James stumbled through the cave, trying to find an exit. As he hurried, he tripped over a protruding rock and fell against the glowing runes. The ancient symbols flared brightly, and suddenly, James was overwhelmed by a flood of images and sensations.
He saw glimpses of the world he was in—battles, creatures, villages, and people. He saw the dark elf village, hidden beneath the surface, besieged by waves of attacks from above and below. The dark elves fought valiantly, their weapons and magic barely holding the invaders at bay.
Then, the vision shifted to the past. The dark elves were in power, their cities vast and their influence strong. However, their power was used for cruel acts—enslaving other races, performing dark rituals, and wreaking havoc on those who opposed them. The once-mighty race had brought fear and suffering to the lands.
The vision changed again, showing a possible future. An underground city, thriving and majestic, with dark elves riding giant spiders through vast caverns. Huge spires stretched from the ground to the ceiling, illuminated by bioluminescent mushrooms and glittering crystals. The towers and roads of the city glowed with an otherworldly light, painting a picture of a society that had reclaimed its strength and pride, but hopefully in a more just and balanced way.
James then saw Dionysius in his prime, commanding respect and leading his heroes with determination and vigor. The god he saw in the vision was nothing like the disheveled, disinterested deity he had met. Dionysius and his heroes faced off against a nightmarish creature, a Lovecraftian monstrosity with writhing tentacles and countless eyes. The combatants moved too fast for the eye to follow, their movements blurs of light and shadow. The air crackled with energy as they clashed, each blow shaking the very fabric of reality.
The vision ended as abruptly as it began, leaving James breathless and shaken. He stumbled back, collapsing against the wall of the chamber. His mind reeled from the intensity of the experience, but one thing was clear—he had to find the dark elf village and help them.
As James sat there, trying to process the vision, a low rumble echoed through the cave. The ground trembled, and he felt a surge of fear. He scrambled to his feet and made his way back to the entrance, careful to stay quiet.
When he reached the cave mouth, he peered out cautiously. The forest was still, but the rumbling continued. He looked up and saw it—a massive black dragon, its scales glistening like obsidian. It soared above the forest, its wings creating powerful gusts of wind.
The dragon was unlike anything James had ever seen. It exuded power and menace, and he could feel its presence even from a distance. He realized why the wolf had not entered the cave. This was the dragon's territory, and nothing dared to trespass.
James watched in awe and terror as the dragon circled above the forest, its gaze scanning the ground below. His heart pounded as the dragon began to descend, heading straight for the cave entrance.
James frantically looked around for a place to hide. He found a narrow crevice in the cave wall and squeezed himself into it, trying to make himself as small as possible. He held his breath, his entire body tense with fear.
The dragon landed with a thud, its massive form blocking the cave entrance. It sniffed the air, its nostrils flaring. James could hear its deep, rumbling breaths as it moved inside the cave, its scales scraping against the rock.
James closed his eyes, hoping against hope that the dragon wouldn't find him. Please, don't see me. Please, don't see me, he thought desperately.
As he peeked out from his hiding spot, his HUD flickered, and a red highlight appeared above the dragon with a single word: RUN.
The dragon's head turned sharply in his direction. "A dark elf? I thought you all were smart enough not to come to my home," it rumbled, its voice echoing ominously in the cavern.