The speed increased with every passing second as Zarek dove deeper into the unknown. Darkness enveloped him completely—so absolute he couldn't tell whether his eyes were open or shut. It was as if he were being sucked into a black hole.
Then, suddenly—
A blinding beam of light pierced through the void, searing into his eyes.
Zarek rocketed downward like a comet, crashing into the ground with violent force. He bounced across the terrain like a ragdoll, each impact stealing the breath from his lungs. His screams were broken by the brutal rhythm of collision after collision.
Finally, he managed to get his feet beneath him. His boots skidded across the icy surface, sending up sprays of snow as he fought to stop. He staggered, his chest heaving, gasping for breath. A thick puff of white fog escaped his mouth.
The air was razor-sharp with cold, biting at his skin. It felt like he had just landed in the heart of the North Pole.
