chapter 31: The seven Nines of wrong
Chapter 31: The Seven Nines of Wrong
The Forgotten Era & The Seven Scientists
There were once seven scientists who sought the peak of human potential, an ultimate state they called Beauty. Their research took place during the Year of the Forgotten, an era when witches were hunted to extinction by various means—purged by fire, steel, and blood. The scientists claimed their work was meant to uncover man's true beauty, free from the 'impurities' of the unnatural.
Each scientist focused on a different aspect of humanity's peak:
The Physique – The perfection of the human body.
The Cosmos – The mysteries of space and time.
The Mind – The absolute evolution of intelligence and thought.
The Divine – The threshold between man and godhood.
Nature and Mechanical Arrays – The fusion of science and the world's natural forces.
War – The perfect strategy and combat form.
Time – Bryson Thor, the most infamous among them, obsessed with the concept of absolute time control.
The fate of the Seven remains unknown. Some say they perished, others claim they ascended beyond human limits. However, Thor managed to gather fragments of their work before vanishing.
Rin & The Legacy of the Seven
Rin reads the letter attached to the front of a book written by Thor. The book's title:
"The Seven Nines of Wrong."
The letter's words are chilling:
"To seek true beauty is to seek madness. To master it is to erase oneself."
Rin's resolve hardens. If there's knowledge in this book that can push him beyond his limits, he will learn it all.
But first, he moves out—to the DuVante Household.
The Fall of the DuVante Family
It was the third day of the Box Family's relentless assault on the DuVante family. The once-great household had been reduced to ruins, bodies littering the grand halls like fallen leaves. The Box Family elite soldiers patrolled the mansion's grounds, ensuring no survivors remained.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
An explosion shattered the eerie silence. A massive, reinforced door was blasted open, smoke and vapor spilling from the chamber like a monster awakening from its slumber.
From within, a man emerged.
The head of the DuVante family stepped into the battlefield, his fist technique clearing the Box elites in an instant. Twelve men fell before they even realized they were dead.
But he was exhausted.
The moment he had stepped out of seclusion, he had walked into a battlefield.
Then, from the shadows—
The Head of the Box Family attacked.
Steel met flesh, the two titans clashing amidst the burning wreckage of what was once a noble household. The DuVante Head was strong, but he was already weakened. He fought with everything he had left, but his body was failing him.
From a hidden chamber, a boy—no older than ten—watched in horror. His tiny hands clenched into fists, but what could a child do against monsters?
The battle was over before it could even begin.
The DuVante Head fell.
With his final breath, he left behind words—whether a curse or a blessing, no one knew.
The boy wanted to scream.
But before he could, a hand covered his mouth.
Rin.
The boy struggled, thrashing in Rin's grasp.
"Let me go! I have to fight!"
"And die?" Rin's voice was cold.
The boy froze.
Rin crouched before him, looking into his tear-filled eyes. He wasn't here to kill him.
"I came for your safety."
The boy didn't believe him. His family was gone. His home was in ruins. What safety was left?
But in the end, what choice did he have?
"Swear." The boy's voice was quiet but firm.
"Swear allegiance to the DuVante family until it rises again."
Rin stared at him. The kid had nothing left. No army. No power. But he still had pride—a last ember refusing to die.
Rin didn't hesitate.
"I swear."
A mark appeared on their skin.
For a moment, the air shifted. Perhaps it was the world's laws, binding them to an oath neither could break.
And then—
A whistle.
Gotham, The Android & Lupin's Entrance
A metallic whirring echoed through the grand hall.
From the shadows, Gotham, the Android, descended into the massacre.
It moved like a storm, tearing through the remaining vox Family soldiers with precise, calculated destruction. Its arms split into multiple bladed segments, cutting men apart with terrifying efficiency.
And then, amidst the bloodshed—
Lupin entered.
He walked through the battlefield without a care, a smirk on his lips. All eyes turned to him.
With a dramatic bow, he spoke:
"Gentlemen, welcome to the lighthouse."
Then he activated it.
The Lighthouse & The Box Family Retreat
A bright pulse erupted from the ground, a mechanical hum filling the air.
The Lighthouse—a defensive formation of the DuVante household—was back online.
Energy shields formed around the surviving structures, cutting off the vox Family's forces from their reinforcements. Their leader cursed.
They had no choice.
The Assistant Head of the Vox Family—Valdo's uncle—gritted his teeth. He had fought hard to claim victory, but now, with the Lighthouse active and his men in chaos, he had to retreat.
"Damn you, DuVante ghosts."
With a final glare at Rin and the boy, he vanished into the darkness.
The battle was over.
But the war was just beginning.
The Seven Scientists and their insane pursuit of "beauty" set a foundation for a deeper mystery.
Rin's decision to learn from Thor's book shows his thirst for power.
The fall of the DuVante Family introduces a vengeance arc and an oath-bound relationship between Rin and the heir.
Gotham and Lupin's presence highlight their roles in the grander scheme.
The vox Family's retreat hints at bigger conflicts ahead.