Gon's patience snapped like brittle glass.
"Shut up," he growled, eyes narrowing to slits. His voice wasn't loud, but it cracked like thunder through the arena.
The tension in the air, already coiled like a serpent, tightened until it was nearly unbearable.
The mage blinked at him, eyes wide with brief astonishment, as if he hadn't expected such a response.
For a heartbeat, he stood frozen, caught between disbelief and amusement. Then, with a slow and deliberate motion, he let out an exaggerated sigh, long and heavy.
His shoulders lifted dramatically, rising as though pulled by invisible strings, before slumping back down in a show of theatrical weariness.
The corners of his lips curved into a lopsided smile, half amusement, half resignation, as if he were both entertained and mildly exasperated.
"Well, aren't you a ray of sunshine," he said, tone laced with mockery. "Honestly, you're no fun at all. If we must do things the boring way, then so be it."
