Compared to the first seal, the second had been far smoother.
After the initial sensation of being boiled alive, his body adapted quickly. His blood roared through his veins, reshaping him from within, but the pain dulled until it was barely noticeable.
Then came that same indescribable sensation.
As before, his awareness faded, leaving him unable to grasp what was happening. All he sensed was something within him cracking apart, a looming danger pressing in.
But unlike the first seal, which had felt like his body was about to explode into nothingness, this time there was no such despair. The pain was muted, distant, almost hollow.
"That's right. You succeeded." Grandpa Miel's voice rang out, filled with satisfaction.
He appeared in a flash of light, his form clearer, more solid than before.
"How do you feel?" Grandpa Miel asked.
Ray considered it. "Good. It wasn't nearly as painful as last time."
