West came back to consciousness choking.
Cold water burst from his mouth as his body convulsed, retching violently. He floated helplessly on the surface of the pool, coughing and vomiting up ruin-water in harsh, wracking spasms.
His fingers clawed weakly at the air.
For several seconds, he couldn't even tell which way was up.
Then his vision steadied.
And the first thing he saw made his mind short-circuit.
The creature—the reptilian guardian that had nearly beaten him to death—was no longer standing.
It wasn't even nearby.
It was buried.
Far across the chamber, its massive body was embedded deep into the wall, surrounded by a crater so large it looked as if a meteor had struck the ruin itself. Cracks spider-webbed outward for dozens of meters. Stone had melted. The wall had bowed inward like clay struck by a god's fist.
The creature twitched once and then went still.
West's eyes widened.
"…What…?"
A shadow fell over him, carrying an overbearing presence.
