Author’s Note: Full Transparency

For a quick warning beforehand, this Author's Note will contain spoilers for the rest of the story.

And why do that?

I'm of the mind that no matter how good your idea may be, it takes execution to evoke any emotion.

This story is written a bit differently from how I usually do. A kind of test before the sequel.

But that's a story for another day.

Right now, I'm going to go by a plan that has the broad strokes in order… but not the micro level.

Like works like Mushoku Tensei, there is going to be a lot of filler between each 'Major Turning Point'.

Interaction between characters whether good or bad, but not to the extent of changing the status quo. Basically setting up future interactions and how things will pan out. I haven't planned this.

Just like Caden's story in the last chapter.

You might think that adding really important backstory moments like that out of nowhere would ruin the flow, but if the 'Major Turning Points' stay the same, then everything will go as to the plan.

What are the themes I'll explore in this story?

Heroism.

To be perfectly honest, I'm gonna take heavy inspiration from the story of Honkai Impact and its take on heroism. Which is that sacrifice isn't the right way to save people, and it leads to tragedy.

Which is what that story was about in the end.

Maybe it isn't good to say that I'd be outright mimicking another work so openly, but it's not like this is the same as copying. After all, my main characters and story are set to be nothing like that.

The world will also lean closer to Arknights than Honkai Impact later on, as events are different.

Now to move onto the 'Major Turning Points'.

The reason I'm talking about this now is because this Author's Note will be unlike those before this.

I'm going to keep this here for reference.

Getting my ideas down on a page helps me plan things better. A written idea is better than imaginary ones only existing in the mind. It's better for me personally to have something to rely on.

If anyone sees any plot hole or flaw that could be seen in this description, don't hesitate to comment.

I'll update this Author's Note based on what I think is nice to add and what I'm just gonna ignore.

Since not all ideas are compatible with my vision.

And even if that's a turn off for some, it's not like I can communicate how exactly I'll make it all work.

But what I CAN do is try to communicate intent.

What brought forth the need to make this Author's Note is that there was this certain Manga I read.

The main character is an unapologetic sadist who talks too much, and he's criticised for it a whole lot.

The entire story STILL revolved around him though.

Even though I was waiting for this tightly criticised main character to get his just deserts, I'm always disappointed by how he ends up avoiding justice with stupid plans and implausible circumstances.

To the point I couldn't understand why the author would torture the audience by making them feel a sense of… anti-catharsis(?). Destroying any reason to like the story with the main character's cruelty.

And that is finally the Segway into THIS story's plot. How things will turn out the next chapter.

I'm not going to sugarcoat the fact that I believe that cruelty is the crudest form of 'strength'.

It's more of a fear tactic used by the weak.

They do it because they can't handle doing anything else, which is why it never works in the hands of villains. Their tactics usually leads to fruitless conflicts and undeserved, unjust karma.

But I also hate it in the hands of heroes too.

I hate it when the heroes justify their actions with their good intentions. As if that's enough.

That good intent is all you need behind a blade.

The next chapter starts with the main character, Adam Ocelot, who is being influenced by the residual memories and beliefs of Adam Graham in the past, killing some demonic goblins.

All until he finally moves on to the weakest person in the room trapped in a cage. Unable to escape.

He cuts the cage and enters with the intent of killing the last living creature before calming down.

Since as said before, 'Hysteria' was a status ailment that'll make him kill everything in sight.

If unattended, he would kill the captive.

Unfortunately, the last captive wasn't really capable of holding him off even for a second.

After all, they would've escaped if that could work.

This is the first 'Minor Turning Point' in the story that will introduce a new character to the work.

Name is undecided yet, but the placeholder name just to make things simpler is 'Fallen Heroine'. She is secretly a 'Hero Candidate' who was supposed succeed the leader of the 'Five Fortunes', who is a lightning user with clairvoyant eyes of magic.

The evil cult in this world ended up kidnapping and leaving her for death after carving out her eyes.

