Ares stumbled forward, his legs barely responding. His vision swam, shifting between clarity and a hazy blur. Blood dripped from deep gashes across his body, pooling beneath him as he collapsed against the cold stone wall of the ruins. His entire body screamed in pain, but he couldn't stop. He had to move. He had to—

  System: [WARNING—CRITICAL CONDITION DETECTED]

  [Initiating Emergency Recovery…]

  [ERROR—Override Attempt Failed]

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Ares' head pounded as static buzzed in his mind. His muscles spasmed. He gasped, feeling something inside him shift—like his own body was rejecting itself.

  "Not... yet," he mumbled, trying to push himself up. His arms buckled, too weak to support his weight. The world tilted.

  System: [ERROR—Host Override Unsuccessful]

  [Manual Shutdown Required…]

  [Reattempting Override…]

  His heart pounded erratically. His breath came in short, ragged gasps. Then—

  A sudden cold wave rushed through his body. His limbs locked up. His consciousness wavered.

  System: [Override Successful]

  [Inducing Temporary Stasis…]

  Ares' vision flickered. His body grew numb. His thoughts scattered into nothingness.

  Then—darkness.