Chapter 657 Mother's Embrace

Lee Seng stared at Eleven in disbelief. It seemed like the question was written all over his face because Eleven snorted, shifting in his spot. He folded his arms together and nodded at Lee Seng.

"Yes, I'm talking about her." Eleven answered Lee Seng's thought. "The only way we get through this is if you and I become one. And the only way to do that… Is for you to take the rest of the Protocol I wasn't able to take." Lee Seng turned nad started to pace. Eleven watched him as the basement flickered. The unfinished basement flickered, replacing itself with finished hardwood floors, walls and lights on the ceiling. Furniture tried to manifest itself but everything faded back into the unfinished basement.

"I almost died going down there." Lee Seng whispered. He turned, stopping with his entire body pointed at Eleven. He lifted his head and looked at the purple-eyed version of himself. "If I go down there, how do I know I'll live? How do I know this isn't some ploy to accidentally let that 'mutt' out? Why should I trust you?"

"You have no choice." Eleven told him. "Wanna get vaporized and turned into a husk for those Deimons?" Lee Seng ruffled his black-root blonde hair.

"Fine." Lee Seng pointed a finger at Eleven. "If you backstab me in anyway, I swear I'll let that mutt out and take us out. Got it?"

"Then we have a deal?" Eleven stuck his hand. Lee Seng stepped forward, shaking Eleven's hand. A smile crept. "Good, then let's go."

The world around them shifted as Eleven pulled them under. Lee Seng let out a yelp. They pushed through the ground and plunged into a sea of dark water. Water bubbles exploded around Lee Seng. It was pitch black here and he could barely see anything. They continued to sink into the black waters. Eleven was the first to drift slightly faster than Lee Seng. He pulled Lee Seng along, leading him to the destination.

The black-grey tentacles came like a strange reminder.  They suddenly appeared, pulling and grabbing onto Eleven as the tendrils snaked their way to Lee Seng. It was a strange feeling to be back down here. In a place full of dark waters where the light wouldn't reach.

Eleven released his hand and was whisked away. The tendrils wrapped around Lee Seng's body, pulling him further. A pulse. A ripple. A cry. Lee Seng could feel something growing off in the distance. It made his head pound as the tendrils suddenly pulled him forwards. He wasn't sinking anymore. He was picking up speed and moving through the dark waters.

The tendrils pulled him out of the water, whipping him into the lit room. He flipped in the air, landing on his feet as all of the water on Lee Seng, completely spilled onto the floor, leaving him dry. The watery window rippled as the tendrils plunged back into the dark waters. The room looked like the lab room he stayed in when he was a kid. It was white, bleak of his personality and everything was in its place.

"You are here…" XI's voice weakly spoke. Lee Seng turned towards the bed in the right corner and noticed the familiar tendril woman. She was frail with graying hair. The tendrils the covered her were withering into white dust. XI pulled herself up and forced herself to greet the owner. "Lee Seng… I never thought we'd see each other again."

"You." Lee Seng addressed the familiar Protcol. He looked around, trying to find Eleven. "Where's Eleven?"

"Gone for but a moment." XI stood up. She could barely stand, almost falling onto the ground. Lee Seng stood a distance, watching the woman struggle to meet him. "I don't have much time… The demon deep within wants out, Lee Seng… You must… Take the rest of my power and deal with… the other Protocol."

"The other? He's a Deimon, not a Protocol." Lee Seng corrected her.

"It's not black… and white. It never was…" XI looked at him. "I unfortunately couldn't hold the end of our deal. I was more than willing to allow you to take full custody of my powers but it seems like that Deimon, that other Protocol, wants you to fight for it with all your might. I know this might not make any sense right now, but… You need what was always yours." She grabbed Lee Seng's hand and pulled it up. XI gave Lee Seng a look he tried desperately to forget. A look his mother had given him.

It was a somber one. It was pain. It was a mix of emotions that seemed to be at the mercy of peace. XI was giving him the same exact look his mother had given him.

