The passage sloped downward in a spiral that felt unnatural, as if carved not by hands but by something large twisting through the earth long ago. The air grew hotter the deeper they traveled. The walls glowed in faint lines where roots thinned into threads of blue light. Ethan placed his fingers on the rock and felt a slow dragging pulse pulling inward with each beat.

The wolf walked confidently ahead, its glow steady and bright. The bark creature stayed close beside Ethan, occasionally tapping its hoof on rocks as if checking the stability of the path. The giant bird followed with wings half open for balance, its feathers shimmering in soft waves of blue.

The mage whispered that the deeper they went the more the energy condensed. He said the core was collapsing from the bottom upward. The healer added that if the lower roots failed the entire forest would collapse with them. The scout remained quiet, scanning every shadow with wary eyes.

They reached a wide cavern where the floor dipped gently toward a massive pit glowing with unstable light. Roots hung from the ceiling twisting downward like reaching arms. The pool at the bottom pulsed in painful surges. It looked alive yet fragile like a beating heart pushed beyond its limit.

Ethan stepped toward the edge.
The wolf followed immediately.
The bird lowered its head and hummed.
The bark creature pressed its hooves into the ground.

The cavern shook.
A long low rumble rolled through the roots.
The pool flickered dangerously.

Ethan dropped to one knee and extended his hand toward the light. The energy felt like intense heat built from panic fear and exhaustion. The glowing pool shook again in a violent pulse. The wolf howled softly. The bird cried out in a long note. The bark creature hummed in deep vibrations.

Their voices merged.

The pool responded.

A thin beam of light rose from it like a thread reaching upward. Ethan watched as the wolf stepped forward and pressed its glowing forehead to the beam. The bird extended a wing until one feather touched it. The bark creature leaned its entire body against the beam letting the light seep into the cracks of its wooden skin.

The beam brightened.
The cavern steadied.
For a moment the tremors paused.

The healer gasped and whispered that the pool was stabilizing. The mage said the creatures were aligning its energy, redirecting it. He studied the wolf and bark creature with awe. The scout took a hesitant step closer but stopped when the cavern shook again lightly.

The beam flickered.
The roots trembled.
The cavern pulsed again with unstable energy.

It was not enough.

Ethan understood before anyone else.
The ancient creature at the lake was also part of this core.
Without it the energy could not balance fully.

He stood quickly.
He placed his hand on the glowing beam beside the creatures.

The energy surged into him like a burning river.
He staggered but did not fall.
The wolf stepped closer stabilizing him.
The bark creature rested its head against his leg.
The bird touched his shoulder.

For a brief moment Ethan saw visions.
Flashes of roots stretching across the earth.
The ancient creature rising through the lake in slow centuries long movements.
The glowing core feeding the forest like a living heart.
And deep beneath everything…
a crack.

A fissure breaking through the center where the energy once flowed freely.

The crack pulsed with unnatural darkness.
Something below it moved.
Something that did not belong.

When the vision faded Ethan fell to one knee. The creatures steadied him. The healer rushed forward but the mage held her back, realizing Ethan was still connected to the beam.

The cavern shook violently.
The pool dimmed again.
The roots above twisted in panic.

The wolf growled low.
The bark creature tapped its hooves.
The giant bird spread both wings wide.

Ethan stood slowly and looked at the team. His voice was quiet but steady.

“There’s a break under the core. Something deep is pushing into it.”

The mage paled.
The healer whispered the old stories of cursed roots.
The scout took a step back in fear.

Ethan placed his hand on the wolf’s neck.
He felt steady.
Focused.
Certain.

“We’re not done,” he said.

The cavern roared again.
The pool pulsed.
The roots twisted.

Ethan tightened his grip on the carved staff.
The wolf glowed brighter.
The bird lowered its head.
The bark creature hummed deeply.

They would have to go deeper still.
Beyond the glowing cavern.
Beyond the core.
To the crack beneath everything.

The forest was calling them forward.
And Ethan would answer.