Ethan felt a cold, paralyzing dread, but just as the shadow reached for his heart, Crul's voice shattered the trance like a thunderclap.
[Master! Wake up!] Crul said.
Ethan gasped, his eyes snapping open. He was drenched in a thick, cold sweat, his breath coming in ragged heaves. The Falcon guards nearby turned their heads toward him, their sensors picking up his sudden spike in vitals. Ethan quickly raised a hand, signaling that he was fine, and began to walk toward the building that was still engulfed in flames.
"Crul... what the hell was that?" Ethan said.
[That was an intense spiritual attack, Master. I have two pieces of news regarding this event. Which would you like to hear first?] Crul said.
Ethan paused, surprised. For the first time, he noticed a spark of the playful personality the System used to have before the updates. "Whichever. Just tell me what's happening," Ethan said.
