Chapter 190: Find
Denzel couldn’t move.
The final notification remained suspended before his eyes.
[Primary Objective Updated.]
[Remember who you are.]
[Failure Condition: Unknown.]
[Reward: Royal Authority.]
He stared at it.
Then at his mother.
Then his father.
Then the other version of himself.
None of them looked surprised anymore.
That was almost worse.
"You knew."
His voice barely carried across the chamber.
His father lowered his weapon.
"Denzel—"
"You knew."
This time, his voice was louder.
His mother didn’t answer.
The other Denzel watched him silently.
Denzel’s hand tightened around his dagger.
"You all knew."
His chest burned again.
[Royal Authority: 34%.]
He ignored the notification.
"I spent my entire life thinking I was just..." He stopped.
He didn’t even know how to finish that sentence.
A normal person?
His father’s son?
A boy whose mother disappeared?
All of those things had been true.
Except apparently they weren’t.
His mother had erased his memories.
His father had helped.
And the person standing across from him claimed he was the original.
"What did you do to me?"
His father looked down.
"We gave you a life."
Denzel’s expression twisted.
"You erased it."
"We had to."
"You keep saying that."
Denzel took a step forward.
"But nobody has actually told me why."
His father remained silent.
Denzel laughed bitterly.
"Of course."
His mother finally moved.
"Denzel."
He immediately raised his dagger.
She stopped.
"Don’t."
Her eyes softened.
"You don’t understand."
"No."
Denzel’s voice shook.
"I don’t."
He pointed toward the other version of himself.
"So explain him."
The other Denzel smiled faintly.
"You want the truth?"
"I want something."
"Then ask him."
He nodded toward Denzel’s father.
"He was there when they made you."
Denzel’s gaze snapped toward his father.
"Made me?"
His father closed his eyes.
"Not like that."
"Then how?"
Silence.
Denzel’s patience broke.
"How was I made?"
His father finally looked at him.
"You were born."
Denzel’s eyes narrowed.
"Don’t play with me."
"I’m not."
"Then tell me what he meant."
His father looked toward the other Denzel.
For the first time, something resembling hatred appeared in his expression.
"He was born before you."
Denzel froze.
The other Denzel smiled.
"Finally."
"Before me?"
"Yes."
"How much?"
The other Denzel tilted his head.
"Seven years."
Denzel’s stomach tightened.
Seven years.
That explained the difference.
The older face.
The familiarity.
But it created an even bigger problem.
"If you’re older..."
He swallowed.
"How are we the same person?"
The other Denzel’s smile faded.
"We aren’t."
The answer hit harder than expected.
Denzel stared at him.
"Then why do you look like me?"
"Because you were made from me."
The chamber trembled.
A chunk of stone fell from the ceiling.
His father immediately looked upward.
"We need to leave."
Denzel didn’t move.
"Not until I get answers."
"We’re out of time."
"Then start talking faster."
His father stared at him.
Denzel held his gaze.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then his father finally spoke.
"The Crown chose him first."
He pointed toward the other Denzel.
"He was the original bearer."
The other Denzel didn’t react.
"The Crown?"
"The Royal Crown."
Denzel looked down at the mark beneath his collarbone.
Seven circles.
Seven seals.
"Then why do I have it?"
"Because the Crown rejected him."
Denzel looked up.
The other Denzel’s expression had gone completely cold.
"That’s not what happened."
His father ignored him.
"The Crown was unstable. Its power was too much for his body."
Denzel frowned.
"So you made me?"
"We tried to create a vessel."
His father’s voice became quieter.
"A body capable of carrying what he couldn’t."
Denzel’s fingers went numb.
"That’s why I exist."
His father didn’t answer.
Denzel laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because if he didn’t, he wasn’t sure what else he’d do.
"So I’m a replacement."
"No."
"A container."
"No."
"A backup."
His father stepped forward.
"Denzel, you’re my son."
"Then why did you erase my memories?"
His father stopped.
That question silenced him.
Denzel’s eyes burned.
"Why?"
His mother finally spoke.
"Because he was waking up."
Denzel turned toward her.
"Who?"
She looked at the other Denzel.
"Him."
The other Denzel smiled.
"I told you."
His mother continued.
"When he began recovering his consciousness, the Crown reacted."
Denzel looked at the black crown floating above the other Denzel’s palm.
"So you erased me to stop him."
"No."
His mother shook her head.
