Ethan's brow tightened as realization struck like a slap to the face. This thing—this grotesque monstrosity—was one of the forces he'd sensed the moment he first entered this world.
He hadn't paid it much attention back then. A flicker of pressure, a whisper of something ancient. But now, standing face to face with it, he understood: it had been watching him all along. And worse, it probably wasn't the only one.
"RUMBLE!"
A wave of raw, crushing power surged toward him. Ethan reacted instantly, sweeping his arms forward. A massive energy sphere bloomed in his palms, then launched like a comet straight at the creature.
It hit dead-on.
And did nothing.
The orb struck the monster's flesh with a dull thud, rippling across its surface like a pebble dropped in a swamp. No damage. No recoil. Just a faint shimmer—and the thing kept coming.
Ethan's pupils contracted. He stared, disgust curling in his gut.
