The rifle made of black flames rose behind Mori, aimed at Roby. Mori stepped forward, his voice low and uneven, his eyes filled with what looked like thousands of years of dread and lamentation.
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"This hatred I feel..."
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The air trembled.
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"...I'd gladly give in to it..."
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The rifle steadied.
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"...if it means..."
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He raised his left arm toward Roby, forming a finger gun.
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"The wind feels so nice. I wish we could stay up here forever."
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"What do you mean?"
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"I mean, I wish we could just stay up here and not worry about stealing or rummaging for food, you know? Like that bird up there."
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"Whoa! Look at it! It's so big!"
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"I wish I could be that bird. I could fly anywhere I wanted, and I wouldn't have to worry about Fixers, the Overseers, or any debt!"
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"Then how would you get food?"
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"Well, if I got hungry, I'd just fly to District 1 and steal some nice, yummy food! The kind that doesn't make you throw up after you eat it!"
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The two young boys giggled together, perched atop the crumbling roof, blissfully unaware of the chaos unraveling beneath them. Far below, two Fixers clashed in a whirlwind of violence: one a blur of agility, the other a mountain of brute force. The strong Fixer, eyes narrowed, anticipated his opponent's darting steps and swung his massive mace with devastating intent. The weapon slammed into the foundations of the abandoned buildings lining the outskirts of the 6th District. Suddenly, the world around the boys began to tremble. The laughter faltered as the roof shuddered and groaned. One by one, the surrounding buildings buckled and collapsed, sending clouds of dust spiraling skyward. Their own building quaked violently, ancient timbers splintering as the stone beneath their feet crumbled away.
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"Wh-What's going on?!"
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"Ah!!"
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A jagged crack tore through the roof. One boy, wide-eyed with terror, began to slide with the shifting debris. The other lunged, grabbing desperately for his friend's arm. Their fingers met, but the grip was weak, slick with dust and panic.
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"Please! Don't let go!"
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"I've got you! Hold on... Just... hold on!"
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For a heartbeat, hope flickered in their eyes—but it wasn't enough.
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"Don't let go—please!"
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"I'm trying! I'm trying!"
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The boy slipped from his friend's grasp, his scream swallowed by the roar of the collapsing ruins as he plummeted into the chaos below. Below, the Fixers continued their brutal duel, uncaring and unstoppable, the fate of an innocent lost in the storm of their power.
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I let go.
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I let go.
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I let go.
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⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I let go.
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⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I let go.
⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I let go.
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⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I let go.
⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I let go.
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⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Iletgo.
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⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Iletgo.
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⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Iletgo
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I had to go back home that day and tell both of our parents what happened. Vijemo fell.
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Vijemo fell. He fell on his own. I wasn't near him, I didn't see it. I can't even remember the way back.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I don't know where it was.
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⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Stop looking at me.
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⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ I don't know.
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⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀It's so hard to think.
All I can think about is how angry I am at this world. How could I have been so blind? I knew how bad it was, but I wanted to believe it wasn't. Why was I so naive? These questions... I can't even feel anything right now. All I can think about is Vijemo. Why did I let go? If I had just pulled him up a bit more, he could've grabbed the ledge. That's right. I blinded myself to this world because of that. It's impossible to live while conscious.
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Is this my punishment?
I don't want to hurt anyone.
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I'm just so angry.
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"MORI!!"
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Pulled back to reality, Mori felt the pressure set in instantly as Yuhuan's voice hit him like a shockwave. He lowered his arm, Roby and the fiery rifle disappearing as he dropped to the ground, remaining there this time.
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"What was that...?"
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Yuhuan was stunned, his eyes wide. Qiang grunted and got back on his feet.
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"We should adjourn to your room. There's... plenty to explain."
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Yuhuan laid Mori's worn-out body on his bed, covering him in his blanket.
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"You said you would explain something. Please, go ahead."
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"Right. What I am about to tell you may come off as incredibly shocking, but please, don't freak out."
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Qiang sat in an empty chair and crossed his legs.
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"I am the human manifestation of the residual ARCH energy left by the Gun ARCH after the events of his dissipation."
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"What? How? I thought if an ARCH dissipates, its ARCH energy completely disappears!"
