Held aloft in the air by Mr. Azik with one hand, Klein felt as though everything around him had been covered by a thick oil-painting filter, making the forest, the sky, and even the mushroom cloud caused by the distant meteorite impact seem utterly unreal.
He was admiring the strange sights around him and enjoying the experience of moving through the void when he suddenly felt the hand gripping his arm tremble slightly. Then, the surrounding "oil painting" began to spin, its colors rapidly fading.
Did we crash?
The moment this bizarre thought surfaced in Klein's mind, darkness filled his vision. He landed on all fours and slammed onto solid ground, rolling twice before crashing to a dizzy halt against a wall. He had nearly turned into a thin Paper Figurine.
"Mr. Azik?"
He hurriedly scrambled to his feet, calling his teacher's name as he surveyed his surroundings.
This was a stone staircase with a fairly gentle slope, wide enough for two carriages to pass through. On one side lay a bottomless abyss, while on the other stood the towering rock wall where he had landed. It stretched upward beyond what he could see. There was no sunlight, no white clouds, only glowing plants barely illuminating the path. Downward, the road twisted and turned, gradually merging into endless darkness.
Did I fall underground?
He keenly grasped his current situation. Perhaps Mr. Azik had rushed over too hastily, or perhaps bringing along a living person had caused a slight problem with that peculiar "traveling" ability, making them fall into this vast underground ruin.
Yes, a ruin. This was clearly not a naturally formed cave. The road was orderly and solid, and there were even deliberately carved corridors and halls in the rock walls.
"Head upward immediately. Do not stop!"
A deep