I moved slowly, feeling the ground beneath my feet vibrate with each step, as if the earth itself were alive and breathing at a slow, measured pace. The atmosphere was ominous, dense, and suffocating, charged with a demonic energy that clung to my skin like a second layer, making the hairs on my arms and neck stand up. The air reeked of damp earth and sulfur, mixed with a metallic stench that reminded me of blood.