Within a fraction of a second, the mark began to pulse. The rhythmic flashing rapidly accelerated—from a heartbeat, to a frantic flutter, and finally into a blinding, continuous strobe of scarlet light. The sheer volume of enemies actively targeting him was causing the brand to overload, projecting a physical, burning aura that warped the air around his shoulders like heat rising off a forge.
Standing just a few paces behind him, the party stared at the phenomenon in absolute awe.
"By the Aether..." Flinn whispered, instinctively taking a half-step back as the heavy, suffocating pressure radiating off Lexel forced the breath from his lungs.
Cresty's eyes widened, her tactical mind struggling to comprehend what she was witnessing. She watched the brand strobe so fast it looked like a solid ring of fire burning into his skin.
