(Execution Livestream Continuation, The Pit, A Common Cult Soldiers POV)
"PUSH MEN! KEEP PUSHING!"
The Legion Commander barked behind him, the words cutting through the chaos with the sharp authority of habit, yet the Cult soldier barely registered them at all.
'I have no energy to push on anymore… Commander.'
The thought surfaced weakly, drained of urgency, drained of protest, and yet his body moved anyway, legs driving forward as if they no longer belonged to him, arms lifting and striking in time with the men on either side, muscle memory answering the command long before conscious thought could catch up.
They pushed as one.
Each of them leaning into the advance like there was no tomorrow, shields locked, blades flashing, boots slipping against blood-soaked stone as the second ring pressed back against them with relentless force.
And still, something felt wrong.
His body carried no fire.
No excited mana surge.
