Aetheria remained poised, her garments clinging snugly to her form as the unseen force of Alex's mana surged around her, enveloping her like an ethereal tempest.
Her eyes flicked toward him, wide with tension—he stood silent, an immovable statue, yet radiating a pressure so intense it felt like a tangible weight pressing against her chest.
Every fiber of her being screamed one undeniable conclusion: Legend Rank.
But that could not be. With a flicker of her internal mana, her gaze sharpened, meticulously scrutinizing his physical presence.
Just as she had anticipated, the telltale signs revealed his rank to be Grandmaster—no higher, no illusions to mask the truth. He bore no signs of aura manipulation, nor any disguise to alter the perception of his power.
It was as if two contradictory realities were colliding before her: the unfathomable presence he projected stood in stark contrast to the rank that her eyes discerned.
