"Boohoo..."
Clark was still weeping softly. "I... have fallen... I became consumed by the pursuit of delicious food... I turned into a monster... I betrayed the path of archaeology... O Age Controller of Secrets, please forgive my sins!"
Aaron fell silent.
Clark Das was the most cautious Transcendent he had ever met.
Not only did the man understand a great deal of mysticism, he was also adept at exploiting rules, cleverly avoiding certain costs while gaining mysterious powers.
Yet even a Transcendent like this had fallen through a momentary lapse in vigilance...
This sort of fall came from the heart itself, not from contamination by some external force.
Thus, not even the Spirit of Void could save him.
Because this was Clark's own choice!
The Historical Retrospection ritual of the Secret path may appear remarkably versatile—strange and terrifying, granting powerful Transcendent abilities even at low levels with scarcely any cost... But in truth, those costs are merely hidden. Every Transcendent ability gained through its use is a test of one's willpower.
A realization surfaced in Aaron's heart.
And repeatedly retracing the power of the same element, or imitating powers far above one's level, multiplies the risks! That was how Clark got caught in the trap!
Perhaps even the school behind him doesn't fully understand this problem? Or... perhaps Clark's mentor simply never had the chance to teach him?
Aaron sighed, then heard Clark's voice. "How do you intend to deal with me? Kill me, this man-eating monster?"
He looked at Clark and discovered that he had already half-transformed into a Ghoul. The nails on one hand had lengthened, their edges black and sharp.
Aaron closed his eyes, and scene after scene from after his arrival in Green Forest rose before him.
"When I first came to this city, you helped