《Broker》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 She gripped the knife in her hand. Bloody tears flowed down her cheeks. Her messy black hair was askew. She looked down into his eyes, pleading, hoping, begging. He looked up at her without a shred of doubt or guilt. The city, the world burned around them. Her fingers trembled as the tip of the blade grated against skin inured to such mundane weapons. Her lips bent down in grief, her teeth bared, her heart breaking in her chest. She could smell it, the bodies of her friends, of every living person on the planet. ¡°Can¡¯t believe you survived that, girlie,¡± He croaked, blood leaking from his lips. His eyes were bloodshot, his jaw cracked, his nose streaming. ¡°You¡¯re one lucky bitch, if nothing else.¡± She clutched at her chest and gasped out a sob, raising the weapon again and bringing it down against his chest. With a twang and scraping sound it clipped off of his body. She tossed it aside with a frustrated scream. ¡°Otis!¡± She howled his name, slamming her fists against his nigh-indestructible body. ¡°Otis! Otis! Otis! Why?!¡± ¡°It was fun, so why are you bothering? I¡¯m dead anyway, you¡¯re dead, the world¡¯s dead, it¡¯s over,¡± He chuckled, smiling at her. ¡°Why do you even care?¡± She gripped the collar of his costume and tried to pull him up to look at her. She couldn¡¯t lift him. She didn¡¯t have the strength anymore. She rest her hands on his face and let out another sob as the flames raged around them, explosions, screams, life on earth was coming to an end. Ruination. It wasn¡¯t just his fault. All of them had become so god damn corrupt, obsessed with their power rather than using it to fight, to do the right damn thing! She hated them, she hated how petty and stupid humans could be. She screamed in his face, ¡°YOU TOOK HER FROM ME!¡± She howled, slamming her fists on his chest again. He didn¡¯t respond. Otis, the Nameless Hero, the most powerful man on earth, was dead. She was the last hero alive. A nobody. A nothing. Sonya Chernovna was barely even enough to be classified as a hero. All she had were her eyes that clicked and whirred like clockwork contraptions in her head. The glow that was once bright and pure had dimmed to barely a luster. She dragged herself off his corpse and rose, clutching at her chest, her costume was torn and bloody. Everything hurt, her heart, her arms, her legs, her universe was nothing but pain. She turned away and started walking, towards the center of it all, towards the epicenter of the chaos. The monsters ravaging the city paid her no mind, it was as if she didn¡¯t exist. She trudged along as people screamed, but she didn¡¯t have the power to save them. She grit her teeth as a mother sobbed in the distance, her heart splintering again. ¡°The League of Heroes,¡± She muttered, ¡°The American Heros Guild, The Japanese Hero Society, The Korean Hero Association, The Russian...¡± She trailed off, the words tumbling from mouth. The groups that had once been a beacon of safety for the world, the organizations that had stood stalwart against the creatures that had appeared more and more often, that were supposed to fight the worst of the worst. In the end, they¡¯d become what they fought against. Otis was just the fulcrum, the governments of the world, the greed of the organization leaders, the corruption of the heroes. They¡¯d styled themselves like gods to the ordinary people of Earth, lording over them until their arrogance pushed them to war against one another. Earth couldn¡¯t survive it, not as monsters ran rampant and heroes fought one another. Sometimes, Sonya, people are just like that. You can¡¯t make them change. ¡°Bullshit!¡± She snarled, stepping past a ruined car and over the corpses of another pair of heroes, their faces and costumes burned beyond recognition. ¡°Heroes should work together!¡± She croaked. It¡¯s okay, love. She staggered into the city center, heedless of the soft voice in the back of her mind. So warm, so full of love. She could smell her still. She could feel her hands on her face. Sonya felt her legs go numb but she just forced feeling into them, slamming her fist into her legs and trudging onward. ¡°No it¡¯s not,¡± She swore, ¡°I¡¯ll never forgive them.¡± You don¡¯t have to forgive, but you can¡¯t forget the good in people too. Sonya squeezed her eyes shut and collapsed to her knees, gripping the sides of her head, her chest hurt so bad it felt like it would burst. ¡°Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! If I could I¡¯d kill all of them! Over and over! I¡¯d turn their lives into a living hell and never let them escape!¡± Is that what you really want? Sonya¡¯s hands dropped to her sides and she looked up at the red sky, ¡°No, but if I could, I¡¯d make things right. Even if...¡± She drew a ragged breath into her chest, ¡°...even if I have to be the worst there is! I¡¯d do it!¡± A familiar scent washed over her, her eyes opened and she gasped. ¡°Chunhua?¡± She asked, dazed, desperate. Something heavy thudded to the ground in front of her and she looked down. It was a box, a chest, two blocks of marble on a hinge. It was engraved beautifully. She¡¯d seen it before, the source of everything that had happened on earth since that day. According to the stories, the box had opened on its own in the middle of a crowded museum and the flash of light that followed had turned the world upside down. ¡°Pandora¡¯s Box,¡± Sonya breathed. Then let hope out, and try again. Sonya grabbed the sides of the lid, she wasn¡¯t sure what the voice meant, but if it meant she could have a second chance to make things right, she¡¯d take it. Her bloody fingers slipped on the lid and she grunted helplessly before finally getting a grip, trying to pry it open. The old story said that hope had been left behind when the box was opened the first time by Pandora herself. Sonya forced the lid open and her world became nothing but blinding light. ¡ª ¡°It¡¯s the top of the hour and we have had recent reports of unusual seismic activity taking place throughout the eastern seaboard, no injuries have been reported at this time but folks at home are encouraged to remain vigilant of your surroundings, seismologist Lincoln Atwood said...¡± It was a familiar voice that Sonya woke to, the sound of a man talking over the television. She tried to open her eyes and was met with nothing but darkness. Her head hurt, her memories muddled and languid. What happened? She thought numbly, reaching for her cane, her fingers wrapping around the smooth, reflective surface. She felt the plushness of the couch beneath her, the familiar fruity scent of the air freshener she liked in the air, it was her apartment. Small, a bit on the unkempt side, but home. She struggled to remember, the thoughts coming in jumbles at first before hitting her in a deluge. A world of heroes, monsters, violence, death, war, fire, Chunhua, Otis. She let out a cry of pain and grasped the sides of her head, letting out a wretched sob as fresh agony burned its way through her brain. The sound of hurried footsteps, a hand touching her shoulder, someone¡¯s voice, calling her name. ¡°Sonya! Sonya are you okay? Is the TV too loud?¡± Another familiar voice, she wrenched her arm away and tried to scramble to her feet. What was happening? Why couldn¡¯t she see? Wait... she¡¯d been blind before the box had opened. Her thoughts raced as Marta finally found the strength to stand and move, Sonya guiding her to the bedroom and shutting the door behind them. ¡°What is going on?!¡± Marta cried, ¡°Was that a monster? What was that light? What happened to your eyes?¡± Sonya opened her mouth again to lie and say she didn¡¯t know, but the words choked in her throat. She coughed and turned to look at the door, she had to figure out a way to calm Marta down without sounding like an absolute crazy person. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t trust Marta, frankly she was one of the few humans on this planet worthy of any kind of trust. How did she tell Marta that she knew exactly what these things were, that they¡¯d been granted powers by Pandora¡¯s Box, and that the world was about to change forever? Marta would ask her how she knew and Sonya would have to lie again, which clearly she couldn¡¯t do for some reason. She thought fast, ¡°I don¡¯t understand it either, Marta,¡± Sonya said, which was true, no one understood how Pandora¡¯s Box worked or what forces were involved that caused all this to happen, ¡°My head feels heavy and I can see.¡± Another crash followed by a shout and then an explosion. Someone was already trying to fight the monster? Why didn¡¯t she remember that? She couldn¡¯t have been out from getting her powers for more than a few seconds, it was the same with every person who got powers from Pandora¡¯s Light. Marta grabbed her hand, ¡°Sonya! We should call the police, right?¡± Sonya turned and was about to say that someone probably already had, when she saw something she¡¯d never seen before. Her new sight had given her the ability to see at great distances and make out fine details, but she¡¯d never had a heads up display like feature before. Words hung over Marta¡¯s head. Something like a charge ran up her hand from her contact with Marta¡¯s hand. She felt it wash through her and into her brain. Images, thoughts, confusing details, instincts. It was said that once someone acquired a power from Pandora¡¯s Light, they instinctively knew how to use it or at least the bare minimum of its functionality for more complex abilities. It was like she could see something in Marta, an untapped font of power that had been missed by Pandora¡¯s Light. Marta had been an ordinary civilian till the end the first time around, but why? What was different between her and Sonya? Luck? Luck was bullshit. She instinctively shifted her grip in Marta¡¯s hand, holding it like she was shaking the woman¡¯s hand. More words appeared in her vision. Appraise? Temporary Sample? Deal? What is this? Another crash, this one shook the entire room, picture frames fell off the wall and furniture toppled over. She could hear the screams from outside more distinctly. It all came back to her in a rush. While fighting, the monster was sent careening into her apartment. The feral beast had lashed out at Sonya and knocked her out. She¡¯d awakened days after the initial blast from Pandora¡¯s Box in a hospital and had been forced to move afterwards. ¡°Miss Sonya?¡± Marta''s face was pale, her entire body trembling as she looked at the door. Sonya looked at the words again and swallowed, ¡°Marta, do you trust me?¡± Marta turned her eyes to Sonya, shocked, ¡°Of course! What¡¯s happening?¡± It was like she¡¯d done it a hundred times before, it came so naturally. She felt a strange connection between herself and Marta, specifically an untapped feeling of power hiding just beneath the surface. She reached for it, Appraise and Provide Sample, she willed the thoughts into being, following the breadcrumbs created by the instincts that governed this new ability. It was like a new limb, raw, it ached a little when she activated it. Sonya winced and Marta let out a cry of alarm, gasping as her body began to glow with a familiar light. Pandora¡¯s Light. The light spread from Marta¡¯s arm and into Sonya¡¯s body, sizzling against her skin, she felt it burn into her muscles like an inferno. The wall behind them exploded, Sonya was sent hurtling towards the bed and skipped over it like a stone, hitting the wall and blacking out for a moment. A roar woke her and she scrambled, trying to get her bearings. The words hung in Sonya¡¯s vision even as a more impossible sight drew her attention. Marta was standing tall, her arms outstretched, and her hands gripped around the jaws of a horrific creature that looked like something between a dog and a panther, its smooth body coated with muscles. It tried to swipe at Marta but its arm wouldn¡¯t bend in such a way to reach her. ¡°How is this possible?¡± Marta cried out, terrified despite her advantageous position. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter!¡± Sonya shouted back, back on her feet even as her body ached from the impact. ¡°Can you kill it?¡± ¡°I think so!¡± The caretaker said, surprised at her own certainty, she wrenched her arms and with a titanic effort pulled the creature down to the ground, slamming its head on the apartment floor. The room shook with the force and a noisy crack of something breaking inside the body of the beast that sent a chill through Sonya. For a moment, no one moved, no sound, no breathing, nothing. Then the beast let out its last breath and shuddered. Sonya stared in awe at Marta¡¯s back. The humble caretaker, the housewife, the woman that had died ignobly at the hands of Sonya¡¯s enemies in the future, was strong! Really strong! Marta turned and looked at Sonya, her eyes wide with shock, ¡°I... I did it!¡± She gasped as light began to build on her skin again, and then faded. Her eyes rolled up into her head and she collapsed into a heap. Sonya darted forward and caught the unconscious woman. She held Marta in her arms and looked down at her own hand that still tingled from the handshake. She clenched it into a fist as a dark smile began to spread across her lips. ¡°Maybe I can do it too...¡± Sonya whispered as sirens approached. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Sonya sat in the chair in the waiting room, looking down at her hands. Even now she could still feel the strange tingle that had swept up her body when she¡¯d taken Marta¡¯s hand. A woman choked out a sob nearby, her husband consoling her silently. Sonya glanced at the two people, loving and supporting one another. Why couldn¡¯t all people be like that? She looked down at her fingers again, What was Chunhua doing at this time? She wondered quietly, clenching her hand into a fist. A nurse stepped out through the doors, ¡°Miss Chernovna?¡± Sonya got to her feet and followed the Nurse, ¡°How is Marta doing? She was my caretaker.¡± ¡°Miss Daphne? She¡¯s still unconscious but she seems to be fine otherwise. Her husband is with her,¡± The Nurse said, ¡°We¡¯re more concerned about you, Miss Chernovna.¡± Sonya frowned but gave a curt nod, ¡°I figured,¡± She said, reaching up to touch her eyelid self consciously. In this early time many people would be confused about the circumstances of Pandora¡¯s Light and the changes it would have on the world. A woman suddenly growing prosthetic eyes was certainly cause for concern. The woman gave her an uneasy look, ¡°Do they... hurt?¡± Sonya shrugged, ¡°They feel a little heavy,¡± She offered, brushing her hair out of her eye. She paused and grabbed a strand of it, ¡°What the?¡± ¡°Miss Chernovna?¡± The nurse paused, looking at her in concern. ¡°My hair,¡± Sonya gasped, it had turned white! Stark white, starlight white, every inch of it. She scrambled for her phone and pulled it out. She hadn¡¯t checked her own appearance since she knew what the eyes from her Pandora-Given powers looked like, it didn''t matter. What the hell! Sonya trembled as she hit the camera button and turned it to selfie mode, looking at her face on the screen. Her skin had gone deathly pale and her hair was indeed as white as fresh snowfall, her mechanical eyes twirled and spun, clicking with that eerie sound they made. A faint blue-green glow blazed inside of them. ¡°It¡¯s changed...¡± The nurse regarded Sonya for a moment, ¡°I¡¯ll... make a note for the doctor,¡± She said uneasily, hurrying to scribble something down on a notepad as Sonya recovered and they continued walking. They stepped into an examination room and a trio of doctors were waiting, the three of them turned as one, all of them wide eyed. ¡°I¡¯d heard what was going around,¡± One said. ¡°But to see it in person,¡± Another murmured. The third strode forward, a broad shouldered man with jet black hair and glasses, he looked asian, he extended a hand to Sonya. ¡°Choi Da-Som, I¡¯m the head of neurosurgery here,¡± He said. Her eyes lingered on his face for a moment and she could see the same name hanging over his head. She took his hand and felt a momentary connection with him, that same untapped sense of potential. She made a split second decision. He¡¯d taken her hand willingly and it wouldn¡¯t hurt to test and see more detail about this strange new power of hers. This time she wanted to see what a single feature would do; Appraise. Nothing happened for a heartbeat and she forced herself to smile and shake his hand, ¡°Nice to meet you sir,¡± She said, trying to look weary. It must have worked because he leaned in a bit and examined her face. ¡°You look anemic, Miss Chernovna, why don¡¯t you have a seat,¡± He said, gesturing to the examination table. ¡°Would you like something to drink?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just tired,¡± Sonya admitted, she¡¯d been up for almost a day, it wasn¡¯t easy to nap with all the crying and wailing in the waiting room. He seemed to take her retort in stride as she stepped past him and onto the examination table. ¡°So what now?¡± ¡°Well, honestly we need to know more about your condition from you,¡± One of the doctors said, moving up to stand next to Da-Som. He had a tablet in his hand and was reading it, ¡°It says here you were clinically blind, your eyes damaged by an incident at a lab you worked at?¡± ¡°I worked for Stockton Chemical, yes, there was an incident with acid that took my sight,¡± Sonya said flatly, ¡°Then yesterday happened and now I can see.¡± ¡°How would you compare it to your original sight?¡± The other doctor asked, taking a few notes down. ¡°Well, like I told the nurse, they feel a little heavy in my head and make a ticking sound like there¡¯s a clock up in there,¡± She tapped her temple, ¡°Whatever happened didn¡¯t heal my tear ducts, and I still don¡¯t need to blink, also I can see honestly better than I had before. Peripheral detail is really good, your shoe¡¯s untied, Doctor Manse,¡± She said, staring straight into Doctor Choi¡¯s eyes, unblinking. Manse, one of the other two doctors, looked down at his shoes and coughed, ¡°Remarkable.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that ma¡¯am?¡± A man asked, stopping next to her with a tray in his hand. He set down a small cake in front of her and she looked up at him. He tried and failed not to wince at her eyes. She really needed to get some sunglasses, she¡¯d worn them all the time after getting her powers the first time around. ¡°Mm? Nothing, sorry,¡± Sonya shook her head and looked down at the cake, ¡°I didn¡¯t order this.¡± ¡°The man over there did,¡± The waiter said, pointing across the room, ¡°We aren¡¯t a bar though...¡± He grumbled. Sonya raised an eyebrow and followed the waiter¡¯s gesture. There was indeed a brown-haired man sitting there, he was young, probably in his early twenties and had an earnest look on his boyish face. Sonya frowned, she wasn¡¯t exactly thrilled about being hit on right now and he certainly wasn¡¯t her type. Even so, she couldn¡¯t help but feel she recognized the guy from somewhere. She examined the bar over his head. Not Unawakened. Did he already have a power? Why is his name so familiar? Sonya graced the waiter with an easy smile, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ll go talk to him.¡± ¡°Sure sure,¡± The waiter groused and walked away. Sonya picked up the cake and her coffee before walking over to Nick. A few people glanced her way uncomfortably before looking away. It had been just over a day since Pandora¡¯s Light and word was already getting around about people with unusual powers showing up. Sonya stopped at Nick¡¯s table and set her plate down, ¡°May I join you?¡± ¡°Please!¡± Nick enthused. Sonya swept into the chair and sighed, taking a sip of her coffee, she really needed to get some sleep soon. ¡°Can I help you, Mister Adders?¡± She asked, keeping her tone light. He winced, ¡°That one of your eye¡¯s abilities?¡± He asked. ¡°You could say that,¡± Sonya said with an easy smile. He took a deep breath and lowered his voice, ¡°I¡¯m like you,¡± He whispered, ¡°I got hit by that light and... whoom!¡± She gave him a deadpan look, ¡°Whoom?¡± ¡°Yeah! Whoom!¡± He exclaimed, drawing a few looks, he winced and lowered his head, ¡°Uh... I can like... make fire, and light stuff up.¡± She narrowed her eyes, Adders, fire, her eyes widened momentarily before she controlled herself. V N Adders was the internally known name of the hero Firestorm, a horrendously powerful hero from her memory and one of the bigger players in the American Heroes Guild. He was a big name! Or would be a big name, eventually. What on earth was he doing in a smaller city in North Carolina? More importantly, how do I get him to shake my hand? she thought, a small pang of hunger was already building in her. To have Firestorm¡¯s ability as one of her ¡®products¡¯ would be incredibly useful in the future. ¡°Impressive,¡± Sonya said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m afraid my eyes aren¡¯t nearly that special.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your eyes I¡¯m interested in!¡± He corrected her, earnestness on his face. ¡°Please, I need your help!¡± She frowned, Sonya knew for a fact that Firestorm only had one power, so he couldn¡¯t have identified her abilities. So what was he so interested in? He seemed to notice her guarded expression so he lowered his voice even more, ¡°I saw you heal that kid at the hospital. Can you do it again?¡± Her eyebrows shot up, ¡°...you saw that?¡± ¡°A few people did, but it was so crowded I¡¯m pretty sure only I saw your face. I kinda... followed... you here,¡± He started to turn red as Sonya scrutinized him. ¡°...sorry.¡± She sighed, ¡°Whatever, let¡¯s say I can, what do you want, and what¡¯s in it for me?¡± He slapped his hands to his knees and bowed his head, ¡°I need you to help my dad, please! We can work something out I¡¯m sure!¡± It took every ounce of strength for her not to grin, she extended her hand to him, ¡°I can at the very least have a look,¡± She said, her eyes ticking ominously in her head. Tick tick tick tick tick tick tick Chapter 3 Chapter 3 It turned out that Nick Adders was loaded, she sat next to him in the exotic car he¡¯d driven all the way out to a small cafe in broad daylight. She felt severely underdressed for the moment. Her brown slacks and white blouse weren¡¯t exactly the style of the century and now that she looked at him, he was wearing name brand, everywhere. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes, of course he was rich. He¡¯d be one of the best equipped heroes in the future. Which left her wondering who exactly his father was. She found that pretty quickly with a search on her phone. Jonathan Adders was the president of the family-owned Starhaus Furniture brand, high end and very prestigious furniture for the elite. It made sense why Nick was here, since Starhaus¡¯ headquarters was in town. She set her phone down and glanced at him but he was so focused on getting where they needed to go that he paid her little mind. She looked down at her hand, he¡¯d shaken it without a second thought and had given her yet another product for her warehouse shelf. The real question now was how to make use of her products. She experimentally drew on Heroic Strength and felt it surge momentarily through her muscles. She tried drawing on Light Step at the same time but didn¡¯t feel anything. So I can only use one at a time. Fair. Maybe that¡¯ll improve over time. Other powers seemed to grow, though I never was able to figure out how to improve on my eyes more than a little in the past. She put away Heroic Strength and tried on Light Step. She tried tapping her foot on the interior of the car and found that it didn¡¯t make a sound. It was a low-grade stealth ability, then. Something in the same realm as her eyes. Still, it¡¯s useful. ¡°Here we are,¡± Nick said, drawing her out of her thoughts as she looked up at the office building and headquarters of Starhaus Furniture. ¡°Your father¡¯s here?¡± She asked, incredulous. ¡°We have a private medical facility set up for him,¡± Nick said and got out of the car, hurrying around to open the door for her. She made a face but let him do it, no need to be rude. She got out of the car and followed him inside, passing a security checkpoint quickly with Nick¡¯s insistence. Soon they were on an elevator and he was looking nervous. ¡°I can¡¯t make promises,¡± Sonya said when he looked her way, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but all this just happened a day ago, I know you¡¯re excited but you should temper your expectations a little. Who knows what my limits are?¡± He deflated a little but nodded, ¡°R-right.¡±Chee?ck out latest novels at novelhall.com The doors opened and they soon arrived at an innocuous looking door. The only thing secure about it was the pair of cameras above it. She glanced down the hall and spotted a door positioned so that if anyone unwelcome was spotted on the cameras, the guards could be there in a heartbeat without drawing attention to the room itself. Security used intelligently rather than with brute force, she liked this Jonathan guy¡¯s style. They entered what looked very much like a private hospital room, the entire space was meticulously clean and every surface shone a little bit with careful polishing, the sunlight outside reflecting on them. The lights were out above, giving the room a comfortable glow. Ahead of them she could see the shape of feet underneath a quilt and sheets at the end of a hospital bed. It was otherwise concealed by a curtain pulled around one side. Nick hurried around the curtain and she could hear him talking to someone in a low voice. She heard a deep, barking laugh and then Nick came back around looking worried. ¡°He¡¯s willing to try anything,¡± Nick said, tugging at his collar, ¡°But he¡¯s not happy.¡± Sonya looked him in the eyes and then glanced at the door, she would really rather not demonstrate her abilities again in front of him even if he had seen them before. Especially since this was an opportunity to test out another Broker ability. That¡¯s what she figured she¡¯d call it. She gestured to the door, ¡°Let me talk to him privately, Nick,¡± Sonya said, ¡°I¡¯m sure he doesn¡¯t want to make a deal about his health in front of you.¡± Nick blinked, his eyes lighting up a little, he nodded with all the naivete he could muster and walked to the door. Sonya watched him go and shook her head, he¡¯d left a powered person alone with someone he cared about. In the future, that was suicide. Now, though, in this early time, no one knew any better. Sonya let out a wistful sigh and walked around the curtain, stopping at the foot of the bed to look the old man in the eyes. He stared back unflinchingly. ¡°You¡¯re a bit creepy,¡± The old man grunted. He looked to be in his mid seventies, his body emaciated and worn down by his condition. Numerous machines were attached to him and his white hair was thinning on his head. Even so, his eyes were like steel. She smiled, ¡°So I¡¯ve been told,¡± She said, walking around to stand next to him, ¡°Nice to meet you Mister Adders.¡± ¡°Jonathan is fine, you¡¯re some kind of healer, right? I saw the news about you weird folk showing up yesterday, my son showed me his fire. Damn near gave me another heart attack,¡± He grunted, gripping his quilt. His eyes were firm, but there was fear there. Sonya¡¯d seen it enough in the future to know it immediately. ¡°I¡¯m not here doing this for free,¡± Sonya said flatly, ¡°Your son practically stalked me to ask me for help.¡± Jonathan grunted out a laugh, ¡°Of course he did, what do you want?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not listening, so what are you willing to give? Payment on my success, of course,¡± Sonya offered, she wasn¡¯t sure if she had to be holding the guy''s hand to broker the deal, but her instincts said no. They just had to shake after agreeing. ¡°I¡¯ve spent almost a million dollars on finding a solution,¡± He groused, ¡°I¡¯ll pay you the same.¡± Sonya raised her eyebrows and laughed, ¡°I¡¯m afraid he¡¯s not my type,¡± She admitted with an apologetic wave of her hands, ¡°Thank you though.¡± His expression relaxed and then grew serious, ¡°I assume you want me to keep the nature of what happened here a secret? It¡¯s why you had my son leave.¡± Sonya glanced out the window, catching the glow of her eyes in the reflection, ¡°I plan on trying to keep a low profile for a while, build a small clientele, I think,¡± Sonya said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure how far I can push my gift, if I could make someone even younger. It¡¯s only been a day since all this happened and already I¡¯m making money off of it. I have a feeling bad things are coming for all of us, and I want to be prepared.¡± ¡°The monsters I heard about?¡± Jonathan asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Sonya said. ¡°If anything happens, can my family call on you again?¡± He asked. Sonya considered it and then inclined her head. Let''s try something out, she thought and extended her hand. ¡°I will provide my healing to the Adders family in exchange for your silence on the matter of my abilities and identity, Mister Adders.¡± He took her hand. Proceed. There was a sudden buzz of energy between the two of them and then, nothing. Even so she could feel that the deal had been struck. If at any time Jonathan called on her to heal his family, she would be required to uphold her end of the bargain. She wasn¡¯t sure what the consequences would be, but she knew how it would affect him. He would choke on his words, just like she would choke on her lies. She would have to offer a similar deal to Nick too, just to make sure her bases were covered. The now young Jonathan Adders looked down at his hand and marveled, he looked up at her as realization dawned in his eyes. She smiled at him and winked, ¡°Till next time, Mister Adders. Hopefully in the future I will have more services to provide you.¡± She stepped out of the room with a heavy sigh after that, she was exhausted, using her abilities like that had been more draining than she had anticipated and she needed to sleep something fierce. The memory of her destroyed apartment loomed up in her head and she groaned, she was going to have to crash at a hotel. ¡°Is he okay?¡± Nick burst out, jumping to his feet from a chair in the hall outside, startling her. She rounded on him, wide eyed for a moment, before letting out a sigh, ¡°He needs a few moments, but it was a success,¡± She said, placing a hand on his shoulder, ¡°Wait until I leave, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± He looked at her incredulously but nodded, ¡°Thank you. Thank you so much.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t thank me yet,¡± Sonya said and held out her hand, ¡°We need to talk.¡± ¨C Nick watched her go, looking down at his hand, the door to the elevator opening and closing with her departure. He could still feel that strange tingling sensation. It was eerie. What had she done just now, to him? She¡¯d told him that she needed to make a deal with him concerning her identity and powers, that he couldn¡¯t speak a word about her to anyone. He¡¯d readily agreed and then there was a zap through his entire body, he felt a tightness around his throat that faded almost as soon as it had come. Was her power really just healing? He shook his head and hurried to the door, throwing it open and almost falling on his face as he saw his father. He looked like he¡¯d jumped out of an old family photo. ¡°Dad?¡± Nick breathed. ¡°Nicholas,¡± Jonathan Adders said firmly, ¡°We must never, ever, cross that woman.¡± Chapter 4 Chapter 4 Sonya sat up groggily, rubbing her eyes and trying to remember where she¡¯d been. Everything felt like a blur. Her regression, the opening of Pandora¡¯s Box, her powers both new and old, and the many times she¡¯d used the Broker ability. She opened her phone for the hundredth time and looked at her bank account. She still couldn¡¯t believe that she had a smidgeon over seven million dollars to her name, just like that. All she¡¯d had to do was shake a man¡¯s hand twice. It was a euphoric feeling, but she knew it had limitations. She picked up her notepad and read it over, ¡°I can¡¯t lie anymore, all of my deals have to be made without overt deception. I don¡¯t have to fully explain the terms, though, such as silencing someone,¡± She began, ¡°In the case of silencing someone I don¡¯t have to have an ability that can do that as a product, rather since just not saying anything is within reasonable boundaries I can just make it happen. However, it seems like if I want to do something more miraculous I need a product in place that can achieve the goal.¡± She moved down to the next line, ¡°If it¡¯s an extension of an already established agreement, I don¡¯t have to provide additional payment or vice versa, probably. I didn¡¯t have to offer Nick anything in exchange for his silence since it was part of his father¡¯s deal. I guess that means I can offer my services freely if I want. That could come in handy, probably,¡± She mused and moved to the next line. ¡°I can only appraise someone once, and when I do I get their ability as a product that I can use as my own or as part of my deals. I haven¡¯t tried giving one of my products to someone, and I don¡¯t know if that will make me lose it or not. Probably. I¡¯ll have to be careful there. Maybe I can try it with Light Step,¡± She murmured thoughtfully. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like one I really need.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if I take the ability from a person when I appraise it, I doubt that,¡± She continued and scribbled down a few more notes, ¡°Can I awaken the ability in someone? The potential is there. Try it on Marta if she¡¯s willing,¡± She muttered and read over the notes again. She felt like she already had a pretty good handle on what Broker could do, but it was still early. The most important thing now was continuing to test its limits. ¡°Most importantly,¡± Sonya said quietly, thinking back to when she arrived at the hotel, a small flush coming to her face, ¡°It won¡¯t activate unless they take my hand willingly...¡± Sonya had snatched the hand of one of the hotel staff to shake it vigorously as thanks for the room. It had been a positively humiliating experience but it was one of the only ways she could think of to test that particular limitation. She let out a breath and tore the sheet off the top of the notepad, her thoughts collected. She drew Firestorm out of her warehouse and with a flex of thought, incinerated the paper. She couldn¡¯t leave any evidence behind of her ability, even a scrap of paper in the garbage. She slipped off the bed and got dressed, eyeing herself in the mirror. Her white hair had been eye catching for numerous reasons, against her pale skin and the glow to her eyes, she seemed like some kind of otherworldly creature. The Hotel Staff had gaped at her for the first few minutes of her attempts to get a room, her ID card looked nothing like her now, she¡¯d have to get a new one. Fortunately she looked enough like herself that they shrugged it off as a rather dramatic bleach job.Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com She snorted and threw on a shirt and some slacks, and frowned, ¡°Maybe some new clothes are in order, not like I can¡¯t afford it.¡± No, Sonya! She chastised herself, First, you need somewhere to live! She thought about Marta as well, ¡°And I need to take care of her, too, I won¡¯t lose her again.¡± ¡°Alright!¡± She nodded to herself, ¡°A good financial foundation, a place to live, Marta¡¯s protection, and after that, I need to figure out how exactly I¡¯m going to keep my promise.¡± Her expression fell, the words she swore when she¡¯d reopened Pandora¡¯s Box to let hope out. That she¡¯d fix things, make things right, even if it meant being the worst. She set her hands on the counter and stared at herself in the mirror. But how? What did that even mean? She rubbed her temples and groaned again, this was way too much thinking without junk food at her disposal. She wanted a burger and an ice cold soda. There was so much to do though! Not enough time to get a good burger. She threw a brief tantrum over the huge list of things to do before recovering when her phone rang, a chipper christmas bells ringtone that she¡¯d set for one person and one alone in her prior blindness. She snatched it up, ¡°M-Marta?¡± ¨C Sonya opened the door to Marta¡¯s hospital room and found the woman sitting alone with a large vase of flowers next to her. She was looking out the window and eyeing the street outside. Since the first appearance of monsters there hadn¡¯t been any reports of further activity. Sonya knew why, of course, the beasts would be appearing in packs at first and then in other ways. Soon, dungeons would start appearing that would have to be raided before the monsters over populated them and started swarming out into the civilized world beyond. For now, things were calm. ¡°Marta,¡± Sonya said, ¡°I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re awake.¡± Marta turned and looked at Sonya, casting a radiant smile her way, ¡°You came!¡± ¡°Of course I would!¡± Sonya insisted, moving to sit down next to her caretaker, ¡°I owe you my life, you¡¯ve taken care of me for so long, you¡¯re like a mother to me, Marta.¡± Marta looked down at Sonya¡¯s hands and then up at her, ¡°You¡¯re so sweet, oh, look at your eyes, they¡¯re so pretty now that I get a good look at you, and your hair!¡± She gasped, reaching out to take a strand of Sonya¡¯s hair in her fingers, ¡°It¡¯s a good look, honestly.¡± Sonya cracked out a laugh, ¡°After everything, my hair?¡± ¨C Sonya strode down the hallway leading out of the hospital with a stunning woman in tow. Long, dark brown hair adorned the head of a woman in her mid-twenties, her eyes bright with vitality and a spring in her step. Even so, she stood a pace behind Sonya and to the right, almost like a Maid from an old british drama. Sonya approached the counter with a casual poise and stopped in front of the nurse who looked up at her with confusion before flinching at her eyes. Still need to get those sunglasses, damn it. ¡°M-may I help you?¡± The nurse asked. ¡°Marta Daphne is leaving,¡± Sonya said. The woman looked down at her computer for a moment, typing a few things before looking up in confusion, ¡°But she still has at least a week of scheduled recovery left. I understand she might be restless but...¡± Sonya jerked her thumb over her shoulder at the beauty behind her, ¡°Does she look like she needs recovery to you?¡± The nurse blinked, looked down at the computer and then back up again, ¡°Ah... uh...¡± ¡°It¡¯s a voluntary discharge, here,¡± Sonya scribbled the address of her old apartment down, ¡°Send any relevant paperwork here. Trouble at home. I¡¯ll handle whatever bills come up. Please and thank you!¡± ¡°But-¡± The nurse stammered as Sonya wheeled on her heel and strode right down the hallway and to the elevator, a practically grinning Marta in tow. ¡°You didn¡¯t need to bully the poor thing,¡± Marta said as they entered the elevator. ¡°Just feels like a me thing to do,¡± Sonya said, ¡°I dunno, after awakening I just feel more... myself, if that makes any sense?¡± She admitted, leaning against the wall of the elevator as it began to descend. ¡°Oh I understand very well, Miss Chernovna,¡± Marta agreed with a chuckle. ¡°Marta, please just call me Sonya, you never have to be formal with me,¡± She said with a wink as the door opened. Marta beamed at her, ¡°I will remember that, Sonya.¡± ¨C Despite their better judgment, the two of them arrived at the old apartment not long later. Sonya looked up at the gaping hole in the side of the building from afar, caution tape was everywhere and government personnel were combing over the building with a fine toothed comb. She scratched her neck, ¡°Well shit. Not getting any of our stuff anytime soon.¡± ¡°Afraid not,¡± Marta agreed, ¡°Do you have any suggestions of where we could stay?¡± ¡°Oh we¡¯re going house shopping, actually,¡± Sonya said casually, ¡°I forgot to mention.¡± ¡°House shopping? With what money? You¡¯re on disability!¡± Marta asked incredulously. Sonya laughed out loud, ¡°Right, I forgot to tell you what happened after I left the hospital,¡± She said with a casual shrug and started walking to the fast-food joint a few blocks down from where they used to live. ¡°Hungry? I¡¯m starving.¡± A few minutes later, Sonya was chomping down on a burger while Marta held her head in her hands, ¡°Seven million...¡± Sonya slurped at her soda, god damn cola was the best, she let out a noisy sigh and stretched out her legs, patting her belly, screw being ladylike, she¡¯d worked hard! ¡°So what do you think? I hear New York has some pretty nice apartments. Get away from the Carolinas for a while,¡± Sonya said, And closer to the future headquarters of the American Heroes Guild. She thought as Marta gaped at her. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 It turned out that people with abilities, at the moment, couldn¡¯t get plane tickets. Sonya hadn¡¯t tried to get one during her first go around after Pandora¡¯s Light, so she hadn¡¯t known how quickly the government had responded to the situation. It was pretty hard to figure out who had abilities, though, and the suspicions were all levied on her rather than Marta. Unfortunately, Sonya couldn¡¯t lie when asked whether she had abilities or not and dodging the question wasn¡¯t an option in front of airport security. Unfortunately they were forced to take a bus, it wasn¡¯t the most glamorous mode of transportation, but she had to admit it was pretty low key which she appreciated. Even land travel was tough, though, and there were all sorts of checkpoints and hiccups along the way. Apparently some awakened individuals were running amok here and there, using their powers however they liked. It wasn¡¯t something Sonya could be bothered with, yet, she needed a more stable footing before she took any aggressive action. Even then, she still wasn¡¯t sure what kind of action she would end up taking. What kind of method could she implement that would force the various future hero groups to not waste their time on one another and focus on what was important? The idea came to her from an unlikely source. It was on the second day of the trip, as they were crawling down the highway, that Sonya had gotten bored and started watching movies on her phone. One in particular stuck out to her, though. In the film a group of superheroes had been forced-largely against their will-to band together against a threat no individual could take down. In that very same film, one of the heroes had built gear and tools for the other heroes. It reminded her of the awakened support corporations that had popped up a year or so after Pandora¡¯s light, when society had begun to stabilize. That had only been after wave after wave of monsters had catastrophically changed the socio-political landscape of the world. Sonya watched one of the parts of the movie again and again, the heroes banding together dramatically against their common foe, all wielding special gear made just for them by one of their stalwart allies. A villain, no, a Supervillain. She set the phone down and looked out the window with a grim expression. It''s not like I don¡¯t plan on fighting some of the heroes that pop up. Some of them just don¡¯t deserve that title. I could use what I already intend to do to my advantage, she thought, but I can¡¯t play the villain alone, there are going to be heroes all over the world. But the strong awakened always end up joining the various groups, regardless of their inclinations. Strong, unaffiliated awakened would be increasingly hard to find. She glanced down at her fingers, But what if I make them? What if I manufacture villains and have them do it all for me? They¡¯d need resources too, gear and weapons just like the heroes, Sonya reasoned, rubbing her chin thoughtfully. She glanced over at Marta who had dozed off again and snorted, Fortunately, we¡¯re already going to the right place if I¡¯m not mistaken. Though that guy¡¯ll be a bitch to track down. She nodded to herself, It¡¯s settled, I¡¯ll play both sides against one another. I¡¯ll force the heroes to work together, exterminate the problems, and use criminals to build up their teamwork. If they don¡¯t have the luxury to hate one another, then Otis won¡¯t have his way. Her lips curled into a frown, his face, bloodied with eyes without remorse popped into her mind again, it haunted her. Otis. When I find you. I don¡¯t care what stage of growth you¡¯re at. Everyone else doesn¡¯t know it, but I know you aren¡¯t invincible. I¡¯ll put you down like a dog. She clenched her fist and glared into the window, Just you wait. Tick tick tick tick tick tick ¨C A few days later... The apartment was certainly not the most luxurious or prominent in New York, but it was classy to say the least. More importantly, it came with a reasonable enough price tag given Sonya¡¯s situation. With six bedrooms, and office, and a large open common area, it was perfect for what she figured she¡¯d need for the time being. Even so, moving in was a little embarrassing. Normally you brought your worldly possessions with you when you moved, but besides her phone and the clothes on her back, Sonya had nothing. ¡°Thank goodness it came furnished,¡± Marta said, chuckling a little as they looked out the wall sized window, peering out over one of the busier streets in the city. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe how big it is, it¡¯s bigger than my house!¡± ¡°Gotta be some magic nonsense going on,¡± Sonya said thoughtfully, ¡°The building we¡¯re in seemed so much smaller on the outside.¡± Marta whipped her head in Sonya¡¯s direction, eyes wide, ¡°You think so?¡± Sonya glanced at her deadpan, ¡°It was built in the nineties, no way.¡± Marta paused, blanched, and then rubbed the back of her neck with a laugh, ¡°R-right,¡± She turned around and put her hands on her hips, ¡°Welp! I think this furniture could do with a little shift here and there, make things feel less sterile!¡± Sonya shrugged, ¡°Sure, do what you want,¡± She turned around, ¡°Do you need any-¡± Marta looked up at her as she lifted one of the couches off the ground with one hand, Sonya¡¯s lips went thin while Marta looked at her in confusion. She turned back to the window and tried to hide her own embarrassment. She cleared her throat, ¡°We need to do a little shopping, get some clothes and necessities.¡± Thump! ¡°Sounds like fun!¡± Marta said, setting down the sofa once she¡¯d decided where to put it. Mikayla hesitated for a moment before accepting her hand. ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡± Appraise. Why is it that the abilities that unawakened seem to have are so fitting for them? It¡¯s like they¡¯re tailored somehow. ¡°Go ahead and pick out a few sets for me, Mikayla, I think I¡¯ll be coming back here from now on,¡± Sonya said with an easy smile and sent the girl on her way. Some time later she stepped out of the shop, sunglasses glinting brightly over her eyes. She¡¯d picked a pair of black slacks and a gray blouse to wear out, the blazer hanging on her shoulders. With the added inclusion of her sunglasses and her all-white hair and skin, she¡¯d had a few people already stop to gawk. So much for keeping a low profile, Sonya chuckled to herself as she savored the feeling. It wasn¡¯t bad, honestly, she could get used to the attention. It was better than being looked down on her entire life as a mundane-tier awakened. Behind her, a rather disconcerted looking Marta stood in the doorway. Her face flushed as she tugged on her hair, ¡°A-are you sure this is okay, we spent so much money...¡± Sonya looked back at her and tilted down her sunglasses, Marta was wearing a magnificent green floral sundress with a jet black trim. She looked like a flower. Marta noticed her staring and looked down at her feet, ¡°Is it... too much?¡± ¡°It suits you,¡± Sonya said with a smile and hefted the bag she was carrying over her shoulder. Marta made a sound and hurried over, despite her embarrassment. She snatched the bags out of Sonya¡¯s hands. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Sonya, I¡¯m your caretaker, let me handle these,¡± Marta insisted with a bit of a frown. ¡°You should have given them to me sooner.¡± Sonya scratched her head, ¡°Uh... yeah sure, sorry.¡± Now that she was doing something she felt was helpful, Marta seemed to forget about how uncomfortable she was in the expensive dress. She hurried to follow Sonya as the two of them made their way down the street, passing a few more shops and more than a few gawkers along her path. ¡°Who is that?¡± ¡°Is that a model?¡± ¡°Never seen her before.¡± ¡°I¡¯mma ask for her number.¡± ¡°Are you insane? She¡¯ll eat you alive.¡± Sonya restrained a grin, this was going to go to her head if she wasn¡¯t careful. Had her body changed somehow too? She¡¯d been in pretty good shape before the end, but she hadn¡¯t exactly been stunning before her awakening. Was it because of her products? She¡¯d taken on heroic strength and it had made changes, she¡¯d felt it, but it wasn¡¯t like she had it active all the time. There were still so many unexplained factors that she had to wrangle with. ¡°Get out of here! Idiot, this isn¡¯t a place for handouts!¡± Someone shouted. She glanced towards the commotion and frowned, using her eyes to zoom in on what was going on. There was a tattered looking man sitting on the ground in front of an electronics shop. ¡°Please! Just a few of them! I-I¡¯ll figure out a way to pay! I just need some trash hardware, that¡¯s all!¡± The man begged but the owner of the shop wasn¡¯t having it. He spat on the ground and slammed the door in the tattered man¡¯s face. The man slumped on the ground, people whispering and walking around him. Sonya narrowed her eyes, focused on his face. Dark brown hair, pinched face, and the name above his head. Her eyes widened and then a wicked grin spread across her face. ¡°Marta, you hungry?¡± ¡°I could eat,¡± Marta said, glancing over Sonya¡¯s shoulder at the man on the ground, ¡°Something happen?¡± ¡°I think I just found who I was looking for,¡± Sonya said, her eyes glowing behind tinted lenses. Chapter 6 Chapter 6 Amos looked down at his hands, gripping his knees tightly. His shoulders were shaking. Ever since that day weirder and weirder people keep showing up around me. I can¡¯t stand it, what did I do to deserve this? I can¡¯t catch a break! What does this person want with me? In front of him, one of the prettiest women he¡¯d ever seen in his entire life was scarfing down a burger like she hadn¡¯t eaten in ages. Next to her, another gorgeous woman was picking delicately at a basket of fries and staring at him as if he was shit on the heel of a shoe. He looked away as soon as he met her gaze. What is this chick¡¯s problem? They¡¯re wearing really expensive clothes. Are they models? Did they see me get kicked out of that shop and want to bully me or something? I can¡¯t take this. The white-haired lady let out a contented sigh after sipping her soda for a moment and stretched out her legs beneath the table. ¡°Hot damn, nothing¡¯s better than a burger after some shopping,¡± She said, patting her belly contentedly. Behind her, a half dozen customers stared in disbelief at her. She pointedly ignored the stares and rest her elbow on the table, cupping her chin in her hand. ¡°Hey.¡± He jumped, looking up at her, ¡°Uh... yes?¡± ¡°I bought you a meal, eat it,¡± She said firmly and he caught something behind those tinted sunglasses of hers. Were her eyes glowing? Is she another freak like Shark? Like me? He shifted back in his seat a little, tensing up, ¡°Why am I here? What do you want? Who are you people?¡± He asked, even as his trembling hands reached for the burger and snatched it up hastily. He took a bite. He wished he could enjoy it, it was really good. ¡°You''re Amos, right?¡± The woman asked, ¡°I hear you¡¯re pretty good with hardware.¡± He choked on the burger, coughing and reaching hastily for his drink before slurping it down. He cleared his throat and stared at her, aghast, the bags under his eyes only deepening. ¡°How do you know my name?¡± He asked, ¡°Did Shark send you? I told him I¡¯d pay!¡± He pleaded, lowering his head, ¡°Please!¡± ¡°Excuse you? What are you implying?¡± The woman in the green dress growled, starting to sit up. ¡°Easy Marta,¡± The woman said with a wave of her hand, not moving from her casual pose. She reached up and tilted down her sunglasses, revealing a pair of mechanical eyes that clicked and whirred inside her head. He froze, awestruck by the complexity of them even at this distance, they were beautiful, ¡°I have my ways, no idea who this Shark guy is, though.¡± He hesitated, ¡°I uh...¡± ¡°You like them?¡± She asked playfully, ¡°My eyes?¡±Fo?ll0w current novE?ls on n/o/(v)/3l/b((in).(co/m) ¡°Um...¡± He grunted, feeling heat rise to his face. The woman cracked a grin before snorting out a laugh, ¡°Sorry, sorry! I¡¯m just having some fun, I thought I¡¯d play the cool mysterious stranger!¡± She cackled, slapping her knee. ¡°Oh relax, I¡¯m not here to hurt you or anything!¡± He lowered the burger down, ¡°Then what do you want?¡± He asked evenly, looking her dead in the eyes. She opened her mouth to speak when a loud crash outside the restaurant shook the windows, he jumped, nearly knocking over the table as he whipped his head around to see what the commotion was. The following roar was enough to tell him exactly what had happened. He watched through the window in horror as a group of jackal-looking beasts the size of panthers leaped through the air and landed on a car. One of them raised a mighty pawed hand and brought it down on the windshield, crushing it. This isn¡¯t a comic book, she thought as she looked back at Amos. He swallowed, hard. ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± He asked. ¡°I take care of your problem and you work for me? I can pay you and keep your projects funded, you¡¯ll have to start small though, this isn¡¯t a free ride,¡± Sonya said with a shrug. He stared at her for several more moments before getting to his feet just as Marta walked by. In front of a crowded window filled with people filming, Sonya took his hand and shook it as Marta inclined her head to Sonya and sat down to resume her meal. Sonya kept an easy smile even as her heart pounded in her chest, Now this is publicity, it¡¯s a shame I don¡¯t have anything to sell yet. She looked down at Amos¡¯ hand and grinned. Appraise! Sonya froze, two products? He had two abilities? Her mind reeled, he¡¯d never demonstrated that he had that kind of ability in the future she remembered. She looked up at his name and it said clearly that he was awakened. She forced herself to calm down and shook his hand before sitting back down in her chair. Already the crowd was being dispersed by the police. Sonya glanced up at the growing presence of the authorities and looked to Amos, ¡°We should get going.¡± ¡°R-right,¡± He said hastily. ¡°I just got back!¡± Marta groaned and snatched up her fries, ¡°I¡¯m eating on the go!¡± ¨C Detective Martin Fuller frowned as the pale woman with white hair left the restaurant through the side entrance, the woman in the green dress and what looked like a homeless person on her heels. He pulled his radio up to his lips, ¡°Let them go, don¡¯t bother them, but figure out where they¡¯re going,¡± He said quietly and got a clipped acknowledgement in response. He set the radio back on his shirt and scowled. He hated being hamstrung like this, but orders were orders. The top brass were still arguing about how to handle the light touched, as some had started to call them. Politicians were making discreet inquiries and it was getting harder and harder to keep a lid on things. More of these freaks were showing up every day. To make matters worse, the monster sightings were becoming more frequent and publicized. ¡°Let it go, Martin,¡± A voice said next to him. He turned to see a white haired man with a cut on his chin, the older man pat his shoulder, ¡°No getting involved unless they attack a human. If they deal with the monsters that¡¯s less work for us. Our guns don¡¯t work on the damn things anyway.¡± Martin sagged, his dark hair glinting a bit in the afternoon sun. ¡°They¡¯re basically vigilantes, Carl!¡± He retorted, ¡°This is wrong.¡± ¡°Yeah, but do you want to get into a fight with the woman in the green dress?¡± Carl asked, giving him a side eye. Martin hesitated and sighed, ¡°No, not really. I¡¯m more interested in the woman she seems to answer to,¡± He said, crossing his arms. ¡°The pale one?¡± Carl asked, ¡°Yeah I noticed that too. One of the witnesses said she even gave the order to attack the monsters. She isn¡¯t even trying to be subtle about their power dynamic. She spent the entire time talking casually with the homeless-looking guy. I think that was Amos from the east side,¡± he said thoughtfully, rubbing his chin. ¡°You think those freaks are getting organized?¡± Martin demanded, ¡°It¡¯s barely been a week!¡± ¡°People are prone to gathering together when crazy things happen,¡± Carl warned, ¡°Especially if one of them has charisma,¡± He squeezed Martin¡¯s shoulder tightly, ¡°Also we¡¯re calling them light touched for now, ease up on the language.¡± Martin clicked his tongue and looked away, Carl chuckled, ¡°Still you¡¯re right to have put a tail on them. I¡¯ve got a feeling we are going to be seeing a lot of that woman.¡± Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Sonya clenched and unclenched her hand, glancing again at Amos. He either paid her no mind or didn¡¯t notice, his focus was more on Marta who was walking alongside them. She looked away, her mind whirling. He has multiple abilities but he only was public about one of them. Is it active? How do I ask? She bit her lip, More importantly, can he possibly be the only one? If he has multiple, why can¡¯t others? Who else? She thought about how untouchable Otis had been in his hayday. I thought it was just some absurd power, but what if there was more to it? Each power has rules, limits, restrictions. If he had more than one, could he have had more than one restriction? She glanced again at Amos, I¡¯ve been too cocky. I think. Broker made me feel all powerful, but... I have a bad feeling. ¡°You alright Sonya?¡± Marta asked, glancing past Amos and towards her. There was concern clear on her face. Damn, I was emoting too much. Sonya chastised herself, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just collecting my thoughts, it¡¯s been a busy day.¡± Man half-truths are harder than I thought. ¡°We did just move in!¡± Marta laughed, she seemed so calm after fighting those things. ¡°What about you?¡± Sonya asked, giving her a meaningful look. Amos shrank a little between their exchanged glances. Marta hesitated, ¡°I may have been... over excited about it,¡± Marta admitted, looking down at her hands as she knit her fingers together at her waist, she sighed, ¡°I¡¯m angry.¡± ¡°Your husband?¡± Sonya asked. ¡°Mhm,¡± Marta murmured, ¡°I wanted to feel like it was worth it.¡± ¡°Was it?¡± Marta let out a sigh, ¡°I feel better, I guess.¡± ¡°Um!¡± Amos cleared his throat, ¡°Should I be listening to this?¡± Sonya snorted and shook her head, ¡°Probably not but you¡¯re here anyway,¡± She chuckled, glad that she was able to divert the attention from herself. She glanced at Marta who seemed to realize what had happened and frowned at her. Sonya winked and glanced back at Amos, ¡°So where is your shop?¡± ¡°Right up ahead, around the corner,¡± Amos said, gesturing just ahead to a lonely looking street corner. Sonya glanced around, this part of town was remarkably quiet for how she remembered New York. She guessed people in less secure areas weren¡¯t as confident about being protected from the monsters. It¡¯ll be more and more often, until the dungeons start appearing at least. Sonya thought grimly as they rounded the corner and spotted a group of men standing outside a particular storefront. They were hitting the windows with bats and laughing. Amos brought his hands up to his head and practically tugged at his hair, ¡°My store! What the hell?¡± Sonya grimaced, she hadn¡¯t stopped him in time. The gathering of men all turned as one, eyeing the trio. They all looked at one another before starting to approach. Sonya clicked her tongue, she¡¯d hoped to come to an arrangement with the thugs after getting a better lay of the land but it seemed like she¡¯d been right. She¡¯d overestimated how easy this was going to be. They didn¡¯t look at all inclined for a civil conversation. ¡°Whoo ee! Look at that! Amos! You scored!¡± One of the men shouted and was joined by the others in a few cat calls and jeers. ¡°What are you doing? I told you I¡¯d pay!¡± Amos barked, ignoring their mocking. ¡°Not quick enough,¡± Another one said, slinging his bat over his shoulder, ¡°Obviously you had better things to do than figure your situation out anyway. Hey ladies! Why don¡¯t you come hang out with us, yeah?¡± Marta growled and Sonya reached out a hand to forestall her, ¡°But!¡± ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll consider it,¡± Sonya said with a shrug, ¡°But the atmosphere isn¡¯t very good for business, boys, my friend here can¡¯t even go into his shop and check on it. That¡¯s a shame,¡± She said with a frown and tilted her sunglasses down, her glowing eyes bright enough to be seen across the distance. The men hesitated for a moment and looked at one another. ¡°Come on, guys, it¡¯s not like he can do business, he just needs to grab a notebook. A notebook isn¡¯t worth your time, is it?¡± She lowered her voice, ¡°Amos? When I say go inside, you go and you stay there until I tell you otherwise, no questions,¡± She hissed, ¡°Understood?¡± He stared at her in confusion before she started walking towards them, she had to be careful now, they shifted a bit and she held her hands up casually as Marta hissed her name urgently from behind. She waved her hand to calm the girl down, Now or never Sonya, time to weaponize this thing. The men looked amongst themselves uneasily for a moment as she approached. ¡°How about we make a deal? I try to work out a business arrangement with your boss and you don¡¯t cause any problems for us until he comes out, I think that¡¯s fair, right? I¡¯m sure you guys could use some better gear, maybe a few cars, who knows?¡± She offered, drawing in even closer. The men exchanged looks again and grinned at one another, they had no intention of upholding the deal, but that wasn¡¯t their call now was it. There were seven of them present. Seven quick handshakes. He just needed one of them to take point on the deal. The one that had been leading the conversation took a step forward as she reached them and extended a meaty hand. ¡°Sure, lady, deal,¡± He said and she took his hand. No time for Appraisal, Process Exchange! Be blinked, surprised, just as she darted away from him with a brilliant smile, ¡°Oh thank you boys so much!¡± She said, shaking each of their hands in turn, they grinned awkwardly when she touched them, one even blushing, ¡°I really do appreciate you agreeing to this for me!¡± ¡°Hey!¡± The first one called even as she turned around and waved to Amos. ¡°Amos! You can go inside now!¡± She called, he didn¡¯t hesitate, he darted for the door faster than she¡¯d expected he could run. He fumbled with his keys. ¡°Hey!¡± The thug barked and she turned to face him. ¡°We made a deal! Is there a problem?¡± She asked. ¡°You¡¯re damn right there is! What did you just do, my hand tingles,¡± He growled and the other men gained dark looks on their faces. One of them lowered his bat to his side and stepped forward. ¡°What kinda bullshit are you pulling, lady?¡± ¡°Amos! Get inside the building, now!¡± Sonya barked as the men started to crowd her. Hurry you idiot! She snarled inwardly just as the door chimed. Amos stepped over the threshold just as one of them pulled his fist back to strike her. He froze, a confused look on his face. I can¡¯t believe that worked! I guess technically I didn¡¯t lie, I told them it was a deal after all and he shook my hand willingly, but that was really testing the boundaries there. Shiiiiit! She breathed out a sigh of relief and shot a thumbs up at Marta who gave her an incredulous look. The man at the lead of the group grunted and tried to step forward but froze as well, he looked down at his feet. ¡°The hell is this?¡± ¡°I told you,¡± Sonya said, turning her eyes on him, ¡°We made a deal.¡± He blinked at her, confused for a moment, and then horror exploded onto his face. Her smile widened as she loomed over him, ¡°As agreed, I¡¯ll try to work things out with your boss. Let¡¯s hope it goes well, mm?¡± She tittered as Marta approached. Marta looked at the men who were standing in awkward poses of near violence and then looked back at Sonya. ¡°They agreed not to be a problem until Amos comes out of his shop. Make sure Amos stays in there until I call you,¡± Sonya said cooly, looking the men over. They stared back at her with hate in their eyes as their postures relaxed. She supposed it would be troublesome for her if they were all frozen when their boss got back. Marta let out a breath, ¡°That was reckless.¡± Sonya turned away from the men and pat her friend¡¯s shoulder, ¡°I know,¡± Sonya said, trembling a little. Marta looked back at her, surprised. ¡°I didn¡¯t know if it would work,¡± She said in a low voice, ¡°But I had to try.¡± As Marta went into the shop, Sonya chewed her lip. She wasn¡¯t sure exactly what the limits of ¡®being a problem¡¯ were. She couldn¡¯t control their minds or make them behave a certain way, she was sure of it. Not without a mind control product, anyway. She shuddered at the thought. He¡¯ll know something¡¯s up if they don¡¯t say anything or move, but there¡¯s nothing I can do about that. At least they won¡¯t be able to join in with their boss if this turns into a fight. She took a deep breath just as she heard conversation coming from nearby, Alright Sonya, time to make good on your side of the deal. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 Shark scowled, there was that ringing in his ears again, he could feel tremors nearby, like the ground beneath his feet but further away. It was unsettling. He¡¯d wanted some time alone, time to recuperate from the way his transformation messed with his senses. He could hear voices when he was like that, sounds and tones that both made sense and didn¡¯t. It was like another language he could suddenly understand. He glanced at Parker as they rounded the corner, the idiot had come running when a pair of people claiming to be like Shark had shown up. His voice had been like nails on a chalkboard. He covered the sharp twinge of pain in his skull with a growl. Two people with powers? I can¡¯t ignore this, what do they want? More importantly, why had Amos brought them into his turf? I¡¯ll kill the little bitch-boy, he¡¯s had it coming for a while. His work has been sloppy recently. They stepped out onto the empty street and he spotted the rest of his gang crowded threateningly around a woman out of dreams. She wore tinted sunglasses and had hair as white as snow, just like her skin, it was almost blinding. Her clothes were fitted and clearly expensive. She glanced around for Amos and the other powered person, but didn¡¯t see anyone. ¡°Where¡¯s the other two?¡± He growled, glancing at Parker. ¡°Dunno, they were over there when I left,¡± Parker said, pointing towards a spot near the far street corner. ¡°Hello!¡± A cheery voice tore them both out of their muttered conversation. He looked up to see the woman walking over, she was even prettier now that he saw her face. Who the hell was this chick? She had her hand outstretched and an almost silly smile on her face, he could practically see the rainbows and sunshine behind her head. Was she stupid or something? They obviously had warned her that he had powers, yet she approached him so brazenly. She was either insane or dangerous. Either way, he didn¡¯t smell any blood on her and felt no sense of danger either. Those senses seemed to linger even if he didn¡¯t have his powers active. He still couldn¡¯t fathom the rules of his powers, but he knew there were many. Whatever she was, right now, she wasn¡¯t a threat. Not yet anyway. She raised a hand up to her heart, ¡°Nice to meet you! I¡¯m Sonya,¡± She said, sounding like an unflappable cheerleader. ¡°You must be Shark!¡± He hesitated and shook her hand when she approached, her smile became more relaxed and she released her grip after a heartbeat. ¡°Can I help you? What¡¯re you doing in my territory?¡± ¡°This is your turf?¡± She asked, looking surprised, ¡°I heard you were the boss but I figured with the kind of men you had working for you, you were part of a bigger operation.¡± He tensed, she was observant then, using flattery to dig for information. Parker seemed to swell a little with pride next to him and he resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Idiot. ¡°My guy here says you¡¯re like me, that true?¡± He asked, crossing his arms. The woman, Sonya, lowered her sunglasses and he nearly recoiled at the sight of her eyes. They were mechanical! They spun and shifted and whirled inside of her head like they were constantly making adjustments to her surroundings, refocusing like a camera lens. ¡°I¡¯ve got very good eyes, Mister Shark,¡± Sonya said proudly, crossing her arms behind her back, ¡°I¡¯m pretty good at seeing the potential in people, as well as knowing whether they have powers or not.¡± That caught his attention, ¡°You can tell if someone has powers?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You looking for work?¡± He grinned, now they were getting somewhere. ¡°Actually, I promised your boys I¡¯d try to negotiate an investment deal with you, you¡¯re a pretty strong guy I¡¯m guessing, and it¡¯s a shame you only have what, a couple blocks to your name?¡± She pointed out with a shrug, ¡°I happen to be looking for talented men to work for me.¡± ¡°Yeah? You got money, huh?¡± He asked, resting his hands on his hips. So her power was her eyes, he didn¡¯t know if her eyes did anything else but he still didn¡¯t sense any immediate physical danger from her. She¡¯s trying to throw me off to avoid a fight, he reasoned, She¡¯s defenseless. ¡°What about the other one, I heard there was two of you?¡± ¡°Marta? She¡¯s inside the shop with Amos, she¡¯s such a sweetie,¡± The woman said, thumbing over her shoulder. He glanced past her and at his men, they were just standing there. Their expressions were relaxed but he caught something in their eyes that he didn¡¯t like. Why weren¡¯t they moving to stand around her? They should be positioning themselves to overwhelm this chick if a fight broke out, he looked her way and narrowed his eyes. ¡°What¡¯s up with my guys?¡± He demanded, a frown forming on his face. She looked over her shoulder, pretending to be confused, but he caught the hint of a smile on her face, ¡°We came to an agreement, I¡¯d try to work out a deal with you and they¡¯d stay out of my business.¡± ¡°But-¡± Marta started but Sonya frowned at her. ¡°Marta! I need him!¡± Sonya barked, ¡°Don¡¯t let him get away!¡± Marta winced at the ferocity in Sonya¡¯s tone, but Sonya couldn¡¯t feel bad right now. She needed Amos if she was going to get anywhere. He could make everything she needed, he could help her build a business empire and hold the coming society of superhumans in the palm of her hand. He could make them dependent on her. He couldn¡¯t get away, not now, with his brain she¡¯d never find him again. She knew nothing about his history prior to becoming a businessman, there was no way she¡¯d be able to track him down in New York. She¡¯d gotten lucky running into him as it was and he wasn¡¯t going to come back to his shop. Marta let her go and Sonya steadied herself just as a body flew past them followed by a bellowing roar. ¡°Marta!¡± Sonya barked, ¡°Go!¡± Marta looked back at the beast, then at Sonya, and then back at the retreating form of Amos. She swallowed, but nodded, ¡°Be careful.¡± ¡°I will!¡± Sonya called and turned around to face the monster that was making short work of Shark¡¯s men. They screamed, scattering as one of them was bit and torn in two by a head large enough to consume an entire human, ¡°Go!¡± Marta darted away just as an inhuman bellow roiled up from beneath the beast. The creature lurched, its body shifting as something lifted it up from below. It looked down in confusion as a gray-skinned monster with razor sharp teeth in the shape of a man hefted it into the air and hurled it down the street with a titanic effort. ¡°Get the fuck off me!¡± Shark snarled, ¡°Get away from it, idiots, this ain¡¯t your fight!¡± He¡¯s strong and cares about his men, Sonya glanced hastily towards the Lurk as it rolled, But that isn¡¯t going to kill one of those things. Lurks were a stage up in the order of beasts that appeared during the first wave. If you put it into game terms, they were mini-bosses. They appeared rarely and liked to hide and watch in high places before leaping down on groups of easy prey. Just like most of the early monsters, they had no sense of self preservation or danger and would throw themselves heedlessly at an enemy. They were tough, tanking even artillery fire. She looked around, Shark was strong but at this point in the game it wasn¡¯t enough. She¡¯d have to pull on one of her products if they were going to survive this. Her eyes searched the street, she needed cover! There! ¡°Shark!¡± She shouted and pointed towards a warehouse a few blocks down, ¡°Get it in that warehouse!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t tell me what to do, bitch!¡± Shark snarled, ¡°This is your fault!¡± He roared, stomping down the street towards the monster. ¡°Do you wanna live through this or not?¡± She demanded. He whipped his head in her direction, ¡°You know how to kill it?¡± ¡°Get it somewhere tight, and you can kill it,¡± She called back, ¡°I have a plan, but your boys are in the way.¡± He fixed her with a stare and with her powerful eyes she saw his throat undulate and something in his eyes shift, an extra pair of lenses blinked at her. She still couldn¡¯t believe he was wasting his gift. She¡¯d appraised him the moment they came into contact with one another and had been horrified to see that he wasn¡¯t a shark at all. She wasn¡¯t sure exactly how far those powers went, but she was sure that it wasn¡¯t limited to ¡®be a shark man¡¯. He was either refusing to use his full power or clearly didn¡¯t understand what was in his hands. It was infuriating. The Lurk got to its feet and let out a bellow, people had to be watching from within their homes now. She couldn¡¯t take any further risks. The more she was seen with Shark, especially cooperating with him, the more problems she¡¯d have in the future. He either agreed or she was out of here, he could deal with it on his own, survive or not. It would be a shame for him to die, but she wouldn¡¯t lose sleep over it. ¡°Fine!¡± He shouted back, ¡°We¡¯ll do it your way!¡± She grinned, that was all she needed to hear. She started for the warehouse while he charged at it, she needed to get set up as fast as possible. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 Sonya slipped inside the warehouse and slid to a stop, the gate was up, fortunately. So many abandoned buildings in this part of town. She glanced around, the gate controls were fairly easy access but would they even work? She darted over to them and hit the button, nothing, she looked around the control mechanism and found a lever attached to some sort of crank. She tilted her head up and followed it, A release lever? Perfect. She turned around and darted further inside as a roar echoed from the Lurk. BOOM! Something heavy hit the ground out on the street, sounded like Shark was still trying to get it moving in her direction. She had barely a minute. She whipped her head around, police would be here soon and the last thing she wanted was her face next to Shark¡¯s. There! A line of lockers against the wall. She switched off Genius Level Intellect and pulled out Heroic Strength, she didn¡¯t have time to play with the locks. She ripped the first one open, empty, the second, the third, on the fourth she nearly let out a shout of triumph. A coverall-style suit, like a hazmat suit, a hard hat, and a respirator. It¡¯ll do. She snatched up the coverall, pulling it over her shoes and shoulders as fast as she could. Another bang and crash, Shark was getting closer. She tugged the respirator on and stuffed her hair into the hood of the coverall and threw on the hard hat for good measure. She tucked her sunglasses into a pocket just as a shadow hurtled through the open warehouse gate, the noisy crash sent a shudder throughout the entire building. She looked up at the door and watched Shark stalk inside, his shoulders heaving from the effort of the fight. She stepped away from the lockers and towards the quick release for the gate, casting her gaze towards the Lurk. The beast was tangled in heavy equipment, grunting and thrashing at the weight that had fallen on it. She could see a few decent injuries on it already but not nearly enough to take the thing down. She stopped next to the release just as Shark stepped inside fully. ¡°Oi! I got it here, now what?¡± He shouted into the warehouse over the frustrated roars of the Lurk. Sonya hit the release and the sliding gate fell down hard behind Shark. He spun with a curse, stepping back from the gate. He spotted her and his eyes widened. ¡°The fuck?¡± Sonya shrugged, ¡°It¡¯s not as stylish as the suit, I know,¡± She said casually and turned to face the beast as it tossed aside a hunk of metal that was digging into it¡¯s shoulder. Shark relaxed and tensed in just as much time as she drew closer. ¡°Hold still.¡± ¡°What-¡± Green light erupted from Sonya¡¯s fingertips and the little blood on his body began to vanish. He let out a relieved breath, ¡°-the fuck?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got a foul mouth, Shark,¡± Sonya said with a snort and stepped back, ¡°Think you can kill it in here?¡± ¡°Can you keep doing that?¡± He asked. ¡°Only as long as it sits still,¡± Sonya said and turned to face the creature. He cracked a razor-sharp grin and turned to face it, slamming his fists together hard enough to shake the air. She could see the sweat beading on his brow but also something else, eagerness, excitement. She felt a twist in her gut. She knew that look. Most heroes of her time had the same looks in their eyes. They didn¡¯t really care about helping or saving people, they were addicted to the thrill of battle. Seemed like Shark was no different, but as long as she kept him on a leash it could be useful.Re?a?d new chapters at novelhall.com BANG Another heavy piece of metal was cast to the side and the Lurk was back on its haunches. It roared in violent promise and she took a few steps back, ¡°You¡¯re up.¡± ¡°Nice,¡± Shark snarled and started a light jog forward that broke into a full sprint, ¡°Come on, you ugly fucker!¡± He threw his shoulder forward just as the semi-reptilian behemoth tried to rise to its full height to drop down on him. It got about to a half crouch before slamming its head on the catwalk above. It grunted and snarled, distracted by the obstruction just as Shark collided with its abdomen. There was a loud pop and crack as the creature was thrown backwards and skipped across the concrete floor. It rolled and whipped its tail out, Shark leaped over it before getting caught in the chest by a powerful forelimb. He hit the ground hard, leaving a cracked surface beneath him. A follow up attack missed by a hair as Shark rolled out of the way, he swore and dove for the creature¡¯s leg, rearing his fist back and punching it. Sonya crossed her arms, Your teeth are stronger, idiot. She thought, but didn¡¯t want to distract him at this point. He wailed on the creature¡¯s knee over and over, each punch coming down with increasing force. Soon his fists began to sound more like small bombs going off rather than flesh against flesh. She narrowed her eyes, Not all powers are created equal, he¡¯s basically already got Heroic Strength like Marta. A noisy crack brought her out of her thoughts and the Lurk howled in pain, savagely grabbing him and pulling him off of its knee. It threw its head back and roared in agony, tossing him away and trying to position the bulk of its body between him and its now injured leg. He slid across the ground and stopped just at her feet. She looked down at him, knelt, and gave him a small amount of healing. ¡°It¡¯s not over yet, Shark.¡± ¨C Shark woke with a start, everything hurt and it was crazy dark. He squinted and tried to shift into his shark form to get a better visual on his surroundings. He was rewarded with a dull ache that warned him he¡¯d overextended himself. He tried to remember what had happened. He¡¯d been in the warehouse, fighting that ugly-ass thing, that chick had been healing him. He¡¯d done some good damage too! Then it hit him, hard, he remembered fragments after that; sensing the water beneath his feet and... pulling on it? He¡¯d pulled on water? Was that even possible? I can turn into a shark, of course it¡¯s possible, he thought ruefully. Now where is that bitch? I need healing. ¡°Glad to see you up, Shark,¡± The woman¡¯s voice came from above him. He grunted and looked up, the woman, Sonya was her name, was sitting on top a pile of junk. Next to her was a woman in a green dress who stood at attention like some sort of maid or something. Amos was there too, trembling. What was Amos doing here? He glanced around in confusion, where was he anyway? This wasn¡¯t the warehouse they¡¯d fought the beast in. It looked like someone¡¯s garage. ¡°We¡¯re in the storage room of Amos¡¯ shop,¡± The woman said, ¡°If you¡¯re curious.¡± He narrowed his eyes, that checked out, he tried to sit up but every bone in his body felt like it was broken. It would take days for his body to heal and that was only after he got his powers working again. He frowned, ¡°What is this?¡± Sonya was holding something in her hand, the respirator she¡¯d been wearing to cover her face during the encounter. She held it up over her mouth playfully, ¡°Don¡¯t be like that, I¡¯m hoping we can have a good business relationship, Shark.¡± He narrowed his eyes, ¡°Yeah? Well you¡¯ve got me at a disadvantage, not gonna heal me until we come to terms?¡± ¡°Smart boy,¡± Sonya said softly, lowering the mask. ¡°What do you want?¡± He demanded. ¡°You, Shark, and your gang,¡± Sonya said with an easy smile. He snorted out a laugh, ¡°My boss won¡¯t like that.¡± She snorted out a laugh as well, ¡°Then we¡¯ll get rid of him.¡± He froze, ¡°What?¡± ¡°You heard me,¡± Sonya said and stood up from her seated position. She hopped off the junk and strode towards him, the mask still in her hand, her eyes glowed eerily in the dim light, ¡°Here¡¯s what¡¯s going to happen, Shark. You¡¯re going to work for me, you¡¯re going to take control of the gangs around here, and you¡¯re going to be the boss in charge. Then you¡¯re going to do the same with every other gang in this city.¡± His eyes widened as she came to a stop, standing over him, her glowing eyes blazing so brightly it made it hard to see her pale face. ¡°I want to make you into a King, Shark. All you have to do is what I tell you to do and I¡¯ll make sure you get everything you need.¡± His throat had gone dry. ¡°A king?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± She said quietly, ¡°King of the scum of this city, but that¡¯s just the start, I have bigger plans for you, Shark. Much bigger.¡± He tried to swallow, ¡°What do I have to do?¡± She smiled at him and held out a hand, ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal.¡± Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Days began to pass into weeks and the news stations were constantly reporting on the latest incident. ¡°Rioting has been reported in several nations this past weekend as individuals afflicted by the Pandora¡¯s Light incident have been detained by government authorities.¡± Scenes of civilians marching in the streets, some demonstrations more peaceful than others. A scene in Shanghai showed men and women standing in silent protest, watched by heavily armed soldiers while the streets of Paris were filled with rioters crashing into a wall of armored police. A molotov thrown in London was met with pops of rubber bullets from security personnel. Teargas poured over a street in DC, protesters running as they were rounded up. ¡°Reporting from Jakarta where a monster wave was subdued by light touched vigilantes in costumes reminiscent of comic-book superheroes, the individuals disappeared before they could be reached for an interview.¡± A woman, standing in front of a pile of monster corpses, most of them hounds with at least two lurkers as police run left and right behind her. ¡°The United Nations has called for a meeting of world leaders to discuss the growing concerns about light touched and their potential dangers to civilized society, some nations have opted out of the meeting while others have filed formal protests about the language used in the initial statement, citing the actions of numerous light touched who have stepped in where military and law enforcement have been unable to-¡±Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com ¡°Stocks at major military contractors are at an all time low as-¡± ¡°A light touched calling himself Firestorm appeared in Atlanta this afternoon, cracking down on a monster wave in a matter of seconds. Despite the conflagration caused by his abilities, there were no civilian casualties and very little damages to property...¡± ¡°Jesse Ortega, the eighty-year-old CEO of Wright Dynamics held a press conference where he revealed a miraculous age reversal, he has refused comment about the source of his newfound youth...¡± ¡°Gang violence in portions of New York has dropped to historic lows with little to no explanation, NYPD officials have refused to comment as analysts point toward increasing monster activity in the heavily populated city-¡± The TV shut off with a snap and Martin threw the remote to his desk with a snarl, rubbing his face, What the hell is going on? He felt his blood pressure rise again and tried to take a steadying breath, every minute there seemed to be something happening in the world. It was like the entire planet was on fire. He pinched the bridge of his nose and sat down in his chair, fingers lingering over the drawer to his desk. His gaze sobered a little and he pulled his hand away, squeezing his fingers. ¡°Proud of you, Martin,¡± Carl said from the door, startling him. ¡°F- Carl! What the hell?¡± Martin gasped, looking up at the senior detective. Carl shrugged, ¡°I knocked,¡± He stepped inside, ¡°You got a drink in that drawer?¡± Martin¡¯s eyes fell, ¡°Mhm.¡± Carl walked around the desk and opened the drawer, plucking the flask out of it and slipping it into his pocket, ¡°I¡¯ve got you buddy.¡± Martin let out a breath, ¡°Thanks. I can¡¯t- I mean. Damn it that¡¯s not important right now,¡± He growled and pushed himself back from his desk, standing again and pacing, ¡°What the hell is going on in the Bronx? Now it¡¯s quiet in Queens and there¡¯s weird reports coming out of Staten Island. It¡¯s like all the gangs in the city just started disappearing. No bodies either. Just gone.¡± Carl shrugged, ¡°At least your backlog is cleared out,¡± He said with an impish smile. ¡°Carl!¡± Martin gasped, ¡°People are disappearing!¡± ¡°Criminals are disappearing, Martin. Right now our concern is active cases and we don¡¯t have orders to go investigating this yet,¡± Carl said, ¡°The brass know what¡¯s going on.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the damn problem!¡± Martin snarled, slamming his fist on the wall, ¡°Something big is coming and we¡¯re here sitting on our hands. I know it has something to do with that pale lady, my gut is telling me-¡± He was cut off by a snort from Carl. ¡°You mean Sonya Chernovna?¡± Carl asked. Martin looked up, ¡°You know her name?¡± ¡°Of course I do, turn the TV back on, man,¡± Carl said and grabbed the remote, he flipped a few stations and there she was, skin as white as paper and hair to match, she was wearing sunglasses as before with an all white suit and pink tie. She was shaking hands with someone he felt was familiar and talking pleasantly. ¡°Her, right?¡± Martin stared at the screen, the text at the bottom read ¡°I sincerely doubt you¡¯re the only one out there with an intelligence amplifying ability,¡± Sonya pointed out, ¡°You did good, Amos.¡± ¡°So can we go home now?¡± He asked with a grunt, setting the book he¡¯d been holding aside. She plucked it up and looked at the cover, ¡°Myths and Legends?¡± ¡°Wanted to see if there were any hints about Pandora, it¡¯s just a general overview though,¡± Amos said with a shrug. Sonya opened the book and started flipping through the heavily illustrated pages, admiring the text while Amos griped. She tuned him out, he hated being away from the apartment or the lab she¡¯d set up for him. ¡°...you¡¯ve been having me work on those damn bullets all month! I want to work on one of my projects!¡± He complained. ¡°Then feel free, you¡¯ve earned it,¡± Sonya said, glancing up at him and then at Marta, ¡°Marta and I are probably going fishing soon.¡± ¡°Checking up on Shark?¡± Marta asked. ¡°I¡¯ve left him to his own devices for a while, with what I gave him he¡¯s done a pretty damn good job, but he isn¡¯t the only guy on the streets with serious firepower behind his ability,¡± Sonya said thoughtfully, looking back down at the book. ¡°I think you should hold off until you¡¯ve come up with a better way to conceal your identity, Sonya,¡± Marta pointed out, ¡°Maybe give yourself a name too?¡± ¡°What? Like the so-called heroes running around out there?¡± Sonya asked with a frown. Marta frowned and crossed her arms, ¡°They¡¯re doing good work.¡± ¡°They¡¯re in it for the thrills and eventually the money once people start paying for their services,¡± Sonya said dryly, flipping a page in the book with a frown. ¡°Firestorm is probably the only one out there actually trying to do any good right now.¡± Amos looked up, ¡°You know him?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve met, his father was a patient of mine,¡± Sonya said offhandedly, turning the page again. ¡°Still, a good name might go a long way, especially in times like these. People seem to be latching onto the bandwagon with the whole superhero thing,¡± Marta said with a huff, ¡°You¡¯re playing two roles, why not do the same?¡± Amos chuckled, ¡°A name that strikes fear in the hearts of the heroes, miss supervillain!¡± Marta gave him a scornful look and he shrugged, ¡°She owns half the gangs in New York, Marta, what else would you call her?¡± Sonya snorted, ¡°I¡¯m not arguing the point, it¡¯s part of the plan after all.¡± ¡°I still don¡¯t fully understand the plan, by the way,¡± Amos said, ¡°You ever gonna spell the whole thing out to us?¡± Sonya shook her head, ¡°Not yet, not till I know it¡¯s truly possible. In the meantime we¡¯ll make all the money we can and expand our influence, we¡¯re still a tiny blip as far as the world is concerned, even with the munitions you made,¡± She flipped to another page and paused, stopping to read. ¡°Either way, you¡¯ve got to be more careful about where you show yourself, maybe Amos can make you a disguise, got any projects that would help Amos? Don¡¯t want you to get bored,¡± Marta teased him. Amos scowled, ¡°Maybe I do, I¡¯ll make it happen,¡± He bit out, ¡°Better than you can imagine.¡± ¡°Better be spectacular then,¡± Marta said wryly, ¡°Took you a whole month to figure out how to make bullets.¡± Sonya ignored the two as they bickered, continuing to read. She hadn¡¯t read a book like this in a long time and it was a little refreshing. More importantly, something about this particular myth simply resonated with her. She ran her fingers over the text, her eyes lingering on the depiction of a gleaming woman with a crown on her head, her eyes cast down in disdain over the world beneath her. She glanced up after absorbing it all, ¡°Hey,¡± She said, interrupting the two as they were at each other''s throats. They stopped and looked at her, ¡°How does Ishtar sound?¡± Chapter 11 Chapter 11 There were thousands of gangs in New York City, hundreds of thousands of men and women on the street every single day engaged in everything from violent crime to drug dealing to theft. It was pretty much the same in any major city one went to, but the gang culture in New York was embedded so deeply it was impossible to root it out. There were other organized crime groups, of course, better connected, better funded, larger. Larger compared to a singular gang, anyway. They were dwarfed, however, by the sheer volume of gangs throughout the city. Even so, it had never been a concern for the various crime families and groups that operated in New York. Who could ever imagine a day when the street-level gangs would start to consolidate? Shark hadn¡¯t believed in the cause, not really, not at first. But now? Now it was a different story. Shark had stopped shifting back into his human form two weeks ago, there wasn¡¯t much of a point anymore. He¡¯d grown more and more comfortable in his altered body. He¡¯d also taken to wearing nicer clothes, gone were the polo and jeans. Now he wore tailored suits and walked with a contingent of bodyguards around him. They were mostly for show, though, the boss had seen to that very quickly. She¡¯d explained to him the name of his power, what it implied, and how he could use it. It had opened his eyes to possibilities beyond his imagination. It was like knowing the name of his gift gave him power over it. He shut the small booklet about sea life he held in his hand shut and slipped out of the car, his head held high, as he walked towards the door of the Danube Hotel in Brooklyn. His security detail formed up around him, all of them thugs who¡¯d had their abilities awakened by the boss. Foot Soldiers of the highest caliber. They weren¡¯t the only ones here either, more were coming packed quietly into a semi that had just pulled up behind the hotel. He had a feeling today was going to be a bit more exciting than usual. Most of the time, the smaller gangs of the city had just rolled over and joined up. A few of their members had abilities but none of them contended with Shark. He¡¯d had a few tough scrapes here and there but nothing he couldn¡¯t bounce back from. He honestly found the memories kind of boring, which was a bit of a shame, he¡¯d had thought simply conquering a single gang would have been exhilarating. Now, though, he realized that he was worth so much more. The boss had invested in him and basically declared him king of New York¡¯s underworld unilaterally. He was more than happy to prove her right. Today was going to be different, though, his boys had informed him that the gangs of Brooklyn were desperately rallying to the banner of the Vincenti Crime Family, seeking protection in numbers in a hope to fend off the beast that seemed to be consuming the city¡¯s underworld like a ravenous titan. They¡¯d all gathered here, at the Danube, to hash out the last remaining details of their agreement. The boss really is ruthless, he thought, licking his lips, I¡¯d been too tepid. He thought back to his conversation with her over dinner. He was one of the few who knew her face, her real face. He wondered if even her little caretaker attendant knew. He swallowed hard as the images came back to him. ¡°...so they¡¯re having a meeting?¡± Sonya asked, sipping her wine and setting it down, she cut into her steak in silence, ¡°And what are you going to do about it?¡± She was wearing a dress as delicate and beautiful as a wedding gown, her mechanical eyes clicking almost audibly in the silence of the private dining room. Her skin almost glowed, it was so white, and her hair sparkled in the comfortable lighting. It shook him to his core. He had to make a good showing, ¡°A show of force, boss,¡± He said, ¡°We¡¯re going to go in there and force them to bend. I¡¯ll probably bring about ten guys, that should be enough after you awakened them-¡± His words trailed off as she set her utensils down, she looked up at him with those twisting and turning eyes that shifted with each flicker of light. Her thin lips set into a frown so fine her mouth almost seemed to disappear into her face. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect a soft hand from you, Shark.¡± ¡°A-a soft hand?¡± He blanched, ¡°B-but we¡¯re rolling up with guns and powers, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°That worked up until now, but now they¡¯re on the defensive,¡± Sonya said quietly, tracing her finger around the rim of her glass, ¡°They¡¯re more desperate than ever to hold onto their identities, they¡¯ll send their best to this meeting,¡± She said thoughtfully and stared at him. What the hell do I say? What other measures can we take? It¡¯s not like we should- ¡°Kill them all,¡± Sonya said flatly, picking up her utensils again and plucking a piece of meat off her plate, she took a bite and gasped, ¡°Oh this is very good!¡± She said delightedly and cut into her steak. World peace and security at the cost of human life? Aren¡¯t you a hypocrite? Didn¡¯t you just get done offering to help the police? She snorted, Yes I am, that¡¯s the point. The voice in her head seemed to hesitate, it was as if madness itself had been surprised by her thoughts. She grinned ear to ear, ¡°Ishtar the Monster, Sonya the Champion,¡± Sonya breathed as she leaned forward. Even as horrible as it was, even as gutwrenching as it was, even as she felt her soul crack with every single life that Shark and his boys took, she swore to herself that she wouldn¡¯t look away. She¡¯d ordered this death, she¡¯d ordained it, demanded it, if that¡¯s what it took to get even a step closer to spreading her influence across the underworld. I already said it once, she warned the voice, I will be the worst of the worst, if that¡¯s what it takes. Now buzz off, I¡¯m watching my darling subordinate work. The slaughter continued for another five minutes before the various groups began to check in. Cheap radios modified by Amos to be more secure. She couldn¡¯t give them the finest gear, not yet, it would draw too much attention if a group of gangsters were caught with high end gear. She glanced over at her phone just as Shark put his own up to his ear. It started to ring and she snatched it up, answering it with a smile, ¡°Fabulous work as always, Shark.¡± She watched him freeze on the screen, ¡°You were watching, ma¡¯am?¡± ¡°Of course! Next time, deal with the security cameras before proceeding. I¡¯ll take care of it this time, but you should be more careful,¡± Sonya said smoothly as her mental connection to the cameras fired off like sparks in her mind, the cameras began to short out, one after another. ¡°R-right,¡± Shark said shakily, ¡°I apologize, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Not a problem, now we¡¯ll see how the gangs of Brooklyn react,¡± She said, leaning back in her chair and snagging a soda from the mini-fridge beneath her desk. She cracked it open, ¡°You¡¯ll have a few show up and ask to join, let them in and have them clear out of Brooklyn for a while. When they stop coming, send in your men to comb the borough and get rid of the rest. If they haven¡¯t figured out how the tides turning at this point, then they aren¡¯t worth recruiting.¡± ¡°Yes boss,¡± Shark acknowledged, sounding less strained this time. ¡°Oh, and Shark?¡± She chimed after a sip. ¡°Yes boss?¡± ¡°Refer to me as Ishtar from now on.¡± ¡°Yes, Ishtar.¡± ¨C Shark hung up the phone as his men all watched him, murmuring quietly among themselves. He slipped his phone into his pocket. One of the braver ones stepped forward and cleared his throat, ¡°Uh... boss? Who was that?¡± ¡°You know how they say there¡¯s always a bigger fish?¡± Shark asked, glancing around at the bodies. Two of his men moved in and started using their powers to dispose of the corpses and the mess, one destroying the bodies one after another while the other exhaled and the floors and walls were cleaned to almost spotless levels. The others looked at one another before the brave footsoldier nodded. Shark cleared his throat, ¡°That was Ishtar, she¡¯s the biggest fish.¡± Chapter 12 Chapter 12 One utterance of her name was enough to start a wildfire, though Sonya supposed that was entirely the point, after all. Still, there was absolutely no reason to make a public spectacle of her new persona. Only an idiot created an advantage only to expend it immediately. There were better ways to use what she had fostered over the past few weeks. It had felt too easy, in retrospect, but she supposed having Genius Level Intellect on pretty much at all times helped. Though it had quickly demonstrated to her the limits of her powers. One to six hours, depending on use, simply having it active reduces the strain a great deal but eventually it does cut off, She mused as she watched the city through the window of her apartment. A fire had broken out a few blocks away and a chime rang out on her phone. She checked it and saw that the automated monster alert system was already working. She¡¯d had nothing to do with it, personally finding it kind of annoying, it was going to start going off a lot soon. Rather, the Department of Homeland Security had set it up shortly after the formation of her corporation. Sooner than last time, probably didn¡¯t want to look like they weren¡¯t doing anything, typical. She snorted as a pair of figures hopped from one rooftop to another towards the blaze. The heroes were showing up more and more often, it was trendy now for the light touched to don capes and cowls and run out to fight monsters. Still, the government hadn¡¯t sanctioned any of them yet which was obvious, it would happen during the next election. Eight months? She hummed thoughtfully to herself, Not a lot of time to build up a company large enough to do what I need. I¡¯ve figured out how I¡¯m going to spread my influence in the underworld, take control of city gangs and turn them into ability users, she turned away from the window, deep in thought, I¡¯ll also grab ahold of the bigger players by offering them my Gift of Youth, hold parties for an exclusive club of sorts, keep them close and loyal. That said, I have nothing to offer heroes except sell them goods, I could single them out and subjugate them somehow but... she smirked ...that¡¯s not really my style now is it? Just keeping my hand pressed down on the government side through the old farts isn¡¯t enough either. I still haven¡¯t even had enough politicians try to track Ishtar down. I¡¯ve had two people show off their new youth already, what more do I need to do? Even worse, all the investment money is going straight into research, besides selling munitions to police departments open to the idea, ASTA isn¡¯t making any money. She sighed, Let no one say it¡¯s easy being a supervillain. ¡°Sonya?¡± Marta¡¯s voice drew her sharply out of her thoughts. Sonya jumped, ¡°Holy-shit-balls! Marta! Oh! Hey...¡± She gasped, clutching at her chest and leaning against the couch. Marta was standing at the threshold of the living room, she¡¯d taken to wearing a long skirted english-style maid outfit. It was a little much in Sonya¡¯s opinion but apparently it was a bit of a cosplay fantasy of Marta¡¯s so she hadn¡¯t really spent a lot of time on the topic. The young woman frowned at her, ¡°You really should find a way to relax,¡± Marta sighed, shaking her head, ¡°You¡¯ve been on edge for a couple days now. Go outside, ma¡¯am, get some air or find some other kind of distraction. You can¡¯t change the world frayed at the seams.¡± Sonya coughed, ¡°Ah-aha,¡± She rubbed her neck, ¡°R-right. Maybe a change of pace could help me clear my head.¡± Marta nodded agreeably, ¡°Speaking of a change of pace, you have a visitor.¡± Sonya raised an eyebrow, ¡°I didn¡¯t invite anyone.¡± ¡°She says you gave her your card last time you were out shopping,¡± Marta said, holding up a business card, ¡°Mikayla Summer.¡± Sonya blinked and tilted her head, thinking back, her eyes widened, ¡°Oh! The cutie that helps me get fitted for my suits! She¡¯s here? Wow! I¡¯m a bit surprised,¡± She thought ruefully of the past few visits to the high-end clothing store that the young woman worked at. Sonya¡¯s lips formed a line as she recalled the number of times she¡¯d posed in front of the mirror and the flustered look on the girl¡¯s face. ¡°Hm... did I overdo it?¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am?¡± Marta asked, looking confused. ¡°Oh, haha, nothing!¡± Sonya waved her hands defensively, ¡°Let her in.¡± Marta inclined her head and turned away, Sonya rubbed her neck. She is taking this whole ¡®ooh look at me I¡¯m a noble maid¡¯ thing way too seriously. A few moments later, Marta returned with Mikayla in tow. The tan-skinned girl oozed the word athlete, short dark hair, pierced ears, and legs for days attached to a street-fashion skirt and top. She wore a baggy jacket over it all that had fallen down to her shoulders. It wasn¡¯t the classiest look, but it was pretty darn cool. Mikayla looked around, her eyes wide, as she took in the expensive apartment. ¡°Oh man, I¡¯ve never been in a place like this before. I can¡¯t believe you let me in.¡± Marta said nothing as she was guided to the living room where Sonya had set herself up on the couch, she got to her feet and brandished a winning smile, ¡°Miss Summers! Welcome! This is a surprise!¡± Mikayla flushed a little and scratched her nose, ¡°You said I could stop by any time. I uh, wanted to see you, ma¡¯am.¡± She held out her arm, ¡°Shall we?¡± She glanced over at the driver''s seat and nodded at Marta who pulled away. Marta would follow them inside shortly and keep a respectful distance. Mikayla looked at Sonya¡¯s arm for a few heartbeats and with what looked like something between resignation and an attempt to will herself to be more confident, slipped her arm in. ¡°Good girl,¡± Sonya said and started walking, leading the flushed designer up the steps and towards the bouncer. He looked between the two of them, ¡°Hot ain¡¯t enough to get in here.¡± ¡°Knowing the owner is,¡± Sonya said with a wink and held out a metal card, the guy took one look at it and stepped aside. Sonya smiled at him politely and continued on in. Mikayla stared at him then at her, ¡°You know the owner?¡± ¡°He was a client,¡± Sonya said offhandedly so as to sweep the topic under the rug, easier than coming up with a half truth since she couldn¡¯t lie about it. More like I gave him twenty years of his life back, but that¡¯s neither here nor there. They stepped inside and the music washed over them in a wave, the lights, the sounds, the smells, the overwhelming charisma of damn near everyone in this place. It was a huge room with a wide dancefloor and a bar that wrapped around the entire space, dozens of bartenders working tirelessly to fuel the people searching for respite in these ever changing times. She walked Mikayla over to the bar and quickly ordered a pair of drinks before turning to her. ¡°Never been to a club before?¡± Sonya asked. ¡°A few bars, but nothing like this,¡± Mikayla admitted, looking a little embarrassed. The bartender returned with their drinks and Sonya snatched hers up, ¡°Cheers, then! To your first time, and to a dream come true.¡± Mikayla¡¯s smile was as bright as the sun, ¡°Y-yeah!¡± As Sonya sipped, she listened in on the conversation around her, turning on Mikayla¡¯s own ability. Attention to Detail had a lot of perks, but the best part was being able to parse conversations out from one another. One conversation in particular caught her attention. ¡°...two new sponsors for the race, can you believe it?¡± ¡°Figures, I bet they basically wipe his ass now.¡± ¡°Still, makes the company look good, investors are happy.¡± ¡°Enough about business, boys!¡± Sonya turned her attention away from the brief conversation, Corporate Sponsorships, now there¡¯s an idea. She mused as Mikayla set down her drink and let out a breath, a small flush coming to her cheeks. Oh no, is this girl a lightweight? Maybe I should ease her away from the bar, otherwise this could be a rough night. ¡°Hey Sonya? Can we dance?¡± She asked, looking up at her with those big doe eyes and playing with her earring. Oh dear. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 There on the dancefloor, Sonya didn¡¯t have to think about things as hard. The flashing lights, the beat, the sounds, the movement. It was like everything was in stop motion. One moment she was in one place, one moment she was in another. One moment Mikayla was standing a meter away, the next Sonya could smell her hair. It was a sweet scent. Distracting. She felt the girl¡¯s back against her chest, she felt a hand grab hers and pull it around a narrow waist. She couldn¡¯t tell the difference between the sound of her heartbeat and the bass any more. It was all the same. It¡¯s okay to have a little fun now and then, Sonya, the words echoed in her head. Her words, her voice. The next moment, she was leaning over a sink and staring at herself in the mirror. Her chest heaving. She had to come up for air. She coughed and wiped her face, glaring at herself. Her mechanical eyes glowed a ferocious hot pink. She reached up and pulled a few strands of hair from out in front of her face. ¡°Chunhua,¡± Sonya murmured, looking down at her hands, trembling from the intensity that had just nearly overcame her. Sonya¡¯s lip curled into a sardonic smile, ¡°She doesn¡¯t even know who I am. We haven¡¯t even met...¡± The door opened to the bathroom and Marta slipped inside. She was dressed more for the occasion rather than her maid cosplay, a look of concern flashed on her face. ¡°You¡¯re paler than usual, if that¡¯s even possible,¡± She said, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Sonya looked at her for a moment and then back at the mirror, ¡°Am I allowed to have this kind of fun? Is it okay?¡± She asked. Marta glanced around, as if checking to see if there was anyone in the restroom besides themselves. She stepped forward after a breath, ¡°For someone who keeps calling themselves a Supervillain, you sure have a lot of guilt,¡± She paused when she saw Sonya wince at the comment and smiled, ¡°I know you¡¯re trying to do something important, even if you can¡¯t explain it yet, I¡¯ve figured out that you have a bigger plan in mind. One that you can¡¯t pull off without doing some terrible things.¡± Sonya straightened and looked at Marta, shock on her face. Marta raised an eyebrow, ¡°What¡¯s so surprising? I¡¯ve taken care of you for how long?¡± Sonya looked away and chuckled, ¡°...yeah. You do a lot for me, thank you, Marta.¡± Marta feigned a curtsey, ¡°It is my pleasure, Miss Chernovna,¡± She turned away, ¡°I need to keep an eye on your date, so I¡¯ll be returning to the floor...¡± She paused and glanced back, ¡°...but to answer your question, yes, have as much fun as you can.¡± The door to the restroom shut and Sonya looked at herself in the mirror, I¡¯m not the woman she fell in love with anymore. I¡¯m a different person and I¡¯ve committed to that. She let out a breath, Okay. Her phone buzzed just as she firmed up her resolve and felt the weight fall off her shoulders,she glanced down at it and saw a text from Marta. Her gut twisted. Sonya darted outside, pushing past the couple that had just thrown themselves against the restroom door in their amorousness and glaring at them when one tried to protest. They flinched away from her neon gaze, taking a step back. She turned her attention to the floor but didn¡¯t see anything amiss on the dance floor. She pivoted to the bar and narrowed her eyes, Marta was standing there next to Mikayla. She had positioned herself between Mikayla and three men and a woman, all of whom were taking hostile poses. Her eyes fixed on Mikayla¡¯s face, sullen, hurt, sad. Sonya grit her teeth and clenched her fists, bloodlust boiling in her veins only to force herself to calm down, recognizing rage when she felt it. She needed to use it, not be used by it. You¡¯re not a scout anymore, Chernovna, act like it. Sonya took a deep breath and walked straight forward, switching to technopathy and glancing towards the entrance of the club. A few people nearly got in her way only to catch the look in her eyes and shy back. Sonya arrived at the bar as the woman was speaking. ¡°You seriously think you have any right to work as a designer, four our label?¡± She laughed, ¡°Do you think these guys would wear your garbage? Come on, Summers, you¡¯re deluding yourself! The CEO would never okay it.¡± Mikayla shrank a bit more with every word, tears welling in her eyes as she cowered behind Marta. Marta glanced over and made eye contact with Sonya. Sonya noticed how the veins in her neck were throbbing, strained against every instinct to crush the skull of the bitch in front of her. Marta was a marvel of restraint and self control, ¡°Thank you Marta, I¡¯ve got it from here.¡± Sonya said gently, causing Mikayla to flinch and the woman to glance her way. ¡°The hell are you?¡± The woman snarled as one of the men, models from the fashion line that Mikayla worked for based on context, raised his eyebrows in surprise. ¡°Woah! That¡¯s Sonya Chernovna,¡± The model said, pointing at her. ¡°Who?¡± The woman grunted, Sonya frowned, was this chick drunk? Bernetta Lucci had just woken for breakfast, the little aches that came with her seventy years of age bothering her more than usual this morning. The house staff were already hard at work getting things ready for the day and she was enjoying a cup of coffee on the landing looking out over Florence. It was such a magnificent morning. She took in a deep breath, her only regret that she wasn¡¯t fit to walk the beach anymore. She¡¯d be permanently wheelchair bound within a few years, according to the doctors, and soon she¡¯d have to pass her company on to one of those greedy idiots who could barely articulate what the word ¡®quality¡¯ even meant. If only she knew Jonathan¡¯s secret. He¡¯d refused to tell her last time they met. One of the house staff stepped up to her table, looking composed as always while holding a cellphone set to hold in her palms. Bernetta could sense the faintest amount of trepidation in the way the girls throat tensed. She narrowed her eyes, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You have a call, madame,¡± The maid said, inclining her head politely, ¡°I believe it is a woman, their name is Ishtar.¡± Bernetta snorted, ¡°Like the goddess? Oh please, why even bother bringing this to my attention?¡± The maid swallowed, ¡°The person said that if you refused, to mention Jonathan Adders.¡± Bernetta spun, her eyes wide, nearly knocking over her coffee. ¡°Give me the phone, now!¡± Her heart pounded in her ears, was this it? Was this her turn to taste from the fountain of youth? Ishtar, were they implying an actual goddess was behind all this? Impossible. No, not impossible, she¡¯d watched how the world had changed, seen the strangeness appearing more and more frequently. It had been just over a month since that flash of light from Greece. It¡¯s real. The maid blanched and quickly held the phone out, Bernetta snatched it up and took a deep breath, composing herself. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Bernetta Lucci,¡± A voice came from the other end, it was raspy and cold, like a blood-slicked blade scraping across ice. There was a feminine quality there, but it was overshadowed by the otherwise bloodcurdling nature of the tone. ¡°I am Ishtar. I¡¯m calling because I would like to do business with you.¡± Bernetta¡¯s eyes went wide and a smile spread across her lips, ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°Before we do, though, there¡¯s a matter with an employee of yours that needs to be addressed,¡± Ishtar said, her voice menacing. Bernetta swallowed, ¡°W-what can I do for you?¡± ¨C Sonya¡¯s phone flashed with an icon stating that the voice modulator was functioning normally as she stared out the window of her living room, the moon high in the sky. ¡°I¡¯m glad we could come to an arrangement, Madam Lucci,¡± Sonya said softly, ¡°We¡¯ll go over the finer details when we meet in person. I¡¯ve never been to florence, you should show me around when you have time.¡± ¡°Of course, Madam Ishtar,¡± Lucci¡¯s voice came over the phone, ¡°I was a bit worried at first, but you are a shrewd businesswoman. I¡¯m looking forward to seeing how our cooperation develops.¡± Sonya smiled, ¡°As am I, Madam Lucci, thank you for your time. I will see you next week.¡± ¡°Next week,¡± Madam Lucci agreed, and the call disconnected. Sonya looked down at the phone, swiping against the voice modulator and glanced over her shoulder. Marta was standing in the shadows. She didn¡¯t even blink at the intense brightness of Sonya¡¯s eyes. She hadn¡¯t changed them from that eerie hot pink. She smiled, ¡°You are ruthlessly kind, Ma¡¯am.¡± Sonya walked past her and took a low breath, stopping at the door to her bedroom. She peered inside at the dark haired form sleeping in her bed. ¡°Maybe,¡± Sonya said, ¡°Or maybe I¡¯m just greedy.¡± Chapter 14 Chapter 14 Mikayla stirred, her head aching, she let out a groan and rolled onto her back, the silk sheets gliding smoothly over her. She opened her eyes and frowned, silk sheets? She blinked and squinted at the high ceiling and the three flat disks embedded in it in a row. She raised an eyebrow, those aren¡¯t my lights. She sat up and felt the silk fall off of her, looking down and gasping, she quickly gathered up the sheets around herself, where are my clothes? Panic rose as she scanned the room for any hint of where she was. It was an elegant if simple bedroom, a single dresser sat almost precisely a meter away from an ultramodern-looking vanity. She glanced at herself in the mirror, her hair was a mess and she had marks on her neck and shoulders. She felt heat rise to her face and kept searching. There were two doors, one that was partially ajar and looked like it led into a bathroom. The other door was shut. Besides that, there was a sliding panel that probably opened into a walk-in closet, the bed beneath her and a single bedside table. She looked up from it as light shifted in the room, there was a tinted window that looked out over the city below. She rested her hand on the mattress, it was so soft. What the hell did I do last night? My head... She tried to retrace everything, her eyes flicking around. She spotted something sitting on the surface next to her and turned to it. A note underneath the sleek alarm clock. She pulled it out. Marta stared at the note in shock, she looked down at the sheets, then at herself in the mirror. She reached up and touched the sensitive mark on her neck and wanted to die, right then and there. She pulled the sheet over her head and hid underneath the pillow behind her. ¡°Oh no... what have I done?¡± She whined, tossing about left and right, her face felt like it was going to catch fire. She finally stopped and stared at the ceiling, ¡°Damn it, I can¡¯t remember any of it. Why¡¯d I drink so much?¡± A knock came to the door, ¡°Miss Summers?¡± Mikayla jumped, sitting up and fussing with her sheets until every inch was covered except her head, ¡°M-Marta?¡± ¡°Good morning, may I come in?¡± The maid asked. Mikayla sighed, ¡°Uh... sure?¡± The door opened and the maid stepped inside, her hands resting in front of her. She looked absolutely regal even if her maid outfit was a little much. The woman strode over to the foot of the bed and inclined her head, ¡°It¡¯s a little before noon, Miss Summers. How are you feeling?¡± Mikayla looked down at herself, ¡°Embarrassed, confused, scared?¡± The woman nodded, ¡°I understand, how about a small meal and some coffee, after a shower of course,¡± Marta said, gesturing to the bathroom. ¡°I¡¯ll have an outfit ready for you when you get out.¡± ¡°Oh the mask is a modern marvel,¡± Amos grinned, sticking his nose into the air. ¡°Probably the most advanced piece of headgear on the planet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite a claim,¡± Sonya said, glancing at the door. She felt a bit of excitement this time. Amos was the type to gush, yes, but he didn¡¯t make baseless claims. He considered himself to be a man of science after all. He pressed his hand against the security panel and it flashed green, ¡°Trust me, boss, it will live up to your name.¡± Her eyebrows rose as her grin grew wider, he wasn¡¯t talking about Sonya. The door opened and inside was a moderately sized room big enough for wall equipment and several small test machines set out here and there. The contents of the room had to cost in the millions, if she had to guess. It was the garment laying in the center of the room that was far more impressive, though. A high-collar tactical jumpsuit made of a thick white fabric lay on a table, with it were a pair of white gloves, white tactical boots, and a jacket to go over it. She walked over and set her hand on the jumpsuit, admiring the design. It was simple but elegant with patterning in the fabric. ¡°It¡¯s the damndest thing,¡± Amos said as he walked up next to her, ¡°Even after I bleached the Lurk leather, it just refuses to reflect light normally. Out in broad daylight it¡¯ll be pretty easy to see, but in the dark you might as well be wearing black.¡± ¡°Can you demonstrate?¡± She asked him. He nodded and walked over to the wall, hitting a lightswitch. The room was bathed in darkness for a moment before a beam of light erupted from his direction, he held the flashlight aloft, waving it around the room. She glanced down at the table and was stunned to see that she couldn¡¯t discern between the darkness and the clothing itself. ¡°You outdid yourself.¡± He turned the light back on, ¡°It¡¯s made out of Lurk hide so it¡¯ll handle pretty much anything conventional weapons can throw at you. I obviously couldn¡¯t test it against a tank round, but we had a high-caliber armor piercing round go flat against it.¡± She marveled, picking up the gloves, ¡°And these?¡± He stared at the gloves and then back at her, ¡°Those were tricky, it¡¯s hard to test them since I can¡¯t analyze your power in any meaningful way, boss. But they¡¯re ready to absorb all manner of electrical charges, they should, in theory, prevent someone from feeling the activation of your Broker ability.¡± She rubbed the fabric between her fingers, this had been one of her biggest concerns. She¡¯d been found out by Shark¡¯s goons after using her power and quickly learned that making a deal with someone could be felt by the other party. That was something she had to mitigate if she was going to use it appropriately. It was the only reason she¡¯d explained it all to Amos who¡¯d readily agreed to a non-disclosure deal with her. She set the gloves down and turned back to him, ¡°The mask?¡± He beamed, ¡°Ah yes, my pride and joy,¡± He said with a breath and walked over to one of the machines standing in the room. He tapped a few keys on a panel next to it and the machine hissed, opening to reveal a helmet. The majority of the helmet was a sheer, glossy surface that somehow refused to reflect light. It looked like a computer screen for some reason. The ¡®screen¡¯ portion covered the entire face, leaving no eyeholes, and stopped at the crown of the head. Around the back of the head and along the sides of the face, a smooth, silvery metal gave it a curved, feminine form. It looked like the kind of helmet a sci-fi valkyrie would wear. ¡°Again, most of it was made out of lurk-tier materials. Lurk bone coated in a smattering of things, I won¡¯t go into the details,¡± He said with a wave of his hand, ¡°It can take a seven-six-five round at point blank range out of a high velocity sniper rifle. Hell, I even asked Marta to give it a good wallop,¡± He cleared his throat, ¡°It does not absorb shock as well as I would like, but I can always improve on the design with better materials.¡± ¡°Functionality?¡± She asked. ¡°Whole faceplate is a functional screen, kept the way it shows your expression simple for now. It has an internal heads up display, face identification, voice commands, the voice modulator works like a charm just like the app I made for you, and it¡¯ll filter out most toxins in the air,¡± He said proudly, putting his hands on his hips. ¡°Eventually I want to connect it to our internal servers, but that¡¯s still a work in progress.¡± She picked the helmet up gingerly, admiring it with a wistful look in her eyes. This is what people would see when they met Ishtar. She glanced over at him and smiled, ¡°I think... you¡¯ve earned a reward, Amos,¡± She said and set the helmet down, walking over and picking up one of the new gloves, ¡°Why don¡¯t we try out these gloves, mm?¡± Chapter 15 Chapter 15 Amos¡¯s eyes went wide, what does she mean by reward? He watched her slip on the glove and his eyes flicked up to her face. She rounded on him and cracked one of those a-bit-too-wide smiles she had. He never saw them when she made her public appearances, never when she was talking as Sonya. He hadn¡¯t had a word for the face he¡¯d seen when she¡¯d brought him into the fold initially. He hadn¡¯t had a name for the person who stood before him right now. Now he did, though, this wasn¡¯t Sonya stalking towards him. This is Ishtar. Her eyes glowed brighter, he could hear the ticking, faintly, like it was just at the back of his mind. Tick tick tick tick tick. He felt a chill run up his spine, ¡°Reward?¡± He chuckled nervously, ¡°L-look, boss, I think I¡¯m plenty young enough, yeah? I think I¡¯m good on the whole age thing,¡± He said as her hand stretched out to him. He looked down at her hand, in those leather gloves that creaked slightly as her fingers curled. ¡°Besides, you pay me, right? I¡¯m just doing my job.¡± She squinted at him, tilting her head as if she didn¡¯t quite understand what he was saying. She stood up a bit straighter and regarded him, ¡°Do I scare you, Amos?¡± She asked, looking a little disappointed. ¡°Uh, isn¡¯t that the whole point of being a villain?¡± He asked, not even bothering to hide his discomfort as he took another step back. She hesitated and looked down at her fingers, stretching and flexing them in the gloves. She pursed her lips and regarded him for a moment. ¡°I see,¡± She said stiffly, ¡°Guess I got a little too into character after admiring your work,¡± She said and let out a breath, reaching up and playing with her hair for a moment. She turned and looked at the equipment in the room as if searching for something. Her back to him, she spoke again, ¡°Amos, how do your powers feel? Can you tell the difference between how you were before and how you are now?¡± He blinked, surprised by the question, ¡°Uh...¡± He looked down at his hands for a moment and thought, it was odd, to be sure. It felt like his brain was always overclocked, like could feel the heat inside his head on occasion when he was really focused on his work. That was really the only difference, most ideas came so naturally he barely noticed he even had been touched by the light of Pandora¡¯s Box. Even so, there was one thing he tried not to think too hard about. He turned and placed his hand on the computer screen next to him. He took a deep breath, she was obviously trying not to intimidate him, so he¡¯d give her the benefit of the doubt. ¡°Have you ever felt like... you know someone intimately, but they won¡¯t talk to you?¡± He asked, ¡°Like they¡¯re giving you the cold shoulder and you just don¡¯t know why?¡± She glanced back at him, her glowing eyes boring into his. ¡°Yes, I have. Why?¡± He looked up at her and then back at the computer, breaking eye contact, ¡°It¡¯s crazy, but I feel like I should... know my equipment. Like. Hear it. But I can¡¯t.¡± He tried to articulate the words. He was a genius, but only as far as his work went. He¡¯d already figured out that the power amplified only things that were natural talents of the holder. He hadn¡¯t gotten any better at painting no matter how hard he tried. ¡°I feel incomplete.¡± She turned to face him, ¡°I figured.¡± He frowned, ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°I told you that I can see what powers someone has when we shake hands,¡± I said, ¡°All of them, awakened or not.¡± His eyes narrowed, ¡°All? As in more than one?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Sonya said and looked down at her gloved hand, she flicked her eyes up at him. He felt a thrill rise up his spine that sank into a lead nugget in his gut, ¡°You... you knew! You knew and weren¡¯t going to tell me until I, what, earned it?¡± He demanded, ¡°You know my powers are incomplete?¡± He asked, bewildered. ¡°Are you serious?¡± He looked down at his hands again, ¡°What am I to you, Sonya? Am I just a tool in this bigger scheme? Just a henchman like that bastard Shark?¡± ¡°I want you to be my ally, my friend if possible, if you can bring yourself to trust someone willing to kill a few to save many,¡± Sonya said bluntly, drawing her knees up to her chest, she rest her arms on them and looked at him from behind her arms. So even Ishtar could be fragile. ¡°I want your powers to complete, I want to see what you¡¯re capable of,¡± She whispered, ¡°But you weren¡¯t ready.¡± He let out a breath and hung his head, ¡°You took me in, gave me a place to work, let me do my own projects, and I repaid you like this. I¡¯m sorry, Sonya,¡± He said, guilt eating at his chest. He wanted to go hide in a box, disappear, something. He¡¯d forced his benefactor to do such a thing, someone who could say things like that even when an otherworldly force would strangle her if she uttered a lie. His shoulders fell, ¡°I¡¯m ashamed.¡± ¡°You had every right to be angry, Amos,¡± Sonya said and extended a hand to him, ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m making it up to you now.¡± Tears welled in his eyes, ¡°I will never, ever let you down, Boss,¡± He croaked and took her hand. She smiled, ¡°It¡¯s a deal, Amos.¡± Light flooded from her hand and he felt it wash over him, that strange oddly pale light that he¡¯d seen on that fateful day. Pandora¡¯s Light. His breath caught as a warmth rushed up his arm and through his body, spreading and then rising up, up, and up until he felt it settle inside of his brain. He felt the warmth spread out, clinging to every nerve ending and sense, he felt his world expand. His vision was clear. He felt... whole. More than that, he felt... He glanced at the terminal he¡¯d been lingering next to and it turned on with a thought. His eyes widened and he looked back at her. ¡°Your hidden ability was Technopathy,¡± Sonya said with that lackadaisical grin of hers. He got to his feet and stepped back into the center of the room, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes, letting instinct guide him. New instincts burned into his very genetic code rose to the surface as if they¡¯d always been there, waiting for him to draw them out. He could feel every computer in the room, no, the whole building. He could feel every piece of equipment with a circuit, every cellphone, every camera. It was like his body had grown to the size of a castle. He could see in a hundred different directions at once. How is my brain handling all of this infor- oh. Of course! My main ability. They¡¯re a pair! His minds eye swept over the entire building, he saw every door, every lab, every employee that he¡¯d hired to support his projects. He could see the data they were entering into the computers as it happened, he understood it, it was exhilarating and terrifying. A painful thought struck him in the gut and he pulled all his senses back to his body, looking down at Sonya as she sat there against the display table. ¡°I wasn¡¯t ready,¡± He breathed, ¡°No way could I have handled this as messed up as I was when we first met, as desperate as I was. It would have driven me crazy.¡± She just nodded. She saw right through me, right from the start. ¡°Do you think this will help you?¡± Sonya asked after a long silence, ¡°With your projects?¡± He looked up at her and felt like a bad son who had told off his mother only to be forgiven as a matter of course. He wanted her to be mad at him, to shout at him, to give him a look of disappointment. As she got to her feet he felt smaller than he ever had in his entire life, tiny, like a mote in front of a mountain. Yet all she did was give him a look that screamed of high expectations, and a smile that made him want to weep. I¡¯ll make you rule the damn world, boss. He swore and nodded, forcing himself to grin at her, ¡°Our timetables just moved way, way up.¡± Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Sonya looked out the window of the private jet, resting her chin on her palm. The clouds passed by far below. She wondered where they were, exactly, she figured they were over Europe at this point. She cast her thoughts back to her previous life, The EU had always been a few steps behind when it came to recognizing Heroes in my last go around. She thought, her lips pressing into a thin frown, Not by any real fault of their own, the president just wasn¡¯t up to the task of leading in these times. She turned her head a bit and glanced across the aisle at Amos and Marta, Marta had dozed off and was resting quietly in her seat while Amos was writing in his notebook. Her eyes turned forward and she spotted Mikayla sitting across from her. She was looking down at her knees again, her ears clearly burning. She could practically see the girl¡¯s eyes spinning. She snorted and shifted to face her, ¡°Why so nervous?¡± ¡°F-florence, we¡¯re going to florence, florence italy, we¡¯re going to florence italy, where headquarters is,¡± Mikayla muttered, ¡°Madame Lucci is there, I might see Madame Lucci, what do I do?¡± Sonya rolled her eyes, this poor girl was going to give herself a heart attack at this rate. Maybe a little teasing will help get her mind off it? ¡°Mikayla,¡± Sonya called, the girl jumped and looked up at her, frazzled. ¡°You seem tense, shall I distract you?¡± Sonya asked, winking at her. Mikayla blinked, then her eyes widened and Sonya could see the red rise all the way up from her shoulders to her ears, the steam out of her ears came next, followed by the heat haze over her head. She slumped in her chair mumbling something about ¡®unfair¡¯. Sonya barked out a laugh and leaned back in her seat, letting out a breath. She tried not to think too hard about leaving New York for the first time since she¡¯d started building her foundations. Shark was still hard at work and had a plan for the rest of the city now, he didn¡¯t need her interference. She glanced out the window again and hummed thoughtfully to herself. When it gets out the gangs of New York have fallen under a single banner, I¡¯ll start hearing from the bigger crime groups. Based on standards from my last time around, Shark has a Mythic-grade ability. He shouldn¡¯t have any problems with the majority of power users. Instead of simply judging a particular ability by its overall strength, the guilds of the future would eventually utilize a scoring system to pin down the grade of an individual light-touched¡¯s powers. Raw power could of course be graded as Mythic if it was suitably destructive, but the guilds had come to favor functionality and versatility over pure attack power. Number of functions became the primary score, with each function getting graded individually with drawbacks being taken into consideration. Sonya frowned as she mulled it over, So somebody already knew that folk could have more than one separate ability. Shark has his base transformation, superhuman strength, hydrokinesis, regeneration, enhanced senses, shapeshifting, and his ability to communicate with aquatic life. As far as she knew, that was the extent of his abilities. His strength alone would put him somewhere in Epic-grade, but everything else on top of it would doubtlessly get him the Mythic-grade. Yeah, that¡¯s a fair assessment. He shouldn¡¯t have any problems, especially with the four Epics I helped him make and the twenty-or-so Rares we sifted out of the gangs. She let herself relax, if it¡¯s just dealing with monsters, it would be two years before he even broke a sweat once he has full mastery over his abilities. Her bigger concern was that several Mythic-Grade heroes had their origins in New York. She¡¯d warned him to keep a low profile and focus solely on expanding her organization and keeping a tight rein on criminal activity in the city. She glanced down at her phone and checked the date, ¡°Not long now...¡± She murmured. ¡°Whats up, boss?¡± Amos asked, looking up at her, ¡°You say something?¡± She rolled her eyes and glanced at him, ¡°Amos, what are you doing here? Shouldn¡¯t you be playing in the lab right now?¡± He huffed, ¡°I want to go on a vacation too!¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a vacation, Amos!¡± Sonya countered. He crossed his arms, ¡°Yeah, yeah, work first, but you¡¯re totally going to see the sights after all that¡¯s done, right? Nice try, deflecting.¡± She barked out a laugh, ¡°You got me.¡± He rounded on her, a comical amount of tears in his eyes, ¡°And you weren¡¯t going to invite me?!¡± He held up his hands in a ¡®why would you do that¡¯ gesture. ¡°Sure did! Two of ¡®em! One hell of a fight and an even bigger payday,¡± Captain York said and threw his arm around Mister Fist¡¯s shoulder, ¡°You nab one of those things and live simply, it could last you a year, even around here.¡± ¡°A whole year... I could pay my daughter¡¯s tuition with that kind of money...¡± Mister Fist said. ¡°Sure could! Why don¡¯t you join my group, Fist? Spotter and I would love to have you on, and it¡¯ll make the hunts that much better. Yeah?¡± Captain York enthused. I knew it, they are organizing... Martin frowned, Wait, Spotter? There¡¯s three of them? He pulled away from the corner and turned around, coming to a full stop when he saw a woman in a domino mask standing behind him. She had a gun in her hand and a smile on her face, ¡°What do we have here?¡± She asked, ¡°A villainous spy come to watch us? Off to report to your boss?¡± He held up his hands, ¡°I¡¯m-¡± ¡°Not interested in hearing you make shit up,¡± She said, stalking towards him, ¡°You work for Boss Shark, don¡¯t you?¡± She growled, getting in his face, ¡°You tell that piece of trash villain that we¡¯re coming for him,¡± She sneered and looked him up and down, ¡°This is our city to protect. He and his gangs can shove off.¡± He blinked, a thrill running up his spine and forced himself to relax, ¡°Uh... yeah, sure, I¡¯ll tell Boss Shark all about it,¡± He lied. ¡°You¡¯re... uh... Spotter, right?¡± ¡°Best eyes in the world,¡± She announced, putting her hands on her hips. So she has an ocular power, got it, ¡°O-okay, I¡¯ll let the boss know!¡± ¡°Good,¡± She sniffed and pushed past him, ¡°Now get lost, if I see you again spying on our heroic work, I¡¯ll deal with you. This place is not safe for civilians,¡± She seemed to add that last bit almost offhandedly. He watched her go, feeling his pulse settle immediately. He needed to get as much distance from those freaks as possible. He power walked down the alley and rounded a corner, pulling out his phone. ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± He said, ¡°Get me in contact with the Commission, I think I know what''s been happening with the gangs of New York.¡± ¨C He stood in front of the mural, his fingers running over the surface. His eyes washed over the paint, it had stood the test of time, preserved in this ruin for an eternity. He was tall, lean, his blonde hair coiffed to the right. Yet it was his eyes that were the most arresting, they gleamed like liquid sapphires in his head. One hand in his pocket, he marveled at the artwork. ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful,¡± He breathed, reveling in the mystique of the past. ¡°Odysseus and the Cyclopes,¡± He said, his eyes casting up to the brilliant and mischievous hero of the Odyssey, depicted in brilliant relief. ¡°It was such a harrowing tale, Odysseus, returning from Troy, passed the island of Serifos and heard the sound of livestock. He and his men were hungry, so they went ashore to scout the island and hunt. There they found a pen filled with goats filled with cheese and meat,¡± He grinned, ¡°It was not a farm protected by any land, and he was a king! Had the farmer not left his land alone, perhaps Odysseus would have reconsidered. But his men needed to eat. So they did...¡± He ran his fingers up to the depiction of Polyphemus, the Cyclopes, ¡°He didn¡¯t know that the mountainous Polyphemus, a cyclopes, was the owner of the cave. The great monster came and found Odysseus¡¯ men lounging and thought to himself, ¡®ah, to think my next meal fattened itself up for me¡¯. He entered the cave as Odysseus and his men slept, rolled a boulder to block the exit that not even the Greek hero could move, and attacked. He ate a man, then satisfied, he went to sleep.¡± ¡°Days went by, Polyphemus ate one man after another as the Greeks trembled in fear. Odysseus, desperate, hatched a plan with his comrades. They collected together their wine, a potent draft that they had kept undiluted in skins and offered it to the mighty being. Excited by this new treat, Polyphemus indulged himself, unaware of what was to come. He was pleased, though, and asked the smart little morsel before him if it had a name,¡± He practically trembled with elation. ¡°Outis einai to onoma,¡± He said and looked back at Odysseus reverently, ¡°My name is Nobody.¡± He looked over his shoulder, his eyes blazing in the dark, filled with madness, ¡°Did you want to hear what happens next?¡± He asked, excited, and saw only the dozens of corpses he¡¯d left behind. Civilians, soldiers, researchers, and archaeologists all lay broken and smashed on the ground. ¡°Ah, I see. That¡¯s a shame,¡± He smiled and looked back at the mural, ¡°It is a good story, though.¡± Chapter 17 Chapter 17 It was the middle of the night. Bernetta stood in silence as the boarding ramp lowered for the jet. Anticipation sending pins and needles through her aged body. She¡¯d done her best to take care of it, but time was a cruel thing. The scent of the tarmac beneath her feet made her head spin a little, and it was hard to remember the last time she¡¯d come out to greet someone like this. Usually it was the other way around, usually, she was the VIP. Today, though, she¡¯d be looking into the face of a person who could change her life forever. She swallowed and shifted her gaze towards the man standing next to her, her aide, Enzo. ¡°What have you managed to learn?¡± She asked quietly. ¡°Not much, I¡¯m afraid, Ma¡¯am,¡± Enzo said, ¡°There are whispers about her, but most of them are the stuff of rumor and speculation. She first appeared in New York so there¡¯s an assumption she¡¯s a native. No one who¡¯s seen her face is talking, though, and none of the people I¡¯ve spoken with have even met her in person, only hearing through intermediaries.¡± ¡°Any suspicions of your own?¡± She pressed, looking up. ¡°I have a few, but nothing concrete. The party that boarded the jet were very careful and we kept our word about the passenger manifest being scrubbed,¡± Enzo said, ¡°Though I have a feeling we¡¯re about to learn a very big secret in a few moments.¡± Bernetta sighed, ¡°I agree.¡± The doors opened and a brunette woman in what could only be described as a classical maid outfit stepped out, going slowly down the ramp. Her eyes cast left and right, head on a swivel. Despite her slight frame there was something in Bernetta that warned her not to make any sudden movements. She looked barely older than twenty, but had the intensity of someone far older. Another ¡®patient¡¯? The woman came to a stop and inclined her head as two more people came down the steps, the first was a man in a labcoat, he looked somewhere between amused and overwhelmed with excitement. His hands were clutched around a thick notebook that seemed to be overflowing with tabs and attachments. Next to him was a girl also just into her twenties, she had darker skin and black hair and looked positively frazzled. She kept trying to make eye contact with Bernetta but would quickly look down at her feet or anywhere else. Her party, then, why does the woman look familiar? That was when the final passenger stepped out and Bernetta froze. Skin as white as snow, hair so white it looked like starlight coming out of her head, she wore one of Bernetta¡¯s latest designs, a white high-end pantsuit combo that with her skin made her seem like a beacon in the night. She wore sunglasses despite the low light, and cracked a wide smile as she stepped down the boarding ramp. Enzo froze and cleared his throat, tilting his head to whisper in Bernetta¡¯s ear, ¡°Sonya Chernovna, CEO of the Applied Strategic Technologies Association, ASTA, they¡¯re currently the only company in the world creating weapons capable of killing monsters.¡± Bernetta swallowed and kept her eyes fixed on Sonya. There was no doubt in her mind, this woman had to be Ishtar. Still, it paid to be cautious. ¡°Bernetta Lucci,¡± Sonya said, stepping past the other three with a magnanimous smile, ¡°It¡¯s an honor you came out all this way to greet us.¡± ¡°Miss Chernovna,¡± Bernetta said brightly, ¡°Our mutual contact told me to ensure that your welcome was a good one, is she here?¡± ¡°She is,¡± Sonya said and extended a gloved hand, ¡°You¡¯ll meet her very soon, I hope you¡¯ll keep my relationship with her and her identity to yourself going forward. She would very much like you to be her sole point of contact here in Europe.¡± Bernetta raised an eyebrow, that was quite the statement. What this young woman meant was that anyone in Europe that wanted to receive Ishtar¡¯s gift would have to go through her, first. She was establishing a hierarchy in only a brief exchange and clearly putting Bernetta into the subordinate role. Enzo seemed to sense the same thing and tensed a little but Bernetta knew better than to push back, this was her chance at youth and perhaps even more. She reached out and took Sonya¡¯s hand. ¡°That is more than agreeable.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a deal,¡± Sonya said with an easy smile before extending a hand to Enzo, ¡°I hope the same applies for you, mister... Enzo Caruso, yes?¡± Enzo blinked but took the woman''s hand anyway, ¡°Ah, yes, of course.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Sonya crowed after shaking his hand briskly, she clapped her hands together and gestured behind her, ¡°This is Amos Carter, he¡¯s the head of research and development for my company and has longed to see Florence in person. Next to him is my attendant, Marta Daphne, and finally this...¡± She took a step back and took the tan woman by the hand, guiding her over. The young woman almost trembled as she locked eyes with Bernetta, ¡°...this is Mikayla Summer, she¡¯s actually an extended employee of yours, a designer that I took a special interest in.¡± Bernetta¡¯s eyebrows rose, ¡°Really? Well it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, young lady.¡± ¡°I-it¡¯s an honor, ma¡¯am, Miss Lucci, uh...¡± She bowed quickly, ¡°Y-you¡¯re an idol to me.¡± Well those sound impressive... Sonya thought to herself. A sumptuous and filling dinner later, Sonya threw herself onto the bed and rolled around, letting out a noisy sigh. This was the life, she couldn¡¯t believe how different things were from her last go around. It paid to be the villain. Still, besides rounding up the gangs of New York, she hadn¡¯t exactly done anything truly villainous yet. That was ultimately the point, though, the longer Ishtar remained a mystery and a whisper, the better. She let out a sigh and looked up at the ceiling, ¡°Bernetta will be calling all of her contacts by now,¡± She murmured, ¡°She¡¯s also probably figured out that I¡¯ll be putting her in charge here once I leave.¡± ¡°A club, though?¡± Marta asked, carefully moving their clothes into the wardrobe and drawers of the hotel suite. Sonya glanced her way, ¡°Want me to call it a cult? I am using a Goddess¡¯ name after all.¡± Marta paused and considered before shaking her head, ¡°No, club is better.¡± Sonya snorted and rolled onto her side, ¡°You know I can¡¯t have you at the meeting when it happens, right?¡± Her friend looked her way and gave a sullen nod, ¡°If I¡¯m seen guarding you, that could lead to unnecessary suspicions and speculation.¡± Sonya paused and looked down at her hand, ¡°You know, actually, I have an idea. Would you like to try an experiment with me?¡± Marta frowned but nodded, setting down the clothes and walking over to Sonya. Sonya sat up in a crosslegged position and grinned at her friend. She hadn¡¯t tried to do this, yet, she¡¯d awakened the abilities of hundreds of people while assisting Shark, acquiring equally as many products but most of them weren¡¯t all that impressive or useful. She¡¯d managed to produce a few strong people though and they¡¯d become Shark¡¯s bodyguards and lieutenants. What she was about to attempt, now, was a whole other matter. Let¡¯s see... She hummed and looked Marta up and down before reaching back into her mental warehouse, she examined it for a moment before extending a hand. ¡°I will give you a new power as a reward for what you¡¯ve done for me so far,¡± Sonya said aloud as Marta clasped her hand around Sonyas. The woman¡¯s eyebrows rose for a moment as Sonya examined the deal making interface. Sonya let out a breath, so she really couldn¡¯t just give something away. There had to be a price paid, her power would even double check and make sure whether or not the price paid was sufficient. She couldn¡¯t ask for a hug or something in exchange for a new power. What if she tried to force it, though? That wasn¡¯t something she¡¯d try on Marta. Proceed There was a flash of Pandora¡¯s Light from her fingertips and it washed over Marta. The woman gasped, staggering back after a moment as she reached up to touch her face. She stood there, transfixed before spinning, her eyes wide, and she looked in the mirror. Nothing had changed but Marta seemed to be looking at something Sonya couldn¡¯t see. As Sonya watched a change began to take hold, her mechanical eyes going wider and wider. ¡°Oh, heavens,¡± Sonya breathed. A wicked smile crept across her face, ¡°...this trip just got interesting.¡± Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Sonya looked up at the statue of David, her hand resting against the tall glass barrier that protected it from those who could not appreciate it for what it was. Maybe it was her eyes, or the fact that she had Eye for Detail active, but something about the statue spoke to her more than the subtle carving that made it seem so lifelike. It was like Michaelangelo understood something so fundamental about humanity and the human body that he could engrave that understanding directly into the piece. If Sonya ascribed at all in the Dao as Chunhua did, she could have sworn she felt its presence in the piece. ¡°Breathtaking,¡± Sonya murmured, as the others milled about. The guide that Bernetta had sent with them was waxing poetic about the history of the piece. She paid a little bit of attention but otherwise kept her focus on it. She felt like she could learn something from it if she could stare at it long enough. ¡°It¡¯s like there¡¯s a hidden meaning somewhere,¡± Mikayla said quietly next to her. Sonya glanced her way and raised an eyebrow, she hadn¡¯t awakened Mikayla¡¯s ability for her yet. Somehow, though, her eyes could already pick up on that strange hidden truth that Sonya noticed. What if she had her Eye for Detail active? Sonya¡¯s fingers twitched, but she resisted the greedy urge, looking back up at the piece, ¡°I see it too, it¡¯s... strange.¡± ¡°I get this feeling a lot when I look at art,¡± Mikayla admitted, ¡°But it feels hollow.¡± Sonya nodded, ¡°Like you can almost understand but you¡¯re not quite there.¡± Mikayla brightened, ¡°Yeah! Just like that!¡± So Sonya¡¯s Eye for Detail was on the level of Mikayla¡¯s normal perception, it was an enhancer not a power in and of itself. Fascinating. Their sight-seeing tour took them throughout Florence, to the sites of important events and great works of art. She gazed upon Venus and the Gates of Paradise, she walked the narrow streets and marveled at the roman-built river. Every single moment was breathtakingly magical, it was another world. She¡¯d been to Italy in her past life, but it was a ruin by the time she¡¯d visited it. A place of tragedy born out of inaction, jealousy, and greed. This was Italy as it should be, a wonder of the world in its own right. She committed herself again to making sure that future never happened. As they strolled through the Bardini Gardens, Marta strode up next to her and glanced her way. ¡°I just got a call from Miss Lucci, she¡¯s made the arrangements. Your party will be tomorrow night,¡± The caretaker said. Sonya nodded and turned her gaze towards the city, the view was magnificent. ¡°Good, gives us time to appreciate the city a little more,¡± She said just as a siren blared in the distance. She narrowed her eyes as her lenses began to whirr in her head. Even from this distance she could see the monsters appearing out of cracks in the air, leaping into the street as people ran away. As if on cue, a pair of bystanders flew into action, quickly dispatching the creatures with their abilities. One had an odd power that looked like blades of green light, the other was startlingly fast, wielding momentum to destroy their targets. She zoomed back out to normal vision and glanced at Marta, ¡°Looks like the idea of heroing is starting to spread here as well. That was a quick response.¡± ¡°You think it¡¯ll become normalized?¡± Marta asked. ¡°I do,¡± Sonya nodded, ¡°I¡¯m certain of it.¡± Amos chuckled as he approached, his vision distant for a moment before he came back to himself. He shoved his hands into his pockets, ¡°Not bad, I can figure out who they are for ya, boss,¡± Amos said. ¡°Keep a record but no need to hunt them down,¡± Sonya said softly, ¡°I have a feeling we¡¯ll meet them eventually.¡± He nodded and went to sit down on a bench, relaxing as his mind drifted into the surrounding network. She wondered what it was like for him, with his powerful mind, to bounce about from device to device until he got where he needed to go. She turned her eyes towards Mikayla who was simply admiring the gardens, blissfully unaware of what was happening nearby. She frowned and Marta mirrored her expression. Bernetta felt the sudden urge to bow, like a weight on her shoulder. She obeyed it without question, swallowing, ¡°Mad- Mistress Ishtar, welcome. Thank you for being here.¡± Ishtar stopped at the base of the stairs and stood regally, Sonya a half pace behind her; ¡°Of course, I wouldn¡¯t miss my own debut party. You¡¯ve done a magnificent job.¡± ¡°The pleasure was all mine,¡± Bernetta managed, her chest tightening a bit beneath the intensifying pressure. It was hard on her old body. Ishtar tilted her head, ¡°It won¡¯t be long now, Bernetta, patience.¡± Bernetta froze, was she reading her mind? She swallowed and looked up into those imperious, unblinking digital eyes. Ishtar turned her head to the door, ¡°Shall we?¡± ¡°Yes, right this way,¡± Bernetta managed and turned, the pressure seeming to drop off as she averted her gaze. It had to be coming from Ishtar. Her presence alone has that effect on people, is she really a goddess? Bernetta opened the doors and stepped out ahead of the pair, ¡°May I have your attention, honored guests,¡± She began and stepped aside, ¡°I present Mistress Ishtar, our host, and her date for the evening, Miss Sonya Chernovna.¡± The murmurs and conversation evaporated immediately on the deck of the ship. Dozens of eyes turning towards her. She was used to this kind of thing, though, she smiled beatifically and gestured towards the pair. Ishtar stepped out first, her hand holding Sonya¡¯s. Sonya held her head high, smiling widely at everyone. Ishtar, on the other hand, swept her gaze over the gathering without a hint of emotion in her posture. Her steps were languid but still carried that oppressive weight to them. No one moved, no one breathed, until she spoke. ¡°Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to this first gathering of our little club, I hope you have found the refreshments to be satisfactory ahead of our main event,¡± She said, her raspy voice causing a stir amongst those present. One man, Erik Vaught from Germany stepped forward. He was the owner of a luxury vehicle brand and a friend of Bernetta¡¯s. ¡°You wear a mask at a gathering like this?¡± He demanded, crossing his arms, ¡°Why hide your face while we show ours?¡± Bernetta swallowed and glanced back at Ishtar who regarded him. He seemed to shrink a little under her gaze before she let out a raspy hiss of a laugh, ¡°Because I brought one with me, there was no rule against it, Mister Vaught,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°Next time, feel free to bring one if you so desire. I, for one, enjoy my privacy.¡± There was a round of uncomfortable chuckles, those gathered still unsettled by her voice. Ishtar raised a hand to her heart, ¡°As I said, I appreciate my privacy, my ability is valuable as you all well know. That¡¯s why you are here, you alone,¡± She gestured towards them, ¡°Tonight, you will consider just how valuable it is to you.¡± A quiet murmur went through the crowd as Ishtar looked them over, ¡°Nothing in this world is free, ladies and gentlemen, and I offer you the most valuable thing of them all. Time. An extended lifespan,¡± She continued, ¡°I will invite each of you one at a time to join me within a private room inside the yacht and you will tell me what you think a new lease on life is worth.¡± She tilted her head forward as if to stare them all in the eyes, ¡°Then we will negotiate, and make a deal. Afterward, the process is rather swift, I assure you.¡± More conversation, more leery eyes, ¡°Of course, there is a toll here at the door,¡± Ishtar said, holding up a finger, ¡°I will ask for your silence on any matter concerning me, our gathering, and the people associated with me. In exchange, you will be welcomed inside.¡± ¡°Before I agree to anything, I want proof!¡± An elderly man railed, holding up a cane, ¡°Talk is cheap! Here and now, show us!¡± A murmur of consensus wafted over the crowd and Ishtar nodded, ¡°Of course, I understand. Which is why I¡¯ve already received an oath of silence from Madame Lucci here,¡± Ishtar said and gestured to Bernetta. Bernetta froze, her eyes widening and turned to Ishtar. Ishtar held out a hand to her. ¡°Bernetta, would you like to tell me what your time is worth? I believe forty years should suffice, yes?¡± Bernetta glanced at Sonya and then at Ishtar again before swallowing. This was it! This was her chance! She mulled it over, forty years, what could she possibly offer that would sate this person¡¯s desires? She¡¯d give up half her company for it. Billions of dollars. Whatever it took. She needed her youth back. She took the woman by the hand and leaned forward, whispering to her. Ishtar straightened a little and looked into Bernetta¡¯s eyes, she could almost feel the woman¡¯s smile. ¡°It¡¯s a deal, Bernetta,¡± Ishtar rasped, and Bernetta¡¯s world was enveloped in white. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 Just like that, half of Lucci was hers. It paid to be the villain. Ishtar smiled behind her helmet as the light faded from Bernetta¡¯s body. Where once a tired old woman stood, a woman in her mid-thirties stood proudly. Her white hair had gone dark and curly and her eyes were as sharp as razors. She looked down at herself, running her fingers along the smooth skin of her arms and then reached up to her face. She took in a deep breath and Ishtar watched as tears welled in the woman¡¯s eyes. Silence reigned around them as Ishtar took a step back and gestured to her. ¡°As agreed, Madame Lucci, forty years.¡± The shouts that followed were deafening, everyone jockeying to get in closer. Some even began to grab at one another. Ishtar turned her head and let Imperious wash out again. It was a useful ability that Madame Lucci had, too bad for her that it was unawakened. The wave of pressure battered down on those gathered in an instant as she raised her head, ¡°Behave,¡± She commanded and a few people nearly collapsed to the ground, gasping for air. She held the pressure for a few more seconds before letting it up and crossed her arms behind her back. ¡°Madame Lucci,¡± Ishtar rasped, ¡°I trust you¡¯ll be able to help me keep order with your friends here?¡± Bernetta looked up from herself with a look of a deer in headlights. It took her a moment to find her words before she swallowed and nodded, ¡°O-of course! Right away, Mistress Ishtar,¡± she turned to the crowd, ¡°Security! Make sure the line is even, everyone will have a chance to speak with the Mistress!¡± In short order, the rich and powerful of Europe fell into a quiet line and began their approach. The auto magnate from Germany had made his way to the front. He looked flustered. Ishtar grinned and extended a hand, ¡°Mister Vaught,¡± she greeted him, ¡°My terms about our conversation?¡± ¡°I agree,¡± He said hoarsely and took her hand. ¡°It¡¯s a deal then,¡± She said, and lead him back into the ship. ¨C One after another she lead them back into the ship. One after another she isolated them to ensure that they wouldn¡¯t be able to hear or surmise the price paid. It made little difference to her how far the slider went one way or another, but by doing this they didn¡¯t dare undercut their offering. None of them wanted to be the one who tried to cheat the fountain of youth. One after another they took her hand and surrendered billions, buildings, land, companies, whatever they could to regain what they¡¯d lost. The money and property would be useful in building ASTA. The material goods were frivolous. She was curious as to how her powers would handle them though. Money was simply transferred into a bank account for her automatically. Will I have a mountain of luxury cars waiting for me back at home? She imagined it and frowned a bit behind her helmet, she hoped that wasn¡¯t the case. That would be awkward to explain. Despite the minor concern, each transaction made her grin wider and wider. More funds for her goals and more product! This had been what she was most curious about. She¡¯d noticed that some of the most exotic and impressive powers she¡¯d found had been unawakened and in the hands of the rich, well connected, or experienced. Marta and Amos¡¯ powers had been remarkably simple but Jonathan Adders had given her the Gift of Youth, Bernetta had given her Imperious. The way Pandora¡¯s box had distributed everything was markedly unfair to the common man, though she did have to admit that leaving these powers unawakened did tip the scales some. This is it... these are the real treasures. She thought, wide eyed, as each new product came in. Some were not as impressive sounding as others, but of the many that she acquired there were a few remarkable standouts. ¡°Doesn¡¯t really matter,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°In fact, it¡¯ll probably send quite the message when they realize they can¡¯t talk about the events here, Sonya, or Ishtar.¡± ¡°How did we do?¡± Marta asked. ¡°Fairly certain I¡¯m in the top fifty now,¡± Ishtar said, her tone a bit morbid, ¡°It was disgustingly easy.¡± ¡°People are going to ask questions,¡± Marta said. ¡°True, but I¡¯ll take care of that when we get back to the states,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°Have we gotten any word from the US Government? I wasn¡¯t exactly subtle in New York when it came to the anti-monster munitions.¡± Marta let out a sigh, ¡°Not since you asked last before we left,¡± Marta said with a shrug and grinned at her, ¡°Pretty sure they aren¡¯t taking you seriously.¡± ¡°Oh well,¡± Ishtar said with a chuckle, ¡°We can¡¯t have that now can we?¡± ¨C The two of them stepped out onto the deck of the ship, unlike the last time, there were no whispers or muted conversation when she emerged. Instead, she was met with the earnest looks of her many youthful guests, all of them now free of tired limbs and weak bodies. She¡¯d healed them of what she could during the process, but there were some maladies Touch of the Healer couldn¡¯t treat. They¡¯d have to get over their own personal and mental issues themselves. She turned her head slowly, casting her gaze over the crowd, and took a deep breath. It was time to put on a show. ¡°I hope you all are satisfied with the your purchase today,¡± She said, raising her hand to her heart, there was some scattered clapping that turned into a full on applause. She inclined her head as gratefully as she dared before straightening, ¡°Tonight was the first gathering of our little club, soon I hope to spread our little family across the world. A private gathering of the mutually blessed,¡± She gestured to all of them. ¡°You must understand already that the world has changed irrevocably and you must suspect that things will only get worse before they get better.¡± This brought a bit of murmuring and exchanged looks, there were several nods throughout the crowd, ¡°Ladies and Gentlemen, while I cannot truly see the future, I can say that I have a strong idea of what is to come. We must be ready to protect what is ours, ensure the survival of the human race, and reap the benefits of these changes,¡± She raised a finger, ¡°And there will be benefits.¡± Smiles began to spread throughout the crowd, greedy smiles. She ignored the bile rising in her throat and pressed on, gesturing to Marta next to her. She had to choose her wording carefully or she¡¯d choke, ¡°I will use Sonya Chernovna as a mouthpiece of sorts when it comes to my wider goals in the public eye. Make sure to listen,¡± She inclined her head to Marta who stepped forward. ¡°When Mistress Ishtar approached me, I had just begun framing my plans for ASTA,¡± Marta said with all the charm and gusto she could bring to the table, a brilliant smile on her face and her arms outstretched, ¡°She gave me the knowledge of who to seek out and what to pursue to begin building a strong foundation in these troubled times. As your senior sister, I am looking forward to working with you all.¡± There was a moment of quiet, some staring daggers at Marta while others looked at Ishtar. The murmurs resumed when Ishtar nodded approvingly at her, ¡°Thank you, Senior Sister,¡± She took a raspy breath, ¡°As for Europe, I will be putting Bernetta Lucci in charge of this part of our club,¡± Ishtar continued and nodded to the now youthful Bernetta who curtseyed graciously. The gathered rich and powerful looked between Bernetta, Marta, and Ishtar. Many calculating gazes already acknowledging what just transpired. A clear hierarchy and they were at the bottom for now. They¡¯re probably wondering what monstrous benefits Bernetta and ¡®Sonya¡¯ are enjoying compared to themselves. Keep wondering, keep desiring more, I¡¯ll use you all if it means achieving my goals. Her eyes flashed, the faint sound of ticking concealed by the helmet. ¡°Now! Back to the party! Let us revel in our newfound youth!¡± Glasses were raised and cheers filled the deck of the ship, people moved to approach Marta and Bernetta while few dared approach her directly. The one good thing about people like this, they tend to be quick on the uptake with this kind of thing. She smirked and stepped away, striding back into the ship as Presidents, Ministers and CEOs jockeyed for her favor. And with this, Europe is mine. She couldn¡¯t help herself as the doors closed behind her, leaving her alone. She laughed. Chapter 20 Chapter 20 Verde scratched his head, frowning up at the building. He¡¯d walked past the hotel more than a few times in his life, but he¡¯d never bothered really looking at it. It looked more like a renaissance palace than a pay-by-the-night place. He wondered a little if maybe it had been a palace in the past, he honestly had no idea. He hated when tourists would ask him about places around Florence, like he was supposed to know everything about the place just because he grew up there. His expression slipped into a bit of a scowl. ¡°You¡¯re dwelling on something stupid again,¡± Veloce said next to him. She was crouched down on the ground, checking the contents of her backpack. She hadn¡¯t even looked up at him. He narrowed his eyes, ¡°...how?¡± ¡°You got quiet,¡± She said and glanced up his way, the glint of a knife disappearing into her baggy sleeves. He scratched his chin, ¡°...right,¡± He mumbled and looked back up at the building, ¡°What¡¯s the plan again? Why are we even here? There¡¯s bound to be monsters showing up sometime tonight, we should be on patrol.¡± She groaned and let her head rest against the alley wall behind her, ¡°You serious? Alright, Occhi said that some business woman from the United States is staying here with a few of her people. Apparently she makes weapons that can kill monsters easy,¡± Veloce explained with an exasperated tone, ¡°She left a couple hours ago for a party or something. She didn¡¯t leave with any of her companions. We¡¯re gonna go grab them.¡± ¡°Why? Seems risky,¡± Verde said, he wasn¡¯t bothered with cutting a few purses or beating down someone for a cash grab, but places like this were bound to have security. ¡°One of them is her head scientist, let me finish,¡± She groused, crossing her arms, ¡°He¡¯s the guy who makes the weapons. We¡¯re gonna make him make something for us! Think about it, Verde. Guns that can pierce a Lurk¡¯s skin.¡± He turned to face her, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t someone like that have security? Who else is up there?¡± ¡°A maid and a fashion designer,¡± She said with a grin, ¡°That¡¯s it. She didn¡¯t bring a single bodyguard. We even know what room they¡¯re in. We can just walk inside as long as we¡¯re dressed nicely.¡± He blinked and looked back up at the building, a small smile beginning to stretch across his face. ¡°What about the hotel¡¯s security?¡± ¡°None of them are light-touched, Occhi checked, the place is basically defenseless,¡± She said and finally got to her feet, slinging the bag over her shoulder. ¡°So are you gonna get cold feet on me, or are we gonna make a power play?¡± He licked his lips, Occhi¡¯s eyes were all over town at this point, there was no way his information was wrong. He looked down at the suit he¡¯d put on for the occasion, he¡¯d been wondering why he had to wear such an uncomfortable getup but he understood now. It was a good plan, as long as they got in and out quickly. Veloce put her finger to her ear and nodded a few times, ¡°He¡¯s got eyes on all the routes out now, he¡¯ll guide us out once we snag what we need.¡± ¡°I¡¯m in,¡± Verde said and popped his knuckles, tufts of green flame puffing out with each little crack. She was right, this was their big chance. With anti-monster weapons they¡¯d quickly rise to the top of the other light-touched in Florence. Veloce clapped him on the shoulder with a grin and the two of them made their way out of the alley. He adjusted his collar as she straightened her tie and the two of them walked right into the hotel. ¡°You don¡¯t want me around, do you?¡± She asked. He actually winced this time, ¡°I just think you¡¯re better suited to a studio, like me, I¡¯d rather be in my lab right now-¡± A jolt went through his mind, he blinked, she was about to say something when he held up a hand, ¡°One moment,¡± He closed his eyes and extended his senses to his computers. He could hear her gasp as the screens scattered around the room began to flicker. What was that? An alert? From where? He followed the source until his mind¡¯s eye connected with one of the hotel security cameras. A familiar face, no, two familiar faces. It had taken him only a few minutes earlier to find out through social media that the pair called themselves Veloce and Verde. Verde could create green fire and use it to shape weapons that could carve through the flesh of low level monsters. Veloce was incredibly fast, moving at speeds that even the human eye couldn¡¯t pick up on. Both of them were wearing suits and casually walking towards the elevator. He frowned and followed them to the elevator camera, zooming in on what floor button they hit. His blood froze as he pulled out of his connection to the network. ¡°Mikayla, I need you to go into the bathroom, now,¡± He said, pointing at the door. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Do it!¡± He growled and hopped to his feet, hurrying over to the metal suitcase, they had at best two minutes. ¡°Someone¡¯s coming and I don¡¯t think they¡¯re friendly.¡± That was enough to convince her to move, she got up and hurried to his suite¡¯s bathroom, scurrying inside and shutting the door. He flung the case open and looked down at his babies, ¡°Alright darlings,¡± He said and stepped back a pace, holding out his hands, ¡°Time for a live fire demonstration.¡± His eyes glowed and as one all eight flickered to life, the low hum of fan blades filling the air as they leaped into the air one at a time, positioning themselves in two descending columns. He gestured and they moved to position themselves in line with the door. He switched his vision to the hall camera for their floor, the two light-touched had stopped in front of Mikayla¡¯s room. Verde¡¯s glowing weapon appearing in his hand was all he needed to see to know their intentions. Verde sliced the door open with two quick swings and pushed his way in while Veloce raced to Amos¡¯ door, her finger to her ear. Is she talking to someone? Probably Verde. They¡¯ll know Mikayla isn¡¯t in her room. How did they know about us? Amos rounded on the door and gestured, ¡°Shoulda stayed home,¡± He snarled and gave the mental command. Immediately the drones to his right opened fire, a volley of bone-colored bullets ripping through the door and leaving two columns of holes in it. His vision switched back to normal for a moment to assess the damage done, A successful first test! He grinned and switched back to the hallway, expecting the corpse of Veloce and Verde coming out to investigate. He was half right. Verde was hurrying into the hall but Veloce had merely stepped away from the door, a grin on her face. ¡°Thanks for the heads up, Ocche,¡± He heard her say through the hole-ridden door. ¡°I guess our target is a bit more dangerous than we thought.¡± She kicked the door in and vanished from Amos¡¯ field of view only to reappear in front of him, a sneer on her face. His eyes widened as a punch so fast it might as well have been a cannonball slammed into his gut. He gasped, crumpling to the ground. ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± She said over him, ¡°He doesn¡¯t need to be in perfect shape to work.¡± Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Ocche leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled. His eyelids fluttered as an eerie blue light flickered beneath them. It had taken forever for him to spread his Ethereal Eye across Florence. Each new eye had been taxing, but he could move them at will and position them wherever he needed. With his gaze everywhere, nothing escaped him. Including the drones that Amos Carter had checked on in his room just before Verde and Veloce had attacked. It was a good thing too, those things packed one hell of a punch. But that was exactly what they were looking for.Upstodatee from What else could he make with a little bit of percussive encouragement? He grinned, ¡°You didn¡¯t kill him, did you?¡± He asked into the earpiece. ¡°Of course not!¡± Veloce snorted back, ¡°I¡¯ve been practicing. A few broken ribs at the most.¡± ¡°Good to hear it,¡± He said and tilted his head, ¡°Verde, there¡¯s a woman in the bathroom. She¡¯s the fashion designer. Grab her too.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point?¡± Verde grunted over the channel. ¡°She can¡¯t make us anything.¡± ¡°She looked... close to the CEO of ASTA. Close enough for a ransom I bet,¡± He said and opened his eyes, the light fading. He reached for a drink on the desk in his darkened office. The room was devoid of any distractions or light sources. He needed total darkness to use his ethereal eye at his best, external light caused his eyes to reflexively open. He sipped his drink while Verde fell silent, ¡°What¡¯s the problem, Verde?¡± ¡°Nothin, I¡¯m on it,¡± Verde groused. A bang rang out followed by a scream. ¨C Amos curled over himself on the ground, doing his best to play dead. It hurt like hell, but it wasn¡¯t bad enough to knock him out. This is why I say ¡®always be prepared¡¯. He thought to himself, while the bathrobe had been given to him by the hotel staff, the t-shirt was one of his own make. He coughed, unfortunately the thin fabric could only absorb so much shock. It could stop a bullet but it would definitely leave a bruise. This woman... practicing my ass, she would have killed me with that punch. Now who are you talking to? He thought, concentrating on her earpiece. Oh good, you¡¯re using cell towers, He forced himself not to grin. Now I just gotta figure out how to- BANG! Mikayla screamed. Son of a bitch! He reached out to his drones and took control, getting a full view of his surroundings through their cameras. Veloce was peering into one of the cameras, her blue eye filling the view. The other views gave him a clear image of Mikayla struggling against Verde¡¯s grip. He grit his teeth, Damn it, I can¡¯t just sit here. He willed the drones to spread out and open fire first on Veloce. A staccato of gunshots rang out, the woman cursing loudly as she darted backwards and towards the far wall, dodging the first salvo, her long brown hair fluttering about. ¡°He¡¯s still conscious!¡± She snarled. One of the drones pivoted towards Verde, the man frowned, his dark eyes glowing green beneath a mess of brown hair. The drone¡¯s barrel turned and he pulled Mikayla to his chest, positioning her between him and the lethal machine. Shit! A green blade formed in his hand, extending to brush the skin of her throat. She let out a cry of alarm before falling very, very still, her teary eyes looking wildly around the room. Amos sighed audibly and pulled himself to his feet. He swayed a little, favoring his gut with his hand. ¡°You piece of shit,¡± He snarled, ¡°She¡¯s a bystander.¡± Veloce glared at him out of the corner of his eye, ¡°Asshole, you almost shot me!¡± ¡°Yeah, shame I missed,¡± Amos spat back. She clicked her tongue and opened her mouth just as Verde tightened his grip on Mikayla, his glowing eyes fixed dangerously on Amos. ¡°Shut your toys off, now.¡± ¡°Dick,¡± Amos snarled before relenting, he jostled Mikayla awake and did his best to urge her to remain calm. Verde waited impatiently until the two dragged themselves out onto the cobblestone driveway of a spacious florentine manor, the elegant building was practically one with the trees and greenery around it, giving it a refined but rustic feel. Amos focused, feeling for anything that could send a signal to the nearby towers. He caught hold of Verde¡¯s phone. Looks like they still haven¡¯t figured it out yet, good, stay stupid. He sent out the GPS signal and a fresh text message, Now we just have to survive. ¡°Nice place,¡± Amos grunted. ¡°Shut up,¡± Verde growled while Veloce zipped past them, going up to the door and opening it. She reached into a satchel slung across her shoulder and pulled out a gun, pointing it at the two of them and gesturing for them to proceed inside. Mikayla trembled next to him, utterly silent, and Amos forced himself to move, taking her hand and giving it a reassuring squeeze. He had no way of telling her that help was on its way. He sighed and stepped into the building, it was so dark. He looked up and could barely make out that the light bulbs had been stripped from everything. A quick mental scan revealed that besides the phones in their captor¡¯s pockets and another signal coming from nearby, this place was devoid of electronics. ¡°The CEO arrived at the hotel a little over an hour ago.¡± Amos whipped his head in the direction of the voice. A man stepped out of the darkness, his eyes closed as a faint glow burned beneath them. His dark hair was slicked back tightly and he had a thin frame and face, ¡°Amos Carter, finally.¡± Amos frowned, ¡°You got us here, now what?¡± ¡°Now, you work for me,¡± The man said and gestured to himself, ¡°I am Ocche, the all seeing eye,¡± The man said confidently as Veloce arrived at his side, ¡°You¡¯ve already met Veloce and Verde.¡± Amos snorted, ¡°Work for you? Why the hell would I do that?¡± ¡°Because we need weapons and you want to live,¡± Ocche said, ¡°Your boss wasn¡¯t exactly shy about crediting you with ASTA¡¯s breakthroughs. I¡¯ve been keeping an eye on your company ever since it was formed, I¡¯ve been looking forward to meeting a genius like yourself in the flesh.¡± Amos swallowed at the threat, ¡°And if I refuse?¡± ¡°Then we¡¯ll kill the girl, she¡¯s worth a ransom I assume, but money isn¡¯t exactly an issue,¡± Ocche said with a shrug. Next to Amos, Mikayla winced and tried to shrink even more, fresh tears running down her cheeks. ¡°You touch a fuckin¡¯ hair on her head and-¡± Amos snarled only to get a fresh punch to the gut from Veloce who had crossed the distance between them in an instant. He gagged and fell to his knees again, ¡°Son of a... you¡¯re not making it easy to want to work for you.¡± Ocche chuckled and opened his eyes, ¡°You¡¯re right, I apologize, why don¡¯t we have a seat and talk instead?¡± Ocche said, gesturing to a couch in the darkened room. Amos ground his teeth but the sight of Verde grabbing at Mikayla forced him to move. As he stepped towards the couch a jolt went through his mind immediately before Verde reached into his pocket, letting go of Mikayla for a moment. He pulled out his phone and frowned. ¡°The hell?¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Ocche asked. ¡°Text from an unknown number, just says ¡®duck¡¯,¡± Verde grunted. Amos¡¯ eyes widened and he lunged for Mikayla. She gasped as he grabbed her and pulled her to the ground. Just as he did, the world around him exploded. BOOM! Chapter 22 Chapter 22 BOOM! Ocche was thrown back, colliding with the sofa. Pain shot through his arm as he rolled over the furniture, sliding to a stop a few meters away. He grunted, grabbing at his arm. It hurt like hell but was probably only a minor fracture. He forced himself to his knees and whipped his head around. Dust from the debris obscured his vision. He needed a better view. ¡°Verde! Veloce! Are you alive?¡± He demanded, You idiots better not have left me with a mess to clean up! He groused inwardly, closing his eyes and focusing on the astral eye that was set up in the room. His vision shifted and he was looking down. The dust was still clearing but he could make out a single figure standing where the wall of the manor had been caved in. Who the hell? ¡°The fuck was that?¡± Veloce demanded, ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Verde growled, ¡°Do you see them, Ocche?¡± The dust settled a little more and he finally got a look at their attacker¡¯s face. It was a woman. He¡¯d seen her before. The Maid?! ¡°It¡¯s the maid!¡± Ocche shouted, ¡°She¡¯s Light-touched!¡± He opened his eyes, the dust had almost completely settled. Only moonlight cast down on them from outside, providing the sparsest amount of illumination. It was enough to have made out her face and now it framed her eerily. She was dressed in that ridiculous maid outfit again, her expression inscrutable. Is she wearing a domino mask? What the fuck? He shifted to his feet, scowling at her, ¡°How did you find us?¡± He demanded. The woman ignored him and glanced towards Amos and the girl who were both on the ground. It looked like Amos had thrown himself on top of the girl to protect her from the debris. ¡°Amos?¡± The woman spoke flatly, her tone laden with dangerous promise. He shifted and looked up at her a weak grin on his face, ¡°Hey Marta, glad you could make it.¡± ¡®Marta¡¯ looked down at the girl, ¡°And her?¡± ¡°She¡¯s fine, but she¡¯s out like a light. It¡¯s been a rough night,¡± Amos said and moved to shift the girl away from the center of the room. Veloce snarled, ¡°You just going to ignore us? You busted our house, bitch!¡± Verde¡¯s hands ignited with green flame and a pair of axes took shape, he swung them experimentally before stalking forward alongside his partner. The woman didn¡¯t move. Ocche frowned, she clearly had some sort of power that could cause destruction but she wasn¡¯t holding any weapons. A strength enhancement? He remembered a video that circulated online of a woman using brute strength in New York around the time ASTA surfaced. Were they the same person? Probably, still, something doesn¡¯t feel right. She¡¯s too calm. He closed his eyes again and focused on the eyes outside his house and immediately opened them, ¡°There¡¯s someone else here!¡± DOOM Pressure washed over the entire building like a wave, it cascaded over Ocche¡¯s body and sent him right back to his knees. Nausea built up in his guts and he retched, gasping for air as he caught himself with his hands, pain shooting up his injured arm. He coughed, What-? Was all he could manage as the pressure intensified, terror, absolute terror, it was like a snake coiling around his throat. He could sense death in the air, something was coming that was so oppressive it could only bring death and pain. He forced his chin up and watched as Verde and Veloce took an involuntary step back. Their bodies were stronger than his and they both seemed to handle it a bit better than he did. Past them, though, the Maid simply stepped aside and bowed. She stepped in with the grace of moonlight and the certainty of an executioners axe. She wore a full body combat suit, a jumpsuit made of some kind of sheer white leather. A darker coat worn over her shoulders that gleamed as if it were armored in places. She had a luxurious frame, almost sexual, awe inspiring. But it was what was above the shoulders that chilled him to the bone. She wore a helmet without a face, a pair of hot-pink eyes blazing in the dim light. Hair light starlight fell from the back of her helmet in a wild wave. Her arms were crossed behind her back, relaxed, utterly in control. ¡°Ishtar...¡± Amos breathed nearby. ¡°Who?¡± Veloce grunted, gripping her chest. What is she talking about? Is she crazy? Start? Start what? ¡°What- who- you¡¯re insane!¡± He shrieked, scrambling harder at her arms but finding no leverage, ¡°You crazy bitch! Throwing your weight around, calling yourself a supervillain! This isn¡¯t a comic book! You¡¯re friggin nuts! Let me go!¡± She tilted her head hard to the right as if she was looking at him with one eye, ¡°People are running around calling themselves heroes these days,¡± She hissed, ¡°Why can¡¯t I call myself a villain?¡± He paled and opened his mouth to speak when the most horrible sound came out of that helmet. It was a low, gentle hiss, like she was shushing a child. His arms went limp, ¡°It really is too bad for you, Ocche,¡± She said, shaking her head, ¡°You were destined for greatness. But I made a promise to that girl that I would protect her,¡± His eyes went wide, ¡°No! Don¡¯t!¡± ¡°You made a liar out of me, Guildmaster.¡± Visible electricity raced up her arms, he felt a tingle, then a burn, and then everything turned into pain. ¨C Ishtar relished his screams for as long as they lasted, which she had to admit wasn¡¯t as long as she had hoped. Of all the people to meet, She thought as she dropped his smoking corpse onto the ground. The future head of the Mediterranean Heroes Guild, hiding in a house without light bulbs. She snorted and brushed off her hands, crossing them behind her back. You bastard, you were the first to side with Otis. Good riddance. She turned away and examined her warehouse; She smiled to herself, satisfied, and looked down at her gloved fingers, ¡°Might of Thor, huh? Not bad. I-¡± A pulse rushed through her head, a throbbing pain that faded as soon as it came, ¡°Ugh, what?¡± She gasped. Her eyes went wide as the words appeared before her. This is it! This is what I needed! She would have jumped for joy if it weren¡¯t for her surroundings. She cleared her throat and focused. More interesting, it looks like my promise from before I returned is being upheld as a deal with Pandora. So if I kill more of those who are destined to ruin things for humanity, will I get more improvements to Broker? I wonder what it means by limitations and consequences. This ability isn¡¯t exactly user friendly, is it? She grinned, ¡°Perfect,¡± She rasped and stepped into the center of the room. Oh right, I almost forgot. ¡°Verde, Veloce, I know you¡¯re still alive, get up and get out here,¡± She commanded. The duo did not hesitate for a moment, they zipped into the room and dropped to their knees, pressing their heads to the ground. ¡°Y-yes ma¡¯am!¡± They both barked in unison. Both of them were trembling. Good. ¡°The two of you are very lucky,¡± Ishtar said, looking down at the back of their heads. They both flinched, ¡°I¡¯m considering letting you live despite what you did. I need people here in Italy and you may very well be of use to me.¡± They both looked up, hope in their eyes, and were met with her outstretched hand. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the terms of your servitude.¡± Chapter 23 Chapter 23 Ishtar looked up at the manor, her arms crossed. Behind her, Verde and Veloce were sitting together in defeated silence. Marta had already left to where the helicopter they¡¯d borrowed from Bernetta had landed. The pilot was probably wondering what he was doing out in the middle of the night. She sighed and flexed her fingers. Just entertaining some crazy rich people, she thought to herself before extending her hand towards the building. She pulled firestorm out of her warehouse and took a deep breath before releasing a torrent of flame onto the structure. Verde gasped behind her but she ignored it, keeping the flames up until she was sure the place was well and truly alight. She watched it burn for a little while before turning away. She felt tired all of a sudden, as if she¡¯d been running a marathon. She glanced over at the pair sitting on the ground, they already had their orders. They could do as they pleased as long as they spread her influence in the city and beyond. Verde was competent, if a bit gruff, Veloce would have to back him up. She walked past them without a word. Sonya let out a sigh, Aaah... I want a soda and chips... ¨C Sonya¡¯s fingers ran down the stem of the flower, her eyes flickering and adjusting to each nuance of light. She tilted one of them and then examined the display again. Her smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes. The room around her was comfortable, no gauche decorations or ornamentation. One of Bernetta¡¯s many properties. The CEO of Lucci had offered to let them stay there rather than go back to the hotel. It was a welcome gesture. She glanced over at Mikayla, still laying on the bed, asleep. The girl stirred and Sonya froze, she stepped away from the bouquet and hurried to her side. Immediately Mikayla sat up, gasping, her eyes darting around, terror seizing her. She reached up and pat herself down, then looked down at the sheets in wondrous fright. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt...¡± She murmured, ¡°A nightmare?¡± Sonya felt her chest tighten and she sighed. Mikayla tensed and looked up, wide eyed, ¡°Miss?¡± She asked, as if she couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re safe, cutie,¡± Sonya said with a delicate smile. ¡°I-¡± Mikayla looked down at her hands, ¡°I was so scared.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Sonya said softly, kneeling down next to the bed and taking the girl by the hand, ¡°I made a promise to you and I broke it. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m just so glad you¡¯re okay.¡± Mikayla looked at Sonya¡¯s hand and then up at her, ¡°Can I be alone, for a bit?¡± She asked with a brittle smile. Sonya¡¯s chest tightened again, but she just nodded and got to her feet, ¡°I¡¯ll be here when you need me,¡± Sonya said and turned away, walking to the door. ¡°Sonya?¡± Mikayla said, causing Sonya to stop dead in her tracks, the girl had never used her first name before. She glanced over her shoulder and met the girl¡¯s gaze, ¡°You kept your promise, you saved me.¡± Sonya just smiled, ¡°Get some rest, Mikayla,¡± She said and stepped out the door. She shut it behind her and rest her back against it. She closed her eyes when Mikayla started to cry. Sonya hung her head and slid down to sit on the floor. I¡¯ll be right here, she thought as the girl wept out her trauma, I won¡¯t move an inch until you¡¯re done. ¨C A few hours later, Sonya was sitting in the middle of the garden that had been built into the middle of the house, the blue sky above her. She looked up at the clouds and wondered for what was probably the millionth time in both of her lives if the clouds looked that way to human eyes and not just her own mechanical ones. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the fragrant air and looked back down at her hands, Right, she steeled herself, Time to give this a shot. So I have to pull it from my warehouse, wait, does that mean I¡¯ll lose it from my warehouse if I do that? She searched her instincts concerning Broker, I¡¯m guessing so. Seems fair. She considered which abilities she¡¯d like to have added on, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good idea to try to combine anything with Broker yet, not until I¡¯ve got this process figured out. The ability needs to be compatible too, but what does ¡®compatible¡¯ even mean? She considered her list of abilities in storage and frowned, Might as well try something with a passive effect like my eyes, She thought and pulled out Genius Level Intellect. As it had the first time a rush of clarity blazed its way through her mind. Concepts that had seemed disconnected to her now found connections, information she¡¯d retained became easier to access, memories more vivid. Heroic Strength plus Cybernetic Brain... I¡¯m guessing that¡¯ll give me enhanced muscles and spread cybernetics through my body. I need to add it first before I can add things that affect my body, like Light Step and Heroic Speed. I have to consider possible prerequisites then, She thought before narrowing her eyes a little, Efficiency seems to indicate how well the merger will work. Normal must mean it¡¯s compatible but it won¡¯t create something greater than the sum of its parts, like my eyes and intellect did, giving me overall enhanced senses. She took a deep breath, ¡°Here goes...¡± She selected Heroic Strength, and the torment began anew. It was so much worse this time. She woke up on her side, blood staining the blankets beneath her and let out a cough. ¡°It worked,¡± She croaked, wincing as she forced herself to sit up again. She looked down at the blood stained sheets and sighed, Damn... She let out a sigh and touched her own arm, drawing Hands of the Healer out of her warehouse. It was a shame it wasn¡¯t compatible, it would be nice to have some kind of passive regeneration. Maybe it¡¯s because it also heals other people? She set the thought aside as the green light suffused her body, the pain fading away. She got the sense of her blood replenishing throughout her body and raised an eyebrow, That was an oddly specific sensation. She focused on her heads up display and now it had a little image of a person superimposed over her vision, she could see metrics hovering next to it. Interesting and useful... but too minor to be considered a real power. ¡°That¡¯s one...¡± She muttered and reached back into her warehouse again before hesitating. Why am I pushing myself so hard? Her improved mind screamed at her to slow down, take it one step at a time. But her heart warred with the thought, she needed more power. She thought back to that last day in her last life, the anguish of being weak. She was powerful now, but it was fleeting in a way. The powers she was using were all products, not fully hers. She needed to claim them as her own, she had to. She grit her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut. I have to do this. I need to do this. This moment wasn''t about rationality, it was about consolidating everything she''d worked for. I''ll become more powerful than Otis, she swore. Proceed. After hours of torment, Sonya sat in her bed, panting, bags under her eyes. Every inch of her body ached in ways that she couldn¡¯t even begin to explain. She barely had the strength to pull Hands of the Healer out once again and even then only a trickle of relief came from it. There was only one more ability that was fully compatible with her newly improved power. Her prosthetic eyes were dim and a little deadened as she stared at the text in her heads up display. She hesitated and then firmed her resolve, the previous ones didn¡¯t count as significant trauma? She chuckled before her lips thinned into a firm line. The memory of Mikayla''s tears pushed her to action. Money and political connections would never be enough. She''d take all the power she could get, no matter the cost. Just one more, this is my evolution into Ishtar. Proceed. Sonya felt a jolt go through her entire body before she blacked out. Chapter 24 Chapter 24 Sonya swam in darkness for a time, drifting between thoughts and dreams. When she opened her eyes she was greeted by the sound of cicadas and the warmth of the sun above her. She smiled, basking in the radiance for a moment and sitting up straight. She yawned and stretched her arms over her head as conversation carried on nearby. That was a good nap. She thought and crossed her legs beneath her, absently touching the combat knife on her hip. ¡°Oye!¡± A voice called out, she turned and spotted a familiar face hustling over. A young man in fatigues slid to a stop next to her grinning ear to ear. He had a mess of dark hair on his head and tan skin, his brown eyes were sparkly with naivete. ¡°Hey Senior!¡±Ne/w novel chapters are published at novelhall.com Sonya raised an eyebrow and rested her chin on her palm, ¡°Sup, newbie. Excited?¡± He threw his hands in the direction of where most of the conversation was taking place. A crowd of people were gathered around what looked like a pair of marble pillars that had burst from the ground. Between them, a swirling vortex of teal light was crackling and churning. ¡°You crazy? Of course I¡¯m excited! My first time in a dungeon! I¡¯ve been training for this!¡± He put his hands on his hips and puffed out his chest, ¡°I won¡¯t let anything get past me.¡± Sonya chuckled and reached out to flick him in the forehead, he winced and stepped back while she winked at him, ¡°Easy there, I know you¡¯re excited but don¡¯t overdo it. Survival comes first for us scouts, got it?¡± He covered his forehead and frowned, ¡°Yes ma¡¯am...¡± He mumbled. She clicked her tongue and nodded towards the crowd, ¡°Why don¡¯t you go introduce yourself over there, kid, I already know you.¡± He grinned and started in the direction of the other heroes gathered, ¡°Okay!¡± He paused and glanced back, ¡°And it¡¯s not kid, anymore! It¡¯s Wanderer!¡± Sonya chuckled, ¡°Yeah yeah,¡± She waved a dismissive hand and went back to relaxing. She reached for her pouch and tapped it once, opening it and slipping her hand inside the magical space hidden within. The things those scientists come up with, it''s crazy. Monster cores really changed the world. She mused and pulled out a can of sugary soda, pressing the cold can against her face and humming delightedly. All so I can have a cold soda on a hot day. ¡°Sugar high before the run?¡± A soft voice chimed out behind her. Sonya froze and then let out a sigh, falling back onto her back and looking up at the person who¡¯d snuck up on her. The woman was tall, with an athletic build. She had jet black hair that hung loosely over her shoulders and a pair of abyss black eyes to match. As always, she was beautiful. Chunhua squatted down next to Sonya and tugged a strand of hair back over her ear, smiling at her. Sonya returned the smile, ¡°Hey you.¡± ¡°Hi Sonya,¡± Chunhua said and reached out to tap her nose, ¡°Are you being a good senior?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Sonya said, lost in Chunhua¡¯s face, ¡°I won¡¯t bully them too much.¡± ¡°You better not,¡± Chunhua laughed as Sonya took her hand, running her thumb over the ring on the other woman¡¯s finger. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Chunhua asked. ¡°Nothing,¡± Sonya fibbed a little, ¡°Just... good to see you. Being a Mythic-grade hero keeps you busy.¡± ¡°I know, but after this run I¡¯ll have some time,¡± Chunhua said softly, playing with Sonya¡¯s hair, ¡°I complained a bit to the Guildmaster.¡± Sonya snorted, ¡°Good! He deserves some grief now and then!¡± ¡°How about we check out Shinjuku, it¡¯s not far from here,¡± Chunhua suggested. ¡°That sounds great,¡± Sonya breathed and relaxed on the grass, ¡°Hey Chunhua, I-¡± ¡°Black Lotus!¡± A man called nearby, ¡°Need some help with briefing some of the new guys, can you join us?¡± Sonya sighed, ¡°Duty calls.¡± ¡°That it does,¡± Chunhua murmured and bent over to peck once on Sonya¡¯s forehead, ¡°Time to wake up, sleepy head.¡± Sonya blinked, ¡°Huh?¡± ¨C ¡°...well she¡¯s definitely alive.¡± ¡°Yeah, we do.¡± ¨C The next day, Sonya found herself out in the garden again. This time going over her gains. She could feel the enhancements throughout her body, more than just on an instinctual level as was common with most abilities. It was like every muscle in her body was hardwired into her brain in such a way that she could perceive the raw data of how much they could output. Her senses had increased in acuity as well but thanks to Enhanced Sensory Processing, it didn¡¯t feel as overwhelming as it should be. Her mind was taking all the data in as easy as it was to breathe. Every scent cataloged and identified in an instant. She could faintly feel the wind shift around her, the changes in density and pressure. She could even sense her phone in her pocket, the energy inside of it as well as the signals that came and went. She held out her hand and concentrated, in an instant a stick of luminous energy formed in her palm. She gripped it and turned it over to examine it. It was as thin as a blade. ¡°Been a while since I used a knife,¡± She said thoughtfully and focused a bit harder. When nothing happened she screwed up her face and squinted at the bar of light, trying to picture what she wanted. Genius Level Intellect wasn¡¯t exactly helping, it only improved her natural cognitive talents. Come on... I¡¯ve got a supercomputer in my head, I can do this! She groused inwardly, Come on... like a knife, like a knife. After a few tries she finally got the stick to curve and shift in shape. It was crude, but it looked like a fairly standard kitchen knife. She sighed and released her hard light power, ¡°Progress I guess...¡± She grunted and flopped onto her back before frowning. ¡°...I never got that soda yesterday.¡± A tingle went through her mind, a signal to her phone, someone was calling her. She concentrated on it for a moment and answered her phone mentally. Heh, Technopathy rules. ¡°Hello?¡± She said aloud. ¡°Hello Madame Chernovna,¡± Bernetta said. ¡°Madame Lucci! How are you?¡± She said delightedly, sitting up. ¡°I¡¯m well, would you mind if I came over to visit?¡± She asked, ¡°I looked over that young lady¡¯s portfolio that you gave me.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Sonya brightened, ¡°What did you think?¡± ¡°Well, if you would consider not poaching her from me, I would love to have her apprentice with me here, if possible,¡± Bernetta said. Sonya froze and glanced towards the part of the building where Mikayla was still holed up in her room. She swallowed before letting out a breath, a smile crossing her face. Yeah, this is for the best. She thought, ¡°You know what, I think she¡¯d be thrilled.¡± ¡°Good, I¡¯ll be there in a few hours,¡± Bernetta said, ¡°See you soon, Miss Chernovna.¡± ¡°See you soon,¡± Sonya repeated and disconnected the call. A few hours later, Sonya was back in the garden again, sitting quietly and enjoying the fresh air. Bernetta had come and Mikayla had been surprisingly eager to speak with her. Sonya had been so worried that the girl wouldn¡¯t come out of her room, but she was relieved she¡¯d been wrong. She smiled to herself thoughtfully as she meditated on her new abilities some more, deciding how she wanted to practice them going forward. I need a martial arts instructor. Hero Scout combat is passable, but I¡¯ll need better than that. Her thoughts were cut short when she felt the air shift nearby. She caught a scent in the air that she immediately identified. She opened her eyes and looked up at Mikayla. She was dressed in a patterned sundress that set off her looks quite nicely. Sonya took a moment to admire her before standing up, ¡°How¡¯d it go?¡± Mikayla cleared her throat, ¡°It... looks like I¡¯ll be staying here a while longer,¡± She said, meeting Sonya¡¯s gaze. Sonya¡¯s smile didn¡¯t break even as her chest tightened a little, ¡°I¡¯m proud of you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Miss-¡± She cleared her throat, ¡°Sonya, for everything, I mean it.¡± Sonya opened her mouth but Mikayla held up her hands, ¡°Please, let me say something,¡± She continued and looked down at the ground before looking back up at her. Her eyes were determined, strong. She¡¯d come out of the fire tougher, the frailty having been burned away. ¡°I... I know this-we-were just a fling, but you were so kind to me. You went so far for me.¡± Mikayla¡¯s fingers tangled together in front of her, ¡°Sonya, you love too hard. You¡¯re going to end up hurting yourself one day,¡± Mikayla said finally, ¡°I don¡¯t know if anyone¡¯s ever told you this, but I think you need to hear it. You take some things too seriously. You can be playful, but you¡¯re just covering up, aren¡¯t you?¡± She said and then brandished a smile that made Sonya¡¯s heart melt. ¡°Sonya, you need to go have some fun, stop holding back. If you don¡¯t do it for yourself, do it for me.¡± For a moment, a fleeting moment, Sonya saw dark eyes and long black hair superimposed over Mikayla¡¯s own looks. That same smile, earnest, and a bit sad. Worried. Sonya¡¯s hands fell to her sides. She was speechless. ¡°That¡¯s all I wanted to say, I have to go get packed,¡± Mikayla said and let out a breath, ¡°Good bye, Sonya. Thank you again, for everything.¡± Just like that, Sonya watched her go. There was nothing she could say. After all, she was right. Chapter 25 Chapter 25 ¡°Numerous European news agencies have reported on the sudden de-aging of numerous important officials, businesspeople, and politicians throughout the political bloc. When asked to comment, they have universally reported a Non-Disclosure Agreement with their quote; ¡®Physician¡¯. There have been calls for these individuals to reveal the identity of the mystery physician but none have come forward,¡± The woman on the radio said. Martin frowned, taking a drag on his cigarette. He glanced at his glove compartment and opened it, finding a note inside. He sighed and snatched it out, reading it before shaking his head, Damn it Carl, I need a drink. ¡°The Pandora Committee, originally established by the United States, has been adopted as the primary committee by the United Nations for investigating the effects of Pandora¡¯s Flash six months ago. Numerous nations across the globe have established their own branches of the committee and are partnering with local law enforcement,¡± The woman continued. ¡°Current reports indicate that the number of monster sightings world-wide has steadily declined. This has not been accredited to the growing number of light-touched who are engaging the monsters, but rather to a currently unexplained phenomenon. Some scientists have reported that energy readings they have detected near monster sightings have not decreased despite the downward trend.¡± Martin scoffed, ¡°There¡¯s no way it¡¯s over.¡± ¡°The steady alleviation has not reduced unrest, however, and demonstrations worldwide indicate universal fears of something big coming.¡± Martin clicked his tongue and looked out the window. ¡°ASTA Corporation, which has grown monumentally over the past few months, released a statement indicating their willingness to cooperate with military and law-enforcement agencies worldwide but require materials to produce additional armaments. Their anti-monster weapons are derivatives of monster corpses. The United States Government has refused to comment while several international groups have apparently reached out to the company and offered rewards to light-touched for monster remains.¡± That woman again, Martin groused, She¡¯s basically getting civilians to source her materials for her. ¡°United Nations Secretary-General Borris Kovac has made comments suggesting that a licensing program for light-touched to legally deal with monsters should be explored but has not elaborated further, more on the issue we have-¡± Martin shut off the radio and let out a sigh, a cloud filling the car. He turned to the window and peered out into the alley before looking down at himself. He wore a set of black cargo pants and a button up shirt with a white queen chess-piece logo stitched onto it. He¡¯d never seen the logo before, but he¡¯d been presented it after working his way into the good graces of one of the local gangs. It had been pulling teeth to get this undercover operation to go ahead, and bouncing between the NYPD and the Pandora Committee had worn him out.Findd new stories at novelhall.com Finally, though, it had paid off. He opened the door to his car and slipped out, putting out his cigarette and making his way out of the alley. He checked his watch and looked around. Just around the corner several more men and women in the same outfit came walking down. One raised a hand in greeting and he returned the gesture. They approached and stopped for a moment, the one who had waved at him was barely out of his teens. He had a mess of dark hair and a sharp gleam in his eyes, he¡¯d seen action before, probably monster hunting. ¡°Derrek!¡± The boy laughed, throwing out his hand and taking Martin¡¯s own. Derrek was his identity as a member of this particular gang. ¡°Glad you could make it!¡± ¡°Niko, good to see ya,¡± Martin grunted and glanced at the others, ¡°Everybody¡¯s here.¡± ¡°Course!¡± Niko chuckled, ¡°Boss Shark is calling everyone in, all the gangs of New York in one place, it¡¯s crazy. We even got these swank uniforms.¡± He shoved his hands in his pockets and nodded to him, ¡°I wonder what he wants.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t we all, you haven¡¯t heard anything?¡± Martin asked as they started walking again. ¡°Nope! Apparently the security is crazy though,¡± Niko said, his voice dropping conspiratorially, ¡°All the heavy hitters are here, not just Boss Shark¡¯s light-touched bodyguards but some of the scariest power users in town.¡± Martin swallowed, the statement sending a chill up his spine. Was this Boss Shark building an army? This was worse than he imagined. Even if this was a sting operation, he doubted that the entire NYPD would stand a chance dealing with all those freaks. He¡¯d learned a bit about Boss Shark, apparently he could turn his body into some sort of fish-person and could control water at will. He¡¯d drowned a man just by looking at him, so the stories say. What the hell am I walking into? Niko clapped him on the shoulder, ¡°No worries! This is friendly territory!¡± He chuckled. ¡°Right...¡± Martin exhaled as they approached their destination. He looked up and squinted, it was an old automobile manufacturing building. The structure was huge and built entirely out of opaque white concrete. Other groups were already filing into one of the doors on the side of the building, a man next to the door inspecting everyone before letting them inside. They fell into line and were permitted entrance without much more than a cursory glance from the guard. The interior was dimly lit with lightbulbs that were strung across the ceiling, the building had no power, probably, so they were using generators. They rounded a corner and passed through a pair of heavy doors and into a din of sound. It hit him like a wave and he had to stop an marvel. ¡°This will be her first public appearance, only the Borough Leaders and Myself have had the honor, but you boys and girls earned it,¡± Shark enthused. Martin glanced at Niko who was practically trembling with excitement. Why wouldn¡¯t he be. Boss Shark was looked at like a god by some of those present. To think that there was someone powerful enough to put him in his place, it was mind boggling. The detective swallowed and looked up at the stage only to start when he heard his phone chime. Similar sounds went off throughout the crowd. He pulled out his phone and saw it was going through its shut-down sequence. Everyone else present reacted similarly, he looked up at Niko who was staring back at him with wide eyes. ¡°I¡¯d like to introduce the world''s first Supervillain! Ishtar!¡± The crowd went dead silent as nothing happened for a moment. Then a wave of something indescribable washed over Martin. He felt a pressure weigh down on his chest that eased after a few seconds, it was like he¡¯d been dragged down beneath water for a heartbeat. Everyone gasped, looking around before somebody shouted and pointed up towards the ceiling. He whirled and looked up. Someone was standing in the middle of the air, floating on what looked like a panel of hardened light. The person took a step and another panel appeared, a bit lower, then another, and another. They were walking on light, descending as if from the heavens themselves. She wore all white, a combat jumpsuit from the look of it with an armored coat on her shoulders. Her head was entirely covered by some sort of helmet that showed nothing of her face. Hair that glowed like starlight hung down in etheric waves from the base of her head. Martin was rooted to the spot, it was like she was glowing. Ishtar? Like the goddess of war? Then her voice came out, and everyone froze. It was raspy and terrifying, modulated by her helmet. ¡°There are people out there calling themselves Heroes, some aren¡¯t so bad,¡± The woman began, ¡°But you all know who I¡¯m really talking about. The self-important greedy mongrels feeding off of the dangers that have appeared ever since Pandora¡¯s Flash,¡± She continued her descent, everyone watching her from below. ¡°The Government is spinning its wheels. It won¡¯t protect us, nor would it bother anyway. Scum,¡± She growled, ¡°Trash, Human Filth, Gangbangers, The Lowest Rungs of Society,¡± She snarled, ¡°That¡¯s what they call you, don¡¯t they?¡± Despite the chill in the air, a few started to shout their agreement. More voices rang up, adding to the cacophony of agreement. These people felt like society had turned its back on them, thats why many had turned to a life of crime. It was their only recourse. Now a so-called goddess was here agreeing with them. Damn it! Martin¡¯s fists tightened, This is really, really bad! ¡°I have another name for you,¡± Ishtar continued as she arrived at the stage and turned, nodding once to Shark who stepped back from where he¡¯d been standing. She held out her arms, ¡°My Children, my people.¡± ¡°Every hero needs a villain, it¡¯s how stories work, right?¡± She raised her voice high, ¡°As far as society is concerned, we¡¯re the bad guys. So why not embrace it?¡± ¡°There are some among you who have the potential to be more than just criminals and gangbangers, to become the new leaders of the underworld in this new age. I have the power to see that potential and to transform you into something more,¡± She raised her head high. ¡°So who wants to become a villain? Who wants to help me rule the world?¡± Martin watched on in horror as men and women threw their arms into the air. He looked down at his shirt again, at the white queen on it. The chants were rising, the cheers, the roars of greed and desire. This has been what he¡¯d been afraid of; a light-touched powerful enough to organize the others, one with ill intentions. This was the birth of a nightmare for the world. Worse than any monster that appeared on the streets. One with charisma. He had to get out of here, had to tell the committee, he had to find some way to stop this. Were those so-called ¡®heroes¡¯ really the only option? We are so screwed. ¡°ISH-TAR! ISH-TAR! ISH-TAR! ISH-TAR!¡± ¨C Clouds billowed in the sky over Dharan, the small city drifting off into another peaceful night as the nightlife slipped off into a comfortable silence. Rain began to fall, scattering the last remaining pockets of those spending time outside. It was a peaceful night, water cascading off the lonely front of the Budha Subba Temple. Lightning flashed and the wind picked up. Small animals racing to find shelter amidst the increasing downpour. The clocktower¡¯s hand turned over and marked the hour. Three in the morning. Just within the city limits, in a grove marked by the ruins of old Nepalise buildings, long forgotten by time and history, a crackle of teal light ripped through the air. It froze in place, humming and twitching amidst the ancient stones. The tear in space cracked open and tugged at itself just as an eye opened behind it followed by a low, bestial growl... ¨C Broker, Prologue: Origin of the Goddess ¨C ¨C End ¨C Chapter 26 Chapter 26 The hounds barked and snarled, leaping from car to car on the deserted street. Their sleek bodies and shiny black fur gleaming in the unsteady glow of the streetlights. Drool dripped from slack and hungry jaws, teeth like razorblades tearing through metal like it was paper. Above, the lurker watched its pack¡¯s progress with glowing eyes. A sudden movement drew its attention and it slipped back into the gloom of the building it had perched on. There was a snap then the whistle of something moving faster than the human eye could perceive. One of the hounds was lifted off the ground with the force of a terrible impact, it yelped and hit the ground, skidding a few feet. A shiny black arrow protruding from its flank. ¡°Go!¡± A young man shouted from an alley, a black hood over his head concealing his face. He clutched an intricate bow in his hand made of a dark looking metal. He held the bow up, reaching forward as if to draw the string back and another arrow formed between his fingers. He took aim as the hounds rounded on him, rage in their eyes. Four of them lunged at him, their teeth bared only for an enormous hammer to come down hard on the head of the leader. It didn¡¯t even have a chance to whine as its head was pulverized. The man holding the hammer, shirtless and wearing a ski mask, barked out a laugh and spun his body. He gripped the end of the long handle of the weapon and brought it up against the side of the nearest hound and with a noisy crunch it was sent flying into the nearest car, dead. The other two hounds didn¡¯t hesitate, they turned on the new threat and charged him, one clamping its jaws around the handle as the big man brought it up to defend himself. An arrow finished that one off with a thud. ¡°Hah! Nice!¡± The hammer wielder barked. ¡°One more, Sledge!¡± The bowman shouted, drawing another arrow, ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted!¡± Sledge rolled his eyes and kicked, hard, catching the last Hound in the jaw and sending it up into the air. He fixed his grip and brought his weapon up into the air before pulling it back down with a roar, finishing the last one. ¡°I¡¯m fine, Bandit! Quit nagging me!¡± Bandit frowned beneath his hood and stepped out, glancing around, ¡°There¡¯s usually more in a group.¡± Sledge flexed his arm and grinned at him, ¡°Maybe they went back where they came from, afraid of all this!¡± He laughed. A noisy bang sounded down the street, a momentary flash of blue light accompanied by the yelps of several hounds. Sledge turned to look in the direction and slung his hammer over his shoulder, ¡°Show off,¡± He said with a frown. In the distance, a young woman stood with her hands outstretched and a determined look on her face, a white domino mask the only thing concealing her features. Sparks of blue light danced around her fingertips before swirling into what looked very much like a magic circle, it bloomed with intensity before several darts of blue light launched from it, striking a final hound several times and leaving it defeated on the ground. She let out a breath and stood amongst the group of dead creatures, brushing her aquamarine robes off with disgust. Bandit walked up next to Sledge, ¡°Just be glad she joined our group,¡± He said with a shrug, ¡°I just wish we had a proper healer.¡± Sledge snorted, ¡°Whatever mister gamer, let¡¯s wrap up and get lost before the cops show up.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Bandit said with a nod and cupped his hands over his mouth, ¡°Bluestar you good over there?¡± He shouted. Bluestar looked up from the corpses and waved at him, ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± She called and began walking over. ¡°Any others?¡± ¡°I¡¯m checking now!¡± Bandit called back and hopped onto the nearest car, turning in a circle, his eyes turning black as he scanned his surroundings. He paused and frowned, ¡°Hm.¡± ¡°What? What¡¯s ¡®hm¡¯?¡± Sledge asked as Bluestar got closer. Bandit held up a hand and started to trace his gaze up the side of a building, his eyes narrowed and then widened. He took a step back and slipped off the top of the vehicle, moving slowly backwards, ¡°Guys... we should go.¡± Sledge looked up, following his line of sight, ¡°I don¡¯t see anything.¡± ¡°Holy...¡± He breathed and then scrambled to his feet, ¡°Bluestar!¡± He shouted and darted towards the blue-garbed figure laying on the ground a few feet away from the body. He slid to a stop and knelt next to her, ¡°Blue... are you?¡± He touched her shoulder, there were no burns. He blinked as she coughed and shuddered, curling into a ball. ¡°You¡¯re alive, oh shit,¡± He laughed wearily, falling onto his rear and coughing. ¡°Oh, there were two of you, didn¡¯t see you there bud, sorry if the heat got to you,¡± A voice called out from behind Bandit. He whirled and got to his feet once again, drawing his weapon only to freeze. A man was standing there in ostensibly the most comic-book accurate get-up he¡¯d ever seen. A full jumpsuit that even went as far as to include a cowl to cover the top half of his head. It was red and orange with a fiery design on it that would have looked corny if he hadn¡¯t just cooked a lurker alive. ¡°...Firestorm,¡± Bandit breathed. The hero rested his hands on his hips and grinned at him, ¡°You guys did great! You really held in there,¡± Firestorm said brightly. Bandit lowered his weapon and looked at the ground, ¡°We lost Sledge and Bluestar is really hurt.¡± Firestorm glanced past Bandit and out of the alley where the lower half of Sledge still knelt grotesquely. He let out a breath and shook his head, ¡°Damn, I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t get here sooner,¡± He said and glanced towards Bluestar, ¡°Lifesaver is on the way, we were in town. I ran off ahead when I heard the lurker howl.¡± Bandit felt all of his strength leave him but he forced himself to remain standing, he hung his head, ¡°Thank you.¡± Firestorm walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder, ¡°You gave it your all, man, that¡¯s what matters. Bluestar put on one hell of a show, too. What¡¯s your codename?¡± ¡°Bandit,¡± The young man croaked, his shoulders trembling. ¡°I¡¯ll remember it,¡± He said as another person slid to a stop outside the alley behind him, a man in a white plague-doctor¡¯s mask and lab coat. He had his hands on his knees and was heaving, taking in big gulps of air. ¡°Firestorm... you... asshole...¡± He choked, ¡°I... hate... running...¡± Firestorm turned with a brilliant smile, ¡°Oh hey Lifesaver! You¡¯ve got patients.¡± Lifesaver looked up and Bandit could almost feel the man scowl behind the mask but then he looked to Bandit and Bluestar and stiffened. ¡°The guy has broken bones but nothing serious, the girl needs help quickly,¡± He said hurriedly and stalked forward, rolling up his sleeves. He was past Bandit in an instant, dropping to a knee next to Bluestar. He held out his hands and silver liquid began to drip from his fingertips splashing onto Bluestar¡¯s body. Bandit watched the creepy looking power for a moment before glancing back at Firestorm who seemed happy as a clam, ¡°She¡¯ll be fine,¡± Firestorm said with a nod and pat him on the shoulder. Just then, a jolly ringtone filled the alley and the fiery hero paused, he reached into a hidden pocket on his outfit and pulled out a phone. ¡°Woah!¡± He gasped and grinned sheepishly at Bandit, ¡°Sorry, gotta take this.¡± Bandit watched him in confusion for a moment and turned away, going to sit down next to Bluestar. The silver liquid was flowing across her body and concentrating on her chest and throat before slowly seeping through cloth and flesh. She let out a gasp and trembled before relaxing, her chest rising and falling normally. Bandit let out a sigh of relief as she opened her eyes a crack and looked at him, ¡°Did we win?¡± ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re okay,¡± Bandit croaked, taking her hand, he looked up at Lifesaver who was still focused on healing her. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s what I do,¡± Lifesaver said dismissively. ¡°Hey guys!¡± Firestorm called, walking back over and putting his phone away, he rested his hands on his hips and struck a pose, grinning ear to ear. ¡°How would you like to do something really heroic?¡± Chapter 27 Chapter 27 -- I''m officially launching my Patreon! It''s not much yet, but I''m still learning. Thank you for your support! -- The hooded man took a step back, his hands outstretched in a relaxed fighting pose. The eerie skull-like mask on his face shining a bit with the reflection of the purple flames dancing from his fingertips. His armored body tensed, the cloak on his back fluttering in a sourceless breeze. Ahead of him, framed by the backdrop of the dimly lit warehouse he was standing in, was a scantily clad woman in what amounted to the world''s most revealing fighting gi. She shifted on her feet and held up her fists, her eyes narrowing, her brown hair swaying left and right at her waist. He moved first, racing in with a sharp jab to her waist. She shifted a half step and dropped her arm to block it, a strange golden glow reflecting the attack. He pivoted and tried to dip into a sweeping kick only for her to drive her knee into the side of his head. His head whipped to the side and he pulled back with a snarl and grunt of pain, before darting forward again. This time she caught him with a punch to the shoulder that he failed to block in time. He stumbled and she hit him again, this time in the gut, he folded over under the force and was launched into the air. ¡°Gah!¡± He gasped only to get struck with a spinning uppercut at the same spot. He went higher and before he could blink she was above him, pinwheeling in the air as she brought her heel down on his back. He hit the ground with a crash and turned into a plume of purple flame that ripped across the ground a few feet, gaining some distance. As soon as he reformed she was there again. ¡°Hyat!¡± She shouted, driving in another punch, then another, and another. He was forced back further and further, one strike leading into the other effortlessly. He tried to respond, to block, to do anything to protect himself, but he could only stagger when the flurry ended, swaying on the spot. She landed on the ground a few feet away and brought both her hands back, fingers curled like teeth. She kicked off the ground and he watched as what looked like an illusory tiger formed around her hands. It struck with a resounding bang. ¡°Aaaaaughhh!¡± He cried out as he was thrown onto his back. ¡°K. O! MIKU WINS!¡± A deep voice rumbled. Sonya dropped her controller and let out a groan of frustration, slumping back onto the seat of the couch. Next to her, Amos threw his hands up in a whoop and hopped to his feet, kicking off his slippers doing a little dance. She crossed her arms over her t-shirt that said ¡®yuri is my anti-drug¡¯ and kicked her legs in her pajamas. ¡°Again?¡± She whined, ¡°How did you even do that?¡±UppTodated from os was in the midst of his dance when he stopped and struck a heroic pose, chin in the air in his baggy pajamas and an overlong t-shirt, ¡°Get good, that¡¯s how.¡± She growled and jumped at him, getting him into a headlock and pulling him to the ground. He struggled and kicked his feet. ¡°Hey! Leggo!¡± He barked as she ground her knuckles into the top of his head, ¡°You¡¯ll never get my secrets, witch!¡± ¡°You wanna bet?¡± She barked back. Behind them, standing in the middle of the multi-room hotel suite, Marta was sipping at a cup of coffee and watching them with barely contained exasperation. She was wearing a long nightgown and had her hair up in a ponytail. ¡°If only the world could see you now,¡± She said with a sigh and walked over to the couch as Sonya looked up at her with a sheepish grin, letting go of Amos who scrambled out of her grip. ¡°I want another round!¡± Sonya demanded. ¡°You¡¯ll lose again,¡± Amos warned her, rubbing his head. Marta sipped at her coffee, ¡°I have a question,¡± She said calmly, tilting her head at the two of them, ¡°Why are you even bothering with controllers, don¡¯t you both have technopathy?¡± She asked. The two of them blinked at her, Sonya¡¯s cybernetic eyes twirling a little bit to refocus. They looked at eachother, then back at her again. She let out a sigh as grins spread across their faces and they turned to the television again, sitting down in front of it. She let out a sigh and shook her head, ¡°The world''s first supervillain, everyone,¡± She said with a groan and leaned back into the couch to watch the match anyway. Before they had a chance to really get started, though, a knock came to the door of the hotel room. Marta grunted and got to her feet, drifting across the ground as the other two moved to the couch to watch the door from behind it. Marta stopped at the door and peered through before reaching for the handle and opening it. Sonya squinted and then brightened, a smile bursting onto her face. She hopped over the back of the couch and landed, hurrying over. ¡°I¡¯ll add it to the list!¡± He shouted back. The pizza came not long after that and the young heroes were able to have a chance to relax, they talked and laughed, putting the scary day that was to come out of their minds for a little while. That brief moment of calmness did not last, unfortunately, as Marta glanced down at her phone and froze. She looked up at Sonya who cast her a sidelong look. ¡°What is it?¡± She asked, though her tone seemed to imply that she already knew. Marta turned the phone around to show Sonya and Sonya¡¯s expression went hard. ¡°Amos, switch to the news, dear.¡± Amos frowned at her and she gave him a stern look, ¡°Now, please.¡± The others looked over, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Nick asked. Sonya let out a sigh and sat down on the couch as the tv switched over to the news. ¡°Better seen, I think,¡± She said soberly. ¡°...in Dharan! There are monsters everywhere!¡± The reporter shouted. On the screen, dozens of hounds were darting down a street below. It looked like the reporter was in a helicopter. ¡°Terrain is making it difficult for the Nepalese government to respond and the numbers of creatures continue to increase! We¡¯ve already spotted at least four Lurkers during this pass and we haven¡¯t even covered a fraction of the town. Local light-touched are doing their best but- wait- what the hell is that?!¡± A terrible screech ripped out of the speakers as something with wings crashed into the helicopter just as the camera tilted up to see it. Shouts rang out and the feed cut. The screen turned back to an anchor sitting in their seat, pale faced, he swallowed and looked at the camera. ¡°As you have just seen, a large wave of monsters has appeared in the city of Dharan, Nepal, government troops are doing their best to get there but are encountering resistance outside the city. We have amateur journalists filming the events as best they can, but the footage is difficult to watch.¡± The screen changed again to a vertical video, taken on a cellphone. Someone was breathing hard on the other side, ¡°So many hounds! Where are they even coming from? I¡¯m at Chatara Line and Jana Path right now, I-I¡¯ve got family here, we¡¯re just visiting! Why is this happening? Where are the light-touched?¡± The sound of gunfire cut off the sound of the person speaking and the view turned to see a line of police with weapons raised, firing desperately at the oncoming wave of beasts. The hounds didn¡¯t even flinch. ¡°Oh my god.¡± Nick gripped the back of the couch, ¡°What the hell...¡± Jessica covered her mouth and closed her eyes as the feed cut again. Larry hung his head and slammed his fist, ¡°Damn it.¡± Sonya simply sat there, staring unblinking at the screen for a moment before taking a deep, shuddering breath, ¡°Amos, how quickly can we ship munitions to Nepal?¡± Amos stared at her blankly, horrified for a moment before fully meeting her gaze, he swallowed and got to his feet, ¡°I¡¯m on it, it¡¯ll take at least a day but I doubt customs is going to argue with me.¡± ¡°Get it done,¡± Sonya said and clutched her hands together tightly in her lap. She stared at the screen as the anchor continued to try to explain the situation as best as he could. She didn¡¯t tear her eyes away as more footage came through, the bottom of the screen now featuring the words ¡®Disaster in Dharan¡¯. She took a deep breath and got to her feet as the chaos mounted, the others looked at her. ¡°Sonya?¡± Marta asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To revise my speech,¡± She said darkly. ¡°Are they even going to keep to the schedule tomorrow after this?¡± Marta insisted, ¡°This is horrible.¡± ¡°Oh they will, but it¡¯ll be a formality now,¡± Sonya said coldly, walking to the door to her bedroom, she pushed it open and looked over her shoulder, ¡°They need heroes now and they know it.¡± Sonya stepped inside her room and shut the door before covering her face with her hand. She rest her back on the door and took a few deep breaths. I thought I¡¯d be okay, seeing that footage a second time, She thought, There was nothing I could do. If I pre-emptively sent equipment to Dharan, I would have been basically admitting I knew what was coming. There was nothing I could do, I had to let it happen. ¡°Damn these eyes,¡± She croaked, ¡°I want to cry.¡± Chapter 28 Chapter 28 Martin straightened his tie again, a look of discomfort on his face. He shot a glance over at his partner and frowned. The guy was immaculate, perfect poise, perfect shoulders, perfect fit for his suit. He looked down at himself, athletic but still far smaller than the other guy. To make matters worse, it was like standing next to a bomb ready to go off at any moment. He let out a sigh and reached up to adjust the sunglasses on his face. This is the worst, why¡¯d they pick me for the test run? It hadn¡¯t been long after the Pandora Committee had begun organizing in various countries that light-touched had actually volunteered to participate. Most of them were prior or existing law-enforcement, though, so he supposed it made sense that they¡¯d want to continue their roles. Even so, when the order had come down to test the concept of two-man observation teams made of one normal person and one light-touched, Martin had scoffed at the idea. He didn¡¯t want to work with them, they were a disaster just waiting to happen. And here I am working with this guy. ¡°You¡¯re fidgeting,¡± Lucian, codenamed Ironsides, said in his heavily accented voice. Was he russian? Martin couldn¡¯t tell. ¡°Not exactly my first time in a suit like this,¡± Martin groused, ¡°Not exactly my first time at the capitol building either.¡± Lucian just shrugged and remained silent, watching as people passed. They weren¡¯t capitol security, but it didn¡¯t matter, they¡¯d been given permission to be there to observe and deal with any potential security risks alongside the main security force. It was a big deal, apparently, Martin still thought it was a waste of time though. Even so, he was still interested in the proceedings themselves. His expression faltered as the memory of the previous nights news crept back up into his mind. So many had died in Dharan and were still dying as they spoke. ¡°What do we have on her?¡± Martin asked, trying to distract himself. ¡°Finally interested? You weren¡¯t paying much attention during the briefing this morning,¡± Lucian said, giving him a sidelong glance. ¡°I have a friend with family in Dharan,¡± Martin clipped, his eyes narrowing at the man next to him. ¡°Ah,¡± Was all Lucian said, nodding slowly, ¡°Sonya Chernovna, mid-to-late twenties, born in Kola, Russia. Her birth certificate is hard to get ahold of, though officially she¡¯s twenty-eight, she¡¯s probably a bit older, though,¡± Lucian rattled off, ¡°Parents are both in the wind, found some record that they were in witness protection, but I¡¯m not so sure. She was naturalized in the United States when she was very young and lived in a single foster home until college. ROTC through high school and student government. Barely missed valedictorian apparently.¡± Martin raised an eyebrow, ¡°No sign of her parents at all?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Lucian shook his head, ¡°She got a bachelors in chemical science and business administration, after that she started working for Stockton Chemical while she was doing her graduate work. Got blinded in an ¡®accident¡¯ but after several interviews with others who were there we¡¯re pretty sure she was assaulted by the chief lab assistant. Stockton settled minimally thanks to some legal nonsense and she was given a minor pension and after a little bit of time assigned a caretaker. She remained indoors pretty much until Pandora¡¯s Flash after that.¡± Martin crossed his arms, ¡°Not a lot to go on.¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Lucian nodded, ¡°But it leaves a big mystery as to how she knows all these people all of a sudden.¡±Chee?ck out latest novels at novelhall.com ¡°Networking on the internet, probably,¡± Martin pointed out. ¡°While blind?¡± Lucian countered with a laugh. ¡°Point taken,¡± Martin said, frowning hard and finally took in his surroundings. The entry hall of the US Senate was smaller than he¡¯d imagined it would be, but it was also far more elaborate. He had been expecting a lot more white, in all honesty. More notable were the people milling about in the entryway. According to the security team, the senators themselves were already inside the chamber. Pretty much everyone had shown up except for a few outliers, which made this whole circus even more of a big deal. ¡°Nothing but the media and talking heads in here.¡± The vice president adjusted his glasses and looked down at a document in front of him before clearing his throat, ¡°Let¡¯s get started then,¡± He grunted and nodded to the chaplain who stepped up and began the proceedings with a prayer and the pledge of allegiance, Sonya went through the motions, keeping her mind on what was to come. When everyone sat back down the Vice President cleared his throat again, ¡°We are here this morning to proceed with the Senatorial Hearing to consider the statements of Miss Sonya Chernovna in regards to the direction of future legislation concerning the changes in our world following the Pandora Incident. Present are forty-six Senators of the United States, Myself as presiding officer, six representatives of the United Nations Pandora Committee, representatives of the media, and Sonya Chernovna and her attached company of four.¡± He turned to fix his stare on Sonya, ¡°You said you wished to provide an opening statement, given the situation in the world as it is, the Senate has opted to give you additional time for your comments to hear your thoughts thoroughly. There will be silence in this chamber until your statements are complete.¡± Sonya let out a breath, nerves finally running up her spine, she got to her feet, ¡°Thank you, Mister Vice President.¡± She closed her eyes and centered herself, I¡¯m ready for this. I know I am. Okay. Breathe, Sonya. ¡°Before I begin, I think it is appropriate we take a few moments for the people of Dharan, what has happened there is an unprecedented tragedy,¡± She began and fixed the old man with a stare. He let out a sigh and nodded. ¡°Agreed, a moment of silence, then,¡± He said and everyone in the chamber lowered their heads. For a full minute there was utter silence, only the faint sound of pencil scritching on paper as those in the media took notes. After the minute, Sonya raised her head, ¡°As you all assumedly already know, I am one of the first Light-Touched to openly provide details concerning my abilities,¡± Sonya began, removing her glasses so that everyone could see her prosthetic eyes. ¡°My eyes can see much, such as the name of any individual I look at, as well as whether or not they possess abilities.¡± There was a small shift in the chamber that she took note of but pressed on, ¡°When I entered this chamber, I looked at the face of every person here. I can safely say that I speak not only for the four young light-touched people next to me, but for a full third of those present, senators and media alike.¡± This drew another murmur and one man got to his feet before the Vice President stared him down, ¡°Continue, Miss Chernovna.¡± Sonya knew what the protest had been, there was only one thing to be upset about, really, strangers with dangerous powers had been brought into the senate chambers without any foreknowledge. However, by pointing out that a third of the people, including senators, were light-touched as well, ruined any hopes of chasing out my little heroes. ¡°Humanity is under siege,¡± She began at last, ¡°We need only look at the tragedy in Dharan to understand the scope of what we are dealing with. As of this morning, no troops have managed to make headway into Dharan with a total population of nearly two hundred thousand residents. It is unfortunately likely that a majority if not all of that population will be lost within the next twenty-four hours,¡± She said, ¡°That is on the scale of a major natural disaster. But this was caused by living things, creatures with no other desire than to end our lives.¡± She frowned, ¡°This is not a time for debate, this is not a time for pride, this is not a time for doubling down, it is painfully evident that the weapons we have at our disposal can only do so much. Traditional munitions are useless and the consequences of using more exotic weapons is too extreme to even be considered in this day and age,¡± She continued, ¡°The munitions ASTA produces are effective, but they are crafted from the bones of the very monsters that they are used to kill. If we cannot hunt them, we cannot make the munitions to begin with.¡± She gestured to the four people with her, ¡°We do have a solution. While Pandora¡¯s Light has unleashed horrors upon earth, it has also given us people capable of standing against those same horrors. Heroes,¡± She let out a breath, ¡°The young man sitting next to me is better known as Firestorm, you may be familiar with him,¡± Camera flashes intensified in her periphery, she ignored them, ¡°With him are Bandit, Bluestar, and Lifesaver, people who have not only risked their lives to protect their communities from monster attacks, who have lost comrades to them, but who have also taken the extreme risk of coming to this place on this day without masks on. Knowing full well that there is a general consensus that their work is considered vigilantism.¡± She paused for a moment, and turned her gaze through the entire room, ¡°That, is courage.¡± ¡°These heroes need to be given our support, a chance to grow in strength, an opportunity to stand at the front lines and know that we have their back,¡± She said, her voice raising a bit, ¡°A way to organize, communicate, train, find direction and the equipment they need to succeed,¡± She turned her eyes to the Vice President, ¡°I am not the only businessperson who is currently researching how to improve on what Pandora¡¯s Light gave us, this is not only the birth of a new era, but the birth of a new industry and a new way of life for humanity. Not only for ourselves, but for those who will come after.¡± She let out a breath, ¡°I¡¯m sure you all have heard that young people hitting adulthood have begun manifesting light-touched powers after the flash. We will continue to see more light touched in the future. We need to guide them, otherwise they may very well become villains in this new era.¡± She squared her shoulders, ¡°A guild, overseen by the Pandora Committee, and give our nation¡¯s champions a chance to save us all from what is surely to come, because I do not think Dharan will be the last incident of its kind.¡± She let out a breath and with that, sat down to a room dominated by silence. I¡¯ve said my peace, that was the easy part, the important part comes next. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 There was silence in the chamber as the members of the Senate looked at one another. Sonya kept her face as expressionless as she possibly could. She¡¯d carefully worded everything in her little speech, it not only had to achieve the results she desired, but none of it could be a falsehood. That had been the hard part. After all, she wasn¡¯t here to have a repeat of the society that had ended the way it had in her past lifetime. She only hoped that the little bit of prep-work she had done before the hearing would be enough. After all, a pretty speech accomplished only so much, it was the conversation that followed and more importantly, the tone and theme of the conversation, that mattered. Too much manipulation could result in push back, a deal with the Vice President to allow the heroes in and... As the murmurs in the chamber rose, the Vice President looked up from where he had been staring at Sonya and inclined his head, ¡°The Senate recognizes Senator Adam Chavez of Florida.¡± Behind Sonya and the others, a man in a black suit and red necktie got to his feet. Sonya kept her eyes forward, not meeting his gaze even as his own eyes fixed on the back of her head for a heartbeat, he cleared his throat, ¡°While I appreciate the spirit of Miss Chernovna¡¯s argument, I disagree on the assertion of a singular guild. If such a movement is to take place it should be in the hands of the states and independent organizations. As she said, this is the beginning of a new industry, centralizing it and giving ownership to the federal government would cripple it before it had a chance to grow.¡± Sonya closed her eyes and kept her expression as stiff as possible, Take the bait.. Come on... The Vice President¡¯s eyes shifted, ¡°The Senate recognizes Senator Lucille Haygar of New Hampshire.¡± ¡°Forgive me, but I cannot see how the heroes being supported by ¡®independent organizations¡¯ can possibly be a good thing. Is the gentleman from Florida suggesting that corporations be allowed to form their own guilds?¡± A woman in a suit with a blue necktie said, her arms crossed as she cast a scathing look across the chamber. Sonya crushed the urge to grin, And now the tone is set, it isn¡¯t a matter of whether the guilds should be formed or not, rather who¡¯s in charge and how much autonomy they¡¯ll get. ¡°Centralizing the heroes puts too much power into one place and eliminates flexibility! They must be able to respond in any state of the union, besides, competition is important,¡± The senator from florida insisted. ¡°Competition? That¡¯s just an excuse to-¡± The woman shot back only for the Vice President to clear his throat. ¡°Apologies, the Gentleman from Florida raises a good point, but there must be clear rules and standards put in place if we are going to rely on multiple guilds.¡± Sonya finally allowed herself to smile, one of the biggest issues from her previous life had been that each nation had followed the example of a singular central guild. Guilds were going to be formed across the planet over the next few years, this wasn¡¯t a matter of convincing the government to form a guild. No, this was about making sure a single guild per country never happened. There is no way I¡¯ll allow the same culture that gave rise to the so-called ¡®Gods of the New World¡¯ to be born. She clamped down on the bubble of rage that formed in her gut, No, I¡¯ll never let it happen. With this, the world will follow the United State¡¯s example. More murmuring filled the chamber as the senators spoke in hushed tones. She watched them like subtitles in her vision. Sonya¡¯s grin widened a little more. ¡°You seem pleased with the direction of the conversation, Miss Chernovna,¡± The Vice President commented, his eyes on her. She cleared her throat, thankful for her amplified mind so she could think on her feet, ¡°I think the suggestion of decentralizing the guilds is a good choice, I¡¯m glad the Gentleman from Florida made the suggestion. I am a businesswoman after all,¡± She joked. There were some scattered laughs in the chamber as she sat back a bit and crossed her legs, ¡°In all seriousness, I am only here to ensure that we keep moving forward for the sake of the future.¡± The Vice President nodded, ¡°Well said, I think we know our starting point. We will hammer out a proposal to send to the House to be turned into legislation.¡± Sonya inclined her head, ¡°Thank you, Mister Vice President.¡± ¡°Thank you for coming,¡± He turned to the other four, ¡°And for your service.¡± Nick choked a bit next to her and she nudged him, ¡°Say something.¡± ¡°R-right!¡± Nick got to his feet awkwardly, ¡°I uh... It-it¡¯s a dangerous job, but that¡¯s why we have these powers, right?¡± Sonya hopped over the back of the couch and sat down, loosening her tie, ¡°How are things going, Amos?¡± She asked. ¡°Lets see,¡± Amos said, setting down his controller after pausing his game, he turned to face her, ¡°The munitions will be in Nepal in a few hours, their government sends their thanks,¡± He paused, ¡°Oh, and apparently you¡¯re the ¡®voice of the hero movement¡¯, now, so, congrats I guess?¡± Sonya snorted, ¡°Great,¡± She rolled her eyes, ¡°I¡¯m sure our friend in New York will get a kick out of that.¡± Amos cackled, ¡°Oh he¡¯s been texting me, it''s hilarious!¡± Before Sonya could ask to see, Bandit slipped into the couch next to her with a groan, ¡°Oh my god I¡¯m so tired, how the hell is talking to people so exhausting?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t that bad, Logan!¡± Sonya teased, patting him on the shoulder, ¡°You guys did great.¡± ¡°I dunno, we really didn¡¯t get to say anything during the hearing itself,¡± He said, his shoulders sagging. ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Sonya asked him with a tilt of her head, ¡°You said quite a bit just by being there. Didn¡¯t you catch what the Vice President said to you?¡± ¡°He uh... thanked us for our service?¡± Logan said, looking a little nonplussed, ¡°I¡¯m not a veteran.¡± ¡°You fought monsters on home soil, you brat,¡± She ruffled his hair, ¡°He honored you. You came here hoping that maybe they¡¯ll consider supporting and legitimizing heroes, it wasn¡¯t even a conversation, the hard part for them is how, not if. You got what you came for and then some.¡± Bluestar put her hands on the couch behind them and leaned down, ¡°She¡¯s right, Logan, we did it!¡± She said brightly, ¡°This is huge!¡± Lifesaver scratched his nose somewhere behind them, looking sheepishly down at the table, ¡°It did feel pretty good, didn¡¯t it?¡± Logan finally broke into a smile, ¡°So what happens now?¡± ¡°Now we wait and see what they come up with,¡± Sonya said, ¡°It¡¯s out of our hands but I have a feeling it won¡¯t take very long. They know they¡¯ve gotta do something or the next Dharan could be here in the US.¡± Amos snorted, ¡°They¡¯re not exactly known for solving problems quickly.¡± ¡°It¡¯s either that or let people like Nick run around with far less compunctions and oversight,¡± Sonya quipped, thumbing back at Nick who was downing a beer. Nick choked, ¡°Wh-what¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Laughter followed, then pizza, then the conversation finally drifted away from the topics of the day. They played some games and wound down as best they could until night finally took them. It was two in the morning when Sonya found herself looking out the window of the hotel room, staring at her reflection as her glowing eyes blazed. She reached up and touched the glass thoughtfully before noticing a shift in the air and Marta¡¯s reflection. ¡°Voice of the Hero Movement and The World''s First Supervillain,¡± Marta said quietly. ¡°Mhm...¡± Sonya nodded. ¡°Is this what you wanted?¡± She asked. ¡°This is just the start,¡± Sonya said and lowered her eyes, ¡°I¡¯ll manufacture heroes and villains and pit them against each other and the monsters.¡± ¡°Why? I know there¡¯s a lot you can¡¯t tell me, but at least...¡± She trailed off as she came to a stop at Sonya¡¯s side. ¡°I won¡¯t let the heroes see each other and humanity as rivals and lesser beings...¡± Sonya said quietly, running her fingers down the glass, ¡°The heroes need to be united with a common goal, the right goal, even if I have to force it on them.¡± ¡°Lesser... beings?¡± Marta murmured thoughtfully and looked up at Sonya, ¡°You think... some heroes will start seeing themselves as gods?¡± ¡°Marta, I call myself Ishtar,¡± Sonya said incredulously, ¡°You don¡¯t think I¡¯m the only one, do you?¡± Marta blinked and then looked out the window again. She was silent for a while as she swallowed and mulled Sonya¡¯s words over. She clenched her fists, ¡°No one is going to thank you, for doing all this to keep humanity going. They¡¯ll never know how far you went.¡± Sonya smiled, ¡°I¡¯m fine with that.¡± Chapter 30 Chapter 30 The has been updated with an early release tier! ¡°...with the Act¡¯s return to the Senate and the final votes rolling in, it is expected that the Pandora Act will be on the desk of the president and signed this evening. Local governments are already taking the new rules into consideration and implementing their own approaches to enforcing the federal act. Although the accord with the Pandora Committee and the creation of guilds is of note, the historic creation of a new type of criminal enhancement has swept the legal field,¡± The woman on the car radio said. ¡°The act of committing a crime whilst utilizing or otherwise benefitting from abilities or resources with an origin in the Pandora Incident will be considered ¡®villainy¡¯ and come with additional consequences based on the crime,¡± The woman continued, ¡°What is raising eyebrows is the implication that using one''s abilities is not a crime, only abusing them, to discuss this in detail we have legal correspondent-¡± The radio cut out and Da-som let out a deep breath, reaching up to straighten his tie. He looked out the window of his vehicle and up at the facility. It was a large rectangular building spread out over several acres. There was some evidence of the previous tenants here and there, but it had been otherwise refashioned into its current state with a coat of white paint and a gleaming sign on the side that said ¡®ASTA¡¯. He picked up the envelope on his passenger seat and stared at it for several seconds before exhaling. ¡°It¡¯s just an interview,¡± He chuckled to himself and got out of the car, making his way through the lot to the front doors and passing through security. He had to pause a moment to appreciate how heavily armed the men at the doors were; automatic weapons strapped across their chests with ASTA decals on the side. The implication was clear, these weapons were loaded with anti-monster munitions, an ordinary human being didn¡¯t stand a chance. He swallowed as they passed him through the metal detector before they stopped him in front of what looked like a crystal ball. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± He asked, looking up at the grim faced man. ¡°Ability check,¡± The man grunted, ¡°Proprietary, it¡¯s being tested here before wide release.¡± Da-som choked, ¡°You can check for abilities?¡± He asked, wide eyed. ¡°Yessir,¡± The man nodded, ¡°Mister Carter designed the new system with the help of Miss Chernovna¡¯s ability, no idea how it works. Just put your hand on the ball.¡± Da-som looked down at the ball and nodded, placing his hand on it. It glowed faintly for a moment before going dim and gray. The security guard nodded and took a guest badge out of a small box and handed it to Da-som. ¡°Welcome to ASTA Labs, Doctor.¡± Da-som clipped the badge to his lapel as the guard reached for the microphone on his chest, ¡°I¡¯ll let Miss Chernovna know you¡¯re-¡± He was cut off as the elevator doors opened ahead of them in the wide open lobby. He took a moment to appreciate the screens hanging from the ceiling depicting future heroes like Firestorm and Lifesaver. Below them, walking quickly past a few couches and the front desk was none other than Sonya Chernovna herself. She brandished a bright smile and spread her arms open in a warm welcome, ¡°I¡¯ve got it from here, Adam, thank you! Doctor Choi Da-som! It¡¯s been a while, hasn¡¯t it?¡± She crowed, hurrying to pull him into a hug. He returned the hug with a look of surprise, ¡°Miss Chernovna! I wasn¡¯t expecting you to come down and get me, it¡¯s an honor.¡± She pulled back and snorted out a laugh, ¡°Oh hush! We go back don¡¯t we? You looked after me after the Pandora Incident, I can hardly treat someone like you like any other guy,¡± She chuckled and clapped her hands on his shoulders. He flushed a little, ¡°It wasn¡¯t anything special,¡± He murmured before holding out the envelope she¡¯d sent him a few days prior. She looked down at it and raised an eyebrow, ¡°You brought the letter with you?¡± She chuckled and snatched it out of his hand, ¡°You¡¯re funny!¡± She laughed and turned away, turning around. He followed her with his eyes and spotted the young woman who had apparently disappeared from his hospital around the same time Sonya had met him. He blinked as she gave him a curt nod. Sonya handed her the letter, ¡°Get rid of this if you don¡¯t mind, Marta.¡± The woman, Marta, inclined her head and took it from Sonya before walking away. Da-som raised a confused hand, ¡°Uh... the interview though?¡± Sonya glanced over her shoulder, ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessary do you? Your experience speaks for itself, right?¡± Da-som lowered his hand, ¡°Well-well yes, I suppose.¡± ¡°Great! You¡¯re hired, moving on!¡± Sonya chirped and started walking towards the elevator again, humming a tune that sounded suspiciously like the theme song of a certain hero that could jump tall buildings in a single bound. Before he could process it, Marta was next to him, ¡°You¡¯ll get used to it,¡± Marta said and gave him a kind smile, ¡°She¡¯s always like this.¡± ¡°...always?¡± ¨C The woman¡¯s shoulders slumped even further and she leaned back, ¡°I-¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know where the Chairman got it in his head that ASTA was a branch of the Pandora Committee, or that he could win me over with a honey trap, but he¡¯s got bigger balls than I thought,¡± She said coldly, ¡°This is a business with all the rights afforded such an organization. Perhaps I need to go to the Hague myself and make that point abundantly clear. Pressuring me into giving up proprietary information before we¡¯ve even built a guild hall...¡± She shook her head in disgust, ¡°Get out while I still have some semblance of respect for the Committee,¡± Carla got to her feet, cowed and started to leave, ¡°And Miss Mint!¡± Sonya called after her. The woman winced and looked over her shoulder, ¡°If they decide to make you liaison here, next time I see you, show some fucking self respect. Security will see you out.¡± The doors shut with a hiss behind the woman as a pair of guards made their way into the office. Sonya got to her feet with a snarl and turned to face the wall, a frown on her face. We haven¡¯t even gotten started yet and those idiots are already greedy! She started to pace, Maybe I should have the chairman replaced. She clenched her fists and glanced towards the hidden panel in the wall that concealed her Ishtar costume. No, dealing with him like that will be more trouble than it¡¯s worth. I need to figure out what company is pressuring them for my research materials, while I¡¯m at it... She called Amos through her cybernetic brain. ¡°Amos, I need some information.¡± ¡°Get me a list of the constituent countries that voted in favor of Chairman Phan¡¯s election to head of the Pandora Committee,¡± She grunted, pacing back and forth. ¡°Withdraw support from them and tell them the reason is that ASTA has concerns about a conflict of interest suspected in Chairman Phan¡¯s leadership team. Keep it vague but make sure they know he pissed me off,¡± Sonya said darkly. ¡°He tried to use tits and ass to get me to give away your research,¡± She said, running her fingers along the wall and reconsidering for the third time whether or not to pull out her helmet. ¡°Nobody fucks with my people,¡± Sonya growled, ¡°But,¡± She sighed, ¡°It¡¯s better to handle this as Sonya than as Ishtar. I¡¯ll put in a word saying that all is forgiven after he capitulates and hopefully he¡¯ll have learned his lesson,¡± She said, rubbing her temples. ¡°Because that would cripple the Pandora Committee, if their first chairman is seen as corrupt right out the gate, no one is going to take it seriously going forward. I can¡¯t have that. He needs to learn to behave himself,¡± Sonya explained with a sigh, ¡°While you¡¯re at it, I also want to know what company he was hoping to give your research to, if you can find that out.¡± ¡°Crush them into paste.¡± ¨C Chairman Phan Trai strode back to his desk with a smile on his face. His son close behind him. He was the spitting image of himself when he was a younger man, and he couldn¡¯t be more proud. He sat down at his desk and rest his hands on the surface, smiling ear to ear at his precious offspring. ¡°I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be hearing good news soon,¡± Phan Trai said, ¡°Are you hungry, son? I can have a meal brought up.¡± Phan Duong shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m fine, thank you, father. My powers keep me more than fed.¡± The chairman laughed, ¡°That must be so strange, eating electricity of all things. To think it¡¯ll keep you young, too. How can you tell?¡± ¡°I just can,¡± His son said with a grin, ¡°Instinct. More importantly, I¡¯m looking forward to breaking ground on the new research facility.¡± ¡°Phan Industries will be a rousing success with you at the helm, my boy, I have faith, now we just need the good word from that woman I sent,¡± The chairman said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve learned enough about that Sonya woman to know she has a weakness for pretty things,¡± He said as his phone started to ring. He reached for it with a grin, ¡°Speak of the devil!¡± Chapter 31 Chapter 31 Chairman Phan slammed his hand on the desk, hopping to his feet. His face had turned the fresh color of tomato. ¡°What do you mean she said ¡®no¡¯?!¡± He demanded. There was silence on the other end for a moment as he caught his breath, sitting back down in the chair. Across from him, his son crossed his arms impatiently. He held up a hand to forestall an outburst and glared at the table, ¡°Well? Say something, Mint.¡± ¡°She caught on immediately and was offended by the honey trap, sir,¡± Carla said and cleared her throat, he could tell she wanted to say more, instead she added, ¡°She stated that the arrangement between ASTA and the Pandora Committee is a partnership and implied that she could raise her prices if she wished.¡± He frowned, ¡°Sounds like a threat to me,¡± He growled, clenching his fist, ¡°Who the hell does this nobody think she is?¡± He grumbled and shook his head, ¡°Remain closeby, I¡¯ll call you when I have a solution.¡± ¡°Yessir,¡± Carla mumbled and ended the call. He stared at the phone for a few seconds before letting out a sigh, ¡°Her background says she has no experience in business and that there¡¯s no way she¡¯d have this kind of backbone, her acting at the senate hearing notwithstanding,¡± He rubbed his temple, ¡°Bitch.¡± ¡°I can deal with it,¡± His son said. The chairman shot him a glare, ¡°Don¡¯t do anything stupid, boy, just leave it to me.¡± ¡°But what¡¯s the point of these connections if-¡± His son started, exasperated. ¡°The point is to have them and use them correctly, you order a hit on that woman and it¡¯ll throw the entire world into chaos. Until there¡¯s someone who can replace her, you, with an established laboratory, she¡¯s untouchable in that respect,¡± The Chairman growled, jabbing his finger onto the desk, ¡°You need to think ahead, son.¡± ¡°Perhaps she knows she¡¯s untouchable,¡± His son said, crossing his arms, ¡°Maybe she needs a wakeup call to how vulnerable she is.¡± ¡°I said,¡± His father said with a deadly tone, ¡°Do not do anything, understood?¡± His son lowered his head, ¡°Yes sir.¡± The chairman leaned back and huffed out a breath through his nostrils, reaching for his drawer and pulling out a cigar. He cut it and lit it, taking a drag and rubbing his temple, ¡°I¡¯ll speak with the committee lawyers and see what angles we can take, we-¡± A knock came to the door, cutting him off, ¡°What is it? I¡¯m busy!¡± ¡°Chairman Phan, it¡¯s an emergency!¡± One of his aides called from the other side of the door. Phan got to his feet, ¡°What? What is it? Another Dharan?¡± He called, hurrying to the door and throwing it open. Just what I need, another crisis and the registration centers aren¡¯t even built yet! Let alone guild halls. Damn it all. He stared down at the young man who looked up at him with wide eyes. ¡°Well? Speak up!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve received messages from Vietnam, France, Turkey, and others keep rolling in. The representatives are furious, sir!¡± The aide said, quickly handing the Chairman his tablet. The Chairman snatched the tablet up and reviewed it, his expression growing hard for a few moments before turning pale. ¡°How did she know?¡± He murmured, ¡°Georgia, India, Russia, what the hell...¡± he ran his fingers through his hair and walked over to his desk, leaning against it as he read more. His son gave him a frustrated look, ¡°What is it?¡± The Chairman ignored his son, snarling and throwing the tablet to the desk with a noisy crack as the screen shattered, ¡°That...¡± He was about to start swearing when he looked up at the aide standing in the doorway. He cleared his throat and straightened his tie, ¡°...get me a direct line set up with miss Chernovna, please.¡± The aide looked at the damaged tablet then back up at the Chairman and nodded, hurrying to make the arrangements. The chairman sat down and clenched his fists, ¡°For now, son, put building the laboratory out of your mind and focus on other pursuits.¡± His son hopped to his feet, ¡°What? Father, do you know how much work I put into getting those permits and arranging for the staff to be ready?¡± He shouted, ¡°You can¡¯t be serious!¡± His father gave him an even stare, ¡°Sit down.¡± ¡°No! This is ridiculous! What could she have possibly done to push you back so hard?¡± He demanded, ¡°She¡¯s a nobody, you said it yourself!¡± ¡°I appear to have been wrong,¡± The chairman grunted and looked at the broken tablet, ¡°She put all agreements with my constituent nations on hold and issued a formal protest to each of them concerning a conflict of interest in my office.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible, the elections were private, how could she possibly know which nations voted for you?¡± His son protested. ¡°Don¡¯t you think I know that?¡± The Chairman barked, ¡°She clearly has a powerful backer and I¡¯ve stepped right on that backer¡¯s tail.¡± The phone rang next to him and he cleared his throat, ¡°Now keep your mouth shut,¡± He snarled and hit the speaker button. ¡°Miss Chernovna!¡± If I don¡¯t clear this up, they could put in a vote of no confidence! What a mess! The woman kept as straight a face as possible, but he could feel her trembling. He frowned and looked past her towards the empty hallway as she took a steadying breath, ¡°M-Miss Feng insisted that she wanted to see you. N-next time I will-¡± He looked back at her, ¡°Next time?¡± He let go of her shirt, ¡°I don¡¯t need staff that can¡¯t follow basic instructions,¡± He snarled and grabbed her by the face, her eyes snapped open but before she could make a single sound of protest he felt for the electrical charge that ran throughout her body, that spark of life that kept the brain going and the heart pumping. He ripped it out of her with a single flex of will, drawing the energy into his body. There was no scream, just the sound of a body hitting the ground. He stepped over her and stalked down the hallway, ¡°This better be fucking good.¡± He threw the doors open to the lounge down the hall from his gym and stormed into the room, his expression cold. His black hair was a mess around his face and he hadn¡¯t even bothered throwing on a shirt. A woman sat on a couch not far away, smoking a cigarette. She looked up at him with a frown, ¡°You didn¡¯t have to kill her.¡± ¡°Shut up, what do you want?¡± He snarled. ¡°Rumor mill has it you had a rough day today,¡± Miss Feng said, brushing her long black hair behind her ear and pinning him with those eerie amethyst colored eyes. He frowned, ¡°Don¡¯t beat around the bush, I know you¡¯re watching what I¡¯ve been up to, get on with it.¡± ¡°I just figured you could use some help,¡± She said, crossing her legs. She pulled her phone out from her jacket and held it out towards him, ¡°One phone call and your problems will be dealt with, I¡¯m confident in that.¡± He raised his head up, ¡°Yeah? What do you have in mind?¡± ¡°I happen to have a friend in the Night Society, he¡¯ll take a job off the books if I ask nicely enough and it¡¯s interesting for him,¡± She said, waving the phone at him. He looked down at it and then up at her, his expression unreadable for a moment. He shook his head, ¡°My father told me having her killed would be a bad decision.¡± ¡°Your father also screwed up your deal for you, didn¡¯t he?¡± She pointed out, ¡°His judgment isn¡¯t exactly trustworthy as far as you¡¯re concerned.¡± He narrowed his eyes, ¡°Watch what you say about my father,¡± He said before letting out a sigh, he didn¡¯t really care if she knew his business, he¡¯d known she¡¯d been keeping tabs on him since they entered their original arrangement, ¡°But you¡¯re not wrong. You really think your assassin can kill this woman? She¡¯s surrounded by men armed with anti-monster weapons and her secretary has powers.¡± ¡°I¡¯m confident in his abilities,¡± Feng said with a smile. ¡°Alright, fine, but why are you even doing this for me?¡± He asked, settling onto the couch a small distance from her. She pouted at him, ¡°What kind of fiance would I be if I didn¡¯t support my future husband?¡± She asked and put a hand on his shoulder, ¡°Let me call him and set the table, mm?¡± He looked away and nodded as she dialed out. ¨C Blood dripped from his knife, oozing onto the floor from the open wound in his target. The body lay still in the dark room, rain pattering against the window outside. He looked down at the lifeless thing that had once been a politician and sniffed, turning away. Another boring job, another nobody someone wanted dead for a reason he couldn¡¯t care less about. At least the money was worth his time, though a part of it would go back to the Night Society as part of his dues, but that was just how it was. Park Beyol rolled his shoulder, it was time to go. The clean up crew would be there soon and he was starting to get hungry. He glanced down at the knife in his hand and it melted into a silvery ooze that trailed up his palm before vanishing into a small cut in his wrist. I was efficient before the flash, but now I don¡¯t even need to carry weapons with me. Jobs that were a bit tough before are painfully easy now. I¡¯m getting bored. His pocket buzzed and he paused, he pulled his phone out and glanced at it. Feng Hyunh? What does the heiress of the Da Mau syndicate want? He tapped the button and brought it to his ear, ¡°Feng.¡± ¡°Razor, I have a job for you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in minor crimelords,¡± Beyol said. ¡°How about the Voice of the Hero Movement?¡± She pressed. He paused and tilted his head to the right, turning to look out at the storm raging outside, ¡°...I¡¯m listening.¡± Chapter 32 Chapter 32 Amos stared into space, his eyes unfocused as he parsed through file after file, information feeding into his brain as fast as it could process. Every synapse fired with jubilation at the exercise, it was exhilarating and daunting, to be connected directly to the internet like this. He could feel the way information seemed to work its way through the network. An ebb and flow like the tides. A symphony of data both useless and useful filtering out in microseconds. He reveled in it, darting from one place to another before he found his destination. ¡°There we are...¡± He murmured as he connected to the cellular network in Vietnam, bouncing from tower to tower. His orders had been pretty clear, dig up anything possible on the favored son of Chairman Phan. Most of the records had been pretty easy to find, permits, pre-hires, building plans, purchase orders, it all pointed towards him opening up a new business in his hometown. More interesting was the type of people he was hiring, physicists, chemists, technicians, engineers, biologists, he was assembling a lab. ¡°Looks like papa wants to spoil the young master,¡± Amos chuckled and redirected his attention through the network as he made his way to the private residence of Phan Duong. He checked the call records, ¡°This guy has his own network antenna! Spoiled bastard!¡± Amos scoffed, focusing on that particular portion of the network, ¡°Let¡¯s see... call logs, call logs, only got a couple in the last twenty-four hours. Most of ¡®em from his personal number. Ew...¡± His nose wrinkled, ¡°Fricking gross, man. Nothing here but call girls and ordering takeout.¡± He paused, ¡°Oh, there¡¯s another number that has access to the antenna,¡± He turned his attention to that phone number¡¯s logs, ¡°This is disgustingly easy, I should really work up some protections against this kind of thing for the boss,¡± He muttered, making a mental note, ¡°If I can do it, who else can?¡± He continued muttering to himself before finally opening the data packet. He froze, reading the contents of the phonecall, ¡°...well shit.¡± He took a deep breath and pulled himself back to reality. His eyes focusing on his surroundings. He was in his personal office, a cluttered room filled with prototypes of all sorts of things. A crystal ball lay on its side, connected to a small platform by wires. A pair of monster cores, gemstones about the size of acorns, lay neatly on non-conductive cloth. A few guns in various states of completion lay on a table to one side while boxes full of odds and ends filled the remaining space. He hopped to his feet and brushed himself off. ¡°Welp, better go tell Sonya in person,¡± He said cheerily and reached under his desk for his mini-fridge, pulling out a soda and cracking it open. He took a lazy sip as he sauntered to the door, the security recognizing him immediately. It hissed open and revealed a much larger workspace filled with desks where numerous people worked on various projects. All of them wore VR headsets and were huddled in small clustered groups. This had been Amos¡¯ idea, one he was incredibly proud of. Instead of creating a bunch of expensive separate laboratories, he designed simulated laboratories for them to use. What would have taken decades of programming had taken him only a couple of weeks with the combination of his enhanced intellect and technopathy. Still have to thoroughly study anything we don¡¯t have data on, though, like monster cores. We still don¡¯t fully understand them, but that¡¯s where experimentation comes in, he thought happily as he walked past the station where Doctor Choi sat. He liked the guy, he¡¯d gotten straight to work after being oriented with the layout of the lab. ¡°Yo doc, heading upstairs to talk to Sonya, need anything?¡± Da-Som looked up at him with confusion, ¡°Will it take long? You have guests coming soon.¡± Amos blinked, ¡°Hah?¡± Da-Som frowned at him, ¡°Mister Carter, did you forget that the interns would be coming today?¡± Amos let out a groan, ¡°Oh man, can¡¯t you handle it?¡± Da-Som raised an eyebrow, ¡°I¡¯ve worked here less than a day, Mister Carter.¡± ¡°Alright! Alright! Fair point, I¡¯ll meet with them,¡± Amos sighed, holding up his hands in surrender, ¡°How are things?¡± The doctor brightened and put his hand on the headset, ¡°Incredible, your work is a century ahead of its time it seems like. I have a full medical lab on my desk, it¡¯s unreal,¡± He said with delight, ¡°Did you know that the blood of those monsters have extremely unusual properties? And the energy that the cores give off, if you apply it the right way it¡¯s... magical. What are we even calling that energy by the way?¡± Amos picked at his ear and looked away, ¡°Sonya keeps calling it Mana but that¡¯s really nerdy.¡± The doctor laughed, ¡°Honestly, it fits in a rather unfortunate way.¡± ¡°I know, right?¡± Amos groaned, ¡°I keep wanting to call it something more... you know...¡± ¡°Palatable for a Nobel Committee?¡± The doctor said with a wry smile. Amos grinned back at him, ¡°I think we¡¯re going to get along great!¡± A little while after that he found himself in the lobby, eyeing the doors impatiently. He¡¯d sent an encrypted email to Sonya concerning the call but she hadn¡¯t gotten back to him. She was probably busy, Or hitting up some model or something, is she even here? I forgot to check, he groused, How does she have more game than I do? I¡¯m like... his thoughts trailed off as the doors opened and a small crowd of young people made their way inside. They gaped at the security guards for a moment before quickly following their orders. Amos shifted on his feet as they were processed through, unsurprisingly a few of them turned out to be light-touched and the detector got quite the excited reaction out of them rather than hard feelings. That was a good sign. He glanced back at the man sitting at the front desk and gave him a thumbs up before turning back to the slowly accumulating gaggle of young people. They were from all walks of life and all of them held tablets tightly in their hands, their eyes fixed on him rather than taking in the ultra-modern decor that Sonya had insisted on. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his labcoat and strode towards them, ¡°Welcome to ASTA Corporation Labs!¡± He said aloud and focused on their tablets, they all flashed and his face appeared on each and every one of them. ¡°Recording devices are prohibited within the premises, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not checking out your search history. Just shutting off your cameras and microphones,¡± He said, his voice coming out of all the tablets. They gasped and a few of them laughed. ¡°The old main office will be the initial testing room to check the veracity of the claim of possessing abilities,¡± Rupert began, ¡°That power-check device is fascinating, it can even read the overall quality of an ability based on the color feedback. How did yours come up?¡± Marta cut in, saving Sonya from the direct question, ¡°Miss Chernovna¡¯s came up white, an uncommon-tier as we¡¯ve come to refer to it, she''s asked me to keep my own tier secret until the official licensing event.¡± The man pursed his lips and nodded, ¡°I see, you must be very capable, Miss Daphne.¡± ¡°She¡¯s punched her way through rebar reinforced concrete before,¡± Sonya said, shooting Marta a grin. Rupert swallowed, ¡°I... see.¡± ¡°At any rate,¡± Sonya said, changing the topic, ¡°It¡¯s really coming along. Where are they going to undertake the physical test?¡± She asked. ¡°The gymnasium, follow me and I¡¯ll show you,¡± He said and began walking ahead. Marta fell into step with Sonya and glanced her way, ¡°I got a text from Amos for you to check your email,¡± She said in a low voice. ¡°I noticed it come in, give me a moment,¡± She said and Marta took her arm. She still wasn¡¯t used to walking and using her technopathy at the same time without stumbling about, her hud often got in the way. She opened the message from Amos and read through the details, her expression shifting a few times before she reached the end. ¡°Well now, how interesting.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Marta asked, releasing Sonya¡¯s arm. Sonya crossed her arms behind her back and kept a straight face as she followed Rupert from a distance, ¡°It looks like Chairman Phan wanted the research for his son, he was fully prepared to set up a lab within months of getting his hands on our intellectual property. Phan Duong, why does that name ring a bell...?¡± She said thoughtfully, tapping her elbow. ¡°I see,¡± Marta said, frowning. ¡°What¡¯s the plan, then?¡± ¡°A minefield of a person,¡± Sonya said, I can''t deal with him as Ishtar, that would raise unnecessary suspicions. ¡°More importantly, he ordered a hit on me.¡± ¡°He what?¡± Marta gasped, turning to look at her. Rupert glanced back and Sonya gave him an innocent wave before glaring at Marta. Marta looked away sheepishly, ¡°Should we be out and about?¡± ¡°Oh they won¡¯t be here for at least another day or two, we have time,¡± Sonya said with a shrug, ¡°I¡¯m very interested in the group they come from, the Night Society, sounds spooky,¡± She laughed. ¡°I¡¯ll increase your security,¡± Marta said. ¡°And scare them off?¡± Sonya asked incredulously, ¡°Heavens no, we¡¯re business as usual. Amos and I will keep an eye out and see if we can¡¯t spot this ¡®Razor¡¯ gentleman. I want to know more about this group of his and it¡¯ll be an easy way to deal with his employer later.¡± Marta frowned and looked away, her eyes intense. Sonya smiled at her gently and reached out to put a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Marta,¡± She said soothingly, ¡°This isn¡¯t another Florence. This time we¡¯ll be ready, and more importantly, I¡¯ve been waiting for a chance to try out this body of mine.¡± Marta let out a sigh, ¡°Fine,¡± She said uncomfortably. Sonya looked at her friend and felt a momentary pang of guilt, she hadn¡¯t paid enough attention to Marta recently and the woman had been working hard. Perhaps it was time for a reward, more than one in fact, ¡°You know what, I have a better idea, how about we make a deal after the tour, mm?¡± Marta returned her gaze and her expression relaxed, ¡°A deal sounds lovely.¡± Chapter 33 Chapter 33 The tour had been largely uneventful and frankly boring as far as Sonya was concerned, she¡¯d observed the gymnasium and found that they were reinforcing it as best they could for whatever might come up when they tested the first round of potential heroes. She¡¯d endured as long as she could before having Marta make up an excuse to get them back to the lab. Sonya had bemoaned not going back to the apartment but Marta had reminded her, again, that what they were planning to do was probably best done behind secure walls. Specifically, in the room that had been set up for the task. The room was on the smaller side, only large enough to walk around comfortably and spar a little. What was more impressive were the walls made entirely out of layers of steel, concrete, and lead. There were no cameras permitted in this room and the only way in or out was through a hidden door that could only be accessed by Sonya¡¯s inner circle. It was the place where Sonya could merge her powers with peace of mind while still being within reach of Marta or Amos in case she overdid it like last time. Right now, though, she wasn¡¯t here to merge her powers. Not yet. Instead, she stood across from Marta who was looking more than a little excited. Sonya smiled at her, ¡°I want to apologize, first, I should have done this with you sooner,¡± She said, ¡°I¡¯ve actually been thinking a lot about what I wanted to give you.¡± Marta pulled her brown hair back and cracked a rare smile herself, ¡°You¡¯ve been busy, Sonya. I have just been regretting not being stronger when it mattered.¡± ¡°You¡¯re already crazy strong,¡± Sonya laughed, ¡°But what I have in mind borders on the unfair.¡± Marta raised her eyebrows, ¡°Huh?¡± Sonya just extended her hand, ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal, Marta.¡± Marta looked at her hand in trepidation but nodded, ¡°Yes, lets,¡± she said and took Sonya¡¯s hand. ¡°As before, I want to give you a new power as a reward for your dedication,¡± Rehashing the statement she¡¯d used last time she¡¯d done this for her. I just hope Broker allows it... Sonya froze, Insufficient? What the hell? Is there anything I can do? Marta tilted her head, ¡°Is everything okay?¡± Sonya shook her head and smiled a bit sheepishly, ¡°It would seem the power I want to give you is pretty valuable.¡± Marta blinked, ¡°If it¡¯s so valuable why not keep it for yourself? Sonya!¡± Sonya laughed, ¡°Oh come on, what kind of boss would I be if I kept all the good stuff for myself, besides, having you around is as good as having the ability anyway, right?¡± She teased with a wink, ¡°Now give it a moment.¡± What the actual fuck? Are you kidding me? What about a financial transaction? Property? Anything other than that! Well shit, you got me there. She let out a sigh, ¡°My ability gave me some options, but none of them are pretty,¡± She said hesitantly. ¡°Just spit it out,¡± Marta said, squaring her shoulders and squeezing Sonya¡¯s hand tightly. She wasn¡¯t going to back out, clearly. Sonya sighed, ¡°A limb, a sense, a ¡®biological function¡¯, or five years off your lifespan.¡± Marta paused, her eyes going wide for a few heartbeats before they settled and she eased into a relaxed smile, ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Alright?¡± Sonya blurted, ¡°What do you mean, alright? How is any of this-¡±Diiscover new stories at novelhall.com ¡°My skin is like diamond now,¡± Sonya explained, ¡°Feel a little better?¡± ¡°You¡¯re still not invincible and you can¡¯t regenerate like I can,¡± Marta cautioned. ¡°Better than nothing!¡± Sonya laughed in response, clenching her fists, ¡°Lets see that assassin stab me now.¡± ¡°You still want to deal with him?¡± Marta asked. ¡°Actually, no,¡± Sonya said, ¡°I¡¯ve changed my mind, I want you to handle it.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Marta asked, elated. Sonya shrugged, ¡°It¡¯s time I started acting like a proper supervillain.¡± Marta crossed her arms, ¡°As long as you don¡¯t call me a henchman,¡± Sonya gasped, bringing her hand to her heart and giving Marta an aghast look. Marta narrowed her eyes, ¡°You aren¡¯t saying anything.¡± Sonya winced, ¡°Just once?¡± She asked, trying to look cute. ¡°No,¡± Marta grunted and raised an eyebrow. ¡°Okay fine, I won¡¯t do it,¡± Sonya whined. Marta shook her head, ¡°You¡¯re a real handful, you know that?¡± ¡°Guilty as charged,¡± Sonya laughed and got to her feet, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¨C Park Beyol stepped out onto the airport terminal and scanned his surroundings. He fixed the coat around his shoulders and straightened his cap, he hadn¡¯t been back in the United States for a long time. He was glad that he¡¯d at least taken the time to pick up the language despite most of his work being in Asia. There were just some jobs that the other members of the Night Society couldn¡¯t handle, so they¡¯d sent him on occasion. This isn¡¯t a Society sanctioned job, though, don¡¯t forget. He reminded himself, walking out to departures with nothing but his suitcase in hand. He didn¡¯t need anything else now that he had his abilities. He glanced up at one of the televisions as he passed through, frowning. The Villainy enhancer... He rumbled inwardly, So I¡¯m a villain now, huh? All because of this smart mouthed Russian. She schooled his expression and kept walking, Not that it changes how I do my work, but the label irks me. He waved down a taxi and hopped inside. ¡°Where to?¡± The driver asked. Beyol handed him a slip of paper with the address of the hotel on it, the man nodded and started driving. He pulled out his phone as the vehicle made its way into traffic, Heroes are popping up everywhere, he thought, they¡¯re just as arrogant as that woman. Crazy too, who in their right mind would run around dressed like that? Some of them don¡¯t have any business fighting monsters either. He glanced at his wrist, Guess I can¡¯t fault them for trying. I¡¯m curious about my limits too. He glanced up from his phone, ¡°Any monster attacks recently?¡± He asked, causing the driver to jump a little before settling back down. ¡°There was one on sixth avenue yesterday, heroes took care of it pretty quick,¡± The driver said absently, ¡°None today though, thank god.¡± ¡°Heroes, huh? What do you think of all that?¡± Beyol asked. ¡°It¡¯s a mixed bag,¡± The driver said, ¡°Some of those folks like Firestorm really are doing it for the right reasons, some of them are in it for the kicks though and once licensing starts I hear they¡¯re going to be paid for it. Every Light-touched and their mom is gonna come out for that.¡± Beyol blinked, ¡°They¡¯re paying them?¡± ¡°Well yeah, would you fight those things for free if you had a choice to get paid?¡± The driver asked incredulously, ¡°Seriously, way I hear it, if you¡¯re really good at it and make a name for yourself you might even get sponsorships and business deals. That¡¯s corporate America for you.¡± Beyol crossed his arms and leaned back into his seat a little bit more, ¡°And the government is funding this?¡± He asked, glancing out the window. On an enormous screen overlooking the street there was an image of the hero Firestorm with the words ¡®I want you to join me in protecting humanity. Get licensed, hero!¡¯. Beyol snorted, drawing his thumbnail across his wrist. ¡°Pretty much as I hear it, they finally did something about that bloated defense budget, threw a whole crapton of money at the Act,¡± The driver said, taking a quick turn. ¡°Coming up on our destination.¡± Interesting, maybe the Night Society should get in on this after all. If we start our own guild then we could move a bit more freely, He frowned at the thought, I wonder if those old farts would even consider it, though? ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± The driver said, ¡°The fare is-¡± SHINK Beyol got out of the cab and shut the door, pulling his hat down over his face, I¡¯ll worry about that later, he thought, leaving the dead man behind him, First thing¡¯s first, you need to die Miss Sonya Chernovna. Chapter 34 Chapter 34 Sonya stepped out of her bedroom, glancing back only once at the sleeping form in her bed. She rubbed her shoulder and walked to the window, cracking open a soda and taking a sip as she looked out over the city street, her hot-pink eyes glowing in the darkness. Her eyes narrowed a little at the peaceful streets, I still can¡¯t get used to it, she thought and took another sip. She gestured and a panel of light appeared next to her, she set the can down and pulled up her HUD before dialing out. The answer came only a heartbeat later; came Shark¡¯s voice in her head. She smiled, Good boy. She asked, crossing her arms behind her back. Shark said, She raised an eyebrow, There was a pause and then Shark elaborated, Sonya surmised. Shark growled.UppTodated from She smiled, He¡¯s growing well. She asked. Shark said with a chuckle, She said and took her can up again, sipping it while Shark spluttered. Shark growled. Sonya warned him, He said and ended the call. She smiled to herself again and took another sip, turning around when she sensed movement behind her. She turned to see Amos standing there with a messy head of hair and a smile on his face, ¡°You¡¯re up late.¡± ¡°Took a while to get what you need,¡± Amos said with a yawn, walking over to the fridge and grabbing his own drink before throwing himself into the couch, ¡°But I got it.¡± She turned to face him, ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯d think a guy with security that shit would have pictures of himself laying around but he¡¯s surprisingly cautious in some ways,¡± Amos said, taking a sip of his drink and waving his hand, ¡°But I¡¯ve got a picture of Phan Duong for you.¡± ¡°Wonderful!¡± Sonya crowed, walking over to sit next to him. It had been bothering her since she first heard his name. It sounded so familiar but she couldn¡¯t put her finger on it. Even with her encyclopedic and well organized memory it was like there was a hole there. Not that it mattered, some insipid young master getting favors from his powerful father was nothing unusual, it was just nice to put a face to the name of the idiot trying to scheme against her. She sensed a signal coming from Amos and loaded the image in her HUD. She took one look and hopped to her feet, ¡°An Set!¡± She blurted, her fingers clenching into fists. ¡°Who?¡± Amos asked, jerking back a bit from her sudden movement. The car stopped as Sonya¡¯s thoughts reeled, the door opened and she squinted again, her eyes whirring in her head as Chunhua slipped out of her seat. She set her sword on her hip and struck a relaxed pose as the Committee representatives bowed in front of her. ¡°Welcome to Avalon, Madame Black Lotus,¡± The representatives said as one. Sonya slipped out of the car after her and looked around, it was just as unbelievable as the first time she laid eyes on it. Streets of white marble like stone stretched as far as one could see contrasting with the vibrant green of grass. White buildings rose up around them with domes and minarets, narrow towers topped with massive crystals that hummed and spun slowly in mid air. Avalon, the seat of Heroes, the place where the Mythics were like gods and anyone else was naught but a mere mortal. Chunhua held up her hands, ¡°Thank you all, no need for formalities, let¡¯s head to the grand hall,¡± She said and turned to Sonya, ¡°You coming?¡± Sonya swallowed, ¡°Y-yeah.¡± Sonya followed a step behind Chunhua, taking in her surroundings. It was strange reliving a memory like this, she wondered if she could record it somehow. Her lip twitched, if only it were that easy. But at least she could take it all in, sensory data that she hadn¡¯t picked up on in her last life. The energy levels in the air were crazy, how had Chunhua not noticed how much mana was around them? Or had she not cared? Given her ability, Sonya supposed it really didn¡¯t matter. They made their way down the promenade and towards the largest of the buildings, a massive dome wider than a football stadium. A pair of enormous doors were set into the side. They were slightly ajar with enough space between them for two people to walk shoulder to shoulder with no issue. Guards were posted outside wearing the white-and-gold of the Avalon Guard, each of them were no doubt Heroic level Light-touched if not low-grade Mythics in their own right. It was an obvious show of force. Sonya narrowed her eyes as they strode through the opening and into the vast interior. A garden out of one¡¯s dreams waited for them inside, water flowed in strange directions, even defying gravity as it poured up into small floating islands that were decorated with all manner of strange plants extracted from dungeons. Everything but the white outer walls was doused in color, blues and pinks and greens and yellows shimmering eerily. It was nothing short of the domain of the gods. ¡°Black Lotus!¡± Came a cheery voice ahead of them. She didn¡¯t recognize it, but her gut twisted in reaction. She tore her eyes from the scenery to take him in. He had short blonde hair coifed to the right and a rather plain but handsome appearance, tan skin with a jolly look in his sapphire blue eyes. His hands were opened, ready for an embrace. She blinked and it was as if memories came rushing back, her jaw tensed, her eyes bulged, her muscles screamed at her to lunge. Otis! Chunhua laughed and greeted him with an embrace, ¡°Otis! Good to see you, sir!¡± She laughed, stepping back from him after a brief hug, ¡°That power of yours is maddening though, every time I see you it¡¯s like meeting you for the first time!¡± Otis smirked at her, ¡°It has its advantages,¡± he said smugly and glanced past her towards Sonya, ¡°And who¡¯s this?¡± Sonya forced herself to calm down, it took every ounce of self control as she bowed her head in the direction of the man she wanted to kill more than anyone in the world, ¡°Sonya Lian, sir, Codename Farsight,¡± Sonya said politely. ¡°Lian?¡± He hummed and glanced at Chunhua, then down at their hands, ¡°Oho I see, welcome Farsight!¡± He said with a bright smile and turned to the garden, ¡°We¡¯re all waiting for you.¡± Sonya watched him go with a frown and fell into step behind Chunhua again, cautiously observing her surroundings. There had to be a reason why she was remembering this, was she just dwelling because she had finally encountered one of the heralds again? There had to be more to it, though, more information she could glean. Chunhua glanced back at her, ¡°You okay?¡± Sonya forced herself to smile, ¡°Y-yeah, just a lot to take in.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t I know it, every time I meet the guy,¡± Chunhua said, ¡°He¡¯s called the faceless hero because of that odd side effect of his abilities. Nobody can remember what he looks like unless they¡¯re right in front of him.¡± I know. ¡°I see.¡± Chunhua shrugged, ¡°No point in getting used to it,¡± She said and kept walking, admiring the plants, ¡°Marta would love this place, I wish we could bring her.¡± Sonya graced Chunhua with a smile as they stepped through a glade of eerie trees and into a wide clearing at the center of the entire structure. She stopped, transfixed for a moment as she took in the sight for the second time. There had to be over a hundred people here, maybe even more. Each and every one of them was a notable face, each of them talking amongst themselves. Yet most prominent were the seven seats set up in a semicircle on the far side of the clearing and Otis himself standing in the center of a small pond at the clearing¡¯s heart. Sonya swallowed, The Mythic Summit, she thought, Enough power here to destroy all of mankind. Her eyes narrowed as she rallied her self control, None of them know it in this moment, but they will do just that. She kept her cool as she and Chunhua made their way to a seat on the right, looking in on where Otis stood. He raised his hands to the air, ¡°Welcome, Divines and their guests! To this Mythic Summit!¡± He cracked a grin, ¡°Without further ado, we have a lot to talk about.¡± Chapter 35 Chapter 35 Sonya was seated next to Chunhua, the mystical world of the Avalon Theatre glowing around her. She wasn¡¯t interested in the beauty of it all, though, her eyes were fixed on the faces around her. Every single person here. Whether intentional or not, they would play a role in the downfall of humanity. The Mythics and even worse, the so-called Divines, self-proclaimed gods of the Post-Pandora world. Her gaze swept the crowd before fixing on them, seven seats, seven heralds of Otis. The closest to her on her side of the theatre was a grim-faced man with short black hair and eyes that glowed with amethyst light. His expression was stoic but his eyes were sharp and intelligent. He wore a simple business suit and was leaning back in his seat with his legs crossed, his expression unreadable. This was the An Set she remembered, though she now knew him better as Phan Duong. He could drain an entire metropolitan area of its electrical charge with a breath and unleash it to devastate his surroundings. Any living thing he touched simply dropped dead if he wished it.Ne/w novel chapters are published at novelhall.com Next was a blonde woman wearing a full suit of armor and had a helmet in her lap. If An Set was unflappable, Liberty was made of ice. Her stare was unapologetic in its disdain as she swept her gaze over the other mythics gathered. She sat with her feet planted and her nose wrinkled in disgust. Her powers were as well known as her peers, she could distribute a passive increase in all attributes to those that followed her and the more that received her gift the stronger she became in turn. She was one of the first Divines to form a cult around herself in order to expand her powers. After her was a tan skinned man with five-o¡¯clock-shadow and a wry smile on his face. He sat in nothing but shorts, a flowery vacation shirt, and sandals. First Wind was as relaxed and easygoing as ever, his disposition eccentric. He flashed a few smiles here and there, pointing out a few people in the crowd of Mythics shamelessly. He waved now and then and even blew a kiss at one woman, drawing a glare from Liberty. First Wind could create a storm with a breath and control the air pressure and temperature around him as easily as one could walk. The collateral damage from his battles was legendary. Sonya frowned at the face in the middle of the seven, a powerfully built man with a bald head and beady eyes in a dark suit that did not fit his muscular frame. He was frowning at Otis and a vein was slowly throbbing in his impossibly thick throat. Majordomo clenched his fists impatiently in his lap and leaned forward to stare at the back of Otis¡¯ head as if he were looking for an opening. Eventually he relaxed and leaned back in his seat, huffing to himself. Majordomo possessed physical strength on par with Otis and enjoyed a suite of features within his ability comparable to a comic book paragon. Durability, speed, strength, and the ability to fly. Next to Majordomo was an asian woman with black hair in a green headdress and cheongsam who was leaning on the arm of her chair and looking incredibly bored. Qilin huffed out a breath and muttered something to Majordomo who shook his head. She frowned at him and looked away, twirling her finger in her hair. Qilin possessed many of the abilities of her namesake and could transform into such a monster at will. Her most terrifying ability was the capacity to manipulate chance and probability within a small area around herself making it almost impossible to touch her. Following Qilin was a long haired man with a dark smile on his face, his hair was off-silver and his skin had turned a ruddy red as a result of his powers. Like Majordomo and An Set he wore a fitted suit with a red tie that matched his skintone. He was rubbing his chin thoughtfully and eyeing the crowd while everyone got settled. Astaroth possessed monstrous physical abilities along with the rare power to summon horrific creatures that he could control. He cared very little about who got caught up in the rampages of his demons and was prone to treating the mindless beasts better than he did his own human subordinates. Finally, the last was a thin man with glasses and cropped cut brown hair. Craftsman sat stiffly, looking a bit tense despite his position of power. Astaroth leaned toward him and murmured something and a bloodthirsty smile spread across Craftsman¡¯s face. He reached up and adjusted his glasses before saying something in response, eliciting a laugh from Astaroth. Unlike the others who were legendary for the damage they were capable of, Craftsman was what Amos dreamed he could be, a creator of magic tools and weapons that were exclusive to the highest order of Mythics. He owned no company, rather enjoyed the resources the world simply threw at him. Sonya pulled her eyes from them, committing their faces once more to memory. They were the worst of the worst, the agents who manipulated the world and created the crisis that would lead to the end. Her eyes turned back to Otis, All at his order. ¡°My brothers and sisters, as you may have heard, the Divines and I have taken a great stride towards the future stability of our precious world,¡± Otis said to the crowd, ¡°A mythic dungeon has fallen to us and the rewards have proven more than worth the cost of life and limb.¡± There was a round of applause, even Chunhua clapped, Sonya forced herself to participate if only to keep up appearances in this memory. Otis held out his hand and a goblet appeared in it. Sonya froze, Oh, she felt a chill run up her spine, It was this summit. ¡°This is the Grail of Divine Right, given to us as a reward for completing the Mythic Dungeon!¡± Otis lauded, ¡°A cup from which our future shall pour out. One sip from this chalice can awaken the divinity in anyone! But that Divinity must be fed if it is to grow,¡± He said, holding up a finger, ¡°Worship and Adoration are it¡¯s price, those who drink from it will gain strength from those who adore them, much like someone we know,¡± He glanced back at Liberty who brushed her hair back flippantly. ¡°This cup will be our course to establish the proper natural order in this world,¡± He announced, ¡°With it, the chosen among us will truly become Gods, worshiped and praised so that we will have the power to render our enemies to dust. The humans will finally serve a purpose in this fight.¡± A silence washed over the crowd. Next to her, Chunhua clenched her fists, ¡°Is he insane?¡± She murmured. You have no idea, Sonya thought with goosebumps running down her skin. She reached out and took Chunhua¡¯s hand. ¡°They¡¯re people not cattle,¡± Chunhua hissed, and she wasn¡¯t alone in her misgivings. There were many present who seemed uncomfortable with Otis¡¯ words. He walked the length of the alley, staying attentive of his surroundings as he considered what he¡¯d managed to learn besides the oddities concerning New York¡¯s criminals. Sonya Chernovna has a penchant for going to night clubs and makes an effort to make connections with everyone she meets. She likes handshakes a great deal meaning it should be easy to get within physical contact with her if I can get close enough. Her attendant, maid, bodyguard? Whatever the hell she is, she has superhuman strength and rarely leaves Sonya¡¯s side, otherwise she sticks to standard armed bodyguards for her protection. He scratched his neck, The maid shouldn¡¯t be a problem and the guards are just chattel. But- He paused and lowered his hand, a frown crossing his face as four men stepped out into the alley in front of him. His fingers tensed in his hoodie, his sharpened thumb cutting a divot in his wrist. ¡°Can I help you?¡± He grunted. ¡°Yeah!¡± One of the men said, stepping forward with a bat slung over his shoulder, ¡°You can come quietly so you can talk to the king.¡± King? ¡°I¡¯m afraid you have me at a disadvantage,¡± Beyol said, glancing to his left as four more men stepped up behind him. ¡°What king are you referring to?¡± ¡°The King of New York¡¯s underworld, ya idiot,¡± The man with a bat growled, swinging it once and pointing it at Beyold, ¡°You think you can roll into this city and kill whoever the fuck you want and get away with it? A fucking cabbie? That¡¯s low. The guy had kids.¡± Beyol narrowed his eyes, How did they know? Was there something I missed? More importantly, there¡¯s a King of the Underworld? Interesting. Maybe I can get some information from these guys. A blade formed in his hand inside his hoodie, No point in talking anymore. ¡°Hey! Say something assha-¡± The knife left Beyols hand in a flash, the next moment it was embedded between the bat wielding man¡¯s eyes. The corpse fell to the ground before the others could even react. He whipped his hands out of his hoodie and two more knives took shape while the knife he¡¯d thrown turned back into liquid and rushed towards him in the air. The men only hesitated for a moment before letting out a roar and charging him. Flames erupted from one man¡¯s hands, electricity from another, a third grew claws. All awakened? Who is this King guy? Beyol thought as he dove between a fiery punch and a swipe of iron claws. He slid and threw the knives he created into their backs before snatching the third out of the air over his head and hopping onto the back of the electricity user, ramming the blade into his throat. He hopped off in time for the other four to engage, his hand moving in what looked like slow motion as blades seemed to materialize in the air around him. The knives launched as if propelled of their own will and riddled two more of his attackers. The last two had completely different reactions, one had defended himself from the attack by turning his skin to stone. The other had immediately turned to run. Beyol scowled at the runner and threw a knife into his back as the stone man realized what had happened. He was on him in an instant, pushing him to the concrete below and grabbing him by the shirt. He noted the white queen chess piece pin on his lapel. Beyol frowned and glanced at the other bodies, Uniforms? He looked back down at the last survivor, ¡°Tell me what I want to know and I¡¯ll make it quick,¡± He snarled, creating an ice pick out of his liquid metal blood. The stone man just grinned at him, ¡°You are so fucked buddy,¡± He laughed, ¡°If we don¡¯t get you, the higher ups will, we have a Goddess on our side.¡± ¡°King? Goddess? What the hell are you talking about?¡± Beyol snarled. ¡°I ain¡¯t saying shit to you,¡± The stone man shot back. Beyol tilted his head, ¡°Oh? You think so?¡± He said and pulled him to his feet, looking him dead in the eyes, ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere private, shall we?¡± Chapter 36 Chapter 36 Beyol altered the shape of the grip on his knife, the blood soaking his hands was making it difficult to hold onto it properly. He took a step into the puddle, the faint squelch-splash of his footsteps echoing lightly in the empty room. He looked down at the body and tilted his head, it had taken a while to peel all the stone off the man¡¯s skin. It was informative, though, in more ways than one. First of all he¡¯d learned that people with abilities like this actually wore their power like an armor that affixed itself to the skin. Blunt force trauma while they were restrained would be far more effective since it couldn¡¯t protect them from the shock of hits. He watched the thug¡¯s last breath rattle out and turned away, walking over to a bucket where he tossed his knife inside the water. Instinct told him that his metallic blood wouldn¡¯t be affected when he returned the blade to his bloodstream, in fact, he¡¯d done it before. It just seemed unsanitary this time around. He let out a breath and looked back over his shoulder. These guys work for a self-proclaimed Supervillain named Shark who apparently runs all the gangs in New York City, he didn¡¯t take kindly to the killing of that cabbie. I should keep in mind that taxis have dash cams now. He frowned and held his hand over the bucket, the metal liquified inside the water and rose up and into his palm before sliding into the cut on his wrist. And that ¡®King¡¯ of New York works for someone else... He opened his other hand and looked at the white queen pin. Ishtar, huh? A literal goddess who can awaken powers and even gift them. He frowned in contemplation as the cut on his wrist sealed up, They¡¯re... proud of being villains? Why? He looked back at the corpse and shook his head, Not my problem, Sonya Chernovna comes first. After cleaning up a bit more he slipped out of the old building, just another abandoned structure in the heart of this overpopulated city. He still didn¡¯t know where Sonya lived, but he knew where she worked. The location of the ASTA labs was common knowledge and he needed a better look at the place. Footage of her coming and going was one thing, but casing the structure itself could prove valuable in the future. He stalked down the streets, pretending to wander and sticking to populated areas as long as he could to remain in the crowd, even this late there were parts of the city that were packed with people. This place really never sleeps, He thought as he rounded the corner ahead of his destination. He kept walking as the outer walls of the laboratory came into view. The big golden ASTA logo on the side gleaming under artificial light. His eyes shot up, there were drones patrolling the exterior and armed guards at the main gate. The automatic weapons strapped to their chests were far more than the average security force maintained. Paramilitary? He mused and beelined towards the main gate. He held up a hand, ¡°Excuse me!¡± He called. The two guards turned to him and frowned, one of them spoke up, ¡°This is a secure area, please keep your distance after business hours.¡± He played up his best wounded expression, ¡°Oh! Sorry about that, I¡¯m new to the city and just need some directions,¡± He said with a false smile, his eyes scanning their features, What outfit are you from- what? He noted a tattoo on the neck of one of them, a fish? No, A shark. ¡°Where are you heading?¡± The guard with the tattoo asked.Diiscover new stories at novelhall.comes Square? My phone is dead so I¡¯m pretty lost,¡± He said with a nervous laugh. The guards exchanged looks and snorted, ¡°Kid you are way out of the way, might want to go home and charge your phone, stay off the streets at night around here,¡± The man with the tattoo said. Beyol¡¯s shoulders slumped, ¡°O-oh, I wanted to see it at night...¡± ¡°Try again tomorrow, even if I gave you directions it would take you at least an hour. Do you know how to get back to where you¡¯re staying? Need us to call a cab?¡± The guard asked. He scratched his head, ¡°I-I know where it is, I¡¯ll make my way back...¡± He said with a shake of his head and turned away, walking back the direction he¡¯d come. Only after he got out of eyeshot did he double back and make his way around the side of the building, walking around the exterior to check for any other entrances. There were none. He frowned at the drones. This will be more difficult than I thought, and that guard... he was part of that Shark person¡¯s group, wasn¡¯t he? A mole? He rounded on his heel and started his way back to his hotel before pausing, No, better not, I¡¯ll find somewhere else to sleep. Those thugs found me immediately. They know where I¡¯m staying. His phone rang and he frowned, pulling it out, This guy... ¨C Phan Duong sat on his couch with a scowl on his face, staring down at the phone on the table. He¡¯d set it to speaker and it was still ringing. He glanced towards his fiance who gave him a patient but disapproving look. ¡°What?¡± He asked tersely, ¡°I want to know this is being handled, you said he was one of the best, right?¡± She closed her amethyst eyes and let out a sigh, pulling back her black hair over her ear, ¡°Darling, these things take time, he¡¯ll say the same I assure you.¡± The phone clicked and a voice came through the other end, ¡°Razor.¡± ¡°Razor, is it done?¡± Duong demanded, leaning towards the phone. ¡°I don¡¯t like being on speaker phone,¡± Razor responded coldly. Sonya ordered. Shark rumbled, Sonya sat up, her eyebrows rising, Shark said. Sonya smiled and relaxed, resting her chin on her knuckles, Shark said thoughtfully. She nodded to herself, Shark said, Sonya said, The call ended and Sonya smirked, ¡°It¡¯s going well,¡± She said and got back to her feet. Recruiting gangs and criminal organizations is one thing. But the most dangerous and powerful individuals will be hiding in the prisons around this time. I¡¯ll draw them into my orbit. This attack on the heroes will serve to declare the existence of organized villains and get some of the attackers arrested. After that I just need to... A chime came to her door and she glanced towards it and then at the clock in her HUD. Oh, it¡¯s time. Sonya walked around her desk leaned against it before willing the door to open in front of her. She cracked a broad smile and spread her arms wide, ¡°Welcome, future heroes!¡± She said brightly as Firestorm, Bandit, Bluestar, and Lifesaver walked into her office. They looked around curiously, their eyes wide with interest. She grinned at them and nodded to the security guard who had guided them and Marta who was standing outside. Marta nodded back and turned away as the door shut behind the gathered heroes. ¡°Hello Miss Chernovna,¡± Firestorm said brightly, walking over and shaking her hand briskly. She pat his hand and pulled him in for a hug. ¡°Oh!¡± ¡°No need to be so formal, dear! We¡¯re friends, aren¡¯t we?¡± She said warmly and pulled back, looking him up and down, ¡°How has this brief vacation been?¡± ¡°Relaxing, if a bit stressful, I wish I was back home,¡± He said soberly. She pat his arm, ¡°Not long now, Hero Day is in a few days and then we¡¯ll send you right back to work. There are plenty of talented young people back there who can cover for you in the meantime.¡± He scratched his nose, ¡°Y-yeah.¡± She turned to the other three. Bandit was rubbing his neck and Lifesaver was admiring the design of the room. Only Bluestar had her eyes fixed on Sonya. Sonya smiled at her and walked over, ¡°Bluestar, did you get the packet I sent you?¡± The girl blinked, ¡°Uh... yes, I read them all, but I¡¯m confused about why.¡± ¡°I hear you have a degree in business administration and some solid experience managing people,¡± Sonya said casually, ¡°I¡¯m thinking about putting in a good word for you to become a guildmaster. The job would suit you.¡± Bluestar gaped at her but Sonya was already in her own pace, she turned away with a whirl and walked to her desk, ¡°Now, for why I brought you all here! I have presents!¡± She chirped and put her hand on the packages. ¡°Who wants to try theirs on first?¡± Chapter 37 Chapter 37 ¡°Presents?¡± Firestorm asked, an obvious look of confusion on his face. The others looked equally confused, clearly they didn¡¯t remember the conversation they¡¯d had the night before the Senate Hearing, that was okay as far as Sonya was concerned. It was a pretty rough day they¡¯d gone through after that. Sonya put her hands on her hips and threw her head back in a cocky laugh, ¡°Ho ho ho! You didn¡¯t think I would let you guys go to the Hero Day licensing without something nice to wear, did you? I¡¯m planning on investing in you four after all!¡± She said and pat the packages, pulling the first one off the top and glancing at the sticky note with the chalice doodled on it. It had Firestorm¡¯s name on it. She handed the box over to him and he looked down at it with furrowed brows. ¡°Something to wear...?¡± He murmured and opened the box. His eyes went wide and the others hurried over to look inside. There was a carefully folded form-fitting hero suit, like many in comics and and media it was designed to fit the entire body as one piece, boots and all. He examined it carefully, the off-red design had orange lines on the shoulders that formed sweeping patterned pauldrons. There was even a cowl to conceal his face while letting his hair come out the top. He rubbed the material between his fingers. ¡°It¡¯s... light.¡± ¡°Monster skin treated by a patented process,¡± Sonya said cutely with her finger to her nose and a small wink, ¡°This one has been designed to be utterly fireproof up to the temperatures measured at one of your last fights. This outfit should be able to handle the big stuff you throw out and is quite bulletproof.¡± He looked down at the suit again, sweat beading on his brow, ¡°Woah...¡±Yo?ur favorite stories at novelhall.com ¡°It¡¯s only the prototype, we¡¯re working on something better but that all depends on you!¡± Sonya said with a grin and leaned back against the desk. He looked up at her and met her eyes, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Like I said, I want to invest in you four,¡± Sonya said, spreading her arms wide to gesture to the four of them, ¡°By that, I mean I want to sponsor you.¡± ¡°Sponsor us?¡± Bandit asked, ¡°What, like a racecar driver?¡± He asked incredulously. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I mean,¡± Sonya said with a wink and a grin, drawing a startled look from Bandit who looked at the others in even greater confusion. ¡°I¡¯m a businesswoman, young heroes, and while I have a vested interest in saving humanity I also need money to keep doing business and making the tools you need to succeed,¡± She said with a small chuckle, ¡°I intend to create commercial items using the technology derived from the materials we gain from monsters,¡± She explained, ¡°And what better way to advertise my business than by having heroes use my products and represent me?¡± Firestorm frowned and opened his mouth but Bluestar cut him off by stepping forward, ¡°So you aren¡¯t planning on giving us orders or anything, you just want us to do our job well and make you look good. In exchange we get the best gear without even having to pay for it.¡± I really like this girl, Sonya grinned, ¡°I knew you¡¯d make a good guildmaster.¡± They looked amongst themselves but Lifesaver was the first to speak up, ¡°I¡¯m in.¡± It didn¡¯t take long for the other three to follow suit, but Firestorm still looked a little uneasy. He rubbed his neck and looked at Sonya, ¡°Did you... want to shake on it?¡± He said carefully. This boy, saying a little too much isn¡¯t he? I should have been more clear on the terms of our last deal, that was my mistake. Maybe I should exert more control over him, I don¡¯t want him piecing together my alter ego. She glanced at the others and measured their reactions, none of them seemed curious, more just a little confused about his rather direct question. Sonya held up her hands and shook her head, ¡°I think a paper contract will work just fine, unless you want to,¡± She said with a laugh. He let out a sigh of relief, Tch, what a shitty poker face, she grumbled. ¡°Let¡¯s have a look at it,¡± He said brightly, his eyes sparkling with unbridled faith and trust. She wanted to groan, He is so simple it hurts. ¡°You¡¯re not worried about being caught?¡± Beyol asked, his metal blood reforming behind the guy and rising up as knives again. More seeped out of his wound on his wrist and began to spread thinly across his skin. Trigger shrugged, ¡°That¡¯s an expected possible outcome that we¡¯ve planned for.¡± He wants to get caught? Why? What the hell are these villains thinking? No, it doesn¡¯t matter, this just means the only thing he has to lose is his life and these guys are fanatics. The worst kind of opponents. No need to hold back then. The metal spread down to Beyol¡¯s fingertips and turned into claws, he swiped once, drawing them across his own chest in brutal arcs as the knives darted in from behind Trigger. Trigger grunted, one of them hitting before he realized what was happening. Blood poured from Beyol¡¯s chest and was immediately replaced by his heart. His steel blood had come with a built in regenerative feature that replenished his blood as long as he had excess stamina. The result; silver blood running across his skin and clothes until a suit of gleaming armor formed. It¡¯s not stealthy, but it does its job! He thought as he darted forward, claws outstretched as the three daggers zipped around in the air like wasps stabbing and slicing at Trigger. Trigger sneered and swatted one away only for it to explode a moment later, sending a shockwave out that would have knocked Beyol off his feet if he wasn¡¯t in his armor and already gaining momentum. The explosive force is based on the mass of the object? Noted. He lunged, darting in low for a moment before kicking off the ground and going high. Trigger swatted his hands down towards the ground just as Beyol gouged four lines across his shoulder with his claws. Trigger grunted and spun, trying to land a punch but Beyol threw his weight into his momentum using his telekinetic control over the metal on his body. He missed it by a hair, landing and skidding before darting back at Trigger. He can only cause explosions with his hands. This should be simple enough then. More daggers appeared in his hands as one lodged itself in Trigger¡¯s shoulder. Trigger grunted and grabbed the weapon, snarling and throwing it at Beyol. Beyol threw himself to the right and continued around towards Trigger¡¯s back. Got you! Just as Beyol lunged to finish the man off by skewering his throat, sirens approached followed by a sudden burst of blackish-gray mist at Trigger¡¯s feet. It wrapped around the big man like a cocoon before being abruptly pulled away towards one of the other buildings. Beyol¡¯s eyes bulged, There were two?! He snarled and turned in the direction that the cocoon had gone. There, across the gap, Trigger was standing with his middle finger raised before hurrying off with another man next to him. It would have been an easy fight if... no, no excuses, I¡¯ve been lazy. He drew his blood back into his body and felt a moment of dysphoria as an excessive amount of blood entered his system. He grunted and spat, pulling the excess out as a sword and stabbing it into the ground with an irritated snarl. For now, I need to get out of here. After I¡¯m done with that Chernovna woman, I¡¯m coming for you Shark. ¨C Feng Hyunh strode down the hall away from the latest corpse her fiance had left behind. This was the third one recently and it was beginning to become a problem. He was too unstable, how on earth had she been paired off with this man? Even worse, she still kind of liked him. She hated the fact that marrying him was the only path to power she had outside of striking out on her own, the Da Mau was not going to tolerate having a Matriarch with their backwards thinking. She rubbed the bridge of her nose, If I do nothing, I¡¯ll end up dead one of these days. His powers are growing every day. She glanced down at her hands and let the amethyst light of her own abilities twirl around her fingertips, It¡¯s an option... I suppose, but who knows what effect it¡¯ll have? I¡¯ve only tested it on animals so far, they aren¡¯t intelligent enough to demonstrate any real personality change. If it¡¯s too obvious I¡¯ll be figured out. A crash rung out a few doors down and she stopped in place, frowning at the door where a few sparks of electricity danced around the handles. Her eyes narrowed, I don¡¯t think I have a choice, do I? One of these days he¡¯s going to blow a city block or something, that would be inconvenient for me. She sighed, He¡¯s on guard right now, I can¡¯t do it now. But soon I¡¯ll have an opening, She thought as she approached the door and came to a stop. ¡°Duang, darling, is something wrong?¡± She called through the door. There was a moments pause before the door opened and he stood over her, looking down at her with fury in his eyes. Sparks were dancing off of his pupils and there was even electricity in his hair. He was breathing hard as he searched her face, it was like he couldn¡¯t figure out who she was for a moment. She nearly took a step back before he relaxed and let out a sigh, ¡°It¡¯s nothing... just blowing off some steam,¡± He clipped and pushed past her, ¡°I¡¯m going to bed.¡± She watched him go before glancing into the ruined room he¡¯d left behind. It needs to be soon. Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Martin scowled at the roof of the building, standing in the midst of the battle that had ended not too long ago. The damage wasn¡¯t severe, but it was enough to raise eyebrows. The sounds of explosions had garnered the attention of the NYPD and after a call came in about two light-touched engaged in a fight on the roof of a building, he and Lucian had been sent to investigate. The perpetrators were already long gone by the time they¡¯d arrived. Martin knelt next to one of the blasted pieces of concrete wall, explosives? Lucian was standing nearby, his eyes fixed on the building in the distance. ¡°ASTA Labs.¡± Martin scowled and looked towards the building as he got to his feet, ¡°Not surprising there would be light-touched watching that woman.¡± ¡°You think she was involved?¡± Lucian asked. ¡°Not sure, I want to say so but that may be my bias getting the best of me,¡± He grunted and glanced down at one of the scars on the ground. He knelt down next to it and ran his fingers over it. His eyes narrowed, ¡°Lucian, measuring tape?¡± He called over his shoulder. Lucian grunted and walked over, ¡°We¡¯re on the field, I¡¯m Ironsides.¡± Martin snorted and shook his head as he took the measuring tape, unfurling a little and holding it against the hole; it was remarkably clean and deep. The smoothness indicated that it was done with a single stroke, probably a missed attack. He lowered the tape inside after pinching the tip a little to let it reach the bottom and checked the depth. He frowned and wrote it down on his notepad, ¡°Lu- Ironsides. What were the measurements on the murder weapon for that cabbie?¡± Ironsides looked more attentive now, he pulled out his own notebook and rattled off the figures and Martin grinned, ¡°It¡¯s a match.¡± ¡°The killer from Korea?¡± Ironsides asked, kneeling next to the hole in the concrete roof. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure forensics will agree with me,¡± Martin said and brushed off his hands, ¡°A foreign killer with light-touched abilities arrives shortly after the Pandora Act passes, murders a cabbie-which I don¡¯t have an explanation for, leaves a number of bodies behind the hotel he¡¯s staying in, gang members,¡± He sussed out, crossing arms. ¡°Do we have any word on the body, by the way?¡± ¡°Still nothing, it¡¯s just gone.¡± Ironsides shook his head, ¡°The next thing he does is go to the roof of a building overlooking the ASTA labs and is attacked,¡± Ironsides continued, ¡°He¡¯s here for Chernovna.¡± ¡°Probably, from what I¡¯ve learned about Shark he¡¯s very territorial so it¡¯s likely he took the murder of the cabbie personally, he¡¯s probably been tracking him just like we have, there was a fight here,¡± Martin said and gestured around, ¡°Looks like it came to a draw since there¡¯s no blood.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to warn her about the risk, Hero Day is tomorrow,¡± Ironsides said. ¡°She already knows,¡± Martin grunted. ¡°Not this again,¡± Ironsides sighed, ¡°Enough with the conspiracy theories Martin, our focus is this case and Shark.¡± Our real concern is Ishtar. If only someone would listen to me. He sighed and got to his feet, shaking his head, ¡°Fine.¡± ¨C The Lurker growled and bore its teeth, pacing back and forth on the street. It¡¯s shiny black fur stood on end, powerful claws tensing inside of enormous fingers. It¡¯s hunched back flexed as it locked eyes with its prey, but it didn¡¯t move right away. Shark grinned at it, bearing his own razor-sharp teeth and dropping into a wide open stance, his arms spread out. He¡¯d been looking forward to hunting all day and now he finally had a chance to blow off a little steam. Not that this kind of opponent was hard for him anymore. ¡°Come on ya big dumb git,¡± He snarled, his off-gray skin gleaming a little in the artificial light above him. He flexed his webbed fingers, ¡°Come to daddy Shark.¡± Shark grinned at him, ¡°Of course we are! Besides, the whole point is to sneak our boys into the prison system anyway so we can do some more recruiting, but we won¡¯t be going in without a fight,¡± He raised his fist and showed his teeth, ¡°I¡¯ll be there in person at the New York Licensing.¡± Trigger¡¯s mouth opened in surprise, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yeah boys, that¡¯s right, I¡¯m ready to make my debut,¡± Shark said with a proud smile, putting his fists on his hips and raising his chin. ¡°Tomorrow I¡¯ll be reborn as Kingshark!¡± Wake and Trigger looked at one another excitedly and Shark couldn¡¯t help but feel a wave of smugness wash over him. He glanced back at the corpse of the Lurker. It had taken a while for him to get used to his powers but Ishtar had insisted that he practice and fully understand his abilities. He¡¯d thought he¡¯d been limited to controlling existing water but that was far from it, he could produce his own. Eventually, he could feel it, he could create tidal waves if he wished it. For now though he was more than ready to deal with the unhoned wannabe heroes. He thought back to the moment when she¡¯d brought one of the ability detectors and he¡¯d put his hand on it. Orange-gold. Mythic. His power was capable of the peak of what a light-touched could do and Ishtar seemed convinced he would be mighty one day. Tomorrow was the day to put that to the test. Hero Day, I can¡¯t wait... ¨C Sonya sat on the couch and Marta in front of the TV. If she didn¡¯t know, she wouldn¡¯t have believed it was the caretaker. Her lip twitched, You and your hobbies. Marta¡¯s hair was long and down to her waist now, lime green and shining a bit in the dim light of the room. She wore a frilled jet-black Victorian gown and was sitting on the ground more like a refined young lady. She glanced back over her shoulder at Sonya and beamed at her, her yellow-orange eyes glittering with delight. Sonya sipped at her wine and smiled back at her, ¡°Like the dress?¡± ¡°I love it,¡± Marta said delightedly, even her voice had changed. Sonya glanced past her to the screen, an elaborate purple mech was in a firefight with a dark red mech that had a much more simple design. Marta turned back to the show, ¡°This is one of my favorites.¡± ¡°I like the main character,¡± Sonya said thoughtfully. ¡°Of course you would,¡± Marta laughed knowingly, ¡°Might not be a bad idea to watch the whole series, Sonya. You might learn a few things.¡± Sonya frowned and glanced at the screen, ¡°Oh?¡± As she sat and watched her mind occasionally drifted towards the events of the coming day, meticulous planning to make sure everything went off without a hitch. Her expression narrowed a bit as the story played out and she felt her jaw tense a bit. She sipped at her wine and leaned forward, Have I really accounted for everything? Tomorrow will set the stage for everything going forward. No, it¡¯s impossible to predict everything that could happen, I¡¯ll need to stay flexible. The most important piece is getting as many of my villains into the prison system as possible. I¡¯ll make sure they¡¯re spread out, there¡¯s still an issue though. She sipped her wine again, How do I make deals with people without being present? There has to be a way. Sussing out a contract with the heroes didn¡¯t work, when I wrote it down my ability didn¡¯t react. Is there something I¡¯m missing? She set her glass down on a panel of light as the credits for the second episode rolled, I¡¯ll be more exposed than ever tomorrow as well. Razor will have an opportunity to strike if he¡¯s as arrogant as I think he is. He¡¯s let his powers get to his head, killing a cabbie was sloppy even if he wasn¡¯t used to dashcam culture. He thinks he¡¯s untouchable. Her lips twisted into a vicious smile, It¡¯s time for a reality check. She paused, But what if he spots one of the planted villains in the crowd? He might be more cautious, but I need him to make his move already. How do I force him to act? ¡°Sonya?¡± Marta called out to her. ¡°You okay?¡± Sonya glanced up, ¡°Mm? Oh I¡¯m fine, that was an interesting twist at the end. I¡¯m looking forward to more,¡± She said and got to her feet, ¡°Unfortunately we should get some rest, big day tomorrow.¡± Marta nodded and smiled at her, ¡°Thank you for watching it with me.¡± Chapter 39 Chapter 39 The entire street in front of the old High School had been closed off for the event. Stalls had been allowed to be put up to serve those who had come to see what amounted to the dawn of a new era. Security was tight, and police armed with anti-monster munitions were posted in numerous spots around the area. The entire open-air park across the street from the school had also been cordoned off for the event to allow for the sheer number of people. The turnout was outrageous, thousands had come and many were forced to wait outside because of concerns about the crowds. Sonya looked out the window of the helicopter, her legs crossed. She wore a pantsuit, white of course, with a pink tie. Her glittering skin shone a little but it was easy enough to excuse as a fashion choice. A pair of oversized fashion sunglasses covered her mechanical eyes as they scanned the crowd. ¡°I could get used to this,¡± Sonya said quietly, smiling to herself. She glanced up at Marta who sat across from her, fidgeting. Marta¡¯s brown hair was down her shoulders and she wore her usual maid outfit though it had been customized a bit. Most of the garment was made of monster materials. Her hands were gloved with metal plates over the knuckles. ¡°You¡¯ve fought monsters before, why so nervous?¡± Sonya called out to her. Marta flinched and looked up, ¡°I¡¯m... not so good with crowds like this,¡± She said hastily, looking down at her hands again. ¡°Just imagine them naked!¡± Sonya laughed. Marta frowned at her, ¡°Ma¡¯am you know that never actually works, right?¡± ¡°I know, but your minds off it now,¡± Sonya teased her. Marta scowled before sighing and cracking a smile, ¡°Thank you.¡± Sonya glanced at the two ASTA security guards with her. Both of them were wearing protective masks and had serious weaponry strapped all over them. They looked like mercenary operators than standard security, but that was the way of things these days. The helicopter came in for a landing on the street around the rear of the school. It too had been closed off to travel, but in this case for the arrival of VIPs. When it touched down the two guards hopped out along with Marta, all of them examining their surroundings while the party from the Pandora Committee approached. Sonya took a deep breath and got into character, ¡°Today¡¯s the day,¡± She said merrily as she slipped out of her seat, ¡°Let the games begin.¡± She stepped out of the helicopter as the blades slowed, her hair whipping around her face. She reached up and pulled it back as Rupert Sohmer and, to her surprise, Carla Mint approached. She brandished her brightest smile and walked towards them, a hand outstretched, ¡°Mister Sohmer! Miss Mint!¡± He chirped merrily, shaking their hands. She took a moment to fix Carla with a stare before turning back to Rupert, ¡°Are we ready?¡± ¡°The speech is scheduled in a few minutes,¡± Rupert said, ¡°We¡¯re thrilled to have you ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Thrilled to be here, it¡¯s going to be an exciting day!¡± Sonya laughed, walking past him. Marta fell into step at her side and her two guards moved into position ahead of her. They made their way through the rear gate of the school and into the halls, staff were running this way and that, making sure the final preparations were in place. She walked past them, her head held high as they made their way to the front doors and the outer steps of the school turned testing center. ¡°The press is present and already situated, they¡¯ll want a word after your speech, ma¡¯am,¡± Rupert said. ¡°I figured as much,¡± Sonya said with a shrug and glanced at Carla, ¡°Has the committee finished with my paperwork?¡± ¡°You-Your license has already been made, ma¡¯am,¡± Carla said hastily, ¡°We¡¯ll present it to you as part of the ceremony.¡± Sonya snorted, ¡°A hero license,¡± She shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to be running around staring at monsters all day.¡± Rupert laughed, ¡°It¡¯s an honorary thing, for your contribution to this effort.¡± Sonya raised her eyebrows at him and smiled, ¡°Fair enough,¡± She said and turned to the doors, taking a deep breath of her own and pushing through them. Immediately she was hit by a wall of noise as the crowd roared up at her, her eyes took in everything, every face, every camera, every detail. The lenses in her eyes shifted quickly, reacting to the stimulus. A few faces in the crowd stood out to her more than others, in particular. Shark was there along with several of his lieutenants scattered out in the crowd. She didn¡¯t see Razor but he was probably covering his face. She stepped up to the podium. An ability detector had been set up on it and was waiting for her. A rigged detector, it¡¯ll be disposed of after ¡®detecting¡¯ my ability. She thought as she stepped up next to it. Rupert fell into a spot a few paces behind her alongside her security, Carla, and Marta who was watching the crowd like a hawk. The cheering continued until Sonya held up her hands and silence quickly followed. She gripped the Podium and leaned forward, Alright, it¡¯s time, the hero era begins now. ¡°When the flash happened, and the first monsters appeared, there were those out there who stepped up, despite the danger, and discovered something remarkable about themselves. The Light-Touched were born on a day of fear and death,¡± Sonya began, ¡°We survived, thrived, and many of those light-touched continued to fight against the horrors that are scrambling to see humanity¡¯s light extinguished. You, heroes,¡± She said and pointed out at the crowd. As Marta waited for the first group of aspirant heroes to be ready to take the tests, Sonya made her way to the gymnasium and found her way to the viewing box. She wasn¡¯t sure why a high-school gym had one of these but it probably had something to do with a very wealthy and narcissistic donor. Either way, it had been remodeled as a place for the testers to observe the proceedings without putting themselves directly in harms way. She spotted over a dozen members of the committee in the room, many of them wearing an unusual pin on their lapel. Is that a torch? Ah, they¡¯re light-touched. Probably the testers. She opened the door to the box and paused, there was someone else inside. A man in a suit with the mark of the committee on his lapel. He was a normal, then, and a very familiar face. Though they¡¯ve never spoken, she¡¯d kept a close eye on the career of one-time Detective Martin Fuller. She cracked a wide smile at him, ¡°Detective! Or should I say, Agent now?¡± She said merrily, drawing his attention. He sat up and blinked, wide eyed for a moment before clearing his throat. ¡°Miss Chernovna,¡± He said craggily, tension obvious in his throat to her eyes. Nervous? No, he¡¯s restraining himself. He¡¯s suspicious of me, has been for a while. You poor man if only you knew... She stepped towards him, ¡°We saw eachother at the hearing, if I recall, a friend told me you¡¯ve been following my career closely,¡± She said and extended a hand, ¡°Finally we meet face to face.¡± He flushed a little, ¡°Just a standard investigation,¡± He said cautiously, eyeing her hand for a moment. ¡°I don¡¯t shake hands, ma¡¯am.¡± Tsk, ¡°That¡¯s a shame,¡± Sonya said and settled into the seat next to him. ¡°Are you excited for the tests?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just here to observe and keep an eye out for dangerous elements,¡± He muttered, looking back out. His expression was hard. ¡°You can speak your mind, you¡¯re going to give yourself an aneurism if you keep holding back,¡± Sonya said as she turned to look out over the gymnasium with him. He gave her a sidelong glance, ¡°I... think this is wrong. Heroes?¡± He shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s going to put people on a power trip.¡± ¡°It will,¡± Sonya said flatly, ¡°But that¡¯s what the committee is for.¡± He turned to her, ¡°So you expect it to happen too.¡± ¡°Of course I do, there are people out there calling themselves villains after all, their powers have clearly gone to their heads,¡± Sonya said with a shrug. He tilted his head down, ¡°Like Ishtar,¡± he said in a low voice. Sonya had to use every ounce of self control not to tense up, This bastard, bringing up Ishtar in front of me. It¡¯s not like Ishtar¡¯s existence is a secret, the word has spread through the underworld, but... ¡°Have you heard of her?¡± Martin asked, fixing her with a stare. Shit! Of all the damned questions to ask! Sonya felt her throat tighten as she tried to lie on instinct, she glanced his way and fixed him with a stare of her own, he didn¡¯t even blink when he looked into her eyes hidden behind her sunglasses. There was certainty in his stare. The hell do I do now? Chapter 40 Chapter 40 Martin narrowed his eyes, for just a moment he saw it even if it was hidden a bit behind that sparkling spray-on she was wearing. Her throat tensed, and not in a frightened way, it was like it compressed as soon as she opened her mouth. His frown deepened, Did she... did she literally just choke on her words? What was she about to say? He thought, trying to gauge her reaction. It was incredibly strange, her poker face was immaculate, that same relaxed-if a bit smug-smile, but he could almost feel that momentary flare up of tension. It wasn¡¯t something just anyone could pick up on, it only came after years of experience as a detective. Sonya coughed behind her hand, clearing her throat a little, ¡°I apologize, looks like I choked a little, do we have any water?¡± She asked. He blinked and glanced around, he spotted the small water bottle refrigerator set out for the VIPs and got up to grab her one. He brought it back and she took a sip while he examined her face, ¡°Did you get carried away during the speech or something?¡± He asked, ¡°You seemed almost... angry.¡± Sonya cleared her throat again, ¡°Excuse me,¡± She coughed again and then turned a radiant smile towards him, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you be fired up? After what happened in Dharan, all those people...¡± She said solemnly. Is she really on the up and up? He thought, trying to pierce through the front she was putting up. Was she stalling for time? She set down the bottle and and nodded to him, ¡°Thank you for the water, now as for your question I-¡± The door opened to the VIP box and Ironsides stepped inside. Martin flinched, Damn it. His partner looked down to see Sonya looking up at him with a curious expression and a small hint of a smile. ¡°Miss Chernovna? Here you are, the Overseer was wondering where you¡¯d gotten off to, where is your security?¡± Sonya blinked at him, ¡°Oh, I apologize, I wanted a little quiet time and happened upon Agent Fuller here, my security is nearby, I¡¯ll have them come over if you¡¯re worried, but having an agent of the Committee is just as good, isn¡¯t it?¡± Sonya asked playfully. Martin forced his face into passivity and refused to clench his fists, she was calling him out indirectly. He¡¯d basically attempted to interrogate her and she could have easily made a comment that he¡¯d made her feel unsafe. With her influence, it was as easy as calling the Chairman to have him fired. Sonya met his gaze and gave him an easy smile. He glanced at Ironsides who gave him a skeptical look. I can handle security detail, don¡¯t look at me like that! Sonya shrugged, ¡°As for your earlier question, Agent Fuller, Yes, though I do have a rather eccentric technopath as a chief scientist who likes to browse strange places on the internet.¡± Right, Amos Carter, the man who can interact with technology with his mind. Technically an ex-criminal, but no one is willing to go after him because of his connection with ASTA and the products he is producing for the world, Martin let out a breath, It¡¯s a fair enough statement, but I can¡¯t help but feel like she¡¯s hiding something. It¡¯s not enough to prove, though, just my gut. ¡°Martin,¡± Ironsides grunted, ¡°A word?¡± Here we go again, Martin groaned inwardly, ¡°Right. We¡¯ll speak again another time, Miss Chernovna.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure we will,¡± Sonya said with a smile as he stepped out of the viewing box. ¡ª Firestorm stepped out in his red and orange suit and pointed towards the slab with a single finger. Fire collected on his fingertip and in a flash it lanced out in a thin stream. There was a bright light and a few people shouted in surprise. A moment later, there was a smoldering hole in the stone. The proctor looked like he had pissed himself, ¡°F-firestorm, pass!¡± The next proctor stepped up, ¡°Lifesaver, Heroic-tier, support type!¡± The woman stepped forward and conferred with the man in the elaborate white coat and plague doctor mask. After a few words she took a knife from her belt and cut herself, extending her arm to him. A few people murmured uncomfortably before a green glow surrounded her wrist and the blood and injury simply vanished. She examined her arm and nodded, ¡°Lifesaver, pass!¡± ¡°Bandit, Heroic-tier, offensive type!¡± Another proctor called and the hooded young man stepped forward. He looked nervous and even a little confused. Did he not know his own rating? Perhaps he didn¡¯t realize his power was this great and was surprised by his rating. Interesting. Maybe I¡¯m a higher rating than I realize. The young man created several arrows out of some manner of black smoky substance and fired them at targets that crumpled on impact. ¡°Bandit, Pass!¡± There were two more of note in the first group, ¡°Bluestar, Heroic-tier, universal type!¡± Called a proctor. A few people murmured at that, Universal, what does that mean? The woman in a blue gown stepped forward and spoke briefly with a male proctor who nodded and stepped away. He held out his hand and the woman muttered something before a blue dome formed around her. Needles made out of some kind of glass slammed into the dome to no effect. She then responded by dropping the dome and firing several darts of her own at a pane of thick glass that he created, it shattered. ¡°Bluestar, pass!¡± Very impressive, but what about the maid? She¡¯s my main concern. ¡°Handmaiden, Mythic-tier, offensive type,¡± The proctor called after a moment of quiet. There was a sudden susurrus as the woman stepped forward and Beyol leaned in to watch more carefully. She spoke with the proctor for several minutes, they seemed to be arguing. A few of the other proctors stepped in and spoke with her and the argument continued until they seemed to reluctantly accept whatever it was the maid was insisting on. Two proctors stepped in and the murmuring rose as a third stepped up to the audience. ¡°This test will involve an extremely violent act, please be advised,¡± He said quickly and walked back to the test. Huh? What does that mean? First, the stone wielding proctor created an extremely thick slab of rock, it had to be at least ten feet thick. The maid approached it and pulled her fist back before creating a deep crater in it and cracking it in half. The room fell silent as she stepped away and nodded to the next proctor who looked uneasy. The glass wielder held up his hand and fired a single needle at her head! A few people hopped to their feet, including Beyol as the needle of glass struck her dead center between the eyes and she dropped. A few shouts rang out, one person screamed, then an eerie silence began to come over the crowd as the maid simply reached up and pulled the needle out of her head and got slowly to her feet, brushing herself off and even taking the time to wipe her bloody face with a handkerchief. Beyol stared in disbelief, Not even my regeneration is that good. What the hell? Somewhere in his peripheral senses he barely heard the proctor indicate that Handmaiden had also passed the test. He sat down, hard, She has an unkillable bodyguard? He bit his thumb and glanced up at Sonya who was staring right back at him, surrounded by a few more vips that had shown up. He met her gaze and her smile turned unbelievably smug. You wanted me to see this and wanted to see my reaction, didn¡¯t you? He turned his eyes back to the maid who politely curtsied to the flustered looking glass wielder. I¡¯ll have to catch her alone, that woman can¡¯t be around her all the time. He got to his feet as soon as he spotted a few of the others getting ready to leave the testing area, he pulled his hat down a little bit more over his face and started to walk out. For now, I gotta get out of here. I¡¯ll watch her movements and pick the time to attack. He thought as he worked his way through the crowd, keeping an eye out for anyone looking at him. It was as he was scanning his surroundings he spotted something odd. More than one person wore a white queen pin on their lapel or had a shark tattoo somewhere on their body. Beyol frowned, No way, they can¡¯t be serious... He thought hurriedly and began moving a bit faster. Are they really thinking of doing something like that, here? He moved faster, nearly pushing through the crowd now. I gotta get out of here- BOOM! Chapter 41 Chapter 41 Shark straightened his tie a little, standing across the hall from the door to the gymnasium. Trigger was at his left and Wake at his right. They were dressed down into casual clothing for the job, but had masks at the ready to pull over their faces. There were at least a dozen other lieutenant level villains scattered throughout the immediate crowd, ready to take action at a moment''s notice. The majority of his men were outside the building, though, grunt level light-touched, ready to fight and prepared to go down and be arrested as part of the plan. He glanced at Wake, ¡°You ready? You¡¯re gonna have to move fast. She wants this done right.¡± ¡°Long as you can hold off that flamin¡¯ beast,¡± Wake grunted, rubbing his hands together. A man in a cap and sunglasses pushed past them, making his way through the crowd and towards the doors. Shark chuckled, ¡°That guy¡¯s in a hurry.¡± ¡°Little late to be leaving, though,¡± Trigger said with a sneer and popped his neck. He pat the satchel on his hip a few times, it was a bit of a tick he¡¯d developed after he¡¯d run out of stones during the fight with that assassin. He flexed his fingers and his knuckles cracked, ¡°Ready, boss.¡± ¡°Do it,¡± Shark said and set his jaw, Today¡¯s the day we come out of hiding. Today it becomes her world, whether anyone realizes it or not. He pulled out his phone and pulled up the readied mass text message as Trigger strode towards the door to the gym. Trigger placed his hand on the surface just as he hit send. In seconds, gangs of light-touched around the United States would spring into action outside of testing centers just like this one. BOOM! ¨C The blast rocked the building, people screamed and scattered. The gymnasium went from a peaceful proceeding to pandemonium in an instant. Civilians ran away from the doors, bumping and jostling into one another. The sudden concussive force was enough to send most of the people within ten feet of it to their knees, unconscious or worse. Firestorm spun on his heel as he caught himself, the brief rocking of the building nearly knocking him over. Fortunately Lifesaver was there to catch him. ¡°What the?¡± He barked as smoke and debris filled the spot where the doors to the gym had just been. The smoke wasn¡¯t empty for long, several masked men erupted from it like wraiths, waving the weapons in their hands as they hooted and hollered, immediately going after anyone nearby. It took half a heartbeat for Firestorm to process what was happening, ¡°Villains!¡± He shouted and his hands erupted into flames, ¡°Stop them!¡± He was about to dart forward when a screen of blue light formed at his side and several small impacts struck against it. He glanced towards the bleachers and spotted another person standing up and putting a mask on his face as his free hand sparkled. ¡°Thanks for the cover, Bluestar!¡± He shouted and charged, pulling his fist back and bringing up and into the gut of one of the masked men. There was a pained grunt and a sizzling sound and the man dropped. More screaming, a civilian bumped into him. He whipped his head around, trying to figure out who was who, when a booming voice called out of the quickly dissipating cloud of smoke. ¡°Firestorm!¡± Firestorm turned in the direction of the voice as the fighting intensified around him. Flashes of light, arrows, boulders, blue bolts, darts of glass, and other powers whizzed through the air. An enormous man stepped out into view as the last remnants of smoke faded, he had off-gray skin and the build of a monster rather than a man, he had to weigh at least four to five hundred pounds! The man bore rows of razor sharp teeth in Sharks direction and his eyes gleamed with malice. ¡°THE SUPERVILLAIN, KINGSHARK IS HERE!¡± The man bellowed and raised his hands, ¡°New York is my territory, hero!