Petrified husk

"Wait… do you see that?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, laced with a cautious edge.

The group edged forward, each step slower than the last as they strained to make out the figure's features in the dim light. The figure lay slumped on the ground, motionless and shrouded in eerie stillness. As they drew closer, recognition flashed across each of their faces, quickly replaced by horror. The shape sprawled before them wasn't just familiar—it was unmistakably *him*.

"Is it just me, or does that look like... the Crater?" one of them stammered, his voice trembling as he fought to comprehend the sight before him.

"Yes, yes! It's definitely him!" another whispered, eyes wide with shock.

"But… what happened to him? Why does his body look like that?!"

"Is he dead?"

"Of course, he's dead! Look at him!" The last voice held a tremor of panic as reality set in.