The sky above the ridge had split open, leaking black fluid down the cracked cliff like an open wound. Between the tear in the sky and the blood-soaked cliff, two very different things stared at each other.
Above hung the Gate Boss, a huge, pale mass of grey-pink flesh weeping black fluid, its giant red eye twitching wildly while thousands of needle-like tendrils wriggled inside its gaping mouth. Below stood Zephyr von Celestial, his dark coat whipping in the wind, his huge black steel sword resting over one shoulder.
A few yards back in the broken ground, Morgana and Damon lay frozen. The weight of the monster's presence wasn't just crushing their bodies, it was invading their minds, thick and suffocating like hot tar poured straight into their thoughts.
Damon's ribs ached under the weight of the aura. His jaw clamped shut so hard a drop of blood ran from his lip onto the ground. He fought desperately against the crushing force, trying to dull the shocks shaking his insides.
