"What did that bitch tell you!?" the knight growled. "You're drunk on power now."
Apophis let out a laugh, clearly amused by the situation.
"Hey, don't blame me. Your host rejected my offer." She gave a wicked grin. "If anything, you should curse your own luck. I've never seen anyone like him… fighting his own guideline."
Ben's eyes narrowed. The space around him began to crack and bend. With each second, his strength surged, climbing to a new peak.
He knew the system wasn't wrong, not completely. Maybe he was drunk on power.
But even so... This was the first time in his life he felt truly in control. Not guided. Not manipulated. Free. And it make him felt complete.
"You feel it too, don't you, system?" he said quietly. "The power I'm absorbing."
"Yes," the knight answered, his voice sharp. "It's corrupting you."
Ben's gaze sharpened, but his tone stayed calm.
