Auryn stood in the crater alone. As the light of dawn painted everything gold and yet couldn't hide what remained.
Four bodies scattered across disturbed ash. Tools abandoned mid-swing. The skeleton was gone, stored in the Gates of Avarice.
Auryn's body felt heavier. Like gravity had strengthened overnight or his bones had become denser while he slept. He stared at his arm, flexing it slightly.
He stood, hoping to test the changes to his body. Crouching ever so slightly, he exploded into the air. His leap took him high enough, he could see above the weirdly bent trees and a large expanse of the land in a single go.
He landed on the same spot and the impact felt solid, grounded in a way it hadn't before. The ground shuddered on his descent.
Auryn immediately walked to one of odd trees. Standing across from it and not directly in front of it. He sighed, clenched his fist and punched forward.
