Ashrik was as calm as he remained sitting on the ground. The sunlight bathed his figure, illuminating his expressionless face.
Somehow, the forest felt different than before his advancement. The air seemed heavier, as though being suppressed by an invisible force.
Frost lingered on the leaves and bark even when the noon sun filtered through the canopy. The ground beneath bore faint crystalline lines, spreading outward from where he sat.
Ashrik rolled his shoulders twice. He felt the power had properly settled into his ability core. Despite being cold and ominous, it was obedient.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Slow, lazy applause broke the silence.
Ashrik turned slightly, watching as Isaac emerged from the back of a tree. Instead of the one he had been sitting at before, it was meters away from the edge of the clearing.
Without a doubt, the fire wielder sought refuge there. Certainly, he refused to be flattened by the shockwaves.
