More mantises poured in from side passages and upper ledges, dropping into the fray with killing intent. Bruce met them head on, releasing a focused burst of aura that staggered the weaker ones for a split second, just long enough.
He took their heads.
He crushed their cores.
He tore through them with relentless efficiency, his breathing steady, his movements economical. Sweat never formed. Fatigue never set in. Only calculation remained.
But as he moved deeper, the air itself changed.
The mana grew thicker. Heavier. Sharper.
The oppressive aura he'd felt earlier intensified, pressing against his senses like an unseen weight. It wasn't directed at him, not yet, but it was aware. Watching. Measuring.
Bruce's expression hardened.
'Still hiding…'
Another wave charged.
