The red banners dissolved. A cascade of data bled onto the walls. Blue light turned the four Generals into ghosts. Only the electric thrum of the processor broke the silence. It was the sound of a machine struggling under the weight of secrets.
"Level Nine," Varick whispered, his voice thin. "I have never seen such a header in my entire career."
Kaine swiped. The text stabilized.
I. BIOGRAPHICAL OVERVIEW
Current Name: Vane Obsidian
True Identity: [REDACTED] (The Monolith)
Apparent Age: 17
True Age: 112 Years
Bloodline: Monolith (Rank 10 / Unranked)
"A hundred and twelve?" Silas's fist tightened. "The boy on the training floor is a century old? How is he even breathing?"
"He isn't just breathing, Silas," Vesper said. Her eyes were locked on the next section.
II. COGNITIVE ARCHITECTURE
(THE TRIAD)
Subject V-01's psyche is divided into three distinct entities. The third entity is flagged as a high level reality threat that exists outside the standard laws of this world.
1. Vane Obsidian: The default student persona. Memory wiped and compliant. He serves as the primary interface for daily operations at Omen.
2. King Valen: The raw authority. A combat oriented fragment that surfaces during life threatening encounters. Possesses the instinctive dominance of the ancient protectors.
3. [REDACTED]: The Otherworldly Persona. This entity did not originate here. It is an otherworldly consciousness capable of warping reality to its will.
This persona does not follow the laws of the Nine Bloodlines. It rewrites them. When active, the Architect can manipulate the environment's fundamental code.
Vesper laughed. It was a jagged, breathless sound that bounced off the metallic walls. Hysteria. She gripped the table, shoulders shaking.
"A triad of psyche?" she managed, her eyes manic. "The Architect? Kaine, why would the High Kings show us this, only to keep half of it hidden? They give us the terror, but hide the name of the monster!"
"Vesper, calm down," Silas commanded. His voice was a landslide.
She ignored him. The laughter died into a sharp grin. "Something is definitely wrong," she thought. "Why would they go through the lengths to show us this? Wouldn't it be better kept a secret? If they are hiding his very origin, then our world is far more fragile than we were told."
Kaine scrolled. The hierarchy appeared.
III. THE MONARCH HIERARCHY
Subject V-01 is the Strongest Monarch. Designation: The Spark.
The Sibling Roster:
• The Eldest (117 Years): [REDACTED] Stationed at Aethelgard.
• The Second (115 Years): [REDACTED] Stationed at Iron Spire.
• The Third (112 Years): Vane Obsidian Stationed at Omen/Valis.
• The Youngest (108 Years): [REDACTED]
Stationed at Aethelgard.
"They have seeded this bloodline across our defense," Varick noted, his face pale. "This world is a powder keg."
Kaine highlighted the anomalies.
IV. THREAT ASSESSMENT & ANOMALIES
• Reality Warping: The [REDACTED] persona can induce localized events that override physics. Classified as Catastrophe Class.
• The Spark: Vane's presence causes localized reality flickers. He can bypass high level Bylaw restrictions without sanctioned equipment.
• The Heartbeat: Subject reports a rhythmic pulse. This frequency matches the Battery ([REDACTED]).
The screen flared crimson.
Current Status: Energy output is 5% since waking.
Kaine and Vesper spoke in a single, disbelieving breath. "Five percent?"
"He nearly killed two boys in the training pit," Vesper whispered. The dread was back. "And he is only at five percent?"
Kaine wiped sweat from his brow. The screen pulsed red.
V. HIGH COMMAND INSTRUCTIONS
(REDACTED)
PROTOCOL 16: Should the [REDACTED] persona gain permanent dominance, the structural stability of the world will face immediate collapse.
Immediate shutdown is authorized and required should the subject speak the name [REDACTED] and his energy output reaches 10%.
"Immediate shutdown," Vesper said. Her voice was a cold edge. "They aren't watching him for his success. They are waiting for a single word. One name, one spike in power, and we must end him before he knows why."
Kaine watched the heartbeat sensor. A rhythmic, alien pulse. It matched the frequency of the Battery. "If he gains dominance, the world collapses."
"The High Kings have placed a catastrophe in our hands," Silas said grimly. "We are deciding which of us has to be the one to kill him."
The Generals stood in the flickering red light. The weight of the Monolith Protocol settled over them. Vesper stared at the redacted names. Her mind raced.
"What made them wipe the memories of four siblings?" she thought. "Better yet... how does a king allow himself to be wiped at all?"