As they approached the cave, the wind grew heavier—suddenly twisting into a towering tornado that spiraled down from the dark clouds, circling the cave entrance like a guardian of doom. The monstrous storm was so enormous that it froze their faces in shock; something this surreal belonged only in dreams.
"Go inside the cave now, or we'll be dragged in!" Auren shouted.
Dax was the first to step forward, his foot just touching the stone floor of the cave—but it was too late. The tornado roared, swallowing all of them in an instant.
Inside the raging vortex, the four figures were suspended, spiraling endlessly, their bodies circling the storm.
"AUREEEENNNN!" Vivi's voice cracked as she reached out.
"VIVIII!" Auren stretched his arm desperately, but the storm ripped them apart.
They couldn't grasp each other's hands—the spinning grew faster and faster until the tornado hurled them downward, flinging their bodies toward a lake nearly ten kilometers below.