¡± Firestorm could feel the bloodlust radiating off of the man, it was almost noxious. He grit his teeth and pointed at the huge man anyway, ¡°Stand down, now!¡± He roared, ¡°Stop this! There are civilians here!¡± Kingshark tilted his head almost as if confused, his beady eyes wide with challenge, ¡°So?¡± ¡°Bastard!¡± Firestorm roared and was about to release a blast of flame in the man¡¯s direction when a terrified civilian ran in front of him. He hesitated just as the man-mountain sprung into action, he lunged with a laugh and wrapped his powerful fingers around Firestorm¡¯s arms. Firestorm had only a half second to register the action before powerful teeth dug into his shoulder. He screamed, it hurt more than a Lurker bite! The sound of his cartilage and bone grinding snapped him out of his momentary stupor and he drew in a deep breath. ¡°Get off!¡± Flames cascaded off of his body, intense enough to send the big man reeling. Kingshark stepped back a few paces, patting his clothing down just as Firestorm responded, lunging with a white hot fist and drove it into the man¡¯s face. Kingshark took the hit, his head thrown back for a moment before he cracked a vicious grin. ¡°Nice, that¡¯s what I¡¯m talkin¡¯ about!¡± ¡°No!¡± Firestorm screamed through bloodied teeth, ¡°You aren¡¯t getting away!¡± With the last vestiges of strength he had he created a blast beneath his feet and launched himself at Kingshark. Villains were already beginning to run out the doors, protected by tentacles that erupted from the ground. Kingshark was fleeing too, his back to Firestorm. Firestorm reached out and grabbed the man by the back of the neck, putting as much heat as he could muster into his grip. The mountainous man screamed in pain, thrashing about for a moment before something wrapped around Firestorm¡¯s leg. He looked down in time for the tentacle to rip him off of Kingshark and slam him into the ground. The last thing he saw as his vision began to darken was an enraged Kingshark looking back at him, clutching at his neck. He grinned at the supervillain. ¡°That one isn¡¯t healing easy...¡± He grunted before losing consciousness. When he came to, Lifesaver was kneeling next to him, his eerie mask looking down at him. His pain was all but gone, but it still ached in several places. ¡°Ugh... Lifesaver?¡± He murmured. ¡°You are one tough son of a bitch,¡± Lifesaver chuckled and pat his arm, ¡°Can you stand?¡± Firestorm nodded and gratefully got to his feet with the help of the masked man. He steadied himself and looked around, the testing grounds were in ruins. Around him were all the heroes and aspirants that had assembled, they all looked at him with a hint of reverence in their eyes. ¡°What... what¡¯s the situation?¡± ¡°We won, though there are some people hurt, nobody died thank goodness,¡± Lifesaver said, sounding extremely tired. ¡°Thanks to you,¡± Firestorm said, relief flooding through him. ¡°No, thanks to you,¡± A man in a suit said, walking forward, he extended a hand to Firestorm. ¡°Ironsides, I¡¯m an investigative agent of the Pandora Committee.¡± ¡°Sir?¡± Firestorm grunted dumbly, shaking his hand. ¡°You stood toe to toe, basically one on one, with a supervillain who we¡¯re guessing is at least Mythic-tier. You saved a lot of lives today, Hero Firestorm,¡± Ironsides said. ¡°Not just me,¡± Firestorm shook his head, ¡°All of the heroes here did what they could.¡± The agent nodded, ¡°You¡¯re right, I daresay that the heroes that participated in this incident have more than proven their capacity to act on the field, wouldn¡¯t the proctors agree?¡± Ironsides said, glancing at the proctors who stood shoulder to shoulder, their clothing torn and their faces a little bruised, but their backs straight. Firestorm smiled at them, even they stepped up. This is what heroes were meant to do. He thought as the proctors all nodded their agreement. ¡°Miss Chernovna is still missing,¡± Ironsides added grimly, ¡°And apparently this has happened across the nation, it was a coordinated attack. Other areas weren¡¯t as fortunate as we were. Lives have been lost.¡± Firestorm clenched his fists, ¡°We¡¯ll find her if Marta doesn¡¯t find her first,¡± He said grimly and looked at the other heroes around him, ¡°The Villains made a statement today that they¡¯re enemies of this new era. They¡¯ve decided to side against society instead of helping us against the monsters. We aren¡¯t going to let that stand!¡± He shouted. Nearby, Bandit raised his bow up in the air, ¡°Villains and Monsters, it doesn¡¯t matter, let¡¯em come. We won this round and we¡¯ll win the fuckin¡¯ next!¡± A round of enraged agreement followed the young hero¡¯s proclamation. Firestorm straightened his back and searched the eyes of the gathered heroes. They were unified in a singular purpose. We¡¯ll protect this world, no matter the cost. Firestorm thought, looking down at his hand and thinking back to the burn he¡¯d left on Kingshark. I hope you don¡¯t forget that mark, Kingshark. I¡¯m coming for you one of these days. He turned his eyes towards the villains who¡¯d been captured, ¡°Now let¡¯s clean up this mess and find Miss Chernovna. The heroes need their voice.¡± Chapter 42 Chapter 42 Sonya¡¯s vision cleared only after a few seconds, her eyes fixed on the viewing box far away from her. Her arms slung down as her waist folded over Wake¡¯s shoulder. She glanced sidelong at him for a moment and huffed out a breath as he began to wrap himself in his power again. The chaos around her was muted, she wasn¡¯t sure if it was the momentary delirium of being teleported or the fact that it really didn¡¯t affect her. She¡¯d seen worse, honestly the fighting going on seemed to her more like a training skirmish than anything truly serious. She spotted a civilian dart past her and Wake and throw himself beneath the bleachers and snorted before spotting Marta charging towards them. She saw Shark, or rather, Kingshark, Kingshark, really? Of course you would. I guess I can¡¯t really blame you. She mentally shook her head and made eye contact with Marta, she looked desperate, terrified, Marvelous performance, Sonya thought and closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath as the smoky cloud enveloped her and Wake. The next thing she knew she was outside the building where the fighting was still going on. Somewhere inside she heard a bang, people began pouring out of the doors. The smoke wrapped around her again and she was on top of a building. She took a moment to curiously note the trail of smoke that followed where the teleportation took them. Is that why he calls himself Wake? It¡¯s just inexperience, I¡¯m sure the trail will go away with training. She thought distractedly before glancing at the gaunt young man again. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to move a bit faster than this,¡± She said now that they were out of earshot of anyone who mattered. He glanced her way, heaving hard, ¡°Shit, you scared me.¡± She narrowed her eyes, ¡°You¡¯re carrying me, how did you forget I was here?¡± He paled a little, ¡°U-uh, s-sorry, ma¡¯am.¡± She rolled her eyes, ¡°Just hurry up and get me to the rendezvous point,¡± She commanded and he glanced over his shoulder, frowning a little. ¡°What¡¯s the rush? It¡¯ll be a bit before the boss comes out.¡± The doors slammed open to the old high school and Marta came barreling out, her head whipping around in the distance. She spotted the smoke trail and followed it, looking directly at them. Sonya chuckled, ¡°Because she might catch up, and if she does, she¡¯ll make my rescue look very convincing,¡± She warned as Marta began to run, leaving cracks in the ground behind her. Her footsteps sounded like thunder even at this distance. Wake swallowed, ¡°U-uh, right!¡± He stammered and pulled the smoke around them again. UppTodated from They jumped from point to point, racing across the city with leaps and bounds. Occasionally he had to stop and catch his breath, sweat beading on his face. She pat his back a few times during a particularly rough coughing fit, ¡°You¡¯re doing good, keep it up,¡± She said, ¡°Just think of this as endurance training for your ability.¡± ¡°Training?¡± He asked, wrapping the smoke around himself again with a heave of effort. ¡°Yes, training,¡± She said as they reappeared, ¡°Your powers are like a muscle, dear, they have to be strengthened before they can reach their peak. Haven¡¯t you seen er... Kingshark working hard on his own abilities?¡± She asked him as they disappeared and reappeared on top of a small office building. She could hear sirens in the distance and felt a message come through mentally. Kingshark: Good boy. ¡°Well yeah, I just thought he was learning how to use it properly, there¡¯s a lot of features to his power, right?¡± Wake mumbled, glancing around for his next jump spot. She closed her eyes and checked her location and counted the number of jumps they¡¯d made. At this rate they¡¯d be at their destination in about ten more. She hoped he could hold out, she¡¯d have to talk to Shark about making sure his men were actually ready to take on a task before they did it. ¡°That¡¯s part of it, mastering the nuance is important, but you also have to build up stamina,¡± She explained, Big talk coming from me, she thought a bit gruffly, I¡¯ve been so busy building up my arsenal and orchestrating all this I haven¡¯t had a moment to even see what my current limits are. Could I even reasonably beat Kingshark in a fight right now? Probably not. She thought and her expression soured even more. She sighed when she glanced at him again. ¡°Why couldn¡¯t you be prettier?¡± He blinked and looked at her, ¡°I¡¯m sorry?¡± She groaned and shook her head, ¡°Nevermind.¡± ¡°How...?¡± He blurted, pointing one of his knives at her as he took a few steps back, setting his jaw as he looked for another escape route. The woman ignored him, instead she simply turned back to the door and crushed the doorknob with her bare hand. She turned back to him and gave him a baelful look. ¡°Park Beyol.¡± A raspy voice called out above him. It was coming from speakers. He whipped his head around, there were cameras somewhere in here too, then. ¡°Razor.¡± ¡°Who are you?¡± He demanded, ¡°Chernovna?¡± He demanded and glanced back at the grotesque facsimile on the chair, ¡°This was a trap. You set all this up just to get to me?¡± ¡°Hardly,¡± The woman said over the speakers. ¡°You were a convenient addition.¡± He grit his teeth and kept his eyes on the Maid as he worked it all through, she¡¯d been kidnapped on purpose, but why? If it wasn¡¯t to entrap him what was the point? He allowed more blood to leak from his cuts, knives slowly forming around him, levitating in the air. ¡°So is this where you kill me? I¡¯m not telling you who hired me,¡± He growled. ¡°I already know who hired you,¡± Sonya said, ¡°Feng Hyunh.¡± He felt his gut twist, How? That¡¯s impossible. He forced himself not to react visibly, as the woman across from him watched. She hadn¡¯t moved an inch from the spot. ¡°What now?¡± Her voice turned colder, if that was even possible, a rasp that cared the murderous intent of a bloody blade across ice. He could feel her bloodlust even from wherever she was hiding. It sent a chill down his spine, ¡°Prove you deserve to live.¡± The words were like a gunshot set off to start a race. One instant the maid was standing there and the next she was in his face, her fist reared back. Shit! ¨C Sonya sat in a chair in front of the monitor, her legs crossed and her helmet in her lap. Kingshark stood next to her with his arms crossed and his eyes fixed on the screen. She mentally disabled the microphone and glanced over at him, ¡°Kingshark, huh?¡± She asked playfully, her mechanical eyes spinning in her head. The faint ticking of her lenses adjusting and readjusting echoed in the small room. TICK TICK TICKTICKTICK TICK He shifted uncomfortably at the sound and glanced her way with an uneasy smile, ¡°Thought it sounded good.¡± She snorted, ¡°You¡¯re not wrong, it¡¯s a worthy moniker for you,¡± She said and reached over to pat his arm gently. He turned his attention back to the screen, ¡°Why not just kill the annoying bastard? Isn¡¯t this too elaborate?¡± She huffed out a breath, ¡°His powers may have gone to his head, but at one point he was a skilled professional. He¡¯s a member of the Night Society after all, not that I know much about them, what he needs is a wake-up call.¡± Kingshark narrowed his eyes, ¡°Night Society.¡± Sonya smiled and rolled her helmet between her hands, ¡°I want them, and if I¡¯m going to have them, I¡¯m going to need him.¡± Kingshark glanced her way, ¡°By beating him half to death?¡± Sonya glanced up at him and smiled one last time before pulling her helmet over her head. The digital screen on it sprung to life and the hot-pink lines that symbolized her eyes bloomed on its surface. They burned with malice as Ishtar turned back to the monitor, ¡°Something like that.¡± Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Beyol spun out of the way, the woman¡¯s sleeve barely grazing the surface of his nose. He took a quick step back and watched her rocket past him. Her fist ripping through the air so fast he could hear the sound of the displaced air popping back into place an instant later. His eyes narrowed as she kept going, only stopping after gaining some distance from him. His fingers twitched around his knives as the others began to orbit around his head. The first time surprised him, but it wouldn¡¯t happen a second time. She doesn¡¯t fight people very often, He thought, analyzing her stance as she turned to face him, her armored fists up. He took a step to the left and lowered his right arm while raising his left, the blade held up and at the ready. If she hits me unarmored, it¡¯s over, there¡¯s enough force behind those punches to turn me into paste. She¡¯s nothing like the others, just as I thought, He frowned and twirled his knives again, considering her. She didn¡¯t move a muscle, her eyes fixed on him as well. Skill versus Power, then. He reasoned and with a mental gesture two knives floating around his head pivoted and launched in her direction, aimed at her right side. She was stabbed in the head and didn¡¯t die, but does she still feel pain? He thought, darting to the left and to where she¡¯d move. He zipped into position just as the blades hit, slamming into her arm. He didn¡¯t have time to blink or think, he compensated as she turned in slow motion to look at him as her shoulder moved back faintly from the hit. He dipped low and swept his leg out. Hit. Her foot moved forward a few inches but it was enough, she spun and he raced up to drive the knife towards her back. Her foot stretched up to the tip and she pirouetted like a ballerina, spinning fast enough to face him as his knife was driving up towards her. Her fist was already in the air again. Her eyes wide with absolute focus, he could see it coming like a slow moving truck though and he darted to the right, landing on one hand and throwing his foot out again to kick her in the side of the head. She took the hit again, her face pressed against the heel of his shoe as she shifted and reared back for a kick of her own. He pushed off the ground and somersaulted back, landing on his feet and throwing out another barrage of knives at her face while using his telekinesis to pull the first two out of her. He darted back in as she was raising her arms. It had taken her a few seconds to get up after being stabbed in the head, she¡¯s not unstoppable, I just have to disable her. He thought grimly as she swept her arm out in a wide arc with enough force to create a small burst of air pressure. His knives spun away and she kicked off the ground. One moment she was there, the next, she was in his face again. He dipped low and rolled under her, throwing to knives up at her back. In the air she had no room to maneuver, nothing to kick off of, the blades wedged near her spine and she staggered forward with a grunt, trying to reach around to grab them and pull them out of her back. He grinned, Got you. He sneered, Guess I didn¡¯t need my armor. He held his hand out and more knives lanced towards her back, melting and merging with the two that had stabbed her. With an effort of thought they formed into long blades, stabbing fully through her gut. She let out a gasp and took a step forward, looking down at the silver weapons protruding from her abdomen. He twisted his hand, getting ready to cut her in half when she did something... terrifying. She reached down and grabbed the blades with her gloved hands and pulled. What the fuck? He knew she felt pain, he could see it, What is she, insane? He reeled as with a terrible scream she pulled the swords, hand guards and all, through her back and out through her abdomen. She gripped the swords in both hands and turned to look at him, the hole in her gut already starting to close. Fucking monster! He howled internally and melted the knives in her hands and those floating around him, No holding back then. He snarled and the liquid metal formed into claws on his hands. His heart rate increased, new blood forming as more pumped out and onto his skin. He reached up and cut deep furrows across his own chest, grunting as the metallic armor spread faster, coating his entire body in a matter of seconds. She didn¡¯t even move as he equipped himself, going as far as to cross her arms. Mocking me now too?! He narrowed his eyes within his helmet and launched himself in her direction, moving far faster than he had before. His telekinetic control over the metal let him basically launch himself and control his body even better than when he wasn¡¯t wearing it. He moved at the speed of thought, darting low again to force her to prepare for another trip only to bounce back up and go for her face. Just as he completed his feint he looked up into her eyes and saw her fist coming. She didn¡¯t buy it. WHAM! He darted around her, throwing in light attacks, quick movements, anything to avoid her attacks. He felt his ribs grinding beneath his armor and forced himself to keep going, even as blood bubbled on his lips. He¡¯d heal eventually, but he needed to get away first. I can take the pain. He snarled, Can you? He thought back to training as a member of the night society, weeks of torture to inure him to the pain, months of killing his fellow aspirant to inure him to the act of murder, years burning cold logic into his very being. All lost because of a fancy power. This power is mine, not the other way around, He reminded himself. I won¡¯t make the same mistakes again. Blood, darkness, and silence filled the room, broken only by the grunts of pain as she endured every hit he landed on him. She was slowing down, occasionally gasping for air as she ripped another weapon out of her body only for him to pull it back into his armor soundlessly. With his knives in her he knew exactly where she was, he could feel their presence. He didn¡¯t need to see, he didn¡¯t even need to listen for her. He simply followed where a part of him was, cutting and stabbing and striking as he drove her further and further towards what he knew had to be some kind of limit. That was when he felt it, a moment of hesitation, a flinch, her body tensing as a particular wound in her lower back set her off. A cold smile spread across his lips, Now! He darted towards her head, the blade in his hand turning into a sword. He drove himself forward with every ounce of strength he had left and felt the blade pierce flesh, drive through bone, and penetrate gray-matter. He followed through as she fell back, landing on top of her with a grunt. He took a deep, ratting breath as she felt her go still beneath him. Skill always- Her hand snapped up and grabbed his wrist. What? She felt her grip tighten, bones creaking beneath his armor as it struggled to maintain shape. No, let go! How are you even thinking with a blade in your head?! He tried to pull his arm away but it wouldn¡¯t move, his bones creaking louder until a terrible snap drove white hot pain into his mind, he let out a scream as she reached up and grabbed him by the neck. He reached up with his good hand, grasping at her fingers. He couldn¡¯t breathe, she kept squeezing, she was going to break his neck! Let go! Let go! He snarled, drawing the last of his knives down into her body from above him. He slammed his fist into her face, dug the sword in her head around, anything to get her to release him. Fucking... monster... He tried to think as he felt a faintness wash over him. Bloodflow cut off... can¡¯t get it... to my head... I can¡¯t... breathe... Beyol fell into darkness. Chapter 44 Chapter 44 Ishtar watched the duel as it came to an end, she was glad she had the forethought to set up night-vision cameras inside the room. She crossed her legs and regarded the screen for several moments before a mental flex instructed it to shut off. She glanced back at Kingshark and met his gaze. He looked a bit sick, his eyes fixed on the monitor. His hand rubbing a spot on his neck as if it ached. She waited for him to realize she was staring at him and he lowered his hand, clearing his throat. ¡°A wound?¡± ¡°Firestorm left a mark that won¡¯t heal right,¡± Kingshark growled, ¡°It¡¯s not a problem.¡± ¡°Do you want me to heal it?¡± She asked patiently. ¡°No, ma¡¯am. I don¡¯t want to forget it,¡± He said cooly and looked back at the screen, ¡°He changed, part way through the fight. Before the lights went out.¡± She looked back at the blank screen and nodded, ¡°Yes, he did,¡± She ran her fingers over the desk thoughtfully, ¡°I¡¯m going to call it Pandora Sickness,¡± Ishtar said and stopped her fingers, ¡°An already skilled and or strong person gains powers from the flash, and it goes to their head, fogging their mind and leading to... unfortunate mistakes.¡± ¡°Makes sense,¡± Kingshark growled, ¡°And what, he snapped out of it?¡± ¡°Pushed him into a corner enough that he realized his abilities aren¡¯t all powerful,¡± Ishtar said clinically, ¡°Push anyone to the brink of death and they¡¯ll understand their own mortality.¡± ¡°That sounded personal,¡± Kingshark pointed out. ¡°It did, didn¡¯t it?¡± Ishtar murmured, ¡°Call Dupe in.¡± ¡°Yes ma¡¯am,¡± He said and turned away, walking to the door and opening it. A dark skinned young man covered in tattoos walked inside, his head held high. His hair was swept back into a neat set of cornrows and his eyes were sharp as razors. Ishtar turned in her chair to face him and he quickly took a knee, his dark suit creaking a bit around his muscular body. She tilted her head up and looked down at him. ¡°This is Dupe, mistress.¡± ¡°Dupe, an interesting name,¡± Ishtar said as she leered down at him. ¡°I thought it fit,¡± Dupe said crisply, ¡°Mistress.¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t afraid of me,¡± Ishtar said, more as a statement rather than a question. ¡°You called us your children, what kind of decent mother would hurt their kids?¡± He responded quickly, ¡°I¡¯m more excited than anything else.¡± Kingshark was about to reprimand him when Ishtar let out a raspy laugh, ¡°I like him. Stand up Dupe and tell me about your ability, I understand it came in handy tonight.¡± Dupe got to his feet and straightened his suit coat, ¡°Yes mistress,¡± He said with a nod and crossed his arms behind his back, ¡°I can make living duplicates of myself, three so far, but I feel like I can make more in the future. We share senses, though they aren¡¯t as self aware as I am. They¡¯re currently watching the building.¡± She nodded, ¡°Useful, and the other feature?¡± She asked. ¡°If I have access to enough of a person¡¯s genetic material I can make a dummy of them. It¡¯ll be genetically identical down to general physical appearance, dental, and bone structure. I used a clipping of your hair to make the fake in the storage room, mistress,¡± He reported quickly, his eyes gleaming with barely restrained fanaticism. I like him. ¡°Very good work, Dupe, I¡¯m going to need your help very soon I imagine, but for now you deserve a reward and I need to ask another favor from you, so we¡¯ll call it an exchange,¡± She said and got to her feet, extending her hand, ¡°How about a deal?¡± ¡°Anything, ma¡¯am,¡± He said hesitantly and looked at her hand before getting a nudge from Kingshark, ¡°O-oh I have to-¡± He put it together quickly and moved in, taking her hand. ¡°I¡¯m going to ask you to keep your mouth shut about anything you learned about me today, Dupe, seeing even a facsimile of my true appearance is dangerous after all and I would rather not silence you in other ways,¡± Ishtar explained, ¡°In exchange and as a reward for your excellent craftsmanship, I have a gift for you that would pair well with your powers.¡± He whipped his head up, looking her in the face, she was so close, that unfeeling screen covering her face lording over him. ¡°What?¡± Was all he could ask. ¡°I asked if you want power, Beyol, power to never feel like this again?¡± She asked tilting her head to the right and standing up straight, ¡°I can give you power, Beyol, real power, Mythic power,¡± She said, ¡°But what are you willing to give up for it?¡± He felt his spirit shake as he stared back at her, those unfeeling eyes unblinking, her rigid pose, she barely seemed human. Is that really Sonya Chernovna? He paused, Or is Sonya the mask? Is this the real person? He wondered, Power? What does she even mean by that? You can¡¯t just give someone pow- ¡°I gave Handmaiden her power,¡± Ishtar cut into his thoughts. His jaw fell open as his gut twisted, ¡°You... gave it to her?¡± He glanced at the maid who didn¡¯t even bother looking at him, just nodding along. He looked back up at Ishtar, numbness washing over him, She can just give people powers? ¡°I asked you a question, Beyol, what are you willing to give up for power?¡± She repeated herself. To not feel like this again? To not be afraid of the Night Society after they found out he failed? To be truly powerful like the maid? What would I give up? He tried to think, to rationalize, to work it out, What could I give? What do I even have to give in exchange? Money? I doubt she needs money. He looked up at her again and tried to work his mouth. She''s powerful enough to have Kingshark and his gangs, Handmaiden, they all answer to her without question. Is this what it means to be a villain? I want that. Something on his face must have changed because Ishtar glanced at Shark who¡¯d been holding him with his tentacles, ¡°Release him,¡± The tentacles retracted and he fell to his knees, his head pressed against the ground. ¡°Well? Speak up, Beyol.¡± ¡°Anything, I¡¯ll do anything for it, I¡¯ll give you everything, I¡¯ll give up the Night Society to you, I¡¯ll give you my soul!¡± He begged, clenching his fists as tears welled in his eyes, he slammed his fist on the floor, ¡°Please, give me power, I¡¯ll worship you, I¡¯ll give up everything, please!¡± ¡°Your soul?¡± She snorted, ¡°What am I supposed to do with that?¡± He looked up at her, beaten, ¡°I...¡± ¡°I suppose that and the rest will do,¡± Ishtar said and held out a hand, her merciless eyes boring down into his own, ¡°It¡¯s time to make a deal, Beyol.¡± He looked at her hand and hesitantly reached up, taking it. ¡°Steelblood is the name of your power, hm?¡± She said thoughtfully, her vice like grip holding him. She regarded him thoughtfully, ¡°I wonder, would you like to participate in a little experiment, Beyol? If it works out, you¡¯ll become very strong, if it fails, you¡¯ll probably die.¡± He swallowed, he couldn¡¯t say no. ¡°Good boy,¡± She hissed and a flash of light began to build between their hands, it ran up his arm and he felt his blood begin to churn in his veins. He gasped, a searing pain working its way through every cell of his body. He clutched at his chest as his blood boiled, his acute awareness of his blood thanks to his ability making it so much worse. He could feel it changing, twisting, the chemical makeup of his own blood warping in a horrible way. He screamed and collapsed to the ground, fighting for his life. All he could hear was the pounding of his heart and his own distant cries of agony. He kicked, struggling for life as he felt his veins bulge in his neck. He pulled up his hands and saw his veins turning a dark purple color, What is... BA BUMP His chest heaved as his heart beat and the warped blood worked its way through him. It felt like he was rotting from the inside. He could see something dark pooling around him, jet black, it was inky and wrong. It coiled around his flesh as if trying to protect him. He reached up as the pain continued, endless, mind shattering, horrible. Nothing had prepared him for it, his training as an assassin was like kindergarten compared to the nightmare he was living. I¡¯m dying, he realized, I¡¯m dying! He reached for her helplessly, she just stood and watched. ¡°You have to get through this on your own, Beyol, but when you do, you¡¯ll be reborn as a Supervillain,¡± She said with that same awful hoarse rasp, ¡°Be proud of what you¡¯re becoming, it¡¯ll be over soon.¡± He rolled onto his chest, coughing and forced himself to his knees, his hands on the ground. He looked down at the blood he¡¯d spit up, a metallic purple that stood in stark contrast to his inky black shadow. It was too dark, a solid black beneath him. What is happening to me? Chapter 45 Chapter 45 Sonya sat in her apartment, staring out over the city beyond. Night had fallen, but the news was still rolling out. She reclined on an armchair, sipping at her drink, the faint clink of the ice and the sizzling of the bubbles within the carbonated soda satisfying to her ears. She ran her fingers over the helmet in her lap, tracing the surface and the various seams between the metal and the faceplate. A panel of light appeared and she set the cup down. Somewhere behind her a woman on the television spoke. ¡°The final death toll after the coordinated attack by the villains has been tallied, the confirmed loss of life has risen to two hundred and eleven people spread across the sixteen locations, the chairman of the Pandora Committee and the President have called for an international day of mourning tomorrow as questions mount about how the villains who were captured during the fight will be treated,¡± The woman said, her voice a little hollow. Sonya glanced towards the screen and saw bags under the woman¡¯s eyes, she looked away and sipped her drink again. ¡°Sonya Chernovna, CEO of ASTA corporation and the ¡®Voice of the Hero Movement¡¯ was briefly kidnapped by the villains during the attack on the New York testing ceremony, she was reportedly taken to the headquarters of the self-proclaimed ¡®Supervillain¡¯ Kingshark. Licensed Heroes lead by Firestorm arrived at the scene shortly after Handmaiden, the villains retreated and Kingshark was nowhere to be found. Fortunately, Miss Chernovna was found exhausted but unharmed. She was debriefed and released a few hours ago,¡± The woman continued. Sonya tapped her manicured nails against her helmet, ¡°Along with Miss Chernovna were the bodies of several people who remain unidentified except for one who was identified as Park Beyol, a korean photographer who was presumed missing after the flash. Dental records have confirmed his identity.¡± Sonya¡¯s fingers stopped moving, ¡°Photographer, mm? You have a hobby?¡± She asked the empty room. Behind her, the dark coalesced, an inky mass that rose from the ground and took solid shape. The shadow wrapped in on itself, shimmering like when one folded hard candy. Soon it had arms and legs, a head, and then a pair of lavender eyes that stared down at the back of her head. Black hair fell down his face, ¡°I dabble,¡± He said. She sipped at her drink and let out a breath, ¡°Your employer won¡¯t be happy to hear you¡¯re dead,¡± She said coldly. ¡°She isn¡¯t my employer anymore,¡± He said flatly. Sonya looked out the window for a long moment, ¡°Have you given it any thought? What I should call you now?¡± He drifted around the armchair and dropped to a knee next to her, lowering his head, ¡°Please call me Blackrazor, mistress,¡± He said in a low voice. Her lip twitched, ¡°Edgy,¡± She said with a snort. ¡°Might as well embrace it,¡± He said with a hidden smile. ¡°That, I approve of,¡± She chuckled and nodded before her expression fell, ¡°Your previous employer is a very dangerous man. His powers dwarf mine right now and he could even end Marta¡¯s life with a touch,¡± She murmured. He looked up at her, ¡°The guy? Phan Duong?¡± He asked. ¡°Yes, don¡¯t worry about him right now,¡± She commanded and looked up at the sky, ¡°Your immediate goal is the Night Society.¡± ¡°You said you wanted them, but I don¡¯t fully understand what you mean by that,¡± He said, looking up into her stoic face. She glanced down at him, ¡°What is there to interpret? You will go and take control of the Night Society.¡± He blinked at her, ¡°You-you¡¯re serious?¡± She looked him in the eyes, ¡°Do I seem like the kind of person to joke about something like this?¡± She asked him coldly, ¡°Can you not do it?¡± He sat up on his knees, meeting her eyes, his gaze wide with something between wonder and terror, he looked down at his hands as purple metal seeped from his palms and took the shape of wicked looking knives, they melted again and returned to his skin. ¡°Yes, I can do it, I¡¯ll put an end to the Leader and take his place,¡± He said thoughtfully, ¡°I won¡¯t let you down, mistress.¡± ¡°I know you won¡¯t,¡± She said, ¡°I¡¯ve invested a lot into you. Toxic Blood and Autarch of Shadow. You are a mythic-tier supervillain now, Blackrazor. Be sure to act like it going forward.¡± ¡°Yes, mistress.¡± She sipped her drink and fixed her eyes on the glass again, ¡°Escaping the country will be a good way to get a handle on your abilities,¡± She said, ¡°You may go.¡± He bowed his head and dissolved into the ground, his shadows spreading across the room for a moment before slipping away. She looked at herself in her reflection as he departed and brought her drink to her lips. It was empty. She looked down into it and then up at herself again, but it wasn¡¯t her face she saw. She saw two digitized eye staring back at her, narrow bands of hot pink glaring back with unfeeling malice. She sniffed, Feeling guilty now? She asked herself, You don¡¯t have time for that, you made a promise and you¡¯re going to keep it. She gripped the glass in her hand tightly a crack forming in it, This isn¡¯t over until Otis is dead and the monsters are gone. No matter what you have to do, no matter what I have to do. I¡¯ll walk over a million corpses if that¡¯s what it takes. I¡¯ll drag humanity kicking and screaming into the future. ¡°Probably not,¡± Sonya said. ¡°Can you?¡± Marta asked. ¡°I don¡¯t think my brain will allow it anymore, no,¡± Sonya said soberly. Marta snorted and leaned against the counter, ¡°What are you going to do once this is all over?¡± Marta asked, staring at the bottle. ¡°Probably pay for my crimes,¡± Sonya said with a sigh, ¡°I¡¯ll deserve it in the end.¡± Marta closed her eyes and took a deep breath, ¡°It¡¯s just pain, it¡¯ll pass.¡± Sonya closed her eyes and nodded, ¡°Yeah.¡± ¨C Hyunh fidgeted in the car, tapping her foot. This is bad, she thought, looking up at the street ahead of them. I shouldn¡¯t have left him alone, She chewed on her lip and glanced towards the driver who was sweating beneath his stylized cap. She frowned at him and leaned forward, ¡°You better not be driving slow just because you¡¯re a coward,¡± She snarled and felt the vehicle immediately pick up speed. She checked her phone, more texts coming in, more warnings. Phan Duong was becoming more violent, he could explode into real violence at any moment. She had to get there fast, if he killed a bunch of people publicly, it would all be over. She ground her teeth, daring fate to put traffic in front of her at this crucial time. A deep breath, a steadying exhale, and she looked down a the small piece of amethyst in her hands. It was barely the size of the average pill, but it would be enough. She let out a sigh, Razor is dead, it beggars belief, but the autopsy came up positive almost immediately for his civilian identity. He¡¯d been burned to death, almost unrecognizable. I would have thought it fake if not for his dental records. She gripped the gem in her palm, Damn it. She felt a charge in the air that forced her to look up. The driver¡¯s hairs were starting to stand on end. She whipped her head to the left and spotted Duong¡¯s home. An apartment building that had been refitted as a mansion for a single person. She pat the back of the driver¡¯s seat, ¡°This is fine,¡± She urged him and threw the door open as he came to a stop. She pulled her hair back and strode across the street, there were a few people standing outside looking up at the building in confusion and fear. ¡°Move!¡± She commanded. The bystanders scattered when they saw her, or rather, when they saw her broach. The mark of the syndicate. She strode past the fountains that spluttered water, the pumps were probably going to fail soon. She approached the doors and reached for them only to pull back as a spark leaped from one of the handles. She rolled her eyes and reached into her purse, pulling out an insulated glove and sliding it on. She grabbed the handle and pulled it aside to the noisy pop-crack of a charge jumping between the door and the frame. She waited for it to pass before slipping through, stepping into the hall. The smell of burnt hair and flesh assailed her nostrils, she raised her hand to her nose and frowned, Idiot! She snarled inwardly and stormed down the hall, going from room to room looking for him. Not on the first floor. She ascended to the second, then the third, before finding a line of bodies in front of the game room. She closed her eyes and fought for patience, stepping out into the hallway. She felt something wash over her, touching her skin for a moment before retracting. She blinked, Did he just... check me? She swallowed and marched to the door and looked inside. He was standing there at the foosball table, his eyes fixed on it, his hands moving so fast she could barely see them. He grunted now and then before disappearing and reappearing on the other side, continuing his game. When she crossed the threshold he stopped, his shoulders falling a little. He looked over his shoulder and stared at her with those dark eyes of his, ¡°Hyunh.¡± ¡°Hello, love,¡± She said softly, walking inside. ¡°He¡¯s dead,¡± Duong growled, ¡°Your assassin died.¡± ¡°I heard,¡± Hyunh said, ¡°I¡¯m just as surprised as you are.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± He snarled and grabbed the table, ripping it out of the floor where it had been bolted and flipping it across the room. It slammed into the far wall with a terrible crash before he whipped around and fixed her with a stare. ¡°That¡¯s all you have to say, after you assured me that she would be dead? Really?¡± She roared, ¡°Do you have any idea how much time I wasted waiting for that idiot to do something about that woman? Do you?¡± She raised her hands up in a loving gesture, ¡°Duong, dear, you know nothing is a sure thing,¡± She said softly, inching closer to him. He seemed to be vibrating, the electric charge in his body literally making him tremble with how much pressure he¡¯d built up. ¡°I can¡¯t hug you like that, Duong,¡± She said as she got within arms reach. ¡°How can I apologize to you if you¡¯re like this?¡± She asked, ¡°You want me, don¡¯t you?¡± She murmured, trying to look as sad as possible. He glowered at her and looked away, she watched his teeth clench. She narrowed her eyes a fraction and drew in a bit closer, ¡°Duong, dear, if he didn¡¯t work out we just have to try something else. Those villains from the United States interfered with the killing, they¡¯re in the way, just like she is,¡± She whispered, ¡°What we need to do is get her here, on your home turf, and deal with her that way, wouldn¡¯t that be better anyway?¡± She cooed, ¡°Yes?¡± His shoulders shook but eventually they relaxed even more, the charge in the air began to fade and the hairs on her neck relaxed. She eased in a bit closer until she knew she could take his face in her hands. She ran her fingers through his hair and tilted her head, ¡°You poor thing,¡± She murmured, ¡°It really isn¡¯t fair, isn¡¯t it?¡± She cooed, ¡°It¡¯s okay, It¡¯s okay, I¡¯m here my love...¡± She said and pulled his head to her chest. The amethyst hidden between her fingers at the ready. He let out a sigh, ¡°I just want her dead...¡± He grumbled. ¡°I know,¡± She purred and slid her hand down, her fingers right behind his ear, ¡°I know... it¡¯ll all be over soon.¡± She said as she pressed the amethyst against his skin. ¡°There you go, no more difficult thoughts now, dear. Let your beloved Hyunh take care of everything...¡± Chapter 46 Chapter 46 Martin stood over the scorch mark, rubbing his neck. He¡¯d never seen anything like it before, the concrete had been blackened in a way that looked like water had been splashed across it from above. He glanced over at the forensics specialist who was kneeling next to him, tweezers in his hands. The man plucked what looked like a fragment of a rope out of the debris that lay in the center of the blast zone, slipping it into a small bag and sealing it. He wrote something on the bag and set it aside before leaning back down again. The committee agent sighed and turned away, walking to where Ironsides was standing. The bigger man had his arms crossed and was looking around the room in silence. He glanced towards Martin and shrugged wearily, ¡°Anything?¡± Martin shook his head, ¡°Nothing definitive, the labs are already back on the body¡¯s teeth, right?¡± He asked. Ironsides nodded, ¡°Yeah, the press got hold of the information too, it¡¯s definitely Park Beyol.¡± Martin clicked his tongue and glanced over his shoulder at the scorch mark, ¡°Looks like an execution.¡± ¡°Someone with firepower equivalent to what Firestorm is capable of, fortunately the guy was at the Hero Day event around the estimated time of death,¡± Ironsides grunted, glancing at the black mark as well. His nose wrinkled, ¡°I agree though, definitely an execution of some sort. Kingshark¡¯s men caught him, tortured him by the looks of the bones, and then burned him alive.¡± Martin turned to Ironsides, ¡°Do you seriously still think it¡¯s just Kingshark?¡± He demanded, ¡°Do you think a guy like that is capable of planning that kind of coordinated attack?¡± Ironsides looked to the left hesitantly and then sighed, ¡°I¡¯m convinced, but what can we do? Homeland security won¡¯t take us seriously until we have proof and Kingshark claimed responsibility for the attack. They have their target,¡± He said. Martin straightened a little, his eyes widening. He¡¯d wondered if he¡¯d ever be able to convince Ironsides that there was more to this than just some meatheaded fish-guy and it seemed the attack had been enough. It was too organized, too well planned, but more problematic for Martin was that it felt too easy. People died, yes, but it felt like they all cut and run as soon as things got hard. Not only that, they left behind a lot of their own. There were only three deaths among the attacking party. All survivors, all being brought up on domestic terrorism charges. He frowned, rubbing his temples, ¡°Something still isn¡¯t sitting right with me.¡± Ironsides looked his way, ¡°You¡¯ve got good instincts, clearly, let¡¯s talk it through,¡± He said and gestured for Martin to walk with him. The two of them stepped out of the room and into the much larger common area outside of it. There was evidence that tons of crates and materials had been stacked here at one point but they were all gone. Quickly cleaned out and moved to a new location. As soon as that woman, Handmaiden, attacked their headquarters they moved everything. Handmaiden was uninjured obviously, I¡¯m not sure what could hurt her. Miss Chernovna had some bruises but that was about it. ¡°How¡¯s Miss Chernovna doing?¡± Martin asked hesitantly. ¡°She¡¯s apparently going to Orlando for a brief vacation, I don¡¯t blame her,¡± Ironsides said, ¡°We did a full debrief before she left.¡± ¡°Anything interesting?¡± Martin asked. ¡°Not really, she was very forthcoming about how they treated her and her injuries, but didn¡¯t give us much more than we already know now that we¡¯ve looked the place over,¡± Ironsides said with a shake of his head. ¡°So what¡¯s your gut telling you?¡± Martin turned to his partner. Yes, his partner. He had to accept that now. Lucian-Ironsides was a good guy, there was no doubt his heart was in the right place and he was a good investigator. His powers would come in handy if they had trouble, too. It had been hard to accept the existence of the light-touched, but he was front and center to see the heroes defend the civilians at the New York attack. That guy, Firestorm, he kept going even after being injured all those times. I couldn¡¯t do that. Am I jealous? Damn it. He sighed, ¡°It was too easy, the defense.¡± ¡°Over two hundred people died, Martin,¡± Ironsides said with a frown. ¡°If they¡¯d taken it seriously, I think the villains could have done five times that. He may have gotten a wound in the end but Kingshark wasn¡¯t even taking the fight against Firestorm seriously, I know you were more focused on fighting the villains but...¡± He trailed off, ¡°...I watched a good bit of it. It was like watching an adrenaline junkie trying to get his fix. He wasn¡¯t giving it his all.¡± Ironsides swallowed, ¡°I see...¡± He looked contemplative for a moment, ¡°So whats their angle?¡± Martin shook his head, ¡°There were almost five hundred arrests that day, they ditched their guys easily. All of them were light-touched. Can they really afford to lose that many people?¡± His partner crossed his arms, ¡°...that doesn¡¯t make sense. You¡¯re right. Trained light-touched are rare right now. After more and more heroes get trained it¡¯ll be different but-¡± He trailed off and then looked up at Martin. ¡°The prison system?¡± Martin froze, ¡°I-¡± He was cut off by his phone ringing, the ringtone unmistakeable. He held up his hand to forestall the conversation and pulled out his phone quickly. It was the Chairman. He glanced up at Ironsides and swallowed hard before pulling his phone up to his ear, ¡°Hello, Chairman, sir,¡± He said, drawing a surprised frown from Ironsides. He worked his thoughts through as he moved to sit down before fixing her with a stare, ¡°What do you want?¡± She tilted her head again, ¡°You¡¯re a lot different from how I imagine you, more spine,¡± She said thoughtfully and leaned back in his chair, ¡°I like that,¡± When he didn¡¯t respond to the backhanded compliment she chuckled again and sighed, ¡°You must hate it here, in a shabby low level office with only the dregs as clientele. How do you stand it? You¡¯re one of the finest lawyers in the city yet you let your brother¡¯s shadow cripple you.¡± He stiffened, ¡°You did your research.¡± ¡°Of course I did,¡± The woman said, ¡°I came here to hire you after all, sweep you off your feet and take you away to a much better career.¡± Hire me? He squeezed his hands together, ¡°You¡¯re a villain, aren¡¯t you?¡± She fixed him with a stare for a moment before nodding, ¡°I am. The first.¡± ¡°The first?¡± He murmured. ¡°I ordered the attack on the Hero Day events,¡± The woman said flatly, ¡°I control Kingshark.¡± His jaw fell, his eyes widening, this person just admitted to being the most powerful living domestic terrorist in the United States without even hesitating. A villain, no, a supervillain. He swallowed as she continued to talk. ¡°My ability allows me to make binding contracts with other people and I¡¯m looking to make improvements on it. I tried to do it, but my instincts tell me that I am not qualified to create physical documents to assign my ability to, I need someone with a talent in the legal field and my public persona could use a legal representative as well...¡± She said as if describing the weather, ¡°...You.¡± His blood ran cold even as his mind worked. An ability that creates ¡®binding¡¯ contracts? Contracts that can¡¯t be broken? Clearly she¡¯d done it before, but... Why was he even thinking about it? Was it boredom? Was it resentment? Was it greed? He licked his lips and looked at the helmet, ¡°How does it work?¡± He asked hesitantly. ¡°I¡¯ll show you first hand once you hear out my offer,¡± She said. ¡°Offer?¡± He asked and she pushed one of his own business cards towards him. He took it and flipped it over, his stomach roiling at the number on the card. He stared at it, aghast, then looked up at her in wonder. He opened his mouth to speak but she held up her hand, ¡°This includes funding a new office in New York and assisting in hiring staff.¡± He looked down at the card again, ¡°Annually?¡± He asked. ¡°Yes.¡± He glanced around his tiny office and down at the carton of coffee in the bag next to the chair. He rolled his jaw and looked up at her, ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± He asked, a small smile creeping across his face. She held out a hand, ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal, Mister Matthews.¡± ¨C It was morning when the figure stopped in front of the door to the office. Humming to himself, the man ran his finger over the handle and the security disengaged. He pulled the door open and slipped inside, walking down the unlit entry hall and into the waiting room. He glanced around curiously and reached up to play with his coiffed hair. He tugged at a strand and licked his lips, rounding the corner that led down to the owner¡¯s office. He stopped at the door and glanced down, it was ajar. He pushed the door open and blinked, tilting his head curiously to the left. The office was empty. The books were gone, legal documents, everything. All that was left was the shoddy wooden desk and the chairs set around it. Sapphire eyes gleamed as his lips twisted into an awkward smile, ¡°Curious, where¡¯d he go?¡± Chapter 47 Chapter 47 The room was small and spartan, neat to the point of anxiety. Every surface meticulously cleaned, with what little decoration that adorned the walls the only thing that stood out. In the rear of the room a twin bed pressed up against the wall to provide additional space. The dining table folded up next to it. The kitchenette had been cleared of anything that might be knocked off, everything stored neatly inside the few cabinets provided with the residence. The television had been built into the wall, affixed in a way that made it difficult to add peripherals. She sat in the center of the room on a padded mat, her legs crossed in the lotus position. Her eyes closed, her lips pressed tightly together. Her black hair hung around her face as it tilted down towards her cupped hands, right beneath her bellybutton. She wore only a pair of military fatigue pants and a tank top, she¡¯d eschewed jewelry, embracing a life of simplicity. Not a dollop of makeup on her flawless face to smear as a droplet of sweat slid down her temple to her chin. She felt the ambient energy in the air, the strange ethereal presence that reminded her of static electricity. She could sense it, grasp it, pull on it, and subsume it into her body. It felt dank, though, sickly. The air of the city was not conducive to what she was doing with it. Even so, she had nowhere else. She took a deep breath and allowed the energy to enter her body, exhaling as it circulated through her limbs and into that spot just beneath her navel. She felt the pressure build at a spot in her arm, a faint moment of pain, then she exhaled and what felt like a clog opened up to allow the flow to move even more easily. She tilted her head and her eyes opened a crack. She looked at the door across the room and quietly rose to her feet, crossing the distance in a matter of seconds. She stood at the door for a heartbeat, her expression unreadable, eyes fixed on the smooth white surface. Something rustled on the other side and she gripped the handle, pulling it down and stepping back to let the door open. On the other side, a trio of men blinked, startled, and looked up at her as she stared down at them. They were all wearing military uniforms. They hurriedly snapped into quick salutes, the man at the front, slightly older than the others, introduced himself; ¡°First Lieutenant Wu Chang greets the Lieutenant Colonel!¡± He said quickly, ¡°This is Second Lieutenant Liu and Officer Cadet Gongsun.¡± He said, gesturing to the men to his left and right respectively. She eyed the First Lieutenant for a moment before returning the salute, ¡°Lieutenant Colonel Lian Chunhua greets her Comrades,¡± She stepped aside, ¡°Please enter,¡± She turned on her heel and walked from the door, ¡°I haven¡¯t made tea,¡± She clipped. The three men looked at one another before hurrying inside as she walked to the solitary wardrobe set against the wall next to her bed, she opened it and pulled out her military uniform, the two stars and bars set on the shoulders. She set it on her bed before pulling the next thing out of the cabinet. A sword in a black lacquer sheath, a gold chain set into the sheath would allow it to be strapped to her waist. She set it on the bed as well and glanced back at them. They shifted uneasily for a moment, ¡°Hurry up,¡± She ordered, turning back to her bed, ¡°I¡¯d like to hear my orders and get changed.¡± They looked uneasy for a moment before the First Lieutenant cleared his throat and saluted again, ¡°Lieutenant Colonel Lian Chunhua, you are hereby ordered by the People¡¯s Liberation Army to assume the role of a Hero for our glorious nation. You will retain your rank, but will be assigned as a warrior to fight against the monster scourge that has risen from Pandora¡¯s Flash.¡± She froze, her shoulders tensing for a moment before she relaxed and turned to face them. She thought back to the mandatory testing that took place across the nation just a day before and the reaction to the golden-orange glow of the sphere that she¡¯d touched. The testers had been visibly excited. They hadn¡¯t bothered with the physical fitness examination after they found out about her military background. She glanced between their faces for a moment before nodding, ¡°I accept this assignment.¡± The First Lieutenant swallowed, she wondered if he was afraid of her, he cleared his throat and stepped forward with an envelope and handed it to her. She took it and opened it. Inside was an identification card marking her as a Mythic-Tier Hero and giving her a codename. She glanced up at them, ¡°Black Lotus,¡± She mused thoughtfully before pulling out her wallet and slipping the card inside. She checked the letter that came with the card, it came with additional orders as to what state guild she would be assigned to and where she would have to move. She glanced around her quarters, there wasn¡¯t really anything worth moving. ¡°I¡¯ll get packed, wait outside,¡± She ordered. They didn¡¯t hesitate, they quickly scurried out the door and shut it behind them. She let out a lonely sigh and sat down on the bed, looking the document over again and pressing her head against the paper. ¡°Damn it...¡± She thought about the small community she¡¯d grown to know in the area, the kindly woman next door who brought food over now and then. The kids who would greet her as she left on her morning runs. The many smiling faces she was leaving behind without a word. She hung her head and let out a breath before snatching up the remote and turning the TV on as she started to get dressed. ¡°Russian-born American National, Sonya Chernovna, who¡¯s speech at the American Congress instigated the Hero Movement, was briefly captured by hostile light-touched calling themselves ¡®villains¡¯. She was later found safe and returned to her work. Miss Chernovna has contributed significant munitions resources to the party¡¯s efforts to suppress the monster attacks across the country. The President issued a statement wishing her well and condemning the unlawful use of light-touched abilities,¡± The woman on the screen said. Chunhua glanced towards the screen and paused, a woman made out of snow stood centered on the screen, her eyes were the most vibrant pink she¡¯d ever seen. She looked delicate but also... Strong, Chunhua thought, I can feel her spirit just looking at her. Her eyes lingered on the screen until it changed to footage of the President speaking at a podium, she caught herself and turned away, listening again as she got changed. ¡°The advent of the Pandora Committee has led to the first round of friendly talks with the Americans in decades, while there are things that may never change and never be forgotten, this new era marks a turning point that we can look forward on. It enrages me that someone would dare lay hands on the person who heralded this new era. If ever Miss Chernovna is seeking sanctuary, our great nation will provide her a home,¡± He said, ¡°And to the villains that dare stand in the way of our nation¡¯s peace. We will bring you to a proper justice.¡± The First and Second lieutenant exchanged looks, the First Lieutenant cleared his throat, ¡°If... if I may ask, what is your ability? It was hard to tell. Swordsmanship, perhaps?¡± He asked. The Second Lieutenant tensed, ¡°Sir!¡± She peered at the First Lieutenant for a moment before glancing at the Officer Cadet. According to the orders in the letter, the nature of her ability was a state secret that could only be discussed among those of officer rank and even then, specific details were only to be covered with those of around her own rank and higher. She noted the nervous excitement on the Second Lieutenant¡¯s face and couldn¡¯t help but crack a small smile. It couldn¡¯t hurt, she supposed. ¡°My ability is called Lord of Jianghu,¡± She said. The Cadet coughed and the two higher ranking officers blinked at her, ¡°You know its name? I thought that was hard to learn,¡± The First Lieutenant asked while the Second Lieutenant seemed to be having some sort of excitement induced attack. Chunhua shrugged, ¡°My ability provides a certain level of introspective awareness,¡± She said simply before glancing at the Second Lieutenant, ¡°Is... he okay?¡± The First Lieutenant sighed, ¡°He reads a lot of martial arts novels.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a cultivator? A real live cultivator? That means you get stronger, right? You have to meditate and cycle and uh...¡± The Second Lieutenant started to babble, waving his hands. She raised her hand to her lips and offered a small titter of a laugh, the three men went silent and turned a little red in the face. She ignored the reaction she got from them and gave the excited man a smile, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s pretty much how it works.¡± ¡°Th-then that was the plum blossom technique!¡± He said excitedly, ¡°How did you learn it, though? That stuff is only in books.¡± She shrugged, ¡°The techniques just come to me.¡± He stared at her in awe and she settled back into her seat as the First Lieutenant gave him a scolding look. She closed her eyes and took another breath, concentrating on her core and the energy inside. She overheard one of them hush the other and she imagined they were trying to give her a little privacy. She appreciated it, but it wasn¡¯t necessary. She wouldn¡¯t be doing this for long, her mind was too filled with what was coming in the future. Ahead of Chunhua was a life of violence, monsters, and bloodshed. She sighed and opened her eyes, pulling the orders out of her pocket again and looking them over one more time. Her fingers tensed a little as her eyes drifted over the line that had shaken her the most. Just a few words that changed her life forever. Lieutenant Colonel, Lian Chunhua, Mythic-Tier, Black Lotus, you are hereby assigned to the international strike force under the direct oversight of our nation¡¯s branch of the Pandora Committee, effective immediately. I wonder if I¡¯ll get to see America... Chapter 48 Chapter 48 Sonya glanced out the window as the clouds drifted beneath the jet. Her hand rested on her helmet, running her fingers across its surface. She watched the world speed by, far away from her up in the sky. It seemed so peaceful at this distance, even though she knew it was very much the opposite. She glanced at the date in her HUD and frowned, time was running out for the next dungeon break. Even so, she had more to do before she could orchestrate its prevention. She¡¯d allowed one to happen because it was unavoidable, but now she had more or less what she needed. Just a few more lines to cross off my list, she mused, glancing towards the effeminate man across from her. Colin had looks that would render most people a little bewildered. That¡¯s to say, he¡¯d look amazing in a dress. Or a skirt, I wonder how Mikayla is doing, Sonya thought as she eyed him before dismissing the thought with a wry smile. He had a pretty face, ear length hair and bright expressive eyes. His facial structure was delicate too. Right now though his expression was a mix between terror and curious delight. He was glancing from his hands to Sonya¡¯s face, flexing his fingers thoughtfully. ¡°You have questions?¡± She asked him finally. He jumped and looked her in the eyes, ¡°Tons of them,¡± He said hesitantly. ¡°I have no idea what your aim is in all this.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just say I¡¯m trying to save the world,¡± Sonya said flatly, tapping her nails against the helmet on the seat next to her. He glanced at it and swallowed, ¡°How do I know you¡¯re not lying to me?¡± He asked. She frowned at him but shrugged, there wasn¡¯t any point in hiding anything from him. He¡¯d taken the usual non-disclosure deal back at the office. ¡°I can¡¯t lie, it¡¯s a side effect of my ability. When I try, I choke,¡± Sonya said evenly, ¡°I can use half-truths and misdirections, I can even make truthful statements deceptively, but I cannot state a direct falsehood,¡± She explained and let out a dramatic sigh, ¡°It¡¯s incredibly inconvenient.¡± He snorted, ¡°You need more than a lawyer, then, you need a spokesperson or someone who can pretend to be you when necessary,¡± He said and looked down at the small folding desk that had been set out between them and the document on top of it. Sonya glanced knowingly at Marta who snorted and got up to grab herself a drink. She¡¯d explain that to him later. First he needed to prove that he was useful to her at all. I didn¡¯t promise him that he would survive this flight, after all. She thought darkly as Marta brought a can of soda over for her. She took it graciously, ¡°Thank you, Marta.¡± Marta nodded and stepped away as Sonya took a sip and Colin reviewed the document. He frowned a little and pulled a pen out from his coat, making a few notations here and there before grabbing his suitcase with a grunt and pulling out a notepad. He started to write furiously, glancing back and forth between the document and making a few surprised noises when he got to one article or another. He glanced up at her, ¡°You¡¯re the one doling out youth to people?¡± He asked. ¡°I am,¡± Sonya said, ¡°It¡¯s a profitable business.¡± He chuckled and shook his head, ¡°No kidding, based on the offer you made me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re happy with the salary?¡± She asked. ¡°Very,¡± He grunted and kept writing. ¡°And you don¡¯t care about my actions?¡± She pressed. He set the notepad down and rubbed his jaw, ¡°I¡¯m not exactly one to judge someone about morals,¡± He said after a few moments of thought, ¡°I¡¯m a defense attorney first and foremost, and I¡¯ve defended some pretty horrible people. Based on what you said, you¡¯re cracking a few eggs to save the hen house. Some people would have a problem with that, but frankly I¡¯d rather the world still be around than otherwise,¡± He said with a shrug, ¡°Besides that, do I really have any other options?¡± He added and looked her in the eyes. Sonya smiled at him, ¡°Not any pleasant ones, no.¡± He sniffed and set the document back down before glancing over at the other two. Each contract was only a page long, kept as simple and legible as possible. Even an idiot could understand what went into it as long as they had the capacity to read. There were hundreds of each. One pile offered youth in exchange for a sum, he¡¯d left the amount of time and the price blank as instructed. The other offered awakening to the unawakened in exchange for a contracted period of service. ¡°Can she really get their contact information just by them signing this paper?¡± He asked, picking one up and looking it over, ¡°Scary.¡± The door opened and he set the contract down, swallowing hard as Sonya swept into the room. It was still hard to believe that this woman was playing the entire world for a fool. She¡¯d basically created both the heroes and villains. He had no idea what the extent of her plan was, but he was starting to get an idea. He wasn¡¯t stupid. The villains were acting as a rallying point, the news was filled with heroes defeating monsters and then declaring their intention to track down and capture villains during their down time. She gave them something to agree on, was she worried the heroes would turn on eachother or something? He shoved the question aside as she picked up one of the awakening contracts, running her thumb across the paper as she read it. Her mechanical eyes twisted and clicked, a faint ticking sound coming from somewhere inside of her head. I feel like captain hook, he thought grimly, watching her expression, Any moment and she could just strike. At least until she signs the contract anyway. She set the document down and then picked up the youth contract, reading it as well before finally turning to the last, his contract. She read it slowly, glancing up at him once or twice before a small smirk blossomed on her face, ¡°Mutual protection, hmm? You¡¯re a shrewd man.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not end up dead as soon as my usefulness has been fulfilled,¡± He said flatly, glancing around his new office. It was far more stately than the borderline cubicle he¡¯d worked out of in Orlando. Neat wooden shelves had already been filled with his books and possessions and a computer had been affixed to the wide mahogany desk that had been brought in just for him. Starhaus Furniture, this must have cost a fortune... ¡°I like the new office, I¡¯d hate to lose it.¡± Sonya laughed, ¡°Well don¡¯t get too used to it, I¡¯m hoping to build a new headquarters for ASTA in the future,¡± She said, reading the last of the document, ¡°This looks good, the spirit of our initial agreement is there as well, I¡¯m glad you decided to handle this correctly, Colin.¡± He cleared his throat, ¡°Based on what you told me, just touching the thing gives you a summary, I wouldn¡¯t be able to trick you even if I wanted to.¡± Her smile widened, ¡°I knew you were smart.¡± ¡°I made sure to reinforce the non-disclosure, you told me a lot about your powers, it would be bad if I mentioned any relevant details on accident or while under coercion,¡± He explained, gesturing to the paper. ¡°Oh I saw that,¡± She said and looked down at the two other stacks of contracts, ¡°You really know how to endear yourself. I¡¯ll remember that,¡± She said and pulled a pen from her jacket. She set the document down on the table and it began to glow faintly for a moment. As the light faded, she flipped to the end and signed it. She turned that page around and pushed it towards him, ¡°Your turn, as soon as you sign that, you¡¯ll be a new man.¡± In more ways than one, I suspect, he thought and looked down at the paper. At the blank line that sat between him and a changed life. Just twenty-four hours ago he had been languishing in his tiny office barely skating by with a salary that would make any other self-respecting lawyer feel sorry for him. He gripped the pen in his hand and took a deep breath before signing his name on the sheet, directly beneath where the name ¡®Ishtar¡¯ had been written in a looping signature. The paper glowed, flashing brightly for a moment and he heard a gasp and a small thud. When the light faded he saw Sonya gripping the desk between them, holding on for a moment before catching her breath. ¡°Oh... what a rush!¡± She gasped, chuckling a little as a faint tingling began to work its way up Colin¡¯s fingers. He glanced down at them as she straightened herself, ¡°Oh, I forgot to mention,¡± She said casually, ¡°This will probably hurt a little.¡± Colin shot awake a half hour later on the couch in his new office. There was a light blanket over him and an ice pack on his head. He reached up groggily and pulled it off, daintily touching the egg-sized lump that had formed after he must have banged his head on his desk when he passed out. He coughed and rolled onto his side, his body ached, but he felt something else. It was like an instinct that hadn¡¯t been there before. Innate understanding hardwired into his body. He sat up and looked himself over. He didn¡¯t feel much different otherwise, just, stronger, more resilient, healthier. He glanced at a baseball he¡¯d set on one of his shelves and cleared his throat, ¡°Come,¡± He commanded and felt a tiny bit of something drain from him. As it did, the ball launched itself from the shelf before landing in his hand. His breath caught in his throat, his eyes wide in awe, he clutched the small object as Sonya spoke up, sitting on his desk. ¡°I¡¯ve thought of a name for you,¡± She said and he looked her way, her lips were wide with a smile that sent a bit of chill through him despite his excitement, ¡°From now on, you¡¯ll be Mephisto.¡± Chapter 49 Chapter 49 Wicker lay in his bunk, staring up at the ceiling. It¡¯s been two weeks since the raid and no trial date, He grumbled. The scattered conversation around him faded into the background as his mind wandered. He scratched at his chest, the prison uniform was beyond uncomfortable. He scowled a little, rolling onto his side and watching the others as they milled about, waiting for rec time. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and sat up, scoffing a little as two of his fellow gang members walked by and nodded to him. Seems like almost all of us were sent to corporate prisons instead of federal ones. I figured they¡¯d set us up in a supermax or something. Talk about lackadaisical. I wonder if the corporations are getting paid extra to hold us, cheap ass politicians. A few of the other prisoners glanced his way and then returned to their conversation, his lip twitched, most of them weren¡¯t taking him and the others seriously. Not only that, the few light-touched who had already been in the prison when they awakened were content to do their time and stay off the monster-ridden streets. It was just like the boss had said. They were going to need more than convincing words to become true believers. He let out a breath, Ishtar promised that she¡¯d find a way to help us, she promised. He reminded himself. ¡°Ey, Wicker,¡± A big man said, walking over. Ne?ww chapters will be fully updated at novelhall.com He looked up at the wall of muscle called Franklin and smiled at him, ¡°Franklin! Sleep well?¡± He asked, straightening up a bit on his bunk. The big man rubbed his neck, ¡°What do you think?¡± He asked grumpily and leaned against the small wall that designated Wicker¡¯s cubicle. ¡°Tell me more about this lady.¡± Franklin wasn¡¯t light-touched, but he¡¯d overheard more than a few of Wicker¡¯s attempts to evangelize Ishtar to the other inmates and had developed a bit of an interest. Despite not really seeing any profit in talking to the guy, it didn¡¯t hurt to have an excuse to spread the word by proxy. He cleared his throat, Maybe I¡¯ll talk about my own awakening. That¡¯s a good story. He thought just as a pair of guards walked into the room. One of them carried a cardboard box. ¡°Mail¡¯s here!¡± One of the men shouted and the inmates got to their feet. The other guard made a face and put his hand on his hip, ¡°Sit down, we¡¯ll call you, you know the drill, idiots!¡± There was a susurrus of grumbles but nobody made any pressing moves. One of the inmates sitting near the rear of the room tilted his head up and scowled at the guards. He hopped off his top bunk. The guy had short blonde hair that was cut in such a way that it stuck up on its own. His eyes were an unsettlingly clear blue and he was built like a proper fighter. He reached up and scratched at a small cut on his lip as he passed Wicker and glanced his way, snorting derisively at him. Wicker kept his mouth shut. After all, nobody messed with Graff. He strode up to the guards who hesitated, both of them looking at one another before looking at him. He huffed out a breath and held out a hand, ¡°Hurry up,¡± He growled. The guard with the box quickly began to leaf through the envelopes before plucking one out. He handed it over without hesitation and Graff grinned at him, ¡°Do yourselves a favor, boys,¡± He said and turned away, ¡°Don¡¯t forget that there are some of us here who are only here because we have self control.¡± The first guard frowned, ¡°Is that a threat, Cal?¡± Graff turned around, ¡°Yes, it is, and it¡¯s Graff now, you know that.¡± The guard didn¡¯t move an inch as Graff made his way back to his bunk and sat down. An awkward silence hung over the room as the few other light-touched besides Graff stared at the guards with warning in their eyes. Wicker frowned, if only he could get Graff on his side, then he could... ¡°Thomas Pile!¡± The letter carrying guard shouted. Wicker blinked, he slipped off his bed and walked past Franklin before grabbing the letter from the guard who gave him a wary look. Apparently he was being categorized the same way as Graff. That worked for him. More importantly, I got mail? From who? He looked the envelope over as he walked back to his bunk. He flipped it over and found that it was open. He frowned but let it go, it was policy for them to check it for contraband at least. He looked back at the front and checked the return address. From the desk of Mephisto? Who the fuck is Mephisto? Sounds like a villain name. He paused and glanced surreptitiously over his shoulder at the guards who were already making their way out. The two members of his gang in this block walked over and peered over his shoulder, ¡°What is it, Wick?¡± He glanced up at them and shrugged, pulling the letter out, ¡°Says it''s from a ¡®Mephisto¡¯,¡± He said and unfolded the cover letter. ¡°I hope this finds you well, blah blah, you¡¯ll find what you need attached, good luck to you, Mephisto,¡± He read aloud and frowned, slipping a much thicker sheet of paper out from behind the cover letter. He narrowed his eyes, it looked like a contract. He read it over and felt his muscles tighten and sweat bead on his brow. He hurried over to his bunk and gestured for the other two to stand guard over him. ¡°Oh shit... oh shit...¡± He breathed. A contract that can awaken someone¡¯s powers? Just like that? Notarized by Mephisto and... it¡¯s signed by Ishtar! Holy shit! I need a pen. The library might have one I can use. ¡°Wick, what is going on with you, what is that?¡± Branch, one of his gang members, hissed as he stood guard. ¡°It¡¯s our way to the top of this place,¡± Wicker said with a shaky laugh and glanced up at Franklin who was staring curiously at them from the edge of Wicker¡¯s space, ¡°Hey Franklin, you wanna join me in the library later? I got something even better than a story for you.¡± Everyone was silent for a moment, Sonya took a few steps back and gave Amos some space. A second later that turned out to be a good idea as his gathered assistants all raised their fists in celebration, cheering and hugging him and each other. There was laughter and exchanged high-fives. Amos whirled, ¡°I can see when they appear! I can see how they appear. Sonya, we can predict a monster attack!¡± He shouted, gesturing wildly at the screen. He was on his feet, inches from her. She grinned ear to ear. ¡°I¡¯m so proud of you,¡± She laughed and grabbed his shoulders, ¡°You did it.¡± He beamed at her and then his expression grew thoughtful, ¡°We need sensors everywhere, hell, a satellite! Ten! Twenty!¡± He rambled, counting on his fingers. Sonya laughed, ¡°I can afford a lot of things, but I¡¯m a bit short on satellites right now, Amos,¡± She said, ¡°One step at a time.¡± He nodded furiously, ¡°Right, right, but-¡± ¡°Amos?¡± Da-Som called, ¡°Uh... you might want to see this.¡± Amos turned around and Sonya¡¯s expression hardened a little. She knew what they were seeing, she¡¯d spotted it as soon as the map appeared, but she kept her mouth shut. This was his discovery, not hers. She walked over slowly and kept her expression neutral as she peered over his shoulder, ¡°What is it?¡± She asked. He pointed at the screen, in a spot the corresponded with Times Square. There was a whole lot of blue-green swirling in one spot. More than had condensed to create the monsters a few moments ago. She glanced up at the screen and saw a pair of heroes land and make short work of the creatures before looking back down. Amos rubbed his neck, ¡°Its way denser than the monsters, a Lurker?¡± He muttered and concentrated, ¡°There¡¯s nothing over there.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t the energy disappear when the monsters appeared?¡± One aide pointed out. ¡°Yeah,¡± Another said, ¡°This one is just getting denser and denser.¡± ¡°It¡¯s thinning out the energy levels in the rest of the city,¡± A third pointed out, ¡°Look at how the cloud moves, its gathering into one point. When bits of cloud meet, monsters appear. But otherwise it''s all moving towards that spot.¡± Amos rubbed his chin, ¡°What the hell is this?¡± He murmured and leaned back in his chair, rubbing the sides of his head, ¡°Monster appearances have been on a downturn recently, and...¡± He froze and let out a shaky breath, ¡°Dharan.¡± Sonya clenched her jaw. ¡°Sonya!¡± He turned to her, ¡°This is the same thing that happened before Dharan! Right? Monster levels dropped all over the place before all of a sudden there was an explosion.¡± She nodded, ¡°Worldwide levels dropped, though, and have been for a while,¡± She corrected him. He shook his head, ¡°No, Dharan was the first to see a downward trend in monster attacks, we¡¯ve got word from the government over there that they were tracking the situation at the time,¡± He swallowed, ¡°What if there are hot spots like this all over the world?¡± You couldn¡¯t be more right, Amos. ¡°We¡¯ll have to see what¡¯s there,¡± Sonya said flatly and looked at the screen, ¡°I¡¯ll call Firestorm¡¯s team and see if they¡¯d be willing to join us.¡± He clenched his fists, ¡°What if this is a precursor to another Dharan? How do we stop it?¡± He shook his head, ¡°No, we need to get eyes on whatever this thing is before we can jump to conclusions.¡± She nodded to him, ¡°Good idea, keep calm and get some gear together that we might be able to use. I want to see this thing personally.¡± He swallowed hard, ¡°I¡¯m on it.¡± Sonya turned away and took a steadying breath, And just like that, the Times Square dungeon has been discovered. She put her hand on the door and firmed her resolve. Let¡¯s see if we can avoid the annihilation of New York City this time around. She thought as the memory of a city in flames clawed its way to the front of her mind. Chapter 50 Chapter 50 It felt strange, it was like every now and then a little bit of who she was burned a little on the inside. She knew it wasn¡¯t hurting her, not really, but it was something she would have to get used to. Each time someone signed on the dotted line she could sense it, feel it at the core of her being. It didn¡¯t make her stronger, it wasn¡¯t like she could gain personal strength from someone simply by having them use one of her contracts to awaken. But it still felt like she was becoming more powerful, in a metaphorical way if she had to express it. She strode into the room, the open space illuminated from above with strong lights. The entire area was made out of that same reinforced metal that they had fitted her merging chamber with but it was far larger. Resources from hunting monsters had become more plentiful almost overnight and Amos was quick to look into ways to streamline the process. This room, though, was far less of a secret than the others, though it still didn¡¯t have any external observation set up. It was for testing, pure and simple. Today¡¯s test subject? Sonya herself. The reasoning was simple enough: she was going to the dungeon. The Time¡¯s Square dungeon had been one of the most catastrophic events in the early history of the world after the flash in her past. The sheer number of monsters that had come out of it last time had been incomprehensible. Dungeon Breaks were a fairly straightforward process, the mana in the atmosphere gathered slowly at a locus point, a hot zone, and formed a dungeon. Even after the formation it continued to draw in energy until someone entered it and it stabilized. The problem came when a dungeon was left unmolested or worse, heroes failed to conquer it. The longer it was left without an outsider inside of it, the more mana began to build. That mana was put to use by the dungeon, creating monsters and the rewards that came from completing it. Unfortunately a dungeon could only handle so much mana build up, it could only contain so many monsters before it became overpopulated, and could only generate so many rewards. After enough time, the dungeon just broke open like a water balloon. The monsters going everywhere and the potential energy contained within the rewards converted into kinetic energy. The crater that was the area around Times Square had become a breeding ground for monsters, they manifested en masse, pouring out of the crater and racing into the city to render it into nothing more than a ruin in a matter of days. Millions died during the break, and millions more succumbed to subsequent breaks that took place throughout New York state after the entire area was abandoned in a mass exodus. The north-east of the United States had become a warzone in less than a month after that and it had taken years and a veritable war party of heroes lead by no less than two dozen mythics to clear it and finally conquer the boss that had steadily grown stronger in the heart of the big apple¡¯s ruins. No one had any theory of how many monsters were in the dungeon as it was building up to its break, but that didn¡¯t really matter. They¡¯d become monstrously strong once exposed to the mana rich atmosphere of earth. In the dungeon they were far more manageable, if still a significant threat. Sonya didn¡¯t know if it was possible for Firestorm and his team to handle it alone and she wasn¡¯t about to leave it up to chance. If Firestorm¡¯s team was forced to retreat, she would go in herself with Kingshark and his crew. Between herself, Marta, and Kingshark it shouldn¡¯t be much of a problem. Though her own impact depended entirely on just what she was capable of. Something she¡¯d yet to test in any way. She¡¯d spent so much time playing politics, business building, and orchestrating events that she hadn¡¯t given much thought to her own personal strengths and limits. It had been a long time since Florence, since she had merged her abilities and had changed her body into this thing that it was. She had spent time trying to analyze herself using her own abilities but there was only so much that could accomplish. While she had some scientific knowhow, she was better at people, planning, and fighting than anything else. Her enhanced-intelligence had given her an edge, and it had served her well so far. But now the chances of her being confronted by a hero will steadily increase going forward, it was time to see what she was capable of. She drew her hair back a little and rolled her shoulders in the outfit. It was a more standardized version of the Ishtar jumpsuit, the material was a bit thinner and designed for mass production rather than her own customized uniform. She turned her head towards the only other person in the room and smiled. Marta was wearing the same kind of outfit and was stretching her arms and legs, rolling her neck and tying her brown hair back into a ponytail. She turned and fixed Sonya with a steady look. ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± She asked, ¡°You¡¯re not supposed to be a fighter, Ma¡¯am.¡± Sonya smiled, ¡°I know my role,¡± She said with a breath and pat the knives on her hips, ¡°But yes, this needs to happen.¡± No warehouse abilities this time around, I can¡¯t rely on them. Eventually I will either merge them or give them away, I have to focus on what this body can do without them. Marta looked at Sonya¡¯s waist, ¡°Knives? Like Blackrazor? I¡¯m pretty sure I can handle that.¡± Sonya smiled, ¡°You might be surprised,¡± Sonya said with a wink and drew them out, both blades pointed down and away from her body, she crossed them in front of her and set her body into a slight crouch. Marta, you¡¯ve only fought monsters and a few other light-touched. I¡¯ve trained to fight light-touched for years. I¡¯ve fought heroes on the front lines of the war. I know how to deal with strength enhancers like yourself. Your regeneration is the only obstacle. Marta nodded, ¡°Okay, I trust you.¡± Sonya nodded back and took a deep breath. Her powers were integrated into her body with merger, but it still felt like there was a distinct on-off switch to them. No, more like a volume dial. She had turned it up a few times but not all the way. She¡¯d never had to. Never had to turn everything to one hundred percent. She felt strength flood through her limbs, a tingling as the cybernetics that were integrated deep inside of her body came online. She felt the air around her tingle against her skin as it began to harden, she could hear her own heartbeat, Marta¡¯s heartbeat. She could hear it... TICK TICK TICK TICK TICK TICK Full power. Energy... low? Marta was at her side in an instant, ¡°Sonya? Sonya! Are you okay? What happened?¡± Sonya coughed and tried to pull hand of the healer out of her warehouse but felt resistance, she grit her teeth and curled in on herself. It hurt so much. She focused harder and dragged the ability out, activating it and letting the soothing green glow wash over her. She coughed again as it fizzled out, returning to her warehouse. Fucking shit... what the hell... She grumbled, rolling onto her back and breathing hard. She felt like she¡¯d just run a marathon. ¡°Sonya!¡± Marta called out again and Sonya raised a weary hand. ¡°I¡¯m... I¡¯m fine...¡± She gasped, coughing again, ¡°Just gotta... catch my breath I think...¡± Marta looked down at her with wild concern in her eyes, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Figuring that out... now...¡± Sonya breathed, looking through her HUD and trying to get the information to be more clear. A paper-doll image of her body appeared with several sections flashing yellow indicating various injuries that still hadn¡¯t healed. She pushed the image aside and looked for more, ¡°What... energy levels? What is this thing talking about?¡± She mumbled, concentrating harder. Finally a bar appeared at the corner of her vision that indicated ten percent of something remaining. Explain... She broke it down as she read it. My body¡¯s internal energy is based on Techno-Eyes? What does that even mean? Internal energy? Powers run on energy? That doesn¡¯t make any sense. I¡¯ve never seen someone run out of energy while using their powers, sure they get tired but that¡¯s just stamina. She frowned, her protests really didn¡¯t matter, what mattered was the facts. And the fact was that her body depended on internal energy reserves to operate. She felt like a goddamn paraplegic right now, her limbs not working at all. She sought out the logic behind why this was happening. Wait, what about Broker? Does Broker not depend on internal energy? She mulled it over, I felt a little tired after the party on the boat but it wasn¡¯t anything like this. Each power has their own limit, then, but Cyber-punk is a bunch of abilities stacked on top of Techno-Eyes. I may have the other abilities built in because of merger but my internal energy didn¡¯t get any better. In other words, I¡¯m trying to operate a jet engine with a motor cycle¡¯s fuel tank. Damn it! ¡°...Sonya?¡± Sonya rolled her jaw angrily, and closed her eyes, trying to center herself. She turned her head to look up at Marta and flexed her fingers, the feeling was starting to come back to them. ¡°It would seem I¡¯m battery powered. Get me to Amos... I can barely move...¡± Marta let out a shaky breath and carefully helped Sonya to her feet, ¡°It was amazing in the moment,¡± Marta said. Sonya let out a harsh laugh and shook her head, ¡°No, it was awful,¡± She grimaced and let Marta pull her arm over her shoulder. ¡°Not good enough.¡± Nowhere near good enough, not for An Set, and certainly not for Otis. Side Story: Ozzie 1 Side Story: Ozzie 1 There was nothing but silence. An endless void of sound and sensation that scratched at the insides of his mind like a thousand insects crawling along his gray matter. He could feel nothing, see nothing, smell nothing, but he knew. He knew himself, he knew the universe, he knew who he was, but he did not know where he was. It was as if he was awake during a dreamless sleep, a feeling that was so eerie and uncomfortable that all his conscious mind could ask for was for it to end, one way or another. Then he woke. His lungs filled with air with a sudden seizing gasp, his chest rising high as his back arched. His fingers splayed and twitched, his eyes rolled back into his head and he jerked, whacking himself in the face against something hard. ¡°Ow! Ow ow owuh! That hurt! Son of a- who put this here?¡± Ozzie griped, reaching up to slap his hand against cold metal. ¡°Huh?¡± He grunted and whipped his head around, why¡¯s it so dark? This ain¡¯t my cab. He reached up and pat the space on either side of him, hard walls made of equally cold metal. It felt like he was inside a refrigerator. It was so cold. ¡°Wha-what? Where the hell am I?¡± He gasped, reaching around for something to grab onto. There were some kind of handles on either side of him. His brain worked slowly for a moment, it felt like his head was full of soup. He tried to remember what had happened before, why he was here. I picked up that guy, took him to the hotel, uh... asked for fare and... He gasped and reached up for his throat, patting it frightfully. He fuckin¡¯ stabbed me! That asshole! He pressed his fingers against the back of his neck, No wound though... Wait... was I dead?Ne?ww chapters will be fully updated at novelhall.com His thoughts drifted aimlessly for a moment before righting on a crime drama he¡¯d watched in his lonely apartment, I¡¯m in a morgue! He realized, reaching up over his head and pushing, This is a door right? Or a drawer? Do I kick down? Nothing happened when he pushed up but when he kicked down with his feet the refrigerated drawer he was inside shifted a bit. He sighed with relief, I guess they don¡¯t lock these things, He thought and kicked a few more times before he was able to slip his fingers out and leverage it the rest of the way. He maneuvered the drawer open and found himself in an empty room, it was dark, with only the faintest amount of lighting overhead to allow night crew to navigate probably. He rolled out onto the floor and felt his strength leave him for a second. Shit fuck shit! He groaned, scrambling to get back to his feet. Oh man, this suck so much, what happened? How am I still- ¡°I¡¯m light-touched,¡± It hit him like a head-on collision. The realization almost sending him back to the floor. ¡°I¡¯m light touched, and I can¡¯t... die?¡± It was so strange, it was like he simply understood how it worked, how his body had changed. Like an instinct that went beyond the base desire to eat and reproduce. The things his instincts told him, though, weren¡¯t all sunshine and daisies. No no no no no, please no, please just be mixing things up because of a bad movie. He looked around quickly, trying to find something reflective. Most everything was locked up in cabinets, there was even a padlock on a refrigerator. He didn¡¯t want to know what was in it. He bumbled around until he spotted a metal tray on a rack on the other side of the room. He lumbered over himself trying to get to it, his limbs still not working quite right. They felt awkward and loose but also incredibly strong. It¡¯s my brain, something wrong with it, the limiters are off? What does that mean? He didn¡¯t have time to waste, he slipped out the door and ran in the opposite direction of the approaching footsteps, hustling down the hall and rounding a corner. There was a door up ahead that had a sign for pick-up and disposal. There! He raced to the door and hurriedly grabbed the keys out of his pocket, fumbling with them as he grasped the handle. It turned easily before he even put a key inside, Oh... it opens from the inside. Neat. He mused a little merrily, a manic laugh burbling up his chest. He could hear the footsteps again, moving a bit quicker this time. Focus, Ozzie! He screamed at himself and threw the door open, staggering out into a dimly lit loading dock connected to an alley. He whipped his head around, Which way do I go? What street am I on? Oh man, this sucks! He whined and hopped off into the alley nearly bowling over with how loose his joints were. Oh come on! He caught himself after a few false starts, stumbling about like a drunk until he managed to get to his feet again. He turned on his heel and froze. A low growl filled the alley. He felt his lifeless heart sink. The hound¡¯s eyes glowed in the dark. ¡°Uh...¡± He tried to force a smile, ¡°Nice puppy?¡± It snarled and lunged at him, he let out a scream of terror and turned trying to dash away and only managing to collapse again into a tangle of limbs. The hound landed on his back and tried to bite at him but he scrambled beneath it, forcing himself up to his knees and cracking the back of his head against it¡¯s muzzle. It let out a whine of pain just as he clutched at the back of his head, My hearts not beating but I can still feel pain, what the hell man? This sucks! He stumbled a few steps before glancing back at the dazed creature. He caught a whiff of something again and swallowed hard. It wasn¡¯t the person I smelled... It''s so strong now... He wiped his lips free of the drool that had begun to form. I smelled... the monster? It does smell really good. Like... really really good. He swallowed again, Maybe... just a bite? Just one won¡¯t hurt, right? He turned fully to face the creature and lunged. Chapter 51 Chapter 51 Amos¡¯ assessment had been nearly verbatim of her own thoughts. He had examined her with a wand he had rigged up to detect mana and found it circulating through her body almost in the same way her blood did. Sonya was not happy. She¡¯d been in the shadows so long with her abilities, only using them to threaten and do the bare minimum so far. Otherwise she¡¯d played the political game. But that¡¯s not what she wanted, not in her heart. She wanted to be the one to slide a knife into Otis¡¯ chest and see the light fade from his eyes. This? This was worse than how powerless she¡¯d felt when she¡¯d been nothing more than a scout. She had the ability to fight a strong opponent, she just could barely use it. ¡°My guess,¡± he said with a sigh, ¡°Is that you¡¯ve merged a ton of uncommon, rare and epic tier abilities into yourself, maybe even more with that hard-light ability and turning them all on at once burns through your reserves like that-¡± He snapped his fingers. ¡°I have a theory that our abilities use mana somehow, that¡¯s probably the energy it¡¯s talking about. Our bodies produce enough mana constantly to keep our abilities going as long as we need them, take Marta for example. We ran a few tests and I detected mana in her wounds.¡± ¡°But Sonya gave me that ability, I wasn¡¯t awakened with it,¡± Marta pointed out. ¡°I¡¯ve been wounded tons of times and I never felt like Baldur¡¯s Body was going to give out.¡± ¡°No, but you paid a price for it, didn¡¯t you?¡± Amos countered, ¡°Sonya copied hers and merged them in with only pain and a long nap. You basically went through another awakening, Marta.¡± She looked down at her clenched fists, So I finally figured out the drawback of Broker. My balance is all out of whack, I figured I could just layer up a bunch of abilities and combine them and that would make me powerful right off the bat. I should have realized it wasn¡¯t that simple. I needed to be more careful about it. She cursed under her breath and rubbed her head, ¡°Damn it, thirty seconds of operating time.¡± ¡°Unless you can run on external mana, yeah,¡± He said with a chuckle. He looked over at Marta uneasily. ¡°You know, you really don¡¯t have to be a fighter. You¡¯ve recruited some strong people and-¡± Sonya clenched her jaw, ¡°No!¡± She shouted, pushing herself to her feet and trying to draw on Hands of the Healer again. Her fingers glowed green and the pain in her ribs finally faded. She stormed out of the room with a scowl. Damn it! She snarled inwardly, Why didn¡¯t I test this sooner? Am I really only good for showboating? She looked down at her hand and pulled up Might of Thor. Electricity crackled across her fingertips, My guess is that the warehouse abilities run off of Broker¡¯s internal reserve, then. Broker is Mythic-tier which is why I didn¡¯t feel anything when I killed Occus. Would it have been better to keep them all as warehouse abilities? No! I would have to switch constantly and that probably constitutes a drain in and of itself that I¡¯m not aware of. She stormed into her office and slammed her fists on her desk, glaring at her reflection in the metal surface. ¡°Idiot!¡± She snarled and took a deep breath, ¡°Calm down.¡± She closed her eyes, ¡°Think, Sonya, think,¡± She muttered. You can¡¯t just pull mana out of a monster core, not into your body anyway. There¡¯s no point in trying to push Amos to create mana-based energy sources or storage early since I can¡¯t just hook one up to my body either, that¡¯s nonsense. External mana, internal energy, she narrowed her eyes, A power source. I need an ability to merge in that acts as a power source. She sighed, That¡¯s the only way to fix this monumental screw up. No more merging until then. Damn, and I was planning on trying to merge steelblood in. She rubbed the bridge of her nose. Her fingers were trembling. Her whole body shook. She was so angry. Everything had been going so well that she hadn¡¯t even thought that she could trip and fall on her face like this. She closed her eyes and Chunhua¡¯s lifeless face popped up unbidden. She grit her teeth and slammed her fists on the desk again, nearly leaving a dent. ¡°Sonya?¡± Marta said softly as she came into the office behind her. ¡°It has to be me,¡± Sonya said shakily, ¡°I have to be the one to do it...¡± I have to kill him, I have to kill Otis. I knew I wasn¡¯t strong enough yet, but I didn¡¯t realize how far behind I was still. ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Marta said, walking to her side and putting a hand on Sonya¡¯s shoulder. Sonya closed her eyes, ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± She breathed and concentrated, forcing the rage down as deep as it could go. ¡°I just need a moment.¡± Firestorm felt heat race to his cheeks and he whirled, ¡°I don¡¯t have a crush!¡± ¡°Uhuh, ¡®her smile seems off¡¯...¡± Lifesaver teased him. ¡°Sure.¡± Bandit burst into laughter and Firestorm covered his face, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He glanced back at the walking goddess who had saved his father, turned his life around, created a new era, and gave him the job of his dreams. He sighed, what wasn¡¯t to like? That said, she was absolutely, completely, and totally out of reach. He rubbed his neck and leaned against the wall again. Who am I kidding? The two looked at one another, bandit blinked then looked up at him again, ¡°Woah, woah, buddy we were joking. You serious? Dude. Sonya Chernovna man. Sonya Chernovna. Shoot for the moon not, y¡¯know, Jupiter or some shit.¡± He groaned, ¡°Shut up.¡± Despite his growing annoyance, he did notice that Sonya¡¯s expression seemed to grow a bit better from afar. She couldn¡¯t hear them, could she? No way. ¨C Men. Sonya had to do her best to keep her expression controlled. It was cute, at least, and it definitely served to bandage her wounded ego after learning how badly she¡¯d messed up cultivating her abilities. She had to remind herself that she was already searching for a solution. She had Amos searching the records for anyone with a high level magic-based ability that could be simple enough to merge into Cyber-Punk. If it was too complicated or specific then it would have a possibility of being rejected, like The Astral Eye. ¡°Overall I think that the current list of potentials will really pan out,¡± Bluestar said with an eager smile, gesturing to the tablet in Sonya¡¯s hands. Sonya looked down at it again, she wasn¡¯t wrong, there were plenty of solid recruits there though unfortunately none that looked like they would be a good match. Not even Bluestar had turned out to be a good option. Her Azure Magician ability was strong, but it was also too complicated according to her Merger ability. It was close, though. Merger wanted an ability that was almost pure mana though before she could start integrating magical powers, it seemed. ¡°I¡¯m pleased with your progress, Bluestar, you¡¯ve done well since I put you in charge. The idea to create a scout position was inspired,¡± Sonya said, handing the tablet back. The woman beamed, ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Sonya, please,¡± Sonya corrected her, ¡°I¡¯ll get some contracts written up ahead of time based on their tier so we can make the process a little easier. I just got a rather talented lawyer on retainer, actually,¡± She cleared her throat and turned to the others, ¡°Anyway, boys! Join us? We¡¯re going to start the briefing.¡± The three men walked over, talking quietly amongst themselves. Firestorm looked incredibly awkward, Poor boy, Bandit was right though. She smiled at him and pat his arm before stepping over to a small podium that was set up at the head of the room. A screen behind her came to life and an image of the flow of mana around New York appeared. ¡°Alright,¡± She let out a breath, ¡°This information is proprietary until we¡¯ve confirmed it and figured out how to properly use it, after that, we¡¯ll be releasing it to the Pandora Committee. I ask that you all keep this to yourselves...¡± It was less than an hour later that they were in a small caravan of cars heading towards Times Square. Sonya had chosen not to brief the chairman just yet since she wanted to control the information about dungeons as much as she could at first, getting it to precisely who she needed to. She had a ¡®club¡¯ to dote on after all, and their continued loyalty was important. Spreading out the controlling interest over dungeons was also crucial. She wouldn¡¯t let the Committee go down the monopolizing route it had gone down last time. They arrived at Times square not long after that, thanks to her friendship with the commissioner they were able to get the area cleared for a little while. From there they found themselves at the foot of the Jumbotron and One Times Square. She looked up at the building, swallowing hard. Marta was a step behind her and Amos was checking his instruments a few meters away. Firestorms team had squared up and were looking up at the imposing structure as well. This is it. It¡¯s time to go save eight million people. Chapter 52 Chapter 52 It was easy enough to get inside, while there was security set up at One Times Square, Sonya hadn¡¯t done all her networking and developing of her public persona without a reason. The resident management was only too happy to greet them and facilitate whatever they needed during the investigation. Sonya may have implied a bit indirectly that they were here on business related to the Pandora Committee, and while that was true, the Chairman obviously had no idea what she was doing. Which was the point, of course. From there they were taken down into the substructure of the building. Portions of it had been renovated over and over throughout the years, walls put up to block hallways that served no purpose anymore. A glance towards Marta was all that was necessary to deal with these particular blockages. Sonya knew where it was, generally speaking. Doing research about the dungeon¡¯s location ahead of raiding any dungeon was crucial, and more than one might expect. She pursed her lips together as she referenced the oldest blueprint of the building, following it down, down, down. At first, everyone remained largely silent, no one picking up anything out of the ordinary in the air. The staff that had accompanied them-mostly to keep an eye on them-had been pleasant enough to explain some of the history of the building, offering anecdotes and drivel that filled the otherwise uncomfortable silence. The only two people truly on high alert besides Sonya were Marta and Amos. Marta, because she always was, and Amos because he was watching with more and more alarm as the ambient levels of mana were spiking higher and higher as they got closer to their destination. Sonya glanced his way, She said through their shared technopathy. He tensed a little and kept his eyes on his equipment, She trailed off as they came to a stop ahead of a pair of reinforced doors. They look like they had been installed as part of some kind of fallout shelter ages ago. There was even a wheel-type lock on the front. She glanced towards Amos who nodded and turned to the Staff members who had stopped with them at the latest obstacle. ¡°I imagine it¡¯s about to get fairly dangerous,¡± Sonya said with a bright smile, ¡°Thank you for the escort.¡± It was the nicest dismissal they¡¯ve ever had and judging by the atmosphere, they seemed to take the hint. They nodded quickly and retreated, heading up the stairs as Sonya took in their surroundings. The space was dark with only the lighting of their own flashlights present to give any sort of illumination. Bare brick walls were covered in faint dampness from the humidity and pipes hung openly overhead, shuddering now and then. She glanced at Marta and inclined her head. Marta nodded from behind the veil that covered her face when she was playing the role of Handmaiden and grabbed onto the wheel. There was only a heartbeat of resistance before time and rust cracked and she began to turn it. The doors shuddered when the lock was fully retracted and Marta placed her hand on the metal, pushing hard. They swung open as if they had been freshly oiled, though the sound of creaking and snapping metal spoke to just how much force Marta had put behind the shove. No one paid any attention to it. There was something far more eye-catching in front of them. In the middle of what appeared to be an enormous common area set up for a bomb shelter beneath the building were a pair of cylindrical pillars, each of them made of distinct slabs of stone that were stacked on top of one another. Each slab bearing strange and unreadable markings. The markings glowed with an eerie off-blue color that was drowned out by the much more intense light source in the room. A swirling portal made of concentrated mana roiled and churned between the two pillars, its surface bubbling now and then before becoming flat as a calm sea. Everyone stood in silence, Sonya keeping her mouth shut as the heroes took in the sight. Next to her, Amos swallowed and took a few tentative steps forward. He gestured to one of the aides who had been carrying a large box for him. The young man looked at the glowing vortex in fear and Amos turned to him with a frown, ¡°Don¡¯t chicken out now. You aren¡¯t going in there,¡± Amos said sharply. The aide swallowed hard and hurried in behind him, setting the box down. Amos opened it and revealed a set of drones neatly stacked inside. ¡°Had a feeling I¡¯d need you guys,¡± He said and with a thought they sprung into the air. He stepped back and gestured towards the portal while the others including Sonya filed inside. ¡°Will sending them in disrupt it or something?¡± Marta asked, saying what the others were thinking. Amos gave her a look, ¡°Leave the science to the scientist,¡± He teased and shrugged, ¡°It¡¯s stable enough.¡± ¡°...enough?¡± She questioned before one of the drones darted from the formation and raced towards the sheet of glowing energy. It vanished with a sound that was remarkably similar to if it had flown into a body of water, a little splash. Amos frowned the instant it disappeared. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Bluestar asked. ¡°Lost connection,¡± He said, drawing a few alarmed looks from the others. He just shrugged, ¡°No big deal, I instructed it to turn around of its own accord if it doesn¡¯t receive a signal from me within thirty seconds. It¡¯ll come out, or it won¡¯t. Either way it¡¯ll take a recording of what it finds.¡± The next thirty seconds felt like an hour before to everyone¡¯s surprise the drone simply came out of the portal as if nothing had happened to it. It floated over to Amos who frowned when it drew close, his eyes flicking about as if he were looking at something no one else could see. He glanced at Sonya, ¡°We were right.¡± She let out a breath through her nostrils, of course they were, ¡°Explain.¡± ¡°Sonya!¡± Marta pressed but she waved a hand. ¡°He¡¯s not wrong,¡± Sonya said flatly and let her hands fall to her sides, ¡°But promise me you will retreat if things get bad, also, if you don¡¯t come out in twenty-four hours I will send Marta in after you,¡± She said firmly, broaching no contest this time. It was take it or leave it. While she may not be a member of the guild, she owned the guild. They were an investment. She wouldn¡¯t give them explicit orders as promised but she would protect what was hers. He seemed to catch her meaning and smiled at her, ¡°Thank you,¡± He said and turned to look towards the portal. The rest of his team forming up around him. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± He said without ceremony and marched towards the portal. For a moment, a brief moment, Sonya could only see their darkened silhouettes against the glow of the portal. Her mind cast back to the first time she had seen a hero walk into a dungeon, the feeling of awe knowing that they were going to risk their lives for the world. It had been a long time since she¡¯d felt happy to see a hero¡¯s back. ¡°Good luck,¡± Sonya said quietly, and they were gone. ¨C Firestorm stepped through the portal and out the other side. Just like that guy Amos had said, it was pretty much a reflection of the huge common area for the bomb shelter they¡¯d found the portal in. An arched ceiling hung over their heads made of the same metal as the walls and floor. Their footsteps let off tiny sounds as they glanced around, taking in their surroundings. It was surprisingly well lit, compared to the room before. That was thanks to the blue crystals glowing out of every wall. Bluestar glanced towards one clump of them and made a face, ¡°Mana. Those stones are full of it, but it feels inert.¡± ¡°They won¡¯t blow up if we accidentally hit one, right?¡± Bandit asked. ¡°I don¡¯t think so, no, but once we clean up we should probably take a sample back for Miss Sonya, she would appreciate that I think,¡± Bluestar pointed out. ¡°Agreed,¡± Firestorm said as he scanned the room. ¡°Where are these monsters that Amos was talking ab-¡± His words were cut off when he spotted the hunched creatures standing just outside the area of the crystal¡¯s glow. They had red skin and were all but naked. Long ears pointed out of the sides of their malformed heads and tiny nub-like horns protruded from their brows. Long noses hooked down towards cloven feet attached to goat-like legs. Their tiny hands were decorated with long, vicious looking black nails that had been sharpened to points. ¡°Is that...¡± Bandit muttered, tilting his head to the right beneath his hood. ¡°A devil?¡± Lifesaver grunted, ¡°Looks like a picture I¡¯ve seen.¡± ¡°Looks more like a goblin to me,¡± Bluestar said, getting a few looks from the others. She frowned at them, ¡°What? Goblins don¡¯t have to always be green.¡± ¡°Uh... horns?¡± Bandit pointed out, holding his fingers up at his temples. ¡°Hooves?¡± ¡°Guys,¡± Firestorm said sharply, drawing them out of their bickering. They all turned to him and then towards the creatures. The devils were all looking at them, their huge eyes glittering with nothing short of bloodlust and malice. They bore their teeth, razorblades that made Firestorm think of Kingshark. His expression fell into a frown and fire erupted onto his hands as he stepped forward. ¡°Crowd formation.¡± Bandit immediately shifted back a few steps, dancing around the portal behind them and getting some distance. He seemed to vanish into the shadows, his presence utterly gone. Lifesaver put himself directly behind Firestorm, his fingers tensing and ready to do what he did best. Bluestar stood just a few steps to the left and behind Firestorm, throwing her hands out to her sides and muttering under her breath. A pair of glowing walls formed on either side of them, sheets of magical glass that created a narrow path that lead directly to Firestorm. Their actions were enough to send the creatures into a rage, they let out shrieks of fury and hatred, babbling incoherently before swarming out of the shadows and in their direction, the sound of hundreds of cloven hooves creating a cacophony in the room. Flames began to swirl in front of Firestorm. ¡°Here they come,¡± He said, and with a roar, unleashed himself upon them. ¨C Outside of the Dungeon, Sonya could only sit down on a folding chair and wait. She closed her eyes and clasped her hands together. In the end, this is what she¡¯d wanted. For the heroes to take charge and do what needed to be done. Even so, it didn¡¯t feel as good as she¡¯d hoped. Side Story: Marta 1 Side Story: Marta 1 The fact that this was happening spoke volumes about how much things had calmed down since the initial flash. Monster sightings were dropping and more and more light-touched were stepping up as the world prepared for Hero Day. It was incredible to think that a Lurker had been outside the building just a few days ago and there weren¡¯t even signs of battle in the courtyard. It was even more impressive that the staff hadn¡¯t canceled the event. To some, there were things way more important than monsters. Marta hummed merrily to herself, it was the first day off she¡¯d had in a long, long time. In fairness she had resisted at first but Sonya had insisted that she go and enjoy herself. The disability ward turned supervillain had made it pretty clear that she wouldn¡¯t be leaving ASTA labs for a few days and it was a good chance for Marta to get some fresh air and do what she loved. She smiled at herself in the mirror as her appearance shifted and changed. Her hair stayed the same length but it warmed a little into a chestnut color. Her eyes turned a muted violet, close to a lavender. She slimmed down a little, her body becoming a bit smaller than her usual frame. She adjusted the red tie around her neck that rested on the white dress shirt tucked into her black shorts. She shifted a bit, the black tights a little more than she was used to wearing. It had been a long time since she¡¯d cosplayed something like this. She stretched her arms a bit and tried to relax her shoulders, she needed to look thoughtful but unconcerned with her surroundings. She nodded at her reflection, ¡°Perfect.¡± She let her arms fall to her sides as she walked out of the small room that Sonya had rented at the convention center for her to use for her many costumes. She¡¯d had to come in with a different face so no one knew exactly who she was, but that didn¡¯t really matter. The goal was to revel in it. She titled her chin up a bit and strode down the hall, passing a few empty rooms before arriving at the elevator. It opened and she swept inside, leaning against one of the rails. She swallowed and looked up at her reflection again, a pang of guilt washing through her. Is it really okay to have this much fun? She thought. Then the doors opened, and all those thoughts washed away. There were hundreds of people milling about the open space, dressed in colorful costumes and talking to eachother. It was noisy, music coming from all over the place. People were taking photos, laughing, dancing, some were even singing a theme song with one another. She felt her heart swell and stepped out onto the convention center floor, Where do I go first? ¡°Oh my god!¡± Someone shouted nearby and she whirled, instinct cultivated from numerous violent encounters kicking in before she spotted a trio of convention-goers hurrying up to her, their eyes sparkling. One of them, a boy half her age slid to a stop and stared at her in awe, ¡°Holy shit that¡¯s amazing! You look just like her!¡± ¡°C-can I take your picture?¡± A girl asked to his left. ¡°I want a selfie, please?¡± The third, another boy asked, holding up his phone. She relaxed and smiled at them, keeping the expression controlled in order to stay mostly in character, ¡°If you must,¡± She said and they gaped at her. ¡°A-are you the VA?¡± The young man asked. ¡®Punish the heroes for their devil pact!¡¯ ¡®Your debauchery will send you to the pit!¡¯ More and more signs that railed against those looking for a small amount of happiness and fun in this dangerous world and accused the light-touched of being possessed or worse. She felt her stomach twist as she watched their disturbingly handsome plastic-looking leader step out in front of the gathering and began to lead them in a chant. Voices raised, they shouted awful things. One voice in particular caught her ear as she turned away. She froze and looked back. There he was, standing there with a sign; ¡®Freaks and Monsters don¡¯t deserve to live on this earth! You will be damned!¡¯ Her fists clenched. Why did you have to ruin this for me? She croaked inwardly. Why couldn¡¯t you have just disappeared forever that day? Murder came to mind, but she reigned herself in. She chewed her lip, it was so easy to turn away and block it all out. But she couldn¡¯t. She just couldn¡¯t. She marched towards the gathering of animals masquerading as people and stopped right in front of him. He glared at her, unable to recognize her, he only saw another one of the people at the convention come to confront him. She altered her voice back to normal, keeping her changed appearance. She looked him in the eyes. ¡°So this is where you ended up,¡± She said. He froze, his eyes going wide. ¡°Marta?¡± He gasped in time for her to grab him by the shirt and hoist him off the ground. There was a shout nearby as he struggled to get out of her grip. She looked him in the eyes and then dropped him. ¡°No, you aren¡¯t worth it,¡± She spat and turned away, she walked back to the gathering of other cosplayers, quietly picked up her bags, and left. I¡¯ll come back with a new face tomorrow, I¡¯m not letting him take this from me... Chapter 53 Chapter 53 Flames danced across Firestorm¡¯s fists as he raced forward to stand dead center in the killing field that Bluestar had made. The first of the twisted creatures hurled itself at him and he drove his fist forward with a snap. It wasn¡¯t anywhere near perfect, but he had been practicing a little boxing on the side in order to get better control over his punches. Fighting Kingshark had awakened a competitive spirit in him that he hadn¡¯t really known existed. He¡¯d only fought monsters that had been weaker than him up until this point, laying waste to them with quick flashes of intense flame or using his more complicated techniques on occasion. Overwhelming force. Kingshark had almost exclusively used his abilities as an extension of himself, using water conservatively to disrupt Firestorm¡¯s attacks. He was a skilled brawler, someone who understood his craft and his ability intimately. Firestorm didn¡¯t even believe he¡¯d really driven the man off, rather, the supervillain had accomplished what he¡¯d set out to and opted to retreat as the heroes were rallying. Ultimately that lead him to a painful conclusion. He had been humiliated on Hero Day. He hadn¡¯t brought this up to his friends and allies, it wasn¡¯t something they could help with. He had to overcome this obstacle himself. The quick jab snapped out and crashed into the unholy looking face of the creature, bone and cartilage cracking under the force as flame added to the damage done, spreading across the creature¡¯s body in a flash of heat and pain. It let out a shriek and was thrown back several meters only to be replaced by the next. Slobber covered teeth and a long thick tongue bared in a manic effort to dig into Firestorm¡¯s flesh. He drove his left fist up and into its tiny abdomen, folding it in half and sending it into the air where a dark arrow came from nowhere to pierce its body. Two down, and from a quick glance he guessed at least thirty to go. He popped his neck as another dark arrow flew down and ended the life of another devil as it raced across the ground towards him, black nails outstretched. He brought his fists up and set his feet. These things went down just as easily as hounds, at least, so he decided to use them for practice. Fists and bodies flew, the sounds of bodies slamming into the ground and walls adding to the chorus of screams and screeches of rage. Not once did he take a step back, his eyes fixed on the tunnel his friend had made and the door beyond it. It didn¡¯t take as long as he had expected to put down the last of the devils in the room, frankly they were easier to deal with than Hounds now that he had fought so many of them. Hounds used pack tactics and would often work together to overcome a stronger opponent. These things would literally push one another out of the way to get to their presumed prey. He looked down at one of the smoking bodies on the ground and frowned, considering throwing a few back through the portal before moving on. He decided against it, turning his attention to the door ahead of him. ¡°Hold up,¡± Lifesaver said, putting a hand on his shoulder. He gave Firestorm a look over before nodding, ¡°Looks like the gear is working out,¡± He said from behind his mask, stepping away as Bandit hopped down from the ceiling and Bluestar dismissed the two magical walls that had protected them. ¡°That was easy,¡± Bandit said, stretching his arms over his head and rubbing his neck. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s over,¡± Bluestar said, nodding to the door, ¡°I feel something on the other side.¡± ¡°Heh, it¡¯s like a dungeon in a game,¡± Bandit said, ambling over to the door and giving it a once over. Firestorm glanced at him and shook his head, ¡°No idea how you¡¯re not dizzy after hanging upside-down for so long.¡± Bandit was crouching and examining the door thoughtfully as he glanced over, ¡°My ability regulates my blood flow when I¡¯m in a weird position like that. I don¡¯t even feel it,¡± He rubbed his neck, ¡°Shame it doesn¡¯t do anything better than that though. Or at least I haven¡¯t figured it out.¡± ¡°It¡¯s grown a lot since we met,¡± Bluestar said, turning away from Lifesaver and walking towards him, ¡°You could barely fire a few arrows before feeling winded.¡± Bandit grinned, ¡°It¡¯s thanks to you guys, I hadn¡¯t figured there was more to it than just the dark arrows, but the more I practiced the more my instincts told me. It¡¯s kinda weird, getting knowledge out of nowhere like that sometimes.¡± ¡°Ding, level up,¡± Lifesaver joked and joined Firestorm as they approached the door. Bandit leaned against it, ¡°Heh, yeah, something like that. Everything comes with experience I-¡± Before he could finish his thought, the door behind him began to open, reacting to his touch. He spun around with a start and kicked off the ground, darting back a full four meters and pulling his bow out, a dark arrow already prepared. The others went on the defensive as well, eyes fixed on the space beyond where they saw... nothing. ¡°Burn!¡± He bellowed and released a column of fire, filling the hallway with orange-red flame. He kept it going for several seconds, a low gurgling shriek filling the air alongside the roar of flames. After a moment, the shrieking stopped just as he felt a tingle on his fingertips. He let the flames stop and watched it burn for a little longer. His ears listening for the faintest sound, any hint that- Blue light flashed right above his head as a barrier took shape before he could even react. Above him, the horrible overthin creature had landed on one of Bluestars barriers, both of its clawed hands scraping against the surface. He shifted back a pace, eyes wide as the clearly smoldering creature let out another gurgling pop and opened its mouth. A faint keening began to build at the back of its throat, a sound that grew more intense with each heartbeat. At first it was just a little annoying but it quickly became painful, grating at the inside of Firestorm¡¯s head. He grunted and prepared to release another gout of flame when four black arrows peppered the creature in the side of its head. The shadowy shafts going straight through its flesh and out the other side. The keening stopped after that, and the creature fell to the ground. Dead. It was only then that Firestorm noticed that he could barely hear anything and felt something warm and wet dripping down his neck. He reached for his ear and dabbed his finger, pulling his hand away and looking in horror at the blood that soaked his gloved fingers. He glanced back at the others who weren¡¯t faring any better. Bluestar looked like she¡¯d taken the worst of it, her face pale as she leaned against the wall, cupping the side of her head. Lifesaver was already at her side, hands on either side of her face as Bandit stepped towards the horrible thing with a scowl. ¡°Those were maxed out arrows,¡± He said with a frown, looking at its still twitching body. ¡°Looked like they did a good job,¡± Firestorm agreed, walking to his side but caught the tense expression on his friend¡¯s face, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Those arrows could pierce a lurker and go all the way through and into the wall behind it,¡± He said and glanced at Firestorm, ¡°They may have killed it, but...¡± Firestorm swallowed and looked down at the blade devil, that¡¯s what he was going to call it now anyway. Bandit¡¯s point was clear, this thing¡¯s hide was tougher than a lurkers. Worse than that, they still hadn¡¯t made it to the ground floor. If this place was modeled after the real world building, than was it possible they would have to go all the way to the top floor? What the hell was up there? He chewed his lip and glanced over at Bluestar who met his gaze before nodding. ¡°We¡¯ll continue,¡± She said confidently, ¡°No one¡¯s fought these things before, so we don¡¯t know the strategy, but we¡¯ll figure it out as we go. None of us have had to go all out yet.¡± Firestorm turned to Bandit who seemed to consider it before nodding, ¡°I¡¯m not backing down.¡± Lifesaver just shrugged off to the side, ¡°Just don¡¯t make too much work for me.¡± With them all in agreement, Firestorm made his way over to the elevator and inspected it for a moment before finding it free of any more surprises and still in working order. They piled inside and he held his finger over the button, ¡°Be ready for anything,¡± He said, and selected the ground floor. He would have picked higher, but this service elevator only offered access to the lower levels and he doubted the upper level buttons would work even if it did have access. His gut told him they had a long way to go. The doors closed and they each took a quick breather as it ascended, their eyes fixed on the doors, waiting for them to open. Bluestar was already muttering under her breath and Bandit was drawing arrows as Firestorm¡¯s palms began to glow. He set his feet and held his palms out towards the doorway, the elevator creaking once as it shuddered to a stop. He swallowed and the doors opened with a friendly chime, revealing a sea of red skin and bulbous eyes beyond. Nearly a hundred little devils turned to look at them at the same time, their too-wide smiles curling in malice. No room for practice here. Burn it all. He told himself and took a deep breath as the creatures began to break out into a run. There was a flicker and then a sudden rush of air and sound as flames raced out of the elevator, a cone of destruction that washed over the little devils as Firestorm marched forward, palms still extended. Bandit climbed along the ceiling of the elevator and out the top behind him, planting his feet on the wall above and beginning to release volleys of arrows to Firestorm¡¯s right. Blue bolts darted out to his left, covering his other flank. He narrowed his eyes and twisted his hands, whipping them out to the side and parting the sea of flame he¡¯d created, washing it over the entire room before them. Chapter 54 Chapter 54 Sonya didn¡¯t move an inch from her seat, her eyes fixed on the dungeon gate. Amos had already set up around it and was taking readings with his instruments and had even offered to send in more drones with flight plans. Sonya had turned the idea down, giving the explanation that she didn¡¯t want to risk it. Honestly, it really didn¡¯t matter and she could have even brought in a crew to mine the enormous wealth inside, but that would be basically broadcasting that the crystals inside were valuable way too early. It was again, disappointing, but what could she really do about it? She¡¯d considered calling in Shark and his team to ¡®raid¡¯ the dungeon behind Firestorm in order to get the materials but there was no way that wouldn¡¯t scream coincidence. She frowned, the searching eyes of that detective popping up in her mind again. He¡¯d had good instincts, even refusing to shake hands with her. Her finger twitched and she leaned back, crossing her arms and watching the portal carefully. It had barely been an hour since Firestorm¡¯s team had gone inside. Will they really be okay? Should I send Marta in anyway? Hmm... ¡°Just let them have their time,¡± Marta said from her side, not even glancing her way. Sonya let out a huff, ¡°Am I that easy to read?¡± ¡°I¡¯m tempted to buy you a hat that says helicopter parent,¡± Marta teased, eliciting a snort of laughter from Amos on the other side of the room. Sonya clicked her tongue and looked away, a little embarrassed. ¡°They...¡± She sighed, ¡°They¡¯re just what I want to see from the heroes. I want them to set a precedent. Not end up like Duong.¡± ¡°He officially became Vietnam¡¯s top hero yesterday, started a guild with his fiance,¡± Marta said after a pause, not hiding the approving smile on her face. She shrugged and looked over at the portal, ¡°They¡¯re setting a precedent now. Whatever¡¯s in there, it¡¯s important, isn¡¯t it?¡± Sonya looked up at her friend and noted with her senses that the aides that had come with them had already left for a short break. It was just the three of them. She hesitated for a moment before nodding, ¡°...yes.¡± ¡°More of that mysterious knowledge of yours?¡± Amos asked with a grin, glancing away from his equipment for the first time. ¡°Yes,¡± Sonya said simply, ¡°It¡¯d be better to see for yourself, to be honest, but suffice to say that it isn¡¯t hard to figure out once you go inside. You ever play Shaded Spirts, Amos?¡± She asked and stretched her legs out, crossing them at her ankles. He blinked at her in confusion, ¡°Uh... yeah? Why?¡± ¡°There you go,¡± She said with a dismissive gesture, ¡°You put it together on your own.¡± He looked away with a furrowed brow for a moment before flinching and rounding on her, his eyes wide, ¡°Are you serious? That¡¯s what¡¯s in there? Are they going to be okay? Wait...¡± He looked at his fingers for a moment, ¡°So you¡¯re saying it has to be cleared or...¡± Sonya made a mock gesture of an explosion, ¡°Pshhhh,¡± She elaborated with a bit of a goofy smile. He closed his eyes and pressed his fingers into them before looking up at the portal, ¡°Good luck guys, we¡¯re counting on you.¡± ¨C It turned out that the blade devils weren¡¯t all that hard to kill. The trick, it turned out, was direct precision attacks. Indirect damage or splash damage did very little to their frail looking bodies and the only reason Firestorm¡¯s flames did as much damage as they did was because of the raw power behind them. He had come to refer to it as the separation of tiers, there was simply a qualitative difference between the firepower of a heroic like himself and someone of the epic tier, for example. Then you had to take the unique traits of the monster or enemy into consideration. Boiling it down, he got the impression that the little devils were barely uncommon in strength, hardly a match for a party of four heroics, but still a threat in numbers. The blade devils were uncommon as well, going down in a single hit sometimes from one of Bandit¡¯s dark arrows, his blatant overkill of the first notwithstanding. Firestorm¡¯s problem was that he had been acting in the role of crowd control, dealing with large swaths of enemies rather than focusing on single opponents, because of that, the blade devils barely noticed his attacks despite the tier disparity. ¡°Aren¡¯t you forgetting something?¡± Bandit asked. He blinked at his friend, ¡°Huh? What?¡± ¡°Loot, brother! Loot! My god have you ever played a video game before? That mace looked sick, man,¡± Bandit exclaimed, getting a tired look from Bluestar and a laugh from Lifesaver. Firestorm frowned, turning back and pulling the weapon out of the creature¡¯s broken grasp. He looked it over, ¡°It¡¯s not that impressive,¡± He said with a frown and began to channel heat into it, ¡°See? It...¡± Nothing happened. He channeled more heat, ¡°Wait a sec...¡± He scowled and the flames on his fingers began to turn white, he concentrated, squeezing the weapon tightly before he finally let it go with a gasp, looking at the weapon with a bit of wonder now. ¡°Holy shit, it¡¯s fireproof.¡± He glanced up at Bandit who was giving him a smug look from beneath his hood and couldn¡¯t help but appreciate the guys insight. He held it out, ¡°Do you want it?¡± He asked. Bandit sighed dramatically as if he was explaining something to a child, ¡°Your kill, your loot, more importantly I¡¯d say it¡¯s a perfect fit. That whole boxing thing earlier looked kind of dorky.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t dorky!¡± Firestorm protested. ¡°If you boys are done bickering, the elevator is waiting,¡± Bluestar said with a small laugh, passing between the two of them, Lifesaver in tow. ¡°I¡¯m going up, what are you going to do?¡± Firestorm and Bandit exchanged looks before he ultimately gave up on the argument. He looked down at the weapon in his hands and clutched it by the grip. He pursed his lips and considered the weapon for a moment before the wicked-looking head of the silvery weapon ignited into intense yellow flames. He swung it around a few times and was pleased to see it wasn¡¯t that hard to maintain. He pat the flaming head of the weapon in the palm of his hand and glanced up at Bandit who was giving him a smug look. He grunted, ¡°Yeah, yeah, it¡¯s nice,¡± He grumbled and hurried to follow the other three as they made their way to the elevator and crowd inside. Bluestar stood next to the button and they got back into formation. ¡°Ready boys?¡± She asked. ¡°Let¡¯s do it,¡± Firestorm said and the doors closed in front of him. The next four floors went about the same, just with larger numbers to be honest. It seemed like the primary creatures of this place were the blade devils, little devils, and the incubi acting as some kind of leaders. At one point things got a little hairy as one of the incubi and a crowd of little devils managed to escape Firestorms initial blitz and mounted a solid counter-attack. It seemed like the incubi were some kind of commanders, able to keep the little devils organized during a fight and make them significantly more threatening, but ultimately they were no match for the party of heroic-tiers. While they ignored most of the bodies, they did make an effort to gather the weapons of the incubi, the material they were made was something Amos would be very interested in. It was as they were getting into the elevator and began heading towards the eighth total floor that things began to feel different. The button had changed from the usual illuminated yellow to a dark red. ¡°The boss, you think?¡± Lifesaver asked, his arms crossed. ¡°Seems likely, but we¡¯ve only gone up eight floors, the building is way bigger than that,¡± Bluestar said thoughtfully, ¡°Though based on the windows, it does seem like we¡¯ve been skipping floors now and then.¡± ¡°Windows?¡± Firestorm asked. ¡°You haven¡¯t been looking out the windows? They¡¯re right there, you can see the city,¡± Bluestar said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. The three men looked down at their feet and she let out a sigh, ¡°Anyway, Sonya¡¯s waiting for us, so let¡¯s get this over with,¡± She said and hit the button. The doors shut, and the team of four, full of confidence, began their final ascent. Side Story: Ozzie 2 Side Story: Ozzie 2 The lights illuminating the sidewalk flickered now and then as Ozzie hustled. He resisted the urge to glance over his shoulder, trying to ignore the horrible thing that was following him. He pursed his lips together, squeezed his eyes shut, and looked up to the sky for some sort of strength. Nothing, who would answer the prayers of a zombie? He shoved his hands into his pockets and forced himself to hobble along, his loose limbs still awkward beneath him. He tripped now and then and kept shifting direction before righting himself. A couple walked past him, moving a bit further to the edge of the sidewalk as they did. They watched him carefully, the dude wrapping his arm protectively around the girl¡¯s shoulder. The girl murmured something that Ozzie shouldn¡¯t have been able to hear but heard it loud and clear; ¡°Is that guy drunk? What¡¯s up with his dog? Is that a stray or something? Poor thing...¡± Ozzie groaned and pulled his hat further down his head before throwing a scathing glance back at the hound that had attacked him just a short time before. The creature¡¯s dead eyes met his as it kept walking, quietly following him with only a small growl sent in the direction of the couple as they passed. Its fur had grayed from the sleek black that the monster originally possessed and the bite mark on its neck was barely visible now. It looked like the lovechild between a greyhound and a jackal. It smelled so good! Why was it so gross? He whined inwardly. He remembered tackling the beast to the ground and biting down in a frenzy only to realize just how foul the thing tasted now that he¡¯d made contact. What he had expected? A turkey dinner? He slumped and pulled on the lid of his cap as if he could pull it further down. After he¡¯d bitten it, he¡¯d scrambled away in terror, expecting it to respond to his attack in kind. Instead, the creature had taken only a few steps and collapsed, dying quickly under the effects of whatever his bite contained. Then it just got back up and wagged it¡¯s tail. At the moment it was so cool, but now I¡¯m walking down the street with a monster! Ozzie are you crazy? Come on man? Think things through! Why¡¯d you tell it to follow you?! He griped, reaching up and scratching at his head frantically through the hat. He stood there, venting his frustration and making a scene as a few more people walked by. The hound caught up and sat down next to him, hunched over and holding his head like a mental patient. The dead-eyed dog looked up at him and wagged its tail again. He looked down at it and pressed his lips together. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath that he¡¯d quickly realized he really didn¡¯t need to do except to experience the sensation of breathing and sighed. He reached out and pat the horrible zombie creature¡¯s head and turned back to the sidewalk, hands back in his pockets. ¡°Come on, boy, let¡¯s go home...¡± He mumbled before nearly tripping over himself again. Instead of catching himself, a pair of hands grabbed him and hoisted him to his feet. He blinked and squinted upwards at the person who had helped him only to freeze as soon as he saw the person¡¯s belt beneath a long coat. A cop! Are you kidding me can this night get any worse? He wept inwardly. ¡°You alright, pal? You drunk?¡± The officer asked. Ozzie thought fast or as fast as his zombified brain would let him think, he cleared his throat, ¡°Just a couple drinks, officer,¡± He said with his head down and glanced up at the nearest street sign. ¡°You need a taxi?¡± The officer cut in. He started to hustle and was surprised to find a rhythm pretty quickly. It wasn¡¯t a normal run but a loping, clumsy run, but it was a run nevertheless. He darted down the sidewalk and quickly rounded the corner before weaving his way through alleys that he was more familiar with than most natives to the city. In no time he was only a block away from home. He let out a sigh of relief as he saw a portion of his apartment building peeking over rooftops a few buildings away. ¡°Hey!¡± Someone shouted and he tripped over himself again, falling flat on his face. He scrambled into a sitting position and whipped his head around, spotting a man standing next to a dumpster with a hood over his head. ¡°Uh... yes?¡± Ozzie said dumbly. The man pulled a gun, ¡°Money, now.¡± Oh come on! Ozzie whined, ¡°I don¡¯t have any, empty pockets, promise!¡± He croaked, holding up his hands. ¡°You sound weird,¡± The man said, walking towards him, his gun at the ready. Ozzie stared at the barrel in horror, ¡°Freak, last warning, money now,¡± He snarled. Ozzie went for his pockets, his hands shaking as he tried to pull them inside out but found that he was too shaky to even try. He laughed nervously and looked up at the man as he kept trying to fish his fingers into his pockets. The man pulled back the hammer on the gun, Oh come on, not again! He wept in time for a gurgling snarl to break into the standoff. Ozzie¡¯s eyes opened wide, he whipped his head to the right just in time to see Pavlov land on the man and dig his teeth into the man¡¯s arm. ¡°Shit!¡± The man screamed, ¡°Get it off!¡± He bellowed and tried to pull away only to trip and fall back, slamming his head into the wall behind him and collapsing onto the ground. Ozzie stared in horror at the crumpled man, he looked at Pavlov who was walking away from the body as if nothing had happened before sitting down right in front of Ozzie. Ozzie reached his hand out towards the monster¡¯s bloody face and pat its head, ¡°Uh... good boy?¡± That was when the man twitched. Ozzie tensed and looked at the guy and felt his heart fall right down into his ass, ¡°Oh no...¡± He groaned, ¡°Not another one...¡± Chapter 55 Chapter 55 It had been almost eight hours since the team of four had entered the dungeon. If Sonya was being honest with herself she was feeling more anticipation than worry at this point. She glanced at the pillars holding up the portal, there¡¯d been no reaction, no indication that the team had failed. That didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t still worried, of course. There was little to no information about the Times Square dungeon besides the kind of monsters that had poured out of it and when it had occurred. Rare and Heroic tier devils that had rampaged over the city, killing, enslaving, and destroying anything that got in their way. In fairness, she also knew that a dungeon break came with an increase in tier of all the monsters inside, so it was reasonable to expect the broad majority of the enemies were uncommon tier. That said, Lurkers were uncommon tier, and with the sheer number that had come out when the dungeon broke last time, she expected that the team would be up against hordes of them, many with leaders that were capable of directing them and creating an organized response to the attacks of heroes. An inexperienced team, even made of Heroics, would have been wiped out by now. She pressed her lips together as she thought of the photographs that had been taken of the boss from above during the many scouting missions to the ruins of New York and took a deep breath. She glanced up at Marta and smiled appreciatively at her when the woman passed her a hot cup of coffee. The woman had come and gone, getting a more comfortable chair for Sonya to sit in. More aides had come as well and now it was a full scale scientific study of the overall structure of the dungeon. Sonya chewed on her lip, she would have to report to the Chairman after this, she was already ignoring his calls. He¡¯d probably found out about what she was doing. She sniffed and sipped at her coffee as her phone rang again, the name of the caller appearing in her HUD. Beyol? What does Blackrazor want? She answered it. ¡°What can I do for you?¡± She asked. ¡°I¡¯m reporting in,¡± He said, his tone reverent but stiff, he sounded winded. ¡°You didn¡¯t get in over your head already, did you?¡± She asked. ¡°Of course not,¡± He grunted, ¡°Just some light exercise.¡± Her lip twitched and she tilted her head forward, her voice dropping to a barely audible volume, ¡°I trust you aren¡¯t letting your new abilities go to your head, my dear?¡± She asked, her words dripping with an unspoken threat. There was a pause and she heard someone gurgle out in pain in the background, ¡°Hardly,¡± He said, ¡°Just acquiring some information from an old friend. He¡¯s a tight lipped guy so I had to put on a bit of pressure. Marathon conversations can be exhausting, mistress,¡± He paused and added, ¡°My head is clear, I won¡¯t make the same mistakes I made in New York.¡± She pursed her lips, ¡°See to it that you don¡¯t,¡± She said and tilted her head, ¡°What do you have to report?¡± ¡°The society practices brainwashing on the majority of its agents, preventing them from remembering the location of the headquarters. There are ways to get messages back to headquarters through the chain of command. Since I¡¯m ¡®dead¡¯, I¡¯m no longer privy to that method. I have a way to locate my previous superior, I¡¯ll be making arrangements to see her soon,¡± He said. ¡°After that I will use her to make my way back to headquarters.¡± ¡°Good work,¡± Sonya said, ¡°And your friend?¡± ¡°Will disappear into the South China sea,¡± He said. Rested and fueled up as much as they could be, they got into formation and checked outside the door one more time. Just like last time, there was nothing outside the door-at least immediately-that they could see. They made their way out and got a good look at their surroundings. The space was not unlike the ground floor. A large open space taking up the area of several floors on its own. There were doors on the walls around them that they knew lead to nowhere. More interesting was the large window that oversaw the city, which the guys looked at for the first time. They could see a large swath of New York from this height, but it looked strange. It looks fake... Firestorm thought, Like a model. CLANK! The sound shook the team out of their consideration of the world beyond the building and they spun to face it and froze. Firestorm¡¯s eyes went wide, Bluestar moved to her position at his rear, Lifesaver¡¯s hands went up, and Bandit¡¯s jaw fell as he slowly inched to the right. CLANK! It had to be at least one and a half stories tall, its red-skinned body rippling with muscle. A wide mouth stretched across its face with four long fangs jutting out from its upper lip. Its long hooked nose was adorned with silver rings that looked very much like the metal the weapons they¡¯d collected were made of. Its eyes were completely black, with no sign of pupils to give any indication of what direction it was looking in. It stood on its massive hind legs that were adorned with thin plates of armor down the thighs and a heavy looking belt around its waist. Its barrel chest heaved and the leathery wings on its shoulder flapped uselessly, unable to lift its own bulk as it stood to its full height, its horns were far more impressive than the incubi, tall and only partially curved with a wreath of flame around them. It looked down at them, its head tilted just enough to give away the direction of its attention. But it was the item in its hand that held the greatest bit of attention for them. A hammer made of that same silvery metal was longer than Firestorm was tall with a head that looked like it could crush an entire human flat with a single swing. ¡°Holy shit,¡± Bandit breathed. Its nose wrinkled and its chest heaved again with anger, ¡°Bandit move! Get to high ground!¡± He shouted, ¡°Bluestar, barrier!¡± His voice rang out just as the massive devil threw its entire chest forward along with its head, its jaw open in a terrible roar that rattled the windows behind them and sent a cone of fire in their direction. The sound was enough to rattle Firestorm¡¯s head. He gripped his skull and tried to concentrate on canceling out the creature¡¯s flames but couldn¡¯t focus. Bluestar¡¯s barrier came to the rescue, though, and the flames splashed just as the creature launched into action. With each footfall creating a boom that shuddered through the building, it crossed the distance in less than three seconds, already rearing back with its weapon to drive it into Bluestar¡¯s barrier. It brought the weapon up against the shield with a golf swing, the monster¡¯s enormous strength being put to the test against Bluestar¡¯s barrier. Bluestar let out a gasp as the attack stopped but not without piercing part way through the shield, a few inches of hammer poking through the transparent blue sheet. It¡¯s strong! Firestorm thought and immediately concentrated his flames into points, throwing his hand up in the direction of the confused looking creature¡¯s face. As he did, three black arrows struck it from the side, only their heads puncturing into its toughened hide. The ray of heat lanced out and hit the creature between the eyes. The devil let out a earth shattering howl of pain and with a flex of its muscles ripped the hammer out of Bluestar¡¯s shield in order to resume its attack. ¡°Spread out! Don¡¯t let it get too close to you!¡± Firestorm shouted, already conjuring another concentrated blast of flame as Bluestar and Lifesaver darted away in opposite directions. The creature rubbed at its eyes angrily and squinted through the pain, looking first down at Firestorm and then at its shoulder that now had six arrows sticking out of it. It frowned like someone who just realized they were getting bitten by an ant. Firestorm blasted it again, the flames striking the side of its head and drawing its ire back on him. Firestorm began to retreat, pulling back a few steps and getting ready to launch himself into the air. ¡°Bandit! Aim for joints if you can!¡± He shouted, ¡°I think-¡± He didn¡¯t get to finish his statement as the monster snarled and lunged in his direction, reaching forward to snatch him up in its free hand. Firestorm swore, blasting backwards to get some more distance only to slam his back into the windows behind him. They didn¡¯t even budge. The next moment he felt a sharp pain as the creature¡¯s entire palm slammed against his chest, his bones creaking beneath the force. He coughed up blood, his vision swimming and tried to summon up his flames on his body. The creature only pressed down harder. ¡°Nick!¡± Bandit shouted and Firestorm saw through his blurry vision as a hail of arrows began pelting the monster on the back. He could see the creature wince but barely noticed it otherwise, its focus entirely on the threat that was Firestorm. He felt his bones creak again, his ribs breaking, pain ruled his mind as he tried to summon up enough focus to use his flames. He felt a wave of healing wash over him that only served to keep him alive and conscious through the pain. He threw his head back in a scream, trying to heat his body up as much as he could. Hotter, come on, hotter! He begged his body, begged his powers, Work! Focus! He growled inwardly, clenching his fists as his bones were broken and healed in an endless cycle of agony. That was when he heard it, a shrill sound, like an engine winding up far too hard. Even the boss seemed to notice as it hesitated and started to turn its head in the direction of whatever it was only for a flash of blue light to explode in Firestorm¡¯s vision. The next thing he knew he was falling, the sensation of Lifesaver¡¯s healing washing over him as he hit the ground in a heap, the mace in his hand clattering out of reach. He coughed and squinted, looking up at the monster and spotted a bloody hole in its abdomen, perfectly circular. ¡°Huh?¡± He mumbled, his thoughts still muddled as the creature stared bewildered at the grievous wound before turning around. Behind it, Bluestar was on one knee, breathing hard, burn marks on her fingers as blue light gleamed from her eyes. Firestorm¡¯s eyes widened as the monster snarled at her and pulled up its hammer. Blue, what are you doing? He thought, unable to get his jaw to work as the creature brought its hammer down. Bluestar didn¡¯t move, her body trembling, Blue! MOVE! Chapter 56 Chapter 56 Sonya was like a statue. If Marta hadn¡¯t known better, if she¡¯d only known the persona she cultivated as a businesswoman and socialite, she would have been baffled. To be honest she was still a little troubled by the behavior. The woman she¡¯d chosen to stay beside, the woman she¡¯d endured agony for, had not so much as blinked-not that she needed to-as she stared at the portal and more specifically the strange columns (or were they some kind of pylons) that appeared to hold it up. Marta pressed her lips together and turned to look back at the pylon. It didn¡¯t bother her to stand here, it was relaxing to be honest. The swirling lights acting like a flame at a campsite in the dimly lit room. Marta¡¯s power made her tireless, she¡¯d not even felt a cramp or ache even after they¡¯d hit the twelve hour mark. Half way there. She glanced back at Sonya and wondered again at the strange knowledge the woman seemed to have. She hadn¡¯t thought much about it at first, shrugging it off as coincidence, but the coincidences had only grown over time. Sonya could see the future, somehow, she knew things about the world that no one else did. She could perceive truths and had details and answers that were outside of even Amos¡¯ extensive reach. Amos had already long come to the same conclusion as her, but the both of them had the same unspoken understanding about that theory. Sonya¡¯s own discomfort about the topic had been the warning. If they pushed her too hard, things wouldn¡¯t be the same. They knew it instinctively, and so, had chosen not to speak.CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m A low hum went through the room and the floor trembled with the slight vibration. Marta jerked out of her thoughts and looked up at the portal. It trembled. More importantly, the column-pylon things began to glow. ¡°Uh... energy levels are going up...¡± Amos called. They both looked at Sonya who said nothing. Instead, she got to her feet with a serious expression on her face. It was strange, like she was observing something deeply profound. A bit of sweat dripped down past her ear. She clenched her fists, and closed her eyes as if in prayer. She let out a breath and opened them, and stood tall, waiting. Marta felt her stomach clench and she looked back at the portal, it was flickering now. Was it going to explode? No, Sonya would have said something. Then what? What was happening on the other side of that light? ¨C Do it. You heroes. Exceed my expectations. Win. They¡¯d reached the boss. The pylons had announced that the final struggle for the survival of the dungeon had begun. Twelve hours. It had taken them twelve hours to reach the final boss of the dungeon. It was a feat she hadn¡¯t believed she could attribute to the neophyte team of heroes and their rather rambunctious and reckless leader. But not once had she seen the tell-tale flash of energy that came from the loss of an outsider¡¯s life. They were thriving in there. Was it the nature of their powers? Perhaps they had found themselves a good match-up with the common monsters. That was logical. But the Boss monsters defied that kind of logic. They were an existence beyond their own kin. Horrors that were at the peak of their tier. Creatures that could kill an inexperienced hero far beyond their own rating. The sovereignty of tier did not matter to them. Skill, power, and experience were the only things that could overcome them. To think anything else was the height of hubris. She¡¯d watched so many die that way. One wrong move, one hint of overconfidence, one underestimation. That¡¯s all it took. The portal flickered angrily again. She smiled. I think we might not be meeting the way we did last time, will we? Chunha? Sonya thought and then let herself drift back, if only for a little while. ¨C Sonya atop the observation tower, looking out over it all from afar. The devastation, the waking nightmare that was the ruins of New York City. She opened a bottle of water and took a drink, her eyes scanning the movements of the creatures as they raced across the wasteland. The ground around the ruins had been turned black and veins of molten orange spread across it, even reaching into the greenery beyond. It was spreading the infection. The devils were everywhere now and the Committee had declared that the region was basically a lost cause at this point. Next to her, a young man sat in contemplation of the wasteland. He was peering through a pair of binoculars and trying to see what she could see clearly. He lowered them and let out a sigh, glancing down at his phone. ¡°It¡¯s getting worse,¡± He said solemnly and looked up at her, ¡°It¡¯s like a chain reaction.¡± She nodded and frowned. The explosion in New York had only been the beginning. No one understood why it¡¯d happened, but the catastrophe had only lead to more catastrophe. Similar explosions had ripped across North America in a tidal wave, following a clear pattern of spreading from New York as an epicenter. Some big wig had explained that the explosion had released something called ¡®mana¡¯ in intense amounts and the cloud of this ¡®mana¡¯ stuff was spreading out and being drawn into more hot zones, increasing the speed at which they overloaded. Oh come on, she¡¯s just another human, Sonya! Say SOMETHING! ¡°Um!¡± Sonya finally managed, Yeah, real smooth, how about words now? ¡°Th-thank you, for coming all this way to see us. Chunhua. I-we, it¡¯s a thankless job sometimes and it can be pretty scary,¡± She admitted, steeling herself. ¡°It means a lot that you came here,¡± She finally got it out, a bit of relief washing over her as the woman turned back to look at her. She met the woman¡¯s frown with a smile, a genuine one, one she hadn¡¯t managed in a long time since the flash. Chunhua blushed, it was brief, but she definitely grew a little red for a moment. She coughed and looked away, putting her hands on her hips. ¡°More of us should come out and check on you now and then, it¡¯s not right to leave you out here,¡± She said gruffly and then fixed Sonya with a hard look, ¡°Come see me after your shift.¡± Sonya blinked, ¡°B-but.¡± Why? ¡°Don¡¯t make me track you down, Miss Chernovna. I have your name now, and I intend to use it,¡± She said with a grin and turned away again, making for the other side of the tower. Sonya frowned at her back, The last word type huh? No fair, no, not after embarrassing me like that. You jerk. ¡°It¡¯s Sonya! Not Miss Chernovna! If I have to call you Chunhua then you better call me by my name!¡± The woman froze and Sonya even heard a gasp from next to her as the guy, oh my god I completely forgot he was there, reacted to her shouting at a Mythic. The woman glanced over her shoulder and met Sonya¡¯s eyes. She really held Sonya¡¯s gaze. Even as freaky as her eyes were. It felt... good. Chunhua just smiled and nodded before, with a single step, she vanished into a cloud of cherry blossoms. A scent that would cling to her for the rest of her life. A scent that she could never, ever, forget without a sense of longing. That night they¡¯d gone on their first ¡®date¡¯, if you could call it that. Most of the evening had consisted of drinks and Chunhua relentlessly teasing her. Apparently when the woman wasn¡¯t in business mode she was far more likely to be a bit of the mischievous type. More than that, though, she had a domineering nature that Sonya had never realized she was a bit of a sucker for. They¡¯d parted ways after a meal and it was only a few days later when she¡¯d learned that Chunhua had been transferred to the group that would one day call itself the American Heroes Guild as part of an international exchange. She¡¯d swapped places with a Chinese-American woman who went by the codename Qilin. It was a day later when she got the notice that she would be assigned to Chunhua¡¯s unit as a scout per the woman¡¯s request. That was the beginning of their rocky initial relationship. Sonya had resented her for it, for a while, taking control of her life like that and choosing for her where she¡¯d ended up. She wasn¡¯t a soldier, even if the Committee and the Guild treated her that way sometimes. Despite that, Chunhua had not been shy about her attempts to make it up to her. It was obvious buttering up, but Sonya had to admit after a while. It was pretty nice. The day her feelings really became clear was when the Committee finally figured out dungeons. They were in Nevada, just outside of Las Vegas, and at what had been categorized as a Rare-tier dungeon. Not only was it dangerous, it was terrifying. Sonya had been part of the crew to go inside first and get a good measure of what the assault team would be getting themselves into. She¡¯d seen the monsters, she knew the routes, she¡¯d recorded everything. All the details she could find, she found, she was confident in her work, firm in her resolve that she had learned everything she could, even going as far as to observe the enormous monster at the end when the other scouts despaired. They¡¯d come out of the dungeon after that, given their report, and stood by as Chunhua and the assault team went inside. Sonya had stood there, off to the side, as Chunhua marched towards the portal. She¡¯d admired her jaw, her eyes, the way her robes fluttered around her. But it wasn¡¯t until she saw her ponytail pass through that rippling pool of light that she felt her chest clench and tears well in her eyes. It wasn¡¯t fair. It wasn¡¯t right. That annoying, overbearing, sometimes gruff, sometimes sweet, frustrating, infuriating, pain in the ass of a woman just walking off into a place that could kill her without even glancing back. We¡¯re gonna have a long talk later, over dinner, and some fucking wine. So stop being so damn cool and come back to me safe, you jerk. ¨C Sonya opened her eyes, looked at the portal, and took a deep breath. She ignored the look of concern Marta gave her. She brushed her hair back and held her head high. She knew better than anyone how disrespectful it would be to sit there and quake as the pylons hummed. They were fighting for their lives. It was only right to stand up straight and watch them. If she can do it, so can you, be strong you guys. Side Story: Amos 1 Side Story: Amos 1 Amos rubbed his neck, it was starting to ache. He had been working for almost sixteen hours now and the headset he used to experience his virtual laboratory had never felt heavier. He pulled it off with a groan and glanced around the lab. Three of the lab assistants and Da-Som were still there with him, but they were sound asleep. Da-Som snoozing with his head slung back over the back of his chair and the other three crowded around one another at one of the tables, their heads resting on the hard surface. His lip twitched, a small smile dancing across his face. He looked around the stark-white room, Sonya¡¯s preferred ultrafuturistic style, and at the lab equipment around him. It was hard to believe, it really was, just how far he¡¯d come in such a short amount of time. He knew his Genius-Level Intellect ability had played a significant role, Technopathy helping as well, of course. But if it hadn¡¯t been for that scary and crazy lady he¡¯d bumped into on the streets of New York, he wouldn¡¯t be here. He¡¯d probably still be running cell phones for Shark¡¯s crew, still refurbishing them and spoofing their serial numbers to work on a prepaid network. He¡¯d be working out of that godawful shop, still living in the shadow of the accomplishments that he¡¯d never be able to reach for. Still wondering when the day would come that he could seize his future. Still suffering. The smile on his face grew soft as he looked down at his desk and ran his fingers over the keyboard. Now I¡¯m working on saving the world, and making some pretty damn good money doing it. He chuckled a little and glanced at a small envelope on his desk. It had a top-secret label on it and the word ¡®Sample¡¯ stamped right beneath the label. He touched it and then glanced up at the others, ¡°Oi!¡± He shouted, filling the small room with his voice. The others jerked awake and turned bleary eyes towards him. He put his hands on his hips and squinted at the four of them, ¡°The hell are you still doing here? Go home!¡± He waved his hands at them, ¡°Day off tomorrow for the lot of you, no excuses. I¡¯ll put in your PTO.¡± They looked at one another, there was a bit of reluctance on their faces. He knew how they felt. Every day they were making strides and breakthroughs. ASTA wasn¡¯t just working on munitions and ways to support heroes. It was a pretty closely guarded secret, but Sonya wanted the company to cover a huge number of industries with pandora-based tech as the foundation. They were working on new kinds of cellphones for public use, they were working on monster-core based medicine, new textiles for the Lucci subsidiary. Appliances, communications, the list went on as far as Sonya¡¯s ambitions went. Every day was a learning experience, but they needed rest if they were going to keep their momentum up. He could go without sleep longer than most people, his stronger mind had inured him to the strain. But his body still felt it after a while. He tilted his head up in challenge, his own tired face not making a very powerful visage, but he was the boss, so he didn¡¯t care. ¡°Or I could put you all on a weeks leave? How does a vacation sound?¡± He barked. He ambled out of the lab, turning the corner and walking towards the elevator. It opened with a thought and he stepped inside, the doors closing behind him. He mentally instructed it to head straight for ground level and leaned against the wall, yawning again. ¡°Mm... coffee...¡± He grumbled. That was when he felt the orders for the elevator change. Someone had called it to the administrative level. Sonya? No, she¡¯s home. Who else is here? He frowned and mentally checked the in-out logs for the building¡¯s security badges. Besides the security team themselves, there was only one other person on the premises. Colin Matthews. The newly anointed Supervillain, Mephisto. The devil¡¯s advocate himself. He snorted at the overly dramatic choice Sonya had made for her new subordinates title. Welp, Might as well meet this guy. With a thought he canceled the elevator''s command to go down to ground level and it slowed before changing direction, heading up the several floors towards the Administrative level. To be honest, Amos wasn¡¯t expecting much from this guy. Lawyers weren¡¯t exactly on the top of his list of people that he liked. He¡¯d been screwed over by his own defense attorney on more than one occasion and it had left a pretty bad taste in his mouth. He frowned, the memory of standing in a courtroom as his defense attorney quite literally talked Amos onto the streets was enough to set his teeth on edge. He considered just scoping the new guy out with the cameras and changing the direction of the elevator again. He considered shutting the elevator down all together. He sniffed and let out a sigh, Sonya wouldn¡¯t appreciate that. He thought, and rubbed his neck, I gotta at least give this guy a chance at least, right? Sonya picked him for a reason and Marta¡¯s good people. He can¡¯t be all bad. He said and then immediately corrected himself, She also recruited Kingshark and Blackrazor as villains. The thought of meeting another Kingshark or Blackrazor in a confined space gave him a little pause, but at this point there wasn¡¯t really any time to rethink his choices. He let out a sigh and crossed his arms as the elevator arrived at the administrative floor. A faint chime announced it¡¯s arrival. He took a deep breath and tried to look as tough as possible, it wasn¡¯t easy with the bags under his eyes, but he wasn¡¯t about to let himself make a bad first impression with a guy who went by ¡®Mephisto¡¯. A demon. That was when the doors opened, and he saw him. Amos¡¯ mouth fell open. ¡°Oh.¡± Chapter 57 Chapter 57 Magic was hard. Sure, the spellforms came to her with the instincts built into her ability. It was like being given a manual or in this case, a spell book. She had a mountain of spells she¡¯d never even tried before. Hundreds of different ways to use the blue energy that permeated her body and gave her the strength to do the things she did. But that didn¡¯t mean the spells weren¡¯t difficult to actually perform. It was easier said than done. She could rattle off exactly how to create a dome of magic that could cover the entirety of Brooklyn, but could she do it? Not anytime soon. Even so, Bluestar was proud of the progress she¡¯d made since the flash. She¡¯d been one of the first people to hop to action when the monsters started appearing. Azure bolts came incredibly easily after a little trial and error and they were good enough to put a stop to most hounds. Her barriers had come next when she had moved to protect a group of people cornered by hounds. It had been a bit harder, and the mental strain was weightier, but she¡¯d pushed through and saved a few lives in the process. The gratitude in that little boy¡¯s eyes was something she¡¯d carry with her for the rest of her life. Good feelings and pride, however, were not enough to keep you going during an nearly endless surge of nightmare beasts from another dimension. While she was like most other heroes, her powers always ready to go and the magic that powered them seemingly bottomless, her body wasn¡¯t as resilient. The energy had to use her body as a conduit of sorts and while it didn¡¯t hurt, it did wear on her stamina over time. That was another reason why she hadn¡¯t tried any of her bigger spells. At least not until just that moment. Everything had happened so fast. One moment they were riding on the high of having conquered floor after floor of this mysterious interdimensional dungeon. Thanks to Firestorm having a greater control over fire than their enemies, most of their attacks had been rendered useless. It was convenient, but it also meant that they¡¯d had a handicap the entire time. She wondered for the hundredth time if they could handle a dungeon of this same difficulty without such an advantage. The answer had been a resounding no. That worry had weighed on her as she tried to rest ahead of the final room, and it had distracted her as they stepped inside. I should have seen it. I should have sensed it. It¡¯s presence is so intense. How did I miss it? She chastised herself even as Firestorm gave the order to scatter. That doubt made her hesitate, again, but she managed to get her feet moving as the creature roared. Sure, Firestorm was in charge when they were fighting on the field, but she was supposed to be the guildmaster. Some guildmaster I am. She thought as she hurried to cover behind one of the many pillars that circled the room. She turned around to check where the others had ended up and felt her heart bottom out to her guts. Firestorm was still there. Nick! The scuffle was so fast she could barely process what she¡¯d seen. Firestorm threw his back into it, trying to get the creature to back off. Then it pinned him to the window. She heard him scream and she saw Lifesaver move to keep him alive despite the agony. Blast it away, burn it¡¯s eyes, something! Come on Nick! Move! Do something! Yet all he could do was struggle, try to move, try to survive. It was so strong. Why was it so strong? She saw black arrows pelt into its body but it barely flinched, its focus entirely on the more significant threat that was Firestorm. He can¡¯t focus enough to use his powers, she realized. He needs breathing room. Without a second thought she hurried out into the dead center of the room, getting a full view of the creature¡¯s back. Plenty of area to hit with her azure bolts. She fired one off, then another, and another, dozens of bolts coming out in a stream that splashed uselessly against its skin. Come on! Come on! React! Do something! Stop hurting him! CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m ¡°Let him go!¡± She screamed, unleashing again, but the only sound that came was another crunch and scream from her friend. They aren¡¯t enough, but... She chewed her lip. Can I even do it? ¡°Blue! What are you doing?¡± Came a shout from her left. Bandit. She glanced at him and cracked a smile, getting a worried look from him. She focused on the creature and let out a breath, This is... probably going to hurt. She licked her lips and took a stance, holding out both hand and concentrating on the monster¡¯s back. She tried to aim for the center, where its heart probably was. She didn¡¯t know for sure, just a guess at this point. It didn¡¯t matter. As long as it hurt it. She took a deep breath and let her instincts guide her, she felt the energy in the air draw into her body as the energy inside of her mixed with it, creating that illustrious blue light. She felt her body process it, refine it, convert it, her very being a vessel for it. She called up her mental manual, her instinctive study guide, and flipped through the pages. Something that can hurt it, I need... there! She settled on a spellform, a blast of raw energy concentrated into a cylindrical beam of light. It was way more advanced than anything she¡¯d ever attempted, but it was the first one she found that her gut told her would have a chance to pierce it¡¯s skin. She considered what state using it would leave her in and dismissed the thought out of hand. She was a hero, heroes saved people, if they got hurt in the process so be it. More importantly, Firestorm was her friend, her comrade. Like hell she would let him suffer any longer. He took a few prepatory steps back and fixed his eyes on a spot on the ceiling. He took a breath as the darkness began to billow around his feet. He darted forward, racing towards the guard rail he¡¯d been hiding behind and with a single leap stepped on it. He threw as much strength as he was willing to into it, kicking off the rail and flipping once in the air. He took a deep breath as he found himself upside down and kicked his legs out. He felt resistance, the ceiling, and with a thought he adhered to it. He looked up, or rather, down, at the beast as it began it¡¯s charge and drew another arrow. If my usual arsenal won¡¯t work, it¡¯s time to improvise. He took a sharp breath as he drew the string back, a dark arrow forming. He concentrated and increased its size and weight before condensing it. Heavy, but fast, He frowned as he felt the dark material start to weave together, coiling in on itself in an attempt to maintain its size despite the increased mass. He shifted his focus to the arrowhead. Sharper, sharper, even sharper, I need it to go deep, I need the wound to last, fester, hurt. The arrowhead stretched and narrowed, looking more like a bodkin arrow. He took aim, the shaping taking place over just a few heartbeats. He didn¡¯t notice the billowing smoke trailing off of it. Not until he released the arrow. Eat shit asshole. The arrow flew through the air and struck, a direct hit just at the spot between the shoulder and throat. It dug deep and the beast let out a pained howl. It thrashed once and then looked at it¡¯s shoulder. Something black spreading from the wound. It looked almost confused for a moment before looking up from where the arrow had likely come from, straight into Bandit¡¯s eyes. ¡°Uh... sup?¡± He said stupidly and the creature let out a roar. Fire began billowing in it¡¯s mouth. He glanced at Firestorm and saw Lifesaver next to him. He¡¯d be up in a second, but not fast enough. ¡°Oh shit, here goes... let¡¯s hope this works this time...¡± He whined and with a bit of trepidation released the adhering nature of his shadows from the ceiling. He took a step forward and planted his foot again, adhering it before releasing his back foot. He repeated the process, release, step, adhere, release, step, adhere. C¡¯mon, c¡¯mon, c¡¯mon! He glanced down at the beast just as it released a concentrated bolt of fire that slammed into the ceiling right behind him. He stumbled, but caught himself. ¡°Fuck!¡± He shouted, pushing himself forward, moving faster, faster, letting his instincts carry him. Before he realized it, he was running along the ceiling. He blinked and gasped, letting out a laugh. ¡°Aha! Ahahahaha! I¡¯m doing it!¡± He let out a howl and drew his bow, looking down at the confused monster as it watched some tiny black shape scurry around the ceiling. That was when another of those very painful arrows hit it in the shoulder. Then another in the chest. Then another and another. ¡°Those hurt don¡¯t they!¡± Bandit shouted, laughing, ¡°How¡¯s the weather down there? Hail huh? That sucks!¡± The beast howled in rage and took a step, trying to get Bandit in its field of view but instead, it stumbled. Bandit blinked, ¡°Huh?¡± He squinted and finally noticed the weird blackness spreading from the various wounds. Am I poisoning it? He looked at his bow. Freaking cool! The beast tried to lift its hammer but found its arm growing darker and darker. It whipped its head up from its clearly worsening body and glared in accusation at Bandit. It opened its mouth again and drew in even more power. Flickers of heat spread out and Bandit got the distinct impression that this next attack wasn¡¯t going to be single target. No dodging this one. He thought and drew another one of the arrows. But if you¡¯re going to make your mouth an easy target, then cool. Let¡¯s see who¡¯s faster! He drew his arrow, black smoke billowing as he concentrated on making the most horrific arrow he could imagine. Long, serrated, with that piercing quality, oh and pack extra poison into it-or whatever the hell it was. He grit his teeth as he felt his arm ache from the draw. He squinted at his target, Fly! The arrow flew. The creature¡¯s mouth flickered and flames began to burst out. Everything slowed for a moment. Shit, those flames are gonna burn it up! SNAP! The flames vanished. The arrow struck, driving itself directly into the beasts mouth, all the way through, piercing the back of its skull. Bandit stared, then glanced over at Firestorm who had a single hand held up in the air as if he¡¯d just snapped his fingers. BOOM! Bandit looked back at the body of the monster as it fell face first to the ground. He stared at it for a long time before turning back to Firestorm who shot him a tired thumbs up. ¡°...we won?¡± Chapter 58 Chapter 58 The flickering of the portal intensified, the pylons glowing brighter and brighter. Every time she saw a tiny wisp of light drift away from the portal she felt her heart tighten just a little bit, only to be relieved when she recognized it as nothing more than runoff. Next to her, standing as stalwart as ever, Marta watched the portal with a bit of trepidation. She felt her friend¡¯s eyes on her and graced her with a small smile. ¡°They¡¯re fighting very hard,¡± She said quietly. If her eyes could twinkle, they would have. Instead, they only clicked and whirred. Marta looked her way, ¡°Are they?¡± She asked and looked back up. ¡°Is that why you¡¯re standing?¡± Sonya nodded, ¡°Yes. It is,¡± She said and held her head high, ¡°If they¡¯re going to risk their lives for us, the least we can do is stand for them.¡± Marta looked back, ¡°You¡¯re... not a very good villain, sometimes,¡± She said quietly, only loud enough for Sonya to hear with her enhanced senses. Sonya chuckled and looked down, smiling demurely, ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right,¡± She said, just as the portal flashed with a brilliant light. Nearby, Amos let out a shout of alarm and stumbled away from the portal, covering his head. ¡°It¡¯s fine Amos!¡± She called out to him before turning her eyes on four shapes that staggered out into reality from the bloom of light. Behind them, the portal shuddered, shimmered, and slowly began to collapse in on itself. The pylons dimmed, and then faded back to simple stone. Bluestar was cradled in Lifesaver¡¯s arms, awake, but she didn¡¯t look like she was in any condition to stand. Firestorm was slumped over a bewildered looking Bandit¡¯s shoulder. Behind them was what appeared to be a trunk of some kind. The four of them stood in the darkening room looking more than a little dumbfounded. Their eyes wide as they looked around as if trying to figure out what had just happened to them. They finally saw Sonya, standing, waiting for them. They look just like you did, the first time, how cute. She thought and couldn¡¯t help herself. She opened her arms and greeted them with the warmest smile she could manage, ¡°Welcome back, Heroes.¡± Firestorm coughed once and looked up, grinning once at Bandit before meeting her gaze. ¡°We¡¯re back.¡± Sonya heard Marta let out a sigh of relief as Amos nearly bounced about, admiring one of the screens on his equipment. ¡°It¡¯s dispersing! It¡¯s really dispersing! Mana levels dropping! Not just here! City wide! Monster appearances are going to drop like crazy! You guys really did it!¡± Sonya laughed and walked over to the heroes. Bluestar got gingerly to her feet and Lifesaver took a moment to heal her a little more. She looked up at Sonya who quickly pulled her into a hug before reaching over and pulling the other three in as well. They looked at one another in surprise before returning the embrace. Sonya pulled away and Bluestar cleared her throat, ¡°We should start the debriefing as soon as- eep!¡± She gasped when Sonya put a finger to her lips and grinned at her. ¡°Tut tut! I won¡¯t hear it, you four are getting some rest and a heroes dinner, no arguing,¡± She said and then turned away with a flourish. ¡°We can do a proper debriefing when we have time. For now, you did your job, now it¡¯s time for me to do mine!¡± She announced and cleared her throat, whipping her phone out dramatically. ¡°Amos! I want a full write up and report on all data obtained from the portal!¡± She commanded. ¡°On it!¡± ¡°Marta! Get our medical team down here and give the heroes a full check up. I¡¯m sure Lifesaver is fine but he should get checked out just in case. Help him do any additional treatments.¡± ¡°Yes ma¡¯am!¡± She tapped a number in on her phone and held it up to her ear. ¡°I need a press conference scheduled for two days from now. Worldwide broadcast.¡± She hung up and dialed another number, ¡°Chairman! I seem to have missed a few calls from you! How are you dear?¡± She laughed and kept walking towards the exit, ¡°Oh I know I know, I¡¯m so much trouble,¡± She snorted, ¡°I have some very interesting information for you dear. I¡¯ll give you a full briefing in a few days once we¡¯ve collected the data. Why don¡¯t you come to New York, we¡¯ll have a grand time.¡± She hung up and turned to a few aides, ¡°The heroes brought back some trophies it looks like, help them carry it out of the building and get it to headquarters. We¡¯ll need a place to store it.¡± The aides blinked rapidly before nodding, ¡°Yes! Of course!¡± She grinned to herself, in her element, and tapped one last number in on her phone, she held it up to her ear, ¡°Ah, hello, This is Sonya Chernovna, I¡¯d like to make a reservation tonight for a private dinner. Party of eight. I¡¯m sure you can make something happen, dear,¡± She tittered, ¡°What¡¯s your name by the way? You sound cute, could I ask you to host us?¡± Behind her, Firestorm and the rest of his bedraggled party just stood there and gaped. Quite the contrary, Sonya thought. She glanced over at Colin who¡¯s passively amused expression had turned serious. He met her gaze. Both of them had the same thought. Most apps have an end user license agreement, don''t they? Would that work? ¨C The Chairman rubbed his head, he hadn¡¯t expected to get a return call from that woman. Especially one admitting she¡¯d been up to something. Even more so that she was willing to come clean and share her findings with him now that her research was complete. It was perplexing, but not unwelcome. She had made it clear that she wanted their working relationship to be a largely positive one after the debacle involving his admitted attempt to undermine her intellectual property rights. Had he misjudged her? Was she simply eccentric? Okay, very eccentric, but he didn¡¯t mind eccentric. Most of the truly powerful people were remarkably strange in their own ways. He¡¯d learned that through his rise to power. What had been more unexpected, though, was that she¡¯d called him while he¡¯d been away from headquarters and visiting home. The series of events following that had left him not only confused about her, but about everything as a whole. His son and his fiance had been in the room when she¡¯d called and they¡¯d insisted on coming to visit. He¡¯d been proud of his son before, as any good parent should, but even more so when he¡¯d found his son¡¯s reasoning not only to be sound, but remarkably mature. He glanced over at his son¡¯s fiance, Feng Hyunh for the upteenth time since they¡¯d gotten on the private jet and regarded her thoughtfully. He had wondered a little more than once about whether or not she was a suitable partner for his boy. While she was well connected with a powerful underworld syndicate and by extension their political allies, she had always come across as more demure and overly polite than anything else. Yet somehow, some way, she had managed to reign in his son¡¯s rather abrasive disposition. That alone had significantly raised her value in his eyes. She returned his gaze and graced him with one of her easy smiles, her purplish eye sparkling a little. ¡°Is everything alright, Chairman?¡± She asked, her hands in her lap. He blinked, realizing he¡¯d been staring a bit longer than he¡¯d intended to and cleared his throat, ¡°Not at all, miss Feng, and please, feel free to call me father,¡± He said into his fist, looking back down at the documents on the tray he¡¯d pulled out to give him space to continue his work. ¡°I¡¯ll remember to do that, Father,¡± she said politely, that easy smile never leaving her face. He glanced up at his son, ¡°You¡¯re a very lucky man, son.¡± Duong had been staring out the window, his expression thoughtful, paying little attention to the interaction. Only when the Chairman spoke did he perk up and glance in his father¡¯s direction. He turned his head and looked at Hyunh, giving her a relaxed smile and nodding. ¡°I¡¯d have to agree with you, Father. She has changed my life in more ways than one. It was her suggestion to form a proper guild and have the state back it formally. The President was very happy with the arrangement.¡± The Chairman had of course gotten most of the details surrounding the formation of the Vietnamese People¡¯s Guild, but he hadn¡¯t gotten all the information. Namely how Duong had managed to convince the party to put so much backing behind his son. He knew nominally that his son was powerful, he had an understanding of what the ¡®Mythic-tier¡¯ meant, but he himself was not light-touched and so couldn¡¯t fully grasp the extent of what the boy was capable of. His son glanced at him, ¡°Will we really be able to meet Miss Chernovna during the visit?¡± The Chairman nodded, ¡°Yes, you wanted to have a word with her?¡± Duong nodded, a bit sullen, ¡°I have a lot to apologize for and I want to make sure that we¡¯re on a better foot going forward.¡± The chairman smiled, perhaps, maybe, given the woman¡¯s eccentric nature, bygones could truly be bygones. He was looking forward to the meeting anyway. He hadn¡¯t met her face to face and already knew that she had some significant backing in Europe. She seemed more amicable than before as well, so that was a plus. More importantly, whatever she¡¯d discovered had been important enough that she¡¯d actually taken steps to reach out to him. Whatever it was, it had to be groundbreaking. He gave his son a firm nod, ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to clearing everything up.¡± Duong smiled, showing his teeth a little, ¡°As am I.¡± Side Story: Colin 1 Side Story: Colin 1 Colin turned around out of habit, reaching for his pocket to lock the door behind him. He paused and frowned as the door locked of its own accord. He rolled his eyes and shook his head, he¡¯d forgotten, again, that he wasn¡¯t back at his office in Orlando anymore. Instead he was in what amounted to the world''s most well funded terrorist think tank, and he was just another part of the machine. His lip twitched and he turned from the door, rubbing his hands unconsciously. They still ached from all the work he¡¯d done today. He¡¯d done more work today than the past month of work as a struggling attorney back at home. Still, the pay was far better. He made his way across the dimly lit atrium of the administrative office, glancing once at the closed door to Sonya¡¯s own office, his thoughts wandering. I still haven¡¯t figured out why you picked me, He thought numbly, looking down at his hands and flexing them. He could feel the abilities that she¡¯d crammed into his body using her own terrifying power. He had more than enough strength to lift a car with his bare hands now and most modern firearms were basically useless against him now. To be frank, he felt like he was probably comparable to one of those Lurker things, if he had to guess. Tiny body, big punches, he chuckled to himself as he walked to the staff restroom, stepping inside and waving his hand under the sink. He splashed a little water on his face and looked at himself in the mirror. A pretty face looked back at him, full pinkish lips that were better served on a woman than himself. Soft skin that even Sonya had complimented him on and thick eyelashes that had gained him more than a few weird looks from that scary maid, Marta. He splashed more water on his face and let out a breath, letting the cool liquid sharpen his sleepy mind. I distributed the letters, the contracts going out across the country, I even leaked some of the youth contracts into the underworld as requested, but what¡¯s the plan here? What is she planning on doing? He pressed his lips together in a pout, She isn¡¯t hiding anything from me, but she isn¡¯t saying anything either. What¡¯s the point of giving powers to criminals already in prison? It¡¯s not like she¡¯s planning on breaking them out, right? He hesitated and looked up in the mirror, Colin, what have you gotten yourself into? He sighed after staring at himself for a bit longer, reaching up to pull his shoulder-length hair back and closed his eyes, Not much point in complaining now, the contract¡¯s been signed and I¡¯m in it till the end, as long as she holds up her end, I¡¯ve got no right to complain even if she sets fire to the eastern seaboard. ¡°It is what it is,¡± He said and dried himself off, heading for the door and back out into the atrium. He made his way out to the hallway and rubbed his neck, ¡°At least I got a nice apartment out of it,¡± He chuckled and waited for the automatic door behind him to shut and lock before heading for the elevator. I wonder what I should eat tonight? I keep forgetting to stock up the kitchen, been too busy. He griped and pat his gut, I¡¯m starving. He waved his id badge over the scanner for the elevator and hit the call button. It chimed and began to move. It looked like it was already going down based on the number. Who else is here? He thought, Wait, isn¡¯t there some smart guy working for her? A head researcher? Nah, probably just a security guard on patro- His thoughts cut out when the elevator stopped half-way to getting to the second floor and changed direction, now beginning to ascend towards where he was waiting. Huh? Is that even possible? He paused, Wait, Sonya did say that the researcher guy, uh... Amos, right, yeah he could mess with technology with his mind. I guess it¡¯s actually him. Coming up to meet the new guy? He frowned and straightened his shoulders, Better make a good first impression. Mephisto, I¡¯m the demon Mephisto. He thought as the elevator ascended, finally stopping at the administrative floor. The doors opened and there he was. For the briefest second, Colin saw a confident guy standing there dead center in the elevator, his arms crossed. He had messy dark hair and bags under his sharp eyes. He wore a lab coat that hid a rather well built if a bit thin frame. He had a bit of stubble that set his jawline in just the right way, especially in the light from above. Colin blinked, and the confidence on the man¡¯s face evaporated. In its place, Colin saw something far better. The guy¡¯s mouth was open, eyes wide, and there was more than a little red there too. Colin couldn¡¯t help himself, he pursed his lips and smiled, Oh? Amos¡¯ own stomach grumbled and he flinched, clearing his throat a little to cover up the sound. Colin narrowed his eyes and smirked, taking a step forward as the first floor grew closer. He tilted his head up and looked up at Amos¡¯ face. ¡°How about you treat me? You know the area better than I do, right?¡± He asked innocently. Amos blinked and took a step away, stuttering, ¡°Treat you? Me?¡± Colin put on his cutest face, ¡°What, you don¡¯t want to? I¡¯m the new guy, right? Isn¡¯t that normal?¡± A wave of various emotions warred on Amos¡¯ face. His poker face was absolute garbage. He seemed to mull it over though and managed to cough once before looking towards the door as the chime rang out. ¡°Well, yeah, I guess that makes sense. Treating the new guy, right, yeah.¡± ¡°Yeah, treating the new guy,¡± Colin repeated, his smile widening a little. ¡°Nothing else.¡± Amos took a deep breath and straightened his coat a little, running his hands back through his hair unconsciously. ¡°I actually know a place that is still open around this time, you good with chinese?¡± He asked and forced himself to look in Colin¡¯s direction, meeting his eyes. Colin returned his look with another smile, ¡°Sure, sounds good.¡± Colin watched Amos nod and hurry out ahead of him. His eyes following the guy as he walked stiffly, unable to hide his embarrassment. It was beyond cute. He considered his earlier thoughts and doubts, he honestly had been wondering if it would be nothing but work in this new place. Now, though? Now he had other thoughts to consider. I think I¡¯m going to enjoy it here. Colin thought with a grin, and followed Amos out the elevator. Chapter 59 Chapter 59 Ishtar stood in front of the screen, her mask strangely not reflecting the glowing surface, even in the dark. The call she was making was a long time coming, she hadn¡¯t had enough time to check in and it was better late than never. The room, a small office adjacent to her bedroom in the apartment, was kept intentionally sparse in order to make it difficult to tell where she was. Maybe it was her lifestyle in her past life, constantly going from one place from another and living a near-military life, but she¡¯d never been one for decorations in her workspace. Affluence and decadence were for leisure areas, distractions were not permitted when she was working. The screen flickered once and a familiar face appeared. The pretty face of Bernetta Lucci looking more than a little nervous as she returned Ishtar¡¯s gaze for a heartbeat before inclining her head and placing her hand over her heart. ¡°Mistress Ishtar,¡± The woman greeted, ¡°I¡¯ve been looking forward to hearing from you.¡± ¡°Bernetta,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°How are you?¡± The woman looked surprised by the pleasantry but quickly recovered, her expression steeling, ¡°Things are progressing well, I-¡± Ishtar held up her hand, ¡°I asked how you are, Bernetta, we¡¯ll get to that.¡± The woman frowned, puzzled, Ishtar could understand how perplexed she was. Ishtar wasn¡¯t exactly a person who appeared to enjoy pleasantries or care in any way about the personal well being of those beneath her. She considered for a moment before letting out a breath and appearing to make some kind of decision, ¡°You have given me quite the task, Mistress. I have a lot to do, but I am taking care of myself. I am in good health, though.¡± Ishtar supposed that was good enough, ¡°I¡¯ll have to properly reward you for your efforts, Bernetta. I look after my own, be sure to take breaks now and then and enjoy the fruits of your labor. You¡¯re no good to me if you are burned out.¡± The woman looked taken aback yet again and blinked a few times before easing into a far more relaxed posture, a smile even crossing her features and a sparkle coming to her eyes. ¡°I... thank you, Mistress. I won¡¯t forget you said that.¡± Ishtar inclined her head, ¡°Your progress?¡± The woman nodded, more relaxed now, ¡°Fortunately I¡¯ve had only a little trouble corralling the members of the club, some of them seemed less than interested in holding up their end of the bargain but it was nothing I couldn¡¯t handle with a little pressure from the other members. Those two agents you gifted me have also been serving their purpose quite nicely.¡± ¡°Verde and Veloce, no trouble with them?¡± Ishtar asked with a nod. ¡°None at all, they obey without question, I¡¯d like to have more like them at my disposal,¡± Bernetta chuckled. ¡°Do some window shopping, then,¡± Ishtar said casually, ¡°If there are any unlicensed light-touched you think are worth taking in, I¡¯ll give you a hand.¡± The woman blinked again, endlessly surprised it seemed, and nodded, ¡°Thank you for your support, mistress, I¡¯ll come up with a list.¡± ¡°Good, now I have something for you to bring to the club,¡± Ishtar began, finally getting down to business. ¡°I¡¯m all ears,¡± Bernetta said. What followed was a full overview of dungeons, and not just the bare bones information that Amos had. She divulged everything from the value of dungeons to the trick of not destroying the boss in order to turn them into an endless source of profit and materials. She explained how they worked, what caused them to burst, and the consequences therein. She even gave a rough timetable of which European dungeons would be the first to become problematic. She did not explain how she knew any of this, though. Bernetta rubbed her chin, ¡°We¡¯ll need these radars as soon as possible,¡± She said. ¡°I have about a hundred ready,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°I¡¯ve already sent you a portion, they should arrive in a few days. Make sure they¡¯re set up at the locations on the document that comes with them,¡± Ishtar added, getting a nod from the woman. ¡°Now comes the more important part of this conversation.¡± The woman tilted her head and Ishtar elaborated, ¡°The club will need to operate indirectly through their guilds. The heroes need experience and dungeons are an easy way to foster that, make sure to encourage competition between the various guilds but keep it friendly. I will not tolerate unhealthy rivalries.¡± ¡°Is there a reason we are not using privately contracted light-touched, ma¡¯am?¡± Bernetta asked after a moment of thought. ¡°Licensed heroes are not beholden to their sponsors. They could take the resources for themselves.¡± ¡°They have a right to the treasures within the dungeons that they engage in,¡± Ishtar said with a nod, ¡°But the average hero has no use for the material goods within. They can attempt to sell it, but I doubt they¡¯ll find much success without going through illegal channels which will be problematic for individuals under a great deal of public scrutiny.¡± I can¡¯t let that happen, Marta reaffirmed and gently knelt down to scoop Sonya up in her arms. The young woman simply lulled a little and rest her head against Marta¡¯s chest, a bit of drool nothing to worry about. She smiled at the sleeping woman. For someone so thin, you sure are heavy, Marta thought with amusement. I wish I could blame all that snacking, but you won¡¯t listen, will you? She turned away and started walking towards the door leading into Sonya¡¯s bedroom. She pushed it open and slipped inside. Sonya stirred a little and blinked, looking up at Marta¡¯s face with those glowing eyes of hers. They seemed dimmer than usual. ¡°Did I fall asleep again?¡± Sonya asked, her words coming out slow and slurred. ¡°You did,¡± Marta said, ¡°Let¡¯s get you to bed.¡± ¡°Mkay,¡± Sonya mumbled and leaned forward, resting her head against Marta¡¯s chest again, ¡°Marta?¡± ¡°Mm?¡± Marta reached her bed and easily holding Sonya with one hand pulled the sheets back. ¡°Am I still Sonya?¡± Sonya asked, clearly still half asleep. Marta looked down at her, a lump forming in her throat that felt like it came from nowhere. She hadn¡¯t imagined that Sonya was having those kinds of fears. Either face she wore, she always seemed so confident. She forced a smile onto her face as Sonya looked up at her again, so tired, so small like this. ¡°You most assuredly are, look, I¡¯m still having to put you to bed. You know, most people with disabilities don¡¯t have this problem.¡± Sonya¡¯s lips twitched into a small grin and the light in her eyes bloomed a bit more, ¡°Yeah well, I have you, don¡¯t I?¡± She mumbled as Marta set her down and pulled the sheet up before rolling over and closing her eyes again. ¡°You sure do,¡± Marta said and ran her fingers through the sleeping woman¡¯s hair. ¡°No matter what.¡± ¨C Sonya could kind-of remember that she¡¯d woken up briefly before slipping into the realm of her dreams again. Initially the dreams had been languid, distorted, and muddled as they tended to be. This time, however, she felt that tell-tale sensation of realism settle in as her mind suddenly sharpened within the distinct space that were her memories. She still hadn¡¯t figured out exactly how she was able to access her memories like this, let alone interact with them, but she assumed it was some combination of her cybernetic brain and her enhanced senses and processing ability. Not that she was happy about it. Reliving memories of the past timeline this vividly wasn¡¯t a pleasant thing for her. While it provided her insights and details that she could take advantage of, it also reminded her more clearly of just how badly things had gone last time around. Frankly, she resented it. Fortunately, or not-so-fortunately depending on how one interpreted it. This particular dream was going to be a short one. She already knew what was coming when she found herself standing in the safe-house she and Chunhua had operated out of with the other anti-divine heroes near the beginning of the war. She looked down and recognized the dress she was wearing, she felt the knife strapped to her leg, she could even smell the particular spices that the cook had been using this morning for breakfast. Supplies weren¡¯t an issue yet. It was all the same. Which made it all the worse. She knew what was coming next as the phone chimed in her pocket with the tone alerting her to a routine report. She closed her eyes and tried to remind herself that this was a dream, a memory, and that she had a chance to change everything. She pulled out her phone anyway and tapped the screen and read the report, just to get this literal living nightmare over with. SHELTER 55 HAS BEEN LOST: NO SURVIVORS HOSTILE PARTY IDENTIFIED AS THE AMETHYST ORDER Marta was dead. Sonya swallowed thickly and narrowed her eyes at the message. ¡°Amethyst...¡± She trailed off and her teeth clenched together. She¡¯d forgotten. How could she have forgotten that detail? She crushed the phone in her hand, ignoring the blood dripping on the floor. ¡°Feng Hyunh!¡± She snarled, and the dream ended. Chapter 60 Chapter 60 Sonya stood just outside the limousine, her big sunglasses reflecting the sunlight that sparkled against her glittering skin. She hadn¡¯t been out in the sun for a while and had almost forgotten about the cosmetic property to her reinforced dermis. She ignored it, though, as she¡¯d already taken advantage of more than a few tabloid journalists to spread the rumor that she was something of a narcissist that had taken to wearing glitter-dust on her skin as a fashion statement. She¡¯d of course had Marta pose as her for the interview so the lie could actually be used, as the same question posed to her would have had to be confronted with a round-about answer. She reached up and adjusted her tie a little, satisfied with the fit and crossed her arms behind her back. She wore her usual hot-pink tie, white coat and black shirt beneath it. The white slacks ended in a pair of white pumps that she¡¯d taken a liking to recently. Next to her, Marta had taken a different approach to this particular event. She wore her full Handmaiden regalia including armored gloves and the veil over her face. Sonya¡¯s lips pursed a little when she glanced in Marta¡¯s direction and had to school her expression back into something close to nonchalance. The dream the previous night still weighing on her mind. Feng Hyunh. She controlled her face even as the rage bubbled up again. It was a good thing that she had never integrated Imperious, otherwise she might have killed a few of the others who stood around them with her bloodlust. Every fiber of her being wanted to wring the woman¡¯s throat, but she had to control herself, especially now. The news had come as something of a surprise. Their monitoring of the problematic couple hadn¡¯t revealed much movement recently, especially over the last twenty-four hours. The truth had come out this morning when Amos had reported that the Chairman had used his authority to secret his son and future daughter-in-law out of Vietnam in order to prevent too many people from knowing that the nation¡¯s top hero was not present at the moment. Sonya had been understandably upset. Her plan had been to simply meet face to face with the Chairman, exchange pleasantries, and deal with the announcement about dungeons. Simple, clean, practical. After that, she could get back to work on what mattered. Tracking down the other heralds to keep an eye on them, figuring out how to kill An Set, and keeping an eye out for Otis while she built her villain empire. She clicked her tongue. Now he was coming, An Set, and more importantly, the woman who had likely given the order to put an end to the one person in her previous life she saw as family besides Chunhua. Feng Hyunh would be in front of her in just a few minutes. So what could she do? What were her options? Did she greet them all with a handshake? Duong was volatile as far as she was aware, still suffering from a mix of pandora sickness and young master syndrome. If she so much as touched him, not only would he probably become aware of her cybernetic abilities, but he could snuff out her life in a blink. He wouldn¡¯t care even if he killed her in public. Worse was Hyunh, whose powers she didn¡¯t quite understand yet beyond having some sort of mind control function. Was the Amethyst Order of her past life even an organization? Come to think of it, it was entirely possible that the woman had surrounded herself with thralls. How extensive were her abilities? She could control a peak Mythic, so they had to be Mythic as well, right? Of course she is, she was at the meeting of Mythics in the past. Marta seemed to sense her unease because she cleared her throat and Sonya glanced her way, giving her an appreciative nod before turning towards the other woman next to her. Carla Mint stood one step behind Sonya and even held her hands in front of her waist as if she were emulating Marta¡¯s posture. Sonya restrained a smirk as the two of them made eye contact. Carla averted her gaze and flushed a little, shifting a bit on the spot and looking down at her feet. Sonya snorted and looked away, it was amazing what a little mutual stress relief could do. She¡¯d caught Carla off the clock at her favorite hunting ground or rather, her favorite night club. One thing had led to another, and the woman was far more compliant now. She turned to face the tarmack not bothering to give the other committee representatives a moment''s thought. They were unimportant in the grand scheme of things and served no other purpose than being cogs in the Committee¡¯s bureaucracy, only present right now to keep up appearances. Her enhanced senses caught it before anyone else. She glanced up to the sky and saw the dot that was the private jet of the Chairman approaching. Her lips formed a thin line. Keep the greetings simple, don¡¯t offer a handshake, bowing will work in this situation. It¡¯s regrettable that I can¡¯t shake the Chairman¡¯s hand here but it¡¯s better than risking physical contact with Hyunh or Duong. She reasoned, If I had known he was coming so soon I would have had Amos push forward on more significant electricity-resistant gear! Speaking of which... She said in a clipped message. He responded. She pointed out flatly. The response came a few seconds later, He paused then added, Sonya considered his words, Sonya¡¯s lips curled upward in a fox-like smile, ¡°Oh!¡± Sonya said, giving the woman a nod, ¡°I¡¯m learning a lot today!¡± She tilted her head, ¡°I¡¯m glad you came.¡± The woman inclined her head in response, amethyst gems hanging from her ears and her eyes a clear and vibrant purple. She gave her own faux-sincere smile and spoke, ¡°I¡¯ve heard a great deal about what you¡¯ve done for humanity since the flash. It makes me happy that I finally get to meet you face to face. Would it be too much to ask for an autograph sometime? I have a kid sister that is actually quite a fan,¡± She said enthusiastically. Sonya held her hand up to her heart, ¡°I¡¯m sure that can be arranged!¡± Sonya said with her own pleasant smile. Despite their words, it was pretty clear that a few people noticed the momentary tension between the two women. The Chairman cleared his throat and put his hands on his hips, ¡°Well! Why don¡¯t we get going? I¡¯m sure we have a lot to talk about.¡± Sonya turned back to him, ¡°Of course, sir,¡± Sonya said and gestured to the limousine behind her. ¡°We have a reservation already waiting for us for a very comfortable lunch.¡± The Chairman nodded with a grunt, ¡°Oh, I¡¯d also very much like to meet the ASTA team when you have an opportunity.¡± Sonya nodded, ¡°Certainly, though they¡¯re currently off doing an investigation for me related to our topic of discussion today,¡± Sonya said, ¡°So it may be a few days. How long are you planning on staying?¡± The Chairman waved a hand as if it weren¡¯t a big deal, ¡°Oh plenty of time, I need to meet with the committee administration here in the States while I¡¯m present and my Son and Hyunh have never been here so I want to give them the opportunity to soak it all in. I expect to be here for about a month at least.¡± I¡¯ll make sure both of them are dead by the end of the month, then, She thought before gesturing to the limo. Carla and Marta moved quickly to open the doors to let the VIPs inside. ¡°Perfect!¡± Sonya said, ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear you¡¯re staying so long, it gives us an opportunity to sync up our priorities and future plans.¡± That seemed to be just the right thing to say. The Chairman practically beamed at her and walked over to her as his son and future daughter-in-law slipped into the car. Marta kept a careful distance from Duong. The Chairman extended a hand to Sonya, ¡°I know we got off to a rocky start, so it really does my heart good to hear that from you. I¡¯m looking forward to the results of this visit.¡± Sonya glanced at his hand, sensing the two problems already sitting in the limo and took it with a smile, thinking quickly. I can¡¯t waste this opportunity. Make a simple deal, Sonya. She wasn¡¯t about to not capitalize on this opportunity. ¡°As am I, Chairman.¡± She said with a bit of a tease in her voice. ¡°Should I be flattered you came running the moment I called?¡± Analyze. She hesitated for a heartbeat. What is this? That¡¯s an interesting name. She thought as he returned her smile. He barked out a jolly laugh, ¡°I think my wife would be upset with how you phrased that!¡± He chortled, ¡°In all seriousness, if this news you have for me is as good as I hope it is, I think I can agree to staying out of your affairs going forward. We¡¯re both too busy to be nagging on one another all the time.¡± She tittered out a laugh. ¡°It¡¯s a deal, Chairman.¡± Proceed. She released his hand as she felt the deal play out through Broker. Turning to allow him to get into the car ahead of her. Her eyes spun in her head for a moment as she watched his back and briefly glanced up to make eye contact with Marta who gave her a carefully measured smile. Despite the unexpected addition, step one of this little visit was a success. She thought, and slipped into the seat next to the old man. Chapter 61 Chapter 61 Rage. Even as he sat down, he wasn¡¯t in control of his own body. Moments of clarity came through now and then, but every day it felt like he lost a little more of himself. His words weren¡¯t his own even as his thoughts remained firmly in his grasp. The leash was loose, though, the collar around his metaphorical throat only tightening when the intent to act bubbled to the surface. He couldn¡¯t even glance hatefully in Hyunh¡¯s direction. She was meticulous in how she managed him, reigning in his movements and making him seem placid on the outside. Hyunh had stopped him from trying as well. On the television and in nearly every image of Sonya, that woman, she was constantly reaching out to grasp someone¡¯s hand. It seemed almost like it was her go-to greeting even if there were cultural differences. Yet today, of all days, she chose to bow and offer her greeting in another fashion. Did she know? It wasn¡¯t a secret that his powers were based on electricity he supposed, but to think that she somehow divined that he could rip her body¡¯s charge out was preposterous. Regardless, it didn¡¯t happen. He felt like he could have pushed through if given the chance, much to his frustration. He pushed harder against his bonds, trying again to struggle free of Hyunh¡¯s grip. It was fruitless with her nearby. When there was some distance between them he felt stronger, but she was always quick to return to his side and restore the connection. To all outsiders it looked like their romance had jumped to a new level, with her constantly close to him, but never touching him out of social propriety. She just knew he would kill her too. He grit his teeth behind the placid smile on his face. Sonya Chernovna is sitting right there! Across from me! I could kill her right now! Damn it, damn it, damn it! He felt a wave of calm wash over him and was briefly able to avert his gaze, making eye contact with Hyunh who gave him a sweet smile that he knew was only meant to mock him. He returned her gaze, knowing she knew what he was thinking. The link between them was two way. He could feel her thoughts as she directed them towards him. Yet he also knew that when she put enough attention on him, his mind became foggy and muddled. Thinking became hard. His will buckled and he felt the fog start to rise up again. He tried to fight it, he really did, burning with his hatred. But it was no use. He didn¡¯t know how long it would take. Probably a few years at this rate if he had to guess as his own powers slowly grew. But eventually, he knew he would cease to be. Whether that realization was his own thoughts or hers, he couldn¡¯t even tell anymore. That was when something else pierced through the fog. A presence. It was daunting and cruel, enormous, unflappable, and filled with bloodlust. He blinked in the brief moment of clarity even as his body didn¡¯t allow him to physically react. He met that woman¡¯s mechanical gaze and felt the pressure intensify. Around her, no one reacted, no one noticed. Not even Hyunh seem to pay it any mind as if she couldn¡¯t sense it at all. Impossible. He thought. How could they not feel this? It was like standing in front of a killer beast! His heart rate increased as she winked at him. Did she know? Was that a power or was he just intimidated? How could he possibly be intimidated? He felt Hyunh¡¯s derision through the spell she¡¯d cast on him. Are you really scared of that woman? Hyunh¡¯s thoughts came through. Pathetic. No, she¡¯s doing something I can- He tried to explain, tried to warn her. She just pulled away and ignored him. Bitch! ¨C Coward Hyunh pulled her mind out of Duong¡¯s thoughts and crossed her legs, keeping her poker face. She¡¯d sensed his momentary fright when he met Sonya¡¯s gaze. It was pathetic, to be honest. Finally faced with his hated enemy and he¡¯d only managed a few moments of bravado outside the limousine before succumbing to intimidation. For all his power, he was hot air. She wanted to sigh in disappointment, but at least he was still resisting her which meant that his mental strength wasn¡¯t utterly laughable. Even so, she didn¡¯t appreciate Sonya teasing her new ¡®pet¡¯. She¡¯d let go of seeing Duong as a person shortly after planting the amethyst and taking hold of his mind. His thoughts were always so erratic, self absorbed, and filled with beast-like hatred. There was no reason to believe anything that went through his mind. Even so, it would take some time before the bond fully overcame him. With the amount of time she had to spend at a distance it meant that she couldn¡¯t spend all of her tremendous energy focused on breaking him down. He had wanted so badly to shake that woman¡¯s hand and kill her right then and there, but that would have been more than a little problematic. What would that do to Hyunh¡¯s image and future? No, she couldn¡¯t allow it. Not in such a public place, anyway. This was a game of chess and Sonya was her opponent. Duong was her piece with his own brutal advantages while based on what she¡¯d overheard of Sonya¡¯s brief talk with the Chairman, the Chairman was on Sonya¡¯s side of the board ultimately. She glanced in Sonya¡¯s direction and the woman returned the look. The two of them smiled at one another. I¡¯m going to take everything from you, Chernovna and claim your empire as my own. ¨C Sonya put Imperious back into her warehouse after testing the waters a little. It had only been about a second¡¯s worth of intimidation but she had seen the effects more than clearly enough. She¡¯d wanted to see just what the extent of Hyunh¡¯s connection to Duong¡¯s mind entailed and had gotten a good bit of information out of it. First of all, when his emotions were heightened he surfaced a little more than when he was in a calm state. The pressure she put on seemed to weaken the connection but couldn¡¯t sever it. The momentary flash of fright in his eyes was clear enough indication. She¡¯s doing it again. Duong insisted. Enough nonsense, she doesn¡¯t have such an ability, you¡¯re just a coward and a spoiled child. She snarled back through their connection and felt the mana in the air come into her body, converting it into additional inner energy as she felt the dull-ache of her power come to life. She willed the gem she¡¯d embedded in Duong¡¯s body to restrain him and his mind calmed down. She was lucky that her reservoir of inner energy was deep, otherwise he would have broken out long ago. Brat. Sonya hung up her phone and turned back to them, smiling broadly. ¡°Well I¡¯ve got some good news!¡± ¡°I¡¯m all ears,¡± The Chairman chirped, returning her smile. What¡¯s wrong with him? He seems more compliant than usual. It¡¯s like he¡¯s under a compulsion. ¡°One of the radars we sent to Nevada marked a dungeon,¡± Sonya said, sitting back down, ¡°Las Vegas of all places, exciting!¡± She said. Hyunh froze, Now that¡¯s an opportunity. If they¡¯re as dangerous as she says then maybe I could... ¡°Is it at any risk of bursting anytime soon?¡± The Chairman asked. ¡°Hardly,¡± Sonya said, ¡°Amos estimates we have a few months before we should be worried.¡± The Chairman paused, looking thoughtful and perhaps a little hesitant. ¡°Could we perhaps see it?¡± Hyunh chimed in. ¡°I¡¯m not sure that¡¯s a good idea...¡± The Chairman rumbled, sounding reluctant. ¡°I think it sounds exciting!¡± Hyunh spoke up and turned to Duong, ¡°Don¡¯t you agree, love?¡± Duong tensed for half a second before nodding, ¡°Yes, I think it would be enlightening to see how dungeons work before we returned home,¡± He said on her behalf, his tone sounding a little muted but nothing noticeable. She¡¯d have to work on his enunciation while under strict control. Sonya hesitated, frowning a little. She looked surprised at the suggestion. ¡°Dungeons are very dangerous,¡± She said carefully, ¡°Going into a dungeon will leave you isolated, communication technology doesn¡¯t work through the portal, and Amos is still unsure as to whether all dungeons will allow you to come and go.¡± Duong leaned forward as Hyunh eased up on his leash a little, planting his hands on his knees, ¡°I think I can handle a few monsters,¡± He said with a derisive snort. Good boy. Hyunh thought. Sonya looked even more unsure, her eyes meeting Hyunh¡¯s. The two of them stared at one another for a moment before Sonya let out a sigh and took a sip of her wine, a long one. ¡°Alright, fine, but don¡¯t blame me if you get hurt.¡± ¡°When can we go?¡± Duong asked, his teeth bared. Sonya rubbed her chin, ¡°A little over a week from now?¡± Sonya offered, still looking a little upset that they¡¯d just steamrolled into one of her projects. ¡°I¡¯d like to do some initial work before sending someone in, and of course you all should enjoy a bit of New York before we go galavanting off to Las Vegas.¡± She sighed. Serves you right, bitch. Should have kept your mouth shut. Hyunh decided to play along, though, and turned towards the Chairman. ¡°I think that¡¯s fair.¡± The Chairman didn¡¯t seem convinced, but he eventually relented after meeting his son¡¯s gaze. ¡°Fine, fine, we¡¯ll go to Vegas after a week. I¡¯ll need to pack my schedule here then.¡± Perfect, Hyunh thought. Now I just need a plan to get her in the dungeon with Duong. The rest will take care of itself. Side Story: Ozzie 3 Side Story: Ozzie 3 Apparently, word of Ozzie¡¯s untimely demise hadn¡¯t quite reached all ears just yet. While the cops certainly knew about it, his landlord, thankfully, did not. Not that it didn¡¯t make knocking on the man¡¯s door in the middle of the night any less awkward. Wearing a hodgepodge of clothes and looking more than a little disheveled. Even so, after simply explaining that he¡¯d lost his keys during a monster attack he¡¯d been able to get one of the spares the man kept on hand. It was probably the most mundane experience he¡¯d had since he¡¯d woken up and it was more than a little surreal in its own way. He trudged up the stairs, the hound and zombie thief following him in complete silence. They had less trouble climbing the stairs than he did and he wasn¡¯t exactly sure why. The odd instinct that itched at the back of his head told him that it was because he was more conscious of his actions than they were, but he¡¯d noticed that the zombie thief wasn¡¯t exactly all gone either. The instincts and his reality weren¡¯t quite matching up and that troubled him more than a little. The hound even more so, it seemed to be just as mobile and active as a living version if it¡¯s kind. It even took the time to sniff around and examine its surroundings as they finally entered his less than beautiful home. It hurried past him after a moment of consideration and darted to the weathered couch across from the entrance, hopping onto it and settling in without a second thought. The thief on the other hand just stood there, glancing around in mute confusion. It really didn¡¯t seem to understand much of what was going on. Ozzie had considered leaving it where it had been uh... born... but after how easily the ¡®condition¡¯ had spread from the hound he didn¡¯t think it was a very good idea. He didn¡¯t want it, but this guy, thing, whatever he was, was now his responsibility. It didn¡¯t help that he could literally feel the link between them. It was made even worse by the fact that he could understand the guy, to a degree. Not in any intimate sort of way. He didn¡¯t have access to his memories or thoughts, not that there were many left anymore, but to be quite frank he objectively understood how the man worked. He wordlessly held out his hand and without prompting the man pulled his gun out and handed it to Ozzie. He looked at the weapon, it was heavy and cold, he¡¯d never held one in his entire life even though he probably should have. He tilted it over in his hand and in a flash, disengaged and engaged the safety, dropped the clip into his palm, reloaded, and reached for the hammer. ¡°Shit!¡± Ozzie gasped, freezing and staring dumbstruck at the weapon. He looked over at the thief with a bit of confusion, ¡°Were you military or something?¡± He asked, not expecting much of a response. He didn¡¯t get much either, just a numb nod. Ozzie sat down on his arm chair and held his head in his hands, barrel of the gun pressing against the side of his head. He let out a whine, ¡°This is too much, man, what the hell? What am I even supposed to do with that? With you?¡± He threw his hand dismissively at the thief before setting the gun down and rubbing his eyes. ¡°I have a job-¡± He froze. It nodded numbly. ¡°Can you drive well?¡± He asked more specifically. It hesitated and he felt his connection to the thing strengthen a little bit more. It was an odd feeling, like an invisible thread between the two of them becoming just a bit thicker. It tingled. After the sensation passed it nodded again in affirmation. So it¡¯s a two-way street. I get what it knows and it gets what I know. He glanced at the hound and it just sat there on the couch, panting, looking as lively as well... a living dog. It acted like a dog, not a predator hound. Ozzie frowned and the realization finally hit him, it was emulating his image of what a good dog should behave like. It was nothing more than a puppet that he was subconsciously providing behavioral instructions to. The realization made him a bit uncomfortable but at the same time he was glad he understood more of what was going on now. It hopped to its feet at a thought and hurried over to him, planting itself next to his knees. He reached down and scratched behind its ear as he mulled his thoughts over a bit more. He glanced up at the thief. My own taxi business, that might work, run with a... single... zombie. He groaned, ¡°That¡¯s not going to work! And I am not going out of my way to make more of you guys, that¡¯s insane!¡± He groaned, ¡°It seemed like a good idea at first!¡± That was when he heard the shouts outside. He frowned, it was normal to hear violent people doing violent things in this neighborhood. People doing stupid things, causing trouble for the others just trying to live in peace. He glanced at the door, It¡¯s not my problem, not like I can do anything about- He paused and looked at the thief again, it stared back at him with a vacant expression. He swallowed, ¡°Well... I mean...¡± He knew he was taking insane leaps in logic. He knew he was letting his new power get to him. But... he couldn¡¯t help himself. ¡°...it wouldn¡¯t hurt to try, right?¡± Chapter 62 Chapter 62 Sonya held a two liter bottle of soda aloft, standing dramatically next to the television. She was feeling more than a little smug. Her performance had gone well, and it seemed only right to celebrate a little. She cradled the bottle and looked down at it before looking up at Amos, Colin, and Marta who had all gathered for what was probably the first time they were all in the same room. Marta was covering her face in second-hand embarrassment, Amos was guffawing as Colin leaned forward with a glint in his eyes and a grin on his face wide enough to match hers. He¡¯d really come out of his shell since joining up. ¡°I¡¯d like to thank the Academy,¡± Sonya began, placing a hand over her heart as she looked longingly down at the bottle, ¡°And of course my dear friends who have supported me up until this point,¡± She trailed off and wiped a non-existant tear from her eyes, ¡°This is for you guys.¡± Colin clapped excitedly while Marta groaned, trying to hide the amusement on her face with her hands. It wasn¡¯t working. ¡°I still can¡¯t believe she went for it so easily,¡± Amos snorted, resting his arms on his knees. Sonya shrugged, ¡°She¡¯s got it out for me, the moment I showed reluctance she doubled down. She doesn¡¯t think very highly of me, obviously. I could tell she was impressed with what we¡¯ve accomplished as far as ASTA is concerned but that¡¯s separate from me as a person,¡± She explained. ¡°Still, all we¡¯ve managed to accomplish here is ensuring that she goes to the dungeon that day, nothing much past that,¡± Marta pointed out, buzzkill. ¡°How are we dealing with her once we get her in there? What about Duong? I was next to the guy and Sonya¡¯s right. He¡¯s way more dangerous. I felt like I was standing next to a live generator and one wrong move would be the end of me even with Baldur¡¯s Body.¡± ¡°You¡¯d still survive,¡± Sonya said, walking over and settling onto the couch, ¡°Though it would hurt, a lot.¡± Marta frowned, ¡°All the more reason to figure out a strategy. I¡¯m not a masochist.¡± ¡°Plausible deniability is the first and highest priority. You need to make everything that happens while at the dungeon seem to be outside your control,¡± Colin said, ¡°Get a third party to actually force her into the dungeon. Someone disposable but also strong enough to keep her inside. You can come and go from dungeons, right?¡± ¡°Some, not all,¡± Amos said. ¡°Oh?¡± Colin asked, turning to him. ¡°Yeah, the Times Square Dungeon had a cut-off point according to Firestorm¡¯s team. After progressing to the main level of the building the path back was blocked,¡± He frowned, ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt to cover all bases though.¡± ¡°They¡¯d need to be able to get past Duong,¡± Marta added. Sonya leaned back in her chair and played the drums on her two liter for a few seconds, thinking. She rest her head back and stared at the ceiling, considering all of her contacts. ¡°Blackrazor still hasn¡¯t made contact but I have a feeling he¡¯s still alive, just busy. Kingshark would be cooked in an instant, he¡¯s powerful but slow. I should figure out a fix for that in the future, I don¡¯t want my lieutenants to have weaknesses.¡± Amos snapped his fingers, ¡°Veloce!¡± Sonya sat up and blinked, ¡°Oh yeah! That¡¯s a great idea!¡± She laughed, ¡°Veloce could get past him no problem and have Hyunh in the dungeon before he could even blink.¡± ¡°But could she hold Hyunh? You said her ability was some kind of magic like Bluestar, right?¡± Colin pressed, ¡°Not to put a damper,¡± He nudged Amos¡¯ shoulder, ¡°Just making sure.¡± Sonya considered for a moment. Colin was right that it wasn¡¯t entirely certain as to whether or not she could hold Hyunh at bay and make sure the dungeon dealt with her. She rubbed her neck and pressed her lips together. ¡°I could Broker her a power, but I¡¯d need something in exchange from her and the deal has to be willing even if she¡¯s basically enslaved.¡± She glanced at Marta, ¡°And a powerful enough ability to really make sure we have no problems tends to come at a significant cost, especially for those who already work for me.¡± Marta rubbed her chin, ¡°Well, you mentioned at one point you gave me a free sample of my powers being awakened when the flash first happened,¡± Marta said slowly, ¡°How long does it last?¡± ¡°Not long,¡± Sonya said shaking her head, ¡°It was only about a minute, tops.¡± ¡°One Minute is not a lot of time to work with,¡± Colin agreed. ¡°At her speed, though, she could get pretty far into a dungeon in a minute as long as there aren¡¯t barriers in her path,¡± Amos countered, ¡°Also, do we really need more than a minute for things to play out with Duong? Powers don¡¯t work through a dungeon portal, the moment she¡¯s cut off the connection will sever. My drones don¡¯t work with my technopathy if I¡¯m not in with them and I imagine the effect is similar.¡± The four of them looked at one another, ¡°This might work,¡± Marta said hesitantly, ¡°It¡¯s incredibly risky and we still have to deal with Duong once he¡¯s free. He¡¯ll fly off the handle for certain if what Sonya¡¯s told me and what I could feel are any indication.¡± ¡°Yes, at a convention,¡± Marta murmured, ¡°Protesting.¡± Sonya¡¯s lips thinned, she¡¯d always known he was a religious nut. She frowned, ¡°Did he say anything to you?¡± Sonya asked, a little more darkly than she intended. Even Colin and Amos who¡¯d been half flirting-half arguing looked up in surprise and maybe a little fear. Marta didn¡¯t seem to notice, lost in thought, ¡°It wasn¡¯t pretty, no.¡± Sonya¡¯s lip twitched and she met Amos¡¯ gaze. Amos swallowed as Marta seemed to sense the tension finally. She looked up at Sonya and her eyes widened. ¡°You... Sonya please don¡¯t. Just leave him be. I don¡¯t want-¡± Sonya¡¯s voice dropped a full octave, ¡°Are you sure?¡± Ishtar asked. ¡°One word to Kingshark.¡± Marta met her gaze and nodded, ¡°This is my problem to deal with and he¡¯s not worth the effort even then, let alone having some of Kingshark¡¯s boys deal with him. I just need to work through it. How about you take me out clubbing instead?¡± Ishtar sighed and nodded, her shoulders relaxing. The air in the room seemed to ease a little and both Colin and Amos let out their own breaths of relief. Sonya brightened up with a smile, ¡°Well, in that case, the offer¡¯s still on the table for the big guy. Who knows, you might be into it!¡± She teased with a tittering laugh before getting to her feet. ¡°I¡¯m gonna go make that call.¡± She said and stood, walking to her room. The others watched her go, exchanging looks before Amos just shrugged and gestured to the TV. It flickered to life and the news came on. ¡°...in other news, the international task force of heroes will be visiting major cities across the United States in a tour to introduce the growing group and expand appeal. The Pandora Committee has indicated that this particular group will be eventually working towards the liberation of the lost Dharan territory.¡± The reporter said. ¡°Oh I heard about this,¡± Colin said, ¡°I¡¯m surprised Firestorm wasn¡¯t invited.¡± ¡°Mythics only,¡± Marta pointed out, ¡°The best and the strongest. Even if Firestorm frankly has more experience than most of them put together.¡± ¡°Ah,¡± Colin nodded in understanding. ¡°Recently added to the new team is Lian Chunhua also known as Black Lotus, a swordswoman from China who is currently being considered for a leadership position in the group given her military background and sizable monster kill count,¡± The screen changed to a woman with black hair standing with a sheathed sword in her hand speaking with a few other heroes and shaking hands. ¡°The Mythic-tier hero has a confirmed count of over seven hundred monsters and single handedly defended a small town after a sizable wave of unusual monsters appeared. There is some question as to whether or not the wave was a result of a smaller version of the Dharan incident.¡± The three of them exchanged looks, ¡°Dungeon break?¡± Marta asked. ¡°Sounds like it, she managed it on her own?¡± Amos muttered, ¡°Holy shit.¡± ¡°Probably common tier, even so...¡± Colin said thoughtfully. ¡°...she¡¯s powerful. Maybe we should-¡± He turned to look to Sonya who hadn¡¯t quite reached her room when the TV went on. He froze. ¡°Sonya?¡± Sonya stood in the doorframe, her eyes wide, staring at the screen in a mixture of fear, confusion, grief, and something else. She was shaking, breathing hard, and gripping the frame of her door so tightly that her fingers were digging into the wood down to her knuckles. The others looked up in worry as the TV kept going. ¡°We received word this evening that the Chairman of the Pandora Committee will be in Las Vegas next week and has made arrangements to meet the leading members of the international task force during that time. More details as they come,¡± The reporter trailed off, ¡°Speculation about tomorrow¡¯s press conference hosted by Sonya Chernovna has...¡± ¡°Sonya?¡± Marta called out to her, ¡°Sonya are you okay? What is it?¡± Sonya turned away in silence, shakily stumbling into her room and shutting the door behind her. The three just looked at one another then back at the television. ¡°What the hell just happened?¡± Amos asked, ¡°Was it that Chunhua woman?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, but let¡¯s look into it,¡± Marta said and got a nod from Amos. ¨C She¡¯s going to be there. Sonya staggered towards her bed before immediately changing direction and rushing to the bathroom. A moment later she was rinsing her mouth out and gripping the sides of her sink with white knuckles. She looked up at her own glowing eyes. She could see the dim, broken eyes of the woman who had stumbled through the apocalypse even as they glowed brightly back at her in reality. That bastard, this changes everything, I can¡¯t face her. She snarled inwardly and ran the water again, splashing it over her face. He¡¯s going to make me meet her. What should I do? What should I say? What can I do? She panicked. ¡°Fuck!¡± She swore and turned away, glancing at the toilet again and covering her mouth, nausea boiling up again. She crouched down and covered her head, her shoulders trembling. She felt Marta approach the door to her room and with an effort of will engaged the electronic lock. She didn¡¯t want to see or talk to anyone right now. She felt bad, but she just couldn¡¯t deal with it. Her mind was reeling. She hadn¡¯t seen Chunhua¡¯s face since laying eyes on her corpse before the funeral. Now she saw her alive and well, young, stern, fresh, beautiful. God damn it, why now? She croaked as she curled up on the cold bathroom floor, holding her head. Calm down... calm down... Chapter 63 Chapter 63 Sonya sat in her office, staring at the small cluster of screens. The brief call with Bernetta had come and gone, Veloce would be in the country the next day. Sonya scrolled through the list of registered heroes. There were a few names she recognized, most of them on the right side of the war. The War. She closed her eyes and caught her breath again, her hand going to her throat. She rubbed her neck and let out a sigh, trying to put the images out of her head. She could still see Chunhua¡¯s lifeless face in her mind, but it had been superimposed with the face of the woman on the television just a few hours before. She glanced at the mirror on her desk, noting the faint bags beneath her eyes. I¡¯m a damn mess. She shifted her gaze towards the list again and kept scrolling. There were plenty of powers worth analyzing, heroes worth investing in, but that was all future plans. She needed to keep consolidating her power base before she went any further. She was established now, but there were complications that needed to be addressed before she moved forward into the next phase. An Set and Hyunh needed to go. They were directly antagonistic towards her public persona and that was a problem. She needed to cultivate an image of sterling silver, she¡¯d done well so far but there was more to do. It had to be insane to even consider she was playing both sides. She paused as she was scrolling. It was a huge list, and it took a while to find certain names while browsing for powers. Stella Hanks was part of the first wave, unsurprising. She¡¯s in Mississippi? I see. Liberty should probably be the next one I take care of after An Set. She would have been the first but he decided to make a personal nuisance of himself. I¡¯ll need to start monitoring her soon, the longer she is left alone, the more dangerous she becomes. First Wind wasn¡¯t on there, neither was Majordomo, Astaroth and Craftsman weren¡¯t on the initial list of licensed heroes as well. She was surprised not to see Qilin as well, the woman had become a hero very early on in the past timeline. She had basically been traded with China like a sports star for- Sonya found Chunhua¡¯s profile and froze. She looked down at her trembling fingers and clenched her fist. She shifted her jaw left and right and leaned back in her chair, taking another steadying breath. Seeing her again had been overwhelming. I need to clear my head. She glanced towards another one of the screens on her desk, it looked for all intents and purposes like a weather radar but it was far from it. She¡¯d asked for a direct stream of the data that Amos was getting for the mana radar set up on top of the current ASTA headquarters. Her lip twitched as she stared at one of the dots on the screen. There were several minor dungeons in New York, nothing as potent as the one beneath Times Square, but still would be a problem if left unchecked and unmanaged. Firestorm''s team was out clearing out the monsters in them while leaving the bosses alone. These dungeons would be the first that ASTA directly mined. Her finger tapped on the desk, faster, her knee twitching, her eyes focused on one of the dots. Her lips pressed into a thin line. I can¡¯t concentrate. Damn it. Tomorrow is going to be hell. How the fuck am I going to get through that damn press conference like this? A knock came to her office door and she jerked. She looked up at it and frowned, Marta? Damn it, did Amos unlock my door? That brat. She willed the door open and looked back down at her screens, ¡°Marta.¡± ¡°Amos-¡± She started and Sonya glanced up at her and raised an eyebrow, ¡°-you figured that out already, obviously.¡± Her friend said and walked over to her side. Sonya tensed and dismissed Chunhua¡¯s profile, leaning forward and staring at her hands. ¡°Sonya, what happened?¡± ¡°Explaining it would be very difficult,¡± Sonya said cooly. ¡°Your mysterious knowledge?¡± Marta asked, half joking. ¡°Yes,¡± Sonya said, not even bothering to phrase around it. She looked down at her fingers. ¡°I recently acquired a way I could share it in a way that is a bit clearer, but to be honest I¡¯m not ready to use it.¡± She was talking about the ability analyzed from the Chairman, of course; Share the Path. The ability had seemed very strange at first, especially coming from the Chairman. Some people had abilities that appeared almost tailored to their personalities, which led to Sonya¡¯s confusion. Share the Path allowed someone to share memories in a controlled way. Instinctively she understood that it provided the images almost like a reel and in a compressed way, feeding the information over a short period rather than having them live it out in real time. Her knife fell like a silent guillotine, one instant she was on the ceiling, the next she was in the midst of the goblins. Blood sprayed from one of them, its spine severed down the middle. She pivoted and swept her weapon out horizontally, catching two of them across the neck and separating their heads from their bodies. The remaining two had just enough time to turn in her direction before a knife entered and retracted from their throats in quick succession. In a matter of heartbeats, they had fallen to the ground, dead. She stood up and whipped the blade, cleaning the blood off and staring down at the corpses. ¡°If I use the bare minimum of my powers, it doesn¡¯t seem like I strain my inner reserve too much. Going all out cuts into my uptime,¡± She murmured thoughtfully, ¡°More than enough for these things.¡± She glanced up at the hall ahead of her and affixed her mindset. For just a little while, she would be a scout again, clearing out the trash for the heroes that came in after her. She touched one of the bodies with her foot and pulled storage space from her warehouse, it vanished. She turned away from the remaining bodies and strode down the hall, blade at the ready, before vanishing again. The next room had ten of the god forsaken things. Sonya didn¡¯t fight them directly, instead throwing a corpse of one of the ones she¡¯d killed earlier near the entrance. The ten goblins looked at the corpse in confusion, sniffing the air and yammering to one another. Three of them hurried over to examine the body only for a flash of white to blitz past them, cutting them down before vanishing again. The remaining goblins in the hall shrieked at one another before four ran over this time, a lot more cautious. There was a cry of pain, and the four investigators spun around to see that the three they had left behind in the center of the room were dead and on the ground. They whipped their heads around, trying to find the source of the danger as a pair of hot-pink eyes glowed down at them from the ceiling. Sonya rolled her shoulders as she walked down the next hallway. How hard do I need to go for it to count as eating into my internal energy? She questioned. So far she was only using her enhanced speed and strength just a little bit. Most of it was her own skills as a scout. Do I have to have all of cyber punk active at the same time? She frowned, It¡¯s hardly a solution, I still can¡¯t go full power. I have to concentrate while fighting goblins of all things. She clicked her tongue in irritation. She shrugged. I¡¯m just blowing off steam anyway. Sonya let herself get lost in the carnage as she worked her way through room after room. The Uncommon-tier goblins falling for the same strategy pretty much every time. It wasn¡¯t hard to confuse their senses with the thick scent of blood. They weren¡¯t exactly the smartest creatures in the world either. As she fought and killed, she let her mind drift. She needed to figure out how she was going to handle meeting Chunhua, how she was going to deal with Hyunh, how she was going to find Otis, what she needed to do. Even in her post-violence clarity she found it hard to come up with specific plans. Her mind kept drifting to Chunhua, to seeing her face again. How am I supposed to stay calm when I see her again? What can I say to her? Hell, I don¡¯t even think I¡¯ll be able to say ¡®It¡¯s nice to meet you¡¯ without choking. All I want to say, all I want to get across, all I want her to know... She looked down at the dozens of bodies around her. A level of slaughter that would take Firestorm¡¯s entire team to accomplish in a similar amount of time. ¡°I missed you,¡± Sonya breathed. She looked up at the ceiling, I¡¯ll need to have Marta pose as me for the meeting. I don¡¯t have a choice. It would be nice to shake her hand and acquire Lord of Jianghu, but I don¡¯t think I can carry on a conversation with her without fucking it up. I¡¯m not ready. I¡¯m not strong enough. She walked away from the bodies, deep in thought, Now what about Otis? I need to strike first. He¡¯s going to reveal himself one of these days and I need to be the one with the momentum. What do I know? She knew that he had tried to come visit Colin shortly after she¡¯d acquired the lawyer. Out of curiosity she had monitored the security cameras of his old office and had seen the blurry looking man walking through the building, searching for Colin. It was strange, though, despite knowing who it was, her emotions hadn¡¯t even reacted to seeing him. It was like he wasn¡¯t really there. That damn power of his. If it wasn¡¯t for her cybernetic brain, she probably would have overlooked him on the cameras. It was helping resist it, a little. He was following his old path. He was coming. One day she¡¯d see him face to face. Not now though, not yet. He hadn¡¯t joined as a licensed hero, though that wasn¡¯t surprising. He didn¡¯t respect any authority beyond his own and the rules of heroes in this timeline were far stricter than they were in the previous timeline. She¡¯d made sure of it. She clenched the weapon in her hand, ¡°My head isn¡¯t clear enough, I need...¡± She trailed off as her eyes landed on the end of the tunnel ahead of her, a large opening that lead into an even larger room. The boss room. Her lips pressed into a line and she strode forward. I need more clarity. Fighting goblins isn¡¯t enough. The stress is still there, the anxiety. I¡¯ve been letting the stress build, time to get it all out, the restlessness, the anxiety, the worry. Let it all go. She thought as she stepped into the room and vanished again. In the center of the room, an enormous, rotund, green-skinned monstrosity looked around in confusion before starting to pluck at its teeth again. Above it, a pair of neon-pink eyes blazed with unrestrained bloodlust. Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Sonya dug the fingers of her free hand into the ceiling, holding herself in place as she examined the boss. The core creature of the dungeon lounged in its corpulent glory, its sizeable gut so unwieldy that she wondered if it was even capable of standing on its own. She dismissed that notion, underestimating a dungeon boss was a good way to end up dead. She understood the strategy of most heroes from the past timeline; test the waters, experiment, feel the enemy out for weaknesses, assess its strengths, and then go in for the kill while keeping excessive firepower to a minimum. Sonya had no such compunctions. She¡¯d forgotten, truth be told, about the ways of life she¡¯d learned back during the war as the Apocalypse gripped the world. She¡¯d let the softness and joy of being back in the past ease her mindset. Well, sort of. She was cognizant of what was happening to her even if there wasn¡¯t much she could do about it in the immediate. There were no therapists she could talk to, no treatments, no pathways to take that wouldn¡¯t cause undue problems for her greater plans. She would just have to deal with it on her own, her and the fragmentary spark of id that was Ishtar. She¡¯d put too much stock into the identity, committed heinous crimes in that name and had begun to push the responsibility of her actions on it. She wasn¡¯t stupid, she wasn¡¯t blind, she understood, better than anyone. If she was going to slow it down, the only thing she could do was take some of that viciousness back onto her shoulders. I can¡¯t let you shoulder it all, or you¡¯ll become worse than him, won¡¯t you? She didn¡¯t expect a response, she didn¡¯t want one, that would mean she was further gone than she¡¯d estimated. Sonya pulled herself out of her thoughts and assessed the creature¡¯s body, the heads up display of her cybernetics enhanced by the helmet. There were various high stress points she could emphasize, the knees in particular. Large goblins tended to have a decent regeneration, but their blood was thin and their hearts powerful. Attacking a major artery was also a good strategy. She planned her route, planting her feet and shoving her fingers deeper into the stone to maintain her grip. The beast below her belched and scratched its belly, unaware, oblivious. Locate the problem and exterminate it with extreme prejudice, stop holding back. She grit her teeth, This is going to hurt. Her inner energy blazed to life, her muscles shifted, her bones became denser, the world seemed to slow down around her. Red light flashed in her vision and the glow of the eyes on her helmet intensified in the dark. She gripped her weapon. Maximum Uptime, she hissed internally and with a tremendous bang, kicked off the ceiling like a rocket. The great beast barely had an instant to shift its massive frame and look up when a knife dug into its throat. She pulled, her muscles blazing as she carved a path around its head and down, across shoulder muscles. She hopped down to the ground and with a grunt of effort drove herself forward, her knife outstretched. It impacted the bony knee of the creature¡¯s emaciated legs and pierced clean through. She barely registered the creature¡¯s howls of pain. She whipped the blade out and threw herself forward in time for it to swing a club that had materialized in its hand. The force of the swing was solid, but half hearted with the wounds to its shoulder muscles. She kicked off the ground and threw herself to the side, sliding to a stop and disabling uptime. A brief wave of weakness washed over her and she let out a gasp, her knees buckling. Fifteen seconds, shit. She snarled, breathing hard as her body set to work catching up with the extreme effort. At least I¡¯m not passing out. Before her, the gargantuan goblin let out a roar of fury, blood pouring from its neck and shoulders like a waterfall, making a gory cloak around the enormous thing. It tried to stand and chase after her but its leg only buckled and snapped, collapsing beneath its weight. It fell forward, slamming its head against the floor beneath it. It struggled for a moment, trying to get a grip on the ground with one of its hands. She walked over to it and looked down before crouching and pressing the tip of the blade against its skull, right between the eyes. She started to wind up Uptime again to get the strength to puncture the creature¡¯s toughened bone. That was when its eyes flashed and it looked up at her, a burning glow flashing behind those bestial eyes. Her senses screamed at her as veins of orange light began to spread across its flesh. Her eyes widened, Suicide skill?! She gasped, she didn¡¯t have enough time to pierce the damn thing¡¯s head! In the heartbeat it took for her to recognize the danger and assess the risks, she finished her wind up and kicked off the ground again, activating hard light and throwing up a barrier between herself and the beast. BOOM! Despite her defenses, the explosion sent her hurtling across the room. She hit the wall and blacked out for a moment, sliding down to the ground. It only took a few seconds for her vision to clear and for her brain to register the terrible shape her body was in now. She clicked her tongue, looking down at the burns across the gear that Amos had made for her, her broken arm and according to her HUD, three broken ribs among some minor head trauma. The helmet saved her life. She groaned and forced herself up into a sitting position, holding her arm. She tried to pull Hands of the Healer out of her warehouse but felt resistance. Too much uptime, she grumbled before glaring at the scorched crater that remained after the boss blew itself up. She clicked her tongue. Tch, no core. She took a quick breather, going through the fight in her mind. I wasn¡¯t ruthless enough. I should have been faster. She would have... She trailed off and scoffed, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m comparing myself to her when I¡¯m chickening out from a goddamn press conference. Chickening out from confronting her. I handled congress, I can handle my... She pursed her lips and shook her head. The pulsing in her skull making her head swim a little. She cursed and forced herself to her feet, staggering a little. Time to go, dungeon will collapse soon, She thought and ambled her way towards the end of the room, past the scorched crater and into the final room. Unlike the rest of the cave-like dungeon, this place was the same as the one that Firestorm¡¯s team had seen, the same as any other dungeon. A wide casket-like chest sat in the center of a room made entirely out of white marble. The sheer walls were adorned with incomprehensible runes and mosaics depicting goblins in various acts of barbarism. At the other end of the room was a portal leading out of the dungeon. The ground shook again and Sonya nearly fell over herself. She snarled and staggered to get her balance back, marching herself towards the portal. Next time, love. ¡°Don¡¯t call me that!¡± Sonya shrieked as the ground shook again, ¡°Fine! Next time! I¡¯ll get some fucking answers out of you!¡± She barked as she forced herself through the portal, her head last. ¡°I swear it!¡± With that, Sonya left the dungeon. The structure continuing to destabilize behind her, the form and shape of the magical place collapsing in on itself. A faint mote of light floated in the air near the portal and bloomed into shape. A sad smile lingered on the face of a woman made nearly entirely out of light, a pair of golden eyes burning with inner fire. I¡¯m looking forward to it, and to seeing how your tale plays out, little villain. Be well. ¨C Sonya stumbled forward onto the ground and let out another groan. She heard the sounds of night-time New York around her and knew that she¡¯d made it back in one piece. She rolled onto her back, her HUD still warning her that she had several rather serious injuries. ¡°Bitch...¡± She growled and coughed, feeling a bit of copper on her tongue. She took a breath, it hurt like hell. She tried again to pull Hands of the Healer out and she managed to draw it out enough to partially mend her ribs before it returned to storage again. Cursing, she got back to her feet and glanced around. ¡°Oh yeah,¡± She muttered, looking around the abandoned subway tunnel. She concentrated on trying to send Amos a message but felt her head buzz in response. Meaning she couldn¡¯t use some of her Cyber-punk powers until her body was back in top shape. She sighed, snatched up her duffle bag that she¡¯d left next to the portal, and started walking, marching step after step towards the stairs leading up into the hidden access point to this part of the subway. A few minutes of grumbling and pained marching later and she got to the top, pushing through the door and stepping out onto one of the less populated streets in the city. She stopped to catch her breath. Fuck I¡¯m tired. She leaned against the doorframe and looked out over the desolate street. At least I cleared the dungeon, I feel better, She sighed, I needed that, I think. I feel more stable. She tried not to think too hard about her encounter with Pandora at the end, she¡¯d gotten next to nothing out of the voice besides a bit of teasing that she really didn¡¯t appreciate. What¡¯s her goal in all this? Enjoying the show my ass. That was when something caught her eye. A black car rounded the corner and began driving by. She blinked at it in confusion, eyeing the red light that was set on top of it. A... taxi? Why is the light red? She thought, taking a step forward and squinting at it as it continued on its path. It looked like it was patrolling for passengers. She couldn¡¯t make out the driver¡¯s face from where she was and with how dark it was. It didn¡¯t help that the street lights around here were all but useless. The car continued moving, passing her and proceeding down the street. ¡°Shit, wait!¡± She called out. She reached into her bag and scrambled for a flashlight. She hadn¡¯t thought she¡¯d needed it but she¡¯d brought it just in case. She held it up and flashed it a few times. The car kept moving for a moment and she¡¯d thought it ignored her before, abruptly, it stopped and began driving in reverse. She stood there, awkwardly, in her full Ishtar regalia as the car came to a stop right in front of her. She glanced again at the driver but couldn¡¯t make out a damn thing. This is suspicious as hell, but there aren¡¯t a lot of people who can hurt me and my gear is still mostly in one piece. She reached for the doorknob only for the driver door to open. She stepped back, That¡¯s... not normal. The driver stepped out and turned to face her, his hat pulled so low she couldn¡¯t make out his face beyond his deathly pale skin. The driver silently tipped his hat and walked around the car. She took another step back and reached for her knife only for him to completely ignore her, reaching for the handle of the door and opening it for her. He stepped away and offered her a polite bow. ¡°Uh... thank you?¡± She murmured, unsettled. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t- ¡°You are a villain?¡± The man said, his voice sounding like a croak of pain. It also sounded oddly distant despite coming from right in front of her. She frowned and tilted her head, ¡°Who¡¯s asking?¡± Chapter 65 Chapter 65 There was a moments pause as she reflected on the thing in front of her. Her instinctive sense of uncanny began throwing up red flags. She considered drawing out Firestorm and just incinerating it. Kill it with fire. Yeah, that was a good idea. She straightened a little and her fingers twitched, the power slipping out of her warehouse. She was feeling better enough that she could torch this thing with impunity. It-he seemed to notice the shift in atmosphere. The man¡¯s arms flopped a bit for a moment, like a puppet on a string, before it entered a more dramatic bow. ¡°Allow me to introduce myself, I am Charon. I¡¯m starting a business and you are actually my first customer, hopefully.¡± Sonya¡¯s nose wrinkle at the disturbing way the body moved and how, now that she got a better look, the voice came out even if the man¡¯s lips didn¡¯t move. Was it a... corpse? ¡°What kind of business?¡± She asked hesitantly. ¡°A taxi service, for villains, miss...?¡± The dead thing said, trailing off in hopes of getting her name. Sonya blinked, ¡°...interesting,¡± She said, a small smile coming to her face behind the mask. ¡°That¡¯s not a bad idea. I take it you aren¡¯t actually here?¡± ¡°Nope!¡± The body said, ¡°This is just a puppet, a very talented puppet. He¡¯s an excellent driver, I promise. I offer anonymity, privacy, and a comfortable trip in one of my taxis. Would you like a sample of my services?¡±CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m The way he talked, he sounded like he was trying to sound more sophisticated than he actually was. He kept slipping into a more casual tone before... Was this guy reading from a script? Her lip twitched a little. She¡¯d seen the car drive just fine so it wasn¡¯t like she didn¡¯t believe that the puppet could handle steering well enough. Still, she hesitated, ¡°You¡¯ll forgive me if I don¡¯t exactly trust you, Charon.¡± She said. ¡°No offense, lady,¡± The villain behind the puppet said, ¡°But with a creepy voice like that and your spooky outfit, you don¡¯t strike me as the most trustworthy person in the world either. Just saying.¡± She pursed her lips, okay, that was a pretty fair point and it wasn¡¯t like she felt threatened by some zombie. She also really needed to get home. ¡°Free sample huh? How far can you take me?¡± ¡°Anywhere in the city, once, and I¡¯ll give you my contact information afterwards if you¡¯re a good customer. I¡¯ve had some bad experiences with villains in the back seat,¡± Charon admitted. ¡°So what do you say?¡± Sonya sighed, ¡°Fine,¡± she rattled off an intersection near her apartments, she wasn¡¯t stupid enough to give him her exact address. She¡¯d watch him after he dropped her off, so long as he didn¡¯t try anything stupid, and figure out where he lived or at the very least monitor his activities until she was sure he didn¡¯t reveal anything. If he passed that little test, she might consider him to be something of an asset in himself, though she¡¯ll need to pin him down for a contract for certain. The zombified driver gestured dramatically into the taxi and she slipped inside, holding on tightly to her duffle bag. There was no fuss, just the sound of the door shutting silently behind her. The seats were... remarkably comfortable. She was a little surprised. She leaned back and let out a breath as the driver got back in and the vehicle began to move. After that, nothing happened. Not a word from the driver, not even a glance back in her direction. She enjoyed some peace and quiet until they arrived at the intersection and the driver stepped out to open the door for her. In his hand was a blank business card with a phone number written sloppily on it. She glanced at it and took it, ¡°That was... pleasant. Thank you, Charon.¡± The zombified driver tilted his hat, ¡°I aim to please, ma¡¯am. Have a good evening.¡± With that, he just left. She watched him go with no small amount of curiosity on her face. Very interesting. She thought and looked across the street, up at her apartment. There was a light still on. They¡¯re waiting for me. She grumbled and slipped into an alley to change. Back in clean clothes she pulled hands of the healer out and to her relief felt no resistance. A few moments later, fully healed, she went home. It was nearly daybreak when she opened the door. Amos was sitting at the kitchen counter, eating breakfast. Marta was asleep on the couch, Sonya could see her hair hanging off the side. Amos looked up at her and then down again, examining her without a word. He sipped the milk from his cereal bowl and set it down. ¡°Got an alert that a dungeon closed a little over an hour ago,¡± He said simply. ¡°Yeah,¡± Sonya responded, setting the duffle bag on the counter. He glanced at it and up at her again, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Took a few hits. Need my suit repaired. Helmet should be fine but might want to give it a look over as well.¡± He stared at her, ¡°You went alone?¡± She tilted her head, ¡°Yeah?¡± He leaned back, bewildered, ¡°Holy shit, I thought you couldn¡¯t use your powers for very long.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t use them at maximum output for very long,¡± She corrected, ¡°And I¡¯m fine with the bare minimum and a good knife,¡± She fished into her pocket and pulled out the dungeon reward, ¡°Here¡¯s the reward, figure out what it does for me?¡± She asked, setting it on the counter next to her bag. He rubbed the side of his head, ¡°Badass.¡± She smirked, ¡°Yeah, a little.¡± ¡°You feel better?¡± He asked, snatching up the item and turning it over in his hands. He didn¡¯t even look up at this point. ¡°Amos? Oh he¡¯s back at the lab, not to worry, he¡¯ll be able to help with the presentation from there,¡± She said with a playful wave of her hand. ¡°Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me sir, I want to do a little bit of greeting and schmoozing before we shake the planet up again.¡± He chuckled, ¡°You do you, Miss Chernovna.¡± ¨C Martin crossed his arms as he watched her walk up to the podium. He leaned against the wall, his eyes narrowed. She had tried to shake his hand again, he knew she wasn¡¯t a stupid woman and that her memory was actually rather good. She could remember entire speeches without even prompt cards. Yet she¡¯d forgot about their interaction at the Hero Day event? Sure, the event was a bit hectic, but he had a hard time believing it slipped her mind. He wasn¡¯t sure if it was paranoia or not, but she seemed very keen on shaking people¡¯s hands as her form of greeting. Just another detail to remember. The press conference started and she opened with her usual theatrics and overdramatized smiles and greetings. He snorted out a breath and glanced away towards her bodyguard. Marta, also known as Handmaiden, stood off to the side as stoic as ever. She was another person that was more than a little suspicious and honestly his best lead. According to what he¡¯d dug up about her, she was way younger looking than she should be. There was no way to prove it was as a result of encountering the same person who was going about handing out youth like candy, but it was still worthy of note. She glanced in his direction and gave him a curt nod before returning her attention to her charge. More like a soldier than a housewife. Her head is on a swivel. Is she a natural or are these trained skills? When could she possibly have gotten that kind of training? He shifted his jaw left and right and turned his attention back to the press conference. It was pretty much a rehash of the information that the Chairman had shared with him the previous night, giving him a heads up so he could watch for any suspicious activity concerning the dungeons. ¡°...as I said, dungeons are formed around a particularly powerful entity at the end that our team has aptly described as the ¡®boss¡¯. Slaying this creature causes the dungeon to collapse and the excess mana to dissipate harmlessly. More interesting, though, is what comes immediately afterward,¡± Sonya said and gestured to one of the screens above her. Throughout the presentation the screens had changed on their own as if directed by some unseen force, he guessed it was that ex-criminal, Amos Carter. A few people watching let out a gasp as something came on that he couldn¡¯t see very well, ¡°As you can see, the rewards can be rather impressive. This weapon was found by Firestorm¡¯s team and he is making good use of it,¡± Sonya enthused. He grunted and turned away, he¡¯d heard enough and he needed some coffee. He walked around back and marched towards the table where the refreshments were waiting. A few men were talking nearby, he ignored them and poured himself a cup. ¡°What a fascinating woman,¡± Someone said next to him. He glanced up and met a pair of sapphire eyes framed by a pretty coif of hair. He frowned, Who let this kid in here? He thought as the young man smiled brightly at him. There was something wrong with this kids eyes. He¡¯d seen something like them before. Whatever it was, it gave him the chills. ¡°Who are you?¡± The kid shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m nobody,¡± He said and then snorted, laughing a little, ¡°That was a joke.¡± ¡°Right...¡± He said hesitantly, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°Oh! I just wanted to listen in on the press conference, that Sonya lady is really smart. Is it true her company is figuring all this stuff on its own?¡± He asked, looking genuinely curious but there was still that wrongness in his eyes that Martin couldn¡¯t quite place. ¡°That¡¯s how I understand it,¡± Martin offered, not wanting to commit too much brainpower to the conversation. He must be some politician¡¯s brat or something. ¡°I wonder who her lawyer is, she¡¯s got a lawyer right? I¡¯m thinking about becoming a lawyer one day,¡± He said eagerly, glancing again at the path leading towards the stage. Martin tilted his head, who was her lawyer? Oh right, ¡°Colin Matthews or something.¡± The kid nodded again, ¡°Colin Matthews, got it,¡± He said as if that answered several questions for him all at once. ¡°So what do you do, mister?¡± ¡°I¡¯m an investigator for the Pandora Committee...¡± He trailed off, ¡°Alright, where are your parents, kid?¡± He asked looking around for a moment and trying to spot someone with a similar look to him. He glanced back and the kid was gone. He blinked, a moment of confusion washing over him as he tried to remember what the kid had looked like to check the cameras later. His face just seemed to dissolve in his mind, gone, and even his impression of... ¡°Martin, you alright?¡± The Chairman asked, walking over. Martin blinked and looked up, ¡°Was there a kid here a second ago, sir?¡± He asked. The Chairman glanced around, ¡°Mm? I didn¡¯t see one. Do you need a day off, Martin?¡± Martin frowned, ¡°Me? No sir,¡± He said and scratched his head, ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. It must have been my imagination.¡± Side Story: Ozzie 4 Side Story: Ozzie 4 Ozzie crept up to the rail as the shouting continued outside. He glanced over at the hound on his left which was shuffling forward like some kind of military dog. On his left, the thief was creeping along as well, emulating his own ¡®stealthy¡¯ approach in its own rather loosey-goosey way. He was glad that at the very least it didn¡¯t fall all over itself. He grumbled inwardly, rethinking his idea for the upteenth time and peered over the rail. Down below, a half dozen men were talking loudly and shouting, throwing glass bottles on the ground and snapping at anyone who got close. One of them was holding a bat, and he wasn¡¯t sure if any of the others were armed. He scratched his neck nervously. Uh... okay... so... He trailed off in his own head, How do I even do this? He thought. I¡¯d rather not make a big scene, but I guess I don¡¯t really have a choice. He scratched his neck again. Man this is such a bad idea! What if they¡¯re part of a gang? Will they retaliate? Does it even matter? His lips thinned into a line. It¡¯s not like I can die anyway. I just gotta... attack? Right? Just go for it? Go. Do the thing. That¡¯s right Ozzie. Just kill a bunch of noisy assholes who- There was a rush of movement on either side of him and he blinked, the sudden shift in the air enough to send his hair fluttering about his head. He blinked and blinked again. He whipped his head left and right. Empty spots waited for him at his sides. He turned wide eyes towards the air beyond the rail. His pupils shrank in fright. You have got to be kidding me! He screamed inwardly as the thief and hound hurtled through the air at their targets. One of the men down below looked up in momentary confusion in the heartbeat it took for the pair to travel in their direction. ¡°Huh?¡± WHAM! CRUNCH! The hound landed on him without fanfare, its teeth digging into his throat as the thief tackled the man holding the bat to the ground with a snarl, biting down as well. The other four were slow to react, drunk as they were, and stumbled a little in confusion for a moment before sobriety hit them like a truck. ¡°What the fuck?¡± One of the men shouted, ¡°Is that a hound?¡± He barked, pulling a gun out of his pants. He aimed and pulled the trigger, a gunshot ringing out but missing the hound by a wide margin. Ozzie shifted back a few paces, trying not to be seen. He has a gun? Oh damn it. One of the others charged forward and tried to kick the hound off of his comrade. The hound pulled off the corpse and snarled, darting back a few paces and snapping its jaws at him. He stumbled and took a step back out of fright. The other two men looked at one another and pulled out their own weapons. They have guns too! Oh come on. Ozzie griped as one of them shot the thief. The thief jerked back and pulled off his prey, standing up and looking at its shoulder for a moment in confusion before looking up at the men. The thugs looked at one another. ¡°Is that a fucking zombie?¡± One asked. Just as he spoke, the hound lunged at the one that had tried to kick it. He let out a shout and cry of pain as its fangs sunk into flesh. The thief shambled forward before breaking into a run, throwing itself at the remaining three. They pointed their guns at it and fired, center mass. Three hits dropped it to the ground. Ozzie blinked, not feeling the connection cut before the realization hit him and he frowned a little, Haven¡¯t these guys seen a zombie movie before? He thought, a bit perplexed. A shout rang out nearby and he diverted his attention. ¡°Somebody''s fighting that gang!¡± ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Ozzie tensed, then blinked. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡± A woman said, peering down over the rail. Ozzie looked down at the zombies, white-knuckling the rail as he let the suggestion sink in. The sirens were getting closer. Could he trust them? Did it matter? He¡¯d have to start over if the cops got there, they¡¯d be more than well armed enough to put down five zombies and there went his plan to make them all taxi drivers. He pursed his lips, It does feel pretty good, though. A little gratitude. I¡¯m no hero, don¡¯t wanna be, but... He felt his connection to the zombies and willed them to head towards the storage rooms on the first floor. They all moved as one, forming up like soldiers and marching with the hound leading the way. The residents all murmured again as the creatures slipped into the inner hallway. To his right, he heard the man get up and hurry down the stairs. ¡°Where are you going?¡± One of them shouted. ¡°Gotta let them in, don¡¯t I?¡± He shouted back. ¡°This is crazy, they could turn you!¡± Another shouted. ¡°I don¡¯t think they will!¡± He replied. Ozzie took a deep breath, feeling his dead lungs fill, and exhaled. He gave the zombies orders to go into the room that the man opened but otherwise do nothing. A few minutes later, the guy came out and waved at everyone. The sirens were just around the corner and people started to hurry back into their homes. Ozzie got to his feet and started to make his way to his own apartment when he heard footsteps coming towards him. He glanced in the man¡¯s direction. ¡°Ozzie, right?¡± He said, ¡°I¡¯m Chris, your neighbor.¡± Ozzie cleared his throat, standing in the dim light of the shitty apartment exterior lights. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m Ozzie.¡± Chris walked forward and froze, close enough to take in Ozzie¡¯s appearance. While those detectives had only seen a guy who¡¯d just had a rough night, Chris was primed to pick out the details that they¡¯d missed. He swallowed and then broke into a grin, ¡°Mind if we talk?¡± Chapter 66 Chapter 66 Throughout the broad majority of the press conference, Sonya was on autopilot. She¡¯d practiced the speech a number of times, ready to make adjustments on the fly if necessary as the mood in the room shifted. It was important to keep the audience engaged regardless of how ¡®official¡¯ the proceedings were and to make it abundantly clear that ASTA was at the helm of what was going on. She¡¯d had her reasons, she wanted to watch the audience. She had no idea whether or not Otis had spies starting to move against her but she was convinced he was likely on her tail by now, he had to be. She was taking the narrative away from him and from what she understood about the guy, he hated that. Her priorities shifted a little just before the press conference, though. The presence of Duong and Hyunh hadn¡¯t been wholly unexpected but it was nice that they were there. It gave her the opportunity to practice a little with using her powers while doing other things at the same time. Specifically, blasting Duong with Imperious at irregular intervals just to see if she could get a reaction. Unsurprisingly he barely flinched, his agency and persona held down firmly by Hyunh. Even so, she knew it was working given that Hyunh seemed more and more strained as the press conference wore on. The ¡®lecture¡¯ part of the press conference also gave her time to think and work through her observations. Her cybernetic brain allowed her to act in parallel with her external actions. She considered Duong, An Set, carefully. The first thing she had noticed about him was that while his presence definitely gave him a bad vibe just as it had in the previous timeline it wasn¡¯t nearly as severe as before. It made sense since he hadn¡¯t had nearly long enough to develop his abilities, understand them, and allow them to flourish. He wasn¡¯t the almighty being she remembered him as and she needed to internalize that a bit more. Her instinctive fear of him wasn¡¯t unfounded, of course, but he wasn¡¯t a nation-ending threat. Not yet anyway. In short, he was far more killable now than he would be in the future and her plan to try to eliminate him while in Las Vegas was her best option currently. Then there was Hyunh, the ¡®real¡¯ Herald of Otis. She clearly was just beginning to develop as well and had only begun to lean into this method of using her fiance as a weapon against her enemies. Sonya got the feeling that she hadn¡¯t met Otis yet. Otis built his team from the top national heroes around the world and while officially Duong, An Set, was the top hero of Vietnam, he hadn¡¯t had the chance to demonstrate just how powerful he was yet. There was no strong evidence to give Otis a reason to seek him out. In short, Sonya wasn¡¯t going to let this chance slip through her fingers. They both needed to die, but with Feng, it was personal. Memories of that day playing over and over again at night in vivid re-enactments of Sonya¡¯s helplessness and anguish. Certainly she wanted Hyunh to receive the same message, the same call. SHELTER 55 HAS BEEN LOST: NO SURVIVORS HOSTILE PARTY IDENTIFIED AS THE AMETHYST ORDER The words sprang into her mind yet again, the visceral hatred boiling in her blood and setting her mind on fire. She imagined the families of those heroes who fought so desperately against forces that were just beyond them. It was the same rage she felt when she killed Ocche. She controlled herself, though. She stood there, giving her presentation and forced herself to remember why she was doing what she was doing, what her goal was. She had promised revenge for herself, yes. She would have it. Yet she had to get her revenge in a way that mattered, that wasn¡¯t meaningless. She wasn¡¯t Otis or Feng Hyunh. She was eliminating not a potential threat, but a real one to the world and to herself. She could have given them the same offer as the gangs of New York, join up or die. The syndicate and her clan, without knowing, had chosen a side. They had to go. I¡¯ve been playing Empire builder long enough, held back and played nice. I want her to know how it feels to lose everything. I¡¯ll crush her spirit into paste and push her link to him to a breaking point. Even if she¡¯s somehow normally able to maintain the connection through a portal, I¡¯ll make sure her grip is so tenuous that it¡¯ll fail. She thought as she went through the motions, absently making eye contact with the woman. One day, Hyunh would have an army of mindless super powered thralls at her beck and call ready to annihilate the loved ones of anyone she or Otis deemed to be an enemy. Not yet, though, and not ever. I¡¯ll stack the deck against her. Crush her completely. On my orders though, as my decision. Ishtar can be the mouthpiece but it¡¯s me doing these things. It has to be. Sonya would settle for nothing less than total victory. She smiled at the cameras, ¡°I¡¯m opening the floor to questions,¡± She said and the room erupted into noise and camera flashes. ¨C Sonya let out a sigh as she sat down in her office at the ASTA labs. Marta, back to her usual prim self standing at the door for a moment and bowing before turning to make her leave, off to make something for Sonya to drink. Something healthy of course. Sonya pursed her lips and slid open one of the drawers at her desk and glanced inside hesitantly. She¡¯d been craving snacks for days and hadn¡¯t had a moment really to sit down and just relax with a little bit of junk food. She was about to pull out the bag of candy she had squirreled away behind a few items in the drawer when the door opened again. She glanced up as Marta approached with a cup of tea, setting it down in front of Sonya. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± Marta asked. ¡°Better,¡± Sonya said, though sounding a little huffy that she couldn¡¯t sneak a snack. She took up the tea and sipped it. At least its delicious. ¡°I had to let off some steam.¡± ¡°You went to a dungeon?¡± Marta asked. Sonya frowned up at her, ¡°Did Amos tell you?¡± ¡°No, you smelled like blood and dirt when you got home despite your best efforts to hide it,¡± Marta said without a hint of disapproval in her voice, which was honestly a little scarier. Sonya sighed and sipped her tea, ¡°Marta-¡± Marta held up her hand, ¡°I¡¯m upset, but not for the reason I believe you think, ma¡¯am,¡± She sighed, ¡°I am your bodyguard and caretaker, it¡¯s my responsibility to look after you. I¡¯m your friend first, though. You don¡¯t need to hide from me that you need some alone time, even if your way of ¡®letting off steam¡¯ is a little more dangerous than I like,¡± She said with a frown. ¡°Even without your ¡®uptime¡¯ using your merged abilities, you¡¯re still powerful, Sonya. I have no doubts you can handle a few monsters.¡± Sonya looked up and searched her face for a moment before letting out a breath she didn¡¯t know she had and felt a bit more of that tension leave her body. She raised an eyebrow, though, ¡°Then why were you grumbling the entire way to the venue?¡± She asked with a small laugh. ¡°What do you need?¡± She asked. ¡°One of my spies in the states told me that you¡¯ve been making special contracts and distributing them to prisons. I¡¯d like a few written up.¡± He said, ¡°I have a few top people here who would be more useful with a bit of a boost.¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± ¡°Yes ma¡¯am, it¡¯ll be done, no issues,¡± He said with absolute confidence. ¡°The Night Society is your dagger, I will send all of our agents to Vietnam if I must.¡± She smiled, ¡°Glad to hear it, I like the sound of your confidence. It¡¯s grounded.¡± ¡°All thanks to you, mistress,¡± He replied easily. She chuckled and tilted her head, ¡°Oh, one more thing, how do you pay your people? I¡¯m a bit curious,¡± She asked with a wicked smile. TICK TICK TICK TICK TICK ¨C Blackrazor hung up the phone, staring at it for a long time from his seat in the large office. He smiled lightly to himself and glanced around. For all the sinister vibes that surrounded the Society, his new office was remarkably pleasant. Lots of warm colors, browns, greens, and reds filled the space. Every wall was either a bookshelf or a one of a kind painting that had been lost to history and any museum curator would literally kill to get their hands on. The mahogany desk in front of him was kept neat, only a few papers on its surface including a contract his spies had unknowingly intercepted. He¡¯d have to apologize to Mistress Ishtar later about that. He ran his fingers over it, Fascinating. Her powers continue to grow. He thought, glad that he had chosen the right side. Sure, he¡¯d sold his soul for the powers he had, but he thought it was worth it given the results. His mind was clear and his heart satisfied after what he¡¯d accomplished. He got to his feet and walked to the window looking over the campus, young men and women were sitting in the peaceful courtyard, laughing and talking as they went about their daily lives. Some of them knew, some of them didn¡¯t. He turned from the window and walked past his desk, pushing open the heavy doors to his office and stepping into the main administrative hall. The lights were kept dim at all times, only the statues and paintings on the walls given any form of direct illumination. Shadows danced across his skin and he felt strength well up inside him in this dark place. Here, he was at his most powerful. In the dark, he was a master of his surroundings. Not even an insect moved without his attention and awareness. The poisonous metal blood pumped in his veins, stronger than ever, improved even. He had taken some time to experiment with it and the combination had become more than the sum of its parts. Even then, it wasn¡¯t enough, it would never be enough. Strength and personal power was nothing more than illusion in the face of a being that could give and take at a whim. He could only make himself as valuable and irreplaceable as possible. So he would continue to experiment, continue to develop, continue to rise. His heels clicked to a stop in front of another set of doors and he pushed them open. Before him, eleven people in dark hooded robes had taken to their knees on the marble floor beneath them. Their eyes fixed on the ground. ¡°We greet the Headmaster,¡± They said as one. He raised his hand to his heart, ¡°I greet the Deans of the Night Society,¡± He said and gestured to the huge table behind them in the grand conference room. ¡°Please have a seat.¡± The windows at the far end of the room had been covered with thick velvety blinds that fluttered a little as the air pressure in the room shifted. The door shut behind him and he made his way over to the seat at the head of the table. The eleven hooded figures settled into their seats. He looked at each of them in turn before glancing at the five empty chairs in the room. He¡¯d have to promote new Deans from the Tenured members of the society soon to shore up from the ones he¡¯d had to kill in order to ensure his position. ¡°We have our first orders from our Patron,¡± He said, drawing all of their attention. The hooded man immediately to his right inclined his head, ¡°We¡¯re ready.¡± Blackrazor held up his hand, ¡°Before that, she is sending gifts for a few of you. Not all of you have awakened your abilities yet and that will need to be rectified first.¡± This announcement was met in a shift in atmosphere but not a word spoken by those present. He smiled at their diligent attitudes even as he could feel their heartbeats tick up through the shadows that cast across their bodies. ¡°Let me make something clear, as some of you know, these abilities are not to be taken lightly. They can be intoxicating and can interfere with your judgment especially if you already possess skills of your own. Make no mistake, they are tools to be developed and should be considered as such. I experienced such folly myself.¡± A few of the hooded people exchanged looks but he continued, ¡°When you are awakened, consider how you will integrate your abilities into your existing strategies. Do not hamper yourselves with overreliance. Understood?¡± ¡°We understand, Headmaster,¡± They said in unison again. He nodded, ¡°Good, now let''s review the job before us. We will need all of our skills to make it happen in the given timeframe.¡± This would be his life now, his new reality, his new truth. It was a little funny how, despite the power of the society, it had all fallen into place so simply and in just a few weeks. Such was the reality of this new world.Ne/w novel chapters are published at novelhall.com Chapter 67 Chapter 67 A few weeks prior, Blackrazor sat beneath an overhang atop a building overlooking one of the many public lockers set up in the more tourist oriented parts of Hong Kong. The shadows bent around him, his body melding with the very surface of the building and leaving his presence all but nonexistent. To the sensitive, he would be no more present than a bird or a mouse. Now all he had to do was wait. Merged with the shadows, he could tell that his biological needs were suspended, his organs slowing down to a near stop as they didn¡¯t exist in a physical sense. He could wait as long as he needed, the only obstacle being boredom. Fortunately, he had been trained to endure boredom. He sat in silence for days, watching the same set of lockers as the sun came and went, the shadows shifting but never leaving this comfortable spot where he could keep watch. People came and went, people stopped at the lockers and got their things, but none of them went for locker 137. He¡¯d felt another presence monitoring the locker for about a day now and was marginally certain that this person was the one he¡¯d been waiting for. Still, he maintained his attention, not until they went to the locker would his suspicions be confirmed. He had sent a message using the Adjunct¡¯s phone, asking for the Professor responsible for the region to come and receive a dead drop message as a form of meeting. It was standard practice in the society that the members of the organization didn¡¯t meet directly and should only contact one another in case of an emergency. The message had been carefully composed to trigger a sense of alarm and cause for immediate action. His target would have to report it to a Tenured immediately, following a similar method. Every organization has a weakness, and this method of indirect communication is it. Of course, the practice wasn¡¯t handled without caution. The person sending the message was forbidden from sticking around to observe whether or not their message was received and the receiving party would investigate the area before picking it up just to make sure. Unfortunately, it didn¡¯t take into consideration a person who could literally turn themselves into shadows. So eventually, after nearly four days of waiting, the Professor stepped out of a nearby cafe and walked over to the locker, taking out a key and opening number 137. Blackrazor moved immediately, his body liquifying and sliding through the shadows that were cast on the building, down to the street level. He kept his eyes on the target, patient as the sun was still beating down on the street between his perch and the target. They¡¯d move eventually, though, and that¡¯s all he needed. As if urged to action by his thoughts, the woman whose face he¡¯d never known turned around and made her way back to the cafe to continue her meal as if nothing had happened. He slid across the ground like a serpent, darting through connecting shadows until he slid comfortably into her own cast image. The only indication of his presence being a darkening of her own silhouette. More waiting, more patience. This was only the first step in a longer journey. Eventually she left and went to an expensive hotel, apparently her cover was that she was a local journalist, the same as himself. He wasn¡¯t surprised, she had been the one to give him the cover story and he had picked up photography as a result. Still, it was interesting actually seeing her for the first time. A pretty woman in her forties with a nondescript face and long brown hair. She looked British, her accent nonexistent though. Professor Crane, a seasoned poisoner and specialist in the art of the quiet, time sensitive death. She could ¡®kill¡¯ someone and be miles away before their heart actually stopped. Her poisons are undetectable, lethal, and carefully crafted for each kill. A master of her craft and still only a Professor in the hierarchy. The Night Society didn¡¯t just employ murderers like Crane. While she was a remarkable specialist, she was a dime a dozen when it came to the standard fare of the Society, death. There were, in fact, other ways to assassinate people besides killing them, as strange as it sounded. The Night Society employed financiers, professional hackers, world-class information brokers, and even genuine journalists. They could destroy an individuals financials, spread their secrets across the globe, destroy their digital information or spread their footprint, they could engage in a smear campaign that would make an American politician blush. Professor Crane answered to one of these unique specialists, Tenure Smallfoot was, according to what he¡¯d heard, actually a rather well known financier who had grown adept at using specialized tactics to completely undermine a company¡¯s financial standing and destroy their credit. In a matter of hours an organization could disappear off the face of the earth, their assets seized and the owners left penniless. This monster was who Crane called as soon as she finished reading the note from the adjunct that Blackrazor had left sinking to the bottom of the South China Sea. ¡°We have a situation,¡± Crane said before pausing, ¡°It¡¯s too sensitive to elaborate. We need to meet, sir,¡± She paused again, ¡°I understand, I will see you then.¡± What was the news? Blackrazor had used himself as bait. The note said that he had faked his death and was working towards exposing the Society and that he was fully compromised. Satisfied that the bait had been taken, he settled in. From what he overheard from Crane¡¯s shadow, they would be meeting the next day. It was a little surprising but it showed just how seriously Smallfoot took his job as upper management, maybe it was his business background, it didn¡¯t really matter. Blackrazor knew this kind of information had to be handed off directly with the higher ups and more importantly, only a Dean could give an execution order for a member of the Society. That meant the note would have to arrive at headquarters one way or another. So he waited, clinging to her shadow for every second. When she showered, when she ate, when she slept, as she dressed the next morning, as she left and got into a car to head to a restaurant. He observed as she sat down at a table near a window, overlooking the city below. He listened to what she ordered and he felt a bit of tension uncoil within himself as another presence approached, sitting down across from her. ¡°Mister Caldwell, thanks for coming for this interview, sir,¡± Crane said. ¡°Please make it quick,¡± Smallfoot said.Updated chapters at novelhall.com ¡°First, here¡¯s a bit of an overview of the questions I¡¯ll be asking,¡± She said quickly and handed the note over to him. There was a long pause and Blackrazor took a moment to shift from her shadow to his. ¡°I¡¯m afraid these questions are a bit outside my usual realm,¡± He felt Smallfoot check his watch, ¡°More importantly I have a call. We¡¯ll reschedule.¡± ¡°I understand sir,¡± Crane said and inclined her head. With that, Blackrazor left with Smallfoot, the Tenured¡¯s path taking him through the hotel where the restaurant was stationed before entering a limousine and departing for the airport. It only took an hour for the plane to get off the ground and the man to get comfortable enough to make a phonecall. Blackrazor didn¡¯t know which Dean was the one that Smallfoot answered to, but it really didn¡¯t matter. The Deans were the primary instructors for the Society and the core leadership, there was only one place they would be unless they were on assignment. Headquarters. He¡¯d be dead eventually anyway, once the execution order went through. He sighed and shook his head. The boy had so much potential, it was a bit of a shame but he couldn¡¯t control the young man¡¯s decisions any more than he could control any of the other graduates. The training and brainwashing could only go so far before it interfered with an assassin¡¯s capacity to do their work. Such was the way of things he supposed. He looked down at the documents in front of him and reached for his pen only to freeze as he felt a shift in the air behind him. He turned his head and blinked, ¡°You.¡± ¨C Blackrazor stood in the corner of the room, his arms crossed. He leaned against the wall and smiled at the old man. He had really aged, his skin mottling. It was too bad he had to die, Blackrazor was sure that Ishtar could have given him his youth back and restored his vigor. Now, he was barely functional as a leader. Still, he hadn¡¯t remained in his position for this long without reason and Blackrazor hadn¡¯t taken any risks. ¡°I greet the Headmaster,¡± He said, raising his hand to his heart and inclining his head. ¡°Park Beyol,¡± The Headmaster said, turning his chair around to face him, ¡°You look good for a dead man.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Blackrazor now, sir,¡± Blackrazor said patiently, ¡°I¡¯ve been reborn as a supervillain.¡± The old man¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°I heard you had abilities, but that they had to do with metal. How did you get in here?¡± The old man asked, sitting back in his seat. Blackrazor watched him move and raised an eyebrow at him. A shadow brushed against a book and pushed it over a small metal plaque that was embedded in his desk. He had sent his shadows throughout the desk and searched for any sort of emergency alarm devices, he¡¯d found that the plaque was a button. The old man¡¯s lips curled into a smile, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re quite serious.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid so, sir,¡± Blackrazor said. ¡°Your aim?¡± ¡°I want the Society.¡± ¡°I see,¡± The old man said with a slow nod, ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like you, you were ambitious but not this ambitious. What changed?¡± ¡°I have a new master,¡± Blackrazor said, ¡°The first supervillain.¡± ¡°Ishtar, I¡¯ve heard of her,¡± The old man grunted, ¡°She has the United States by a stranglehold and my people tell me she¡¯s even reaching overseas.¡± ¡°You¡¯re well informed sir,¡± Blackrazor confirmed with a nod. ¡°Well, what¡¯s the plan, Blackrazor? How are you going to do it?¡± The old man asked. ¡°I already have, sir,¡± Blackrazor said dispassionately and nodded to the old man¡¯s wrist. The Headmaster looked down at a miniscule drop of blood running down his wrist. ¡°Ah, Crane¡¯s trick. How long do I have?¡± He asked. ¡°Enough time to talk and for you to tell the Dean¡¯s about the change in leadership, sir. I administered it just before I appeared to you,¡± Blackrazor said, holding his gaze. The old man smiled, ¡°Well done.¡± Chapter 68 Chapter 68 Blackrazor frowned, he hadn¡¯t expected the reaction that the old man had and he hadn¡¯t anticipated his death to be so uneventful. He¡¯d anticipated a battle, a struggle, but the old man seemed to understand just how truly done he was without much argument. He remembered the cold look in the old man¡¯s eyes, that face that had looked so full years ago now looked thin and tired. Yet his eyes were still sharp and cold, though he noticed something else there as well. Something vibrant, happy? Relieved. ¡°Magnificent work, may I ask you how you made your way back?¡± The old man asked, looking genuinely curious. ¡°I took the place of an Adjunct after killing him and identified Professor Crane as his supervisor. I fed her the report about my survival through standard channels. After that I subsumed myself into her shadow and waited until she met with Tenure Smallfoot,¡± He explained, ¡°Tenure Smallfoot had to return to headquarters with the information to order my execution. I entered his shadow and rode all the way here.¡± ¡°Your powers have changed? Is that possible?¡± The old man asked. Blackrazor shook his head, ¡°My new master gave them to me.¡± The old man¡¯s eyes widened and he slowly nodded with understanding, ¡°In the face of that there would be literally nothing I could do for you in exchange to change this outcome. Masterfully done. You¡¯ve been studying Crane¡¯s techniques?¡± ¡°I understood the strategy. My metallic blood now also functions as a poison, I can modify its traits at will. I simply created something that would serve the purpose for this encounter,¡± Blackrazor said. The old man inclined his head, ¡°That must have taken some thought to consider how to approach it at least.¡± ¡°I had plenty of time to sit and wait, I don¡¯t need to eat, sleep, or breathe while in a shadow,¡± Blackrazor responded. The old man smiled, ¡°You¡¯re the perfect killer.¡± for new novels ¡°I have a long way to go,¡± Blackrazor countered, ¡°To live up to her expectations.¡± ¡°A ruthless master indeed,¡± The old man agreed, ¡°I don¡¯t envy you,¡± He turned his head and reached for the phone on his desk. ¡°May I?¡± Blackrazor nodded. The old man picked up the phone and tapped a few buttons before holding up to his ear. He cleared his throat, ¡°Deans, this is the Headmaster. I regret to inform you that I will be dead in a few moments. I have been soundly defeated and bested by a killer beyond compare. He will be your new Headmaster. Challenge him if you like, you will die. Of this I have little doubt. Wait for him to meet with you in chambers. Farewell.¡± He hung up the phone. Blackrazor tilted his head and eyed him, ¡°You didn¡¯t have more to say?¡± ¡°Do assassins need comfort and condolence?¡± The old man countered with a wry smile, ¡°They don¡¯t need my soft words, but I can say that I am a proud father to you at least. You did well, boy.¡± ¡°I never thought of you as a parent,¡± Blackrazor said then hesitated, ¡°No, perhaps I did,¡± He nodded slowly. ¡°Yes, you took that role when you gave me that order to kill my classmate.¡± The old man¡¯s eyes fluttered, ¡°Do you resent me?¡± Blackrazor frowned and gave it a moment¡¯s thought, ¡°No, not anymore.¡± ¡°Then I am utterly defeated,¡± The Headmaster said as his last breath slipped from his lips. His body went slack and he shuddered. Blackrazor stared at the corpse for a while, not even reacting when fists began banging on the door. He didn¡¯t look up until the doors flew open and five people stormed inside, weapons at the ready. He regarded them cooly, not bothering to remember or even consider their faces. It didn¡¯t matter. The last orders of the Headmaster were still orders from the Headmaster, they were absolute. Despite how much he had hated the man, his word was still law in the Night Society. Shadows billowed from his feet and spread across the room, only his eyes glowed in the dark as five people screamed. He arrived at the doors to the meeting hall a few moments later and pushed the doors open. Eleven figures stood up, their faces covered in hoods. To the right another person stood with wide eyes, Tenure Smallfoot. The blonde man stiffened when he met Blackrazor¡¯s eyes, his expression going slack with confusion and a mixture of horror. ¡°Park Beyol?¡± ¡°Headmaster Blackrazor,¡± The villain corrected him. Tenure Smallfoot¡¯s expression stilled and calm returned in an instant. He bowed quickly at the wait just as the others did the same. ¡°I greet the new Headmaster.¡± ¡°We greet the new Headmaster,¡± The others joined him. Blackrazor nodded slowly and glanced over at Smallfoot, ¡°Prepare a fresh thesis defense, you may choose your target so long as it does not cause trouble for the world¡¯s status quo,¡± He said to the business-killer. ¡°I will need to replace the five that disobeyed my predecessor¡¯s orders. I hope you¡¯ll be one of them. You may leave, I need to speak with the Deans.¡± Smallfoot nodded brusquely, ¡°On your order, Headmaster,¡± He said and hurried out of the room, shutting the doors behind him. Blackrazor turned his attention to the others, ¡°It¡¯s a brand new world, and it is time for the Night Society to adapt.¡± ¨C Sonya hummed brightly to herself as she practically pranced through the Mall, her smile wide on her face and bags in her hands. She stopped at a kiosk and admired some of the jewelry on display. Most of it was fake display pieces, but there were a few real gems inside. She peeked down at them and looked back over her shoulder at Marta who was wearing her usual maid cosplay, her hair tied up in a bun for todays outing. Sonya grinned at her and waggled her eyebrows. Marta returned her smile with one of her own and Sonya picked out a few things. They were back to walking a few minutes later, another bag clutched in Sonya¡¯s hands. ¡°Shopping therapy is the best,¡± She sighed. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re feeling better,¡± Marta said. Kingshark looked up, his eyes wide, ¡°Blackrazor will kill him!¡± He blurted, his amusement still plain despite the protest. ¡°Naaaah!¡± Sonya laughed, and connected her internal phone to the cars speakers, She dialed out, barely able to hold in her laughter. ¡°Come on, come on, come on, pick up!¡± She willed the newly anointed master assassin to answer. A faint click came through the car speakers followed by Blackrazor¡¯s voice, ¡°What can I do for you mistress?¡± ¡°Blackrazor! Glad you answered, boy do I have news for you,¡± She snickered. ¡°You¡¯re on speaker by the way, its me an Kingshark.¡± ¡°Kingshark,¡± Blackrazor grunted. ¡°Hey new guy,¡± Kingshark grumbled back. ¡°What is this news, ma¡¯am?¡± Blackrazor asked. ¡°Okay, so, you remember that cab driver you killed while tripping out on Pandora Sickness?¡± She asked, her lips trembling. ¡°That is not something I want to relive, an embarrassing time, but yes, I do remember that poor man,¡± Blackrazor said hesitantly, ¡°What about him?¡± ¡°I¡¯m heading to his apartment right now,¡± Sonya said. There was a long pause, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because he¡¯s a fucking zombie!¡± Sonya burst into laughter, ¡°Looks like he has some kind of ability that brings you back as a zombie if you die. No idea on the details but Amos got a good look at him and there¡¯s no way it isn¡¯t the same guy just pale.¡± She explained between chuckles, ¡°You picked the one guy to kill who can¡¯t actually die!¡± She cracked up again. Across from her, Kingshark was barely able to contain his laughter. On the other end of the call, she heard a small chuckle, then an outright laugh. ¡°Alright, yes, I admit it, that¡¯s pretty funny. So what do you want to do with him?¡± ¡°Oh! Right, apparently this guy is running some sort of small time taxi service for villains. I figure I help him expand a little, it could come in handy to have ready transportation for villains when needed,¡± She leaned forward, ¡°Get this, he can make more zombies. They actually drive the cars for him.¡± ¡°You¡¯re kidding, isn¡¯t that an apocalypse scenario?¡± Blackrazor asked, the dignity in his tone that he had been trying to maintain melting in the face of pure curiosity. ¡°Oh I can¡¯t wait to find out what the name of his power is, any bets boys?¡± She asked. ¡°Zombie,¡± Kingshark said, ¡°Most abilities have pretty straightforward names.¡± Sonya nodded, ¡°Blackrazor?¡± There was a pause, ¡°T-Virus.¡± Sonya and Kingshark looked at one another. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nerd,¡± Kingshark chuckled. ¡°By knowing that it¡¯s nerdy, you expose yourself, Kingshark,¡± Blackrazor bit back. Kingshark blinked and frowned, ¡°Ah damn it.¡± Sonya laughed again and then let out a sigh, ¡°Anyway, just wanted to let you know about the situation. His villain name is Charon apparently. Pretty appropriate,¡± She leaned back in her seat, ¡°Just letting you know so you don¡¯t find out about him on your own and decide to finish the job.¡± A long pause followed. Sonya raised an eyebrow, ¡°You were going to if I didn¡¯t tell you to back off, weren¡¯t you?¡± A heavy sigh, ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡± She snickered and reached for her helmet, the car slowing down, ¡°That¡¯ll be all, Blackrazor, keep up the good work.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± He said and she ended the call. Kingshark shook his head, ¡°That guy.¡± ¡°Now that he¡¯s got his head out of his ass and made something of himself, he¡¯s not half bad,¡± Sonya agreed to his unspoken comment. Kingshark nodded, ¡°A king of gangs and king of assassins, what next?¡± Sonya winked at him, ¡°I suppose we¡¯ll see, won¡¯t we. I have big plans, Kingshark, and we¡¯re gonna need a full crew if we¡¯re gonna make it happen.¡± She said and pulled her helmet over her head. ¡°You¡¯re the boss,¡± He said with a nod and a smile. They got out of the car and looked up at the rather quaint apartment building. She put her hands on her hips and let out a raspy breath, ¡°So...¡± Sonya said, still not ready to slip into Ishtar just yet, she leaned towards him and grinned, ¡°You and Handmaiden huh?¡± She said with her eerie rasp, the joking tone sounding a little odd. Kingshark let out a groan and started up the stairs. Chapter 69 Chapter 69 ¡°Nice,¡± Sonya rasped through the voice mixer in her helmet, her hands slipped into her pockets as she ascended the stairs with Kingshark. Around them, security cameras fizzled out, their passing scrubbed from memory. The windows of the apartments around them fogged over as a mist poured from Kingshark¡¯s mouth. ¡°Looks like you enjoyed the reading material I suggested,¡± She said as she allowed herself to slip further into character. She felt a bit of herself shift, like a lever in the back of her mind flipping over. Her shoulders straightened a bit more and she held her head higher. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve got more surprises ready now too,¡± Kingshark said, ¡°Those books were freaky though.¡± ¡°They are called horror for a reason, Kingshark,¡± Ishtar said with a cold smile beneath her helmet. They stopped in front of the door, just like the rest of the building it was painfully nondescript. She nodded at Kingshark who knocked twice before stepping aside. She stood in front of the door and stared at the little hole at eye level, her senses picking up on someone creeping towards the door. When the person stopped and didn¡¯t say anything she frowned a little, Rude, she thought before tilting her head a little and speaking up, ¡°Open the door, Charon.¡± The door flew open and a man with pale skin and a mess of hair on his head poked his head out with a panicked look in his dead eyes. ¡°A-are you crazy?¡± He rasped, ¡°What are you doing here? Why would you say that?¡± Ishtar snorted, ¡°Blame yourself for picking a garbage hideout,¡± She said and nodded towards the humble interior, ¡°Well?¡± The zombie man let out a sigh and nodded, gesturing towards the interior, ¡°Mi casa and all that shit, I guess,¡± He mumbled. ¡°Thank you, we won¡¯t be long I don¡¯t think,¡± She said pleasantly and walked past him, glancing around the interior as Kingshark positioned himself outside the door, crossing his arms and watching for anyone who might come snooping around. Ishtar took it all in, the simple cloth covered couch, the boxy flatscreen television, the scattered remnants of various old meals, the air of exhaustion and struggle. She couldn¡¯t help herself, ¡°It reminds me of simpler times,¡± Ishtar said softly, though her voice still came out with that creepy rasp. ¡°You uh... you used to live in an apartment?¡± The zombie said, ambling in and throwing himself down into his couch. Ishtar shrugged, ¡°It was another life.¡± ¡°I hear that,¡± He said and crossed his arms, ¡°You found me.¡± ¡°Yes I did,¡± Ishtar said with a nod, ¡°You piqued my interest, I came to do business.¡± The zombie rubbed his neck and scratched his hair, he let out a grumbling sigh and rest his arms on his knees. ¡°I dunno lady, last time someone came in saying they wanted to do business with me they tried to blackmail me. They ended up as one of my drivers,¡± He said with a frown, looking up to meet her gaze. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me who you are, first, yeah? That¡¯s Kingshark out there, right? The big boss of the villains in New York? And you¡¯ve got him standing guard.¡± ¡°You have the right of it,¡± Ishtar said. He frowned harder, ¡°So what the fuck does that make you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re surprisingly casual despite your situation,¡± Ishtar commented. ¡°Is that a threat?¡± He laughed, ¡°Look lady, I literally cannot die. I could probably be atomized and still come back,¡± He said. ¡°I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but the fear of death don¡¯t bother me and pain is pretty muted so don¡¯t bother.¡± ¡°Not a threat, simply an observation. I appreciate you divulging that detail about your power, I was very curious,¡± Ishtar said and gestured to a spot on the opposite side of the couch, ¡°May I?¡± ¡°As soon as you introduce yourself,¡± He repeated.Vissit for updates She smiled, ¡°I like you,¡± She rasped and nodded, ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Charon. I am Ishtar, the first supervillain. You could say that I am Kingshark¡¯s boss.¡± Charon raised his eyebrows, ¡°Huh! So the head bitch in charge shows her face, the conspiracy theories are true,¡± He nodded and pursed his lips in approval, ¡°Cool stuff lady, yeah, have a seat on my shitty sofa.¡± Ishtar slipped into the spot and crossed her legs, ¡°So your last would-be investor tried to blackmail you?¡± She asked. ¡°Yeah, he covered for me a little when we met and let me hide my zombies in his storage room,¡± Charon mumbled, scratching his neck, ¡°He was the only person in the complex who realized I¡¯m the one controlling them. He came in here and told me he¡¯d report me to the police if I didn¡¯t give him a stake in what I¡¯m aiming to do. So I had my dog bite him.¡± ¡°Dog?¡± Ishtar asked, glancing around. ¡°Well, hound,¡± He said tentatively, ¡°My zombie virus power thing works on monsters as well.¡± She raised her eyebrows. It has to be a mythic tier ability, no doubt in my mind. ¡°Very interesting, well I can assure you I have no interest in controlling your business,¡± She said, ¡°Though I would like to invest a little and help it grow if you¡¯re interested. I also have a few suggestions for you that you can take or leave at your discretion.¡± ¡°Awfully nice, you got a reason?¡± Charon asked. She nodded to him as he looked in confusion at his fingers, ¡°The deal has been struck.¡± He looked up at her, ¡°What was that? I felt a tingle for a second.¡± He is very sensitive to mana. ¡°My ability allows me to make deals,¡± She said, ¡°I made our agreement binding, temporarily, for both sides. It will hold me to the agreement just as it will hold you. I¡¯m not sure what the consequences of failure will be beyond the other party suddenly knowing that the deal has been broken either through negligence or conscious action.¡± He nodded slowly, staring at his fingers, ¡°You said it holds you to it as well?¡± He pressed. ¡°Yes,¡± Ishtar said with a nod. ¡°Then I got no problems,¡± He said with a grin, ¡°What do we do first?¡± She got to her feet, ¡°Get you into a proper fucking lair,¡± She said with a chuckle, ¡°And into some clothes that fit your new role, Charon, Ferryman of the Villains.¡± He smirked, ¡°You got it, huh?¡± ¡°Of course I did, I¡¯m pretty familiar with mythology,¡± She said and turned away, ¡°Are you coming?¡± He hesitated, ¡°Let me just grab a few things real quick!¡± He called after her and she walked outside without another word. When she stepped into the thick mist that Kingshark was creating she glanced up at the Supervillain who raised an eyebrow at her, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you just force him to join up? Sounds like he¡¯d be good for the gang.¡± ¡°You¡¯d think, but a Queen does not own every business in her domain, no matter what she fools herself into thinking. It is much better to build a friendly working relationship with these neutral businesses and support them rather than work against them,¡± Ishtar explained, ¡°There needs to be neutral actors or there will be a perception of dictatorship.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a dictatorship?¡± Kingshark asked. She chuckled, ¡°Yes, but they don¡¯t have to know that.¡± He grinned, ¡°So what¡¯s next?¡± ¡°Get Charon set up,¡± She said with a breath, ¡°Supply him with what he needs and we¡¯ll need to figure out a way to increase the numbers of his zombies without pressing too hard against his morals. I have a feeling he does not actually enjoy the act of killing,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°So we¡¯ll have to play that carefully.¡± ¡°After that, I want you to inform your men in Vegas that I will be coming soon and they will need to be ready for what I have planned,¡± She said, ¡°You need to remain here as I said before, secure the home front and continue expanding.¡± ¡°You¡¯re gonna deal with that lightning guy?¡± Kingshark asked. ¡°Yes, and I don¡¯t want you anywhere near him,¡± She said. He nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve played enough games to know it''s a bad match up,¡± He said gruffly. ¡°How are things overseas?¡± She asked. ¡°I¡¯ve got a foothold in London and Venice thanks to that lady you introduced me to,¡± He grunted, ¡°Tokyo, Cape Town, Mexico City, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and a few other places. It¡¯s just a start though, I gotta be careful or my boys will be pushed out before we¡¯re set up.¡± Ishtar nodded, ¡°Excellent work as always, you¡¯re a natural, Kingshark. You make me feel like a proud mother.¡± He grinned even more broadly than before, rubbing the back of his neck, ¡°Thanks boss.¡± The door opened behind them, the two turned to look at Charon who was lugging a heavy looking backpack and duffle bag. ¡°Just gotta get my zombies and I¡¯ll be good to go.¡± ¡°How many do you have?¡± Ishtar asked. He grinned, ¡°A few.¡± Side Story: Marta 2 Side Story: Marta 2 It had been a while since she¡¯d taken a day off just for herself. The convention had been weeks ago and to be honest she really hadn¡¯t felt up to getting out there and getting some fresh air. Helping Sonya always took priority, so she¡¯d thrown herself into her work both as a caretaker and as a bodyguard. Marta had even offered to take on a more direct role, as an enforcer if necessary. Instead of accepting her offer, Sonya had insisted that she take some time off and separate herself a little from the work they were doing. She knew Sonya was worried about her conscience, worried about her burning out, but Marta was fine, really. They¡¯d gone this far already, why not just see it through to the end? They were committed. Even so, Sonya had put her foot down as her employer. Her argument? What was the point of all the money she was paying Marta if she didn¡¯t ever actually use it besides the occasional convention? So she¡¯d low-key threatened Marta with shutting off all of her streaming subscriptions if she didn¡¯t get out there and take a breather. That had been enough to convince Marta that her friend was serious, she¡¯d taken the next day off, and now here she was. She¡¯d rationalized it well enough, there wasn¡¯t much to do right now and the Chairman would be arriving in a few days. Might as well collect herself before things got busy again. New York was as big and oppressive as ever, the presence of the city simply overwhelming. Marta was used to smaller cities with smaller and less impressive buildings. Every structure around her seemed to reach towards the sky as if daring the heavens above to challenge humanity¡¯s greatness. She¡¯d opted for a pale sundress for the day, a wide brimmed hat to protect her from the sunlight that reflected harshly off the sides of the buildings around her, a simple strap purse and a pair of heels. As for her face? She¡¯d decided to wear her real face today. Sonya had suggested she go out in full cosplay now and then just for giggles, Marta had opted against it, for now anyway. Maybe when she was more confident. Maybe when she got over what happened at the convention. Every time she looked at one of her costumes now she saw his face screaming in front of her, full of hate. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath as she pushed the memory aside before glancing up at one of the shops that she passed. A bookstore. She smiled, This could be refreshing. She slipped inside, the door chiming and the owner looking up from the counter, his nose having been buried in a book. He smiled at her and waved before gesturing at the store, saying nothing. She nodded at him and drifted past, taking the long route towards her destination. She stopped in fiction, wandered about biography, quickly hustled past romance, before finally coming to a stop at in the comic-book section. Specifically, manga. She smiled as she scanned the high shelves, her eyes tracing over the titles. She mentally worked her way through her personal reading list. Read it, read it, oh a new volume. She reached for it and paused, frowning. I can¡¯t reach it. Who sets up shelves this high? Limited space I guess... She grumbled inwardly and glanced around for a stool or portable step, she didn¡¯t want to bother the owner, he seemed a bit reserved. ¡°Which one?¡± A voice came from behind her. She jerked and spun before taking an instinctive step back. A humongous man stood in front of her, broad chested with short black hair. He looked down at her with intense eyes and cocked an eyebrow. She met his gaze. Familiar... she thought. ¡°Well? You were trying to reach one, yeah?¡± The guy grunted, nodding to the shelf. ¡°Can¡¯t say I have,¡± He said, ¡°I only got my hands on a few comics when I was a kid. What are they?¡± ¡°Anything,¡± She said flatly, ¡°There¡¯s a genre for everyone.¡± He raised an eyebrow, ¡°Sports?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± She said, getting a thoughtful look from the big man. He scratched his head and stared at the volume in her hand. He glanced over at the shelves and then back at her. He looked like he wanted to ask something but couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. She snorted out a laugh and set her volume down next to his own books, ¡°I¡¯ll help you pick something,¡± She said with faux resignation. He brightened and walked over with her. The two of them spending a little time as she explained stories and pointed out series that would probably interest him. His eyes nearly zoned out when she told him that they were read in a different direction from what he was used to, but he soldiered on. Soon, the two of them were at the checkout counter. The owner looked up from his own book and glanced between the two of them, ¡°Big haul today, Barry?¡± He gave Barry a bit of a grin. The supervillain cleared his throat, Marta noticed the red flushing up his neck. The big man gave the owner a daring look, ¡°Just let me pay, Anders.¡± ¡°Sure, sure,¡± The owner, Anders, said and held up his hands. He started scanning the books and comics, even grabbing Marta¡¯s. Marta opened her mouth to say something but Anders just winked at her and Barry didn¡¯t say anything. When they were done, they stepped outside and back into the sun. Barry reached into his bag and pulled out her manga, handing it over to her. She looked at it and up at him, ¡°You know I¡¯m paid pretty well, right?¡± She asked. ¡°Just take it,¡± He grunted. She pursed her lips and took it out of his hands, tilting her head and looking up at him. To hell with it. She thought and let out a breath, ¡°You know, I still have a while before I should be getting back and I¡¯m enjoying the fresh air. Walk with me?¡± He looked down at his sizeable bag, up at her and met her eyes. He seemed to think for a few seconds before he nodded, showing her that signature big toothy grin. It wasn¡¯t that bad when he was in his human form. ¡°Sure.¡± The two of them turned away from the store and started walking. A hulking man walking just a little behind a small young woman in a pale sundress. Somewhere behind them, far in the distance, a disembodied glowing eye watched them move down the sidewalk before winking out of existence. Somewhere even further away, Sonya chuckled to herself. ¡°Atta girl.¡± Chapter 70 Chapter 70 She¡¯d heard that riding in a private jet was supposed to be one of the most relaxing and luxurious experiences one could have while traveling. Veloce wanted to find whomever had made that claim first and vibrate their brain right out of their goddamn skull. Every moment she spent on that aircraft on her way to the United States was another moment spent thinking, another moment spent wondering, another moment spent dreading. She saw those eyes in her sleep. She felt her presence every time she had a rebellious thought. Just the name alone was enough to send her into a trembling fit. What was it going to be like when she saw that monster face to face again? It was so, so much worse. It felt like every cell in her body was trembling as she sat in the limousine, staring at her hands and wishing with every fiber of her being that she could just wrench the door open and run out, top speed, and disappear. Yet as soon as she had the thought all she could do was flinch, her muscles going taught and her body going stiff. Every rebellious thought left her disabled for a heartbeat, unable to move, unable to breathe. A punishment for even considering breaking the slave contract. Then there was the sound. How could no one else hear it? It was so fucking loud. TICK TICK TICK TICK TICK TICK TICK The ticking that rang in her ears, like an unruly clock. It had been quiet except when she had those thoughts, but here, now, sitting in front of her? It was deafening, maddening, another layer to the endless hell that was her punishment for having the audacity to even consider crossing this woman and take what¡¯s hers. ¡°Veloce,¡± The word came out like a hissing rasp, the sound of metal nails across bloodstained ice. A chill went up her spine and she jerked her head up in almost programmed obedience, looking into those digitized eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but her throat was dry, her jaw still locked by her rebellious thoughts. ¡°I have a job for you.¡± Veloce tried to pry her eyes away, her guts twisting, but she couldn¡¯t. She could only nod mutely. ¡°Do well, and I will reward you,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°I will renegotiate your contract, give you some freedom back. Would you like that, Veloce?¡± Hope. Fleeting, beautiful, agonizing hope. She forced her jaw open even if it hurt, ¡°Yes, please!¡± Veloce pleaded, grasping onto that kernel of a chance of blessed relief. ¡°Then don¡¯t disappoint me.¡± ¨C ¡°As more mana radars are set up across the planet, we are beginning to get a better idea of how mana moves and its function in our newly changed world. More and more dungeons are being located as well, with many in a critical state. Heroes are being dispatched to cull the population of monsters within the dungeons while guilds and corporations rush to secure rights to the dungeons themselves,¡± The reporter said. ¡°The single crystal that was taken from one of the first dungeons by the team lead by Firestorm has demonstrated remarkable qualities and appears to be packed with energy, scientists are eager to get more samples to see what can come of this new material element. We are looking at a modern day gold rush,¡± The reporter continued, ¡°With ASTA Corporation being the leading company in the field of Pandora-based technologies, their value has continued to rise rapidly. Some have raised questions about monopoly, but the corporation has stated that it has not formalized any patents. It has not, however, released any detailed papers on their research.¡± Another voice chimed in, ¡°This is obviously an open invitation for competition, a rather magnanimous approach from the young CEO. Given the rumors about how well she treats her employees and her quick reaction to Dharan, she has earned a lot of general goodwill worldwide,¡± A man sitting across from the reporter said, the words under his name implied that he was some kind of financial analyst. ¡°When do you think ASTA will shift to public trading?¡± The woman asked. The analyst laughed, ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I¡¯m looking forward to it!¡± Martin frowned at the television as he finished packing his bags, it wasn¡¯t a lot, but it was enough. He rubbed his neck and grabbed the remote, ¡°All people talk about these days,¡± Martin grumbled. ¡°Most national-level conflicts have moved to cease fire after the flash,¡± Ironsides said, leaning against the wall and sipping at his coffee. ¡°Everything but the most radical movements have taken a back seat, and groups like that are being ostracized for not prioritizing the monsters and villains.¡± Martin nodded slowly, ¡°There¡¯s nothing else to talk about,¡± he grunted and finished zipping the bag. ¡°Pretty much,¡± Ironsides said and put his mug in the sink. ¡°You ready, Chief?¡± ¡°Fucking Vegas of all places,¡± Martin grumbled. ¡°The Chairman wants you there to meet the international team he¡¯s putting together,¡± Ironsides pointed out, ¡°On top of that...¡± He trailed off. Martin nodded, ¡°She will be there. Both of them. We¡¯re sure about Kingshark¡¯s gangs in Vegas making moves?¡± He asked. ¡°Positive,¡± Ironsides said. ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡±Fi?ndd new updates at novelhall.com ¨C ¨C The International team was gathered in the main space of the aircraft as it made its way through the atmosphere. Five of them assembled from across the world so far to be the mobile strike force that the Pandora Committee could call on when a nation didn¡¯t have the heroes to leverage against a particular threat, or with recent news, dungeon. Chunhua stood in front of the group with a tablet in her hand. On it was a sketch of a figure in what looked like a pilot jumpsuit and wearing a helmet that reminded her of a particular french electronic music artist. She looked up and brushed a strand of black hair over her ear, fixing each of the other four heroes present with a stare. Vytal from Germany sat with his legs crossed and a small smile on his face. His blue eyes glittering brightly. Sapporo of Japan crossed his thick arms and frowned. Euclidia of the UK was playing with an unnerving square of light over her palms that flexed and bent but somehow remained rigid. Pathfinder of Saudi Arabia sat with his fingers laced and elbows on his knees, his dark eyes fixed on Chunhua with concentration. She cleared her throat and as if a switch flipped the other three that seemed to be distracted immediately joined Pathfinder in deep focus, ¡°The information that we¡¯ve been provided is top secret and not to be shared with anyone in order to avoid a panic,¡± She said and turned the tablet around. ¨C Sonya shook hands briefly with Colin, ¡°I¡¯m glad things went well in Massachusetts,¡± She said with a smile. The Lawyer gave her a pretty smile and waved it off, ¡°It was nothing, if anything, a good field test to see whether or not your ability really fit its name.¡± She nodded, it was true she hadn¡¯t tested her ability to see if she could make a deal between two parties that didn¡¯t include herself binding, which was a bit of an oversight if she was honest with herself. ¡°Is Amos happy?¡± She asked. Colin chuckled, ¡°It was a good night.¡± Sonya laughed, ¡°You¡¯re terrible! Thank you for holding down the fort for me, Colin,¡± She said and held out a hand. He took it in a quick shake. ¡°Let me know if you need anything.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be fine, I¡¯ve figured out how you do business, shouldn¡¯t be a problem, just hurry back,¡± Colin said with a shrug and a sassy wink. He turned away and walked back to the suv they¡¯d taken to the private airport. She watched him go and glanced over her shoulder, sensing a few more people approaching. She turned her head to Marta who had been standing silently next to her. ¡°You ready?¡± She asked. ¡°Always,¡± Marta said with a smile. Sonya turned around fully and opened her arms in greeting, ¡°Chairman! All done with your business?¡± She asked. The Chairman approached and returned her quick embrace. He pulled back and pat her arms, ¡°Yes! I¡¯m looking forward to this time now, take a bit of a breather. Though unfortunately I still have a little work to do while we¡¯re there,¡± He said. Sonya turned on the other two, meeting Hyunhs gaze with her own and smiling curtly, ¡°Yes, at least they¡¯ll get to have the time of their lives. Vegas is an exciting place,¡± She said. Hyunh met her stare for stare, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve always wanted to see this so-called Sin City and see if the rumors hold up. I¡¯ve been told you can disappear forever there if you¡¯re not careful.¡± Sonya grinned, restraining her bloodlust, ¡°So they say! Lets hope you stay well in sight of your fiance! Wouldn¡¯t want you to vanish, he might get upset.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare leave his side for a moment,¡± Hyunh shot back. ¡°This is going to be a wonderful trip!¡± The Chairman chortled, oblivious as the two women stared daggers at one another. ¨C The coach-grade bus rolled to a stop. The bright lights of the city shone down the people stepping out and those waiting to step in. A young man, just a few years into his twenties, stepped out of the bus and took a deep breath, reveling in the atmosphere of this place. He reached up and played with the coif of his golden hair and smiled brightly at the driver from over his shoulder. ¡°Thanks for the ride!¡± He said merrily. The driver gave him a quizzical look before shaking their head and shutting the door. He didn¡¯t even notice the weird look, already distracted by his surroundings. ¡°Hey blondie!¡± He turned, his face still plastered with that brilliant winning smile and saw two men standing over him, both a head taller, both with a wicked aura. ¡°Are you talking to me?¡± The young man asked. They looked at one another then back at him, ¡°No shit, you got any money?¡± One asked. He shook his head, ¡°Afraid not! Last of it was spent on that ticket!¡± The young man said, ¡°Do you have money?¡± The two stared at him before glancing at one another again, ¡°Uh huh, Why don¡¯t you come with us and we¡¯ll show you how to make some?¡± The other suggested. The young man looked up at them, his smile never faltering but a little bit of flint glinting in his eyes, ¡°Oh sure! Lead the way!¡± He said as his hand twitched. Chapter 71 Chapter 71 The entry to the Palace was beautiful. The Marble floor stretched out, shining against the light that shone down from above. Patrons from all across the world came and went, the wealthy, the powerful, and those lucky enough to make their dreams come true. Standing in the midst of it all was a lone statue of the Roman Emperor for whom the place was named. Everything glittered, everything was bright, the music triggered a desire to explore and by extension, spend. Everything was tailored to draw the eyes in every direction, subtly encouraging you to lose yourself in it all. Sonya walked in at the head of her group. She¡¯d changed into a dress for the occasion, a white sparkling backless gown that fit tightly around her frame with a pair of silver plates playing at being a corset around her waist. It was one of Mikayla¡¯s designs. Her hair was up in a ponytail bound with a silver clasp adorned with pink jewels. Her skin glittered under the lights. A spectacle that shimmered just as brightly as the elegant chandelier above. All eyes were on her. It felt amazing. Their trip had been a secret, but now that they¡¯d arrived all pretense of subtlety was thrown out the window. ¡°Oh it''s beautiful in here,¡± She said with a sigh, casting a brilliant smile at a few of those gawking at her. Marta stepped up to her side with a slight flush and frown on her face, Sonya had insisted she dress up. She wore a black and white sleeved sundress, the open sleeves and the lower part around her legs were an elegant lace. Her brown hair had been braided neatly, hanging down her shoulder and ending in a jeweled clip. Sonya had never been good at braiding hair but it turned out Bluestar had several sisters, so she¡¯d been happy to help. Her friend glanced her way and raised an eyebrow, ¡°Center of attention again, ma¡¯am?¡± Sonya grinned, ¡°Always.¡± The Chairman cleared his throat as he walked past in his suit, ¡°I¡¯ll get our keys,¡± He said with a harrumph. He was clearly excited to be here but Sonya guessed he felt a little strange staying at a place this nice when they were on government business. Sonya had no such compunctions so she had helped foot the bill. She watched the man go as his son and future daughter in law walked up to the statue. Sonya glanced sidelong at Hyunh, ¡°Everything you imagined?¡± Hyunh turned to look at Sonya, ¡°It¡¯s a bit of an eyesore,¡± She said and glanced back up at the statue, ¡°The Hotel is, I mean.¡± Duong grunted noncommittally and Sonya casually jolted him with Imperious. She was feeling petty. In response, Hyunh twitched and frowned. Sonya restrained a smile and turned around to put her hands on her hips. Firestorm and his team were looking around in awe and obvious discomfort. The three men wore black suits that Sonya had made sure were prepared for them, each with decorative stripes color coded for their heroic identities. She hadn¡¯t interfered with Bluestar¡¯s outfit, the blue suit was perfect for her and she approved. ¡°You four need to get used to this kind of thing,¡± Sonya chastised them, raising an eyebrow, ¡°You¡¯re with me.¡± Firestorm met her gaze and flushed, looking down at his feet. Lifesaver ran his hand over his bald head and took it all in, not even listening. Bandit tried a little harder to look natural but it only made him look kind of constipated. Bluestar simply let out a breath and walked over to her, sighing, ¡°They¡¯ll get over it,¡± She assured Sonya. ¡°I was including you,¡± Sonya said with a wink, ¡°You¡¯re sweating, Jessica. Relax! We¡¯re here for a good time!¡± ¡°Says you,¡± Bandit groused as he walked over, ¡°You¡¯re not dreading meeting the international heroes.¡± Sonya leaned back, ¡°Who says I¡¯m not nervous?¡± She asked, ignoring the butterflies that rose up in her gut. She leaned forward and grinned at him, ¡°I¡¯m just better at faking it than you.¡± Hyunh snorted nearby and Sonya pursed her lips. Patience, Sonya, she¡¯ll be dead before you head home. Patience. She reminded herself and let out a breath, glancing towards the Chairman who was walking over. ¡°All good?¡± The Chairman handed Sonya a pair of key cards with a room number on them, ¡°All yours,¡± He said brightly. ¡°Also, you should have mentioned that you registered rooms here for the International Team. They weren¡¯t expecting to stay somewhere like this,¡± He said with a bit of a frown. Sonya gave him an aghast look, ¡°The Pandora Committee¡¯s top heroes staying anywhere else while in my care? Preposterous!¡± She said, raising her hand to her chest in offense, ¡°How could you even consider it?¡± He blanched, ¡°W-well when you put it that way-¡± He trailed off as Sonya laughed. ¡°I¡¯m teasing you, Chairman,¡± She said and walked over, locking arms with him, ¡°I made a unilateral decision and had Carla take care of the details. Sorry I didn¡¯t tell you, but I wanted to make a good impression on them. She tells me that the US Branch just assumed I was being eccentric and didn¡¯t see a problem.¡± The older man sighed, ¡°You are beyond anyone¡¯s control, aren¡¯t you?¡± He asked with a chuckle, walking with her. ¡°It¡¯s something I¡¯m quite proud of,¡± She agreed. ¡°Sonya? Where are you going?¡± Bluestar called. Sonya glanced over her shoulder, ¡°The valets will take care of your bags, silly, we¡¯re all checked in. Time to see the casino!¡± She said brightly. The others looked at one another and smiled before hurrying to follow her as she bantered with the Chairman of the Pandora Committee. He did not seem upset to have her escorting him. Craig extended a hand, ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure, Miss Chernovna. We should do business sometime, I hear you¡¯ve been working out of your laboratory. You really should get a proper highrise at some point,¡± The man said as she took his hand. Craig Hart, one of Otis¡¯ top investors and supporters. You helped fund the war, bastard. She thought as she smiled at him, ¡°It¡¯s been something I¡¯ve been thinking about,¡± She admitted with an easy laugh, ¡°I need more consumer product going out before I can justify it though.¡± He raised an eyebrow, ¡°So you plan on producing consumer product?¡± He asked. She shrugged, pulling her hand away and slipping into one of the chairs at the table. A few people had shifted over to allow her to sit next to Prichard. He was trying to make a point. She let it happen. It didn¡¯t bother her that he was using her presence to earn political points, she was intending to do the exact same thing to him. Though her priorities had shifted a bit. She needed to figure out where in the hotel Craig was staying. He couldn¡¯t be allowed to leave this place alive. Just another body in Vegas. She thought grimly as a waiter came over and set down a glass before pouring some soda into it. ¡°Oh, thank you!¡± She said and took up the glass. A few of the elites around her gave her odd looks, she just smiled at them sweetly, ¡°I have a hard time getting drunk these days, it¡¯s not as fun as it used to be,¡± She said, tapping her temple. She made it seem like it had something to do with her eyes, which wasn¡¯t entirely false. They looked at one another and shrugged as the dealer present shuffled the cards. ¡°So, we were talking about ASTA¡¯s consumer goods,¡± Craig said eagerly, wanting to get back on topic. One of the others, the man who had Beacon, also took interest. He was in the consumer electronics field, a telecom company executive. ¡°I can¡¯t say much, you understand,¡± She said with a bit of a smile, ¡°But I am interested in a few areas. We¡¯ve learned a lot of very interesting things from the materials we¡¯ve acquired from monsters and the dungeons we¡¯ve involved ourselves in,¡± Sonya said, ¡°Textiles of course, but also communications. Lines of mundane contact are cut off between outside parties and those inside of a dungeon. That¡¯s a danger we want to try to overcome.¡± ¡°A strong signal that could outplay anything currently on the market,¡± The executive commented. Sonya shrugged, ¡°Perhaps. Now! How about some cards? I assume I¡¯m allowed to play with a full deck, Mister Earl?¡± She asked. The hotel¡¯s owner inclined his head, ¡°I¡¯m curious to see what those eyes of yours are capable of,¡± He said and nodded to the dealer and their little game began. ¨C Sonya folded her hand and sat back, getting a surprised look from Craig as the man stared at his cards and sighed, throwing them onto the table. He scratched his head, ¡°You are a monster at this,¡± He chuckled and leaned back in his seat. ¡°I¡¯ve never met someone with intuition like yours.¡± You all might have excellent poker faces for the mundane, but your microexpressions, body temperature, breathing, all of it is just data to me. My senses read you like a book even if its something my eyes can¡¯t immediately notice. She thought smugly, ¡°And that¡¯s why I refused to play at the table out there,¡± She said casually. ¡°Remarkable,¡± Prichard said, ¡°I may have lost more than I expected but it was worth every penny. Could I perhaps interest you in dinner later tonight, Miss Chernovna?¡± He asked. She tilted her head, ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, I am meeting with some rather important people related to my work tonight, it wouldn¡¯t do for me to not be there,¡± She said, ¡°Also, and I say this in the nicest way possible, you¡¯re not my type.¡± The man burst into laughter, ¡°Your bluntness is refreshing!¡± He said, ¡°Damn shame, that¡¯s alright though. We really should talk more though.¡± ¡°That, I believe, can be arranged,¡± Sonya agreed as Craig got to his feet across from her. ¡°As for me, I¡¯m going to retire to my room soon, thank you again for the exciting evening, Prichard,¡± Craig said and stretched his back. ¡°Miss Chernovna, a pleasure.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll reach out soon,¡± She said with a nod and got to her feet as well, I¡¯m not letting you out of my sight. ¡°I should check on my people. Thank you again, Mister Earl.¡± ¡°Prichard, please,¡± The man said with a wave of his hand, ¡°Enjoy the rest of your stay Miss Chernovna.¡± She nodded to him, ¡°I most certainly will,¡± She said and turned to follow Craig out, bloodlust burning just beneath her skin. Chapter 72 Chapter 72 Sonya stepped out of the room and glanced to her left, watching Craig head towards the exit of the casino. Her eyes narrowed a fraction before she caught herself and let out a breath, chuckling. Plans never quite work out once you¡¯re on the scene, do they? She asked herself, walking out onto the floor and brushing her hair over her ear. She turned towards the bar and sauntered over, ignoring a few of the looks she got and instead focused on the call function of Cyber-punk. She dialed out and waited, not expecting an immediate answer. While she did, she also shot a message over to Amos. She sat down at the counter and gestured at the bartender who walked over with a smile. ¡°Cola,¡± Sonya said, ¡°Can you do a little extra syrup?¡± The bartender nodded, ¡°Sure thing, miss,¡± He said and started to prepare the drink, turning the dial on the soda gun while the call in her head clicked over. She leaned forward and relaxed against the counter as the glass was set down in front of her. ¡°I¡¯m here, Mistress,¡± Blackrazor¡¯s voice popped into her head. ¡°Just arrived at the hotel.¡± She sipped her drink, ¡°There¡¯s a person that I want to talk to, alone, Blackrazor. Amos will be sending the location of his room to you,¡± She said through the mental call, ¡°His name is Craig Hart.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll deliver him to a secure room, mistress,¡± Blackrazor said without hesitating, ending the call. Sonya looked up at her reflection in the mirrored back bar and sipped at her drink. The woman that looked back at her smirked and nodded. She would have looked away before, but she knew now wasn¡¯t the time to reject what she was becoming. Tomorrow was going to be chaotic, no doubt about it, and she needed her more than ever. She set down the drink and looked at it, she hadn¡¯t even noticed how it tasted. Distracted, she thought. She brought it to her lips again and took another sip, savoring the bubbles and the stronger sweetness than the usual can. She smiled to herself, ¡°Refreshing.¡± ¡°Glad you think so, miss,¡± The bartender said and inclined his head, winking at her as he walked away. She watched the guy go and shifted to the right a bit as she felt Marta approach her from behind. Marta hesitated before letting out a sigh and sitting down next to her. ¡°Your senses are kind of scary.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just loud,¡± Sonya teased. ¡°Have an interesting meeting?¡± Marta asked. ¡°Yes, I think I might have made a friend,¡± Sonya said and set down the glass, ¡°I also found someone I¡¯ve been looking for,¡± She said in a lower voice. ¡°Someone like Ocche.¡± Marta tensed, ¡°What are you going to do?¡± Sonya ran her fingers over the rim of the glass and looked towards her friend, ¡°Something new, and maybe a little scary. Let¡¯s go to the room for a moment,¡± She said and started to get up. Marta frowned, ¡°You¡¯re not trying to get out of meeting the International Team again, are you?¡± She asked, not moving. ¡°No, I¡¯ve come to terms with it,¡± Sonya said with a sigh, ¡°As funny as it would be to throw you to the wolves, I need to face this. Besides,¡± She flexed her fingers and grinned, ¡°New product would be nice.¡± Marta searched her face, ¡°What are you planning?¡± She asked but got to her feet regardless. Sonya had Marta go over to the chairman and inform him that the two of them were going to freshen up a little before meeting the international team, and may be a moment. Sonya watched the chairman wave her off with a smile and looked up to nod at Sonya. Sonya returned the nod and scanned the room as she made her way towards the doors. It was getting more crowded, but she still managed to spot Hyunh and Duong sitting at a card table, Duong focused on cards in his hands while Hyunh stood nearby. Cheater, she snorted and spotted Firestorm and his team, they were all laughing at Bandit who was hanging his head in front of a slot machine. She didn¡¯t turn her head as Marta approached, ¡°I¡¯m glad they¡¯re having fun.¡± ¡°You care about them,¡± Marta commented, ¡°It¡¯s a little hypocritical.¡± ¡°The sign of a renaissance person is being able to entertain two opposing thoughts at the same time as equally true,¡± Sonya said in response, ¡°They¡¯re her enemy, they¡¯re my children.¡± ¡°...her?¡± Marta asked hesitantly. Sonya didn¡¯t respond as they made their way out, making for the elevators that would take them to their room. It was fairly high up which Sonya liked. She appreciated a good view, a bit of a hold over from being a scout, she guessed. Just like the rest of the building, the elevator was overdesigned to the point of aesthetic perfection, as was the hallway, every inch spotless with an overbearing weight of wealth hanging in the air. They made their way to the room and went inside. It was less a hotel room and more a full apartment suite. Marta gave her a sidelong look when she saw the size of the beds. ¡°Expecting company?¡± Marta asked with a grin. ¡°I might indulge myself tonight,¡± Sonya said with a laugh and walked to the curtains, closing them over the outer window. The Copy snorted as she reached into one of the bags, tapping around a moment before finding a compartment in the bottom of the bag and unzipping it. She pulled out the white leather armor and began slipping it on, throwing her hair back and pulling on the gloves and boots. She turned to another bag and opened it as well, pulling aside some of the clothing that was put in there just to cover up what had really been concealed inside; Ishtar¡¯s helmet. She pulled it out and ran her fingers over the smooth surface, ¡°The man¡¯s obsessed,¡± She said after the long silence, her tone had dropped an octave, ¡°I doubt even seeing us right next to one another will change his mind.¡± Sonya felt something tighten in her gut at the way the copy acted, the way she carried herself all of a sudden. It was a series of small changes that seemed to build on one another in a way that made her skin crawl. She knew what it was, she had concerns about it, about her own mind. Yet when the copy turned around, the helmet sliding over her head, she felt her chest tighten a little bit more. There is something very wrong with me. She concluded. ¡°Ah...¡± The copy, no, Ishtar said. ¡°Much better,¡± She flexed her fingers a bit and clenched her fists. ¡°So I just wait here until we hear from Blackrazor?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Sonya said, ¡°Get the job done and then find somewhere to dissolve, preferably a shower drain.¡± Ishtar nodded as her eyes came online, her voice modulator activating next. The next words were said with that hissing rasp that Sonya had never heard from outside before. She¡¯d never seen Ishtar in person, never known what everyone else saw and heard. ¡°It will be done.¡± Sonya resisted a flinch and glanced at Marta, ¡°Let¡¯s head back.¡± Marta looked between them and nodded slowly, ¡°Got it.¡± Sonya turned away from her copy and made her way out the door, she flinched a little when Marta put her hand on her shoulder, ¡°Sonya, are you okay?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Sonya said, ¡°But I know I¡¯m not going to be doing this very often.¡± Marta nodded and locked arms with her, giving her a reassuring squeeze, ¡°I think that¡¯s a good idea.¡± ¨C Back downstairs, Firestorm was sitting in front of a slot machine with a pensive look on his face. He wasn¡¯t sure which mode to pick, he was terrible at this kind of thing. He knew there was a trick to it, or so his dad had told him, but he really couldn¡¯t for the life of him remember exactly how it all worked. He scratched his head while Bandit frowned at him from the side. ¡°Are you serious? Just pull the damn lever man,¡± Bandit groused. ¡°And end up blowing all my tokens like you?¡± Firestorm shot back. Bandit narrowed his eyes, ¡°Don¡¯t be a dick.¡± ¡°Too late,¡± Bluestar said behind them, ¡°Boys, time to get going, we¡¯re heading to a VIP room.¡± Firestorm looked up, surprised, ¡°Huh? Already?¡± Bluestar crossed her arms, ¡°You just missed them come in, I just got back from greeting the team leader. The Chairman, Lifesaver, Hero An Set, and Miss Feng are already in the room. We¡¯re just waiting on you two, Miss Chernovna and Handmaiden.¡± Firestorm hopped to his feet, getting a scowl from Bandit, ¡°What are we waiting for? Let¡¯s go!¡± He said excitedly. ¡°Coward,¡± Bandit grumbled, Firestorm pointedly ignored him as Bluestar turned away to lead them to the room. When they got there, Firestorm hesitated at the door. These people were mythic-tier and the individuals that the various nations who contributed them had decided possessed the most potential. He knew that this new culture of heroes was new, that things would change a lot. Right now, though, it could be argued that the people on the other side of the door were the best of the best. He was popular, sure, but they were powerful. Bluestar raised her eyebrow at him, ¡°Nervous.¡± ¡°Uh, yeah?¡± He said bluntly. She smiled and pat his shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t be, I think you¡¯ll be surprised.¡± She said as Sonya and Marta hurried towards them from afar. He glanced past Bluestar and brightened. ¡°Miss Chernovna! There you are!¡± Sonya slid to a stop and panted, ¡°Phew! Made it.¡± Bluestar turned to face their sponsor and put her hands on her hips, ¡°Miss Chernovna, you¡¯re late!¡± She said with a frown before sighing hard and straightening herself up. She looked back at Bandit and Firestorm. Behind Bluestar, Sonya made a face and stuck her tongue out at the Guildmaster, only to switch back to innocence when Bluestar glanced back at her. ¡°Okay, are we all ready?¡± Bandit chuckled, ¡°Miss Chernovna certainly is,¡± He said and pointed at the door. Bluestar blinked and looked to her right, Sonya was already walking inside. Bluestar let out a gasp and looked to Firestorm aghast. Firestorm laughed and stepped past her, patting her shoulder. ¡°Are you seriously surprised when it comes to her?¡± He asked, ¡°Come on, let''s go meet the most powerful heroes in the world.