The cave's cold, damp air clung to Draven's skin as he stood in the darkened chamber, staring down at the mysterious black stone resting atop the ancient altar. The stone pulsed faintly with the same sickly green glow that had radiated from the dragon's eyes and the weapons wielded by the masked warriors. Draven felt its dark energy seeping into the air, thickening the atmosphere with a foreboding presence. Whatever this was, it was old—older than the Southern Web, older than anything he had ever encountered.
Behind him, the cave bustled with activity as the soldiers set up their makeshift defenses and tended to the wounded. Despite their physical recovery, the atmosphere was thick with unease. The battle had shaken them. Many had fought bravely against the Southern Web before, but the appearance of the masked warriors and the dragon had been different. Something darker, more ancient, was stirring, and it left a chill that went far deeper than the cold mountain air.