A stillness fell.
Not natural.
Not earned.
It arrived like an invisible tide swallowing sound itself.
Then—
Pressure.
It descended without warning.
Heavy. Ancient. Absolute.
The air thickened, compressing lungs and muscles alike as if the sky itself had lowered by several meters. Stone beneath everyone's feet groaned faintly. Mana currents across the plaza twisted violently before flattening into submission.
Steel froze mid-swing.
A divine guard staggered, his spear slipping from numb fingers as his knees buckled. Another choked, clutching his chest as sweat instantly broke across his brow. Even seasoned knights—battle-hardened and disciplined—found their breathing uneven, their bodies instinctively lowering under the overwhelming presence.
Across from them—
Kyle dropped one knee to the ground, panting.
"…W-what… is this…?"
