Ethan's heart dropped like a stone.
He leapt back, gathering energy into a glowing sphere and hurling it forward.
Boom—!
The two forces collided.
His first energy blast was instantly corroded, shattered like glass in acid.
The second—gone.
The third—swallowed whole, as if into a black hole.
The fox-creature's attack didn't just survive—it surged forward, stronger, like a tidal wave of rot and rage.
Ethan dodged hard, barely avoiding the oncoming blast.
Ssssss—
The twisted energy struck a stone pillar nearby. The rock didn't crack or crumble—it melted, oozing down like liquefied flesh.
A chill ran down Ethan's spine.
—This power couldn't be converted. Couldn't be resisted.
If he stayed here much longer, he'd be reduced to sludge like everything else.
"Shit… I need to get out of here!"
He flared his power, trying to force open a path—but the moment his energy dipped, even slightly, the corruption surged in to devour him.
