Old Tom's terrifying power and checking anchors with Senior Sister (monthly votes, please)

Just as the Bloodthirsty Species brought its hand down like a blade...

Its blood-red eyes seemed to catch sight of something terrifying.

The Bloodthirsty Species froze where it stood, its raised hand still held high.

Every muscle tensed for the strike locked in place, unable to relax.

Its twisted body looked as though some dreadful force had frozen it the instant before it struck.

Then...

The Bloodthirsty Species suddenly split down the middle.

It was like an ice sculpture sliced in two with an impossibly sharp blade.

A soft crack soon came from the two halves of its body.

Then each half split again at the waist.

As they split, four pieces became eight, eight became sixteen...

In less than a few seconds, the Bloodthirsty Species's entire body had broken down to the molecular level, leaving a strange powder scattered across the floor.

The whole thing happened in silence. The Bloodthirsty Species never even managed a scream.

It was as if it had been erased from the world the moment it froze.

Only then did Old Tom carefully slip his arm free. Once he was sure his grandson and granddaughter would not wake, he struggled to his feet and thumped his lower back.

He quietly picked up a broom and dustpan, then swept the powder into a nearby trash can, bit by bit.

After cleaning up, Old Tom looked through the old window, so thick with dust that he could hardly see outside. A trace of anticipation entered his voice.

"The golden energy has begun to flow..."

"What profession will race through it this time?"

Old Tom's voice held a note of anticipation.

The cloudy gray of his eyes had turned to molten gold.

Gold surged back and forth within them like waves, deep and ancient, as though reflecting every