False heroes

The fusion

The world became chaos 

Gabriel felt something pour into him before his last breath, something like liquid fire, ice, and razor blades all at once. His consciousness shattered and reformed in the space between heartbeats. For a ferrying moment, he wasn't Gabriel stone anymore he was everyone and no one, ancient and young, powerful and empty.

BREATH, commanded a voice that was his but wasn't. 

FOCUS, ordered another 

SURVIVE, demanded a third 

Gabriel’s eyes snapped open. The laboratory was in ruins around him. Where the three crystals had stood, only twisted metal and melted stone remained. Magical energy crackled through the air like miniature lighting. And three security guards…. 

 All unconscious, thrown against the wall by the explosion. But they were breathing. Alive

“We could have killed them”, said a voice in Gabriel’s head soulrender hungry and sharp. It would have been easier.

“Easier isn't always better”, replied Umbrix voice cold yet present. The boy chose mercy; we should honor that.

For now, Echo added with cold amusement.

Gabriel staggered to his feet, his mind foggy. He could feel them inside him, inside his thoughts three distinct personalities sharing his headspace, their memories mixing with his own. Centuries of experience, power beyond imagination sharing his headspace, their memories and knowledge that no fifteen years old should possess. 

But underneath it all, he was still Gabriel stone. Scared, confused and bleeding. 

He looked down at his waist. The would from the magical scalpel was gone, sealed by the shadow and starlight and something that cut reality itself. His skin was unmarked except for a thin silver scar that seemed to pulse with its own light.

 We are bound now, Umbrix explained. Your injury became our gateway. Your blood called to us, and we answered. 

A most unusual fusion, Echo observed. Typically a host chooses one entity. Three at once should have destroyed your mind entirely. 

But you are not typical, are you boy? Soulrender purred. You have spent years fracturing yourself to survive. We simply fit into the crack. 

Gabriel pressed his hand to his temples. The voices were overwhelming, like having three conversations happening in his skull at once. “How do I make you quieter?” 

 Practice, Umbrix said gently. In time I will learn to speak as one. For now, focus on the immediate problem.

Gabriel looked around the destroyed laboratory. Alarm would be going off soon

 The security team would investigate. He needed to leave, but where could he go? How could he explain what had happened? 

Gabriel closed his eyes and reached inward, trying to understand what had changed. Power flowed through him like a river of liquid night shadow magic that responded to his thoughts, reality - cutting force that made his teeth ache, and commanding that whispered of ruling between worlds.

He opened his eyes and gasped. The room looked different. He could see the lingering traces of magical energy, the fear-scent coming off the unconscious guards. His ordinary human vision had been replaced with something far complex 

Void sight, Umbrix explained. You see truth now, not just surface appearances 

"This is impossible," Gabriel whispered.

Impossible is what we specialize in,Echo said with dark humor. The question now is what do you do with this gift? 

Footsteps in the hallway more guards coming. Gabriel panicked, his new sense screaming danger. 

Peace, Umbrix soothed. Watch 

 Gabriel felt his body move without his conscious control. Shadow gathered around him like a living clock, and he stepped sideways into darkness itself. The world twisted and suddenly he was standing in a different part of the laboratory, hidden behind overturned equipment.

Shadow- walking, Umbrix explained as he was in shock. One of many gifts we come offering. 

 Guards rushed into the room, shouting orders and checking their unconscious colleagues. Gabriel watched them from the shadow he now welcomed as his new friend. 

"What happened here?” demanded the guard captain, a broad man with scars across his face. 

" Containment breach,” replied a woman in a white coat, some kind of scientist, “ the subjects are gone.”

“Gone where” 

“Unknown. The monitoring spell was completely shattered during the explosion. It would take days to determine what happened”

Gabriel felt a chill of fear. He knew exactly what they were talking about, and if the federation were to find his involvement….. 

 We won't be discovered easily, Echo assured him. We know how to hide and appear as something we are not. 

But we cannot stay here forever, soulrender added. This place reeks of detection magic. We must leave. 

Gabriel nodded and concentrated on the shadow- walking ability. It felt natural, almost like breathing. He stepped into the darkness and emerged in the hallways outside the laboratory, then again at the base of the stairs leading up to the main Academy. 

He climbed the stairs, heart racing. What was he supposed to do now?, pretend like nothing happened, while going to his dorm?Act like the same powerless person he was once the sun rises tomorrow? What exactly 

Yes!!!” The entities said in unison 

 It's best to remain hidden for now knowing the federation would be on a massive hunt searching for us” Soulrender said “ besides… he continued in vicious pleasure, think of how much fun and satisfying it would be to defeat your enemies. When they expect nothing from you. 

Gabriel paused at the door leading to the Academy levels. Beyond lay his dormitory, his classes and the ranking battles in five days. But now he faced them with the power of three ancient powers flowing in his veins. 

A smile tugged at his lips not the nervous, apologetic expression he usually wore, but something colder.

There, Echo purred with approval. Now you begin to understand 

Gabriel straighten his shoulder and walked through the door. To anyone else watching, he would look like the same weak, defenseless boy who fled the dining hall hours ago. But they could see the shadow that danced around his finger tip, or tge ancient knowledge settling into his memory. 

 The hallway was mostly empty already past midnight. Gabriel moved through them silently, his new sense alert for danger. But the Academy slept peacefully, unaware that one of it's powerless student had become something unapproachable 

He finally reached his dorm. His roommate Marcus was snoring softly, and his bed looking exactly as he left it rumpled and welcoming. But as he changed into his nightwear, he caught sight of himself in the small mirror above his dresser.

He looked the same brown hair, ordinary features, the build of someone who'd never gotten enough to eat. But his eyes were different. They held depths that wasn't there before, and when the light caught them, they flicker with shadow and starfire. 

 Sleep, Umbrix advised. Tomorrow will bring new challenges, and you would need your strength 

Dream of power, Echo suggested. Let your mind wonder 

Dream of cutting, Soulrender whispered. Of slicing everyone into tiny pieces. 

Gabriel closed his eyes and tried to quiet the voices in his head. It would take time to learn how to think with three ancient personalities sharing his consciousness. But already, their presence felt less intrusive and more…. Collaborative.

As he drifted towards sleep, his last thought was of Thane Morrison’s cruel smile and the ranking battle in five days 

 Outside his window storm clouds gathered over Heroic Dawn Academy, heavy with the promise of rain. But Gabriel Stone slept peacefully for the first time in years, dreaming of the sweet taste of revenge to come. 

 In the depths of the Academy, alarms finally began to wait as the full extent of the laboratory disaster was discovered. But the boy who caused it all was fast asleep

, unaware and u bothered, while the ancient power settled into his bones

The transformation was complete.