¡± Chapter 73 Chapter 73 Craig shoved his hands into the pockets of his coat, humming to himself as he ambled his way to his room. It was going well! She was beautiful, famous, and the perfect person to put on as the face of his next line of projects. She¡¯d even agreed to reach out soon. He imagined a glorious high-rise in New York City, built by his people and funded by the UN. He grinned to himself as he reached his door, pulling out the keycard and holding it up. He frowned a little, tilting his head. Did she seem a little off? It was like she instantly distrusted him at first. He chuckled, ¡°Given the company, I don¡¯t blame her,¡± He said and tapped the door, pushing it open and stepping inside. More importantly, his new employer would be happy that he was building a relationship with her. The odd young man had expressed interest in Sonya Chernovna during their last meeting. Maybe he should set up a meeting between the two? That would be good. He nodded, Yeah, I¡¯ll talk to her about that next. Mister Otis will be happy for sure. He thought, wondering at what the young man¡¯s face would look like, so happy, for some reason his youthful sponsor¡¯s face wouldn¡¯t come to him. He thought that should bother him, but he really didn¡¯t feel like it did. He shrugged, it didn¡¯t matter. Craig walked into his room and set the coffee on, it was probably going to be a late night. ¡°Ah... I need a shower,¡± He grunted, and tossed off his coat and shoes. He hummed merrily as he stepped out of the bathroom a few minutes later, grabbing his mug as he walked by the counter and making way for the desk set up in the corner of the large, luxurious room. He sat down and took a sip, flipping open his computer and typing in his password. It was a long one, but he¡¯d learned to be careful with his information. Having access to this computer was as good as having access to his business and his assets. His arm felt a little stiff and he stretched, grumbling, ¡°Not even a hot shower will do it these days...¡± He groused. He took another sip of his coffee and tapped a few more keys, ¡°Okay now,¡± He mumbled only to feel his arm stiffen again, then his legs. He blinked and looked at his hand. It was trembling. ¡°Huh?¡± He gasped, I can¡¯t move. Why can¡¯t I move? ¡°Mister Craig Hart,¡± A voice came from behind him. He tried to turn his head but his body wouldn¡¯t move an inch. He trembled, flicking his eyes about as he tried to get a look at the dark figure that slipped into place at his right. A hand fell on his shoulder and he stiffened when he saw a knife in the figure¡¯s other hand. ¡°Mistress Ishtar has requested your presence.¡± The next thing he knew, he was sinking. He looked down and saw a black hole in the floor, shadows billowing off of it. They felt so cold. His heart rate spiked, he wanted to scream, call for help, do anything. Yet all he could do was endure the chill as slowly he was consumed by the darkness beneath him. He didn¡¯t see the figure turn to the laptop and pick it up before writing something down on a piece of paper, ¡°That¡¯s quite the password,¡± The figure said before disappearing into the ground as well, leaving the room spotless. ¨C At first, the copy was going to do as it was told, stay in place and wait to hear from Blackrazor. It really was, and to be honest it didn¡¯t have any real good reason to leave and cause trouble. However, the more it thought the more it realized that there was a step to the plan that was overlooked. It considered whether or not to reach out to the original, its legs crossed on the chair in the hotel room. Finally, it decided to go for broke. It sent the suggestion out and received a response almost immediately. The copy, no, for the moment it was wearing the mask of Ishtar, got to her feet and grabbed a suitcase before she strode towards the door, technopathy already working on the cameras in the hallway. She stepped out and made a beeline for the elevator. With a single flick of will she temporarily locked all the doors in the hallway preventing anyone from stepping out until she was long gone. She took the elevator up, willing the elevator not to stop on the way. When she reached her destination the door opened and she stepped out onto a beautiful gold-inlaid marble floor. The walls were mirrored and there were absolutely no cameras present. This wasn¡¯t a place for the average visitor. She strode up to the counter where a man in a suit stood, looking down at something. He glanced up and froze when he saw her. ¡°Excuse me,¡± He said after catching himself, ¡°I don¡¯t believe you should be here, miss. How did you get up here?¡± Ishtar tilted her head, ¡°Tell Prichard that he has a guest,¡± Ishtar said coldly. ¡°I think I¡¯d rather call security,¡± He said instead and reached for the phone only for it to fizzle and spark, he pulled his hand away in surprise and looked up at her. ¡°This isn¡¯t your fault,¡± Ishtar rasped consolingly, ¡°He won¡¯t blame you. He might if you don¡¯t take me to him, though.¡± The host hesitated and reached up to dab a bit of sweat from his brow before turning towards the single archway leading into the private restaurant beyond. He cleared his throat, ¡°R-right this way Miss...?¡± ¡°Ishtar. You can tell him before I step inside if it helps your nerves,¡± Ishtar said, that seemed to give the man a bit of his agency back as he relaxed, sighing and nodding. He lead her into a brightly lit hall colored with expensive wallpaper. Instead of the traditional open atmosphere of a restaurant, it was separated into private rooms for the guests to enjoy their meals and have their conversations in the utmost confidence. It was a good strategy, given the kind of people that would get invited up into this place. The host stopped at a door and knocked twice before opening the door and stepping inside. Even with her senses she couldn¡¯t pick up on any words on the otherside. Excellent soundproofing. She thought before the door opened and the man nodded to her, opening it completely to let her inside. ¡°Mister Earl will see you,¡± He said, looking immensely relieved. She nodded and walked past him, stepping into a stately dining room with a long table. Only one person in the room besides herself. Prichard Earl was standing next to his chair, his eyes wide. ¡°You¡¯re real,¡± He breathed. Ishtar tilted her head, ¡°In a manner of speaking.¡± ¡°Lian Chuhua, in the flesh, I can¡¯t believe you¡¯re more beautiful than on the television,¡± She said with a wry smile. She gave the woman a wink, ¡°You aren¡¯t single, are you?¡± The Chairman barked out a laugh and Marta sighed next to her. Chunhua on the other hand just stared at her and at her hand then up at her again, a look of confusion on her face. She squared up a little, ¡°I greet the Voice of the Hero-¡± ¡°Call me Sonya, please. I have a name,¡± Sonya cut in, giving Chunhua¡¯s hand a squeeze, ¡°Please use it.¡± The irony wasn¡¯t lost on Sonya. Chunhua blinked and then relaxed visibly, which for some reason got a few odd looks from the rest of her group, ¡°Very well, Sonya it is,¡± She said with a small smile and it may have definitely been Sonya¡¯s imagination, but a look of amused interest. Yeah, definitely my imagination, not wishful thinking at all. Quit it you idiot, you¡¯re getting carried away! Sonya cleared her throat, ¡°Aha! Enough flirting,¡± Sonya teased and released Chunhua¡¯s hand before turning to the others, ¡°Let¡¯s see!¡± She walked over to the first in line. Vytal was a slightly heavy set man with a easy smile and eyes that were a startling near-white blue. They reminded her of glaciers. ¡°Vytal, right? Or should I say, Edgar Wolf,¡± She said and took his outstretched hand. ¡°You make quite the impression, Sonya,¡± He said with a startlingly deep voice, ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure ma¡¯am.¡± Analyze. ¡°The pleasure is all mine!¡± She said brightly and gave his hand a brisk shake before turning to the next. A powerfully built man with short black hair, thick eyebrows and dark eyes. ¡°Sapporo, Takeda Goro,¡± She said and took his hand with a brief handshake and a partial bow. His dark expression remained unchanged but he did manage to speak at least, ¡°Your work has resulted in a peaceful east, even if unintentional, you have my gratitude and that of my family and people.¡± Analyze. ¡°Thank you,¡± She said, ¡°I hope that my work can inspire more success for humanity in the future.¡± He nodded brusquely and she moved on. The next person was a younger woman, late teens probably, with bright eyes and a too-wide smile. She was bouncing on her heels when Sonya reached out to greet her, ¡°Molly Byrne? Or should I say Euclidia?¡± She asked. The girl snatched up her hand with both of her own hands, shaking it vigorously, almost so fast that she didn¡¯t get to use analyze, ¡°Oh my gosh it''s such an honor! You are a frigging icon! Like, seriously, oh my god, can you believe what you¡¯ve done for the community, not to mention you know, all the hero stuff and uh... can I get your autograph? For my girlfriend, I mean, oh man, wow you¡¯re pretty.¡± Sonya blinked. Analyze? Sonya laughed, ¡°Sure!¡± She said, ¡°What do you want me to sign?¡± Molly brightened, ¡°Could you sign my t-¡± She began only to get cut off by Chunhua clearing her throat in warning, she grinned at the leader of their group sheepishly, ¡°I got a postcard.¡± Sonya just laughed and shrugged, ¡°I¡¯ll sign whatever you want later, cutie,¡± She said and moved on past a squealing Molly to the far more serious looking man next to her. He bowed his head once before standing up straight and shaking his head. ¡°I apologize, I cannot,¡± He said. ¡°I understand,¡± Sonya said without dropping a beat, ¡°Thank you for coming.¡± He inclined his head, ¡°It is the right thing to do.¡± She stepped back to give him a bit of respectful space before looking between the five of them and put her hands on her hips, ¡°Now that we¡¯ve had our introductions! Let¡¯s eat!¡± Side Story: Amos 2 Side Story: Amos 2 Amos shifted back and forth on his feet, his hands in his pockets. He hadn¡¯t been around here in a long time and while every thought about this place had filled him with dread for the past few years, now he felt something else. Confidence. He rest his head against the wall and smiled to himself, swaying a little as he listened to a little music playing in his earbuds. Good old gamer rock. He grinned as his connection to the local security cameras around him alerted him to someone approaching. He tilted his head and glanced in the direction of the approaching man, a big smile on his face. Where was he? Well, if he had been fully honest with Sonya when he first met her, he hadn¡¯t exactly washed out of college. No. He had been chased out. He was at MIT. Beautiful Cambridge. He¡¯d taken a flight here the previous night and had spent the evening doing what he did best. He didn¡¯t take many days off, but Sonya had insisted that he get a little bit of down time before she and the others went off to Vegas. It was going to be a big deal apparently and he really ought to be fresh in case he was needed. So he figured he¡¯d settle up while he was out. Sonya didn¡¯t know what he was doing, or at least probably not, his computers were the only ones she couldn¡¯t poke around in with her own technopathy. It wasn¡¯t like he tried to keep it a secret from her, he just didn¡¯t bother bringing it up. It was his problem to deal with and to be frank she¡¯d already helped him enough towards his goal. Now he just needed to act. Which was why he was so elated to see the University president marching his way in his direction. ¡°President Williams!¡± Amos said brightly, throwing his hands out wide, ¡°Good to see you, how long¡¯s it been?¡± He asked. The president frowned, a bit of sweat dripping down his brow beneath a carefully combed head of brown hair, he wore a black suit and red tie that did not agree with the heat, ¡°Mister Carter, you seem to have forgotten that you were banned from this institution.¡± Amos blinked, raising his eyebrows dramatically. Just like Sonya would, he thought with amusement. ¡°Really?¡± He gasped, ¡°Oh man, that sucks! And here I wanted to have a chat with you! I¡¯m honestly shocked you came out all this way. If that''s the case, sir, shouldn¡¯t you have sent security instead?¡± He asked. The president¡¯s frown deepened, ¡°I have been trying to, but apparently their communications are on the fritz. We can¡¯t even call the police. You wouldn¡¯t happen to know anything about that, Mister Carter?¡± President Williams asked pointedly. Amos pointed at himself, wide eyed, ¡°Me? Why would I do something like that?¡± ¡°To force a meeting with me,¡± The man said with a scowl. ¡°What on earth do you want? Amos beamed at him, ¡°Mister President! Johnny!¡± He soothed, walking over and throwing an arm over the president¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Can I call you Jonny?¡± He asked, grinning ear to ear as he threw basically his entire social battery into the interaction. ¡°Listen, I just want to have a conversation. You and me, somewhere private, have a few drinks, talk about the good old days!¡± ¡°You are not allowed in-¡± ¡°Avery Stolls,¡± Amos said, suddenly stony in his tone. The man stared at him, bewildered. Amos let out a sigh, ¡°See, I wish the conversation could have been more pleasant, but hey, what can you do?¡± He shook his head and held up a hand to wave at another figure who was sitting at a bench nearby. Colin approached with a suitcase in hand, his hair done up just right, and his skin practically glittering in the sunlight. ¡°Colin can you take it from here?¡± Colin pursed his lips and smiled at Amos, ¡°Of course,¡± He said sweetly. Amos grinned and let go of the man. ¡°All yours babe,¡± Amos said and stepped away, leaning Colin stepped forward and held out the suitcase, opening it. Inside was a thick tan piece of paper with a contract written on it. ¡°As per the terms of this contract, Doctor Williams, you will be responsible for the terms that Mister Carter just explained to you. You will have twenty four hours to approve the reinstatement, fourty eight to complete the public apology and issue the aforementioned degree. You will then have one week to contact ASTA headquarters and discuss a long term educational partnership with the company,¡± Colin said matter-of-factly. Mister Williams swallowed, ¡°And if I¡¯m unable to meet these terms in time?¡± He asked. ¡°It says right there in the document, you will die of a heart attack the instant the contract is void. Complete the terms and you will live as long as you were intended to. This contract was made with a powerful ability that makes deals quite binding and includes an indefinite gag order. So don¡¯t bother trying to get help, you dug this hole, you can dig yourself out,¡± Colin said, his eyes twinkling with malice. ¡°Amos will also be held to a similar standard, having to eliminate all evidence connecting you to your crimes that he is aware of within twenty four hours of you holding up your end of the bargain.¡± The president of MIT stared at the document for a long time, his eyes wide as he read every line. He swallowed hard. ¡°Hurry up Johnny, you¡¯ve gotta agree to the terms whole heartedly or it won¡¯t work and the longer I¡¯m here, the longer I¡¯m gonna keep the whole school¡¯s systems down,¡± Amos said from afar, ¡°I can do this all day.¡± The president let out a sigh and snatched up the pen sitting next to the document. His shoulders sagged and with a weary look in his eyes he signed the document. It flickered for a moment before it started to glow and the ink from the pen immediately dried. Amos felt a tingle run up his arm that felt very similar to the time he made his first deal with Sonya. He looked down at it with a small smile as the president set the pen down. ¡°May I leave now?¡± The man asked. ¡°Sure, fuck off,¡± Amos said and glanced to Colin. ¡°Dinner and a movie?¡± He asked, walking past the man as if he didn¡¯t exist. Colin just smiled at him, ¡°Sure.¡± Chapter 74 Chapter 74 It certainly wasn¡¯t the introduction she had expected. Chunhua wasn¡¯t sure what to even think of it. She¡¯d seen her on television more than once, captivated if she was being honest with herself, which of course she¡¯d firmly chosen not to be in this particular instance. Grossly inappropriate didn¡¯t even begin to cover the kind of professional breach that even the thought of such a thing would constitute. Yet the first thing Sonya Chernovna had done when they met was to flirt, and not even subtly. Chunhua had tried to salvage the situation, providing a proper and appropriately respectful greeting for someone of her personage. Only to be immediately rebuffed. She could only stand there for a few heartbeats, trying to process what had just happened. What the woman had said, the way she had said it. She remembered her grandfather for a moment, his gentle smile and easygoing presence. He¡¯d always hated formality even if he had been a man of some importance for the majority of his life. I have a name, use it. That had been almost a catch phrase for him. He said it the same way every time, the same rhythm to the words, the same amused cadence. Chunhua blinked and caught herself, willing her body to push down the flush that had threatened to rise to her cheeks and instead allowed herself to smile and relax her shoulders. In a single exchange she had the feeling that she understood the woman in front of her more than anyone else in the room, all of the fantasies she¡¯d had during the flight cast out to the wind. This wasn¡¯t a person who respected formality and conventional rules of hierarchy, she stood alone and she was intimately aware of it. The way to this person¡¯s good graces wasn¡¯t through placation and overt respect. It was through treating her as a peer. She could do that. ¡°Very well, Sonya it is,¡± Chunhua said and let go, her fingers tingling a little. She watched Sonya turn away and caught herself lingering on the nape of her neck. She¡¯s so small. Chunhua thought, Petite, frail, but my instinct tells me that there¡¯s so much more to her that I can¡¯t even begin to figure out. She forced herself to look away. It¡¯s even more evident now than when I first saw her on the television. She peeked again as Sonya shook hands with Vytal. Alabaster skin, silver hair, she¡¯s like a ghost or a statue. Damn it, stop looking. She looked away again and closed her eyes for a moment to settle herself. She listened patiently as Sonya greeted Sapporo. Her voice is pretty too. Euclidia immediately jumped into rambling, of course she did. When she wasn¡¯t playing with puzzles she was talking. It was endearing, if you could understand half of what she was talking about. ¡°... uh... can I get your autograph? For my girlfriend, I mean, oh man, wow you¡¯re pretty.¡± Chunhua¡¯s eyes opened and her lips formed a thin line. ¡°What would you like me to sign?¡± ¡°Could you sign my t-¡± Chunhua cleared her throat and shot Euclidia a warning look. The mythic-tier teenager gave her a sheepish grin in response. Chunhua shook her head and sighed, it was so different from working with soldiers. The personalities were just so... big. She cast another look at Euclidia, and abrasive. The greetings came to an uneventful end after that, much to Chunhua¡¯s relief. Sonya seemed intent on getting straight to dinner and a more comfortable atmosphere which Chunhua was more than happy to acquiesce to. Sonya sat down quickly in one of the seats near the middle of the table. The woman who had entered with her followed but didn¡¯t sit down, instead she stood behind Sonya with her hands clasped in front of her waist. Handmaiden, I read about her during the briefing. She¡¯s a licensed mythic but not an active hero, Sonya¡¯s bodyguard and caretaker. Chunhua sized the woman up and her instincts told her only one thing: She''s strong. Handmaiden returned her gaze stoically, her expression stony. Chunhua got the impression that the woman didn¡¯t like her for some reason. ¡°Leader Chunhua,¡± The chairman spoke up, suddenly right next to her. She blinked and looked at him, realizing just how lost she¡¯d looked for a few moments there. ¡°Yes sir?¡± ¡°If you wouldn¡¯t mind sitting next to Miss Chernovna?¡± He suggested. ¡°I¡¯ll be sitting on the other side,¡± He added and made his way over, slipping into a seat next to the CEO. Chunhua glanced at the open seat he¡¯d indicated and hesitated, looking up at Handmaiden. ¡°What about you, Handmaiden?¡± She asked. The woman shook her head, ¡°My place is here,¡± She said simply. Chunhua groaned inwardly, she hated politics. ¨C Sonya hated politicians. She forced herself not to shoot the Chairman a glare when he ambled over to sit at her right, grinning ear to ear. It had been hard enough to rein herself back in when she had gotten started talking to Chunhua during their introduction. Now she was supposed to sit next to her? Madness. Absolute fucking madness. Just looking at her was agony in a way she could never begin to articulate. The attraction, the sadness, the joy, the confusion, the everything. She¡¯d managed to bluster her way through with grins and smiles and a joking attitude but now there was no room for that. They¡¯d have to have a normal conversation. A normal conversation, with the past self of the woman who you are the widow of. No big deal, Sonya. You¡¯ve only seen her naked more than anyone else on the planet and the sound of her voice makes you want to do stupid submissive things. Oh and not to mention that the last time you saw her she was a god damn corpse! She dug her fingers into her leg, squeezing tightly to control her face. Yeah, no big deal, no problem, you got this. Don¡¯t forget that your ability makes it so that you can¡¯t lie, by the way! Chunhua sat down next to her. Fuck. Following the way the cameras shorted out briefly had been a pointless pursuit. Tracking just about anything had resulted in failure. That was until an unoccupied room near the top floor, one of the floors that had lost camera signal for several seconds, had its movement sensors go off. That wouldn¡¯t have been unusual, it could have been housekeeping. But no member of housekeeping was scheduled to be in that room at the present time. Ironsides gut told him that this was the place to be and he wasn¡¯t going to waste a second. He¡¯d hurried out of the security room and to the elevator, quickly reaching out to Martin through the earpiece. ¡°Martin, I think I found something. Cameras are out in the area but an unoccupied room¡¯s movement sensors are going off. I¡¯ll keep you posted,¡± Ironsides said as he stepped into the elevator. There was a momentary pause followed by, ¡°Understood. Do not engage if you see her.¡± Ironsides chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m not you.¡± ¡°Just be careful,¡± Martin insisted. Ironsides smiled to himself and hit the button for his destination. He arrived a few moments later and stepped out onto the floor. It was just as grand and audacious as every other floor in the building and despite his knowledge to the contrary, nothing else seemed amiss. He made his way over to the door in question and pulled out the security card he¡¯d been given by the hotel staff. That was when the door opened of its own accord and the smell of blood hit him like a truck. He tensed, his relaxed demeanor melting away as he took in the scene. There was a body laying in plain sight on the floor, staring up at the ceiling with a bloody hole where the heart should be. His eyes shifted from the corpse to the person standing above it, a woman in a white leather combat suit wearing a smooth helmet that completely concealed her face. Long white hair flowed down her back before spreading out a bit. It was no wonder that Martin thought Ishtar was Sonya Chernovna. The hair color was so similar. And yet, Sonya was downstairs and Ishtar was right here. Right in front of him. He reached up and tapped his earpiece, ¡°She¡¯s here.¡± Another pause, ¡°I¡¯m on my way, do not move!¡± Ishtar tilted her head and held out a hand, beckoning him inside. ¡°I think that ship has sailed, Martin. Get up here fast,¡± He said as he strode inside and the door shut behind him, the lock engaging. His hands dropped to his sides, his fists clenching as the metal armor spread across his skin. ¡°Ishtar?¡± He asked. ¡°Ironsides, right?¡± Ishtar asked in a raspy hiss that made his skin crawl. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± He confirmed. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you¡¯d be willing to change sides?¡± Ishtar asked, ¡°I offer great benefits and I could make your life far more enjoyable than working for the Committee,¡± She said, ¡°We could make a deal. Money, new powers, comfort and security for your family. All you have to do is tell Martin that you were wrong and walk away,¡± Ishtar offered. He frowned, ¡°Don¡¯t talk about my family,¡± He said with a low growl. ¡°Three brothers, two sisters, an aunt, and a father in a wheelchair,¡± Ishtar said without heeding him at all, ¡°It must be tough supporting them all,¡± She said with a sigh and nodded, ¡°I get it. Taking care of the people you love is challenging.¡± His eyes narrowed and he reached up for his earpiece, ¡°Martin-¡± He winced when static and feedback filled his ear. ¡°None of that,¡± Ishtar said, her luminous eyes glowing brightly, ¡°I asked you a question.¡± ¡°Tell me why you¡¯re doing this, and I might consider it,¡± He said quickly, thinking on his feet. If he could just keep her talking then Martin could arrive and confirm. It was a pain but Martin had to make the call to bring in the international team as the Chief. Ishtar chuckled, ¡°You¡¯re not very good at lying, I¡¯m jealous, to be honest.¡± He frowned, ¡°Jealous?¡± She sighed, ¡°My primary ability restricts me a great deal, Ironsides,¡± She said, ¡°I¡¯m physically incapable of lying. It¡¯s very troublesome,¡± She tilted her head to the right and pointed a finger at him, ¡°The offer was genuine, Ironsides. Please don¡¯t hold this against me,¡± She said as light began to blossom on her fingertip. Chapter 75 Chapter 75 Ironsides took a step back, his eyes fixed on the villain in front of him. His mind reeled at the sudden revelation and the implications of her shift from conversation to force. The only reason she would have said anything about such a glaring weakness or feature of her person was if she fully intended to kill him. What was more jarring was the implication that she had been completely forthcoming about her offer. She was fully willing to negotiate with people and pull them over to her side. Then why had she so brutally murdered that guy? He thought, glancing at the glowing ball of light on her fingertip. Priorities, Ironsides! He dove to the left as a narrow beam of white light erupted from her fingertip. He whipped his head up and looked back over his shoulder, noting the perfectly circular hole that had been left in the door to the room. That wasn¡¯t a warning shot. He looked up just in time to see her coming towards him, fist raised and glowing eyes burning with malice. He raised his arms up and tanked the blow, the force spreading across his reinforced body and dispersing. It wasn¡¯t an overly hard hit, but it definitely would have killed a normal person. Light based attacks, enhanced strength, he memorized it, sweeping his foot out only to be surprised as she grabbed onto his wrist and threw herself up into the air like a gymnast, toes pointed to the low hanging ceiling. Her other hand slipped back and grabbed the handle of a knife she¡¯d had strapped across her lower back. He pushed up, trying to catch her foot on the ceiling and throw her off of him but she merely did a split, pushing off of him and drawing the knife in one motion. He kicked off the ground and rolled past the corpse on the ground, getting to his feet and bringing up his fists. Enhanced reflexes, definitely. The supervillain landed on her hand and pushed up, throwing herself back into the air and into a somersault, her body spinning like a top as the glint of metal blurred in his vision. He brought his arms up again and felt the blade graze against his skin, actually biting into flesh a little bit despite his reinforcement. The weapon is made of post-pandora material. He thought as he winced, taking another step back before responding with a haymaker towards her head. She spun out of the way and slid to a stop a few feet away, her shoulders relaxing a bit as she tilted her head thoughtfully.Finnd new chapters at novelhall.com He was slower than her, but his body was durable, he could tank the hits long enough for Martin to get here. Not that Martin will be much help, but at least he has the authority to call for help. Damn those Pandora regulations. ¡°You¡¯re planning on delaying me,¡± Ishtar said. ¡°So?¡± He grunted, shifting a little to the left to get ready for a charge. ¡°That¡¯s cute,¡± She chuckled, ¡°You want your dear friend Martin to see me? His obsession isn¡¯t healthy, you know. It could even get you killed right here.¡± Ironsides frowned and clenched his fists tighter, ¡°A risk I¡¯m willing to take. I won¡¯t let you continue what you¡¯re doing, no matter the cost.¡± She raised her head a little, ¡°A proper hero, then,¡± She said, ¡°Apologies for not taking you seriously. I know very little about you so I assumed you were just another light-touched preferring to work for the committee rather than face the true dangers of hero work. I was wrong.¡± His brow furrowed, ¡°What does that mean?¡± She twirled the knife between her fingers, ¡°It means I¡¯m going to treat this fight as one between a hero and a villain,¡± She said and threw the knife. It zipped through the air and he barely had an instant to respond before she was next to him, driving her fist up and into his jaw. He felt his bones shift a little and his vision go white as he was carried up into the air with the uppercut. His reinforced body was the only reason his spine wasn¡¯t ripped out right then and there. Something grabbed onto his ankle and the next thing he knew he was crashing through the small wardrobe on one side of the room. The force of the impact forced his eyes open and his vision shook as he looked up at his ankle. She was still gripping it. That mocking tilt to her head was gone. ¡°What are you doing?¡± She demanded in her bloodthirsty rasp and held up her other hand, light forming on her fingertip again. ¡°Fight back, hero!¡± She snarled as another bolt of light launched at him. He threw himself to the left and twisted with all his might, wrenching his ankle out of her grip and rolling across the ground. He bounced off the bed a few meters away and hurtled at her, fist outstretched. She stepped aside and backhanded him, sending a shock through his brain as he stumbled. He blinked only to have the air knocked out of him by a blow to the gut, his ribs shrieking with pain. He dropped to his knees as his legs lost strength for a moment and he felt her steel-like fingers tangle in his hair. She pulled him back to his feet. ¡°Stand up,¡± She hissed and struck him again, sending him stumbling back towards the bed only for her to be there, grabbing him by the shirt and pulling him up again, ¡°I said, stand up!¡± She snarled and struck him across the face. She has too many powers, I can¡¯t figure out what it is! He reached for her wrist and tried to bring his senses back in order, his head spinning but his spirit unwilling to bend to her ruthless assault. He clenched down, squeezing with every ounce of strength he had and opened his eyes, looking back into the unfeeling gaze of her helmet. He spat on it. ¡°Monster,¡± He snarled and swung his other arm, driving it into the side of her helmet. It didn¡¯t even crack. She tilted her head a bit with the blow, looking away for a moment before looking back at him, ¡°Better,¡± She hissed and lashed out again. ¨C The elevator didn¡¯t work, none of them did. Everything was going wrong. Martin raced up the stairs with his gun in hand and his fingers pressed to his ear. ¡°Ironsides! Ironsides! Damn it answer me! I told you not to engage!¡± He shouted into his earpiece as he rounded another flight and kept running, his legs pumping for all they were worth. He needed to get there faster, he had to get there faster. He was the only one who had the authority to call on the heroes and only with visual confirmation. He knew he could throw his weight around and get it to happen anyway, but bending the rules, even once, even now, he knew it would set a precedent that he couldn¡¯t come back from. He grit his teeth and kept running. Hold on man, I¡¯m coming. ¨C Hyunh raced into the room, slamming the door behind her. She knew it was a terrible idea to let Duong out of her sight right now but just sitting there as the panicked messages were coming in was only going to distract her further. She needed to know what was going on back at home. She quickly dialed the number and held her phone up to her ear, the tone ringing over and over until it clicked over into voicemail. She hung up immediately with a curse and dialed another number, then another, and another. It was the sixth person who answered, her younger cousin, Bian. ¡°Bian! Bian! What¡¯s going on over there?¡± He tilted his head and looked up at her, glaring death in her direction. ¡°Still alive?¡± She asked. ¡°Fuck you, villain,¡± He spat. She let out a sigh and pointed at his knee, releasing a beam of hard light that punctured his bone and ruined the limb. He let out a grunt of pain and threw his head back, seizing up a little as agony worked through him. ¡°That wasn¡¯t very polite,¡± She hissed, canting her head to the right. ¡°Is that how you talk to someone who¡¯s considering letting you live?¡± His lips curled back, ¡°Why are you doing all this?¡± He snarled. ¡°I already told you the answer to that question,¡± She said with a sigh, ¡°You are a really poor listener aren¡¯t you? I told you to be more polite,¡± She bit out and ruined his other knee with a bolt of hard light. She watched him writhe for a little while, disgust coiling in her guts. It was a shame, really, he had potential and a spine, but he had wasted his time playing detective rather than building up his powers and becoming someone who could actually put up a fight. He¡¯d be useless in the future, especially when the world changed once again. Although, perhaps this loss could motivate him to grow in the future. ¡°I have an offer for you,¡± She hissed. He narrowed his eyes in disgust, ¡°I want nothing from you.¡± She held up a hand, ¡°Hear me out,¡± She said, ¡°You have two paths I can offer you with a shake of the hand,¡± She began and held up one finger. ¡°First, I can heal your legs and in exchange you can take your death like a hero after I have a conversation with Martin in which you remain silent, you have an honorable end and I will tell him as much.¡± She held up the second finger, ¡°You agree never to speak a word of what you learned about me, you go through your life knowing but unable to tell the truth to anyone, not even Martin. But you get to live through this night and find some other way to try to bring me down.¡± She held out her hand again, ¡°Which is it going to be, hero?¡± ¨C The radio crackled back to life. ¡°Ironsides!¡± Martin shouted as he ran up the stairs. He was almost there, just another floor to go. ¡°He fought well,¡± A terrible hissing voice rasped through the radio. He nearly stumbled to a stop, his heart locking up in his chest as his eyes went wide with panic, ¡°Ishtar!¡± He shouted, ¡°Where is Ironsides? What have you done?¡± ¡°I¡¯m about to kill him,¡± She said, her cruel voice remarkably soft despite her words. ¡°Don¡¯t! We can talk about-¡± He started but he just heard her scoff over the radio. ¡°Do us both a favor and stop,¡± She said, ¡°You¡¯re dishonoring him. He fought well, I said, he will die a hero, on his own two feet, mighty for having lasted as long as he did against me. Be proud of your friend.¡± ¡°You!¡± He snarled, picking up his pace despite how much his muscles ached, he pulled out his phone and tapped in the emergency code, confirming that Ishtar was present and the room number. He hit send and the message got stuck on sending. ¡°Martin, I¡¯m going to give you an offer, a present left in this room with your friend. I do hope you take it with you, I left a note with it, just for you,¡± She said, ¡°You can send your cute little message now,¡± There was a pause, ¡°He¡¯s dead. Goodbye for now, Martin.¡± The blip of the message finally going through didn¡¯t even register as Martin stumbled on the staircase and caught himself against the wall, breathing hard, all he could hear was static. Chapter 76 Chapter 76 Martin burst into the room, his gun raised and at the ready. He wrinkled his nose at the smell of blood and sweat that permeated the room. He took a quick look around, frowning when he didn¡¯t see anyone at first from where he stood. He didn¡¯t notice the way some of the shadow in the entry hall thickened beneath his feet for a moment before passing like a whale cresting beneath the surface of the ocean. He crept inside slowly, still ready for whatever might come, still prepared to fight if he had to. His phone rang in his pocket and he snatched it up, opening it and pressing it to his ear. ¡°I¡¯m in the room, Sir,¡± Martin said quickly. ¡°No sign of Ishtar.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sending Vytal and Black Lotus,¡± The Chairman said, his voice grim, ¡°Any sign of Ironsides?¡± Martin took a few more steps, moving through the entry hall and into the main part of the small hotel room. He glanced down at the ground, first, where a puddle of blood still lay sticky on the carpet. He panned his view up and to the right, his eyes trained to focus on the space immediately in front of him in order to not miss clues or relevant details. It was kind of like putting on blinders. There had been a struggle, the wardrobe was smashed into numerous pieces from what looked like an impact from above. He panned his vision to the left, to the far bed first which had its blankets tossed and splattered with blood. There were spots of blood all over the walls as well. Then he focused on the bed nearest to him and his time stopped. Ironsides was just laying there, on his back, eyes closed as if he¡¯d just fallen asleep. Martin felt his shoulder go numb for a moment and his weapon fell to his side. He swallowed, ¡°I found Ironsides,¡± Martin grunted. He walked over to his friend and leaned over the bed, checking his pulse. ¡°He¡¯s dead,¡± Martin said, his voice stiff and clinical even as his mind seemed to spin. He took a few steps back and sat down on the bed across from his friend. His gun locked in his grip, his eyes fixed on the still corpse. He looked so peaceful. The only signs that he¡¯d even been in a fight were the bloodstains and tears on his clothes. The fatal wound wasn¡¯t even truly evident. He regarded the man he had worked with these past few months since the flash, the man who had demonstrated to him that the light-touched weren¡¯t all bad. He¡¯d seen the heroes do their work but Martin had always seen them as grandstanding even as they¡¯d demonstrated their honor time and time again. He just couldn¡¯t let go of the understanding that they were vigilantes in his mind. Lucian-no-Ironsides had been someone who didn¡¯t need the recognition, his only goal was to use his abilities to do a little good in the world. He¡¯d changed Martin¡¯s mind about heroes. He¡¯d helped him accept reality even while his single-minded obsession with Ishtar had inevitably led to this point. The thought brought a frown to his face. No, it wasn¡¯t his fault. Ironsides would never feel that way. As evil as that woman was, she was right to warn him against devaluing what Ironsides had tried to do. The thought that he agreed with anything Ishtar had to say made him even more sick now than it could have ever possibly made him before. He looked away, glancing at the nightstand between the beds. There was a large envelope there, held down by the alarm clock. Ishtar¡¯s letter. He realized and finally engaged the safety on his gun before slipping it back into his coat. He picked it up and opened it. He numbly pulled the two sheets of paper out. The first was on the white lined paper of the complementary notepads that one could find in the drawers of the hotel. The other was on a thick paper that reminded him of some kind of parchment. He read the note first, he¡¯d seen his name at the top. The text was a bit unsettling, it had been clearly written in pen but it was so rigid and straight he could have been convinced it was printed by a computer. Won¡¯t even let me get an idea of your penmanship. His detective brain groused, grasping for some details to distract himself from the reality he sat across from. ¡®Chief Investigator Martin, For what it is worth, I am sorry it came to this. Your partner was a good man and fought me valiantly. I gave him a choice at the end, to die standing and as a hero or live but never be able to tell a soul of what he had learned from our fight. Perhaps it is the compulsion of my ability, the implication of the deal offered, but I am compelled as I write. I am incapable of telling lies. Finnd new chapters at novelhall.com Do with that information as you will, detective. Your friend earned it for you. As for the contents of this envelope. It contains a contract. This contract is capable of awakening the unawakened abilities possessed by a non-light touched person who signs it. The terms are simple. It is you who must make a choice now. Right now you are but a fish in the ocean where I own the sharks. You can allow yourself to fall behind, slide into obscurity and be consumed. Or you can use this opportunity and attempt to catch up. The choice of whether or not we continue this game of cat and mouse is on your shoulders, detective. I am curious as to which is more important to you, your principles or your need to be the one to catch me. In full transparency, I will likely endeavor to kill you tonight if you choose not to at least consider my offer. My Condolences for your Loss, Ishtar¡¯ There were striations on the paper, signs that it had endured more than just the movements of the pen across it. She had used superhuman speed to write it, if he had to guess. It had only taken him a few minutes to arrive at the room after her first contact. Those observations were the first numb thoughts that occurred to him as the rest of it sank in. She was compelled? She can¡¯t lie? He looked up at Ironsides¡¯ body, his lips trembling as he moved to the next document. It was indeed a contract. He felt something inside the paper that tingled against his fingers, something unidentifiable to his senses. Just like she¡¯d said, the terms were straightforward and simple. Signing this document would awaken powers for him, but Ishtar would be able to withdraw one favor of her choosing at the time of her choosing from the signator. While the contract remained unfulfilled, the signator could not speak of anything related to the contract or its creator, Ishtar. If an individual touching the contract chooses to expose information about the contract or the creator before signing the contract, the contract will be voided and its powers dispersed. He stared at the names at the bottom. ¡®Endorsed by: Ishtar Notarized by: Mephisto¡¯ A new henchman, probably one with a dealmaking ability given his name. Martin shuddered. He didn¡¯t notice his phone buzz in his pocket, nor did he notice the small gathering of shadow in the corner of the room, observing him. He only hung his head, both pieces of paper clenched in his hands as he wrestled with it all. I should hand it over, this is wrong to even consider this while sitting here. He thought as the shadow behind him grew deeper. He swallowed hard, She read me like a book. Damn it. His phone buzzed again and he finally answered it. She tilted her head to the right and beamed at him, ¡°And if he chooses to sign, he will have compromised his morals and turned into a far more interesting opponent. He will also be unable to speak about my abilities until I call to collect, which I have no intention of doing unless absolutely necessary,¡± She let out a laugh. ¡°In other words, regardless of the outcome, I win.¡± He looked up at her and his expression grew thoughtful. He smiled, ¡°Masterfully done, Mistress.¡± She snorted, ¡°A bit improvised, in my opinion, but I am not one to avoid capitalizing.¡± She slid to her feet and began disrobing, ignoring the startled look from Blackrazor as she folded the garment and set it on the bed next to her helmet. She glanced over her shoulder at him, ¡°Take this to my hotel room, please.¡± He got to his feet and nodded, ¡°What about you?¡± She shrugged, ¡°What about me? I am nothing more than a highly functional clone made from an ability and my time is at an end. Persisting only serves to trouble your true mistress. Now go,¡± She said with a dismissive wave. He nodded brusquely and scooped up her regalia, turning into shadows without another word and disappearing into the floor. She watched him go and let out a sigh, rubbing her shoulders and popping her neck. ¡°This was fun,¡± She hummed to herself as she walked to the shower and slipped inside, standing beneath the showerhead and turning it on. She closed her eyes and let out a breath as her hair fell around her. Ishtar said through their connection. Sonya joked back. Ishtar said seriously. Ishtar said and cut the connection. She looked down at her feet and back up at the showerhead before smiling. ¡°One day, we¡¯ll have a proper talk,¡± She said with a sigh as her body began to melt. It dissolved into naught but a grayish sludge that dissolved in the water, disappearing down the drain without a trace. ¨C Sonya¡¯s lip twitched as she sat across from the Chairman who hung up the phone and let out a sigh, ¡°Very troubling,¡± He said with a shake of his head. ¡°He was a good man.¡± ¡°So I¡¯ve heard,¡± Sonya said, sounding equally saddened, ¡°I have only encountered him a few times and read his dossier.¡± The Chairman glanced her way, ¡°You followed up on him?¡± She sighed, ¡°Of course I did, your new Chief Investigator is his partner and the man has had a very singular interest in me for quite some time. I like to know who my potential enemies are.¡± The Chairman¡¯s shoulders slumped, ¡°It¡¯s plain as day that his suspicions are unfounded, just look at the situation. You¡¯ve been down here with me the entire time,¡± He shook his head and rubbed his temple, ¡°It¡¯ll be a bit indelicate but I¡¯ll order him to stay away from you. I think giving him a lengthy break might also be in order.¡± She smiled, ¡°I think you¡¯re being rather kind.¡± He smiled back at her, ¡°Now, about tomorrow. I assume with the situation as it is you¡¯d rather not risk yourself in going to the dungeon? My son is still very excited and I¡¯m sure my future daughter-in-law would be very disappointed to not go. She seems to like you.¡± Our little deal seems to have quite the effect, is it really coloring the direction of your thoughts to the point of rationalizing? Fascinating. I wish I could study you longer. She thought before she held up a hand, ¡°Chairman, your son will be with us, what do I have to be afraid of?¡± She asked with a small smile, ¡°As far as I¡¯m concerned, despite the tragedy of the evening, our plans for tomorrow remain unchanged. You do need to see a dungeon first hand after all, right?¡± He smiled, looking a little relieved, ¡°Right.¡± Chapter 77 Chapter 77 Hyunh stood over the sink, staring at herself as the acidic smell burned at her nostrils. She struggled to right her mental state, reign in the horror that was gripping her. She could barely comprehend the nightmare her life had turned into in just a matter of hours. Reports had stopped coming in at some point and even her phone had been disconnected at one point. Her hair was a mess, bags hung under her eyes and her makeup was smeared. The emptiness gave way to a maddening ache before slipping back into numbness again. She couldn¡¯t breathe long enough to feel anything in any normal way. It was a living hell. She¡¯d lost everything. His presence entered the hotel room. Everything but him. He was all she had left, his power, his connections, his authority. If she lost him then she would have nothing. She would be a nobody, a helpless tumbleweed in the merciless winds of the world. She gripped the sink and bore her teeth. Ishtar. Her true enemy¡¯s name was Ishtar. Whomever this person was, the enmity had been more than personal. The agent of the Night Society had been instructed to tell her without reservation that Hyunh was to be the sole survivor of the extermination of clan and syndicate. It was intentional. This person wanted to leave her with nothing, to make her feel unimaginable suffering. If she wasn¡¯t sure that Sonya Chernovna wasn¡¯t capable of such absolute wretchedness and evil, she would have believed it was her. But while the woman was a bit conniving, she was so obviously a disgusting paragon of the new world and heroes that Hyunhs mind couldn¡¯t rationalize any form of connection. What would Hyunh have done to her to deserve this sort of wrath anyway? It didn¡¯t make sense. None of it made sense. Who had she wronged so deeply to deserve this? She chewed her lip until the flesh tore and blood dripped onto the sink. A knock came to the door and she turned her head frantically. ¡°You¡¯re fraying,¡± Was the only thing he said. She snarled and threw the door open, looking him in the eyes and baring her teeth. He looked back at her without a lick of sympathy in his eyes. She drove her fist into the wall next to his head, her eyes blazing with amethyst light. ¡°Who the fuck do you think you are? You¡¯re mine, mine!¡± She snarled, ¡°Talking like that to me!¡± He grinned at her, his hands twitching involuntarily at his sides, ¡°I¡¯m awake, but I can¡¯t hurt you,¡± He said with a chuckle, ¡°But for some reason I¡¯m enjoying this way more.¡± She held back a scream as she punched the wall again, getting right in his face. She felt a spark jump between his nose and hers and she winced, hauling back and slapping him across the face. ¡°Like you deserve any better! Murderer! Psychopath! You fucking lunatic, if it wasn¡¯t for me you would have gone off the deep end long ago, killed the wrong person. Put down like the rabid dog you are.¡± He just looked away, amusement in his eyes as his cheek turned red from the blow. She felt him push back against her control again. He wanted to kill her. She knew it. If she lost control of him it would all be over, he could walk away and it would be worse than killing her. She grabbed him by the shirt and she felt him try to attack her with his powers. She pressed down on his mind with all of her might. She knew he was more powerful than her, but that didn¡¯t matter, while his power was greater her reserves were greater still. She¡¯d never felt exhausted while using her powers even while others claimed that they had felt tired or weary when pushing themselves. As far as she knew, she was limitless. Her concentration may waver but her power, my power. She reminded herself as she pushed and pushed and pushed while he raged and rallied with all his might, trying again to break his containment. She knew that it was the wrong way to handle this. She knew that wearing him down slowly was the more effective course of action. She knew that she could fragment his psyche and turn him into an animal if he ever managed to break free while under this kind of pressure. At this point, she didn¡¯t give a fuck. She wildly smashed his psyche over and over as she took her grief out on him, crushing his mind into powder. When she was done, he stood there, vacant, while she laughed. ¡°See? I¡¯m still in control here! Not you!¡± She snarled and slapped him again, ¡°Not you! Me!¡± She slapped him again and again, tears streaming down her face as her laughter filled the room. ¨C FACULTY EXCURSION COMPLETE The cold, unfeeling text message came through and Blackrazor held it up for Sonya to see. She was sitting on her bed now, stroking her helmet and reflecting on the memories sent over to her through her connection with her copy. The copy had done exactly as she would have if she were in the role of Ishtar, still, it felt strange experiencing it all vicariously. It was still her committing the acts, she understood that on an instinctual level from the way the duplication ability worked. Yet there was an unsettling separation there. She could honestly say that Ishtar had done those things and not Sonya. She stared at the text message for only a few heartbeats before waving it away. ¡°Thank you, Blackrazor. Good work as always,¡± She said and returned to stroking the helmet. Her eyes fixed on the wall in thought. ¡°You know what to do next?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be ready, mistress,¡± He said before giving her a sidelong look as he got to his feet. His face turned a bit rosy. She glanced up at him with a raised eyebrow before pursing her lips and smiling at him, ¡°Was it that nice?¡± She teased him. He cleared his throat, ¡°Just unexpected.¡± She barked out a laugh and relaxed, leaning back on the bed and glancing over at Marta who had taken to reading a comic on her own bed. The woman looked up with a frown of confusion at the exchange and Sonya clarified, ¡°My copy decided to strip down out of the regalia in front of dear Blackrazor here,¡± She said with a light chuckle. ¡°Poor thing is all worked up now.¡± ¡°Mistress!¡± Blackrazor protested. Sonya raised an eyebrow, ¡°Go play or something, I want you focused tomorrow.¡± He tensed and then nodded, ¡°Yes ma¡¯am,¡± He said and disappeared into the floor. ¡°Things are going smoothly,¡± Marta said absently, looking back down at her comic and flipping a page. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Sonya let out a sigh and got to her feet, crawling onto the bed with Marta and wrapping her arms around her friends waist, peering over her shoulder to read the comic as well. She barely understood what was going on so just closed her eyes, ¡°What happened with Ironsides feels unsettlingly separate from me,¡± Sonya said with a sigh and rest her head on Marta¡¯s shoulder, Without prompting, Marta reached up and stroked her hair. Her friends hand felt warm and it loosened a knot in her chest. She squeezed Marta tighter, ¡°You¡¯ve been committed for a while now,¡± Marta said, ¡°There¡¯s no turning back.¡± ¡°It is, according to the radar,¡± Sonya said and gestured to the gates. ¡°We have permission to go in?¡± She confirmed. ¡°Of course! I¡¯ve already handled it,¡± The Chairman said, walking over with them. Marta stepped up when they arrived at the gates and with a quick motion she grabbed the chains keeping them closed and ripped them apart. The Chairman made a surprised noise, ¡°My goodness! That¡¯s a way to do it!¡± Sonya snorted and locked arms with him before glancing over her shoulder at Hyunh, ¡°Are you alright, miss Feng? You were so excited to be here yesterday.¡± Hyunh shook herself and forced a smile, her eyes still unsteady behind the paper-thin veneer of confidence, ¡°Just lost in thought! I¡¯m thrilled to see this place, aren¡¯t you, dear?¡± She asked An Set who nodded numbly. The Chairman nodded proudly, ¡°Not even tragedy can bring down your spirits, I applaud you lot!¡± He said with a chuckle and walked arm in arm with Sonya into the building. It didn¡¯t take long to find the portal. The pylons grew out of the ground in sharp relief from the off-gray metal of everything else in the skeletal structure. They stood tall at the very heart of the place, the only reason they weren¡¯t visible to outsiders was the ceiling above and the fences around the place. Otherwise it was down right out in the open. Between the pillars, the swirling lights of a dungeon portal glimmered and rippled as the air grew thick with energy the closer they got. The Chairman came to a stop and let out a breath of excitement, ¡°My word, it¡¯s beautiful.¡± ¡°And incredibly dangerous,¡± Sonya confirmed. ¡°So this is what happens when mana gathers and packs itself together, fascinating,¡± The old man said, walking forward to get a closer look. Sonya walked over to join him and regarded the portal thoughtfully. She¡¯d been through this portal once before, she¡¯d watched Chunhua go through it as well, she remembered the ache of seeing the woman she hadn¡¯t realized until that moment that she loved enter. She almost reached out to touch it before pulling her hand back. ¡°You like pretty things too?¡± He laughed. She grinned at him, ¡°I have my tastes.¡± He laughed harder, ¡°Duong, my boy! Hyunh dear! Get over here and have a good look! It¡¯s amazing up close. Like water!¡± Sonya took a step back to give them some space, meeting Hyunh¡¯s gaze briefly and shrugging at her. The woman glared at her but otherwise paid her no mind, stopping in front of it. Sonya could tell that the woman couldn¡¯t appreciate what she was seeing, her mind far away. She took a moment to appreciate the look in Hyunhs eyes, the faint slouch to her posture, the image of herself during those last days after losing both Marta and Chunhua. You know how it feels, now. She thought darkly. Good. Now die like that. What happened next happened so fast that for a moment the world seemed to go completely still. Veloce, who had been hiding in the building since the previous night, darted out of her hiding spot and zipped across the ground at top speed. Marta was the first to notice, already aware of the plan. A true actress, she shouted Sonya¡¯s name in horror and tackled Sonya protectively to the ground. The Chairman was the next to react, turning his head around and looking wildly at the blur approaching him and his family. An Set didn¡¯t move, his mind buried so far down that he didn¡¯t even flinch when Hyunh turned and let out a cry of panic, the blur of Veloce colliding with her and sending both of them hurtling through the portal. ¨C Hyunh landed in a heap atop dirt and rocks, rolling several meters before stumbling and scrambling to get some sort of sense of what had happened. She stood up, breathing hard, panic rising in her chest as she looked around. She was standing in a barren canyon, rocky terrain stretching out behind her and walls of sheer stone stretching up on either side. It only took a second to realize what had happened when she turned to see the strange woman standing in front of the portal. ¡°Who are you? Do you realize what you¡¯ve done?!¡± Hyunh screamed. The woman just shrugged, ¡°Don¡¯t really care, Ishtar says jump and all that.¡± Hyunh stumbled backwards, ¡°Ishtar?¡± She blinked, ¡°Ishtar? She sent you?¡± She frantically reached for her connection with Duong, stretching her will out as far as it could go but she felt nothing. Not a hint of his presence in her mind. She looked up at the portal as the woman just waved and turned back, darting out. Hyunh started to run to follow her but slid to a stop. He¡¯s loose on the other side of that portal. She realized. I can¡¯t go back! She held up her hands to her head. I can¡¯t go back! She turned around, looking for another route out when she saw figures racing towards her, they looked like little men with doglike faces and snouts. They were carrying spears and waving them with wild abandon. Monsters. She looked back at the portal. Duong. She looked back at the monsters again and gripped at her hair. Her eyes bulged, her face contorting as nearly all reason began to melt from her mind. She tore at her hair, her emotions exploding into a single scream of hate and terror. ¡°ISHTAR!¡± Side Story: Team Firestorm Side Story: Team Firestorm ¡°Fucking run!¡± Bandit shouted, racing down the path as a low rumble followed him. The others just stared at him as he darted past and leaped over the small ledge leading down to the platform below where they¡¯d been standing. Firestorm scratched his head and glanced over at Bluestar who gave him a frustrated look, Lifesaver was already silently hopping over the side behind Bandit, not bothering to wait for them. ¡°What?¡± He asked. ¡°You just had to say it,¡± Bluestar said, ¡°You knew he was going to do it if you said something like that.¡± He flushed as the rumbling grew louder, ¡°Now, In my defense it is a good movie.¡± She threw her head back and groaned, ¡°You know that¡¯s not the point!¡± She sighed and stalked towards the edge next to him, the noise now nearly deafening. She casually threw a hand back and muttered something, a blue flash of light erupting behind them followed by the sound of numerous fleshy objects striking something very hard, very fast. Firestorm decided not to glance back at the hideous mess created by the raging horde of high speed monsters that had been turned into windshield splatters. She gestured at the ledge and a blue glowing staircase took shape, ¡°We had no idea what that lever did.¡± ¡°And now we do, so when the next team comes in to clear out the monsters, they won¡¯t make the same mistake!¡± Firestorm said with a grin. She rolled her eyes, ¡°You¡¯re impossible.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re grumpy today,¡± Firestorm shot back, ¡°Come on, we¡¯re in a magic extradimensional dungeon surrounded by monsters and hidden passages and treasure sometimes. Doesn¡¯t that inspire childlike glee in you?¡± She kept walking down the steps next to him, her arms crossed, but a small smile played on her lips. She sighed and shook her head before grinning at him, ¡°Neither of you said ¡®wrong lever¡¯.¡± She pointed out.Ne/w novel chapters are published at novelhall.com He slapped himself, ¡°Oh shit! You¡¯re right!¡± He leaned forward a bit as they approached Bandit and Lifesaver. ¡°Bandit! We didn¡¯t say ¡®wrong lever¡¯!¡± Bandit poked his head out from behind a large fallen piece of stone wall or debris and stared at him, ¡°Are you kidding me? We ruined the joke!¡± He groaned and hopped up, putting his hands on his hips and shaking his head. ¡°We can¡¯t do it again in this dungeon, it¡¯ll seem forced.¡± Firestorm alighted on the platform and put a hand on his friends shoulder, ¡°Next time, buddy.¡± Lifesaver crossed his arms and tilted his head, ¡°Explain to me how you¡¯re able to puncture stone with an arrow with your tiny arms?¡± He asked, flexing his own muscles beneath his costume. Bandit opened his mouth to protest and quickly closed it, frowning and looking at the ground. Lifesaver chuckled and nodded towards the next passage they hadn¡¯t gone down yet and Firestorm walked past Bandit, patting his shoulder again and joining the healer. Bandit shook his head, giving his two comanipons a rueful look from behind only to get a squeeze on the arm from Bluestar. ¡°I happen to like your noodle arms,¡± She said with a wink and kept walking. He grinned for a moment, just a moment, before her comment sank in, ¡°They aren¡¯t noodles!¡± He shouted, chasing after her and entering the passage with the others as they laughed. Ahead of their little group they found themselves in yet another long overdesigned tunnel of irregularly placed columns and doors in places that served no purpose other than to give them a headache. To make matters worse, the entire hallway seemed to twist like a corkscrew ahead of them until it stopped at another door that was now upside down from their perspective. ¡°I hate this place,¡± Bandit said, sounding a little nauseated. ¡°Oh this is kinda cool,¡± Firestorm commented almost at the same time. ¡°Watch the doors, boys,¡± Bluestar said, nodding to the doors that were actually embedded in the walls. She pointed at one of them and fired a tiny bolt of her azure magic at it. The bolt bent slightly in the air as it passed into the tunnel and struck off-center, still hitting the door but clearly not where she¡¯d intended to hit it. The door shuddered and opened before slamming again as a low growl of pain rumbled out from within. She frowned hard, ¡°I knew it.¡± Both Bandit and Firestorm looked back at her with a mixture of concern and disbelief. ¡°What? This place is weird, those doors had to be traps or monsters or something,¡± She protested. They both nodded, ¡°Right, yeah, that¡¯s what you meant,¡± Firestorm said and turned back towards the hall before rubbing his hands together, ¡°Alright I got this,¡± He said and the others took the cue to back off all the way to the entrance of the hallway. He reached for his belt where the treasure of their very first dungeon hung from his hip. It was an almost onyx-black double headed axe with orange red cracks running through its surface that glowed brightly. It wasn¡¯t overly long or big, small enough to hang comfortably from his belt, but boy did it help. He raised it over his head and his hand began to glow white hot, soon the orange cracks turned white and heat began to billow off of him as he took a step forward and swung. A cascade of fire ripped out from the weapon, washing through the hallway like a tidal wave as the creatures inside the doors screamed, roared, and burned. A moment later, the pristine passage was nothing but blackened surfaces and ash, the door at the far end left unscathed. ¡°Done!¡± Firestorm called, slinging the weapon miss Sonya had described as some kind of ¡®elemental focus¡¯ over his shoulder and grinning back at them. The others made their way forward, nodding and voicing their approval as they stepped into the twisted hall. Somewhere behind them, a dollop of blackness appeared in the air and began to swirl, condensing into a semi-solid shape that broke into a manic grin. Chapter 78 Chapter 78 Sonya got to her feet, taking a step to the right as her eyes stayed fixed on An Set. The Chairman poked his head up from behind some construction materials, looking around in confusion. Marta shifted forward, her gauntlets clenching into fists. The young man standing in front of the portal didn¡¯t move for a heartbeat, he looked frozen, his eyes still vacant. Sonya glanced at Marta. She wondered for a moment if perhaps Hyunh had actually gone too far in what she¡¯d done to the man¡¯s mind, had this been a miscalculation? The Chairman slid out from behind his shelter just as the portal rippled again. Veloce came out and all hell broke loose. At that moment, every single light in Las Vegas went dark. A rolling blackout surged across the city like a tidal wave as every instinct in Sonya¡¯s body screamed at her that she had very assuredly miscalculated but in a far worse sense. Every hair stood on end, every fiber of her being recoiling in a terror born of raw survival instinct. Death was in front of her. The plan had been to pressure his mind and make him snap, lashing out in anger at what Hyunh had done to him. He was petulant and unstable so it should have been an obvious outcome. He shouldn¡¯t be this powerful! An Set¡¯s head jerked back and he whipped his hand out to grasp at Veloce, the woman let out a shriek of pain as she darted past him, covering herself as bolts of electricity raced across her skin and she hurtled into a far wall. Meanwhile, An Set jerked and writhed where he stood, his body jolting and his head twitching backwards as if he was in the midst of convulsions. His eyes rolling back and his mouth falling open. Electricity leapt from his teeth before skittering across his skin like a thousand insects. Marta reacted before Sonya could protest, frozen as she was in the face of not a young An Set, but a reminder of what he had been like at his prime. Marta grabbed her arm. Sonya blinked and whipped her head in her friend¡¯s direction. ¡°Marta, no! He¡¯s-¡± With a sudden whipping motion Sonya felt numerous g¡¯s of force act on her body as Marta literally threw her at the portal. An Set¡¯s eyes came into focus as she hurtled past him, she met his gaze, wild eyed, feral, and glowing with the yellow wrath of The Great Eel fully realized. This was more than a temper tantrum, it was like the ability itself had taken the reins. He cracked his mouth with a smile and reached for her just as she hit the portal. ¨C Marta watched with relief as Sonya passed through the rippling surface of the portal. She felt a chill run over her skin when she looked back at Duong. The young man stared at the portal for several seconds as if confused about where Sonya had gone. He frowned and tilted his head before turning to look at Marta. She clenched her fists. Sonya¡¯s reaction had spoken volumes and the darkness around them was just as telling. Something had gone very wrong that Sonya hadn¡¯t taken into consideration. ¡°Son?¡± The Chairman called out. Marta whipped her head in the old man¡¯s direction, ¡°Chairman! Stay away!¡± She shouted. She started to move forward but a spark jumped off the ground and sent a charge through her muscles. She grit her teeth and pushed through the pain, she had to get to the old man! Duong looked over his shoulder at the Chairman who froze mid step, eyes wide with confusion. ¡°My boy, what¡¯s gotten into you, I-¡± The rabid young man raised his hand and pointed it in the direction of his father, the scent of ozone filling the air, ¡°Blind and stupid,¡± came a chittering croak from the back of Duong¡¯s throat. It barely sounded human. Electricity gathered on his fingertips in a flash of light that Marta had to throw her hands up to protect her eyes from. Healing them would take seconds that she couldn¡¯t afford to spend. ¡°Chairman!¡± Marta shouted, ¡°Run!¡± The scent of blossoms cut through the scent of ozone like a knife. Marta heard a cry and then a clap of thunder that momentarily left her ears ringing. The light faded and she looked up to see an empty spot where the Chairman had been standing. She whipped her head around and spotted a woman a short distance away, the unconscious chairman slung over her shoulder. There was a sword in her hand. Black Lotus. ¡°Handmaiden! What¡¯s the situation?¡± She shouted as Duong slowly turned to face her. ¡°He¡¯s gone berserk!¡± Marta shouted back, ¡°We need to get the Chairman out of here, Miss Chernovna and Miss Feng are in the dungeon!¡± The swordswoman shot the portal a glance and a frown before nodding. ¡°Understood!¡± Black Lotus responded and tapped her earpiece, ¡°Doorway!¡± In an instant an archway appeared to the hero¡¯s left that she tossed the Chairman into. Just as quickly as it appeared, it vanished and Black Lotus turned her full attention to Duong. ¡°Hero An Set, stand down!¡± She shouted, leveling her weapon in his direction. ¡°This is my only warning!¡± Marta threw her arms up again and blocked the blow coming for Black Lotus. The electricity rippled across her body in a terrible wave that was immediately soothed by the rapid healing that followed. The swordswoman darted out from behind her, her body whipping through the air like a rocket even as her movements were as languid and graceful as a feather. She murmured something and a series of pink arcs of light ripped through the air behind her, converging on Duong as she landed and darted past him. He snarled and threw his hand out, electricity leaping from his palms and intercepting Black Lotus¡¯ attack as he reached to grab ahold of her. Marta sprang forward and grabbed him by the wrist, the electric charge once again racing through her body as her muscles screamed in protest. She threw her back into the throw, launching him back-first at the ground with all the force she could muster. The instant he collided with the ground his body burst into a spray of sparks and bolts, scattering and sending a secondary wave of pain through Marta¡¯s body that almost had her doubling over. Black Lotus raced past her, not stopping for an instant as she chased him. Marta looked up to see him take two hops back and part his arms to either side of himself, lightning sprayed from his shoulders and up into the air before washing out in a wave of chain lightning that cascaded far and away from him, catching civilians who were desperately trying to get away from him. Bodies hit the ground as he whipped hand out and rings of electricity spread out from his palm, catching Black Lotus as she prepared another attack. She snarled and whipped her weapon up and down, cutting through the rings before resuming her pursuit. Marta shook off the pain again and darted after the dueling pair. Cars exploded around them, Duong showing no interest in keeping collateral damage low. Electricity spread across the ground as if it were a perfectly natural conductor before shooting into the air and cascading out to kill anyone and anything that got close to their fight. He¡¯s tireless! She thought, trying to figure out a way to pin him down. Ahead of her, Duong landed on a car and raised his hands again, getting ready to release another torrent of electricity. Marta pumped her legs, moving to catch up and act as shield again when something dark hurtled through the air from Duong¡¯s left. The mad hero barely noticed in time to step back and avoid the shadowy arrow fired from a rooftop a startling distance away. Bandit! Marta realized only to have her suspicion confirmed as a column of flame erupted from Duong¡¯s feet that was joined by a ring of blue spheres of light around the spot, peppering down on the man from above. A bolt of lightning darted out from the column of flame and landed nearby, reforming into Duong who lifted his head up in a sneer as Firestorm and Bluestar landed next to Black Lotus. ¡°What are you two doing here?¡± Black Lotus shouted. ¡°Our jobs!¡± Firestorm shouted back, ¡°We brought friends!¡± On cue, archways rose up from the ground throughout the decimated street. Lifesaver and Vytal stepped out of one near the back, ready to provide healing at a moments notice. Pathfinder appeared at mid range, drawing a rifle from his coat and pointing it at Duong. Then more started to come through, heroes that Marta didn¡¯t recognize but assumed where members of the guilds located here in Nevada. Two dozen people in costume, their powers at the ready, came out to face An Set. An set stood up straighter as his eyes swept over the crowd of heroes. Each and every one of them ready to fight to stop him. He bore his teeth, electricity racing up his face and through his hair. He threw his head back and laughed. Above them, the clouds darkened, thunder rumbled, and a bolt of lightning shaped like an eel began to course through the murky blackness. It¡¯s terrible roar set off the next round of the fight. Marta kicked off the ground and hurled herself at Duong, fist reared back. She punched straight through the jittering clone of electricity he left behind and rolled across the ground, catching herself and getting to her feet. Flames, bolts of energy, arrows, concussive waves of wind, bullets, rays of starry matter, attacks of all kinds came from every direction as Duong darted from spot to spot, trying to reach the heroes with weaker defenses. Every time he landed, though, Black Lotus was right there swinging her sword with a wash of pink illusory petals floating around her. Duong whirled, trying again and again to deliver a direct attack on Black Lotus while she danced around him, keeping him focused on her while the others rained their attacks on him. Marta dove in once more, her entire mind focused on keeping him contained as long as possible only for the madman to let loose a roar that sent everyone stumbling back. Marta landed next to Black Lotus. ¡°Plan?¡± She asked, panting. ¡°Hold him here as long as possible,¡± Black Lotus said, ¡°Sapporo will be ready soon.¡± ¨C Sonya stood on the edge of the cliff, looking down and watching as Hyunh fought off the gnolls that had surrounded her. Amethyst bolts of energy erupted endlessly from her fingertips as she whirled and danced in place, desperate to keep them at bay. Found you. Chapter 79 Chapter 79 Sonya considered her options a bit longer than she cared to admit. Was she enjoying watching Hyunh struggle? A bit. Frankly she considered letting the woman die right then and there. It would be as good as killing her and should earn her credit with her deal with Pandora. She glanced down the winding path towards the boss room. She remembered it was less an arena and more a battlefield. Gnolls were militant creatures and tended to form war parties, like this one. She glanced down again as Hyunh released a trio of desperate bolts to pummel a particularly hardy gnoll, driving it back. That power of hers is pretty tempting, I wonder what would happen if I merged it with Bluestar¡¯s power? She thought before letting out a sigh, Not that I have the space for it. What would that do to my already abysmal uptime? Hyunh let out a shriek of rage and drew her hand up into the air, a pair of spears of amethyst light erupted from the ground and pierced through one of the gnolls, skewering it. How does her power even work? The mind control element is a concern, but what did she do to An Set to render him in that state? It was like... She frowned remembering the gaze of that beast wearing An Set¡¯s skin. She had instinctively thought of the name of the power, she¡¯d known in her gut that it was his power fully realized, fully unleashed. Knowledge of a power is based on instinct, that instinct guides a person to use those abilities. What if, what if there isn¡¯t enough left of the conscious mind? What if all that is left is instinct? How the hell did this woman obliterate that man¡¯s conscious mind? It had made sense to Sonya that it was a steady process with the occasional sharp pushes as she lost control. It would piss An Set off but nothing more than that, resulting in the expected tantrum that came when he was released. Yet she had crushed his mind into powder, that was the only explanation Sonya could come up with. Her eyes narrowed, Just what is the name of your power, Feng Hyunh? A gnoll darted at Hyunh from behind, its spear raised as the woman released another volley of amethyst darts at the slowly dwindling warband in front of her. Sonya clicked her tongue, I guess you get to live a bit longer, she thought and drew her knife, tossing it hard at the gnoll¡¯s head. The canine-humanoid let out a whimper of pain and surprise as its skull was pierced, its body hitting the ground with a heavy thud. The gnolls and Hyunh looked up in confusion as Sonya slid down the side of the canyon wall down towards the woman, snatching the knife up from the creature¡¯s head and standing next to her. ¡°Chernovna!¡± Hyunh snarled. ¡°Feng,¡± Sonya quipped with a wink, ¡°Looks like you need some help.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± The woman snapped, whipping around and drawing her finger across the line of gnolls before them with a snap of her fingers. A ray of amethyst light zipped across them in an angry line, cutting through three of their throats. They dropped messily to the ground. Two more darted towards them, bloodlust overriding survival instinct. Sonya darted past Hyunh, keeping her speed close to that of a human as she drove her knife into the throat of one while she grabbed the spear of the other and pushed it down towards the ground. She punched it in the muzzle before ripping the knife out of its comrade and stabbing it in the side of the head. ¡°So it seems,¡± Sonya said, standing up to turn and look at the woman who had a finger pointed at her, a glint of amethyst beading on her fingertip. ¡°Is there a problem, miss Feng?¡± ¡°You, you¡¯re the problem,¡± Hyunh growled, ¡°What do you know about Ishtar?¡± Sonya tilted her head, feigning confusion, ¡°The mesopotamian goddess? Martin asked me the same question, funny enough. What¡¯s this about?¡± Hyunh¡¯s expression pinched a little and she looked down at the bodies of the gnolls Sonya had slain, ¡°You...¡± She trailed off, ¡°A person named Ishtar was the one behind that speed user that pushed me in the portal.¡± Sonya raised her eyebrows, ¡°Well, Marta threw me in after your fiance went berserk, do you have an explanation for that, by the way?¡± Hyunh froze, ¡°Berserk?¡± ¡°Yes, berserk, I got a look at his eyes, they weren¡¯t human,¡± Sonya said darkly and turned away, ¡°Put your hand down, I¡¯ve scouted this dungeon ahead of time. You need me.¡± There was a pause as Hyunh hesitated, Sonya had hard light at the ready just in case. She needn¡¯t have worried, though. The woman let out a sigh and walked up to stand next to her as they watched the last remaining gnolls retreat, realizing that they were outmatched. ¡°You¡¯re good with a knife,¡± Hyunh commented. ¡°My eyes help, but survival necessitates more than good senses,¡± Sonya said cooly, looking down at the gnoll corpse, ¡°Shall we move on? Even if we¡¯re out of sight of the portal, we¡¯re still fairly close. I¡¯d rather be as far away as possible in case your man decides to go through and pursue us. I get the impression he doesn¡¯t like me very much,¡± Sonya said with a laugh. Hyunh pressed her lips together and looked down at the body as well, ¡°I have a feeling both of us would be in danger if that happened.¡±Ne?ww chapters will be fully updated at novelhall.com Sonya glanced her way and started walking, ¡°Oh?¡± Sonya¡¯s pleasant demeanor collapsed in an instant, her smile turning down, her head tilted forward, casting a slight shadow over her glowing eyes. ¡°I know,¡± She said, and created a panel of light beneath Hyunh¡¯s feet, pulling it out from under her and towards the ledge. ¡°You-¡± Hyunh started before letting out a shout of surprise, she turned, wide eyed, reaching up in desperation as she began to topple over the ledge. Sonya snapped her hand out and caught her hand, clenching tight and holding her aloft as the Gnolls below all looked up at the source of the sudden noise. Sonya met Hyunh¡¯s gaze coldly. Analyze. Sonya¡¯s eyes went wide and in a flash she drew the second power out of her warehouse. Instinct rushed through her and understanding came next. She spluttered, then laughed as Hyunh stared up at her wide eyed, ¡°So that¡¯s how it was! That¡¯s how you did it! You¡¯re one of the special ones! Did you even realize you had two abilities? How rare that is?¡± She laughed, ¡°Amazing.¡± ¡°Sonya! Damn it, what are you doing?!¡± The woman screamed at her, dangling from Sonya¡¯s grip. Sonya paused and blinked, ¡°Oh, right,¡± She created a panel of light beneath the woman''s feet and lifted her up to stand floating just a foot away from the ledge. She released the woman¡¯s hand before snapping back out to grab her by the throat, ¡°That¡¯s better,¡± She said, letting out a relieved sigh, ¡°Finally...¡± Hyunh opened her mouth to speak but Sonya just squeezed down on her throat, ¡°Shhh, I¡¯m savoring this,¡± She said, holding a finger up to her lips. ¡°Don¡¯t bother using your ability, I¡¯ll just drop you, dear.¡± The woman froze and tried to choke out a response, rage and betrayal blossoming on her face. Sonya returned her gaze and titled her head to the right, ¡°You want to know why?¡± She asked, ¡°Why all this has happened? You, Duong, your family, your syndicate?¡± Horror and realization came next, ¡°Ish-tar,¡± she forced out, gagging. Sonya nodded, ¡°Mhm, good girl,¡± Sonya said as if talking to a child, ¡°Now, I suppose you of all people deserve to know.¡± She put the jade heart away and pulled out another ability, share the path. From their physical contact she filled the woman¡¯s mind with everything. The previous timeline, what had come of it, what Feng Hyunh had done, who she¡¯d allied with, the people her Amethyst Order had killed, as well as Sonya¡¯s actions throughout the current timeline. The woman choked, her face going paler and paler as tears streamed down her face. Sonya watched her spirit break as the last bit of sparkle dimmed in her eyes. ¡°You brought this on yourself. Goodbye Herald,¡± Sonya said to the limp woman. She let go and released the hard-light plate holding her up. Hyunh fell, her arms flopping limply for a moment before she snapped out of it, a scream wrenching itself from her lips as she hurtled towards the gathered gnolls below. Sonya stood on the ledge and looked down, watching as they tore her apart. She didn¡¯t look away until the screams finally died down, a wave of relief and exhaustion washing over her as her shoulders sagged. Sonya read the words that came from Broker, internalized them, but her mind was elsewhere. She had avenged the past timeline¡¯s Marta. That was all that mattered to her in the moment as her body felt weak from a wave of grief and triumph that made everything ache. She closed her eyes even as the gnolls below shouted at her, searching for a way to get to her. She ignored them and pulled Heavenly Jade Heart from her warehouse. A rush of mana roared through her veins, her body briefly inundated with power. The ability was pure, no quirks, no additional functions, no spells, nothing to inhibit compatibility. It was a power source, the power source that had given Hyunh the capacity to crush An Set¡¯s mind and maintain control of a Peak Mythic. With it, she could integrate magic abilities if she wanted, the word ¡®uptime¡¯ would be a thing of the past. She smiled to herself and tilted her head up to the sky as the howls of monsters became a choral symphony to her ears, a soundtrack to Ishtar¡¯s true birth, here in this desolate place. ¡°Merger.¡± Chapter 80 Chapter 80 The air was energized, the clouds of dust, smoke, and debris were charged, sparks jumping across them as they blew across the ever widening field of devastation. Buildings had fallen, their superstructures weakened by the devastating blows thrown wildly by the living force of nature on a rampage. It was a scene out of a nightmare or waking fantasy, like a movie brought to life by a disturbed mind. The clouds overhead were darker than ever, the coiling eel-serpent of electricity continuing to worm through them and roaring out its defiance to the heroes down below. The man himself stood at the center of the battlefield, his body levitating several meters off the ground as he turned in place, hand outstretched. Chunhua darted forward, eyes focused on the next smooth stone archway. Her scabbard held tight in one hand, her sword gripped in the other. Her body was a blur to any outsider that looked at her, her hair more like the tail of a comet as pink petals scattered behind her. She raised her arm again and twisted, blocking another bolt of electricity with her scabbard just as she passed through the arch and appeared in the air over him. She raised the weapon over her head as the tell-tale scent of her wrath burst around her like a cloud. Luminous Moonfall. She willed the stroke into being and felt power race through her body, the energy collected following her down as a singular beam of light that drove her blade down with it, increasing the force. He looked up at her and sneered only for his face to harden as a bullet raced through the air towards his back, jerking and weaving through space and following an impossible route towards its destination. An Set bore his teeth at her and twisted his body at an impossible angle. She heard a bone crack somewhere in his body as her blade grazed his cheek and chest, cutting a furrow through his clothing and drawing a small amount of blood. She kept heading towards the ground like a comet just as a well made of perfectly smooth stone appeared beneath her. The next moment she was rocketing into the air, upside down, and a hundred meters away from him. Chunhua pivoted, kicking hard enough to apply pressure to the very air around her and change direction as a bolt of electricity carved a path through the spot where she¡¯d just been. ¡°Pressure!¡± She shouted. A hail of attacks from the heroic-tier heroes erupted from all directions as she tagged out, the brown haired Handmaiden darting out from where she¡¯d been concealed, recovering from her most recent clash. Chunhua landed on a building and watched from above as the armored woman bounced from spot to spot in the nearly circular field of devastation, her body moving like a pinball through the archways created by Euclidia, dodging blasts as she built up more and more momentum. Occasionally a white streak would stray off of Handmaiden¡¯s body that glimmered and faded. Chunhua turned her attention back to the battle as a whole, closing her eyes and letting her senses wash out. Cultivating her body and power had made her more than a normal person could ever be, her hearing could pick up words from across the field, even with the din of combat raging around them. More importantly, her danger sense was sharper than anyone else¡¯s. She could feel when the tide shifted and when something was very wrong. Her gut twisted as an ephemeral feeling of danger washed over her but it didn¡¯t come from any particular direction. It was like it hung in the air, a potential energy ready to be unleashed as soon as it had built up enough. She tried to perceive it, understand its direction and intent, but it was wild, more wild than the man that had caused this cataclysm. Something¡¯s coming... ¡°Status!¡± She called into the radio in her ear, static buzzed back at her for a moment. ¡°We lost Magnae, his heart gave out before Lifesaver or Vytal could get to him,¡± Pathfinder said heavily, his tone stricken with the loss of life. Chunhua¡¯s lips pressed together and trembled a little, ¡°Any word on Sapporo?¡± ¡°The party¡¯s in full swing,¡± Euclidia huffed, ¡°I¡¯m about to send him over! He¡¯s a big boy so it might take a second for him to go through!¡± Relief washed through Chunhua. That meant that the civilians were far enough away now as well as a chance for a reprieve. ¡°When you do, get Handmaiden out of there and get some rest, this is far from over.¡± BOOM! A crack of force ripped through the air that nearly toppled Chunhua over as Handmaiden¡¯s accelerating form crashed into An Set from the side, driving her fist into him. The serpent above roared in fury and outrage, thrashing about in the clouds as An Set was driven to the ground. He tumbled a few meters as he caught himself and with a barrel-roll of his body threw three bolts of electricity in the woman¡¯s direction. A gateway appeared in her path just as he fired the shots off, a bullet zig-zagging through the air to catch them. Marta disappeared through the portal and landed next to Chunhua, her eyes empty yet again as she dropped to her knees. Chunhua watched the woman nearly fall to her face before her chest heaved as her heartbeat resumed and she slammed her fists into the ground, digging out deep furrows before forcing herself to her feet. She breathed hard, ¡°Got a hit in,¡± Handmaiden growled while a flurry of bullets approached An Set from all directions. The maddened hero threw his head back in a roar and bolts of lightning flew, striking the bullets as he darted into the air, spinning about. Chunhua frowned, He¡¯s looking- no! ¡°Sapporo¡¯s half-way through!¡± Euclidia called into the radio just as Chunhua reached for it. ¡°Fuck, I¡¯m alive,¡± She groaned as she tried to move her legs. She frowned and glanced down at her knees, she couldnt feel them but she could sure as hell see them. Panic rose, ¡°No, no no no,¡± She gasped a scream bubbling up in her throat. This wasn¡¯t happening, this couldn¡¯t be happening, ¡°N-¡± ¡°Quiet,¡± A cold voice rumbled out above her. She whipped her head up in shock, tears in her eyes, and saw a dark shape sitting on one of the i-beams that made up the skeleton of the building. There was a young man sitting there, or at least she figured it was, his entire body was jet black from head to toe, only violet eyes burning down at her from above. She caught her breath, covering her mouth as he glared daggers in her direction. It felt like meeting Ishtar again. ¡°Veloce?¡± The dark figure asked. She nodded hurriedly. ¡°Blackrazor. I am an agent of Ishtar,¡± He said and dissolved, his body turning into an inky black liquid that fell from his perch like a waterfall before reforming before her. He looked down on her with narrowed eyes, ¡°Calm down. She will heal you when she returns, we are to wait here for her. After you recover, I will take you from this place, she is pleased. Your deal is complete.¡± The pounding of her heart slowed, relief washing over her even as she gripped fruitlessly at her paralyzed legs. She whimpered at them before looking around, ¡°Where is she? The Mistress?¡± Blackrazor looked up and away from her. She followed his eerie gaze towards the portal of the dungeon. The pylons that held up the portal were shaking and rumbling, energy washing off of them in visible wisps of power. A crack of energy rushed up one of the pylons, erupting into a spark that danced through the metal structure of the building. The air felt so thick, she knew that feeling. She tensed and looked up at Blackrazor, ¡°She asked you to protect me too?¡± He changed down at her, ¡°Yes, why?¡± ¡°Because we''re about to have company, I think,¡± Veloce said meekly as small multicolored clouds began to form in the air around them. Shadows raced across the ground and formed a ring around Veloce, from them, violet blades lanced out in a ring, creating a wicked barricade. He rose to his full height next to her, his shadowy form becoming more solid as a pair of purple knives sliding out of his hands as if from nowhere. The multicolored clouds condensed and crackled, bolts ripped out from the portal and struck them before flashing out and through the openings in the incomplete building. A raspy cackle came from one of the clouds and a creature fell from it. It had the head and body of some kind of hyena or dog but it was vaguely humanoid, standing upright with a spear in its hands. More of the horrible smelling things dropped out of the clouds, taking shape and getting to their feet with barks and cackles. They raised their spears and swung them about wildly, howling as more violet blades took shape in the air around Veloce and her new protector. ¡°This is troubling,¡± Blackrazor hissed before launching into a vicious defense. ¨C Thousands of miles away, Amos was on his feet, eyes wide as he stared at the radar screen. The other researchers were with him, watching as a massive cloud of mana was taking shape in Las Vegas. Dots were starting to appear everywhere, monsters forming in huge numbers. He ran his fingers through his hair, ¡°What the hell is happening over there?!¡± Chapter 81 Chapter 81 Sapporo was containing An Set, but he wasn¡¯t gaining any ground either. It was a deadlock and everyone knew it. Something was going to give way one way or the other, though, they were both powerful but neither of them had truly unlimited strength. Marta watched them clash with awe in her eyes, regardless of the stalemate. The hero from the international team comprehended the nature of his ability so intimately that he embraced it, practically becoming the entity whose namesake his power drew from. It was unreal, it took her breath away, but it also made her think. Sonya had encouraged Kingshark to consider the nature of his power; she''d even suggested reading material for him. ¡°The physique of the Norse God Baldur. He could come back from any wound or injury and his body could withstand terrible punishment. His only weakness was mistletoe.¡± Sonya had said, it had been a cut and dry explanation of how the power worked. Marta could not be killed save for being poisoned by mistletoe. It was an odd, mundane weakness, but one she could live with. But is that all there is? Who is Baldur? What else did he do? What did he represent? Marta wondered to herself as the ground shook again from another collision between Sapporo and An Set. Above, the terrible serpent coiled again and lashed out at it''s invisible opponent. Was it actually fighting someone or was it a visual representation of An Set¡¯s inner state? His actions? She had her theories but she couldn¡¯t clearly wrap her mind around everything she was seeing and experiencing. She had seen some amazing and terrible things since the flash, so she was more used to it than others. She could only imagine how the others felt. A chime in her ear alerted her to an incoming communication. She raised her finger to it, her heart leaping into her throat. ¡°Sonya? Are you okay?¡± She asked hurriedly, getting a glance from Black Lotus. ¡°It¡¯s Amos, where¡¯s Sonya? I can¡¯t get in touch with her,¡± Amos said hurriedly. ¡°What the hell is happening over there?¡± ¡°She¡¯s in the dungeon, I threw her in to protect her from Duong, the guy¡¯s gone berserk. We¡¯re fighting-¡± She was cut off by Amos flying into a rant. ¡°She¡¯s in the- shit! Fuck! Never mind, never mind! Just shut up and listen to me,¡± He said as fast as he could, ¡°Whatever the hell you guys are doing there is an absolute fuckton of mana in the air right now. You know what that means, right? I¡¯ve got hundreds of monster formation alerts all over the goddamn place on the radar and what¡¯s left is heading straight for the dungeon!¡± Marta¡¯s skin went cold, she got to her feet, ¡°Mana in the air?¡± She breathed, ¡°From all these heroes fighting...¡± ¡°Yeah! Probably? Okay, definitely! Anyway you¡¯re going to be up to your tits in monsters in a few seconds and that dungeon? Yeah well that six month timer I put on it just got a hell of a lot shorter. I hope she¡¯s up to closing it because otherwise that place is gonna look a lot like Dharan.¡±Ne?ww chapters will be fully updated at novelhall.com Marta¡¯s spine jolted and she shot an uneasy glance at Black Lotus who to her relief didn¡¯t seem to react. ¡°Amos, I¡¯ll let everyone know,¡± She said calmly, ¡°I¡¯m here with Black Lotus right now.¡± ¡°Are you kidding me? She¡¯s a cultivator, warn me!¡± He griped, ¡°She probably has super hearing or something,¡± He sighed, ¡°Nah, I shut you up didn¡¯t I? God damn it, just be careful! It¡¯s about to get really bad in a minute!¡± He cut the call and Marta turned to an expectant looking Black Lotus. ¡°What happened?¡± She asked. ¡°We¡¯re making mana in the air by having so much of us here, fighting,¡± Marta explained, ¡°High concentrations of mana create monsters.¡± Black Lotus tensed, her expression growing thoughtful before she glanced out at the battle between An Set and Sapporo, the two had parted for a moment and now were charging at one another again. The resulting clash kicked the wind up and sent dust into the air, ¡°How long?¡± She asked quickly. ¡°A minute,¡± Marta said, ¡°And we¡¯ve got the dungeon to worry about too, it might go the way of Dharan if this keeps up.¡± Black Lotus nodded sharply and tapped her own radio which crackled for a moment before she got through, ¡°Euclidia alert everyone that we¡¯ve got incoming, monsters are going to start forming soon and there will be a lot of them.¡± Black Lotus frowned harder as she heard her response, ¡°Thank you, Stay alive,¡± She turned to Marta, ¡°I¡¯m going to cover the heroes on the west side with Vytal. Can you help the East? Lifesaver is already on his way according to Euclidia.¡± Marta tensed and squared her shoulders, ¡°I¡¯m on it,¡± She said as Black Lotus grabbed her comrade and darted away. She turned towards the east side of the disaster zone before glancing back at the fighting, at the pockets of multi-colored clouds that were starting to lazily form here and there. It was like watching the initial spark of an apocalypse. Powerful light-touched fighting one another creating an atmosphere that could trigger the end of the world. Amos had mentioned once that if a big enough dungeon exploded, the released mana could trigger another in a chain reaction. Marta¡¯s heart nearly stopped. ¡°Oh don¡¯t be like that, love!¡± Bluestar laughed, ¡°You know he only has eyes for Miss Chernovna!¡± ¡°Oh right!¡± Bandit barked, pivoting and firing off a powerful arrow that pierced three gnolls in a row, ¡°How could I forget he¡¯s utterly hopeless!¡± ¡°I¡¯m calling human resources after this!¡± Firestorm complained. ¡°We don¡¯t have one yet!¡± Bluestar said, ¡°Remind me to set one up when we get back!¡± ¡°Flag!¡± Firestorm and Bandit shouted at the same time. ¡°Nerds!¡± Bluestar shot back, ¡°Okay it¡¯s ready! Get over here! Euclidia can dump the others inside once it¡¯s formed.¡± Bandit brought his hand up to his ear and started backing up towards Bluestar, ¡°Send ¡®em our way, miss Euclidia!¡± Firestorm threw a fireball in the direction of an approaching cluster of gnolls and it exploded, sending them flying into the air. He started moving backwards, firing shot after shot. Behind him he heard the sound of a stone archway forming and voices coming out of it. Heroes pouring through to escape the chaos and restore some sense of order under the protection of Bluestar¡¯s dome. Bandit fired an arrow over Firestorms shoulder, ¡°Pull back, red! Handmaiden is on her way!¡± Relief washed through Firestorm as he started stepping back as well. He was already getting winded, between running around saving civilians at the outset, pummeling An Set with attacks, and now this, he was surprised any of the Heroes were standing. Another shuddering boom from the duel between Sapporo and An Set rang out. The ground shook and a portion of a building toppled over as the transparent blue of the barrier began to form in front of him. He could see past it now and saw an approaching trail of devastation in the form of Handmaiden. The only problem was what was between her and them. A sea of gnolls had gathered in the open space and had only missed Firestorm and the retreating heroes because of the visual barrier. Now hundreds of eyes turned in his direction. More than a heroic-tier barrier could possibly handle. He whipped his head back at Bluestar and met her eyes. Near her, Lifesaver was on his knees restoring a wounded man¡¯s arm, the poor guy screaming as flesh knitted itself back together. More injured heroes were coming through Euclidia¡¯s archway. He looked up at Bandit and his comrade nodded to him, his lips formed in a thin line. Before Bluestar could say anything he darted from his position and landed next to Firestorm, rolling his shoulders and adjusting his grip on his bow. ¡°You owe me,¡± Bandit said. ¡°You aren¡¯t going to say anything?¡± Firestorm asked, stepping through the forming barrier. ¡°Didn¡¯t we just do a thing about flags?¡± Bandit grunted. ¡°Right, right,¡± Firestorm nodded and slung his mace onto his shoulder, flames coating it and sinking into the head. It began to glow orange, then red, then white. He started to rise off the ground as Bandit stalked forward, drawing his bowstring as the arrow forming on it grew bigger and bigger. ¡°How long till she gets here?¡± He asked. ¡°Two minutes, at that rate?¡± Bandit griped, ¡°Fucking hell she¡¯s strong.¡± ¡°Rain of Chaos?¡± Firestorm asked. Bandit chuckled and pulled his hood back, scratching at his mess of black hair, ¡°Keep saying stuff like that to me and Bluestar¡¯s gonna be the jealous one.¡± The ground shook again and the first cluster of gnolls at the back of the army flew into the air as Handmaiden came in contact with them. Meanwhile, the majority threw their heads back in a battle cry and charged at the two men. Firestorm let out a roar of his own and raised his mace over his head as heat surged through his body, flames spread from the weapon and leaped into the air before raining down in a self-contained cataclysm. A moment later, black arrows joined the firestorm, cutting through the flames and igniting into an explosive combination. Flaming black arrows exploding on contact and sending dark needles everywhere, spreading flames and poison through the ranks of their enemies. Behind them, the barrier finished taking shape. Dozens of injured and dying heroes inside. Side Story: Carla 1 Side Story: Carla 1 The faint scent of coffee hanging in the air was the first thing that caught her nostrils as she came to. Her entire body ached, but not in a bad way. She rolled over onto her side and groaned, burying her face in the pillow. It was soft, so soft, and the case was ridiculously smooth. So were the sheets, they were like silk. She pulled the cool cloth over her head as more of the ache and stinging began to register in her brain. Her eyes fluttered open when she caught the scent of a slightly woody, cinnamon-like perfume. It was almost a cologne if not for the sweetness of it and hint of a flower she couldn¡¯t quite place. Huh? Her head still a little muddled as her fingers clung tighter to the sheets. Silk? This isn¡¯t my room. She thought as she pulled the sheets down over her face and peered around. She was in a bedroom, a large one, expensive. There were three doors. One looked like it led out into the rest of the house. The one to the left of her was ajar and she could see a desk inside as well as several screens showing current stock prices and financial news. The door to her right had a laundry basket next to it, a restroom. Everything had a white color scheme, with hints of pink. Hot pink. The memories came back in a rush as her breath caught in her throat. She sat up quickly, pulling the sheets up to her chest and whipping her head around in a panic. Oh my god, I¡¯m in Sonya Chernovna¡¯s bed. She felt fresh heat race up her face and she reached up to clasp at a stinging spot on her neck, several of them. The aching made sense now. She¡¯d allowed herself to let go of all semblance of control the previous night, all of her senses, all of her thoughts, her fears, her inhibitions, dominated and led along by a masterful conductor. The door leading out into the main living space of the CEO¡¯s apartment opened and the woman herself stepped inside. Not in her usual all-white suit and slacks, but in a pair of tights and a long t-shirt that had a red rounded video game company logo on it. She was holding a mug of coffee, her usually styled white hair hanging down loosely over her shoulders and face, her bangs were actually pretty long. The usual intense glow of her eyes had been turned down to a faint glimmer, making her seem so natural, normal. Sonya leaned against the door, ¡°Morning Carla. Coffee?¡± She asked, gesturing with the mug before tilting her head. Her mechanical eyes twisted and refocused in her skull as they flicked almost mechanically over Carla¡¯s torso. ¡°I did a number on you, I¡¯ve got some lotion and concealer in the bathroom.¡± Carla reached up and touched the stinging spots again, her breath caught in her throat. Her mind was a mess, nothing made sense, she thought- ¡°I don¡¯t hate you,¡± Sonya said, ¡°I hate what you did, and I¡¯ve forgiven you. Did you have fun?¡± Carla¡¯s shoulders fell, ¡°Yes ma-¡± ¡°Nope, none of that, we¡¯re well past Ma¡¯ams and that stuff in casual conversation,¡± Sonya corrected her before she could finish, ¡°You can do that when we¡¯re in public if you want, but I¡¯m just Sonya right now,¡± She laughed, ¡°Look at me, do I look like I¡¯m dressed to be called ma¡¯am to you?¡± Carla stared at her, a knot in her chest loosening a bit, she blinked a few times before a laugh bubbled up, she reached up and brushed back the raven bob of her hair back over her ear, ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± She chuckled, ¡°Coffee would be lovely, Sonya.¡± ¡°There we go!¡± Sonya cheered, ¡°Coffee coming right up!¡± She said and twirled in place, somehow not spilling her own coffee as she half skipped back into the living space. Carla slipped off the bed and pulled herself to her feet, she considered taking the sheets with her but realized that was pretty pointless. She walked to the bathroom and gave herself a once over. Sonya hadn¡¯t been kidding. ¡°Got a few shirts and essentials for you on the sink in there!¡± Sonya called. ¡°Mhm,¡± Sonya hummed, walking over to the couch and sitting down, stretching her legs and letting out a sigh, ¡°How else do you think I get through the day? Sheer will and gumption? Please,¡± Sonya laughed, ¡°I am powered by spite, energy drinks, sugar, and snacks!¡± She declared with way more pride than Carla really thought she should have for such a statement. Carla snorted out a laugh, earning her a beaming smile from Sonya. She flushed, remembering the far more domineering person from the previous evening. She looked down at her hands and back up again. Sonya gestured for her to sit and she obliged, sitting down a seat away as she sipped. ¡°So what happens now?¡± Sonya scratched her nose and sipped her own drink, ¡°Up to you, really,¡± She said offhandedly, ¡°I¡¯m not looking for something serious, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking. I go to that club often and I rarely sleep alone,¡± She admitted before glancing in Carla¡¯s direction, ¡°If you¡¯re looking for a way to blow off steam and get rid of some of that stress that was eating you alive last night, sure, I¡¯m game.¡± Carla managed to put forward a bit of a petulant pout, ¡°And here I was looking forward to getting fitted for that collar you mentioned.¡± Sonya coughed, it was her turn to nearly spit up her drink. She looked up at Carla wide-eyed, ¡°You uh, you remember that? Oh, uh,¡± She rubbed the back of her neck, ¡°Y-you do realize I was saying that stuff for your benefit, right?¡± She babbled. For the first time in a long time, with all the weight of working for the committee, with all the pressure from the Chairman to make up for what had happened, all the fear of this changing world, Carla didn¡¯t just chuckle; she let out a full and hearty laugh. Sonya seemed so scary behind the desk, she was a scary person, she was powerful and influential and demonstrably could bring serious political pressure against even a person like the Chairman. And yet there was a side to her that was normal, if a bit goofy. Carla smiled down at her mug as the laugh ended, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind,¡± She muttered. Sonya raised an eyebrow, ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Carla said, ¡°A little stress relief would be nice now and then, Sonya,¡± She paused, ¡°And... I think I¡¯d rather work for you, than him.¡± Sonya glanced up at her and raised an eyebrow, ¡°That¡¯s a dangerous thing to say. You¡¯re a Pandora representative, an important one. You operate on its home turf. You can see the UN building from here.¡± ¡°He should have thought of that before using me for a honey trap, then,¡± Carla said, a bit more sharply than she¡¯d intended. She couldn¡¯t help it though. She¡¯d seen it as something she just had to do at the time, but the derision that Sonya had laid down upon her in that moment, and then the way she was being treated now. It was empowering even if it had required surrendering all her power for an evening. She looked up at a genuinely surprised looking Sonya, seeking her approval, some sign that she was going a better direction than playing lapdog to that old buffoon. Sonya gave her a rakish grin, ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to working with you, Carla Mint.¡± Chapter 82 Chapter 82 Chunhua cut down another gnoll. The damn things were getting bigger. Those multicolored clouds would sprout back up now and then and change them into behemoths twice the size of their kin. Worse were the smart ones wearing bones and beads on strings. They were capable of using some kind of strange magic. She clicked her tongue as she kicked away another one of the bigger ones, sending it bounding back across the ground a few feet and raised her hand to her earpiece. Behind her, a small group of heroic-tier heroes had formed a wall, preventing the monsters from slipping past and into the city beyond the ruined battlefield. ¡°Euclidia, what¡¯s the status on the east side?¡± She asked, one of Pathfinder¡¯s bullets whizzing past her head and striking one of the caster gnolls between the eyes. She glanced over at him and nodded. ¡°Not great, Guildmaster Bluestar has a barrier up and is protecting all the injured I sent her way. She¡¯s a real friggin trooper. They got the lions share of beasties though, like, a friggin¡¯ army. Firestorm and Bandit are holding the line, and Handmaiden is fighting her way towards them,¡± Euclidia said. ¡°Can you get the injured further away? We could send Vytal, it¡¯s not as bad over here,¡± Chunhua asked, her eyes turning towards the ongoing fight between Sapporo and An Set. Sapporo drove his palm towards the mad mythic only to get rebuffed by a pulse of yellow light. An Set¡¯s movements looked jerky and static from here. She narrowed her eyes. What- ¡°...I¡¯m sorry, I can¡¯t,¡± Euclidia¡¯s voice came back, sounding weary, ¡°I¡¯m almost done with building the bridge to LA. I¡¯m giving it all I got as it is. You¡¯re gonna have to pick me up after this. Gotta go.¡± The connection cut and Chunhua frowned, Even Euclidia¡¯s at her limits. She looked towards the warzone on the other side of the battle. Hang in there. ¨C Bandit flew through the air, pulled along by his grappling hook. He accelerated towards another wall and landed, affixing himself with his powers before firing off another volley of shots. Not far away, Firestorm whipped out one hand and a thin ripple of white-hot flame ripped through the ranks of the Gnolls, cutting them in half. One of the big ones charged at him and he snarled, firing a quick series of shots straight into its eyes. It gurgled and fell only for four of the small ones to climb over it and charge at him, spears raised over their heads. He growled, about to dart to the right when the concrete rumbled and shot into the air, forming a makeshift wall in his path. Shit, he cursed and spotted the caster-gnoll standing at the back, a wicked sneer on its dog-like face. The spears drew closer and he lowered his head, ¡°Inky!¡± He barked, ¡°Smash ¡®em up!¡± From within his cloak a tendril of liquid black ink rushed into the air and took the shape of an oversized arm with a puffy white glove. In its hand was a mallet made out of the same inky black material. It brought the weapon down on the four incoming attackers with an exaggerated ¡®bonk¡¯ sound effect, leaving nothing but greasy red smears and gore in its wake. The hand and mace turned into a circular head with white eyes and a too-wide deranged smile. It brought a hand to its lips and snickered as Bandit caught his breath, glaring at the confused caster. He conjured up an arrow and tossed it to the monster. Inky caught the arrow in its mouth and chewed, crunching noisily before letting out a delighted snicker and returning to Bandit¡¯s cloak. He drew another arrow and it snapped out, plunging into the casters throat as it began a new chant. He shook his head and jumped up, climbing the wall it had created to block him before crouching down on it, scoping the area. Everything fucking hurt and he hated having to resort to calling Inky out. The monster wasn¡¯t exactly well behaved and only stuck around because it liked the taste of Bandit¡¯s arrows. The fact that it had somehow followed him out of the madhouse dungeon had been more than a little troubling. Still, he was a big help when he wanted to be. He spotted Firestorm as his friend turned into a whirlwind of flames, the raging funnel of flame stretching up towards the sky as it marched its way across the gnolls. The small ones were drawn up into it, their bodies turning to ash while the big ones pulled away, giving the casters a chance to pelt it with various elemental-like spells. Stones, jets of water, tiny jolts of lightning, a tumult hurtled towards Firestorm as he dominated the battlefield. Bandit swallowed, he had never seen his comrade push himself so hard before. He hadn¡¯t even seen some of these moves. Don¡¯t let him outdo you, he reminded himself with a grin and drew his bowstring back, concentrating. Blackness swirled into the projectile that formed, condensing and increasing in mass. He felt his muscles scream at the rising weight of the arrow, the head turning into a saw-like barb and oozing with deadly promise. He pursed his lips and focused on the biggest clump of them. He released the arrow and it burst forth, racing across the distance before scattering into dozens of vicious arrows that pelted the battlefield, killing in droves and spreading clouds of miasma where they struck. BOOM BOOM BOOM! He whipped his head in the direction of the sudden nearing tumult. A big gnoll went flying past him, crashing into a wall and missing him by a hair. He blinked, startled. ¡°Uh...¡± At the other end of the gnolls trajectory, close enough to see her smiling at him, was Handmaiden with her fist raised and a cut on her cheek closing fast as the eye could see. She stood up straight, her maid-cosplay covered in blood, her gauntlets soaked, her chest heaving, but her head held high. He raised a tired fist, ¡°Glad you could join us!¡± He shouted. Nearby, the blazing tornado that was Firestorm ceased somewhere over Handmaiden. Bandit grinned at him only to frown when the guy just dropped. Handmaiden caught him in one arm before looking up at Bandit. The remaining army of gnolls just stood there, dumbstruck by her entrance. She hefted Firestorm and tossed him towards Bandit. Bandit blinked, ¡°Shit! You crazy-¡± He shouted and spread his hands out, the dark stuff that made up his arrows turning into a shortly lived net that caught his friend. He slid forward and Firestorm landed in his arms, Bandit quickly checked him. Still breathing, you monstrous bastard, Bandit thought with a laugh before sending Handmaiden a nod of thanks. He kicked off the ground and made his way back towards the dome of the barrier. In an instant she was in front of him and that sneer of his turned into a wide eyed look of shock. I¡¯LL FORGIVE EVERYTHING! Her entire body, coated in brilliant light, crashed into the mad mythic with titanic force. She drove her fist into his head. His body twitched and jolted, electricity trying to spread to her, his flesh trying to go incorporeal. She wouldn¡¯t allow it. She felt the cruch of cartilage beneath her fist as his head twisted to the side and he hurtled away towards the west side. She kicked off the ground again, vanishing and leaving a crater behind her. Tears streamed freely down her cheeks as she reappeared in front of him, passing a startled Black Lotus. She grabbed An Set and kicked him under the jaw, sending him into the sky. EVERY CRIME! She launched herself and drove a fist into his gut. EVERY LIFE! She pinwheeled in the air and kicked him in the side, shooting him off like a rocket towards the center of the battlefield. He hit the ground and scrambled to his feet, drawing his fists up and catching himself as she launched herself towards him. Every ounce of her strength, every memory, every emotion she could bring to bear, she threw it at him. Even if it took everything she had, she would stop him then and there. EVEN IF THE WORLD HATES HER! I WON¡¯T! ¨C Chunhua watched the brilliant comet that was Handmaiden fall from the sky and crash into An Set. The two punched one another, electricity lancing through Handmaiden¡¯s body in a visible stream of crackles and sparks. The woman only swayed before coming back and landing a haymaker against his face. Above, the serpent recoiled, shrieking and writhing. Chunhua glanced to her left at the scorched ground where the passing duo had left devastation in their wake. Half of the remaining gnolls simply vaporized by their passing. The rest had begun to flee as a heavy archway formed behind her. She felt something clench in her gut as another feeling welled in her chest. Pride. Whatever realization Handmaiden had come to, she¡¯d embraced what it meant to have whatever power she had. She had become one with it. It was her first time, though, and Chunhua didn¡¯t know how long it would last. Even so, it was breathtaking. The very air seemed charged with positivity. She felt stronger, ready to give anything to stop this chaos. Her troubled scowl curled into a grin and she squeezed the hilt of her weapon tight. ¡°Euclidia?¡± ¡°LA Heroes coming, Sapp¡¯s fine, but he¡¯s gonna need treatment,¡± Euclidia wheezed into the connection, ¡°Is that Handmaiden?¡± Chunhua smiled, ¡°Yeah, and I¡¯m gonna go join her. Time to pick up where we left off.¡± ¡°Kick some ass, leader.¡± ¨C On the other side of the battlefield, Bandit leaned against the blue barrier. He gaped at the vast devastation ahead of him. A near perfect cone of destruction stretched out ahead of him. The ground rippled with waves of heat, stone glowed molten. His eyes barely processed it as he looked down at the pair of boots standing at its apex, and the pile of ashes surrounding it. He covered his face and bit his lip, ¡°Damn it.¡± Chapter 83 Chapter 83 An Set lunged forward, his body splitting in half as an electric charge raced up Black Lotus¡¯ sword. She whipped it down and to the right, a huff of exertion all it took to send the charge into the ground rather than her arm. The outstretched arm of the mad mythic crackled and sparked, talons of electricity reaching for Marta. Marta tilted her head back, letting the blow catch her in the chest. Her vision went white for a moment before her head whipped forward, her heart restarting as soon as it stopped. She raised her arm and brought her elbow down, a thunderous crash echoing out as her limb crashed through his. Above, the serpent howled again, the Great Eel recoiling as a portion of it flickered and its body shrank. An Set reflected its howl with one of his own, staggering backwards as a tendril of electricity leaped from the stump of his arm and reformed into a limb. He snarled, bearing his teeth as Black Lotus darted in low, the scent of blossoms filling the air. She muttered under her breath as the pink coloration faded to an icy white-blue, a chill ripped through the air, and frost began to form on the edge of her weapon. She momentarily turned into a streak, her skin nearly turning red as the frost on her body turned into steam. The next instant she was past him, a trail of ice in her wake and his right side coated. Without stopping for a moment, An Set pulled himself in half as the serpent in the clouds struggled and thrashed. Lightning became flesh and he threw his arms out wide, the air becoming charged. Marta and Black Lotus exchanged a look and darted away, getting some distance as an enormous bolt of lighting fell down from the sky. Marta glanced up at the serpent again, noting it had significantly reduced in size. She frowned and brought up her glowing fists, the metal gauntlets gleaming with an almost holy light. She¡¯d finally noticed it, but she wasn¡¯t about to question it. Whatever she¡¯d done, whatever had changed, she was going to roll with it. An Set lowered his arms, breathing hard, his body moving with strange jerks and slowdowns as if he was moving both fast and slow at the same time. His head was looking both back at Black Lotus and Marta at the same time. He¡¯s powered up, again, but he¡¯s running out of juice. There was only so much electricity in Las Vegas, no matter how you shake it. He has a limit. She glanced again at Black Lotus and nodded at her. The other woman nodded as well and set herself into a stance, drawing her weapon up and over her head, parallel with the ground. Her hand outstretched, she let out a low breath and the chill that had surrounded her shifted to a summertime glow. The scent of blossoms filled the air again as Marta¡¯s muscles coiled beneath her, ready for another burst of movement. The two moved as one, Black Lotus raced forward in a ray-like line, a pink flash of light and motion while Marta kicked off the ground into a blitz, traversing fifty meters in an instant with her fist already descending. Her fist collided with An Set¡¯s head while a sword erupted from his chest. His head turned nearly one hundred and eighty degrees. Marta felt the point of Black Lotus¡¯ sword pierce her waist, the energy releasing out of her back but there was no pain. The heartbeat-length exchange felt like several seconds as Marta pivoted in the air and Black Lotus turned her sword to cut horizontally across his chest. There was a terrible sound of tearing and another howl of impotent fury from above as An Set was torn in half, his torso skipping across the ground away from her punch while his lower half dropped to the ground. Marta pulled back and glanced down, his legs twitched and sparked. ¡°Retreat!¡± She shouted and kicked away just as they exploded with arcs of lethal electricity, scorching the ground and sending glass-like shards everywhere. A few darted past her face, leaving cuts in her skin that quickly healed. She turned towards the torso and readied herself as another bolt of lightning came down from above. ¨C Chunhua whipped her weapon down, not that she needed to. The monster didn¡¯t bleed. She glanced up at the sky with Handmaiden, the writhing serpent above had nearly vanished. It barely resembled a coiled bolt of lightning anymore. She looked down at the reforming body of An Set, his bare lower half twitching and spasming. All of his clothes were gone at this point, he couldn¡¯t reform them with his powers. Her lip twitched as he sat up with a jerk, his appearance all the more bestial now. His teeth looked more like needles and sparks jumped off of them as he got to his feet. She readied her weapon, prepared for the next exchange, when something struck An Set in the side of the head. She blinked. A single blue bolt of power splashed against his temple and dissipated. Then a rock hurtled in from the left. A black arrow from the right. Then a blade of wind screeched across the field and knocked him to the side. One of Pathfinders bullets caught him under the chin and sent him stumbling. Chunhua looked around, bewildered, as the heroes who had fought, bled, and nearly died against the gnolls positioned themselves around the circular battlefield and resumed their bombardment that had only been paused by the monster attack. She saw Marta shift and reach for her ear and couldn¡¯t help herself. ¡°Marta!¡± The man called Amos said over the line. ¡°Mana levels dropping and fast!¡± Marta sagged a little, ¡°What-¡± ¡°The Dungeon¡¯s gone!¡± Amos shouted excitedly. Roars and shouts rang out all around them as everyone threw all they had left in their reserves at An Set. The serpent above shrieked and writhed in agony while Chunhua internalized what Amos had said. Gone? It was cleared? But- Chunhua darted around the barrier just in time to see a pool of blackness spread out beneath the broken man, violet needles sticking out of his neck and foam coming out of his mouth. He sank into it as if it were water before the puddle simply dried up and vanished as if it had never been there. One moment the monster known as An Set had been on the verge of death and at her fingertips, the next he was simply whisked away with nothing to show for it. Her teeth nearly cracked as she whipped her head up towards the woman hovering above her. In response to her glare, the panel beneath Ishtar vanished and she landed where An Set had been only moments before. ¡°Apologies for the steal, hero, I do feel bad about taking your glory,¡± Ishtar rasped, her voice down at a normal volume. There was a bit of amusement in it, ¡°Like I said, I have a use for him.¡± Chunhua snarled and marched towards the supervillain, her blade at her side. She didn¡¯t stop until she was right in the villain¡¯s face, looking at her own eyes in the reflective surface of the helmet. ¡°You,¡± She growled, ¡°Are you Sonya Chernovna?¡± The villain tilted her head as a low hum filled the air and Chunhua¡¯s earpiece crackled to life. A low rasp hissed into her eardrum; ¡°Yes.¡± Chunhua blinked, she had expected anything but that. Mocking would have been more expected, more reasonable. She held her ground, glaring at the woman behind the mask, trying to wrap her head around it all. The things that Handmaiden had said. That she was trying to stop things like this from happening. Yet she had been nearby when An Set had apparently lost his mind. Did she have something to do with it? What was her angle? She¡¯d said it through her earpiece, was that a clue? An admission? Why? Just, fucking why? None of it made any sense to her. She¡¯s lying, trying to discredit Chernovna. Somehow she was in the dungeon with her. It just doesn¡¯t click otherwise. ¡°I want answers.¡± ¡°If you survive, certainly,¡± The Supervillain said. Chunhua blinked only for every instinct in her body to scream at her to move. She leaped to the side just as a ray of light erupted from Ishtar¡¯s fingertip. If she had moved a second too late it would have created a finger sized hole in her heart. Chunhua slid to a stop and readied her weapon, she raised it and opened her mouth to speak, ¡°If I-¡± Handmaiden didn¡¯t need to be cajoled as much as Chunhua. She let out a roar and charged at the supervillain who took a dancing step back and swirled her hand once, a barrier of light appearing between her and Handmaiden¡¯s fist. The glass-like material shuddered and cracked, but held. Ishtar seemed to vanish into another panel of light and Chunhua¡¯s instincts were the only thing that saved her yet again, she dove low as a combat knife made of light swiped across the space where her throat had just been. Fine! She snarled and pivoted, bringing her weapon out with a snap-draw. Ishtar pirouetted out of the way and snapped out a kick, the force of it making Chunhua¡¯s eyes water as she pulled her head back and out of the way. Before Chunhua could recover a fist drove up and into her gut, sending her heaving and staggering back. I need to recapture momentum! She screamed at herself, dodging another knife blow aimed with surgical precision. She snapped her leg out to kick Ishtar¡¯s foot out from under her while sweeping her blade out towards the woman¡¯s helmet. ¡°More,¡± Ishtar growled and a barrier formed right next to her head. Chunhua pulled the weapon back, picking up speed and released a series of rapid speed jabs, One-Hundred Eighty Petals! Ishtar stepped back and swayed, moving with each motion like a blade of grass. Her head tossing lazily left and right. Chunhua snarled and followed up with the next step in the form, going from one-hundred eighty petals to Ninety-ton Flowering Branch! She felt her internal energy rushing through her muscles, her power screaming to life as she brought the weapon in, up and down in a cataclysm of force. Ishtar caught the attack at the base of the blade with her knife, pivoting past Chunhua¡¯s left side and driving a kick into her. Chunhua let out a gasp of pain and tumbled, hitting the ground and scrambling to her feet. Handmaiden had moved in place of her, her fists raging as she threw her full wrath at Ishtar. Ishtar danced and dodged, delivering light but carefully targeted blows to the woman¡¯s body. She moved into a backflip and even landed on one of Handmaiden¡¯s hands, snapping down into a split kick that caught the hero in the back of the head with her boot. Chunhua looked down at her sword and up at Ishtar, breathing hard, She had already used a lot fighting An Set, even still, that move. She knows my fighting style? Handmaiden staggered back from the blow. It wasn¡¯t one intended to injure but to stun her. She was immune to killing blows but staggering ones were effective. She moved like water, no, like a faerie, dancing on the air and even hopping on panels of light to get distance before immediately responding with vicious and lethal force. Chunhua collected herself and shook off the pressure that the supervillain was putting on them somehow. She took a new pose. ¡°ISHTAR!¡± She shouted. The Supervillain landed a few meters away from Handmaiden and raised her hands in welcome, ¡°Come, Hero! Show me everything!¡± Chapter 84 Chapter 84 Ishtar took several swaying steps backwards, her head moving just out of the path of Chunhua¡¯s swings. Her attacks kept missing! Either she could see the goddamn future or she knew her fighting style better than Chunhua did. It was beyond frustrating. How could anyone possibly know a style that didn¡¯t exist? Yet she knew every move as it happened, moved just the right way to block it, intercept it. Chunhua grimaced, she needed to shake things up, change the momentum in any way she could. Her eyes glowed faintly as she ducked low, shifting immediately from one form to another. The stress of the shift putting extra strain on her muscles. Executing a technique from this proximity was not only difficult, it was dangerous. She usually relied on momentum and keeping the opponent on the backfoot on a drawn out fight. There were no such openings here. Besides, she needed to keep Ishtar¡¯s concentration on her for a few more seconds. Chunhua did her best to keep her eyes steady, not shifting at all when she noticed Handmaiden coming from behind. The thoughts moved through her head in the span of a single heartbeat, her body moving into a crouch so fast the force sent out a small rush of wind around her. She gripped the hilt of her sword and pushed off the ground, her muscles screaming. The uppercut came like a flash of pink light that stretched up to the sky. At the same time, a thunderous crash rang out as Handmaiden came in like a comet, her body gleaming like a star. Chunhua felt something give way and followed through with the blow, bringing her weapon up and back down into her next ready stance. Ishtar chuckled. ¡°Better.¡± Chunhua¡¯s eyes went wide as a kick drove all the air out of her lungs. She was flung backwards as she heard a cry of pain from Handmaiden. She hit the ground and skipped off of it twice before slamming down with a groan and wheeze. Her head spun, her vision blurring, exhaustion screaming through every cell in her body. She pulled herself back and up, staggering to her feet and fixing her gaze on the supervillain. Ishtar was standing there, examining her gloved hands as if she was checking her nails. The woman spread her fingers out and tilted her head, nodding slowly to herself. ¡°Not bad, I like it, a good baseline.¡± Baseline? Ishtar turned her head and looked at Chunhua, tilting it slightly like a bird of prey examining something tasty. ¡°Shall we turn it up, ladies? I have a whole warehouse to test out.¡± A thrill went up Chunhua¡¯s spine, she grit her teeth and cursed. ¡°What the hell are you?¡± She demanded. She glanced over and spotted Handmaiden getting to her feet, several deep furrows in her face and neck healing and closing. The woman looked physically healthy, but she was clearly tired. Regeneration didn¡¯t replenish stamina as fast as one might think and between An Set and Ishtar, the both of them were already running on fumes. Still. I am not letting her go! She glanced towards the west side of the battlefield where the glowing panels of light had formed an arena for them. She couldn¡¯t see any movement. Hopefully that meant that Pathfinder had figured out where An Set was and had taken the other heroes to pursue him. She glanced to the right and saw cracks forming on the east side barriers. The heroes lead by Bluestar were fighting to get through and give their support. Her focus returned to Ishtar who hadn¡¯t moved. ¡°Done figuring out your strategy?¡± Ishtar asked, crossing her arms behind her back and holding her head high, ¡°I imagine Pathfinder is off searching for your quarry, right?¡± Chunhua kept her mouth shut, slowing her breathing and allowing her cultivated energy to flow through her body, muscle tension eased and aches began to fade. ¡°I wonder,¡± Ishtar said aloud, tilting her head and looking up at the sky, ¡°Can Pathfinder handle a mythic-tier master assassin? He¡¯s good, but is he that good?¡± Chunhua bore her teeth, ¡°Handmaiden! Now!¡± She shouted and exploded into motion, her body turning into a streak as a burst of light erupted behind Ishtar. Ishtar just laughed, a cruel insane laugh as the ground beneath their feet shook. Chunhua reacted as fast as she could, changing direction and spinning out of the way as water exploded from the ground beneath her in a torrent. A column sprayed into the sky and created an artificial rain around them, water flooding out at their feet. More bursts happened around the battlefield, more columns of water. The pipes! Chunhua realized as droplets of water changed direction in mid air and began pelting her, leaving small scratches and cuts as they passed. She winced and pivoted, shifting from strength to speed. Her sword turned into a blur as she cut lethal droplets of water out of the air. How many powers does she have?! Water kept flowing, spreading, it was ankle deep when she landed again. A flash flood that filled the basin created by their battle with An Set. She slid across the ground, stopping on top of a slick slab of concrete. Ahead of her, Handmaiden lunged at Ishtar again who simply raised her hand and blocked with a barrier of hardened light. She swept her arm and used it as a plow, pushing the woman to the side before leaping into a flip kick. The impact releasing a crack of sound before sending Handmaiden back a good distance, splashing into the water. ¡°I set the terms, I set the field, I control the game,¡± Ishtar pronounced and raised a hand. The water spraying into the air stopped and the ground shook again. ¡°The battlefield is mine, heroes. You are just playing in it.¡± BOOM! Blackrazor stood over the broken man. An Set was a shadow of his former self. He remembered seeing the man from afar when he once met with Feng Hyunh on a job some time ago. Now he looked... diminished. His face was sunken, his muscles were deteriorated, and his eyes were just hollow. He supposed the paralytic he had used didn¡¯t help things. He glanced towards one of the gang members who walked over with a steel suitcase. The young man wore the usual uniform of those in Ishtar¡¯s employ, including the white queen chesspiece on his lapel. He opened the suitcase and revealed the cuffs. ¡°This is the prototype that the boss sent,¡± The youth said, holding it out. Blackrazor nodded, another mechanical marvel created by Amos no doubt. He nodded towards An Set, ¡°Cuff him and activate it, we don¡¯t have a lot of time.¡± ¡°Sir!¡± The gang member nodded and got to work, slipping the cuffs onto An Set and securing them before stepping back and pulling a remote from the box. He fiddled with it for a moment before hitting in a combination on the number pad. There was a sizzling sound followed by a strange sense of emptiness around An Set. The broken mythic let out a groan and stirred, his eyes fluttering. Blackrazor frowned and tossed a violet needle at his throat, putting him back to sleep. He glanced at the youth, ¡°I¡¯ll take the remote for now.¡± ¡°Right, the code is one-four-seven-nine-nine-five,¡± The young man said and handed it to him. Blackrazor turned it over in his hand, it looked like a universal television remote. Well if it works it works. A rush of air drew his attention away from his new toy and he glanced over his shoulder to see Veloce return, one second she was at the door and the next she was at his side, arms zipping around his elbow. He glanced down at her, confused, as she pressed her face against his shoulder. He decided to tolerate it for now, ¡°How did it go?¡± He asked. ¡°I couldn¡¯t get him to target me,¡± She pouted, puffing up her cheeks, ¡°He practically ignored me, I even tried teasing him. It¡¯s like that guy doesn¡¯t have balls or something.¡± Blackrazor looked away, ¡°Did you delay him at least?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be a few more minutes,¡± She said with a sigh, ¡°Is that enough?¡¯ He nodded, ¡°Yes that¡¯s fine, we¡¯ve just finished up here. All we need is for the mistress to arrive so she and I can go to the secondary location,¡± Blackrazor said, ¡°After that, you¡¯re to find your own escape route. If you are caught you might be recognized as the one who separated Feng Hyunh and An Set which immediately resulted in his berserk state.¡± She looked up at him wide-eyed, ¡°Oh, that¡¯s right,¡± She blinked and looked thoughtful. ¡°They won¡¯t settle with imprisonment, if you want to live long enough to get Mistress Ishtar¡¯s planned gifts, you¡¯ll need to give it your all to get out of here,¡± He said grimly. She squeezed against his arm, ¡°Can¡¯t I go with you?¡± He raised an eyebrow. What was with her, it was like she was physically attached to him for some reason. All he¡¯d done was fight off a few gnolls while she was paralyzed. Ishtar had been the one to restore her legs. He sighed and shook his head, ¡°No, the Mistress¡¯ orders were clear-¡± He was cut off by the sound of gunfire. ¡°And there he is, faster than expected,¡± He muttered, ¡°Time for you to go.¡± She pulled away and snapped a playful salute, ¡°Right away!¡± She grinned and in a blur of motion she was gone. He shook his head and turned away from the beaten An Set, ¡°The rest of you! Prepare to make your escape once we¡¯ve bought a little time. The Mistress will arrive soon and she will not want to be disturbed!¡± ¡°Yes sir!¡± A unified shout came as the thugs and lesser villains hurried to make their final preparations while their comrades held the heroes at bay. Blackrazor threw out his hand and a short blade appeared in it, glittering, violet, and deadly. His steps made no sound as he glided across the ground towards the door, ¡°Only one thing left to do.¡± Chapter 85 Chapter 85 A hail of gunfire greeted Blackrazor as he stepped out into the main space of the old manufacturing plant that they had used for their temporary hideout. Thugs that didn¡¯t have adequate powers to use in a fight had been armed with automatic weapons loaded with anti-monster munitions. The serial numbers would be traced back to a shipment sent to the west coast to be shipped by sea to east asia. One of the trucks had gone missing. He swept into the room as a stone, launched at high speed, hurtled at him from a stray shot by a hero who was immediately gunned down. The pebble went through his head, liquid shadow dripping from the hole that had opened in his changed body. He huffed and sealed the ¡®wound¡¯. He walked slowly as the first wave of heroes encountered surprising resistance, some of their defensive powers not ready for non-mundane bullets. He took a breath and spun the forearm length blade in his hand, spreading his will throughout the room. His mind grasped onto the shadows, integrating them into himself as he became a part of the room. He closed his eyes and shifted his senses throughout the space. Here, he was king. Autarch. Shouts rang out dimly in his ears, his mind already hunting for his prey. He had been given only one task, eliminate the greatest threat to the final step of his mistress¡¯ plan. An Set had to disappear at her hands, his reputation sullied forever no matter what happened next. If that was what she desired, she would have it without question. A gunshot sounded next to his head and he ignored the thug next to him who gave him a wide-eyed look. He kept his pace slow as he moved into view of the heroes. One face at a time. Quickly now. No. No. No. He stepped out fully and the heroes paused for just half a heartbeat and he exhaled, liquid blackness spreading across the floor in a creeping tide. He opened his eyes and turned his head to look at the dark-skinned man crouched near the middle, a rifle in his hand. He met his gaze, There you are. One moment he was there, establishing his presence, letting the heroes know that there was a predator in their midst. The next he dove into the ocean of shadow beneath him, his body slipping into the ground as if it had simply gone. Menace. There was power in fear. An assassin could operate on cold efficiency and silence, certainly, but fear made one make mistakes. Fear led one to change plans. Fear destroyed cohesion. Blackrazor would tear them apart one by one if he had to, all for the Mistress. He didn¡¯t have time to play it safe, he had to disorient, confuse, and break their reason as he pursued his target. Ishtar would not hold Handmaiden and Black Lotus at bay for long. He did not want a rematch with Handmaiden, not yet. ¡°Watch your feet!¡± The man, Pathfinder, shouted, ¡°He¡¯s in the shadows!¡± Blackrazor willed a poisoned knife out of himself and launched it silently from between Pathfinders feet. The tracker hero moved with almost preternatural instinct, diving out of the way as the knife darted into the air and slipped into yet another shadow. Blackrazor let that chill wash through his veins as murder became his sole focus. Another knife leaped from the shadows, coming from above and scratching a hero who was blocking for his comrades with a barrier made of some kind of metal. He winced and dropped to a knee as another knife darted across the room horizontally, striking a man behind him in the ear. ¡°Where is he?¡± ¡°Those knives came from both sides of the room!¡± ¡°Watch the shooters, don¡¯t forget we¡¯re under fire!¡±Nne?w n0vel chapters are published at novelhall.com ¡°I know that!¡± ¡°We need light in here! Push the shadows back!¡± There¡¯s a good idea, you should do that before I kill more of you, Blackrazor thought, swimming through his own personal sea. He swirled, danced, and then spotted his prey again. Pathfinder had moved to a spot above the battlefield near the entrance, faint light beating down on his back. Blackrazor swam up the crates where the man was sitting, his shadowy form slipping from place to place like oil. He reached the man¡¯s leg and the man darted away again, landing on the ground and firing his rifle at the crate where Blackrazor had hidden. Tch. Blackrazor pulled back, slinking into the shadows before releasing another flurry of blades. The metal shield hero who had been cut in the leg toppled over and foamed at the mouth. Another hero took a knife to the throat, another stabbed in the back. ¡°Shore up! Pull back! He¡¯s probably Mythic! Handmaiden and Black Lotus are on their way!¡± Pathfinder shouted, firing shot after shot. He seemed to know where Blackrazor was, no matter which way he went, as soon as he surfaced there was a bullet heading for him again. Blackrazor frowned a little, he had changed his target rather quickly. The mistress said that he needed a connection to the target to track them. I touched him, was that enough? What does he have of An Set¡¯s that makes him so confident? An article of clothing perhaps? Blackrazor mused as he pulled away from another bullet. ¡°I¡¯ll keep him contained!¡± Pathfinder shouted, ¡°Focus on the defenders!¡± Arrogant. I¡¯ll have to correct that. Blackrazor grunted internally, focusing hard as he spread his will throughout the darkness again, becoming fully one with it. He grit his teeth, clenching his fists and throwing himself into the act of control. He barely heard the confused shouts that came next as the oil-slick darkness that spread across the floor beneath the heroes began to grow deep. Boxes slid into the ground, descending, boots dropped a few inches, some managed to climb out of the trap while others found themselves stuck. I¡¯ll swallow you all- ¨C Everything was confusion, colors were sounds, words were nonsense, emotion was everything. Feeling was killing, killing was breathing, everything was lightning. Duong swam in a void of his own power, the great eel had slunk back to a place deep within himself to rest and recover. Yet he had not found enough of himself to resurface. When it woke again, he would feel its rage once more. That was fine. That was easy. It was comfortable, fun even, he had enjoyed the battle, had savored the carnage, had reveled in the ruination as he took a backseat to the thing inside of him. This was a good place, a good time, to drift into nothingness. Yet he didn¡¯t, something held him in place. A violet light that brought back feelings of petulant rage and incoherent fury filled his mind. He wanted to kill its source, destroy it, obliterate it, he needed to. Yet he couldn¡¯t find his strength. He couldn¡¯t move. The light kept pulling at him, guiding him. It didn¡¯t try to push him back down as before, when that woman had oppressed him. No, this violet light was a guide to bring him back to the surface above the clouds of darkness and storms. He took the offered hand, curious more than anything, perhaps desperate for one more shot at living. He didn¡¯t know, his thoughts were so jumbled and confused that he- ¡°Welcome back, Duong,¡± A voice that sent chills up his spine greeted him. Inhuman. A rasp of bloodcurdling quality that was laced with unrepentant cruelty. His vision swayed and he blinked before looking up into a pair of glowing pink eyes blazing on a faceless helmet. ¡°Who...?¡± He managed. ¡°I am Ishtar,¡± The woman said and stood up, a violet glow fading from her fingertips. ¡°How?¡± He tried, his head still fuzzy. ¡°I killed Feng Hyunh,¡± Ishtar said. He blinked at her and tilted his head, her logic didn¡¯t make sense to him, but he wasn¡¯t going to complain. ¡°Should I be grateful?¡± ¡°I want you to die too,¡± Ishtar said callously, ¡°But I figured I should give you the opportunity to make something useful of your last moments. In return, for a moment, you will be far more powerful than you ever were with The Great Eel.¡± He felt his stomach sink, his head tilted forward and he stared at her, a frown on his face. He searched her mask for a moment, looked her body up and down, then squinted, ¡°Take off your mask and we can talk.¡± ¡°I suppose that¡¯s fair,¡± Ishtar said with a shrug and reached up, removing her mask and revealing the mechanical eyes of the bubbly, playful, mischievous Sonya Chernovna. He gaped at her, bewildered, his mouth falling open as he tried to process it. ¡°I put a lot of effort into getting you here, alone, like this An Set. You should be flattered.¡± ¡°How long have you been planning this?¡± He asked, shaking his head in disbelief. ¡°Since the moment I heard your name, would you like to know why? I shared it with Feng before I killed her,¡± She said, holding out a hand to touch his chin. He jerked his head away, ¡°Nah, no thanks,¡± He spat, grinning at her. She pulled her hand back and actually frowned a little, it was satisfying, ¡°Fine, it doesn¡¯t bother me. I had the satisfaction with Feng after all.¡± ¡°How did she die?¡± He asked. ¡°Torn to pieces and disemboweled by gnolls in the dungeon,¡± The woman said frankly, ¡°After I dropped her off a cliff into their midst. She was afraid of you until the very last moment.¡± He felt something swell in him that he hadn¡¯t expected, joy, delight, he threw his head back and laughed long and hard, kicking his feet and thrashing a bit in his bindings. He glanced around, it was some sort of abandoned shack from the looks of it, barely a shed. He finally caught his breath, ¡°Oh, wow! You know what, I¡¯m grateful,¡± He said, grinning at her, ¡°So what do you want from me? You wanna make my death flashy? What¡¯s the plan, I figure we¡¯re more than even now. I owe you one for telling me that.¡± Sonya nodded at him, ¡°I had a feeling you¡¯d appreciate the news,¡± She said and held out her hand to him again. He took it and she smiled wider as she pulled him to his feet. She reached out to touch his chest, right over his heart and inclined her head, looking up into his eyes. ¡°Before we make our deal, let me make a little investment, consider it a down payment for what I¡¯m going to ask of you.¡± He felt something rush into his body, something changed, something big. He grinned, ¡°Whatever you want.¡± Chapter 86 Chapter 86 The faint scrape of soles against gravel and dried soil was the only sound amidst the low hiss of wind across the landscape far outside of Vegas. A single pair of sneakers brushed across the ground, baggy jeans hanging behind. The wind picked up into a howl for a brief moment, the dust swirling past a head of blonde hair styled with a carefully crafted coif. A pair of glittering blue eyes glowed for a moment, examining the small structure that he¡¯d found. He slid his hands into his hoodie and tilted his head to the right, his lips forming a thin line. He had watched the battle, up until An Set had started to lose. He had figured the guy would be dead by now, but to his surprise the man was not only alive but alone. This was supposed to be one of the guys that would make his dreams a reality, that would be the heralds for his grand design. He was supposed to be amazing, and he was, he was impressive there was no doubt about that. The serpent-eel thing was really cool. The young man rubbed his neck and stared at the door, But he lost, that¡¯s weird. Was there something wrong with his information? No, that can¡¯t be right. He held out his hand and felt the air, there was indeed nobody there except for his quarry. He¡¯d been abandoned there. Something about some woman named Ishtar. He¡¯d barely paid any attention to the news, it wasn¡¯t important. Just things talking to one another about useless things. How could all those things call themselves people? They weren¡¯t important enough to matter one bit in the greater story, so why did they even bother breathing? It seemed so pointless to him, so empty. Every time he had tried to talk to people about the things that really mattered, before the flash, their eyes had glazed over and they¡¯d responded in pointless ways. His thin-lipped expression curled into a bit of a smile. Sometimes they would not even remember him when he talked to them a second time. Like they had no idea who he was even if they¡¯d met him just the day before. It made him feel like the hero in a video game and they were the npcs, saying the same things over and over as if that was all they were programmed to do. Up until the flash, my flash. His smile darkened and he hesitated, a grin cracking across his face. I wonder why I¡¯m feeling nostalgic? That¡¯s kinda funny. He chuckled and approached the small shack. It was barely a shack, more like a bunch of panels of sheet metal welded together haphazardly with wood making up the frame. He rest his hand against the door and felt the energy inside, closing his eyes and tilting his head back as he got a feel for it. An Set felt a bit off, as if the mana in his body was being restrained somehow. Interesting. He mused and pushed the door open, walking inside without a care in the world. He hummed merrily, the door shutting behind him just as he stopped and looked down at the dark haired man who seemed to be dozing off. There are cuffs on his wrists. Are they restricting his powers? Why haven¡¯t I heard of this? That¡¯s not in the script. ¡°Hey,¡± He said. An Set blinked and looked up, squinting for a moment, ¡°A kid? Nah, you just look kinda young,¡± He mumbled, tilting his head to the right. There was a faint electric blue glow in his eyes. The young man liked it, it looked powerful. Maybe straining himself against those heroes had made him stronger somehow. That¡¯s really cool, I like that. ¡°Name¡¯s Otis,¡± Otis said with a grin, ¡°Nice to meet you, An Set.¡± An Set narrowed his eyes, ¡°Otis, huh?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Otis said brightly, pulling his arms out of his hoodie and raising his chin, ¡°The one and only!¡± He brought his hand up to his chest and leaned forward, ¡°And you sir, have been chosen! I am going to become a god, and I want you to join up with me. The prologue wasn¡¯t quite right for you, but I¡¯m sure the next part of the story will be a great redemption arc.¡± An Set raised an eyebrow, ¡°Neat,¡± He said, dubiously. ¡°I know you have your suspicions but-¡± He started only to get cut off as An Set cleared his throat. ¡°Are you really Otis?¡± He asked, making the young man pause. That wasn¡¯t right, no one should have heard of him yet, no one that was outside whom he¡¯d been collecting. Now that he thought of it, that thing, what was its name, Craig? What happened to that thing? ¡°Yes,¡± Otis said with a bit of a frown. ¡°Great, you got somebody who wants to talk to you,¡± An Set grunted and thumbed towards the wall to his right, Otis¡¯ left. Otis glanced over and spotted a small device planted in the wall. He narrowed his eyes, Why didn¡¯t I sense it? I should be able to sense any electronic device, I made sure. I only sense mana in here though. Static hummed in the device for a moment before a rasp hissed its way out, ¡°Hello Otis.¡± Otis turned to face the thing and concentrated. ¡°Did you try to cut the signal? This is a mana-based telecommunications device, no electricity involved. A bit more complicated,¡± The voice said. ¡°He¡¯s a bit busy,¡± Chunhua muttered, ¡°How are Bluestar and the others holding up?¡± ¡°It¡¯s... gonna take a while, I think,¡± Molly said a bit more softly. ¡°Yeah, I imagine so,¡± Chunhua said, looking up towards the disaster zone. ¡°I¡¯m gonna stay until things are under control here.¡± ¡°I figured,¡± Molly said with a sigh, ¡°I¡¯ll be here too.¡± ¡°You can head home, I¡¯m sure your girlfriend-¡± ¡°Will understand,¡± Molly interrupted her, ¡°You aren¡¯t doing this alone and I¡¯m good at logistics. Let me help.¡± Chunhua chuckled, a real smile finally coming to her face, ¡°I don¡¯t know what we would have done without you.¡± ¡°You would have managed,¡± Molly said brightly, ¡°Like, seriously, you¡¯re a fuckin badass.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just another hero,¡± Chunhua said, ¡°Just like the others. They put their everything into protecting the people of this city. Same with Sapporo and Pathfinder,¡± She said, the last name coming out with a bit of pain in her chest. She barely knew the man, only having met him a few weeks before, but it still hurt her to know that a comrade had died like that. She remembered the youthful face of the ¡®master assassin¡¯ that Ishtar had employed and clenched her fists. ¡°Sapporo still hasn¡¯t woken up, doctors say he¡¯ll be fine and Vytal¡¯s already healed him up, but he¡¯s still out,¡± Molly said sullenly. ¡°He pushed himself hard, just let him rest,¡± Chunhua said and got to her feet. As she did, she heard footsteps approaching behind her. She turned, seeing who it was, and reached up to her ear, ¡°I gotta let you go Molly. Get some rest, okay?¡± ¡°Sure. You too.¡± The connection cut and she put her hands on her hips before tilting her head, ¡°Bluestar, Bandit, Lifesaver, what are you doing out here. You should be in recovery,¡± She said sharply, trying to regain some of the commanding persona she¡¯d set aside during her talk with her teammate. All three of them looked rough. Lifesaver wasn¡¯t even wearing his mask, instead wearing a white medics outfit and baseball cap. They had bags under their eyes and their shoulders were slack but... Those eyes. She thought, hesitating as she met Bluestar¡¯s gaze. The young guildmaster¡¯s eyes were blazing, fierce. It was the same with Bandit and Lifesaver. She regarded the three of them for a few moments before sighing and nodding, ¡°Alright, but don¡¯t push yourselves.¡± They sighed with relief as one and Bandit nodded to the others before darting off towards one of the rescue teams working near the east side, Lifesaver hurrying off after them. Bluestar stayed behind, though, and walked up to Chunhua. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Just don¡¯t push it,¡± Chunhua said. ¡°I got word from Miss Chernovna,¡± Bluestar said, ¡°ASTA will be helping with the reconstruction and she wants to ask Vegas to let her build a memorial garden here,¡± She said, glancing at the artificial lake with a sad smile, ¡°She kept raving about a ¡®big ass statue for Nick¡¯. She¡¯s kind of kooky, isn¡¯t she?¡± Bluestar choked and lowered her head, ¡°What kind of guildmaster lets her people die like that, ma¡¯am?¡± She asked, bitterness in her voice. Chunhua let out a sigh and turned to the young woman, wrapping an arm over her shoulder before pulling her into a hug, ¡°That¡¯s one of the hardest parts of being a leader of warriors,¡± She said stroking her hair, ¡°They¡¯re going to fight, and they might die, and you just have to carry on and make sure that their deaths weren¡¯t in vain. You have to stay strong for the others, even if it hurts,¡± She pulled back and tilted her head down, looking the young woman in the eyes, ¡°But you don¡¯t have to always hurt. There are people you can talk to and ways to deal with the grief. I lost a lot of men under me in the army, I understand.¡± The girl¡¯s lips trembled and she threw herself into Chunhua¡¯s neck, sobbing. Chunhua held her for a while, letting her mind go blank to focus on the agonized person with her. ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± She murmured into the sobbing girl¡¯s hair. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± She paid no mind to the blue sky as it flickered electric blue for just one moment, nor to the faint rumble in the ground beneath her feet from a distant blast. Chapter 87 Chapter 87 Sonya set down the phone and stared at it, running her thumb over the glossy surface. She tilted her head to the right, lost in thought. Her chest felt lighter and tighter at the same time. She¡¯d heard his voice with her real ears for the first time in a long time. The dreams she¡¯d had about him weren¡¯t the same. The memories of his heroic persona were all a performance. The only time she¡¯d heard the real Otis speak was in the end, on that day, when she¡¯d sat atop him with a knife in her hands, unable to cry over the deaths of everyone on the planet. Unable to grieve with anyone but herself. She¡¯d seen his madness then. She¡¯d heard it again just now. She glanced at the words on her HUD, it was a useful function if not something she had any way of using anytime soon. She had no interest in playing villain for the immediate future. It was time to lay low. She waited a few more seconds before her lip twitched. No notice of Otis¡¯ death. Not that she¡¯d expected it, still she was a little disappointed it hadn¡¯t worked. And there it is, a successful test of Investment. She thought as she pulled the power out for a moment, electricity dancing across her fingertips before she put it back. She had forcibly invested it into An Set, suspecting that it would have an interesting effect when combined with The Great Eel and based on what she¡¯d sensed from him before departing, the results had been more than promising. She let out a sigh and leaned back, turning her head to look at Marta who was asleep on the couch to her right. She smiled at the woman, ¡°Thank you,¡± She said softly, ¡°I know I should say it more, I¡¯d say it every day if I could.¡± Marta mumbled in her sleep and rolled over, Sonya chuckled, ¡°We¡¯re going on vacation when we get back,¡± She said and glanced at the television in front of her, ¡°Maui, probably. That sounds nice.¡± The reporter on the television was standing in front of the devastated area around the Vegas battle site. She was reporting generally about estimated loss of life, it seemed that Sapporo¡¯s ability had cut down the lions share of it but An Set¡¯s rampage had not come without cost. Thousands of people were dead, a historic disaster, and one the world was already reacting to. However what came as more of a surprise was the next part of the news feature. ¡°Among those present during the fighting, the Georgia native turned ASTA Guild Hero, Firestorm, gave his life to save over thirty of his comrades. He was also singularly responsible for rescuing hundreds of civilians. We are still processing what little footage that was able to be acquired by drones so unfortunately we cannot provide any at the moment, however, word from the heroes and civilians on the scene has lead to an overnight trend on social media,¡± The woman said and she was moved over to the right to show social media posts. All of them were words of praise, condolence, and memory of the hero who had given his life along with a hashtag that made Sonya smile. #WeAreTheFirestorm. She felt her lip tremble a little and she looked down at her hands, I hate it. She thought. You weren¡¯t supposed to die. You were supposed to be one of the heroes to fight me, in the end, to stop me once it was all said and done. She raised her hand to her face and covered her eyes, cursing them again. She let out a breath. He knew about broker, I have to accept that it was a loose end eliminated and do what I can to make sure his memory accomplishes the right thing. She told herself, it was a cold thought, but it was a necessary one. The feeling sent a chilling wash through her body that eased a little bit of the pain. She breathed and rested her chin on her knuckles as the television went on. A picture of herself appeared, ¡°CEO Sonya Chernovna was present during the incident while taking the Chairman of the Pandora Committee on a tour of one of the active dungeons in Las Vegas. She was reported to have been temporarily lost in the dungeon when the quote: ¡°False Hero¡± An Set went berserk. According to information that was disseminated widely about An Set around the time of the disaster, he had made several attempts against Miss Chernovna including ordering an assassination and orchestrating a plot to steal her company¡¯s intellectual property by leveraging his connection with his father, the Chairman of the Pandora Committee.¡± Amos works fast. Sonya thought. ¡°It should be noted that these acts were taken unilaterally as all of the details recorded by the various anonymous sources online have reported that the Chairman was unaware of his son¡¯s underworld dealings, including his association with a dangerous criminal syndicate based in his homeland of Vietnam,¡± The picture changed to an image of An Set.Geett the latest novels at novelhall.com ¡°There are some questions about whether or not the Chairman will step down, though an official comment from an ASTA spokesperson has insisted that Miss Chernovna does not attribute any responsibility to the Chairman and hopes he continues his good work,¡± The reporter went on, ¡°Currently Miss Chernovna is in recovery after receiving minor injuries before her rescue. We wish her a speedy recovery.¡± ¡°An international outcry has gone out concerning rules regarding the behavior and backgrounds of licensed heroes with several nations demanding adjustments to the Pandora Committee¡¯s regulations,¡± The woman continued, ¡°There have also been calls for a full investigation into the battle in Vegas and the cause of the sudden appearance of monsters during the fighting. A United Nations panel will be held in the coming weeks to discuss ways to preventing such an incident from ever happening again.¡± Sonya looked up at the transparent being that hung over her. Her appearance seemed everchanging, always a woman, but always a different face, a different hair color, different eyes, every time she blinked. Even so, there was an exhaustion there that Sonya hadn¡¯t felt when she¡¯d met the otherworldly being on their first encounter. She was weary and sad, beaten down by something that Sonya couldn¡¯t possibly comprehend. Yet when Sonya had asked the question, she seemed to brighten and her appearance nearly became solid. ¡°I have failed humanity twice now. Once in the distant past. Once with Otis. Help them, where I cannot, so I can finally rest,¡± She said, ¡°I am trusting you, Sonya, and that grief that we both share.¡± ¨C Sonya smiled to herself as she pulled out of the memory, That, I can do. After all, she thought, her smile growing a bit darker. She clenched her fingers around the arms of her chair, I am the one who will take control of everything from within. I will set the rules, I will control the field, I am the solution to the unsolvable, the force that will overcome Otis. She pulled up the details on her newly merged abilities, Imperious, Non-Euclidian and The Astral Eye joining Heavenly Jade Heart in her newly and appropriately renamed core ability; I will be the God in the Machine. ¨C He staggered through the desert, pulling his arm back up and reattaching it to his shoulder. The agony was real and it made him angry. How dare that woman, that thing, that creature that thought it was a person like him. He was the only real person in the world, she was just another fixture in his story. To think a mere side-character would dare lash out at him like that, try to kill him, hurt him, actually hurt him. He had never felt pain since the flash, since he had snuck into the storage room behind the museum and found Pandora''s Box. Since the moment he opened it and was given the right to choose his power. He felt his flesh knit back together. He would not die, he could not die, not until he had seen his story through to the end. Anything else was inconceivable. She is not my Poseidon, she¡¯s a glitch, an error! Another player in my game! My story! She needs to die! I will find her and I will break her in ways she can¡¯t even begin to imagine! He swore it, bearing his teeth as his foot and leg twisted back into position on their own. The burns across his body sizzled and slowly began to heal, the intensity of the blast had left him as nothing but a seared lump of meat for nearly an hour before he had regained consciousness. That hurt! It hurt so much! He screamed, Ishtar. I¡¯ll remember your name and I won¡¯t let you forget me. You¡¯ll be the only one. He trudged across the heated landscape, still within the crackling radius of the blast. Electricity danced across the ground, the environment irrevocably altered by the blast. He glowered at the blue sky ahead of him before cracking into a smile. ¡°The story doesn¡¯t need to change that much,¡± He said, a thought occurring to him, ¡°That¡¯s right, this is fine, I can work with this, even. She¡¯s some kind of villain, right? Then I just need to be the hero to triumphantly take her down! That¡¯s easy! I can¡¯t die!¡± He laughed, ¡°I¡¯m going to fucking kill you and everyone you love, Ishtar, then I¡¯m gonna make you watch as I burn this world to the ground!¡± He felt his fingers bend as functionality returned to them and clenched his fists, ¡°Just you wait you bitch, just you wait,¡± He snarled as he trudged towards a distant road. He watched as cars drove by, salvation. A few more things to kill so he could drive back to civilization. Irrelevant mindless objects pretending to be people. ¡°Nothing can stop me, not with my ability, The Man, The Myth, The Legend. I am the main character of this story, this world, and you¡¯re just living in it!¡± ¨C Broker, Season 1: Creation Myth of a New Era ¨C ¨C End ¨C Side Story: Downtime 1 Side Story: Downtime 1 The dust swirled around them, kicked up by an unseen wind. Her jet-black robes flapped around her body, she could feel it, the power swelling inside of her. She closed her eyes and brought her weapon up beside her head holding it in the ready position. Her thin smile widened into a sneer and she raised her head, her nose tilted up as she opened her glowing yellow eyes and looked down on her opponent. Across from her, he brought his own weapon up in front of him, brown robes hanging loosely off of his fit frame. ¡°This is where you fall,¡± He said, ¡°There could have been peace between us.¡± She sneered at him, ¡°Peace was never an option.¡± As one they flicked the switches on their weapons. A beam of red-colored hardened light extending from her weapon as one of a brilliant blue extended from his. With a swift movement they engaged one another, blades clashing, sparks flying, light illuminating their faces. Off to the side, Marta rest her chin on her palm and stared at the two as they played. ¡°So this is why she wanted me to make those robes,¡± She muttered and let out a sigh, shaking her head. She couldn¡¯t help but smile a little. It was a good way to spend some downtime, she supposed. brace your anger Amos! It¡¯s the only way to defeat me!¡± ¡°Never!¡± ¡°I will make you kneel, fool!¡± ¡°Been there done that,¡± Colin said next to her, popping a piece of caramelized popcorn into his mouth and chewing. He leaned back and crossed his legs languidly. Marta gave him a sidelong look and raised an eyebrow, ¡°Are your only two defining personality traits thirsting after Amos and being Sonya¡¯s lawyer?¡± She asked frankly. The pretty boy looked up at her, ¡°When I¡¯m paid this well? Sure.¡± She barked out a small laugh and rolled her eyes, ¡°You¡¯re ridiculous,¡± She said and turned her attention over to a rather disgruntled looking Blackrazor who was standing next to the oversized industrial fan that had been creating the wind to make the duo¡¯s ¡®fight scene¡¯ look more dramatic. He scratched his chin thoughtfully as if trying to figure out the point of this entire thing. She kind of felt bad for him, in a way, he was so inured to having fun that he couldn¡¯t comprehend that they were just goofing off. She called out to him anyway, ¡°Hun, you don¡¯t have to stand there anymore!¡± She shouted, waving for him to come over. He glanced her way and tensed, looking up, down, then any other direction but in hers. She frowned and tilted her head, ¡°What¡¯s his problem?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you nearly choke the life out of him with a knife in your head at one point?¡± Colin asked, crunching away at his sweets, ¡°I¡¯d be fucking terrified too.¡± ¡°You too?¡± Beyol asked, glancing at the big man. Barry puffed out his breath through his lips with a raspberry, ¡°Got beaten to hell by a lurker dragged off and offered my deal,¡± He grunted, ¡°Now I¡¯m a king.¡± Beyol frowned at his drink, ¡°You know mine, and now I¡¯m the Headmaster of the Night Society,¡± He said and snorted, he tilted back the can and drank the rest of it down. He crushed it and snatched up another that was immediately offered by Barry. He barked out a genuine laugh, it felt kind of good. ¡°To miserable starts and glorious futures!¡± He proclaimed, the buzz getting the better of him. Barry grinned at him, ¡°I hear that!¡± The big man said and knocked his can against Beyol¡¯s. Back with Marta, she smiled in the direction of the two men sitting next to the industrial fan. ¡°That¡¯s better.¡± ¡°Looked into Beyol by the way, Amos helped,¡± Colin said, the two having finally relaxed from their petulant little spat, ¡°You know he has no birth certificate or anything? There¡¯s no telling how old he actually is. We¡¯re putting it between eighteen and twenty-one. Pretty hazy on it, if I¡¯m being honest. The kind of training he went through probably triggered some early growth.¡± Marta looked at him, aghast, ¡°Are you joking?¡± Colin pursed his lips, ¡°Nope, his false identity says twenty-three, if that helps.¡± Marta got to her feet, ¡°Oh no! Not here!¡± She barked angrily. Colin laughed, ¡°Hey, the drinking age is sixteen in sw-¡± ¡°We¡¯re not in Switzerland!¡± Marta railed, marching over to Beyol and Barry to give them a piece of her mind. Colin chuckled and shook his head, glancing away and popping another candied piece into his mouth. He chewed slowly and thoughtfully as he watched the antics of this strange group that had been brought together by the strangest woman he¡¯d ever met. He couldn¡¯t help but think about how un-villain-like they really were once the costumes and masks came off. Sonya was an impish and often childish wildcard, flirtatious and exuberant in everything she did. She practically danced through life with her heart on her sleeve and a smile on her face. Amos was a hard working and diligent guy with the demeanor of a snarky middle-child and nothing to lose. Marta was motherly and patient most of the time but would swing into fretting and discipline at the drop of a hat. Beyol tried so hard to play the cool edgy guy but was really the youngest son who was just holding himself back too much. Barry was that jolly uncle who was too enabling for his own good. He glanced again at Sonya, What kind of family are you trying to build here? He thought, amused, and rest his arms on his knees. Do you really need all this support for what you¡¯re planning? He glanced down at his popcorn and plucked out another piece, popping it into his mouth and letting out a contented sigh. Guess it doesn¡¯t really matter. We have a deal, and I¡¯ll keep this whole crazy thing running behind the scenes for you. He thought as Sonya and Amos finished their duel. Amos turned to look at him and waved, beckoning him over. Colin slid off the bench and got to his feet, Just make sure you keep your promise and save the world, will ya? I¡¯m starting to like this place. AMA 1 AMA 1 Broker: Hey everyone! [waves] Broker aka DerelictPresence here with a very special guest. Wanna say hello? Sonya: Hello cuties! What¡¯s shakin? Broker: Would it kill you to be more professional? Sonya: Probably? Anyway! I heard some of you darlings had some questions! I hope they¡¯re good ones! To get some out of the way my favorite chip brand is- Broker: Sonya! Sorry about that, let¡¯s get started with the AMA! Ree?ad latest novels at novelhall.com Sonya: Boo! Alright alright. The first one is from wcman on Royal Road! Hey there! [wiggles fingers] ahem! ¡°What were some inspirations for this story?¡± That¡¯s all you old man. Broker: Aren¡¯t you older than me? [huff] Well! I actually have had a lot of inspirations for Broker. The original version of Sonya was a My Hero Academia OC, actually, I was fascinated with the idea that superheroes in that setting could get sponsors and I thought, ¡®What if there was a Villain that sponsored heroes?¡¯ Over time I picked up more inspirations, I read a lot of myths and legends, wuxia, xiania, manhwa and manga. There was definitely some inspiration from Solo Leveling and like stories that went into it all. I love literature and entertainment in general and take bits and pieces of inspiration from everything I watch and read. Hell, you might notice a little Raymond Reddington from Blacklist in some of Sonya¡¯s interactions. Sonya: [shivers] The original version was... dark. Broker: Yep, definitely lightened you up a whole lot. Far less interested in saving the world than getting rich. Next is from gibberish also on Royal Road! ¡®How do you come up with ideas?¡¯ Sonya: Yes, please, how do you come up with my various torments? [stare] Broker: [gulp] W-well! A lot of it comes from consuming media as above. Sometimes I¡¯ll play out different scenarios in my head and see what fits well. Often I¡¯ll create a new character and go through several iterations before being satisfied. Often I¡¯ll introduce a side character and just see where it goes. [rubs chin] Though my favorite way to brainstorm is to just listen to some good music and experiment in my notes. Sonya: [frown] I wonder what you were listening to when you decided to put Mikayla through all that. Broker: Ha ha! Anyway! Uh... next question? Snipoxillo from Royal Road asks; ¡®How do you imagine the ending for Sonya and Ishtar? Would it be more positive of an ending, a happy ending sort of? or would it me a somber/bittersweet sort of ending, not entirely bad? or otherwise?¡¯ [laughs] That¡¯s an excellent question! I usually imagine it when I¡¯m working on my notes or adjusting my outline when a new idea occurs to me. I can see it pretty clearly in my head! It¡¯s a long way off though. Sonya: [stares hard] Broker: Something wrong? I told them how I imagine it. Sonya: [rolls her eyes] Broker: Ohhh! Here¡¯s a good one! Got this question from a couple people actually. Dont_like_to_Talk from Royal Road and GigaDotti from Scribblehub ask some variation of ¡®Will Sonya and Chunhua work things out and get back together?¡¯ [grins at Sonya]. What do you think? Sonya: Ahem! [plays with her hair] I certainly wouldn¡¯t be upset if something happened. But, you know, gotta work some stuff out first. [coughs] Did you know she could bench press me? I wonder if she still can. I¡¯m a bit heavier now with all the upgrades. Probably? Hopefully? She can bench press me right? Broker: [shakes his head] Adam Wise from Royal Road asks; ¡®What would happen if Sonya gave someone a power they already had?¡¯ That¡¯s actually a really good question, Broker won¡¯t let someone double up abilities like that. She could find something thats pretty much exactly the same with a different name and give it to them and that would work though! Sonya: Figures! Tobi131313 - is that a bad luck thing? Broker: Sonya! Don¡¯t be rude! Sonya: Fine! Fine! They ask about refinement of the categories of abilities, are there different tiers? Well yes, There¡¯s Low, Middle, High, and Peak categories of each tier. On top of that, some abilities even encroach a little on the other tiers because of their functions. The raw elemental abilities like Firestorm are Heroic but they can put up a pretty decent fight against a miss-matched Mythic! It¡¯s all about who¡¯s using it for other abilities. Amos¡¯ core ability, Genius Level Intellect, affects things he¡¯s good at. That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t suddenly become an engineer when I merged it in. I¡¯m better at people. [smirk] He was already a genius before, and that ability brought it up to eleven. Even if the ability itself is Heroic, the effects are pretty Mythic if you ask me. Broker: Well put! What else do we have? NotYourSaviour asks; ¡®How far along do you plan your story?¡¯ I have most of the main story beats all planned out for the main course of the story and know what order we¡¯re going to be facing certain lurking threats in. As I said before, I also know how it ends. For the meat of it; I¡¯ve got Season 2 completely storyboarded out and some of Season 3 prepared as well. Sonya: He won¡¯t even tell me anything, don¡¯t bother. The guy¡¯s a nutcase. You should see how he treats the guys in the discord. They have memes about his distraction tactics and pranks. Broker: How can you see the discord? Sonya: [points at head] Technopath? Really? Anyway! Let¡¯s see, Oh! Finally! BIGLARGEFISH from Royal Road asking the real questions: ¡®What is the cast''s favorite food?¡¯ Well I¡¯m glad you asked; I can give you the list from the Inner Circle! Sonya: Deluxe Steakburger, all the fixings, with Cheese Fries and a ColaMarta: Teriyaki Chicken and Noodles, Cucumber Salad, and an IPAAmos: Supreme Pizza and an Energy DrinkBarry: Overloaded New York Style Hotdog and a six pack of cheap BeerBeyol: Instant Noodles cooked with Extra veggies, Sriracha, and a Snack Cake.Colin: Filet Mignon a Loaded Baked Potato and Red Wine Broker: You actually went that far? Sonya: Food is important! Okay! Uh, next one is from xobotun on Royal Road, ¡®Why did you make Sonya Russian?¡¯ Broker: Hoo! That¡¯s an interesting question, [rubs chin] well, when I originally designed her I wanted her to be from somewhere close to Japan while not being a native resident. That was important at the time. Her name came next and I based her appearance around her original ability. Shock! It wasn¡¯t Broker or Farsight initially! Ultimately when I started to write Broker I decided to keep her as is but made her an American Citizen and decided not to put a lot of focus on her family life. A lot of protagonists base almost their entire personalities around their initial upbringing, I wanted Sonya to be someone who was affected more by her adulthood than her youth. She¡¯s Russian by blood, but that¡¯s really about it. Sonya: Frankly I barely remember my birth parent¡¯s names, it just doesn¡¯t matter to me. [shrugs] I feel like I lived more lifetimes after the first flash than I did in the two plus decades beforehand. Okay, next one from sheep-dodger from Royal Road, huh, ¡®In the original timeline, how many dates/weeks did it take until you realized you were dating Chunhua?¡¯ [plays with her hair] Uh... we-well, [clears throat] I gave her a hard time for a while after she basically pulled some strings to have me assigned to her squad. She kept coming around trying to apologize after she realized I was mad about it. We saw each other a lot but it wasn¡¯t until she went into the Vegas Dungeon that I realized I had feelings. Six months or so until we got pretty serious, I¡¯d say. Broker: Cute. Sonya: Shut up! Broker: Next one is for... Chunhua! Chunhua: [walks in] Good day, sir. [bows] Broker: [coughs] They¡¯re asking, ¡®How do you feel about your fellow Mythics, and what they represent of the worlds of the world¡¯s power dynamics? How do you feel about the fundamental inequality it poses on people on an individual level?¡¯ Chunhua: [crosses arms behind back] There is a certain level of responsibility that comes with power, those with powerful abilities, especially dangerous ones, should be reminded of that. Ultimately I have noticed that most of those who are actively awakened are younger and from more ordinary backgrounds save for a few. I imagine the effect on the world¡¯s class and power dynamic will be interesting but I will have to observe longer to give a more definitive answer. Broker: Crisp and astute as always. Chunhua: Thank you, [leaves] Sonya: ...god that was hot. Broker: Huh? Sonya: What? Did you say something? Anyway, Marta! Marta: Yes, ma¡¯am? Sonya: You got one, let¡¯s see... [snorts and bursts into laughter] Oh no! Hahaha! ¡®Marta, how are things going with Kingshark? As a manga and cosplay lover, do you think about the fact he can use t*ntacles all that much? Marta: [clears her throat] It¡¯s going very well, thank you for asking. He¡¯s a good man. [deadpan] Every. Single. Day. [leaves] Sonya: [stares] Woah. Broker: [clears throat] Kingshark! You¡¯re up man! Barry: Yep! I¡¯m here! What¡¯s up? Broker: ¡®King Shark, just how much power do you feel like your organization has over the USA and over the world at large now? If you flexed your influence in its entirety, what do you think you''d be able to accomplish?¡¯ Barry: Eh? I haven¡¯t really thought about it all that much, the boss gives those kinds of orders. If I had to guess I¡¯d cause a good amount of damage, maybe take a state or two if I piled everyone on. Then get blasted to atoms. My boys ain¡¯t soldiers, they¡¯re street thugs. [leaves] Sonya: About what I was expecting. [shrugs] Bluestar dear! Bluestar: [peeks in] M-me? Really? Sonya: Yes, you, what do you think about your powers and how differently they seem to function in comparison to others we¡¯ve seen? Also, are you dating Bandit? Bluestar: Oh! [blushes] I uh.. Well... my abilities might seem unique but there¡¯s several ¡®magic¡¯ users on the Pandora listing. I¡¯m the only color based one I¡¯m aware of, though. It¡¯s a bit odd, perhaps there are other colors out there? [clears throat] Yes, we¡¯re seeing one another. Keeping it simple right now. I hope that¡¯s okay, ma¡¯am? Sonya: You¡¯re asking me if I disapprove of fraternizing? Bluestar: Point taken. [leaves] Sonya: Last one since a certain asshole isn¡¯t around right now. Amos! Amos: [slides in] Wassuuuup? [holds out fist] Sonya: Wassuuuup? [brofist] Amos: Whatcha got for me? Sonya: If Sonya never found and rescued you, how do you think your life would have played out? Amos: [frowns] That¡¯s easy, I was near ground zero for the Times Square dungeon. Probably would have died in the break, if I got away from it, I dunno, start a business or something? [Grins] Immortal Konflict later? Sonya: Hell yes, see you later. Amos: [leaves] Sonya: And that¡¯s everything! Thank you guys for joining us! Broker: Yep! Thank you all so much for your questions and sharing your love for the story. Like I said, we got a long way to go from here! Season two will start soon! For now... enjoy the trailer! Season 2 Teaser Trailer Season 2 Teaser Trailer BROKER SEASON 2 TRAILER It¡¯s a brave new world. Everything has changed since Vegas, an event that will go down in history as the climax of the flash and the punctuation-mark on the dawn of a new era. Measures have been taken to prevent such an event from ever happening again. It has been a year since that fateful day and society has reached a new equilibrium, tenacious as ever. Young people across the world are coming of age and awakening their powers as new opportunities fast approach. One young soul, committed to upholding the ideals of the man remembered as the greatest hero of the flash, dreams of becoming a hero. Meanwhile, forces are on the move. Factions are forming, The Guilds are growing, Villains are rising, Dungeons have been conquered, and a cult is on the move in the American South. Announcement Broker has signed with ! More news on that development in the future! I''ll be going on a very brief break to organize the chapters for Season 2 for you all. I want to get the side stories out in the right order instead of just on Wednesdays. Season 2 Prologue – Moments out of a Year Season 2 Prologue ¨C Moments out of a Year Sonya leaned back in her chair and stared into space, pulling her knees up to her chest and tangling her fingers together. It had been a month since Vegas, a month since one really bad day. Her jaw shifted a bit in her mouth as the thoughts came back and she pushed them away with a huff, closing her eyes and trying to center herself. She glanced at the cold can of soda that had been left for her on the desk and reached out before flicking it with her finger, getting that nice noise out of it. Her lip twitched up into a small smile as the intercom buzzed on her desk. She let out a breath and reclined, spinning in her chair before reaching out to tap the button. ¡°You have reached the boss among bosses, Sonya Chernovna here,¡± She chirped, putting her best cheer into her voice even if it was a little forced. A small chuckle came back on the other end, ¡°Miss Chernovna, Miss Mint is here to see you.¡± Sonya sat up straight, ¡°Carla¡¯s here?¡± She asked, surprised. She hadn¡¯t seen her since the funeral and well, everything else. Their encounters had become a bit of a regular thing after that first exciting evening and while she didn¡¯t want to put a label on it, it was kind of nice to have at least one sure thing she could count on in her... she paused and let the thought trail off, that face popping up again and she reached up to pinch her cheek, Stop it. ¡°Send her in!¡± The door in front of her slid open and the adorable raven haired woman stepped in, bob hair swaying a little bit as she adjusted her glasses and inclined her head to Sonya, ¡°Miss Chernovna, good to see you.¡± Sonya got to her feet, ¡°It¡¯s good to see you too, Carla, how are you?¡± She asked, walking over and taking her hand before leading her to one of the chairs in front of her desk, ¡°Please, have a seat, coffee? Soda?¡± Carla raised an eyebrow, ¡°That excited to see me?¡± Sonya froze, half-way turned, ¡°Uh- I mean,¡± She cleared her throat, ¡°You¡¯re here for business, right?¡± She said and turned with an awkward smile, ¡°Of- of course, it¡¯s just been a while since you were last here and I-¡± She rubbed her neck. Carla let out a small laugh, ¡°I finally got to tease you!¡± She said and relaxed, ¡°Sonya, it¡¯s fine, I just came to check on you. At the funeral you seemed like you needed some space,¡± She said and reached up and played with her black hair a little, ¡°I uh... I wanted to come sooner but after that things got a little busy.¡± Sonya melted, just melted, that little bit of kindness just blasting all of it away, even if it was temporary, it felt good, really good. She hopped up onto the desk and snatched up the cold soda before popping it open and took a sip before passing it over to her guest with a grin, her feet swinging back and forth. ¡°You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that.¡± Carla flushed at the lip of the can before glancing up at Sonya and sighing, ¡°I guess I deserve this,¡± She said with pursed lips. ¡°You got one in,¡± Sonya winked. Carla laughed and took a sip of her own before setting it down, ¡°You seem stressed.¡± ¡°Do I?¡± Sonya asked, tapping her fingers on the table, ¡°Yes, a little, it¡¯s a lot.¡± Carla tilted her head, ¡°I think we¡¯ve seen enough of one another that you can talk to me about it,¡± She said, ¡°I¡¯ve told you a lot of my problems during our... visits,¡± She emphasized her words with a hard blush and a gentle rub of her wrists. Sonya smiled at her and reached up to run her fingers through her hair, she threw her head back and let out a long suffering sigh. She crossed her legs and tilted her head at Carla for a while. There was so much trust there, now, after everything. What she needed more than anything was someone she could trust. Even for a moment. Even if it was taking a risk. If the reaction was bad she- no, she wouldn¡¯t do that. She¡¯d deal with it. She smiled at Carla and held out her hand and an eye appeared over it, glowing, pink, it flickered as it gazed at her. Carla stared at it for a long time before looking up at her, ¡°Don¡¯t say it out loud to me, understand? Just in case,¡± She said with a warm smile. ¡°The less I know the better about it. Whatever the reasons, I know the real you.¡± Sonya blinked and her shoulders went slack, Thank goodness. Her lip trembled a bit and she dismissed the eye, letting her hands fall into her lap, ¡°There¡¯s a lot I can¡¯t say, but...¡± A few minutes later Carla was on her feet with her arms wrapped around Sonya¡¯s neck. Sonya rest her chin on the woman¡¯s shoulder as a hand ran over the back of her head. She didn¡¯t say anything, there wasn¡¯t much she could say. Sonya could only give an abridged version of the events anyway as there was no way she could share the truth about the past timeline and Carla didn¡¯t want to know about Ishtar. That didn¡¯t matter, though, the hug felt nice. Carla pulled back a bit, ¡°Sonya, I want to check on you more often, if that¡¯s okay.¡± She said, brown eyes searching hers, ¡°I¡¯m going to be in New York a lot going forward.¡± Sonya titled her head, ¡°I don¡¯t mind, I like having you around, but what changed? I thought the Chairman had you running all over the place the past month.¡± Carla smirked, ¡°Well, apparently that was his way of introducing me to everyone I¡¯d be barking orders at in the future,¡± Carla said with a raised eyebrow, ¡°I¡¯m overseeing the North American Branch as administrator, my predecessor is stepping down next week.¡± Sonya brightened, ¡°From New York administrator to North America, Carla! Congratulations, you should have opened with that!¡± ¡°I wanted to check on you first,¡± Carla said, flushing a little and stepping back. Sonya raised an eyebrow, ¡°Well aren¡¯t you a good girl?¡± Carla squinted at her, ¡°Sonya, we¡¯re having a moment here.¡± Sonya chuckled and rubbed her neck, ¡°Sorry, couldn¡¯t help myself.¡± Carla reached out, ¡°Look,¡± She said and took Sonya¡¯s hand. Sonya looked down at her fingers and up at Carla, ¡°I don¡¯t know what we are doing here, or what¡¯s happening, or any of it, but I¡¯d like to be around more to help you when I can. We can see where things go, alright?¡± Sonya squeezed Carla¡¯s fingers and played with them, ¡°I met a girl here in town and took her with me on my Florence trip,¡± She said thoughtfully, tilting her head and running her thumb over Carla¡¯s nail, ¡°I was... projecting on her, it was unfair¡± She said hesitantly, ¡°I don¡¯t want to do that to you. I don¡¯t want to make that mistake again. You¡¯re you and-¡± Carla tilted her head down a bit to catch Sonya¡¯s eyes, ¡°Clearly you¡¯re already doing a better job, aren¡¯t you?¡± She said, ¡°Thank you for telling me that.¡± Sonya shifted a bit in her seat and scratched her nose, ¡°Quit it.¡± ¡°Quit what?¡± Carla asked, smiling a bit wider. ¡°I know what you¡¯re doing,¡± Sonya grumbled, trying to hide her smile. ¡°No idea what you¡¯re talking about, Mistress,¡± Carla quipped. ¡°Oh now you¡¯re not even trying!¡± Sonya laughed, ¡°Did Marta call you? You really came all this way after running around the US just to see me? All I do is tie you up for stress relief,¡± She babbled, ¡°Come on, I-¡± Carla looked Sonya dead in the eyes, ¡°She didn¡¯t call me, I¡¯m not here for a quick lay, I just wanted to make sure you¡¯re okay and cheer you up if I could. I promise.¡± The streets of Moscow were beautiful, as always, it was a sunny day despite the chill that came with the first touches of winter. He didn¡¯t mind it, his shadows were colder. The coat that the mistress had insisted he wear helped, of course. The slacks too, and the designer shirt, and the new shoes. He was a bit confused about why she was so insistent he wear something different. T-shirts and jeans were cheap and practical, for someone who got blood on himself often, it seemed more sensible just to wear something disposable. It wasn¡¯t a bad thing though and it helped him blend in a bit better with all the other people who were walking around the streets of the Russian capital. Few looked his way though a few smiled at him with amusement for some reason. He couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on why. He rounded a corner and spotted his destination, it was a cafe. He liked coffee. That put him in a good mood. Yes, the sun was out, the air was crisp, and he had coffee to look forward to. Still, though, he was troubled. Something soft pressed against his arm again and he looked down at the mess of off-gray hair attached to the head rubbing against his arm. He felt that softness again as well as the narrow arms of the troubling woman who was gripping onto him like a vice. He raised an eyebrow and once more wondered what on earth was wrong with this woman. He had spent a short time dealing with some gnolls on her behalf and all of a sudden she was glued to him every time they were assigned together. He sighed and glanced around as Veloce, she still hadn¡¯t picked her new villain name yet, mumbled something about fruits. ¡°Date, date, date, date, it¡¯s a date.¡± Veloce sing-songed against his arm, barely audible since her face seemed to be attached to his coat. He scratched his nose, he didn¡¯t hate the attention but it confused him a great deal. He hadn¡¯t been prepared for this kind of thing back during his training so he had no real frame of reference to work with. Why is she so interested in fruit? He thought to himself, Does she like dates? Should I get her some? Would that make her happy? He glanced down at her again, She seems happy already, he sighed again, I don¡¯t understand. He walked into the cafe and up to the counter and a young woman greeted them with a small smile, ¡°Hi! Welcome! Can I make anything for you?¡± ¡°Two coffees, please,¡± He said, pulling out some cash from his wallet that he unfortunately had to move from its usual pocket because of his new ¡®attachment¡¯. ¡°Sure! Would your lady friend like anything sweet to go with it?¡± The woman asked brightly. Beyol considered the question before leaning in and holding his hand up to whisper, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t happen to have any dates? She apparently likes them quite a bit.¡± The woman blinked and then gave him a deadpan look, it was the same look mistress gave him all the time these days. Why did women look at him like that when he was with Veloce? The woman looked down at Veloce with a pitying look before taking out a tart from a display and setting it down next to the two coffees she prepared and handed it to them. He paid quickly and led Veloce over to a table. ¡°We need to sit, Veloce,¡± He grunted. Veloce looked up at him with bright yellow eyes, a big grin on her face before glancing over at the table and the small tray with a treat and coffee in his free hand. Her eyes sparkled and she darted off his arm to sit in the chair, swaying merrily as he set the two coffees down and the tart that he assumed had dates in it in front of her. She looked down at the treat and brightened even more, if that was possible, before looking up at him with a big smile, ¡°You¡¯re so sweet.¡± ¡°Am I?¡± He grunted and sat down, taking his blessedly strong black coffee in his hand and sipping. ¡°Mhm,¡± She mumbled, already a full piece of the tart in her mouth. ¡°We have work to do after this,¡± He said stiffly. ¡°I know, I know, boss lady wants us to go poke around a bit,¡± Veloce said waving her hand, ¡°No worries, I got it.¡± He raised an eyebrow, ¡°Have you given your name any thought?¡± He asked in a low voice. She pursed her lips and looked away, ¡°Always busy talk with you, good thing you¡¯re cute,¡± She said and tilted her head left and right, ¡°Yeah, I got a few books from her that have some great ideas in it. I¡¯ll come up with something soon.¡± ¡°You said that a month ago,¡± He pointed out. ¡°Yeah well I get distracted,¡± She shrugged, picking at her black fingernails. She wore a heavy coat but the rest of her ensemble was decidedly not for cold weather. A punk outfit with a torn shirt and ripped jeans that exposed enough skin to make him flush a little if he looked too hard. For some reason that seemed to make her laugh when it happened. She was messing with him somehow, he knew it. She took a sip of her coffee and glanced out the window, ¡°Wish we could just, you know, deal with the problem instead of being all stealthy.¡± ¡°Only if it¡¯s as bad as she suspects,¡± He reminded her, ¡°We¡¯re not here to make a mess.¡± She puffed out a breath, ¡°No fun! No fun!¡± She whined and threw her head back, slumping against the chair, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll be good, but only if you buy me dinner later, somewhere nice.¡± He glanced down at his attire, he figured it was suitable for a nice restaurant later, ¡°Alright, I suppose that isn¡¯t a bad deal. I will buy you dinner at a reputable restaurant this evening after we¡¯re done.¡± ¡°Two dates in one day,¡± She sighed, leaning forward on her elbow and cupping her chin with her hand, ¡°You know how to take care of a girl, Beyol,¡± She said, waggling her eyebrows at him. Again with the fruits. Is it addictive? ¡°You can have plenty of fruit tarts or whatever you like when we go,¡± He said flatly and sipped at his coffee, turning to look out the window as well. Across the street was their target, an innocuous building that was home to several shops but had a large warehouse in the rear that they all shared. Apparently a group of criminals were active in the area collecting monsters that appeared in the city in order to sell them as pets on the open market. It was a bit distasteful and bound to cause unnecessary trouble for the mistress¡¯ wider goals. According to the mistress, monsters were bad for business. That was good enough for him. Beyol finished his coffee and set it down as Veloce finished her own and popped the last piece of tart into her mouth. She beamed at him and got to her feet, stretching a little and arching her back in his face before getting to her feet and brushing her hands off. He cleared his throat and looked away, it was a little embarrassing how much she did that around him. He got to his feet and they walked past the counter where the young woman gave Veloce a look and patient smile. Veloce grinned at her before wrapping her arms around his left arm and returning to being attached to his side. Once again, Beyol was troubled. The two of them crossed the street through the cold and walked straight into a butcher¡¯s shop. They walked towards the side of the counter and the owner looked up and frowned at them, ¡°You can¡¯t-¡± He was cut off by a small spark of electricity that jumped from the clingy Veloce¡¯s finger and struck him, knocking him to the ground, unconscious. She glanced up at Beyol and blew across her finger like it was a smoking gun as they stepped up to the door leading to the back. He pinched his thumb and a violet knife appeared in his free hand. One swing and the deadbolt was cut cleanly. He reached forward and opened it. The two of them stepped inside of the large space beyond, there were people shouting and going back and forth as they worked. He frowned and looked around while Veloce skipped away to peer with a hand over her eyes like a visor, ¡°Oho! Looks like we found the right place!¡± She said merrily and glanced back at him, grinning. She paused and pouted, ¡°Wait, do we still get to go to dinner?¡± She asked. He frowned at the cages with hounds in them and then glanced at her. He met her gaze, big yellow eyes pleading, and sighed, ¡°Very well, go have fun,¡± He said. She turned on her heel and cheered while pumping her fist, ¡°Yes!¡± She shouted and hopped onto the rail before declaring to the entire warehouse; as bolts of lethal electricity began dancing across her skin, jumping from her body to strike anything around her and immediately starting small fires, ¡°Y¡¯all gotta die please! I have a date tonight!¡± He frowned, What is it with this woman and fruit? Chapter 88 Chapter 88 ¡°Two-twenty-four.¡± She pulled herself up, muscles heating, sweat beading on her neck, brown eyes focused on the far wall. The alarm clock next to her bed ticked over and buzzed once before the radio clicked on. She pulled her chin up and over the bar as a short jingle played. Then a voice cut into the near-silence of her bedroom. ¡°Good morning, Atlanta!¡± A jolly voice said, ¡°It¡¯s six am! Blue skies today with a high of eighty-four. First thing¡¯s first, here¡¯s the carter radar report: Mana levels are going to be high again as a dungeon is anticipated to form in the city by the end of the month. City leaders are looking forward to it as it¡¯ll mean more business.¡± ¡°Two-twenty-nine.¡± She glanced towards the window and saw some people starting their days. Lights either coming on or people making their way out of their homes to start an early commute. ¡°For your commute this morning, we¡¯ve got a few hot zones already marked for a high chance of monster formation. Heroes are already being sent to the scenes. You should avoid the following streets for the next hour or so,¡± The man started rattling off street names as she pulled herself up over the bar again, her fingers tensing. ¡°Make sure to check the tracker app regularly for the latest updates. Now a quick chime in from the sponsor...¡± He trailed off and a slightly amused woman cut in, ¡°This morning carter radar report has been brought to you by ASTA Corporation. We are your solution.¡± ¡°Two-thirty-six.¡± ¡°Now for the news,¡± The man went on as the very digital ASTA jingle finished playing out, ¡°Two uncommon-grade dungeons were claimed this past evening by a joint operation with the Atlanta and Georgia state Guilds. Seems like there¡¯s already an agreement on the books about mining rights, you can look it up on the official Pandora Guilds app. If you¡¯re a freelancer looking for work, they¡¯ve still got some slots open,¡± He rambled on, ¡°The final piece of the North American carter radar network was also completed this morning, finalizing a project that¡¯s been a year in the making. I for one am going to be sleeping a whole lot more easily now.¡± ¡°Two-fifty,¡± She let out a sharp breath and dropped from the bar, landing on her feet and heading for the folded towel and bottles of water on her wardrobe. She snatched up the towel and ran it over her face before cracking open a bottle of water and drinking it down. ¡°It¡¯s been just under a year since the Vegas Incident, everybody, and the day we lost one of our favorite sons. Two memorials will be held this weekend. One at the Vegas Memorial Gardens with the unveiling of a statue of our own Firestorm, and at the Nick Adders Memorial Building right here in Atlanta.¡± ¡°Radio off!¡± She called with a smile and dipped into the bathroom, looking at herself in the mirror. Long black-brown hair was trussed up in a ponytail clashing with lightly tanned skin. A pair of bright brown eyes glittered back at her. She smiled and checked herself out, all muscle, a proper set of abs and toned arms. She was as ready as she could ever be. A quick shower later she threw on a tube top to allow her skin to breathe a little, some blue jeans, and of course her favorite article: an orange letterman jacket with Firestorm¡¯s logo on it. The jacket had come out very briefly as part of a funding drive to help build the Vegas Memorial Gardens. Both ASTA¡¯s Sonya Chernovna and the now late Johnathan Adders, Firestorm¡¯s father, had come together to start the fundraiser and had both doubled the public donation. The release of hero-related merchandise had been intended to be a one-time thing but it had triggered an intense wave of demand as more heroes who participated in the incident were publicized. Especially the international heroes. She even had her own Euclidia pocket watch, it was really cool, you could see the time reflected clearly on the inner part of the lid no matter what angle you held it at. She snatched it up and stuffed it into her pocket just as she reached the door. ¡°Lily! Lillian! Are you awake?¡± Her mother shouted from downstairs. She pushed the door open, ¡°Yeah! I¡¯m up!¡± She called back, ¡°Just finished getting dressed!¡± She hurried down the stairs, bouncing from step to step before landing in front of her bewildered mother. A head shorter than her and way prettier in her opinion. ¡°Hi!¡± She said brightly. Her mother laughed, ¡°Hi! Did you have a good birthday?¡± She swept her mother up into a hug, nearly lifting her off the ground, ¡°Sure did! Thank you!¡± She kissed her mother on the cheek and hurried past her to the kitchen. ¡°Where¡¯s dad?¡± ¡°Dragging himself out of bed slower than you,¡± Her mother chuckled, walking past and setting down a plate of steaming food in front of her. ¡°Hurry up and eat, you¡¯ve got a big day,¡± She paused, ¡°Any signs?¡± ¡°Nothing yet,¡± Lillian said as she scarfed her food down, ¡°Usually happens within the first week of turning eighteen though, so I got time.¡± She¡¯s gonna be on the east coast? Lillian stared up at the screen, Will she visit the camp? Oh man. Signing with ASTA would be crazy! She bounced on the balls of her feet and checked her phone. Oh shit! She darted away from the kiosk, racing down the street as fast as she could. That¡¯s what I get for getting distracted! Sheesh! She admonished herself, zig-zagging between cars stuck at a red light and hopping to the next stretch of sidewalk. She kept running, going from street to street, following the guide. Just a little- She spotted a small form moving out of the corner of her eye and slid to a stop, snapping her hand out to grab a kid that had wandered a little too close to the edge of the sidewalk by the shirt. She pulled him back as a car zipped by. ¡°Hey! Careful there!¡± She said and glanced around to see his mother running over. ¡°Zack! I told you to stay with me!¡± The woman admonished him before turning to Lillian. ¡°Thank you.¡± The kid turned around and pouted, ¡°I¡¯m bored.¡± Lillian squatted down and spotted his firestorm t-shirt, grinning at him and poking it, ¡°He¡¯d listen to his mom, right?¡± She said and then tapped his nose, ¡°Be good.¡± He blinked as she got up and turned away, darting off without another word. She came to a stop at a particularly clogged intersection. The other intersections beyond it were just as bad. People avoiding a marked area. She checked her phone again. Ah, poop. She glanced around and saw an alley that would get her to her destination while skirting at the edge of the marked area. She huffed out a breath and darted between a few openings in the cars and into the alley. Just run through. She told herself and broke into a dash, hopping over things left behind. A bang sounded off to her left, Heroes must be working. She thought as she crested the alley and a hound went flying past her face. She slid to a stop and blinked, glancing to the right at the creature as it staggered to its feet only to get a bullet in its head for its trouble. It slumped to the ground as she glanced to her left and a grizzled looking man walked past her, giving her a sidelong look, ¡°Did you not check the app this morning, kid?¡± He grunted. She scratched her neck, ¡°Running a little late, gotta get to the terminal.¡± He glanced at her lanyard and raised an eyebrow, ¡°Better get moving. It¡¯s clear here. I won¡¯t say anything,¡± He said and strode towards the corpse. She snapped him a salute, ¡°Thanks!¡± She called and he waved dismissively, not looking back. Lillian raced across the vacant street, moving into the next alley. Buildings turned into a blur as she passed, pushing herself until she finally hopped over that last inappropriately placed dumpster. She landed on her feet, breathing hard, as she finally laid eyes on the bus terminal. A heavy looking bus with the Pandora Committee logo on the side of it was waiting and there were already people gathered around it. ¡°Made it,¡± She let out a breath. She hurried across the street, waving her hands. ¡°Hey! I¡¯m here!¡± A guard wearing a committee inspectors coat turned and reached for a weapon on his belt only to pause when he saw her lanyard flapping about. He was wearing a full face helmet and armor beneath his coat. He crossed his arms, ¡°You¡¯re late! What¡¯s your name?¡± He demanded. She slid to a stop, her stomach sinking a little from the admonishment. ¡°Uh, Lillian Landrey sir.¡± He turned his head towards a woman standing off to the side, she had black hair in a bob cut. She wore a functional pencil skirt and white blouse that almost made her miss the ornate white choker hugging the woman''s neck. Is that a pink sapphire? Lillian thought before the woman cleared her throat and drew Lillian out of her distracted thoughts. The woman adjusted her glasses and looked down at a clipboard in her hand, ¡°She¡¯s on the list,¡± The woman said, ¡°You¡¯re very lucky Miss Landrey. We¡¯re getting ready to leave. Is that your luggage?¡± ¡°Yes ma¡¯am!¡± Lillian barked. ¡°Mhm, go ahead and put it in there,¡± She said, pointing a pen at an open compartment beneath the bus. ¡°Then get in. We¡¯re leaving in five minutes.¡± Lillian didn¡¯t have to be told twice, she hurried over and tossed her bag in before making her way over to the door to the bus. She climbed inside and looked out over the many heads that looked back up at her briefly before going back to what they were doing. Oh man this is it! Now where do I sit? She thought, making her way down the aisle until she found an open seat. There was a guy sitting there and looking out the window. She stopped, ¡°This seat taken?¡± A pair of bright blue eyes turned to look at her, blonde hair coiffed perfectly on the guy''s head. He brandished a brilliant smile at her, ¡°Nope! All yours!¡± Chapter 89 Chapter 89 It was the single longest few minutes of her life, sitting there, waiting for the bus to start moving. She did her best to sit still, she really did. She kept her hands pressed between her knees and fixed her feet to the ground as the psec guy and the woman with the clipboard made their way up onto the bus. She glanced into the aisle and saw others talking and looking around, some were just relaxing, while a few looked about as nervous as she felt. The low hum of activity was dizzying, there were so many people here and all of them were at the bare minimum in the rare-tier or had the high potential of getting there. She felt like she was sitting in the middle of a powder keg. She needed a distraction and in her desperation turned to the only person who had even so much as acknowledged her existence so far among the others. The blonde guy. She turned towards him and put on her biggest smile, ¡°So what¡¯s your name?¡± She asked, trying to sound casual even as her heart pounded just about ten miles a minute. He was resting quietly against his seat, his head tilted to look out the window lazily. When she spoke she saw his shoulders tense a little before he shifted and glanced back at her. ¡°Marc,¡± He said absently. ¡°I¡¯m Lillian, nice to meet you!¡± She said eagerly, holding out a hand. He raised an amused eyebrow and took her hand, ¡°Huh, sure,¡± He said his lip twitching a little, was something funny? ¡°You look a little nervous.¡± ¡°Do I?¡± She gasped, losing a bit of volume control, she glanced around and saw a few eyes turned towards her before turning away with a few muted chuckles. She sighed and dipped her head, ¡°Yeah, maybe a little. I¡¯m just so excited to be here.¡± ¡°You and me both,¡± Marc said absently, leaning back against his chair and crossing his arms. She opened her mouth to ask another question when a chime rang out through the bus. Marc shifted forward and glanced up over the top of the seat ahead of them, she looked his way then followed his gaze to see the woman in glasses standing at the head of the bus. She adjusted her glasses and surveyed everyone for a moment before nodding, ¡°This was our second to last stop, everyone, thank you for your patience,¡± She said primly, ¡°For those of you who are just now joining us, I am Carla Mint, East Coast administrator for the Pandora Committee.¡± ¡°She used to be the liaison to ASTA corp before she got promoted,¡± Marc muttered under his breath, ¡°Super well connected.¡± She glanced his way, Woah, that¡¯s some good info. She thought before looking back at the woman. ¡°From here we will be making our way directly towards the facility in Green Bank West Virginia,¡± She said, ¡°It will be about half a day before we arrive, you should take that time to use your phones as much as you can. Greenbank is a signal-free zone. Keep in mind that communications in this vehicle are being monitored and mentioning the location of the camp will result in expulsion. This is non-negotiable,¡± Miss Mint continued sternly, glancing at a few faces in particular. ¡°You are now the first generation of East Coast Hero Aspirants, feel free to get to know your neighbors but keep moving in the aisle to a minimum. That is all,¡± She finished and with a practiced move, turned away to sit down next to the guard. On cue, the bus began to move, pulling out from the terminal without a word. ¡°Woah, this is serious,¡± Lillian breathed before breaking out into a grin, ¡°I can¡¯t friggin wait!¡± She said and clenched her fists, ¡°Today¡¯s gonna be the day, I know it.¡± ¡°Unawakened?¡± A boy said from above her. She glanced up sharply into the face of a guy with short brown hair and bright lavender-colored eyes. He grinned, ¡°Or are you just sleeping on it?¡± He asked, raising his eyebrows and waggling them a little. She blinked at him a few times, squinting a little. ¡°...huh?¡± Another boy popped up next to the first and nudged him, ¡°Dude your puns suck,¡± He said with a chuckle before looking down at Lillian, he was blonde with messy hair and dark eyes, dark eyes that widened when he took a look at her, ¡°Holy mother of gorgeous,¡± He breathed, ¡°I mean,¡± He cleared his throat, ¡°Hey, I¡¯m BLF.¡± He said, dropping his voice an awkward number of octaves. Lillian opened her mouth, her confusion only getting worse. What is happening right now? Was that flirting? Dude, come on. ¡°His name is Alex,¡± The pun-guy said, ¡°Don¡¯t bother asking what BLF means, he won¡¯t tell anyone. He thinks it¡¯s cool or something to do that.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Alex-BLF barked, ¡°At least mine¡¯s a bit original, ¡®Gravitic¡¯.¡± ¡°It has a certain profundity to it,¡± Gravitic said, ¡°Name¡¯s Greg, by the way,¡± He held out a hand. Lillian took the hand with a breath, finally, an actual lifeline in this confusing conversation, ¡°Lillian, I¡¯m guessing those are your chosen codenames?¡± She asked with a small smile, ¡°I¡¯m unawakened, yeah, so I haven¡¯t picked one yet. I was hoping to come up with something like Firestorm¡¯s name, though.¡± Alex rested his chin on his palm, ¡°Figured you for a fangirl, I like your jacket by the way.¡± She beamed up at him, ¡°Thanks!¡± She said before glancing over at Marc, ¡°Oh! This is Marc!¡± She hesitated and glanced towards the stoic blonde, ¡°I didn¡¯t get your codename, if you have one, sorry.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve met,¡± Alex grunted, frowning at Marc before turning back to Lillian, ¡°Lilian, huh? You wanna be like Firestorm? Not bad,¡± He said with a grin, ¡°I¡¯m in it to make a name for myself, maybe do a little good along the way with my team.¡± ¡°Team?¡± Lillian asked, glancing sidelong at Marc who shrugged at the dismissive comment and resumed looking out the window with a small smile on his face. She looked between the two young men who were hovering over her, ¡°You two?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know? One in thirty people have a connection to that person or know someone connected to her. There¡¯s fifty two of us on the bus, that means at least one person here-¡± The guy in glasses started only for Alex to hold up his hands. ¡°Dude, dude, that¡¯s just a conspiracy theory,¡± Alex said, ¡°Come on man, half the shit they say about her can¡¯t be real.¡± Lillian pressed her lips together and looked down at her hands. They clenched into fists as she felt a small twinge of fear run through her. Just thinking about that woman, that person, that monster, sent chills through her. Someone who fought off the worlds greatest heroes and stole away the man ultimately responsible for Firestorm¡¯s death, only to kill him herself afterwards. Cruel, evil, and powerful. Everyone knew her name and it was true that even at home saying it out loud was something of a taboo. It felt like thinking about her was bad luck. ¡°I believe it, most of it anyway,¡± She said with a breath. They all looked at her. ¡°I don¡¯t care if some people think she¡¯s curtailing the villains. I¡¯ve heard it all too,¡± She said and glanced towards Marc, ¡°If you¡¯re gonna be there to take her down, so am I.¡± Marc grinned at her, ¡°Better get a good power and keep up then. She¡¯s mine.¡± Now that fired her up, she grinned back at him, ¡°Challenge accepted!¡± ¡°Oh great, now we¡¯re in a frigging shonen,¡± Alex groaned and sat back down, ¡°I for one will be happy just helping some people. No crazy suicidal goals for me, thank you very much.¡± Greg rest his arm on the back of his seat and tilted his head, ¡°Just be careful, alright? You¡¯re still unawakened and the camp isn¡¯t going to be easy, not with miss grump overseeing it,¡± He said and sat down himself. She felt a flush run up her neck and lowered her head even as she kept her fists clenched. No, she wasn¡¯t going to back down just because it sounded crazy. She let out a breath and leaned back against her seat, giving Marc a sidelong glance, ¡°Thanks.¡± He shrugged at her and looked back out the window. The young man next to her cleared his throat, ¡°I, for one, don¡¯t think that Miss Mint will be our overseer,¡± He said, adjusting his glasses. The text from Snow¡¯s illusion appeared next to him. Ollie nodded at the message, ¡°Miss Snow is right,¡± He said, ¡°It¡¯s pretty safe to say that ASTA will be present, Marian Heroics, Forge Tactical, Wizney,¡± He named off a few. Alex snorted, ¡°You really think Wizney¡¯s gonna be here? I am not wearing a goddamn mouse on my hero suit.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve got money,¡± Ollie pointed out. Lillian tried to keep up with the conversation, there was so much to take in. She blinked a few times before something occurred to her and it felt a little rude that she hadn¡¯t asked yet, ¡°Ollie right?¡± She chimed in, cutting out a stirring argument between the two. He glanced her way, ¡°Mm?¡± ¡°What is your codename?¡± She asked, ¡°Are you awakened? I didn¡¯t ask, I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°M-me?¡± He asked, blinking a little. ¡°He¡¯s a heroic,¡± Alex grunted, ¡°Scary fuckin guy, scarier than the rest of us, ain¡¯t that right, Riot?¡± He asked and poked his head up, grinning. Ollie frowned, ¡°I didn¡¯t pick that name,¡± He protested, ¡°I¡¯ll have you know that karmic threads are more than just something to tug on. It¡¯s an investigative power!¡± ¡°I¡¯m just sayi-¡± Alex started with a laugh before freezing. Everyone froze. Most of all, Lillian froze. She looked down at her hands and blinked, a faint pale-white glow was beginning to rise up off of them. Her eyes widened as she felt something rush into her, a tingling that raced through her muscles and into her very bones. Like a wind, it built up before rushing out of her in a cool breeze. Instincts she didn¡¯t know she had tingled at the back of her head, built in knowledge that told her... next to nothing. She frowned, ¡°Wait... what?¡± Something¡¯s not right. No, that can¡¯t be it, can it? No, that¡¯s not right. Someone on the far end of the bus sat up, ¡°Who let rip the world''s nicest fart?¡± Oh no. Chapter 90 Chapter 90 On a rational, logical level, Lillian knew that the laughter wasn¡¯t that loud. There were only a few chuckling at the crack from the stranger near the front of the bus. And yet, to her, it was all deafening. She tried again to feel for the instincts of the ability, try to see if there was more to it, there was more information she could work with. There was nothing, she understood on a simplistic level what it did, what it was used for. She also knew that she couldn¡¯t simply turn it off either, but she could direct it and reign it in. It provides comfort, She thought miserably, leaning forward and resting her head against Greg¡¯s chair. That¡¯s it. It soothes. What kind of villain and monster-fighting hero has a power like that? What am I supposed to do with it? Stand at the back? She closed her eyes and clenched her fists as the laughter died down, she mutely heard a few sharp words from Miss Mint somewhere but she barely understood what the woman said. ¡°Man, nice and warm in here,¡± Alex mumbled somewhere nearby, ¡°Headaches easing up too.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Greg asked above her, ¡°I think it''s a bit cooler.¡± She frowned and peeled her head off the back of her seat. Her eyes slowly moved up to see the two looking down at her. Alex grinned at her, though he looked a bit uneasy about it, ¡°Not what you were hoping for?¡± He asked, rubbing his neck, ¡°If it makes you feel any better, I feel great.¡± She gave him a sad smile, ¡°Sort of, I guess? Is it really helping a headache?¡± To her left, Marc grunted and shifted a bit in his seat, looking more pointedly out the window. A little bit of her sank a bit. She¡¯d just got done declaring that she¡¯d be fighting on the same team that took down Ishtar. With this? Who am I fooling? She thought. It probably isn¡¯t even rare. They¡¯re going to kick me out if- ¡°Miss Landrey.¡± The clipped voice drew her out of her thoughts and she looked up in horror at the woman standing over her. Carla Mint adjusted her glasses and looked down at her with that piercing gaze. Up close she had a unique scent to her, some kind of rare perfume, why was she wearing perfume for an event like this? Lillian schooled her wandering thoughts, realizing that she was trying to distract herself. The woman reached into her purse and pulled out a small silvery ball about the size of a baseball and held it out to her. ¡°A portable RTE,¡± Carla said, ¡°Please hold it.¡± Lillian¡¯s heart sank but she nodded. She felt the gazes of the others who she had quickly bonded with on her as she let the ball drop into her hand. Carla pulled out her phone and tapped a few things on the screen and the ball started to hum, then glow. First white, then green, it hung there for a while and Lillian felt her shoulders droop before the color deepened to a vibrant blue and remained. A chime rang out from the phone and the ball turned silver again, Carla took the ball and slipped it back into her purse. ¡°Rare, very good. I¡¯m looking forward to seeing what it''s features are. It¡¯s an unusual ability,¡± She said and departed without another word. Lillian sat there, mouth agape, ¡°It¡¯s rare?¡± She looked up at Alex and Greg as if begging them to confirm it. Alex just grinned at her and shrugged, ¡°It¡¯s rare! I can stay!¡± She gasped, laughing and getting to her feet, throwing her arms around the two boys'' necks and pulling them into a tight hug. Alex gagged and patted her arm desperately while Greg just laughed. ¡°Muscles- too- can¡¯t- air!¡± Alex squeaked. She let the two of them go, beaming. She didn¡¯t understand her power, the instincts for it were so faint it felt like it wasn¡¯t even there, but it was good enough to stay. Good enough to make a difference. She didn¡¯t know how she could use it to help or live up to Firestorm¡¯s memory, Dammit I¡¯ll try my best! She thought, relief washing through her. Text appeared to her right and she glanced over to see a message from Snow. The text said, followed by a thinking emoji. Lillian glanced at Alex who frowned, ¡°Yeah, had a headache for a while now, honestly,¡± He rubbed his neck, ¡°Slept funny on the way to Atlanta. My shoulders and neck feel better too.¡± ¡°Pain relief?¡± Ollie chimed in, adjusting his glasses, ¡°That would certainly be useful especially when grouped with a regenerator. They rarely come with a pain reduction feature. It isn¡¯t a fun power to have,¡± He tilted his head before narrowing his eyes and reaching out to her, ¡°May I?¡± Lillian looked at his hand, ¡°Do what?¡± She asked, reaching out to take it anyway. ¡°I wanted to-¡± He paused, ¡°Oh my,¡± He glanced around as if he could see something she couldn¡¯t, ¡°They¡¯re everywhere. Instant karmic threads connecting you with the entire bus. That¡¯s... very interesting. Why are they silver? Hmm... new color,¡± He rubbed his chin and pulled his hand away before immediately pulling out a notebook and starting to write something down, ¡°...silver is temporary? No, mine aren¡¯t silver...¡± ¡°And we¡¯ve lost him,¡± Greg chuckled. Lillian looked up, ¡°I don¡¯t get it,¡± She said. She smiled at him, ¡°Yeah, I guess. I¡¯m fine though. It¡¯s not what I was expecting, but it doesn¡¯t feel wrong either.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± He said with a nod, ¡°Sorry about John, he just does things sometimes. Nobody knows what he¡¯s thinking, but somehow things just turn out alright,¡± Val said and rubbed his neck before glancing away and looking towards the front of the bus. ¡°If it makes you feel any better, your aura or whatever it is, it¡¯s pretty great. Haven¡¯t felt this good in a long time.¡± She smiled at him, ¡°Thanks.¡± He grinned, ¡°Anyway, we¡¯re here. At the gates it looks like.¡± She sat up a bit straighter and looked over the seats, a few of the others on the bus were looking out as well. Ahead of them, Carla was standing with the PSEC guard and talking with two others that were dressed like him. Just past them was a huge sheer white gate of metal and concrete. It trembled once before slowly splitting down the middle and sliding open. The sound of its movement woke a few of the others as Miss Mint got back onto the bus and regarded everyone. ¡°Ladies and Gentlemen, we¡¯ve arrived at Pandora¡¯s Green Bank Facility. You will notice that your phones are no longer functional. This is normal. We will get you to the courtyard to begin your orientation in just a moment. There are VIPs and sponsorship company representatives present. Keep that in mind.¡± Lillian felt that excitement resurface, racing back through her body and into her mind. Her smile blossomed back to life as she gripped the back of Greg¡¯s seat. He let out a snore and she gave it a good shake, ¡°Greg, greg! Wake up! We¡¯re here!¡± He snorted and shook his head, confused, ¡°Huh? What? Mmm? Oh shit!¡± He mumbled before sitting up and giving Alex a punch in the shoulder. ¡°Ow! What the f- oh! Fuck!¡± They passed through the gates and everyone looked out the windows. It was night. A dozen PSEC guards were standing with anti-monster munition loaded guns in their hands. Past them, trees and a winding road lead up the side of a massive hill. Occasionally they¡¯d see a break in the trees and spot either a building or some kind of sports-like field. There were obstacle courses and what looked like a simulated warzone at one point with scattered debris and craters. They continued until they reached the top where a large white building was stationed a distance away from what appeared to be an enormous decommissioned radio telescope. Behind it, hills and mountains rose in the distance, the sky was... amazing. There are so many stars. She thought breathlessly. The bus came to a stop, ¡°Everyone out! Please line up in rows of five here in the courtyard,¡± Miss Mint ordered and stepped out of the bus. Lillian and the others hopped to their feet, talking quietly amongst themselves as they filed out. She stepped onto the ground and felt the air even more, still, clean, strangely empty for some reason. Like there was a noise that was just missing. She kept her moment of thoughtfulness short and hurried over with the others as they started to form columns. The Nashville crew of course formed their own line while she, Marc, and Ollie joined another, a blonde girl immediately behind her accompanied by a frowning young man who gave her a steely look. She glanced away from him and at the building they¡¯d been lined up in front of. It looked like some sort of combination museum, common building, and residence hall. Probably for the researchers who used to work here. She looked up and saw that there was a balcony looking down over the courtyard. Carla stepped past them and went into the building for a few minutes as they all settled and looked among themselves. Alex rolled his shoulders, ¡°Here we go.¡± ¡°VIPs,¡± John muttered and his expression shifted for the first time since she¡¯d seen him, down into a determined frown as he stared up at the balcony. Beyond the railing, the doors opened and Miss Carla stepped out, behind her were two men and a woman in suits. Lillian didn¡¯t recognize any of them. ¡°Wizney, Marian, Forge,¡± John muttered. Then a laugh like tinkling glass shattered the silence that had only been filled with light muttering. Two more women stepped onto the balcony and everyone went still, Lillian felt her heart turn into stone in her chest as her eyes went wide. The first was a woman in black robes and armor, her stoic gaze sweeping over the gathered youths before glancing at the second woman and frowning a little. Black Lotus. Lillain breathed, The world¡¯s number one. Then the second woman darted to the right, putting some distance between herself and Black Lotus. She rushed right up to the railing and leaned over it, silver hair dancing around her as a pair of luminous mechanical eyes looked over them all. ¡°Woah!¡± Sonya Chernovna said with all the enthusiasm in the world, ¡°Look at all of you! Amazing! I see some familiar faces!¡± She waved, ¡°Wow! Looking good! Oh there¡¯s Ollie! Hi Ollie!¡± She waved merrily, ¡°Glad you could make it! Who¡¯s the cutie behind you?¡± That was when Lillian felt the Voice of the Hero Movement¡¯s eyes directly on her. Carla sidled up next to Sonya as another person stepped out of the doors but was obscured by the gathered VIPs and representatives. Carla whispered something in Sonya¡¯s ear and the woman nodded eagerly, ¡°Oh? Really?¡± She said and whipped around, darting back towards the doors. The person that had come out immediately went back inside with the pixie-like CEO. Up above, Black Lotus looked back over her shoulder, her expression mute. What¡¯s up with that? What¡¯s going on? Lillian thought just as the entry doors of the facility flew open and Sonya strode out, pristine white suit and pink tie practically glowing against her glittering skin. She brandished a grin and strode straight towards Lillian¡¯s group. The woman winked once and Ollie shifted a bit. She knows him, I wonder how? He didn¡¯t say anything on the bus. Sonya marched right past him, giving him a playful wink as the other person stepped out and leaned against the door, arms crossed. That maid outfit, is that Handmaiden?! Of course she¡¯d be here, that¡¯s Sonya¡¯s bodygu- ¡°Hi!¡± The greeting came so abruptly that Lillian had to do a double-take. She looked down a bit and into the glowing pink eyes of Sonya Chernovna herself. She looked like... wow. Was it even possible to be that pretty? She barely seemed human. It was beyond intimidating. Sonya grinned smugly at her, ¡°Lillian Landrey right? Heard you awakened on the bus!¡± She held out her hand, ¡°Mind if I have a look?¡± Chapter 91 Chapter 91 Lillian looked down at the woman in front of her, she was so short! She had always seen Sonya as this larger-than-life figure. But the reality was she was a petite little thing. That smile, though, cunning, a bit smug, and full of mischief. It was a bit funny to Lillian to see the person who had figuratively kicked off the age of heroes as this tiny little imp of a person, but here she was. She swallowed and looked down at the woman¡¯s outstretched hand. ¡°You can find out a powers name with a touch, right?¡± She asked hesitantly. ¡°Sure can!¡± Sonya said with a wink. She almost didn¡¯t want to know, but a little part of her couldn¡¯t resist the desire. It wasn¡¯t a commonplace thing to know, Pandora didn¡¯t make a big deal of pointing it out, but a power¡¯s name was incredibly important. Knowing it almost made it more powerful, in a roundabout kind of way. Once you knew it, you could understand it. Lillian glanced to the left at the Nashville team, Alex grinned at her and Greg gave her a thumbs up. She looked back down. ¡°Okay,¡± She said and took the woman¡¯s hand. What is that ticking sound? Lillian thought as thin, delicate fingers tangled with hers for just a moment. She¡¯s so close. Is she wearing cologne? It¡¯s ... sweet? Just like that, Sonya stepped back with a chuckle and gave her a coy grin, ¡°I¡¯ll make a note of it!¡± She said with a laugh, ¡°Definitely come see me this evening during the open interviews and I¡¯ll fill you in.¡± Wait, she¡¯s not going to- ¡°You¡¯re not going to tell her here?¡± Alex protested, a frown on his face. Sonya turned her head and put her hands on her hips. She was standing between Ollie and Marc with a frown on her face now. ¡°Excuse me? Why on earth would I do that here?¡± She asked a bit sharply. Alex blinked, ¡°Uh... because...¡± ¡°Listen here,¡± She said and stepped back out to stand in front of the group, ¡°I¡¯m going to make something clear for all of you,¡± She held up a finger, ¡°The name of your power is a precious thing. It tells you a lot about the nature of it, how it works, what it does, and how to help it grow to its fullest potential. All powers are capable of hitting the peak of their grade and some can even encroach higher with smart use,¡± She said, turning to give Alex a look. ¡°They are also a hint at your weaknesses. Blatantly shouting out your power¡¯s name is suicidal and stupid, especially the higher in rank it is. In the peak-epic, heroic, and mythic tiers, some of those powers have conceptual weaknesses,¡± She explained and ahead of Lillian, Marc flinched a little, ¡°Thematic ones, especially those named after mythological or historical figures. They can tell you a lot. Imagine if you went around bragging that you had Achilles body? Hm?¡± She spun dramatically and pointed at Ollie, ¡°Ollie dear! Tell me, what would you do if you had to fight a villain with Achilles powers?¡± Everyone glanced at Ollie who shrank a little bit under the intense scrutiny. He pushed his glasses up, ¡°Um... I would go for his heels?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Sonya announced, ¡°Achilles was a hero who was thought invincible in myth, but his heel was vulnerable and one blow killed him.¡± Sonya turned to Alex with a raised eyebrow, ¡°Sharing the name and details of your powers is something for your closest allies and those you trust intimately,¡± She pursed her lips and smiled at him, ¡°Be more careful in the future, mm? Fortunately you¡¯re surrounded by fellow aspirant heroes.¡± She turned away with a flourish, ¡°Miss Landrey, I¡¯m looking forward to talking later tonight!¡± She said with a wave and walked towards the doors. ¡°Black Lotus can handle it from here, I¡¯m sure!¡± She said and Handmaiden opened the door for her with a bow, the two disappearing inside. Everyone stood in stunned silence for a moment, looking at one another. Lillian looked down at her hand and up at the door, clenching it tightly. Now I definitely want to know. Behind her, the blonde girl shifted a bit, ¡°Wow...¡± Lillian and a few of the others within earshot looked her way. She had long straight blonde hair and dark, dark blue eyes. She pulled her hair back over her ear and scowled at Lillian, ¡°What?¡± Lillian grimaced and turned away, Scary. A sound like a whip crack broke through all the murmured conversation. Lillian turned back and looked up to see Black Lotus standing up there, leaning on the railing with one hand up. The way her fingers were positioned... Did she just snap her fingers and make that kind of sound? That could deafen someone! Black Lotus frowned, ¡°Back to business!¡± She said, her voice carrying despite speaking at a normal volume. She crossed her arms behind her back and held her head high, ¡°As you are all aware this is both a training camp and a way to test you to see if you have what it takes to get your license and become a hero. The laws have changed since the flash and there are many regulations in place and qualifications you must meet. You will be challenged here and pushed to your limits to see just the kind of person you are.¡± She swept her gaze over the gathered youths. Everyone stood up a bit straighter. Lillian felt her heart pound in her chest. ¡°You are the fifty highest potential aspirants on the East Coast, that puts a lot of pressure on you. Embrace it, face it. Tonight is your sole night of peace before the coming storm. As Miss Chernovna indicated, there will be open interviews tonight and every night to introduce yourself to the various sponsors present. It is up to you to choose when to take the plunge and meet with one of them.¡± She gestured to the left, ¡°Miss Hardy from Wizney. Mister Onslow from Forge. And Mister Cramer from Marian. As well as Miss Chernovna from ASTA will be in their offices within the facility that you¡¯ll be staying in. Their doors will be open after training is done each day to meet with you.¡± She drew her arm back, ¡°As for your instructors, there are several licensed heroes present who will help oversee. As well as myself and Miss Chernovna who has agreed to assist in a few classes including one of the combat classes. You can learn more inside, there are catalogs on your bunks. It is up to you to pick which classes you attend throughout the day. Do not waste your time. It is limited.¡± The stern woman gave them all one more once over, ¡°This is your chance to prove yourselves, tonight is your opportunity to rest and get to know one another, enjoy, eat, rest, and prepare. Dismissed.¡± She finished the last statement with a clipped tone and turned away to sweep back towards the doors leading inside. The sponsor representatives scanned the gathered youths one more time before making a few notes of their own and turning away to follow her. Everyone just stood there, Lillian watching the top hero disappear into the upper floor of the building. She turned a wide-eyed look to the others. ¡°Did... did you guys get all that?¡± John nodded and tapped his temple, ¡°Memorized.¡± Val crossed his arms and frowned a little, ¡°So there¡¯s no set schedule, that¡¯s rough.¡± Alex grinned, ¡°Chernovna is teaching a combat class? I gotta see this.¡± Snow asked as they passed into the hallway. ¡°Not until I talk to Miss Chernovna,¡± Lillian said, dodging around a pair of girls that nearly raced through her to get to the dorms. Snow asked, Lillian nodded, ¡°Yeah, I caught that,¡± She said and crossed her arms, muscles tensing a little as she frowned, ¡°But Miss Chernovna invited me directly and said tonight. I can¡¯t disappoint her.¡± Snow pointed out. Lillian shrugged, ¡°This whole thing¡¯s a test, isn¡¯t it?¡± They stepped out into the large common area that they had rushed through when they¡¯d first come in. There was a massive diorama of the earth hanging at one side of the room surrounded by rails. The rest of the space was dominated by couches and chairs. There were tables lined up along one side with a whole spread and aspirants had already crowded it, grabbing what they could before hurrying back to their cliques and teams. She spotted the rest of the Nashville team all sitting in one area, somehow they¡¯d managed to drag Ollie with them. Marc was nowhere in sight. Don¡¯t think about that guy right now, it¡¯ll just get you worked up. She thought and made her way over to the food line. Took only a few minutes to grab a heaping plate of meat, veggies, noodles, some rice, the works. She made sure to grab a few slices of bread too before making her way over to the group with Snow. ¡°Dorms are pretty spartan, huh?¡± Alex said as they sat down. ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t mind, reminds me of track and field camp,¡± Lillian said. ¡°You ran track?¡± Greg asked, grabbing a hot dog from his plate. ¡°Yeah, moved to free running after that and it became part of my prep regime for becoming a hero,¡± She said, a small smile coming to her face. ¡°You do parkour?¡± Alex blurted, sitting up, ¡°I gotta see this.¡± ¡°Not here, dumbass,¡± Val chided him. ¡°I liked the dorms,¡± John muttered over a neat pile of sandwiches, ¡°Perfect.¡± ¡°Of course you would,¡± Alex grunted and sat back, waving a fork in Lillian¡¯s direction, ¡°So, you gonna go see Miss Chernovna.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Lillian said, ¡°After I eat.¡± ¡°Good shit, tell me how it goes,¡± Alex said with a grin, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t mind signing with ASTA, they got great gear.¡± Snow pointed out with a text in the air. ¡°I could always work with some!¡± Alex rumbled. As the bickering picked up, Lillian dug in. The food was beyond good, they¡¯d really taken out all the stops for the Aspirant¡¯s first night. She hoped it would continue but she had a feeling things would be tougher in the days that came. Her lips pressed together as she stared at her food. It¡¯s going to be really hard. But I can do it, I know I can. She looked up at the others, carefree, laughing. Yeah, definitely. She nodded to herself and scarfed the rest of her food down, getting a few startled looks from the others and shot to her feet. ¡°I¡¯m going,¡± She said, her fists clenched. ¡°Hell yeah! That¡¯s the spirit!¡± Alex laughed. Snow said. She looked at them and felt her chest swell a little with confidence. Yeah, she could do this. She turned around and spotted the arrow pointing up the stairs that said ¡®sponsor offices¡¯ and made her way towards it. A few groups glanced up at her and whispered among themselves as she made it to the steps. She ignored them, excitement building as she forced herself not to race up the steps or hop the rail in a little parkour show. She walked slowly up before arriving at a hallway with several doors leading into conference rooms. Each had a logo set on them for the various companies present. One of the doors near the end opened and Black Lotus stepped out in a huff. Lillian froze. The woman¡¯s expression was frustrated and a little... sad? Disappointed? No, hurt. What happened? She frowned and took a step only to draw the woman¡¯s attention. Black Lotus looked up and schooled her expression into that military frown. ¡°Aspirant,¡± She clipped and walked towards her before passing. The woman paused at her shoulder, ¡°Good luck, if there¡¯s anyone in the world that can help you, it¡¯s her,¡± She said before disappearing down the stairs to the common area. Lillian looked back over her shoulder at the disappearing wave of black hair before looking back at the simple door that seemed a lot more ominous now. She swallowed. No pressure or anything, right? Chapter 92 Chapter 92 Lillian stood in front of the door, her hand on the handle. On the other side was a room with someone who could literally decide how far she goes in the future as a hero. She took a deep breath and pushed down, pushing the door open and stepping inside. It was a simple conference room, one long table with several chairs. There were actually three people inside, more than she¡¯d expected. She had figured that Handmaiden and Sonya were present, but who was this third person? Across from her, Sonya was sitting at the end of the table. She was pulling her hair back and letting out a breath. There was a bit of tension in her shoulders and Lillian got the feeling she was irritated. Maybe she and Black Lotus had an argument about something? Black Lotus seemed to think that Sonya was the best person to talk to. She rubbed her neck and glanced up at Handmaiden. The pretty brown-haired woman stood stoically behind Sonya, her hands crossed delicately at her waist. Then there was the third presence, it was a youthful looking person with brown hair that had been tied back into a partial ponytail while the rest spread out over their head. They were sitting a bit back from the table, legs crossed. They were ridiculously pretty. The person glanced up from a notepad and raised an eyebrow at Lillian before winking at her. She flushed immediately and cleared her throat, looking at an expectant Sonya. ¡°Miss Chernovna, I¡¯m here?¡± Sonya brandished a winning smile and got to her feet, ¡°Yes you are! I¡¯m so glad you came, Lillian. I was a little worried you¡¯d wait!¡± She laughed and walked around the table to approach her. She held out her hand, offering a handshake. ¡°Allow me to properly introduce myself, I¡¯m Sonya Chernovna, CEO of the Applied Strategic Technologies Association. ASTA for short!¡± She said brightly, ¡°My company provides technological, logistical, and agent-based assistance for heroes as well as maintains its own Guild.¡± She gestured to Handmaiden, ¡°This is Marta Daphne, but you probably know her as Handmaiden. She is a Mythic Licensed Hero and my bodyguard and attendant,¡± She said. Marta inclined her head and her stoicism melted into a gentle smile, ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you, young lady.¡± Lillian already had stars in her eyes getting the full treatment from Sonya and now Handmaiden was smiling at her. She barely processed when Sonya turned her towards the other person in the room, ¡°And this is Colin Matthews. Colin is my personal legal advisor and possesses a very unique set of skills and a fascinating ability.¡± Colin got to his feet and grinned, reaching out to take Lillian¡¯s hand. Soft. ¡°Nice to meet you Miss Landrey. I hope you don¡¯t mind me being here. ASTA takes these conversations very seriously and my role is to help Miss Chernovna vet our candidates.¡± ¡°Vet?¡± Lillian asked. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Colin nodded, ¡°My ability isn¡¯t on the public record as I never got licensed,¡± He said, ¡°I am able to endorse and hold people to contracts,¡± He said and reached down, he pulled a suitcase up and opened it, revealing a sheet of paper with text on it. It was very brief. I [BLANK], DO AGREE TO TELL THE TRUTH FOR THE DURATION OF THIS INTERVIEW. IN EXCHANGE, ANYTHING I SAY WILL BE HELD IN CONFIDENCE BY THOSE PRESENT. It was signed by Sonya, Colin, and Handmaiden herself. ¡°Do you understand why I am having Colin use this document?¡± Sonya asked, peering up at her from her side with a serious expression. ¡°An Set,¡± Lillian breathed. ¡°You¡¯re checking for false heroes.¡± Sonya gave her a sad smile, ¡°As much as I want to trust you, I have to be careful as does the Pandora Committee,¡± She said, ¡°The other sponsors have similar methods that they are employing. Forge has a living lie detector in their room right now.¡± Lillian stared at the paper and set her shoulders, ¡°Hand me a pen,¡± She had nothing to hide and knew what kind of person she was. She wanted to, had to believe that with all of her heart. She wouldn¡¯t have lied to begin with, but this made everything clearer for all parties. It was the right way to handle it. Sonya blinked and looked her up and down, a small smile growing on her face. ¡°I knew I had a good feeling about you,¡± She said and walked back to her seat, sitting down. ¡°Colin?¡± ¡°Right away, ma¡¯am,¡± Colin said and drew the paper out, setting it down with a pen in front of Lillian. Lillian filled her name in and signed on the dotted line. Instantly she felt a charge run up her arm and a tension wash through her body. She let out a breath, reaching up to touch her neck thoughtfully. ¡°Have a seat, Miss Landrey,¡± Sonya said. Lillian sat down, ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am,¡± She said after catching her breath. ¡°We¡¯ll start with a few test questions to keep things above board and make sure the contract is acting as intended,¡± Sonya said, ¡°What is your name, place of birth, and age?¡± ¡°Lillian Aubrey Landrey. Atlanta, Georgia. I¡¯m Eighteen,¡± Lillian said. ¡°Pretty name,¡± Sonya said with a smile and nodded, ¡°Okay, are you in any way affiliated with any villain-related organization or know someone who is?¡± ¡°No ma¡¯am,¡± Lillian said. ¡°Good!¡± Sonya nodded, ¡°Have you at any point before or after acquiring your abilities fantasized or considered using such abilities for a crime?¡± ¡°Absolutely not,¡± Lillian said, shaking her head. ¡°Excellent, one more,¡± Sonya said, ¡°Do you have any intention to use the legal authority granted as a hero to benefit yourself in a way that would be considered by others to be selfish?¡± ¡°Not in a million years,¡± Lillian said, ¡°I want to become a hero like Firestorm.¡± ¡°Good luck, little hero,¡± Sonya said, ¡°Now go have fun with your friends. It looked like you found yourself in a good group.¡± Lillian bounced on the balls of her feet, ¡°Yes! Right! I mean! Oh my god!¡± She forced herself to calm down, deep breaths, deep breaths, Miss Chernovna told me to keep it to myself for now. Gotta be cool. Be cool. She breathed deep and then exhaled. ¡°I¡¯m good.¡± Sonya laughed, ¡°Go on, we¡¯ll talk more soon.¡± Lillian brandished her own big smile, ¡°Thank you, so much,¡± She said slipped out the door. ¨C Sonya watched the girl go and tilted her head, a sad smile playing on her face. Colin shifted a bit in his seat and looked her way, ¡°That was quite the investment, and those sanctions were...¡± Sonya glanced his way, ¡°I know. I never said I was a nice person.¡± ¡°You made the right choice,¡± Marta said, putting a hand on her shoulder, ¡°She¡¯ll go far.¡± Sonya reached up and touched her dear friend¡¯s hand. She felt a little guilt for what Lillian would have to go through. ¡°She¡¯ll have to endure a lot to earn it,¡± Sonya said, ¡°But I wouldn¡¯t expect anything less from his successor,¡± Sonya said and looked down a bit, ¡°After what happened with Chunhua, I need a sure thing, even if that means I have to stack the deck.¡± Marta squeezed her shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t talk about her, it¡¯ll just upset you. Come on, you¡¯ll have at least one more by the end of the night.¡± Sonya let out the boiling emotions that were stirring in her chest with a heavy sigh. She clapped her face with her hands and drew her hair back, schooling her emotions. ¡°Right. Back to work!¡± ¨C Lillian did her best to control her excitement, she really did, but it was so goddamn hard. She hopped down the steps two at a time before landing in the now dimly lit common area. It seemed like most of the eating was over and people were just chilling now. A few of the guys had left for the dorms and now Ollie, Val, and Snow were the only people she recognized. She walked over to them and waved. Val nodded at her, ¡°How¡¯d it go?¡± ¡°Pretty good! The interview is intense though, all the sponsors have lie detection methods to check for potential villains,¡± Lillian said, sitting down on the couch. ¡°Huh,¡± Val rubbed his chin, ¡°Good to know, I like that. Alright, well I got what I was waiting for, I¡¯ll go tell the guys,¡± He said, clapping his knees and getting up. ¡°Ollie, you coming?¡± Ollie was furiously writing something down in his notebook and mumbling to himself. He looked up and blinked, ¡°Oh? Right! It is late," He said and hopped to his feet. He turned a small awkward smile on Lillian, ¡°Glad the interview went well, I hope you get it. Miss Chernovna is a good person. She helped me out.¡± Lillian smiled at him, ¡°I¡¯m sorry about earlier, by the way.¡± He rubbed his neck, ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± He said, ¡°You guys are nice to me, even after that. If you need anything, I¡¯ve already plumbed through the catalog. I¡¯ll help you figure out your schedule tomorrow.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like that,¡± Lillian said, ¡°Now go to bed you guys. I¡¯m gonna catch my breath for a minute.¡± ¡°Sure, later,¡± Val said and walked off, Ollie close behind. A small flash of movement followed by a pressure in her lap drew her attention. Lillian looked down to see Snow¡¯s head down there, facing out towards the common area. She raised an eyebrow, ¡°You know the couch has actual pillows, right?¡± Snow tapped away at her phone, The text appeared in front of her and Lillian chuckled, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s fair,¡± She said, ¡°Miss Chernovna said I should explore my power a bit before she gives me the name. That we¡¯d talk more later.¡± Snow said. ¡°You know,¡± Lillian said, glancing around, ¡°There¡¯s barely anyone here, you don¡¯t have to talk to me through your texts.¡± Snow froze, shifting a bit in her lap. Just the glow of her phone illuminating the slight frown on the girl''s face. Lillian felt like she¡¯d stepped in another landmine again. She opened her mouth to speak when another text appeared. Lillian read the words and immediately understood, ¡°Hey, I¡¯m sorry,¡± She said. Snow said with a huffy looking emoji, Lillian laughed, ¡°Sure, I can do that.¡± Chapter 93 Chapter 93 Lillian sat down hard in the couch with a sigh, a couple breakfast wraps on her plate and a cup of coffee balanced between them. Her eyes sparkled as she looked them over, the food was still good even after that first night. She grinned to herself and took a bite as the others made their way over. Snow sat down on the arm of the couch to her left. While Lillian was in her tank-top and sweatpants, Snow wore a sweatshirt so big one couldn¡¯t see her shorts. Alex and Greg had gone for t-shirts as well while John and Val wore their usual. Ollie appeared at some point and sat down with all of them as they ate. ¡°Okay, so,¡± Ollie said, adjusting his glasses, ¡°Roll call will be in an hour, so we got a little time.¡± ¡°When do classes start?¡± Lillian asked, sipping at her coffee. ¡°Noon, so we gotta get at least our first few days figured out,¡± Ollie explained. ¡°It¡¯s ten weeks, right?¡± Alex asked, licking his thumb and setting down his plate. He leaned forward, ¡°Plenty of time for everything.¡± ¡°You¡¯d think,¡± Ollie said, ¡°Take a closer look at the daily schedules and you might be surprised. Getting your schedule right and tailored to what you need is as much a test as the actual classes.¡± Alex scratched his head, ¡°Really? Damn man...¡± ¡°Same length of time as basic training,¡± John mumbled over his same obsessively neat stack of sandwiches, ¡°Soldiers designed this, and the courses.¡± ¡°Right on the money,¡± Ollie said with a grin, ¡°Most of it was organized by Black Lotus herself, she¡¯s ex-military.¡± Lillian waved her hands, ¡°We¡¯re getting off track, what¡¯s on for today?¡± Ollie nodded, ¡°Right! Of course,¡± He opened the book, ¡°At noon there are a few options, there¡¯s a physical assessment with Black Lotus for those who are unsure about where to go, followed by drills that take up a good portion of the afternoon,¡± He said, ¡°There¡¯s also a hand-to-hand basics course with... Miss Chernovna?¡± Greg coughed into his cup, ¡°That tiny thing is gonna teach hand to hand combat?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what it says,¡± Ollie said, scratching his head. ¡°I read it last night but it¡¯s still a little hard to believe.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going,¡± Lilly said, ¡°I¡¯m confident in my physical fitness but I wouldn¡¯t mind joining in on the drills later, what else?¡± Ollie nodded, ¡°Okay so, there¡¯s a timeslot after that set aside for pretty much the entire camp, it¡¯s about an hour to study policy, criminal law, and pandora regulations with a teacher, no name, at the end of the ten weeks there¡¯s a test,¡± He said, ¡°Then there¡¯s a scouting course later in the afternoon with Sonya as well, a focus on mapping out and exploring dungeons safely. At the same time we have the option of taking a course on gear and pandora-tech theory.¡± Snow chimed in with the tick-a-tap of her nails against her phone. ¡°What about going forward?¡± Lillian asked. ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± Ollie said, flipping through, ¡°A few highlights, battlefield rescue, disaster relief, field first aid training, several combat courses, power theory, you can register to get one on one for certain days with one of the instructors to work on your abilities,¡± Ollie said, ¡°Oh, and then there¡¯s the monster class.¡± Everyone stopped and looked at him, ¡°...monster class?¡± Val asked, ¡°Like, actual monsters?¡± ¡°A course centered around combating the standard two variations of monsters that commonly appear outside dungeons, Hounds and Lurkers. Students will be exposed to live combat with the aforementioned entities after sufficient education,¡± Ollie read and looked up at him, adjusting his glasses, ¡°Would seem so.¡± Lillian leaned back and glanced at Snow who looked uncomfortable, she grinned at her, ¡°It¡¯ll be fine! No biggie, right? Hounds and Lurkers are the least of our concerns. Yeah? We¡¯re heroes!¡± She said with a big flex of her arm, ¡°We got this.¡± The others seemed to relax a little bit after that, Val and Greg even sending her a small smile and a nod. Alex still looked nervous though, he swayed back and forth in the couch before hopping to his feet. ¡°I gotta walk around.¡± She dropped him and brushed her hands off, turning to the others. ¡°Everything is a weapon! The light of the sun, the lights above your head, the floor, your feet, your head, your hands, everything. Discounting your surroundings is a sure way to get yourselves killed,¡± She said sharply. ¡°His opening attack was good, the swaying path was an excellent way to keep the opponent guessing. He even managed to recover quickly from me attempting to blind him. Great form,¡± She turned and looked down at him, ¡°You need situational awareness, John.¡± He got to his feet and bowed, ¡°Yes ma¡¯am!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll talk about the specifics of knife fighting later,¡± She said to him, ¡°You¡¯re suited for it, but you need technique, not just instincts.¡± He nodded and walked back over to the group. Lillian and the others looked at one another. They looked up at the lights over their heads and only just now realized that they¡¯d been set to be extra bright in the room. There was also a switch just a few feet behind Sonya that she could use to turn them all off. Lillian felt a wave of excitement wash up and over her, a heat burning in her chest that just didn¡¯t want to die down. She grinned and bounced on the balls of her feet a few times before stepping forward, I can really learn something from this. She¡¯s good! Crazy good! Sonya watched her approach and grinned, ¡°Miss Landrey! I¡¯m glad you came to my lesson, you¡¯re wasted on Black Lotus¡¯ drills, aren¡¯t you? Come on! Show me what you got!¡± Lillian didn¡¯t have to be asked twice. She darted forward in a low run, crossing the distance in a heartbeat. She let out a huff and dropped as Sonya flicked her blade to shine the light in her face. She stretched her arms out and to the right, catching herself and pivoting into a near breakdance turn, swinging her entire lower half in Sonya¡¯s direction. Sonya took a half step back, guard up as Lillian pushed hard, throwing herself a few meters and landing on her behind where Sonya had been standing. She didn¡¯t stop moving, she darted forward only to throw her head back as the blade of the knife appeared in front of her face. She kicked out and Sonya wrapped her arm around Lillian¡¯s ankle with a grin, she twirled the knife into a stabbing grip and brought it down towards Lillian¡¯s thigh. Shit! Lillian kicked downward, pulling Sonya with her only for the woman to let go and pivot into a goddamn one-handed handstand on Lillian¡¯s descending leg. Lillian looked up at the the woman¡¯s body as it spun and the knee came down. Lillian saw stars. She landed on her back and blinked a few times, an aching spot right between her eyes. ¡°Ow...¡± She groaned. ¡°Seven seconds, but good technique!¡± Sonya said, ¡°You did parkour and free-running, right? I can see it,¡± The woman tapped her chin over her, looking thoughtful for a moment, ¡°You need a weapon, something with reach to compliment those dynamic movements. Not too much reach though, polearm would overcomplicate things and you don¡¯t seem the kind to use a gun.¡± She turned and pointed at a random aspirant in the crowd, ¡°You, cute one! Jessica Wayne!¡± A girl who had dyed the tips of her hair blue pointed at herself, ¡°M-me?¡± ¡°Is there another Jessica Wayne?¡± Sonya asked, putting her hands on her hips. ¡°R-right! Sorry ma¡¯am!¡± Sonya snorted and shook her head, ¡°Right, do you know of any weapons that would work well for her? You practice with weapons too, don¡¯t you?¡± The girl mulled it over for a moment, frowning, ¡°A mace might be too heavy if she¡¯s moving at speed, but that momentum would complement it well,¡± She shook her head, ¡°A sword? Not a short sword, something longer. That or tonfa to extend her reach.¡± Sonya nodded, ¡°Good! That¡¯s what I¡¯m looking for,¡± She turned back to Lillian who had brushed herself off. The brief fight had been exhilarating. She didn¡¯t even feel the pain in her forehead anymore as she looked over at the girl and then back at Sonya, nodding along. ¡°Do you know what I expect of you?¡± ¡°Find a weapon that suits me, explore those options first, and come back to you,¡± Lillian said quickly. This is great! Sonya glowed with approval. ¡°Right! In the meantime, spar with John, he¡¯s a good match-up for you.¡± Lillian beamed, ¡°Yes ma¡¯am!¡± Chapter 94 Chapter 94 Lillian was on the ground, breathing hard. She felt a tingling coolness wash over her muscles as they knit themselves back together at a rapid pace. Even then, even as she felt the ache fade and the weariness disperse, she was exhausted. She stared up at the ceiling and closed her eyes for a moment before sucking it up and pulling her knees to her chest. With a grunt, she threw herself forward and was standing again. She glanced around the ¡®dojo¡¯ as Miss Chernovna was calling it, and saw most of her fellow aspirants laying on the ground or leaning against walls. She looked down at the disheveled John at her feet. ¡°You good?¡± She asked, breathless. ¡°Mm,¡± He mumbled, holding out a hand. She clasped it and pulled him to his feet. His dark eyes narrowed and he looked up before straightening his mess of black hair and fixed his tie. ¡°Tired, but I don¡¯t hurt, your ability?¡± ¡°Yeah, I can kind of feel it working on everyone else too,¡± She said, glancing at the others as they slowly pulled themselves together. ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys lucky?¡± Sonya chimed in from a cushion she was sitting on in the rear of the area, ¡°Having someone with a passive recovery ability training with you!¡± She smiled and sipped at a cola, seeing it made Lillian¡¯s stomach rumble a little, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t tell Black Lotus if I were you, she won¡¯t be as nice as I am about it.¡± The other aspirants all looked Lillian¡¯s way. Some of them frowned while others smiled with gratitude. She rubbed her neck, Mixed reaction, great. She thought before glancing at Sonya who winked at her, ¡°I just hope it helps,¡± She said awkwardly, shifting a bit on her feet. Sonya slipped off of her cushion and crossed her arms behind her back, ¡°Now! For those of you who want to continue taking my lessons and improving your basic combat skills, it¡¯s time to talk about the ultimate expectation,¡± She said, drawing everyone¡¯s attention. Lillian set aside her mild discomfort from the gazes of the others and gave the woman her full focus. ¡°Thirty seconds and one clean if grazing blow,¡± Sonya said, holding her finger up in the air. ¡°That¡¯s it.¡± Lillian narrowed her eyes and then let them widen with alarm, ¡°Thirty seconds?¡± She gasped. John frowned next to her, ¡°Against you?¡± Everyone murmured, ¡°Some of us only lasted a second! That¡¯s nuts!¡± Sonya frowned, the first time she¡¯d seen the woman actually make a testy expression in public, she turned her glowing pink eyes on the person who spoke. ¡°You can¡¯t last thirty seconds against an overtrained CEO? A glorified desk jockey?¡± She snapped, ¡°Then give up being a hero,¡± She said harshly. ¡°But you¡¯re way tougher than some office worker!¡± Another protest came. ¡°Yeah, how are you so good at fighting? I heard you were blind up until the flash!¡± Alex chimed in, crossing his arms. ¡°I have maintained myself my entire life,¡± Sonya said, resting her hands on her hips, ¡°My injury notwithstanding. Just because your lifestyle or career changes, does that mean you should stop perfecting the things you are good at?¡± She demanded, ¡°Should I have given up on my body?¡± Sonya asked. ¡°I worked hard to get to where I am, suffered a lot, studied a lot, and now I am here teaching you and kicking your ass, boys and girls.¡± The crowd flinched a little as she looked them over, ¡°Thirty seconds, one definite hit, do that, and I¡¯ll consider you passable as a hand to hand combatant. However!¡± She held up a hand, ¡°One more thing,¡± She cracked her trademark grin, ¡°The one who lasts the longest after thirty seconds by the end of the ten weeks will receive a special reward from yours truly, as long as it''s within my power, I¡¯ll grant your wish.¡± A susurrus spread through the room, everyone stared at her a bit harder as she turned away and threw up her hand, ¡°Dismissed! I¡¯ll see some of you at the scouting training tonight.¡± Lillian watched her go and rubbed her neck, Everybody¡¯s got a story, I guess. She thought and glanced over at John who shrugged and turned on his heel to walk away. Greg walked over to clap him on the back and wave at Lillian while Alex walked over to join them. She bit her lip and looked back at Sonya one more time before nodding to herself. The best time, huh? That¡¯s a bar worth striving for. She didn¡¯t even consider the reward, just getting there was worth it to her. She turned and hustled over to them, grinning and throwing an arm over Greg¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You survived!¡± She laughed. He glanced up at her, ¡°Yeah, kinda? That Jessica chick is no joke,¡± He said with a sigh, ¡°I wish we were allowed to use our powers here. Some of us don¡¯t have passives,¡± He said with a grin at her. ¡°Hey! You¡¯d be half-dead by now if it weren¡¯t for me!¡± She countered as they started to walk. ¡°She¡¯s got you there,¡± Alex said. ¡°Shut up, Alex, you don¡¯t get to talk,¡± Greg said, ¡°You¡¯re just as bad.¡± ¡°Oh come on, don¡¯t out me here, shhh!¡± Alex hissed, holding his finger up to his lips. Lillian raised an eyebrow but decided this time she wouldn¡¯t pry and step on yet another landmine. Instead, she just hung on Greg¡¯s shoulder as they walked out. Across from them in the field, the poor sods under Black Lotus¡¯ scrutiny were enduring a special kind of hell. She watched as Val ran by, pushing himself while the ruthless trainer shouted; ¡°ON YOUR FEET! KEEP MOVING! I WANT TO SEE YOUR LIMITS!¡± ¡°Oof,¡± Greg grunted. ¡°Uhuh,¡± John mumbled. Lillian flushed, ¡°Wh-what?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Sonya chortled, ¡°Okay, here it is. It¡¯s yours to keep. It might come in handy in the future too until you get your ability fully under control,¡± Sonya said and put the box in her hands. ¡°Do you have your guidebook?¡± Lillian looked down at the cold metal box in her hands before looking up and nodding, ¡°Right, are you really signing me up with Black Lotus? Can you do that? She should be made available to the others, right?¡± Sonya made a complicated face, somewhere between a frown and a grimace before it shifted to a smile, ¡°We have an agreement, she¡¯ll tutor you three days a week for extended periods. The rest will be open to the others,¡± She held out her hand, ¡°Guidebook?¡± Lillian felt awkward but it was also a huge opportunity. The world¡¯s number one hero would be giving her exclusive training three days a week for ten weeks. Thirty sessions. She glanced over at the grueling effort that her friends and other aspirants were going through. Black Lotus took her work seriously, if she was really going to give her that kind of attention. Who was she to argue? It just meant a better chance at becoming who she wanted to be, she only wished that her power was better suited. She let out a breath and got out of her own head, I keep going down that loop. Gotta stop. ¡°Here,¡± She said, pulling the booklet out of her pocket and handing it to Sonya. ¡°Consider this my first act as your sponsor and agent,¡± Sonya said as she pulled out a pen and started flipping through pages, writing things down and circling spots, ¡°I¡¯m also putting in a few suggestions for you to consider,¡± She said before closing the catalog and handing it back to Lillian with a nod, ¡°Do me proud.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Lillian said, ¡°Thank you ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Sonya grunted with a nod before glancing over at the field, she frowned and turned away with a breath, ¡°Go eat! I need to prepare for the scout class tonight.¡± Lillian broke into a smile, ¡°Sure thing! I¡¯ll see you there!¡± ¡°I hope I will!¡± Sonya called back and waved at her, walking back to the dojo. Lillian watched her go again before glancing back at the field and Black Lotus. She felt an uneasiness in her gut that she couldn¡¯t explain. She shook her head and rolled her shoulders, gripping the box tightly in her hand, ¡°Focus!¡± She told herself before striding towards the common building and slipping inside. She got into line and grabbed a whole mountain of food, making sure to snag a couple sandwiches, before meeting the others at the usual couch. They were decidedly unhappy to hear that the instructors wanted her to wear a restraint while they were in training but ultimately understood the point. It was true, she couldn¡¯t be around them all the time and if they didn¡¯t get used to the ache of effort and to pain from injuries then when they were on the field it would be a terrible experience. She assured them that she only had to wear it during that time, which got some relieved looks. After a while, Val, Ollie, and Snow came stumbling into the common area looking like ghouls. None of them grabbed food, instead, they just trudged over to the group and lay there for a while in Lillian¡¯s aura. Snow practically face planted into her lap while Ollie collapsed into a chair, Val just gave up and lay on the ground, groaning and staring up at the ceiling. The three stayed like that for a good ten minutes until her power helped them recover enough to move on their own. After that, they immediately raced over to the buffet to grab as much food as they could, much to the others amusement. Eventually, everyone recovered enough to talk like human beings. Snow texted, followed by a sick emoji and an angry emoji. ¡°We got to know our limits!¡± Ollie hazarded, too tired to do the usual adjustment of his glasses, ¡°She said she¡¯s coming up with exercise routines for each of us.¡± ¡°Ollie, you¡¯re cool, but shut up,¡± Val mumbled, holding his head, ¡°I¡¯ve never run that much in my life.¡± ¡°Hey, be nice dude,¡± Greg grunted, ¡°Man I¡¯m feeling it again. Even with Lil¡¯s aura.¡± ¡°Still tired, a body can only do so much a day, regardless of how much we are healed,¡± John pointed out, picking up his thirteenth sandwich and biting into it, ¡°It is good that the next classes are mostly academic.¡± They glanced at him before sighing in universal relief, ¡°I completely forgot,¡± Alex sighed, ¡°Thank you John.¡± Snow said, Lillian, Alex, and John looked at one another before glancing down at Greg who frowned at them, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare.¡± And so began the relentless teasing of Greg as they went over their exploits and failures during the combat training class. Lillian savored it, the little moments, drank it all in. After one day of this camp she knew without a doubt that it was going to be the hardest experience of her life. If she hadn¡¯t met these amazing people around her, she didn¡¯t know if she would have been able to do it. She smiled at them as they laughed and argued, teased and joked, she¡¯d barely known them more than a day and it felt like she¡¯d known them for a lifetime. I can get used to this. Chapter 95 Chapter 95 The Scouting course was definitely more subdued than the two more physical courses in the morning, but it promised strenuous activity in the future. Miss Chernovna spent the majority of the class explaining and emphasizing the role of the Dungeon Scout. It was a little surprising how seriously she took it, to the point that her whole demeanor changed. She stood in front of the class with a whiteboard behind her, her usual white-pink toned attire set aside for more practical tactical clothing of an off-gray color. She even wore chest armor and wrist guards. She crossed her arms in front of the twelve that had decided to attend, Lillian included, and gestured to the board. ¡°Specific cartographic details are paramount. The Scout¡¯s kit comes with a distance measurement tool that uses a laser and gyroscope to create measurements of distant objects,¡± She pulled a pen sized object from her chest pocket, ¡°This is one of those tools,¡± She explained, ¡°It can be synchronized to your field tablet.¡± She held it out for them to see, ¡°I cannot stress enough how important it is to a hero team going inside of a dungeon to know exact distances between points,¡± She said, ¡°That information can mean life and death in some cases. Knowing the size of areas can help them figure out where to camp and when.¡± One of the other Aspirants raised their hand and to Lillians surprise she saw it was Marc of all people. He looked genuinely perturbed. Sonya nodded to him, ¡°Mister Mallory, go ahead.¡± ¡°I just can¡¯t wrap my head around it, why not send in a higher tier team and be done with it? Smash the monsters and clear the dungeon?¡± He asked. Sonya crossed her arms, ¡°Would you rather spend a month in the dungeon or a few days?¡± She asked him, frowning. He leaned back at the question and looked down, scrunching his nose a little, ¡°A few days, obviously,¡± He said, ¡°But-¡± ¡°There¡¯s your answer. Having a guide to the dungeon before going in makes the entire process simpler,¡± Sonya said, ¡°Knowing where the monsters are, when they move, how they move, everything. That is the responsibility of the scout. Some of you may not become scouts, I expect you¡¯ll be a front line fighter, Mister Mallory,¡± She said before looking at the others, ¡°But you should know just how important a scout¡¯s job is and the kind of risks they¡¯re taking to get you this information.¡± Marc crossed his arms and leaned back, ¡°They make the walkthrough huh. That is useful. I suppose it has to come from somewhere.¡± Sonya¡¯s lip twitched only once, ¡°Yes, does.¡± Lillian watched him for a moment as he mulled it over. It was like the idea of depending on someone else baffled him. She frowned and looked away, up at Sonya as she continued her lecture. There were few interruptions after that and it eventually winded down with Sonya announcing that for those who were continuing with the course, their overall project would be going into the camp¡¯s dungeon to scout it out ahead of the final exam and that their peers success would largely depend on their work. It¡¯s a huge responsibility, Lillian thought as she packed up her notebook. She looked up at the diagrams on the whiteboard, drawings of ways to avoid monsters and navigate traps safely. Every hour she spent in this place she learned something new, it was crazy to her how much there was to being a hero. Her image of what it took had been completely shattered but she wasn¡¯t really upset about it. Firestorm hadn¡¯t undergone this kind of training, but he had shepherded it. The actions of his team and others were brought up on occasion as examples of things to do and not to do. She chewed her lip, There¡¯s so much to learn. She was about to turn away and leave when Miss Chernovna called out to her, ¡°Miss Landrey! You¡¯re expected in the dojo after dinner. Don¡¯t be late.¡± Lillian turned back and saw Sonya standing with the blonde girl that had been standing behind Lillian back during the initial assembly. Her hand was on the girls shoulder. She met the girls eyes and the young woman shot her a small frown. Lillian cleared her throat, ¡°Right! I¡¯ll be there! Do you want me to bring anything or say any-¡± Sonya held up a hand, ¡°No, that¡¯s fine. Thank you Miss Landrey, your instructor doesn¡¯t need my input.¡± She said before turning back to the blonde and resuming whatever they¡¯d been talking about. Okay... Lillian scratched her neck and nodded before heading out to get dinner. What was that blonde girl''s name again? I don¡¯t think I ever asked. A few moments later she was sitting with the others, Alex popped a piece of fried chicken into his mouth and chewed, ¡°Hmm? The angry blonde?¡± He asked and scrunched his eyebrows together, ¡°Cass-something, I think?¡± ¡°Cassiopeia Hanks,¡± Ollie said absently, sitting upside-down in the chair in their circle. ¡°She¡¯s from Mississippi. Her older sister is some religious leader or something. That¡¯s about all I know.¡± He leaned his head back, his glasses going askew over his dark eyes, ¡°You said you have something to do after this?¡± Lillian nodded, ¡°Yeah, sorry guys, I got signed up for some one-on-one.¡± Snow asked, leaning against her and tapping away at her phone. Lillian glanced down and saw that she was playing with some kind of music app. Snow glanced up at her and scrunched in a bit more to hide what she was doing. ¡°Uh...¡± Lillian scratched her nose, ¡°...Black Lotus?¡± Val coughed and sat up, ¡°One on one with that... beast?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a little rude,¡± Lillian said with a laugh, ¡°How bad could it be?¡± ¡°It was that or get whacked,¡± Lillian challenged. She rolled back and pushed off the ground, landing on her feet. Black Lotus gave her an approving nod as Lillian stretched her arms, ¡°What¡¯s next? Meditation or more swings?¡± She was ready for anything, sure, she was more tired than she¡¯d ever been in her entire life, but it was the good kind of tired. She wanted to learn more, do more, whatever she could. Every little step was a good one. Black Lotus appraised her for a moment and glanced towards the entrance to the dojo before looking back at her, ¡°It is getting late, but we can attempt to meditate a bit while I take a look at your ability.¡± Despite her enthusiasm, she was relieved she didn¡¯t have to do more swings. She plopped down on the ground and crossed her legs, ¡°I¡¯m ready!¡± The woman smiled down at her, ¡°I¡¯m sure you are,¡± She said and walked behind her, sitting down herself. ¡°I want you to close your eyes and listen to my voice, do as I say as best you can...¡± It started with deep breathing, she felt herself drift now and then towards sleep but Black Lotus would pinch her to wake her up and start over. Clearing her head was the hardest part, she had so much to think about. She¡¯d learned so much and she had so many ideas and directions she could go in, then there was the excitement on top of all of it. Her brain was going a mile a minute every time she tried to clear it all out and let it go blank. Eventually she could only sigh and hang her head, frustrated, ¡°I can¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve had a long day, that is why I said ¡®attempt¡¯,¡± Black Lotus said gently and pat her shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s alright. This is only your first day, becoming a hero is a marathon, not a sprint.¡± ¡°Only my first day,¡± Lillian chuckled, ¡°Nine weeks and six days to go.¡± ¡°Plenty of time,¡± Black Lotus said and placed her hand on Lillian¡¯s back, ¡°Take a deep breath and close your eyes one more time for me. Last thing before I send you away.¡± Lillian nodded to her instructor and lowered her head, closing her eyes and taking another centering breath. She couldn¡¯t clear her head but she could at least feel the breath relax her more easily than before. Then she felt it, a charge rush through her back and into her chest. She jolted a little, it kind of hurt. She winced and clenched her teeth, ¡°Is it supposed to-¡± ¡°Shh,¡± Black Lotus whispered, ¡°Deep breaths. Bear with it.¡± Lillian felt a heat begin to rise up in her chest again, like before, but it started to spread, to inch out through her body like it was following her veins. She coughed and clutched at her chest as the pain grew worse. It felt like needles in her veins, fire, she squeezed her eyes shut. It hurts! She protested, curling in further on herself as the pressure just ticked up more and more. Her heart started to race and the soothing feeling tried to push it away but only seemed to fan it like a bellows. Her mouth fell open and then the pain stopped. She gasped and rolled forward onto the ground, heaving, sweat soaking every inch of her body. Her throat hurt. Was I screaming? She wondered, falling onto her side and coughing. She felt a cool finger press against her throat and coughed again as a soothing feeling washed over her. Her ability normalized and soon it began to work on its own again. She caught her breath and looked up at Black Lotus crouched over her. ¡°Are you okay?¡± She asked. Lillian nodded, coughing again, ¡°Yeah, Yeah, I¡¯m good. What was that?¡± ¡°The first step, it would seem, we have a lot of work to do,¡± Black Lotus said, looking a bit grim. ¡°You¡¯re in no condition to discuss this in depth. We will speak the day after tomorrow, at the same time. Do you need me to call one of your friends to help you back to the dorms?¡± Lillian shook her head, ¡°No,¡± She said and forced herself to her feet. She felt her bones creak beneath her, ¡°I can do it,¡± She said, screwing up her face in a look of determination. ¡°I can walk.¡± Black Lotus met her gaze for a heartbeat before nodding, ¡°As long as that determination does not turn into stubbornness,¡± She said and nodded to the exit, ¡°Take your sword, you are dismissed. You did well today.¡± Lillian knelt down and picked up the broadsword, wincing a bit at the effort before resting it on her shoulder, ¡°Thank you ma¡¯am,¡± She said and gave Black Lotus a genuine smile, ¡°Seriously, I don¡¯t know what I did to deserve all this help, but I promise I¡¯ll earn it. Somehow,¡± She said, forcing herself to smile as big as her aching face would allow. Black Lotus raised an eyebrow, ¡°Go on,¡± She said with a softening expression, ¡°Rest.¡± Lillian nodded, turned, and trudged away. ¨C Chunhua watched the girl stagger out of the Dojo before looking down at her hands and frowning. She let out a sigh and looked up to the sky. Are you watching? She thought, Is this my punishment? What more do I have to do? She closed her eyes and let her head hang back as she felt the mana in the air swirl around her. Another deep breath came and she turned towards the exit of the dojo. She stopped at the threshold and looked up again, this time at the balcony. Two gleaming pink eyes stared down at her, silver hair fluttering in the moonlight. The woman they belonged to stared at her for only a heartbeat before turning away and walking back inside. She hung her head, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Chapter 96 Chapter 96 Sonya closed the door behind her and pressed her back against it. Her heart pounded in her chest. Her hands shook, her fingers trembled, she chewed her lip and reached up to grasp at her chest. She closed her eyes and slid down a little in the empty hallway. Not a soul around, no eyes on her, privacy, for just a moment. She let herself feel. Why couldn¡¯t you have gone to the Asian camp? Why did you have to come here? She thought, Why can¡¯t you leave me alone? Haven¡¯t you already done enough? She slid down further until she was sitting on the ground, holding her head in her hands. ¡°Just go away. I can¡¯t stop looking at you if you¡¯re here,¡± She breathed. Footsteps came around the corner and she instinctively opened her eye on the wall. Marta. She thought with relief. Her friend came around the corner and walked up, stopping at her side. The woman rest her hands at her lap and looked down at her. Marta was wearing a dark gown that could be interpreted as a maid outfit. The veil was over her face again and her hands were clad in spiked gauntlets. Sonya tilted her head and looked up at her between her fingers and hair, her mechanical eyes glowing brighter than ever. ¡°Are they all asleep?¡± She asked. ¡°He is wandering, but nowhere nearby,¡± Marta said with a slight bow, ¡°Is it time?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a few months, yes, I think so,¡± Sonya said with a frown and slowly got to her feet, her arms hanging at her sides. She looked up at the ceiling at one of her own eyes, the digitized flickering gaze of her ¡®madan¡¯ as she called them. Her ¡®judges¡¯. She stared back at herself through both sides before slowly tilting her head to the right and looking lazily at her friend. ¡°Where is she?¡± Ishtar asked, her voice cold and chipped with malice, ¡°I won¡¯t have her missing her first time.¡± Marta inclined her head, ¡°On her way, my lady.¡± As if on cue, more footsteps echoed down the hall. The air grew tenser as more terrible powers drew towards the epicenter that was the Queen of Villains. First around the corner was the pretty face of Mephisto in his black business suit, black shirt, and red tie. He wore lipstick and had powdered his face with a bit of a blush. His gaze was wicked as he whispered something and even their footsteps became silent as the dead. Next around the corner was a young blonde woman who had styled her hair off to the side. She wore black lipstick and a tanktop exposing her waist. Long cargo pants ended in boots at her feet. Cassiopeia walked straight up to Ishtar and looked up at her with barely restrained excitement, desperation, and something else, rage, ¡°Taurus is here, mistress,¡± She breathed. Ishtar brushed the girls hair back and gave her an approving smile. ¡°Glad to have you, Taurus,¡± She murmured and Taurus¡¯ lips twitched nervously. She glanced up at Mephisto, ¡°Do you have everything?¡± He dropped into a dramatic bow, ¡°I am always prepared, mistress.¡± She nodded, ¡°Stay close to me, Taurus, you are my heavenly bull, my hammer to the Companion¡¯s shield.¡± Companion, of all the names for Marta to pick for her villain persona, she had chosen one that utterly threw aside all form of identity. With her ability to change her appearance at will, it was apt, and it carried a weight to it. Taurus nodded, her eyelashes fluttering up at Ishtar before she stepped back and bowed before standing next to Marta. Ishtar couldn¡¯t think of Marta as anything but Marta, but she would use the name she¡¯d chosen. She turned her head to the wall across from them and held out her hand palm up. Gauntlets formed on her hands in shifting plates of metal that spread up her arm and across her body. As they formed her storage space opened and her helmet fell into her outstretched hand. In a matter of seconds, Ishtar in her full regalia stood on the second floor of the East Coast Aspirants training building. She gestured and a rectangle of light appeared in front of her that hollowed out, the light inside it bending as space distended and gave way to her will. Her mechanical brain went through calculations that took hard work, training, and seconds if not minutes for the other person that possessed this ability. The portal stabilized and the faint sound of music came through. Ishtar crossed her arms behind her back and strode through, ¡°We¡¯re going,¡± She said in her cruel mechanical rasp. ¡°Yes mistress,¡± The other three said and formed up behind her. Ishtar felt the rush of traveling through the backrooms, the dominion of non-euclidian, in a split second. There was tug as she traversed a great distance in such a short time, her body bending through space until she stepped out onto plush carpet. The first thing that greeted her was relaxing music, a mixture of jazz, swing, and techno. A faint cloud hung in the air from the many cigars and cigarettes smoked by those in the building. She was standing in a rather large lounge, several couches set up along the walls and a private bar to one side. A single billiards table sat in the middle with a single light hanging over it. She turned her head towards the space behind her and saw someone sitting on a couch with his legs crossed. A pair of milky-white circles glowed through the gloom and smoke. The others stepped through with her, Taurus coughing a little bit and waving her hand in front of her face. Marta and Mephisto were unbothered. ¡°Charon,¡± She said, a small smile in her voice as she stepped towards the eerie, gaunt shape hunched on the couch, ¡°How are you?¡± The young man who had obtained ¡®Patient Zero¡¯ was long gone. Changed by his role, his actions, and more. He leaned forward and his face came into view. Black cross-like stitches stretched up his cheeks to his ears and his jaw was discolored. His hair was short and black, spiked a bit with white streaks. He brandished an eerily perfect white smile as he leaned forward, revealing the expensive vest and tie set over a white shirt. His sleeves were rolled up to reveal a too-long pair of arms that were also off-color, strangely black. ¡°Ishtar!¡± He cackled, his slightly cracked new york accent still very present, ¡°I¡¯m doing great!¡± He held up his hand, ¡°What do you think? Is it me?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s was it?¡± She asked. ¡°Dunno, don¡¯t really care, he skipped out on payments too many times,¡± Charon said and got to his feet, ¡°I liked his power though,¡± He said and his fingers twitched, a black and white flame appeared in his palm before it disappeared. ¡°Nice, right? All thanks to you.¡± Amos leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table, his chin on his fingers, ¡°Raw destruction then, good addition. Welcome to the family.¡± ¡°I could take that role,¡± Kerauna said petulantly, leaning back and crossing her legs, ¡°Though I¡¯d rather be in someone elses lap.¡± ¡°Keep it in your pants nightlight,¡± Kingshark grunted. ¡°Ooh, someone woke up on the wrong side of the fish tank,¡± Kerauna teased, ¡°Bite me.¡± Kingshark turned his head and bore his teeth which grew in size, ¡°Don¡¯t tempt me.¡± ¡°Kera,¡± Blackrazor muttered, his voice quiet but somehow carrying, ¡°Be nice to your family.¡± Kera tensed and slipped back in her seat a little, bowing her head, ¡°Sorry Sharkie.¡± Kingshark grunted and shot a smile at Blackrazor, ¡°It¡¯s fine, we¡¯re all a little heated. The Children of the Dawn are a pain in the ass and the Darksiders are just...¡± He rolled his eyes, ¡°...a chore.¡± Ishtar nodded slowly. The Darksiders were a faction of villains that had formed separate from her own. They had a very campy and almost nauseatingly cringe-inducing way of handling their work. Still, Ishtar tolerated them because they used the system that she had created through Charon, though they paid her absolutely no loyalty and would often try to press in on the territory of her group. The Children of the Dawn on the other hand... ¡°My sister¡¯s a piece of shit,¡± Taurus muttered, kicking her feet, ¡°That bitch has it coming to her, right mistress?¡± She asked, not moving from her tight cling. ¡°Sister?¡± Kingshark grunted, ¡°You¡¯re related to that nutjob, Liberty?¡± ¡°Unfortunately,¡± Taurus muttered, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, if none of you all get the chance I¡¯ll happily turn her into a pretty little smear on the ground,¡± She said bitterly, ¡°After I pull her arms out of her sockets and feed her fingers to her.¡± ¡°Calm down,¡± Ishtar said soothingly, reaching up to stroke the girl¡¯s hair, ¡°You¡¯ll get your revenge.¡± Taurus squeaked and chuckled, clinging closer as Ishtar turned to the others, ¡°The heroes training is well under way and I will have a full dossier ready before I leave for the European Convention. Our agents at the other camps will do the same. Remember that the point of this is to strike a balance,¡± She said, ¡°Not to escalate. Keep the heroes busy with the dungeons and with us and we will rake in the profits.¡± ¡°And keep the world turning,¡± Mephisto said with a frown, ¡°Another Vegas would be bad for all of us, not just our pockets.¡± ¡°Precisely,¡± Ishtar said and raised her head, ¡°Our little cabal exists for one purpose. To eliminate potential threats that the heroes either cannot or will not handle and curtail the other villains,¡± She turned to Charon, ¡°How is our little economy doing?¡± She asked. The undead middle-man of the underworld flicked his wrist and a blue coin appeared in his hand. He twirled it between his fingers and it hissed once before turning into a wad of american banknotes. ¡°Conversion has gone down, people like the new currency now that it has value. They¡¯re paying for everything from favors from you, to gear from Technocrat, to henchmen from Kingshark. Whatever they can get to achieve their hearts desires.¡± ¡°And the loaning operation?¡± Ishtar asked. ¡°You have a lot of debtors,¡± Charon laughed, ¡°It¡¯s fuckin crazy.¡± Ishtar nodded slowly, ¡°Very good work,¡± She said and turned her gaze over those gathered, ¡°Now, let''s talk about the Children of Dawn. It¡¯s time to work out a strategy to deal with them and Liberty.¡± Chapter 97 Chapter 97 Sonya and the others stepped out of the portal and into her office. She reached up and brushed her hair out of her face, as she deactivated her armor. Ironsides¡¯ power is convenient. She thought with a small smile. That smile faltered when her senses picked up on someone standing in the room. She turned her head towards the door with a frown and saw her standing there. Her lips turned down in a frown and she tilted her head forward, ¡°Black Lotus,¡± She said evenly, ¡°What are you doing in my office?¡± ¡°You left,¡± The hero said. ¡°I had a meeting to attend to, it¡¯s not your concern,¡± Sonya said, tilting her head up to look down a bit on the taller woman. ¡°Just go to bed or whatever and leave me be. You hound me enough as it is,¡± She said dismissively and turned away, waving her hand. ¡°I¡¯ve been making up for it for a year, doing what you asked,¡± Black Lotus said, ¡°Please, just talk to me,¡± She asked, her voice cracking a little. Sonya closed her eyes tight and clenched her fists as Marta, Colin, and Cass came through the portal. Cass froze and frowned, a warhammer appearing in her hand. Marta held up her arm and blocked the girl from attacking as she glared daggers in Black Lotus¡¯ direction. Sonya tilted her head up again and prayed to whatever would listen for patience before she turned around and plastered a forced pleasantness onto her face, ¡°That¡¯s the problem,¡± She said with poisoned sweetness, ¡°That, what you just said, is precisely the problem and you know it.¡± ¡°Sonya-¡± ¡°Get out. Don¡¯t make me say it again,¡± Sonya said and turned away, ¡°I¡¯m tired. I haven¡¯t slept in two days because of you, I took it out on Carla, again.¡± Black Lotus stiffened and frowned, her eyes downcast. She stood up straighter and bowed, ¡°Miss Chernovna, have a good night.¡± ¡°Thank you, hero,¡± Sonya said, looking down at her nails as the door opened and shut quietly behind her. Her fingers curled and she carved rivets into the table''s surface, ¡°Damn it. Not only do I have to deal with her being here but he decided that this was the best place to start his ¡®rise to power¡¯.¡± She spat bitterly, ¡°That buffoon, I never realized how stupid he was until I met him like this. What the hell kind of power does he have that he was-¡± She stopped as Marta put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. She turned and threw herself into Marta¡¯s chest and her dearest friend pulled her into an embrace, ¡°I¡¯m so angry all the time now, more than before, I can¡¯t take it, it hurts,¡± Sonya croaked. ¡°We understand,¡± Marta whispered, resting her chin on Sonya¡¯s head. ¡°It¡¯s okay to be angry. Are you ready for sleep tonight?¡± Sonya nodded mutely into her embrace, ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ensure Cassiopeia gets back to the dorms without a disturbance,¡± Marta said, ¡°Colin has the office. Go rest. Carla will take care of you.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¨C Sonya walked down the hall alone, blessedly alone, finally some quiet. She drifted past the hall leading towards the girls'' dorms and towards the small set of apartments attached to the rear of the building for the instructors and VIPs. Some of them were shared among the instructors while a couple had been set aside for exclusive use. She tried to let her mind empty a little as she wandered, reaching up to run shaking fingers through her hair. Even with all my power my hands are tied, the whole point was to avoid using it at all, only to- she paused and stood up straight. Her senses felt him as he stepped out of the turn leading to the restrooms behind her. She turned slowly and looked at him, glowing pink eyes met luminous sapphire blue. Otis. ¡°Miss Chernovna, you¡¯re up late!¡± He said brightly. I¡¯ll kill you. She smiled, ¡°A bit of late night business!¡± She said merrily. ¡°You¡¯re up late too!¡± Break you. ¡°I¡¯m glad we got to talk today,¡± He said, scratching his head, ¡°That stuff about scouts gave me a lot to think about!¡± Ruin you. ¡°Oh?¡± Sonya said, ¡°Why don¡¯t we talk about it over breakfast tomorrow? I really should be getting to bed.¡± Your dreams! ¡°That sounds great!¡± He said, rubbing his shoulder, ¡°Definitely could use some rest myself, being Mythic doesn¡¯t exclude me from soreness!¡± Your beliefs! ¡°Mind if I do drills with you?¡± She asked, walking over. Lillian glanced at her, she was unarmed, ¡°You don¡¯t have your-¡± Jessica held out her hand and a blade of ice stretched from it becoming very solid and releasing a faint white mist. ¡°Oh!¡± Jessica grinned at her, ¡°I¡¯m always armed.¡± Lillian returned her expression with an awkward smile, ¡°That¡¯s kinda scary when you say it like that.¡± Jessica blinked, then laughed, ¡°You¡¯re right! Maybe I should save that kind of thing for villains.¡± ¡°Probably,¡± Lillian agreed and reached down to grab her sword, ¡°Shall we?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll follow you, I¡¯m curious about what she taught you,¡± Jessica said, ¡°Hope you don¡¯t mind me stealing a bit?¡± ¡°Not at all!¡± Lillian said, tilting her chin up a bit, ¡°We¡¯re all training to be heroes, every little bit helps, right?¡± Jessica let out a weary sigh and gave her an almost patient smile, ¡°You are too good for your own good, thanks,¡± She turned to the guy she was talking to, ¡°Hey Reek! Can we get some water?¡± The guy on the other end of the room crossed his arms and frowned, the brown hair on his head falling down just past his eyebrows as he stared back flatly, ¡°That is not my codename and I am not your porter,¡± He turned away with a huff, ¡°Try again, princess.¡± She scratched her nose, ¡°Sorry Luke,¡± She said, ¡°Please?¡± He glanced her way from the corner of his eye and let out a long suffering sigh, ¡°Fine!¡± He said and held out his hand, it looked like the air parted like curtains and a gallon jug of cold water landed in his palm. He set it down and then another appeared before he knelt, grabbed them, and carried them over. ¡°Was that some kind of storage power?¡± Lillian asked, amazed. There are so many cool powers out there! Luke tilted his head and raised an eyebrow, ¡°Huh? No. Well, sorta,¡± He shook his head, ¡°I can pull things that I¡¯ve marked to me from any distance, pretty much, I¡¯ve got a whole storeroom back at my house full of stuff instead of carrying it with me. My folks are going to keep it stocked while I¡¯m here,¡± He said, ¡°If the item¡¯s close enough I can draw it to me physically and at high speed if I want. I¡¯m partially here to figure out if I can do it the other way. Fire projectiles.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you being a little detailed?¡± Jessica teased him. He shrugged, ¡°We¡¯re all heroes here and I¡¯ll be blunt, you two are the last people I¡¯d suspect spilling their guts, Jess is on my team and no offense Lillian, but Jess is kinda right. You could stand to be a bit more selfish.¡± Lillian flushed, ¡°Just kinda hard reconciling being a little selfish with being a hero.¡± ¡°Aw! That¡¯s why I like you!¡± Jessica said, clapping her arm, ¡°Come on, let''s do some drills, thanks Luke.¡± ¡°Sure sure,¡± Luke said and walked off, hands in his pockets as he ambled his way over to the treadmills. They got right into it, Lillian showing Jessica the way that Black Lotus had taught her to stand, breathe, and swing. It took a little bit for Jessica to get the hang of it but soon the two of them were doing overhand cuts over and over, their eyes focused hard on the wall in front of them. Lillian didn¡¯t let her mind wander as she did, after some sleep she finally had a bit more of a clear head, it was a good feeling. She let out low breath after low breath, the meditative breathing coming naturally as she brought it back from the previous night¡¯s training. A warmth began to rise up in her chest as she swung and sweat dripped down her temple. The heat intensified, but it felt good as it spread out through her body and into her arms. ¡°-ian!¡± She frowned and kept swinging, one at a time, up, down, up, down. ¡°Lillian!¡± She paused, Jessica¡¯s voice? She sounded upset. She turned and blinked at the girl, ¡°Yeah? What¡¯s up?¡± She asked, confused. Jessica stared at her frankly for a moment before pointing at her shoulder, ¡°You uh... you got a little something on your...¡± Lillian turned her head, confused, and looked down at her left arm. Flames. Fire was burning on her shoulder. Brilliant yellow-orange-gold flames. They were small but... Wait. ¡°I¡¯m on fire!¡± She gasped and reached up to pat it off before pausing again. Why doesn¡¯t it hurt? A Little Thank You A Little Thank You Hey everybody, DerelictPresence aka TheBroker here! I wanted to thank all of you for your continued support of this series as it moves into season 2! You guys have been amazing and I love reading all of your comments. They make my day. We''re making strides towards getting it ready for y''all to enjoy. Thank you again so much for reading this series and for loving these characters so much. Be kind to one another, TheBroke Chapter 98 Chapter 98 Lillian sat awkwardly in the middle of the spartan-looking bedroom as Black Lotus sat in front of her. The world¡¯s number one hero was leaning forward, her brows knotted and rubbing her chin thoughtfully as she looked Lillian over. They had tried putting out the flames on her shoulders to pretty much zero luck. Upside was that it didn¡¯t seem to hurt anyone when they touched it, though no one put their hands in for more than a heartbeat before pulling away. Black Lotus scratched at her waist, she was in a tank top and fatigues rather than her usual robes and it was more than a little strange seeing her dressed down like this. ¡°Well,¡± She said with a frown, ¡°I can see why you called on me,¡± She said and tilted her head, squinting at the golden flames that flickered on Lillian¡¯s shoulders, ¡°They really don¡¯t hurt? They aren¡¯t burning your clothes?¡± ¡°No ma¡¯am,¡± Lillian said uncomfortably, ¡°Just kind of chilling there, I guess?¡± She added with a nervous laugh. Black Lotus sighed, ¡°Give me your hand, let''s have a closer look.¡± Lillian nodded and took the woman¡¯s hand. She immediately felt that tingle rush up her arm again and spread throughout her body. It felt a little like Black Lotus was exploring, checking inside of her to see what had changed. The woman closed her eyes and let out a breath, the tingling moving further in towards Lillian¡¯s heart. THUMP! Her heart beat and she felt the heat on her shoulders for the first time, there was a warmth that spread out of her chest and down to meet the sensation that was coming from Black Lotus. It quickly retreated and the woman let go. ¡°Hm, it reacted,¡± She hummed, ¡°But otherwise nothing seems different,¡± She tilted her head, ¡°I¡¯d expected some manner of manifestation after checking you last night but this wasn¡¯t what I expected, to be honest,¡± She crossed her arms, ¡°Regardless I think you¡¯re just a bit of a late bloomer and your ability is unveiling itself in stages. Have you tried checking your instincts?¡± Lillian frowned and shook her head, ¡°To be honest I got next to nothing out of my awakening, so I didn¡¯t bother checking again. It felt kind of pointless.¡± Black Lotus pursed her lips, ¡°Well, try again?¡± Lillian nodded hesitantly before taking a deep breath and thinking about her ability. She knew academically that it was a process all light-touched could simply do on instinct funny enough. She took another cleansing breath in the same way that Black Lotus had taught her before and exhaled, concentrating on- That¡¯s new. There was significantly more information now, the zone of comfort created was just an after effect of the flames inside of her. They were the real source of benefit. Flames that could spread and heal or inversely they could most assuredly be used to harm. The problem was as far as she could tell they only extended from her body, she would have to ¡®ignite¡¯ something in order for it to go further. She could also tell that her body was storing energy somehow, she wasn¡¯t sure what it was but it had something to do with what she was becoming more and more aware of in the air. It seamlessly fueled the flames. She let out a gasp as she came out of her thoughts, ¡°Wow, that¡¯s a lot more detail,¡± She said aloud, looking down at her hand and flexing her fingers. She scrunched her face a little and with some effort she felt the trickle of energy move through her body and to her palm. A tiny, coin sized golden flame popped into being. She brightened and held it up to Black Lotus, ¡°Look! I did that! Oh my god! Look at it, it¡¯s so pretty!¡± She laughed, ¡°Wow!¡± Black Lotus narrowed her eyes at it and then glanced up at her face, ¡°It moved through your meridians,¡± She said with a stony face. ¡°Huh?¡± Lillian asked. ¡°I see,¡± Black Lotus muttered, ¡°I understand now. Last night makes a lot more sense to me.¡± ¡°Um?¡± Lillian tried to cut in. ¡°I checked your pathways to test your ability but my power spread because you possess the ability to channel through your meridians,¡± Black Lotus continued mumbling, getting to her feet and pacing, ¡°The energy acts as a fuel source for the flames, and because of its origins you have a knack for martial arts. Your ability is very similar to mine,¡± She kept talking. ¡°Uh, miss Black Lotus?¡± Lillian tried again. ¡°Still, it''s a very functional ability for rare grade, peak rare then, if not one of the odd ducks that encroach a little further while still reading as rare,¡± She kept going and going, ¡°I could tell that the energy couldn¡¯t leave your body very far, part of the rare-grade limitation? Yes. Hm. May not be able to form a core but we¡¯ll try. I¡¯ll have to add additional sessions. Nightly if necessary.¡± Lillian was getting very lost, she held up her hands, ¡°Miss Black Lotus!¡± She called. The woman tensed and spun, ¡°Oh! You were talking, I¡¯m sorry Lillian, what was your question?¡± ¡°What¡¯s a meridian?¡± ¨C Alex was howling with laughter as they sat together at the couch, his arms wrapped around his waist as he bent over and stomped his feet. The others were chuckling too, even John seemed a bit amused despite his greater focus on his beloved sandwiches. Alex kept chortling before finally catching his breath and wiping a tear from his eye, ¡°So you just caught fire in the middle of the gym and Jessica threw water on you?¡± He threw his head back and laughed, ¡°Oh man, I wish I was there.¡± Lillian flushed, ¡°Yeah, it was uh, embarrassing.¡± ¡°Sounds like you finished manifesting,¡± Greg said, resting his chin on his palm and chuckling, ¡°Happened to Alex too, he awoke in a couple stages,¡± He said, throwing his thumb over his shoulder. Alex sat forward, ¡°Hey man, that¡¯s private!¡± He barked, suddenly very unamused. ¡°Can probably stand,¡± Lillian muttered, ¡°Everything hurts though.¡± ¡°I¡¯m opening your meridians. I originally sent my energy into you last night to explore your power, I didn¡¯t realize you possessed the trait and pushed your meridians open forcibly. I¡¯m taking a more direct and focused approach now. You should be fine in a few hours,¡± She said, ¡°We¡¯ll have to do this every night until your body is completely open.¡± ¡°That might take a while,¡± Lillian panted, leaning back and looking up at the dark haired woman. Black Lotus grinned, ¡°Well, we have ten weeks.¡± ¨C Lillian dragged herself into the dorm after Black Lotus ruthlessly put her through a set of drills anyway even after saying she ¡®probably¡¯ wouldn¡¯t. Probably my ass. Lillian grumbled as she pushed through the door. Some of the girls were still awake and talking, Jessica waved at her and she even spotted Cassiopeia sitting up and reading a book. The girl glanced her way and frowned before looking back. What the heck did I do to her? She thought, I should clear that up at some point, she thought before landing on her bed with a grunt. ¡°How¡¯d it go, golden girl?¡± Jessica asked, walking over and sitting on one of the posts of her bed. ¡°Painful,¡± Lillian said with a sigh, ¡°My ability has ¡®similar¡¯ features to hers so she¡¯s getting a little fixated, I think. I dunno. She really seems driven to get it right with me for some reason.¡± ¡°Probably because you caught Miss Chernovna¡¯s attention,¡± Another girl said a few bunks down, ¡°I saw them arguing earlier, looks like they¡¯re not on good terms right now. Black Lotus is signed with ASTA, so that¡¯s not good.¡± ¡°You saw them arguing?¡± Lillian asked. ¡°Yeah, didn¡¯t make anything out, but Miss Chernovna wasn¡¯t hearing it, sent her away, can you believe there¡¯s someone out there that can send the number one away like that? Shoot, I saw her try to go into the room after Miss Chernovna and like, she couldn¡¯t even walk in the door. Probably some fancy next-gen ASTA tech. Just froze when she tried to step in,¡± The girl recounted, closing her book. ¡°Bet they were a thing once, Sonya likes ¡®em pretty,¡± Another said, staring up at the ceiling. ¡°She¡¯s not exactly shy when she¡¯s in a good mood.¡± All of the girls started laughing; ¡°She¡¯s impossible!¡± One laughed. ¡°At least she isn¡¯t a lecher or something, just likes to tease,¡± Another said. ¡°I bet she was a dirty old man in a past life,¡± A third said before a book snapped shut and they all went silent. They glanced over to see a scowling Cassiopeia staring at them. ¡°Could you not badmouth Miss Chernova in front of me please?¡± She said darkly, ¡°She¡¯s done a lot for me, and I would appreciate it if you kept your mouths shut,¡± She snapped and set her book down before rolling over, ¡°Good night.¡± ¡°Oops,¡± One girl whispered. The text box appeared in Lillian''s face before she felt Snow draw near. She shifted and looked up as the girl slipped onto the bed next to her. She looked down at her phone and tapped away. ¡°Uh, hey,¡± Lillian murmured. Snow asked. Lillian stared at the words for a moment before a pit formed in her stomach. She frowned and then slumped, ¡°Yeah. How¡¯d you know?¡± Snow said. She glanced over at Snow, opened her mouth and then closed it. She¡¯d learned not to ask stupid questions over the past few days. She¡¯d already stepped on one land mine with the girl, she wasn¡¯t about to do it again. Snow said and in a quick movement landed a small peck on her cheek. Lillian watched her go, reaching up to touch her cheek, her mouth hanging open a little bit, ¡°Huh,¡± She looked at her hand and then up at Snow as she jumped into her own bed. ¡°Yeah, good night,¡± She mumbled and glanced at her pillow. She wasn¡¯t sure if she was going to get any sleep after that. Not that she had a choice. Her schedule was practically set in stone now, the next day was coming, and she had a feeling things were going to start moving fast soon. Side Story: Lillian 1 Side Story: Lillian 1 Lillian hit the ground, hard, and rolled onto her side. She let out a cough and reached up to wipe her lip. Every single time she got past that ten second mark it was like the difficulty spiked like crazy. She pressed her hands against the floor and pushed herself up to a sitting position. She was grateful for the slight give that it had. Every time she hit the ground it absorbed just enough of the shock to make sure she wasn¡¯t seriously injured. Above her, Sonya stood with her arms crossed in that same shirt, slacks, and suspenders combo. Sonya crossed her arms and looked down at her, ¡°Twelve seconds, you¡¯re improving bit by bit. It¡¯s almost a shame I have to go to Europe next week,¡± Sonya said with a small smile, reaching down to her, ¡°Need some help?¡± Lillian shook her head and pushed herself to her feet. A knee buckled a little and she put her hand on it to stabilize it. ¡°N-no, I¡¯m fine,¡± She grunted, fixing her face in a determined frown. Her teacher tilted her head and raised an eyebrow, ¡°Oh? Aren¡¯t you tough?¡± She said with an admiring smile before taking a quick step back, resting her hands behind her back and swaying a little, ¡°Going to be a top hero in no time at all.¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Lillian grunted and looked at her hands, the golden flames appeared on her fingertips before retracting, ¡°If only I can get a handle on it. Miss Black Lotus says I have a long way to go, but she¡¯s been a big help,¡± Lillian said, glancing up a bit hesitant at Sonya. She wasn¡¯t blind, there was something going on between Black Lotus and Sonya and it wasn¡¯t a happy thing. ¡°She¡¯s done a lot for me.¡± Sonya pursed her lips, ¡°Has she? Well,¡± Sonya reached up and flipped her ponytail over her shoulder, ¡°Keep listening to her. If anyone can help you, she can,¡± Sonya said before glancing up and past Lillian, her expression changed from one of mild disinterest to curiosity and then amusement. She raised an eyebrow, ¡°That¡¯s interesting.¡± ¡°What is?¡± Lillian asked, glancing over her shoulder. There was nothing there but the open entrance to the dojo. She frowned, confused, damn I missed it. She scratched her short hair and looked back at Sonya who was fixing her with a stare. She was really, really close, nearly nose to nose. Lillian shifted back a bit, C-cologne? She blinked and staggered back onto her butt. ¡°Huh? What was that about?¡± Sonya quirked a lip at her from above, ¡°Oh, just making a social observation,¡± Sonya said with a chuckle and walked past her, ¡°Hit the showers, Landrey!¡± Lillian scrambled back to her feet and watched the woman sashay out, hand raised in goodbye. She rounded the corner around the entrance to the dojo and disappeared. Lillian stared at the spot she¡¯d just been and frowned, scratching her head, ¡°What the heck was that all about?¡± Lillian mumbled with a sigh, rubbing her arms and checking for any marks. ¡°No fresh bruises at least,¡± She muttered before taking the woman¡¯s advice and making her way towards the common building. Under the showerhead she rest her forehead against the wall, Twelve seconds, still nowhere near a passing grade. I know I¡¯m only a few weeks in but still, I feel like I¡¯ve hit a wall, She sighed and shut off the shower, drying herself off and getting dressed. She scratched her head again, Maybe I should try a different approach? Direct blows don¡¯t seem to do much now that I¡¯m past ten seconds. Maybe I can ask Black Lotus to teach me some feints. She smiled, Yeah that¡¯s a good idea! Freshly determined and blessedly clean she stepped out of the shower and rounded the corner just in time for a soft hand to land on her shoulder. She glanced back and saw pink eyes staring at her with slightly unhinged mirth, ¡°Uh... Hi Miss Chernovna?¡± She babbled as the woman got closer and grinned at her. ¡°Hi to you too!¡± Sonya laughed and wrapped her arm around Lillians, ¡°Walk with me,¡± She ordered and started to lead Lillian towards the common area, ¡°So I was thinking,¡± Sonya said, tapping her lips, ¡°We should talk a little about the design of your hero outfit, it¡¯s never too early, I think. You like orange, right?¡± She said playfully. Snow threw her head back with a noiseless groan and whipped out her phone. She reached up and grabbed Lillian by the sleeve and tugged. Lillian crouched down a little while Snow tapped furiously on it for a moment with one hand. She shot Lillian a petulant look before shoving the screen in her face. Lillian relaxed, ¡°I can do that,¡± She said and looked up into Snow¡¯s pale eyes, ¡°If that¡¯s alright with you.¡± Snow¡¯s face fell, then went through a whole litany of emotions as her hand trembled against Lillian¡¯s jacket. She pulled herself forward and rest her head against Lillian¡¯s chest, giving it one little punch for good measure. ¡°Yeah I deserved that, sorry,¡± Lillian said and wrapped her arms around Snow¡¯s trembling shoulders. She rest her chin on Snow¡¯s head as a message appeared to her right. ¡°Yep.¡± ¡°Hey now, not dense, just didn¡¯t know how to-¡± Snow pulled back and grabbed her by her face. Her hands were delicate, soft, a little small, but the young woman didn¡¯t hide that she¡¯d grown a little stronger through her conditioning training. She turned Lillian¡¯s head towards hers and gave her a gentle kiss before pulling back with the biggest smile Lillian had ever seen. Lillian stared at her for a heartbeat before wrapping an arm around Snow¡¯s waist. The smaller woman blinked and Lillian gave her a hard look. ¡°Come here.¡± Chapter 102 Chapter 102 Sonya made a face, pursing her lips and squinting at the masked guard sitting across from her in the secure vehicle. The guard shifted a bit under her stare as she crossed her arms. He shifted again and the guard next to him looked away. The momentary look of betrayal in the first guard¡¯s shoulders was very telling. He cleared his throat as Sonya crossed her legs and gave him a frown. Next to her, Marta also shifted a bit in her seat. ¡°Is someone going to explain to me why I can¡¯t sit with my guests?¡± Sonya huffed. The first guard looked at his comrade again who looked away even more pointedly. Marta restrained a smile next to Sonya. Sonya could feel her trembling a little with barely concealed laughter. The CEO crossed her arms and tilted her head, ¡°I¡¯m waiting,¡± She pouted. The guard cleared his throat, ¡°W-we didn¡¯t have their clearance, ma¡¯am, and there needs to be at least two of us in a vehicle with you at-¡± Sonya stared at him, ¡°Speaking of vehicles, a motorcade? Really?¡± The guard flinched and basically threw his head at his comrade for help. Marta cleared her throat and reached over to squeeze Sonya¡¯s arm, she turned, her lips trembling as she restrained her laughter, ¡°Sonya, go easy on them, they¡¯re just doing their job.¡± Huffing a little, Sonya sighed and slumped a bit in her seat, ¡°Fine, fine, yeah you guys did the right thing. I guess. Would have been more fun with them with me and the motorcade during the day, though,¡± Sonya muttered and crossed her arms petulantly, ¡°What good¡¯s a motorcade if nobody¡¯s watching?¡± Marta laughed, ¡°You know that¡¯s not the point.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Sonya grumbled and then sighed, sitting up a bit and smiling at the two guards, ¡°Alright, teasing aside,¡± She glanced between the two men and their names appeared over their heads. A quick connection to the ASTA company database pulled up the relevant information. It was hard to keep track of everyone who worked for her as much as she would like to memorize every one of their lives. She turned to the first, ¡°How¡¯s your son doing, Carlos?¡± The first guard, Carlos, stared at her for a moment, ¡°Um... great! He¡¯s starting football this year.¡± She smiled, ¡°That¡¯s good to hear, how old is he?¡± ¡°Nine, ma¡¯am, almost ten,¡± He said, his shoulders relaxing a little. ¡°Almost ten!¡± Sonya whistled, ¡°I bet he¡¯s excited. Does he need anything, equipment? I¡¯m not a big sports girl myself so I don¡¯t know everything about it.¡± The guard rubbed his neck, ¡°Y-you pay me more than enough to cover it all, ma¡¯am.¡± Sonya nodded, ¡°You just let me know if you need anything,¡± She said and turned to the other guard who had been avoiding the confrontation, ¡°And what about you, Liam? Got any plans? I saw you put in for vacation time soon.¡± Liam cleared his throat, ¡°I¡¯m getting Married, going to Maui with her,¡± He said, looking significantly more animated. ¡°My wife saw the uh...¡± He trailed off. Sonya barked out a laugh, ¡°The Maui photoshoot cover? It¡¯s beautiful there, good for you. I know a wonderful beach house, actually,¡± Sonya said and tilted her head, ¡°Check your email during your next break, dear. You get those tickets, I¡¯ll hook you up with the same view she saw.¡± The guard slumped in his seat, ¡°Thank you ma¡¯am,¡± He mumbled. Sonya leaned forward and pat his knee, ¡°You¡¯re protecting me, it¡¯s the least I can do.¡± ¨C The motorcade arrived at the gates to the Pandora Committee headquarters not long after that and some suits hurried over to open the doors for her. She laughed as she stepped out of the car, ¡°I¡¯ll come see a game! It sounds fun, Carlos,¡± She said and took the hand of one of the men who were waiting for her outside, ¡°Thank you,¡± She slipped onto the ground and stepped away as Marta made her way out and glanced around, watching their surroundings for a moment while the other two got out of the opposite side and did a quick sweep before meeting back up at her. She took their hands, ¡°Thank you both, I¡¯ll see you after the meet-and-greet.¡± ¡°It was great meeting you, ma¡¯am,¡± Liam said with Carlos nodding emphatically next to him. Sonya winked at them and glanced past before holding out a hand, ¡°There she is.¡± Mikayla walked over and took Sonya¡¯s hand for a moment before smirking and allowing a little distance. Sonya chuckled, ¡°How was the drive? Sorry about that, rules and everything.¡± ¡°You hire some very kind people,¡± Mikayla said with a small smile, ¡°They were nice.¡± Sonya nodded, ¡°Good,¡± She glanced up at Bernetta who joined them, ¡°So! Let¡¯s go see what all the excitement is about, mm? Marta, badges?¡± Marta stepped up and held out a thin metal box. She opened it and inside were two metal plates attached to lanyards. Sonya picked hers up and pressed her thumb against it. The metal flickered for a moment before brightening and revealing a picture of her face, her name, her ability¡¯s tier, and the words ¡®Pandora Committee Official¡¯ above ¡®ASTA Corporate CEO¡¯. Sonya plucked the lanyard up and slipped it around her neck. ¡°They¡¯re for bypassing certain security checks, tied to biometrics and a few other things,¡± Sonya explained to a confused Mikayla. ¡°Sonya Chernovna in the flesh!¡± A voice called out to her and she glanced to the left to see a pair of men in suits approaching her. The man on the left had tan skin and perfect black hair to match his immaculate goatee. The man on the right was a dirty blonde who radiated smugness in a way that reminded her of her worst enemy. ¡°Brent Marion and Adam Frask! We finally meet in person!¡± Sonya enthused before glancing at Mikayla and Bernetta with a wink, ¡°I guess it¡¯s right to business, ladies, enjoy the refreshments,¡± She murmured. Mikayla chuckled and waved her off while Marta fell into step with Sonya. ¡°How are things at Marion and Forge?¡± She asked, shaking the two men¡¯s hands. They gripped hard, she just grinned and returned a firm grip of her own as she glanced at their names. Both awakened, huh? Analyze. Fascinating. Wasted on them. ¡°Have a good look?¡± Brent asked with a grin, reaching up to pull back his blonde hair and look down at her. Next to him, Adam grinned as well. ¡°Well, they¡¯re certainly interesting. I¡¯m surprised you aren¡¯t working as heroes,¡± Sonya said honestly, ¡°A bit of a waste, if you ask me.¡± Brent frowned, ¡°I make much more of a difference providing for heroes.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Sonya chuckled, ¡°Why would I think anything else?¡± She teased before turning to Adam, ¡°Thank you for lending Axel to the camp, Adam, that was very kind of you. I know he¡¯s one of your biggest assets.¡± Adam inclined his head, ¡°It was nothing. Forge wants to see the next generation grow.¡± Sonya smiled at him, ¡°I think we¡¯ll get along famously.¡± Brent frowned harder, ¡°Um.¡± ¡°Miss Chernovna!¡± Another voice called out to her, she glanced in the direction of the voice and smiled before turning back to the two men. ¡°We¡¯ll talk more later, boys,¡± She said and walked away with Brent fuming behind her. That was fun, she thought to herself while Marta maintained her perfect stoicism next to her. Now you wear the mask, Sonya thought and gave her a small smile. Marta just winked back at her. Next were a few representatives of various countries, most of the conversation was small talk, though until a representative from Italy raised a point, ¡°I¡¯m surprised that Miss Mint isn¡¯t here,¡± He said, glancing around, ¡°You two are usually thick as thieves.¡± Sonya chuckled, ¡°Well! Carla takes the work of the Committee very seriously, she¡¯s overseeing the East Coast Aspirant Camp right now and wishes she could be here,¡± Sonya said honestly, ¡°The next generation is her priority, though.¡± ¡°Very admirable,¡± One representative said. ¡°I really should reach out to her at some point, it would be good to make contact,¡± Another said. ¡°With her managing North America she¡¯s come a long way,¡± A third added. Sonya kept her pleasant poker face, ¡°She is certainly worth getting to know,¡± Sonya chimed in, ¡°I have a lot of faith in her and what she can do for the Committee.¡± ¡°Well said,¡± Another representative chimed in, Sonya eyed his massive mustache as it wriggled, it made her think of a caterpillar and was immensely distracting. ¡°I hear the two of you are married? How interesting!¡± Sonya barked out a laugh, ¡°Something like that,¡± Sonya said, cupping her face and looking coy as best she can, ¡°Work comes first, of course, and we take our jobs very seriously.¡± ¡°Oho! I see! Apologies for jumping to conclusions, the rumor mill is a scary place,¡± The official grunted, straightening his tie. Save me from this small talk, Sonya whined as she smiled back at him as another face strode forward that took her a little by surprise. A pair of red eyes locked with hers and she froze. She returned the stare of the well dressed tan-skinned man who adjusted his tie and smiled at her from a safe distance. Far enough away to avoid a handshake. Marta shifted and Sonya gave her a sharp look to hold back. ¡°I hear you¡¯re building a new headquarters, how is that going?¡± Astaroth, future Herald of Otis said as every murderous impulse Sonya had fired off in her brain. ¡°Lucien DuCast, by the way. Though I imagine you already know that with those fancy eyes of yours.¡± She reigned it in, ¡°Mister DuCast! It¡¯s going well, thank you!¡± Sonya said with all the sweetness she could muster for the beast in human flesh, ¡°I didn¡¯t know you were joining us tonight, what is a hero like yourself doing here?¡± And how do you know about my new building, you bastard? I took pains to have it constructed under layers of shell companies. He grinned, ¡°Security for the French Representative. I¡¯m leaving in the morning, though, duty calls, being an Assistant Guildmaster is very busy work,¡± He said dramatically, ¡°But, I saw your pretty face and just had to say hello.¡± She returned his grin with one of her own, ¡°Well, I¡¯m sure this won¡¯t be the last time we meet. Thank you for coming by to say hello.¡± He winked at her and turned away, returning to the side of his charge. Sonya restrained a shudder as she stared at his back. Sick bastard. She thought before turning back to the other representatives, ¡°Now, where were we?¡± Chapter 103 Chapter 103 Sonya was relieved that Astaroth decided not to make a second appearance in her circles of conversation for the rest of the night. He was still ever present, still a constant awareness at the back of her mind, but she managed to at least push him to the periphery. She couldn¡¯t kill him here as much as she wanted to. She had her priorities and it was good enough knowing where he currently stood in the world. Her knowledge of his early years before becoming a Herald was fuzzy at best at any rate. She did have Marta keep a close eye on him, though. She had other things to worry about, after all; ¡°Do you have any policy proposals for tomorrow, Miss Chernovna?¡± The representative from China asked, shaking her hand briefly. His power wasn¡¯t anything to write home about. She inclined her head, ¡°I have a few things in mind, Mister Ma,¡± Sonya said with a small smile, ¡°I do want to make sure that things are progressing properly with the Dharan project, after all.¡± The thin, balding man raised an eyebrow, ¡°That can¡¯t be all,¡± He said leadingly. You¡¯re going to have to try harder than that. She thought with a coy smile, ¡°Perhaps a discussion for later,¡± She offered as she pulled her hand away and sipped at her drink. Ugh, wine, I¡¯m so sick of wine. Every party it¡¯s wine or spirits. I need to hit a club after this or something, they¡¯ve gotta have soda or something sweeter. ¡°Do you like it, by the way? I contributed many of the drinks,¡± Mister Ma asked, eager to ingratiate himself. She knew of China¡¯s desire to poach her from the United States, not that she was loyal to the country in any real respect. New York was just convenient. Still, they were a little overbearing about it. She studied the drink with her senses, grumbling inwardly at using her powers for pedantic things, but was fortunately interrupted by another person who approached. She glanced in the woman¡¯s direction and narrowed her eyes a fraction. Her lips curled upward and she turned her gaze back to Mister Ma, ¡°Forgive me, it looks like I have someone I need to catch up with a bit, Mister Ma,¡± She said and turned, walking towards the woman waiting expectantly to the side. Mister Ma opened his mouth but Marta put herself between him and Sonya. ¡°Thank you,¡± Sonya muttered before brightening at the pretty face in front of her. Dark hair fell down in curls around slender shoulders and a pretty neckline accented by jeweled earrings. Dark eyes stared into hers. ¡°Representative Ileva,¡± Sonya said politely, canting her head to the right, ¡°You look lovely.¡± ¡°Chernovna,¡± The woman said, locking eyes with Sonya, ¡°I wanted to speak with you about a private matter.¡± Sonya raised an eyebrow and looked the woman up and down, before staring her right back in the eyes, ¡°I don¡¯t tie up women I just met unless they ask nicely.¡± The woman¡¯s nostrils flared a little and she cleared her throat, shifting a bit under Sonya¡¯s luminous stare, ¡°A family matter.¡± Sonya¡¯s expression shifted a bit but she kept her thoughts still, ¡°Not much to say, is there?¡± The woman glanced around once before speaking, ¡°You were a target of Grelen¡¯s Education Policies, he isn¡¯t-¡± ¡°I know what happened when I was little, I¡¯m not stupid, Representative,¡± Sonya said with a sigh, ¡°I also know that the man who instituted them and the policies themselves are already abolished by the current Kremlin,¡± Sonya added. She looked down at the wine, it seemed a bit more sour than before, ¡°I don¡¯t have any attachment to specific people in my homeland, if that¡¯s what you are getting at.¡± ¡°I simply wanted to express to you that the Kremlin wants to build a better relationship with ASTA, and that mending that bridge would be a good place to start,¡± The woman said. Sonya shot a glance towards the Chairman, At least they didn¡¯t send an obvious honey pot. She thought before looking at Ileva, ¡°Consider the matter well and truly behind me. I have no relationship with my parents and don¡¯t care for one. They have new names and new lives, let them enjoy it quietly,¡± Sonya said with all the pleasantness she could muster for a part of her life she cared very little about, ¡°The Kremlin doesn¡¯t have to worry about me. I¡¯m here to support all heroes and Earth as a whole.¡± ¡°I am relieved, then,¡± The woman said with a perfect smile, ¡°Perhaps we can talk a bit more at length as the conference proceeds?¡± ¡°I think that would be a marvelous idea,¡± Sonya said with an easy grin and held out her hand, ¡°Please, Call me Sonya from now on.¡± The woman took it and they shook briefly, ¡°Polina then.¡± ¨C The rest of the party was a cyclical dance of politicking and conversations that Sonya spent most of her time listening to. She tried a few times to approach Mikayla and Bernetta to check on them but the Chairman had taken it upon himself to show her guests around with all the pageantry he could muster. It was fun enough just to watch how Bernetta eased comfortably into everything while poor Mikalya just stared in awe at nearly everything. More importantly, the less time I spend around them while here, the less of a hassle they¡¯ll get from parties interest in me in the future. ¡°You¡¯re in your element,¡± Marta said as things began to wind down. She stood at Sonya¡¯s right, surveying the room and casting small stares at anyone who approached to give her charge a little breathing room. ¡°Hardly,¡± Sonya grunted and glared down at her drink, ¡°I¡¯d rather be out having fun. I hope there are a few good clubs open this late.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to you, I want to talk to her,¡± Martin growled. Sonya set her glass down with a click and glanced in his direction. He looked down at her from his greater height. His cheeks were sunken, his hair was even more of a mess than usual, his beard was patched in places and his whole demeanor was a bit on the feral side. His eyes, though, his eyes were strong. A bright burnished gold that blazed like lamplights beneath his hooded brows. He stared at her with all the hate and barely restrained violence of a hungry, desperate wolf. She snorted at him and looked back at her drink, ¡°Signed it did you?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t give me much of a choice,¡± He growled back and took another swig of his drink. ¡°You always have a choice, sometimes you just don¡¯t realize the choice is there,¡± Sonya said evenly, ¡°People should be more careful of what they say. I¡¯ve heard that faeries can strike deals without the other party even realizing.¡± ¡°I¡¯d say that¡¯s a myth, but I know better,¡± He grunted, leaning against the counter in front of him, ¡°Now bring her out.¡± Sonya took a long sip at her drink, ¡°You¡¯re spoiling my evening.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t very much care,¡± Martin said. ¡°No, you do not,¡± Sonya said with a sigh, ¡°I don¡¯t appreciate you referring to her as a separate person.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t she?¡± Martin hissed. Sonya shot him a hard look, ¡°Watch yourself, Fuller, I don¡¯t have a lot of patience these days.¡± He raised an eyebrow, ¡°Oh, struck a nerve, did I?¡± She sighed and gestured politely to the young bartender who hurried over to her. She reached out, ¡°I¡¯d like to pay, please,¡± Sonya said and the young woman frowned a bit, ¡°It¡¯s nothing for you to worry about cutie, your drink was fabulous. I¡¯ll be coming back once the atmosphere is a bit better, when do you work next?¡± ¡°...tomorrow night?¡± The bartender said. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Sonya asked. ¡°Noe.¡± ¡°Noe, adorable,¡± Sonya said and took the small device the girl handed her. She pulled out the phone she used for her public life and after a moment stepped away from the counter having dropped a sizeable tip. ¡°See you tomorrow, Noe,¡± Sonya said and glanced at Martin, ¡°Let¡¯s talk, killjoy.¡± He frowned and turned, nodding to one of the doors near the stage, ¡°They have rooms to stay in back there.¡± Sonya¡¯s nose wrinkled, ¡°You do understand what those are for, right?¡± She asked. He gave her a deadpan look and she rolled her eyes, ¡°Fine,¡± She followed him back through the door and down a dark hallway before he opened one of the doors with a key. Her lip twitched, ¡°You¡¯re staying here?¡± He said nothing as they stepped inside, he closed the door behind him and leaned against it while she took a look around the unkempt space. There were notebooks everywhere, maps, diagrams, photos, he was tracking everything she was doing. She glanced his way and raised an eyebrow, ¡°All you need is a kooky website,¡± Sonya chuckled, ¡°Truth is out there.¡± ¡°Let me talk to her,¡± He growled. Sonya frowned again, ¡°I don¡¯t-¡± He stepped forward, his eyes blazing with golden light, ¡°Now!¡± He bellowed. She didn¡¯t flinch, she didn¡¯t even blink, she just returned his stare before sighing. Her fingers twitched as her arms went a little slack and she closed her eyes. She listened to the ticking inside of her head, let it all wash away, she pulled the mask up in her mind and slowly let it slide into place as a coldness washed through her. TICK TICK TICK TICK TICK Ishtar opened her eyes and looked at Martin from across the room, her eyes narrowed, ¡°Detective.¡± Chapter 104 Chapter 104 She looked the same. Everything about her was the same. He knew, though, he knew she was a different person. Martin scowled at the monster that stood across from him. Those pink eyes of hers glowed a bit brighter, her posture seemed relaxed but he could practically feel her body coil like a serpent ready to strike. The pressure came next, the weight of Ishtar¡¯s gaze pushing down on him as luminous digital eyes appeared in the room, flickering to life and staring down at him in judgment. He forced his way through the instinctual animal terror that raced up his spine and into his brain. This is a predator. This is a killer. This is a person fully capable of bringing this entire city down around her without a blink or breaking sweat. This is a person without qualms or any sort of restraints. ¡°Ishtar,¡± He growled. ¡°What can I do for you, detective?¡± She said that word again with derision in her voice. ¡°I¡¯m not a detective anymore,¡± He said sourly. ¡°So I heard,¡± Ishtar hissed, a series of panels of light appearing behind her in the form of free-floating steps. She took a few steps back and sat down on the last one, the rest vanishing as she crossed her legs and looked down at him from above. ¡°Couldn¡¯t handle the pressure after signing away your principles. Stepped down with honors even though you felt nothing but disgrace. Fitting for a washed up old cop like you.¡± He bore his teeth, ¡°I¡¯d ask you why you¡¯re doing all this, but you can¡¯t hide anything from me anymore,¡± He said, ¡°Not with the Gaze of Mimir.¡± Ishtar tilted her head up a little and raised her eyebrows, ¡°My, you really lucked out didn¡¯t you?¡± He ignored her and let his gaze burn. His vision in one eye dimmed as everything that was Ishtar, that was Sonya Chernovna, burned through his retinas and into his brain. Nothing could be hidden from his gaze even if his deal with her prevented him from speaking it to the world. He would know the truth, the whole truth and- Fire. He stumbled back. Death. He shook his head and gripped his skull. Grief. ¡°What the-¡± He gasped, clutching at his head, ¡°What the hell are-¡± He tried to squeeze his eyes shut, to cut off the power, but the die had already been cast. Truth was his whether he wanted it or not. He reeled and slammed his back against the door as visions of nightmares swam in his head, truths, wretched truths, when it all finally past he just lay there against the wall and caught his breath, sweat dripping down his face. ¡°Stare into the abyss and all that,¡± Ishtar said casually, checking her nails, ¡°Enjoy the show?¡± His eyes flicked back to her, ¡°I get it now,¡± He growled and forced himself to stand up straight again. She frowned and gave him a disappointed look, ¡°Of course you do, is that all?¡± She asked, clearly growing bored of the conversation, ¡°If you¡¯ll excuse-¡± ¡°I don¡¯t give a shit,¡± He bit out, stepping forward through the soupy air as his body screamed against him to not approach the living breathing source of death standing in front of him. ¡°I can¡¯t kill you,¡± He bit out, working up every single nerve he had to keep staring her in the eyes even as his knees trembled and his palms sweat, ¡°I can¡¯t fight you. Not myself. I can¡¯t win on my own. I only have these two eyes and this wasted body of mine.¡± She raised her eyebrows, her attention coming fully on him, ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°But I¡¯ll find a way. I don¡¯t care how noble, you are a murderer, a psychopath, and a villain. Worse than a villain. Supervillain suits you well,¡± He snorted, ¡°Nah, that isn¡¯t even fitting enough anymore is it? After you basically orchestrated Vegas and then gave a god damn speech at Firestorm¡¯s funeral!¡± He shouted. ¡°For what? A fake peace? A balancing act born out of the promise of mutually assured destruction all to get back at some punk kid?¡± Her lips thinned, ¡°That ¡®kid¡¯-¡± ¡°I know who he is!¡± He barked and pointed at his eyes, ¡°I¡¯ll bring him down, not you! I¡¯ll bring you down and the rest of your disgusting cabal, I swear it.¡± She tilted her head to the right and blades of light appeared around her, ¡°I could kill you now, you know? Be done with you as an interloper.¡± ¡°But you won¡¯t,¡± He said with a grin. ¡°Because you¡¯re just as crazy as he is. You want an opponent, you want someone who will bring you down in the end so you can heroically die knowing that you did the world a favor,¡± He spat, ¡°Fuck you. I¡¯ll see to it that you spend the rest of your life in a box, reminded every day of the crimes you committed.¡± In a flash of movement Ishtar was in front of him, floating, her eyes boring down on him. He felt his heart lock up and his breath catch in his throat. Fear was everything, but he wouldn¡¯t back down, couldn¡¯t back down from the monster standing in front of him. Not if he called himself a proper human being still. He clenched his fists and stared back into those cruel mechanical eyes as the worlds most hated supervillain stared down at him with naught but malice. Sonya went silent again. ¡°Take the mask off if you want me to be quiet that badly,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°I¡¯m here to do whatever you want, to support whatever you want. You and I both know that I am the only person who you¡¯re going to listen to when it comes to the tough stuff,¡± Ishtar pointed out firmly, ¡°Marta will tease but she doesn¡¯t see herself as having a right to call you out. The rest? They worship you.¡± Sonya looked away, ¡°Just... say what you¡¯ve got to say.¡± ¡°You¡¯re tired, and you¡¯ve only just begun,¡± Ishtar said softly and pulled herself up to sit on the bathroom counter, leaning her head against the glass of the mirror. Sonya¡¯s head shifted in her reflection, and it felt a little like they were leaning against one another,, ¡°You have to stop pretending that you haven¡¯t changed. You aren¡¯t the Sonya from before. You belong here now.¡± Sonya sat up in the reflection and glared at her, ¡°I am not from this timeline!¡± She snarled, ¡°I can¡¯t belong here, I know too much, I¡¯ve seen...¡± She trailed off, ¡°I¡¯ve seen too much. I can¡¯t let myself just do that. Not after everyone else died. Why do I get to live again, try again, when everyone else-¡± Ishtar clicked her tongue, ¡°Really?¡± Sonya frowned, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Of all the pathetic things to say, after what you¡¯ve sacrificed of your own soul and mind, after what they died for?¡± Ishtar growled, ¡°You¡¯re going to sit there and wallow in survivor''s guilt? You? The most impressive woman in the world? I¡¯m honestly a little disgusted with you right now, Sonya.¡± Sonya flinched and looked down, ¡°I-¡± ¡°Sonya, you cannot function here if you¡¯re stuck in the past!¡± Ishtar barked, ¡°Listen to me, please, I¡¯m trying to help you. You can¡¯t expect this world to be the same as the last one, it isn¡¯t anymore. You¡¯ve already changed things. The world is different. Events are different. People are different.¡± Sonya leaned back against the glass again, it was warm this time. She was silent, her face contemplative instead of petulant. Ishtar supposed that was a start at least.¡°Then what should I do?¡± Sonya asked in a small voice. ¡°Reconcile yourself with your new life,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°Otherwise,¡± She pointed between the mirror and herself, ¡°This? This is going to keep getting worse. I will not allow you to fade away, Sonya. This isn¡¯t my life, I¡¯m just a mask. That¡¯s how it should be.¡± Sonya sighed, ¡°I don¡¯t even know where to start.¡± Ishtar gave her a sidelong look and raised an expectant eyebrow. ¡°Are you telling me to forgive Chunhua? After what she did? After how-¡± Sonya paused and frowned. ¡°After she was a different person than the previous timeline and met you under different circumstances and hadn¡¯t had time to become the person you knew?¡± Ishtar asked pointedly, ¡°It¡¯s a start I suppose.¡± Sonya clicked her tongue, ¡°I can¡¯t just do that,¡± She crossed her arms and flushed. ¡°I¡¯m not saying sleep with her!¡± Ishtar laughed, ¡°Heavens no. You¡¯re different people now, both of you,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°It¡¯s time you started accepting that she isn¡¯t going to do what you want her to do just because of some idealized image you have in your head. And you cannot live as the Sonya from that time either. You aren¡¯t. Stop it, if for no one else then for Marta who is worried sick.¡± Those words seemed to hit harder than the others, Sonya slipped a bit on the counter and played with her fingers, guilt on her face, ¡°I know,¡± She murmured, ¡°Will I stop seeing you in the mirror as much, if I can do that?¡± Sonya asked quietly. ¡°Isn¡¯t that for the best?¡± Ishtar asked. Sonya lowered her head a bit more and smiled a little, ¡°So, until it''s over, I¡¯m allowed to be happy?¡± ¡°Yes, you¡¯re allowed to be happy, you foolish girl,¡± Ishtar said before adding slyly, ¡°Maybe if you¡¯re a bit less grumpy all the time I can have a bit more fun with my role too. I am you after all and all that baggage is just a pain to lug around.¡± Sonya sniffed and laughed, ¡°You¡¯re so mean.¡± ¡°What can I say? I¡¯m the villain.¡± Sonya slipped off the counter and set her feet on the ground, glancing over her shoulder as a small, small amount of weight slipped off of it. For the first time in a long time she saw her own face looking back at her and not those cruel eyes. Even so, she smiled at herself, ¡°Thank you,¡± She said, ¡°I needed that.¡± She took a much needed shower after that before heading into the bedroom. She crawled into her bed, exhausted, but lighter than she¡¯d been in a long, long time. Behind her, she didn¡¯t see Marta¡¯s teary-eyed smile. Side-Story: Camp 1 Side-Story: Camp 1 The pair stood in front of the door, the others sitting behind them and watching. There were a few screens on the walls for the audience to watch the pair¡¯s progress. Next to the door, the beefy dude with dog tags, Axel, stood with his arms crossed. He was one of the new hero instructors that had arrived over the past few days. He reached up and adjusted his sunglasses with a grin. ¡°You two ready?¡± He asked with a grunt, ¡°Happy with your choice of partner?¡± Greg rolled his neck and rubbed it a bit with his hand. Next to him, John stood as stiff as a board, shoulders rigid and eyes straight forward. His hands moved, though, a long training knife in his hand. He¡¯d switched from bouncing between butterfly knife and switchblade after some extra attention from Miss Chernovna. Greg tilted his head and glanced at his partner who nodded in his usual sullen way. Greg smirked and looked up at Axel, ¡°We¡¯re good.¡± Axel tilted his head up and looked down at them, ¡°We¡¯ll see about that, best time is three minutes so far. Clear the room of hostiles, today¡¯s theme is villains and human criminals. There¡¯s a volunteer ¡®villain¡¯ inside. Keep the killing blows to a minimum. You¡¯re heroes, don¡¯t forget,¡± He crossed his arms and turned his eyes to the small crowd of aspirants sitting behind them. ¡°You lot can watch on the screens.¡± Greg licked the inside of his lip and rubbed his thumb over his palm, tugging a bit on his fingers and flexing them. ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°Woo! Get ¡®em Gravitic!¡± A voice called out from behind them. He rolled his eyes and glanced over his shoulder with a smirk at the girl with blue highlights sitting near the front of the crowd, gloved fist in the air. He raised his fist as well and winked before bouncing a bit on the balls of his feet. He¡¯d seen Lillian do it a few times to get pumped up. ¡°You first?¡± John asked. Greg glanced at him, ¡°I¡¯ll set ¡®em up for you.¡± ¡°Shortest time then,¡± John nodded with a twitch of his lip, his version of a smile. Axel looked between the two of them, ¡°Back up that confidence,¡± He turned and tapped a button on the panel behind him, ¡°Fifteen seconds till the door opens.¡± Greg and John stepped forward and stood at the door. John twirled his knife and shifted his stance to provide a side angle of himself. Greg¡¯s right palm began to glow and he entered a crouch, ready to dash. Three... Two... One... The door snapped open with a hiss. ¡°Very,¡± Greg grumbled, ¡°Borderline-fuckin-heroic.¡± ¡°Kick his ass anyway?¡± John muttered. ¡°Of course,¡± Greg chuckled and hopped back playfully to one of the crates facing their opponent and hopped on top of it, he slapped his right hand down on the surface and gravity erupted from it, pushing out towards John and Alex. John darted forward, his light body taking advantage of the ¡®falling¡¯ while Alex jumped into the air to land on the wall behind him, looking up at John as he hurtled ¡®down¡¯ at him. John turned into a pinwheel, twisting his body into a falling axe kick aimed at the center of Alex¡¯s head. Alex grinned and opened his mouth, his jaw widening to fit John¡¯s entire leg if it had to. Greg snorted and slapped his left hand down on the box, John suddenly falling towards him for a moment. Alex grunted as he was lifted while John kicked off the floor as Greg reversed gravity again, the result made Greg burst into laughter. Alex landed back on the ground on his butt as his jaw snapped shut so he could change which limb he was increasing. Meanwhile, John landed behind him and whipped his knife out to press against Alex¡¯s neck. ¡°Finish.¡± Alex groaned, ¡°Ah fine!¡± He grumbled and threw his hands up. John looked ¡®up¡¯ at Greg and nodded, perspective was weird when you could selectively change gravity based on surface area. Greg disabled his ability and the two landed on the ground properly, hopping off the wall and onto the floor. Greg slipped off the box and landed on his feet, rubbing his hands together. A buzzer went off over his head. ¡°Not bad, boys!¡± Axel¡¯s voice came in over the intercom, ¡°The new time to beat is one minute, fifteen seconds.¡± Greg threw his fists up in the air, ¡°Woo hoo!¡± He cheered, ¡°Yes!¡± Alex and John came over to join him, Greg reached out and clapped Alex on the shoulder. ¡°Scales look good, bud.¡± Alex smirked, ¡°Been a while since we tussled, you look happy.¡± Greg grinned, ¡°Well yeah, I just scored myself a date tonight.¡± Side-Story: Camp 2 Side-Story: Camp 2 The Dojo only had a few people in it today, with the classes becoming more and more varied, aspirants were starting to prioritize different classes. Alex himself had gone to the rescue field just the previous day. It was harrowing but rewarding in its own way. It was too bad they couldn¡¯t have live subjects to rescue but he understood the logic. Those creepy forge-tech dummy mannequin-things still gave a good response based on the situation. He¡¯d done alright, not great, but it was a good enough score that he didn¡¯t get chewed out like a few who had managed to break one of them during their return trip through the ¡®disaster zone¡¯. Fine motor control was his weakness and he was very much aware of it. His body was ridiculously flexible and strong, but that came with its own problems. Precision was hard and that was why he was here. With Miss Chernovna gone for the week, Black Lotus had shifted from conditioning drills to hand-to-hand combat while the guy from Forge, Axel, handled the drills in her place. Alex sat on the ground and looked up at the pair that was currently dueling in the center of the room, John had never missed a hand-to-hand lesson. He was obsessed with getting ¡®as good or better¡¯ than Miss Chernovna when it came to knife fighting. Alex had never seen the guy that motivated in all the years he¡¯d known him. He didn¡¯t notice himself zone out a little as he thought back about his grim-faced friend going through the motions every day but an elbow to the side brought him back. He glanced to the right and Lillian raised her eyebrows at him, ¡°You good?¡± She asked. ¡°Me? Yeah, why?¡± He asked only for her to give an urgent glance towards the center of the room. He slowly turned his head and saw Black Lotus staring right at him. ¡°Are you going to join me, Mister Ellis?