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"Well, you're only half wrong. When an ARCH dissipates, the ARCH energy left behind lingers in the area for a few hours up to a few days in desperate search of any way to release its energy. That's why it was incredibly dangerous for Gun to dissipate in the 6th District."
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"So, tell me if I'm right or wrong, but I believe you're telling me that Gun's ARCH energy somehow got into Mori?"
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"Again, you're half wrong. Half of Gun's ARCH energy entered Mori's body, yes. But the other half lingered, searching for a way to release that KKA energy that had been so rampant moments ago. Can you think of anything during that incident that was nearby and easily accessible?"
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"...Are you?"
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"It seems you've struck the fully correct answer. Yes, I am a reanimated corpse brought about by Gun's ARCH energy... I think the physical trauma of the incident put on this body, as well as the sudden energy displacement, may have distorted my memory of it all, but thanks to Mori's outburst earlier, I can remember it all clearly now. That feeling... I am Gun."
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"I can't believe it... I'm speaking with Gun. Mori will want to hear about this when he-"
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"No one, not even Mori, can know."
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"—!?"
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"Promise me. I know my nature may have changed your perception of me, but please, promise me you won't tell anyone. If someone like the Golden Truth finds out about this, I'll be executed."
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"...I won't. I'll swear it by a promise only if you tell me what you plan to do while alive."
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"For one, I hold no grudges against Mori for taking half of my form. I actually was quite fond of the bond ARCHs had with humans, and envied their dynamic. I'd like to teach Mori how to channel my power."
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"Teach??"
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"Yes, under the guise of peer Fixer training. His earlier emotional outburst could have torn a hole through the entire Post if he had continued, so I thank you for your swift contribution to resolving the situation. If he retains these powers with so little experience, I am sure that he will eventually destroy things he cares about."
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"Why do you care about destruction and preservation? Just a month ago, you were on a rampage, killing anything in your sight!"
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"I won't deny that I've killed innocent people, too many to count, but don't you humans believe in change?"
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Yuhuan unsheathed his yanyuedao.
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"You don't know anything about humans... Don't ever say such a disgusting thing again... If you want to change, you'll teach Mori how to control his power, and then you'll kill yourself, do you understand??"
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"..."
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In an instant, Yuhuan brought the blade directly next to Gun's throat.
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"I asked a question."
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"...I understand."
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He sheathed his blade.
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"Thank you."
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"I can see that you care about him very much. May I ask why?"
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"..."
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Yuhuan exhaled before answering.
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"You trusted me enough to tell me your true identity, so it's only right to share my own. He's my first real friend."
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Yuhuan sat on what remained of Mori's bed, across from Mori.
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"I was born in the Lau Pavilion. A large estate in the 4th designed to house the entire Lau family. It might sound grand when I say it like that. Big halls, servants, training grounds... everything a luxurious family like ours should have."
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He looked down at his hands.
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"But it wasn't a home. My brother... my cousins... they treated me like I wasn't even part of the family. If I messed up during training, I was beaten. If I did well… they said I was showing off."
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He let out a quiet breath.
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"There wasn't a single day when I wasn't reminded that I didn't belong there. I learned pretty quickly that it was easier to stay quiet. Don't talk. Don't react. Don't give them a reason. But even then… they'd find one."
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Yuhuan's grip tightened slightly on the edge of the bed.
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"So I stopped trying. Not just with them… with everyone. I thought that was just how life worked. You endure it alone."
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He glanced at Mori.
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"Then I met him. He's loud, awkward, smiles at the wrong times, says things he shouldn't."
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A faint, almost confused smile crossed his face.
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"And somehow... he talks to me like I'm normal. No expectations. No tests. No punishment waiting behind it. Just… a person."
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Yuhuan's expression hardened slightly.
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"So yeah. Maybe he doesn't understand how bad the Ring really is. But that's exactly why—"
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He paused, choosing his words carefully.
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"—I don't want him to. Not like I had to."
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He looked back at Gun.
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"You asked why I care about him."
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His voice lowered.
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"Because if he loses that... if he ends up like the rest of us..."
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A brief silence.
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"...then there's nothing left worth protecting."