Chapter 9 – Fractures and First Steps
The hallway was dim, lit only by a few torches fixed to the stone walls.
Rex walked between the two masked men, fists clenched, eyes scanning everything.
Raphaël watched it all.
Every detail.
Every breath.
Every step.
He couldn't act.
Not yet.
But he could analyze.
And he did so with icy precision.
A window suddenly appeared in his mind, triggered by his partial awakening.
`
Innate Skill: Universal Polyglot
Description:
Allows instant understanding and learning of any existing language.
Permanent passive effect.
No cost.
`
Raphaël remained silent.
Useful. Very useful.
A second window followed:
`
Innate Skill: Mental Overdrive
Description:
Temporarily boosts the host's mental capabilities.
Effects:
- Accelerated analysis
- Perfect memory
- Instant calculation
- Increased mental resistance
Duration: 3 minutes
Drawback: Severe mental exhaustion afterward.
`
Raphaël felt a faint vibration in his essence.
Powerful… but dangerous. Must be used with precision.
Then a third window appeared — the one he expected.
`
Innate Skill: Split
Description:
Mental anomaly born from external trauma.
Allows the manifestation of a second consciousness within the host.
Effects unknown.
Activation: Conditional.
`
Raphaël stayed still.
An anomaly… born from external trauma?
He understood instantly.
The researchers.
Their experiments.
Their mental tests.
They had caused this.
They had triggered Split.
A cold anger rose inside him.
Not loud.
Not explosive.
A quiet, razor‑sharp fury.
While Raphaël analyzed, Rex moved through the hallway, eyes darting everywhere.
The doors.
The blind spots.
The guards' weapons.
The rhythm of their steps.
He didn't speak.
He didn't tremble.
He planned.
Raphaël felt it.
He's looking for a way out… even now.
He watched Rex the way an older brother watches a reckless younger sibling.
With worry.
With admiration.
With a fierce desire to protect him.
The guards opened a large metal door.
A white room.
Machines.
Cables.
Experiment chairs.
Screens showing brainwave patterns.
Rex entered without a word.
A man in a white coat approached.
"Subject 17. Sit down. We're measuring your mental resistance."
Rex didn't move.
He scanned the room.
The exits.
The cameras.
The tools.
Raphaël felt his mind sharpen.
He's studying everything. He wants to escape.
The man repeated, irritated:
"Sit."
Rex finally answered, voice cold:
"And if I refuse?"
The researcher smiled.
A cruel smile.
"Then we'll break you until you obey."
Raphaël felt a jolt of anger.
Break?
A child?
My little brother?
A crack of light ran through his essence.
Split reacted.
`
Conditional activation detected.
Hostile intent perceived.
Host's mental stability: fluctuating.
Activation: Near.
`
Raphaël stayed calm.
But his anger turned glacial.
Rex eventually sat down.
Not out of fear.
Out of strategy.
He wanted to understand the machine.
See how it worked.
Find a weakness.
The researcher placed a metal headset on his head.
"This test measures your mental resistance. If you lose consciousness, you fail."
Rex smiled.
A dangerous smile.
"Try me."
Raphaël observed.
*He's not afraid. He never was.
But he's alone.
And I still can't help him.*
The test began.
Mental waves.
Illusions.
Voices.
Images.
Rex clenched his teeth.
Raphaël felt everything.
He saw the illusions.
He saw the traps.
He saw the attempts to fracture Rex's mind.
And he analyzed.
*They're trying to break him.
They want to create a crack.
They want… to trigger me.*
Another window appeared.
`
Split: Resonance detected.
Activation imminent.
`
Raphaël felt his essence vibrate.
*Not yet.
Not now.
I need the right moment.*
After several minutes, Rex suddenly opened his eyes.
He had understood something.
He looked at the machine.
Then at the researcher.
Then at the camera.
And he said calmly:
"Your machine… it has a three‑second recalibration delay between impulses."
The researcher froze.
"How did you—?"
Rex smirked.
"If I move at the right moment… it breaks."
Raphaël felt a wave of pride.
Little brother… you're brilliant.
Rex moved.
Just a tilt of his head.
The machine crackled.
Screens flickered.
An alarm blared.
The researcher panicked.
"Shut it down! Shut—"
Too late.
The machine burst in sparks.
Rex jumped from the chair.
Guards rushed in.
Raphaël felt Split surge.
`
Activation condition reached.
Maximum hostile intent detected.
Activation: Now.
`
A crack of light tore through Rex's mind.
Raphaël smiled inwardly.