The moment Elias stepped through the portal, he knew something was wrong.
It wasn't the stench of rot that hit him first—it was the sound.
A low, ceaseless wail drifted through the darkness. Not human. Not even beast. Something older. Something hungry.
Behind him, Kael grunted and raised a hand to his temple. "This place—it's alive."
Myra drew her blades, her armor responding to the pulse of corrupt energy. "Threadspace is never supposed to be like this. It's not just dark. It's… backwards."
> [System Alert]
You have entered Shadow Sector XIII – Forbidden Zone
Warning: Reality Stability = 3%
System Support: Limited
Threat Level: Catastrophic
The air shimmered with data corruption. Red streaks ran through the sky like infected veins. In the distance, black spires jutted upward, clawing at the heavens.
"Fan out," Elias ordered. "But stay within the range of the system anchor. If you stray, I can't guarantee resurrection."
