The seventh student found Kael rather than the reverse.
She appeared at the warehouse during a midnight teaching session, materializing from darkness that felt fundamentally wrong—not Oblivion's forgetfulness or Ruin's ending, but something else entirely. Something that made reality flinch away from her presence.
"You're the Contract Weaver," she said, voice echoing with harmonics that shouldn't exist in normal space. "The one who teaches dissolved bearers how to remain functional. I need that teaching."
Kael's Contract Sense recoiled from her signature—not because it was hostile, but because it was incomprehensible. Every bearer had a distinct pattern. This woman's pattern was all patterns simultaneously, shifting through different pathway signatures so rapidly it created conceptual vertigo.
"Identity," Kael demanded, his marked hand blazing defensively. "Pathway, Sequence, intentions."
"Identity is... complicated." She stepped fully into the warehouse light, revealing a young woman in her early twenties with eyes that cycled through different colors every few seconds—void-dark, gold-flecked, silver-bright, crimson-burning, emptiness-reflecting. "I'm Zhou Mei. I awakened to something that shouldn't exist. Multiple pathways. Simultaneously."
The warehouse went silent. Even Yan Shou, who'd been observing the session, manifested completely from shadows.
"That's impossible," Inspector Jiang said flatly. "Pathway bearers bond with one divine concept. Multiple bonding would tear consciousness apart."
"It is tearing me apart." Zhou Mei's voice cracked. "I awakened six weeks ago. Every pathway signature in the city resonated with me simultaneously. I'm not just one bearer—I'm fragmenting into nine different bearers occupying the same body. In three months, maybe less, the personalities will completely separate and I'll cease to exist as unified consciousness."
Kael's analytical mind processed this with cold efficiency. The theoretical tenth pathway—the unification the Chain Order feared. But not achieved through deliberate multi-pathway binding. Through spontaneous resonance with all nine divine concepts simultaneously.
"Show me your abilities," Kael commanded.
Zhou Mei raised her hand. In rapid succession, she demonstrated:
Black chains forming—Binding.
Reality blurring—Deception.
Wants amplifying—Desire.
Existence dissolving—Oblivion.
Truths manifesting—Truth.
Endings approaching—Ruin.
Control asserting—Dominion.
Hunger consuming—she stopped abruptly, hand shaking. "I can't show the last two.
Ascension and Identity. They're too dangerous. Every time I access them, I lose more of myself."
"You're the multi-pathway phenomenon the Chain Order mentioned," Kael said. "The theoretical unification bearer. You shouldn't exist."
"I know. But I do exist. For now. Until the fragmentation completes." Zhou Mei's eyes settled on a desperate plea—genuine human emotion beneath the pathway chaos.
"I'm losing myself. Nine divine concepts fighting for control, each one pulling me toward different dissolution. I need structure. I need protocols. I need someone who understands becoming less human while trying to remain ethical."
"The Chain Order will eliminate you the moment they discover you exist."
"I know. That's why I came to you first. You've negotiated with them, maintained autonomy despite oversight, built trust through transparency." Zhou Mei moved closer, desperation evident. "Teach me to fragment ethically. Help me separate into nine distinct personalities that each maintain moral frameworks instead of nine chaotic beings that corrupt independently. Then report me to Chain Order with proof I'm not a threat. That's my only survival path."
Kael's mind raced through implications. Teaching Zhou Mei was the highest-risk student recruitment possible. She was exactly what Chain Order feared most.
Harboring her without immediate reporting was contract violation. But she was also:
Seven distinct learning challenges in one student—perfect for protocol-heavy teaching that minimized memory erosion.
Living proof that multi-pathway unification led to fragmentation, not synthesis—valuable data for Chain Order threat assessment.
Desperate enough to accept any terms, structured enough to benefit from framework teaching, ethical enough to seek guidance rather than power.
The mathematics were complex. But the expected value was positive if handled correctly.
"I'll teach you," Kael said. "With conditions. First: I report your existence to Chain Order immediately, with full disclosure of your situation and my teaching plan. Second: You submit to continuous monitoring—Inspector Jiang's Truth verification, my Contract Sense observation, monthly Chain Order audits. Third: If fragmentation becomes uncontrollable, you agree to voluntary termination rather than risk nine corrupted bearers emerging."
"Those are harsh terms."
"Those are survival terms. Accept them or leave. I don't compromise on transparency." Kael's marked hand pulsed steadily. "You're the most dangerous student I could possibly take. That requires maximum safeguards."
Zhou Mei was silent for a long moment, her eyes cycling through colors as different pathway fragments processed the decision. Finally: "I accept. All conditions. Teach me to fragment safely."
"Then we begin immediately. You don't have time for standard curriculum." Kael pulled out specialized materials he'd been preparing for dissolution-focused teaching. "Sit. Everyone else, observe. This is advanced protocol construction under extreme fragmentation pressure."
For the next four hours, Kael taught with unprecedented intensity. Not theoretical frameworks—urgent practical protocols for maintaining coherent identity while fragmenting into multiple distinct personalities.
"You're not preventing fragmentation," Kael explained. "That's impossible at this point. Instead, you're structuring it. Each emerging personality gets explicit protocols, clear ethical boundaries, specific operational parameters. When you fragment, the nine resulting bearers will share your core values even if they have different perspectives."
"That's possible?"
"It has to be. The alternative is nine chaotic bearers with no ethical constraints." Kael wrote rapidly, creating protocol documents. "First principle: document your current unified values before fragmentation completes. Create explicit value statements that persist across personality split. Each fragment reads these statements daily, treating them as foundational truth even when individual perspective shifts."
