The air changed again.
It was the first thing Arios noticed as soon as he and Liza emerged from the passage. The faint sterile light from the previous floor dimmed into a muted violet haze that pulsed across the walls like veins. The air smelled heavier here — wet stone, faint iron, and something acrid that lingered at the edge of breathing. It wasn't just a new floor. It was deeper, older… closer to the dungeon's heart.
Liza glanced around, her voice quiet. "I don't like this one bit."
"You're not supposed to," Arios replied. His tone was calm, but his eyes were sharp, scanning every shadow. The walls were carved into narrow curves that guided them forward — a funnel. "This place was designed to disorient invaders."
"You think Garron's behind this layer too?"
"Maybe. Or maybe the dungeon's reacting to him. Either way, the distortion's real."
