The deeper he went, the more the world around him changed. The trees twisted unnaturally, their roots forming strange patterns on the ground. The air grew thick, carrying the scent of decay. A sense of unease gripped him, but still, he pressed on. Then, suddenly, the ground gave way beneath him.
He fell into a hidden chasm, landing hard on a stone floor below. Pain shot through his body, but before he could regain his bearings, he heard movement. From the shadows emerged creatures unlike any he had seen before—beasts of darkness, with glowing red eyes and grotesque forms. They surrounded him, watching, waiting.
At first, he believed they would tear him apart. But then, something strange happened. The creatures hesitated. They did not attack. Instead, they bowed. Aradon did not understand it at first, but he could feel it—an invisible connection, an ancient bond. He raised his hand, and the creatures obeyed. Somehow, he could control them.