Chapter 121: Pressure Without End
Arios didn't stop walking. The forest pressed in from all sides, the branches arching overhead, thick enough to block what little light filtered through the false sky. The dungeon wasn't giving him an exit. It only wanted him to keep going, to consume his energy, to break his will through sheer, relentless attrition.
The ground was uneven now. Stones jutted out from the soil, patches of moss clinging to their sides, making the footing treacherous. His boots slid once or twice, small, involuntary movements that cost him energy, but he steadied himself, never lowering his guard. The wooden sword in his hand felt heavier than it had an hour ago, a dead weight in his weary grip, but he kept it raised, his grip tight, a refusal to surrender.
The growls came again. Familiar at first. Dire wolves, the staple fodder of this cruel test.
