There was no warning as everything fell apart.
One moment the world was holding its breath.
The next moment.
Energy exploded without a sound.
The ground beneath their feet cracked deeper, not from wild pressure, but because two systems collided at the very same point. The air around them grew heavy, as if filled with invisible particles repelling each other.
Aurelia stood at the front line.
The white-gold light on her body expanded, stabilizing the space around her. Not attacking. Not forcing. Yet it was clear she would not back down.
The figure before her raised a hand.
Fragments on its body moved quickly, rearranging into a sharper form. The energy around it did not spread out, but was locked into an extremely precise structure.
"Interesting," Kael murmured softly from behind.
"He's not wasting energy."
Orion added,
"He's compressing it."
Ragnar grinned widely.
"Denser means harder."
Without warning.
The figure moved.
Fast.
