The room was massive, wide enough to fit a small stadium, but everyone's eyes were stuck on the throne at the center.
The Vampire Mutant didn't move.
Its skin was corpse-white and stretched tightly across exaggerated muscles. Its skull helmet dripped blood from the eye sockets. Razor bones jutted out of its elbows, shoulders, spine, and ribs like natural weapons. Its fanged grin widened slowly when it noticed them enter.
Gabriel's expression didn't change—but his jaw tightened.
Anna silently stepped closer, whispering, "Master… your heartbeat is fast."
"Ignore it," Gabriel said calmly. "Fall back."
"Leader?" Bunny asked, confused. "But we can—"
"You can't fight this one."
There was no debate in his tone. One sentence froze everyone.
They didn't understand, but the authority in Gabriel's eyes made them step back immediately. Even the players who usually made snarky comments kept their mouths shut.
Gabriel took one step forward.
And the ground cracked under his foot.
