The Soul-Code Warden: Rise of the Ghost Heir

Chapter 3: Redirection

"Look at me, Brux!" I screamed.

The collar around my neck didn't snap my spine. Instead, the metal ring turned white-hot, emitting a light so bright it turned the Scrap Heap into a world of blinding salt.

"What is happening?" Brux yelled, shielding his eyes. "Executioner! Strike him down now!"

The blade never fell. I felt the voltage pour through my arm and into the metallic sand. A massive blue arc of electricity snaked across the ground.

"My eyes!" The executioner shrieked, dropping the cleaver.

The discharge hit the sand and expanded in a shimmering wave. Every piece of scrap metal began to hum. Then came the bang. It sounded like a star exploding at my feet.

"The droids!" A guard shouted. "My rifle! It’s dead!"

"Everything is dead!" Another yelled. "The perimeter shields are down!"

The localized EMP ripped through the sector. The guards' electronic pikes sputtered and died.

The Enforcer Droids slumped over, their red eyes fading into darkness. The constant, oppressive hum of the prison's surveillance grid simply vanished.

"Arix, what did you do?" Pip gasped, rolling off the execution stone.

"Run, Pip!" I commanded, pushing myself up. "Get to the shadows!"

"You're not coming?" The boy asked, his voice trembling.

"Not yet," I said. "I have something to find."

"Kill him!" Brux screamed, his cybernetic arm sparking and twitching. "He’s just a man! Use your blades if the guns don't work! I want his head on a spike!"

"He’s dangerous, boss!" A scavenger cried. "Did you see that light?"

"He’s a prince without a core!" Brux roared, pulling a physical dagger from his belt. "He’s a fluke! Surround him!"

I didn't run away. I ran toward a rusted cargo container buried under a pile of ship hulls. The golden screen flickered in my vision again, pulsing with urgency.

[System Note: Unauthorized Asset Detected.]

[Tag: Expired. Status: Locked.]

"Unlock it," I hissed.

[Accessing Master-Key... Bypassing Security Seal...]

The heavy electronic lock on the crate hissed. The doors swung open with a groan of tortured metal.

"Stop him!" Brux yelled. "He’s going for the supplies!"

"There’s nothing in there but trash, Brux!" A guard shouted. "That crate has been tagged as expired for ten years!"

"I don't care!" Brux reached me, his face twisted with rage. "I’ll gut you right here!"

I dived into the crate. My fingers closed around a small, cold glass vial hidden in a lead-lined corner.

"Found you," I whispered.

I stepped back out of the crate just as Brux and his men surrounded me. The big man was panting, his mechanical arm dragging uselessly.

"Give it here," Brux demanded, holding out his hand. "Whatever you found belongs to me. This is my block."

"You wouldn't know what to do with this, Brux," I said.

"Is that a stimulant?" A guard asked. "That looks like high-grade stuff. How did it get down here?"

"It’s Void-Grade," I said. "Something the Wardens forgot about. Something that shouldn't exist in a place like this."

"Give it to me or I’ll cut the boy’s throat!" Brux threatened, pointing toward Pip.

"You've already lost, Brux," I said. "You just haven't realized it yet."

"I'm going to enjoy breaking you," Brux said. He stepped forward, raising his dagger. "No more tricks. No more lights. Just me and you."

"Are you sure about that?" I asked.

"I'm going to carve the royal crest into your chest!" Brux lunged at me.

I didn't dodge. I popped the cap of the vial and downed the contents. It tasted like lightning and ozone. It hit my stomach like a falling comet.

"What did you do?" Brux stopped, his eyes widening. "You idiot! You'll overdose! That much power will burst your veins!"

I didn't answer him. My heart started beating so fast it sounded like a drumroll. The world began to slow down. I could see the individual sparks flying off Brux’s broken arm.

[Void Stimulant Integrated.]

[Processing...]

[Warning: Biological Stress at 90%.]

[Admin Command Recognized: Temporary Law Override.]

"Arix?" Pip called out. "Your eyes... they're glowing!"

I felt a surge of heat that made my skin itch. The golden light in my vision exploded. I felt like I could reach out and tear the sky apart.

"I can feel everything," I whispered. My voice sounded deeper, echoing with power.

"He’s a freak!" A scavenger yelled. "Look at his face!"

"I don't care what he is!" Brux screamed, though he was shaking. "Kill him! Now! All of you, move!"

Six men rushed me at once. They had pipes, shivs, and broken glass. They wanted to tear the Prince of Trash apart.

I looked at the ground. I felt the Master-Key pulse in my brain, connecting me to the fabric of the Abyss.

[Temporary Admin Access Granted.]

[Law Selected: Universal Gravity.]

[Status: Disabled for 10 Seconds.]

"What?" Brux blinked.

The world suddenly went silent. The weight on my shoulders vanished. The heavy chains on my wrists felt as light as feathers. 

"Something is wrong," a guard said. His feet left the ground. "Hey! I'm floating!"

"Brux! Help!" Another man cried as he drifted upward, flailing his arms like a drowning man.

Brux looked down in horror. His massive body was slowly rising into the air. He tried to grab a piece of scrap metal, but it broke off, sending him spinning into the void.

"What did you do to us?" Brux screamed. "Put me down! Put me down right now!"

I remained perfectly still. My boots were the only things still touching the sand, anchored by the System. I looked up at the circle of floating men, my eyes burning with fire.

"You wanted to see a royal decree, Brux?" I asked, my voice cold. "Here it is."

I took a step forward, walking through the air as if I were on a paved road. I reached out and grabbed Brux by his thick throat, pulling him close until our noses touched.

"Ten seconds," I whispered. "That’s all I need."

[Gravity Suspension: 5 Seconds Remaining.]

"Please!" Brux choked out. "I'll do anything! Just don't let me fall!"

"You should have thought of that before you touched the boy," I said.

The System timer began to count down in my vision, flashing red. 

[4...]

[3...]

[2...]

"Wait! No!" Brux shrieked.

"Hold on tight, Brux," I said, a dark smile forming on my face. "It's a long way back to the ground."

[Law Restored: Gravity—Active.]