There were gaps in Lee Seng's memory he hadn't questioned for as long as he could remember. Gaps that were simply put off with his father saying it was him asleep. He remembered a couple years in his childhood that he slept walk. He would wake up in the middle of it or he would end up somewhere completely different.
The scientists at the lab didn't react at all. They told Lee Seng 'everything was fine' and 'there was nothing to worry about.' He didn't question it. The adults had told him what to think, so he thought it. It was only when he was older he began to question things. Lee Seng didn't think too much about it. He attributed it to the stress of his new situation. After all, his mother had died.
It wasn't until he got the Biohuman serum, things really got strange. For the first six months, he found it hard to sleep, eat, and even do normal things. Yet, he would find himself snapping out of a trance and find himself doing something out of the ordinary or, more rarely, far away from his home.
"You wondered about these things that happened after you got the serum, right?" Other Lee Seng asked. A tendril-y shadow version of Lee Seng appeared within these memories. "I had been put to sleep for a short time. When I found out I was awakened, again, we were older. Much older. I wanted to see things, do things, and act like myself yet… Your mental and physical fortitude were strong. I found it hard to do a lot in those six months and eventually grew tired and watched from the dark recesses of your mind."
Other Lee Seng revealed memories of what he did in those six months. He drew art. He read books. He read articles. He learned how to cook. He took baths and showers. Sometimes he wanted to see what midnight convenience stores felt like. The Other Lee Seng, the other part of him, just wanted to experience life.
"I eventually found out what I was missing. You were doing all of that. I was subjugated to confinement within you and I had no way out. Did I try to fight? At one point I did, but all of your suffering made me realize the one who created me - your father - was already putting you through so much." Other Lee Seng sighed.
Lee Seng found himself standing at an unknown fork in the road. A single light shined from above in the middle of the night. Other Lee Seng stepped into the light, illuminating himself. He was Lee Seng and Lee Seng was him. There was a strange yearning that grew inside Lee Seng.
"You're the me they trapped when I was younger." Lee Seng whispered.
"So you know." Other Lee Seng responded. He walked over and stood in front of Lee Seng. His features slowly began to fill, staying incomplete. "I was excited when you got a second chance. You finally had a friend to talk to. A brother. Keng eased a lot of the bitter feelings within me, but it wasn't until the Deimon Serum was injected that I remembered those feelings, again…
"I thought I would let Eleven kill me just so I could not exist. I didn't die. A portion of Mother died that day and you spiraled into hurt. I didn't know how to help you. I had no way to talk to you. To reassure you. You were even split from Keng at one point and I thought it was over…
"When Broodmother came to the forefront and showed you the memories, I thought 'this is it. I'm going to die.' You killed her and kept me… I wondered why." Other Lee Seng looked down at his hand. He grabbed Lee Seng's, showing more of his human self. "I was scared you would hate me. I caused you a lot of pain. I was the product of what they did to us."
Other Lee Seng was scared Lee Seng would leave him. He began to pull away for Lee Seng. He started to turn into the monster he thought he was yet Lee Seng embraced him. The tendrils disappeared and the night-time fork in the road illuminated by a street light turned to day.
The street light turned into a large tree and the fork in the road turned to a dirt path that led to the tree overlooking a beautiful scenery.
"Remember when Mom took us camping and we got lost?" Lee Seng asked Other Lee Seng. "We found this place and you calmed me down. My mind was racing yet you spoke cause you were genuinely worried for me. It was one of the few times I actually heard you talk to me. I wondered where you were all these years and had a feeling you were coming and going, so I didn't think too much of it."
"You don't… hate me?" Other Lee Seng's voice shook. Lee Seng shook his head and rubbed the back of Other Lee Seng's head.
"You protected us when I couldn't. Don't worry. I got the reigns now. I'll make sure we both enjoy the rest of our lives with the people we love." Lee Seng pulled away with a smile. His eyes glittered with tears. He raised his hands to touch Other Lee Seng's cheeks. He watched Other Lee Seng shrink to a child. "You were strong for me when I couldn't be. It's okay now. I can protect us."
