As the blinding light slowly dimmed down, the silhouettes of the two figures gradually emerged from the sea of swirling radiance. Pink particles drifted through the air like glowing flower petals, while multilayered magic circles rotated around Aether's body with a low humming sound before slowly cracking apart and dissolving into countless fragments of light.
The final layer shattered.
Aether's body fully came into view.
At first glance, there was barely any difference from before. The same broad shoulders. The same muscular chest. The same sturdy legs carved with months of battle and bloodshed.
Yet the moment anyone's gaze rose above his nose, revulsion crawled into everyone's face.
The upper half of his face looked horrifying.
Blackened flesh spread across his skin like rot, swollen veins pulsing beneath cracked layers of dead skin mixed with pus. Every slight movement of his eyelids caused tiny flakes of ruined flesh to crumble away like dust.
