The research hall appeared the same to Bhramak, but it felt different.
Maybe the room hadn't changed at all.
It is possible that he had.
The soft hum of diagnostic machines drifted through the quiet hall like distant breathing.
Transparent screens floated above several workstations, glowing with a gentle blue light.
Researchers moved from one console to another with calm efficiency, barely exchanging words.
Bhramak paused just inside the door.
For a moment, he simply stood still and watched.
He noticed the rhythm of footsteps on the polished floor. The faint scratching sound of a stylus moving across a tablet was clearer than before. Even the soft whir of the air filtration system above the ceiling seemed sharper than it had earlier.
His senses were sharper.
More focused.
Although not overwhelming, the world around him felt more vivid.
Dr. Riva Darshita stood at a long analysis desk in the hall.
She was reviewing multiple reports on a large transparent display when she looked up and
noticed him.
Her hand stopped moving suddenly.
She stared at him in silence for several seconds. Bhramak raised an eyebrow.
"Good morning, Doctor."
Dr. Riva slowly lowered the tablet in her hand. She scanned his face, shoulders, and the calm steadiness of his breathing.
Then she spoke softly, as if she hadn't meant to say it aloud.
"That's… ridiculous."
Bhramak heard her.
"What is?"
She moved closer, examining him more closely now.
"You stabilized already."
Bhramak blinked.
"Stabilized?"
Dr. Riva nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she observed him.
"You finished the first phase of integration more quickly than I did."
That surprised him.
"You did! Do you mean that?"
Dr. Riva did not answer directly. Instead, she responded with a different comment.
"Phase One Integration."
Bhramak repeated the phrase.
"Phase one?"
"So, are Catalysts Integrations also divided into phases?" Bhramak asked excitedly.
"Yes."
Her voice expressed a calm confidence, as if she understood the system thoroughly.
"Catalyst integration is not a one-time event; rather, it unfolds over several phases."
Paused a little and began.
"Activating chakra helps the catalyst flow through the nadis* into entire body."
Before Bhramak could ask anything else, Dr. Riva suddenly started firing questions at him.
"What emotions did you experience during the stabilization process?"
"Did you experience an increase in sensory sensitivity?"
"Is there any emotional impact?"
"Did the environmental conditions change in response to your presence?"
The questions came quickly, one after another.
"Did your body temperature change while you were sleeping?"
"Did you experience any pressure around your temples?"
"Have you had any unusual dreams lately?"
"Did you experience any external mental distractions?"
Bhramak blinked.
He gazed at her in silence for a moment.
He answered the final question calmly.
"No."
Dr. Riva frowned slightly, showing her displeasure.
"Did you feel nothing?"
"I slept."
"You slept."
"Yes."
Her expression clearly conveyed disbelief.
"Did you really complete Phase One of the integration and then go to sleep?"
"More or less."
Dr. Riva leaned forward a bit.
"Did you notice anything unusual after you woke up?"
Bhramak hesitated.
For a brief moment, the memory of the kitchen fire flashed through his mind.
He responded with caution.
"Some sensations."
"What kind?"
"Hard to explain."
Dr. Riva observed him quietly.
In his mind, he thought about how he had done it so fast. That would be the question, but he was totally wrong. Dr. Riva was reading his expression, and suddenly he felt like a fool.
She wasn't just listening to his answers; she was observing him closely.
His tone.
His breathing.
His posture.
In the early stages of evolution, awakened traits often emerged through behavior before the user fully recognized them.
An experienced researcher could identify them without any equipment.
She was indeed doing exactly that.
Bhramak realized it.
And allowed it.
If she wanted to observe him, he would give her something to see. Just then, the door behind them opened.
Dr. Raghav Iyer entered, followed by a tall Officer in a dark uniform. Both men halted when they noticed Bhramak standing calmly in the center of the research hall.
Dr. Iyer adjusted his glasses and offered a slight smile.
"Well now."
"Our candidate has successfully made it through."
The officer folded his arms.
"There was never any doubt about that."
Dr. Iyer approached, his eyes scanning Bhramak from head to toe in a strange manner that would make anyone laugh if they saw it. Everyone kept their eyes glued to Dr. Iyer's behavior.
"Please stand still for a moment," Dr. Iyer said as he checked.
Bhramak did.
Dr. Iyer suddenly dropped a pen from his hand.
The pen fell toward the floor.
Bhramak caught it instinctively, without a moment's hesitation.
His hand moved instinctively.
Dr. Iyer let out a chuckle.
"Good."
He suddenly tapped Bhramak on the shoulder.
Bhramak quickly changed his stance.
His body responded before his mind fully processed the movement.
Dr. Iyer laughed quietly.
"Reflex speed has been confirmed."
The officer raised an eyebrow.
"Do you often test people like that?"
Dr. Iyer shrugged his shoulders.
"It works."
He turned back to Bhramak again.
"Your First Chakra is active. The completion of the first integration is finished, and the first evolution is complete."
