Chapter 641 The Core Engine of Empire Cracks

The Colosseum no longer felt like an arena. The air was heavy, not from magic, but because the very fabric of reality was being compressed by a singular entity that rejected plurality: Alexander the Great, now manifested as the Imperial Machine.

From his split body, iron pillars emerged, forming a flawless geometric structure. In the center of his chest pulsed the Core Engine—a heart of pure logic, spinning slowly, emitting sparks of Proto-Speech processed as commands to the world.

As Fitran stood, gazing at the transformed figure of Alexander, a chill crept down his throat. Each heartbeat seemed to mark the end of an era, as if ancient power pressed against his inner space, shaking his convictions. "What do you truly want, Alexander?" Fitran's voice came out almost too late in the tense silence.

Alexander no longer voiced a will. He constructed laws.

"My choice is not a will."

"My choice is a construct."

His body underwent a total transformation:

His eyes became spiraled lenses of time.

His ribs turned into generators of imperial values: Stability, Purity, Absolutism.

His voice now resonated as an absolute frequency, forcing the air to align with its logic.

-- System Diagnostic Start --

Status: 0xA4B8F3 — Damage Detected 0x01

Core Engine Temp: 78°C, Operational Integrity: 92%

Emotional State: 0.85 (Frustration - internal conflict)

-- Status Register:

Proto-Speech Output: "Error 0xHA5 — Request to demonstrate intent not recognized."

Emotional Response: 0x03 (Anger Level Critical, Engage Protocol)

Contextual Analysis: Alien Frequency Alignment: 0x10

-- Command Override:

Initiating Revision Protocol: SYS>0142

Status: 0x0084 - Directive matrix conflict detected.

-- System Diagnostic End --

The iron pillars trembled, and the sound of clashing metal echoed like a death knell. Fitran moved forward, gathering all his courage into beams of hopeful light, pushing against the wave of certainty established by the Imperial Machine. "I will not be imprisoned by your definitions!" he shouted, his voice rising.

The pillars shook again, and the metallic clashing sounded like a dirge. Fitran advanced, his bravery coalescing into rays of hope, resisting the overwhelming certainty imposed by the Imperial Machine. System Diagnostics: ERROR 0xA01: Human Will - Invalid. EMOTION LEVEL: 0x03, CORE ENGINE STATUS: Operational.

Fitran tried to walk, but each step was rejected by the new laws issued by Alexander:

"Human will: invalid."

Fitran was pressed by Reality.

He attempted to move, but every step was thwarted by the new laws imposed by Alexander. As he lifted his foot, it felt as if a strange gravity held him back, forcing his heart to beat erratically. With each passing second, he felt trapped in a labyrinth with no exit. Tension constricted Fitran's chest, a painful awareness of what lay before him.

System Output: ERROR 0xA02: Empathy - System Divergence. EMOTION LEVEL: 0x01

System Output: WARNING 0xB01: Pain - Redundant and Disrupting Parameters. Action: Delete.

With every claim made by Alexander, shadows of helplessness enveloped Fitran, seeping into every fiber of his being. He recalled the past—moments when simple decisions and emotions influenced the outcomes of battles. Yet, all of that now felt hollow, as if extracted from the algorithm of his life.

His sword slipped from his grasp. Its glyph transformed into a meaningless straight line.

0110 0001 01100 0010 0101 1110 - Error Status: 0x001A - Reality distorted. Emotion: 65%

Core Engine: Minimal Energy Reading. Emotional Indicator - Weakness: 5/100, Anger: 80/100

With Sheena's voice echoing, Fitran's spirit seemed to rise. But the pent-up frustration ignited his spirit, creating a flame of anger that was hard to control. He knew he had to fight not just for himself, but for all who had ever struggled against Alexander's tyranny.

Meanwhile, Rinoa trembled. Something within her reacted to the Core Engine.

Her heartbeat thudded loudly, as if responding to the energy condensed in the air, creating vibrations that were almost tangible. Every whisper from the Core Engine reverberated through the room, amplifying the tension surrounding her.

"The Alexander system detects structural damage due to interaction with Protagonist Fitran: Diagnosis #X01B44: Damage to Harmonization Module (Status: Critical, Severity: 0b1111)."

Core Engine Log: Warning - Residual Energy detected: 0x3F25. Emotional strength connected: Emotion: 75/100.

Proto-Speech communication process hindered: Error Code: 0b001010. Preparing Recovery Protocol...

Fitran's gaze burned with unwavering spirit, as if drawing strength from the depths of his existence. In every stroke created in the air, he felt the weight of history and hope intertwining, challenging the system that sought to erase his existence.

Amidst the floating glyphs, shadows of past battles haunted his mind. Memories of fallen comrades ignited within him, attacks that were unstoppable by machines, adding layers of pain he had to bear. That power flowed through every vein in his body, creating an unbreakable bond that even the strongest threats could not shatter.

✦ Inscriptio Nihil: The Glyph of Presence Without Purpose

A symbol that demanded no purpose. It merely indicated that presence without logic is still worthy of acknowledgment.

In the air, the glyph shimmered as if challenging rational existence, a reminder of the power of uncertainty. It felt as if the magical vibrations caused everything present to pause momentarily, trapped in a moment colored by Fitran's mysterious presence.

And for the first time… the Core Engine trembled.

Status: 0x1A3 / Damage detected in communication subsystem: Proto-Speech. Emotion: [7/10] - Tension rising.

Status: 0b11011 / Attack effectiveness declining. Anomaly recorded in Core Engine.

Status: 0x002 / Energy replacement process required. System attachment: [85%]

As those words slipped from Alexander's lips, it was as if a delicate web wove the space between them, fiercely compelling every individual around to feel a struggle that was more than just physical. The warmth of energy stung and ignited their fighting spirit, in the dark light possessed by the pulsating Core heart.

Fitran moved closer.

System Diagnostic Log:

ERROR 0x1B2A: Core Engine Integrity compromised.

Proto-Speech Input: "Transmitting emotional state… 0x0F: conflict detected."

Hearing Fitran's response, the tension hanging in the air became sharper. In Alexander's mind, doubt crept into the cracks of his certainty, as if the world he knew began to crumble before him. This unexpected power challenged him to dig deeper, seeking meaning behind this confrontation.

System Diagnostic Log:

WARNING 0x3E8F: Emotional distress level at 75%.

Core Engine Output: "Attempting to restore emotional stability…"

Alexander raised his hand, trying to nullify Fitran's existence. But his heart—the Core Engine—emitted a strange sound.

A crack.

System Diagnostic Log:

CRITICAL 0xFFFF: System failure imminent.

Proto-Speech Input: "Re-evaluating self-worth…"

In a flash, Alexander saw:

Himself as a youth, embracing a beggar after victory.

Himself handing a crown to a poet.

System Check: Core Engine Status—Critical Integrity Breach. Error Code: 0xDEADBEEF. Emotional Indicator: 0x01F4 (Despair Level).

Proto-Speech Diagnostics—Language Output Degraded to Child Syntax. Error Code: 0xBADF00D. Emotional Indicator: 0x03E8 (Fear Level).

Mechanical Feedback: Vibration Detected in Structure. System Error 10101010. Emotional Indicator: 0x0280 (Conflict Level).

Alexander—in the body of a cracked machine—stood still. Status: SYSTEM_DIAGNOSTIC_INITIATED

LEANING: 0xA1B0 (damage detected: critical level)

EMOTIONAL_OUTPUT: core_signal[0xF3] (conflicted: 78%)

DIAGNOSTIC: Core Engine malfunction; Proto-Speech offline—ego vs heart pushing emotional components to vibrate, calling for new pathways.