Path of the Carnivore

Draven's breath halted. 

Two…he had two Gates…

Though there existed Jumpers who awakened Gates with already existing 'Pathways'—derivatives of their existing Ego—having two entirely different Gates? Unheard of.

Fidgeting with his fingers, Draven thought carefully on which of the two Gates to enter first. Alas, one was…frankly disturbing. The other, albeit crude, at the very least didn't look like it'd devour him whole.

Having decided, he made his way into the Mirror Gate.

Pressing his body against the cold glass, he allowed himself to sink deep into its surface. He felt as if a thick layer of slime had slowly begun crawling up his skin — absorbing his figure into its form.

Even though he struggled slightly, the living mirror refused to let go. Until finally, he was completely encompassed by the liquid glass.

***

With a loud popping sound, the mirror spat Draven on the opposing side. Leaving him covered head-to-toe in a disgusting goo-like substance. 

Shaking the goo from his incorporeal body, he turned back to the inanimate object with a scowl. 

'Damned thing…'

Almost mockingly, the mirror slowly rippled.

Sucking his teeth, Draven turned his attention to the world beyond him. If he was right, this should've been his, or one of his, Egos.

Placed before him was an infinitely expanding world of mirrors, akin to a Funhouse, each mirror reflected him differently.

One made him appear taller, one made his previously blood-red hair appear light brown. And many others presented a wide array of forms. Yet, he was not granted the opportunity to see them all, as soon enough a collective of words appeared before him.

This was the 'Nexus'. The title given to the system which tracked a Jumper's Ego and progress as they venture through the dimensions.

The air around the radiating letters rippled and warped, twisting like some sort of tortured creature as it displayed the necessary information.

[Welcome, Jumper Draven!]

[Displaying Ego Data…]

Considering an Ego was formed based on the type of Key used to open its corresponding Gate, he contemplated which type was used to open his own.

There was Corpus, which created 'Physical' abilities or Egos, the terms were interchangeable after all. Corpus Egos would always revolve around an alteration of the physical body in one way or another — though it was rare — it could also impact others' as well.

Mentis created 'Mental' Egos. These weren't always simply enhancements to intelligence or thought processes, but could completely alter how one's mind interacts with their form or the world around them.

Some Mentis Egos even allowed people to move objects simply by thinking about it.

Finally, the most coveted of the three were 'Spiritus'. Which rather than taking on the attributes of the Key, forced the Key to abide by the Ego. Creating a perfect ability for the wielder.

In the midst of his thoughts, the strange display interrupted him once again.

[ Gate Ranking: Novice's Gate

Ego Type: Spiritus

Ego Name: Doppelganger ]

'No way…'

Draven's lungs froze, his heart thumped against his ribs in a disjointed rhythm. First two Gates, now a Spiritus-Type Ego? 

Unprecedented.

'I bet the Sergeant is probably pissing in his boots right now…heh'

Though he didn't necessarily care what the Sergeant thought of him, it was nice to prove people wrong every now and again.

Really nice.

However, as he was reading the name of his Ego, a thought suddenly perforated his mind.

'Wait a second…Doppelganger? Then that memory back then…'

Suddenly, it felt as if pieces of a cluttered puzzle had all finally fallen into place. The strange Crimson Wasteland, the Key, even those strange memories regarding the Shelter and the 'Raiders'.

'None of those belonged to me? Or, it's more like they belonged to a version of me?'

Tilting his head, Draven commanded the Nexus to display more specific information regarding his Ego, and soon it did exactly that. The warped air formed new letters instantly.

[Ego Description: You are the world's single constant. No matter where it may be or in what form, 'you' are always present. Only the wielder of this Ego serves as the anchor of all other Doppelgangers.

Ego Ability: As the 'Anchor' for your Doppelgangers, you are capable of mimicking their individual Egos. Making them one with yourself.

Current Egos: 1/???]

For a second, Draven felt himself stumble backward. Despite the fact he was technically floating mid-air.

If what he believed the Nexus was saying was true…

'Then, just how many Gates could I awaken…? If my Doppelganger were to possess the ability to control flames, would I suddenly be able to as well?'

It suddenly felt as if all the struggle he'd gone through in his life had been repaid tenfold. 

This ability…without a doubt it was priceless. Even one Gate would at least guarantee you a comfortable, middle-class living if you were to do occasional work. But a practically limitless amount? It was ludicrous, but at the same time offered its own danger.

After all, humans despite that which is better than them. If there was one lesson to be learned from the slums, it was that.

'Then again, there's no way the drawback for this isn't insane. Nexus ain't that kind.'

As if responding to his mockery, the Nexus wrote a final set of words.

[Drawback: You must absorb the Locks of your Doppelgangers.]

Draven reeled, a Lock wasn't merely energy — it was a dying wish — when a living thing dies, it leaves behind a cluster of 'Life Energy' or 'Chi'. There was no other way for such a thing to be produced.

So then…to progress his ability…

'I have to kill them…over and over…'

Instinctively, his hand grasped his mouth. Keeping him from spewing the contents of his stomach, not that he was even sure he could do so in this form.

He wasn't like the people in the slums. Killing people without so much as a second thought, even for survival…he couldn't do it. Could he?

Shaking his head, he thought of the children who looked up to him. Those kids he'd practically raised back in the Shelter…the kids he thought of as siblings. What would it be like coming home to them drenched in blood?

Even if it was his own, he just couldn't do it. Not to another human.

'But how did I manage to awaken the other one, then?'

Looking back at the mirror, Draven thought about the carnivorous hole in the ground. Although he didn't enjoy envisioning the grotesque fissure.

He could explain it as the Doppelganger having died when he thrust the key into his chest.

'No, if that was the case I shouldn't have awakened my Gate. Even if through some twist in logic it still managed to awaken mine, how would the Lock have been absorbed across dimensions?'

He looked to the Nexus for answers, causing them to ripple before steadying almost right after. The letters engraved into the air vanishing from his sight, leaving him with nothing but shallow emptiness.

Perhaps, even the Nexus was hiding things from him.

***

Following a brief review of the Mirror Gate, Draven exited the gelatinous entrance. This time was no more pleasant than the last.

Gagging in conjunction with his attempts at shaking the slime off, he turned to face the opposing Gate. The monstrosity in his soul, one that never even originated from 'him' to begin with.

The maw of the strange Gate was horrific, like the amputated throat of some eldritch creature. Shallow breaths escape from its mouth, warming Draven's skin as he cautiously approached its depths.

Inside, were rows upon rows of mangle teeth.

Each row shredded the skin of the poor thing's esophagus with each contraction. For a moment, Draven even believed he heard its pained moans.

Taking a deep, regretful breath, he slowly stepped into the belly of the beast.