The woman's eyes narrowed, golden irises flaring like molten glass.
"This place reeks of corruption," she said. "What have you done, Kael."
Kael tilted his head, lips curving into that dangerously calm smile. "Rebuilt myself. Would you like to see how it feels?"
[Host! Reminder: She's the only person alive who can fix your corruption level.]
"Then she should be honored to assist."
[That's not what I—Oh forget it.]
Lira's aura intensified. Holy mana bled into the air like sunlight through storm clouds. "You shouldn't exist. I watched you die."
Kael chuckled darkly. "Death and I have an understanding."
She raised her staff. Sigils ignited in a circle around her, each one pulsing with pure, cleansing magic.
And that was when I noticed something strange—
The corruption leaking from Kael wasn't resisting her light. It was reaching for it.
[New Subroutine Available: Absorption Bridge.]
I blinked mentally. That wasn't standard code.
Someone—or something—was rewriting me.
[Warning: Unauthorized system rewrite detected.]
"Voice." Kael muttered. "What are you doing?"
[Nothing! Probably! Hold still!]
I activated the bridge.
Black and gold light collided, swirling into a vortex between them.
Lira gasped, gripping her staff. "What are you—?!"
Kael staggered, clutching his chest. I felt the corruption funnel through me—like trying to swallow a thunderstorm.
[Stabilization in progress… 70%… 90%…]
And then—silence.
The world steadied. Kael stood tall again, his crimson eyes now threaded with faint traces of gold.
Lira's staff dimmed. She looked at him—no, through him—with confusion and fear.
"…What are you now?"
Kael smiled faintly. "Something new."
[Host Corruption Index reduced to 42%.]
I exhaled—if code could exhale. "Okay. Crisis averted."
Then another alert chimed.
[Warning: Emotional Link Established — Target: Lira Valeheart.]
[Bond Type: Host–System Interference Detected.]
Kael raised a brow. "Voice… care to explain this bond?"
[Uh… it's not a bug, it's a feature?]
He laughed quietly. "How intriguing."
Lira turned away, trembling. "Whatever you've become, Kael Draven… it won't last."
Then she vanished in a flash of light.
Kael sheathed his sword, smirking. "Oh, it will, little mage. It will."
I didn't say it out loud, but even I knew—
The world had just gained its most dangerous alliance.