The darkness around him was like looking into the abyss of space. THe air was thick and heavy. Everything about the area felt off; with every step towards the mountain, it became more and more abnormal. It wasn't a single thing, but more so a combination of many things that gave the area an unnatural feel. The sky was devoid of stars, just the moon hanging above like a soulless orb of pale light. The mountain loomed in the distance; a large shadow circling overhead.
"Hey, wait up Iyago!" Rias called from behind him, jogging to catch up.
He stopped and turned to face her, "I thought you would stay back; you said it wasn't safe here."
Rias frowned, "I did say it was dangerous, this creature is quite powerful, but safety in numbers applies well here."
"If you say so, but still, if things get too hot, I'm going to have to ask you to run, there's no point in dying fighting a losing bing to battle." Iyago said beginning to walk again.
"Wait, Iyago, there's something you need to know." Rias called out.
"I think the situation is fairly clear, big fucking monster, kill it, what could be complicated about that?" Iyago said.
"It's about the path to the mountain." Rias explained, "We'll have to pass through Aokigahara."
"The forest?" Iyago said with a laugh, "It may be well after dark, but the woods don't scare me."
"It should," Rias said, "The forest has another name, the Suicide Forest, it is said that these woods are so deep, that one can become lost forever within them."
"Big fucking whoop, let's go." Iyago said.
"It's not that which concerns me most, it's who or what lurks there now." Rias said walking beside him.
"You sense it too?" Iyago asked.
"Yes." She replied.
"They're fine, stop worrying and stay focused, I don't need my back up to be scatterbrained, OK?"
"Alright, but let's not take too long to get through the woods." She said.
"Agreed." Iyago said walking into the trees.