The stone floor of the underground tunnel groaned under the steady rhythm of Will's footsteps as he moved forward.
Each step echoed faintly through the narrow passage, the sound bouncing off the ancient stone walls that had clearly existed long before the empire above had been founded.
The tunnel itself sloped slightly downward, and the air grew heavier with every meter he advanced, carrying the stench of heat, ash, and something older that clung to the walls like a memory that refused to fade.
As the tunnel gradually widened, the carved stone gave way to a rough, natural opening. The end of the constructed passage revealed an enormous underground cavern formed entirely by nature rather than human hands.
The ceiling stretched several meters above, uneven and jagged, with cracks that glowed faintly from the reflected light below.
