The divine creature's brilliance shimmered faintly through the dense mist, its colossal presence radiating an energy that seemed to freeze the very air. Then, as though drawn by an unseen thread, its luminous eyes shifted...and fixed directly upon Lucas.
The moment that gaze fell upon him, Lucas felt his body seize. His lungs refused to work. His heart pounded so hard it echoed in his ears. The air felt like it had turned to solid ice. He could not move, could not breathe, could not even think clearly.
He staggered backward, his legs weak beneath him, before falling to one knee in the snow. The invisible weight pressing upon him was suffocating ... as though the heavens themselves had turned their full attention on a single mortal soul. His hand shot to his temple, his mind throbbing in pain. It wasn't just pressure; it was the sensation of being examined.
The others noticed immediately.
