[[Conn Thompson]]'s plan to use it to extract the truth from [[The Sword]] regarding [[The Crushing Fist]] however resulted in unusual behavior of both the device and [[The Sword]] himself, with the Soul Reader displaying jumbled text followed by 'CRITICAL FAILURE'. Further manipulation of the Soul Reader resulted in a powerful multispatial discharge from the device, along with emergence of a powerful malicious entity within [[The Sword]]. Deactivation of the Soul Reader allowed [[The Sword]]'s normal personality to reassert itself.
The Soul Reader appears to be designed to prevent its own loss, altering the perception and behavior of the user to avoid its loss through neglect, forgetfulness or deliberate disposal. Currently the only known way for the device to be disposed of by a user is for it to be given and willingly accepted by another person.