The black scroll continued to unroll, revealing more of its arcane script, and as it did, the air thickened, becoming heavy with an unseen, unbearable pressure. Liu Jin braced himself, every fibre of his being screaming a silent warning. The golden luminescence around him flared, pushing back instinctively, but this was no mere physical assault. This felt like a violation of the very essence of his being.
The Grand Elder’s eyes, devoid of warmth, scanned the intricate symbols on the parchment. His lips moved, not in a roar of command, but in a low, guttural chant that seemed to resonate directly within Liu Jin’s chest. It was a language he didn't recognise, yet every syllable felt like a needle of ice, piercing the delicate balance he had just forged.
A searing pain lanced through Liu Ji
