Elias stepped through the jagged hole in the mirror, his fury radiating in waves as the crystalline shards crackled and pulsed with the energy coursing through his body. The glow of the mark on his hand lit the sterile white room in eerie, shifting patterns, casting the three figures on the other side in fragmented light.
The Oni stood closest, no longer masked. Her striking dark eyes met his, sharp and calculating, her long black hair flowing down her shoulders. Her demon mask hung at her waist, forgotten, as her expression shifted to alarm.
Beside her was a towering man, broad and built like a mountain. He wore a heavy black coat trimmed with gold, and his ogre mask dangled from his belt. His face was set in a grim scowl, his eyes narrowing as he took a step closer to her, his large hands flexing as though ready to act.
The third figure, an older man, stood further back. His crisp military-style uniform, silver hair, and thin spectacles gave him an air of command, though his calm exterior faltered as he watched the mirror twist and shatter around Elias.
Elias’s voice tore through the room, raw and unhinged. "Who the hell are you, and what did you do to me?"
The Oni took a cautious step forward, her palms raised slightly. “Elias, listen to me—”
"Don’t come closer!" he snarled, his hand pulsing with light as the crystalline patterns spread up his forearm. "I’ve had enough of people telling me to listen! I want answers. Now."
The older man cleared his throat, his tone even and authoritative. “You’re unstable, Mr. Veran. The mark is reacting to your emotions. Calm yourself, or you’ll—”
“Don’t tell me to calm down!” Elias’s anger surged, and the glow of the mark intensified. The jagged edges of the shattered mirror twisted, growing into crystalline vines that crept along the walls like a living force. His breathing was ragged, his mind racing as he took another step forward. “Start talking, or I swear—"
“You’re not our enemy, Elias,” the Oni said, her voice cutting through the chaos with a calm urgency. “But if you don’t get control of yourself, you’re going to hurt more than just us.”
Elias’s anger faltered for a moment, confusion cutting through the haze of rage. “Who are you?” he demanded. “If you’re not with Axiom, then what the hell are you doing here?”
The towering man scoffed, his deep voice laced with irritation. “We’re trying to stop Axiom from turning you into a weapon,” he growled. “But you’re making it damn difficult.”
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Elias blinked, his fury tempered by disbelief. “What?”
The older man stepped forward, his hands clasped behind his back. “Axiom sent you to deliver the artifact in the briefcase, didn’t they?” he asked. “But they didn’t tell you what it was, or what it could do.”
Elias’s jaw tightened, his gaze darting to the crystalline patterns now encasing his hand. “They said it was classified. That I didn’t need to know.”
“Of course they did,” the Oni said bitterly. “Because the artifact wasn’t just some object. It’s alive—an energy source they’ve been experimenting on for years. And when they gave it to you, it bonded with your cells.”
Elias took a shaky step back, his mind reeling. “What are you saying?”
The older man adjusted his glasses, his voice cold and clinical. “You’ve become the artifact, Mr. Veran. Its energy has fused with your very being. You’re no longer entirely human.”
Elias’s chest tightened, his breathing shallow. “That’s not possible,” he whispered. “That’s insane.”
“It’s the truth,” the Oni said, her gaze steady. “And it’s why we’re here. Axiom didn’t expect the artifact to bond with you. When it disappeared from the briefcase, they assumed you’d stolen it or destroyed it. That’s why they broke into your home—to retrieve it.”
“But they found you instead,” the larger man added, his tone grim. “And now, you’re something they’ll do anything to control.”
Elias shook his head, his voice trembling. “No. No, this can’t be happening.”
“It already has,” the Oni said softly. She stepped closer, her movements deliberate but non-threatening. “You’re dangerous now, Elias. Not because of who you are, but because of what’s inside you. And if Axiom gets their hands on you, they’ll twist that power into something monstrous.”
Elias’s hand throbbed, the glow of the mark dimming slightly as her words sank in. He looked down at his arm, the crystalline veins shimmering faintly beneath his skin. “You’re saying… I’m some kind of freak experiment? A living weapon?”
“No,” the Oni said firmly. “You’re a victim. But if you let this power consume you, you’ll become exactly what they want you to be.”
The towering man crossed his arms, his expression hard. “That’s why we’re here—to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
Elias’s gaze darted between them, his mind spinning. He didn’t know who to trust—if anyone—but the weight of their words pressed down on him like a vice. His anger flared again, but this time it was tinged with despair.
“What happens now?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The older man’s expression softened slightly. “Now, we take you somewhere safe. Somewhere Axiom can’t find you.”
“And then what?” Elias demanded. “You experiment on me instead? Use me for your own plans?”
“No,” the Oni said, her tone resolute. “We help you figure out what you are. What this power means. But that’s your choice, Elias. We won’t force you.”
The room was silent for a long moment, the tension hanging heavy in the air. The crystalline structures around Elias pulsed faintly, their glow mirroring the mark on his hand.
Finally, he nodded, his voice trembling as he spoke. “I’ll go with you. But if I find out you’re lying…”
“You won’t have to,” the Oni said. “You’ve been through enough.”
The towering man grunted, his expression still skeptical, but he didn’t argue. The older man simply adjusted his glasses, his demeanor composed once more.
“Let’s move,” the Oni said, glancing toward the jagged remains of the mirror. “We don’t have much time.”
Elias took a deep breath, his hand still pulsing faintly as he followed them into the unknown.