The morning air on Floor 11 tasted like ozone and pine needles, a sharp, clean scent that did absolutely nothing to mask the tension radiating off Dante as he led the party out of the city gates and into the crystal forest beyond.
They weren't moving with the casual drift of tourists anymore. This was a loose diamond formation, combat-ready spacing that let them react to threats from any angle without clustering into a single target zone. Ren took point with his new shield slung across his back but within easy reach, Ravenna and Leon flanked the center, and Astrid and Sera watched the rear while Dante floated between them like an anchor that kept the formation tight.
"Stop scuffing your feet," Ren muttered to Astrid without looking back. "You're kicking up dust trails."
