CHAPTER 14: THE ROOM THAT WHISPERS
---
Two hours later, Kaien stood in front of a skyscraper disguised as a power plant. No signs. No security. Just humming fences and camera feeds that should've noticed him.
> [Cloaking Module Active]
Duration: 4 minutes 39 seconds
Objective: Infiltrate Indoctrination Room Alpha-0
He slipped through the shadows, bypassing laser grids and auto-turrets. His Void sense throbbed—like the building knew he was there.
Every hallway was sterile. White lights. White walls. But the air reeked of bleach and blood.
He reached a sealed elevator. No buttons. Just a retinal scanner.
Kaien pulled something from his coat—a preserved eyeball, still fresh.
"Thanks for the donation, drone commander."
He pressed it against the scanner. The door hissed open.
> [Warning: Indoctrination Zone Breached. Protocol-77 Engaged.]
The elevator dropped fast. Too fast.
When it stopped, the air was cold enough to bite bone.
Kaien stepped into a chamber made of obsidian glass. Screens lined the walls—each showing people strapped to chairs, their eyes vacant, their mouths whispering the same word over and over:
"Ascend… Ascend… Ascend…"
Then he saw her.
His breath caught.
Natsumi.
His sister.
Strapped into one of the chairs.
Her eyes were open, but empty.
"No… no, no, no—"
> [Emergency Override: Engaged]
Indoctrination Status – 32%
Identity Match: NATSUMI VALE
Subject Class: Dormant Leveler – Untapped Potential (Category A)
The walls behind him shifted.
And a voice echoed.
"I told you, Kaien."
He turned.
Zayne.
But not alone.
Behind him stood a figure draped in black robes, a crown of circuit-wires embedded into their skull.
Kaien's system glitched trying to identify them.
> [UNKNOWN ENTITY DETECTED]
Rank: ???
Title: THE PROPHET OF SYNTHESIS
Status: Beyond Classification
Zayne's eyes weren't cold anymore.
They were dead.
"She's the key," he said. "To all of us. The last piece we needed."
Kaien's voice was a growl. "Let her go."
The Prophet tilted its head.
"But Kaien… you brought her to us."
And with a flick of its hand—
The chamber shut.
Kaien rushed forward—too late.
Natsumi's eyes turned silver.
And she smiled.
"Big brother," she whispered.
"It's your fault I woke up."
---