Chapter 78 — The Choice He Didn't Make
Brook stared into the darkness.
"Elias."
Nothing.
He took one step forward.
The stranger caught his shoulder.
"Don't."
Brook turned sharply.
"Let go."
"If you follow him now, you won't find the Elias you know."
Brook's expression hardened.
"You don't know him."
The stranger released him.
"Neither do you."
That sentence stayed between them.
Brook hated it.
Because some part of him feared it was true.
Behind them, the armored creature rose from the broken floor.
Its cracked knee repaired itself with a grinding sound.
Brook turned.
"Of course."
The stranger sighed.
"It won't stop."
Brook raised his sword.
"Then neither will I."
The creature charged.
Brook marked the floor.
Flash.
He vanished.
The creature swung.
Nothing.
Brook appeared behind it.
Strike.
The blade cut across its back.
The creature stumbled.
Brook teleported again.
This time, he appeared above it.
He drove his sword downward.
The creature caught the blade.
Brook's eyes widened.
It pulled him closer.
Its red eyes burned into his.
"B-01."
Brook kicked it away.
"What do you want from me?"
The creature stood.
"Completion."
Brook frowned.
"Completion of what?"
It pointed toward him.
"You."
Brook's expression darkened.
"Not happening."
He rushed forward.
The creature swung.
Brook ducked.
He marked the wall.
Flash.
He appeared behind it.
Another strike.
The armor cracked again.
The creature roared.
Brook didn't stop.
He wasn't overpowering it.
He was learning it.
Every movement.
Every weakness.
Every delay.
Michael's presence remained in the back of his mind.
Not controlling him.
Watching.
Brook suddenly realized something.
The creature always turned toward the last place he appeared.
It wasn't predicting his teleportation.
It was following the mark.
Brook smiled.
"Got you."
He marked the ground directly beneath himself.
Then another mark behind the creature.
Then a third near the ceiling.
The creature charged.
Brook disappeared.
Appeared above it.
The creature looked up.
Too late.
Brook teleported again.
Then again.
The creature became disoriented.
Brook appeared beside it.
One final strike hit the damaged armor.
The entire chest plate shattered.
The creature dropped to one knee.
Brook landed.
He pointed his sword at its neck.
"Who sent you?"
The creature laughed.
"You already know."
Brook frowned.
"No, I don't."
"The same one who made you."
Brook's expression changed.
The creature's body began breaking apart.
Brook stepped back.
"Wait!"
The armor collapsed into black dust.
Nothing remained.
Brook stared.
The stranger approached.
"That was a construct."
Brook looked at him.
"Made by who?"
The stranger didn't answer.
Brook sighed.
"You're really starting to annoy me."
The stranger smiled.
"Good."
A loud crash came from the corridor.
The stranger looked toward the sound.
"They're here."
Brook turned.
"Who?"
"Your friends."
Brook immediately moved toward the corridor.
He stopped.
"Wait."
The stranger looked at him.
"You said Elias was here."
"He was."
"Where did he go?"
The stranger looked toward a side passage.
"That way."
Brook started forward.
The stranger grabbed his arm.
"Brook."
Brook looked back.
"What?"
"Before you see him again…"
The stranger hesitated.
"…remember that people can betray you without believing themselves to be villains."
Brook stared.
"Why are you telling me that?"
"Because you'll need to remember it."
Brook pulled his arm free.
"Then I'll decide what Elias is myself."
He disappeared into the darkness.
The stranger watched him go.
A quiet smile appeared.
"That's what I was hoping you'd say."
Brook reached the upper corridor.
Henry was there.
"Brook!"
Henry rushed toward him.
Brook barely had time to react before Henry grabbed him.
"Where the hell were you?"
"I'm okay."
"You disappeared underground!"
"I noticed."
Henry punched him lightly in the shoulder.
"Don't do that again."
Brook smiled.
"Can't promise."
Sera approached.
"Are you hurt?"
"A little."
Kael looked behind him.
"Where's Elias?"
Brook's smile disappeared.
He looked at the others.
"He was here."
Henry frowned.
"What?"
"I saw him."
"Is he okay?"
Brook hesitated.
"Yes."
Crowley stepped closer.
"Where is he?"
"I don't know."
