Ben groaned and rubbed his temples. "Okay, maybe it was a bad idea."
"Oh, you think?" the system snapped.
Its voice crackled like static thunder. "Next time, why don't you eat poison?
Or maybe another daemon while you are at it!"
"I mean… I think I'm immune to poison."
There was a pause.
A long, disappointed pause.
"Do you hear yourself?
That is your takeaway?
You are unbelievably reckless.
There are things in this world that make even a system worthless.
This is not some cheat code that guarantees victory.
It is a crutch, an early boost, nothing more."
The knight's armor split further.
Cracks spread down its limbs like spiderwebs.
Then, softer, it sighed. "I will make this quick.
I do not have much time before I return to slumber."
Ben straightened and focused, making sure he would not miss a single word.
He could tell the system did not have long, and he knew he was the reason for it.
