Given everything he said to Sofony, even without considering what kind of being she had become, it was not difficult to guess why Chris Meyer ended up groaning and rolling on the floor!
Sofony kicked him on the stomach! And even though she doesn't know any combat skills, her raw strength was enough to overpower a normal guy like Chris!
Naturally, he ended up curling up on the ground.
This time, it was Sofony who was looking down angrily at him!
Sofony understood that the other was just shaken from the experienced, especially since he actually knew the reason behind it. Still, she still couldn't forgive him for hurling insults and questions at her without knowing the whole story!
She was also angry! Because in a sense, she was just another victim!
Did she ever want a fight with Clarissa?
Wasn't she just also cornered?
She was already tired of everything she experienced today. Yet this guy still wanted to question her about her morals and ways of dealing with the problems?
She was also hurting and feeling guilty for everything, okay!
So why was she the one being accused of having no conscience? And what about her hypnosis? If she has other choices, would she want to use her skills on people close and important to her?
Of course not!
Why would she? Although she was now proficient in it, she still couldn't guarantee there would be no damage or sequella to the person. After all, it was a practice affecting the brain directly. One wrong word and everything goes haywire. So why would she prefer it if there was another choice?
Sensing the anger and dissatisfaction in its host's heart, the demonic system started fanning the flames, as usual.
<System: Hey, host! Now what? He knows too much. Why go through the trouble of beating him up? Just make him commit suicide? Isn't that your specialty? You get to vent your anger and also eliminate a threat to our anonymity! Perfect! You'll hit two birds with one stone! Hahahaha!>
Sofony watched him unsteadily got up. She tried her hardest to calm herself down but because it was so difficult to do, she had to resort to self-hypnosis again.
Fortunately, the effects had already taken root, otherwise, she would have started slapping the ignorant guy to death after he started giving her challenging gaze.
'Did he become a host?' With her chest heaving up and down from her labored breathing, she asked the system.
<System: 50 Points deducted. No. But my comrade seems to be stuck in his brain and that explains how he can remain sober after the hypnosis. Hehe, that poor d*mbass!>
'But my hypnosis clearly worked on him last time. What happened!?'
<System: Who knows? Maybe his unbound system didn't notice you at first. It's weak anyway. Most probably it only managed to remove the hypnosis a day later, then it slowly awakened this boy's resistance to mental skills.>
Sofony listened to its explanation. After that, she pondered whether to use a memory erasing device on him.
Not long after though, this plan got tossed away by her as she remembered that something was also in his brain. Also, she remembered what this stupid and annoying bloke said.
Even though he has a point and that she understood he was just incensed and agitated by witnessing Wendy throw herself off a building, it was still not a ground for him to vent his anger on her!
Sofony was already sad and guilty about it, she doesn't need someone who wants to preach her of something she was already aware of!
Because of this, she coldly said, "Mr. Meyer. You know so little but you talk so much. You're like a kid who only knows his neighborhood as his world. Still stupid. Still naive. I used to be like you. Or maybe I'm still like you. This is why even though I very much want to slap you to death, I won't do it."
"However, it doesn't mean that I'll let what you said to me slide!"
She took a deep breath and balled her trembling fists. "Mr. Meyer. I understand where you're coming from. But do you understand my point?"
"Do you even know what kind of person I am?"
"You don't, right? Obviously, you already know a thing or two about us, but how much? I don't know why you stupidly reveal everything you know about the system, but since your knowledge is so little, let me educate you a bit."
The young man who was still clutching on his stomach stared at her with surprise. Though he expected getting thrashed by her, he didn't expect her to talk like this.
Did he hear correctly that she was planning to lecture him about the system?
Chris' eyes followed Sofony as she went back to Wendy's side. He saw her inspecting her friend. Then after a second that she went silent and after being dumbfounded when he saw some scratches and bruises on Wendy's exposed arms and legs healing rapidly, he heard her say,
"Mr. Meyer. First of all, it's not like I didn't know that innocent and normal people are affected. The problem is even if I want to stop all of these, will the others agree with me?"
Sofony's glare went back to Chris.
