After watching for long enough, Ethan decided it was time to intervene. With one word, he said, "Stop."
As if the world only heard his voice, everyone in the vicinity had stopped moving except the ones that Ethan willed for them to move.
The golden gorilla froze mid-swing, its massive fists suspended in the air like sculptures carved from living metal. The smaller primates scattered throughout the city became motionless statues, their snarls frozen on their faces. Even the flames consuming the buildings ceased their dance, hanging in the air like orange crystals.
Time itself had bent to Ethan's will.
Hong Wei looked around in confusion as his enemies suddenly stopped moving. His chest heaved with exhaustion, sweat and blood mixing on his brow as he tried to comprehend what had just occurred. The sword fragment in his hand trembled—not from fear, but from the overwhelming pressure that had suddenly filled the air.
