The Hall of Resonance remained silent long after Erosius's presence disappeared.
Only the faint vibration of the Force currents lingered in the air.
Ashen stood before the fractured floor, his hand still trembling from the clash. Thin strands of black corruption crawled beneath his skin like living veins before dissolving into silver particles under the influence of Ataraxia.
Even then, he could still hear it.
Not words.
A feeling.
An endless hunger echoing somewhere beyond reality.
Michael slowly lowered his lightning blade.
"...I've fought raid bosses, world beasts, and dimensional tyrants," he muttered. "None of them ever made me feel... insignificant."
Heqet looked toward the broken Force Barrier surrounding the chamber. Hundreds of ancient runes had cracked, each one dimmer than before.
"The barrier held for thousands of years."
She swallowed.
"It nearly shattered from a single thought."
No one answered.
Because they all knew the truth.
