Evans strode forward, his long shaft held defensively in both hands, his eyes scanning the dense cloud of dust that obscured his path. Each step was deliberate, his posture tense and ready for any surprise attack. The heat and lingering tremors in the ground served as constant reminders of the devastation he was walking into.
The closer he got to the site of the teleportation gates, the thicker the dust became, stinging his eyes and throat. His Domain flared faintly around him, a protective layer of dark green energy that kept him alert and shielded from potential threats.
As the dust began to thin slightly, revealing the devastation ahead, Evans froze. His jaw clenched as he took in the sight before him. Where the five massive teleportation gates had once stood, there were now five glowing blue portals, each the size of an average human. The shimmering energy within them flickered erratically, as though barely stable.