The deeper they ventured into the Forgotten Realms, the more the very air seemed to constrict around them. The land was barren, the earth cracked and lifeless, as though it had been drained of vitality long ago. Even the stars above seemed distant, shrouded by an eerie darkness that blocked out the natural light of the worlds beyond.
Orin, his scythe glowing faintly with the energies of the Nexus, led the group with determination, his eyes scanning every shadow. The oppressive feeling grew heavier with each step, a constant reminder that they were not welcome here. Something ancient and evil lay ahead, and it had no intention of letting them leave.
"You feel that?" Zaria whispered, her voice tense as she slowed her pace beside Orin.
Orin nodded. "It's like something is... breathing. Watching us. We're close."
"Too close," Nyron added, his eyes narrowed. "We should've prepared better. This place it's unnatural."
Kaelen, towering over the group, gripped his axe tighter. "We didn't have a choice. This is where the disturbance is strongest. Whatever's causing the rift is here, and we need to end it."
The sound of distant, echoing footsteps reached their ears—slow, deliberate, like the heartbeat of the Forgotten Realms itself. A figure emerged from the shadows ahead, its silhouette barely discernible. It was tall, cloaked in tattered robes that seemed to flicker in and out of existence, its face hidden beneath the hood. The figure's presence felt like an insidious fog, clouding the air with malice.
"Who dares enter my domain?" The voice was a low, rasping whisper, as if the very ground beneath them was speaking.
Orin's grip on his scythe tightened. "We're here to stop the force that's destabilizing the worlds. We know you're behind it."
The figure let out a hollow laugh. "You think you can stop me? Foolish mortals. I am the last remnant of the Primordials. My time was stolen, my power sealed—but now I am free. You cannot stop what is already in motion."
Orin stepped forward, his eyes burning with defiance. "We'll see about that."