Si Hon gripped the stick with both hands, knuckles turning white as if the poor piece of wood had personally offended him.
His breathing was uneven at first, shallow and sharp, but he forced it down— forced himself into stillness.
Then he inhaled, Slow, Deep. The air burned cold in his lungs.
Four translucent notifications blinked into existence beside him, hovering in the dim cave light.
「One-Breath Focus — Perfect concentration for one second」
「Calm Mind — Slight panic reduction」
「Stamina Flicker — Gain energy equal to one deep breath」
They shimmered insistently.
He ignored them.
His eyes fixed on the darkness deeper inside the cave— the true lair. The place that felt heavier. Colder. Hungrier.
He focused.
And then—
Zwooop.
The world loosened.
His body felt light, as if gravity had politely excused itself.
His mind cleared into something thin and sharp. He wasn't standing anymore. He wasn't stepping. He was simply… moving.
Space folded.