"We erased your memories so you wouldn’t become him."
Denzel frowned.
"What does that mean?"
His mother stepped closer.
This time, he didn’t raise his dagger.
"You were never supposed to inherit his personality."
The other Denzel laughed.
"You call it personality?"
His mother ignored him.
"The Crown doesn’t only contain power. It contains memories, instincts, emotions..."
She hesitated.
"Identity."
Denzel’s face went pale.
"You mean..."
"You were born with your own mind."
She looked at him.
"But the Crown carried pieces of him."
Denzel glanced toward the other Denzel.
"And if I remembered everything?"
"You would begin to merge."
The other Denzel smiled.
"That’s already happening."
Denzel looked at the notification.
[Royal Authority: 41%.]
The number was climbing.
Too quickly.
His mother noticed his expression.
"You need to leave."
Denzel looked at her.
"What?"
"Now."
"Why?"
"Because the seventh seal has fallen."
Another violent tremor shook the chamber.
This time, the floor split several feet away from Denzel.
Something black moved beneath the cracks.
His father grabbed his arm.
"We’re leaving."
Denzel pulled away.
"What about him?"
He pointed at the other Denzel.
The figure stood completely still.
"He’s coming."
Denzel’s eyes narrowed.
"Why?"
His father didn’t answer.
The other Denzel did.
"Because the seals were never meant to hold me forever."
The remaining gates began collapsing one after another.
Boom.
The first.
Boom.
The second.
Then the third.
Dust filled the chamber.
Denzel covered his face.
His mother moved toward him.
"Stay close."
Denzel stared at her hand.
For a moment, he almost took it.
Then he remembered the memory.
Her voice.
Erase everything.
He stepped back.
"Don’t."
Her hand lowered.
The hurt in her eyes was immediate.
Denzel looked away.
He didn’t want to see it.
Not now.
He didn’t know whether she had betrayed him.
He didn’t know whether she had saved him.
He didn’t even know whether the memories inside his head were entirely his.
The only thing he knew was that he couldn’t trust anyone.
The fourth gate collapsed.
The chamber shook violently.
His father cursed.
"We have seconds."
"Then tell me one thing."
Denzel looked at him.
His father waited.
"Did you love me?"
The question came out quieter than everything else.
His father froze.
The other Denzel stopped smiling.
His mother closed her eyes.
Denzel swallowed.
"I don’t care about the Crown."
His voice cracked.
"I don’t care about him."
He pointed at the older version.
"I don’t care about any of this."
He looked directly at his father.
"Did you love me?"
His father stared at him.
Then slowly lowered his weapon.
"Every day."
Denzel’s chest tightened.
"I watched you grow."
His father’s voice was rough.
"I watched you take your first steps. I watched you fall. I watched you cry when you thought nobody could hear you."
Denzel’s eyes burned.
"I was there."
His father took a breath.
"Even when I couldn’t be."
"Then why didn’t you come back?"
"Because if I did, they would’ve found you."
Denzel stared at him.
His father continued.
"They were searching for the Crown. They would’ve killed you to get it."
Denzel looked toward his mother.
"Is that true?"
She nodded.
"Yes."
"Then why did you stay away?"
His father looked down.
"Because I had already failed one son."
The words silenced the room.
Denzel looked toward the other version of himself.
His expression had changed.
For the first time, there was no amusement in his eyes.
Only something tired.
"You failed me?"
His father looked at him.
"I couldn’t save him."
The other Denzel looked away.
Denzel’s stomach tightened.
So that was it.
Not a monster.
Not an enemy.
Not exactly.
Someone had once tried to save him.
And failed.
Then they created Denzel.
Or at least...
A version of him.
Another tremor shook the chamber.
The fifth gate collapsed.
His father grabbed Denzel’s shoulder.
"Now."
This time, Denzel didn’t resist.
They ran.
His mother followed.
The other Denzel remained behind.
Denzel glanced over his shoulder.
"He’s not coming."
"He will."
"How?"
His father didn’t answer.
They reached the sixth gate.
The massive stone doors were already cracking.
Denzel suddenly felt heat spreading through his chest.
[Royal Authority: 52%.]
He stopped.
His father turned.
"Denzel!"
Denzel looked down.
The seven circles beneath his collarbone were glowing.
The lines connecting them had become brighter.
And somewhere behind the final gate...
Something answered.
A pulse.
Then another.
Like a heartbeat.
Denzel’s eyes widened.
