That would be my first guess, but it could also be whatever monster lurks beyond.
Also: a clever bit of heteronymic wordplay in the title of this one.
But 19 days since the just one. 
I had hoped he was picking up the pace.
He was. He picked the pace up, then he walked around with it a bit, and then he did something else, and meanwhile he had put the pace down somewhere, but where was it, help him retrace his steps, would you, it has to be around here somewhere…
And yeah, that’s not ominous at all.
It also took me a second to figure out you can pronounce the title two ways (as Gyrate noted).
My guess is that Sunny’s antimagic freed a nasty monster who has now charmed Sunny somehow
I assume he picked up the pace to get a couple in before Christmas, because he knew he’d have a long break for that. I’m surprised this one is before New Years, since I figured the break would cover both holidays. So perhaps the pace will pick up going forward.
Also: a neat bit of Belkarian character development there, as his overtly good deed was noted.
I noticed that good deed, too. I changed that up to character development at the time.
He’s always been very protective of his animal companions. I didn’t think it was all that much of an advancement of his character.
I’m thinking so if only because any monsters in there should be in agreement/league with Serina so the conflict would be as abrupt as Serina saying “Hey, quit it, they’re with me”. Unless we’re getting into some other monster now no longer wanting to protect the Gates and yadda yadda …and this strip is never going to come to a conclusion, is it?
This is really not the time to be introducing an entirely new villain, so I think Orange Voice must be someone already established. But it seems too… articulate, I guess… to be the Snarl. Maybe whichever one of the IFCC had orange speech bubbles? I think the art’s been updated since we last saw them, which could account for the gradient effect.
Just 22 strips this year, so we likely have a long wait at the very least. I grasp if the guy has health issues and other life priorities, and that he doesn’t owe his fans anything, strictly speaking, but the glacial pace isn’t exactly fun for us.
The orange IFCC guy (Cedrik) was my guess as well, but he was in 1183 and still had orange text on black bubbles. six strips from the end of Book 6. (Hat tip to the OOTS wiki – who knew Fandom was good for anything?)
I liked the entrancement effects in Sunny’s eyestalks. Cedrik’s still my best guess for the entrancer, but I’d guess that’s Telepathic Bond (or similar) and not Cedrik’s actual speech.
Or I guess it could be ensnarlified Lauren Shattersmith? That’d be a way of getting the Snarl involved, but through a more relatable medium.
Burlew needs a MacArthur grant, so he can hire staff like most manga/comic creators.
Before I even read the first panel I thought to myself. “They’re going to find the entrance to something and somebody’s going to get entranced.”
1295 - The Thaw
Ruh ro.
It appears Sunny drew a picture of a Red Dragon in #1257
Belkar is holding Bloodfeast the Extreme-inator, or at least he was a few panels before the end - now his back is turned.
Belkar is also just a few feet away from the anti-magic field.
Dragon vs Dino fight? Dragon vs Dino fight? DRAGON VS DINO FIGHT?