The silence that settled over the floating islands felt heavier than any battle they had fought.
For the first time since entering the endless Gate, nobody was talking.
Nobody was joking.
Nobody even looked capable of it.
Ethan slowly looked around at the squad, and what he saw did little to reassure him for the final upcoming Boss Beast.
They had won every battle so far and defeated four terrifying A Rank creatures.
But they looked as though they had lost a war.
Seraphina sat with her knees pulled to her chest, breathing shallowly. She had always been on the slimmer side, but now she looked genuinely sick. The pink-haired speedster's cheeks had hollowed out, and every burst of speed throughout the day seemed to have consumed another piece of her body. Her usually energetic movements had slowed considerably, her legs trembling whenever she stood.
"You alright?" Ethan asked.
She forced a smile that fooled absolutely nobody.
"I've... been better."
