The captain tries to steady himself, gripping his warped sword. "Damn it! Don't just stand there—attack! All of you!"
Three remaining men charge at once, desperation overriding fear. Fireballs, wind blades, and lightning surge toward Alix in unison—lighting up the cavern in chaotic flashes.
Alix doesn't move. He simply raises his hand.
The spells hang midair—frozen. Then, with a quiet snap of his fingers, they reverse, surging back toward their casters with twice the force.
The explosion is instant. The cavern shakes, and when the light fades, only the captain remains—his armor scorched, his men reduced to ash.
He staggers back, trembling. "M-monster… w-what are you?"
Alix finally stops walking. His expression doesn't change, but his eyes—sharp, inhuman—lock onto the captain's trembling form. "You said you've been guarding the herb," he says quietly. "Show me where it is."
The man shakes his head frantically. "I—I can't—"
