For a few moments after the light faded, the world remained unnaturally still.
A vast stretch of land—nearly a kilometer wide—had been erased, replaced by a smooth, glass-like crater that reflected the dim sky above. No debris. No remnants of battle. Just silence, as though the world itself had chosen to forget what had just occurred.
At the center of it all stood Captain Vince.
His chest rose and fell steadily, each breath controlled but heavier than before. The battle had not been easy, no matter how clean its conclusion had seemed. His body carried the strain of it—subtle, but present. His muscles ached beneath his armor, and the faint residue of spent energy lingered in the air around him.
He closed his eyes briefly.
Not to rest—but to stabilize.
The flow of energy within him settled gradually, his control reasserting itself with practiced ease. Every heartbeat brought him back to equilibrium, every breath sharpening his awareness once more.
