The effect wasn't immediate.
That would've been merciful.
---
It started with noise.
Not sound.
Patterns breaking.
---
> [Passive Effect Triggered:]
Chaotic Signature (Dormant → Active: Low)]
"…Already?"
> [Clarification: Proximity-based activation.]
---
The tunnel trembled.
Old graffiti peeled.
Emotional residue twisted—fear mixing with anger that had no owner anymore.
---
I drifted upward.
Slow.
Careful.
---
The moment I crossed into street level—
Everything went wrong.
---
A car stalled mid-intersection.
Traffic lights flickered into impossible sequences.
Three people stopped walking at the same time, all looking in different directions—
Yet directly at me.
---
"…Okay. That's unsettling."
> [Observation: Agreed.]
---
> [World Response:]
Probability Deviation: Minor
---
A wraith materialized from a man's shadow.
Not aggressive.
Confused.
---
> [Entity:]
— Spontaneous Wraith (Unstable)
"That's new."
> [Confirmation: Yes.]
---
I moved.
The wraith followed.
Not chasing.
Orbiting.
---
Two blocks later—
Another appeared.
Then another.
---
> [Anomaly Count Rising]
"…I'm leaking chaos."
> [Assessment: Accurate.]
---
Before I could react—
A net snapped shut around us.
Steel threads.
Runes humming.
Hunters.
---
> [Hunter Team Detected:]
Classification: High-Rank Independent Unit
"Target acquired!"
"Contain all manifestations!"
---
The wraiths panicked.
One lunged.
A hunter fired.
Light ripped it apart.
---
> [Collateral Loss Detected:]
"…This is my fault."
> [Ethical Query: Acknowledged.]
---
I pulled inward.
Trying to suppress the signature.
---
> [Attempt Failed: Chaotic Signature Resists Suppression]
"…Of course it does."
---
A hunter's gaze locked onto me.
Eyes wide.
"Spirit core—unregistered!"
---
He raised a talisman.
---
> [Threat Level: Severe]
---
I made a choice.
Not to fight.
Not to flee.
---
I anchored.
---
> [New Technique Attempted:]
Emotional Grounding (Prototype)
I fed calm into the chaos.
Not control.
Acceptance.
---
The wraiths slowed.
Stabilized.
Hunters hesitated.
---
"What… is he doing?" someone whispered.
---
The net trembled.
Didn't break.
But didn't tighten.
---
> [Effect:]
Chaotic Signature: Temporarily Harmonized
---
My core burned.
---
> [Spirit Core Integrity: 52% → 49%]
---
But the street quieted.
Lights stabilized.
The wraiths faded naturally.
---
Silence fell.
---
The hunters stared.
Conflicted.
---
"That wasn't exorcism," one muttered.
---
I drifted upward.
Slowly.
Openly.
---
"No killing," I said.
"Just… balance."
---
They didn't attack.
Didn't bow.
But they didn't pursue.
---
> [Reputation Change:]
— Anomaly Spirit (Non-hostile: Conditional)
---
I disappeared into the night.
Heart racing.
Core aching.
---
> [System Update:]
Emotional Grounding → Registered (Unstable Skill)
---
"…So chaos can listen."
> [Conclusion: Sometimes.]
---
Above the city—
Something watched.
Not law.
Not rogue.
---
Curious.
---