"The Corruption of Knowledge"
Chapter 13: Steps Toward the Commander
Author: Frenames
"In every Concept Line, there are ten levels," the Commander explained, his voice sharp, echoing like the hammer strikes of a blacksmith in the silence of the room.
"We call this Pattern 1–10. We call it a pattern because you must ascend step by step. No shortcuts. No cheating."
He paused, staring directly into Fray's eyes.
"You must climb each level in order. If you break the flow of the process, it's like walking on the edge of a cliff—one wrong step, and it's over. The knowledge that enters your mind will be incomplete, and every shortcut is a punishment. One mistake, and everything is lost."
Fray tried to suppress his fear, feeling heat in his chest and trembling in his hands. Each word from the Commander was like fire sparking inside him—if he didn't handle it carefully, it might consume him whole.
In his mind, the Concept Line was like a game—there were levels, but you had to start from the beginning before ascending. Each level brought both danger and knowledge, and each mistake could be a final move in the game of life.
The Commander continued, "If you skip levels, don't be surprised when you stumble on the path. The process must be step by step—like food, you need to digest one flavor before tasting the next. Every shortcut is a punishment, one wrong move, and it's over."
Fray exhaled deeply, the weight in his chest feeling like stones pressing down. Every word of the Commander brought a pang to his heart and tension to his shoulders. He realized: power was like fire—if you didn't handle it with care, it would consume you.
The Commander went silent. Fray waited, expecting more, but none came.
"What is this? Is that all you have to say? Nothing else?" he whispered to himself, trying to control both fear and frustration. Then he remembered the warning: "Welcome to the gates of death and madness."
Gathering courage, he asked,
"I remember you said, 'welcome to the gates of death and madness.' What did you mean by that?"
The Commander laughed, a sound carrying a secret amusement.
"Ahhh… I forgot to explain. I said that because life becomes hellish when you become an Ascendant. One mistake, and you could go mad… or become a monster."
Fray swallowed hard. He felt the weight of responsibility pressing through his body—his heart pounding double-time, his eyes flickering with fear and tension.
"But why does an Ascendant go mad or become a monster?" he asked, trying to steady his voice.
"When you become an Ascendant, the Concept Line sends information to your brain," the Commander explained. "Like smoke merging into your body, it enters both flesh and mind. We call this the Principles Pattern. With each level, new information enters your mind."
He sipped his coffee before continuing:
"But you must digest and understand it, like food in the stomach. If you fail to digest each piece, you take one step closer to madness and death."
Fray sank to his knees under the weight of this revelation. Every word pressed like a stone on his chest; each breath felt heavy, and his eyebrows quivered under the gravity of the situation.
"And this is where the Unknown Principles Pattern comes in—information that isn't part of the main flow, but enters your mind alongside it," added the Commander.
Fray was confused.
"What do you mean, information that isn't part of the flow?"
"Relax, you're overthinking," the Commander said with a slight smile.
"Let's take it slow. The Unknown Principles Pattern confuses your mind while the Principles Pattern enters. This is what we call Equilibrium—it prevents a person from immediately understanding the Principles Pattern of their Concept Line."
"To give you an example, my Concept Line is Wrath."
He raised his left hand, and suddenly fire erupted from his palm before vanishing moments later.
Fray's eyes widened in astonishment at the phenomenon.
"Why is the Concept Line of Wrath associated with fire? Because a person's anger is like fire—the angrier you get, the stronger the flame becomes."
"Concept Lines have opposites. That's why I said: for every black, there's white; for every front, there's back. That is Equilibrium."
"Commander do you know where the Unknown principles come from ", Fray ask.
"I don't know where the Unknown principles come from", commander asnwer.
The commander continue to explain.
"So, if I try to understand the Principles Pattern of my Concept Line of Wrath, and my mental strength isn't firm, the opposite Concept Line will enter my mind and disrupt my understanding."
"I was almost corrupted once—I would have become a monster if I hadn't stopped learning the Principles Pattern for the time being."
The Commander paused and looked at Fray.
"Because of this, some get corrupted. As the elders say: 'For every white, there is black; for every black, there is white.' Equilibrium maintains balance in the world."
"How many times were you close to corruption?" Fray asked, anxiety etched across his face.
"Not that many," the Commander answered. "After digesting the information from the Principles Pattern, I was almost corrupted."
Hearing that, Fray's eyes nearly popped. In his mind: "What did he just say? Not that many? After digesting all that information, he was almost corrupted… and became a monster!"
Fray exhaled, trying to absorb the weight of the words. Each pattern felt like lashes against his body, and every word of the Commander ignited a fire in his mind.
"Is there a solution?" Fray asked, worry visible on his face.
"There is," the Commander replied. "Take your time digesting the Principles Pattern. Find inspiration, meditate, and keep your mind clear. If your mind is unclear, the Unknown Principles Pattern will invade, making understanding harder."
He paused and sipped his coffee again.
"Like what happened to the priest who became a monster—his mental strength was weak, allowing the Unknown Principles Pattern to enter fully. He became corrupted, and that started his madness and become a monster."
Fray nodded. Mental stability was key to surviving the knowledge and danger.
"Here is my advice," the Commander added,
"When exploring the Principles Pattern, do not force understanding. Forcing it causes anxiety, misinterpretation, and corruption. Take it slow; let knowledge enter naturally."
Fray fell silent, meditating, feeling the weight in every part of his body—chest, hands, and eyes all signaling tension and responsibility.
"Just one question," he whispered, "how does the strength of Patterns 1–10 differ? How powerful do they become as levels rise?"
"Ah, I forgot to tell you," the Commander said, slapping his forehead.
"Patterns 1–6are at human level. 7–9 are demigods—they are like gods in power but still human. 10—they are gods."
Fray thought, still curious:
"How many have become gods?"
The Commander looked at him as if seeing a foolish question:
"Do you think becoming a god is like eating or drinking? The higher you go, the fewer can succeed—and each level is harder. The first level alone takes three years or more, and you never know if you'll advance or become corrupted."
Fray swallowed hard. The weight of each level felt like a mountain, and each step was a threat to his life.
"So… it takes that long?" he asked.
"Yes," the Commander replied, firm and unyielding.
To be continue...