"We’ve got a problem," Cypher said, her tone clipped and sharp.
Alex turned toward her instantly. "What kind of problem?"
She pointed at the Ritual circle—at a faint trace of glowing red script flickering along the edges.
"That flare you saw in her eyes," Zephyra said gravely, "it was a warning sign. The ritual didn’t go exactly as planned."
Alex’s expression darkened. "What do you an, it didn’t go as planned? And what was that red flare? Why are you both suddenly on high alert?"
Cypher walked forward slowly, exchanging a heavy look with Zephyra before speaking again.
"In the Demon Realm, red flashes like that are part of a security alert—linked to sothing called ’Wors-Rykd.’ It’s an ancient corruption path followed by malevolent demons. It usually activates when a human holds a deep-seated grudge."
Zephyra continued where Cypher left off. "If a human harbors no serious hatred or negative energy, then the ritual forms a pure servant-master bond. That’s what we expected with Maria—a clean, stable link."
"But a red flash?" Cypher’s voice was low and grim. "That’s a signal. It ans the person has unresolved darkness in their heart. Pain, fury, maybe a desire for revenge. Sothing buried deep... and if left unchecked, it can guide them down a corrupted path."
Zephyra nodded. "Eventually, demons—especially high-level ones—can harvest that kind of soul and use it for power. If she falls into that path... she won’t remain the sa Maria."
"Does she have such a past?" Cypher asked carefully.
Alex gave a slow nod. "Yeah... she was a nurse at a prestigious hospital. But sothing happened—one of the senior doctors there molested her. She fought him off and ran. Ended up hiding in the Hell’s Kitchen district. When I opened my clinic there, she ca to looking for a job. I hired her... and that’s how we got to know each other."
He paused before adding with a frown, "So, does that an she might be holding a deep grudge against that doctor? One strong enough to affect the bond?"
Zephyra and Cypher exchanged a look and nodded grimly.
"It’s possible," Cypher said. "Even if she buried it deep, sothing like that can leave a scar. If the resentnt lingers, even quietly, it can taint the ritual. It may seem small now, but it’s enough to turn the bonding into sothing darker... more malevolent."
"So demons—corrupted ones—use this exact thod," Zephyra added. "They grant humans power by preying on unresolved grudges. And once the human is fully consud by their own hatred, the demon harvests their soul at death."
Cypher’s voice turned somber. "Maria’s walking a fine line now. She’s not corrupted yet, but she’s vulnerable. If that hatred festers... she could fall."
Alex’s expression darkened. "Then what do we do? How do we save her from that path?"
"There is one way," Cypher said. "Break the bond. You’re the master—you can sever it with your will."
"But breaking it would have consequences," Zephyra warned. "It could leave a backlash on her soul. She might end up in a coma... or worse."
Alex clenched his fists as he stared at the spot Maria had been standing monts ago.
Even in protecting her, he may have unintentionally put her at risk.
And now... he had to choose.
’System, can you help?’ Alex asked silently, placing a hand over his chest. He still had his cheat—the system. Maybe it could offer a way out.
The familiar voice echoed in his mind, though its tone was far from reassuring.
[Host, I already warned you: playing with demonic powers before you’re strong enough can have dire consequences.]
’I know,’ Alex muttered in his mind. ’It’s my ss now... but can you just help ?’
After a brief pause, the system responded again.
[Given Maria’s current soul condition, she will remain stable for approximately one year and four and a half months.]
[If the Host evolves in that ti—either by advancing further or unlocking the Origin Na—then you will gain the authority needed to cleanse and stabilize her completely.]
Alex’s breath caught.
So he had a deadline—one year and four and a half months.
Until then, Maria would remain fine on the surface... but fragile. Vulnerable. If he failed to grow strong enough within that window, the corruption could take root permanently.
But if he succeeded—if he unlocked his Origin Title and gained access to the full scope of his lineage—then he could purify her. Save her from the lurking darkness. Strengthen her. Anchor her to his power, not her pain.
"I’ll make it," he whispered under his breath.
Cypher and Zephyra turned to look at him.
"I’m not breaking the bond," Alex said firmly.
"I can sense it... if I awaken my Origin Na, I’ll be able to help her—without putting her at risk," he added, his voice steady.
Zephyra and Cypher exchanged glances, nodding slowly.
"Yes, there is a path," Cypher confird. "If you awaken your true self, you can reshape the bond. Strengthen it. And in doing so, keep Maria safe while nullifying the corruption."
"But the real question is—how much ti do we have?" Zephyra asked.
Alex hesitated. He couldn’t tell them that he already knew. That the system had given him a precise deadline. Sohow, he felt it too—like a string tied to Maria’s soul, slowly tightening.
So he gave them a practical answer instead.
"We’ll monitor her closely," he said. "If she shows any signs of instability, we’ll step in. We’ll bind her and keep her contained temporarily—just until I’m strong enough to fix it."
Both won nodded, accepting his plan.
Ti was ticking—but Alex had made his choice.
[Also, Host, it is advised to restrict Maria from actively using the demonic powers she received,] the system added. [Frequent use may accelerate the corruption. However, avoiding their use could extend the safe period before corruption sets in.]
Alex nodded silently, mind already working through the implications.
He would need to stop Maria from using her powers—for her own safety. But he couldn’t tell her the real reason. Not yet. Not without worrying her or making things worse.
I’ll have to find a way to limit her use... without her realizing why, he thought , his mind churning with ideas.
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