The woman materialized directly in front of Ezekiel. Her hand morphed into a menacing claw, plunging into Ezekiel's chest.
A torrent of blood spurted forth as Ezekiel gasped in agony, his struggle to break free intensifying. Suddenly, an unexpected surge of energy coursed through Ezekiel's body.
It was as though a mysterious force attempted to heal him, just as it had done in the past. However, simultaneously, a counteracting energy seemed to thwart the healing.
Each effort to restore him appeared to exacerbate his condition. Even the immortality he had obtained at the cost of his own life seemed futile.
"I warned you, I cannot allow any further delay," the woman whispered into Ezekiel's ear before retracting her clawed hand.
Everything unfolded so swiftly that by the time Gabriel could respond, the ordeal had concluded. Gabriel could only bear witness to Ezekiel's pale body and the blood-stained wound in his chest.
