Test Subject No.1

Perhaps in another world, June 25th was a game changer.

Yel stared at the setting sun.

Maybe this world too.

Yel felt the warmth by his side. More things to add to his list of confusions.

What does Jill know that I don't? She looks just like her

Yel's body tensed up a little, he didn't know what to do. After these days, he wasn't the Yel that wanted revenge anymore; he still can't remove the familiar figure from his head. Can't I just make her stay with me? I'm strong in this world!

…

Annie walked out of the WEB building with Alice, still thinking about Jinx. The plan was all perfect until she suddenly realised that communicating with Jade meant she had to enter the spiritual space.

This also meant that Jinx would notice her entering. Although he wouldn't hear the conversations, it would be suspicious for Annie to enter without "reason".

"It's fine," Jade's voice interrupted Annie's thoughts. "Our connection is stronger than your one with Jinx. I can basically just read your mind."

Oh. So I just have to think. Convenient!

"Mhm, and Jinx can't hear me anyways!" Jade exclaimed.

So what's the plan now?

"Keep acting it out, get used to Jinx's kit, and stay close with your sister," Jade pondered. "I can feel that she still loves you, but the power and corruption from Jinx is too strong."

"Once the time is right, I can damage the soul of Jinx in your spiritual space, pull out the weaker half from Alice, and seal him away again."

Why can't we just kill him?

"The Monarch of Fate and the Monarch of Shadow must exist intertwined to maintain the stability of the Butterfly Realm," Jade explained. "His power must exist for that, even if just a small amount."

An suddenly halted. She turned around to face Annie.

No one spoke for a while. Annie hated this kind of situation. Should she speak first? Or should she wait and see whether An had anything important to say?

An sighed, "Jin, you are still like this after all these years."

Annie squeezed out a slight smile, but remained silent.

"But you are Annie now, you are different," An continued. "You embody the greatness of the Shadow Monarch."

How much I wish not.

"Some things I can't say, some things I can say," An sighed again. "When the time comes, you will know. I will never hurt you Annie."

Annie remained silent, keeping this as a one-way conversation.

"Tomorrow, we log onto Awaken together," An spoke again. "Sorry, you can't party with your other friends anymore."

"Not that they need me much anyways…" Annie said. "By the way, do you care explaining what happened with the UN?"

"I'm sure either," An rubbed her nose. "All communication got cut after day one of Awaken. Jinx doesn't know why."

"He says it must be something on their side."

"What could've happened to such a strong government though?" Annie asked. "How could anyone infiltrate them?"

"That's not our business for now," An scoffed. "We develop so we can face whatever dares to stand in our way, whether it be the UN or not."

"I think it's time to take you to our test subject No.1"

An took some turns into alleys and tight spaces. It was after Awaken hours, so people came out to socialise.

It was still day 2, so the chaos had not erupted yet. An aimed to gain control over the city of Weiling, before people realised the truth behind Awaken.

What she needed first was loyal subjects to form a Hierarchy to Jinx.

The sisters walked into a bar around Central Weiling. An ignored everyone who tried to approach her and walked straight to the basement.

Annie scrunched her nose slightly. The smell in the basement made her nauseous.

"Our targets so far are based on the ones that realised the effects of Awaken a little too late and messed up all their stats," An explained as they walked into a secret passway. "They normally have broken talents, so they would be more mad at themselves than others."

"You might know him," An added. "He's from our school."

An led Annie into an observation room, like those in the police interrogation room: one-way windows, small space, one desk.

Annie saw the face of the person sitting at the table, fiddling his nails, and gasped, "Joe?!"