The Ignorant Falls

The silence thickens between us as Luci circles, that twisted, smug smile dancing on his face. He's enjoying this—basking in his new power, thinking he's finally gained the upper hand. He laughs, low and mocking, his voice echoing through the hall. 

"Look at you now, Zero," he taunts, spreading his arms wide, the red symbol pulsing with dark energy. "All your talk of power, of control. And here you are, cornered, weaponless. It seems even you aren't immune to a good old-fashioned beating." 

I raise an eyebrow, unfazed by his words. Instead, I let a slow smirk spread across my face, meeting his gaze with that same calm, detached confidence that I know will irritate him. 

"Is that what you think this is, Luci?" I chuckle, letting the amusement show. "I was only testing you. I just wanted to see how strong this 'power-up' of yours really is." 

His expression falters, confusion flashing across his face for just a second. "What...?"