The first tremor felt like a whisper.
Gentle.
Yet enough to make the space around Aurelia pulse unsteadily.
The light she channeled into the rift began to be disturbed. Not severed. But slowly pushed back, as if something inside was not only resisting it was beginning to awaken.
Aurelia narrowed her eyes.
Her hand remained raised.
She did not pull back her energy.
She held on.
Locked in place.
But the pressure from within the rift grew stronger.
Heavier.
More… conscious.
"Interesting…"
The voice came again.
This time not just an echo.
But clear.
Close.
As if speaking directly before her.
Aurelia did not reply.
But her gaze remained sharp toward the tear in the sky.
The rift trembled more violently.
The light around it was no longer stable.
And slowly—
Something began to show from within it.
Not emerging at once.
But a shadow.
Huge.
Without a fixed form.
Yet clearly possessing presence.
Below—
Ragnar paused his attack for a moment.
