Lily took a deep breath, steadying herself as the intense pull of the Random Crystals subsided. The power they radiated was almost intoxicating, a seductive force that threatened to overwhelm her senses if she let it. But she wasn't about to lose herself to it, not now. She had worked too hard, come too far, to be swayed by the allure of raw power. Control was paramount, and she needed to maintain it at all costs.
Once the voices in her head quieted, she turned her attention back to Ladon. He was barely conscious, his body trembling from shock and blood loss. But despite the pain, his eyes still held a flicker of defiance. It was clear that he wasn't used to being on the receiving end of such treatment; he was a man who reveled in cruelty, in dominating others. Now, faced with the prospect of being on the losing side, fear was etched into his features.
