The Beginning of Unmaking

The beast moved by not moving.

The One Who Hears didn't walk — it shimmered across the earth, skipping between places as though time itself were trying to deny its existence. Its extremities didn't advance in succession. They glitched. Twitched. Twisted.

And it whispered.

So many voices. All in Kanji's mind.

• Kanji.

• Breaker.

• Child of Echo.

• Kneel.

• Serve.

• Or become hollow.

Kanji gritted his teeth. "Not happening."

[Boss Encountered: Engage in Soul Duel]

[Target, Like an Evil System Boundary, Should Not Exist.]

[Disclaimer: Passive Skills Might Not Work]

[You are being rewritten.]

The creature attacked.

The reality around it rippled. Logic and memory-made weapons. The sound turned solid. The thought became pain.

Kanji sidestepped to the left, swinging his blade wide — not clashing with flesh but with an abstraction of harm itself.

It didn't bleed.

It didn't scream.

It just whispered louder.

Kanji's body started to burn — not in heat, but in memory attempting to reprogram itself.

[Virtual Pulse Under Stress: Threshold at 92%]

[Fragment of Soul Memory Responding to "Nahra'zeth – Voice Echo #2"]

[Manifesting an Ability: "UNMAKE" (Locked)]

[Activation: Absolute Will Supremacy]

Kanji stumbled back.

Then stopped.

And he listened.

Not to the monster — but to himself.

To the anger he buried.

To the silence in which he was made.

To the force crying for a purpose.

Then he grinned.

"No."

He moved closer into the attack.

Drew the improvised sword of reason across his shoulder — and walked on.

The creature recoiled. Twisted back.

Kanji's Soul Core exploded in light.

[Trigger Met: Will Dominance Achieved.]

[UNMAKE (Skill Unlocked, Tier: Forbidden) ]

Category: Alteration Cannot be resisted. Duration: 6 seconds. Cooldown: 3 hours.]

[UNMAKING: This is a reversible punishment except if you use it against spiritual anchors.]

[Passive Upgrade: "Beyond the Script" Tier 1 Active.]

Kanji raised his hand.

Not void, not magic, absence darkened and spiraled from his palm.

Not killing.

Unmaking.

"I told you," he whispered. "I'm not yours. I'm not theirs. I'm not bound."

He pointed at the creature.

And erased its voice.

The creature thrashed, wildly. Its whispers vanished. Its shape folded in on itself — as if it was never there.

The air warped.

Then settled.

[Enemy Brought Low: "The One Who Listens" — Expunged from System Registry]

[XP Gained: N/A]

[Reward: Portion of Godflesh — Stored]

[Title Shown: Fragmentbearer → Warden of the Unwritten]

Lyra moved up slowly behind him, her cloak flapping in the tainted wind.

At first, she said nothing.

Then: "You shouldn't have been able to do that."

Kanji stared down at his palm. It was shaking.

"Yeah," he said. "But I did."

She stepped closer.

"You're not simply evolving, Kanji," she said. "You're… detaching. From the system. From fate."

He turned his head slightly. "You scared?"

Lyra smiled faintly. "No."

She gazed at the disappearing place where the thing had stood.

"I'm interested."

….

They camped at the edge of the Reach, where the stars bled colors that no one could name.

The fire didn't pop — it hissed. Like it knew warmth wasn't for her.

Lyra slept against the flame, back to a stone, one hand on her weapon.

Kanji had sunk onto the outer ring, gaze fixed on the palm of his hand—the same one that had wiped a being from existence.

Not killed.

Erased.

[Skill "UNMAKE" – Cooldown: 2:19:40 Remaining.]]

[Note: You are outside of normal System behavior]

[Soul Core Stability: 46%]

His thoughts spiraled.

The Soul Core pulsed with more than memory now—with fragments of other lives, other selves, some nonhuman, some nonsane.

He felt them in his bones.

A monarch burning his empire alive.

Such a child screamed as priests chanted.

A blade raised against gods.

A monster is whispering to a crying girl.

A voice that was not his — but sounded like it could be.

He clenched his fists.

"What am I becoming?" he muttered.

Soul: Core: Threading: Creating: [processing Status]

[Explaining Conflict in Sameness: Humanity / Sovereignty]

[You have discovered a Mirror Point.

His mind snapped inward.

He stood in darkness.

Alone.

But not alone.

Himself — reflected in a mirrored void. Hundreds of versions. All staring back. All… wrong.

One had claws for fingers.

Another, eye black, smile unmoving.

One was on fire, screaming at a deity.

One of them wore a collar, chained and bleeding with empty eyes.

And one—just one—stood still. Quiet. Human.

Him.

He stepped forward.

The others moved.

Claws scraped. Chains rattled. Flames rose.

They circled him.

"Which one are you?" one whispered. "The puppet of gods?"

"Or the mistake?" said another. "The glitch?"

A voice in the air behind him — his voice, but empty:

"You erased a soul. Do you still consider yourself one?"

Kanji didn't answer.

He couldn't.

He just… stood there.

Shaking.

Until he heard her voice.

Not in the mirror.

Outside it.

"Kanji," Lyra said, softly.

He opened his eyes.

He was down on his hands and knees, talon-tipped fingers tearing into the dirt. His Soul Core was flaring—out of control. A thin plume of smoke emanated from the earth.

Lyra stood a few feet away. Arms crossed. Watching. Not afraid.

"You're slipping," she said.

"I know."

"Want me to pull you back?"

He looked up.

Eyes bloodshot. Voice hoarse.

"No."

A pause.

"I have to know whether I can do it myself."

Lyra didn't move. "Then do it."

[Mirror Point Active: Action Required]

Segment 1: If You Are a Human — Keep Your Core Self Boost Willpower. Limits remain.]

[Path 2: Sovereignty — Accept the question. Rewrite yourself. Limits break.]

[Optional: Delay choice. Consequences unpredictable.]

Kanji stood. Slowly.

His breath was heavy.

His voice was low.

"I'm not a puppet."

He looked at his hand again.

"And I'm not a god."

He gazed at the darkening horizon.

"I'm about to be something new."

[Choice Delayed. Title Advanced: [Special Coverage: "The Becoming"]

Your presence now warps low-tier enemies, and you could Pimp, but that's all hindsight. Echoes start reverberating in your aura for allies and allies only.]

[Unlocked — Custom paths may be formed]

[You Are Evolving.]

Lyra smiled faintly.

"I was wondering when you would say that."