Meaning that she's blind when meeting Adam.

Small, frail, helpless, and unable to take care of herself now that her sight was taken away.

In this tense situation, she still had enough of a sense for magic to know the goblins were being killed… and the person approaching her after cutting the cage had a rare Light Attribute power.

Thus, she calls him 'Saviour'.

Asking if he was alright.

He stays completely silent. Confused, but his sanity starts to come back at the familiarity here.

Memories that were erased regarding what happened with Caden surfaced momentarily.

She continues to try to hide her emotions, but ended up failing and crying like a child in the end.

A display that reminded Adam of himself.

How he was just like that before fighting Chela.

This brings out his mercy, but it wasn't the deciding factor behind his next set of actions.

The memories he had weren't all bias. They were full of interpretations you needed to look deep into.

The way he saw the world changed and matured.

And when that happened, how could he leave her?

Adam immediately decided to take care of this little girl until she can leave on her own. To the point his Innate Semblance becomes to 'Emotion' of Discipline and 'Ideal' of a perfect 'Guardian'.

Thus, Innate Semblance 'Disciplined Guardian'.

The effects of this are undecided for now.

Does that sound way too vague right now?

Meh, I'll make it up while I'm writing it.

Anyway, this Minor Turning Point will turn some heads on whether it be pedo if they are a couple in future. My answer to that is Adam Ocelot is a child supplemented by Adam Graham's memories, and isn't a case of possession or true reincarnation.

Therefore, it should be fine.

On top of that, though I plan to give them a close relationship, it won't be based off romance.

Like his Gift suggests, he would see himself as the guardian of this future powerhouse he's caring for.

She might be weak in the beginning, but Adam will find out that her fate to be a 'Hero' is too strong.

A dreadful 'Universal Prodigy' capable of excelling in anything with or without having guidance.

Learning Skills even Adam can't obtain in his life.

This will lead into a slice of life until the first major turning point, which is his match against Caden.

The battle to determine the future Alpha.

After the prerequisites for this Major Turning Point are met (such as creating personal weapon with the Fallen Heroine, mastering his varied abilities and talents, becoming more familiar with Estelle and her new individuality from seeing herself like a 'real girl' with thoughts and her own desires, etc), it becomes time to test all of that effort he put in.

Of course, there is a big catch.

His memories once again will cause him difficulties because he wouldn't be able to learn their Clan's 'Wolf Style' unless he gives in to his instincts. Not being in control of them, but serving his own ego.

Becoming a true Alpha (which wasn't his nature).

It clashed with his 'Discipline'.

That, and he couldn't help but feel an innate fear towards his killer that only his body remembered.

Caden would take advantage of this easily.

Beating him nearly to death until the 'Seed of the Calamity' the mysterious man from the last chapter awakens. It feeds of the insecurities and negativity of Adam Graham to create a persona just like him.

Think of it like FGO. This is 'Adam Graham' Alter.

And this dark ego is the Lust Archdemon.

Not the typical kind, but a more loosely defined Lust tailored towards different kinds of people.

Each calamity being different in some respect.

Adam Graham's interpretation is the lust for emotions. After all, he was a natural sociopath.

His original 'Empty' Semblance was born a part of him without choice, so his ideal became to 'Desire'.

And his 'Empty Desire' awakened like a spider.

But this isn't a normal Superpowered Evil Side that merely does some damage. It's a 'Major' event.

Adam Graham suppressed the weakened mind of Adam Ocelot and basically tries destroying the world. His power unlimited since he could steal and drain Mana from anything his threads touched.

Any pure magic damage simply made him stronger.

And in a world where magic is a way of life, this difference causes many to accidentally help him.

It takes the combined efforts of Simon Rainglow's parents, Adam Ocelot's father, and Faith Ernest's parents to take him down. They destroy Adam Graham for good even if it tore his father's heart.

