Every single trace of lifelong conditioning, every thread of childhood affection, and every remnant of human bonding inside the hounds' brains was mercilessly incinerated beneath the absolute, cosmic authority of Sol's Free Use power.
Their eyes no longer rolled in confusion. Their pupils turned white at first, then hearing the direct command from Sol to slaughter their riders, they contracted into razor-thin vertical slits, turning a deep, unnatural, and terrifying neon-red.
The thrashing stopped.
The whimpering ceased.
An absolute, chilling silence fell over the Zharun Hound Riders as all eighty Blood Hounds stood completely rigid in the white dust.
Their elongated snouts dropped low to the ground, dark purple foam dripping continuously from their exposed rows of needle-sharp teeth.
A Zharun rider, his knee bruised from being thrown, slowly reached out his hand toward his bonded mount's snout.
