Damon felt himself black out momentarily before regaining control. As he steadied himself, his Shadow Perception expanded, spreading across a vast area under the influence of the now-starved Shadow Hunger. The sensation was overwhelming yet familiar, a testament to his relentless training.
Through the shadows, Damon could sense everything—the ongoing skirmishes down the hill, where students fought tooth and nail to destroy the lesser automata. He felt the faint light of eliminations as more students fell. Beyond them, he perceived the dense canopy of the forest, an intricate web of darkness and life that appeared to him in fragmented images.
Gripping his head, Damon forced himself to focus on the threat before him—the great automata. Its presence was oppressive, but the flood of information from his perception didn't paralyze him. If anything, it sharpened his resolve.