Thinking his child was dead, Fenrir didn't go looking for him afterwards… but he DID survive/

The mysterious man took him away at that point.

I will then start to go into the stories of the other party members who independently search for him.

Their 'bond' allows them to sense their fifth spirit partner the closer each of them get to each other.

Their fates changed after the entire world realised the threat of extinction, but it was still corrupted enough that Simon, Sapphire and Wesker all had to join forces to save Faith Ernest, then Adam.

Unknowing that he was the one who killed most of their parents. Indeed, 'meeting earlier' than before.

When they found him, they found that though the Adam Graham persona died, Adam Ocelot was barely hanging on after another Seed of the Calamity was placed inside him before being tested on. Experiments they found related to the kingdom.

The mysterious man is finally introduced as the top researcher of Wesker's kingdom. He asks them to return his test subject, but end up running away to save him… even if it wasn't for long enough.

The evil Dragon Cult eventually finds them and tries to kill Adam. Only to be protected by that sadistic researcher that had toyed with Adam Ocelot until his entire personality had changed.

Unlike before, Adam Ocelot's 'Discipline' had been shattered at this point and turned into 'Alpha'.

His heart filled with venom for humanity, but also a feeling of love for the friends that saved him too.

This turns into a balanced scale in of hate and care.

But his confusion subsides at the end of this arc when the researcher reveals his true identity.

He was with the Dragon Cult this whole time, even if he was excommunicated for unknown reasons.

His goal was to awaken the calamities, and Adam just so happened to be the best vessel for them.

The traits he had allowed him to adjust to anything placed within him. Something unique in this world.

When he is overcome with his hatred, a new form based off sharks. His Semblance 'Alpha Fury'.

Unlike the first time, Adam was in control of himself despite being overcome by anger and hatred.

He only killed members of the Dragon Cult.

But that didn't stop the fearful humanity from trying to kill him with everything they'd built up.

The researcher had advanced humanity far in just a few years. Creating weapons based off the power of calamities. Of course, their fake imitations could do nothing about the real thing in front of them.

At least, not until he met the Fallen Heroine again.

She had grown up in their time away. Turning into a teenage girl who had mastered too many abilities.

When her eyes were healed, her strength became equal if not stronger than her mentor at this point.

She recognised Adam easily.

Even though she hadn't seen his face, she remembered the magic signature of her saviour.

But they couldn't come to a peaceful resolution.

He was a calamity who was gradually being eroded by the World Dragon. His sanity wouldn't last long.

Adam knew this too.

Which was why he… let her kill him.

Acting like a villain that needed to be put down immediately, then letting her sword stab into him.

It was only after seeing his smile she knew he tricked her, but by that point it was way too late.

Adam Ocelot was no more.

However, the researcher that had driven him insane had survived somehow… and then cloned Adam.

Creating a vessel by a mixture of a few gene types based off someone he knew. A new person born.

Locked in a lab for all of eternity.

…Until those who had a 'bond' with the soul resting in this new vessel broke in and helped him escape.

Adam Ocelot had created a successor personality at this point. His new name 'Sidmund Tailor'.

A young butler working for the new Duchess Sapphire Swordwick, who was friends with the kingdom's current King along with the successor of the four Heroes apart from Fallen Heroine's mentor.

The relationship dynamic of their friendship changed since Adam's new incarnation, Sidmund Tailor, was young compared to them, but they still were the closest thing to family he'd ever known.

Except, Sidmund had inherited the Seeds of the Calamity from Graham and Ocelot respectively.

He was 'Disciplined', but different compared to his predecessors. Having a temperament befitting someone who had high dignity. The Major Turning Points from here are on are less World-breaking.

Mentors die, things change, big baddies are defeated, all until they finally defeat the dragon.

Then a happy 'The End'.

They spend the rest of their finite lives together and their future incarnations become friends in the sequel. That's basically everything for the story which will happen to contain a lot of content.

If you have any thoughts, comment away.