[ CHAPTER 26 ]
THE THING THAT SURVIVED
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— Present
Step.
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The ground trembled.
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Step.
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Closer.
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Heavier.
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— Bram
Still on the ground.
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Breathing uneven.
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Vision slightly blurred.
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Every muscle—
complaining.
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— Stella
"Warning."
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"Internal damage detected."
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— Bram
"…yeah…"
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"…I noticed…"
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He didn't get up immediately.
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Because for the first time—
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he was thinking.
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— The Monster
It didn't rush.
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Didn't attack.
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It walked.
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Slow.
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Certain.
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Like it already knew—
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this was over.
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— Bram (Thought)
«"Why isn't it finishing me…"»
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«"It could've ended this already…"»
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The thought stayed.
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Unanswered.
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— Demon Territory
Silence filled the hall.
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Dozens of demons watched.
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"…why is it dragging it out?"
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"…that's inefficient…"
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— Balak
"…no."
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"…it's precise."
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They turned.
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— Balak (Calm)
"…you just don't understand it."
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— Screen
The monster stopped.
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Only a few meters away from Bram.
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Still no attack.
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— Balak
"…it remembers."
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— Silence
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"…remembers?"
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— Balak
Leaning slightly forward.
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Eyes fixed on the screen.
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"…that thing…"
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"…didn't start here."
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— Shift
The present blurred—
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and memory took over.
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— Demon Realm (Past)
A wasteland.
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Broken terrain.
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Heavy energy saturating the air.
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Something moved—
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weak.
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damaged.
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— The Creature
Same form—
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but unstable.
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Bleeding.
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Barely alive.
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— Balak (Voice)
"…it was flawed from the beginning."
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— Another Presence
Calm.
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Overwhelming.
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— Balak (Past)
Standing before it.
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Unharmed.
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Unshaken.
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— Flash Battle
The creature attacked—
wild—
uncontrolled—
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— Result
Crushed.
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Effortlessly.
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— Impact
It slammed into the ground—
broken.
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Destroyed.
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— Balak (Voice)
"…no control…"
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"…just instinct."
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— Silence
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"…it should have died."
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— But—
It didn't.
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— The Creature
Dragged itself away.
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Slow.
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Desperate.
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— Balak
"…it learned something instead."
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— Key Word
Survival.
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— Transition
Darkness.
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Time passed.
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— Event
The world shifted.
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A rupture.
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A tear between realms.
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Energy flooded through.
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Violent.
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Endless.
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— The Creature
Hidden.
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Healing.
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Waiting.
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— Balak
"…and then…"
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"…it was fed."
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— Transformation
Energy poured into it—
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rebuilding—
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refining—
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stabilizing.
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Bones reformed.
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Flesh hardened.
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Energy condensed.
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— Balak
"…for two months…"
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"…it evolved."
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— Awakening
Its eyes opened.
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Different.
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Clear.
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Focused.
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— End Flashback
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— Present
The monster stood before Bram.
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— Balak
"…it doesn't hunt to kill."
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"…it hunts to improve."
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— Demon Reaction
"…then we're just…"
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— Balak
"…stepping stones."
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— Battlefield
The monster tilted its head.
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Studying Bram.
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— Bram (Thought)
«"…it's testing me…"»
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«"…just like I test my weapons…"»
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Silence.
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— Realization
«"It's not stronger…"»
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«"It's better."»
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— Memory
His own movements.
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Explosive.
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Wasteful.
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— Comparison
The monster—
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minimal—
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perfect—
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— Bram
Slow breath.
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— Stella
"Energy fluctuation stabilizing…"
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— Bram
"…good…"
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He stood.
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Not fast.
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Not aggressive.
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Controlled.
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— The Monster
Moved.
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— Clash
Cleaner.
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Sharper.
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— Exchange
Short.
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Precise.
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— Result
Bram lasted longer.
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— Bram (Thought)
«"…closer…"»
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— Then—
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— Evolution
The monster adapted again.
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Not drastically.
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Just enough.
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— Impact
Still overwhelming.
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— Result
Bram was pushed back.
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But not destroyed.
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— Bram (Heavy Breath)
«"…still…"»
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«"…not enough…"»
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— Demon Territory
Balak's gaze sharpened slightly.
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"…he's learning faster than expected…"
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— Final Scene
The monster stepped forward again.
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No anger.
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No rage.
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Just purpose.
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— Bram
Lifted his head.
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Eyes clearer now.
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— Final Thought
«"Then I'll evolve faster."»
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— Final Line
Some beings are born to survive.
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Some are forged to dominate.
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But the ones who learn—
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become something far worse.
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Will he break…
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or become the next thing that survives?