The air in the clearing was thick with a palpable, oppressive energy. The ancient fortress loomed before Elara and her team, its dark stone walls partially hidden by creeping vines and thick foliage. The structure's design was alien and foreboding, with jagged spires and menacing runes etched into its surface.
Elara surveyed the area, her senses on high alert. "Stay close and keep your guard up. We don't know what we might encounter inside."
The team moved cautiously towards the entrance of the fortress, which was partially obscured by dense vegetation. As they approached, the ground beneath their feet seemed to pulse with an unnatural vibration, and the temperature dropped noticeably. The once-quiet forest now felt alive with an eerie whispering, like distant voices carried on the wind.