The world seemed to alternately appear and fade away in horrifying flashes. Pressed as far back against the cold stone wall as he could force his body, the man felt paralyzed by the scene before him. Panic washed over him each time the device on the dead man’s arm blinked on, briefly illuminating the otherwise pitch-black chamber, and the grizzly mess that was all that remained of the mysterious body, lying mere inches away.
Desperately searching through a clouded mind, the man recalled a name; it wasn’t the name he expected, but somehow he knew it was his. Kade forced his eyes shut for a moment, breathing through the terror and forcing himself to something resembling calm. After the brief reprieve, and with steeled nerves, Kade finally opened his eyes once more.
Sadly the world hadn’t resolved into a more tolerable reality: before him was still the shattered and torn remains of what had once been a man. Illumination still coming only from the odd, blinking device, Kade took in the tattered ruins of some kind of robe covering the lower half of the body, but when he dragged his eyes upward, the slow strobing of light revealed nothing but a crater where the man’s upper torso had once been.
Kade felt himself hyperventilating, but couldn’t slow his breathing as he absorbed a sight beyond anything his fractured mind could make sense of. The man’s left arm had been entirely severed, thankfully leaving the room’s only light source intact. That light didn’t reach far, but did reveal even further mysteries as Kade continued to slowly consider everything before him.
The strangeness of the sight managed to pull Kade’s flailing mind into a sort of focus, as he realized there was actually a surprising lack of gore accompanying such wanton destruction of a human body. The cause appeared to be some kind of intense cold, as the remains–especially where the flesh met its unnatural end above the man’s waist–were covered in a thick layer of frost.
Kade, becoming aware that he was clothed only in dark pants, didn't think it was possible that the room itself was cold enough to cause the strange occurrence, but he knew his perspective was unreliable. While his memories still felt disjointed and confused, he remembered with painful clarity the extreme case of hypothermia he’d experienced as a child. It left him feeling perpetually cold, even standing in the hot sun, so his sense of temperature wasn’t to be trusted. Still, there didn’t seem to be signs of frost anywhere but the body.
The moment of reverie brought on by his discovery faded, and again Kade was forced to confront the truth of the situation, fear still threatening to overwhelm him. He had no idea how he’d come to be in this terrible place, and other than an unknown amount of time he’d spent screaming into the dark, he had no memories of being here at all. But what he was certain of, was that he was in the middle of the most terrifying experience of his life, and he was acutely aware that he had no sense of the room beyond the small circle of light provided by the device.
For a long moment the dark curiosity of what else the room had to offer battled the paralyzing fear still holding him against the wall, but finally Kade managed to take the only path available to him. In as close to a single movement as he could manage, he quickly ducked down and snatched at the blinking device. He was bracing himself for the vomit-inducing experience of having to pry the device from the ravaged arm, but instead fell backward as what was evidently a thick bracelet slipped off with no difficulty.
Now finding himself sitting on the hard, uneven stone floor of what he assumed was a cave, Kade fumbled uselessly with the device. He was disturbed to discover that whatever light the bracelet had provided had ceased, no longer even providing even intermittent illumination. With few options, and an overwhelming need to not be alone in the dark, he tried to force the bracelet onto his own left wrist, but somehow found the task eluding him.
He could feel some kind of clasp that had opened as he’d pulled the device from his mysterious roommate, but trying to squeeze it closed was like pushing magnets together against their attraction. He could feel tears pouring down his face as frustration and dread threatened to overwhelm him.
He heard his own broken voice whispering in the dark, “Please-please-please, go on. GO ON! Please, I need this, I need this to work. I need it, please!” The last came out as a tattered sob, but was punctuated by a soft click as the bracelet at last fastened into place. Relief poured through Kade as his manic sobs echoed in the chamber around him. In moments, the tears shifted to joy as the bracelet began shining even more brightly than before.
His eyes burned at the sudden return of the illumination, but he savored the pain as the world around him slowly became visible once more. Kade tried to look around, but found relief quickly turning to frustration as the light returned to a dim, blinking state. Without thinking he slapped at the glowing bracelet, using the time-tested method of aimless violence against malfunctioning technology.
His surprise reached new heights as the bracelet reacted immediately. Shock painted Kade’s features as he felt the smooth metal of the bracelet somehow expand rapidly on his wrist. Faster than his eyes could follow in the weak light, the bracelet had transformed into some kind of tight-fitting bracer covering the length of his forearm. It appeared simple and unadorned save for a smooth flat surface on the top, that blessedly began to glow with a soft, steady light as he stared in confusion.
