Chapter 333: The Unseen Gateway

**Thelma Zane’s Perspective:** As the intensity of the evil energy in Autumn City refused to wane, I made a decisive call. Stopping the purification process, I quickly gathered the remaining teams, issuing a clear order to retreat. The sense of urgency in my voice left no room for hesitation. “The evil power here appears to be limitless,” I explained. “Whether it’s due to additional sources of contamination or something else, remaining here serves no purpose. We must withdraw from the city immediately.” The teams moved swiftly toward the nearest city gate, only to encounter an inexplicable phenomenon. Instead of stepping into the familiar embrace of the dense natural forest that should have surrounded Autumn City, we found ourselves back in the city’s central square—the very place we had left not long ago. The fountain continued to flow serenely in the middle of the square, mocking our futile attempts to escape. A palpable tension gripped the group. This was no ordinary occurrence.