***
{Outside The Projection}
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Silence.
Thick. Heavy. Suffocating.
It stretched across the hall.
Not the kind that came with deep thought—no, this was different.
This was the silence of the crushed.
Every single person had fallen to their knees.
Most had collapsed outright, joining those outside, only the stronger ones remained awake.
Yet, even they weren't doing so good, their bodies trembling, palms pressed against the cold floor, as if the very act of standing had become an offense against reality itself.
Noor's throne was crushed, forcing her to join the rest on the ground.
Hers was the only object affected, making it seem like she was targeted by IT.
That sounded nonsensical, but considering what they faced... it made perfect sense.
Her breath, as well as the others, came in short, shallow gasps—if they could even breathe at all.
