"Are you out of your damn mind?"
Adam's voice was low, tight with shock and disbelief.
Alex, confused by the intensity of Adam's reaction, responded calmly. "I didn't realize how stupid it was until I almost died. But hey, I survived—and I'm stronger than ever. That's what matters."
"Is it?" Adam shot back, voice rising, tinged with frustration. Whether Alex realized it or not, he was an asset—someone with rare potential. Watching him throw it all away over recklessness made Adam seethe.
"You do realize you could've died, right?" Adam said, stepping closer.
"I know it was reckless," Alex replied evenly. "But I needed more power. Fast. The final phase of the legacy trial is here. I couldn't afford to be weak."
"So you gambled with your life?"
"That wasn't the plan," Alex admitted, shrugging. "But that's how it played out—and it paid off."
