The descent into the Abyssal Trench began as a gradual spiral, winding along a path carved into the cliffside. At first, the ledge was wide enough to accommodate Ao Shun's dragon body, but it steadily narrowed until it was little more than a series of handholds and footholds chipped into the darkening ice.
"Stay close," Ao Shun commanded, his voice echoing strangely in the confined space. "The ice here is unstable. One wrong step and you'll fall into depths that have no bottom."
Grim pressed himself against the cliff face, feeling the cold air in his bones and skin even though he had received special gear to keep him warm.
"How often do your forces patrol this area?" Bi'an asked, as his claws pierced the side of the cliff.
"They don't," Ao Shun replied grimly. "The Trench patrols itself. The creatures that live here have learned to distinguish between those who belong and those who don't."
