Existence felt cleaner, as if some fundamental contamination had been scrubbed away, leaving atmosphere crisp and breathable once more.
A moment of relief washed through the space where catastrophe had loomed just heartbeats before, where THE Living Paradox had pressed down with authority that made resistance seem laughable!
That oppressive weight had lifted with the entity's departure, and existence carried no trace of its presence beyond lingering memory.
Yet Noah's eyes remained those of caution and analytical focus as he took everything in, processing the aftermath as he refused to mistake reprieve for victory.
His posture stayed ready, coiled spring waiting to determine whether release was genuine or merely prelude to greater compression.
Beside him, the figure of Riya finally seemed to be breathing without conscious effort, her shoulders loosening from tension that had locked them rigid throughout the encounter.
Her voice emerged with sheer incredulity.
