As Max and Blob drew closer to the dark red cloud, the world around them seemed to change. The air grew heavy and thick, pressing against their skin as if the atmosphere itself resisted their approach.
The faint hum that had filled the valley earlier grew into a low, rhythmic vibration that resonated through their bones. It was neither wind nor sound—it was a pulse, the steady heartbeat of something vast and unnatural.
The closer they came, the clearer it became that the cloud was not a mere accumulation of mist or smoke. It was alive. The surface rippled and churned, its texture resembling molten liquid mixed with shadows. Wherever it touched the ground, the earth crumbled into fine dust and vanished into it. The sight was both mesmerizing and horrifying.
