Zain stepped over a cracked pipe, his boots scraping against the moss-covered stone.
His eyes scanned the narrow path ahead, still cloaked in a faint layer of ether mist.
"Is it still far?" he asked, adjusting the sword strapped across his back.
Velra walked just ahead, one hand brushing against the wall as she followed the route mapped from the stolen files.
"Not far now. We're almost there," she said.
"But we need to take the side route."
"A hidden path used by the Beastkin Brood to sneak into Hero Association territory."
Zain raised an eyebrow. "They built a backdoor?"
Velra nodded. "The Brood had spies everywhere. Even among the heroes."
Zain smirked. "Typical."
They pressed on, the tunnel growing tighter and colder.
After a few more turns and a long descent, they reached a dormant teleportation platform tucked beneath a ruined access point.
Velra quickly activated the console.
The old gate hummed back to life, its faded sigils glowing.
"Ready?" she asked.