The light slowly resolved into what looked like letters, but Kade found he had to blink several times before he could make out what was written. His eyes grew wider in confusion as words continued to appear on what he now realized was a small screen.
Bracer has been successfully Bound.
Synchronizing with Soul Core…
Soul Core not found, searching alternate mana channels…
Mana channels not found, recalibrating…
WARNING: anomalous energy detected.
Generating interface…
Kade watched the screen with his mouth falling slowly open. He found that the terror and stress of the situation was an almost physical block in his mind, but the bracer being the single source of both light, and digestible information, allowed him to persevere. He let his eyes scan over the information displayed, and found himself fascinated as true to its words, the screen resolved into an intuitive interface.
Name: Kadeus (House unknown)
Race: Human (Variant)
Soul Core: Not Found
Lifeforce: Non-differentiated
Mana: 0/0
Anomalous Energy: 1/1
Class: Unknown
Ability (1)
Unknown: Rank 1
Cost: Anomalous Energy (Variable)
Description: Unknown
Ability (2)
(Sealed)
Ability (3)
(Sealed)
Kade felt his eyes glaze over as he attempted to absorb the numerous lines of information. He let his gaze linger on the “Variant” tag next to the designation of human. The abilities were intriguing, possibly something provided to him by the mysterious bracer? With little else to try, and a mind numb from trauma, Kade simply started mashing his finger against the screen, hoping to find anything more clear, or more helpful.
He was rewarded by discovering some kind of menu-navigation, with multiple locked functions. Only two allowed him access other than what he discovered was a status screen that he had already read. The first looked like it was intended to be a map, but all it had presently was a title: “Chaos Remnant of Altera Vil Lothra”, and what he assumed was a miniscule representation of himself in a tiny revealed circle of light.
Kade actually managed to find some solace in the extremely insane name of wherever the hell he currently was. Somehow the fact that everything was crazy was allowing some things to seem almost manageable. If he was indeed some kind of mutant human inside something called a Chaos Remnant, infected with unknown energy and mashing buttons on a haunted bracelet, then maybe the body in front of him, and his increasing awareness of the smell of death permeating his senses were comparatively pedestrian.
Somehow that line of thinking seemed to break something inside him, and he was surprised to realize he was actually laughing out loud. Even in his addled state he could recognize the manic twinge to the laugh, but somehow couldn’t stop himself. He didn’t know how long it went on, a small part of him recognizing it for the ludicrously insufficient coping mechanism that it was, while another part of him railed that he was alerting any number of unknown horrors to his presence.
But the simple truth was that he was lost and alone, and living a nightmare beyond what his tortured mind was capable of processing. His eyes darted wildly around the dark room, and he felt his body heaving as he gasped for breath. He didn’t know how long the laughter went on, but when it at last subsided, Kade was left feeling blessedly numb.
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He’d encountered this before, when a period of sustained high-emotion had seemed to burn him out, leaving behind a relatively focused mind, with nothing but cold logic and bleak acceptance remaining. In another setting this was a dangerous mindset to have, but at this moment it may be his only chance at salvation.
Not trusting this state to last, he immediately went to work. First, he went back to the bracer; his more rational self exploring the interface it had generated. He thankfully discovered a function that raised the brightness until it was practically a torch on his arm, that oddly didn’t impede his ability to read from the screen. The increased illumination revealed the rest of the chamber, proving far worse than his limited imagination had suggested.
The chamber was some combination of laboratory and medieval torture museum, complete with shelves and tables covered in everything covered in all manner of horrors. From strange liquids in cracked, dusty jars, to saws, and knives that could only have been wildly impractical for anything resembling delicate surgery. Dried blood was splattered everywhere, and Kade couldn’t fool himself into believing it all came from the dead man at his feet.
The tiniest sliver of panic returned as he ran his hands over his exposed chest and flesh, checking for any evidence of having been experimented on. Breathing more evenly when he found nothing, Kade resumed his visual exploration of the chamber. It was divided into stalls, one of which was occupied by himself, and the remains of the man Kade was coming to believe had been his jailer, torturer, or both.
