The fog grew thicker as they moved forward.
The ground beneath Asher's feet changed from solid stone to cracked earth mixed with old bone fragments. The air felt wrong here—not fully dead, not fully alive. His breathing felt heavier, like something was pressing against his soul rather than his body.
"This boundary is unstable," Asher said.
The lich emperor nodded. "It should not exist in this state. I keep it balanced."
Asher stopped near the edge of the crypt zone. Tall, broken stone markers stood half-buried in the ground. Some still carried faded soul inscriptions.
He closed his eyes and focused.
"Absolute Appraisal."
The response came back slower this time.
Soul density: irregular.
Life signatures: weak but present.
Death authority: partially suppressed.
Asher opened his eyes.
"Someone is masking the transition," he said. "They're pulling souls without triggering death, then letting the body collapse later."
The lich emperor's voice hardened. "That confirms it."
