They continued moving through the grassy path, then a structure appeared ahead.

Reinhard's eyes widened as they approached the structure without stopping, and he saw a ruined house.

The wooden walls had collapsed partially, creating gaps that revealed the dark interior. Roots had invaded every opening, entering through windows and doorways like seeking fingers.

They covered the walls in thick layers, creating patterns that almost looked intentional.

Holes torn through the structure showed more roots inside, their surfaces smooth from years of growth.

Brunhilde frowned, stopping several paces from the entrance, and her expression grew serious. "I sense two lives inside the ruined house. But they're almost at their end."

Reinhard blinked, Marie's brows furrowed in concern, and Joseph opened his mouth in concern. "Could it be someone is injured-"

Janus shook his head firmly. "It's most likely a Phantasm Beast."

He walked toward the house without hesitation, leading the others to exchange glances before following. The doorway was open with roots hanging across it like a curtain, which Janus pushed through, and they entered.

The interior was a devastation frozen in time.

Broken shelves lay scattered across the floor, with roots sticking through them, and signs of decay showing. There were clothes ripped apart while hanging from roots, with some of them covered in moss and fungi. Long since claimed by nature or decay.

Tables had collapsed into pieces, while objects were wrapped in roots or seemed to be deep into the ground.

Reinhard navigated carefully through the roots that crisscrossed the floor. Some were as thick as his arm, creating barriers they had to step over or duck under. The smell here was overwhelmingly filled with rot and earth and something else.

Near another hole in the far wall, they found it.

A Werefang lay sprawled across the ground. Roots pierced through its body in multiple places, crimson-stained wood protruding from flesh.

More roots wrapped around its neck, tight enough to create visible grooves in fur.

They spread over its head like a crown of thorns, then continued down into the earth below. The beast's chest still moved, but it was shallow breaths that wheezed through damaged lungs.

Down from the Werefang lay a dog with multiple branches that had punctured through its body, and roots wrapped it so completely that fur was barely visible. Its eyes were closed, and it was trembling to stay alive.

Marie, Joseph, and Marie stared in shock while Brunhilde's eyes slightly lowered at the sight of the dog.

Janus sighed as he gave them both a look of pity before he walked slowly toward the Phantasm Beast, his footsteps careful to avoid disturbing it unnecessarily. The Werefang's eyes tracked his movement, and it started making whining noises.

Janus knelt beside the creature, his hand reaching out to gently pat what little fur remained exposed. "I'm guessing you were chasing the dog... It's okay. I'll help you."

Janus then stretched out his hand before purple-black light erupted around his hand. The glow intensified as a gauntlet formed on his right arm before crimson claws extended from the fingertips.

Janus then stared at the Werefang, which whimpered once more, its eyes meeting Janus.

Before he thrust his claws into the Werefang's skull, the beast's whimpers cut off instantly, body slumping as life fled.

Blood leaked briefly down the beast's body and on the ground before the roots began absorbing it.

Janus pulled back before he moved to the dog next, giving it the same mercy. As he plunged his claws deep into the dog, he ended it while rubbing its head with his other hand.

Everyone except Brunhilde looked shaken.

Marie sighed deeply, her hand dropping from her mouth. "I wish we could have helped it, but the dog was already gone."

Janus nodded as he began standing up slowly, and his expression displayed sorrow. "Once the roots have already wrapped you up and spread over your body, death is the only option left. Unless you wish to be taken by it."

Joseph frowned as he glanced around and said. "I know they said we had to be careful of the roots, but I thought they meant getting lost or having the way blocked."

Janus looked down at the bodies as he quietly said. "Those are the most common and constant issues. But sometimes, without you knowing or realizing, the roots could strike or wrap around you."

Silence descended.

Reinhard wondered if this meant the roots could cover you while you sleep. If this were the case, then doesn't it mean sleeping outside in the day was dangerous?

As for them attacking, it's reminding him of Phane City, where the roots that had been summoned. He recalls them piercing or wrapping around people to help the tree collect the souls that would be sent to Fenrir.

I know it shouldn't be possible, but could they be similar? Reinhard thought.

But then he was brought out of his thoughts as Brunhilde's expression shifted.

Brunhilde frowned, then her eyes widened slightly. "Everyone out! Now!"

No one questioned or asked why Brunhilde shouted those words.

They simply moved, rushing through the hall they'd entered from. Reinhard's boots stomp against the root-covered floor as they burst through the doorway, putting distance between themselves and the house.

Once they were a good deal away from it, they heard Brunhilde's voice. "Stop! We should be far enough."

They halted, turning to face her, and all of them were sending questioning glances.

But it was then that Janus's eyes widened suddenly, and his head whipped toward the house. "The roots are here-"

The ground trembled.

It started as a subtle vibration, easily mistaken for wind or their own movement. Then it intensified rapidly, with the earth around the house beginning to shake violently, dirt and small stones bouncing.

Cracks appeared in the ground, and they began spreading before the ground broke apart.

Massive roots erupted from below with terrifying force. They were bigger than the trees around as roots wrapped around the house, coiling around walls and support structures.

Then they pulled.

The house began sinking. It was moving slowly at first, and then faster as more roots joined the effort. The wood groaned and cracked before the structure collapsed. The timber screamed as the entire structure folded fully and descended with a thunderous boom.

Reinhard watched in stunned silence as the ruined house disappeared into the ground. The hole swallowed it completely, every piece consumed by the earth below. Then, gradually, roots spread across the opening, covering the split ground with roots and a new ground area.

Three seconds of silence passed.

Marie asked softly with a blank expression. "Is that another phenomenon of the roots?"

Janus nodded as he rubbed the back of his neck. "When something has been wrapped around with roots for a long time, the ground will open up and more roots will rush out to drag it down into the earth."

Reinhard furrowed his brows. "Does this mean the towns and villages have to constantly relocate?"

"Sometimes we do." Janus confirmed. "But we've learned that if we can always spot them and cut them off before they fully wrap, then nothing will happen." He took a shaky breath. "Regardless, we should continue moving."

Everyone nodded, and they followed Janus deeper into Eastern Hesod's embrace.

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