The chamber rumbled.
Steam billowed from the stasis pod as its containment field failed. Sparks spat from ancient circuits along the floor. The cryo-lock released with a final hiss, and the glass cracked down the center.
Kael stepped back, heart pounding.
> [Unknown Entity Awakening…]
[Threat Level: Undetermined]
[System Warning: Engage with Caution]
The pod burst open.
The figure within stumbled out—tall, armored, wrapped in old-world tech fused with biomechanical plating. One half of their face was still human. The other… a shifting lattice of chrome and black veins.
Golden eyes locked onto Kael.
> "Kael Riven," the voice echoed again, louder now, no longer a whisper. "I know your name. I've seen your death."
Kael gripped the rod on his back. "Then you saw wrong."
The figure raised a hand. Static rippled across the air.
> [System Signature Detected: Reclaimer Zero]
[Skill Engaged: Combat Simulation Echo – Version Prime]
The entire room distorted. Kael's HUD glitched—flickering between old data streams and corrupted overlays. The walls stretched outward, reshaping into a metallic arena. Artificial.
Constructed.
> "This is your trial." Reclaimer Zero's voice lost all warmth.
"Only those who survive the first Protocol may walk the path."
And then he charged.
---
Kael barely had time to react.
A beam of compressed kinetic energy flew toward him. He dove, the blast ripping through the floor behind him like paper. Reclaimer Zero was already on him—moving faster than anything Kael had fought.
A fist collided with Kael's ribs.
Armor cracked. He flew into a pillar, coughing blood.
> [HP -32%]
[Skill Suggestion: Defensive Activation]
> "Hellfire Barrier!" Kael shouted, slamming his hand into the ground.
Flames burst outward, creating a wall between them. It slowed Zero—but didn't stop him. He moved through the fire, untouched.
> "Fire won't save you, boy. It was mine, long before it was hers."
Kael's eyes widened.
> "You knew Lyra?"
Zero paused for half a second. Then his body shimmered—and suddenly he was gone.
Kael twisted just in time to block a blade of hardlight aimed at his throat. His rod clanged against it, sparks flying.
> [System Pulse: Weak Point Detected – Left shoulder joint]
Kael dropped low, rolled behind Zero, and stabbed the rod into the exposed joint. The armor cracked.
Zero hissed.
> "Not bad."
He kicked Kael back across the arena, then activated a new protocol:
> [Prototype Signature Unlocked: Grav-Anchor Boots]
[Skill: Magnetic Compression Leap]
Kael watched as Zero launched into the air—then crashed down with a shockwave that shattered the floor.
Kael was thrown upward, landing hard.
> [HP Critical – 12%]
[Core Energy Stable. Adaptive Hide Sustained.]
Breathing heavily, Kael pulled himself up. Blood ran from his lip. The system pinged another message.
> [Unique Trait Activated: Inherited Echo – Valkyrie Core Burning]
Flames flared along his body—just enough to boost speed. Just enough to stay alive.
He charged again.
They clashed—rod against blade, fire against data, old warrior versus the glitch-born survivor.
Finally, with a desperate scream, Kael plunged the rod deep into Zero's damaged side. The energy pulsed through them both.
Zero staggered, systems failing, sparks flying from his limbs.
> "You're… not ready," he said through gritted teeth. "But you're… not broken either."
He dropped to one knee.
> [Trial Complete]
[Prototype Signature Recognized]
[Access Level Unlocked: Protocol Tier – Delta]
Kael dropped beside him, barely conscious.
Zero looked at him, half-smiling through blood and code.
> "Survive, Kael. You're the last shard that can change this cycle."
And with a flash of light, Zero vanished—his body deconstructed into data, absorbed into the system.
Only his cracked chestplate remained, still glowing with a symbol Kael didn't recognize:
⟠
> [Item Obtained: Reclaimer Core Fragment (Zero)]
[Stat Boost Acquired: STR +2, DEX +2, Core Sync +1]
[Legacy Trait Pending Activation – Locked until Chapter 12]
Kael slumped to the floor, breath ragged.
> "What the hell am I becoming?"
Above him, the ceiling creaked—and distant footsteps echoed down the hall.
He wasn't alone anymore.
---