Vikram slowed his breathing deliberately.
He synchronized each inhale and exhale with the rhythm of his steps, minimizing unnecessary sound as he moved forward.
Behind him, his Sprout Team instinctively adjusted their pace to match his silent advance, moving like living shadows within the darkness.
After roughly forty to fifty meters, the narrow passage abruptly widened.
The oppressive tunnel opened into a vast underground chamber.
A subtle change in airflow brushed against his skin, and Vikram immediately felt that breathing had become easier.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, forcing them to adapt faster.
This time, thanks to his enhanced physique and sharpened perception, his vision adjusted in just over ten seconds.
The scene before him gradually revealed itself.
It was a huge cavern — easily large enough to accommodate sixty or seventy people at once.
Its structure was irregular and roughly circular, with jagged natural stone formations creating uneven walls and ridges.
