The pressure was everywhere. It pressed down like an invisible hand, making it harder to breathe. Every person still standing in the guild felt it—a suffocating wave of essence so dense it was nearly tangible.
Deep beneath the crater, Joshua tried to laugh, but the sound came out as a pained groan. Blood pooled beneath him, and his body refused to cooperate when he tried to move.
Rook stood at the edge of the massive pit, his stone form already receding, and he heard Joshua's pathetic attempt at laughter.
His gaze shifted toward the direction of the guild building several hundred meters away, barely visible through the smoke and debris. Their battle had carried them far from it.
Even from that distance, they could both sense the immense essence and Joshua's reaction to it told Rook everything he needed to know. "Shit." He turned away from Joshua and ran.
***