¡± Ah crap, zoned out, he reached up and scratched his head, hopping to his feet and brushing himself off before walking past a returning John, ¡°Good work out there.¡± ¡°Not enough,¡± John muttered but nodded gratefully anyway. ¡°Crazy guy,¡± Alex chuckled and came to a stop in front of Black Lotus who stared at him hard. ¡°I understand you want to work on fine motor control with your ability active,¡± She asked, brandishing her training weapon to her side as if ready to deliver a killing blow. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a moment to prepare.¡± ¡°You¡¯re improving,¡± She said. He grinned, ¡°I¡¯m just getting started!¡± He barked and dove in, fists up. He whipped out a kick and it extended towards her. She brought her weapon up to deflect the kick only for his leg to start to bend the wrong way around her torso. She raised an eyebrow and dropped low, sliding out of his attempt to coil her. He clicked his tongue and pulled his leg back, he wasn¡¯t going to waste energy letting the attack finish if it wasn¡¯t going to succeed. He brought it back up and raised his knee, standing on one foot and watched her as she shifted to the right. ¡°Patient, like a serpent,¡± Black Lotus commented. ¡°Miss Chernovna says to embrace what your power means, vibe with it, if I¡¯m gonna be a snake, might as well act like one while I¡¯m fighting,¡± He said with a grin. Black Lotus¡¯ eyebrows rose as her lip twitched, ¡°She¡¯s working on that with you already,¡± She said thoughtfully, ¡°Only a month in. I suppose I should take this more seriously, then.¡± And drew her weapon up to the side of her head, her eyes fixed on him. ¡°Don¡¯t blink, aspirant.¡± She moved so freaking fast, he barely managed to get out of the way when she was suddenly behind him. He turned and raised his arms again, blocking a far more forceful blow that fortunately didn¡¯t get through his scales. He dropped low and swept his leg out, stretching it to deal with her footing. She just hopped over it and snapped out a kick towards his head. He growled and threw his head forward, scales up, and took the kick. He reached up and tried to grab at her ankle only for her to spin and launch off of him like a springboard. She landed and darted forward again, her attacks coming in faster, blow after blow rained down on him as he pivoted and blocked as fast as he could. In the end, though, he found himself on his ass with the point of a sword at his nose. ¡°Excellent start, Mister Ellis,¡± She said and reached out to help him up. He grabbed her hand and she tugged him up without any effort. Shit she¡¯s strong. I weigh almost five hundred pounds like this. He thought, dazed, and let out a breath as he settled on his feet. The scales began to retract and the muscle on his arms shrank. He exhaled completely and the hunger that he¡¯d barely noticed during the fight grumbled at him. He was going to eat his weight in grub when he got back to the common area. He looked up at her and grinned, ¡°So what¡¯s next?¡± She nodded at him and smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s talk.¡± Chapter 105 Chapter 105 Sonya woke the next morning feeling more refreshed than she had in a long time. Her eyes fluttered open and she took a deep breath of the smell of freshly made coffee, rolling over onto her side and seeing... no one. She tilted her head and sat up, racking her brain as she tried to remember who she¡¯d slept with the previous night. Then it came back to her and she let out a sharp laugh, flopping back onto her pillow and letting out a delighted sound as she stretched out her legs. It was like a fog had lifted a little, it was still there, but she felt clear. She let out a relaxed sigh and glanced down at Marta who was standing at the foot of her bed. ¡°Morning!¡± Sonya chirped. Marta gave her a pleased smile, ¡°Morning to you too, how¡¯d you sleep, all on your own?¡± Sonya sat up and grinned before hopping off the bed with a flourish, ¡°Better than I have in a long time!¡± She declared and struck a pose before raising her arm and frowning, ¡°Marta? Shower free?¡± She asked. ¡°I finished about an hour ago,¡± Marta laughed. ¡°I¡¯ll be back,¡± Sonya said quickly and fled to the restroom. As she walked in she stopped at the sink and hesitated for a moment, resting her hand on the counter and remembering. She turned and looked at the mirror and saw her own smiling face looking back at her. There was a twinkle in her reflections eye, she was still there, but... No mask. She sighed with relief, No mask. How long has it been since I¡¯ve seen my own face in the mirror? She thought and looked herself over, checking her jaw and running her fingers up her pale skinned face. Like a porcelain doll. A knock came to the door and she jumped. ¡°Sonya? Do you need any help getting ready?¡± Sonya looked up at her reflection and grinned, ¡°Nah, I¡¯ve got it today!¡± She said merrily and made for the shower, casting one look back at herself, ¡°Thanks again, I¡¯m glad I can count on you,¡± She said with a wink. ¨C Marta sat on the bed in her gown and glanced down at her phone, smiling a little at the selfie that Barry sent her from his mission in the pacific. He was grinning ear to ear, wearing a silly poka-dot vacation shirt and his hair swept back. A couple of his boys were in the background with what looked like heavy duty construction equipment atop a large boat. She tapped a quick message back to him, He shot back. She responded. Sonya threw open the door and stepped out of the bathroom with a grin on her face. Vibrant pink lipstick just how she likes it, a little bit of eyeliner and some pink shading around the eyes. Her hair hung down straight, all the stress curls long gone. She¡¯d even done up her nails, hands and feet. She cast a smug grin over at Marta who turned to give her an appraising look, relief washing over her seeing her dear friend finally able to care for herself again. ¡°Full battle paint!¡± Marta laughed, ¡°Looking good,¡± She chuckled and set her phone down, ¡°Barry says hi and sends his best.¡± Sonya gave Marta a coy grin, ¡°Sexting, this early? Marta!¡± She teased. Marta switched to her most offended frown as she shoved her phone a little bit more under herself, ¡°Sonya! Get your mind out of the gutter!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t put it anywhere else!¡± She laughed and walked by the television, hitting the button as she snatched up her clothes that Marta had laid on the bed. She started throwing on her white shirt as the news came on, pulling her tie around her neck. Marta rolled her eyes and got to her feet, walking over and giving her a hand, ¡°I can do it!¡± ¡°You have never been able to tie a tie, good days or bad, Sonya Chernovna,¡± Marta quipped and got to work as Sonya huffed and puffed up her cheeks. ¡°We¡¯re here at the Headquarters of the Pandora Committee at The Hague, Netherlands. In just a few hours the first session of the fully organized Pandora Committee will be held in this recently completed building. As you can see behind me, the promenade is beautiful and standing prominently is a statue of the Hero of Vegas, Firestorm,¡± The reporter said and Marta glanced up to see Sonya smiling at the TV. First time I¡¯ve seen you smile first when he was mentioned in a long time too. She thought as the reporter moved on down the promenade. ¡°Representatives from every member nation of the United Nations will be in attendance as well as several representatives of the new Hero Support industry from across the world. First among them is Sonya Chernovna, the Voice of the Hero Movement and CEO of the ASTA Corporation. She is slated to deliver a speech about the first round of Aspirant Hero Training Camps that have been underway worldwide since just over a month ago,¡± The reporter continued. ¡°Still remember your speech?¡± Marta asked, glancing up at the side of the woman¡¯s head. He puffed out his lips and leaned back, ¡°Hit a few snags, actually, wish I had your man Amos to help. The second generation Forge Dolls are still years off unless we figure out what¡¯s going wrong.¡± She hummed a bit and tilted her head, ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal, let Amos pick up what he can from their bodies, not their brains, and I¡¯ll let you borrow him for a while. Consider it a trade,¡± Sonya said and held out her hand again. He raised his eyebrows and rubbed his chin, ¡°How long?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s say, on-and-off six months, I can¡¯t lose him too, you know. He comes by on occasion and helps your boys work out the issues and then comes home,¡± Sonya offered. Adam grinned, ¡°Deal,¡± He said and shook her hand, ¡°We¡¯ll talk more later.¡± She smirked, ¡°Of course!¡± Brent was the next to arrive, descending the steps and casting Sonya a small frumpy look, she raised her eyebrows at him as they stared one another down before she brandished a winning smile, ¡°Brent.¡± ¡°Sonya.¡± She pressed her lips together, ¡°I was a little hard on you last night,¡± She said and tilted her head, ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that. It¡¯s been a long couple of weeks.¡± He paused and blinked, staring at her in surprise, ¡°Uh, thank you,¡± He said and cleared his throat, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have been so hostile about your ability. It must come in handy.¡± ¡°It really does,¡± Sonya said with a laugh, ¡°Thank you, dear. Truce?¡± He shrugged and settled into his seat a bit more comfortably, ¡°Truce,¡± He agreed and they shook hands. He crossed his arms afterward and glanced at the Chairman who was talking to a few representatives before things got underway, ¡°How is Madame Rouge doing?¡± ¡°Oh she¡¯s wonderful, a bit tough but that¡¯s to be expected from a woman like her. She¡¯s got her eyes on one of my endorsees, been on top of him constantly to improve his ability. Fierce one for such a property lady,¡± Sonya commented. Brent chuckled, ¡°Certainly, she comes from a big manufacturing family. Money, but hard people,¡± He said with a nod, looking thoughtful for a moment, ¡°She was going to take over the family business before the flash and developed her abilities. Terrifying powers. I¡¯ve never seen hounds behave themselves until her.¡± Sonya raised an eyebrow, ¡°I¡¯ve only seen it once before, a very eccentric friend,¡± She admitted, thinking of Charon. ¡°You¡¯ll have to introduce me, those kinds of abilities are rare and valuable. Monsters can make quite the useful commodity if maintained and turned on their own,¡± He said as he turned to face the raised podium where the Chairman was making his final preparations. I know how you feel about monsters, she thought, smuggling them through Russia last year. It¡¯s a shame you¡¯re just a jerk and not an evil man. I really want to kick you around for it. Oh well, such is life. She turned as well and set her hands in her lap, smiling at the Chairman as the microphone came on. ¡°Welcome, Leaders and Representatives of our new Heroic Age. Today marks the first annual meeting of the Pandora Committee. As is right and proper I want to thank those who made today possible. The people of various nations who came together to build this building, the nations that signed the Pandora Accord, and the people who helped start the movement as a whole,¡± He gave a small nod in Sonya¡¯s direction. Sonya waved at him before settling in. His eyes swept the room, ¡°All national representatives are present, this committee also recognizes the presence of the eighteen heads of the various support organizations from across the globe. They are here representing the interests of the guilds they sponsor and the organizations that make what we do possible. According to our charter, they are here in a capacity to provide advice and submit proposals only.¡± He said aloud, ¡°With that, may the first Grand Pandora Committee begin.¡± There was a round of applause as he stood there, nodding to everyone in turn before he cleared his throat, ¡°Our first order of business as agreed in our charter is the discussion of exigent threats to humanity and society as a whole and the declaration of the ten most wanted villains in the world,¡± He paused, ¡°Of course, it goes without saying that a special place has been reserved for the spot of public enemy number one, separate from the top ten,¡± He said grimly. There was a chorus of murmurs throughout the room and Sonya leaned back to enjoy the show. Behind the Chairman a screen slid down and flickered to life before revealing footage of her eye opening over Vegas and her descent in a column of light. The images flickered and were grainy. It was clear to everyone who it was, though. The image shifted to an artist''s rendition of herself in her full regalia and helmet. ¡°We have no close up images of the Supervillain, Ishtar,¡± The Chairman said gravely, ¡°We do have this image based on all descriptions provided,¡± He cleared his throat, ¡°For the crimes of High Villainy, Murder, Terrorism, Organized Crime, Supporting Villain Activity, and others listed above me,¡± He recited, reading from the prompt, ¡°With this Committee¡¯s approval, I hereby declare the Villain Ishtar Public Enemy Number One, and the most wanted person on this planet we call Earth, may I hear the Ayes?¡± The resounding approval was deafening. Sonya just smiled as she added her own private, ¡°Aye.¡± Chapter 106 Chapter 106 The vote was unanimous and so obviously predetermined that Sonya nearly burst into laughter, she controlled herself, though. Enjoying the moment of hitting the top of everyone¡¯s lists with a single vote. She leaned back into her seat, shifting her shoulders a bit to get more comfortable and crossed her legs. From her spot off to the left and facing the podium where the Chairman stood, she savored it, the feeling that, in a weird way, the world acknowledged her for what she was doing, even if it didn¡¯t know why. She was pretty sure this wasn¡¯t the sense of belonging that Ishtar had intended her to feel, but it certainly was a way to look at it. As the momentary noise died down, the Chairman moved on to the proper list; ¡°There are ten individuals that have been designated as the ten most wanted villains on the planet after the one who is believed responsible for assisting the majority of them, Ishtar,¡± The Chairman rumbled, again reading from a prompt in front of him before turning again to getsure at the screen, ¡°These ten individuals are first; The Supervillain known as The Companion,¡± A grainy picture of an armored woman in a gown with a veil over her face appeared on the screen at the top left. ¡°Little is known about her abilities, but she is the personal attendant and attache of Ishtar and likely knows all of her secrets. While she has not overtly committed any crimes, the international ballot released to you all succinctly agreed she is a high priority for arrest, as the information she could provide could be vital to her master¡¯s arrest,¡± The Chairman continued and there were nods of approval throughout the audience. Sonya nodded along as well, it was a rational approach. If they can¡¯t get her, get Marta. Not that they ever will, she thought, I¡¯ll make sure of it. ¡°Next is the far more widely known Supervillain, Kingshark,¡± The chairman declared and an image of a massive gray skinned monster that looked vaguely like a man appeared on the screen, causing a stir among the representatives. The monster appeared to be grabbing the front end of an ocean liner and lifting it up. Sonya leaned forward opened her mouth in amused interest, ¡°Oho?¡± ¡°Kingshark operates as a subordinate of Ishtar but managees his own international criminal empire. He focuses on street-level gangs and youth, bringing them in under his wing. His reach spans most nations of the planet with a connection to a body of water and has committed dozens of maritime crimes since his rise to power,¡± The Chairman explained, ¡°More importantly, it is believed that he actually ¡®rents out¡¯ his gangs and soldiers to other villains for profit.¡± Wow, they are well informed, good work, good work! She chuckled inwardly, resting her chin on her palm and watching with increasing interest as the picture turned to a blank image with the word ¡®BLACKRAZOR¡¯ over it. She restrained another snicker and tilted her head, maintaining her poker face as murmurs spread. ¡°Blackrazor, number three, is a Peak-Mythic Assassin working under Ishtar. His name was discovered after extensive investigation though his connections and activities remain unknown. He is personally guilty of murdering a Mythic-Tier hero and is suspected to be involved in any number of murders across the planet, his face is unknown,¡± The Chairman said gravely as he looked across the crowd before continuing. ¡°Fourth is a supervillain of an unknown name that has been active in recent times, carrying out terrorist attacks across the planet,¡± The Chairman said before gesturing to a picture of a bolt of lightning that ended with the shape of a woman, fires were burning around her, ¡°This woman has not publicly revealed her name or purpose and attacks with ferocious impunity, she has caused billions of dollars in damage and ended hundreds of lives in her attacks.¡± Kerauna, Sonya thought, There was no way you wouldn¡¯t make it on the list. Wild thing. The Chairman rest his hands on the podium, ¡°These four make up the first notable supervillains of our new era and are widely known through most of our member countries in one way or another, I now open the floor to the representatives to propose additions to this list.¡± ¡°The Representative of Australia asks to speak,¡± A voice rang out. The Chairman nodded, ¡°The Committee recognizes the Representative from Australia, Mister Carey.¡± Mister Carey got to his feet, a perfect mop of blonde hair slicked to the side as he adjusted his jacket, ¡°Australia would like to propose to add the Supervillain Blight to the list of Pandora¡¯s most wanted. He has been active in the south pacific for some time now and has committed numerous acts of ecological terrorism,¡± He said firmly. ¡°New Zealand supports the proposal!¡± ¡°Philippines supports the proposal!¡± ¡°Indonesia supports the proposal!¡± ¡°Japan supports the proposal!¡± The Chairman cleared his throat, ¡°Five votes for proposal, does the Committee consent?¡± He asked and a few more major nations joined in, leading many others to finally chime in with their approval. With that, the Supervillain Blight was added to the list. Sonya tilted her head. We''ve not met yet, guess that needs to change, she thought with some amusement, I should congratulate him, maybe he¡¯d like some flowers. THE COMPANIONKINGSHARKBLACKRAZOR[unknown Lightning-based Light-touched]SPICE KING EREBUSBLIGHTQUEEN AUGUSTPASSAGEDRASTIC She was really here. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, reaching out to grab onto the podium and cracked a grin, ¡°We all aspire for greatness,¡± She said with a small chuckle, a few of the men in the crowd joined her but most stayed deadpan. Amos texted her almost immediately. She kept a straight face and tilted her head, ¡°A little humor is good for you, you know? Especially in times like these. It helps lift you up, brighten your day, and give you that extra bit of strength to move forward,¡± She said, ¡°I have never seen so many young men and women with so much good humor in their hearts in my life, so much drive to be more, to grow into the shoes of those who came before them. To live up to legends.¡± ¡°I have seen in one month a young man struggling with the visceral appearance of his ability overcome his misgivings with a little help from the support companies. He will be a force to be reckoned with one day,¡± Sonya said, ¡°I met a young man who wanted to stand up and help people, even if they were frightened of him. A man with a power some might find frightful but with a tremendous heart,¡± She smiled brightly, ¡°He wears his scales proudly now.¡± ¡°I have seen a young man who can clear a room with a touch, his sharp mind and keen eye will take him to the top within a few years, of this I have no doubt in my mind. His awareness of his comrades needs is second to none,¡± She continued, ¡°I have seen with my own eyes a troubled young man who¡¯s actions led him to harm others with his ability throw himself with every ounce of strength he had into becoming a man who could not only make up for his sins, but help people heal and strengthen those around him.¡± She tilted her head, her smile growing thoughtful, ¡°I saw a young woman who couldn¡¯t speak change minds as she turned a field of grass into a winter wonderland in one moment and a field of glittering gemstones in the next,¡± She continued, ¡°I have met the everyman,¡± She chuckled, ¡°Someone who¡¯s power is to simply be talented,¡± She looked at the audience, ¡°You know what he said to me when I asked why he wanted to be a hero instead of becoming a very wealthy man?¡± She cleared her throat, ¡°It just makes sense,¡± She said with a gruff tone, ¡°That¡¯s it, nothing else,¡± She laughed, ¡°These young people are heroes already, just amazing,¡± She said, ¡°So much potential,¡± She looked down at her hands, ¡°I met a young woman who¡¯s power had just awoken on the bus heading to the camp. She was scared because the first manifestation seemed unsuited for the role of a hero,¡± Sonya paused and swept her gaze over the crowd, ¡°That young woman in the firestorm jacket is one of the top aspirants now, dueling regularly with the incomparable Black Lotus.¡± Sonya raised her head with pride, ¡°Those are the kinds of young people in those training camps, those are the kinds of heroes we want to raise up and support in the future. The camps are not just a good idea, or a great idea, they¡¯re just the start. In the future I believe there should be established schools like these, a permanent place where these people with such enormous hearts and spirits can step up and join the ranks of those willing to serve and protect humanity.¡± She grinned, ¡°A friend of mine once said, ¡®Earth, Strive for better¡¯.¡± She looked over the crowd, ¡°These young people are doing just that, and I for one can¡¯t wait to see what they become.¡± Harman stood first, then Alex and Brent, then the rest of the representatives gathered began rising and clapping as she descended the stairs, a smile on her face and blooming even more brightly in her heart. The applause continued until she reached her seat and made her way to sit down only to slip as the ground shook a bit under her feet. She blinked and looked up, confused as the ground shook again. ¡°What the-¡± Brent grunted, hopping to his feet. A third shudder and sirens began to go off over their heads, Sonya whipped her head around and grabbed her phone, she hit the speed dial, ¡°Marta? What¡¯s happening?¡± She shouted as phones began to ring around her. ¡°Explosions inside the building, ma¡¯am, security is moving to investigate, stay put!¡± Marta responded as another blast shook the ground and Sonya grabbed onto her chair, ¡°I¡¯m right outside. I won¡¯t let anyone in.¡± Sonya clicked her tongue, Why now? She growled inwardly as another call came in, ¡°Switching to Amos, be careful Marta!¡± She said hurriedly before switching the call over, ¡°Amos, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°The lab¡¯s been bombed!¡± Amos shouted, ¡°Four of our buildings across the states, there¡¯s bombs going off all over the place!¡± Sonya¡¯s heart nearly sank, she gripped onto the chair and took a deep breath. She had to stay calm, now was not the time to slip back. She set her jaw, ¡°Who was inside?¡± ¡°I have most of Da-som¡¯s team here but a lot of our interns and other employees were there, it¡¯s bad Sonya,¡± Amos said as more shouts rang up around her, angry voices. ¡°Who the fuck-¡± The screen that had displayed the top ten villains fizzled and static filled the air. Sonya whipped her head up to look at the screen, ¡°I think I might have an idea,¡± She said, ¡°I¡¯ll call you back, Amos,¡± She said as a dark smile spread across her face. She would not let this bitch see her frown. Not in a million years. On the screen, a pair of cruel blue eyes glowed, looking down on them and framed by long yellow-blonde hair. The woman wore a full suit of medieval armor, her gauntlet covered hands set in front of her as she broke into a sneer. Sonya looked right into the woman''s eyes and clenched her fist, her grin widening, ¡°Liberty. Now you¡¯ve done it.¡± Chapter 107 Chapter 107 Liberty threaded her fingers together in front of her chest as she stared down at the Pandora Committee from the screen above them. Her luminous blue eyes twinkled with barely contained malice as she sneered at them in disgust. Sonya looked up into those eyes of hers and couldn¡¯t help but feel a little vindicated. The woman had graduated straight to how she was as a fully realized Herald years in advance. Or perhaps she had always been this way. It didn¡¯t matter really, it was clear who was responsible for the bombings. Sonya asked Amos as she steadied herself a little more. After Astaroth had made his comment the other day she wanted to make sure. Amos said, Sonya closed her eyes and let her heart go out to the men and women who were working there and to the memories made in that place, good and bad. It was the birthplace of ASTA and it was gone now. She said and glanced at Alex and Brent who were scowling at their phones. She looked up at Liberty again as the woman waited patiently for everyone¡¯s attention. ¡°First the American Government steps onto my land without permission,¡± Liberty said without preamble, her lip twitching, ¡°Then some heroes come poking around uninvited,¡± She narrowed her eyes, ¡°And now, on international television, you call the members of my movement cultists and formally order heroes to trespass into my territory,¡± She announced with a snarl, ¡°Disgusting, petty, stupid, and blind,¡± She said coldly, ¡°It seems I was right to prepare for today.¡± The Chairman steadied himself on the podium, ¡°Are you Liberty?¡± He demanded. ¡°The people of the world cry out for Liberty, and I am here,¡± The woman said, looking down at him without blinking. ¡°You¡¯re taking responsibility for these bombings?¡± He demanded. ¡°I and the people who placed them,¡± She confirmed, ¡°Someone had to build your shrine to self-importance, you people never consider the masses, do you? Just cattle as far as you¡¯re concerned,¡± She squared her shoulders, ¡°This is a reprisal, you and the nations of this world have no right to put restraints on the light-given powers blessed upon its people, nor do you have any right to curtail our movement.¡± Sonya looked into the woman¡¯s eyes, She doesn¡¯t really believe a word she¡¯s saying. Bitch, Sonya thought as she called Marta with her internal phone. <¡°Marta, what¡¯s it look like out there?¡±> She asked, keeping her mouth shut. ¡°Not good, fires everywhere, security is in shambles. We¡¯re moving as fast as we can to get things under control. There¡¯s a lot of us heroes here but we¡¯ve got holes now,¡± Marta said hastily, ¡°I¡¯ll keep you posted.¡± The Chairman stood a bit straighter, ¡°Liberty, this Committee must demand that you pull back and cease any further attacks. You are risking a war with your faction, do you understand the consequences of that?¡± He insisted. The woman¡¯s expression hardened a little, ¡°Do I seem like I care?¡± ¡°You are a mythic, are you not? There are laws about-¡± He began. ¡°I don¡¯t bend to your laws,¡± Liberty replied. ¡°If a war breaks out we will be forced to deploy Mythic heroes against you, Mythics fighting Mythics in the open could trigger another Vegas, or worse!¡± He barked, ¡°You put not only yourself in danger, but your people, and all the innocents in the region!¡± Sonya glanced at the back of the Chairman¡¯s head. He was saying the right things, of course, fighting Liberty that openly in a territory that was hard to manage because of her presence was just asking for a dungeon break, or several. Of course, She narrowed her eyes at the woman staring down at them, That¡¯s exactly the point, isn¡¯t it, Liberty? She thought and grit her teeth as her grin widened. This wouldn¡¯t be enjoyable if it wasn¡¯t hard. Come on, say it. ¡°That¡¯s not my problem,¡± Liberty said callously, ¡°You should consider that before entering my territory, because there will be further reprisals if you do not,¡± She leaned forward, ¡°Mark my words, Chairman. I am not the only Mythic in the movement.¡± ¡°You¡¯re insane,¡± The Chairman growled. ¡°I am justified, I am Liberty!¡± She barked back, ¡°And I have more than impudent politicians and self-important heroes as my reasons,¡± She turned her head and looked straight at Sonya. Sonya returned her stare with a straight face. ¡°I believe you have taken something that belongs to me, Sonya Chernovna. Return my property, if you don''t mind?¡± Sonya clenched her fists, letting the rage boil beneath her skin as she kept her tone even, ¡°That young woman is a human being, an adult, and has every right to choose what she does with her life,¡± Sonya said as she looked Liberty in the eyes, ¡°She made the decision to undergo hero training, I merely provided transportation after she escaped. I will see to it that she remains protected and out of your reach. You will not abuse her again.¡± ¡°I am the hand to hand instructor for the camp, remember?¡± She said with a smile and hopped off the podium to face the doors from the base of the stairs, ¡°I can handle myself, go,¡± She said and brandished the knife, pulling back into a stance as the doors shook again. She sensed the man hurry down the stairs and towards the exit. Another pair of footsteps hurried up to her side, though, and she glanced over, ¡°Really?¡± She asked, surprised. Brent glared at her, ¡°Like I¡¯m going to let a tiny woman watch my back,¡± He grunted, looking away, ¡°You really know how to fight?¡± She smiled, Liar, she thought, ¡°Of course I do, girl¡¯s gotta stay in shape somehow,¡± She joked and popped her neck, unbuttoning her jacket. ¡°Funny way of staying in shape,¡± He growled and clenched his fist before throwing it out with a commanding gesture, ¡°Stand guard at my gates!¡± He barked and a light not unlike Marta¡¯s bloomed into life at his right. A seven foot tall woman stepped out next to him, clad in gleaming armor and wielding a spear in her hand. She wore a helmet over the upper half of her head. The valkyrie stepped out in front of the two of them and brandished her spear as the doors crashed open with a resounding bang. The first thing Sonya heard was laughter and then the sounds of guns firing into the ceiling. Over a dozen men in masks came racing into the chambers as the Valkyrie charged them. The laughter turned to shouts of confusion as the titanic woman swept her spear across the group of men who had stumbled into a room they thought was filled with unarmed civilians. A few of the masked men lunged at the Valkyrie from the sides, weapons in their hands as they tried to tackle her to the ground. She tossed one off while picking up another and slamming him to the ground with terrible force. Sonya¡¯s eyes shifted left and right, more were coming in. I don¡¯t think they suspected that their plan would actually work. Probably wouldn¡¯t have without Liberty stirring up her own chaos. She¡¯d never work with them, Sonya shook her head, A god damned coincidence, what a fine mess. <¡±Marta where are you? The doors are open.¡±> She called. <¡±At the -rggh! Doors, they¡¯ve got a tough one with them, I¡¯ll deal with him quickly,¡±> Marta barked back and there was a brief flash of light from the atrium and a loud crash. <¡±He just keeps getting up!¡±> ¡°There¡¯s Chernovna!¡± One of the villains shouted. ¡°Haha! She stayed! Nice! Grab her!¡± Another shouted. ¡°Masque wants the pearly bitch in one piece, don¡¯t hurt her too bad!¡± A third barked. Brent glanced her way, ¡°Looks like you¡¯re popular.¡± Sonya smirked, ¡°So it would seem,¡± She said and twirled her knife as the Valkyrie hurled one man all the way across the room, leaving him dead in a crater in the wall. I wonder how compatible it is with Baldur¡¯s Body, she thought with amusement as another idea occurred to her. She latched onto something one of the villains said, Masque wants me? Oh? She grinned impishly, Oh no, a personal meeting with the head of the Darksiders? How scary! <¡±Marta, keep things busy, it looks like they want me alive to meet with their boss. Isn¡¯t that terrible?¡¯> She chuckled through the call. There was a long pause, <¡±Oh absolutely awful, ma¡¯am, it would certainly be a serious matter if you were kidnapped,¡±> Marta said sarcastically. <¡±Put on a good show for me dear, will you?¡±> Sonya quipped as the first of the villains who managed to get past the Valkyrie charged at her. She kneed him in the gut and brought her elbow down on his head. He hit the ground hard. <¡±As you wish.¡±> Marta said and another noisy bang rang out. Sonya glanced at Brent and restrained a snicker, it was best for him not to get swept up in all this. He was a bit of a prick but he¡¯d done the right thing and stayed behind anyway. Maybe there was some hope for him after all. ¡°You should go, your companion is flagging already.¡± Brent looked at his Valkyrie that had half a dozen men hanging from its arms and legs now, trying desperately to pull it to the ground. The building shook again and he looked at her, tense for a moment before finally speaking his mind, ¡°Wh-what about you?¡± ¡°My bodyguards the mythic that fought An Set at Vegas,¡± Sonya said with a shrug, ¡°She¡¯ll be here shortly.¡± To punctuate her statement, a man went flying through the doors and collided with the screen that Liberty had been on. Brent looked up at the crushed screen and then down at Sonya before nodding reluctantly, ¡°Fine, just, don¡¯t die or anything, alright?¡± He griped, ¡°I¡¯m leaving Hilda with you!¡± He shouted and ran for the secure exit, throwing it open and racing through. It shut behind him and Sonya popped her neck again. ¡°Well now, I guess I can¡¯t make it easy for you all, right?¡± She said playfully as she tossed the knife up and down in her hand, more villains started to crowd around her. She bore her teeth in a wicked smile and let a little tiny bit of bloodlust out, ¡°Who¡¯s first, dearies?¡± Interlude: The Deal Interlude: The Deal A few months before the incident in The Hague, Charon leaned back on his couch in the private box overlooking his club. He slipped a cigar into his mouth and lit it with a black flame from his fingertip, he took a drag and exhaled, his graying skin vanishing behind the cloud for a moment as he leaned forward. He ran his fingers along the small pile of blue coins sitting on the table in front of them. Each and every one of them had a flexible value based on the the overall value of the new underworld market that he had built. Apparently it was some kind of trick that Ishtar and Mephisto cooked up with their contracts, he didn¡¯t quite get it, nor did he care. They more than served their purpose. He rubbed one between his fingers as he glanced out at the open area of the club. Men and women, villains of all races and backgrounds were here, coming from across the globe to do business with the Ferryman, the great middleman himself. He snorted and twirled his cane between his fingers. He watched a couple newcomers walk over to the bar and felt the faint trigger of his puppet standing there react and go through its usual pre-programmed motions, simple conversation topics. He didn¡¯t have to split his attention as long as they kept it straight forward. Even so, it was fun to listen in. He smirked and cast a bit of his mind into the puppet, listening in for a few minutes before immediately becoming bored and pulling back out. Another far more interesting flicker in his mind drew his attention and he shifted his perspective, looking through the eyes of the guard standing at the VIP entrance. A slight figure in a black coat, black skirt and black pantyhose strutted down the hall and out of the guard¡¯s vision. He sat up in his seat even more and sent a few orders for refreshments. In a matter of minutes a small spread of simple snacks was set on his table as well as a noxiously alcoholic drink for himself and a colorful drink in a tall glass filled with bubbles for his pretty guest. He relaxed and straightened his embroidered jacket before getting to his feet and turning with a smooth motion, a practiced wicked smile on his face joined a conductor¡¯s bow, the skull on his cane pointed out, ¡°Mephisto, gorgeous as ever. Welcome to the Styx.¡± A pair of glowing red eyes were the first things he saw as the brown haired man stepped out. A pretty slightly-pale face adorned with mascara and lipstick smiled at him ruefully and raised a perfect eyebrow, ¡°All this set out for little old me?¡± The effeminate villain asked, sweeping forward and holding out a hand. Charon took it and put a kiss on the knuckle of Ishtar¡¯s Dealmaker, ¡°You¡¯re too kind. Technocrat might get jealous,¡± The devilish creature said with his usual half-purr before his eyes flashed dangerously. ¡°Not wise.¡± Charon pulled his hand away and stood up straight, ¡°You¡¯re right, of course, I wouldn¡¯t dream of pissing that guy off!¡± He chuckled, ¡°Had your favorite drink made, at least.¡± Mephisto snorted and walked past him, picking up the colorful drink and taking a sip. He let out a delighted half-sigh half-squeal of delight and slipped into a comfortable chair to the right of Charon¡¯s couch. ¡°A Wildebeest, now I know you want something!¡± Mephisto tittered out a laugh and crossed his legs languidly. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll bite, what was so big that you needed me to come personally? I¡¯m a busy man. You have endorsed contracts, don¡¯t you? You¡¯re not out already are you?¡± Charon held up his hands as he sat down, ¡°Nothing like that, I promise,¡± He said with a nervous grin, ¡°I got someone wanting to come make a deal, a big name, but not a member of the New Underworld yet,¡± He added quickly, ¡°Masque of the Darksiders needs gear, he says he has something big planned.¡± Mephisto stopped half way through a sip and looked his way, ¡°Masque? Coming here? Today?¡± Charon grinned at him, ¡°Yeaaaah,¡± He chuckled, ¡°Figured you¡¯d like to sit in.¡± Mephisto took a long sip from his drink and set it down, settling into the comfortable chair, ¡°Why Charon, it isn¡¯t even my birthday,¡± The dealmaker said with a dark smile. It wasn¡¯t long after that when the man of the hour arrived. He came in through the front door like all the newcomers with a half dozen of his masked thugs surrounding him. Charon peeked through the perspective of his bartender as the masked man approached, his white mask with that twisted smile giving off a strange heat to it. He assumed full control of the bartender and set the glass it was cleaning down, ¡°Masque?¡± He asked through the bartender. ¡°Yeah,¡± Masque said gravely, stopping at the counter and leaning on it. He was huge and way more fit than the goons around him. ¡°Where¡¯s your boss?¡± He smirked a little through the puppet as a rumble of laughter passed through the patrons of the Styx, many of them glancing the Supervillain¡¯s way. Masque frowned and looked around, standing up straight, ¡°What¡¯s the meme?¡± He asked, ¡°What am I missing?¡± Bartender-Charon tilted his head forward and looked Masque square in the eyes, ¡°I am the boss,¡± He said as the guards at the door also spoke with his voice, ¡°I am here,¡± The waitstaff turned as one and looked at Masque, ¡°And here,¡± The bounty board host looked his way, ¡°I am everywhere, and the only people allowed to use their powers in the Styx are those I approve of. Tone it down or shut it off, Mister Masque. My only warning,¡± Came dozens of voices in concert, dozens of pairs of eyes all staring at him as one. ¡°You¡¯re in the Ferryman¡¯s territory now.¡± Masque turned around and looked at all of the puppets staring at him as well as the patrons who were staring at him expectantly. There were several understandings at the Styx. The Ferryman provided protection, a link to Ishtar, bounties, money, and supplies. He was the beating heart of the growing society of Villains. The Styx was neutral ground and everyone agreed, no one fucked with the Ferryman. Talking back was an easy way to get enemies sitting seats away from another to work together for a singular goal. Punish the prick. Masque, fortunately, seemed able to at least read the room well enough to know better than to do anything stupid. The heat coming off of his body lessened significantly though his mask stayed on his face. Charon smiled through the bartender as the rest of his puppets went back to what they were doing, ¡°Appreciate it,¡± Charon said, ¡°Now, come on up. Follow that one,¡± He added and pointed to a puppet standing at the foot of the stairs leading up to the raised area where the VIPs sat and the doors to his private box beyond. ¡°Leave your boys down here.¡± A minute later and Charon looked up from his couch to see the masked man walk into the private space. He grinned at the pause in Masque¡¯s steps when he laid eyes on Charon. Everyone reacted like that the first time, he sneered, ¡°Masque, welcome!¡± He gestured to the refreshed spread, ¡°Got some snacks, do you drink?¡± ¡°I¡¯m good, thanks¡± Masque grunted before looking at Mephisto, ¡°Who¡¯s this? I thought this was a private meeting.¡± ¡°It is!¡± Charon said and gestured to the beauty next to him, ¡°This is Mephisto, Ishtar¡¯s personal dealmaker and the one who creates the paper the contracts go on. For someone as illustrious as you, I figured having him present to oversee the deal and make sure all your bases were covered would be the least I could do.¡± Charon would have cried from holding back his laughter if he was even able to cry with dead tear-ducts, he leaned forward, ¡°In that case you should get a desk too, big custom hardwood number, friggin sell it.¡± Mephisto raised his notepad up to cover his face for a moment to hide his expression while Masque turned to look at him with a serious nod, ¡°Good idea, I need all the supplies I can get for this. Something to keep her from using that power of hers too, last thing I want is her touching me somehow and learning my power,¡± He grunted. Mephisto lowered his notepad and cleared his throat, waving his hand next to his neck, ¡°It¡¯s a bit warm,¡± He said with a huff, ¡°Anyway, I have a suggestion. Ishtar is rolling out a new product. A copy of the power binders that ASTA is making. They¡¯re expensive, but this is a loan and as long as you succeed, you don¡¯t have to pay us back. Pushing the goals of villains forward is everything to Ishtar.¡± ¡°Oh we¡¯ll succeed alright,¡± Masque grunted, ¡°With all this support, we¡¯ll make it happen. I want a meeting with Ishtar once it¡¯s all over. So we can talk business,¡± He added darkly. Mephisto coughed and wrote something down, ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll get your chance to meet with her sooner than you think. This is a very interesting scheme.¡± Masque nodded and crossed his arms, ¡°Good. I also want you guys to keep the details to yourselves, can you put that in there?¡± Charon looked away and clutched at his cane while Mephisto wrote a few more things down, ¡°Sure,¡± Mephisto said, ¡°A non-disclosure to last until the day of the event, how does that sound? I¡¯d like to be able to discuss it with her after your success.¡± The idiot crossed his arms for a moment and thought before nodding, ¡°Fair enough, what else is there?¡± ¡°Just matter of payment,¡± Mephisto said and glanced at Charon, ¡°You usually handle this part.¡± ¡°The debt is conditional,¡± Charon said gravely, ¡°Should you succeed, Ishtar forgives all debts and you are invited as a VIP of the Styx among other perks,¡± Charon said, ¡°If you fail, the debt falls fully on the debtor or debtors with an ability handling most of the financial transfers,¡± He explained with a wave of his hand, ¡°Any further debt after all assets are liquidated must be worked off, one way or another,¡± He rest his hand on his cane and leaned forward, eyes glowing with malice, ¡°So the question is, who is signing the dotted line?¡± Masque stared back at him for several seconds before clearing his throat, ¡°The Darksiders are one collective, a single entity that makes things happen as a whole. We share the load so the organization will sign as a whole,¡± Masque said. ¡°I see!¡± Mephisto said as Charon got quickly to his feet, walking away for a moment as he forced himself to calm down, his ribs were hurting now. ¡°Well I have everything written down, you can look it over and sign,¡± Mephisto continued as Charon leaned against the wall for a moment, holding back bone cracking fits of laughter. ¡°What¡¯s up with him?¡± Masque asked. ¡°Probably just a private conversation through one of his puppets, no big deal,¡± Mephisto said, his voice cracking a little, ¡°Here it is.¡± Charon looked back over his shoulder and watched Masque read over the lengthy document before snatching a pen out of Mephisto¡¯s hand and signing it, ¡°There.¡± Mephisto glanced up and met Charon¡¯s eyes, ¡°It was a pleasure working with you, Masque. I¡¯m looking forward to seeing your scheme play out live on tv,¡± He said with a small smile. A few minutes later and some minor details cleared up, Charon stood at the window looking down into the Styx and watched Masque and his boys leave the way they came. Behind him, Mephisto shifted in his seat, ¡°Is he gone?¡± The effeminate man said. Charon nodded, trembling, and rest his hands against the window, ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s-¡± He snorted, ¡°He¡¯s g-gone.¡± ¡°G-good,¡± Mephisto snickered, ¡°I don¡¯t think-¡± The both of them burst into a fit of hysterical laughter. Charon sank down against the window to sit on the floor while Mephisto grabbed his sides and kicked his feet in the chair. The two of them kept laughing until they were exhausted on the ground. Charon let out a heavy sigh and stared at the ceiling, ¡°This is gonna be good.¡± Chapter 108 Chapter 108 Chunhua stared at the television as the scene progressed. The words on the bottom simply said ¡®Attack on Grand Pandora Committee: Liberty and Darksider connection?¡¯. Sonya said something to the Chairman and he hurried down from the podium, barking at the other representatives. She watched Sonya turn and shout at one of the other businessmen who sat on the committee as honorary representatives. The man pulled a goddamn knife out of his coat and tossed it to her before hurrying through the door. Chunhua gritted her teeth, On television? Everyone¡¯s watching you crazy girl! She thought. One of the other businessmen stepped up with her and with his power they began to defend the hall as the remaining politicians fled. Chunhua¡¯s fists clenched even tighter as the man began to retreat. From the camera angle she could see Handmaiden giving it her all in the atrium, fighting off dozens of masked lunatics at once. How they¡¯d managed to bring a small army into The Hague was beyond her but- she paused. The glowing creation of the businessman collapsed into sparkling light and the masked thugs turned towards Sonya. She can¡¯t fight at full strength like that, not while the cameras are running. She knows they¡¯re running. Come on, come on, cut out! Chunhua chewed her lip as the men began to surround Sonya. Then she saw it, the small dark smile on the woman¡¯s lips. You want this? What are you planning? Sonya, damn it! She was on the edge when the feed finally cut out. ¡°Fuck!¡± Chunhua barked, I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re planning but- damn it! I can¡¯t just see that and not do anything! She growled, turning on her heel and grabbing her earpiece from the counter. Radio and phone signals were banned in the Green Bank location, but the mana communications network helmed by ASTA and Dr. Carter was not only legal, it was extremely effective. ¡°Molly!¡± She said quickly, racing the locker she¡¯d set up in her room. ¡°I need a portal to The Hague, yesterday!¡± Molly''s voice came in quickly, ¡°I¡¯m on it! Running the numbers as fast as I can!¡± ¡°Hurry, please,¡± Chunhua said as she threw on her robes, tying her sash tight and snatching up her weapon. ¡°The courtyard.¡± ¡°Got it, got it,¡± Molly said hastily. ¡°I¡¯ll get you in as close as I can, but what about the Vegas Act? You could get in a whole-¡± ¡°I¡¯ll deal with it!¡± Chunhua grunted, putting her armor on. ¡°Is it ready?¡± ¡°Almost!¡± Molly said, ¡°Got it! Archway is coming up in the Green Bank courtyard.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Chunhua shouted and raced out the door. Several of the aspirants were standing in the hall outside of the instructors rooms with concern on their faces. ¡°Go back to your dorms and stay put!¡± She said hurriedly, ¡°I¡¯m heading there now. Everything will be fine,¡± She met a pair of orange eyes that stared back at her, ¡°I¡¯ll make sure everyone is safe, I promise.¡± The aspirants parted and she charged through, Damn it, Sonya. You make these people love you so much and then go off and do something that dangerous where they can see it? Are you out of your mind? She snarled, Why are you even doing things like this to yourself? Haven¡¯t you suffered enough already? Damn it, you¡¯re going to get yourself killed one of these- She paused at the door, the night just beyond it, the words coming back to her from that terrible day. From the memories shoved into her mind. ¡°I want you to do it, in the end, if it¡¯s you, it¡¯ll be okay.¡± Chunhua gasped, That¡¯s what you want? That¡¯s what this is all about? She threw the door open in a rage. You think for one minute that I would ever do something like that to someone like you, you really are out of your mind! No wonder you didn¡¯t want to share the truth with me, She bit out inwardly as she stalked towards the portal. You stupid girl. Stupid, stupid, stupid, what, do you think you can just die and leave everyone you helped behind? You think you can just disappear like you don¡¯t even belon- Chunhua stopped again and brought her palm to her face, ¡°I¡¯m an idiot!¡± ¡°Chuchu are you okay? Is the portal not there?¡± Molly called through the earpiece. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Chunhua said, ¡°Just pissed off,¡± she grunted and made her way towards the opening that showed a brightly lit city on the other side. I am going to give you a piece of my mind when I see you, Sonya! Just you wait! ¨C You know, in retrospect, having these on the menu as items that could be sold to potential villains was probably a bad idea, Sonya thought as she lay in the back seat of a swiftly moving vehicle. Her entire body felt numb and heavy, she couldn¡¯t see, and her thoughts were coming in slower than she would have liked. The power restricting cuffs were certainly doing their job, she was pleased with the craftsmanship. Amos really knew what he was doing. It was a good thing they at least looked like knock-offs otherwise some even bigger questions would have to be raised by the authorities if they ever caught a villain with a set. She let out a sigh, Not that it¡¯s a problem, really. She thought, Did these idiots really not put together that my company made the original version of these things? That I might not have a, you know, contingency plan for this sort of situation? ¡°Shut up back there! Crazy bitch,¡± One of the villains somewhere ahead of her shouted. She rolled onto her back heavily, ¡°But I¡¯m hungry!¡± She whined, she was feeling a little peckish, she¡¯d missed lunch after all, ¡°Do you guys have any snacks? Maybe some Cola?¡± ¡°How the hell did she kill five of us before-¡± Another started. ¡°Shut up!¡± The first roared, ¡°God damn it! Fuckin¡¯ psycho with a knife!¡± ¡°Aww, didn¡¯t like my dance did you?¡± Sonya teased with a grin as she tried to lift her arms. Her muscles screamed in protest as her largely cybernetic body fought to move without any energy flowing properly through it. ¡°Yeah, I can deliver neurological shocks to people, knock them out if they get too yappy,¡± Grimman said, ¡°So why don¡¯t you watch your mouth?¡± Sonya shrugged, ¡°Alright, fine, sheesh, no need to get touchy.¡± The door to the elevator opened and she was carried down a hall filled with masked men standing at every doorway. Well, at least they¡¯re trying to look organized. She thought, I can¡¯t wait to see the contract for this scheme. I wonder how much money they offered up to me in case the plan failed. Aren¡¯t I nice? Letting them go without paying if they pull it off? She snickered as they arrived at a door and she stared at the number, her stomach churning from enough cringe to make her sick. Sixth floor, room sixty six. Oh my god they¡¯re so lame. Nevermind, I¡¯m killing all of these idiots as soon as I¡¯m done with their boss. ¡°Room six sixty six,¡± Grimman said proudly. ¡°Ooooh,¡± Sonya patronized him. He snarled and knocked on the door, ¡°Masque, we¡¯re here!¡± He barked. The door opened in front of her and she quickly took in the room. It was dimly lit save for over a dozen screens that provided minimal illumination along the walls. All of the screens were occupied by masked men who were hurriedly typing on forums, chat rooms, and performing a variety of tasks. Her attention shifted to the back of the room where a man was sitting behind a desk that, based on how the carpet was disturbed, they¡¯d dragged in just to make him look impressive. He wore a white mask with a twisted red smile on it and a black hat on his head. He wore all black and was shockingly fit. ¡°Sonya Chernovna,¡± The man growled from behind the mask, ¡°Finally.¡± They sat her down on the ground in front of the desk and she pretended to look around in confusion, ¡°Masque?¡± She called, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t see your pretty face, dear.¡± A pair of heavy footsteps announced him getting to his feet and he lumbered around the desk, walking over to her. She looked down to ¡®follow the sound¡¯ before looking up at him. He had to be a good six and a half feet tall. Whatever they¡¯re feeding you, feed the others, please. She thought, ¡°Ah, is that you there? I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t have any light in these eyes right now,¡± She said misleadingly before holding out her hand, ¡°Sonya Chernovna, mister Masque.¡± To her surprise he took her hand and pulled her to her feet. Oh? Well that works, Analyze. What, seriously? This guy? Well it''s mine now. She pulled her hand away and shook her head as she felt warmth wash over her skin, her HUD warned her that her body temperature was rising and she clamped down on it with every ounce of will she had. She stumbled back and shook her head, ¡°That wasn¡¯t very nice,¡± She gasped. ¡°Yeah well, I would prefer it if you were compliant,¡± He growled. ¡°I have questions that I want answered.¡± ¡°Could have just asked,¡± Sonya said, ¡°How about a deal? You answer a few for me and I¡¯ll answer yours.¡± ¡°You have questions for me?¡± He barked out a laugh, ¡°Sure, why not, while I¡¯m waiting for my ability to do it¡¯s thing.¡± Have you not developed your ability at all? She thought before asking, ¡°Why become a villain?¡± She asked, ¡°Why do all of this? What¡¯s the point?¡± She asked as she took another step away from him, her back landing against Grimman¡¯s chest. She pulled away from him as she drew on her imperiousness, not for her enemies this time, but for herself. She crushed the effects going on in her body with a force of will and felt her body temperature drop. ¡°Because fuck the world,¡± He grunted, ¡°Because I have power so I have every right to use it. It¡¯s not complicated, lady, doesn¡¯t have to be. Villains use their powers freely, sounds like a good thing to me. Ishtar was right on the money though that bitch doesn¡¯t know her place. She should have joined up with me a long time ago.¡± She went still, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± She asked. ¡°That¡¯s your reason, because you feel like it? No greater goals in mind, nothing to accomplish with being a villain?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right, nothing,¡± He snarled, ¡°We¡¯ll do whatever we want! That¡¯s good enough isn¡¯t-¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard enough,¡± Sonya sighed and pulled the bindings apart with a flick of her wrist, the metal clattering to the floor. She turned her eyes back on and popped her neck, ¡°Shut up, please,¡± She said as she looked up at the idiot in the grinning mask. He froze, ¡°Huh? What happened to the-¡± ¡°Kerauna,¡± Sonya sighed, ¡°Kill him,¡± She said, and with a terrible bang the ceiling exploded. Chapter 109 Chapter 109 The cataclysm of light and heat that ripped through the ceiling of the top floor of the hotel released enough force to crack and shatter all of the screens in the room. The lights went out, flames immediately caught on the beds that had been shunted over to the walls. The darksiders that weren¡¯t immediately shunted into unconsciousness by the flash of electrical energy screamed. Sonya didn¡¯t move an inch, her chin up, her expression firm, her hair fluttering behind her as sunlight shone down through the hole and the vision of carnage beneath the pillar of light. Kera, short off-gray hair up in a punky style over her yellow eyes stuck out her pierced tongue and grinned with a wild expression. She glanced to the left, the right, then at Sonya. Her eyebrows shot up as if she were surprised to see her there, she wasn¡¯t, she was just a little off. She straightened her spiked leather jacket and took a dainty step back before sweeping into a dramatic bow. ¡°I¡¯m here as called, Mistress,¡± She said with a snicker before glancing down at her feet and standing up straight. The burned and near-vaporized carbon chunk that was Masques¡¯ corpse lay before her. She barked out a laugh, ¡°Ew! He looks like a twice-roasted burger!¡± She grabbed her sides and laughed a little more, ¡°Gross!¡± Sonya smirked and turned her head, the electricity in the air was throwing off her senses a little bit. She should probably check on the other one. I almost forgot about dear Grimman. A hand appeared in front of her face and her eyes went wide. Fingers wrapped around her head and clamped down on skin. She stared through them into the frenzied, terrified face of Grimman. She opened her mouth just as Kera sprung into action. Too late. A terrible pulse erupted inside of her brain, a shock going up and down her spine as her brain trembled and sparked in her head. Her open mouth expression turned into a brief scream, and her world went dark. ¨C From an outsider looking in, Sonya just went limp in his hand. In the dark room with only the single pillar of light from the sun above and the few flames that burned on fire-retardant sheets, she just hung there in his hand as he panted. Kera stood, stunned, her eyes wide. She took a step forward only to freeze as the temperature in the air dropped. Her tense shoulders relaxed and she took a step back, waiting patiently as the body hanging from Grimman¡¯s grip twitched once. Grimman barked out a laugh, ¡°G-got her! I-¡± A petite hand snapped up and wrapped around his wrist. Pink light bloomed between his fingers and the pale woman¡¯s mouth parted into a terrible, wicked smile. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have done that.¡± ¡°H-how are you still awake?¡± He gasped, trying to pull his hand away only to find it locked in her grip. He pivoted, trying to throw her off as she squeezed down, harder, harder, bone crunched, he screamed as he was driven to his knees. The playfully wicked smile of the woman staring down at him as he gurgled and shrieked, scraping at her fingers with his nails. She tilted her head and squeezed again, his arm bending and snapping. She let go and wiped her palm off before glancing at Kera who tensed, she smiled beatifically at her; ¡°Your timing is wonderful as always, Kera dear!¡± She said, ¡°Good work.¡± ¨C Ishtar was not just awake, she was fully in control. That idiot had knocked poor Sonya out. She¡¯d gotten cocky, for a moment, with Kera¡¯s arrival. Still so much to learn, but that was okay. She understood. It felt good to be on the top of her game again. She smiled brightly, it felt really good not to have all that extra weight weighing down on her. She didn¡¯t think there was ever a time that she both had the reins and was in a good mood. Finally, a chance to have a little fun of my own. She looked down at the blubbering man at her feet, Now what to do with the man who hurt my dear Sonya? Her smile widened, ¡°Oh right!¡± She laughed, ¡°Kera dear!¡± She turned brightly, ¡°His powers are electrical, aren¡¯t they?¡± Kera was watching her from the side with a grin on her face when her eyes widened, she bounced on her feet, ¡°Oh! Oh! Can I? Can I really?¡± Ishtar took a sashay step back and gestured at the crippled man, ¡°Be my guest, dear, enjoy your meal.¡± Kera lunged, ¡°Yum yum! Come home to momma!¡± She cackled and landed on the man. She dug her fingers into his chest and electricity danced between them, first light blue, then yellow, then a pale white that bloomed into a glow. He screamed and convulsed as Ishtar glanced around the room, several of the Darksiders were getting to their feet and staring at her with horror in their eyes. Ishtar glanced back lazily at Kera as she continued her feast. The others watching in silence as the screaming slowly stopped. Kera got to her feet and licked her lips, ¡°Delish, thanks boss.¡± Ishtar smiled at her, ¡°The witnesses next, please,¡± She said and reached up to check her tie, Oh it¡¯s loose. She thought as Kera turned into a living lightning bolt with a shriek of laughter. Screams broke out that were immediately silenced as the singular bolt of lightning ricocheted between them, bouncing around the room and leaving carbonized hunks in her wake. She slid to a stop in front of Ishtar and saluted. Ishtar fixed her tie and checked her cufflinks. All out of sorts, they really were too rough with her, poor dear. ¡°Hallway,¡± She said as she turned her wrist over, and walked to the door, opening it. Kera turned back into a bolt of lightning and lanced out as the two men who were guarding the door dashed away, likely realizing that the action inside wasn¡¯t a positive thing for their side. Sonya stepped out into the hallway after her and fussed with her cufflink. Hm... still a little loose. She thought as light bulbs flashed and exploded, a cascade of ricocheting bolts of lightning spread down the hallway in a wave, killing and incinerating one masked man after another. She glanced up, ¡°Careful around the elevator, dear!¡± Ishtar called. ¡°Little Black Lotus, you¡¯re far away from where you should be,¡± Ishtar said with a grin. Black Lotus stood across from her, her eyes narrowed, ¡°Ishtar, right?¡± She asked with an edge in her tone, ¡°What happened to Sonya?¡± ¡°One of the guards got a little handsy and accidentally knocked her out, she¡¯ll be awake soon and I¡¯ll surrender control,¡± Ishtar said with a grin, raising a small eyebrow, ¡°You got here fast.¡± Black Lotus scowled, ¡°So you really did split,¡± She sighed. ¡°Just a little,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°If it¡¯s any consolation, we had a long talk about why that¡¯s a bad thing, dear. Honestly, she¡¯s never been better. Getting away helped.¡± Black Lotus looked like she¡¯d been struck, she looked away with a frown, ¡°She... I want to talk to her, not you,¡± She said finally looking back at Ishtar. Ishtar raised an eyebrow, ¡°You know, someone said the same thing to her recently,¡± She tilted her head, ¡°Want to dance a little while we wait?¡± Black Lotus narrowed her eyes, ¡°Dance? What do you mea-¡± ¡°Kera,¡± Ishtar said and held out her hand. The woman behind her turned into lightning and launched herself at Ishtar before allowing herself to be caught in the supervillain¡¯s hand. Ishtar marveled at the feeling. Kera controlled herself enough not to hurt her while still being a fully contained rod of electricity. She twirled the transformed woman between her fingers before pointing her at Black Lotus, ¡°Allow me to introduce Kerauna, the master bolt,¡± Ishtar said with a sneer, ¡°May we have this dance, little Hero?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not wearing your mask,¡± Black Lotus grunted even as she got down into a fighting stance, drawing her sword. Ishtar tilted her head, ¡°Oh, I suppose this could draw some attention,¡± She pursed her lips and then brightened, ¡°Oh, I have an idea!¡± She laughed and reached into her warehouse before pulling out the Masque of Oberon. She raised her hand to her face and pulled down, following the instincts of the ability. ¡°That idiot Masque had no creativity, no concept of what his ability could do. Now it¡¯s in good hands.¡± A white mask with a twisted smile formed over her face as her white clothes turned black, her hair turning the color of night and appearing shorter. The ground at their feet shuddered and shifted strangely, hallucinations spreading off of her in a wave, bolt of lightning in hand, she struck a pose, ¡°What do you think? Black Lotus vs Masque, the leader of the Darksiders! Another addition to your legend! Now-¡± ¡°He¡¯s dead already?¡± Black Lotus asked, cutting her off. ¡°That sick sack of meat? Yes,¡± Ishtar said. Black Lotus frowned, ¡°Did you kill him, or did she?¡± Ishtar tilted her head behind the mask, ¡°Talk talk talk,¡± Ishtar sighed, ¡°There¡¯s no time for that kind of thing in a fight!¡± She declared, ¡°Defend yourself, hero!¡± In an instant they met, Ishtar bringing Kera down over her head in an overhand swing while Black Lotus let out a misty breath as her fingers seemed to change color. She whipped her weapon up and blocked, lightning dancing around them. She¡¯s stopping the flow of electricity through her hands. Good! She broke the lock and spun around with a laugh, dancing on her toe before swinging horizontally. Black Lotus blocked with a swipe of her own and Ishtar just bounced off the blow, changing the direction of her spin and delivering another thunderous blow. Dance with me hero! Ishtar thought, Dance with me till it¡¯s time for bed and I fall asleep in your arms! Chapter 110 Chapter 110 Chunhua darted out of the way, rolling to the side as Ishtar let out another merry laugh and whipped the person-turned weapon at her. Was it a whip or a staff? It seemed to behave like both at times. One moment she would be twirling it to block blows from Chunhua¡¯s sword and the next she would be lashing out to strike with it at a distance. She slid back a few feet across the ground of the lobby and held her weapon up horizontally, the ribbon of lightning wrapping it around it, flying in the face of all logic and physical sense. She grit her teeth and pulled back, bringing her weapon down in a sharp stroke before dashing forward. Come on! Wake up! She sped along the ground, zipping to the left and right and tracing a path of destruction across the tiles behind her as she accelerated. Ishtar twirled in her black suit and let out a laugh as Chunhua swung, a ripple of pink light sweeping across the space in front of her, cutting through everything in its path. The next moment Ishtar was in the air, palm resting on one end of the lightning bolt while the other pressed down into the ground. Chunhua felt the resistance as her blade dug into the weapon before a jolt tried to strike her in the chest. She darted back and swung at the jolt, deflecting it towards the ground. The exchange took less than a second, She¡¯s so damn agile. Chunhua growled as Ishtar¡¯s hand slipped down around the end of the pole. She grabbed hold as she bent in her handstand, turning it into a descent towards Chunhua as she whipped the bolt forward with a laugh. The hero huffed, stepping to the side with a near saunter, her head tilted left as little sparks sent her hairs on end. She glared down at Ishtar who looked up at her from her descending strike. Chunhua snapped her foot out and kicked her in the side, sending her skipping across the ground and into a wall. She turned to face the small crater that flickered with the white light of Ishtar¡¯s hard-light barriers. The woman lay in the hole as if it were a throne, her arms up and her head tilted to the right as she stared out at Chunhua. Chunhua stalked forward with her weapon at the ready, ¡°Satisfied yet?¡± Chunhua demanded. Rubble tumbled out of the hole as Ishtar got to her feet, still wearing the get up to look like Masque. Chunhua heard her comm buzz and frowned a little, Ignore it. She thought as the woman got to her feet and brushed herself off. She held out her hand and her ¡®weapon¡¯ jumped back into it. ¡°Hardly,¡± Ishtar said before tilting her head, ¡°That was a good kick though. You aren¡¯t holding back today.¡± Chunhua scowled, ¡°More where that came from.¡± Ishtar paused and tilted her head, ¡°You figured something out.¡± ¡°I figured out that she needs a good punch in the face as much as I do,¡± Chunhua growled. Ishtar tilted her head back and looked down at her, ¡°Really now? Well don¡¯t think I¡¯ll let you hurt her easily!¡± Ishtar snarled and kicked off the ground laughing wildly, the whip of lightning snapping out in an arc around Chunhua. Chunhua pivoted and spun, kicking it up a notch as she swept attacks around her in a spiral pattern. Cyclone of Rose Blooms! She ground out, each strike crackling against an attempted lash of the electricity that tried to come at her from every angle. She spun, faster, I have to go faster! Faster! She pushed herself, gritting her teeth as the world turned into a blur. Her body moved almost on instinct, practiced motions that would have taken heartbeats happening in a tenth of the time. Her muscles burned as she opened her mouth in a silent scream of defiance. More! I need more strength! ¡°Does she even need you anymore?¡± Ishtar asked as she struck from all angles, ¡°After what you did? Do you even deserve it to be her friend let alone anything else? To have her confidence? Are you that arrogant? I promised to protect her! I promised to back her up! I promised to support her! What more does she need?¡± Ishtar demanded over the howling crackles and clashes between them. Chunhua clicked her tongue and twisted around, snapping a kick out again and catching Ishtar in the chest as she darted around her again. The Supervillain went flying and landed on the ground, using her lightning bolt to stab into the ground and slow herself. ¡°If you have time to talk, you could be fighting harder.¡± Ishtar stood up straight and whipped the false-dark hair back, ¡°Caught me.¡± Chunhua stalked forward, ¡°Thank you,¡± She said. Ishtar tilted her head, ¡°For what?¡± ¡°For watching over her, for supporting her, for putting on this act for her,¡± She said, ¡°I am arrogant., I am selfish, extremely selfish,¡± She and got back into a fighting posture, blade raised at the side of her head, ¡°Because I refuse to let her destroy herself in the end.¡± Ishtar stood up straighter and looked down at her, ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere, you know. She has a long road ahead of her before I can finally disappear. I¡¯m looking forward to it, yes, but until that happens,¡± She tilted her head forward and glared through the holes in the mask, ¡°I will be watching.¡± Chunhua pursed her lips together, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t expect any less from you.¡± She bit out, ¡°Come, Villain.¡± Chunhua opened her mouth but Sonya was already acting. She glanced at the one called Kerauna, ¡°Kera dear, cause a bit more trouble then flee, claim that you were working for the darksiders and that you got bored of them. You are escaping Black Lotus, understood?¡± Kera nodded, ¡°Yes ma¡¯am,¡± She said quickly. Sonya looked up at Chunhua, ¡°I need a few more bruises, then knock me out,¡± Chunhua recoiled a little but Sonya gave her a firm look, ¡°Do it. Hero. You have a role to play now.¡± Chunhua sighed and raised her fist, shaking her head, ¡°You asked for it.¡± ¨C A bolt of lightning ripped out of the building before landing amidst the crowd outside of the hotel, the civilians scattered as the gray haired wild woman slid across the ground with a sneer on her face. She stood up with a mad slouch to her shoulders, canting her head crazily to the right, ¡°Fuckin¡¯ Darksiders, bunch of limp-dicks and chauvies,¡± She spat on the ground and wiped her lip, ¡°Then you fuckin¡¯ show up and ruin more of my fun. Sword bitch,¡± She growled and raised the finger to Black Lotus as she strode out, a white garbed woman in her arms. ¡°Kerauna, if you keep fighting here you could trigger a dungeon break,¡± Black Lotus shouted with that dignified voice of hers, ¡°Isn¡¯t killing Masque enough for you?¡± Kera threw her head back with a laugh, ¡°Not nearly enough! I¡¯ll carbonize all those bitches in the darksiders for crossing me. Just you wait,¡± She said with a few steps back. The security team that had arrived on the scene watched gobsmacked as Black Lotus strode forward with the CEO of ASTA cradled in her arms and a glare in her eyes. Meanwhile, the number four most wanted Villain, now finally identified as Kerauna, retreated slowly, glancing at the security teams and the approaching heroes. She clicked her tongue, ¡°Tch, whatever, this was getting boring anyway,¡± She spat and with a laugh turned into a bolt of lightning and launched into the sky, joining the clouds with a clap of thunder before racing away faster than the eye could follow. Black Lotus stumbled as the security team raced over to her, ¡°Ma¡¯am are you alright? Why are you-¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take responsibility,¡± She said, gently lowering the unconscious Sonya Chernovna to the ground, ¡°She needs medical attention. The building is the base of the Darksiders. Kerauna already killed all of them including their leader, I was too late to stop her. They may have left something behind, though,¡± She said hurriedly, ¡°Move! Before any further evidence is lost!¡± They quickly snapped a salute and raced inside as a healer hero raced up to assist Black Lotus and the woman on the ground. Shortly afterwards, Handmaiden arrived on the scene. She and Black Lotus exchanged brief looks before the brown-haired maid bowed to the martial artist, ¡°Thank you,¡± She said. ¡°Just playing my role,¡± Black Lotus said with a smile and pat Sonya on the shoulder as the chaos of emergency, pandora committee, and law enforcement personnel swarmed around them in a cacophony of noise. Inside the building, the security team found every single camera burned out and shattered by intense surges of electricity, the horrifying sight of the well over a hundred darksider thugs left crisp on the ground, the nearly vaporized corpse of Masque, and a single cell phone that still functioned enough to get access to the forums that the Darksiders used to communicate. By the end of the day, the sudden extermination of the Darksiders, Black Lotus¡¯ daring rescue of the ASTA CEO, and Kerauna¡¯s flight from Black Lotus¡¯ glare was all that was on the news, Liberty¡¯s tantrum slowly being overshadowed ¨C He stomped through the bushes, checking his compass again. It had to be around here somewhere. There weren¡¯t many opportunities like this. The troublesome instructors were gone, including that Black Lotus thing that kept her eyes on him all the time she was around. Which was annoyingly a lot. He frowned to himself as he listened to the radio. Liberty, that idiot, my guide said she was supposed to be a good ally. Why is everything going wrong? He clicked his tongue. It¡¯s that Ishtar¡¯s fault somehow, I know it. He shifted his jaw left and right, Hm... maybe I can use this. What if I kill the Liberty bitch myself? He thought as he stumbled into the clearing he was looking for. ¡°Aha,¡± He laughed, ¡°Found it.¡± Ahead of him, two totem-like pylons rose into the air, a portal rippling between them. His smile turned cold, his eyes glowed, and he rubbed his hands together. ¡°Now, let''s see what adjustments I can make,¡± He hissed and stalked over. Chapter 111 Chapter 111 The television hissed to life and a dark haired man with comb-over hair appeared on the screen, to his right, scenes from outside the Pandora Committee building during the attack play out, masked Darksiders running through a hole in the protective outer wall and into the gardens. It cuts to recovery crews working and then a group of civilians tirelessly cleaning off the statue of Firestorm that was defaced during the attack. ¡°...with more reactions from across the globe. Fierce condemnation of the actions of the villain group, Darksiders, has led to calls for more enforcement and further expansion of the hero training programs to increase numbers.¡± The man gestured to the image and it changed to a grizzled looking man with a thick white beard and stony eyes, ¡°Some experts including Criminal History Professor Darvel Cox at Oxford University have pointed out that the Darksiders are a new and reckless criminal organization built from a rogue element of a previous era and it is unsurprising that there was infighting between them and a powerful hired element,¡± The reporter continued, ¡°With the dawn of a new kind of criminal, some upheaval is expected and the Professor cautions against widening regulation and enforcement too quickly as it could strengthen the arguments of individuals like Liberty.¡± The reporter turned to face the screen more directly, ¡°It has been twenty-four hours since the events in The Hague and the Pandora Committee has only issued a few statements, one public statement has caused some controversy worldwide,¡± The reporter said and the screen cut to an image of the Chairman standing grim faced in front of a podium. ¡°While her actions were admirable and in line with the calling of a hero, the Vegas Act is an internationally recognized law regarding the activities of Mythic-Tier light-touched outside of dungeons. The Hero Black Lotus has been put on a temporary suspension for the next month-¡± The screen cut back to the reporter again, ¡°As a result of the decision, protests have broken out across the United States, East Asia, in particular China, and Europe,¡± Images appear in a window next to him of people walking down the street with signs held up saying ¡®We need Mythics out of Dungeons!¡¯ and ¡®She did nothing wrong!¡¯ among other things. The reporter shifted a bit in his seat, ¡°The Pandora Committee has stated that the suspension is a light punishment and is looking forward to Black Lotus returning to her work.¡± He grew serious, ¡°In other news, tensions are high in the Southern United States and several other countries with branches of Liberty¡¯s cult,¡± The reporter said, ¡°The US National Guard has been moved to various points across the Southern US and armed with post-pandora munitions. Communities are split in the region over Liberty¡¯s actions with some praising her reprisal against government oversight while others are openly condemning her violent approach,¡± The reporter frowned a little, ¡°Some groups across the planet claiming that the flash was ¡®divine¡¯ are voicing their approval of Liberty.¡± ¡°The Pandora Committee and the United Nations has responded swiftly to the growing tensions,¡± He trailed off and the screen changed again to an image of a balding older man standing at a podium in a huge room with the words ¡®United Nations responds to Liberty¡¯ at the bottom of the screen. The old man leaned forward, ¡°The UN has agreed unanimously to sanctions against Liberty and her Organization. I have confirmation that the Pandora Committee has completed a remote ballot and added her to the top ten most wanted Villains list, putting her at the number one spot. Her actions will not go uncontested, but this will be handled properly and in a way befitting of a civilized society.¡± The reporter returned to the screen, ¡°In addition, the before-unknown electrical villain now known as Kerauna has been updated on the top villain list. You can see a dossier on all known villains on the Pandora Committee website,¡± The screen flickered and another face appeared, a young woman with her brown hair styled up, ¡°With the Darksiders now scattered many of their members have begun surrendering to the authorities. Some have been reported as saying they are seeking asylum from Ishtar for a debt incurred by the failed plot,¡± The woman said. She gestured to one side of the screen and the screen shifted to a grim faced man with black hair graying on the temples as a reporter approaches him, ¡°Hero Sapporo! What are your comments on the debt incurred by the Darksiders to Ishtar?¡± The reporter asked hastily. Sapporo scowled and shook his head, ¡°If there was any more need for evidence that the woman is supporting villains indiscriminately, this is it,¡± He said sourly, ¡°Arming the mad is the peak of madness, now enough questions,¡± He added gruffly before turning away. The woman returned to the screen, ¡°While Hero Sapporo¡¯s comments are resonating, other groups have begun to ask who will fill the power vacuum left by the large and very public Darksiders organization,¡± The woman went on, ¡°In Hero Sapporo¡¯s own country, a certain group has made very public their own thoughts;¡± She said and the screen cut away again to show a group of men and women wearing white masks and white robes. One among them is standing in front of a crowd of people, ¡°The Light of Dawn changed the world and Ishtar is its prophet. Our leader believes that the villains of Earth should bend the knee before her eye gazes upon the planet again and another city is brought to ruin! Our leader has foreseen the gaze of our true savior opening wide once more!¡± The woman reappeared, ¡°The religious group based in-¡± The television cut out and Sonya let out a groan, flopping back onto the bed and rubbing her head, ¡°An actual cult?¡± She whined as she rolled around on her bed. ¡°Gross, gross gross gross!¡± She complained before stopping on her chest and staring with frustration at her pillow, ¡°I¡¯m so bored,¡± She sighed and rest her chin on her palms, kicking her feet in her pajamas and launching some of the sheets off of her bed, ¡°Stupid idiots postponing the Committee, it was just a bombing!¡± She grumbled and flopped to her side, ¡°Not that big a deal, just patch the walls and get on with it. I wanna run around The Hague some more.¡± She rolled onto her back, ¡°And now I¡¯m talking to myself. Better than talking to you, right?¡± She said aloud before pausing, making a deadpan face, and sighing, ¡°And now I have, great.¡± She sat up and peered into her reflection in a photograph of herself and Carla standing on a beach together, ¡°Hello?¡± She called out, squinting at the reflection that squinted back at her before raising its eyebrow and shaking its head. ¡°Fine, I know it¡¯s not healthy, just could use some friggin conversation here.¡± The reflection shrugged at her and turned away before it returned to being her own reflection again. She huffed out a breath and crossed her arms, ¡°Rude,¡± she muttered. At least let me take advantage of being a little crazy if I¡¯m gonna be this way, sheesh. She sensed a presence approaching her bedroom door and perked up, catching the scent of perfume on the air. She scrambled to gather up her sheets she¡¯d kicked off during her tantrum and pull them into some semblance of order. She was about half-way back into a restful looking sitting position when the door opened and Carla cleared her throat from the doorway. She turned slowly before smiling at the woman, ¡°Hey there,¡± She said as innocently as she could. Carla rolled her eyes, ¡°Just can¡¯t sit still, can you?¡± She asked and walked further into the room, shutting the door behind her. Sonya picked up on some voices a bit further out and glanced up at Carla with a raised eyebrow, ¡°You aren¡¯t the only one restless, looks like most of the camp wants to check on you. Haven¡¯t the foggiest idea why, what with you being a perpetual tease for the entire first month,¡± She said with her arms crossed. Sonya crossed her arms in return, ¡°You aren¡¯t gonna keep holding back on me during spars are you? The hounds out there are gonna want to see a rematch after I laid you flat before I left.¡± ¡°Laid me flat?¡± Chunhua blurted before pressing her lips together. She crossed her arms, ¡°Fine. Point taken.¡± Sonya barked with a laugh before relaxing, ¡°No more holding back, Chunhua, and you can come visit whenever you want.¡± Chunhua sighed, ¡°What I said stands,¡± She said firmly, ¡°And I¡¯m still mad about it but-¡± Sonya pursed her lips and smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s get to the heavy stuff later, can we just start with being able to breathe around one another?¡± She asked. ¡°It¡¯s a deal,¡± Chunhua said with a smile, ¡°Now I should stop hogging you, you have ravenous aspirants who want to make sure their favorite combat instructor is okay.¡± Sonya chuckled, ¡°Yeah, send those miscreants in,¡± She paused and looked up at Chunhua as she started to turn away, ¡°Hey,¡± She said and the woman paused to look back at her, she tapped her nose, ¡°Thanks again, I deserved that one, really.¡± ¡°Just keep your promise,¡± Chunhua said with a small smile and walked out the door. ¡°I will,¡± Sonya said after her and straightened herself up a bit more, fussing with her hair and straightening out her sheets just a bit more as she heard the door open and a few happy voices ring out. She smirked and shook her head as the sound of many pairs of feet rumbled into the small suite and down the hall towards her room. She rest her chin on her palm and put on her most iconic smug smile as the first couple of faces poked their way in. A pair of orange eyes met hers and a tuft of green on a sea of black launched across the room before she was pulled into a tight hug. ¡°Oof! Hi there Miss Landrey!¡± She laughed and returned the hug. She pulled back and looked her over, ¡°You¡¯re looking stronger every day!¡± She said as Lillian stepped back and beamed at her. ¡°We¡¯re so glad you¡¯re okay,¡± She said as more faces flooded in, a good number of the girls, Cass, the entire Nashville team, and then one figure pushed their way through the crowd and poked his flustered head out under Lillian¡¯s arm. Ollie frowned at her with red eyes, ¡°You scared the hell out of me, Ma¡¯am,¡± The young man said angrily and she reached out to take his hand and pull him into a hug. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ollie,¡± She said and stroked the back of his head before looking up at the others, all those smiling faces. ¡°And I¡¯m sorry to you all, for a lot of things, I was a little um... much last month,¡± She said and let him go, ¡°I had a lot on my mind and I went overboard.¡± ¡°We could tell,¡± One of the girls laughed, ¡°You¡¯re fine!¡± Sonya cleared her throat, ¡°Anyway! I¡¯ll be fine, see? No terrorist bombing is going to get the better of me!¡± She declared and flexed her petite arm, ¡°See?¡± She drew a few laughs and grinned before resting her hands in her lap, ¡°I¡¯ll be back with you guys next week, so no change in schedule,¡± She said, ¡°When I do, you better be ready. Because if you thought I was tough before, you haven¡¯t seen anything yet!¡± The aspirants let out groans and she laughed, ¡°Oh don¡¯t complain now! You asked for it, being so damn sweet. How can I not do my best for you?¡± She asked with a tilt of her head. The aspirants laughed and started talking amongst themselves, visibly relieved. She looked up at their faces, briefly meeting Cassiopeia¡¯s gaze before taking it all in. All these people that came to see her, that she¡¯d helped, guided, taught, even if it had been for just a month so far. She had touched their lives. Chunhua¡¯s words hit her a bit harder in that moment; ¡°How could you do that to me and everyone else you¡¯ve helped and saved? Of all the things you¡¯ve done. That has to be the most cruel, Sonya Chernovna.¡± Sonya smiled, I think you might be right. Chapter 112 Chapter 112 As the aspirants filed in and out of Sonya¡¯s room to give her their best wishes, Lillian made her way into the hallway. She was beyond relieved that Sonya was okay. Better than okay from the looks of it. She¡¯d noticed the atmosphere in the room when she¡¯d come in after miss Black Lotus had been in there. It was far more relaxed. Whatever had happened, at least some of the air was clear. She could only hope that things in the camp would be even better than before because of it. She smiled to herself and scratched at the back of her head, wandering down the hall until she spotted Black Lotus walking out of the building towards the dojo. She looked down at her arm and flexed it, gold flames rushing through her veins and up into her knuckles, they ignited for a moment before she put them out with a simple exhale of breath. She looked back up at Black Lotus¡¯ retreating form. Something was changing, something was different, she could feel it building up but she couldn¡¯t figure out what to do next. She frowned and hesitated, She¡¯s on suspension, though, will she even talk to me about training? She pressed her lips together and bounced on the balls of her feet. C¡¯mon Lillian, she¡¯s not a scary person, just ask. Worse she can do is say no. She landed on her feet and squeezed her fists tight. Okay, you can do this, she¡¯s in a good mood, right? Lillian reminded herself before reaching up to straighten the collar of her letterman and let out a breath. No biggie, She took a step forward and the next thing she knew she was out the door, breaking into a jog before suddenly sliding to a stop in front of the Dojo. Black Lotus was standing a few feet inside the entryway with a bottle of water in her hand and a mixed expression of amusement and concern in her face, her eyebrow raised high. ¡°Miss Landrey? Is everything okay? You ran all the way here,¡± She said and glanced past her towards the entrance of the common area with a momentary frown before looking back at her, ¡°Nothing seems off,¡± She said absently and took a sip of her drink, watching Lillian catch her breath out of the corner of her eye. Lillian was leaning on her knees, she¡¯d crossed the distance in what felt like a heartbeat. She had always been fast, really fast, she was a runner after all. But that distance in a few seconds was... wow. She wheezed and blinked a few times before looking up at Black Lotus from her spot, ¡°Wanted to catch up,¡± She breathed, ¡°Had a question,¡± She stood up straight, ¡°If that¡¯s okay.¡± Black Lotus chuckled, putting the bottle down, ¡°Catch your breath first, young lady, is that your first time enhancing your body like that?¡± Lillian furrowed her brows, ¡°Uh... yeah, I think? Is that normal?¡± She asked with a frown, the rational part of her brain finally catching up with what she¡¯d just done. She turned and looked back at the doors of the common area before looking back at Black Lotus, ¡°Woah.¡± Black Lotus shook her head and laughed, ¡°¡®Woah¡¯, as good a reaction as one might expect,¡± She said and walked towards the center of the dojo, ¡°Sit with me?¡± She asked. ¡°Yes, teacher,¡± Lillian said quickly and hurried over, plopping down in a lotus posture in front of Black Lotus who looked up at her expectantly after a moment, her head tilted, Lillian swallowed and set her hands on her knees, ¡°Uh...¡± She started then frowned before rearticulating her words, ¡°I feel like something¡¯s building,¡± She said and put her hand on her abdomen and then drew it up to her chest, ¡°It¡¯s like a pressure or something. I¡¯ve been doing as you asked every day and it feels like it¡¯s not going anywhere anymore. I¡¯m right at the edge of something and I just can¡¯t get past it. Like...¡± ¡°A wall?¡± Black Lotus asked, tilting her head. ¡°Is something emotionally troubling you?¡± She asked. Lillian sat up straighter and flushed a little, clearing her throat, ¡°N-no, honestly that front couldn¡¯t be better, honestly,¡± She said and reached up to play with the green streak in her hair. It felt different from the rest of her hair, like a feather rather than actual hair. ¡°Still, I feel like I can¡¯t progress any further doing what I¡¯ve been doing, I¡¯ve been working out, practicing with my broadsword, I¡¯ve memorized all the forms you taught me and I even...¡± She trailed off. Her teacher leaned forward, ¡°Even what?¡± Lillian hopped to her feet, ¡°It¡¯s easier to show you, uh,¡± She turned around and spotted the practice broadsword that was kept in the dojo for her. She hustled over to it and snatched it up before hurrying back and holding it in a standard guard pose. Her legs parted parallel to her shoulders and her back straight, the hilt of her sword at an angle from her waist pointing away from her. She shifted her neck to the right and concentrated on the instincts screaming in her blood, the golden fire in her veins, the internal energy pushed out from her heart again and into her meridians. They felt tight, restricted, but the energy flowed through them. It didn¡¯t feel like how her teacher felt when they were close by, like a constant churning sensation. She had to draw it out. She let out a breath and let the instincts guide her before taking a strong step forward and instead of a quick and sharp blow like Black Lotus had taught, she entered into a powerful swing that brought her weapon across her field of vision in a brutally clean line. Took another step forward, her footfalls heavy, and used the momentum of the swing to curve down and back up into a diagonal uppercut. That swing came with a bit of golden flame trailing behind it. She took another step and delivered a third powerful swing downwards, the flames were like a stream now. She stopped and let out a breath, panting a little from going all out for a few seconds. ¨C Lillian pat her shoulder and rolled it a little as she walked into the common area, most of the others were all situated in their usual spots and she quickly found her group. She waved once at Jessica and Luke who nodded at her and even met Cassiopeia¡¯s eyes. She looked tired but a bit more pleasant than usual. Wait, isn¡¯t she... She shook off the thoughts, who she was related to didn¡¯t matter one whit, she was her own person. She smiled at the blonde who gave a tired half-smile back and returned to reading something on a tablet. Lillian shrugged and stopped next to the others at their cluster of couches. ¡°Feelin¡¯ better Ollie?¡± She asked with a grin, putting her hands on her hips. Ollie looked up from his usual mind-bending mass of notes and actually put his pen down, ¡°I am, thank you. Sorry about that display,¡± He rubbed his hands together, ¡°Miss Chernovna stuck her neck out for me and after the speech at the Committee,¡± He trailed off as the other members of the Nashville team went quiet for a moment. ¡°I still feel kinda giddy, thinking about it,¡± Alex said and rubbed his nose with a stupid smile, ¡°Wears his scales with pride, you¡¯re damn right I do.¡± Val clenched his fists, his colorful eyes glowing a bright red for a moment and broke into a savage grin, ¡°I¡¯m so amped up I can¡¯t sit still. I just need my gear, it¡¯s gonna be done by the end of the week apparently,¡± He said and literally hopped to his feet, ¡°I¡¯m gonna run some friggin laps,¡± He said and darted out the door like a bullet. Greg laughed and rubbed his nose, ¡°Y¡¯know, I heard that Euclidia¡¯s looking for heroes with a knack for logistics to train up after the main course,¡± He said, ¡°I might ask Miss Chernovna about going to the UK,¡± He said before glancing towards one particular black-and-blue haired girl who was talking with her friends off to the side, ¡°Y¡¯know, maybe, I mean,¡± He said hesitantly. John bit into his sandwich, ¡°Emotional,¡± He mumbled after chewing, ¡°Did not sleep well.¡± They all looked at him blankly before Lillian caught herself and glanced around, ¡°Wait, where¡¯s Snow?¡± Greg looked up and tilted his head, ¡°Huh? Isn¡¯t she attached to you at the hip?¡± He asked with a chuckle before wincing at her frown, ¡°Uh...¡± He glanced around, ¡°Honestly, no, she¡¯s usually either down in the lab or going straight to one of her other courses,¡± He scratched his head and glanced at Alex, ¡°You?¡± Alex blinked and looked up from mumbling something to his fists, ¡°Huh? Snow? Oh yeah I saw her go around the back of the common building. Figured she just needed some alone time, it¡¯s pretty crowded here sometimes and she ain¡¯t a social butterfly,¡± Alex said with a shrug. Lillian nodded now feeling even more worried, ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll be back!¡± She said and quickly darted away. Is she okay? Lillian thought, hopping over the rails of the planetary diorama and shooting past it like a rocket. She landed at the doors leading out back and pushed out, glancing around quickly. She took a few steps forward then stopped, turning around to glance at the small alcove just to the right of the door. There, sitting in the grass, with her hood up and her legs pulled tightly to her chest, was Snow. A pair of pearlescent eyes looked up at her, a few tears in them, but they were accompanied by a smile. ¡°There you are,¡± She breathed and walked over, ¡°I was looking for you.¡± Chapter 113 Chapter 113 Lillian stood over Snow, a momentary silence passing between the two of them. She stepped forward and knelt down, sitting across from her. Snow reached up and wiped her eyes, sniffing and looking away with a reddened face. Lillian tilted her head and tried to catch her gaze, ¡°Hey,¡± She murmured, ¡°Snow, what¡¯s wrong?¡± She asked. Snow reached up and pulled her hood down a little more, pulling her knees to her chest with one arm while she slipped her hand into her pocket and pulled out her phone. Lillian sat patiently as the girl typed out a message. She typed the message, then frowned and deleted it. She typed something else and made a frustrated face before erasing it again and throwing her head back in a show of frustration. She slumped a little bit where she was sitting before looking up at Lillian helplessly. Lillian just opened her arms and shifted back a bit to make room on her lap. Snow¡¯s expression softened and she slipped up, sitting in Lillian¡¯s lap and resting her head under her chin. Lillian reached up and stroked her head; Even Snow doesn¡¯t know what to say. Whatever it is it must be serious. Snow tapped away at her phone again, but this time it looked like she wasn¡¯t using the texting app. Lillian glanced down and then felt the air shift a little as Snow tensed in her lap. Lillian tilted her head, worried, ¡°Snow what¡¯s going on?¡± Just as she asked, a two-dimensional image appeared in the air in front of her. It flickered for a moment and seemed to collapse into itself before becoming legible. It was an image of Dr. Carter standing with his arms crossed, his expression was a little uncomfortable. He raised an eyebrow, ¡°We¡¯re recording?,¡± He sighed and scratched the back of his head, clicking his tongue before pausing and looking somewhere to the left of the camera, ¡°Are you really sure about this?¡± He winced at whatever reaction he got and shrugged, ¡°Alright fine.¡± Where¡¯s the sound coming from? Lillian thought before glancing down and noting that it was coming from Snow¡¯s phone. I see. She looked back up and kept watching. Dr. Carter crossed his arms, ¡°Alright, so let''s go over it again. Now I want to remind you for the millionth time that this is theoretical stuff, okay? Untested, what you¡¯re doing is volunteering to be a guinea pig. You really get that, right? You understand how friggin crazy-¡± He winced again, the dark circles under his eyes twitching once before he slumped his shoulders, ¡°Alright, alright! Damn,¡± He cleared his throat and looked at the camera. ¡°A lot of our discussions down here have been about your ability and how it seems to interact with technology, specifically devices with computers in them.¡± He crossed his arms, ¡°What seems to be happening with your ability is you are using a computerized device as the focus for processing what basically amounts to a controlled interaction with light, sound, and some brainwaves,¡± He said and waved his hand, ¡°That controlled interaction follows a prompt or some sort of logical expression that you put into your device,¡± He continued, ¡°Problem is, your phone can only handle so much which explains the inconsistency and because of your injury your brain is struggling with the act of interpreting sound waves, I¡¯m guessing a traumatic response but-¡± He hesitated, ¡°Hey! I¡¯m just being honest!¡± He said, holding up his hands. Lillian glanced down at Snow who nodded at the image. She wasn¡¯t going to explain until the end, then. He coughed into his fist, ¡°Anyway! Somebody overheard Dr. Da-Som and I talking about his little pet project and got hung up on it,¡± He said with a frown before rolling his eyes, ¡°The long and short is that he¡¯s been working on a foundational piece of hardware for future cybernetic prosthetics. It¡¯s based on a thorough examination of Miss Chernovna¡¯s prosthetic eyes,¡± He said and glanced to the right for a moment before grumbling to himself and looking back at the camera, ¡°With my help he¡¯s designed and built a processing terminal that goes into the back of the head and attaches to the brain,¡± He pointed at the base of his neck. He pursed his lips and shrugged, ¡°It¡¯s complete,¡± He trailed off, ¡°Technically it¡¯s ready for testing,¡± He frowned and crossed his arms, ¡°You are not going to let up are you?¡± He groaned and shook his head, ¡°And you want to put it in your head and use it as your new hardware to make your power work, that sum it up? You know it¡¯ll require surgery, right?¡± He put his hands on his hips and his nostrils flared, ¡°What did you think would happen? I just zap it into your-¡± The image vanished and Snow settled back against Lillian¡¯s chest. Lilian stared at the spot where the image had been for a moment. Snow shivered a little bit in her lap and Lillian wrapped her arms around her, taking a deep breath and releasing the soothing radiance of her ability. The young woman in her lap settled and leaned in closer, clinging to her shirt. ¡°Second thoughts?¡± She asked only for Snow to shake her head vigorously. Lillian paused and went over the recording again, ¡°...the surgery?¡± There was a pause and then Snow nodded. She started tapping into her phone for a moment while Lillian held her. When she was done she gently pushed against Lillian¡¯s arm and slipped out of her grip. The petite girl stood up and took a few steps back, leaning against the wall. Lillian smiled up at her, she was so pretty but her eyes were so sad. She felt her heart creak a little as the girl stared at her screen again, her thumb hanging over it. ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me,¡± Lillian said. Snow glanced at her and set her lips in a thin line before letting out a breath through her nostrils. She frowned and hit the screen with her thumb, pulling back to press herself against the wall. Multiple messages appeared. Now that she¡¯d heard Dr. Carter¡¯s explanation, she could see how each letter was a little different in font and each bubble was maybe a few shades a different color or slightly shaped differently. Why hadn¡¯t I noticed before? <¡±When I was little, before they put me into the system, I lived with my dad,¡±> Snow began, <¡±He was a drunk and blew all his money on women, but he had me to deal with. Apparently I was loud and bothered his guests.¡±> Snow crossed her arms and shrank a bit more into her hood as the messages kept coming. Lillian got to her feet, reading them with wide eyes. ¡°The work takes my mind off of it,¡± Amos said with a frown, ¡°A lot has changed because of that day, a whole lot.¡± Sonya leaned forward and caught his eyes, holding his gaze, ¡°Does that sound familiar to you now that you¡¯ve said it out loud?¡± She asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you do what I did. You¡¯re alive and you deserve some rest, Amos. You too Da-Som, you need to process what happened before you do anything this serious.¡± Sonya sipped at her cocoa while the two men looked at one another and nodded, ¡°Maybe it¡¯ll give her a chance to reconsider,¡± Amos said to Da-som, ¡°I kept warning her that it was dangerous.¡± Sonya looked between the two of them before glancing at Carla who just sipped quietly, observing them in silence. She turned to them fully, ¡°How fixated on this is Snow?¡± ¡°Extremely,¡± Amos said with a frown, crossing his arms, ¡°She¡¯s convinced this is what she needs to realize herself as a hero. She¡¯s already voiced her intentions to sign with ASTA too,¡± He said, ¡°I still stand on it being risky, what with the equipment we¡¯re working with here at the camp.¡± Sonya raised an eyebrow, ¡°That¡¯s your primary hangup?¡± Amos shrugged, ¡°Between Da-som and I, if we had top of the line equipment the chances of at least getting through the surgery are ninety-five percent,¡± He said with a small bit of smugness, ¡°We just haven¡¯t put one of these things in someone¡¯s head yet,¡± He pointed out, ¡°Theoretically it¡¯ll replicate the same signals and functions that my brain releases when I use technopathy or what your brain uses when your eyes are operating. It should work but there¡¯s a chance it¡¯ll do fuck all and the whole venture will have been pointless.¡± ¡°What are the odds?¡± Carla cut in, finally joining in. Sonya glanced at her and Carla just gently gave her a nudge with her shoulder, ¡°Of it actually working?¡± Amos scratched his messy hair, ¡°Eh, fifty fifty if I¡¯m being generous, more like thirty percent,¡± He said with a frown, ¡°Everythings in the right place and the simulated lab tests worked great but this is real life.¡± Sonya nodded and cleared her throat, ¡°Nurse, is it alright if I make a few business calls?¡± She asked, sitting up straight with her eyes closed in a dignified pose. A small smirk on her face. Carla huffed out a breath and sat up straight as well, joining her, ¡°I suppose I could allow it. Don¡¯t go overboard.¡± Sonya peeked an eye open and caught Amos gaping at her, she smirked at him, ¡°I¡¯ll make your equipment happen, Amos. You both get some rest and make sure you¡¯re at the top of your game when it gets set up,¡± She said, ¡°I want you to take good care of that young woman, she is precious, and not just to me.¡± Amos and Da-Som stood up a bit straighter and nodded quickly, ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡± She took another sip of her cocoa, ¡°Now get the hell out of my bedroom, please? You¡¯re interrupting my evening!¡± She barked and the two looked at one another, Amos grinned and they raced out. She clicked her tongue and watched the door shut behind them. She sipped her cocoa again and relaxed, ¡°Man this is so good.¡± Chapter 114 Chapter 114 The room was cold, so cold. The floor was hard, grainy, and stung her feet with the faint slick ice that clung to its surface. Gray stone stretched up to the ceiling, looming, unbending, it felt like it was staring. A gentle shift in the foundation of the building sent a rattle through the chains hanging from the ceiling of the windless room. The cold bit and chewed at skin, it clawed at bone, stinging and sending fingertips itching. Little tremors shuddered up the spine. Every sound sent a shock of alertness through the mind. There was no sleep, no comfort, no peace in this place. Days could go by without even knowing, starvation the only clue about the length of time. The rattling chains distracted the mind and bent thought away from keeping count of minutes and seconds. Cass shook, her shoulders heaving with every trembling breath. She¡¯d awakened here again. Of course she had. She clutched at her arms and dug her pained fingers into the slowly chilling skin, her head falling forward as her filthy mess of golden hair hung around her head. Was it all a dream? Awakening? Breaking through the camp while my sister was away? The camp? Ishtar? Her lip trembled and she bit down on it, drawing blood as she frantically tried to straighten up her expression. Of course, it was a fever dream, what else could it have been. There¡¯s no escape. The heavy thud of boots stopped in front of her. She jolted and shook harder, her heart going a mile a minute. She could feel her blood pounding in her ears and her veins, her flight-or-fight crushed into powder in an instant. She looked from her scarred and frigid bare feet to the pair of boots standing in front of her. Unarmored, her sister¡¯s favorite hiking boots. She shook, her fingers twitching around her legs as her eyes went up higher. Thick cargo pants affixed with a heavy belt that was loaded with pouches and a pair of knives on each side. Then a simple white tank-top clung to a chiseled torso. She hesitated at her neckline, fear and revulsion screaming in her mind. Terror scraped at the inside of her brain, clawing out like an insect to writhe and scream in her skull. Her breathing quickened, her skin got colder, the tears froze on her cheeks as white tufts of breath came out in a staccato. She cast her eyes up to meet the pair of blue, glowing, cold eyes of her sister. Thick blonde hair styled to the side over her expressionless face. No wrinkled scowl of disgust, not for Cass. No, Cass got to see her real face. Utterly unfeeling. Cass forced a wide, bloody smile onto her face for her sister¡¯s benefit even as she trembled, ¡°Hi Stella,¡± She mumbled uncomfortably. ¡°You left,¡± Stella said, it was neither an accusation nor a question, it was a simple statement of unbendable fact. It broached no argument, no contest, and no excuses. Cass¡¯s pupils shrank and her chest heaved again, the cold hurt so much worse. She squeezed her legs to her chest harder, ¡°Y-yes ma¡¯am,¡± She said, not daring for a moment to look away. ¡°I ran away.¡± ¡°Coward,¡± Stella said, ¡°I went through the ceremony too when I was your age, what makes you so different?¡± She demanded, ¡°Why do you get to run away?¡± Cass opened her mouth but found herself in the air, her eyes wide, her hands reaching for her throat. She hadn¡¯t even seen or felt the millisecond it took for Stella to reach down and wrap her steel-cable grip around Cass¡¯ neck. Cass choked, reaching up and gripping at her sister¡¯s fingers. She kicked her legs as the woman continued to squeeze, her expression never changing as Cass felt the life slowly squeezed out of her. Her eyes rolled up, she tried to breathe, tried to beg for some measure of mercy. Anything to live just a little bit longer. Help. ¨C Cass woke with a start, sitting up in her bed and breathing hard, sweat stinging her eyes and clinging to every inch of skin on her body. She coughed, her stomach churned and she staggered out of her bunk, stumbling down the path between the beds as she covered her mouth in a desperate scramble. The next thing she knew she was standing in the bathroom with her hands on either side of the sink, coughing. She stared up at her face, thinner than her sisters, petite, her long hair was straighter and her eyes were more sunken. She coughed again and rest her head against the mirror. ¡°Damn it,¡± She panted, turning and resting her back against the wall and reaching up into her hair. She slid down and caught her breath on the bathroom floor. She reached up and slowly tugged on her hair, playing with it to try to calm herself down. I¡¯m still here, I¡¯m still here, it was a dream. I¡¯m still here. She reminded herself before glancing up at the door out of the bathroom. Her lips pressed together in a line. I need to see her, just to help me calm down. Just a little. That¡¯s okay, right? She staggered shakily to her feet and walked out the door like a woman possessed, her eyes turned right and looked down the hallway towards the instructor¡¯s suites. She wandered down and made her way to the first door, stopping in front of it. She rest her head against it and stood there. Ishtar. She thought wearily as her mind went back to her escape. Her awakening. Mistress Ishtar called it Mighty Asterion. The hammer in her hands. The strength. She¡¯d been hanging in the room when it came, her sister had gone to another compound at the time. Her body was rejuvenated, the instincts driving her rage forward. Before she¡¯d known it she was out of the compound. The only thing that had given her any concept of where to go was the little flyers she¡¯d been given about getting work as a hero, seeing the world. The little notes that came with them, offering her a place if she managed to get away. Despite her escape, her body had been terribly beaten, bloody, and bruised. She¡¯d endured it with her power but as the effects ended she found herself closer to death than she¡¯d ever been before. She¡¯d escaped, though, she would have been happy dying like that. It would have been fine, but fate had other plans. She reached up and touched the door. Ishtar had found her, one of her spies in the compound had told her about Cass¡¯ escape. She¡¯d healed her, cleaned her, clothed her, was comforting, kind, but not without her strictness. Cass knew she was clingy, she knew she was desperate to be close, to feel that sense of security. She understood that Ishtar was putting up with it, that she was imposing, but- The door opened and she glanced down a little into the eyes of Sonya looking up at her. Her hands on her hips and her eyebrow raised. There was a bit of sweat on her brow and her throat looked tense, ¡°Cass? What are you doing out here at this time of night?¡± She asked before glancing around, ¡°You¡¯ve been standing outside for the past ten minutes, come in if you¡¯re going to come in.¡± Cass froze at the door as Sonya turned around and walked inside, her movements a little stiff. She rubbed her shoulder and closed the door behind her, ¡°Are you... okay?¡± She asked hesitantly. Cass sat up, putting her hands on the couch and looking up at Sonya, ¡°Can I stay here? Please?¡± She begged, ¡°I just want to sleep through the night, I promise, I¡¯ll leave before-¡± Sonya held up a finger and looked Cass in the eyes, ¡°It¡¯s three in the morning, you aren¡¯t getting up in two hours as tired as you are,¡± She corrected her before smiling a little sadly at her, ¡°Cass, I can indulge some of your unique interpretation of sisterhood while wearing my mask,¡± She said patiently, ¡°I can let you rest your head in my lap and be as good a big sister as I can for you,¡± She leaned forward and put a tiny kiss on Cass¡¯ forehead, ¡°But I need to draw the line now and then. Eventually, when you¡¯re truly free, when you have closure. You¡¯ll understand,¡± She said and stroked the side of Cass¡¯ head. Cass¡¯ eyes fell and her lip trembled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s just so different with you around, ma¡¯am. I feel... light and my arms don¡¯t hurt, and I don¡¯t shake.¡± ¡°That¡¯s called happy,¡± Sonya said with a small laugh and pulled her hand away, ¡°I hope you can find other ways to be happy than just me, you do know that there are other people here you can meet and bond with, right?¡± She asked. Cass bit her lip, ¡°But-¡± Sonya tapped her nose, ¡°I¡¯ve seen that grumpy face of yours when I talk to them, they¡¯re my students too, don¡¯t be greedy,¡± Sonya said with a wag of her finger, ¡°Give it a chance, talk to them, I know it might be hard to find things to talk about.¡± Cass glanced towards the door and imagined interacting with the other aspirants. She felt like a confused teenager and not a grown woman. She clenched her hands together. Even she could tell that Sonya thought what she was doing was silly. She closed her eyes and sighed, ¡°What if they ask me about my sister?¡± Cass asked. Sonya raised an eyebrow, ¡°First, that would be rude and you should tell them that,¡± Sonya said with a chuckle, ¡°Second, just be honest that she¡¯s awful, that she was awful to you and you don¡¯t want to talk about it,¡± Sonya said before hesitating and leaning back against the couch, ¡°Cass, about your sister, actually. What she did, it changes things a little.¡± Cass looked over and blinked, ¡°Huh?¡± Sonya pursed her lips before resting her arm on the armrest, tapping her manicured fingers, ¡°The likelihood of a confrontation with Liberty versus Heroes is getting increasingly likely and with her bringing you up at the press conference and asking me directly,¡± Sonya frowned, ¡°You will be watched a bit more carefully by some of those connected with the Committee. There are quite a number that won¡¯t trust you until your sister is dealt with.¡± Cass blinked and worked through it, sitting up straighter, ¡°W-wait, but if heroes confront her, the rule say-¡± ¡°No killing, right,¡± Sonya said flatly. ¡°And if you somehow get involved in the fight and are seen killing your sister, you can bet that not being a hero anymore will be the least of your worries.¡± Cass clenched her fists, panic rising, ¡°N-no! She has to-¡± Sonya held her finger up to her lips, ¡°I know, Cassiopeia, I know what needs to happen. I have some ideas but they are going to take some work. For now focus on the camp and work towards graduating. I made sure to fudge the results of your questionnaire and set the groundwork for you to come to the New York guild once all¡¯s said and done. Your performance so far is great, but you need to work on your social interaction. Being a hero is a social job. Make friends.¡± Cass let out a relieved breath, of course Sonya, Ishtar, would already have a plan. She nodded slowly, ¡°Whatever you ask, ma¡¯am.¡± Sonya huffed out a breath through her nostrils and gave her a sad smile, she looked a little disappointed but didn¡¯t say anything. Instead, she just reached up and pinched Cass¡¯ cheek before pointing to the door, ¡°Go to bed.¡± Cass got to her feet and bowed once, ¡°Thank you for... everything,¡± She said after a pause and hurried out, back into the hall. ¨C Sonya watched the girl go and waited till the door shut before letting out a relieved breath and getting to her feet. Her legs were already moving towards the small hall and the room before she could even think about it. The compulsion was strong. She could push it off long enough to take care of necessities but she¡¯d lingered too long in the living room. At least it didn¡¯t hurt or choke her. She glanced back over her shoulder at the door and shook her head, ¡°Poor thing. Hang in there,¡± She murmured before slipping through the door and back into the bedroom. Side-Story: Barry’s Gang 1 Side-Story: Barry¡¯s Gang 1 Five men stood together on the deck of the yacht, scratching their heads. They stared down into the water with perturbed looks on their faces. From left to right, Stitches scratched at his short beard and squinted into the water, tilting his head a little to the right. His dark hair soaked by the rain that had passed over just an hour before. Haus crossed his arms, the tan man sniffing once and turning his head slowly to look towards his right. His faintly glowing red eyes narrowed a bit. Wake scratched his neck, shifting a bit on his feet awkwardly and cleared his throat. Trigger exhaled through his lips, making a popping sound and bounced a bit on the balls of his feet. At the end of the line, the much taller Barry coughed into his fist and put his hands on his hips. ¡°So uh, and that¡¯s how it happened,¡± He said awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯d say a job well done, right?¡± The four others looked over at him incredulously before looking down into the water below. They looked back up at him and each made an exaggerated face of disgust, disbelief, and utter confusion. He pointedly ignored them, rubbing at his chin as he squinted into the surf for a moment. ¡°Hmm, I wonder what we should do with them now that I think of it.¡± Trigger threw his hands up into the air and walked away for a moment. Wake crouched down and laughed. Stitches rubbed his hands over his face while Haus pat his shoulder consolingly. Barry kept ignoring them as he mulled it all over. ¡°It¡¯s not like any of us know how to drive one of these things. Or really need them with me and Bubs around,¡± He said thoughtfully. He didn¡¯t even blink when Trigger landed on his shoulders and wrapped his hands around Barry¡¯s impossibly thick neck from behind, trying to strangle him. ¡°Could always ask the boss for Amos.¡± On his shoulders, Trigger pulled a hammer out of his tool belt and it started to glow a bit. He reared back with it for a moment before getting a look from Wake and letting out a sigh. The hammer stopped glowing and he put it back. Barry crossed his arms and tilted his head, ¡°Maybe give ¡®em a cool paint job.¡± Trigger whipped his head in Wake¡¯s direction, gesturing frantically at Barry. Wake just shook his head and waved his hands placatingly. Trigger threw his head back in a silent groan and hopped off of Barry¡¯s back, walking over and crossing his arms before looking back into the water again, ¡°You stole two nuclear submarines, and your first thought is to give them a snappy paint job?¡± He asked, glancing up at his boss. ¡°Flames,¡± Barry said with a toothy grin. ¡°They¡¯re submarines!¡± Trigger shouted, throwing his hands up again. ¡°Blue flames,¡± Barry corrected, his expression brightening. Wake fell back, laughing and kicked his feet. Trigger turned around and started kicking at him, ¡°What¡¯s so goddamn funny you walkin¡¯ health advisory! Get back here!¡± He barked as Wake teleported away, reappearing on the bridge of the yacht and continuing to laugh. Trigger turned and pulled a tennis ball out of a small sack on his waist only for stitches to grab his arm. He glanced over at the guy who shook his head with a weary smile and sighed. ¡°Don¡¯t want to glue him back together, huh?¡± He said. Stitches nodded and shrugged, turning back to the view of the two nuclear submarines lined up next to one another just a few meters beneath the water next to the yacht. ¡°Here it comes,¡± Amos chuckled. ¡°They¡¯re Nuclear Submarines! Barry!¡± She rambled, ¡°That doesn¡¯t just mean they have nuclear reactors, they do! But that¡¯s not the point! They¡¯ve got rockets on ¡®em, Barry! Nukes! Do I look like a nuclear power to you? Huh? What am I gonna do with nukes? I¡¯m a supervillain, not a crotchety third world dictator!¡± She threw her hands up and scratched at her head before letting out a sigh and looking back at Amos. ¡°Is there anything we can do with the bombs? I hate those things.¡± ¡°Could probably repurpose most of it, the materials could be used for a bunch of stuff,¡± He said thoughtfully, ¡°You sure you don¡¯t wanna keep one? Trophy?¡± She leveled him with a deadpan stare, ¡°With the United States looking everywhere for their precious ships and nukes?¡± She growled then glanced over at the four men who were laughing at Barry¡¯s comeuppance. She put her hands on her hips, ¡°And what were you guys doing while he was off galavanting and picking a fight with the Navy? Haven¡¯t you heard the Amercian phrase ¡®Don¡¯t touch our boats?¡¯¡± She demanded. They looked at one another and all looked away or in any direction other than directly at her. She rubbed her temples and looked back at Amos, ¡°Can we really repurpose the missiles?¡± She asked, ¡°I want those things gone. If not through you, then find a dirty nuclear rep to pawn them off to and have them decommissioned. I don¡¯t want them connected to me, got it?¡± ¡°Yeah, I can handle it, ¡± He said, ¡°Gotta get my drones over here for a day or two and work my way through the ships. Disable the self-destruct and everything,¡± He huffed, ¡°Should be able to have them running in a week with my operating system rather than the shit one they¡¯ve got installed.¡± Sonya held up a hand, ¡°You can get them running?¡± She asked seriously. Amos scratched his neck, ¡°Uh, sure? Why not?¡± He said with a shrug as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Sonya brightened, ¡°Oh! I figured we had a pair of explosive golf trophies on our hands!¡± She turned to Barry and slapped his arm, ¡°Atta boy! Well done big guy! I¡¯m still gonna let you have it for going off the reservation but good catch!¡± She said merrily, the small threat thrown in there making him pale a little as she wandered over to the rail and looked over at them. ¡°Kinda ugly, don¡¯t you think? I¡¯ve never seen a sub up close. Guess that goes with the whole ¡®stealthy¡¯ thing.¡± Trigger and Wake looked at one another and then at Barry. They both shook their heads urgently but the big guy just squared his shoulders and walked over to lean next to her. ¡°Yeah, I was thinkin¡¯ a paint job! Some flames maybe?¡± He said thoughtfully. Sonya pursed her lips, ¡°Hum, gonna have to be blue flames then,¡± She said and Trigger groaned. Side-Story: Colin 2 Side-Story: Colin 2 The lurker prowled across the top of the building. It had eaten well that night. The creature it had hunted was succulent, tasty, the faint flicker of mana within making the meal all the more nourishing. It would grow stronger with each kill, wiser, every correct decision another step towards something more than it could comprehend. It was a predator and this dusty, dry, unforgiving land of stone buildings and metal beasts was its domain. It had existed for weeks now, the days of mindlessness a blur to its ever sharpening mind. It had been cautious, avoiding the powerful creatures that wielded strange forces its primitive mind could barely comprehend. Now it had a pack, six hounds to do its bidding. Soon more would join. It only had to survive. A scent caught its nostrils, a sweet scent. It raised its head from within the metal cylinder it had found as its new home. Once filled with water, it was now a lair for it and its pack to rest in comfortable seclusion. Here they would recover after every hunt and grow strong as the lifegiving mana in the air slowly strengthened them, healed their wounds, and aided in changing delicious flesh into something more. It clambered to its feet, its body healthy and hale, and glanced at the pack that raised their heads to acknowledge its dominance. With a gesture and a growl it commanded them, it was time to hunt again. Out through the opening on the roof while the others slipped through the hole it had carved in the bottom. It alighted atop the cylinder and looked down over the vast land beyond. The tall structures were dusted with the sand of the desert beyond it. It sniffed the air again, there, that sweet scent. An alien one to it, not once in its life had it smelled such an odor. Yet beneath the scent was another, tantalizing, a deep well of mana that cried out to it, begging to be consumed. This feast alone could give it such power if only it could have a taste. Perhaps, perhaps it could become more than a mere lurker. Something greater. It leaped from the top of its lair and alighted on the building in utter silence, a violation of natural laws as its lumbering bulk left not even a crack in the ground. It moved forward and peered over the side of the building. There, walking alone in the darkened street, a single creature with a brown mane. It wore black and carried naught but a box of some kind hanging from its right hand. The lurker tilted its head and sniffed again. Oh that smell, delicious. It ached to taste it, to feast, it needed to more than anything in the world. It was a compulsion, an instinct. It glanced at its pack and nodded to them. They would bring the feast to it so that it would not have to risk its own life. Their lips pulled back in hungry snarls before they threw themselves off the side, heedless, their simple minds nothing compared to its growing wisdom. They did not understand danger or risk, not like it did. They alighted on the ground behind the creature with barks and snarls, dashing forward to secure its prize while it stepped back to return to its lair. ¡°Sit.¡± The one word was like a command from the heavens above, from within the very core of its being, the word resonated and gripped at something so deep and primal that it could not begin to resist. It, like the others, sat down on the ground. It¡¯s simple mind tried to process it, tried to understand, tried to conceive of what was gripping so tightly at the very deepest parts of its being. Yet the lurker was still a beast, even in its growing wisdom, it did not know. It roared in defiance and pushed itself back to its feet, a command to the others to rise again and kill the small thing that hid its threat so easily. It clambered to the side once more and looked down and a pair of red eyes met it. ¡°Break.¡± The lurker did not understand how it died. ¨C Saleh cleared his throat, ¡°They have their own concerns, Master Mephisto.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure they do, are there still twenty six of you?¡± Mephisto asked as the elevator rose. ¡°Twenty four, Master Mephisto,¡± Saleh said with a solemn tone, ¡°Such is the way of things in our family.¡± ¡°Far be it from me to judge how a man raises his sons,¡± Mephisto tittered out a laugh as the door opened and they stepped out into what was basically a throne room. A single path stretched out ahead of them made of marble and decorative columns lined it. Between the columns and facing inward were twenty three young men of various ages that looked towards Mephisto with various expressions. Some open disgust, others hatred, a few curiosity. Two, though, had very different looks. One to the left of the throne showed open lust, and to the right showed nothing at all. Only eyes of steel. ¡°Your eldest brother might be hard to beat,¡± Mephisto murmured as the young man moved quickly to stand in line with the others. He turned his attention to the throne and the mountainous man sitting on it. The Spice King was young, he looked not much older than his sons. Black hair worn almost wet on his head curled in just the right ways and matched his thick black beard well. He had a broad chest and powerful arms that looked as if they could crack cinder blocks with a gesture. His skin glittered slightly, powdered with gold no doubt. He broke out into a wide smile as the dark figure stepped out into his glittering golden domain. ¡°The Great Dealmaker of Ishtar returns!¡± He barked, opening his arms wide, ¡°Welcome, Mephisto.¡± Mephisto went into a low, playful bow before flicking his head up to make eye contact with the man, ¡°Mistress Isthar sends her warmest greetings to the Spice King.¡± ¡°The God-Queen of Villains is a magnanimous one, sending her best all this way,¡± The Spice King said, sitting back down, ¡°I have a feast and a decadent room prepared for you, as always.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too kind,¡± Mephisto said before standing up straight, ¡°Before all the fun and games, why don¡¯t we get to business?¡± The golden-skinned man leaned forward and rest his elbows on his knees, ¡°Yes. I have a few things in mind that I¡¯m sure she will be interested in.¡± Side-Story: Shuta 1 Side-Story: Shuta 1 Reinforced heels clicked against the marble floor as three men stormed down the halls of that sacred place. The sound resonated through the space, warning any who were thinking of stepping out to think twice. Two guards walked at either side of a man in a suit and tie. They both wore white robes fitted with hoods, sheer black masks lined with polished steel covered their heads. He himself wore no such mask, preferring a simple silver-and-black metal hanpo designed to look like the sneer of a demon. His long black hair hung down his back, a single white streak tied with silver bands hanging over his shoulder and across his chest. A chime rang in his ear and he touched his earpiece. ¡°On my way,¡± He growled, dark eyes narrowed. That man was back yet again. He came more and more often these days. He came to the sacred doors and stood there, shouting his fury at the sacred temple and demanding an audience. Every time he was sent away. He was a troublesome person who didn¡¯t know how to keep his nose out of business that did not concern him, that was above him. Shuta strode down the hall as the guards on either side of him readied their weapons while he clutched at the saya of his own tool of death. A weapon he had earned in the dungeon. His head tilted forward as they drew closer to the front door of the temple, his lips forming a thin line. ¡°Do not engage unless threatened,¡± He hissed and the two masked men nodded. Shuta pushed the doors open and stepped out into the beautiful courtyard. White flowers bloomed in a green garden dotted with small ponds. The solitary stone pathway leading to the outer gates was empty save for a solitary figure that stood on the wrong side of the gates. Shuta clicked his tongue, Despoiler, how dare you. He crossed the distance quickly, the neatly cut lawn nothing but a blur in his periphery as he stalked indignantly towards the man who dared stand there with impunity. He came to a stop only a few meters away, tilting his head up and looking the hulking man in the eyes. Tanned skin, tattoos showing beneath a suit that was just a little too tight. Graying hair on his head and an unforgiving stare, ¡°Hero Sapporo,¡± Shuta said, keeping his tone as steady as he could even as rage boiled beneath his skin. The international hero offered him no greeting. He only scowled. ¡°You are trespassing in a sacred place, leave now,¡± Shuta clipped out into the silence between them. Sapporo tilted his head up and looked down at Shuta, ¡°Kato Shuta. Your organization openly worships a wanted criminal and praises her actions,¡± He said stoically, ¡°The only reason I am not leveling this building in search of your so-called leader right this instant is that officially you have not committed any acts of villainy and my own shortening patience.¡± Shuta took a step forward and tilted his head, looking into the man¡¯s face, ¡°You have no right to enter this place, you have been banned from the premises and a formal request put forward to the Pandora Committee demanding that you cease this harassment,¡± He said, ¡°Again, I ask you to leave. The people here want to be left alone and I will protect them from you.¡± Sapporo raised an eyebrow, ¡°A request that was denied, a ban that was countered,¡± The big man growled, ¡°You are villains, I have no doubt, and I will defend this nation from the infection of Ishtar¡¯s followers. We have suspicions that she has already made contact and it will be confirmed.¡± ¡°The savior has made no such contact,¡± Shuta insisted, ¡°Now begone.¡± ¡°At look me, dear,¡± A gentle voice called out to him. He looked up and into the center of the room. There, sitting on a dais, was an enormous circular cushion surrounded by nearly-transparent silk drapes. A silhouette hid behind it, that of a woman sitting and looking down at him. He couldn¡¯t see her face, but he could feel the gentle smile. He returned it from beneath his mask before his expression fell a little, ¡°He-¡± ¡°Unimportant,¡± She corrected him, ¡°He gone is, well did you, you thank, little Shuta.¡± His lip twitched and he had the sudden urge to rub his neck a little. He held his posture at one knee, though, his fist on the ground until she gestured for him to stand. He rose and when she gestured for him to approach he did without question. She reached through the drapes and delicate hand extended to touch his cheek, ¡°Busy soon, be he will, not worry, ease at, ease at,¡± She whispered. He let out a breath and nodded, relaxing his shoulders, ¡°Yes, mother.¡± ¡°A vision soon comes,¡± She said, ¡°Listen.¡± He nodded again, ¡°I am here.¡± She pulled her hand away and rest her hands in her lap. For a moment there was stillness as her head lulled back behind the curtains. Then the smoke in the air began to gather, a cloudy mist that clung to his nose and made him feel a little dizzy. He shook it off and concentrated, not daring to miss a single word as a sound like a death rattle escaped his mother¡¯s lips. Kato Setsuna, the Oracle, the leader of Hope¡¯s Disciples, spoke, her voice echoed in the room with a powerful resonance. Every word was spoken with a different tone, a different accent, a different voice, yet not a single syllable could be lost: ¡°The terrible pendragon grows mighty, the seas shall boil with the madness of a king, storms fall from above and the shadows dance. The enemy at last is revealed, reveling in the praise of the ignorant. The hammer of vengeance falls. The Savior¡¯s mask is consumed, forever changed. Her eye shall open, her wrath will fill the sky. We will see her soon, in this place, behind the mask of an enemy.¡± Chapter 115 Chapter 115 The wind whipped past his head. It buffeted against his body, the ear-breaking sound held at bay by the head gear. His eyes opened wide, the clouds were getting closer, he could see them just ahead. His body accelerated, faster, faster, he could go just a little faster. Just to the edge of ¡®launch¡¯. Just before ¡®stage one¡¯. The air started to compress in front of his face, a ripple forming at the edge of the bubble of air that was taking shape around his body. Heat that should have been scorching his skin was dispersed into his surroundings. The clouds were right here. A wall that seemed so very solid. Impact. A rumbling. Whiteness. An endless sea of pure blue greeted him on the other side. ¡°WOOO HOOO!¡± Val shouted into the mouth guard, throwing his fists into the air and stabilizing as he came to a rapid stop. Something in the gear attached to his body shifted with the abrupt halt and he felt it spread the force across his body, counterbalancing before releasing it as a blast of air in all directions. Explosive force continued to rush out of the base of his feet as he stood in place, above the clouds, above the world, above everything for just a few moments. He tilted his head back and soaked it all in. He wished he could feel the sun, but it was a small price to pay. A faint buzz sounded in his ear and a voice came in over the headgear, ¡°That¡¯s seven thousand feet, Val, how¡¯d it feel flying through a cloud?¡± Dr. Carter asked. Val spun around and looked across the sea of blue and white, ¡°That was fucking amazing!¡± He laughed and did a flip once in the air, nearly losing balance and stabilizing himself. ¡°Woah.¡± A second voice chimed in with a laugh, ¡°That¡¯s wonderful! Just try not to go overboard with the crazy stuff until you do some more practice closer to the ground, mm?¡± Miss Chernovna chimed in. He chuckled, ¡°R-right, got it,¡± He snickered and glanced up above his head towards another set of clouds, ¡°My max altitude is eight thousand right now, right?¡± He asked. ¡°Best I could do,¡± Dr. Carter said, ¡°Even then it''s a bit fuzzy, you¡¯re best staying there. Push it too hard and the headgear might crack. You¡¯ll lose consciousness really quickly after that.¡± Val clenched his fists, ¡°What about landing? How much can it take?¡± He asked. There was a pause, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t suggest a full speed landing right now,¡± Miss Chernovna said, ¡°As amusing as that sounds. Come in slow.¡± Val clicked his tongue, ¡°I got a better idea,¡± He said and angled his body down and felt the openings in his limbs begin to heat up again. The heat spread out, not burning his skin but instead being absorbed by the gear set up around each spot. The rocket booster-like funnels started to glow just a little as the pressure built, he took a deep breath and with one last grunt he pushed, Launch! He ordered his ability, starting the cycle of his power over again. The opening in his back flared, palms, elbows, feet, ankles, they all screamed to life as he turned into a bullet heading straight for the ground. ¡°Oh jeez,¡± Amos muttered into his ear, ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Val laughed, ¡°Gotta put it through its paces somehow!¡± ¡°Just don¡¯t end up a smear, you punk, that gear took a lot of work to make!¡± Amos grumbled. Val passed through the clouds again, coming out the other end and looking over the wide green grassland dotted with gray buildings that was the Green Bank location. He could see the remains of the old telescope dish and the simulated battlefields. It looked like Axel was teaching another rescue course. He spotted a few duels going on at the conditioning fields, they were being observed by Madame Rouge if he had to guess, since Black Lotus was suspended. More instructors were showing up every day now, the first month of Orientation was over. It¡¯s time for the real shit, Val thought before clenching his armored fist, Just in time. He hurtled towards the ground, closer and closer to the designated red mark that had been left out for him as a landing spot. ¡°You¡¯re pushing it,¡± Amos warned, ¡°The compensator I put in there can only take so much.¡± ¡°It handled my stop going up!¡± Val challenged. ¡°Yeah but now you have gravity to contend with,¡± Amos pointed out, ¡°Slow down a bit.¡± Val clicked his tongue but ultimately agreed, ¡°Alright,¡± He grunted and altered his trajectory to less a direct descent and more a corkscrew, coming down at a looping angle as he threw his hands out to counter the force released by his feet. He was still coming in really fast, but it would slowly reduce until- he whipped his body around mid flight and shoved his feet out, putting a bit more force out through the openings there. He felt the shift in his gear again as the compensator endured most of the force generated by the abrupt stop. He hung there as the force was released as another compressed blast of air before finally landing on the ground. A series of whoops and shouts sounded out from nearby. He turned and reached up to pull the visor out of the way of his eyes, red hair sticking to his face a bit. He turned and grinned as his friends practically charged him, then his eyes went wide as they picked up speed. ¡°Oh shi-¡± Lillian, Greg, and Alex bowled him over without an ounce of hesitation, tackling him to the ground. <¡±Hey! You¡¯re the dirty one, we¡¯re still in Germany!¡±> Kera chimed back. Sonya rolled her eyes and stood up straight, <¡±Right, of course, nevermind.¡±> Sonya grunted and hung up. I wouldn¡¯t have assumed if that wasn¡¯t half of what you talked about, Kera. She thought with a shake of her head before crossing her arms and glancing at Amos, shaking her head a little bit. He nodded and tapped his temple twice. A moment later a small stream of metal objects swarmed into the air as the Aspirants began to calm down behind them. ¡°It¡¯s just coming down,¡± Lillian breathed. ¡°Woah, it¡¯s like rain,¡± Alex murmured, ¡°The hell is that? Some kind of weird monster?¡± ¡°That would mean a dungeon break is coming soon and I doubt the instructors would allow the dungeon they¡¯re maintaining here to get that bad,¡± Ollie pointed out. Amos narrowed his eyes, ¡°It looks like...¡± He frowned, ¡°...Black Lotus?¡± He blurted and stood up straight, ¡°She¡¯s just sitting there getting hit by it.¡± Sonya blinked and raised her eyebrows, ¡°Pull your drones back and leave it be,¡± She said and glanced back at the Aspirants, more of them were starting to gather as well as a few instructors who stopped to watch the show with them. Another crack of thunder sounded and the lightning intensified, there were a few shouts of confusion, Sonya raised her voice, ¡°It¡¯s fine!¡± Sonya called, ¡°Hero Black Lotus is undergoing a special personal training right now, she¡¯s working hard, so you all go back and work hard as well!¡± She urged them before shooting Amos a glance. <¡±Call Marta and have her go stand guard near Chunhua, she can¡¯t defend herself in that state,¡±> She said through their technopathic connection. <¡±On it,¡±> Amos acknowledged. Sonya turned back when a single voice chimed in, ¡°A heavenly tribulation,¡± Ollie said aloud, ¡°Is that what that is?¡± Sonya glanced his way, Little smarty pants, She opened her mouth to give an indecisive answer but closed it, glancing back at the lightning. She¡¯d only seen it once during her past life but she knew it all too well. This one wasn¡¯t as intense as the one she saw back then, though. Second breakthrough? She raised her eyebrow a little, Does that mean she fought me as Ishtar with only her first breakthrough? She smirked, That cheeky little... ¡°What does that mean?¡± Lillian asked behind Sonya.. Sonya resisted the urge to flinch. Oh great. I hope it doesn¡¯t scare her, that boy talks a little too much sometimes. Ollie cleared his throat while most of the aspirants dispersed, fortunately they were satisfied enough with Sonya¡¯s response. ¡°I¡¯ve had a theory for a while that Miss Black Lotus¡¯ abilities are based on popular cultivation stories, a lot of abilities out there seem to be grounded in myths, legends, and well known tales,¡± Ollie said and straightened his glasses, ¡°A heavenly tribulation happens when one of those individuals has a break-through in their powers and achieved another level of enlightenment. Heaven challenges them, or something to that effect, and they have to endure until the end of the tribulation.¡± Sonya looked back to watch Lillian and felt her mouth drop open a bit, the girl looked elated! Lillian bounced on the balls of her feet, ¡°She did it? That¡¯s great!¡± Lillian barked, overjoyed. She turned and looked at the seemingly unending rain of lightning on that point in the forest and clenched her fists, ¡°So I will too-¡± She mumbled and squeezed her hands tight, ¡°It¡¯s amazing! It¡¯s like the world is responding to her. Like-¡± She blinked, standing up a bit straighter and frowning a little, ¡°Huh.¡± Sonya narrowed her eyes, ¡°Everything okay, Lillian?¡± Lillian scratched her head as her friends looked at her with concern. The girl blinked a few times and looked at the ground and then up at the sky, ¡°I uh...¡± She scratched her head again and furrowed her brow before clearing her throat and spinning around abruptly to look at Val, ¡°N-not gonna let some lightning steal your thunder, buddy!¡± She laughed and clapped him on the shoulders. Val tilted his head at her, a little confused. ¡°You kidding? Why would I give a shit?¡± He asked her. She barked out a laugh as Sonya watched her carefully, ¡°Right! Right! Hey, guys? I gotta go um... sit for a minute. I¡¯ll be back soon,¡± Lillian said hurriedly. Snow gave her a look and Lillian broke into a wide smile, ¡°I¡¯m fine, promise!¡± She laughed before darting away at full speed. Sonya didn¡¯t miss the serious expression that washed over Lillian''s face. She watched her go and crossed her arms. What on earth did that girl just realize? She glanced at the lightning where Chunhua was. She saw the streak of light that was Marta heading towards it. What do you both know that¡¯s so profound? She shook her head ruefully and turned to look at the remaining aspirants, ¡°Well! Lillian ran off before I could make my announcement!¡± She said with a laugh and the others turned to her with grins on their faces, ¡°First, congratulations on your new suit, Mister Kinton.¡± Val shot her a thumbs up. ¡°Next,¡± She threw her arms out, ¡°I made a special deal with the PC for a little down time for a day with you all!¡± She announced before slipping into a dramatic pause. She grinned impishly at them, looking at their faces before bouncing into an excited pose. ¡°We¡¯re going to the beach in a few days!¡± Chapter 116 Chapter 116 Lillian rushed through the camp, past the dojo, past the common building. She wasn¡¯t even sure where she was going, it was like something in her just wanted to go somewhere. It didn¡¯t make sense, but it didn¡¯t have to make sense. She let the feeling carry her away as her mind reeled and spun, her thoughts a jumbled mess trying to splice back together only to come unwound and the process repeat. Her head hurt, her chest hurt, her muscles burned, her mind screamed at her as the dots connected in her brain. They couldn¡¯t see it, not the way I could see it, Lillian thought as her legs worked. She hopped over an obstacle that she barely noticed, she grabbed onto a tree limb and swung forward, accelerating. They couldn¡¯t feel it the way I felt it. She felt the homing instinct, whatever it was, ease as she slid to a stop. Only then did she look around. She was standing among the trees, the gentle sounds of nature all around her. She whipped her head around, there was a creek nearby, a little trickle of water adding to the noise. A bird sang above her head and she looked up at it. It looked down at her and their eyes met. I could see it, really see it, the clouds of mana gathering over teacher. I could see them sparking, I could feel the process. It wasn¡¯t artificial, it wasn¡¯t like when someone used their abilities. It was... Her heart pounded and her head hurt again, she gripped at her skull and shook her head. That doesn¡¯t make any sense! She thought, It¡¯s insane. It¡¯s completely insane! She looked back up at the bird, it had been joined by another that stood next to it and watched her intently. She shook her head and looked down at her feet. Mana is strong in the air here. Big concentration, almost enough to make a monster. She furrowed her brows, How do I know that? She sat down in the lotus position, her hands on her knees. She had to clear this up in her head, it was swirling in her mind and demanding attention. She only hoped, she only prayed, that it didn¡¯t take too long. Snow¡¯s waiting for me, it¡¯s tonight. I can¡¯t be late. She took a deep breath, all the way, filling her lungs and tried to clear her mind. She pushed the clutter away. Only the facts. She took another deep breath. What do I know? What do I see? What do I feel? She closed her eyes and let her head hang back, power slipped out from her heart as the golden flame worked its way out through her meridians. She felt it go from one point to another, following the channels that teacher had helped her clear. She clenched her fists, I saw it. I saw what happened with teacher¡¯s tribulation. I saw the clouds. I could physically see them. She exhaled, a long breath coming out of her. She couldn¡¯t see the golden flames that leaped from her lips. She breathed in again and flames drew up into her nostrils. What did teacher say? Think about the flash? She let the memories flow, The flash happened, light across the world. Powers awakened, then monsters appeared. She thought, tilting her head a little and frowning. Monsters didn¡¯t happen right away, right, I remember, it took a minute or two for it to start. She thought, Powers happened almost immediately, people were hit with the flash and they just changed. She opened and closed her hands, another exhale of golden flame, another inhale of golden flame. She could hear the birdsong nearby and let her head roll a bit on her shoulders, Animals don¡¯t have abilities. How does mana differentiate? Does it? No that¡¯s not the point. Humans differentiate, she thought firmly and felt movement in her chest. It''s not because we¡¯re special or anything, not because of any ¡®humans are special¡¯ bullshit. No, it¡¯s just natural for us. We can handle mana, we¡¯re built for it. Her heart rate increased and she felt the movement inside of her chest increase. The mana was moving slowly through her body, it felt like it was pulling inward, moving in a steady churning motion. She clenched her fists tightly, she could see the clouds, visualize them, feel them. We¡¯re built for it, but why are we built for it? Why are our abilities so recognizable? It doesn¡¯t make any sense but it has to make sense, it has to be the answer because there¡¯s only one rational explanation. She took another breath and a rush of flames entered her nostrils, she exhaled and a ring of gold formed around her. Mana is natural. The mana in the air kept gathering around her, she could feel its potential for action, for change. It could become anything, a monster, fuel, even a dungeon. It practically sizzled against her skin even as it ran over her like water caught in a whirlpool. It responded to her presence. It¡¯s a part of nature. The world responds to it as if it should have been there all along. The flow intensified, the tightness in her meridians and channels eased. Mana has always, will always, and shall always, exist. It was just locked away somehow. Put away? She furrowed her brow. Her mind was moving slowly through the thoughts now, like a lecture to herself. A calm breath eased out of her chest and the golden ring around her intensified in brightness. Humans adapted to it. It¡¯s in our blood. Our genes. We¡¯ve always been built for it. It was here on earth before us and it will be here long after us. Are her eyes brighter now? Even more orange before, wow, Snow thought numbly, Are those tattoos around her neck? She squinted at the haggard woman, there were indeed some kind of green markings on her throat that branched out like petals or feathers. They moved and shifted on her skin like they were alive. She pushed the thoughts aside, more immediate concerns taking over. She sat up a bit straighter and scowled, crossing her arms. Where the hell have you been? Why are you soaked? Are you okay? Lillian walked over, wiping her upper lip off only for a towel to get thrown at her from the side and land on her head. Lillian jerked and grabbed at it before looking over at an impatient Dr. Carter, he had a pair of blue lensed goggles around his neck now and had another tech with him, a dark haired man with an intense stare, ¡°You¡¯re tracking water into my lab, and you¡¯re late,¡± He said with a scowl, ¡°You reek too. You¡¯re lucky one of my techs has a sterilizing ability or I¡¯d have your head," He said testily. Lillian shrank a little as she brought the towel to her face to dab it while one of the techs let out a sigh and started waving his hands around the room. Snow watched her with amusement, she couldn¡¯t stay mad, whatever had happened had clearly worked. She seemed... different. Not just the tattoos. Her skin had a bit of a warmth to it, her eyes brighter, her hair a little shinier, her face ... Snow flushed and cleared her throat before looking away for a moment. She settled her wildly fluttering heart before looking back and instead pinched her nose. She really does smell bad. Lillian blinked, ¡°Is it really that bad?¡± Snow scowled at her, How can you not smell yourself? It''s rancid! Lillian got the meaning of her stare well enough, she grinned a little and scratched her head, ¡°I¡¯ve been running for the past hour, didn¡¯t have time to stop and show-¡± ¡°Hold still please,¡± A grumpy young man said and held his hands out towards Lillian. Snow watched Lillian turn to look at the tech only to get blasted in the face with a wave of light-blue wind. Snow burst into silent laughter as her girlfriend¡¯s face rippled, her hair flew back and her eyes fluttered at the sudden burst of air. The tech drew his hand down across Lillian¡¯s body before stepping back. Snow sniffed the air again, all gone. Lillian blinked and looked down at herself, baffled, before looking up at the tech, ¡°Hey thanks!¡± She said brightly, ¡°That was awesome!¡± Snow relaxed, the worries gone thanks to Lily¡¯s antics. She smiled up at the taller girl who looked back at her nervously. Lily¡¯s expression shifted to a big grin and she walked over before sitting down in the chair next to the table that had been set out for her. ¡°I promised I¡¯d be here,¡± She said, looking Snow in the eyes, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry I¡¯m late.¡± Snow felt her chest tighten and she reached out to touch Lillian¡¯s cheek, she smiled before making a pinching gesture with her free hand. Just a little, it¡¯s fine. She slid her hand down and into the bigger hand belonging to the tough young woman she¡¯d spied on during the bus ride. That immediate physical attraction, it had been overwhelming. At first it had just been a craving, a purely physical one. Wanting to get close, to touch, to feel. To lay eyes on someone that was just her type, she¡¯d never experienced that before until the bus ride. Then it became a little more than that. The intense sense of comfort that she gave off was relieving for her, it eased the stress that seemed to be Snow¡¯s entire life. That first night when she¡¯d put her head in Lillian¡¯s lap she¡¯d felt more at ease than she¡¯d ever had before. Then it only got worse after that, or better, depending on how she looked at it. Every single day after the morning that Lillian had fixed her hood, she was constantly on her mind. At first it was just wary thoughts, annoying ones. What¡¯s she doing? How are her classes going? Is she bored? Is she busy? Then it became, I hope she¡¯s eating enough, she¡¯s working really hard. When she had the thought; I can¡¯t wait till dinner. I want to see her. She knew then that she¡¯d utterly and totally fallen. She¡¯d spent a week just watching her from afar, checking, hoping she¡¯s okay with all the effort she was putting in with Black Lotus. Then Miss Chernovna tricked me, that jerk. She grinned at Lillian who had no idea what she was thinking. Lillian just smiled back at her with all the warmth of those golden flames of hers. I owe that bully for it, though, it was the kindest prank I¡¯ve ever been a victim of. Dr. Carter approached them from the side, ¡°We¡¯re all set, unless you¡¯ve got more chaos to stir up?¡± He asked Lillian. Lily scratched the back of her head, ¡°Heh, sorry. No, I¡¯ll be good.¡± The man nodded, ¡°Alright,¡± He said and nodded to Snow, ¡°Just relax.¡± Snow watched him step away before turning to lay down on the table. A few more nerves worked their way up her stomach, her fingers trembled, the image of angry drunken eyes surfaced in her mind. Then a heat raced through every inch of her body in an invisible wave. She blinked and looked at Lillian, stunned. No flames, no effort, no concentration. Lily just smiled at her, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± Snow squeezed her hand as the fear just washed away. She lay down and Dr. Da-som walked over, his hands alight with pure green light. Over her, the lights hummed and something pink flickered out of existence. She paid it no mind, instead she just savored the warm hand holding hers. Yes you are, and after this, I¡¯ll be there for you too. Chapter 117 Chapter 117 The balcony of the common building was nice and quiet. A gentle breeze washed over the distant trees and across her face as she sat behind the railing, looking out over the grass and the other buildings that made up the training grounds. She could have eaten downstairs, with the others, and frankly she wasn¡¯t even supposed to be up here. The only entrance to the balcony was the one through the sponsors hallway and only aspirants going in for an interview should be going through it. She didn¡¯t really care at the moment, though, she just wanted a little time to think. Lillian took another piece of brisket off her plate and handed it to the hawk that sat next to her. It pulled it carefully from her fingers before eating in silence. She smiled at it and popped a piece into her own mouth, chewing quietly as another breeze ran through her hair. She¡¯s still in surgery, it¡¯s been hours, She thought. Dr. Carter had seen her out after Snow had gone under for the operation. She had wanted to hang out outside the lab but Miss Chernovna had swung by and insisted that she get something to eat and clear her head a little. She was grateful, there was still so much to think about. So much that she was still digesting from her enlightenment, her vision. She took another bite of her food and let out a breath before glancing at the hawk that eyed her patiently. ¡°Thanks again for the help earlier,¡± She said. It inclined its head and she got the feeling that it was saying something along the lines of; ¡®Well, it goes without saying that I would help¡¯. Her lip twitched, Now I¡¯m imagining stuff. She shifted a bit on the ground and leaned back, resting her arm on her knee and glancing towards the spot where her teacher had been undergoing the tribulation. The lightning was long gone but she hadn¡¯t seen her. She scratched at her neck a little then paused, a tingle moved through the air behind her. She lowered her hand as the feeling from it registered in her senses. She smiled and went back to her meal, plucking another piece up and handing it to her bird friend. ¡°Hello, Teacher.¡± Black Lotus walked in next to her and sat down, ¡°You¡¯ve made a new friend.¡± Lillian glanced at the hawk, ¡°Seems so, no idea why but he helped me find my way back after-¡± ¡°After you ran off to go through your first stage of enlightenment,¡± Black Lotus said, ¡°I heard that you saw my tribulation and bolted shortly afterward.¡± Lillian turned to Black Lotus and looked up at her. The woman was more serene than before, her dark eyes seemed even deeper and her smile easier. She didn¡¯t seem much different physically, a little more toned, her face a little more defined, her hair just a bit longer. It was the energy moving inside of her, though, that was dramatically different. Where there had been a steady if fast-moving whirlpool, now it was beginning to move through her body in a distinctive pattern, following her meridians and moving towards a centerpoint at her waist. ¡°Did you see her?¡± Lillian asked. Black Lotus nodded, ¡°We spoke.¡± The Lillian of just a week before would have jumped in and probed how to get to that point faster, now, now she knew better. It took time, and she could already feel that there was something off with her ability. She was approaching a much more difficult cliff and she had only just achieved the first stage. It would be some time before her second. She nodded slowly and looked back out over the trees, ¡°Sometimes I can see it, mana.¡± ¡°See it? Visually?¡± Black Lotus asked. Lillian nodded, ¡°Sounds like that¡¯s not something that comes with your ability?¡± Her teacher shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know whether I¡¯d want that or not,¡± She said ruefully. ¡°It¡¯s hard to turn on,¡± Lillian admitted, ¡°But when it is, I can tell when a place is primed for a monster. I just feel it in my gut.¡± Black Lotus went silent for a moment before reaching into her pocket, she pulled out a small sphere and held it out to Lillian, ¡°Can you hold this for me for a moment?¡± She asked. Lillian tilted her head and took it, ¡°An RTE? You think something¡¯s up with my ability?¡± ¡°I suspect your ability is a bit different from others,¡± Black Lotus said, ¡°It¡¯s not even been two years since the flash, we understand so little about abilities, but a general rule seems to be that Abilities do not change tier except under extreme circumstances,¡± She explained as she pulled a phone out next, tapping the screen a few times. ¡°Extreme circumstances?¡± Lillian asked, confused. ¡°Are you familiar with Ishtar?¡± Black Lotus answered with her own question. Lillian frowned and looked down at her plate, her stomach twisted a bit at the taboo name, ¡°Who isn¡¯t?¡± She snorted, ¡°What does she have to do with it?¡± ¡°Ishtar claims to be able to awaken the abilities in people or even give them out, it¡¯s not exactly common knowledge but it¡¯s also not hard to hear about it,¡± Black Lotus said, ¡°More specifically, she can do it in exchange for payment or services. That is information that the Pandora Committee is keeping closer to its chest, the only reason I¡¯m discussing it with you is your situation.¡± Lillian tensed and looked down at the RTE in her hands, she looked up at Black Lotus and felt her heart sink a little, ¡°You think-¡± ¡°I think? No, you wouldn¡¯t make a deal with someone like her,¡± Black Lotus said with a shake of her head, ¡°I was instructed to make regular reports about high potential aspirants and when your situation came up I was asked to observe and test you with an RTE if you began exhibiting more and more functionality,¡± She exhaled, ¡°Your ability has the functionality of a mythic, Lillian, but you still feel like a rare to me.¡± Barry laughed, <¡±That works, thanks boss.¡±> Sonya tilted her head, <¡±What about the rest?¡±> She asked a bit more seriously. There was a pause, <¡±I¡¯ve got people in every country she does, we¡¯ve got our eyes on them. I set up a few ¡®incidents¡¯ to force some of her people into a fight. You were right, her followers are enhanced somehow. As strong as uncommon or even low rare. All physical improvements though.¡±> Sonya nodded, <¡±As expected, her light-touched followers will be more difficult to get a measure for. Their abilities will be amplified by her ability. Don¡¯t waste men on them right now.¡±> <¡±Got it,¡±> He grunted, <¡±It¡¯ll take a while but we¡¯ll be ready when the time comes. Blackrazor¡¯s people are a big help and its nice having Charon for getting my people around.¡±> Sonya grinned, <¡±Those taxis are nice aren¡¯t they?> <¡±Damn right they are, I use them all the time,¡±> He laughed. <¡±Jealous, I didn¡¯t get to enjoy it while I was in The Hague. Too many eyes,¡±> Sonya grumbled as she felt fast movement in the air ahead of her. She glanced up and smirked, <¡±We¡¯ll talk more later, I¡¯ve been meaning to reward you for your work, be safe.¡±> <¡±Who do you think you¡¯re talking to? The Lord of the Deeps is out at sea, here, I¡¯m invincible.¡±> He laughed and cut the call. <¡±Looking forward to that present, later boss.¡±> She shook her head and pushed off the dungeon pylon, stepping out into the middle of the clearing as Marta moved to stand next to her. She tilted her head towards her beloved friend, ¡°Barry told me to give you a big ol¡¯ smooch,¡± She snickered. ¡°That idiot,¡± Marta chuckled, ¡°She¡¯s here.¡± Sonya smiled as Chunhua burst through the trees and landed ahead of them. She was still dressed down but had her sheathed sword in one hand. She glanced around for a moment and frowned, ¡°Sonya? What are you doing out here? Is everything alright?¡± ¡°Glad you could make it, figured you¡¯d come if you sensed us near the dungeon,¡± Sonya quipped before gesturing towards the rippling portal, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go inside and talk.¡± Chunhua raised an eyebrow and read Sonya¡¯s expression before nodding, she walked past her without hesitation and went straight through the water-like surface of the portal. Sonya pursed her lips and exchanged a look with Marta. The both of them shrugged before they went through as well. The next thing Sonya felt was the tug of her everything as she was pulled from one place to another before stepping out into an almost identical forest. Unlike the real one, the area with the portal was formed of trees grown so thickly together they formed a near complete circle. An opening on one side just wide enough for three people to walk side by side was the only exit. Sonya stepped out and brushed off her arms before glancing up at Chunhua who was standing off to the side, watching the opening, ¡°Did you clear out the first wave?¡± She asked. ¡°Marta did just a bit ago,¡± Sonya said before frowning, ¡°We need to talk about this dungeon.¡± Chunhua nodded, ¡°Fill me in.¡± Sonya crossed her arms and quickly explained what Cass had reported to her. Chunhua nodded along and glanced around thoughtfully, ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel much different.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure what that bastard did, but he did something to it, I¡¯m worried about the aspirants, I¡¯m going to start taking them in here soon for the scouting classes, then there¡¯s the final exam we need to consider,¡± She let out a breath, ¡°It¡¯s best if we have a look around.¡± Chunhua nodded, ¡°Good idea,¡± She said before raising an eyebrow, ¡°That¡¯s not all though, is it? You never go somewhere with only one purpose.¡± Sonya smirked, ¡°Well, after you moved on to your second stage I got motivated to get stronger myself,¡± She said and rested her hands on her hips, ¡°Figured I¡¯d invite you to my little merger party.¡± Chunhua blinked and her eyes went wide, ¡°Here? You¡¯re going to do that here?¡± She paused and scowled, ¡°You¡¯re going to overdo it, aren¡¯t you? I have your memories, you realize, I know exactly how painful it is.¡± ¡°Well it¡¯s a good thing you and Marta are here!¡± Sonya barked out a laugh, ¡°You can keep an eye on me, because it¡¯s happening.¡± Marta crossed her arms and stared at Chunhua, ¡°She¡¯s putting a lot of trust in you being here,¡± Marta said defensively, ¡°You could-¡± Chunhua frowned further, ¡°But why? You¡¯re already power-¡± ¡°Because it isn¡¯t enough,¡± Sonya said flatly, her expression going hard. She glanced at the portal behind them and clenched her fists, ¡°Not for him,¡± She looked sidelong at Chunhua, ¡°My memories are a lot to go through, and some of it may be a blur for you, but for me it¡¯s all crystal clear. That buffoon may be a bumbling idiot now, but he¡¯s an invincible bumbling idiot,¡± She said and ran her fingers through her hair, ¡°Natural Selection should have done its job with him a long time ago, but it didn¡¯t,¡± She said, ¡°He barely understands how whatever his power is works.¡± She paused and she looked at Chunhua, ¡°But, even an idiot can adapt and learn if he lives long enough.¡± Side-Story: Side Quests 1 Side-Story: Side Quests 1 The camp was abuzz, as always, everyone was talking about the big trip. Apparently the Chernovna woman was going to be taking them to the beach the next day. He wasn¡¯t fond of the beach, but it was a good enough way to get some air he supposed. He had been stuck here for four weeks, going through the motions and following the instructions set before him. Play nice with others, make a few friends, smile, impress with his ability but don¡¯t overdo it. Hold back, save the good stuff for later. He couldn¡¯t shake the feeling, though, that something just wasn¡¯t right. It didn¡¯t feel like the story was wholly his anymore. Like the tone had shifted, the message had changed, yet the guide refused to update every time he tried to shake things up. He changed the phrasing, changed the context, changed everything he could to get the damn thing to show him more of what he needed to do. It was troubling and frustrating. How could he be the hero if he wasn¡¯t the center of attention? Yet again, the guide urged him to be patient, so he was-to a degree. There was nothing wrong with a few little side-quests, after all. He glanced at the blonde girl, the one that had followed him for the past few days. He narrowed his eyes. He wasn¡¯t sure who she was working for but he had a few thoughts. First of all, her profile came up blank just like Ishtars. Her power was strange too, it wasn¡¯t one line but three. How, he wasn¡¯t sure, nor did he really care. After all, it gave him some clues to work with. If Ishtar was blank, and she was blank, and according to the rumors among the other aspirants, Ishtar could grant powers to people. Then it only stood to reason that this Cass girl was working for her. So she has spies here, probably in the other camps too. I¡¯ll hold on to that little tidbit, I think. He thought as he walked down the path, putting on his smile and saying his greetings. Each time it made him feel a little sick to his stomach. He had to admit, though, that these things were more interesting than he had originally expected. It was almost like a few of them were actual people, more than just the mindless NPCs that populated this tiresome world. Sonya Chernovna was one of them. No, she was a person, definitely a person. She had a mind of her own, a real one, and he could see something cunning behind her games and playful attitude. She¡¯s like me, playing the world around her fingers. I like her. He thought to himself as he glanced at the guide to his left. It appeared again like a page off the internet, a walkthrough of the current stage of his story. He frowned at it with displeasure, The guide is supposed to tell me everything, but it only tells me what I need to know to get to the next stage. If I want more, I need to do more myself. He had never considered going outside of the bounds of his guide, acting out a sub-plot to build his power. Side quests are all about power leveling, after all, He thought with some amusement. I can¡¯t believe I had never thought about it. Of course it''s necessary. But what on earth to do? He mused, crossing his hands behind his back and glancing out towards the field again. An Set is dead, Liberty is a fool, and I am starting to suspect that the original seven I had planned on recruiting aren¡¯t going to be worth my time. Colin was stolen from under my nose by Sonya, but she is just a smart person. She wants the best, I don¡¯t begrudge her that. He ground his teeth, But Craig and my future henchman, killing them, Ishtar, you know something and I do not like it, not at all. He frowned and closed his eyes, he wanted to lash out right then and there. Carve a beautiful furrow through the gathered aspirants and leave their corpses for the crows. No, they¡¯ll die eventually, not today. I am the hero after all. They should love me, adore me, worship me. He smiled to himself, basking in the moment of visualizing the day when he would finally bring the world crashing down. That moment of despair. He savored the thought until something crashed into him. He turned his body with it, blinking a few times and frowning. Who the hell has the audacity to take me out of my musings? He thought with a snarl, turning to look at the head of brown hair that sat on the ground before him. His lip twitched, Oh, the criminal. The thing that had been wandering behind the perverse woman from Chicago for the past few weeks was scrambling to pick up a notebook and scattered notes. He looked down at one sheet of paper beneath his feet and his lip twitched, he knelt down and picked it up, brushing it off before examining it. Observations on the other heroes in camp. Their likes, their dislikes. He is cataloging everyone. His lip twitched; How amusing, is he trying to make friends too? This is more information than is available in my guide at least. ¡°Killing Ishtar?¡± Ollie asked. Otis glanced his way and raised an eyebrow, ¡°Heroes don¡¯t kill.¡± Ollie swallowed and looked Otis dead in the eyes, ¡°But you¡¯re going to do it anyway.¡± Otis turned fully to face him, ¡°What makes you say that?¡± He asked. ¡°My gut and your... threads. You¡¯ve killed people before,¡± Ollie said in a low voice before holding up his hands, ¡°I-I won¡¯t tell anybody! I mean,¡± He rubbed his neck, ¡°We all have skeletons,¡± He said with a frown and looked away. ¡°You had your reasons, right? You wouldn¡¯t kill somebody just because. I have this theory that abilities weren¡¯t distributed haphazardly. Not for the awakened,¡± Ollie said, ¡°Gilgamesh was the first hero in our myths. He was also a good man, if a bit prideful. You have what it takes to be like him, if my theory is right. So it only makes sense...¡± Otis was a little taken aback, Oh. I like him. He has a way with words. That power of his too, it could be very useful. Very, very useful. Maybe I should try looking for opportunities more often. There might be more real people on this world than I thought. Ollie cleared his throat, ¡°Rambling again, s-¡± ¡°I would be thrilled to hear more,¡± Otis interrupted him. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Your theories,¡± Otis said with a cold smile, ¡°How about we talk over some food?¡± Chapter 118 Chapter 118 Sonya and Chunhua held one another¡¯s gaze. A silence stretching out between the two of them. Chunhua¡¯s expression fell for a moment before she closed her eyes and sighed. She put her hands on her hips and shook her head, ¡°You really don¡¯t take half measures,¡± She muttered and looked up at her. She smiled, though the expression was one with a bit of pain in it, concern. She scratched the back of her head and looked over at Marta, ¡°Do we have what we need in case something happens?¡± She asked, ¡°I¡¯d rather not have Miss Savior here bleed out on the ground of a dungeon.¡± Marta¡¯s stoicism broke for a heartbeat at Chunhua¡¯s words and she returned the smile, ¡°Miss Chernovna will be fine, have faith in her, she¡¯s come a long way from the first time.¡± Sonya on the other hand was standing off to the side looking for a place to sit down. She stretched her back all the way into an arch and rolled her shoulders, ¡°Sure, sure, still gonna hurt like a bitch though,¡± She grumbled before plopping herself onto the ground, ¡°First thing I¡¯m going to do is merge together a few powers in my warehouse ahead of cramming them into my core ability.¡± ¡°Speaking of which,¡± Chunhua said, crossing her arms, ¡°You gave me almost all of your memories, but you left out the name of your core ability. It changed again, didn¡¯t it?¡± Sonya looked up at her and pursed her lips. She cleared her throat and looked away, heat rising to her cheeks and burning at her ears. She rested her hands in her lap and twiddled her fingers a little, ¡°So I left a few things out, not that big a deal,¡± She trailed off. Chunhua tilted her head and Sonya returned her stare. Now that Chunhua wasn¡¯t being all mopey Sonya felt squirmy under her gaze. It was annoying. She pushed the feeling down and pressed her hands down against her feet. ¡°It¡¯s just-¡± ¡°It¡¯s embarrassing, the name is extremely arrogant, she was really proud of it at first but after saying it out loud in front of me she got like this,¡± Marta teased, giving Sonya a smug side-eye. Sonya crossed her arms, Traitor, she grumbled inwardly, squinting at her. Chunhua laughed, ¡°Okay now I have to know,¡± She said and walked over. She stood over Sonya and looked down at her. ¡°You really don¡¯t want to tell me?¡± Sonya¡¯s gut twisted and she clenched her ankles, looking straight up into Chunhua¡¯s eyes. She felt her entire body tremble for a moment and not in a bad way. She cleared her throat and looked away quickly, ¡°D-don¡¯t do that,¡± She breathed, squeezing her ankles tighter, ¡°Please? I don¡¯t think we¡¯re anywhere near there yet,¡± She said, ¡°D-don¡¯t look at me like that, from that angle, I can¡¯t deal with it,¡± She said hastily, fumbling over her words. She reached up and played with her hair before catching herself, ¡°I-I¡¯m not mad! I¡¯ll tell you, just uh... just don¡¯t?¡± She murmured. Chunhua practically jumped ten feet backwards before sliding to a stop, blinking furiously. Marta held her hand over her mouth and looked away. Sonya glanced up at her, red-faced, and saw the small grin under Marta¡¯s hand. She grumbled and twined her fingers together before exhaling hard. She looked up at a red-faced Chunhua who seemed to realize exactly what she had done. The world''s number one hero scratched her nose and cleared her throat, ¡°R-right I should have known better, sorry.¡± Sonya huffed and crossed her arms, ¡°It¡¯s fine, just-¡± She blurted before moving on quickly, ¡°My core ability is Deus Ex Machina. God from the Machine.¡± Chunhua mouthed the words for a moment before tilting her head, ¡°The literary element?¡± Sonya nodded in response and Chunhua pursed her lips, ¡°Does it do something different from... oh what was it... Cyber-punk?¡± Sonya rubbed her fingers, ¡°Cyber-punk was more like a receptacle. It didn¡¯t add any specific instincts on its own,¡± She said, ¡°I could cram compatible powers into it pretty easily but that''s all it was good for,¡± Sonya explained, ¡°The new version is so, so much more,¡± She said and trailed off, examining her hands, ¡°I instinctively know that it works hand in hand with Broker¡¯s functions, seamlessly. It also has some weird functions to deal with personal narrative. I tried testing it on Lillian Landrey and Ollie Anders but I haven¡¯t seen any impact, don¡¯t think I¡¯m doing it right.¡± ¡°Personal narrative?¡± Chunhua asked. Sonya shrugged, ¡°No friggin clue,¡± she sighed, ¡°It¡¯s a very vague understanding, anyway, the most important feature of the ability right now is that it has a stupid amount of efficiency when merging in new abilities and a better understanding of how I should merge them, like a feeling in my gut. I haven¡¯t tested it though.¡± Chunhua frowned, ¡°Why not?¡± Sonya gave her an even stare, ¡°I haven¡¯t been in the right headspace to endure a merger, Chunhua, for a while.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Chunhua cleared her throat and rubbed her arms, ¡°Sorry.¡± Sonya sighed, ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± She said with a wave of her hand, ¡°Let¡¯s leave it be. I¡¯m going to get started. Keep an eye on me, will you?¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± Chunhua said, squaring her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯ll also keep an eye on the passage.¡± Marta moved quickly to stand behind Sonya at a small distance, ¡°And I will be right here for you.¡± Sonya nodded, ¡°Thank you, both of you,¡± she took a deep, deep breath and exhaled, ¡°Let¡¯s do this.¡± Merger, Access Warehouse. She fell back into her own mind and saw her warehouse stretch out in front of her. It was filled with countless common and uncommon abilities, over a thousand mundane abilities, and the many others that she had collected over nearly two years of handshakes. She wandered the mental passages for a moment, browsing the shelves as she experienced it for the first time in a very long time. Her eyes fell shut and she let her head roll back, her hands falling to her sides. She grabbed the first two she wanted to try to cram together. Proceed. Four abilities crashed into one another like magnets that had been held apart. A blinding flash filled the warehouse as colors shifted and bloomed. Her fingers quaked and stung for a moment before a new disk remained behind. A brilliant orange. No fucking way. She would have whooped if she didn¡¯t expect to startle her guardians. She instead chuckled a little to herself, Mythic. Beautiful. She thought and set it to the side with the others she planned on pulling in. She rubbed her hands together, So much backlog! She thought greedily, really getting into the whole thing. It has been way too long since I last did this. This is fun! She thought and pulled out the next two that she wanted to merge. I really liked your ability Brent. She hesitated a little and cleared her throat, speaking with her eyes closed, ¡°Marta, are you sure about that power I offered you?¡± She asked. ¡°I¡¯d rather you have it, Sonya, I¡¯ll feel better if you do,¡± Marta said behind her. ¡°But I just got a swank healing power,¡± Sonya joked, ¡°I could live without it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine Sonya, I¡¯m a one woman army already,¡± Marta said proudly. Sonya chuckled, ¡°Fine fine, you win.¡± Fun as you are, you¡¯re bad for me, she thought as she looked at the disk symbolizing Duplicate floating over her palm. She got the sense that Ishtar would approve of her decision too. She glanced at the compatibility message. She pursed her lips, Interesting, I wonder how that¡¯ll work. Proceed. The two disks crashed into one another and flashed, light blooming once more before a new orange disk was left behind. She read the name again, Unbound? So it¡¯ll become something else once combined with Deus Ex, then, I get it. She nodded along as she pushed it aside and grabbed one last pair. This one she had been thinking about for a while. Her gut told her that this would be the most interesting combination of the lot. She practically rubbed her hands together with glee as two orange disks appeared in her hands. She grinned, I want nothing to do with that power of yours, Masque. Might as well put it to good use. Lets see what happens when you combine the ruler of plants with the king of the fae. She thought with amusement. It had been a long time since she acquired Sylvan Monarch and she had only used it once to any real effect. It was a useful power to be sure, but it was better used as part of a merger. Another perfect, huh? Makes sense that they would match up well. She thought and nodded, Proceed. FWOOM! Light erupted from the point of impact, force pushing out from Sonya¡¯s body so forcefully it became physical. She heard a pair of gasps as the two women standing guard over her nearly toppled over from the short-lived burst. Sonya¡¯s hands ached, her body quaking for a moment as her warehouse shuddered under the weight of what she had made. Disks ripped from the walls of her warehouse too fast for her to see, pulled in by the hungry thing forming in her palm. Light bloomed and condensed before revealing an orange disk. It was different from the others. Not a solid color. It was cracked, its surface tearing apart at the seams. Golden light shone out of it as yellow sparks leaped off its surface. Sonya marveled at how it literally felt heavy despite not touching her metaphorical skin. Woah. Chapter 119 Chapter 119 Sonya marveled at the disk floating in her hand, it was beautiful, but also a little scary. That golden glow looked a little familiar too. She¡¯d seen it once before, though not in this state. Like it was on the cusp of becoming something so very much more. She cradled the sparking and twitching disk for a moment before gently putting it to the side with the others in her warehouse. She looked them over one more time, Gravitic Flight, Adomopathy, Storage Space, Digital Illusions, Nectar and Ambrosia, Unbound Legion, and the beautiful Visage of Titania. All of them promised to be potent improvements to her arsenal and her gut told her she was grossly underestimating them. She let out a breath and opened her eyes for a moment, though, glancing up to Chunhua who was standing back at the passage into the main part of the dungeon. The woman glanced back at her and raised her eyebrow, ¡°How¡¯s it going?¡± She asked. ¡°Just finished making the abilities,¡± Sonya said thoughtfully, taking a quick breather to mentally steel herself for what came next. ¡°Going back in,¡± She said gravely, ¡°Going to take my time with this. If I start to... you know. Just be close. I¡¯ll survive it,¡± She said as she glanced back at Marta who nodded seriously. ¡°Be careful,¡± Marta said. Sonya nodded and smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve got a plan.¡± Sonya closed her eyes and went back into her warehouse before picking the one most likely to help her through the rest of the process, Nectar and Ambrosia. She¡¯d had Hands of the Healer and Grace for a long time and had, admittedly, been unwise in not merging in a healing power sooner. Not that Hands of the Healer was an option anymore. She smirked as the ability became active and the instincts started to bubble to the surface. She pushed them aside, the ability might be changed by the merger so it was best to just wait to suss it out afterwards. Merger. Medium, so it¡¯s unlikely to be improved by the merger. That¡¯s okay, Proceed. First came the faint tingling, she knew it well. She braced herself as the tingling intensified. First in her muscles before seeping into her veins. She jerked as the sensation turned into pain and she let out a shuddering breath, planting her hands on her knees and gritting her teeth. She faintly heard voices around her as the pain grew more and more intense. It felt like her blood was on fire, no, molten. She reached up and clutched at her heart, coughing out a breath as her head toppled forward to the ground. She planted her hand on the soil and felt someone run towards her. She threw up her hand irritably and waved whomever it was away. ¡°I can-¡± She grunted, ¡°I can do this,¡± She gasped, rolling onto her side and kicking out her feet as the molten feeling rushed up to her brain before going back down into her stomach. It felt like the worst acid reflux she¡¯d ever experienced in her entire life. She wanted to puke. Throw it all up. She knew it wouldn¡¯t help, though. No relief came for one of the longest minutes of her life until finally it subsided. She wheezed and gasped, coughing as her body relaxed. ¡°Fuck me sideways!¡± She swore, ¡°God damn that hurts!¡± She stared at the message on her HUD. ¡°Full integration, didn¡¯t alter it at all,¡± She wheezed, satisfied with her prediction while resting her head on the soothing earth for a moment. She let the instincts rise up into her mind this time, feeling out the function of the new ability. Her eyebrows rose and she sat up abruptly, ¡°Seriously?¡± She laughed and winced at her aching muscles, ¡°No way.¡± ¡°Sonya?¡± Marta asked, ¡°Are you-¡± Sonya held up her hands, ¡°Hold on, hold on,¡± She said and held out her palm, she exhaled and small particles of light began to gather over it. They coalesced into a small sphere that popped like a bubble, a tiny ¡®bloop¡¯ sound accompanying it. Out of the bubble, a humble strawberry appeared. She turned it over in her hands, it looked perfect in every way. Bright red, brilliant green stem, perfectly spaced seeds. She glanced up at Marta and grinned at her, ¡°Bottoms up!¡± She snickered and popped it into her mouth. She let out a squeal of delight as it exploded with flavor. More importantly, the pain immediately began to subside. She groaned, ¡°Oh that¡¯s the stuff.¡± Chunhua couldn¡¯t help herself and walked over to join them. ¡°What kind of power is that?¡± Sonya glanced up at the woman, ¡°Mm? Hey Chunhua, want me to shave off a few years for ya? Piece of cake,¡± She cackled out a laugh and a literal piece of chocolate cake appeared in her hand. Chunhua frowned at her, ¡°Excuse me?¡± She blurted, looking at the cake with surprise. ¡°Nectar and Ambrosia,¡± Sonya said, ¡°Food that heals, cures, or even grants youth and vitality if I want,¡± She said and with a gesture the cake vanished from her hand. She pursed her lips, ¡°Downside is I have to, you know, eat it.¡± The two women looked at one another before Marta let out a huge sigh, ¡°Of course your healing ability would have a drawback like that¡± She said before raising an eyebrow, ¡°How are you supposed to use it with your helmet on?¡± Sonya pursed her lips and gave her a smug smile. Marta returned her stare with a growing frown as Sonya worked her mouth a little before sticking her tongue out, a little blueberry sitting on it. She winked and pulled her tongue back in before starting to chew. ¡°Easy peasy,¡± she began before letting out another delighted sound, ¡°Man that tastes good. Want some?¡± She asked, holding up a bag of chips, waggling her eyebrows, ¡°Ambrosia, zero calories, all the flavor!¡± Marta gave her a deadpan look, ¡°You are going to abuse that,¡± She grumbled while Chunhua walked over and slipped her hand into the bag. ¡°Chunhua!¡± She blurted as the hero popped an original flavored chip into her mouth. Her eyes widened, ¡°Oh wow, that is good!¡± She gasped. Marta rubbed the bridge of her nose, ¡°You¡¯re encouraging this?¡± She grumbled only to freeze at the sound of a soda can opening. She pulled her hand from her face and looked down at Sonya again who was bringing the can to her lips. Sonya blinked innocently at her, ¡°What? Ambrosia and Nectar.¡± Marta sighed, ¡°Can you move on to the next one¡¯s please?¡± She asked and gave Chunhua who was now holding a full bag of chips in her hand and chewing slowly a glare. Chunhua shrugged and walked back to the spot where she¡¯d been standing guard and continued munching away while Sonya just shrugged. Marta always got so testy about her snacking. These snacks were actually good for her! She paused, Well no, not really, zero calories literally means zero calories, besides healing me they won¡¯t actually feed me. I should be careful not to get caught up in that. She warned herself before sipping at the can again and sighing, Tasty as hell though. She closed her eyes and got back to it before Marta had a conniption, she still had six more to go after all. She pulled Digital Illusions out of her warehouse and primed the merger. Let''s get the unchanged ones done with next. Could get something nice out of this. Proceed. As the merger started she continued to sip at her drink. It was a weird feeling. She could sense the changes taking place, the sensations going through her body as the circuitry in her head was rearranged, but it didn¡¯t hurt. It was more like a really aggravating itch that she couldn¡¯t scratch. She clicked her tongue at the feeling but otherwise let it pass and exhaled when it finally ended. She opened her eyes for a moment and tilted her head. Interesting, She thought before flexing her fingers. The instincts for it and hard light are kind of bleeding into one another. Just like how hard light and non-euclidian work well together. I wonder... She trailed off as she flexed the new instinctual muscle, putting a little concentration into it. Light gathered in front of her before collapsing. Oh that¡¯s way harder, she thought before trying a simpler task. The light gathered again before condensing into a humble white plastic plate. She reached out and touched it. It really feels like plastic, but it¡¯s just hard light and the illusions playing tricks on my senses. Definitely going to have to practice this. She proceeded to create a pile of cookies on the plate and grinned to herself before closing her eyes again, ignoring the groan from Marta. She moved on to the next one, pulling out Storage Space. Alright old reliable, time to make it official. ¡°Yes you can,¡± Marta smiled at her and led her back over to the spot where she was working. ¡°What¡¯s next?¡± ¡°The ability I was going to give you,¡± Sonya said thoughtfully before glancing over at Chunhua, ¡°This is going to be a big one probably. I might pass out even with the ambrosia.¡± Chunhua who was smiling at her antics went stiff and nodded with a serious look, ¡°Understood, we¡¯ll catch you if it happens.¡± Sonya gave her a grateful smile before sitting back down. She waved her hand and the cookies disappeared, ¡°The drink worked better,¡± She muttered and conjured up another can of nectar soda, cracking it open as she closed her eyes. Okay, let¡¯s do this. Perfect? How is it more compatible than a technological ability? Well it did say it was guaranteed to change. She wondered before shrugging, Proceed, I guess. She thought as she began to sip at the drink, she felt the nectar wash into her and its power spread through her body only for... nothing to happen at first. She just sat there for almost a minute before she felt anything at all. She blinked a few times until a gentle warmth blossomed in her chest, in her heart, before simply subsiding with a wave of relaxing heat. She looked down at herself for a moment. Her clothes were covered in dirt and a few splatters of red. She squinted at her chest before crossing her arms, Well that was anticlimactic. Deus Ex is what? She thought with surprise, Oh shit! She started chugging the soda as her heart felt like it exploded in her chest. When she came to, she was fortunately still sitting up, though her chin felt wet. She reached up and wiped her jaw irritably as once again her guardians were staring at her. She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up wearily at Marta who just sighed with relief. Sonya just groaned and turned her head, spitting out a glob of blood and cleared her throat. ¡°Yup, that sucked,¡± She muttered before checking her HUD. She narrowed her eyes, I don¡¯t like that name, she thought gruffly as the instincts started to roll in. Her shoulders tensed as she chewed her lip. She looked up at Marta and then at Chunhua before clearing her throat. She got shakily to her feet and waved at them to back up a little before holding out her hand and narrowing her eyes. She felt her heart thump, the power rising beneath her skin as the words came unbidden from her lips, ¡°Bring woe to those who slander me, march, agent of the heavens,¡± She said, her voice grave. She snapped out of the momentary trance as Marta and Chunhua gave her a bit more distance. Her hand fell to her side and a narrow band of light spread up in the air to her right as if the air itself was being cut in half. It opened, and something strode out. It looked female, whatever it was, it wore a gown that stretched down to sandaled feet. Its face concealed behind a veil that hung over its nose. Its eyes gleamed with white light and its skin was like marble. In its hand was a sword that curved in at a point and shone as if it were made of silver. Its hair was bound in silver wire that forced it into curls before falling down into marble-white dreadlocks. It stood at attention, staring Chunhua down for a moment before it turned its eyes on Sonya. It had to be at least seven feet tall, like the valkyrie. Yet the aura was far more imposing, stoic, and tyrannical. Sonya felt her mouth go a little dry before she squared her shoulders and returned its stare. ¡°That¡¯s enough, return from where you came,¡± She commanded. It brought its sword up to its chest and inclined its head with reverence, its eyes falling shut before it dissolved into scattering motes of light. When it was finally gone she let out a breath and sat back down, ¡°Holy shit.¡± Marta and Chunhua ran up to her, ¡°What on earth was that thing? I thought it was supposed to be a valkyrie!¡± Marta blurted. ¡°Was that supposed to be that ability I saw on television? You got it from Brent, the CEO of Marion, right?¡± Chunhua asked before glancing at the spot it had stood, ¡°My god.¡± Sonya nodded slowly, ¡°It¡¯s peak mythic now, Heavenly Legion. I hate the name,¡± She said sourly as she drew her knees up to her chest. All she could think about was Otis and his mad grab for divinity. ¡°It fits Ishtar though,¡± Marta said. Sonya¡¯s lip twitched but she couldn¡¯t help but smile a little bit, it was freaking cool. ¡°Yeah, yeah it does,¡± She said, ¡°I¡¯m gonna have to get used to it, though. That one uh... agent,¡± She said, waving her hand at the spot where it¡¯d stood, ¡°Was just the start. The name is Heavenly Legion after all.¡± ¡°Do you want to stop?¡± Chunhua asked, ¡°You¡¯ve done a lot already.¡± Sonya shook her head, ¡°Just one more. I¡¯m not backing down now.¡± Chunhua and Marta exchanged a look before they nodded and stepped away. Sonya summoned up one more can of nectar soda as she closed her eyes and pulled the last ability out of her warehouse. She cleared her throat and cracked the can open, bringing it to her lips as the messages appeared in her HUD. For an ability that seemed to be almost unstable when she¡¯d created it, it was a fairly mundane reaction from Broker. She frowned, My guts telling me I need to go for it, though even while every ounce of logic is warning me otherwise. She crushed the fear with a scowl. I haven¡¯t come this far to back away from something like this. I need power for what¡¯s to come. Bring it on. She took another deep breath and started to chug the nectar. Proceed. There was no itch. There was no pain. There was no confusion. There was no loss of consciousness. There was only a surge as the world around her was blanketed in light. Chapter 120 Chapter 120 Lily threw the bag over her shoulder, tugging a bit on the strap to make sure it was secure. She scratched at her neck and looked around her bunk, making sure she hadn¡¯t missed anything. Over the past four weeks the space had evolved from a place where she crashed after a long day of training into a real home for herself, so to speak. One of the girls had an ability that was able to shape raw materials like wood and concrete. The result was the girl¡¯s side of the residence area turning into a cluster of little open apartments with bits of furniture and places to put personal belongings all over the place. She reached out and tapped the picture of her mom and dad, grinning at it a little, ¡°You are going to lose your minds when you see me,¡± She chuckled nervously and rubbed her neck again. She could feel the faintly glowing tattoo shift a bit across her skin. She hadn¡¯t noticed it at all and thought it was just a bug or something at first. Then she¡¯d come back to the hall after her talk with Black Lotus. When she¡¯d come in, she¡¯d come face to face with Cassiopeia. To her shock the girl didn¡¯t scowl at her at all, just complimented her new tattoo and went straight to bed. The subsequent mad dash to the bathroom and following mild panic attack had winded down into a fitful sleep allowed only by Dr. Carter¡¯s kind report that Snow was doing just fine. She let out a heavy sigh and glanced over her shoulder. ¡°You girls have everything?¡± She called. The others looked up from their bags while a few threw a few more things in. After a few more drop outs over the past week there were now only sixteen of them. Every seven days things just seemed to get harder and harder. Still, the others were really hanging in there. They were at the half-way point, apparently. With the final two weeks dedicated to the push towards licensure and exams. She glanced around at the various confident faces as Jessica popped up from her own frantic packing, she¡¯d slept in. ¡°Good to go, Dorm Captain!¡± She saluted with a grin. Lillian went deadpan, ¡°Dorm what?¡± The other girls snapped their own snickering salutes and she scanned their faces, ¡°You guys are ridiculous,¡± She muttered before looking towards the only person who hadn¡¯t joined in on the merriment. Cass was quietly folding an extra set of clothes and putting them neatly into the small bag she would take with her overnight. ¡°You got everything Cass?¡± Lillian hazarded, drawing a few surprised looks from the others. It was a bit of a risk, the girl didn¡¯t seem to like conversation much and familiarity even less. Cass looked up at her and a complicated expression washed over her face before she seemed to force herself to relax. She scratched at her yellow-blonde hair and cracked a half-grin, ¡°Sure, yeah, almost done uh...¡± She glanced at the others, ¡°...Dorm Captain?¡± She said as if she wasn¡¯t sure about what she was saying. Lillian blanched and turned her head slowly towards the others who stared at her with gleams in their eyes and big grins, Jessica was the one who spoke up first, ¡°It¡¯s unanimous!¡± She laughed before picking up her bag and walking past patting Lillian on the shoulder. ¡°Congratulations on the election, Dorm Captain,¡± She snickered as the others walked past her. Lillian watched them go with confusion, scratching her head. ¡°What does that even mean?¡± She called after the giggling mass. She sighed and rolled her eyes before turning to look back at Cass who was zipping her own bag with a smirk on her face. She seemed to notice Lillian¡¯s stare and went back to her usual stoic frown. Lillian tilted her head, ¡°You know, a smile looks good on you,¡± She said, ¡°Whatever¡¯s going on, you deserve to be happier,¡± She added and started to turn away. ¡°Um!¡± Came the immediate response. Lillian turned back to see Cass standing there with a grimace on her face. She looked down at her feet then up at the ceiling before reaching up and scratching at her head with both hands. She groaned and let out a big sigh before relaxing and letting her shoulders fall a bit, ¡°I uh...¡± She started, ¡°I want to apologize for being kinda-okay-very, mean, to you, and well...¡± She gestured helplessly, ¡°Everybody.¡± Lillian blinked, not sure what to say. Cass cleared her throat, ¡°I had a talk with someone important to me and they told me I need to do better, with everyone, I mean,¡± She rubbed her arms, ¡°Locking everyone else out isn¡¯t going to make me... better,¡± She sniffed, ¡°Just kinda hard, you know,¡± She muttered and rolled her eyes before pulling back her hair, ¡°My abusive sister the number one most wanted villain on earth after Ishtar thing,¡± She rambled, ¡°Kinda puts a bit of a damper on ¡®making friends¡¯,¡± She turned a little red in the cheeks and cleared her throat, continuing to talk as Lillian set her bag down and walked towards her, ¡°Jus-just went through a lot and then there was the whole running away from home thing, and then getting registered which was hard without paperwork and-¡± Lillian pulled her into a hug and gave her a squeeze. Cass¡¯ head dropped and she just went quiet for a minute as a hand pat her on the back of the head. ¡°Apology accepted, take your time,¡± Lillian said and pulled back, looking at the blue eyed girl, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the beach, yeah?¡± Cass stared back at her in confusion for a moment, her lips trembled, then she broke into a wobbly smile, ¡°Sure!¡± The two made their way out as someone¡¯s phone or something flashed pink in the corner of the room. Lillian glanced over at Cass who managed to set her stoic flat expression back on her face as they walked out into the hallway. She¡¯s been through a lot, and that took a lot of courage to get out. Still probably gonna take a while before she opens up to everyone completely, but, good for her. She glanced down the hall towards the instructors residences, I wonder if you did something again, you scheming bleeding heart. She thought with a smile before they made their way out towards the common area and the doors beyond. ¡°Where¡¯s that Snow girl, by the way?¡± Cass asked as they reached the doors. Lillian sighed, ¡°Resting in the lab,¡± She said, ¡°I dunno if she¡¯s going to be coming with us. I hope so, though.¡± The petite Sonya was dressed in a long baggy t-shirt that said ¡®Party Time¡¯ in elaborate pink calligraphy and a white linen sarong that hung down to her ankles along with a pair of white beach sandals to show off her glittering pink toenails. She wore a baseball cap on her head with the ASTA logo that she tipped in Lillian¡¯s direction. ¡°Hi!¡± She chuckled before elbowing the woman on her right, ¡°Get a look at this girl, like she¡¯s seen a ghost or something.¡± Marta glanced at Sonya, her hand on her hip. She was wearing a black sarong and black tank-top bikini with small white frills that made it look a bit maid-themed. She brushed her brown hair back, ¡°Think she was expecting someone else, don¡¯t you, ma¡¯am?¡± Sonya tapped her chin thoughtfully, ¡°Hmm! I think you¡¯re right, who on earth could it be, though?¡± She said thoughtfully, turning her head to the woman on her left. ¡°Carla, any thoughts?¡± The Pandora Committee administrator adjusted her thick glasses as she brushed out her white floral sundress. In the sunlight, the gemstone on her platinum choker gleamed even brighter. She made an equally thoughtful face. ¡°I daresay I can¡¯t think of anyone, how troubling! Forgive me, Miss Chernovna,¡± She said and turned slightly to offer a slight bow to the CEO who huffed out a dramatic sigh. ¡°Oh, what a state of affairs!¡± She said and rest the back of her palm on her forehead, ¡°Would it not be that a hero could swoop in and bring us enlightenment!¡± Lillian¡¯s face had gone completely deadpan at this point as her orange gaze turned over to the fourth person in the group. Standing off next to Marta with her muscular arms crossed over a sporty bikini that showed off her abs, Black Lotus shook her head of black hair, ¡°Hmm... Quite the conundrum indeed,¡± She said heavily before her head shot up and she turned to Sonya, resting her hands on her denim-clad hips, ¡°You know, I think she might have expected young Snow!¡± Black Lotus offered. ¡°The two seem quite close and I have noticed some eyes exchanged here and there.¡± Lillian went bright red at her teacher¡¯s teasing. ¡°U-um.¡± Sonya¡¯s pink eyes went wide and she slapped her fist into her palm, ¡°Oh! You¡¯re right!¡± She grinned in Lillian¡¯s direction, ¡°Is miss Snow who you were hoping surprised you a moment ago?¡± She asked with a snicker, waggling her eyebrows. They¡¯re messing with me, Lillian sighed and scratched her head, ¡°Yeah, I was hoping to see her. How¡¯s she doing?¡± That seemed to be exactly what Sonya and Marta specifically wanted to hear, the two broke into frankly wicked looking grins that looked more like crescent moons than natural facial expressions. They glanced at one another and their eyes twinkled. Sonya was the first to speak, she dramatically brought her hand to her heart, ¡°Well, of course, after two of my people unintentionally got her involved in their little project, I had to take responsibility,¡± She said, ¡°And with such a dramatic thing happening, we needed to help miss Snow make a few adjustments, wouldn¡¯t you agree, Marta?¡± Marta stuck her nose up in the air, ¡°Some of my best stylist work yet.¡± Lillian¡¯s heart skipped a beat, ¡°Wait- is she?¡± Sonya tittered out a laugh, ¡°Allow your local fairy queen to grant your wish, dear aspirant,¡± She said and at the same time as Marta, stepped to the side and swept her hands out, the two making a big show of the reveal. Lillian barely noticed them waving their hands dramatically. She didn¡¯t see anything else. She just saw a pair of pearlescent eyes glimmering a rainbow of colors at her from just a few feet behind the quartet of women. Her hair was white as snow on top and shaped into a cute little pixie cut. The trimmed sides and back were black. Even so, when the light shifted just slightly Lillian could see the static-like glimmer in her hair. A button nose was a little red over a pair of lips painted with just a bit of black lipstick to give them a gray tone that set them off perfectly against pale skin. She wore a mostly black choker blouse, no sleeves, white flowers running down the front before stopping at a pair of fitted blue jeans and a pair of shiny black shoes. ¡°Wow,¡± Lillian breathed. Snow shifted on her feet, reaching up to play a bit with her hair, she swallowed and looked up at Lillian for a moment before opening her mouth. Lillian froze as a faint static filled the air, then a small soft voice entered her ears. ¡°Hi, Lily.¡± Chapter 121 Chapter 121 Sonya smiled at the young couple as Lillian broke into a brief dash before scooping Snow up into her arms. She thumbed her nose and walked past, chuckling to herself and patting Chunhua on the arm, ¡°Thanks for playing along,¡± She said as she winked at Alex and Greg who were both staring at the pair, dumbstruck. Chunhua shrugged a little while Marta and Carla caught up. ¡°It was fun,¡± She said with a grin, ¡°Getting involved in your antics for once.¡± Carla sidled up with Sonya and Sonya opened her arm for her lover to slide it in. The two walked together while Marta, smiling to herself, took her position at the rear, hands over her lap as always. Carla glanced back over her shoulder at the pair who were talking to one another with bright eyes and bits of beautiful laughter while Alex and Greg scrambled to join them, ¡°Were those her first words?¡± She asked. ¡°Since becoming mute?¡± Sonya asked, ¡°Yes. She didn¡¯t say a word besides offering commentary with her text illusions while we were getting her set up,¡± Sonya said with a small smirk, ¡°Saving them for her, how cute.¡± ¡°The clothes?¡± Carla asked, ¡°You didn¡¯t go out shopping in the middle of the night, did you?¡± Sonya pointed to herself, feigning offense before snorting and shaking her head, ¡°Oh no, they¡¯re mine actually. Marta is stellar with a needle and had them fitted in no time flat. Did her hair too.¡± Chunhua glanced back at Marta appraisingly, ¡°Impressive.¡± Marta raised her head with a bit of pride and smirked at Chunhua, ¡°Only to be expected of Miss Chernovna¡¯s personal caretaker and bodyguard. I couldn¡¯t call myself such if I wasn¡¯t capable of this,¡± She said smugly only to get a snort from Chunhua. She narrowed her eyes as the woman turned away and laughed, ¡°What? What¡¯s so funny?¡± Chunhua kept laughing, ¡°Would you happen to consider yourself ¡®one hell of a maid¡¯?¡± She asked, putting a little emphasis on the phrase. Sonya raised her eyebrows while Carla looked confused. The two looked back at Marta who blinked a few times, opened her mouth, closed it, blinked a few more times and then went starry eyed. She hustled over to Chunhua with a delighted smile, ¡°How many episodes?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve read it,¡± Chunhua said with a small laugh, ¡°When I was in high school.¡± Marta nearly squealed with delight, drawing a few looks but she couldn¡¯t care less. The two immediately broke into conversation while Sonya ushered a confused Carla away. ¡°There¡¯s two of them now,¡± Sonya said and rolled her eyes, ¡°Oh boy,¡± She said with a shake of her head. Carla pursed her lips, ¡°Marta¡¯s little addiction?¡± Sonya nodded gravely, ¡°The same.¡± Carla nodded and squeezed Sonya¡¯s arm, going quiet for a moment before glancing at her, ¡°We¡¯re really going back to that beach?¡± She asked with a small smile, pressing up a bit closer. Sonya raised an eyebrow, ¡°Why not?¡± She let out a gasp, ¡°Miss Mint! Are you thinking of something unprofessional?¡± She said, scandalized, ¡°Now that is quite unbecoming for someone of your position!¡± Carla did her best to repress a smirk, ¡°Miss Chernovna, we are not on business, we can let our hair down a little while enjoying the beach,¡± She said with a refined tilt to her voice, looking up and closing her eyes. Sonya glanced at her collar, ¡°I¡¯ll let your hair down in a-¡± A throat cleared behind the two of them and they looked back to see Chunhua and Marta both scowling at them with their eyebrows raised. Sonya shut her mouth and looked away. Buzz kills. No fun! She grumbled inwardly before huffing and throwing her hair back, marching towards the crowd, ¡°Miss Mint! Let us away from these killjoys!¡± She announced, dragging a red-faced Carla along with her. Several of the aspirants and a few instructors glanced their way. Sonya brightened and waved, ¡°Hello!¡± She called, ¡°Excited?¡± There was a chorus of agreement that greeted her as she came to a stop. Axel stepped forward from the pack of boys and extended a hand, ¡°Miss Chernovna! It¡¯s been a while!¡± She pat Carla¡¯s arm and pulled herself free, extending a hand and shaking his. ¡°We¡¯ve both been very busy! I hear you¡¯re doing a fabulous job in the field combat courses.¡± Analyze. He smirked at her from behind his sunglasses, he was at least a foot and a half taller than her so she had to peer up a bit. He squeezed her hand back and nodded, ¡°You¡¯re not half bad either, took Black Lotus to task in that spar.¡± She released his hand. He can¡¯t resist, can he? That¡¯s brand loyalty for you. She let out a sigh and shrugged her shoulders, ¡°She was obviously holding back quite a bit, but it was still a good match.¡± ¡°Would you mind doing me the honor of going a few rounds?¡± He said with a toothy grin. She looked him in the eyes, ¡°After the beach I¡¯ll show you what it really means to be a knife fighter, Axel.¡± Like them. He thought. He cast his gaze over the rest of the expansive beach. Young men and women were out at play. A volleyball net had been set up, people were diving and splashing. Laughter everywhere. He crossed his arms and let out a breath. Perhaps relaxation is healthy. ¡°Not a big swimmer?¡± A voice popped up behind him. He blinked and rotated his body, who on earth had snuck up on him? He paused when he saw Miss Chernovna approach, sipping at what clearly was a fast food drink cup. Where had she gotten it? Did she just keep them at her beach house? She shifted those mechanical eyes and looked at him with a raised eyebrow, ¡°You¡¯re overanalyzing again,¡± She said, ¡°Bad for conversation.¡± He cleared his throat, ¡°Apologies. Ma¡¯am.¡± She stood next to him beneath the tree, she was an inch shorter than himself but she cast a wide shadow wherever she went. It was eerie. ¡°I didn¡¯t get to tell you,¡± She began, ¡°I spoke with Bluestar about what we had talked about.¡± He turned her way, ¡°Good news?¡± ¡°She¡¯s willing to give you a shot,¡± She said with a shrug, ¡°It¡¯s up to you if you impress her. I only fund the ASTA Guild, I don¡¯t make decisions for her, especially when it comes to giving heroes dual responsibilities.¡± He nodded, ¡°I see,¡± He said flatly, ¡°Surpass expectations, then.¡± He fell silent for a moment, watching the others have fun as the CEO slurped her drink next to him. She gave him another sidelong glance, ¡°John?¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am?¡± He mumbled, his eyes still fixed on the surf. ¡°Don¡¯t make me order you to go have fun,¡± She said and turned away, walking across the beach and waved back at him, ¡°I might start rethinking things! I like a lively office!¡± He felt his lips twitch, an expression forming. A small microscopic downward tilt as his stomach twisted. He swallowed hard and looked back at the retreating figure that stopped to greet the mythic boy who made him uneasy. He let his arms fall to his sides and after glancing around a bit, let out a heavy sigh. ¡°...I suppose it wouldn¡¯t hurt,¡± He mumbled, and stepped out of the blessed shade. She¡¯s scary. ¨C ¡°Miss Chernovna! You look wonderful today, is that a new swimsuit?¡± Otis asked, grinning ear to ear as he approached her. She glanced at him and with every ounce of strength and self control she had she returned his smile. He extended a hand to her and she took it, her abilities providing her with enough physiological control not to shudder in revulsion as his hand touched hers. Try again? Analyze. Her lip twitched, ¡°Why yes it is!¡± She said brightly, ¡°Thank you for noticing Marc.¡± ¡°Certainly, I try to stay abreast of such things,¡± He said with a small grin before releasing her hand and looking out over the beach, ¡°This is very nice.¡± ¡°Yes it is,¡± She said, keeping up the act and looking out over the water. ¡°I¡¯ve heard you¡¯ve been doing better with socializing.¡± He frowned a little, ¡°It is... difficult, but I am managing,¡± He said with a small nod, ¡°I don¡¯t want to let you down, Miss Chernovna. You said that was what I was lacking in order to be considered, so that is what I will improve on.¡± Sonya sipped at her drink, resisting the urge to refill it next to him. She glanced his way and took a small gamble, ¡°What¡¯s got you so fixated on joining team ASTA anyway? You could join the International Team with your ability alone.¡± He tilted his head and crossed his arms, ¡°That¡¯s the ultimate goal, yes,¡± He said, ¡°But something tells me that I need to work my way up with ASTA first,¡± He admitted, ¡°A true hero has to start somewhere, right? Work their way up and rise to the occasion when it matters. Make their legend from scratch. I like stories like that.¡± ¡°You like stories, do you?¡± She asked, committing his words to memory. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m rather fond of Greek myths. Like Odysseus,¡± He chuckled, ¡°Are you familiar?¡± Something about the way he said it sent a chill up her spine, ¡°I am,¡± She said, ¡°Lost at sea after Troy, had many adventures along the way home. Do you see yourself as Odysseus?¡± He smirked, ¡°Something like that, I have my own story to tell, though, a goal.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± She asked. He turned his head and looked up at her with those cold blue eyes, ¡°I¡¯m going to bring Ishtar down and become the world''s greatest hero, ma¡¯am.¡± He paused and looked back out to the sea with that cold smile she remembered from his dying day, ¡°Then, who knows? Might start my own team, Seven guys should do, I like that number.¡± Chapter 122 Chapter 122 Greg crept forward, slowly moving across the carefully trimmed grass. His fingers brushed against the surface, his powers set to as low as possible. Just enough to reduce the sound of impacts from footsteps and ease the pressure on the grass itself. It was great practice, really, he should honestly do it more often. Just maybe not in this particular context. His gut twisted nervously again and he glanced back at the others, ¡°This is a really, really bad idea, did I mention that earlier? I feel like I haven¡¯t said that yet,¡± He whispered urgently. Behind him, in a line, were Alex, John, Lily, Snow, Cass, Val, and Ollie. The whole crew plus the new addition that Lily had insisted on bringing along with them. Apparently Cass was cool now, she was pretty and laughed nice but Greg really wasn¡¯t sure about it. Alex was practically vibrating with excitement, John was as deadpan as ever despite the mild sweat on his brow, Lily looked apprehensive and curious, Snow as just as eager as Alex. Cass and Val were keeping an eye out rather than showing any emotion about their current course of action while Ollie stared at their destination with bated breath. ¡°Dude, don¡¯t chicken out now,¡± Alex grunted, ¡°We¡¯re so close!¡± Greg smiled widely at him, his eyes wide with barely restrained stress, ¡°Then you lead the way, into Sonya Chernovna¡¯s beach house. The Sonya Chernovna, who sells guns and military hardware.¡± ¡°I doubt she has weaponized security, for the beach house,¡± Ollie pointed out, keeping his voice low with everyone else, ¡°Definitely has some kind of advanced security, though.¡± Greg pointed to Ollie, ¡°See? Smart guy! Listen to him!¡± The moment after he said that, two forms darted past him. He barely had a moment to react before whirling around to see short black hair and long blonde hair darting towards the small hedge that lined the outer island-side patio of the beach house. A moment later the two figures leaped into the air, almost in unison. They flipped, bending backwards in mid leap before pivoting into a perfect landing on the other side. Lily glanced over at Cass and shot her a thumbs up, the blond girl rolling her ams and smirking at the others with a raised eyebrow. Greg chewed his lip. ¡°I¡¯d let her bend me like that,¡± A small voice echoed in his head. He and the others left behind all turned towards Snow who stared back at them blankly, ¡°What?¡± She asked, ¡°I would.¡± ¡°T M I, Snowcone,¡± Alex grunted and entered a track-runners posture. Greg groaned, ¡°I guess we¡¯re doing this,¡± He muttered as a hand clapped onto his shoulder. He looked back to see John inches from his face, his deadpan expression broken only by a nearly curved smile. For John, the look was practically psychotic. He darted past Greg who hurriedly slapped his hand to the ground and reversed gravity even more, the others in hot pursuit. John sailed over the hedge, Snow launched herself before letting herself float until Lily caught her, Ollie, to Greg¡¯s surprise, threw himself into a front handspring and used the gravity to hurl himself past the defensive plants. Val just hopped over, no effort. The next thing Greg knew, he was standing on the other side as well, rubbing his head and looking around, ¡°I can¡¯t believe we¡¯re doing this,¡± He murmured, still trying to keep his voice low. ¡°I can¡¯t believe we didn¡¯t do it sooner!¡± Alex laughed and Greg held up his hands desperately to try to get his friend to quiet down. It was no use, ¡°Ho-lee-shit! This is it! Sonya Chernovna¡¯s beach house, where she has all those wild parties. Supermodels, heroes, the rich and powerful,¡± He said with a too-wide grin. ¡°Can you imagine all the cool stuff that¡¯s probably here? We gotta check it out, right?¡± ¡°Hey, she didn¡¯t say we couldn¡¯t go,¡± Lily said, shrugging, ¡°Besides, if there''s an obstacle, I hop over it. It¡¯s kind of my thing.¡± ¡°Hell yeah! Parkour girl gets it!¡± Alex barked, clenching his fists. ¡°Parkour girl?¡± Lily asked, squinting at him. ¡°I wanted to see it too,¡± Cass said, looking up at the building. ¡°How she lives in her downtime.¡± ¡°You know... most of us are going to sign with ASTA right? Won¡¯t we get in trouble?¡± Greg tried one last futile time to speak up for reason. Val scratched his head and walked past him, ¡°Just don¡¯t touch anything or do anything stupid and you got nothin¡¯ to worry about, it¡¯s Alex we should all be concerned about.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Alex blanched. Ollie nodded, walking with Val, Cass and Snow close behind. Snow stuck her tongue out at Greg as Ollie glanced back, ¡°This is a chance of a lifetime, I am to take it, personally. It could give me some insights about my future sponsor. The only person who would actually cause any real trouble is Alex.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Alex growled. Lily sighed and nodded before patting Greg on the shoulder, ¡°See, nothing to worry about. Just keep an eye on Alex and everything will be okay,¡± She said and made her way towards the door leading into the building with the others. Greg let out a sigh, there was no way he was talking them out of it, might as well just roll with it. He rubbed his neck and glanced up at Alex who made eye contact with him. ¡°I heard an anime theme song,¡± Ollie murmured, ¡°I hope I didn¡¯t interrupt someone¡¯s playlist.¡± ¡°I heard a football game,¡± Alex added. They all looked at one another then up at the flat panels that were still shifting to point in their direction, ¡°I think we should move on,¡± Greg murmured, ¡°Or better yet, leave.¡± ¡°That¡¯s going to be difficult,¡± Cass said flatly. He turned and fixed her with a stare only for her to gesture over her shoulder at the pristine scene of the outside behind her. An uninterrupted view. Not even a door handle to break the illusion. He stared at the wall where the door should be, trying to figure out where the door could possibly start or end. ¡°I think we¡¯re out of luck as far as going out the way we came is concerned.¡± ¡°Why the hell would she make the door handle vanish?¡± Greg complained. ¡°Aesthetics?¡± Lily said, shrugging off to the side while she and Snow patted the sides of one of the couches experimentally. They looked at one another and nodded before hopping onto the couch, Lily stretching out and Snow relaxing on top of her. ¡°It feels like a water bed, but less wobbly,¡± She sighed, ¡°Oh that¡¯s nice.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a hall over here!¡± Alex called, ¡°Splits off!¡± ¡°Stairs, a sub level,¡± John murmured on the other side of the room. Alex looked up at Greg and grinned. Greg closed his eyes tightly and sighed, ¡°You have got to be...¡± He frowned, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s have a look around since we¡¯re here already. Just be careful! Everyone pair off! I¡¯ll go with Alex, keep you out of trouble.¡± Greg grunted. Alex shrugged, ¡°Right, right, fine. Whatever. I¡¯m taking the left hall.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll hold down the fort!¡± Lily called, waving at them from her comfortable spot. Snow looked like she was already dozing off. ¡°With Val,¡± John muttered, walking over to stand next to his friend. ¡°Works for me, we¡¯ll take the right hall,¡± Val said, punching the air a few times, ¡°She¡¯s gotta have a game room around here somewhere.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go with Cass downstairs then,¡± Ollie added, glancing over at the girl who gave him a sideways look. She shrugged and nodded, ¡°Sounds reasonable, you have a good eye,¡± She said primly and made towards the stairs John had pointed out. The three groups went their separate ways, each proceeding into a portion of the mysterious place that they had thought was nothing more than a simple beach house. Greg couldn¡¯t help but feel a little uneasy about the whole thing. No alarms had gone off as far as he knew, and there was no visible way out until they at least found the front door. Yet that uneasiness began to give way to something else, hungry curiosity. Just the living room alone was enough to clue him in on what Sonya Chernovna was really using it for, a testing ground, and he was very interested in what other marvels she was playing with. Despite his misgivings, he followed Alex into the hall leading out of the living room and back into the darkness. ¡ª Sonya huffed out a small laugh as she lounged on the beach, reclining on a long chair and sipping at a smoothie. An actual smoothie this time. Her big sunglasses reflected the sun beating down on her stark-white skin. Her frilly pink bikini shimmered a little as she shifted, glancing over to the woman laying on the beach chair next to her, ¡°Have some intruders in the beach house,¡± She snickered as a message came through in her HUD. She opened it and smiled at the selfie of Marta and Barry¡¯s smiling faces on a boat with the water behind them. They¡¯re so cute. Carla glanced her way, tilting her own sunglasses down a bit. While Sonya had gone for revealing, Carla had gone for a bit more modesty. The one piece she wore was a bit transparent down the middle, giving a slight low-cut look but it was also accompanied by a sheer skirt that went down to just above her knees. ¡°Will that be a problem?¡± She asked. Sonya snorted, ¡°Heaven¡¯s no,¡± She said, waving a hand. She didn¡¯t keep anything of real importance there, nothing related to Ishtar anyway. ¡°I¡¯m just surprised that Cass and Lily decided to participate in some home invasion.¡± ¡°They¡¯re basically college students,¡± Carla pointed out, ¡°Of course they¡¯re going to get into trouble,¡± She shook her head, ¡°That place is Amos¡¯ current playground, right? Testing stuff out to put in your new house?¡± She asked. ¡°Yep,¡± Sonya said, reclining back on her chair, a smug smile playing on her lips, ¡°This should be interesting.¡± Side-Story: House of Wonders I Side-Story: House of Wonders I Greg hurried after Alex as he disappeared into the hallway. It was disorienting. The walls in the hallway were set up to meld with the walls of the living room, giving it the illusion that the hallway didn¡¯t even exist unless one was standing right next to it and saw where the opening was. Ahead of him he could see where the illusion finally broke, the hallway splitting into two dark paths that went left and right. He stopped just as he started to turn left and glanced back over his shoulder at John and Val who were taking their time at the entrance to their own path. ¡°You guys be careful,¡± He said. Val grinned at him and shrugged, ¡°Nothin¡¯ I can¡¯t handle.¡± He frowned but shrugged, ¡°Alright, suit yourself, John, watch him?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± John said flatly before turning to walk with Val who gave the deadpan young man a petulant look. Greg shook his head and scratched his neck, looking back down his own hallway and spotting Alex standing a few feet in, waiting for him. He let out a sigh and sauntered after him, looking around. Unlike the walls of the living room and the illusory hallway, this space was remarkably normal. Wallpaper and wooden molding near the floor. He squinted up at the lightbulbs that remained dark over his head, ¡°See a light switch?¡± He asked. Alex shook his head, ¡°Nope,¡± He grunted and scratched his chest, frowning a little as he looked down the dark path, ¡°Hey, Greg?¡± ¡°Mm?¡± Greg hummed, walking up next to him and squinting down the path himself. He held up his hand and it glowed a little, providing some small amount of light. Down the path he could see a single door before the path curved to the left. He glanced over at his friend who looked thoughtful, a bit of a frown playing on his face, ¡°You good Alex?¡± ¡°Am I really that much trouble?¡± Alex muttered. Greg raised an eyebrow, blinking at him a few times before his shoulders fell. ¡°The ribbing get to ya, man?¡± He asked. ¡°A little,¡± Alex grunted uncomfortably, ¡°One at a time it¡¯s funny but-¡± He trailed off and leaned against the wall, ¡°-everybody?¡± Greg glanced back down the other dark hall, Val and John had already disappeared. He crossed his arms and looked back at Alex, ¡°I think taking a breath before you leap would be a good idea,¡± He said honestly, ¡°Not that the others are much better. You¡¯re just louder,¡± He laughed and reached over to pat his friend on the shoulder, ¡°Look at Lily, she jumped first to get into this place. You got nothin¡¯ to worry about. I¡¯d trust you with my life any day,¡± He said and started walking, ¡°Now are we gonna check this place out or not? We¡¯ve already broken in, might as well, right?¡± It took a few seconds for Alex to catch up to him, but the blonde was grinning ear to ear, ¡°So what¡¯s first? Check this room out?¡± He asked, nodding to the single door in this part of the path. The both of them stopped and Greg shrugged, reaching for the handle and turning it. It opened easily and he pushed it open, peering inside. He froze and frowned, ¡°Uh...¡± Alex swallowed next to him, ¡°...creepy.¡± The long room was one big mirror, every wall reflective in a way that made it seem endless. The ceiling had a slight domed quality to it with angled mirrors and what looked like strips of LEDs running between them. There were several stools set up throughout the room, a few chairs, and finally the most unsettling part of the whole space. What looked like one of those combat dolls that Forge produced. It stood stiffly at the far end of the room from the door, its faceless gaze looking out towards the opposite end. They glanced at one another, frowned, then immediately raised their fists. Two drops and Greg threw out scissors while Alex threw out paper. Alex groaned, ¡°Oh man...¡± He muttered and slowly walked into the space. Something must have detected him because the strips between the mirrors in the ceiling lit up, brightening the area in a cheery white light with the occasional pink thrown in to add a faint amount of color. Greg watched Alex continue to walk inside before following him, both of them keeping their eyes on the doll. For a moment nothing happened, then the doll stepped forward and they both tensed. It stopped in front of them and a monotone voice crackled out from somewhere in its chest, ¡°Occasion?¡± It asked. They moved down to the next two doors. The first was blank while the third had a similar sign to the first but was written in pink lettering with little splashes of glitter and smiles. It said ¡®Sonya¡¯. ¡°Miss Chernovna¡¯s room,¡± He murmured and reached out to touch the door. At least put my hand on it, right? He immediately regretted the impulse, something he couldn¡¯t see reacted and he felt a charge run up his arm. He gasped, pulling his hand away and cradling it a little. He looked down at his fingertips, ¡°Ouch, ouch ouch,¡± He gasped, ¡°What the hell?¡± Alex hurried over and they both looked at his fingers, light burns graced his fingertips, ¡°Is that a freaking force field?¡± Alex asked, scaling up his hand and reaching out to touch the door himself. Is hand was pushed back and he glanced down at his hand. It wasn¡¯t burned but a little smoke rose up off of his scaled fingers. ¡°Damn, that¡¯s crazy.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the middle room,¡± Greg murmured and the two moved away from the personal room, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to go in anyway,¡± He admitted, ¡°Just wanted to say I touched the door.¡± Alex snorted, ¡°Getting into it at least.¡± Greg rolled his eyes and pushed the middle door open, no sparks or charges or danger came as they poked their heads inside. It was just a bedroom, luxurious with a bit of a beach theme to it. Some ocean decor and a wide comfortable bed. The only unusual thing was a small flat tablet on the wall next to the door. The two boys looked at one another before Alex tapped the screen. It lit up and showed all sorts of details about the room. ¡°Temperature, humidity,¡± Greg murmured. ¡°Bed controls, sound level, what the hell?¡± Alex murmured and touched the sound level selection, a bar appeared with the marker set in the middle. They looked at one another again and Alex pulled the bar all the way down to zero. Immediately there was a faint hiss in the walls followed by utter and complete silence. Not just silence with the background noise that came with ambient sound, but real silence. Greg could hear his own heartbeat, every breath, every shift of his feet, every- ¡°Oh fuck no, turn it back,¡± He gasped, the sound of his own voice grating a little on his ears, ¡°Hurry!¡± Alex didn¡¯t have to be told twice, he turned it back to the middle setting and after another hiss the sound level in the room normalized. ¡°Everything in this place is freaky as hell,¡± Alex muttered, shaking his head and immediately making for the door. The two stepped out into the hallway one more time before looking to the only remaining door. ¡°What do you think?¡± Greg asked. ¡°Bathroom I bet,¡± Alex said. ¡°Probably,¡± Greg agreed and the two made their way over, wondering what kind of marvels hid in the bathroom. Some sort of super high-tech shower? Maybe a full-room drying system? He wasn¡¯t even sure anymore. He reached for the doorknob and thankfully nothing shocked him. That was when he saw something glow beneath his fingers. He pulled his hand away and saw a faint glowing copy of his handprint. The next thing he heard was an angry buzz and something rushed up from his feet and through his body. His muscles locked, his entire body going rigid. Next to him, Alex tensed as well. It didn¡¯t hurt, but it wasn¡¯t pleasant either. He tried to move, tried to shift his body, tried to do anything but move his jaw.. Nothing. He closed his eyes and hoped that the effect would just pass when a small light shone down on them from above, a sphere floated in the air and a tittering and very familiar laugh came out of it. ¡°Have fun, boys?¡± Sonya¡¯s voice called down to them. ¡°Uhh... Alex?¡± Greg sighed, grateful that his jaw at least still worked. ¡°Yeah Greg?¡± Alex asked from his own frozen position. ¡°I think we¡¯re in trouble.¡± Side-Story: House of Wonders II Side-Story: House of Wonders II Val shoved his hands into his pockets as they walked in the dark, leaving the brightly lit pseudo hallway behind them. He glanced over his shoulder only once to see Greg and Alex making their way towards the first door they saw. Val reached down and scratched at his elbow, sniffing a little and glancing over at John. Among their little circle of friends, he was closest to John. The guy¡¯s stoic silence was something he was used to so he didn¡¯t mind the flat expression on his face even as he returned Val¡¯s glance. Val looked past him at the walls before glancing at the wall closest to him, he reached out and ran his fingers along it, ¡°Everything¡¯s mismatched in this place,¡± He muttered, ¡°Fuckin¡¯ weird.¡± ¡°Testing new ideas,¡± John muttered as they neared the first door on their left which turned out to be a pair of double doors. There was another ahead of them before the hallway turned sharply to the right, wrapping around the building. Val glanced at him, ¡°She¡¯s using her own summer house for prototyping?¡± He asked, then pursed his lips before raising his eyebrows, ¡°Yeah, sounds like her. Bet all this stuff is made by Dr. Carter. He hooked me and Snow up after all,¡± He said, flexing his arms. They couldn¡¯t be seen with the hoodie he was wearing for their little ¡®incursion¡¯ but the underplates for his gear were still affixed to his skin to conceal and protect the physiological parts of his ability. They were light and small enough that they could be worn under clothing. He turned to the doors and tilted his head, ¡°Way out you think?¡± ¡°No, kitchen probably,¡± John muttered, he gestured to the hall they¡¯d come from, ¡°Large opening for easy traffic, close to the entry to the common area.¡± Val shrugged, He¡¯s talkative today. He thought and pushed the doors open. They swung out easily and revealed exactly what John had predicted. A spacious and well lit kitchen. He tilted his head and listened for the sound of artificial lighting as he stepped inside, scanning the windows that looked out towards the garden that wrapped around the rear exterior of the building. He could see the path leading out towards the thick trees beyond. Val walked over to the glass and ran his fingers across it before tapping his nails against it. It made a dull sound almost like plastic. ¡°Something unusual?¡± John grunted, walking past him to examine the counters for a moment before beelining in another direction. ¡°It¡¯s some kinda reinforced glass,¡± Val said thoughtfully, ¡°I dunno, it''s weird.¡± ¡°Everything here is,¡± John mumbled and Val turned to see him holding a kitchen knife. It was an off-white color and had the ASTA logo on the handle, ¡°Monster bone.¡± Val grinned and hurried over, sliding up to it and slapping his hands down on the counter, ¡°Oh man, Luke¡¯s gonna love this!¡± He laughed and leaned over the counter. He was about to reach out when John grabbed him and pulled him back. Val opened his mouth to protest when he noticed a floating sphere drift down from the ceiling of the bar, it rotated and flashed a faint red light as John pulled Val back around the corner and to the stairs. ¡°Holy shit,¡± Val whispered, ¡°Security?¡± ¡°Likely,¡± John murmured, ¡°We should move on.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Val agreed. They both hurried up the steps and out into the hallway, shutting the door behind them. They glanced to their left, down the hall where two more rooms remained. Val smirked, one run in with security wasn¡¯t enough to chase him away. Not when he hadn¡¯t seen the real prize. He hustled down the hall towards the next room, John close behind, and pushed the door open. He took one look at the interior and threw his fists up, only a look from John silencing the whoop that nearly escaped his lips. The walls were just like those in the living room, except these had a pink flame in them, steadily flickering and glowing around the perimeter of the space giving a bit of an eerie ambiance. To the left side of the room was a long heavy-looking table that¡¯s entire surface was slowly pulsing with a very faint pink glow, like it was on standby or something. Surrounding the table had to be at least ten bookcases filled with books, boardgames, and other things. One full bookshelf was lined entirely with neat rows of small plastic boxes filled with dice. The right side was by far more appealing. Separated from the table with a long rug was a ring of sofas like the ones in the living room facing the wall. There was no sign of anything besides the Sofas but he wasn¡¯t fooled for a moment. He grinned and hustled over, John going over to the board games to inspect them. Val crouched and ran his hands along the lower part of the wall right in front of the sofas, pushing here and there, ¡°Cmon, there¡¯s gotta be a-¡± He heard a click and grinned, ¡°Yes!¡± A very faint seam in the wall appeared as it popped open, revealing a drawer that slid out. Inside was a treasure trove of gaming controllers from any number of consoles and brands, old and new. Some of the older ones had been fitted with some sort of black spike where their cords should be. He picked one up and turned it over in his hands, it had a funky shape to it but there was a clear start button. He got to his feet and took a few steps back, pushing the button. The drawer retracted at his feet and the pink flames in front of him went dark. The next thing he saw was a familiar logo across the entire wall, ¡°Holy, fucking, shit,¡± He breathed, turning from the screen and looking around, ¡°I need snacks, oh man,¡± He murmured as the sound of hooves came from all around him followed by piano. He spotted a cluster of cabinets, one looking like a refrigerator, resting against the wall to the left of the door they¡¯d come in through. String instruments started playing and some kind of flute. He raced over and reached for the fridge only to see a flashing red light glinting down at him from above it. Another sphere! He gasped and turned, ¡°Joh-¡± The sound like a zipper being pulled quickly interrupted him followed by the feeling of his entire body getting bound up in thin black strands of something. He spun, startled, and fell right on his face only to hear a similar sound ring out a second later as John came running. He tried to pull himself free, but whatever the black stuff was, it didn¡¯t budge an inch. A light shone down above him from the sphere and he squinted at it. ¡°Ah damn it.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather you didn¡¯t mess up my save data, Val,¡± Sonya¡¯s amused voice came from the sphere, ¡°Your exploration time is up, boys.¡± Side-Story: House of Wonders III Side-Story: House of Wonders III Just like the entrance to the hallway, the stairwell was hidden in plain sight by the walls simulating the outside. It would have been much easier to see if they had been deactivated, but Ollie figured that this was kind of the point. Navigating this place required an understanding of it. More importantly, most of what he had already seen in the living room alone was clearly experimental. He considered his thoughts on Sonya Chernovna¡¯s inner circle, the people working with and around her. She was very close with her lead scientist so it would be no surprise to him if she let Dr. Carter turn her home into a playground. He glanced at the hallway that the other four had gone through, The stuff above ground is probably mundane if not a little more advanced than what we¡¯re used to. He looked down the stairs. The interesting stuff is down here, he thought with a small smile. A movement nearby caught his attention and pulled him out of his thoughts. He blinked and looked up into the piercing blue eyes of Cassiopea Hanks. The blonde girl was looking at him with a bit of mild concern, her head tilted a bit to the left as she crossed her arms. It wasn¡¯t a judgy look, more like she was uncomfortable. ¡°You um...¡± She started and cleared her throat before shaking her head, she turned away and went down the stairs, ¡°...just finish pondering whatever and lets go,¡± She said hastily. He blinked and watched her descend, I think... she was about to say something rude, He glanced back at the couch where Lily and Snow were relaxing. Lily clearly had no interest in sneaking through the place now that she¡¯d found a place to lay her head and Snow was attached to her at the hip. His lips thinned, Lily said that Cassiopeia was trying to open up. Maybe she¡¯s also trying to be more careful with her words too. He blinked, Oh, she was going to call me out about standing there quietly and grinning to myself. He felt a bit of heat rise to his ears, Oh that¡¯s embarrassing. He thought and rubbed the bridge of his nose as he started down the stairs. He resisted the urge to get lost in thought again, taking a deep breath and clearing his mind like Madame Rouge had taught him. Sometimes an empty head was good for seeing things objectively. Get rid of preconceptions, biases, everything else, just breathe and see things for what they are. He thought as he exhaled only to stop when he nearly ran into Cassiopeia¡¯s back. ¡°Oh! Sorry!¡± He gasped, taking a step back before freezing in place. ¡°Oh.¡± Cass didn¡¯t look back at him, ¡°Yeah, my thoughts too,¡± She murmured as they looked into the large square room, about the same size as the room above. Instead of pretty walls made of illuminated screens, the walls were made of an off-white metal that gleamed a bit against the very simple lights that lined the ceiling. The metallic walls were affixed with numerous weapons, mostly knives, held within protective glass casings. There were three exits leading out of the room, each of them had doors made of the same metal of the walls and looked like they were designed to open into the walls rather than swing. ¡°This is where she trains.¡± ¡°I knew she took it seriously but...¡± Ollie trailed off as he stepped into the room. He looked down at his feet, ¡°The floor feels strange,¡± He said. He pulled his hand away from the object and nodded, shoving his hands in his pockets and leaning forward to look at it. It looks like lattices, little hairline pathways throughout the crystal. They¡¯re all connecting. What is this thing? He wondered. He pulled out a small notebook and wrote a few things down about the object before shoving it back in his pocket and glancing over at Cass again. She was watching one of the screens. He looked past her and saw the scowl of Liberty. The blonde woman was in a full suit of armor and shouting something from a podium. There were dozens of people wearing mismatched clothing beneath her, all raising their fists. He saw Cass¡¯ shoulders tense, the girls body shaking a little bit. This isn¡¯t good for her, he thought and hurried over. He tried to get her attention but her eyes were fixed on the screen. ¡°Cassiopeia?¡± He called, ¡°Um! We should-¡± Nothing. Her eyes were glazed over with a mixture of hate and terror. He sighed, Damn it. He thought and grabbed her by her hand and started to pull. A moment later they were back in the common area. It was only then that Cass jerked and looked down at him. He was huffing, hard, resting his hands on his knees, ¡°You are so strong,¡± He wheezed, ¡°Goodness!¡± He panted, glancing up at her. He paused, his eyes going a little wide. She had so many threads coming out of her, some of them thicker than others. There was a black thread that went off into the distance and was as thick as a bridge cable. There was another that looked like it was made of silver. He¡¯d seen one like it before. Coming out of Sonya Chernovna. What- Cass immediately grabbed him by the arms, ¡°Are you okay?¡± She gasped, ¡°I didn¡¯t hurt you did I?¡± She asked, panicked, looking him over. ¡°I blacked out and you were- are you- did I?¡± He held up his hands, pulling out of her grip and forcibly canceling his power. Now was not the time to be thinking about karmic threads. He waved her hands away, ¡°I¡¯m fine! I¡¯m fine! See? No injuries, just a little worn out from dragging you out of the room,¡± He laughed, ¡°I¡¯m okay, miss Cassiopeia. I was just a little worried because of what you saw, it looked like it affected you quite a bit.¡± She stared at him, confused, then blinked a few times and cleared her throat. She looked away and pulled back her hair, crossing her arms. ¡°You guys are too nice, you know that? First Lily, now you. There''s a thing called self preservation, you know?¡± She huffed before looking down at her feet, ¡°Thank you for doing that.¡± He scratched the back of his head, ¡°From what I¡¯ve learned, a good hero has a bit of a hard time with the whole survival instinct thing,¡± He pointed out before scratching his nose, ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± She turned back to say something when abruptly the floor began to liquefy beneath their feet. They looked down, wide eyed, ¡°What the-¡± Just as the words came out the floor re-solidified, encasing their feet in hard material. ¡°Oh no.¡± A faint hum caught his ears and he looked up to see a sphere floating over their heads, a red light flashing on one side. ¡°And you two are the last, shouldn¡¯t have sit still,¡± Sonya¡¯s sing-song voice called down to them, ¡°Time¡¯s up, time to pay the piper, you little sneaks!¡± Chapter 123 Chapter 123 Sonya slurped at her drink, leaning against the rail of the patio outside of her beach house. She watched the aspirants enjoy themselves as the sun continued to move further and further down. She wished she could have joined them in the water herself but a single thought back to the last time she attempted to jump into the water made her pause and frown. She sipped irritably at her drink as the slightly taller woman next to her glanced over and gave her a teasing look. ¡°Thinking back to the cannonball?¡± Carla asked quietly, holding her hand over her mouth to hide her grin. Sonya slurped a bit louder while Carla snickered, narrowing her eyes as a bit of red rose to her ears. It turned out that adding so much density to her muscles, brain, bones, everything, with a new total of twenty-two sub abilities in Deus Ex Machina made her weigh quite a bit more than the average young lady of her height and build. The obvious result of still moving normally despite this, leaping into the air, and coming down at speed, meant that the splash had been rather dramatic. Her eyebrow twitched as the memory of the blank stares of her close friends watching her from the beach came back. They¡¯d been soaked by the fallout. She huffed and cracked a grin, Okay it was pretty funny, she thought with a snicker and leaned forward against the railing. ¡°It''s about what... five now, right?¡± She murmured thoughtfully. Of course she had the time on her HUD, but she couldn¡¯t just know the time perfectly off the top of her head,¡± She set her cup down and brushed her hair back, checking her wrist watch, ¡°Mhm, five on the dot,¡± She said, ¡°Look at that,¡± She glanced over at Carla, ¡°Do you think they¡¯ve had enough time to think about their actions?¡± Carla inclined her head, ¡°Miss Chernovna, I think you¡¯re being most lenient.¡± Sonya turned to face her, ¡°Aw, you flatter me,¡± She said and reached up to play with Carla¡¯s hair, ¡°Would you like to make them wait a little longer...?¡± She trailed off as her lip twitched. Carla¡¯s did the same and they both trembled from repressed laughter. She cleared her throat, ¡°H-how about until nightfall?¡± She grabbed her sides, ¡°W-we could¨C¡± She burst into laughter, ¡°Oh I can¡¯t do it,¡± She laughed and waved her hands, ¡°Enough, enough!¡± She and Carla turned around to rest their backs on the railing, Sonya snatching up her cup. The two of them looked at the group lined up against the exterior of her beach house in narrow black restraints. Eight aspirants who had gotten it into their heads that they wanted one more childish hurrah before becoming full heroes. They just so happened to all be people she was signing on with ASTA as well. Not a coincidence, she thought. She couldn¡¯t blame them, she honestly would have done the same thing. Which was why a three hour time-out was the extent of their punishment. She grinned at them and tilted her head, ¡°Was it worth it?¡± She asked playfully as she held out her hand to Carla who dutifully handed her the remote for the restraints Amos had designed. She hit the button and they came loose. Black ropes of pseudo-plastic fell down around the feet around the eight young adults. She scanned their faces. John was as placid as always. Greg looked world weary. Alex couldn¡¯t stop grinning. Ollie looked ashamed. Val smirked and shrugged. Lily and Snow were still flushed from the compromising way they¡¯d been caught. Then there was Cassiopeia, her little Taurus. She was smiling. She¡¯d had fun despite the punishment that had come afterward. Sonya met her eyes and gave her a warm smile of her own before looking over the others, she stopped at John, ¡°Good to see you went and had some fun, John. Next time try not to get into trouble while doing it, okay?¡± She suggested. ¡°Mm,¡± John nodded before blinking and correcting himself, ¡°Was worthwhile, it was a beautiful kitchen.¡± ¡°You liked it?¡± Sonya asked, ¡°Good! Then you can work in the kitchen tonight with the rest of the staff to help prepare for dinner.¡± John nodded, ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡± Sonya cupped her chin, ¡°What about the rest of you, did you enjoy exploring Dr. Carter¡¯s little playground?¡± She asked with a grin. ¡°Speaking of which, who¡¯s idea was this?¡± ¡°Mine,¡± Val said holding up his hand, ¡°I got the others in on it and we dragged Greg in,¡± He said and rubbed his neck. Sonya nodded, ¡°Thank you for that, Val. I appreciate it,¡± She said with a smile, ¡°Please join John in the kitchen tonight.¡± Val grinned awkwardly, ¡°That¡¯s fair, yes ma¡¯am.¡± She tilted her head and looked over at Cass, ¡°You joined them?¡± She asked with amusement. Cass brightened a little, ¡°I overheard them talking about it and well,¡± She squeezed her hands together, ¡°It sounded like fun, and a challenge, and I wanted to see so I just went for it,¡± She flushed and looked down at her hands. ¡°It was fun, I like them.¡± The others looked at Cass with surprise, Lily and Ollie the only two that gave her a more normal smile. Sonya felt a little relief wash over her, ¡°Good,¡± Sonya said, ¡°Very good. You still have to work in the kitchen tonight though.¡± Cass stuck her tongue out a little and scratched her head, ¡°Got it.¡± She glanced at Ollie and raised her eyebrow, ¡°You join those three, Ollie. I hope it satisfied your curiosity.¡± Ollie looked a bit despondent, ¡°I got so swept up... it- I just-¡± He stammered, ¡°It was so exciting.¡± She had a feeling it was like that, curiosity was his single driving force and he was prone to getting excited and getting carried away. It was in his nature, so she didn¡¯t begrudge him, but she did think he needed to learn a little restraint. She let out a breath and moved on to Alex and Greg, ¡°Now for Alex, I assume you were the first to hop on the bandwagon with Val? You¡¯re one hell of a hype man.¡± He glanced over his shoulder, She didn¡¯t say a thing, he thought. Miss Mint was right there and she didn¡¯t say a thing either. I¡¯m on probation. One slip up. I got carried away. That should have been it for me. One infraction and I would have gone back to prison. He bit his lip, Neither of them said a word. He cleared his throat and closed his notes as he heard footsteps coming through the trees. He stopped and looked towards the source, spotting a pair of glowing blue eyes gleaming from within the trees. That was when he stepped out. Ollie reactivated his power. He¡¯d told no-one, only Madame Rouge knew, but his ability could remember those it touched. It wasn¡¯t something that had come to him right away, but a month of practice and studying his power had brought the function out. He looked at the man before him and saw hundreds of blood-red threads. Murders. He controlled his face, maintaining as timid an exterior as he could. His eyes shifted only microscopically to look down at the man''s feet and saw the thick black thread going down into the earth. Enmity, with the whole world. There was another thick black thread as well, pointing back at the beach house. Miss Chernovna. It¡¯s strange, how does he seem so obsessed with earning her favor when their karmic thread is black? He met the man¡¯s eyes. Marc swept back his blonde hair and smiled, ¡°Ollie! How was your little adventure?¡± Ollie brightened, ¡°It was very informative, Mister Mallory!¡± He said and cleared his throat, ¡°I-I mean, Marc,¡± He changed the phrasing when he caught a bit of a stare from Marc. Marc seemed pleased with his shift to submission. ¡°Do tell,¡± Marc said with an eager grin. Ollie pulled out his notes, all misleadingly useful information. All the good stuff was in his head where it belonged. He handed the notepad over. Marc flipped it open and started to read, his smile widening even more. ¡°I really think we¡¯re going to make a good team, Ollie.¡± ¡°Call me Riot, sir,¡± Ollie said. I¡¯ll get close to him. I want to be an investigator after all. Once I get my license I¡¯ll be off probation, after that, I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to figure this guy out. His gut twisted a little, I just hope I don¡¯t do something I can¡¯t take back in the process. Marc raised an eyebrow, ¡°And you can call me Otis.¡± ¨C Sonya stood in her office beneath the beach house, glancing thoughtfully at the map of the world that had the carter radar readings on it. The clouds of mana moving over the world were thinning out in places while thickening in others. It was starting to look more and more like an all-over coverage of the planet. There were still places that were nearly devoid of the ambient energy. Will it simply form an even coat one day? She thought, I don¡¯t think that happened by the time things ended last time around, maybe it was because of all the dungeon breaks. She huffed and dismissed the morbid thought. She shifted her eyes and looked at the dot in the northwest United States. Chunhua will be going to Seattle after the aspirants graduate, she pursed her lips, we need to talk before then. Her expression eased into a smile, Though I suppose I can say a little tonight, might be fun to embarrass her a little. She huffed out a breath and walked over to the desk, running her fingers over the domed crystal. She felt it pull a bit of mana out of her body and the air and a vague sense of connection to it washed over her. She moved to her seat and relaxed as the dense network of fractals within the crystal flashed and flickered, lights traveling through them so fast an ordinary eye couldn¡¯t see it. A moment later, the air was filled with even more screens. It was a new kind of computer, synchronized with her mana signature and mind. Denser than any type before it and the foundation for a whole new field of technology. Amos¡¯ greatest creation to date and the culmination of his study of pandora-based materials and mana. Unfortunately the prototype was next to impossible for a normal human mind to utilize. She smiled smugly, Good thing I¡¯m not normal. She waved her hand and everything was organized in front of her; detailed notes on the aspirants at every camp, their abilities, dreams, experience, skills and what companies were signing them. She¡¯d snatched up quite a few for herself. New abilities for the warehouse, she thought and leaned back in her seat, resting her chin on her knuckles with a small smile. ¡°So many heroes born in just ten weeks, even with a low graduation rate,¡± She murmured, The population of heroes at this time in the previous timeline was barely a tenth of this. More heroes means more dungeons and monsters dealt with in less time. More importantly it leaves some to engage with villains to maintain a rivalry between the groups. She hummed, Though I might have to pump up the number of villains soon. The results have exceeded my expectations. Things are going well. She narrowed her eyes, I should expect problems soon. Can never be too careful. She steepled her fingers and mentally dismissed the images before pulling up a single projection floating in front of her like a screen. Liberty and all her notes on the woman, What are you planning, Liberty? What¡¯s your next move? Another projection appeared of Otis, And you, you were so incompetent when you were young, weren¡¯t you? What changed? When? How? You aren¡¯t the man I remember, not yet. Her gut twisted a little, You will be, though. I can feel it. I¡¯m running out of excuses not to sign him. I¡¯ll need to do it soon otherwise it will look suspicious. Right now you¡¯re in the palm of my hand, grow up well, you bastard. She thought with a small grin before dismissing the images. She stretched, scratched her neck and gestured casually with her hand, a portal appearing to her left. Two presences stepped out and she glanced over to see Marta and Barry standing there in vacationing clothes. She smiled at them brightly and turned, slipping off her chair and hopping to her feet with a chuckle, ¡°How¡¯s South China?¡± She asked, pulling Festival of Dionysus out of her warehouse. ¡°It¡¯s been lovely, Sonya, thank you,¡± Marta said with a chuckle, reaching up to put a hand on Barry¡¯s arm. ¡°Damn good day, had a nice dinner on the ocean, looking forward to the rest,¡± Barry said with a chuckle, ¡°But we got business, don¡¯t we, boss?¡± Sonya grinned, ¡°That we do, you¡¯ve worked hard Barry, and now it¡¯s time for your reward,¡± She said holding out her hand, ¡°I have a feeling it¡¯ll be a doozy, so let''s talk sanctions so you can ease into it.¡± He took her hand, ¡°Alright, lay it on me boss.¡± ¨C Sonya stepped out of the beach house into the dimming light. The aspirants and other instructors were already gathering around a fire pit they¡¯d been working together to make. She brushed her hair back over her ear and relaxed, ¡°Marshmallows sound great right now.¡± Chapter 124 Chapter 124 The walk across the sand was short, but in that time Sonya had a lot to think about. She thought about the aspirants, about how far they¡¯d all come in such a short time. The kind of effect this place had on people. The hard work they¡¯d put in. She thought about the people she knew, she¡¯d affected, and the people she¡¯d killed. She thought about the past and the future, where she came from and where she was going. She thought about Carla who fell into step next to her as she walked. She thought about Chunhua who walked over towards the fire pit from the far side, sending her an easy smile. I¡¯ve come a long way too, she thought before glancing at her watch, seeing her reflection in the surface. But I still have more to overcome. She exhaled and relaxed her shoulders as Carla hurried to set down a towel for the two of them to sit on. She glanced at the woman and reached out to touch the pink diamond hanging from her choker-collar. She smiled at it and then flicked her eyes up at Carla¡¯s face, winking once before sitting down and leaning back a bit on her hands to relax. Carla sat next to her and leaned in close, her arm pressed against Sonya¡¯s. Chunhua sat a respectful distance away, not wanting to interfere in the moment. A few of her students sat down near her and she turned to talk with them. Sonya looked past her to the coast where Greg, Alex, Lily, and Snow were running around picking up the last of the trash. Snow snatched up a can from the ground and jumped up and down, Alex spun and opened his bag and the girl tossed it in. Lily threw up her arms and all four let out a howl. Sonya giggled, she would have done the same, honestly. The quartet of troublemakers walked back over, setting the bag of garbage filled with what they¡¯d found near a small station that had been set out to provide refreshments throughout the day. Sonya watched them talk with Axel who was standing behind the counter before she turned her head the opposite direction. Rows of tents stretched out facing the sea. Some were coming out of their tents, probably having enjoyed a nap in the beautiful weather. She tilted her head and kissed Carla¡¯s temple as Lily walked over before sitting forward a little bit, ¡°Lily!¡± She called. The girl turned and Sonya smirked at her before gesturing to the fire pit filled with wood. It was dug deep to create a large flame while still not obscuring the eyes of everyone present. A pair of holes were dug on each side to provide the flame oxygen. ¡°Can you do the honors?¡± She asked as more and more aspirants came over and started sitting down in a ring around the pit. The sun was nearly set at this point and several of them were watching the colors on the horizon. Lily pointed to herself, surprised, and Sonya nodded. Lily brightened and looked at Chunhua excitedly who gave her a thumbs up. More aspirants noisily sat down as Lily rubbed her hands together and took in a deep breath. Sonya spotted Greg and Jessica sit down together, Greg looking a little tired. They were talking when both froze and looked at Lily. Everyone went silent as darkness washed over the beach. Gold flames appeared in the air and rushed into Lilys mouth and nose with each breath as the young hero drew in power for a moment. The glimmering flames were hypnotic. Lily held her breath and then with a grin she leaned forward and exhaled. Gold flames billowing from her mouth and onto the pile of wood. The wood immediately caught and the moment it did a wash of warmth and comfort washed over Sonya and everyone else present. Little aches and pains from throughout the day vanished in moments, tired eyes were invigorated, smiles spread on faces, and even hearts were eased. Everyone clapped as the young woman who had come in afraid of what others would think of her ability turned in a circle, startled. Sonya and Carla clapped as well until Lily managed to pull herself together enough to hurry over to where Snow had set down a towel and they sat together. The other instructors arrived before finally another group showed up from behind Sonya. John and the cooking team walked in and brought with them delights. Sweet drinks, cocoa, marshmallows for those who wanted them, ingredients for smores, little sausages, chili, nachos, grilled fruits and baked potatoes, all sorts of things were distributed amongst the campers. People laughed and talked, they ate, some snatched up little poles that had been set aside for roasting the marshmallows. They extended and retracted quickly, another toy of Amos¡¯ that he¡¯d made for them as a gift. Laughter rose and fell, and for a little while these young men and women who Sonya knew would endure so much in the future as heroes, had real peace. Carla rest her head on Sonya¡¯s shoulder, ¡°You should say a few words,¡± She said. Sonya raised an eyebrow, ¡°Me? You¡¯re the Pandora lady.¡± Carla snorted, ¡°Pandora lady, come on, you¡¯re the Voice.¡± Sonya huffed and shook her head, smiling, ¡°Alright, alright,¡± She chuckled and kissed the woman¡¯s head again before getting to her feet. A few looked her way and she raised her soda can, the little straw in it shaking a bit. Some whispers followed her gesture and everyone around the fire fell silent, ¡°I want to raise a toast with this soda can of all things,¡± She laughed and was joined by most of those present. She scanned the faces of the young men and women, even Marc was there which surprised her a little. ¡°To you,¡± She said to them, ¡°To all of you.¡± She let out a breath and looked down at herself, ¡°You know, doing a speech like this doesn¡¯t have the same impact when I¡¯m in a bikini,¡± She said sarcastically, getting some more laughter. She shrugged, ¡°Free eye candy I guess,¡± She said and smiled at them all, her eyes going soft as she dimmed the lights on them a little, the laughter subsided as her jovial expression eased a little more to something close to motherly warmth, ¡°All of you, in a time like this, when everything seems so scary and uncertain. When taking a job as a soldier would frankly be safer,¡± She looked at the can for a moment and then at the fire. ¡°You chose to do the hard thing. You chose to take the tough path. You chose to be the people standing between the weak and the monsters of the world,¡± She said looking at everyone there, ¡°You decided to become heroes,¡± She said, ¡°Sure, the money¡¯s pretty good,¡± She chuckled softly, ¡°A little bit of fame might be nice,¡± She added, ¡°But... It is not an easy job. You are putting your lives on the line for others every day when you¡¯re out there. It can be thankless, hard, scary. You¡¯ll face dangers no one could even imagine,¡± She looked at the can again, ¡°And you chose that, to do that, for other people. So that they don¡¯t have to,¡± She smiled at them all, ¡°That is incredible,¡± She said breathlessly. ¡°Firestorm once told me that a hero is the one who moves first, no matter the danger,¡± She said with a bit of a tremble, ¡°He was a knucklehead you know, goofed off all the time in the office. I had to yell at him a couple times,¡± She said sadly, ¡°I know what he would say about you all,¡± She looked them all over as their eyes were fixed on her, ¡°You moved first.¡± ¡°...and he is finally reunited with Penelope,¡± Otis finished his rambling, his hand over his heart as he sat back down. There was some scattered clapping as Sonya shifted in her seat. ¡°What does the story mean to you?¡± She asked. ¡°It¡¯s the story about an incredible hero, what more is there to tell?¡± He responded with his own question. She leaned back, ¡°The heroic stories were parables, their purpose was to teach something and explain something through stories,¡± Sonya said, ¡°Some of them were a bit harder to understand than others. Take Gilgamesh for example, ultimately his story was about the futility of seeking eternal life and how one man with too much power can bring woe to those around him.¡± Otis frowned and looked distant for a moment before glancing at her again, ¡°Then what do you think the Odyssey is about?¡± He asked, crossing his arms. ¡°There¡¯s a lot of messages in it,¡± Sonya said thoughtfully, ¡°First and foremost, it¡¯s about a man struggling to live in a world of gods,¡± She let out a breath, ¡°The greek gods were always given human-like traits but they always seemed to be the worst of us for some reason. Violent, arbitrary, unforgiving,¡± She said, ¡°Prone to disturbing but often poetic punishments,¡± She chuckled, ¡°Poseidon seems to completely lack the capacity to forgive, no matter how much Odysseus suffers throughout the story. No matter how much his men suffer.¡± She glanced at Chunhua and their eyes met, ¡°Humans have the capacity to forgive, to reconcile, and to start anew,¡± She said with a small smile, drawing a bit of a flush from the woman who smiled back. She looked back at Otis, ¡°Humans are capable of incredible good and are wonderfully resilient,¡± She said, ¡°Sure, we mess up, a lot. Humans can be terrible too, but we stick with it don¡¯t we?¡± She exhaled, ¡°Despite Poseidon''s cruelty, Odysseus proves that a human with a little help, can survive a sea turned against him. It¡¯s about perseverance. I like to think that means that together, humans don¡¯t need the gods, that we¡¯re capable of standing on our own,¡± She looked down at her hands and looked up at him again, meeting his eyes, ¡°That humans are amazing.¡± There was more she could have said, about hospitality, about loyalty, about growing as a person and being changed by one¡¯s experiences, but based on his shocked expression, she¡¯d said enough. She wasn¡¯t sure about the effect she¡¯d had but it felt really good to put him in his place. Silence fell over the gathered campers for a few moments as everyone reflected. It was finally broken by Lillian who let out a breath, ¡°Wow, I need to read that at some point,¡± She said before grinning, ¡°Anybody else? This is kinda cool. Talking about the old legends in a new age of heroes. Right?¡± Some scattered voices of agreement joined her, ¡°We¡¯re the next Odysseuses!¡± Alex barked out a laugh, ¡°Hot damn, gotta find me a Penelope,¡± He added, getting a rolling wave of laughter as his reward. Chunhua raised her hand, ¡°I have one,¡± She said, ¡°I heard it recently,¡± Everyone went silent again and Sonya looked at Chunhua with a raised eyebrow. Chunhua swept her gaze over the crowd for a moment. ¡°Now, I¡¯m not very good at telling stories, not like Mister Mallory or Miss Chernovna,¡± She said and rubbed her neck grinning a little awkwardly. She let out a breath and squared her shoulders, ¡°I heard it from a friend, I¡¯m a little hazy on all the names so I¡¯ll make them up if you don¡¯t mind,¡± She scratched her nose and got some chuckles from the crowd. Sonya tensed, What are you doing? Chunhua let out a breath, ¡°This is a story about a girl who had an amazing teacher,¡± Chunhua began, and Sonya relaxed a little bit. Don¡¯t scare me like that! She gave Chunhua a petulant look. The woman smirked at her, Oh you did that on purpose! Chunhua grinned, ¡°Let¡¯s call her Penny,¡± She said and took another deep breath before focusing on the story, ¡°Her teacher, Iris, was very special. Powerful. And had many students just like Penny, and those students had a very important job...¡± Chapter 125 Chapter 125 The air that morning was hot but soothing. She sat up in her bed, the sheets falling down her shoulders as she cast her eyes about her simple room. A humble desk carved of wood from far away, a chair with it. To the right of the desk was a small shelf that was stacked with a variety of written materials. A few tablets, some scrolls from home, and a roll of wooden strips bound together by ropes. She slid to her feet and grabbed her gown, sliding it on and glancing out the window. Beyond it was a view of the gardens, many terraces going down filled with flowing water and beautiful trees and flowers. Beyond it was the desert, an expanse of unbroken sand that stretched to the horizon. She stopped at the window for a moment and admired the view, resting her hand in the opening and leaned her head out to take a breath of air. ¡°I like it here,¡± She murmured, ¡°It¡¯s quieter than home.¡± A knock came to her door and she turned, blinking furiously and reaching up to check herself. Her blonde hair fell in rivulets around her shoulders and she quickly reached for a long needle on the small table where her gown had been, ¡°A moment!¡± She called. A gruff voice responded with a laugh, ¡°Don¡¯t keep me waiting too long.¡± She perked up, half way through binding her hair up, ¡°Father?¡± She called. ¡°Were you expecting someone else this early in the morning?¡± He asked testily. She broke into a wide smile and hurried to the door, her hair half done. She threw it open with delight and looked up into the grizzled face that looked down at her. A pair of orange eyes burned as hot as the sun behind a mess of black hair that hung loosely to cover the wounds on his tan face. He was big, muscular, powerful, even with the false leg that he leaned on. The golden metal creaked a bit as he shifted in his stance. To anyone else in the world he seemed so scary, but to her, he was just her beloved father. The most impressive person in the world in her mind. She reached up and took his face in her hands, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± She laughed, ¡°It¡¯s so good to see you!¡± Her father swept her up in his arms and gave her a hug, having to kneel down a bit so she didn¡¯t hang loosely in his grip. ¡°I came to witness,¡± He said, ¡°I wanted to be here in person for it.¡± Her eyes widened, ¡°You came all the way from Olympus to see me?¡± She gasped, leaning back a bit and looking him over, ¡°Won¡¯t grandfather be upset?¡± ¡°He¡¯s here too,¡± He said with a chuckle and caught the confused look on her face, ¡°You know him, he wouldn¡¯t miss an opportunity to get away from home for a little while.¡± She snorted and he set her down, ¡°Let me finish getting dressed. The ceremony isn¡¯t for a little while,¡± She said quickly, turning to the room. ¡°Of course,¡± He nodded, ¡°And Pandora?¡± He called. She turned to look up into his face, ¡°Yes Father?¡± ¡°Congratulations.¡± It wasn¡¯t long after that she was walking arm in arm with her father through the halls of the grand palace. The staff walked by and bowed before quickly hurrying back to their duties. It felt so strange getting such deference from them, even now. She knew most of it was due to her parentage, but she couldn¡¯t help but think about her simple life before all of this. A life as a normal girl. Not a poor life, she never wanted for anything. Except to know the man that was now walking with her out into the sunlight. Ahead of her another man stood, he somehow looked younger than her father even though she knew that couldn¡¯t be further from the truth. He had off-gray hair that seemed to glimmer with violet and wore white robes under light golden armor. He was speaking animatedly with another man with dark curly hair and tan skin who wore much looser clothing, closer to what the locals wore but far more refined and expensive. Silk from the east. As they drew in closer the two men turned from their conversation and cleared their throats. They¡¯re talking about something inappropriate, I bet, she thought mutely before catching the gray-haired man¡¯s glimmering violet eyes. They flashed and almost sparked as he grinned at her and she quickly bowed to him, ¡°Lord Zeus,¡± She intoned before bowing to the other man next, ¡°Your majesty.¡± Lord Zeus threw out his arms in delight, ¡°Pandora! There she is!¡± He barked out a laugh and walked forward, glancing over at her father, ¡°Hephaestus.¡± ¡°Father,¡± Her father said with a nod. Lord Zeus grinned, ¡°Gilgamesh here was just telling me all about these gardens and some of the exciting things that happen in them,¡± He chuckled, ¡°They have some incredible parties here. I should send Dionysus some time!¡± ¡°I believe that might be considered an act of war from some perspectives,¡± Prince Gilgamesh said as he walked over to join them, putting his hand on his hip before grinning cockily, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want to anger my mother, would you?¡± Lord Zeus balked and glanced in Gilgamesh¡¯s direction, ¡°You make it sound like that boy would bring the whole palace down!¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t he?¡± Gilgamesh countered. ¡°Enough, enough,¡± He laughed and waved a hand before turning his attention to Pandora. His eyes bored down at her and she shifted a bit on her feet, he never looked at her like he did the others in the palace. He¡¯d often seem dismissive, but for her he reserved a gaze of intense attention, ¡°We¡¯re getting distracted from the person of the hour,¡± He said and tilted his head a bit. Pandora shifted on her feet again under his stare and she felt her father get a bit closer. Pandora looked to him, confused, ¡°But she¡¯s so kind.¡± He barked out a laugh, ¡°To you! Oh, that woman hated me.¡± ¡°I wonder why,¡± Hephaestus grumbled, getting a petulant look from his father as they followed the path around the palace. It would have been simple for the two men to just vanish and reappear at the entrance, they each had their ways of moving quickly, but they were kind enough to walk Pandora to the gates where the guards stood. A pair of unfeeling marble statues stood in their path, looking down on them from their great heights. They did not speak, rather, they simply pushed the doors open and allowed them inside. Just as they entered another person was leaving. The trio didn¡¯t stop their walk as the pale, dark haired man from the east walked past them. He cast them a cautious look, his slitted eyes burning for a moment before he moved on. She could feel the mana rippling off of him like a heat haze that only vanished when the doors shut behind them. Zeus and Hephaestus exchanged a look, ¡°What¡¯s the snake doing here?¡± Hephaestus asked. ¡°At least it wasn¡¯t that damn monkey,¡± Zeus grunted, ¡°We would have never made it to the throne room with that buffoon talking our ears off.¡± Pandora chose to ignore their whispers this time, glancing up towards the top of the stairs where the second pair of doors waited in the impressive palace. Around them was a grand space made entirely of blue stone, it glimmered in the lights that hovered in the air around them. The scent of flowers permeated everything, the gardens outside a pale imitation to the grandeur of the interior. She¡¯d grown used to it, though, and didn¡¯t stop to marvel. Instead she held out her hand and exhaled, feeling the mana in the air gather as a small cube the size of a fruit appeared in her hand. She opened it and drew out a tiny lotus that appeared to be made entirely of a single gemstone. She closed the box and affixed the lotus to her hair. Her father glanced at her, ¡°A gift? Why do you keep it in your box?¡± ¡°It is alive,¡± Pandora said quietly, steeling her nerve as they began their ascent, ¡°It would wilt if I didn¡¯t. She gave it to me.¡± ¡°A precious thing then,¡± Her father said with a grave nod. Zeus just rolled his eyes and continued up the stairs alongside them. They arrived at the second pair of gates and the guards once more pushed the doors open to reveal the throne room. A field of lapis blue hung above them and along the walls while greenery stretched across the entirety of the space. It seemed like they were outside in the sunlight, a bright sphere glowing in the air above them. Ahead, a high seat made of gold waited. Gilgamesh stood to the right of it, but Pandora¡¯s eyes were fixed on the woman sitting on the throne. She had black hair that curled like Gilgamesh, her tan skin gleamed beautifully against the assortment of golden jewelry that hung on her person. She was tall, regal, and just looking at her made one feel small. Tattoos across her body gleamed with golden light and swam as if fish in the sea, moving constantly. She wore a black gown adorned with golden plates that affixed it to her body. Yet it was her eyes that were the most arresting, they burned with golden light, flames in her head rather than mortal eyes. ¡°Zeus,¡± The queen spoke and the air shuddered. ¡°Queen Ishtar,¡± Zeus said as they drew near. ¡°Still cavorting rather than doing your duties?¡± She asked. ¡°I am who I am,¡± He said unflinchingly, staring back at her. ¡°I cannot change my nature. I am a King now, and I serve my role as best I can.¡± Ishtar narrowed her eyes, ¡°I certainly hope so,¡± She said before turning her eyes to Pandora. ¡°Hello, my student.¡± Pandora dropped to a knee, ¡°Teacher.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be leaving me soon,¡± Ishtar murmured, ¡°You will be missed by more than myself.¡± ¡°If only I could stay by your side forever,¡± Pandora said before looking up, ¡°You¡¯ve taught me so much. How to see, how to understand, how to teach, how to guide the next generation. The great ones that I shepherd will be so only because of your wisdom.¡± ¡°And to think you mouthed off to me the first time we met,¡± Ishtar laughed. Pandora blushed a little and cleared her throat. The Queen leaned forward, ¡°I¡¯m proud of you. I have seen what you become, what you will do with your gift, and what you will do with mine,¡± She said before extending her hand, ¡°You will live a hard life, but one day you will be remembered for the good you do for the entire world. I cannot praise you enough.¡± Pandora choked, tears welling in her eyes, ¡°Thank you, my Queen,¡± She croaked as she got to her feet. She walked past her father and grandfather, past Gilgamesh who inclined his head, and up the dais. She reached out and took the woman¡¯s hand. ¡°I, Pandora, daughter of Hephaestus, son of Zeus, will be your arbiter. Just like my brothers and sisters, your students, I will guide those who are destined for greatness and serve this world with everything I am.¡± The great one¡¯s hand tightened and she smiled with a little bit of sorrow in her eyes, ¡°The Pact is made. Be strong, Arbiter Pandora.¡± ¨C ¡°...and so the young arbiter began her story. It¡¯s late, and that¡¯s all I have for now,¡± Chunhua pointed out, checking her watch as the Aspirants all blinked, drawn out of the story abruptly and letting out a few groans. She held up her hands, ¡°Maybe some other time,¡± She said before glancing at Sonya who was giving her an odd look. Chunhua had been careful not to use the real names, of course, and had changed a bit more, in her own version. The core was still there. Hopefully, with time, the people that needed to would understand it. She let out a breath and got to her feet, stretching her arms before putting her hands on her hips. She may still be suspended but that didn¡¯t change how she was going to handle things, ¡°Aspirants! Lights out!¡± She barked and they all quickly followed suit, their day on the beach coming to an end. Chapter 126 Chapter 126 Sonya sat back in her chair, her expression thoughtful. The story that Chunhua had told was strange, she didn¡¯t recognize any of the characters in it but her gut told her that it was important somehow. It was like Chunhua was trying to explain something without explaining it. She rubbed her chin, Did it have something to do with her vision after ascending to the next stage of her ability? Was the Penny character Pandora? She scratched her neck and sighed. She just didn¡¯t have enough information and she wasn¡¯t about to go down the rabbit hole of conspiracy theories. Her lip curled into a small smile, Speaking of which. She waved her hand and the monitors floating around the room condensed and shifted about again, ¡°Show me Martin Fuller. Breakdown of his current movements based on existing intelligence, notable transactions, and any quotes that have been recorded and are worth listening to,¡± She said aloud and the screens flickered again. In an instant numerous camera images of Martin showed up in her field of view, different angles, all of them watching as he made his way from place to place. His yellow eyes gleaming in each image. Her lip twitched, Between Amos, The Night Society, Charon, and Kingsharks men, I can keep an eye on you. It¡¯s a huge investment for one man, but I think it¡¯s worth it. She watched him walk down an alley in one video and glance up at the camera, a frown on his face. Do you know I¡¯m watching? She thought with amusement before chuckling a little, What¡¯re you gonna do about it detective? She crossed her legs and held out her hand, a can of soda appearing in it. She cracked it open and sipped, No worthwhile quotes. He¡¯s being careful to avoid recording devices somehow. Her eyebrow rose, Or he¡¯s not saying much, which wouldn¡¯t surprise me honestly. She snorted and sipped her drink. She glanced down at it and glanced around. She knew no one was there but she just wanted to make sure Carla didn¡¯t sneak up and tease her about the next part. A hard light straw appeared in the can. She sipped through it and leaned forward, Transactions, flights... already in Paris! Good for you! She set the can down, I¡¯m curious what will happen when you lay eyes on him for the first time, Detective, she thought smugly. Good luck! I¡¯m counting on you. That was when something happened on one of the feeds and she leaned forward, the straw slipping out of her lips as she squinted only to lean back with a laugh, ¡°You little fucker!¡± She cackled and kicked her feet, ¡°Someone thinks he¡¯s a comedian. Alright, game on.¡± ¨C Martin glanced up at the camera and frowned. Every time he saw one he had a feeling that she was able to see him somehow. It was an indirect feeling usually, like it was saving a recording. This time, though, his eyes told him otherwise. He stopped in front of the camera and stared into it, tilting his head and fishing through his pockets for what he¡¯d prepared for this exact moment. A few seconds later he pulled out a business card with the words ¡®Enjoying the show, ASTArte?¡¯. He grinned at the camera and shoved the card back into his pocket, walking away.. To think she used a damn pun for the acronym of her company¡¯s name. How has no one else noticed it? He scoffed. Making his way around a corner and into an alley. His eyes narrowed and he felt the heat building in them for a moment before the world was illuminated before him. He shuffled through the degeneracy that took place in the alley, the befoulment, the sadness, the sickness, until he found what he was looking for. A single man stood next to the wall, he was thin but athletic, his smile a bit coy. He wore a suit despite his surroundings and seemed utterly unbothered by the filth. He reached out and pushed in one of the bricks and the wall opened up for him. Martin blinked and his vision returned to normal, he turned his eyes from the alley itself to the point on the wall the image had indicated. He walked over to it and frowned, it looked completely indistinct from the rest of the wall. He reached up and pressed his fingers against it and without hesitation it depressed, sliding into the wall before clicking once. The wall soundlessly slid down in front of him, revealing a stairwell going down. His eyes narrowed and he clicked his tongue when no lights came on. Typical. He fished through his pockets before pulling out a lighter and glaring at it. He glanced down the passage, I could use my eyes. He considered what Chernovna had said during an interview once. That she and her team ¡®theorized¡¯ that powers were like a muscle, they need to be worked to be strengthened. It annoys me that I need to take advice from her, but it¡¯ll do. He thought as he stepped into the darkness, his eyes lighting up and the space before him covered with a yellow-gold hue. He could see clearly despite it. As he did he felt something in the air to his right and glanced over, his lips curling downward. ¡°You¡¯re nosy,¡± He grunted to the floating pink digital-looking eye. The eye flickered and turned into a face that laughed impishly at him before vanishing. He clicked his tongue, Crazy bitch. He grumbled and continued down the stairs. Her range is monstrous, though I suppose as long as she has a general idea of where something is, she can pinpoint. She used the field of view of the camera and then followed me. I need to be more cautious. He thought grimly as he found the base of the stairs. A tunnel stretched out in front of him with a small stream of water going down the way on his left. He reached up and adjusted his hat, stalking forward. I should have brought a weapon. As an ordinary citizen it was far harder to get a weapon past customs and France was on high alert after what happened in The Hague. He felt that presence again and spun around, shoving his hand into his pocket and grabbing the first thing he felt. He tossed it at the pink floating eye that was now following him, ¡°Would you quit following me you goddamn voyeur!¡± He barked, annoyed, and threw his lighter through the eye. It vanished and he huffed, grumbling irritably as a splash echoed in the tunnel. He blinked and looked at his hand and then at the water, watching his lighter float by. He stared at it for several seconds before letting out a sigh and reaching up to scratch his scruffy chin, ¡°Let her annoy me, damn it. I can practically hear her laughing at me.¡± He didn¡¯t look back at her, ¡°A disgraced detective,¡± He said honestly. ¡°You got a lot of nerve coming down into the belly of the beast, ¡®detective¡¯,¡± She growled, ¡°You¡¯re also dead weight as far as I¡¯m concerned if you can¡¯t fight. Gimme a reason to keep you alive. You¡¯ve got ten-¡± ¡°Mythic. Ocular power. See the truth of what¡¯s before me.¡± He cut her off. ¡°-seconds...¡± She trailed off, the danger in the air slipping immediately, ¡°You¡¯re not lying?¡± ¡°Can I turn around?¡± He asked. She pulled her knife away from his neck and took a step back. He rose, slowly, and lowered his new weapon before turning to face her. He reached up and tilted his hat a bit, giving her a cursory look. She had red hair that was cut short, freckles across her nose and a pair of luminous green eyes. He paid little attention to her figure beyond the compression shirt and the cargo pants held up by a combat belt. His eyes told him the rest, ¡°Addison Kelly, combat veteran, served in TAG, awakened and left the military after accidentally-¡± He held up a hand, ¡°Enough, that¡¯s enough, I believe you,¡± She said cooly. ¡°Fine,¡± He grunted and shoved his new gun into his pocket. He glanced down the path behind her, ¡°I¡¯m looking into the man who owns this place.¡± ¡°You know who owns it?¡± She asked, incredulously. ¡°Superficially,¡± He grumbled, ¡°I won¡¯t know for certain until I lay eyes on him myself.¡± She frowned, ¡°Better than me, I¡¯ve been following disappearances and human traffickers, it led me here.¡± He scowled, He¡¯s already started, then. Damn it. How many people has he- He closed his eyes and let out a breath. He opened his mouth to say something and then a face popped up in his mind. He closed his mouth and rubbed the bridge of his nose, ¡°I¡¯m moving on,¡± He grunted and started walking past her. ¡°Hold it,¡± She bit out, slapping the wall and blocking him. ¡°Why don¡¯t we-¡± ¡°Team up?¡± He interrupted her again, looking her square in the eyes, ¡°I don¡¯t do partners anymore,¡± He said with a sigh and dipped under her arm, ¡°But if you happen to follow me, I can¡¯t do a damn thing about it.¡± Side Story – Vigilantes I Side Story ¨C Vigilantes I The tunnel continued on for over an hour, gradually sloping downwards into the Parisian depths. Martin kept his eyes on the path, his ability granting him clarity despite the growing darkness. Despite the cool atmosphere and relative quiet, the experience was anything but pleasant. The further he moved along, more and more signs of something terrible happening in the bowls of Paris became evident. He stopped at another half-dried puddle of blood and crouched down next to it, the clarity in his vision swapping out for more detail. The images were confused and muddled, fragmented, but he knew enough. It belonged to a tourist, a backpacker just starting out on their journey across Europe. He let out a heavy sigh and scratched his chin. He knew the young mans name, where he¡¯d come from, everything up until he had made the foolish decision to seek ¡®satisfaction¡¯ in a back alley. From there, everything became a blur of violence and unconsciousness marred by an overlaying current of mana that made getting the full truth difficult. There wasn¡¯t enough here to draw from. He needed to find a body, from that, he could see everything. He got to his feet and turned from the puddle of blood in time to see a pair of glowing green eyes looking back at him. ¡°Still following me?¡± He grunted, turning away after holding the woman¡¯s gaze for a few moments. ¡°I¡¯m just going the same way you are,¡± Addison said while not actually moving an inch until he started walking himself. ¡°You could have gone ahead,¡± He pointed out. ¡°You can see where to step without falling over,¡± She countered, ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I stand behind the bloodhound?¡± He huffed and shook his head, ¡°Do what you want,¡± He said irritably as his vision switched back over to seeing the world clearly. The path lay before him in colored relief, no shadows interfering with his line of sight. He resumed his solitary march, pretending that the nosy woman wasn¡¯t following him as he went over what little information he had in his mind. For someone with Mimir¡¯s Eyes I seem to be lacking a great deal of knowledge. He thought grumpily, I know why he does what he does, or at least what Ishtar believes he does. Her experiences are subjective, though, I won¡¯t know for sure until I lay eyes on him myself. Why is he doing this? How does his ability work? Something with demons but- He glanced back at the blood splotch on the ground, Human Sacrifice? I haven¡¯t heard of an ability that necessitated that. He frowned, Abilities have drawbacks and downsides sometimes, costs, very rarely in mythics though. He scratched at his neck before pausing and squinting down the path. He frowned and drew the gun from his pocket before throwing his hand out to the left. Addison bumped into him and was about to bark out a question when he held his hand up over her mouth, ¡°Shh,¡± He hissed. He glanced down at the gun and checked the ammunition, it was cheaply made, but it was tipped with monster bone. Enough to do some damage. He scoffed, he almost missed ASTA Quality equipment in that moment. He turned his attention up to what he¡¯d seen lurking in the shadows, watching them. It was the size of a chimpanzee but terribly thin, with too-long forearms and a squat, flat faced head. It had no nose, rather just a hole like on a skull. It had long serrated teeth designed for grasping and ripping. Those teeth were revealed by the knowing sneer of a creature that believed itself invisible. If I switch to truth, I¡¯ll lose sight of it, He thought, I¡¯ll have to trust my instincts. He pivoted and aimed a little to the right of the creature and fired. The single gunshot rang out, causing Addison to step back warily. The noise was enough to startle the creature as well and it quickly dislodged itself from where it had been hiding, darting to its right. Right into the line of fire. A hole formed in the side of its misshapen head and it dropped to the ground with a thud. Silenced forever. He waited for it to dissolve like a manifested creature he¡¯d seen from another light-touched ability. Nothing. It remained. He returned her scowl with a thousand-yard stare, ¡°So?¡± He grunted, ¡°I¡¯m talking abilities and monsters, not people,¡± He spat. ¡°I can¡¯t fight worth shit but if you¡¯re gonna follow me around you might as well make yourself useful,¡± She glanced back over her shoulder at the demon he killed. He scoffed, ¡°Lucky shot.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you learn everything about me with those eyes of yours?¡± She asked after a long pause. ¡°I was trying to be polite,¡± He grumbled, ¡°Only looked into your personal history. Apparently it¡¯s rude to ask someone the name of their ability,¡± He added with a shrug, ¡°So are you worth anything in a fight or not?¡± She returned his stare for a moment before letting out a sigh and reaching into her shirt, she pulled on a thin chain that he hadn¡¯t noticed before and revealed a ring hanging around her neck. It was a simple silver band with a large emerald gleaming on it. The emerald released a faint pulse as she rubbed her thumb over it. The next moment she held up her hand and a flickering green spark appeared over her palm. ¡°I can do a lot of things, but I¡¯m best at doing damage,¡± She said harshly before tapping her temple, ¡°Got spells in my head that I can cast, it¡¯s a bit of a pain to cast anything other than the offensive ones though.¡± ¡°Bluestar has an ability like yours, the Guildmaster of the ASTA Guild,¡± He said, ¡°She¡¯s talented with defensive magic, apparently.¡± She huffed and clenched her fist, the spark vanishing, ¡°Tell her I¡¯m green with envy,¡± She quipped before looking past him, ¡°Satisfied?¡± ¡°It¡¯ll do,¡± He said with a shrug and started walking again. He paused for a moment before letting out a breath, Dammit. ¡°Sorry about the whole looking into your past thing,¡± He said, ¡°That was-¡± ¡°I get it,¡± She waved it off, ¡°I¡¯m more interested in what you¡¯re even doing here. Chasing after disappeared people and stumbling into some kind of demon-related conspiracy or whatever,¡± She said, checking her belt absently and running her hand over the handle of her gun, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t someone with your power be out there sussing out big villains? Couldn¡¯t you find Ishtar?¡± He froze mid step, his shoulders tensing. He opened his mouth but it had gone dry. His throat clenched and he felt every cell in his body force him into immobility. He closed his eyes and took a thin breath before turning to stare at her, hard. He tried again to speak but nothing came. She returned his stare and a number of emotions washed over her face. Confusion, thoughtfulness, realization, and then horror. ¡°You already did!¡± Chapter 127 Chapter 127 It was the day after she¡¯d watched Martin. Sonya stepped through one of her portals and into the quiet interior of her office. The lights came on of their own accord as she strode over to her desk. The wall-screen came on line and the feeds immediately appeared, spreading around her. She barely paid any attention to it, her astral eyes already forming on the ceiling and observing. If something important came up she¡¯d divert her attention but she doubted it. Besides, she had more important things to concern herself with. She sat down on her desk and yawned, the dial tone in her head ringing over twice before the other side picked up. <¡°Mistress?¡±> Blackrazor answered. She smiled, <¡±Blackrazor! How are things, dear?¡±> She asked. <¡±Productive, mistress. We¡¯ve completed the selective purge and replenishment of workers at the new headquarters. We are currently just a few days behind schedule,¡±> Blackrazor said in his usual mild tone. <¡±We have completed a full and thorough investigation and have removed one hundred and thirty-four high yield explosives hidden throughout the site.¡±> She tilted her head and pursed her lips, <¡±Does that include the exterior buildings?¡±> She asked, her lip twitching a bit. <¡±Yes mistress, if we continue as is we will complete the main complex including the central building just a small deviation past the originally projected timeframe,¡±> He let out a sigh, <¡±Shameful.¡±> She laughed, <¡±Oh don¡¯t be such a grump about it. Do you need to hire more people to catch up?¡±> She asked. <¡±That would certainly be helpful, but I doubt simply throwing more manpower at the problem will fix it. We may very well have to accept the delay,¡±> Blackrazor admitted flatly. She clicked her tongue, <¡±It is what it is, then,¡±> She sighed and rubbed her neck, <¡±Damn that Liberty, she¡¯s like an infection and she knows where headquarters is going to be. I might need you to at least maintain high alert until construction is done,¡±> She said, unhappy with having to do so, that was a lot of night-society agents and security forces left standing around at headquarters rather than moving about throughout the rest of the world for her. She could be tracking more people than just Martin, not that she needed to really, nor wanted to, but it would be nice to have the option available. <¡±Nothing will touch your new home,¡±> Blackrazor said with all certainty. She smiled, <¡±I appreciate you,¡±> She said, <¡±How¡¯s Kera?¡±> <¡±Still obsessed with fruit, erratic, but efficient when doing her job, calm and content when we are simply socializing, I personally don¡¯t understand it,¡±> Blackrazor grumbled. She raised an eyebrow, <¡±...fruit?¡±> <¡±Dates, in particular, mistress,¡±> Blackrazor said. Sonya let out a groan, she threw herself back on the desk and pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to resist the urge to grind her teeth. She threw her hand up, <¡±Blackrazor, dear, could you do me a favor and use that nice phone I got for you to look up what the ¡®social¡¯ definition of a ¡®date¡¯ is? Please? For me? Really quick?¡±> She said exasperatedly. <¡±I promise it might help.¡±> There was a long, very long, uncomfortably long, pause. <¡±Ah. I see,¡±> Blackrazor mumbled. <¡±I appear to have made an unnecessary purchase.¡±> She squinted, <¡±The hell did you buy?¡±> He hummed to himself, turning the pauldron over in his hand as he considered. He glanced up at her and raised an eyebrow, ¡°You could give me the name of your ability, you¡¯ve figured it out haven¡¯t you?¡± He said with a cold smile, ¡°Give me that and I can make you the perfect suit of armor, never have to get out of it again.¡± She narrowed her eyes, ¡°And allow you to start discerning possible weaknesses? I think not.¡± He crossed his arms, ¡°Suit yourself, but I¡¯m working for you now aren¡¯t I?¡± He said, gesturing around his workshop, ¡°As long as you keep me well stocked and funded I¡¯ve got no reason to turn on you,¡± He said, ¡°Besides, what would I do with that information? Kill you?¡± He barked out a laugh, ¡°Then who would run the cult? Your sister?¡± He laughed again and leaned forward, ¡°Look, you need me as much as I need you, lady. If you want to keep me around and get what you really need out of me, then you¡¯re gonna have to show a bit of trust.¡± Her lips curled in disgust, ¡°Trust you? You¡¯re a snake.¡± ¡°I am an inventor,¡± He corrected her, ¡°And an opportunist, there¡¯s a difference.¡± She scoffed, ¡°Hardly,¡± She crossed her arms and they stared one another down for several heartbeats. She rolled her eyes and looked away, turning her back on him for a moment as she mulled it over. ¡°Does it have to be visible on the armor?¡± She asked after a long moment, tapping her foot with growing irritation. ¡°You engrave the name of the ability onto the equipment you make, correct?¡± She asked. ¡°You noticed!¡± He said, ¡°Yeah, I do, but the name doesn¡¯t have to be visible. It could be on the inside if you want.¡± She rounded on him, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you do that for the men I sent to get fitted?¡± She demanded. He shrugged, ¡°They didn¡¯t ask,¡± He said with a sneer, ¡°Besides, it was a good opportunity to test whether or not there was a difference between high visibility placements and the lack thereof. Data, Liberty, data!¡± He beamed, ¡°Every piece of information gets me closer to a perfect understanding of this ability,¡± He said and gestured to the anvil and the hammer that appeared in his hand next. The dark metal hammer wreathed in gold strips glowed with a faint orange light that caused the temperature of the room to start rising. ¡°All you care about is testing your toys?¡± She demanded, ¡°Not the lives of the men wearing them?¡± He gave her an incredulous look, ¡°Like you actually care either?¡± He scoffed, ¡°You can delude everyone else but you don¡¯t have me fooled. Your blood is made of ice.¡± She popped her neck, ¡°I would endure a lot to rip your arms out of their sockets right now,¡± She growled before letting out a sigh and reaching up to run armored fingers through her hair. She glanced back at him again, ¡°Standard of Glorious Camelot,¡± She said after another few seconds of hesitation. He returned her stare for a moment before he actually gave her a half-respectable smile, ¡°See, that wasn¡¯t so hard,¡± He said and gestured to the ground, ¡°Leave your armor and I¡¯ll have it done by the end of the week. Masterwork takes time.¡± She huffed and reached up to remove her breastplate, tossing it to the ground. She did the same with her gauntlets, revealing the compression shirt and her growing muscles. He stared at her for a moment, eyeing her arms, ¡°You¡¯re disgusting,¡± She spat. He wrinkled his nose, ¡°Please, physical interests are a distraction from science and creation,¡± He said, ¡°I extricated distractions from my body shortly after the flash,¡± He said and glanced down at his hammer, ¡°This is all I need to derive pleasure for myself,¡± he said, hefting it, ¡°I simply find the physiological changes from your ability fascinating. Arthurian in origin, very interesting,¡± He rubbed his chin, ¡°I wonder if Excalibur or Caliburn or whatever it¡¯s called is real, then.¡± ¡°No evidence so far,¡± She said as she removed the last of her armor, leaving it in a pile at his feet, ¡°If there is, I¡¯ll find it. It¡¯s mine.¡± He smirked, ¡°Don¡¯t want me to make a sword for you?¡± He asked. She turned away from him and stalked away, ¡°There¡¯s only one weapon worthy of me,¡± She said with a growl, ¡°Be honored enough you get to make my armor,¡± She added as she left, shutting the door behind her. She closed her eyes and ignored the fit of mad laughter that echoed through the door as she stepped into the hallway. Psychopath, she thought and made her way down the hall. As she walked one of the women walking down the hallway saw her in nothing but her compression shirt and slacks and hurried to her side, taking off her own shawl and presenting it to her without hesitation. Liberty stared at the offered cloth and resisted the urge to slap it away in disgust, ¡°I¡¯m fine, thank you,¡± She growled instead, continuing past, ¡°I have clothes in my chambers,¡± She said, ¡°Send for the rest of the round table. I want them to meet me in an hour.¡± She paid no attention to the figure prostrating behind her and instead marched down the hall until she got to the stairs, going up and and up until she arrived at the floor set aside for her personal residence. She pushed through the double doors as her eyes began to glow again, One week until my armor is done. That¡¯s good enough. Philip¡¯s mole has one week until I mobilize against the East Coast Camp. Chapter 128 Chapter 128 Announcement Hey gang! I do a lot of shout outs for other series but today I wanted to do one for you guys. Thank you so much for your continued support and for enjoying this story as we continue to follow Sonya''s journey! There''s so much more to come! I wanted to let you guys know that this current volume, Fog of War, is completed on Patreon and we are well on our way to 200 chapters within the next few weeks. Isn''t that crazy? We are also well on our way to the official published release of Volume 1: Deus Ex Machina. Editing is going well and we''re about done making decisions concerning the audiobook with Podium. It''s coming!!! If you enjoy the story, please consider joining the patreon and the discord. We have lots of channels and I try to be on there as much as I can. I want to also let you guys know that I will be taking a week break next week November 11 - 15 to catch my breath a little and catch up on my backlog. Thank you guys so much! We''ve got more to come! - DerelictPresence aka TheBroker Sonya stepped out of her office, the metallic door hissing shut behind her as she traipsed over the cushy floor of her dojo. She¡¯d finished reading over the write up that Blackrazor had sent her, it was shorter than she had hoped, but that was to be expected. Liberty may have a very public presence but actual detail was hard to come by. She was apparently wearing new armor recently and had been equipping her men well. She rubbed her chin thoughtfully, I should have told Blackrazor to push for one of his men to get into Liberty¡¯s headquarters yesterday, she thought and then scratched at her head, No, if it could have been done by now it would have. Ah, how is she vetting people? She grumbled before letting out a groan and turning left towards one of the other doors leading out of her dojo. The doors opened with a hiss and she smirked, Kind of a shame those punks didn¡¯t make it in here before I caught them. Poor Ollie, he would have been so excited, She chuckled inwardly. She stepped into the trophy hall, yawning a little. She¡¯d had to find a place to put the rewards from the various dungeons that she and her guild had managed to clear. Some of them weren¡¯t items that were of any use to her people, yet, so she wanted them safe. She passed by the odd doll from the goblin dungeon and the mace, the real one, not the one that was on display at the ASTA Guild Headquarters. She reached over and touched the glass around it, ¡°Hey Nick,¡± She said with a smile, ¡°Miss you buddy,¡± She rapped her knuckles on the glass before walking towards the next case, no label was on it, just like the others. She turned to the glass and stared at it for a moment, the bone knife inside gleamed oddly in the artificial light above her. It brought back memories, she watched Feng Hyunh fall to her death all over again and exhaled as a call came in. She glanced at her HUD, Mephisto? This should be good. <¡±Hey girl hey!¡±> She answered with a cheeky grin. <¡±Got somethin¡¯ for ya, ma¡¯am,¡±> Mephisto chirped back at her, a small chuckle in his voice, <¡±I¡¯m with the Spice King, he wants a word,¡±> She pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows, <¡±Oho, business call? Alright, put me on,¡±> She cleared her throat as she activated the voice filter for the call. She heard the phone on the other end shift to speaker mode and she relaxed. A part of her wanted to pull the mask on, but, maybe this time she could do it herself. <¡±Spice King! What a pleasant surprise,¡±> She said, leaning against the case that held the Vegas knife, <¡±What can I do for you?¡±> ¨C The silence was a balm, like a cool towel on the neck during a heat wave. It wasn¡¯t a complete silence, he could hear his own faint breathing, the sounds of the shifting in the walls, the faint adjustments to the ventilation to push air into the room. Those little sounds didn¡¯t bother him, it was like a symphony atop the blessed silence that soothed his soul even more. He rested his head against the hard wall behind him and closed his eyes, a small smile playing on his face. He savored it, the deafening silence that would not last forever. This is nice, I should kill the other inmates more often. He let out a pleasant sigh as the mild thought passed through him. He tapped his fingers against his thumbs, powerful, dense, taught muscle in his lithe arms tensed and flexed. He wanted to doze off, take a nap, he wasn¡¯t exactly sure how long he had been in this room. Not that he cared. Every second was a treasure. If only there was a way to make it permanent. After all, all good things came to an end. He opened his eyes, a blue the color of glacial ice; almost white, glowed from his irises. The sole illumination in the room from his eyes was bright enough to reflect off the heavy metal door in front of him. The door shuddered and a panel slid on it. A pair of human eyes stared at him through the opening, they met his and quickly averted. ¡°Graff.¡± The guard grunted. ¡°Time¡¯s up.¡± Graff clicked his tongue. He rolled his neck and looked away from the door, ¡°How many inmates do I need to kill to stay?¡± He asked. ¡°Kill too many and they¡¯ll put you in a hospital,¡± The guard chuckled, ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to do therapy and talk about your feelings.¡± Graff¡¯s nose wrinkled with disgust and he stared at the wall a bit longer. He rose slowly to his feet and walked over to the door, resting his head against it, ¡°Having trouble with a new kid?¡± He asked, tilting his head and slowly sliding his head down the metal till he was eye level with the guard. His gaze bored into the guard¡¯s, sweat immediately beading on the man¡¯s forehead. His smile curled up just a little bit, ¡°Well? Fill me in,¡± Graff mumbled, the volume of his voice never changing. Graff pushed past him, ¡°Keep my cell in solitary open.¡± ¨C Graff stalked past the other inmates who took a moment to recognize him. Some of them were pulled out of the way by their friends and allies, whispers of warning spreading through the crowd. Everyone took note of his bare wrists, everyone knew, he didn¡¯t care. All he cared about was the son-of-a-bitch arrogant enough to call himself an elementalist. He couldn¡¯t care less if the guy was trying to make himself a big man on campus. The dick-measuring contest was beneath Graff. He didn¡¯t care if the guy wanted to cause a little trouble. He was even willing to overlook this idiot trying to break the schedule. ¡°A wind user calling themselves an elementalist,¡± He scoffed as an inmate raced to the doors and pushed one open for him to step through. He felt the sun against his skin for the first time in a long time and his flat expression turned into a frown, ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with.¡± He stepped out and spotted a pair of familiar faces sitting at a table close to the doors and far away from the majority of the inmates. He turned in that direction, walking over with his hands in his pockets and stopped behind an enormous man who was hunched forward. ¡°Frankie,¡± Graff rumbled, reaching out and flicking the big man in the back. The big man jolted and sat up straight, turning around and pulling his fist back as if ready to flatten Graff. He blinked when he saw him and broke into a smile, ¡°It¡¯s Graff! Hey!¡± He laughed and turned on his seat, planting his feet. He was at least twice Graff¡¯s size. The ability he¡¯d awakened in a contract with Ishtar was some sort of growth related power or something. Graff really wasn¡¯t sure, but it¡¯d made him crazy strong. ¡°Hear we got a new guy,¡± Graff said, ¡°They brought me out to say hello.¡± Frankie frowned and glanced to his right towards a large gathering of men on the other side of the enrichment field. Graff glanced that way and spotted a black-haired guy sitting on a table. He was beefy but not overly so from what Graff could see. He shrugged and looked back at Frankie, before glancing around, ¡°Where¡¯s Wicker?¡± He asked. Frankie shifted on his feet and stepped to the right, revealing another inmate who was sitting at the table, hiding behind the bigger Frankie with his hands over his head. Graff narrowed his eyes and walked over, grabbing the guy by the scruff of his shirt and pulling his head out from under his hands. The kid¡¯s face was a fucking mess. Black eye, cuts, scars, and from the look of it his jaw was all messed up. Graff narrowed his eyes, ¡°Wick. The fuck happened to your face?¡± Wicker looked away sullenly, ¡°Nuffin.¡± Graff lifted him to his feet, spun him around and grabbed him by the shirt, ¡°I asked you a question, Wick,¡± Graff growled, ¡°The fuck happened to your face?¡± Wick turned his eyes slowly to look at Graff then shot his gaze towards the upstart standing on the table. Graff stood up a bit straighter and raised an eyebrow, ¡°Tried to stop him from rallying for a riot?¡± Graff asked. The kid shrugged and Graff dropped him back on his seat. He licked his lips and turned towards the guy in the distance. A massive hand landed on his shoulder and he glanced at it, frowning. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Charon¡¯s got a bounty on high-tier powers, living is worth more,¡± Frankie said quickly. ¡°Ishtar askin¡¯ for ¡®em specifically. Just heard about it today.¡± Graff narrowed his eyes, ¡°She doesn¡¯t give me orders,¡± he growled and pulled his shoulder away, ¡°Besides, it sounds like Charon will pay for corpses too.¡± He stalked across the field, the sun was starting to annoy him more and more. His temper rising as he shoved his hands into his pockets and stared flatly at the man who was now fully standing on the table. He was shouting something that Graff had no patience to even listen to. He grumbled and made his way forward, stopping in front of the crew of men that were all looking up at their new ringleader. One of them glanced back and went wide-eyed. He quickly shook the guy next to him and soon everyone was staring at Graff, the last to take notice was the ringleader himself. ¡°You Gale Force?¡± He called. A whip of wind slapped against his skin. He glanced down at his chest and then up at the guy who had already turned away. The others were still staring at him and one reached up to grab Gale Force¡¯s attention. The man frowned and looked back at Graff, his expression souring a bit. ¡°Get lost,¡± Gale Force said, ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡± ¡°Gale, that¡¯s Graff,¡± One of them hissed quickly. Gale raised an eyebrow and grinned, hopping off the table and pushing through his men. He spread his arms out, ¡°Well if it isn¡¯t the so-called ¡®monster¡¯ Graff! You¡¯re shorter than I expected. I half figured you¡¯d be as big as that punk-ass Frankie, given how much everyone sucks your-¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Graff said and strode forward, fixing the guy with a stare. ¡°I was talking you-¡± Gale bit out, a gust of wind pressing against Graff. Graff just walked through it, unblinking, his ice-blue eyes glowing a little brighter as he drew nearer and nearer to the man. Gale concentrated and pushed harder, several of the men around him getting pushed away by the wind that was now bearing down on Graff. Graff just kept walking until he was standing over Gale. Graff¡¯s eyes were wide, his pupils small, his expression stony, he tilted his head, ¡°Here¡¯s what¡¯s about to happen,¡± He bit out, ¡°I¡¯m going to turn every other cell in your lungs into a razor sharp diamond. You¡¯re going to get to take one last breath. Then you¡¯re going to die,¡± He said and his arm whipped out without another word. His fingers pressed against the man¡¯s chest and he pushed him back a full step. The man held his ground, glaring at Graff before he took a breath and his eyes went wide, blood poured from his mouth in a gout and he dropped like a heavy sack. Graff swept his gaze over the others, not even looking at the fresh corpse, ¡°The break happens when the call goes out, no sooner,¡± He growled. ¡°Don¡¯t bother me with this bullshit again or I¡¯ll kill everyone involved.¡± He turned away and walked towards the exit, the guards already coming out. The wanna-be warden stopping in front of him, pale-faced. Graff smirked at the guy, ¡°Apparently Charon¡¯s paying for high-tier corpses,¡± He murmured, ¡°Get your money¡¯s worth,¡± He said and stalked past, holding his wrists out and waiting to be cuffed before getting dragged back off to Solitary. He tilted his head and glanced over at Frankie and Wick who were staring at him surprised. He grinned at them and looked up at the sky, ¡°Lookin¡¯ forward to my next nap, I have a feeling my next stint in solitary won¡¯t nearly be as long.¡± Chapter 129 Chapter 129 Sonya tossed the knife up and down in her hand, turning it over between her fingers. She stared at it for a moment, admiring the white material. She hadn¡¯t brought it out of its case in a while. It was light and harder than anything that Amos had been able to make thusfar. The long blade was somewhere between a combat knife and a machete. She glanced up at the door leading out of her dojo and bounced a bit on the balls of her feet as she pulled up her hud and began putting in the settings for the doll that would come out of it. The other dolls in the test house were non-combat, used for more domestic purposes. The ones lined up behind that door on the other hand. She popped her neck as the door opened and a doll strutted out, walking with a very familiar gait. In its hand was a knife of its own. It adjusted its posture and stood casually, hand on its hip and knife pointed at her. The flexible machine waited until she raised her own weapon, adopting the same pose. They faced one another for a moment before she tilted forward, ready¨C A chime rang in her head and she groaned, ¡°Oh come on! I was just about to-¡± She blinked at the name and answered immediately after changing over her voice. <¡±Mister Earl! How are you sir?¡±> She asked, lowering her weapon and gesturing for the doll to leave. It bowed and turned back to walk into the room. <¡±Mistress Ishtar, thank you for taking my call.¡±> He said stiffly. Her lip twitched, <¡±Prichard, no need to be so formal, you¡¯re doing good work for me. How are things?¡±> She asked as she twirled the knife between her fingers. <¡±Craig Hart¡¯s company has been fully acquired by the new shell corporation. At first we considered liquidating his assets but to be honest there are some interesting things in his portfolio,¡±> Prichard said, sounding a bit more relaxed, <¡±You¡¯ll be pretty interested in some of it.¡±> She raised an eyebrow, <¡±Oh? Corporate transactions do move slowly don¡¯t they, what do you have for me?¡±> She asked, walking towards her office. The door opened with a hiss and she sent the mental command to pull up a recording of the Olympics on one of the sections of screen around the room. She sat on her desk as a file made it into her HUD. She opened it and scanned it briefly. <¡±What am I looking at?¡±> <¡±A filtered list of his properties, they make up about twenty percent of the holdings in various countries he¡¯s acquired over the years,¡±> He said, <¡±Still a pretty big list.¡±> Sonya raised an eyebrow, <¡±Your point? What¡¯s the filter?¡±> <¡±Mana hotspots,¡±> He said with a laugh, <¡±Zones at a high risk for dungeon formation.¡±> Sonya¡¯s eyebrows rose and a wicked smile stretched across her face, <¡±Jackpot.¡±> ¨C He walked down the hall, his cane striking the ground now and then. He didn¡¯t need it anymore, his control over his body had improved by leaps and bounds. Even so, he still liked it, it made him feel classy. He whistled a bit as he made his way along the path, twirling his cane between his fingers now and then as he passed paintings. Paintings of himself superimposed in a number of historical events, or just famous paintings. Was it a bit egotistical? Sure, he¡¯d admit to that. Was it also hilarious and really tied in this particular hallway¡¯s decor? Absolutely. He snickered a little to himself as he came to a stop in front of a pair of large double doors. He glanced back the way he¡¯d come, the high-ceiling of the dimly lit hallway giving it a cavernous feel. He reached out with his cane and rapped on it twice. A low growl answered him, deep enough to rattle the air a bit, and he brightened. He pushed the doors open and threw his hands open in greeting. ¡°Pavlov! Daddy¡¯s here!¡± He called out into the large, darkened chamber. Deep in the dark, a shadow shifted, and a glowing red eye opened. It was huge. Easily the size of a dinner plate. The eye swiveled unnaturally in the creature¡¯s head before pointing in his direction. He held his arms open as something big and terrible moved. Its massive bulk shifted in the shadows, a head larger than a riding lawnmower turned in his direction. A paw hit the ground and the floor shook once then again, and again, as the massive thing barreled toward him at full speed. Charon let out a laugh as the titanic dog crashed into him, bowling him over and licking his face with a tongue as wide as a welcome mat. He kept laughing as Pavlov licked his face, pawing the ground and pressing its nose against his head, huffing and sniffing now and then. ¡°Good boy! Who¡¯s a good boy!¡± He praised the mighty canine, the sole survivor of his initial group of zombies. Out-aging all of his zombies by half a year at the minimum. His rise to power hadn¡¯t been easy, but Pavlov had been his constant companion and ally. He scratched at the beasts fur as the zombified hound nuzzled him, overjoyed at his attention. He pat the side of its head, ¡°Alright buddy, let me up! Come on now!¡± It let out a growling ¡°Rowf!¡± of acknowledgement and pulled away, planting its rear on the ground and sitting up at attention. He had to crane his head back to look at it, even as he got up. Blight stared at him, ¡°My ability reverses damage on things,¡± He growled, ¡°The consequence is that my body suffers the repair as age and sickness instead. I have various forms of cancer and my body is withered and broken.¡± Charon raised an eyebrow and glanced back at Pavlov who snuffed once and sat down, staring at the old man. It didn¡¯t seem interested in eating him anymore. He turned his attention back to Blight, ¡°So you want healing from Ishtar? Get your youth back?¡± Blight¡¯s lip twitched, ¡°I have a scheme to propose for Ishtar. My youth is just a portion of the deal and wholly unnecessary, though it would expedite things.. It will take time to achieve what I want, more than a year or two at minimum, but I¡¯ve come to realize that I cannot achieve my ends without support.¡± Charon was impressed. This guy couldn¡¯t care less about his own body as long as it meant achieving his goals. He stood up straight and adjusted his tie, ¡°Alright, I¡¯m interested. Let¡¯s see if Ishtar would be too. Whatcha got for me?¡± Blight¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°There¡¯s a man I want to kill more than anything on this earth.¡± ¡°A single murder? I could just call up the night so-¡± The old man coughed, loudly, cutting him off. A cough that turned into a peal of wheezing laughter. Charon blinked and his lips dipped into a frown, ¡°You got a problem with the Night Society?¡± ¡°You are suggesting throwing pebbles at a mountainside,¡± The old man chortled cruelly, leaning back in his wheelchair, ¡°This person won¡¯t go down that easily.¡± ¡°Who are we talking about?¡± Charon asked. ¡°First Wind,¡± Blight snarled, clenching his fists, ¡°First Wind! That insidious wretched malcontent!¡± He slammed his fists on his wheelchair, ¡°He runs around destroying natural wonders and isolated pollution centers to test the strength of his abilities, then he blames it all on me!¡± He roared, his fingers popping and cracking under the pressure of his rage. ¡°I may have been an ecological activist at one time, but I stopped my activities after the flash!¡± He swore, spitting on the ground, ¡°I¡¯ve been going around restoring damaged natural sites! I was working on healing the great barrier reef!¡± The old man¡¯s rage was palpable, ¡°I heard you wrecked the reef,¡± Charon said. ¡°First Wind!¡± The old man nearly shrieked before slipping into a coughing fit, ¡°That piece of shit came in while I was working, took pictures of my ship, and then ravaged the reef with his ability! He picks isolated spots to practice and train. I¡¯ve been monitoring him. The damage to the redwoods in California was him too!¡± Charon pursed his lips and glanced back at Pavlov who was laying on his side and paying absolutely no attention at this point. Charon huffed through his nostrils. He was trying to look vaguely interested while he was actually extremely interested. Ishtar had made it a point to give him a list of names that she was explicitly interested in dealing with. Among that list was First Wind. Each and every one of them she wanted some sort of role in killing. He rubbed his neck with his cane, though, and tilted his head in thought. If he came across too eager then the man might make more demands than necessary. More importantly, this sounded like the kind of thing that Ishtar should address directly. ¡°Hmm...¡± He hummed, stepping away for a moment and starting to pace, ¡°Let¡¯s say I believe you. Do you have a plan? A higher goal than just killing this son of a bitch? Sounds like you can¡¯t go around healing the world forever,¡± Charon said, turning back to him, ¡°Ishtar likes long term plans too.¡± Blight stared at him for a moment, ¡°I¡¯m putting together a team and a possible successor. We have a few plans in mind to bring First Wind down, but again, it will take time,¡± He looked down at his hands, ¡°As for my other activities,¡± He trailed off for a moment before speaking, ¡°If she deigns to return my youth to me, I¡¯ll not only start healing the world again, I¡¯ll start attacking pollution centers again if she wants. I¡¯ll be the bad guy they made me out to be if that¡¯s what it takes to earn her favor.¡± Charon raised his eyebrows and smirked, ¡°You know what? I think we could do business,¡± He said and pulled out his phone again, ¡°Let me get in touch with Mephisto and you and the dealmaker himself can have a little talk. If everything goes well, I might be able to convince the Queen to make a visit. I¡¯m sure her direct intervention is much more potent than her age-reversing contracts.¡± The withered man let out a breath of relief and slumped in his seat, ¡°Consideration is all I ask,¡± He said with a sigh, ¡°Thank you, Charon.¡± ¡°Just doing my job, Blight. Regardless of whether or not you¡¯re actually guilty of your crimes, I consider it an honor to be hosting one of the top ten in my club. Shall I set you up with a room?¡± Charon asked, finishing a quick text message and sending it off. Blight smiled at him, ¡°That would be nice.¡± Side-Story: Side Quests 2 Side-Story: Side Quests 2 He stood in the midst of the trees and flexed his fingers, his eyes rolling up into his head. He rolled his neck, shifting once on his feet as he tasted the mana in the air. The words bounced around in his head. He let out a shaky breath. Why did it bother him so much? Was it because they came from someone he couldn¡¯t help but respect? There was a weight of truth to the words, it was like it was impossible for them to be a lie or something. The thought sent a chill up his spine and he grit his teeth. Humanity is resilient. He opened his eyes and they lit up with a blue glow as he took a few more shaky breaths. Humans don¡¯t need gods. He clenched his fists, ¡°It¡¯s not enough. I need to be more.¡± He thought, ¡°She just doesn¡¯t get it, she doesn¡¯t understand what a god is. What I could be to everyone,¡± His lip curled, ¡°Before the end.¡± He held out his hand and with a flex of his item cheat a golden sword appeared. It glowed brightly with an off-yellow light as he swung it about. ¡°A sword?¡± He scoffed and shoved it into the ground, leaving it there for a moment as he stalked back and forth and called up the crown he used to add to the illusion of his made-up power. ¡°A crown?¡± He clenched it in his fist and tossed it over to hang off of the hilt of the sword. ¡°A few item cheats, immunity, anonymity,¡± He spat, ¡°Maxing out my stats,¡± He rumbled, ¡°But are they really the max?¡± He held out his hands and activated the cheat, feeling strength rush through his body. He exhaled and mist boiled from his lips. His defenses, his self-regeneration, his health, his physical power. He glowered at his hands, ¡°Are they really enough?¡± He flexed his fingers and examined his hands, ¡°What if I...¡± He spat on the ground. ¡°...but I¡¯m perfect!¡± He declared, ¡°This power is perfect! It¡¯s supposed to be! Isn¡¯t it?¡± He ran his fingers through his hair, ¡°I haven¡¯t doubted myself until I heard her voice...¡± Ishtar. He spun on his heel and stopped, ¡°Odysseus had to struggle, humans are resilient after all,¡± He reasoned, ¡°He worked hard to reach the end of his story,¡± He muttered and looked over at the crown. He stared at it for a long time, thoughts bouncing around in his head as they tried to settle into something cohesive. He bore his teeth and tilted his head forward, his fists clenching tighter, blood dripping from them. He savored the pain for a moment, he let it give him focus, clarity, he took a deep breath. ¡°I need to struggle too, don¡¯t I? To be the hero of the story. Yeah, that¡¯s right,¡± He murmured, ¡°Yeah...¡± He crouched, ¡°I took the bomb out,¡± He snickered, ¡°Did you know it was there?¡± He asked. She stared at him, horrified, ¡°N-no,¡± She stammered. ¡°Looks like Liberty doesn¡¯t trust you,¡± He hissed. Her eyes went wider, ¡°I d-don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie to me!¡± He snarled and grabbed her by the face, ¡°I know,¡± He laughed, ¡°Oh it feels good saying that. Eat shit Ishtar,¡± He cackled and tilted his head before pulling her close with his strength, he looked her in the eyes, ¡°Here is what¡¯s going to happen. You are going to keep acting as you have been. Keep reporting back. All normal. But you¡¯re going to tell me everything you know, everything you see, and everything you hear from home. You work for me now, little mole,¡± He whispered with a condescending tone, ¡°Do a good job for me and I¡¯ll make you into someone important in the future,¡± He was nose to nose with her now, ¡°Fail?¡± He looked her in the eyes, ¡°And I can make things hurt you didn¡¯t even know could hurt.¡± Yes, I¡¯ve been so caught up in this little act, playing the trainee hero, I forgot what my goal was. What I should be doing. I¡¯m so glad the side quests came up. He thought as a new one appeared, Jessica, the Herald, huh? Okay. Sounds fun! He chuckled as all the strength left her arms and eyes. There was a rustling in the trees behind him as he got to his feet and let go of her. He didn¡¯t turn his body back, just glanced over his shoulder. And there he is. Looks like he noticed a change in my threads or something. He must be able to turn it on without touching people. Sneaky little shit. He broke into a wide grin as Ollie peered through the leaves. ¡°M-marc?¡± Ollie called, ¡°That you over there?¡± Otis sneered behind his shoulder as he gestured sneakily for Jessica to get on her feet and make herself presentable. He turned his back to her, ¡°It¡¯s me, Ollie! Glad you swung by, though I¡¯m curious how you found me!¡± He laughed, ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, I was hoping to see you!¡± He said with his friendliest smile, ¡°We have a lot to talk about!¡± Chapter 130 Chapter 130 Sonya tossed a piece of popcorn into the air from her spot as the show played on the screen above them. She watched the piece fall towards her only for a flash of brown hair to move in her way. Marta snatched it up with a quick bite before leaning back, licking her lips as she looked back up at the screen. Sonya gave her a petulant look before glancing back at the show. A pair of men were standing on the deck of a speedboat, one of them with a megaphone. They were saying something to the crew of another ship. One of the members of the other crew was a woman who burst into flowery cursing as she grabbed her guns. Sonya laughed, ¡°Wow she has a mouth on her,¡± Sonya snickered from Marta¡¯s lap. Her best friend looked down at her, ¡°What do you think so far?¡± ¡°It¡¯s pretty good, if a bit wild,¡± Sonya said, rolling over a bit to get a better look at the screen, ¡°This is set mostly in South China right?¡± Marta nodded, ¡°Yes, I love this show.¡± Sonya glanced at her, ¡°You know, I¡¯ve noticed you have a thing for action shows.¡± Marta pursed her lips, ¡°I was a bit of an adrenaline junkie in high school,¡± She admitted, ¡°Anything to get a thrill, discovered anime while at a hotel before base jumping.¡± Sonya tilted her head, ¡°You¡¯re serious? You never told me about that!¡± ¡°You never asked!¡± Marta laughed before looking up at a beautiful shot of the water, ¡°I wonder how Barry¡¯s doing,¡± She murmured as her lips curled up into a gentle smile. ¨C The feed flickered and hissed for a moment before it came to life. For a moment there was nothing on the screen but the vast sea and a little bit of the deck of a ship. The waves crashed and somewhere in the distance a bird called. The feed rustled a little as someone adjusted the position of the camera before a face leaned down to peer into the lens. Jaw as solid as steel, big dark eyes, and a mess of short hair, Barry Logan grinned with his signature sharp teeth at the lens before stepping back, putting his hands on his hips and puffing out his chest. ¡°Barry here! Sup, babe!¡± He said brightly, waving at the camera. ¡°Another video diary for ya to see when I get back!¡± ¡°It¡¯s those pirates boss! They came back!¡± Wake shouted, ¡°They¡¯re firing warning shots at the cargo!¡± Kingshark rubbed his neck as his lip twitched, ¡°I was considering scaring them off, but they interrupted somethin¡¯ important,¡± He grumbled and started to walk on the water towards the cargo ship, ¡°Radio the ship, I¡¯ll handle it,¡± He said as the waves crashed around him. The sea began to stir, the ocean itself roiling in his presence. ¡°Trigger wanted to see me anyway,¡± He muttered, stalking forward with murder in his eyes. His sensitive ears heard the audible gulp from Wake before the young man teleported away to the radio station inside the yacht. His walk turned into a small jog, then a run directly at a wave that crested in front of him. He slammed into it and the gills on his neck opened. His skin turned a dark gray, his eyes grew wide and his pupils large. Extra lenses closed over them to protect them from the water. He felt his body growing larger and larger, the elastic water-proof cloth stretching with his increasing size as he turned into a torpedo in the ocean. He spun, pushing himself faster and faster, rocketing through the water and beneath the cargo ship. He spotted light and shapes and stopped in the water, opening his mouth and releasing a pulse of sound, he closed his eyes and let the return pulse hit him. Ten ships, no, eleven. He glanced up at the ten shadows above him before looking out across the vastness towards a far distant shadow. They brought a mother ship. He thought and looked up at the surface. With a rush he controlled the water around him and turned himself into a missile that shot into the air, his gills closed and he pivoted, landing on the deck of the Cargo ship. A few of his men turned and aimed weapons up at him in surprise before turning back to aim at the pirates. His second-lids opened and he swept his gaze over them while someone approached him from behind, ¡°They brought a goddamn frigate,¡± He grunted as Trigger fell into step next to him, ¡°Keep these idiots here till I get back,¡± He said before turning to the guy, ¡°Oh, did you want something?¡± Trigger shrugged looking up at him, ¡°Just wanted to let you know we were going to put the converters in tonight, might be a little delayed now.¡± Kingshark¡¯s eyes went wide, ¡°You serious?¡± He spat on the ground, ¡°I¡¯m one step away from hangin¡¯ out in an underwater fortress in the Mariana Trench, the friggin dream of any supervillain, and I gotta wait because of these bozos?¡± He demanded. ¡°That fuckin¡¯ tears it!¡± He barked and marched towards the edge of the seat, ¡°Keep these guys busy! I¡¯m handlin¡¯ this personally now! The Commodore can play later!¡± He bellowed before hopping off the side of the ship and back into the water without another word. The sea expanded around him as he re-entered the water and he glanced to the right to see the massive shadow of the Commodore drifting closer. With a mental command he sent the beast back below for now, he¡¯d call on it if he needed. Instead, he turned his attention to the frigate that was just far enough away to be difficult to spot by the crew of the cargo ship. He called the water up around him and launched himself forward again, his skin darkening even more. His eyes turned a deep red, a faint glow beginning to blaze in them as he drew closer. Fuckin morons, don¡¯t know a bad idea when its right in front of them! He thought in a rage, the sea growing tumultuous above him. To anyone viewing from above the water, it looked like waves were forming of their own accord and spreading left and right along his path, forming a line of angry waves leading straight towards the large metal ship. In just a matter of moments he was on them, fingers outstretched and turning hard and bony. He slammed into the side of the vessel and dug his fingers into the hull, grabbing on as the ship shifted once with the impact. Barnacles began to spread from the point of impact, growing large before mutating. They twisted and grew, extending into terrible tentacles that extended up and out of the water as he climbed up the side. It didn¡¯t take long with his bulk, nearing twelve feet tall, he was large enough to cause the ship to tilt slightly as he broke the surface. Faces were looking down at him as he looked up, men in cloth masks staring down at him with wide eyes. He opened his mouth wide into a manic smile, ¡°Y¡¯all fucked up!¡± He bellowed as the tentacles breached the water and started grabbing screaming men. He climbed the side as more tentacles rose up around the ship, slamming down on the surface, crushing men and equipment. He hopped onto the deck as well and a gunshot rang out, automatic fire followed, the bullets bounced against his rubbery skin as he waded into the chaos. One man leaped off a platform, his arms turning into chains. He whipped them out to try to grab hold of him only for Kingshark to raise his arm and let the chain wrap around it. He sneered at the guy and pulled, dragging him over. The man let out a cry of fright as the supervillain opened his mouth and bit down on shoulder and spine, crushing bone before whipping his head and sending the bloody corpse hurtling off the side of the ship. He threw his arms out wide as more tentacles rose up, one man was grabbed by his torso and leg and torn in half. Another pirate was simply crushed when one slammed down on him. Another tentacle crashed through the hull in search of the engines. ¡°Kingshark is here, fuckers!¡± He bellowed, stomping forward and sweeping a hand forward to grab one man by the torso before bringing him down against the deck, pulverizing his chest. As he did, another gunshot rang out and he felt a pinch of pain as a bullet grazed his neck. That one actually hurt. He reached up and touched the spot, where that aching wound from Firestorm remained. His grin turned into a frown and he stood up straight, turning his head towards the bridge of the frigate. A man stood there with a rifle in hand, his eyes glowing. Kingshark tilted his head, the burning and chaotic deck of the ship a mad din around him. ¡°You must be the captain,¡± He rumbled and started his approach, blood dripping from his hand. Chapter 131 Chapter 131 Kingshark lumbered forward, swaying left and right. Bullets grazed past his face and scraped over his arms and shoulders. One struck him in the arm and dug in an inch. He grunted and pushed it out of his body, the bone coated ammunition hitting the deck of the ship with a sad little thunk. Around him, mayhem continued. The crew of the ship desperately tried to fight off the tentacles that were now trying to crush the superstructure. One tentacle whipped up at a particularly aggressive man with a knife and speared him through the chest, yanking back and slapping down on his head, leaving a smear on the ground. Kingshark spat out a laugh while he kept walking towards the captain, he held his belly and shifted to a full-on chortle, ¡°Doughnut!¡± He barked out, ¡°Now I get it!¡± He snickered, a conversation with Marta coming to mind. He tilted his head and shifted it to the left a bit, directing one of his eyes at the man standing outside of the bridge, his rifle trained helplessly on the supervillain. ¡°You gonna keep shooting or do I gotta come up there?¡± He asked, showing his rows of teeth while he swatted his right arm out, folding a man in half with the blow and sending him hurtling into the ocean. He showed his neck a little and pointed at the spot where the first bullet hit, ¡°Sensitive, ya know? Don¡¯t like getting nicked there,¡± He paused in his step, faltering a little. His lips curled back, ¡°Nick,¡± He grumbled and reached up to rub the spot, ¡°Didn¡¯t get to finish where we left off,¡± He spat and started marching forward again, his footsteps now digging into the deck, ¡°Didn¡¯t get to finish, didn¡¯t get my fuckin¡¯ rematch!¡± He bellowed, the tentacles growing frantic, slapping against the hull, grabbing men and just throwing them. The man stared at him in confusion. Did he think Kingshark was crazy? Probably. Did Kingshark care? No. An impotent fury was boiling underneath his skin. He had sworn to have a rematch with Firestorm when the young man was stronger. He had assured himself that he¡¯d get his revenge for the wound on his neck that simply wouldn¡¯t heal. Something he knew was impossible now. Out of his reach forever. A dead man can¡¯t put up a fight. Fury blossomed into rage, his mass increasing again as he broke through to fifteen feet in height. He was at eye level with the man on the deck now. Mist began to boil out of his mouth, ¡°I¡¯m gonna bite your fuckin¡¯ head off, bitch boy.¡± The captain staggered back a step, the glow in his eyes faltering for a moment. He swore in his native tongue, Kingshark didn¡¯t know it, didn¡¯t care. The man raised his rifle again and Kingshark jerked his head to the left, barnacles spreading out at his feet and up the wall. A tentacle erupted from the surface and slapped the guy across the face before grabbing hold of the rifle and tearing it out of his hand. He tilted his head to the right and the weapon was brought back around, the stock of the rifle crashing into the side of the man¡¯s head before he could react. A noisy crack of wood against something very hard rang out. The man¡¯s head jerked to the side before he looked back at Kingshark over the cloth wrapped around his face. Something grew over his skin, it looked like scales. No, not quite. Before Kingshark could consider what he was looking at a bang sounded behind him and he felt a sudden pain through his chest and back. He glanced down, perturbed, and blinked at the harpoon sticking out of him. ¡°Huh,¡± He chuckled and looked up at the man, ¡°Guess I didn¡¯t kill all of-¡± He was cut off when the harpoon retracted, a jolt went through his body and he took a few scrambling steps back through the growing mist. ¡°Hey now!¡± He snarled and looked back over his shoulder, across the deck covered in flames, impermeable mist, and bodies. One of the harpoon guns was trained on him, a rope coming out of it. Standing behind it was a wild-eyed young man, the cloth of his mask torn to shreds. The youth frantically reached for the trigger to keep the retracting going. Kingshark snarled, ¡°Oh no ya don¡¯t!¡± Kingshark grabbed hold of the rope as the tentacles wrapped around the hull started to squeeze. ¡°Rude! I was gettin¡¯ ready for a monologue!¡± He bellowed and with a titanic pull yanked the harpoon gun, the bolts that affixed it to the ship, and the young man towards him. Before he could get ahold of the young man he felt something new dig into his back. Tiny blades that dug into his flesh and cleaved it. He roared in pain, his hand turning into a fist. There wasn¡¯t much left of harpoon-guy after the impact. A cry of fury rang in Kingsharks ear and he whipped his head in the direction of the man clinging to his back. His own mask had fallen open as well, revealing a flat snout that extended out from his head. His body was changing, thin, leathery little plates growing on his skin like scales. His eyes were glowing brighter as he dug his claws into Kingsharks flesh. He opened his mouth and revealed a set of razor sharp fangs. In that moment, the guy must have felt triumphant. There was an eager glee in his eyes. Kingshark could feel the scalding venom spreading through his body from the points where the claws dug into the meat of his back. The captain barked out a raspy laugh as the veins on Kingshark¡¯s neck began to turn dark even through the leathery skin of his transformed state. Kingshark just stared at the guy. Waiting until he began to notice that the supervillain hadn¡¯t so much as moved since the last member of his crew died. Around them the ship was on fire, the bulkhead creaking as the tentacles continued to work on crushing it. Where there wasn''t fire, mist filled the air and began billowing off the side of the ship. The laughter finally stopped when the first pufferfish spine poked its way out of Kingshark¡¯s jawline. More began to form. The huge man didn¡¯t so much as blink, staring back at the tiny ¡®human¡¯ on his shoulder while the minor alteration to his body purged the venom from his blood. It was quiet for a few heartbeats. The man was staring horrified at him. His body started to tremble and vibrate as his breathing grew rapid. Kingshark just stared at him. Wake shrugged and exhaled off to the side, ¡°They¡¯re shootin¡¯ at anything that gets too close, almost got them to shoot each other in a panic. They¡¯re wise to my shit,¡± He said with chuckle, ¡°I¡¯m givin¡¯ em a second to get focused on fighting our boys again before going back out there,¡± He added as he checked his gun, opening the magazine and checking it once. He slapped it back in when an explosion shook both of them. They blinked and looked at one another before glancing towards the direction of the sound, two crew members were on the ground, covering their heads, a faint blue light flickering on their skin. Behind them, smoke was rising from a wrecked portion of the reinforced wall. Trigger scowled, ¡°RPGs? Oh come on,¡± He groaned, ¡°They¡¯re gonna piss me off in a minute.¡± ¡°Least we got Haus with us,¡± Wake said absently, leaning back against the wall again, ¡°And Stitches.¡± As he spoke two men ran over to the guys who¡¯d been knocked down by the explosion, keeping their heads low. The first wore light clothes that had the clear look of post-pandora armoring, an off gray bone color making up most of his gear. He slid to a stop next to the two men and tapped their shoulders. The blue light that flickered became steady before he grabbed them and pulled them towards the second man who pinched his own finger and drew a glowing red thread out of it, he brought it down to their legs and started working on mending their wounds. Trigger pursed his lips, ¡°Still, this is getting tiresome,¡± He grunted and took a chance to poke his head over the wall for a moment, squinting down at the speedboats. It looked like they were adjusting their formation a bit to line up some shots. ¡°Getting ready for another run it looks like,¡± He said with a huff. ¡°I-¡± He paused and squinted, something big and dark moved beneath one of the speed boats. It couldn¡¯t be commodore, not big enough, but it wasn¡¯t an orca. It didn¡¯t look like the boss either, ¡°What the fuck is that?¡± Wake hazarded a chance to look up as well, peering down with him, ¡°Uh... I have no idea.¡± The two of them looked at one another as the big shape dove. ¡°I think it¡¯s gonna...¡± Trigger murmured. That was when the shadow came back up and all they could see was a cavernous mouth filled with teeth like a ring around one of the speedboats. Trigger hopped to his feet, ¡°Ho-holy shit!¡± He laughed just as the humongous shark breached the surface, its mouth clamping down on the speedboat and pulling it under in an instant. He threw his fists into the air with a whoop, ¡°He fuckin¡¯ did it! The boss did it!¡± He laughed as bits of speedboat and corpses floated to the surface with little splashes, another speedboat flipped as a powerful shape crashed into it from below. ¡°Is that Red?¡± Wake shouted, incredulous. ¡°He¡¯s Big Red now!¡± Trigger laughed, ¡°Look at that big guy go!¡± Whoops and shouts from the rest of the crew began to rise up as the great-white turned megalodon began its rampage. The attacking pirates scrambled to try to shoot into the water only to get knocked off their boats when a tail slapped to the side or the entire ship was pulled under by mighty teeth. One ship tried to peel away only for a huge wave to push it right back into the killing field. Trigger smirked, ¡°And now the boss is back.¡± Chapter 132 Chapter 132 Even with the noise, it was strangely quiet. It was an odd thing to think, but Barry really couldn¡¯t help himself at that moment. He crossed his big arms and glanced out the ultra-thick window that looked out into the massive trench. A few sea critters that were able to handle the astounding pressures flitted by, blissfully unaware of what was transpiring on the other side of the glass. He took a deep breath, fresh air filling his lungs, and turned his attention to his immediate surroundings. He was standing in a large room made entirely of heavy metal. Over a dozen men were moving about here and there, moving boxes and working on the walls. Faint temporary lights glowed overhead. There were a few doors leading out, one large one that opened up opposite the window and led deeper into the slowly growing complex. On either side of the room there were additional doors that opened out into secondary passages. One of which would be to an elevator shaft that extended up to the ocean floor far above. They¡¯d be building a secondary outpost there once time permitted. For now, there were far more crucial things to cover. The main doors hissed open and a two men stepped inside, Trigger and Amos. Trigger was beaming, a long suitcase held in one hand and a skip to his step. He was talking light-heartedly with Amos as they approached. Amos glanced away from their discussion and looked up to meet Barry¡¯s gaze. His jolly look went a bit more serious before he cracked a grin, ¡°Like the view, Kingshark?