C18 The Blood Battle Was Breaking Through

In the forest, where weeds grew wild and untamed, the occasional roar of beasts and the calls of birds pierced the air. Towering ancient trees reached skyward, their verdant majesty undisturbed.

Beneath one such giant, a young man in bloodstained garb stood in an unusual stance amidst the flattened underbrush. At a glance, it resembled a horse stance, yet upon closer inspection, it was distinct