Keelan: Shrewd Adventurer
"What?! The Investigative Corps? Has Alpha lost his mind? He should have utilized a strong Descendant like you, not put you in the Investigative Corps! This is a waste!"
Jeremy reacted with disgust after hearing HQ's decision. Keelan watched him silently and sighed. Keelan Ayodele, was one of the more prolific Descendants to be dispatched on Intercept Battles, usually volunteering for them, he had a high success rate. He was an essential Descendant and a vital strategic asset in Intercept Battles, as he used his Arche abilities to manipulate wind and air pressure. He could create favorable conditions in battles, such as stopping Colossi movements and altering air currents to redirect incoming attacks.
Although he was dispatched to Intercept Battles on HQ's orders, Keelan was more driven by his own will. The adrenaline and exhilaration of fighting Colossi in the unpredictable space of the Void had become a driving force for him to fight and gave him a reason to live. However, HQ was concerned about his prolonged exposure to Void Energy, and discouraged him from participating in Intercept Battles, but Keelan was undeterred. He participated in Intercept Battles as if they were an unbreakable habit, unaware of what the feelings of exaltation were doing to his body. Eventually, a massive amount of Void Energy accumulated in his system, causing abnormalities and altering his Arche Trait. Albion HQ and the Magisters were baffled by the violation of a fundamental rule: "Arche is genetic material inscribed in your DNA and is immutable." This meant their greatest strategic asset, the Descendants, had been compromised.
They were unsure what problems the transformation of the Arche ability due to Void Energy might cause. In the end, HQ decided to remove Keelan from all major missions, including Intercepts, and assigned him to the Investigative Corps until the matter could be discussed. The work of the Investigative Corps was by no means easy, but for Keelan, who felt alive during life or death Intercept Battles, his new environment bored him to death. Finally, Keelan was summoned to HQ to discuss the situation with Alpha.
"We've decided you're a good fit for augmenting the Void Vessel Special Recon Unit and have changed your assignment to the Void Vessel Special Recon Unit, H.O.U.N.D. You're an outstanding Descendant, you've participated in countless Intercept Battles, you're familiar with the peculiarities of the Void... and you're immune to Void Energy, so you check all the boxes. You'll be a vital asset to H.O.U.N.D."
Breaking the seriousness of Alpha's voice, Keelan let out a chuckle of mockery.
"So, I'm a hound specialized for the Void."
Alpha was set to retort to his cockiness, but Keelan was faster.
"Your wish is my command."
Keelan felt unbridled joy that he could fight again. It would be in the Void Abyss, in uncharted territory, against enemies he'd never faced before, and he could feel the exhilaration of being alive in the face of that enemy. Of course he was happy. He felt like his heart was beating for the first time in a long time. On his first day in H.O.U.N.D., his training partner, Ines Raya, asked him. "Why are you so happy?" As he replied, he smiled wryly.
"I enjoy the unexpected."
Exclusive Arche, Void Corrosion Emission
For the first time in Albion's history, everyone involved with Arche, including the highest ranking researchers in Albion's Engineering Institute and the Magisters led by Anais, has been mobilized to study the events that led to the transformation of the Arche Trait. Keelan's new Arche ability is a fusion of his existing Arche with Void Energy, so he retained the ability to control wind and atmospheric pressure, but the air currents he creates now release Void Corrosion. The researchers also found that Keelan's new Arche ability is similar to that of the Colossus Obstructer and have labeled his ability, "Void Corrosion Emission". Fortunately, Void Corrosion does not react with the other Descendants or their Arche factors, and this revelation allowed HQ to make the decision to assign Keelan to H.O.U.N.D. As Keelan trained with H.O.U.N.D., he learned to use his newfound powers in a way he never has before.
"New things always excite me. Whether that be new battles or new powers."
- Keelan