Chapter 7 - Into the Fire

The portal shimmered as I stepped through, my body tingling with the familiar hum of teleportation. But the moment I landed on the other side, it felt like I'd walked into an oven. A wave of heat slammed into me, so thick and oppressive that it stole my breath. I instinctively raised my arm, trying to shield my face from the sudden blast of scorching air. It wasn't like the cool, biting winds of the previous stage—it was the kind of heat that made your skin itch, that settled deep in your lungs and refused to leave.