Its body was a husk, more ancient and desiccated than any mummy. The demigod's corpse served as a macabre skeleton, giving the Guardian of the Authority its horrifying form. And woven throughout that corpse, Orion could sense the distinct, intricate traces of powerful magic.
He had a growing suspicion that this entire sea of sand, this entire constructed reality, was the handiwork of that Eltar Mage Alliance.
The thought made him sober.
"Hahahaha! You see now, invader?" Faraday's disembodied voice boomed, dripping with smug satisfaction. He seemed to think Orion was intimidated by the display. All the frustration and anger he had suppressed moments ago now erupted in a torrent of arrogant laughter. "This realm is far beyond the likes of you!"
"An ant is still an ant," Orion replied, his voice flat. "And I told you, you have no grasp of real power."