¡± He asked. Barry raised an eyebrow and shrugged looking out into the water, ¡°It¡¯ll do, Technocrat,¡± He grunted as the younger man came to a stop in front of him. The both of them stared at one another for a few heartbeats. The air grew tenser, neither of them blinking, even Trigger took a full step back before Barry finally snorted and burst into laughter. He reached out and picked the scientist up for a moment and pulled him into a bear hug, ¡°It¡¯s freakin¡¯ amazing man! Damn!¡± He laughed, setting Amos down. Amos laughed and brushed himself off, ¡°I figured!¡± He said, ¡°Shall I show you around? You should probably have at least a basic idea of why you¡¯re able to breathe in here.¡± Barry gave him a nervous look, ¡°Half of what you say is gibberish to me, y¡¯know that, right?¡± Amos shrugged, ¡°I¡¯ll keep it at the kindergarten level.¡± Barry rolled his eyes, ¡°Thanks, man, thanks,¡± He chortled before glancing over at Trigger, ¡°Got you a new toy?¡± He asked, glancing down at the long box in his second-in-command¡¯s hands. Trigger broke into a wide grin, patting the box, ¡°New suitcase,¡± He said sarcastically before standing up a bit straighter, squaring his shoulders, ¡°Oh, and there might happen to be a new gun in there designed by Technocrat himself, on top of an additional reward from the big boss for putting up with your crazy ass.¡± Nearby, Amos snorted out a laugh and Barry crossed his arms, ¡°Hey now! I ain¡¯t that bad!¡± He paused and then grinned, ¡°What she give ya?¡± His second smirked, ¡°Mobility power according to the letter attached,¡± He pat his pocket, ¡°She sent something for Wake too. Didn¡¯t open his letter so no idea what he got.¡± The supervillain nodded sagely, ¡°She takes good care of her people, that¡¯s for sure,¡± he said, pleased, ¡°Welp! Go have fun with that, can¡¯t wait to see what you¡¯re capable of. Amos! If you wouldn¡¯t mind?¡± He asked, gesturing grandly towards the doors that he and Trigger had just come from. Amos straightened dramatically and adjusted the goggles around his neck, ¡°It would be my pleasure!¡± ¨C Shortly after that they arrived in an enormous room that had been one of the first constructed throughout the growing subterranean facility. Unlike the room from before, this one was already lit with permanent lights, strips that extended across the room and provided a steady ambient glow that felt warm on the skin. The dark metal walls and floor had been covered in a white material that felt a little like something between marble and metal beneath Barry¡¯s feet. Large pipes jutted out of the walls in the rear of the room before feeding seawater into a pair of basins. It was after the basins that things started to get confusing, as far as Barry was concerned. There were various machines everywhere moving and pumping all sorts of things, including a bunch of large cylinders filled with some sort of odd, glowing algae. There were several more of them but they had some sort of covering on them. He narrowed his eyes at it and Amos gave him a sidelong look. ¡°This is the heart of your life support system, under tons and tons of rock and in the deepest part of your facility. The only access is through these doors and the intake pipes which probably have more lethal security measures than a federal vault,¡± He said with a proud puffing of his chest. ¡°How many did we bring?¡± She tilted her head, scratching at her thick black hair, ¡°Sixteen mundane-to-uncommon shapers, six rares, and one pure elementalist as foreman,¡± She said with a huff, ¡°International team, thank fuck we have those earpieces or none of us would understand a damn thing the others say,¡± She glanced down at Amos, ¡°Wait, ain¡¯t he the guy who made ¡®em?¡± ¡°Yup,¡± Barry said with a grin, ¡°Thank him later, he¡¯s having a moment.¡± Amos held his hand out over the water for a moment, Barry could tell he was practically holding his breath. After a few heartbeats a large shape drifted towards the surface and a small white hill broke through the water. He flinched only a little before relaxing and pressing his hand against the slick skin of the massive beast. Barry tilted his head and smirked, watching as a whole range of emotions washed over Amos¡¯ face. The scientist opened and closed his mouth before finally looking up at Barry. ¡°D-did you, Barry, did-did you do this?¡± He asked, trying to find words, he¡¯d been so eloquent earlier. ¡°Yeah,¡± Barry said with a smirk, ¡°Havin¡¯ some breakthroughs myself.¡± ¡°Y-you I mean- I- he- a-¡± He looked down at the creature again. ¡°It.¡± ¡°He,¡± Barry corrected, ¡°That¡¯s Big Red, he was a Great White when I found ¡®im, he¡¯s a Megalodon now.¡± Amos pulled his hand away and got to his feet, he marched up to Barry and grabbed him by his shirt, looking him dead in the eyes, ¡°You regressed a Great White shark into a Megalodon?¡± He demanded, his eyes somewhere between panic and excitement, ¡°You brought an extinct species back to life, on a whim?¡± Barry pursed his lips and thought about it for a moment, Bubs laughed next to him, pat his arm, and walked off. A bubble formed under her and she drifted off the yacht towards the cargo ship. Barry scratched his neck, ¡°Well now that you say it that way, it does sound way more impressive, don¡¯t it?¡± Amos ran his hands through his hair in exasperation, ¡°Y-you!¡± He closed his eyes and exhaled, ¡°So I¡¯m guessing this isn¡¯t what you wanted to tell me about? I doubt um... ¡®Big Red¡¯ can make a trip onto land for what Sonya has planned.¡± Barry grinned and chuckled, he was about to open his mouth to speak when a sound shook the air. He blinked, not recognizing it for a heartbeat. An explosion? He looked towards the cargo ship, it looked fine. He looked towards the water, nothing in the base, he turned around- FWOOOSH! A column of water erupted from the sea on the opposite side of the yacht. The water sprayed over him and Amos, Amos spluttering and covering his head as he got down to a lower position. Barry just frowned, glaring towards the distant shape approaching them. His lip twitched, ¡°Ey, Amos, might wanna turn on that techno-power thingy of yours. We¡¯re about to have eyes on us,¡± He growled, his fingers twitching at his sides, ¡°You got that thing set up to block detection of the new base, right?¡± Amos, who was now sitting on the deck, looked up at him wide-eyed, ¡°Y-yeah? What¡¯s happening? I¡¯m not prepared for-¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need t¡¯be prepared for shit, go into the yacht and stay there and stay safe, you¡¯re my guest,¡± Kingshark snarled, taking a few steps forward towards the other side of the Yacht, his skin turning gray and his body increasing in size. ¡°Let everyone know to get to safety, I got this.¡± ¡°Got wha- oh holy shit,¡± Amos stumbled before immediately running to the interior of the Yacht, ¡°On it!¡± What Amos saw, what Kingshark saw, was a naval destroyer heading straight towards them, cannons leveled. Just as Amos dipped inside the ship a dark shape raced towards Kingshark before coming to a stop in the air. He looked up at the drone and wrinkled his nose in disgust as the speakers on the device crackled to life. ¡°Supervillain Kingshark! You are to hereby surrender to the United States Navy and cease all operations in these waters. Comply immediately!¡± Kingshark scoffed and stared up at the little machine, ¡°Or what?¡± He snarled, and launched himself into the water. Break Reminder and Patreon Update Break Reminder and Patreon Update Announcement Hey gang! Thank you all so much for continuing to read Broker. Sonya''s legend continues! Giving you all a brief reminder that next week I will be taking a break from all releases until the week after. So no chapters through November 11-15. For those of you who really can''t wait, my Patreon was just updated with a new tier and some pricing adjustments. Also made a pretty new banner for it! Oooh aaah! See you soon!DerelictPresence aka TheBroker Sonya: "Say, you think he''ll notice if I snatch some of the art he gens up for reference when he''s writing? He''s done pretty much every named character, pretty neat. I think he should do a wiki but noooooo, that''s too much wooooork." Sonya: *pulls out her phone* "Heh, yeah, you gotta see the one he did of the original Ishtar, phew, momma," *blinks and looks up* "Uh... I mean yeah I can show you guys if you''re interested. Let me know in the comments and I''ll see if I can''t sneak back out again while he''s not looking." Broker: "Sonya? Where''d you go?" Sonya: "Aaand that''s my cue, gotta go! Toodles!" Cast Gallery Cast Gallery Main Characters Name: Sonya Chernovna / Ishtar (Current Timeline) Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Ishtar''s Inner Circle / ASTA Corporation Ability: Broker (Mythic) / Deus ex Machina (Mythic) Name: Sonya Chernovna / Farsight (Previous Timeline) Affiliation: Pandora Committee (Black Lotus'' Command Team) Ability: Cybernetic Eyes (Uncommon) Name: Lillian Landrey / No Hero Name Affiliation: Pandora Committee Ability: Unnamed Ability (Growth-Type)Name: Marta Daphne / Handmaiden / The Companion Affiliation: Sonya Chernovna Ability: Heroic Strength (Heroic), Baldur''s Body (Mythic), Man of Many Faces (Epic)Name: Amos Carter / Technocrat Affiliation: ASTA Corporation / Ishtar''s Inner Circle Ability: Genius-Level Intellect (Epic), Technopathy (Heroic) Name: Barry Logan / Kingshark Affiliation: Ishtar''s Inner Circle Ability: Unnamed Ability - Merged from: Lord of the Depths (Mythic), Festival of Dionysus (Mythic)Name: Colin Matthews / Mephisto Affiliation: Ishtar''s Inner Circle Ability: Several Unnamed Physical Enhancement Abilities (Varies), Word of Power (Heroic) Name: Cassiopeia Hanks / Taurus Affiliation: Ishtar''s Inner Circle / Pandora Committee Ability: Unnamed AbilitiesName: Unknown / Veloce / Kerauna Affiliation: Ishtar''s Inner Circle Ability: Primal Lightning (Primal) Name: Park Beyol / Blackrazor Affiliation: Ishtar''s Inner Circle Ability: Steelblood (Epic), Toxic Blood (Epic), Autarch of Shadows (Mythic)Name: Ozzie / Charon Affiliation: Ishtar''s Inner Circle / The Styx Ability: Patient Zero (Mythic), Graft (Epic), Various Grafted AbilitiesName: Phan Duong / An Set Affiliation: The Heralds (Previous Timeline) / Himself (Current Timeline) Ability: The Great Eel (Mythic)Name: Estella Hanks / Liberty Affiliation: The Heralds (Previous Timeline) / Herself (Current Timeline) Ability: Glorious Standard of Camelot (Mythic) Name: Unknown / Qilin Affiliation: The Heralds (Previous Timeline) / Pandora Committee (Current Timeline) Ability: Qilin (Mythic)Name: Unknown / Craftsman Affiliation: The Heralds (Previous Timeline) / Liberty (Current Timeline) Ability: Unknown Crafting Ability (Mythic) Name: Lucien DuCast / Astaroth Affiliation: The Heralds (Previous Timeline) / Pandora Committee (Current Timeline) Ability: Unknown (Mythic)Name: Unknown / First Wind Affiliation: The Heralds (Previous Timeline) / Pandora Committee (Current Timeline) Ability: Unknown (Mythic) Name: Unknown / Majordomo Affiliation: The Heralds (Previous Timeline) / Unknown (Current Timeline) Ability: Unknown (Mythic) Name: Carla Mint Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Sonya Chernovna Ability: UnawakenedName: Logan Williams / Bandit Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Team Firestorm Ability: Dark Bowman (Heroic)Name: Jessica Wright / Bluestar Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Team Firestorm Ability: Azure Sorceress (Heroic)Name: Nick Adders / Firestorm Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Team Firestorm Ability: Firestorm (Heroic)Name: Larry Ellis / Lifesaver Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Team Firestorm Ability: Grace (Heroic)Name: Alex Owens / BLF Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Nashville Crew Ability: Titanboa (Epic)Name: Summer Finch / Snow Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Nashville Crew Ability: Digital Illusions (Epic)Name: John Nattery / No Hero Name Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Nashville Crew Ability: Everyman (Epic)Name: Ollie Anders / Riot Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Otis'' Inner Circle Ability: Karmic Threads (Heroic)Name: Jessica Wayne / No Hero Name Affiliation: Pandora Committed Ability: Frozen Armory (Epic)Name: Val Kinton / Pyrolisis Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Nashville Crew Ability: Rocketman (Epic)Name: Greg Wilt / No Hero Name Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Nashville Crew Ability: Directional (Epic) Name: Lian Chunhua / Black Lotus Affiliation: Pandora Committee Ability: Lord of Jianghu (Mythic)Name: Hayashi Goro / Sapporo Affiliation: Pandora Committee Ability: Festival of Dionysus (Mythic) Name: Molly Hepburn / Euclidia Affiliation: Pandora Committee Ability: Non-Euclidiean (Mythic) Villains Name: Feng Hyunh Affiliation: Herself / Heralds of Otis (Previous Timeline) Ability: Amethyst Sorceress (Heroic), Heavenly Jade Heart (Mythic)Name: Unknown / Graff Affiliation: Himself Ability: Unknown (Mythic)Name: Unknown / Spice King Erebus Affiliation: Himself Ability: Unknown (Mythic)Name: Saleh Affiliation: Spice King Erebus Ability: Unknown (Unknown) Vigilantes Name: Martin Fuller Affiliation: Vigilantes / Pandora Committee (Previously) Ability: Gaze of Mimir (Mythic)Name: Addison Kelly Affiliation: Vigilantes / Australian TAG (Previously) Ability: Emerald Sorceress (Heroic) The True History Name: Pandora Affiliation: Olympus / The Arbiters Ability: Pandora''s Box (Unknown)Name: Zeus Affiliation: Olympus Ability: Unknown Name: Hephaestus Affiliation: Olympus Ability: UnknownName: Gilgamesh Affiliation: Uruk Ability: Unknown Name: Ishtar, Inanna, Astarte Affiliation: Uruk, The Arbiters Ability: UnknownName: ''The Serpent'' / Yamato no Orochi Affiliation: Himself Ability: Unknown Oh, and one more... Name: Ishtar Affiliation: Sonya Chernovna (Alter Ego) Chapter 133 Chapter 133 Modern firearms weren¡¯t a problem, not for his men, they had ways of protecting themselves against hand-held guns. He had a good crew, and the lieutenants were more than capable of handling the bog-standard light-touched that wanted to pick a fight. They could take care of themselves, up until they faced something like this. What could an ordinary person do against a naval destroyer with its cannons pointed in their direction? What could the average light-touched do? Isolated, on the water, on very sinkable ships. Amos wasn¡¯t average, of course, but he hadn¡¯t come expecting a fight. He¡¯d come to do the final direction for getting the Mariana Base up and running. He was set to return to that hero camp in just a day or so once the members of his team settled in. Neither of them said it, neither of them had to say it, but there was an unspoken understanding: Amos was under Kingshark¡¯s protection. The entire crew was under his protection. And these fuckers just fired a cannon at them! Kingshark snarled as he pushed through the water, moving faster, faster, faster. He opened his mouth and released a click of sound. Everything around him came into perspective. Big Red and the Commodore were waiting in the wings, ready to move if they needed to. They were good against light vessels, but a goddamn destroyer? No. They¡¯d have to hang back. Amos looked like he was already moving the yacht and the cargo ship was trying to pull around to give the battleship its profile. It wouldn¡¯t help much but it would do a little to mitigate damage. Kingshark¡¯s lips peeled back as he drew the water around himself, carrying himself forward like a torpedo. The pirates were pests. The navy was a threat. Pests were swatted, used to test out new things. Threats on the other hand? Threats were crushed. As Kingshark opened his mouth he felt his chest begin to rumble soundlessly. His eyes lit up, a red glow suffusing them. His thick leathery scales turned darker and darker. Above him, in the open air, for everyone to hear, the sea groaned. ¨C The whispers came first. Captain Oswald of the USS Barclay peered through his binoculars, frowning a little when he lowered them. The bastard jumped in. He glanced down at the young man sitting next to him. A seasoned radar technician. The tech¡¯s hands were a blur as he made adjustments, shifting the radar to look for smaller objects rather than large ones. It reduced the significant range of the radar, but not by much. The captain glanced at the screen and saw a ripple appear that swept across the visible area, washing over their ship and the two enemy vessels. ¡°What was that?¡± He asked. ¡°Radar ping, Captain,¡± The tech said, ¡°Came from something that shouldn¡¯t be big enough to do that.¡± The Captain glanced over his shoulder at the communications station, ¡°We recording everything?¡± ¡°Yes Captain,¡± The tech at the station said, ¡°Streaming it all back.¡± ¡°Good,¡± The captain nodded, ¡°We¡¯ll get what intel we can on him, secure their ships, and find out what they were looking for down there.¡± ¡°I still think they¡¯re building something,¡± A voice spoke up from the side. The Captain glanced over irritably towards the stuffy looking man with the Pandora pin on his lapel. He didn¡¯t like that this guy had basically swept in and tried to take over his ship. ¡°It¡¯s a shame that the pirates didn¡¯t get us more intelligence, couldn¡¯t see a thing through all that mist,¡± The Pandora suit said, adjusting his tie and looking just a little bored. Behind him, a muscular man with dark eyes stared the Captain down. Apparently he was a new member of the international team who specialized in sea combat. Harrow or something, I can¡¯t remember. He doesn¡¯t talk much. The captain thought as he frowned at the pushy man, ¡°I still don¡¯t appreciate you using locals as bait,¡± He snarled, ¡°This is a Navy Operation, not some-¡± Brian... The voice was so soft. He blinked and turned around, frowning at the radar tech, ¡°Did you say something?¡± He asked. The radar tech looked equally confused at him, ¡°I heard somethin-¡± Let¡¯s play! The voice was a childs now. ¡°Captain, get a hold of yourself! Give the order to fire!¡± The Suit bellowed at him, shaking him. Oswald swayed back and forth with the movement and shook his head, ¡°But my wife said not to work while I¡¯m on vacation,¡± He said numbly, glancing towards the door where Harrow had gone out, ¡°I need to go play with my son, do it yourself,¡± He murmured and turned away, My son, I need to go play with my son. He thought as he reached for the door. There was a click behind him, then a bang. ¨C What the hell was happening? There wasn¡¯t any intel on Kingshark having mind influencing powers! Grant gripped the side of his head and staggered, reaching into his pocket and quickly pulling out an earpiece. The whispers were growing louder now, more insistent. He bit down hard on his lip, hard enough to draw blood. Focus! He demanded of himself, Focus damn it! He snarled, shoving the earpiece into his ear and tapping it a few times. A buzzing keen ripped through his head and he coughed as sensation rushed through his body. He gasped and staggered backwards, dropping the gun in his hand. He looked down at the corpse of the captain, then at the bodies of the other officers on the bridge. He hadn¡¯t even realized he was doing it! He reached up and tugged at his hair, wide-eyed. ¡°What the hell?¡± He touched the earpiece again, ¡°Oh my god!¡± The earpiece had been intended to be used on others in an effort to scramble a mind-control ability, using it on oneself was inadvisable. His instincts had saved his mind. He felt nausea run up his throat and turned away from the bodies. The ship shook. He raced towards the window looking out the front of the bridge. Harrow was standing on top of one of the cannons, his body changing, growing in size. He¡¯d been selected for this purpose, someone who could fight other sea-based light-touched. The very first nautical mythic on the record besides Kingshark himself. The man grew larger and larger as Grant held on. The ship shuddered again, bucking and tossing even in the still sea. The mist was up to his waist now. A chime rang out behind him and he took a step back, glancing at the radar monitor splattered with human blood. There was a mark indicating the ship and something much much bigger beneath it. He looked out towards the deck, ¡°We¡¯re going to die,¡± He breathed, and reached for his ear. ¨C Harrow felt his body expand, his eyes fell shut as his arms split apart into tendrils that grew and grew and grew. His mass increasing exponentially with each passing moment. He felt his body surrender to the new shape, the concept of separateness between his extremities vanishing into the sea of strength and power that was his mythological form. He felt his tentacles stretch across the deck and slip down towards the water. His powerful maw filled with teeth and clutching tendrils grinding against the metal of the ship beneath him. He was the king of the ocean, the Kraken. He opened his eyes and took the world in, the whispers from the mist were gone but it still clouded his vision. He drew his barbed tentacles back and swept them out across the ship, readying himself for the fight to come. His body was immune to water, utterly hydrophobic and nearly indestructible. He¡¯d been tested against artillery shells and even a punch from Sapporo himself. He could handle this. He would be the first international hero to take down one of the- The sea boiled. The ship shook. A shape rose from the depths. It kept rising. Bigger. Bigger. Bigger. The mist gathering over the ship and clouding his view. It rose and rose until it towered over the ship, over him, even with his own tremendous bulk he felt so small looking up into those two red eyes that glowed down at him with nothing but malice. He could barely make out its shape, vaguely humanoid with dark gray skin. Long tendrils stretched from its shoulders and face, whipping out and twitching like a living beard. Its dome-like head tilted forward just a fraction to meet his eyes. A low groan washed over the ship, a rumbling discordant sound that pressed into Harrow¡¯s mind and clawed at his insides. It was like insects skittering over his brain. The beast, the monster opened its mouth and revealed rows upon rows of ever-moving razor sharp teeth. It was like looking into a blender. He felt his tentacles retract almost on instinct, his body coiling in on itself in an effort to flee, every cell in his body panicked, screaming to retreat from the nightmare given flesh. No! I have to fight it! It¡¯s an illusion! It¡¯s- A hand reached out and grabbed hold of his body. It¡¯s real. He was lifted into the air, tons of weight handled like a child. He whipped his tentacles, trying to dig barbs into flesh that repelled them like dull knives. His mind tried to comprehend what he was looking at, tried to give sense to the shape as the mist parted. He was pulled closer and closer. He struggled, twisted, thrashing wildly but eventually all he could see was a pair of red eyes gleaming against white mist and blackness. A voice entered his mind, deep, rumbling, like the sound of crashing water. I AM THE KING OF THE SEA, LITTLE MAN, AND YOU WILL OBEY. Side Story: Camp 3 Side Story: Camp 3 Lillian crouched among the trees with the others, aspirants who were considering taking on the role of scout. They crowded over the map they had made so far. Stealth wasn¡¯t exactly her thing, but she¡¯d gotten used to sneaking around a little bit as she worked with the other scouts. While she probably wouldn¡¯t end up taking the scouting role in the future, it was good to have a strong understanding of what went into it, at least in her opinion. She ran her fingers over the digital map and tapped a spot where the path in the trees opened up, ¡°Another camp over there I¡¯m guessing,¡± She said thoughtfully as the others glanced up at her. She rubbed her chin and glanced up for a moment, feeling the air again. The mana was steady as always if a bit odd. She couldn¡¯t put her finger on it though. ¡°The instructors have been culling the dungeon, right?¡± One of the others asked. She glanced down at the young man across from her. He had a backpack on his shoulder and metallic gauntlets that shifted a little like liquid when he adjusted his crouch, ¡°Yeah,¡± She said with a nod, ¡°We should be good for a while.¡± The other scouts around her nodded and they got to their feet, slipping through the trees towards the spot she¡¯d indicated. A good amount of the foliage in the dungeon was far too dense for passage but there were portions that were loose enough that they could creep through if they were careful. She had a suspicion that these spots were actually areas that monsters would be lying in wait so she¡¯d marked them as such and the others didn¡¯t argue her points. She stepped over a dry patch of leaves and pointed down at it, the others following her example as they made their way through. A dense cloud of mana popped into her senses, just at the edge, and she slowed down a little. She narrowed her eyes and grabbed the hilt of the sword on her back, adjusting her posture to move sideways as they tried to reduce the amount of sound they were making. Faint light shone through small openings in the canopy over them, flickers that washed over their skin. She licked her lips and drew in a bit more. We haven¡¯t seen any monsters since we started, the culling was just recently. She thought, Maybe this one hid? She narrowed her eyes and turned to gesture towards the others to move deeper towards the denser trees and hang back a little. She hopped into the limbs and kicked off with a silent movement, landing on one limb after another before alighting on a tree just at the edge. She crouched and pressed herself against the trunk, peering through the leaves at the path outside. The grass, dirt, and soil stretched out about a dozen feet before stopping at the trees at the other side of the route through the dungeons forest. Where is it? She thought, concentrating on the feeling she got from whatever it was. Then it stepped into view and she raised her hand to her mouth to hold back a sharp intake of breath. The creature looked vaguely humanoid, it even had a face, but that¡¯s where the similarities ended. It was tall, nearly seven feet, and had overlong arms that stretched down to the knees on its stretched, eerily thin legs. Its skin was somewhere between flesh and bark, stretched tightly against muscle and bone. Its long neck was wide and misshapen, stretching out all the way to its shoulders as it tapered out. It had long hair made of leafy vines that hung down to its lower back..It¡¯s face, though, was the eeriest part. It had dark slits where its eyes should be, green embers burning inside. Its nose seemed overly stiff and rigid and its mouth was shut in a permanent frown. It turned its head slightly and she caught sight of long tapered ears. Is... is that an elf? She thought, There¡¯s no way. A chorus of agreement followed and the procession through the trees resumed. Lily watched them go for a moment, smiling to herself. She reached up and put her hand on the hilt of her sword, And I¡¯ve got your backs. Don¡¯t you worry while I¡¯m here. They crossed the short distance in just a few minutes before arriving at the break in the trees where the path started. Lily checked again and this time didn¡¯t see the creature. She nodded to the others and they quickly checked to see if there were any traversable spots in the treeline leading towards the open area but found nothing but a wall of wood. They settled on taking the path proper, following it between the trees all the way to the point where the path opened up into an enormous open space. They all stopped and stared, awestruck. ¡°Woah,¡± Someone breathed. ¡°Yeah,¡± Lily mumbled. They¡¯d expected a campsite or some kind of small village, instead they stared upon an old ruin. A single massive ziggurat made up the center of the space with dozens of small stone buildings surrounding it at various distances. They were all made of a dark gray stone and covered in thick moss that hung at places. The architecture was strange, it jutted out at odd angles in places, making it look like the corners of the buildings were spiked. No, like they¡¯re in the process of growing. Lily thought. Weird. She scanned the area in front of her once, frowning a little, ¡°I don¡¯t sense it,¡± She mumbled, ¡°Where did it go?¡± She turned her attention in a full circle, her awareness drifting backwards in a wave going in both directions. Her eyes shot open and she whirled around. Everything seemed to slow down for her, her heart beating a mile a minute, she kicked off the ground and launched herself at the girl with the tablet who was taking notes at the rear. The girl barely had time to look up as Lily flew past her, bringing her sword down in a fierce arc, gold flames following it in a trail. Just a few feet behind her, the misshapen creature let out a pained gurgle, arching its back to look up at the sky before collapsing to the ground. She stood up straight and let out a sharp breath. She turned to look at the shocked faces of the others, especially the ghostly pale face of the tablet girl, What was her name? Nina, right, Nina. She slung her sword onto her shoulder and grinned, ¡°Where were we?¡± Chapter 134 Chapter 134 Sonya stood on top of the small platform overlooking the blasted and ruined field. It was about a hundred meters in length going down the side of the mountain that the camp had been built on. The treeline framed it on three sides, making it seem like an open bowl. She reached up and adjusted her sunglasses as a small group made their way up towards the top. Faint flashes of purple light indicated Greg''s movements. A pair of bangs followed and Val burst through a wall, Alex immediately behind him with three combat dolls on his back. They''d been modified, of course, to track any ¡®injuries¡¯ or ¡®stresses¡¯ from the rescue. ¡°They''re doing better,¡± She said absently. Next to her, Axel crossed his arms and frowned a little, ¡°Marginally,¡± He said, ¡°But it¡¯s a stark improvement from the first time. They¡¯¡¯ll pass on this round, mostly thanks to their support,¡± He pointed out, ¡°Greg and Jessica make a good team.¡± As soon as he said it, a trio of light blue darts hurtled out of the opening that had been made by Val, digging into the three dolls that had risen up out of the soil to confront them. Val moved quickly to dispatch while Jessica soared overhead, she landed and shifted forward a bit, almost stumbling on her landing but turned it quickly into a run as she made headway for the others. Sonya tilted her head and narrowed her eyes, An injury? Nothing obvious. She thought as she pulled up the girls dossier. Most of the details weren¡¯t exactly impressive. Girl from southern mississippi, bit of an outcast at school, most of her background checked out. Frankly, she¡¯d overlooked it a little, only giving a brief once over once she heard that the girl was interested in Greg. While Jessica was impressive in some ways, Greg was the real star. His mind was excellent for logistics and his abilities had room to grow. She¡¯d even put him on a very short list of investment candidates if the opportunity arose to do so. She very much wanted to send him to the United Kingdom to get direct instruction under Euclidia. Now that she looked harder, though, the background was more than just a little bland. It was vanilla. It was like the backstory of every single bog-standard young-adult romance protagonist. Moderately happy home with standoffish father, good grades, popular physically but with a social rapport that set her on the outskirts. Humble, low-key, a few scattered achievements in her background from school. Swim team captain? Sonya narrowed her eyes and glanced at the girls movements. She moved like someone who¡¯d done rotc like herself, drills training, and not for a couple of weeks either. Sonya¡¯s lips thinned a little as the group crossed the finish line. ¡°You guys finally made it to the end, no red signals from the dolls. You pass!¡± Axel barked down at them. The four threw their fists up in the air and cheered. Sonya leaned against the railing and forced a smile, ¡°Congratulations!¡± She called before glancing towards Jessica, ¡°Miss Wayne, have you decided on who you¡¯re going to be signing with yet?¡± She asked. Jessica glanced up from where she was clasping hands with the others, smiling, ¡°No ma¡¯am! Still feeling it out! Want me to come for an interview?¡± Sonya raised an eyebrow, ¡°Sure! I¡¯ll reach out,¡± She said. I can use it as an opportunity to interrogate her, after my visit with the Spice King of course. She thought idly before glancing towards Axel, ¡°She seems to have an injury,¡± Sonya said under her breath, ¡°Make sure she gets to the clinic,¡± He nodded at her and she brightened beaming at them all, ¡°I¡¯m proud of you guys, keep it up! And don¡¯t forget to support your teammates that joined the scouting team when they get back. They¡¯ve got it rough!¡± They all nodded as she waved and turned, hands crossed behind her back as she made a quick call, <¡±Marta?¡±> Martas voice came through a moment later, <¡±Yes ma¡¯am?¡±> <¡±I noticed something off about Jessica Wayne¡¯s background. It¡¯s very generic. I suspect it might be falsified. She also hasn¡¯t even attempted to sign with anyone yet.¡±> She clicked her tongue, <¡±She¡¯s suspicious and from Mississippi, it could just be conjecture but I want you to keep an eye on her, have Amos give her background a hard look later.¡±> She said quickly. <¡±I¡¯ll be away for the next few days so you¡¯ll have to do all this as me. I-¡±> She was about to elaborate when Marta cut her off, <¡±Sonya, I¡¯ve got it handled. Anything comes up, I''ll let you know. You¡¯re only a portal away, after all.¡±> Sonya let out a breath and smirked to herself, she knew she was probably worrying for nothing but her gut told her to be cautious regardless. She huffed out a breath, <¡±Fine fine, do you want me to bring you back any souvenirs?¡±> She asked, changing the subject, <¡±I¡¯m sure the spice king will be happy to oblige me! He¡¯s always been very generous.¡±> There was a pause, <¡±Oh! Oh! Get me a dessert platter, just a sampler of sweets if you can. I want to try everything! Something for Barry, too. He likes dark coffee. I¡¯m sure Amos already put an order in?¡±> She said and Sonya let out a small laugh, <¡±Figures he did, always a step ahead. Is that okay?¡±> <¡±You¡¯re being so cheap!¡±> Sonya laughed, <¡±I¡¯ll get a few outfits for you too, that¡¯s what you really want, toodles!¡±> She said and cut the call before Marta could protest. He nodded, ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s got a full scheme prepared for you now and wants to talk as soon as you¡¯re ready,¡± He said, flipping his hair, ¡°We¡¯ve written up a base contract but I¡¯m happy to make adjustments if you like.¡± She raised an eyebrow, ¡°It must be big to demand my personal involvement. Do you know why he needs me personally to intervene?¡± She asked. ¡°Broker,¡± He said flatly. ¡°He doesn¡¯t know the name, of course, but he needs your more direct deal making ability. He seems to be under the impression that my paper contracts don¡¯t carry as much weight as the person themselves being involved.¡± She chuckled, ¡°He¡¯s wrong,¡± She said before closing her eyes and taking a deep, deep breath. She exhaled through her nostrils and centered herself. She pulled up her hud and her aptly named ¡®things¡¯ folder. She smirked to herself at the ¡®.thing¡¯ files, Amos hated that she¡¯d started using that for the items she digitized. She pulled her helmet out as she put her normal outfit in. Her head glowed blue for a moment before she stood before Mephisto, her armor forming on her body. She felt her arms go slack as the sensation of being in the helmet overcame her. Her mind relaxed, her soul eased, and everything felt... right. She tilted her head down and met his gaze, ¡°But I suppose I can extract payment for my direct intervention anyway, Lead the way,¡± Ishtar said, the voice modulator kicking in. He gave a prompt bow, ¡°Yes, mistress.¡± A few moments later they stepped out of the elevator and into the grandiose hall of the Spice King. The columns in a line and twenty one young men standing between them. They all had stoic expressions on their faces, doing everything they could to keep their temper. At the end another pair stood at either side of the throne. Both of them looked wary. They eyed Ishtar with caution as she strode down the hall, her head tilted up to look at the youthful man relaxing on his throne. She threw her arms out in greeting, ¡°Erebus!¡± She tittered out, ¡°Youth suits you!¡± The big man got to his feet and marched down the stairs, ¡°Ishtar!¡± He bellowed and broke into laughter, ¡°Regal as always!¡± They embraced briefly before she stepped back and spun around to look over his sons, ¡°You¡¯re one short! Last I heard it was twenty-four!¡± She said thoughtfully, tapping the side of her helmet. The young men all went very still under her attention and she huffed out a cruel laugh, floating into the air and drifting past them, checking one face at a time, ¡°Was someone naughty?¡± She teased, ¡°Was it you?¡± She asked, ¡°Or was it you?¡± She stopped at the youngest of them. Mephisto had informed her that the youngest son had talent and a strong ability. The young man stiffened but didn¡¯t speak, keeping his eyes forward. She turned in the air and drifted towards the Spice King, lounging on her back, ¡°Tight lipped! Good sons,¡± She said with an approving nod. He gave her a curious look, ¡°Your powers continue to grow.¡± ¡°I like to spoil myself every now and then,¡± She said as she pretended to check her fingernails. She turned her head to look into his eyes, ¡°You should see the scary ones I picked up,¡± She quipped. He raised an eyebrow, ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to seeing them in action very soon.¡± ¡°Yes, about that,¡± Ishtar rasped and tilted her body, landing on her feet. The next moment a pressure washed over the room, a few of the young men simply staggered while one just fell face first to the ground, ¡°You called me all the way out here and I would like a better explanation as to why. I¡¯m a busy woman, Erebus, and I prefer clarity. The only reason I bothered was because I like you. So give me the details.¡± He stood strong, unlike his sons, and he made a point to notice which ones faltered most under her oppressive aura. He grinned wildly at her, ¡°I¡¯d expect nothing less,¡± He said with a low growl, ¡°I have taken pains to make sure the quarry is already here in the area. We just need to lure her into a trap and take what I need. That¡¯s where I need you.¡± She tilted her head, ¡°Who?¡± She demanded. ¡°Queen August,¡± He said with distaste, ¡°She squanders her power,¡± He clenched his fist in front of his face and met her eyes, ¡°I want to employ the Queen of Villains to strip August of her powers and give them to me. I¡¯ll put them to much better use.¡± Chapter 135 Chapter 135 The atmosphere in the room shifted when he made his declaration, Ishtar tilted her head to the right as if to examine him. She hummed thoughtfully and lifted herself off the ground again, floating as she crossed her legs and drifted overhead, she tapped the chin of her helmet as she gave it her full consideration. She didn¡¯t have a problem with doing it, frankly she found the whole idea amusing. What was troubling was that neither she nor Sonya had ever actually tried to use a deal to strip someone of their ability. She closed her eyes and searched her instincts related to Broker. It had been a while, if she was being honest with herself, and one thing she noticed was that the details were barely any different than the first time. Sure, there were the inclusions of how to use the subsidiary features, like investment, merger, and sanction. But otherwise it simply gave her the baseline as always, how to make a binding deal. In fairness, she and Sonya should have explored this a bit more, but the way it worked for them so far had been enough. She thought for a few more seconds, her mind whirring through ways to figure out whether or not she could do the thing he was requesting. She couldn''t actually test it, there was no one to test it on. More importantly, showing such ignorance was a very bad play in front of an intelligent man like Erebus. Then it hit her. Why not just try to say so? ¡°I have the ability to strip a person''s powers and deliver them to you,¡± Ishtar said aloud, pausing for a moment after she said it. Oh, so I guess I can, Broker didn¡¯t choke me out. Interesting. She was unable state factual falsehoods, while that obviously didn¡¯t apply to things she didn¡¯t know about she had the instincts of Broker. They were limited, but if she didn¡¯t have the ability to do it right then and there, it would be a lie. It was a leap of logic, sure, but it was confirmation enough for her about her own powers. She snickered a little behind her mask and floated back down, drifting towards the Spice King. She tilted her head, ¡°The question is,¡± She continued, ¡°What are my services worth to you? This isn¡¯t an ordinary support deal. I¡¯m not throwing supplies at you and letting you do your own thing,¡± She waved a finger, ¡°No, I¡¯m taking direct action, I¡¯ll be present, and that means a chance of me getting more involved if necessary.¡± He kept his head forward as she slowly drifted in orbit around him, lounging on her side. He cleared his throat, ¡°I have plans for that ability once it¡¯s mine.¡± Ishtar shifted and her head popped out next to his, ¡°Oh? And what might those be?¡± She asked with excitement, ¡°Details, Erebus, details!¡± Around him, his sons shifted uncomfortably. Several of them were still getting to their feet after the harrowing ordeal of feeling her presence wash over them. Her lips twitched behind her mask, pathetic, she hadn¡¯t even brought the visage out fully. Just a little taste was enough to knock them on their backs. Erebus cleared his throat and reached into his sleeve, he plucked out a blue coin, ¡°I¡¯m not sure how you do it, but you ascribe value to these coins of yours. The value fluctuates wildly,¡± He said as he twirled the coin between his fingers. She drifted back and shifted her head a little towards Mephisto before looking back at Erebus and giving him a small nod. He smiled a little, ¡°Villains like using these coins to pay for just about anything these days in the underworld, I like it too,¡± He said with a smirk, ¡°However, would it not be better if they were a standard currency, with backing? A more reliable value?¡± Ishtar narrowed her eyes behind her helmet and drifted down to the ground again, walking past him and crossing her arms. She tilted her head, ¡°You want to be the villain bank? Back Charon¡¯s little currency with gold.¡± ¡°Precisely,¡± He said and raised his head up, ¡°Of course that would involve me holding on to the lions share of actual wealth, a matter of trust,¡± He said with a smirk, ¡°And easy funding to ensure that my own faction grows out here,¡± He trailed off. ¡°You¡¯re putting me in a position to protect you if something comes up, though,¡± Ishtar said with a tittering laugh, ¡°Since it would be in my interest to protect the gold that is backing the underworld¡¯s currency,¡± She tilted her head, ¡°The backing for the ferryman¡¯s coins is valuable to me, but we¡¯re back at square one again, aren¡¯t we? My protection and you getting to use all of this to build your faction? Where is my profit?¡± She asked and waved her hand, a stool appearing behind her, first as a hard light construct before she wrapped it in an illusory wood skin. She sat down and crossed her legs, ¡°So far, you come out on top with me just getting more stability, come on now, what are you hiding?¡± She asked with a laugh, ¡°Quit playing coy, dear.¡± The Spice King rubbed his chin for a moment, nodding, ¡°You¡¯re right, you¡¯re right,¡± He said thoughtfully before he glanced up at her and his eyes glinted. ¡°There is a rumor that you have associates among world leaders in North America and Europe,¡± He began and paused when she tilted her head towards him in warning, he held up his hands, ¡°Only vague details! But all signs point to it,¡± She relaxed a little and he continued, ¡°I would like to head up your group in this part of the world. Semi-independently of course. I¡¯ll do all the footwork in gathering the useful parties for you and host them.¡± She crossed her arms, ¡°Okay, go on.¡± He held up a finger and then a second, ¡°Second, we will of course consider ourselves allies of your organization and of the greater underworld led by Charon,¡± He said with a grin, ¡°We can come and assist when called upon.¡± Having access to his people and to more resources in the middle east would be beneficial for her, ¡°That goes both ways, don''t try to play me Erebus,¡± she cautioned, ¡°I am assisting you in acquiring potentially limitless wealth, so long as you manage it,¡± She said with a dismissive wave, ¡°Try again.¡± The Spice King frowned for a moment and rubbed his chin, ¡°I concede the point,¡± He said, ¡°A share of the dungeons harvested by my organization, crystals, ores, monster materials, and rewards for clearing.¡± Ishtar nodded, ¡°Now we¡¯re getting somewhere,¡± She said, ¡°Fifty percent.¡± He chewed his lip, ¡°Thirty.¡± ¡°Forty,¡± She countered. ¡°Done,¡± He nodded as his sons shifted around a bit, he cast them all a scathing look. ¡°I¡¯ll include some of the rewards we¡¯ve already acquired as an upfront payment,¡± He added, ¡°My sons have been doing well for themselves, they even managed to clear an Epic dungeon with the help of my footsoldiers in the region. The trophies are yours,¡± He added with a magnanimous bow. She forced herself not to react but instead moved on with the deal quickly, ¡°It¡¯s a deal, Erebus,¡± She said and ordered her ability to proceed. A very faint charge ran up her arm for a moment, it was one of her more complicated deals and it seemed that she was able to feel it as a result. He glanced down at his hand and furrowed his brow, pulling his fingers away and examining them for a moment before glancing at her. ¡°You are the true source of Mephisto¡¯s dealmaking ability, the endorsements,¡± He said bluntly, ¡°His true powers lay elsewhere. This is how you are able to acquire so many powers. Fascinating.¡± Ishtar chuckled, ¡°Very astute!¡± She said, ¡°I suggest you don¡¯t divulge that information,¡± She added warningly. He barked out a laugh, ¡°We are allies now! I wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± He agreed before waving his hands. He lowered them and looked at her plainly, ¡°Thank you for sending my sons away, I imagine you would have killed them if they had come to the same conclusion as myself. Or overheard me.¡± Ishtar didn¡¯t even hesitate, ¡°Yes, I would have, and you would have been powerless, I¡¯m afraid.¡± He closed his eyes and let out a sigh, ¡°You have my gratitude,¡± He said and inclined his head before glancing past her at the door, ¡°Saleh! Come in here boy!¡± He barked. A moment later the young man hurried inside. There was pride on Erebus¡¯ face, and relief. The young man looked hesitantly at his father before standing next to him. He reached out and clapped his hand on his son¡¯s shoulder before nodding to Ishtar, ¡°Now that the deal has been struck, we are off to the planning phase. I would have Saleh here for this, since he will be participating,¡± He said brightly before ruffling the young man¡¯s hair. He looked like he was about to pull the boy into a hug. Saleh politely endured it, only fussing with straightening it after his father turned his attention back to Ishtar. Ishtar shrugged and shifted on her feet, crossing her arms and inclining his head to him to begin explaining the plan. ¡°I have gathered a strike force of villains from across the region who have agreed to support me and my vision for the area,¡± He said with a smirk, ¡°Many of them come from groups that oppose one another but have tired of ceaseless fighting,¡± He nodded to Saleh, ¡°I¡¯ll have my young prince lead them.¡± ¡°Prince?¡± Ishtar asked, glancing at the boy before exchanging a look with Mephisto, ¡°He¡¯s your youngest.¡± ¡°And most powerful,¡± Erebus said as his eyes lingered on his son, he paused for a moment and then glanced at Ishtar, ¡°I¡¯d like to discuss another deal with you after this is over. If you wouldn¡¯t mind,¡± He said gravely. She glanced at the boy and the way he clung to his son, Ah. I see. ¡°Very well, continue explaining your plan for now.¡± ¡°As I said earlier, I¡¯ve taken pains to ensure that woman comes here. You may already know this, but she is obsessed with diamonds and gemstones,¡± He said, ¡°And has no personal feelings towards precious metals. She murders wealthy collectors with her ability, turning them into solid gold before abandoning their corpses. She could be using her ability to enrich herself, or anything else, but she is like a woman possessed.¡± Ishtar shrugged, ¡°It¡¯s likely she was a serial killer before the flash,¡± She said offhandedly, waving a dismissive palm at the topic, ¡°Pandora Sickness on top of it would make anyone do something stupid and foolish. I¡¯ve encountered a few like that myself,¡± She said and got a snicker from Mephisto. She grinned behind her helmet, ¡°So you placed the bait, sowed some rumors in the underworld and kept an eye out.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Erebus said, ¡°She¡¯s in the country right now. Apparently she has had enough presence of mind to use her ability to hire a few protectors.¡± ¡°I see, that¡¯s where your little strike team comes in. You lure her into the target location, destroy her allies, and leave her helpless. After that, what? You goad her into exchanging her life for her ability? Seems a bit tame for you,¡± Ishtar pointed out, ¡°Where¡¯s the flair?¡± He pat his belly and laughed, ¡°You¡¯re one of a kind, Ishtar!¡± He chortled, ¡°I¡¯ve submitted an anonymous tip to the Pandora Committee that she is here. It¡¯s a bit late and they¡¯re lagging about a day behind her,¡± He smirked, ¡°She¡¯ll have heroes on their way behind her, us in front of her, cornered with no way out except cutting a deal.¡± She narrowed her eyes, ¡°You called the Pandora Committee here?¡± She asked, ¡°With me present?¡± He raised an eyebrow, ¡°Can you not handle them?¡± She stared at him for several heartbeats, her eyes narrowing more and more, ¡°What is your real aim out here in this region, Erebus?¡± She asked, ¡°Self enrichment, is that really it?¡± He hesitated, genuinely hesitated, for a moment before looking towards his son, ¡°Our corner of the world has been torn by war for far too long,¡± He said, ¡°Constant upheaval, religious war, madness,¡± He snarled and looked at her, ¡°You are a woman who understands order, I can tell, so I believe you will understand me when I say that the only way for the fighting to end is when a victor is declared.¡± He growled, ¡°My goals are a long way away, but this is the first step to securing the future of what you call the Middle East, my family, and my place in history,¡± He said with a dramatic flourish, spreading his arms wide. ¡°Who better to do it than me?¡± Arrogant, driven, greedy, filled with malice for his enemies, capable of doing whatever is necessary and fully willing to embrace cruelty. A man with a vision, a clear goal, and the means and intellect to get there. Evil to the core, but someone I can respect. She smiled behind her mask. At last, a proper villain shows his face. ¡°Erebus the Conqueror, it has a ring to it!¡± She barked out a laugh, her cruel rasp carrying through the hall, ¡°Let the heroes come! I¡¯m looking forward to it!¡± Chapter 136 Chapter 136 Ishtar watched as Saleh and Mephisto left the great hall, leaving her alone with Erebus. She rest her hand on a pillar before glancing towards him. The old man turned young by one of her paper contracts watched the door shut and lingered for a moment. She crossed her arms and leaned against the pillar lazily as complicated emotions warred on his face. She glanced back at the door again, ¡°You love that boy,¡± She said finally, ¡°I¡¯m a little sorry that I tested you with him. That must have been difficult for him, his father selling him like that.¡± Erebus looked down at his hands for a moment and clenched them into fists, he glanced back at Ishtar and met her eyes, ¡°A cruel mercy,¡± He admitted, ¡°Part of me almost wishes you had taken his ability. Then I wouldn¡¯t have to worry about him so much. I could hide him away, forget about him, pretend that he wasn¡¯t worth my time,¡± He said before lowering his hands and letting out a sigh. ¡°He is my young Prince, though, he will inherit the family over his brothers. Of that I have little doubt.¡± Ishtar stepped away from the pillar and turned to face him, ¡°You wanted to make a deal concerning the boy? His future I imagine? Do you want me to look out for him or something?¡± Erebus shook his head, ¡°Your alliance with the family is enough in that respect,¡± He said, ¡°No, I have higher concerns,¡± He looked her in the eyes, ¡°I am not a fool, Ishtar, youth comes at a price and it belies immortality. I am fully capable of death, it will come for me one of these days. Just like any person. I suspect even yourself.¡± Ishtar huffed out a small laugh, ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± He snorted and shook his head, ¡°I wish I had your confidence,¡± He crossed his arms behind his back. It was good to see him let his guard down a little now that there wasn¡¯t an audience. Only the two of them. He turned away and walked towards his throne, resting his hand on the rail leading up to it for a moment. He glanced back at her, ¡°If you can strip powers, I wonder,¡± He said after a long pause, ¡°Can you transfer them upon a condition?¡± She put her hands on her hips, ¡°I¡¯ve never tried it, if I¡¯m being genuine,¡± She admitted, ¡°Would you like to be my case study, Erebus?¡± She asked with a touch of humor in her tone. She had an odd feeling about the direction of the conversation. She knew what he was getting at and her instincts had mixed reactions. The little ¡®voice¡¯ belonging to Broker seemed almost jubilant while her own villainous instincts recoiled. It was a mixed feeling that she didn¡¯t quite understand. Her lips formed a thin line and she pushed the instincts down forcefully. ¡°Yes,¡± He said flatly. She narrowed her eyes behind the mask, ¡°Be specific.¡± He walked towards her, ¡°My wish is that when my time is up, my ability and that of Augusts, should we acquire it, be transferred to the boy as part of his inheritance.¡± ¡°Are you asking me to officiate a will for you?¡± She asked. ¡°Yes,¡± He confirmed. ¡°I don¡¯t do anything for free, Erebus,¡± She said coldly, tilting her head to the right. ¡°What is this worth to you? No tests this time. I must extract a payment in exchange for my services. It is how it works.¡± He chuckled, ¡°I¡¯d sell my soul for my son.¡± It was Ishtar¡¯s turn to be blunt, ¡°That can be arranged.¡± He looked up at her, his eyes going wide for a moment. He searched her mask for a moment, her stance, the way her fingers flexed and the way she leaned towards him just a little. She watched his eyes as the wheels turned in his head and he closed them for a moment. ¡°Will payment upon delivery suffice?¡± He asked, ¡°I didn¡¯t realize I was truly dealing with the devil herself. I figured you for a very powerful villain but...¡± ¡°Give me your hand,¡± Ishtar said, extending her own. He looked at her for a moment before nodding, he took her hand. ¡°Let me see...¡± ¡°Oh? How about a tropical island getaway?¡± She asked, drifting backwards before reclining in the air as they moved down the hall. ¡°I¡¯m not staying at your place,¡± He teased, ¡°I know what you do there.¡± ¡°The guest bedroom is fine!¡± She shot back. ¡°I was thinking New Zealand actually,¡± He said with a dark smile. She narrowed her eyes, ¡°It¡¯s not a vacation if you¡¯re working, Mephisto.¡± ¡°If I happen to run into anyone worth making a deal with during my vacation, it¡¯d just be a happy accident!¡± He said with a laugh and dramatic shrug, ¡°Not my fault!¡± Ishtar rolled her eyes, ¡°Very well, New Zealand is your next travel destination, you have two weeks with your darling to do whatever your black little heart desires,¡± She said as they reached the elevator. He stopped next to it and hit the button to call it before sweeping down into a dramatic bow, ¡°Your wish is my command, oh Queen.¡± They stood there for a long while as the elevator came up, both in utter silence until neither could hold it any longer. They burst into raucous laughter as the elevator opened. Ishtar hanging upside down in the air and Mephisto leaning against the wall as young Saleh stared at the two of them in confusion. ¡°Oh that was the cringiest thing I¡¯ve ever heard you say!¡± She cackled, ¡°Damn it Mephisto!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry! The opening was right there!¡± He wheezed before glancing up and clearing his throat. ¡°Oh! Saleh! Come up to get us?¡± Ishtar turned to look at the boy for a moment and he looked back at her with some hesitance in his eyes. He¡¯s scared of me. Of course he is. She remained silent as she shifted back to a right-side-up stance in the air and drifted towards him a bit, landing in the elevator as Mephisto joined them. ¡°Yes,¡± Saleh said after a breath, ¡°Master Mephisto, Mistress Ishtar. My father is expecting you,¡± He said before pausing and looking at Ishtar, ¡°We are having dinner.¡± Ishtar reached up and slid her hand through the illusion of her helmet, ¡°Not a problem, dear,¡± She said before crossing her arms behind her back and tilting her head, ¡°You have a good father, did you know that?¡± ¡°He raised me well,¡± Saleh said hesitantly, ¡°Mistress Ishtar.¡± She cracked a grin, ¡°We¡¯ll go with that,¡± She said as the elevator doors shut. ¨C Back in the room, the television continued to play. The reporter shifted in his seat and gestured to the right as an image of a young man with brown hair in a floral shirt posed next to a Pandora Committee prisoner transportation vehicle. ¡°In international news, the Hero First Wind has made another grand showing for himself, securing six dungeons for his guild and assisting in the arrest of over twenty uncommon-to-epic tier villains in the past month. While there has been some question about the collateral damage resulting in his activities, a spokesperson for First Wind stated that the costs have far outweighed the results.¡± A number of scenes played out on the screen with the young man standing next to several portals one after another and shaking hands with another man in a black suit wearing a Pandora Committee pin. More images came of First Wind posing with fans, taking selfies and waving as he got out of a limousine. A clip then played from a liquor commercial with First Wind sitting on a beach with a brand-name bottle in his hand and a mysterious smile on his face. He took a sip and pulled down his sunglasses. The logo appeared joined by his smooth voice, ¡°Smithford, for the Good Days.¡± ¡°First Wind has already signed with the Langrey Corporation based out of Sidney and through them has landed several advertising roles as his reputation continues to grow,¡± The reporter continued, ¡°Langrey has put out a statement in regards to their support for First Wind, quote: ¡®First Wind has the potential to be one of the most powerful and influential heroes in the world and it is our privilege to support him as he grows. His ongoing battle against the Supervillain Blight is just one of the many arenas that we will back him in and we are looking forward to seeing his rise to international status.¡¯ end quote.¡± The reporter cleared his throat and continued, ¡°First Wind is rumored to be on the short list of heroes expected to get an invitation to the International Team soon, and it is likely that he is already being given probationary assignments,¡± The reporter went on before gesturing to the right again as another face appeared. This time a young chinese woman with dark hair in a green cheongsam. She was standing stoically on a wall overlooking a horde of monsters. The caption at the bottom read, ¡®Qilin in Dharan¡¯. There was a pause and then the woman gestured, almost lazily. A ripple ripped out from her and the creatures began stumbling into one another, tripping, falling and crashing into the ground. She gestured again and several men and women leaped off the wall wielding weapons and abilities, their bodies glowing faintly. The woman herself didn¡¯t move, but instead watched from afar with a bored look on her face. They crashed into the stumbling and confused tide of monsters before the screen cut out and the reporter reappeared. ¡°Across the ocean from First Wind¡¯s activities, the Hero Qilin has been sent from China to the front lines in Dharan to assist in the growing effort to suppress the fallout from the dungeon break.¡± Chapter 137 Chapter 137 The elevator ride took them down past the level where the ¡®throne room¡¯ was. Ishtar relaxed against the wall as her eyes went a little unfocused. It wasn¡¯t a long trip, but it gave her a little time to go over some things. Most importantly she hadn¡¯t missed that Sonya hadn¡¯t sat down to talk with Chunhua properly yet. Still avoiding it, silly girl. She huffed out a small chuckle, drawing a look from Saleh. She ignored it and switched her thoughts to Erebus¡¯ plan. It was solid enough but there were many variables. If the Pandora Committee sent out an international hero to the scene she would have to get directly involved. She doubted that whatever goons he managed to hire were up to the task. I could be wrong, of course, I hope this dinner party includes them. That would make things a little easier, She mused. She reached up to rub her shoulder a little before turning her head lazily towards Mephisto. I should have dragged a briefing out of him before we went down, but I suppose there were other things to discuss. She thought absently before looking back at Saleh, Bahamut, Midas, and Earthwarden. He¡¯d become very powerful with his father¡¯s passing. Is he really up to the task, though? Or is it just a father¡¯s rose-tinted lenses? She flexed her fingers, I suppose we¡¯ll find out. The elevator opened and they stepped out into yet another floor of the office building turned mansion. There were signs here and there that this had once been a cubicle space. The way the tiles sat on the floor and the overall positioning of the lights in the ceiling. Otherwise, though, it took on the look of a grand ballroom of sorts. Decorations were set up around the perimeter of the room while the center was occupied by a single long table. There were seven people already at the table. Only one of them Ishtar immediately recognized as Erebus who sat at the far head. He got to his feet as she, Saleh, and Mephisto entered. ¡°Ishtar! Welcome. Please take the far seat from myself,¡± He said with an inclination of his head towards the other head of the table. ¡°Son, join me?¡± He gestured to a chair to his left. She smiled behind her mask as she gracefully strode towards the table as all eyes fell on her. A few eyes narrowed while two went wide. She stopped behind her chair and rested her hand on it as Mephisto slipped into his own chair to her immediate right. There was some mixed murmuring that she heard as clear as day. Mostly along the lines of ¡°She¡¯s actually real?¡± ¡°I thought the PC made her up.¡± She smirked to herself and moved to sit down herself when one of them clicked his tongue. She glanced up and met his eyes. The dark haired man was two seats away on her left, his hairy hands gripped around a metal cup. He stared hard at her, a frown on his face. ¡°So the so-called queen finally shows her face,¡± He snorted and shrugged, ¡°Oh wait, you¡¯re wearing a friggin mask, how the hell are you supposed to eat with that thing on?¡± He asked, the water in his cup starting to boil. She slipped into her seat calmly, crossing her legs and leaning back, ¡°This one¡¯s an illusion,¡± She said plainly and reached into it to tap her own chin, ¡°I can eat just fine, thank you mister...?¡± She trailed off invitingly. ¡°Scald, but you can keep calling me Mister. I didn¡¯t pick you to be in charge and I sure as hell ain¡¯t taking orders from you, everybody knows you got Charon in your pocket and the whole ¡®underworld¡¯ you set up is just a fucked-¡± She blocked him out as she glanced into her hud lazily, looking him up. It took a few moments to track some information down but it was valuable. He was someone who¡¯d caused trouble in the Styx before and got kicked out. Killed another guest. ¡°Are you even listening to me?¡± He demanded. She glanced up at Erebus who kept his composure though his eyes looked furious. She shrugged at him and he blinked once before letting out a sigh. Ishtar pointed at him and a hole formed in his head, a brief flicker of light streaking through the room between them. The man fell back in his seat and then slumped to the ground, dead. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I brought so much trouble to your dinner, Erebus,¡± She said with a sigh, resting her hands in her lap. ¡°None at all,¡± Erebus grunted with a small nod, ¡°Apologies for the inhospitality from my guest,¡± He said and leaned back in his chair. He glanced to his right and gestured, a pair of men hurried over and picked up the corpse before dragging it away. ¡°Really doesn¡¯t matter, I¡¯ll just redistribute his budgeted portion of the reward to the others, if that¡¯s alright with you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make a habit of it,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°It¡¯s a good way to get your men to kill one another,¡± She said with a sigh and looked at the remaining five assembled villains, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t do something so stupid, would you?¡± She asked pleasantly. ¡°Ruin your employer''s plan for a bit of extra money?¡± There was a round of quick denials and shaken heads. She chuckled behind her mask, ¡°Wonderful! Why don¡¯t we do introductions then, dears?¡± She asked and clapped her hands together, ¡°I¡¯ll start!¡± She raised her hand to her heart, ¡°I am Ishtar, I have many abilities so there¡¯s no point in spelling them all out,¡± She said before gesturing to Mephisto. Might as well do some window shopping for abilities. Mephisto sneered at them from his seat, ¡°Mephisto, Ishtar¡¯s dealmaker and agent. My words have power.¡± Next to Mephisto a thin man leaning on a rather long curved sword glanced her way and inclined his head. A bead of sweat dripped down from his ash-blonde hair, ¡°Cross,¡± He said coldly, ¡°I am a blade dancer. I move fast.¡± Already have it. To Cross¡¯ right was the most obvious attempt at replicating the western trope of gunslingers that she¡¯d ever seen. Dark shirt with a red bandana around his neck, a cowboy hat, double belts, the works. He scratched at his thick beard and grinned a metallic smile, ¡°Grave,¡± He said with a gravelly voice, ¡°I got big iron,¡± He said and pat the revolver on his hip. Next to him, Saleh shifted a little uncomfortably. I hate guns, not interested. To her immediate left was an older looking man with cold eyes. He had the look of a monk about him, bald head and dark robes that looked like they¡¯d been orange once. The feel of death hung around him. He inclined his head towards Ishtar with deference, ¡°Guru,¡± He said with a cruel smile, ¡°I possess a mind for war.¡± ¡°A question of arrogance,¡± Guru murmured, ¡°Ten years means very little to me.¡± Broadside shrugged her shoulders, ¡°One of those peaches would put me back under age,¡± She said with a heavy sigh, ¡°Not interested in going through that shit again. Who knows? If I¡¯m not an adult anymore would I lose my abilities? Not a gamble I¡¯m willin¡¯ to take.¡± This will also help me decide on who I¡¯ll focus on helping if it becomes troublesome, Ishtar thought to herself, ¡°It seems most of you already have decided,¡± She said, ¡°Cross?¡± ¡°Peach,¡± He said gravely and took one, a strawberry disappeared. ¡°Peach!¡± Grave grunted and she tossed it over to him. ¡°Strawberry,¡± Guru murmured. ¡°Strawberry,¡± Broadside said with a wave of her hand. The fruits were gone now, ¡°I¡¯d suggest waiting to indulge yourselves until after dinner, gentlemen, get some privacy,¡± Ishtar said as Grave brought the fruit to his mouth, ¡°Just in case,¡± He lowered the fruit, considered it for a moment, and then nodded, slipping it into his coat. ¡°Very interesting!¡± Erebus barked out, ¡°I enjoyed that a great deal. Tells a lot about a person, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Ishtar nodded and sat back down, ¡°I learned a great deal about the people you hired today. I¡¯m impressed, honestly. It¡¯s a solid group,¡± She said and picked up her fork, ¡°I imagine that your son will be playing the lead defensive role?¡± ¡°Yes, mistress Ishtar,¡± Saleh spoke up, inclining his head, ¡°My ability is suited for creating defenses.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure that¡¯s not all there is to it, but it¡¯ll suffice for what¡¯s coming. We have more than enough attack power here,¡± She said with a pleasant wave as the others started to dig in. Broadside stuffed her face a little, chewing fast and swallowing, ¡°So are you gonna be out on the front with us?¡± She asked Ishtar eagerly, ¡°I wanna see what you can do!¡± Ishtar laughed and glanced at Erebus, ¡°The Spice King paid for my services but besides my ultimate role he hasn¡¯t specified, I¡¯m at your disposal to the end of this scheme, what would you like?¡± She asked casually, plucking a piece of perfectly cooked meat from the plate and popping it into her mouth through the illusion. ¡°I¡¯d prefer it if you took an observational and support role, involve yourself only if you have to. While you are powerful, if by some happenstance someone sees you, more than just some punk heroes from the Pandora Committee might be sent in. They have a powerful teleporter at their disposal and that could cause trouble if things got out of hand,¡± He said flatly, ¡°I want the heroes to threaten August, not us.¡± Ishtar shrugged, ¡°You heard him, if it comes down to it, I¡¯ll play.¡± ¡°Light spears from the sky? Eye beams? I heard you could call lightning too!¡± Broadside said eagerly, ¡°What would you do? I love these abilities and I always want to hear about them, I asked the others about theirs and-¡± She paused when Ishtar gave her a look and she shrank a little bit, ¡°I uh...¡± Ishtar held her gaze for a long moment, letting the pressure hang for a bit before bursting into laughter, ¡°You¡¯re an adorable one! I like you. No, nothing so flashy this time, I have a new trick I want to try out,¡± She said as she took a sip of her wine. It was delicious. ¡°I recently acquired a pocket army and would love to see what they¡¯re capable of,¡± She waved her fork at Broadside playfully, ¡°Look forward to it. It¡¯ll be their debut.¡± Chapter 138 Chapter 138 The stage for the performance was set up. A gallery where some of the finest articles of jewelry and precious gemstones would be on display for those around the world to see. Apparently Sonya had been sent an invitation as well, but she couldn¡¯t care less about things like that. Not unless she could use it to spoil someone else. Her idea of luxury was a bit different. Ishtar personally found it perplexing, and wondered for a time if that was just another way she was deviating from Sonya. Their personalities becoming more and more distinct. She frowned a little at the thought as she settled into the building just across from the gallery, her legs crossed and her eyes shut. She took a deep breath and with a flex of will expanded her perspective. Her eyes opened. The world came into view. She was everywhere in the area. In every hall of the gallery. In every street around it. Behind her two men stood. The first was Mephisto. He hadn¡¯t agreed to participate in the action and had opted to stay behind as her bodyguard. The second was Guru, who moved to sit across from her when she gestured. He opened his mouth to speak but she held up a hand to silence him, allowing the information to feed into her mind. Her enhanced brain processed it into data. Every angle, every corner, every surface became part of a greater picture that she painstakingly pieced together. She cupped her hands and held them out, hard light filling them like water before she parted her fingers and it spilled out onto the ground. It splattered and burst, expanding and taking shape until a three dimensional representation of the area blossomed into being between the two of them. Little blips of light hang throughout the space. They flickered for a moment before taking on colors, little lines stretched from them and took the shape of words, indicating the identity of each person present. Even the wealthy visitors were named, scattered about the space. Allies were blue, neutrals were green, there were no red dots just yet. ¡°Done,¡± She said with a raspy breath, resting her hand in her lap as the dots moved around from place to place. She opened her eyes and looked to Guru, ¡°Your assessment?¡± The old man regarded the illusion for a moment, his expression unchanged even as his pupils dilated a little. She smirked when he cleared his throat and reached for the microphone on his ear, ¡°Young Master Saleh, if you would move to the parlor please, along the east wall.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Came Saleh¡¯s voice over the comms. ¡°Broadside, I would have you with the young master. That is where the most valuable items are,¡± He said. ¡°Gotcha!¡± Broadside chirped. ¡°Grave, take the northern hallway,¡± He said calmly, ¡°And Cross please stay mobile between the two areas.¡± The two men both gave their affirmative before the old man looked up at her, ¡°Not a lot of men for a trap,¡± He admitted. ¡°If I have to get involved I will,¡± Ishtar said simply, ¡°I¡¯m almost hoping the situation comes up.¡± ¡°Do you think it will?¡± He asked, ¡°You seem to be able to see all.¡± ¡°I can see much,¡± She corrected him, ¡°And I see the Pandora Committee arriving ahead of schedule,¡± She chuckled as she waved her hand and an illusory screen appeared in the air next to her with a view of an aircraft flying through the air. The Pandora Committee logo was on the side. She gestured again and an image of a woman getting out of a limousine appeared, she had almost mauve hair done up in a complex bun glittering with gemstones, each finger wrapped in a decadent ring. Behind her limo, another vehicle stopped and two men and two women stepped out, moving to form up around her. Before them, five red dots appeared as she let out a cruel laugh, ¡°The pieces are on the table, strategist! What will you do?¡± Show me how special that power of yours is, before I make it mine. ¨C ¡°They are on the approach,¡± Guru¡¯s voice came through Grave''s earpiece. He popped a stick of cinnamon into his mouth and started to chew, wrinkling his nose a little as he moved a bit more down the hallway. ¡°They are coming through the main entrance. They¡¯ll make for the parlor first. Grave, please make for the side. Cross, follow behind but at a delay. Ishtar has identified two of them from public records.¡± Grave grinned, it was nice to have real intel and backup. ¡°Who we got?¡± He asked. She laughed, ¡°Oh hon,¡± She said and pressed her hand against the wall, ¡°They¡¯re in my killing field already,¡± She said with a wild grin and turned to it, ¡°Hope that August lady can handle it otherwise I might get in a little trouble for this,¡± She snickered, ¡°I wanted to try this on Ishtar but oh well,¡± She sighed and tapped her mic, ¡°Lighting up the hallway Guru ol buddy!¡± ¡°The target should survive, go ahead,¡± Guru said bluntly. ¡°What are you-¡± He was cut off when he saw a portion of the wall in the hall between the parlor and the main entrance open. It was a solid object but it just opened! He rubbed his eyes in disbelief as Broadside started laughing, he heard sounds like the shifting of metal and then a shout. She turned to him and waved at him, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Wall please! Box ¡®em in!¡± She said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, ¡°Think a little, kid!¡± Their plan finally dawned on him and he whirled towards the hall, her laughter growing louder and wilder as he threw his hands out and then down. He straightened his stance and clenched his fists. In a single motion and step he pulled his hands up and to his chest in a rigid motion. The ground at the threshold of the parlor shifted and then shot up into the air as a solid wall, boxing in the passage. A final laugh escaped Broadside''s lips before loud bangs shook the building, cannonfire. BOOM! BOOMBOOM BOOM! The building kept shaking as more and more shots were fired off, even the stone wall he had created began to crack and shudder before it finally went still. Civilians shouted and screamed from where they hid here and there. He stared in horror at the space as yet another gunshot went off in the distance. His heart raced. Battles in dungeons were simple, monsters were straightforward and the few that could use some manner of ¡®ability¡¯ were few and far between. Knowing that there was a person out there that could turn any surface into a hidden cannon was... terrifying. ¡°August lives,¡± Guru said, ¡°As does the sound user but she is wounded, be ready.¡± ¡°Where are Cross and Grave?¡± Saleh asked. ¡°Cross is dead,¡± Guru said, ¡°Grave is on his way.¡± Before Saleh could ask more a keening sound came from behind the busted wall. He felt something trying to tear his wall apart. He resisted it at first, pushing back and holding his ground with clenched fists. He felt the power on the other end intensify. Behind him, Broadside got up and brushed off her hands, walking over to a statue stationed across from the entryway and leaned against it with an outstretched hand. Across the hall, a bloody and irritable looking Grave stalked out, pistol in hand. He pointed it at the opening with a frown. Even though there are three of us, she¡¯s insisting on pushing through. Why? He chewed his lip, What even is a Mythic? My father is one but I have never seen the scope of his power. He clenched his fists, Are the three of us enough? The wall shattered before he could get in his last thought and he pushed his arms forward and then up, shaping the ground beneath him into small bricks that he fired in the direction of the new opening. The statue broadside was touching opened and several small guns poked out of it before opening fire as well. Grave pulled his trigger six times before lowering his weapon, his eyes glowing orange-red beneath his hat. All the while, that keening sound rang out, the bricks vaporized, the cannonballs were pulverized, and the bullets barely made it through. There was a squelching sound and a figure with dark hair stepped out, one arm hanging and another held up to her lips. She had a hole in her leg and blood spilled down onto the ground as she staggered forward. Saleh flexed his arms and twisted his body, pivoting and pulling to the right just as she whistled again, whipping her head left to right. Grave was sent hurtling backwards, the statue next to Broadside exploded and peppered her with debris. Saleh felt his arm itch for a moment as he tried to finish his motion, his left hand tore apart at the fingers before being turned into naught but red mist at the elbow. He let out a scream and threw his body into the motion anyway, agony burning through his mind. A piece of wall lurched out and crushed the woman¡¯s head as he fell to his knees. ¡°My arm!¡± He screamed, falling to his side as the pain grew worse and worse, his brain catching up with the injury. He clutched at it desperately as he tried to open his eyes through the tears. A hand grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him to the wall, before he knew what was happening he felt something get shoved into his mouth, fingers holding it shut, it was sweet. He bit down on instinct and felt the pain wash away followed by a strange, sickening sensation as something began to grow on his stump. He blinked through the shock and tears and looked up to see Broadsides crouched over him with a grin. ¡°Oops!¡± She laughed as the sound of popping ice spread across the floor. They both looked and saw the floor start to turn to gold, spreading out like a creeping infection. ¡°Gotta move!¡± She shouted and grabbed him again, pulling him to his feet as she slapped a few glass cases filled with jewelry. She reached up and touched her microphone, ¡°Her support¡¯s toast Guru! What¡¯s next?¡± She called. For a moment, all Saleh heard was empty static before an angry, bone chilling growl rumbled into his ears. ¡°First Wind.¡± That was when the wind started to blow, shaking the metal sheets that had fallen down with the lockdown. Side Story: Saleh 1 Side Story: Saleh 1 It all happened far too quickly for Saleh to wrap his head around. One moment August was walking out of the hallway, the next all hell broke loose. The wind blew so hard it was impossible to hear anything. He could see portions of the metal sheets that had come down as part of the lockdown shudder and bend beneath the force of the wind. Based on Ishtar¡¯s words, it must be someone called ¡®First Wind¡¯, he personally hadn¡¯t heard of them but if he had to guess they were a hero and a threatening one at that. That meant they were out of time. They either secured August now or they all went down. He chewed his lip and pulled himself free of Broadside who was still holding him by the arm, giving her a sidelong look. She stuck her tongue out at him and he noticed something strange about her eyes, they were crosshairs. How had he not noticed that before? Was it only when her powers were active? He shook his head and focused on the person standing in the middle of the room. August stood like a statue, her hands over her lap and her almost bored expression shifting only to look at them and Grave who was getting to his feet on the other side. Broadside placed her hand on the wall slowly. Saleh shifted his foot to the right and clenched his fists. Grave slid one last bullet into his revolver. RRRRRMMBBBHHHH Like a starting shot, the building shook again and everyone moved at once. Saleh gritted his teeth and opened his right hand, throwing his arm up and clenching his fist. The ground beneath the woman shook and shot upward from all directions, blocks of stone slamming into her body to attempt to restrain her. The wall along his and Broadside¡¯s side of the room opened and cannon barrels poked out before shifting and aiming. One at a time they fired, like they were on the side of an old battleship. Each slug slamming into the woman and kicking up dust and debris. Six shots from Grave¡¯s gun joined in on the attack, peppering the cloudy spot where August stood. Saleh didn¡¯t wait, he had felt the restraints he¡¯d made get obliterated by the onslaught. He reached out to grab onto the earth beneath her again and it... resisted? No, it moved against him. ¡°She¡¯s attacking!¡± He shouted and dove to the right just in time for a long rod of gold to lance through the air, nearly scratching the side of his face. He tumbled and got to his feet and shot a look back at Broadside who was hopping back one step at a time, chuckling as spikes of gold erupted from the ground in an attempt to impale her. Broadside laughed, ¡°I didn¡¯t know she could do that!¡± His brows furrowed but before he could give it any more thought the winds picked up again, the building shook so hard that a portion of the ceiling started to crumble inwards. He felt something else, something that tingled against his skin. He glanced over his shoulder and saw a faint glow coming from the windows. What is that? He thought as his instincts screamed at him to get away from whatever the creepy radiation was. If he touched it, August would kill him. He clicked his tongue and looked around for the others as gold continued to spread across the floor. He paused, What am I doing? He hissed to himself and took a deep, steadying breath. I can see them just fine. He thought as he spread his awareness not just towards the mythic, but throughout the room. There was Broadside, hanging from the side of a statue mounted to the floor, she was firing cannon blasts from the base of the statue and laughing uproariously. His senses picked up on a half-barefoot Grave as well, taking a few steps away from the windows and walking steadily away from the spreading gold as he kept taking shots in the mythic¡¯s direction. His bullets seemed endless. He took another breath, Calm down, think, there has to be a solution. He thought as he glanced down towards the gold spreading on the floor. He narrowed his eyes and felt for the seemingly invincible mythic again. It can¡¯t be that easy, can it? He thought, his senses spreading up from the ground and through her body. It wasn¡¯t like sensing the general shape of his hired-on allies and their positions. It was like I can feel every single- ¡°God damn it I¡¯m an idiot!¡± He swore into the comms before slapping both hands down on the display case he¡¯d perched himself on. This better work! ¡°Young master Saleh?¡± Guru called, ¡°Is everything-¡± ¡°Shut up! I¡¯ve got this!¡± Saleh growled, Depends on my abilities, huh? He grit his teeth and pushed, working his powers like a muscle at its limit. Metals are just a part of earth, just another material the ground is made of. Gold is no different, just pure. He felt his mind creak a little bit under the pressure as he tugged against something that felt close and distant at the same time. He pushed his will through the glass, the floor, the gold, and he grabbed on with all his might. You will not move. He thought firmly. You will not move! He pressed his fingers through the glass, the material parting for him. Hold still! The sounds of crashing and the floor shifting with the creation of gold weapons and projectiles stopped. Somewhere distantly he heard a voice in his ear but his mind was entirely occupied with holding on for dear life as the presence on the other end of his attention struggled against his grip. No, you are metal. You are mine. Another shout over his comm, he shook his head and redoubled his focus. He had to be rigid. Unbending. Unyielding. You are a statue! He commanded, A statue! He felt one of the teeth in his mouth crack a little under the strain when he finally felt the resistance begin to wane and then it just stopped. He kept his grip on it as a hand alighted on his shoulder. He blinked and suddenly noticed just how much every muscle in his body hurt, his jaw hurt, and his upper lip felt wet. He looked up to see an eerie black mask looking down at him, two blazing pink eyes meeting his. ¡°You did well, little villain,¡± Ishtar rasped as a pale white glow gleamed from her palm, ¡°Let¡¯s get her out of here.¡± Chapter 139 Chapter 139 The aircraft streaked through the dry air, pockets of human life streaking by. Three of the four heroes on the ship sat together in relative silence, their eyes focused, their jaws set, their minds on what they needed to do. According to the anonymous tip, Queen August was going to be attacking a private gallery show of jewelry and rare gemstones in the middle east. She had arrived in Syria before moving south-east before pivoting straight for Iran. They¡¯d hoped to catch her along the way but had inevitably been forced to change tactics, aiming for the small city on the border of Iran and Pakistan where the show was being held. ¡°Still seems a little iffy to me that it would be held there,¡± Breach said, rubbing his neck a little and scowling. He leaned back in his light gear, ASTA had made it specifically to work with his phasing ability. He glanced to the right and frowned at the new guy. ¡°You seem relaxed.¡± Luca had found one of the benches in the aircraft to be the most comfortable of them all and had strapped himself in, laying down on it and admiring the blandness of the ceiling. He grinned a little to himself, his eyes closed behind his sunglasses. It had taken forever for him to get to this point but he was finally here. Finally on his first probationary mission with the International Team. He didn¡¯t let that kill his vibe, though, there was something to be said about maintaining a consistent demeanor even when not in the ¡®public¡¯ eye. Not that these eggs get it, sour bunch. He thought and his lip twitched. Heh, Sour eggs. He chuckled again and glanced down at the guy who¡¯d called him out, tilting his sunglasses down a little, ¡°Hey are you scrambled or over easy?¡± He asked with a snicker. Breach gave him a baffled look before turning to the hero sitting next to him. Fontaine, their group healer, sighed and shook his head, his ponytail bobbing a little bit. Breach¡¯s eyes fluttered with momentary annoyance before a new voice spoke up. ¡°He¡¯s calling you an egg, or rather a clown,¡± the woman sitting a bit apart from the rest of them said. Her arms were crossed over her chest and she was frowning at the floor. Her gear seemed to be tailored to her body and made of some kind of tight fitting fabric that could stretch easily. Unlike the off-white of Fontaine and Breach¡¯s gear, it had been dyed and stylized to a rather vicious looking grey-red color scheme. She looked up, her glowing red eyes turning towards First Wind, ¡°Could you please not antagonize the support team?¡± Protean asked, ¡°This is your first mission and I¡¯m monitoring you.¡± He snorted and sat up, resting his arms on his knees. He sniffed the air, Gunpowder and Blood, nice. ¡°Then keep watchin,¡± He said, ¡°Cuz Imma get to work if you don¡¯t mind,¡± He said and unclasped his restraints. ¡°Pardon? We¡¯re not at the target location yet, we¡¯re at least five minutes out, sit-¡± She began but he was already walking to the rear of the aircraft. He slapped the button to open the ramp and fresh air washed over him. He closed his eyes and took it all in, the rapid winds, the dry heat, the strength of the sky in this place. ¡°First Wind! We aren¡¯t at the target location!¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t, I am,¡± He said with a glance over his shoulder and a smarmy grin, Losers. He thought before turning around and falling backwards off the craft. There was a shout as he fell through the air, his floral shirt flapping about him, his chest exposed to the sunlight. He sneered a little, ¡°Let¡¯s fuckin¡¯ go,¡± He hissed and embraced the wind. Everchanging. Unstoppable. The air pressure above him decreased while the air pressure beneath him skyrocketed. With a shift and a flip he was standing in the air. He altered the air pressure in front of him next, dropping it to next to nothing before increasing the pressure behind himself steadily. Faster, faster, faster, he pushed himself along before stabilizing the air pressure above him and turning into a rocket that shot across the terrain beneath him. Just up ahead was the city. He paid no attention to the buildings, he followed the air, that smell. Blood. He could hear it now too, sirens and shouting. It was faint on the aircraft but now it was getting delightfully close. He barked out a laugh as he neared his destination, ¡°Someone¡¯s having a good time!¡± He shouted and slid to a stop, rising up above the city and looking down at the large solitary building. It was gaudily built with all those weird modern shapes to it, cops had formed up around it and were moving civilians away. His lip twitched and he raked his eyes over it, Iron sidings, lockdown huh? Civvies are trapped inside then, no big, this whole gallery show thing sounds shady as fuck. Might as well bring the whole building down on ¡®em and save the trouble. She¡¯s definitely inside. He held out his hands and got to work. Urging the wind through the city streets. Sand and bits of trash began to bounce about as he pivoted and pulled, dragging the wind about slowly, turning it as he adjusted the air pressure and temperature. Good thing I practiced! He thought merrily, This power is hard to control. He clenched his fists and began pulling harder, more wildly, C¡¯mon baby, gimme a tornado! Let''s go! Tornado in the desert! He barked out a wild laugh, Come on, come on, come on! Party time people! He threw his hands down before swaying and pulling them up, the wind that he had been gathering around the city to peel off those annoying plants changed direction. He pulled his hands together, clasping them hard as the wind slammed into the three approaching figures. They crashed into one another in a tangle of limbs and he hurled them into the air just as a body flew past him. He turned his attention back to the single statue and the cops. It raised its weapon and brought it down on the car they were standing behind, cleaving it in half and pulling one piece out of the way to get to them. He clicked his tongue and glanced up as he picked up on something in the air, ¡°Fun¡¯s over I guess,¡± He muttered and glanced up at the Pandora aircraft shifting its wings and entering a hovering posture. That was when he saw what had happened to the three statues he¡¯d thrown. They landed on panels of hard light and quickly extricated themselves from one another before turning their attention to the aircraft. Wait. Hard light? He whipped his head around, No way. She¡¯s here? He grinned wildly, ¡°She¡¯s here! Hell yes!¡± He laughed, ¡°Sorry Protean! Fun time ain¡¯t over yet!¡± He howled and cut loose as more of the statues began to march out of the portal, the brutal things marching towards him as the screams of men desperately fighting the solitary statue fell on deaf ears. He raised his hands high and called on the wind. Even if air pressure wasn¡¯t in his playbook right now, he could just bring a fucking hurricane down and eliminate any witnesses. He clenched his fist and called on all of the wind he could, pulling from all around him, forcing the air through the entire city to move faster and faster. ¡°Come on out Ishtar!¡± He shouted, ¡°I¡¯mma make a name for myself today!¡± He bellowed. Buildings shook, men screamed, the world creaked, and an explosion sounded overhead. He didn¡¯t care even as one of the statue things fell to the ground and got back up, badly burned but still mobile. It turned its eyes on him and he grinned at it. It lowered its weapon and tilted its head, an odd posture for such a rigid thing. Then its eyes changed color, turning into a blazing hot pink. ¡°Next time, perhaps, First Wind. I¡¯ve got what I came for,¡± Came a raspy voice. He blinked, ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Farewell, little hero. Perhaps focus on the job in the future?¡± It mocked him before it bowed its head and dissolved into motes of light. First Wind¡¯s eyes went wide as more motes of light rose into the air. He felt his air pressure feature return and he spun towards the gallery. ¡°Oh you gotta be kidding me,¡± He laughed and wrenched one of the metal panels off the glass wall before twisting his hand and ripping the glass out. He darted inside and found nothing but corpses. Gold was splattered everywhere, the floor, the ceiling, golden bullets, golden rocks, golden people, but there was no sign of Queen August. He licked his lips, ¡°She delayed me,¡± He mused, Just like Vegas and Black Lotus, huh? She doesn¡¯t like direct fights. Noted. ¡°First Wind!¡± Protean called out behind him, ¡°What happened here? What the hell were those things? Breach is hurt, Fontaine¡¯s looking after him.¡± He glanced over his shoulder and grinned, tilting his sunglasses down, ¡°I just fought Ishtar apparently,¡± He said with a laugh. Chapter 140 Chapter 140 Erebus sat in his throne room, chin resting on his knuckles as he stared into space. The stage for his scheme had been more than far enough away to keep any sense of the action far away from him and his own. That was the plan, after all. Why make a move and set yourself up to fail afterwards? Ultimately, every plan needed a favorable end, and that included ensuring that one got away with what one intended to do. His eyes narrowed and he glanced towards the small monitor that had been installed on the arm of his throne. Reports had stopped about the action, apparently the heroes were in control of the area now. ¡°First Wind, huh?¡± He murmured to himself, staring at the face on the screen, He¡¯s very powerful. He thought grimly before turning to another recording. Marble statues stepping out of portals and laying waste to the police, cleaving vehicles in two, crushing one light touched man like he was an insect. Then the confrontation with First Wind, how they marched forward on him with merciless focus. The glowing plants that made his skin crawl, just seeing them put his instincts on edge, warned him to never tarry close. Ishtar. He thought to himself. Just what manner of being did I sell my soul to? Does she really have the ability to retain such a thing? Is the soul real? He glanced up patiently as the air rippled a few feet away from the base of his throne. A line of white light appeared that opened into a large rectangle before the interior distorted and emptied, seeming to dive into a distant place. His lip twitched, Her teleportation power. He thought as his son stepped through, looking tired but very much alive. ¡°Saleh,¡± Erebus said with a nod, ¡°Well done.¡± Saleh glanced up at his father and nodded once before Guru, Broadside, and Grave stepped through. Mephisto came next with a jaunty strut and a smirk on his pretty face. The portal closed a moment later. Erebus frowned, ¡°Where are Ishtar and August?¡± He asked. Mephisto grinned, ¡°My mistress wanted a private word,¡± He said with a flamboyant bow, ¡°It¡¯ll be just a moment, Spice King.¡± Erebus narrowed his eyes, What is she up to? ¨C The old bank vault was as good a place as any. In fact it was a little poetic if Ishtar had to say so herself. She sat down on the table and crossed her legs, resting her hands on the surface and relaxing a bit. She looked down at the figure on her knees in front of her, restrained by glowing vines and guarded by two agents of the Heavenly Legion. The two statues held their blades at the woman¡¯s neck, ¡°Not much of a talker, are you, Queen August?¡± She asked in that blood curdling rasp of hers. Queen August was pretty, beautiful even, no regal was a better word for it. She had a mature countenance about her, a hint of age creasing the corners of her mouth. Her near-purple red hair had fallen out of the beehive bun on the top of her head and now was strewn messily about her face. Her eyes glowed an eerie molten gold, darker than the bright color Ishtar associated with other people, closer to orange. A result of her ability. The woman scoffed, ¡°I do not speak to the dead, Ishtar.¡± ¡°Mind games can be a useful tool in a fight, you know? Talking to a foe allows you to push them to make mistakes, lower their guard, open up,¡± Ishtar pointed out with a chuckle. She shifted in her seat and uncrossed her legs languidly, recrossing them the other way and letting out a longing sigh, ¡°It¡¯s too bad that I prefer to keep to the background. I would love to go a few rounds with the heroes now and then,¡± She clicked her tongue and waved a coy hand, ¡°Oh you know how it is, don¡¯t you? It must be tough being famous!¡± August narrowed her eyes, ¡°Just tell me what you want.¡± Ishtar pointed at herself, ¡°Me? Oh, dear, it¡¯s not about what I want, not really. Not this time I¡¯m afraid. You see, the Spice King made a deal with me and now we¡¯re going to uphold it,¡± She said and leaned forward, ¡°He wants your power in exchange for your life.¡± The woman paled, ¡°Wh-what? My ability? It¡¯s mine!¡± She snarled, struggling against the glowing vines that only squeezed down a little harder, forcing her to become still again. One of the statues grabbed her by the back of the head and fixed her gaze on Ishtar, ¡°It is how I will bathe in the jewels of the world, they all belong to me! They¡¯re mine! I deserve it! It¡¯s owed to me!¡± She spat, trying to pull her head away from the iron grip of the legionnaire. ¡°I don¡¯t need your backstory, August,¡± Ishtar said with a wave of her hand, ¡°Either way, your story as a villain ends here.¡± August narrowed her eyes, ¡°Then just kill me. I¡¯d rather die than-¡± Ishtar clicked her tongue and waggled a finger in the air, ¡°Your survival is indeed part of the deal he¡¯s offering. He will spare your life,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°But if you refuse we aren¡¯t going to kill you,¡± She said, ¡°No. I am going to make sure that you end up in the hands of the Heroes wearing power restraining cuffs. You will be defenseless and they will take you away and lock you up for a very, very long time,¡± Ishtar said coldly, ¡°Far away from your precious jewels, far away from anything beautiful and shiny. Alone in a cage until your dying day, no doubt.¡± The villain¡¯s shoulder¡¯s drooped and her eyes went wide. Real panic filling them as her pupils shrank, Yes. Now you see the reality. ¡°You either surrender your power, Erebus spares you, you find a way to return home to what you¡¯ve already stolen,¡± She flexed her power and her glove receded into her body momentarily, revealing her bare glittering skin, ¡°Or these will be the last sparkles you ever see as the Pandora Committee puts you into a hole from which there is no escaping,¡± Ishtar hissed, ¡°And trust me, I can make that happen. I am fully capable of pulling the right strings to have a cage built just for you, drab and lifeless.¡± Idiot. Coward. Nothing without her powers. No spine. She was so arrogant and proud when she could kill someone with a look. Now, Her lips curved down into a frown, Now look at her. Ishtar scoffed and let her go, ¡°Hold her,¡± She said as the woman hit the ground. It took half a second to process before August scrambled away and pinned herself against the vault door. ¡°Wait! You said that you¡¯d spare my life if I gave up my power! You promised!¡± She shouted, ¡°You said you don¡¯t break promises!¡± ¡°I said that Erebus would spare your life,¡± Ishtar said and stepped off the table again, walking towards her, ¡°I said that he would offer you a way home. You heard things today that damned you, I¡¯m afraid,¡± She continued as the statues grabbed the woman by the arms and pinned her against the wall, ¡°I made no such promises of my own. You were simply too gullible and desperate to think my words through,¡± Ishtar continued and grabbed the woman by the face, ¡°You gave me the location of your home. What more use do I have for you? If I let you go now, you could very well talk about what you experienced today. My abilities, the nature of my dealmaking power,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°The moment I opened my mouth you were doomed.¡± Ishtar pulled Will of Midas out of her warehouse as the woman thrashed against the door. ¡°You will serve better as a warning to others,¡± Ishtar said quietly, ¡°Your reckless use of your ability, your wastefulness, your arrogance, no higher purpose to pursue. You weren¡¯t a villain, you were a wild animal.¡± ¡°Please! No-¡± The woman¡¯s face stiffened as it began to take on a gilded hue, it spread across her body as a look of anguish and terror was frozen in time. In a matter of seconds, she was nothing but a statue. Dead. Ishtar pulled her hand away and walked over to the table, picking up the phone. She concentrated on it and it turned on, the screen flickering and changing several times before she got the information she needed. She waved her hand and a portal opened to her left, ¡°Go. Deal with any security then locate and consolidate anything of value.¡± She commanded the two legionnaires. ¡°Once you are done, maintain watch until I can visit to retrieve it all.¡± The marble statues inclined their heads before marching towards the portal and disappearing through it. Ishtar glanced down at the phone and pressed her thumb against it, the circuitry sparked and smoked before it began to crack and fizzle out. She crushed it in her hand for good measure and dropped it onto the ground. She turned back to the statue of August, ¡°So disappointing,¡± She said quietly before gesturing and creating another portal, ¡°I wonder if it would look better at Erebus¡¯ place or in the Styx? Might have more of an impact in the latter I think...¡± She paused at the portal, ¡°I should probably make a statement on the matter. It¡¯s been a while since the world heard my voice,¡± She chuckled, ¡°Pretty sure First Wind has already told everyone I¡¯m lurking around. Why bother hiding it? May as well take advantage of the situation.¡± <¡±Technocrat.¡±> There was a pause before Amos¡¯ voice came through, <¡±Yes, Ishtar?¡±> <¡±I¡¯d like to use that fancy new broadcasting toy you whipped up the other day.¡±> <¡±Really? Hell yes! Just warning you the broadcast time is pretty short, then it¡¯ll fizz out and I¡¯ll have to rebuild it.¡±> Amos said excitedly. <¡±That¡¯s fine, connect me.¡±> ¨C Across the United States and Europe televisions froze before a face appeared on them. The symbol of a glowing pink eye burning on a black screen. At the Pandora Committee, the chairman sat up in his seat wide eyed as the image appeared on every screen in the command center. Shouts rang out, men and women scurrying about to figure out where the signal was coming from. All the while the old man clenched his fists and glared at that all seeing eye. He slammed his fist on his desk as reports quickly came in that the signal couldn¡¯t be shut down. The loud bang drew the attention of everyone in the room. He nodded to the screen and everyone slowly sat down to wait as the hissing and crackling faded. There was silence for a heartbeat before a cold, rasping voice echoed out from behind that symbol. ¡°I am Ishtar.¡± Chapter 141 Chapter 141 Lily hustled down the hall, she¡¯d been reminded multiple times not to use her physical abilities inside the common building. She cursed a little under her breath, Damn it, if Luke hadn¡¯t put his storage room half-way across the building this wouldn¡¯t have taken so long! She grouched, rounding the corner into the main common area before darting to the left towards the planetary diorama and the stairs leading down. She took two steps at a time, careful not to drop her cargo, before landing and racing past the gym. Just two doors down from the gym where she¡¯d awakened her full abilities for the first time was a viewing room. She pushed through the door and into the room where nearly everyone at the camp had gathered in the small theater. She slid to a stop as a few people poked their heads up and held up their hands. She dug into the bag under her arm and started tossing things quickly at them before turning to Miss Chernovna who gratefully took a can and popped it open, taking a sip as she stared at the screen. All done, Lily hopped over the rear seat and landed between Snow and Alex. ¡°What I miss?¡± She asked breathlessly, handing her a can of cola and passing the bag to Alex who dug through. Snow glanced at her with wide eyes and cracked open her can and shook her head, ¡°Nothing yet, they¡¯re still looking around the building.¡± ¡°What about those statue things?¡± She asked, ¡°Any more show up?¡± Snow shook her head and Lily looked up at the screen. The reporter was sitting at a table with footage of the gallery building that had been attacked to his right. It was huge on the screen and one could see the smoke billowing from the building as well as from the cop cars that had been crushed and cut in half by the statues. Fortunately it looked like the bodies had been cleared away. Her gut twisted and she clenched her fists as the reporter raised his finger to his ear and nodded. ¡°We¡¯ve just received a report from the field that the first responding hero, First Wind, interacted briefly with one of the walking statues,¡± The reporter said, ¡°According to First Wind, they are in some way connected to the elusive Supervillain Ishtar.¡± A few of the students sat up, she spotted Marc literally get to his feet near the front of the room. The reporter straightened himself up and frowned at the screen. ¡°We would like to remind our viewers that while the Pandora Committee has declared the individual calling themselves Ishtar as the highest priority villain in the world, there is very little evidence or information available concerning this person¡¯s existence and that the prevailing theory is that ¡®Ishtar¡¯ is-¡± The screen cut out and voices rose in the room for a moment. Axel held up his hands and reached for the remote in his pocket just as the screen started to hiss and crackle with static. ¡°What the hell?¡± Lily murmured, leaning forward. The static cleared and a symbol appeared on the screen. It was a stylized eye made to look like it was made of digitized lines and code. It glowed pink, flashing in and out for a few heartbeats as everyone went very quiet. Lily felt a small hand grab hers and she squeezed it as the pulsing increased. It stopped and everyone held their breath until a cruel voice came out of the speakers around them. It rasped and hissed, popping and crackling. It sounded like a knife being drawn down across a bloody hunk of ice, slick and terrible. ¡°I am Ishtar.¡± The image blurred and the singular eye disappeared for a moment before a figure came into view. A pair of glowing eyes blazed on a dark unfeeling helmet. The figure was standing in a dark room that looked vaguely like the inside of a vault, a huge door behind them. Their-no-her arms were behind her back. Her entire body was covered in light armor that seamlessly fit together to look vaguely like a jumpsuit. She had long white hair that billowed around her in an unseen wind. She stood in front of the camera for several seconds before speaking. ¡°Today, I eliminated Queen August,¡± She began and the room grew even tenser, Snow squeezed hard against Lily¡¯s hand. Lily tried to tear her eyes away but she just couldn¡¯t. Ishtar waved her hand as if dismissing something unimportant, ¡°Her actions were aimless, pointless, and wasteful. She ran about, murdering people for the sole purpose of hoarding jewels for her own fetishistic obsessions. Feral.¡± Ishtar hissed and tilted her head towards the camera. ¡°Let me be clear, August was unworthy of the title of Supervilllain. She had no higher purpose. No ultimate design. No code. No compunctions. She killed and wrought havoc indiscriminately. So, like An Set before her, she is dead,¡± Ishtar continued, ¡°I hold the villains of this world to a higher standard. If you are bad for business, I will excise you like the cancer you are,¡± She clenched her fist in front of her, ¡°I am the final authority amongst the Villains of this world. I have judged August and found her wanting.¡± She crossed her arms behind her back and stood taller, ¡°Looks like I did your job for you this time, heroes,¡± She rasped out a laugh before tilting her head, ¡°What are you going to do about it?¡± She scoffed and turned away, walking offscreen as the image began to blur and crackle. Everyone in the room gasped, Lily tensed and got to her feet, Snow held her hands over her mouth. Against the door, blocked initially by Ishtar¡¯s body, was a golden figure pressed against the door with eyes wide in abject terror. A woman that struck a horrible resemblance to the face on the wanted posters. The feed cut. The reporter who had just been about to dismiss Ishtar¡¯s very existence looked pale as he collected himself. He cleared his throat, ¡°W-we-we¡¯ll be right back.¡± He said and the screen cut to a commercial. No one spoke for a while, Marc turned away from the screen and marched out of the room, his fists clenched, Ollie got to his feet and hurried after him. Lily glanced up at the instructors. Sonya had her arms crossed and frown on her face. Axel was rubbing the bridge of his nose. Black Lotus looked thoughtful, her eyes narrowed at the screen. ¡°I heard a rumor,¡± Alex said, ¡°That Ishtar kidnapped An Set during the battle of Vegas. Helped him escape.¡± ¡°Before that,¡± She said and looked him up and down, ¡°How do you feel?¡± He raised his eyebrows and cracked a wild grin, ¡°Incredible,¡± He said and reached into his coat, pulling out a business card. He held it up and with a moments concentration it began to turn into gold. He handed it to her and she took it, turning it over between her fingers, ¡°It worked just as you said it would. Marvelous. I may request your services for another if possible,¡± He said. She looked up at him from the card, ¡°And what will you pay me with?¡± She asked, ¡°Don¡¯t get greedy, Erebus. Two is more than most in this world have and both of yours are Mythic.¡± He pouted a little but nodded, ¡°Very well, I suppose I can¡¯t argue those points,¡± He said before clearing his throat, ¡°Now! I have taken the liberty of delivering most of the promised gifts to your room. ¡°However, I wanted to give you the grand prize in person. Consider me the kind of person who appreciates presentation, like yourself.¡± She barked out a laugh, ¡°Every good supervillain is a showman. Wonderful!¡± She said with a clap of her hands and floated back up into the air, drifting towards the center of the room as Erebus gestured towards one of his attendants in the corner of the large space. The attendant quickly bowed and turned to go through a door. She relaxed, stretching her arms and resisting the urge to yawn. It¡¯s the first time I have ever felt tired. How interesting. She drifted back down to the ground as several attendants strode out of the door, parting before forming up around a large audacious gilded chest. She raised an eyebrow and crossed her legs as she hung a few feet off the ground, watching the short procession as it made its way to the base of the throne. There, they held it up for Erebus to approach and open the chest. She tilted her head, trying to take a peek but couldn¡¯t see past his chest. Eager, she alighted on the ground, ¡°The Epic dungeon reward, I take it?¡± He nodded as he turned around, ¡°Quite so. My sons were baffled by it,¡± He said and approached her, cupping whatever it was gently in his hands underneath a silk cloth. He stopped in front of her and held it out, pulling way the cloth. She narrowed her eyes behind her helmet in confusion. It was an egg. Just about twice the size of a chicken egg. It had a mute gray coloring to it and the faint sign of texturing. It looked as if it was made of stone. Her eyes narrowed even more and she focused on it with her senses. Warm? Internal temperature? She froze and looked up at him, ¡°There¡¯s something alive in there!¡± She exhaled. She had no memory from the past timeline of such a thing ever existing. She reached out and took it up in her hands after a nod from the man. It was ludicrously heavy, twenty pounds, thirty? Dense. She thought and ran her thumb over the surface. Something inside shuddered and twisted before settling back down again, She glanced up at him, ¡°It reacted to my touch.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± He said with a nod, ¡°It came inside of the silk wrapping and when my boys touched it with their bare skin they felt a bit of their mana drain off. I believe it might depend on mana to grow and mature. I¡¯ve instructed no one to make skin contact with it since then.¡± She looked up at him and back down at it again, ¡°Fascinating!¡± She exclaimed, turning it over between her gloved palms, ¡°May I have the cloth?¡± She asked and he obliged her. She took it and threw it over the egg in her hand before retracting a bit of her armor so that it touched her skin. Immediately she felt an intense sense of drag going through her body as whatever it was inside the egg feasted on her power. She closed her armor and took a quick breath, ¡°Incredible.¡± ¡°If I may ask,¡± Erebus said, ¡°If it ever hatches, please let me know. I would love to see what is inside.¡± She returned his look with a nod, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll make sure to introduce you,¡± She said, carefully folding the cloth over the egg. She didn¡¯t dare digitize it and store it, who knows what could happen. Instead, she brought her hand up to her heart, ¡°With this our deal is complete besides the ongoing contractual responsibilities.¡± He grinned, ¡°It has been a pleasure doing business with you, Queen of Villains.¡± ¡°I can most certainly say the same, Spice King. Good luck on your conquest,¡± She said and created a portal before stepping back through it. She huffed out a breath as she appeared in the room, taking off her helmet and setting the egg down on a counter for a moment. She glanced up and spotted Mephisto relaxing on one of the beds, flipping through his phone. He looked over and sat up, grinning at her, ¡°All done?¡± ¡°All done,¡± Ishtar said and stepped towards him, ¡°You know this has been the longest-¡± Numbness washed over her face for a moment, it spread down her body and towards her feet. She staggered and dropped to a knee, gasping for breath as the sensation faded. Mephisto was at her side in an instant. She felt dizzy, her head hurt but it was also strangely... quiet. She blinked and looked up at Mephisto, ¡°Mirror! Now!¡± She barked. Mephisto hopped to his feet and ran over to the vanity where he snatched up a powder clip, opening it and handing it to her. She grabbed it and looked down at her reflection. Sonya. She saw her own face but the eyes were closed in a light sleep. Sonya! She thought more fiercely. The reflection stirred and its eyes fluttered open. Sonya looked at her in confusion. I¡¯ve been in control too long. She thought and quickly relinquished control. Sonya felt herself hit the ground and blinked a few times in a daze. She sat up abruptly and looked up at a very worried looking Mephisto. ¡°Are you okay?¡± She rubbed her neck and shook off the odd sleepiness that had come over her, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine,¡± She exhaled, ¡°I think I need a nap though.¡± Chapter 142 Chapter 142 The single light in the dark room flickered, a small hum and crackle coming from the bulb. Two hooded men stood together, speaking in hushed voices. Both of them checked their watches nearly at the same time before glancing towards a door. A heartbeat later it slid open, a third man stepping inside and shutting it behind him. His expression was grim. He crossed the room slowly, pulling out an earpiece and slipping it into his ear as he came to a stop. His hair was short and gleamed a bit silver in the dim light. Dark red eyes turned between the two men. ¡°I have an update,¡± He said quietly, ¡°Information that needs to make it back to the Headmaster.¡± The two men glanced at one another and nodded, ¡°What do you have for us, Tenure?¡± The tenured professor of the Night Society nodded and reached for a satchel slung over his shoulder. He pulled a tablet out and extended it to the two of them, ¡°Liberty put out an order just a few hours ago to begin assembling for an attack. No immediate word on the target area but I suspect it is one of the hero camps, likely the one that her sister is training at, we could be moving within the next few hours at the minimum,¡± The Professor said and one of the hooded men took the tablet, examining the text on the screen carefully. ¡°So soon! She¡¯s sending members of the round table?¡± The man holding the tablet asked in a hushed voice, ¡°Four? That¡¯s a sizeable portion of the team guarding her,¡± He added and turned to the other hooded man, ¡°What do you think? Is this our opportunity?¡± The second man crossed his arms, ¡°The Headmaster will want this information regardless, it is his decision whether or not we strike during the attack or not,¡± He began, ¡°Though something feels off, what changed that she decided to move so aggressively? A strike against the camps was something we considered but dedicating this much force to the attack comes across as overkill.¡± ¡°She wants to be certain,¡± The Professor said, ¡°The mole that she inserted into the camp has not met their deadline, they will be killed along with the rest.¡± The two hooded men looked up, ¡°A mole?¡± They looked at one another before looking back at him, the one holding the tablet glanced down at it again before looking up at him, ¡°There¡¯s no information on a mole in here, are you certain?¡± ¡°I¡¯m positive,¡± The Professor said with a callous smile. His eyes lit up with a ruby glow as he took a casual step back, ¡°She told me herself.¡± The man holding the tablet threw it to the ground and leaped back several feet, reaching for his knife, ¡°Damn it! Flicker! Get us out-¡± The second hooded man let out a garbled shriek of pain, red sparks of electricity racing over hid body as his body twitched and convulsed, his eyes rolling back into his head. He took a sudden sharp breath and seized, collapsing to the ground as whatever was keeping him elevated gave out beneath him. The first man threw his hood back revealing a middle aged man with dark hair and a mosutache, ¡°Tenure, Sir! What on earth are you thinking? This is madness! You know what she¡¯s capable of better than anyone!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the point, adjunct,¡± The Professor said in a cold monotone, tilting his head to the right, ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡± The adjunct scowled at him as he tried to get up, his movements sluggish, like he was trying to right himself in water, ¡°How long has it been Professor?¡± The adjunct demanded. ¡°Very early,¡± The Professor said with a sigh, ¡°I kept feeding accurate but ultimately useless information to the members that sided with me,¡± He scratched his neck and tilted his head, ¡°Oh, and please call me Sir Halloway, now.¡± The door opened behind Halloway and a dozen men with guns stormed inside, raising their weapons to point them at the three men before turning their attention to focus on the two men on the ground. Flicker jolted and twitched, trying again to use his ability but only managing to cause his body to twist and bend in ways that a human¡¯s really shouldn¡¯t. He let out a cry of pain and fell onto the ground again, both legs broken and bent. He opened his mouth to scream but received a bullet in his forehead for his trouble. Halloway lowered the gun, ¡°What a noisy assassin,¡± He sighed before turning on his heel, looking away from the adjunct and bowing at his waist, ¡°My Lady.¡± ¡°Well done, Sir Halloway,¡± A cruel voice came from the doorway. A tall shadow slipped into the room, blue eyes glowing so brightly they cast a shadow over her face. She wore a suit of heavy armor that gleamed and glittered, portions of it illuminated by some strange force. In her right hand was a sword, her left, a shield. She stalked into the room with heavy footfalls that sounded more like thunder in the confined space. Her blonde hair fell down around her face as she entered the faint light. She looked down on the adjunct who stared up at her, his expression hard. ¡°That should be the last of the unaligned spies in my midst,¡± She snarled, ¡°At least in the main compound. How many does that make for my off-brand Night Society?¡± Halloway stepped back a bit and raised his hand to his heart, ¡°Thirty six agents, Leader.¡± Liberty glanced towards him but said nothing, just nodded thoughtfully. She turned back to the adjunct with a sneer before reaching down and grabbing him by the throat. She lifted him off the ground and held him there, he struggled, his weight pulling down against his spine, his eyes bulged and he reached frantically for his throat. Her lips twitched a little, ¡°How sad, an adjunct of the Night Society made to fret and scramble for his breath so easily. It seems that even the death dealers fear it in the end, how human,¡± She said coldly as she squeezed until there was a noisy pop. She dropped the corpse to the ground. She turned towards a frowning Halloway, ¡°We have enough and your betrayal will color any attempts at conversion. Better to liberate him now rather than later,¡± She sighed, putting a hand on the man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°She uses music, I¡¯m certain of it,¡± Halloway said with a nod. Liberty let out a breath, ¡°Very well, do you think that your ability will be able to accomplish what we need it to?¡± She asked, giving him a sidelong look as they reached the apex of the hall inside the main building. ¡°Yes ma¡¯am, nothing will-¡± He was cut off as the doors to the outside flew open and they both glanced back towards the entryway. Halloway¡¯s lips curled with disgust as he took a step back from the monstrosity that lurched its way inside, grabbing one of the armored guards and hurling him past a stoic Liberty. The woman crossed her arms and wrinkled her nose as she watched the humanoid... thing lurch to a stop and look up at her. It was nearly twenty feet tall with grayish flesh that seemed to bend and twist however it needed, perhaps he was made of some sort of clay? Liberty¡¯s lip twitched, ¡°Oscar Ferguson,¡± She sighed, ¡°You finally made it out of the hole I left you in,¡± She said, raising her eyebrows and looking down on the freak. Halloway glanced her way, ¡°You know this thing?¡± ¡°Yes, he¡¯s technically a member,¡± She said cooly, watching the nightmarish thing twist and adjust its body to try to move in the confines of the building. The horrible misshapen man turned his head towards Liberty, his face looked like it was loosely carved from flesh and mud, it was barely human. It bore misshapen malformed teeth and bellowed, ¡°Stella! You have run your father¡¯s good name into the dirt for too long! I challenge you for leadership of the fellowship!¡± He bellowed, slamming his palms onto the ground, the entire building shook. ¡°Can he do that?¡± Halloway asked. ¡°Yes of course,¡± She muttered, stepping away from Halloway, ¡°He¡¯s a member, though I haven¡¯t called the order a fellowship in a while,¡± She said and began walking down the steps, ¡°More importantly, he¡¯s strong, so he gets a say.¡± Halloway frowned, ¡°How strong?¡± ¡°Mythic, He¡¯s the Golem,¡± Liberty said and in one smooth motion drew her sword from its sheath as she returned to the center of the room. She crossed one arm behind her back and pointed the sword in the direction of Oscar, ¡°I accept, Oscar.¡± The titanic man turned on her, his body literally coiling in preparation for the strike. ¡°STELLA!¡± He bellowed, ¡°DIE!¡± He raised his fists into the air. ¡°Halloway! Do you know the difference between Freedom and Chaos?¡± She shouted as she watched the massive man ready for his attack. ¡°No ma¡¯am! Please enlighten me!¡± He called. ¡°EVIL BITCH!¡± Ferguson roared, his body expanding in size until he could barely fit into the building before he literally threw his enormous bulk at her, his clay-like body turning into hundreds of stony spikes that gleamed like metal. She frowned as she watched the attack come towards her and lowered her sword, she sighed and held out a hand. BOOOOM! Ferguson¡¯s unsettling face frowned, sculpted eyebrows knitting together in confusion before he let out a grunt of surprise as his body was lifted into the air, one foot, two feet, then three as something beneath his massive bulk hoisted him into the air and then without ceremony threw him straight through the ceiling and outer wall of the building. He took a portion of the structure with him in a terrible crash as he hurtled through the air and landed bodily in the middle of the open square that made up the heart of the compound. He swiveled his head as his clay-like body ignored most of the impact damage, he narrowed his eyes when a shadow stepped out of the damaged main building. His eyes widened and he bellowed, ¡°STELLA!¡± He roared and threw his arms up, absorbing the ruined portions of structure beneath him and growing larger, larger, larger, increasing in size to his maximum height. He was hundreds of feet tall now, a titan of his own right. If anyone could take her- A flicker of silver light was all he saw before a wave of concussive force carved his body in half. Not even enough time for a half-sane thought as his brain, spine, and internal organs were eviscerated. Halloway hurried through the crushed front end of the building, glancing back at the now exposed main hall as other members of the round table hurried out to see what was going on. He stopped when he saw Liberty standing there, her weapon at her side and her head turned to look over her shoulder, ¡°Chaos is freedom without an ideal to uphold,¡± She said coldly and turned away from the four hundred foot tall corpse, sliding her blade into its scabbard as she stalked past him, ¡°I am your ideal,¡± She growled, ¡°Have one of the heads of construction take over disassembling the corpse and use it to rebuild the main hall. Do what you want with the rest,¡± She said. ¡°I have a broadcast to host.¡± Chapter 143 Chapter 143 She could hear the crackling again, it¡¯d been a while. Every night was another nightmare, but at least they were tamer and tamer these days. She¡¯d been wondering when the peace would end. She let out a breath and opened her eyes. The street was decimated, lurkers everywhere, hounds darting past them in clumps as they sought out any bright sources of mana in the area. Sonya ran her fingers through her hair and looked down at her fingers. Everything was all mixed up now. Her nails were manicured and long, pink nail polish gleaming against pale near-white skin. White locks hung past her head as her eyes clicked. Why hadn¡¯t she heard them recently? Was she just putting it out of her mind? She felt the blood drip down between her fingers and splatter on the ground. Whose blood was it? She looked over her shoulder at the body laying against the wall. Ah, right. The young man who had been a trainee years ago, she¡¯d taken him under her wing as a scout. Now he lay there, a chunk of his torso crushed by a lurker¡¯s fist. ¡°Hello, little hero,¡± A cruel rasp called out behind her, sending a chill up her spine. ¡°Who?¡± She gasped, turning and looking up into a pair of glowing pink eyes that burned down at her through a faceless helmet. Her hands dropped, ¡°Oh.¡± Ishtar hung in the air in a relaxed pose, ¡°You ran after Otis next, right?¡± The Supervillain asked. Sonya¡¯s eyes shifted back a bit, but she didn¡¯t look at the body again, ¡°Yeah,¡± She said with a sullen nod, ¡°I¡¯d been chasing him for days,¡± Sonya said and fell to her knees, ¡°After he-¡± Ishtar floated down a bit, kicking her legs and resting her chin on her palms, ¡°That hasn¡¯t happened yet,¡± She said, ¡°But I think you¡¯re getting distracted.¡± ¡°Distracted?¡± Sonya barked, looking up at her, ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean? I¡¯m adhering to the plan! I¡¯ve been training the next generation, Chunhua is on our side, right?¡± ¡°You¡¯re playing house,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°We can kill her.¡± Sonya slammed her fist to the ground, ¡°You know that isn¡¯t the point! Of course we can kill her! We can kill all of them except him! Why are you even doing this? We had a great day yesterday! Made some good deals!¡± ¡°We created a monster in the middle east, pissed off First Wind, ran away, and killed a nobody, the only real progress was the broadcast,¡± Ishtar said with a scoff, ¡°In doing so I stayed in control too long, I hurt you!¡± She landed on her feet, ¡°You made a liar out of me! I promised you!¡± Sonya bit her lip, clenching her fists and fighting down the scream of frustration boiling up in her gut. She got to her feet and looked Ishtar in the eyes, ¡°What do you want from me? We both know that this is going to take time! We have to do it right!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not arguing that point,¡± Ishtar hissed, ¡°But how long are you going to pretend to be something that you aren¡¯t anymore. Chunhua has changed, she¡¯s a new person. The timeline has changed and she has been far too quiet! Stop coasting!¡± Ishtar shouted, ¡°It¡¯s time to wake up!¡± Her voice echoed as something huge roared in the distance, a building fell, and a cruel laugh filled the air as golden light bathed the sky. Sonya jerked up in her bed and blinked, her chest heaving. She clutched at her head, her temples pounding. ¡°Fuck,¡± She gasped and rubbed her eyes. She¡¯d been out for hours. Sonya glanced outside. It was still pretty dark. She checked her clock on her hud, Little while before sunrise here, should be inching close to sunset over there. She got to her feet and yawned. I need to get back. She grumbled and dragged herself over to the mirror. She stopped in front of it and stared into it, ¡°That was harsh,¡± She growled, ¡°Now you want to talk to me?¡± She asked. The face that looked back at her was her own and for once, it didn¡¯t change. She frowned and furrowed her brow, ¡°Ishtar?¡± She called and the face in the mirror flickered for a moment. For a heartbeat she saw a tired face glance up at her before turning away and closing its eyes in slumber. She huffed out a breath, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re tired,¡± She murmured and reached up to touch the mirror, running her fingers down the cool surface, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I pushed you too hard,¡± She said and let out a heavy breath as she went over what Ishtar had done in her head. Things that she should have done herself. If only- she shook her head. ¡°The job¡¯s done, let''s just go back,¡± She said with a sigh, A hasty knock came to the door and she glanced up, sensing the presence on the other side, ¡°Mephisto? Come in!¡± He slipped inside hurriedly and shut the door behind him, ¡°You need to see this,¡± He said in a rush, walking past her and turning on the TV. ¡°What?¡± She asked, following him as the screen came to life and the scowl of Liberty filled her vision. She narrowed her eyes as Liberty leaned forward on her podium. ¡°The Pandora Committee has failed again, Villains were the winners of the day in Pakistan. Make no mistake of it,¡± Liberty said, ¡°Once more the so-called Queen of Villains has swept in and dealt with the problem while making heroes look like idiots,¡± She continued, ¡°Pathetic. They go about touting their heroism while they do nothing to back up their words. The ¡®new international hero¡¯ First Wind is supposed to be some kind of problem solver, yet all he did was cause enormous property damage and disobey orders!¡± She pointed at the camera, ¡°That is what the Pandora Committee isn¡¯t telling us, he was supposed to wait for the rest of his party to arrive before dealing with the villains, but by then they would have already been too late. Incompetent!¡± Liberty barked, ¡°These are the people telling you to restrain your powers! These are the people talking about registering every light-touched and regulating you,¡± She slammed her fist on the podium, ¡°These are the people who have categorically ignored my demands to have by sister returned home!¡± ¡°Kidnappers, imbeciles, and tyrants!¡± She shouted, ¡°They¡¯ve made their bed and made their decisions, now it is time to reap the consequences,¡± She snarled and raised a fist, ¡°Freedom is for the strong! It is for those who hold to an ideal while living their lives. I can make you strong. I can protect you. And I can do what they can¡¯t and won¡¯t do,¡± She said and stood up straight, looking down on the camera, ¡°I will tear the seeds of oppression out by the root and destroy them,¡± She said before tilting her head, ¡°Is that bad for business, Ishtar?¡± The administrator smiled and nodded, ¡°What would she do without us? Cheers,¡± They brought their glasses together and took a quick drink. It burned just the right way. Chunhua let out a sigh and relaxed as Carla turned to the computer and started typing. She glanced up at Chunhua, ¡°He¡¯s ready.¡± The hero set her glass aside and nodded, sitting up straighter as Carla turned the screen around and a video call started. A few moments later, as Carla walked around her desk to sit in the seat next to Chunhua, the Chairman appeared on the screen. He cleared his throat and graced them both with a broad smile, ¡°Ladies! Glad to hear from you!¡± He said with a boisterous laugh before growing serious, ¡°I¡¯ve been given discretionary power to oversee this matter directly. So let¡¯s talk about getting Black Lotus off the hook, shall we? Every day counts.¡± ¡ª Axel stood on the observation platform, leaning against the rail and watching as the two aspirants made their way up through the obstacle course. Val hopped over another treacherous trap with a rescue doll in his arms while Snow hurried up behind him, covering their tracks with a gesture and creating illusory obstacles to confuse the dolls that pursued them. She hopped over the obstacle as well, landing steadily and continuing to move, keeping her eyes back on the route behind them. Occasionally she would draw a small pistol from her thigh and point it at the approaching attack dolls. The pellets it fired exploded on contact, sending the attackers hurtling away. He tightened his grip on the rail, Reminds me a bit of Trigger. He thought, frowning a little. The image before him bringing him back to that first time Kingshark had made his way through his turf. Axel had been trying to get the growing gang problem under control in town with the help of the local police, then they suddenly got organized and started retaliating. It was a little scary if he was being honest. Trigger had been the biggest problem, explosions could bypass his ability to a degree and even overload it. Fighting the guy off had been hard. He watched Snow take a few more shots as they made their way up the last slope and he checked his watch. He smiled a bit as they passed the finish line, ¡°Good job you two,¡± He said, ¡°I was surprised when you said you were going for a two man group for this test but...¡± He trailed off as he spotted movement in the trees. He frowned, ¡°What the?¡± He muttered before glancing down at the two aspirants, ¡°You two, drop the dolls and get up here now!¡± He shouted.. Val didn¡¯t need to be told twice, he dropped the dolls and grabbed Snow by the side before launching himself into the air and landing behind Axel. Axel threw his arms up in a cross just as a bullet slammed into it. He felt the momentum of the bullet absorb into his skin and pass through and into his muscle fibers. He bore his teeth and glanced back at the two, ¡°We¡¯re under attack!¡± He barked. Val took a step forward and started to warm up his body rockets while Snow raised her hands in a ready pose. He would have smiled if it weren¡¯t so serious, ¡°No! You two get back to the camp, pronto. Let them know what¡¯s happening and follow orders, got it?¡± Snow hesitated, a frown creasing her features and Val opened his mouth to protest but he leveled the two of them with a glare. ¡°Now!¡± They nodded and Val knelt down, holding out his arms, ¡°We can move faster if it¡¯s just me doing the moving, Snow. That alright?¡± She nodded and hopped into his arms, ¡°No problem, let''s go,¡± She said hurriedly and he turned away, firing up the rocket in his back, feet, and elbows before launching into the air like a thrown spear. He was just a glimmer of red a moment later. Axel turned back towards the field and saw a large group of masked men and women marching towards him. He tilted his head and cracked a grin, ¡°You chose the wrong camp to attack, assholes,¡± He said, ¡°And the wrong training course to sneak in on!¡± He snatched up the tablet that controlled the training field and dialed the difficulty up to maximum, ¡°Come and get me!¡± He bellowed as the attack dolls designed by his home company sprung to life. ¡°You aren¡¯t getting anywhere near those brats!¡± ¨C The Chairman nodded slowly, listening to what the two of them had to say. While they all agreed that the restrictions needed to be formally lifted, the debate had turned to just what restrictions were really necessary for the Mythic tier heroes. The vote had codified the Vegas Act, but it had proven almost immediately to be faulty as shown at the Hague. Running in fear of a dungeon break wasn¡¯t the way, but he had his own points to make himself. ¡°While I agree with you on some points, you have to understand that the threat of a dungeon break is an incredible deterrent. No one wants to set off a possible chain reaction by sending multiple mythics to a strike zone,¡± He said flatly, ¡°There¡¯s no way to actively limit a mythic¡¯s output either without simply getting their word that they¡¯re holding back.¡± Chunhua nodded, No way except getting Ishtar to do it, which would never happen. She thought with a frown and leaned back in her seat, ¡°Then at least administrators like Miss Mint here should be allowed to give a Mythic the go order,¡± Chunhua urged, ¡°I don¡¯t want another Hague.¡± ¡°None of us do, which is why we¡¯re talking about this,¡± The Chairman said and rubbed his chin, ¡°At any rate we¡¯re getting distracted,¡± He said with a huff and put his hand on the table, ¡°For now let¡¯s focus on what we can do in the immediate, yes?¡± He said and typed something into his computer before tapping a few more keys and grabbing his tablet and a stylus, ¡°Let¡¯s get that suspension lifted fully. As I said earlier, there¡¯s only a few days left on it but I¡¯d rather get you active sooner rather than later.¡± Chunhua let out a breath, ¡°Thank you sir.¡± He smiled at her, ¡°Your work is appreciate-¡± He paused and glanced up, frowning, ¡°Excuse me? What are you talking about, where?¡± He demanded as he got to his feet. A chill ran up Chunhua¡¯s spine and Carla leaned forward, ¡°Chairman?¡± Carla called, ¡°Chairman, what''s happening?¡± Something loud rang out in the background of the call and then it went dark. ¡°Chairman?¡± Carla shouted, ¡°Chairman!¡± ¨C Pain. For a heartbeat, Sonya¡¯s world was pain as she hit the ground, skidding across something hard. She let out a cry and rolled onto her side, her body twitching and flinching as sparks skittered across her skin. She gasped and her eyes shot open, the pain starting to subside. She coughed and curled up on herself for a moment, taking a few steadying breaths. What the hell was that? She thought, wheezing and rolling over onto her arm. Her fingers found smooth ground beneath them. She blinked and looked around, panic rising in her gut, ¡°Where the hell am I? Where¡¯s the camp?¡± She was standing in a room of some kind. Every wall was made out of either white or gray stone or some variation thereof. Every surface was ridiculously smooth. She frowned, I don¡¯t know any places like this. Her hud flashed and she glanced at it. Chapter 144 Chapter 144 He lowered his hand and examined the readout from the dungeon, the changes were starting to take effect. It was so interesting. He had only used a few of his cheats and the features of his ability. They were all he needed and the others seemed so pointless when he¡¯d first acquired them. What more did he need than to be invincible? He frowned a little, Clearly much more, he thought as he remembered the pain of being blown nearly to pieces by a self-destructing An Set. He raised the hand that had regrown and flexed it a little. He glanced up at the dungeon again, The monsters will respawn faster now and its drawing in more mana. I¡¯ve uncapped it so it shouldn¡¯t burst at least. He chuckled, he didn¡¯t really care whether or not it was forcibly altering a ¡®natural¡¯ process of the dungeon. In fact, I wonder what could happen if it just keeps filling up. Maybe the reward will get better? He paused, Oh, weren¡¯t the scouting trainees inside? Oh well. He snorted and turned away to look at the young woman leaning against a tree nearby. She frowned at him and sighed when he gestured for her to come to him. ¡°Jessica,¡± He said with a wide smile, ¡°How have your powers been developing?¡± She stared deadpan at him, ¡°Well enough, I¡¯ve kept pace with the Nashville team,¡± She said and crossed her arms, ¡°Why?¡± He pursed his lips, ¡°That¡¯s not good enough,¡± He said and she narrowed her eyes before taking a momentary step back, ¡°I want to try something, if you¡¯ll indulge me.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather you didn¡¯t,¡± She said, pulling her arms closer to her chest only to freeze when he leveled a cold stare on her. Her face went pale and her knees buckled once, ¡°Please?¡± She asked, ¡°I really don¡¯t want to be your guinea pig.¡± ¡°That ship has sailed,¡± He said with a his and snapped his arm out, grabbing her by her throat. He tilted his head to the right, ¡°I¡¯m going to make you strong enough to deal with that Cassiopeia girl, whether you like it or not. Liberty has the right idea in this case, surprising for an idiot like her,¡± He said with a snarl as she coughed and squeaked, trying to pry his fingers off of her throat, ¡°Stop struggling, it¡¯ll only hurt for a moment.¡± He drew on his powers, his eyes widening as a smile cracked his face in half. ¡°Let¡¯s try it out!¡± He cackled and activated the cheat. She let out a scream of anguish as pale white shocks of energy ripped through her body. She convulsed, her arms falling limp and her head bucking as the energy tore through every cell in her body. When he was done, he let her go and she collapsed face-first to the ground. He tapped the side of her head with his boot but she didn¡¯t stir. Still breathing though, I suppose that¡¯s good enough. He scoffed. He glanced towards the trees, ¡°Not watching today either, probably preparing for the exam ahead. Ignorant thing,¡± He muttered only to pause as two presences approached. He narrowed his eyes until two of the aspirants he had brought in as lackeys came into view. They paused when they saw Jessica. His eyes narrowed. And this is what I get for being careless. He grumbled, ¡°What is it?¡± They blinked a few times and looked away from her. The first opened his mouth and was about to say something when the second cut in, ¡°We spotted a group of people wearing masks heading this way, sir,¡± He said, ¡°They¡¯re heavily armed.¡± ¡°Isaac tried to teleport to you but his ability¡¯s on the fritz,¡± The first added quickly. ¡°He¡¯s unconscious.¡± He frowned at them for a moment before glancing over at Jessica, ¡°Ah, I see what¡¯s happening. It looks like she took too long,¡± He tilted his head, ¡°The camp is under attack. That works for me,¡± He said with a smirk. ¡°Sir what happened to¨C¡± Otis accessed his cheats and called a gun to his hand. He turned his weapon on the two young men and fired off two quick shots. Both of them dropped like sacks of meat to the ground. He wrinkled his nose and walked over to them, he kicked each to make sure they were dead. Stupid things, shouldn¡¯t ask questions like that. More trouble than your pathetic abilities were worth. He thought before pausing and chuckling, Oh, Liberty, now look what you did! He turned towards Jessica, ¡°Looks like you don¡¯t have time to rest,¡± He said aloud and walked over to her, kneeling down and grabbing her by the face. ¡°Let¡¯s try stat modification next,¡± He chuckled, ¡°Rise and shine!¡± Axel frowned, crossing his arms at the top of the slope, his eyes fixed on the intruders. A wide array of powers and abilities from uncommon to one or two epics it looks like, he thought, his gaze shifting from person to person. Another bullet slammed into the side of his head and turned into a flat wad of metal as the momentum sank into his muscles. He let the energy build as he remained still, ignoring the attack as if it were a fly buzzing near his ear. He shifted his attention to one of the lead epics, a man with brown hair and a farmers tan, blade-like claws of energy hovered over his hands as he sliced through dolls. The hero reached up and rubbed his dog tags thoughtfully for a moment before slipping his hand into the side pocket of his cargo pants. He pulled a gray wad of modeling clay out. He plucked off a piece and rubbed it between his fingers lazily as the man drew closer and closer. Woulda taken you on as a hero if you¡¯d applied, moron, Axel thought irritably before holding his hand out with the freshly formed ball of clay out. He exhaled and a bit of energy left his muscles, the ball leaping from his fingers without a gesture and slamming into the man¡¯s head between the eyes with a noisy thud. The man fell backwards, slapping down into the wet soil with foam bubbling from his mouth as a single wad of clay stuck to his forehead. Axel snorted and began repeating the process, firing off balls of clay as bullets struck him and restored his momentum. Each followed by a sudden and final thunk! The slow to defend fell quickly, but where he had raw power, they had numbers, numbers that were growing at an alarming rate. How many people did that psycho send? And where the hell are the reinforcements? Shouldn¡¯t Euclidia have started sending people by now? He griped, pivoting and firing shot after shot off as they got closer and closer. BANG Something heavy slammed into the side of the observation deck. He steadied himself and whipped his head to the right. A man climbed over the side, a sneer in his eyes. He reared back and revealed a forearm that had grown three times in size and had been coated in some kind of metal. The invader lunged over the rail and charged, throwing a massive fist towards Axel. Axel scoffed, ¡°Haymaker? Come on man,¡± He grunted and stepped to the side, rapping his knuckles against the metal fist with a gentle tap. The invader blinked before abruptly launching past him like a rocket, screaming. ¡°Seriously,¡± Axel shook his head, rubbing his ear at the ringing that had started in it, ¡°It¡¯s like-¡± He felt something tingle in the air. No, on his skin. A feeling he knew all too well. Years in the military had given him something of a sixth sense, not a true ability, but enough to know when his head was in the wrong location. He used the momentum built up in his body and pushed himself to the right so fast it looked like he¡¯d disappeared and reappeared. He slid to a stop just as a ruby-colored streak of something that felt like raw mana lanced through the air, spearing two of the attackers and going off to the sky. It was fast! Not laser fast, but fast enough. Heroic? He watched the two men look down at the holes in their chests, eyes filled with confusion and betrayal. Son of a bitch. A gentle palm pressed against his back and he blinked before pain exploded through his back. He stumbled forward, gasping for air and whirled around to see a younger man with his fingers reaching towards him. Axel frowned and glanced towards the base of the slope, They¡¯ve stopped shooting at me. Someone with a brain showed up. He thought as the young man stepped towards him soundlessly, his movements odd and jerky. There was a faint chime, the ringing! He realized as the young man vanished and reappeared next to him. He jerked back a step and slapped the incoming hand away only for two fingers to brush against his chin. Agony ripped through his jaw and he felt one of his teeth crack. Shit! Sound waves! He thought before dipping low and sweeping his leg out, transferring momentum into his attacker¡¯s ankle and sending him spinning through the air like a pinwheel before falling to the ground and vanishing with a noisy chime. Just as the chime rang out another flash of red came his way, this time narrower and far, far faster. He jerked his head out of the way as the searing ray cut his cheek only for another palm strike to send rippling soundwaves through his calf muscle. He jerked his leg away and then kicked the guy in the head before quickly taking stock. I¡¯m taking too many hits and more of them are coming! I¡¯m gonna lose momentum at this rate. He turned towards the camp and glanced over his shoulder at a red light lingering at the base of the slope. Another figure stepped out to join it. He clicked his tongue, The real attack force is here, time for a tactical retreat. He thought and threw his momentum into his feet, launching himself forward over fifty yards before landing and doing it again. Shouts rose up behind him that he pointedly ignored, Gotta meet up with the others! I only hope I bought them enough time. ¨C As Axel made his retreat, Sir Halloway stepped out of the trees, his eyes glowing brightly. ¡°I¡¯ve locked down the region,¡± He said calmly, ¡°Euclidia won¡¯t be sending any reinforcements anytime soon, certainly not in a way that would matter.¡± He glanced at the other two who were standing there as the main force raced up the now unguarded slope. ¡°How was he?¡± He asked. Sir Ewen pulled back his cropped blonde hair and slung his bow over his shoulder, ¡°Fast, at the very least,¡± He said with a chuckle, tugging at his pierced lip, ¡°Managed to avoid my ruby shots. Looked like he took more damage from Sir Ellis,¡± He pointed out, gesturing towards the observation deck where Sir Ellis sat on the rail, kicking his feet as little bells rang around his ankles. Halloway nodded, ¡°Good work, now,¡± He turned to the last member of their four man strike force. A woman with steely gray eyes and burned-charcoal colored hair. Her lips were curled up into a delighted sneer, ¡°Dame Kant?¡± She met his gaze, ¡°I know, Black Lotus is mine.¡± Chapter 145 Chapter 145 ¡°Everyone! Please remain calm and move in an orderly fashion!¡± The dark haired instructor shouted, waving his hands towards the common building, ¡°Please follow Miss Chernovna, she will lead you to the bunker beneath the common building! The Security force will be occupying the building, make sure to listen to their instructions,¡± The man continued. Alex hadn¡¯t had a training session yet with the guy but he knew his name at the very least. Bedrock was a peak-epic earth elementalist hero and had been brought in by Marion like the heroic Axel. ¡°The instructors will handle the situation, it is best that you all get to safety!¡± ¡°Where are the reinforcements?¡± One of the aspirants shouted. ¡°Why aren¡¯t more heroes showing up?¡± Another called. Alex clicked his tongue and glanced towards Greg who was frowning hard. Both of them understood why they were giving the order but that didn¡¯t mean he had to like it. They had worked hard to get to where they were, they were more than strong enough to take on some thugs. He let out a sharp breath and calmed himself, there was no point in getting worked up about it. They weren¡¯t licensed yet and orders were orders. He¡¯d promised himself he wouldn¡¯t go running off half-cocked anymore. A small hand gripped his shirt and he glanced down at Snow who was looking at the ground with furrowed brows. He felt her hand shake a little and looked up at Greg who was looking around as well. I have a bad feeling... He thought as Greg let out a relieved breath. Jessica waved at him from the front of the crowd leading into the common building. She¡¯s accounted for, okay, he paused and then looked down at Snow again as Val and John hustled over. ¡°Found John,¡± Val said before looking past Alex and waving his hand hard, ¡°Hey! Over here!¡± He shouted. Alex felt Snow whip her head in the direction and tense a little. Then it hit him. Wait... Cass and Ollie slid to a stop with the rest of them, ¡°Is everyone okay?¡± Cass asked, her eyes wide, she started to head count when Ollie let out a weary breath. Cass¡¯ hand fell to her side as everyone looked at Snow who was starting to shake even harder. ¡°Lillian is still in the dungeon,¡± Ollie said, his chest heaving with the effort of trying to remain calm, ¡°The entire scout team is with her.¡± Alex whipped his head back towards Bedrock, and two other heroes joined him. First was a woman wearing a hunter''s hood and cloak, the other was a man in a bowler hat. Canis and Crowley. He remembered, he raised a hand to the trio, ¡°Hey! Hey!¡± He shouted, ¡°Wait! We¡¯re missing people!¡± They didn¡¯t respond, they didn¡¯t even look his way. They were so focused on keeping control of the situation that they couldn¡¯t spare the time. They¡¯re counting on us to run to safety on our own. He thought. Even with months of training hardening the aspirants, there was a difference between controlled combat and a surprise attack. Fear was powerful, Alex knew that better than anyone. A bang rang out in the distance followed by a brief explosion. The other aspirants began moving faster as they hurried past the heroes who were trying to keep order. ¡°They¡¯re not going to raid the dungeon,¡± Greg said, ¡°She just needs to-¡± ¡°No!¡± Cass shouted rounding at him, ¡°Listen to me, if you think she¡¯s just going to settle for missing a few, you¡¯re out of your mind!¡± She looked down at her fingers, trembling, ¡°This has got to be Liberty, it has to be, there¡¯s no one else who would do this. She won¡¯t stop until everyone is dead and she¡¯ll trigger a dungeon break to get her way.¡± Alex gripped Snow¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Cass we aren¡¯t-¡± ¡°When will we be? When we get some card on a stage?¡± Cass shouted. ¡°A hero acts,¡± John said with a nod. ¡°She needs us,¡± Val agreed, ¡°I ain¡¯t sitting out of this fight, no fuckin¡¯ way.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going,¡± Snow said, her voice popping into their ears, bypassing the ambient noise of fear and distant fighting. Greg bit his lip, ¡°Ollie?¡± Ollie adjusted his glasses, ¡°I don¡¯t know about you guys,¡± He said and squared his shoulders even as his knees buckled, ¡°But I¡¯m already a hero,¡± He said and turned on his heel, racing towards the path between the dojo and the common building that led out to the portion of the woods where the dungeon was hidden. Cass rounded on her heel and raced after him, Snow coming next. Val glanced at Greg, ¡°You comin?¡± ¡°You think I¡¯m going to let you idiots run into danger without me?¡± Greg shot, ¡°Fat chance,¡± He said and bolted off after the others. A shout rang out behind them, calling for them to come back. Alex stood there for a moment and looked past the heroes who were angrily shouting towards the doors. He saw Miss Chernovna there, gripping the door with white knuckles. He met her eyes. We¡¯re off. Hundreds of racing footsteps and shouts caused Axel¡¯s ears to shudder a little. He clenched his fists, We still haven¡¯t seen the leaders clearly! He glanced towards the path behind them leading towards the dungeon. They¡¯re all coming from one direction, this should be a good enough spot to defend from. As if to confirm his thoughts, a portion of the stone wall created by Bedrock exploded as a bolt of red light streaked through it. Then another that was pointed a few feet to the right, and another. They¡¯re cleaving through! ¡°Get ready!¡± A bloom of red light blossomed on the other side of the wall, growing brighter and brighter with every passing moment. Axel clicked his tongue, ¡°Bedrock!¡± He called, ¡°We need more wall!¡± ¡°I¡¯m working on-¡± FWOO- A concussive blast of red light crashed into the stone wall, obliterating it. Axel threw up his arms to protect his face and chest, wincing. This one is going to- huh? He blinked and lowered his arm, confused at the absence of pain and shouts from his comrades. Something yellow-gold blossomed amidst the red light and he took a step back as a figure seemed to materialize out of the red glow that was struggling to get past a rippling transparent sheen of gold. Standing at the center was another aspirant, Marc Mallory. This kid... holy shit. The red light faded and Marc turned, lowering his hand and calling back the barrier. In his other hand was a golden sword that shone with dangerous promise. ¡°Sorry for ignoring orders sir!¡± He said brightly, ¡°My legs just moved.¡± Axel grinned, ¡°Kid you just saved our asses, Bedrock!¡± ¡°On it!¡± Bedrock shouted back and threw his back into creating a taller, thicker wall around the perimeter. More howls joined the initial group that Canis summoned and a small flock began to gather around Crowley as the heroes rallied themselves. Axel looked Marc over once before glancing towards the path to the dungeon, ¡°You think you can handle any of the small fry?¡± He asked the aspirant hero. ¡°I can manage,¡± Marc said and slung his sword onto his shoulder, ¡°Orders, sir?¡± ¡°Some of your peers went to the dungeon, the scouts are still inside, back them up,¡± He said quickly. Marc gave a quick salute, ¡°Yessir!¡± He said and like a rocket launched himself in the direction of the path. Axel let out a breath of relief, They¡¯ll have a mythic with them. It¡¯ll be fine. He thought as he stepped back towards the steps of the common building. The others moving with him. Birds filled the air and wolves prowled the interior of the wall as shouts and clamoring grew to a fever pitch, the ground shook from their steps and the wall shuddered as more attacks slammed into it. He clenched his fists. That was when a chime rang out. A sonorous sound that sent a chill down his spine, That sound guy again... He cursed only to feel his blood run cold as the wall that Bedrock so diligently built began to shudder and crumble. He closed his eyes and let out a breath, They aren¡¯t even going to make demands. I have no choice. He glanced at Bedrock who met his eyes. The man paled a little before swallowing hard. ¡°Orders, sir?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take responsibility, do it,¡± He said with a frown. Bedrock set his jaw and nodded, he took a step forward and threw his hands up, gesturing at the thick wall he¡¯d created. It continued to crumble and shudder under the sound-users onslaught. He flexed his fingers and the wall was cut into segments, tall slabs of stone as opposed to one singular mass. There had to be at least a hundred attackers in the shadows of those things. He reared his arms back to push. BRRRAAANNNNGGGG The sound was so intense it nearly sent Axel to his knees and Bedrock reeling for a moment, canceling his lethal order, he reached up and clutched at his ears as he turned back towards the source. He blinked, No way, He thought, dumbstruck. She came out? Atop the balcony, looking down at the approaching horde of invaders and the three silhouetted leaders at the front, an eye-wateringly beautiful woman stood. She wore an immaculate gown decorated in jewels around the neck and down the front. Her black hair up in a stylish bun and large jewels hanging from her ears, framing an irritable scowl. In her hands was an electric guitar. She drew her extra-long fingernails along the strings and wrinkled her nose in disgust. ¡°You¡¯re going to pay for making me come out when it¡¯s this humid,¡± She said and even though her voice was even and calm, it carried across the entire field. Madame Rouge had finally entered the fray. Chapter 146 Chapter 146 In Rouge¡¯s mind, personal beauty was a tool as well as a form of art. It was something to be used and appreciated in small amounts, not flaunted or paraded about. Art was fleeting, so too was youth. It was not meant to last forever. One did not go to the same museum every day and stare at the same piece and get the same emotional response. There were other, more important things in life to concern oneself with than getting lost in something that would cease to be in just a few short years. This was why she rarely left her office. Her focus was on raising the heroes in her care, not strutting about like some pompous preening peacock. Her eyes narrowed as she took in the scene before her. Segments of wall had been created by Bedrock and it looked like he was fully prepared to tip them over onto their attackers. That would mean needless loss of life. Heroes did not kill humans. Period. It was a rule set by the Pandora Committee and one she vehemently agreed with. Life, like art and beauty, was fleeting and precious. Something to be maintained and cultivated. Her frown deepened as she took in the feral masses of inebriates clamoring to get at the young embryonic heroes under her care. Black Lotus has taken up position inside the building. The last line of defense given her situation. When there is no other option she will take action, unless Administrator Mint can figure something out. She clicked her tongue, And that stupid boy, running off without permission. I¡¯m going to give Ollie one hell of a talking to when he gets back. Don¡¯t you dare die young man, She growled as she strode forward and stood at the ledge. There was a stillness despite the shouting and brandishing of weapons on the other side of the wall. Neither side was going to make the first move, it seemed. She reached up to her ear and gently tapped an earpiece that hung seamlessly over her ear and along her jawline, ¡°Deploy,¡± She growled. An instant later a pair of basketball sized spheres floated up on either side of her. Despite her corporate affiliation, she appreciated Dr. Carter¡¯s craftsmanship. She tilted her head up and looked down on them all, ¡°Last warning, retreat while you have the opportunity, otherwise I will see to it that you all leave in chains,¡± She said evenly, projecting her voice across the main courtyard now turned battlefield. ¡°Afraid we can¡¯t do that!¡± A voice called out from the other side. She narrowed her eyes and heard a chime ring through the air. A heartbeat later a figure was standing on the wall, lanky, with slightly overlength arms that had been concealed by long sleeves. The figure tilted their head and grinned wildly. He dipped into a bow, sweeping his arm to his chest, ¡°Sir Ellis, Knight of Liberty¡¯s Round Table, Madame Rouge. I heard you were here! How exciting!¡± Rouge narrowed her eyes and didn¡¯t deign him with a response. His lip twitched and he barked out a laugh, ¡°Just as haughty as I heard too! Wow!¡± He covered his face for a moment and let out a sigh, ¡°Look, we¡¯re not here for you! We¡¯re here for Cassiopeia, right everybody?¡± He called, flicking his head back at an odd angle to shout at his comrades. They all let out a roar of agreement. ¡°See? Just hand her over and we¡¯ll be on our merry way! She belongs at her sister¡¯s side, after all. How terrible to see siblings apart!¡± He threw out his hands, ¡°You so-called heroes cut corners all the time! What¡¯s the big deal?¡± He held up a finger, ¡°Just one girl and you save the lives of everyone here! Not a bad trade!¡± He snorted, ¡°That way you people can do some proper hero work for once instead of playing summer camp while the world goes to shit.¡± She let out a sigh, ¡°Are you quite finished?¡± She asked. He picked at his ear, ¡°Yup, that¡¯s about it, what do you say?¡± She pursed her lips and shook her head, looking down at the others below. Axel¡¯s shoulders were rising and falling as he did everything he could to hold back his rage. The wolves created by Canis were poised to strike. Crowley was holding onto his cane with a white knuckled grip. She flicked her eyes up to Sir Ellis, ¡°You fundamentally misunderstand what we heroes do, Sir Ellis,¡± She said with all the venom she could muster, ¡°And you live in a fantasy world created by your madwoman of a leader,¡± Her finger twitched over the strings of her guitar, ¡°If you think I will let you lay a hair on the head of any of the young people under my protection, regardless of who they are related to, you are by far the greatest imbecile walking the face of this earth.¡± He blinked a few times and his arms fell to his sides, his smile vanishing, ¡°Well-¡± She tilted her head forward, and if you think you get the first move, you¡¯re even more foolish! She snarled and strummed her guitar, flicking through three notes. His eyes widened and he lifted his foot, the chimes beginning to jingle, the two spheres on either side spun with a lightning fast rotation and brought a pair of flat plated speakers to bear on him. A sonic wave crashed into him, his eyes rolling up in his head as he was knocked back, blood spraying from his nose and ears. ¡°Come and take them!¡± She shouted and flicked a switch on her guitar. A roar of fury rose up among the spectating cultists, ¡°STRENGTH FROM LIBERTY!¡± ¡°I do believe we¡¯re getting shown up, dear Canis,¡± Crowley said with a huff and tapped his cane against the ground as a pair of hawks darted down and began attacking a man with a red bow that had been ready to assault Axel. The man fell to the ground and scrambled to his feet, whipping his hand and releasing a short range wave of red light that cut through half a dozen wolves, turning them into the motes of mana from which they came. He bore his teeth at the pair, ¡°Oh great, the cheerleaders,¡± He snarled and glanced down at his bow. ¡°I won¡¯t be needing this.¡± Crowley narrowed his eyes and squinted at the bow, ¡°Are those letters? What language is that?¡± He said thoughtfully. The man stalked forward, pointing at wolves and destroying them as they charged, ¡°Crowley, the Pandora Legal Expert sent to teach the trainees the ins and outs of hero law,¡± He sniffed, ¡°Canis, who they sent to manage the monsters they would be training against,¡± He laughed out loud, ¡°A pair of weaklings with barely epic-tier abilities. How do you get away calling this epic?¡± He gestured around himself. Canis stood up a bit straighter, ¡°I think we¡¯re being underestimated, dear Crowley.¡± Crowley huffed, ¡°I do believe we are, dear Canis, that¡¯s unfortunate!¡± The man wrinkled his nose, ¡°Once a weakling always a weakling. You barely qualify as combat heroes.¡± Crowley let out a sigh and scratched his brow with the handle of his cane, ¡°You know, it¡¯s funny, I would have agreed with you a few months ago. But there¡¯s a strange thing about being surrounded by young people with so much potential and being in proximity with talented licenced heroes.¡± The man paused and narrowed his eyes, ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Inspiration,¡± Canis growled and hunched forward, fur spreading across her face as her snout extended. Her body grew in size, her fingers stretching and her muscles expanding. She snapped her jaws and whipped her head left and right as her body changed. She grew and grew until she was the size of a Lurker, her white-gray fur gleaming in the moonlight from above, glimmering and shining like metal. The man clicked his tongue and pointed at her, a beam of red light crashing into her shoulder. She rolled back a foot before snapping forward and snarling, only a small burn and a bit of smoke left behind by his attack. Her yellow eyes burned and she threw her head back into a howl. The sound of howls and bones snapping joined her in chorus. Behind her a cloud of birds exploded into existence as the man whipped his head left and right, the wolves collapsing and going through a similar change to herself. He whipped his finger out and pointed at one of the wolves as the birds condensed behind him and a cane struck him in the back of the head. He gasped and staggered forward, grasping at the back of his head and spinning. He reached out towards Crowley who was now standing behind him, glowing red claws forming around his hands as he tried to tear the man¡¯s throat out. Crowley just chuckled and exploded into a burst of black birds that spread out over the area. ¡°Fucking - AUGH!¡± The man screamed, jaws digging into his shoulder. He glanced to his right and looked into the feral eyes of a wolfman that had grabbed onto his arms and was attempting to bite his entire shoulder out. Enraged he opened his eyes wide and a pair of red beams shot from them, skewering its head and sending it to the ground. He spun and whipped his hand out, releasing another wave of red and cutting three more of the much stronger creatures in half. As they dissolved he reached for his bow and leveled the bestial Canis with a stare. ¡°It seems I owe you an apology,¡± He snapped, ¡°I won¡¯t be making the same mistake twice.¡± The music hit a crescendo and a new song began, above them, the music rapidly increased in tempo. ¡°You¡¯re never gonna stop me!¡± Rouge sang, moving on to her next song. As she did, a glimmering sheen washed over Crowley and Canis. Chapter 148 Chapter 148 A bullet whizzed by Alex¡¯s ear, his head whipping forward in response to the sound. He dove forward and kept running, pushing off the ground with his hands to get a little acceleration before he leaped into the air and whipped his arm out, covered in scales. The massive limb that grew from his body crushed a pair of trees before colliding with one of their attackers. He landed and kept moving, patting his waist to check that the pair of small legs were still wrapped around him. He glanced back at Snow who gave him a determined look before he turned back and kept running. ¡°Move! Move! Move!¡± Greg shouted behind them, the heady buzz of his powers activating rattling Alex¡¯s senses for a moment as a hail of bullets was deflected. Alex darted around another tree and made for the path again, they couldn¡¯t be much farther, could they? How long had they been running? He pressed his lips together, Hang in there Lily! He thought, ducking beneath a branch and alighting on the path. He turned and his eyes widened at the sight of a pair of gun barrels pointed at him. ¡°Shit!¡± He threw up his arms. ¡°Got it!¡± A voice called from above. He whipped his head up to see a streak of gold and pink collide with the ground, there was a noisy crash and when the dust cleared Cass was standing there with the biggest hammer he¡¯d ever seen slung over her shoulder. She glanced his way and gave him a nod before moving away from the small crater she¡¯d created, racing towards their destination. He shook his head after a testy poke from Snow brought him back to his senses and he followed after her. ¡°I see it!¡± Came another voice from ahead, Val, the lights of his rockets guiding them through the trees, ¡°Someones there!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t engage!¡± Greg shouted, ¡°We¡¯re coming!¡± Off to the left Alex saw John and Ollie hurrying along. Ollie looked pensive while John had a scowl of absolute focus on his face. Alex had never seen the guy frown so hard. Alex hopped over a low hanging branch and picked up his pace, whipping his arm out to grab the next one and snapping towards it like a rubber band, ¡°Hold on Snow!¡± He called as a tiny squeak sounded behind his head. He pulled himself forward, one branch at a time, Come on, come on, come on! He willed himself to go faster, if he could turn fully into a serpent he could just move around everything. Nothing could get in his way. He pulled himself forward again and launched into the air, kicking his feet slowly as he caught a bit of air time. He glanced down and spotted the clearing. The pillars of the dungeon were in plain view as was a man standing off to the side with his hand extended towards it. Reddish bolts of ¡®something¡¯ were darting from his fingertips and striking the portal. What the heck his that guy doing? ¡°Mana levels skyrocketing!¡± Snow said quickly behind his head. He glanced back at her as they descended, ¡°How do you know?¡± He asked. ¡°My implant, don¡¯t worry about it,¡± She said quickly, ¡°We got a problem. He¡¯s trying to trigger a break!¡± Her voice seemed to echo for him and he realized it was the after effect of her broadcasting her voice to the others as a series of curses answered her immediately. Just as Alex landed at the edge of the trees another shape came racing out in the form of Cass, her weapon raised and a snarl on her face. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± She shouted, her body picking up tremendous speed as her head tilted forward. Something on her head- Is that a crown? No, Horns? The man spun and his eyes widened, ¡°Cassiopeia!¡± He gasped, breaking into a wide smile, ¡°You came to me!¡± He laughed and drew something from his belt. He pointed it to the sky and pulled the trigger, launching what looked like some kind of flare. He pivoted away from the portal and threw out both hands, he held them together for a moment before spreading them open in quick movement. Between his palms a glossy surface that looked remarkably like that of a bubble appeared. She kept moving, her legs pumping against the ground and leaving deep holes with each step. He took another step back and opened the bubble wider as Greg let out a shout, ¡°Don¡¯t touch it!¡± Cass didn¡¯t hear him or didn¡¯t listen, her eye burning with fury as she crashed into the bubble. It popped and she vanished. What? A cry of surprise and alarm filled the air and Alex looked up in time to see Cass falling from the sky. ¡°I¡¯m fine! Move!¡± Cass shouted as she threw herself forward in a sommersault in the air, gripping tightly to her weapon as she spun towards the ground like a blunt chainsaw. Alex looked to the portal, ¡°Just go in?¡± He shouted to Greg. ¡°Everyone get inside, we need to get Lily and the others out before anything worse happens!¡± Greg called back. John didn¡¯t need to be told twice, he was darting towards the portal the moment Greg gave the order. Val rocketing off next. The man whipped towards the two approaching him just as a screaming Cass came down towards him with the force of a small meteor. Her hammer aimed at his head. The man let out a gasp of alarm and for a moment he flickered before appearing a few feet to the right of where Cass had intended to hit him. Cass hit the ground and the whole area shook. She stood up and Alex darted forward as Ollie hurried behind them, ¡°You still good Ollie?¡± He called. ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± His friend said, ¡°Just get in the portal, you too Cass! Hand to hand isn¡¯t going to work with him!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out if you do well enough,¡± Halloway said with a hiss as he stepped out of the trees, space rippling around him, bits of wood and ground gouged out around him with every step. Greg opened his right palm and held it out, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say it was over earlier?¡± Greg goaded, pulling on a bit of Alex¡¯s antics, ¡°Come on, that kind of phrase loses its impact the first time it flops.¡± Halloway¡¯s face fell and he dove forward, his body vanishing through a rift. Greg turned and threw up both arms, blocking the rippling strike that came out of thin air to his right. He slid back a few paces as Halloway vanished again and he ducked down, Halloway¡¯s attack coming from behind. Greg rolled onto his back and snapped his foot out, catching the man on the chin. Halloway snarled at him and vanished again, Greg rolling to the right on the ground as the man came up from beneath him. ¡°How are you doing that?!¡± ¡°You¡¯re predictable,¡± Greg said as he got to his feet, ¡°Miss Chernovna fights better than you do.¡± Halloway¡¯s eyes widened and his nostrils flared as he pulled himself out of the rift in the ground. Greg positioned himself again to riposte an attack only to hesitate when the man didn¡¯t move. Halloway chuckled and glanced in the general direction of the fighting near the main building, everything was very quiet. ¡°Alright, fine, you¡¯ve earned it,¡± He let out a sigh and shook his head, ¡°Oh well, as long as I kill you, no one has to know.¡± Greg clenched his fists and got ready to slap his own chest in defense if he needed to. The man threw his head back and opened his arms, ¡°Strength from Liberty! I am Sir Halloway of the Round Table!¡± He declared and a pillar of light slammed down from above, infusing him with a copper-gold glow. It turned orange and then almost golden as his body seemed to expand, his muscles growing larger and the red glow around his fingers intensifying. He lowered his hands and looked down at Greg before he abruptly vanished. Greg blinked, he¡¯d lied a little about the guy being predictable, he could feel the spatial bends from his rifts. Three? Three fists collided with Greg¡¯s head, two on either side of his face and one to the back. Pain lanced through his skull, his brain shaking in its casing. Blood streamed from his nostrils as he tried to steady himself. He staggered forward and slapped his chest just as two rifts appeared on either side of him and blades of rippling spatial might swung forward to try to carve through him. Greg threw up his arms and kicked off the ground, one of the blades catching him on the knee. It dissolved but not before leaving a gash of torn and ripped flesh. Greg let out a cry and staggered, He¡¯s taking the momentum from me! Greg landed on his bad leg, wincing and throwing himself down to the ground as two rifts began to form above and below. He looked down into the cold eyes of Halloway and slapped the guy in the face just before he could get off another strike. Both Halloways let out a grunt of pain and pulled away. Not real copies, just him repeating himself somehow. One rift going to multiple places? He turned and struck out at another rift and blasted through it with purple lined fingertips. ¡°You little shit!¡± Halloway snarled and reappeared off to the side, he reached into his coat and drew a gun. ¡°Die!¡± He raged as a rift appeared to his right. He fired several rounds into it as an equal number of rifts appeared in the air around greg. Shit! He intensified the repulsive force around his body, More! He pushed harder. The close range and sheer number of projectiles digging into his reserves. He felt his body tense and his stomach flip as the nausea finally began to hit him. Not now! He pushed it down and felt the bullets catch in the field around his body. One two- an explosion of pain ripped through his leg. Missed one! He winced and bit his lip, concentrating with everything he had. Nine, ten, got ¡®em! They floated there for a moment as he traced an imaginary line from each of them with his thoughts, pointing them back to the man who had fired them. His vision blurred for a moment and he looked down at his leg. Lot of blood, isn¡¯t it? He thought weakly before shaking himself out of it. Focus! Come on, come on, come on! Do it this time! He ground his teeth together and pushed every ounce of will he had through the movement. Curving gravity like a ribbon. He created new trajectories that peeled away from him. Slugs of metal changed course and launched themselves in Halloway¡¯s direction as Greg¡¯s arms went slack, he coughed and felt some bile rise up in his throat as his leg gave out under him. Halloway let out a scream and he looked up to see the man gripping his side. Blood dripped from his arm and his waist. ¡°You rancid little brat!¡± Halloway bit out, ¡°How are you more competent than a licensed hero?¡± He raged and stalked forward as Greg tried to get to his feet. He had nothing left and this guy, full of bullets, was still walking around like it was just an annoyance. ¡°I went to school for it,¡± Greg bit out, grinning up at him, ¡°Learned a lot here. So did they,¡± He glanced back at the portal. ¡°They¡¯ll get out just fine.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t,¡± Halloway hissed. ¡°You don¡¯t know that yet,¡± Greg said as both of his palms glowed purple. The man stood over him and created another curved spatial rift. ¡°I got one more trick left. It¡¯s a bit stupid though!¡± Halloway rolled his eyes and swung down, aiming for a killing blow as Greg pulled his hands back. With all his might brought them together in a thunderous clap that shook the earth. I¡¯m right behind you guys, I won¡¯t fall behind! He swore as purple light enveloped him. Chapter 148 Chapter 148 A bullet whizzed by Alex¡¯s ear, his head whipping forward in response to the sound. He dove forward and kept running, pushing off the ground with his hands to get a little acceleration before he leaped into the air and whipped his arm out, covered in scales. The massive limb that grew from his body crushed a pair of trees before colliding with one of their attackers. He landed and kept moving, patting his waist to check that the pair of small legs were still wrapped around him. He glanced back at Snow who gave him a determined look before he turned back and kept running. ¡°Move! Move! Move!¡± Greg shouted behind them, the heady buzz of his powers activating rattling Alex¡¯s senses for a moment as a hail of bullets was deflected. Alex darted around another tree and made for the path again, they couldn¡¯t be much farther, could they? How long had they been running? He pressed his lips together, Hang in there Lily! He thought, ducking beneath a branch and alighting on the path. He turned and his eyes widened at the sight of a pair of gun barrels pointed at him. ¡°Shit!¡± He threw up his arms. ¡°Got it!¡± A voice called from above. He whipped his head up to see a streak of gold and pink collide with the ground, there was a noisy crash and when the dust cleared Cass was standing there with the biggest hammer he¡¯d ever seen slung over her shoulder. She glanced his way and gave him a nod before moving away from the small crater she¡¯d created, racing towards their destination. He shook his head after a testy poke from Snow brought him back to his senses and he followed after her. ¡°I see it!¡± Came another voice from ahead, Val, the lights of his rockets guiding them through the trees, ¡°Someones there!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t engage!¡± Greg shouted, ¡°We¡¯re coming!¡± Off to the left Alex saw John and Ollie hurrying along. Ollie looked pensive while John had a scowl of absolute focus on his face. Alex had never seen the guy frown so hard. Alex hopped over a low hanging branch and picked up his pace, whipping his arm out to grab the next one and snapping towards it like a rubber band, ¡°Hold on Snow!¡± He called as a tiny squeak sounded behind his head. He pulled himself forward, one branch at a time, Come on, come on, come on! He willed himself to go faster, if he could turn fully into a serpent he could just move around everything. Nothing could get in his way. He pulled himself forward again and launched into the air, kicking his feet slowly as he caught a bit of air time. He glanced down and spotted the clearing. The pillars of the dungeon were in plain view as was a man standing off to the side with his hand extended towards it. Reddish bolts of ¡®something¡¯ were darting from his fingertips and striking the portal. What the heck his that guy doing? ¡°Mana levels skyrocketing!¡± Snow said quickly behind his head. He glanced back at her as they descended, ¡°How do you know?¡± He asked. ¡°My implant, don¡¯t worry about it,¡± She said quickly, ¡°We got a problem. He¡¯s trying to trigger a break!¡± Her voice seemed to echo for him and he realized it was the after effect of her broadcasting her voice to the others as a series of curses answered her immediately. Just as Alex landed at the edge of the trees another shape came racing out in the form of Cass, her weapon raised and a snarl on her face. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± She shouted, her body picking up tremendous speed as her head tilted forward. Something on her head- Is that a crown? No, Horns? The man spun and his eyes widened, ¡°Cassiopeia!¡± He gasped, breaking into a wide smile, ¡°You came to me!¡± He laughed and drew something from his belt. He pointed it to the sky and pulled the trigger, launching what looked like some kind of flare. He pivoted away from the portal and threw out both hands, he held them together for a moment before spreading them open in quick movement. Between his palms a glossy surface that looked remarkably like that of a bubble appeared. She kept moving, her legs pumping against the ground and leaving deep holes with each step. He took another step back and opened the bubble wider as Greg let out a shout, ¡°Don¡¯t touch it!¡± Cass didn¡¯t hear him or didn¡¯t listen, her eye burning with fury as she crashed into the bubble. It popped and she vanished. What? A cry of surprise and alarm filled the air and Alex looked up in time to see Cass falling from the sky. ¡°I¡¯m fine! Move!¡± Cass shouted as she threw herself forward in a sommersault in the air, gripping tightly to her weapon as she spun towards the ground like a blunt chainsaw. Alex looked to the portal, ¡°Just go in?¡± He shouted to Greg. ¡°Everyone get inside, we need to get Lily and the others out before anything worse happens!¡± Greg called back. John didn¡¯t need to be told twice, he was darting towards the portal the moment Greg gave the order. Val rocketing off next. The man whipped towards the two approaching him just as a screaming Cass came down towards him with the force of a small meteor. Her hammer aimed at his head. The man let out a gasp of alarm and for a moment he flickered before appearing a few feet to the right of where Cass had intended to hit him. Cass hit the ground and the whole area shook. She stood up and Alex darted forward as Ollie hurried behind them, ¡°You still good Ollie?¡± He called. ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± His friend said, ¡°Just get in the portal, you too Cass! Hand to hand isn¡¯t going to work with him!¡± ¡°You¡¯ll find out if you do well enough,¡± Halloway said with a hiss as he stepped out of the trees, space rippling around him, bits of wood and ground gouged out around him with every step. Greg opened his right palm and held it out, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say it was over earlier?¡± Greg goaded, pulling on a bit of Alex¡¯s antics, ¡°Come on, that kind of phrase loses its impact the first time it flops.¡± Halloway¡¯s face fell and he dove forward, his body vanishing through a rift. Greg turned and threw up both arms, blocking the rippling strike that came out of thin air to his right. He slid back a few paces as Halloway vanished again and he ducked down, Halloway¡¯s attack coming from behind. Greg rolled onto his back and snapped his foot out, catching the man on the chin. Halloway snarled at him and vanished again, Greg rolling to the right on the ground as the man came up from beneath him. ¡°How are you doing that?!¡± ¡°You¡¯re predictable,¡± Greg said as he got to his feet, ¡°Miss Chernovna fights better than you do.¡± Halloway¡¯s eyes widened and his nostrils flared as he pulled himself out of the rift in the ground. Greg positioned himself again to riposte an attack only to hesitate when the man didn¡¯t move. Halloway chuckled and glanced in the general direction of the fighting near the main building, everything was very quiet. ¡°Alright, fine, you¡¯ve earned it,¡± He let out a sigh and shook his head, ¡°Oh well, as long as I kill you, no one has to know.¡± Greg clenched his fists and got ready to slap his own chest in defense if he needed to. The man threw his head back and opened his arms, ¡°Strength from Liberty! I am Sir Halloway of the Round Table!¡± He declared and a pillar of light slammed down from above, infusing him with a copper-gold glow. It turned orange and then almost golden as his body seemed to expand, his muscles growing larger and the red glow around his fingers intensifying. He lowered his hands and looked down at Greg before he abruptly vanished. Greg blinked, he¡¯d lied a little about the guy being predictable, he could feel the spatial bends from his rifts. Three? Three fists collided with Greg¡¯s head, two on either side of his face and one to the back. Pain lanced through his skull, his brain shaking in its casing. Blood streamed from his nostrils as he tried to steady himself. He staggered forward and slapped his chest just as two rifts appeared on either side of him and blades of rippling spatial might swung forward to try to carve through him. Greg threw up his arms and kicked off the ground, one of the blades catching him on the knee. It dissolved but not before leaving a gash of torn and ripped flesh. Greg let out a cry and staggered, He¡¯s taking the momentum from me! Greg landed on his bad leg, wincing and throwing himself down to the ground as two rifts began to form above and below. He looked down into the cold eyes of Halloway and slapped the guy in the face just before he could get off another strike. Both Halloways let out a grunt of pain and pulled away. Not real copies, just him repeating himself somehow. One rift going to multiple places? He turned and struck out at another rift and blasted through it with purple lined fingertips. ¡°You little shit!¡± Halloway snarled and reappeared off to the side, he reached into his coat and drew a gun. ¡°Die!¡± He raged as a rift appeared to his right. He fired several rounds into it as an equal number of rifts appeared in the air around greg. Shit! He intensified the repulsive force around his body, More! He pushed harder. The close range and sheer number of projectiles digging into his reserves. He felt his body tense and his stomach flip as the nausea finally began to hit him. Not now! He pushed it down and felt the bullets catch in the field around his body. One two- an explosion of pain ripped through his leg. Missed one! He winced and bit his lip, concentrating with everything he had. Nine, ten, got ¡®em! They floated there for a moment as he traced an imaginary line from each of them with his thoughts, pointing them back to the man who had fired them. His vision blurred for a moment and he looked down at his leg. Lot of blood, isn¡¯t it? He thought weakly before shaking himself out of it. Focus! Come on, come on, come on! Do it this time! He ground his teeth together and pushed every ounce of will he had through the movement. Curving gravity like a ribbon. He created new trajectories that peeled away from him. Slugs of metal changed course and launched themselves in Halloway¡¯s direction as Greg¡¯s arms went slack, he coughed and felt some bile rise up in his throat as his leg gave out under him. Halloway let out a scream and he looked up to see the man gripping his side. Blood dripped from his arm and his waist. ¡°You rancid little brat!¡± Halloway bit out, ¡°How are you more competent than a licensed hero?¡± He raged and stalked forward as Greg tried to get to his feet. He had nothing left and this guy, full of bullets, was still walking around like it was just an annoyance. ¡°I went to school for it,¡± Greg bit out, grinning up at him, ¡°Learned a lot here. So did they,¡± He glanced back at the portal. ¡°They¡¯ll get out just fine.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t,¡± Halloway hissed. ¡°You don¡¯t know that yet,¡± Greg said as both of his palms glowed purple. The man stood over him and created another curved spatial rift. ¡°I got one more trick left. It¡¯s a bit stupid though!¡± Halloway rolled his eyes and swung down, aiming for a killing blow as Greg pulled his hands back. With all his might brought them together in a thunderous clap that shook the earth. I¡¯m right behind you guys, I won¡¯t fall behind! He swore as purple light enveloped him. Chapter 149 Chapter 149 Halloway¡¯s eyes shot open as a sharp pain rushed up his side. He coughed, wincing against the blazing heat that had begun to pool around his right side as his skin sizzled and burned. His vision swam and he forced himself to look down at the injury. A shard of wood was sticking out of his waist, the long branch stretching out another foot and a half and saturated with blood. His eyes fluttered as he reached for it, snarling against the pain. As an assassin he had specialized in the sudden attack, a quick strike with a knife thrown at the throat. He had adapted that strategy to his spatial powers, his first refinement of his ability had been the rift blade. He hadn¡¯t needed much more than that. Nothing could block it. No armor, no shield, even power barriers were functionally useless against it. Liberty had even deigned to allow him to test it against her impregnable body. The wound he had carved into her skin had been enough to earn his life; his efforts to bring numerous members of the night society over to her side had earned his position. It was only after he had begun working under her that he had considered other avenues for his ability. Creating a zone of stable space was one of them. He coughed again and tried to put some force down to break the stick at a joint, at least it would be less to pull out when the time came. His abs recoiled from the effort, screaming in protest while every inch of the skin on the front half of his body practically cracked under the strain. He grunted and took a shuddering breath. Calm down, you got too riled earlier. He reprimanded himself and pointed his finger at the branch. He cut through it with a sharp release of his ability before pulling himself off and collapsing to his knees. With a monumental effort of will he lifted one of his hands and examined it, the skin had turned almost black and cracked in several places. The sheer pressure of whatever that boy had done to him had pulverized his flesh. He was lucky to be alive. He brought the hand gingerly down to his wound and pressed against it. It was fruitless with another hole on the other side but it was all he could do. His other mangled hand slipped down to his belt. Where is it? He wheezed, his fingers slipping through a hole in the base of the pouch. He grunted and whipped his head around, searching. A small glimmer on the ground a few feet away drew his eye and he let out a ragged laugh. With every muscle in his body screaming at him to stop he crawled towards it, his shaking fingers reaching out until they wrapped around what appeared to be an extremely thick metal needle with a razor sharp point. Etchings ran down one side of the object and glowed with a faint green light. He fell onto his side, his vision darkening as he pulled the implement to his chest and jabbed it in with the last fragment of strength he had left. A low hiss followed by an explosion of torturous agony racked through his body. His flesh sizzled, his eyes burned, his bones creaked, everything twisted and warped as the object given to him by Liberty and created by that madman went to work. He screamed, convulsing on the ground as blackened and pulverized skin smoothed and cleared, knitting together. Bones set, wounds closed, and his body began to take on the general appearance of a living thing rather than the incinerated corpse he resembled moments before. It was only when the process was complete, a minute of agony that he would never forget, that he lay there on the ground, breathing hard. He closed his eyes and focused on the space he had created around the camp. Miles upon miles of spatially neutral terrain. Anything teleporting within it would be blocked and the user of the ability ¡®reprimanded¡¯, either by pain for the weaker powers or even having their ability disabled for the more powerful teleporters. Still there. Still working. Good. Glad it didn¡¯t drop when I lost consciousness. He thought and forced himself to sit up. He turned his head towards the prone form of the boy that had nearly killed him. He may very well be the only person on this planet I can¡¯t hurt, he thought sourly. Bad match-up indeed. He got to his feet and started to walk, at first gingerly before his body moved with purpose. He came to a stop over the youth, eyes shut with a smile on his face and his chest rising and falling with steady breaths. His hands were mangled terribly and his wounds were still seeping blood, but he was still very much alive. Halloway narrowed his eyes, I can¡¯t suffer you to live, Gravitic, you are my natural enemy. He thought and conjured up another rift blade. The rippling edge pointed down. ¡°I was getting bored of waiting for you to get up,¡± A new voice said behind him. Halloway¡¯s entire body tensed and he brought the weapon up anyway, he wasn¡¯t about to get distracted from his task, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do that. I need him alive, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°Tough,¡± Hallway snarled and brought the rift blade down only for a hand to grab his wrist. He glanced at it just in time for his eyes to bulge as he was pulled away from Gravitic and thrown several feet. His rift blade flying off to one side and digging a five foot divot in the ground before it exploded and left a crater in its wake. He hit the ground and hopped back to his feet, creating another weapon as he stared down his new adversary, ¡°I don¡¯t have time for chil-¡± He paused as he met those glowing blue eyes. They weren¡¯t the eyes of a child. Not a bright eyed aspirant. He felt his stomach churn a little as a cold smile curled on the boyish face of the youthful pretty-boy. A killer. One who does it for pleasure. Pure psychopath. He kept his guard up but lowered his hands, ¡°Who are you?¡± He asked, ¡°A villain?¡± The boy blew out an obnoxious sound between his lips and burst into laughter, ¡°Me? No way, I¡¯m the hero of this story,¡± He said and put a hand on his hip and rested a glowing golden sword on his shoulder. He tilted his head up and looked down his nose at Halloway. Arrogant. ¡°And you work for that piece of work Liberty, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯d refrain from insulting her if I were you,¡± Halloway snarled. ¡°Or what? You¡¯ll kill me? That would be a neat trick,¡± The boy said and took a step before appearing in Hallway¡¯s face. Halloway froze, He teleported? No. He just- what? What just happened? Fucking lunatic! Halloway thought and darted away, racing towards the trees before leaping into the foliage. He stopped there, watching from afar as Otis did something to Gravitic that caused his hated enemy to twitch and writhe before picking him up and throwing him over his shoulder. He walked over to the portal into the dungeon and without looking back, walked on through. Halloway watched the disappearing form of Otis and frowned. Like I¡¯d forget someone like you. He thought and hopped down to the ground, approaching the portal and holding his hand out. You¡¯re going to die in there, just like the rest. Now that I¡¯ve opened more pathways for mana to get into the dungeon, it¡¯ll overload any time now and this entire region will be a wasteland. He thought before focusing on the portal itself, wrapping a wreath of crackling red lightning around it to seal his enemies inside. He turned away and glanced down at his shaking fingers. Gravitic had done a number on him. A worthy adversary. A nemesis even. A small part of him was sad that he had to die so ignobly inside of a breaking dungeon, but that was the way of things. He would rather be rid of such a dangerous opponent than let him live out his life. He marched towards the edge of the trees. I need to get back to the main camp and gather up the others, the damage has been done. It would be best if we weren¡¯t present when the dungeon went critical, He thought with a wry smile and stepped into the trees. He slipped his hands into his pockets and let out a sigh before blinking as his fingers wrapped around something metallic. He pulled it out and examined the thumb drive that had appeared there in confusion. Huh? What¡¯s this? He thought for a moment. Odd. I don¡¯t remember. He blinked again. I¡¯m supposed to give it to Liberty, it will be useful to her, right, right. He reassured himself as he tried to remember where he¡¯d gotten it from. His stomach churned and he scratched at his neck, ¡°Who was it again?¡± ¨C Otis stepped through the portal and dropped Greg on the ground. He didn¡¯t need to carry him anymore. He glanced over his shoulder and watched as the portal was wreathed with red lightning, blocking his return. He could cut through it but there was no reason to do so. This is where he needed to be, after all. He glanced down at the healed aspirant and nudged him once with his foot. Not waking. Whatever he did burned through a lot of his internal energy. I can see it. He¡¯ll recover quickly in here though, no worries, he¡¯ll see me as his savior, that¡¯ll be good enough. Otis scanned his surroundings. The forest was thick ahead of him with a single path leading out of the clearing. The space had an odd headiness to it, as if a powerful presence had been here at one point but he couldn¡¯t put his finger on it. The guide told him nothing either. How strange, he thought with mild amusement before tilting his head to listen. Something exploded and shook the distant trees. Ah, there we go. He snickered and turned back to Greg, nudging him again as the sounds of distant fighting filled the air. The young hero-in-training groaned and his eyes fluttered open, squinting before locking on Otis. ¡°Marc? Where-¡± ¡°Got you away from that psycho out there, he was about to kill you,¡± Otis said and held out a hand for him to take. He pulled Greg to his feet, ¡°You¡¯re lucky I got there when I did but you sure did a number on him. He was half-dead before he used some odd metal thing to heal himself.¡± Greg blinked, ¡°I-I did? You did? I-¡± He blinked and looked down at his hands, ¡°My hands.¡± ¡°I fixed you up, new trick of mine,¡± Otis said with a shrug, ¡°Got a whole bag of ¡®em.¡± Greg let out a sigh of relief, ¡°Thank you, Marc. You¡¯re alright.¡± ¡°Thank me when we save the others, we¡¯re stuck in here,¡± Otis said, keeping up the act and nodded towards the portal before turning to the trees. ¡°Ready to go save the day?¡± Greg grinned at him, ¡°I was born ready.¡± Chapter 150 Chapter 150 Just moments after Greg had sealed them inside the dungeon, Alex and the rest of their small group had found themselves staring at the portal in disbelief. Alex ran his fingers up and through his hair. It was not supposed to play out like this. Not to his mind. They were supposed to go in together, a cohesive unit as always. Greg had always been a kind-of leader for the rest of them, even if Alex chafed at it a little now and then. He was a planner with more foresight than the rest of them. They needed him, and Alex would be damned before he left anyone behind to face danger alone. He drew his fist back before anyone could say anything and slammed it into the vibrant violet field only to find himself against a cracked tree trunk a moment later, his head spinning. He got to his feet and marched towards it again, ¡°Son of a-¡± A hand wrapped around his wrist and he whipped his head towards Val who was looking him dead in the eyes. ¡°Let go.¡± Val gave him a hard look, ¡°Don¡¯t be an idiot man,¡± Val said. Alex tugged his arm from Val¡¯s grip and turned on him, ¡°What¡¯d you call me?¡± He barked and pointed at the portal, ¡°Greg is out there, he needs us!¡± He shouted, ¡°We can¡¯t just leave him behind!¡± Val frowned at him, ¡°Dude, you gotta chill-¡± ¡°Chill?¡± Alex threw up his hands, ¡°Greg was the planner! He was the voice of reason, are you seriously expecting me to just- He¡¯s our fucking friend! I¡¯m not gonna leave him out there!¡± He barked. ¡°Alex, don¡¯t take it out on him, Greg gave us a chance, we need to take it,¡± Another voice chimed in and Cass stepped in behind Val. Alex¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°Who the hell do you think you are? You just get inserted into our group like you¡¯ve always been here and expect me to listen to a word you say? I¡¯ve known Greg since we were in middle school! I don¡¯t know a damn thing about you!¡± He shouted, ¡°I¡¯m not leaving him behind!¡± He immediately regretted it as soon as the words left his mouth, his pounding heart stuttering once in his chest as he caught the pained look on the young woman¡¯s face. Cass looked away and nodded, ¡°That¡¯s... fair,¡± She said quietly and turned away, ¡°Do what you want. I¡¯m going to find Lily.¡± John, off to the side, frowned at Alex and shook his head while Ollie pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. Alex clenched his fists, ¡°I-¡± He ground his teeth. Damn it, why don¡¯t they understand? I don¡¯t get it! ¡°Alex,¡± A small soothing voice rang in his ear and he turned to see Snow looking at him with a sad look in her eyes, ¡°What would Greg do right now?¡± Alex looked away, ¡°How should I know? I¡¯m not Greg,¡± He grunted petulantly before glancing back into those pearlescent orbs. He squeezed his eyes shut and let out a sigh, Damn it. He looked up at Val who held his gaze while Ollie and John moved to follow Cass. ¡°He¡¯d finish the mission if one of us was covering the rear. He doesn¡¯t do self-sacrifice. He¡¯s confident, but he doesn¡¯t want us wasting time,¡± He said hollowly, he didn¡¯t like saying it, he wanted to fight at his friend¡¯s side. Val reached out and squeezed his arm, ¡°He¡¯ll be fine. We¡¯ll see him in no time, yeah?¡± Val said with a smirk and pat his arm before turning away. Alex didn¡¯t move for a moment, staring at his feet, ¡°Val, sorry about-¡± Val snorted, ¡°Dude, we go back too, I get it,¡± He said as his steps moved further away, ¡°I¡¯m not the one you should be apologizing to.¡± Alex winced and glanced up at the back of the blondes head as she dipped under a branch and stepped onto the path leading into the first ¡®passage¡¯ of the dungeon beyond what the scouts had started to call the ¡®lobby¡¯. She didn¡¯t look back. Ollie caught up to her and said something with a smile on his face and she glanced at him, returning the expression. Alex let out another sigh, Shit, I fucked that up, He thought and scratched the back of his head before moving to follow the others. Val, his hands up behind his head, tilted a bit to listen to something John had to say and raised his voice, ¡°Yo, we need a fuckin¡¯ formation. We don¡¯t got any heals right now, right?¡± In the same moment as the others reacting to his command, the leaves that had been falling from the trees to their right pivoted in the air and darted in their direction. Fragile falling fragments became as solid as steel, blades that ripped through the air and embedded themselves in the tree-wall to their left. Behind them, appearing as if out of thin air, were a trio of figures that stood a head and a half taller than even himself. All three had eerie skin that seemed to be both flesh and wood, their faces stiff as boards even as their blazing green eyes all turned to look at him. Two of them carried bladed weapons in their hands while the third was unarmed and seemed more frail than the others. It threw its hand out in Alex¡¯s direction with a barely audible hiss of unintelligible words and vines ripped from the ground at his feet. He threw his arm forward on instinct, extending it and grabbing onto the tree nearest to the group of three as the hard wood began to wrap around his legs and pulled. The force of the movement snapping the vines before they could harden into restraints and carried him across the distance on a collision course with the three. The two blade wielders raised their weapons, ready to intercept him and he released his grip on the tree, throwing both arms up to defend himself as his feet went out for a skidding landing. Somewhere off to the side he heard an explosion of sound. His feet hit the ground and he braced himself, setting his jaw. CLANG! A pair of blades clashed against his arms and he glanced up into the eyes of one of the two blade wielders. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a flash of yellow and the gleam of a long metal haft as the other blade wielder was pushed back and away from him. Cass whipped her leg out and kicked it in the chest before driving her shoulder forward in a tackle, pushing it further onto the backfoot. He turned his attention back to the one engaged with him and pushed up and away with a grunt, sending it stumbling back as well. ¡°Val! John!¡± ¡°Right!¡± The two called at the same time. The sudden blast of a rocket engine activating as a red blur crossed his vision. He ducked beneath Val¡¯s speeding body, his friend whipping his entire body around in a tremendous kick that collided with the blade wielder¡¯s head, pulverizing it. At the same time, John closed the distance like an olympic sprinter, his knife at the ready as he swept towards what Alex assumed was a ¡®caster¡¯ type whatever-the-hell these things were. His knife moved so fast it left behind rigid lines of light for a heartbeat before a low croak of pain sounded, the frail monster dropping to its knees and gaping at its missing hands. Just as John swiped his knife across it¡¯s throat, the other blade wielder came soaring through the air to crash at Alex¡¯s feet, its body covered in crater-like wounds that looked eerie on its wood like body. It didn¡¯t get up. Alex let out a sharp breath, it had happened so fast. If he¡¯d been a few seconds slower, who knows what those leaves would have done to the others. They weren¡¯t as durable as he was, save maybe for Val and his armor and Cass in general. He glanced up at Cass as she approached from where she¡¯d engaged the blade wielder, her hammer slung over her shoulder. He met her eyes and she looked away from him, a frown on her face. Damn it. I gotta do something about this. ¡°Cass,¡± He said, clearing his throat. She looked up at him with a stony stare and he rubbed his neck, ¡°I- I shouldn¡¯t have said that. You¡¯ve been really trying to fit in and I was just-¡± He groped for excuses but found none, ¡°I¡¯m sorry about what I said. You¡¯re one hell of a badass, thanks for coming with us.¡± She stared back at him for several heartbeats, the others getting out of the way. She walked over to him and he realized for the first time that she was just as tall as he was. Was it her ability? He¡¯d seen her get bigger at one point but- she flicked him in the forehead and he nearly fell onto his back, a smarting spot forming at the point of contact. He reached up and grabbed his head, ¡°Ouch! What the-¡± ¡°Now we¡¯re even,¡± She said with a smile and reached down. He squinted at her and then at her hand before grabbing it. She pulled him to his feet. ¡°I wasn¡¯t exactly friendly to start with either,¡± she admitted. ¡°You guys have made this... better, and you haven¡¯t said anything about, you know...¡± She trailed off. He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head, What is she talking about? He blinked, ¡°Oh right! You¡¯re related to Liberty or something, yeah? I completely forgot!¡± The others blinked in unison and their eyes went wide before Val barked out a laugh, ¡°Who the fuck cares? You aren¡¯t her, obviously.¡± Cass looked at them all in bewilderment, ¡°You... forgot?¡± Her shoulders sank and a look between weariness and relief washed over her face. It was Snow¡¯s turn to laugh, ¡°Well! At least this heroic rescue mission won¡¯t be awkward anymore,¡± The small girl pointed out, ¡°We should get back to that by the way.¡± They all exchanged a look and nodded. Alex clenched his fist and gave Cass a nod while the blonde gripped her weapon tightly and returned the gesture, marching back to her spot in the lead. Alex set his jaw and firmed up his resolve, this wasn¡¯t going to be easy, but if anyone could do it, they could. Hang on Lily, we¡¯re coming. Chapter 151 Chapter 151 One had been scary, they moved like ghosts. When more came, it was a nightmare. Lily raced down the stone-paved street-if you could call it a street-that stretched between two rows of the eerie buildings that made up the ¡®city¡¯ nestled within the largest section of the dungeon. Her heart pounded in her chest as she hopped up and cleared another fallen piece of a building, pushing her palm against the surface and launching herself further along while the monsters continued their pursuit. They were relentless, leaping into the air and reaching heights that no normal human could ever hope to achieve. She spun on her heel as she felt the mana shift behind her again, whipping her sword across the path of the incoming projectile. The arrow split down the middle across the edge of her blade, scattering as she continued her spin and resumed her flight. I gotta get back! She thought, forcing down the rising panic in her gut. I wasted too much time out here and there¡¯s so damn many of them! Everything had gone downhill just a short while ago. They had been exploring the dungeon as usual, mapping out this larger section and studying the structures that made up the city. The scouting party¡¯s numbers had dwindled as the camp had dragged on, either through drop-outs or aspirants deciding that it wasn¡¯t for them. Now there were only five of them together. While the town they¡¯d found the other day had been impressive to say the least, this place was practically a metropolis. Sure, none of the buildings went over three stories in height for the most part, but the few that did struck quite the chord with the scouts. They had taken up camp in what appeared to be some kind of large religious building, there were murals everywhere and it had captured the imagination of several of the more academic members of their group. It was a good four hours into their research and cataloging when they showed up. The first two had been scouts, it seemed. Just like the one they¡¯d been followed by the other day, they had bark-like skin and vine-like hair. They had ¡®elvish¡¯ appearances but they could hardly be compared to the pretty creatures that they¡¯d all heard about in myths and legends. The initial surprise had nearly been catastrophic, but they¡¯d decided to go for Lily first. The cuts and scrapes had healed quickly. They should have been on high alert at that point, but the mystery of the murals had become even more intriguing. There were two kinds of ¡®elves¡¯ on the walls. One set looked beautiful and were often seen positioned above the other set who looked very much like the monsters they¡¯d encountered. There were even a few depictions of elves turning into these things after some kind of calamity. None of them were sure exactly where reality began for the murals and where some manner of fiction ended, crafted by the dungeon. There were even theories tossed around that the dungeon was just filling in details to add atmosphere. They should have paid more attention. She should have considered how strange the mana felt in the dungeon. She should have given it more thought. Instead, all they concerned themselves with was patting themselves on the back for ¡®discovering¡¯ the ¡®Dire Elves¡¯ as they decided to call them. That was when Nina got hit with an arrow right below the shoulder blade. She was laid low in an instant, some kind of poison on it paralyzing her before she¡¯d had a chance to react. William, the healer, had frantically done his best to get her stabilized and had succeeded but only as Lily and the others were beset by dozens of attacking dire elves. By the time the fighting was over, three of their group had been seriously injured and William was working double-time to get them back on their feet. Without much choice, they fortified the temple using the nearby rubble and ruins for materials and Lily had been sent out to get a better idea of how bad the situation was and figure out a route to take out of the city and back towards the previous parts of the dungeon. They needed to reach the portal. It was worse than they could have imagined. She raced around another corner before pivoting a second time into an alley just as the three pursuing dire elves followed her. They ran past her position, gleaming eyes blazing with bloodlust. She grit her teeth and shot forward like a rocket, cleaving across their backs with her broadsword in one quick movement. When she slid to a stop she turned to see them drop to the ground, their faces hitting the broken stone pavement. She panted, sweat dripping down her face as she turned in a circle before spotting the rising shape of the temple. Almost there, please be okay, please be okay! She didn¡¯t hear any fighting, at least, but that could mean one of two things and she didn¡¯t want to even consider one of them. She raced down the nearest alley, leaping and springing, grabbing onto whatever she could to get higher before finally alighting on a rooftop. She squinted, peering at the distant building as she nearly turned into a blur, her legs pumping with mana as she used her internal energy to enhance herself. Faster! She willed, begging her body to move beyond its limits as she hopped from one building to the next. Ahead of her, she could make out the distant shapes of dire elves marching up the steps in columns. There had to be dozens more, Where are they coming from? She thought frantically, The mana¡¯s coming into the dungeon way too fast! Still, it was almost a relief to see them crowding around the walled-off entrance to the main part of the temple. Even as several robe wearing dire elves began blasting it with bursts of verdant green energy. That just meant that the others were still alive. She hopped another gap and landed, spotting the end of this cluster of buildings and the beginning of the plaza that surrounded the temple. She slid to a stop and crouched, peering over the side. Holy shit, she breathed. ¡®You push through any obstacle, over, around, or through. A juggernaut. A force of nature. Burning bright with golden flames,¡¯ Black Lotus continued to push her, just as she always had, no matter how hard it got, no matter how much it hurt. Five steps, six steps, seven steps! She felt the momentum build to a fever pitch as more and more of them came running at her. A big one charged from the front, holding a longsword over it¡¯s head. It swung down and she threw her weapon up, grabbing the blade with her armored hand and pushing with all her might. She bellowed, shoving the dire elf back as she brought her leg up. Weeks spent perfecting the first technique of her martial style. Days of trial and failure, frustration, fatigue. Now! Do it now! She grit her teeth and felt the instincts blaze through her body, every muscle triggered, every neuron fired, every sense exploding with clarity. ¡®A Crusader¡¯ ¡°AAAHHHHH!¡± She screamed in challenge, the fire bursting from her lips and catching in her hair. First March of the Golden Crusade! In an instant her movements became a flickering blur. Her weapon coming up in a right-to-left diagonal slash. Heat erupted from her weapon, the air shuddering for a moment from the force. The big dire elf was blown away by the strike, the flames so intense that he was turned to black ashes in an instant. She stepped down and swung again. BOOM! More of them were thrown about like ragdolls as Lillian brought her sword down in an impossible vertical stroke. The sudden shift in position almost impossible for a normal human to pull off. Step after step came with a thunderous boom and more dire elves falling in her relentless path of destruction. Her foot work was slow, but her blows came in faster, harder, crashing into anything in her path and leaving gilded cuts and carvings in the stone beneath her feet. Firestorm was the spark! She grabbed a dire elf by the face and threw them to the side, bowling over its compatriots. She took another booming step and swung again, I won¡¯t stop, not for anything, not until the people of this world feel safe! I¡¯ll protect them! I¡¯ll give everything! All of it! She cut through a set of robes as a caster turned at her, eyes wide with confusion and fear. ¡°GET OUT OF MY WAY!¡± She bellowed as she took the final step of her march, swinging with all her might as the golden flames began to stutter and die on her shoulders. Blood dripped from her arms and legs, from her chest and side, some of the wounds started to close faster than others as clumps of cloth and incinerated monster flesh collapsed to the ground around her. She panted, turning her back to the wall guarding the entrance to the temple. She pointed her weapon down the steps, not knowing how or when she¡¯d ascended this far. It didn¡¯t matter. She was here now. ¡°I AM CRUSADER!¡± She roared even as her entire body ached and her vision swam. Beneath her, a horde of dire elves raced up the steps, weapons drawn. A sea of bodies that seemed endless. She breathed hard, she was in so much pain, but she pushed her blazing aura out as far as she could, letting it wash down the steps and into the temple interior behind her. ¡°AND I AM THE HARBINGER OF THE HEROES BEHIND ME!¡± The wall crumbled behind her, revealing the interior of the temple. William and his patients in the back and one that stepped up to join in,a familiar face. She glanced back and smirked at Luke, ¡°Finally got a chance to shine, Luke?¡± Luke brushed his brown hair out of his eyes, giving her a petulant frown, ¡°Get back there and help him,¡± He said quickly, thumbing over his shoulder, ¡°I¡¯ll hold the line till you¡¯re ready.¡± Chapter 152 Chapter 152 Lily raced back into the temple as Luke positioned himself where she¡¯d been standing, his hands outstretched. Behind her she heard a silent woosh of air and then a noisy bang as something distantly exploded. She didn¡¯t have time to appreciate that Luke had managed to achieve his goal with his power, she needed to help the others. She slid to a stop next to William who was looking pale, his head leaning against a wall and his eyes fixed on the two resting scouts. Each of them had little mounds of wriggling ooze sitting on top of their various injuries. His haggard eyes turned to look up at her, ¡°Did my best,¡± He wheezed, ¡°Healing isn¡¯t-¡± ¡°I know,¡± Lillian said comfortingly and pat his arm, ¡°You kept them alive, you did great.¡± He was the only one with anything remotely close to healing abilities besides hers, but they¡¯d had to prioritize finding a way out. It had been a hard choice to send her to scout. She turned to the nearest of the three. He called himself Anton. An immigrant. New to the country and even so he had signed up for this. She reached down and took his hand as he opened his eyes and looked up at her, frustrated tears welling up in them. ¡°I want to fight,¡± He croaked. She smiled at him as she closed her eyes, pushing the flames out and letting the golden light wash down from her hands to rush across his body. He let out a gasp and his breathing eased, ¡°Just a bit longer. It works on everything but takes a while, hang in there,¡± She said softly before letting go of him and hurrying over to Nina. Her arrow wound looked bad. It was sealed for the most part and she wasn''t bleeding thanks to William¡¯s oozes but she was suffering from the poison. She took her hand as well, ¡°Here¡¯s some more,¡± She murmured and more flames spread. Bangs and crashes rang out behind her but she dared not look back. Luke wasn¡¯t a fool. He¡¯d call for her if he needed her. She stood up and held her hands over both of them, concentrating as hard as she could. Feeling the energy cycling through her body before going out again to fuel the flames and give them comfort and health. She panted, she¡¯d used so much power that it was beginning to wear on her stamina but she couldn¡¯t just stop, she couldn¡¯t- ROAAARRRR The sound sent a chill spider walking down her spine. She spun and looked out towards Luke who¡¯s arms had fallen to his sides in horror. She looked up at William and he nodded to her, reaching into his bag and pulling out a bottle of water and drinking from it before turning his attention to the wounded pair. She cursed and turned to race over to Luke¡¯s side only to stop cold at the sight of what had been brought to the base of the stairs. A creature out of books, it¡¯s body wasn¡¯t especially big, about the size of a school bus. Not as massive as she¡¯d imagined they¡¯d be. It had a feline gait, languid and slow as it prowled between the gathered dire elves. It¡¯s scales were green and gleamed angrily in the ambient light. It had a reptilian head with a long snout filled with terrible teeth that it showed as it let out another bone chilling roar. She glanced up at the blue glowing figure of the dungeon boss pointing at her and Luke with rage in his malformed eyes. The sub-boss? She thought as her heart clenched in her chest. She squared her shoulders and glanced at Luke who returned her stare. If any of you guys are coming, I sure hope it¡¯s soon. Until then... Her broadsword ignited. ...looks like I¡¯m fighting a dragon today. ¨C Chunhua clenched her fists and lifted her head. Her jaw tight, her lips in a thin line. Behind her, Amos had already gone after their last exchange. Just a few heartbeats felt like an eternity when the lives of others were on the line. She wondered what that said about her, wondered if she really could somehow compromise between her code and what she believed Sonya was trying to do. Sonya... She watched as that woman with the sword paced back-and-forth before the doors to the common building, throwing her hands open in a challenging gesture before returning to her prowling. The animals that had come with her, Ellis and Ewen, stood behind the line of restrained heroes with barely restrained murder glittering in their eyes. The horde of masked cultists, recovered with the use of that strange light, stood as if they had not just been laid low by a small handful of courageous men and women. It was insulting, to them, to her, to everything she stood for, to everything Sonya was trying to do. To the very core, it made her sick to see them smiling. If we could field Handmaiden... but she¡¯s wearing Sonya¡¯s face. She can¡¯t just... Chunhua clenched her eyes shut and bit her lip, the mana and internal energy inside her body swirling together, ready to burst forward at a moment¡¯s notice. Sonya, where are you? Don¡¯t you have a plan? Isn¡¯t there anything you can do? I-We need you. Turn it around. Like you always do. I know you will. ¨C Amos leaned over the desk, his face stiff as stone as he soldered together another part. He set it aside and frowned as Da-Som stood next to him, his face pale. He glanced up at the doctor and frowned, ¡°What? I¡¯m working as fast as I can,¡± He said hollowly. As confident as he sounded in front of Chunhua, things were a lot more complicated and difficult than he¡¯d been willing to admit. He was glad for the millionth time he didn¡¯t have Sonya¡¯s weakness. Being unable to lie. Damn it, Sonya, where are you? He thought as he got to his feet and marched over to the suit of armor he¡¯d prepared. The shining metal gleaming beneath the laboratory light. Half of our plan was to use your ability to get reinforcements here if something happened. Now that¡¯s shot. He glanced at a nearby screen, Spatial stabilization, not an ability those monsters outside have. There¡¯s another one out there. He ground his teeth. ¡°We could just cut them loose now, cause confusion,¡± Da-Som suggested. ¡°I know you did anyway,¡± She said with a snarl, ¡°Give it to me.¡± He snorted and reached into the leather sack hanging from his shoulder. He pulled a sword as long as he was tall out of it. He hefted it once before tossing it to her. She caught it and immediately felt something burning beneath her skin. A connection with the weapon. She stared at it for several seconds as the connection bore fruit, strength, even more strength. She nodded brusquely and marched around the table. ¡°Where you going?¡± Craftsman called after her. ¡°To do it myself,¡± She growled and stepped out of the room. ¨C This wasn¡¯t a trap, this wasn¡¯t a space created by liberty¡¯s cronies, this wasn¡¯t some trick or nonsense or anything like that. This place was very, very real. What¡¯s worse, Sonya knew exactly where she was. She hadn¡¯t wanted to believe it for the first few minutes of wandering the endless halls, running at top speed. Yet the more she traveled and the stranger this place became to her eyes, the more she had to accept it. I¡¯m in the Backrooms, the place that Non-Euclidian travels through. Whatever happened, it happened while I was in the process of teleporting. No other explanation. A god damned coincidence. She wasn¡¯t even sure if it was possible to leave even if the cooldown on her disabled ability ended. That thought alone drove her to keep looking, to keep searching through the endless blank halls that changed every time she turned a corner. Sometimes they looked like the corridors of an office building, other times they were that eerie white-gray stone, and others they looked like something far older. Something ancient. Ancient and empty. Not a soul, not a trace of anything living. She was alone here and with Ishtar silent and resting she didn¡¯t even have anyone to bounce her ideas off of. So she ran, and ran, and ran, flying where she could. Every ounce of power put into speed to explore every inch she could traverse, searching for something more than the tireless madness of this place. It was as she rounded the latest in a thousand corners that she felt it. Her hair shifted a little, a fragment of movement, a breeze. Wind. She chased the wind, followed the feeling, she had to get back. Marta¡¯s hands are tied. I have no idea of Liberty herself is there. If she is, with how long I¡¯ve been gone I- she swallowed hard, Chunhua will hold the line. The instructors are stronger than they think. Amos will come up with a plan. Carla, be brave and do what you need to. Marta, guard them for me. I won¡¯t let you down. She grit her teeth as the wind began to pick up, she could hear it howl in the distance. I¡¯ll be there to turn this story on its head! A ripple of light carried out behind her as she sped up, she didn¡¯t notice it, didn¡¯t feel it, but it was there. Her eyes were fixed on the next corner where the wind was even stronger. She rounded it and stopped, looking up the passage at a bright opening in the distance and a dark figure standing in front of it. She drew her knife and charged, she wasn¡¯t about to waste time right now. She¡¯d let her enhanced mind take in everything in the time between her movement and connecting. It looked like a man but its body was gaunt and weathered, flesh decayed and partially frozen, eyes like burning motes of flame in black holes. Its skin glittered in the light behind it. It was gray, with its jaw hanging open in a silent scream and marred with a patchy beard. It wore ill-fitted leather armor designed for a much more muscular figure. In its right hand it held a heavy metal axe, in its left, a circular shield. Wait, where have I seen- She collided with it and instead of digging into flesh the blade of her knife clashed against steel as it held its axe up to block her blow. Fast! She gasped just as it pushed her back with all its might, throwing her clear to the end of the hallway and crashing into the wall. She coughed up blood and created a berry in her mouth, chewing it before getting to her feet. And strong too, it pushed me away. Mythic? How? What the hell is this place really? She clicked her tongue and drove forward again, putting on more speed, she darted low before zipping up high with a horizontal movement. It swung its shield down to block her feint and she whipped her leg out, willing a shin-guard of light and spikes to form on her limb. It crashed into decayed flesh and a cloud of glittering dust erupted from it¡¯s body in a rainbow of colors as it¡¯s head whipped to the right a few inches. She squinted and threw her arm over her mouth, Dust? Poison? The moment she recoiled, it brought its axe up in a movement so fast even her enhanced brain took a heartbeat too long to register. Blade bit into skin just as she started to form armor around her body to protect herself. Pain seared across her waist, and she pulled herself away, spinning and throwing a dozen spears of light in its direction. It raised its shield lazily and blocked the ones aimed for its vitals only for the others to pierce through leg bone and feet. She slid to a stop, breathing hard and created a berry in her mouth. She chewed and felt... nothing. She looked down at her side at the bloody wound that was struggling to heal. Suppression? She whipped her head up at the creature as it tried to take a step forward but it¡¯s pinned legs and feet wouldn¡¯t allow it. She pressed her hand to her side, shuddering once from the pain. Two can play at that game. She snarled and brought out a small fragment of the Visage. Just a little. It was overwhelming using it, like it was resisting her somehow. Pale white vines wrapped around her waist and she felt the healing finally start to kick in. She darted at it again, this time watching its movements carefully before retreating from each strike. She spun and weaved, diving about and taking a few hits as she did. Each wound didn¡¯t heal properly at first, it¡¯s the weapon not the dust. She thought, It had a power suppressing property. This has to be some kind of Mythic dungeon. She watched every swing, every move of its shield, drank it in, understood it, processed it. Where is your weakness? Where do you hesitate? Where- there! Just as it shifted stances between an uppercut and a horizontal swing there was a moment where it paused. Her eyes flared with light as she brought imperious down on it with all of her might in that heartbeat. She bore her teeth and flashed forward, extending the edge of her knife with an edge of light. She landed a few paces past it, her body bloody and aching, the healing still slowed by its weapons power. She panted and turned back to see its head fall to the ground, its grotesque body following it. Her chest heaving, she turned away from it as her eyes clicked, adjusting to the sudden bright light. Her breath caught in her throat. Her heart stilling for just a moment. Her eyes going wide as she stepped out onto the platform and looked out over the enormous empty void. Beneath her, a shattered bridge of rainbow glass glittered and sparked, beyond it, far, far away, a gleaming city of silver spires and towers vaster than any she¡¯d ever seen before. ¡°What is this place?¡± Chapter 153 Chapter 153 Sonya found a set of stairs that led down from the platform she¡¯d come in on. She winced as she stepped down and glanced down at her body, pulling the armor off for a moment to examine herself. The healing is going so slowly, she thought as she alighted on the lower platform that turned out to be some kind of landing. It was also way larger than it looked from above, deceptively so. She turned on the spot and glanced back where she¡¯d come from. There was something mounted to the wall directly across from where the rainbow glass started. A metal ring that shimmered with the same multicolored hue. She narrowed her eyes and walked up to it, running her fingers over the surface. She felt one of her instincts rise up in response, resonating, a thrumming rhythm vibrating through her fingertips and down into her chest. Non-Euclidian? She reached up and touched her heart before looking up at the ring, A portal? She turned back to the bridge that lay shattered just a few feet out from the edge of the landing. She followed its direction with her eyes all the way to the vast city miles and miles away. Her eyes focused and she zoomed in at the spot that it was reaching towards. There was another end to the bridge, it sparked and sizzled at the end where the city began. Power source? She thought before walking over to the bridge itself and crouching down. She ran her fingers over the bridge, It¡¯s not rainbow colored, it¡¯s optic fibers. She thought, surprised. Millions upon millions of tiny threads of crystalline glass woven together to create a solid platform. The light shining through created the multicolored effect. A rainbow bridge, she let out a shaky breath and looked up at the city in the distance again. It couldn¡¯t be... She moved forward a bit to the edge and found where the break began. She squinted at the cracked and torn edges of the fibers and watched in real time as they slowly grew before dimming and cracking off, falling into the abyss below. That¡¯s when she saw something else, something that made a hole form in her stomach. A root. No, a vine. She thought as she reached down to touch it. She wrapped her fingers around the plant that seemed to be wrapped around the underside of the bridge and snapped off a piece. It regrew immediately as she got to her feet and rubbed it between her fingers. Pale white. She thought and looked down at the bridge that was struggling to restore itself. Suppressed. She held out her hand and willed Visage of Titania to create a vine in her palm. She compared the two and swallowed. Impossible... was she real? Was she here? Did... did she do this? Why? Sonya looked down at the vines growing over the broken piece of bridge and held out her hand. It¡¯s my power now, she thought and concentrated. She felt the instincts of the ability rise up in response and she reached out through it towards the plants only to meet resistance. It felt as if she was reaching across centuries, across millenia, touching something that shouldn¡¯t be touched. But if that¡¯s a portal, I need to get it working. She thought as she grit her teeth and pushed only for the vines to push back with their own suppressive force. She let out a gasp and stepped back, sweat dripping down her temple and felt Visage retreat. She panted, ¡°What am I doing wrong?¡± She held out both hands this time, fingers curled like claws as she pushed harder, her expression grim faced. Tension burned in her muscles as her eyes focused on the vines. This time Visage barely responded at all, only a flicker of its power rising up to greet her. She cursed and dropped her hands to her sides, letting out a groan of frustration. ¡°Damn it! Work!¡± She snarled and turned around to pace, It¡¯s a mythic power, they respond to mindset more so than other abilities. She thought and rubbed her chin, I had an easier time back in Pakistan, why? No, that was Ishtar. Damn it, what does she do differently? She sighed and sat down on the ground, ¡°I need to get back! Ishtar, wake up, please. I need advice.¡± Silence. Utter silence. She pushed forward and planted her hands at the edge of the bridge. She could see the vines, she could feel them distantly. She knew at the depths of her soul that she could grab hold of them and wrench control of them. It was like they were the only thing standing between her and coming home. Just some tiny plants. She slammed her fist on the bridge, cracking some of the filaments. They wriggled before regenerating and she looked down at bloodied knuckles. She tried again, and again, and again, blood dripping from her nose as she threw all her focus into forcing the vines to obey. Please. Let me go home! She let out an exhausted gasp, her heart pounding and she threw her head back and screamed out her frustration. ¡°What am I doing wrong?¡± She repeated, ¡°Ishtar, please!¡± She begged, her hands falling to her sides. ¡°I need you. Please, just talk to me!¡± She croaked. A sigh rang out in the back of her mind. You¡¯re becoming too dependent on me. She sat up wiping the blood from her nose, ¡°Ishtar?¡± You know what to do, you¡¯re just unwilling to admit that it¡¯s so simple, Ishtar said cooly. I told you, you¡¯ve been coasting, Sonya. She got to her feet and clenched her fists, ¡°I¡¯m doing the best I-¡± No, you aren¡¯t. ¡°That¡¯s the way,¡± Ishtar murmured as she began to vanish, ¡°Have fun with it. Enjoy it. Revel in it like a Faerie.¡± The music started to play in Sonya¡¯s head, a jaunty beat that thrummed through her chest and into her limbs. She swayed a little on the spot and hummed, taking a step to the left, and then the right, and then she rose off the ground and spun in the air. She felt something bubble up inside of her chest that burst out in a tittering laugh like falling glass. She did a flip in the air, a loop, she spun and laughed and giggled as she felt those instincts roar back up into the back of her mind. Stronger and louder than ever before. Her lips parted as white light began to gleam on her bare skin, her hair became like filaments, blazing with a cascade of pale light. She threw her head back and let out a howl of delight and exaltation as a thrill went through her entire body. She twirled, streamers forming on her arms and legs, her clothing vanishing in blue sparks only to be replaced by a flowing white gown. She let the instinct guide her, followed them, danced with them. She let the stressed and fears and worries wash away. She would pass through them or over them, around them, dancing with them and using them to her advantage. That¡¯s how she worked, thats what she did. That was her modus operandi, she was the force that would intercede and break the storyline, turning it in whatever direction she wanted. Her lips parted and a song rose up from within her, words in a language she did not know but that felt so deeply bound to her heart. The words were sorrowful, filled with regret, even as she danced with lively abandon. She let the world pass her by as her mind drifted into the power. Her skin glowed as something metal rose up and formed over the upper half of her face. She spun again and held her hands high, floating over the bridge as she smiled down at the plants that had been suppressing it for aeons. ¡°It¡¯s time to rest, go back to where you came from,¡± She whispered, her voice a melody on the wind as her glowing hair danced about her serene face. Petals exploded into the air around her that condensed into flowers. They drifted out and around her, glowing with that eerie pale white light. A bloom of illumination that spread out to fill the void that surrounded her, that cast out and reached towards the distant city. Below her, those vines that had held fast for time immemorial began to glow, life and power flooding into them. At first they began to squeeze down on the broken bridge, trying to strangle the last mote of life out of it. She chuckled and shook her head, ¡°No no, go to sleep now,¡± She cooed, lowering her hands, ¡°Come home.¡± The vines writhed and then slowly, slowly, began to retract back down beneath the bridge. She felt them recede all the way back to a spot just beneath where she had been standing before. A single flower hanging upside-down that slowly began to dissolve into motes of light that drew up into the air and joined the other petals. More motes raced across the vast void from the city, tiny balls of light that arrived at her side like children eager to see their mother once more. She caught one over her hand and admired it as she drifted back down to the ground. She landed on heels made of glass that shimmered as the bridge trembled beneath her feet. She smiled to herself and stepped towards the edge only for it to begin growing at a rapid pace, the suppression gone, the filaments grew and grew and grew. They raced out ahead of her as she walked, sauntering across the bridge towards the distant city. Her hair flowed behind her as she reached the middle point of the void and watched the two ends of the bridge collide with one another. In an instant a deep glorious rush of power flooded across it, flickers of light that raced down the innumerable paths as the entire bridge glowed with restored life and power. She looked up at the city in the distance and smiled at it, observing the gaunt figures that stood on its outer walls, waiting for invaders. ¡°I¡¯ll be back, and then I¡¯ll claim you for my own,¡± She giggled and waved at it, turning away as the light reached the landing. She strode back across the bridge as the ring against the wall flared to life, multicolored light radiating from its metal surface as a pool like a dungeon portal began to form within its bounds. It swirled and undulated as she drew closer, stopping before it and drawing her eyes across its rippling surface. Once again, her instincts guided her; ¡°Take me where I need to go,¡± She said casually, her fingers brushing the metal ring. The rippling portal went still like a sheet of quiet water in an instant, responding to her words. She stared through it and grinned, ¡°Sounds like fun,¡± She chuckled and stepped on through. ¨C Ishtar lingered there, the illusion pulling itself back together as she stared at Sonya¡¯s back. She let out a breath and shook her head, ¡°That was quite the sad little song, Sonya,¡± She said and looked back at the city, humming to herself. She walked towards the bridge and admired the pulsing mana that passed through it. ¡°A villain¡¯s mindset,¡± She chuckled and crossed her arms behind her back. ¡°You¡¯re so close, little sister,¡± She said with a sad smile. ¡°I wonder what will happen when you figure it out. It¡¯s so simple, you¡¯ll be mad at me, will I disappear? I suppose I¡¯m okay with that, as long as it makes you strong.¡± She laughed and let out a sigh. Her body began to disappear as she strode towards the distant city, a song on her lips. ¡°From behind my mask of iron, for each wicked sin I atone. I gaze upon the world once more, from atop my lonely throne.¡± Chapter 154 Chapter 154 A sea of dire elves ran up the steps towards her and Luke. She glanced his way and he set his shoulders as her golden aura washed over him. He nodded his thanks to her and she returned the gesture. There was no running from this fight, even if they wanted to. With three people behind them that needed protection and no other routes, it was either down and through the enemy or die trying. She took a few steps to the left and put herself between Luke and the approaching enemy, the dragon stomping and roaring as it marched its way towards the base of the steps. Luke took a few steps back and positioned himself over her with a clear view of everything below. She wrapped her fingers around the grip of her sword and took a stance, weapon outstretched in front of her as the first group drew nearer. They raced up at the stairs, their wild eyes blazing with bloodlust. Lillian¡¯s nose flared and she bent her knees, letting the internal energy and mana in her body blend together again. She started the cycle up, feeling the swirl as it looped through her body like blood, cycling down until it reached her navel before spreading back out again, refined and filled with power. She set her jaw and took a step forward, sweeping her weapon in a wide arc. Golden flames danced off of its surface in a short wave that crashed into the incoming enemy just as a series of black projectiles flew over her head. A series of cascading explosions ripped through the ranks of the incoming dire elves, the burning wrath of her sword turning the ones that had gotten too close into ash. There will still more on their way, though, and that dragon right at the edge of the stairs. For some reason it wasn¡¯t using those massive wings to gain air superiority. She squinted at its form, trying to figure out the reason as the dire elves regrouped from their first failed assault. The dragon lumbered forward, whipping its paw at any of the dire elves that got in its way. They were sent flying, crashing into the others and sending them sprawling. It whipped its wings out now and then, flapping them angrily before throwing its head back in a roar and trotting forward with purpose. She focused on the wings, What- there! Tears in the leathery portions of the wings, damage from some previous attack or another. The dragon roared again when a dire elf got directly in its path and it slapped it down with its massive paw. In one quick movement it snapped its head forward and ate the dire elf whole. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s their friend, She glanced up at the cuts in its wings, No, those are purposeful. They need it to obey. She set her jaw as the next group got closer, more dark shapes flying past her to crash into the oncoming ranks of the enemy. More explosions sending them flying off the steps and down to the ground far below. The sheer number of bodies being thrown at them were the only reason any of them were getting past Luke¡¯s ceaseless volley. She swung again and again, shifting stance to simulate steps as she built up her momentum. The little pauses between each group cooled it down a bit, but that was okay, she was making up for it in spades. It was just as she felt like she had momentum to pull off march again when the dragon decided that it had waited long enough. With a terrible roar that rattled the air and sent a chill running up Lily¡¯s spine, it raced up the stairs, plowing its way through the remaining bulk of the attacking dire elves. Lily¡¯s eyes went wide as it fixed its own blazing gaze on her, behind her, Luke shouted something and more explosives went flying in its direction. They struck true but the creature just kept coming, racing through the clouds of black smoke left behind as it opened its jaw to consume Lily with one quick snap. Not gonna happen! She took a step forward, down closer towards the beast as it drew closer and let her instincts carry her through the motions of her technique. She swung up just as it lowered its head down towards her and caught it on the chin, the impact causing a golden flare to ripple out between the two of them and send the dragon¡¯s head whipping upward with a shriek of pain and confusion. She exhaled and flames billowed out, taking another step and swinging again, this time catching it on the shoulder as it pivoted to avoid her cutting it¡¯s head right off then and there. Tch. She grit her teeth and pushed forward anyway, her next blow going up towards its wing and it snapped its jaws at her blade. She caught it on the side of the head instead and it stumbled before righting itself. Blow after blow rained down on the dragon, each one following in with explosive force as she tried to destabilize it, knock it off, hurt it, do something to it. She pushed forward and it fell back, small explosions raining down on the horde below rather than the dragon as to not catch her as well. She steeled her focus, hit it harder! She thought, swinging up again to bat its head away and get to its neck. Step after step pushed it further back, her movements a blur, the world around her blending away as she let out a roar, ¡°STAY DOWN!¡± She bellowed, her muscles burning. She swung with all of her might, a muscle felt like it tore in her shoulder only to immediately start trying to heal itself again. She let out a gasp just as the swing struck and she felt the resistance of its hard scales give way a bit. She followed through, despite the pain, and completed the swing with a scream of pain and fury. The dragon whipped its head away, stumbling back a dozen steps as black blood oozed from its neck. Lily stared up at him as confusion gave way at last to clarity, the pain muddling her thoughts easing off as her ability got right to work, soothing the injuries first before it started to heal. She coughed, ¡°Right as rain in no time,¡± She said with a grin, ¡°Now go.¡± He nodded and scales spread across his neck and jawline in an instant, his eyes turned to slits and his nostrils flared. He whipped his head around and charged, fangs bared as he leaped through the air and tackled the face of the dragon that was now frantically fighting off a whole new host of enemies. John clung to its back and stabbed it over and over while Cass struck it in the side with her hammer. She panted and looked up at Snow who was still examining her face. ¡°How bad is it?¡± She asked with a lazy grin, ¡°Any good scars in my future?¡± ¡°Pretty sure those¡¯ll heal,¡± Snow said softly, ¡°Though I don¡¯t think your mom is going to like the new color added to your hairstyle, or the eyes, or the updated tattoo,¡± Snow quipped, ¡°You sure you weren¡¯t a scene kid or something in your past life?¡± Lily barked out a laugh, it hurt, so much. She kept laughing anyway even as her body started to feel numb. ¡°My eyes changed now? Great!¡± She chuckled sarcastically and leaned her head back with a groan. She watched Luke get out from his hiding spot and race over to resume his support of the others. Good, she thought, relieved and glanced at William who had a bit more color in his face. The others laying on the ground did too. Her head swam a little and she frowned, she glanced down at her feet, the numbness had given way to... nothing, stiffness. ¡°I can¡¯t feel my feet,¡± She mumbled. Snow looked down at her feet and reached for her boots, she tugged for a moment and with some difficulty managed to get them off. They both stared in rapt amazement and alarm as something green had spread across her skin. It¡¯s not the color of that magic but... She blinked slowly as she felt the emptiness creep up her leg. It¡¯s spreading. ¡°Is that jade?¡± Snow whispered, panicked, she looked over at Lily, ¡°Lily, what¡¯s happening?¡± Lily¡¯s eyes fluttered as the feeling spread up further. Despite every rational thought telling her she should be panicking, her instincts said something else. Let it happen. Just let it happen. She let out a shaky breath, the fear warring with her instincts as her heart raced. She reached up to take Snow¡¯s hand and squeezed it before nodding towards the others still engaged with the Dragon. ¡°Get going, I¡¯ll be back in no time.¡± ¡°What do you mean, back?¡± Snow asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± Lilian closed her eyes and searched her instincts, the manual of her powers, every time she accessed them it felt like they grew more and more detailed. She grinned a little to herself. That¡¯s a pretty long cooldown, she thought with amusement. Not a bad trade-off though. I can live with that. She opened her eyes and just nodded, ¡°Just a quick power nap,¡± She said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Focus on supporting them, okay? Follow Greg¡¯s lead.¡± She didn¡¯t see Greg or the usual tell-tale purple hue of his powers but he had to be somewhere nearby orchestrating the fight. Snow forced a smile onto her face and reached up to stroke Lily¡¯s chin as the jade spread up to her waist. She nodded and kissed her forehead before getting to her feet and racing out, drawing that funky pistol from her thigh. Lillian let her head fall back as she breathed, ¡°Just hang in there for five minutes guys,¡± She muttered as she felt the jade reach her heart. Her breathing began to slow. ¡°I¡¯ll be back in five minutes,¡± She mumbled as her vision swam and the spread reached her throat. ¡°Just hang in there...¡± She whispered as her vision went dark, her body falling utterly still. Chapter 155 Chapter 155 Amos marched past the screens, a small box in his hands. He frowned a little, his eyes shooting over to Da-Som who gave him an uneasy look. He exhaled through his nostrils and stopped next to a portion of wall that seemed innocuous at first. With a flex of will he urged the false wall to part and slide open, a portion of the lab hidden from the less trusted techs, students, and instructors revealing itself. On the other side, five figures stood with an eerie stillness. A light came on and he leveled them with a stare. They had once been dolls created by Forge Tactical. He had visited their labs numerous times since The Hague, exchanging notes and ideas with their top scientists. These were the fruits of his own study. Five dolls remade with all the skills he¡¯d acquired since the flash. I just hope I don¡¯t have to use them yet. Just in case, though... He trailed off as he opened the case, revealing five long slightly rounded cards that had been plated on one side with that bone-colored white metal. He clicked his tongue and walked around the first one, glancing at the back of its neck where a slot just large enough for one waited. ¡°Are you sure?¡± Da-Som asked, ¡°What if-¡± Amos snorted, ¡°I can handle it,¡± He said before he flinched and glanced at the screens. ¡°Things are getting worse out there,¡± He scoffed, ¡°They were going to film everything and doctor it up before releasing it to the public, nasty,¡± He muttered and looked back at the machine in front of him, ¡°They¡¯re going to regret not coming in prepared for a live-stream.¡± He paused and blinked before looking at the screens again, lowering the box in his hand. He tilted his head and raised an eyebrow as the idea that struck him caused his heart to start thundering. He looked back at the dolls and began to slide the cards into their necks one at a time, e on Chunhua,¡± He murmured, ¡°Give me a reason to do it. Put on a good show and I¡¯ll make sure everyone sees,¡± He thought as he glanced at another screen where over a dozen faces were flush with anger. Carla could really use it. ¨C Chunhua trembled with rage, watching as that woman with the ashen hair stalked back and forth in front of the doors. ¡°Black Lotus! Come on out!¡± She called, meeting her eyes. Chunhua set her lips into a thin line and held her ground before glancing past her towards the other two that were standing behind her comrades, just waiting for an excuse. Rouge, Axel, Canis, Bedrock, Crowley, she thought, searching their faces. Axel was bloody but defiant in his stare. Canis wasn¡¯t faring well, she could die at any moment, and Crowley¡¯s face was stricken. Rouge held her head high despite every attempt to push her forward towards the ground. Bedrock... Bedrock was half-dead from the looks of it. The woman glanced over her shoulder at the others, following Chunhua¡¯s stare and whipped her head back, eyes narrowed. Something tingled in the air and mana drew towards the woman as she took a step forward with a quick swing of her sword. The glass of the door shattered in front of Chunhua who didn¡¯t so much as blink. Chunhua looked down at the glass and then up at the woman. That felt like my ability, Lillians. A cultivator? She narrowed her eyes as the woman smirked at her and rested her sword on her shoulder, bouncing on the balls of her feet. ¡°I think you need some motivation,¡± The woman said, ¡°Come on out or-¡± ¡°Why?¡± Chunhua demanded. ¡°Why don¡¯t you face me here?¡± The woman tilted her head and shrugged playfully, ¡°You think I¡¯m stupid? We know ASTA¡¯s chief scientist is in there as well as all those students of yours. Who knows what kind of trap you guys have set,¡± She said before scratching her head and meeting Chunhua¡¯s gaze with one eye open. She sighed, ¡°Fine, have it your way,¡± She grunted, ¡°Sir Ellis, how about the half-dead one? She¡¯s almost done anyway,¡± she shook her head, ¡°Nah, do the annoying earth guy.¡± Behind her, the lanky man sauntered over to stand behind Bedrock, a small chime ringing out over her ears now that the glass was gone. Chunhua tensed, Shit! They¡¯re going to- Ahead of her, the others whirled and tried to pull from their bindings only for the red light user to clench his fist and pull them back down to a kneeling position. He grinned at them and then at Chunhua. Ellis flexed his fingers and held up his hand before swinging back down to strike. Chunhua squeezed her eyes shut and cursed, Damn it! She swore before stepping out. ¡°Stop!¡± Chunhua barked. Ellis froze and looked up at her, disappointment flickering on his features before he lowered his hand to his side and took a few steps back from Bedrock. ¡°What do you want?¡± Chunhua asked, her heart pounding in her ears. ¡°A duel,¡± The woman said, pointing her sword at Chunhua¡¯s heart, ¡°You and me, ¡®World¡¯s Strongest¡¯. I want to know who¡¯s better.¡± Chunha gave her a flat stare, she didn¡¯t have any choice in the matter but maybe she could set the terms. ¡°No powers.¡± The woman smirked, ¡°That¡¯s your choice,¡± She said with a snort, ¡°Not something I¡¯m going to abide by.¡± Chunhua glared at her but didn¡¯t dignify her with a response. She let out a sigh through her nostrils. She was more than strong enough without her abilities to handle most Light-Touched.. Even if this woman was powerful, she couldn¡¯t use her powers, that¡¯s what they wanted from her. She would never give them the satisfaction. She ground her teeth as she drew her sword and leveled the woman with a stare. ¡°Your name?¡± She asked. ¡°I¡¯m not usually in the habit of giving dead people my name,¡± The woman said, checking her nails, ¡°But if you must know, it''s Dame Kant, a member of Lady Liberty¡¯s Round Table. Though you can call me Heavenly Demon.¡± Chunhua¡¯s shoulders stiffened, Worse than a cultivator. She thought before taking a fighting stance. Her weapon held up before her as she shifted her weight. She wouldn¡¯t be lured into using her abilities here, no matter what. Dame Kant held her own weapon out lazily, her head tilted as her eyes began to glow with a dark red light tinged with orange. She sneered before kicking off the ground in a flash of movement. One moment she was there, the next she was- Chunhua spun, raising her weapon and bracing herself as an attack came from behind and to the left. The strike pushed her back, her feet sliding against the ground as she met a pair of burning crimson eyes with her own black stare. Please. ¡°The United States endorses the proposal,¡± Representative Harman said and gave her a small nod and she nearly felt her knees give out beneath her. ¡°All in favor?¡± ¨C ¡°You¡¯re the strongest, aren¡¯t you? If you¡¯re the strongest, then no one can stop you, right? That¡¯s the point! That¡¯s what it means to be free in this new world!¡± Kant roared, throwing her arms wide. ¡°Liberty has it right! The strong survive, the weak serve! Heroes go against the natural order of things!¡± She bellowed and started striding towards Chunhua while pointing at the cultists. ¡°They¡¯re here because they want to be! Because they know they serve a higher purpose. Us!¡± She roared, ¡°Don¡¯t you get it? We mythics are the future of mankind!¡± Chunhua glowered at the woman from where she knelt, blood dripping from her body. Her vision wobbling. She frowned. You¡¯re wrong. We have a responsibility. She thought as she tried to get up. Her heart sank as her leg trembled. What can I do? Even if I beat her, I still have the others to deal with. They could lash out and kill them as soon as it¡¯s over. She bit her lip. She looked the woman in the eyes as she got even closer. ¡°Screw the rules, am I right?¡± Kant laughed. Rules. Chunhua thought and looked down at her knees. Do I even deserve to call myself a hero? She thought about Sonya. About that day in her office. About what she¡¯d done. About how much Sonya had given to a world that would never forgive her for saving it. About how every single day she struggled to compromise her feelings, her respect, and her desire to do what she needed to do and stop Ishtar, regardless of her intentions. Rules. The World¡¯s Strongest? What a joke. Her shoulders sank and the woman stood over her. What am I supposed to be? She thought. Who am I supposed to be? ¡®Stand up little hero, that¡¯s not all you¡¯ve got, is it?¡¯ Ishtar¡¯s mocking voice sounded through her mind. A memory, a message, a challenge. Kant raised her weapon and snorted as Chunhua¡¯s heart pounded in her chest. Not even in the slightest, monster. Chunhua snarled back. I¡¯ll be there. I¡¯ll fight you every step of the way. I¡¯ll be there for her and I¡¯ll fight you. I¡¯ll beat you. Somehow I¡¯ll make it work. Because that¡¯s what a hero does. They make the impossible possible. Chunhua forced herself to her feet and got in Kant¡¯s face. The woman leaped back, surprised as Chunhua held her sword out. ¡°And that is exactly why I follow the rules!¡± She shouted, ¡°Because if I¡¯m the strongest, if I can do whatever I want, and I make that choice, then everyone behind me will know it¡¯s okay to do the same! That it¡¯s the right thing to do!¡± She bellowed. ¡°So I¡¯ll follow those rules, even to my dying breath!¡± She shouted and marched forward, weapon at her side, ¡°Come, villain! Because that¡¯s all you are, and all you will ever be!¡± Kant bore her teeth and stalked forward in response, a sneer on her face, ¡°Have it your way!¡± BRRZZZT! Both of them froze, Chunhua looked up, The intercom? ¡°Attention invading force. My name is Carla Mint of the Pandora Committee. I am asking you to lay your arms down immediately and surrender. This is non-negotiable,¡± That small woman said in a hard voice, ¡°Respond at once.¡± Kant snorted and raised her voice, ¡°No!¡± She laughed and looked back to Chunhua. ¡°Very well,¡± Miss Mint said, ¡°Then as acting Chairwoman of the Pandora Committee...¡± She began and Kant¡¯s head whipped towards the building, her eyes going wide before looking back at Chunhua, ¡°I hereby temporarily reinstate Lian Chunhua, Black Lotus and end her suspension until the time that all existing threats are dealt with,¡± there was a heavy pause, ¡°Black Lotus!¡± she snapped with a commanding tone. Chunhua felt something fall off her shoulders she didn¡¯t even know was there, she stood up straight and squared her shoulders, her lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°Yes Ma¡¯am!¡± she barked with all the strength in her lungs. ¡°Do not hold back under any circumstances, bring them to their knees and show them exactly what the world''s strongest hero is capable of!¡± Carla commanded and cut the signal. To all the world around her, Chunhua¡¯s eyes started to glow. The ground shook. The clouds moved. The earth cracked. She gripped her sword tight as she took a thunderous step forward, ¡°Hero Black Lotus, on duty!¡± she rumbled as she raised her sword. Chapter 156 Chapter 156 Dame Kant felt her entire body tremble as the air itself pressed down on her with a might she had no way of anticipating, no way of expecting. She took a step back as the figure before her glowed and flashed with internal energy, mana burning on her skin, her muscles growing, veins tensing, wounds healing, her eyes alight like the sun. Black Lotus raised her head high and let out a roar and a crack formed in the earth between them, splitting open so wide that Kant almost fell in. She hopped back a pace, sweat beading on her temple. It¡¯s not fair, she bit out and looked at the building her lips thinning into a line, No! I should have brought that building down first! Damn that woman, how did she pull that off? ¡°Look at me,¡± an even voice said and no amount of will or strength of mind would allow Kant to resist. She turned and looked into those void-like eyes that burned brighter than anything she¡¯d ever seen in her life. ¡°You wanted the world''s strongest,¡± Black Lotus said, ¡°Here I am.¡± Kant bit out a curse, her jaw working slowly left and right as she felt her beating heart rouse in her chest. Her eyes narrowed. No, this is fine. She thought darkly, chewing on the anger and fear like it was a fresh meal. Like marrow from a bone she tasted the terror that burned in her veins and put it to use. She didn¡¯t do it often, she didn¡¯t need to, she had prey for this kind of thing. But if it was necessary there was another source she could feed from to rally her power. It was a slippery slope, she was aware of it, embracing her baser emotions to fuel her cultivated power. She didn¡¯t care. Not when you¡¯re right in front of me, Lian Chunhua! Black Lotus! ¡°Kant!¡± Ellis bellowed off to the left and she pointed her sword at him. ¡°Shut up!¡± She barked, ¡°Don¡¯t do a damn thing, this duel isn¡¯t over!¡± She didn¡¯t take her gaze off Black Lotus for a moment, she didn¡¯t dare to. It made something inside of her crack a little to admit it, but even without her powers this woman had stood up to her and fought back, even delivered a blow. Sure, Kant was not wielding her full might at the time, but that didn¡¯t make a lick of difference. She¡¯d stood her ground and fought back without using an ounce of mana, an ounce of internal energy. She¡¯d stood tall. Her lip trembled as she pointed her weapon at that woman who represented everything she couldn¡¯t have. ¡°I hate you,¡± Kant hissed, ¡°I hate you and everything you stand for,¡± She said, her voice shaking. She refused to say the rest, what was on her mind as she stared down the mountain that had sprung up before her. She set into her stance, not the lazy wild stance she¡¯d opened the fight with. She gripped her weapon with both hands and tilted her head forward, the power in her body cycling through her meridians, pooling at her core, filling it up as she drew the energy into her body and amplified it with the raw feelings that filled her mind. A light that wasn¡¯t light burned around her body, an absence that looked almost black, she felt strength surge through her as she threw her head to the sky. ¡°Strength from Liberty!¡± She bellowed, that coppery light crashing down upon her. She felt the power surge through her, more, more, MORE! She charged. Black Lotus whipped her weapon down in a slow stroke, holding it out to her side, her eyes unblinking, her face a stony calm. ¡°First Whisper of Spring,¡± Was all she said in a voice so gentle it made even Kant¡¯s raging heart ache. Something rippled past Kant as she closed the distance, the half second it took her to move that far felt like an eternity as cuts formed across her arms and chest, nicks and scrapes that stretched into wounds from an invisible blade meters and meters long. She willed the wounds closed, the unnatural power at her fingertips knitting her body together as Black Lotus swung again, ¡°Second Drop of Rain,¡± She murmured, her blade coming up in an arc just as Kant reached her. Their weapons clashed, Kant throwing all of her strength into the strike that sent the ground shaking and cracks forming around Black Lotus in a ring. Kant¡¯s weapon pushed down, her hands shaking with the effort as Black Lotus stared back at her with those cold... no... pitying eyes. Kant bore her teeth, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare!¡± She screamed, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare pity me!¡± She bellowed and broke the lock, spinning like a top and swinging into an uppercut that the woman blocked with a casual swipe down. The swing cut a divot in the earth just past Kant¡¯s own weapon. Kant snapped her hand out, reaching for the hero¡¯s face, I¡¯ll take your vit- WHOMP! A blow caught her in the gut, the strength behind it so tremendous that only her own physical enhancements and Liberty¡¯s gift saved her life. Kant¡¯s eyes bulged as she flew back, through the opening of the dojo where that hateful woman likely trained, honed herself, with all the luxuries and adoration of her students. Kant coughed up a gobbet of blood as she crashed through the rear wall and kept going, her vision blurring for a moment before she righted herself. She threw her power back to catch her flight, stop before she got too far away. She¡¯s going to attack the other- a presence appeared behind her and her heart dropped to her gut. ¨C This was taking too long, they¡¯d been delayed. The mana pouring into the dungeon had caused the monsters to respawn faster and faster. Otis chewed on his lip, rage boiling beneath his skin. How am I supposed to save the day and come out the hero if I can¡¯t get there in time? He thought, racing across the latest stretch of path between the trees. We have no idea where we¡¯re going either! Damn it! He spat on the ground in frustration as he raced on ahead. That guy, Greg, was close behind. If only we had a map or- he cursed again to himself. Miss Chernovna was right! Scouts! I need a scout for my heralds! Everything wouldn¡¯t be going wrong if I had a scout! ¡°I told you we should have gone this way!¡± Greg shouted. Otis bit his lip, ¡°Yes! You were right!¡± He said, ¡°We need to hurry, they need us!¡± That seemed to mollify the guy, no, the thing, no- he squeezed his eyes together. He¡¯s useful, powerful, he has potential. He counts as a person, right? He wondered when he had started attributing personhood to more and more people. It seemed like the number was growing each passing day, ever since Ishtar, ever since Sonya, ever since that day in Vegas and that night at the Beach. He pumped his legs harder. I¡¯m not wrong! He thought. Humanity deserves death! Just because there¡¯s a few good ones doesn¡¯t mean a damn thing! He pushed forward, he needed to get there, to be the hero, to save the others from whatever fate awaited them. He needed them to worship him. He glanced at the profiles screen, pulling up his bookmarked tabs. That girl that kept growing stronger, the impressive one. She was weakening, struggling, she was going to die. The agent of Ishtar, that girl with the hammer, she was fighting for her life as well. No! If they die then everything will be ruined! The guide says so! I can¡¯t let that happen! I need to be faster! Is there a cheat I can use? A power? Something! He snarled, reaching into the depths of the instincts that governed his ability. He barely touched them, barely considered them, but right now if he wanted his way he needed to look past the stats screens, the guides, the menus, he needed something more. Without thinking he reached out and grabbed hold of Greg¡¯s arm. Greg shouted something but he ignored him. He let the feeling take him, his bloodlust, his greed, his hatred, his desire, he let all of it push him. I will be a King, I will be the one to rule this world and destroy it! He felt his body lift off the ground as streaks of gold slipped past his body. The world turned into a blur around him and in an instant, he and Greg were gone. ¨C The room beneath the common building was quiet for a moment. No one spoke, no one moved, especially after that crash outside. Miss Chernovna had run out to have a look. The aspirants all looked at one another, huddled together in the dim light. When the door opened again, a few of them moved to defend the others only to stop and relax as Miss Chernovna stepped back inside with a flourish, a smile dancing on her lips. ¡°Miss Chernovna!¡± One called, ¡°Is everything okay out there?¡± The CEO grinned at them, ¡°Everything¡¯s fine!¡± She said, ¡°Things are turning our way. Why don¡¯t you cuties just take a load off and relax a bit longer. It¡¯s been a wild night, hasn¡¯t it?¡± They looked at one another as one raised a hand, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you go help them?¡± The woman just pointed to herself with surprise before barking out a laugh. She sat down in the same chair she¡¯d been sitting at before, right next to the door. She crossed her legs and looked them all over, there was a softness there that had been missing for a few days. A warmth that set their hearts at ease. ¡°I¡¯m right where I need to be, with you,¡± She said, and leaned back in her chair, a mischievous look on her face. ¡°This should be interesting.¡± Chapter 157 Chapter 157 Liberty felt the final teleportation come to an end and glanced down at the phone in her hand. The GPS said she was at the edge of the area that Halloway¡¯s ability should be able to cover. She glanced down at the man hanging from his shirt in her grip, her eyes searching his pale, worn face. Blood streamed down his nose, ears, and eyes even as the coppery glow of her power continued to strengthen him. He smiled wildly at her, his eyes parting slightly, his mind warped under the pressure of dozens of sequential teleportations. She scoffed and dropped him to the ground, ¡°Good work,¡± She grunted and strode away, her expression set and scowling. Those idiots. She snarled, When I get my hands on them. She checked her phone again and saw the news reports. Her signal had been redirected and the battle was being streamed live. Carla Mint had taken over as acting Chairwoman and released Black Lotus. She felt a little of her power wane, a tiny bit, small numbers of her followers turning on her. I¡¯ll kill them all and make a statement of my own. She bit out, drawing back some of the strength she had spread around the world and back into herself. She felt mighty again. She let out a breath through her nostrils and continued her steady stalk forward, getting ready to pick up speed. That was when she felt a shift in the air. Her senses weren¡¯t quite as in tune with the ebb and flow of ambient mana as Kant, but she could feel enough to know that a powerful ability had just activated nearby. She paused in her walk, her eyes flitting around. Her scowl deepened and she drew her sword. The power in the blade stayed dormant, the cold silver-blue edge gleaming a bit in the moonlight. She tilted it over and turned her head, ¡°Come out,¡± She growled in a low voice. There was a sudden flash of movement from within the trees ahead of her. A shape rocketing out of the treetops and hurtling into the air. She whipped her head up as the dark figure reared up in the sky, holding something over its head. Liberty¡¯s eyes narrowed and she whipped her weapon to the side before holding it up to prepare to block. That was when she saw a flicker of blonde hair in the moonlight. Her eyes went wide. What? A scream of rage and fury fell down towards her as her sister came hurtling towards the ground, an enormous metal hammer gripped with both hands. ¡°Cassiopeia?¡± Liberty gasped as a pair of glowing blue eyes raced towards her, streaks of white light rippling off of her body. Her shock dissolved into an expression of scorn, And now you have the gall to attack me, you have spent far too much time in this place. She thought as her sister drew closer, It¡¯s time to come home, brat. You¡¯re all alone. ¨C ¡°Cass! Watch your back!¡± Alex shouted at her as she dove beneath a sweep of the dragon¡¯s claws. She rolled to the side as a short volley of arrows hurtled through the spot she¡¯d just been standing in. She clicked her tongue and tried to reacquire her target but the dragon had moved. The massive beast reeked in a way she couldn¡¯t quite describe, like dead plants and rancid musk. Her lips curled down as the creature took a step back to try to fix its gaze on her and she whipped her weapon up and into its throat. The hard scales absorbed most of the blow but the force was enough to force its head back up. She glanced towards Alex who was in the midst of whip-kicking away the dire elves that had climbed the long temple stairs and tried to turn her into a pincushion. ¡°Thanks! Keep them off me, I can¡¯t get its joints if I keep having to dodge!¡± She shouted as the dragon let out another terrible roar. It flapped its useless wings and tried to get some more distance from her and she charged forward, mace in hand. She had to be careful about how she did this. The two powers that Ishtar had gifted her with her investment were nothing like her core power and she didn¡¯t need more questions when she used them. She dove again, working her way through the dragon¡¯s legs. It shifted its weight and moved out of reach of her again and again. It had amazing senses. I can¡¯t use Shatter on just any part of its body, that¡¯d be too obvious. The joints are a good target though. She thought, I also can¡¯t get hurt too much, grace has a clear glow to it. She pursed her lips as the beast raised its entire body and pressed its clawed back legs into the steps beneath it to gain stability. Next came the green glow up its throat. Oh no you don¡¯t! She kicked off the ground with all the strength she could muster and brought her weapon up in a hard uppercut, slamming it into the creature¡¯s jaw just as it opened its mouth to release that terrible breath weapon that had done so much damage to Lily. I hope she¡¯s okay. Cass thought as she collided with the beast, knocking its head back and sending it flailing backwards. It let out a howl of fury and twisted its body to attempt to catch itself. As Cass descended from her leap she threw her weight forward into a spin, I¡¯ll get you this time! That was a mistake. During her third rotation she noticed it, the creature¡¯s powerful tail whipping in her direction at terrible speed. Her eyes went wide, I forgot about the tail! She gasped as it collided with her, sending her to the ground like a falling stone and embedding her in the stone stairs. Her entire body creaked with pain and she felt something crack in her chest, the only thing that stopped it from killing her was the natural toughness she got from her innate ability. She coughed, scrambling to her feet as the creature turned around and raised its talons to skewer her. Shit! She rolled to the side and the dragon let out a howl before hesitating in it¡¯s descent. She glanced back and saw a copy of herself standing an equal distance from where she¡¯d fallen but on the opposite side. Thank you, Snow. She thought and glanced up at the dragon that was looking between the two Cass¡¯ in confusion. She didn¡¯t waste the opportunity. She charged throwing her back into a swing at one of its legs. Her copy mimicked her movements, darting towards its other flank. The dragon threw its head back in a roar before snapping down to bite at the copy. Got you! She bit out and swung with all her might, activating Shatter. CRRUNCH! Her thoughts were broken by a wrenching sensation as her body was nearly thrown off the dragon¡¯s leg. She slammed her hammer into the ground to act as an anchor. I can¡¯t hold on forever! She glanced at Alex who met her gaze, ¡°Hang in there!¡± She shouted. ¡°That¡¯s about all I¡¯m doing!¡± Alex laughed despite the situation and tried to dig his sharpened fingers into the scales. ¡°Damn thing is so tough! Why is this thing so strong?¡± ¡°Ties that bind, comrades, a union of strength.¡± The words washed through her entire being. Ollie? I thought he was hiding with Snow. She glanced over her shoulder and saw the thin young man standing there at the top of the steps, his hands outstretched, his entire body shaking. Get inside you idiot! There¡¯s too many! He met her gaze and clenched his outstretched hands into fists, bringing them together. A shock ran through her body. She felt something growing on her skin, it itched and felt disgusting but her body felt... harder, tougher, her bones tried to knit together as the cuts and scrapes across her skin started to close beneath thick golden scales. Scales? Then that¡¯s Alex¡¯s regeneration. That means- She whipped her head towards Alex who¡¯s body began to expand, he threw his head back in a terrible rasping hiss as his arms pulled close to his body, he released the dragon¡¯s leg only for a moment before he changed. A black scaled horned serpent as wide around as a sedan wrapped its way around the dragon¡¯s leg before slithering up its side and weaving itself around the dragons neck and body, applying even more weight. The dragon struggled, flapping its restored wings but it just couldn¡¯t move. Alex reared his massive head back and lashed out, biting down on the dragons throat and not letting go. She glanced back at Ollie in amazement only to see him go pale and collapse to his knees, sweat beading on his face. He looked stricken. Beneath him, a half dozen dire elves raced up towards him, Alex no longer there to block them. Shit! We¡¯ve got the dragon held now but- A field of illusory static washed down the steps in front of Ollie, causing the dire elves to hesitate as a small figure darted out to help Ollie to his feet. Cass turned her attention back on the dragon that was struggling to dislodge her. She gripped tighter. Get to the wings! I need to get to the wings! She thought, They¡¯re gonna get past that illusion any moment, she thought desperately and pulled down with all her might, dragging the creature to a knee. How long can Val and John hold out? The dragon pulled back, snapping its leg out and throwing its body in a frantic flail to dislodge Alex¡¯s new mass. It was so strong. It was unfair. It was... purple? She blinked. Purple? With an abruptness that left her breathless the dragon slammed into the ground under a tremendous force. She barely got out from beneath it in time as she staggered back. Wait- Greg?! The shriek of a bird of prey ripped through the air behind her at the same time as a golden flash came up from the base of the stairs. Two figures appeared on top of the dragons back simultaneously, both holding swords outstretched in a horizontal slash. Two mighty wings separating from their joints as Otis and Lily cut them clean off. Chapter 158 Chapter 158 There was a momentary stillness, a pause that hung in the air over the entire temple and surrounding plaza. For a heartbeat, all eyes were on the pair that stood atop the collapsed dragon. Even the massive black serpent that had the beast coiled in its grip could only stare in shock at the two. Lillian, Crusader, stood looking down at the enemies below. Her hair fluttered in the wind, one green streak and one red streak dancing like feathers amidst a sea of black. The red and green tattoo on her neck glowed brightly, petals dancing. Her avian eyes blazed with internal energy as she surveyed everything. She turned her head and looked Marc in the eyes. His bright blue eyes glimmered in response, a golden crown on his head as his spun-gold hair fluttered around him. She quirked her lip a little, it was so strange seeing him. He usually kept to himself so she thought he just didn¡¯t like anybody at the camp, if she was being honest. Perhaps even a little full of himself, ¡°Looks like I get to fight at your side after all,¡± She said tentatively. His lip twitched before he brandished a perfect smile at her, ¡°Looks like it,¡± He said and looked up towards the entrance to the temple, ¡°Injured?¡± She glanced up at the top of the steps, reassessing her thoughts a bit. If he¡¯s concerned about the injured, he can¡¯t be all bad. Maybe he¡¯s just a loner. She paused and spotted a small form behind some rubble and smiled, There she is, good. ¡°A few,¡± She said with a nod before glancing down at the massive serpent head that stared at her from below. She smiled at it, ¡°Hey Alex!¡± She laughed, ¡°You look good! Put on some weight?¡± She turned to look at Cass and met her eyes, her smile turned a bit more gentle, ¡°Thank you, for holding out for me.¡± She clenched her unblemished fist, her muscles tensing in her arm as power coursed through it. The blockages that she¡¯d felt through her meridians were gone, every cell in her body felt like it was soaring. She felt stronger than she¡¯d ever been in her entire life. Stronger than she¡¯d ever conceive of feeling. Around her, no one spoke, no one breathed. She looked back at Marc and exhaled, ¡°I¡¯d ask what you guys are doing here, but I just really appreciate it,¡± She said before nodding to him, ¡°Ready to clean up, hero?¡± He tilted his chin up a bit and met her gaze, his chest swelling a bit. ¡°You know what? I¡¯d be honored to help,¡± He said with a firm voice. She couldn¡¯t help it, she grinned a little at him. Now that¡¯s the right attitude, she thought as the dragon began to rouse from its shock. The beast beneath them writhed against the force that suppressed it and Crusader glanced at Alex, ¡°Go help the others,¡± She said with a nod, ¡°We¡¯ve got this.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll hold him down!¡± Another voice joined in from afar and the serpent whipped its head towards Greg, floating up the side of the temple before landing on the steps and making his way to the top. He casually gestured and the group of dire elves that had been ready to charge the top and attack Snow and Ollie were flung away, screaming as they fell to their deaths. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and turned around to stand stalwart in front of the opening to the temple. As if his pose was the firing of a starting gun, a roar rose up among the dire elves. The dragon thrashed and Alex dislodged from the beast while Marc and Lily hopped into the air, Cass doubling back several paces and readying her weapon. It staggered to its feet. It could stand but its movements were sluggish. Dazed by losing its wings and suppressed by Gregs powers. Cass shot the two a look before brandishing her hammer and charging with a shout. Alex slithered down the steps to join Val and John who had resumed their fight. Crusader could only smile as she took it all in, her power building, her internal energy cycling. Val was like a machine of destruction, he darted from place to place, his body spinning like a top at times. He weaved and bobbed, each punch coming out with the force of a rocket. He crushed armor, smashed defensive spells, ruined weapons, and laid waste to anything that got too close to him. He laughed the entire time, throwing out hoots and whoops as if he was having the time of his life. He launched into the sky, ¡°Faster!¡± She heard him shout, ¡°Faster! Faster! Faster!¡± The air began to bubble around his body as he whipped back around and launched straight for the ground. He let out a roar of triumph as he picked up speed in a matter of seconds. She felt his heart thundering in his chest even from so far away. Her breath caught as he hit the ground and broke the sound barrier at the same time, flashing every rocket in his body to stop himself. A shockwave that ripped out of the point of impact sent a mass of dire elves hurtling through the air. He staggered and fell forward for a moment but caught himself, throwing his fists into the air. He threw his head back and let out a whoop, ¡°I¡¯m a fuckin¡¯ superhero!¡± John twirled the knives between his fingers and moved with a steady rhythm, his body swaying and dipping. Those stiff and jerky movements that he had always used began to melt away as he darted between blades, arrows, and spells. He pivoted and twisted, his body moving at strange and impossible angles. She felt his heart thundering in his chest even as she heard something else, something she¡¯d never heard from him before. A low humming and the occasional chuckle. He swayed and danced and if she didn¡¯t know better she could have sworn she was watching Sonya fight. He dodged a sword that screamed through the air in his direction as a large dire elf darted towards him. His movements went faster and faster as he engaged in his dance. He threw himself into a backflip before landing on another blade that lashed out at him from behind. He... grinned? His foot snapped out with a kick and caught one dire elf in the head as he threw a knife at its throat. It fell and he hopped atop it, pulling the knife out and rolling before stepping left and right with a casual grace, dodging another pair of swings. Ewen glanced past him towards the man in armor that had come out near the end. Someone new, I need to tell Liberty. ¡°Sir Ewen,¡± Axel grunted and he looked back up at the man as a cold eyed Bedrock approached and stood at his side. Bedrock¡¯s muscles flexed beneath his shirt and several blocks of stone shot up to hold Ewen where he knelt. ¡°You are under arrest,¡± He said as Madame Rouge started a new song. ¨C Ellis tried to get some space, teleporting again through the sound waves. He reappeared a few meters away only for a falcon to screech past him. The birds were even faster now, something was pumping them up. Their eyes all glowed with a golden light as a shriek of some massive bird of prey carried through each of them. One flew past him after another, crashing into him. He waved his hands and tried to bring them together in a clap, one landed at his feet and he whipped his head down to see the chain of his ankle chime get torn. ¡°No!¡± He gasped and snapped his arm down just as something hard struck him in the back of the head. He stumbled forward and sagged, the hook of Crowley¡¯s cane pulling his leg out from beneath him. He rolled onto his back and opened his mouth to shriek at the man only for Crowley to burst into a cloud of birds and avoid it. His eyes whipped around, Where¡¯d he go? He looked back down at his ankle and then tried to find his chime. My chimes, I need my chimes! He panicked, scrambling until a powerful hand grabbed him by the shoulders. He was wrenched to his feet as a drum solo played. He looked up into a pair of burning avian eyes that belonged to a very angry Crowley. There were tears in the hero¡¯s eyes. His lips thinned, ¡°Well shit,¡± he cursed as Crowley pulled him close. Where the hell is that asshole Halloway? He glanced past Crowley to a prone figure on the ground and couldn¡¯t help but smirk at the irate man. ¡°Guess your bugs can¡¯t heal the dead-¡± He was cut off as Crowley''s cane drove into his gut and he was thrown to the ground again. It didn¡¯t take long for the avian wielding hero to secure him after that, delivering a crippling blow to his throat. Without his voice and his chimes, he was helpless. More birds darted past, charging into the scattering ranks of the cultists. Amidst the people who were supposed to be their attack force, Black Lotus moved like a wraith in the night. She danced and spun and flipped, glints of silver flickering through the air as each blow landed to incapacitate and disable. She landed in front of a small group and threw her hand forward, the force from the movement enough to send them all bowling over. She drew her weapon back, her blade aligning with her face as her eyes glowed. The scent of blossoms filling the air as she began to spin. The wind picked up, and pink petals exploded into a storm that washed over the cultists in a wave. They fell in droves as she spun like a hurricane, dust and grass and dirt coiling around her. Lightning flashed overhead as she built up speed. She was like a force of nature, roaring through the ranks with nothing to stop her and not an ounce of reservation in her steps. Kant watched all this from afar, on her knees, her hands at her sides. Three of the dolls stood around her, their weapons at the ready in case she so much as blinked. She chewed her lip and one of the blades pointed at her shifted. A few meters away, the man in armor held out his hands as more insects floated out from beneath his armor plates. They swarmed out, one even landing on her knee. It was made of metal and it was the stinger that glowed with that eerie green light. She wrinkled her nose at it. They¡¯re even getting ready to heal us, She thought bitterly. She looked up at the horizon, the color was starting to change. Damn it, Liberty would have come if things had gotten this bad, but she wasn¡¯t there. She hadn¡¯t come. ¡°We lost,¡± Was all she could say as the ground shook just ahead of her and something made of smooth stone began to rise out of it. ¨C Halloway dragged himself across the ground. He had to get back, he had to get back to Liberty. He had to warn her, he had to deliver the information he¡¯d acquired. He still wasn¡¯t sure where the thumb drive had come from, but it was far less of a concern now. Every bone in his body ached, he barely had enough concentration to use a simple rift let alone suppress teleportation. What is that woman even doing here? I thought she was away! That¡¯s what all our intelligence said, my spies! Idiots! He thought angrily, his ribs creaking. He leaned against a tree and let out a shuddering breath. He grinned to himself, ¡°At least I chased her off, after she got a swing in. I¡¯m lucky to be alive, though,¡± He murmured and glanced down at his fingers. A bit of his power was coming back after expending it in the initial tussle. ¡°She grew her head back, it was so fast,¡± He rumbled. First that Gravitic boy blocking my powers and now Handmaiden is practically unkillable. Why do I keep running into people who are functionally immune to me? He felt his body go slack for a moment and he lowered himself to his knees, catching his breath. He grit his teeth and concentrated, feeling for Liberty¡¯s presence. She wasn¡¯t far. Just a few miles, he could manage that. He focused on his powers and ripped the largest rift he could open and fell through. He landed amongst trees as the ground shook beneath him. He whipped his head up, adrenaline giving him the strength he needed. He staggered forward only to see two figures clash in the distance. He was too late. Liberty had been intercepted. There¡¯d be no help for the others. Something was wrong, though. That wasn¡¯t Handmaiden. ¡°Cassiopeia?¡± Chapter 159 Chapter 159 Sonya crossed her legs and got comfortable. Her eyes swept over the gathered aspirants. There were almost a quarter of them missing and she wasn¡¯t going to get a headcount until they all returned. In particular, her favorites were all gone, including him. She narrowed her eyes a little, Marta had told her that Lillian and the scouts were in the dungeon when everything had gotten started and Amos had seen the Nashville crew race towards the dungeon through his cameras. She still wasn¡¯t sure what Otis had done to the dungeon. Cass was convinced he¡¯d done something, but it was all she could do to hope they¡¯d be okay. She closed her eyes and opened an Astral Eye over the battlefield outside, observing from a well hidden spot. Things were drawing to a conclusion it seemed. Euclidia¡¯s archway had risen in the center of the courtyard, heroes pouring out. She paused for a moment to watch Chunhua step away from yet another cultist who collapsed beneath her overwhelming might. Chunhua turned her head and looked up, meeting her ethereal gaze. Her lips twitched, You¡¯re getting stronger and stronger aren¡¯t you? I¡¯m glad. Finally out of your rut. Chunhua nodded to her before turning back to her work. Sonya set her hands in her lap and turned her attention to the dungeon, the swirling light of the portal bubbling and rippling as Lillian stepped out, sword strapped on her shoulder and an injured aspirant cradled in her arms. Yet another streak in her hair. You fought hard in there, didn¡¯t you? You endured pain and threw your life down to protect someone else. You survived. I¡¯m proud of you, She thought as the others stepped out, talking and laughing. Everyone accounted for. Otis stepped out as well, his appearance flickering through her sight. And it looks like you¡¯ve started using that ability of yours with a bit more nuance, bastard. Couldn¡¯t be so lucky that you¡¯d die in there, but I suppose I should be happy you went in, even if it¡¯s for the wrong reasons. You helped and now I have to pay that debt, she thought before a ghost of a smile widened on her face. Good. I¡¯ll use it as a chance to keep you on a leash until I figure out how to kill you. Keep your enemies close, right? Her sight moved again and she followed her sense of where Marta was. Her smile turned into a grin as her eye opened on the side of a tree and she took in the sight. Should I let it play out a bit longer? Liberty slid across the ground several feet, her sword raised and tilted as the massive hammer swung by the disguised Marta crashed into it. Marta followed through with a grunt, pushing the weapon¡¯s swing into a full arc that attempted to knock Liberty into the sky. The future herald snarled and pushed back, her body glowing with coppery light and Marta was forced back, her weapon moving in the opposite direction as Liberty swung again, aiming for her throat. Marta whipped her body backwards in a backflip, hopping off the ground twice before landing and readying herself. Liberty was the first to move this time, kicking off the ground and hurtling like a meteor towards Marta as her blade glowed brightly. Glowing? Sonya sat up a bit in her seat, ignoring the looks a few of the aspirants gave her. Her senses picked up on every movement around her even as her eyes were shut. She pressed her lips together. I know that sword. She resisted every instinct to break into a manic grin, I found you! I found you Craftsman! Looks like you¡¯re playing house with Liberty! Two for the price of one? I¡¯ll take it! She thought as Liberty collided with Marta with a howl of fury. A thunderclap sounded that Sonya could even hear from where she sat. The aspirants sat up in surprise. Marta was thrown into the sky, white streaks whipping off of her body as her power continued to build with the length of the fight. Liberty said something but Marta didn¡¯t react. Hm? Liberty tilted her head and then narrowed her eyes, pointing her weapon at Marta and shouting something else. She looked angry, furious even. She lowered her weapon as Marta landed on the ground and Sonya watched as Marta¡¯s arm, which had been broken by the exchange, set itself. Liberty turned her attention towards the trees where Sonya¡¯s eye lurked and she said something else. Sonya¡¯s eyes narrowed, She figured it out, it looks like. Oh well. Time¡¯s up. You lose this time, Liberty. She used technopathy to access her earpiece and sent a voice message to Marta. <¡°Marta dear, looks like she figured it out. Deliver a message for me...¡±> ¨C The thunderclap shook the earth, the ground trembling beneath Liberty¡¯s feet as she launched her sister into the sky. Something felt off though, Is Cassiopeia really this strong? Still not a match for me, but... She thought as the woman hurtled into the air, higher and higher. She followed the arc of her sister¡¯s flight and narrowed her eyes. ¡°Bonnie!¡± She shouted at the girl. There was a pause and then... no reaction. Liberty¡¯s lips formed a thin line as rage bubbled in her gut. She bore her teeth at the person masquerading as her sister. No reaction to the name of her beloved childhood stuffed toy? The one I tore to pieces to send a message? No, this isn¡¯t my sister. ¡°Who are you?¡± She demanded, pointing her sword at the person. ¡°Why are you wearing my sister¡¯s face?¡± The person landed and Liberty watched as the woman¡¯s arm, which seemed to have been broken, set of its own accord. She scowled and turned her gaze towards the woods. A regenerator disguised as my sister, sent to block my progress. Underhanded, mischievous, and reeks of one particular person who played similar games during Vegas according to my intelligence. A faint pink light glowed in the trees that she couldn¡¯t get a fix on and her lips set thinner. I knew it. Her eyes cast down towards a figure sitting in the trees, beaten to hell from the looks of it. Halloway. If you¡¯re here- She scoffed and turned her gaze back towards the person wearing her sister¡¯s face. ¡°Are you Ishtar?¡± She demanded, ¡°Interfering on behalf of the heroes? Seems beneath you.¡± The false Cassiopeia flipped her hair and lowered her hammer, she tilted her head as if she was listening to something before smiling. ¡°My mistress has a message for you,¡± The fake said, ¡°You lose this round, Liberty. I¡¯m coming for you. You wanted a war? You have one.¡± Liberty bore her teeth with a snarl, ¡°Just a henchman then,¡± She bit out before smiling. ¡°A war it is, then,¡± She said and stood up straight before pulling a needle from her pocket and snapping her arm out, whipping it towards Halloway¡¯s chest. It dug into his flesh and he let out a cry of pain before his body began to heal. The fake turned in surprise towards the spot as Liberty barked out a laugh, ¡°The heroes won¡¯t take my best people so easily,¡± She said and raised her head, ¡°Halloway! Gather the round table, I would have words with them back home.¡± Several rifts opened in the air around Liberty. Kant and Ellis fell through. Their bodies were bloodied and beaten from the vicious fighting. No Ewen? They must have grabbed him before he fell through, no matter. He failed. Halloway appeared next to her, blood dripping from his nose as he staggered a little. She grabbed him by the back of the neck as the fake readied her hammer. ¡°We¡¯re leaving,¡± Liberty snarled and pushed power into Halloway. He grunted and seized for a moment before a silvery multicolored line stretched out beneath her and the others. She tilted her head towards the fake, ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to our battle, Ishtar and... I¡¯m guessing you¡¯re Companion.¡± The fake didn¡¯t react, but it did lower its weapon and glare back at her. ¡°Good to know you¡¯re a shapeshifter as well, I¡¯ll keep that in mind,¡± She said as the rift yawned open and she fell through with her battered lieutenants. ¨C Marta watched them go, her arms shaking. She let out a shaky breath. Sonya had warned her that Liberty was strong, but she was absolutely monstrous. She took her hit like it was nothing, even swinging her hammer with all of her strength. What¡¯s more, Marta¡¯s arm broke from the impact, not the other way around! She looked down at her wrist and flexed her fingers. If that turned into a protracted fight, I would have been turned into paste. I¡¯d have come back, but... Her thoughts trailed off as she reached for her earpiece. ¡°Some of them got away,¡± She said. <¡±It¡¯s fine, we have one at least, thanks to Chunhua. The Committee will lock him up, but I¡¯ll pull some strings for an interview. I want his power regardless,¡±> Sonya said to her. <¡±Come on back and well done. She¡¯s not an easy opponent.¡±> ¡°That¡¯s putting it mildly, she¡¯s stronger than I estimated,¡± Marta said as she turned away. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest, I went all in on that last swing, not trying to emulate Cass.¡± There was a long pause, <¡±So she has more followers than I expected, understood. That doesn¡¯t change much. This war won¡¯t come to blows for a while yet, we have time. Propaganda will sap some of her strength.¡±> ¡°So we¡¯re following through with the original plan?¡± Marta asked. <¡±With some minor alterations, yes,¡±> Sonya said, <¡±Kingshark is ready. Blackrazor is pulling his people out of her camps for now and purging traitors. I¡¯m also sending Mephisto to South America. The young heroes will be ready and I have some apparent worshippers to meet and see if I can¡¯t leverage in Japan. We have a lot to do before the final confrontation and I want to make you stronger, dear. Just in case.¡±> Marta clenched her fist, it trembled again, an aftershock of the impact. ¡°Yes, mistress. I¡¯m looking forward to it.¡± ¨C Sonya strode down into the depths of her beach house. Her arms crossed behind her back. Her eyes glowed in the dark, the faint ticking louder than ever in her head. She hadn¡¯t heard it in a while. She strode past one of the glass cases containing a decorative knife and looked back at Ishtar who nodded to her. She set her jaw. I need to do this myself. She¡¯s right. I can¡¯t keep hiding behind her. In the end, this is on me. She thought as she walked into her office. Her mind reached out and the screens came on in the dark. She didn¡¯t need lights, after all. She stood in the middle of the room and took a steadying breath. Liberty landed on her feet as the others collapsed onto the cold floor beneath them. She paid them no mind for the first few moments, her eyes fixed on the wall ahead of her, her thoughts roiling. The room was dark, only faint lights providing minimal illumination to allow someone to navigate if they needed to. She felt him approaching before he even stepped through the door, the cropped brown hair shimmering a bit in the light that framed his body. Orange eyes glowed brightly as he stepped inside with nonchalant grace. ¡°Craftsman,¡± She bit out. ¡°Looks like things went about as well as I expected,¡± He said, ¡°They should have taken the tools I made for them.¡± She snorted and glanced down at the sword on her hip, ¡°I¡¯m inclined to agree,¡± She said sourly, ¡°Your toy is powerful, it withstood quite a hit, it seems like you¡¯re the only person working for me in this room with a mind,¡± she added, her voice dripping with venom. Ellis, who as shifting to his feet, glanced at Kant and scowled. He said nothing and she noticed the injury on his neck. They silenced him, amusing, she thought before looking to Dame Kant who was sitting on her knees, a mixture of shell-shock, grief, and rage warring on her face. She drew Black Lotus out, then, too early. She failed. It will take time to piece her ego back together. Now is not the time for that though. She reached down and grabbed the woman by the shirt and pulled her to her feet, looking her in the eyes, ¡°Did you enjoy your duel?¡± She demanded. Kant¡¯s eyes seemed to waver for a moment before they fixed on Liberty. Distant. ¡°M-my lad-¡± Liberty snarled and pulled her close, ¡°You are fortunate I did not cast you aside like Ewen,¡± She growled in a low voice. ¡°All that planning, wasted, to soothe your precious ego. If you weren¡¯t useful to me still, I would kill you now,¡± She rumbled and the room shook. The faint coppery light that glowed in Kant¡¯s eyes began to fade and her body seemed to wither a little under her touch. Kant¡¯s eyes went wide and she struggled for a moment. ¡°P-Please! Don¡¯t-¡± ¡°You will earn your place all over again,¡± Liberty hissed, ¡°Struggle well, Kant,¡± She dropped Kant to her knees and the swordswoman groveled. ¡°Please!¡± She begged and sat up, whipping her head towards Halloway and opening her mouth. Liberty kicked her in the chest and sent her careening to the far wall. She struck it, hard, and lost consciousness. ¡°Lip service,¡± She spat before finally turning to Halloway. ¡°You.¡± Halloway seemed to fight down his terror as he looked up at her, ¡°It was-¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear your excuses!¡± She snarled, ¡°I trusted you with this operation! I gave you more than enough power and put you in a position to succeed! It was your responsibility to keep Kant reigned in, even if she is your peer!¡± She bellowed and grabbed him by the throat, ¡°Give me a good reason not to crush your throat now and save myself the trouble of enduring your pathetic groveling!¡± He wheezed and coughed, but didn¡¯t struggle with his body as she held him aloft. ¡°You¡¯re hard on them,¡± Craftsman commented at her side. ¡°It¡¯s necessary,¡± she said cooly, ¡°Well? Do you have anything to show for this failure?¡± she demanded. Halloway reached into his pocket, his face going red, then purple, he pulled a small object out and held it out. She snatched it from his fingers and examined it before letting him go. He coughed painfully on the ground as she turned it over in her hand. ¡°A drive?¡± She held it out to Craftsman who shrugged and took it from her. He pulled a thin rod looking device out of his own pocket and pulled on it, stretching out what looked like a screen made of fabric. He slid the drive into a slot on the side and began to read after tapping the fabric screen a few times. ¡°That¡¯s all you have?¡± She asked. ¡°The aspirants are far more powerful than we suspected, well trained,¡± He gasped as he pushed himself up, ¡°A boy named Gravitic had abilities that countered mine and enough skill to hold his own.¡± ¡°A boy?¡± Liberty asked, frowning in thought, ¡°So she could get such training as well, I see. So many camps manufacturing heroes just like that.¡± ¡°Liberty,¡± Craftsman said and held the screen out to her. She turned and frowned at him before looking down at the screen. Her eyes sweeping over the text slowly. At first her face contorted with rage before it began to relax as she read more and more of it. She took the scroll-like object from Craftsman and kept reading, pacing back and forth for several minutes before she finally handed it back over to him. Her gut was doing backflips. Who is this person? They somehow manipulated Halloway into delivering this to me. It¡¯s... magnificent. She rubbed her chin and glanced at Halloway. He has no idea. Even so. He was loyal enough to bring it to me without hesitation. ¡°I will stay your punishment, Halloway. You brought me something good,¡± She said with a cold smile before turning to Ellis. ¡°You will oversee Kant¡¯s training and recovery until she is worthy of rejoining the Round Table ranks, Ellis. Do this and I will forgive you as well. I¡¯m suddenly feeling very generous.¡± Ellis dropped to the ground and pressed his head to the floor. ¡°-ank -ou,¡± He wheezed. ¡°May I ask what was on the device, ma¡¯am?¡± Halloway asked. She turned to him and rest her hand on the pommel of her sword, ¡°A new strategy, and a new standard to adhere to,¡± She said, ¡°My path to glory.¡± BROKER SEASON 2 PART 1: FOG OF WAR END Broker: Standard of Glory Trailer Broker: Standard of Glory Trailer Even with her mind at risk, Sonya still has cards to play, including a sleeping titan just waiting to be unleashed. But while Sonya rises to the occasion, the self-styled monarch Liberty has shifted her own paradigm with inspiration from a certain document. She is on the path to glory, and she won¡¯t let anyone stand in her way. The cold war has begun and the flames are one wrong move away from catching. Chapter 160 Chapter 160 PROLOGUE In the depths there was nothing but darkness, shadow had become all-encompassing. A thick inky veil that concealed everything from sight, save his own. There was a scream, a shout, a gunshot, then a roar. The horrible sound rippled through his bones as he ducked beneath a limb that swung through the dark, a pair of glowing red eyes somewhere just past it. He felt his knees buckle as the sheer force of the blow rocked through him even though it missed. A flash of green light sailed over his head, the scent of burned flesh accompanying an inhuman scream of agony. Something caught him in the chest and he was sent careening backwards, hitting metal bars. His vision flickered as pain shot down his spine and sent his head spinning. More flashes of green light filled the open room, more screams, more shouts of terror. His chest rose and fell as his eyes opened up again and he let that gold overlay wash over the world. For a moment he could see, for a moment, he felt his guts churn. He coughed as he staggered to his feet only for a hand to wrap around his ankle. He started, spinning around to see a shape in the darkness. A pair of youthful eyes looked up at him as another monstrous roar cut into his ears and shook his soul. His heart raced and he tried to pull his foot away, ¡°I can¡¯t help you if you don¡¯t let go,¡± He grunted. The youth shook their head, their broken eyes filled with resignation. He looked past them and saw what he should have seen before. Their legs were... gone, everything past their waist. A strange red light licked against their body, the only thing keeping them functionally alive. He didn¡¯t need his eyes to tell him that once the demons were gone, this kid would die. He felt a lump form in his throat, his fingers shaking as the kid pointed behind themselves, a small amount of light brightening the hopelessness in their gaze. He followed the direction they were indicating and saw a shape leaning against the back wall, another young person, this one a bit older. Maybe even an adult. ¡°Him, hurry, brother,¡± The kid murmured as another flash of green light ripped through the room. ¡°You gonna help or what?!¡± Addison shouted over the din, ¡°There¡¯s a lot of these fuckers, Martin!¡± Martin whipped his head towards the lock on the cage and he hurried over to it. Instinct screaming at him to listen to the kid. He pointed his gun at the lock and fired, blowing it off and wrenching the door open. He raced inside, not thinking about whatever the slick, thick, wet sludge at his feet was composed of. His sense of smell was already burned away from mere moments of being in this horrible place. He slid to a stop and knelt next to the young man. He couldn¡¯t switch to his other sight, to see the truth about the boy, in the dark. He could only trust his gut, ¡°Hey, you awake? How can I help?¡± He asked quickly.No?v(el)B\\jnn A pair of dark eyes met his and a low rattling growl escaped the young man¡¯s throat. He coughed and glanced over at the kid on the ground before looking up at him. Martin couldn¡¯t make out much of the boy¡¯s features with the golden overlay, but he could see enough. More importantly, he could see the thick collar wrapped around his throat and chains binding his arms to the wall over his head. ¡°Collar,¡± The boy rasped, ¡°I¡¯ll help. I can hurt them.¡± Martin touched the material, it wasn¡¯t a power restraining device. It felt smooth and heavy but it wasn¡¯t iron either. Lead? He wasn¡¯t sure and it didn¡¯t matter. He turned his attention to the lock on the collar and drew his pistol again. ¡°Sorry about your ears,¡± He grunted quickly and the young man just nodded, tilting his head up a bit and craning his chin away. Another noisy bang sounded and the lock was wrenched off the collar. He quickly pulled the collar off and was surprised at just how damn heavy it was. He tossed it to the side with a grunt and took a few steps back as a new scent ripped through his nose blindness. Sulfur. ¡°Martin!¡± Addison shouted as more flashes of green illuminated the space. Martin didn¡¯t move, he could only watch as the young man¡¯s body began to change. He took a low, deep breath through his nose and another low growl escaped him. He slowly rose to his feet and with a single jerk of his arms ripped the chains from the wall. He looked down at them as the skin on his hands turned black before spreading up his arms. His hair began to change color, turning to a nearly maroon color that glowed in the dark. Flames began to rise from his shoulder as he opened his mouth to reveal rows of razor sharp teeth. He whipped his arms again and wrapped the chains around them, his smaller body growing in size to that of a bodybuilder in a matter of seconds. Martin took a step back as the young man started to walk forward and through the bars of the cage, the metal turning into liquid against his skin. He threw his head back, ¡°LUCIAN!¡± He bellowed and turned, kicking off the ground with all his might. The floor beneath Martin shook a little under the force of it as the boy-turned-monster tackled the nearest demon. Each of the horrible beasts looked different, so it was impossible to attribute any sort of generality to them. The one that the young man tackled looked somewhere between a crab and a horse, the disturbing thing¡¯s massive arms were ripped off in an instant and a claw shoved through its large lower body before the bestial young man charged at the next. Martin stepped out of the cage as the amount of green flashes decreased slightly. He could see Addison hurrying over to him, glancing back over her shoulder at the massacre taking place. ¡°Who the hell is that?¡± He frowned solemnly before glancing down at the kid who looked like they¡¯d lost consciousness. ¡°His brother.¡± ¨C Before the memory could drag on any further, a loud buzzing began to draw him back to his senses. He sat up with a gasp, coughing as he threw himself out of his bed. He scrambled to the bathroom and was sick to his stomach for a while before he finally managed to pull himself together. Martin sat next to the toilet for a time, resting his head against the cool material as he tried to push the haunting images down in his mind. It took everything he had to take a shower and dress himself before he stumbled into the living room of the parisian apartment. ¡°Sick again?¡± Addison asked from the counter, her expression flat. ¡°Yeah,¡± He grunted and walked over as she poured him a cup of coffee. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his flask. Martin sipped at his drink one more time before glancing over his shoulder at Addison who was staring at the two of them. She let out a sigh before breaking into an easy smile, ¡°Alright Hellion, go take a shower and get dressed. Should be some clothes in your room for you. Hope they fit.¡± The boy blinked, ¡°Just like that?¡± Martin grunted and got to his feet, ¡°You¡¯re strong, kid, and you got a good reason to fight. Good enough for me,¡± He said and scratched the back of his head, not admitting that half of the reason he was even considering this was because Addison had worn him down over the past couple of weeks. He¡¯d sworn that he¡¯d collect like-minded people and almost immediately reneged when he¡¯d encountered Addison. Saying and doing had been two very different things, it¡¯d turned out. To be honest, though, it was good having someone to work with. Since then, they¡¯d found a few others who were worth teaming up with. It was a small group, but he felt like he had a ghost of a chance now. It¡¯s a start. It was not long after that he, Addison, and the newly minted Hellion arrived at a small cafe on the south side. There they were allowed into the basement where the others waited for them. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his coat as he lumbered down creaking stairs, the air in the place thick with cigarette smoke. The room itself was as comfortable as was necessary, four walls and a single circular table set in the middle with crates and stools around it to be used as seats. Two others sat in the room, one was an older man with a cold look in a pair of blue eyes hidden behind bushy white eyebrows. He leaned forward on a cane that seemed to leave a faint dent in the ground where he sat. The other was a brown haired woman in what appeared to be a torn up Pandora combat uniform. She wore a visor over her eyes despite the dim light and had scars across her neck and chin. She tilted her head to the right and openly looked Martin up and down. ¡°You look like shit, Mimir.¡± ¡°Say that when you get your face fixed,¡± He grunted back at her. She snorted and leaned back, ¡°New kid!¡± She said and then raised an eyebrow, ¡°The powerhouse from the charnel pit?¡± ¡°His name is Hellion,¡± Addison said, ¡°Show a care, Faux.¡± Faux gave a half-assed salute, ¡°Aye aye, Major.¡± ¡°Welcome, Hellion, I¡¯m Max,¡± The old man said and leaned forward on his cane, the ground creaking beneath him. ¡°I heard about what happened, shame.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make it right,¡± Hellion said with a faint tightness to his voice. He walked to one of the seats and sat down without invitation, Addison sitting next to him. ¡°One way or another,¡± He added with barely contained bloodlust. ¡°Definitely one of us,¡± Faux said with a chuckle before turning to Martin, ¡°Alright bossman, why are we here?¡± Martin pulled a lighter from his pocket and flicked it open, lighting a cigarette as he turned to a board behind him. ¡°Today we¡¯re going to talk about our plan, our targets, and our method to bring the Queen of Villains out of hiding so we can bring her down.¡± He pulled the cloth covering the board away, It all starts here. Chapter 161 Chapter 161 A petite woman with long white hair walked past the hedges, her hands at her side. She was as pale as a ghost with a pair of eerie mechanical eyes that whirred and spun in her head, glowing a brilliant hot pink. The blue sky shone overhead as the faint trickle of fountains filled the air. She was wearing a fitted thick turtleneck sweater, white, as usual, and a pair of thin white gloves. Her black pants glittered a bit in the sunlight as she stepped past a rosebush. She smiled at the camera, her mechanical eyes twinkling with a mixture of mirth and compassion. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Sonya Chernovna,¡± she said, ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve done one of these, hasn¡¯t it?¡± She chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s gotten a little wild out there. It can be scary at times. Even as things calm down in one way, another problem seems to just pop up,¡± she said with a shake of her head before tilting it with amusement, ¡°Honestly, doesn¡¯t seem that much different from before, when you put it that way.¡± The view shifted and she walked over a small bridge across a narrow stream that passed through the garden, ¡°Everyone¡¯s asking the same questions; ¡®What can I do to help?¡¯ ¡®How do I protect my family?¡¯ ¡®What¡¯s being done?¡¯¡± she recited as she ran her fingers over a rose, she stopped and turned to the camera again. ¡°Right now we are in an unprecedented era of conflict and change. The world is more than it was before, and we all need to do our part to make sure this era becomes one that can uplift humanity into something better.¡± She raised a hand to beckon someone towards her and six young people strode out from the sides. To her right, a blonde young man with piercing blue eyes and a sharp smile stepped out. He was accompanied by a muscular girl with streaked black hair and a brown haired young man with a thoughtful expression and violet eyes. On the bottom of the screen, words appeared. OTIS Most Promising Heroes, East Coast Training Camp CRUSADER Most Promising Heroes, East Coast Training Camp GRAVITIC Most Promising Heroes, East Coast Training Camp From the left, a young woman stepped out with off-white eyes that seemed to flicker now and then, her black hair held loose around her thin face. With her was a young man with steely gray hair and a toned body beneath a tight fitted black shirt. Finally, a dark haired boy with narrow eyes and a small smile teasing his lips stepped out as well, his gloved hands in his pockets. Their names appeared as well. CRANE Most Promising Heroes, West Coast Training Camp MAGNUS Most Promising Heroes, West Coast Training Camp SYPHON Most Promising Heroes, West Coast Training CampNo?v(el)B\\jnn Sonya gestured to the six of them on either side, ¡°These young people have stepped up, despite all the forces arrayed against them, and so can you.¡± Otis inclined his head, ¡°That¡¯s right, keep your eyes peeled and your ears open. The first step towards combating villainy is knowing. The Pandora Committee reporting center is always open,¡± he said, ¡°With your help we can fight villainy at its source and get help for those who are on the verge of doing something they may regret.¡± Crane flipped her hair back and put a hand on her hip, ¡°We¡¯re counting on you to help us. More and more people awaken powers every single day, and making sure that they know what they¡¯re dealing with is important. There are facilities in every major city that can provide education and assistance,¡± She said, ¡°Awakening can be scary, we¡¯ve all gone through it. Don¡¯t go through it alone.¡± Crusader crossed her arms over her chest, ¡°You always have the right to defend yourself and your family, whether you are light-touched or not. Whether it be a monster or a villain, remember these steps. Call for a hero or the police if you can. Prioritize your life and those around you and attempt to get away. If all else fails, fight back.¡± Magnus raised a clenched fist, ¡°Villainy festers where people look away,¡± he said firmly, ¡°Don¡¯t let it happen on your watch, you can be a hero too. The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing. We¡¯re all in this together.¡± Gravitic smiled, ¡°Help us help you and together we can make something incredible out of this new world we live in,¡± He said. Syphon straightened up and nodded, ¡°And don¡¯t forget, we¡¯re always recruiting. If you think you have what it takes to join us, go to your nearest Pandora Committee facility and sign up.¡± The six young heroes spoke up as one, ¡°We¡¯re waiting for you.¡± She tilted her head to the left, ¡°What on earth are you thanking me for?¡± She asked, ¡°You stepped up during the raid,¡± She said, Even though I know the only reason you did was to force my hand you little shit, ¡°I hold mythics I sign with ASTA to a higher standard,¡± She said, ¡°You met it,¡± She paused and tilted her head, ¡°Are you sure about your codename though?¡± He blinked and pursed his lips, mulling the thought over for a moment, ¡°I like Otis. I know it has nothing to do with Gilgamesh but...¡± He trailed off and shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m a fan of the classics.¡± She examined his face for a moment before letting out a sigh, ¡°Very well, enjoy your evening, Mister Mallory. I have high expectations for you in the future.¡± He grinned at her and nodded, ¡°I won¡¯t disappoint you,¡± He said and walked away. Sonya watched him go and rested her hands on her hips. She glanced at Marta whose face betrayed nothing. The two of them waited for the walking apocalypse to slink back into the common building before she finally spoke, the portal arch sliding back down into the ground. She raised a hand and the air seemed to ripple for a moment, an illusion of silence wrapping around them and obscuring their words, ¡°Fucking bastard,¡± She grumbled as she ran her fingers through her hair, ¡°Updates?¡± She asked quietly. ¡°Colin¡¯s made contact,¡± Marta said, ¡°Kera is with him just in case our quarry does something drastic,¡± She smirked a little and Sonya gave her an approving wink, ¡°He¡¯ll send you a message as soon as they have a response,¡± she continued before gesturing to the area around them, ¡°Everything for the ceremony is going according to schedule.¡± Sonya¡¯s lips pressed together, ¡°I want a host of professors posted at the ceremony,¡± She said cooly, ¡°If a single hint of that woman¡¯s ilk comes anywhere near it...¡± She trailed off and pushed down her bloodthirst. Marta inclined her head, ¡°It¡¯ll be done,¡± She said before straightening, ¡°Barry is done with the preparations, he¡¯ll be ready when the time comes, you have your army.¡± Sonya checked her nails and looked back at the building for a heartbeat, ¡°Good,¡± She said and turned fully to Marta, ¡°Has she made any further moves?¡± ¡°Not yet, though we have observed her using new routes to supply her people,¡± Marta said. Sonya snorted, ¡°I¡¯m surprised she hasn¡¯t retaliated with more force, though. Is she angling for a cold war?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Marta said thoughtfully, ¡°Ever since the raid she has been remarkably quiet,¡± she continued, ¡°It¡¯s like she¡¯s turned all of her focus inward towards her cult rather than putting much effort into recruiting and strengthening herself.¡± ¡°Strange,¡± Sonya said, ¡°If we weren¡¯t having such a problem with sending spies her way I¡¯d love to know what she was up to. Have Beyol keep an eye on it.¡± ¡°Of course, Ma¡¯am,¡± Marta said with a bow before straightening up, ¡°You¡¯ve been more engaged lately, It¡¯s good to see.¡± Sonya grinned at her and crossed her arms behind her back, ¡°Ishtar told me to take on a villain mindset and I figure this is part of it. We¡¯re done with the camp so it¡¯s on to the next step after all.¡± She said before starting to walk towards the common building. ¡°You still haven¡¯t figured it out? What she meant?¡± Marta asked next to her. Sonya frowned, ¡°Yeah, something¡¯s missing but I just don¡¯t understand what she¡¯s expecting,¡± She said with a sigh, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. She¡¯s me, I¡¯ll figure it out. It feels like it¡¯s on the tip of my tongue, though, which is frustrating.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll manage,¡± Marta agreed. ¡°I always do,¡± She said with a breath and glanced up to see Black Lotus standing on the balcony, looking down at her. She smiled to herself, ¡°That commercial is the first shot fired against Liberty, what comes next is going to be amusing,¡± She said and dismissed the illusion wrapped around her. Two more figures stepped out to stand on either side of Black Lotus, a brown haired woman in a blue set of robes and a red haired woman in a brown cardigan. She beamed up at them, Yes, I have just about everything I need. ¡°Ladies!¡± She called, ¡°Looking forward to the party?¡± Chapter 162 Chapter 162 Sonya came to a stop just beneath the balcony and peered up, smiling as her eyes shifted in her head, adjusting to the sunlight beating down on her face. The wind picked up a little around her and her hair fluttered. She cracked a grin as the woman in the brown cardigan planted her hands on the rail and with a single movement, hefted herself off the side with a ¡®hup!¡¯. Black Lotus and the woman in the blue robes both turned to her in exasperation and reached out but were, ultimately, too late. The wind picked up again and the air around Sonya dried up almost instantly, the humidity fading to nothing as tiny blocks of snowy ice formed in the air. She hopped down them one at a time before landing with delicate grace and looking up at Sonya with an almost blinding smile. ¡°Guildmaster Evergreen, reporting!¡± She chirped, bringing her hand up in a casual salute. Sonya beamed at her, ¡°Brigid! It¡¯s so good to see you, hun! How are you? How¡¯s Seattle?¡± She laughed and stepped forward, scooping the slightly taller woman into a hug which was returned enthusiastically. She took a step back and looked her over. Brigid had fire-engine red hair worn long into two absolutely massive braided ponytails. If one looked carefully, they could see several streaks of white going through it. Her eyes were milky white, reminding Sonya a bit of Charon¡¯s eyes. ¡°Fantastic actually, snatched up a few pretty amazing recruits from my camp,¡± She said and waggled her eyebrows, ¡°Gonna give the scamps around here a run for their money.¡± ¡°Yes, I met Crane and Magnus,¡± Sonya laughed. ¡°We¡¯ll see how they do,¡± Another voice chimed in and Sonya glanced up to see the woman in blue robes descending on a platform of blue light. She had her hands crossed behind her back and was giving Evergreen a steady look with one perfectly trimmed raised eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯ve heard some impressive things about the recruits for this camp as well.¡± ¡°Bluestar,¡± Sonya said merrily, ¡°You¡¯re looking fabulous.¡± Bluestar tilted her head in a polite gesture and smiled back, ¡°It¡¯s good to see you, ma¡¯am, it¡¯s been too long since you visited headquarters.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be back in the thick of it after the ceremony. I wanted to make sure everything went off without a hitch, you know?¡± Sonya said with a shrug just as the third personage on the balcony jumped down without any assistance from her abilities. Black Lotus stood up tall, towering over the other women present, her long black hair fluttering around those deep black eyes that alway seemed to take Sonya¡¯s breath away. Bluestar glanced over at Black Lotus, ¡°I¡¯m also happy that we¡¯ll be getting Black Lotus back, she is our ace after all.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let your dear Bandit hear you say that,¡± Black Lotus said with a smirk in her direction. Bluestar pursed her lips and gave Black Lotus a terse look, ¡°He¡¯s looking forward to the competition. None of the others can keep up with him,¡± She said defensively. Bridgid barked out a laugh, ¡°You two are so cute together!¡± She laughed, ¡°A lady and her noble archer,¡± She said wistfully, holding a hand up to her cheek and swaying left and right. She made a lazy gesture and ice gathered in front of her hand, taking the shape of a woman in a gown dancing with a man with a quiver on his back. It quickly exploded in a blue flash. Brigid whipped her head towards Bluestar, ¡°Hey!¡± Bluestar looked away with a huff, her face a bit red, ¡°Enough out of you.¡± Sonya burst into laughter, ¡°Ah it¡¯s so good to see you all again,¡± She said, holding her sides, ¡°It¡¯s a shame that Amos had to head back to headquarters but they can¡¯t be without him forever.¡± ¡°How¡¯s the new place coming?¡± Bluestar asked. ¡°About done, just handling the interiors now. Maybe another week?¡± Sonya said with a shrug and put her hands on her hips, ¡°Now, on to business if you three don¡¯t mind!¡± She said as Marta fell into her usual spot behind Sonya, hands on her lap and eyes closed as a patient maid. ¡°Tomorrow we¡¯ll have a lot of guests! The graduates from the West Coast camp are going to be joining us here in Green Bank for the ceremony. All three of you are in charge of security and making sure everyone is comfortable,¡± She said, ¡°I¡¯ll have some of my own security present as well but not nearly as much force as you all can provide,¡± Her eyes narrowed, ¡°I do not want any trouble during this event.¡± All three heroes straightened and nodded, ¡°Yes ma¡¯am!¡± They said. ¡°Good!¡± Sonya said quickly, ¡°The families of the graduates are VIPs as far as I¡¯m concerned, let''s make sure they feel like it.¡± ¡°Speaking of the graduates,¡± Bluestar said, ¡°I¡¯d like a word with one of them.¡± Sonya nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll make sure John gets to you as soon as possible, he¡¯s been eagerly awaiting a chance to talk to you as well.¡± Evergreen cracked a grin, ¡°I want a look at the top three here,¡± She said and reached up to flick a strand of hair from her face, ¡°Maybe get a taste of what they¡¯re made of that impressed you so much?¡± Mephisto rubbed the bridge of his nose, this was going to be a long mission. ¨C The steaming tart was set down on the table beneath the cafe, the waitress smiling at the small group before quickly making her way out of the room. Hellion shifted in his seat a bit, looking down at it as he looked up at the others. They were merrily digging into their respective meals and sipping at coffee as if it weren¡¯t the strangest thing in the world. He couldn¡¯t understand it, they were just talking about what amounted to assassinating heroes and vigilante behavior but no one seemed to pay them any mind. He rubbed the back of his neck, not that he minded, he was happy about it, he just didn¡¯t understand. He looked to Mimir who was staring at him with those eerie golden eyes of his, ¡°There are a lot of people that agree with what we¡¯re doing, Hellion,¡± Mimir said patiently and sipped at his coffee, ¡°Not everyone likes how the Pandora Committee is handling things, it''s not a lot of people, but it¡¯s enough that we have people to rely on.¡± ¡°With Mimir¡¯s eyes we know who we can and can¡¯t trust too,¡± Faux said with a wave of her fork, ¡°So no worries kid, take it easy and enjoy.¡± Hellion cleared his throat and nodded, cutting a piece and popping it into his mouth. It was delicious. It felt like hadn¡¯t had a proper meal in weeks which, in truth, he hadn¡¯t. He hadn¡¯t come out of his room for nearly a month it felt like and he was honestly surprised he was alive. He remembered eating meals he found at the foot of his door on occasion now that he thought about it a little but it was all such a blur. He scooped another piece into his mouth and chewed slowly before looking at the board. There were eight names on it, some pictures attached to them, some without. One of them had a big red x over it. That¡¯s An Set, he was the guy who attacked Las Vegas, right? He turned to the next one, And that¡¯s Liberty, I¡¯ve heard of her. She¡¯s that crazy lady that attacked The Hague or something, right? He wiped his lips on his shirt and pointed at the board as he checked the other names, ¡°Aren¡¯t these people heroes and who¡¯s this Otis guy?¡± The others looked at one another and then looked at Mimir who was slowly sipping at his coffee. He looked up over the rim at Hellion for a heartbeat before setting it down. Next to him, Faux leaned forward and rest her elbow on the table, her chin in her palm. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s about time we hear this grand plan of yours, right?¡± She said with a smirk, ¡°What do they have to do with the Queen of Villains?¡± Mimir set his mug down and let out a breath, ¡°Major? Can you start us off?¡± He asked. They all looked with surprise at the red-haired woman who was busy chewing on a sandwich. She frowned at him before nodding, ¡°Okay, so before we start we need to get something out of the way, something pretty important so we all understand how much of a challenge this is going to be, even in the planning phase,¡± She said, ¡°Mimir has met Ishtar and has seen her face beneath the mask, he knows exactly who she is.¡± Everyone went deadly quiet. Hellion put down his fork as he felt a chill run up his spine. He knew he was powerful, he was strong, the testers from the Pandora Committee had said he was a rare Mythic-tier light-touched. Yet from what he heard, this Ishtar person played with mythics like they were children. She was a monster above all monsters. There were even rumors that she was secretly a monster and had arrived with the flash. Faux and the old man who had introduced himself as Max glanced at one another. ¡°Explain,¡± Max said quietly. ¡°From what I¡¯ve been able to gather, Mimir was forced into a deal with Ishtar that awakened his ability. In exchange, he can¡¯t say or do anything that could lead someone else to learn her identity. He will literally choke if he tries,¡± She began, ¡°She killed his partner in Vegas and he¡¯s been on the warpath ever since.¡± Mimir nodded, ¡°What I can talk about are her goals,¡± he said, ¡°She intends to save the world, in her own mind, even if that means massive casualties in the process. She has no qualms about the destruction she causes and has convinced herself that she¡¯s the only person that can do it. She already controls a great deal of territory on the planet and no one knows about it, on top of that she has her claws in the Pandora Committee,¡± He finished before letting out a gasp and reaching for his throat. ¡°That¡¯s as far as I can go.¡± ¡°So she¡¯s nuts,¡± Faux said. ¡°Basically,¡± Addison said, ¡°So the idea is this, we¡¯ll go after her targets and force her out into the open.¡± Mimir nodded, ¡°That¡¯s why I came here to France in the first place,¡± He said and pointed at the board, ¡°One of her targets is someone we all know in one way or another, Lucien DuCast, Astaroth. She¡¯s convinced he¡¯s a ¡®Herald of the Apocalypse¡¯ or something to that effect. We can all agree he needs to be stopped, but she wants to be the one to do it, she gets power from killing these people somehow.¡± ¡°So we put a stop to him first and piss her off,¡± Faux laughed, ¡°Alright! Not a bad plan.¡± ¡°He is not an easy man to get to, and even if we do deal with him, the Pandora Committee could style him as a martyr to make him look good,¡± Max pointed out, ¡°We need to discredit him first. It¡¯s a damn shame that place collapsed like that.¡± Mimir nodded, ¡°Agreed, so we¡¯ll have to take a different approach,¡± He said, ¡°Here¡¯s what I have in mind...¡± Hellion took it all in. He¡¯d joined up because he wanted to stop his uncle, but this was so much bigger than that. They were going to take down Ishtar? He swallowed hard and glanced down at his fork before picking it up and looking back at the tart. He stabbed it and leaned forward to listen more carefully. If there was anything he could do to make the world better than the one that took his brother from him, he¡¯d do it. Chapter 163 Chapter 163 Sonya walked down the hall, running her fingers along the wall. Her eyes swept over the space, little moments playing out in the back of her mind. Ten weeks wasn¡¯t a long time, not in the grand scheme of things. Yet somehow it felt like an eternity in others. Everyone was asleep and yet somehow she could still hear the little pockets of conversation that had filled this place. She could still see the aspirants walking from one place to another, the classrooms, training halls, the lab, the little theater, the common room with the stairs leading up to the administrative hall. She ascended the steps, running her hand along the rail as she glanced down at the couches beneath her. Her lips curled into a smile. ¡°You¡¯re going to miss this, aren¡¯t you?¡± A little voice rose up in the back of her mind, a hint of amusement playing on the edge of that cold voice. ¡°Yeah,¡± She murmured beneath her breath, ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be doing it again next year.¡± ¡°Probably not,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°Are you satisfied? Watching them grow? Did you get what you wanted out of it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Sonya said quietly as she strode down the administrative hall, rounding the corner and stopping at that door leading out onto the balcony. She remembered sitting there, wishing she could cry as her heart broke over and over again from Chunhua¡¯s presence. ¡°The deal wasn¡¯t a bad compromise,¡± Ishtar pointed out, ¡°She won¡¯t do what you want her to do, but that¡¯s not such a bad thing. She can be the person she needs to be, now.¡± Sonya stopped at the door and rest her hand on the handle, her smile turned a little rosy and she rested her head against it. It was cold, soothing in a way it hadn¡¯t been for her when her mind was buckling under everything she¡¯d endured. She was stronger now, so much stronger, and not just in power. She could take the weight, even if it was a little bit. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to take it all back all at once,¡± Ishtar soothed, ¡°I¡¯m still here.¡± Sonya¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°I know,¡± She breathed, her voice a little shakier this time. ¡°It just feels like all or nothing sometimes.¡± ¡°Still haven¡¯t figured out the villain¡¯s mindset yet, then,¡± Ishtar said with a faint laugh, ¡°It¡¯ll come to you.¡± Sonya threw her head back and let out a noisy sigh, ¡°You are the worst,¡± She muttered before pushing down on the handle and pressing outside. There, on the balcony, sitting on the rail and looking out onto the courtyard was a single girl with short black hair that had grown a little during her time at the camp. On her shoulder was a regal looking bird, a hawk, it leaned down and took something from her hand before snapping it down and swallowing. Sonya stepped out and the hawk turned its head to look at her. The girl reached up to stroke the animal¡¯s neck, ¡°Easy, Al, it¡¯s just Miss Sonya.¡± ¡°Your senses are getting sharp,¡± Sonya said casually as she walked onto the steps, closing the door behind her. ¡°You¡¯re the only person here who wears distinctive cologne,¡± Lillian said without looking back at her, swinging her legs as she took in the view. ¡°Ouch,¡± Sonya quipped and sauntered over to stand behind the railing next to her. She glanced down at the girl. She¡¯d come in so bright eyed and filled with spirit. Most of that was still there, but the pain and anguish of what she¡¯d been through, the struggle, the constant pressure, it seemed to have tempered her in a way that Sonya couldn¡¯t quite quantify. She looked away from the girl and let out a breath. She felt a little guilty for what role she played in that, sanctioning her powers so that she could grow more steadily. ¡°You gave him a name?¡± ¡°Yeah, Alphonse,¡± Lilian said quietly, ¡°We¡¯re connected, I can feel the other birds around here too. Not as strongly though. They hear me and I hear them, it¡¯s strange. Not like my other powers. Something indistinct,¡± She said thoughtfully as she scratched beneath Al¡¯s chin. The bird made a burbling sound of delight and rustled its feathers. Lillian looked up at her and Sonya took in her face. Her tan skin was marred with a few scars that would never go away, a faint burn line along her jawline. Her eyes were like that of a bird now and glowed with a dim golden incandescence. Two thick strands of her hair had been colored green and red to match the feather-like tattoos that glowed along her throat and shoulders. It¡¯s affected her so much. Much more than any power I¡¯ve ever seen, besides my own, I suppose, Sonya thought as the girl seemed to consider her for a moment. ¡°What is it?¡± Sonya asked gently. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Lillian said after a heartbeat and shook her head, looking back at the courtyard. She paused again before taking a breath, ¡°What is my powers name, Miss Sonya?¡± ¡°Fenghuang,¡± Sonya said, ¡°You¡¯ve earned the right to know.¡± ¡°You still have a long way to go,¡± Ishtar said. Sonya smirked, ¡°I know. Six more to go.¡± Ishtar sighed and dispersed. Sonya shrugged it off, she didn¡¯t know what was bothering her but it really didn¡¯t matter. Right now, she was content. Her little act of villainy had made something positive for the world and that helped, it helped a lot. She opened her hand and a small portal appeared over it, a tiny shape falling into it. An egg. She rolled it over between her fingers as she felt it hungrily reach out and grab at her mana, pulling it in like a torrent. She giggled at the sensation. ¡°Hungry tonight?¡± She teased, ¡°Go ahead and eat all you want, I have plenty to spare.¡± ¨C Chunhua had meandered her way out of her room and into the common room, settling on one of the couches and laying back to relax. It¡¯d been a while since she¡¯d felt this at ease and she knew that it would be a while yet afterward that she would experience it again. She wasn¡¯t wearing her usual hero uniform, a combat robe. Instead, just a white tank-top and jeans accompanied a pair of simple socks. In her hand she held a comic book that she flipped through lazily, enjoying the pages. A shift in movement overhead drew her attention and she felt the signature presence of her student descending the stairs. She drew her presence in a little, examining her face. Streaks from tears framed a bright smile. Eyes filled with determination and a little bit of urgency. She¡¯s up late. Chunhua thought, scratching at her chin as Lillian raced past, unaware that she was sitting there. She glanced up at the top of the stairs and raised an eyebrow before reaching out with her senses. Sonya? Her mana levels are fluctuating wildly, why? What¡¯s she doing? Chunhua let out a grunt and hopped to her feet, snapping the comic closed as she walked over to the steps and ascended. So much energy but it¡¯s not going out into the air, just... disappearing. She frowned and picked up her pace, a bit of concern coiling up in her gut as she hurried to the door leading to the balcony. She pushed the door open and stopped. There she was, sitting on the railing with a small object in her hand. Her white hair sparkling in the light, dancing about her pale face. She was so tiny with the world framing her, so frail. Chunhua knew better, but it still made her feel something wrap around her chest and squeeze. She looked down at her own hand that she¡¯d used to make two deals with her. One to learn a terrible truth, the other to have it taken away when it needed to go. She looked back up at Sonya who only had eyes for the tiny object in her hand. An egg? Sonya¡¯s face was so gentle in that moment, warm, almost motherly. ¡°Are you going to keep admiring me in the moonlight, or are you going to say hello?¡± Sonya asked without looking at her. Chunhua tensed, ¡°I- what-¡± She stammered. Dammit... Sonya gestured and a tiny square of light formed over her hand, she pushed the egg up into it and it vanished. She turned and looked back at Chunhua, a bit of sweat beading on her brow. ¡°Just feeding the baby,¡± Sonya said with a mischievous smile before pushing off the rail and onto her feet. She walked towards Chunhua, her arms crossed behind her back as she peered up into her eyes with those eerie pink orbs. ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s a big day,¡± She said. ¡°Yeah,¡± Chunhua murmured. ¡°You¡¯ll be pretty busy with security,¡± Sonya continued. ¡°Yeah,¡± Chunhua said again, her hands falling to her sides. ¡°Then you¡¯re going back to hero work, you¡¯ll be all over the world again, our new deal will go into effect,¡± Sonya rambled on. ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°If there was anything you wanted to do before then, now is really the only option, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Chunhua started and then blinked, ¡°Wait, what?¡± She blurted, nearly taking a step back before a hand took hold of the hem of her shirt. Sonya was inches away, she hadn¡¯t even noticed. She smelled like... Wow. Chunhua cleared her throat as Sonya giggled at her, ¡°Chunhua,¡± Sonya whispered, looking up at her with that perfect face, with those incredible lips, ¡°Will you keep me company tonight?¡± Chunhua positively melted, ¡°...yeah.¡± Chapter 164 Chapter 164 Sonya woke groggily the next morning, her shoulders aching as she sat up. She held out a lazy hand and created a small piece of chocolate that she popped into her mouth, chewing and soothing the mild pain. The faint sound of her phone ringing drew her attention as she swept her eyes over her bed. Empty. She let out a small huff, ¡°Figures,¡± She muttered as she snatched her cellphone up and glanced at the name. She ran her fingers through her hair and answered the video call. ¡°Chairman,¡± she said playfully, smiling down at the pretty face that appeared on the screen. Carla raised a thin eyebrow behind her glasses, ¡°Good Morning, Sonya,¡± she replied, canting her head to the right a little bit. ¡°Rough night?¡± ¡°A particularly aggressive guest, cultivators are remarkably strong, were you aware of that?¡± she sighed and fell back onto her back, looking up at the face that reddened a little before laughing. ¡°Left before I woke up, so that¡¯s how that feels.¡± Carla laughed, ¡°At least you two got it out of your system for now,¡± Carla said offhandedly and rested her chin on her palm, ¡°I miss you.¡± ¡°I miss you too,¡± Sonya said with a small smile, ¡°How are things?¡± ¡°Stressful as you can imagine,¡± her lover said with a shrug, ¡°He left one hell of a mess behind, I don¡¯t know how the organization functioned to be honest,¡± she said bitterly, ¡°I¡¯m pushing through an overhaul and we¡¯re addressing the issues with the Vegas Act.¡± Sonya yawned, ¡°That¡¯s good, wish I could send you some assistance.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got it handled,¡± Carla said with a wave of her hand, ¡°This is my element. I feel like I was born for this. Was the new representative easy to work with?¡± ¡°He was adequate,¡± Sonya said and finally roused herself enough to slip out of bed. She exhaled and her storage space activated, her nightclothes turning into blue particles before they were replaced by a clean t-shirt and jeans. The shirt had a popular red-hat from a video game on it. She opted for high-top black skate shoes today. A wave of blue particles washed over her skin and hair as well and with a thought any need for a shower was deleted. She ran her fingers through her hair and shook it out, ¡°There we go.