Alright š„ time for Chapter 3 of The Code of Shadow
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The Code of Shadows
Chapter 3 ā The Second Voice
Darkness covered the city.
The Prime Clone stood in the street, its black eye glowing. The air felt heavy, like chains pressing down on everyone. Even Lyra didn't move. The hooded man gritted his teeth but lowered his blade.
Kairo couldn't breathe. His shard pulsed harder and harder, like it was alive.
Thenā
A voice whispered inside his mind.
> If you want to liveā¦ use me.
Kairo froze. Whoā¦ are you?
> I am the other half of Rewrite. The part they didn't tell you.
The other halfā¦?
> Yes. With me, you can kill even him.
The Prime Clone raised its hand. The ground cracked. Shadows crawled out, surrounding Kairo.
Lyra shouted, "Don't listen to voices in the Fracture! They lie!"
The hooded man grabbed Kairo's arm. "If you lose control, you'll erase yourself!"
But the shadows moved closer, their claws ready. The Prime Clone's black eye burned brighter.
Kairo's heart pounded. Fear screamed inside him. If I don't use itā¦ I die.
He clenched his fist. Fine. Show me.
The shard exploded with light. His vision warped. The world bent like glass. Lines of glowing code wrapped around his body.
And then he heard it again:
> Say the word. I'll do the rest.
Kairo's lips moved before he could stop them.
"ā¦Rewrite."
The world shook.
The shadows froze in place. The Prime Clone staggered back, its black eye flickering. The air split with cracks, as if reality itself was breaking apart.
Kairo's hand burned with white light. The claws of the nearest clone shattered the moment they touched it.
Lyra's golden eyes widened. "Heā¦ he connected with the Forbidden Rewrite."
The hooded man cursed. "Idiot! He'll tear his soul apart!"
Kairo screamed, swinging his arm. A wave of white light cut through the street, deleting every clone in its path.
The Prime Clone roared, its body glitching. "That powerā¦ should not exist!"
Kairo staggered, blood dripping from his nose. His vision blurred. His body shook like it was breaking.
The second voice laughed inside his mind.
> Goodā¦ you're finally mine.
Kairo's eyes widened. What?
The voice grew louder, darker.
> You thought you controlled Rewrite. But Rewrite controls you.
Suddenly, black cracks spread across his arm. His own body flickered, like he was becoming part of the glitch.
"No!" Kairo shouted, trying to fight it. "Get out of me!"
The Prime Clone smirked, stepping forward. "Good. You'll destroy yourself for me."
Lyra appeared at Kairo's side, grabbing his shoulder. "Listen to me! If you give in now, you're gone forever!"
The hooded man slashed at the Prime Clone, flames explodingābut the clone blocked it with one hand.
Kairo fell to his knees. His shard pulsed wildly, torn between the voice and himself.
The second voice whispered one last time:
> You can't escape me. We are the same.
And then, for just one second, Kairo saw his reflection in the shard.
It wasn't him.
It was a shadow version of himself, smiling back.
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ā” Chapter 3 ends with:
Kairo unlocking the Forbidden Rewrite.
A second voice inside him, which might be a shadow version of himself.
His own body beginning to glitch.
The Prime Clone realizing Kairo might self-destruct.
š Do you want Chapter 4 next