The silence that followed was sharp and absolute. Liam's lips parted slightly, but no sound came. Zoe froze mid-motion, her hand clutching the edge of her staff. Chloe's cross bow, usually resting casually against her knee, nearly slipped from her grasp.
An Azure Colonel.
To even hear such a rank mentioned here, in the mortal zone, was absurd. With that kind of battle power, an Azure Colonel could stride through the Trial Wilds alone, reducing armies of beasts to ash without needing so much as a squad. If they had known about false crystals they would have suspected it's use, and that would have made sense.
But the truth was different.
It was the raw, unshackled strength of that officer as an E rank that had carried him to that level.
The fire popped, sending a spark into the air, but none of them moved to speak. The weight of it was too much, pressing down on their chests, setting their thoughts racing.
