Even now, with the fighting ended, the golden dragon's presence pressed down on the area like an invisible weight. The abyssals were gone, but the air had not yet relaxed.
Even the wind seemed reluctant to move, as if nature itself was wary of drawing the dragon's attention.
Something like awe flickered across the 9-star tamer's expression.
And something else.
Trepidation.
The hand finished speaking.
Slowly, deliberately, the 9-star tamer's clenched jaw loosened. The fury in his eyes dimmed, reined in by the threat of getting his ass beaten by the golden dragon.
Then he looked directly at Kain.
The anger and suspicion that Kain had been bracing for did not come.
Instead, the man looked… tired.
Older than he had moments ago.
The kind of exhaustion that did not come from battle alone, but from the long period of holding a line that ended up crumbling futilely despite all of his best efforts.
In the blink of an eye, the 9-star tamer vanished.