Zhou Mei absorbed the teaching desperately, taking notes with shaking hands. Her eyes cycled faster as different pathways competed for attention.
"How long do I have?" she asked.
Inspector Jiang's silver eyes flared with Truth sight. "Six weeks. Maybe seven. Then the fragmentation completes and you become nine distinct individuals occupying one body. Cognitive collapse is inevitable at that point unless structured properly."
"Six weeks to learn what normally takes months." Zhou Mei's voice trembled. "Is that enough?"
"It has to be." Kael's tone carried absolute conviction despite emotional absence. "We'll meet daily. Intensive sessions. Protocol immersion. By week five, you'll have complete framework for ethical fragmentation. Week six, we implement final preparations for personality split."
"And the Chain Order?"
"I'm reporting you now." Kael pulled out communication jade. "Complete transparency.
They'll send observers immediately. You'll spend the next six weeks under constant surveillance while learning to fragment safely. That's your reality. Accept it or leave."
Zhou Mei nodded slowly. "I accept. Better to live under observation than die from uncontrolled fragmentation."
Kael activated the jade, transmitting directly to the Pale Blade. "Emergency report.
Multi-pathway bearer discovered. Spontaneous resonance with all nine concepts.
Fragmentation in progress. Request immediate assessment and monitoring authorization for teaching intervention. Situation is exactly what Chain Order feared, but containable through structured dissolution."
Response came within seconds: "Hold position. Full team en route. Do not let her leave. If she becomes hostile, terminate immediately."
"Understood." Kael set down the jade. "They're coming. You're about to be surrounded by Foundation Establishment cultivators ready to eliminate you. Stay calm. Show them you're seeking control, not power. Demonstrate that teaching frameworks are working."
"I'm terrified."
"Good. Terror implies you understand stakes. That's first sign of judgment we can work with." Kael organized his teaching materials. "Now, while we wait: recite your core values. The things you believe in regardless of which pathway fragment is dominant. This will be your foundation."
Zhou Mei spoke, her voice steadying as she articulated the principles that defined her across all fragmenting personalities:
"Human life has intrinsic value. Power should protect, not dominate. Knowledge should be shared, not hoarded. Suffering should be minimized, not exploited.
Individuals should have choices, not just obligations."
"Good. Write those down. Memorize them. Tattoo them if necessary. Those five principles are your anchor across fragmentation." Kael's marked hand pulsed. "Every emerging personality must commit to these before full separation. That's your homework until Chain Order arrives."
The Chain Order team materialized twenty minutes later—Commander Wulong with full elimination squad, all radiating the grim readiness of people prepared to destroy a world-ending threat.
"The multi-pathway bearer," Wulong said, spiritual pressure flooding the warehouse.
"Show yourself."
Zhou Mei stood, hands visible, eyes cycling through all nine colors. "I'm Zhou Mei. I'm fragmenting into nine bearers. I'm seeking structured dissolution to prevent catastrophic corruption. Please let me complete ethical training before termination."
The straightforward honesty seemed to catch Wulong off-guard. "You're asking permission to become the exact threat we've spent centuries preventing?"
"I'm asking guidance to become nine separate ethical bearers instead of one chaotic multi-pathway monster." Zhou Mei's voice was steady despite visible terror. "Kael Yuan has teaching methodology that can structure my fragmentation. Give me six weeks under your observation. If I fail to maintain control, eliminate me. But if I succeed, you get nine bearers with explicit ethical frameworks instead of nine wild powers."
Wulong turned to Kael. "You believe this is possible?"
"I believe it's optimal available option. Killing her now prevents theoretical threat but wastes opportunity to study multi-pathway fragmentation under controlled conditions. Teaching her provides data and potentially nine properly structured bearers." Kael's analytical mind was presenting the case as pure cost-benefit.
"Expected value is positive if we implement maximum monitoring."
"This is insane."
"This is unprecedented. But precedent is just data we haven't collected yet." Kael gestured to Zhou Mei. "She came seeking help rather than hiding. That suggests baseline ethical orientation that teaching can reinforce. Risk is manageable if we act decisively."
Commander Wulong stared at Zhou Mei for a long moment. Then, incredibly: "Six weeks. Under continuous observation. Daily progress reports. First sign of uncontrolled fragmentation, we terminate immediately. No negotiations, no exceptions."
"Accepted," Zhou Mei and Kael said simultaneously.
"You're building something dangerous," Wulong said to Kael. "Seven students now, one of whom is existential threat to regional stability. I hope your confidence is justified."
"My confidence is calculated from probability analysis. Analysis suggests positive outcomes exceed negative ones by seventeen percent margin." Kael's voice remained clinical. "That's sufficient for commitment."
The Chain Order established monitoring protocols—two operatives assigned to Zhou Mei permanently, one audit every three days, kill authorization pre-approved for emergency response.
And Kael began the most intensive teaching of his existence—six weeks to structure a fragmenting consciousness, to create nine ethical bearers from one dissolving personality, to prove that even multi-pathway unification could be channeled toward good outcomes.
His own dissolution accelerated from the intensive memory access required. Each day of teaching cost him weeks of personal history. But the mathematics suggested success was achievable if he maintained focus.
Seven students now. Three remaining for pathway contract completion.
Eighteen months of identity remaining—if he was lucky.
Six weeks to either prevent catastrophe or trigger it.
The calculations were tight. But still favorable.
As long as nothing unexpected disrupted the timeline.
The teaching intensified.
The dissolution accelerated.
And Kael Yuan sacrificed himself piece by piece to prevent Zhou Mei from becoming the nightmare everyone feared.
Revolutionary or monstrous.
The mathematics still couldn't determine which.
But the work continued regardless.
Because that was all he knew how to do anymore.