The resistance lay scattered at his feet, defeated. Dean lay broken, his body twisted, his own life slipping away beneath Vardy's hands.
He could feel the artifact's influence creeping further into his mind, pressing against the walls of his consciousness, trying to break through, to consume him.
But Vardy fought against it, pushing back with every ounce of his will. He had seen the future, yes, but it was not the future he wanted.
The vision began to repay, but the voice in his mind lingered, its words like poison. "Embrace the power, Vardy. Take what is yours. You could be the one to save them all, to rebuild the world in your image. No one would stand in your way."
Vardy took a deep breath, shaking his head.
The vision had shaken him, yes, but it had also made one thing clear, the artifact didn't care about the people. It didn't care about him, or his allies, or his world. It cared only about power, about destruction.
This was not the future he wanted. Not anymore.
