Yes, there is another way," Cyrus said, his voice serious as he met Joel's gaze. "You can save them, but it won't be easy."
"It doesn't matter. Just tell me how," Joel replied, his voice firm with determination, though doubt still lingered in his mind.
Cyrus nodded, his eyes hardening. He placed a hand on Joel's shoulder, and for a brief moment, his eyes glowed blue, radiating an otherworldly intensity. "The truth is, I could have saved your family, Joel. But it's only you who can truly stop this."
Joel's confusion deepened. "What do you mean? You're saying you can't help them?"
Cyrus's expression softened for a moment, but then he resumed his focus. "No, it's not that I can't. It's that you're the only one who can locate the Corrupted Ego that attacked them. The reason is simple: You're the only one who's survived its assault so far."
Joel's pulse quickened, but he remained silent, waiting for Cyrus to continue.
"The Corrupted Ego is a powerful entity that feeds off the emotional turmoil it creates," Cyrus explained, his voice becoming grave. "It consumes those around it, grows stronger with every life it torments. And it has already done that to countless people. But your family—your sister, your parents—they've been trapped in its cycle of despair. And now, it has set its sights on you, Joel."
Joel's mind raced, trying to grasp the magnitude of what Cyrus was saying. "You mean it's been targeting us this whole time?"
Cyrus nodded grimly. "Yes. It's been feeding on your family's despair, but it's not just them. This Corrupted Ego has already caused the suffering of many others. You may think this is just about your family, but it's not. The lives of countless more people are at stake because of this creature."
Joel's hands clenched into fists at his sides, his determination hardening. "So, what do I need to do?"
Cyrus stepped back, his expression serious but not without a trace of empathy. "You need to confront your own Ego. The only way to fight it is to gain control of your own emotions, the ones it's been using against you all this time. You need to connect to the Ego Dimension and face what's inside you—the darkness that you've buried deep."
Joel hesitated, swallowing hard. "What if I can't control it? What if it takes me over instead?"
"Then all will be lost," Cyrus replied bluntly. "But if you can master it, you'll gain the strength you need to face the Corrupted Ego head-on. You'll not only save your family but prevent this creature from tormenting anyone else ever again."
Joel's eyes narrowed, his resolve hardening with each word. "I won't fail."