In an instant, the walls of the hall began spinning at incredible speed. Hundreds of tiny openings appeared across the ceiling, and a rain of spiritual energy needles shot down toward Gerry."Vesper, take control of my body now!" Gerry shouted.[Protection Protocol Activated!]Gerry's consciousness was suddenly pushed into the background as Vesper seized control of his body's motor functions. His battered body moved on its own, spinning through the air and performing impossible acrobatic maneuvers to evade the relentless assault. The wind generated by the energy needles shredded his already tattered clothes and sliced across his skin, drawing fresh blood.This attack won't stop. If this keeps up, my body will give out, Gerry thought. Vesper, return control to me. Let me fight on my own![Returning control to Host...]The moment he regained full control, Gerry did not leap backward to evade the attack. Instead, he gathered every ounce of Broken Flow energy into the soles of his feet, d

Vesper controlled Gerry's body through stable neural signals.Gerry realized that if he could disrupt those signals with overwhelming pain and a sudden surge of adrenaline, he might be able to interfere with the System's Override Protocol.Without warning, he focused every last ounce of his strength on the smallest motor function he could still influence.His tongue.Just as Vesper reached peak synchronization and prepared to drive the dagger into the Guardian's core, Gerry made a desperate decision.With the last remnants of his will, he forced his jaw shut.He bit down on his own tongue with enough force to tear it open.Blinding pain exploded through his entire central nervous system.Warm blood flooded his mouth, triggering an adrenaline surge that sent his heart racing wildly. The biological shockwave slammed directly into Vesper's control protocol.

Gerry's head throbbed violently as the vision of that ritual continued replaying in his mind.What had really happened that night?And why had he never remembered any of it?"Gerry, look into Father's eyes."The deep voice silenced his sobbing.The man before him was Alex Sterling, the supreme leader of the Sterling Clan.As Gerry's biological father, he showed not the slightest trace of mercy.The way he looked at Gerry that night was cold and empty, exactly the same look he had given him for the next fifteen years, as if Gerry were nothing more than a stain upon the Sterling Clan."Why are you stabbing me, Father? Gerry promises he'll be a good boy. Please...""Be quiet, Gerry. This is your fate," Alex interrupted without emotion.Without another word, Alex's right hand, wrapped in swirling black mist, shot forward.He