The monsters in front of the defensive line suddenly slowed.
Especially the spiders.
Their sharp legs, which had been striking with frightening speed moments ago, began to move as if weighed down by something invisible. Their leaps lost momentum, their coordination broke, and their attacks turned sluggish.
Some explorers noticed immediately.
"Did… did they slow down?"
"What happened?"
The more sensitive ones felt it clearly. The flow of the battlefield had shifted, like the air itself had thickened. Yet none of them could understand why.
Arthur said nothing.
His intent had already spread.
Intent Weave activated.
Invisible pressure wrapped around the advancing monsters, suppressing their movements and breaking their rhythm. The effect was subtle but overwhelming.
Then he raised his hand.
Fire gathered, layered upon itself in controlled waves, compressing and shaping under his will.
Manifest intent.
Then... Boom.
The explosion shook the battlefield.
