The movement ahead didn't stop.
If anything—
It grew clearer.
Shapes pulled themselves from the darkness, one after another, each step uneven yet deliberate. The same twisted posture. The same unnatural rhythm.
But now—
There were more.
Riser's eyes sharpened slightly.
"...Yeah."
He exhaled through his nose.
"That's not ideal."
Lyra didn't respond immediately.
Her gaze tracked the front line of approaching constructs, calculating distance, spacing, movement patterns.
"...Three in front," she said quietly.
A brief pause.
Then—
"...Two more behind."
Riser narrowed his eyes.
"You're seeing that already?"
"I'm counting."
"Of course you are."
The constructs didn't rush this time.
They spread.
Slowly.
Intentionally.
"...They're adapting," Riser muttered.
Lyra's expression tightened.
"They're coordinating."
"That's worse."
"Much worse."
Riser shifted his stance slightly.
Weight balanced.
Breathing steady.
"...Plan?"
Lyra didn't hesitate.
"Don't let them surround us."
"Simple."
"It needs to be."
The first one moved.
Then the rest followed.
Not chaotic.
Organized.
Riser stepped forward before they could close in.
Breaking their formation—
Even slightly—
Was better than letting them dictate the flow.
The nearest construct lunged.
Riser didn't dodge this time.
He met it head-on.
His arm came up—
Deflecting the initial strike—
Then—
He stepped inside.
Close enough to disrupt its balance.
Lyra moved at the same time.
Her movement was cleaner.
Sharper.
She slipped past the second construct—
Not engaging—
Repositioning.
"...Good," Riser muttered under his breath.
The first construct twisted—
Its arm snapping toward him again—
Riser caught it.
This time—
He didn't hold.
He pulled.
Hard.
The construct stumbled forward—
Its unstable posture working against it—
And Riser used that.
He turned—
Redirected—
And threw it directly into the one behind it.
The collision wasn't clean.
But it didn't need to be.
It disrupted them.
Lyra capitalized instantly.
She moved through the gap—
Her strike precise—
Targeting the same core point as before.
One down.
"...Two," she muttered.
But the others didn't hesitate.
They closed in.
Faster now.
Riser stepped back—
Not retreating—
Repositioning.
"...Left."
Lyra shifted immediately.
No hesitation.
A construct came from the side—
Low angle—
Unpredictable.
Riser pivoted—
Barely avoiding the strike—
But the second one followed immediately.
"...Tch—!"
This one was faster.
Its hand grazed his shoulder—
Not deep—
But enough.
Riser felt the impact.
Sharp.
Unstable.
"...That's annoying."
Lyra appeared beside him instantly.
Her movement cut between them—
A clean strike—
Forcing the construct back.
"...You good?"
She didn't look at him.
Riser rolled his shoulder slightly.
"...I've had worse."
A brief pause.
Then—
"...Don't get hit again."
Riser smirked faintly.
"You too."
They moved again.
This time—
Together.
Not planned.
Not discussed.
Just—
Aligned.
Riser stepped forward—
Drawing attention—
Two constructs focused on him.
That was enough.
Lyra slipped behind them—
Her movement silent—
Efficient—
One precise strike—
Another construct dropped.
"...Three."
Riser exhaled.
"Nice."
But the remaining ones didn't falter.
If anything—
They became more aggressive.
"...They're speeding up."
Lyra's tone shifted slightly.
"Then we finish it fast."
Riser nodded once.
"...Agreed."
The next exchange was faster.
Less controlled.
More pressure.
Riser blocked—
Dodged—
Redirected—
But the gap was smaller now.
Less room.
One mistake—
That was all it would take.
A construct lunged—
Too fast—
Riser couldn't fully avoid it this time.
Impact.
He slid back slightly.
"...Tch—!"
Before it could follow—
Lyra stepped in.
Not attacking—
Intercepting.
Her movement stopped the construct's momentum—
Just enough.
Riser recovered instantly.
He stepped forward—
This time—
No hesitation.
His strike landed—
Direct.
The construct froze—
Then collapsed.
Silence.
The last one remained.
It hesitated.
Just for a moment.
Then—
It retreated.
"...It's pulling back," Riser said.
Lyra didn't chase.
"...Let it."
The construct disappeared into the darkness.
Gone.
For now.
Riser exhaled slowly.
"...That was more like it."
Lyra rolled her shoulder slightly.
"...You're slower than me."
Riser snorted.
"You're lighter than me."
"Excuses."
"Facts."
A brief silence.
Then—
"...You didn't freeze."
Lyra's voice was quieter this time.
Riser glanced at her.
"Was I supposed to?"
"No."
A pause.
"...Most do."
Riser shrugged.
"I don't like losing."
Another silence.
But this one—
Different.
The system activated again.
[System Notification]Multi-Entity Engagement CompletedCombat Efficiency IncreasedSynchronized Combat Rating: EstablishedAffinity Growth: Lyra ↑↑
Riser let out a slow breath.
"...That's a lot of arrows."
Lyra glanced at it.
"...Yeah."
She looked back at him.
"...You're reliable."
Riser blinked once.
"...Didn't expect that from you."
She turned away slightly.
"...Don't get used to it."
He smirked faintly.
"Too late."
They moved forward again.
Deeper.
But now—
The air felt different.
Heavier.
Not from numbers.
From something else.
Riser's expression shifted.
"...That wasn't the main threat."
Lyra nodded slowly.
"...No."
A faint sound echoed from deeper within the zone.
Lower.
More stable.
More—
Alive.
Riser cracked his neck slightly.
"...Alright."
A small grin formed.
"Now I'm interested."
Because whatever was waiting ahead—
Wasn't going to be another group.
It was going to be something worse.