Suddenly, a brilliant rainbow light burst forth from her eyes. It was not merely light, but an immense energy that warped the very air around her until it trembled. The sound of shattering glass echoed throughout the shopping mall, while cracks spread across the ceiling like bolts of lightning.
An invisible pressure crashed down upon Aekas and his men, as if a giant, unseen hand was crushing their bones and muscles, stealing the breath from their lungs. Their cries of agony clashed with the roaring swirl of wind.
"W–What is this?!" one of the men in black shouted before collapsing to the floor, his face drained of all color.
Aekas struggled to remain standing, but his heart pounded so violently it felt as though it would explode from his chest. All he could see was the rainbow gleam reflected in the woman's eyes—a gleam no ordinary human could possess. Fear gnawed away at his pride, leaving nothing behind.
"Retreat! Fall back now!" Aekas commanded through clenched teeth, his trembling voice betraying his terror.
They scattered in chaos, their footsteps echoing against the silence that slowly devoured everything.
What remained was emptiness, stillness, and a chilling cold that seeped into every corner.
The woman—Noona—collapsed to the ground, gasping as if part of her very soul had been torn away. Her trembling hands could barely form a fist. The rainbow glow in her eyes gradually faded, leaving behind only deep, somber black.
"What… what is happening to me?" her voice was barely more than a whisper.
And in the distant shadows, a mysterious man stood watching in silence. He was not shocked. Instead, he wore a faint smile—like someone who had been waiting for this moment all along.