Ale ran through the dense forest, the pounding of his heart echoing in his ears like the drums of a merciless war. Behind him, the cries of the followers of the Spirit of Darkness echoed, relentless. Their silhouettes barely appeared between the trees, but Ale knew they were close. Too close.

He didn't know how much longer he could keep running.

His frantic flight led him deeper into the forest, where the trees grew thicker and the darkness more oppressive. Ale tripped over a root, nearly fell, but managed to catch himself just in time. His strength was fading, his breath becoming ragged. Panic threatened to overwhelm him, but he kept running, driven by a primal instinct to survive.

Suddenly, the ground gave way beneath his feet. Ale tumbled into the void, his arms flailing uselessly. He plummeted into the darkness, his scream caught in his throat by sheer terror.

The fall seemed to last forever. Survival instinct kicked in, and he muttered, "Fortifero," the spell that strengthened his body. A green halo instantly appeared around him, wrapping his body in protective energy.

"Ignivores, Ignivores, Ignivores…" Ale whispered, sending fireballs downward. He hoped the heat would create an updraft strong enough to slow his fall.

But nothing happened. He repeated the incantation, again and again, but still saw nothing beneath him.

No glow from the flames, no sound of an explosion hitting the ground—nothing. The silence of the abyss surrounded him, an oppressive darkness that stirred a deep, primal fear within him. Where was he falling? Was he already on the path to the realm of the dead, like his grandfather had told him about? That hidden realm deep within the earth…

Fighting against exhaustion and the drain on his mana, Ale felt his consciousness waver. Despite his exceptional mana reserves, his body was weakening under the strain. But his survival depended on it, and he knew he had to keep going. He had nothing to lose.

Suddenly, a faint warm draft brushed against his feet. The sensation coursed through his entire body, and, to his immense relief, he realized his fall was slowing. Ale curled his legs, shielding his head with his arms, bracing for the imminent impact.

The impact came brutally.

Ale slammed into the ground with tremendous force, but thanks to his reinforced aura and the heat he had invoked, his body didn't shatter upon impact. He bounced several times, rolling across the hard stone before coming to a stop, the wind knocked out of him. A dull ringing echoed in his ears, but he was alive. At what cost, though? Pain radiated through his limbs, his muscles trembled under the strain. He tried to move, but exhaustion and injury betrayed him. Darkness quickly enveloped him, and Ale slipped into unconsciousness.

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Ale blinked, struggling to make sense of his surroundings. A faint reddish glow emanated from the walls of the cave where he had landed, the symbols etched into the stone casting a flickering light. His mind was still clouded from the shock, but reality set in: he was alone, injured, and trapped in this unknown place.

His throat was parched, and as he tried to sit up, a sharp pain from his broken arm tore a cry from his lips. Every breath felt like fire in his chest, and his strength drained with each attempt to move. Yet, he knew he had to rise, if only to survive.

"Fortifero…" he muttered, casting a weak spell to reinforce his battered body. But his mana reserves were nearly depleted, and the magic only offered temporary relief from the pain.

The symbols around him glowed faintly, emitting a comforting, almost soothing warmth. Ale felt a mysterious energy fill the air, but he was too weak to fully comprehend what was happening. All he knew was that he had to move forward.

Leaning against the cold, rocky wall of the cave, Ale slowly pushed himself to his feet, his body protesting with every movement. He cast a tired glance around him. The red light of the symbols painted shifting shadows on the walls, but he saw no exit, no sign of life.

Ale trudged painfully through the cave, each step a battle against the searing pain that tore through his body.

The reddish light from the symbols etched into the walls barely illuminated his path, and the intense heat only worsened his exhaustion. Still, he couldn't stop. He felt a mysterious force pulling him deeper into the cave, beckoning him forward despite the oppressive darkness.

Suddenly, a low rumble echoed through the cavern. Ale froze, heart pounding, straining to peer into the shadows. In front of him, the darkness shifted, and figures began to emerge from the walls. Twisted creatures, born from the very darkness of the cave, moved slowly, their faintly glowing red eyes cutting through the gloom. These monsters, created by the corrupted magic of the cave, now stood between him and his way forward.

Ale clenched his fists, despite the fatigue and the pain from his injuries. He had no choice. Raising his uninjured arm, he murmured, "Ignivores." A fireball erupted from his hand, briefly illuminating the cave. But the creatures dodged with frightening agility, their claws scraping against the stone as guttural growls rumbled from their throats.

Panic threatened to overwhelm Ale, but he knew he couldn't afford to give in to fear. With his mana nearly depleted, he had to think strategically. Summoning the last of his strength, he created a series of small fire explosions, aiming to disorient the creatures. The bursts of light caused the monsters to scatter in confusion, giving Ale just enough time to slip into a side passage of the cave.

Breathless and weakened, Ale leaned against the wall to catch his breath. But he knew he wasn't safe yet.

As he continued through the narrow tunnels, he noticed the ground beneath him growing increasingly unstable. Several times he nearly slipped on loose stones, but that was nothing compared to what awaited him. Without warning, the ground gave way beneath his feet, revealing a series of sharp spikes below. Ale reacted quickly, grabbing onto a ledge at the last moment, narrowly avoiding a fatal fall.

"Fortifero… Fortifero…" he muttered, reinforcing his arms as he slowly pulled himself up from the trap. Every movement was agony for his aching muscles, but he knew that if he didn't make it out, his chances of survival were slim.

After what felt like an eternity, Ale finally managed to haul himself onto a more stable platform. He lay there for a moment, breathless, his limbs trembling with exhaustion. But he couldn't afford to rest for long.