As soon as he felt a chilling shiver run down his spine, Seongjin instinctively pulled back and grabbed Luise’s long cloak, yanking her with him. Luise, nearly tumbling headfirst to the ground, managed to steady herself, hands pressing against the icy floor as she looked up in surprise.
“Your Highness? What’s going on all of a sudden?”
Before he could answer—
Boom!
The ice floor where Luise had been standing moments earlier shattered, leaving a gaping crater. Bazra’s monstrous fist had struck the spot with devastating force, sending vibrations that dislodged chunks of snow from the canyon’s cliffs.
“Why is he suddenly…?”
Luise was utterly baffled at Bazra’s sudden shift. Just moments ago, he had been lamenting his tragic fate with what seemed like genuine grief.
“That’s not Bazra,” Seongjin replied, drawing his Nutcracker sword and positioning it defensively.
Luise also took up her sword, her instincts alerting her to the ominous shift in Bazra’s aura. She hadn’t seen it coming, but she recognized the danger now.
At that moment, a rough, sinister voice echoed in both their minds.
“Finally found you… Do you have any idea how troublesome it would have been to…