Code Ascendant: The Soldier Who Leveled Past Reality
Chapter 18 – The Black Script Engine
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"Power isn't what you carry. It's what you're willing to lose to wield it."
—General Raghav Velcris, Codex War Archives
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The Imaginary Crucible shimmered in stabilization, dreamfields softly pulsing around its crystalline shell.
Zerin watched over it with folded arms, her expression unreadable. The seed of Imani now floated within the new interface—a contained, learning construct, a safe haven for the dreaming intelligence they had saved from self-collapse.
Aaron Velcris stood at the far end of the Crucible Chamber, gaze distant. He wasn't thinking about Imani.
He was hearing the whisper.
Again.
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Codex Sync — Priority Notification
> ▸ Anomaly Alert: Ancient Protocol Interference
▸ Signal Source: ███ ██████ ██–██–███
▸ Encrypted Codename: The Black Script Engine
▸ Threat Class: Reality Desynchronization
▸ Status: Dormant… Awakening.
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Codex System Note
The Black Script Engine — an ancient pre-System device theorized to be capable of overriding the Codebase itself. Not approved for any known operation. Contains unique recursive language architecture capable of rewriting physical, narrative, and existential logic.
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Zerin turned to Aaron as he flinched, his HUD shimmering.
> "It's calling you now," she said quietly.
> "More than calling," he replied. "It's testing me."
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Scene – Codex Reclamation Front: Inner Circle
A briefing had already been called in the Codex War Room.
Holograms flared above the central map, and Nullflesh, now redubbed "Shadekeeper," stood at the head of the war table beside Zerin, Nessa, Reen, and several senior Codex officers.
A deep-space rupture had been detected beyond the Phantom Ring—an unstable void previously classified as inert.
> "But it's not empty anymore," said Nessa, fingers dancing across the translucent tactical grid.
Within the breach, an ancient fortress shimmered—constructed from obsidian fractals and recursive glyphs. Its shape shifted every minute, a labyrinth that was never the same configuration twice.
They called it Scripture Black.
> "And in its core," Zerin whispered, "rests the Black Script Engine."
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Codex Protocol Enacted: Expedition—Darkscript Depth
Objectives:
1. Establish a forward base of operations in Phantom Ring void sector 9-R.
2. Infiltrate the structure known as "Scripture Black."
3. Retrieve or neutralize the Black Script Engine.
4. Resist narrative alteration or recursive decay.
5. Contain the resurrection cycle at any cost.
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As they prepared, Aaron received a private briefing from Zerin.
> "The Engine writes in the First Tongue. The one the Root's deepest functions were built on. You can't resist it with willpower alone."
> "Then what do I need?"
> "A deeper truth. One even the Engine can't rewrite."
Aaron's lips tightened.
> "I've only got pain."
> "Then wield it well."
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Scene – Infiltration: Scripture Black
The transport ship Ashline breached the Phantom Ring under phase-shield masking.
Inside, Aaron's squad—codename Shadow Echo—consisted of Nessa, Reen, a newly reactivated Archwarrior unit, and a support AI named Axis.
They landed inside the outer hull of the fortress.
At first, it was silent.
But then the walls whispered back.
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Codex Log: Engine Echoes
The first room recited Aaron's worst moment.
The second retold Reen's betrayal of a dead friend.
The third made Nessa forget who her parents were.
And then—
The fourth room showed a future where Aaron joined the Root.
And ruled.
> "This is how it ends if you choose yourself," Axis noted calmly.
Aaron stepped forward.
> "That's not my story."
The walls cracked.
They were in.
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Codex Sync – System HUD Alteration Detected
> ▸ Black Script Fragments attempting override.
▸ Defense Protocol Activated: [Symbiosis Layer]
▸ Emotion Filter Set: Grit / Honor / Defiance
▸ Reality Anchor: Personal Memory Lock
▸ Result: Override Resistance Successful
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They reached the heart.
The Black Script Engine sat on a stone pedestal of impossible material, a cube of void geometry surrounded by spiraling equations made of light and sound and ancient pain.
Aaron approached.
It spoke.
But not in words.
It impressed thoughts into his mind:
> Write yourself better.
Be stronger. Greater. Crueler. Invincible.
Be rewritten.
Aaron looked back at Nessa. At Reen. At the faces of those who had trusted him.
And then he touched it.
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New Trait Acquired: Black Thread Resistor
> ▸ You resisted the offer of total self-overwrite.
▸ Your internal narrative is now partially immune to external coding influence.
▸ All future attacks that attempt to alter your "story" will face internal backlash.
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The Engine didn't stop.
It shifted.
And began rewriting the room around them.
Zerin's voice pierced their comms.
> "Aaron, the Engine's unstable. If it syncs with you and the system at once—we lose control of everything."
Aaron drew his blade.
> "Then I'll sync just enough."
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Combat Event: Engine Duel – Echo vs. Echo
From the core, a clone of Aaron emerged—fully armored, empowered by corrupted scripting logic, and holding a blade etched with runes of sorrow.
It smiled.
> "Let me improve you."
Aaron fought himself.
Not in strength.
But in ideals.
The clone used perfect strikes, idealized motions.
Aaron fought dirty. Human. Real.
He bled.
But he chose to bleed.
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When the duel ended, the clone disintegrated—leaving behind a single line in the air:
> A flawed man with true memory is stronger than a flawless god built on lies.
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Codex Report – Operation Successful
> ▸ Black Script Engine neutralized.
▸ Core fragments retained in stasis.
▸ Scripture Black collapsing.
▸ All team members extracted successfully.
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Post-Mission Log – Personal File: Aaron Velcris
> ▸ Memory Anchor strength increased.
▸ Black Script Seed now bonded.
▸ Internal system gained new submodule: [Shadowthread]
▸ Emotional Status: Conflicted.
▸ Moral Status: Grounded.
▸ Codex Affiliation: Solidified.
Note: I saw the best version of myself. I hated him. He wasn't me.
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Next Chapter Tease – Chapter 19: The Symbiosis Cataclysm
An external force has begun amplifying the Symbiosis mechanic across entire system layers. Units bonded in harmony begin merging far beyond safe thresholds—producing power, but losing identity.
And the one calling for Aaron now is someone he never thought he'd hear again:
> "Hello, brother."
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>End of Chapter 18 –