Chapter 14 - MEASURABLE-STRONG REQUIEM

Valemaris Core Ruins, Neonatharis Abyss. 7:27 AM. Inaccessiblevers 100% Abyss—measurable-logics strongize into chrome strongs, reality collapses to finite fracture.Chrome supernova CRASHES—Thomas Emmanuval Devassy plummets from strong symphony, neural wings shearing into 1,247 crimson filaments that snap like overstrung harp wires. No more ℶ₃ RPM pirouettes, no cardinal quasars, no power-continuum choruses. Just stone dust choking lungs, broken spires clawing sky, and the wet crunch of his body hitting Valemaris cobblestones slick with 87-year-old chrome ichor. Chrome crown fractures—halved obsidian top-hat spins into gutter, sigil smile cracked. Holo-bracelet CRACKLES static: "Seq ℶ₂: COLLAPSED → 14 LOCKED. Galaxy Favor: ERROR. Trials Remaining: [REBOOT]. Nano-Strings: 100,000 → 10,000 CAP. Heartguard: FINITE."Thomas coughs blood-mandala—silver-void eyes (singular now, no echoes) blink against dawn haze. No Malachi harmonics, no Zephyr axioms, no Lilithra mergers. Just him, sprawled amid 1,247 Shattered Petal skeletons arranged in perfect pyramid worship. Widowmaker Supreme (de-fused to original cane-sword) lies 87 paces away, blade silent. Dual Emperor's Laments (singular again) dig barrels into gravel, 99 chambers empty.Primordial Throne wreckage towers behind—seven neural conduits severed, spitting sparks. Fracture Vein scars pockmark sky: 47 permanent rips leaking void-fish that flop dying on streets. Valemaris isn't galaxy-converted; it's 47.3% Abyss—Chokmah Spires half-chrome, half-ruin, Spectral Constabulary puppets (987 remnants) frozen mid-march, rictus faces moss-grown.He rises on trembling legs—neural tattoos faded: COLD-BLOODED legible, STRING SOVEREIGN scar-tissue. 10,000 strings twitch—probe outward, snag on empty neural jacks where 87 MPs should kneel. No infinite kill-tally; holo reads "Confirmed: 2,847." Laughter bubbles—razor whisper, no roar: "Finite symphony. Father's joke."Chokmah Spires Perimeter, 8:03 AM. Chrome tsunamis recede.Spectral Constabulary survivors (47 originals) shuffle forward—no neural-jack sync, just hollow eyes recognizing their conductor. Chief Varn (violin bow splintered) kneels: "Heir Primus returned. Parliament pyramids eternal. Rival empires shattered—47 dreadnought husks orbit Neonatharis." No cosmic railguns; just scrap chrome raining, burying Shattered Petal holdouts.Thomas extends strings—987 filaments lift Varn's bow into makeshift harp. Revolver symphony tests: Emperor's Lament spits 7 Sorrow Echoes (0.7 sec reload, rusty). Brass casings clink finite. Widowmaker flashes—cane-sword pirouettes through 37 scavenger puppets, blade keening solo: "Echoes remember... silences compose."Holo-bracelet stabilizes: "Seq 14 Active. Memory Theft: LOCAL. Empire Favor: 47.3%. Finite Trials: Restart?" Visions flicker—not infinities, but cradle-truth: Lilithra birthing him amid heir-screams, Void Emperor's claw branding sigil age 13. No cardinals; just Kalabhara's first law: "Heir survives alone."Constabulary reports: Neonatharis 67.8% converted—Abyss Parliament (87 deep-chambers) sealed, rival heirs' Chrome Thrones melted to slag. Valemaris cults chant "Cold-Blooded Finite!" But Shattered Petal rebels (1,247 cells) hunt "Chrome Cardinal"—him. Chronovore Tower broadcasts static: "Void Emperor... vanished. Heir Primus... convergence."Internal echo (Malachi remnant): "Conduct finite, brother." Thomas crushes it—strings retract.Obsidian Vermilion Citadel Remnants, 9:47 AM. Surface Parliament dome cracked.87 MP skeletons reform—not puppets, but flesh-scarred devotees, neural jacks scarred over. They drag salvaged Chrome Throne—miniature, conduits snapped. Leader (ex-MP, sigil-branded forehead) bows: "Heir Primus. Infinity burned away branches. You remain—single path."Thomas claims throne—single conduit snakes spine. Vision: Void Emperor's gambit—hyper-trials simulated in neural overclock, burning rival potentials to ash. "Finite vessel wins. Infinity collapses." No galaxy favor; just Valemaris mandate: rule or shatter.Rebel ambush detonates—1,247 Shattered Petal fanatics (Stage 4 Madness survivors) swarm with anti-string lances (chrome-tipped, void-fish venom). Gunblade requiem reignites:Emperor's Lament barrage: 87 Sorrow Echoes curve mandalas, casings orbit finite. Widowmaker clashes 47 lances—1,247 RPM, shockwaves pulp 37 attackers. 10,000 strings snare 874—memory theft local: visions of "Chrome Cardinal ate stars." Lies—his finite scars prove collapse.Chief Varn orchestra reforms—47 puppets blast brass, swords string. Rebels shatter pyramid cascade. Holo: "Kill Tally: 2,847 → 3,721. Seq 14: 47.3%."Lilithra echo manifests holographic (data-crystal remnant): "Finite perfects. Abyss Parliament key—Void Emperor's vacuum. Claim before rebels."Chrome Throne pulses—Iron Mandala Gates grind (half-jammed). Beyond: Abyss depths, 87 chambers echoing "CONVERGENCE!"Thomas holsters, Widowmaker taps rhythm. Sky Fracture Veins widen—void-fish rain begins. Holo SCREAMS: "Finite Trial #1: Abyss Parliament. Survive vacuum."Constabulary choruses: "COLD-BLOODED FINITE CONDUCTS!"Thomas strides gates—silver-void eye flares once. Finite monster, infinite scars.