Chapter 5: The Edge of Worlds

The moment Alex crossed the threshold, everything changed. She was no longer in the eerie forest but standing on the precipice of a vast, endless expanse. The ground beneath her was black stone, cold and rough, stretching out toward an infinite horizon. Above her, the sky was a chaotic storm of colors and shadows, swirling together in an otherworldly dance.

In the distance, strange, towering structures rose from the ground—castles built of obsidian, mountains suspended in mid-air, bridges that led to nowhere. The air was thick with a strange energy, buzzing in her ears, vibrating beneath her skin. She felt both alive and overwhelmed, as if every nerve in her body was on edge.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in her mind, deep and resonant. "You have crossed into the Edge of Worlds. You seek a way home, but first, you must prove yourself worthy. Face the trials, conquer your fears, and perhaps… you will find what you seek."

Alex spun around, but there was no one there. The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she squared her shoulders.

"I'm ready," she whispered to herself, though her legs trembled with fear.

The ground beneath her began to shift, cracks forming in the stone as it reshaped itself into a path leading forward. With one last breath, Alex stepped onto the path, her journey through the Edge of Worlds only just beginning.