After the initial wave of fear faded, Michael's thoughts began to move beyond panic and caution. He could think more clearly now.
Like this moment, for example.
"Putting aside whatever other abilities that monster might have, there are two I'm certain of," he muttered, his tone low and oddly calm. "And both are terrifyingly powerful."
The first was its ability to control the dead.
At first glance, it resembled necromancy—but it was fundamentally different. The creature didn't reanimate corpses. It manipulated the lingering consciousness of the dead.
The second ability was even more terrifying: it could kill by targeting and destroying the consciousness directly.
"In fact… maybe they're not two abilities at all," Michael murmured, brows furrowed. "It might just be one—just applied in different ways."
The idea felt increasingly plausible the more he considered it.
