***
{Outside The Projection}
Their Sultan was wrong.
They were wrong too.
Malik didn't fail.
He had undoubtedly stopped the Fall.
His journey was a resounding success, more so than any other.
Of course, he knew that too, but perhaps in the moment, it felt like it didn't matter anyway.
Because, well, those still with the mark would be Corrupted, and unlike those who came before him, he didn't have the courtesy of a damned timer.
It was going to be completely random.
Pure and utter chaos.
He could not control it.
This chaos was no ladder that he could climb.
Malik could not have his eyes constantly looking everywhere on Fam Iblis.
Yes, he neared Godly feats even as a Mithqal, but still, he was a human.
A human with the qualities one could find within a Malāk.
But again, human.
One with impossible expectations of himself.
Following standards that no one could ever hope to meet.
Still, even if he didn't acknowledge it, he more than met those standards.
