Jelo and Mira stepped into the portal together, but on the other end, Jelo stepped out alone.
The transition was violent this time, much more violent than before. Where the previous portal experience had been disorienting but manageable, this one felt like being thrown through a meat grinder.
Jelo's body twisted and contorted as space folded around him, and when he finally emerged on the other side, he stumbled forward, nearly falling to his knees.
His vision swam for a moment, the world spinning sickeningly around him. He pressed a hand to his forehead, trying to steady himself, trying to make sense of what had just happened. The ground beneath his feet felt wrong, gritty, unstable. The air tasted different. Stale. Heavy.
When his vision finally cleared, Jelo looked around and realized he was in a deserted area, a place that was a complete ruin.
