As Ryuto and his companions pressed onward, the forest grew denser, and the atmosphere thickened with an eerie, unnatural chill. Their path led them to a clearing bathed in an unnatural darkness, where the trees seemed to twist and writhe as if alive. At the center of the clearing stood a massive stone altar, ancient and covered in dark, glistening runes. Faint whispers filled the air, a chorus of tortured voices emanating from the shadows that clung to every surface.
Celeste's eyes widened as she took in the altar. "This is it. The heart of Xyldrin's influence here."
Roland tightened his grip on his shield, stepping closer to Ryuto. "Whatever we're about to face, we face it together."
As they approached the altar, a figure emerged from the shadows, a tall, skeletal man cloaked in robes as dark as night. His face was gaunt, his eyes hollow yet burning with a sinister light. He raised a hand, and the whispers intensified, filling the air with a sense of dread.
