The very instant the battle began, the world itself seemed to shift in a way that defied ordinary understanding. There was no explosion to announce the change, no violent surge of energy to warn those watching from the outside. Instead, the transformation was quiet, almost gentle, like a ripple passing through still water. It arrived without force, without sound, and yet it carried a weight far greater than any direct attack.
Aether felt it immediately.
The ground beneath his feet, which had moments ago been solid and unyielding, now seemed uncertain, as though its existence depended on something far more fragile than stone or structure. The air around him thickened, carrying a faint, almost comforting sensation, one that reminded him of drifting into sleep after a long day. It was soothing, deceptively so, and that alone made it dangerous.
He did not move.
