The Calm Before… [Part-2]
Aden's jaw clenched, a reflex of pride and incredulity. He gulped down hard, the metallic aftertaste of blood stuck to his tongue, the acrid battle dust rasping at the back of his throat.
His chest panted unevenly, muscles tense like strung steel, every fiber coiled tight and ready to lash out anew—even though he knew, somewhere deep inside, fighting back would be useless. The air around them seemed to thicken, settling like a living thing in the crater, heavy and suffocating, pressing against the skin of every onlooker. Hearts thumped painfully against ribs, a sharp reminder that none of them could escape the weight of what was to come. The unspoken question hovered between them like smoke: what price would Leon demand for mercy?
