As Simon and his companions approached the location where the crypt once stood, they were met with a bewildering sight—the landscape before them was barren and empty, devoid of any sign that the massive structure had ever existed.
Confusion and disbelief washed over them as they surveyed the desolate terrain, searching for any trace of the crypt that had been their battleground mere days before. But there was nothing—not a single stone or shard of rubble remained to mark the spot where the ancient structure had once stood.
"It's gone," Thaddeus muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief as he gazed out at the empty expanse before them. "But how? How could something so massive just vanish into thin air?"
Alaric shook his head, his brow furrowed with concern as he surveyed the scene before them. "I do not know," he admitted, his voice heavy with unease. "But whatever magic was at work here, it was powerful indeed."
Simon felt a surge of frustration welling up inside him as he stared out at the empty landscape, his mind racing with unanswered questions. How could the crypt have disappeared so completely? And what did it mean for their quest to retrieve the remaining dungeon cores?
"We can't just stand here staring at nothing," Simon declared, his voice ringing out with determination. "We need to find out what happened to the crypt, and fast."
With a sense of urgency, they set off across the barren landscape, scouring the area for any clues that might shed light on the crypt's mysterious disappearance. But no matter where they looked, they found nothing but empty space—a void where once a towering structure had stood.
Hours passed as they searched, their frustration mounting with each passing moment. But just as they were about to give up hope, Alaric spotted something in the distance—a faint shimmer of light, barely visible against the bleak backdrop of the landscape.
"Over there," he called out, pointing toward the source of the light. "Do you see it?"
Simon and Thaddeus followed Alaric's gaze, squinting against the harsh glare of the sun as they strained to make out the faint glimmer in the distance. And as they drew closer, they realized that the light was emanating from a strange, shimmering portal—a doorway to another realm, perhaps, or a gateway to some distant plane of existence.
Without hesitation, they approached the portal, their hearts pounding with anticipation as they prepared to step through into the unknown. But as they drew closer, they hesitated, a sense of foreboding washing over them like a cold wave.
"Are we really going to do this?" Thaddeus asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.
Simon nodded, his jaw set with determination. "We have no choice," he replied. "We need to find out what lies on the other side of that portal, and whatever dangers may await us there."
With a deep breath, Simon stepped forward, his companions close behind him as they crossed the threshold of the portal and disappeared into the unknown. And as they vanished from sight, the empty landscape shimmered and shifted, the portal closing behind them with a faint whisper of magic, leaving no trace of their passage behind.