Richard rolled his shoulders. The claws on his right hand retracted with a soft click.
"You know," he said, "I've studied every candidate who entered this orb. Every combat student. Every ability user. Every wildcard."
He paced a slow half-circle around Jan. Jan didn't move. Didn't track him. Didn't blink.
"You were always the anomaly. The one student whose data made no sense. Number one ranked combatant across all countries. Pinnacle Academy's biggest prospect." Richard stopped.
"You have the potential to rival Aurelia herself. Did you know that? That's not flattery. That's assessment."
Jan said nothing.
"It's a waste. A talent like yours, fighting for the wrong side. Join us. Whatever they promised you—freedom, escape, a way home—we can offer better. With that potential, you'd be a monster beyond imagining. Beyond the stars."
"..."
