The doorway sealed behind us, leaving only the dim, eerie glow of the walls to guide our path. The air was thick, stifling, as though we'd stepped into a place that hadn't been disturbed for centuries. I could feel it pressing down on me, a quiet, persistent weight that made each breath feel heavier than the last.
Kijin and Raijuu flanked me as we moved forward, their movements almost as cautious as mine. Raijuu's fur bristled, tiny sparks flickering along his coat in response to the strange energy suffusing the air. Kijin, ever stoic, kept his gaze forward, but I could see the way his ears twitched, his muscles tense beneath his sleek fur.
The corridor stretched endlessly before us, twisting and turning in ways that made no sense. It felt like we were walking in circles, yet I knew we hadn't changed direction. Every few steps, I'd glance back, half-expecting the path behind us to have shifted, but it remained as unchanging as the one ahead.
