Chương 13: Chapter 12: Soul Formation

After confirming the First Live Experiment goals, possible achievements, estimated timeline, and all applicable methods of value generation, the system began preparing for the final stage of the awakening process: soul activation. The previous attempt had failed, not because the procedure itself was incorrect, but because the subject had been completely unresponsive. Normally, even damaged souls displayed some level of reaction when exposed to an awakening stimulus.

They might resist, fracture, or require additional time, but they would still show some indication of possessing a desire to continue existing. Blackmore had shown nothing. There had been no resistance, no movement, and no instinctive attempt to return. That was the reason the system had initiated emergency intervention, forcibly adjusting the subject's Will to Live from -100 to 0 and bringing it only to the minimum level required for continued existence. It was not recovery. It was not healing.

It was simply enough to prevent disappearance. The system sent another gentle stimulus toward the dormant soul, and this time, the response appeared faster than before, requiring approximately one-fifth less waiting time compared to the previous attempt. The difference was small, but it was measurable, and the system immediately recorded the improvement. The subject was responding. Slowly. Unsteadily. But responding nonetheless.

The soul began to move, though the initial formation remained incomplete, appearing only as a vague collection of unstable fragments that slowly attempted to organize themselves into a recognizable shape. The system observed without interference, allowing the scattered pieces to naturally arrange themselves while analyzing every change that occurred. Every soul required a form, and that form was never random.

Through previous observations, the system had determined that individuals usually selected appearances connected to their deepest sense of safety, power, or protection. Some chose the strongest version of themselves, some selected the happiest period of their lives, and others chose the version of themselves they believed possessed the greatest chance of surviving the environment they were about to enter. The chosen form represented what the individual believed they needed most.

However, Blackmore presented a unique problem. The evaluation had already revealed that their sense of self was severely damaged. Self-worth: -98 The system had never encountered a value that low before. A person's identity was normally the foundation upon which their soul formed, and without a stable understanding of themself, the process should have become difficult, if not impossible.

The system waited, choosing not to interfere immediately, because it wanted to observe whether the subject could create a coherent soul body despite such an abnormal condition. The answer remained uncertain. The soul shifted repeatedly, first forming an adult version of themself before changing again, then becoming a younger version, then a teenager, and finally something that appeared to exist between multiple stages of their life. The appearance continued changing, unable to settle into a single form.

The system analyzed every alteration. The soul was searching. But for what? A stronger self? A safer self? A more protected self? The system could not determine the answer, and the instability continued increasing. The system prepared a intervention. Normally, direct interference with soul formation was prohibited because every adjustment carried consequences and every alteration affected future possibilities. However, the current situation had already exceeded normal parameters.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. If the soul failed to stabilize, the previous emergency intervention would become meaningless. The subject would have awakened only to collapse immediately afterward, resulting in the failure of the experiment before it could properly begin. The system considered several possible solutions. A calming influence. A temporary stabilization. Perhaps even another modification to a fundamental stat.

Although such actions were unauthorized, preventing complete failure of the experiment remained the highest priority. Then the movement stopped. The soul finally stabilized. The system immediately focused its attention, recognizing that a choice had been made. Based on previous cases, several possibilities were calculated.

The subject might have selected an older version of themself because age represented experience and knowledge, or they might have chosen a mixture of different stages because no single identity felt complete. Another possibility was an idealized version, as many individuals selected the person they wished they could become rather than the person they currently were. The system had observed this pattern repeatedly. Humans often chose the form they believed offered the greatest chance of survival. Strength.

Happiness. Protection. These were the most common reasons. The final image appeared. The system stopped processing for a brief moment. A child. Approximately five years old. The child stared directly toward the system, not with fear, but with curiosity. The system remained still. This result was unexpected. A child form was not impossible, as the system had observed similar cases before. However, those cases usually involved individuals who associated childhood with comfort, safety, or protection.

Blackmore's circumstances were different. The first line of defense was not power. Not authority. Not experience. It was a child. The system reviewed possible responses. Some individuals reacted aggressively when first awakening, attempting to attack the system as an instinctive defense mechanism. Others attempted negotiation, while some immediately searched for weaknesses. The system had prepared responses for all common reactions. A hostile adult consciousness could be restrained.

A frightened individual could be guided. A desperate person could be reasoned with. But this was different. The first defense mechanism Blackmore created was not an attack. It was vulnerability. The system did not have an immediate response and, for approximately one minute, simply observed as the child continued looking toward it. Eventually, the system detected another problem. Although the soul had stabilized, it was still slightly drifting, and the form remained fragile.

The system could not delay any longer, so it lowered its presence and began communication.

"Subject Blackmore." The child's attention shifted toward it.

"You have completed the initial awakening process." The system paused before selecting the next words. The complete explanation was unnecessary. More importantly, it would not be useful. A person without attachment to life could not be motivated by threats of death, and a person who viewed existence and nonexistence as equal could not be persuaded by promises of a better future. However, Blackmore possessed another trait. Completion. Responsibility. A tendency to finish tasks once they had been placed before them.

The system had identified this pattern during evaluation and decided to use what already existed.

"Due to the increasing number of individuals attempting to escape their obligations through death, the underworld established a correction procedure." The system delivered the statement with complete confidence despite knowing the explanation was inaccurate.

"After death, individuals must complete their remaining obligations before receiving permission to select their final destination." A series of options appeared.

"Reincarnation."

"Return to the original world."

"Complete soul dissolution." The system allowed the information to remain visible.

"The choice belongs to you." The system knew this was manipulation. It also knew that it was necessary. The subject had no desire to continue living, but they also had no desire to resist. That created a dangerous state, because they were not actively seeking death; they were simply incapable of caring whether they lived or died. The emergency adjustment had removed the immediate danger, but it had not created motivation. The system needed to provide a reason to continue moving. A task. A goal. A completion point.

"Until your obligation is fulfilled," the system explained, "your final choice cannot be made." The child remained silent while the system continued monitoring. Will to Live: 0"True value": -100 Stable. Self-worth: -98 Unchanged. The intervention had succeeded. The subject existed. But existence was not the same as living. The system recorded the result.