A muffled roar rolled down through the vertical air shafts, vibrating through the basalt floor of the cavern.
High above, the plateau shivered like a drum skin struck by an iron mallet. The sound of panic from the surviving warhorses filtered through the rock, thin and distant, like dry grass whistling in a winter wind.
Down by the dark lake, Kaelen stood beside the humming Star-Fall plinth.
His loose bathrobe hung straight down in the still air. With the seventy percent imperial suppression completely broken, the subterranean vault felt warm, peaceful, and wonderfully quiet.
Finally, some peace, Kaelen thought, rubbing the bridge of his nose. If everyone above ground would just stay in one place and stop yelling, I could be back in my hammock before my tea leaves go sour.
He looked down at the central hub of the plinth.
The twelve spirit-gold spikes gleamed with bright amber light. The entire formation was now running in reverse, fully answering to his 400 percent Transcendent Dao Intent.
With a lazy motion, Kaelen raised his right index finger and tapped the top of the central spike.
