They circled him like wolves, their movements smooth and silent, weaving in and out of his vision.
Their bodies flickered, shifting between solid forms and ghostly illusions, each one looking just as real as the next.
It was impossible to tell which were flesh and blood and which were mere tricks meant to mislead him.
Reno's breath came slow and steady, but his heart pounded in his chest.
His sharp eyes darted from one figure to another, studying the way they moved, searching for anything that would give the real ones away.
The air felt thick with tension, charged with the promise of sudden violence. Reno's muscles coiled, ready to move in an instant. He couldn't afford to guess wrong. A single mistake, and the real attackers would be on him before he had a chance to react.
His fingers twitched at his sides, itching to strike, but he held back. He needed to be sure. He needed to see through their deception before it was too late.
