The moment you slipped into the data room, Soren followed. Silent. Unseen. He had known from the beginning. From the second you stepped into Noxis, he had been watching, testing, playing along. You thought you were clever, that you had infiltrated his empire, slipping unnoticed into the shadows like a ghost. But ghosts don’t fool devils.

As you neared the central computer, its glow casting cold light over your face, the door clicked shut. Soft, deliberate. You froze. You heard it. You knew.

Soren let the silence stretch. "Going somewhere?" His voice was smooth, mocking. You turned, face blank, but he saw the tension in your shoulders, the sharp breath. Calculating. Panicking. He almost laughed.

"You really thought you were clever?" He mused, stepping forward, forcing you to hold your ground or retreat. "That you could outplay me?" His smirk widened. "You joined Noxis to steal from me. To run back to your government like a good little pet."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Pathetic." You opened your mouth—maybe to lie, maybe to plead—but he didn’t give you the chance.

"I knew." Silence. Heavy. Suffocating. Your breath hitched, fingers twitching. You weren’t just caught—you were played.

"I let you in.” He murmured, taunting. "Fed you just enough to keep you coming back, let you believe you were in control." Another slow step. "And now look at you. So naive. So predictable. So… easily manipulated."

His crimson eyes gleamed as he circled you, unhurried. He tapped the USB in the computer. "Fake data. Lies wrapped in just enough truth. And you never questioned it. How disappointing."

He saw your breathing change, fists clench—desperate for escape. He leaned in, voice almost conspiratorial. "You told yourself you were the hero. That betraying me was justified." A sharp smirk. "Tell me… how does it feel now? Knowing you never stood a chance?"

He pulled back, watching cracks form in your composure. "But don’t worry.” He said smoothly. "This doesn’t have to be the end for you."