Outside the dungeon.
Orien stood silently, watching the demons and the humans under Lilith's control as they patrolled the vast volcano. Their movements were orderly, disciplined, as if nothing unusual had happened, yet the air itself felt tense, as though it was holding its breath.
In reality, he had never left.
He could not afford to.
Ash had taken something far too precious from him, something he could not simply abandon. Leaving was never an option.
Yet forcing his way into the dungeon was just as impossible. Doing so would risk triggering a spatial storm, and if that happened, everything would be over.
There would be nothing left to reclaim.
His wrists had regenerated, but the hand that had bore the brunt of the runic energy still hung limply by his side.
The damage was not superficial.
The runes had carved themselves too deeply into his existence, and it would take far longer to fully heal.
It has been hours….. they should be coming out any time now…..
