The air that escaped was heavy, carrying a chill that wrapped around them like a living thing. A faint, almost metallic scent drifted outward, making Mia wrinkle her nose.
Jun whispered, "…It smells… wrong."
Arya stepped closer, peering into the blackness beyond the doorway. "Stay alert. Something's waiting inside."
Kai took a deep breath and stepped halfway through the door. His eyes adjusted slowly, revealing an enormous chamber within. Shadows moved across the walls in strange, unnatural ways. The floor was uneven, cracked with veins of glowing crystal running through it.
Mia's voice shook. "…It's… huge. And silent."
Kai nodded. "Exactly. Too quiet. This is the heart of the dungeon, I think."
Arya's gaze swept the room, cold and calculating. "And something is watching us."
Jun lowered his bow slightly but kept his eyes on every shadow. "No monsters yet… but I can feel it."
Mia whispered, gripping Kai's arm. "…Are we really ready for whatever's in there?"
