strange, heavy armor. They moved cautiously, following the glow of an unusual lamp.
The lamp itself was unsettling—its red light flickered like a living eye, shifting as if tracking something unseen. When it turned briefly in their direction, its glow pulsed several times, as if trying to pinpoint a presence.
The white-robed figure holding it began issuing orders.
"One of you, check around that bush. The Judgment's Gaze reacted to something over there..."
One of the knights stepped forward, placing a hand on the hilt of his sword. His armor rattled with every movement. The rest of the group raised their guard, tension thick in the air.
Kai felt his heart quicken. Were they going to have to fight now? The knight was nearly on top of them, brushing branches aside, drawing closer with each step. Behind him, the red glow of the lamp searched the area like a predator sniffing out prey.
Kai nearly gave the mental command to send his two skeletons as a distraction so the rest could escape—when an explosion rang out near the cave entrance.
A sudden burst of pain shot through his hand, like he'd pressed it against a burning stove. Smoke curled faintly from his fingers. Gritting his teeth, he covered his mouth with his other hand, doing his best not to make a sound.
The knight froze mid-step as the lamp's eye shifted away from the bush, turning to illuminate the path leading toward the cave. The red glow brightened, shifting into a pale white—as if attempting to cleanse something.
"Leave it. Let's move. The Gaze switched to purification. Something evil is happening over there. Proceed with caution," one of the robed figures said sharply.
Without hesitation, the group rushed toward the source of the light's reaction.
Once they were gone, Kai glanced down at his hand—the one that had been touched by the strange lamp's glow. The skin was slowly healing, but parts of it remained charred and blistered. He winced and let out a quiet groan, clutching his unmoving chest with his other hand. It no longer beat.
Alison stood nearby, looking guilty. She avoided his gaze, already knowing what he was going to ask.
"I… sort of went crazy in the lab," she admitted. "I was venting, broke a few things. Some parts started sizzling. I didn't think it would cause any problems—there wasn't any smoke or anything. I guess we were lucky to leave right before the explosion…" Her voice trailed off.
Kai sighed. "Whatever. We're alive. I don't know who those people were, but that lamp was dangerous. Let's get out of here before it leads them back to us."
The four of them rushed deeper into the forest. Alison led the way, her movements swift and sure. The two skeletons followed close behind, their bone-clad limbs moving at a steady, tireless pace. They didn't fatigue like the living, which helped them keep up until the group finally spotted signs of a road ahead.
"This… we're near the city limits," Alison said, glancing around. "If we keep going on foot for another hour, we'll reach the edge of this forest. But… are you sure we should walk in with two skeletons? What if the police see us?"
Kai exhaled, considering the risk. "We need a place to rest—just for a few minutes. I'll have to contact someone who might be able to help."
He didn't say it aloud, but only one name came to mind: Ysaria. As much as he disliked the idea, she might be their only option to come up with a way to get out of this.
Alison hesitated. "I want to ask who, but… I know we don't have time. Those people—they looked like church fanatics. And now I'm… some kind of undead. I guess that means I'll be hunted too." Her voice wavered near the end.
Kai nodded, his expression hard. "Just find us somewhere safe for now. There was a bridge near the forest entrance, right? Maybe we can hide there?"
"If it's that one, I think I know the way. We can reach it in twenty minutes, give or take. Follow me," she said, determination returning to her voice.
Without another word, she took the lead again. Her steps didn't slow, her stamina seemingly endless. Kai found it strange—but then again, he suspected it wasn't stamina she was using. Something else was fueling her. The green energy that now flowed through their undead bodies—something unnatural, and likely limited.
Still, for now, it was enough. And that was all they needed.
He pushed the thought aside. If they could just escape the group from earlier, a bit of damage would be a small price to pay.
As Alison predicted, they soon spotted a large bridge meant for cars—spanning a stream that flowed beneath it. They exited the forest and waded through the water, hoping it would help wash away their tracks before they took cover on the other side.
One of the skeletons lagged slightly, its movements clunky in the current. Kai glanced down and noticed part of its foot had eroded away in the stream.
"Guess it was more of a river, huh? Looks like it rained a few hours ago… maybe that's why the water's stronger than it should be," he muttered, already preparing to switch bodies.
"Keep an eye out," he warned Alison. "Let me know if anything happens. I can still hear things from this body when I switch bodies."
"Alright?" came her short but confused reply.
With that, he focused, shifting consciousness away from his current body.
The moment he arrived in Gilgrim's body, he was greeted by the sound of a loud yawn. Ysaria was still lounging nearby, idly flipping through a thick tome.
"Hey," Kai said, his voice low and serious. "We might have a problem…"