The Bookkeeper

Raiden remained motionless, trembling in his boots as he watched Mack close in on him. Their eyes locked while Mack rolled up his sleeves. Raiden just stood there, his sword resting on his shoulder, his masked expression unshaken.

The moment he got a few steps closer to Raiden, he paused and smirked. Raiden narrowed his eyes slightly, trying to make sense of his intent as he watched Mack clap his hands and whisper, ’’Silence Domain.’

’

In an instant, the golden aura radiating from him vanished, drawn from his body as it surged outward, circling around them and forming a spherical barrier.

Raiden’s expression darkened; he couldn’t hear a thing, not even his own breath or heartbeat. He reached out to touch the barrier but couldn’t push through.

He narrowed his eyes and turned to Mack, who seemed to be saying something, but he heard nothing. Raiden smirked, a faint sparkle flickering in his eyes.

"If this is all he can do," he burst into laughter, gripping the hilt of his sword tightly. "There has to be more to this Silence Domain; if not, then you’re not outmatching me in raw strength."

However, Mack smirked and gestured toward the floor, and Raiden suddenly felt a crushing force drag down on him. His hands and sword were yanked downward by an invisible weight. Gritting his teeth, he fought to pull them back up, bracing his legs and pressing against the floor, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t lift it. Not even a little.

Raiden tilted his head toward him. "He controls everything within it?" He tried releasing the sword, and to his surprise, his hand let go with ease. "So... no sound, no weapons..."

He rose to his feet while Mack stood there, acting cocky, as if he wanted Raiden to witness the full extent of his domain. Raiden took a deep breath and exhaled, even though he couldn’t hear a sound.

He scoffed. "Let’s get this over with, buddy..."