The first thing that changed in the environment was not the light, but the pressure. The moment the distant bell finished echoing through the hidden sea, the entire dimension seemed to inhale.
Every current halted and every floating island stopped drifting. The silver rivers of mana that had flowed peacefully since Jax and Astra entered froze in place as though time itself had paused.
Silence descended. Not ordinary silence. It was the kind that instinct warned every living creature to fear. Even the thousands of monsters surrounding them no longer moved.
The eel-like horrors, the crystalline leviathans and the floating jellyfish whose translucent bodies contained miniature galaxies.
Every last one remained perfectly still. Their crimson eyes stared only toward the black tower. Not one of them acknowledged Jax anymore. Not one acknowledged Astra.
It was as though the two of them had suddenly become insignificant.
"..."
