Garion stepped fully through the Demon Gate.
The moment his foot touched the other side, the air changed.
It felt heavy and thick.
Every breath carried a strange pressure that pushed against his skin, but it did nothing more than make him aware of it.
He looked around slowly.
The land was exactly what most people would imagine when they heard the word demonic.
The ground was black and cracked, like burned stone that never cooled down.
Red lines of glowing heat ran through the earth, pulsing faintly.
There were no trees. No grass. Just jagged rocks, broken terrain, and a dark sky that never fully brightened.
Garion let out a quiet hum. "Yeah. This looks about right."
He rolled his shoulders once, feeling his body adjust on its own.
Before he could take another step, a voice echoed through the empty land.
"Who are you?"
Garion stopped and turned toward the sound.
Two figures were standing on a higher rock formation not far away.
