Garion felt it the moment the pressure hit him.
This time, it was different.
The air didn't just feel heavy.
It felt compressed, like everything around him was being forced into a smaller space.
His boots sank slightly into the cracked ground as the weight pressed down harder than before.
"…Oh," Garion muttered. "So it's stronger this time."
Black ash surged around Kravos, feeding into him from every direction.
The remaining demons nearby were on their knees now, faces pale, bodies trembling as their strength was drained away.
Kravos threw his head back and laughed.
"Hahaha!" His voice echoed through the ruined streets. "Do you feel it now, human?"
He spread his arms wide.
"This is the power of a ruler. The authority of Black Ash City!"
Garion didn't answer right away.
He stood there, shoulders relaxed, eyes half-lidded as if he were simply testing the weight on his body.
Then he smiled.
The laugh on Kravos's face faltered.
