Inside the mountain, Rune's instincts sharpened further with every step.
It was too smooth. Too clean.
Trap after trap fell apart under their coordinated efforts. Layers of illusion dissolved. Detection arrays were looped, and killing formations collapsed before they could activate.
Everything was going too easy for it to be normal.
Not only that but they had already made it this deep within the establishment and yet there were no guards in sight, no patrol units, no systems detecting them, and not even a single alarm.
Rune's pace slowed. His eyes narrowed slightly as he realized something was indeed wrong.
Behind him, his team maintained formation, every member alert. They had gone deeper than expected, far deeper than any outer defensive layer should allow without confrontation.
"Hold," Rune said quietly.
The word spread instantly through the unit and everyone froze. Even the warriors behind them halted, sensing the shift.
