The journey went smoothly. The route opened by Lester was familiar to many in the team, who had traveled it multiple times before.

Even with non-combat personnel, they took less than three hours to exit the borders of Thalorian and officially step into the dark world.

The air grew heavy, the stench of decay and death assaulted their senses, and the black mist thickened noticeably. Each wisp of fog seemed alive, twisting and writhing like countless worms.

This eerie and terrifying scene gradually cooled the team's fervor, reminding everyone of the colossal entity they faced, a world harsh, cruel, and filled with dread.