Slowly, the massive rock armor around Owen's body began to crumble apart.
Large chunks of stone fell into the flooded street one by one as he finally returned to normal.
The moment his feet touched the ground properly again, he immediately bent forward slightly, breathing heavily.
"…Holy shit," he muttered.
Theo landed beside him and took a step forward.
Owen glanced up at him for a moment before letting out a tired laugh.
"You really got way stronger," he said, still trying to catch his breath. "That attack at the end was insane."
Theo glanced toward the crater once more, confirming the siren had truly stopped moving.
Only then did he let out a quiet breath himself.
'That cost me more than two-thirds of my mana,' he thought, his chest still rising and falling heavily.
'I just hope I have enough left to reach the apartment like this.'
Just then—
Panicked cries suddenly echoed out behind them.
"W-What happened?!"
"Why am I here?!"
"My son! WHERE'S MY SON?!"
