The silence that followed Nysera's departure was heavier than any attack that had been exchanged between the two rival groups earlier.
No one moved at first. No one spoke.
Every member of Alex's newly assembled team remained locked in place, their instincts still screaming warnings that their conscious minds were struggling to fully process. The very air around them had become thick with unseen danger that had not yet decided whether to strike or withdraw.
She had been there. And then she was not.
But the cold she brought with her lingered like frost on exposed skin, an invisible weight that pressed against their senses long after her physical form had vanished from sight.
---
Jaros was the first to exhale.
The massive titan's shoulders relaxed only slightly, his metallic skin still holding tension in a way that suggested he remained ready to move at any moment. His fists, which had unconsciously clenched during the encounter, slowly uncurled.
