Kael's stomach twisted as the monstrous claws gripped him tighter, lifting him higher into the endless expanse of white. His arms ached under the crushing force of the creature's grip, but the fear of what lay ahead kept him silent. The monstrous horde carried them upward, higher and higher, the air growing thinner and colder as they ascended. Each beat of their leathery wings was a slow, rhythmic thrum that Kael could feel in his bones.
He glanced around at his companions. They were all suspended in the air, their expressions ranging from fear to confusion. Gareth, their captain, wore his usual look of determination, but even he couldn't hide the tension in his jaw. Lira's face was pale, her eyes darting between the creatures and the sky above them, as if searching for some kind of explanation. But there was none. They were being taken to a place none of them had ever seen or imagined.
Kael's heart pounded in his chest as he was dragged higher. His mind raced, trying to process what was happening, but all he could focus on was the overwhelming feeling of helplessness. His body felt weak, like a puppet being dangled on strings, with no control over his fate. His sword, still clutched in his hand, felt useless now, like a hollow piece of metal that could do nothing against the terrifying power of these monsters.
Suddenly, they passed through something—a barrier of sorts. Kael's entire body jolted as they moved through what felt like liquid. It was as if he had been plunged into icy water, the sensation disorienting and suffocating. His skin tingled, and he gasped for air, momentarily panicking as the sensation of drowning overtook him. The world around him shifted. The pure white that had stretched out infinitely was gone, replaced by a dark, oppressive blackness. A void.
Kael's breathing steadied as he realized they had crossed some kind of threshold, but the oppressive weight of the void settled on his chest like a boulder. It felt suffocating, as though the darkness itself was alive and pressing in on them. There was no light, no ground beneath them, just the sensation of being suspended in an endless abyss. The only thing that seemed real were the cold, clawed hands of the monsters gripping him.
He glanced up at the massive creature leading the pack—the five-layered monster, the one who had mocked him earlier. It flew ahead of the group, its huge, scaled wings cutting through the air with ease. Its four horns gleamed faintly in the dim light, and its cold black eyes stared ahead with purpose.
"Where are you taking us?" Gareth finally called out, his voice loud in the oppressive silence.
The five-layered creature turned its head slightly, its guttural voice echoing through the void. "Higher. To our home."
Gareth frowned. "And what do you want with us?"
The creature's lips curled into a cruel grin. "We're surprised you made it this far. It has been… centuries since anyone has passed through the barrier." It glanced at the others, its eyes narrowing. "We have been isolated for a long time. No one is supposed to reach this place."
Kael's pulse quickened. Isolated? He glanced around at the other monsters. Their expressions were tense, uneasy, as if they too were unsure about their captives. He wondered just how long they had been trapped here, hidden away in this strange, otherworldly realm.
Lira, her voice shaky but determined, called out, "It wasn't difficult for us. We didn't encounter any barriers—just… a strange tunnel. It seemed like a normal path."
The five-layered monster's head snapped toward her, its eyes narrowing in suspicion. "A normal path? Impossible." Its voice was filled with disbelief. "No one enters this realm so easily."
Kael watched as the other monsters exchanged confused glances, their wings flapping more slowly now, as if they were processing what had just been said. The skepticism was palpable.
"She's telling the truth," Gareth added, his tone steady. "We didn't even know this place existed until we were already here."
The massive creature let out a low growl, clearly unimpressed. "This is no accident. Something has brought you here. And now… you will face the consequences."
Kael's heart sank at the monster's words. Face the consequences? What did that mean? Were they being punished for something they didn't even understand? He felt his hands trembling again, his grip on his sword tightening as the helplessness grew inside him.
The creatures continued to fly higher and higher, the oppressive void surrounding them like an endless sea of darkness. There was no sense of time, no direction, just the sensation of being carried upward. The silence, broken only by the occasional beat of the monsters' wings, was suffocating.
As they ascended, Kael's mind raced with questions. What was this place? Why had they been brought here? And what did these creatures want with them? Every breath he took felt heavy, the weight of the unknown pressing down on him.
Just as Kael thought he couldn't take the suspense any longer, a faint light appeared in the distance. It was dim at first, barely a flicker in the darkness, but as they drew closer, the light grew stronger, illuminating their surroundings. Slowly, a structure came into view—a massive, towering castle, its dark spires stretching up into the void like the jagged teeth of some ancient beast.
The castle floated in the air, suspended by some unseen force, its black stone walls gleaming in the dim light. It was enormous, larger than anything Kael had ever seen, with towers and battlements that seemed to go on forever. The architecture was strange, otherworldly, as if it had been built by hands that didn't belong to humans. It was a fortress of shadow, a monument to darkness.
Kael's heart skipped a beat as he stared at the castle, awe and fear warring within him. This was where they were being taken. This was their destination.
The massive creature leading them let out a rumbling laugh as they neared the castle, its voice dripping with malice. "Welcome to our home," it said, its black eyes gleaming with dark amusement.
Kael swallowed hard, his mouth dry. They were being taken into the heart of this place, into the very stronghold of the monsters. And he had no idea what awaited them inside.