Anark's heart trembled for the briefest instant under the weight of shock, but before even a single heartbeat could pass, his eyes ignited with unwavering determination and razor-sharp focus. There was no room for hesitation. The moment of surprise had not been enough, and he refused to let the opportunity slip away.
At that instant, the world around him seemed to change.
Crimson scars spread across his vision, thin fractures etched into the fabric of reality itself. They were not physical cracks, but conceptual flaws—weak points in existence that only someone of Anark's level could perceive and exploit. The golden lotus was flawless in appearance, radiant and absolute, yet even it was not beyond imperfection.
And Anark saw it.
