Plans change

The sheer weight of the man's presence pinned me to the ground as if an invisible force pressed down on every inch of my body.

My breath caught in my throat, and my vision blurred for a moment under the immense pressure. Even the little fox, whose flames had been unwavering before, cowered at my side, his black fire flickering weakly like a dying ember. 

The man stepped forward, his movements deliberate and calm, each step reverberating through the cavern.

His features began to emerge from the shadows, though his aura was so overpowering that I could only glimpse fragments: sharp, chiseled cheekbones, cold, calculating eyes glowing faintly with a dark, unnatural hue, and a mouth set in a line that radiated authority. 

"You are..." His voice was deep and resonant, like a distant thunderstorm. He tilted his head, examining me as if I were a curious insect pinned under his gaze. "...a disappointment."