Chapter 15 The Heart's Betrayal

• The cavern quaked as the ancient creature's form fully emerged from the swirling mist, its massive silhouette blocking their path. Ariella’s heart pounded in her chest, and the weight of the situation bore down on her like an unshakable force. She could feel the magic of the mountain pulsing beneath her feet, a dark energy that called to her in whispers she could not understand. It was not just the Heart that was alive—it was the mountain itself, and its intentions were far more sinister than she had imagined.
• The creature stood towering before them, its crimson eyes burning like coals in the dark. The air around it shimmered with raw power, thick and suffocating. A feeling of dread washed over Ariella as she met its gaze, her thoughts racing. What was it? Was it a manifestation of the Heart’s power? Or something else entirely—something far older, a being that had slumbered for centuries?
• "You have awakened what should remain asleep," the creature’s voice rumbled, low and guttural. It was a voice that seemed to reverberate through the very stone of the cavern, shaking Ariella to her core. "The Heart is mine to command. And now, you will pay the price."