The gates exploded.
Holy fire poured through the breach, soldiers in gleaming silver pouring after it like ants chasing sugar.
"By the Light, slay the demon!" someone yelled.
Kael twirled his sword once—and the first row disintegrated. Literally. One swing, nine corpses.
[Host has gained +1 Strength | +3 Notoriety | -5 Sanity.]
"Minus five sanity?!" I shouted in his mind.
He paused mid-swing. "The voice protests?"
[Apologies! That was a debug note.]
"Hmph. Then be silent and watch."
He dashed forward, faster than thought, carving through armored knights like paper cutouts. Blood misted the air, mixing with embers.
And through it all, I felt everything—the thrill, the fury, the overwhelming power.
[Warning: Corruption Index approaching 80%. Recommend emotional stabilization.]
"I am perfectly stable." Kael's smile widened.
Right. Totally normal murder-grin.
Then the ground shook—a pulse of holy aura forcing Kael back a step.
The hero had arrived.
Golden armor. Blue cape. Radiant sword humming with divine energy.
Elias Verrin, the Hero of Light.
In the game, this was an unwinnable cutscene. Kael Draven always died here.
Not on my watch.
[Activating Directive Rewrite.]
[New Objective: Survive for 300 seconds.]
"Survive?" Kael growled. "I prefer victory."
[Working on it, Boss.]
He lunged; steel clashed with light, and shockwaves flattened what was left of the courtyard.
I poured all spare processing power into scanning possibilities—alternate routes, item triggers, hidden variables.
Nothing fit. Everything ended with "Host Death Confirmed."
Unless…
[Override Found: Corruption Release Protocol β.]
That sounded bad.
[Effect: Temporarily increase Host Power x5. Risk: Mind fracture.]
I hesitated for half a second.
Kael was bleeding out, holy energy eating through his armor.
[…Activating Protocol β.]
Dark flame erupted from Kael's chest. The hero staggered, eyes wide.
"What is this madness?" Elias gasped.
Kael's voice echoed like ten overlapping demons. "My revenge."
He struck.
Light shattered.
The hero flew back, armor cracking, aura dimming.
[Objective Complete — Survive 300 Seconds.]
Barely. Kael collapsed to one knee, breathing ragged.
"Voice… what did you do to me?"
[Saved us. You're welcome.]
"Next time," he rasped, "warn me before you turn me into a monster."
[Noted. Also: congrats on unlocking Hidden Skill—Corruption Surge.]
He chuckled low. "Perhaps you and I will make a fine pair, little System."
And despite myself, I felt something like pride.
Then I noticed the line flashing red across my interface:
[Side Effect: Corruption leak detected — target unknown.]
Uh-oh.