Chrono Genesis – Blood Layer 04: Before the Archive
Jin sat cross-legged on the stone floor of a collapsed shrine, the fractured memory shard in his palm glowing softly.
Rei stood nearby, her back to him, scanning the shadows.
"Still no signal from the upper layer," she said flatly.
Jin nodded without looking up. "Good. I don't want anyone watching this."
The shard began to pulse — rhythmically. A faint heat spread through his fingers, and the world around him dimmed.
> Blood Memory Decryption 100%
Memory Sync Initiating — Subject: Wei Liang
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[MEMORY: Wei Liang – Date Unknown – Access Point: Core Layer -1]
The scene formed around Jin like smoke hardening into steel.
His brother stood in the center of a crumbling battlefield. Alone. Blood on his arms. His weapon, a blade forged from shattered system code, cracked and dim.
In front of him stood two people:
Ash — younger, conflicted… and The Overseer — tall, cold, not yet fully corrupted by code.
"You don't have to do this," Ash said. "We can end it another way."
Wei Liang shook his head. "There is no other way."
The Overseer spoke calmly. "Your blood code can be absorbed. Your core restructured. You will evolve beyond your humanity."
Wei Liang spat. "I don't want to evolve. I want out."
The Overseer stepped forward. "This realm was designed for survival. You survived. That makes you the blueprint."
Wei Liang looked back at Ash. For a moment, his voice softened.
"If they use me, they'll come for everyone. Including my brother."
Ash's jaw clenched.
"You made your choice," Wei Liang said. "Now I make mine."
He slammed his blade into the ground.
A violent pulse of red light shattered everything.
---
[MEMORY ENDS]
Jin gasped, stumbling backward.
Rei turned instantly. "What did you see?"
"He… he sealed himself," Jin said. "He used the last of his code to lock something down. And Ash was there. He could've stopped it."
Rei was silent for a moment.
"But he didn't."
"No," Jin said bitterly. "He watched him burn."
---
Meanwhile – REDROOT: The Overseer's Core
The Overseer stood at the center of a pulsing tower made of code and bone.
One of the Architect voices spoke through the code.
"He remembers."
The Overseer nodded. "Let him. Memory binds purpose. Purpose drives transformation."
"And the girl?"
The Overseer turned slightly. "Soon, her programming will unlock."
---
Back in the shrine
Jin stood, staring at his hand. The memory shard had disintegrated. But the weight of it remained in his chest.
"We go deeper," he said.
Rei didn't move. Her hand hovered slightly near her blade — not aggressive, but… uncertain.
"You alright?" he asked.
"I'm fine," she said. But her voice sounded distant. Tighter. Too rehearsed.
A flicker passed through her eyes — a red line of code, there and gone.
Jin didn't notice. Not yet.
She turned away. "Let's move."
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Blood Layer 04 – Unlocking Gate to: The Crimson Archive
As they reached the edge of the shrine, the air changed.
A wall of stone parted like breathing lungs, revealing a narrow passage carved in molten glass and crimson crystal.
> You are entering: Crimson Archive – System Depth Zone
Warning: Memory Instability High / Internal Echoes Active
Rei paused at the threshold.
"This place is old," she whispered. "Older than even your brother's echo."
Jin looked at her. "What's in there?"
Rei hesitated.
"…Maybe something that was never meant to be remembered."
They stepped inside.
And the door sealed behind them.
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