Just as Riara was about to climb the old beam to cut down one of the barely breathing victims, John's eyes widened.
A strange ripple.
It was faint, nearly imperceptible, but at the very edge of his Spatial Awareness, something stirred.
A flicker.
A distortion in the air behind one of the shattered windows on the second floor.
He turned instantly, eyes sharp.
There, a silhouette stood, half-hidden by the broken frame.
Cloaked in darkness, motionless, but watching them with an unnatural stillness.
A glint of malice radiated from its aura. Cold.
Predatory.
John didn't hesitate.
"Soul Piercing Gaze." His voice was a whisper.
A brilliant beam of silvery-blue light burst from the center of his forehead, lancing toward the figure with terrifying speed.
It burned through the air like a focused spear of spiritual will.
But just before the beam could strike, the figure moved.
Not jumped, not flinched, phased, like smoke escaping fire.
