"I feel that my f…" Ross began, but the surge of energy caught him mid-sentence.
He groaned, clutching his face with both hands and bending forward slightly, groaning in a deliberately exaggerated display as if the stone were burning him alive.
The crowd collectively held its breath.
Some gasped, while others leaned in closer, unsure whether Ross was in grave danger or not.
For one full minute, Ross remained in the act—staggering slightly, teeth clenched, aura flaring wildly, his entire body shaking as though it were struggling to contain the stone's overwhelming power.
The room was utterly silent; even the sounds of elemental powers in the hall seemed to fade in comparison.
Every eye was fixed on him, every mind straining to comprehend what they were witnessing.
Then, gradually, he straightened.
Slowly, deliberately, he removed his hands from his face and lifted his head.