¡± ¡°My jealousy is endless,¡± Carla laughed. ¡°It should be,¡± Sonya quipped back, ¡°Is my little surprise ready?¡± ¡°She¡¯ll be there, you¡¯re such a bully by the way,¡± Carla said. ¡°Well I have all the more reason since she dined and dashed,¡± Sonya said with a wave of her hand and walked out into the living room. She scanned the empty space and sensed a spot of heat in the kitchenette. Her lips twitched into a smile as a timer rolled over on the coffee machine and it began pouring into a mug. She let out a sigh, ¡°Damn it, that¡¯s cruel,¡± she said and walked over to pick it up. There were several packets of sugar already set out next to it. She glanced down at her phone, ¡°Definitely have no regrets about my prank now.¡± Carla scoffed and rolled her eyes as Sonya sipped at the coffee. Perfect. She hopped onto the counter. ¡°I¡¯ve arranged security,¡± she said, getting a bit more serious, ¡°I¡¯ll be sending the same to the other ceremonies. This is not the time for another Hero Day,¡± she continued with a small frown, looking Carla in the eyes. ¡°Agreed, the international team is being sent out to each location just in case,¡± Carla said, ¡°I know how you feel about First Wind¡¯s antics...¡± she trailed off when she saw the glower on Sonya¡¯s face, ¡°But he makes a good deterrent at the very least.¡± ¡°Have you found anything about that person I asked you about?¡± Sonya asked. ¡°Majordomo? No, I¡¯m afraid. He doesn¡¯t show up on the registry and to be honest I don¡¯t have much information to go on beyond that,¡± she said before pausing and giving Sonya a warning look, ¡°Which is ultimately for the best for both of us.¡± Sonya let out a sigh, ¡°Of course, thank you for checking for me,¡± She rubbed her neck, ¡°I do have some information that may be valuable to you, though you¡¯ll have to confirm it on your own for it to be of any use.¡± Carla sat up straight, ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a villain by the name of Craftsman, he made Liberty¡¯s sword, the one Marta filled you in about,¡± Sonya said flatly and Carla¡¯s eyes narrowed. Axel shrugged, ¡°Is what it is, I¡¯m not going to try to pressure him into sticking with it. He¡¯s already got a good nest-egg and apparently his family owns a farm. His abilities could really help out there,¡± Madame Rouge scoffed and he shot her a glare before continuing, ¡°It¡¯s his choice in the end.¡± Madame Rouge pushed off the wall and crossed her arms at her waist, walking past him before glancing at Sonya. She frowned at the woman who had spent the entire battle inside. Rouge was an individual of carefully curated beauty, everything from her makeup to her clothing meticulously picked. Her mature frame drew eyes, but her regal demeanor just annoyed Sonya, if she was being honest. ¡°Just goes to show that some aren¡¯t cut out for this. The camps were a wise decision, cutting the weak hearted before they get themselves or someone else killed.¡± Like you have room to talk, Sonya thought bitterly. She pushed the anger down, That¡¯s unfair. Rouge would have been slaughtered without a team around her. She was better positioned inside the common building in case the enemy got in. ¡°Well, that was the point of the camp,¡± Sonya admitted with a sigh before giving Axel an apologetic look. He rubbed his neck and nodded as well as he and the others glanced out towards the aspirants who had gathered. Their eyes were all fierce now, driven. ¡°We lost so many during the raid, some left, about fifteen or so, that leaves us with twenty five graduates,¡± Sonya said soberly, ¡°The camps will have a reputation for being a brutal training method now.¡± ¡°They should be proud of themselves,¡± Axel said and paused as they felt the ground shake beneath their feet a little. A short distance ahead, at the center of the courtyard, a smooth stone archway began to rise up from the ground. Sonya nodded to the instructors and as a group they walked towards it, Marta turning away and disappearing back into the common building. The arch rose and rose until it towered twelve feet off the ground and eight feet wide. Inside, the portal that formed distorted and flickered, several locations flashing at once across its surface. Sonya narrowed her eyes, She keeps getting stronger and stronger, she thought. ¡°Not nearly as impressive as the portal in the backrooms, though,¡± Ishtar pointed out. Sonya scoffed to herself but said nothing. She glanced down at her fingers, wondering about when she would have a chance to go back to that place. She¡¯d need to come prepared next time and with plenty of allies. One of those monsters there had been enough to hurt her badly. From the looks of the forces on the outer walls of that impossibly large city, there were far more than single units. Regardless, she¡¯d claim it for herself. It would be a good staging ground in the future. She slowed to a stop near the front of the gathered aspirants and shot a glance towards the group of ASTA signers, Lillian and her crew plus Otis. Why is he even bothering? He has no living relatives, she thought. I checked. Apparently Marc Mallory actually exists, is it really his true identity? Does he have the balls to go around using his real name with all he¡¯s planning to do? She paused for a moment and rolled her eyes, Of course he does. Not that his name gave me much of anything, only that he¡¯s older than he looks and has a minor degree in the classics that he barely got and transferred to Greece which I already knew thanks to Pandora. Her eyes then shifted to Jessica Wayne, the ice wielding girl who Sonya had been suspicious about for a time. She originated in Mississippi and her background was obviously doctored. And yet, the interview for signing her bore absolutely nothing. It felt a bit like Otis¡¯ interview, if anything, which was an annoying reminder. Her ice shaping power is modestly powerful and it was a good acquisition but... She let her thoughts trail off, something felt off about her, there was no doubt. Signing her and keeping an eye on her like Otis was the best option. I¡¯ll figure her out eventually. She pulled herself out of her thoughts as the portal stabilized and Chunhua stepped up to the fore. Sonya broke away from the others to join her. She met Chunhua¡¯s eyes and grinned mischievously at her. Chunhua raised an eyebrow, ¡°What?¡± she asked as the field rippled a little. The sound of hurried footsteps came through the portal and Sonya took a casual step to the right as Chunhua blinked and looked up just in time for a petite figure to come barreling out of it at top speed. ¡°Chuchu!¡± A delighted voice cried out and Chunhua was bowled over by the flying girl. Sonya snorted and stepped back a few more paces as a bright eyed girl wearing the most blatant spiky leather punk jacket that Sonya had ever seen threw her fists into the air, ¡°I missed you so much!¡± Eculidia shouted. ¡°Woah! You got buffer! Power-up? Oh my god tell me everything!¡± Chunhua slowly turned her head to fix Sonya with a stare, Sonya shrugged, ¡°She¡¯s here to pick up someone, did I forget to tell you she was coming?¡± She asked innocently, looking away with a wild grin. ¡°Hi Molly,¡± Chunhua chuckled as she looked back up at the girl, and with an easy movement picked her up and rose to her feet, ¡°Thanks for coming,¡± she said as the mythic hero hung from her hands like a doll, grinning ear to ear. Sonya turned to the very confused looking aspirants, ¡°Everyone, I¡¯d like to introduce Euclidia, one of the lead members of the International team and the head of Logistics for the Pandora Committee. She¡¯s the one who can get you anywhere in the world and is the cornerstone of worldwide heroic efforts,¡± she said, gesturing to the grinning young woman. ¡°Oh stop it Sonya! You¡¯re making me blush!¡± Euclidia laughed, waving her hands frantically at the CEO. Not far away, Greg shifted a bit on his feet and glanced at Sonya who nodded to him. Chunhua set the woman down and stepped away as Euclidia turned to the portal and held out her hand. A cube of light appeared over it that shifted and spun, opening and closing like a puzzle box of impossible dimensions. It broke apart and reformed itself, as the portal began to flicker with multiple locations again. Euclidia held her finger up to her ear and grinned, ¡°Portal network ready! Destinations set! Go on through!¡± Destinations? Sonya blinked. Is she opening portals to all the graduation locations at the same time? Good grief! I suppose with all she¡¯s been up to, she¡¯s gained quite a bit of experience and practice. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if she could open a portal to the Backrooms themselves at this point. What a little monster. In answer to Sonya¡¯s thoughts, men and women began walking through the portal. First came the aspirants from the West Coast camp, twenty nine young men and women looking around with curiosity. A faint wave of heat followed in their wake as they left Death Valley behind. They were quickly ushered to the side by their instructors who joined them. Next came wave after wave of parents and guardians who took in the sights with far more awe as the crowd swelled from just over fifty to hundreds. It was a sight to behold, especially as Euclidia didn¡¯t even break a sweat. She was grinning and talking merrily with Chunhua as the numbers continued to pass on through. Shouts of acknowledgement, laughter and tears accompanied the arrival of families as parents and offspring found one another. Sonya glanced in the direction of a particular group with a small smile. Lillian ran to embrace her mother and father who looked absolutely stunned to see their daughter and the white-and-black haired girl that accompanied her. ¡°It makes it all worth it, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Ishtar asked. ¡°Yeah, it does,¡± Sonya murmured to herself, ¡°It really does.¡± Chapter 165 Chapter 165 Lillian stood among the other graduates. She wasn¡¯t blind to how many were left, how many had set down their dreams after the raid. She hadn¡¯t even realized it was happening at the time. She wondered for a moment what she would have done, how she would have acted. Would she have ignored orders and tried to fight anyway? Was that even a choice? She pushed the thoughts aside as she realized she was just stalling mentally. She wasn¡¯t sure what to say, what she would do when she saw their faces. She felt like she¡¯d changed so much from when she¡¯d gone dashing out of her home that day. As she clenched her fists, small fingers wrapped around her hand and gently pried it open. They slipped between her fingers and she felt her heart rate start to drop. She turned and looked down at the head of white-and-black hair that was tilted down to look at her hand before a pair of pearlescent eyes looked up at her. Like a rainbow, she thought, not for the first time. The smaller woman gave her an easy smile. ¡°It¡¯s going to be fine," snow said straight into ear ears, her voice broadcast only for her. Lillian let the tension leave her shoulders and exhaled, ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right,¡± she said and just ahead of them, the portal sprang to life. The first to come through was a famous face that she¡¯d never seen before but had heard plenty about. She winced a little when her teacher was tackled to the ground by a girl not much older than herself. That¡¯s Euclidia? She marveled while the logistics hero, Sonya, and her teacher spoke briefly. She glanced to her left and saw Greg shift on his feet. Her heart dipped a little before rising back up, He¡¯s really going, then, good for him. She thought with a smile just as Euclidia created that mysterious cube. Lillian whipped her head towards it, feeling it for a moment. It was strange. Mythic powers were so vast and complex that it was hard to sense them. It was like they operated on a whole other set of rules than the powers that lay beneath them. To her, they felt oddly weak. She had brought it up to her teacher one night, describing it like hearing someone pour a shot of water into a bucket. There was so much but it was so fast and negligible compared to the abilities true strength that it became hazy and confusing. If she wasn¡¯t looking at the person, she wouldn¡¯t have even noticed. Her teacher had been thoughtful and simply suggested that she¡¯d feel more as she got stronger. This time, though, it was like a hose pointed at the bucket. The power came in like a storm and she almost took a step back and away from the might on display. No one else seemed to notice save for a few. Sonya shifted a bit on her feet, that was the first thing Lillian saw. Can her eyes see more than she lets on? Not surprising, I¡¯d keep my bigger cards to my chest too if I was her. Her teacher positively stiffened, her fists clenching at her sides. You feel it more than I do, I bet. A young brown haired man in glasses and a designer shirt crossed his arms and glanced at Madame Rouge who narrowed her eyes. Ollie apparently has senses like her. He noticed it too. Out of the corner of her eye, Marc made a similar face. So few of us can see it, realize it, but what she just did with a casual grin was draw in enough power to break a dungeon! She clicked her tongue, I¡¯m distracting myself again. What should I say? What can I say? She looked down at her feet for a moment. I¡¯m more nervous about this than I was before the final exam. Snow squeezed her hand again and smirked at her, rolling her eyes. She could probably see it too, with the implant, why is she so relaxed? ¡°You look like an expression reel from a cartoon," Snow snickered into her ear, ¡°Calm down, Lil, breathe.¡± She did as instructed and took a deep breath, letting it out and centering herself like her teacher had taught her what felt like a lifetime ago. The portal stabilized and people started to come through. First it was the other graduates and their instructors from the west camp. Then, parents and guardians. Men and women from all sorts of backgrounds walked through and marveled in awe, most had likely never teleported before let alone passed through a portal like that. She scanned the faces in the crowd, her heart rate jumping again despite herself. No, no, not - no, wait- there! ¡°Mom!¡± Lillian called, ¡°Dad!¡± Two faces in the crowd turned to her, one looked not unlike herself. Smaller with a rounder face and long dark brown hair instead of short and black. She wore a winter dress that looked like it had been taken out of her special event collection. A pair of almond eyes locked on hers and widened. Next to the woman, her mother, a man that stood a bit taller than herself loomed. Broad shouldered and muscled with cropped black hair and rugged stubble. He had a new scar on his face, another line creasing his forehead, it had only been ten weeks and he had changed a little too. She felt her hands go slack as her heart tightened in her chest. A small hand pushed her from behind and before she knew what she was doing she was running. Her mother didn¡¯t even hesitate, she threw her hands out as Lillian practically collided with her, a sob wrenching itself from Lillians lungs. ¡°Mom!¡± she squeezed her mother and picked her up into the air, ¡°I missed you so much.¡± A hand landed on her shoulder and gave her a squeeze, she whipped her head up towards her father and pulled him into the hug too. He let out a grunt of surprise as she dragged him forward without an ounce of effort but soon he too had his arms wrapped around her. She didn¡¯t let go of them for a few moments, remembering their scents, remembering their warmth, remembering how they felt being near her. Only after it nearly became awkward did she pull away and look between the two of them. ¡°Hi,¡± she said sheepishly Her mother was the first to really examine her. She reached up and ran fingers through Lillian¡¯s hair, touching the strands that had changed color. Her soft fingers touched Lillian¡¯s cheek, feeling the scar and examining her changed eyes. They went down a bit and touched her neck, where the tattoos glowed. ¡°Lillian,¡± she breathed, concern touching her voice. ¡°My powers,¡± Lillian said with a tightness in her voice she hadn¡¯t been expecting, ¡°They came with a lot of changes," she cleared her throat before touching the scar herself, ¡°This was...¡± she trailed off as she remembered enduring the blast from the dragon, how it had threatened to break her down into nothing. The first fleck of skin that had been shorn away by the intense energy, the last to heal, scarred over forever. ¡°Got it doing the right thing,¡± she managed after a moment. There was a pause before her father clapped her on the shoulder and she looked up at him, ¡°Then you should be proud of it," he said with a big grin, ¡°You look tough.¡± ¡°I feel tough, kinda,¡± she said, scratching at her neck, ¡°Not as tough as my teacher.¡± ¡°Teacher?¡± her mother asked. ¡°Yeah!¡± Lillian said, ¡°I¡¯ll introduce you when she¡¯s not so busy!¡± Her mother glanced past her and paused, raising an eyebrow, ¡°In the meantime, do you want to introduce us to your friend?¡± ¡°After that you need to tell me all about your ability," her father said with a merry grunt, ¡°Sounds like you got a good one!¡± Lillian blinked and whipped her head back to see Snow standing there awkwardly. Lillian¡¯s eyes softened. I almost forgot, she wouldn¡¯t have anyone coming to see her, would she? Lillian thought as she held her hand out. Snow approached tentatively before reaching out and taking her hand. Her father and mother glanced at one another as Lillian cleared her throat and felt a heat rush to her face, her heart rate picking up again. Snow squeezed her hand and gave her a wry smirk as if to say ¡®You chicken, you fought a dragon!¡¯ Lillian coughed again and exhaled, ¡°Mom, Dad, this is Snow er...¡± she shot Snow a look and the girl gave her a stare before rolling her eyes and urging her with raised eyebrows. ¡°This is Summer Finch,¡± she said before looking back at them, ¡°My girlfriend.¡± There was a long pause, Lillian had never talked about this kind of thing with them so she really didn¡¯t know how they felt about it. It was her mother that moved first, she moved in quick and pulled Snow into a big hug, ¡°It¡¯s so nice to meet you!" she said brightly, ¡°Thank you for looking after Lillian, I know she¡¯s a handful.¡± ¡°Wh-what?¡± Lillian blurted as Snow¡¯s laugh came out into the air. ¡°Don¡¯t I know it," Snow said, ¡°She¡¯s trouble, but I put up with her.¡± ¡°H-hey!¡± Lillian protested as her father reached over and ruffled her hair. ¡°Looks like things went well in all sorts of ways, didn¡¯t they?" he laughed at her, ¡°Good for you, Lily.¡± Lillian''s lips trembled as she reached up to grab at his hand, she squeezed it and leaned into it for a moment. Her hair fell in front of her face as she tried to work through all the emotions she¡¯d been feeling and expected to feel, the fears that had been utterly unfounded, the ache in her chest that she didn¡¯t even know was there eased and melted into nothing. ¡°Thanks dad," she said in a small voice. ¡°I love you guys.¡± Big arms wrapped around her and squeezed hard, she realized in that moment how strong she¡¯d become, how different his hugs felt with her powerful body. She didn¡¯t dwell on it, she just returned it before pulling away. Her mother was already interrogating Snow. ¡°So where are you from? Are your parents here?¡± she rambled, ¡°She¡¯s eating enough, right?¡± Snow didn¡¯t even blink at the questions, ¡°Nashville, don¡¯t got any, more than the rest of our group combined,¡± she said with a shrug, casting a smirk in Lillian¡¯s direction. Her mother frowned a little before brightening, ¡°Then you¡¯ll be walking with us during the tour, right? The parents are supposed to accept something from the graduates too,¡± she added, ¡°We can do that for you.¡± ¡°Yeah, our trainee lanyards once we get our licenses, ceremonial thing or something,¡± Lillian said, turning from her father and looking at Snow. Snow just stood there, blank faced for a moment and swallowed a little. She looked over at Lillian with wide eyes, asking if it was really okay with that look. Lillian raised an eyebrow and shrugged. Snow shifted on her feet and swallowed again, ¡°If you wouldn¡¯t mind, ma¡¯am,¡± the girl said, her cheeks turning pink. ¡°Oh you are so cute!" her mother crooned, practically squeezing poor Snow in a hug, ¡°Of course we can! I know just where to put them.¡± Snow just rest her head against Lillian¡¯s mother¡¯s shoulder, watery eyes wide with no small amount of disbelief. Lillian just smiled at her, her expression shifting a little as she felt someone approach them from behind. Her father stiffened a little and her mother looked up with wide eyes. Lillian let out a sigh, ¡°Here we go," she muttered before rubbing her neck and glancing over her shoulder, ¡°Hello Sonya!¡± ¡°Lillian?" her father blurted, surprised at her bluntness as the white-haired woman strode up with a wide, knowing smile on her face. That smugness radiating off of her in waves. She had her hands behind her back as usual and was completely dressed down compared to many of the parents who had dressed up for the occasion. Her mechanical eyes glowed a little brighter for a moment as she surveyed the four of them and she cracked a grin. Her mother glanced past her and paused, raising an eyebrow, ¡°In the meantime, do you want to introduce us to your friend?¡± ¡°After that you need to tell me all about your ability," her father said with a merry grunt, ¡°Sounds like you got a good one!¡± Lillian blinked and whipped her head back to see Snow standing there awkwardly. Lillian¡¯s eyes softened. I almost forgot, she wouldn¡¯t have anyone coming to see her, would she? Lillian thought as she held her hand out. Snow approached tentatively before reaching out and taking her hand. Her father and mother glanced at one another as Lillian cleared her throat and felt a heat rush to her face, her heart rate picking up again. Snow squeezed her hand and gave her a wry smirk as if to say ¡®You chicken, you fought a dragon!¡¯ Lillian coughed again and exhaled, ¡°Mom, Dad, this is Snow er...¡± she shot Snow a look and the girl gave her a stare before rolling her eyes and urging her with raised eyebrows. ¡°This is Summer Finch,¡± she said before looking back at them, ¡°My girlfriend.¡± There was a long pause, Lillian had never talked about this kind of thing with them so she really didn¡¯t know how they felt about it. It was her mother that moved first, she moved in quick and pulled Snow into a big hug, ¡°It¡¯s so nice to meet you!" she said brightly, ¡°Thank you for looking after Lillian, I know she¡¯s a handful.¡± ¡°Wh-what?¡± Lillian blurted as Snow¡¯s laugh came out into the air. ¡°Don¡¯t I know it," Snow said, ¡°She¡¯s trouble, but I put up with her.¡± ¡°H-hey!¡± Lillian protested as her father reached over and ruffled her hair. ¡°Looks like things went well in all sorts of ways, didn¡¯t they?" he laughed at her, ¡°Good for you, Lily.¡± Lillian''s lips trembled as she reached up to grab at his hand, she squeezed it and leaned into it for a moment. Her hair fell in front of her face as she tried to work through all the emotions she¡¯d been feeling and expected to feel, the fears that had been utterly unfounded, the ache in her chest that she didn¡¯t even know was there eased and melted into nothing. ¡°Thanks dad," she said in a small voice. ¡°I love you guys.¡± Big arms wrapped around her and squeezed hard, she realized in that moment how strong she¡¯d become, how different his hugs felt with her powerful body. She didn¡¯t dwell on it, she just returned it before pulling away. Her mother was already interrogating Snow. ¡°So where are you from? Are your parents here?¡± she rambled, ¡°She¡¯s eating enough, right?¡± Snow didn¡¯t even blink at the questions, ¡°Nashville, don¡¯t got any, more than the rest of our group combined,¡± she said with a shrug, casting a smirk in Lillian¡¯s direction. Her mother frowned a little before brightening, ¡°Then you¡¯ll be walking with us during the tour, right? The parents are supposed to accept something from the graduates too,¡± she added, ¡°We can do that for you.¡± ¡°Yeah, our trainee lanyards once we get our licenses, ceremonial thing or something,¡± Lillian said, turning from her father and looking at Snow. Snow just stood there, blank faced for a moment and swallowed a little. She looked over at Lillian with wide eyes, asking if it was really okay with that look. Lillian raised an eyebrow and shrugged. Snow shifted on her feet and swallowed again, ¡°If you wouldn¡¯t mind, ma¡¯am,¡± the girl said, her cheeks turning pink. ¡°Oh you are so cute!" her mother crooned, practically squeezing poor Snow in a hug, ¡°Of course we can! I know just where to put them.¡± Snow just rest her head against Lillian¡¯s mother¡¯s shoulder, watery eyes wide with no small amount of disbelief. Lillian just smiled at her, her expression shifting a little as she felt someone approach them from behind. Her father stiffened a little and her mother looked up with wide eyes. Lillian let out a sigh, ¡°Here we go," she muttered before rubbing her neck and glancing over her shoulder, ¡°Hello Sonya!¡± ¡°Lillian?" her father blurted, surprised at her bluntness as the white-haired woman strode up with a wide, knowing smile on her face. That smugness radiating off of her in waves. She had her hands behind her back as usual and was completely dressed down compared to many of the parents who had dressed up for the occasion. Her mechanical eyes glowed a little brighter for a moment as she surveyed the four of them and she cracked a grin. ¡°So these are the Landreys!¡± she said brightly. ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you both! I¡¯m Sonya Chernovna, from the ASTA Corporation.¡± Her father stood up a bit straighter, ¡°Y-yes ma¡¯am, we¡¯re certainly aware.¡± Sonya tittered out a laugh, ¡°Yeah, I know, kind of a unique face,¡± she quipped and waved at her eyes before winking at Lillian, ¡°I wanted to thank you both for letting your daughter attend.¡± ¡°Well, she is an adult ma¡¯am, it was ultimately her choice,¡± Lillian¡¯s mother said politely. ¡°Thank you for making it possible.¡± Sonya tilted her head and raised an eyebrow, ¡°I¡¯ll be doing more than that going forward!" she laughed and gestured to Lillian who felt her shoulders tense, knowing what was coming next, ¡°Lillian, Snow, and several of their friends signed with ASTA Corporation, she¡¯ll be joining me in New York soon. That goes without saying though since, after all," she put her hands on her hips, ¡°Lillian did place as the second most promising hero in the camp. Second only to a mythic. Her mentor, Black Lotus, is very proud.¡± There was another long pause, Lillian brought her hand to her face and groaned. Why is she always like this? She asked whatever being that were listening to her plight as her mother and father stared gobsmacked at the CEO. Sonya just grinned ear to ear, ¡°Sonya...¡± Lillian groaned. ¡°What? You weren¡¯t going to say anything about it until the ceremony, were you?" Sonya chuckled, ¡°Still so humble, gotta flaunt it a little!¡± she teased. ¡°She trained under Black Lotus?" her father managed after a few heartbeats. ¡°Second?¡± ¡°Sure did! Lillian here is going to be a household name very soon," Sonya said and tilted her head back, ¡°Chunhua! The Landreys are over here!" she called out before glancing at the lanyard hanging from her father¡¯s neck, ¡°Allbright Mining, right?¡± What is she up to now? Lillian wondered as her father blinked and glanced at her mother. He rubbed his neck, ¡°Y-yes ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Just call me Sonya, I¡¯ve been looking after Lillian a great deal, it feels like we¡¯re already family," she said with a chuckle and reached into her pocket. She pulled a business card out with what looked like some kind of mana coating on one side. With it she drew out two wrapped candies, Chocolate? Lillian wondered as Sonya held them out to her father. ¡°One for you and one for your lovely wife,¡± she said with an amused chuckle, ¡°They¡¯re very special. Don¡¯t ask where I got them, but you can thank Black Lotus for the suggestion.¡± He took the two chocolates and the card, looking down at it in confusion, ¡°And the card?¡± ¡°There¡¯s an ASTA Branch in Atlanta, right?" Sonya asked with a tilt of her head, ¡°Bring that to them. I know about your background in contracting, you were middle management before the flash, right?¡± Lillian''s mother and father exchanged looks, ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Well, I have a rather large branch opening up in Minneapolis pretty soon," Sonya said offhandedly, ¡°I could use a talented and experienced foreman for the mining teams. I know it¡¯s a very different environment from Atlanta, but the benefits are good and-¡± ¡°I accept!¡± he blurted without a moment¡¯s hesitation, ¡°R-right?¡± he turned to his wife, ¡°I mean we¡¯ll have to sell the house and...¡± Lillian blinked rapidly and looked between the three of them, she turned to Sonya with a wide-eyed stare as her mother and father spoke quietly. She couldn¡¯t think of anything to say except; ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I want to take care of you and those around you," Sonya said with that far more gentle smile Lillian had begun to see recently, ¡°This is the least I can do.¡± Lillian searched Sonya¡¯s face. The CEO was the kind of person who didn¡¯t always say fully what she meant, but she never lied. She looked over at her parents who were smiling excitedly at one another and then back at her. Only a few people know, but Minneapolis is where Sonya is moving ASTA Headquarters. She¡¯s not just giving him a job, she¡¯s shielding them from people like Liberty. Her lips trembled for what had to be the millionth time that day as she broke into a smile, ¡°Thank you, Sonya.¡± ¡°Any time, Crusader.¡± Chapter 166 Chapter 166 Empty. She felt so very, very, empty. It wasn¡¯t just an emotional emptiness. It was like her ability had sucked something out of her. Hollow. She glanced down at her hand and watched as the ice formed on it, spreading less like flakes and shards and more like an icy-white root. Before her very eyes the wicked tendrils began to darken, a black smoke filling them until they¡¯d turned the color of obsidian. She felt a little more drain out of her as she admired the glittering black material, turning her hand over with trembling shoulders. She felt empty, like a bottomless pit that could never be filled. He did this to me, she thought as she let her instincts rise to the surface. They were... broken. It felt like her mind was glitching, static and twitching sensations crackling spasmodically in her brain. She swallowed and drew the black ice back in, letting it sink into her skin and send an otherworldly chill through her entire being. It felt so wrong. And yet, it was a little pleasurable too. Her fingers twitched as the static cleared a little. Her ability was hungry, it wanted something insubstantial, something that lay deep at the heart of every living thing. It wants souls, she shuddered and turned her gaze back towards the crowd. There he was, her ¡®partner¡¯ for this ¡®mission¡¯. Greg was standing with a happy looking older couple, talking merrily with them. She reached up and squeezed at her arm as he made eye contact with her. His lips thinned for just a moment before his father said something and he returned to the conversation. She felt that hollow feeling deepen, again, colder, emptier. Was it even possible to feel more hollow than she already did? She¡¯d played it off as a reaction to his decision to go to the UK, throwing a tantrum a few nights ago and ending their ¡®relationship¡¯. He wasn¡¯t a bad guy. I kind of liked him. A good lover. It was... warm. She shook the thoughts off as her shoulders sagged, If it was a different time, maybe a different life. It might be nice. She reached up and ran her fingers through her hair. Stop it! You ended it! She crossed her arms and leaned against the wall of the dojo, far away from the rest. No one¡¯s coming to see me anyway. Who in their right mind would- A face in the crowd. No. A calculating smile. No no no. A faint ripple in the air that she knew all too well. No, please no, go away. I don¡¯t want to see you too. Messy dark hair, eyes that were blue like glaciers, almost white. He caught her gaze and his smile curled upward. What is he doing here? How is he even here? She thought frantically as he began to work his way through the crowd towards her. His hands were in the pockets of his long trench coat, a turtleneck raised to his throat. He tilted his head up and smiled down at her from over his nose, striding across the grass with a confident gait before coming to a stop just a few feet away. ¡°Hello Sister, congratulations on graduating!¡± he said, showing his eerily white teeth. ¡°Phillip,¡± she breathed, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± He shrugged blandly, ¡°Can¡¯t a big brother come visit his darling sister on her special day?¡± She looked away and squeezed her arms, ¡°You know what I mean.¡± He snorted and rubbed at his wrist, ¡°These cuffs are tight, but effective in getting past an RTE,¡± he muttered as he reached into his jacket and pulled out a cloth doll. She recoiled at the sight of it. It was grotesque, like it was made from human skin and had its eyes and ears sewn shut. ¡°Got it in a dungeon, isn¡¯t it neat?¡± He said with a chuckle, ¡°Nobody can hear us talk and people will look right over us, even Black Lotus with those amazing senses of hers. It¡¯s just you and me, Sister.¡± She felt her stomach drop out from under her. He was going to kill her. He had said that he would one day. Was this it? A final release, she supposed, death at the hands of her brother to escape servitude to that monster that paraded around like a hero. Her eyes shot towards the head of perfectly coifed blonde hair amidst the crowd. So many fawning over him. He wouldn¡¯t look her way. He wouldn¡¯t care. She was just a tool to him. Just like she was to Liberty and Phillip. Her lips twitched and he raised an eyebrow, following her gaze. ¡°I thought you liked the dark-haired boy, what was his name? Gravitic? Halloway hates him, by the way,¡± Phillip said casually, turning to glance in Greg¡¯s direction. She flinched, ¡°N-no! We broke up,¡± she said quickly and looked down at her feet, ¡°He¡¯s leaving the country and the mission was a bust. I don¡¯t need him anymore.¡± ¡°Aww,¡± Phillip purred, ¡°Poor thing. So is the blonde boy your new cover?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that,¡± she muttered. ¡°Mhm, sure,¡± He said and leaned forward, grabbing her by the chin. It was so cold. So unbelievably cold. She didn¡¯t think she could get colder. He jerked her head up to look him in the eyes. ¡°You are very, very fortunate, you pathetic little failure. Even with my cute little doll there are way too many witnesses here, if I left a body behind there would be problems. More importantly, Liberty told me to let you live,¡± he snapped through gritted teeth, ¡°I wanted to watch you bleed, but she says your excommunication is punishment enough. You don¡¯t know enough and aren¡¯t worth enough to kill and cause a scene.¡± Her breath was coming in rapid, she felt her ice slide down her hand taking the form of claws. She could rip his heart out right there, she could destroy him. Otis would even have a way to make the body disappear, to make everyone forget it even happened. No one would know. She could bleed her brother dry with a crowd of civilians standing there, unaware. A chill of excitement ran up her spine as she realized just how powerful he was, how powerful she could be if she just let him change her. He could fix her broken, worthless soul. ¡°Or?¡± she breathed. ¡°Or... you could spare him. I¡¯ll give you the opportunity to say your piece here, to stand up for yourself, and when the time comes,¡± He smiled against her ear, his lips so close she could feel his breath, ¡°I¡¯ll let you rip him to pieces. War is coming and Liberty is the target. She¡¯ll be beneath you one day too. Wait. Be patient and have your day of glory when you can destroy him and be celebrated for it,¡± He urged her, ¡°Heroes aren¡¯t supposed to kill, but accidents happen, don¡¯t they Felwinter?¡± Felwinter. Her lips twitched again as she felt that chill deep in her soul, that emptiness, that rattling cage where her spirit should be. Her eyes sparkled, I like that name. ¡°I can¡¯t wait,¡± she said, her entire body trembling as he took a few steps back. He raised his hand to his lips while the other rose to show five fingers. A timer? Understood. Phillip blinked and shook his head in confusion, rubbing his eyes before looking down at her. His lips curled in a sneer. Did he not see Otis standing off to the side? It didn¡¯t matter. She clenched her fists and took a daring step towards him, her teeth bared and her eyes wide with hate. The chill in her bones flared to life and the grass beneath her feet started to die. Low shrieks and whimpers of pain echoed in the air around her as her mind relaxed, her fears dying, the static of her instincts became clear, clearer than they had been before Otis had changed her. Phillip raised an eyebrow, ¡°What?¡± he snapped. ¡°You didn¡¯t warn me,¡± she snapped, ¡°You didn¡¯t warn me about the raid.¡± He shrugged, ¡°So?¡± ¡°I was to be just another casualty. Liberty lost her patience with me and now that you can¡¯t touch me easily, you came to torment me and deliver the excommunication as some kind of ¡®punishment¡¯,¡± she snarled before letting out a manic laugh, ¡°Like that even matters!¡± Phillip narrowed his eyes, ¡°Excuse me? How-¡± ¡°No! How dare you!¡± She barked, ¡°How dare you even show your face here,¡± she bit out, ¡°You insufferable...¡± she shook her head, ¡°I-I have someone even stronger who backs me now!¡± she said as black tears streamed down her face, ¡°He¡¯s going to be a king! King of the world!¡± she threw her head back and laughed, ¡°What¡¯s some cult mean to me?¡± she raised her hand to her face and covered it with a black clawed hand, it looked like armor, ¡°I¡¯ve been so stupid! I believed in her? Please!¡± She peeked through her claws at his irate face and she let her arm go slack, her hand falling to her side. ¡°What was I thinking?¡± Phillip¡¯s nostrils flared and his hand snapped out faster than the eye could see, his fingers curled like talons ready to grab her and ruin her. Before he could blink, she gripped his wrist with her clawed hand. He snarled and jerked his hand back only to hesitate, his eyes going wide. ¡°Wh-what?¡± He gasped as his skin began to lose its color around where she touched, his veins turned dark as his fingers twitched and tensed. His mouth fell open in a silent scream as he collapsed to his knees. He reached up to grasp at her hand only to pull his trembling fingers away as they sizzled against the black ice encasing her grip. She released him and he let out a trembling sob, ¡°You are very, very fortunate, you pathetic little man,¡± She sing-songed, grinning ear to ear. She felt a warmth seep through her hand and into that hole in her chest, savoring it. ¡°I wanted to watch you suffer, but my King tells me there¡¯s a far more satisfying way to deal with you. You aren¡¯t worth killing here, I want to make a show of it...¡± She hissed before glancing Otis¡¯ way. Otis¡¯ fingers slowly drifted down as she went on her tirade before he closed his fist. Phillip cupped his hand, glaring at her, ¡°This isn¡¯t-¡± He began before shutting his mouth and turning away. He walked past Otis as if he weren¡¯t even there and shoved his hand into his pocket, staggering away. No one seemed to pay him any mind even in his wounded state as he walked through the crowd towards the portal and disappeared. Otis let out a breath, a bit of sweat beading on his brow that he quickly brushed away before turning to give her an appraising look, ¡°Well done.¡± Jessica felt the moment pass and she swayed a little and dropped to a knee, ¡°What did I just do?¡± She gasped, her mind reeling from her own actions. ¡°You chose,¡± he said, standing over her and reaching down to take her clawed hand. He didn¡¯t even flinch, ¡°Be proud, You were chosen and you got to choose, Herald Felwinter.¡± She looked up at him, her shattered mind and soul piecing itself back together in whatever new, wicked shape it now took. Her lips curled into a smile, ¡°Herald Felwiner,¡± she said, ¡°It has a ring to it.¡± She rose to her feet and her eyes drifted away from Otis to a face in the crowd. Just another one of the masses. He couldn¡¯t have done anything. Did I really want him to? No. He¡¯s just a... thing. She smiled and turned her back on the crowd and faced her King. With him. This is where I belong. Chapter 167 Chapter 167 Well, now isn¡¯t she just marvelous? That new ability is fancy too, very pretty. He thought with a smile, admiring the killing machine that he had created. He wondered why he hadn¡¯t thought of it before. Was it because of the guide? He turned away from her and gave her a gesture of dismissal. A polite nod was her only response as she slipped away and joined the crowd. It wouldn¡¯t do to stay off to the side too long, himself especially. He was the man of the hour, after all. Most Promising Hero of the camp. Well of course I am, it goes without saying. He smirked and shot a glance towards Black Lotus and Sonya. The two of them were talking with Crusader¡¯s family as if nothing had happened. Not even an eyebrow out of place, no gestures to signify that they noticed anything. Looks like it holds up against Black Lotus¡¯ senses, I figured it would but that was... a long one. He didn¡¯t want to admit how draining it was to broadcast his cheat over so many people at once, but it really was. All the more reason to get stronger. Effort is needed. I need to internalize that. The cheats are not enough. I need more abilities too. I wonder if there¡¯s a cheat for that. The magic sword and crown work well enough but they¡¯re just items I created. He sniffed and crossed his arms. ¡°You can come out now,¡± He said patiently. A heartbeat, and Riot stepped out from within the dojo, his face pale and his shoulders sagging a little. ¡°Yes sir?¡± Otis glanced his way, ¡°You did good work, well done.¡± Riot pursed his lips and looked away, ¡°That was... wrong.¡± ¡°Your point?¡± Otis asked, ¡°It accomplished what I wanted. She won¡¯t be thinking about turning on me or being disobedient any longer. How did you do it? I¡¯m curious about your ability.¡± ¡°You already had a karmic bond with her because of the things you...¡± he trailed off, ¡°the things you did to her,¡± he said sourly. ¡°She and her brother obviously had a strong one too,¡± he cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses, ¡°I tugged on their bond and fanned the flames, made him more aggressive towards her than usual and amplified her sensitivity.¡± Otis nodded along, ¡°And then?¡± ¡°And then when you intervened, I just twisted the bond between the two of you, adjusted it slightly so that instead of her seeing you as a malefactor, there was an opening to see you as a new foundation to rebuild herself on. Her mind did the rest,¡± he tensed, ¡°With your help of course, sir.¡± Otis brightened, ¡°Very well done, I like it, I like it a lot, we should work together more often.¡± ¡°If you say so,¡± Riot grumbled. Otis threw an arm over his shoulder, ¡°Oh Riot! You¡¯re such a funny guy! A real riot, get it?¡± he chortled, ¡°You almost sound like you don¡¯t want to work with me. After all I¡¯ve done and am going to do for you. Not very nice, you know?¡± he ended the question with a pointed stare in the younger man¡¯s direction. Riot shrank a little, ¡°Wasn¡¯t my intention, honestly. Working for you is a dream come true.¡± ¡°Of course it is!¡± Otis laughed and pat his back, ¡°Good that we¡¯re on the same page, Riot! You made an excellent teammate for the dungeon run.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t need any help, sir,¡± Riot pointed out. ¡°True,¡± Otis admitted, ¡°But every little bit helps, and I prefer to maximize my chances in a dungeon. Self preservation is important!¡± ¡°You sound like Miss Chernovna,¡± Riot said, glancing sidelong at him. ¡°Do I now?¡± Otis gasped, he chuckled again, ¡°Well, I see her as something of a mentor, you know. Admire her. Look what she¡¯s done with herself with just that silly ocular power of hers. Isn¡¯t it great? If I didn¡¯t know any better I¡¯d think she was the main character of this story!¡± ¡°Story?¡± Riot asked. Otis waved a hand, ¡°Nevermind, I¡¯m just rambling. A powerful new Herald has joined us, Riot. We should celebrate while we can,¡± Otis said and started walking towards the crowd with him. ¡°Speaking of Sonya, by the way, I thought she and Black Lotus were on the outs. They seemed so tense at the beginning of camp. What do you see?¡± ¡°They slept together recently,¡± Riot said flatly, his face turning a little red. Otis narrowed his eyes, a small smile crossing his lips, ¡°Did they now? Would that be a problem for Miss Mint?¡± ¡°Doubtful, Miss Chernovna is fairly open about her non-monogamy, sir. It¡¯s in all the tabloids and she owns it without any shame. Given the last time I saw her and Miss Mint, the new Chairman doesn¡¯t think anything ill of it,¡± Riot said and adjusted his glasses, ¡°It¡¯s not a worthwhile leverage point, if that¡¯s what you were looking for.¡± Otis clicked his tongue, ¡°Fooey,¡± he sighed and leaned a bit harder into Riot, ¡°That mind game was tiring! And we still have this silly tour to do and then final prep for the graduation tomorrow morning,¡± he went on with a roll of his eyes, ¡°I just want to get out of here and crush a few villains already, you know? Get my legend started!¡± He was half way through a sip when she snatched up the remote and changed the channel. He swallowed and coughed, ¡°W-wait!¡± Too late. There she was, on the screen. That tiny figure with white hair fluttering behind her as she stood on a stage behind a podium, all smiles beneath those glowing pink eyes. He felt his throat begin to tighten as his fingers formed a white-knuckled grip on the mug. He cleared his throat a few times, trying to shake off the sensation as the deal worked its magic on him. Damn it. If I could just figure out a way to get her to ask me a favor, then I wouldn¡¯t be having this problem. ¡°I wrote a speech for today,¡± Sonya began with a small smile as she ran her fingers over a small stack of papers in front of her, ¡°It was a long one. Might even run over time,¡± shot an apologetic smile to the crowd, ¡°I figure you all are probably hungry. I know I am, could go for a burger or something,¡± she sighed dramatically before she grinned at the crowd, ¡°You ever have one of those cravings that you just can¡¯t get out of your head?¡± She asked. ¡°What on earth?¡± Addison mumbled, eyes fixed on the screen. ¡°Well apparently there are about thirty or so people sitting in front of me who know exactly what I¡¯m talking about,¡± she said, ¡°An all consuming desire, a feeling deep in your gut, a driving emotion that pushes you beyond your limits to become something greater than you were before. A craving,¡± She swept her eyes over the crowd again, ¡°To become a hero.¡± ¡°Today, you become heroes. Today, you start a path that will lead you through trials and tribulations that will make the last ten weeks seem inconsequential. It is not an easy path. It is not a safe one. You chose it anyway,¡± she smiled warmly, ¡°And I could not be more proud of you. You learned, you changed, you grew stronger, and you fought with all your might to get to this point. Now, here you are,¡± she ran her fingers over the speech again and looked down at it thoughtfully, pausing as if she was getting choked up, ¡°Ready to take on so much weight on your shoulders.¡± ¡°Humanity is strong,¡± she said, ¡°Humans learn, adapt, we struggle and we overcome. We strive to become better at whatever we set our minds to. We could have fallen in ourselves after the flash, society could have broken down. Instead? We thrived. You thrived. You represent the greatness humanity has to offer. Because with those powers of yours set aside, we are all still people, humans, and we¡¯re in this together. You are now the pillars that will hold humanity up and carry us into the future,¡± she stood up straighter and raised her hand to her heart, ¡°So on behalf of all of Humanity and on behalf of the Pandora Committee, thank you for beginning your service, and congratulations!¡± Applause rose up from the crowd as Sonya inclined her head and shifted the papers around on her desk, ¡°I will now be calling the graduates one at a time to be presented with their licenses along with any parents or guardians to receive their trainee lanyards. This will symbolically represent them leaving their civilian life behind to become Heroes, dedicated to the service of the human race.¡± She cleared her throat, ¡°Ollie Anders, please step forward.¡± Addison let out a whistle, ¡°Huge tonal difference,¡± she said as she sipped again at her drink, ¡°Love that woman, she really has her heart in the right place for humanity.¡± Mimir just grunted, his expression frozen in a mask of impassivity. He couldn¡¯t even change his facial expression this time. He fought for control of his body, but it was just no use. This was far worse than when Addison had confronted him in the tunnels. ¡°It¡¯s wild, she just came out of nowhere, but if it wasn¡¯t for her things would be so much worse, wouldn¡¯t they?¡± She said, ¡°Say what you want about the heroes, most of them are fake, yeah, but she¡¯s done a pretty damn good job...¡± she trailed off and glanced his way, ¡°You used to live in New York, right?¡± He frowned a little and focused on anything other than that evil woman. Calm down. Let the conversation play out. She¡¯s perceptive. His body relaxed, ¡°Yeah, I was a detective,¡± he said and sipped at his drink. ¡°You ever see her in person?¡± She asked, curious. ¡°I did,¡± he said flatly, ¡°I¡¯ve actually met her a couple of times. We spoke before hero day while I was acting as an agent for the Pandora Committee.¡± ¡°Oh right,¡± she nodded, ¡°You mentioned that. That was how your...¡± she paused, ¡°...sorry, shouldn¡¯t bring that up.¡± He sighed, ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± he said and leaned forward, focusing his mind on his coffee to keep his head clear. He couldn¡¯t say or do anything that would cause his contract to trigger and ruin his chances here. ¡°So what¡¯s she like?¡± She asked, ¡°Is she just as wacky as she seems?¡± He froze, his body and mind locking up for a moment. It took several seconds for him to clear his throat and shrug, ¡°She¡¯s got the best interests of the world at heart,¡± he said, ¡°Nice to her people.¡± Addison narrowed her eyes, ¡°What was that?¡± He turned her way, ¡°Hm? Nothing,¡± he said, trying his best to keep a straight face. Any facial expression, any twitch, any hint and he¡¯d push it too far. He¡¯d gotten away a little with revealing that he¡¯d met Ishtar since it didn¡¯t connect her with Sonya, but this was dangerous territory. If he tried to circumvent the contract too much it might break. Would she know? Would he lose his powers? What if she brought hell down on the Vigilantes because of the breach? She wasn¡¯t above exterminating a threat with extreme prejudice. Addison let out a breath and rubbed her neck, ¡°Alright,¡± she said but seemed to eye him a bit longer before getting to her feet. ¡°I¡¯m gonna go do some research,¡± she said, ¡°You uh... enjoy your coffee.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± he said and let out a breath. I hope that was enough. Chapter 168 Chapter 168 ¡°Val Kinton, Pyrolysis.¡± Lillian turned to Val and smiled at him, patting his shoulder. He shot a grin in her direction as he got to his feet, walking from the line of chairs set up in front of the huge crowd. She watched him ascend the steps as his parents came out to meet him. Behind them, her parents were waiting. She was next. Her fingers tangled together in her lap and she looked down at her feet for a moment, her heart thundering in her chest. She ran her thumbs over one another before reaching up to play a bit with her hair, Why am I so nervous? ¡°It¡¯s not nerves, you¡¯re just excited.¡± She turned and looked at Marc, ¡°You¡¯re a scary mind-reader.¡± He sniffed and shrugged, brushing his hair to the side and sitting regally in the folding chair. His smile twisted up just slightly. ¡°Hardly, it was plain on your face.¡± She clicked her tongue and looked away, leaning forward to catch her breath before looking up to see Val standing face to face with Sonya. He grinned at her as he took off his lanyard and handed it to his folks. Her heart swelled for what had to be the dozenth time that day. Sonya reached down to the stack in front of her and picked up the metal card, handing it to him. He took it gratefully before turning and throwing a fist in the air, ¡°WOO!¡± A round of laughter and whoops in reply answered him from the front row from east and west coast graduates alike. Alex lunged to his feet and did a little dance while John just shook his head and chuckled in that oddly mechanical way he did, clapping. Val clambered down the stairs with his family, waving to a few people who were waving at him. He turned to one of the camera drones and fired off some finger guns and a wink before making his way back to his seat. Lillian¡¯s breath caught in her throat and she looked up from where she sat into those swirling pink eyes. Sonya smiled down at her, her cheeks dimpling with barely suppressed pride. ¡°This next graduate,¡± Sonya began, ¡°Has received a Most Promising Hero award as part of her achievements during this camp. Remarkable doesn¡¯t even begin to describe her,¡± she cleared her throat, ¡°Lillian Landrey, Crusader, please step forward.¡± Lillian nearly sprung to her feet. ¡°Ma¡¯am!¡± She blurted and got a few chuckles from behind her. She flushed and marched her way over to the steps, her mother and father waiting for her. Her dad nodded at her as she walked past and up. One step at a time. She could barely hear anything except the beating of her heart. She alighted on the stage and stood there, face to face with the person who had taken the steps to make her journey even possible. Lillian broke into a smile, ¡°Hi, Sonya.¡± ¡°Lily,¡± Sonya said quietly and winked at her, ¡°I¡¯m so proud of you.¡± Sonya gestured to Lillian¡¯s parents and Lillian looked down at her lanyard, reaching up to take the nameplate in her hand and run her fingers over it. She¡¯d worn it every day and had nearly forgotten about it. She slid her thumbs up into it and lifted it over her head before holding it gently in her hands. There were so many memories in it that it felt heavy. She turned to her parents and her mother held out her hands. Lillian swallowed and handed it over. This is really happening. This is really, really happening. She turned back to Sonya who already had her card at the ready. A tiny piece of metal that would be the marker for the beginning of her new life. She reached out with shaky hands, Oh come on don¡¯t drop it! She swallowed and took it. It was cold but it warmed quickly under her touch. She lifted it to her eyes and saw her face next to the name: Crusader. She followed the words down to the ability-tier line, ¡°Growth-type?¡± She mumbled and glanced up at Sonya who shrugged at her. ¡°Had to list a whole new category just for you and a few others apparently,¡± Sonya said with a smirk, ¡°Congratulations Lillian. You¡¯re a hero now.¡± I¡¯m a Hero. She spun and looked out over the crowd as chills ran up her spine and down her skin. Cameras flashed as the nerves melted away. A hawk''s cry rang out and Alphonse swooped down from the sky, alighting on her shoulder. He spread his wings and threw his head back in a screech. She turned to him and laughed before throwing both fists into the air, joining him. ¡°I¡¯M A HERO!¡± ¨C She could still hear the cheering. It echoed in her mind in that dark room. She ran her fingers over the sheets and pulled them to her face, breathing in. She let out a sigh and pushed herself up to a sitting position, white hair tumbling around her face. One more night, mm? Tomorrow we leave. She listened to the silence in her thoughts and snorted. Of course she¡¯s asleep. Silly girl. At least it doesn¡¯t feel like she¡¯s drifting away this time. Just resting. Ishtar wrapped her arms around her legs and rested her chin on them, staring into the dark space and let her thoughts wander. She sighed and slipped off the bed. Restless. She walked away from the bed to the mirror and stared into it. She¡¯d never revealed to Sonya the face she saw in the mirror. Sonya had never asked, to be honest, the girl had just assumed it was the same. She reached up and touched her cheek and ran her fingers along the scars that covered her face, the strong jawline, the cuts along her neck and looked down at her hands. More scars. More marks of battles that she¡¯d fought, that Sonya¡¯d fought. Her real hands and arms were petite but in the mirror, she was taller, more muscular. She cleared her throat and turned away from the reflection. I have my own identity now, I can¡¯t avoid it any longer. I even look different, to a degree. She smiled a little, Like an older sister, I guess. Pandora¡¯s face went stony and Ishtar laughed, ¡°Of course I figured it out! Chunhua¡¯s little story at the camp? It¡¯s obvious! I took that information from Sonya for now, she doesn¡¯t need to worry about it while she has bigger problems,¡± She threw her hand out wide, ¡°All of it, all the terrible realizations about the world. I know! I know what that place was in the backrooms and the only reason Sonya isn¡¯t obsessively trying to get back and conquer it and get herself killed is- is-¡± She caught her breath, ¡°Because I¡¯m holding her back until she¡¯s ready. Ready to deal with all this. Ready to deal with knowing you can do this and bother her. Ready to...¡± She choked and it wasn''t on a lie this time. A tear trickled down Pandora¡¯s cheek, ¡°You...¡± Ishtar let out a sigh and walked back over to the bed, holding her head in her hands. ¡°All the weight of the people she¡¯s killed. The heaviness of murder. She doesn¡¯t realize how much it really weighs on a soul, I don¡¯t want her to feel this! Not without wanting to live through it!¡± Ishtar didn¡¯t react as she felt the projection sit down on the bed next to her. A warmth pressed against the side of her and she tried not to acknowledge it. A hand ran up and down her back, ¡°You¡¯re doing it again,¡± Ishtar muttered. ¡°I can¡¯t help it, I am my mother¡¯s daughter, after all,¡± Pandora said with a light laugh, ¡°I worry for you. I have watched you for a long time and have come to care. That said, I am glad about one thing you just said,¡± she added with a small chuckle. Ishtar grunted and turned her head slightly, glancing at the being out of the corner of her eye, ¡°What?¡± She snapped. ¡°You acknowledged you have a soul,¡± Pandora said with a smile, ¡°That¡¯s a good first step, and it opens the door for some options. For you, anyway.¡± Ishtar sat up and turned to face her as something in her chest tightened and warmed, an odd feeling she had never experienced before. She blinked and tilted her head, confused by the ¡®emotion¡¯ she searched Sonya¡¯s memories for what it was. Sonya had felt it before, yes, there it is. Hope? Her lips thinned and she swallowed, ¡°What options?¡± Pandora looked her in the eyes, her golden gaze burning with light and distant power. The goddess reached up and touched her cheek. ¡°Let¡¯s talk.¡± ¨C Sonya was a bundle of energy that morning, it felt like she¡¯d slept for days. She bounced on her heels and stretched her arms up high over her head, grinning ear to ear. She let out a noisy sigh and glanced over at Marta who had finished packing their bags and was arranging them in the living room of the instructor suite. Marta glanced up at her, ¡°You seem to be in a good mood this morning,¡± she said brightly. ¡°Slept so good!¡± Sonya replied, working her shoulders a little, ¡°A bit stiff though, but that comes with a deep sleep, yeah?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll sleep even better at the apartment,¡± Marta said. Sonya sighed dramatically, ¡°Home sweet home,¡± she paused and tilted her head, ¡°Well, not for long. The new place is almost ready. Next week I think?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what Blackrazor said,¡± Marta agreed. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to the new entertainment center that Amos designed.¡± ¡°The one at the beach house not enough for you?¡± Sonya asked. ¡°Well, I mean-¡± Marta scoffed, ¡°Amos said the new one makes it look like tinker toys.¡± ¡°You can do some impressive things with tinker toys!¡± Sonya challenged. Marta gave her a deadpan look, ¡°Ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious!¡± Sonya declared, putting her hands on her hips. The two stared at one another for a long time before bursting into laughter. She sat down on the couch and stretched out her legs, ¡°Euclidia will have the portal open soon?¡± ¡°Yes ma¡¯am. We¡¯ll go through with the recruits and the other ASTA members to the Guild House,¡± Marta said, ¡°Then after that, we¡¯ll assist with the opening parts of orientation before heading back home. Bluestar has the rest covered.¡± ¡°Well! In that case,¡± Sonya said with a grin, ¡°Shall we go?¡± Marta nodded with a smile of her own, ¡°As you wish.¡± Chapter 169 Chapter 169 The trees coating the mountains that surrounded the campsite had begun to turn a myriad of colors. Reds and yellows spread out as far as the eye could see. Sonya took a deep breath of the slightly chilly fall air and tugged her coat up a bit closer around her neck. Behind her, Marta carried the few pieces of luggage that they didn¡¯t just send off with one of her portals. They had to make it look like they were taking something home after all. Ahead of her, the archway had already formed and a small group was waiting for her. The other newly minted heroes had gone a bit earlier. The last group, though it looks like somebody stayed behind. ¡°Brigid! What on earth are you still doing here?¡± She called out towards the gathering at the portal. The red-head was standing with Chunhua and talking to her. Bluestar had taken up a spot a few paces away and was speaking quietly with John. Lillian, Snow, Val, Greg, and Alex made up their own little clump while Otis, Ollie, and Jessica made up the last cluster. She narrowed her eyes briefly at the last group, Where¡¯s Cass? She glanced towards Marta who shrugged and gave her a lopsided smile. That girl, slept in again, didn''t she? Brigid turned and waved frenetically, a big smile on her bubbly face. ¡°Good morning!¡± She called, ¡°Just enjoying the weather! Black Lotus said she wasn¡¯t ready to go yet!¡± Oh. Right. Sonya¡¯s heart skipped a little. I forgot. She forced a smile onto her face, ¡°Looking forward to the expedition to the Epic dungeon?¡± She asked as she drew closer, shoving her hands into her pockets. She glanced briefly at Chunhua who met her gaze before they both looked away. And she can tell I forgot. Great. Good job, Sonya. Real smooth. ¡°Oh it¡¯s going to be so much fun, if you recall, I used to be a Park Ranger for that region. I know that area like the back of my hand and with my ability, dealing with the snow will be a snap!¡± Brigid snapped her fingers for emphasis. She turned her head towards one of the two clusters of new heroes gathered with them. Sonya followed her gaze towards Jessica. ¡°It¡¯s a bit of a shame you ended up on the East side, Jessica, I would make an excellent mentor for your ability!¡± She declared and puffed out her chest. Jessica¡¯s lips twitched into a half smile, ¡°Guess that¡¯s fate for you,¡± she chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I learned a lot here.¡± There¡¯s no light in her eyes, Sonya thought but kept her poker face going. She turned towards Euclidia who was leaning against the archway and fiddling with a puzzle cube, ¡°Euclidia, you ready?¡± Euclidia looked up from her puzzle and grinned, ¡°Always, got three destinations already set. Two passengers to Seattle, two passengers to the Hague, and the rest of y¡¯all to the ASTA Guildhouse in New York. Crowley and Canis already went on ahead to Seattle.¡± Off to the side, Greg straightened and looked her way, ¡°The Hague?¡± He looks tired. I heard he and Jessica broke up over his decision to study with Euclidia. She shot the girl another glance, Did I read her wrong? She hasn¡¯t done anything besides be a bit of a drama queen in the end. Oh well, I¡¯ll keep an eye on her anyway now that she¡¯s hanging out with Otis. Euclidia raised an eyebrow at Greg and put her hands on her hips, ¡°Of course, silly!¡± she huffed, ¡°How am I supposed to get you clearance to do the kind of work we¡¯re going to do if you don¡¯t have one of these?¡± she asked and reached into her jacket to pull out a metal card with a mana crystal embedded in it. Greg frowned at it, ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°A pass that Pandora Officials carry,¡± Sonya answered for her and held her hand out. Marta was already approaching her from behind and placed Sonya¡¯s in her hand. She held it up while Marta did the same. Bluestar, Chunhua, and Brigid did the same. ¡°Officials, Guild Masters, and International Heroes carry them usually. They¡¯re for bypassing an RTE check and other security nonsense,¡± Sonya explained. Greg blinked and pointed at himself, ¡°I¡¯m getting one of those?¡± Euclidia raised her eyebrow even higher, if that was possible, ¡°Well, doy,¡± she snarked, ¡°You can¡¯t even get into my offices without going through like, what, four layers of security? You absolutely need one to come and go. On top of that, you¡¯re gonna be doing some important stuff with me so, yeah, Pandora Official Greg, sounds like a comic-book henchman,¡± she barked out a laugh before looking back at her puzzle and getting back to it as if she hadn¡¯t just been talking, her interest in the conversation evaporating. Sonya huffed out a breath. ¡°The powerful ones are always eccentric,¡± she muttered and got a snort from Marta who glanced her way. ¡°Hey! You know what I mean!¡± Marta nodded politely and took Sonya¡¯s badge back, ¡°Of course, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°You¡¯re making fun of me again,¡± Sonya grumbled. ¡°Of course, ma¡¯am,¡± Marta agreed with the same polite tone but with a small smile teasing at her lips. Sonya sighed and shook her head before walking over to Lillian¡¯s group, she smiled at Greg, ¡°Good luck over there,¡± she said and reached out to shake his hand. He returned the gesture with a nod before she turned back to the others. ¡°Well well, look at all these heroes,¡± She turned towards Bluestar, ¡°What¡¯s your standard fireteam size?¡± She called. ¡°Five,¡± Bluestar called back before turning back to John and murmuring to him. ¡°Hoho,¡± she chuckled before meeting Lillian¡¯s gaze. ¡°You ready?¡± Lillian looked to her friends, Snow who had come so far and had grown into a proud young woman. Val who was just as fiery as ever but was now tempered with self respect and genuine confidence. Alex who had evened out his aggression. Greg who was off to his own adventures and had risen to become one of the most promising of his generation. And then there¡¯s that one, Sonya thought ruefully as she felt a shift in the air behind her, someone racing towards them. ¡°Sorry!¡± Cass called, ¡°I¡¯m coming!¡± Sonya turned around and put her hands on her hips, frowning as the blonde raced towards them, ¡°What have I told you about staying up late, young lady?¡± Cass slid to a stop. The spitting image of her sister if a bit smaller in frame. Liberty, how could you be so cruel to such a beautiful young lady? The girl dipped her head and shoved her hands into her pockets. ¡°Sorry,¡± She murmured, ¡°Was up late playing cards with everybody, ma¡¯am.¡± Sonya let out a breath, A grown woman and she still acts like a teenager, that¡¯s what happens when you live in a repressive household I guess. She shook her head and eased into a smile. At least it really was just oversleeping and not something else. ¡°You are trouble, you know that? I¡¯ve half a mind to keep a close eye on you.¡± He stared at her, stunned, a look of confusion slipping into dawning realization and then mute alarm. ¡°I- I forgot!¡± He gasped. She burst into laughter before leaning in and kissing him on the cheek. He jumped a little at the show of affection and touched his face, stammering incoherently. She laughed again, ¡°Ollie, doesn¡¯t that just mean you went through all that for the right reasons? Rather than just to get off the hook?¡± She pat him on the shoulder, ¡°That¡¯s good. I¡¯m happy you forgot so I could tell you now. As far as the Pandora Committee is concerned, while the outcome was tragic, it was an accident as a result of a power manifestation. Not your fault. You can start your life with the guild with your head held high.¡± Tears welled in his eyes and his glasses fogged a little. He swallowed hard, ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am. I won''t forget what you did for me.¡± She shrugged, ¡°Water under the bridge,¡± she paused, ¡°Are you sure about the codename, though?¡± He returned her smile with one of his own, ¡°I¡¯m owning it now. It¡¯ll remind me to be more careful in the future.¡± Her chest swelled with pride, ¡°Good man,¡± she nodded and then gestured to the portal, ¡°Go on, I¡¯ll be with you all soon.¡± He nodded brightly and turned, a bit of a spring in his step as he darted through the portal, what little belongings he had bouncing in a backpack. Euclidia watched him pass and checked her phone, she turned towards the portal and started to walk through herself, ¡°You guys got five minutes and then I¡¯m closing it!¡± The portal master called, ¡°Get on it!¡± ¡°Ope!¡± Brigid gasped, ¡°See you on the other side, Black Lotus!¡± She said and hustled through as well. Sonya watched her go and then turned to Marta, ¡°You and Cass go on ahead,¡± she said. Marta met her gaze and then nodded, ¡°Right, come along young miss,¡± she said gently and picked up the small mass of bags as if they weighed nothing. ¡°Young miss?¡± Cass asked, moving to catch up with her. ¡°Well, if you¡¯re my Lady¡¯s daughter, would that not make you the young miss?¡± She asked with a smirk on her face as they neared the portal. ¡°Not her mother!¡± Sonya shouted back at them but they¡¯d already gone through the portal. She groaned, ¡°Oh that¡¯s going to stick isn¡¯t it? Damn that boy.¡± She rubbed the side of her head before looking up at Chunhua. Dark eyes met hers and she cleared her throat, shifting a bit on her feet. She let out a breath and smiled at her, ¡°So... this is it for a while, isn¡¯t it?¡± Chunhua glanced at the portal and then back at her, ¡°So it seems,¡± she said and opened her mouth to say more before closing it, she rubbed her neck and blushed, ¡°Sonya, I-¡± Sonya reached out and took her free hand, squeezing her fingers, ¡°Don¡¯t, okay? Just. It was a fun night, you don¡¯t need to say whatever you were going to say,¡± she said quickly holding on to that hand as if it were a lifeline. She didn¡¯t want to hear an apology or an excuse for her leaving in the middle of the night and she didn¡¯t want to hear well... she didn¡¯t even want to think about it. ¡°Look,¡± Sonya felt her chest tighten a little, ¡°You said it yourself, you don¡¯t know what this is, neither of us do. That¡¯s... okay,¡± she smiled, ¡°I want to figure it out. I want to enjoy my life as much as I can while I have the chance to.¡± ¡°When I go through that portal, the deal will take effect,¡± Chunhua said, her strong hands wrapping around Sonya¡¯s. She gave Sonya¡¯s hand a squeeze. ¡°I don¡¯t know how my mind and the deal will reconcile it all, but it won¡¯t change how-¡± Sonya reached up and touched her lips with her fingers, ¡°Shh. That¡¯s bad luck and you know it,¡± she said gently, ¡°Just, be safe in Seattle. Be the hero the world needs you to be, without all that baggage holding you back, okay?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not baggage,¡± Chunhua grunted. Sonya snorted, ¡°Chunhua!¡± she started to grin but Chunhua¡¯s glare shut it down. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t still thinking that you need to die to make things right, are you?¡± Chunhua asked. Sonya pulled her hand away and crossed her arms, squeezing herself a little, ¡°Chunhua, I¡¯m going to have to pay one way or the other. There¡¯s no avoiding justice, you know that, you of all people know that,¡± She said, ¡°I can still enjoy my life until then! Can¡¯t I? What¡¯s wrong with that?¡± Chunhua frowned, ¡°Sonya, god damn it,¡± She reached up and squeezed the bridge of her nose, ¡°I can¡¯t- seriously-¡± she stammered before shaking her head, ¡°You need to stop thinking like that. Okay? Please, for me.¡± Sonya frowned, ¡°I can¡¯t just turn it off!¡± she barked before letting out a sigh, ¡°Can we- can we not- I want to be smiling when I see you go, okay? I¡¯ve accepted that I deserve to be in this timeline, that I belong here. Isn¡¯t that enough?¡± Chunhua searched Sonya¡¯s face her worry only deepening, ¡°Sonya...¡± she sighed, ¡°I¡¯m sorry Sonya. I just- I care.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Sonya said and reached up to touch her cheek, ¡°I love you, and I know you¡¯re not ready to say it back, but I just want you to know and not ever forget it. Be safe, be strong, and make me proud. Do that, and I¡¯ll have no regrets.¡± Chunhua reached up to take the hand on her cheek and her worried face eased into a comfortable smile that made Sonya¡¯s heart ache. ¡°It¡¯s a deal,¡± she said. One chaste kiss, one gentle reminder, one moment between them, and she was gone. Off to her next adventure without painful memories of fire and anguish burdening her mind. Free. Sonya watched that ponytail wave left and right as it passed through the portal behind her. Just like that day in Vegas, Sonya thought, she reached up and gripped at her chest. I¡¯m sorry Chunhua, I¡¯m not ready to let that kind of hope in, not yet. There, alone, standing in front of the waning portal. Sonya took one last breath of mountain air and promised herself that if she could just find that hope, just find that proof it was possible, she would try with all her might to take that path. If not, then at least I tried to find it. She thought and stepped through as well. Chapter 170 Chapter 170 City air was the first thing that greeted Sonya as she stepped through the portal, her eyes fluttering against the change in light. She¡¯d figured it would be brighter in Green Bank but the reflections off the buildings in New York added another level of intensity. The growing chill in the air didn¡¯t help, as far north as they were. Still, she took a deep breath and savored the urban atmosphere as the sounds of cars driving by assailed her hyper acute senses. She smiled to herself before looking up at the building before her. The East Coast ASTA Guild Headquarters. The building was tall, a fairly standard office-building all things considered. There was a small retaining wall around the perimeter of the building with a gate that restricted curious passers by from poking their heads in. The paved ¡®courtyard¡¯ had a few trees to decorate it but otherwise bore a very stark urban feel as one made their way to the glass double-doors. She traced her eyes up the building, six stories above ground with a few beneath for other matters. It took up about a quarter of a block and had been ludicrously expensive given its location. Then again, the Pandora Committee did subsidize half of it, she thought with a smirk. She returned her attention to the doors and the lobby inside where the others were waiting for her. A few voices rang out behind her and she turned to see some pedestrians having stopped to stare. One shouted her name and waved, she beamed at him and waved back before making her way into the building and reveling in the climate controlled environment. ¡°No autographs this time?¡± A snarky voice called out. She turned and raised an eyebrow, grinning at the youthful face marred with dark bags under his eyes and a mess of brown hair on his head, he was standing next to Cass and the two looked like they¡¯d been talking by the smile on the girl¡¯s face. ¡°Amos! You came out of hiding?¡± He shrugged, ¡°Figured I¡¯d greet you guys at least,¡± he said and put his hand on his hip, ¡°I gotta take a flight to Minneapolis in a few hours, most of what we recovered from the old building has already been moved over.¡± She met his gaze, what he meant to say was that they¡¯d finally finished sorting through the rubble and dug out anything incriminating. Now, he was satisfied with leaving the rest to the demolition crew. She nodded, ¡°Good to hear,¡± she said, ¡°Anything proprietary missing?¡± She asked, glancing towards Otis and nodding to him with a pleasant smile, her stomach churned a little at it but appearances were important. Jessica stood a few paces away from him, marveling at the lobby before glancing her way and offering a sweet smile that didn¡¯t sit quite right with Sonya before walking over to the front desk and leaning on it. ¡°Nah,¡± he said, drawing her attention back, ¡°We had security get there pretty quickly,¡± he shoved his hands into the pockets of his lab coat before glancing at the new heroes standing off to the side, watching their conversation. Sonya walked over and put a hand on Lillian''s shoulder and gave it a squeeze when he spoke, ¡°Well, now that you guys are here I can start working on improvements for your hardware more regularly,¡± he said with a grin before shooting a look at Snow, ¡°Considering my offer?¡± The petite girl crossed her arms, ¡°I¡¯m thinking about it,¡± she said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to lose out on opportunities for field work,¡± she added and glanced towards Lily. He glanced between the two of them and shrugged, ¡°Sure, no problem. Just let me know. Door¡¯s open,¡± he said before walking past them and glancing at Marta with a sleepy grin, ¡°See you at the new place?¡± No?v(el)B\\jnn She inclined her head, ¡°Looking forward to it, Doctor.¡± He snorted and meandered away, ¡°Later newbies! Enjoy my old room Cass! Later Blue! Say hi to Bandit for me!¡± he called and walked out the door. His words appeared in Sonya¡¯s hud. She replied before turning to Bluestar and the new recruits. ¡°Well! Take it away, Guildmaster!¡± ¨C Lillian glanced at Snow who gave her a relaxed smile as the new heroes looked around the lobby for a few moments. It was spacious with a post-modern design that hinted strongly at Sonya¡¯s personal aesthetics. Sleek with lots of emphasis on the grayscale. The walls were a stark white while the furniture had black accents and cushions. She spotted Marc turning in a full circle, admiring the place while Bluestar looked them over thoughtfully. A bubble of excitement welled up in her chest, Here we go! ¡°Welcome to our Guild!¡± Bluestar began, brushing her brown hair back and crossing her hands at her waist, ¡°This is the lobby where you will see the occasional pandora or local representative coming in either to speak with me or to represent a freelance hero looking to be recruited. We¡¯re closed to business at the moment as I want to give you guys my full attention,¡± she began before gesturing to a set of elevators to the rear of the room, just past the front desk where a bright eyed young man sat, cropped black hair hidden beneath a black cap with the ASTA logo on it. He was speaking with Jessica when he straightened and turned to everyone, waving at them. Lillian waved back awkwardly and glanced at Jessica, restraining a frown. I don¡¯t know how to feel about her. She¡¯s a good hero but... Greg. ¡°That¡¯s Grant, the head of security in the building, his ability allows him to be an unparalleled security guard and desk operator,¡± she said quickly. ¡°Hi guys! Welcome to the family!¡± He said brightly and scanned their faces with his gaze, ¡°Alright! Got you memorized! Go on through!¡± ¡°Thank you Grant,¡± Bluestar said politely before turning to Sonya and Marta, ¡°Are you staying?¡± Sonya put her hands on her hips, ¡°Like I was going to explain a moment ago, ASTA acts as an intermediary for you guys. Funding heroes isn¡¯t cheap and making sure you¡¯re taking care of and have the hardware you need is just part of the process. Private companies like Cola Cola seek to sponsor popular heroes just like one would sponsor an athlete,¡± she continued, ¡°Most freelance heroes have a hard time getting in touch with or negotiating with those companies, that¡¯s where we come in. We handle the contracts and make sure you get the most out of it.¡± Lillian stared, ¡°So... what? Do I need to wear the company logo on my uniform?¡± she asked hesitantly. Alex snorted out a laugh and Cass shook her head. What? She squinted at them. John actually chimed in with his usual monotone, ¡°No, commercials and product placement are strictly used during public events, they can also publicly claim to sponsor you, there are laws about branding on hero uniforms,¡± he reminded her. She blinked and thought back to the Pandora regulations course and nodded, ¡°Right, there was that,¡± she flushed a little, ¡°I had a hard time with that test,¡± she muttered and Snow pat her on the shoulder. ¡°I did too,¡± Val sighed. ¡°I offered to help you study,¡± Jessica said offhandedly and got a glare from Val. She held up her hands in an appeasing gesture and rolled her eyes, stepping behind Marc. She¡¯s really changed since hanging around Marc more often. I wonder if there¡¯s more to the break-up than just Greg leaving. Lillan let out a sigh, Best not think about it, drama isn¡¯t my thing. ¡°Where does the money go?¡± Marc asked pointedly. Sonya turned his way, ¡°Fifty percent goes towards ASTA which basically goes right back to you guys, hardware, equipment, transportation, this building, and all that,¡± Sonya said, ¡°The rest is yours. For comparison, Marion and Wizney take about seventy-five percent,¡± she said as the elevator chimed and she gasped, holding her hand to her mouth, ¡°Oh! Sorry Bluestar, I¡¯m butting in aren¡¯t I?¡± she apologized as Lillian reeled from the information. Wait, wait! Isn¡¯t that a lot of money? Bluestar shrugged, ¡°It¡¯s something they need to familiarize themselves with,¡± she said and stepped out into a large lounge with several screens hanging from the ceiling. There were a few men and women inside talking to one another. They glanced over but got a look from Bluestar and nodded to her, making themselves scarce. Lillian frowned but Bluestar placated her with a smile, ¡°You¡¯ll get to meet the others later,¡± she said quickly, ¡°Now, brief overview of the other floors.¡± She cleared her throat, ¡°Second floor is for the rest of the management team. The agents who support you on your assignments. It¡¯s also where the miners meet ahead of joining you at a dungeon site,¡± she said, ¡°Third floor is the Armory, it has a few layers of security as well and it¡¯s where you can store your gear between assignments. It¡¯s also where items from dungeons are stored that are considered to be too dangerous to be on display.¡± She gestured around herself, ¡°This is the fourth floor, dispatch. Your daily schedule, patrol routes, the carter radar report, and other information can all be found here,¡± she pointed at a door to the left, ¡°There¡¯s a cafeteria over there,¡± she said before pointing to another to the right, ¡°That¡¯s the briefing room,¡± she pointed up, ¡°Above us is the fifth floor where there is space for a portal from the Pandora Committee and where the Pandora Committee liaison is stationed. Her name is Tina, make sure to say hello when you get a chance,¡± she let out a breath, ¡°Finally, the sixth floor is administration, including my office and the offices of the investigative team.¡± She put her hands on her hips, ¡°And that¡¯s the general layout, feel free to explore,¡± she said, ¡°Once you¡¯re ready we¡¯ll meet in the briefing room and talk about specifics. You all learned about patrol patterns and assignments at the camp so I don¡¯t need to go over that,¡± she said before turning to John, ¡°John? With me please?¡± He nodded, ¡°Ma¡¯am,¡± he said and moved to follow her as she made her way to the briefing room. Lillian tilted her head and Snow leaned towards her, whispering directly into her ears with her ability, ¡°John¡¯s her understudy, he wants to join the guildmaster¡¯s team directly and work with administration.¡± She nodded slowly, surprised. Maybe she¡¯d just been so focused on her own stuff that she hadn¡¯t picked up on it. He had been talking to Sonya a lot, now that she thought about it. This must be why. ¡°Ollie?¡± Sonya cut into her thoughts, ¡°You¡¯re free to go upstairs if you¡¯re still interested. They¡¯ll be happy to show you around,¡± she said and Lillian glanced at Ollie who brightened visibly. It was weird, unless he was the center of attention it felt like it was hard to notice him. He adjusted his glasses, ¡°Oh most certainly!¡± He said eagerly, ¡°I wanted to join the investigative side of hero work ever since I heard about it,¡± he added and shot a glance towards Marc and Jessica, ¡°I¡¯m not exactly built for the more intensive field work, but I can handle myself if necessary.¡± Marc shrugged, ¡°Suit yourself,¡± he said and Ollie made his way to the elevator, he turned and waved at everyone before sending a sheepish look towards Cass who gave him a smile and a nod, ¡°Later!¡± He said and dipped inside. ¡°Bye!¡± Lillian called after him, her lips turning down a little. She hadn¡¯t thought about the fact that several of their group would not want to do the more standard fare of hero work, but she was glad that someone as talented as Ollie would be helping learn about the bad guys out there. She brightened a little at the thought and turned towards the screens hanging around them, putting her hands on her hips. Snow, Val, Marc, Cass, Alex, Jessica, and Lillian herself all looked around the room. Behind her, Sonya cleared her throat and checked her watch. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ve stayed as long as I can, I¡¯ll be back in a few hours to pick you up, Cass. The rest of you,¡± She squared her shoulders as the others turned to face her and she brought her hand to her heart, ¡°Thank you, for beginning your service, and welcome to the life of a Hero. We¡¯ll all speak again soon. I¡¯m looking for sponsorships for all of you,¡± she said scanning their faces, ¡°Today, your story begins,¡± she said and walked to the elevator. Lillian felt her chest swell and she clenched her fists, looking back to the monitors. A few paces away she heard Marc murmur beneath his breath, ¡°Couldn¡¯t have said it better myself.¡± Side Story: Gravitic 1 Side Story: Gravitic 1 The first thing that Greg realized as he stepped through the portal was that dungeon portals were something special. He¡¯d been into the camp dungeon several times after the raid, learning about it, about how the space inside worked, and practicing against the monsters. The portal into the dungeon had been seamless, he hadn¡¯t felt a thing as he¡¯d come and gone. It was like stepping over a line and that was it. Euclidia¡¯s portal, on the other hand, took him by surprise. It was a fragmentary moment, but he felt himself moving through space in a compressed instant. His mind recalled seeing... something, a place that couldn''t possibly exist. It all came together into a jarring feeling that sent him reeling as he passed through. He staggered forward as he caught himself on the other side, resting his hands on his knees as Euclidia walked past him with her arms crossed behind her back. She glanced over her shoulder, ¡°Sensitive to it, huh?¡¯ She asked with barely concealed amusement. ¡°That sucks!¡± She laughed and kept walking, ¡°Walk it off, new guy!¡± ¡°What- what was that?¡± He asked, breathing hard, he took in his surroundings. He was standing in a garden lined with statue podiums. He blinked, wasn¡¯t he just here the other day? His eyes went wide, they were inside the Garden of Heroes at the Pandora Headquarters! Euclidia just brought them straight through past security and nobody was reacting at all! Euclidia stopped and turned back to him, ¡°What was what?¡± ¡°What was that place? We- we went through something,¡± He said, catching his breath as his mind reeled from a lot of things at the same time. He stood up and brushed his lips with his sleeve, ¡°It was all-¡± ¡°All white?¡± She interrupted. He froze, ¡°You know?¡± ¡°Course I know!¡± She snorted, ¡°I make the damn portals,¡± she said with a dismissive wave of her hand, ¡°It¡¯s the Backrooms. Or that''s what those of us who¡¯ve seen it instinctively know what to call it. Give it a moment to settle.¡± He stared blankly at her, ¡°The... internet meme?¡± he asked, incredulous as his heart rate slowed. His mind started to catch up with him and his lips thinned into a line. ¡°That-¡± he paused and tilted his head, ¡°Why-¡± he narrowed his eyes, ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s... the place that portals go through. It¡¯s what makes them work.¡± ¡°Bingo! Your mind caught up quick! That¡¯s good!¡± Euclidia said and waved to him, ¡°Come on, come on! I wanna get back to my room and you still need to get your badge made. Also...¡± She gestured casually with a wave of her hand and that glowing cube appeared over it. An instant later a ring of smooth stone appeared in the air to his right and three people fell tumbling out of it. ¡°Introductions!¡± She crowed, spinning on her heel and grinning at the pile of people. ¡°That¡¯s twelve wins for me!¡± Greg hopped back from the trio and whipped his head around, ¡°H-uh?¡± he stammered before clearing his throat and forcing his heart to calm down. He still felt jumpy from the weirdness of the portal. He exhaled and looked the trio over as they scrambled to their feet. All three of them were wearing crisp-if a bit dirty from their fall-gray uniforms marked with the torch symbol of the Pandora Committee. There were plates of armor on them as well. Heroes? Pandora specific heroes? They cursed and muttered to themselves as they brushed off their clothes before turning to look at Greg. From left to right there was a huge guy who still looked to be around Greg¡¯s age, all three of them were from the looks of it. He had short brown hair and was heavily muscled, a pair of beady blue eyes flicked his way and he nodded gruffly. The second was a young blonde-haired woman with almost frighteningly dark eyes that seemed to suck in the light around them. She let out a sigh and shook her head, ¡°Knew it wasn¡¯t going to work,¡± she mumbled as the third pat her on her shoulder. The third was an athletic looking guy with short black hair and eyes that sparkled with good humor and positivity, he beamed at his friend. ¡°We¡¯ll get her next time!¡± ¡°You always say that!¡± She groaned. ¡°Oh don¡¯t be like that, you had fun!¡± He teased. ¡°Hardly,¡± she grumbled, ¡°I find more amusement laying waste to lurkers than enduring your pathetic-¡± she trailed off and glanced up the steps at Greg. ¡°Hero,¡± she said flatly, looking him up and down before huffing and stepping forward just out of the guy¡¯s reach. The guy turned to resume what he was doing and tripped, falling on his face. ¡°Oof¡± He scrambled to his feet and brushed himself off, ¡°Hey now, what¡¯d they say about using powers on the premises?¡± ¡°No idea what you¡¯re talking about,¡± The woman said flatly, ¡°Stop being clumsy and let¡¯s report in,¡± she said and ascended the stairs. She walked past Greg and eyed him once before immediately looking bored and moving along. The other three with Greg shifted a bit uneasily as she passed, the guy hastening up behind her. That was when another noise filled the garden. At this point Greg had finally relaxed and didn¡¯t so much as blink when Euclidia squealed with delight. He turned and watched the woman charge straight at the lady in the cheongsam and throw herself forward in a lunge. The woman scoffed and Euclidia suddenly fell face first towards the ground only to vanish through it. A moment later she fell through the air above the woman and landed, wrapping her arms around her from behind and giving her a big hug, ¡°Keekee! You¡¯re back!¡± The woman made face somewhere between disgust and exhaustion, ¡°That isn¡¯t my name,¡± she sighed, ¡°Hello, Euclidia.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Molly to you!¡± Euclidia whined, ¡°Why you gotta be so distant, we¡¯re friends, right?¡± ¡°Mm,¡± The woman grunted noncommittally. ¡°Yo, Euclidia!¡± The guy barked, walking up. Who are these guys? Greg wondered, staring at them. Something felt... dangerous about both of them. Nietz elbowed him in the side and raised an eyebrow, ¡°You don¡¯t recognize them?¡± he whispered. ¡°No? Should I?¡± Greg asked. ¡°Those are the two newest members of the International Team, top dog heroes. Qilin and First Wind, some of the biggest powerhouses on earth,¡± Nietz said, his voice filled with admiration. Greg blinked, a thrill running up his spine as he turned to look at the trio as they bickered and spoke. ¡°...woah.¡± Side Story: Gravitic 2 Side Story: Gravitic 2 Is this really happening? Greg thought as he walked down the hallway. They¡¯d finally made it inside and he couldn¡¯t be more baffled by his immediate company. Most of his ¡®security team¡¯ were walking at a comfortable distance, Hammond and Locke were pretty anti-social it seemed. He wondered if they¡¯d be better with civilians or if they signed up for this role because they didn¡¯t like people or something. Nietz on the other hand was walking alongside him with a big grin on his face. That wasn¡¯t the weird part, though. Ahead of him, three of the most powerful people on earth were casually walking and talking as if the Pandora Committee didn¡¯t categorize them as walking nukes. Stop tailspinning like a fanboy and listen in! He chastised himself, leaning his head forward to listen a bit more carefully to what they were talking about. You don¡¯t get this chance every day. ¡°How was Dharan?¡± Euclidia asked, nudging Qilin with her elbow. Qilin turned her head ever-so-slightly in her direction and sighed, ¡°Messy, but not enough to alleviate my boredom,¡± she muttered and brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, ¡°The monsters were pathetically weak. I don¡¯t understand why the Pandora Committee doesn¡¯t just send a strike team in to finish the job.¡± ¡°Eh,¡± First Wind cut in, ¡°Not like we have any clue how to close a dungeon break once it happens.¡± ¡°I assume just kill the boss,¡± Qilin clipped, shooting him a glare. ¡°Why are you still here? I¡¯m speaking with Euclidia now.¡± ¡°We¡¯re walking in the same direction, hot stuff,¡± He shot back before looking towards Euclidia, ¡°How was the camp? Any badass new recruits? I see you brought one with you,¡± he said and glanced back to meet Greg¡¯s eyes, ¡°Sup, kid. You got a cool power?¡± Greg¡¯s mouth went dry but he managed to open his mouth before Euclidia chimed in, ¡°His codename is Gravitic, Luca,¡± she said patiently before immediately brandishing her wild grin again and saying, ¡°He¡¯s going to be working for me for a while, joining the Logistics Corps.¡± First Wind stopped walking and turned, raising an eyebrow, ¡°Good power and leadership qualities, huh?¡± He shoved his hands into his pockets and leaned forward to get a good look at Greg¡¯s face as Greg and his team came to a stop a few feet away. Euclidia stopped as well while Qilin let out a sigh and kept walking, unwilling to entertain the scenario. ¡°Gravity powers? I¡¯d like someone like you on my team. We could raise some serious hell against villains, man. Whadda ya say?¡± Greg caught Euclidia¡¯s raised eyebrow out of the corner of his eye as he kept his focus on First Wind¡¯s face. There was a moment where he was half-tempted just to say yes in the face of the walking hurricane but managed to school himself up enough to speak his mind. He wasn¡¯t the bundle of nerves that joined the camp ten weeks ago, after all. ¡°No thanks, man,¡± Greg said and jerked a thumb over his shoulder, ¡°I¡¯m getting this training to support my team back home.¡± First Wind made a face that almost looked angry for a moment before he snorted and pushed his sunglasses up, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s the good stuff. A man who cares about his gang. I dig it,¡± he grinned, ¡°Well, if you end up getting assigned to helping the international team on occasion with logi-whatever, look my group up. Might be worth having someone with some talent to listen to,¡± he shot some finger guns before turning away to walk again, ¡°Hey! Qilin, where ya goin?¡± ¡°To the lounge!¡± She called back behind her. ¡°I¡¯m tired of standing!¡± ¡°Then let me carry you or somethin¡¯ babe!¡± He shouted and started hustling down the hallway. ¡°Ugh!¡± She shot back, disgusted, ¡°You are foul! Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Greg let out a breath and Nietz clapped him on the shoulder before giving him a thumbs up. He grinned at the guy and offered a nod of thanks only to notice that the other two had suddenly moved in much closer. He blinked and turned to see Hammond right behind him and Locke at his left. He hadn¡¯t even noticed them moving into his space. They were both staring daggers at First Wind¡¯s back. Locke¡¯s lips twitched, ¡°He¡¯s prone to collateral damage, watch out for him,¡± she grunted and turned his way before meeting his confused gaze. ¡°What?¡± He cleared his throat, ¡°You guys move fast.¡± The holographic planet spun rapidly before displaying North America, a red dot flashed and a line stretched out of it giving a string of numbers followed by specific details. CRUSADER, ACTIVE HERO, GROWTH-TYPE (EPIC) CURRENT LOCATION: ASTA GUILD, EAST COAST, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK. TARGET IS INSIDE KNOWN STRUCTURE, PORTAL ROOM COORDINATES READY. ¡°Oh, she¡¯s a growth type! Cool! I didn¡¯t know that,¡± Euclidia said thoughtfully, ¡°She¡¯s like Nietz then.¡± He turned to her, ¡°Nietz is like Crusader?¡± he asked. ¡°Oh yeah! You guys didn¡¯t get to talk much, you¡¯ll have a chance later,¡± she said, rubbing her neck, ¡°Let¡¯s just say that what doesn¡¯t kill him, makes him stronger.¡± Greg paused, ¡°Thats... Intense.¡± ¡°You¡¯re telling me,¡± she laughed, ¡°Locke has a form of mind control that requires physical contact and Hammond...¡± she snorted, ¡°You ever play pocket demons?¡± He squinted at her, ¡°The monster catching game?¡± She pointed at him, ¡°That¡¯s the one!¡± His face went deadpan, ¡°You¡¯re kidding.¡± ¡°Nope!¡± She laughed, ¡°His ability is technically Epic-tier but it has a ¡®mythic¡¯ descriptor because there¡¯s no evidence so far that he can¡¯t take control of a mythic creature.¡± ¡°Why Hammond, then, that¡¯s a weird name,¡± He asked. ¡°His ability uses amber,¡± she said and rolled her eyes, ¡°Cinephiles.¡± He raised his eyebrows, getting it, ¡°Oh!¡± he cleared his throat, ¡°So what¡¯s my role?¡± ¡°Well,¡± she said, turning back to the nexus, ¡°Nexus, cancel order,¡± she said before putting her hands on her hips, ¡°You¡¯ll be learning about how we organize strike teams and support the international team. While we do that you¡¯ll learn about how missions are handled and what goes into dealing with a particularly nasty villain when it comes up,¡± she tilted her head, ¡°Finally, you¡¯re going to learn more about your abilities, I have something I¡¯m working on.¡± He blinked at her, ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You¡¯re gonna help me get into the Backrooms,¡± she said with a grin. Chapter 171 Chapter 171 UUNS! UUNS! UUNS! The thrumming beat rippled through the building, the base pounding against skin and sending the dancers into a frenzy. Men and women from all walks of life and backgrounds crashed against one another as the light flashed and a multicolored glow washed over them in the otherwise dark chamber. There were screams of laughter, gasps, shouts, and howls of excitement. The stage beyond the dance floor remained empty, a single spotlight hanging down above it as mist poured into the room. Above the stage, a tinted glass wall looked over them, the vague outline of a shape with glowing red eyes could be seen just past it. One of the men in the crowd threw a fist in the air, ¡°Let''s hear it for the Ferryman!¡± The roar in response was deafening. The pair of glowing red eyes didn¡¯t so much as blink, but the head they were attached to nodded once in recognition before turning away from the window. More bodies clashed, more madness ensued, the party kept going as the music began to slow down. A few looked up at the stage expectantly. The same guy that screamed for the Ferryman held a glowing wand over his head, ¡°Tenebra!¡± he shouted. ¡°Te Ne Bra!¡± ¡°TE NE BRA!¡± More joined him. ¡°TE NE BRA! TE NE BRA! TE NE BRA!¡± The chorus grew and grew as more waved glowing wands over their heads, hopping and moshing about here and there. Their chant nearly shook the building until a cloud of black smoke boiled out from just off-stage. The sight of it caused it all to boil over, shrieks and shouts of delight rose to the ceiling as a woman skipped out onto the stage with a microphone in her hand. She wore a short puffy gothic skirt and long black stockings leaving just a bit of exposed skin. Her high heels clacked against the ground as she threw her incredible length of black hair back, her own iridescent red eyes gleaming despite the spotlight that fixated on her. She threw a hand up and waved, ¡°Wassup Villains!¡± She called, ¡°Riding the waves of the Styx?¡± She shouted and held a hand up to her ear. ¡°Drowning in ¡®em!¡± Came a chorus of replies. She threw her head back and laughed, ¡°Yeah! That¡¯s what I¡¯m talkin¡¯ about! How many henchies we got in here?¡± She held her hand over her eyes and pretended to scope out the audience. A sizeable number of them roared in response. ¡°Woah!¡± She gasped and held her hands up to her mouth, ¡°Do your bosses know you¡¯re out partying?¡± she asked, feigning shock before cracking a wicked grin, ¡°Solo acts! Sound off!¡± She crowed into the microphone and another rousing shout responded to her, ¡°And where are the heavy hitters? Lets hear those supervillains roar!¡± The whole building shook in response to a gathering of voices that bellowed in greeting. She pretended to stumble back, throwing her hands over her head, ¡°Woah woah woah! There¡¯s a lot of you guys here tonight! I wonder what the occasion is?¡± She asked, tapping her lips, ¡°What could it be!¡± ¡°Top ten! Top ten! TOP TEN!¡± The crowd chanted. She crossed her arms and nodded sagely before spinning and pointing at the wall behind her. The black space burst into life and turned into a live news feed of the Pandora Committee assembly. A number of stuffy people in suits and ties sat at tables speaking quietly to one another with the Chairman¡¯s podium in the background, ¡°That¡¯s right folks! Top ten! New Chairman is revising the roster! Who¡¯s it gonna be?¡± She scanned the crowd, ¡°You all place your bets? Toss those coins! Get that money flowing! The Ferryman is watching!¡± she goaded them, ¡°With the Queen¡¯s Inner Circle quiet these days it¡¯s anyone''s game!¡± She tilted her head and pouted, ¡°I hope Blackrazor doesn¡¯t get pushed out,¡± she said with a wistful sigh, ¡°He¡¯s so edgy,¡± she threw her hand up in a dramatic faint before standing up as the crowd shouted and some even booed. She smirked, ¡°Keep it in your pants boys,¡± she sniffed and strutted across the stage, ¡°Who all thinks Liberty¡¯s gonna get the top spot?¡± More boos, even louder this time. She cupped her ear with her hand and nodded gravely, ¡°Yeah, yeah! I hear you! That bitch has got it comin¡¯ doesn¡¯t she! Who does she think she is?¡± She held her hand up to the side of her mouth conspiratorially as she spoke into the microphone, ¡°Way I hear it, Ishtar herself is gonna place a bounty on that uppity holier-than-thou skank if she pushes her luck any more,¡± she rubbed her fingers together greedily, ¡°That¡¯s some real cash money right there, yeah? Who wants that money?¡± She shouted and held her microphone out to the crowd, they roared in response, stomping their feet. ¡°Well,¡± she turned and pointed to the herself, ¡°Don¡¯t just take it from me!¡± She said and threw her hands out, a wave of black mist washing briefly over the crowd. The roaring and shouting died down. She walked to the edge of the stage and sat down, swinging her legs, ¡°Not just from me, maybe,¡± she swept her gaze over the crowd one more time, ¡°Just maybe, you¡¯d like to hear that kinda thing from the woman herself? Yeah? Yeah!¡± The crowd cheered and grew quiet as the volume rose on the screen. A woman in a dark suit with thick glasses stepped out to stand behind the podium. She had a steely gaze that she cast over the entire room. She brushed her dark bob haircut back over an ear and began to speak, ¡°Welcome, Leaders and Representatives of our new Heroic Age. Today we call into order a session of the Pandora Committee. This is the first gathering of its kind since the attack on our first meeting and the death of the previous Chairman. I''d ask for a moment of silence as we prepare ourselves for what we must discuss.¡± Silence reigned on the screen as the villains in the crowd spoke among themselves, the new Chairman straightened her shoulders, ¡°As is right and proper I want to thank those who made today possible. We have reorganized the holding structure of the International Team and it is now based out of this very building. This structure is now one of the safest in the world,¡± she continued, ¡°All national representatives are present, this committee also recognizes the presence of several heads and representatives of the various support organizations from across the globe. According to our charter, they are here in a capacity to provide advice and submit proposals only.¡± She nodded to a few people off screen, ¡°With that, may this session of the Grand Pandora Committee begin.¡± ¡°Our first order of business is the assessment of exigent threat levels amongst the villains of the world, in the past we held a vote during these sessions and discussed additions and changes. These can be reassessed during the open portion of this committee, however, in the months between the last session and this one, we have ratified a new process. The most wanted will be verified by international poll and submitted ahead of time,¡± she said before looking at the gathered representatives, ¡°Are all representatives present satisfied with their choices?¡± A chorus of ayes followed many of the representatives tapping a button on their desks. She glanced down at her own podium and waited several moments before nodding. ¡°The ayes have it, it is unanimous. We will proceed with the updated listing as chosen during the out-of-session ballot,¡± she said, ¡°The most notable change shall be the placement of the Supervillain, Liberty, in the position of most wanted. Her crimes against the public, humanity, and the pandora committee in general are unconscionable. She has declared responsibility for the assassination of my predecessor and sent a strike force against one of the hero training camps. With her growing organization and the dangers posed by her own powers, we have no choice but to prioritize her arrest over any other.¡± ¡°Following her,¡± she continued, ¡°These adjustments have been made...¡± With her words a list appeared on the screen and the night-club exploded with noise. LIBERTY Updated: Crimes against humanity, attacking government facilities, murder, war crimes, assassination, terrorism, high villainy. THE COMPANIONSPICE KING EREBUS Updated: Sedition, warmongering, acts of war, high villainy, open rebellion against a sovereign state. SIR HALLOWAY Updated: Capable of interfering with the Pandora Committee Portal Network. Assassination. Direct subordinate of Liberty. KERAUNA Updated: Identified. Previously: Unknown Electrical-type Mythic. BLACKRAZORBLIGHTKINGSHARKARCHON Updated: Human Experimentation, murder, high villainy, grand larceny, terrorism. BLACK SONG TENEBRA Updated: Encouraging acts of villainy, high villainy, murder, instigation of riots, terrorism, direct connection to the villain underworld leadership. The shouts and laughter rang out throughout the club as money exchanged hands and a few ran up to the betting counter to either claim winnings or beg for mercy. Tenebra stared at the screen, shocked. She turned on her heel and stomped her feet, glaring at the crowd, ¡°Oooh! I knew I shouldn¡¯t have let you guys stream my concerts!¡± She whined. "The boss is gonna be so mad!" Above the writhing mass that was the dancefloor of the Styx, Ishtar looked down with Charon at her side. Behind her helmet, she smiled. I¡¯m coming for you, Liberty. Chapter 172 Chapter 172 Ishtar turned away from the glass and with a thought the cooling system inside the helmet began to wind down, a low hiss of pressure releasing came out of it. She rolled her neck and reached up to touch it, the helmet suddenly turning a sharp shade of blue before dissolving into millions of tiny cubes of blue light. They scattered in the air, returning to her storage space. She reached up and tossed her hair out, sighing as she enjoyed the taste of the air before turning her attention to the room around her. The ¡®Oversight Lounge¡¯ as Charon called it, was where he met with villains the world over. There, with the help of her contracts and sometimes Colin himself, he made deals on her behalf or for his own benefit. Charon stood next to her, leaning on his wicked cane. His milky white eyes had a faint reddish light within them. He¡¯s growing stronger. His appearance had changed once again compared to the last time she¡¯d seen him. Before he had a slightly darker jaw stitched on using his grafting ability as well as jet-black skinned forearms and hands. Now a portion of the upper-right side of his face had been removed and replaced with slightly lighter skin than his own grayscale. Sonya snorted in the back of her mind. He¡¯s starting to look like a panda. Ishtar smirked. He does, doesn¡¯t he? Charon raised an eyebrow and read her face for a moment before reaching up to touch the stitched on flesh, ¡°Like it? Came from a defensive ability user.¡± ¡°Did it now?¡± she asked, ¡°Anyone I know?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Charon said with a shrug, ¡°She was an up-and-comer who got a little too big for her britches, and tried to steal one of my cabs.¡± ¡°That¡¯s inadvisable,¡± Ishtar commented with a laugh, ¡°Is the ability a good one?¡± ¡°My skin can now take on a rubber-like quality and reflect most blunt strikes and even bullets, to a degree. Post-pandora arms are not on that list, unfortunately. Every little bit helps, though,¡± he said casually, tapping his cane against the floor. He shifted his gaze towards the door, ¡°Tenebra is here.¡± Ishtar pursed her lips as a flickering static swept over her face, blurring her visage. Charon and the other people in the room were more than permitted to see what she really looked like. Tenebra had not yet earned that favor and her habits were making it difficult to trust her with such sensitive information. ¡°She¡¯s new,¡± Ishtar said as the augmented reality settled, the illusion fully distorting her features for those she didn¡¯t want to see. It wasn¡¯t as imposing as the mask, but it would do for this conversation. ¡°I heard she suddenly appeared in Australia and started stirring the pot.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Charon said, glancing again at the door and cracking an amused smile, ¡°She¡¯s impatient, brash, and more than anything, wholly untested on the level that we are at. Yet she¡¯s managed to make quite a name for herself. Her ability is strong and quite similar to Blackrazor¡¯s.¡± Someone scoffed off to the side and the two of them turned to see Blackrazor sitting on one of the couches next to a very calm but pale middle aged woman with dark brown hair clinging to a luxurious purse. He tilted his head, ¡°She is a rabble rouser, not a killer.¡± ¡°Not always mutually exclusive, you¡¯d do well to keep that opinion to yourself when she comes in. She¡¯s a bit of a fan of yours,¡± Charon pointed out patiently before turning back to Ishtar, off to the side, Blackrazor frowned and looked away, ¡°I saw value in her ability and popularity and reached out. She¡¯s become quite the asset and has brought more and more business to the Styx. I¡¯m going to have to expand soon.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll work on relocating you, I have something in mind for the future, do what you can with the space you have for now,¡± Ishtar said. We do? I do. Are you going to elaborate? No. It¡¯s not pressing and you need to focus on Liberty. We¡¯ll get there, I¡¯m sure. Tch. Fine! Fine! Fair enough. Ishtar kept her expression plain even as she sighed inwardly. There was only so much she could share with Sonya without distracting her. It felt at times that Ishtar had taken all of the focus from her, she was always eager to jump into the next big thing. It just wasn¡¯t practical. She was learning, though, and steadily smoothing out the wrinkles in her personality that had developed as a result of her trauma and their schism. In front of her, Charon nodded, ¡°I appreciate it,¡± he said and gestured to the door before schooling an expression of frustration onto his face. It wasn¡¯t real, but it was good enough. The door opened and Tenebra swept inside looking flustered. She crossed her arms, ¡°Why make me wait boss? I-¡± she froze as she took in the room, her eyes first landing on Ishtar¡¯s blurred visage. ¡°No helmet. Got it,¡± she murmured before looking at the others in the room. Besides Ishtar and Charon there were four people present. Blackrazor sat next to Bernetta Lucci, the European head of Ishtar¡¯s ¡®club¡¯. It was an organization of those who had made deals with her to ensure their own wealth and privilege during this new time. In exchange, they heeded her requests when she wanted something done in the region. A shadow government of sorts. On the other couch sat a sandy-blonde haired man in a shiny suit. His legs were crossed comfortably and an easy smile spread across his face. Prichard Earl, the North American head of Ishtar¡¯s ¡®club¡¯. She¡¯d recruited him during her visit to Vegas on that fateful day when her personality crystallized into something distinct from Sonya¡¯s. Next to Prichard was Cass, or rather, Taurus. She wore her blonde hair back in thick braids and her body was covered in an elastic leather-like armor that Amos had developed to adapt to her size-changing ability. Her face was concealed by a domino mask and a small respirator over her mouth. ¡°Find out his real position on it,¡± Ishtar said before glancing towards Blackrazor, ¡°Have your people look into him and his political rivals. We¡¯ll support him rather than tear him down. A unified Europe will be easier to direct.¡± ¡°Yes ma¡¯am,¡± Blackrazor said with a nod. ¡°Now onto the primary reason I¡¯ve gathered you all here,¡± Ishtar said and leaned back to cross her legs, ¡°Liberty.¡± ¡°That bounty will put her into a tight position,¡± Prichard said with a grin, ¡°She¡¯ll-¡± ¡°No it won¡¯t,¡± A raspy voice cut him off. He turned, surprised, and looked at the girl who had been sitting silently next to him. Her arms were crossed and her gaze was steady as she looked straight at Ishtar. ¡°It¡¯ll only annoy her. Something¡¯s changed as well, she¡¯s acting differently and taking measured action.¡± Prichard frowned at Taurus, ¡°Explain.¡± Taurus shot him a withering look and he cleared his throat but she spoke anyway, ¡°Her ability has a lot of facets to it that people aren¡¯t aware of. I¡¯ve seen the things she can do. Most of the functions of her ability she doesn¡¯t bother to use since it doesn¡¯t empower her. That¡¯s changed and so it¡¯s become relevant,¡± she sighed and leaned back, looking at the others. ¡°You¡¯re aware that she can create agents like the Round Table as well as provide temporary power boosts to those who follow her?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen the recordings from the raid, yes,¡± Blackrazor said, ¡°I¡¯ve been studying them thoroughly,¡± he frowned, ¡°She crossed a line with the Night Society that I fully intend to avenge.¡± The others nodded as well and Taurus continued, ¡°The first time her ability manifested there was only one person who truly idolized her at the time,¡± she cleared her throat, ¡°Her little sister.¡± Tenebra, who had been sitting in silence for most of the meeting sat up, ¡°How would you-¡± Taurus shot her a glare and the idol-turned-supervillain blinked before her eyes widened, ¡°Oh... Interesting.¡± Ishtar glanced towards Tenebra, ¡°We¡¯re going to have to talk after this, Tenebra,¡± Ishtar said flatly and Tenebra paled but nodded. Ishtar turned back to Taurus, ¡°Continue, Taurus.¡± ¡°Her little sister was strengthened by Liberty¡¯s ability as you might expect. She wasn¡¯t even an adult yet and still she possessed physical strength comparable to a fighter well above her weight class at the time. Anyone who idolizes her experiences this,¡± Taurus explained. ¡°We know that much,¡± Charon said, ¡°What about the juicy bits?¡± ¡°Her ability is thematic,¡± Taurus said, ¡°She can designate places and objects to ¡®represent¡¯ her. She rarely uses this function but she can effectively declare a building or area as hers and as long as no one contests it, that place or object will take on unusual properties. They don¡¯t do her any good personally, but those who follow her will experience it.¡± ¡°Do you have an example?¡± Ishtar asked, ¡°You explained this to me earlier but I¡¯d like the others to understand what we¡¯re dealing with.¡± ¡°She gave her sister a shirt and reminded her that it was ¡®her property¡¯ after her awakening. For a while, nothing happened. A week later, wearing the shirt gave her sister minor self-healing. Liberty is an abuser, though, and confiscated the shirt once she understood what was happening in order to continue torturing her little sister,¡± she said, her voice dripping with hate. ¡°Like a battle standard,¡± Blackrazor said and the others looked at him. He cleared his throat and looked askance for a moment before sighing, ¡°There are video games where one can field armies. In them, a unit carrying the faction¡¯s battle standard can project a strengthening aura of sorts to those in its area of effect,¡± he paused and turned to her, ¡°I assume that buildings and places declared as hers also develop properties like this?¡± ¡°Yes, though she has more control over those than the ¡®standards¡¯ as you call them,¡± Taurus said flatly, ¡°She created a room at the main compound that maximizes discomfort and suffering to those inside.¡± ¡°So declarations of loyalty to her are only half of her ability,¡± Ishtar mused, ¡°The other half is dedicated towards strengthening things under her protection or that she sees as belonging to her,¡± she turned to face Taurus, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you mention this facet before?¡± ¡°Liberty said that she would never use that facet of her ability since it didn¡¯t benefit her personally, she saw it as a useless thing to strengthen that which she could just replace,¡± Taurus said as she clenched her fists. ¡°Now, with her behavior changing and her focus turning inward with a lot of construction happening in the places she controls, it¡¯s the only conclusion I can come to as to what she¡¯s doing. Even so, I don¡¯t know how much she¡¯ll lean on it, or if she does, how long that will last,¡± Taurus crossed her arms and looked away, ¡°She finds that kind of thing tiresome.¡± ¡°So her forces will be exponentially more powerful if they fight on home soil, so long as she bothers to lean into that facet of her ability,¡± Prichard said with a frown before his eyes widened, he looked up at Ishtar, ¡°The bounty. That¡¯s a contest of her territory and people. Something she will have to constantly defend against in order to maintain the growth she¡¯s trying to foster.¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°The villains won¡¯t be of any use taking her down directly, but they can be turned to cripple whatever she¡¯s attempting to do. Ultimately we will have to ensure the heroes have the resources and numbers necessary to deal with her themselves when the time comes. It¡¯s better to be prepared in case she decides to lean on this function.¡± ¡°Then perhaps it¡¯s time to add new regions to the club, the more the merrier, yes?¡± Beretta asked. Ishtar turned to her and smiled, ¡°If all goes well in Japan, that¡¯s exactly what I intend to do.¡± Chapter 173 Chapter 173 The office that Charon had set aside for Ishtar when she was visiting the Styx was, for lack of a better word, dramatic. The room was made entirely out of an almost luminous white marble, from floor to ceiling, giving it the illusion of being an isolated void. The door leading into the room was set in seamlessly so that when it shut behind her it emphasized the isolating effect. Within the room was another one of the mana-crystal based computers that had been created by Amos. The original being located at her office at the beach house in Maui. The two were connected which made it easy enough for her to catch up where she left off if need be. The mount for the computer rested on a jet-black desk made of a similar reinforced stone to the walls. The only other pieces of furniture in the room were three chairs. Two sitting in front of the desk and one behind it. Ishtar watched Tenebra leave the room through the hidden door, her gait a little shaky as she departed. She¡¯d made a very frank deal with the young woman to ensure that no identities related to the inner circle were revealed, even by accident. Her primary concern being Cass, of course, a few well placed illusions was more than enough to conceal her own identity from the girl but Ishtar preferred to be thorough. She looked down at her desk and relaxed a little, reclining in the chair only to glance up again when a chime rang announcing someone outside. A quick use of Astral Eye confirmed that it was Taurus, ¡°Enter.¡± The door opened of its own accord and Taurus stepped inside, looking around the room. The young villainess removed the respirator mask from her jaw before she looked back to Ishtar and tilted her head, ¡°It¡¯s rather empty in here, Mistress.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like distractions,¡± Ishtar said flatly before gesturing to the chair across from her. Taurus accepted the invitation to sit and Ishtar dismissed the illusions covering her face. She rest her hands in her lap and met Ishtar¡¯s gaze, ¡°Sonya loves them.¡± ¡°Yes, she does. Diversions are her favorite past-time and tactic,¡± Ishtar chuckled. Hey now. Sonya grumbled. Ishtar tilted her head, ¡°Did you want to speak with her? We¡¯ve become rather apt at switching back and forth,¡± she said. It wasn¡¯t without strain, of course, it felt taxing if they did it regularly or if Ishtar stayed in control for too long. It was part of the reason why she wanted to keep this visit to the Styx brief. As powerful as Sonya¡¯s body was, there were places where she came up short. Taurus smiled and reached up to touch the domino mask over her eyes. Her hand slid down her face and she rested her hands in her lap, ¡°I¡¯ll have plenty of time when we go back to New York. I honestly wasn¡¯t expecting the trip here as soon as she picked me up,¡± she fidgeted, ¡°I wanted to talk to you about a few things. I mean, I understand that you¡¯re both- oh,¡± she sighed. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Ishtar said and waved a hand dismissively, ¡°What did you want to talk about, Taurus?¡± Taurus cleared her throat and sat up straight, meeting Ishtar¡¯s gaze, ¡°I want to help.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°I know I¡¯ve been playing the Hero role, but I really want to assist you in my capacity as Taurus. I feel like I¡¯ve been sitting on my hands when it comes to this,¡± she gestured around herself. Playing, she says. Sonya chimed in with a snort. Ishtar searched the girl''s face. Sonya¡¯s comment was apt, Ishtar hadn¡¯t seen the girl more passionate and genuinely happy than when she was with her hero friends. It felt like tainting something precious to allow her to do any Villain work, which was why she was refraining. Her lips formed a thin line and she crossed her arms, ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. You should enjoy the freedom you have.¡± Taurus shook her head, ¡°No. I need to do this,¡± she said, her tone firm. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I owe you,¡± Taurus said before frowning and shaking her head, ¡°No, It¡¯s more than that. I don¡¯t really understand everything that¡¯s going on and why you and Sonya are doing what you¡¯re doing. I remember the meeting and I get that we¡¯re trying to keep the world safe by being the bad guys,¡± she said and clenched her fists, ¡°But that¡¯s exactly why. If I can do some of the dirty work that the heroes can¡¯t or won¡¯t do. I want to.¡± Ishtar snorted, ¡°Sounds more like you want to be a Vigilante.¡± ¡°Is that an option?¡± Taurus asked. Ishtar narrowed her eyes, ¡°I¡¯m afraid not. Not in any way that would be useful to me.¡± Taurus¡¯ shoulders sagged, ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Taurus, if I give you free reign to cause mischief in New York, how likely would it be that you ran into your hero friends? Would they not notice your appearances and Cassiopeia Hanks¡¯ disappearances?¡± Ishtar asked pointedly, ¡°You¡¯re rather close to them, especially with Crusader. She cares about you and by that very measure she is conscious of you. The young woman also possesses a growing capacity to sense mana and may eventually develop a way to sense specific mana signatures. Your identity would be at significant risk.¡± Taurus froze, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that put you in danger too?¡± Ishtar snorted, ¡°Hardly,¡± she held out a hand and turned it over, a glowing white vine growing on it. ¡°I can distort my signature if necessary. Though I have to do it consciously. Which is why I keep my appearances to a minimum,¡± she set her hand down on the desk and the vine dissolved. She took a breath, ready to dismiss the topic entirely when she met the girls eyes. Taurus held her gaze unflinchingly, her fists clenched, her jaw tight. Ishtar frowned and then let out a sigh, ¡°You¡¯re not going to let this go, are you?¡± Taurus seemed to muster her courage before shaking her head, ¡°No mistress, I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°I am planning on asking Charon to borrow Tenebra soon, I need her unique skill set for a blow against Liberty in the future. It may be in a few months, but I can pair you off with her as a presumed bodyguard,¡± she paused and looked her over, ¡°We¡¯ll have to update your outfit first, though, the placeholder gear you have now won¡¯t cut it.¡± Taurus blinked and looked down at herself, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my gear?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t have enough flair,¡± Ishtar said with a grin, ¡°Something to remember, for a supervillain, presentation is important.¡± Taurus squinted at her, ¡°Sounds like something Sonya would say.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not all foodies,¡± she scoffed, ¡°That¡¯s a stereotype.¡± ¡°Says the woman who spent half the walk over talking about different kinds of fruit pastry,¡± Colin pointed out. ¡°Pastries are different!¡± she shot back. ¡°Uhuh,¡± he shook his head before holding up a finger, ¡°I have mine medium rare with a balsamic reduction and crumbled blue cheese, has to have a good crust too of course,¡± he said, ¡°Pair it with a red wine, something expensive.¡± ¡°All that effort, just eat a burger or something,¡± she said with a roll of her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s called class, you spark plug,¡± he sniped, weaving between a few natural columns, ¡°Maybe you¡¯d have an easier time teasing out a bit more interest from Blackrazor if you had some. He¡¯s the youngest among us and probably has a thing for mature older women if I had to guess. Emphasis on mature.¡± She rolled her eyes as she stepped over a low ledge, ¡°Like I want to hear that from you, Captain Dictionary,¡± she shot back, ¡°I¡¯ve heard things I wish I¡¯d never heard while we were all staying at the Styx. Ugh, you and Amos are so noisy. Makes it impossible to sleep.¡± He spluttered and rounded on her, ¡°Capt- what?¡± She grinned at him, ¡°You heard me.¡± ¡°N o i s y.¡± The voice was like a rumble that shook the entire cavern. Slow and deliberate, a deep terrible thrum that penetrated the spirit and shook the mind. Mephisto and Kerauna stopped their bickering to look around. Kera¡¯s fingers sparked with electricity and Mephisto held up a hand to forestall her. He put on his most merry smile, ¡°Well hello!¡± He called, ¡°I assume I¡¯m speaking with Drastic?¡± ¡°W h y?¡± ¡°Why... are we here?¡± He asked and tilted his head, ¡°Didn¡¯t we arrange a meeting?¡± he paused and then brought his hand up to his chest, ¡°Apologies, sir. I am Mephisto, the representative of Ishtar and this is Kerauna, the Master Bolt and another member of the Villain Queen¡¯s inner circle. We¡¯re here to talk!¡± ¡°L e a v e.¡± Mephisto kept the frown from crossing his features, ¡°Now, mister Drastic. I understand if you might be a little groggy, perhaps we woke you, for that I apologize. However, today is the scheduled day of our meeting and you did agree through your agents to talk, correct?¡± ¡°W h o?¡± Mephisto narrowed his eyes, ¡°Who? The agent? It was Davi Campos.¡± ¡°H e w i l l d i e.¡± Kera shifted on her feet, ¡°I think that Davi guy didn¡¯t let his boss know we were coming.¡± Mephisto schooled his face into a veneer of calm, ¡°You think?¡± he said through gritted teeth before clearing his throat, ¡°Well, It would seem that your contact might not be very reliable. That¡¯s unfortunate,¡± Mephisto said with conciliatory grace, he pulled his long hair back over his ear and brandished his best smile, ¡°Even so, since we¡¯re here, wouldn¡¯t you like the opportunity to chat a bit? Ishtar is very interested in you and would like to provide you with support if-¡± ¡°E N O U G H!¡± The voice bellowed and just like that, the air went very, very still. Mephisto paused and squinted into the darkness only to feel the air begin to move past him, drawing inward and towards the depths of the cavern. The air flow picked up until it was literally ruffling his hair. His lips formed a thin line and he glanced over at Kera, ¡°Looks like somebody¡¯s a bad host.¡± ¡°We did come uninvited,¡± Kera said with a shrug. He squinted at her, ¡°Who¡¯s side are you on? ¡°Mistress¡¯, obviously, you I can take or leave,¡± she quipped before her eyes narrowed and she took a step forward, moving in and positioning herself ahead of him despite her words, ¡°Here it comes, stay behind me,¡± she said, her jaw setting. Mephisto felt it a few seconds after she did, an intense heat that began to build from the interior of the cavern. It was joined with a red-orange glow that ripped through the darkness. Mephisto let out a sigh and shook his head as the roar of fire approached them, ¡°Oh well,¡± he muttered, ¡°Mistress will be disappointed, but what can you do?¡± he said with a shrug as flames poured over them. An ocean of fire that filled every inch of the cavern. It seared everything, burning the stone beneath their feet and ripping through everything it touched. He cleared his throat, ¡°Extinguish.¡± ¨C The flames roiled throughout the cavern, filling it, every tunnel, every surface, scoring all life from within. There were no screams, there never were, there was only an instantaneous and infinitely painful death. The massive shape that dwelled inside shifted only slightly, its eyes lidded with drowsiness. Gnats. Drastic thought dismissively, his eyes starting to close. This is my land. Outsiders were not welcome in his homeland, so many had come from far away places to disturb and manipulate, control. It was because of them that there was so much to fix, so many to kill, so much to do. He was tired. The air shifted and his eyes drifted back open. Hm? The air picked up in speed and he came fully alert, his enormous head shifting inside of his comfortable resting place. He could not see the cavern entrance from where he was, but he could feel his flames starting to die. Too quick. That was when the flames that filled the passage in front of him, the one that led to the rest of the cave system, were snuffed out like the light of a candle. He blinked slowly and then his eyes bulged. My dragon flames were... snuffed out? ¡°Draaaaaasttiiiiiic. That was a no no!¡± Chapter 174 Chapter 174 BOOOOM! The earth shook and rocks were thrown into the air, boulders the size of cars hurtling through the air as the cliff exploded. The wind whipped past Mephisto¡¯s ears whilst he completed his backflip, landing on one of the hurtling rocks and looking down at the crater that had been left behind. He adjusted his tie and grinned. Not far away, sparks of electricity crackled in the air before a bolt of lightning zipped onto another stone. He watched the crater grow more and more distant, a massive shape crawling out of it. A pair of wings with a span comparable to that of a commercial airliner spread out amidst the rubble. ¡°Ho ho! He¡¯s mad!¡± Mephisto laughed. The green-scaled thing had a powerful body that looked vaguely reminiscent of a feline¡¯s in structure but that¡¯s where the comparisons ended. It had a long neck with a massive triangle-shaped head and jaw filled with razor sharp teeth. Its thick tail swept up and down in a sharp movement that crushed stone behind it and gave it enough upward momentum to kick off into the sky. It tucked its rear limbs back while its forelimbs reached out, black claws extended, and flapped its wings to launch itself at Mephisto. A peal of delighted laughter was Kera¡¯s only response, her body changing into a bolt of lightning again and ripping down through the air to strike at the colossal beast. The bolt struck the side of Drastic¡¯s head before dancing off and striking again and again at his scales. She bounced around his body like a pinball, searching for a weak spot. Thunderclaps followed each blow that left searing black marks on its body. Mephisto raised an eyebrow, Only superficial damage. Some kind of resistance or immunity? He thought before stepping casually off the hurtling boulder that had begun to arc back towards the earth. ¡°Stay,¡± he commanded and his body was arrested in the air, hovering in place while he observed. ¡°O U T S I D E R!¡± Drastic roared, flames exploding from his scales and sending Kera darting away with a shriek. Her body flipped end over end a few times while she patted herself down, trying to put the flames out on her body. The rushing wind and her efforts accomplished little though. Mephisto tilted his head thoughtfully, Resistant to being put out, my ability must have overrode that feature. Neat. He opened his mouth to give Kera instruction but she just swore and turned back into lightning, shooting up into the clouds and leaving the flames behind in the air where she¡¯d been a moment before, That works too. He mused before turning his attention back to Drastic who was racing towards him at top speed. Should probably focus. He¡¯s not a pushover. Mephisto thought and rolled his jaw left and right, ¡°Stop,¡± he commanded but Drastic kept coming, only a faint flinch showing any indication that the ability had even triggered. Mephisto¡¯s eyes went wide and with a word he sent himself hurtling to the left, darting out of the way of the oncoming supervillain. Not far enough, Drastic¡¯s wing clipped Mephisto¡¯s side and sent him spinning through the air. He grimaced from the momentary pain, muttering under his breath to push it aside while Drastic rose up into the sky, flapping his wings and turning to look down on them in all his glory. ¡°I W I L L C O N S U M E Y O U!¡± ¡°You do that!¡± Mephisto laughed. His blood was pumping in his veins. It¡¯d been a while since anything had resisted his Word of Power ability. He glanced up at the clouds and saw them darken, flashes of light building inside. He returned his attention to Drastic and schooled his expression into a malevolent grin. Neither he nor Kera needed to say a word to one another to know what needed to happen here. Their bickering notwithstanding, they were paired off for a reason. Understood. He thought before throwing his hands out wide in a dramatic pose. ¡°Last chance!¡± He called, ¡°I¡¯m always happy to talk! Fighting is sooooo messy,¡± he whined. Drastic bellowed and with a flap of his wings raced down towards Mephisto. Yeah that¡¯s it, come and get me. Mephisto thought before whipping both hands together, ¡°Arrest! Crash!¡± The boulders that had been sent hurtling into the air by Drastic¡¯s arrival, those that were on the ground and those still in the sky, froze before abruptly changing direction. They raced towards Drastic and slammed into his side, his head, and his wings. The strikes did little in the way of damage besides further annoying the powerful mythic. Broken pieces of stone fell to the ground out of the cloud of debris that Drastic burst from in an infuriated roar, red light growing inside of his throat. Mephisto stared down the enormous gullet of his opponent and clicked his tongue, ¡°Extinguish,¡± he spat. The red light died and Drastic let out a surprised screech. ¡°Y O U!¡± The dragon-man howled and raised his wings high before bringing them down in a single powerful flap, putting on a shocking burst of speed. Mephisto barely had a chance to blink, ¡°Wall! Wall!¡± he shouted and the air condensed in front of him. Drastic collided with the construct only to obliterate it in an instant, slamming his head into Mephisto¡¯s body. Mephisto let out a gasp of pain even as the mild regenerative power that Ishtar had given him upon his ascension set to work. It was a Rare-Tier ability, nothing special in the realm of Mythics, but between it and the endurace-based power she¡¯d also granted his bones were saved from being turned to powder. He collided with the ground and let out a gasp, coughing as he sat up and looked to the sky. Drastic was still coming, relentless. Behind Drastic the clouds were continuing to darken, Kera¡¯s power building and building. Mephisto sneered, ¡°You are a tough son of a bitch, this is fun!¡± He laughed and scrambled to his feet. He wiped a bit of blood off his lips, Let¡¯s try something a bit more advanced, then. ¡°Shorn and sheared,¡± he began as Drastic raced towards him. Around him, a swath of trees were stripped violently of their limbs and branches, leaves were torn away until nothing was left but straight trunks, ¡°Tempered and sharpened,¡± he continued and the trees were whittled down into long spikes that at first turned black before taking on a glossy sheen and shrinking slightly, becoming denser. ¡°STRIKE!¡± A hundred trees, compressed under pressure and converted into carbonized hardened spears launched into the air in a stream of death. They peppered Drastic¡¯s scales, most of them exploding into powder on impact while a few managed to find purchase. One of them even going as far as to puncture through the supervillain¡¯s wing. Drastic let out a roar of pain and shifted his trajectory, trying to get out of the way of the hailstorm of black streaks that Mephisto was sending his way. Unfortunately for Drastic, that punctured wing sent him turning too far to the right and another spear collided with his jaw, throwing his head back. He flipped backwards, losing his positioning in the sky for a moment, stunned. ¡°Says the guy who couldn¡¯t close the deal,¡± she shot back, grinning at him. He laughed and the portal stabilized, three figures stepped through. Two men and a woman. From the looks of it the two men were elite pandora forces, they wore combat gear and carried rifles in their hands. They stepped forward quickly and dropped to a knee, pointing their weapons at Kera and Mephisto. Mephisto frowned and narrowed his eyes, Only one hero to respond, who- his eyes went wide as he saw a green cheongsam and black hair done up in tight buns. He fixed his expression, ¡°Qilin.¡± Kera stiffened next to him, ¡°One of the mistresses-¡± He glanced her way to shush her and looked back to the trio with an easy smile. ¡°Wow! What an entrance!¡± he said brightly, stepping forward a few paces. ¡°Don¡¯t move!¡± One of the pandora soldiers shouted, ¡°You are under arrest! Resist and we will be forced to take aggressive action!¡± He stopped and put his hands on his hips, ¡°Boys, please! You¡¯re going to make me feel unwanted!¡± He huffed and flipped his hair back before turning to look Qilin up and down with as much confidence as possible. If what the boss said about her abilities was true, then they were in trouble. He wasn¡¯t sure if Qilin¡¯s power could interfere with teleportation but it could definitely interfere with their escape. He needed to buy time for the portal to form, though. He brandished his best smile, ¡°And I¡¯m guessing you¡¯re Qilin!¡± he said brightly before offering a playful bow. ¡°Charmed.¡± She narrowed her eyes only slightly, her expression one of unending tedium. ¡°I don¡¯t know you. You aren¡¯t on the roster,¡± she muttered before shifting her gaze towards Kera who was standing over Drastic, ¡°I know those two though. How boring. The fight is already over. I heard Drastic was powerful. Shame,¡± she held up her hand lazily to point at Mephisto. ¡°Oh well.¡± He threw up a hand, ¡°Now just a moment miss!¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯m just a businessman!¡± She narrowed her eyes, ¡°Liar. You reek of mana,¡± she said cooly. ¡°I never said I didn¡¯t have power too!¡± She hesitated and glanced at the suitcase in his hand. Her eyes narrowed further and she turned her attention to his face again. Something in her eyes changed just a little as something seemed to occur to her. ¡°You are Mephisto. There were rumors my people were investigating. They are true it seems.¡± Mephisto raised a hand to his heart, ¡°My my! My reputation has already reached such vaunted heights?¡± he tittered out a laugh, ¡°I¡¯m honored!¡± One of the soldiers glanced up at her, ¡°Mephisto?¡± ¡°Is it true that you make deals on behalf of Ishtar? That she grants wishes?¡± Qilin asked, ignoring the man. Mephisto paused, blinking a few times before glancing to Kera who shrugged at him. He turned back to her and couldn¡¯t help but slip into a devious smile, ¡°I do make deals for her, yes,¡± he said, holding up the suitcase, ¡°Interested in making one here? We¡¯d very much like to leave with our prize.¡± Her expression was unreadable as the other soldier looked up, ¡°Ma¡¯am what-¡± he was cut off as silvery threads erupted from her fingertips, her hands moving so fast that Mephisto couldn¡¯t even see them. In an instant the two men fell to the ground, their heads separated from their bodies. Blood pooled on the ground at her feet as she lazily examined the corpses from where she stood. Mephisto felt a chill run up his spine as she returned her stare to him, ¡°You two killed these men,¡± she said flatly before taking a step forward and appearing right in front of Mephisto, standing at least a head taller than him. She stared down at him with glowing green eyes, they were colder than the arctic sea, flat and almost lifeless. In Mephisto¡¯s ear, his boss¡¯ modulated voice came through. ¡°Mephisto? I can¡¯t get a portal to form at your location. What¡¯s happening over there?¡± He swallowed hard as the woman loomed over him and she spoke, her words reaching into his chest and squeezing at his heart. ¡°I have a wish that I want granted.¡± Chapter 175 Chapter 175 A few hours earlier... Sonya¡¯s return to New York had been a whirlwind of activity since the moment she left the others behind at the Guild Hall. Marta had already gone on ahead to the apartment and left Sonya with a bit of time to herself. Her first stop, without question, was her favorite burger place where she shamelessly ordered at the counter with everyone staring at her in confusion. It was fun and a little taste of normalcy that she¡¯d been desperately craving. After the shitshow that was the visit to the Hague, any time just to catch her breath and do her own thing was something she valued highly. Even so, she knew that it would only last a few hours at best as the Pandora Committee assembly was scheduled for that afternoon and she was planning on making an appearance at the Styx. A little bit of shopping, some self care, a couple phone numbers from cuties acquired and she felt refreshed. Throughout it all, Ishtar remained silent, likely judging her. She didn¡¯t really care, though. She¡¯d embraced this life and was happy to enjoy it as long as it lasted. After her relaxing afternoon out she returned to the guild hall and picked Cass up. Apparently she and the others were going to begin at least familiarizing themselves with the city starting in a few days after they got their affairs in order. It was heartening to see that Cass was really bonding with her new friends. She had been a bit worried after observing that Alex had gone from a slight infatuation to resentment over her basically slipping into their friend group but apparently it had been resolved. Sonya had pointedly stayed out of it, she¡¯d meddled enough in their lives, especially with Ollie and Lillian. Stopping off at the apartment gave Cass an opportunity to change and within a short period of time they were at the Styx for her little guest appearance. There she had the amusing experience of meeting Charon¡¯s first henchman, Tenebra, who had proven to possess a very interesting gift. < New Ability Acquired: Umbral Nightingale > It was a unique ability name, one of the more dramatic ones for sure. As for what it did, trying it out produced some curious results. She immediately felt a craving for attention far beyond her usual playful showboating. It turned out that being the center of attention provided the ability with additional fuel and potency, enough eyes and it could push right past heroic in strength, though it only lasted as long as the attention was fixed on her. That explains why she allowed her fans to stream her shows. The ability itself allowed its user to project its strange black-mist shadows that could be made solid and used to manipulate objects or turn into deadly constructs. What made the ability spectacular was that it came built in with singing talent in a similar vein to how Genius Level Intellect worked. It amplified the user''s existing singing ability significantly. That realization-that the ability came with a function that perpetuated its own fuel source-was enlightening and she wondered if perhaps Liberty¡¯s ability actually had a similar function that no one was aware of. If it was true then perhaps she could use that against her. She wondered how it could interact with her other abilities if she merged it, but decided to hold off for now. She was still mastering what she had and that warning about Visage of Titania¡¯s reaction to further mergings hung over her head. Those considerations were set aside, though, when she returned to New York not long after Ishtar¡¯s appearance and conversation with Cass. That conversation had been the inspiration for where she was when the call from Colin had come in. Sonya decided to show Cass a bit of the high life in the city and introduce her to a few of her contacts. So she made a few calls, got in touch with Bluestar, and threw a welcome party for the new heroes the next day. She even went as far as to invite those not from the East Coast camp who had recently registered as heroes. The result was a noisy venue at one of the larger hotels in town, hastily flooded with light-touched, politicians, businessmen, and Sonya¡¯s own agents. It was a wild party. She¡¯d been in the middle of having a very pleasant conversation with a local model-a blonde this time-when Colin had called her. The brief buzz in her head alerting her right as she was moving in to seal the deal. A bit annoyed, she had begged herself off by pretending to accept the call on her real phone. She answered it and Colin spoke quickly, he sounded out of breath. <¡°Mistress, we¡¯ve got him. He attacked first, bad intel from the contact, we¡¯ve got heroes incoming too. Euclidia¡¯s making an arch.¡±> She pursed her lips, I figured he would attack them based on that new intel. She thought begrudgingly, I¡¯m glad they were able to handle it anyway. She sighed, ¡°...well that¡¯s no good!¡± She said brightly over the noise of the party. <¡°I¡¯m at a party dear, give me a moment to find somewhere quiet!¡±> She added before glancing around for an escape route. She spotted Otis in the crowd who was paying her no mind, talking himself up to a few businessmen while Jessica stood guard next to him. He¡¯s not watching, okay, she thought before turning and making her way through the crowd, releasing tiny bursts of imperious here and there to nudge people out of the way. She had nearly reached a door leading out into the hall outside the venue when she sensed someone moving through the crowd in her direction. Dammit, not now! <¡°Sixty seconds,¡±> she said into the call and hung up just as the person stopped behind her. ¡°Miss Chernovna,¡± a calm voice said and she turned to see a young man of what had to be of Asian descent standing there. Despite his youth he was far taller than she was and built like a truck. Huge... She thought, looking him up and down before she smiled a little uneasily, ¡°Can I... help you?¡± He bowed slightly before reaching into his jacket. She had to resist the urge to tense up only to see him pull out a slip of paper that had been neatly folded in half. He held it out to her and stood up straight, his expression stony and unmoving. ¡°I have been instructed to give you this, that is all, miss.¡± She stared at it and then at him, his hand outstretched and his stony gaze expectant. She pursed her lips together and took it from him, ¡°Thank you, I think?¡± she muttered before turning away from him. She started marching her way through the crowd again without so much as another word, she didn¡¯t have time for this. While she did, though, she opened the slip of paper out of curiosity. On it was a simple statement in a rushed hand, ¡®The mythic beast craves the end of tedium. The villainous queen is its nip and bane.¡¯ She can sense lies too? He cleared his throat, ¡°I haven¡¯t learned what you want, yet, Miss Qilin. Can¡¯t very well write up a contract without that, you see,¡± he said, straightening up to look at least a bit more professional. Her aura was setting off his fight-or-flight and making it hard to keep his usual casual demeanor. ¡°What options do I have?¡± she asked. Is she testing us? He kept his smile on, ¡°Whatever your heart desires as long as it is within my Mistress¡¯ power to grant and you provide a payment that she will find satisfactory.¡± <¡°Be careful,¡±> Sonya urged in his ear, <¡°She-¡±> Qilin glanced at the side of Mephisto¡¯s head again, ¡°She¡¯s still on the line?¡± she demanded. He opened his mouth to explain but was instead buffeted by a strange tingling feeling that washed over his body as her expression grew harder and harder. What the hell is she doing? ¨C Sonya was pacing back and forth, listening in on the conversation; What the hell does she want? She thought, gritting her teeth. Sonya, we have another problem. What now? She shot back then felt something with her senses, a presence making their way towards the door to the hotel room. Her eyes went wide as the person knocked. ¡°Hello? Is someone in there? This is hotel security.¡± What the hell? How could someone- Another presence approached, ¡°The guest said it was this door?¡± came a familiar voice. Sonya¡¯s gut fell. Crusader?! God damn it! What kind of bad- oh. She clicked her tongue and nearly drew and illusion around herself before stopping. She can sense mana use. Even if I make it seem like the room is empty, she¡¯ll be able to tell. Qilin and her luck manipulation. This was why she needs to be avoided until I can figure out a weakness! Should I use mind control to push her away? What if that causes a cascade? How do I counter Qilin? She pushed her enhanced brain, thinking with all her might. She could feel Ishtar trying to come up with a solution of her own, frantically looking for a way out. I am NOT getting caught like this. How stupid would that be? Crusader knocked on the door, ¡°Hello? I¡¯m coming in!¡± <¡°I want to be freed of this endless tedium.¡±> The words came through in her head over the connection with Colin and she froze. Slowly she reached into her pocket and pulled the slip of paper that had been presented to her by the young man out. She opened it and looked down at the handwritten words. ¡®The mythic beast craves the end of tedium. The villainous queen is its nip and bane.¡¯ <¡°Put me on speaker, now!¡±> Chapter 176 Chapter 176 Without having even having tested herself against many in the way of monsters or heroes, Sonya was aware that she was one of the most powerful light-touched on Earth. It wasn¡¯t her own arrogance, it was simply a fact. She possessed a wider suite of abilities than most, though there were some who had more versatility than even she possessed. It was one of the reasons that she had started collecting and integrating abilities into her body so selectively in order to create the versatile powerset she had. She had taken inspiration from her past life, considering the abilities of others as a frame of reference to build upon. Otis was her target, Qilin was her template. Qilin was not a fight she could win head to head. For all of her powers, Qilin¡¯s regeneration was better, her speed was greater, her attack power was superior, and her ability to manipulate fortune turned any situation into a disadvantage from the get-go. There were ways to counteract it, of course, Sonya was aware that Qilin¡¯s ability to create disadvantages had limits, but that required preparation and setting the stage. One had to stack the deck to beat someone who wielded luck like a blunt instrument. That was why Sonya had made it a point to avoid any interactions or confrontations with Qilin up until this point. Her focus was on the other heralds and she wanted to keep it that way. Each herald she took down was another improvement to Broker which she could eventually leverage against the monstrously powerful woman. All of that avoidance had been thrown out the window now. By interacting with Colin who was depending on Sonya to get him out of his current situation, Qilin¡¯s limited range luck manipulation was extending across the planet to affect her. This had led to an improbable chain of events that brought Crusader to the door of the room she had hidden in. Her only recourse was to take a chance, tug a bit on hope and fate and pray for the least terrible outcome. The mysterious slip of paper given to her had provided a hint that hadn¡¯t made sense at first until Qilin herself had practically recited over the call. She wasn¡¯t sure if it would work, but it was her only option with Crusader banging even harder at the door. The young hero knew someone was inside and Sonya didn¡¯t possess the ability to conceal her mana or control it like the young hero or her teacher. Mind control using the amethyst sorceress ability she¡¯d acquired from Feng Hyunh required physical contact as she hadn¡¯t spent enough time developing it given how unsettled by it she was. What¡¯s more, many of her more visible abilities were known to quite a few people. That meant that if she tried to use barriers to protect herself it would alert anyone in the know to exactly who was hiding inside the room. She only had one chance and that meant confronting Qilin directly, even if it was over the phone. While Qilin couldn¡¯t affect her fortunes through the phone, having more focus on Sonya could amplify the problem through influencing Colin¡¯s luck. It was a gamble and the kind of situation she had been trying so hard to avoid. The call clicked over as she ordered Colin to switch to speaker. She heard the sound of the air rushing over the microphone and took a deep breath. Technopath was modulating her voice through the call in her mind so she had no worries about her identity as far as Qilin was concerned, but it still didn¡¯t shake off the nerves. Calm down. I believe your instincts are right. Ishtar said at the back of her mind. They didn¡¯t have time to make the switch as much as she wanted Ishtar to take over and handle the conversation. There just wasn¡¯t enough time. The door shook under Crusader¡¯s attention and the light flashed on the lock panel. Sonya commanded the lock to refuse anyone with technopathy, it was as overt a power use as she was willing to make with the girl so attentive. She let out a breath and clenched her jaw, speaking through her ability; <¡±Hello, Hero.¡±> ¨C Mephisto was holding the phone in his hand so tightly he was starting to worry he would break it. His fingers were shaking regardless. Drastic had been a straightforward fight, all power and no finesse. It had still been a life-or-death situation but he knew that he could handle it. Qilin¡¯s appearance had shaken him to his core. Her speed was comparable to Kera¡¯s, she could whip her hand and decapitate someone with seemingly no effort, she had no qualms about killing. It was her aura, however, that made him quake. It was like standing before a walking force of nature, the living embodiment of some fundamental truth. As soon as his boss spoke, though, that feeling faded like a gust of wind. ¡±Hello, Hero.¡± He blinked, shuddering with the sensation of being liberated from the oppressive presence. It was so jarring that it took him a second to look up at the woman who had been lording over him. When he did, his mind couldn¡¯t quite comprehend what he was seeing. Qilin¡¯s eyes had gone wide, her expression a mixture of excitement and fear. She reached up to touch at her face before pulling her hand down, fidgeting and taking quick breaths. Mephisto squinted slightly, What the hell? ¡°Hero? Are you there?¡± the raspy voice on the phone came through, cold and commanding though with a small hint of unease, ¡°You are causing me quite a bit of trouble. I do not appreciate it. Do you want to make a deal, or not?¡± The words seemed to startle Qilin, that tingling feeling that was suffusing Mephisto¡¯s body easing before changing into something else. It felt like a warmth that spread through his limbs and up into his chest before becoming a bubbly sensation. It was like a drunk giddiness had raced through his body in an instant. Qilin¡¯s eyes flicked left and right before she fixed her gaze on Mephisto. Her expression went stony once more, the strange reaction evaporating into her usual placid expression; ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting to speak to you,¡± Qilin said, sounding slightly annoyed, ¡°I wanted to deal with your subordinate. You do not need to waste your time.¡± There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Mephisto had no idea what was going on. A moment later, though, that cold voice came back through. ¡°On the contrary, Miss Qilin,¡± the voice said, sounding significantly more confident, ¡°Someone of your station deserves it.¡± Qilin¡¯s only reaction was a faint twitch of her eye and lip. Did she just smile? Sonya concentrated on the area near where her madan had opened and attempted to push a portal through again. That act seemed to get a response from Qilin as she shifted a bit, her eyes refocusing and her expression going a little hard. The pressure that had resisted Sonya¡¯s first attempt returned and she was pushed back, preventing her from opening a portal to Colin¡¯s personal space. Qilin glanced over her shoulder at the two men dead on the ground outside the portal before turning back to her madan and Colin. <¡°Not yet.¡±> Qilin¡¯s voice came through the connection. There was a slight delay between her mouth movements and her words as it went through Colin¡¯s phone to Sonya¡¯s cybernetic brain. <¡±I do have a wish. Ishtar. Do you really grant them?¡±> Sonya sighed inwardly, <¡±I do. To a degree. As long as it is within my power to give. Normally I reserve my services for Villains, but I am always happy to do business. There is no such thing as a free meal, though, Hero. Everything comes at a price.¡±> Qilin frowned, <¡±Your man suggested as such.¡±> <¡±What is it that you want, Hero?¡±> Sonya asked, <¡±I do not have infinite patience. You said that you want to alleviate your tedium but that can mean a great many things,¡±> she said, shifting her tone a bit towards something a bit closer to friendly, <¡±I¡¯m happy to provide, but you need to be more specific.¡±> Qilin clammed up again, her lips forming a thin line as she looked away, she closed her eyes and shook her head, <¡±That is the problem. I do not know what I want. The world is so... boring. I had hoped that with the flash life would have taken on some new flavors, but my powers have only made things worse.¡±> <¡±Shall I take them from you?¡±> Sonya asked bluntly. Qilin turned towards her and narrowed her eyes, <¡±I think that might be a bit far,¡±> Qilin said with an even stare, <¡±I wanted to enjoy my powers. I figured becoming a hero would allow me to do that, but it has been just as tedious as an ordinary life. I want to revel in it.¡±> Sonya¡¯s lip twitched. She figured it wouldn¡¯t be that easy but she had to at least try. She glanced towards the door and considered it for a moment before focusing again on the conversation. She had an idea but it required wording the proposal very carefully. There was no way she would be able to eliminate Qilin as a threat with a deal, not as she was. It would be a windfall to be sure, but it was unlikely that Qilin would comply. She needed to soften her up, ease her into making a future agreement that would cripple her and put her into a position where Sonya could finish her. That would take time. I need to get her addicted, Sonya thought. Cunning. That¡¯s good, Ishtar commented. Sonya¡¯s lips curled and she leaned forward on the bed. Yes, giving her what she wanted right off the bat would be too easy. <¡±A compromise, then,¡±> Sonya began, <¡±I have a way to censure a portion of your abilities temporarily. I think you know what part of your abilities I am talking about.¡±> Qilin paused, <¡±So you know,¡±> she said thoughtfully, <¡°Is that possible?¡±> <¡±Yes, it is. I can make it happen, though the effects will be temporary. One month of thrills. What is that worth to you?¡±> She asked. Qilin shifted on her feet and crossed her arms, <¡±Your subordinates life is not good enough in exchange?¡±> <¡±I think allowing my comrade to return safely to my side is the least you can do to encourage me to even consider this transaction. You are not one of my beloved villains. I have no desire to interact with you otherwise, hero. Don¡¯t be greedy, it¡¯s unseemly.¡±> Sonya reprimanded her, <¡±I¡¯m giving you your hearts desire. Surely that is worth something to you.¡±> <¡±My family has assets and connections in China,¡±> Qilin said after a long pause, <¡±I can provide you with access to them, some of which are less than reputable. Your kind of people, I imagine,¡±> Qilin suggested. An inroad to China to expand the club. This. This will do nicely for now. You want thrills so badly? Fine. I¡¯ll give them to you. While I do, I¡¯ll squeeze you dry for everything you¡¯re worth. Sonya snarled inwardly before letting her shoulders finally relax. As long as you are chasing the next high, I don¡¯t have to worry about you interfering and I can focus on Liberty and the others. You¡¯re smart enough to know that if you cause me trouble, I might be unwilling to top you up next month. <¡±It¡¯s a deal.¡±> Chapter 177 Chapter 177 Sonya sat in silence at the desk in the room she¡¯d occupied as the portal began to open up behind her. She rested her elbows on the surface, her hands under her chin as she stared at the wall in thought. The panel of white light parted and spread open, distending until it became a formless off-white void that rippled within the panel. A moment later Colin stepped through, dragging Drastic along with him. His expression was haggard. His usually perfectly kept appearance was a mess, his long hair in disarray, his makeup running, his collar askew. She turned as the portal closed and he staggered forward, catching him as he fell, the red light dimming in his eyes until nothing was left but the natural ruddy brown. ¡°I¡¯ve got you,¡± she said into his ear. ¡°You saved my life,¡± he muttered. ¡°I put you into that position,¡± she said, reaching up to stroke his head as his shoulders shook. She glanced past him and narrowed her eyes at Drastic who still lay unconscious on the ground. Her hand rose and another portal opened as she held her friend close. She whipped her hand to the left and the portal swallowed Drastic up, sending him where she needed him to be. She didn¡¯t condescend Colin by asking if he was okay. He most certainly was not. He pulled away from her and searched her face, ¡°You warned us about the Heralds,¡± he said before swallowing and looking away, ¡°I didn¡¯t really believe it until today.¡± ¡°An Set was a pathetic man,¡± Sonya said with a sigh, ¡°A larva compared to what he could have been.¡± ¡°As bad as her?¡± He asked, shuddering. ¡°In some ways, worse,¡± Sonya said before reaching up to hold his cheek in the palm of her hand, ¡°Take some time off. Clear your head. Go see Amos,¡± she said softly, ¡°You¡¯ve done more than enough. You survived. We have Drastic, and while the time to take Qilin down is a long way off, we¡¯ve set the groundwork and this deal will keep her at bay, for now.¡± Colin nodded, ¡°Can you beat her?¡± he asked. Sonya frowned at him, ¡°As I am now? No. Not even with her fortune manipulation bound by my sanctions. She possesses the wisdom of a Qilin,¡± she explained, ¡°She awakened with a full mastery of her abilities and instincts. She¡¯s aware that I¡¯m trying to get her to become a repeat customer. She just doesn¡¯t care.¡± ¡°That¡¯s... ridiculously unfair,¡± Colin said with a frown. ¡°You¡¯re telling me,¡± She said with a scoff and shook her head. He met her gaze, his lips pressed into a thin line. His eyes asking a question that he didn¡¯t want to voice. She shook her head, ¡°I won¡¯t have you deal with her directly in the future. We¡¯ll send her contracts if she comes back wanting more.¡± He visibly relaxed and let out a sigh, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I-¡± he shook his head, ¡°I¡¯m not ready to face her again.¡± ¡°I¡¯d be surprised if you were,¡± Sonya said before turning serious, ¡°It¡¯s time to merge your abilities, Colin. The international heroes are responding faster than before and I can¡¯t bear to have you put into a similar position. You need to be able to fight back and escape. You¡¯ve earned a new power too, I think. Not an investment. One that belongs to you and you alone.¡± He held her gaze for several moments before nodding firmly. Of all of the members of her Inner Circle besides Marta, he was the one who understood the functionality of Broker the best. He knew the difference between an ability granted by a deal and one that was invested. Invested powers didn¡¯t truly belong to the one she granted them to, upon their death the power would be returned to her with all the expanded instincts that they¡¯d managed to uncover intact. It was a simpler process to invest, for certain, but there was an ownership that came with truly granting the ability that made it more. She didn¡¯t truly understand what that meant, but the instincts related to Broker were clear on that detail. She returned his nod and closed her eyes, diving into her warehouse before snatching up a few powers she had saved starting with Titanboa which she had copied from Alex and Mighty Asterion that she had copied from Cass. She allowed the instincts associated with her ability and the feelings she got from Deus ex Machina to guide her through the selection process. An interesting combination, proceed. She raised an eyebrow, ¡°Well that¡¯s a bit on the nose,¡± she said with a chuckle before turning to him. ¡°I wonder what it will turn into once everything settles,¡± she turned and held out her hand, ¡°For everything you¡¯ve done and endured, my dear Mephisto. I have a gift for you. Will you accept it?¡± she asked. He looked at her hand and swallowed before nodding. ¡°I accept,¡± he said and took her hand. I will never allow you to be put on the backfoot again. I promise. She thought as the words appeared on her HUD. Proceed. ¨C Sonya stepped back into the venue and adjusted her tie while straightening her hair. She kept her expression as smug as always as she met a few eyes and winked now and then as she slipped into the crowd. As she did, she felt another presence approach her. That reminds me, I need to track down that man who gave me that note. How did he know? He sounded like a messenger. I want answers and to extend my thanks to whomever got me out of that situation, she thought as she turned towards Crusader. ¡°Lillian!¡± She said brightly, brushing her hair back a bit more and adjusting her coat, ¡°Are you enjoying the party?¡± Lillian stopped in front of her, ¡°Uh, yes ma¡¯am. You disappeared for a bit there.¡± ¡°So I¡¯ve heard,¡± she said as she drew close, extending a hand, ¡°Sonya Chernovna,¡± she greeted him before nodding to Marta, ¡°This is Handmaiden.¡± He stared at her outstretched hand before looking up at her and narrowing his eyes, ¡°What do you want? I¡¯m busy.¡± She snorted and pulled her hand away, Tch, asshole. She sat down across from him and rested her hands on the table. Marta stepped in behind her and remained there, ¡°I wanted to talk to you, about you and about your boss.¡± ¡°Straight to the point?¡± he said with a sneer, looking her up and down. ¡°Man, your eyes are freaky.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not an investigator,¡± Sonya said dismissively, ¡°I¡¯m not here to pretend like I care and lie to you. I¡¯m here because I¡¯m willing to at least try to make your life a little less terrible.¡± He blinked and relaxed his shoulders, ¡°I see,¡± he said with a bit less strength than he had earlier, he slumped down into his chair. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you can tell me what¡¯s happening outside? No one¡¯s told me anything. Has she tried to break me out?¡± Sonya kept her eyes on his, ¡°She has not. She¡¯s completely turned inward towards her organization, expanding compounds and constructing new buildings within her territory. She has made no overt moves near this location or the Pandora headquarters, nor has she made any statements about your situation,¡± she said unapologetically. He met her pitiless gaze before looking down at his hands, ¡°That¡¯s... unfortunate.¡± ¡°I need you to give me a good reason to help you, Ewen,¡± Sonya said, ¡°Can you tell me anything that would be of benefit to me?¡± He pursed his lips, ¡°She¡¯s probably creating domains right now if she¡¯s feeling threatened,¡± he said, ¡°They¡¯re places that have powerful effects on those who are on her side.¡± ¡°I know about that function of her ability,¡± Sonya said, ¡°I¡¯m looking after her sister.¡± He winced, ¡°Right,¡± he grumbled and wrung his hands and licked his lips. He looked back up at her and met her eyes for a moment, ¡°She really hasn¡¯t said anything?¡± ¡°Nothing on public broadcast, no,¡± Sonya said, ¡°We don¡¯t have access to her internal networks so I can¡¯t confirm whether she has used your situation to rally her people or not.¡± ¡°The truth is a cold thing,¡± he said as he held her gaze before looking up at Marta, ¡°Are you using an ability? I can feel that she isn¡¯t lying.¡± ¡°Handmaiden¡¯s ability is rapid regeneration and superhuman strength,¡± Sonya explained, drawing his attention back to her. She tapped hers, ¡°And you know these.¡± He slumped, ¡°Damn it,¡± he grumbled as he mulled it all over. She rest her hands on the table and leaned forward, looking at his face. He glanced up at her on occasion and shifted in his seat. ¡°You really can make it less shitty in here?¡± ¡°I can, I happen to know the Chairman pretty well,¡± Sonya said with a smirk. He sighed and nodded, ¡°She has someone working for her, well, not for her,¡± he pursed his lips, ¡°He¡¯s crazy. A mythic who can make magic tools and stuff. He gave Kant one and was working on ones for me and the others. They amplify our abilities when we¡¯re holding them. He made a crazy powerful one for her. She doesn¡¯t pay him anything except give him supplies and materials,¡± he shivered, ¡°The only thing he wants is to hear the aftermath of using them, like he gets off on the carnage his toys cause.¡± This is what I needed, perfect. ¡°Do you have a name? A monicker? Appearance?¡± she asked. ¡°I¡¯ve seen him enough to help a sketch artist,¡± Ewen said, deflated, ¡°He calls himself Craftsman. His ability has something to do with the red glowing anvil he can conjure. I only heard his real name once.¡± Sonya sat up in her seat, ¡°Excuse me?¡± she blurted before she could reign herself back in. He knows Craftsman¡¯s real name? She forced her excitement down but not in time for him to miss it. He met her gaze and smirked just a little. She let out a sigh and rubbed the bridge of her nose. Damn it, Sonya. ¡°I can arrange for a comfortable bed, books, and video streaming. I can also make the meals a little less awful.¡± That seemed to mollify him, he nodded and sat up straight. ¡°His name is Graham Taylor.¡± Sonya searched his face, every microexpression, the temperature of his body, any detail she could find to pick out a possible lie. Nothing. She broke into a smile, ¡°Thank you for the information, Sir Ewen,¡± she said and extended a hand to him. ¡°James is fine,¡± he grunted, ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m a member of the Round Table anymore,¡± he added morosely and leaned forward to take her hand. She smiled at him. Analyze. ¡°You¡¯ll be well taken care of, James. Thank you for your time,¡± she said brightly and got up to leave. ¡°Wait,¡± he called after her. She turned and looked back to him with raised eyebrows, ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°She¡¯s only going to get stronger. Her powers scale up every day. Can you guys really win?¡± He asked. Sonya grinned at him, ¡°I think she¡¯s about to realize that she¡¯s made more enemies than even she can handle. Goodbye, James,¡± she said, and stepped out into the hallway. Chapter 178 Chapter 178 The two fighters stared one another down from across the enormous room. The chamber, if you could even call it that, was a oval-shaped space with a hard concrete floor and a solid dome of the same material covering it. Etchings across the surface of the dome and floor glowed faintly even in the persistent light that did not seem to have a notable source. Throughout the area were structures, cubes of concrete, and metal obstacles that added a measure of challenge to any engagement that took place in the building. The first of the two combatants was a man in his late twenties with a lanky frame and a shock of hair that had once been dark but had since turned a ruddy silver. He stood with his hands to his sides, his fingers twitching now and then as he sized his opponent up. He wore a simple set of comfortable fighting robes with his wrists bound up tightly, his legs were as well but the binding stopped just above his exposed ankles and bare feet. His opponent was a steely eyed woman with gray eyes that smoldered with a red-purple glow. She appeared to be younger than the man but not by much. Her hair was long and straight, hanging loosely around her shoulders. It too had turned a whitish color but it was closer to the look of spent charcoal rather than his that appeared to be more from age or stress. Unlike her opponent, she wore her fighting robes loosely with her sleeves hanging comfortably around her hands in which she held a long black-bladed chinese sword. The man was the first to make a move, a manic smile stretching across his face as he took a step forward. A faint whistle accompanied his movement and he vanished, reappearing behind her an instant later with his fist raised and his leg coming up to collide with her chin. She didn¡¯t so much as move from her spot, seemingly oblivious to his strike as she raised her weapon up and to the left. Even so, as his foot reached her he found that it was caught by her elbow and his trajectory pushed off. His body tilted in the air as she twisted her sword slightly in her grip, catching his incoming fist and deflecting it as well. She let his strike slide across her blade as she turned fully to face him only for that whistle to sound, heralding his disappearance once again. ¡°Faster,¡± she demanded as he reappeared, once again aiming for a blind spot. His manic smile was gone, replaced with an expression of absolute focus. He kicked at her head again and she effortlessly deflected it, turning to swing at him as he tried to pivot in the air by twisting his entire body. She nearly caught him across the abdomen when that whistle once more sounded and he vanished, reappearing back at his starting position. She lowered her weapon, ¡°Is that all, Ellis?¡± ¡°I think we¡¯ve memorized one another¡¯s habits at this point, Kant,¡± Sir Ellis said with a chuckle, putting his hands on his hips and tapping his foot a few times. He glanced down at it and frowned. ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± she asked. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal,¡± he said with a shrug. ¡°Getting your leg bones replaced doesn¡¯t sound like ¡®no big deal¡¯ to me,¡± Kant said and sheathed her weapon. ¡°You better not choke when the time comes. A little ankle pain is not a good enough excuse.¡± He frowned at her, ¡°I said I¡¯m fine,¡± he growled, ¡°Don¡¯t test me.¡± ¡°Say that when you can actually land a hit,¡± Kant said. ¡°Ladies, please!¡± a merry voice chimed in on their conversation, ¡°You¡¯re both pretty.¡± The two of them turned to see a man in a dapper looking suit walking towards them. He was rail thin with a mess of brown hair hanging down just past his eyebrows. His eyes glowed like molten lava, blazing so brightly one could feel the heat coming off of them. He walked with an unerring confidence that did not match his visually frail frame. Both of them stiffened at his approach, Ellis in particular shifting a bit on his feet and trying not to meet the man¡¯s gaze. He came to a stop in front of them and they had to force themselves not to take an involuntary step back. ¡°Craftsman,¡± Kant said and bowed once to him. She brushed her hair back a bit to hide the sweat that dripped down her temple, ¡°This is an unexpected visit.¡± Craftsman turned his eyes directly on her and she averted her gaze. The man had played the role of a useful if unassuming lackey to Liberty up until the botched raid on the East Coast Camp. Shortly after that point, Liberty had leaned into his expertise more and more as well as raising him up as a de-facto left hand to Philip¡¯s right as far as the rest of the cult was concerned. No one dared point out that he didn¡¯t buy into their beliefs for a moment. After all, the presence the man gave off now was not of some feckless scientist without an ounce of combat power. It felt like standing beneath a pile of enormous logs set ablaze. Heavy, stifling, and hot enough to burn if he wanted. ¡°I was in the area,¡± Craftsman said casually. ¡°Her worship is calling for you. She¡¯s already sent the others on their way.¡± Ellis flashed his teeth at the man despite his trepidation, ¡°Watch how you speak about her, boffin.¡± Craftsman raised his chin and sneered down at Ellis, ¡°How do your legs feel, Ellis? Do you need a tune up? I¡¯d be happy to take you apart again if you¡¯d like. We can take our time together,¡± he said, the hungry tone of his voice tripping with dark promise. Ellis looked away again and closed his mouth. ¡°I thought so,¡± Craftsman said with a laugh before turning to Kant, ¡°Do you have something on your mind, Kant?¡± Kant lowered her gaze, pushing the dark emotions down into her core even as a chill ran up her spine. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Craftsman said delightedly, clapping his hands, ¡°Now let¡¯s be off, yeah? Halloway is outside.¡± ¡°The adjustments you made were good,¡± she said by way of a compliment, ¡°You¡¯ve served me well.¡± ¡°I aim to please,¡± he said with a chuckle before turning to look at the trio with her. ¡°They seem happy with their new toys as well.¡± She glanced his way, watching how he fixated on Ellis with an expression that caused her guts to roil in disgust. ¡°They are my round table, not fresh corpses to root around in, Craftsman.¡± ¡°Sure sure, we¡¯ll see,¡± Craftsman said without turning to look at her, ¡°Just keep your end up and I¡¯ll play nice.¡± ¡°You call cutting one of my favorites open ¡®playing nice¡¯?¡± she asked. He turned to meet her gaze again, his smile growing cruel, ¡°Yes.¡± She scoffed and looked to the newly arrived members of her round table, ¡°Rise,¡± she commanded and they obeyed immediately. She gestured to her right, past Craftsman, and made a beckoning motion. A moment later a pair of men in cult masks walked over, dragging another man with a blindfold over his eyes to where she stood. He was covered in bruises and cuts, both of his arms bent the wrong way and one leg limp beneath him. He let out a low groan of pain as he lay there on the ground. She scowled down at him and clicked her tongue before reaching for his shirt and grabbing it, pulling him to his feet and waving the two cultists off. ¡°This insignificant cretin calls himself Renegade, a so-called ¡®villain¡¯,¡± she said and with quick motion grabbed his blindfold and pulled it off, tossing it to the ground. The disheveled man blinked several times, squinting his eyes against the sunlight before looking up into her face and going deathly pale as he met her eyes. ¡°He was caught attempting to plant bombs in the main compound,¡± she explained before turning and holding him with one arm over the rapids below. He let out a gasp of terror as he hung over the fast-moving water. Renegade turned his head towards her, ¡°P-please! I told you everything! Heal me! You promised!¡± She let him go and he fell into the water with a noisy splash. ¡°Ishtar has issued a bounty on you, my round table, as well as hard targets such as our important buildings, infrastructure, and holdings.¡± Halloway was the first to speak, ¡°Will you use the other half of your ability?¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± Liberty said before her perpetual scowl twisted into a horrible rictus of a smile, ¡°Let¡¯s focus on something more palatable,¡± she turned back to her Round Table, ¡°We are moving forward on the Seattle plan. Are you ready to reveal your reforged selves?¡± Ellis, Kant, and Halloway all bowed their heads as one, ¡°Strength from Liberty. We will bring them to their knees.¡± She raised her head high, ¡°Strength from Liberty indeed.¡± ¨C Liberty sat alone, staring into the gloom of the room that had started to look less and less like a temple and more like an audience chamber for a monarch. She leaned forward in the throne of polished metal, her sword resting against her knee. She adjusted her grip and scowled as her thoughts churned over. She could feel her connection to the locations she had declared as her dominion, the presences inside of them, their growing sense of veneration giving her strength. Minutes ticked by until, for one of the locations, a threshold was reached. I never thought I would be put into a position where I had to use this function, she thought, her instincts guiding her through the process of guiding the improvements to the location. Increasing their physical capabilities and the potency of their abilities isn¡¯t necessary. She sighed, No one needs to know. ¡°Vouchsafe my People,¡± she intoned and she felt the power seep into her bones before seeming to scatter. If it weren¡¯t for her connection to the place she would have assumed that the ability had failed. She knew that the walls of the buildings in that distant compound had grown stronger, the very air becoming heavy for those who entered uninvited. It would take a force of terrible power to breach her defenses, especially once she gave them time to build up. You know too much, Ishtar, she thought as she reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. She flipped through the mysterious document-the ¡®guide¡¯-again before closing it. It¡¯s time to make my own statement. Chapter 179 chapter 179 she¡¯d only seen it for a few brief moments. not long enough to appreciate it. not long enough to take it in. her eyelids felt heavy as she rested her hand against the smooth surface of the door and reached into her purse on instinct for her keys. her fingers ran down before stopping, a brief moment of panic vanishing into a bemused chuckle when she remembered she didn¡¯t need them. she rest her head against the cool surface of the door and let out a weary sigh, the door¡¯s electronic lock disengaging with a tiny flex of her will. she pushed the handle down and stepped into the entry hall. the short passage led forward into an open kitchen that was directly connected to the living room. sonya set her purse down on the pristine counter and leaned against it. she glanced over at the fridge where a little sign on the whiteboard hanging from the door said ¡®no late night snacks! this means you, sonya!¡¯. she cracked a grin and walked over to the door, opening it and plucking out a can of cola. she held it up to her neck and groaned at the cold feeling of its surface against her neck before cracking it open and taking a sip. nectar is delicious but sometimes the real thing is just better, she thought as she leaned up against the door and looked down at the counter again. four seats stood along the side opposite her. she glanced up from them to the light fixture where she sensed that the lights were out. she couldn¡¯t tell anymore, she hadn¡¯t been able to tell the difference between darkness and illumination for a long time. her world was a perpetual state of clarity that seemed ironic to her in a lot of ways. she sipped again at her drink and looked back to the seats. four people were sitting there, a young woman in a blue shirt with long brown hair, a young man with messy black hair and bags under his eyes, a dark skinned man with short curly hair who seemed uncomfortable without his mask on, and a young man with brown hair in a letterman style jacket. he was laughing about something, his smile warm, his eyes glittering with a depth of goodness that she could never fully grasp. he turned to look at her and smiled even wider, he said something that she couldn¡¯t hear. she returned his smile, ¡°what was that, nick?¡± she asked him, leaning forward, ¡°i couldn¡¯t hear you.¡± he raised an eyebrow and glanced towards the others before shaking his head and pointing at his own ears, he was saying something again and the others were laughing at whatever it was. her brows furrowed, ¡°nick? i¡¯m sorry, i can¡¯t-¡± ¡°sonya,¡± he said, ¡°it¡¯s almost time.¡± she cocked her head to the right, ¡°time for what, nick? what¡¯s going on? jess are you putting him up to this?¡± she said with a laugh and turned to bluestar who was looking her dead in the eyes, a seriousness in her expression. she looked older now, rigid, firm, composed in a way that the girl in the blue shirt from just moments before couldn¡¯t match. her gaze held the weight of experience that was far deeper than anyone should ever have to go through in a single year. sonya felt her fingers tense as she shot a look back to nick. he was still as young as ever, still smiling at her with a kindness that just wasn¡¯t fair. ¡°nick?¡± ¡°the story¡¯s almost over,¡± he said with a smile and leaned against the counter, the others were gone now. ¡°the legend is about to start. i believe in you, sonya. it¡¯s about time you started doing the same. like they do.¡± ¡°nick, what are you talking about?¡± she laughed, ¡°of course i-¡± she trailed off as the scene brightened back to the merry banter among friends. she turned her head to see amos sitting on the couch playing video games, marta was carrying treats on a tray with barry looming over her shoulder and trying to reach for them. she was scowling at him with a small smile on her face. to her left, colin and beyol stepped into the room, talking with one another before passing her by. beyol waved awkwardly while colin shot her his signature grin before hopping over the back of the couch to interrupt a focused amos. kera poked her head out of one of the bedroom doors and shouted something before shooting beyol a sheepish smile. ¡°sonya?¡± a new voice called out to her and she jumped, dropping the can with a clang. she whipped her head to the side to see cass looking at her. she blinked a few times and looked around the room, it was empty and quiet. that golden warmth of color just... gone. her heart sank as she caught her breath and looked down at the mess at her feet. ¡°oh,¡± she mumbled before turning to cass with a smile, ¡°did i doze off there? made a mess too, marta¡¯s going to be mad, huh?¡± cass gave her a worried look, ¡°you okay?¡± sonya snorted before sagging a little against the door, ¡°i¡¯m... not great, cass.¡± ¡°you¡¯ve been go go go since we got back to new york. you need some sleep,¡± the girl said, ¡°i¡¯ll clean this up for you. go lay down.¡± sonya¡¯s lip twitched and she tapped her foot against the liquid on the ground, it dissolved into motes of blue light that popped in the air like bubbles, the mess gone without a trace. ¡°all gone, no worries,¡± she said with a chuckle before stepping away from the fridge to pick up her purse. she reached up and pulled her hair back a bit. she turned to look at her apartment again, ¡°when i started everything,¡± she said after a long pause, ¡°it was just me, amos, and marta. we had barry join later.¡± cass turned to look at the empty apartment thoughtfully and sonya rested her elbows on the counter, ¡°amos would play video games on his downtime right there,¡± she said nodding to the tv, ¡°i¡¯d join him sometimes. marta would yell at us about being frivolous about our time when all she really wanted was to commandeer the tv to watch her anime.¡± sonya¡¯s shoulders sagged, ¡°amos is one of the most famous men in the world now, a nobel prize winning scientist working hard to make it a better place all the while living a double life. marta has barely seen her boyfriend because i keep dragging her everywhere i go while sending him off to the ends of the earth to lay the groundwork for my plans.¡± ¡°you miss it?¡± cass asked. ¡°yeah,¡± sonya said, ¡°i had a lot of fun at the camp, don¡¯t get me wrong. i liked meeting the little heroes in the making but... they were so far removed from me in a way that i could never really connect to. i was always watching myself, watching them, watching him. walking on shards of glass and praying that i didn¡¯t slip up somehow or some way,¡± sonya bowed her head, ¡°i reconnected with someone i care a lot about and now she¡¯s far away too. carla is a busy woman now as well, we don¡¯t get a lot of time.¡± ¡°do you think it¡¯s possible for me to pull this thing off and not die in the end? don¡¯t i deserve it for all i¡¯ve done?¡± sonya asked. perhaps, but that¡¯s entirely up to you. do you want that kind of ending? i wonder if a real villain cares about that kind of thing. sonya scoffed, ¡°is this that villain mindset nonsense you keep harping about?¡± yes. though there is a difference between understanding it and truly accepting it. do you believe you deserve a happy ending? ¡°no,¡± sonya said after a long pause, ¡°maybe, i don¡¯t know,¡± she muttered, exasperated. she glanced up at the door to the room that cass had disappeared into. her lips tilted into a small smile, ¡°i think i could be convinced, with enough evidence.¡± i suppose it¡¯s a start. ¨C the next morning sonya woke to the scent of breakfast and coffee and the sounds of laughter. she squinted groggily at the ceiling, her hair tousled about. she sat up sharply, reaching up to clutch at her head for a moment before glaring at the door. ¡°what the hell?¡± she grumbled, ¡°ishtar, what¡¯s going on?¡± you have guests, it seems. little taurus invited them over. sonya frowned in confusion, ¡°were you up all night? how do you know?¡± sonya, i don¡¯t need sleep like you do. it is no drain on me to keep an eye on your surroundings while you rest. our senses are sharp, after all. ¡°is that a new feature of our uh... thing?¡± she asked. hardly. you just never asked until now. sonya clicked her tongue and hopped out of bed, staggering over to the bathroom door and freshening up quickly. she threw on a t-shirt and pajamas quickly before marching to the exit of her bedroom and throwing the door open, ¡°now what the hell is going on out he- here...¡± she trailed off as she took in the scene. alex and cass were sitting on the couch, leaning forward as they stared at the television screen, controllers in their hands. lillian was at the kitchen counter with snow and john, sipping at a coffee while marta turned back to set a plate piled with pancakes down in front of the trio. val barked out a laugh off to the side and sonya¡¯s eyes went wide as amos turned his head from his conversation with the new hero. he grinned, ¡°hey boss! good morning!¡± sonya stepped out of the bedroom and looked around the space again, stupefied, ¡°amos, what on earth are you doing here?¡± ¡°i took a little time off from that project with forge,¡± he said with a shrug, ¡°colin was in town so i asked euclidia for a port. got a text from marta that blondie was having her friends over and thought i¡¯d swing by too,¡± he said, jerking his thumb towards cass who glanced up and waved quickly before going back to her battle with alex. sonya opened her mouth as a mug of coffee made its way into her hand. she looked down before looking up at marta who smiled at her, ¡°good morning, miss sonya,¡± she said, ¡°did you sleep well?¡± ¡°y-yeah,¡± sonya mumbled, and pulled the mug to her lips, sipping once. ¡°i may be speaking out of turn,¡± marta said quietly with her maid-like demure tone, ¡°but even if you do not like hearing her referred to that way, i do believe the young miss of the family has turned out to be a remarkable and thoughtful young woman.¡± sonya looked to cass who was grinning ear to ear, laughing as alex threw his hands up and rounded on her. sonya felt a little lump form in her throat that she cleared, ¡°indeed she has,¡± she said and put the mug back in marta¡¯s hand before she walked over to the couch, ¡°hey! let me in on this action!¡± Chapter 180 chapter 180 time spent with the young heroes and her two closest friends was a balm that went beyond any private time and shopping spree could provide. as sonya laughed and played games with the others she remembered more and more why she had thrown herself so hard into what she was doing in the first place and who she had done it for. she wondered if that exhausted dream from the previous night had been more honest with her than she¡¯d ever been with herself. ever since the death of firestorm and her fight with chunhua she had thrown herself with ever increasing ferocity into her efforts. her fun loving and mischievous side had become yet another mask to wear to cover up the exhaustion and bitterness that had been threatening to overwhelm her. it was not until she got to experience the same brightness there in the living room of her new york apartment that she finally was able to see that with some measure of clarity. that clarity had come as something as a humbling shock, she had always prided herself on her own self awareness. she knew that she was a hypocrite in a lot of ways and often did not practice what she preached. she hadn¡¯t realized, though, how deep that went. realizations aside, she could not just stop working with the timetable she was operating on. liberty was still making moves and steadily growing in power if the few night society observers they¡¯d managed to maintain amongst her people were to be believed. qilin had been pacified for now though she represented a considerable threat if she ever decided to end their business relationship. craftsman was now an object of attention for the pandora committee, ewen¡¯s recorded confession of his existence had driven the committee to begin looking into the man known as graham taylor in order to unearth his secrets. there were long term problems to consider as well. astaroth was still active in paris, though the small gathering of vigilantes around detective martin who now called himself mimir were angling to take the fight to him. that left first wind and majordomo as the most out-of-reach among the heralds. first wind¡¯s antics had tapered off after carla¡¯s ascension to the role of chairman. her hard-line stance on collateral damage moving his more unseemly behaviors into the dark rather than bringing them out into the light. majordomo was absent entirely. he¡¯d been second only to otis in the previous timeline and world famous for his power. no one had heard a thing about him in the current timeline, though, and it was beginning to worry sonya a little. surprisingly, the least pressing problem was the biggest threat. otis was now a signed hero with asta and firmly under her observation. though she had no control over what kind of missions he went on and where, she could keep a much better eye on him and watch how he and his abilities developed over time. she hoped that, in that way, she could unearth the secrets of his abilities and how to put an end to him once and for all. something told her that would be a long time coming, though, and it was best to be patient. all of those concerns were finally put out of her mind as she enjoyed a little quality time with the people she had come to care about. not all of them could be there, but that was something she had come to accept far more easily than her own shortcomings. she was in the middle of watching lillian and snow duke it out in a racing game when she made a decision. ¡°hey gang, a moment?¡± she called out, drawing everyone''s attention. she hopped to her feet and took a few skipping steps forward before spinning to stand in front of the tv. she searched their faces, a little sad not to see ollie there but according to lillian he had quickly arranged for lodgings in the guild dorms before throwing himself into working with the investigative team. sonya was proud of him for that. amos, val, and marta walked over from the counter where they¡¯d been talking. ¡°what¡¯s up sonya?¡± amos asked. sonya put her hands on her hips, ¡°here¡¯s the deal! i¡¯m planning a trip next week. i was going to bring it up back at the guild but i figured i¡¯d address it with you guys first,¡± she said and held up a finger, ¡°i¡¯ve been planning expanding asta¡¯s interests into asia for a while, particularly japan, and have a few people i¡¯d like to meet while i¡¯m there. now i know you guys are on your grace period and should be spending time familiarizing yourself with new york, but what do you guys say to a little vacation before you dive into it?¡± she grinned, ¡°we could check out the guilds there of course, maybe do a little flexing,¡± she winked at lillian before looking up to the ceiling, ¡°the tourist destinations would be a blast, though. hot springs, shopping arcades, maid cafes,¡± she said the last item with a lecherous laugh. the others gave her a flat look and she returned it with her hands on her hips, ¡°what! i know what i like!¡± she protested. ¡°i¡¯ve always wanted to go,¡± marta said with a wistful sigh. amos snorted, ¡°well of course you¡¯re going, you go wherever she does,¡± he teased her. ¡°true, but the perks don¡¯t hurt,¡± marta pointed out. john raised a hand politely before putting it down after getting a raised eyebrow from sonya, ¡°i¡¯m afraid it will not be possible for me to attend,¡± he said with a bit of resignation, ¡°i have already created a work schedule with the guildmaster.¡± val shrugged next to him, ¡°yeah and i¡¯m not all that interested, no offense,¡± he glanced towards marta apologetically. ¡°there¡¯s an extra course i gotta take with the guild before i¡¯m allowed to fly in the city so i¡¯ll be doing that. it ain¡¯t long but it¡¯s gotta be done. i¡¯m not from the city so i¡¯d like to spend a little time getting used to things around here.¡± ¡°i thought you were all from nashville,¡± lillian said. ¡°technically true, i went to school in nashville,¡± val said, ¡°didn¡¯t see much of the town though. my family is on a farm about an hour out so i usually went home right away at the end of the day.¡± ¡°well i¡¯m in,¡± cass said and elbowed alex who grunted and sat up from where he was zoning out a little. ¡°me too, definitely!¡± alex said, ¡°i wanna take a peek at what kind of brawlers they got over there.¡± ¡°not unless you need it!¡± evergreen shouted before hopping forwards and sliding down the snow bank a little. she threw out both hands and splayed her fingers, pointing them down before dipping forward in a scooping motion and dragging her hands up into the air. all around them the ground seemed to tremble as snow shifted and the wind went still. then, without warning, the snow around the portal began to draw into itself in a large ring around the outer edge of the clearing before launching up into the air. it arced over the portal before colliding with itself, more snow moved from the surrounding area, building and building on top of the mound that was beginning to take shape. evergreen let out a breath and brought both of her hands towards one another, palms soon pressing together as she hunched her shoulders in focus. the snow began to shrink in on itself, compressing down until a dome of smooth, opaque, white ice had formed over the dome while leaving the surrounding area almost completely cleared. black lotus let out a breath filled with awe, ¡°that was amazing.¡± evergreen barked out a laugh, ¡°yeah? i may not be the strongest in the world, but here?¡± she gestured around herself, ¡°i¡¯m invincible. come on! i made you a room!¡± she said eagerly and slid down the nearly clear hill that had been left behind after using its snow. she hustled over to one side of the dome and held out a hand, an opening forming in the dome and revealing an already lit interior. black lotus hurried after her and stepped through the opening, pulling back her hood as she looked around and down. she was standing on a floor that looked like it had been shaped to look like tiles. the opening led into a hallway that stretched forward before stopping at a crossing. evergreen threw her hood back as black lotus looked up at the ceiling. a crystalline piece of ice was floating over their heads and letting off a comfortable glow that added a strange warmth to the space, ¡°what is that?¡± ¡°i can make ice with unusual properties depending on available ingredients,¡± evergreen said as she walked forward, ¡°common room and entry to the portal room is on the left, living quarters are on the right.¡± black lotus raised an eyebrow, ¡°ingredients? you mean snow?¡± evergreen glanced back at her and winked, ¡°among other things, girls gotta have some secrets, right?¡± ¡°sure, sure,¡± black lotus admitted, looking around as they hung a left into a sizeable room with tables and stools all made of hardened ice. she pulled off a glove and ran her fingers across it. it was cold but not painfully so. more interestingly, it was dry as stone. she rubbed her fingers together before looking back at evergreen, ¡°this is incredible.¡± ¡°i¡¯m just getting started. we need to fortify it as well. i¡¯ll take care of that, though. you should probably call up euclidia and get that scout of yours in,¡± she said and walked back through the entryway to the common room and down towards the outside. black lotus pressed her lips together and looked around the room one more time before letting out a breath and pulling her phone out from within her robes. she opened her phone, spotting a notification she hadn¡¯t felt come in. she opened it and smiled. sonya was standing with her phone outstretched and smiling with several of the new young heroes behind her as well as marta and amos. a message was attached, ¡®be safe¡¯. she ran her thumb over the image for a moment before letting out a breath. she wasn¡¯t sure why seeing sonya¡¯s face dredged up complicated feelings beyond the ones she already had but she let it go. it wasn¡¯t important. she had a job to do. she hadn¡¯t been confident about facing this dungeon before but now she felt like she was ready to take it on. she selected a contact and her phone dialed, the call ringing only once before euclidia answered. ¡°chuchu! hey girl hey!¡± she said brightly. ¡°hey molly,¡± black lotus said brightly, ¡°we¡¯ve arrived at the target destination.¡± ¡°awesome!¡± euclidia said before it sounded like she turned away from the phone, ¡°hey, gravy-train! get the nexus set up for a portal from the scouts rally point to black lotus¡¯ current location,¡± she paused, ¡°yeah i meant you! what, you don¡¯t like the nickname?¡± euclidia came back to the phone, ¡°new kid doesn¡¯t like his nickname. we¡¯re on it.¡± black lotus laughed, ¡°i don¡¯t know if i¡¯d like to be called that either,¡± she said, ¡°who are we getting?¡± ¡°sending you a scout team of five and a few fresh graduates who will be shadowing them during the initial dive. they won¡¯t be participating in the main op but it¡¯ll be a good experience, one of our security boys is actually scout certified and offered to help out,¡± euclidia explained, ¡°his name¡¯s nietz, good kid, be nice to him.¡± ¡°looking forward to meeting him,¡± black lotus said as an arch began to form in front of her. ¡°portal incoming, good luck chuchu!¡± black lotus grinned, ¡°thanks, it''s good to be back on the job.¡± Chapter 181 Chapter 181 Announcementspan> *Sonya pokes her head in.* "Soooo..." She twiddles her fingers together a little awkwardly, "That guy got a little distracted and totally forgot to do another AMA. Absolutely his fault and nothing to do with me being busy in the madhouse that is Book 3. Not at all." She coughs. "Ahem! That said! Sup Heroes and Villains! Sonya here! This week we''re gonna do another AMA. The whole cast is on the table so ask them anything you want and we''ll do our best to answer as long as that jaggoff lets us." She shrugs before brightening, "Oh! I''m getting a co-host this time. Lillian!" She grins wickedly, "Definitely throw some fun ones at her, I love seeing her reactions! Heheheh! Anyway! Later!" With the trip to Japan just a few days away, Sonya still had things she needed to do in the interim. She had a company to at least pretend to operate and schemes to progress. She had put a lot of tireless work into what she was building during the year between Vegas and the training camps. She had intended for the camps to be something of a vacation where she could watch the fruits of her labor come into their own. It hadn¡¯t exactly worked out that way initially but the results spoke for themselves. Ten weeks away from any company was a long time for an executive. There was a lot to catch up on and most people would be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of data that needed to be worked through in order to get a handle on the state of the company. Not that was a problem for her, Sonya could basically connect to the company mainframe and download every bit of information straight into her head, it took a little while to process even with her enhanced mind but she caught up quickly. ASTA had grown even in her absence and the various companies it had acquired to maintain its various projects were now fully converted into subsidiaries and products not just for those in the field of ¡®heroing¡¯ were being pushed out for purchase by the general public. In short, Sonya was not worried about money. She hadn¡¯t been worried much about it from the outlet, but using her ability to give youth or provide healing for people in exchange for funds was not something she needed to concern herself with anymore. Money didn¡¯t solve all problems, though, and for her it was just a means to an end. Some of the new Board of Directors for the company might disagree with her on that front but she didn¡¯t care much for that opinion. Fortunately, that was a minor issue in the grand scheme of things and the company itself was managed well thanks in no small part to Amos. While Amos was ostensibly the head of the research division for the company and it was his primary focus, he was also the Vice-Chair and Chief Operations Officer. When Sonya wasn¡¯t present, he was in charge. A technopath like Sonya with a sharp mind and scathing wit, he took to management like a machine. That wasn¡¯t surprising to Sonya given the man he had become in the previous timeline which was the reason she¡¯d put him in the position despite Amos¡¯ initial protests. Alongside Amos the ASTA hierarchy was made up of numerous people she was close to and some she had taken in because of her knowledge of them from the previous timeline. Colin was the Chief Legal Officer of the company, though he ¡®worked from home¡¯ according to company records and was rarely in-house. The Chief Financial Officer was a man named Jack Tythe who¡¯s amusingly unfortunate surname was not lost on Sonya. In the previous timeline he had been a powerful unawakened stock-broker and financial adviser who had hoarded his wealth all around the world up until the cataclysm that was the flash. When the world went crazy he had surprisingly turned to funding the various disparate groups that would become the guilds. He was ruined by what Sonya now understood was the Night Society. A man of few words, he was something of a hero in his own right and a real ¡®white-knight¡¯ character. Not only was he good at what he did, his reputation brought a lot of positive clout to the company. The Chief Information Officer of the company was of course Beyol or rather Choi Minjun, his new identity when he was in public. Using the Night Society¡¯s network to assist the company was more than a little corrupt, but when half of the core officers of the company were supervillains, who cared? The final member of the officers was Kerry Watts, the Chief Media Manager who had overseen the creation of the commercial showing off the new US graduates from the camps. The Board of Directors was made up of more familiar names, Bernetta Lucci, Prichard Earl, Marta Daphne, Jessica Wright, Brigid Winter, and the three people Sonya was talking to in her office at the temporary headquarters for the company while the new building was finishing construction. She was sitting in a comfortable high backed chair with the New York skyline behind her as she smiled over her desk at the small party that had come to meet with her. ¡°The telecom side is doing well since acquiring Horizon. We¡¯ve finished updating towers across North America and we¡¯re in negotiations to move further out. Some companies aren¡¯t happy that we¡¯ve moved in so quickly and are pressing the European Union on holding us off for now,¡± Dennis Rand said. He was a thick set man with one of the most outrageous mustaches Sonya had ever seen. His thinning hair was combed over slightly and he kept dabbing his neck with a handkerchief as he spoke. ¡°The final design for the commercial-grade phones will be ready on time for the holidays.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± Sonya said with a smile, locking eyes with him. He glanced away uncomfortably before returning her stare and nodding. It was strange to see someone thrown off by her mechanical eyes after spending so much time around other light-touched, but it was also refreshing in a way, ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much about the EU, I¡¯m sure that things will work out better than you expect. I have some friends over there that can smooth things over.¡± ¡°As you say,¡± Dennis said with a grunt, leaning back in his seat before glancing towards the other man in the trio. Onslow Riccard was every bit Dennis¡¯ physical opposite. Thin and wiry with a head of hair and beady eyes. He wore thick clothing to keep himself warm despite the controlled climate around them. His upper lip pressed forward thinly in a way that reminded Sonya of a turtle. It was funny. ¡°Stores are starting to sell your clothing brands, we¡¯re currently dominating the purchasing market when it comes to monster-based goods and materials. I was skeptical about pushing down prices at first, to be honest, but creating what amounts to a lifestyle brand has proven to be a bold and effective move,¡± Onslow said, his words clipped and precise as he tapped at the arm of his chair. ¡°We¡¯re certainly seeing profits now after the initial deficit.¡± ¡°And you were worried,¡± Sonya laughed, ¡°I bet Bernetta is happy.¡± ¡°Oh she¡¯s thrilled, ma¡¯am,¡± Onslow agreed with a nod, ¡°We¡¯re still making luxury products as well of course.¡± ¡°Of course, that¡¯s where the real money is,¡± Sonya said dismissively before glancing at the third member of the group, ¡°How are things on your end?¡± The third member of the group was a woman with chestnut brown hair and clear eyes that made Sonya¡¯s chest ache just a little at the familiarity to her brother. A composed woman in her late twenties, Annabelle Anders was a woman who had thrown herself into her work rather than succumb to the tragedy that seemed to follow her family. ¡°We¡¯ve expanded the number of agents working for us as go-betweens for heroes. It¡¯s reached the point where we¡¯re going to have to start assigning an agent-per-hero in order to keep from overworking them with the new generation fresh out of the camps.¡± ¡°I was,¡± Sonya said with a nod and reached under her desk to pull out a bottle and two glasses. She poured amber liquid into the cups, just a little, before pushing one towards Annabelle. ¡°I never got to talk to you after what happened with your father. I¡¯m sorry. Did he leave a note?¡± She nodded, ¡°He was convinced that he had something to do with Nick¡¯s death, that he was responsible and it had something to do with his regained youth,¡± she said sadly and sipped at her drink, ¡°I think he may have gotten connected to someone he shouldn¡¯t have but in the end it was my brother¡¯s choice to go out there. He died a hero and I¡¯m proud of him for that.¡± Sonya closed her eyes and let out a sigh, leaning back in her seat. It was hard to hear but it was something she felt like she needed to hear. The deal she¡¯d made with Johnathan Adders had included a clause to keep him from discussing her identity or how he¡¯d regained his youth. His money had been the impetus for her starting ASTA and building her identity as Ishtar. He wasn¡¯t wrong in his beliefs, in a way, but Annabelle was right. Nick Adders was a Hero. ¡°I want to tell you about someone,¡± Sonya said after a moment of silence, ¡°She said something very interesting to me when we first met.¡± ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°She said she wanted to live up to your brother¡¯s legacy, not to be him, but to be the person who can run into danger and help people, no matter what,¡± Sonya said, ¡°She obtained a fire-based ability and threw herself into training. Now she¡¯s one of the top graduates.¡± Annabelle went still, ¡°Crusader?¡± Sonya nodded. ¡°Crusader said that?¡± ¡°Yes. Your brother inspired a young woman who I predict will become one of earth¡¯s mightiest heroes. She apprenticed directly under Black Lotus, Annabelle,¡± she laughed, ¡°Heck, she incorporated her Firestorm letterman jacket into her hero outfit.¡± Annabelle made a face and looked down at her cup, swirling the amber liquid in it, ¡°I¡¯d like to meet her,¡± she said quietly. ¡°I figured, would you like to now?¡± Sonya asked. Annabelle looked up, surprised, ¡°What?¡± ¡°She¡¯s right outside my office,¡± Sonya said with a wry smile. Annabelle gaped at Sonya for a moment before chuckling and throwing back the last of her drink in a single gulp. She got to her feet and brandished a rare smile in Sonya¡¯s direction that looked so much like Nick¡¯s it both hurt and soothed at the same time. Sonya rose as well and Annabelle extended her hand for Sonya to shake. Sonya took it and gave it a gentle squeeze. Unable to resist, she used Analyze. She released her grip on the woman¡¯s hand, keeping a straight face as she walked around the desk to open the door for her. She let her friend¡¯s sister walk past. Being a hero is just in her family¡¯s blood, I suppose. All of them were born for greatness, even if they didn¡¯t all awaken. Perhaps it is in their blood, Ishtar pointed out. Possible, but let¡¯s not dwell on it for now, this is more important, Sonya replied as Annabelle came to a stop a few paces ahead. Lillian got up from the bench she was sitting on, adjusting her black and orange jacket and brushing her hair over her ear. She brandished a smile in Annabelle¡¯s direction. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m-¡± Annabelle swept the girl up in a hug. I think you¡¯re right. It can wait. Chapter 182 Chapter 182 Announcement "C''mon! Do it! It''s fiiiine," Sonya hisses. Lillian pokes her head out of the door, "A-are you sure? I''ve never done this kind of thing before." "Do it! Dooo iiiit!" Lillian steps out into the room and brushes her hair over her ear before clearing her throat, "H-hey heroes and villains! Lillian aka Crusader here! Uh... nice to meet you! Thank you for reading Broker!" she bows quickly before planting her hands on her hips and straightening her shoulders, "Right! So uh... oh! Thanks so much for the questions! You guys have plenty of time to ask more before the deadline! We''ll keep doing this until then and let you know when it''s the last day!" She scratches her neck and glances over her shoulder, "Sonya do I have to-" "Doooo iiiiiiiit!" Lillian lets out a weary sigh before striking a pose, clapping one arm on her bicep and flexing, "So keep ''em coming! I''m looking forward to reading them when I help co-host!" she turns and darts back into the door, "Sonya! That was so awkward! Stop laughing! Did you make me do that to- ugh!" Sonya watched out the window of her office as Lillian and Annabelle left to go have dinner and talk more. The woman had immediately seen a bit of her brother in the young hero which wasn¡¯t a surprise. Sonya wondered if a little bit of Nick had actually passed on through the ability that was given to Lillian as part of the merger into Fenghuang. It was an absurd notion, but one that had cropped up a few times in her musings about the nature of instincts. She shook her head and dismissed the more complex thoughts, they weren¡¯t necessary right now and would be more of a distraction than anything else. It seems like you¡¯re recovering well, Ishtar said, You seem more grounded. ¡°Cass¡¯ little impromptu breakfast party helped,¡± Sonya said absently, reaching up to touch the glass of the window. She saw two reflections in it, one her own and the other a woman that looked like her but was distinct in her own way. She was leaner, tougher, with scars on her face and a hard look in her eyes. ¡°It seems like you¡¯re becoming more you.¡± The reflection frowned, That is not something to be happy about. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I kind of like having you around,¡± Sonya said with a small smile, ¡°You give me perspective.¡± A perspective you should have on your own, Ishtar insisted, crossing her arms in the reflection, What happens the next time I push your limits while at the helm? Will you drift off into a coma? ¡°I just dozed a little,¡± Sonya said dismissively, ¡°It wasn¡¯t that big a deal.¡± You didn¡¯t feel it on my end, Ishtar said, the reflection suddenly looking forlorn, a sadness in her eyes that Sonya had never imagined could be on the cold woman¡¯s face, even if she¡¯d only seen it once before. She knew Ishtar. Regret was antithetical to who she was, it was the point, how she¡¯d come to be. I am like a parasite to you, Sonya. I¡¯m hurting you. If what we were existed in a normal human body I doubt it would be so problematic, but something about our combined abilities is not healthy for you. I promised I would never hurt you and here I am breaking that promise by existing. Sonya frowned and reached up to touch her reflection, ¡°Don¡¯t say that. If it weren¡¯t for you I wouldn¡¯t have made it this far. Ever since that day when you started to take shape you¡¯ve been taking the weight off. I¡¯m not blind to it. I know. I appreciate it.¡± Ishtar looked away with shame, It was the least I could do. The reflection glanced up and Sonya felt it as well. I think we¡¯ll have to table this talk for now. You are a busy woman after all. ¡°You don¡¯t want to take this?¡± Sonya asked. I... Ishtar trailed off, I would prefer to act in an advisory role for now. ¡°Ishtar,¡± Sonya said softly, ¡°You don¡¯t have to-¡± A knock came to the door and Ishtar¡¯s reflection faded from the glass. Sonya closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She turned and gracefully sat down in her seat, leaning back and crossing her legs. ¡°Enter,¡± she said cooly and the door opened. A young man in a black and white suit entered. He was of asian descent, Korean, with steely gray-blue eyes and short black hair. His face was a bit unfamiliar, changed just enough to hide his true identity. He closed the door behind him and strode up to her desk, inclining his head. ¡°I am here, mistress,¡± Blackrazor said. Sonya graced him with an easy smile and gestured to the chair across from her, ¡°It¡¯s good to see you, dear. It¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°My role keeps me busy,¡± he said, slipping into the chair, ¡°I have made a point to take time off as you have instructed. This has been positive for my understanding of my partners wants and needs as exhausting as they are. This is not without its positives, of course.¡± She snorted and raised an eyebrow, ¡°You can get tired?¡± ¡°I would argue you¡¯ve done that already,¡± Blackrazor pointed out. ¡°Oh I¡¯m far from done,¡± Sonya said as they descended a stairway, she glanced at Blackrazor, ¡°Have you got anything more about Halloway?¡± ¡°Little more than I have already provided, unfortunately. He went by Rift after awakening and used his spatial abilities for assassination. It seems that Liberty¡¯s ability to amplify other light-touched powers has given him the capacity to shut down teleportation as well as create portals. She¡¯s been sending him on operations that require a low profile,¡± Blackrazor said, ¡°That is what I wanted to discuss with you. Liberty is on the move.¡± Sonya frowned, ¡°Already? She just started turtling up.¡± ¡°The woman is powerful but lacks a considerable amount of patience,¡± Blackrazor said flatly. ¡°No kidding,¡± Sonya said and shook her head, ¡°That¡¯ll be her downfall, though not without heavy casualties. What do we know about what she¡¯s planning?¡± ¡°She¡¯s been sending people into dungeons within her territory equipped with unusual hardware, I believe this may be equipment developed by this ¡®Craftsman¡¯ you mentioned. I have nothing on him, I¡¯m afraid,¡± Blackrazor said. ¡°Try following up on Graham Taylor, that¡¯s his real name apparently.¡± Blackrazor nodded, ¡°I will do that.¡± ¡°Do we know anything else?¡± Sonya pressed, exchanging a look with Kingshark as they arrived at a large pair of doors. He put his hand against a panel and it flashed green ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, though whatever it is involves the research she is doing in the other dungeons. She¡¯s being exceedingly cautious and my people have not been able to insert themselves into the teams conducting these dungeon runs. It¡¯s shameful,¡± Blackrazor said with a shake of his head. ¡°I¡¯m beginning to suspect that her ability allows her followers to recognize one another, it¡¯s the only explanation I can come up with for how easily they¡¯re noticing spies,¡± Sonya said. Blackrazor rubbed his chin, ¡°Something worth considering. I have some angles I can approach if that is the case,¡± he opened his mouth to continue speaking but trailed off as the doors in front of them slid open. His eyes went wide as they all took in the massive chamber that waited for them. Thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands of large oval shaped objects sat in rows within the space. Each oval contained a faint glow that sent an itch into the back of one''s mind if they stared too long at it. Blackrazor strode forward in silence and rested his hands on the rail overlooking the room. He turned back to look between Sonya and Kingshark with awe in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve been busy,¡± Sonya commented as she walked up to stand next to Blackrazor. ¡°Ayep!¡± Kingshark guffawed, leaning against the rails, ¡°It¡¯s taken a while to get so many of them here. They¡¯re all volunteers of course who wanted to go through the process. Many of them have a vested interest in what I¡¯ve got planned.¡± Blackrazor turned to him, ¡°What you have planned?¡± Kingshark held a finger up to his lips, ¡°That¡¯s a surprise, brother, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll enjoy the show when it comes up. Trust me.¡± ¡°As long as it achieves the aim,¡± Sonya said with a chuckle and slapped Kingshark on the arm, ¡°You be as cryptic as you want. You¡¯re certainly a king now, though, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°You think that¡¯s impressive?¡± Kingshark said and gestured for them to follow him. They looked at one another as he made his way down the catwalk overlooking the eerie scene before stopping at one end. Sonya froze, her eyes going wide as she took in an absolutely massive glowing pod, a small figure was floating inside it. She blinked a few times and squinted at the person within before looking up at him, ¡°Is that-¡± ¡°The kraken dude, yeah,¡± Kingshark said. ¡°Is this why this base was built?¡± Blackrazor asked. ¡°It¡¯s one of the reasons, sure,¡± Sonya said, ¡°Building an army with the help of Kingshark¡¯s improved ability. We were going to do it anyway with his original ability but apparently this new version has some interesting functions,¡± she added and glanced at Kingshark who nodded. ¡°Of course the main reason this place exists is the safehouse for us and a place where our boy Amos can follow his less than legal research interests,¡± Kingshark chuckled, ¡°Speakin¡¯ of which,¡± he turned to Sonya, ¡°I think we might need to set up a dummy base somewhere, boss. This place is getting some attention and the chatter we¡¯re picking up suggests they think it¡¯s yours. Any ideas?¡± Sonya pursed her lips for a moment before brightening, ¡°Actually, I have a marvelous idea!¡± she said with a laugh and gestured to her left where a portal appeared. For a brief moment the trio felt a gust of cold wind roll out of the portal from the other side. Blackrazor and Kingshark exchanged a look before looking at Sonya who was practically bubbling with excitement. She noted their concerned expressions, ¡°Oh don¡¯t be like that, it¡¯s not going to be in the shape of my head or anything,¡± she paused, ¡°...maybe. I¡¯ll think about it,¡± she said and squinted at the portal, ¡°Could I do that?¡± She shook her head, ¡°Nevermind,¡± she said with a grin and skipped forward to stand next to the portal, ¡°Shall we, gentlemen?¡± Chapter 183 Chapter 183 Announcement "Ahem!" Marta takes a half step forward into a delicate curtsey, "Hello everyone, Marta here, thank you again for reading along. I do hope you''re having a good time. We''re still accepting questions for the AMA this week, so if you''d like to get your question in, please take a moment to ask in the comments," she says with a smile before standing up straight and tilting her head slightly, "I would be very sad if I didn''t get a few myself. As a part-time streamer, I do love entertaining an audience." "Hey Babe! Are we-" Kingshark pokes his head into the space and makes eye contact with a very annoyed Marta. "Uh... right. Um. Whoops? I''m gonna go. Hey readers or whatever! I like living so... bye!" "Barry!" Marta shouts, "Just go already!" "I''m going! I''m going!" Sonya stepped through the portal and out into the snow. She took a deep breath and tasted the crispness of the air. Going from three environmentally disparate places in quick succession was an interesting thing and it allowed her to experience the nuance of the air with more clarity than she expected, even with her enhanced senses. New York had thick and pungent air, heavy and tainted with things that cloyed against her senses. The subaquatic base was sterile and flat with no distinctness to the air, unremarkable to the point of being remarkable. This place was sharp and fresh, almost minty as it filled her lungs with a heady chill. The sensation was thrilling in a way. ¡°Oh, I like that.¡± ¡°Like what? Oh shit it¡¯s cold out here,¡± Kingshark grumbled, rubbing his arms as he peered around. Blackrazor stepped out through the portal behind him and frowned at his surroundings before schooling his expression into something neutral to hide his discomfort. Sonya put her hands on her hips and turned to admire the scene around them. They were standing on the side of a mountain overlooking many more. As far as the eye could see there was nothing but white snow and dark stone. ¡°Welcome to the alps,¡± Sonya said brightly, crossing her arms behind her back and glancing around, ¡°Now where is it...¡± she murmured, squinting at the mountainside behind her two companions. ¡°I fail to understand why we are here, are you going to build a false base of operations in this remote place?¡± Blackrazor asked, turning to look at the sheer wall of stone behind him. Sonya strode up next to him and ran her fingers over the wall, ¡°Oh the hard part¡¯s already done,¡± she said and pushed her senses into the wall, reaching out until she felt something like a door mechanism. She concentrated on it and with a flex of her technopathy willed the doors to open. At first nothing happened and Blackrazor gave her a skeptical look that she responded to by sticking out her tongue. He crossed his arms and sighed just as Kingshark joined them. ¡°Hate this place already,¡± he said irritably. The stone beneath them shuddered and the two men looked down before looking up at the wall as it began to shift backwards, a portion of it beginning to slide back. Sonya clapped her hands with delight, ¡°Secret door!¡± she laughed as the moving slab of rock shifted to the side before disappearing into the wall. Ahead of them a narrow hallway stretched towards another door set deeper into the mountain. Lights slowly came on along the path, providing just enough illumination to guide them inside. ¡°This is the back door, by the way, I hadn¡¯t tried it yet so I figured this would be a good opportunity.¡± The two men stood there staring at the open passage with a mixture of awe and confusion. They looked at her after a heartbeat, Kingshark letting out a sigh. ¡°Of course you have a hidden mountain fortress, it¡¯s you. Why was I surprised?¡± ¡°Like something out of Steel Kit Seven,¡± Blackrazor breathed before clearing his throat, ¡°I mean, how on earth did you come upon a place like this, Mistress?¡± Sonya shot Kingshark a petulant look before smiling at Blackrazor, ¡°It was actually Queen August¡¯s,¡± she said and started inside, ¡°Now if you don¡¯t mind let''s get out of the cold.¡± The two men nodded eagerly and followed her inside. About half-way through the passage the door began to shut behind them. Sonya glanced over her shoulder and shrugged before making for the door at the other end, she gestured and a small panel next to it flashed green before it too slid open. They were immediately buffeted by warm air radiating from within. Kingshark let out a groan of relief as Sonya climbed the three steps up and into the interior of the structure. She glanced around curiously, taking it all in. They were standing in a positively massive central chamber. The floor beneath their feet seemed to be made of the same stone as the mountain but had been flattened and polished to a marble shine. Everything in the space glittered and sparkled, the furniture, the paintings on the walls, the statues, even the fountain set into the heart of the room where a steady spray of water shot into the air and caught the light from spotlights hanging above it. She made a face and wrinkled her nose, ¡°I¡¯m selling all of this as soon as I can,¡± she said with disgust. ¡°You haven¡¯t been in here yet?¡± Kingshark said, squinting against the overwhelming gleam. ¡°Nope, I opened a portal to the front door, sent some of my legion in to check it out and make sure there was nothing dangerous inside. As well as gather up valuables,¡± she frowned at the decor, ¡°Seems like my orders weren¡¯t clear or they didn¡¯t see a reason to grab all this stuff. I checked out the exterior with my Astral Eye before I put it out of my mind.¡± ¡°You have been pretty busy,¡± Kingshark chuckled, ¡°Guess those statue things of yours are gone by now.¡± ¡°That''s what I was expecting as well,¡± Sonya said thoughtfully as the sound of stone against stone rang out in the large room. The trio turned their attention towards one of the open spaces on the far side that looked like it led into a hallway or some manner of auxiliary room. Two marble statues stepped out, their stoic gazes falling on Sonya. The figures took the form of women wearing cloth robes that left little to the imagination, their hair bound tightly in rows on their heads with gold wire criss-crossing braids. They strode forward before stopping at a respectful distance and dropping to a knee. I do not know the limit either, though I have sensed it increase gradually. Good to know that we¡¯re learning some things together. Sonya... It¡¯s fine, just a little hurt about it. I¡¯ll hit a dungeon or something and brush up. That would be good, I can guide you if you¡¯d like while you do that. I¡¯d appreciate it. ¡°You have your statue women,¡± Blackrazor said flatly, ¡°Now what?¡± ¡°Well, I was thinking about having Amos help me with this place but now I¡¯ve got a better idea. I want to test the limits of this ability and what these guys are capable of so why not have them remodel it into a dummy lair like you suggested, Barry,¡± she said with a grin, ¡°I¡¯ve only tried direct and closed-ended orders. Let¡¯s try something a bit more open-ended.¡± She took a deep breath and fixed her gaze on the eight statues kneeling before her, ¡°Legion,¡± she commanded, trying to sound more regal, ¡°I find the garish trappings of excess wealth offensive. Take them down and set them aside, I will put them to better use. Once you have done so, turn this place into a lair suitable for me. ¡± The statues rose as one, their cold eyes regarding her for a moment before they turned away, walking to the jewel encrusted decor and tearing it from the walls and uprooting it from the floor. A few left for other rooms and began carrying piles of jewelry back into the room to dump it at her feet. She winced as one of them ripped a whole portion of wall out as it removed a bust attached to the wall. What happened next made all three of them freeze in place. The legionnaire placed a hand over the broken portion of wall and the dark stone turned into white marble before filling in the hole. It emotionlessly turned away from the patch of marble before carrying the bust to the growing pile. Sonya glanced at the others, ¡°How about we leave them to it? I¡¯ll send one of Charon¡¯s people to pick up the loot and sell it.¡± ¡°Yeah, no offense, those things are creepy and I¡¯m literally the horror guy,¡± Kingshark said flatly. ¡°Agreed, though this has given me much to think about,¡± Blackrazor said thoughtfully. Sonya nodded and made a casual gesture, creating a portal back to the underwater base that they quickly went through. ¨C Adam was not new to the life of a criminal. He¡¯d been bouncing between a solitary lifestyle and working with groups since he was in middle-school. Gangs were not forever as much as the leaders of such groups insisted they were and more often than not they were broken up either by internal problems or police intervention. Only the big gangs ever ended up becoming something that lasted. After the flash that changed, even the big gangs were starting to tear themselves apart as low-ranking members overpowered those above them and individuals in stagnant leadership positions pushed higher. The idea that any criminal group could possibly stay consistent for any period of time was laughable to Adam. What was even more laughable was the idea that the higher-ups in such a group would show any sort of respect towards the lowest ranking members. It came as a bit of a surprise, then, that when the gang he had joined in Seattle was absorbed into a new light-touched group that the leadership was insistent on creating better conditions for him and the others. Even so, he was still at the bottom of the barrel. Being a nobody wasn¡¯t a big deal, though, it kept him out of the big fights. He¡¯d heard about Vegas and had seen heroes crack down on his friends when they pushed their luck too hard. Fighting some superhero was absolutely not on his to-do list. If he had his way, he¡¯d keep his head low and get paid while he was doing it, even if that meant becoming a janitor. He wasn¡¯t entirely sure if the offhanded remark he¡¯d made along the same lines had landed him where he was or if he was just unlucky. Something had caught the attention of the local kingpin, Dupe, which was how he ended up where he was. It was also how he learned something he really wished he hadn¡¯t. He had been working on the administrative level of the underwater complex run by the supervillain Kingshark, cleaning the floors and staying out of everyone¡¯s way. He¡¯d never seen Kingshark in person except from a distance but from what he did know the guy was pretty cool with his men and extremely protective. That made him proud to do what he was doing. He was paid really well and the living spaces were comfortable for the most part, not that he could spend the money where he was. That had been on his mind as he opened the door to one of the rooms that the others told him belonged to Kingshark¡¯s boss. No one talked about who this person was though he had a pretty good guess. The contract he had signed with the non-disclosure agreement had included Ishtar¡¯s name on it. It wasn¡¯t a huge leap of logic. That piece of information had been floating in the back of his mind as he laid eyes on the woman standing in the room with an asian-looking guy who practically radiated death. Anyone who hadn¡¯t been living under a rock would have recognized her immediately. The Voice of the Hero Movement, Sonya Chernovna. What was even crazier, she knew his name. Just plucked it out of the air before sending him off to go find Kingshark. That had been equally awkward, properly meeting the supervillain for the first time. All that had ended with Adam wandering down one of the deep-sea base¡¯s many halls in a daze, not sure what to make of the revelation when he heard a familiar voice around the bend in the hall ahead of him. ¡°Well of course, silly! How else are you supposed to get past that stage?¡± Sonya laughed, walking around the corner with Kingshark and the scary dude in tow. She came to a stop and met his gaze with an easy smile, ¡°Look who it is!¡± she said brightly and he felt his feet root to the floor as three supervillains fixed their gazes on him. ¡°Adam! I liked your energy earlier today. Have you considered becoming light-touched?¡± He blinked, ¡°Huh?¡± Chapter 184 Chapter 184 In just a few hours, Sonya would go to Japan. It was something that she had been anticipating for quite some time. Not only because she had a vested interest in going there as the CEO of ASTA Corporation and the head of her growing network of supporters in Ishtar¡¯s ¡®Club¡¯, there was a far more important reason. There was a cult active in Japan, one that worshiped her alter ego as some manner of savior. She had been keeping track of their rhetoric and protests, cataloging their signs and the messages that they put out. To anyone else but a very small group of people these messages would be nothing more than the usual fanatically driven drivel. To Sonya, it told her that someone she did not know knew way more than she would have liked. That wasn¡¯t to say that she intended to destroy the cult. Quite the contrary. So far they had done little in the way of actively causing problems for the world around them. She had learned that they were taking in those who had been displaced by the flash. Japan was a very conservative nation and it took time for it to adapt to changes. The flash had been a very, very big change. The fallout in the first few months after the flash had seen light-touched ostracized by their families and communities. They lost jobs, careers, even their lives when enough unawakened ganged up on them. Japan was not unique in this, this kind of treatment of light-touched was common in the time before Vegas across the entire planet. What made Japan¡¯s situation unique was the group that had taken all these people in and protected them, fostered them, and to the surprise and concern of many; did not weaponize them. According to what Sonya had learned, the cult operated with a very small security staff of Rare and above light-touched. She had yet to learn their names or even get a good look at any stand-outs among their group. Another thing that she had learned was their tenuous cease-fire with the Mythic-Tier International Hero Sapporo was declining very fast. Sapporo was a stern man despite the nature of his ability, Festival of Dionysus, he was Yakuza for much of his life before he acquired his ability and embraced the moral responsibility that possessing such power entailed. He could be gruff and short-spoken, rarely speaking a word on assignments according to the records she had access to through her various connections within the Panora Committee. She¡¯d met him once, even analyzed and copied his amusingly powerful ability, eventually granting it to Kingshark to turn him into a lovecraftian nightmare of epic proportions. Sapporo was powerful. Sonya did not disabuse herself of the fact that he likely had surpassed Chunhua a long time ago but cared little for titles or prestige. Chunhua was catching up now that their relationship had stabilized and her heart demon had been quelled, but it took time to refine and strengthen an ability in order to squeeze everything out of it. Sapporo¡¯s single-minded approach to strengthening himself for the sake of his homeland and the world at large had given him the drive to reach heights that Sonya would have expected from heroes years from now. If she was being honest with herself, she wasn¡¯t even sure she could handle him at full strength. The fact that you are having that thought predicates that you are being honest with yourself. Ishtar pointed out. Sonya snorted out a laugh as she leaned on the balcony looking down over the city of New York in the dead of night. Even when so many were asleep, the city continued to thrum and churn as it glowed so brightly that it could be seen from orbit. She reached up and brushed the strands of white hair tousling about in the wind out of her face. ¡°Yeah,¡± she admitted, ¡°I know.¡± She looked down at the object in her other hand, an egg that had grown a bit in size since she had acquired it from Spice King Erebus as part of her deal to rid the world of Queen August for him. It was bigger than an ostrich egg now, the odd coloration it had before replaced with a smooth white veneer laced with silver octagons that made her think a little bit of a golf-ball. It glowed from the inside, thrumming occasionally in her grip. For a long time now she had been feeding it her internal energy, mana coursing into her body before traveling down her arm and into the item. That process had stopped just about an hour ago. It¡¯ll be soon, I imagine, Ishtar said, I¡¯m curious as to what will come out of it. ¡°As long as it¡¯s not some chibi kid or something,¡± Sonya snarked. ¡°You¡¯ve been reading from my library,¡± Marta¡¯s voice came from behind her. Sonya turned and graced her friend with an easy smile, ¡°You¡¯re up early, or is it late?¡± She pursed her lips and tilted her head, ¡°Let''s go with both.¡± Marta snorted, ¡°You seem to be feeling better, ma¡¯am.¡± Sonya¡¯s smile reached her eyes, ¡°Yeah, still got some things I¡¯m working on but I¡¯m better than I¡¯ve been in a long time, I think,¡± she said with a chuckle and her expression relaxed into something softer, ¡°Cass really pulled out the big guns.¡± ¡°That she did,¡± Marta said before glancing towards the egg, ¡°Do you think it would be best if we brought it inside?¡± Sonya eyed the egg, ¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± she said, ¡°Information security says yes, let''s do that, but I¡¯m a little worried about the amount of processed mana I¡¯ve pumped into this thing with the number of abilities its filtered through,¡± she frowned, ¡°What if something humongous comes out and ruins my lovely apartment?¡± Ishtar glanced down at her lap and frowned, ¡°It¡¯s time,¡± she said, ¡°I think it would be best if you were in control for this, silly girl.¡± Sonya¡¯s body relaxed again and she abruptly sat forward, ¡°Now wait just a minute, I¡¯m not done- oh,¡± she blinked a few times and looked down at her lap before puffing up her cheeks petulantly, ¡°I was enjoying that ice cream.¡± ¡°You can just make more,¡± Marta said. ¡°It¡¯s the principle!¡± Sonya whined as a low hum began to fill the room and the air began to move, a faint breeze picking up. ¡°Hm, might want to make sure this doesn¡¯t end up on tomorrow morning¡¯s carter radar report,¡± she said and held out her hand. Vines wrapped up the length of her petite arm before growing small bulbs that blossomed into flowers. The flowers launched out, slapping against the walls and windows around them before growing in size and taking on an otherworldly pale glow. ¡°There, that oughta do it.¡± ¡°That was Visage of Titania,¡± Marta said. ¡°Yep,¡± Sonya said, her eyes fixed on the egg as it shuddered, the breeze in the room picking up in speed. ¡°I got some practice in.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know, we haven¡¯t talked a lot about how you¡¯ve been developing your ability suite. I¡¯d like to better know what you¡¯re capable of so that I can help you better,¡± Marta commented, getting a wince from Sonya. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Sonya said soberly, ¡°We should do that soon.¡± ¡°After this and once you¡¯ve actually gotten some sleep,¡± Marta said with a reassuring smile, patting Sonya on the shoulder. As she did so, the door to the bedroom that used to belong to Amos burst open, a bleary-eyed Cass poking her head out, ¡°What is with all the- woah!¡± she gasped, stepping out and staring in awe at the gathering forces in the middle of the living room. The egg was starting to glow brighter and brighter, ¡°It¡¯s hatching! You should have woke me up!¡± she said eagerly and hurried over to the couch to join them. ¡°Tried to,¡± Sonya said as the egg began to float up from her lap, ¡°Somebody was tuckered out from spending all day flirting with a hero.¡± ¡°I was not flirting with Alex!¡± Cass protested, getting two equally amused side-eyed looks from Marta and Sonya alike. ¡°I didn¡¯t say Alex,¡± Sonya said with a wry smile. Cass spluttered before quickly pointing up at the egg that was now suspended in the air, catching an opportunity to move the conversation away from her personal life. ¡°It¡¯s doing something!¡± Sonya and Marta looked up and watched as the hexagonal patterns on the egg began to shift, sliding in and out of its surface in waves that made it seem more like a large stone than something containing a living organism. Light flashed from within, the power inside growing to a fever pitch as multicolored light gathered around it. Sonya shifted a bit in her seat as did Marta, they both knew what that kind of reaction meant. A monster was taking shape before them and its focal point was the egg. The light continued to gather, becoming so bright that Cass and Marta had to raised their hands to shield their eyes. Sonya¡¯s own eyes simply recalibrated, shifting and whirring inside her head to compensate for the excessive amounts of input. She barely reacted as whatever it was continue to take form, the room trembling once as a pulse of mana rippled out from it only to stop against the surfaces where the flowers had bloomed. A final blinding flash suffused the room and even Sonya had to avert her gaze for a moment before her eyes adjusted again. What stood in the middle of the room was a mixture of strange and familiar. It was a lean four limbed creature with the head of a jackal. It had a long thin tail that whipped about as it took in its surroundings with its back to them. Its fur was as white as Sonya¡¯s hair, stark and shimmering in the faint light of the dimmed ceiling lights. ¡°A hound?¡± Marta asked, confused. It turned back to face them, fixing Sonya with an unflinching stare through a pair of luminous multicolored eyes. They looked like the rainbow-like energy that heralded its creation was now bound within its eye-sockets. Sonya returned its stare, taking in every detail of the surprisingly passive creature. She got more information from that observation than she was expecting. Unlike any monster she had laid eyes upon, this one had a name plate, like that of a human. Sonya couldn¡¯t help herself with the tension hanging in the room, ¡°Does our building have a dog policy?¡± Chapter 185 Chapter 185 Announcement Currently working on: The AMA Reponses Book 3 Finale (Current Patreon Release: Ch. 239) The private jet soared through the air, heading westward. The improvements to the vehicle Amos had made during what he called ¡®hobby time¡¯ had extended its range by a considerable amount and rendered it impervious to attacks from anything up to an uncommon-tier force. Besides that, the interior was much of what Sonya remembered from her trip to and from Las Vegas. She hadn¡¯t used the jet in a while, discretely using portals when she could and taking advantage of other forms of transportation when it was available. The reasons were obvious, of course. The last two times she had been in the jet she had been sitting across from An Set and reeling from the fallout from Vegas respectively. She would have rather used a portal but she was bringing Alex, Snow, and Lily with her and that meant using her own portals wasn¡¯t an option. As for the alternative, this was not an official visit or business related to the Pandora Committee and hero work. Certainly Sonya could call in a favor from Euclidia but she would rather not abuse her connections like that. Not yet anyway. Marta strode up to her from where she had been standing at the small kitchenette at one end of the cabin and handed her a mug filled with fragrant tea. Sonya sipped it and smiled, ¡°Thank you, Marta,¡± she said. Her friend bowed politely before glancing down at the thing in Sonya¡¯s lap. She glanced up and met Sonya¡¯s gaze with raised eyebrows and Sonya smirked right back at her. Marta rolled her eyes before turning to look at the other passengers, ¡°How do the four of you take your tea?¡± Cass, Alex, Lillian, and Snow were all in various states of attentiveness when she asked the question. Cass was lounging on one of the couches lining the inner cabin with a lazy expression, staring out one of the windows and yawning. Alex was on his phone, tapping away at what was likely a game. Snow was staring pointedly at Sonya¡¯s lap with big eyes while Lillian mirrored her expression, her gold-plumed hawk Alphonse on her shoulder. None of them reacted to her words. Marta shook her head, ¡°Miss Chernovna¡¯s usual blend, then,¡± she said and stepped away. The object of at least half of the young heroes¡¯ attention was the large fuzzy creature laying sprawled across Sonya¡¯s lap. It was for all intents and purposes a Siberian husky, largely white with dark lines framing its eyes and gradients of gray running down its back. It rested quietly in its spot, most of its body sitting comfortably on the couch to Sonya¡¯s side. Across from Sonya, Snow crept forward and its ear twitched, one eerie white eye opening and glancing in her direction. She pulled back as the faint hiss of static preceded a giggle of delight. ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± Lillian asked, looking up at Sonya from where she had been admiring the majestic dog. ¡°I¡¯m calling him Levi,¡± Sonya said, scratching behind the dogs ears. It barely shifted to give her a superior angle. ¡°He¡¯s very calm for a husky, did he go through training?¡± Lillian asked as Snow crept forward again, with eager steps. Levi opened his eye and stared at her again before looking away and letting out a long suffering huff. Lililan laughed, ¡°Full of personality though.¡± ¡°Well he¡¯s not exactly a husky, come over here, you¡¯ll probably be able to tell if you get close enough,¡± Sonya said gently. Lillian and Snow squinted at her before glancing at one another and grinning. They got to their feet and made their way across the cabin, stopping to kneel next to the dog. Levi raised his head and turned slowly to look at them, his nose tilted up a bit as if having them approach was some manner of minor slight. Lillian and Snow didn¡¯t seem to notice, but Alphonse did. The hawk let out a small sound of protest and flicked its head to the right to fix Levi with a stare. They held one anothers gazes as Snow reached out to run her hand down Levi¡¯s back. Levi huffed again, this time sounding disinterested and returned to resting his head on Sonya¡¯s lap. Lillian reached out to join Snow in petting him and froze. She blinked and looked up at Sonya, ¡°He¡¯s not a dog.¡± ¡°Not a natural one, no,¡± Sonya said with an easy laugh, she tilted her head to look into the creature¡¯s eyes, ¡°He came out of an egg, if you can believe it.¡± Snow was the next to react with Alex glancing up with her, ¡°An egg?¡± Sonya tilted her head and looked into Levi¡¯s eyes, smiling at him, ¡°Didn¡¯t you little buddy?¡± she asked merrily before flicking her gaze up towards the others, ¡°A friend of mine is a bit of a collector of novelties out of dungeons. Odd resources, dungeon rewards, that kind of thing. The egg was a reward and he gave it to me as thanks for some help I gave him.¡± Sonya let out an exhausted sigh, ¡°The egg draws mana through your body to feed it, it¡¯s like constantly using your powers. I¡¯ve been feeding it for a while now and a familiar came out.¡± ¡°Your eyes are always on, that must have been exhausting,¡± Lillian said. Sonya snorted, ¡°You¡¯re telling me! Though the rewards are worth it, I have a bodyguard in case Marta has to go running off. Once he grows up a little of course.¡± Snow ran her fingers through his fur, ¡°There¡¯s an illusion on him. I can barely sense it, it¡¯s more powerful than mine by one hell of a margin,¡± she said with a crackle of static. Marta returned with a pair of mugs and handed them to the girls who took them gratefully, ¡°He has to keep his cover somehow,¡± Marta said, ¡°One of his defense mechanisms, I imagine. We still don¡¯t know everything but given what he really looks like currently, I¡¯m glad this is an option.¡± Levi raised his head and glowered at Marta. She met his gaze and smirked, ¡°What? You¡¯re scary like that. I can¡¯t imagine Sonya walking you. It¡¯d cause a panic.¡± Bandit shifted on his feet, rubbing his neck as they stood on the tarmac. He squinted up at the clear blue sky and frowned a little. It was too damn bright out. He felt Inky stir in his shadow and he sent a reassuring nudge through their connection. The little creature had engaged him in a fairly transactional relationship when they first met but it had steadily evolved into a bond that surpassed friendship. Inky was his familiar now, a rare occurrence for someone without an ability function for creating a familiar but apparently not unheard of. He glanced towards Sapporo, the big guy was imposing as ever. He had the vibe of a mountain that always seemed to make his shifts towards good humor a little unsettling. Bandit wondered if that was the point. He leaned forward just a little to glance past Sapporo and the entourage of Japanese representatives. There were people from the central government, the local Pandora branch, and even a representative from the Imperial Family. That was a little weird but given how big a name was showing up he supposed it wasn¡¯t that surprising. ¡°Restless?¡± Sapporo asked in his gravel-against-steel voice. Bandit stood up straight and shrugged, ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen her. She looked after me and the others when we were getting started but since then I¡¯ve been go go go, y¡¯know?¡± Sapporo nodded quietly, turning his head to look up at the horizon, ¡°It will be good to have her here. Her presence is a balm in troubled times.¡± ¡°You do remember that she¡¯s kind of a kook, right?¡± Bandit pointed out, ¡°Like, she¡¯s probably gonna come out there like a superstar diva and do or say something outrageous.¡± The big man¡¯s expression shifted into an extraordinarily rare smile, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve met Sonya Chernovna before.¡± Bandit laughed, getting a few looks from the other more stoic representatives that he ignored. The two of them had met at the same time Sapporo had first encountered Sonya. It was an awkward meeting, looking back and he wondered how they had managed to bond the way they had despite the horrors they¡¯d seen not long after. He shoved his hands into his pockets, ¡°Inky¡¯s not liking the direct sunlight.¡± ¡°Your strange little friend will be in more comfortable environs soon,¡± Sapporo said before lowering his voice a little, ¡°The third man to my left is a representative of a media studio. He¡¯s here for you.¡± Bandit pressed his lips together and leaned back to get a view of the men arrayed waiting for the arrival of the plane and the celebrity inside. He caught sight of a man with a thick mustache and hard eyes on a slightly pudgy face. He squinted at the man¡¯s shirt and saw a pin marking him as a member of a popular media company in Japan. Bandit shifted back to a more comfortable pose and shot Sapporo a glance, ¡°Thanks for the heads up. Not interested in turning Inky into a kids toy. I¡¯m fine with franchising, it''s what ASTA does for me anyway, but I don¡¯t want kids seeing what Inky really does to living things on TV while holding an effigy of him.¡± Sapporo nodded, ¡°A very kind mindset. Better he be a figment of mystery and danger.¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t agree more, big guy-¡± he froze and Sapporo did as well. They both looked up at the horizon and frowned, ¡°I forgot what Handmaiden felt like,¡± Bandit said. ¡°Imposing indeed,¡± Sapporo agreed, ¡°There was something else there for a moment but it receded. Perhaps a trick of the mind?¡± ¡°Dunno, there¡¯s another odd duck on the plane. A growth-type hero,¡± Bandit said. ¡°Growth-type?¡± Sapporo asked, ¡°Those are very rare.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right, what makes it more compelling is that this kid trained under Black Lotus and has similar functions to her ability,¡± he said, ¡°She just joined the East ASTA Guild the other day. Bluestar gave me a heads up that she was coming.¡± Sapporo raised his eyebrows, ¡°A cultivator. That explains the sensation. Very controlled.¡± The man next to Sapporo turned to face them, he was an older man with thinning gray hair. Despite that, his eyes had a sharpness to them that always made Bandit wary, ¡°I was unaware you possessed a sensory power, Sapporo.¡± ¡°I do not, Mister Takehara,¡± Sapporo said before looking up at the sky where the plane was approaching. Takehara frowned at Sapporo before turning away to speak with one of the others. ¡°They still want you to overtake BL?¡± Bandit asked. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Are you going to?¡± ¡°Not intentionally, no.¡± Bandit glanced past him towards the officials speaking amongst themselves. ¡°They''re not happy,¡± he said with mild amusement as he listened in from a distance. Sapporo chuckled, ¡°No, they are not.¡± Chapter 186 Chapter 186 Takehara Aoto was an old man with sensibilities that came from a lifetime of experience. He found the aging population in other nations to be strange. While they grew more set in their ways and rigid in their thinking, he found less meaning in ideology. There were few positions he considered to be hills that he would willingly die on. Not out of a sense of cowardice but instead a sense of practicality and openness. If he was wrong about something, he was wrong. It was not difficult to pivot when one takes every defeat as a lesson learned. Even so, there was a difference between his personal way of thinking and his duty. Duty was absolute, paramount, and unbending. His duty was to the health and safety of every citizen in the sovereign nation of Japan. He wondered sometimes if perhaps it was because of his open mindedness or in spite of it that he had been chosen for his position as the national representative for the Pandora Committee. This was one of those times. In the eyes of the politicians and leaders of his homeland, Sapporo represented the opportunity to stand above the other nations of the world. While there were titans on the rise in other nations, Sapporo stood apart. He was a wall against intrusion and his patriotism was not to be questioned. Yet his respect for his peers among the international heroes and disinterest in turning himself into a symbol had put him at odds with those who saw to use him for their own agenda. At his heart, Takehara deeply respected Sapporo. As a representative of his nation and the Pandora Committee, he found the man to be tiresome. ¡°The juvenile American is certainly not helping the situation,¡± one of the others murmured, ¡°His obnoxious personality is unbecoming of Lord Sapporo and is beginning to affect his judgement.¡± ¡°I would remind you, minister,¡± Takehara said evenly, ¡°That man you are speaking of is a member of the very guild who¡¯s creator we are welcoming in just a few minutes, a veteran of the Battle of Vegas, and a scout-type hero with very good hearing.¡± The minister paled a little, leaning back and shutting his mouth. ¡°Wise choice, minister,¡± Takehara said, ¡°Now is not the time to be pushing Sapporo towards an agenda. We can discuss the matter at another time. As for his slip about some manner of sensory ability he possesses, that is irrelevant. It is likely some trick that belongs in the realm of the heroics and mythics. We will leave it there until we are in a situation where he will be more amicable to discussing the topic.¡± ¡°Representative Takehara...¡± another politician chimed in reproachfully. ¡°End of discussion. We are here to put our best foot forward with a potential ally,¡± he reminded them with a stern gesture. The others frowned but nodded in agreement. He stood up straight and adjusted his coat, getting back into line next to Sapporo. He glanced sidelong at the others and restrained the urge to shake his head. They were, of course, here for their own agendas. All of them and those they stood in for wanted a piece of the pie that was Sonya Chernovna. She had money and influence among the Pandora Committee as well as access to the best post-pandora material refinement methods available. They also knew that she was there to push for setting up a branch in Japan. This was not about whether or not she would establish a foothold here. This was about how much they could bleed out of the young woman before they gave her what she wanted. Fools. She may look young but she is far from it, you are courting an eagle in the guise of a songbird. ¡°I¡¯m relieved the committee sent you, Takehara,¡± Sapporo said next to him. He glanced up at the mountain of a man who hadn¡¯t shifted his gaze from the landing aircraft. ¡°Who else would it be?¡± Takehara grunted, a small smile creeping on his face, ¡°You should really stop teasing those idiots with breadcrumbs. You¡¯re going to get into trouble.¡± ¡°Perhaps, what are they going to do about it, though?¡± Sapporo asked. Takehara shook his head, ¡°It worries me that I can¡¯t argue that point.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the world we live in now,¡± Sapporo agreed with a grave nod as the jet came to a stop. The gathered representatives and heroes approached as the engines wound down. Takehara noticed that it did not take nearly as long as it would for a traditional engine. He wondered if that man who worked for Sonya had made some changes to the vehicle. It wasn¡¯t on the manifest but who was honest about such things these days? The door on the side flipped out and down, extending into a staircase that rested on the tarmac. Something strange washed over Takehara the moment before the first person stepped off the aircraft. It was an odd feeling. An uplifting sense of peace and unity that took him off guard as he tasted the faint hints of challenge beneath it. It was like standing behind a great lion that had put itself between him and all the terrors of the world. Protective but still a source of danger. He caught his breath as the other representatives shifted on their feet. Next to him, Sapporo and Bandit stood very still, their eyes on the opening. A woman stepped out, she had long brown hair and deep brown eyes. She wore a european-style maids gown, her hands held at her lap in a polite way. She was wearing gauntlets that gleamed with that odd reflectiveness common amongst post-pandora materials. She took a step off the plane and descended until she touched the ground and the feeling intensified before fading all together. She cast her gaze over those present with a stoic expression before turning and inclining her head towards Sapporo and Bandit. They returned the gesture. ¡°She¡¯s gotten much stronger, projecting like that. She was making a point,¡± Sapporo commented quietly. ¡°Rude, but effective.¡± Takehara dabbed his neck with a handkerchief, ¡°And the point she was trying to make?¡± Proceed with Deal, Analyze. Rare tier, nice. She turned and handed off Levi¡¯s leash to Marta who inclined her head once before stepping away with the disguised hound. She bowed politely to the other men, switching to the kind of greeting they¡¯re more comfortable with. ¡°Gentlemen, thank you for allowing me to visit your country. I¡¯m looking forward to working with you all for the betterment of your organizations and my own.¡± The gathered men looked at one another in surprise and then at Takehara. The way they looked at him shifted from frustration to something akin to respect. She resisted the urge to grin at them as they all bowed at her in response. One of their number stepped forward first. He wore the nicest suit amongst them and her senses told her that it was lined with some good stuff. At least rare-tier materials. She glanced at his suit before he could speak and pulled off her sunglasses, ¡°I love your suit,¡± she said with a smile before meeting his eyes. ¡°Thank you, Miss Chernovna,¡± he said, the single bob of his throat the only sign of reaction to her mechanical eyes, ¡°I am Kaguma Kendo, a representative of the central government. I am here on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Emperor.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure, Mister Kaguma,¡± she said before turning to gesture to Marta and the others, ¡°This is Handmaiden, my personal attendant and mythic-tier hero. With me are the newly licensed heroes Snow, BLF, Harbinger, and Crusader.¡± The man¡¯s carefully schooled expression shifted just slightly at the mention of Lillian¡¯s code name. Sonya kept her own smile just as it was, only tilting her head slightly. ¡°I wanted to bring them to meet their guild senior, Bandit and to perhaps engage with the local guilds for a time while enjoying their grace periods. Tourism, you know?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the man said, ¡°Guests of such stature are always welcome and we hope our homeland lives up to their expectations. Perhaps we can arrange for a visit to some more unique cultural locations while they are here.¡± ¡°That would be very generous of you, Mister Kaguma,¡± Sonya said brightly, ¡°I¡¯m sure that we can work our schedule around anyone who might be operating on a restrictive schedule of their own. Such as yourself, of course.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± he said with a nod, his eyes glancing towards Crusader briefly before meeting her gaze, ¡°Thank you for being so forthcoming.¡± ¡°Thank you for being so welcoming,¡± Sonya replied with a grin, ¡°Now I best not tarry. I think your friends are eager to speak with me as well. We¡¯ll have plenty of time to talk during our visit.¡± ¡°I suspect we will,¡± Mister Kaguma said and bowed again, ¡°Allow me to be the first to welcome you to Japan. Miss Sonya Chernovna.¡± She returned the gesture and turned to the other men who had approached, ¡°How about we talk over a meal, gentlemen?¡± ¨C Lillian sat in a limousine for the first time in her life. They¡¯d come by taxi to the airport leaving the United States in order to avoid too much attention but the Japanese seemed to have a different perspective on things. She shifted in her seat and turned towards Snow, ¡°What do you think Sonya and that man were talking about?¡± Snow glanced up at her and made a face, ¡°Hell if I know. They were obviously talking about two things at the same time,¡± she said with a shrug and a flare of static. ¡°They were talking about you,¡± Bandit said from his seat across from them. His dark eyes were fixed on Lillian as he leaned on his knees. He seemed used to crouching which wasn¡¯t surprising given that he was an elite scout and stealth specialist. When the party had made their way into the various vehicles waiting for them, Lillian and Snow had been paired off with Bandit while Cass and Alex joined Sapporo. Sonya and Marta had gone with several of the politicians to speak with them privately as they made their way to whatever restaurant had been chosen. Lillian frowned and thought back about the conversation that Sonya had with the man, ¡°Me?¡± she said thoughtfully, ¡°Something to do with the Prime Minister or the Emperor? That¡¯s a little above my head, don¡¯t you think?¡± Bandit smirked, ¡°You¡¯re observant, I heard you were,¡± he said, ¡°I don¡¯t know much but I have heard that someone close to the Emperor of Japan is something of a fan of yours. They were talking about setting up a chance for this person to meet you, probably in exchange for some kind of concession.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a bit shady,¡± Snow said with a frown. Bandit shrugged, ¡°Sonya said it to me once before so I¡¯ll say it to you now; ¡®That¡¯s politics¡¯. You guys don¡¯t realize that you¡¯re already big names and you haven¡¯t even knocked over a dungeon boss. I¡¯ll be changing that while you¡¯re here, by the way.¡± Lillian let out a sigh, ¡°I knew it.¡± Chapter 187 Chapter 187 Sonya settled into the seat at the table. It was an elegant room, not pointlessly overindulgent in its design but rather more modern. Something that fit her sensibilities quite nicely. Personally she would have preferred a cafe or something more casual but who was she to deny these guys a chance to set the tone. She smiled as Lillian sat down next to her, giving her a sidelong look. She winked at the girl who frowned at her. ¡°Bandit told us we¡¯re doing dungeons,¡± she said a little testily. ¡°Never said you wouldn¡¯t,¡± Sonya said with a smirk, ¡°You¡¯ll get your vacation time. I promised it to you and I have a bit of a thing about promises.¡± Lillian relaxed and sighed, ¡°Alright, I get it,¡± she said, ¡°I know we need to stay sharp.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not why I¡¯m setting you up, Lillian, you¡¯re a smart and observant girl but you don¡¯t read between the lines when you should,¡± Sonya said patiently as the others began to sit down. She reached up and patted her on the shoulder, ¡°Give it some thought. This is something I want you to learn from.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Lillian asked, shooting a glance at one of the politicians who was listening closely to the conversation. ¡°Villains don¡¯t always take direct routes to getting what they want. You didn¡¯t sign up just to fight monsters. You¡¯re here for many reasons, not just to have a good time and go to the hotsprings with your lady friend,¡± Sonya teased. Lillian furrowed her brows, searching Sonya¡¯s face for a moment. She didn¡¯t get flustered as she used to but took the comment in stride which was a good sign. Instead, something seemed to click behind her eyes. She huffed out a breath, ¡°My friends and I have been looking forward to this trip ever since you mentioned it. I want them to have fun.¡± ¡°You care about them a great deal, I know,¡± Sonya said with a nod. ¡°We¡¯re a team,¡± Lillian said, ¡°If they¡¯re not on board, I¡¯m not.¡± Sonya smiled, Now you¡¯re getting it. She turned to look at the politicians arrayed around her. Two of them glanced surreptitiously at the other young heroes as Marta stepped in behind her. She glanced over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow but Marta shook her head. Sonya frowned at her and Marta just closed her eyes, holding her position. Fine fine, we¡¯ll go to something more casual later. I won¡¯t fill up. I assume she wants the authentic experience, Ishtar commented. Yeah, she¡¯s like that, Sonya agreed as she returned her focus to the table. The waiter stepped in to begin taking orders. Sonya glanced idly down at the menu before looking away. It took her a fraction of a second to read it. Lillian is growing, Ishtar observed, She picked up much quicker this time. Of course she is, she¡¯s always been someone who thinks critically and tries her best to observe. Chunhua taught her to act on her instincts and she isn¡¯t terrible at conversation. She just needs a little push here and there to get her to pick up a political mindset, Sonya said. And you want that? Ishtar asked. If she wants to achieve her dreams, yes, she¡¯ll need to at the very least understand and communicate with people like this. I can¡¯t be there guiding her all the time. Are you sure you¡¯re not trying to raise your own executioner? Ishtar pushed. I¡¯m not aiming her at myself and you know it. He plays the same kind of games I do. Or at least he did in the past. A valid point. The waiter is here. Sonya turned and smiled up at the man who looked down at her, ¡°I¡¯ll have the house special, please.¡± ¨C Mister Kaguma set his chopsticks down on their stand, exchanging a look with the other representatives as he did so. Conversation throughout the meal had been light and focused mostly on Miss Chernovna rather than engaging the heroes. He had a feeling that had been a bit of a mistake but not one that couldn¡¯t be recovered from. He only hoped that the men who had come with him to this meeting had picked up on it. The others knew that his sole purpose in this dialogue was to observe the outcome on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Emperor. The men around him wanted to extract benefits from the young woman. Their goal was to ensure their own standing when it came to this new industry and the others she had her hands in. Miss Chernovna styled herself as a champion of the hero movement, but was an industrialist. She would be angling for her own benefits. He kept his expression blank as he sat up and nodded to the others. Sonya brandished a winning smile at him, ¡°I appreciate you saying that, Mister Kaguma.¡± Kaguma felt Megumi tense next to him but ignored it. Taiko hopped back in, ¡°Then it goes without saying that ASTA will focus its agency services on connecting Japanese heroes to American companies, Suhei Media has already established its own agency department and has a strong connection with companies here. It would be better to let us handle such things.¡± ¡°And what about the heroes who sign with ASTA to represent them?¡± Sonya asked, ¡°Won¡¯t that make it difficult to get endorsed by Japanese companies?¡± Taiko huffed, ¡°Do you expect that many Japanese heroes to sign with ASTA over a native company?¡± ¡°You might be surprised,¡± Sonya said with a chuckle, ¡°I wasn¡¯t talking about them, though.¡± Taiko frowned at her and glanced at the four young heroes who were giving him pointed looks. Kaguma wanted to grab the man by the back of the head and slam him into the table but held his temper. Sonya glanced his way and smiled at him a little, mischief twinkling in her eyes. It was like she was feeding on the man¡¯s arrogance. I can understand Taiko¡¯s concern. ASTA is well established and reliable. Some Japanese companies will happily work with her and many heroes will accept her contract over his own, especially given how draconian some of those representation contracts are. Black Companies... good grief. ¡°Mister Megumi,¡± Sonya said abruptly, shifting her attention away from Taiko, ¡°I might be willing to share some of our experts in the field of optimizing post-pandora material processing. I think it would be beneficial to the people of Japan to ensure as many groups are handling the materials properly as possible. What can you and the companies you represent give to make that equitable?¡± One of the other post-pandora manufacturer representatives who hadn¡¯t spoken up put his hand on the table, ¡°Miss Chernovna, I feel that you aren¡¯t taking this conversation seriously. There is an expectation here that you make concessions if you want to do business in our territory.¡± Kaguma had to close his eyes at that point, Don¡¯t say the quiet part out loud you idiot! We already agreed that it¡¯s happening. This is about give and take and staying on an even playing field, not extorting the woman! Sonya turned her head in the man¡¯s direction, ¡°You might be surprised to hear that I already am making concessions, sir,¡± she said cooly. He slammed his fist on the table, ¡°You bring children to a serious conversation and expect me to believe you are taking it seriously?¡± he demanded, ¡°Sitting here spouting nonsense about what we are willing to give when this is our land? You call yourself a businesswoman?¡± Kaguma frowned, ¡°Mister Kirihara.¡± ¡°This woman thinks that she can just come here and take over, no one is that powerful. She needs to surrender benefits to our companies and to the Japanese Government if this conversation is to continue!¡± Kaguma exhaled, ¡°Mister Kirihara.¡± The man turned to Sapporo who had been quietly observing this conversation, ¡°You can¡¯t seriously be sitting there and allowing this nonsense! I know you respect this woman but you are the shield of our nation. You should be standing for what benefits us!¡± Sapporo scowled, ¡°I am a shield, not a sword, Mister Kirihara,¡± the big man growled, ¡°I serve the people of this world, not just one nation. I will protect my home with all I have but you will show some respect to this person!¡± Mister Kirihara was nearly red in the face, he jabbed a finger at the table in Sapporo¡¯s direction, ¡°Your role is to empower this nation, a role you have consistently snubbed in favor of outsiders! Do you have any idea-¡± ¡°MISTER KIRIHARA!¡± A wave of pressure washed through the room, a heaviness that itched at the back of the mind. It slammed into Kaguma¡¯s chest for a brief moment before vanishing. He looked up at Sapporo who¡¯s expression had gone dark. Kaguma caught his breath as everyone else in the room fell still. Sapporo stared Kirihara down and the ranting man wilted, his skin going pale and clammy as that pressure seemed to mount. Something in the room cracked. Takehara, who had been quiet throughout the conversation cleared his throat, ¡°Sapporo,¡± he said flatly, ¡°That¡¯s enough, you¡¯ve made your point.¡± Kirihara let out a sudden gasp, catching himself and spun towards Kaguma, his expression wild with indignity. He then looked back up at Sapporo who was glowering at him and the young heroes who¡¯s expressions had gone hostile. Sonya didn¡¯t move an inch, sitting quietly at the table and waiting for the man to sit down. Kirihara sat slowly, shaking, and lowered his head towards the table. Kaguma let out a sigh and looked up at Sonya, meeting her gaze. ¡°I suppose the dungeons are off the table now?¡± ¡°You knew?¡± Sonya asked. ¡°I looked into the owner of those plots of land, I had to go through a few shells to find you, but yes, I was aware,¡± Kaguma said with resignation. Sonya gave him a sad smile, ¡°I¡¯m afraid they are for the moment, Mister Kaguma. I think we might be able to revisit them during the next round. We¡¯re all tired, aren¡¯t we? Why don¡¯t we stop here with the agreement that ASTA will be entering Japan and local and foreign heroes will be allowed to choose their own representation. I will of course be happy to provide my experts as well to your material processing companies.¡± Kaguma shot Megumi and Taiko a hard look and they both nodded reluctantly before scowling at Kirihara who flinched under their gaze. ¡°I think a break would be best, Miss Chernovna. Thank you.¡± Chapter 188 Chapter 188 Lillian sat on the couch in the hotel room that had been arranged for them. It was less a hotel room and more a large apartment. There were several rooms branching out from the common area and a mezzanine level with more rooms attached. It was a little unsettling that a place like this even existed, in her mind. She knew how much it cost just to get a simple hotel room. A place this lavish must cost many times that amount. She wasn¡¯t sure how to feel about it. She let out a sigh and stared down at her fists as a small avian head poked into her field of view, nipping once at her knuckle. She glanced at Alphonse and smiled, reaching up to stroke his head. ¡°Hey buddy, I¡¯m okay.¡± ¡°Up late?¡± She turned to see Marta walking into the room in her anime-themed pajamas. She had her brown hair up in a bun and was holding a mug in her hand. Lillian rubbed her neck, ¡°Yeah, Snow crashed a bit ago,¡± she said gesturing to the room she¡¯d come out of, ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep.¡± ¡°Thinking about the dinner meeting?¡± Marta asked, sitting down on the side opposite of where Al was perched. Lillian leaned back in the couch and sighed, ¡°Yeah. I¡¯ve never seen that side of things. I just kinda figured that the people making things happen for us heroes were thinking about the good we could do first.¡± ¡°A little naive,¡± Marta said gently. ¡°I know, I just kinda hoped, I guess,¡± Lillian said. ¡°Disillusioned?¡± ¡°No,¡± Lillian said, ¡°More surprised, I could see Sapporo and Bandit staying out of it. It took me a moment to pick up on what Sonya was angling for. That really isn¡¯t my speciality,¡± she said with a sour laugh, ¡°She explained it to me but I really don¡¯t get why I need to know how to talk to people like that.¡± ¡°Because it¡¯ll happen one way or another. You¡¯re going to meet people with power who use their words as weapons. Seeing through the bullshit is part of the job,¡± Marta said, ¡°Sonya... went a little hard today.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Lillian asked. Marta laughed, ¡°Yeah, honestly she was planning on playing nice with them until that comment about you guys. She¡¯s protective of you. Just think of it as her losing her temper a little.¡± ¡°Seemed pretty calm to me,¡± Lillian said. ¡°Then imagine her angry,¡± Marta poked, squeezing Lillian¡¯s shoulder, ¡°She¡¯s got your back, she wants you to succeed more than anyone. She¡¯s a businesswoman though and making money is part of it. A lot of that goes right back into making sure you guys have the support she thinks you deserve.¡± Lillian smiled despite herself, ¡°It was just a little scary, I guess.¡± ¡°Scarier than a dungeon?¡± Marta asked. ¡°A little, if I¡¯m being honest. I know dungeons, I know monsters, I can handle them. I¡¯m strong,¡± she said and clenched her fist in front of her face, ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can play those kinds of games. I just don¡¯t think like her.¡± ¡°I think you handled yourself well. It may not be your thing but you adapted quickly enough,¡± Marta said with a shrug, ¡°Just know enough to see through the mess and let people like Sonya handle the more difficult ones. Snow is a very clever girl, lean on her.¡± Lillian relaxed and looked up at Marta. She hadn¡¯t had much of a chance to talk to the woman during her training. Her role had predominantly been to watch over Sonya and not engage too much with the aspirants. Even so, Lillian could tell that she¡¯d been keeping an eye on her and the others as well. Anyone who was that close to Sonya was good people as far as she was concerned. She smiled, ¡°Thanks.¡± One of the doors opened to the common area and Sonya stepped out on her phone, ¡°...it¡¯s fine I said! I appreciate what you did, dear, thank you. You don¡¯t have to apologize to me,¡± she laughed, ¡°Oh that would be very nice. I¡¯ll let them know when they get up.¡± Lillian raised an eyebrow and shot Marta a look. Some things never change I guess, she thought wryly. She shifted a bit in her seat, I wonder who she¡¯s talking to. Sonya snorted out a laugh, ¡°You might make a girl think you¡¯re flirting, sir, be careful!¡± Sonya walked over to the couch and stopped next to it, winking at Alphonse who hopped to the side enough for her to sit down. Lillian chuckled and held out her hands for Alphonse to hop up onto her shoulder. She reached up and stroked the back of the bird''s neck as Sonya wrapped up. ¡°Thank you, Sapporo, we¡¯ll talk more later,¡± she said and hung up. Lillian watched a complex series of emotions war on her mentor¡¯s face. Sonya seemed energetic at times and weary at others. It was troubling but she really didn¡¯t know how to bring it up, ¡°You handled yourself well today. I know it¡¯s not your thing, but you really helped me and I appreciate it,¡± Sonya said quietly, still staring at her phone.@@@@ Lillian flushed and cleared her throat, ¡°Thanks. That was Sapporo?¡± ¡°It was,¡± Sonya said with a nod, ¡°He wants to take the four of you on a tour of some historic sites himself. He thinks he owes us for the excitement at dinner.¡± Lillian stared in disbelief as it kept coming. She searched the screen for the view count. Her eyes went wide, ¡°Three million views?¡± She breathed, the breath practically knocked out of her. Her head was spinning from the implications. That many people had already seen how she fought and that wasn¡¯t including who they shared the video with. ¡°It came out a few days after your graduation. Shame it had to be taken down,¡± Sonya said as Marta pulled her phone away, ¡°That was illegally acquired footage. The Pandora Committee was kind enough not to fine the kid, at least. Uninvited publicity really is the best when it¡¯s positive,¡± she chuckled. Lillian ran her fingers through her hair as Marta squeezed her shoulder, ¡°They aren¡¯t afraid of you. They¡¯re rooting for you. Heck, they¡¯re already talking about you in the same breaths as your hero.¡± Lillian felt a heat behind her eyes as she let out a shaky breath, a warm tightness in her chest. She couldn¡¯t identify the emotion and she really didn¡¯t want to, it felt amazing and terrible at the same time; ¡°Wow. I had no idea.¡± ¡°Just be yourself when you meet the kid,¡± Sonya advised, ¡°Be genuine. It¡¯ll mean a lot to him. You¡¯re his hero now. You got a couple days to let it sink in and relax, come into it fresh.¡± The young hero turned to the two of them, ¡°Thanks, both of you. That was so... validating,¡± she got to her feet, ¡°I need some sleep. I¡¯ll see you both in the morning?¡± ¡°So long as Marta doesn¡¯t drag me off to maid cafes first thing,¡± Sonya quipped. ¡°I think you¡¯re more interested in that than I am,¡± Marta shot back. Lillian grinned and gestured for Alphonse to hop onto her shoulder, she waved at the two bickering friends and hustled away a little bit lighter on her feet. ¡°Good night!¡± ¨C Sonya watched her go and relaxed onto the couch. Marta did the same, crossing her legs as she put her phone away. ¡°The video was you, right?¡± Marta asked. Sonya glanced her way and gave her a wicked grin before shrugging. Marta rolled her eyes, ¡°You are a terrible villain sometimes, playing up the heroes like that,¡± she teased before crossing her arms and looking back into the heavily decorated common room. ¡°How are things really going?¡± ¡°About as well as can be expected,¡± Sonya admitted, ¡°I¡¯m trying to be as above board as possible with the majority of this. Legitimate connections are preferable for now until I can get a better feel for who I should invite into the club.¡± ¡°They¡¯re still going to pull some concessions out of you, then?¡± Marta asked. ¡°Of course,¡± Sonya said, ¡°That¡¯s the point, though. The point has been made about the power dynamic and they¡¯ll reorient their attitude towards us. They won¡¯t be happy,¡± she smirked, ¡°Neither will I with the concessions I¡¯ll have to make to allow them to save face, but that¡¯s business for you I guess. They¡¯ll get some of what they want.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to let them get away with that?¡± Marta asked. ¡°No reason not to,¡± Sonya pointed out, ¡°I can get some of it back in one way or another once I bring some of their leadership into the club.¡± Ishtar can¡¯t make an appearance here, even if few know you¡¯ve come to visit. Some of them will also target you for what happened today, Ishtar pointed out. Sonya glanced at Marta, ¡°There will be blowback from at least that Kirihara guy. His pride was wounded today and once his bosses learn about what was at stake, I¡¯ll be surprised if he has a job tomorrow morning,¡± she said. The property she¡¯d acquired in Vegas from one of Otis¡¯ supporters during the previous timeline included locations all over the world. Many of them were hot spots with a high probability of generating dungeons. Dungeons had a great deal of value in resources if they were maintained properly. The land in question was scattered about Japan. As she and by extension ASTA was the owner of the land it would make things complicated if Japan wanted to acquire the land to set up bases around any portals that formed. She was intending to set up at least a small ASTA guild in the island nation. It was possible to hold it for herself and have her own people farm the dungeons but that would be a political mess that she¡¯d rather just avoid. There were a few dungeons she wanted to keep for herself over suspicions of what tier could manifest there but otherwise the rest were best used to bargain with the Japanese Government. Even so, she wasn¡¯t going to let them go cheaply and it seemed Mister Kaguma was aware of that. He really did his research. She thought with a smile. I¡¯ll bump the price up just a little more to smooth some tempers but only after they all panic over the revelation. She snickered to herself before going serious, ¡°We¡¯ll be going with Lillian and the others for the next few days to explore the city and visit a few places. I want you to keep an eye on things. The Pandora Committee has already agreed that you can react if necessary.¡± ¡°They¡¯re easing restrictions on mythics, then,¡± Marta said. ¡°Yeah, I imagine the Vegas act will get an amendment very soon. They¡¯re still talking over the specifics but progress is being made,¡± Sonya said and got to her feet, stretching her arms. ¡°I think it''s bedtime, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll stay out a bit longer,¡± Marta said, ¡°Want to revel in finally being here.¡± Sonya turned to her friend and smiled, ¡°You¡¯ve earned it.¡± AMA 2 AMA 2 Sonya: Hey, hey, hey! What¡¯s up Heroes and Villains? Brokers? Shit... does-does the fandom have a name? Lillian: Uh... Sonya? We¡¯re rolling. Sonya: I know that, I¡¯m just trying to figure out what to call them! Lillian: ...readers? Sonya: PSHAW! Nooo, that¡¯s dumb. Lillian: [sighs] Hey guys! Lillian here with Sonya and we¡¯re back with another AMA! This one is technically the Book 2 AMA but the author got a little side-tracked with things and so here we are. Don¡¯t worry, Sonya hasn¡¯t let him hear the end of it. Sonya: No, no I have not. [proudly] Lillian: Anyway! Let¡¯s take a look at our first questions! Sonya: I got this, let¡¯s see... oh hey! It¡¯s the same person from last time! Hi wcman! Great to have you back again! Ahem! Oh it¡¯s for Marta. [leans back in her seat] Marta! What¡¯s your favorite anime and manga? Marta: [walks in] Hmm? Oh, that¡¯s easy. My first anime was xxxHolic, so it remains quite dear to me. Though my all-time favorite is Overlord. I¡¯m partial to the Pleiades. My favorite manga is a toss up between Vagabond and Black Butler, depending on my mood. Will that be all, miss? Sonya: [nods] Thank you Marta~ Marta: [bows] Happy to oblige. Lillian: Next up! We have LilwaydE18 from Scribblehub, they have a couple of questions actually. All of them for... you, technically. First one is: ¡°Ishtar, Why don¡¯t you have a moon base yet?¡± Sonya: [tilts her head as if listening, nods] She deflected that one to me, uh... cost. I¡¯m rich, I¡¯m not that rich, [laughs] Lillian: They also ask, ¡°Is a portable shield generator an optimal way to keep a dungeon break contained?¡± Sonya: [sits forward] In the previous timeline they were used about ten years in to contain smaller dungeon breaks once we got the tech working. By portable though I mean a bunch of pylons painstakingly set up around a perimeter. They can be taken down and moved later but... yeah that¡¯s the extent of it. Lillian: Last one, ¡°Ishtar, is it possible to open a portal outside of earth? Can you open one to space? Can you open one to the sun for otis?¡± Sonya: [laughs] I¡¯ll let her answer this one, [slumps slightly] Ishtar: [sits up and frowns] Yes, Yes to a limited degree, though it requires very specific coordinates, Not with the amount of power currently able to bring to bear. It has crossed my mind though. [slumps again] Sonya: [rubs her neck] At least she used complete sentences this time! I was expecting ¡°Yes, Yes, No.¡± Lillian: [laughs] She would answer like that! Okay, next is from unimportantOpinion on Scribblehub! They ask, ¡°Martin: if and when you take down Ishtar, do you have any plans for filling the power vacuum left behind? Because it will be filled one way or another. Likely by a villain who cares more about profits than theatrics. Or maybe you intend on filling the seat yourself with a puppet, but that puppet will be overthrown or replaced unless they placate the other villains enough. Maybe you''ll take the throne yourself?¡± Sonya: [imitates Martin¡¯s grizzled voice] ¡°Grumble grumble something about justice and keeping the fight going grumble grumble.¡± Lillian: Sonya! [sighs] Martin? Martin: ... [glares at Sonya, turns to camera] I¡¯ll keep doing my job. Sonya: [laughs] Knew it! Martin: [shoots the finger and marches out] Sonya: [snickers] We¡¯re actually best friends off set, promise. Martin: Die in a fire! Sonya: Love you too buddy! Anyway! Next we have redun on scribblehub who asks: ¡°Otis: Besides Gilgamesh are there any other mythical heroes that deserve comparison to you?¡± [turns] Hey Mallory! You¡¯re on! Otis: Finally, a worthy question. That¡¯s quite easy. All of them are relatable to me in some way, it goes without saying. But to answer your question more appropriately in the context of storytelling, while I attribute myself with Gilgamesh and Odysseus, the author associates me with the classical variation of Hercules. Sonya: I thought he was going to say Oedipus. Lillian: [laughing] Sonya! That¡¯s so mean! Otis: [Walks out and rolls his eyes] Sonya: [chuckling] Anyway, redun also asks the entire crew what our favorite pokemon are. Well, there¡¯s a whole lot of us but I can give you a couple! Sonya Steelix Ishtar@@@@ Mewtwo Marta Gothitelle Amos Whatever¡¯s topping the current Meta Beyol Koffing Hard Rock Alex Rap Snow Heavy Metal Val Rap Ollie LoFi Greg High BPM Jessica Country Sonya Pop Chunhua Classic Rock Marta Anime OSTs Lillian: There it is! Sonya: Huh! That came out different from how I was expecting. Lillian: Everyone has their own tastes! Anyway, Gemiae also asked about Ollie¡¯s ability and how it works. I¡¯ve been informed that for that one we¡¯ll have to do another kind of production like this so he can properly explain it! Sorry! Sonya: Next up is Tunefullcobra from Scribblehub! They ask: ¡°Lillian, how much firestorm paraphernalia do you have? What do you like the most about Snow?¡± [grins at Lillian] Lillian: Uh... to the first one? Not enough. Still trying to get my hands on a copy of his first poster. Though his sister did give me something pretty nice, one of his baseballs. [smiles big before scratching her nose] As for um... Snow. [coughs] One of the things I really like is the gap between her cute looks and snarky personality. It kinda does it for me. Sonya: [busts out laughing] You would be a sucker for gap moe. Lillian: [blushes] Sh-shut up! Tunefullcobra also asks: ¡°Ishtar: If given the choice would you prefer to stay in Sonya¡¯s body if there were no downsides for either of you, or would you prefer your own body? If you want your own body, how long does Sonya have to prepare before she¡¯s smothered in sisterly affection?¡± Sonya: [holds back laughter before sagging] Ishtar: I think I would be more efficient if I remained as Sonya¡¯s headmate, all being said. Though I wouldn¡¯t mind a body. I don¡¯t get a lot of time to read. As for ¡®sisterly affection¡¯, it would have to wait until the novelty of Sonya shouting absurdities wore off. [slumps] Sonya: She¡¯s just salty because I called her onee- [stumbles and frowns] Oh hush! It was hilarious and you know it! [shrugs] Last one from Tunefullcobra: ¡°If Ishtar has a separate soul from Sonya, does that mean she¡¯ll develop her own ability?¡± That¡¯s... actually a really good question. It¡¯s entirely possible that she could develop her own ability unless something happens that would make it impossible for her to do so. Lillian? Lillian: [clears throat] Okay! Rekan from RoyalRoad asks; ¡°Ollie: What do you think of your two associates?¡¯ Ollie: ...both of them have some serious issues to work out. Jessica is a tiresome person but I can put up with her for the most part. Otis is unlikeable in so many ways it¡¯s almost impressive. Sonya: [nods sagely] Lillian: That was blunt! Uh, Rekan also asks: ¡°Otis: what the heck do you do in your free time?¡± Otis: I play MOBAs and older generation handheld games. I also enjoy studying architecture, I was working on it as a secondary degree before being assigned to the dig team that discovered Pandora¡¯s box. I also follow a number of archaeology blogs and news feeds that I keep up on. Sonya/Lillian: [stare] Otis: What? Sonya: N-nothing, I just wasn¡¯t expecting a normal, reasonable answer from you. Otis: I have hobbies! Sonya: Uhuh. Yeah. Okay! Last one! This is from Arcamiel on RoyalRoad! They ask: ¡°Sonya: as of this moment, what are all the powers we¡¯ve seen so far merged with Deus Ex Machina?¡± [nods] That¡¯s a good question to wrap up on. Here¡¯s the list! Deus ex Machina: Visage of TitaniaNectar and AmbrosiaAugmented Reality ProjectionAdomopathyHeavenly LegionDigitize SpaceGravitic FlightHard LightImperiousHeavenly Jade HeartNon-EuclideanThe Astral EyeSteelbodyEnhanced Speed and ReflexesEnhanced StrengthEnhanced Sensory ProcessingGenius Level IntellectEnhanced Physical ReinforcementEnhanced SensesHigh Precision MovementTechnopathy Sonya: Welp! That¡¯s all the questions we got for the AMA! Lillian: More than I was expecting honestly, phew! Sonya: Yeah, well you made it through, good job partner! Lillian: [grins] Thank you guys so much for submitting your questions, I hope this helped clear up a few things and entertained you all! There will be another AMA at the end of book 3! Bye! Sonya: See you later dears! Chapter 189 Chapter 189 I''m able to keep writing this series only thanks to my patreon. If you have a little time, check it out! Tokyo was an urban jungle, a sprawling cityscape of buildings of every conceivable size and shape. A world unto itself. There, amidst the concrete and scattered parks, mana was thick in the air. Most went through their days without even noticing, their only hint being the frequent monster sirens warning people away from one area or another. It came as little surprise that it was home to not just one, but three guilds. Even so, between monsters, villains, and the occasional dungeon, they were stretched thin. Crusader raced through the narrow alley, Alphonse flying ahead of her and a silver sphere floating to the right of her head. It kept pace, reacting quickly as she hopped a dumpster and threw herself forward into a flip. She pushed off and launched into the air, alighting on the roof of the building ahead of her. Just up ahead a woman in heels slid across the roof as if she were surfing. The ground beneath her feet sparkling like glitter before reverting to normal. She glanced back at Crusader and sneered before tilting forward to accelerate. Tch ¡°I''ve got visual!¡± Crusader said as she burst into motion. ¡°Snow!¡± A burst of static filled the air an instant before a bright yellow billboard appeared right in front of the woman. She let out a shriek of confusion, turning hard and falling into a roll. She crashed into the low concrete wall wrapping around the roof with a grunt of pain. Crusader lunged and the woman rolled onto her back, kicking off the wall. Tell-tale glitter spread out where her back touched the surface as she slid across the ground without resistance, hurtling straight into Crusader¡¯s hands. A quick scuffle later and the woman was pinned. Crusader tapped her earpiece as the woman struggled beneath her. ¡°Target secure.¡± ¡°Hounds dealt with,¡± BLF replied. ¡°Victims are safe but need medical attention, there''s six,¡± Harbinger chimed in. ¡°Dispatching police and ambulances. Checking the target''s face against the registry. She''s unregistered. Crusader, does she have ID?¡± Snow asked.@@@@ Crusader patted the woman down with her free hand and grabbed a wallet from her pocket. She flicked it open and held the ID up to the sphere. The woman tried to slip her hands out from Crusader¡¯s grip again only to go very still when golden flames erupted from the ground around her in warning. The woman shifted her head and looked up into Crusader¡¯s stern eyes and flinched. ¡°Naguya Rika, 32, office worker,¡± Snow said, ¡°Got it. Cuff her. I''ll play her rights.¡± Crusader reached back and pulled a set of power suppression cuffs from her belt as a recording of the Japanese analog of the Miranda rights played. Crusader pulled the woman to her feet and Alphonse darted down to land on her shoulder. ¡°Good tracking Al,¡± she said brightly as a dark shape landed on the roof nearby. She turned to Bandit and smiled. Bandit ran his fingers up through his messy dark hair and smirked tiredly, the bags under his eyes emphasized by the sunlight. ¡°Not bad, newbie,¡± he said as sirens approached. He turned his attention to the woman and tapped a metal pendant on his neck and frowned, ¡°Miss Naguya, the traffic collision you caused has hurt a lot of people. Cameras show you intentionally performing the act with your abilities. You''ll be charged with villainy. No one has died yet, and as long as it stays that way you can expect a villainous mayhem charge. Still a felony, though. Three to five years, minimum.¡± A moment later the pendant started speaking in Japanese, translating for him. The woman slumped in Crusader¡¯s grip and said something. Bandit shook his head, ¡°That''s no excuse. You got innocent people swept up in a domestic dispute.¡± ¡°One of the victims just had a heart attack,¡± Harbinger said through Crusader¡¯s earpiece. ¡°Medics tried to resuscitate, but he didn''t make it.¡± Crusader¡¯s heart sank as she tapped her ear, ¡°Which one?¡± ¡°Naguya Shou.¡± Crusader and Bandit exchanged a look before looking down at the woman who paled a little more under Bandit''s chilly gaze. The sirens drawing close stopped and a pair of police officers soon burst out the door leading down into the building below. Bandit tapped his necklace again, ¡°Villainous mayhem and manslaughter, then,¡± he said before nodding to the cops who approached. Crusader handed the woman over and they departed in silence. The two heroes watched them leave, a heaviness setting in Crusader¡¯s chest. She let out a sigh as a strong hand clapped her shoulder. ¡°You guys did good. Good call on how you split up.¡± ¡°BLF can handle most monsters around his tier solo. Harbinger isn''t as fast as I am but can apply direct strength better. Snow is our point person,¡± Crusader said and shook her head, ¡°Should have gone more aggressively with the pursuit. She could have hurt someone else with that power.¡± She thought over the route the woman had taken. It had been winding and chaotic with numerous opportunities to run into a bystander. I got lucky, she thought bitterly. ¡°Maybe, what else?¡± Bandit asked. ¡°Harbinger could have pursued even if it resulted in a longer chase, but I would have been able to use my ability to save that man,¡± Crusader said, crossing her arms before shaking her head, ¡°No, it was a heart attack, not an injury. It may have happened regardless. We made the best call possible.¡± She felt Bandit''s eyes on her for several moments before turning to face him. He had a broad smile of approval on his face, ¡°Exactly. You guys can''t blame yourselves for that. You did good work and saved a lot of lives too,¡± he scratched his head and clicked his tongue, ¡°That slipping ability might be around common or uncommon tier, but it had a lot of potential for harm. Hopefully she can be rehabilitated by the time she gets out of prison.¡± ¡°You know the tier?¡± Crusader asked, surprised. ¡°You see the full gamut of tiers on patrol. After a while it becomes pretty easy to pick them out.¡± ¡°Arata!¡± someone called out as a girl in what Lillian assumed was some kind of school uniform darted around a shelf past Snow who frowned at nearly being jostled. She slid to a stop when she saw Lillian holding the kids hand. Fear was the first thing that crossed her face as the kid, Arata, turned to her. ¡°Sister! It¡¯s a hero! Crusader from America!¡± the kid said excitedly as the girl hurried over to reach for her brother. The girl grabbed him and pulled him away before bowing her head to Lillian once as the boy protested, ¡°She was on the stream! Don¡¯t be rude!¡± Lillian rubbed her neck as she looked down at the pair. Do I look that scary? She tapped her pendant, ¡°Sorry, your brother slipped and fell,¡± she said, ¡°I was just helping him up.¡± The girl glanced at the pendant as the translation came out of it before looking up at Lillian¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re a hero?¡± she asked. ¡°I just got my license,¡± Lillian said with a shrug, ¡°Apparently my final exam got leaked online; that¡¯s how your brother saw it.¡± She knelt down a little and got at Arata¡¯s eye level. ¡°Mind keeping it to yourself that you saw me? I¡¯m just a tourist today,¡± she said with a wink before focusing her attention on his hat. Her eyes softened a little, ¡°You like Firestorm?¡± He broke into a wide grin in his sister¡¯s protective grip, ¡°Yeah!¡± he said, reaching up to tug his hat a bit more snugly on his head. ¡°Me too,¡± Lillian replied with a smile. ¡°We are The Firestorm!¡± the boy shouted, throwing his fists up and getting a scolding hiss from his sister. He scowled up at her before looking back at Lillian and abruptly shifting from enthusiasm to shyness. He reached up to tug his hat off and looked down at it before holding it out to her, ¡°Can you...?¡± he trailed off, his face turning a little red. Lillian stared at the hat and felt butterflies in her stomach. She rubbed her neck and glanced at Snow who just smirked at her and gave a shrug. She squinted at her girlfriend, You¡¯re no help, she thought petulantly before looking back at the hat. ¡°Are you sure?¡± The boy nodded emphatically and she looked up at the sister who just gave a resigned nod. Lillian took the hat in her hand and ran her thumb over the side thoughtfully before looking up at the kid. How would Sonya... she smiled and gave the kid a conspiratorial grin, ¡°Wanna see something cool?¡± she asked. The boys eyes went wide and Lillian laughed before letting out a sharp breath and slowly running her thumb over one side of the hat. Gold flames danced where her thumb moved as she carefully manipulated her ability, her eyes focused on what she was doing. A pair of gasps pricked her ears before she finished. She blew gently on the hat where the word ¡®CRUSADER¡¯ had been burned in, leaving a faint golden glitter on the black letters. She turned the hat around to show the kid before handing it over. He took it and stared at it in awe. She watched the hands on his shoulders relax a little and she looked up to see a smile on his big sisters face, ¡°Thank you,¡± the girl said. ¡°No problem,¡± Lillian said before reaching forward to tap the boy on the nose, ¡°Hey, stick with your sister, okay? She¡¯s looking out for you.¡± The boy nodded hurriedly and she got to her feet as the sister steered her shocked sibling out of the store. Lillian rubbed her neck and watched them go, a hand slipping into hers. She looked down at Snow who smiled up at her, ¡°Good job, Hero,¡± Snow said. Lillian let out a satisfied breath, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s what it¡¯s all about.¡± ¨C Akihabara was like a fever dream for Lillian. There was an energy there that she couldn¡¯t quite grasp. The feeling was exciting and unsettling at the same time. Perhaps it was because of her training, but with how acute her senses were and how in touch she was with the mana in the air, finding something that she could feel and not identify was even more strange than it would have been before she acquired her powers. Young and old, happy and serious, people from all walks of life came into those stores and shopped for the things they loved. They talked amongst themselves, even when just outside the doors everyone seemed to be minding their own business. It was like the doors were a portal into a world where they could be themselves if just for a little while. She was a little sad when she stepped back out onto the street, a few bags clutched in her fingers. Most of it was Snow¡¯s, of course. She was just being a good girlfriend and carrying it. A small hand wrapped around her arm and squeezed as the sound of static filled her ears, ¡°Oh my god, Lil, look,¡± Snow said and pointed across the street. There, Marta was walking down the steps out of one of the many cafes that lined the street. She had what had to be twenty or thirty bags clutched in her hands. People stopped to stare as she casually moved, unimpeded by the weight. Behind her, Sonya was half way inside the cafe doors, one leg up. Lillian raised a hand to her face and groaned. ¡°What is she doing?¡± Lillian asked. ¡°What do you think?¡± Snow laughed, ¡°I¡¯m more interested in Marta; look at all those bags.¡± Lillian watched Sonya step backwards out of the door with a laugh, writing something down on what looked like a receipt, before handing it back to someone inside. She blew a kiss and took a few jaunty steps back before nearly stumbling down the stairs, catching herself on the railing and blowing another kiss. Lillian shook her head, ¡°Oh boy, let''s go before she recognizes us.¡± As if called by her words, Sonya spun on her heel and held a hand over her eyes, squinting across the street at them. Don¡¯t her eyes adjust to sunlight automatically? Lillian thought as their sponsor brightened and bounced up and down, waving at them. ¡°Heeey!¡± Sonya called, drawing the attention of pretty much everyone on the street, ¡°Having fun?¡± Lillian shook her head and glanced at Snow, who was mouthing something. Sonya shot the two of them a thumbs up, ¡°Good! We¡¯re heading back to the hotel! Later!¡± Sonya shouted and bounded down the steps, flashing a grin at Marta, who shook her head and followed along with a spring in her step. ¡°Well they¡¯re definitely having a blast,¡± Lillian chuckled as the crowd parted for the eclectic pair. ¡°So are they,¡± Snow commented, and pointed at one of the photo booths tucked in beneath an awning a few doors down. Cass and Alex stepped out of it, laughing. Snow looked up at Lillian and pouted at her. Lillian chuckled and started walking, ¡°C¡¯mon, let''s go get our pictures taken too.¡± ¡°Yay!¡± Chapter 190 Chapter 190 The four of them met back up as agreed a short while after their fun and made their way to the hotel, dropping off their purchases. Sonya and Marta had left a note stating that they¡¯d gone back out to see more of the city after getting changed along with a proposed schedule written by Bandit for their upcoming outing into the local dungeons. Lillian tried not to think too hard about going back to fighting with the easy atmosphere she¡¯d been enjoying throughout the day. After a brief rest they hopped onto the subway heading towards Ueno. From there it was a short walk to the Tokyo National Museum. A beautiful building with a reflecting pond stretching out in front. A fresh chill had settled in the air as they made their way along the side of the pool towards a small crowd that had begun to gather to the right of the entrance. People were holding their phones out and what looked like reporters were taking pictures and filming. Lillian rubbed her neck, wondering if this was the kind of treatment she should start getting used to for when she got back home. They all heard the name being repeated over and over. ¡®Sapporo¡¯ Lillian glanced at Alex who snorted out a laugh, ¡°Man, he can¡¯t go anywhere can he?¡± ¡°He is crazy tall,¡± Cass pointed out, ¡°Hard to miss a guy like him.¡± The crowd parted abruptly as the man-mountain that was Sapporo pushed through. He held a hand up in greeting to the four of them as people continued to take pictures. Static filled Lillian¡¯s ears, ¡°Lose the hat,¡± Snow whispered. Lillian waved back at Sapporo, ¡°You sure?¡± she asked out of the corner of her mouth. ¡°Definitely, Sonya would be pissed if you didn¡¯t,¡± Snow said. Of course, to make a show of it I guess, she sighed and reached up to pull her cap off her head, revealing her short black hair and the red and green streaks running down one side. I wish I could have brought Alphonse with me, she griped a little as the murmuring intensified and more photographs were taken. They met Sapporo halfway and he extended a hand for her to shake. ¡°Well met, Crusader,¡± he grunted with the faintest hint of a smile. ¡°Good to see you, Sapporo,¡± she replied. Sapporo nodded gruffly and then turned to the others, ¡°Snow, BLF, Harbinger, I hear the four of you took some time this morning to assist,¡± he said. ¡°No problem for us,¡± Alex chuckled, flexing an arm, ¡°We¡¯re here, we¡¯ll help.¡± The big man grunted in approval and gestured towards the Museum, ¡°A proper welcome to my homeland is in order, I think. This is my apology for the unpleasant greeting you were given by those who represent us yesterday. It was shameful,¡± he said with a slight bow of his head. ¡°After this I would like to introduce you to the guilds operating in the city. Several of the other heroes are very excited to meet you.¡± Lillian and Alex exchanged looks and grinned. She had been looking forward to that part of the visit in particular. A chance to test herself against some of the best Japan had to offer. A chance to see where she stood not just among the American heroes, but compared to other nations. Some of them were no doubt trained by Sapporo himself. With how often people compared him and her teacher, the idea was more than a little enticing. Sapporo glanced around and frowned before reaching into his pocket and checking his phone. ¡°Hm. Takehara was supposed to join us,¡± he said before putting his phone away. ¡°He¡¯s probably just on Committee business,¡± Cass said with a shrug, ¡°I¡¯m sure it happens.¡± The big man nodded again, ¡°Quite. Let¡¯s get the tour started.¡± ¨C The headquarters of the Ishtar worshiping cult hadn¡¯t exactly been hard to find. They made no effort in disguising where they were or who they were. Located in one of the northern wards of Tokyo, the large building was framed with a high wall of off-white concrete. The walls themselves were coated in graffiti, harsh words in Japanese and other languages decrying those that supposedly prayed to the enemy of the world. Sonya sat in the back seat of the dark taxi, her legs crossed as she watched the building go by, twirling an underworld coin between her fingers. ¡°Not exactly a subtle bunch,¡± Charon said through his puppet driver. She snorted, ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like this,¡± Marta said next to her, shifting a bit in her seat, ¡°Something feels off.¡± ¡°Are you going to let me in?¡± she asked and dismissed the Astral Eye. She stood up straight and brushed herself off. He swallowed but managed to compose himself enough to speak calmly, ¡°Yes, of course.¡± She smiled, ¡°See? No need for unnecessary things, isn¡¯t that great?¡± she said and held out her hand for him to take. He shook his head and got to his feet on his own, offering a slight bow as she pulled her hand back, her lips curled a little. Tsk. Are you okay? Ishtar asked. Sonya kept her face still, Just moody for some reason. That came on suddenly. Right when you used your powers. I¡¯m fine, Sonya grumbled and slid her hand into her pocket. That odd spot of sensation that she¡¯d felt back when she¡¯d used her powers in the backrooms ached. She felt Ishtar¡¯s frown but ignored it as Shuta turned away. He gestured to his companions and they led the way down the short concrete path towards the main doors of the building. Sonya took a moment to glance around as she flexed her fingers, working a little sensation back into them. The grassy garden on either side of the path was serene. Just a single tree on each side. ¡°Your boss likes it quiet,¡± she said. ¡°The leader thinks this environment is best for those with troubled hearts,¡± Shuta said quietly, reaching up to subtly rub at his neck. Marta had left a few marks. Sonya glanced at Marta, her friend had already returned to her position a step behind her with her eyes partially closed. She did spy Marta¡¯s hands clench a bit tighter as those brown eyes opened and she shot Shuta a warning look from behind. Sonya smirked at her and shrugged. She let out a breath and tried to calm her heart. Her temper was going through another swing. She¡¯d been feeling so much better after that fun day with Cass and the others, and now she was irritable again. Is there... something wrong with me? She didn¡¯t feel Ishtar react and closed her eyes. Just calm down. They arrived at the doors of the compound and Shuta turned around. He gave Sonya a polite bow before resting a hand on his sword in a comfortable stance, ¡°Please understand, the people here are seeking sanctuary after their lives were upturned by the flash,¡± he said, ¡°If you could, do not disturb their meditation.¡± Sonya shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m not here to talk to them.¡± He nodded, ¡°Understood, the Leader is waiting down below. There is an elevator inside.¡± She gestured magnanimously, ¡°Lead the way then.¡± The doors opened and she had to stop and catch her breath. She had expected grey concrete like the exterior of the building. Instead, what she saw was far more than she¡¯d expected. White walls and low soothing lighting over the shiny stone floor. The scent of incense washed out to meet her nostrils as the warrior stepped to the side and gestured, ¡°Please, come inside.¡± ¨C In a hall made of steel, a pair walked briskly towards a pair of heavy doors. One was a woman with long black hair in a lab coat and the other an older man in a pandora committee uniform. The two came to a stop as a guard at the doors checked their badges before turning to press a key into a panel. The doors, a darker color than the rest of the hallway, hissed and parted to reveal a small chamber with another pair of doors a short distance away. The doors shut behind them before the second set opened, a wave of heat and something else washed over them and they glanced at one another. ¡°Why am I just now hearing about this?¡± Takehara asked. ¡°It was need to know,¡± the woman said flatly as they stepped through the second set of doors. They entered a large room filled with equipment. The outer parts of the room were dark save for the screens where numerous researchers were observing readouts and talking amongst themselves. The inner part of the room was slightly recessed with steps leading down. Numerous spotlights were fixed into the ceiling and pointing down at the main point of interest. Two pillars engraved with strange runes and the rippling portal between them. A dungeon portal. Two men stepped into the room carrying a crate. They set it down and opened it to reveal rows of large glowing crystals. One of the men pulled a crystal out and set it in front of a portal pillar. The light within the crystal began to dim as the portal rippled and pulsed. Takehara tensed, ¡°What is this?¡± he demanded, rounding on the woman. The woman in the lab coat smiled, most of her appearance enshrouded by the low light. Her glasses shining in the reflections cast by the spotlights focused on the portal. Behind her, three figures stood, their glowing eyes fixed on him. ¡°Progress, Mister Takehara.¡± Chapter 191 Chapter 191 Sonya stepped out of the elevator and into a hall made entirely out of metal. It was not unlike the fortified interior of the Marianas Trench base. A fact that made her frown more than amuse her. The likeness was uncanny. She glanced towards Shuta who walked in stoic silence next to her as they pushed into the hall and through a series of heavy blast doors. A lot of money had gone into securing this part of the building while the structure upstairs seemed to have been designed with image and comfort in mind. You¡¯re annoyed, Ishtar said. Of course I am. Sonya clipped, Look at this place. There¡¯s too many similarities with this hallway and the Marianas Base. Then there¡¯s that note I got about Qilin. I know it''s from them. It¡¯s like they¡¯re watching me. There¡¯s no proof of that, Ishtar pointed out. You know it''s not a coincidence, Sonya said and she felt Ishtar sigh. She chewed her lip and closed her eyes, rubbing at her wrist again. It won¡¯t stop hurting. The doors opened one at a time to allow them entrance before closing immediately behind them. It was only through the third door that they found themselves standing in a large room that appeared circular. She couldn¡¯t tell entirely from the way a veil of darkness hung around the rear portion, illuminated only by candle light. There was a dais set into the center of the room with a partially transparent veil pulled around it; inside she could see a bed. She sniffed at the air. Incense? Her lips thinned into a line. So far she hadn¡¯t encountered much in the regards to the religious aspect of this group, it seemed more like a refugee camp than anything else. Here, that changed. Her eyes fixed on a figure on the bed. Her ocular lenses clicked as she tried to get a good look at them. No name appeared though. Just obscured enough that my eyes won¡¯t identify them. Interesting. This is... seeming less and less coincidental, Ishtar conceded, This veil seems designed to block your eyes. That isn¡¯t just cloth. I noticed, Sonya said irritably, I¡¯m starting to lean towards just getting rid of these people. And I am beginning to agree with you, Ishtar said, Patience, though. Feel them out. To her right, Shuta dropped to a knee and bowed his head. ¡°Lady Setsuna, I am here with our honored guest,¡± he said, his shoulders tensing for a moment before he continued. ¡°I was... rude to her at the entryway.¡± Sonya chuckled and the boy¡¯s shoulders tightened even more, his eyes fixed on the ground. Sonya stepped past him, putting her hand on her hip. She raised her chin up to peer into the veil again, ¡°Are you really the person in charge?¡± The figure shifted, ¡°I am,¡± came a melodious voice. The figure shifted again and reached forward to pull the veil aside. Shuta nearly jumped to his feet as the veil parted revealing a woman of middle-age years. Her face was an image of serene beauty, her eyes black pits that seemed to suck in the light around them. Long black hair hung around her that spread out onto the bed and spilled over her shoulders and luxurious figure. She looked up into Sonya¡¯s face for a long moment before smiling. ¡°Know you, do I, Chernovna,¡± she said in a voice like honey. Sonya blinked. Woah. Sonya... Ishtar warned. Sonya pursed her lips, I¡¯m fine. I¡¯ve never fallen for a honey trap before and I¡¯m not going to now. Good. Sonya set her expression with a frown. Her arms crossed as she tilted her head to the right. Setsuna stared into her eyes for several heartbeats. ¡°And?¡± she demanded, ¡°A lot of people have heard of me. If you¡¯re looking to throw me off, you¡¯re going to have to try harder than my name and a pretty face. If that walk to your doors was intended to elicit a positive reaction, you had the opposite effect. What are you trying to prove?¡± Sonya! Ishtar chastised. What? I¡¯m not going to lie to her! I physically can¡¯t! She shot back, ignoring the aghast look from Shuta. Ishtar grumbled something but simply retreated into the back of her mind. She knew herself well enough to know she had a bit of a weakness for the cute ones, but that changed nothing. These people knew way too much and were using her name to hide behind. They were a problem as far as she was concerned. She wanted explanations-the note, their activities, all of it. Sonya¡¯s eyes narrowed. Ah, according to legend the Oracle of Delphi spoke in strange ways. Perhaps it''s the weakness of her ability like our own prohibition on falsehoods. Ishtar commented. Sonya rolled her jaw left and right before plucking the note that had saved her from Qilin¡¯s ability out of her pocket. She held it up for the woman to see, ¡°Was this you?¡± The woman nodded, ¡°Yes,¡± she wheezed. Sonya crumpled it in her palm and reached up to rub the bridge of her nose, ¡°How much do you know?¡± she asked, forcing herself to calm down. The woman swallowed and cleared her throat again, ¡°Knowledge, I sought. Open your eyes, to my power, words to,¡± she said as she slowly pushed herself up to a kneeling position on the ground. ¡°Little more, end of days, the past,¡± she cleared her throat again, ¡°yet not. Your goal, I know. Your enemy, I know,¡± she shifted a little more, ¡°Humanity, kicking, screaming.¡± Sonya searched her face before glancing over her shoulder at the door that led into the hallway that was eerily alike to the mariana¡¯s base. So she knows a lot, but doesn¡¯t know everything. She used her ability to answer a specific question. ¡®What do I have to do to prove that I am an Oracle to Ishtar?¡¯ or something to that effect. Sonya reasoned. It fed her the information that would make it irrefutable. An ability that grants specific knowledge without context, of the past and the future. An undesirable trade-off in how her words are broken, now. Ishtar commented. Interesting how she breaks up her sentences to attempt to speak more legibly. Terribly inconvenient though. Agreed, not an ability I would want to take. Who knows if merging it with something else would get rid of the drawback? Sonya thought as her shoulders fell. The moment of deep thought had helped her clear her head a little. The fury was still there but it was muted. She looked back at the woman-Setsuna on the ground, ¡°Why did you wait to get in contact? If we had met sooner this may have not been as tense,¡± she said. Setsuna¡¯s eyes darkened again, the depths growing deeper, ¡°The light she brings will burn bright against the coming darkness. Patience. Await her ire.¡± Sonya clicked her tongue, ¡°A prophecy. The light being the heroes I brought with me to Japan,¡± she crossed her arms, ¡°What¡¯s the coming darkness? Otis? He¡¯s in America. If there¡¯s a problem, you have manpower, don¡¯t you?¡± Setsuna looked sad for a moment, ¡°Not know, I do,¡± she said before gesturing past her towards the doors and the building beyond. ¡°Sanctuary, Children of Dawn, they seek. With you. Haven. Our power-¡± ¡°If the government saw what we were capable of, they wouldn¡¯t leave us be. Most of us are outcasts. They don¡¯t want to fight, just to be left alone,¡± Shuta cut in, his words coming out fast before Sonya reacted to him speaking out of turn. She turned to look him in the eyes before letting out a sigh and running her fingers through her hair. ¡°Not a great first impression, lady,¡± she grumbled, ¡°But you aren¡¯t wrong in how you handled it, from that perspective. I guess,¡± she rubbed her neck, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for hurting you,¡± she said. She felt weary, as if the anger that had been strengthening her just faded away, leaving her body numb and tired. She held out her palm and created three strawberries. She tossed one to Shuta and popped one in her mouth before extending the third to Setsuna. ¡°It¡¯ll heal you,¡± she said as she chewed. Sonya... I¡¯ll eat a normal meal when this is done. It¡¯s fine, Sonya grumbled and tried again to soothe her temper. Damn it. It¡¯s like every time I finally find my groove something happens to set me off again. It¡¯s just easier to be angry. It¡¯s hard to be fun.. There¡¯s nothing wrong with your rage. If there is anyone on this planet that deserves such fury, it is you, Ishtar said, I am more concerned that it is controlling you. We are becoming unstable. You- Don¡¯t start that shit again, Sonya shot back. I don¡¯t want to argue with you right now. At least when I¡¯m pissed I act more like a villain. Be happy about that. Perhaps. Setsuna reached out and took the strawberry reverently before popping it into her mouth. She chewed slowly and Sonya watched as the bruise on her neck faded away. The oracle¡¯s eyes went wide in surprise as she sat up straighter, rubbing at her throat and even looking down at her legs. She reached down with shaky hands and touched her feet, squeezing them before looking up at Sonya in wonder. Sonya frowned and glanced back at Shuta who was examining his body curiously before looking up at his mother who was still rubbing her legs. He turned and met Sonya¡¯s confused stare. ¡°Tibial muscular dystrophy,¡± he said, ¡°She can move her legs but she can¡¯t put any weight on them.¡± Sonya turned back as Setsuna got slowly to her feet, small tears welling in her eyes. Oh don¡¯t look at me like that, I didn¡¯t do it on purpose, she groaned inwardly before taking another deep, cleansing breath. She gestured lazily with her hand and created a chair of hard light, the illusions of augment reality wrapped around it to give it a more real appearance. She sat down and crossed her legs. ¡°Alright,¡± she said, ¡°You caught my attention. Lured me here. You¡¯ve survived your first encounter with Ishtar,¡± she leaned forward a bit and looked the woman in the eyes, ¡°Let¡¯s hear your pitch.¡± Chapter 192 Chapter 192 Sonya stood atop the mezzanine looking over a large chamber, her hand on the rails. She stared down into the crowd of people milling about. Little cots here and there as they kept to themselves. There was a row of tables on one side of the room laden with food where a few workers assembled meals for the residents, doors off to the side led to simple dormitories. She felt her stomach twist, ¡°I didn¡¯t know there were so many light-touched in your care,¡± she said quietly. Setsuna stood next to her in silence, her eyes fixed on those below. Her son and Marta were standing off to the side, giving them a little space to speak. Shuta cleared his throat, ¡°Castouts, from the flash. During the time when people did not understand. They feel betrayed by their families and loved ones, being turned away for something that is not within their control is... hard to forgive.¡± Sonya nodded slowly, running her thumb over the rail. The rage from earlier had subsided, leaving a cavernous feeling in her chest. She felt it itching still at the back of her mind, almost like another presence akin to Ishtar. Then there was the growing ache in her wrist. It had spread to her elbow and she could feel another one of those little spots there. She closed her eyes and centered herself. I need to have Da-Som check me out when we get back. You¡¯re doing fine, Ishtar reassured her, Whatever this is. I am with you. She exhaled, ¡°Ultimately, you¡¯re asking me to take these people in,¡± she said solemnly, ¡°How many are actually part of your cult and not just seeking shelter?¡± she asked. ¡°Does it matter?¡± Shuta asked. She glanced his way, ¡°I am the enemy of every hero on the planet,¡± she said without sugarcoating it. "They join me at their own peril. Betrayal will be met with retribution. She looked back at them. "If they aren''t willing to side with me, then they need to find somewhere else to seek sanctuary. I am not looking to put everything I¡¯ve accomplished at risk.¡± Shuta frowned, ¡°But you¡¯re Ishtar. There is nothing you can¡¯t do.¡± She barked out a laugh, ¡°I assure you, Even I have my limits,¡± she said and let out a sigh. ¡°That¡¯s becoming all too clear to me these days,¡± she glanced at Setsuna, ¡°If I take your cultists in, what do I get out of it besides people? I¡¯m sure some of them are strong, but you know the price doesn¡¯t match up. I already have a lot of people working for me. We¡¯re making a deal here, I expect to be compensated.¡± Setsuna did not turn her eyes away from her people as she ran delicate fingers over the railing. Her eyes thoughtful, she pressed her lips together before nodding to herself. ¡°Two ways, my power works,¡± she said and turned to Sonya, ¡°Visions come. Control it, I do not,¡± she said softly before looking back at the people, ¡°Or, a question, I can ask. Or be asked,¡± she tensed, ¡°Taxing.¡± Her son shifted, ¡°Mother, that¡¯s not-¡± ¡°How specific a question? How often?¡± Sonya asked, her mind drifting to several options. ¡°Yes or no,¡± Setsuna said, ¡°That is best. Otherwise, riddles,¡± she added before holding up a finger. ¡°Only one.¡± Sonya let out a breath, ¡°So asking how to kill my enemy wouldn¡¯t provide much in the way of useful information,¡± she chuckled, ¡°Figures it wouldn¡¯t be so easy.¡± Setsuna smiled, ¡°Sorry.¡± Sonya shrugged, ¡°A perfect yes or no response is...¡± she trailed off and sent her thoughts back to Ishtar. Thoughts? Her other half seemed to hesitate for a moment before responding. I would take it. It seems valuable. What kind of question would you ask, though? I don¡¯t know, Sonya replied, I have time to decide. Let¡¯s see if Broker agrees. That would be best. Sonya considered any additional terms she had in mind as she leaned against the rail, lost in thought. Eventually she turned to the cult leader and extended her hand. Setsuna took it and she considered using Analyze. The oracle ability was powerful and one she could take advantage of or give to someone else to use, but the drawbacks were troubling. It was also quite limited. Merging it didn¡¯t feel like an option either, and her gut told her to just let this one go and leave the divination to the professional. ¡°I¡¯ll take in your people as my own, the ones that recognize you and me. I have a place they can stay temporarily until I have something a bit larger and more comfortable. I expect loyalty from them, I expect them to work. That extends to you as well. Make this worthwhile to me by using the cult in my favor,¡± she said, tilting her chin up a little. ¡°You must keep my secrets. No matter what.¡± Setsuna inclined her head, ¡°Agreeable.¡± Process deal. ¡°What date?¡± Alex and Cass protested simultaneously. Her lips curled and she was about to tease them more when Sapporo went very still. ¡°Where?¡± Sapporo asked, ¡°Nothing on the radar?¡± An uneasy feeling settled in Lillian¡¯s stomach as the big man furrowed his brows and seemed to concentrate for a moment. ¡°No, I don¡¯t sense anything. Are you sure the tremors were localized? Also, why am I hearing this from you and not Takehara?¡± his frown deepened, ¡°How close is Koto to the seismic activity?¡± The four heroes exchanged a look, ¡°An earthquake?¡± Cass asked, ¡°I don¡¯t feel anything.¡± Lillian set her jaw and tapped her earpiece a few times, switching to the open channel they¡¯d chosen on arrival, ¡°Sonya? You there?¡± ¡°Miss Chernovna is in a meeting,¡± Marta replied over the open channel, ¡°What can I do for you, Lillian?¡± ¡°I think we¡¯re going to need our gear, I¡¯ve got a bad feeling,¡± Lillian said. RRRRMMMBBBLLLLLL The ground shook beneath their feet and a few of the civilians nearby let out shouts of surprise before settling. Most of them were used to minor earthquakes, but this was the first time Lillian had felt one. It was a jarring experience, but nothing terrifying compared to the kinds of things she¡¯d seen before. Even so, she shifted uneasily on her feet as the shaking ebbed. She turned to Sapporo who was looking more and more irate with each passing moment as his call continued. ¡°Call the guilds and have them on standby. We may need-¡± RRRRMMBBLLL The ground shook again and Lillian pivoted in time to catch Snow who stumbled with the tremor as Sapporo stormed past her, his eyes scanning the south-east. Rage gave way to concern, then to fear as a third tremor nearly knocked Lillian off her feet. Each seemed to be shorter than the last, but the strength escalated in exchange. Lillian swallowed hard and turned to face the direction Sapporo was looking. Another chill running up her spine. ¡°Lillian? I just felt that, what¡¯s happening?¡± Marta asked over the phone. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but it¡¯s bad,¡± Lillian said, ¡°We need our gear.¡± There was a long pause, ¡°Where am I meeting you?¡± Marta asked. Lillian turned to Sapporo, her heart thundering in her chest. She clenched her fists, ¡°Where are we going?¡± He held her gaze for a few heartbeats before giving a grateful bow of his head, ¡°Koto Ward,¡± he said, ending the call. ¡°I fear we¡¯re going to need all the help we can get.¡± Lillian turned to the others who nodded. Scales began to spread across Alex¡¯s skin and Cass¡¯ body began to glow faintly as she grew in size. Lillian turned to Snow, ¡°You know what to do.¡± ¡°Find someplace safe to hide and spot from, I got it,¡± Snow said quickly as they began following Sapporo down the path, people scattering out of the way. RRMMBLL A thrill ran through Lillian¡¯s entire body as the shortest but most intense tremor yet hit, a warning loud and clear. Every instinct screamed at her in alarm. Her eyes went wide as time seemed to slow in those last few moments, ¡°BRACE!¡± she shouted and dropped to a knee, pulling Snow down with her. Alex and Cass dove to the ground, covering their heads. Sapporo dove forward, throwing himself between what was coming and the four trainees behind him. Lillian looked up at his back just in time to see his form in silhouette. Light. A dome of light. The world was light. BOOOOOM! The world shook as the air rushed past them. People screamed as a veritable ocean of mana washed over and through Lillian like a tidal wave. There was nothing to make sense of. Everything was sounds and movements and confusion. The trembling earth, the howl of wind, the burning of raw power against her skin. She pulled Snow closer as her mind drowned in it all. Her senses were on fire as she realized for the first time the downside to being the type of light-touched who had a built-in mana sense. There was so much. Too much. She couldn¡¯t think, she couldn¡¯t breathe. She could only hold on for dear life as a dungeon one tier above the Dharan portal burst in the heart of Tokyo. Chapter 193 Chapter 193 BOOOOOOOM The entire building shook. The ceiling trembled and the lights flickered as Sonya caught herself on the railing. Shuta grabbed his mother while Marta planted her feet and rode it out, a stern look on her face. Sirens blared. Sonya pushed herself up and whirled. A warning symbol appeared in her HUD, an alert from the local Carter Radar. Mana surge. Dungeon Break! She pointed to Shuta, ¡°Get your people upstairs down here, now!¡± she shouted. He looked at his mother who gave him an admonishing look and he let her go, hurrying out of the room. Sonya turned to Marta, her heart pounding. She started to march towards the exit when her friend put a hand on her shoulder to stop her. She rounded on Marta, ¡°What are you doing?¡± she demanded, ¡°I need to be out there!¡± ¡°You need to stay right here,¡± Marta said patiently. Sonya¡¯s brows furrowed as a spike of anger rose in her chest, ¡°I am Ishtar! If anyone can-¡± ¡°Sonya,¡± Marta soothed, ¡°How¡¯s it going to look if I show up around the same time Ishtar does? Ishtar¡¯s not a hero either,¡± she shook her head, ¡°You¡¯re strong, I know. But right now we need you leading from the back. Let the heroes do their job. That¡¯s why you helped create them, remember? For this kind of situation. It¡¯s what they¡¯ve trained for.¡± Sonya¡¯s lips trembled and she reached up to grab her friend¡¯s wrist. She squeezed it as she hung her head, a lump in her throat. ¡°Go, before I change my mind.¡± ¡°Yes ma¡¯am,¡± Marta said and hurried out the door. An aftershock hit, the waves of mana still spreading across the city. She started to approach Setsuna as a call came through in her head. She glanced at the name and answered without hesitation. <¡±Sonya!¡±> Amos¡¯ voice came through, <¡±You alright?¡±> <¡±I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m at the Children of Dawn headquarters,¡±> she said, <¡±Marta is moving to support Crusader¡¯s team. Give me a report on what¡¯s being done.¡±> <¡±It¡¯s worse than you think, the timing on this was too perfect. It¡¯s got the stink of artificial. A hidden seventh dungeon my ass. My readings say it was probably uncommon,¡±> Amos said quickly, <¡±All six dungeons managed by the Tokyo Guilds were on recharge with two coming up for culling. The guilds are scrambling all their people to continuously clear the dungeons to keep them from going up as well.> Sonya nearly tripped, her legs faltering with the news. She was aware that the other dungeons existed but hadn¡¯t realized just how close they were to a possible burst. Without the Japanese guilds, would Crusader¡¯s team, Marta and Sapporo be enough? Uncommon. Then the monsters are all rare-tier. I need to let Marta know. <¡±Has anyone claimed responsibility? What about the International Team?¡±> <¡±Just what you think, they can¡¯t send too many or it¡¯ll just cause more harm than good. Too many mythics on the ground will make things harder for the guilds. Sapporo is a huge mana producer too. They¡¯re arranging teams of epics and heroics but that¡¯s taking longer than just sending the main team,¡±> Amos explained. She closed her eyes and let out a sigh through her nostrils. This stinks of Otis¡¯ tactics from the past timeline. But I know he hasn¡¯t made anything close to a move like this. Where¡¯s the agenda? The angle? Who profits? Liberty is an easy person to blame because of our conflict but there¡¯s no reason for it. She would have immediately taken credit, made some sort of showboating announcement. She exhaled as her mind sped up for the first time in a long time. The thoughts coming faster and faster. TICK... TICK... TICK TICK TICK Is there a strategy? An angle? Amos is never wrong about this sort of thing. This must have been manufactured somehow. She thought. You¡¯re looking at it from the perspective of a warrior and a hero. An investigator. Ishtar corrected. TICK TICKTICKTICK TICK TICK Then what? Why would a villain do it? Just because? Nonsense. There¡¯s a reason. Multiple reasons. Sonya grit her teeth and concentrated as her mind worked harder. Her fists clenched in the neuron flashes between thoughts. No credit has been claimed after such a dramatic incident? The minutes after are the best time. Someone putting this much effort into an act would take credit. Which means... they aren¡¯t done. This was a demonstration ahead of a greater move, Ishtar agreed. They are making a point and perhaps using it for other means that we do not have enough information to recognize. Sonya clicked her tongue as her mind wound back down. TICK TICK ...TICK TI- <¡±ASTA¡¯s response?¡±> she demanded as she took Setsuna¡¯s arm and began escorting her back to her room. She didn¡¯t know how close the break was and with rare-tier monsters running around she didn¡¯t want to take any chances. <¡±Dungeon Break contingency three, for major cities, as planned. Munitions, gear, everything we can. Contacts with medical companies are being pulled and I¡¯ve gotten in touch with Euclidia to get it over there as fast as possible.¡±> Amos said, <¡±We¡¯ve already started packing things on our end.¡±> She and Setsuna made it to the small stairwell leading down to her level in the subterranean base, <¡±Thank you, Amos. Keep an eye on the radar and the media. Let me know if anything else comes up. Someone is responsible for this and they are going to make another move. I want to know before it happens.¡±> <¡±Yes ma¡¯am, good luck on your end,¡±> Amos said and ended the call. She met the oracles eyes and squeezed her arm before calling Marta. <¡±Marta, I have intel.¡±> Snow hurried up behind her as Crusader¡¯s hands hovered over the girl. She heard Snow let out a gasp. Crusader grit her teeth, gold fire erupting from her palms in a cascade that doused the young woman. She could only imagine how traumatizing it would be for a burn victim to be healed by fire, but she didn¡¯t have a lot of options. She clenched her jaw, Come on. She urged herself before shooting a glance at the boy. She met his terrified gaze and wondered what kind of face she was making. She looked up at the hat on his head, singed, but her name still visible on the side. She let out a shaky breath and shoved her own feelings aside, letting her power do the work. It took several minutes of concentration before the girl started to move again, small groans of pain the sign that she was alive and on the mend. Crusader wanted to sag with relief, her chest heavy. Arata¡¯s sister shifted and looked up, her eyes going wide when she met Crusader¡¯s gaze. ¡°You¡¯re going to be alright,¡± Crusader said, keeping the tiredness off her face, forcing her best Sonya grin, ¡°Your brother is fine too.¡± ¡°Lil,¡± Snow¡¯s voice popped into her ear, her tone grave. Crusader didn¡¯t react, keeping up appearances. ¡°Two bodies, ten feet away. I think...¡± Crusader¡¯s jaw nearly cracked behind her carefully constructed smile, ¡°Arata, can you help your sister get to the end of this alley? We met some nice policemen on the way. They can help,¡± she said before nodding to Alphonse who darted back up into the sky. The boy, shellshocked, could only nod as he helped his weakened sister to her feet. The two of them ambling towards the light. The girl glanced back over her shoulder but only found Crusader standing in the way with a smile that didn¡¯t quite meet her eyes. She jerked her chin towards the little boy helping the girl walk. The girls eyes filled with tears but she nodded, keeping her cool as they made their way out. Crusader sagged when they got out of eyeshot, ¡°Damn it,¡± she croaked. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure the cops know,¡± Snow said shakily, walking over to touch Crusader¡¯s arm. Crusader looked back at the bodies that were likely Arata¡¯s parents. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to calm herself, her heart cracking a little more. She nodded at Snow and walked out of the alley, rallying herself as much as she could. She stopped just outside the alley, watching Arata and his sister meet with the cops they¡¯d picked up along the way. She barely noticed Harbinger''s approach. ¡°We can¡¯t take them much closer,¡± Harbinger said, walking up next to her. Crusader frowned and closed her eyes, ¡°I know,¡± she sighed before turning towards her. ¡°What if we find more kids, though? Who are they going to go back with?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll figure somethin¡¯ out,¡± BLF said grimly, glancing towards a shadowy corner just past where they¡¯d found the kid, he shook his head, ¡°Damn. Are those his parents?¡± Crusader didn¡¯t look back, ¡°Probably,¡± she said. So much death. How could this have happened? What about the Carter Radar? Shouldn¡¯t it have seen this coming? She clenched her fists and hung her head, emotion burbling up in her chest like a torrent. A small hand wrapped around hers and she turned, breathless, to see Snow looking into her eyes. ¡°Stay strong,¡± Snow said through a haze of static and gripped her hand tighter. Crusader reached out and put a hand on her head, stroking her hair as she looked towards the survivors. There were over two dozen of them now, all looking to her with haunted eyes that gleamed faintly with infant hope. So easily crushed. She nodded and gave Snow¡¯s hand a reassuring squeeze. ¡°We¡¯re going to save as many people as she can,¡± she declared, ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re here.¡± She turned back to the wide street and her team joined her. The damage stretched on and on towards the distant point where the street ended and the Kato ward began. ¡°It¡¯s horrible,¡± Harbinger said. ¡°Do you think this was intentional?¡± BLF asked. Snow frowned, ¡°Maybe,¡± she tapped her implant, ¡°I can pick up on Carter Radar alerts and I didn¡¯t get anything.¡± BLF scowled, ¡°If someone caused this, I¡¯ll-¡± ¡°One thing at a time,¡± Crusader growled and forced herself forwards, ¡°But yeah, we¡¯ll get to that for sure.¡± Crusader and her team moved on. Grim faced, each new horror confronted with as much strength as they could manage. They didn¡¯t have time to weep, to mourn, to crack under the emotional strain. They had a job to do. A job they kept doing as they made their way down the wide street. Further and further until they arrived at the edge of the blast, her spirit already heavy before they¡¯d even arrived. Tall buildings were tilted back and away, the ground was cracked beneath their feet. Instead of sirens and screams there was nothing but an eerie silence. They stopped at a decorative archway that led into what had been a multi-story outdoor shopping center. Not out of hesitation, but because there was someone barring their path. The man that stood there was tall, with long hair that hung down to his shoulders. His body was slim and lithe, lanky. He stood with his shoulders slumped and his hands down at his sides. His fingers were long and spindly, gleaming like steel. His lips were spread into a bloodthirsty smile of razor sharp metallic teeth as he cast his gaze over the four of them. Crusader fixed him with a stare, ¡°Are you a local hero? Why are you just standing there?¡± she asked, holding her arm out for Alphonse to land. The hawk tilted its head to eye the stranger with caution. He pointed at himself, blinking at her, before bursting into laughter, ¡°Ishtar said you heroes weren¡¯t all that bright, but man! What does it look like?¡± he laughed and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m Rivet, and I¡¯m here to keep you guys away from the boss.¡± Next to her, Harbinger snarled and raised her hammer, ¡°Liar,¡± she spat, ¡°Your name is Sir Conway.¡± Crusader whipped her head towards Harbinger. Right. She¡¯s Liberty¡¯s sister. She¡¯s met Liberty¡¯s Round Table. She knows what they look like. But... why is he claiming to work for Ishtar? She turned towards the villain, Rivet, who was looking at Harbinger a bit perplexed. He squinted and leaned forward, holding his hand over his eyes to get a better look without the sunlight interfering. His eyes widened, ¡°Oh I almost didn¡¯t recognize you, young miss! Well now,¡± he sighed, ¡°This is a problem,¡± he frowned and tilted his head left and right, ¡°I was only supposed to slow you down until the situation became too much to recover from, but now?¡± He shrugged, ¡°I guess I gotta kill you,¡± he said lightly before vanishing. The next thing Crusader knew she was looking into a pair of glowing white eyes with gray sclera. Fast! ¡°Shoulda kept your mouths shut, Heroes!¡±. Chapter 194 Chapter 194 It was like facing her teacher for the first time in a spar. One moment he was at a distance, the next he was inches away, his hand already moving forward to spear her with those long metallic fingers. He¡¯d wedged them together into a spear point, a brutal tool to deliver a quick and painful death. Crusader¡¯s training saved her life, though, power rushing through her legs as she kicked off the ground, cycling her internal energy as she managed a foot of distance before he struck. Her weapon raised to block the blow. She felt Alphonse separate from her shoulder with a cry, his wings glowing as he darted away to get some distance of his own. Steel struck steel and sparks flew. Her feet hit the ground and she pushed forward with a grunt, trying to throw him off his feet. He laughed and dropped like a puppet without strings just as Harbinger entered the fray, swinging her hammer through the empty space where his head had been. He whipped his body around and she jumped, anticipating a maneuver like the ones that Sonya liked to use to knock the legs out from under her opponents. Instead, a line of pain lanced up the side of her face and her eyes went wide with surprise. A feint! He sneered at her as his uppercut passed her and he flipped forward, throwing himself behind her. A kick snapping out to catch her in the small of her back. She gasped and staggered forward, catching BLF¡¯s eye as he pivoted, she knew that pose. She spun on her heel and brandished her weapon as Rivet dove at her, needle-point fingers extended. She dropped just at the last moment and he barked out a laugh, his eyes fixed on her as twelve feet of stretchy scaled leg entered his trajectory. Rivet¡¯s eyes went wide for just a moment before he crossed his arms in front of his chest, he took the blow and was thrown backwards and into the nearest building, crashing through the concrete wall like it was paper mache. ¡°AGI Formation!¡± Crusader shouted, the blood dripping from the side of her face slowed and stopped as gold light burned on the cut, ¡°Snow!¡± Behind her, Snow waved her hands and sauntered backwards, vanishing as if she¡¯d never been there. Harbinger darted to Crusader¡¯s right, positioning herself to be just outside of swinging reach from Crusader. BLF moved to stand at the front and between the two of them, his gleaming scales spreading further across his skin. He raised his fists, his newest toys from ASTA on full display. Hand guards equipped with segmented claws. They waited a full three heartbeats before Rivet climbed out of the hole he¡¯d made. Uninjured save for his damaged sleeves. He hopped out of the hole and looked down at his ruined coat, shaking his head before tearing both sleeves off and revealing arms coated in metal. ¡°I liked that shirt,¡± he said in disgust. His eyes flicked between the three of them before settling back on Crusader. She took a step and raised her broadsword up in a ready pose. His lip twitched and he shifted his feet in Harbinger¡¯s direction before vanishing again. An instant later he collided with BLF¡¯s suddenly extended arm, the scaled limb wrapping around his torso. BLF grunted and spun hard, swinging with all his might to throw the man at Harbinger who was already ready with a swing. Rivet¡¯s eyes went wide and he barked out a wild laugh. ¡°Oho! Yeah that¡¯s the stuff! Do it!