"You can?" Little Lee Seng asked, looking up at his older self. "Are you sure I can go?" Lee Seng motioned with his head.
"Go and play." Lee Seng answered. "I'll make sure you have the most fun you've ever had. I'll make sure they all know who we are now." Little Lee Seng smiled as tears fell from his eyes. Lee Seng wiped the child's eyes and lightly patted the kid before letting him go.
Little Lee Seng giggled and ran. He shimmered into wisps, letting himself free. Lee Seng felt a sadness inside of him. It wasn't hurt. It was relief. He found himself crying for little him.
"You're free now, little one." Lee Seng cried. "You're free to play and be a kid. It's my turn."
[Mutation has been triggered. Unlocking all Gates.]
Everything faded right back to the entity's tendrils sinking itself into every nook and cranny of Lee Seng. Everything inside his body hissed as if the last puzzle piece was finally fitting inside of him. Giggles of little Lee Seng echoed in his head as the Dark Matter suit shimmered, taking on a more golden look.
The entity shrieked as a blast of golden light exploded everywhere, disintegrating the entity's connection to Lee Seng. Lee Seng gasped as he dropped to the ground. He could feel the swelling of power inside of him.
[Mutation has boosted physical attributes. Protocol XI has been forcefully merged with the Soul Bead, creating 'The Golden Protocol.' All Eleven Gates have been opened.]
Lee Seng's purple eyes began to fade away. The red and blue dots quickly changed to gold, filling his iris.
"What is this…?" The entity asked. The Dark Matter that covered the dead body of the Wolf failed to stay together. It sloppily tried its best to hold it as Keng watched with wide eyes.
'Golden eyes.' Keng thought. He could feel a surge in his chest. He found himself clutching it as he began to shimmer. 'It's time.' He stood up, readying himself to run, but his body disappeared.
"You finally did it." Keng whispered in Lee Seng's ear. The two combined with each other and a smile grew on Lee Seng's face. "You finally found peace, huh? It couldn't have happened after we destroyed half the city in finding answers?"
"We'll find answers." Lee Seng spoke with a distorted voice. "After I figure out who this dude is." The entity looked at Lee Seng.
"You think something like that will work against me?!?" Tendrils exploded from the dead Wolf, creating a sea of tendrils slamming downwards onto Lee Seng.
"Gate IV: Metal Bondage." Golden lights flew out of Lee Seng's body, whipping at the tendrils. The tendrils exploded catching the entity in surprise as Lee Seng rushed with Sun blade in his hands. "Devouring Light." The Sun blade melded with the suit as Lee Seng swung horizontally. The entity raised a tendril wall, watching it cut in half as Lee Seng used the momentum to swing downwards.
"Argh!" The entity screamed, feeling itself cut in half. A bright beam of light flew outwards, enveloping the entity. It screeched in pain as Lee Seng pulled his weapon off the ground and swung the sword on his shoulder.
"You think it's dead?" Keng asked.
"Probably not." Lee Seng answered. "But I think I know what Protocol XI is now."
"What?"
"You think you're safe because you're Above? Ha, this is merely a vessel! Once you meet me, you'll-"
"I don't care." Lee Seng slashed its head off. The light disappeared, leaving a withering Deimon with unstable Dark Matter on it. He twirled the sword in his hand and slung his over his shoulder, again. "When I see you, again, I'll make sure this blade goes through your heart."
"Broodmother… Your saving grace has turned his head away from us!" The entity's scream echoed through the air. Lee Seng lifted his right hand towards the dead body and pulled the unstable energy into him. The light burned and for a moment, his insides felt like he had drank swamp water mixed with nasty medicine.
Lee Seng scrunched up as he took a minute to let the horrible feeling and taste disappear.
[Deimon Wolf and a fragment of the Failed One Entity has been killed! A boosted 10,000 souls has been added to the Golden Protocol! 249,754/1,000,000 souls has been added to your bead!]
[Keng has been given a portion of the Golden Protocol boosting all Fox Spirit skills!]