From the nearby bushes, a small, dark creature bounced into view. It was a dark slime, no larger than a fist, with two glowing dots that served as its eyes.
It moved with energy, bouncing until it reached Andrew's unconscious body. The slime glanced at the deer beside Lila, who was still sitting on the ground, dazed.
The slime then turned its attention back to Andrew, extending a long, stretchy arm-like appendage toward his cheek. As it touched him, Andrew's body began to tremble, and his shadow started to get sucked into the dark slime.
But before it could finish, the slime's senses sharpened—it quickly leaped into the air, dodging a dark fireball that came out of nowhere.
The slime clung to a nearby tree, glancing at the man who had appeared. It tried to attack again, shooting out a squid-like ink, but the man's barrier easily blocked it. Calmly, the man walked forward, his eyes locked on the slime.