"You mention the Violent Goddess' name. It means you know she's also like me. Now, if you're so capable, then why don't you try telling your point to Clarissa Guzman? I bet your system has repeatedly warned you about me. But I'm telling you if the one you spoke with is not me but any other host, they would surely be laughing at your lifeless body by now!"
Sofony lifted Wendy and started piggybacking her. On the first step that she took, she swayed a little. It seemed she was already too tired. This whole morning and afternoon, she had practiced shooting until her arms gone sore. Then an hour ago, she had fought with Clarissa in a deadly confrontation.
Now, she was here, physically and mentally drained by both Wendy and Chris...
She stared again at the young man when she heard him speak,
"So in the end, you want to tell me you're already the most reasonable out of all hosts?"
Sofony sarcastically smiled, "Obviously?"
"Ask yourself what will happen to you if I am Clarissa! I'm sure you won't want to imagine what she will do. Since it seems your memories are already restored, it means you remember how Wendy stabbed a teacher. What if I tell you she's controlled by Clarissa? What if I tell you for that woman, mind-controlling someone to kill is just as easy as breathing?"
"Heed my warning, boy!"
"Don't get yourself into our world! Even I can't ensure my survival. What more of someone like you who's not even a proper host?"
"Also, don't tell about the system or anything related to the system to others. Otherwise, you'll just find yourself killed by one of us!"
"And lastly, don't preach if you yourself can't make a difference! Because no matter how sophisticated your words are, if you yourself can't do anything against the system, then it's nothing but empty talk!"
After the last polite advice, she ignored the guy and continued making way to the exit.
It was honestly not nice to bicker with a non-host like Chris, so she just chose to end it. Anyway, she had already kicked the person and said what she needed to say.
Compared to Clarissa, Chris was a harmless person.
And speaking of that woman, may heaven forgive her, but because of what she did to Wendy, she could no longer see herself ever forgiving the other.
It made her so angry. She never wanted to feel again the same hopelessness and despair she felt earlier when she thought that Wendy had already died.
Hence she vowed to make Clarissa live a life worse than death if ever she survives the shower of bullets!
May heaven forgive her!
.....
"She didn't erase my memories." Chris murmured after he saw the last strand of hair of that girl vanishing from the doorway.
<System: Huhuhu, I almost died of a heart attack 'though I don't have a heart. Why did you do that? I already warned you that she's dangerous! What if she wanted to kill you? Then you'll just find yourself being a ghost! You better thank your luck that she's not like most homicidal and extremely crazy hosts!>
"Are you saying she's really different?"
<System: Why ask me? Didn't you gamble that she won't kill you? At least that shows she's not like the other hosts, yet! She makes sense because if she's Clarissa, I'm sure you've been mind-controlled to crack your head against a wall already!>
Chris' faced turned gloomy. He still felt conflicted, confused and dog tired. However, even though he doesn't want to admit it, Sofony really has a point.
To be honest, when Chris decided to agitate Sofony Mendez, all he wanted was to vent his rage and etched to her mind that she was already causing harm to many people in her surroundings. Of course, he knew he was somehow courting death. But actually, he only dared to say those things because he knew she was still someone who could be reasoned with. Or at least he was betting a host who cared about her friend would be like that.
He shook his head and also started going down the long staircase. Since he was already very tired and hungry, he planned to take the elevator starting from the next floor. The day had been long and unfruitful so he badly wanted to reach home. He already wanted to sleep.
Unfortunately...
A minute after he started descending the stairs, he discovered that he still hadn't reached the next floor.
It was weird because it would normally only take about fifteen seconds to do so. However, he had already climbed down so many steps yet he still hasn't taken a glimpse of the next floor!
He cursed out when another minute passed yet nothing changes. 'Dafuq! What's happening here?! Hey, system! Am I hypnotized or caught in an illusion?!'
Then his heart grew cold because the system gloatingly replied,
<System: ....No! But I can't do anything this time! Just let this be a lesson to you, stupid bastard! Don't cross even the most mild-tempered host! See? Though she didn't kill you, she's still too petty to let you off that easily! You're now caught in an endless loop! She made this staircase an endless loop, you understand?! Hahahaha! Now, you're probably going to walk this long staircase for three whole hours! Huh! SERVES YOU RIGHT, YOU UNREASONABLE AND HEARTLESS BASTARD!!!>