Sebastian's body did not fall at once.
It failed slowly.
Like strength leaving bone piece by piece.
His hands still held Vivian's.
But the power inside them was no longer steady.
His fingers trembled. His grip shook. His breath came in broken sounds he could not control.
Pain was no longer sharp.
It was deep.
Heavy.
Crushing from inside outward.
It felt like his bones were being pressed together until they would turn to dust.
Vivian felt the change immediately.
She saw it in his shoulders first.
They were no longer strong. They were collapsing inward.
"Sebastian… please," she whispered through tears.
But he only shook his head once.
The chamber pulsed.
INTENSITY ESCALATION CONFIRMED.
The air thickened again.
Breathing became harder for everyone present, but for Sebastian it became war.
His chest rose — stopped — struggled — forced air in again.
Each breath sounded like it scraped his throat raw.
His knees bent slightly.
