Guskes did not notice the change in the window behind him. His attention was focused entirely on the map before him.
Just then, a pale, slender hand emerged from the glass of that window.
The hand gently swept through the air.
A few wisps of pale yellow immediately appeared.
Then the hand withdrew into the glass, and the window returned to normal.
The pale yellow wisps quickly dissipated, merging with the air.
Guskes finally finished his strategic planning. He stood up, stretched, and took a long, deep breath.
He seemed to inhale too sharply and choked on the slightly chilly air, immediately breaking into a cough.
At first, he paid it no mind, but he kept coughing and could not stop.
His head ached and felt feverish, while his lungs felt as though they were on fire.
These symptoms startled Guskes. He thought he had come down with acute pneumonia.
He wanted to summon an orderly, but the violent coughing left him unable to speak properly.
Guskes tried to walk toward the door, but his legs suddenly gave way, sending him crashing to the floor. He coughed until his vision blurred.
He coughed so hard that he could barely concentrate.
After the violent coughing, headache, and burning lungs, he developed chills, sweating, and other symptoms.
He could feel himself growing weaker at an alarming rate.
At that moment, Guskes realized this was no ordinary illness!
He must have been attacked!
Attacked by a Beyonder!
Otherwise, his condition could not have deteriorated so quickly.
But knowing that changed nothing.
He could do nothing but cough.
Suddenly, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Then a second.
He was suffering massive internal bleeding!
Gradually, Guskes's consciousness grew hazy.
Strange, fantastical shadows appeared before his eyes. He seemed to see heaven beckoning.
In