Use your mana."
Ethan blinked. For a second, his mind felt sluggish, but then realization hit him. Mana. Of course. His body wasn't just fighting against physical pressure. This was mana manipulation—a presence, a force beyond mere weight.
Gritting his teeth, he focused inward, drawing from the well of energy within him. His mana flared, a golden hue crackling around him, wrapping his body in raw power.
And yet—
Nothing changed.
Ethan's body still screamed under the weight. The pressure still crushed down on him just as much as before. His legs still wobbled, his muscles still burned, and his bones still felt like they were on the verge of snapping.
"What…?" Ethan choked out, sweat dripping down his face. "Why isn't it—?!"
Eleanor sighed.
A slow, unimpressed, exasperated sigh.
