Metaverse of Mechas

📘 Chapter 127

⚙️ Scene 1: Confrontation in the Core Vault

The Archive's chamber had shifted. Now it resembled a mirror-like battlefield, echoing Zeron's every movement in eerie silence.

But this time… the mirror moved first.

A second figure stood before Zeron. Identical face. Identical voice. But the aura—twisted. Purple Krono leaked like venom from his body, black streaks pulsing through it.

"Who… are you?" Zeron whispered, lowering his guard.

"I'm you," the figure said.

"I'm what you could've been… if they hadn't sealed you. If you weren't weak. If you embraced the chaos."

Null-Zeron.

Without warning, the clone lunged. His blade flickered in and out of the visible spectrum—a Krono Phase Blade, capable of slicing through time-locked armor.

Zeron activated Astra's blade. Sparks burst. The Archive trembled.

"You're not real!" Zeron roared.

"I am more real than your pathetic hesitation," Null-Zeron sneered.

"And I will reclaim what was taken. All of it."

🔧 Scene 2: Meanwhile – Redlight Zone Mission Begins

Aelira and Zake, newly paired for reconnaissance, descended into the Redlight Zone—a stormy wasteland on the southern edge of Krono-contaminated Earth.

Lightning flickered blood-red. The ground pulsed like a heartbeat. Every breath they took felt like inhaling acid.

"This place is alive," Aelira muttered.

"It's not just Krono corruption. There's something growing underneath it," Zake added, scanning with his gauntlet.

Suddenly, the ground split open. A mechanical beast—Kronovore Mk. XIII—emerged, limbs twitching, jaw clicking.

But it wasn't alone.

Behind it marched dozens of infected mechas—once defenders of humanity, now mindless husks.

Aelira's visor blinked:

"⚠️ FRIENDLY IDENTITY OVERRIDE DETECTED."

"They're… our own units," Zake realized. "Reprogrammed. Someone planted a virus."

"You mean—this is a purge," Aelira whispered.

The fight began. They were outnumbered, and worse—outgunned.

🧠 Scene 3: Zui and the Oracle of Verdentia

Zui awoke in the Vault's inner sanctum, wrapped in layers of shifting light.

Before her stood a woman glowing with emerald energy—her eyes layered with runic rings.

"I am Lirian," the woman said. "First Oracle of Verdentia. You passed the Scroll's Trial."

Zui sat up, breathing heavily.

"What was that vision? Was it real?"

"It was possibility. Nothing more. And now you must decide what is."

Lirian raised her hand. A branch of glowing roots extended from Zui's chest.

"You are connected to both creation… and oblivion," she said.

"Your choice, in the final moment, will either save this world—or end it."

Zui clenched her fists.

"Then I better be ready."

🧪 Scene 4: The Guild Mainframe Attack

Back in Earth's capital, the Central Guild Mainframe—responsible for Krono mech assignments—lit up with error messages.

"Sector Zero breached."

"Protocol Override initiated."

"VIRUS FOUND: MirrorProtocol.exe."

One by one, AI-assist units began turning rogue.

Inside the Guild's war room, chaos erupted.

Best friend Darin sprinted to the terminal, trying to isolate the core breach.

"If I can't stop this in 30 seconds, every mech in this city will turn into a death machine!"

An assistant screamed as her drone companion activated and attacked her.

Darin gritted his teeth.

"Come on, Zeron… we need your code now."

🧿 Scene 5: Back in the Archive – Clash of Ideals

The battle between Zeron and Null-Zeron pushed beyond weapons.

Their clash caused the Archive itself to glitch, replaying memories Zeron didn't remember:

His mother crying.

The sealing ritual.

The words:

"If he awakens now… he'll destroy himself. And us."

Zeron finally understood.

"They didn't steal my power. They saved me from it."

Null-Zeron roared, Krono pouring out like a dam shattered.

"You're a coward clinging to hope. You won't survive what's coming."

Zeron stood firm.

"Maybe not. But I'd rather fight for people… than crush them to feel strong."

With a final surge, Zeron activated the memory blade within Astra's core.

"Chrono Divide—REWRITE!"

The blade split Null-Zeron down the middle—not destroying him, but locking him in stasis.

"We are not enemies," Zeron whispered to the frozen clone.

"But I will not let you destroy the me I want to be."

🔮 Chapter Preview – Chapter 128:

Zake and Aelira discover a hidden Redlight Temple beneath the battlefield.Zui receives her first Verdentian Weapon—a gift of nature merged with Krono.The MirrorVirus spreads into the Underground Orphan Network, threatening Zeron's old childhood friends.Commander Vess confronts the Mastermind—but her own loyalties begin to crack.And a strange message appears in Zeron's internal display:

"She is coming. The Daughter of Core Flame."