In another part of the uncharted territory, the ground was thick with mud. Dark soil had hardened into brittle crusts, cracked like shattered pottery.
In some places, stagnant pools of murky water reflected the dim, overcast sky. The air reeked of grime and decay, heavy and suffocating, as though the land itself were rotting.
Standing at the center of the muddy plain were three figures, positioned in a tense triangle.
In the distance loomed a gigantic cobra, its massive body coiled and motionless, its scaled head raised high above the ground. Its unblinking eyes watched everything with cold vigilance.
A solemn expression hung among the three individuals.
"What do you want?" Jareth asked in a cold, unfriendly voice.
He stood upright, his uniform immaculate despite the filth around him. His sharp gaze was fixed on the woman before him, wary and guarded.
