Tengen Uzui, the Sound Hashira, strode through the forest with his signature flamboyant swagger, though his senses were razor-sharp. His cleavers rested lightly on his shoulders—ready to spin into action at a moment’s notice.

The trees around him were unnervingly still—no birdsong, no rustling leaves. Just an eerie silence that made even his flashy presence feel out of place here. The shadows between the trunks seemed to pulse like a heartbeat waiting for its cue...

A smirk tugged at Tengen's lips as he tilted his head slightly, listening intently beyond human hearing range: "Ah… so you’re hiding in there." He winked into the darkness ahead—because if this demon thought it could sneak up on him, they had another thing coming!

His fingers twitched near one cleaver’s hilt—not afraid but excited for whatever chaos was about to unfold!

But then? Nothing…

Despite his confident façade, Tengen felt an unwelcome shiver run through him. The silence deepened, almost... heavy, pressing down upon him like a thick, smothering blanket. It felt wrong—as if the forest itself was holding its breath, awaiting a calamity even he could not predict...

He stopped walking, eyes narrowing as he took in his surroundings. The shadows around him seemed darker now, denser, almost alive with their own sinister intelligence. The breeze no longer carried the scent of fresh leaves and soil—instead it brought the faint stench of something twisted and unholy.