Judgement.

Varn finally managed to turn.

The motion was sluggish. Heavy. Like his body no longer obeyed him. Like even the simple act of turning his head required him to lift a mountain. And yet, somehow, he did it.

His eyes found the thing behind him.

And in that moment—

Terror.

Not fear. Not panic.

Primal. Absolute. Animal.

It bled into his face, twisted his mouth open, stole his breath.

Ashvaleth stood.

The beast's monstrous form seemed to bend the very air around it. Its massive head lowered, just enough for its burning, violet eyes to meet Varn's gaze with a silent, patient hunger.

The scent hit next—rot and ruin, thick enough to taste. Its breath flowed over him in waves, warm and wet like open graves.

Spines of blackened bone jutted from the creature's back and ribs, flickering with a sickly violet mist. Its maw was half-open, jaws drooping wide enough to swallow a man whole.

And the sound—