Ethan stood calmly before the orange shimmer, his hand flat against the vibrating energy. On the other side, the Queen's massive, toothed maw was pressed against the barrier, her breath leaving a foul, acidic mist on the surface. She was a nightmare of scales and teeth, but here, she was nothing more than a beast behind a cage.
[Analysis complete, Master,] said Crul. [I have mapped the energy flow. This is known as the Two-Headed Dragon and Eight Trigrams Barrier.]
"Eight Trigrams? What does that mean in plain English?" said Ethan.
Crul projected a holographic blueprint into Ethan's vision. It showed a vast underground complex shaped like a geometric flower. At the center was a massive central vault, surrounded by eight satellite chambers. One of the outer chambers flickered in deep red.
