While the village remained blissfully busy with wedding arrangements, Jon, Benjen, and SatSuki set off to investigate the forest's outer perimeter. They followed a strange trail—burnt foliage, claw marks too precise for normal beasts, and an unnatural chill in the air.
As they crept deeper into the dense trees, Jon sensed something. His connection with Gyūki may have weakened, but his instincts remained sharp. He halted the group.
Jon:
"Something's watching us."
Before they could react, a dark shape darted between trees. Benjen launched forward in his wolf form, but the figure vanished into mist.
SatSuki (grimly):
"That wasn't spirit corruption. That was shadow magic."
Jon clenched his fists. Whoever—or whatever—it was, it had been scouting the village.
Returning home, Jon didn't speak a word of the threat to Sam or Ren. He couldn't steal their happiness.
But later that night, Jon stood beneath the Spirit Tree, staring at the stars above.
Jon (softly):
"I'll protect them. No matter what comes."
And far beyond the forest borders, unseen eyes watched the village from the shadows… a new power had entered Seirei Gensouki's world—one with sinister intent.