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The moment Cain, Alice, and Felvion crossed the boundary of the cursed zone, it was as if the world shifted beneath them. The atmosphere grew heavy, dense with the unmistakable presence of void energy. The ground felt wrong under their feet it was unstable, as though it pulsed in time with the eerie wail that echoed faintly in the distance.

The fog that blanketed the cursed zone was thick, swirling like a living thing, and the oppressive weight of the void pressed down on them. Every step forward felt like a struggle against an unseen force. Even Felvion, who usually led the way with quiet confidence, moved cautiously, its sleek black fur bristling as it sniffed the air.

"It's like the ground itself is alive," Alice muttered, her sharp eyes scanning the decaying landscape of Greymoor. The once-thriving village now lay in ruins, its buildings crumbling and overgrown with dark, twisted vines that seemed to pulse with the same strange energy as the ground.

Cain didn't respond, his focus entirely on their surroundings. He could feel the void energy seeping into the air, gnawing at the edges of his mind. Every now and then, he heard it—faint, but unmistakable. The wail of Siren Head, carried on the wind like a mournful cry from the depths of the void.

They moved deeper into the cursed zone, passing through the desolate remnants of Greymoor. The silence was unnerving, broken only by the occasional creak of a collapsing structure or the distant whisper of the wind. It felt like the very land had been drained of life, consumed by the void.

As they reached what had once been the outskirts of the village, they came upon the remnants of a campsite. Cain stopped, his sharp eyes narrowing as he took in the scene before him.

The tents were torn apart, their fabric flapping weakly in the cold wind. The ground around the camp was scorched, as if by some immense force, and dark stains marked the dirt—a twisted residue that reeked of void corruption.

Cain knelt down, running his fingers over the scorched earth. "There was a struggle here," he said, his voice low. "They fought hard."

Alice stepped forward, her eyes narrowing as she surveyed the area. "This wasn't just a failed mission," she muttered, her usual playful tone absent. "They were slaughtered."

Cain's gaze shifted to the shattered weapons scattered across the ground—broken spears, snapped blades, and pieces of armor, all twisted and warped by the void energy that had consumed the camp. His jaw clenched. He had known Rowan and his team. They had been brave, but young. And now they were gone.

"They never stood a chance," Alice murmured, her voice barely audible. Her eyes landed on a nearby tent, half-collapsed, and she reached out to touch it, her fingers brushing against the void-tainted fabric. For a moment, her eyes flickered with something darker—something more than just her usual detached amusement. A hint of anger, perhaps. Or maybe regret.

Flashback: Team 9's Last Mission

The world shifts, and the scene changes. We are now with Team 9: The Horizon Guard on their last mission, several weeks earlier.

Rowan, their young leader, stood at the front of the group, his spear held firmly in his hand as he led his team into the cursed zone. The fog was thick around them, swirling like a living entity, but Rowan's determination burned brighter than the darkness that surrounded them.

Behind him, Sophie, their Doll, moved with practiced precision, her hands outstretched as she maintained the protective wards that surrounded them. Her expression was calm, focused, her pale hair glowing faintly in the dim light of the cursed zone.

Whisper, their Nokorii, moved ahead of the group, its sleek form slipping silently through the fog, its senses attuned to the void energy that filled the air. It was a shadow, always just ahead, always alert.

"This place is worse than we thought," Rowan muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Stay close."

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Sophie nodded, her eyes flicking to the horizon where the swirling fog seemed to pulse with a dark, malevolent energy. "The wards are holding for now, but the void here is stronger than anything we've faced before. We need to be careful."

Rowan's grip tightened on his spear. He was young, eager to prove himself, but he wasn't foolish. He knew the dangers that awaited them. But they had a mission, and he would see it through.

As they ventured deeper into the cursed zone, the wail of Siren Head began to echo through the air. At first, it was faint, distant, like a distant scream carried on the wind. But as they moved further into the zone, the sound grew louder, more distinct.

Rowan glanced at Sophie. "You hear that?"

She nodded, her expression grim. "It's coming from the center of the zone. That's where we'll find the source."

The wail grew louder with every step, until it was all they could hear. It wasn't just a sound—it was a force, a presence that pressed down on them, warping their senses and clouding their minds. Rowan's movements felt sluggish, his thoughts muddled by the overwhelming noise.

Sophie's wards began to flicker, the protective barrier around them weakening under the sheer weight of the sonic waves. "I can't hold it much longer," she gasped, her hands trembling as she struggled to maintain the spell.

Whisper let out a low growl, its sleek body tense as it tried to track the source of the sound. But every time it seemed to get close, the wail shifted, moving through the fog like a phantom, always just out of reach.

Rowan gritted his teeth, his spear held ready as he pushed forward. "We need to find it. Now."

But the deeper they went, the worse it became. The wail grew louder, more disorienting, until it felt like the very ground beneath them was vibrating with the sound. Their movements became erratic, their vision blurred as the void energy overwhelmed them.

Rowan raised his spear, his vision swimming as he tried to focus on the source of the wail. But all he could see were shadows, illusions conjured by the void, twisting and warping around him.

With a cry of frustration, he thrust his spear forward, but it shattered on impact, the blade splintering as it struck nothing but air.

Sophie collapsed beside him, clutching her head as the sound invaded her mind, driving her to madness. Her wards flickered and died, leaving them exposed to the full force of Siren Head's power.

The last thing Rowan heard before everything went black was the deafening scream of Siren Head, reverberating through his very bones.

The Discovery of Rowan's Spear

Back in the present, the oppressive silence of the cursed zone pressed down on Cain and Alice as they continued their investigation. The remnants of Team 9's final stand were scattered across the ground it was a grim reminder of the battle that had taken place here.

As they ventured further into the campsite, Cain noticed something glinting in the dirt. He knelt down, brushing away the debris to reveal the shattered remains of Rowan's spear. The weapon had been broken in half, its blade twisted and warped by void energy.

Cain's hand tightened around the broken spear, his jaw clenched. Rowan had fought to the end, but even his determination hadn't been enough to save him or his team.

Alice stood a few feet away, her eyes fixed on the scene before them. There was no smirk on her lips now, no teasing comment to lighten the mood. Instead, there was only a somber silence.

"They never stood a chance," she said quietly, her voice carrying a weight that Cain rarely heard from her.

Cain nodded, his gaze still locked on the broken spear. "We need to finish this," he said, his voice low and filled with resolve. "For them."

Alice's eyes flickered with a spark of determination. "For all of them."

Siren Head's Approach

The air around them grew heavier, the oppressive weight of void energy pressing down on their senses. The ground beneath their feet trembled, as if the very earth was responding to the presence of Siren Head.

The wail that had once been distant now grew louder, more distinct, filling the air with its mournful, otherworldly sound. It wasn't just a noise—it was a presence, a force that seemed to warp reality around it, distorting everything in its path.

Felvion growled, its fur bristling as it sensed the entity approaching. The spirit cat's sharp senses picked up the subtle vibrations in the air, and it crouched low, its eyes fixed on the fog that swirled around them.

Cain's hand tightened on the hilt of Valkyrie, his sharp eyes scanning the horizon. He could feel it now—Siren Head was close. Closer than ever.

Alice's eyes gleamed with anticipation, her hand hovering near her blade. "Let's end this."

The ground trembled beneath them as the distant silhouette of Siren Head emerged from the fog, its towering form casting a long shadow over the ruins of Greymoor. The air around it seemed to warp and twist, the wail growing louder, more intense, as the entity made its presence known.

Cain and Alice stood ready, their senses heightened, their resolve unshaken.

This was the battle they had been preparing for.