Looking into the others, Kade saw the fate that he may have narrowly avoided. There appeared to be at least a dozen, lined up against one side of the chamber, and each contained a future nightmare Kade was certain to experience given the chance. Not wanting to test his newfound calm, he didn’t allow his eyes to linger on any single body long enough to take in all the details, but even his brief glances left him with images seemingly seared into his mind.
Any clear indication of who or even what the bodies had been before they were…this…was lost to the unique mutilation that each had experienced. Severed limbs became commonplace, as did pools of dried blood and mangled remains. Kade tore his eyes away from the sights, but not before noticing the unnaturally shaped limbs, bones, and other remnants of life that didn’t match anything human that Kade could imagine. His mind flashed back to the bracer’s interface, and for a moment he considered the oddity that it would need to display “human” at all…unless there were other possibilities.
When the light revealed a door at the far end of the chamber, Kade knew he had to leave as quickly as he could. There was no illusion of safety for him, but he had a growing certainty that his tenuous grasp on sanity wouldn’t survive much longer in this chamber of horrors. He knew the temporary reprieve that his mad outburst had provided wouldn’t last, and he hoped purpose would keep his mind steady. Pushing himself to action he began slowly making his way out of the stall, and toward the beckoning door.
His stomach clenched and threatened to wretch as he was forced to pick his way through the scattered remains littering the floor. Part of him knew that if answers were to be had, he should be investigating the room further, but he could feel that he was moments from breaking down entirely, and his only hope was to throw himself into some new situation, whatever might be waiting on the other side of the door. Each shuffling step brought him closer to his salvation, and he allowed himself a moment of hope as he finally threw the door open and charged through; Kade always felt better when he was moving forward.
***
After the stench and decay of the previous chamber, even the stale air he was met with was a welcome relief. Kade carefully closed the door behind him as he took in his new surroundings. He was in a dark hallway leading off into the distance in either direction. Oddly glowing lines of deep purple threaded their way through the stone walls, which may have been natural or otherwise in this incredible place. The strange lines were enough to bathe the hallway in a surprising amount of cool light.
After such an overwhelming sight in the chamber he’d arrived in, Kade wasn’t prepared for the comparatively banal appearance of the simple hallway, regardless of how it may be lit. He allowed himself to take a slow, deep breath, trying to reorient himself in the new environment, before using the improved light to better inspect himself.
Kade looked down, taking in the state of his body. He was covered in dirt and filth he’d rather not identify, and running his hands through his short, blonde hair left them covered in grease and dirt, weeks worth if he had to guess. He’d always been relatively tall, and saw enough exercise to have considered himself in reasonable shape, but looking at his wasted torso, he could see that he’d lost considerable weight…just how long had he been here?
The question was interrupted by an unexpected beeping from the bracer. Looking down in a rush, he saw several messages waiting.
Warning: You have entered an area of dangerously unstable energy.
Attention: You have entered an in-progress Ritual of Calm, centered on the Chaos Remnant of Altera Vil Lothra. When completed, any living beings not protected by an awakened Soul Core will be Calmed.
Warning: Imminent danger detected, generating objective…
Attention: [Path to Power] has been activated.
Kade’s eyebrow raised as he tried to take in the numerous messages. He wasn’t sure what being “Calmed” was, but the bracer seemed convinced it was a cause for alarm. Dangerous unstable energy was less vague, but still beyond Kade’s ability to even guess at. Finally his attention returned to the bracer as a new function briefly glowed on the interface as it was unlocked. With few options, Kade accessed the new menu greedily.
[Path to Power]
Objective: Awaken Soul Core
Path: Unknown
Seeking Path…
Kade was underwhelmed. Which he briefly considered was actually refreshing for a moment. Then reality was kind enough to recapture his attention in the form of a skittering sound, just out of sight. Kade flattened himself back against the door, a thankfully short, panicked laugh escaping his lips as he considered this was becoming his primary defensive action. He focused intently, straining his hearing to pick out the source of the sound in the darkness.
For a long, tense moment silence was his only companion, then he jumped as several sounds hit him at once. He added his own to the mix, and was grateful no one was around to hear the pitch of it. His head whipped from side to side as he tried to find the source of the new sound, only to realize it had been a combination of the same skittering sound, coinciding with another alert from his bracer.
Letting out a long, ragged breath, he turned his attention back to the bracer.
Attention: [Path to Power] has been established!