Crowley's eyes narrowed.
"You don't know?"
"He left before I could reach him."
Kael looked confused.
"Why would he leave?"
Brook didn't answer.
Crowley studied him.
"You found something."
Brook looked away.
"Yeah."
"What?"
Brook thought about the boy inside the chamber.
B-00.
The memories.
The stranger.
Elias watching them from the darkness.
He wasn't ready to tell them everything.
Not yet.
"We need to leave."
Crowley didn't move.
"Brook."
"Later."
Crowley stared at him.
Then nodded.
"Fine."
They began moving.
Brook stayed behind for a moment.
He looked back toward the underground facility.
Something didn't feel right.
Not just Elias.
Everything.
The facility.
The experiments.
The Sources.
His own memories.
It felt like pieces of a puzzle had been placed in front of him.
But someone was still hiding the picture on the box.
Outside, the rain had stopped.
The sky was beginning to brighten.
Xcution walked back toward Shinokuni-01.
Kael was complaining about the lack of food.
Henry argued with him.
Sera laughed.
For a few minutes, Brook simply listened.
He hadn't realized how much he needed that.
Family.
Even after everything.
Especially after everything.
Crowley walked beside him.
"You trust him."
Brook knew exactly who he meant.
"Elias?"
Crowley nodded.
Brook looked ahead.
"I want to."
"That's not what I asked."
Brook was silent.
Finally:
"Yes."
Crowley looked at him.
"Then be careful."
Brook frowned.
"You think he's going to betray us?"
"No."
Crowley looked toward the road.
"I think someone wants you to believe he will."
Brook considered that.
"What if they both happen to be true?"
Crowley smiled slightly.
"Then we'll deal with it."
Brook nodded.
They continued walking.
Several miles away…
Elias stood inside an abandoned watchtower.
He looked down at Shinokuni-01.
The black emblem rested in his palm.
A second person stood behind him.
"You were seen."
Elias nodded.
"By Brook."
"And?"
"He doesn't know."
The figure stepped closer.
"Good."
Elias looked toward the city.
"What happens now?"
"Now we begin."
Elias turned.
"What about Asmodaos?"
"He is ready."
"And Xcution?"
"They'll come."
Elias's expression hardened.
"They won't fight him without a reason."
The figure smiled.
"Then give them one."
Elias looked toward the city again.
His eyes settled on Xcution's distant headquarters.
Henry.
Sera.
Crowley.
Brook.
Kael.
His expression briefly softened.
Then the softness disappeared.
"What about Kael?"
The figure looked at him.
"What about him?"
"Keep him away from the others."
"Why?"
Elias looked down at the emblem.
"Because he'll be the hardest one to deceive."
The figure smiled.
"Then perhaps he should be the first."
Elias said nothing.
His fingers tightened around the emblem.
For a moment, guilt crossed his face.
Then he whispered:
"Do what you have to."
Back in Shinokuni-01, Brook returned to his room.
He closed the door.
For the first time, he was alone.
He sat on the edge of his bed.
His mind returned to the chamber.
The young Elias.
The photograph.
The stranger.
The words.
People can betray you without believing themselves to be villains.
Brook looked at his hands.
The white mark appeared.
Michael.
Brook stared at it.
"Did you know?"
Silence.
"About Elias?"
Nothing.
Brook sighed.
"You know something."
Michael's presence stirred.
Then:
I know what he will become.
Brook's heart sank.
"What?"
Silence.
Brook stood.
"Tell me."
Michael appeared in the white space.
Brook found himself standing before him.
Michael looked at him.
You cannot save everyone.
Brook frowned.
"What does that have to do with Elias?"
Michael didn't answer.
Brook stepped closer.
"Tell me."
Michael's eyes remained calm.
When the time comes, you will have to choose.
Brook shook his head.
"I don't want to choose."
You will.
"Between what?"
Michael looked at him.
Family and balance.
Brook froze.
The white world disappeared.
Brook opened his eyes.
He was back in his room.
His breathing was heavy.
He looked toward the window.
Outside, Shinokuni-01 was beginning another ordinary morning.
Brook whispered:
"I'll never choose against my family."
He didn't know it yet.
But somewhere far away, Elias had already begun building the circumstances that would one day force him to.
End of Chapter 78