The deeper he went, the more the passage changed. The walls became smoother, the floor cleaner, and the stone less like something carved by tools and more like something shaped by some godly hand.
The golden veins pulsed brighter in these parts, and with each pulse, Elion felt a faint tug against his chest, his mana, his blood, his very existence. It was not painful, but it was invasive.
Unexpectedly, he heard faint footsteps ahead of him and stopped instantly. From the sound and softness, they were the steps of a human, but he raised his guard and prepared himself for the worst.
His grip tightened around Kurogoroshi.
He moved forward carefully, following the curve of the passage until it opened into a small circular chamber. At the centre stood a stone pedestal, and around it were three sealed doorways, each marked with golden symbols. A figure stood before one of the doors with one of their hands pressed against the glowing seal.
A figure he had been hoping to run into.
