One head lunged forward and stopped right in front of Raaden's face, hissing softly.
The second head moved behind him, while the third hovered near his chest.
Raaden's breathing became fast and uneven.
"W–what are you doing?" he asked, his voice shaking.
Arkaal did not answer. He simply raised his hand again and made a slow pulling motion.
The three-headed serpent reacted at once. Its body tightened around Raaden, not crushing him, but locking him in place. Then, from the mouths of the three heads, thin streams of dark red mist began to flow out.
The mist moved like threads.
It slowly entered Raaden's body through his nose, mouth, and even his pores. The moment it touched him, Raaden let out a sharp cry.
"Ahh—!"
His body jerked as if something had stabbed him from the inside. His veins became visible under his skin, turning dark for a brief moment before fading again.
