A sudden gust of wind swept through the trees, rustling the leaves violently as the entire clearing seemed to shift under the pressure of an unseen force. The moment stretched, heavy and suffocating, as if the very air around them had thickened. Then, without warning, the wind surged again, stronger this time, sending dust and debris spiraling into the air.
All eyes turned toward the source of the disturbance.
A small circular portal flickered into existence a few feet away, its edges shimmering like liquid light. It was unlike any portal they had seen before—there was no glow, no radiant energy, just an ominous black void at its center, as if it led to an abyss from which no light could escape. A chilling sensation spread across the battlefield, sinking into their bones, and for a brief moment, even the enemies—who had been moments away from slaughtering the powerless girls—froze in place.
