Nero stood before the majestic stone door. It was huge and simple, made from one solid piece of dark rock. He took a step forward and placed his hand flat against its surface.
Even in his soul form, he could feel it. The door was cold, like deep-buried stone. But beneath that cold, he felt a deep, slow, boundless energy humming within it. It was the energy of the earth itself, sleeping but powerful.
He focused. He reached for his prana—and pushed it into the door. Usually, his prana was just a clear, colorless force. But this time, something changed. As his energy touched the ancient stone, it took on a soft, steady brown hue. It was the color of rich soil and old tree bark.
The brown-tinged prana seeped into the door's surface like water into sand.
