The hall was silent.
Too silent.
The mist that once filled the stage froze mid-air, turning into glittering ice dust. The audience stood trapped in fear, unable to scream, unable to move.
Cris stood at the center.
Head lowered.
Breath steady.
But his eyes—
They weren't calm.
They were empty.
Thin black veins pulsed faintly at his neck, disappearing beneath his skin like crawling strings.
Loki noticed it instantly.
"…Mind control," he muttered.
A voice echoed from nowhere and everywhere at once.
"Such a beautiful power…
Ice bends so easily when pulled from the right strings."
Cris raised his head slowly.
Ice shards formed around his wrists—sharper, denser than before.
"Cris," Loki said calmly, taking a step forward.
"That's enough."
No response.
The floor exploded.
Cris vanished in a flash of frost.
Ice blades tore through the air, aiming straight for Loki's throat.
⚡ Flash.
Loki dodged effortlessly, lightning cracking beneath his feet.
"Damn it…" he whispered.
He's not holding back."
Cris appeared above him, both hands slammed down.
A massive ice hammer crashed toward Loki, freezing the air itself.
Loki raised one hand—
And stopped.
The attack missed by inches.
"Don't make me hurt you," Loki said quietly.
Cris answered with violence.
Dozens of ice spears erupted from the ground, chasing Loki like living beasts. Lightning danced as Loki weaved through them, but his expression hardened.
"This control…"
"…it's deep."
Cris rushed in, fist coated in compressed ice, eyes burning red.
A killing blow.
Loki sighed.
"…Enough."
He snapped his fingers.
The sound was soft.
But the sky answered.
⚡ CRAAACK—
Lightning didn't strike Cris.
It struck the space around him.
Thunder chains erupted from thin air, wrapping instantly around Cris's arms, legs, and torso. The ice shattered, power collapsing as Cris screamed—not in pain, but confusion.
"Loki—!" he gasped.
Loki appeared in front of him in a blink.
One precise strike to the neck—
charged with controlled lightning.
Not lethal.
Not cruel.
Cris's eyes widened.
Then rolled back.
His body went limp.
Loki caught him before he hit the ground.
The ice melted.
The hall returned to normal temperature.
Loki held Cris for a moment longer than necessary.
"…Sorry," he said quietly.
The unseen voice laughed.
"Interesting…
You chose mercy over victory."
The Kirilas symbol burned briefly into the air.
"Code 12 confirmed."
Then it vanished.
Loki gently laid Cris on the ground.