"Do you hear that?"
His father went pale.
"Don’t."
"What?"
"Don’t listen."
But Denzel could already hear it.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
The sound wasn’t coming from the chamber.
It was coming from inside him.
His vision blurred.
A voice whispered through his mind.
Not his mother’s.
Not his father’s.
His own.
Except it wasn’t.
’Open it.’
Denzel stumbled backward.
"Get out of my head."
His father grabbed him.
"What did you hear?"
Denzel looked at him.
"Someone told me to open the gate."
His father’s face changed.
"Who?"
Denzel didn’t answer.
Because he already knew.
The seventh gate.
The final seal.
The other Denzel.
His father pulled him toward the exit.
"Don’t listen to him."
Denzel resisted.
"Why?"
"Because if you open that gate, you won’t be able to separate yourself from him."
Denzel looked back.
The other Denzel was still standing there.
The seventh gate was almost completely gone.
Only a thin wall remained.
Behind it was darkness.
And two silver eyes.
Staring directly at him.
The other Denzel raised one hand.
"Come."
Denzel’s heartbeat accelerated.
His father pulled harder.
"Denzel!"
He looked at his father.
Then at his mother.
She was crying now.
Quietly.
She didn’t tell him to stay.
She didn’t tell him to come.
She simply looked at him.
Like she already knew what he was about to choose.
Denzel took a slow breath.
Then he stepped backward.
His father froze.
"Denzel?"
"I’m sorry."
He pulled his arm free.
Then walked toward the seventh gate.
"Denzel!"
His father moved after him.
His mother grabbed his arm.
"Don’t."
His father turned.
"What are you doing?"
She shook her head.
"Let him."
Denzel stopped.
He looked back.
His mother wiped the tears from her face.
"For once..."
She smiled sadly.
"Let him choose."
Denzel stared at her.
Then turned toward the seventh gate.
The last piece of stone collapsed.
The other Denzel stood directly on the other side.
For several seconds, neither moved.
Then the older Denzel extended his hand.
"Do you want to know the truth?"
Denzel looked at his hand.
"Yes."
"Then take it."
Denzel hesitated.
His system flickered.
[Warning.]
[Foreign Royal Signature Detected.]
[Compatibility: 67%.]
[Integration recommended.]
Denzel’s eyes narrowed.
"Integration?"
The other Denzel smiled.
"Now you understand."
"What happens if I take your hand?"
"You’ll remember everything."
"And you?"
"I’ll remember too."
Denzel stared at him.
"So we’ll become one?"
The other Denzel shook his head.
"No."
He smiled.
"One of us will become the other."
Denzel’s heart stopped.
"Which one?"
The other Denzel’s eyes gleamed.
"That’s what we’re about to find out."
Denzel slowly raised his hand.
His fingers moved closer.
Then stopped.
He looked back at his father.
His father was shaking his head.
"No."
At his mother.
She said nothing.
Then at himself.
The version standing beyond the gate.
For the first time, Denzel noticed something.
The other Denzel’s silver eyes weren’t identical to his.
They looked almost empty.
Cold.
Like someone who had spent too long waiting for something.
Denzel lowered his hand.
"No."
The other Denzel’s smile disappeared.
"What?"
"I’m not taking your hand."
The chamber went completely silent.
Denzel stepped forward.
"If you really are the original..."
He tightened his grip around his dagger.
"Then prove it."
The other Denzel stared at him.
"How?"
"Fight me."
His father shouted.
"Denzel!"
But Denzel didn’t look back.
The other Denzel slowly smiled.
Not the playful smile from before.
Something sharper.
Something genuine.
"Finally."
Black energy erupted around him.
The remaining darkness behind the gate exploded outward.
Denzel raised his dagger.
The mark on his chest burned.
[Royal Authority: 61%.]
The system appeared again.
[Host has rejected forced integration.]
[Alternative synchronization path detected.]
[Condition met.]
[Royal Crown Trial initiated.]
Denzel’s eyes widened.
[Trial Objective:]
[Defeat the Original.]
He stared at the words.
Then at the man standing across from him.
The other Denzel’s black crown expanded above his head.
His silver eyes burned.
"Let’s see..."
He took one step forward.
"...which one of us deserves the name."
Denzel raised his dagger.
For the first time since entering the chamber, he smiled.
It wasn’t a happy smile.
It was the kind of smile that came when fear finally stopped mattering.
"Come find out."