When they heard Eccar's words, a sharp gasp escaped several of them. Even the most composed among the group — Jan and Mark — couldn't hide the pale shade spreading across their faces. For a brief moment, all the tension they had pushed down surged back to the surface.
"What do you mean?" Mark asked, his voice tight and serious.
Eccar didn't answer immediately. He kept staring at the rift, his expression tense and his brows furrowed slightly. But then he sighed. He realized the look on his face was already having an effect on them. If he kept that grim demeanor their morale would crack.
He turned toward the group, his expression softening into something calmer and measured.
"I'll be honest with you all," he said as he raised a hand and pointed toward the rift. "There's an army of those creatures inside. They're lined up, ready to come out at any moment."
