Wh-what was this... this oppressive feeling...
Knowing that the Third Raikage's decision could no longer be changed, Dodai could only sigh and nod slightly in agreement. Then his body suddenly stiffened with a crack, his entire body freezing in place.
An unprecedented icy sensation surged through his body. Threads of chill abruptly rose and coiled around his spine, making him involuntarily straighten his back and lean backward. Yet the instant he straightened, his shoulders sank ever so slightly, as an immense, sudden pressure arrived along with the cold, catching him completely off guard.
In that instant, he almost felt as though a pitch-black figure radiating a shudder-inducing aura had slowly risen behind him in a twisted posture, a black hand pressing down upon his shoulder! Th-this... this feeling...
Very quickly, though, he realized that the immense pressure that had suddenly descended felt somewhat familiar. It was like facing that colossal creature during the Defense Map Incident! Only this time, it was behind him. That shudder-inducing pressure was at his back rather than bearing down upon him from the front.
Impossible! That was impossible!
This had to be an illusion! Another abnormality in his senses, just like before! It wasn't real! It was merely an illusion born from hazy memories of the Defense Map mission! Here... it was impossible...
Absolutely impossible! At that thought, a look of horror gradually surfaced on Dodai's face, and the chilling cold that made him tremble seemed to deepen even further.
Then, his slightly widened eyes involuntarily settled on the Third Raikage's face off to the front.
Lord Third Raikage!
The moment his gaze settled, his eyes abruptly widened.
At this moment, a horrified expression had appeared on the profile of the Third Raikage he so respected.
Clearly, this was no illusion. The Third Raikage had