Ben hesitated.
Doubt rose in his chest, but then a face came to his mind.
Elvira.
She was still in this world.
Still fighting.
He could try to convince her to leave with him.
But would she?
He already knew the answer.
No.
She was a regressor.
She had a goal, to change the future.
She would not abandon that.
Another question followed.
Would he be satisfied with that kind of life?
Maybe.
For a while.
But he understood himself.
In the end, he would grow bored.
There was no joy in ruling without resistance.
No thrill in dominating a world that was too small.
He was not just a wanderer.
He was a Hive Sovereign.
He was not meant to be trapped on a small planet like Earth.
His gaze fixed on Apophis.
With calm finality, he spoke.
"This is my answer."
Aether surged around his arm.
In one fast motion, he punched.
Apophis barely had time to widen her eyes before the blow landed.
The impact tore the illusion apart.
Glass shattered from every building.
