Nathan moved deeper into the labyrinth, his boots crunching against the blackened ground, each step accompanied by the hiss of steam rising from molten cracks. The air thickened as the fiery veins of the labyrinth pulsed, casting flickering shadows that seemed to move on their own. Every breath he took burned slightly, not with pain but with an intensity that fueled his determination. This place was alive, and now, he felt it within him, as if the Abyss had begun to recognize him as one of its own.
A low growl rumbled from the distance. Nathan froze, his muscles taut, scanning the fiery expanse for the source. The flames twisted unnaturally, coiling like serpents before dispersing into ember-lit fog. He inhaled deeply, shaking his head. "This place has more tricks than Kael," he muttered under his breath. "And none of them involve cheap suits."
