Alex stood rooted in place, his breath caught in his throat as more people blinked into existence around him.
Each new arrival felt like a drumbeat against his nerves, tightening his chest further.
His entire body was tense, every muscle coiled as if preparing for a fight.
Why am I so on edge?
Alex wondered, his hands balling into fists.
He'd faced the Cockatrice King, battled swarms of deadly monsters, and stared death in the face more times than he could count. And yet here he was, shaken to his core, his heart pounding like a war drum.
Two normal humans shouldn't have been enough to rattle him like this.
Another soft whoosh broke the silence. A new figure appeared just a few feet away, swaying slightly as they adjusted to the strange surroundings. Alex's eyes darted toward the newcomer, scanning their face with a mix of hope and dread.
And then… nothing.
No more sounds. No more arrivals.
