Noah stepped through the gate, his boots finding stone that felt different from the previous sections. Smoother. More deliberate in its construction.
The space opened into a courtyard, maybe eighty feet across. Pillars rose along the perimeter, their surfaces carved with designs that depicted battles Noah couldn't identify. The sky above remained that same white-red gradient, frozen sunset casting everything in colors that made the scene feel unreal.
A black flame lamp hovered at the courtyard's center, identical to the ones from previous stages. Its fire burned steadily, waiting.
The gate behind Noah slammed shut with finality that made him turn. Solid black metal, no visible handle on this side, no mechanism he could see that would let him retreat even if he wanted to.
'Locked in,' Noah thought, turning back to survey his surroundings. 'Whatever this stage is, I'm committed.'
