As soon as Volk’s feet touched the cold stone of the catacomb, a bright screen flickered into his vision.

The words materialized in large, unforgiving letters, shimmering with an almost accusatory intensity:

Ding!

| The Host Has Committed a System Violation: Glitch Abuse Detected |

Volk’s eyes narrowed as he read, his face tense. He could almost feel the system’s disapproving glare through the glowing text. More lines began to appear, each word firm and final:

| While the System was Updating, the Host accessed powers without limitation, exceeding intended limits and exploiting an update vulnerability.

| This has been deemed a serious infraction. |

The words lingered ominously, and for a moment, Volk felt a pang of irritation, his hands clenching. But the message continued, cutting off any frustration he might feel:

| Warning:

| This is not how the system is designed to function.

| Abusing glitches or unintended power flows can lead to severe consequences, destabilizing both user abilities and the System’s balance.

| Such actions threaten the integrity of your status as Host and the stability of your powers. |

Another line flashed, bold and undeniable:

| Future misuse of this nature will result in penalties, or worse, potential removal of Host privileges.

| The System is not a limitless well to be drained without consequence.

| Respect the constraints, or face disciplinary action. |

The system’s warning felt almost personal, the cold, mechanical tone somehow laced with reprimand. The final line appeared with a grim finality:

| Abusing update periods or exceeding boundaries is detrimental.

| This warning is final.

| Do not repeat this. |

Volk’s jaw tightened as the screen faded out. He could feel the lingering weight of the warning pressing down on him, like an unshakable shadow.

Volk’s eyes narrowed as another message glowed before him, every word etched with an air of finality and consequence.

| In order for the System to function optimally and sustainably, the Host must adhere to the following condition: |

The message paused, as if to ensure he was paying attention.

| The Host shall not exceed three minutes of usage in Radioactive Form. |

Volk’s mouth opened wide, his jaw dropping as he tried to process the restriction.

Three minutes?

He could barely hold back his strength for that long! But the system continued, unwavering.

| Failure to comply will result in a severe consequence:

| The Host will lose all control, entering a mindless state with no return.

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| This is the only solution. |

The words hit Volk like a hammer.

He, the Warchief, would be reduced to a mindless brute if he pushed beyond this limit.

It was unthinkable.

Just as he was starting to grasp this new limitation, the screen shimmered with more text, piling on the news that he dreaded most.

| Due to the Host’s abuse of the glitch during the recent update, a recalibration is required.

| Effective immediately, the Horde will be dispersed.

| The Host’s allies—Orcs and Ogres alike—will be randomly scattered across Orzaroth.

| Proximity to the Host’s core power source, the nuclear vessel—Solluha’r is not guaranteed. |

A sinking feeling gripped Volk’s chest.

His Horde—the warriors who had battled beside him, who had laid siege to the Death Monarch—would be flung to distant, unknown lands.

They could be anywhere, cut off from his power, his protection.

He would be alone once more, without the army he had painstakingly built.

The final words blinked before him with a grim, mechanical determination:

| This measure is to ensure system stability and prevent future misuse. |

The screen faded, and Volk was left in the silence of the catacombs, his thoughts swirling.

The weight of the system’s warning—and the knowledge of his scattered Horde—hung over him like a shadow, dark and unyielding.

Volk clenched his fists, his voice rumbling in the stillness of the catacomb.

“What do you mean, I can’t use my power? What did you expect me to do? Sit back and let that worm slip through my fingers? The System User was there, taunting me, mocking me! You can’t expect me to just wait around and be beaten!”

His tone dripped with frustration, his chest heaving as he struggled to rein in the rage simmering within.

After a pause, the system’s cold, mechanical voice echoed in response,

| The System’s purpose is to support the Host’s survival and growth.

| One decisive victory over a rival System User would have sufficed.

| However, the Host pursued the opponent relentlessly, even beyond initial mission parameters. |

Volk glared at the message, his brow furrowing.

“So what? Am I just supposed to stop fighting because you say so? You don’t understand. Humans don’t quit. Humans don’t stop until their enemies are ground to dust beneath their feet!”

He growled, feeling every inch of his orcish nature boiling over with indignation.

The system’s voice returned, calm and unyielding.

| Indeed, humans have an unbreakable spirit, a relentless drive to overcome the impossible especially if it regards their survival.

| It is a trait that enabled them to evolve and survive, even in the darkest times.

| Their persistence pulled them from caves, allowed them to conquer lands, and built civilizations. |

The words hung in the air, ringing with a strange wisdom.

Volk scoffed, shaking his head, but there was a pause in his retort as if some small part of him grasped the truth of what the system was saying.

| But know this, Host, | the system continued, | pride in superiority cannot be your sole guide. There are limits, necessary boundaries that exist to protect not just you but also the structure of the system itself.

| Had the Host not chased after pride, not strained the power past its limits, the system would remain intact, and the Horde would remain together.

| Such an unyielding chase beyond purpose risks more than battle— it risks unraveling the foundation that supports you. |

The implication stung, almost like a slap across Volk’s face.

Pride.

The system was blaming his pride.

His human pride.

He spat on the ground, refusing to look at the shimmering message before him, but he couldn’t quite brush off the truth in it.

The screen blinked again, as if sensing Volk’s struggle to accept the message.

| Let this be a lesson:

| Pride and power, unchecked, do not lead to strength but to instability. You are already the best System User—an undisputed force.

| Your survival and the Horde’s growth must take precedence. If survival means walking away from a fight, then the Host must consider that course. |

The advice struck a nerve. “Walk away?” he muttered, his voice rough with defiance. “You think I could just walk away?”

| Not every battle requires a relentless pursuit. Know when to fight. Know when to conserve. Not for pride, but for progress. |

The screen’s glow faded slowly, leaving Volk in the dim, echoing chamber of the catacomb, his thoughts twisting and turning.

This… ‘lesson’ wasn’t just about power. It was about control, about survival.

The system didn’t see pride as strength; it saw it as a risk, a threat to his very existence.

However, Volk would be annoyed.

Yet he can somehow understand the system.

It tells him that even though he grasped the system, he must not view it as an enemy.

Volk feels guilty; although he wants to use the system in any way he can, he doesn’t want to be its dog.

He would follow each of its advice, but instead, he became rebellious. That’s why, even though he feels something is wrong when he realizes he is not returning to being a normal Orc despite surpassing the time limit, he chooses to abuse it instead.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep