The enormous stone gate closed behind the six companions with a thunderous rumble, sealing the entrance to the battlefield and leaving them surrounded by towering rock formations illuminated by crimson crystals.
Sage surveyed their surroundings with growing interest. The arena was considerably larger than it had appeared from the entrance, stretching several hundred meters in every direction.
Jagged pillars rose from the cracked ground, creating narrow passages between them, while an enormous circular platform occupied the battlefield's center.
Dozens of dark figures stood motionless around the platform, their silhouettes resembling armored warriors.
Then the first creature moved.
