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Code now walked behind Amado, still feeling the weight of the Karma marking his body. The liquid from the capsule was no longer in his lungs, but the sensation of suffocating remained, a reminder that he had survived where others had not.
And now… he was officially part of Kara.
They passed by two figures in black cloaks. The Roman numerals under their eyes glowed faintly under the artificial light.
Code recognized them instantly.
Inners.
The true elite members.
The pillars of the organization.
Each one controlled entire regions, secret missions, experiments, entire sectors of Kara's network. Below them were the Outers—mere pawns. And even further below, failed experiments or living weapons.
The original Code had always wanted to be one of the Inners. He had worshipped Jigen. He had craved recognition.
But this Code was not that one.
As they walked down the hall, one of the Inners—Boro—looked at him with disdain.
"This is the survivor of the last experiment, huh?" he said with his raspy voice.
Amado replied with scientific neutrality:
"Yes. His Karma is unstable, but his body endured more than expected."
Boro let out a mocking laugh.
"At least he lasted longer than the other weak kids."
Code felt an almost involuntary impulse: he could jump, smash Boro's mask, show him he wasn't a weak child.
But he held himself back.
Not now. Not here.
If I show too much strength, if I reveal something I shouldn't… they'll put limiters on me.
The idea froze him for a moment.
He knew—because he had watched the anime—that Amado's limiters could restrain even monsters like him. If activated, he would be sealed, controlled… manipulated.
"I'll be strong… but in my own way," he reminded himself.
Amado kept walking, and Code followed.
The Observation Room
Jigen was waiting for them. He sat on an elevated throne-like seat, his gaze fixed on several screens showing data on the structure of the White Karma.
"Let's see…" Jigen murmured without looking away. "A defective, incomplete Karma, but stable. Fascinating."
"The analyses confirm he cannot be your vessel," Amado explained cautiously.
Jigen narrowed his eyes.
"Definitively?"
"Yes. The cellular rejection is absolute. There is no possibility that his body could withstand a consciousness transfer."
For a moment, silence stretched like a wire ready to snap. Cold sweat ran down Code's back.
If Jigen decides I'm useless… I'm dead.
Then Jigen smiled.
"Even so, he survived where others didn't. And although his Karma is imperfect… he has potential. That Code, before the experiment, was obsessed with me. His new strength could be useful to Kara."
Code slightly lowered his head.
"I will do what is required."
But inside, a single sentence burned like fire:
I will do what I choose.
Memories of the Original Code
While Amado adjusted some sensors on his arm, Code closed his eyes and let his memories—those from the anime, not from this body—flow.
He remembered everything.
The ruthless treatment of the Outers.
His blind obedience to Jigen.
The original Code's empty arrogance.
Amado's limiters.
How his power had been contained out of fear.
I won't make those mistakes.
I won't be Jigen's dog.
I won't be a tool.
When he opened his eyes, his stare was full of determination.
Silent Decision
Amado handed him a black cloak—the cloak for members in training—and stepped back.
"From today onward… you are under Kara's observation."
Code accepted the cloak calmly.
Inside, he was planning everything meticulously:
Act weak when necessary.
Learn from everyone.
Hide my true potential.
Grow… without drawing the limiters.
A barely visible smile crossed his face.
And when no one expects it… I will claim my place at the top.