Immunity

I realized that I was no longer affected by Ian's Fractal, Control. I only performed his commands out of habit and fear, but not out of actual effect of his Fractal.

Is this actually happening…?

My hands began to shake. It felt like I was in a state that I wasn't allowed to feel—I was free and unshackled by any sort of authority.

"What are you daydreaming about, Klyson?" Ian said. "Lock-in and come inherit the Null, now. Walk to me."

For a moment—a split-second too long—I hesitated. Only then, I began to walk towards him. But it was that brief moment of hesitation—a pausing time of contemplation—that confirmed it for me. 

I've become resistant to Ian's Fractal. His commands no longer work on me. I can actually think before I act out what he asks of me…

As I slowly walked towards Ian, thoughts were swirling around my head.

When did I gain this immunity? How is this even possible? What do I do with this?

I'd inadvertently activated Flow State in that moment, not to protect myself from danger, but to organize all of these thoughts as quickly as possible.

I know for sure I could still be controlled by his Fractal while we were back at the factory. When he used it back then, I could feel it take hold of me. But ever since re-encountering him now along with Seris, after my battle with Enzo, I have not felt that sentiment again. What was the difference between now and then?

Flow State activated, accelerating the rate at which my thoughts compiled to find the answer to that question.

The difference was that I had used Ian's Fractal itself between now and then.

It hit me all at once. I had just made my own discovery in the Fractal world that no one ever had before. I was the only one to ever encounter the exact circumstances to come across this revelation.

Someone's Fractal could not affect another person with the same Fractal.

This is unbelievable!

No one could have ever figured that out, because no one in Melysia has ever been born with the exact same Fractal. There are variants and there can be many similarities, but no one has ever had a one-to-one identical Fractal. That is, unless a Fractal were replicated for someone else to use.

The vial of Ian's blood. The Sloth Factor.

Because of that item I'd been gifted and consumed, although I only weld Ian's Fractal for a short amount of time, the laws of nature registered me as a one-to-one identical Fractal user in relation to Ian. And since Fractal users cannot be affected by their own Fractals, Ian's Fractal, Control, would no longer work on me.

I was immune to Ian's authority.

"You've made the right decision not to oppose me, Klyson."

I was now standing face-to-face with Ian.

"You may no longer be disposable considering the current circumstances with A.X.A. But if you do anything to avoid your responsibilities with the Null, I'm sure you're aware of what consequences await you." He glanced at Soho behind me. My chest tightened with rage at the upfront manipulation.

"I am aware. I know my role. I know my position. Give me the Null."

I said all the things Ian would have wanted to hear. And I planned to do all the things Ian wanted. That was, until, I could find the moment to take advantage of my immunity to his Fractal when he least expected it. For now, I had to do his bidding until I could find that edge. To ensure Soho's safety, I had to continue to act out his commands, play along with his manipulation, and keep him strapped to the belief that he truly had control over me.

But that couldn't be farther from the truth.

I feel so energized.

There was an inescapable excitement that shuddered throughout my body at the thought of truly being free. 

Just wait, Ian. Soon, I'll deal my own card.