Cliff observed the fortress with sharp attention. The barrier he had just deployed shone with an intense glow, enveloping every stone and every inhabitant of the bastion in an almost otherworldly halo.
He had demanded that everyone leave their homes before he began. Now, they were gathered, crowded in the squares and streets, their eyes fixed on him and the barrier. Some whispered, visibly confused. No one truly understood why Cliff had taken this sudden initiative.
Some assumed he was preparing for an attack, and although that wasn't entirely false, they only saw a fraction of the reality. This shield he had summoned wasn't just to protect the fortress from external threats. It served a much darker purpose.
Cliff had activated Purification, a skill he had only tested on harmless targets until now. But this time, he was attempting something new, an idea he had only considered in theory.
