Chapter 5: The Fractured Truth

  Ren's fingers flew across the keyboard, the dull hum of the café's old terminal blending with the muffled sounds of the world outside. The café's low light and peeling walls faded into the background as his focus narrowed. H.A.D.E.S. was fully online, its passive protocols threading through the government's vast digital network. Information poured in, fragments of encrypted text and disjointed video feeds knitting together into a clearer picture of the chaos surrounding him.

  The fractures weren't random. That much was already clear. But the how and why remained buried in layers of secrecy, locked behind firewalls meant to keep prying eyes like his out. But H.A.D.E.S. wasn't just a spell—it was a system, a framework designed to pull apart the digital world and expose its truths. And Ren wasn't about to stop until he understood what was happening.

  Accessing Secure Node: Government Rift Management Network

  Decryption In Progress...

  Access Granted.

  Ren's HUD lit up with an overwhelming number of directories, their labels cold and clinical: Rift Anomalies, Emergency Protocols, Global Coordination Council, and a folder that immediately caught his attention: Operation Fracture.

  He paused, taking a deep breath. "Let's start with the big one."

  H.A.D.E.S. decrypted the folder, its glowing lines of code collapsing into plain text and files. Ren opened the first document.

  File: Operation Fracture Overview

  Summary:

  The Prototype Integration Program (PIP) was initiated as part of global preparations for the anticipated emergence of dimensional fractures. Project goals include:

  ? Identifying individuals with high adaptability to system protocols.

  ? Monitoring and testing their awakening potential through controlled and natural fracture events.

  ? Augmenting selected candidates to stabilize rift zones and maintain planetary synchronization.

  Status: Active.

  Participants Logged: 142 (35 Pending Activation).

  Key Findings:

  ? Fractures are a naturally occurring phenomenon tied to the planet's energy matrix.

  ? Rift zones catalyze latent abilities in select individuals, referred to as "awakened."

  ? Synchronization is critical for survival, but the outcome of full integration remains unknown.

  Ren's pulse quickened as he absorbed the information. The government hadn't caused the fractures—they'd known about them for years. They had anticipated this catastrophic event, and instead of warning the public, they had quietly prepared for it. The Prototype Integration Program wasn't some random experiment; it was a calculated move to ensure they had people ready to adapt.

  Another document caught his attention, marked Participants. He clicked it open, revealing a list of names, metrics, and statuses. Each participant was detailed down to the smallest attribute: physical stats, job history, awakening potential. He scrolled through until one name stood out.

  Participant #98: Ueda R.

  Status: Unregistered Awakening.

  Adaptability Rating: 95%.

  Awakening Percentage: 100%.

  Unique Skill Detected: Spell Coder.

  Notes:

  Subject awakened naturally without government intervention. Skill classification is unique and previously undocumented. Subject's potential for advanced system manipulation is unprecedented. Further observation required.

  Ren stared at the file, his mind reeling. This wasn't just a lucky accident. His awakening wasn't normal—it was something the system had recognized and flagged. The government knew about him, even if they hadn't found him yet. His skill, Spell Coder, wasn't just rare; it was unique. The system wasn't just aware of him—it had chosen him.

  This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  He opened another folder, this one labeled Global Coordination Council. If the fractures had been anticipated, there had to be more evidence. H.A.D.E.S. decrypted the files, revealing a series of emails, video transcripts, and memos between world leaders. Ren scanned the documents, his anger mounting with every line.

  File #UNSAD-0345-B: Confidential Communication

  To: Global Coordination Council Members

  From: United Nations Scientific Anomalies Division

  Subject: Dimensional Fractures (Fracture Alpha)

  Excerpt:

  Preliminary findings confirm the inevitability of dimensional fractures across Planet E-138. Current projections estimate a global destabilization event within ten years. While efforts to mitigate these fractures have been unsuccessful, synchronization with the planetary energy matrix may reduce long-term damage.

  Recommendation:

  ? Suppress public knowledge to prevent mass hysteria.

  ? Continue with augmentation programs to prepare a select group of individuals capable of stabilizing rifts.

  Status: Urgent.

  Another document followed, a video transcript of a GCC emergency meeting two years ago.

  Meeting Transcript: GCC Emergency Session

  Date: [REDACTED]

  Secretary-General: "The fractures are not something we can prevent. They are woven into the very fabric of this planet's existence. If we are to survive, we must focus on synchronization."

  Representative, Japan: "And the public? What happens when the first fracture appears?"

  Secretary-General: "The public will adapt, or they will perish. We cannot afford to divert resources to an unprepared populace. Our efforts must remain on the Prototype Integration Program."

  Representative, Russia: "And the anomalies? Those who awaken naturally?"

  Secretary-General: "Monitor them. If they show potential, integrate them. If they prove disruptive... contain them."

  Ren's hands trembled as he closed the transcript. This wasn't just negligence—it was cold calculation. The fractures were inevitable, but instead of preparing the world, the governments had chosen secrecy. They had gambled on a small group of augmented individuals to save the world, leaving everyone else in the dark.

  A sharp ping interrupted his thoughts. H.A.D.E.S. flagged a live feed from a government server. Ren opened it, his screen filling with a room of high-ranking officials. The Secretary-General stood at the center, his face grim as he addressed the others.

  "The synchronization process is nearing completion," he said. "We've done all we can. The system will recalibrate itself once it reaches full integration. What happens next... we're in uncharted territory."

  A younger official looked panicked. "What if the recalibration fails? What if the fractures worsen?"

  "It doesn't matter now," the Secretary-General replied coldly. "The system has chosen its path."

  Ren's heart raced. Synchronization? Recalibration? What did it all mean? Before he could dig further, the café's lights flickered, and an ear-splitting tone filled the air. He clutched his head as his HUD flashed red, an incoming system-wide alert blaring in his vision. The tone grew louder, resonating not just in the café but in the depths of his mind.

  The System Has Fully Synchronized with Planet E-138 (α).

  Preparing for full recalibration.

  The message repeated, its words vibrating through Ren's very bones. Outside, the world erupted into chaos. Alarms blared, and distant screams filled the night as fractures burst into existence across the city. Ren stumbled out of the café, his eyes wide as he stared at the glowing rifts tearing through the skyline.

  The system wasn't just a tool. It was alive. And now, it was in control.