"Wait." Lee Seng's voice shook. He pulled away, taking a couple steps backwards. "Y-you… There was this uncanny feeling you felt familiar… I-It's because…"

"I look like your Mother?" XI finished his sentence. The strength in Lee Seng's legs almost gave out. He buckled for a second, catching himself. "Yes. I know. It is cruel. The moment I connected with you, I was her… It's a shame it was just a tactic to let your guard down… It's a shame I'm not even the one you must face."

"W-what are you talking about? Don't tell me… T-The… My own Father created you after my Mother just to get me to ease my guard!" Lee Seng shouted. XI didn't do anything. She didn't say anything and all of the feelings Lee Seng had kept away, shook in its bottle.

"Why? Why would he… do that?" Lee Seng whispered.

"I'm not sure why I was created like this. Why these tendrils were always apart of me, apart of us, but I know one thing for sure; you are different from everyone you know. The Ten Numbers were only a stepping stone for what you are to be, Lee Seng."

"No." Lee Seng shook his head. He took another step back in denial. He looked down at the floor as XI continued.

"A stepping stone for what those Deimons wish to be. A stepping stone for humanity."

"No. I don't want it."

"But you have it. You have this whether you like it or not and you have a choice in what you do with it."

"Leave it. I don't want it!" Lee Seng shouted. "I don't want any of this! I just want to be a normal teenager! I want to have a normal school year! One normal school year without the bullying, without people at my throat! Can't I have that?" XI's eyes grew more painful as she stepped forward. "Don't come any closer… Y-you…"

"Look at me, Lee Seng Chang. Look at me Number 11."

"Don't call me that!" Lee Seng shouted. He took another step back. The waters shook as he grew closer. "Let me just live a normal life with Keng and Ritsuka and Evan and the others! I just want to be normal!" Tears streamed down his face as he looked up at XI. She stood in front of him, hand lifted up and wiping the tears away.

"I know you do." XI smiled. "So I need to do what I need to do. This is all I can give you, Lee Seng Chang. It was a pleasure understanding you."

"You're saying goodbye… Don't. I don't want it." Lee Seng turned away.

"Remember, Lee Seng Chang. 'The path you choose to take, I will always support it. Whoever you love, whatever you do, I will always support you.'"

Lee Seng turned and looked at XI. He began to open his mouth when XI exploded into billions of tendrils. The tendrils plunged into Lee Seng's body as the water veil broke, releasing the waters. The tendrils deep in the dark waters plunged into Lee Seng, wrapping around him.

"You can have all that you want if you continue to fight… So fight for it, darling." Lee Seng's Mom's voice whispered. The darkness pulled into him as a fading shriek was heard.

[Destroyed Skill: Jack of All Trades' secret skill, Mother's Embrace has triggered.]

[Protocol XI has been devoured. Enough souls has been met to Evolve.]

[Evolution starting…]

[Evolution starting…]

[Sky Devourer has evolved into Number's Feast.]

[The Passive Skill: Gluttony has evolved into Gluttonous 11.]

[Twin Sun Form has evolved into Golden Eclipse!]

[Blessing of the Two Suns has fused with 75% of the Protocol!]

[Cosmos has evolved into Devourer!]

[All Protocol XI augment abilities has been switched over to 'Number 11 Augments']

[The Class Echo Scout has been devoured by Mother's Embrace and replaced with Eldritch Night!]

[Six Tails has been achieved!]

[The Protocol has embedded itself into the Soul Bead, altering your Fox Spirit form!]

[All Skills have been Evolved!]

[Evolution complete!]

[Souls needed for next Evolution: 0/100,000!]

Lee Seng's eyes opened as the tendrils withered away from him. Six tails unwrapped themselves, catching Lee Seng's eyes. They weren't silver and gold anymore. It was replaced with a black and grey fur-like appearance. Gold and Silver streaked his tails as they swept behind him.

'I'm in my Fox Spirit form? H-how?'