A strange unease crept over him, but he pressed on.

Then—the ground collapsed beneath him.

Aradon fell into a hidden cavern, slamming hard onto a stone floor. Pain shot through his body, but before he could recover, he heard something move.

From the shadows, creatures emerged.

Their red eyes glowed like embers in the darkness, their grotesque forms shifting as they surrounded him. Their clawed hands twitched, their fanged mouths parted in silent hunger.

He braced himself for an attack.

But the creatures did not strike.

Instead, they bowed.

At first, Aradon did not understand. But then, he felt it—a strange, invisible connection tying him to them. He lifted his hand, and the creatures obeyed.

Somehow, he could control them.