Soft light dispelled the ink-dark gloom of the passage. Magic Runes flowed across the flickering surface of the shield. It had endured immense pressure during the previous energy impact, but it was already repairing itself automatically.
Elizabeth proposed that the earlier thunderous noise and the impact on their minds and souls had actually been a heartbeat.
Wang Gulas frowned. Elizabeth's words had indeed shaken him deeply, yet they also gave him a sense that this was only natural. He had considered that possibility himself, but had never been certain.
Giant Axe wore a contemplative expression. Dwarves had always been highly accepting, and he was pondering something in silence.
Koya still maintained his expressionless appearance—or rather, the expression on his face had never changed from beginning to end.
A heartbeat...
Wang Gulas let out a soft breath.
If that really had been a heartbeat, he simply could not imagine what sort of creature could possess one like that.
Still, he was not overly surprised. After all, they were currently inside a passage created by that very creature.
Thump...
Perhaps to confirm Elizabeth's words, a dull, thunder-like sound came again from afar. Wang Gulas immediately tensed up and began frantically casting all sorts of instant defensive magic on himself and the others.
Astral Grace, Holy Light Barrier, Azure Wave Prison, Eternal Blessing...
In the blink of an eye, all kinds of dazzling light nearly illuminated the entire passage. Layer upon layer of defensive magic appeared and stacked atop one another, leaving Giant Axe dumbfounded.
The next second, the sound had drawn close.
They had all prepared themselves to withstand the impact—more or less—but contrary to their expectations, it was merely like a harmless breeze and quickly faded away.
"Uh... what was that?"
Wang Gulas could not quite understand the scene before him.