COVELENT: XenoTrait

The air shifted the moment the third figure stepped forward.

Ash’s gaze locked onto them instantly. Markus didn’t move.

”...You’ve made more than just one weapon,” the figure said calmly, stepping fully into the light.

They were tall with dark hair and yellow eyes, composed, and carried themselves with an ease that didn’t match the tension in the air, with hair that was pitch black. Their eyes flicked briefly toward Ash, not with hostility, but with interest.

”...You made one for me too.”

Ash’s eyes narrowed slightly. ”...Identify yourself,” he said.

The figure smiled faintly. ”...Name’s Valeon.”

The name settled into the space like a quiet declaration.

Ash didn’t respond immediately, but he was already processing it.

Valeon lifted his hand slightly, and metal shifted.

From beneath his sleeve, a set of sleek, curved claws extended. ”...Refined, polished, and precise, aren’t they?” Valeon said.

They caught the light faintly, reflecting a subtle crystalline sheen.

”...Recognize them?” Valeon asked.

Ash’s gaze dropped to the weapon. ”...Yes,” he said. ”I designed them.”

Valeon’s smile widened slightly. ”...And they’ve been very useful.”

He flexed his fingers slowly, the claws extending further with a smooth, controlled motion.

”...Remember this, Ash,” Valeon continued, his tone lowering slightly. ”...These claws you made for me?”

A pause.

”...They don’t just cut.”

Ash tilted his head slightly. ”...They make it easier for you,” he said. ”Without them, your Mark 8 would be tiresome to use.”

Valeon let out a soft laugh. ”...Tiresome, huh?”

He stepped back slightly, turning his body just enough for the light to catch his silhouette.

”...Let’s just say... they keep things from getting messy.”

Markus watched silently.

Ash said nothing, but he was watching closely.

Every movement. Every shift in tone. Every breath.

A faint ringing sound echoed.

Valeon’s claws retracted slowly.

”...You’ve improved,” he said to Ash. ”Your control is sharper than before.”

Ash didn’t respond.

Without another word, Valeon stepped back and disappeared into the shadows.

Silence returned.

Ash turned slightly.

The balcony doors stood open behind him. He moved toward them.

The world outside stretched endlessly.

Buildings stood tall, but many were fractured, jagged edges catching the light like broken glass. Entire structures had been overtaken, consumed by crystalline growths that spread across surfaces like frozen waves.

”Diamond... everywhere.”

Ash stepped closer to the edge.

His gaze lowered. ”People, or at least what remained of them.”

Figures stood frozen in place, mid-motion, mid-step, mid-scream, transformed completely into solid diamond structures.

Like statues. Like memories turned into monuments.

The wind shifted.

A faint sound followed. Crack.

Ash’s eyes sharpened.

One of the figures on the surface was trembling slightly.

Then, a bloom.

From within the crystallized body, a strange, flower-like structure emerged. It was delicate and intricate.

”Beautiful,” Ash thought as he looked down. ”It’s like a rose made of diamond...”

It pulsed once, and then it exploded.

Fragments scattered into the air, dissolving into fine dust.

Ash didn’t move.

Markus stepped forward, joining him at the balcony.

His gaze swept across the ruined city. ”I don’t feel sad, because this... all of this was natural selection, and now, because of it... I own all of this.”

”...This is what remains,” Markus said.

Ash nodded. ”This was the result of power, of failure. For those down there, it was selection.”

Markus turned away. ”...It’s time.”

They walked together until they reached a massive platform.

”Hundreds, no, thousands of people gathered below. All were watching, all waiting for Markus,” Ash pondered.

Markus stepped forward.

”Citizens,” he began, his voice carrying effortlessly across the crowd.

Silence fell instantly.

”The Mark 8 was not a gift given lightly.”

A pause.

”It came with tragedy.”

Ash stood at the edge of the platform, watching.

”Many of you have seen the world outside these walls,” Markus continued. ”The crystallization. The destruction. The loss.”

His voice remained calm.

”Those who failed... were not chosen.”

A ripple moved through the crowd.

”Natural selection is not cruel,” Markus said. ”It is precise.”

Ash’s gaze shifted slightly, watching the reactions of the people.

”All those who perished... could not adapt.”

A pause came.

”But you,” Markus’s voice sharpened, ”...you survived.”

The crowd leaned in.

”You endured... You adapted... You evolved.”

”Which means,” Markus continued, ”...you are no longer ordinary... You are chosen!!”

The word landed heavily.

”Not by chance, not by luck either, but by nature itself!”

The crowd erupted. They applauded him, and they cheered.

”You are the future of this world,” Markus declared.

”And together...”

He raised his hand slightly. ”We will shape what comes next.”

The reaction was immediate.

Markus stepped back as the speech ended.

But its impact remained as the crowd continued.

Clapping. Celebrating. Believing.

Markus turned while walking away.

Valeon remained behind. His expression shifted slightly. ”...Chosen, huh...” he murmured.

His gaze drifted toward the city.

Toward the diamond-covered remains.

”...We’ll see about that.”

Time passed. One hour later.

A door opened, and Markus stepped inside.

The room was quiet, and a girl sat in the middle, restrained in a chair.

Her eyes were sharp and defiant.

”...Hello, Amme,” Markus said calmly.

Her gaze snapped to him instantly.

”...Why did you kidnap me?” she demanded. ”You monster...”

Markus tilted his head slightly. ”...I did not kidnap you.”

A pause.

”...I brought you home.”

Amme’s expression twisted with anger. ”...I’m not your family.”

Markus stepped closer. ”...You are my niece.”

Silence followed.

Amme shook her head. ”...No. My family is dead.” Her voice tightened. ”...I saw it happen.”

Markus’s gaze didn’t waver. ”...And yet, here you are.”

He turned slightly. ”...Prepare the test.”

Amme’s eyes widened slightly. ”...Test?”

The restraints activated.

Her chair shifted. ”...Wait, what are you doing?!”

The floor beneath her moved. It was sliding and lowering.

The chamber opened, and at its center... a massive crystalline structure stood.

Towering. Radiating faint, shimmering fumes.

Amme’s breathing quickened. ”...What is that...?”

Markus stepped forward. ”...Your future.”

Her chair locked into position.

Directly in front of it.

”...Let’s see,” Markus said calmly, ”...if the experiment worked.”

The air thickened. The crystal pulsed, and then it began.

The fumes reached her first.

Amme gasped for air.

Her body locked as the effect spread instantly.

Her skin shimmered, then it hardened as it crystallized slowly and relentlessly.

Her voice broke. ”...STOP!”

But it didn’t stop.

Her arms froze. Her legs locked.

Her body was encased until a perfect diamond figure stood where she had been.

Markus watched.

”...Did you fail,” he murmured, ”...natural selection?”

A flicker of something like disappointment showed across his face.

He turned his back and started walking away.

Then, crack.

Markus’s eyes sharpened.

Crack. Crack.

The surface fractured.

”...Oh?” he said softly as the crystal split.

Light burst through the cracks, and then it shattered.

Amme collapsed forward, breathing heavily.

The room froze.

”...Impossible...” someone whispered.

Markus stepped forward slowly. ”...You endured,” he said.

Markus smiled faintly. ”...How fascinating.”