Release #9 - Chapter 9: Are You Spiraling or Surviving?

Cornelius finds himself in his mind with Coral, his deceased best friend, where they share a tender, bantering moment. Coral gently challenges Cornelius’ self-destructive behavior, calling out his obsessive grief and refusal to move forward. Her words hit deep, especially when she asks him what part of himself is left if all he clings to is pain. Cornelius admits that letting go feels like letting go of her. Despite his resolve for revenge, Coral’s parting wish is simple yet heartbreaking: “I want you to live.” That fragile peace shatters when Cornelius wakes in a blood-soaked slaughterhouse interrogating a dying man. He’s soon confronted by Belarus, a brutal, arrogant enforcer linked to the World Church. Their battle erupts violently, crashing through the Market District. Cornelius fights with cold precision, but Belarus proves unnervingly strong, despite barely registering any Interna. When Belarus names Rose as Coral’s killer, Cornelius is shaken. The fight escalates again, forcing Cornelius to confront a terrifying truth: this man may not have power in the traditional sense, but he’s still beyond what Cornelius understands. Flashbacks to Miss Charlie’s lesson about Interna highlight the disturbing impossibility of Belarus’s strength. The chapter ends with Belarus glowing with twisted glee, eager to “play,” while Cornelius is left reeling, physically, mentally, and emotionally.