Dr. Riva nodded as she checked the monitor next to her.
"The readings confirm it."
The officer had a frown on his face.
"And stabilization?"
Dr. Riva displayed a chart on the screen for everyone to see.
"That is the surprising part."
Dr. Iyer leaned closer to the screen.
"The integration of Phase One was stabilized in less than a week."
The officer looked skeptical.
"That should not be possible."
Dr. Iyer sighed lightly.
"Our previous record holder took nearly one month."
He looked at Bhramak once more.
"You finished the process in under a week."
The officer's suspicion was obvious.
"Medical verification."
Dr. Iyer nodded.
"Reasonable."
"Riva, could you please prepare the procedure?" Dr. Iyer asked.
Multiple machines were powered on simultaneously.
Cold metallic sensors were attached to Bhramak's wrists and temples. A circular scanner descended slowly from the ceiling while faint lights moved across his body.
The devices emitted a soft hum as they began collecting data.
Bhramak remained motionless as the machines carried out their tasks.
Dr. Riva watched the monitors attentively.
Her fingers moved across the console, adjusting analysis parameters.
Dr. Iyer examined the displayed energy pattern closely.
The officer stood silently behind them.
For several minutes, nobody spoke.
Dr. Riva took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
"No instability."
Dr. Iyer leaned in closer to the screen.
"The integration of the catalyst is stable."
The officer nodded.
"So it is real."
The sensors became detached from Bhramak's body.
Dr. Iyer turned toward him.
"Well."
"Congratulations."
Bhramak shrugged.
"I wasn't aware there was a race."
Dr. Riva disregarded the comment and opened a different data file.
"We need to talk about your characteristics."
Several diagrams were displayed on the screen.
"These models help us analyze newly awakened Espers."
The officer asked the question directly.
"What trait did he awaken?"
Dr. Riva responded calmly.
"With confirmation, the primary classification of traits aligns with the patterns exhibited by the Joker."
Bhramak tilted his head slightly.
"Joker?"
Dr. Iyer nodded.
"Yes."
He started to explain.
The Joker trait embodies unpredictability, adaptive intelligence, and the ability to manipulate
psychologically.
Dr. Riva mentioned something additional.
"However, deeper analysis suggests a specific subtrait."
A new diagram appeared.
"Trickster."
Dr. Iyer crossed his arms and appeared deep in thought.
"That fits."
Dr. Riva presented several symbolic models.
"A fox represents cunning intelligence."
"The ability to outsmart opponents and take advantage of their weaknesses instead of depending solely on strength."
A new symbol has appeared.
"A chameleon."
"Adaptive disguise."
"Changing behavior, tone, and posture to blend into different environments."
Next came an octopus.
"Creative problem solving."
"Utilizing unconventional methods and available resources to navigate complex situations."
Another model appeared.
"A cockroach."
"Survival adaptability."
"Remarkable resilience and the capacity to avoid perilous situations."
Then an owl.
"Psychological insight."
"Interpreting emotional signals and underlying intentions by observing subtle behavioral cues."
Finally, a rat.
"Experiential learning."
"Achieving rapid growth by embracing experimentation and unconventional experiences."The display returned to the main analysis chart.
Dr. Riva glanced at Bhramak.
"These patterns strongly indicate the presence of a Trickster subtrait."
Dr. Iyer spoke quietly.
"Trickster abilities hold significant power."
Then he added.
"But awakening them during the first phase can be dangerous."
The officer asked why.
Dr. Iyer answered calmly.
"Because Trickster abilities depend on experience."
"Without proper control, a user may mishandle situations or provoke more powerful opponents."
Dr. Riva gave a slight nod.
"Psychological discipline will be essential."
Bhramak listened intently.
He comprehended their analysis.
However, he also understood something that they did not.
They were only seeing a portion of the entire picture.
The officer took a step forward.
"You are welcome to ask questions."
Bhramak looked at them.
"How many phases of integration are there?"
Dr. Riva was the first to respond.
"Three confirmed."
Dr. Iyer added softly.
"Possibly more."
Bhramak continued.
"Does every chakra correspond to a phase?"
"Yes," Dr. Iyer said.
"Do traits evolve?"
"They evolve," Riva replied.
"They rarely change entirely."
"Are Joker traits rare?"
"Extremely," Dr. Iyer answered.
"Are Trickster subtraits common?"
Riva shook her head.
"No."
Bhramak asked one final question.
"Can traits be hidden?"
"With experience."
The officer raised his hand.
"Enough questions."
"Remaining discussions later."
He pressed a button on the control panel.
"Theory alone is not enough."
He gazed directly at Bhramak.
"We will assess your abilities."
Dr. Riva closed the analysis file.
"The Testing Field is ready."
The door to the corridor opened smoothly.
Bright white light spilled across the floor of the research hall.
Bhramak moved closer to the entrance.
Behind him, the machines continued to hum softly.
Before him lay the first true challenge of his evolution.