The man's body looked human at first glance, yet something about him felt deeply wrong. His skin carried dark vein like patterns that pulsed faintly with corrupted mana. His movements were unnatural, stiff in one moment and fluid in the next.
Tainted energy leaked from him constantly, twisting the air around his body.
His eyes were sunken, glowing faintly with sickly light.
His arm hung loosely at his side, bent at an impossible angle, yet with a sickening crack the bones twisted back into place.
Arthur watched silently.
As if sensing his gaze, the figure slowly straightened.
Its body shifted, flesh writhing beneath the skin before settling into a more human shape. The movement was wrong, like something wearing a human shell rather than truly being one.
When it finally spoke, its voice sounded distorted.
"Who… do you think you are…"
Its head tilted unnaturally.
"To interfere with the formation… the uppers ordered me to protect?"
Arthur felt nothing but disgust.
