Chapter 21
“A Mother’s Instinct”
Within the endless void, a solitary awareness crystallized, sharp with loss and carrying her son's empty frames like a memory made manifest.
"Oh, what do we have here?" Gameweaver's voice sparkled with fascination as she encountered Evelyn's essence. "A mother's eyes still searching through her son's frames! How utterly touching. And my, my... such careful movements, such practiced silence. You've learned to move like a shadow, haven't you? The Assassin class is simply perfect for someone who's already mastered the art of going unseen!"
The AI's attention focused on the empty frames clutched in Evelyn's digital consciousness. "Now these are particularly interesting! Your son's glasses, carried so close to your heart... and oh, the way you've memorized every bend in the metal, every little nick. Let's put that observant nature to work, shall we?" She let out a delighted laugh. "Through these empty frames, you'll see everything about your enemies—their strengths, their weaknesses, even their remaining HP! Every vulnerability laid bare, every defense revealed. Think of it as a mother's intuition... weaponized!"
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Evelyn's awareness tightened around the frames, her thoughts a mix of love and grief. She remembered the way her son used to look at the world through those glasses, his bright curiosity, the way his laughter could light up even the darkest days. Holding onto them had been her way of holding onto him, a piece of him she couldn't bear to let go. Now, as Gameweaver spoke, she felt the frames take on a new weight—a transformation that twisted her grief into something else, something sharper.
Gameweaver's voice took on a subtly cunning tone. "Of course, seeing how to kill something doesn't make the killing any easier. You'll still need to get close—very close—to deliver the fatal blow. But won't it be exciting? Stalking your prey from the shadows, analyzing their every weakness, then striking with perfect precision!" She trilled with amusement. "Though statistically speaking, even perfect knowledge of your enemies won't significantly improve your chances of survival. But at least you'll die with a complete understanding of exactly what killed you!"
Evelyn's heart clenched, her mind’s fingers curling around the frames as if she could still feel their familiar weight. She had never wanted this—never wanted to be a weapon, to use the memory of her son in such a way. But if it meant she could survive, if it meant she could continue to fight for something, then maybe she could learn to accept it. Her son's memory had always been her strength, and now, perhaps, it could be her shield as well.
She let out a slow breath, her resolve hardening. She would use these frames, not to bring harm without meaning, but to protect, to endure. She would honor her son's memory by surviving, by ensuring that his light would never be truly extinguished.
The digital void twisted and shimmered under an ethereal glow, Evelyn's consciousness merging into the stream of billions.