Objective: Awaken Soul Core
Path: (1) Slay 10 Unstable Manifestations of Chaos
Result: Fabrication of Soul Core
Kade’s stomach turned as he considered the so-called “path” before him. The timing of it all was well beyond coincidence. Being informed of his imminent demise without whatever the hell an Awakened Soul Core is, then a method of acquiring one coinciding with a suspicious something moving in the dark. Somehow the bracer was reacting in real-time to whatever Kade experienced.
Still pressed against the wall, he was considering his options when the world ceased waiting for him. A weight slammed into him from the side, small and dense like being hit with a stone. He felt the floor rise up to meet him with a crash, knocking the wind from his lungs and leaving him gasping as he struggled to find his senses. There was no reprieve, however, as whatever had slammed into him proceeded to sink tiny, tearing teeth into his left shoulder.
When his bracer had given out its odd objective, even through the numerous unusualities Kade had been struck with a simple reality: he’d never intentionally killed anything larger than a bug his entire life. But now, as pain and fear overrode conscious thought, he found himself recklessly slamming his right fist against some kind of leathery hide, even as he desperately tore at it with his left. There was no morality, philosophy or consideration, just a desperate need to survive.
But as the mad struggle continued, he realized there was something else. He didn’t simply want the pain to end, he needed to kill whatever was attacking him. The foreign but undeniable compulsion drove him, and the pace of his attacks increased to a furious tempo. He felt his knuckles cracking and oozing blood as he endlessly beat on the thing he still couldn’t really see.
The creature had wedged its head against his jaw as it kept sinking its teeth in, over and over. This pushed his head upward at an awkward angle, keeping his attacker out of sight. Not being able to see the miniscule, but deadly threat let his imagination run wild, and his responding attacks became less ordered and more desperate. He could hear himself screaming, pain mixing with fear, mixing with the violent desire he couldn’t recognize as his own.
His mind was turning to fog as the pain grew, and as he felt his own blood splash liberally onto his face, the world began to grow distant. Moments went by, and the pain seemed further away; he felt his gaze drifting back and forth, captured by the play of purple light, pulsing within the walls. As his control slipped further and further, he became aware of his own heartbeat, pulsing along with the beautiful light, slower and slower.
Strangely, the further his mind drifted from the situation, the louder his own pulse felt in his ears. More than that, the familiar cold that was his constant companion seemed to be rising with each slow beat of his failing heart. As his mind explored these new sensations in a dull way, he realized his fist had stopped its futile attacks entirely, and his hand was now resting, almost gently on the head of whatever had latched onto his shoulder. He could feel scales that were almost stone-like in their texture, his fingers tracing their patterns for a moment before his hand fell still.
Perhaps some part of Kade knew it was the end, but his thoughts were already too removed from the situation to consider it. Instead he found his mind turning inward, finding that same cold he could no longer remember living without, and not knowing why or how, he felt himself following that freezing sensation to its source, deep within him. He was well beyond comprehending what he found at the end of the strange path his mind followed, but he had the vague impression of light. Light that was smothered by something, and without truly understanding what he was doing, he gently nudged that something aside.
A new pain beyond anything he’d experienced ripped him violently back to reality, just in time to witness a flash of that same mysterious light. His body spasmed wildly and he bit down on his tongue, but all he was aware of was his right arm, which felt like it had been dipped into molten lava. He was shaking and twitching wildly, but a part of him also registered that he could no longer feel the incomparable sensation of being devoured alive.
Slowly–far, far too slowly–the pain receded, and Kade regained control of his body. Panting but still not able to fully catch his breath, he managed to drag his right arm up in front of his eyes. As it came into view, the damage was both better and worse than the fearful images his imagination has conjured. The flesh wasn’t entirely seared away, no matter how much it had felt that way. Instead, every vein on his forearm had been blackened, looking like nothing so much as a dark spider web painting his skin.
His eyes traced the flowing patterns of burnt flesh as his arm rose higher, shakily obeying him. Only once his hand was visible did he realize it was still locked around the head of the creature that had attacked him, now dangling limply from his ruined appendage. As he gently turned his hand to examine his attacker, he squinted in confusion not just from the appearance of the remarkable creature– somewhere between an enormous rat and a snake–but from the apparent cause of death.
A hole was clearly visible–no larger than a finger in width–passing completely through the creature’s skull, and lining up perfectly with the palm of his grasping hand. Tiny wisps of what appeared to be smoke rose up from the wound, catching the light with odd colors, and as Kade found himself looking closer in rapt fascination, it was impossible to miss the source.
The creature was covered in frost.