The world twisted the moment Gray stepped through.
A rush of cold wind slammed into his face, carrying the scent of damp earth and wet stone.
His boots sank half an inch into soft mud, and when he opened his eyes fully, he found himself standing at the edge of a vast forest.
Dark trees clawed into the sky, their branches like jagged spears.
A faint mist clung to the ground, coiling between roots and rocks like restless snakes.
Somewhere deeper inside, a beast's howl echoed, low and guttural, making the ground tremble faintly.
Behind him, the portal flared once more. Cassandra stepped through it calmly.
"Mhm..." She took in the scenery with a single sweep of her eyes before fixing them on Gray.
"So this is our battlefield."
Gray ignored her, scanning their surroundings.
High stone cliffs rose far in the distance, half-hidden by clouds, and a faint glow shimmered from their peaks, likely their destination.