¡± With loud bang, Harbinger¡¯s mighty swing collided with Rivet, sending him flying again. He howled with laughter as he flipped end over end, careening towards the roof of a building. He threw his hands down and dug them into the concrete, catching himself on the high ground. He stood up straight and rolled his shoulders languidly, it was like he didn¡¯t have bones. He was so flexible. He bounced on his feet in excitement and Crusader got a bad feeling in her gut as a surge of mana drew towards him. ¡°Incoming!¡± she shouted just as a shout of pain rang out from Harbinger¡¯s direction. Crusader whipped her head towards Harbinger on instinct and saw a metal spike poking out of her comrade¡¯s shoulder. Where¡¯d it come- Warning exploded in Crusader¡¯s mind and she whipped her head back from a metal spike that launched up to pierce through her chin. Is he making them? She thought frantically, spreading her senses out to catch the creation of objects. Nothing. No surge of matter taking shape only... threads. ¡°Traps! Watch your feet!¡± she shouted as she felt movement in her direction again, she threw herself forward instead of back this time, moving into his oncoming attack. She met his manic gaze with her own stony glare and drove her shoulder forward. He planted a hand on her shoulder instead and flipped over her, dodging a whip kick from BLF. ¡°Spoilers aren¡¯t cool, you know!¡± He shouted, spinning like a gymnast in the air. He nearly touched his landing only for the ground beneath his feet to turn to ice with a hiss of static. He blinked, genuinely surprised for the first time as he nearly slipped. Harbinger already charging in his direction with her hammer mid swing. He frowned and threw his arm up, catching the blow and crumpling under the force of it, hurtling in a new direction and hitting the ground hard. He skipped once, twice, three times before stopping and getting to his feet with an annoyed grunt. He panned his gaze around, ¡°That wasn¡¯t real ice,¡± he spat in time to see Harbinger already closing in for another blow. He leaped up into the air and planted a hand on the hammer, pushing off and throwing himself higher. He spun and Crusader watched him sweep his gaze around the surrounding area. Oh no you don¡¯t! ¡°Snow! Change position!¡± she shouted before darting towards where he looked to be landing, she drew on her power and pushed it out, following the instincts that had been growing in her ever since the beginning of her time in the training camp, ¡°Al!¡± Rivet laughed as he neared the ground, turning to her and pointing a long finger in her direction only for a streak of golden flame to lance past him from above. He grunted with pain and pulled his hand back, ¡°What the fu-¡± A flare of static filled the air and dozens of pop-ups and emojis burst into being in his face, scraping noises and shrieks pummeled him, discordant sounds that caused even a man like Rivet to pause in confusion. He staggered back, shaking his head and released his grip on Crusader, ¡°The fuck are all these?¡± he shouted, swatting at them with blood soaked claws. ¡°Fucking illusionist!¡± A large arm caught Crusader as she fell to the ground, a dark shape hurtling over her with a growling hiss. Crusader¡¯s vision went dark for a moment, her head swimming as she saw something huge rise up into the air before crashing down on the spot that Rivet occupied. The air filled with mist as BLF engaged. She blinked, trying to get her mind to focus as her skin began to feel clammy. I¡¯m losing blood, she realized. ¡°Crusader! Heal yourself!¡± Harbinger¡¯s voice came from far away. Crusader squinted up at her for several seconds before the words processed. She took in a sharp breath and let her golden flames engulf her, pain and weakness giving way to clarity. Clarity became anger that was tempered into focus. She poured as much internal energy as she dared into the healing, speeding it up. ¡°Just need a minute,¡± she coughed as Harbinger set her down. ¡°I can do a minute,¡± Harbinger nodded and raced over to join BLF. Crusader lay her head down, she couldn¡¯t hold it up anymore. All of her energy was going into healing. Faster. Come on. Faster. She urged herself as static filled her ears. Her lips formed a line, ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± she said before Snow could ask, ¡°Focus on them,¡± she panted, ¡°He¡¯s sensitive to sounds, he didn¡¯t like whatever you did earlier.¡± The static faded without a word and instead Rivet let out an angry shriek of annoyance before a loud bang proceeded him getting launched once again and into yet another building. She turned her head enough to see him stagger out, arms hanging, face pinched in frustration. ¡°Fuckin¡¯ Halloway was right! You pricks are a problem!¡± he shouted, ¡°Fuck this!¡± He whipped his head towards the path leading into the Kato ward as Harbinger and BLF charged at him. With her powers focused on closing the hole in her gut she couldn¡¯t sense whatever he did, but an instant later there was a loud explosion further down the path followed by a column of smoke. What? That was when something shrieked. Something horrible. He turned a sneer on them and raised a pair of needle fingers to his brow, ¡°You kids have fun,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯m out.¡± ¡°LIKE HELL!¡± Harbinger bellowed and put on a burst of speed, swinging with all of her might. Crusader blinked when she saw the tip of Harbinger¡¯s hammer flicker once. Rivet spun to kick the blow away only for his eyes to go wide as the blow tore through his knee, obliterating it. His entire leg shattering into scraps as he let out a scream of pain. He hit the ground and Harbinger raised her hammer to crush him just as a sound that could only be described as ¡®stampede¡¯ drew close enough to be heard. The ground shook. Harbinger looked up in surprise and Crusader could do nothing as Rivet took the opportunity to throw his extendable arm up towards a nearby building. He pulled himself up, sneering at BLF who threw his own stretchy punch in his direction. He laughed as Harbinger turned back, a scream of frustration rising from her throat. ¡°You got bigger problems!¡± He shouted down at them as he disappeared over the side of the roof he¡¯d grabbed on to. ¡°I¡¯ll get you back for my leg, Cass!¡± Crusader rolled onto her side, pushing herself up to her knees as Snow appeared next to her, an arm reaching down to help her up. She took it gratefully and staggered to her feet, patting herself down to make sure the hole was gone. She panted and nodded at Snow, ¡°All healed up,¡± she said, tired. She flicked her gaze up towards the oncoming storm of movement. A cloud of dust and debris was charging towards them. A furious Harbinger and BLF hurried to join them. BLF cradling Al in his arms. He handed the exhausted and injured bird over to Crusader who held him close, pouring a little healing in to soothe his injuries. ¡°You did good, buddy, get some rest,¡± she said before looking up at the incoming danger with a frown. ¡°Might want to go find another spotting location,¡± Crusader said to Snow and hefted her sword onto her shoulder. The dust cloud began to dissipate, ¡°We¡¯re just getting started.¡± Chapter 195 Chapter 195 The billowing cloud had nearly reached the arch leading into the Kato ward. Crusader drew in a breath and lowered her sword to her side, grip tightening. Flames erupted in her palm and spread up her arm and down the length of her blade. An inferno of gold wreathing her. She tilted her head up as the aches eased, her jaw set tightly. Alphonse fluttered into the air and darted towards safety, his wings restored enough to move. To Crusader¡¯s right, a nine-foot tall Harbinger took a fighting stance, her hammer at the ready. Her blonde hair was a tousled mess and her blue eyes were blazing bright with power and fury. To her left, BLF stretched his back and flexed his arms, his claw-guards gleaming in the sunlight beating down on them. His scales grew thicker as he stretched his jaw in preparation, his dagger-like fangs bared. Static filled the air. Spiked pillars of shimmering crystal appeared on the ground, spreading out like weeds in the area in front of them. Ice spread along the ground and illusory snow began to fall from the sky. Crusader popped her neck and frowned as a pang of residual pain burned in her core. She grit her teeth as the clouds parted. CROOAAAHHKKKKK! Eyes, wild and spread in mind-shattering mania bulged out of a vaguely human face, a mouth hanging open beneath them filled with curved and pointed teeth. Its nose was twisted and broken. It let out an inhuman howl from the very depths of its throat, a groan and croak in one. Massive taloned hands extended as its torso twisted and writhed atop what looked like a ten foot long centipede. A hundred long yellowed legs scrambling across the ground in a frantic dash to lash out at prey. Crusader¡¯s nostrils flared, determination and fury pushing back against the icy terror that tried to worm its way up her spine. More came. A writhing horde of nightmarish half humanoid half centipedes that shrieked and groaned, their insane eyes fixed on the trio standing in their way. Crusader didn¡¯t hesitate. She charged, planting her first step and starting her push towards a new momentum for her ability. A shout rose up in her throat that turned into a roar of challenge. Harbinger moved in next and BLF leaped forward, his powerful arms stretching towards his nearest target. For a moment, the world felt still for Crusader as she crossed the distance. Then the two sides collided. A brutal uppercut slashed up and along the torso of the monster that threw its body back in a horrible groan of pain. Its yellow legs snapping out to catch her. She brought her weapon back down and knocked back the strikes with a follow-up stroke. The creature whipped its torso back, trying to curl around her. She snapped her free hand out and brought a fist into its face, bone cracking beneath her armored knuckles. Another one of the horrors slid across the ground to her right before colliding face first into Harbinger¡¯s hammer while BLF landed on another¡¯s chest and jabbed his bladed fists down into its throat and chest over and over.@@@@ Faster! Crusader demanded of herself, grabbing the beast by the face and pulling with all her might to slam it down at the ground. It collided with pavement with a wet crunch, its disturbing lower half twitching spasmodically before going abruptly still. She stepped over it, teeth bared as another came charging at her. Its nightmare scream echoing in her ears. She pushed it off, flames coiling around her weapon and bursting out from her body in a wave. Flames caught on friends and foe alike as she dove into a clockwise spin, throwing her weight into a strike that bisected the monster¡¯s head. Another step. One of them got in close enough to bite her arm. She kicked it off, ignoring the pain that spread with the clearly acidic venom. Her flames would take care of it. She drove her weapon up and into its chest where its heart likely was, twisting and pulling out before pushing past. A bang rang out as one of the things was sent hurtling away by Harbinger¡¯s swing, her comrade leaving a path of crushed bodies behind her in her fury. Crusader only gave her friends cursory looks white focusing on the fight to keep track of their locations amidst the mass of bodies. BLF was in the process of literally biting one of their heads off, his body growing slightly in bulk as he consumed. His powerful arms growing larger, his swings stretching longer. One beast at a time, one swing at a time. Step. Step. Step. Step. Even as they frantically tried to get to her, they could only mindlessly slip and stumble on the ice and around the illusory pillars. Their momentum was broken by Snow¡¯s control of the field. Crusader felt her internal energy cycling faster, there weren''t any breaks in the combat here, no misdirections, no moments to lose what she¡¯d built. Pure battle. Her eyes glowed as she pushed all of her will into her form. Another down. Another. She threw off another bite, pummeled another skull, cut another chest open. She was focused, almost mindlessly so. She wasn¡¯t sure if it was her fury over their clear loss to Rivet or everything else, but she felt her instincts scream up to meet the challenge. Her mouth opened and she released a sonorous cry of an enormous bird of prey, gold flames streaking out in a stream and pouring into the wound she¡¯d made. The incinerated monster collapsed as another rushed forward to take its place. She saw more coming in from behind, and endless wave. Her lips parted in a roar as terror and concern were thrown aside for one thing and one thing alone. ¡°FIRST MARCH OF THE CRUSADER!¡± she bellowed, her next step causing the ground to shake slightly. Rivet had stopped her last time, but these things weren¡¯t smart enough to know. She grabbed her weapon with both hands and swung, an arc of golden flame leaping from her sword as a swing that would have normally wounded or killed with the right positioning cut one of the creatures in half. The flames spread from the point of impact, shrieks of pain and fury rising up in her ears. She took another step and bisected another from waist to crown, stepping through the body and swinging again. Again. Faster! Again. FASTER! She heard static. Someone¡¯s voice. KEEP GOING! She fumed, putting it aside. She was about to cleave through another when something wrapped around her leg. She jerked to a stop and looked down. One of the ones she¡¯d thought she¡¯d cut down had grabbed her. It yanked hard and she was pulled bodily into the air. Upside down. Her fury cleared for a moment and her eyes took in the mass of writhing bodies trying to surround her and her friends. There were already so many. Her heart leaped into her throat as she whipped her head towards the face of the creature holding her aloft. She snarled at it and moved to swing only for one of its yellowed legs to snap out to block it. ¡°Damn it!¡± ¡°On it, be safe,¡± Snow said and cut the connection. Crusader caught her breath and let out a heavy sigh, setting her shoulders again and looking towards the seemingly endless horde. It was like every single monster in the dungeon had been released at once which, she realized, was exactly what they were dealing with. ¡°You¡¯re illusionist is good, Snow, right?¡± Bandit said as he glanced her way. She nodded and he gave her an assessing look. ¡°I saw a good deal before I got close enough,¡± he said, ¡°Looks like that move of yours depends on taking steps. Something you get swept up in?.¡± She nodded. ¡°Why not take reverse steps and keep your momentum?¡± He asked quickly, turning to snap an arrow at an incoming creature. It dropped as the arrow punctured a hole in its head. She blinked at him and he gave her a hard look, ¡°You aren¡¯t a forward striker. That power of yours heals and supports your allies. You¡¯re a rock in a river. Don¡¯t move around so much. Now get your head in the game!¡± With that he started taking darting steps backwards to get some distance, he turned sharply and threw one hand out, a ribbon of black metal snapping out from his wrist that latched onto a distant roof. He launched towards his destination as she turned to look back at the horde and took a deep breath. ¡°Couldn¡¯t hurt to try,¡± she said and reached up to tap her comm, ¡°New formation. Get close to me and stay in range of my aura,¡± she said and raised her sword in front of her as more of them began to slip past Inky who was getting overwhelmed. He melted into a puddle and darted away, taking a few of them with him. She filled her lungs and let out a shout of challenge, ¡°COME AT ME!¡± she roared, gold flames washing out around her in a circular wave and setting the ground ablaze. A corpse of a monster flew past her face as Harbinger charged into the pool flames, chest heaving as her wound covered body began to slowly heal. BLF arrived next, his face soaked in blood and his weary eyes filling with vigor when he reached her. She smiled at the two of them before looking back at the monsters with a savage grin. ¡°Don¡¯t stop until it''s done, heroes.¡± ¨C The last of the human slash centipede centaur things dropped beneath Crusader¡¯s blade and she fell to a knee, the blazing pool around her stuttering and nearly going out. A big hand caught her arm and pulled her to her feet. She smiled up at Harbinger before looking out over the field of carnage. Hundreds of bodies lay strewn about, twisted and broken beneath the combined wrath of the heroes. Many peppered with Bandit¡¯s black arrows. BLF stepped over a pair of bodies and stopped next to her and raised an arm with a weary grin. She clapped her forearm against his. ¡°Good work guys.¡± ¡°Not bad at all,¡± Bandit said from behind them, walking forward with Snow in tow. He tilted his head, ¡°Still some refining to do but this was a far better test than a dungeon run.¡± Crusader barked out a tired laugh, ¡°I don¡¯t think the test is over.¡± His expression turned hard, ¡°That¡¯s right, I¡¯m afraid. Catch your breath while you can. Today you guys are going to prove without a doubt the kind of heroes you are.¡± ¨C Handmaiden stood atop the crumbled building, looking down from her vantage towards the crater that had formed from the initial blast. Her lips thinned into a line as she watched more of the nightmarish insect-things pour out of the broken portal that had been hidden underground. She shifted her gaze from the portal to the thing coiled around it. A massive centipede, easily wider than two school busses side by side. Two hundred, maybe three hundred feet long and its carapace decorated with corpses half submerged into the armored chitin leaving heads and limbs poking out at disturbing angles. She frowned as her gaze settled on the face of the creature. It wasn¡¯t a ¡®centaur¡¯ like the others. Instead, where an insects head should be within a sheath of chitinous armor, a large human head was visible. Massive. With its mouth opened in agony and despair. She knew that face. Her heart sank as mister Takehara¡¯s lifeless, agonized gaze turned to look in her direction. Chapter 196 Chapter 196 The wind whipped past Handmaiden as she stared down into the vacant eyes of the creature that most certainly had to be the boss of the dungeon break. Her gown whipped around her, the rustling of fabric the only sound amidst the eerie silence of the epicenter. She flexed the fingers in her gauntlet-clad hands and glanced up at the sky when the boss didn¡¯t move. Guarding the portal, no doubt, she thought as multicolored lightning flashed soundlessly in dark clouds. She reached up to tap her earpiece twice. ¡°Select contact: Sapporo.¡± There was a moment''s pause as the signal clicked over and a chime rang out. <¡°This is Sapporo, who is this? How do you have this channel?¡±>@@@@ ¡°Handmaiden, what is your status?¡± she asked. <¡±Understood. I am almost recovered. What is the situation?¡±> She set her jaw and took a deep breath. Describing the situation in any sufficient way was hopeless. Grief was hard to come by. Not out of heartlessness, but from the sheer volume of tragedy that had visited this place. The amount of death was staggering. To walk through a place like this even once would touch a person for the rest of their life. She looked down at her armored fingers as she mulled over how to respond. And yet you saw so many more. She clenched her fist and let out a weary sigh. ¡°Unspeakable,¡± she said, ¡°I have some bad news to put on top of it all, though. I¡¯m sorry,¡± she said, ¡°I figure you¡¯d rather hear it from me than someone else.¡± ¡°Say it,¡± he said after a chilly pause. ¡°The anchor monster has Takehara¡¯s face,¡± she said. Another pause, one that made her heart ache a little. She closed her eyes as he finally spoke again, ¡°I see. Thank you for telling me. Will you do me a favor, Miss Handmaiden?¡± ¡°Anything,¡± she said. ¡°I must protect the people, get them away from the affected area. It will take time for me to build up strength to participate,¡± he rumbled, his words hollow, ¡°Don¡¯t wait for me. End his suffering, please.¡± ¡°I will.¡± ¨C ¡°Snow!¡± Crusader shouted, throwing herself forwards across the fissure in the street ahead of her. Static filled the air that consolidated into a platform of light. Crusader landed on it and hopped forward, pushing herself towards the other side and landing. She spun as she slid to a stop, planting her feet and gripping her weapon with both hands. A dome of golden flame burst from her body, more controlled than before, more refined. She was starting to get the hang of it. She took a step back as the first of the yamukade-what Snow had started calling the undead centipede centaurs-leaped over the other side in a desperate scramble to get to her. She took deep breath in, gold flames rushing up her nostrils. Her veins glowed bright as the creature began to burn the moment it entered her space. Its skin sloughed off, its wild eyes popping as it reached for it in maddened pain. She swung and relieved it of its head as two more came. One step to the right, downward slash. One step forward, uppercut. Square step. Minimize movement. Let them wash towards me. My very presence is pain for them but they come anyway. Let it happen. A step to the left, another swing, back to the beginning. Momentum built. Power cycling in her core, her internal energy rising higher and higher. Far ahead of her, along the path she had come, the creatures hurtled into the air with their bodies smashed or crushed. A mountainous figure charged through them with her hammer swinging in wide strokes. Any time one of the creatures managed to pivot to lunge a black streak embedded itself in its head, putting it down. Two more tried to throw themselves over the fissure only for a pair of enormous arms coated in black scales to snap out from far below and drag them down with a terrible fleshy crunch. The third fell victim to yet another swing of her sword as the bulk of the horde finally arrived, pushed along by Harbinger and Bandit. ¡°Let¡¯s try it Snow! Picking up the pace!¡± she called. ¡°Hell yes!¡± Snow shouted back with delight. Crusader exhaled a small tuft of golden flame as the words crossed her lips. Light flickered around her body along with the sound of static. The next moment she stepped back and left an afterimage of herself behind, her eyes fixed on the sea of targets before her. Some being pulled down into the fissure below but not all. ¡°First March of the Crusader,¡± she said with an eerie calm and swung. Flames rushed out from her blade in a wave, cutting two of them in two. A step to the right, another afterimage, another swing. Hallucinations of her appeared with each step she took, each moving in different steady directions. The reach and arcs of her attacks making the source even more confusing. Crusader felt a chill run up her spine as she whirled towards the new voice. She looked up to the roof of a building only a few hundred feet away. I didn¡¯t sense them! Alphonse let out a screech of warning when two figures came into view on top of the building. One was a bulky man with a smiling, almost wholesome face. He wore a white jumpsuit armored with plates. His hair was black and combed over neatly. The other was a thin looking woman with a grave look on her face. She wore matching armor. She was twirling something between her fingers in both hands that Crusader could only make out when she paused. Crusader¡¯s heart stopped. Human bones. Crusader steadied herself stood with her sword at the ready, her eyes fixed on the two villains standing atop the building. She shot a glance towards BLF who had moved himself into a position to her left. Static filled her ears along with a quick affirmation that Bandit and Snow had already begun moving to new vantage points, leaving illusions of themselves behind in their wake. Harbinger stepped past her, the titan of a woman standing tall despite her bloody and world-weary state. ¡°Pence and Song,¡± she growled. The big man of the two turned his smiling face towards Harbinger and his eyes brightened. ¡°Oho! Young miss! Rivet said you were here! To think you and your group did such a number on him,¡± he said with a shake of his head. ¡°Quit pretending to be something that you aren¡¯t, Pence,¡± Harbinger snapped. Crusader watched her friends back tense, her hands tightening around her hammer as she pulled it closer to her chest. Pence put his hands on his hips, ¡°Wooow! You¡¯ve really grown a spine since the last time I saw you sniveling at your sister¡¯s feet!¡± he laughed and rubbed his nose, ¡°It¡¯s Sojurn by the way, and this is Dirge,¡± he said, gesturing to the grave looking woman sitting on the roof next to him. Sojourn and Dirge. Probably can get some hints from their codenames. Crusader thought as she took a half step to the right, her eyes fixed on the pair. She shot a look towards Harbinger. She wasn¡¯t sure if her friend was just angry or trying to dig for information. Either way, the longer this conversation went the better. She glanced at Alphonse who tensed on her shoulder, ready to take action as soon as he was needed. Harbinger took a hostile step forward, ¡°What is she really planning, Pence?¡± she put a hard snap on the last word, drawing an odd reaction from the black-haired man. He smiled even wider. ¡°I¡¯m going to enjoy breaking you, but not until we punish the rest of your group for what you did to Rivet,¡± he declared, ¡°The Doctor isn¡¯t happy about having to fix him up.¡± Crusader watched Harbinger¡¯s entire body go still. Her ally¡¯s hammer nearly dropped out of her hands, ¡°The Doctor is here?¡± Crusader squinted at her friend. Was that... relief? ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s here,¡± Sojourn said, delighted by her reaction, ¡°With the anchor monster. I wonder how your mythic friend is going to do?¡± Crusader took a step forward, ¡°I think you¡¯re underestimating Handmaiden,¡± she shouted and took up a stance next to Harbinger, she shot her friend a look as well as a comforting note of warmth through her ability, ¡°As well as the rest of us. Now who is this doctor and what did you mean earlier about us not having to worry about the monsters?¡± Harbinger straightened up a bit, meeting Crusader¡¯s gaze and smiled a little. ¡°They¡¯re both the same answer. The Doctor¡¯s ability lets her control and manipulate monsters. She¡¯s been sending them our way,¡± Harbinger said before flicking her eyes back towards the pair standing before them. ¡°They¡¯ve been trying to wear us down for this fight by throwing all the monsters at us in waves. Which means not many of them have gone out into the rest of the city.¡± ¡°You make it sound like we¡¯re worried about fighting you,¡± Sojourn laughed. Harbinger drew her hammer up and slammed the pole into the ground, adjusting her gauntlets. She popped her neck and grinned up at Sojourn, ¡°Are you? Have you been watching?¡± She asked before patting Crusader on the shoulder. ¡°I think you¡¯ll find we¡¯re fresher than you expected,¡± her expression went hard, ¡°And better equipped.¡± Crusader searched her friend''s face for a moment before it dawned on her. They were just blindly throwing the monsters at their group. Rivet had seen a bit of their abilities, but didn¡¯t know the full restorative nature of Crusader¡¯s power or the fact that Bandit had joined up with them. She shot a glance towards BLF. They didn¡¯t know about BLF¡¯s ability growing more functional and powerful as he gained mass. They were operating under the understanding that their team was a bunch of freshly minted heroes. Worse. They were far less bloodthirsty than Rivet. They wanted to talk. Sojourn seemed to pause as his face panned to take their group in again. Behind him, a dark shape began to billow out from within the shadow of a large air-conditioning unit. Crusader got into her stance, weapon up and at the ready. BLF shifted a bit further to the left while staying within the range of her golden ring. Harbinger took a few heavy steps to the right, her eyes fixed on Sojourn. His attention had panned to the two very still illusions standing behind Crusader and her group. She saw his eyes go wide. ¡°Dirge!¡± he shouted and threw himself off the side of the building just as Inky took form behind them with his hammer raised. The cartoonish familiar brought the hammer down with a lunatic cackle, striking the empty spot where both Dirge and Sojourn had been. Arrows came next, a stream of black needles that pelted the duo as they headed towards the ground. Dirge opened her mouth and held out her hands, the bones in her grip multiplying as a hollow groaning chord rang out from her chest. A sphere of yellow-white bone wrapped around the two, blocking the arrows just in time for them to hit the ground. ¡°GO!¡± Crusader shouted and charged forward, the ground at their feet turning into a sea of crystalline spikes. She walked right through it, unimpeded as Harbinger shot past her. Crusader opened up her ring of gold and a wave of fire and warmth washed over her companions before buffeting the bone that stood between them and their targets. Harbinger was at the sphere in an instant, her hammer coming down with titanic force. She cracked the bone shell like an egg, fragments scattering and burning up in the air as a blade of bone shot up to catch her in the jaw. Sojurn¡¯s mass darted out of the shell and charged straight towards Crusader. Every step caused him to accelerate as his armored body turned into a bullet. ¡°DIE!¡± Chapter 197 Chapter 197 Crusader slid to a stop and planted her sword in the ground, focusing all her energy on pushing her aura to its limits. Her skin gleamed as she became the rock in the river. The platform on which her friends could stand upon. Harbinger pulled away from Dirge¡¯s opening assault while Sojourn was pulled bodily towards a laughing BLF whose eyes had begun to glow with an amber light, his fangs bared. ¡°You done goofed!¡± BLF shouted with mirth as Sojourn let out a sudden gasp of pain, BLF¡¯s constrictive grasp already causing his bones to creak. The villain twisted his body with a snarl and slid out of BLF¡¯s grasp like he was made of rubber, ¡°You can¡¯t hold me!¡± he shouted only for an arrow to appear, embedded in his shoulder. He staggered backwards, letting out a shout of pain as he stepped on an illusory blade. ¡°Damn it Rivet, your intel was shit! Dirge! Do something!¡± he shrieked as BLF lunged at him again, fangs bared and arms whipping out like constrictors. Just past them, Harbinger had gotten some distance from the shell where Dirge was rising up, her hands raised as a sonorous drone rose from her throat. Bones began to pull themselves from the ground as if it were a swamp. The sound sent a chill down Crusader¡¯s spine, it... itched. A terrible feeling that began to claw at her mind. She felt her bones start to move under her own flesh. It was unlike any pain she¡¯d ever experienced before. She felt her entire body begin to move against her will as she dropped to her knees. BLF staggered right into a punch from Sojourn. Harbinger nearly lost her grip on her weapon as she swung at the first of the skeletons that rose, crushing one and overextending. The other skeletons lunging at her with needle-pointed fingers extended. Shit, what the- The droning stopped. The pain stopped. Crusader gasped as she felt her bones settle inside her body. She could feel her own ligaments having torn beneath the strain, her powers already moving to heal the injury. She forced her jaw up to see that the spikes had vanished from the ground and Dirge holding her head in a silent wail of agony. She was staggering left and right, shaking her head as blood dripped from her nose and ears. Crusader grinned and turned towards Sojourn who had gotten to his feet. He looked to Dirge and then to BLF who was already getting back up, gold fire gleaming on his chest and along his arms and legs. Sojourn turned to Crusader with an accusatory glare. ¡°You.¡± She smiled at him, ¡°Me and someone pretty freaking amazing,¡± she said. ¡°How?¡± He demanded, pulling the arrow from his shoulder with a snarl. ¡°You weren¡¯t this strong when you fought Rivet.¡± ¡°You gave us great training materials to work with, brush up some techniques and get our teamwork solid,¡± Crusader said with a shrug, ¡°Really helped us out.¡± His lips thinned into a line before he sighed, ¡°Fine, I guess you¡¯ve earned it,¡± he cracked a grin, a copper glow beginning to rise beneath his skin, ¡°Strength from-¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do that!¡± Harbinger bellowed from the side. Crusader glanced in her friends direction and saw her holding her hammer out in warning towards Sojourn who shot her an icy glare. She smiled darkly at him, ¡°Unless you want people to know who was actually involved in this. Seems like you have put a lot of effort into creating a different story, if you mess that up, won¡¯t Stella be mad?¡± He whirled at her, ¡°Her name is LIBERTY!¡± He bellowed, the copper glow vanishing from his body despite his fury. ¡°You made a bad move this time, Sojourn, Sir Pence,¡± Crusader said behind him, raising her weapon to point at his back. He glanced over his shoulder at her. She met his gaze with her own, ¡°Under the authority of the Pandora Committee I am placing you and your compatriot under arrest for crimes related to this disaster.¡±@@@@ ¡°Like hell,¡± he snapped, taking a few steps to the left, ¡°I¡¯m not missing the war.¡± ¡°BLF!¡± Crusader shouted. A pair of massive arms launched in Sojourn¡¯s direction only for the man to go rocketing backwards as if he had been hit by a truck, a smile on his face. He came to an abrupt stop in the shell where a now unconscious Dirge lay. He scooped her up as a shadow came down from overhead, the massive form of Inky landing with its hammer already raised to smash the pair. Crusader pulled her sword from the ground and darted forward with BLF as Harbinger charged in. Sojourn launched up into the air, his body moving backwards despite defying all physics. He landed where he had been when they were talking before on the roof and barked out a laugh. ¡°Still got the anchor monster to worry about, heroes! I wouldn¡¯t spend too much time chasing us! Things are about to get wild!¡± With that, he was pulled once again through the air, traveling backwards like a toy on a string. Crusader slid to a stop, her weapon lowered. She cursed, ¡°What the hell kind of power is that?¡± Harbinger slammed her own weapon to the ground, ¡°I knew it was some kind of travel power, but I wasn¡¯t sure. He moved along the same path he made going forward like a time reversal but contained to him and what he was carrying.¡± BLF spat, ¡°Slippery bastard, I couldn¡¯t hold him either. It was like impairing his movement was impossible.¡± Static filled the air, ¡°He stepped on one of my spikes. Illusions work on him,¡± Snow said. Crusader crossed her arms and gave it some thought, ¡°Some kind of ability that is influenced by the path he¡¯s traveling or has traveled,¡± she muttered, ¡°I think Dirge is the bigger problem. You said her real name was Song?¡± ¡°Ana Song, Dame Song,¡± Harbinger said with a nod, ¡°Last I saw her she had the ability to create bone spikes. The armor and skeletons are new.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Crusader grunted, ¡°Who did this? Did backup arrive?¡± Bandit shook his head, ¡°The JSDF and Sapporo have been maintaining a perimiter around the break zone. The military doesn¡¯t have the equipment to push further in and Sapporo isn¡¯t done making sure civilians are at a safe distance. I haven¡¯t gotten any word about heroes leaving the dungeons to help either. It¡¯s just us in here.¡± Crusader crossed her arms and glanced at Snow who shrugged. ¡°Incoming,¡± BLF hissed and quickly dropped into a fighting stance. Crusader drew her own weapon and readied it just as one of the creatures stumbled out through an alley, its head thrown back in a silent wail of pain as something white clung to its throat. It writhed once in the middle of the street before collapsing to the ground very still. They all watched as the shape leaped off the downed monster before sitting in the middle of the killing field as if surveying its handiwork. ¡°Is that... a hound?¡± Bandit said, squinting at the shape that was now sniffing the air. Crusader squinted as well, examining its shape. It looked almost indistinguishable from a normal hound save for its all-white look. It had the body of a large dog, like a greyhound, but many times bigger. Its head was long with a snout that tapered to a point. Long pointed ears rose up straight from the top of its head like antennae. Its long thin tail whipped about behind it as it turned to face them where it sat. Alphonse flapped his wings and let out a screech in greeting. Crusader glanced at her familiar. She hazarded a guess with a smirk and raised her voice, ¡°Levi? Is that you?¡± she shouted. Bandit turned to her, ¡°Sonya¡¯s familiar?¡± Ahead of them, the hound straightened up a bit more, focusing intently on Crusader before kicking off the ground and bounding in her direction. The others tensed for only a heartbeat before it slid to a stop and sat down again, looking up into her eyes with a patient expression. She smiled at it and crouched down, ¡°Hey Levi, so this is what you look like without your glamor, huh? Very handsome,¡± she said and reached a hand out to the familiar. It sniffed once and tilted its head up as if to say ¡®well, obviously¡¯ before turning away to approach the nearest body on the ground. ¡°What¡¯s it doing?¡± Harbinger asked, ¡°I thought it went with Handmaiden.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think it would have been much help against the boss,¡± BLF said before turning to Bandit, ¡°You know more about familiars than the rest of us. Any ideas?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got one,¡± Bandit said with a frown, ¡°Depends on if its a familiar like Inky or one like Alphonse...¡± he trailed off as Levi stopped next to the felled monster and opened his mouth, rows of razor sharp teeth inside gleamed before an eerie light bloomed from within the hounds throat. Then the corpse began to glow a pale white light and burst into particles that were pulled inside Levi¡¯s mouth like a vacuum. In a matter of seconds, the corpse was gone. ¡°That answers that,¡± Bandit said with a grunt and crossed his arms. ¡°Woah, woah, what the hell was that?¡± BLF shouted as Crusader stared in stunned silence at the spot where the body had been, Levi was already walking over to another corpse to repeat the process. ¡°True monsters consume to get stronger,¡± Bandit said with a shrug, ¡°Inky has eaten more than his fare share of monsters in our time together. It''s why he¡¯s so strong now. I¡¯ve had a theory that Inky was a mini-boss for a dungeon, but even then it was an Uncommon dungeon. It took a while for him to get strong enough to do what he does now. That took consuming monsters,¡± he said and the others turned to him, his expression went grave, ¡°Yeah, all monsters can grow like this. We usually don¡¯t let them stick around that long, though.¡± Another corpse exploded into motes of white light as Levi feasted. ¡°You haven¡¯t been letting Inky feed,¡± Crusader pointed out after a moment. He smirked at her, ¡°Haven¡¯t I?¡± he said with a chuckle, ¡°He¡¯s quick about it, not as dramatic as this guy. He also doesn¡¯t eat everything anymore. The materials from monster corpses are valuable after all.¡± ¡°Still,¡± Snow cut in, ¡°I wonder why Levi waited before eating, this is a huge mess.¡± ¡°For us,¡± Crusader said, ¡°It takes him a few seconds to eat it looks like. He¡¯s been piling up a feast until we showed up so we can watch his back.¡± BLF burst into laughter, ¡°That sounds like something a familiar bound to Sonya would do!¡± Another thunderous flash rang out from the direction of the fight against the boss, white light reflecting against the clouds. Then a new sound followed it. A rising mechanical shriek. Crusader whipped her head up and looked to the source only to see three metal shapes streak across the sky. Fighter jets. She felt a tightness in her chest ease, ¡°Looks like they¡¯ve secured the perimeter,¡± she said with relief. Next to her, Bandit had his finger pressed against his ear and was nodding away. They all watched him patiently for a moment before he lowered his hand and sat down on the ground with a weary sigh. ¡°Mana levels have dropped in the dungeons and in the area, enough that the international team has been sent in to take over for the Guilds in the dungeons. They¡¯re gonna recover and come back out. Three international heroes are going to take point with the JSDF to begin making headway into the ward and mop up with new munitions sent by ASTA,¡± he grinned, ¡°Love it when heroes come together.¡± ¡°What about Sapporo?¡± Harbinger asked. As if to answer her question, a jolly laugh echoed over the entire ward like a thunderclap. It was unlike anything Crusader had ever heard before. There was a presence behind it, mighty and somewhere between mad and courageous. She felt her shoulders relax, her heart ease. That laugh was like a signal that said the tragedy was almost over. Bandit smiled and got to his feet, ¡°Sounds like he¡¯s almost ready. You wanna go watch?¡± Chapter 198 Chapter 198 Handmaiden hurtled backwards through the air, colliding with one building after another. Masonry fell around her as she struck a steel beam, denting it before sliding off in a bloody heap. She felt her spine snap back into place as she struggled to her knees, her limbs snapping and cracking as her regeneration immediately set to work. She rose to her feet and swayed a little, her vision blurring before becoming clear again. She looked down at her right hand, examining the armor on the gauntlet. It was cracked in several places. She frowned and spat a gobbet of blood and a tooth onto the ground that had already regenerated. She stared at the pearly white bit for a moment, snorting out a laugh, ¡°Would give the tooth fairy nightmares,¡± she muttered as she walked towards the hole she¡¯d left in the wall, wiping her lip with her glove. ¡°Now where was I?¡± She stared through the dozens of holes that she¡¯d been hurled through and spotted the agonized face and blank eyes of a man staring back at her. She rolled her shoulders, the new joints popping and bounced on the balls of her feet. It¡¯s strong. Too strong for its tier. A Rare boss shouldn¡¯t be this powerful, Heroic Strength isn¡¯t doing much to it. The only reason I¡¯ve lasted this long is Baldur¡¯s Body. She sighed, Should have taken Sonya up on her offer the other day. Could really use the extra hitting power. ¡°Oh well,¡± she grunted and lowered her stance, the muscles in her legs coiling like springs. That white light around her body began to brighten again, nearly forming a halo around her. Her feet dug into the concrete beneath her and she was gone, a white comet streaking through the holes she¡¯d left behind and straight towards the titanic anchor monster. ¨C Dame Ito crossed her legs as she lounged on the couch inside the bunker, her hands in her lap. She watched the screen with interest as Handmaiden emerged from yet another deathblow unscathed. She raised a hand to reach for the woman through the screen, twisting her fingers in the air. ¡°She¡¯s magnificent, isn¡¯t she?¡± Ito said breathlessly, ¡°Nigh immortal. The experiments I could perform on her, the tests, and she¡¯d just bounce right back. I could make so much progress...¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think Liberty would be happy to hear you say that,¡± a mocking voice came from the other side of the small metal room. A perfect box, it had been constructed entirely out of post-pandora materials over a meter thick in order to withstand the blast of a dungeon break. It amused her that part of it was now sticking out of the ground within the crater, the blast had been so intense. But that was it¡¯s purpose after all. What didn¡¯t amuse her was the man who lay on a cot nearby, nursing his injuries. She turned and scowled at him, ¡°Shut up, Rivet.¡± Sir Conway, Rivet, sat up slightly on his cot, one arm wrapped around his bandaged torso. He sneered at her, ¡°What? Can¡¯t take a joke? Everybody¡¯s so grouchy these days.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear anything from a witless incompetent that couldn¡¯t handle a few students. if they were truly that strong you should have picked up on it sooner and retreated, like Dame Song and Sir Pence,¡± she snapped and turned back to the screen, satisfied with her rebuke. Conway wasn¡¯t done, ¡°Please, they just chickened out. Pence barely uses his ability he¡¯s so damn cocky and Song-¡± She was standing over him in an instant, glowering down at him before grabbing his face and shoving it down until he was laying on his back. Her nose wrinkled in disgust as she leaned down to look into his eyes, wide with surprise. ¡°I told you to shut up,¡± she growled, ¡°Say another word and I will dissect you, imbecile. You may still be human but your body is magical enough that my powers should work just fine on it,¡± she hissed, ¡°I will twist you into something no one will recognize and leave you to starve without legs or a mouth, do we understand one another?¡± He stared up at her with growing horror, his skin going pale beneath her grip. He nodded quickly and she pulled her hand away with a cruel smile, ¡°Good.¡± Her phone rang and she turned away from him, raising it to her ear, ¡°This is Doctor Kaidan,¡± she said, walking back to her spot on the couch, black hair fluttering behind her. ¡°Ito,¡± Liberty¡¯s voice came through. Ito went still, ¡°My lady.¡± ¡°You did well, mission accomplished. This is our victory in Japan, the International heroes have arrived including many from the United States and Canada. Halloway is in position. You may continue to delay them if you wish, but I doubt it will make much of a difference. I will personally deal with the mythic guarding the Seattle dungeon,¡± she paused, ¡°As for your misinformation campaign. The footage you recorded is being distributed. Ishtar will be blamed. I am pleased.¡± Not pleased enough to make me your second over Phillip, Ito thought bitterly, It should be me standing next to you, not him. I am the Mythic while he is nothing more than a powerful Heroic. Why do you lean on him so? She pushed the thoughts aside, ¡°I am overjoyed, my lady,¡± she said with a forced smile, ¡°I do have some unfortunate news to report. A complication.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Your sister is here¡± she said, ¡°Apparently Chernovna is as well. She brought a few of the newly minted heroes on a trip to Japan.¡± There was a long pause over the call, ¡°Did she see one of you?¡± ¡°All but me, I¡¯m afraid, and because of Pence¡¯s big mouth, she knows I¡¯m here as well,¡± Ito said cooly before shooting a glare at the still shellshocked Conway, ¡°She and her team injured Conway. I¡¯m treating him. They also drove off Pence and Song,¡± she explained as she sat down and looked up at the screen again, ¡°Handmaiden is fighting my modified boss as we speak. She can¡¯t do enough damage to break through its defenses though.¡± ¡°A complication indeed,¡± Liberty said after several heartbeats, ¡°It''s fine. The majority of the populace will continue to think of her as going against her supposed ideals, breaking the illusion. Even if the Committee releases the truth, it means very little to most,¡± she said, ¡°Signal Halloway when you¡¯re ready to withdraw. I have a Guildmaster to kill.¡± ¨C Brigid stepped out of the small room with a towel over her shoulder, her red hair tumbling down her back. The narrow white streaks running through it gave it the look of a candy cane. She hummed to herself as she stopped in front of the mirror, looking herself over as she flexed her arms. The multicolored tattoos running up her arms and onto her shoulders and chest glimmered faintly with a light that people from the north would find familiar. She traced a finger along one of the curling loops before letting out a sigh, her fingers digging into her skin as the notification of the dungeon break in Tokyo popped back into her head. Why. Won¡¯t. You. Stay. Down?! GROOUUUUUAHHHHH! The beast howled again before throwing its entire body back towards one of the nearest buildings. She glanced over her shoulder and ripped her hand out of it¡¯s carapace, kicking off and landing on the ground just before it collided with the structure. She huffed out a breath and wiped her lip, ¡°Starting to run low on stamina,¡± she muttered. The anchor beast writhed for a moment, struggling to right itself as its hundreds of massive legs wriggled and twitched. She eyed its underbelly but stopped herself. A trap. She thought and instead prepared to launch herself at it as soon as it pulled free. Just as she did, a chime rang in her ear. <¡±Handmaiden! It¡¯s Crusader!¡±> Handmaiden paused and reached to tap her ear, taking a few quick steps back and getting some more distance, ¡°Crusader? What¡¯s your status?¡± <¡°We¡¯re here. We¡¯ve cleared out most of the monsters, the JSDF is moving and things are getting under control at the dungeons. This wasn¡¯t an accident, Liberty¡¯s people are here pretending to be Ishtar¡¯s people for some reason,¡±> Crusader said quickly. Handmaiden spun, looking around before spotting the small gathering of shapes on a building distant from her fighting area. She felt her guts go cold even as rage bubbled in her chest. Someone did this on purpose? Why? She looked around at the nightmare around her. Horrible. Does Sonya know? This is bad. If Ishtar gets blamed after everything she¡¯s said publicly- she bit her lip. I can¡¯t ask probing questions. Damn. ¡°Good work. What¡¯s Sapporo¡¯s status? I felt him earlier but-¡± ¡°WA HA HA HA HA!¡± BOOM! A golden streak arched through the sky over her head in response before crashing into the anchor boss with a thunderclap of force. A golden, shirtless man standing on its underbelly with his fists raised over his head. Her face went deadpan, ¡°Nevermind,¡± she muttered as the gleaming guardian of Japan drove both fists down with wild abandon, crushing armored chitin and sending waves of golden light through the cracks that sent the beast into a frenzy. It thrashed and Sapporo leaped off the creature to land next to her. He was a behemoth in this form, tall and mighty with a smile plastered on his rugged face. ¡°Sapporo,¡± she greeted him. He turned his golden eyes on her and pat his belly with a jolly laugh, ¡°I owe you one for keeping this thing contained until I got here, Handmaiden!¡± he laughed, ¡°Drinks are on me later!¡± he tilted his head, ¡°Though I am a little surprised that you haven¡¯t slain it yet.¡± She gave him a wry smile, ¡°Good to see you too,¡± she said and popped her knuckles, ¡°I¡¯ll explain-¡± <¡±Before you start!¡±> Crusader shouted, <¡±There¡¯s something you should know! We faced three of Liberty¡¯s people, but there¡¯s a fourth called the Doctor. Harbinger says last she knew they had an ability that could temporarily dominate monsters. She says the other¡¯s abilities have evolved since she last met them.¡±> Handmaiden hesitated and reached up to tap her ear, ¡°Is she sure?¡± <¡±Yes ma¡¯am.¡±> Handmaiden cursed, That¡¯s how the boss is so strong! Some sort of monster modification function or something. I¡¯ve been fighting a losing battle. Handmaiden swept her eyes over the ruins around her before turning to Sapporo, ¡°There¡¯s a monster manipulator here. I¡¯ll track them down. Can you finish that thing off?¡± He turned to her for a moment before looking back at the boss, his jolly expression faltering as it righted itself and the agonized face of his handler turning to look on him. He let out a breath, ¡°Leave it to me.¡± The two nodded at one another and darted off in separate directions. He let out a whoop of laughter as he charged the beast while Handmaiden leaped into the air, quickly scanning the surrounding area as she started to come back down. Where? They should be close if they¡¯re using their ability to heal it. Where are you? She searched the exterior of the ring first. It had to be a building with a relatively good vantage, but the structures both whole and tall enough were too far away. She looked back at the portal as she neared the ground and squinted. The hell is that? It looked like a box sticking partially out of the ground, while everything else around it was blasted or melted, it was still in one piece. Her lips formed a line. Found you! As the ground began to tremble beneath Sapporo¡¯s onslaught, she crossed the distance between her and the huge metal box in a matter of seconds, sliding to a stop and finding a door on one side. She snapped her hand out and grabbed the circular metal handle set in the center, not bothering with pleasantries as she ripped the door off its hinges and tossed it aside. Red lightning flashed and she blinked, squinting before she made out the shapes of two people standing in front of a very familiar rip in reality. Rift! There, standing in front of the portal was a wiry man with metal claws for fingers slung over the shoulder of an asian woman in a white lab coat and black hair. She had a thin nose and cold eyes with pupils just a little too small to belong to someone entirely sane. The woman looked over her shoulder at Handmaiden and gave her an almost longing smile. ¡°Maybe next time, Handmaiden,¡± she said with resignation. They¡¯re just going to leave? After everything they¡¯ve done? Like hell! Handmaiden roared and launched herself forward, fist raised and collided with the rear wall of the bunker. The portal was gone. She pulled herself free of the metal wall and spun. They were gone. She caught her breath just long enough to let out a roar of frustration. ¡°DAMN IT!¡± Chapter 199 Chapter 199 The field of smooth snow had turned into a killing ground. Ice spikes jutted about everywhere, massive humanoid shaped sculptures of ice lay in pieces here and there, trees were uprooted, some burning with an eerie blue-white flame. A portion of the space had been crushed by what appeared to be a glacier that had been pulled from the very ground itself, dirt and debris tossed about. Phillip lay against one of the pillars of ice as he caught his breath, putting pressure on a wound. His eyes flicked to a frazzled Kant, who watched from afar as two figures clashed. Liberty was actually breathing a little hard, though any injuries were superficial. The red-haired guildmaster, Evergreen, was bleeding from her arms and face. One of her hands looked to have been reattached with a sheath of ice. She pulled back from another swing from Liberty and whipped out her hand, a razor thin wave of ice flying out just as a fresh pillar shot up beneath Liberty¡¯s arm to throw off her block. Liberty took the hit with a roar, crushing the pillar with her elbow as she brought her weapon to bare and shattered the ice blade. Evergreen landed and threw out her hands, the light on her arms growing bright. Something in Phillip''s gut twisted, ¡°Liberty!¡± he shouted, ¡°Don¡¯t take that one!¡± Liberty let out a snarl and threw herself to the right as a multicolored beam of aurora erupted from Evergreens palms. The air itself froze in its wake, light sucked out of it, the trees it struck withered and froze over, curled into pale mockeries of what they once were. Liberty darted low and swung upwards as Evergreen recovered from using such a clearly taxing attack. The Guildmaster blocked, but only barely, and was sent crashing through the wall of the dome she was protecting. ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± he said and glanced at Kant, ¡°Help me up, I¡¯ll call the faithful to bring the crystals.¡¯ Kant pulled him to his feet with a glower on her face, ¡°She was stronger than Halloway said.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Phillip grunted and pulled out his phone. ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter? Ellis is dead!¡± Kant bellowed. He ignored her and marched past, following Liberty into the dome. There, he found Liberty standing a few meters away from the Guildmaster who had come to a stop in front of the portal. Evergreen was a bloody mess, but still stood defiant, her cold stare unflinching. He dialed out and the men they¡¯d brought to transport the mana crystals answered. ¡°Get moving, we¡¯ve secured the dungeon portal.¡± Evergreen sneered at him before looking back at Liberty who pointed her sword at the Guildmaster. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you quick,¡± Liberty said breathlessly. Evergreen raised an eyebrow and planted her feet, ice rose behind her before completely encapsulating the dungeon portal. Phillip stiffened, but Liberty did nothing, just watching unbothered as the woman used her last gambit. Evergreen reached down to her severed hand and fiddled with it for a moment before raising it up, making a rude gesture with all the pride she could muster in her state. ¡°How about no?¡± she said and stepped back into the ice, moving through it like it was fluid before vanishing into the portal. Liberty lowered her sword before turning her eyes on Phillip. ¡°Get rid of that ice. Today, the northwest becomes a wasteland.¡± ¨C Crusader and the others stood atop the ruined building as flashes of white and gold lit up the sky. It was a surreal experience, bearing witness to two mythics doing battle with a monster taller than many of the buildings there. The enormous centipede let out another mournful, croaking howl that stung her ears just as a laughing Sapporo landed on its head, one fist clenched in the other as he drove them down into the skull of the human face set where its mandibles and eyes should be. The impact followed by a thunderclap. Down below, Handmaiden struck its legs, ripping one off and using it as a spear to pierce its thick hide. The creature shrieked, thrashing about in rising agony. She gripped the handle of her sword tighter, her jaw set, her eyes fixed on the battle. She felt like an insect in the world of humans, hopelessly small in the face of the onslaught of power on display. She flicked her eyes down to her feet just as Bandit stepped up to stand next to her. ¡°Reminds me of Vegas,¡± he said with a heavy sigh and crossed his arms, standing up straighter as he watched the war escalate. She glanced at him; Inky had taken a smaller form. A cute little round-headed cartoon character sat on his shoulder. For all its usual madness and snickering, its expression was remarkably stoic as it watched alongside its partner. She instinctively reached up to her shoulder and ran a finger down Alphonse¡¯s side before looking towards the battle again.@@@@ ¡°Should we go? We¡¯re no help here,¡± she said. He shook his head, ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°We stay and watch.¡± She turned to look at him and she could feel her friends do the same. They all were silent for a moment before BLF spoke up, ¡°What? Why?¡± ¡°Something else you probably didn¡¯t learn in the camp, it¡¯s not curriculum, just tradition,¡± he said and jerked his chin towards the fight, his deep set eyes unblinking as the lights flashed in them, ¡°Something I learned from Sonya.¡± Crusader looked back at the others who shrugged at one another. Snow moving up to stand closer, her hand on Crusaders arm. Bandit remained silent for a moment before speaking again. ¡°We are witnesses. Whether the fight against the boss is inside the dungeon or outside it. You stand, you watch, and you bear witness to their struggle,¡± he said, ¡°Even if it''s a pair of mythics versus a modified rare. When the pylons react to the anchor beast under attack, you get on your feet and you show them the respect they deserve. Hero, scout, support staff. Everyone stands to watch,¡± he said reverently, his jaw set tight as he crossed his arms. Something took shape at the heart of the spot where the portal was and fell to the ground. A gentle presence rippling off of it before fading as well. It was motherly, kind, and very very sad. Pandora. Sonya said she is hiding in the ending rooms of each dungeon. That was her presence. She reached up to touch her chest, It makes your heart ache. Next to her, Sapporo swallowed and cleared his throat. ¡°I will tell you, I have not cleared a dungeon before,¡± he said. She turned to him, ¡°What?¡± He stoically stared at the object in the distance, ¡°My powers are unsuited for a place without people. I can charge myself up before going in, but cut off from the people it will only last so long,¡± he said and shook his head, ¡°I am meant to defend, not attack,¡± he looked down at his hands, ¡°Despite slaying the beast, this feels like a failure,¡± he let his shoulders sag before turning to her and nodding, ¡°I leave the dungeon reward to you. I... do not need it,¡± he said and turned away. She whirled on him, ¡°Sapporo!¡± she barked, ¡°You could-¡± ¡°No,¡± he shook his head, ¡°It is not for me to take,¡± he said and walked away. She closed her eyes and clenched her fists. Liberty, you have a lot to answer for, she snarled inwardly before turning back. She hopped from where she stood and landed next to the epicenter of the blast. There, on the ground, was a small box of stone. It was gilded and smooth. She squinted at it. I¡¯ve seen this before. A memory. She knelt down and ran her fingers along its marble-like surface. There were words engraved in a language she didn¡¯t know, a single sentence that for some reason made her heart ache. She tried to pick up the box, but it didn¡¯t move. She strained for a moment before letting out a sigh and shaking her head. She opened it instead, and the box glowed before turning into light. The light changed shape; it changed and shifted until it took the form of two objects. The first was a bolt of black silken cloth that glimmered despite the fading sunlight. The other was several plates of an eerie blood-red metal. The centipede¡¯s chiton, she realised as she pulled them out. She smiled, Amos is gonna love this. ¨C Sonya was standing with Setsuna in the hall outside the cult leader¡¯s room when a chime rang out in her head. Shuta shifted a bit when he saw her react and she held up a hand to calm him down. He was on edge since returning from corralling their people. She rubbed her wrist irritably and nodded to Setsuna before she answered the call. ¡°Go ahead,¡± she said. <¡°It¡¯s Amos,¡±> Amos came through, breathless, <¡°We have problems, big problems.¡±> Her eye twitched, ¡°What? Is everything okay with the dungeon break? How are the kids?¡± she asked, her chest tightening, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± <¡±Dungeon break is fine, Sapporo and Handmaiden just wrapped up. The boss is dead, and the portal is closed,"> he said hurriedly, <¡±That isn¡¯t important.¡±> Seems pretty important to- <¡±The internet just got flooded with reports that Ishtar is responsible for the Dungeon Break and that her associates were there holding off the heroes to allow the situation to escalate, even if they ultimately failed,¡±> he said quickly. Her eyes went wide, ¡°What?!¡± she shouted and turned to march back into the hall behind them, away from the crowd, ¡°How? Who?¡± she blinked as she felt a suspicion from earlier come roaring back into her mind. That rage roared back like a hungry behemoth and she slammed her fist into the nearest wall, denting it. ¡°Liberty.¡± <¡±That¡¯s my bet, probably got something to do with the other, way bigger problem,¡±> he said quickly before continuing, not letting her ask any more questions, <¡±Evergreen kicked off the emergency alarm back at the Seattle dungeon. There was a huge flare up of mana around it before her tracker disappeared at the portal coordinates.¡±> Sonya felt her entire body go numb. She sagged as Setsuna and Shuta hurried to her side. She rested her head against the wall. ¡°Chunhua is in there,¡± she said, ¡°That dungeon is Epic,¡± she added, ¡°There have to be dozens of dungeons in range of the blast radius, and hundreds more branching out from them if they burst,¡± she breathed, her heart racing, panic rising in her throat. We¡¯ve been played. The heroes are still working to stabilize things here in Japan. There are other internationals but... if it''s Liberty. She has Halloway, Ishtar said as Sonya felt her strength leave her, her mind racing. That woman is trying to set off the apocalypse early and lay it all at our feet. Sonya held her head, I won¡¯t let that happen. I can¡¯t let that happen. Think, Sonya! Think! Chapter 200 Chapter 200 To say the situation was bad would be a historic understatement. Sonya tried to pull herself to her feet, but she just felt... helpless. How could she not have anticipated an attack on the Seattle dungeon? No. There was no precedence for this in the previous timeline. Artificially instigating a dungeon break, let alone two in a single day? Madness. Things were hard enough back then without people experimenting with dungeons. Did I cause this by stopping the New York blast and stabilizing hero culture early? She chewed her lip, her mind reeling, her eyes ticking over as she searched for solutions. Her wrist hurt so bad, it was distracting. I want to rip my damn hand off right now! You couldn¡¯t have known, calm down and think, Ishtar tried to soothe her. Chunhua is in there! Sonya barked back, You don¡¯t understand! Sonya! How would I not- I need to do something! Ishtar sighed, Panicking is not going to help matters, Ishtar pointed out as Setsuna and Shuta reached her side. She sat there on the ground in that hallway, her head rested against the wall as she tried to think. Sensible thought pushed away by the fear of losing someone she loved all over again. Terror at the idea of a dungeon break cascade with so few heroes nearby to put a stop to it. This wasn¡¯t like Tokyo with guilds nearby ready to react. Blood dripped from her lip. ¡°Lady Ishtar?¡± Shuta called out, ¡°What has happened?¡± She closed her eyes, her shoulders shaking. It felt like her head was going to explode, ¡°The people who caused the Tokyo break are attacking an epic dungeon near Seattle,¡± she said hoarsely. Setsuna frowned next to her, ¡°See this, I did not.¡± Sonya snorted, ¡°No power is perfect,¡± she said coolly before focusing on the call with Amos, ¡°Amos are you still there?¡± <¡°I am, are you okay?¡±> he asked. ¡°What do you think?¡± she asked with an angry laugh, ¡°Of course I¡¯m not. Have you told the Pandora Committee?¡± <¡°I alerted them before contacting you,¡±> he said before hesitating, <¡±Euclidia is having trouble opening a portal anywhere near the dungeon.¡±> She clenched her jaw, ¡°Halloway. I¡¯ll turn him to ash when I get the chance,¡± she snarled and tried again to get to her feet, leaning against the wall. The fright gave way to anger. A false strength, she knew, but it gave her enough will to move again. She turned and leaned against the wall, running her fingers through her hair. She had to figure out a counter, had to stop this, somehow. She had preparations set up for a final battle with Liberty but, not yet. She needed more time, she had to figure out Liberty¡¯s weakness. There was a trick to her power, she knew it, not just the people. There was more there. ¡°Fuck,¡± she swore, ¡°What do I do?¡± <¡±The Seattle guild?¡±> Amos offered. ¡°That¡¯d be suicide, they¡¯d all die against Liberty. Evergreen had to retreat,¡± she said and started to pace, Setsuna and Shuta watching her as she thought. No, the Seattle guild won¡¯t be able to respond. The bulk of the international team is here in Japan and Halloway is blocking them anyway. Her lip twitched as her mind distracted her, Is First Wind here? Is Qilin? She wrinkled her nose in disgust, Could I leverage Qilin''s connection to Ishtar? No, that bond isn¡¯t deep enough yet. I locked her fortune power away as well, what good is she in this situation? The army I had Kingshark build isn¡¯t fully formed and they¡¯d be positioned to attack elsewhere. They won¡¯t do any good here, she paced, frantic. Think! Think, Sonya, Think! She clicked her tongue, Can I leave myself? Go over there and deal with the problem? I could portal in and move fast. She scowled, No. I can throw around a lot of power but I produce a lot of mana too. I¡¯d just make things worse if I didn¡¯t get inside fast enough. I¡¯d need a mythic with a lot of efficiency, but who could I send? She rubbed her face, I also made a deal with Cass, I can¡¯t- she shuddered, the compulsion from Broker rising up in her throat as nausea at the idea of breaking her deal about a final confrontation between sisters. But I need to- she squeezed her eyes shut as the compulsion filled her revulsion again. For the first time since her regression, she resented her new ability. There has to be something, a card I can play. There is one card, a high-efficiency mythic at your disposal. Ishtar pointed out, Your long term contingency. Sonya froze before her lips pressed together in a thin line. That was for Otis, she growled, or for when the heroes needed a wake-up call. If I play it now... Sonya, do you have a choice? Ishtar asked. I can¡¯t use that card more than once! Sonya railed, One and done. That¡¯s it! The consequences of doing that, for innocent people. It¡¯s the nuclear option! Even if it''s successful, and that¡¯s a big if because of the logistics- she shook her head. It¡¯s like admitting defeat. I might stop Liberty but she¡¯ll have taken one of my teeth! My biggest- I won¡¯t make the choice for you, Ishtar said, But as a villain... Ishtar trailed off. Sonya let out an agonized groan as she ran her fingers through her hair again and rested her face against the cold metal wall. She didn¡¯t care that she¡¯d lost her composure in front of people who had built a cult around her. It didn¡¯t matter. What she was considering doing was not an easy choice. She fumed, raged, thrashed against the idea. If I do this, there¡¯s no going back, she thought. If I cross this line it feels like... You won¡¯t be the hero you were anymore, Ishtar concluded for her, You¡¯ve done villainous things before, put on a good show. This will be on a whole other level, though, Ishtar trailed off for a moment before speaking, I fail to see the problem. This is what you wanted. To be the enemy of the world. It¡¯s just another part of being who we are. But- It¡¯s time to choose, Sonya! Ishtar bellowed in the back of her mind, Are you Farsight or are you Ishtar? Are you a hero or are you a villain? Are you going to do whatever it takes to save the world and damn the consequences? Are you that person you swore you would be when you were sent back in time? What does that promise to Pandora mean to you? ¡°RAAAAH!¡± Sonya bellowed and slammed her fist into the wall, caving it in entirely. Setsuna and Shuta jumped back in surprise as she ripped her bloody hand out of the wall, ¡°DAMN IT! DAMN IT! DAMN IT!¡± She roared, crushing the metal into scrap and tossing it aside in a tantrum. The fury present at the back of her mind roiled up like an angry serpent, squeezing at her heart. She couldn¡¯t let Chunhua die. She couldn¡¯t let the Seattle dungeon break. Millions would die. If that meant crossing the line... She slumped and lowered her head, ¡°Fine,¡± she muttered, ¡°Amos?¡± <¡±...yeah boss?¡±> ¡°I¡¯m cracking the nest egg,¡± she said hollowly. The connection was quiet for several seconds, she could only imagine Amos¡¯ horrified expression. She closed her eyes, ¡°I understand if you don¡¯t-¡±@@@@ <¡±I¡¯ll set the connection up, it¡¯ll take time. What do you need me to do?¡±> he asked quickly. ¨C Graff finished his last sit-up, getting lazily to his feet. He yawned and walked over to the cot in the solitary confinement room. Sitting down and taking off his shoes. Another day in peaceful silence away from all the people that made him want to burn everything to the ground. He rolled onto his back and looked up at the ceiling, smiling to himself. Once he decided to escape, he figured he¡¯d go knock over a monastery somewhere and live there for the rest of his life. He reached up to run his fingers through his hair. Yeah, that¡¯d be nice. A siren blared and he sat up, frowning a little. Loud. What¡¯s going on? A chime rang out next followed by a voice he¡¯d only heard on the news before. A cruel rasp that echoed through every hall in the building. He got to his feet as a surge of something he hadn¡¯t felt in a long time worked its way through him. Excitement. ¡°I am Ishtar,¡± the voice said, ¡°It is time, I have a task for you, my villains. Do this and you may consider any debts to me paid. I have rewards prepared as well.¡± He cracked a grin and walked to the door to the cell. The inactive suppression cuffs on his wrists dissolving and clattering to the ground before he placed his hand on the door. It crumbled into dust and he stepped out. The guard to his right jumped away immediately. He looked down at the guy and grinned at him, ¡°I¡¯ll see myself out,¡± he said with a laugh before turning away, his grin widening as the guards scrambled to get away from him. Finally! You called! ¨C Sonya grunted, throwing her hands forward where she sat. She reached out across the planet, her mind focused in so many places at once it was dizzying. She curled her fingers and pulled, feeling the power in her Heavenly Jade Heart pour out like a broken dam. She focused, one end of the first portal forming near the first of the prisons. She tugged at it to connect it to the other end and felt resistance. Halloway, she thought. She eased her breathing and tried to relax. Come on... Vines began to grow out of the bed and around her body, her skin turning paler, glowing faintly with off white light as she activated Visage of Titania to its fullest extent. Not just to create and control the eerie plants, she needed every facet of its power. She felt it infuse her body, spread through her. That little mote of light in her wrist turned into dozens, little tiny sparks planted throughout her body. Then it reached her mind. She grunted as it touched her thoughts for the first time. She¡¯d never gone this far with it before. It felt... unstable. Willful. Sonya, Ishtar cut into her thoughts, This might not be- I can¡¯t go back now! Sonya shot back, I¡¯ve made my choice, you pushed me here. Sonya, Visage- She pushed Ishtar¡¯s words out of her thoughts and concentrated, clenching her teeth until she felt one of them crack. That tingling at the back of her mind, the anger she¡¯d been experiencing, the instability, the fury - it exploded in a fireball in her brain. Madness. Jumbled thoughts and confusing images bounced about in her mind, scattering her for a moment before she willed her thoughts back into order. No you don¡¯t, behave! She snarled, grabbing hold of the power. It was her power. It didn¡¯t have a will of its own, but its effects were daunting. She clenched her fists, digging her nails into her own flesh as blood leaked from her palms and nose. Sweat beaded on her brow and she pushed. Let me in, she growled, Let me in you son of a bitch! She could see the web of red energy in her mind''s eye, a wall between her and her target, a stabilized space that couldn¡¯t be altered. She smashed against the wall, a raging will that crashed into it like a tidal wave. It buckled at the target location, shuddering under the pressure. She hit it again, and again, and again, blood leaking freely from her nose and ears. She felt her eyes begin to spin faster and faster, pain wracking her body as she drew on more and more power from her core. She needed more, MORE! LET ME IN! Her rage hit its zenith, the madness of the Visage spreading through her mind as that red web finally cracked and broke open. A hole appeared, opened just for her. She shoved her will into the space and planted the other end of the portal. That¡¯s one, she growled and created the next. She repeated the process, her chest heaving as blood began to drip from her eyes. Tick tick tick tick tick. Her mind whirled with the calculations as she created another pair of portals between new points on the world. She coughed and reached out to the third prison. Hang in there, Sonya, Ishtar urged, Just a few more. TICK TICK TICK TICK TICK She smashed through Halloways barrier again, the process becoming easier even as the strain on her body increased manifold. Each new portal maintained at the same time adding pressure. The ticking in her head grew louder, faster, and more irregular. She was consumed by the process, the intent, barely herself anymore. The vines coiled around her body, up to her throat and head. The little sparks throughout her body grew as they ached and groaned within her flesh. The vines held her steady as white light streamed out of her upturned mouth. Cracks formed on her skin but she didn¡¯t have the concentration available or energy to spare to create ambrosia to heal herself. She could only endure the agony. TICKTICKTICK TICTI-TICKT-T-TICKK Another portal, and another, she could feel the weight of light-touched passing through it. Each presence a new strain on her mind momentarily as she facilitated their passage. More weight to carry. She coughed up something wet and coppery, her skin felt cold even as her bones burned from the inside out. LIBERTY! I WON¡¯T LET YOU WIN! NEVER! EVER! THIS IS MY WORLD! The portals took shape one at a time until all eight of them had formed. She shuddered as the pressure on her mind increased. More and more villains passed through to answer her call. The commons and uncommons were negligible, the rares and epics began to pressure her, a pair of heroics sent a jolt of pain through her spine. Then another presence touched a portal. One she had been waiting for. A person she¡¯d never met in person but knew much about. The one she was counting on the most. He passed through. TIC-TI-TI-TI-TI-TRRRKKKKCKKKKKKKK! Something cracked. She could hear it. Pain in her head. In her eyes. She felt something streaming down her face as she swayed on the bed. Something hard fell out of her head. She opened her eyes and saw only darkness. The rage had passed, a fire that burned her from the inside and out. The madness of Visage of Titania left devastation in its wake. Her body, her soul, everything felt hollow. All she knew were those stars in her body, pulling her in, drawing her close. She barely noticed the vines loosen their grip on her as the pain she¡¯d pushed away finally caught up with her. SONYA! Ishtar shouted into her mind, SONYA HANG IN THERE! SONYA! Sonya fell onto her side as her lifesblood poured out of her. Heavenly Jade Heart felt empty for the very first time. This was her limit. She only hoped it was enough. She didn¡¯t hear the doors open as she slipped into unconsciousness. Chapter 201 Chapter 201 Graff stalked through the trees towards their destination. Apparently Ishtar had gotten them as close as she was able to, given that there was some guy interfering with her ability to make portals. He was kind of interested in that. Someone who could actually interfere with her powers was worth noticing. She still punched through but given how pissed she sounded on that announcement, he had to assume it wasn¡¯t easy. Still. She¡¯d made arrangements for him, somehow, ensured that the guards did as he said and he had a nice nest egg waiting for him once all this was done. With compliments from the head bitch in charge, of course. ¡°Man its nice to be out!¡± Wicker said next to him, stretching his arms over his head and laughing, ¡°I knew she¡¯d come through,¡± Wicker was barely a man, two years in prison had given him some light muscle but otherwise he still looked like a kid to Graff. Messy brown hair and round cheeks didn¡¯t help his case much. He got singled out a lot. ¡°Weren¡¯t you complaining about waiting yesterday?¡± Rampage said, the big dark-skinned man crossing his arms and shooting Wicker an amused look. ¡°Somethin¡¯ about ¡®oh she forgot about us! I knew it!¡¯ or something?¡± he asked. Rampage was a huge man who used to go by Franklin Lorde before he fully accepted being a villain. Apparently he¡¯d gotten his powers from some kind of contract with Ishtar. ¡°Ah shut up!¡± Wicker shot back, ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear it from the guy who took almost two years to figure out a half-decent villain name.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be a dick, Wicker,¡± Graff grunted as Rampage shrank a little under the smaller man¡¯s glare. Wicker turned an exasperated look on him only to get a cold stare back. Wicker tensed before nodding, ¡°Sorry boss.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still planning on working for me once this is done?¡± Graff asked. ¡°I think I¡¯m past the gang life,¡± Wicker said as he flexed his fingers, they grew long and spindly for a moment before stretching out and condensing. Fibers weaving together before taking the shape of a man that looked a lot like its creator. The false Wicker darted off in the direction they were going. ¡°Thanks to you I¡¯ve had a long time to practice my powers without being bothered or putting myself in front of heroes. Bare minimum Henching if I don¡¯t strike off on my own eventually.¡± ¡°At least your mind grew up,¡± Graff muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets as they stepped out of the trees and into a large clearing dominated by a dome of ice riddled with holes. He frowned at the battlefield in front of him. There were pillars of ice and shards and broken chunks of glacier everywhere. He also smelled blood. He lazily turned his head towards the rest of the treeline and saw more villains stepping out, some looking more eager than others. ¡°Nobody wants to owe Ishtar,¡± he said thoughtfully, ¡°Finish this job and it''s a clean slate, even a bonus if we do some damage to this Liberty chick or her people.¡± ¡°Not everybody showed,¡± Wicker commented, ¡°I don¡¯t see that vampire guy.¡± Graff snorted, ¡°Not surprising,¡± he said as an enormous woman stepped out through one of the larger holes in the side of the dome. She wore full plate armor and carried a sword in one hand. He raised an eyebrow and looked her up and down, ¡°...nice,¡± Wicker gave him a sidelong look that he responded to with a sharp glare of his own. The woman raised her sword and pointed it at the gathered Villains. ¡°I am Liberty. State your business, heretics!¡± she bellowed. Graff sighed and scratched his head, ¡°Well damn it,¡± he muttered, ¡°And here I was hoping she was just an enforcer or something. Oh well,¡± he rolled up his sleeves, ¡°Let''s get this over with,¡± he said before glancing at the other villains that were streaming out of the trees. All of them heard her voice and none of them made any move to approach her. He clicked his tongue, Bitches, he thought and shot Wicker and Rampage a look, ¡°Cool your heels,¡± he said and stalked away, making a beeline across the ice savaged field towards the enormous woman. She narrowed her eyes at him and he returned her stare with a lazy smile, shrugging his shoulders as if to say ¡®nothing personal¡¯. Then, just like that his body became as light as a feather and he vanished from where he was standing. When he reappeared he was reaching for the woman¡¯s exposed face, that lazy smile still dominating his expression. In the instant it took him to traverse the distance between him and his target she had moved in kind. Her eyes met his and her frown turned into a nose-wrinkled sneer of disgust. Her hand snapped out towards his throat. Just let it happen, he thought before going limp in her grip. ¡°You were told to state your business,¡± she growled and he felt a little bit of pressure on his throat. He let his body become malleable for a moment, let her feel his skin flexing beneath her armored fingers. His lazy smile faded and he titled his head, staring back at her coldly. Got you. He snapped his hand up and gripped her wrist, feeling for the- he frowned, Not steel, what is this? Interesting. He changed tactics without so much of a flicker in his expression. Graff shrugged, the guy had a point. He shook his head and looked back at the dome. There, through the massive crack in the wall, he could see what he guessed was a portal into a dungeon. He¡¯d never seen one before, but a swirling mass of energy was a pretty dead ringer for his imagination. He watched Liberty walk through it without looking back. Off to the side, one of the villains raised his voice, ¡°She¡¯s gone! Went through the portal!¡± ¡°That just leaves her henchmen!¡± Another barked out a laugh, ¡°Easy money!¡± ¡°GET EM!¡± A roar rose up among the gathered villains who finally broke from their standby and charged. Wicker turned towards the stampede of light-touched as Rampage hurried over to join them. ¡°Let¡¯s go! They¡¯re gonna get ahead of us if we don¡¯t-¡± Graff held up a hand to stop Rampage. He jerked his chin towards the duo standing as the sole line of defense for Liberty. ¡°You think they¡¯re that calm for no reason?¡± he said, ¡°Get going, you guys can settle up with Ishtar another way. I¡¯ll talk to her,¡± he started walking forward as he spoke, his eyes on the portal behind the pair guarding it. ¡°You know where we planned on meeting up after the break-out. Head there.¡± ¡°What? What about you? Couldn¡¯t you talk it out with Ishtar too?¡± Wicker shouted as the front line of the villains clashed, with the pair. To no surprise for Graff at all, a wall of ice spikes spread out across the throng and skewered dozens in a flash as the woman took a sharp step forward and swung, a purple-black crescent cutting down another chunk before she leaped into the fray with a howl of maddened fury that sounded more like a cackle to him. Graff turned away from the melee, his flesh turning dark and then jet-black as his body became light and flexible. He shrugged and waved a hand without looking back, ¡°She pissed me off! See you there!¡± Without waiting for the two men to acknowledge, he launched himself like a rocket up and above the duo guarding the opening. As he hit the zenith of his leap he checked out the fighting. The woman was mowing her way through the gathered villains like they were chattel while a small group of the villains pulled back from the rear to watch as well. Guessing only ten or so of those guys are worth half a damn, the rest are just fodder. He thought before landing at the opening in the side of the dome. He altered his body again and stepped into the ruined livingspace just in time for ten needle-like fingers to glance off the side of his head with a clink of metal against metal. On instinct he whipped his fist out and felt a ribcage crumple beneath it followed by the sound of a crash and a groan of pain. He turned and scowled at the crazed looking guy who was doubled over in pain, coughing up blood onto the icy floor. ¡°I was thinking, asshole,¡± he growled and turned to see two more people standing in the entryway along with a crew of masked people in hoods. Of the two, one a huge man and the other a slight woman with severe features. They exchanged a look and shrugged, ¡°Don¡¯t mind us,¡± the big guy said. Finally someone with half a brain, he thought irritably before turning back to the prick who had disrupted his train of thought. Graff stalked towards him and reached down, grabbing the guy by the face and lifting him off the ground. The man gurgled once before coughing again and glaring daggers at him. He whipped his hands out again but this time when they struck Graff¡¯s body they immediately began to break down, his hands crumbling into nothing but iron powder. The guy let out a scream of pain and whipped his arm only for it to suddenly turn black when it struck Graff, portions of it crumbling to the ground as more dust. ¡°What the fuck!¡± the man snarled, ¡°Fuck you!¡± Graff dug his fingers into the man¡¯s skin and the man screamed again, ¡°God damn it! Do something you assholes!¡± Graff glanced back at the big man and the severe woman. They shook their heads in disappointment before walking towards the opening and the battlefield beyond. The woman started to glow with a sickly green light while the man drew a knife from a bandolier across his chest. They paid Graff and his victim no mind. He looked back at the man, ¡°So much for loyalty,¡± Graff said and met the man¡¯s gaze with a bloodcurdling stare. The guy shrieked and large needles of metal ripped out of the icy floor, breaking as soon as they struck Graff. Shame, he¡¯s a Steel user, he thought before tilting his head, ¡°Don¡¯t suppose you¡¯d be willing to jump ship?¡± Graff asked. The guy was too far gone in his own rage, though, ¡°This is all because of those fucking hero trainees! Damn it Ito! You told them to do this to me!¡± he roared, struggling again against Graff¡¯s grip. He slammed the stumps of his hands against Graff¡¯s arms which only caused his skin to carbonize and fall off, causing him more pain. Changed my mind, he¡¯d be more trouble than he¡¯s worth, he thought and with a flex of his power nothing but a pile of black dust remained at his feet. He tapped his shoe on the ground to get some of it off before making his way towards the portal. There were chunks of ice around that looked similar to the stuff that had managed to lock his feet down. He shot the small gathering of masked people a look before shifting his body chemistry again and stepping through. WHAM! What Graff guessed was a sword collided with his side at a speed and force far outstripping the earlier attack as soon as he stepped through the portal. His expression fell, unamused, as his crumpled form collided and passed through one tree after another before he even got a chance to get his first look at his very first dungeon. He hit a boulder at some point and it was rendered down into powder when he struck it. It thankfully arrested his momentum, though. He sat up immediately and stared through the path of destruction his body had left behind. It looked a little funny given that his head was at a ninety degree angle with his neck. He molded the carbon that his body was entirely composed of and he yanked his head back into position, getting to his feet. He launched himself back along the path he¡¯d come and landed near the portal before looking up into the face of a ten foot tall suit of armor astride a horse that was just as big. His lip twitched. You¡¯re getting in my way.@@@@ Side-Story: Seattle 1 Side-Story: Seattle 1 Lillian was exhausted. She felt like there was just nothing left in the tank for her to pull out. She sat down on the cot that had been provided for her at the camp just outside the break zone, letting her head hang. During the fighting she hadn¡¯t had any time to think or process what was happening. Now it felt like it was all coming back to her in waves. She reached up and rubbed her eyes before letting out a tired sigh. I need to meditate and consolidate what I learned. If I take too long after an experience like that, teacher will put me through physical conditioning again as punishment. She pulled her legs up into her lap on the cot and steadied herself before taking a deep breath. I¡¯ve got a few hours until they¡¯re expecting me to come back out and help, that should be enough. She let out the held breath and relaxed. ¡°Lily!¡± She opened her eyes with a frown, ¡°Cass?¡¯ she called back. She sounds frantic, what now? She slipped off the cot, her legs aching as the flap to the tent flew open and a flurry of blonde hair raced inside. Alex was right on her heels followed by Snow. They all looked horrified. ¡°What? What happened?¡± Cass held out her phone, there was a live stream of the news playing. A man in a suit was sitting behind a desk, his expression grave and his skin pale. ¡°-more when things develop. For those of you just now joining us as word spreads, chaos in the western United States following the dungeon break in the Kato Ward of Tokyo. Several high security private prison complexes containing a population mounting in the hundreds of known villains and high-threat criminals underwent simultaneous prison riots and break-outs within the past hour.¡± Lillian''s blood ran cold and she took the phone from Cass, her legs giving out as she sat down on the cot, watching the man on the screen as footage showed villains attacking prison guards and destroying walls at one of the prisons. ¡°The riot began after Ishtar invaded the various prisons'' security systems and intercoms. Witnesses say that her words indicated that this had been planned for some time. Prison guards outside the structures reported the formation of Ishtar¡¯s signature portals at every location,¡± the man gestured to the display next to him that changed to show a map of the United States with off-blue clouds moving in various directions. Two large systems were clearly visible and their positions horrified Lillian. ¡°The significant release of mana by the Tokyo dungeon break has pushed a condensation of mana over the pacific ocean in the direction of the west coast. This is happening simultaneously with a sudden spike in mana coming from the epic dungeon near Seattle, Washington. It is reported that Black Lotus, currently considered the world''s most powerful hero, is actively attempting to clear the dungeon,¡± he continued with a picture of her teacher appearing on the screen. The man¡¯s face went dark, ¡°With the incoming wave nearing the western seaboard, guilds are moving quickly to react and shore up any dungeons within the effective area. Reports indicate that some manner of interference is preventing the Pandora Committee from using their gateway network to send reinforcements to Black Lotus, the Chairwoman had this to say.¡± The screen changed and showed Miss Carla standing behind a podium with a pair of heroes behind her. One of them was an asian woman in a green cheongsam with a bored expression on her face. She played lazily with her long black hair and shot the occasional glance at her counterpart. He was a buff man in a blue-gray suit and sunglasses and a dark widow''s peak. He had a grin on his face and was waving to the reporters as the chairwoman spoke, ¡°We are currently ascertaining the severity of the situation in Seattle. Tokyo was the second dungeon break since Dharan and the first we were able to measure with a carter radar. The scope of the potential damage is still being estimated. Right now our priority is getting as many heroes as possible close to the area in order to get them inside the dungeon to assist Black Lotus.¡± Snow shook her head, static filling the air as she spoke, ¡°We don¡¯t know, Bandit just told us.¡± ¡°Sonya¡¯s out of commission,¡± Cass said hollowly, ¡°Black Lotus is trapped in the Seattle dungeon and we all know who¡¯s actually trying to attack it. If the news is true, villains are going to try to intervene but we have no idea what they¡¯ll do after, even if they do succeed.¡± ¡°Greg told us how that Halloway pricks powers work,¡± Alex grunted, crossing his arms, ¡°He must be why the Pandora Committee can¡¯t get people to Seattle.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t even take a gateway to go help,¡± Lily said and let her head fall between her knees. She felt sick. Images of the devastation in Tokyo creeping up in the back of her mind. Imaginings of how bad the situation in Seattle would be, could be. ¡°Are a bunch of random villains really the only hope we have?¡± ¡°No,¡± Snow said firmly. Lillian looked up at her and a small hand touched her cheek. Snow smiled, ¡°Black Lotus is there,¡± she said. ¡°Yeah!¡± Alex said, ¡°No worries. Besides, Black Lotus is in the dungeon, not outside. She can go all out in there. I bet you Liberty¡¯s in for one hell of a rude awakening.¡± Cass hesitated next to him but nodded her agreement after a breath. She squared her shoulders. ¡°That woman¡¯s going to get what¡¯s coming to her one way or another. If it isn¡¯t at Seattle then we¡¯ll have our shot. I know it. We just need to keep making a good showing of ourselves so they¡¯ll call on us when it¡¯s time,¡± she said, ¡°Trust your teacher.¡± Lillian let out a breath and nodded slowly. She looked up at them. The team that had seen her through some of the toughest fights of her life. They were right, she had to believe in her teacher. If there was anyone on this planet who could make it through this, it was Black Lotus. She firmed up her resolve and smiled at Snow and the others before hopping to her feet. She let her power feed through her muscles. It wasn''t exactly healthy, she knew. Bed rest was better, but if everyone else wasn''t resting then she wasn''t about to either. ¡°Come on,¡± she said, ¡°We¡¯ve got work to do.¡± Side-Story: Seattle 2 Side-Story: Seattle 2 One-Hundred Eighty Petals! Chunhua¡¯s weapon turned into a blur as she released a torrent of lightning fast jabs, each of them flickering with off-pink light that shot out at a distance, catching a dozen of the figures that were approaching in formation. I need to thin them out, they¡¯re coming faster and faster. Something¡¯s going on outside, she thought quickly as a man in a suit of armor charged at her, broadsword raised over his head. She snapped a kick out to the right and cratered his chest. Monsters that look like people. This is worse than those dire elves, she hissed as two more came running up. She whipped her sword up and then down in a rigid arc, bisecting both of them before stopping through the wave of blood. She planted her foot gracefully as momentum built. Power circulating through her body, she brought her weapon up and then down in a smooth motion that belied the terrible force behind it. Ninety-Ton Flowering Branch! A wave of pink light, a visible ripple, rushed out from where she swung and mowed over the column of armored soldiers that were fast approaching. She caught her breath, lowering her weapon as she searched the area with her senses. She turned her head back and looked over her shoulder.@@@@ She was standing on a drawbridge made of some manner of metal that could even withstand her attacks. Ahead of her was a cliff that sloped down into an open field, hilly terrain past that where dozens of castles loomed in the distance. Beneath her, a long drop to water and rocks. Behind her, another castle stood. This one had been cleared entirely of the strange armored warriors that inhabited the dungeon. ¡°That¡¯s another wave!¡± she shouted back, empowering her voice to reach those inside before kicking off the ground. She landed on the air and kicked off again, doing it three more times before alighting on the wall. She frowned, Without knowing the situation outside it''s hard to enjoy finally being able to use my powers without restraint. She twirled her weapon and sheathed it before stepping over to the other side of the wall and looking down at the small crowd of men and women who had raised their fists in celebration. They were standing in the small courtyard of the castle-fortress. It was sparsely decorated with a few training dummies on one side and a single large building that served as the main structure and barracks. That celebratory attitude quickly dimmed into exhaustion, though, as she saw the same realization wash over them. We¡¯re far from done and their numbers keep increasing. Something is happening to push mana into the dungeon. She looked back towards the fields, Waiting for the monsters to come won¡¯t be an option much longer. I need to go out there and thin them before the dungeon hits critical mass. That or find the boss. ¡°Nietz!¡± she shouted. From the group below, a young man leaped high enough to land on the wall next to her. He was a simple looking boy with a pretty face and short hair. He wore a standard issue suit of body armor from the Pandora Committee. He looked up at her as he landed, ¡°Yes ma¡¯am?¡± She turned to face him. During the scouts investigation they had been confronted with numerous dangers. From what she¡¯d heard from the others, after they sent out their distress signal they had lost their leader in a skirmish with the monster-knights, a big one apparently. One that rode a horse. Neitz had gotten them to the fortress alive where they¡¯d managed to clear out the monsters and set up camp. She looked him up and down, ¡°Did your team figure out anything new about those hieroglyphics? I need to know where the boss is.¡± He scratched his head, ¡°Well, sort of,¡± he said with a huff and looked out towards the green fields and the castles beyond, ¡°From what we¡¯re interpreting, the boss isn¡¯t anywhere. Yet.¡± She narrowed her eyes, ¡°What do you mean?¡± she asked. He pointed to the other castles, ¡°I think the one we¡¯re standing in belonged to the horse-riding knight that was chasing us around, it''s still out there somewhere. The images seem to suggest that there are guys like it at the other castles, we¡¯re thinking five in total,¡± he scratched his neck and then put his hands on his hips, ¡°Our current guess is you gotta beat them all and then the big man in charge will show up. Fortunately they seem to be roaming around rather than guarding their castles.¡± Evergreen nodded and climbed onto her back, ¡°What killed him?¡± Chunhua gestured to the fallen horseman, ¡°That,¡± she said and kicked off the ground, zipping through the trees, ¡°Liberty,¡± she trailed off for a moment, ¡°No big press conference explaining why?¡± she called over the wind whipping past them. ¡°I¡¯d say ¡®why not¡¯ but this is serious,¡± Evergreen shouted back, clinging to her, ¡°A seventh dungeon burst in Tokyo. Someone hid it and it went off at the worst possible time. Bunch of internationals went over to help burn off the mana in the main city dungeons. Lots of people are dead, Chunhua.¡± Chunhua¡¯s heart nearly collapsed in her chest and she had to catch herself to keep moving, ¡°Sonya and Lillian are there!¡± ¡°I know! No news is good news though. I haven¡¯t heard anything. Anyway, point I¡¯m trying to make is that no sooner does that dungeon go up that Liberty shows up here, pretty telling. I think she might be involved in the Tokyo break,¡± Evergreen explained as they burst through the treeline. She glanced around, ¡°Holy shit this place is huge.¡± ¡°I did notice the monsters respawning faster, she¡¯s trying that here as well? I assume she¡¯s got Halloway with her then to replicate the elf dungeon, no reinforcements in that case,¡± Chunhua surmised. ¡°Could be, though if I were Liberty I¡¯d keep him hidden,¡± Evergreen said before pausing thoughtfully, ¡°They had some men with them carrying a bunch of boxes but I could only sense them through the snow. Didn¡¯t get a good look. Took out one of her lieutenants before she got to me though,¡± she said with a chuckle. ¡°Which one?¡± Chunhua asked. ¡°The creepy one that grins all the time, looked kind of like a monk or dancer,¡± Evergreen said. It wasn¡¯t hard to remember that face, he¡¯d been a terror during the camp raid. ¡°Sir Ellis. Good to hear it!¡± Chunhua said as they crested a hill and caught sight of the fortress on the cliff. She swore. There was already a small army of the mindless warriors marching on it and yet another one of the riders. The massive warrior was swinging a spiked club around as the scouts fired down at him and his soldiers from the battlements. A few shapes darted between his swings and one in particular landed a kick to its arm before it swatted the figure away with a roar. No time to rest. Side-Story: Seattle 3 Side-Story: Seattle 3 Liberty fumed as she marched through the trees. To think Ishtar had such an option in reserve. How did she get them past Halloway? She¡¯d have to ask him once the job was done. Ultimately it didn¡¯t matter how many villains Ishtar sent to interfere, so long as she dealt with Black Lotus and Evergreen, the rest would fall into place. Without them clearing the dungeon from the inside her goals would be achieved. The only variable was the villain who had confronted her outside the dungeon. His powers were strange. I didn¡¯t feel bones break when I hit him. What is he made of? How does his power work? She clicked her tongue, I don¡¯t have time for this. Setting this dungeon to blow was time-sensitive from the start. Even if the Pandora Committee doesn¡¯t find a way to push through Halloway¡¯s power, heroes will start arriving eventually. I¡¯ll get this done and be rid of this place one way or another. She thought as a dark shape landed next to her. Her fingers twitched against the pommel of her sword before she caught a flash of silky black hair out of the corner of her eye. ¡°Ito.¡± Doctor Ito hopped off what appeared to be some manner of serpent or thin armless dragon. It looked more like a worm with teeth than a reptile despite its scales. It slipped away from her as she approached Liberty and inclined her head, ¡°My Lady,¡± the wicked doctor said. Liberty nodded sharply, ¡°Well done in Tokyo,¡± she rumbled as she resumed walking. Ito cracked a ravenous smile and Liberty restrained a grimace. This girl. She has been obsessed with earning my favor since we met. I appreciate her philosophy meshing with my own but her ambition is dangerous. I can never make her my second. ¡°Something happen outside?¡± Ito asked. ¡°Yes, Ishtar has sent a small army of villains against us,¡± Liberty said, ¡°As long as they are present it will be difficult to retreat once everything is ready,¡± she shot the doctor an expectant look. The doctor dipped into a dramatic bow, ¡°I will make sure our path is clear, my lady,¡± she said and leaped back to grab onto her strange serpent mount. It pulled away from the tree before zipping back into the canopy. She watched the doctor go and her lip twitched a hairs breadth closer to a smile, At least her ambition has uses. She thought and resumed her solitary march, pushing through a particularly dense patch of bushes and trees. There, on the other side, she could see sunlight. She could hear something as well. It sounded like a large number of people marching. She narrowed her eyes and stepped out through the treeline and into the sunlight. ¡°Black Lotus, I¡¯ve been looking for you,¡± Liberty said callously, she raised her sword and pointed it at the woman as another shriek of sound drew her attention from above. She spun on instinct, throwing her sword up in time to catch a human hand adorned with gleaming black skin and razor sharp claws. She grunted as an incomprehensible mass pushed against her, shoving her back several feet and digging her heels into the soil. With a grunt she pushed the man off of her, sending the stranger back before she glanced over to see where Black Lotus was. The woman hadn¡¯t moved a muscle. She whipped her head back towards the interloper, ¡°You. You¡¯re interfering.¡± The man shrugged, ¡°That¡¯s what Ishtar asked me to do,¡± he said before turning to look at Black Lotus, ¡°Famous people all around huh,¡± he grunted and crossed his arms, ¡°Not my kind of party.¡± ¡°Then go,¡± Liberty growled. This man was becoming a problem, ¡°If you¡¯re so disinterested-¡± A clap of thunder drew the attention of all three of them. Liberty spun and looked up to find the source, a cloud of rainbow colored light billowing in the sky. She frowned, Some new monster for the dungeon? I was unaware of such a function in dungeons. ¡°Did you two kill any more of those riders?¡± Black Lotus shouted. Liberty rounded on her, ¡°Yes, one, it didn¡¯t put up much of a fight. Why?¡± The man spoke up next, ¡°Ran into one in the forest.¡± She glanced at him and frowned before Black Lotus barked out a laugh. Liberty rounded on her as the woman brushed her hair back over her ear. ¡°Shame I can¡¯t take the credit for clearing the dungeon solo now,¡± she said, ¡°But at least you made my job easy for me. You really should get better intel, Liberty.¡± Liberty bristled, ¡°Explain. Now.¡± Black Lotus pointed up at the cloud and smiled, ¡°That¡¯s the boss. I know why you¡¯re here, and it looks like you aren¡¯t going to get it.¡± Chapter 202 Chapter 202 Everything was murky for a while. Like floating at the bottom of a pool. The little mote of consciousness could still breathe in those depths, still feel alive, yet the world seemed so distant, so far away. There was a sense of urgency, somewhere, inside? Outside? Separate but together, contained and unleashed, a discord of contrary concepts bounding around in the depths, setting the water to boil. The little mote of consciousness tried to reach towards the surface. There was light there, order, the world made sense outside of the water. That''s where it needed to be. It needed to rise up and breathe. A ragged gasp joined into the din of noise that bombarded her ears. Warning alarms went off, heart rate monitors tittered and beeped, shouts rang out, someone put something over her face. She wanted to lash out. How dare they try to restrain her? How- She was in the water again. Floating. Drifting. A little more aware than before. She wasn¡¯t alone either. She drifted through the water next to another person. A woman with white hair and alabaster pale skin. The woman¡¯s eyes were closed as they floated together, her expression serene. Something about it made the little mote ache. She reached for the other woman and saw vines wrap around the woman, tug at her, pull her away. She tried to swim, tried to catch up, she couldn¡¯t see, it was too dark beneath the water. She felt like she would drown if she went any deeper. The surface, I have to get to the surface! BEEP BEEP BEEP! ¡°She¡¯s up again!¡± a shout rang out, ¡°Get the- thanks!¡± ¡°Hold her still!¡± another voice shouted. ¡°Amos get over here!¡± a third chimed in. BEEP BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP! The drift back into the water was slower this time. Lingering. A voice whispered into its ears. ¡°We¡¯ve got you, hang in there,¡± the voice said, ¡°It¡¯s going to be okay. Just rest for a while.¡± BEEP BEEP ... BEEP ... BEEP The depths were... soothing. The little mote felt itself rise to the surface again one last time. There was no urgency anymore, no frantic movement within the world. The space outside was quiet, all but empty. It reached for that boundary between the underwater world and the open air and breached. Air filled its lungs as instead of the light of the sun, it found itself bathed in darkness. For a moment, it panicked, wondering why it could not see. It tried to open its eyes but found that they were already open. Bandages? Yes, but even then, this darkness is...too much. It took a moment to reflect, Who? Ah, yes. I am Ishtar. Ishtar flexed her fingers, they ached terribly. Her entire body was sore and cold, a chill rattling her bones. She took a shuddering breath and reached out with her senses. Her mind recoiled, tensing and spasming at the too-soon use of her abilities. She winced and coughed, raising a hand to cover her lips only to feel something attached to her limbs. Tubing inserted into her skin. A hospital? No, Companion wouldn¡¯t allow that. Something similar then. Ishtar thought before something more serious occurred to her, Why am I in control? Sonya? She called the name out into the vastness of her consciousness, Sonya! Are you there? A presence rose up in response, a small, fragile, infinitely precious mote. It reacted to the name but it did not speak. She could sense emotions boiling within the mote: fear, anger, confusion, worry, hatred, love, sadness, regret. She cupped the mote in her hands, trying to feel why it had been reduced to this state. She tried to sense her other half¡¯s endless resolve, that strength that she quietly leaned on. To her horror, all she sensed was madness at its deepest points, a creeping vine of insanity that was spreading through the mote¡¯s very being. Irrationality, hostility, Ishtar saw it for what it was. Visage. It was more unstable than either of us suspected. To use it at its full power like that... that was a mistake, I shouldn¡¯t have encouraged you. I¡¯m sorry, Sonya. The little mote did not respond. She touched it again with her mind and the vines crept back a small amount. The mote shone briefly and followed her lead. Pushing back just a little before going quiet again. Now, all she felt was exhaustion and then a sense of peace. Ishtar smiled shakily, what she saw scared her, but she knew Sonya would recover. Rest well. ¡°Sonya?¡± a voice brought Ishtar back to reality. Again, there was darkness as her mind turned outwards. Blind again. Something is wrong with her eyes. She took a moment to recognize the voice, Crusader. Her lips parted and she hesitated, Her civilian name... ah yes. Her words came out hoarsely, her throat cracking under the strain of trying to speak. ¡°Lillian?¡± She felt a hand grasp onto her own and grip it tightly, ¡°Oh my god you¡¯re awake! How do you feel? Oh shit, I should let Marta know. She was getting some rest, I just- right uh, one sec, I¡¯ll be right back. I promise!¡± Silly girl, Ishtar thought with amusement as the girl let her hand go. She could hear the door open and shut to the room, wherever she was. She tried again to reach out with her senses but her mind jolted once more. Terribly inconvenient, she hissed. That hurt, I cannot use my senses, I¡¯m as blind as I-we-she was before the flash. Our body is so weak too. She tried to sit up but her muscles just gave out beneath her. Her lips thinned into a line, Damn. Ahead of her the door opened and several sets of feet poured in. She couldn¡¯t make out who was who. ¡°Lil, you mind stepping out for a bit so we can talk to her?¡± Technocrat¡¯s voice said, ¡°You can catch up with her after that, I promise.¡± ¡°Huh? Oh yeah sure! No problem. I need some coffee anyway,¡± she heard Crusader-Lillian¡¯s voice say, there were a few steps on what she assumed was tile floor before they paused, ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re okay, Sonya. We¡¯ve been so worried.¡± Ishtar forced a smile as she lay on her back, ¡°Thank you, dear,¡± she said hoarsely before the door shut. She heard a few sets of feet move up to stand near her bed, a strong set of thin fingers reaching down to take her hand while another stronger set of finger touched her face and examined her. ¡°Who¡¯s here?¡± she croaked. There was a long pause, ¡°You... can¡¯t sense us?¡± Technocrat asked. ¡°No,¡± she responded, it was taking a lot of strength just to speak. Bothersome. ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± Companion said, her fingers squeezing Ishtar¡¯s hand. ¡°So is Doctor Da-Som.¡± Ishtar nodded, ¡°Ah, good. Thank you for coming, Doctor. I appear to be in a rather awful state.¡± ¡°You nearly died ma¡¯am,¡± Doctor Da-Som said, his voice somewhere between shaky and stern, ¡°Your heart, among other things, just about gave out. Your body couldn¡¯t take the strain of whatever you did. You maxed yourself out so completely that your cybernetics nearly ripped themselves out of your body.¡± Ishtar paused, ¡°Regrettable.¡± Companion pulled her hand away long enough to grab a chair from the sound of it and drag it over. She sat down next to Ishtar and took her hand again. ¡°You¡¯re cold.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll recover,¡± Ishtar said thoughtfully and then a bit more quietly, ¡°I wish I had something comforting to say to them.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever heard you say something that kind before,¡± Companion said. Ishtar huffed out a weak laugh, ¡°Strange, isn¡¯t it?¡± she trailed off, ¡°Tell me what happened.¡± Companion cleared her throat, ¡°The villains you freed from prison arrived at the Seattle dungeon, I¡¯d say about three quarters of them went, the rest didn¡¯t heed your call. After that, Black Lotus cleared the dungeon.¡± More than I expected, Ishtar thought, ¡°That¡¯s good, but there¡¯s more.¡± ¡°Liberty was there waiting for interference, along with a significant portion of her round table. That man you were cultivating a connection with, Graff. He fought her and she retreated into the dungeon. He pursued while the round table remained outside. It wasn¡¯t pretty. Most of the villains that attacked then were between common and rare at best.¡± ¡°You have a good understanding of the play-by-play outside,¡± Ishtar commented, ¡°How?¡± ¡°Wicker was there, he¡¯s leaving Kingshark¡¯s group by the way. He¡¯s joining up with Graff as a henchman,¡± Companion explained. And Graff is allowing that? Wicker¡¯s powers are more impressive than I had thought, apparently, she thought before nodding, ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°The majority of the villains were slaughtered,¡± Companion said, ¡°Halloway was there so any who didn¡¯t run or hide right away weren¡¯t able to get away once he was hunting them, but the stronger villains that came kept the round table busy, the rest, well,¡± Companion trailed off, "Sometime after that, the dungeon dissipated and Liberty escaped with her people. Graff wants to meet.¡¯ Ishtar let out a sigh, ¡°Dutiful as always, Companion.¡± ¡°Thank you, Ma¡¯am,¡± Companion said. ¡°What is the news saying?¡± Ishtar asked. ¡°I... I don¡¯t think-¡± ¡°Please,¡± Ishtar insisted. The woman holding her hand let out a sigh and moved away for a moment before setting something down on the bed next to Ishtar. She heard a brief hum before audio began to play. A voice rose up, clearly that of a reporter. ¡°...The supervillain, Liberty, who is now being connected to the Tokyo disaster, attempted to follow up that attack with a plan to detonate the Seattle dungeon. The chain reaction from its fallout would have decimated a significant portion of the north west United States and south west Canada.¡± Ishtar pursed her lips as the man continued speaking, ¡°There is still significant contention online as to the real perpetrator of the disasters. With leaks connecting Ishtar to the Tokyo incident and her orchestrating a major prison break, opinion is currently divided on what happened. Though the hero Black Lotus has made her position clear that while Liberty is the mastermind behind this historic tragedy, Ishtar is complicit given the false-flag nature of the attack and her long standing feud with the other supervillain.¡± There was a long pause, ¡°Despite Black Lotus¡¯ success in clearing the dungeon and preventing the worst, the outcome is still being considered a pyrrhic victory at best for the Heroes. Liberty and her entourage escaped justice. Several Pandora Committee scouts lost their lives in the dungeon, Guildmaster Evergreen is currently in the hospital along with Black Lotus after sustaining severe injuries during their battle. While many escaped villains died in their own attack on the dungeon, several high profile villains remain unaccounted for including the special-class Supervillain, Graff.¡± The reporter let out a heavy sigh, ¡°The death toll between Seattle and Tokyo has now exceeded five hundred thousand people, the single largest loss of human life in a single day in history since the Shaaxi earthquake in 1556,¡± the reporter said solemnly. ¡°This tragedy could have been all the worse if not for the brave involvement of the heroes who stepped up to-¡± ¡°Enough,¡± Ishtar said hoarsely. Companion ended the video and Ishtar deflated a little where she lay, ¡°Those prisoners were one of Sonya¡¯s trump cards, most of them were lost it sounds like,¡± she said with a sigh, ¡°This is Liberty¡¯s win. Even if she didn¡¯t get Seattle. I¡¯m glad Sonya isn¡¯t awake for this.¡± ¡°...I¡¯m sorry, mistress,¡± Companion said after a pause, her hands gripping even more tightly against Ishtar¡¯s fingers. She felt them trembling. An instinct rose up in her chest and she felt her body want to reach up to touch the woman¡¯s face. Her body didn¡¯t respond, though, and she could only lay there impotently as the woman shook, ¡°Speak your mind,¡± Ishtar said as gently as she could. Companion stirred for a moment, stewing, before she broke out into a tearful shout, ¡°It¡¯s not fair!¡± she barked, ¡°I can¡¯t- sometimes I just can¡¯t stand it. You saved so many lives, both of you did, you did the bad thing that would do the most good and- and- and no one is going to. Damn it,¡± the woman croaked, ¡°I thought I was over this.¡± Ishtar felt an incomprehensible pit in her stomach. Another driving instinct. A question itching in her mind. What would Sonya say right now? She wondered before fumbling out a guess, ¡°No one? Aren¡¯t you someone?¡± Ishtar said, trying to put a hint of Sonya¡¯s mischief into her voice. ¡°But!¡± ¡°Comp- Marta, it¡¯s fine,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°This is our path,¡± she added before asking, ¡°How long have I been out? When was that report recorded?¡± ¡°A week ago,¡± Marta croaked, ¡°We¡¯re at headquarters in Minneapolis.¡± Ishtar shook her head, ¡°Liberty, she even took Sonya¡¯s grand opening from her,¡± she grit her teeth. She couldn¡¯t let herself feel the defeat. She needed to learn from it, adapt to it, and when the time came, avenge it. She rallied with what little strength she had to keep speaking, defiance fueling her, ¡°I¡¯ll recover, she will too, and while we convalesce, I will plan. This is far from over, dear. The Pandora Committee must be getting ready for war and the inner circle will be there. I will be there.¡± Companion-no, she reminded herself, Marta-squeezed her hand, ¡°And I won¡¯t leave your side.¡± Chapter 203 Chapter 203 Night came all too quickly and most of the revolving door of visitors had come to an end. Most were inconsequential in her eyes. Barely worthy of note. Members of ASTAs board, Sonya''s people, came and went without incident. None were overly concerned about her state. In this new post-pandora age, what did it even mean to get sick or injured? As long as one knew a good healer, anyway. The Mint woman had not come yet, though representatives of the Pandora Committee had arrived to filter through her account of the supposed ¡®attack¡¯. Not out of suspicion, no, they were well aware of Liberty¡¯s hatred towards Sonya for taking Cassiopeia, the womans sister, under her wing. She told most of the story through Marta, citing her weariness. She committed to having Amos record a full statement with her voice when time allowed. For the moment, it was all she could do to rest. Her body felt to be at its breaking point while her mind remained vigorous and strong. The result was an aching sort of restlessness that harried her well into the wee hours of the morning. It was there, laying in bed, her other senses heightened by her loss of sight and restless mind, that she felt a charge in the air. The sensation intensified for a moment, a static clinging to her skin and setting her hair on end. Then it vanished, a feeling of no longer being alone striking her. Her lips thinned and she spoke to the ceiling. ¡°I figured Blackrazor would visit first,¡± she said casually. ¡°Yeaaah, he would but he''s a busy guy. Gotta keep a part of your little empire thingy going, ya know?¡± Kerauna said, her voice coming from just a few feet away by Ishtar¡¯s reckoning. ¡°Here to test the limits of our deal?¡± Ishtar asked, ¡°I''m defenseless and Companion won''t be back for a few minutes. You are already more powerful than I am in pure output. Now is your chance,¡± she said, her tone thick with amusement. She tried to flex her fingers, move her arms in some meaningful way, but it was hopeless. The exercises she''d done earlier to begin urging her body back into motion had been exhausting. Kera paused before speaking, her tone light and lifting, playful in a mad sort of way. ¡°Yeah I know, thought about it too. Killing you and just going about my day. Figure I''d have a cupcake to celebrate,¡± she trailed off, ¡°I hated you. You know.¡± ¡°I''m not surprised,¡± Ishtar said. ¡°Enslaved me. Even the loosened restrictions you gave me after Vegas were galling, I thought every day about how those robot bits of you would twitch and spark. Would you explode? Pop goes Ishtar,¡± Kera hummed, drawing closer. ¡°I gave you some credit at first, though. You didn''t abuse me. Low bar, I know.¡± Ishtar snorted, ¡°What really changed your mind?¡± ¡°Nothing did, I love Beyol and all but this is my life. I came through that lightbulb to kill you tonight, boss. I really really did,¡± Kera said, her throat tense with frustration. ¡°You really worked yourself over to stop that dungeon boom, huh? Heard your eyeballs popped.¡± Ishtar felt a cold coil work into her gut, her hands and arms still worthless. ¡°They did,¡± she said, keeping her tone casual.@@@@ ¡°Allow me a little Schadenfreude?¡± Kera asked, her voice shaking. Ishtar nodded and the woman burst into laughter, she imagined Kera holding her sides and sinking to the ground. That laughter turned to sobs of frustration. ¡°I can''t do it,¡± she croaked, ¡°The deal won''t let me.¡° ¡°I know.¡± Kera went silent, the moments stretching out between them. Ishtar wondered if perhaps Kera had done something to prevent Marta from getting back in a timely fashion. She should be here by now. She turned her attention back to her distraught subordinate. She didn¡¯t blame her for her duplicity. The outcome and reaction to her situation was obvious, all things considered. Kera enjoyed working for her, but she was intimately aware of the fact that the girl hadn¡¯t begun her journey willingly. Blackrazor and Kingshark had become proud members of the group. Kera was still an unknown factor. When Kera finally spoke again, her words were quiet but edged, ¡°I hear your powers aren¡¯t working right. Even that techno-brain-whatever of yours,¡± she said. ¡°That¡¯s correct, it will take time for me to recover,¡± Ishtar conceded, ¡°I am cut off from the outside world for the time being.¡± ¡°Then I have a question, Ishtar,¡± Kera said evenly, ¡°Without all your cheats and super knowledge power stuff, just you.¡± ¡°I am at your disposal,¡± Ishtar said. ¡°What¡¯s my name?¡± Kera asked, ¡°Not Kerauna or Veloche, what¡¯s my real goddamn name? Do you even know it?¡± she demanded, her words thick with scorn. ¡°Cuz from what I can tell-¡± ¡°Gia Ricci,¡± Ishtar said without missing a beat, ¡°You¡¯re twenty four years old, your father was an accountant and your mother was a homemaker. Before the flash you had a habit of getting into trouble but only minor violations. You were in college after all, following your dream of becoming an olympic hurdler,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°I imagine when you awakened your abilities it was crushing,¡± she surmised, ¡°All that hard work to build up your body and your abilities were like a silver bullet. To make matters worse, there was no way you could ever qualify with a power like that. You dropped out of university and fell in with Verde.¡± Another long stretch of silence, this time thick with a tension that Ishtar could have cut with a knife. She heard the woman stir on the floor, ¡°How? Why?¡± ¡°I do not experience emotions as a normal person does, Kera. I do not see the world or feel things as you might. However,¡± she turned her blind gaze in the direction of the woman¡¯s voice, ¡°I understand loyalty and I agree with Sonya on how she feels about treating those who work for her. Abusing one¡¯s allies is a weakness. Uplifting them is a strength. I¡¯ve watched you grow into a powerful villain, Kera. It isn¡¯t the life you wanted, but no one can argue that you are not mighty now and that you¡¯ve earned your place. I am quite proud of you.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve killed allies before,¡± Kera pointed out. ¡°You aren¡¯t one of Amos¡¯ dolls,¡± Ishtar said dismissively, ¡°And you¡¯re well aware of that.¡± ¡°But-¡± ¡°That being said,¡± Ishtar cut her off, ¡°I... appreciate what you do. For me, and for Sonya.¡± ¡°How is she doing?¡± Marta asked. ¡°She isn¡¯t fading, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking, her condition isn¡¯t getting worse,¡± Ishtar explained, ¡°But I am afraid that she is in a state far worse than it has ever been. She has had so many ups and downs, tried to build herself back up so many times, her foundation is cracked and her resolve has wavered. She may not be conscious but she is in some ways aware of how much of a blow Liberty¡¯s gambit was to her,¡± Ishtar hesitated and cleared her throat, ¡°I have something I must confess.¡± She felt Marta tense next to her, ¡°What?¡± ¡°I have been retaining memories from Sonya, restricting them, pushing certain things to the edge of her consciousness. A preventative measure but not one that can go on forever. She has stayed sane longer but the dissonance between myself bearing the full weight of her grief and self-recrimination has created its own kind of strain,¡± Ishtar said with a sigh, ¡°Like trying to seal a stubborn leak.¡± ¡°...she was oddly relaxed after the camp raid, despite everything,¡± Marta said, ¡°No one commented but, it wasn¡¯t normal.¡± ¡°I protected her mind from it,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°Being left out from helping was painful for her. Tokyo on the other hand, hundreds of thousands dead in an instant by the hand of someone she believes she¡¯s powerful enough to deal with on her own, yet she stays her hand to ensure Liberty is dealt with in the correct way,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°A mountain of guilt. This event was too much for even me to shield her from.¡± ¡°Then what can be done?¡± Marta asked. ¡°She¡¯s resting and not getting worse, so that much we can be relieved about,¡± Ishtar said before flexing her fingers, ¡°For now, heal the body. Kera has informed me of what I suspected. Using Visage of Titania¡¯s full power has infested my body with its seeds. The ability is nullifying my powers now, making my condition worse than it should be and making me quite resistant to healing powers. I need to regain control of the unruly power and push them out. Then I can heal properly,¡± she let out a breath, ¡°After that, once the body is whole, I will have access to the warehouse again and a certain power that should help me reach out to her within the mindscape more effectively.¡± ¡°Feng Hyunh¡¯s ability?¡± ¡°The same,¡± Ishtar agreed. ¡°I feel helpless,¡± Marta said. ¡°Just stay by my side and keep an eye out, make sure I don¡¯t push too hard. I am not dear reckless Sonya, but I am self aware enough to acknowledge that I do not take half measures,¡± Ishtar admitted, ¡°I will need you to stop me if I push too hard.¡± ¡°I can do that.¡± ¡°Then that¡¯s all I ask,¡± Ishtar said before hesitating and giving an apologetic smile, ¡°That and the other things.¡± ¡°Are you hungry?¡± Marta asked immediately. ¡°Hm? Oh, no- I-¡± ¡°Do you need to-¡± ¡°Marta!¡± Ishtar gasped, ¡°No I do not need to use the facilities. I¡¯m fine,¡± she protested, feeling a bit of heat on her face as the woman at her side burst into laughter. Ishtar turned her head away, ¡°This is why I let Sonya deal with the social situations.¡± ¡°Easily flustered when you aren¡¯t the big bad boss?¡± Marta asked with a chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re only getting away with this because I¡¯m alone and paralyzed,¡± Ishtar groused, ¡°Wicked woman.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll do so while I still can,¡± Marta teased and put a hand on Ishtar¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Now how does a late night snack sound?¡± ¡°I said I¡¯m-¡± Ishtar began only for her stomach to growl as the word ¡®snack¡¯ triggered something deep inside her gut. She felt more heat rise to her face and she pressed her lips together, ¡°Fine, a light snack would be nice, nothing sweet or salty, I hate that stuff,¡± she mumbled. Marta burst into laughter. Chaper 204 Chaper 204 Tch. Ishtar clicked her tongue as another jolt of pain ran up her arm. She pulled back on instinct, releasing her focus. The small fragment of plant left behind by Visage of Titania tried to worm its way back into place in her wrist. Her lips curled into a snarl before she paused, frowned, and let out a soothing breath. Anger was a crutch, a false strength. It gives me nothing but a clouded mind. Calm. A relaxed spirit is what Visage responds to best. Breathe. She cleansed herself with a few more breaths before turning her focus back to her wrist and slipped her awareness around the fragment once more. I cannot use any of my abilities, but Visage still responds to my will. I wonder if that means it is still active or if there is something else I am missing. The instincts of my abilities are still present, just separate from the powers themselves. She allowed the thoughts to drift as the fragment began to move through her flesh. It hurt, but the pain was nothing but an obstacle. As long as she did not pull too sharply she could manage it without breaking her focus. One millimeter at a time, slowly, slowly, slow- another sharp spike of pain, she jerked her entire body and cursed. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Marta asked from nearby. ¡°Another failure,¡± Ishtar said irritably. ¡°You only just woke up a few hours ago, there¡¯s no need to rush,¡± Marta said, ¡°Why don¡¯t I get you a coffee?¡± ¡°As pleasant as that sounds, the next coffee I wish to drink I would do so with my own hands,¡± Ishtar grumbled, ¡°A water will be fine.¡±@@@@ ¡°Right away,¡± Marta said, sounding a little relieved. Perhaps she was worried I would reject any help. Ishtar thought as the door opened and closed, There¡¯s no need to be so concerned about that, I am aware of my limitations. The door opened and shut again, Ishtar raised an eyebrow, ¡°That was quick.¡± ¡°There¡¯s someone here to see you,¡± Marta said, sounding nervous. When Ishtar didn¡¯t speak she clarified, ¡°It¡¯s Black Lotus.¡± Ishtar fell silent for a heartbeat. Her face still pointed up to the ceiling. How wretched, she grumbled before the words came, ¡°Sit me up.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I will not greet the hero on my back like an invalid, sit me up, please, Marta,¡± Ishtar insisted, her fingers tightening around clumps of smooth sheets. Blind. I cannot even look her in the eyes. To meet again like this, how pathetic. Turning her away though... ah, I could never. She felt Marta gently slide her hands beneath her back and lift. It took a little effort with the pain that seemed to rise up any time she dared to move too dramatically but she eventually found herself sitting up against the headboard. Her hair fell around her face and Marta brushed it quickly. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Of course, do you want me to give you two some space?¡± Marta asked. Ishtar tilted her head towards her companion, ¡°That would be best, I think.¡± ¡°I will be outside if you need me,¡± Marta said and the doors opened again, Ishtar sat in her blindness as a new set of footfalls entered the room. Marta moved about quickly with a sense of assuredness but also an intent to get from one task to another. The movements of a caretaker. This new set was steady, each step inexorable even as they were quieter than Marta¡¯s. The steps of a composed warrior. Those steps faltered once. ¡°Sonya?¡± Ishtar¡¯s lips pursed, ¡°Hero,¡± she said by way of greeting. The word hung in the air between them. The heaviness in the air spiking and rising until finally the woman let out a shuddering gasp. Ishtar rest her hands in her lap and waited. ¡°It¡¯s strange,¡± Black Lotus said, ¡°I see your face and the memories come roaring back. It¡¯s a sweet sort of agony, my own punishment, I guess. Marta would not tell me about your condition, only for me to see it for myself. Where is Sonya?¡± ¡°Asleep,¡± Ishtar said. Black Lotus seemed to wait for a moment for further explanation but when nothing further came from Ishtar she let out a sigh, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you healed yourself?¡± She said and Ishtar heard her take a slightly uneasy step to the left. It was difficult to pick up on but the confines allowed sound to carry much better. Ishtar¡¯s lip twitched, ¡°How are your injuries?¡± she asked. ¡°Mild,¡± she said. ¡°Do you need to sit?¡± Ishtar offered, jerking her chin towards where Marta usually sat. She assumed there was a comfortable chair there. I cannot imagine what ¡®mild¡¯ injuries are to someone like her, Ishtar thought. I am surprised she hasn¡¯t gotten healing services yet either. Another pause and she heard the woman walk over to sit in Marta¡¯s chair, letting out a small huff that could have been a groan of agony as far as Ishtar was concerned. ¡°That Liberty,¡± Black Lotus said, ¡°Her sword did something to my body. Healing abilities work but they¡¯re slow.¡± ¡°That power seemed strange, unstable, when I first saw it in the camp dungeon,¡± Black Lotus said, ¡®But I couldn''t explain to her why I felt it was so dangerous,¡± her voice was soft, thoughtful. She put her hand on Ishtar¡¯s shoulder and ran her fingers over her skin. Ishtar shivered and pressed her lips together even more tightly. Damn. Sonya may not be here, but her body responds well enough to this woman. Black Lotus went quiet again and Ishtar felt something wash through her very being, like a sonar pulse. It bounded through her entire body before returning to the spot where the woman was touching her. To her surprise, it didn¡¯t hurt. ¡°I see, can I get you to lay on your chest?¡± Black Lotus asked. ¡°I cannot move, nor do I wish to,¡± Ishtar said resolutely, pride rising up to snap back at the hand of a hero deigning to aid a villain. ¡°I¡¯m going to help you,¡± Black Lotus insisted. ¡°I don¡¯t want your help,¡± Ishtar snarled. ¡°I don¡¯t very much care!¡± Black Lotus nearly shouted, ¡°Would you rather me call Marta in here and we can treat you like a child that does not want her shot? Have her hold you down so I can treat you? Or are you going to act like an adult, Ishtar?¡± ¡°What are you planning?¡± Ishtar asked after an uncomfortable pause. ¡°I¡¯m going to help set your meridians, I can¡¯t do much for the damage to your muscles but I can do that much. I should be able to loosen those strange fragments a little in doing so. It will take several treatments and it will be painful,¡± Black Lotus said, ¡°Or you could sit here and feel sorry for yourself instead of taking the fastest route back to standing on your own two feet and doing your job.¡± Ishtar tensed at having her own words thrown back at her. Her lips trembled for a moment before she burst into painful laughter. She shook her head and leaned forward, gripping weakly at her now aching ribs. When the amusement subsided she turned her head towards Black Lotus¡¯ voice again, ¡°You might have the spirit of a hero in you after all,¡± Ishtar admitted, ¡°I don¡¯t hate this side of you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m only interested in Sonya,¡± Black Lotus clipped. ¡°I already have an unwanted suitor,¡± Ishtar said with a casual shrug, ¡°I don¡¯t care for another anyway,¡± she paused, Why did I say that? ¡°You?¡± Black Lotus asked, suddenly interested, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°I am not having girl talk with someone with your credentials,¡± Ishtar grumbled. ¡°Credentials?!¡± ¡°You¡¯re my other-half¡¯s lover, a hero, and should be my nemesis,¡± Ishtar pointed out. ¡°Fair enough,¡± Black Lotus chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m not going to forget that though.¡± ¡°I am painfully aware,¡± Ishtar sighed, ¡°Now help me onto my chest. I can¡¯t move.¡± ¨C Ishtar lay on her side in bed. Marta had been forced to bathe her after Black Lotus¡¯ first treatment. The power moving through her body had struck nearly every single one of the fragments of Visage lodged in her flesh and pushed against them in a way that she couldn¡¯t have possibly done willingly to herself. The pain had been excruciating, but she had to begrudgingly admit that she could feel the faintest, infinitesimal sense of her energy moving through her body afterwards. Even so, she had been left shaking and weak, weaker than before and covered in sweat and bits of blood. I have to keep interacting with that woman. It is going to make fighting her difficult. She tried to relax in the eternal dark of her blindness. She needed rest. Hopefully if she felt better the next day she could try again to get one of the fragments out. They did feel a bit looser inside her body, enough to the point that she was more aware of where they were. Feeling them all move simultaneously had certainly helped that sense of awareness, not that she¡¯d enjoyed it. Ishtar let her mind drift, sleep, she needed sleep. Unconsciousness came and went, sleep drifting into strange lucid dreams that she tried to push through for the simple void of rest. Dreaming was a new and quite novel experience, unsettling. She would rather be at the back of Sonya¡¯s mind while she dealt with this sort of thing. Something urged her back to the waking world, her body reacting to a new sensation. She surfaced and felt a pair of soft lips pressed against her forehead. A delicate hand resting on hers. She caught a scent in the air, Iris? Marjoram? I know that smell. Who? She frowned. ¡°...you¡¯re doing it again. Pandora.¡± Chapter 205 Chapter 205 Pandora didn¡¯t linger. Nor did she speak with Marta in the room. She stayed only long enough to show her usual one-sided affections and leave like the ghost that she was. It didn''t trouble Ishtar, the behavior from the fallen goddess was odd, but not unappreciated. It was strange. She had no feeling either way for her, but otherwise found the regularity comforting. Not that she would ever give voice to it. The woman was still annoying. Though that annoyance did manage to distract her from her troubles enough to finally get to sleep. Perhaps that¡¯s why she¡¯d come, sentimental fool. The next morning and the following three days were spent in an almost constant state of agony. Despite the terrible condition of her body, Doctor Da-Som confirmed that she was healing from his treatments and her muscles were very slowly starting to reattach. The brief physical therapy sessions were exhausting and the visits from Black Lotus to continue her own treatments were even worse. Even so, on the third day she finally managed to expel one of the seeds. She sat across from Amos, listening while he picked it up with a pair of tweezers. ¡°It''s tiny,¡± he said, ¡°Looks like sesame seed. Can''t tell the color because of all the blood.¡± ¡°Destroy it,¡± Ishtar panted, sweat dripping from her brow. ¡°You sure? I think we should study these things. My instincts are screaming at me not to let it touch my skin. Crazy,¡± he said. ¡°You could use them?¡± she asked then realized her mistake. If there was anyone who could figure out a use for them it was Amos Carter.@@@@ ¡°Maybe? I''ll have to figure that out. How is that arm feeling?¡± he said, changing the subject. She frowned but allowed it, tilting her head down towards her right arm. The seed had come from her wrist. Fresh sensation worked its way from her fingertips to her elbow. She wasn''t suddenly strong again in that part of her body, but it didn''t feel as sore or weak anymore. A feeling that was emphasized when Doctor Da-Som stepped in to attempt healing her again. She felt the prick of his improved ability against her skin. Her flesh knitting itself back to the bone was not entirely painful but certainly disturbing enough to not want to feel it ever again. ¡°Up to the elbow, better,¡± she murmured as she twisted her wrist experimentally. ¡°Good to hear it,¡± he said with no small amount of relief in his voice, ¡°You sat up on your own today too. Are you ready for a wheelchair?¡± Marta, who had been silent throughout the procedure, spoke up, ¡°Let''s not rush things.¡± ¡°I''m fine, it''s time I left this room. I can''t stay hidden forever,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°Some fresh air would be welcomed.¡± She felt the air shift slightly, the skin on her arm sensitive enough to pick up on faint movements in the room. It wasn¡¯t the full body experience of her full sensory suite but it was enough to give her the impression that the two of them had turned to one another. Marta let out a sigh, ¡°Alright, let''s get you cleaned up then. I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t want your first day out of this room to be with bed-head.¡± Amos snorted, ¡°I dunno, the wild look works for her, what do you think, Kera?¡± he asked aloud. Ishtar raised an eyebrow and she heard Marta shift in her seat. There was a faint crackle in the air before a new voice joined the conversation, ¡°I think it looks better straightened out, I¡¯m the wild child here,¡± Kera said. ¡°How long have you been in here?¡± Marta demanded over the sound of her chair sliding back sharply. ¡°Whole time,¡± Kera said flippantly, ¡°Wanted to see.¡± ¡°You should say something to one of us if you¡¯re going to observe,¡± Marta growled, ¡°What if someone saw you?¡± Amos barked out a laugh, ¡°Oh take it easy, Em! I knew she was there, the power spikes in the tower¡¯s grid are obvious,¡± he said. ¡°Well-¡± ¡°Marta,¡± Ishtar said patiently, ¡°We talked about this,¡± she tilted her head up in the direction of where Kera was hanging from the ceiling, ¡°Thank you for keeping an eye on things, dear,¡± she said, doing her best to put some genuine warmth into her tone. It wasn¡¯t easy, but she did her best. She wondered how it sounded to the others. The room was silent for several seconds before Kera spoke again, ¡°R-r-right, y-yeah. No problem. Nothin¡¯s gonna happen on my watch. You just get better boss,¡± she stammered before the sense of static in the air vanished. Ishtar frowned a little and tilted her head to the right. ¡°I get the impression that my attempt at gratitude was received incorrectly,¡± she said. ¡°Uh, yeah,¡± Amos mumbled, ¡°I dunno if that¡¯s the problem. It¡¯s just... weird hearing it from you,¡± he said bluntly. He grunted and Ishtar got the distinct impression that Marta had given him a sharp nudge. Would Sonya be mad if I went there before she woke up? I¡¯m blind so it¡¯s not like I can appreciate it, she shrugged, ¡°That sounds fine, Marta?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll take the main elevator to the top and then hit your private elevator,¡± Marta said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t take very long. I¡¯ve been up there a few times.¡± ¡°Sounds good,¡± Ishtar agreed and they adjusted their course slightly, coming to a stop at some point. Nearby she could hear someone listening to the radio. She craned her head slightly to listen in a bit when a familiar word caught her attention. ¡°...vigilantes. The organization has been growing rapidly over the past few weeks with cells popping up across Europe and Northern Africa. The Pandora Committee, already under pressure from the international community in the wake of the Tokyo Tragedy is actively...¡± ¡°Elevator¡¯s here,¡± Marta said, followed by the pleasant chime of the elevator¡¯s arrival. She wished she could see the inside, Sonya had been emphatic that the elevators on the exterior of the building were capable of viewing the city outside. Minneapolis was not the most glorious city in the world, but still the views would be spectacular. They began to ascend, Ishtar reaching down with her good hand to run her fingers down Levi¡¯s back. The hounds muscles felt stronger, tense, ready for action. Feeling protective? Ishtar thought, I¡¯m sorry I can¡¯t give you your pretty little disguise. Though I suppose enough people have seen you like this that it doesn¡¯t matter. The elevator chimed again and they made their way into another space. ¡°This is the executive floor?¡± she asked. ¡°Yeah,¡± Marta said as Cass pushed Ishtar along, ¡°The doors to your office are up ahead. There¡¯s an elevator just past my desk that will take us upstairs to the penthouse. It also goes all the way down to your parking garage, though it doesn¡¯t connect to any of the other floors.¡± ¡°I can appreciate the thought behind the design,¡± Ishtar commented. Amos and Sonya worked hard on it, she thought and then frowned, ¡°We were looking forward to that grand opening party,¡± she said irritably, ¡°Liberty keeps adding debts to the ledger.¡± Neither Cass nor Marta commented as they arrived at the private elevator, it opened with a low tone rather than the merry chime of the main elevator. They made their way inside and took the short trip up, arriving at the penthouse level. Ishtar tasted the faint scent of household fragrance on the air, someone had recently cooked and cleaned. She tilted her head towards Marta who remained silent as they passed through what felt like a short hallway. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± Cass murmured. ¡°You haven¡¯t seen the garden on the patio,¡± Marta said, ¡°Come on. You can pick a room out later, I figure that¡¯s why you really brought the penthouse up,¡± she teased the young woman. Ishtar raised an eyebrow and smirked as Cass spluttered behind her, ¡°W-what? No! I-¡± she sighed, ¡°Yeah, a little. Mom- Sonya said I could live here during my downtime.¡± Ishtar smirked, Still so young. ¡°I know,¡± Marta said, ¡°I¡¯m just teasing you.¡¯ ¡°Hmph!¡± Cass grumbled as she wheeled Ishtar across a large room. She heard a low chime and felt warmth kiss her skin. Cass stopped pushing, ¡°Woah, those are windows?¡± ¡°They can be made opaque when needed,¡± Marta said, ¡°Look past them,¡± she said and with the sound of another chime Ishtar heard the hiss of a door of some kind moving. She felt the wind brush through her hair carrying the scent of flowers. Gardenia, Lilac, Sweet Pea, Jasmine, there¡¯s more too. Strong sweet scents. Sonya¡¯s favorite. Something stirred inside the back of her mind, a small movement, before it went dormant again. You like that? She asked gently, I¡¯ll stay here for a while then. ¡°It¡¯s...¡± Cass breathed, ¡°Wow.¡± Cass wheeled Ishtar inside and they stopped in the midst of the flower garden, she heard water somewhere not far away. A fountain? She felt a slick-furred head rest on her lap and tilted her head down, placing her hand on Levi¡¯s head and stroking it as the hound sat at her feet. She took another deep breath of the air. She did not like sweet things, that was more Sonya¡¯s cup of tea. Even so... her lips curled into a smile, ¡°I think I¡¯ll spend a little time here,¡± she said. ¡°Of course, Ma¡¯am,¡± Marta said behind her, ¡°Cass? Let''s have a look around.¡± Cass hesitated before responding, ¡°R-right, okay.¡± Ishtar relaxed into the wheelchair and continued to stroke Levi¡¯s head as the two departed. I wonder, Ishtar thought as she basked in the fresh air, If this place would have helped you, Sonya. Her lips thinned and she turned her head down towards Levi, ¡°Your master will be fine, dear,¡± she whispered, ¡°She just needs time.¡± The hound huffed and drew in closer. She chuckled, ¡°Very well, little creature, I¡¯ll dote on you in her stead,¡± she said as the glass wall somewhere behind her hissed open. She heard Marta¡¯s footfalls against the wood floor beneath her, ¡°What is it, Marta?¡± she asked. ¡°You have a visitor, ma¡¯am,¡± she said. Ishtar reached for the controls of the wheelchair and turned them experimentally. It took a few tries to get it to rotate in the direction of her caretaker¡¯s voice. ¡°Who?¡± she asked. ¡°Miss Carla Mint.¡± Chapter 206 Chapter 206 A gentle breeze worked its way over the garden, touseling Ishtar''s hair as it hung loosely around her shoulders. A few petals drifted past, carried by the wind. She rest her hands in her lap, Levi sitting next to her attentively as she waited. She could feel the sun beating against her neck, the light tingling within the tiny glittering particles in her skin. She kept her head up, her eyelids shut. The bandages were gone. She wondered for a moment what she looked like, sitting there in that wheelchair. A narcissistic thought, but it carried with it a spark of imagination that was tantalizing. She wanted her eyes back soon. The glass slid open again and two sets of feet came out. Marta¡¯s and a new sound, direct and even strides with a small hint of urgency to them. Restrained. She¡¯s holding herself back. How interesting that someone¡¯s mood or state of mind can be picked out by their footsteps. I should keep this in mind in the future, she thought. Her head turned towards the sound and her lips spread into an easy smile. She and Sonya had an agreement never to talk aloud about me, about Sonya¡¯s role as Ishtar. It was dangerous for both of them. Ishtar kept her expression gentle and relaxed, She doesn¡¯t know that we split. Let¡¯s keep it that way. Time for a performance. ¡°...Sonya?¡± Carla¡¯s voice had a slight tremble to it, breathless, almost awestruck. ¡°Chairwoman!¡± Ishtar said brightly, breaking into a winning smile, ¡°It¡¯s been a while. Do you like my new place?¡¯ she raised her good hand and gestured around herself, ¡°I¡¯d give you the tour but, you know,¡± she trailed off and waved her hand in front of her eyes, ¡°A blind tour guide is pretty sh-¡± She was cut off by the sound of heels clacking against the ground and drawing rapidly near. Levi rose and let out a growl but before even the familiar could react, arms were wrapped around her neck. Lips pressed against hers. She was startled for a moment, a tension rising in her stomach that she didn¡¯t quite comprehend but knew she had to put up a good act. She returned the kiss as best she could, keeping it soft and chaste. When their lips parted she felt a hand rise to her cheek and brush back her hair. ¡°From afar you were breathtaking but,¡± Carla said before swallowing hard, ¡°You look terrible, darling.¡± ¡°Do I?¡± Ishtar asked, tilting her head towards the retreating heels of Marta and the sound of the door shutting. She turned her head back to Carla, ¡°Marta¡¯s very good with make-up, so I figured I would look at least presentable.¡± Carla didn¡¯t respond right away, she just held Ishtar¡¯s face in her hands. What is she looking for? ¡°Your face, you look so... weary,¡± she said softly before sliding back and taking one of Ishtar¡¯s hands, she kissed her knuckle, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry it took so long for me to come see you. I-¡± Ishtar reached up and touched the woman¡¯s face, exploring her features with her hands, she ran her thumb beneath the woman¡¯s eyes and along her cheek. Her lips quirked into her best approximation of one of Sonya¡¯s sardonic grins, ¡°Speak for yourself, when was the last time you slept?¡± she asked. Carla went quiet and Ishtar felt a bit of heat against her fingers. Blushing? Why isn¡¯t she saying anything? Is she expecting me to say something? Their dynamic is... ¡°Carla?¡± Ishtar asked, putting a bit of warning into her tone, ¡°When did you last sleep?¡± ¡°Two hours, yesterday,¡± the woman muttered. ¡°Two hours?¡± Ishtar balked, ¡°You¡¯re lucky I don¡¯t send you to bed right now!¡± She felt the woman relax a little under the rebuke. If she had eyes, Ishtar would have rolled them. Masochists, I¡¯ll never understand them, Ishtar thought irritably, Damn you Sonya and your ¡®tastes¡¯. She complained before pulling her hands away from the woman''s face. Carla wilted a little at the lack of touch but said nothing, just staying where she was. Ishtar reached down and brushed against the collar the woman always wore, her fingers stopping over the gemstone. ¡°You¡¯re so quiet,¡± Carla commented, ¡°Are you angry with me?¡± I don¡¯t feel anything for you either way, Ishtar thought, You¡¯re speaking to the wrong woman. ¡°Of course not,¡± Ishtar said instead, ¡°It has been a long few days. My body is... recovering still. It is going to take some time before I am able to heal fully.¡± Carla hesitated for a moment, Ishtar could feel the woman looking around, examining her surroundings before she spoke; ¡°Even with your other abilities?¡± she asked hesitantly. Ishtar resisted the urge to frown, ¡°I will be fine,¡± she reassured her, ¡°Amos says he has a solution for my eyes and I have found some inroads towards fixing the damage done to my body. I will be back on my feet in no time.¡± The chairwoman let out a sigh of relief, ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± she said, resting her hands on Ishtar¡¯s lap, ¡°Maybe its because you¡¯re tired, but you seem different today,¡± Carla said, ¡°Maybe I¡¯m tired.¡± ¡°You are tired,¡± Ishtar shot back, ¡°How bad is it?¡± Carla forced out a laugh, ¡°I suppose you¡¯re right,¡± she said and then let out a sigh, ¡°It¡¯s bad, Sonya, really bad. The entire international community wants a war, even the US is ready to send troops to Mississippi. Heroes are on edge and Villains are running rampant, they were emboldened by the prison break,¡± she reached up and squeezed Ishtar¡¯s hands, ¡°Was that- I mean- I shouldn¡¯t ask, right?¡± she murmured. ¡°It was that or lose millions more,¡± Ishtar said quietly, ¡°A choice was made.¡± Carla rested her head against the back of Ishtar¡¯s hands, ¡°I know, it worked according to Black Lotus, but nobody¡¯s going to thank you for it,¡± she said. Ishtar felt lips on her knuckles and restrained the urge to shiver, the woman practically worshipped Sonya. To someone who respected only pride and strength like herself, it was... unsettling. She did not want her subordinates to treat her this way. ¡°I knew Ishtar was a role she played,¡± Carla said sharply, ¡°Not... this.¡± Ishtar frowned, ¡°This isn¡¯t her fault, and I would advise you to be more careful in how you speak about it around her if you know what¡¯s good for you, Chairwoman. I promised to protect that silly girl from any and all harm and if that includes you I am more than capable of doing so, even in this miserable state.¡± ¡°You... promised?¡± Carla asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Ishtar said, her tone thick with chilly warning, ¡°And you of all people should know what that means. I have all of her abilities, for both good and ill.¡± There was a long pause, a silence that seemed to stretch out as the woman¡¯s hasty breathing slowed. Finally, though, she stepped forwards and stopped in front of Ishtar. Ishtar tilted her head up with a frown. Her fingers wrapped around the gun in her lap. This woman. I knew she was too sensitive, if she tried to hurt Sonya¡¯s body I will- she felt a hand touch her cheek, it was... warm. Ishtar cleared her throat and the woman knelt back down to where she had been throughout the earlier part of the conversation. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Carla said with surprising sincerity, ¡°I don¡¯t... fully understand this.¡± Ishtar scowled, ¡°What is there to misunderstand?¡± she demanded, ¡°Sonya threw her morals and what amounts to her soul aside in order to save you people,¡± Ishtar growled, ¡°The pressure of a world on her shoulders, visions of an apocalypse, nightmares every night, the ramifications of her actions on her psyche,¡± Ishtar tilted her head, ¡°Something had to give.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re still her, in a way.¡± Ishtar turned her head away, ¡°Barely, I am my own person for the most part now. I share memories with her, we talk, I observe. I prefer to avoid social entanglements so she remains at the fore.¡± Carla¡¯s hand froze, ¡°Then why are you out now?¡¯ ¡°Because Tokyo was a blow too far,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°She¡¯s... recovering.¡± The woman rested her head in Ishtar¡¯s lap again and Ishtar felt something wet and hot drip down the back of her hand. ¡°I should have been there more for her,¡± Carla croaked, the grief thick in her voice. Ishtar wondered what it must feel like to feel that way, it sounded painful. She tried to imagine failing Sonya so completely that silly girl was gone forever. Perhaps perspective is necessary, she thought as something welled up in her chest, a choking feeling that made her hair stand on end. It hurt. It ached. She hated that feeling. It was agony. Ishtar raised her good hand hesitantly and rested it on Carla¡¯s head, ¡°You-¡± she began before clearing her throat, ¡°Sonya will recover. I¡¯m keeping an eye on her.¡± She felt the woman sit up and look at her, ¡°You sound more like a big sister than a split personality. You two are so... different.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that before,¡± Ishtar said with a small smile, ¡°Have you calmed down?¡± Carla sniffed, ¡°Y-yes, I think so.¡± ¡°Then take your gun, I don¡¯t want it,¡± Ishtar said flatly and pointed to the heavy weapon in her lap. She felt Carla snatch it up, heard a click of the saftey re-engaging and the shuffle of her putting it away. Ishtar shook her head, ¡°You¡¯re lucky Marta wasn¡¯t watching. Though I suppose your reaction was... understandable.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Carla said mutely, ¡°I thought you were a shapeshifter or something. The thought of kissing someone wearing her face like that was... it was too much.¡± Ishtar snorted, ¡°Far be it from me to judge you for a slip that didn¡¯t do any harm,¡± Ishtar pointed out with a shrug, ¡°I would ask that going forward, now that you know, you refrain from kissing me when I am in control. I reciprocated to keep up the act for your benefit but I don¡¯t particularly enjoy physical affection.¡± ¡°...oh, oh my gosh,¡± Carla wheezed, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry.¡± ¡°And stop apologizing, I hate that,¡± Ishtar grumbled, ¡°You¡¯re the leader of the organization I nominally oppose, show some backbone, girl.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a hard woman,¡± Carla said with a weak laugh. ¡°I¡¯m a supervillain, a proper one,¡± Ishtar said flatly, ¡°That comes with a certain level of pride and decorum.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Carla said quietly, ¡°So what now?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Ishtar said thoughtfully and broke into a smile she imagined might have looked significantly less sinister with Sonya behind it, ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me about this invitation Liberty so graciously extended.¡± Chapter 207 Chapter 207 ¡°YOU WANT TO DO WHAT?!¡± Ishtar leaned back with the sudden rush of wind that blew over her in the wake of Marta¡¯s outburst. Ishtar made a face, reaching up to scratch at her nose. Hm. Perhaps I should have brought that up more tactfully. She thought as Amos burst into laughter on the couch to her right. She turned towards him and felt the thud of his body as he fell onto his side, howling with mirth. He rolled off the cushions and landed on the ground. Is he kicking his feet? ¡°Marta,¡± Carla insisted from Ishtar¡¯s left, ¡°Even just agreeing to it could snatch just a small amount of peace back, the world needs this.¡± Marta let out a groan, ¡°Look at her!¡± she barked, ¡°She is in no condition to be doing anything! Let alone having a meet and greet with Liberty!¡± Ishtar flexed her fingers, galled, her muscles were still atrophied. That was why she felt so weak. The consequences of invoking Visage were more dire than she could have imagined. It had quite literally sucked the strength right out of her. Even so, she was feeling well enough to move her torso. She took a breath and sought patience while Amos pulled himself back onto the couch. Marta is just doing her job as caretaker and guardian. She turned her head towards Carla and considered her. If the war breaks out too soon, though, I won¡¯t be able to play a role either way. All that preparation Sonya had put into place, wasted. There are still some final details to settle as well. ¡°Marta,¡± Ishtar said patiently, ¡°We need time.¡± Marta¡¯s rant trailed off and she let out a sharp sigh, ¡°You¡¯re committed to this?¡± ¡°She wants Ishtar at the meeting and she wants the Pandora Committee to facilitate it,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°I will concede, I am not good at people without Sonya¡¯s assistance, but I understand her mind, I know what she wants. She wants to make a point of the Pandora Committee begging Ishtar to come. It will raise questions and undermine the Committee¡¯s standing. With what she¡¯s done, the Pandora Committee is desperate to avoid a war even with the international committee¡¯s blood boiling. Though I believe war is inevitable.¡± Carla let out a sigh, ¡°I hadn¡¯t considered her using it as a public relations assassination.¡± Ishtar chuckled, ¡°You don¡¯t think like a villain, I do,¡± she said and held out her hand, palm to the ceiling, ¡°The trick is controlling the narrative. I imagine she sent the conditions very securely?¡± ¡°Yes, just as we sent a specialist to keep things quiet, so did she,¡± Carla said. ¡°I thought so,¡± Ishtar said with a grin, ¡°Because she wants my appearance at the event to be squarely on the Pandora Committee¡¯s shoulders. Sonya¡¯s appearance will be the concession she emphasizes,¡± Ishtar clenched her fist, she imagined that irritating woman¡¯s head popping like a ripe tomato in her palm. Her lips curled, ¡°So we take the initiative and use those so-called demands for our own benefit.¡± Marta grunted, ¡°That is all depending on whether or not you go. I¡¯m putting my foot down here, you¡¯re in no condition to go. She will take one look at you and kill you. She wants Sonya dead for her role in Cass¡¯ life. If she found out how Cass sees her now she¡¯d lose her mind.¡± Ishtar opened her mouth but Marta continued speaking. ¡°If I go as Sonya she won¡¯t see an injury on me, I can¡¯t fake it and that¡¯s why she wants Sonya there, I¡¯m guessing. I can put her face on but that¡¯s it. If I go as Ishtar...¡± Marta said, ¡°You¡¯ll be sitting in Sonya¡¯s seat, in this state and, I¡¯ll repeat myself, she will kill you. I¡¯ve fought her before. She is a monster.¡± Ishtar raised her hand to her chin and considered it, ¡°You¡¯ve been learning.¡± ¡°I spend a lot of time around you, ma¡¯am,¡± Marta said. Ishtar leaned back on the couch, I wish I could cross my legs, she thought with a sigh before turning to Amos, ¡°How long do you think it will take to finish your project?¡± He whistled, ¡°That¡¯s not an easy number to come up with,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯m reverse engineering an ability and basically building a replacement. Those implants were just simulations of technopathy, they used a lot of pre-pandora tech and post-pandora materials to achieve the desired effect. This is the real thing,¡± he said, ¡°It¡¯s like... working with magic. Some of the things in those eyes of yours were just impossible by pre-pandora standards of tech.¡± ¡°You took a full scan of them, every detail,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°Can you not just make copies?¡± He chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s a little more complicated than that, boss.¡± She sighed, ¡°Timeframe?¡± ¡°A month?¡± he said, ¡°If I can pull a few more people off some other projects. That¡¯s a big maybe, by the way.¡± ¡°She won¡¯t wait that long,¡± Carla said, ¡°Based on what we¡¯ve managed to get out of her, she¡¯s willing to wait at most half that before the promised day.¡± ¡°So your eyes won¡¯t be ready,¡± Marta said, ¡°Then-¡± ¡°Then I will focus on other things,¡± Ishtar said firmly, ¡°Fifteen days, can you get Liberty to allow for that long, Carla?¡± Ishtar¡¯s world was pain. Every cell in her body screamed as the strange energy from Black Lotus¡¯ palm worked its way through her body. She felt it move, pushing against the numerous roadblocks in the form of Visage¡¯s seeds. The stream that they ran down bucked and shifted with each change of the flow, gentle ebbs that turned into mind-numbing agony when the seeds shifted. She gripped the sheets on the bed and gasped before snapping her teeth back together. She could feel one of the seeds starting to loosen. Almost there. ¡°Should I let up?¡± Black Lotus asked. ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± Ishtar grunted, ¡°You dare.¡± ¡°Fine, have it your way,¡± Black Lotus growled and Ishtar felt her redouble her focus. It was like she could perceive the woman¡¯s state of mind through the connection that had formed. Another rush of power crashed through her body and she doubled over, several seeds shuddering under the onslaught. One in particular put stars into her eyes, a seed lodged in her spine. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into flesh. The seed wriggled again, whatever was anchoring it in her body giving way a little more. ¡°Keep going!¡± Ishtar croaked and her head spun. She forced herself back to her senses with a growl and felt four seeds come loose. Her lower spine, her right shoulder, just beneath her left breast, and a last one in what she assumed was her kidney. She grabbed hold of them and tried to relax her mind as best as she could. She pulled and felt Black Lotus¡¯ fingers twitch on her back. ¡°Da-Som, be ready!¡± Black Lotus called. Ishtar heard the man race over as she pulled the seeds through her flesh, she felt her body tearing beneath her skin, her muscles and sinew giving way as she yanked the offending objects out. The first one surfaced and punched through her skin. She let out a gasp of pain and a hand touched her arm, ¡°Not yet! A few more!¡± she wheezed. She pushed, and pushed, and pushed, until four blood soaked seeds fell onto the bed around her. When she slumped, Da-Som quickly put his hand on her shoulder, a prick of pain signalling the use of his ability. Ishtar shuddered as her body began to heal, the wounds closing where the seeds had vacated. Muscle reached out to attempt to reattach to bone, something hard inside her muscles budged and shifted here and there. She endured the agony until it faded and Black Lotus pulled her hand away. Ishtar panted with the exertion, sweat pouring off her face. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Black Lotus asked. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Ishar said as Da-Som pulled away. She tested her right arm and tried to roll her shoulder. The movement was difficult and a little painful from the soreness, but she finally enjoyed a full range of motion. Her muscles still felt thin, though. Not enough to restore heroic strength, Ishtar thought and moved on to experiment with her legs. With the seed lodged in her spine gone, perhaps she could move them a little. She shifted her right leg, then her left, then she kicked her feet. The effort it took to do so was monumental though, and she could feel the seeds in her knees and hips. At least I can feel them again, she grumbled before slouching where she sat. She was exhausted. ¡°You did well today,¡± Chunhua said, ¡°Your meridians are getting stronger too. They weren''t as shaky this time on my end. ¡°You¡¯re... taking this seriously,¡± Ishtar panted. ¡°Chairwoman Mint told me about what you are going to do, now that she apparently knows everything,¡± she commented, ¡°This is the right thing to do, even if I¡¯m loath to see you back on your feet. I¡¯d feel better if I was doing this for Sonya.¡± ¡°Keep your kinks out of this,¡± Ishtar rumbled, ¡°I would prefer it if Sonya did not have to experience this kind of pain.¡± ¡°My- what?¡± Black Lotus barked before letting out a calming breath, ¡°You¡¯re messing with me.¡± ¡°I consider it practice,¡± Ishtar said. ¡°How is coming up with inventive ways to annoy me while I¡¯m doing you a favor, ¡®practice¡¯?¡± Black Lotus demanded. Her tone was as hostile as ever but she sat down next to Ishtar anyway. Ishar smirked at her but said nothing, shaking her head. She fell back onto the bed and felt the plush fabric and mattress support her. She didn¡¯t care that she was getting blood on the sheets. Though she knew Marta would give her a hard time about it later. ¡°Just... getting used to it,¡± she finally said. ¡°Pretending to be like Sonya?¡± Black Lotus asked after a pause. Ishtar nodded, ¡°Doctor Da-Som?¡± she called out and the man walked over from where he had retreated. ¡°Thank you for your effort today, that will be all for now I think.¡± ¡°Of course, ma¡¯am, always happy to be of service. I¡¯ll collect the seeds and deliver them to Doctor Carter,¡± he said before gathering what he needed and departing. When the door shut, Black Lotus turned towards her, ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m improving,¡± Ishtar admitted before feeling something twist in her gut, her lips thinned as she realized what it was. She let out a heavy sigh and turned her head away from the hero sitting next to her. ¡°Black Lotus, I know this is not for me. It is for her. It¡¯s why I¡¯m enduring it as well,¡± she said in a low voice before turning her head towards the ceiling again, ¡°Regardless, I will say this only once...¡± she trailed off and frowned, struggling with the words. They felt wrong and right at the same time and it irked her that emotions could be so complicated. ¡°Thank you.¡± Chapter 208 Chapter 208 The bed was luxurious. Comfortable to the point of being unsettling. Ishtar wasn¡¯t used to sleeping in a bed. She didn¡¯t actively experience it the way Sonya did. Drifting off into slumber was still a challenge, no matter how much her rational mind urged her to go to sleep and recover from what she¡¯d gone through. So she sat there, alone, in her own sightless void and listened to the deafening silence of the penthouse. Marta and Black Lotus had gone to bed, Cassiopeia was still up, and Carla? Carla was next to her. Even when her actual lover was buried deep within the confines of her own psyche, Carla wanted to stay by her side. Ishtar turned her head as a breeze picked up in the room. The air shifted and coiled, sending her hair fluttering around her face. She felt Carla shift next to her and frowned as the wind died down and the air shifted slightly in the room. That feeling of no longer being alone coming over her once again. This time, though, the sensation was accompanied by a new feeling. It was one she¡¯d never been consciously aware of but somehow felt familiar to the point of intimacy. It was like a connection that she possessed, a cord linking her to another person. ¡°I was expecting a phone call,¡± Ishtar said quietly into the dark. ¡°Forgive my rudeness, mistress, but I have been eager to be at your side for some time,¡± Blackrazor said, his voice close, she turned her head and tilted it down. He was next to the bed then, low, kneeling? ¡°Stand up, Blackrazor,¡± she said and gestured to the end of the bed, ¡°Fetch my wheelchair.¡± ¡°Yes, Mistress,¡± the assassin said and stepped away. A moment later he helped her into it and pushed her out into the third-floor hallway. She nodded to the right and he took her through another door that opened up into her office, ¡°Your new home is impressive.¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t have been built if it weren¡¯t for your people protecting it,¡± Ishtar said thoughtfully, ¡°It¡¯s a shame I will have to wait before I see it with my own eyes,¡± Blackrazor went silent for as he wheeled her out of the hallway and towards the stairs. She felt a chill wash over her, a sudden icy cold that bit into her skin before giving way to the warmth of the apartment. She frowned, ¡°You¡¯re babying me,¡± she growled, ¡°The chair can handle the stairs.¡± He didn¡¯t respond. ¡°Blackrazor?¡± ¡°I should have been there,¡± he said, his voice was small, shaky, angry, ¡°I could have done something, anything, to see you reduced to this is...¡± She huffed out a breath, ¡°This wasn¡¯t the result of a battle in as much as there was an opponent that could be killed, dear,¡± she said even as she restrained the small smile that crossed her lips. He¡¯s such a good boy. ¡°But!¡± ¡°Self-recrimination gets us nowhere,¡± Ishtar said cooly, ¡°It only plants the seeds of regrets that we cannot afford, little Villain.¡± He sighed, ¡°As you say, mistress,¡± he conceded and resumed pushing her wheelchair. She heard the tell-tale hiss of the glass wall opening to allow them out into the garden. Her lips thinned, ¡°Speaking of regrets, tell me, did you know?¡± ¡°Know what, mistress?¡± he asked. ¡°About Kera¡¯s intentions for when she came to visit me,¡± Ishtar asked, ¡°I¡¯m not accusing you, Blackrazor, but I am very curious.¡± He paused and then she heard his gloves grip the handles of the wheelchair harder, ¡°I was.¡± ¡°And you didn¡¯t think to alert me?¡± she asked. ¡°What net benefit would that accomplish, mistress?¡± he asked in turn, ¡°Confronting you was something she had to do before she could progress any further. I know the feeling of being so fixated that I lose sight of what I need to grow. I also knew the limits of the deal, you were in no danger,¡± he explained, ¡°The greatest benefit to you and her was to allow her to walk blindly into your hands and see your wisdom unfiltered.¡± Ishtar hummed to herself, ¡°Of all of my villains,¡± she said thoughtfully, ¡°You have grown the most, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Park Beyol died in that warehouse,¡± Blackrazor said, ¡°Who he was would not allow me to accomplish my own desires, so I left him behind as necessary.¡± Ishtar¡¯s lip twitched and she nodded slowly, ¡°And what is it that you desire, Blackrazor?¡± ¡°To kill the Night Society as it was,¡± he said, ¡°I accomplished my goal and ended the headmaster. Now I have a new goal, I wish to be your shadow so I can see the world you are trying to create and in the process, become something more than a mere man.¡± Certainty. Audacity. Clarity. Ahhh... this is what I want to see. Magnificent. ¡°Even if that means dying in the process?¡± she tested him. ¡°I cannot see the other end of your goal if I am dead, Mistress. Without me, the Night Society is useless to you and your goal becomes that more difficult to accomplish,¡± he said flatly, his cold words carrying amidst the aromatic flowers. ¡°A villain can always try again, so long as they live. That¡¯s something I learned from you.¡± ¡°We never had this discussion,¡± Ishtar said. ¡°A discussion wasn¡¯t necessary, I learn better through experience and observation,¡± he said. The chill swept back into the garden and his voice took on an edge that she rather liked. Not the voice of the young man, nor the voice of the Headmaster and her agent, this was the bloodcurdling voice of Blackrazor. Death incarnate. ¡°I want Halloway.¡± ¨C Ishtar sat in the garden, to any who observed her, she was alone. Yet she could feel the faint tickle of static electricity in the air and the chill in the shadows around her. A looming threat to anyone who dared come near. It was comforting to have her beloved children close at hand. Children? She wondered about that. Perhaps that¡¯s what they are. I¡¯ve raised them and watched over them. Is that why I am so protective? I do not feel this way for Sonya¡¯s heroes or her friends outside of her inner circle. This feeling was once reserved only for Sonya. ¡°You¡¯re awake,¡± a voice called out behind her. She tilted her head, ¡°Black Lotus,¡± she said, ¡°I didn¡¯t hear your footsteps.¡± ¡°You seemed lost in thought,¡± the hero said, ¡°So I concealed them.¡± Ishtar clicked her tongue, ¡°That¡¯s an interesting trick.¡± ¡°Says the woman with more powers than fingers and toes,¡± Black Lotus shot back as she walked into the garden. Her footfalls carried sound with them now. Ishtar raised an eyebrow as the woman stopped short, ¡°Who else is here?¡± ¡°You¡¯re definitely growing into quite the hero, aren¡¯t you?¡± Ishtar commented instead of answering. ¡°Ishtar...¡± Black Lotus growled warningly. ¡°A pair of my beloved children,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°They¡¯re no threat to you unless you want them to be. I suggest you do not press more, I have a feeling you will not like what you learn.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re still doing these things,¡± Black Lotus said. ¡°What made you think I wasn¡¯t?¡± Ishtar said, ¡°My powers may be restrained but I am still Ishtar.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve just been rather peaceful the past few days,¡± Black Lotus commented, ¡°I¡¯d hoped you would at least wait until Sonya was back.¡± ¡°She wouldn¡¯t have wanted that, and you know it,¡± Ishtar shot back, ¡°Our designs for Liberty cannot wait for that silly girl to get her act together.¡± Black Lotus said nothing before she began to approach again, she paused as she stopped within just a few feet and Ishtar felt the charge in the air recede slightly as well as the chill. There was a new energy in the air that pushed them both back. Ishtar could feel the mana brushing up against her skin. ¡°You need to take the peace talks seriously,¡± Black Lotus demanded, ¡°This isn¡¯t a game. No one really wants a war.¡± ¡°Liberty needs to die,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°You know why.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re going to sabotage the peace talks?¡± Black Lotus snarled, ¡°Are you really that petty that you would put millions at risk just to get your way?¡± ¡°I agreed to attend the talks in good faith. The war will happen regardless. If I have to draw Liberty out of hiding in another way afterwards, so be it,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°Either way, I will see her dead.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a pessimistic view on things. Liberty is still human, she can be convinced-¡± ¡°No,¡± Ishtar said, her voice dripping with scorn, ¡°She abandoned her humanity a long time ago, long before the Flash.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t possibly know that, Ishtar, I know we have our differences but listen to me,¡± Black Lotus said, ¡°Please. I know that you come from Sonya, you are different, but at your core you are the same person. I want to see Liberty pay as much as anyone. She-¡± she swallowed, ¡°-but this needs to be done the right way! Maybe she can be convinced to stand trial or anything other than putting so many lives on the line.¡± Ishtar scowled at her, ¡°Heroes,¡± she grunted and shook her head, turning away. ¡°Ishtar,¡± Black Lotus said and stepped forward. A chill rose up in the room and the wind began to swirl. She heard Black Lotus take a cautious step back, ¡°Please. You said you¡¯d go in good faith. At least try to get her to surrender,¡± she hesitated, ¡°Prove that you¡¯re the better villain, outwit her.¡± Ishtar sighed, ¡°I know what you¡¯re trying to do,¡± she said and raised a hand, the wind died down. The last thing she wanted was Blackrazor showing his face. She was well aware that Black Lotus was still looking for him after what happened in Vegas. ¡°I respect it, I do, but I¡¯m not the good guy here. I¡¯m not a hero, and I never will be. I agreed to attend in good faith, though, and it is advantageous for me to at least attempt to see Liberty surrender. It would make it easier for me to kill her, I suppose.¡± ¡°Then...¡± ¡°I told the underworld that everyone gets a freebie from me,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°A single favor. You just used yours. The next time you ask me for something. You will have to pay. Don¡¯t forget that, hero. Otherwise you may end up in my debt.¡± Black Lotus was silent for a while, the scent of petals wafting past them as the breeze died down. When she spoke, there was no reservation in her voice. Only the resolve to do what needed to be done to save lives. ¡°I understand.¡± Happy Brokerversarry! Happy Brokerversarry! The world is a strange place. With as much as one tries to make sense of the magic and mayhem that plagues it, there are still more mysteries to uncover. What are dungeons? What do they represent? Some appear as mirrors of our own world, twisted reflections of what already is. Others are carefully crafted puzzles designed to test the person who seeks the treasures within. Still more appear as entirely different worlds, different lands with different people. So what are they, really? Perhaps we will never fully understand. VRRRRRR The engine of the limousine hummed as it pulled up along the brilliantly lit street. The stars in the sky were all cast away by the illumination of the city. The limo came to a stop in front of a towering three story nightclub. A line had formed along one side of the steps of over a hundred people waiting to get inside. The front door opened. The driver, his hat pulled down over his face, made his way over to the side door and opened it with a flourish. A pair of white heels slipped out and landed on the sidewalk as those waiting in line turned to gawk. Sonya slipped out with a smug smile on her face, flipping her hair back as she pulled the long coat over her shoulders, it flapped a bit like a cape. She straightened her pink tie and white jacket before turning and holding out both of her hands. A small hand with delicate fingers wrapped around her right while a stronger calloused hand wrapped around her left. She pulled the two women out of the car and grinned at them. Carla¡¯s decadent figure was clad in a long form fitting dress of black and silver with a low cut back and high neckline to emphasize the silver collar around her neck. Her face was framed by that crisp dark bob cut of hair that curled just lightly at her chin. The chairwoman adjusted her glasses and absently fiddled with the large pink sapphire hanging from the collar as she flushed. ¡°You don¡¯t think it¡¯s a bit much?¡± she murmured. ¡°Too much? You look fabulous, love,¡± She said and turned to Chunhua, ¡°Don¡¯t you think so, gorgeous?¡± Chunhua was in a black blazer and nearly transparent undershirt that revealed the silver tank beneath it. Her slacks were dark and fitted tightly around her frame ending in a pair of no-nonsense heels. The relaxed look was one thing, but seeing her hair up and tied in a bow added a whole level of appeal to her look that Sonya really appreciated. She huffed and cleared her throat, ¡°It¡¯s a good look, Chair-¡± she paused at the testy look from Sonya, ¡°Carla.¡± Sonya took a few playful steps back, ¡°See, ladies? You¡¯re fine! It¡¯s time to have a little fun! Shake all that stress off, yeah?¡± The two women looked at one another and smiled before shaking their heads. Sonya crossed her arms, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Carla said with a small laugh, ¡°Just taking in your energy.¡± ¡°There¡¯s plenty of it,¡± Chunhua added and started up the steps. Carla let out another laugh and followed her while Sonya watched them. Sonya stomped her foot, ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean? Hey! Get back here!¡± she protested and followed them up the stairs. They walked past the crowd towards the VIP side of the doors, getting a few unpleasant looks but mostly getting a lot of photos taken of them. Sonya caught up with her girlfriends and locked arms with the both of them, grinning ear to ear. The guy at the door took one look at them and stepped aside, letting them pass into the pulsing beat beyond. The air thrummed, the scents of alcohol and carefully crafted mood fragrances filled Sonya¡¯s nostrils. She took in a deep breath of the atmosphere and watched the crowd of dancers move like a single entity, lights flashing above them, the DJ a silhouette in the distance. ¡°There¡¯s our room,¡± Sonya said quickly, nodding towards the elevated portion to the right. There were doors leading into VIP rooms where club goers could stash their belongings and take breaks during a particularly long night. She led the two of them past the bar, waving at the bartender who waved back pleasantly and turned away to start making something. ¡°Come here often?¡± Chunhua asked. Sonya jumped a little and winced, ¡°Uh... maybe?¡± ¡°Huh,¡± she grunted. Carla and Chunhua popped up behind her and peered past towards the figure that disappeared into the crowd. ¡°Who was that?¡± Chunhua asked, her tone a little guarded. ¡°No idea,¡± Sonya said. It took the two of them a moment to register the statement. They looked at her in confusion, ¡°You don¡¯t know her name?¡± ¡°Nope.¡± ¡°You used your power didn¡¯t you?¡± Carla asked. ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°Creepy,¡± Chunhua murmured, ¡°Some sort of anonymity ability?¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± Sonya shrugged and brightened a little when the host walked over with a tray balanced on his hand. Three drinks were already ready. A pink beverage filled with bubbles and sparkles, a rainbow-colored margarita, and a dark drink with a swirl of cream inside. She, Carla, and Chunhua all drooled as the host presented them. ¡°Please enjoy, ladies, thank you for your patronage as always, Miss Chernovna,¡± the host said with that perfect smile that came with the job. She grinned and plucked up the margarita and cream drink first, turning to hand the first to an elated Chunhua and the second to an eager Carla. She grabbed hers next and returned his smile with a winning one of her own, ¡°Perfect service as always, thanks again,¡± she paused and glanced towards the crowd, ¡°Did you see that woman who was at our door?¡± He blinked and looked towards the crowd for a moment before nodding, ¡°Queen? Yeah.¡± ¡°Queen? What¡¯s her deal?¡± ¡°She¡¯s an odd duck, loses focus a lot but never trips over herself. A real grouch but has somehow never gotten into a fight. She¡¯s been a regular for the past month or so,¡± he shrugged, ¡°She¡¯s like an unpaid bouncer, no one messes with her and she breaks up fights with a look so she gets free drinks on occasion.¡± ¡°Interesting,¡± Sonya said and sipped at her drink, ¡°Oh that''s good! Well thank you for the info.¡± ¡°No problem, enjoy your time!¡± the host said and turned away. Sonya glanced back at her lady friends and smirked, ¡°Welp,¡± she said, ¡°No time like the present. Let''s party!¡± Chapter 209 Chapter 209 Was it a memory? Perhaps a vision? A remnant? A fragment of something that was once truth but now seems so ludicrous as to only be a lie? A place within a dream, a wondrous realm that beggared imagination. A perpetual revelry, dance and song, fire and breath, lust and love. A place of madness, where those who had finally let free their arrogant grip on that thing called ¡®sanity¡¯ could dwell. Here, in the depths of mayhem, the little light followed her lady dutifully. The passage to the grand hall was quiet as a tomb, a far cry from the ceaseless din that lorded over their destination. The walls were of granite brick, smoothed to a glorious luster and yet marred by moss, vines, and webs. The gleam beneath the grime made even that place seem surreal and haunting. There were three of them in the passage. The little light was one, in a resplendent gown of black velvet and rubies, a crown of twisted thorns made of silver adorned her raven-haired head and a veil of metal-turned cloth hung over her face. She walked slowly, following the two who she served at a respectful distance. To the right was a man, tall and broad shouldered with a back rife with luxurious muscle. His black hair hung in dozens of long braids that danced around his tanned body, his flawless skin seeming to glow with a sourceless splendor. Despite that and the grace with which he walked, there was a savagery to him, predatory and animalistic. On the left was a woman, while he was the embodiment of wild hunger, she was nature¡¯s serene grace. Ebon hair that cascaded down her back was as smooth as a stream, weaved with pale-white vines that criss-crossed in a decadent pattern. She wore a gown of black silk that glimmered with stars, gold accents framing its luster. ¡°I can¡¯t believe he¡¯s just showing up like this,¡± the woman growled angrily, ¡°Arrogant man, comes and goes as he pleases.¡± ¡°Be patient with him, darling. Or you¡¯ll lose your chance,¡± the man said, ¡°I know how much you desire him, but you can¡¯t claim him if you chase him off.¡± ¡°And you, you indulge me too much,¡± the woman protested. ¡°As long as you are happy,¡± he said and took her hand, raising it to his lips, ¡°I would sunder the golden throne just to see that radiant smile.¡± ¡°Oh husband, my handsome king,¡± the woman sighed, ¡°You say the sweetest things.¡± The little light remained silent through their flirtation, it was always like this. Their constant adoration of one another was a saccharine addition to the already unhinged surroundings. Something about it made the little light¡¯s stomach twist and wrench, but the feeling faded as she sought some manner of explanation for it. Her mind so devoid of anything useful that it left her helpless against the currents that these two strange beings dragged her through. The woman turned and leveled her with a stare, her eyes the color of polished steel, ¡°Little light? You¡¯re so quiet tonight.¡± ¡°Perhaps she is tired, love,¡± the man said, turning as well. Eyes of burnished brass settling upon the tiny figure behind them, ¡°The dove does not need to sing every evening. Let her rest and enjoy the festivities. We have more important things to deal with anyway.¡± The woman doubled back, gliding across the ground without a sound, her dress hiding whether or not she even took a step. She reached out and took the little light by the chin. The small woman shuddered at the icy grip, ¡°Is that what it is? Are you weary, little light? You know, if you become one of us then that feeling will no longer burden you. The offer stands. Be mine, and I will shower you with love, you can live in this place for all time without a care and an army of servants to solve your every woe.¡± The little light felt something rise up in her chest, a longing, an ache, a wish to finally be allowed to rest and let it all go, whatever it was. Next to that feeling, though, was a furious shriek of indignation and rage. A condemnation. A defiant howl. A cataclysm that could not be quenched by sweet things. She did not know its source nor did she understand it, but she recognized it as something that belonged to her. A natural part of her that she could not reject as much as the sun could stop rising. ¡°My heart isn¡¯t ready, my queen,¡± the little light said apologetically. The queen smiled, ¡°So be it, we have all the time in the world. Come, let us see what the Asgardian wants.¡± The little light felt a tremor go through her body, a weakness that only abated when she caught her breath. She bowed, ¡°Of course, my queen.¡± They crossed the remainder of the passage and arrived at a door. It looked to be made of a single tree, stretched, bent, and twisted until it had been molded into a useful shape. The queen and king stood side by side and gestured at the door, drawing a verdant light from its surface. It shuddered and gave way to the sound of revelry and song. Laughter, anger, moans, and shrieks assaulted the senses as merry music played in the background. Beyond the door the little light found herself once more in the great court, a vast domed room filled with glowing white trees. Seats and tables were scattered throughout, a host of men and women amongst them, swept up in the furor. Some of those present turned when the trio entered the place, they waved or bowed as they wished before returning to whatever debauchery they were engaged in, lost in their own delights. Ahead of them, two thrones of white stone rose from a tangle of vines. The queen sat on the left while the king sat on the right. The little light bowed her head and stepped in to stand with her queen only to gasp as the woman took her by the wrist and pulled her into her lap with a laugh, ¡°There we go, more comfortable than standing, yes?¡± the queen asked, reaching for her face beneath the veil. The little light turned her head away, ¡°My queen,¡± she pleaded, admonishing. ¡°Such a precocious little-¡± the queen began, her tone hungry, before a new voice cut her off. ¡°Titania!¡± it was strong, proud, and commanding in a way that distracted the little light from her predicament. She turned to look as the revelry around them died down to a whisper. None moved while the man in black leathers stepped up to a dias beneath the two thrones. He held his chin high, his rainbow-colored eyes glimmering even in the brightly lit chamber. His long reddish-gold hair was trussed up in a bun behind his head and his strong jaw was set into a wily smile. ¡°I have been waiting for you.¡± The queen clicked her tongue, ¡°Another time, then,¡± she purred at the little light. The little light watched as the queen turned her attention to the newcomer, ¡°Loki. You¡¯ve come again. Are you here to deny my affections once more? I still have room for you, you know.¡± ¡°Something worth considering, if it did not consign me to a fate worse than death,¡± he replied without so much as a flicker of doubt in his multicolored eyes. ¡°You speak out of turn in my court,¡± The queen growled. ¡°You bring someone who reeks of the Arbiters to our meeting,¡± he shot back, ¡°That plaything of yours, where did you get it? She stinks of the golden throne,¡± he asked, pointing a finger at the little light. The little light felt an instinct to recoil from his accusing gaze even as that other part of her fumed at being called something so degrading. Yet in her position she could say nothing as the queen rested a hand on her head and stroked her hair. Demeaning. Patronizing. She felt a sliver of herself crumble a bit at the indignity of it even as that fire in her belly reinforced her mind as best it could. The queen barked out a laugh. ¡°Is that what that familiarity is? I could not tell. My realm has had no place for the Golden Throne¡¯s agents for some time now. No, this one was found wandering and lost, broken. I stitched her body and mind back together. She is mine,¡± Titania declared, ¡°You have nothing to fear from this little light.¡± Loki smirked, ¡°Really now? Interesting. To think one of that busybody¡¯s disciples would go so far astray and not be recalled. Perhaps her powers are finally waning in her old age. I hear she is preparing Gilgamesh to take over for her.¡± The king leaned forward, ¡°Watch your words, friend, I have patience for amusement but not for insulting my Queen. You know well that we share the same period of ascent with [bzzzzzt].¡± The little light blinked, turning her head towards the king. That last word, why could she not hear it? It was as if something had scoured it from her senses. She looked up at Titania who gave her husband a reproachful look. ¡°Oberon, forgive me,¡± Loki said with a half-hearted bow, his hand on his heart, ¡°I was merely commenting on how wasteful that woman is with her power. While you conserve and wield your might wisely, she needlessly interferes with the business of the many courts.¡± Oberon laughed, ¡°Pretty words. You¡¯ve developed a silver tongue over the past few centuries. Boy.¡± ¡°Did they not work?¡± Loki asked with equal humor. ¡°I suppose they did,¡± Oberon said, ¡°So long as my Queen is mollified by them.¡± The little light felt the queen grip her knee and she tensed a little, wondering if today would be a day for her wrath or her good humor. She was relieved to see a smile on the queen¡¯s face. There would be no bloodshed today. ¡°I could never stay angry with you, Loki dear,¡± Titania said wistfully, ¡°What fury I retain fuels my desire for you. What pain I will impart upon you once you¡¯re mine is... tantalizing,¡± she let out a hungry breath and the little light shuddered as she was pulled closer to the queen¡¯s chest, ¡°If you are not here to accept my love, why are you here?¡± Loki frowned and met the little light¡¯s gaze through her veil. His rainbow-hued eyes glimmering with dangerous promise, ¡°The interloper has sent one of her arbiters to Asgard, a new girl. The daughter of Hephaestus and Aphrodite.¡± ¡°Then urge your father to turn her away,¡± Titania said with a dismissive wave of her hand, ¡°I do not see why you need to tell me this. Though it is strange that she would send her there when Mimir already performs that duty. Did the seer not take offense?¡± Loki hesitated before speaking again, ¡°Mimir urged my father to take her in and cajoled the rest of the court to accept her as one of their own. She has already entered the Winding Halls and makes her way to the Bifrost.¡± The queen¡¯s voice dropped into a low, dangerous growl, ¡°Mimir did what? Is this a betrayal?¡± ¡°He would not explain his reasoning to me,¡± Loki said and let out a sigh, ¡°After my protests, my brother was sent to see me out of Asgard. I am banished until I ¡®right my thinking¡¯ as is my father¡¯s proclamation.¡± ¡°He saw something,¡± Oberon said thoughtfully, ¡°A truth about the girl, perhaps? Do you know if he has been to visit Athena and her Oracle recently?¡± Loki snorted, ¡°When does he not find the time to do that? The two are like besotted lovers, I doubt they were chaste in the Golden Throne¡¯s shadow. I cannot say whether or not he received an Oracle or if it was from his own insights.¡± Titania barked out a laugh, ¡°Oh? I did not know about this, so pure Athena has a dirty little secret? I wonder if her father knows.¡± The little light was lost within the winding web of the conversation. The names seemed to have some meaning to her but she could not place them. She searched her memories but as always they were nothing but void, a hollow ache that accompanied the temper that she struggled to control. Where did she know those names from? Who were these people? Her lips thinned in concentration only for it to be broken by a luxurious finger running down the back of her neck. She shuddered and turned her head to look up at the queen, pleading. ¡°That was unkind, my queen,¡± she murmured. ¡°You dwell on unnecessary thoughts, pet, no need to think about such things,¡± Titania whispered into her ear before sitting up straight. The little light frowned, looking away as she tried to clear her mind. If that was what the queen wanted, perhaps she needed to stop thinking so much. She had taken care of her these past weeks, held her, comforted her. It wasn¡¯t wrong to repay the debt with some obedience, was it? ¡°Asgard is our strongest ally against the Golden Throne¡¯s rule over the affairs of the great ones,¡± Oberon said, his tone measured, ¡°Odin has always been resistant to [bzzzt]s influence even as he plays Mimir¡¯s games. If he is changing his stance, then we may find trouble at our doorstep. What of our other allies?¡± The little light watched as Loki began to pace, ¡°Oorochi went to the Golden Throne with a warning some time ago, I am to meet with him soon. Quetzalcoatl is eager to face Gilgamesh again. The Heavenly Demonic Cult has reached out to me after an Arbiter arrived at their doorstep. They seem to possess a great one capable of informing them of who they can trust.¡± ¡°Such forces won¡¯t matter if we lose Asgard,¡± Titania snarled, ¡°Who exactly is this child-Arbiter who has upturned our carefully laid groundwork so easily? You say that ugly bastard Hephaestus is her father?¡± Loki stopped in his pacing, ¡°A name to curse?¡± he asked with amusement, ¡°She calls herself Pandora.¡± It was like a lighting bolt went off in the little lights mind, a sudden jolt that would have sent her reeling if not for her queen¡¯s grip on her body and her own unwillingness to be noticed in the throes of the sudden revelation. Pandora? The little light thought. That name. I know that name. She felt something tease at the edge of her thoughts, an invasion, a probe that she did not welcome. She pushed it away, urging her mind to appear blank as her true thoughts swirled and thundered about. Who? Who is that? Why does my heart ache when I think of that person? What am I forgetting? Did I know her before? The questions came in a flurry as images bit into her consciousness, a world unlike the one she resided in, fragments, fictions and truths. Words spoken, schemes, hatreds and loves. A name. Sonya. My name is Sonya. Chapter 210 Chapter 210 ¡°This is a bit unexpected,¡± Ishtar murmured. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this isn¡¯t my first time doing this,¡± Black Lotus said quietly as she moved into position. ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to take the lead,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°I¡¯m quite inexperienced.¡± ¡°Just regulate your breathing to start, take your time. We¡¯re doing this for Sonya after all, let the feeling wash over you,¡± The hero whispered from behind her. Ishtar winced, the first threads of pain sparking in her body, ¡°You did that on purpose.¡± ¡°I thought you and Sonya liked a little pain,¡± Black Lotus said. ¡°I think you¡¯ll find that we¡¯ve changed quite a bit since that other time,¡± Ishtar growled. ¡°Sh-should I leave? Give you two some privacy?¡± Carla¡¯s voice chimed in. Ishtar frowned and turned her head where she was sitting, shirtless, on the meditation mat that Black Lotus had provided her. She focused on the direction that Carla¡¯s voice had come from, her senses were returning to her but they still hadn¡¯t fully been restored, even after the last of the seeds had come out. Something crucial was missing and she had a feeling of what it was. Even so, getting to this point had been nothing short of a trial to accomplish in twelve days. Days of endless agony, self inflicted wounds, and regeneration. Walking was still a terrible chore, but it wasn¡¯t far off now. ¡°What are you talking about? Weren¡¯t you the one who wanted to watch this?¡± Ishtar asked. The woman made an exasperated sound, ¡°Stop saying things that make this whole situation sound stranger than it is!¡± ¡°I think you¡¯re the one making it strange,¡± Black Lotus commented, ¡°Though I do agree that the outcome of my treatments has been... unusual.¡± ¡°You!¡± Carla growled and sighed, ¡°Would you at least explain to me what¡¯s happened to her body? What¡¯s different here from your other treatments?¡± Black Lotus¡¯ fingers left Ishtar¡¯s back and the hero cleared her throat, ¡°For the past twelve days I¡¯ve been treating her damaged meridians and helping loosen the seeds that have been weakening her body and powers. We removed the last seed yesterday and saw a noticeable jump in her recovery,¡± Black Lotus explained, ¡°We noticed something else as well.¡± ¡°I am cycling mana,¡± Ishtar said, flexing her fingers. ¡°Like a cultivator, someone with Black Lotus or Crusader¡¯s abilities.¡± Carla went quiet for a moment, ¡°But... you don¡¯t have that ability, do you?¡± Ishtar tilted her head, ¡°I have an analogue, but the cybernetics that make up a significant portion of my physical enhancements and brain should make what¡¯s happening impossible.¡± ¡°An analogue?¡± Carla asked. ¡°Sonya and Ishtar have an ability called Heavenly Jade Heart,¡± Black Lotus explained, ¡°It¡¯s nothing more than a massive wellspring of energy to draw upon, a fuel source for her powers. She¡¯s been using it to power her massively modified body but truth be told it¡¯s an ability with origins in the realm of cultivation. Even so, from what Ishtar has explained to me, that is all it is, a power source.¡± Carla went quiet for a long time before speaking again, ¡°Are you saying you gave her the ability to cultivate?¡± ¡°That is exactly what we¡¯re here to test,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°And why we allowed you to observe as a third party. Personally I am skeptical, though I value any improvement to my internal flow of energy. It will be useful in the future.¡± ¡°Are you ready?¡± Black Lotus asked. Ishtar let out a shaky breath, ¡°Go ahead. Hopefully I can get enough energy in my body to start using some of my more powerful warehouse abilities. I need to start working on helping Sonya.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Black Lotus said and put her hand on Ishtar¡¯s back again. Ishtar grunted as energy flowed into her body. The process wasn¡¯t as painful as it was for the past dozen days but it was still jarring to feel such a force invade her like that. She tilted her head forward and let out a slow breath before breathing in again. Black Lotus had explained generally the process for meditation. It was a marvelously calming process that allowed her to extend her mind beyond its limits and ease her thoughts if necessary, concentration was heightened and she imagined her control over her abilities would benefit from it as well. ¡°I¡¯m going to start cycling through your meridians,¡± Black Lotus said and Ishtar felt the pulse in her body turn into a flow that started at her heart. She felt Heavenly Jade Heart react, hungrily absorbing the energy for a moment before it began to push out and into the rest of her body. She felt it rise and fall, pushing down towards her waist and up towards her brain. From those points it spread out through her limbs and began a slow, laborious cycle. It wasn¡¯t the flood that Black Lotus had used to rattle the seeds and temper her body, it was a stable flow that Ishtar could actually follow. ¡°Do you feel the direction it¡¯s moving? Where it¡¯s moving?¡± Ishtar nodded slowly, ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Now see if you can¡¯t take hold of it, I¡¯m guiding it right now but it belongs to you. Take it slow. When you feel like you have a hold on it I will let go,¡± Black Lotus said. Ishtar calmed her mind, following the trail as it wound through her muscles and her bones. She could feel the fibrous cybernetics that had merged with her flesh and how they seemed to integrate themselves with her body. She could sense where the connections were established, where they fed off of her internal energy to power her superhuman abilities. She followed her meridians, touching each of those little connections as she went. Ishtar shuddered as she felt her grip on that energy tighten. ¡°I think...¡± she whispered, ¡°...yes, I think I have it.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯m going to let go,¡± Black Lotus said, ¡°Hang on to it.¡± It was like holding onto a leash attached to a strong and very unruly dog. One moment she was walking along the path with little effort, the next she felt herself get yanked along. She held on for dear life, gritting her teeth in concentration as she tried to reign in the unruly mutt that was her inner energy. Obey. She growled. OBEY! She yanked on the connection and grabbed hold of it in an iron grip, You are MINE! You follow my lead! She coughed and something slick dribbled down her chin. She ignored the sickly sensation and leaned into the feeling. She forced the energy to stay within those channels, following it, moving it, letting it rotate as it steadily fed her powers. She felt those fibrous connections drink deeply as ambient power flooded into her. She needed to be careful. She was activating her abilities by doing this, which meant that it could be legible on a carter radar. The last thing she wanted was someone to notice a hotspot at the top of the new ASTA tower. Slowly, not all of you need to turn back on at once. For now, Heavenly Jade Heart is all that needs to begin recovery. It will feed the others over time. Something rushed up her throat and she gagged, toppling over with the sudden sensation. She planted her hands on the ground and heaved. She forced herself to remain focused, she could feel the flow stabilizing. Is this... really possible? She wondered as she held on to that feeling with all her strength. Stabilize. Stabilize. Let me have something to give to Sonya when she comes back. A housewarming gift. Give me this! Then, without any fanfare, the flow eased and fell into a rhythm. Ishtar went still, heaving again before reaching up to wipe her lip. She sensed Carla hurrying to her side while Black Lotus stood up behind her. ¡°Did it work?¡± Black Lotus asked her, ¡°Though I think I know the answer to that.¡± Ishtar pushed herself up to a sitting position with the help of Carla. She raised a hand and turned it over. She could feel its position even if she couldn¡¯t see it, her minds eye perceiving an illusory flow of light through her limb and fingers. ¡°Hero,¡± she said absently, ¡°I think humanity may be grossly underestimating what took place during the Flash,¡± she said as she savored the sensation of energy trickling into her physical abilities like a soothing balm. ¡°You mean...¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°I think you should try this process on an unawakened.¡± ¨C Ishtar pulled herself from the shower, grabbing hold of the rail and getting to her feet momentarily. She felt her legs buckle beneath her but for a heartbeat she managed to remain standing. It wasn¡¯t much, but it was a clear sign of progress. She shuffled and turned, falling into the wheelchair. She sighed and leaned back, I¡¯ll call Marta in a moment. I need to catch my breath, she thought as she recovered from the strenuous activity. I don¡¯t think I will be at my full power again until the month is over at this rate, she thought sourly, Something¡¯s still missing. She frowned and lowered her head, resting it in her hands, Sonya. What is happening? Why haven¡¯t you shown any signs of- She felt a pulse through the back of her mind and shot up straight, grabbing onto the handle of her wheelchair. Sonya? She called into her mind, Is that you, dear? No response. Only that same eerie silence. She closed her eyes and drifted back, trying to enter that mind space of theirs. It was hard without utilizing Amethyst Sorceress to facilitate, but not impossible. She found that little mote of light still hanging there. For almost two weeks now it had hung in silence but now it was thrumming, shrinking at times and growing at others. She reached for it, a yearning welling up in her. She touched it and recoiled, a flood of sensation and confused thoughts crashing into her like a tidal wave. What... was that? Is she fighting something? She heard a knock at the door and pulled herself out of that space, ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Hey,¡± Cassiopeia called from the other side, ¡°There¡¯s something on the TV you should know about.¡± Ishtar sighed, ¡°Very well, can you call Marta for me?¡± ¡°On it.¡± A few minutes later she was wheeled into the living room by Marta. She hadn¡¯t revealed to the caretaker what she¡¯d experienced. She didn¡¯t want to trigger any unnecessary worry. At this point there was little that could be done until she had enough power to activate Amethyst Sorceress. Marta brought her over to where she sensed Cassiopeia sitting on the couch. The girl had only one day left before she was to leave for her full-time work in New York. ¡°What am I supposed to be seeing?¡± Ishtar asked, ¡°I¡¯ll remind you that-¡± ¡°There¡¯s commentary,¡± Cass said quickly, ¡°I recorded it.¡± Ishtar frowned, ¡°Go on then. Marta, if you wouldn¡¯t mind? ¡°Of course, ma¡¯am,¡± Marta said and cleared her throat as the television in the living room went quiet for a moment. She then took in a sharp breath and Ishtar felt her caretaker¡¯s hands tighten on the handles of the wheelchair. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll need me to tell you what¡¯s on the screen,¡± she said finally as a reporter spoke up. ¡°Over the past few weeks, one young up-and-coming hero has thrown down the gauntlet against monsters and villains alike. In New York City, the hero Otis and his teammates Felwinter and Riot have made something of a name for themselves. The trio has quickly hit no less than sixty monster manifestation events during that time and played a primary role in the arrests of nine villains, one of which was rare-tier,¡± the reporter said. Ishtar¡¯s hands clenched so tightly on the armrests it hurt, Otis! ¡°When asked for comment about his rapid actions in the city, the young hero had this to say,¡± the reporter continued and a new voice joined the broadcast. A hated voice that was laced with the pleasant charm of a gentleman. A sickly sweet poison. ¡°I think the people of this city deserve a chance to rest easy, for once,¡± Otis said, ¡°This isn¡¯t just a job for me, I became a hero because I want to see people smile.¡± Liar. ¡°With so many arrests already under your belt and all that experience with hounds and lurkers, are you planning on hitting a dungeon soon?¡± a woman asked. ¡°That¡¯s up to the Guildmaster,¡± Otis said, ¡°I¡¯m still a new hero with a lot to learn, but I hope she¡¯ll give me the opportunity.¡± ¡°The young hero has already gained quite the following amongst local-¡± the feed cut when Ishtar waved her hand. ¡°Enough,¡± Ishtar rumbled. She sighed and rested her hand against her head. She could feel a headache coming on, He¡¯s started to accelerate, she thought, Of all times, why now? What are you planning, Otis? ¨C Otis relived the memory again as he sat at his desk in the Guild Headquarters, a frown forming on his face... ¡°No,¡± Guildmaster Bluestar said, her expression stony. He sat up in the seat across from her, ¡°W-what?¡± he asked, ¡°Why not? Guildmaster, I¡¯m a mythic, I should be there with the others when the time comes, not here sitting on my-¡± ¡°Otis,¡± Bluestar said evenly. Her brilliant eyes locked with his and she brushed a lock of brown hair behind her ear before she sat back in her chair and crossed her arms. ¡°I appreciate your feelings but the answer is no. You¡¯re untested. I will admit that your abilities are powerful but a small handful of monsters and a single villain arrest does not clear you to be sent to the front lines even if the situation gets that bad down south.¡± He was stunned. How could she even say something like that? Who does she think she¡¯s talking to? I¡¯m- no, calm down. Let''s find out the reason instead of throwing a tantrum. Perhaps there¡¯s another route I can take. I can¡¯t miss the war. ¡°Crusader and the others, you¡¯ve given them the go ahead, haven¡¯t you?¡± he asked. ¡°They were in Tokyo, Otis. They fought hordes of epic-tier monsters and several heroic or possibly even mythic-tier villains. Yes, they¡¯ve been active just as long as you have, but they¡¯ve proven their mettle with Bandit personally observing and vouching for them,¡± she said, ¡°If you want me to even consider this, I need more from you.¡± I see. Fine then. He inclined his head, ¡°I understand, Guildmaster,¡± he said and got to his feet. She rose as well, her expression still hard. He bowed his head to her, ¡°Please forgive my earlier rudeness. I just can¡¯t sit by while my friends go to war when I could be of some help to them.¡± She let out a sigh and smiled, ¡°I know. You¡¯re a good kid, Otis. I can tell. Sonya apparently put you through the ringer before she let you join but that just speaks to how seriously she took you. I¡¯m just doing the same. Impress me and we¡¯ll talk again. Alright?¡± ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡± His lip twitched as he opened his eyes and he stared at the screen where he saw his face. He was standing next to the reporter and talking, the image frozen. He tilted his head and savored his first public appearance. It wasn¡¯t the most auspicious moment, but it felt like a breakthrough of sorts. He reclined in his chair just in time for his phone to ring. He reached out and plucked it off his desk and checked the ID. His lips curled into a smile. ¡°Guildmaster! How are you, ma¡¯am?¡± he asked brightly. ¡°Otis, glad you took my call, you¡¯ve been busy,¡± she said, ¡°You aren¡¯t wearing yourself out, are you?¡± ¡°Of course not, I haven¡¯t felt better if I¡¯m being honest,¡± he said, ¡°What can I do for you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m setting you up with a dungeon. Rare-tier. It popped up in Albany. Are you up for it or was that comment on the news all talk?¡± she asked. His lips spread into a wicked smile, ¡°I¡¯ll get it done in record time, ma¡¯am. You¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to it. I¡¯ll send the details to Riot, good luck, Otis.¡± She ended the call and he relaxed into his chair, ¡°Side-Quest complete.¡± Chapter 211 Chapter 211 Ollie packed his bag, slipping the notebooks and his new tablet inside. He rubbed the bridge of his nose before turning back to look at his office. My office. The thought gave him no small amount of pride. It was one of the smallest offices in the building and at the end of the hallway away from the elevator, but Scowl, the head of the New York Guild¡¯s investigative team had taken an immediate liking to him during their first meeting. Only a few weeks in and the space was already something out of a conspiracy film. He walked over to the most prominent board on the wall, his arms crossed. A few fragmentary images of Ishtar were pinned around a screenshot of her speech about the death of August. Stretching from them were fibers connecting her to other faces. A partial facial picture of Park Beyol who he suspected to be Blackrazor even though the man was officially dead. A blank page with the word ¡®Charon?¡¯ on it. There was a picture of the lightning woman from the Hague attack, an image of what appeared to be some manner of sea monster, newspaper clippings, more images. All connecting back to that central point. ¡°Who are you?¡± he murmured, rubbing his chin. A knock on the door drew his attention and he found the bland face of John staring at him when he opened it. ¡°Hello John,¡± he said, ¡°Can I help you?¡± ¡°Go home,¡± John grunted. Ollie blinked, ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t slept in two days,¡± John said, ¡°Scowl¡¯s worried. Leave.¡± Ollie looked down at his feet and scrunched up his face, confusion warring in his brain, ¡°Has it really been two days?¡± ¡°Yeah, looks like you¡¯re packing up. Get going. I¡¯m not leaving until you do,¡± John said. Ollie looked up at him and saw the stiff young man he¡¯d come to know at the camp leaning against the wall across from his door, arms crossed. It was hard to believe that the nearly expressionless guy barely a year different in age from him was a Guild Officer acting directly at Guildmaster Bluestar¡¯s instruction. Management. Ollie looked back at his boards. The Ishtar board, the various explorations of local villains. He squinted at one of them and wondered if maybe a particular link was just his sleepless brain playing tricks on him. Should I double check? He thought wearily only for John to clear his throat behind him. He winced and nodded slowly, Right, right, sleep. He sighed and grabbed his bag from the table, closing up shop and heading out into the hallway with John who eyed him seriously. ¡°What?¡± he asked. ¡°Is your team leader pushing you to work this hard?¡± John asked. Ollie blinked, ¡°What?¡± he shook his head vigorously, ¡°No! Not at all. Honestly Otis complains about how much time I spend in the office rather than working with him on the field. He says I need to get more public exposure,¡± Ollie sighed, ¡°Not my strongest area.¡± John made an odd face that looked somewhere between disappointed and annoyed, ¡°Ah, he¡¯s not wrong. Hero work is a social job, even for investigators. You need to talk to people.¡± ¡°Does Otis bother you?¡± Ollie asked. John shrugged, ¡°Yes and no, good work, too much ego.¡± ¡°People like him,¡± Ollie pointed out, ¡°He says nice things.¡± John narrowed his eyes, ¡°Does he mean them?¡± Ollie scratched the back of his neck and gave a noncommittal shrug. He wasn¡¯t going to badmouth his team leader for John no matter how close they were. John seemed to read enough of the situation to relent with a wave of his hand and gestured for Ollie to walk in front of him. Ollie frowned, he felt a little like a child being punished for being somewhere he wasn¡¯t supposed to be. The last time someone had walked like this behind him, it had been in prison, to his cell. He rubbed his arm uncomfortably but kept his mouth shut. Just put up with it. They made it to the elevator and John pulled something from a pocket in his coat, he handed it over to Ollie who adjusted his glasses and squinted at it, ¡°A thumb drive?¡± ¡°It¡¯s for Otis. Bluestar assigned your team to a dungeon,¡± he said, ¡°Good luck with that.¡± Ollie blanched, ¡°A dungeon?!¡± ¡°Fighting monsters is your job, Ollie,¡± John said with a frown and put the thumb drive in his hand, ¡°So is taking care of yourself. Go rest,¡± he said as the elevator opened with a merry chime. Ollie looked down at the small object in his hand and let out a sigh before nodding, ¡°Yessir,¡± he stepped into the elevator and turned around to meet the stony faced hero¡¯s gaze. Instead of that, he saw a mixture of sadness and concern in John¡¯s eyes. Back at the camp it had been hard for John to express himself, barely speaking in just a few words. It took time, but he opened up. Now he was even expressing himself in ways that weren¡¯t just words. Meanwhile I feel like I¡¯m still where I started. All of Rouge¡¯s advice hasn¡¯t helped me at all. My powers are stronger but I¡¯m still... He swallowed and nodded to John, ¡°Good night, John.¡± John¡¯s sad expression turned to a small smile, ¡°Good night, Ollie.¡± Just a few minutes later he stepped out into the residential part of the Guild Headquarters. Reserved for new heroes who hadn¡¯t bought themselves a place to live with the significant funds given to them by ASTA. First big paycheck is coming up, he reminded himself, Otis wants a place where the three of us can live with enough room to expand the team. I still need to give him the listings I came up with. He rubbed his neck as he nearly stepped past the small ¡®apartment¡¯ that had been designated for their team. He fumbled with the keycard and the door opened. ¡°Oh, he¡¯s actually alive, I just lost ten bucks,¡± a girls voice rang out as he stepped inside. He tossed his suitcase onto the couch, ignoring her jab. The last thing he wanted today was to get into it with Felwinter. She seemed to thrive on pissing him off, then again, he supposed he was the only available target with Otis forbidding her to be her usual caustic self around normal people and other heroes. ¡°Hello, Jessica,¡± he grumbled, dragging himself over to the couch and sitting down hard. He looked up to see her step out of what amounted to the kitchenette with a cup of coffee in her hand and a smirk on her face, ¡°You look like shit,¡± she said. ¡°I haven¡¯t slept in two days apparently,¡± he said. ¡°Apparently? Definitely. You¡¯re no use to Otis in this condition,¡± she said with a frown, ¡°You¡¯re lucky he doesn¡¯t toss you out on your ass for wasting your talents.¡± He gave her a deadpan stare and adjusted his glasses again, ¡°Are you done? Why don¡¯t you go buy yourself some kneepads since you-.¡± Her lip twitched, ¡°I dare you to finish that sentence,¡± she snarled, taking a few steps forward. Oh I am so tired of her, he thought and got to his feet. Maybe it was the sleeplessness. Maybe it was all the things he had to do to keep Otis happy. He wasn¡¯t sure, but right now, he was feeling a little hot under the collar. She walked up and got up in his face, nose to nose. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± he said cooly, ¡°I forgot to add the hair ties.¡± ¡°I will turn your bones to ice, Riot,¡± she growled. ¡°And I¡¯ll-¡± ¡°What? What are you going to do, yarnball?¡± she growled, ¡°String me up?¡± she laughed as the door to the small office space behind her opened, Otis stepping out with that usual smirk on his face. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t test him, Felwinter,¡± he said casually, ¡°He could twist your heart into all sorts of shapes, make you pine for your brother in ways that would put you in therapy for the rest of your life. Couldn¡¯t you, Riot?¡± Ollie felt his gut twist at the thought even as his mind betrayed him with the theoretical logistics of accomplishing it. He was horrified to realize just how easy it would be, her strong emotions towards her brother could be flipped on their head just like that. He wrinkled his nose in disgust even as he held her gaze. He didn¡¯t say a word, but he saw her pale just a little bit and step back, crossing her arms over her chest, ¡°Fine.¡± He let out a sigh, ¡°Thank you, sir,¡± he said only to get swept up as Otis threw an arm over his shoulder and led him over to the couch. ¡°You look terrible man! This is what I mean about overworking yourself. You should be getting some air with us!¡± Otis laughed, pushing him down onto the couch before giving him a serious look, ¡°You have anything to show for all that time in the office?¡± Ollie swallowed as those glowing blue eyes stared down at him. However ¡®friendly¡¯ Otis was, he had to keep reminding himself that this man was evil on a level that was difficult to fully grasp. The atrocities he¡¯d already seen. They weighed on his mind as much as his own crimes to keep himself close to the man. What¡¯s worse, it''s getting harder every day to justify it all. Plenty of people in New York love him and with everything I¡¯ve done to help him, what right do I have to call him out? He lowered his eyes to the ground, At least if I¡¯m around I can nudge him away from the really bad stuff, maybe? ¡°Riot? I asked you a question, man,¡± Otis asked, his tone heavy with warning. Ollie blinked a few times and rubbed his eyes, ¡°Sorry, two days without sleep, hard to think,¡± he said and turned to his bag. He tugged out two folders and handed them over to Otis, ¡°On those villains you were interested in. Everything I could dig up.¡± Otis turned the envelopes over in his hands, ¡°Good stuff,¡± he said, opening them and skimming them for a moment, ¡°They¡¯ll make good filler, at least,¡± he said, ¡°Think you can arrange for them to make a scene somewhere public when its time?¡± ¡°Like the others?¡± Ollie asked wearily. Otis nodded, ¡°Like the others.¡± Ollie sighed, feeling his shoulders get even heavier, ¡°Yes, it shouldn¡¯t be a problem sir. It¡¯s pretty easy for me to move around without getting spotted.¡± Otis clapped his hands, ¡°Good shit! Good shit! Love it, man! You should be more proud of yourself, you¡¯re riding the Otis train!¡± Ollie forced himself to smile, ¡°Speaking of which,¡± he said and pulled the thumb drive out. He wished he could keep it to himself but the idea of denying Otis anything seemed more and more like suicide. He held it out and Otis snatched it up, peering at it, ¡°It¡¯s details on the dungeon we got assigned to by the Guildmaster.¡± ¡°Nice! I was just telling Felwinter about our next outing,¡± Otis said and turned to her, ¡°Excited?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I got to kill something worthwhile,¡± Felwinter said, ¡°Playing house with civilians is tiring.¡± ¡°My thoughts exactly,¡± Otis agreed, ¡°More importantly, it¡¯s our final test to get to participate in the big show coming up. The Guildmaster has made it clear she wants us to make a good showing in the dungeon if we want to go play in the big leagues.¡± ¡°Big Leagues?¡± Ollie asked, ¡°Did I miss something?¡± ¡°See, this is why you need to get out of that office of yours. The whole world is screaming for a war with Liberty and you¡¯ve got your nose in old medical records, current events are important too smart guy,¡± Otis said with a laugh, ¡°War¡¯s coming Ollie and I am going to make sure I make headlines on the frontlines.¡± A chill went up Ollie''s spine, ¡°A war, against people?¡± Otis tilted his head, ¡°Who else?¡± Ollie searched the man¡¯s face, How can he not feel anything about what that means? Killing people? I know he¡¯s done it before but a war? The death toll. I can¡¯t even imagine, with heroes participating? Is that even legal? He felt breathless as he slumped in the couch, ¡°Right, of course, sorry.¡± Felwinter snorted somewhere behind Otis, ¡°Pussy.¡± The air went stale and Ollie felt something cold drop into his guts. He whipped his head up towards Otis who¡¯s smile had turned just a little tense. His eyes glittering as his head turned slightly to the side. ¡°Didn¡¯t I just pull you out of a fight?¡± Otis said, the smile in his words was so chilling that Ollie felt nausea rise up in his throat. He wanted to run, hide, do anything to get away from the bloodlust caking his skin. ¡°Do we need to have another session Felwinter? I don¡¯t mind a little banter, but let me make myself clear,¡± he growled and rounded fully on her. She let out a squeak and stumbled back, landing on the ground and looking up at him. Otis stalked forward and stood over her, ¡°You work together. Bottom line. If I have to shut you up again I will let Riot do whatever he wants to your karmic threads. Who knows? Maybe becoming stupid for a few days will set you straight.¡± Ollie struggled to pull himself out of the paralysis that Otis¡¯ rage had struck him with, ¡°S-sir! Th-that¡¯s not necessary- I don¡¯t want to-¡± he gasped and Otis rounded on him. ¡°I¡¯ll make you do it,¡± Otis growled, ¡°While she pissed me off, she isn¡¯t wrong. How many people have you helped me kill, Riot?¡± he demanded and turned his full attention on Ollie, ¡°How many civilians were caught up in the villain attacks that you orchestrated to get me publicity? Stop playing innocent. You¡¯re not. Get over yourself.¡± Riot¡¯s heart had inched its way into his throat as his body went almost entirely numb under that stare. Otis held his gaze for a few tortuous seconds longer before he brightened and stood up straight, smiling ear to ear, ¡°Now that¡¯s out of the way! Let¡¯s start planning our expedition! I¡¯m looking forward to seeing what those scouts have on that dungeon!¡± he said eagerly before turning on his heel and marching towards the door to the office. He stopped at the door and turned to look at the pair of shell shocked Heralds who stared back at him in horror, ¡°Well? Hurry up. You can sleep later, you¡¯re on my clock now. There''s a peace summit in a few days that¡¯s bound to fail and I want to make sure our trip is done before then.¡± Ollie looked towards Jessica who turned to meet his gaze. She looked down at her feet for a moment before rising and giving him an awkward nod. He did the same, his gut twisting. He¡¯s wrong. I¡¯m doing this to stop him. Sacrifices are okay, right? He walked up to the door and put his hand on it, his tired eyes hurt, his fingers ached. How much further can I take this? He wondered as he pushed his way in, following the enemy of the world into his lair. Chapter 212 Chapter 212 Two days until the summit. Ishtar sat in the garden, slipping deep into her own thoughts. Her head turned towards the warm sun above as fall winds blew over the penthouse. She ran her fingers along the arm of her wheelchair. She was strong enough to walk now, more or less, but it was exhausting. She¡¯d avoided attempting to create ambrosia on the off chance that the healing restored too much shape to her face and figure. Carla¡¯s comment about her appearance had given her the idea to play possum with Liberty when the time came. She frowned, ¡°Time is running out, and I still haven¡¯t found that last piece. Sonya is still silent,¡± she murmured to herself, tilting her head, ¡°Marta?¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am?¡± Marta said from behind her. The woman hadn¡¯t moved an inch in well over an hour. ¡°You¡¯ve explored the deeper instincts of your mythic ability, correct?¡± she asked. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am. While there is still some to explore, I can safely say that most of it¡¯s functions are at my disposal,¡± she said, ¡°The heroic aura is still something I have a hard time intentionally controlling, but I¡¯m making progress. Why?¡± ¡°The limitations,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°Besides the obvious one,¡± she trailed off, not giving voice to that word that was Marta¡¯s death-knell, ¡°Does your ability depend on anything to work?¡± ¡°You¡¯re still searching for Liberty¡¯s crutch,¡± Marta said and paused in thought for a moment, ¡°My ability is stronger when there are individuals with pure purpose nearby.¡± Ishtar raised an eyebrow, ¡°Pure hearts?¡± Marta laughed, ¡°Not pure hearts, ma¡¯am, purpose. I feel stronger when you are nearby, for example. Right now, with you, mister Blackrazor, and miss Chunhua nearby I am flush with energy and vitality. Miss Kerauna has some thinking to do, I suspect.¡± Ishtar huffed out a breath, ¡°Fascinating,¡± she said, ¡°It seems like many of the mythic abilities have some way of drawing strength from others. Liberty¡¯s is almost entirely fixated on that though.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Marta murmured, ¡°It¡¯s a conundrum. Is it sheer numbers or is there some sort of rule it goes by?¡± ¡°My suspicion is sheer numbers, but something feels off about that. It¡¯s too easy,¡± Ishtar said thoughtfully, ¡°Personally-¡± a pulse went through her body and she froze, her brows furrowing as sparks of sensation pricked and tingled within her skull. The brain did not have nerve endings, it could not feel things, but there was still sensation there for her. She shuddered and leaned forward holding her head as Marta grabbed her shoulder. ¡°Ma¡¯am?¡± Ishtar let out a gasp as the sensation welled in her head, a thrumming pulse of pain bordering on the worst headache she¡¯d ever had. She felt her heart thrum, power welling up in her chest and spreading out through her limbs before abating as her muscles which she hadn¡¯t yet healed could not properly withstand it. The Heads up Display appeared in the void of darkness that was her blindness. The text scrolled across her vision. She could see it, even without her eyes. She saw the paper-doll of her body entirely colored a dark yellow-orange color. There were red flashed on her legs and arms especially. She felt other things too, connections and sensations, signals flickering in her periphery. She connected to one with a flex of will and felt information stream into her brain. Data processing faster than the speed of thought. She barked out a laugh even as Marta quickly pulled her back up and onto the wheelchair. ¡°Ma¡¯am, are you alright?¡± she asked hastily, ¡°What happened?¡± Ishtar grinned to herself and tilted her head up. The door behind them hissed open and classical music began to play through the penthouse. She felt Marta tense next to her and she turned her head towards her faithful caretaker. ¡°Now we¡¯re getting somewhere. Let¡¯s go with the optimal plan for the summit.¡± She felt Marta bow next to her, ¡°Of course.¡± ¨C Ishtar was in her office, sitting in the center of the room in her wheelchair. She¡¯d sent Marta on her way to get some rest and prepare a meal while she ruminated. With my mental abilities restored and technopathy reactivated, it¡¯s time I make sure everything¡¯s in place. She paused just long enough to check in on the tiny mote of consciousness that represented Sonya in her mind. It was still small, but brighter than before. Whatever was happening within Sonya¡¯s subconscious, she was fighting hard. Ishtar felt a little pride in her other half as she turned her attention to the data that had been brought to her. A map appeared in the void of her vision, the whole world stretched out before her. There were numerous red dots spanning the globe that represented the various compounds controlled by Liberty along with relevant information such as estimated populations based on crowd sizes and facility capacity. She tilted her head, They¡¯re all about the same? Odd. I figured the compounds in areas with denser populations would have more people. Why is she spreading them out like that? She considered it for a moment before shrugging, Prudent, I suppose. Don¡¯t put all your eggs in one basket. Still. There¡¯s got to be a hint here. She mulled it over, staring at the map for nearly ten minutes, working her brain as she tried to figure out why Liberty put her people where she did. They¡¯re all coastal locations. Because her cult has a no-fly ban? She gets her supplies from external companies though. Hm. Does she not trust aircraft? Ishtar smirked, Fortunately, this is to my advantage given the plan with Kingshark. She sighed, Still. I feel like I am missing something very simple here. What is it? The door behind her opened and she turned, ¡°Amos,¡± she said, ¡°Welcome.¡± ¡°Heard your technopathy was back online,¡± Amos said, ¡°How ya feelin¡¯ boss?¡¯ ¡°Better,¡± she said and then huffed out a breath, ¡°Though I am still nowhere near figuring out Liberty¡¯s secret. I thought that having access to a map of where she puts her people would at least give me some inspiration, but it¡¯s given me nothing.¡± She listened to him walk over and stand next to her, ¡°Can you put it up on the displays in here?¡± She nodded and with a thought felt the faint sensation of illumination in the room on her skin. Amos hummed once, ¡°Oho, she¡¯s really got them all spread out, huh? Defensive measure?¡± ¡°That¡¯s my thought, keeping them close to the water allows her to ship them away if necessary. Though that does little to help her against Kingshark,¡± Ishtar pointed out, ¡°They¡¯re all the same population too, more or less.¡± ¡°I see that,¡± Amos said before pausing, ¡°Huh. Interesting. Gimme a sec.¡± She turned to him and paused as lines began to appear on the projection in her mind, narrow bands of white that bisected portions of the map into segments. Each segment had one compound stationed right in the middle of it. She frowned a little, ¡°What am I looking at?¡± ¡°Time zones,¡± Amos said. ¡°Time zones?¡± Ishtar murmured, ¡°Why are they separated by time-¡± she froze and nearly hopped to her feet. She whipped her head towards where Amos was standing, ¡°There¡¯s always a portion of her cult awake at any point of the day. Part of Blackrazors report included a portion that described their religion as largely contemplation based. They were instructed to regularly think about Liberty and her beliefs. I thought it was just an indoctrination process.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t?¡± Amos asked before he too barked out a laugh, ¡°Wait, are you saying that they need to be awake?¡± Ishtar felt a thrill run up her body, ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m saying. They have to be actively thinking about the object of their worship, Liberty, for her to get power from them!¡± Ishtar declared as she burst into laughter, true, deep chested, howls of delight and mirth. The room trembled, the air dropped in temperature, energy crackled and popped, she clenched her fists and savored the moment. ¡°Ha ha ha! HA HA HA HA HA! I HAVE YOU LIBERTY! I HAVE YOU!¡± She caught her breath and slumped back into her chair, bloodthirst boiling in her veins, ¡°Contact the others, we have some adjustments to make to the plan.¡± She could feel the excitement coming off of Amos as his powers went to work, reaching out to call everyone necessary in her cabal. ¡°Right away boss.¡± ¨C ¡°We¡¯re changing the battle plan?¡± Kingshark asked over the connection, he sounded dubious. ¡°Slightly,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°It¡¯s all about timing, dear. In order for Liberty to draw power from her followers they must be conscious and actively thinking about her. They can¡¯t do that all the time, of course. They need to sleep and perform other activities. So, she has her people spread out evenly across time zones. That was why she was careful about her times of activity in the American South and only started to become more active as her cult grew," Ishtar explained. ¡°Ahhh, so it wasn¡¯t just her concern about enough numbers to stay untouchable, it was about ensuring she could be empowered at all times. She appeared during the camp raid at night, but was still strong,¡± Charon commented, ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean that she¡¯s operating at half capacity at all times?¡± Ishtar nodded, ¡°That¡¯s right. If we go through with the original battle plan, instead of weakening her during the final battle we may very well end up rendering her invincible. Communications between her compounds need to be cut off and each compound needs to be hit in sequence rather than simultaneously.¡± ¡°I getcha,¡± Kingshark grunted with amusement, ¡°Lock each one down one at a time so they can¡¯t wake the others up. I bet she¡¯s countin¡¯ on us hitting her all at once during the war.¡± Ishtar paused and rubbed her chin, ¡°I think you might be right. She¡¯s luring myself and the heroes into a final battle. She knows we know at least something about how her powers work and she¡¯s expecting us to try to undermine it. Instead, with all of her people across the globe awake at once, she¡¯ll slaughter everyone.¡± ¡°Could be a way to kill Otis,¡± Companion suggested. Interesting thought, but too risky. ¡°If we allow her to be at her full strength for even a few minutes the casualties would be enormous. Especially for the more useful heroes who will likely be facing her head on,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°We still don¡¯t know what the limits on Otis¡¯ invulnerability are. I blew him up with An Set and he¡¯s walking around like nothing happened.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard a bit about him recently,¡± Charon said, ¡°Punk kid making a name for himself in New York. You¡¯re sure that little brat is going to cause an apocalypse?¡± ¡°Positive,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°He wants the world to worship him as he burns it down. We¡¯re getting off topic,¡± she cleared her throat, ¡°Charon, I want you to go ahead with the plan with Tenebra but change the messaging for the songs. The locals should be compelled to attack the compounds after the first signs of Kingshark¡¯s attack. Not before.¡± ¡°That¡¯ll put more pressure on my boys,¡± Kingshark said. ¡°It will, but truth be told the first attack is the most important. Lock them down, put them down or neutralize them, and then use that new trick of yours to reinforce the next attack,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°If you need to shift more of your forces to the first target to guarantee it, do so.¡± ¡°That makes things easier,¡± Kingshark chuckled, ¡°Lookin¡¯ forward to this now.¡± Blackrazor finally spoke up, ¡°And my people?¡± ¡°Start the process after the summit, let the chaos trickle down. Exterminating her support companies all in one fell swoop will alert her to the problem. Her facilities aren¡¯t that large. Food and supplies will begin to grow tight around the time fighting starts,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°When the day comes, tighten the noose. Let her world collapse around her.¡± ¡°Understood, it will be done, Mistress,¡± Blackrazor said. And while that¡¯s happening, I¡¯ll send you to deal with Halloway, she thought before pausing, ¡°Blackrazor.¡± ¡°Yes, Mistress?¡± ¡°I am aware I promised you Halloway. He will likely be somewhere well protected to limit reinforcements for the heroes, probably the heart of her main compound. There¡¯s someone else who will possibly be there as well. Before you eliminate Halloway, which will certainly sound the alarm for Liberty, I want you to see if you can¡¯t kill another man. Craftsman,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°He¡¯s a Herald like Liberty but his combat ability is limited on his own.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want me to capture him?¡± Blackrazor asked, ¡°Taking his ability would be fortuitous.¡± ¡°That would be optimal, but I recall him being difficult to pin down,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°Kill him. It¡¯s cleaner.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°So where am I hitting first?¡± Kingshark asked. ¡°South Carolina,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°Go east from there.¡± Kingshark chuckled, ¡°And end it all at her place. I like the way you think, boss.¡± ¨C Ishtar sat in silence as Marta adjusted her tie. Levi was sitting beside her, receiving pets from her while Marta worked. Her caretaker moved around to brush her hair before pulling it up into a ponytail. She bound it with a jeweled clip before letting it drop, silky locks cascading down her shoulders. ¡°You sure about putting so much emphasis here?¡± Ishtar asked finally, her fingers flexing in that way that had become a habit recently. ¡°I¡¯m the costume expert,¡± Marta said with a chuckle, ¡°Your face is still a little gaunt and your muscles thin. Emphasizing other parts and putting on a bit more makeup will make it look like you¡¯re trying to hide your weakness while putting a focus on it instead.¡± Ishtar snorted, ¡°I see.¡± ¡°She went out of her way to call Sonya out because she didn¡¯t believe the rumors about her injuries, so let¡¯s show her by trying to hide it,¡± Marta said. A knock came to the door, ¡°Are you two ready?¡± Black Lotus¡¯ voice came through. Next to Ishtar, Levi let out a low growl and she shushed the familiar. ¡°Almost!¡± Marta called back, ¡°Do we have a portal?¡± ¡°Molly just set one up for us. Can I come in?¡± she asked. Ishtar waved a hand indicating she didn¡¯t care and Marta walked over to open the door. Black Lotus stepped inside and paused, Ishtar knew what she was seeing. Ishtar had been dressed up in one of Sonya¡¯s best suit and vest combos. Despite how withered she was, she still had her natural looks. On the other hand, Marta was walking around in Ishtar¡¯s regalia, save for her helmet, and had changed her hair to match that of what was known about the supervillain. ¡°This is a little jarring,¡± Black Lotus said, ¡°This is how you pulled off that assassination at the Palace in Vegas, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Part of it,¡± Ishtar admitted as Marta moved around to inspect her nails. Satisfied, her caretaker stepped away, ¡°Perfect.¡± Ishtar reached for the controls on her wheelchair and panned herself to face Black Lotus, she let out a breath and relaxed, adopting a lackadaisical grin. She cleared her throat and put aside her usual formality, she¡¯d been practicing. ¡°Alright!¡± she said with all of Sonya¡¯s bright enthusiasm and clapped her hands together, ¡°Let¡¯s go talk peace!¡± Chapter 213 Chapter 213 The city had been chosen by Liberty. The place by the Pandora Committee. The small amount of heads-up had allowed Ishtar a minor amount of preparation time. It wasn¡¯t much, but with all eyes now on the University Convention Center, it was better than nothing. She smiled a little to herself as the limousine pulled up. She was aware that the area was modest, but luxury and grandeur in that regard were not to Liberty¡¯s tastes. She looked down on wastefulness and so the Pandora Committee seemed only too happy to provide in that regard. ¡°Well, I was honestly expecting more,¡± Black Lotus murmured to her right. Ishtar tilted her head towards the hero, ¡°Protesters?¡± ¡°Among other things,¡± Black Lotus said, ¡°Get ready for an earful. I kind of wish you¡¯d brought Levi with you.¡± Ishtar snorted, ¡°Levi¡¯s a darling, but he has a habit of growling a little too much when he thinks I¡¯m being bothered,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°Visual intimidation is one thing, hostile posturing towards civilians is another. Sonya has a sterling image to maintain.¡± ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re ready for this?¡± Carla asked from her left, ¡°No offense, but you aren¡¯t great at imitating Sonya¡¯s attitude and eccentricities.¡± Ishtar shrugged, ¡°Liberty isn¡¯t looking for that. She wants the hard woman she met at the Hague. That, I can do. Also, I¡¯ve been practicing. I can play her role long enough,¡± she added a little petulantly. The silence told her that Carla and Black Lotus were exchanging looks. She raised an eyebrow as Black Lotus cleared her throat, ¡°Were you just-¡± ¡°Can we get out of the car, please?¡± Ishtar growled, a bit of heat rising to her face. She ignored the snicker from the irritating hero moments before she heard the door open and the sound-proof seal was broken. Shouts carried into the vehicle, chants and slogans thrown about as loud as each person could manage. The affiliates ranged wildly; ¡°Liberty must face trial! War crimes! War crimes!¡± ¡°The Pandora Committee is corrupt!¡± ¡°Remember Tokyo!¡± ¡°Liberty should be put down! Death Penalty!¡± ¡°Chernovna for President!¡± ¡°PC heroes aren¡¯t real heroes!¡± ¡°Might makes right!¡± ¡°The Children of Dawn know the truth about Tokyo! Where are they hiding?¡± Ishtar¡¯s lips thinned as Black Lotus helped her out of the vehicle and into the wheelchair. A portion of the crowd that was likely within eyeshot died down for a heartbeat as Ishtar, or rather, Sonya¡¯s withered appearance was first revealed to the masses. She could hear camera shutters going off, The sounds of news stories blasting off into scoop territory. She sighed, Had to be done, she thought as her mind drifted to the chanting, What did I do with the Children of Dawn again? Oh, right, I sent them to the Night Society for the time being. Better there than anywhere else I suppose. She rubbed her thumb down the armrest of the wheelchair thoughtfully, I should figure out what to use them for. It¡¯s a valuable resource. ¡°Miss Chernovna! Miss Chernovna!¡± a reporter called out from somewhere nearby, ¡°What are your thoughts on being invited to this summit? Why isn¡¯t Handmaiden with you?¡± Another quickly barked over him, ¡°Is it true that your mechanical eyes were damaged in the attack? Are you blind again?¡± ¡°What is your current relationship with Chairwoman Mint? Have you two gotten married yet? Don¡¯t you think that¡¯s a conflict of interest?¡± another shouted. Vultures, Ishtar thought, I don¡¯t understand at all how Sonya can revel in this sort of environment. These people make me ill. She let her senses spread out a little, getting a better feel for her surroundings. It wasn¡¯t a visual representation but it was better than before. She felt Chunhua¡¯s shoulders tense behind her as she pushed the wheelchair, to her left she felt Carla¡¯s hands begin to ball up into fists before relaxing. ¡°Ignore them,¡± Carla murmured, ¡°We¡¯ll have time for the peanut gallery later.¡± They wheeled Ishtar along a sidewalk that was open only because of the barriers put in place ahead of time by the committee. Ishtar rest her hands in her lap and eased into a more relaxed expression, her smile turning radiant as she turned it on those she passed. The crowd kept shouting, only dying down a little when they passed the area where the protesters and onlookers were allowed to stand. There, just beyond it, she felt three figures waiting for them. Two women and a man. She couldn¡¯t tell much about them besides their general figures, though she knew two of them quite well. Chunhua¡¯s grip tightened on the wheelchair, The third one must be Dame Kant, then. I recognize poor Phillip. The wheelchair came to a stop and she tilted her head, blindly smiling in the direction of the eight foot tall woman looming over everyone else in her vicinity. A small crowd of press had gathered at a safe distance. Cameras were already flashing and clicking. Finally. ¡°Estella Hanks,¡± Ishtar said pleasantly, ¡°I haven¡¯t made you wait overly long, have I?¡± The air grew tense, she sensed the man to the left of Liberty shift to move forward. She kept her smile pleasant but smug, her head tilted to the side as if she was just innocently asking a question. If Sonya were here, how would she do it? She would draw you into her pace with little jabs and tiny cuts, so I think I¡¯ll give it a try. Let¡¯s play, Liberty. Come and join me on the playground. Liberty didn¡¯t so much as move, but the man stopped. ¡°Sonya Chernovna,¡± Liberty said, keeping her tone even, ¡°You actually came. I see the rumors of your injuries were not unfounded. Curious, since my people had nothing to do with it.¡± ¡°You trust your people so implicitly? Brave,¡± Ishtar said. ¡°I trust them to do what is in their best interest, and lying to me is not,¡± Liberty countered. ¡°Well said,¡± Ishtar conceded with a chuckle, ¡°Shall we go inside and get to business?¡± She sensed the movements of Liberty crossing her arms, ¡°Not all conditions for this meeting have been met, have they?¡± she said. Ishtar restrained a sneer. You¡¯ll hint but you won¡¯t admit to what you asked for. I knew you would play it this way, so would I. Two can play at that game. Carla tensed next to Ishtar, a little performance arranged ahead of time. She took a step forward even though Ishtar could feel the woman trembling slightly beneath the Herald''s gaze. Real courage is so hard to find, Ishtar thought as Carla planted her feet and stood between Ishtar and Liberty. ¡°The best we could do was leak that this meeting was happening. We are the Pandora Committee, we will not bow to Supervillains or plead to them for their aid,¡± she snarled, ¡°If Ishtar comes, she comes, but we will have no part in making a deal with the devil, especially at your request.¡± The air grew so thick it was smothering. Liberty took a warning step forward, ¡°What did you just say?¡± Liberty growled, ¡°I¡¯d watch those accusations of yours, Chairwoman. I don¡¯t need to lean on an outside force to get my way.¡± The man at Liberty¡¯s side raised his hand slightly. Black Lotus reached for her sword. The press began to shift back. Ishtar rest her hands in her lap and savored the moment before sending a blip of signal through her technopathy. Ah, what a beautiful circus, she thought as Liberty¡¯s own hand lowered close to her sword. To their right, the doors to the conference building flew open with a bang and three sets of feet marched out. The gasps and shouts from the press joined the sudden diffusion of tension. Liberty turned so sharply she ground the cement beneath her feet. ¡°Ishtar!¡± Liberty shouted. Marta, wearing the regalia, stepped out with a masked Blackrazor and Kerauna at her side. She had her arms crossed behind her back with her head held high. Marta spoke through the voice mixer that voice of cold scorn and bloody promise. A rasp that chilled the air, ¡°Liberty,¡± Marta hissed, Ishtar made the eyes flash in time with her words, ¡°I heard you were having a party and thought I might crash it. Seems I was lured into this by the Pandora Committee. How amusing that they¡¯re finally playing at a higher level. The old chairman fumbled with tinker toys, well played, Chairwoman.¡± It¡¯s always so interesting hearing my true voice from the outside, Ishtar mused. Carla finished her part of the performance and relaxed, her hands dipping slightly to her sides. ¡°It was a gamble,¡± Carla said, ¡°This one insisted that she wouldn¡¯t meet with us without your presence. I¡¯m ashamed to say that I am a little glad you came. Perhaps we can avoid needless bloodshed after all.¡± Ishtar cleared her throat, ¡°Carla, dear, that was a confidential part of the agreement.¡± Ishtar felt Liberty¡¯s hackles rise slightly at the jab and she rounded on Carla and Ishtar, ¡°It would seem that I will have to keep my word,¡± the herald ground out. ¡°Were you hoping I wouldn¡¯t show?¡± Marta snickered, ¡°Before we go, we should all introduce ourselves. It¡¯s only polite.¡± You really should have been an actress, Marta. What a shame. When Liberty said nothing right away, Marta spoke up, taking the initiative. She turned up the volume on her helmet and broadcast her voice so that more than enough people could hear. ¡°I am Ishtar! The Queen of Villains and the final authority in this world,¡± she declared before gesturing to the two next to her, ¡°This is Supervillain Kerauna, my master bolt. I believe Hero Black Lotus and Miss Chernovna have met her already.¡± Black Lotus was the next to put on her little show, she gripped her sword, ¡°We¡¯ve met,¡± she growled, ¡°So she really does work for you.¡± ¡°Mistress!¡± Kera whined into the conversation, ¡°This is booooring! Why don¡¯t I just smite them all and save the trouble?¡± It was Liberty¡¯s groups turn to grow tense, the woman who had been still the entire time drew her own hand up to an object on her belt. Marta didn¡¯t so much as react or even acknowledge Kera¡¯s comment before gesturing to Blackrazor, ¡°And this is someone who needs no introduction, given his quite legendary reputation, Supervillain Blackrazor, the leader of the Night Society. The worlds finest assassin.¡± This made Black Lotus nearly draw her sword out of her sheath. Ishtar smirked to herself when she felt the woman¡¯s glance, an accusatory glare. Sorry I didn¡¯t tell you he would be here, dear, but I needed you to put on a good performance. Ishtar thought, Now we¡¯re even for your little games during my treatment. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to be here to talk, Ishtar,¡± Liberty growled. ¡°On the contrary, I¡¯m very interested in how this all plays out, Liberty,¡± Marta countered. Liberty scoffed, ¡°This is Sir Philip, my right hand,¡± she said with a grunt, ¡°And this is Dame Ito. The most powerful among my round table,¡± she clenched her fists, ¡°I do not believe I require an introduction, but for the sake of the zoo of press that you¡¯ve brought to this place. I will make it plain. I am Liberty! And my word is law.¡± ¡°Jungle law,¡± Ishtar scoffed and received a faux reproachful gasp from Carla. ¡°I am Chairwoman Carla Mint of the Pandora Committee, this is Sonya Chernovna who you invited to this negotiation, the CEO of ASTA Corporation and the Voice of the Hero Movement. With her is Black Lotus, our top hero,¡± Carla said. Marta clapped her hands, ¡°Wonderful! See how easy it is to have a civil conversation? We¡¯re all introduced even if some of us are a bit deluded about our roles here,¡± she snickered and spun on her heel, ¡°Shall we go inside and talk?¡± she said and strutted inside without bothering to wait for the other two parties. Ishtar felt a cold glare on her and turned her head to face Liberty¡¯s presence, her lips widened into a playful smirk. ¡°Looking forward to it, aren¡¯t you, Miss Hanks?¡± Liberty scoffed and marched into the building with her two round table members in tow. Ishtar leaned back in her wheelchair and let out a breath. The first hurdle is complete, we¡¯ve set the pace but as far as the negotiations are concerned she holds all the power. I¡¯ve agreed to try to make her capitulate so I¡¯ll have to give it my all. It¡¯s obvious that she wanted Carla to fail to get me to come so she had all the more reason to declare that talks had broken down. She wanted legitimacy and an excuse out of this. We¡¯ve taken that from her. Ishtar gestured and Black Lotus began wheeling her inside. Ishtar rubbed her thumbs together thoughtfully, Now that I know her weakness, I know why. She wants a war to happen as much as I do. She wants the Pandora Committee to hit her bases of operation across the world and wake her people all at once without her even sending a signal, disguising her ability¡¯s function and turning herself into an unstoppable juggernaut. ¡°You could have warned me,¡± Black Lotus hissed, ¡°About him.¡± Ishtar huffed, ¡°What good would that do?¡± ¡°He killed Pathfinder,¡± she rumbled. ¡°He¡¯s killed far more than that,¡± Ishtar snorted, ¡°Quit pretending to be pious knowing what you know, hero. This is my play. Just play your role.¡± ¡°That went well,¡± Carla said, ignoring the snipping between Top Hero and Top Villain. ¡°We¡¯re just getting started,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°While she clearly came hoping that the negotiations wouldn¡¯t happen, someone like her, she¡¯s prepared for the conversations we¡¯re about to have. It¡¯s what I would do. Contingencies upon contingencies.¡± ¡°And what¡¯s your contingency if talks break down and she lashes out?¡± Black Lotus asked tersely. ¡°They just walked inside. Your friend can get us out of here in an instant, if you don¡¯t think you can block one of Liberty¡¯s blows,¡± Ishtar teased. ¡°I can handle myself, I¡¯m worried about the Chairwoman,¡± she spat. ¡°Ladies,¡± Carla growled as they reached the door. The snap of her tone even managed to draw Ishtar¡¯s attention for a moment. She raised an eyebrow as she turned her blind gaze on the Chairwoman. Her lips twitched into a smile that said ¡®cute¡¯ before she let out a breath. ¡°Yes, yes, as agreed.¡± ¡°Apologies, Chairwoman,¡± Black Lotus said with far more sincerity than Ishtar. Ishtar snorted as they made their way inside. She didn¡¯t need to see to know their surroundings. Downloading a map into her brain had proved sufficient to give her a general idea of where they were going. They moved into the largest room in the building before arriving at a long table that had been set up for the summit. Marta had taken a seat at the head of the table with her legs crossed, opposite the equally audacious Liberty. Ishtar tapped into the helmet with her technopathy, transmitting her voice to Marta, <¡±You did well. I¡¯ll take it from here.¡±> <¡±As you wish, Mistress,¡±> Now the real fun begins. Chapter 214 Chapter 214 Outside, Liberty kept her chin up as usual. Her eyes down across her nose at everyone she looked at. That was just one part of the image she maintained. Power was everything, after all. Power sets you apart. Power allowed you to accomplish things that even money could not. She didn¡¯t need money to rule. She didn¡¯t need charisma like her groveling clerics. No. She only needed strength. Strength enough that no one would oppose her. Strength that she possessed already, though she had to be careful when applying it. To that end, she had to admit that it wasn¡¯t quite her strength yet. It wouldn¡¯t be until there was no one else who could defy her even when she was only channeling a single timezone¡¯s worth of strength that that it would be real power. She wasn¡¯t a fool. She understood her limitations, however few of them remained. That¡¯s why she formed the round table in the first place. It was why she hadn¡¯t annihilated her family¡¯s cult and struck off on her own. It had its uses. She¡¯d merely altered the canon. I¡¯m feeling sentimental, she thought as she walked into the chamber. It was a large square room that had a stage off to one side. It looked like it was intended for everything from press conferences to fundraisers. She glanced around it briefly as she walked, Ito and Phillip in tow. No security whatsoever and those cameras don¡¯t look active. This is going to be a very private meeting... she thought before shooting a glance at the two parties who entered with her group. Sonya Chernovna was a withered husk of her former self. Gaunt and thin sitting in that wheelchair. Somehow, despite that, she retained a serene elegance that galled Liberty for some reason. She couldn¡¯t put her finger on exactly why. With her was the so-called ¡®World¡¯s Strongest¡¯ and the Chairwoman. For someone who¡¯s predecessor I had blown up, she¡¯s awfully brave. Or is it some sort of misplaced confidence? Liberty turned her eyes to the other group and had to restrain a frown. Ishtar. She had made plans for both outcomes but had put the chances of the supervillain actually showing up to the meeting at next to nil. Even if it did happen, it should have taken a monumental effort from the Pandora Committee to even contact her, let alone convince her to attend. Yet here she was and there was no evidence among her people spying on the Committee to point at their private dealings with her. Nothing to rub their nose in. Nothing to throw out to the world and show just how corrupt they were. In fact, to all the world, it seemed like Ishtar had come because she wanted to and had heard about it. Lies... Lies and smokescreens. Something is amiss here and I¡¯m just not seeing it. Where¡¯s the trick? Is this really Ishtar or some fake the Committee cooked up? ¡°Liberty.¡± Ishtar rasped from one head of the single long table that sat in the middle of the room. She had her legs crossed and was reclining with all the casual ease of a queen. Behind her, her two armed attendants remained standing at attention. The woman of the pair was grinning to herself as if she was remembering a joke that no one else had heard with the man stared at her blandly through the eyes of his mask. ¡°I gotta say, I¡¯m really glad to see my favorite footstool in one piece!¡± The supervillain¡¯s hissing voice came through the helmet, her eyes flashing with each word. Liberty paused in her march towards the other head of the table. She turned slowly to stare into those two glowing bars that took the place of eyes on that helmet of hers. ¡°Excuse me?¡± Ishtar inclined her head towards Liberty¡¯s right, ¡°Little Phillip of course.¡± Liberty stiffened. Only Ishtar would know about that humiliation... She took a step to the right and put herself between Ishtar and Phillip, ¡°Sir Phillip is my right hand. If you want this negotiation to go anywhere I suggest you show some respect. Ishtar.¡± Ishtar shrugged, ¡°So you¡¯re satisfied I¡¯m the genuine article.¡± She goaded me, Liberty realized, The game of politics has already begun. She exhaled and inclined her head, ¡°I have to admit I¡¯m surprised to see you here,¡± she said, ¡°Showing your face after running rampage through my compound takes a lot of guts.¡± ¡°Says the woman who ordered the killing of young people who had barely entered adulthood. Trainees, If I¡¯m going to kill a hero, it will be one who can put up a fight,¡± Ishtar hissed as Chernovna slid into position at the midpoint of the table. She sat between Liberty and Ishtar with her hands in her lap and a small smile on her face. ¡°She¡¯s right, y¡¯know. You have no ground to stand on if that is your complaint with Ishtar, Liberty,¡± Chernovna quipped. ¡°Pffft!¡± The gray and purple haired woman at Ishtar¡¯s side had to restrain a laugh, looking away and covering her mouth. Kerauna, the Lightning wielder from the Hague. So she was one of Ishtar¡¯s subordinates. Liberty¡¯s lip twitched but she didn¡¯t dignify the impropriety with a reaction, looking back to Ishtar. ¡°I¡¯m here,¡± she grunted and sat down in the chair at the opposite head of the table from Ishtar. She made a grand gesture towards the room and those sitting in it, ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem particularly invested in the proceedings,¡± Chernovna said. ¡°This is a negotiation for a cessation of violence between myself and the Pandora Committee,¡± Liberty pointed out, ¡°Ishtar and I are still at war, so, ultimately, these negotiations are pointless,¡± she said with a shrug and gestured lazily towards Ishtar, ¡°Why should I bother making peace with you and keep fighting a war anyway?¡± She paused and stared daggers at Chernovna, ¡°You could return my sister, though, and I might take this a bit more seriously.¡± Chernovna frowned, ¡°She isn¡¯t a commodity to be traded,¡± she said. ¡°Is that so?¡± Liberty asked with a grin, ¡°I thought your entire business model was based on Heroes as a commodity.¡± Chernovna let out a sigh and shook her head, clearly not entertaining the comment. Liberty glanced towards Ishtar who had remained still during the exchange. They met one another''s eyes and Liberty scowled. Our animosity goes beyond the ¡®human¡¯ level of the Pandora Committee. This war is unavoidable- ¡°Peace is on the table from my end as well,¡± the supervillain rasped without preamble. The Chairwoman shifted forward, ¡°You don¡¯t have anything to lose by staying out of it. Why contribute?¡± ¡°I want to see where this goes,¡± Ishtar hissed. Liberty blinked and looked squarely at Ishtar, ¡°What?¡± ¡°She was pretty blunt,¡± Chernovna said with a chuckle, ¡°Sounds like you have every reason to take this seriously, Miss Hanks.¡± Liberty pressed her lips together and leaned back in her seat. What is happening here? They¡¯re so coordinated. It¡¯s like talking to the same person taking different approaches. She frowned and considered the six people in front of her before speaking, ¡°What do you want?¡± she asked. I want a war, but if I can reduce the amount of interference then that would be optimal. Crushing the Pandora Committee is more than enough to get what I want, worshippers. If Ishtar¡¯s withdrawal is on the table, I suppose I can consider it. Keeping her out of the battle can only help me. ¡°You¡¯re currently wanted for war crimes against the Sovereign Nation of Japan,¡± the Chairwoman said from Ishtar¡¯s side, her expression grave, ¡°You need to stand trial.¡± Liberty barked out a laugh, ¡°First of all, there¡¯s no solid evidence of my involvement. From what I hear the two causes were a rogue experiment by Japan itself or it was orchestrated by Ishtar here. Second, there is no authority that can judge me,¡± she finished her little speech with a growl of warning, resting an armored hand on the table. ¡°We have a witness right here putting you at the Seattle dungeon afterwards making moves that hinted at you attempting a similar disaster with far greater consequences,¡± Chernovna chimed in, raising her hand to gesture at Black Lotus even as her face remained pointed at the table, her eyes shut. Is she blind? I heard she was blind prior to the flash. Liberty huffed, ¡°Again, there¡¯s no proof of my intentions,¡± she said, ¡°If you must know I was hunting the treasure in the dungeon. An Epic dungeon likely possessed a valuable tool at the end,¡± she said and shot a look towards Black Lotus, ¡°Though I was beaten to the punch.¡± Black Lotus¡¯ dark eyes fixed on her face but she didn¡¯t rise to the bait, ¡°We¡¯re here to talk peace, not look for more reasons to hate one another.¡± Liberty raised an eyebrow, ¡°You really think any of this talk can change things at this point?¡± ¡°As much as I hate to say it,¡± Black Lotus grumbled, ¡°I¡¯m reminded of something that one said once,¡± she jerked a thumb towards Ishtar who turned her head to stare at the hero. ¡°A ruined world isn¡¯t worth living in.¡± ¡°I said ruling,¡± Ishtar pointed out. Black Lotus frowned but kept her mouth shut, not breaking the staring contest between her and Liberty. Liberty snorted and set aside the woman¡¯s impudence before turning to Chernovna, ¡°Regardless, you ask too much,¡± Liberty ground out, ¡°I suggest you rethink your demands. You have no true evidence concerning Tokyo and anything you think you might have gotten from Sir Ewen is inadmissible as far as I am concerned. With the kind of abilities present in the world, coercion is not only likely, it is a certainty,¡± she said and leaned back in her seat like a throne, looking down on Chernovna over her nose. ¡°Still trying to make the Committee look bad,¡± Chernovna said, ¡°Is there any real point to that? All you¡¯re doing is pissing people off.¡± ¡°You know my views,¡± Liberty shot back. ¡°Right, right, might makes right, you¡¯re the strongest in the world, sure whatever,¡± Chernovna said with a wave of her hand, ¡°Uhuh, that rhetoric sounds familiar,¡± she sighed, ¡°Listen. After Tokyo my friend Amos was able to calculate the estimated blast radius for dungeons of various tiers. Around your main compound there are sixteen dungeons within range of one another. The Pandora Committee doesn¡¯t want a war because that would mean the possibility of blasting the southern US into nothing but a monster filled apocalyptic wasteland.¡± Next to Liberty, Ito hummed to herself, ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound so bad,¡± the scientist said with a thoughtful sigh, ¡°Imagine all the work I could get done.¡± Liberty shot Ito a warning look before turning back to the others ¡°If you¡¯re so concerned, then stay off my land.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that simple,¡± The Chairwoman cut in but Ishtar interrupted her. ¡°Given how your ability works, Liberty. Do you really want people fearing that being associated with you will get them blasted to kingdom come?¡± Ishtar asked, ¡°You¡¯re playing a dangerous game. Your philosophy is all about how strength trumps all, but a dungeon break is the great equalizer. Nobody would survive that kind of blast.¡± ¡°If you say so,¡± Liberty snorted, unimpressed by the comment about her ability. ¡°Seems like my sister has been talking and the Pandora Committee¡¯s ability to keep secrets is sorely lacking,¡± she chuckled. It didn¡¯t bother her that they knew the bare bones of her ability. In fact, I¡¯m counting on it. Go ahead and come. Ishtar slammed her fist on the table as the Chairwoman looked away with a scowl, ¡°This is exactly why I can¡¯t tolerate you! It¡¯s bad for business, another catastrophe like Tokyo will send the world into a tailspin!¡± ¡°It¡¯s all about money with you,¡± Liberty said with disgust, ¡°Is that how they got you here?¡± Ishtar rose to her feet and placed her hands on the table. Liberty did the same, the two of them staring one another down. Ishtar gestured and blades of light appeared around her body. Liberty sneered and reached for her sword only for a glowing blade to appear in the air between them. It looked somewhere between a jian style sword and a western longsword in design and hummed with dangerous promise. More interesting, it was floating. Liberty flicked her gaze away from Ishtar long enough to look at Black Lotus who was scowling, fury in her eyes. ¡°Enough,¡± she snarled, ¡°Sit. Down. Both of you.¡± Liberty would be the very last to admit it, but she felt something in her gut twist a little bit at the way Black Lotus spoke in that moment. She¡¯s advanced again since Seattle, hasn¡¯t she? How does she keep getting stronger? Liberty thought before huffing out a breath and sitting down. ¡°Fine,¡± she shot a look towards Ishtar, ¡°If that one will behave.¡± Ishtar looked down at her, ¡°There is only one animal that needs taming here, but I¡¯ll comply. For now,¡± she hissed. Off to the side, Chernovna sighed, ¡°We¡¯re getting off topic. Our goal for this meeting is to prevent a war not escalate towards it.¡± she said and turned her closed eyes towards Liberty. ¡°Liberty. Is there really nothing we can do to settle this? Reparations need to be made, say what you want but Tokyo is at your feet at the end of the day. We will find the truth one way or another.¡± Liberty frowned, ¡°You¡¯re presumptuous,¡± Liberty growled, ¡°Even if I did take responsibility for Tokyo, it would ultimately mean nothing. You hold no authority to judge me or convict me. I am authority.¡± ¡°You¡¯d lose a lot in a war,¡± Chernovna cautioned. ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± Liberty said, ¡°I will rebuild. You will not. Mythics are rare and I will slay all of your strongest heroes, leaving you with nothing. That is just a fact and the clear out come of an attack by your organization.¡± Black Lotus opened her mouth but Chernovna raised a hand to stop her. The hero gestured and the floating sword returned to her hand before disappearing into her palm. That must be the toy she got from Seattle. It could have been mine. Liberty smirked, ¡°See how the so-called hero obeys the one with the deep pockets.¡± Isthar scoffed, the sound like something between a cough and a bark through the modulator on her helmet. She gestured dismissively towards Liberty, ¡°She clearly does not want to actually negotiate. Every word out of her mouth is another jab,¡± she said sourly before turning her head towards Liberty. ¡°I should have known you just wanted to show off that you could bring the Committee to the table, you had no interest in peace. I wonder what your people would think.¡± Liberty restrained a withering glare. She put both hands on the table before pushing to her feet, ¡°It¡¯s a good thing this is a private negotiation, then,¡± she said with a confident shrug. ¡°You seem confident in that,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°Stop playing games and put forth some effort, Liberty. You aren¡¯t in front of your worshippers here, it¡¯s time to face facts. You can¡¯t beat the world. At least try to playact sanity. You¡¯ll live longer.¡± Liberty glared at the woman, holding back the anger that was boiling beneath her skin in that moment. I am unstoppable. I do not need to listen to this. She glanced towards Phillip who kept his eyes forward even as he swallowed hard. Liberty clenched a fist beneath the table, Do they have a chance? No. My strategy is perfect. She exhaled and looked to Chernovna; Just put an end to this farce already. Give me my war, set off my trap, and let''s put this question of who¡¯s in charge to bed. ¡°Can we at least set a time frame for this ceasefire?¡± The Chairwoman asked, exasperated, ¡°I would like to evacuate as many people as possible from the affected area if you are so insistent on this, Liberty.¡± Liberty scowled at her, ¡°You make me sound unreasonable,¡± Liberty said with a mocking smile as the Chairwoman stared back at her. The insignificant woman didn¡¯t even blink. Liberty¡¯s expression fell into a scowl. How dare... She closed her eyes and exhaled, ¡°Fine,¡± she bit out, ¡°You have until the end of the month. Fifteen days. Then I am-¡± ¡°Deal,¡± Chernovna cut in, drawing a surprised look from everyone at the table. She looked up at the Chairwoman, ¡°Does that work for you?¡± The Chairwoman chewed her lip, glanced up and met Liberty¡¯s gaze. ¡°Fine. I will ask that you stay out of any evacuation operations Liberty. Hands off.¡± Liberty huffed, ¡°In that case I have a demand of my own.¡± ¡°Greedy,¡± Ishtar scoffed. I don¡¯t want to hear that from you, Liberty thought but steadied her feelings, ¡°Return my sister.¡± Chernovna barked out a laugh, ¡°This chick,¡± she sighed, ¡°What part of she isn¡¯t a commodity didn¡¯t you understand? You aren¡¯t getting her. Just back off-¡± ¡°Take the win, Liberty, let it go. You too, Chernovna,¡± Ishtar interrupted with a shrug and got to her feet, ¡°Either way it doesn¡¯t matter. I¡¯m done here. This was a waste of my time and it doesn¡¯t help that you bore me to tears, Liberty,¡± she gestured for her subordinates to walk with her, ¡°I¡¯ll see you in half a month.¡± Liberty scowled at the back of her helmet. Why do I feel like I lost even after getting exactly what I wanted? She thought, standing up straight, ¡°Negotiations seem to have broken down, as expected.¡± Black Lotus sighed, ¡°We can try again in fifteen days. The loss of life would be catastrophic if we let this happen.¡± The Chairwoman was the one to shake her head, ¡°Black Lotus, as much as I wanted this to go well, I think Sonya was right in her expectations here. Liberty was not going to bend,¡± she said before glancing towards Ishtar¡¯s group, ¡°Despite her attitude, she at least made an effort. You truly are an unreasonable beast, Liberty.¡± Liberty scowled and got to her feet, ¡°I¡¯ve heard enough from you, you unawakened trash. Say one more word and-¡± That glowing sword appeared at her throat. Liberty glanced down at it as a coppery light suffused her skin. Her lips spread into an eager smile, ¡°What about the ceasefire?¡± Black Lotus glared at her, ¡°I¡¯ll see you in fifteen days, Liberty,¡± Black Lotus snapped. Liberty huffed, ¡°Do what you want, hero,¡± she growled and turned away, ¡°We¡¯re leaving,¡± she barked and tapped her ear, ¡°Halloway!¡± she commanded and a rip formed in the air before her. Her two subordinates strode inside. She didn¡¯t bother looking back as she followed them. If she had, if she had only turned back, she would have seen something that would have chilled her to the bone. She would have seen the truth. Behind Liberty, Chernovna¡¯s eyes were open, very familiar pink symbols inside, spinning as they glowed brightly. False eyes inside her eye sockets. Beneath them, Chernovna smiled in victory. Chapter 215 Chapter 215 ¡°I know she doesn¡¯t respond to reason, but you could have taken a different tactic,¡± Chunhua said as they moved through the parking garage. It was late and Ishtar was beginning to get a little tired of the nagging. ¡°You kept your word, but you had a funny way of going about it this time,¡± the hero continued as they reached the waiting vehicle. Ishtar huffed out a breath and shook her head, not dignifying it with a response. Black Lotus stopped pushing her wheelchair and stepped away, ¡°This is where we part for now?¡± Ishtar turned her head towards Black Lotus, ¡°What matters to the people is there was a genuine attempt. That¡¯s all they need to know,¡± she said before offering her a small smile, ¡°Yes, this is where we part. Where I¡¯m going, heroes are not welcome. Companion?¡± A few steps away, Marta moved in to gingerly help Ishtar to her feet. They made the few steps towards the rear seat of the vehicle and slipped inside. Ishtar settled into the comfortable chair before sending her senses towards the open door. She felt the hero standing there, watching. ¡°It¡¯s best if you go,¡± Ishtar said and rested her hands in her lap, ¡°Just coming here with me was not good for you.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know you cared,¡± Black Lotus growled. ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± Ishtar shot back, ¡°But Sonya does.¡± ¡°Have you...¡± Black Lotus trailed off. ¡°Tonight,¡± Ishtar said soberly, ¡°I feel strong enough to make my first attempt tonight. Go and make your own preparations. You have less than fifteen days to be ready for what¡¯s coming.¡± She felt Black Lotus stiffen, ¡°You know,¡± she said, ¡°You could do a lot of good just by being up front about everything. I really think Ishtar doesn¡¯t have to be the bad guy.¡± Ishtar snorted, ¡°Someone has to be,¡± she said, ¡°Good-bye for now, little Hero.¡± ¡°See you on the battlefield, Villain.¡± ¨C The black taxi took them out of the small city and into the countryside, north and out of Alabama. Before long they were just over the border of Tennessee. Ishtar remained quiet for most of the ride though she did enjoy a little small talk with Charon through his puppet. Sitting to her right was the ever faithful Marta who was wearing her Companion outfit, armor and a veil. To her left was Kerauna and resting quietly in her shadow was Blackrazor. Three of her strongest subordinates surrounded her as she traveled. It was about as secure as she could possibly be. ¡°We¡¯re arriving at the blacksite, boss,¡± Charon said through his puppet zombie, the creature driving the taxi switched the vehicle into a new gear and Ishtar felt the car leave the road. ¡°Good. I¡¯ve been looking forward to this for a while,¡± she said with a sigh and turned to Companion, ¡°What about you? The original offer is still on the table.¡± Companion shook her head, ¡°No, I thought about it after Tokyo and while I do want the extra attack power I think you might find a better use for that ability than giving it to me. This one is just as good and I think it might pair well.¡± Ishtar shrugged, ¡°Fine, suit yourself. I was actually thinking of using it in an experiment since you declined.¡± The vehicle continued over the bumpy road before slowing to a stop, ¡°Oh? What did you have in mind?¡± Companion asked. Ishtar smirked, ¡°I wonder if investment works on familiars,¡± she said thoughtfully. To Ishtar¡¯s left, Kera barked out a laugh, ¡°Now that¡¯s an idea! Fuck yeah. Dragon puppy! I wanna hang out with Levi, when are we going back?¡± ¡°Patience Kera, We don¡¯t know if it¡¯s actually dragon related,¡± Ishtar reminded her, ¡°Bahamut could be a giant fish for all we know. The lore is varied but the origins suggest a fish rather than a reptile.¡± ¡°Boo,¡± Kera jeered, ¡°Couldn¡¯t you just pull it from that warehouse thingy and try it out?¡± Ishtar made a face, ¡°I am disinclined to experiment with that ability, something tells me it would be a poor decision,¡± she said as the vehicle finally stopped. The zombie driver got out and walked around to pull the wheelchair out of the trunk and then open the door for Companion. Companion was quick to help Ishtar out and Kera followed suit shortly afterwards. In just a few moments they were in front of what Ishtar knew to look like a rusty barn in the middle of nowhere. The door opened on the side and they entered, passing through a wall of fresh air and climate control. Ishtar rose to her feet, swaying once before drawing on her powers and levitating a few inches off the ground. She exhaled and felt her regalia wrap around her body, the helmet forming over her face. The soothing embrace of her gear made her feel stronger even if she knew it was purely psychological. She connected technopathy to the helmet and the sensors provided her with additional information about her surroundings. It wasn¡¯t true sight, but it was a close second to it. She took in the room around her, a large concrete and lead lined structure disguised as a barn. There were only zombies present in her immediate vicinity, all heavily armed and acting as an extension of Charon¡¯s will. At the center of the room was a square of metal embedded into the floor with railing around it. ¡°Right this way,¡± Charon said through the nearest soldier as the driver turned and walked back through the door they¡¯d come through. ¡°Tenebra is downstairs.¡± ¡°How is she progressing?¡± Ishtar asked as they made their way onto the platform. Kera leaned on the railing while Companion maintained her spot just a step behind Ishtar and to the right. Charon hit a button and they began to descend, ¡°I think it was that first meeting a while back. When she first saw Taurus. It sparked something in her, I think,¡± he said with a chuckle, ¡°The brat has been working twice as hard to master her ability and get more out of it. She says she¡¯s found more parts of instinct, new features.¡± ¡°She wants to join the inner circle,¡± Ishtar mused as the hydraulics drew them further and further down, ¡°Jealous that someone her age got in before her?¡± ¡°Seems like it,¡± Charon huffed, ¡°Ambitious twerp. Being my henchman isn¡¯t good enough, I feel like I should be offended.¡± ¡°You think she¡¯s worth considering?¡± Ishtar asked. Charon paused and tapped his finger on the rail for several seconds before answering, ¡°I think that¡¯s a question I¡¯ll revisit after the war,¡± he said finally, ¡°Right now? No. A villain? Yes. Your kind of supervillain? Nah, not yet.¡± Ishtar nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll respect your opinion then and wait.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give her a test if you want,¡± Kera snickered as the lift came to a stop, ¡°Just a couple rounds with me and we¡¯ll know if she¡¯s worth half a damn.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want you killing a high potential ally, Kera,¡± Ishtar said with a scornful laugh. The rails in front of her lowered into the floor and she drifted into a stuffy hallway deep beneath the ground. Ahead of her she sensed three shapes. Two more armed zombies and the delicate frame of Tenebra standing in front of a door. The musical villainess strode forward and swept into a low curtsey, ¡°Mistress Ishtar. Boss Charon,¡± she said politely before glancing up and hesitating, ¡°Uh... Kerauna, I think?¡± Charon sighed next to Ishtar as Kera put her hands on her hips. Ishtar chuckled and reached out from her spot in the air, patting the girl on the head. There was something about a young up and coming villain that warmed her a little. Tenebra sucked in a breath but said nothing as Ishtar pulled her hand away, ¡°I hear you¡¯re working hard, Tenebra,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°Make sure to put just as much effort into the task I¡¯ve given you when the time comes.¡± Tenebra kept her head low, ¡°I won¡¯t disappoint, mistress,¡± she said, even as Ishtar could sense her heart rate spike with excitement. She could only imagine the grin on the girl¡¯s face. Ishtar considered her for a moment, I need to speak with Taurus. Ishtar drifted past her and the two guards on either side of the door turned, Ishtar felt them put their hands on the wall and a heavy door opened. Inside was only one figure, sitting on a comfortable bed in a corner of the room. Ishtar felt the power suppression cuffs on his wrists through her technopathy. ¡°Drastic.¡± ¡°You,¡± he growled, his voice deep and heavy as he got to his feet. ¡°I know you¡¯re upset,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°You¡¯ve been waiting a long time. Consider it a reprisal and your earlier rudeness towards me and my own repaid.¡± ¡°You think you can just demand a conversation with me? That you can just walk into my land and tell me what to do?¡± he growled as he marched across the room. Kera and Companion started to make their way in as Blackrazor swelled in her shadow. Ishtar held her hand up and waved for them to back off, ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Take off these cuffs and I¡¯ll show you what I think of that,¡± he snarled. ¡°Drastic,¡± she sighed, ¡°I wanted to make an arrangement with you. Unfortunately my information about you was limited at the time. You have quite the motivation for South America. A tyrant protector. I will be the first to admit I did not know what your goals and ideals were and I approached you in a way that clashed with them. That was wrong of me,¡± she admitted. The man froze and she sensed his heart rate drop a little bit, he tilted his head, ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Apologizing,¡± she said bluntly, ¡°I respect villains with a clear motivation and self control. Ideals. A purpose beyond wanton violence. I knew you were a cut above but I didn¡¯t know the full extent. Was your stay comfortable at least?¡± He hesitated, ¡°Yes. I may be locked in this ugly box but it¡¯s not so bad. I¡¯ve been in worse cells.¡± ¡°That¡¯s gratifying to hear,¡± Ishtar said and floated down an inch or two to get to his eye level. She couldn¡¯t see his face, but she hoped the message was clear in her actions. ¡°I want to come to an arrangement with you, Drastic. I think a villain like yourself is worth keeping around in the world.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t allow foreign influence in my territory,¡± he growled. ¡°Drastic, I think we both know that isn¡¯t going to work. We don¡¯t live in the era of seafaring,¡± she said flatly and held up a hand to stop him from biting back, ¡°That being said I¡¯m not interested in social politics or influencing the day-to-day lives of the people in your homeland. If you want to play king, play king. In fact, I encourage it. You¡¯re a proper supervillain after all.¡± ¡°Then what do you want?¡± he demanded. ¡°Why go to all this trouble?¡± ¡°I want access. I could go around you and set up my club throughout your homeland and you wouldn¡¯t be the wiser but I figured I¡¯d show some respect by approaching you first,¡± she said, ¡°The villain network that Charon has created for me has yet to get a strong foothold there. Even in the time after your disappearance. You have a very strong following amongst the criminal element.¡± ¡°Loyalty is everything,¡± Drastic growled. ¡°That it is,¡± Ishtar agreed, ¡°Treat your people well and you benefit in turn.¡± ¡°You want me as one of your people?¡± Drastic asked. ¡°Hardly,¡± Ishtar laughed, ¡°You¡¯re too independent to join my group and I don¡¯t want every supervillain out there answering directly to me. It goes against my own goals. Which would you rather have? An external power who won¡¯t sit down at the table trying to push its agenda in your homeland, or me? I¡¯m happy to talk.¡± Drastic stepped away and began to pace, she felt the fury burning beneath his skin even as he kept shooting her glances. Even in his reduced state he was like a beast ready to strike at any moment. Ishtar just floated there, waiting for him to make his decision. When he finally stopped pacing he rounded on her and hissed out a sigh, ¡°And what do I get out of this, besides my freedom? Since I assume that¡¯s a given.¡± Ishtar smiled behind her helmet, ¡°My support. Just like any other villain with access to the Styx and Charon you can ask me for favors, aid, materials, weapons, whatever you need to push your goals forward. So long as you succeed, you owe me nothing. However, that¡¯s just the general membership and not really a gift,¡± Ishtar said and floated forward, ¡°I happen to possess the property rights to several plots of land in your homeland. One of them contains a dungeon.¡± He stiffened, ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°This dungeon is rare-tier. Nothing overly challenging for you, I¡¯m sure. It¡¯s a cave system according to the agents I sent in to investigate. It also has the type of anchor-monster that must be awakened through a very specific set of steps, meaning its very large boss chamber is quite empty,¡± she said with a tilt of her head, ¡°Sounds much more comfortable and private than where you¡¯ve been staying. Doesn¡¯t it? A dragon living in a dungeon filled with endlessly regenerating resources and monsters to prey upon.¡± Now she had his full attention, ¡°And you¡¯d just give it to me? For access? You swear you won¡¯t interfere with the people?¡± ¡°All I want is access to the big wigs. My eyes are on the other dungeons in the territory as well as the heroes. I will not touch the people. That will be between you, the other villains there, the heroes, and the day-to-day politics,¡± she said and held out her hand, ¡°It¡¯s a promise.¡± He stood there for a long time, ¡°I¡¯ve heard about your deals.¡± ¡°Then you know I can¡¯t go back on my end either,¡± she said. He reached out and grabbed her hand, ¡°Fine. It¡¯s a deal.¡± Finally... Analyze. Proceed. Ishtar felt Broker activate and the power rush from her for a brief moment, the terms being set between them. Both would be held accountable to their actions. She grinned and pulled her hand away as the power suppressing cuffs fell from the man¡¯s wrists of their own accord. She floated there as he rubbed his wrists, staring at her thoughtfully. He let out a low growl that sounded far more predatory now that his powers were his to use again. ¡°The dungeon?¡± ¡°Ownership transferred the moment we made the deal,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°I¡¯ll inform my people to vacate the area, though I would suggest you get there as soon as possible so that it doesn¡¯t overload. It¡¯s a bit isolated,¡± she teased and a slip of paper appeared in her hand with a flicker of blue sparks, ¡°Here, the coordinates.¡± He took them from her and looked down at them, he looked up at her, ¡°And if I¡¯m not satisfied?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll work something out, you¡¯re free to go, Drastic,¡± she said before adding; ¡°Do you need transportation?¡± ¡°I prefer my own wings,¡± he growled and stalked past her. Ishtar felt the others part as he stormed past, only stopping briefly to stare at Kera. Soon he was on the lift with one of Charon¡¯s clones, ascending to the surface. Ishtar waited until she heard the hydraulics stop above her before speaking again, ¡°I like him,¡± she said and turned to face the door leading out into the hallway. She floated higher to look down on those who had gathered, ¡°Now. Companion and Blackrazor. I have gifts for you. Come and receive them.¡± Chapter 216 Chapter 216 A single astral eye stared down upon the room like a silent judge, watching the pair as they moved. To the uninformed, it seemed almost entirely choreographed. To Ishtar, it was a demonstration of just how far they had come. She couldn¡¯t help but smile. Marta was brutal and direct as always, stepping in quick with a solid stance. Her usually sluggish movements augmented by bursts of speed that were trailed by glimmering white streaks that followed her. She threw a solid uppercut, the force behind it dragging the air with the punch. Even so, the body it had been aimed for bent out of the way, a hand catching the fist and using the force for acceleration. Blackrazor did a handstand and exploded into four streams of darkness that shot out into the corners of the room. Each took his shape and appearance, each holding a bow of the purest darkness. They drew the bowstrings back and released, a volley of jet black arrows coming from all directions. Marta turned with a growl and raised her arm towards one of the corners, pearlescent scales spreading across her skin as the arrows struck. The ones from the other corners vanished into shadowy mist while the last pinged off her reptilian armor, clattering to the ground. It flashed once and exploded, violet mist filling the air. Undaunted, Marta charged right through it. Blackrazor landed on the ground just in time to dip low beneath a backhanded fist swung towards his head. She followed up with a jab with extended fingers, claws forming on her fingertips. He weaved around them and a knife formed in his hand. An instant later he swung up towards her throat only for her to swat the slash with her free hand. Another knife took shape in his other hand and he intensified his assault, three quick stabs to her face, chest, and right thigh were deflected, blocked, and dodged with a half step backwards. She turned that momentum into a knee strike that snapped out into a kick as he tried to get a little distance. When she brought her foot back down he was coming in again with a reckless stab towards her collarbone. Her eyes narrowed and she stepped through the phantom that dispersed into another poisonous cloud. Far behind it, Blackrazor was winding up again with another arrow, the missile growing large and the ebon wisps coming off of it seeming more like tendrils than little clouds. She bore a pair of razor sharp incisors and launched herself forward at eye watering speed. The flap of wings signalling her acceleration as she reared back with another titanic punch. He clicked his tongue and dove low, rolling past her and vanishing into the ground. She whipped her head up and opened her mouth as he reappeared in the ceiling. Light blossomed to life at the back of her throat. Blackrazor¡¯s eyes widened as a cone of white flame erupted from her jaws, nearly scorching him as he retreated. When he reappeared, he was back on the offensive, blazing fast strikes and dodges were met with rapid-fire brutality. Ishtar rubbed her chin. ¡°They¡¯re adapting well,¡± she mused before chuckling, ¡°Still impatient to try out their new toys. We just got back.¡± A few feet away, Kera leaned forward on the railing looking down over the sparring chamber deep beneath the new ASTA headquarters. She let out an admiring whistle, ¡°She¡¯s way faster now and her hits are comin¡¯ in harder than I remember. Those claws¡¯d leave a mark I bet,¡± she said thoughtfully, ¡°Beybey is not a slouch either, that power you gave him made him even more flexible and it¡¯s nice to see him with some ranged hits.¡± Ishtar nodded slowly, ¡°Dark Bowman had utility that Autarch of Shadow was missing as well as a ranged functionality that I¡¯m surprised he hasn¡¯t tried to- ah there he goes.¡± Down below a dozen disks of shadow formed on the walls and ceiling. An instant later arrows came pouring out, black shafts adorned with violet metal arrowheads. The stream of death from all sides only forced Marta to move faster. Wings appeared on her back and didn¡¯t vanish this time as they had with her earlier burst of speed. She pivoted, scales spreading across her skin as she broke into what could have been described as a dance. Flipping, kicking, swatting, and punching each of the missiles in turn. She was a blur of movement, her motions frenetic even as her expression remained stoic and controlled. ¡°He¡¯s already integrating his bloodmetal into the arrowheads, very good,¡± Ishtar said with an approving nod. ¡°Shit she moves fast now,¡± Kera added with a wheezy laugh, ¡°She was unkillable before.¡± ¡°She has a monstrously efficient, extremely low stamina consumption regeneration ability,¡± Ishtar corrected, ¡°She can still feel pain and if she runs out of the internal energy to maintain her regeneration, she could be put out of commission for a while. With the scales, that eliminates the pain factor to a degree and reduces the amount of regenerating she has to do,¡± she explained as the duo below continued their clash, neither side showing signs of tiring as their blows came in faster and faster, moving around one another like water. ¡°The Pandora Committee is gonna want an explanation for it,¡± Kera said offhandedly and picked at her ear. She turned to Ishtar, ¡°Whatcha gonna do?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll figure something out,¡± Ishtar said dismissively, ¡°While her ability name is officially on the record for the sake of transparency, only the chairwoman and a handful of officials have access to that information.¡± Kera huffed, ¡°So they know her weakness.¡± ¡°A calculated risk,¡± Ishtar said with a sigh, ¡°She volunteered the information for the sake of maintaining a positive relationship with the committee. Just one more thing to make what we do appear above board-¡± BOOM! Marta and Blackrazor clashed in the center of the room, twin swords grinding against extended claws. Ishtar smirked, ¡°Besides,¡± she said casually, ¡°The Chairwoman is Carla and the officials are already in my pocket.¡± Kera snorted out a laugh, ¡°Fair nuff,¡± she chortled before pausing and turning abruptly. Ishtar felt the woman¡¯s presence crackle with electrical power, ¡°Someone just entered the penthouse.¡± Ishtar turned to her, ¡°You can feel something like that?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got trip lines set up all over the building,¡± Kera said, ¡°Closed low-charge circuits that alert me when they¡¯re broken, someone passing through them might feel a tingle but that¡¯s it. Still working on makin¡¯ it undetectable.¡± ¡°Marvelous work,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°Go check it out.¡± ¡°On it,¡± Kera said and vanished with a pop of electricity. Ishtar exhaled. She could have just checked the security cameras herself but it was nice to have her subordinates handle things like this. She had always harped to Sonya about delegation. I can¡¯t fall into the same trap. Let them do their jobs, she reminded herself as she leaned back in the wheelchair. She pulled her gaze away from the fight and released the astral eye, turning her thoughts inward. While I¡¯m waiting... Ishtar pulled Amethyst Sorceress from the warehouse and felt the instincts of the power etch themselves temporarily in the back of her mind. She could feel the mental skill respond to her commands as she drifted into the void that was her inner world. There, floating at its heart, was a tiny mote of light. Still glowing bright. Still vibrant. Still alive. She reached out for it and wreathed her fingers in a halo of purple light. Just test the waters. No reason to push. I need to know what I¡¯m working with, she thought and touched it. Pain came first, a shock of retaliation against her intrusion. Next was a series of images and thoughts that she couldn¡¯t wrap her head around, the sense of a weaving pattern, something coiled, a network of fibers, threads purposefully laid down to restrain and keep prying eyes out. Flickers of light cascaded in her vision as she finally managed to recoil and pull her hand away from the mote. What on earth was that? She thought, winded for a moment as the pain faded, she sniffed and leaned in close this time without touching it. Something is literally weaved around it, like a net. She set her jaw, Is she blocking me? How? Why? Rubbing the bridge of her nose she pulled out from the mindscape, dismissing Amethyst Sorceress for a moment. I¡¯ll need to take a more delicate approach to it, then. She thought, shaking her head. You troublesome, silly girl. I¡¯ll get you out of there. Ishtar was about to turn her attention back to the spar down below when she felt a charge in the air, signalling Kera¡¯s return. Her subordinate stepped out of the air and walked back over to the railing where she resumed leaning, ¡°Your daughter¡¯s here, boss,¡± she said casually, ¡°I can¡¯t teleport folks so she¡¯s takin¡¯ the elevator.¡± ¡°Daughter?¡± Ishtar asked, confused. I don¡¯t have a- ¡°Ah, Taurus,¡± she said with a nod. What is that girl doing here? I was planning on visiting New York tomorrow to settle a few matters and talk to her about her mission with Tenebra. Ishtar pursed her lips and relaxed into the wheelchair, I wonder... has the girl caught between worlds made a decision? Behind Ishtar, the door chimed once announcing a new arrival. She sent her senses out through the computer system controlling the door and into the camera above it. A head of blonde hair and a nervous face greeted her a moment later. Cassiopeia Hanks shifted left and right on the other side of the door, fidgeting and flicking her gaze from the door to the camera now and then. Ishtar turned her wheelchair to fully face the door and sat up straight. She created a pair of astral eyes next, inside her eyesockets, and opened her eyes. The door chimed a second time and opened with a hydraulic hiss. Taurus moved to step inside only to pause when her eyes fell on Ishtar. She froze, the look of a deer-in-headlights passing over her face as she took in the pink glowing disks in Ishtar¡¯s empty eyesockets. Ishtar tilted her chin up and waited. Taurus stared, swallowed, and clenched her fists before stepping fully into the training hall, the door shutting with a hiss behind her. ¡°Hello, Mistress Ishtar,¡± she said quietly, walking up to her and stopping a few feet away. She didn¡¯t take a knee. ¡°Hello dear,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°What brings you here? I was coming to visit tomorrow.¡± The girl looked away and swallowed, ¡°I sent Euclidia an email asking if she could make me a portal to visit after the summit. I told her I wanted to check on you.¡± ¡°You told her you wanted to check on Sonya,¡± Ishtar corrected. Taurus looked down at her feet, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the same thing?¡± ¡°I think, in the context of what I assume this conversation is really about, that it is not,¡± Ishtar said with a small smile and tilted her head a little to look up into the girl¡¯s eyes, ¡°Look at me and speak your mind, girl.¡± ¡°I-¡± Taurus stammered and flicked her gaze towards Kera. Behind Ishtar, Kera hopped over the railing and left them alone, ¡°Baybay! Can I play too?¡± the supervillain sing-songed. Taurus let out a sigh and Ishtar waited for her to collect her nerves. You need to speak your mind on your own, girl. If you don¡¯t have the courage to say what you want to say, I won¡¯t consider it, I know your trauma. I know what you¡¯re afraid of. I know what you¡¯re thinking. But you need to say it yourself if you¡¯re going to be able to stand behind it, she thought and gave the girl a hard look. ¡°Speak, Taurus.¡± Taurus stiffened, a few tears welling in her eyes before she cleared her throat and stood up a bit straighter. ¡°I w-want to withdraw from the mission with Tenebra. You were going t-to send me tomorrow, right?¡± ¡°I was,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°Explain yourself.¡± Taurus took in a deep breath, she was shaking now. I know how I sound, girl. I sound just like your sister right now, Ishtar thought. I may not be good at people. Sonya has a talent for it. But I know enough about you to know what your wavering heart needs. I¡¯m not blind. Stand firm. ¡°Wh-when I left that place and you found me. I was so grateful. I threw myself at the chance at revenge. It was all I could want, all I thought I needed. I- I wanted to make her pay. That was the only goal I had in life. I didn¡¯t know anything else. When you- when mom asked me to train with the heroes I thought she was giving me a chance to hone myself to become a better villain for her,¡± the girl said, her voice getting a little stronger with each word. She swallowed hard, ¡°But while I was there I met people I started to care about. I helped people. I got strong and not just for myself, not just for revenge. I-¡± she bit her lip. ¡°Not just for revenge?¡± Ishtar pressed. ¡°A couple days ago I went on my first monster patrol with my team,¡± Taurus said, ¡°I saved a kid from a lurker.¡± Taurus met her gaze, Ishtar said nothing, only waiting for her to continue. ¡°The look on that kids face, on his mother¡¯s face, the gratitude. The feeling that I had done something to make the world just a little bit better, despite all the harm my sister has caused. Despite everything. I did something good and- and- It felt right,¡± the young woman said and clenched her fists. ¡°I haven¡¯t done anything for you yet. I feel like I haven¡¯t repaid my debt at all. All I¡¯ve been doing...¡± she trailed off and swallowed again, ¡°...I feel selfish.¡± Ishtar tilted her head, raising an eyebrow, ¡°Your accusing yourself of selfishness in front of a supervillain? Doesn¡¯t that seem a little foolish, girl?¡± Taurus winced. Ishtar tilted her chin up and looked down at the girl through her astral eyes over her nose, ¡°Speak plainly. What do you want?¡± ¡°I want... to be a hero,¡± the girl mumbled. Ishtar let her presence crash down on the girl, her tone cold as ice, ¡°Excuse me?¡± she demanded as Taurus stumbled, catching herself and setting her feet on the ground. ¡°I must have misheard you. Repeat yourself.¡± Taurus buckled but only for a moment. She set her jaw and forced herself to look up despite her shoulders sagging, her knees buckling, her eyes watering. She heaved out a shaky breath and Ishtar watched as she summoned every ounce of self determination she had. Every piece of pride and identity that she had rebuilt for herself since she¡¯d escaped Liberty¡¯s thumb. Every shred of who she was. She took a deep breath and stood tall. ¡°I WANT TO BE A HERO!¡± she shouted, ¡°I want to help people! I want to make this world better in my own way! I want to support my friends! I don¡¯t want to lie to them! I don¡¯t want to go behind their backs! I won¡¯t be like my sister! I won¡¯t be a villain to the world! I can¡¯t! I-¡± she choked out a sob, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but my heart tells me I need to do this. I wanted to kill her so bad but I-¡± she lowered her head, ¡°I want to be better. Better than her.¡± Ishtar retracted her presence and smiled, ¡°Well said, little hero.¡± Taurus-no-Harbinger let out a shaky gasp and stumbled, catching herself and looking up at Ishtar, tears in her eyes. Ishtar looked her up and down, ¡°Prove you mean what you say in the coming battle. Face your sister, and when the time comes, take her into custody. I¡¯ve set the stage. Your team will participate in the battle at her compound. It¡¯s up to you to face her. If you can master your desire to kill her when the time comes, you will have my blessing.¡± Harbingers lips trembled, tears streamed down her face as she collapsed to her knees. Relief washing over her face as pressed her head to the ground, ¡°Thank you.¡± The girl wept. Chapter 217 Chapter 217 ¡°Tensions continue to mount in the wake of the failed peace summit between the Pandora Committee and Liberty. Questions have been raised about the reasons as to why the Supervillain Ishtar was allowed to participate. While the Pandora Committee has remained silent on the issue, an agent of Ishtar by the name of Mephisto delivered a statement to World News Daily stating ¡®While I find the idea of unintentionally assisting the Pandora Committee amusing, my goals remain the same,¡¯ the agent provided no further comment.¡± CLICK ¡°The ¡®Super Idol Villain¡¯ Tenebra began a world tour today starting in Dublin. With the increasing concerns about any conflicts causing the situation with Liberty to boil over, Pandora Committee officials have taken a wait-and-see approach. So far, there has been no violence as a result of the villain¡¯s-¡± CLICK ¡°An unprecedented series of leaks has led to a swath of minor scandals among international shipping organizations, the most notable of which being Red Star Shipping. Evidence has come to light suggesting that the CEO of the company has been involved in a massive human trafficking-¡± CLICK ¡°Whistleblowers in the US Coast Guard and Navy have reported that a missing Nuclear Submarine¡¯s arsenal was discovered disassembled in a warehouse in southern California. All missiles are accounted for as well as their warheads. Sources state that the return of the armaments was part of some kind of secret deal that-¡± CLICK ¡°With war on the horizon, there are a lot of questions about what the possible outcomes could be once the fighting has settled. No one is expecting a protracted conflict either way you cut it,¡± one voice said, ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°I think the biggest question no one is considering is what happens when the Pandora Committee wins. If they manage to capture Liberty and end the war, the power balance between them and the United Nations may become heavily skewed. They already have a standing army, numerous facilities across the world, and there are plans to set up Pandora-operated towns around dungeons,¡± another voice chimed in. ¡°Do you think they¡¯d make a case for sovereignty?¡± ¡°That¡¯s hyperbole at the moment,¡± the second voice laughed, ¡°But I think the power dynamics in the world are about to go through a big change. Some people haven¡¯t really come to terms with the new world we live in, there won¡¯t be any avoiding it soon.¡± CLICK ¡°The world is starting to turn,¡± Ishtar murmured and looked down at the apple in her hand. She turned it over between her fingers thoughtfully as she examined the skin. There was an odd disconnect between what she saw and the movements. A fragment of a second, but it was there, still noticeable to her cybernetic brain. She raised the fruit to her lips and took a bite, chewing slowly as its properties began to take hold. She felt her muscles begin to flesh out, her aches fade, then she felt a pop somewhere in her skull, a sizzling that caused her to stop and wince in pain. She spat the apple out. Damn, I still need those new eyes, she thought irritably. ¡°Isn¡¯t that tiring?¡± Amos asked behind her. She turned and looked at him, an eyebrow raised, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Using your ability for eyes?¡± he asked and put his hands on his hips, ¡°I¡¯ve seen you do it a couple times.¡± She huffed, ¡°Not much different from using them to observe from afar, though usually I am stationary when using it,¡± she admitted, ¡°There¡¯s a lag.¡± He nodded, ¡°Well, it works I guess,¡± he said with a shrug, ¡°Your new peepers are almost done, don¡¯t worry about it boss. I gotcha covered.¡± ¡°Glad to hear it,¡± she said with a breath and tossed the apple aside, it dissolved as it hit the ground. Evaporating into a faint puff of mana. ¡°I can¡¯t heal properly without them it seems. I¡¯m eating a bit of ambrosia at a time every day to restore my muscle mass. If I consume too much, the connections start sparking,¡± she grumbled. ¡°Ouch,¡± he chuckled and walked over to stand next to her, peering out the window. ¡°You ready for this?¡± Ishtar frowned, ¡°I¡¯m confident. Sonya is still... indisposed though and it feels like I¡¯m missing a part of me. Even so, the only opponent that threatens me as far as I¡¯m concerned is Liberty and I¡¯ve orchestrated things so that she won¡¯t even be my opponent. I have a different target in mind.¡± ¡°You¡¯re targeting Otis, he steamrolled his way into the battle, I heard,¡± Amos said thoughtfully, ¡°If he gets to Liberty he¡¯ll get himself a heap of glory on top of it not being too indirect for you to get your fancy upgrade out of it.¡± ¡°Correct,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°So I¡¯ll have to hold him off. While I do that, I¡¯ll try a few things on him. I¡¯m curious about what kind of damage I can do that will stick,¡± she said with a cold smile, ¡°I haven¡¯t had the opportunity to face him directly.¡± ¡°Do you think you can kill him?¡± Amos asked. She snorted, ¡°Doubtful. I can test his current limits though, I suspect.¡± ¡°The other heroes will come after you too.¡± She smirked, ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± she said, ¡°I won¡¯t be there to kill them and I have a feeling at least a few of them will realize that. The ones in charge will prioritize Liberty.¡± He nodded slowly before turning to face her, ¡°Boss. I-¡± he hesitated and then rubbed his neck, ¡°I know you care a hell of a lot less about the world compared to Sonya, but-¡± She held up a hand and turned to face him, ¡°Her dream is mine,¡± she said quietly, ¡°Even if I would prefer a throne over a quiet cottage or memorial statue in the end,¡± she chuckled and put a hand on his shoulder, ¡°I won¡¯t let you or her down and I will keep trying until the very last moment to bring her back. Even if-¡± she frowned and shook her head, ¡°I will fight with everything I have from the moment the battle starts. No absences this time around.¡± He grinned at her, ¡°All hail the hbic,¡± he laughed and took a step back, sweeping into a bow, ¡°Technocrat, as always, is at your service.¡± She beamed down at him, ¡°Get those dolls of yours ready, Technocrat. Soon, the world will know just how scary we are.¡± ¡°At your command.¡± ¨C [Operation Corinth Dossier] [The following heroes have been assigned to operation Corinth: Dungeon Suppression: FIRST WIND - Dungeon E1. PROTEAN - Dungeon R1. QILIN - Dungeon R2. CAPTAIN STAR - Dungeon R3. EVERTIDE - Dungeon R4...] Ishtar tabbed over to the next page. [External Fronts: ...] She tabbed again. [Frontline Assault: BLACK LOTUS (Field Commander), EVERGREEN, HANDMAIDEN, OTIS, SAPPORO, VYTAL, AXEL, DERVISH, DRAGOON, BLUESTAR, BANDIT, LIFESAVER, CRUSADER, HARBINGER, SNOW, BLF, SYPHON, MAGNUS, CRANE, RIOT, FELWINTER, ICARUS, ASHWOLF, BEELINE, CRAG...] Ishtar closed the window and leaned back in her seat, letting out a breath. She tapped a nail on the desk and turned in her chair, glancing up at Marta who stood dutifully at her side. ¡°Excited?¡± Marta frowned, ¡°I have a dangerous narcissist assigned to my team,¡± she grumbled, ¡°And I¡¯m supposed to put up a good act and let him run off to fight you. No, not really.¡± Ishtar chuckled, ¡°You get to go play afterwards,¡± she pointed out, ¡°Really put that new ability of yours to the test. Let me know when you want me to merge them by the way. You need to stop being so reserved in wanting more strength.¡± Her companion offered a noncommittal shrug, ¡°The power you can give out is best utilized spread around, in my opinion. The more powerful agents you have, the more successful I think you¡¯ll be. It has nothing to do with being reserved, ma¡¯am,¡± she paused and let out a sigh, ¡°But I will ask for more next time,¡± she conceded after getting an annoyed look from Ishtar. She bowed her head once before straightening up, ¡°As for merging, Amos had a theory that if I unlock more of my abilities instincts before the merger it may come up with better results. I will wait.¡± ¡°Interesting theory,¡± Ishtar murmured, ¡°I don¡¯t see it, but you do you.¡± ¡°Thank you, ma¡¯am.¡± Ishtar exhaled and turned back to face the desk, she ran her fingers over it silently before making a lazy gesture. The computer shut down and she shifted back in her seat, resting her head against it and closing her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m going to try again. Leave me.¡± ¡°As you wish,¡± her caretaker said and slipped out into the hallway. Ishtar peeked at her as she left before letting out a sigh and allowing her mind to wander. She drifted out and then back, slowly diving deeper and deeper into her subconscious mind as her breathing became more regular. When she opened her eyes again, she was in that void once more. The mote was there as well. She cupped her hands beneath it and smiled, ¡°Hello Sonya, how are you feeling?¡± Silence. She sighed and drew Amethyst Sorceress out of the warehouse again. ¡°You know. I¡¯ve been in control for nearly a month now,¡± she said irritably, ¡°Not a peep from you.¡± She pulled her knees up in that space, floating in the air as she sat, her legs crossed, her eyes fixed on the little mote. ¡°I distinctly remember a time when every other word out of your mouth was sass or some manner of impish inside joke...¡± she trailed off and looked wistfully up at the black void above her, ¡°I miss it. I miss your smile. Not the fake one of the past year, the one you plastered on to make everyone think you were okay. That real smile, the one that reached your eyes.¡± She scoffed, ¡°Out there I can barely understand my feelings, my emotions. Here, in this place, so close to where you¡¯re hiding,¡± she swallowed, ¡°I feel you, if only a little bit. It¡¯s helped now and then, checking in on you.¡± She focused on the mote, examining the threads wrapped around it in what could have been easily dismissed as a pattern of nonsense and knots. A net of ethereal fibers, a visualization in her mind of what was really happening. She couldn¡¯t fathom the source, whether it was Sonya or something else, but at the very least she could see where to pull to loosen the first thread. ¡°I saw your ¡®daughter¡¯ today,¡± she said as she willed the mental fibers to separate, pulling them apart with surgical care, ¡°You were right about her,¡± she shook her head, ¡°I thought she would turn out to be a true monster when the time came, that she¡¯d evolve into a villain who could proudly sit in her one seat at the inner circle,¡± she tugged another point on the infinitesimal threads and chuckled, ¡°You really do know the human heart better than I ever could. That girl who could only dream of revenge, who suffered through nightmares and clung to you like a security blanket, do you know what she did?¡± She smiled, ¡°She looked me in the eyes and told me she wanted to be a hero.¡± Ishtar felt the first few fibers unwind and fall away and moved on to the next only for a jolt to race through her body, the force inside the fibers lashing out again. Amethyst Sorceress receded and fled back into her warehouse. She closed her eyes and nodded, ¡°Nothing worth doing is ever easy,¡± she admitted and lowered her hands from the mote. ¡°Keep fighting, little sister,¡± she said and returned to the waking world. ¨C She wasn¡¯t sure how much time had passed. She had stopped counting the days that had turned into months and then years and then decades. Had a century already gone by? Two? Her body was still alive, she could feel it. A constant reminder that this place, regardless of how real it seemed, was nothing more than a very elaborate illusion. She had no way of knowing, though, how the time displacement of this place worked. Had she been enduring this for only a few hours? Was it days? Did it even matter? The time spent inside still felt real. As did everything else. She sat up in the small plot of flowers, her gown askew, her hair a tousled mess. She looked around and found herself alone again, a bitter taste filling her mouth. Her shoulders sagged and she wasn¡¯t sure whether it was from relief or shame. Her neck itched and she reached up to run a finger over a small bruise on her throat, her fingernail digging into it as the anger came back. Frustration bubbling in her chest. She pulled her knees up to her chest and tried to breathe, tried to push it out of her mind. It was so hard to think, so hard to clear her mind long enough to reflect. Every day was a new kind of torment. Some more inventive than others. The teasing and coaxing had gone away at some point after she had remembered her name. Now it only happened when more was expected to follow. She bit her lip and steadied herself as she went through the names once again. Hundreds of thousands of recitations, over and over so that this place could not make her forget. ¡°Carla, Chunhua, Marta, Amos, Beyol-¡± Crik! A twig snapped behind her and she froze, tension racing up her back. Is she back already? Did I think too hard? Just leave me alone, I want to think for a while. Can¡¯t you just let me clear my head you monster? Haven¡¯t you had enough fun? ¡°Sonya, you look terrible, are you alright?¡± She blinked and turned, startled by the melodic voice that called out to her. Just a few feet away was a woman in black leathers, raven hair cut short and rainbow-colored eyes glittering. She took a step forward and paused as Sonya backed away, ¡°She did a number on you this time, huh?¡± the woman said with a sigh. Sonya looked away, ¡°What do you want, Loki?¡± ¡°I just wanna talk, it''s been a couple years since I visited, hasn¡¯t it?¡± the Great One asked, taking a few more steps forward and sitting down in the flowers. Sonya opened her eyes and squinted in Loki¡¯s direction, ¡°New body?¡± ¡°I changed it up last year,¡± Loki said, looking down at herself, ¡°Was thinking about switching back for a while. What do you think?¡± Sonya pressed her lips together, ¡°You look... fine, I guess,¡± she grumbled before letting out a weary sigh, ¡°No, I¡¯m sorry. You¡¯re very pretty. It¡¯s a good look.¡± Loki brightened and crossed her legs. Sonya knew what that meant. They were settling in for one of their longer chats. She huffed out a breath and turned to face them properly. Loki was a conundrum to her. When she¡¯d first laid eyes upon them, they¡¯d seemed like someone that she would have happily put into the ground for the kind of danger they represented to the world around them. And yet, as she got to know Loki, she realized that the only thing they truly cared about was their homeland and the court they belonged to. Loki¡¯s beliefs about the arbiters were extreme, but came from a place of genuine worry. It was hard to blame them for it. Their constant visits to Titania¡¯s court had led to a few tense encounters at first, then brief conversations, and finally what she could almost describe as a friendship. Sonya brushed her hair out of her face. Some socializing would be good for me, I think. ¡°So what did you want to talk about today?¡± she asked, trying to sound stronger than she felt. ¡°I wanted to let you know I brought back a prisoner with me,¡± Loki said, looking proud, ¡°We¡¯re finally going to get some answers.¡± She raised her eyebrows, ¡°Oh? Mis- Titania must be very pleased. Do I know them?¡± ¡°You might have heard of her,¡± the trickster said with a grin, ¡°Pandora.¡± Chapter 218 Chapter 218 Pandora? In between the decades of senselessness that came and went in this terrible place, Sonya had rallied herself to take stock of the mysterious world around her. She was keenly aware that it wasn¡¯t real, but it also seemed to obey many of the rules of reality. It had other rules as well, other truths that she¡¯d slowly, painstakingly uncovered in her efforts to cling tightly to a sanity that this place seemed hell bent on stripping from her. The first was that it was somehow centered on Titania. While her memory was foggy in places she could remember that the periods of madness and confusion only began when Titania left the court for one reason or another. This truth only became more pronounced as she noticed a deeply unsettling familiarity in Titania. The woman had two sides; one side was the fae queen of the distant past, reacting and engaging in events as they unfolded. That side paid Sonya little mind beyond getting her kicks now and then. The other was entirely focused on her, fixated on stripping away any ounce of independence and self determination Sonya possessed. It had begun showing itself the moment she remembered her name. The second rule was that the secondary ¡®personality¡¯ in the first rule had limitations. It had no control over the events of this place and could only attempt to interfere with her thoughts when it was nearby. It was like Sonya was living through an interactive snapshot of some mythological past. Titania was the source, but not the narrator. This truth hadn¡¯t come cheaply, Sonya had tested the boundaries of what she could say and do, prodding at the logical foundation of this place in order to see whether or not the people here besides herself and Titania were independent or not. She¡¯d been caught a few times. The punishments hadn¡¯t been pleasant. Though they¡¯d helped her strengthen her mental defenses. All that was to say that when she heard what Loki was saying, it meant that not only did he trust her with that information. It meant that Pandora or at least a facsimile possessing Pandora¡¯s memories, was somewhere very close by. I need to find her. Sonya forced herself to focus on the conversation, ¡°That couldn¡¯t have been easy,¡± she said. ¡°Oh no it most certainly wasn¡¯t,¡± Loki laughed, ¡°Fortunately for me I¡¯m pretty good at disguises and an apt performer.¡± ¡°Have you told Titania yet?¡± she asked. ¡°Nope,¡± they said, crossing their arms, ¡°I¡¯m telling you first, figured you might think it was impressive especially the how,¡± they tilted their chin up proudly. ¡°I passed myself off as King Giglamesh himself and spirited her away. Not even Heimdal could tell I wasn¡¯t the genuine article.¡± She still could barely wrap her head around the mess of politics that made up the interactions between the various groups, but something about that statement made her furrow her brows, ¡°Why would Odin let Gilgamesh into Asgard? Even if Odin has been playing friendly with the Golden Throne, that seems a little lax, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Loki smiled brightly and held up a finger, ¡°Aha! That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong. Odin may be a crotchety old bastard but he¡¯s soft where it counts, my friend,¡± they waggled their finger, ¡°This is some pretty juicy gossip I¡¯ve confirmed, by the way. Did you know that Gilgamesh was courting Pandora? He¡¯s obsessed with her, head over heels, visiting all the time. She seems to like him too.¡± So... you put on her boyfriend''s face and said ¡®hey, wanna go out for a bit?¡¯ stuffed her in a van and drove off? Not a bad plan, but also; ew. She paused, Wait, isn¡¯t that... bad? ¡°He visits all the time?¡± ¡°Uhuh.¡± ¡°And you don¡¯t think that might be a bad thing? You know, when he shows up next time?¡± Loki frowned and tilted their head, rubbing their chin, ¡°Well, I guess. If you want to look at it that way,¡± they admitted before shrugging, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have done it if the outcome wasn¡¯t something I was happy with.¡± Odd way of saying that, but okay. What is Loki¡¯s ability anyway? I don¡¯t think they ever explained it to me, though I have a feeling we¡¯ve talked during my dark periods. I hate that I can¡¯t remember them, she thought before brushing off her gown a little, ¡°So is this an invitation to meet her?¡± Loki broke into an eager smile, ¡°You want to?¡± ¡°Meet the person that has been riding Titania¡¯s last nerve? Absolutely.¡± ¨C They walked together down the small path through the trees, arm in arm, Loki had shifted back into their male appearance part way through the walk. Watching Loki use that power had been a little startling and painfully nostalgic. The trickster had used Man of Many Faces, there was no doubt in her mind. It looked exactly like when Marta used the ability herself. The only difference was the sheer speed at which Loki changed from one form to another and the casualness of it; one moment she was walking with the raven haired woman, the next Loki was a man. ¡°You¡¯re wasted here, you know,¡± Loki said after a lengthy silence, those glowing prismatic eyes briefly flicking in her direction. Sonya shrugged, ¡°I¡¯ve gotten used to it.¡± Loki scowled and shook their head, ¡°You know what I¡¯m getting at.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not leaving,¡± Sonya said flatly. ¡°You hate Titania,¡± Loki pointed out, ¡°Why stay? As rebellious as you are one of these days she¡¯s just going to tire of you and that¡¯ll be the end of it.¡± Sonya sighed, ¡°I¡¯m not going to explain myself again. We¡¯ve had this discussion.¡± ¡°Trophy,¡± Loki scoffed. Sonya¡¯s chest felt a little heavy and her eyes went distant, she looked away even as she held on a bit tighter to the arm she was locked with. A small part of her hated the feeling, that need for someone to cling to when she was feeling miserable. She decided to deflect rather than let the feeling fester any longer, ¡°You seem pretty content with trying to take a trophy from Titania. Aren¡¯t you two working together?¡± ¡°An ally is not the same as a friend,¡± Loki pointed out, ¡°I have very few of those.¡± ¡°You consider us friends?¡± ¡°I can tell it''s a trait of your arbiter powers, a curse of some kind, you can¡¯t lie,¡± Loki said casually. She wanted to pause half step but Loki kept her walking, she frowned in their direction as they continued speaking, ¡°You¡¯ve tried a couple of times to fib, I noticed. Most of the time, though, you¡¯re honest with me because you want to be. I respect that. In our world it¡¯s a hard thing to find,¡± Loki trailed off before smirking, ¡°Even if you can be a little rude about it.¡± She huffed and looked away, ¡°Ass.¡± ¡°Unapologetically so,¡± Loki laughed before turning to her, ¡°I could protect you, you know. Get you out of here. I¡¯ve got some strong allies and-¡± ¡°Loki,¡± she interrupted, the words hurting her more than any of the blows and cruelties that Titania had delivered. The whippings, the brandings, the torment, it felt like tickling compared to a false hope. ¡°Please. That¡¯s enough,¡± she said, her voice raw. It wasn¡¯t that she had given up on escaping this place, she was certain that the time discrepancy between this world and the real world was staggering. She hadn¡¯t truly been here all that long. Yet existing for centuries within her own mind was not an easy thing to just brush away. It wore on her like a stone in a raging river. Loki sighed and nodded, ¡°Fine. For now.¡± She shot the trickster a look, ¡°And what is that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°Anyway!¡± they said, clearing their throat and gesturing to a copse of trees ahead of them. They were still somewhere within the boundaries of Titania¡¯s domain, the trees all bore that eerie glow about them though they did not sap her strength like those flowers created by the genuine article. Ahead of them, a single figure sat in one of the trees and stared down at them with a flat expression, long black hair hanging around a pair of cold eyes. She shot Loki a look and the trickster shrugged, ¡°Wasn¡¯t gonna leave her unguarded.¡± The man in the tree hopped down, his robes fluttering around him. He stood tall and looked down at Sonya over his nose, ¡°Another one?¡± ¡°She¡¯s not affiliated with the Golden Throne, she¡¯s a friend,¡± Loki cut in before stepping up between them, ¡°Sonya, this is Oorochi from the east,¡± the trickster began, ¡°Oorochi, this is Sonya. A rogue Arbiter living in Titania¡¯s court.¡± Oorochi narrowed his eyes, ¡°Pactmaker,¡± he hissed the word as if it were disgusting to him. He glanced up at Loki and crossed his arms, ¡°You have poor taste in friends.¡± ¡°Have a care, serpent,¡± Loki growled, ¡°I consider you a friend as well. Do you not trust my judgement?¡± Oorochi glanced towards Sonya and looked her up and down. She frowned at him, not enjoying the feeling of being assessed that way. Since when have I been so sensitive? She thought, Every emotion just feels raw these days. This kind of thing wouldn¡¯t have bothered me before. She suppressed a sigh, At least it isn¡¯t as bad as the days leading up to - she nearly shuddered involuntarily, her mind dancing away from memories of Tokyo. Across from her, Oorochi considered Loki¡¯s words before nodding, ¡°I trust your judgement,¡± the serpent in the form of a man said before gesturing over his shoulder, ¡°The prisoner is awake. We should make clear the situation before approaching the Lucid Throne,¡± he gave Sonya one last assessing look, ¡°Perhaps this one¡¯s presence can at the very least keep her from doing something regrettable.¡± With that, the two mythological figures made their way through the thick gathering of trees, Loki only looking back with a small smile and a gesture to follow. Unease squirreled its way into her gut but she followed, lost in thought. When she¡¯d properly met Pandora for the first time, the being¡¯s ghost had been so tragically weary. A sad but composed figure who enjoyed a little of her own mischief. Someone who was just trying to make right the things she had done when she was alive. What kind of person had she been when she was still breathing? What- ¡°I KNEW IT!¡± A furious shout came through the trees while Sonya stepped through. ¡°LOKI YOU INSUFFERABLE BASTARD!¡± Sonya blinked, her head jerking back in surprise. ¡°Hello Panpan,¡± Loki sing-songed, ¡°Enjoy your nap?¡± Sonya caught a glimpse of the woman as she alighted in the tiny clearing ringed by the trees. It was clearly reshaped somehow to hide and keep their sitting prisoner. Pandora was small, with long curly blonde hair and a pretty face. Her blue eyes glimmered hatefully in the dim light around her as she crossed her arms. She had a figure that made very clear who her mother was, not just blessed by Aphrodite but carrying her blood. The mismatched expression on her face likely belonged to her father. Anger, and the promise of terrible consequences. That anger faded into a swarthy expression as she caught her breath from her initial outburst. ¡°You¡¯d think two hundred years of exile would have dislodged a small amount of sense in that head of yours, Odin is going to be very disappointed,¡± she said and shrugged, ¡°Mimir called it, though. As usual.¡± Loki smirked, ¡°You¡¯re many centuries too young to be trying to use words to get under my skin.¡± She tilted her head to the right and laughed, ¡°And you¡¯re a petulant half-wit who jumps at the first opportunity to ruin every good thing you see. Centuries! Hah! Still a toddler in my opinion. Laufey was right. Her son must have fallen on his head as a child because the Witch Queen¡¯s cunning was replaced with something unfortunate.¡± Sonya just stared, wide eyed, as Loki¡¯s shoulders tensed. Their pale skin turned russet for a moment before deepening into an off-blue. What the hell was that? Oorochi took a step forward and Pandora shifted where she sat, smirking up at him with defiance. ¡°Ahh and here¡¯s the snake of the east-realms. Figures you¡¯re here. Isn¡¯t enough that you threw a tantrum when you lost to Wukong and ran off crying to your friend here. Now you¡¯re Loki¡¯s what? Guard dog?¡± she demanded and whipped her head towards Loki, ¡°Where¡¯s the rest of your motley crew? I don¡¯t see Eris or Anansi? Did you finally chase off Set? The poor old man lose his patience with you?¡± she scoffed, ¡°King of a new court, unbelievable.¡± Loki was shaking at this point, their fists clenched at their sides as the browbeating continued. All the good humor gone from their face. Sonya shot a look at Oorochi who hadn¡¯t so much as flinched under the assault. She looked back to Pandora, I need to be able to talk to her. There¡¯s still so much I don¡¯t know, Sonya thought and set her jaw tightly, I should take advantage of this. She didn¡¯t hear the crackle of thunder in the sky as she hustled over to Loki¡¯s side, putting a hand on their arm. Loki rounded on her and scowled only to pause, meeting her eyes. She gave them an earnest look, ¡°Easy. She¡¯s understandably angry,¡± Sonya urged him, ¡°Calm down. You just said you were too old to get riled like that. Let it go.¡± Loki scoffed and turned away, ¡°Right, right,¡± they muttered and turned back to the trees, ¡°You talk to her then, I should have just kept her under that sleeping spell and dumped her at Titania¡¯s feet. Would have been funnier that way but no, I had to be respectful,¡± they grumbled under their breath and walked away, ¡°Give them room, Oorochi.¡± Sonya looked to the serpent who nodded and hopped backwards, vanishing into the foliage with Loki. She let out a sigh and turned to see a pair of angry blue eyes fixed on her. You¡¯re so much different than I- ¡°What are you?¡± Pandora demanded. Sonya raised her eyebrows, ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°I asked you what you are. Your mana is strange, your aura is wrong, you feel like an Arbiter for some reason but no arbiter would collect that many powers for themselves. It goes against the worldpact,¡± she rumbled, ¡°Answer plain, I know that you can¡¯t lie. Did you steal that power?¡± You gave it to me. She opened her mouth to speak but the woman just kept going, ¡°Stealing the power of an Arbiter is a high crime. You¡¯ll face trial and have your mana cut off for this. No wonder you fled to the territory of the Fae court, coward. You-¡± Sonya snorted, I couldn¡¯t get a single iota of proper information out of you in the future but here you¡¯re pouring it on me like rain. I can¡¯t even begin to unpack half of what you just said. It¡¯s... kind of refreshing to listen to you ramble. She looked the enraged woman over, You¡¯re putting up a good front, but while they can¡¯t see it, I can. You¡¯re scared. Just like me. You¡¯re tired. How long have you been struggling? How long have you been fighting? What¡¯s your story? I want to know everything. ¡°Do you think this is funny?¡± ¡°Kind of,¡± Sonya laughed and extended a hand as a small smile stretched across her lips. ¡°It¡¯s nice to meet you Pandora. I¡¯m Sonya, and I¡¯m your friend.¡± Chapter 219 Chapter 219 Um... Sonya cleared her throat while Pandora stared up at her, slack jawed and her brows raised in disbelief. The woman didn¡¯t move an inch to take her hand, she didn¡¯t even look at it.. Pandora¡¯s eyes were fixed solely on Sonya¡¯s face with an expression that made her wonder if she¡¯d grown horns or something. I... don¡¯t have a power that does that, right? Oh man, am I losing track? Do my powers even work properly in this place? Her thoughts flitted about wildly, grasping about as she tried to distract herself from the growing surge of embarrassment. Her eyes narrowed a little in thought, I feel like I¡¯ve tried to use my powers before but- wait- focus Sonya. Pandora¡¯s expression had gone deadpan. Sonya let out a nervous laugh. Usually this bit works. ¡°Y-you said it yourself, I can¡¯t lie, right?¡± she stammered. Pandora tilted her head slowly to the right, ¡°You¡¯re my friend?¡± she asked and rose to her feet on her own, leaning forward and getting nose to nose with Sonya, ¡°I don¡¯t know what kind of trick of the mind you¡¯ve played on yourself to let you say such a thing, but we are not friends, thief.¡± Sonya opened her mouth to protest, closed it, frowned as her throat tightened. Pandora smirked, ¡°Aha. You can¡¯t protest, can you?¡± Sonya scowled, How the heck did this little shit turn into the sweet woman I know? She crossed her arms, ¡°I didn¡¯t steal that ability,¡± she said flatly, ¡°It was given to me.¡± ¡°Given? By who?¡± Sonya looked away, her face warming, ¡°I can¡¯t say.¡± Pandora snorted, ¡°Half truths,¡± she said and brushed past Sonya, ¡°I don¡¯t know what Loki¡¯s angle was, bringing you to meet me before throwing me at Titania¡¯s feet, but I have no intention of playing along.¡± Sonya sought patience. She needed to talk to her, hear her side of everything. Every bit of information she got was something she could use against Titania. ¡°Pandora, please hear me out. I think we can help one another, just-¡± ¡°Just what?¡± The velvet voice sent a cold chill up her spine, crawling across her skin like a spider as her entire body went rigid. A response so instantaneous it felt like it had been programmed into her. She stumbled over her words, her chest tightening as a cold sweat beaded on her brow. Just a few feet away, Pandora spun and whipped her head about, her expression one of unfettered hostility, ¡°Titania!¡± In a blink of an eye they were no longer in that clearing. Sonya stood numbly as the rowdy chorus of Titania¡¯s court hammered her ears. Her vision swam, traumas she couldn¡¯t remember scratching at her brain like a million tiny insects. She barely registered that Loki and Oorochi were on either side of her, also looking around in confusion. The only person who seemed any sort of unfazed was the defiant Pandora, standing on the audience dias with her head held high. Sonya¡¯s heart hammered in her chest. She forced her gaze up, following the steps to a pair of pale, delicate feet and the woman attached to them. Titania looked down at her with a sneer, ¡°You got willful all of a sudden, little light.¡± Sonya looked away, nausea rising in her throat. ¡°Titania!¡± Pandora bellowed again, taking a step forward, ¡°If you have any sense left in you, send me back to Asgard, immediately!¡± The Queen of the Fae gave the young woman a flat look before turning her attention to Loki. She narrowed her eyes, ¡°You acted on your own.¡± ¡°I do that,¡± Loki said with a shrug, ¡°Comes with the territory of working with me. You knew that, though.¡± Titania leaned back in her throne and let out a sigh, ¡°Were you at least discrete? The last thing I want is Olympus throwing a tantrum on my doorstep.¡± Sonya glanced between the two of them as Loki smiled at her, ¡°If I wanted them to figure it out, they¡¯d figure it out,¡± the trickster said, ¡°If I wanted them to chase a ghost, they¡¯d do that instead.¡± Sonya squinted at Loki before looking up at Titania who seemed to relax. Wait a minute. She turned her attention towards Pandora who was shaking with anger. Her face was beet red with embarrassment. The arbiter took another step forward, ¡°TITANIA! I will not be ignored here! If you think Olympus is your only problem you are sorely mistaken! I have half a mind to- URK!¡± She didn¡¯t get to finish her tirade. Pale white vines erupted from the ground at her feet and wrapped around her throat, pulling her to the ground so fast her forehead clacked against the flagstone. Out of the corner of Sonya¡¯s eye, Loki tensed. It was a small gesture. A tiny, miniscule, fragment of a movement. Their throat tightening just enough for a vein to show before relaxing. There it is again. What am I picking up on? Titania didn¡¯t seem to notice as she scowled down at Pandora, ¡°The adults were talking, child,¡± the fae queen hissed, ¡°Little upstarts like you tire me. Do you think your blood entitles you to anything? I had heard you were more demure than this but it would seem that spending time with the barbarians in Asgard has turned you into a brute like Thor. You¡¯re more trouble than you¡¯re worth,¡± she said, ¡°And since they don¡¯t know you are here...¡± she trailed off and leaned forward, resting her hands on the arms of her throne. The next moment, Pandora was choking. The sound of her gasps accompanied by the creaking of wood. Sonya¡¯s eyes widened. Wait, what? Just like that? That can¡¯t be how things go, she thought as Pandora struggled on the ground, kicking and twisting, trying to pull herself free of the vines that were now rising up to wrap around her arms and legs. She wheezed, opening her mouth to speak but the vine around her throat only tightened. Wait, wait, wait, no, this isn¡¯t right. She shot a look towards Loki. The trickster stood still, hands on their hips. Their fingers tensed, tightening at their belt even while their face remained passive and calm. Pandora let out a gasp for air as Titania leaned forward, nearly rising to her feet. The Queen was smiling, savoring the sight. She looked from Pandora to Loki to Titania again, a cold lump forming in her guts. The sound of the arbiter¡¯s gasps had turned to squeaks and pained, helpless sobs. The last gasps before her end. Fuck this. I can¡¯t watch this. ¡°Mis- Titania!¡± she forced out, stepping forward and planting her feet on the ground between the queen and her prey. ¡°That¡¯s enough. Please.¡± The choking sounds stopped behind her as she held Titania¡¯s gaze. The Queen scowled, ¡°Yes, I have definitely been too lax with you, little light.¡± Torture is lax? You fucking psycho. Sonya thought, working up ner nerve to speak. ¡°Killing her gets you nothing except temporary satisfaction. A bargaining chip is far more useful, right?¡± she said quickly only feel something strike her across the face for her trouble. She planted her feet, not letting herself fall as another pale white vine struck her. Then another and another. She clenched her teeth, looking Titania in the eyes. You¡¯re keeping me alive, aren¡¯t you? You can¡¯t kill me. I don¡¯t know why, but you need me alive. I may not remember most of it, but I¡¯ve spent two hundred years dealing with you. Come on! Titania hesitated, then scowled, and then Sonya heard an agonized gasp behind her as the vines retreated into the ground. Sonya licked her lip, tasting the blood dripping from her nose. She didn¡¯t blink. Titania didn¡¯t either. Both holding one another¡¯s gaze while Titania leaned back in her seat with a frown. ¡°Fine,¡± Titania hissed, ¡°If you like this outsider so much, you can join her in a cell until I figure out how to use her.¡± Sonya let out a breath of relief and broke eye contact. That was a mistake. ¡°Ah, I have an idea,¡± Titania said suddenly, ¡°While you¡¯re at it. I¡¯ll put you in charge of wringing the attitude out of her. How does that sound?¡± Sonya¡¯s eyes went wide. She looked up sharply and saw a cruel smile spreading on the queen¡¯s face. There was a glint there in her eyes. Not just the savage glee of the fae queen, but the cruel gaze of that other personality, that other Titania, the one that took no small amount of joy in making Sonya suffer. No. Sonya felt her head begin to swim. Her vision grew blurry. Her mind wandered, thoughts becoming jumbled. No- no! Not again. I don¡¯t want to lose more time. Don¡¯t make me- ¨C Sonya¡¯s thoughts returned to her while she stood in a cold, dark room. The scent of blood, sweat, and other horrible things stinging her nose. Her vision swimming back into clarity. She staggered, clutching at the side of her head as pain shot through her brain like a lightning bolt. Her fingers tightened around something in her other hand and she looked down, bleary eyed, and gasped in horror at the sight of a multi-tailed whip ending in cruel glass-like barbs. She dropped it to the ground, stumbling backwards and pressing her back against the wall. Breaths came in rapid, ragged gasps. ¡°Looks like you¡¯re back,¡± a weak voice said from the other side of the darkened room. Sonya jolted and turned towards the source, her pulse still pounding in her ears. She spotted a solitary figure sitting against the far wall in nothing but a ragged brown dress. Two sunken eyes met hers, messy blonde hair matted against her face and neck. Pandora looked terrible. Her body was covered in small lacerations that looked as if they were already beginning to close. Her cheeks were hollow, her limbs thin and weary, but it was her eyes that arrested Sonya. As if sensing her thoughts, Pandora closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the wall with a heavy sigh. Sonya¡¯s mind was a mess, her thoughts jumbled and flickering. What was worse was the panic, regret, and disgust over what she clearly had been up to during her latest black-out in this terrible place. Her own personal hell. She looked down at her feet. ¡°...how long?¡± ¡°Seventy-two days,¡± Pandora said quietly. Sonya winced, ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Pandora rasped, sitting up a bit more. She chuckled and Sonya looked up at the woman in confusion. She was smiling to herself as if remembering a joke. She moved to get to her feet but fell back, grumbling under her breath and looking accusingly at her legs. ¡°I suppose I owe you an apology.¡± ¡°WHAT?!¡± Sonya blasted, ¡°Are you insane? In what world could you possibly owe me an apology?¡± she demanded, reaching up to run her fingers through her hair. The pressure behind her eyes built again, tears that wouldn¡¯t come, she paced back and forth in the dingy cell. ¡°I tortured you! Look at you! You¡¯re a mess!¡± ¡°A little rude,¡± Pandora muttered with a scoff and crossed her bloodstained arms. Sonya stared at her, wide eyed. She reached up to pinch the bridge of her nose, ¡°You¡¯re nuts. I¡¯m nuts. I¡¯m -¡± she shuddered involuntarily, the words dying in her throat. I¡¯m stuck in a little world based on a magical past in my own head held up by the queen of the fairies! I¡¯m crazy. I¡¯m locked up somewhere. This is my final fever dream. Everything after coming back- no- the flash? She trembled and crouched down to the ground, gripping her head, Was that even real? Was- ¡°You didn¡¯t lie to me,¡± Pandora said, shaking her from her spiral. Sonya looked up at her, ¡°...what?¡± ¡°You¡¯re no ally of Titania, for her to put you under such a spell for months at a time,¡± Pandora said flatly, leveling Sonya with a stare. She shrugged and rubbed her neck like it ached a little instead of whatever agony she was clearly in, ¡°Pain is fleeting,¡± she said dismissively, ¡°I heal quickly, see?¡± she held up her arm and showed that the cuts were already reduced to bruises. ¡°The kind of mental anguish you¡¯re going through, that stays with you.¡± Sonya¡¯s lips trembled, and then she whipped her head away, planted her hands on the ground, and heaved pathetically. It lasted a while, the pain all the worse from clearly having nothing in her stomach. A hand rubbed her back and she tried to pull away. ¡°...stop,¡± she grunted, her words garbled by nausea. ¡°Stop torturing yourself and I will,¡± Pandora said testily. Sonya glared at her, ¡°First off, I tortured you, and second I¡¯m-¡± she choked, gasping as her throat tightened so firmly she thought she¡¯d pass out. ¡°Uhuh,¡± Pandora chuckled and continued rubbing her back, ¡°Those kinds of lies count too.