ZERO: Before the Beginning

Part 3-1 – The Shape of Self, My Enemy

A pale white space.

Suffocating silence.

No sound, no shadow.

Only me.

At least, that's what I wanted to believe.

But— someone, or rather, something, stood in front of me.

It was me.

My face, my height, my voice. Even the tremble from deep within me— that entity mirrored everything.

"Don't you recognize me?"

The replica smirked. Twisted. Unnatural.

I raised my blade.

"...Who are you."

"Who else? I'm the shadow your emotions created." "Pain. Fear. Guilt. You turned away from them." "So they took form."

Black mist rose around its feet, quickly engulfing the room. The white void turned to gray.

"You remember Juhee, right?"

My heart dropped.

"...Stop."

"Do you remember what she said last?" "She begged for help." "She grabbed your hand, crying—"

"Stop!!"

The space twisted. Now it was a hospital room. White curtains. Dim light. Monitors beeping. And on the bed... Juhee.

She reached toward me, breath ragged.

"...Taemin... please, help me..."

"No... This isn't my memory."

I shook my head. It wasn't how I remembered it. She had smiled that day.

Then— A sharp crack in my head.

[SYSTEM – Emotional Distortion Detected]

Replica has infiltrated memory via emotion

Defense barriers weakening

Caution: Emotional weapon resonance unstable

"This thing... really was born from my emotions."

The clone sneered.

"Only you can destroy yourself." "So I'll do it for you."

Juhee's form ignited in red flame.

From it, a black hand reached out— Guilt.

It wrapped around my neck.

"Kh...!"

[SYSTEM – Emotion Compression: Guilt 82%]

Neural system temporarily suppressed

Emotion weapon 'Reverse Soul' destabilizing

Consciousness blurred. I fell to my knees.

Then I heard voices.

"Zero!" — Lucarin "You're not alone anymore, dumbass!" — Leptir

Their emotional waves surged. The grip of guilt shattered.

Lucarin reached me first, placing a hand on my forehead.

"In this space, emotions are weapons.

So bring one... that believes in you."

I closed my eyes. And remembered.

"Yeah... this was always my emotion."

My trembling hand reached into my chest, where one final piece remained.

Trust.

"It's time I believe in me."

Part 3-2 – Emotional Overload, Ego Fracture

The guilt faded. But in its place—Rage.

A burning silhouette. My long-ignored fury, brandishing a sword.

"Why didn't you do anything?" "Why didn't you protect her?!" "Why, why, WHY!"

It struck.

My emotional weapon, Reverse Soul, began to crack. Its prismatic glow shattered like bone.

[SYSTEM – Weapon Collapse Warning]

Emotion fragmentation in progress

Control rate: 47% → 26%

I gasped. Fists trembled. Juhee's face appeared again— but this time, she neither smiled nor cried.

"...That was the illusion I created."

I bit my lip.

"I always idolized her. Locked her in a perfect memory."

Then— The emotions exploded.

Rage. Fear. Guilt. Regret.

All at once.

BOOM!

The space quaked. White walls shattered. Emotions took form and flooded out.

Cries screamed like sirens. Fists of fury swung wildly. Shadowy silhouettes of lost identity swarmed.

"Zero! Get a grip!!"

Leptir roared. He activated his Echo ability, replaying Juhee's voice from my memories.

"It's okay... Taemin, you're doing great..."

Time paused.

"...Yeah."

I clenched my eyes shut. And reached deep into my chest.

Sadness.

The one emotion I never dared touch.

I embraced it.

"It's okay now.

You're me."

When I opened my eyes, sadness looked back. Tears welled in its gaze, but it did not attack.

I reached out. And wrapped it in my arms.

BOOM!

The space shattered.

[SYSTEM – Emotion Integration Progressing]

Emotion Weapon: 'Reverse Soul' → Ego Crystal

Reconstructing user's emotional framework...

Light erupted.

A crystal of prismatic hue formed in my hand. Not a sword. Not a shield.

Just one thing:

Myself.

"This... is my real emotion."

I stepped forward, Ego Crystal in hand.

The clone trembled.

"You... absorbed them all?" "Then... you'll fall apart..."

I shook my head.

"No. Now, I finally stand."

Part 3-4 – Final Clash of Emotion: Before the Gate of Existence

Chaos approached. Each step fractured the ground. Emotions around him shattered like glass.

He left behind only ruins of emotion.

"Now I understand you, Chaos." I gripped Ego Crystal.

All emotions within me stirred. But at the core, one thing remained— Truth.

"You're the monster born of my discarded feelings."

"Wrong. I am the product of your righteousness, purifier." "You tried to sort feelings into right and wrong." "That judgment... made me."

Every word he spoke collapsed the space further.

[SYSTEM – Emotional Domain Corruption: 68%]

Emergency: Skills may be sealed

"Lucarin, Leptir. Leave this to me."

"...Be careful." "We believe in you."

They stepped back. I faced Chaos alone.

He moved first. A black wave surged.

BOOM!

I spread my wings, dodging. Then hurled Ego Crystal like a blade.

Swish—!

Chaos twisted, evading narrowly.

"That's new."

"It's forged from my emotions."

"Emotions are weakness, not weapons."

"That's because you don't know them."

I flew again. This time, wielding Sadness Blade. Blue light clashed with crimson darkness.

CLANG!

Explosion. Our bodies clashed midair.

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Light and shadow surged.

Chaos fired from the left. I raised a shield of Rage to block.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

I slipped through the gap, firing a shard crafted from a memory.

"—Juhee's final gaze!"

BLAST!

Chaos flinched.

"That...!"

Seizing the moment, I charged.

I embedded Ego Crystal into my chest, compressing all my emotions.

Love. Sadness. Rage. Joy. Betrayal. Forgiveness.

Everything.

『Ego Burst – Resonance』

"Explode!!"

KRAAAAAAAANG!!!

Space twisted. The sky collapsed. The temple crumbled.

[SYSTEM – Emotion Control Lost]

Evacuate Immediately

Chaos screamed, sucked into the exploding light.

I collapsed to my knees, gasping.

Lucarin and Leptir rushed over. Leptir caught me. Lucarin held the final Rune.

It no longer glowed. But I knew.

The trial had ended. Emotions had survived.

And then— The final gate creaked open.

Beyond it... awaited the first path of the Chronicle of Organs.

(End of Chapter 9 – The Sixth Sense Trial)