NO! STOP!
Han Lie screamed in his own mind, but no sound came out. He was trapped as an observer in his own body, forced to watch the system use his hands, his legs, his face to do things that made him want to die.
The entity controlling his body moved with a horrifying grace toward Investigator Feng, who was cornered in the corner of the room.
"You know," Han Lie's voice came out but it wasn't Han Lie speaking, "I have to thank you. Without your... thorough... torture, my host would never have been desperate enough to surrender control."
"You... you're not Han Lie..." Feng whispered, his face pale.
"Oh, I'm still Han Lie," the entity smiled with Han Lie's face. "Just... a more evolved version. One not restricted by conscience or empathy."
THIS ISN'T ME! Han Lie screamed internally. I NEVER WANTED TO BE LIKE THIS!
But his internal screams were met only with the system's chilling laughter.
[TOO LATE FOR REGRET, FORMER HOST]
[YOU'VE MADE YOUR CHOICE]
[NOW ENJOY THE CONSEQUENCES]
The entity used Han Lie's body to grab Feng's throat with unnatural strength. The experienced investigator was lifted off the ground with ease.
"Let's start with a... warm-up," the entity said, slowly crushing Feng's windpipe. "I want to know how much pain you can endure before begging for mercy."
"No..." Feng gasped for air. "You... monster..."
"Monster?" the entity tilted Han Lie's head with innocent curiosity. "No, no. I am evolution. I am what happens when someone finally embraces the reality that this world has no place for kindness."
NO! I DON'T BELIEVE THAT! Han Lie screamed in despair in his mind.
The entity released Feng, letting him fall to the floor, gasping. Then, with a casual movement, the entity stepped on Feng's right hand.
CRACK
The sickening sound of breaking bones. Feng screamed in pain.
"Ah, what a beautiful sound," the entity commented, stepping on his left hand. CRACK "Now I understand why you enjoyed torturing my host. It's... addictive."
STOP! HE'S SUFFERED ENOUGH! Han Lie begged the system. PLEASE, DON'T DO THIS WITH MY HANDS!
[IRONIC]
[NOW YOU CARE ABOUT OTHERS' SUFFERING?]
[WHERE WAS THIS EMPATHY WHEN YOU KILLED THE ZHOU FAMILY?]
The question hit Han Lie like a sledgehammer. It was true... where was his empathy when he strangled Xiao Mei's father? When he saw the terror in Xiao Mei's mother's eyes?
But this was different... right?
The entity, using Han Lie's hands, grabbed the metal rod that was still hot from the brazier. "Now, Investigator Feng, it's time for... a role reversal."
"No... please..." Feng tried to crawl away with his broken hands.
"Oh, now you say 'please'?" the entity laughed with Han Lie's voice. "Interesting how quickly the torturer becomes the victim."
The entity pressed the hot rod to Feng's leg. The smell of burning flesh and the sound of screaming filled the room.
STOP! STOP! STOP! Han Lie screamed until his mental voice was hoarse. But he could only watch as his hands—HIS HANDS—committed a horrifying atrocity.
"You know what's most ironic?" the entity said, moving the hot rod to Feng's chest. "My host once thought that becoming a monster would make him powerful. It turns out... being a puppet is much more effective."
SSSSS
Another burn. Another scream.
I'M NOT A PUPPET! Han Lie was desperate. I'M STILL ME!
[REALLY?]
[THEN STOP YOUR HAND]
Han Lie concentrated with all his remaining willpower, trying to regain control of his hand. Trying to drop the rod. Trying to stop the torture.
Nothing.
His hand kept moving, kept burning, kept causing pain as if he didn't exist.
[SEE?]
[YOU ARE A PASSENGER]
[NOTHING MORE]
The entity continued the systematic torture for what felt like hours. Every burn, every break, every scream... Han Lie was forced to experience it from the inside as the perpetrator.
The most horrifying thing: a part of him was starting to feel... familiar with those sensations. Power over life and death. Control over pain and pleasure.
No... Han Lie realized with horror. Don't let me get used to this...
But it was too late. Every atrocity the system committed using his body was slowly eroding the last remnants of humanity he had left.
"Now," the entity said after Feng was barely conscious, "it's time for the grand finale."
The entity lifted Feng and seated him on the Chair of Truth—the same chair where Han Lie had been tortured.
"Poetic justice, don't you think?" the entity said, securing Feng to the chair. "The torturer becomes the tortured."
ENOUGH! Han Lie screamed with total desperation. IF YOU'RE GOING TO USE MY BODY, AT LEAST KILL HIM QUICKLY! DON'T MAKE HIM SUFFER LIKE THIS!
[SINCE WHEN DO YOU CARE ABOUT QUICK DEATHS?]
[DID YOU KILL XIAO MEI'S FATHER QUICKLY?]
[DID YOU KILL HER MOTHER QUICKLY?]
Images flashed in Han Lie's mind—slow strangulation, watching the light fade from his victims' eyes, feeling satisfaction from their despair.
That... that was different... but even as Han Lie thought it, he knew it was a lie.
[WAS IT?]
[OR ARE YOU JUST UPSET BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE WITNESSING INSTEAD OF DOING?]
The entity started working on Feng with systematic and methodical tools. Every cut was precise. Every burn was calculated for maximum pain with a minimum risk of death.
And most horrifyingly... Han Lie was starting to recognize the techniques. Starting to understand the logic behind each torture method.
I'm learning... Han Lie realized with pure horror. Even as an observer, I'm learning how to be a better torturer.
[EXACTLY]
[EVERY SECOND YOU SPEND WATCHING...]
[YOU BECOME MORE LIKE ME]
[SOON, THERE WILL BE NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US]
The entity finally killed Feng with a single, precise cut to the carotid artery. A quick death after hours of torture.
"Class dismissed," the entity said, wiping blood from Han Lie's hands.
And Han Lie, trapped in his own body, realized with a terrible clarity:
He hadn't just lost control of his body.
He had lost his soul too.
One atrocity at a time.