Every line of ancient text Argolaith had copied was a stepping stone to the power he craved, and every carefully rendered diagram was a testament to his unwavering resolve.
For days he had pored over the ruins' secrets—learning the forgotten methods of rune smithing, deciphering alchemical recipes that promised potent elixirs.
And mapping the intricate arrays that the ancients had once used to harness the raw energies of Morgoth.
Yet even as he delved deeper into these mysteries, a low, unceasing rumble beneath the ruined stones reminded him that time was not on his side.
Outside, the primordial beast—the guardian of the mountain's ancient legacy—advanced steadily toward the sanctum of knowledge.
Its presence an ever-ominous reminder of the danger that lurked beyond the crumbling walls.
