Volk's heavy boots crunched against the ground as he marched onward, the gauntlet on his arm humming softly with latent energy.
The forest around him began to thin out, giving way to a peculiar crossroads of terrains.
He stopped abruptly, his crimson eyes narrowing as he scanned the expanse before him.
To his left, a sprawling forested area stretched as far as the eye could see.
The canopy was dense, the undergrowth thick with tangled roots and shrubs. Shadows danced between the trees, making it both a haven for ambushes and a labyrinth for the unwary.
Straight ahead lay a towering rock mountain, its jagged peaks clawing at the sky.
The air grew colder as it loomed in the distance, its steep cliffs and loose scree presenting both a challenge and an opportunity.
And to his right, an ominous underground cave yawned open, its entrance a black void that seemed to swallow the light.
