Chapter 13: Awakening
928 Words
Time was no longer moving correctly.
It stuttered.
It forgot itself in places.
Alex stood at the center of it all—hovering slightly above fractured ground that kept rewriting its own shape.
His eyes were no longer fully human.
But he was still there.
Inside.
Breathing.
“…I’m still me,” he whispered.
The fragment answered immediately.
“For now.”
Outside the Collapse – The Decision
Nyx was the first to move.
“We go in,” she said firmly.
Kai grabbed her arm.
“That thing just erased half the arena structure from existence and you want to walk in?”
Nyx looked at him.
“…He’s still inside.”
Silence.
Mira clenched her fists.
“If we wait, we lose him completely.”
Leo nodded once.
“Then we don’t wait.”
Eron exhaled.
“…Great. I hate this timeline.”
Darius stepped forward.
“No one goes alone.”
A pause.
“I started this path with him.”
His eyes sharpened.
“I finish it with him.”
The White-Haired Girl Breaks the Rule
Above them—
She appeared again.
But this time—
Her expression was strained.
“This is outside permitted stability range,” she said quietly.
Kai shouted up at her.
“Yeah, no kidding!”
She ignored him.
Her gaze locked on Alex.
“…He’s not resisting anymore.”
Nyx looked up.
“What does that mean?”
The girl hesitated.
“…It means he stopped fighting the fragment.”
Silence fell instantly.
Inside Alex – The Choice
The fragment stood closer now.
Not threatening.
Not aggressive.
Just present.
“You are weakening.”
Alex shook his head.
“…No. I’m understanding.”
The fragment tilted slightly.
“Understanding leads to dissolution.”
Alex clenched his fists.
“…Or control.”
A pause.
The darkness shifted.
“Control is an illusion inside collapsing timelines.”
Alex looked down.
Then whispered:
“…Then I’ll make it real.”
Something changed.
The fragment paused.
For the first time—
It did not respond immediately.
Outside – Entry into the Collapse
Darius moved first.
He stepped into the fractured space.
Reality bent around him instantly.
Nyx followed.
Then Kai.
Then Mira.
Then Leo and Eron.
One by one—
They entered the collapsing zone.
And immediately—
The world rejected them.
Gravity inverted.
Space duplicated.
Sound arrived before motion.
Kai shouted:
“THIS IS UNSTABLE AS HELL!”
Mira stabilized a flame—
But it split into multiple timelines of itself.
“…That’s not normal fire!”
Leo grabbed a collapsing pillar mid-existence.
“…Okay, that shouldn’t even exist!”
The Fragment Reacts
Inside—
Alex felt them enter.
And so did the fragment.
“…Intrusions detected.”
Alex’s eyes widened.
“…Don’t hurt them.”
The fragment paused.
“They are interference.”
Alex stepped forward.
“…They’re my friends.”
A long silence.
Then—
“…Define friend.”
Alex hesitated.
Then answered:
“…People I refuse to lose.”
Something shifted.
The fragment softened slightly.
Not mercy.
Recognition.
Nyx Reaches Him First
Nyx appeared inside the broken space.
Just a step away from Alex.
“…There you are.”
Alex looked at her.
“…Nyx…”
She studied him carefully.
“You’re still in there.”
Alex nodded slightly.
“…Barely.”
A pause.
Then—
Nyx stepped forward.
“…Then come back.”
The fragment reacted instantly.
The space around them cracked.
Warning signal.
“Interference increases instability.”
Kai shouted from behind:
“DON’T TOUCH HIM YET!”
But Nyx ignored him.
She placed a hand forward.
Not on the fragment.
On Alex.
“…I’m not saving the world,” she said softly.
“I’m saving you.”
Alex’s breath hitched.
Darius Arrives
Darius stepped into view.
“…That won’t be enough.”
Nyx didn’t turn.
“I know.”
Silence.
Darius looked at Alex.
“…You’re letting it speak freely now.”
Alex nodded slightly.
“…I don’t have a choice.”
The fragment responded.
“Correct.”
Darius tightened his fist.
“…Then we do it together.”
The Fusion Decision
Everything stopped for a moment.
Even the collapse paused.
Kai shouted:
“DARIUS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!”
Darius didn’t look back.
“If we separate him now,” he said.
“He dies.”
Mira froze.
“…And if we don’t?”
Darius looked at Alex.
“…He becomes the fragment.”
Silence.
Then Alex spoke.
“…There’s no winning version, is there?”
Darius didn’t answer.
Because there wasn’t.
Alex Chooses
Inside—
The fragment spoke again.
“Release the seal.”
Alex closed his eyes.
“…If I release you…”
A pause.
“…what happens?”
The fragment answered honestly.
“Everything resets.”
Alex whispered:
“…Including me?”
Silence.
Then—
“Yes.”
Outside—
Nyx’s grip tightened slightly.
“…Alex…”
Darius stepped closer.
“…Don’t do it blindly.”
Alex opened his eyes.
And smiled faintly.
“…I’m not.”
A pause.
“…I’m doing it knowingly.”
Final Awakening Triggered
Alex lifted his hand.
The fragment responded instantly.
The entire collapse zone went silent.
Then—
A pulse.
Reality bent inward.
Kai screamed:
“HE’S ACTIVATING IT!”
Mira shouted:
“WE’RE LOSING STABILITY!”
Leo braced:
“…Everyone hold on!”
Eron muttered:
“…This is the worst timeline.”
Nyx whispered:
“…Alex, come back.”
Inside the Final Moment
Alex stood face to face with the fragment.
“…Let’s end this.”
The fragment answered:
“Agreed.”
And merged.
- Writer
