The atmosphere in the dungeon had grown thick with tension, a stifling sense of dread settling over the group. The Verdant Sprites flitted around them in the darkness, their eerie green glow casting unsettling shadows across the twisted dungeon landscape. Despite Leon's instructions, few of the cultivators had successfully formed the translucent Qi barrier necessary to fend off the relentless life-sapping attacks. Fear gnawed at their morale, and tempers flared.
Rynar's eyes flickered toward Leon, still suspicious but forced to trust him for the time being. However, the tension between them simmered just beneath the surface. And then, something shifted.
