Chapter 33: Breaking Point
Author: MrLostLetter
Ethan's pulse echoed in his ears, the steady rhythm of the Codex thrumming louder now, almost drowning out the world around him. His grip on the pulse blade was iron-tight, his knuckles white as the energy surged through his veins.
"I can stop this," Ethan murmured, but his voice was quieter than before.
Lena stood beside him, her pulse pistol held steady, but her eyes were locked onto him—not the threat ahead.
"Ethan..."
Her voice was softer now, her fear barely hidden beneath the surface.
"Are you still with me?"
Ethan's jaw clenched as the Codex pulsed harder, the energy growing more unstable.
"I'm here," he whispered, but even as he said it...
He wasn't sure if he was telling the truth.
---
Dorian's holo-pad flashed with red warnings, the data streams shifting faster than his implants could process. His jaw was clenched, his cybernetic eye flickering as he fought to keep up with the Core's evolving protocols.
"Ethan..."
Dorian's voice was tight, his gaze flickering toward him.
"The Core's reaching critical mass."
Ethan's heart pounded louder.
"How long?"
Dorian's brow furrowed, his expression grim.
"Minutes."
Lena's breath caught, her eyes narrowing as she turned to Dorian.
"Can we shut it down?"
Dorian's jaw tightened, his fingers moving quickly over the interface.
"Not from here. The Core's encryption is... adapting. Every time I try to override it, it rewrites itself."
Ethan's pulse quickened.
"It's not just adapting," he murmured, his voice quieter now.
"It's... learning."
---
The air in the safehouse grew heavier, the hum of the Core's energy vibrating through the walls. Ethan could feel it—like a storm building just beneath the surface.
"You can't hold this back forever."
Crowe's voice echoed softly in his mind, quieter now, but more insistent.
"You're running out of time, Ethan."
Ethan's jaw clenched, his breathing steady but strained.
"I'm not giving up."
"You don't have a choice."
The Codex's pulse grew stronger, resonating with the Core's systems.
Ethan's vision blurred for a moment, the line between himself and the Codex growing thinner.
"I can stop this."
"No, you can't."
---
Lena's hand brushed lightly against his arm, grounding him for just a moment.
"Ethan..."
Her voice was barely above a whisper now, her eyes pleading with him.
"Come back."
Ethan's jaw tightened as he forced the Codex's influence down, but it was getting harder.
"I'm still here."
Lena's expression hardened, her gaze locked onto his.
"Prove it."
---
Dorian's holo-pad beeped again, the system's protocols shifting violently.
"Ethan..."
Dorian's voice was quieter now, but the urgency was impossible to ignore.
"The Core's not stabilizing."
Ethan's pulse quickened.
"How bad?"
Dorian's gaze darkened as he processed the data.
"If we don't stop it now..."
His jaw clenched.
"The Codex will overwrite your neural pathways."
Ethan's heart pounded harder.
"And if that happens?"
Dorian's eyes met his, the weight of the truth settling between them.
"You'll lose yourself."
---
Lena's breath caught, her grip on her pulse pistol tightening.
"Ethan..."
Her voice was barely above a whisper now, her eyes pleading with him.
"You have to stop this."
Ethan's jaw clenched, his pulse pounding harder as the Codex surged again, stronger than before.
"I can handle it."
But even as he said the words...
He wasn't sure how much longer he could hold on.
---
"You can't win this, Ethan."
Crowe's voice was quieter now, but it echoed louder in Ethan's mind.
"The Codex is too strong."
"I'm not giving in," Ethan murmured through gritted teeth, but his body was already growing heavier.
The Codex wasn't just pulsing through his veins.
It was... consuming him.
---
Dorian's holo-pad flashed with another warning, the data shifting faster now.
"Ethan..."
Dorian's voice was tight, his jaw clenched as he processed the influx of information.
"The Core's systems... they're reacting to the Codex's influence."
Ethan's breath came faster, his pulse pounding harder.
"How bad?"
Dorian's brow furrowed, his expression grim.
"If we don't stop it now..."
His voice trailed off, his jaw tightening.
"Ethan, the Codex is... binding itself to your neural network."
Lena's breath caught, her eyes widening.
"What does that mean?"
Dorian's gaze was grim as he looked at her.
"If it completes the merge..."
His voice was barely above a whisper now.
"Ethan won't be Ethan anymore."
---
Ethan's grip on the pulse blade tightened, but his vision blurred again, the pulse of the Codex growing stronger, louder.
"You can feel it, can't you?"
Crowe's voice echoed softly in his mind, quieter but more insistent now.
"You're not fighting anymore."
Ethan's jaw clenched, his pulse pounding harder.
"I'm not... giving in."
"But you're not stopping it either."
---
Lena's hand brushed against his again, her touch grounding him for just a moment.
"Ethan..."
Her voice was softer now, almost... pleading.
"Come back."
Ethan's breath caught, but the Codex's pulse was deafening now, the energy surging through his veins with terrifying power.
"I'm here."
But even as he said the words...
Ethan wasn't sure if he was telling the truth.
---
Dorian's holo-pad beeped sharply, the data shifting faster than before.
"Ethan..."
Dorian's voice was quieter now, but the urgency was impossible to ignore.
"The Core's... accelerating the merge."
Ethan's heart pounded harder, his breath steady but his mind spiraling as the Codex's influence deepened.
"How long do we have?"
Dorian's gaze hardened, his jaw clenched.
"Minutes."
Lena's eyes locked onto Ethan's, her expression filled with quiet desperation.
"Ethan..."
Ethan's grip on the pulse blade tightened, his jaw clenched.
"I can stop this."
But even as he said the words...
Ethan wasn't sure if he believed them anymore.
---
"You're at the breaking point, Ethan."
Crowe's voice was quieter now, but the weight of it was crushing.
"If you don't stop this..."
Ethan's jaw clenched, his pulse pounding harder.
"I will."
But as the Codex surged again, binding itself deeper into his system...
Ethan wasn't sure if there was anything left of himself to save.
---
Dorian's holo-pad flashed with another warning, the data shifting faster than ever.
"Ethan..."
Dorian's voice was barely above a whisper now, his expression grim.
"The merge is almost complete."
Ethan's jaw clenched, his pulse quickening.
"How much time?"
Dorian's gaze hardened.
"Seconds."
Lena's eyes met Ethan's, her expression filled with quiet desperation.
"Ethan..."
Ethan's grip on the pulse blade tightened, his jaw clenched.
"I won't lose."
But even as he said the words...
The fracture within him was almost complete.
---
Next Chapter: Chapter 34: The Last Thread