Chapter 51 | Burning Light
"Echo team is approaching the hideout," Jayla spoke just loud enough for the whole team to hear.
She led the way, her steps sure and steady, while I stayed on her right, gripping my blade as we entered the deathly underground. The entrance to the hideout was concealed beneath a cluster of boulders and gnarled trees, almost invisible from above. My heart raced as we prepared to slip into the shadows with the Echo team. Being my first real mission didn't help—every step felt heavier, the mounting pressure tightening my chest. The oppressive atmosphere and the tension before the battle hinted at the lurking danger inside.
As we descended deeper, the walls became smoother, the jagged rock giving way to something more deliberately crafted. The chambers showed signs of life—strange carvings etched into the stone, moss-covered structures, and flickering torches that cast long, eerie shadows across the cold walls.