¡± The heaving finally stopped and Sonya just knelt there, pressing her head against the hard ground. She shivered and pulled her shoulder away from Pandora. She felt her shoulders sag a little, her body felt so weak, she was so tired. Maybe this really was hell. ¡°I deserve this,¡± she muttered, ¡°I¡¯ve done terrible things, my actions were the cause of even worse,¡± she thought of Tokyo, of her antagonism with Liberty, would it have happened if she hadn¡¯t goaded her? Would I have goaded her anyway? Maybe it¡¯s just my nature. Somewhere far above, the sky rumbled again. She looked up towards the ceiling, a hollow feeling in her chest. ¡°Pandora?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°What lines would you cross to save the world?¡± she asked. ¡°That¡¯s a silly question,¡± Pandora scoffed. Sonya looked at her, she was already right as rain, only dirt and bloodstains covered her now. Even the bruises were gone. She was sitting cross-legged just a foot away, her expression contemplative as she searched Sonya¡¯s tired face. Sonya forced herself to sit up from where she knelt, hands in her lap, head hung. She waited for Pandora to answer as the storm grew louder overhead. The ancient arbiter didn¡¯t pay it any mind. When she spoke, her words were from a conviction set so deep in her soul there was as much chance of dislodging it as there was moving the sun and stars. ¡°Any and all of them,¡± she said, ¡°Even if history never forgives me, as long as the world keeps turning, I¡¯ll do it. I¡¯ve already made up my mind.¡± A chill ran down Sonya¡¯s spine as the door opened behind her, light pouring into the room. She turned and looked up to see Loki standing there in their male form. Their posture was relaxed, as usual, but the look in their eyes was flinty. They let out a sigh that almost sounded relieved when they saw the two women sitting there on the dirty floor. ¡°She¡¯s letting you out,¡± Loki said, ¡°Come with me.¡± Chapter 220 Chapter 220 Sonya stared blankly down at the snow crunching beneath her feet as they passed through the silent forest. She wasn¡¯t entirely sure where she was in comparison to Titania¡¯s court but based on the rules of this twisted world, she wasn¡¯t far away. The wind picked up, whipping between the trees and sending her hair fluttering around her face. She brushed it back absently, glancing towards Pandora while she did so. The woman she had just been forced to torture for months walked alongside her as if nothing had happened, sparkling blue eyes fixed on the path ahead. It was unnerving. ¡°Even if history never forgives me, as long as the world keeps turning, I¡¯ll do it. I¡¯ve already made up my mind.¡± Sonya clenched her jaw and tore her gaze away from the blonde. A miserable lump formed in her gut as she stewed over Pandora¡¯s words. There was a time when she could have looked someone in the eyes and say something like that. She remembered all the promises she¡¯d made to Marta and the others, words that felt so hollow to her now. Had what she¡¯d done really helped at all? Or had it only delayed the inevitable? Created a false hope? She was no closer to figuring out Otis¡¯ weakness, not that she¡¯d tried. She¡¯d let him run about, amused by his childish behavior and curious about how someone as pathetic as him could have become the monster she remembered. In the grand scheme of things, the time between the flash and the end was relatively short, she thought bitterly, Did I switch out a quick end for extended suffering? ¡°You¡¯re doing it again,¡± Pandora muttered. Sonya blinked, ¡°Huh?¡± Pandora gave her an even stare from the corner of her eye, ¡°Don¡¯t play dumb.¡± Sonya looked away and frowned, So much for being nice earlier. Pandora cleared her throat, ¡°Where are you taking us, Loki?¡± Ahead of them, Loki sauntered between the trees with their hands slipped comfortably into the folds of their shirt. The trickster hummed lackadaisical as they walked, not answering right away. Sonya watched Pandora¡¯s face redden, ¡°Loki!¡± ¡°Keep your toga on, Olympian,¡± Loki said, waving a hand back at her, ¡°It¡¯s just up ahead.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t answer my question,¡± Pandora pressed. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to,¡± Loki shot back. Sonya looked between the two of them, a small pitiful spark of amusement crackling meekly to life in her chest. Pandora didn¡¯t pay any mind to the ghost of a smile on Sonya¡¯s face, her eyes fixed on the back of Loki¡¯s head. They trudged up a small hill while Pandora seemed to be willing the trickster¡¯s head to explode with her mind. Loki, meanwhile, had switched from humming their jaunty little tune to whistling only to pause half-way up and raise a finger as if remembering something. They turned back and pointed directly at Pandora, ¡°Headshots don¡¯t work on me, by the way,¡± they tapped their lips and looked up at the sky, ¡°Kill shots in general, actually, come to think of it.¡± With that said, they just turned back to walking up the slope without a care in the world. ¡°Insufferable...¡± Pandora grumbled, stalking after Loki and continuing to mutter obscenities under her breath. Sonya raised an eyebrow before letting out a sigh and shaking her head. Making a dig now felt like a bad idea and her heart just wasn¡¯t in it. She had a feeling any attempts at humor would only fall flat, given the circumstances. When they arrived at the top of the hill she began to hear sounds, shouting and laughing, conversation, the clatter of metal and the ring of coin against a hard surface. Not far off she could make out the glow of a campfire amidst the trees, flickers of movement, dancing. To her right, Pandora glanced around and frowned. ¡°We¡¯re still far from the heart of the court. What is this?¡± ¡°My camp,¡± Loki said brightly and slid down the slope. Sonya furrowed her brows and glanced at Pandora who could offer nothing more than a shake of her head. With nothing else to do, the two of them made their way down the slope and followed after the strange person. From what Sonya had experienced since she¡¯d arrived in this place, she knew that Loki was a bit of an odd duck, but this was the strangest behavior she¡¯d seen in them so far. Regardless, the idea of a warm fire and somewhere at least moderately comfortable to sit sounded like a balm. Pandora seemed to have the same thoughts in mind since she too picked up her pace to catch up. The scene was like something out of a dream. A small clearing had been cut out of the trees. The wood cut and piled into a fire that warmed the air the moment they passed the last set of trunks standing guard at the edge of the campsite. Tables and chairs that looked to have been made of the very same wood were scattered about between cloth tents that looked more like miniature houses than what she had expected. Amidst the fire and function, about twenty people laughed and sang and danced with one another, clapping their hands and drinking deeply from bronze mugs. Then there was the music - strings and flutes and drums hit her ears so suddenly it startled her. It was like the trees had blocked her ability to hear them until just that moment. It was a goddamn party. She numbly heard Pandora shouting something after Loki but couldn¡¯t concentrate long enough to even process it. She watched Pandora storm by, her shoulders square, her posture set, unwavering. As if she hadn¡¯t been tortured, as if she hadn¡¯t suffered at all. Not a single hint of what had transpired before seemed to weigh on Pandora. She was already swept up in the next movement, the next moment, concentrating on what was in front of her. Is it because she knew she could heal from it, that it didn¡¯t matter? What about the pain? I don¡¯t understand. I can barely move, barely think at all. She felt like she¡¯d been ground down until only the barest remenant of who she was remained. ¡°...and why are you doing this?¡± Pandora demanded from... somewhere. Sonya turned to look for the source of her voice and found her and Loki facing off. Loki already had a mug in hand and was extending it to Pandora. ¡°Figured you could use a drink,¡± the trickster said with a laugh. ¡°YOU KIDNAPPED ME!¡± Pandora shouted, ¡°Now you¡¯re, what? Offering me a meal and a drink? Nothing you do makes any sense!¡± Is she really more annoyed by the kidnapping than what happened after? ¡°Excuse me? Young miss,¡± a new voice called to her, rousing her before she started to lose herself in her thoughts. She turned to see an old man standing behind her. He had dark skin, wizened features, and thick curls of white hair on his head. He held out a mug to her, ¡°This is for you.¡± She looked down at it, ¡°I don¡¯t drink,¡± she muttered. ¡°Take it anyway,¡± he said with a knowing smile, ¡°It¡¯ll warm you. It¡¯s a bit cold out.¡± She took it graciously, her fingers feeling numb around the metal cup. She looked back towards the pair of Loki and Pandora. Loki was laughing as Pandora grew more and more red in the face, shouting at the trickster and demanding one explanation after another. She frowned only for the old man to speak again, ¡°No point in trying to understand what that one is doing in the moment,¡± he said with a shake of his head, ¡°Loki isn¡¯t concerned about immediate consequences. Never has been.¡± She looked back at the elderly fellow who was gesturing towards a table, ¡°Sit with this old man, would you?¡± Sonya nodded and followed him, sitting down and staring into the cup in her hands. She mulled over his comment, her mind working in spite of her emotional weariness, ¡°He talks about outcomes a lot for someone who doesn¡¯t care about consequences.¡± ¡°Immediate consequences,¡± the old man corrected her with a chuckle, ¡°Drink! I promise you¡¯ll feel better.¡± Sonya gave him a deadpan look and sighed, far be it from her to refuse. It wasn¡¯t like liquor could do much to her anyway and after experiencing what amounted to true, mind-wiping mind control a little bit of drunkenness (if it were even possible) was almost welcome. She raised the glass and muttered a half-hearted cheers before taking a sip. The scent of flowers and honey and ozone filling her nostrils. She nearly coughed before a taste unlike anything she¡¯d ever tasted jolted her. It was sweet, intensely so, with a smooth bubbly finish to it. It was warm and cool at the same time. Rich and almost tangy as it sat on her tongue, it made her think of a single word. Gold. She set the cup down as warmth spread through her body, an ache in her chest unravelling like a spool. The numbness eased and she even felt a bit of warmth rise to her cheeks. She looked down at the liquid in awe. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve never had nectar before?¡± the old man asked. She froze, her shoulders tightening. Saying too much would draw the other side of Titania out. She could almost feel her eyes on her, watching, waiting for her to slip up. She knew that she wasn¡¯t actually observing moment to moment. But... she trailed off in her thoughts, pushing them away to focus on the conversation. ¡°Not the real thing, no,¡± she said carefully. ¡°Curious!¡¯ the old man laughed, ¡°Took you a while to come up with that, cautious, are we?¡± Sonya frowned, ¡°It¡¯s a healthy habit.¡± ¡°Not your usual tactic I think?¡± the old man asked, resting his elbows on the table and propping his chin up with his fists. ¡°You strike me as a fast talker.¡± Sonya snorted, ¡°That way of doing things has only caused more harm than good,¡± she muttered, swirling the cup before taking another soothing sip. She breathed deep with the next wave of comfort that spread through her body before resting her head against the mug on the table, not wanting to look up at her new conversation partner, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be talking about this. Thank you for the drink but I¡¯d like to be alone.¡± The old man harrumphed, ¡°Says the woman with more positive karmic bonds than I¡¯ve ever seen, and I¡¯ve met Kings.¡± She looked up sharply at him, her eyes narrowing a little. ¡°Who are you?¡± He chuckled and looked down into his own cup before taking a long drink, he set it down and relaxed, leaning back a bit and looking into her eyes before turning to look over at Loki and Pandora. The two of them were still arguing with one another though it seemed to Sonya like Loki was enjoying it more than anything else. ¡°Do you find Loki¡¯s behavior strange? One moment, your enemy, the next...¡± the old man trailed off, ¡°Taking you to their camp and offering you food and drinks without a single expectation of repayment.¡± Sonya scowled, ¡°I asked you a question.¡± ¡°And I don¡¯t have to answer it, young miss,¡± the old man said, his eyes still on the arguing pair. She watched them as well, her stomach churning. She just couldn¡¯t understand how anyone could feel safe enough or sane enough to behave that way after everything. She turned back to him and found him looking her dead in the eyes, his smile a little flinty, ¡°I will answer that question, as long as you agree to answer one of mine. A promise.¡± She frowned, A promise to answer a direct question. A trap. I know myself well enough to know that if I agree, I¡¯ll be an open book. She shook her head, ¡°Not worth it,¡± she said and started to rise. ¡°I can help you,¡± the old man said, ¡°With that heavy lump of metal you call a heart.¡± She glowered at him. She wanted to dismiss him by saying she was fine, but that would have been a lie. She looked away, ¡°No,¡± she repeated and got to her feet. Even then she didn¡¯t move away, she watched him, waited. The bitter side of her wanted to just turn away and leave the conversation behind. The tiny fragment of hope in her felt compelled. The businesswoman wanted a good deal. There was no guarantee he could help and she didn¡¯t like the feeling that he could see right through her somehow. It made her feel exposed in a way she hadn¡¯t been since before she¡¯d been sent back to the past by Pandora. Her eyes flicked towards the bickering pair. How does she turn into the person I know? ¡°Billions of lives, seems impossible to me.¡± Her eyes widened and she whipped her head towards him, he just smiled at her in that easy going way he seemed to have before sipping again at his drink. She looked him up and down and he gestured to the seat she had just vacated. A muffled thunderclap rang out overhead but it seemed more distant, pushed away, than before. The feeling of being watched was muted as well, it was still there but it was as if it was coming through a blurry lens. She sat back down and glared, ¡°What¡¯s your question?¡± she asked. ¡°Promise to answer it first,¡± he said with a wry smile. She clenched her jaw and sighed through her nostrils, ¡°Fine. I promise to answer your question,¡± she bit out. She was already regretting this. He smiled brightly, ¡°You asked first, it would be rude of me to force my agenda when you have your own concerns,¡± he said with a laugh sipping again at his drink, ¡°My name is Set. I come from...¡± he trailed off and looked around at their snowy surroundings, ¡°...warmer climates.¡± Sonya felt every muscle in her body tense, The Egyptian God? She racked her brain for what she knew about the being, the ¡®great one¡¯ as they called themselves. Destruction, Chaos, War. Brother of Osiris and Isis. Her thoughts were still so muddled that she couldn¡¯t remember the specifics of his myths, not that any of them would have any bearing on the real man. They could give me some insight though, maybe help me figure out what this guy wants. The old man didn¡¯t give her enough time to think any further, though, even as she felt the sudden urge to get up and leave the conversation immediately. ¡°Now for my question,¡± he said, cutting into her reeling thoughts. He leaned forward and set his mug down, resting his chin on his knuckles. He never stopped smiling as he posed his question; ¡°How long has it been since the real me died?¡± Chapter 221 Chapter 221 Thunder rumbled overhead, it was still muted, but it felt closer, more insistent. It nearly drew her attention but the man before her reached forward to rap his knuckles on the table. She looked back at him, possibilities and questions bounding about in her head like so many pinballs. She shifted in her seat as the compulsion to answer his question became too much to bear. She didn¡¯t have the precise answer he wanted, but the fact that she had any form of answer was enough to trigger the feeling. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she said, ¡°Eight thousand years? Longer?¡± He frowned, looking a little taken aback by her statement. She rubbed her neck and slouched in her seat, waiting for the feeling to wash over her as Titania punished her for saying too much again. Another century this time? At least a few decades. She sighed and... nothing happened. She blinked and looked up, confused, and met the old man¡¯s gaze. The elderly man leaned back in his seat and whistled appreciatively. ¡°Your best guess then, curious. Have I been forgotten?¡± he asked. She honestly hadn¡¯t expected the conversation to continue after her answer, the uncomfortable feeling of getting away with something she shouldn¡¯t have weighed on her shoulders. She shifted beneath his stare and glanced again towards Loki and Pandora. They were sitting now, Pandora¡¯s face still tense but she was drinking and conversing with less hostility than before. He rapped his knuckles on the table again to draw her attention and she felt her thoughts grow clearer, like a fog lifting. She looked down at his hand, ¡°You¡¯re doing something there.¡± ¡°Do not think too hard on it or it will help you less,¡± he said, ¡°Focus on me, girl. Answer. Have I been forgotten?¡± She furrowed her brows, she didn¡¯t like being told not to think about something. That feeling caused her stomach to twist. She felt like she was forgetting something. It annoyed her as that clear headed feeling grew more intense. She was getting a headache, the pounding coming in time with the crackles of thunder in the distance. Then she felt something she realized she hadn¡¯t felt in a very, very long time. Her instincts. They screamed at her to heed him, to focus on his voice and not get distracted. She barely trusted her thoughts these days, but she trusted her gut. She cleared her throat, ¡°You haven¡¯t been forgotten, not really, you¡¯re just a myth. Just a part of a religion that has long died out.¡± He squinted at her, ¡°...religion? I am unfamiliar with the word.¡± She raised her eyebrows and turned to look at Loki again, then back at him, ¡°You... don¡¯t know what a religion is?¡± ¡°No,¡± he said, ¡°Explain it.¡± She mulled it over, Might as well go textbook, ¡°The worship of an otherworldly power or force. A belief system that defines a person''s life and practices. It usually includes a god or gods. In one such religion, you are a rather important deity.¡± He leaned back as if he was struck, disgust on his face, ¡°Deity? God?¡± he spat on the ground, ¡°There is no such thing,¡± he rumbled, the wrinkles on his face smoothing as his anger rose. His eyes turned yellow as he leaned forward, ¡°You say that this ¡®religion¡¯ has died out? What of the people that practiced it?¡± Why is he so angry? She wondered before answering him, ¡°The civilization that practiced it is gone, though the descendants of that civilization still exist.¡± He scowled before letting out a breath, his wrinkles returning and his eyes turning dark again. He relaxed, ¡°I see, that is good.¡± Maybe it was her clearing head, but her curiosity got the better of her, ¡°May I ask a question?¡± ¡°Why those words filled me with ire?¡± he asked for her, ¡°It¡¯s quite simple. There was a great one who rose past mortality a long time ago, staking a claim like the rest of us through his acts and deeds. We care little for cruelty amongst ourselves, violence towards one another is quite normal and our duels and acts can be terrible,¡± Set explained, ¡°We war with one another but it just a matter of course,¡± he gestured to Loki and Pandora who were now laughing, ¡°We let slights go fairly quickly.¡± Torture is a slight? He cleared his throat and continued, ¡°This man did not visit his cruelty on his peers. He struck downward. He demanded worship from those who only knew a wisp of true power, mortals with little power of their own. Floods, storms, plagues, unchecked wrath on those he saw as lesser than him. He called himself a god. His acts gave birth to a power within him that allowed him to take strength from their worship, to steal their gifts, to spread more suffering that only abated when the people he delivered it upon swore themselves to him.¡± Sonya leaned back, a chill running up her spine, ¡°What happened to him?¡± ¡°The Great Courts joined together and brought him down with the aid of the Arbiters,¡± Set said flatly, ¡°His brutality was... monstrous. He had become like the beasts that rise from the mystic places. Unhinged and aimless in his violence. When the fighting was done many of our kind saw their last days,¡± Set said with a sigh, ¡°My father among them,¡± he shook his head, ¡°A pact was made with the world through the Golden Queen of that time, all of the courts agreed to the pact. That such violence and interference would never be delivered upon the mortals again, that we would fight our own battles, the Arbiters and the Golden Throne were charged with enforcing the pact.¡± ¡°A pact with the world?¡± she asked, struggling to process what she was hearing. ¡°The world is not alive, it is not conscious, but it is the source of mana, of power, of life, so it has a pseudo will, if you could call it that. To pact with the world is to change it and is not something that can be done lightly, easily, or without consequence. The current Golden Queen ascended her throne as a result of the pact, her mother trading her life for the safety of the mortals,¡± he said with a sad smile, ¡°There is no act more worthy of respect among our kind than such sacrifice.¡± Sonya looked down at her knuckles as he leaned back in his seat, tapping his fingers on the table before grabbing his mug and taking a sip. He set it down with a chuckle, ¡°The fact that you seem so surprised about these things is quite telling about the world you know.¡± Sonya looked over at Pandora again. History remembers Pandora as a betrayer who threw humanity to the wolves. She looked up at Set, But this man would have remembered her very differently. She looked down at her hands for a moment as something stirred in her chest, a small, tiny, infinitely small, spark of hope. A chance to feel something more than the misery of this place. She looked up at the ancient being in front of her who sipped casually at his mug, looking at her over the rim with a small smile, ¡°This old man has been talking a lot, why don¡¯t you tell me a story?¡± Permission. Thunder roared over her head but she followed her gut and ignored it. She felt that paying it any mind would take this chance from her. She looked down at her hands again and took a breath, ¡°There was a girl,¡± she said hesitantly, ¡°Who lived in a world without mana. One day it came back and the world became dangerous for everyone. So many people died. She was weak, but she tried to help. The world broke,¡± she felt a lump form in her throat, ¡°Everything fell apart. People who had promised to protect the world fought among themselves, the uh... mystic places burst everywhere, everyone died.¡± Set put his mug down, his expression turning grave, ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°This girl was given a chance to turn things around. To go back and set things right,¡± she said shakily, ¡°She accepted. She went back to the day it happened and realized just how daunting a task she had in front of her. She realized the only way to stop those people from turning on one another, to hold the world together, was to become more wicked than any of them. To do terrible things, some of those things leading to the deaths of many uh... mortals. Acts of cruelty against others with power. Antagonizing them, manipulating them, pushing them. All because she wanted so desperately to save the world from itself,¡± she said, clenching her hands together. She didn¡¯t hear the pair of footsteps approaching from the side as her words tumbled out. ¡°That girl wanted to save everyone so badly that she was happy with whatever punishment came after. She was okay with dying for it. If it meant that humanity survived, she¡¯d go through with it. She¡¯d let the world hate her for the rest of history, she¡¯d die in the grizzliest way, she¡¯d be the enemy of the world. That was okay, for a while, but she crumbled...¡± she choked and looked up at him, tasting something coppery on her lips as something warm streamed down her cheeks. I don¡¯t want to die. I want to see the world I¡¯m trying to make. I don¡¯t want to miss it. I don¡¯t want to leave everyone behind, but I... I deserve it. Don¡¯t I? I deserve this. The old man regarded her in silence, making a small gesture with his hand as he held her eyes. He sipped at his mug before looking down at her own mug, ¡°Drink.¡± She shakily picked up the mug, staring at the liquid before downing it in one gulp. She¡¯d never spilled her guts like that to anyone, never told anyone the full truth. Marta and Chunhua knew, to a degree, how she felt but she¡¯d been so careful to hide how scared she was. Just because she was okay with dying didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t afraid. Of course she was afraid. She was terrified. Her sense of justice just couldn¡¯t see any other outcome in the end, though. She¡¯d tried and tried so many times to see things the way the others did, to feel that it was okay to live. She let herself enjoy life as much as she could but it just felt wrong. How could she enjoy life when so many people suffered because of her? Set checked his mug in silence before turning and pouring it out onto the snow with a grave look in his eyes. Behind her, she heard two more streams of liquid pouring onto the ground. She spun and saw Pandora and Loki mimicking the old man¡¯s gesture, their eyes downcast. ¡°What-¡± ¡°To a true peer,¡± Set said, ¡°Blood may be shed, flesh may wither, bones may break, but the soul is eternal. To sacrifice the soul is to give more than one¡¯s life, the world owes that woman a debt. Ah, the songs Osiris would sing about her.¡± Sonya pressed her lips together and hung her head, clinging to the mug in her hands. Above her, thunder crashed and roared, it felt like something was trying to push through an impassable wall. A hand landed on her shoulder and Loki slipped into the seat next to her with a grin, ¡°I think that woman needed a little advice from someone who does things people don¡¯t like a lot,¡± the trickster said and leaned against the table. Pandora huffed at her right, slipping into her own seat. Loki shot Pandora a grin and waggled their eyebrows, ¡°I do things for the outcome, I know my goal, where it¡¯s all going, but often people can¡¯t see that. Kind of the point,¡± Loki explained and let out a breath, ¡°So I figured a long time ago I might as well have fun with it if I¡¯m going to make enemies everywhere I go. If you¡¯re going to live, live, and keep living, hold onto it as long as you can and deal with the aftermath afterwards.¡± ¡°Irresponsible,¡± Pandora scoffed next to Sonya. Sonya looked at her and didn¡¯t miss the ghost of a smile on the woman¡¯s face, ¡°But I suppose someone in such a situation would need to find enjoyment where they could,¡± she looked down at her own empty cup, ¡°That said... chasing death is the path of a fool. Unless there are no alternatives. If I- if anyone else could find a way to have their feast and eat it too, they most certainly would.¡± ¡°A martyr drowning in their own misery is just a training construct, taking a beating to better someone else,¡± Set snorted, ¡°That isn¡¯t living.¡± Loki raised his mug, ¡°See the path.¡± Set chuckled and raised his own, ¡°Take it to the end.¡± Pandora sighed and raised her own, ¡°Stand at the peak.¡± Sonya looked at the three of them, overwhelmed. That lump in her chest felt smaller, less tight, malleable. Maybe they were right. Maybe it wasn¡¯t about expecting that terrible end. Maybe it didn¡¯t matter whether or not she deserved it. She knew it was okay to enjoy life as it came, but guilt and the weight of her actions just made it so hard. Was setting that aside immoral? Did it matter? It was her choice, right? If that girl wanted to get away with it, wouldn¡¯t that be far more impressive? It was a small brightness, a delicate glow that she held onto desperately. She knew that this was all the hope she had left to squeeze out of herself, the last of it, brought forward by these wonderfully strange people. She looked at them again, they still had their mugs in the air. She stared at them in confusion, ¡°What on earth are you still doing that for?¡± she snickered. ¡°It¡¯s an old Asgardian thing,¡± Loki said with a chortle, ¡°Raise your mug! Raise it!¡± he urged her. She genuinely laughed at this point, ¡°Okay! Okay! Do I say anything?¡± she asked, holding up her mug to the others. ¡°The last part is, ¡®And look back with pride¡¯,¡± Set chimed in. Sonya felt a chill as a bubble of laughter rose up in her chest, a happy tingle on her skin as she leaned forward and pressed her empty mug against the others. Every moment spent with these very special people made her feel lighter, they reminded her of where she needed to be, what she needed to do, and why she did what she did. ¡°Okay okay!¡± she laughed, ¡°And look back with pride!¡± she shouted as the thunder over her head raged so ferociously she felt the muteness blocking it crack. For a moment, a wonderful moment, nothing happened as Pandora and Loki laughed with her. It was the shock and anger in Set¡¯s eyes that finally brought her to her senses. She couldn¡¯t help it this time, she looked up. The world around her turned black as Titania¡¯s voice filled her ears. ¡°That¡¯s enough of that.¡± Book 1 to be Stubbed + Announcement Book 1 to be Stubbed + Announcement Hey guys! DerelictPresence here! So this is very last minute, and I want to be the first to apologize for this. This is my first publication and I''m still learning. I just found out a few minutes ago that I need to stub Book 1 ASAP. I''m sure most of you know what that means but for those who don''t, that means that in preparation of the official release I need to delete the majority of Book 1''s chapters. I will be cutting it down to chapter 9 within the next twenty-four hours (probably in the hours around Noon EST). Don''t fret! I love you guys and I want to give everyone a chance to read the story and I''m committed to making it happen. I spoke with Timeless Wind and I will be able to give out eBook versions of Book 1 on my Discord on request. Just hit me up there and I''ll toss it your way! They will be available through Monday. This is a huge moment and it came a little unexpectedly but that''s okay. Writing this story has been one wild adventure to begin with and becoming a full time author was not something I ever anticipated. Now we''re here, Book 1, wow. It comes out next week! April 1st! No foolin~ To celebrate I will be on Discord much of the day on Voice Chat available to talk to anyone who wants to talk and answer what questions I can or just hang out! Come say hi! Thank you all so much for reading Broker and look forward to what comes next! Tomorrow is a very important chapter (222) so make sure to tune in and enjoy. Book 4 is well underway on Patreon as well as a Litrpg side-project that has started up. Come check it out! You all are amazing, I wouldn''t be able to do what I do without you guys. So thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Be kind to one another. DerelictPresence Chapter 224 Chapter 224 Ishtar rounded the corner, dipping low in the process, her hair fluttering up behind her. The axe swung across the spot where her throat had been just a moment before. She turned her head sharply, looking up into the blood-red eyes of the emerald skinned humanoid, its muscles bulging with the powerful swing. The eyes on her helmet flashed and she pushed off the ground, driving her knee into the monsters chest. A sickening crack of ribs proceeded the towering creature¡¯s sudden departure from his position. He hurtled back into the crowd of his fellows behind him, bowling them over as a black gloved hand landed on her shoulder. Blackrazor launched off of Ishtar and swirled in the air, momentarily turning into an incorporeal mass while arrows passed through him. He landed in a crouch, violet blades in his hands, and turned into a blur of motion, small nicks and cuts spread across the now retreating warband. A plague of wounds that turned sickly and festering in an instant. The beasts fell over as they tried to pull away and get some distance from their ruthless attackers only for their hair to stand on end. As Ishtar stepped out fully from the corner in the smooth stone labyrinth, a crack of thunder rang out. Their bodies flashed and twitched, electricity chaining between them in visible bolts. They screamed, convulsed, and collapsed. Ishtar flicked her wrist and a knife of hard light appeared, she threw it with a casual gesture. It soared past Kera¡¯s head as the gray-purple haired woman stood up from her latest set of kills and sunk into the forehead of a elderly one of the creatures decked in robes. The old monster gurgled before falling face first onto the ground. Ishtar strutted forward and looked down at the carbonized corpses. ¡°Better,¡± she hissed through her respirator. ¡°A rare dungeon is too easy,¡± Blackrazor murmured, wiping off his blades before retracting them into his sleeves. He reached up and brushed back his jet black hair, ¡°Perhaps an epic tomorrow?¡± ¡°Naaah,¡± Kera said, waving a lazy hand while she crouched next to one of the massive corpses, poking it curiously, ¡°Epic dungeons are huge, BeyBey, we wouldn¡¯t have the time even if we went to one today. This isn¡¯t so bad, get to stretch our legs before the big fight!¡± ¡°Could always use more of a challenge,¡± Blackrazor growled. Ishtar rested her hands on her hips, ¡°Kera¡¯s right, we don¡¯t have the time for something that involved. Getting our teamwork down is more than enough,¡± she said and held out a hand, a sphere appearing over it made of that same hard-light stuff. She coated it with an illusion to make it appear white before applying one of her astral eyes to it. With a gentle push she sent it forward and down the hallway, zipping away to scout ahead. She turned back to the two of them, ¡°There¡¯s a place far more challenging than an epic dungeon that I know of. If time permits, we can go there once all this business with Liberty is done. Really test ourselves.¡± ¡°Sounds good to me!¡± Kera cheered and hopped to her feet, ¡°Hey, what do you think the boss here is like? Huh?¡± ¡°Just a bigger orc,¡± Blackrazor guessed, ¡°That¡¯s all we¡¯ve seen so far.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get complacent because of consistency,¡± Ishtar warned, ¡°Dungeons like these have a way of deceiving you.¡± Kera put her hands on her hips, pushed out her chest and raised her chin with pride, ¡°And thats why I¡¯m never consistent. Keeps ¡®em guessing.¡± Blackrazor gave her a deadpan look while Ishtar shook her head, ¡°That- Oh Kera,¡± she sighed before shifting her attention to the eye she¡¯d made. She looked through it, feeding its senses into her own. The halls continued on beyond where they stood, the stonework maze winding on and on. There were no clear hints on the walls as to where they needed to go or how to navigate. She raised a hand and pulled her sight back to her body, more spheres appeared, more lenses to search through. Dozens. ¡°Go.¡± They careened off into the halls beyond, spreading out like a swarm. ¡°The only hints at the correct path have been the packs of monsters,¡± Blackrazor murmured, ¡°The other paths are empty.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Ishtar agreed, ¡°Find more monsters, find our route to the end.¡± ¡°And find more fun,¡± Kera snickered before hopping lightly over the pile of burnt corpses to saunter towards the robed one. She squatted next to it and tugged at its hood, pulling it up to look into its face, ¡°This one was new, some sorta caster?¡± ¡°That was my guess,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°Figured it best just to put him down rather than see what he was capable of. If he was too weak to defend himself there was no reason to test him and come up with countermeasures.¡± ¡°Yeah, makes sense, still woulda liked to see some magic though,¡± Kera said and dropped the body, brushing herself off. ¡°You can turn into lightning,¡± Blackrazor pointed out. ¡°Yeah but that¡¯s my magic, always neat seeing the other stuff, y¡¯know?¡± Kera argued. She turned and waved her hands down the empty hallway, ¡°Boom! Bzzap! Wop wop wop!¡± she giggled before brightening and turning back to Ishtar, ¡°You think those new eyes can do eye beams or something?¡± Ishtar laughed, ¡°I could already do that before,¡± she said and levitated off the ground, floating over to land next to the wild supervillain, ¡°These eyes certainly have their perks though. I can function more accurately at higher speeds. That was always a bit of a problem.¡± ¡°Hmph,¡± Blackrazor grunted and shadow stepped next to her, rising out of the ground, ¡°Sounds useful.¡± Ishtar regarded him, ¡°Don¡¯t go getting your eyes injured intentionally just to beg Technocrat for a new pair, I will warn him.¡± Blackrazor crossed his arms and looked away in his own deadpan version of a pout, ¡°Understood.¡± She turned back to Kera as a surge went through her connection to the various spheres spread out through the labyrinth. She sent her senses out and peered through, seeing a dark room with what appeared to be some kind of dias in the middle. It was long and rectangular with dozens of pillars spread throughout. She willed the eye to retreat and get some distance as a flash of metal nearly cut it in two. There, beneath her distant gaze, she spotted a male orc like the others, it was thinner though with a lighter build and a sharper look in its eyes. It held what looked like a meat cleaver in its hand except the blade was as long as the man was tall. He was also alone. ¡°Found something,¡± she murmured and pulled her senses back, holding out her hand and creating a portal between the spot where her eye was and their location. The doorway formed and Kera let out a whoop, leaping through without warning. Ishtar shook her head and followed, Blackrazor at her side. When they stepped through they found the orc standing atop the dias, already in a fighting stance. His eyes looked them over for a moment before he frowned and stood up straight, he brought his weapon up and let it rest on his shoulder. ¡°Kraam,¡± he grunted with a heavy sigh. Kera, who had come through first, was bouncing on the balls of her feet, eager to get the violence going. Ishtar stepped past her, ¡°I don¡¯t know your words,¡± she said, shaking her head for emphasis. ¡°Harumph!¡± the orc grunted and pointed to the archway behind him. He then pointed to their group, ¡°Olu kraam,¡± he clenched his fist and pointed to himself, swiping his hand in a cutting motion, ¡°Ib id-kraam olu, nyel Mavos zo-kraam,¡± he pointed back at the archway and sat down on the dias, crossing his legs, setting his sword on his lap and closing his eyes. Ishtar tilted her head, ¡°Fascinating.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t get it,¡± Kera mumbled, ¡°Are we fighting or not?¡± ¡°I think he¡¯s leaving it up to us,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°He may very well be aware of our strength and has decided that he wants no part of it, that it wouldn¡¯t be a good match. I knew the higher-tier dungeons contained monsters capable of higher order thinking but this is more than I expected.¡± ¡°Even with your special knowledge?¡± Blackrazor asked. ¡°Sonya didn¡¯t spend a lot of time inside dungeons beyond mapping them and getting a baseline assessment of the creatures inside,¡± Ishtar pointed out, ¡°Scouts weren¡¯t supposed to interact with monsters.¡± ¡°Fair point,¡± Blackrazor conceded, ¡°So he¡¯s suggesting we¡¯d find a better match through that archway?¡± ¡°Boooring,¡± Kera whined, ¡°If he doesn¡¯t wanna fight then its no fun.¡± ¡°Agreed,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°Let''s move on, we get no benefit from killing him. My senses aren¡¯t picking up mana from his weapon either, meaning it isn¡¯t anything special enough to take. Blackrazor? If you would.¡± Blackrazor stepped forward and fell into the ground in the dimly lit room, reappearing beyond the archway and looking up at it. He stepped through it twice before turning and nodding to Ishtar and Kera, ¡°No traps, mistress.¡± Ishtar nodded and walked past the dias, the orc neither moving nor reacting to her proximity. It was a curious thing. She wondered if the heroes of the past timeline had given much thought to how many of the creatures occupying dungeons were sentient and seemed to have cultures and philosophies of their own. It seemed less and less likely that these entities were simply created by the dungeons, which had its own implications. Where did they come from? What were these places that the dungeons connected to? What did that mean for the Backrooms and Asgard? She set the questions aside for now as she passed under the archway and into the next hallway. There were no turns or twists for them to follow, rather a single path that led to a pair of high double doors. She glanced back one last time at the shrinking figure of what she assumed was the mini-boss of the dungeon before approaching the hardwood barrier. She rest her hand on it, running her fingers over the knotted wood and pushed. The doors swung open and if it hadn¡¯t been for her helmet she would have been blasted in the face with a sudden wave of heat and moisture. Her senses picked up on it though, warning lights indicating the sudden change flashing in her HUD. ¡°Gross,¡± Kera grunted, ¡°Ugh its like a sauna.¡± ¡°The feeling is worse since the rest of the labyrinth was desert dry,¡± Blackrazor mumbled, taking a few steps forward and peering into the space. Her mind told her it was dark, but her eyes pierced through it nevertheless. It wasn¡¯t at all like the rest of the dungeon, where there had been pillars and smooth walls, this place was a irregularly shaped cavern with pools of water scattered about. At the far end was a waterfall that poured into the largest of the pools from an unknown source. Otherwise, it was empty. She stepped into the chamber, raising her hand and making a few gestures. Kera fell into step to her right while Blackrazor vanished into the ground. She felt the cold spots where he reappeared at different spots in the room, checking every inch before returning to her side. ¡°Empty, the water is too opaque to see clearly inside,¡± he reported. ¡°Then our enemy is aquatic somehow,¡± Ishtar murmured. ¡°Found something!¡± Kera said brightly and skipped a few paces away much to Ishtar¡¯s annoyance, returning with an object clutched in her hands. She held it out for the two of them to look at and Ishtar felt her body temperature drop a few degrees. It was a skull with tusks and a familiar brow shape. An orc skull, stripped clean of all flesh and left to gather dust in this place. Ishtar frowned inside her helmet. ¡°This place has a story,¡± Blackrazor said to her side. Ishtar nodded only for the sound of burbling water to reach her ears. She glanced up from where they were examining the skull and watched as the water in the largest pool shifted and sloshed. It rose, bubbled, and finally burst, water spreading everywhere. Ishtar took a step forward and held out a hand as the feeling of mana moving in the air caught her attention. Hexagons of light took shape and spread out like a wall around the three of them as the water that had flown into the air condensed into spears and launched themselves at the trio. They splashed harmlessly against her barrier. When the barrage ended she lowered the defense and took in the creature that loomed over them. The lower half of its body was entirely serpentine, the upper half was vaguely humanoid with a long snouted face and wide set beady eyes. It bore its fangs in their direction and hissed a deadly warning. She trailed her eyes down from its face to the necklace of orcish skulls hanging around its throat. She sniffed derisively, ¡°It enslaved them.¡± ¡°It seems so,¡± Blackrazor agreed. ¡°Who wants some fried snake-guy?¡± Kera chimed in, ¡°He¡¯s covered in water, I can take care of this in a flash.¡± Blackrazor frowned at her, ¡°We aren¡¯t here for you to showboat, Kera. We¡¯re here for the mistress to make sure her abilities are all functional.¡± ¡°Fine,¡± Kera grumbled, ¡°I guess that¡¯s true.¡± Ishtar chuckled, ¡°Sorry Kera, you can have as much fun as you want during the battle with Liberty. Feel free to run wild then.¡± ¡°Really?!¡± Kera asked delightedly as the titanic man-serpent pulled itself out of its pool and slid onto the ground. It looked down at them in anger, it¡¯s eyes flashing with a fresh surge of power. Ishtar stepped forward and raised both hands. She allowed her inner power to race through her body, the channels made stronger and more precise by Chunhua carrying the load of energy with almost horrifying efficiency. She exhaled, her breath coming out as a rattling gasp through the voice modulator. Light bloomed in the room. Sparkles that scattered like stars throughout the entire space before growing into long, wicked spears. The boss held out its own hands and she felt its power reaching out towards the water. Ishtar smirked and pulled Earthwarden from the warehouse. She planted her feet on the ground and pulled her hands together, the floor beneath them shook as walls of stone slammed shut over the pools. Ishtar tilted her head and gave the creature a predatory look as it realized that she¡¯d cut off the source of its attack power. It lunged as she clenched her fists. A bloody, pincushion-like mass of trembling flesh was all that remained when the spears stopped falling. She strode forward and looked down at it as the last of its life force faded away. ¡°Simple enough,¡± she murmured and looked down at her hand, flexing her fingers, ¡°That will suffice for now,¡± she turned away as the space began to tremble, ¡°Let¡¯s collect our rewards and leave,¡± she said, ¡°We have a war to win.¡± Side Story – Drums of War 1 Side Story ¨C Drums of War 1 Carla marched down the hallway, her heels clicking against the marble floor. A small crowd of men and women followed her, doing their best to match her brisk pace. She wanted to leave them behind and escape the sea of bureaucrats and sycophants left over from her predecessors regime. She felt no small amount of resentment for their appointments, how many of them had been picked in spite of Sonya¡¯s efforts to create a body that could lead the world into the future. She turned to the only person in her immediate vicinity that she could both tolerate and trust, ¡°What¡¯s our progress?¡± she asked. ¡°Most of the heroes summoned for Operation Corinth have responded. We¡¯re sourcing from across the globe, though, and there¡¯s been some pushback,¡± Chunhua clipped, ¡°The French Mythic, Lucian DuCast has insisted that he remain in his homeland to protect it. The French Premier and their representatives at the committee are resisting his involvement too. They¡¯ve been cagy recently. Probably those vigilantes that popped up.¡± Carla sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose, ¡°What about the internationals?¡± ¡°All of them have responded and are ready for their roles, First Wind and Qilin are already here. They¡¯re waiting in the ready room,¡± Chunhua said. ¡°And Sapporo?¡± ¡°He¡¯s sitting in the portal room,¡± Chunhua said gravely, ¡°He has been since the call to action.¡± ¡°He¡¯s been sitting there for two weeks?¡± Carla asked, aghast. ¡°Yes,¡± Chunhua said with a nod, ¡°He¡¯s been in a near-constant state of meditation. I¡¯ve brought him food and drink. We barely managed to get him to leave long enough to take care of himself.¡± Carla shook her head, ¡°I suppose I shouldn¡¯t expect less from him, I¡¯ll send-.¡± ¡°Chairwoman!¡± one of the representatives behind her called out and hurried to her side, ¡°We really need to talk about the disbursement of dungeons after the battle. If you¡¯ll consider-¡± She rounded on him and grabbed him by the shirt, pulling his face to within an inch of hers, ¡°You just stepped in shit, Representative,¡± she growled, ¡°I don¡¯t have time for your political pandering and money grubbing. If you think this is going to be an easy win for us, I have news for you. Maybe take a page from Representative Locus, who¡¯s territory you¡¯re making eyes at, and work hard to support the operation, hm?¡± she asked, her voice tilting up a bit as she tilted her head and searched his face. He paled and went a little limp in her grip. She pushed him away, ¡°There¡¯s going to be changes in the Committee after we¡¯re done with Liberty,¡± she growled and turned away, I won¡¯t let you parasites corrupt what Sonya built, even if that means I need to be something of a tyrant myself. She resumed marching alongside Chunhua who shot an appreciative glance your way, ¡°You¡¯re a lot different when Sonya isn¡¯t around.¡± Carla snorted, ¡°I¡¯m an administrator at heart, work and play are two very separate things for me,¡± she clenched a fist, ¡°Besides...¡± Chunhua nodded, ¡°Right,¡± she said as they passed through the last checkpoint. The doors ahead of them slid open and Euclidia turned to greet them, her right hand man, Gravitic, standing next to her in his hero suit. A jumpsuit with high tech gloves and plates of armor on his torso and extremities. He nodded brusquely to Carla and Chunhua before turning back to one of Euclidia¡¯s archways and holding out his hands. Carla entered the room fully and turned to see the rest of the logistics crew hard at work. She walked past them and came to meet Euclidia, ¡°Are we ready?¡± Euclidia glanced again at Gravitic and nodded, ¡°It¡¯ll be a small window,¡± she said, ¡°But we¡¯re ready for Rift this time.¡± Carla nodded, ¡°Then let''s begin.¡± I¡¯m ready, Sonya. Are you? ¨C Sonya sat in the grass and leaned back, listening to her new tutor with a smile on her face. It had taken weeks in the time-displaced world of Titania¡¯s trap to turn it into something that felt comfortable. She¡¯d settled for a grassy field with a blue sky, something peaceful. Between efforts to figure out how to take control of the little world and change it to her liking she had rested and recuperated bit by bit. There were downsides to this place that she immediately noticed. The air had steadily felt smoother and smoother and her sense of time felt more and more clear. Titania had long since clammed up so Sonya could only speculate but given that she was no longer in the bubble of copied time from the past, that time dilation she was hoping to take advantage of was out of her reach. She''d been able to spend some time sorting out her thoughts and recovering, but that particular advantage was gone. Disappointing but not a deal breaker. She had plans for this place but that required learning a bit more about the past and how abilities really worked. ¡°By your worlds standards, Arbiters are a dangerous group. They hold a great deal of power,¡± Pandora explained from where she stood just a few feet away. ¡°They are investigators, police, judges, and executioners. Based on what you¡¯ve told me about your Broker ability, it behaves in many ways like our key power, given to us by the Golden Queen. Though there are some caveats.¡± ¡°Those being?¡± ¡°Arbiters are bound by the worldpact, we have a litany of rules and limitations. I cannot err... ¡®sanction¡¯ is the word you used, I cannot sanction someone¡¯s abilities just because I see fault in what they are doing. There must be enough evidence and agreement among other great ones for the worldpact to permit such a punishment,¡± she explained. ¡°Losing one¡¯s powers, for one of the great ones, means death. Their abilities sustain their agelessness.¡± Sonya nodded along, ¡°I¡¯m gradually unlocking new functions for Broker, what else can I expect?¡± ¡°Sanctioning is a big one,¡± Pandora said, ¡°I imagine that you¡¯ll gain an ability that allows you to directly strip a power and take it into your ¡®warehouse¡¯. We also possess the ability to demand the truth from another if they are marked for investigation.¡± Sonya raised an eyebrow, ¡°What about how others'' abilities work? Can you tell me about that?¡± She said, thinking about Titania¡¯s taunts about Otis. Pandora shook her head, and shot the captured fae queen a withering glare, ¡°She lied to you, even if we are copies, we are bound by the worldpact of our time, I can¡¯t explain to you how the abilities granted to someone else work. I imagine this person you¡¯re thinking of is not a Great One who I can hold to account and even then, I would have to meet them in person. In short, that would be undue interference, not even Loki or Set can help you there,¡± she paused, ¡°I also wouldn¡¯t ask Set at all, a warrior like himself would find the question offensive.¡± Pandora sighed, ¡°I can only give you the tools to figure that out on your own, besides, it¡¯s important that you figure that out on your own.¡± Sonya frowned, ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all about staking a claim, I have a feeling you¡¯ll understand what that means sooner than you think. For now, lets talk about the basics of how inscriptions work, you call them instincts yes?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Sonya said, getting to her feet. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s begin, let''s talk about state of mind first...¡± ¨C ¡°It¡¯s starting.¡± Mimir didn¡¯t look up from the scene before him. A small group of self-proclaimed heroes were milling about in the open courtyard down below, carrying boxes and talking amongst themselves. Amongst them, horrible creatures were making their rounds, watching for any signs of intervention. He frowned, just how many heroes has Astaroth pulled into his umbrella at this point? Corrupt, the lot of them. ¡°The Pandora Committee?¡± he asked absently as he gestured to Hellion who crouched on the railing to his right. Chains appeared around the young man¡¯s arms that began to glow with a brutal heat. ¡°Yes,¡± Addison said, ¡°They¡¯re moving into position, war is going to break out soon all over the place.¡± He nodded slowly, ¡°I see,¡± he murmured, ¡°Go.¡± Hellion leaped off the side, dark fire erupting around his arms as the chains went wild. He landed atop the largest of the demons and with a quick motion severed its head from its body. He kicked off the first corpse and drove a fist into the face of the nearest hero. By the time the others reacted he was already moving again, leaving behind his first target bound to the ground with red hot chains. Shouts rang out and Mimir made another hand gesture, Max, Faux, and several newly recruited vigilantes leaped off the side and out of their own hiding spots. Gunfire was joined with the rush of mana in the air as powers exploded on both sides. Mimir rest his hand on the railing with a frown, running his thumb along the metal. He watched Max grab one hero by the face and let go, the man collapsing so hard he embedded into the concrete beneath him. Another hero swung at Faux only for his blow to be reflected on one of the demons, a grievous wound suddenly appearing. ¡°How many locations?¡± Mimir asked. ¡°At least one for every time zone, we also have word they¡¯re going to be targeting the dungeons around Liberty¡¯s territory,¡± Addison said. ¡°They¡¯re going to suppress the dungeons so they can field more heroes,¡± Mimir muttered, ¡°Multi stage attack, I¡¯m guessing, the first wave of heroes will be small but not insignificant. They¡¯ll include Sapporo. That will be to lull Liberty into a false sense of security when it comes to numbers, especially with what I assume are mythics assigned to the dungeons.¡± ¡°Probably,¡± Addison agreed. Mimir nodded to himself as Hellion leaped off another demon and landed atop one of the cargo containers. He whipped his arms down and his chains tore through the door, ripping it off and casting it aside, striking another demon in the process. Inside, Mimir could make out the huddled forms of civilians. His lip twitched, ¡°The committee will be sending in a second wave afterwards to throw the balance. They¡¯re committing a lot of resources to this.¡± ¡°Should I contact the other cells?¡± Mimir nodded again as the fight below wound down. The vigilantes were securing the civilians and tying up the heroes. Hellion looked up from his spot atop the cargo container and sent him a brusque salute. He returned the gesture and turned to Addison, his eyes glowing with that bright golden light, ¡°It¡¯s time to make our first move.¡± Side Story – Drums of War 2 Side Story ¨C Drums of War 2 CLANG! Sword met hammer and the two weapons skittered off one another, sparks snapping out and dancing off the floor. Lillian stepped forward and swept her weapon low, pulling it down first and then to the right in a rapid change of direction that would have been impossible for an ordinary human. Cass hopped over the swipe, the initial exchanges force throwing her hammer up and above her head. Her eyes flashed as she brought it back down with terrible force. Lillian grunted and threw her armored arm up, bracing her rear foot and letting out a snarl of effort as Cass¡¯ attack collided with her body. ¡°HOOURRRAAH!¡± she bellowed, taking a step forward as Cass¡¯ eyes went wide. She pushed, her muscles bulging under the strain, Cass was thrown backwards. Her friend sommersaulting backwards before landing back on the ground with a noisy bang. Her feet dug into the reinforced floor beneath them, leaving spiderweb cracks around the point of impact. Lillian readied her weapon and took another step forward, building her momentum, ¡°MORE!¡± Cass grinned at her and nodded, horns growing from the side of her head as she let out her own roar of challenge, barreling forward like an oncoming train. Off to the side, Snow and Alex sipped at their drinks. Alex was leaning back with a towel over his shoulders, he shook his head as he put his drink down and shot a look towards Snow who was sitting comfortably, gesturing at the air and looking at something he couldn¡¯t see. ¡°You think we¡¯re ready for this?¡± he asked. Snow glanced his way and shrugged, static filling the air as she took another sip of her drink through a straw, ¡°Doesn¡¯t really matter, y¡¯know? We¡¯re going soon regardless,¡± she said without moving her mouth before turning back to whatever she was doing. Alex shook his head, ¡°What¡¯re you doing, anyway?¡± ¡°Pre-writing illusions,¡± she said with a hiss of static, ¡°Guildmaster Bluestar gave me the idea. I¡¯ve got about a hundred queue¡¯d up rather than leaning on my usual ice fields.¡± He barked out a laugh, ¡°Shit. You¡¯re prepped, aren¡¯t you?¡± She put down her drink and frowned at the floor, ¡°I don¡¯t think any of us are prepared to fight in a warzone, even after Tokyo.¡± He winced and nodded only for a pair of shadows to fall over them, ¡°That may be so,¡± Lillian said, ¡°But what we¡¯re getting ready to do is stop someone really bad from doing something even worse. We knew what we signed up for when we went to that camp.¡± The pair looked up at Lillian, her sword slung over her shoulder and the faint glow of gold fading from her eyes. Next to her, Cass nodded, ¡°We¡¯ll get through this, all of us, and we won¡¯t be alone either,¡± Cass said with a grin, ¡°We¡¯ve got each other and some of the worlds finest coming with us. Liberty won¡¯t know what hit her.¡± The four of them looked at one another and broke into proud smiles. As they did, the door opened to the training hall and the guildmaster walked inside. Her brown hair fluttering around her stern face. Alex and Snow hopped to their feet while Lillian and Cass stiffened slightly. Bluestar looked them over and nodded, ¡°You are too damn young to be doing this,¡± she said with a sigh, ¡°But here we are.¡± She glanced over her shoulder and the bland-faced John walked in behind her holding a heavy looking suitcase with one hand. ¡°The four of you have been designated as team Furor for the operation, Crusader will be team captain,¡± John said mildly, ¡°You will be operating separately from the other two teams from our Guild. Otis will be captain of team Luster. The Archway to the staging ground is scheduled within the next hour. I suggest you suit up.¡± The four of them looked at one another and nodded. Lillian stepped forward, ¡°...and the other team?¡± A pair of figures stepped through the door behind Bluestar. The first was a familiar black haired man with a disheveled appearance, Bandit was already in his leathers and adjusting the quiver on his shoulder. Next to him was a white robed man wearing a plague-doctor¡¯s mask, his eyes glowing a vibrant green from behind the lenses. He tugged on his gloves and gave the younger members of the guild a grave nod as the two of them formed up with Bluestar and John. Lillian¡¯s eyes went wide as she witnessed the remaining members of team Firestorm prepare for a battlefield once again. ¨C Sonya walked along a creek she¡¯d decided to add on a whim, the pleasant sound of the running water giving the quiet place a meditative quality. Loki walked next to her, hands on their hips. They were in their male form again and glancing around thoughtfully before turning to look at her, ¡°It isn¡¯t so easy as having a breakthrough to get over the rough stuff,¡± he said, ¡°But it¡¯s a damn good place to start.¡± She nodded, ¡°It¡¯s never going to stop hurting,¡± she said, ¡°But the more dangerous ideas and feelings are gone now. I¡¯m more in control of myself than I think I¡¯ve ever been.¡± They smirked, ¡°That¡¯s damn good to hear, brat.¡± She shot him a look, ¡°Brat?¡± ¡°You¡¯re what? Ten thousand, twenty thousand years younger than me? I think brat is a perfectly reasonable thing to say!¡± She snickered, then they both burst into laughter for a while. When they finally stopped she gave Loki a serious look, ¡°Are you really okay? With all of this? What you really are and what¡¯s happened to the world?¡± Loki tilted their head for a moment before shaking it and smiling, ¡°I think you still haven¡¯t grasped the mindset of people like us,¡± they said, ¡°I¡¯m just happy to be able to help however I can. Our role was to support the world even if some people decided to scorn it. That said, I¡¯ve always been against how overbearing the arbiters were but to be honest I couldn¡¯t think of a better solution. Maybe you can,¡± Loki said with a sage smile. They let out a noisy sigh, ¡°What I can do is advise you from my perspective. My ability doesn¡¯t extend to the actions of others, though. So I can¡¯t just give you a path to follow to get what you want.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t ask for it, Pandora says I need to do this myself to ¡®stake my claim¡¯, whatever that means,¡± Sonya said. ¡°Damn right,¡± Loki clapped her on the shoulder, ¡°You deserve to be the first of a new generation. Make me proud and bring back lots of stories. I¡¯ll be waiting here for you to pick my brain when you need to mess with someone, yeah?¡± She beamed at him, ¡°Thanks, Loki.¡± ¨C He opened his eyes in the dark. The rumble of the sea called to him and he responded, his voice stretching across the depths. He had been waiting, patient, quiet, lurking in the deepest reaches until the call went out. Now it was time to move and his children were ready. They hatchery was empty, and the volunteers who had chosen to become something more than human had joined him in the unforgiving pressure and shadows of this place. Dozens of humanoids bearing silver-gray scaled skin swam into view, circling around him. Dozens turned to hundreds, each of them armed with weapons of war treated for the aquatic conditions. He raised his head and let out a sonorous call, a large figure emerged from the gloom, a kraken of tentacles and death, its body changed into something nightmarish with those same silver scales. It swam past him, ascending slowly towards the surface. He gestured and the water churned as more and more of his children swam past. Massive sharks and whales joined the pack. A swarm of aquatic destruction, the army of a king. On the surface, near the coast of South Carolina. Not far from one of the many Liberty Cult compounds across the world, a fishing boat was pulling away from its latest haul and making for home. The crew milled about, handling their usual duties as one of them happened to peek over the side of the ship. He¡¯d heard something, a strange droning sound from beneath the water. He called for the others as a bubble rose up to the surface and popped. Then another and another. It was not long before they began to shout, some heading for the bridge to signal back to the mainland but a strange static cut it off, their devices shutting down as their minds became distracted within an ever growing fog. Horrors and illusions, maddening whispers and laughter, confusion and wild thoughts. A chaos of the mind that scratched at their thoughts as they fled from visions of terror. They threw themselves into the water, anything, even death would be better than what they saw. They did not know that what lurked in the water was far worse than what their minds could summon up to scare them. Beyond their vessel, the sea began to boil. Side Story – Drums of War 3 Side Story ¨C Drums of War 3 Screams came from within the cave but neither person on either side of the entrance moved an inch to investigate. One trembled, his eyes downcast as the fog from his breath and tears obscured his glasses. He reached up and tugged on the scarf around his neck, trying to hold himself together as the agonized howling continued. The other leaned against the outer wall and relaxed, a smile dancing on her face as she took deep breaths. Black wintery air formed around her nostrils and drew up, filling her lungs. She savored it. The ground beneath their feet shook. The screams died and a new voice wailed in pain and terror. ¡°He¡¯s still at it,¡± Felwinter said absently, checking her unpainted nails. She held her hand out and black ice formed over them, stretching out into wicked points. She turned and held them up to her companion, ¡°Whatcha think? Too much?¡± Riot shook where he stood, clinging even tighter to the scarf before shooting his peer a withering glare. He looked down at her nails and sighed when she gave him an expectant look. A mixture of emotions danced across his face and he forced himself to calm down, ¡°Too long, go a bit shorter, better for the shape of your hands.¡± Felwinter pursed her lips and held out her hand again, examining her fingers, the nails shrank a bit and she turned them over with an appreciative smile, ¡°Nice, thanks Riot.¡± ¡°Anytime,¡± he mumbled and glanced back at the cave mouth, ¡°D-did we get him enough?¡± Felwinter stiffened and finally gave the cave her own uneasy look as one set of screams ended and another began, ¡°I hope so,¡± she said, ¡°Or we¡¯re both fucked. He¡¯s going through them pretty fast. I don¡¯t even know what he¡¯s doing.¡± Riot swallowed, ¡°I think... he¡¯s learning.¡± The screams died. The both of them straightened, Riot dabbing his eyes with the scarf and clearing his throat. Felwinter crossed her arms behind her back and stood at attention. Neither budged as footsteps slowly began to echo up from within the cave, a steady beat of heels against stone until a head of blonde hair caked with blood poked its way out. Otis was bare chested, his torso heaving with deep breaths as his skin cracked and glowed with an unsettling blue-white light beneath the surface, intricate patterns decorating his skin. He stood at the cave mouth in silence for several seconds, catching his breath before whipping his hair back and running his fingers through it. As easily as he did so, the blood vanished from his skin and locks, leaving him immaculate. He lazily reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, ¡°Running a bit behind,¡± he said, glancing at the screen, ¡°I hope the Guildmaster isn¡¯t upset.¡± Neither spoke and he turned to Riot, ¡°Did we have any visitors?¡± ¡°Just a hiker,¡± Riot said, controlling the timbre of his voice as best he could, ¡°Felwinter handled it.¡± ¡°You do it next time,¡± Otis said without blinking, ¡°You could use a little more blood under those nails of yours.¡± ¡°What do you think of mine?¡± Felwinter asked with a grin, holding up her hand. Otis smiled a toothy smile, ¡°Pretty.¡± Felwinter beamed and turned to face him, ¡°How¡¯d it go?¡± Otis frowned and both of them tensed only for him to let out a sigh and rub his neck, he looked up at the sky, ¡°It feels like I¡¯m missing something,¡± he said thoughtfully, ¡°Not a problem though.¡± He chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m quite satisfied with my gains. I have all I need for the next step.¡± he said coldly and clenched his fist, his skin shimmering and his muscles expanding briefly before contracting. ¡°It feels good to level up,¡± he said, ignoring the exchanged looks from his heralds. He gestured at the air and seemed to be reading something for a moment before nodding with satisfaction, ¡°All the sidequests are done,¡± he mused, ¡°Now, all I need to do is kill Liberty.¡± ¨C ¡°You used a knife in your previous life because it was practical,¡± Set said, ¡°A tool that could be used for a number of things, not just defending yourself or killing prey.¡± The old man stood amidst the grassy plains, wind whipping around him. His white hair fluttering a little now and then. He turned his golden eyes on Sonya before extending a hand and manifesting a weapon of black glass-like metal. It was longer than the average machete but shorter than some swords, closer to that of a gladius if Sonya had to guess. Both sides were edged though it bowed out slightly, creating a wicked shallow hook to its shape. A khopesh. ¡°This is a killing tool, a weapon of battle,¡± he held it up for her to see, ¡°I urge you to adopt it over the knife-blade.¡± Sonya held out a hand and a khopesh of hard light formed in her palm, she cast an illusion over it to make it appear more real. It didn¡¯t have weight, just like the rest of her hard light weapons, but it still felt a bit odd in her grip. She frowned at it, ¡°There¡¯s extra reach, but it might be awkward with my style.¡± ¡°Your style,¡± Set snorted, ¡°Our brief spar earlier told me much about the martial arts of your world,¡± he shook his head, ¡°You are not a mundane human, nor are you merely ¡®awakened¡¯ as you call it, you have greater physical strength, endurance, durability, reflexes, speed, so why do you fight like you don¡¯t? You must fight like one of us.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have time for a wax-on-wax-off session, I have a feeling I¡¯ll need to leave this place soon,¡± Sonya said with a sigh from where she sat on the ground, ¡°It might be a bit before we can have a proper session.¡± ¡°Fortunately, your suite of powers comes with something you can use to at least close the gap a little, sit, child, and observe,¡± the old man said and began to move. ¨C Liberty stood in her throne room, looking down at the remains of her round table. Ewen was gone, Rivet and Ellis were dead, but the others had grown in power in order to fill the gap. She swept her gaze over them before stopping on the back of Phillip¡¯s head, her thoughts drifting to the previous night, of quiet whispers in a private place. Weakness that had finally been expunged, no more doubts, no more lingering wants. She rolled her jaw left and right before centering herself. ¡°Rise, Round Table.¡± Phillip rose first, then Ito and Halloway. After them, Pence, Song and Kant. Their eyes burned with coppery light as they looked back at her. Behind them, arranged in columns were hundreds of her best and strongest followers. Still more crowded outside the main building, thousands that had been brought from across the globe to supplement their forces. The heroes would come, they would come and face her full might. She had nearly crippled Black Lotus with only a fraction of the power she had gathered across the globe and now she intended to leverage all of it. This would not be a battle, this would be a slaughter. She would wash away the last cloying remnants of the previous world and clean this world for something purer, better. A world where her word was law. She gathered her strength, reaching out to the places across the globe where the sun shined and her people were already preparing to enter contemplation. Her cult, her cult, not her father¡¯s half-assed attempt at circumventing laws and hand pick his pathetic little harem. This was her order now, an army that grew stronger as she did and that gave her strength in return. A vicious cycle that had no end. She was invincible and soon the entire world would understand just how much they had underestimated her. ¡°In just a matter of hours, they will come here and we will crush them,¡± Liberty growled, raising a fist, ¡°The people who don¡¯t understand the truth of this new world we live in. Nations are irrelevant now. Political power is nonsense. The only thing that matters is STRENGTH!¡± she bellowed and raised her hand higher into the air. ¡°POWER ABOVE EVERYTHING!¡± she roared. The Round Table and her followers roared back in fervor. ¡°MIGHT TO MAKE YOUR TRUTH REALITY!¡± They roared again. ¡°THIS WORLD BELONGS TO US!¡± Another earth shaking bellow. ¡°STRENGTH FROM LIBERTY!¡± The response shout this time came with a brilliant copper glow that filled the air, columns of light raining down from above as the entire compound turned into a lightshow. ¡°STRENGTH FROM LIBERTY! STRENGTH FROM LIBERTY! STRENGTH FROM LIBERTY!¡± Ishtar. Black Lotus. Heroes. Villains. You are irrelevant, all of you may come, because in the end the only true power in this world is Liberty. She raised her head high as her skin began to glow and the chanting continued, ¡°STRENGTH FROM LIBERTY! STRENGTH FROM LIBERTY!¡± Cast Gallery – Updated! Cast Gallery ¨C Updated! Announcement Here we are, the war is about to begin. The stage is set for the final battle against Liberty. No excuses, Ishtar will be leading from the front this time. As we wind up for this bloody fight, we have more coming on the horizon. Book One of Broker: Deus Ex Machina, officially launches on Kindle Unlimited and Audible tomorrow. The Audiobook will be narrated by the incredible Hollie Jackson! With all that said and the war beginning, I figured an updated Cast Sheet was in order. So here ya go! PS. I''ll be online in the voice chat on Discord most of the day tomorrow. Swing by and say hello! Main Character Name: Sonya Chernovna Codename: Ishtar (Current Timeline) Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Ishtar''s Inner Circle / ASTA Corporation Ability: Deus ex Machina (Peak-Mythic), Broker (Peak-Mythic) Name: Sonya Chernovna Codename: Farsight (Previous Timeline) Affiliation: Pandora Committee (Black Lotus'' Command Team) Ability: Cybernetic Eyes (Uncommon) Sonya''s Inner Circle Name: Marta Daphne Codename: Handmaiden / The Companion Affiliation: Sonya Chernovna Ability: Heroic Strength (Heroic), Baldur''s Body (Peak-Mythic), Man of Many Faces (Epic), High Dragon, Western (High-Mythic) Name: Amos Carter Codename: Technocrat Affiliation: ASTA Corporation / Ishtar''s Inner Circle Ability: Genius-Level Intellect (Heroic), Technopathy (Heroic) Name: Barry Logan Codename: Kingshark Affiliation: Ishtar''s Inner Circle Ability: Great Old One (Peak-Mythic) - Merged from: Lord of the Depths (High-Mythic), Festival of Dionysus (Peak-Mythic) Name: Colin Matthews Codename: Mephisto Affiliation: Ishtar''s Inner Circle Ability: Word of Power (Heroic), Archfiend (Peak-Mythic) - Merged from: Numerous Name: Park Beyol Codename: Blackrazor Affiliation: Ishtar''s Inner Circle Ability: Autarch of Shadows (High-Mythic), Dark Bowman (Heroic), Steeltoxin Blood (Heroic) Name: Gia Ricci Codename: Kerauna Affiliation: Ishtar''s Inner Circle Ability: Heroic Speed (Heroic), Primal Lightning (Primal) Name: Oswald ¡°Ozzie¡± Galanis Codename: Charon Affiliation: Ishtar''s Inner Circle / The Styx Ability: Patient Zero (Peak-Mythic), Graft (Epic), Various Grafted Abilities Otis and The Heralds Name: Marc Mallory Codename: Otis Affiliation: Himself Ability: The Man, The Myth, The Legend (Peak-Mythic?) Name: Phan Duong Codename: An Set Affiliation: The Heralds (Previous Timeline) / Himself (Current Timeline) Ability: The Great Eel (Peak-Mythic) Name: Estella Hanks Codename: Liberty Affiliation: The Heralds (Previous Timeline) / Herself (Current Timeline) Ability: Standard of Glorious Camelot (Peak-Mythic) Name: Luca DeMarco Codename: First Wind Affiliation: The Heralds (Previous Timeline) / Pandora Committee (Current Timeline) Ability: Unknown (Peak-Mythic) Name: Unknown Codename: Qilin Affiliation: The Heralds (Previous Timeline) / Pandora Committee (Current Timeline) Ability: Qilin (Peak-Mythic) Name: Unknown Codename: Majordomo / Darwin (Previous Timeline, Hero) Affiliation: The Heralds (Previous Timeline) / Unknown (Current Timeline) Ability: Unknown (Peak-Mythic) Name: Lucien DuCast Codename: Astaroth Affiliation: The Heralds (Previous Timeline) / Pandora Committee (Current Timeline) Ability: Unknown (Peak-Mythic) Name: Graham Taylor Codename: Craftsman Affiliation: The Heralds (Previous Timeline) / Liberty (Current Timeline) Ability: Unknown Crafting Ability (Peak-Mythic) The Pandora Committee Name: Carla Mint Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Sonya Chernovna Ability: Unawakened Name: Lian Chunhua Codename: Black Lotus Affiliation: Pandora Committee Ability: Lord of Jianghu (Peak-Mythic) Name: Lillian Landrey Codename: Crusader Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Team Crusader Ability: Fenghuang (Growth Type) Name: Summer Finch Codename: Snow Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Team Crusader Ability: Digital Illusions (Epic) Name: Cassiopeia Hanks Codename: Harbinger Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Team Crusader / Sonya Chernovna Ability: Mighty Asterion (Heroic), Grace (Heroic), Shatter (Epic) Name: Alex Owens Codename: BLF Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Team Crusader Ability: Titanboa (Epic) Name: Greg Wilt Codename: Gravitic Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Euclidia Ability: Directional (Epic) Name: John Nattery Codename: John Affiliation: Pandora Committee / ASTA Guild Ability: Everyman (Epic) Name: Val Kinton Codename: Pyrolysis Affiliation: Pandora Committee Ability: Rocketman (Epic) Name: Ollie Anders Codename: Riot Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Otis Ability: Karmic Threads (Heroic) Name: Jessica Wayne Codename: Felwinter Affiliation: Otis / Pandora Committee / Liberty (Previously) Ability: Unknown (Peak-Mythic) Name: Hayashi Goro Codename: Sapporo Affiliation: Pandora Committee Ability: Festival of Dionysus (Peak-Mythic) Name: Molly Hepburn Codename: Euclidia Affiliation: Pandora Committee Ability: Non-Euclidian (Peak-Mythic) Name: Nick Adders Codename: Firestorm Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Team Firestorm Ability: Firestorm (Heroic) Name: Jessica Wright Codename: Bluestar Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Team Firestorm / ASTA East Guild Ability: Azure Sorceress (Heroic) Name: Logan Williams Codename: Bandit Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Team Firestorm Ability: Dark Bowman (Heroic) Name: Larry Ellis Codename: Lifesaver Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Team Firestorm Ability: Grace (Heroic) Name: Brigid Winter Codename: Evergreen Affiliation: Pandora Committee / ASTA West Guild Ability: Winter Empress (Peak-Mythic) Name: Anton Hosk Codename: Nietz Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Pandora Security Division Ability: Unknown (Growth Type - Epic) Name: Fiona Stone Codename: Locke Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Pandora Security Division Ability: Unknown (Epic) Name: Alan Niell Codename: Hammond Affiliation: Pandora Committee / Pandora Security Division Ability: Unknown (Epic) Villains Name: Feng Hyunh Codename: Amethyst Affiliation: Herself / Heralds of Otis (Previous Timeline) Ability: Amethyst Sorceress (Heroic), Heavenly Jade Heart (Mythic) Name: Cal Samos Codename: Graff Affiliation: Himself Ability: Carbon (Peak-Mythic) Name: Ziad al-Masri Code Name: Spice King Erebus Affiliation: Himself Ability: Grandeur of Bahamut (Peak-Mythic), Will of Midas (Low-Mythic) Name: Saleh al-Masri Codename: None Affiliation: Spice King Erebus Ability: Earthwarden (Heroic) Name: Sir Rupert Halloway Code Name: Rift Affiliation: Liberty / Night Society (Previously) Ability: Dimensional Rift (Heroic) Name: Sir Phillip Wayne Code Name: None Affiliation: Liberty Ability: Hoarfrost (Heroic) Name: Dame Ito Kanon Code Name: Kaidan Affiliation: Liberty Ability: Unknown Monster Manipulation Ability (Mythic) Name: Dame Kant Code Name: Unknown Affiliation: Liberty Ability: Heavenly Demon (High-Mythic) Name: Janet Heismann Code Name: Tenebera Affiliation: The Styx / Charon Ability: Umbral Nightingale (Low-Mythic) Name: Gabriel Alves Code Name: Drastic Affiliation: Himself Ability: High Dragon, Western (High-Mythic) Name: Brochardt Williams Code Name: Blight Affiliation: Himself / Ishtar Ability: Unknown (High-Mythic) Name: Kato Setsuna Code Name: None Affiliation: Children of Dawn / Ishtar Ability: Oracle of Delphi (High-Mythic) Name: Kato Shuta Code Name: None Affiliation: Children of Dawn / Ishtar Ability: Way of the Sword (Heroic) Vigilantes Name: Martin Fuller Codename: Mimir Affiliation: Vigilantes / Pandora Committee (Previously) Ability: Gaze of Mimir (Mythic) Name: Addison Kelly Codename: The Major Affiliation: Vigilantes / Australian TAG (Previously) Ability: Emerald Sorceress (Heroic) Name: Tomas DuCast Codename: Hellion Affiliation: Vigilantes Ability: Unknown (Heroic) Name: Maximilian Watterson Codename: Max Affiliation: Vigilantes Ability: Unknown (Heroic) The True History Name: Pandora Affiliation: Olympus / The Arbiters Ability: Arbiter (Mythic), Pandora''s Box (Unknown) Name: Loki Affiliation: Himself / Asgard Ability: Unknown Foresight Ability (Peak Mythic), Others Name: Set Affiliation: Loki / Ennead (Previously) Ability: Unknown (Peak-Mythic), Others Name: Titania Affiliation: Herself / Fae Realm Ability: Visage of Titania (Peak-Mythic), Others Name: Oberon Affiliation: Titania / Fae Realm Ability: Masque of Oberon (High-Mythic), Others Name: ''The Serpent'' / Yamato no Orochi Affiliation: Loki Ability: Unknown (High-Mythic), Others Name: Ishtar, Inanna, Astarte Affiliation: Uruk, The Arbiters Ability: Arbiter (Mythic), Others Name: Gilgamesh Affiliation: Uruk Ability: Unknown (Peak-Mythic), Others Name: Zeus Affiliation: Olympus Ability: Unknown (Peak-Mythic), Others Name: Hephaestus Affiliation: Olympus Ability: Unknown (Peak-Mythic), Others BONUS! BONUS! Name: Dionysus Affiliation: Olympus Ability: Festival of Dionysus (Peak-Mythic), Others Name: Aphrodite Affiliation: Olympus Ability: Unknown (Peak-Mythic), Others BONUS! Name: Heavenly Legionnaire Side-Sketch: Karmic Threads Side-Sketch: Karmic Threads Ollie poked his head out from behind the curtain, ¡°Am-Am I really the pick to do this?¡± He glanced back behind the curtain, ¡°Jessica! There¡¯s a big difference between being better at casual conversation and d-doing something like-¡± He is cut off as a black boot punted him out onto the stage and he stumbled forward, rubbing his backside and letting out a sigh. ¡°Fine, fine...¡± ¡°Uhh! Hi! My name¡¯s Ollie Anders, Codename Riot.¡± He scratched the back of his head, ¡°I¡¯m a Licensed Hero on er... Team Otis-¡± He sighed, ¡°-You already know all this,¡± He quickly pulled a notepad out of his back pocket and began flipping through, ¡°Uh... Oh right!¡± He bowed, ¡°Thank you everyone for reading Broker! Welcome to this little behind-the-scenes sketch where we explain a bit more about how some things work in the world!¡± He coughed, ¡°Today is about... well... me?¡± He checked his notepad again, ¡°I mean, my ability.¡± He coughed into his fist, ¡°My ability is called Karmic Threads!¡± He said, pointing at his eyes which start to glow for a moment before they fade. He put his hands on his hips, ¡°I can see the karmic connections between other people and even manipulate them to a degree, creating all sorts of effects. The stronger a connection is between two people, the more intense the reaction when I pull on the thread but also the more strain it puts on my mind!¡± He gestured and a picture of Sonya popped up. ¡°I should probably not tug on Miss Chernovna¡¯s connection with Marc Mallory aka Otis. Not only could it have catastrophic consequences, it would probably kill me,¡± He huffed and shook his head, ¡°But what does tugging on a thread mean? It means I can manipulate the bond between those connected by a thread. Usually this introduces a simultaneous and sympathetic emotional response between those connected by the thread. If that thread happens to go through multiple people at the same time, it could really spread fast,¡± He coughed, ¡°Like the mundane connection between a bunch of people in a shopping mall,¡± He said nervously. He put his hands on his hips again, ¡°The emotional response is basically me temporarily altering the nature of a thread. I can instill a sense of unity, disunity, heck, I can even plant the seeds of romance,¡± He frowned, ¡°Really bad idea, not advisable,¡± He said, shaking his head before dismissing the picture of Sonya. He held up a finger, ¡°That emotional response is just the tip of the iceberg. I can make other abilities work in sync, spread around mental or physical strain, coordinate, and at its most potent I can even cause the abilities between two strongly linked people to merge.¡± He gestured again and a picture of Alex and Cass appeared, ¡°I did this during the camp raid with Alex and Miss Cassiopeia.¡± The image vanished and he checked his notepad again, ¡°Now what about the threads themselves?¡± ¡°The threads can come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors. Some are more complicated than others. A single act between two people can result in a thin thread of a single color. A deeply complex relationship between two people can create a thread with all sorts of colors wound into it,¡± He explained, holding a finger up before adjusting his glasses. ¡°Light gray is the most common, a vague connection created through proximity. It can either change into something more or dissolve on its own,¡± He explained. ¡°White is a pure connection, simple, usually friends and acquaintances have these. Blue is often associated with tragedy between the two people, someone they knew died and they had a bond over it, something like that,¡± He tilted his head, ¡°Green symbolizes a strong affability, longtime friends and people who have formed strong immediate bonds have these,¡± He crossed his arms, ¡°Red is the exact opposite, the relationship is hostile and their bond is antagonistic towards one another,¡± He let out a breath, ¡°Black means an intense hatred, something that goes beyond simple tragedy and antagonism. A pure enmity, black is extremely rare to see in most people.¡± He frowned, ¡°Some colors can become mixed based on particular acts. A dark red thread, for example, suggests a violent crime or more likely a murder took place involving the two people connected. Threads don¡¯t show up for dead people, by the way, which means that the thread I see is connected to a loved one who was influenced by the death,¡± He said sadly, ¡°I see dark red threads a lot these days,¡± He scratched his head before brightening. ¡°Anyway, I hope that he-¡± He blinked, ¡°Oh right!¡± ¡°Silver and Gold threads!¡± He said with a big smile, ¡°Those are special. Silver threads are a supernatural bond of some sort created by someone giving up something extraordinarily significant for the other person. It¡¯s pretty easy for me to tell which side did the giving, too,¡± He said with a thoughtful nod, crossing his arms again. ¡°Finally there are gold threads. I¡¯ve only seen one of those before, but if silver is an extraordinary bond from giving, I can only imagine the amount of devotion that comes with a gold one...¡± He trailed off before clearing his throat. He checked his notes one more time and frowned, ¡°I uh... I can use the threads to attack too,¡± he said uncomfortably, ¡°Only against people, though. Monsters don¡¯t possess Karma.¡± He fell silent for a heartbeat before brightening, ¡°Right! Anyway! That¡¯s my bit! Uh... we¡¯ll host more of these... I think?¡± He shrugged, ¡°If time permits.¡± He scratched the back of his head, ¡°So uh... bye!¡± Chapter 225 Chapter 225 Broker Book 1: Deus Ex Machnia is now available on KU, Audible, and in Paperback Print! Ishtar stood on the beach, the Atlantic Ocean crashing against the immaculate sandy shoreline. She was in her full regalia, helmet, armor-all gear prepared. Time was winding down and she was beginning to accept the fact that she would be going into this fight without her other half. She closed her eyes behind the screen within her helm and slipped into her subconscious. There, that little mote was still floating, the light within bright and vibrant but unchanging. Sonya¡¯s presence had felt stronger recently, but that was the only change. Now, time was up. She couldn¡¯t wait any longer. Ishtar frowned, Silly girl, you really are going to make me do this, aren¡¯t you? She reached for the mote but instead of grabbing hold, she merely ran her fingers across it. Is it larger? The size of a tennis ball, perhaps? She cupped it in her hands, Whatever you¡¯re doing in there, don¡¯t come back empty handed, or you¡¯ll get an earful from me, she thought dryly before her senses picked up someone approaching her from behind. She slipped out of her subconscious world and turned her head, spotting the billowing white dress that adorned the raven haired woman approaching her. ¡°Oracle Setsuna,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°I was about to leave.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Setsuna said with a nod and a smile, coming to a stop next to her, ¡°A seer, I not need be, this to see.¡± ¡°Did you?¡± Ishtar asked. ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Did you have a vision about this battle?¡± Setsuna chuckled, and lowered her head, letting out a sigh before looking up to the sky above, ¡°I did. Share, I cannot.¡± Ishtar frowned but nodded, ¡°I don¡¯t think I really would have wanted to hear it anyway,¡± she hissed and looked back out to the sea, ¡°Your son wants to come with me.¡± ¡°Have him, you won¡¯t,¡± Setsuna said without blinking. ¡°No, I won¡¯t, not yet. The boy is not up to my standards,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°I will take him from you soon, though. I can mold him into something special.¡± Setsuna laughed, ¡°Good. Greener grass,¡± she said and turned to look at Ishtar, her eyes going dark for a moment, ¡°That lonely throne of yours won¡¯t be that way for much longer, Iron-Hearted Queen,¡± she said with a gentle smile and turned away, brushing her hand against Ishtar¡¯s shoulder as she departed. Ishtar stood on the beach for a little while longer, her eyes closed as she rallied herself. She clenched her fists and looked up to the crashing waves as the wind picked up, her hair fluttering around her. She threw out a hand, a portal opened, and she stepped through. She emerged in a large domed room that had once been filled with jewels but was now stark and bare. Inside, dozens of her Heavenly Legion waited for her, armed, eyes smoldering with that resolute fire of theirs. A chime rang in her helmet. <¡±Kickoff is about to begin,¡±> Technocrat said into her ear. <¡±Is Mephisto with you?¡±> She asked. <¡±Yeah.¡±> <¡±Good, make sure he stays there. I want both of you as secure as you can be for this fight,¡±> she said and raised her hand again, pointing towards the far wall. The narrow band of light of one of her portals stretched out, and kept stretching, until it was the length of the wall, <¡±Status on the plan with Tenebra?¡±> <¡±Everything¡¯s ready, her world tour went off without a hitch, though she¡¯s pretty tired from two weeks of constant shows,¡±> Technocrat said. <¡±Kingshark?¡±> <¡±Approaching the mainland.¡±> <¡±The Night Society plan?¡±> <¡±Most of the outside groups supporting Liberty have been crippled, but it looks like she was preparing for something like it. Her compounds are well stocked and resourced. Seems like she¡¯s expecting a siege,¡±> Technocrat said. <¡±She expects it to end today,¡±> Ishtar corrected him, <¡±She just wants her people to have only one thing on their minds. Herself,¡±> she raised her hand and bent her arm, clenching her fist. The thin line widened and spread up and down, opening into a massive portal that stretched the length of the room. The Legionnaires turned on their heels in one unified motion. The sound of their marble feet against the floor echoing. <¡±On my signal.¡±> <¡±Yes mistress.¡±> ¡°March,¡± she commanded the Heavenly Legion and they obeyed, stepping through the portal one line at a time. Perhaps it was because they were part of her ability, but the weight that usually pressed on her stamina from teleporting a light-touched did not come as they passed through, vanishing until the room was empty. She took one last look around August¡¯s old base of operations and crossed her arms behind her back. In that silence, she stepped through the portal as well, leaving darkness in her wake as the portal slammed shut. When she emerged she was standing in a Mississippi woodland. The leaves crackled beneath her feet. She looked up to see Kerauna sitting in one of the larger trees, kicking her feet lazily. At the base of the tree, Blackrazor stepped out of a shadow with his usual grim expression. ¡°Mistress.¡± ¡°You both know your roles,¡± Ishtar said without preamble, ¡°When you are done, return to my side.¡± Kera dropped from her perch to land next to Blackrazor, she nodded with a surprising amount of seriousness on her face. Crackles of lighting flashing behind her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll clear the way.¡± Blackrazor bowed at the waist, ¡°And I will neutralize my targets.¡± Ishtar tilted her head up to the sky, she could barely see it through the canopy above, <¡±Technocrat? Are the heroes on the move?¡±> <¡±Euclidia¡¯s archways are rising at the monitored locations. They¡¯re hitting the dungeons first as expected. First Wind has entered the Epic Dungeon solo. Protean¡¯s team have entered the first Rare Dungeon. Qilin¡¯s team has arrived at the second, she met some resistance from cultists who were stationed there but dealt with them quickly,¡±> he briefed her, <¡±The-¡±> BOOOOOM The ground shook beneath Ishtar¡¯s feet. She stepped forward to catch herself and whipped her head towards the direction of the seismic shock. <¡±Tech-¡±> <¡±Rare Dungeon four just went up!¡±> he gasped, <¡±That psycho Liberty blew the dungeon ahead of time! Evertide¡¯s team was on site. No survivors. Mana levels in the region are spiking already. We¡¯re going to have higher-order monster formations on the battlefield at this rate.¡±> Ishtar scoffed, Of course. <¡±The other dungeons?¡±> <¡±Heroes are inside.¡±> Then the remaining dungeons will stay under control for now so long as those teams keep themselves alive and keep killing the monsters inside, Ishtar thought before turning to Kerauna and Blackrazor. ¡°Go.¡± The two moved immediately, Blackrazor falling into the ground as if the world itself swallowed him whole as Kerauna let out a wild laugh and launched herself into the sky in the form of a bolt of lightning, leaving scorched trees in her wake. She struck the clouds above and the air shook. Ishtar tilted her head forwards and pointed through the trees, ¡°Advance. Destroy the cult of Liberty.¡± ¡°BY YOUR DECREE!¡± The legion roared as one and charged past her, the speed of their movements whipping her hair around her head. She stood in silence as she watched their backs grow further away and disappear into the overgrowth. Above her, lightning crackled in the clouds before falling down on the trees, obliterating some and setting others alight. The lightshow flashed against her helmet and she lifted herself off the ground with levitation, <¡±Technocrat, you may begin.¡±> Here I come. ¨C Chunhua charged through the trees, the heroes that could keep pace with her following behind at a rapid clip. The ground shook with the aftershocks of R4¡¯s explosion. Her eyes narrowed and she tightened her grip on the elegant sword she¡¯d claimed in Seattle. A shadow shot past her and she glanced over to see Bandit riding atop a comically shaped housecat the size of a horse made of black material. It bounded up a tree before glancing back at her with a too-wide smile before shooting forwards. KRAK-OOM! A tree not far away exploded in a flash of lightning. A few of her fellow heroes raised shouts of surprise as she tapped her earpiece, ¡°What was that?¡± she asked. <¡±Mana surge was similar to those over the Hague and other monitored locations during attacks by the villain Kerauna. From what we¡¯re seeing she¡¯s attacking the forest indiscriminately, though none of her strikes have hit the vanguard,¡±> the voice in her ear reported. Ishtar. You¡¯re here. Chunhua frowned and turned to the others, ¡°Keep moving! The villains have decided to get involved after all! They¡¯re making room! Let¡¯s use that to our advantage! Ignore them and focus on the mission!¡± she shouted and resumed her charge, the sound of lightning bolts coming down becoming more and more frequent as that mad-woman in the sky went wild. A chorus of ¡°Yes ma¡¯am¡±s answered her as she turned back to the path ahead. We¡¯re just a few miles out from the compound. I¡¯m surprised we were able to drop in this close. She touched her earpiece again, ¡°Euclidia? Have we been cut off, yet?¡± <¡°Portal connection holding stead- wait! Whoops! There it goes!¡±> Euclidia said in her ear. <¡±Good luck, Chuchu.¡±> Chunhua smiled as another bolt of lightning flashed in the distance, ¡°Thanks, see you soon, Molly,¡± she ended the call and set her jaw, inner energy cycling through her body as she moved with her fellow heroes towards the compound. ¡°This time will be different, Liberty.¡± ¡ª ¡°Nothing will change, Black Lotus,¡± Liberty said from the war room, watching the many screens monitoring the surrounding forest. There were several areas that had already gone dark. A dark-garbed man with a bow sniping the drones from the sky atop his grotesque mount. Others had simply winked out as an unknown force passed through another portion of the forest. Liberty knew enough about Ishtar¡¯s ability to go undetected by security cameras that it was obvious who was passing through there. ¡°Connel Manufacturing has backed out on us,¡± a young man said from a nearby desk, his eyes on his screen. Liberty snorted, ¡°Then they will burn like the others that scurried away at the first sign of trouble when this is over,¡± she said, ¡°Has Halloway spread his net?¡± ¡°The anti-teleportation barrier is up,¡± another reported. ¡°Excellent work, maintain contact with the other branches for as long as possible but don¡¯t worry if they cut out, we¡¯re expecting it,¡± Liberty said, ¡°They want to make me think that I¡¯ve lost them, but they¡¯ve committed too many resources to the main compound to take them all out in time.¡± ¡°Do you want us to wake the others?¡± one of the men in the room asked. She turned to him and shook her head, ¡°That would give away too much,¡± she said, ¡°Let the enemy do that for us.¡± ¡°Yes, my lady, wait-¡± the young man paused and held his hand up to his headset, brows furrowing. She turned and looked at him before marching over to put a hand on his desk. She leaned forward and squinted at the screen only to see a news feed of the strangest thing she¡¯d ever seen. People dancing in the streets of some foreign city. The young man tuned and looked up at her, ¡°The entire city of Tokyo is having some kind of party?¡± Liberty shot up straight and turned to the door, marching past the desks and grabbing her sword as a grin spread across her face, ¡°He¡¯s coming to me!¡± The ground shook and the entire building rattled, she could hear distant claps of thunder and feel the charge of mana rising in the air. The heroes were coming close, but one had already made his way directly to her doorstep. It would be rude not to greet him. She stormed through the hall and raised her finger to her ear, giving one last order before the Pandora Committee suppressed their communications, ¡°Round Table, onward to battle. Leave him to me.¡± A chorus of affirmatives entered her ear while she pushed open the doors of her throne room. She walked to her high seat and sat, leaning back to look down upon the door as crashes and gunshots filled the air beyond it. A noisy bang came next as the door bent partially, then again, and again, lumps forming in its surface until it finally creaked and fell to the ground. A glowing figure, a man-mountain of muscle, stepped inside with rage in his eyes. She sneered as he reached up to his ear and snatched out what looked like his own communications device, crushing it between his fingers. He tossed the pieces aside and looked up at her, ¡°Hero Sapporo.¡± ¡°LIBERTY!¡± he bellowed, his voice carrying with it an itching madness that scraped at the inside of her skull for a heartbeat before she shrugged it off with a sniff. ¡°I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!¡± She crossed her legs, ¡°I thought you heroes wanted to arrest me,¡± she said blandly, resting her chin on her armored knuckles, ¡°Won¡¯t you get in trouble for stringing me up?¡± ¡°Once you die, I will perform seppuku as penance,¡± the glowing man growled, his fists clenched as he stalked into the throne room. The floor beneath his feet cracked and gave way with each step. He reached for his belt and drew up what looked like some sort of gord, he popped the cork on it as Liberty watched curiously. He held it to his lips and drank deeply, with each gulp the glow of his body grew brighter and brighter, his size increasing with each illuminating flash. When he finished, he tossed the gourd aside, his muscles bulging almost grotesquely. ¡°Alcohol makes you stronger, interesting,¡± Liberty said and rose to her feet before stepping down from the dias, ¡°But I don¡¯t need some one-time use trick like that to rise to the occasion, little man,¡± she snarled as her own body began to grow, her blue eyes flashing with terrible light. She stepped up to him and they looked one another in the eyes. ¡°You will be the first to fall, hero.¡± Sapporo attacked. ¨C Far to the northeast, along the walls of the Liberty compound in South Carolina, the few guards that hadn¡¯t been moved to sit in contemplation with the rest of the congregation stared out over the water. They checked their weapons for the hundredth time but were already beginning to grow tired of the high-alert status with nothing happening. The water was still and the people of the nearby town had given them a sensible amount of avoidance. ¡°Think it¡¯s already started?¡± one asked. ¡°Probably, not hearing anything though,¡± another muttered, ¡°I think-¡± PSHHHHHHHHH They looked up at the sound of static on the speaker system spread throughout the compound. ¡°What the?¡± ¡°Hey boys and girls!¡± the voice of a young woman came out, ¡°It¡¯s finally time to drop my latest single! Are you ready! Cuz I¡¯m ready! Ready for Battle, baby!¡± The two men looked at one another, ¡°This is my declaration! Sorry honey no more negotiation! I just can¡¯t take it, the two of us, just won¡¯t make it!¡± Sirens blared briefly, cutting off the voice before dying down. One of the men looked down at his feet as fog spread across the floor of their watchtower. One looked up at the sea and gasped, the other did the same. ¡°Asshole! You really wanna push me? Come on, bring it!¡± The sea was boiling, silver shapes stepping out of it carrying alien looking weapons in their hands. Before the pair could react shouts rose outside the compound walls, people chanting. The two guards looked at one another as a terrible realization sank into their guts. ¡°This is my declaration! Baby we are at WAR!¡± Chapter 226 Chapter 226 The first wave of cultists Ishtar came across poured through the trees in a wave of rage and fanaticism. Screaming at the top of their lungs as they brought their weapons to bear against their unnatural enemies. Ishtar floated lazily above the Legion as it charged, some of them taking surface damage or even losing chunks of their marble bodies under the barrage of gunfire. Post-Pandora munitions, then, Ishtar thought as several bullets bounced off the hard light barrier she¡¯d surrounded herself with. She turned her head slowly to look at the trio of mask wearing sycophants who had chosen to aim their weapons at her rather than her soldiers. She pointed a finger at them and a trio of rays of light lanced out faster than a blink, narrow bands that pierced through each of their heads in turn, granting them quick, pointless deaths. She lowered her hand and turned to observe the fray again. It hadn¡¯t taken long for the Legionnaires to finally enter striking distance, their wicked blades rising and falling with brutal, mechanical efficiency. Marble statues grabbed men from the ground and pulled them into the air before cleanly removing their heads, some combatants were tossed aside like trash, colliding with trees with so much force that Ishtar could hear their bones crumble inside their bodies. One cultist created glowing claws around his hands and lunged at a distracted Legionnaire, carving a chunk out of the side of it¡¯s head with a single swing. It rounded on him as it kicked away the cultist it had been focused on before and grabbed him by the face. Ishtar drifted past the two of them, ignoring the crunch that followed. She called out to Technocrat, ¡°Patch me into the hero¡¯s comms. I want live status updates.¡± <¡°Working on a way to prevent you getting detected while you listen in, gimme a sec, I¡¯ll give you a rundown in the meantime,¡±> he said as lightning crackled in the air, another bolt falling on a distant tree, sending it toppling over as fire spread through more parts of the forest. ¡°Please do,¡± she said as a cultist flew through her field of view, one arm amputated in a way that looked like it had been torn off rather than cut. <¡±Mentioned earlier that R4 was lost,¡±> he said quickly, <¡±Confirmed no survivors, monsters are some kind of apes with lizard heads. A bunch of Epic-tier beasties are on the loose now, they¡¯re going to redirect some people to suppress it before it gets worse.¡±> Ishtar¡¯s lips twisted, ¡°I see, continue.¡± <¡±The rest of the dungeons are locked down, I¡¯m checking my own readouts and their mana levels are staying stable, the heroes are pulling it off,¡±> he continued, <¡±The Vanguard teams are about a mile away from the main compound though they¡¯ve got a roadblock in their way. The outer wall will have members of the round table on it.¡±> ¡±A good assessment, what else?¡± <¡±Sapporo separated from the Vanguard, he¡¯s probably already at the main building. The entire city of Tokyo is basically a rave at this point,¡±> he said, <¡±Black Lotus didn¡¯t intervene.¡±> Ishtar closed her eyes and sought patience, ¡°Heroes,¡± she growled, ¡°A fool with a death wish, then, leave him to it. If he¡¯s bringing that much force to bear then maybe he can soften her up a little bit for the girl,¡± she said with a laugh, ¡°I doubt there¡¯s any chance of changing his mind. He¡¯s not usually the type to run ahead so if he¡¯s made this call, let him have it.¡± She floated up a bit higher as the fighting around her died down momentarily, some of the cultists turned to flee, hoping to perhaps move on to a less dangerous target. The Legion moved to pursue but she held up a hand, ¡°Let them,¡± she said, ¡°We have more important things to do than to slaughter Liberty¡¯s throwaway fodder,¡± she added, the volume on her helmet raised just enough to be overheard by the fleeing enemy. Overhead, another bolt of lightning flashed, the fire was beginning to spread. Soon it would fill the forest and begin catching on the compound. Her legion reformed and she urged them forwards before she turned her attention back to Technocrat, ¡°Kingshark¡¯s status? He should have begun the raid on the first target by now.¡± Technocrat let out a nervous laugh, <¡±About that...¡±> ¨C CRRRAAKKK! ¡°Scatter!¡± The cultists fled in all directions, throwing themselves, using whatever abilities they had at their disposal to get what distance they could from the fist the size of a sedan that was hurtling towards them at impossible speed. The fist collided with the outer wall of the compound, masonry and metal reinforcement exploding with enough force to turn the remaining shards into shrapnel. Men and women fell, bodies riddled with holes, their corpses trampled by the silver scaled humanoids that swarmed into the compound. The creatures raised their eerie rifle-like weapons and fired, compressed air sending metallic darts sailing through the air. More bodies fell. On the other side of the compound, civilians, police, and all manner of people carrying whatever weapons they could get their hands on poured through gates ruined after a patrol car had been driven through them. ¡°Alert the other compounds!¡± one cleric shouted from within the central building. He turned to few epic-tier members of the cult available positioned at the doors. They were ready to defend the meditating members of the cult with their lives. ¡°Hold that door!¡± ¡°All of the computers are down, we can¡¯t get a signal out! All we hear is that damn song on all channels!¡± another cleric called, panic rising in his voice. Outside, the fighting grew to a fever pitch. Gunfire intensified. Shouts rose. The ground shook and mist slowly began to ripple across the floor in the chapel. The cleric taking charge adjusted his robes and stepped onto the main dais, frowning at the odd clouds on the floor. ¡°What the devil is happening...¡± One of the epic guards let out a shriek and started swatting at his body, acting as if something was crawling on him, ¡°What are these things?¡± he shrieked. The cleric snarled, ¡°Calm down! Strength from Liberty!¡± Another one of the guards turned wildly towards the congregation, his eyes bulging as a tear ran down his cheek, he adjusted the grip on his rifle and let out an hysterical laugh, ¡°It-It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, it¡¯s over, they¡¯re whispering in my teeth!¡± he laughed and raised his weapon to point it at the cultists who were still sitting, still obediently contemplating Liberty. The cleric frowned and whipped his hand out, a shard of glass taking shape in an instant before launching across the gap between them, it embedded itself in the man¡¯s throat and he collapsed, gurgling. The cleric looked at the other two, the one who had been slapping at himself simply fell face first towards the door, sliding down and leaving a trail of blood, skin beneath his fingernails. The third was kneeling, catatonic, staring up at the ceiling. He raised his hands up as if in prayer. What the hell...? ¡°He comes. The Deep King. We are free,¡± he cried out, overjoyed. The ceiling collapsed as a fist rained down upon them. The cleric hit the wall, his head cracking against the stonework. His vision blurred as he hit the ground. He looked up, squinting at the hole in the ceiling as his ears rang. There he saw a face, two glowing red eyes boring down on him as tentacles curled around the ruined roof. That face had no emotion to it, no feeling, whatever this force of nature was it cared nothing for the ants it trod over. It wasn¡¯t the look of disdain and tyrannical indifference of Liberty, no, this was everything she preached but made manifest. ¡°Strength,¡± he whispered with awe as the mist and madness came upon him. ¨C Kingshark turned back towards the sea, watching a boat collapse in on itself as Harrow ripped it apart. The coast guard had already arrived. His lip twitched into a smile. ¡°I feel like a King,¡± he rumbled, his voice shaking the air. ¡°Ishtar kept her promise,¡± he laughed and stepped over the outer wall of the decimated settlement. A few shouts of alarm followed him and he paused a moment to glance back at the civilians that Tenebra had riled up. They¡¯d certainly come in handy to split the attention of the defending forces. He hadn¡¯t lost any of his children. ¡°Return to the sea,¡± he commanded. The seafolk hissed in response, leaving their bloody work behind and racing towards the water. They leaped into the air and fell, colliding with the water and splattering into seafoam that dissolved into the surf. He stepped into the water as well, marching deeper and deeper until he too joined with the water he had become a part of. He collected the water around himself, connecting with it, merging with it, he was the sea. All of the oceans were his domain and his place to tread. He tasted the waters of his next destination and opened his eyes in the dark again. COME The cold depths twitched and the silver shapes emerged again. Continue the hunt. ¨C Ishtar made it just in time to watch from the outer wall of the compound as the central building¡¯s front face exploded. A glowing figure, ten feet tall, hurtled through the air and skipped painfully off the ground before colliding with two more buildings. Sapporo let out a roar and threw the rubble atop him off, rising from where he¡¯d fallen and raising his hands over his head as a group of cultists charged at him, weapons raised. He clapped his hands and a shockwave sent his attackers flying, pulverizing a few of them on the spot. He stepped out of the rubble as an equally mighty figure emerged from the damaged building he¡¯d just left. ¡°You could not even last a few moments!¡± Liberty bellowed, ¡°Is this all you can manage? I had heard good things! You were second only to Black Lotus, though some said you were stronger!¡± Ishtar sat down in the air to watch, her legion crashing into the gate not far away. Liberty turned her head and looked up, meeting her eyes. Ishtar smiled behind her helmet and couldn¡¯t help herself. Perhaps it was a little bit of Sonya left in her, but she raised a hand to wave. ¡°Ishtar!¡± Liberty roared and turned to march in her direction only for a glowing golden fist to collide with the side of her head. She slid a few feet but her head didn¡¯t even bulge. She stood there, eyes locked with Ishtar¡¯s helmet before she rounded on Sapporo, ¡°Pest!¡± she snarled and took a step back, pivoting to swing her sword. He hopped away, getting some distance before glancing in the direction of Ishtar. ¡°VILLAIN! THIS IS MY BATTLE!¡± he roared, ¡°LEAVE OR I WILL SMITE YOU AS WELL!¡± Ishtar held up her hands, ¡°I¡¯m just watching,¡± she laughed, broadcasting her voice ¡°Don¡¯t mind me.¡± Liberty stood up straight, her copper glow intensifying a little, ¡°Are you here to help the heroes, Ishtar?¡± she demanded from her spot in the courtyard of her compound. Her voice carried despite the distance. Ishtar snorted, ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m here to help them? It¡¯s sad that you¡¯re that concerned about my presence, I have other plans,¡± she asked as her legion slammed once again against the gates. <¡±Blackrazor are you inside?¡±> she asked, turning her attention away as Sapporo charged at Liberty again. Liberty scoffed in disgust and turned back to her current opponent, she took a step forward and swung her sword. The blade cut the air, the force crashing into Sapporo. His gold aura flickering while the earth beneath his feet and the buildings behind him were cleaved. He pushed through, raising a fist to strike only for Liberty to catch the blow with her free hand. The ground beneath them caved in, a crater forming. <¡±I have entered the compound.¡±> her henchman said, <¡±I am seeking out the first target.¡±> Back on the fight, Ishtar watched Liberty stiffen as she forced Sapporo¡¯s fist back. He strained against her strength, eyes filled with fury. She whipped her head towards the outer walls as if she could see something far away, ¡°You told them how you broke through Halloway¡¯s net?¡± Liberty asked, glancing towards Ishtar as Sapporo drove a fist up at her chin. She took the blow with a grunt before driving her knee up into his gut. The mythic let out a gasp as he was thrown up into the air, Liberty spun and snapped out a kick, launching him away again. How many compounds is she drawing power from? Clearly she hasn¡¯t noticed that Kingshark is attacking, Ishtar thought as she shook her head, ¡°I shared no such information, your little friend¡¯s trick must have more weaknesses than I thought.¡± ¡°Then it is the gravity boy, I should have killed him at the compound,¡± Liberty growled. <¡±The heroes are sending in the second wave,¡±> Technocrat said into Ishtar¡¯s ear. Then the main characters of this little play have arrived. Ishtar rose as the gate collapsed, her legion finally pouring through, ¡°Destroy as much as you can,¡± she commanded her legion, ¡°Make Liberty¡¯s life difficult. I have a date with a fated enemy.¡± ¨C Otis stepped through the archway, adjusting the gauntlets he¡¯d chosen to wear. They weren¡¯t necessary but it looked good. At either side of him were his two new heralds, Riot was in light armor and glancing around nervously. Felwinter had completely encased her arms and legs in the black ice of her powers, her eager smile nearly cracking her face. ¡°Otis.¡± He turned back to see that girl standing with her team. Crusader, you are getting a bit too popular for my taste. I wonder if I can make an accident happen here. He shook the idea off, No, focus on your goal. You need to be the one to end Liberty. The media should be sending helicopters to watch soon. ¡°Good luck, Crusader,¡± he said with an easy smile. She frowned, ¡°Are you sure you want to split off? We¡¯re going to run into those Round Table people, they aren¡¯t an easy match and you don¡¯t have anyone who can heal.¡± Are you... concerned? Don¡¯t you dare, he thought furiously, ¡°We¡¯ll manage,¡± he said with a chuckle and held out his hand, his golden sword appearing in it, ¡°You just worry about keeping your own people alive, friend!¡± She sighed and shook her head, ¡°I envy your confidence,¡± she said and slung her own sword onto her shoulder. She turned to look at the blonde girl, what was her codename again? Ah, yes, Harbinger. Liberty¡¯s sister and Ishtar¡¯s spy. Crusader put a hand on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze, ¡°You good?¡± Harbinger nodded gravely, ¡°I¡¯m good. Let¡¯s do this.¡± Otis turned away, the camaraderie was nauseating. ¡°Riot, Felwinter, we¡¯re going. Today is our day.¡± Chapter 227 Chapter 227 Above the widening melee, above the flames that Kerauna stirred with her ceaseless storm. Ishtar looked down from within a weave of illusions upon the heroes and cultists facing one another in battle. The cultists had formed up within what appeared to be a well disguised single-story fort. The walls glowed faintly as gunfire from the hero side peppered it. Ishtar narrowed her eyes, Pandora Committee soldiers, I suppose even Carla understands the purpose of fodder troops. She frowned, Or is she misguidedly expecting the majority of them to walk away from this? If so, that¡¯s tragically foolish. A pair of heroes raced out from within the ranks of the soldiers, both of them she recognized. The first was a young man with steely-gray hair and a tight-fitting shirt that revealed his bare arms. The second was a young woman with black hair and off-white eyes. Magnus and Crane, Ishtar observed. Magnus threw his hands out, pivoting to the right and turning his entire body with the movement. The bullets flying in the direction of him, his comrade, and the troops behind them, seized in the air before whipping around with his turn. An instant later, they were returning to where they¡¯d come from. He threw himself forward and landed with his palms on the ground before wrenching his entire body up, fingers coiled. As he did, Crane drew a sword from her hip, swinging it with a series of blinding flashes, and deflecting rounds heading her way as her comrade worked. She didn¡¯t stop moving, on a clear collision course with the wall before it ripped itself from the ground, an entire portion hurtling into the air before falling back down with a sharp change in momentum. It crashed into a small group of the cultists as Crane hopped over the wreckage and began her dance. A clump of trees exploded to Ishtar¡¯s right and she tilted her head, observing a new addition to the battle. A group of poorly dressed and equipped men were waving weapons and laughing wildly as they charged into the fray. Not heroes. Ah, Villain¡¯s after the bounty. I¡¯d almost forgotten, she thought with amusement as two of them were gunned down immediately, by a startled band of cultists. There¡¯s probably more of them causing trouble. I wonder if Graff will make a showing, she thought before turning her attention towards a different clearing that had formed in the forest. A flash of yellow-gold light flared up within it followed by a burst of golden flames. She tilted her head forward and sneered, There you are... ¨C Blackrazor slid across the ground, slithered along the walls and crept across the ceiling. A living shadow. He did not know the floorplan of this place, which was less than optimal. Normally he would have memorized every corner and recorded every guard pattern before inserting himself like this, but circumstances did not permit him such luxuries. He could only make do. He knew what his targets looked like, they were somewhere in this place, he just had to find them. ¡°Dame Song, we have everything set up for you ma¡¯am,¡± a voice came from a nearby room, making Blackrazor slow his movement. He drifted towards the door and wrapped his mercurial body around it, listening through the surface. The only response to the words was a wordless grunt of affirmation that seemed to come from a young woman. Dame Song? Not a primary target, but I should deal with her before moving on, Blackrazor thought, sliding down to the ground and becoming a puddle of murky black, he slipped beneath the door and spread out, casting himself across the small room that looked not unlike a recording studio. There were several cultists sitting behind control benches and a single woman in drab clothes holding onto a microphone. Her eyes were glowing with coppery light. ¡°Just a little bit longer, ma¡¯am,¡± one of the cultists said, ¡°The body count hasn¡¯t reached the right levels yet, Liberty wants you to use your ability at the appropriate time.¡± The girl in the booth turned and shot them a glare, her lips parted and two of the men reached for what looked like high-end earmuffs, pulling them over their ears. Blackrazor knew danger when he saw it and cut off his senses from the outside world for a moment, diving deep into the shadow sea. When he resurfaced, one of the men at the booth was dead, his ears bleeding and rot spreading across his skin. Dame Song turned away with a huff as Blackrazor took a look around, How best to attack? Perhaps- The wall behind Dame Song dissolved, crumbling before Blackrazor could make a move. The dust that was kicked up swirled and it looked like a person was taking shape inside of it. The two cultists hopped to their feet but not before there was a squeak of pain and the dust dispersed. Dame Song was hanging by her neck, held in the grip of a blonde haired man with lean muscle and an almost bored expression on his face. His cold eyes took in Song for only a heartbeat before he spoke, ¡°You the necromancer chick?¡± he demanded. Dame Song squeaked again, reaching up to grab at his hands. She kicked her feet, striking his chest but he didn¡¯t even blink. He tilted his head as her lips opened and she whispered something. The skin on his face grayed, the veins turning black. He frowned, reaching up to touch it curiously before it abruptly flaked off and new flesh grew in its place. I know this man¡¯s face, Blackrazor thought, A villain. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the two cultists grab their weapons and one grab something that looked like a hand trigger. He darted across the ground and leaped out of it like a fish from water, knives drawn. Violet blades slipped between vertebrae and two corpses fell to the ground. Blackrazor looked up from the bodies to meet the man¡¯s gaze as Dame Song turned to dust. ¡°You are Graff,¡± Blackrazor said. ¡°And you¡¯re one of Ishtar¡¯s, right?¡± Graff grunted. ¡°How did you get here without alerting them?¡± Blackrazor asked. ¡°That¡¯s my fuckin¡¯ business,¡± Graff said with a grin and rubbed his wrist, ¡°Bitch¡¯s power hurts,¡± he spat on the ground and tilted his head up a bit, looking at Blackrazor over his nose, ¡°You tell your boss that we¡¯re even now, got it? I want to be left alone. I ain¡¯t her friend and I ain¡¯t gonna come running. My boys are off the hook too.¡± Blackrazor frowned, ¡°You do not command me or my mistress,¡± he said and pointed his weapon at the man. Graff grinned, ¡°That¡¯s what she¡¯s into, huh?¡± he laughed before his smile turned into a scowl, ¡°Don¡¯t press your luck, kid. I can tell you¡¯re top dog material, one of the badasses,¡± he raised his hand and pointed it at Blackrazor, ¡°But you got a long way to go before you survive me. Give your boss my message, go it?¡± Blackrazor tilted his head forward and gripped his knives tighter, I can¡¯t tolerate his rudeness, but I¡¯m not fool enough to fight him. Even the Pandora Committee puts him on the Mistress¡¯ level. My mission is more important. He lowered his weapons and nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll deliver your message, whether she accepts is her business.¡± ¡°Figured you say that, she knows better than to piss me off, though,¡± Graff growled, ¡°I¡¯m done here, killing that brat should have been enough. Later, edgelord,¡± he sniped before his body began to dissolve from head to toe, the last thing Blackrazor saw of him was his raised middle finger. Blackrazor scowled before turning away, I know he¡¯s a villain like us, he thought as he dissolved back into a shadow and slipped beneath the door again, But I really want to kill that man. ¨C Crusader snapped out a kick, sending one of the bigger cultists flying. She pivoted back a step, maintaining her momentum before driving her weapon into the ground and taking a stalwart stance. Her shoulder set, her eyes forward, she let her aura spread out across the clearing as her comrades went to work. Gold flames danced on the skin of friend and foe alike. A flicker of movement behind her preceded a small back pressed against hers. Gunshots rang out, but she didn¡¯t look back as Snow covered her. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be hiding?¡± Crusader asked with the ghost of a smile on her face. ¡°Do it when I find a half decent place with a good view,¡± Snow shot back with a hiss of static. Not far away, BLF¡¯s arm stretched out and grabbed hold of a pair of cultists. He turned in place, throwing his back into the movement before he hurled them bodily into the air, ¡°Thanks for the heals Crusader!¡± he shouted. An instant later, Harbinger landed a few feet from him and kicked off the ground, throwing herself like a missile towards another squad of cultists that had charged into the clearing, weapons raised. She collided with them, swinging her hammer with all her eight feet of might. The air between her weapon and their group froze for just a moment before exploding with terrible force, scattering them like bugs. Crusader smiled to herself, She doesn¡¯t seem hung up, that¡¯s good. Hang in there Cass, today it ends. She turned her attention to a pair of men charging her way and frowned, raising her head up as she felt heat on her neck and along her scalp. Her eyes burned and a terrible avian warcry split its way through the din of battle. A hawk, wreathed in a halo of golden flame streaked down from the sky. One of the men dove out of the way while the other was cut across his torso and arm, he staggered back only for the bird to right itself and flap its wings, incandescent flames catching on his gear. He let out a scream and dropped to the ground, trying to roll it off. Crusader firmed her heart at the sight, This is war, she reminded herself, This is nothing compared to what they did to Tokyo. Alphonse, the glowing hawk, flapped his wings again and darted over to land on her shoulder, raising his wings and letting out another cry of warning. No one would approach her while she used her powers to aid her allies. She smiled at him as the second cultist staggered to his feet only for a flash of yellow light to bloom at his back. His eyes rolled up into his head and he fell onto his face. Behind him, Otis stood with his sword slung on his shoulder. ¡°You didn¡¯t need to follow me,¡± Otis said, ¡°Better to cover more ground.¡± ¡°We¡¯re going the same direction,¡± she said, ¡°It¡¯s not a problem, is it?¡± He shrugged, ¡°Of course not, just figured you¡¯d want your own chance to take down a few of the big bads, not gonna get any challenging fights with me around.¡± She laughed and shook her head, ¡°You¡¯re a crazy man, Otis.¡± She didn¡¯t notice his lip twitch as he reached up and ran his fingers through his hair, ¡°I¡¯ve been called worse, now! Let¡¯s get a move on! We didn¡¯t come here to deal with foot soldiers, right?¡± Crusader pulled her sword from the ground and nodded at him, she raised a gauntleted hand and threw it forward as more Pandora troops arrived to join them in the clearing. He was right, it was time to move on. Given how much headway they were already making she was feeling optimistic. The elite teams with the Guildmaster and her teacher should have arrived at the main part of the compound by now. All they needed to do was support them with all their might. She smiled, ¡°Right! Alright everyone! We¡¯re pushing-¡± DOOOOOOOOOOOM It took her breath away. It felt like all the air had been pushed out of her lungs. Like a boot on her neck. Like an ice cold knife in her spine In just a single breath, it felt like a mountain had landed on her. A weight so terrible it drove her gasping to her knees. The colors of the world around her seemed contrasting, scratchy, distorted. Her fingers dug into the soil beneath her, tearing at the little tufts of grass. She coughed as that overwhelming feeling crushed her. It was unreal. Unholy. Impossible. It took her hopes and dreams and courage and ground down upon them like it was trying to turn them into powder. It¡¯s so... cold, what¡¯s happening? She barely managed the thoughts before she forced her chin up, to look for her friends. Harbinger was on a knee, trying to pull herself to her feet with her hammer. BLF was half way pushed up off the ground, straining to rise. She felt Snow¡¯s trembling hands as they clung to her armor. Her eyes turned towards where Otis had been standing and... still was. He was on his feet, looking up at the sky, his sword held out to his side. She followed his gaze, her vision blurring now and then, flickering, like static on a television White armored boots. No. Gleaming white armor backed by a cape of flowing silver hair. Why is she here? An unfeeling faceless helmet and two blazing pink eyes that bored down on her with ruthless malice. She felt something rise up and she heaved, coughing and spluttering as animal terror scratched at her instincts. Her basic, lizard-brain desire to survive, to live, her natural sense of self preservation, going back throughout every stage of her genetic history, back to humanity¡¯s most primitive senses. Awareness of death. This was death. This person was an inevitable demise. ¡°Hello, little heroes,¡± the voice was so much worse in person. A hissing rasp through the helmet. It sounded like someone dragging a slick knife against ice. It sent a chill up her spine. ¡°Ishtar is here!¡± the supervillain declared as Crusader¡¯s vision swam. She clenched her jaw and concentrated only to realize that the movement of her mana had been stalled. She shuddered at the thought that this person¡¯s mere presence could do that. She grit her teeth so hard it hurt, I need to stand! She forced here internal energy back into motion, punching the earth once before letting out a groan of effort as she forced herself to her feet. She panted and glared up at the wicked woman hanging in the air above them. ¡°Ishtar!¡± Otis laughed, ¡°Finally!¡± Somewhere nearby, someone let out a horrified shriek. Crusader looked to see Riot on the ground, pushing back like a child as he shook his head at the person before him. ¡°No, no no no, no oh no, what am I looking at?!¡± Crusader turned back to Ishtar and clenched her fists, raising her weapon to point it at the supervillain, ¡°Ish-¡± ¡°Crusader, Snow, B L F, and Harbinger,¡± Ishtar said dryly, ¡°Riot, Felwinter, and...¡± she let out a sigh of delight, ¡°Otis.¡± Crusader froze, she tried to move herself to stand between Ishtar and Snow who was still recovering behind her, ¡°Yes. I know your names, I know your personal histories, I know your strengths, I know your weaknesses,¡± Ishtar declared, ¡°Most of you anyway,¡± she added with a cruel laugh as the unforgiving pressure suddenly lifted from Crusader¡¯s shoulders. Behind her she heard Snow start coughing. ¡°Don¡¯t you ignore me!¡± Otis roared, ¡°We have a score to settle!¡± Crusader glanced at him, What? She looked up at Ishtar who was staring straight down at him. ¡°Yes we do,¡± Ishtar said mildly, ¡°It¡¯s about time we had our first tussle, as for the rest of you¡± she said languidly before slowly turning her tyrannical gaze on Crusader, they locked eyes, Crusader felt a chill run up her spine. The enemy of the world¡¯s heroes'' eyes flashed as if she was savoring their moment of terror, ¡°Run.¡± Chapter 228 Chapter 228 Inches away. There he was. The man whose actions in another timeline, another life, had been the impetus for her own creation. Ishtar could, in some way, credit her birth to the impetuous little man that stood before her. How many days had she spent in her early state, before she was fully a separate part of Sonya, imagining graphic ways of killing him. Peeling the skin from his body, roasting him alive, crushing one bone at a time. Now that he was here, before her, she felt doubt about her imaginings for the first time. It wasn¡¯t enough. She paid no mind to most of the young heroes as they fled, racing past to continue their raid and hopefully recover some of their morale after her entrance. She paused only to focus her senses on the boy called Riot as he hurried behind Felwinter. She wondered what he saw when he looked at her, clearly his abilities had advanced further than he had openly admitted. He could see karmic links, and what he saw in her shook him. Interesting that he did not accuse me of being Sonya. I wonder if my karma appears different. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it if you didn¡¯t kill my subordinates,¡± Otis said merrily and she returned her full attention to him. She searched his face and gave his words some consideration. Riot and Felwinter were his subordinates? Could that mean he had fully stepped away from his path of the previous timeline? Something worth considering, not that they compared at all to the true Heralds. Might as well test and see if that¡¯s his intention. She met his luminous blue eyes and tilted her head, ¡°Subordinates? Or perhaps you have a different name for them?¡± He frowned, ¡°I noticed before, but now I¡¯m certain, you know far too much. How?¡± he demanded, taking a step forward and getting into her face. She smiled triumphantly behind her helmet, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you like to know, King of the Heroes?¡± Otis bore his teeth, ¡°Then I¡¯ll beat it out of you, Queen of the Villains.¡± The air stilled between them, for all the world it felt like time had stopped, the ground below trembled as a surge of mana passed into and out of the pair. Ishtar let her internal energy cycle, flooding her body with strength. All of her senses were active, every mental ability firing as one as she took in every detail of the world around her. She could almost hear the tensing of his muscles, the clenching of his fist. The two of them struck. Otis¡¯ fist rose as hers descended, the two colliding and releasing a wave of force that cracked the remaining trees around them. Ishtar was gone the next moment, reappearing behind Otis with a knife of hard light in her hand. She stabbed and he spun, swinging his sword up in a wild arc that deflected her strike, he sneered at her as her arm went wide, throwing another punch that collided with her waist. Her entire body shattered and burst into a flash of light. She was behind him again, her shin careening towards his head as he raised his arm to protect his eyes. Her momentum halted. She looked down to see his hand wrapped around her leg, ¡°You like striking from behind, don¡¯t you!?¡± he snarled, throwing his body forward and pulling her with him. She let herself get flung towards the nearest row of trees, looking up at them just in time to create a portal. It flickered once with red light and she concentrated; Use only a little bit, she thought, channeling Visage to push through. Gravity shifted, her sense of direction adapted, and she hurtled down at him from above. A lightning fast pivot, and her heel was coming down. ¡°OTIS!¡± Otis spun and looked up at her, his blue eyes glowing with mirth while his blonde hair flapped about his face, ¡°HA HA HA! YOU HAVE MOVES!¡± Otis laughed in response, raising his sword to block. ¨C KRAKOOOOOM! The collision between Ishtar and the defending Otis sent another explosive wave rippling out from the center of the clearing. The air kicked up and trees shook, some falling over as thunder and lightning roared in the sky. She frowned from her spot behind one of those trees, taking a few lazy steps back to avoid the roots as they were ripped from the ground. Felwinter brushed herself off and looked over her shoulder at the huddled form of her comrade. Her lips dipped into a disgusted frown, How the hell is this guy worthy of becoming a Herald like myself? Another bang rang out and she looked back at the fight. Otis and Ishtar had shifted from quick explosive blows to a rapid fire barrage of light hits. Otis moved with power and zero hesitation, his angles of attack obvious to anyone with the eyes to keep up. The only problem was that one had to keep up with his raw power and speed to avoid it. Felwinter had watched him fight monsters, she knew his direct and overbearing style of fighting but had honestly never seen anyone keep up with it. Until now anyway. While Otis was a brutal force of nature, Ishtar moved like something between a robot and a pixie. She remained floating in the air as she lashed out with kicks, punches, and attacks with her knives. Instead of focusing on blocking, her languid motions turned rigid and sharp as she dodged, avoiding strikes with a frankly nauseating margin of error. Case in point, she felt her stomach clench as Ishtar kicked off of Otis¡¯ shoulder from another failed leg chop and moved into a backflip. He swung horizontally and she twisted her neck, the tip of his sword missing her by what had to be millimeters. ¡°He¡¯s really holding his own,¡± she said with a self-satisfied grin. ¡°I-I wouldn¡¯t count on it lasting,¡± Riot wheezed from where he lay next to at tree, still trembling as he stared at the dueling pair before averting his gaze, ¡°She has big flashy moves, other powers besides her strength and reflexes. He doesn¡¯t have many of those.¡± ¡°Yeah but he¡¯s indestructible,¡± Felwinter shot back before rounding on him, ¡°What the hell did you see?¡± He looked away, ¡°I...¡± She stormed forward and grabbed him by the shirt, lifting him off the ground, ¡°What did you see? You know better than to doubt the King!¡± she snarled, looking into his frantic eyes. ¡°She isn¡¯t human!¡± he shouted, ¡°There¡¯s no way! The karma she has doesn¡¯t make any sense! Some of it goes back inward, like there¡¯s two of her! It¡¯s insane! There are lines that go to places that are completely irrational! She¡¯s- how do you know someone that old?!¡± he panicked, reaching up to grab at his head, ¡°And then there¡¯s that thing growing in her!¡± ¡°What thing-¡± THOP Felwinter felt her icy blood run even colder as she slowly shifted her eyes to the right, towards the glowing knife that was inches from the side of her head. Otis stood a foot away, his fingers wrapped around the gleaming edge of the weapon. Another had been thrown at Riot. Otis clenched his fists and crushed the light-made weapons, shards of hard light bursting into motes that returned to float over Ishtar¡¯s palm. Ishtar floated in the center of the clearing and tilted her head forward, ¡°Your Heralds are talkative, Otis, and nosy.¡± ¡°They were just leaving,¡± Otis growled, his back to the two of them, ¡°As they should have been earlier.¡± I almost died. Felwinter swallowed hard and nodded to her king, tightening her grip on Riot and making a rapid retreat as the ground shook beneath her feet, Otis launching himself back into his fight. She didn¡¯t look back as the exchange of thunderous blows resumed. She needed to get some distance and focus on the mission. She had her own priorities during this battle and she wasn¡¯t about to forget them while she ensured that there was a clear path for him to reach Liberty. If I have to soften that bitch up a little bit in the process, I will, she thought, only for a new kind of rumbling to come hurtling towards her. Instinct and training were the only thing that saved her, pulling back from her path just in time for a glowing mountain of muscle to come crashing through the trees, leaving a deep divot in the ground beneath him. The man rose and raised his chin high. His body was covered in intricate tattoos and there was a sense of merriment about him despite the grim expression on his face. Holy shit! That¡¯s Sapporo! She realized, eyes wide. He only gave the two of them a momentary glance before nodding to them and launching himself forward again to resume whatever fight he was engaged in. She glanced down at Riot who was hanging from her grip, his chest had stopped heaving. ¡°You good to move on your own, chicken shit?¡± she demanded, dropping him. He scowled up at her from where he fell, ¡°You didn¡¯t see what I saw, Ishtar¡¯s a monster, Felwinter!¡± ¡°We already knew that! Let¡¯s move before-¡± BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM! The trees to her left exploded one at a time, sending splinters everywhere. She threw out her hand and a black mirror-like wall of ice rose up between her and the oncoming shrapnel. Two pairs of feet slid to a stop within the small clearing that had been created. She dismissed the protective wall and immediately recognized both of them. Black Lotus stood with her head high, sword at the ready, the air around her thick with the scent of flowers. Across from her was another woman in combat robes, her own sword pointed at Black Lotus as eerie black-red light seemed to radiate around her. Dame Kant. Black Lotus noticed the pair first, ¡°Felwinter?¡± she asked, surprised and nearly lowered her guard only for Kant to throw herself at her, swords clashed as Kant came from above and Lotus blocked with an angled stroke from below. Metal ground and they separated. Felwinter grabbed Riot and ran, I can¡¯t let Kant notice me, she thought and dove into the trees, racing from the spot. Riot shouted something but she paid it no mind, she needed to get some distance from these battles between titans and focus on what- CRRRKKKKK She knew that sound. She knew that chill. She stopped in her run and dropped a now very annoyed Riot onto the ground. ¡°Hey! I said I¡¯m fine! The shock¡¯s passed, what the hell is wrong with you?!¡± he demanded, scrambling to his feet only for her to hold up a hand to shut him up. ¡°What is it?¡± CRRRKKKRRKKKKK ¡°MOVE!¡± she shouted and dove to the right as a spear of ice erupted from beneath her feet. It sprouted dozens of blade-like branches that sprouted dozens more, chasing her as she rolled and jumped and kicked off tree after tree to get away from the ruthless attack. When she finally landed she was standing across from a face she knew better than anyone. Bloodlust boiled in her veins. Her cold pit of a heart, her hungry soul, it ached, it hurt, it howled for the prey that she had promised it back during the day of her graduation. A sheet of ice spread across the ground as Sir Phillip stepped out of the trees. He reached up and brushed his hair up with a cold smile, his eyes glittering with a mixture of delight and barely restrained malice. ¡°Welcome home, little sister,¡± he said and raised both hands, taking a half step back into a fighting stance. She pivoted and put her shoulder to him, the black armor on her hands and forearms spread up to her shoulders and across her chest, her fingers popped beneath her gauntlets as the howl of agony within her ice filled the air with sinister promise. She put Riot out of her mind, she put her King out of her mind, for just this moment, for this last time, she would focus on her beloved sibling. She raised a hand and pointed it at him, shards of black ice appearing in the air around her and beginning to spin like little drills, just like he used to do, ¡°I¡¯m home, big brother.¡± ¨C ¡°Move move move!¡± BOOM! Crusader held on to Snow for dear life, cradling her in her arms. She twisted, shielding the smaller woman as the shrapnel from the nearby blast peppered her. A few slivers made it past her armor, digging into the skin on her face and cutting through her ear. She grit her teeth and pushed out a bit more of her flames, sealing the wounds. A dozen pandora soldiers ran past, shouting and firing their weapons while the cultists steadily fell back up ahead. A heavy set of feet ran up behind her, Harbinger sliding to a stop, ¡°You alright?¡± she shouted over the din. ¡°I¡¯m fine!¡± Crusader called, before nodding down to Snow in her arms, ¡°She¡¯s out! We need a moment to breathe so I can heal her!¡± Another blast tore up the forest around them, a bolt of lightning following it and setting more trees ablaze. Harbinger winced and turned, raising her arm and growing a few more inches. Shrapnel pinged off her heavy metal armor, ¡°Not a problem!¡± she shouted, ¡°BLF!¡± ¡°One sec!¡± A forearm the size of a school bus stretched across the space, glimmering scales spreading across it like frost on glass. It crashed through what trees remained and swept wide, catching a chunk of the masked cultists up in the attack. The pandora soldiers cheered and pressed forward while BLF hurried over to join the rest of his team. Crusader let out a breath and looked up at Harbinger who nodded at her. Their eyes met. Harbinger was pale as a ghost and she doubted she looked much better. Harbinger stepped past her, pulling out her hammer and entering a fighting stance. BLF stepped up on the other side as Crusader set Snow down. Snow was shaking, her eyes fluttering and flicking about. She coughed, curling in on herself. She¡¯d literally suffocated beneath Ishtar¡¯s presence. Crusader held her shaky hands over her girlfriend and concentrated, gold flames spreading out over her body. Snow began to relax, letting out a groan as color returned to her face. She looked up at Crusader, wide-eyed. ¡°You¡¯re fine,¡± Crusader said, ¡°Can you stand?¡± Snow nodded and with a quick motion Crusader pulled her to her feet. Snow swayed but steadied herself, ¡°Sorry, we can¡¯t stick around.¡± ¡°What the hell was that?¡± Snow asked, looking up at her. ¡°Ishtar.¡± BLF turned to them, Crusader glanced around, it looked like the coast was clear for the moment. She looked at him and saw the sunken, hollow look in his eyes. She felt it too. The terror was still there, the urgency to get away and keep moving had been the only thing to keep her knees from shaking. She¡¯d made so many claims about being there to face Ishtar when the time came to defeat her. Now she¡¯d been face to face with the supervillain, looked her in the eyes, and she¡¯d run. She turned to look back at Harbinger. Her friend was looking back in the direction of where they¡¯d left Otis to hold Ishtar off. Flashes of golden and white light bloomed above the treeline. Her hammer was held limply at her side. She couldn¡¯t see her face, but her drooped shoulders said everything. ¡°We need to keep moving,¡± Crusader said, Snow at her side. ¡°Cass?¡± BLF called, ¡°Hey, snap out of it.¡± Harbinger gripped her hammer but didn¡¯t look back, a bolt of lightning fell from the sky, the flash of light setting her in silhouette. ¡°Do we stand a chance?¡± Crusader frowned, she looked down at her feet and clenched her fists. I¡¯m scared too, damn it. All of us are. We all felt that. It nearly killed Snow. But... she took a breath, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Harbinger turned to look at her, a haunted look on her face. ¡°What?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Crusader said, squaring her shoulders. She needed to support her friend but she couldn¡¯t be kind here. Now wasn¡¯t the time. Not with everything they were up against, ¡°We have a job to do. We¡¯re heroes and that means facing the scariest shit on the planet,¡± she said, ¡°So we¡¯re gonna keep moving, we¡¯re gonna make it to that compound, and we¡¯re gonna bring the fight to Liberty. You are gonna bring the fight to Liberty,¡± she said and locked eyes with her friend. She broke into a smile and gestured to Snow and BLF, ¡°And we¡¯re gonna be right there with you.¡± Harbinger didn¡¯t look away as a bit of light came back to her eyes, she squared her shoulders and nodded, trying to look as heroic as possible. It was the best any of them could manage after that, but it was something. ¡°Right,¡± she said, ¡°Let¡¯s move.¡± Chapter 229 Chapter 229 SHRRRIIIIK Ishtar knew the trajectory of the attack, all of her mental abilities working in concert to navigate the fight. Even so; He¡¯s so goddamn fast! She thought, twisting to the right as the golden sword cut through the air to her left. She kicked off the ground and into a backflip, slowing her move with gravitic flight enough to reach down and tap her hand against his follow-up horizontal swing. She pushed off of it and threw herself into the air, spinning rapidly. But his attacks are so basic. If he wasn¡¯t so powerful I could easily take advantage of him. Adomopathy is useless against him as well, his style is so simple there¡¯s nothing to read. She stopped her spin and spread out her arms, spears of hardened light springing into being around her and rocketing down towards him in a stream. He darted to the left, running as the spears crashed into the ground behind him, laughing wildly the entire time. Tsk! She whipped her hand and clenched her fist, the spears blinking out for a moment before appearing around him. They spun and pointed in his direction as he slid to a stop before launching again. A series of blinding gold flashes responded to her pincer and the spears shattered into motes of light. They fell around him, the fire burning through the forest casting his face in shadow as his blue eyes shone through. The motes left over from her spears fell around him, flickers that showed bits of his cruel expression. Ishtar pulled a hand back, concentrating on the motes left behind and changing them again. Instead of heavy spears, thousands of needles took another attempt on his body. The tiny shards of light riddled his skin as he stood there, looking up at her. He didn¡¯t move even as one struck his eye and bounced off. He spread his arms out wide, ¡°Is that it? I know you have more than these light tricks and some good punches! Where¡¯s the juicy stuff, Ishtar? How¡¯d you make An Set go boom like that? Show me that!¡± She floated in the air over him, tilting her chin up; ¡°I don¡¯t need to use up all my cards on you, Otis,¡± she said from the sky as lighting continued to fall. The fire was growing more and more intense, the explosions and bangs in the background hinted at the ongoing fights that raged all around them. Gunfire and screams, and the coppery light of Liberty¡¯s might. His expression fell slightly and he lowered his arms a bit, the needles falling ineffectively from his skin. ¡°Are you saying you can beat me with what you¡¯re using now?¡± he asked with a scoff, ¡°You think highly of yourself. I suppose that¡¯s to be expected of my nemesis-¡± BOOOOOOM! The blast shook the ground, wind ripping through the trees and interrupting his monologue. Otis¡¯ expression turned dark. He tilted his head to glance back at the source and Ishtar pointed a finger at him. So goddamn cocky. WA HA HA HA HA HA! The booming laugh of Sapporo carried across everything, the itching confusion and giggly lunacy of his presence crashing into Ishtar. She blinked and shook her head, losing her moment to strike as light began to bloom brighter and brighter at the center of the battle. She looked up and spared her own glance at the flash of the japanese hero¡¯s aura clashing with the copper light of Liberty¡¯s. She looked back down at Otis, he looked back up at her with rage in his eyes. Caught on already? ¡°I heard you did the same thing at Vegas, didn¡¯t you? You like stalling,¡± he spat, ¡°Hoping the heroes will take my kill from me? You¡¯d help them to get at me? Wow.¡± Ishtar smiled a little behind her helmet, a bit of sweat beading on her temple, ¡°Gonna run?¡± ¡°Gonna let me?¡± he asked with a predatory snarl. The air stilled again and she was in front of him in an instant, her fist reared back. He, on the other hand, had finally made a mistake, pivoting to block an attack from behind. He stopped his turn and looked back to see her fist coming right at him and his eyes went wide, curving upward slightly in delight. She threw her back into it with a roar, ¡°YOU AREN¡¯T-¡± BOOM! He took the hit and soared, nearing a tree before she appeared beneath him, kicking him in the back and sending him into the air with a thunderous kick. ¡°GOING-¡± BOOM! She darted into the sky and raised both fists over head, she pulled a power from her warehouse in that flicker of a moment. She drove her fists down and against his chest, she saw his skin flicker, absorbing the blow even as it sent him careening towards the ground. ¡°ANYWHERE!¡± BOOM! The ground shook as he hit it, she threw her hands out and activated Limitless Volley, spheres of light appeared around her before shrinking and lancing out in narrow beams of light. More. More. More! She fired dozens of shots, hundreds of shots, pummeling him and the terrain around him with rays of hardened light. The staccato pings of sound that came with each attack made the air hum with noise before she finally stopped her assault, lowering her hands as she panted. That was a lot of mana burned, I need to be careful or I might be the biggest contributor here, she thought, putting Limitless Volley back. For a moment, the cloud of dust and debris hung over Otis. She waved a hand to create some shields in case he tried to jump out and surprise her. Another blast from nearby created enough wind to push it all away and reveal him. He was on his feet, shoulders hunched, knees bent, and head tilted back as he looked up at her. His body was riddled with holes, blood oozing from every wound. His single remaining eye was wide, wild, and his smile was twisted in a mixture of rage and twisted delight. I hurt him. ¡°That-¡± he said as his eye grew back before her, ¡°Was different! That felt different! I felt it! You pulled that power out of thin air!¡± He can feel that? Sudden clarity came to his eyes as his body continued to heal. He threw his head back and laughed, he laughed, and laughed, ¡°I get it! It makes so much sense! Why didn¡¯t I see it before? All the stories about you and your ability are inconsistent! Something new every time. Roots and trees at Vegas? Water? Creating those statue soldier things?¡± He clapped his hand on the side of his head and shook it, ¡°I was so stupid! It¡¯s just one power!¡± Ishtar clenched her fists but kept her chin up, ¡°And how does that change anything?¡± ¡°Oh ho ho ho! It changes everything, power thief!¡± He accused and held his hand out in front of him, he gestured a few times as if- Does he have a heads up display? What- He vanished. A sudden sense of dread came over her. An animal instinct, a fight-or-flight warning in her gut. She blinked and there he was, hovering in the air and rising over her head with his hand outstretched. Madness in his eyes as he reached for her head, sparks and wisps of something roiling off of his fingertips. All the color seemed to drain from the air around it, ¡°SHOW ME MORE!¡¯ Her instincts screamed at her to get away. Whatever he was doing, she was done for if he touched her. Shit! She darted backwards, speeding away as fast as she could to get a little distance. He pursued, flying through the air as if he could do so all along. He soared after her as she quickly took stock of her surroundings. She could hear a fight happening just beneath them, swords clashing, power building up in a steady rhythm of back and forth. A familiar voice. Her lips thinned, She¡¯s troublesome but she¡¯ll be useful here, she thought as he sped towards her. Just as he reached her she put everything she had into a dodge and axe kick, dancing around him like a flicker rather than a single movement. As she did, she felt the power below swell. Oh, crap. ¨C Chunhua slid to a stop, deflecting another blow and sending a shockwave of black-red internal energy to the ground to her right. It left a terrible rent in the earth where it spread out, spiderweb cracks ripping up the earth and leaving destruction in its wake. She held her sword with both hands, muscles tensed as she looked into the wild pair of burning red eyes that stared back at her. Kant had not even bothered to do the song and dance she had opened with back during the raid, her initial attack coming in with a brutal surprise. Six pandora soldiers had died in an instant, an epic tier hero was already out of commission, his arm severed. ¡°You¡¯re stronger,¡± Chunhua murmured. ¡°All thanks to you,¡± Kant hissed, ¡°I owe you everything that I am now.¡± ¡°Not your boss?¡± Chunhua growled, straining her arms a little bit more to hold Kant¡¯s sword at bay. Kant clicked her tongue and smiled, ¡°Credit where it¡¯s due,¡± she said and with superhuman fluidity, slid her weapon out from beneath Chunhua¡¯s weapon and twisted her body, whipping around so fast that Chunhua had to retreat a full step to block the incoming blow from her own improbable angle, her hand shifting on her weapon to grip it backwards while her free hand reinforced the block. She grit her teeth beneath the sheer force of it and glared up into the wild eyes and smile of her foe. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you!¡± Kant shouted and snapped her leg out in a kick, Chunhua took the blow and allowed herself to be carried backwards, changing her grip and cycling her power. Kant appeared to her right and swung again. Another overhand chop, Chunhua blocked and the weapon changed trajectory, her eyes went wide, That¡¯s- new! A flash of pain dug into Chunhua¡¯s arm. She grit her teeth and dropped her sword, snapping her hand out and grabbing hold of the woman¡¯s head. Kant¡¯s own eyes bulged as her head was brought down sharply into Chunhua¡¯s knee. She bounded off the blow, staggering backwards, blood seeping from her nose and laughing. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, I would be nobody!¡± she laughed and raised her weapon over her head, the red glow around her body siphoning up into the blade. Chunhua glanced at her injured arm, it wasn¡¯t bad, she called her sword back to her hand with a snap of motion and raised it up as well, mirroring Kant¡¯s stance. Power began to build between them, internal energy crackling in the air, snaps of power burning nearby foliage as they wound up for their attacks. She paid no mind to the two presences moving in her direction from above, she had more immediate concerns. ¡°Black Lotus! Allow me to thank you for it by making you a martyr!¡± she roared as she brought her weapon down. ¡°HEAVENLY DEMON¡¯S SECOND STROKE!¡± Chunhua bore her teeth and swung as well, ¡°NINETY-TON FLOWERING BRANCH!¡± THOOOOOOOM ¨C The column of power hit Ishtar broadside, rippling flower-scented energy crashing into her. The hexagonal barriers of light she made crumbled one after another as she strained to hold off the attack, getting pushed further and further until, like a baseball struck with a pro¡¯s swing she was sent flying. This is what I get for fighting on a battlefield with a bunch of other mythics! She snarled inwardly, drawing on gravitic flight to slow herself down. She stopped in the air and spun, getting a good look at her surroundings. The fires were small here. How far was I sent? Maybe a mile or two? She reached out with her senses, I don¡¯t feel anyone nearby, she thought and turned to look in the direction she¡¯d come from. The flashes of light above the main compound were intensifying. Sapporo is giving it everything he has, unsurprising. She flexed her fingers and scowled, So many details from one fight with him, details I wouldn¡¯t have noticed unless I finally got a chance to face him one on one. I wonder how they would compare to Sonya¡¯s memories... she trailed off and closed her eyes, creating a dark chocolate in her mouth and chewing slowly. The strain on her body eased as she checked on Sonya. The little mote had grown again, it was pulsing, trembling, something was happening inside but she couldn¡¯t get much closer without feeling a sense of refusal wash over her. She was forbidden from touching it in its current state. It was a flat refusal that struck her by surprise. Not like her to be so firm, Sonya, what¡¯s happening to you? She opened her eyes with a sigh and caught her breath. Focus, I need to get back to Otis and hold him off. I can¡¯t let him get close to Liberty. Killing her and getting that glory for himself was one thing. Interfering with Cassiopeia¡¯s fated battle was another. But... what was that with his hand? I¡¯ve never felt- she looked down at her hand, it was trembling. But she has. In the past timeline. Watching the world crumble around her. She growled and clenched her shaking fist, So this is fear. If he¡¯d touched me... she shivered again before setting her jaw. Whatever it is, I can¡¯t let him touch me when he¡¯s using that power. I need to be careful while I¡¯m holding him off. She connected to the comms on her helmet, ¡°Technocrat, how are things?¡± Silence, then, <¡±Kingsharks on to the third target, he¡¯s moving fast, that¡¯s the good news,¡±> he trailed off and cleared his throat, <¡°Uh... They definitely sent the right people to those dungeons,¡±> he said flatly, <¡±Mana levels are crazy right now, monster formations are beginning across the battlefield. My biggest worry is the mass of mana coming from R4.¡±> ¡°The fallout?¡± <¡±I... don¡¯t think this is the fallout, boss,¡±> he said hesitantly. Ishtar frowned, What does he mean by- Then it hit her. The report from Tokyo with addendums from Cassiopeia herself. Dame Ito, the monster manipulator. She swore and held out her hand on instinct, preparing to create portals to call more of her legion through when they crackled and fizzled out. Halloway! Damn it, I can¡¯t lean on Visage too much or it might affect me like Sonya. Blackrazor, what are you doing? Get rid of him already, we¡¯ve got problems! ¡°ISHTAR!¡± She whipped around, spotting a bloom of light blue and gold flying in her direction. She clicked her tongue and created a knife in each hand. It looks like it¡¯s time for round two- wait... she paused and glanced over her shoulder as a smile curled on her lips. ¡°Technocrat, I need the coordinates of that mana wave,¡± she said quickly. <¡±What? That is a lot of monsters and you¡¯ve already got Otis- oohhh... Ha ha ha! On it!¡±> he laughed and the connection cut, she turned back to her approaching enemy as a message popped into her heads-up-display. She checked the coordinates and held out her hands. The portal began to form only for yet another crackle of red lightning to spread across it. She concentrated, Perhaps not for my legion, but for one man? He was getting closer. Focus! She schooled herself, drawing one more time on Visage of Titania. She felt the power activate and a sharp pain ran up her arm from her fingertips. It felt like it was looking for something, spreading out through her limb. She grit her teeth, Just a little more! Her fingers went numb on her left hand as the connection established to her destination. She looked up and saw him raise his sword while he stretched out his hand to grasp at her, that unsettling power dancing on his fingertips. She met his eyes. Now! The portal opened, his eyes went wide and then his face went deadpan, ¡°Oh you bi-¡± ¨C Otis hit the ground with a tumble, his body skipping painfully off the ground before he slid to a stop. Red lightning danced across his skin, searing flesh that healed just as quickly. He flinched, twisted, and writhed until the pain stopped. When he could breathe normally again he scrambled to his feet. The portal was gone, ¡°Coward!¡± he shouted and threw his head back, cackling as he let his shoulders relax. He hummed merrily to himself, thinking about what he¡¯d already learned. Just one fight and I already know so much more than before, delightful, he thought, That said... ¡°Where did she send me?¡± he muttered and turned towards a new sound, a rumbling that was starting to vibrate the ground. His brows furrowed and he squinted, ¡°What the f-¡± He barked out another laugh, reaching up to clap the side of his head as a horde of monsters crested a hill in the distance, massive bulls with dozens of tails that whipped and struck at the ground and one another, urging the herd forward. Their horns gleamed with hidden power. He popped his neck and stood up straighter, ¡°A masterstroke, Ishtar, my hats off to you,¡± he said and pointed his sword at them, ¡°As expected of my nemesis.¡± This won¡¯t take long. I¡¯ll be back soon. ¨C In the shadows of the main building of the compound, Blackrazor glided across whatever surface he could find. His instincts told him he was getting closer to his target. Just a little further now and his mission would be complete so long as there were no further complications like that Graff fellow. He was about to round a corner when he heard tussling, movement, and raised voices. He paused and listened. ¡°DAMN IT HALLOWAY! YOU BASTARD!¡± Chapter 230 Chapter 230 Halloway hit the wall with a grunt, more surprised than anything. He hadn¡¯t expected the man who had confronted him to be so quick on his feet, Or this strong. He thought as he met the man¡¯s eyes. Craftsman was not a large man, he was thin, built like a desk jockey. He wore a pair of no-nonsense glasses and his hair cut neatly. To all the world he would look like just a humble office worker. But now Halloway was hanging, pressed up against a wall with one hand as Craftsman¡¯s glowing orange eyes literally set the air around them ablaze. Tufts of flame flickering out and into the air on either side of his head. The lackadaisical, sardonic man of the past months was gone. ¡°Release your net!¡± Craftsman demanded as the building shook, ¡°Now!¡± Halloway frowned as he was jostled but didn¡¯t give the man so much as a word of response. Craftsman growled and shook him again, ¡°I SAID-¡± ¡°No.¡± Liberty¡¯s ¡®guest¡¯ and the only outsider allowed in Round Table meetings tilted his head in confusion, his pupils shrinking with barely contained fury, ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°I said no,¡± Halloway growled, ¡°Our lady-¡± ¡°Your lady,¡± Craftsman snarled, ¡°I¡¯m just working for her.¡± ¡°All the more reason to follow her orders, not yours,¡± Halloway said with a dismissive jerk of his chin, ¡°Now let me go, I need to get back into the safe room and you need to get back to work.¡± Craftsman¡¯s eyes bulged, ¡°You asinine little, I can¡¯t get into my workshop! Your stupid net is blocking me!¡± he bellowed and Halloway noticed something in the way his voice rose near the end. Was that panic? He allowed himself to get thrown to the ground, there was no reason to struggle with this man. A few bumps meant nothing if he could continue focusing on his duty even if the heroes had managed to poke a few holes in his net momentarily. Gravitic. Craftsman heaved out a breath, turning away to adjust his coat and straighten his tie, ¡°She¡¯s coming for me, I know it, she said she would,¡± he rambled, turning away and crossing his arms behind his back, ¡°Maybe I¡¯ve stayed here too long. Yes. Yes. Times up, I think...¡± Is he really? Halloway shifted and got to his feet, he patted his waist and checked the pouch there. Still intact, he thought with relief before focusing on the man before him,¡°What are you saying?¡± Craftsman rounded on him and the temperature in the hallway rose feverishly, the wire-thin engineer held out a hand and a gauntlet slid out of his sleeve, wrapping around his fingers before clicking into place. Red-orange light began to bloom on his fingertips and the temperature grew higher. Halloway raised his own hand and a ripple of warped red space formed in front of it. He searched the man¡¯s face. There was fear there, something else too. Halloway couldn¡¯t quite place it but his experience as a spy told him it was important, ¡°What has you so rattled?¡± he asked. Craftsman¡¯s nostrils flared, ¡°Ishtar is coming and I need to be ready!¡± he said and clicked his tongue, suddenly looking thoughtful, ¡°It could already be too far along, even so, if I could just get my hands on that helmet...¡± he muttered and Halloway got the feeling that the man had already forgotten he was even there. Halloway lowered his hand, ¡°What¡¯s this about her helmet?¡± The thin man blinked and whipped his head up, his glowing eyes focusing on him for several seconds in confusion before the anger returned. ¡°Not your business, just get me back into my lab-¡± The lights dimmed, just faintly, and just in their part of the hallway. It was such a small change, but it made Halloway¡¯s skin crawl. Both men froze. The sound of a single footstep carried in the brief silence that was shattered by another boom from outside. Halloway¡¯s eyes turned in that direction on reflex, something that he immediately regretted. That was a distraction! He thought and immediately turned around only to see a flat wall behind him. His heart rate increased. He looked up, nothing on the ceiling. Where? Someone¡¯s- A chill spread across his feet. He looked down, a gasp catching in his throat. He was ankle deep in a black pool of something inky and dark. A ripple. A movement within his net. Someone was cheating his carefully laid protection against teleportation, a loophole. It wasn¡¯t until he was touching this stuff that he could feel it. He threw his head back as a knife flew across his field of view, a violet blade glinting in the faint light before disappearing into the hallway beyond. He pivoted to the right and pulled himself free of the murky stuff, his feet coming free easily. He whipped his hand out and released an arc of red rift energy that slammed into that flat wall. ¡°What the hell are you doing?¡± Craftsman shouted. ¡°We''re under attack!¡± Halloway shouted back and rounded on him, ¡°Make yourself useful and- oh no.¡± Craftsman scowled at him but Halloway¡¯s mind had just stopped working. Focused on the pale face just past Craftsman¡¯s shoulder. An icy lump formed in his gut. Animal terror bounding about in his head as he scrambled backwards, pressing himself against the nearest wall. His lips twitched up into a nervous, near hysterical smile. Blackrazor stared back at him with flat black eyes, a frown on his face. No words. Just cold malice. He couldn¡¯t move. He couldn¡¯t think. He couldn¡¯t even react. It happened so fast. A long violet blade exploded from the center of Craftsman¡¯s chest. The thin man coughed up a gout of blood and looked down in confusion, his head tilting slightly to the right as he slid off the weapon and onto the ground with a slick thud. Blackrazor did not stop there, he stepped past the body and held out a fingertip, a black mass forming over it that lanced out in the form of an arrow. It drove down through the man¡¯s skull, pinning him unceremoniously to the floor. FUCK! Halloway ran. He could feel the presence sliding across the ground now that he was aware of it. A slithering between the holes in his net. Like Blackrazor wasn¡¯t using the Backrooms for whatever form of teleportation he was using. Halloway whipped his hand out and launched a red crescent towards the nearest source of the sensation, trying to drive the man out as he rounded a corner in the hallway. I need to get away. Get to safety. The safe room isn¡¯t far. I could teleport there if I drop the net, but Liberty- Dark eyes. Halloway threw up his arms and blocked, releasing a burst of rift energy as the knife snapped out towards his throat. It clattered away with a flash of reddish light as fresh pain seared up his back. Halloway gasped, stumbling as pain spread from the wound. It turned into a burn that itched at his flesh. Shit, shit, shit, poison! His fingers twitched and he almost reached back for the pouch when he felt the pain fade a few seconds later. Sear toxin? No. He doesn¡¯t play with his food. SNKT He stumbled as fresh pain ran up his leg. Another wave of heat and itching pain that faded a few seconds later. Sear toxin again? Does he want to torture me? SNKT The pain exploded in his shoulder blade. He gasped and stumbled, the heat from the sear toxin burning across his flesh. He tried to take a breath of air and the pain only intensified. FUCK FUCK FUCK! He pumped his legs, whipping his arm back and sending a barrage of red crescents bounding down the hallway. He didn¡¯t care if he didn¡¯t hit anything, as long as it caused a bit of mayhem and confusion. Anything to distr- SNKT SNKT He cried out in pain, stumbling again and tripping over his own feet. He hit the ground hard, a jolt going through his shoulder. He dragged himself back up only for more cuts, more burning, more pain to cross his body. Blackrazor was a ghost. Invisible in the dark. Silent. No warning. No hint at where the blades were coming from. Each blow ate at him, burning against his stamina. He kept running and rounded a corner. Ahead he saw a mighty steel door with a control panel next to it. There! The safe room! Just a little further. His vision swam and he felt his legs wobble a bit. Huh? He shook his head and blinked. Blackrazor was there, standing in front of the door. His cold eyes unblinking as violet liquid poured down his wrist and into his hand, taking the form of a new knife. He flipped it over in his hand and stabbed it into the door control panel to a shower of sparks. Halloway felt his stomach drop and he slowly reached back for the pouch on his hip. His swimming vision blacked out for just a moment as he blinked. But it was long enough. Blackrazor was next to him, the pouch in his hand. My antitoxin! Blackrazor crushed it with his bare hands. Halloway took a step back, then another, and another. This bastard was toying with him. Torturing him. Why? What kind of professional played with his food like this? It didn¡¯t make any sense! ¡°S-stop m-messing with me. Just do it if you¡¯re going to do it!¡± he snarled. Blackrazor tilted his head to the right and raised an eyebrow in confusion. Halloway felt it then, something gurgling up his throat. He coughed and felt heat burn through his nostrils and down his lip. It splattered onto the floor. He looked down at the blood pooling at his feet and coughed again, a piercing ache spreading through his lungs. The first stages of fever came next. ¡°...you already did, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°He speaks!¡± Halloway laughed hoarsely, ¡°Why drag it out?¡± ¡°You know why,¡± he said and vanished again, falling into the ground as the room grew darker and darker. Halloway could make out the outlines of shapes forming against the walls, they looked like arrows. He coughed again and wiped his lips. This fucker. First Gravitic humiliates me. Then Liberty stomps all over my pride. Now you, Headmaster. You bastard. You¡¯re just toying with me while I die! Is this my punishment? Fuck you! He dropped the net. ¡°I¡¯LL KILL YOU FIRST!¡± he screamed and with a flex of will tore the hallway asunder. Red crescents flew in all directions, pulverizing stonework, masonry, steel, and glass. He felt Blackrazor move nearby, space distorting and snarled, pointing at it and ripping a rift open in the midst of his enemy¡¯s path. Blackrazor¡¯s presence moved again, sliding up the wall before a volley of arrows erupted from the spot. Halloway growled and swirled his hands, creating a rift in front of him that caught the arrows, sending them flying back at their sender. I¡¯ll teleport out of here as soon as he- SNKT The knife drove into his achilles tendon, severing it and sending a fresh wave of scalding pain through his body. ¡°Fu-¡± he started to shout only for a violet spear to catch him from behind, straight through his side. It pinned him to the spot. Halloway coughed up a rivulet of blood as the terror came back. I can¡¯t touch him. Why do I always run into these people?! God damn it! He raged as a hand grabbed him by the hair. His head wrenched up to look into those cold eyes. He looked down at the floor slowly sliding up towards him as his body slid along the spear shaft. He looked back up again and smirked. Now you want to execute me? He thought as the headmaster drew a knife. He concentrated, Fuck this. I¡¯ve still got some antitoxin in my boot. Just gotta get away. I don¡¯t care anymore! Joining Liberty has gotten me nothing but grief! He opened a rift and let himself slide down. He landed in a copse of trees with a thud, his world spinning as the pain spread. His body was still dying stil¨C THUMP The kick sent him into a tree. His world span as he tried to make sense of what just happened. He blinked and looked up into Blackrazor¡¯s eyes, ¡°...how?¡± he wheezed. Blackrazor just looked down at the shadow at Halloway¡¯s feet. Oh. Blackrazor grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off the ground, pressing him up against the tree. He looked into his eyes. ¡°A fitting end for a traitor,¡± Blackrazor said, ¡°Die as pathetically as you lived, Halloway,¡± Halloway felt the first thrust of the knife. He shuddered as it dug into his chest, through his back, and into the tree behind him. Mounted. Halloway coughed up another rivulet of blood and felt his arms go weak. An execution blow and a time release poison in case I heal myself... he thought miserably as he hung there. Blackrazor stepped back to watch Halloway die. The last conscious thought he had was a promise, that if he had one more chance. One more opportunity, he¡¯d become powerful enough to face the headmaster without fear and wipe him and the Night Society off the face of the earth. ¡ª A ripple of heat washed over the room of flat black stone. The smooth surface shined with drops of humidity, water dripping down the side before bursting into tiny clouds of steam against the floor. The solitary door in the room remained still as the structure within changed shape. A single casket rose from the ground, a long wedge of gleaming off-white metal. Carvings glowed along the sides, humming with a rising flood of mana. The opaque glass on top of the wedge of stone trembled, something inside moved, and the glass shattered. A woman rose from within, water pouring across the floor and rising up in a thick cloud of steam. She clutched at her head, coughing and gasping for air. ¡°Fuck!¡± she swore, ¡°God damn it!¡± She staggered to her feet and swayed, kicking away a large chunk of glass near her foot with a snarl of irritation, ¡°Barbaric!¡± she snarled and stepped out of the tank, her skin not even reacting to the searing floor beneath her feet. ¡°These damn things are so expensive to make, the resources, the time! I¡¯ve only got one more spare! I hope that idiot Halloway suffered!¡± she ranted, throwing her hands into the air before letting out a sigh and looking back at the tank before down at herself, ¡°Ah, right, the experimental body,¡± she muttered and flexed her fingers, ¡°Not bad, I¡¯m surprised my soul fits so well,¡± she rubbed her shoulder and walked over to the door that opened with a hiss. ¡°Forge!¡± she called out, ¡°Cut off Liberty¡¯s portal.¡± A S Y O U W I S H C R A F T S M A N She huffed, ¡°Oh well, not all is lost. I got a lot done on Liberty¡¯s dime,¡± she said mildly as she strode into the large living chamber, the smooth scalding floor covering every inch. She ran her fingers along the back of a couch set up near a television and wandered over to where a robe hung on a coat rack. She threw it on and glanced back, ¡°All that¡¯s left to do is wait to see if Ito accepts my offer, I could use a drink...¡± Chapter 231 Chapter 231 Ishtar raced back to the battlefield. It wasn¡¯t hard to find. The entire forest was ablaze at this point, consuming itself in the inferno. Trees had fallen over and smoke was rising to the sky. She stopped a distance away, looking down at the mayhem and took one last moment to catch her breath. She was confident she¡¯d bought herself a little time with Otis. The stories from Sonya¡¯s memories, the flashes she could retain without her connection to Sonya, what little she¡¯d seen at the camp. It all paled in comparison to the real thing. That was him in an early state? Damn monster. He truly is invincible, she thought darkly. She glanced over her shoulder, Still, I¡¯m in for at least one more round with him before this is over. I need to keep him away from Liberty. She exhaled and tilted her chin up. One more status report and then back to it. ¡°Technocrat?¡± Another long pause, <¡°...that was more difficult than I was expecting it to be. I think the Pandora Committee has a new technopath. I¡¯ve got you on the hero¡¯s communication network. It¡¯s temporary and you probably shouldn¡¯t... talk through it.¡±> Ishtar smirked, ¡°No kidding. Good work. Status?¡± <¡±Kingshark is moving on to the fifth site, some of these places aren¡¯t exactly well defended. I mean, compared to what he¡¯s bringing with him. Without the support from the companies Blackrazor crushed, her international compounds are helpless. All that planning paid off,¡±> He said with no small amount of satisfaction, <¡±That¡¯s why we¡¯re the big bads.¡±> A sense of relief came with the widening smile on her face. The strategy against An Set had been half-cocked, not enough time to plan it out. The Raid had been terrible. But this had been a long time in the making. Painstaking groundwork set to make sure that Liberty was dealt with. The other Heralds weren¡¯t organization builders. Astaroth leaned on his demons and didn¡¯t act in the open. First Wind and Qilin were solitary. Craftsman was a coward and leaned on his connection to Otis. Speaking of Craftsman... ¡°Thank you, Technocrat, keep your eyes on things and let me know if there¡¯s more trouble with the mana levels. I¡¯m sure Otis will take care of the bulk of that problem, though,¡± she said. ¡°Not a problem, boss. Good to see a plan comin¡¯ together, see you on the other side,¡± he said and cut the connection. She called up Blackrazor, ¡°Blackrazor, status report.¡± ¡°Mission complete,¡± he said without preamble. ¡°Both targets have been eliminated.¡± She frowned, No notification about Craftsman¡¯s death. My order should have been enough to prompt it, ¡°I think Craftsman weaseled his way out.¡± There was a long pause, ¡°...I see. Forgive me. I assumed rupturing his heart would have been sufficient.¡± She whistled, ¡°You did fine. Are you sure Halloway is dead?¡± ¡°I am standing over his corpse.¡± She nodded, Excellent. Even if Craftsman got away, Halloway was the higher priority right now. I can always find that little snake again, she thought, The plan is proceeding as expected. She looked up as lights flashed near the center of the blazing forest, ¡°Purge the rest of the building, destroy her support staff with impunity. If and when you are discovered either by a hero, her, or the round table, make your escape. We¡¯ll reconvene at the scheduled location.¡± ¡°Yes mistress.¡± ¡°And Blackrazor?¡± she added. ¡°Yes, mistress?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t beat yourself up about Craftsman,¡± she said patiently, ¡°Even if it didn¡¯t stick, you landed a death blow on a Herald. Be proud.¡± He paused and she heard him let out a sigh on the other end, ¡°Thank you, mistress.¡± She cut the connection and turned her attention back to the battle. Time to have a look around. If there was anything more she could do to push events in the direction she wanted them to go, she¡¯d do just that. Ishtar whipped out her hand and a portal formed, time for act two of this little stage play. Ishtar stepped out of the portal onto solid ground and took stock of her surroundings. This portion of the forest had already gone out; blackened trees and debris were scattered everywhere. A few gunshots rang out and she turned to see a group of Pandora soldiers making their way into the trees at the far end of the ruined clearing. She ignored them, This should be far enough out of the way that he¡¯ll have a hard time finding me. She raised her hands, layers of hexagonal barriers forming around her in a crystalline pattern. A shield to protect herself in case someone stumbled upon her. She wrapped the barrier in an illusion and concentrated, casting out her Astral Eyes in search of points of interest. Her many eyes opened, spreading across the forest like a plague, hopping from one tree to another. There. Her gaze opened upon a battered grouping of trees that had been inexplicably untouched by the blaze. Two people danced within them, darting towards one another before retreating to a safe distance. Black Lotus slid to a stop and raised her weapon, tilting it forward slightly. The blade was slick with splatters of blood. Her sleeves were torn and she had cuts across her body. Her dark eyes flicked up towards Ishtar¡¯s astral eye for only a moment before she returned her focus to her opponent. Ah right, she can sense me, Ishtar thought mildly, What are you gonna do about it, hero? Black Lotus said something that Ishtar couldn¡¯t hear through the sight-based power and adjusted her stance, raising her weapon over her head and angling it parallel to the ground. Across from her, Dame Kant stood with her posture relaxed and one hand outstretched, two fingers pointing towards Black Lotus. Despite the comfort in how she stood, she was just as bloody as Black Lotus, perhaps even more so. Her nose was the biggest offender, dripping red freely onto the ground at her feet. The two women took a step, flickered, and then reappeared at the center of their chosen arena. Weapons clashing in a blur of movement. Black Lotus¡¯ strokes coming in at so many varying angles that it beggared belief. It looked like the woman had a dozen arms and six blades, each of them curving in at a different angle. Streaks of luminous inner energy scattered like a million blossoms, falling upon Kant like a storm. Kant was not to be outdone, though. Whatever she had done in the time between the raid and now had brought her to a new level of strength. A breakthrough, perhaps? Like Black Lotus? The red black halo around her body intensified as she lashed out with wild, seemingly haphazard blows that carved through the coming storm of blossoms and scattered them. She got in close, driving an elbow into Black Lotus¡¯ ribcage before snapping out a kick. Black Lotus endured the blow and deflected the follow-up strike towards her midsection, turning her sword quickly to point down at the earth and catch her opponent¡¯s sword with the angle. Then she let her weapon go and it began to glow with her internal energy, hanging in the air as she dove forward to deliver a series of crushing elbows and punches to Kant who suddenly found herself disarmed as well. She forced the woman back, punching and kicking as Kant tried to catch up with the flurry of blows. Kant ducked a punch, forcing Black Lotus to overextend a punch and drove up with clawed fingers that glowed with the black-red flame. Black Lotus¡¯s other hand snapped out across her midsection and delivered a palm strike to Kant¡¯s wrist. She grabbed on and with a thrum of power that Ishtar could feel even from this distance let out a roar and threw the woman up into the air. She whipped her hand out and called her sword back to her before looking up and launching off the ground. ¨C Chunhua ascended. The fight had gone on far too long. Kant had grown so rapidly in power it was startling. She couldn¡¯t allow the combat to last any longer, though, as curious as she was about the change. She didn¡¯t know how much longer Sapporo would last against Liberty and she needed to be there to back him up. She had barely paid any mind to the noisy chatter in her ear, focused solely on the battle before her. The distance between her and Kant shrank and she pushed herself, cycling her inner energy as she drew on all the momentum she had been building throughout their melee. She needed to end this, now. Capturing Kant alive would have been best, but at this point she was running out of options. A lethal blow would have to do, perhaps she could keep the woman alive long enough to be treated by Vytal. ¡°This is the end, Kant!¡± ¡°We¡¯re just getting started!¡± Kant roared back and raised her hand up to the sky. The black-red aura that had been wreathing her this entire time left her body and condensed on her fingertips. She whipped her head back with a savage grin, her wild eyes gleaming as Chunhua sensed her powers spike. Chunhua glowered but kept moving, accelerating towards her target. She whipped her sword back and pushed power into it. She adjusted her grip, the words slipping from her lips with a single breath filled with pink mist, ¡°Fifteen Songs on the Boughs.¡± A series of pink streaks of light lanced up from where she swung, sweeping up and towards their intended target. Kant laughed wildly and descended towards her, dodging between the rapidly moving rays and not even blinking as one cut through her thigh and another carved a divot into her waist. She reared that glowing hand back and thrust it forward. Chunhua growled at the overextension, Is she messing with me? She thought and swung, her sword connecting with exposed flesh. The world slowed for a heartbeat, Chunhua watched the limb sever even as the red light on those fingertips flickered and died. She saw it only a second too late, Kant¡¯s other arm snapping out with that same glow on it. White hot pain exploded in Chunhua¡¯s head as a thumb drove into her eye. Fingertips of cruel fire clawed at the side of her face and she let out a cry of pain, snapping a kick out and losing her concentration. She fell, hitting the ground hard as another shape landed not far away. The pain wouldn¡¯t stop, agony burning in her head. She could feel the foul inner energy trying to spread through her body and focused, pushing it back and isolating it as she staggered to her feet. Across from her, Kant was also standing. Her right arm was gone and she was in the midst of gripping her stump with a glowing red hand. The limb had been severed just above the elbow. The lost limb was nowhere to be seen, likely lost in the inferno that was consuming more and more of the forest. In Chunhua¡¯s case, she felt warm blood run down her cheek and the corruption digging into the flesh around the spot. The eye was lost and judging by the nature of the energy burning inside her head, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to restore even with powerful healing. She concentrated on it, pushing a little of her inner energy into the wound and recoiled as the corruption crackled back at her painfully. No. It¡¯s not ever going to heal. I messed up. Kant looked up at her and released her stump with a grin on her face, the bleeding had stopped; ¡°One eye is a good look for you, Black Lotus,¡± she laughed and waved her severed stump of a limb in her direction, ¡°I hear they make really great prosthetics now! Though an eyepatch might add some mystique!¡± Chunhua clutched at her face as the pain throbbed but forced herself through it. I¡¯m not getting to Sapporo, am I? Damn it. She panted and tapped her earpiece, ¡°This is Black Lotus. Any mythics available, please go assist Sapporo, I¡¯ve been delayed.¡± Kant barked out a laugh, ¡°Finally admitting we¡¯re on even ground?¡± she said and crouched down to pick up her sword with her one good hand. Chunhua scowled, ¡°You have my full, undivided attention. Kant.¡± ¨C Ishtar heard the message on the comm. Well well... seems like you overestimated yourself, troublesome woman. Sonya¡¯s not here to pressure me into helping you either, so I won¡¯t. Get out of this yourself, she thought darkly and turned away. Perhaps I need to intervene with Liberty directly after all. Not enough of her compounds have been dealt with to weaken her to a state that I can let those girls take the glory from Otis. She paused and turned her sight back to Black Lotus. She frowned. She reached up and scratched her head. ¡°DAMN IT!¡± she swore, I owe you one, don¡¯t I, you irritating woman! God damn it! She thought and dismissed her barrier. She ignored the startled shouts of a few combatants who had ended up in the clearing with her and made a gesture, a portal appearing. With this, we¡¯re even, though I know right now you don¡¯t remember my debt. Sonya and her silly, soft-hearted deal! She called a legionnaire and gave it a message before creating a fruit and dropping it into its waiting hands. This is all you¡¯re getting from me, I¡¯m putting my finger on the scale because you¡¯re a necessary part of this, don¡¯t expect more! She snarled and sent the Legionnaire through. She didn¡¯t wait to see whether or not the damn hero accepted her gift or not. It wasn¡¯t important. With Black Lotus delayed she would have to intervene more directly. The plan was still on schedule and she would not allow it to go awry. She rose off the ground as a growl and snarl rose up in the trees nearby, Monster formations. Surprised it took this long, she thought and pointed at the hound that leaped out of the trees. A ray of light piercing its skull as she ascended into the air. She turned her body towards the flashes of copper and gold light in the distance and angled herself, putting on a burst of speed as she left her hiding spot behind. Alright Liberty, It looks like you¡¯re going to get your wish. ¨C Sapporo was bleeding, but he held firm. He stood tall despite the punishment. The pain was just another consequence of his actions. His intent to kill alone was a dishonor on his homeland. The world wanted Liberty to face trial for her crimes, for civilized society to win over her madness. Yet he could not bear her existence to continue for another day. Not when hundreds of thousands of lives were snuffed out in an instant by her cruelty. He clenched his fists, power pulsing through his body. It wasn¡¯t as much as he had started with, though. He looked out from where he stood amidst the rubble of the main compound. Liberty stood atop a ruined fountain, her armor bent and broken in places even as her skin remained unblemished, her disgusted scowl still fixed on him. He could see impatience in her eyes. He hadn¡¯t been able to truly hurt her but he had drawn the fight out. He needed more strength, but he didn¡¯t know where to draw it from. He already knew his mindset right now wasn¡¯t compatible with his power, he was weakening himself, but the mirth, the mirth that had been so hard to build after a life of crime... was gone. It died in Tokyo. ¡°The people of Tokyo can¡¯t dance in the streets forever,¡± Liberty said with a cruel laugh, ¡°You¡¯re losing steam, while I have only begun to draw on my cult.¡± He met her blue eyes and raised his fists. ¡°Nevertheless,¡± he said, ¡°A hero never stops fighting.¡± Her amusement faded and she raised her sword again, ¡°Then die like a hero, Sapporo.¡± Chapter 232 Chapter 232 Four sets of boots crunched along the apocalyptic mix of snow and scorched earth. Bodies left frozen as grizzly statues or burned by the blaze that continued to rage amongst the remaining trees. The wind burned and bit, the humidity spiked, it was a sweltering hellscape made all the more nightmarish by the claps of thunder and booms of great powers exchanging blows. The ground shook. The air teemed with mana. Monsters formed only to die at the hands of the experienced warriors on the march. This was a battlefield of mythics. This was not a place where the ordinary belonged. Four sets of boots crested the last small rise amongst the trees and stopped as another resounding boom shook the snow from one of the nearest trees. It hit the ground with a thud that barely registered amidst the din. Just ahead of them were the walls to Liberty¡¯s compound. Their destination. They lay broken, cracked and torn. Beyond them, ruins piled so high that they could barely see inside. ¡°Evergreen¡¯s been here,¡± BLF grumbled. ¡°Think she¡¯s inside?¡± Crusader asked. ¡°No,¡± Harbinger said and pointed towards where the snow ended, just a few dozen meters away from where they stood. ¡°She turned back at some point.¡± ¡°Black Lotus¡¯ message?¡± Snow asked with a crackle of static, ¡°Or you think she went to go back up the troops?¡± ¡°The pandora soldiers have Handmaiden, Vytal, and Bluestar¡¯s team. I don¡¯t think they have much to worry about,¡± Crusader said and felt her chest tighten a little bit. She looked over her shoulder and frowned, Teacher... ¡°She¡¯ll be fine, she¡¯s the world¡¯s strongest hero. She just met somebody tough enough that she has to prove it, no big deal,¡± BLF said and clapped her on the shoulder, ¡°C¡¯mon. We¡¯re here for a different reason.¡± Crusader looked back at Harbinger who met her eyes. Her friend nodded gravely and she returned the gesture before looking back to the walls, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¨C <¡±The Pandora Committee and United Nations Expedition Forces have begun hitting Liberty¡¯s strongholds,¡±> Technocrat said into her ear as she flew over the decimated battlefield. Liberty¡¯s forces were scattered into clumps here and there that were holding out well enough against the lower-tier heroes while figures like Evergreen and Handmaiden carved through them like wet paper. Ishtar spotted a particularly interesting patch of black ice mixed with eerie white ice before moving on. She had more important things to focus on than her own curiosity. Black Lotus won¡¯t be there to soften up Liberty more. Evergreen will be doubling back to back her up. Now the Pandora Committee is finally making their move on the strongholds, she clicked her tongue, ¡°Did my string pulling pay off?¡± she asked. <¡±In the countries we have a good presence in, yeah,¡±> Technocrat said, <¡±They¡¯ve delayed launching against Liberty¡¯s people for now, that¡¯ll give Kingshark more time to clear them out one by one, but six strongholds are going to get hit still.¡±> Ishtar frowned, ¡°...how many were ¡®asleep¡¯?¡± she asked. <¡±Three.¡±> Not terrible. Given Kingsharks rate of conquest, that means only having to extend the fight another ten minutes or so, Ishtar surmised, ¡°What¡¯s the status on that monster wave?¡± <¡±Your favorite dickhead is making some progress but there¡¯s a whole lot of them, my guess is what, ten minutes for you to make up the lost time?¡±> he asked, she smiled at how close they were in wavelength, <¡±I think you¡¯ll still be cutting it close. Given how fast he moved to catch up to you, it¡¯ll be close unless he gets distracted.¡±> Hm... Ishtar was getting closer to the center, the waves of giggly madness had all but died down at this point. Only the raw power that Sapporo wielded was left, he was wholly focused on the fight now. She frowned and glanced up at the sky, ¡°Kera! You know what to do!¡± Above her, the rumbling storm died down as a single flash of electricity raced across the clouds back the way she had come. Ishtar turned her attention back to the center, on Liberty and Sapporo. She put on another burst of speed and conjured up a new pair of knives. Don¡¯t die, wild child. ¨C Liberty hated heroes. There was something about their self-righteousness that made her ill. She wondered about that a little as she deflected another haymaker from the glowing man from Japan. Was it just because of their self-righteousness? Was it because they went against her doctrine? Might made right, the strong rose, the weak died, yet the heroes used their strength to protect the weak. It was an insult to the natural order of things. Weren¡¯t the laws of nature the purest laws out there? Why make things more complicated? She whipped her arm out and clubbed the man in the side of the head with a backhand, sending him tumbling to the ground. She felt a brief wave of weakness wash over her and frowned, examining her fingers for a moment. One of her compounds had fallen. She¡¯d expected that much to happen. Did they expect me to protect them? Foolish. No one knows about the dominion effect of my power and no one needs to. I have no intention of using it. Mundane walls are good enough for those who want to cower behind them. She lowered her hand and slung her sword over her shoulder, ¡°This is getting tiresome, Sapporo, your death is turning far less heroic. Stop struggling.¡± The big man rose again, bleeding from one eye, his knuckles torn and bones poking through, his chin was cut and his teeth were broken. Yet he rose. He rose and got back into his fighting stance as if his body didn¡¯t bother him at all. That golden glow rose up off his body and his eyes burned. She met that burning gaze with her own. Resolve. Not fearlessness. It was a conquered fear, a terror that had been taken to task and confronted in the heart. He won¡¯t back down. What a waste. Fine. Pathetic man. She stalked forward only to stop and look up, her eyes narrowed and then she broke into a smile. She looked back at Sapporo, ¡°On second thought, I am going to reward you for your efforts, Sapporo,¡± she said with a magnanimous wave of her hand. She held her hand to the sky and reached out to her currently active compounds. She felt her supplicants, her worshippers. The leeches who had benefited from the strength she gave them. There weren¡¯t as many as she expected, but it was far more than enough. They¡¯ll be rousing the others soon, five compounds worth is plenty. She took her due. Power flooded through her body. Strength. Vitality. Endurance. Raw might howled within her limbs as that coppery glow turned silver for the first time. More than she¡¯d ever drawn on before. The sword in her hand trembled, Craftsman¡¯s toy resonating with her ability. The strange etchings on the side burning with more intensity. She inhaled, raising her head up high as she felt her body undergo a different change from her earlier uses of her ability. While using only a compound or two¡¯s worth had made her grow in size, these new changes felt deeper, more qualitative. She savored the moment before turning her eyes on Sapporo. ¡ª It didn¡¯t take all that long to climb the pile of debris. It was more tedious than anything else. Each tremor in the earth had unsettled part of the pile and forced her to change her focus. I wish I had wings like Alphonse, she thought irritably and silently hoped her avian companion was alright. She¡¯d sent him off after the fighting and fires had grown far too intense to keep him safe even if he was great for a surprise attack. She glanced up from her latest handhold and spotted Harbinger who was already at the top. ¡°You good?¡± she shouted and pulled herself up, finally getting within arms reach of the top. She grabbed on and tugged, ¡°Harbinger? Don¡¯t zone out again, we¡¯re almost-¡± She crested the top and froze, seeing what she was seeing. Liberty and Sapporo squared off, the enemy no longer bore a coppery glow. She was shrouded in silver light and her eyes had lost all humanity. Pupils gone, naught but white fire pouring from her eye sockets. Crusader didn¡¯t even notice BLF and Snow pull themselves up as she rose to stand next to her friend. ¡ª Sapporo spat out another tooth, his regeneration was slowing down. The people of Tokyo are tiring. I can¡¯t keep them dancing forever, she¡¯s right, he thought. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He reached up to tap his earpiece and realized that it hadn¡¯t been in his ear for a while. He¡¯d cast it aside. He chuckled and rubbed his neck before looking out towards the human turned monster before him. Liberty was aglow, her power ascending to yet another height. She smiled, ¡°Judging me?¡± He shook his head, ¡°No. I take power from others, just like you,¡± he said, ¡°I cannot judge you for that.¡± ¡°At least you are self aware,¡± she said. He nodded again and raised his fists, ¡°When I was a boy, I joined a street gang. I was strong and my friends were weak. I thought the best way to protect them was to become frightening enough that none would lay a hand on them. I wonder if the real reason was because I was scared for myself. The town I resided in was dangerous, my home just as fraught with danger.¡± She scoffed, ¡°Monologuing?¡± ¡°Reflecting,¡± he corrected, ¡°I learned about the ¡®rituals¡¯ of your cult before you took over.¡± She lowered her sword and tilted her head, ¡°Are you... pitying me?¡± He shook his head, ¡°No. But I understand you,¡± he said before chuckling a little, ¡°Of all the people to truly understand at this time in my life. You,¡± he chuckled again, a bubbliness in his chest and he reached up to rub his eyes, ¡°Ha ha! It¡¯s almost funny!¡± he threw his head back, ¡°HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!¡± he sighed and looked up at the sky, ¡°One more dance, please.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± she grunted. He looked down at her, smirked, and shook his head before raising both hands next to his head and clapped. The wave of sound pulverized the ground around him as he felt strength flood into his body once more. He knew he was asking a lot of his people, his homeland, but if he could do just a little more. Take one step further. Then perhaps he could face what came next with a bit more pride despite his dishonorable choice. He flexed his legs and launched himself forward as that feeling kept building in his chest. Bigger, brighter, more and more joyful. Merrier and merrier, with all the mad laughter that came with relief, the release of tension, the wild moment when one could be true to oneself and set aside normal and decent. When there was just a little too much drink in your belly. When the song was just a little too exciting. When the company was just right. Was Dyonisus a god of debauchery? Or were they a god of relief? The strange thought occurred to him as his fist collided with her sword. CRK-TIING! A flicker of steel flipped away. The world felt right. His instincts felt whole. His eyes were open and his chest filled with laughter. He let all the rigidness of his life go. A childhood spent in the gang. Graduating to the Yakuza. The gritty life of crime that he had set aside to protect his home in a new way. The stoic expressions. The hard words. They melted away into a single memory. One not long after the flash. The day after he made his choice to become a hero. BOOM! He hadn¡¯t been scorned by the boss or his brothers. BOOM! They had celebrated him. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! His fist collided again with Liberty¡¯s chestplate, caving it in as she took one step after another backwards. He didn¡¯t even hear his own laughter anymore. He didn¡¯t hear her roars of anger and confusion. All he could hear was that party as he punched and punched and punched. Her head whipped away, blood dripping from her nose and lips. Her shoulder cracked. Her body bent. Her eyes bulged. She stumbled and at last, lost her balance. The fire began to die. One last punch. Torn knuckles clenched, his tired body straining, he gave it everything he had. Every last drop. ¡°Crush the strong. Help the weak.¡± She was lifted off the ground with the sound of a crack of thunder. What little architecture remained around them was pulverized. The world seemed to shudder and he felt himself reach something he didn¡¯t quite understand. A threshold. A place. A world beyond that of mythic. A place where he could plant his flag and stand tall. Become a legend. It was disorienting, heartening, and humbling all at the same time to know in that solitary moment just how early in his journey he was. He watched her fly away, striking her throne and crashing through it, pulverizing the supports of her main building and bringing it down atop her in a chaotic din of masonry and destruction. His knees buckled as the firelight faded. The dance was over. He had nothing left. ¡°RRAAAAHHHH!¡± He looked up and let out a weary sigh as the rubble exploded. Liberty stormed out of the ruins of her home with that silver glow intensifying. Her jaw began to set, her busted nose and crippled arm slowly starting to heal. He planted his feet, digging them into the ruined ground beneath him. He heard something in the distance but paid it no mind. He was relieved. He was satisfied. He pulled away from that threshold, he didn¡¯t need it to be a hero. Liberty stood over him, her broken sword raised over her head and brought it down without a word. His last thoughts were of a homeland he knew would be avenged. Perhaps not by him. But by the hero who came after. ¡ª Harbinger felt her knees give out. She dropped to the ground and grabbed a fist full of the debris beneath her. The world was quiet. She couldn¡¯t hear her friends next to her. She couldn¡¯t tear her eyes away. A burning heat streamed down her cheeks as her heart cracked in her chest. She watched Sapporo collapse and felt that monster, her sister, turn and look at her with a triumphant smile. She¡¯d wanted her to see. Wanted her to watch. But it hadn¡¯t come without a cost. She grit her teeth and clenched her fists, pulverizing the debris in her hands and returned Liberty¡¯s sneer with a defiant glare. Her sister frowned and turned to the body. No. Liberty raised her sword and glared down at it. Don¡¯t you dare! That was when a flicker of movement heralded a white armored figure¡¯s appearance at Liberty¡¯s side. Liberty reacted, turning only to get an armored shin in the face that sent her right back into the ruins of her home. Ishtar landed next to the body of Sapporo and all she could feel was relief. ¡°There is a certain expectation of dignity...¡± Ishtar trailed off with that raspy hiss as she looked down at the body. She turned towards where she¡¯d sent Liberty flying. Harbinger felt that cold presence again weighing down on the area, ¡°That was a step too far, Liberty.¡± Chapter 233 Chapter 233 As Liberty pried herself angrily from another pile of rubble, Ishtar held her hand out over Sapporo¡¯s corpse. The glowing Cult Leader tossed aside a piece of masonry and stormed down the remnants of her home like it was a staircase. Ishtar flicked her wrist and a portal appeared beneath the body and it fell inside. She heard a shriek behind her and resisted the urge to shake her head. Instead, she raised her voice to be heard across the main compound. ¡°Little Heroes,¡± she called, ¡°I suggest some of you retreat with him. Consider this my way of paying respects.¡± She popped her neck and fixed Liberty with a stare. ¡°Liberty.¡± ¡°Ishtar.¡± The woman stepped past the ruins of the outer walls of the main building and stopped her approach. They stood only fifty feet from one another. Ishtar tilted her head to the right, ¡°Your losing members of your round table.¡± Liberty¡¯s lip twitched and she held up her fist, staring at it for a moment as the glow intensified, ¡°So I have,¡± she said, ¡°Seems like the useful ones are still standing.¡± Ishtar snorted, ¡°Halloway¡¯s ghost won¡¯t rest well if you say things like that.¡± Her enemy scowled, ¡°Watch yourself, I am still vastly more power-¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t my biggest concern here,¡± Ishtar said dismissively, ¡°Don¡¯t get overexcited by my appearance, girl.¡± Liberty genuinely bristled, her eyes flashing, ¡°This entire war is about me!¡± Ishtar laughed, ¡°Is that what you think?¡± she shook her head, ¡°Honestly, my plan is to let the heroes deal with you, but a small wrench fell into my carefully laid machination. Of all of your henchmen, I urge you to be the most proud of Kant. She¡¯s remarkable. I¡¯m jealous.¡± ¡°Speak plainly, witch,¡± Liberty snarled. Ishtar sighed, ¡°Has sucking on your cult¡¯s teet made you stronger but weakened your brain?¡± she asked and tilted her head to the right, ¡°You. Aren¡¯t. My. Goal. Did you think this was a rivalry? Liberty,¡± she said the name almost consolingly, ¡°You¡¯re just one piece in a larger puzzle.¡± Liberty¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°...the author.¡± Ishtar tilted her head, ¡°The who?¡± Liberty shook her head and raised her broken sword, ¡°I think we¡¯ve talked enough, Ishtar. I clearly need to remind you of what you¡¯re up against.¡± Ishtar tilted her head back and opened her gaze above Crusader¡¯s group. Snow, BLF, and Sapporo¡¯s body were gone. I suppose it¡¯s a toss up as to whether or not Snow has actually made herself scarce. I could ping her implant, I suppose. She shrugged. If she knew Crusader as well as she thought she did, the girl would have sent both BLF and Snow together to ensure the body was returned. That left Crusader and Harbinger. The final players in this performance. Ishtar rose up off the ground and hovered a foot in the air, Just wait a little while longer. You¡¯ll have your turn, she thought as she held her hands out to her sides. The ambient light around her flickered and condensed, solidifying into a dozen spears. A knife appeared in her right hand. Liberty took her own fighting stance, gripping her broken weapon in both hands as the silver light around her body intensified. Ishtar smirked and reached into her warehouse. Haven¡¯t played with Magnus¡¯ power yet. Sonya was wise to grab it during the filming of that commercial. She felt the instincts rise into her mind from the warehouse, the guide book for the ability laid bare for her. She concentrated on a point a short distance behind Liberty and flicked her head to the right. Liberty tensed her legs, ready to charge, and then stopped. Her eyes went wide for a moment as she looked down at her side. The top half of her sword, the piece that Sapporo had shattered, embedded itself just below her lung. Liberty looked up at her in confusion. ¡°You looked foolish waving a broken sword around, so I returned the other half,¡± Ishtar said mildly, channeling her best Sonya impression, ¡°Aren¡¯t I nice?¡± Liberty¡¯s eyes bulged, veins pulsed in her neck. She tore the implement out of her side with her free hand and Ishtar reached towards it with her own. With a gesture she pulled it out of Liberty¡¯s grip and to her palm as Liberty let out an infuriated roar. ¡°If you didn¡¯t want it, you should have just said so,¡± she mocked her, tossing the broken piece over her shoulder as Liberty exploded into motion. She held out her hand as her eyes went to work. Otis¡¯ fighting style might be simple and brutish with no nuance to take advantage of. You, on the other hand, have some formal training, Ishtar thought as a thick hexagon of light appeared over her palm. She floated back a foot and adjusted the hexagon¡¯s position as Liberty swung, blocking the strike that released enough force to divot the ground beneath them. Ishtar kept retreating slowly, blocking blows with her hand. Up, up, down, up, left, right, up, up, down. The flurry of strikes came in so fast the air hummed. ¡°ISHTAR!¡± Liberty¡¯s muscled bulged and the glow sank a little into her skin as she took her next swing. Ishtar narrowed her eyes, She rarely feints, that is by design, I¡¯m sure of it, she thought as Liberty swung. Her hand snapped out, a reinforced hexagon of light connecting with the mighty blow. It shattered with the sound of a gong, a flash of concussive force carving the ground at her feet. Ishtar retreated and landed on her feet. Very strong. On equal footing with Otis as he is now? Maybe, but is she as fast- Liberty flickered out of slight. Yes, yes she is- Ishtar spun and threw up her arms, feeling the movement in the air and layering the glassy barriers of light as the next blow came. She planted her feet, leaning into the strike as broken sword ground against shattering layers of hard-light. She grit her teeth, jerked her chin, and the spears moved. The first launching itself at Liberty who batted it aside with a backhand, unwilling to take her eyes off Ishtar. The next came, then the next, and Liberty was finally forced to disengage. Swatting the construct weapons away as Ishtar rose from the ground once more. She raised her voice and issued a command, ¡°Advance,¡± The rubble across the compound exploded here and there, marble forms clawing their way out of it, gleaming hooked swords in their hands. Ishtar pulled away further as the Legion charged towards the beset Liberty. ¡°THE HEAVENLY DECREE-¡± CRACK! Liberty snatched one of the spears from the air and ran the first Legionnaire through the head, hurling it aside before rounding on the next. It raised its weapon up high as the others charged from the side. The Herald scoffed and her arm snapped out, grabbing it by the face. She wrenched it in the direction of a pair of spears that hurtled in her direction as it struggled to dislodge itself. The spears struck and Liberty hurled the damaged Legionnaire towards its siblings before grabbing yet another spear out of the air, spinning, and throwing it straight at Ishtar. It scattered into a cloud of motes as it reached her. Ishtar tilted her head and met Liberty¡¯s gaze. Liberty glanced around at the Legionnaires advancing towards her. Her chest heaving as the silver light sank deeper and deeper into her skin. It was barely a halo now. Her body hadn¡¯t grown in size, but Ishtar could feel it. The beating from Sapporo changed something, Ishtar realized as the cult leader looked down at her broken sword in disgust. She tossed it aside and stood up a bit taller with a resigned sigh. She held out her hand and it looked for a moment like she was grabbing onto something invisible. What is she- Oh! Ishtar¡¯s eyes went wide as she heard Harbinger shout something from afar. Liberty bore her teeth and reared her arm back as the Legionnaires charged, their weapons outstretched. Ishtar whipped her hand out and pointed a finger, releasing a narrow ray of light. The beam pierced Liberty¡¯s shoulder as the woman brought her arm back down with a roar. Something invisible cracked the earth and a brilliance washed over everything. ¡°STANDARD OF GLORY!¡± THOOOOOOOM The shockwave sent Ishtar end over end away from where she stood. Some invisible force pushing against her as she tried to right herself. She couldn¡¯t see. Her senses cut off amidst the storm of power that was cascading around her. The only thing she could feel was the vibrations in the air as the ruins around her were pushed away in kind. She felt herself descend and tried to right herself with her ability only to feel a surge of shock as the ability didn¡¯t activate. She didn¡¯t even have a moment to think about it when a hand wrapped around her wrist and she was pulled through the air before being launched at the ground with tremendous force. She collided with solid, flat stone, and bounced once as pain shocked through her back and neck. Ishtar pivoted, ignoring the pain, and spun as something heavy landed right where she¡¯d been. She landed on her feet and darted back, her eyes rapidly trying to compensate for the brilliant light that had consumed everything. She felt movement and ducked, something crashed through the air over her head only for another blow to come up and into her abdomen. ¡°G-ah!¡± she gasped as she was launched up again, the air knocked out of her. That powerful hand grabbed onto her chestplate and wrenched her back down to the ground where her head bounced against the solid floor below. Everything was spinning. She tried to roll away again, creating a good dozen layers of barriers when she sensed another incoming attack only for it to connect anyway, a boot to the gut that sent her sprawling. She felt her ribs crack as she bounced across the ground and landed in a heap. Her senses were returning, she could feel Liberty charging towards her. Ishtar pulled Earthwarden from the warehouse and slapped the ground. Nothing. What the? ¡°This is my land!¡± came a furious bellow, ¡°You have no claim on it!¡± You have got to be kidding! Ishtar blinked a few times and opened her eyes in time to finally see clearly, her upgraded eyes clearing the blur in her vision quickly. Liberty was almost on top of her again. She rolled out of the way and hopped to her feet, dipping beneath a haymaker and swatting aside a follow up punch. The bare contact of the second blow was enough to send a shock through her left hand and the numbness from using Visage earlier flared right back up. She winced and put on a burst of speed, retreating as much as she could to get some breathing room. She needed to assess, analyze, and concentrate. She wasn¡¯t Sonya with her lackadaisical whimsy, able to adapt on the fly. She needed time. Liberty, thankfully, didn¡¯t immediately pursue and it gave Ishtar enough breathing room to create a few cranberries in her mouth that she bit down on and savored the sensation of her body recovering from the damage it had sustained. As she chewed, she took stock of her new surroundings. The ruins of the compound were gone, paved over with a sheer surface of gray-white stone surrounded by tall pillars. At the center was a glowing pole that had been embedded in the ground. Hanging from atop the pole was a long banner bearing the mark of a fist. A single flame danced at the top of the banner. She turned her head towards Liberty and was taken aback. The silver glow was gone, suffused entirely into her skin. She was a ten-foot tall woman seemingly made of silver now. Her golden hair fluttering around her in a sourceless wind as she tilted up her chin and looked down at Ishtar over her nose, ¡°Am I your highest priority now, Ishtar?¡± She¡¯s willing to chat, lets see what we can get out of it. Ishtar caught her breath, ¡°What is this?¡± Liberty gestured to the pole, ¡°My domain. My territory. Here, my word is law,¡± she raised a fist, ¡°And my first decree is that this is a no-fly zone. You can¡¯t get out of reach again.¡± First decree? Ishtar glanced at the pole again, at the single flame dancing on the banner. Her mind worked at high speed, drawing on everything she knew. She pulled on the information she¡¯d gained from Cassiopeia during their talks, especially the information divulged during the meeting with Charon. So... the longer this lasts, the more decrees she can make. Were the manifestations that Cassiopeia experienced only shadows of this far more potent function? Her lip twitched, ¡°I suppose I should be honored,¡± Ishtar finally said as she reached into her warehouse, putting away earthwarden and pulling out something else, ¡°You¡¯ve never used this facet of your ability before.¡± ¡°Only pieces of it,¡± Liberty admitted with a nod, ¡°Powers that did not serve me, so I had no use for them. You are the first I¡¯ve shown everything to. Revel in that before I crush that hideous helmet of yours like a tin can.¡± Ishtar conjured up a pair of knives, ¡°Then shall we resume?¡± she asked. ¡°Yes, I think so.¡± ¨C Otis whipped his sword down, cleaning it of blood. His lips curled downward in disgust. The corpses of these things smelled foul. He panned his gaze over the field of slaughter and narrowed his eyes. Curious that the monsters acted like this, even if they are based on herd beasts. A twinge flickered at the back of his mind and his frown deepened. Someone¡¯s watching me, he thought and turned to look in the direction of a distant treeline. He sneered and took a step, maxing out his speed stat for a moment and appearing before the asian woman who nearly fell from the tree she was crouched in. She clung to the branch and looked down at him wide-eyed as he looked up at her with a sneer. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± he asked and tilted his head, looking her up and down. There was a bit of a copper glow about her, but she wasn¡¯t wearing the usual cultist uniform, ¡°A member of the round table?¡± She took one look at him and reached her hand into her labcoat. A gun? The woman pulled what looked like a rectangular talisman out, etchings on it glowing with hidden power. Without another word she smashed it in her grip and vanished with the sound of rushing air. He snorted, Coward. Then a new sound drew his attention and he tilted his head to listen. He turned his head and strode out of the trees, looking up to see a solitary helicopter in the sky. He squinted at it for a moment before breaking into a wide smile. The news helicopter pivoted from where it had been surveying the carnage below before heading in his direction. Perfect. Chapter 234 Chapter 234 Otis turned away as the helicopter began to take off, his hair fluttering about. The golden-boy charm glowing on his face fading to something a bit more comfortable. His skin crawled after having been so close to mundanes. The civilians who cheered for him when he did his hero work in New York was one thing, but nosy reporters were scum. That said, they do have their uses, he thought pleasantly as he took a relaxing walk from the site of his battle with the monsters. Ah, monsters, didn¡¯t the pre-battle report say something about one of Liberty¡¯s henchmen being a monster manipulator? He clapped his fist to his palm, ¡°Oh, that woman was Ito,¡± he said in realization as he stopped near the edge of the treeline. The scent of smoke stung at his nostrils and he frowned. Messy, he thought irritably as he glanced up at the cloudy sky. Lightning crackling between the clouds. It had been a while since a bolt had come down. Perhaps she¡¯s resting, he thought, I still don¡¯t understand why Ishtar would just let that creature flail about like that. What¡¯s the benefit gained from burning down the surrounding forest? He shrugged and leaned against a tree. Should I check in? He tapped his earpiece and listened in on the flurry of communications and orders going back and forth between the Pandora Committee and the heroes on the ground. Most of it was beneath him. Requests for backup, status checks, confirmations of this point being taken and that point having more resistance than expected. Boring stuff. Until Guildmaster Evergreen spoke up. <¡°Crusader, update on Ishtar and Liberty?¡±> Sounds like she¡¯s taking command. Is Black Lotus busy? <¡°They¡¯re still fighting ma¡¯am.¡±> <¡°Alright, keep me posted and stay out of it, we¡¯re almost done securing the surrounding area. More damn villains snuck in, apparently Ishtar issued a bounty on Liberty¡¯s people.¡±> <¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡±> So you went straight to Liberty? Oh, Ishtar, I thought you wanted to let the heroes handle it. He rubbed his chin, No, you like to delay things so you can get the optimal result. You¡¯re softening her up so- His nostrils flared and he spun, punching through the tree behind him and sending it toppling to the ground. ¡°So it¡¯s Crusader!¡± he snarled, ¡°You¡¯re planning on giving it to Crusader! Her! AGAIN! Always encroaching on me!¡± he stepped away from the shattered tree and took a cleansing breath, ¡°Calm down...¡± he ordered himself, Getting angry won¡¯t solve anything, and you have more important things to do before you return. He smiled in satisfaction, Right, right, I almost forgot. He waved his hand and a menu bar appeared before him with a list of selections. He¡¯d felt it after finishing the interview. It had been the first time in a while that his instincts had shifted slightly, the sense that his ability, ¡®The Man, The Myth, The Legend¡¯, had opened up for him a little more. I¡¯d committed to exploring my powers more back at Camp but that was easier said than done. Training my body only got me so far as well, even with my cheats making the process easier, there¡¯s a base cap to how high my attributes can go as well as a maximum for how high my cheats can pump them up. The Walkthrough only gave me my next steps with a whole bunch of pointless text that could have been boiled down to ¡®Get Famous¡¯. He looked at the bottom of the menu, Now I get it. He tapped ¡®Renown¡¯. He pursed his lips and flicked back to his status page for a moment, checking it before returning to the renown screen, I don¡¯t have a level or experience points on my status screen. Just my attributes. Is this how I get stronger? Yes. A light suffused his body for a heartbeat before fading. He frowned. He didn¡¯t feel any different save for an odd sense of growth that wasn¡¯t tied to any one thing within his person. It was a little disconcerting, but he pushed it aside as a new window appeared. His eyes went wide, ¡°This is it! This is what I was waiting for!¡± he laughed, ¡°That¡¯s how I do it!¡± he looked up at the helicopter that was already moving further towards the center of the battlefield. A little fame here and there finally got me to this point. I get it now. He looked at his choices and paused. His eyes flicked towards the Walkthrough tab. When I got my start, I wanted to be a faceless hero, the no man, like Odysseus. I still do, sort of, but now... he trailed off in his thoughts. Is the mystique really worth it? It feels nice to be ¡®cool¡¯ and all but playing that role has gotten me nowhere. Every scheme in the background has backfired, all because of Ishtar. I need to chart a different path if I want to beat her. Otis chose and lightning flashed overhead. ¨C Tap... tap... tap... tap.... The single stream of blood dripped onto the frost caked ground. The grass had been turned white and brittle, each step accompanied by a satisfying crunch. The two combatants faced one another, Phillip¡¯s arm hung limply at his side, a small hole driven through his left bicep, a trickle of blood running down his arm. He wiped his nose and lip as his sister picked lazily at her teeth, with claws made of black ice attached to gauntlets that ran down to her elbows. Her flat, heartless eyes, devoid of any spark or joy, fixed him with an unblinking stare. A little of that black-blue hair of hers falling over her face. He hopped back a step and threw out his right hand, the air grew thick with mist that condensed into dozens of spinning spikes of pale ice. He clenched his fist with a grunt before taking another sharp step back and raising a wall of ice between him and his target, making sure to keep it transparent so he could see. She looked up at the buzzing spikes and frowned, reaching up to tug lazily on the thick black and blue winter jacket she was wearing. The grass at her feet wilted and turned black. The spikes fell on her only to splash against her body and rebound, eerie black clouds filling the ice before it launched in his direction like machine-gun fire, crashing into the transparent wall he¡¯d made and clouding it as well. Damn it! Nothing¡¯s working! What the hell changed?! The barrier exploded, frozen shrapnel pelting his body as he slid back several more steps, his good arm raised to protect his face. Little cuts spread across his arms, one scraped his brow, another across his hand. Every single cut sent a chill through his body, eating at him, burning away his vitality. The barrage ended and his arm fell, It was getting harder to move. Mist billowed from his lips. Why am I so tired? We haven¡¯t been fighting that long, he thought as he watched her. She hadn¡¯t moved an inch. The girl he used to enjoy tormenting was long dead. The cowardice that he¡¯d leaned on. He thought he¡¯d be more angry. It was hard to remember what happened during the ceremony, but he remembered enough to know that he¡¯d been humiliated somehow. He¡¯d certainly gone into the fight with his blood boiling. Now? Now he only felt cold inside. Every time that ice cut him it was like a little bit of hope, of positivity, of anything he could use to keep himself going was drained away bit by bit. He clenched his fist, Just need to find an open- ¡°I¡¯m bored.¡± Is she going to do more than just play around? He thought, raising his guard and letting ice run down his arms and to his fists. She didn¡¯t move from where she stood, staring off into space. She sighed and brushed a bit of snow off her shoulder, turning to look him up and down. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I was afraid of you for so long. Embarrassing,¡± she said with disgust. ¡°What¡¯s your deal, anyway? You know I¡¯m gonna kill you, why are you even bothering with this fight? Shouldn¡¯t a sane person run at this point?¡± He frowned but kept his mouth shut, he needed to think. Every time he used his powers it was like fighting against himself. The moment her ice touched his, that was it. The unsettling black stuff clouded his ice and she sent it right back at him. She wasn¡¯t wrong that this fight was boring, he hadn¡¯t done a damn thing! Him! Even if he had been beaten then as well, Ishtar had acknowledged his strength. He clenched his jaw, I¡¯m not letting you past me. A hand brushed against his back and he spun, whipping his arm out only for a spike to rise up from the ground at his feet. He tried to pull away but something invisible wrapped around his wrist. He knew what came next. First was the pain. His bone cracking as the spike pierced it. Then the cold that clawed at his insides, burning through his flesh, his bone, and down to something that he was scared to think too hard about. Something so vital to who he was that just the faintest scratch made him tremble. The guy with the glasses, who had been on the sidelines the entire time, walked back towards her from where he¡¯d snuck up behind Phillip. How¡¯d he get behind me? ¡°See anything good?¡± his sister asked, turning to the guy. ¡°He and Liberty are an item,¡± the guy in glasses said, stopping next to a frozen tree and leaning against it with a weary sigh, ¡°Happy now?¡± Phillip felt his guts hollow out. ¡°W-what?¡± was all he could manage as his sister turned to him again. CLKT CLKT CLKT The sound made his skin crawl and that part of him that kept aching, that deep, essential part of him, it recoiled, wailed in terror. Goosebumps spread across his skin. She was clapping. Her harlequin smile was unholy, demonic. Inhuman. But it was her eyes that made him realize he wasn¡¯t getting out of this alive, and not until after he suffered. Eyes that arched with malicious glee. Eyes that he¡¯d seen when he was a boy. Eyes that she had probably seen from him. Their father¡¯s eyes. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m very happy. Thank you Riot.¡± ¨C Ishtar centered herself with a long, deep breath. This had been the longest she had ever spent fighting, from round to round, battle to battle. It was more taxing than she had anticipated, though she supposed that went without saying. One could not appreciate something fully until it was experienced first hand. She looked down at the ground as her thumb ran over the handle of her knife. You know it, though, this feeling, don¡¯t you? She mused as she loosened up her shoulders. Liberty was kind enough to let her stretch a bit before their next round. ¡°Patient, aren¡¯t you?¡± Liberty smirked, ¡°I¡¯m in no rush.¡± You should be. Ishtar dodged left, swaying her head with the movement as Liberty¡¯s fist exploded past her. Internal energy pulsed through her body, power pumping faster, Heavenly Jade Heart working just a little bit harder. She dropped and swept out a kick as Liberty drew her hand back in an effort to catch the back of her head. She felt the air rush over her as her leg collided with Liberty¡¯s shin. It didn¡¯t budge. She looked up at Liberty who sneered down at her, the silver glow on her skin intensifying as thunder rumbled in the distance. She¡¯s drawing on more of her followers. She¡¯s going to notice soon. Liberty¡¯s fists fell. Ishtar flickered. Her new eyes helped her keep up with her own movement. A blur of motion processing in her mind with far more clarity. She struck from behind. Liberty blocked. She struck from below. Liberty stepped back. Keep it going. Faster! Faster! A hand wrapped around her ankle and she felt the sudden rush of g-forces as the smooth stone floor of Liberty¡¯s domain rose up to meet her. She twisted her body and threw a hand down. She caught herself and the ground shook with the force. She felt her bones creak inside her body. They stilled there for a moment. Ishtar looked over her shoulder at Liberty who met her gaze with a baleful glare. Lightning flashed and Ishtar shrugged at her, ¡°Heh.¡± Liberty¡¯s eyes bulged as veins throbbed in her neck. That''s right, get mad. Ishtar threw herself into a rapid spin, tearing herself free of the iron grip. She stopped and pushed off the ground with both hands, launched into a flip, hitting the ground and pushing off again just before Liberty¡¯s fist collided with the spot she¡¯d been in a fraction of a second before. She extended her hands and released a spray of narrow rays of light. Liberty threw up her arms and blocked, the stream of attacks pinging off of her body like bullets off a steel hull. Ishtar landed and flipped her hair back, ¡°Even with that banner of yours, you¡¯re still just a glorified tank,¡± she mocked her. This is starting to become fun. I can see why Sonya likes banter so much. Infuriating an opponent to push them to make mistakes. ¡°And you¡¯ve gotten talkative,¡± Liberty growled, ¡°You¡¯ve been dragging this out for a while now.¡± Ishtar stood up straight, ¡°Have I? Worried about something? Your armor is looking a little rough, by the way.¡± Liberty looked down at her breastplate, caved in by Sapporo¡¯s titanic punch. Ishtar was honestly impressed with the fallen hero, a man who had embraced the role that Sonya had created for him and risen above anything she had ever expected. The heralds, like Liberty, weren¡¯t forces to be fought by ordinary heroes, even mythics, one on one. Yet he¡¯d lasted so long. You¡¯ll stand with Firestorm for certain, old man. Ishtar thought as Liberty looked back up at her. Her lip twitched and she grabbed the top of her own breastplate before tearing it down with a single jerk of her arm. Metal tore and creaked and she tossed it aside with a lazy gesture. ¡°It was just weighing me down anyway,¡± Liberty said dismissively. Ishtar grinned, her blood felt hot. One fight after another, the thrill was getting to her. ¡°Is that what it is?¡± she asked with a laugh. <¡±Boss!¡±> Technocrat¡¯s voice crackled through. Static making it hard to make out. Liberty raised her fists and Ishtar took her own pose, creating a dozen more spears to point at her opponent. <¡±I¡¯m busy, Technocrat.¡±> <¡±Boss! It¡¯s Kera! She-¡±> BOOOOOM! The force of the strike sent Ishtar stumbling backwards, wind kicking up and blowing past her. She held out her hands, barriers forming to stem the forces acting on her. What the- Who? Her eyes went wide as a person hurtled in her direction, landing at her feet after bouncing off her barrier. ¡°Kera!¡± Ishtar gasped, the young woman writhing on the ground as sparks danced across her body. Kera curled inward, gripping her sides. Ishtar looked up and pressed her lips together. Looks like time¡¯s up. Otis stood tall, a smile on his face, as he stared up at the sky. His hand was scorched and red, his face burned, one eye tilted lazily. Yet in just a matter of moments it healed, his skin becoming smooth and pristine. His glowing golden sword shimmered as he lazily turned his head to the right, looking first at Liberty and then to his left at Ishtar. ¡°Am I interrupting something?¡± Ishtar clenched her fists, she didn¡¯t take her eyes off her enemy. ¡°Kera, can you move?¡± ¡°Only broke my ribs and... everything else... I think. I¡¯m sorry... I couldn¡¯t hold him,¡± Kera wheezed. ¡°He just grabbed me.¡± With the sound of a bubble popping, Ishtar created a bottle of water and tossed it to the villain who grabbed it. She waved a hand and a portal opened beneath Kera. With a nod the girl vanished into it. Otis looked down at the spot, ¡°You¡¯ve got a soft spot for your people. I keep learning things about you today, Ishtar.¡± Chapter 235 Chapter 235 <¡±Technocrat...¡±> <¡±I¡¯m here, boss.¡±> <¡±What¡¯s Kingshark¡¯s status?¡±> In another place, a building fell, the shadow of a humanoid stood above it. Two red eyes burning with eldritch fury. Along the coast, ships cracked in half as they succumbed to the tentacles of a sea monster. Men fled for their lives as sharks of maddening size pursued them. That man-shadow raised its head up to the sky and let out a roar that shook the the earth. Heroes that had been sent to subjugate the cult compound stood nearby, unwilling to approach. No one wanted to fight a living titan. <¡±He¡¯s done.¡±> Ishtar held Otis¡¯ gaze. He smiled at her and glanced briefly past her shoulder. His blue eyes darkened just a little and he snapped his finger. Ishtar felt something wash past her, an unsettling muteness that came and went. ¡°That¡¯s better. I¡¯m not a fan of eavesdroppers,¡± Otis said and brushed his hair out of his face before shoving a hand into his pocket and slinging his sword lazily over his shoulder. He kept looking straight at Ishtar, ¡°I¡¯m a little disappointed, Liberty, all that effort into writing up a plan for you and you botch it. Seriously. I was really trying to help. That power is really wasted on you.¡± A plan? Ishtar looked to Liberty who had stiffened slightly, her glowing, pupiless eyes going wide. I¡¯ve... never seen her that surprised before. Wait. Is that why her behavior changed after the raid? He made contact? He sighed, ¡°I was really hoping you¡¯d make a bit more of a nuisance of yourself before I killed you. Now it looks like you aren¡¯t going to make it long enough for the big-name heroes to see me put you down.¡± Ishtar¡¯s mind reeled. Calculations and possibilities bounding about in her head as connections that hadn¡¯t formed between disjointed events finally settled. She knew he had been insistent on participating in the battle so he could get more reputation, build his ¡®legend¡¯. He¡¯d stayed out of the Japan trip when it could have been an opportunity to make connections. Meanwhile, Liberty had taken deadly actions that had raised her profile higher and higher while she had built up and rebalanced the number of people in her compounds, creating a system to elevate herself. He¡¯s been fattening her up. ¡°You¡¯re the author,¡± Liberty growled from across the smooth stone arena she¡¯d created. Her banner fluttering behind her. The single flame on the banner had grown brighter throughout their fight and now a tiny wisp of smoke was rising from one of the corners of the banner. Another flame is about to form, Ishtar thought, She can set rules for the area, like the no-flight powers rule. When that flame ignites she¡¯ll get to make another one. Do I risk sticking around for her to do that? What if she blocks escape? Otis is invincible, he¡¯ll eventually put her down and he¡¯ll get the glory he¡¯s after. Not to mention that I can¡¯t kill him either. If I let this turn into a three-way fight I might be able to wear down Liberty more, but that won¡¯t mean anything if Otis gets the final blow. She clenched her fists. He feels stronger than before, somehow. There¡¯s something different about him. He got here faster than expected and he overpowered Kerauna. That girl is not a pushover. She looked over at Liberty who had raised her armored fists. No. I can¡¯t let them come to blows. Liberty¡¯s power hasn¡¯t waned just yet. She sensed Crusader and Harbinger behind her still, Can those two brats handle it? Can I put faith in their training and growth? What would Sonya do here? Otis looked over his shoulder at Liberty and raised a finger to his lips, ¡°Shh... the adults are talking.¡± BAM! Ishtar¡¯s shin collided with the flat of Otis¡¯s sword just as Liberty registered the insult. He whipped his head up to look at her with wild, excited eyes. ¡°Oh you really don¡¯t want me to fight her!¡± he laughed as he slid back only a few steps. He¡¯s definitely stronger! What have you done to yourself this time Otis?! She darted towards him and he raised his weapon to block only for her to slip past his guard, his eyes dropped to her hand as she wrapped her fingers around the collar of his shirt. Liberty was already moving. ¡°Where are we going?¡± he asked. ¡°Away,¡± she hissed and a hole opened beneath them both. They fell. Any good plan comes with some level of risk. Covering every variable is impossible. Clearing the list of objectives here at the battlefield was on me. Sonya trusted me with this plan. I can¡¯t let her down. The wind whipped past her helmet as the pair of them hurtled towards the ground. She was inches away from Otis¡¯ face, his eyes sparkling with excitement. I WON¡¯T LET HER DOWN. ¡°You really think those two kids can take Liberty down? She¡¯ll kill them in a heartbeat,¡± Otis laughed, the ground coming up closer and closer as they fell. He laughed. ¡°What kind of villain trusts a hero? Seriously?¡± Ishtar bit her lip, hard. She was born to be a villain. To be the monster that Sonya needed her to be. To be the kind of villain that Sonya always visualized as the perfect example of their kind. She could respect heroes, it was part of the charm. She¡¯d protected Sapporo¡¯s body. But trusting a hero? She couldn¡¯t trust a hero. What she could do was trust Sonya. Trust the work she¡¯d put into them. Trust the connections she¡¯d made. Trust the plan that they¡¯d worked together on. Trust her henchmen. ¡°If anyone can do it, those girls will see it through!¡± Ishtar roared, ¡°Mark my words, Otis! You won¡¯t get the win today!¡± His eyes narrowed and before she could blink his hand was around her throat, she saw that discoloration again, the sparks, her animal instincts recoiled. This time there was no escape. ¡°Then you aren¡¯t getting away without a proper punishment! Fall, Ishtar!¡± BZZZZRTTT Ishtar¡¯s hud fizzled. Her vision shorted out. Everything was dark for a moment before it all came back online. She was looking up at the sky. Otis had flipped her to the bottom. Damn it! <2...> FINE! A glowing white vine wrapped around Otis¡¯ wrist as Ishtar felt a numbness wash over her. Starlight points of pain blossoming in her body. Otis looked at the vine in surprise as Ishtar grabbed him again by the shirt and wrenched her entire body to the right with all of her strength. Otis was still blinking as he looked up at her, confusion on his features. The impact shook the ground for nearly a mile. Cracks spread across the ground outside the crater they had formed. Ishtar barely managed to pull herself to her feet as she staggered backwards. Lights flashing in her HUD. The paper-doll of her body showing numerous injuries. She felt the seeds of Visage clogging up her meridians again. They¡¯d sprouted back with a vengeance. Her armor was cracked and there was a sparking and buzzing in her ears. The helmet¡¯s damaged too, she thought numbly, looking down at the red smear before her. At least he won''t get up for a while- The smear bubbled and a hand exploded from it. You have got to be kidding me! Ishtar raised her hand over her head, floating back several meters as power poured wildly from Heavenly Jade Heart. It thrummed through her body, crashing into the seeds and dislodging a few of them painfully. She coughed out a splatter of blood into her helmet as dozens of spears of light appeared in the air above her. She pulled Limitless Volley from her warehouse and channeled it while pressing down on him with every ounce of pressure Imperious could muster. An eye opened in the sky, widening until it spread across the entire field where he¡¯d faced the monster horde. The dozens of spears turned to thousands, gleaming streaks of light hanging in the air like frozen rain. She knew she couldn¡¯t kill him, but at least, at least, she would be able to keep him down for a while. She brought her arm down with all her strength. ¡°OOOOTIIIISSS!¡± A second time in as many minutes, the earth shook. ¨C Sirens blared. ¡°Is she nuts?!¡± Amos nearly threw the computer screen in his hands before letting it go and running his fingers through his mess of brown hair, ¡°Look at that cloud! She¡¯s gonna set off those goddamn dungeons on her own!¡± He turned to Colin who was leaning against a wall, his arms crossed as he stared at the dozen monitors Amos was using to watch the battle from afar. His drones were everywhere, hidden. He only wished Ishtar would let him do more but his focus was on nixing communications and monitoring. ¡°There¡¯s nothing we can do,¡± Colin said and looked down at his feet, ¡°Just gotta trust her.¡± Amos turned back to the monitors. A marker on Hawaii flickered from red to green. Four left. He looked back at the screen monitoring the mana storm building around the battlefield. The remaining dungeons had turned orange. Liberty is gonna feel that in a minute. It¡¯s now or never. He clenched his teeth, This is the big moment, boss. Don¡¯t you dare lose. That goes for you as well, you crazy fuckin¡¯ kids. ¨C It was quiet for a moment. In the seconds that passed after Ishtar and Otis dropped down into a hole in the world. Cass had quietly hoped, for a second, that she¡¯d suddenly come back and finish what she started. A tiny nagging voice in the back of her mind praying that this moment wouldn¡¯t actually come to pass. That she wouldn¡¯t have to step forward. But Ishtar didn¡¯t return. Even as the ground shook beneath her feet and something glowed on the horizon out of the corner of her eye, Ishtar didn¡¯t return. She glanced at a grim faced Lillian-no-Crusader next to her. We¡¯re on our own. She brushed a lock of blonde hair back over her ear and looked down at the edge of the disk of stone her sister had created with her ability. She¡¯d never seen it manifest like this. So completely. But there was no mistaking her way of claiming territory. She finally forced herself to look at her sister. Liberty stood at the center of the arena, her breastplate cast aside. Her extremities the only parts of her body still armored. Her skin was almost silver, her hair danced around her head in a sourceless breeze, her eyes were like white flames. A hand clapped onto her shoulder and she turned to Crusader. ¡°I got your back. No matter what.¡± She swallowed hard, ¡°We could die.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t stop us in Tokyo,¡± Crusader said with a grin and turned to look at Liberty who waited patiently for them. Am I ready? She followed her friend¡¯s gaze and looked back at her sister. Sonya, can I do this? She reached up to her heart and pressed her fingers against a slip of paper she¡¯d kept there for so long. A private secret. A gift. An assurance. She felt the paper crinkle a little beneath her shirt as she wrapped her fingers a little more tightly around the long handle of her hammer. She remembered the torment. The days spent in that cold cell. Her sisters unfeeling gaze. Nights of endless cruelty. Pain. Grief. She thought about those bodies laying in the streets of Tokyo. Those kids who¡¯d lost their parents, who¡¯d looked up at her with hope in their eyes despite the tragedy. Cassiopeia Hanks firmed her resolve. Harbinger stepped onto the platform. I¡¯m ready. Lift the sanction. The paper burned beneath her shirt, fading away into nothing. She felt three sparks in her chest draw into one another as she started her march. Crusader hopped onto the platform and joined her. Shoulder to shoulder. She felt those sparks grow closer, closer, and finally meet. The two powers she had been given by Ishtar merged with Mighty Asterion at long last. Her core power that she had spent so much time developing, learning, training, and growing. It bloomed as instincts poured into her mind. She clenched her teeth and grew until she was at her sister¡¯s eye level. ¡°...Harbinger?¡± Crusader asked, glancing towards her. ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± Harbinger growled, ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± ¡°Finally here to face me,¡± Liberty said when they reached speaking distance. She tilted her chin up and looked down over her nose, ¡°But are you prepared to kill?¡± ¡°I¡¯m bringing you in, Stella,¡± Harbinger growled, ¡°You¡¯re going to face your crimes at trial.¡± Liberty scoffed, ¡°Still a weakling. I¡¯m disappointed.¡± She took another step forward and swung down her hammer, holding it at her side and puffed out her chest. ¡°I am a hero!¡± she shouted, ¡°Like Sapporo! Like my team! Like those that protected the people of Tokyo! Like the brave people here right now, fighting you! I¡¯ll say it one more time, Stella Hanks! Liberty! I¡¯M BRINGING YOU IN!¡± Liberty frowned and stood up a bit straighter before gesturing to her chin with a scowl, ¡°Then give it your best shot, sister-¡± The fight began with the sound of shattering glass and a hammer driving into the side of Liberty¡¯s head as Liberty¡¯s wide eyes turned on her sister. A sister that she¡¯d abused her entire life, that she couldn¡¯t rationalize as anything but lesser than her. Harbinger knew her sister¡¯s twisted thoughts like the back of her hand. She¡¯d never change. Harbinger swung the hammer as hard as she could, her muscles bulging beneath her hero gear as Liberty staggered back a step and touched her lip, looking down to see blood. She looked up at Harbinger and blinked. ¡°You.¡± ¡°Me.¡± Liberty snarled and clenched her fists, a glow rising on her skin that abruptly sputtered out. She blinked and looked down at her hands. The silver gleam hadn¡¯t gone but it hadn¡¯t intensified either. It was Harbinger¡¯s turn to look down at her sister over her nose, ¡°Looks like mission accomplished,¡± she said with a smile, ¡°We¡¯re back to where we started when I was in your cold room, big sister. I just need to outlast you.¡± Shouts rose behind Harbinger and Liberty looked up. Harbinger could feel them, people approaching. Dozens. ¡°Harbinger! Crusader!¡± Guildmaster Evergreen? ¡°You girls okay?¡± Handmaiden! Liberty whipped her head left and right and for the first time in her life, Harbinger saw her sister look afraid. She ground her teeth and turned to her banner, holding her hand out to it, ¡°NO ONE LEAVES! NO ONE ENTERS!¡± she roared as a second flame erupted on the banner. ¡°NOT UNTIL I SAY OTHERWISE!¡± Harbinger took a step back and readied herself as Liberty rose to her feet, her face twisted with fury. The ground cracked beneath her feet as she clenched her fists. The palpable aura of strength around her crashed down in a wave as her muscles bulged and her body grew. Every ounce of power she could gather pushed to the fore. ¡°Today, I finish wiping out our family, Cassiopeia.¡± Chapter 236 Chapter 236 The smoke of a burning forest provided a dark backdrop against the pale tone of the stone disk created by Liberty¡¯s Standard of Glory. Around it, the heroes who had pushed their way to the center of the battlefield stood, accompanied by Pandora Committee troops. The low thrum of helicopter blades heralded the arrival of the eyes of the world. With not only live witnesses but the gaze of more and more people across the world as they tuned in, Liberty stood alone. Harbinger stood off to one side, her hammer at the ready. Her full transformation activated. Ten feet tall like her sister and adorned with the curled horns of a bull. Every heavy huff of breath releasing a blast of silvery steam from her lips. Just opposite her, also facing Liberty, Crusader had her sword raised and her fighting stance set. Her own breaths creating rings of golden fire around her body that drew up into her nostrils and out in a glimmering display of flame. Both young women were fresh from their fighting. For all appearances, Liberty looked worn down. Her armor was broken in places, her lip bled, her shoulders were hunched. Even so, None of the heroes present argued who the true monster present was; not Handmaiden, not Evergreen, and certainly not the two young women trapped with her inside of her domain. The gleaming silver glow on Liberty¡¯s skin shone without dimming. Her pupil-less eyes like white fire, her muscles taught and strong. She clenched her fists tightly and bore her teeth. Harbinger adjusted the grip on her hammer and shifted a foot. Crusader tightened her stance, bending a knee slightly. Liberty¡¯s head didn¡¯t move, they couldn¡¯t see her eyes, but both young women knew that she was looking between the two of them. Deciding. Harbinger glanced at Crusader. The distance between them wasn¡¯t big, but it was enough to prevent Liberty from hitting both of them at the same time. I hurt Liberty with that hit earlier, but we don¡¯t know where she¡¯s at strength wise. Not yet. She can¡¯t wait forever, she¡¯ll need to make a move soon. Crusader glanced her way and met her gaze. She was of the same mind. Let her come to us. A pause. Liberty¡¯s snarl turned into a grin and she exploded into motion. She moved so fast that it seemed like teleportation to Harbinger. One moment she was standing next to her banner and the next she was almost on top of Crusader. ¡°The healer dies first!¡± she bellowed and her hand lashed out. In the blink of an eye she had Crusader by her breastplate and had raised her off the ground. Harbinger¡¯s eyes widened, She¡¯s that fast? She thought as she pivoted and dashed towards her friend only for Liberty to bring Crusader back down to the ground with a crash and drag her across the stone below, grinding a divot in the smooth surface before hurling her at Harbinger. LILLIAN! Except Crusader didn¡¯t go sailing towards Harbinger. Her boots instead dug into the ground as she gripped onto Liberty''s arm so tightly it bent the gauntlet around the monstrous woman¡¯s wrist. Harbinger didn¡¯t hesitate, she launched herself forward with a mighty leap that sent her hurtling into the air before throwing herself into a forward spin. Below, Liberty pulled back with a bellow and wrenched her arm free of the gauntlet, hopping backwards as Harbinger¡¯s hammer collided with the spot she¡¯d been standing in. Crusader moved immediately, sword gleaming with golden fire as she brought it up towards Liberty¡¯s chest in a vertical slash. Liberty threw her head back, dodging and looking down at the swing with cold disdain. Then her eyes widened as the flames around the edge of the blade flared out. A splash of gold fire caught Liberty in the eye and she pulled back even more, gripping her face and swatting at Crusader while Harbinger took the initiative. Her powerful legs carried her to her friends side and she swung, bringing her hammer around like a home run swing. A crack formed in the air before it, shatter activated, and Liberty was sent tumbling backwards. ¡°YOU BRAT!¡± Liberty snarled, catching herself mid flight by quite literally planting her feet into the stone. Her entire body moved like a whip, rolling back with the inertia before she blasted forward, her face twisted once more in rage. ¡°Bull!¡± Crusader shouted. Harbinger reacted, hopping back and readying her hammer as Liberty threw herself at her first available target. Crusader raised her sword in a ready stance, took a step forward to intercept, and then just as quickly stepped to the side. She swept her sword down with the motion across the path of Liberty¡¯s legs. Liberty only had an instant to readjust to the new trajectory before Cass swung again. This time managing a blow right to the face that sent the mighty mythic stumbling for a moment. She shook her head and tried to right herself only for Crusader to dart in from behind and make a swing at her back. Liberty turned to defend, but Harbinger was right there to block her. Another swing, this time to the knee. Blow after blow landed, both young women putting on the pressure as they pushed Liberty back. Crusader went in for cuts and swipes, always in a position to strike but never seemed to land a hit. Yet as soon as Liberty capitalized, Harbinger moved in to deliver a telling blow. They moved around one another, passing through one anothers space and staying just close enough to have the others back. Soon, Liberty had both arms up in a guard, slowly moving backwards towards the center as the young heroes pressed in. Keep the pressure on, hold her down! Just gotta get her to flinch, just a little! A swing from Crusader connected. A cut stretched across Liberty¡¯s waist. Liberty winced. NOW! Harbinger¡¯s muscles, the power of the great minotaur behind them, coiled and sprang with an explosion of force that left splinters in the ground behind her. She raised her hammer, threw her shoulder forward and brought the swing up as she drew close, aiming for the chin. If I can knock her out for even a sec- Liberty¡¯s bloody frown twisted into a grin. Cass blinked. She¡¯s been baiting us! The first punch drove right into her gut with so much force she might as well have been folded in half. The air went out of her lungs. Her vision blurred. Her head went fuzzy as the next blow came in from above. Two fists clasped together struck her just between the shoulder-blades and she was driven down into a knee. The pain was enough to knock her out for a heartbeat before she realized her sister had her by the arm. She heard Crusader call out and felt her friend dash forward but Liberty was already moving. She dragged Harbinger clear across the domain, all the way to the edge and swung her like a toy, smashing her body against an invisible barrier that refused to give way, not even for her bones. ¡°Auck!¡± Was all Harbinger could manage before a hand planted on her collarbone and she was dragged again, her back pressed against the invisible barrier, her body creaking under the pressure of each second of it. It was more pain than she had ever thought was possible to be endured in her entire life and it ended with Liberty hurling her back towards the center. Harbinger¡¯s head spun as she tried to focus on seeing anything; her vision twisted and darkened, and her body ached. Need to heal... she thought only to see a silvery form falling from the sky above her. A hand gripped her by the back of her own armor and she was pulled away as Liberty planted both feet in the spot where her head had been a moment before. A wave of heat ran through Harbinger¡¯s body that only lasted a fragment of a second before Liberty was on the move again, barreling towards Crusader who was forced to disengage from her. Shit. Shit. Come on... She thought groggily, rolling onto her side. She searched her instincts, drawing out the healing granted to her by the reforged power at her disposal. Green light burned behind her eyes as her bones started to set. She heaved and a gout of blood splattered onto the ground. Faster already! Damn it! She swore, pushing the healing ability to its limits. She could feel the mana entering her body, taxing against her stamina, but she didn¡¯t care. She needed to be on her feet to keep the fight going. Harbinger rose as Crusader was pushed to the brink. Her sword wielding comrade wasn¡¯t as graceful as her teacher, her movements far more deliberate and forceful. She gave ground with every step, pulling back and blocking one titanic blow after another. Liberty¡¯s fists, even the unarmored one, glanced off the edge of her blade as if they were made of metal. Crusader¡¯s body ignited now and then, waves of gold fire lashing out to try to push Liberty back but the monstrous woman just kept pushing. Meanwhile, Harbinger felt the last of her bones set, the healing doing its work. She knew if she threw herself into the fray half-healed it wouldn¡¯t do either of them any good. I can¡¯t let her realize that Crusader¡¯s just building momentum for later, though! She flexed her fingers and recalled her hammer to her hand. ¡°LIBERTY!¡± she shouted. Liberty whirled, a moment of surprise on her face that changed into anger and then... confusion. She took a stumbling half step and the glow on her body faded a little bit more. The pure silver now tainted with small copper veins. Another compound is down! ¡°CRUSADER! NOW!¡± Liberty¡¯s confusion faded as her eyes went wider, she snarled and turned back to Crusader who had finally taken a step forward. Her sword raised parallel with the ground as the words echoed out around her, ¡°FIRST MARCH OF THE GOLDEN CRUSADE!¡± Liberty threw her arms up but the first blow struck her in the side, a long gash trailing across her thigh only for another to spread across her upper arm, then another, and another as arches of gold cascaded down on Liberty amidst Crusader¡¯s merciless advance. Harbinger darted forward, ready for when the combination attack ended and her turn to lay on the damage. The way I understand it, if she doesn¡¯t finish first march she loses some of her momentum, if she completes it, she gets more. Or something like that. Either way she¡¯ll have to move into the second march and that¡¯ll take more time to build up to. Now I¡¯ve just got to hold- ¡°Cocky little shit!¡± Liberty roared through the flurry of blows, throwing an arm out that grabbed a surprised Crusader by the arm. She pulled before Harbinger could get close enough to act, dragging her friend into a headbutt that released a small pulse of force out from the point of impact. Crusader staggered back, nose bleeding, eyes fluttering as Liberty whirled and kicked. BOOM! Crusader practically vanished from sight, reappearing against the invisible wall surrounding them. She slid down to the ground, her head tilted to the right listlessly as Liberty stood up straight, breathing hard. She was holding Crusader¡¯s broadsword. Harbinger looked down at her hammer and up at her sister who slowly rounded on her. Liberty was covered in cuts and scars, blood streamed from her wounds even as they tried to heal. Golden flames pushed the restoration back, punishing her with Crusader¡¯s power but the living titan in the form of her sister just kept coming. ¡°Outlast me?¡± Liberty demanded as she began her march towards Harbinger. ¡°YOU?¡± Harbinger clenched her jaw, ¡°Just give up. You know what¡¯s coming.¡± Liberty threw her head back and laughed, ¡°Oh you don¡¯t have to tell me, Harbinger, ¡± she snarled, ¡°Does it look like I care? If this is the end, then I am going to make sure the heroes suffer for it.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve finally lost it,¡± Harbinger said. Liberty laughed again and reached up to slick back her hair with a bloody hand, ¡°Let¡¯s be real. Our father ran a cult, sis. Did we even have it together to begin with?¡± she said as she took a few test swings with Crusader¡¯s sword. She nodded appreciatively, ¡°A bit small, but it¡¯ll do for cutting your limbs off one by one. How does that sound? Your friend''s sword?¡± ¡°You¡¯re an animal.¡± ¡°AND YOU¡¯RE A TRAITOR!¡± Liberty roared, ¡°YOU LEFT! I STAYED! I TOOK OVER! I PUT FATHER DOWN! I ENDURED THE RITES!¡± she swept her hand to the right before pointing an accusing finger at Harbinger, ¡°You¡¯re a coward, Harbinger, you always will be. Just like mother.¡± ¡°That woman was not my mother, she oversaw those rites! She let those things happen! She was almost worse than anyone else in this terrible place!¡± Harbinger retorted, raising her hammer to a ready position, ¡°My real mother saved me, taught me what it means to be a hero. My mother stepped up and gave me a chance at a better life!¡± Liberty tilted her head, her glowing eyes widening with manic curiosity, ¡°Oh? Oh? OH?¡± she swung the sword left and right as she approached, her teeth bared, ¡°Do tell! How much further have you gone in your quest to abandon your blood, sister?¡± Liberty was within striking range at this point. Harbinger could kick off and cross the meters between them in an instant. That also meant that Liberty was within range as well. She felt a tremor go through her spine at the thought as she kept her eyes on her hated enemy. Somewhere nearby, she knew that Crusader was pulling herself back together. Her powers didn¡¯t heal as quickly as other abilities though, that meant she needed to buy her friend more time. She needed Liberty¡¯s full focus. So she spoke directly from the heart, the honest truth, even if it meant drawing out every last vestige of her sister¡¯s madness and brutality. She raised her hammer in a ready stance, knees bent, ready to move as she raised her chin high and spoke clearly. ¡°My mothers name is Sonya Chernovna! The Voice of the Hero Movement! The woman who saved me and put me on the right path!¡± she shouted. Liberty went deadly still. Her head tilted to the right as the copper veins on her body grew a little thicker, the silver glow diminishing a little more. Even so. Harbinger had never felt more murderous intent and bone chilling terror in her entire life. Even the pressure from Ishtar¡¯s presence hadn¡¯t prepared her for the cruelty that billowed off of Liberty in waves. ¡°I am going to kill you. Right now,¡± Liberty said with a single, flat, emotionless breath and struck. Chapter 237 Chapter 237 Liberty moved like a beast possessed. Crossing the distance between them like shot fired from a cannon. Crusader¡¯s sword in her hands, she brought it down in a terrible overhand arc. Harbinger brought the handle of her hammer up to resist, metal shrieking against metal for a moment as her muscles strained to resist Liberty¡¯s strength. Even with what appeared to be only two of her compounds of cultists remaining, her strength was unreal. The mythic cultist sneered and adjusted her grip on her weapon, swiping it down along the length of Harbinger¡¯s hammer. Harbinger was forced to pull back or lose a finger and got a foot in her gut as a reward. She coughed, stumbling back a few steps and regained herself in time to duck beneath a horizontal swing aimed for her throat. ¡°Even if they¡¯re taking down my compounds...¡± Liberty shouted as she swung again and Harbinger batted the blow away with her hammer, ¡°...I have stamina to burn! My body continues to heal! Even if you keep healing yourself, you¡¯re using your own power to do it, brat!¡± Harbinger grit her teeth as three more strikes drove her back a bit further. She dipped low as a fourth came in from a new angle and she pushed off the ground, slamming her head and shoulders into Liberty¡¯s chest. Liberty twisted out of the way with a snarl only to let out a gasp of pain as Harbinger felt her head nearly snap back when it caught onto something. She grit her teeth and whipped her head up and away, snapping out a wild kick to the right before rounding back to catch herself from the momentum. Liberty staggered and looked down at her waist, her hand pressed against it. She pulled her palm away and frowned at the puddle of blood on her palm. ¡°You... gored me,¡± Harbinger panted and reached up to touch her horn and pulled her fingers away, examining the blood on them. She looked back up at Liberty who shook her head in disbelief, ¡°You call me a beast!¡± I¡¯ll do whatever I have to, to take you down, Harbinger thought grimly, I¡¯ll chase you to the ends of the earth. I¡¯ll crush your bones, I¡¯ll gore you with my horns, I¡¯ll march through blood and death, ripping through your cultists until you¡¯re the only one left! I will stop you! A vein in Liberty¡¯s neck throbbed and she lunged again, ¡°Done talking then?¡± she screamed, swinging wild blows down on Harbinger who pushed back with a snarl. She swung the handle of her hammer, cracking it against Liberty¡¯s arm and threw her head forward again. Liberty reacted this time, grabbing one of the horns and pulling only for Harbinger to twist and throw her shoulder into the blow. She planted one foot in front of the other, a roar rising in her throat as her stomping feet carried her forward. She felt the blunt pommel of the woman¡¯s stolen sword crash into her back but she kept going, throwing herself into the bull rush as her body picked up more and more speed. ¡°LET ME GO YOU LITTLE SHIT!¡± With a terrible crash they both collided with the outer wall of Liberty¡¯s domain, the invisible field providing the perfect surface to crush Liberty against. She felt bone crush beneath her shoulder, ribs crack, muscles tear. Harbinger kept pushing but a flash of white-hot pain in her shoulder shocked her out of her fury, something cold pulled from her shoulder and she gasped, losing her strength for a heartbeat as a knee collided with her jaw. She stumbled back as Liberty landed on the ground in front of her, dropping to a knee. Harbinger caught herself, staying on her feet long enough to look down on her sister. Her vision wobbled a little from the strike to her chin. How¡¯s it feel? Liberty whipped her head up; the crater in her chest began to heal, the copper color on her skin growing more and more pronounced. She was burning through all of her resources to stay at this level of strength and health. Harbinger reached up for her shoulder and started to heal herself with a green glow when Liberty struck again and Harbinger was forced to stop, raising her weapon in time to prevent herself from losing a limb. She just won¡¯t stop! Her stamina feels endless! ¡°Getting scared?¡± Liberty snarled and snapped her hand out to reach for Harbinger¡¯s face. Harbinger pulled her head away on instinct and Liberty kicked again, driving the air out of Harbinger¡¯s lungs long enough to grab one of her legs. She spun, the world whipping around Harbinger until she was flung across the disk towards the other side. Harbinger threw herself into a forward spin and slammed her hammer into the ground, arresting her flight. She still slid a few meters before it finally stopped, the back of her boot pressing against the invisible wall on the other side. She panted, her muscles were aching more and more and she barely had any time to heal herself. She looked up at Liberty who was standing on the other side with her sword raised over her head, a glow rising from her body and suffusing into the weapon. It was like all the light in the world faded away for a moment. All Harbinger could see were the two white flames in the place of Liberty¡¯s eyes as the woman brought the weapon down. Harbinger couldn¡¯t move fast enough, every sense told her no matter which way she moved there was no avoiding it. She raised her hammer and planted the handle against the ground, placing a hand behind the head of the weapon and squeezing her eyes shut. Hang in the- BOOOOM! The cataclysmic crash shook the ground, she could feel the debris from the battlefield pelting her body but she couldn¡¯t- Wait. Why didn¡¯t I feel the impact? She looked up as the debris and dust fell, a flicker of gold light in the cloud fading after a heartbeat as a silhouette stood before her. Crusader¡¯s back. Her friend stood there with both arms raised in a cross, her body billowing with golden fire. Her short black hair whipped about her head and the tattoos on her neck glowed brilliantly as she whipped her arms down. Blood dripped from her forearms and her armor was shredded there, but she stayed standing. ¡°I killed you!¡± Liberty snarled. ¡°Sorry to disappoint,¡± Crusader growled, ¡°I have a bad habit of being there for my friends when they need me. Apparently I¡¯m pretty nosy,¡± she glanced over her shoulder at Harbinger, ¡°You good?¡± Harbinger scoffed and gripped her hammer, forcinging herself to her feet as green light billowed on her skin, closing wounds and piecing her broken bones back together. Her stamina was flagging, but she could at least make her body who- Woah. She looked up to see Crusader holding her hand out, a stream of gold fire stretching from her palm and wreathing Harbinger in a halo. She looked down at herself as the ache and strain faded away. Crusader shrugged and took a few steps back to get out of the way between Harbinger and Liberty. ¡°Go get ¡®em, tiger,¡± she snarked and sank to her rear, ¡°I¡¯m... gonna keep healing.¡± Harbinger pressed her lips together, a lump forming in her throat. Idiot, should have kept healing yourself, she thought as a hot tear rolled down her cheek. She fixed her sister with a stare and threw her hammer over her shoulder, resting it there as she marched forward. Liberty tilted her chin up, the silver was almost completely gone from her skin. It was now or never. Harbinger closed her eyes and took a deep breath and fell into her instincts. She looked for everything she¡¯d felt during that fight and the ones before it. The moments where she felt at her strongest. She wasn¡¯t going to get another chance from Crusader. She let that feeling from when she¡¯d gored Liberty wash over her. The bestial instinct roaring inside of her. The rage. The protective feeling in her gut. She released one hand from her hammer and let the handle slide down the other, gripping it near the end. Charging, goring, crushing, moving like a beast, winding about her enemy and confusing them, guiding them into a maze of her fury. Her instincts roared up in her chest and met her state of mind. She opened her eyes and met her sister¡¯s gaze. She filled her lungs, raised her head, and roared. ¡°LIBERTY!¡± The stone beneath her feet shifted as she charged. ¡ª Ishtar heaved out a breath, panting as she stood at the side of a crater dozens if not over a hundred feet wide. Her shoulders slumped, her hands hanging at her sides. Her knees buckled and she clenched her teeth, willing them to still. She¡¯d poured almost everything she had in Heavenly Jade Heart into pulverizing Otis for as long as she could. Her eyes trailed upwards towards the illusory disk in the sky, an image of her eye glaring down upon the world. It flickered and died, vanishing in a scattering cloud of pink motes of light. <¡±Zssppzzz bo- -ear m-?¡±> She coughed and raised her hand shakily to her her helmet, ¡°Technocrat?¡± <¡±Ffzzssss -oss! -ana too- -reak!¡±> ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying,¡± she grunted, drawing herself up a bit. She needed to find a place to flee to and recover. Recharging her power would take time, but now that Otis had been suppressed, at least the girls should have enough time to finish the job. She had to believe that they were up to the task. They can do it. Just hang in there a bit longer, little heroes. I¡¯ll- Crrrrraccckkkk! A weight fell on her shoulders, an exhaustion that pressed down on her mind as she turned her head towards the source of a terrible creaking sound coming from the center of the crater. The bags under her eyes felt deeper. The enhanced muscles of her body strained to reactivate. A fresh cloud of dust kicked up from that place as a skeletal hand erupted from the rubble. Flesh grew onto the bone, sinew, skin, and fingernails. It grabbed onto the nearest rock and pulled, a bare chested Otis emerging half-way from the rubble. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, savoring something. ¡°Ahh... I have never been pummeled that badly before. Even when you turned An Set into a living bomb. That paled in comparison,¡± he said as he gestured lazily at something invisible. A moment later clothes appeared on his body in a flash of that same blue light that burned in his eyes. He pulled himself the rest of the way from the rubble and stood up straight, reaching up to run his fingers through that annoying coif of golden hair on his head. He shot her a smile, ¡°Looks like you¡¯re all out of juice, though. Ishtar.¡± ¡°Insufferable monster,¡± Ishtar snarled through hard breaths, ¡°There really is no killing you, is there?¡± ¡°Not here! Not now!¡± he laughed, ¡°I¡¯m the main character of this story, Ishtar, of course I¡¯m not going to die.¡± Ishtar shifted on her feet, trying to stay balanced. Too much stamina gone. I can barely move. She forced herself to speak anyway, ¡°A lot of heroes die at the end of their stories,¡± she said, trying to goad him just a little more. Stay focused on me, bastard. Otis frowned, ¡°I don¡¯t like those kinds of stories very much.¡± Ishtar narrowed her eyes. What was that? He got hostile real quick there. Was I on point? Let¡¯s test him a little. ¡°I¡¯m starting to think your ability has a narrative element,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°I wonder what would happen if your story changed?¡± He was in front of her in a flash, his blue eyes so close she could see his retinas. ¡°And you¡¯re too smart for your own good, villain!¡± he snarled and reached for her throat again. A flicker of white-yellow erupted between his hand and her neck as she squeezed out enough power to create a hard-light barrier. The impact still sent her hurtling back, bouncing once across the ground before sliding to a stop. He appeared over her and smirked. Shit! His smile widened into something cruel, ¡°I¡¯m not gonna kill you, Ishtar. You¡¯re no good to me dead. Not here. I want the entire world to see me put you down on a grand stage! It¡¯ll be the final act!¡± he laughed and grabbed her by her breastplate, pulling her up to hang from his grip, ¡°I¡¯m going to fatten you up like the piggy you are and when the whole world is looking just at the two of us. I am going to crush you and everything you hold dear. That should get me a few extra points, don¡¯t you think?¡± he cackled. Ishtar snorted, ¡°You¡¯re an idiot,¡± she said, ¡°I¡¯ll never stop trying to destroy your reputation. The fight¡¯s probably over by now with Liberty. You lost.¡± He tilted his head, ¡°You sure?¡± ¡°There was a helicopter-¡± He burst out laughing, ¡°Yeah! There was! I told them you were here!¡± he pulled her close, ¡°Tell me. How do you think things will go when I destroy that copter and kill everyone there? Then shut off my healing for a little while? Put on some bruises and cuts? Look real beat up?¡± he feigned a look of grief, ¡°Oh no! Black Lotus! Handmaiden! All the heroes dead at Ishtar¡¯s hand! But what¡¯s this? A brave warrior clashes with Ishtar and forces her into retreat! Your infamy will skyrocket and my fame will reach the heavens! Then all we need is a final duel after a nice long arc of back and forth. Sound good to you? I like it!¡± ¡°Someone will see,¡± Ishtar snarled. ¡°I can make people forget my face, don¡¯t you remember? That''s why you hid from me at Vegas,¡± Otis hissed. A cold lump formed in her chest and her fists clenched. She pulled one up to grab onto his arm but she couldn¡¯t even apply enough strength to make him flinch. ¡°Nothing to say?¡± he asked as that blue glow in his eyes intensified, ¡°That¡¯s fine. I¡¯m done with you for now anyway,¡± Her eyes widened as his grip tightened on her armor and his muscles bulged, growing double in size in an instant. He spun and threw her into the air. The next thing she knew, his golden blade was coming her way. The last sputtering flames of her power went into making sure he didn¡¯t cut her in half as the weapon collided with her waist. <¡±Ssszzttt -oss? BOSS!¡±> Ishtar hit a cloud and kept going as a ripple went through the air, a distant blast heralding a second dungeon break. Her vision darkened. Her mind''s eye drifted to that little mote inside herself. It had grown again, thrumming, trembling, she was too weak to even properly reach it and hold on to it again. She didn¡¯t know if she would even survive the impact that was sure to come next. Sonya... I¡¯m... THUMP! The mote expanded, bubbling, tearing apart at the seams. Its surface cracked, and for a brief moment Ishtar felt hope. Then it exploded, scattering diamond-dust about in that heartless void. Her presence was gone. NO! SONYA! Chapter 238 Chapter 238 Ishtar lost. The wind roaring past her helmet woke her from her stupor. Every cell in her body hurt, her bones ached, her mind spun, her muscles screamed, and the cybernetics grated against her insides. She flipped end over end as she hurtled into the sky, through clouds and rain and snow as she ascended further. Ishtar¡¯s vision swam and she tried to create a berry in her mouth. Instead, all she could taste was a sickly battery-like flavor lingering on her tongue. She swore, lights flashing in her helmet, her HUD warning her of systemic damage throughout her body. She could see notifications that Amos was trying to contact her. Other names popped up, but she couldn¡¯t hear them. The speakers were ruined, the helmet too damaged to hear through her technopathy. Her head lulled back as she continued to hurtle farther and farther away. After everything, he¡¯s still so much stronger. Maybe I made him that way. Is this my fault? Can I do this without you? Sonya. What happened to you? She closed her eyes and slipped into the void. An empty blackness that stretched out as far as she could see. She looked down at her hands, luminous in the bleak place. Her entire body aglow as it floated in that realm within her mind. She held her hand out and called for Sonya again, but she¡¯d felt it. The mote truly was gone. Scattered like the million stars above her head. Stars? She looked up. Her lips trembled. Grief rolling through her chest that drew clouds into the sky. Nothing she did had worked. Nothing she did had pulled her better half, her little sister, out of that place. Nothing had been good enough. Sonya¡¯s presence had assured her she was fine. But here she was, alone. For all her power and her scheming and her plans, it all felt pointless. Thunder clapped as she lowered herself to her knees, her fingers running across the velvety blackness beneath her feet. She curled forward and pressed her head to the ground. Is this my fault too? Did my existence weaken her mind so much that she couldn¡¯t hold together any longer? Was I out for too long? But I couldn¡¯t wake her! I couldn¡¯t- Her shoulders heaved. ¡°What¡¯s the point in holding on to this fake life if you aren¡¯t there?¡± she croaked, ¡°This is your story, damn it!¡± She slammed her fist against the ground, the little world shook as she sat up and looked back up to the stars. ¡°I hate how pretty it is,¡± she muttered, ¡°You would have loved it though.¡± ¡°Man, she¡¯s already writing me off. That¡¯s a little rude.¡± The words echoed out throughout the world like a thunderclap. Ishtar started and spun, searching for the source. ¡°Sonya?¡± ¡°Seriously! Like, what kind of villain mopes about like that, huh? Oh wow, wait, that¡¯s real rich coming from me, isn¡¯t it?¡± She spun around again, ¡°Sonya!¡± ¡°Gimme a second,¡± Sonya¡¯s thunderous voice said as the stars began to shine above. Ishtar watched as the light collected at a single point before taking shape. Sonya hopped out of it with a skip and a bound, her hair fluttering around her head. Yet it wasn¡¯t the very reappearance of Sonya that arrested Ishtar. It was her smile. Wide, a little mischievous, and so achingly genuine. A smile that reached her eyes. A smile that promised that campfire¡¯s worth of warmth in the lonely dark. Sonya made a show of brushing herself off, ¡°Man, that¡¯s tougher than I thought it¡¯d be. Taking shape in my own head, I thought I was getting good at it.¡± Ishtar raced towards her, grabbing onto her arms, squeezing her, her thoughts a whirl of confusion, joy, anger, frustration, grief, and- she hesitated. I can feel everything so clearly. ¡°Sure can,¡± Sonya said with a laugh before putting her hands on her hips, ¡°Good hanging in there, sis.¡± Ishtar looked at her, her lips trembling, ¡°You- I felt you go.¡± Sonya scratched her nose, ¡°Did I?¡± she tilted her head. ¡°Your mote, it shattered,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°I saw it disperse.¡± Sonya cracked a smug grin, ¡°Nah, It just got a little bigger,¡± she said and pointed up. Ishtar looked to the starry sky, to the clouds, Clouds? The void ... she turned and looked and saw sky, a horizon. A wind rushed past her and color filled the world. A blue sky hid the stars, white clouds, and an endless field of green grass. She spun around at the beautiful but oddly empty realm around her. ¡°You were hiding a lot from me,¡± Sonya chuckled, ¡°Got yourself a sexy divine private tutor? Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ve got three now so it''s fine.¡± Ishtar whirled back, ¡°I-¡± she looked down, ¡°Yes. I mean-¡± she chewed her lip and gave Sonya an irritated look, ¡°Oh you know what I mean!¡± she grumbled and crossed her arms, This little- Scaring me like that. I¡¯ll give her a piece of my- she paused and concentrated. ¡°Wait- three? What do you mean? Where have you been? What took you so long? Why can¡¯t I read your thoughts? Your mind feels so solid.¡± ¡°I¡¯m better now,¡± Sonya said simply. Ishtar blinked, ¡°Better? Just like that?¡± Sonya laughed, ¡°I¡¯d say a few centuries thinking about everything tends to clear stuff up,¡± she said offhandedly and then rubbed her chin, looking Ishtar up and down, ¡°So this is how you see yourself huh? Not bad! It¡¯s a good look for you. Not the ¡®big sister sneaks into my room at night, onee-chan¡¯ look I was expecting but hey! You do you,¡± Ishtar opened her mouth and tried to find any way to respond to that, failed, and shut her mouth. Sonya burst into laughter, wrapping her arms around herself and throwing her head back in a fit of giggles, ¡°Oh man! You should see your face! I finally got you speechless! Oh! Oh that was so worth it!¡± Ishtar felt her chest tighten a little, ¡°You really are... whole, aren¡¯t you?¡± Sonya stopped laughing and sighed, returning to that easy smile, ¡°Yeah. Thanks to you.¡± Ishtar looked away, ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything. A world conquering villain and I couldn¡¯t even touch whatever it was that was holding you.¡± ¡°You did enough,¡± Sonya said, ¡°You reached for me when I needed it most,¡± she said softly and held out a hand, ¡°Besides, I was in a trap set by a dead god! Little outside our current pay grade, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°A dead god?¡± Ishtar blurted. ¡°Yeah, something, something, Titania¡¯s a bitch, something, didn¡¯t want to die, blah blah, she imprinted herself on her ability¡¯s blueprint. It¡¯s a whole thing,¡± Sonya said with a dismissive wave of her hand before relaxing. She shrugged her shoulders and then sighed, ¡°It wasn¡¯t easy. Sis. I uh... I caved for a while there. I went further down than I ever thought was possible. You saved me. You and the others.¡± Ishtar didn¡¯t know what to say, ¡°Is she still... We still have her ability.¡± ¡°Not for long,¡± Sonya said with a huff, ¡°You learned some neat stuff about Broker from Pandora, didn¡¯t you?¡± Ishtar frowned, ¡°You weren¡¯t in a place where I could share any of that.¡± ¡°No, No I was not!¡± Sonya laughed, ¡°Nope, I would have fucked that up,¡± she said and looked up to the blue sky, ¡°Yeah. I learned some pretty good stuff too, though.¡± Ishtar watched her, her body language, the world around her that was the inside of her mind. Clarity. No obstacles. No pain. The emptiness was gone and filled with something strange and beautiful. She doesn¡¯t need me anymore, does she? She can handle the rest then. I¡¯ve served my purpose, she thought and smiled. What a relief. What a relief to be able to feel relief. Now I can- ¡°Nah,¡± Sonya said loudly. Ishtar blinked. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Just because you can¡¯t read my thoughts doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t read yours, sis. I know, a little unfair, but hey! I can¡¯t let you know what I¡¯m thinking right now,¡± Sonya teased and met her eyes. Ishtar stiffened and took a step forward, Sonya didn¡¯t budge as Ishtar got right in her face, ¡°I¡¯m not changing my mind. Sis. I¡¯m not letting you go.¡± Ishtar¡¯s eyes widened, ¡°You¡¯re finally healthy! I won¡¯t let you-¡± Sonya opened her eyes to the waking world and took a deep breath, she barked out a laugh. ¡°Like you¡¯ve got a choice in this!¡± Ishtar whipped her head to the right amidst the noisy wind, ¡°I have every right to choose whether I continue existing or not!¡± Sonya spun around in the air, giggling, ¡°Then do something about it!¡± Ishtar took control again, ¡°Sonya Chernovna, don¡¯t you dare!¡± Sonya wrenched Ishtar out of the drivers seat and snickered, ¡°Sorry! I¡¯m the bad guy this time, and you know what?¡± she threw her arms out wide, ¡°I¡¯m gonna get away with this one too!¡± she rolled with laughter as they passed through a cloud, ¡°If the world can¡¯t stop me, what makes you think you can?¡± Ishtar went silent. Sonya listened to her thoughts, felt her feelings, smiled and nodded. ¡°I know you¡¯re scared. I was too. But we¡¯re okay. There¡¯s nothing wrong with us. We are who we are. Now it¡¯s my turn to protect you just like you¡¯ve been protecting me all this time. I¡¯m not letting you fade away just because I¡¯m better.¡± Ishtar stood in that grassy field and closed her eyes with a resigned smile, ¡°At least you finally have the mindset down. Fine. Do whatever you want, you wicked brat.¡± ¡°Always have been,¡± Sonya laughed into the sky, ¡°Now! I do believe I have a deal to make.¡± ¡°HEY! WORLD!¡± Sonya shouted, ¡°YEAH! YOU! LIFE! HUMANITY! HISTORY! WHATEVER THE FUCK YOU ARE! I DO BELIEVE YOU OWE ME BIG!¡± she roared and threw out her hand, ¡°SO HERE''S THE DEAL! IT''S TIME TO PAY ME BACK FOR ALL I¡¯VE PUT INTO KEEPING YOU GOING! I¡¯M CASHING IN!¡± ¨C Riot threw out his hands, spreading his threads throughout the battlefield. He connected them, weaved them, pulled and pinched. Karma his plaything as he pushed his territory in a way he wanted towards a result he designed. The soldiers still fighting amidst the trees roared with renewed vigor. He felt his connection to Otis strengthen as he quietly weaved the threads to merge with his connection to Otis. He¡¯s sent Ishtar packing and now all that¡¯s left is to finish this mess, at least we managed to meet up with another team of heroes, I just hope they don¡¯t send us to clean up that dungeon break, Riot thought, glancing towards a self satisfied Felwinter who stood next to him, looking for her next prey. He¡¯d done his best to mitigate the damage, nudging people away from them while Felwinter and Phillip fought, but now there was no stopping her rampage. Still. There¡¯s turning back now. He knew that his karmic link between Otis was too strong to break at this point. He had been dragged into his orbit and there was just no escape. All he could do was mitigate the damage as best he could. Helping Otis win in this battle meant saving lives, but it also meant pushing Otis towards his goals of fame and power. There was no separating the two outcomes and without that woman present, there was no hope of an alternative. He grit his teeth and closed his eyes, ¡°Damn-¡± A pulse of horrendous might washed over him. He staggered as his brain recoiled from it. He collided with one of the other support heroes who caught him, ¡°Hey, Riot, are you okay?¡± the hero called, pulling him to his feet, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t feel-¡± the pulse came again, clearer this time, That wasn¡¯t power. It was karma! It was like a wellspring of Karma had just exploded into existence, so much of it in one place surging into one location. His head felt heavy, his mind swam, something hot dripped from his nose and ears as he collapsed to his knees. ¡°What is that?!¡± he gasped. ¨C Sonya reached out to the world and it reached back. Just like Pandora had done before her, when she had made a deal with the world to seal away mana, Sonya would take what the world owed her for all her suffering and effort to save it. It didn¡¯t care if she had committed crimes along her path. The effort, the acknowledgement, that was all that mattered. She felt a presence that wasn¡¯t a mind. It wasn¡¯t conscious. It didn¡¯t think. It didn¡¯t have a will of its own. A force of nature, a part of nature, nature itself. That everything-ness reached back. ¡°Oh no! We¡¯re not done here!¡± she shouted and the presence seemed to pause. ¡°I¡¯m gonna keep saving the world! I¡¯m going to do it, and I¡¯m going to win! No one¡¯s gonna stop me! No one¡¯s gonna get in my way! This world is going to be better than the last time around, Pandora¡¯s and Otis¡¯! This is my world! My legend!¡± she bellowed, ¡°So I think you need to pay me up front!¡± ¨C ¡°...Flowering Branch!¡± Chunhua roared, a wave of force ripping out from her weapon in an arc of power. The wave crashed into the gathered cultists and tore through them as Kant blocked, whipping her weapon to the side with a snarl and sending the wave crashing to the ground. The wicked cultivator¡¯s black hair whipped around her face as she glared baelfully at Chunhua. Chunhua raised her weapon and pointed it at her. ¡°You¡¯ve gotten stronger but you¡¯re still willing to throw numbers at me. Did losing an arm scare you, Kant?¡± I need to finish this already, that earthquake was another dungeon breaking. I still have no idea what happened with the first dungeon¡¯s monsters, this is getting bad. ¡°It¡¯s Tianmo to you!¡± Kant shouted, raising her sword and clenching her fist around it. Dozens of cultists dropped to the ground as dark power rushed from them, gathering around Kant¡¯s body like a halo. It drew into her skin as her eyes glowed, wounds healed, and her cultivation increased just a little bit more. She readied her weapon and took a step forward, Chunhua felt her power rise for a moment. She¡¯s getting ready to- They both froze. A rush of awareness coming over them. Chunhua spun, ¡°A heavenly tribulation?¡± she gasped. ¡°That¡¯s impossible, there aren¡¯t any cultivators that powerful around here,¡± Kant said, also looking up at the sky. ¡°But it feels like it, what is happening?¡± Chunhua breathed ¨C Sonya passed through another cloud as the world, mana, nature, the collective subconscious, history itself made its decision. Sonya grinned and clenched the fingers on that hand she was holding out, ¡°It¡¯s a deal!¡± she shouted, ¡°I¡¯ll save the world! I¡¯ll make it happen! I¡¯ll give it everything I¡¯ve got and I¡¯ll get away with it! I¡¯ll survive to see the other end of all of this and I¡¯ll take it all! So you give me what I want! I want her to be a part of me, not just a figment, not just a fragment, real. She is real! So let¡¯s make it stick! While you¡¯re at it, do me a favor and deal with that bitch Titania!¡± Sonya laughed, ¡°I guess that means more problems! No worries, I¡¯m the bad guy after all, I can take it!¡± Sonya smiled, ¡°Ishtar?¡± Ishtar looked up in that grassy place towards the sky, ¡°Yes, you wicked, silly girl?¡± ¡°I love you, sister.¡± ¨C Crusader sat on the ground, her arm thrown over a knee as she watched Liberty and Harbinger clash again. The ground beneath her kept shaking and it looked like it was trying to rise up in places, forming tiny little walls here and there. She shook her head in disbelief before looking up at Harbinger, alight with golden fire, standing toe to toe with her monstrous sister whose powers were dwindling with every second. It was almost over. A clash sent Harbinger flying back a few feet and she skidded to a stop next to Crusader who looked up at her with a grin despite what seemed like an apocalypse around them. Harbinger landed next to her, ¡°You good?¡± she asked, breathless. Crusader nodded, ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± How about you?¡± Harbinger licked her lips, ¡°Never better,¡± she said with a grin, ¡°I feel like I¡¯m onto something. I will be the one that beats her,¡± she said, her blue eyes glinting behind matted blonde hair. Crusader smiled, ¡°I believe you. Just gotta hold out till-¡± she stopped as she felt a presence explode into being. Her powers flickered for a moment, a strangeness overcoming her. She looked down at her hand and then up at Harbinger who was looking equally lost. Across from them, even Liberty frowned and looked up at the sky. Liberty¡¯s eyes widened as the tiny moments of fear she¡¯d concealed behind rage were brought all the way to the fore. Terror filled her eyes. Something big was coming. ¨C Sonya opened her eyes inside the warehouse. She looked down at her hand and saw the glowing, sparking token that was Visage of Titania. She felt the cruel intent inside that she had missed before. How it had acted upon her own abilities to trap her within her own mind. She felt it respond despite its protestations, her power eclipsing it in that moment. That¡¯s right. This is game over for you, bitch. She thought and held out a hand, tokens from across her warehouse gathering over her palm. She grinned. That should be enough, she hummed to herself before spotting a few more minor ones here and there, Oh wait! That¡¯ll be good, and this one, and this one! She chuckled as the token that represented visage screamed in protest. She snickered and gathered them all before looking down at the token again. I think that¡¯s enough! Begin the Merger! Sonya opened her eyes back to the waking world. She was still falling. It was funny to her how time seemed to slow down when she was inside her own head. I should take advantage of that more often, she thought before turning in the air and feeling out the world. Now I do believe I¡¯m owed- ah! She chuckled as she felt the mana from afar. All the mana bubbling in the sky over the warzone, it had been gathering around dungeons starting to pour in and push them towards bursting. Now that won¡¯t do. ¡°Hey World! I¡¯ll take that! That work for you?¡± she shouted. ¨C Amos stared at the screen, running his fingers through his hair. He couldn¡¯t believe what he was seeing. Another dungeon had gone up, the blast had been small comparatively but the mana released into the atmosphere by it sent a chill down his spine. He¡¯d been about ready to tell Euclidia to start withdrawing the heroes from the follow-up blast zone when everything began to change. The naturally moving clouds of mana had changed course, pulling away from the dungeons they were normally drawn to. Now they were all peeling away and gathering at a single point in the distance. What the fuck? ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Colin asked. Amos shook his head and got to his feet, ¡°I need to suit up,¡± he said, ¡°That¡¯s close to where the last signal we got from the boss was. If she¡¯s still alive, I need to get her out of there as fast as I can!¡± ¨C Sonya opened her eyes in the grassy field of their mind space. Ishtar stared at her, her eyes wide. She looked down at her hands, ¡°Sonya, I-¡± Sonya smirked and moved to meet her, taking her face in her hands, ¡°I will never leave you behind. You are a part of me. We are the same. We both wanted to die, didn¡¯t we? If I have to keep going, so do you,¡± Sonya said gently and brushed her dear reflection¡¯s hair out of her face. Ishtar rested her head against Sonya¡¯s ¡°If it¡¯s like this, it¡¯s going to be pretty quiet in your head most of the time.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know how it¡¯ll work, but I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll be fine,¡± Sonya murmured. ¡°I don¡¯t doubt it,¡± Ishtar said with a chuckle, ¡°Even so, you¡¯ll be fine without me when I¡¯m quiet? You¡¯ll be in charge from now on. No free rides.¡± Sonya sniffed as her chest heaved, she threw her arms around Ishtar¡¯s neck and nodded, ¡°Yeah,¡± she croaked. ¡°Looks like I got away scott-free first,¡± Ishtar joked, ¡°Immortalized as an ability. Kind of fitting, don¡¯t you think?¡± Sonya pulled back and scoffed, ¡°You¡¯re so arrogant.¡± ¡°I get it from you,¡± Ishtar quipped, ¡°Now what are you going to do?¡± Sonya smirked at her, a smirk that turned into a vicious grin, ¡°Save the world and get away with it. No one¡¯s going to stop me.¡± ¡°You were born to make history, Sonya,¡± Ishtar said, ¡°You were born to do this. You are the most incredible-¡± her voice cracked a little, ¡°You, you made a being that was made to feel nothing, feel so much for you. I care for you more than you could possibly imagine and I have spent every day of my existence in a glow as I have watched you grow,¡± she said and ran her hands down the sides of Sonya¡¯s face, ¡°If anyone can do this, it¡¯s you. Embrace it. Revel in it. Be the villain the world needs. I¡¯ll be watching until you need me.¡± Sonya¡¯s words choked as she pulled her into a deep embrace, ¡°See you soon.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t wait,¡± Ishtar said and, just like that, she burst into a cascade of light. Sonya woke, falling from the sky. She tasted blood on her lips as she fell and fell. The wind roaring around her helmet, ¡°It¡¯s about time, isn¡¯t it? My dear reflection? Come, let me hear your voice. Sister, I need you, we have a world to save, It¡¯s time to put my mask on,¡± she murmured, as if in a trance. She closed her eyes and felt the sky rushing past her, she breathed deep, thoughts drifting into her head slowly at first before turning into a deluge. Impressions, ideas, concepts, knowledge, wisdom, information that she¡¯d segmented from herself somehow when Ishtar was born. Instincts, instructions for her abilities that she hadn¡¯t even considered but seemed laughably obvious in retrospect. She thought about her new friends she¡¯d made in that terrible place, gratitude swelling in her chest. Pandora, Loki, Set, she¡¯d see them again soon, she knew it. Sonya let out a low, shuddering breath. ¡°Your will is mine, my will is yours,¡± she said and her helmet cracked. Her regalia began to flicker and glow, blue pixels swallowing it and restoring it in rapid succession as her hair leaked out from the fissure in her helmet. In her mind''s eye she clenched down on the token of Visage of Titania, squeezing it tighter and tighter as she drew mana away from the battlefield and into herself. She greedily consumed it all, made it her own, used it, forged it. The token trembled in her grip, shook, the light changed to the color of Kera¡¯s primal ability before losing all color, becoming naught but pale light. FWOOM The token turned pink and then burst, scattering and reforming into something beautiful and new. Something uniquely hers. A new pattern. A new blueprint. Her helmet exploded, shards falling off of her and dissolving into motes of pale white light. ¡°What once was broken now is whole,¡± She spread her arms out and lifted her chin, her hair whipping past her. ¡°My dearest reflection, I hear your voice,¡± she felt power march through her veins and meridians, cycling, rising, building into a crescendo. There was no pain like other mergers. No terror. No anguish. Just peace. ¡°I¡¯m standing tall now, I¡¯ve made my choice.¡± Her body erupted into a glow, her entire being consumed for a moment in the light of the Flash. Something moved over her arms and legs, plates of metal that sinched into shape around her body as her regalia dissolved away. A chestplate, elegant and beautiful with laurel patterns formed on her chest and glowed with faint light. Armor affixed to her arms and gauntlets formed over her hands, delicate and beautiful but adorned with wicked claws. ¡°For the sake of the world, I¡¯ll damn my soul, I¡¯ll save them all,¡± she murmured as a new helmet formed over her jaw, a single silvery shape that encased her head. ¨C Alarms flashed in Otis¡¯ vision as he carved his way across the battlefield. Red lights flashing on the heads up display of his ability. He smashed another cultist that approached him and kicked the corpse away with a growl. What now? He thought, It¡¯s taking too long to get to Liberty. Didn¡¯t the other heroes deal with these insects already? I can¡¯t let those girls win and report back! He raged even as the lesser heroes behind him, the chattel who had tagged along as he charged back to his destination, looked at him with admiration. It¡¯s just not enough! A thrum went through the air and the alarms in his head turned into a siren. He whipped his head towards the source, somewhere far, far away. He felt the mana around him getting pulled from the battlefield. But- the dungeons. What the hell is happening? ¡°WHAT?!¡± he bellowed and came to a complete stop, looking up at the sky. Shock. He stared at the words in open horror. No. No no no. It was supposed to be ME first! Me! There was only one person who was even possibly capable of so completely pulling the rug out from under him. Rage consumed him as he picked up his pace, rising off the ground with his flight power and launching himself towards the center of the field. He couldn¡¯t let her get in his way again. ¡°ISH-TAAAAAAR!¡± ¨C Sonya hurtled towards the ground as the armor finished taking shape, a smile on her face beneath that glittering diamond helm. ¡°Thank you, for making me strong, for carrying that weight for so long,¡± She sung and tilted her head a little, ¡°For a woman lost outside of time, you fought so hard, I know what I need to do now. I¡¯ll take the weight,¡± she promised. ¡°I hear you.¡± I¡¯m with you. I will never leave your side. Ishtar said, her voice sounded distant, but soon it rose to the surface within her mind before easing into her own thoughts. This will take some getting used to. It feels different than before. Sonya smiled, ¡°Want to try the first function?¡± Absolutely. The information came faster, faster, faster, the instincts building in her mind and laying bare that blueprint of something new. She felt Deus Ex Machina react instantly, reorganizing her abilities, structuring them, adjusting them. It pulled them together into categories and aligned them with one another. Streamlined. More efficient. More powerful than ever before. TICK... TICK... TICK TICK TICK TICKTICKTICKTICKTICKTICK ¡°We are one.¡± Sonya said aloud, her voice, layered with Ishtars, two voices echoing in concert shook the air as the earth drew ever closer. ¡°I AM ISHTAR.¡± The helmets eyes opened, pink light burning like flames from its smooth surface. She pivoted in the air and threw herself towards the ground, landing with a titanic boom that made the earth itself tremble. She rose to her feet with her head held high and let her presence wash over the earth. Her gaze opened, the excess mana still drawing into her body to fuel her new form sent her eyes to the far corners of the world. Pink rings formed over cities across the globe and she peered down upon them all. Sonya drew a deep breath into her lungs, the injuries on her body healing and the pain that had wracked her from Otis¡¯ blow subsiding. She reached out with her senses as she drew her gaze away from the world that had slammed to a halt in the wake of her awakening. She felt the mana in the air even from where she was now. The remaining dungeons in the region were out of immediate danger but if the fighting continued they would inevitably burst. One more had already gone up. The three-way battle was going badly. The world was teetering on the verge of destruction yet again. First Vegas, Then Tokyo, Then Seattle, now here. ¡°Can¡¯t have that,¡± she said, trembling with the excess power burning inside of her from her pact. Certainly not, I should do something about all that, shouldn¡¯t I? Ishtar thought. ¡°Maybe make a show of it,¡± Sonya said with a smirk, ¡°Gotta make a grand entrance, don¡¯t I?¡± I most certainly do, after all, what is more important to a villain than- ¡°PRESENTATION!¡± She laughed and darted into the sky. Chapter 239 Chapter 239 As the wind whipped past her, the booms of their acceleration washing past her glowing white armor. A pair of illusory white dragon wings flapping at her sides. Fancy. Sonya took a moment to re-familiarize herself with her body and her refined abilities. All of them had been condensed into new powers that made up a greater whole than the sum of their parts. First, of course, was Broker. It hadn¡¯t changed much but she knew what it was now. It was the power that all Arbiter¡¯s possessed in the past. The only difference between her and them was she didn¡¯t have the ancient worldpact restraining what she could do with it. She wasn¡¯t some lawbringer, after all. The second was Deus Ex Machina, she knew it had some sort of higher function, she could feel it. However, that power seemed to still be out of her reach even in her new state. That or it was something passive that she didn¡¯t fully understand. Deus Ex Machina was split into to sub abilities as well that made up the bulk of her powerset. Cybernetic Paragon was the first of those and it was comprised of all of her physical enhancements, technopathy, mental enhancements, everything. She wasn¡¯t sure if it literally meant Paragon, but she felt like she could throw one mean punch now. The second was Will of the Architect which had a lot of her construct-based abilities baked in, including Hard Light, Augmented Reality, and Storage Space. Then there was Regalia of Sonya Chernovna. She flushed a little bit at the name and grinned to herself. Now that was a good feeling. A power all her own, not based on anything else other than her own legend. And the best part; You¡¯re grinning like a fool. ¡°I¡¯m having the time of my life! Excuse me for being jolly!¡± This feels so strange. We¡¯re separate but together at the same time. I am... myself. ¡°That was the plan,¡± Sonya said with a shrug as they passed over yet another field. She did a quick barrel roll, laughing as her wings flapped. She allowed herself to dive into the instincts of the new power and was pleased to see many of the functions that were allotted to Visage of Titania were still there, just hers now. ¡°Looks like I can turn just your voice on if I want to, we don¡¯t have to be in full regalia to talk.¡± Yes, I can see it. Benefits of being a will within an ability is that I know all the ins and outs. ¡°So it¡¯s like Qilin¡¯s Wisdom?¡± Something like that. I think even I will still have to explore the full depths of the ability. And that''s if you don¡¯t keep cramming new functions into it, Ishtar said sardonically. ¡°Works for me,¡± Sonya laughed. "And I¡¯m totally upgrading you.¡± I am not a waifu in one of your stupid mobile games! ¡°Oh my god, did you just say waifu?¡± Sonya laughed. It is... so good to have you back. ¡°Missed you too sis,¡± Sonya said with a chuckle. Her smile relaxed. "I¡¯ll tell you everything that happened to me once this is all done. Got a lot to share and people to introduce you to. It¡¯s hard to explain.¡± I trust you, Ishtar said, So what kind of grand entrance are we going to make? Sonya tilted her head. "Well I was thinking about it and I have just the thing. It¡¯s very much my style after all,¡± she said and briefly explained what she had in mind. You are... insufferable. ¡°You love it.¡± You¡¯re not really going to say that, are you? ¡°Of course I am!¡± There was a pause and then laughter, genuine laughter in the back of Sonya¡¯s mind. She felt the touch of Ishtar¡¯s presence rumbling with mirth. Alright, this is your show, little sister. Go wild. ¡°Oh. I intend to,¡± she said and reached out with technopathy. ¡ª Amos threw on his jacket and zipped it up. The long rain-coat like garb was made entirely of the latest materials he¡¯d created from a combination of metals and leathers acquired from dungeons. He slipped the respirator over his mouth and tugged the goggles on as well, throwing the hood up next. He turned for his gauntlets, heavy looking things with a whole litany of functions baked in and grabbed the first one. ¡°Babe!¡± Amos pulled it on. "Almost ready!¡± ¡°What¡¯s ¡®AnSsupergmgmix1?¡± Amos froze and spun around, darting down the short hall from his suit-up room to the control room in his lab. He slid to a stop. "What did you say?¡± he asked, pulling his respirator down and racing towards the computer where Colin sat. All of the screens had turned black except for one which had a loading bar on it. It had a single message on it. He blinked. "No way. That¡¯s our...¡± ¡°Amos?¡± Colin asked. Amos burst into laughter and threw his hood back. "She¡¯s back!¡± he turned and picked his boyfriend up, spinning him around. "She¡¯s BACK!¡± ¡ª Another compound fell. Liberty felt the strength slowly leaving her body as each of the members of her cult were dealt with by whatever monstrous force was attacking it. There was only one left. One compound standing between her and defeat. She heaved out a breath as her arms fell to her sides, the sword in her hand was chipped and worn. She took a small amount of petty pleasure in knowing that she¡¯d damaged Black Lotus¡¯ students¡¯ weapon beyond repair. The rage had dwindled, each blow forcing it out of her as her sister just kept coming. Those golden flames from the other brat seemed to catch and spread rather than grow weaker. She flicked her eyes towards the dark haired girl, sitting off near the edge of the battlefield with her legs crossed and her fists pressed together. Just sitting there while Harbinger does the work, cocky little... she trailed off in her thoughts as she looked towards the gathered crowd. Handmaiden was there, her arms crossed as she watched the fight. Her maid gown dancing a bit in the wind that had grown increasingly fierce as things wound down and that strange, mighty presence from earlier faded. Not far from Handmaiden was the red haired woman she¡¯d fought in Seattle, Evergreen. She stood with a grin on her face and head tilted slightly to the right. Liberty met her eyes and Evergreen pressed her lips out and waggled her eyebrows in a taunt. Bitch. ¡°Guildmaster Bluestar is here!¡± someone shouted. Another one? She whipped her head towards the side opposite the pair and saw a woman in blue robes walk out, her brown hair fluttering around her. A dour looking boy stood at her left, slipping a pair of knives into slots on the back of his belt. At her right was a man in a black hood and leathers carrying a bow in one hand, he was grinning ear to ear and talking lightly with another man in a plague doctor¡¯s mask. With them was another face that hammered home everything. Pence. The muscular member of her Round Table. The man who could move anywhere and escape any obstacle with powers over direction and momentum, was bound tightly by a strange black creature made of some foul ink-like substance. It¡¯s mad eyes were watching him, its head bounding about around his to observe from every angle. Where are Kant and Phillip? ¡°It¡¯s over, Liberty.¡± She turned her head towards Harbinger with a snarl. "You think it¡¯s-¡± THUMP What? The little voices of her followers, their thoughts, they vanished in an instant. The last compound was gone. She looked down at her shaky hands, her muscles had thinned down to the light muscle of a common athlete. Her fingers looked stretched and worn, what little armor remained on her body felt heavy. So heavy. She wheezed out a breath as a knee buckled beneath her and she fell. Both knees finally touching the ground. She felt hot. Tired. How long had it been since she felt tired? The crunch of boots approached through the torn battlefield and she looked up into her sister¡¯s blue eyes. The gold flames licked against her shoulders and her hammer was lowered to her side. There was no anger there. No hatred. Just... no. No no no. Don¡¯t you look at me like that. Don¡¯t you dare look at me like that! She clenched her teeth as a croaking sound escaped her dry throat, but all she could feel was her heart collapsing under her sister¡¯s cold, indifferent gaze. ¡°You¡¯ll die for your crimes,¡± Harbinger said. "But it won¡¯t be on a battlefield. You thought you were above the world, well now the world is going to judge you, Liberty,¡± she said and raised her finger to her ear. "Liberty has been secured.¡± ¡ª Otis raced past the other heroes as they finished securing the last remnants of the cult. The bodies of heroes, villains, cultists, and pandora soldiers were scattered everywhere. He launched himself into the air once he had enough space, calling on the power he¡¯d discovered in the camp dungeon to give himself flight. He didn¡¯t care if the heroes saw him fly anymore, it wasn¡¯t necessary to hide it. He¡¯d just wipe all their memories once he finished with his task. <¡±Liberty has been secured.¡±> Otis¡¯ eyes went wide, Already? Wait- who is that? That isn¡¯t Crusader! That¡¯s the little sister! Ishtar¡¯s bratty little spy! Of course! She set it up to make her home-grown hero look good! I still have time. I told the news crew to keep their reporting on a delay just in case anything happened. I just have to- KRAK-OOOM! The bolt of lightning struck him square in the back, sending him hurtling back towards the ground. He hadn¡¯t sensed it coming at all. He bounced once off the dirt as a few nobody heroes came running over, shouting his name. He snarled and got to his feet only for something cold to dig into his side. He looked down and saw a puddle of blackness vanish into the ground as a boot drove into his nose. He was forced to his feet by the impact, staggering backwards as blood splattered from his quickly healing nose. ¡°You little!¡± he snarled as the woman with gray hair he had taken to task earlier in her first attempted assassination stood before him, lighting sparkling on her body. She grinned. "Sup!¡± He called up his sword again. "Out of my way, villain!¡± he shouted. ¡°Nope!¡± she snickered and vanished when he lunged at her, turning into lightning and darting across the bodies on the ground. "Not letting you touch me either! Learned my lesson!¡± SNKT Another knife dug into his thigh, he spun and swung down at the ground as that shadow vanished again. Something burned in his blood and his regeneration raced to push out whatever poison was spreading through his veins. If I switch to Immunity I won¡¯t have all my stats capped, he thought as he turned around. Delaying me, again! KRAK- There! THOOOM! He spun and raised his sword as another bolt of lighting raced towards him horizontally, streaking across the field. A shadow raced up his arm and yanked before he could lock in his block. He wrenched himself free only for the hot might of a true bolt of lightning to crash into his chest. Otis was lifted off the ground and sent flying back, crashing into a crowd of soldiers and heroes who quickly gathered to his side. ¡°Otis! Hero Otis! Are you okay?¡± He pulled himself free of their hands as they helped him up. "I¡¯m fine! Nothing can kill me!¡± he shouted and raised his sword. "Certainly not some villains!¡± I¡¯m being watched by them now, I could make them forget, but doing it so often... he ground his teeth, I still need to get back to the place where Liberty is. He shifted a foot back and the woman snickered, floating above the ground a few dozen meters away. She was glowing with electricity as a shadowy form rose up at her left, dark eye staring at him from behind a cowl as violet blades extended from nothing. ¡°Thinking of running?¡± the supervillain Kerauna asked. ¡°The mistress has made her intentions for you plain,¡± the supervillain Blackrazor hissed. Otis narrowed his eyes as murmurs rose up among the heroes behind him. ¡°I heard some people saying things, but does Otis really have a rivalry with Ishtar?¡± ¡°What happened between them?¡± ¡°She¡¯s taken an interest in him and nobody¡¯s seen her since she dragged him off earlier.¡± ¡°They fought, you don¡¯t think...?¡± ¡°He won¡¯t run from this, will he? If he can fight Ishtar then...¡± Otis pressed his lips together, looking between the two supervillains as they stood, waiting for him to make a move. Dragging things out just like their boss. He frowned, it seemed like he was going to have to overdo it today after all. He needed to make good on his threat to Ishtar. He liked the plan he¡¯d come up with. He raised his hand and called up his menu, reaching for the cheat tab. Just need to switch out one of my stats for Anonymous for a few moments. He thought when something reached his ears. He blinked, Piano? No, pipe organ? The pipe organ burst out from every direction, the sound of drums accompanying it and the hum of string instruments. Then came the brass section. It swelled and swelled and swelled as he looked around, trying to find the source of the strange music. Some sort of ability? Who on earth would- ¡°Uh...¡± one of the faceless heroes behind him said. "...why do I hear boss music?¡± And then, there was light. The sky bloomed with a pink glow as a disk formed above everything, a symbol taking shape within it, that of an all seeing eye that flickered and crackled before becoming solid and stable. He looked up and cracked his neck, his glowing eyes narrowing. You¡¯re already here then. Come back for more? You think you can just take my glory from me? ¡°HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!¡± Hundreds, thousands of panels of hard light formed in the sky and raced towards the ground, slamming into it and stacking on top of one another. They formed panels and steps as they rose higher and higher into the sky to meet with a gleaming form that stood at the top. A suit of illustrious white armor and gleaming white helm. A pair of ethereal draconic wings stretching out on either side, not directly attached but clearly part of the ensemble. Around it, a dozen marble skinned figures with wings hung in the air with golden swords in their hands. ¡°Otis!¡± The voice was lyrical, the cruel rasp that once accompanied it replaced with something otherworldly that echoed in his chest. There was a whimsy to the laughter that followed as the distant figure spread out her arms in greeting, clawed gauntlets curling into fists. The eye above grew brighter as the flying soldiers raised their swords at attention. Her wings flared before vanishing and she landed on the top step. The music swelled until a new song began, a merry ditty on an electric piano. Ishtar presented herself in all her glory as Otis ground his teeth. ¡°That wasn¡¯t even my final form!¡± Chapter 240 Chapter 240 I really can¡¯t believe you just said that, Ishtar sighed. Far above everyone, looking down from atop that winding staircase made of hardened light, with the wind flowing around her, Sonya swayed her head left and right as the little tune started up across the battlefield. The mass of heroes and soldiers looking up at her, stunned by her arrival. She could even see the heroes gathered at the heart of the compound turning to face the strange new sight. She savored the moment before rapidly tacking out a quick text in her head, shooting it off. Really? Sonya bounced on her feet as a grin spread across her face. Her fingers twitched, the claws on her gauntlets clacking dangerously. The might of cybernetic paragon wound up in her legs and as the merry ¡®doot doot doot¡¯ of the tune abruptly rolled over into hard rock drums and guitar, she took off like a rocket. The winged legionnaires she¡¯d created shot off after her and she threw out a hand. "Chase off the heroes! I want Otis.¡± ¡°AS DECREED!¡± ¡®This is your time to pay-¡¯ Sonya planted her feet on the stairs and pushed off again, throwing herself into the air. ¡°Kera!¡± she shouted, throwing out her hand. Down below, a bolt of lighting shot from the ground. She snatched it out of the air, the force pulling her hand up. She laughed appreciatively. "You¡¯re stronger! I¡¯m so proud!¡± she shouted as she rocketed towards the ground. Down below, the heroes were scattering as Otis took a fighting pose. Her eyes widened even more, her heart pounding, the thrill rising. "Hey Otis!¡± she shouted. She watched his eyes narrow and stuck her tongue out in her helmet. "Your fly¡¯s down.¡± His expression twisted into one of disgust just as Blackrazor¡¯s shadow wrapped around his leg and a knife shot from it into his thigh. He whipped his head down as Sonya brought Kera down in an overhead chop. KRAKOW! Otis staggered, his entire body stumbling forward as Sonya hopped over him with a whoop and laugh, landing on her feet and spinning into a gymnast bow, Kera tucked under one arm. She looked up and saw him turn, a snarl on his face as he launched off the ground with a startling amount of speed. She whistled and hopped back, batting his sword away with a spin of Kera. ¡°Blackrazor!¡± she called and felt the chill of his shadow rush up her leg before latching onto her back. Otis¡¯ eyes burned as Blackrazor¡¯s shadow burst out, bolts of darkness darting towards him from black spots that swelled into being around her. She added to the barrage with her own spears of light. Otis backed off, sweeping his sword back and forth to swat away the attacks. His fighting style is brutalist and simple, easy to deal with. The real danger comes from his monstrous physical attributes and invulnerability. I¡¯ve tested it, by the way, Ishtar said, The mythic heroes are on their way as well, they won¡¯t retreat without a good reason, even if Carla orders them. Sonya smirked, Then all I gotta do is make a big enough scene. Otis swept his sword out and pointed at her, opening his mouth for more monologuing. Sonya dipped into the warehouse and jerked her chin. A column of stone erupted from the ground and he pulled away from it, scoffing only for his eyes to widen as she appeared in front of him with a laugh. He planted his feet and brought his sword up and she snapped her hand down, grabbing onto the blade and pushing into a handstand. She brought her boot right back down onto the back of his head, knocking him forward. She locked herself in place with her flight power, holding his sword still. CLANG! He hit his head against the flat of the blade. She laughed and pushed off, launching into the sky as he whirled up to look for her and she came right back down with a pirouette. She threw Kera at the clouds part way through her spin as a new weapon formed in her hand, a curved blade made of light. Khopesh and Longsword clashed as her hair fluttered around her. She looked right into his infuriated eyes and snickered. "Have you met my friends, the trees?¡± she asked as sparks danced between their weapons. He tilted his head and squinted at her in confusion. ¡°What the f-¡± She jerked her weapon down and to the left, sliding it towards his hand-guard with frightful speed. He reacted on instinct, human desire to defend his fingers even as rational thought would have reminded him the guard was there. He pulled his hand back and she twisted around him like a snake. "Allow me to...¡± she planted a hand on the ground and snapped out a kick. "Introduce you!¡± BOOM! Otis soared and crashed into the trees. Sonya threw out a hand and gestured. The foliage abruptly becoming discolored as tree-trunks turned white and their leaves turned a bright vibrant pink. She raised a hand and brought it down in a fist and the trees seemed to turn of their own accord. They raised their limbs and began wailing on something in their midst. She bounded back with a laugh, shooting off another quick text message in her head and winding up a portal connection. Around her, heroes were shouting, soldiers were fleeing. She threw her arms out wide and turned her head to the sky, blasting out a wave of her imperious presence. ¡°HEROES! ISHTAR IS HERE!¡± ¡°RAAAAAAAAH!¡± A flicker of gold. A crash. A blast of force. The trees toppled and Otis came barreling out with fury in his eyes. She kept her arms spread wide as if to invite him before making a thumbs up with one hand. She tilted her head and met his eyes before jerking her thumb down. He was half-way to her when he looked up and a bolt of lightning fell down on him once again. The electricity danced across the ground and back into her free hand. She twirled Kera again and rested her on her shoulder. Otis swayed, smoke rising off his body as he healed. ¡°Hey Blackrazor, gimme somethin¡¯ flashy,¡± she said as she struck a pose. Her henchman obliged, her shadow spreading down her back before lifting off her armor, bursting into a fluttering cloak that danced around her. She laughed. "How do I look Otis? Villain enough for you? I prepared all this for you, after all.¡± Otis stood up straight and looked down at her over his nose, his eye twitching. ¡°Irritating bitch...¡± She shrugged at him. "Coulda just said no,¡± she said as he charged her again. She weaved left and right, narrowing her eyes and grinning as sweat dripped down her temple. Fuck he¡¯s fast! She thought as another swing nearly grazed her armor. With a flex she let a hexagon of hard light form on its trajectory. His sword skipped before smashing through, its angle changing and hitting the ground hard. He let go of it with one hand and snapped it out, all light draining from the area around it. Her instincts screamed, but she rolled with it. Dropping into a sweep as Blackrazor in the form of her cape snapped up and wrapped around his extended wrist. Her shin caught his ankle and she pulled, spinning before slamming him into the ground. Sonya, I sense- Yup! More are coming¡¯! She opened a portal and dove into it like a fish, popping out into the air. Down below, Otis scrambled to his feet and roared at her as she raised her hand. Calculations complete. She reared her arms back and shoved them into the air, grabbing hard and pulling. Otis launched off the ground and she pulled harder, forcing the portal open faster, faster, faster! ¡°ISHTAR!¡± Otis snarled as he reached her eye level. She snickered behind her helmet, raising a hand to her mouth as if trying to conceal it. He tilted his head and squinted again, raising an eyebrow as a fist the size of the front-end of a semi-truck came at him from behind. His eyes widened and he spun just in time for her to hop out of the way, her arms behind her back. He took the punch to the face and body, the side of his head crumbling beneath the force. He flew across the field, hit the ground, bounced, and flew some more. She threw her head back and laughed before turning to the fists owner and raising her voice, using the drones speaker system to spread it. ¡°LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! THE MVP OF TONIGHT''S PERFORMANCE! INTRODUCING...¡± she threw her arms up and used beacon, creating a pillar of light around her titanic comrade. Standing above everything, many stories tall, his body a mass of muscle, his face a horrific mix of octopus and shark, his eyes aglow with a furious red. He flexed his arms and roared, mist billowing from his mouth. ¡°KINGSHARK!¡± She darted up into the air as more heroes charged into the field through what was left of the forest, many of them struggling to get past the animated trees that were lashing out at anything that got too close. How long can we keep this going? Ishtar laughed. Sonya shrugged to herself, The worldpact let me have all the mana here, might as well use it. Down below, Otis pulled himself from the divot in the ground made with his body and launched back towards her. She twirled Kera between her fingers and held one end up to her helmet like a microphone. "Oh boy! It looks like big man on campus Otis is back for more! But what¡¯s this? It looks like Kingshark wants to join in! What¡¯s he gonna do?¡± Kingshark roared and charged, his massive feet shaking the ground. He reared his fist back again as Otis raised his sword over his head. The weapon shone with dangerous light just in time for the ground beneath Otis to rupture, water blasting out of it in a column of force. Sonya winced. "Ohhh! Sneak attack! Should have seen that one coming! But wait! Kingshark isn¡¯t done now is he?¡± ¡°Ishtar!¡± a voice called out and she turned, looking down to see Black Lotus and Evergreen make their way onto the field. She put her hand on top of one end of Kera. "Excuse you, I am hosting an exhibition match here!¡± She called back before pausing, her eyes narrowing a bit. She darted towards the ground and landed in a flash of movement as Kingshark threw up his arms and roared behind her, slapping Otis to the ground with his palm and then throwing punch after punch after punch into the ground like a machine. She stood before Black Lotus and Evergreen, a hand on her hip and Kera on her shoulder, Blackrazor billowing around her. She looked at Black Lotus¡¯ face, She lost an eye. Black Lotus reached for her sword and Evergreen raised her hands, snow forming around her in a whirlwind. Sonya released Kera and Blackrazor, the two of them taking shape at her sides. She crossed her arms as the ground shook beneath their feet. Kingshark was still wailing on Otis like a man possessed. ¡°Enough, release him and call off your winged monsters,¡± Black Lotus snarled. Sonya tilted her head. "Are you gonna make me, heroes? You¡¯re in no shape to fight me.¡± ¡°WE ARE!¡± Bluestar, Bandit, Lifesaver, John, BLF, more heroes stepped out, readying themselves even as she could see the exhaustion plain on their faces. She popped her neck and raised her hands in an exaggerated shrug. "Come on...¡± she said. "...what''s a few dozen more exhausted heroes gonna do? If I were you-¡± BANG! Something streaked past Sonya and she looked down to see Otis slide across the ground to Black Lotus¡¯ feet. She turned her head and shot Kingshark a frown. "I was monologuing!¡± she shouted. The mighty titan who had crushed nearly all of Liberty¡¯s compounds and stood like a literal boss monster over the surrounding area raised his hand to his head and scratched it. S O R R Y She sighed and shook her head. "Kids, you know how it is, right?¡± she said with a chuckle and looked up to Black Lotus who was scowling at her. At the woman¡¯s feet, Otis pulled himself together, literally. He rose, his clothes torn, but his body unblemished as he scowled at Ishtar. He pointed his sword in her direction as the other heroes looked at him. She looked at his sword and then up at his face before snorting. "You¡¯re invincible, but can that head of yours really take any more beatings? I¡¯ve splattered you a couple times already. You can¡¯t stop me and I can¡¯t hurt you, we can keep this going forever if you like.¡± Otis panted. "I won¡¯t forgive you.¡± Sonya¡¯s smile faltered behind her helmet. Imperious came out next. She blasted her presence out in a tidal wave, even Blackrazor and Kera backing off a step as she raised her head high and looked down at him. The lesser heroes gathered collapsed. Evergreen and Black Lotus readied to attack. More portals appeared in the air as Sonya channeled Heavenly Legion. ¡°Forgive me?¡± she asked. "I think we both-¡± ¡°ATTENTION! THIS IS HANDMAIDEN REPORTING FOR PANDORA HIGH COMMAND!¡± The voice carried over everyone. Sonya pulled imperious back and smirked, letting the moment go. She wasn¡¯t gonna let him get to her. Guess it¡¯s over, Ishtar said. So it would seem, Sonya said. ¡°FULL RETREAT! WE¡¯VE ACCOMPLISHED OUR GOAL. I HAVE DELIVERED LIBERTY TO HEADQUARTERS. REPORT TO YOUR EVAC POINTS!¡± Black Lotus glared at her and she waved a dismissive hand in response. "Looks like momma Chairwoman wants her kids to come home. Enough playtime for you.¡± ¡°I can win!¡± Otis snarled and Black Lotus grabbed him by the shoulder. He moved to wrench himself free before looking back and meeting the hero¡¯s eyes. He dismissed his sword. ¡°You did well, Otis. You and Harbinger are the heroes of the day,¡± she said and looked up to meet Ishtar¡¯s eyes. Ishtar floated up into the air and crossed her legs, resting her elbow on her knee and her chin on her palm as a throne of hardened light appeared beneath her. She kicked her feet lazily for good measure. Black Lotus¡¯ scowl went dark as she looked at Kera, Blackrazor, and the approaching monolith that was Kingshark. She turned back to Ishtar. ¡°Are you going to let us leave, Queen of Villains?¡± ¡°Oh, I got what I wanted and then some,¡± Sonya said with a snicker. "Run, little heroes. You can come back later to clean up your mess. I heard another dungeon broke on your watch.¡± ¡°THIS ISN¡¯T OVER, ISHTAR!¡± Otis roared and turned away, marching into the trees as Black Lotus and Evergreen moved to stand in her way. The other heroes around them shouted as well, all of them raising their agreement. ¡°He¡¯s right!¡± ¡°We¡¯re bringing you down!¡± ¡°We beat Liberty, we¡¯ll beat you!¡± Sonya tilted her chin up. "Bring it on, little heroes! I¡¯ll be waiting!¡± ¡°Retreat!¡± Black Lotus shouted and the heroes scattered, racing to where Euclidia¡¯s portals were likely waiting. Sonya raised a hand and the Legionnaires turned away from their pursuits, gathering around her before retreating into their own portals as she lowered herself to the ground and landed on her feet. The marshy woodland where Liberty had hidden her main compound was a scorched ruin, animate trees wandering about and wailing on anything that got too close. Bodies scattered across the battlefield. Sonya felt a small pang in her chest that she embraced before letting out a relaxed sigh. "It¡¯s over.¡± Side Story – Heralds 1 Side Story ¨C Heralds 1 With yet another crash and thunderous rumble, a tree fell over in the blasted hellscape that was the remains of the heart of Liberty¡¯s power. Ash and dust kicked into the air, adding to the thickening fog that pervaded the space. Otis huffed, panting out a breath and pulled his fist back from where the tree had been. He snarled and ran his fingers through his hair, pacing back and forth as he tried to wrap his head around everything that had happened during the battle. ¡°It was supposed to be me!¡± he bellowed. "Me!¡± He spun on his heel again. "How did she do it? What did she do?¡± A twig snapped and his head whipped up. Felwinter stood next to a tree with her arms crossed, her expression somewhere between unease and regret. He narrowed his eyes and ground his teeth, holding her gaze for a few moments. Another set of footsteps. He turned to Riot who still looked pale and shell-shocked. Otis¡¯ lips twitched. "Explain it again,¡± he growled. Riot looked down at his feet and took a deep breath. "It was a massive surge of Karmic Debt, sir,¡± he said. "It felt like the world owed something and then it was paid suddenly.¡± ¡°Owed?¡± Otis scoffed. "Owed. Owed,¡± he looked back at Riot. "Did you get a good look at Ishtar?¡± ¡°...before the change, yes,¡± he shivered. "She can¡¯t possibly be human.¡± Otis¡¯ lip twitched at the words but he kept his calm. "And after?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t near that part of the battlefield sir, I-¡± ¡°WHY NOT?¡± Otis bellowed before catching himself, he crouched down and held his head with one hand, grinding his teeth even more, snapping his fingers and taking deep breaths. ¡°No... I can blame you for cowardice and incompetence if it happens, but I can¡¯t blame you for not being somewhere you had no idea you were supposed to be,¡± he snarled, more to himself than to Riot. He got to his feet and straightened his collar. "Fine. You didn¡¯t get your chance then. What else did you get out of seeing her earlier?¡± Riot seemed to be endlessly relieved by Otis¡¯ forgiveness, that pleased him. His home-grown herald rubbed his thumb on his palm and shivered again but he didn¡¯t dare leave his king waiting for too long. "I was able to clear a suspicion of mine,¡± he said hesitantly. "I had some suspicions that Sonya Chernovna was Ishtar,¡± Riot said. Otis laughed. "Chernovna?¡± he waved his hand. "Impossible, my guide-¡± he stumbled and clenched his fists. My guide has been disabled, all because of that bitch. He centered himself. "I was already aware, I identified Ishtar and Chernovna as two different people long ago. Did you share this suspicion with anyone else?¡± Riot shook his head. ¡°Good, don¡¯t,¡± Otis hissed. "Chernovna is our meal ticket. She is a cunning woman who squeezes everything she can out of an opportunity and doesn¡¯t react well to provocation. Irritate her at your peril. She may not be able to kill, but there are worse things than dying.¡± ¡°She¡¯s just an uncommon-tier businesswoman,¡± Felwinter scoffed. ¡°She created heroes,¡± Otis snapped. "Watch it. She¡¯s sleeping with the head of the Pandora Committee. She¡¯s close with Black Lotus and owns ASTA Corporation, the company that made the communications device in your ear. Her head researcher is Amos fucking Carter,¡± he snorted. "Just a businesswoman. Use your head! With her on our side we can make more progress than being at the beck and call of the committee.¡± ¡°Thats why you were so insistent on bonding with her,¡± Riot said thoughtfully. ¡°Exactly,¡± Otis said. "The other heroes are beneath us, but our relationship with her is essential. Understood?¡± The two Heralds nodded. ¡°Good! Don¡¯t bring this up again! Our focus is raising our status amongst heroes and in the public eye and looking for opportunities to hurt Ishtar.¡± He caught his breath from his rant and adjusted his hair again. "Anyway, Riot. Report.¡± Riot shifted on his feet. "I found him.¡± Otis narrowed his eyes. "...take me there.¡± It took less than fifteen minutes to arrive at the spot Riot had discovered. A copse of trees that seemed to have been partially drained of their vitality. The roots damaged by some sort of strange cold force. His lips twitched as a faint pain itched at his thigh. He pushed it down, making an effort to not show signs of his injury to the other two. It still hasn¡¯t healed properly. That poison was strange. Immunity isn¡¯t working correctly on it. It¡¯s fading but it¡¯s lasted far longer than I anticipated. What factor changed? He stopped his irritable march at the site Riot indicated. A body hanging limply from a tree trunk, a long violet blade stabbed through the chest. He tilted his head and scowled. "Halloway you pathetic man,¡± he rumbled. "What a waste.¡± ¡°Just leave him, I say,¡± Felwinter grumbled. "Corpse does us no good.¡± Otis frowned and turned away. "You¡¯re probably right,¡± he sighed. "I was so eager to prepare him-¡± he paused and frowned. ¡°Prepare...¡± ¡°Sir?¡± Otis held up a hand. "Prepare... she said she¡¯d prepared for me,¡± his eyes went wide. She doesn¡¯t just know what I intend to do, she knew who my intended Heralds were! She orchestrated An Set¡¯s fall and then began targeting Liberty. Does that mean Qilin and the others are off the table? Is her Inner Circle built to oppose me as well? He chewed his lip, That bitch is countering me at every corner. He looked up at Riot and Felwinter, I need to do the same. Create heralds that can beat her people. He looked back at the corpse of Halloway, With some work I could have made something out of him. ¡°Someone beat me here, I see,¡± a woman¡¯s voice broke into his thoughts. "Just as they said.¡± He spun and drew his sword, pointing it in the direction of the dark-haired asian woman he¡¯d seen in the trees just hours before, he narrowed his eyes. "Dame Ito.¡± Felwinter raised a hand and blades of black ice appeared while Riot took a step back and created glowing threads between his fingers. Ito took a step back as well and held up her hands. "It¡¯s you! Please! Give me a moment to speak!¡± the woman said. "I have something in my pocket I need to show you, may I?¡± Otis raised an eyebrow and gestured with his sword. "It better be good.¡± She slowly lowered her hand into her pocket and pulled out a thumb drive. Otis¡¯ eyes narrowed even more before widening. The thumbdrive he¡¯d given to Halloway to deliver to Liberty! His thoughts raced as something else occurred to him. Liberty recognized me as the author! Is she stupid enough to say something? Damn it! I left a loose end! His lips twitched into a smile, I suppose I¡¯ll have to do something about that. ¡°Explain yourself,¡± he hissed. Ito stared at the point on his weapon and swallowed hard. "I don¡¯t know what¡¯s on it,¡± she said, trying to regain a bit of her composure by smiling. "But my new boss does. They told me to deliver a message to ¡®the author¡¯ that they would like to collaborate.¡± Otis stood up straight and tilted his head. "Is your boss aware why I gave that thumb drive to Liberty?¡± Ito flicked her eyes towards Riot and Felwinter. ¡°They¡¯re mine,¡± Otis said. "Speak.¡± Ito inclined her head. "My boss said if you asked to say, ¡®fatten her up like a pig for slaughter¡¯.¡± Otis lowered his sword and barked out a laugh, throwing his head back and chuckling. He slapped his knee. "Good! Good! Someone fuckin¡¯ gets it!¡± he let out a little tension and dismissed his sword. "Okay, Ito, you¡¯ve got my attention. Who¡¯s your boss?¡± Ito visibly relaxed and slipped the drive back into her pocket before dropping to a knee. ¡°My new boss, Craftsman, sends his regards, and would like an opportunity to meet with the Author.¡± Otis stared at her for a while before throwing his head back and laughing even more. He sat down next to the tree where Halloway still hung and laughed, tears nearly forming in his eyes. When he finally stopped he was reclining against the tree, ignoring the coarse dry blood tickling the back of his neck. "So the story remains on-track. Good, good,¡± he nodded thoughtfully. "Tell your boss that I¡¯m looking forward to our meeting and that I¡¯ve been looking for them as well.¡± Riot and Felwinter turned to look at him in surprise but he just grinned, sitting there beneath the corpse of Halloway amidst the ash and destruction of the battlefield. That¡¯s right Ishtar... you may gain some ground but so will I. I won¡¯t let you have Liberty either, I can¡¯t have her talking now can I? He looked up at Halloway¡¯s corpse and got to his feet. "Felwinter, put him on ice,¡± Otis said as he stalked towards Ito. ¡°I think we might be able to make use of that useless man¡¯s body after all.¡± Chapter 241 A modern shower was a glorious thing. Warm water on her back, running through her hair, a cleansing after all of her experiences. The realm within Titania¡¯s ability hadn¡¯t been truly real, but it had felt that way. The dirt, blood, tears, pain, and shame that the old goddess had inflicted upon her. After everything she¡¯d been through, everything she¡¯d seen, everything that she¡¯d done, she finally felt truly whole. A light heart beat in her chest that wouldn¡¯t be extinguished by a single foul mood. She looked at herself in the mirror. The eyes were new; Amos had made them himself apparently. White sclera and picture perfect irises that glowed nicely in her favorite hue. She reached up and ran her fingers through and down her long white hair, stark white and shimmering with a silver finish. Witnessing an apocalypse and being sent back to her original body had started the change. Broker¡¯s awakening had been the final straw that had irrevocably altered her appearance from the grungy black-haired girl who¡¯d crawled her way through the hellscape of the past timeline. Her pale white-as-snow skin glittered with the remnants of the earliest abilities she¡¯d collected and merged into her own. She reached up to the mirror and traced a nail across her own lips, tilting her head and smiling at herself. "It¡¯s just me looking back now,¡± she murmured. "Lookin¡¯ good, Farsight. You¡¯ve come a long way,¡± she chuckled and rest her head against the cool surface. "That¡¯s the last time I¡¯ll call myself that, I think, it¡¯s about time I let her go too,¡± she stood back up and winked at herself, a bit of smugness rising to her face. "Ladykiller,¡± she snickered and grabbed a towel before slipping out into her bedroom. The bedroom was spacious but not overly so. The dominating feature being the overlarge California king she¡¯d picked herself set up at the far end. The walls had changed from their usual opaque white to take on the look of a field of flowers, the floor altered as well to add to the simulation. It made it seem like her bed, vanity, and closet door were simply free standing in the middle of a massive garden. She smiled at Marta who was standing next to her vanity, the woman dressed in her immaculate black-and-white maid attire. Brown hair fell down around her shoulder in neat tresses. Her white gloves gripped around a hairbrush. Next to the small seat was a white-furred hound monster, its luminous eyes an ever changing wash of color. It sat at attention and stared back at her as she approached. Levi, her familiar, had stayed out of the battle for obvious reasons. It was not yet strong enough to survive that level of violence. Packs of wild, near-mindless monsters were one thing. People were far more dangerous. Sonya reached down and stroked the side of his face as she sat down. ¡°Miss Chernovna,¡± she said politely with an inclination of her head. Sonya looked up at her face and decided not to bring up the slight red rings around the woman¡¯s brown eyes; their tearful reunion had been enough. ¡°I¡¯ll be troubling you again, Marta.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my duty,¡± Marta said with no small amount of joy in her voice as she started brushing Sonya¡¯s hair. Sonya closed her eyes and touched the wall in front of her with her technopathy, turning it over to the news broadcast. The speakers behind the wall turned on. ¡°It has been six hours since what the general population have unofficially begun calling ¡®World War Liberty¡¯ came to an end with the arrest of the Special-Class Supervillain and War Criminal by her sister and now famed Hero, Harbinger. With the death toll still being counted and two dungeon breaks being addressed in the aftermath, some experts are saying Humanity has been brought back from the brink of disaster.¡± ¡°How¡¯s the clean-up?¡± Sonya asked. ¡°Most of the monsters from the second dungeon break have been dealt with by follow-up teams. They weren¡¯t especially strong, but the damage to the surrounding area and towns isn¡¯t small, people aren¡¯t going to forget three breaks in one year,¡± Marta said. Sonya nodded. "It could have been a lot worse.¡± ¡°Nations are still reeling from the appearance of a giant humanoid monster that was later confirmed to be the Special-Class Supervillan Kingshark who ruthlessly attacked the compounds belonging to Liberty across the globe. The Pandora Committee has already announced that they are reassessing his threat level, and global sea trade has ground to a halt over concerns of his presence in the world¡¯s oceans.¡± Sonya glanced up at Marta who was grinning ear to ear as she worked. "Your boyfriend is pretty popular.¡± Marta flushed. "Isn¡¯t he? He looks great in that new form,¡± she sighed wistfully. Sonya raised an eyebrow. "You¡¯ve got some crazy tastes lady.¡± Marta pursed her lips. "I don¡¯t want to hear that from you, Miss ¡®gaming mix as my intro music¡¯.¡± Sonya laughed. "Fair enough!¡± she closed her eyes again and kept listening to the broadcast. ¡°As of this reporting, Liberty has been remanded into the custody of the Pandora Committee and her first hearing is set for tomorrow. Of her so-called ¡®Round-Table¡¯ only Sir Pence was arrested during the fighting and is currently being interviewed by Pandora Officials,¡± the reporter continued. "Of the Round-Table, Dame Ito is believed to have escaped as well as Dame Kant, who has been confirmed to have escaped after suffering serious injuries during the chaos of Ishtar¡¯s vicious onslaught near the end of the battle. The fates of the other members remain unconfirmed.¡± Sonya hissed through her teeth and scratched at her chin. "Ahh... Chunhua is gonna give me an earful for that. She lost her eye to Kant, didn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°As I understand it, yes,¡± Marta said quietly as she tied Sonya¡¯s hair up. "Your usual outfit, ma¡¯am?¡± Sonya shook her head. "It¡¯s an afterparty; just grab me something casual.¡± ¡°Of course, just a moment,¡± Marta said and stepped away. Sonya looked down at Levi who hadn¡¯t left her side since her return. ¡°Good boy,¡± she murmured. "Are you growing well for me?¡± The familiar huffed out a short breath in response. She chuckled. "I¡¯ll take that as a yes.¡± ¡°Social media and various hero-following organizations have been in a frenzy in response to the filmed conversation between Liberty and Harbinger during their vicious confrontation. Harbinger, a young US Hero who recently graduated from the US Hero Camps was confirmed to be Liberty¡¯s biological younger sister. Liberty is noted to have made several statements in regards to her sister having been kidnapped by the Pandora Committee. Current speculation ranges wildly about Harbinger and her background, with questions ranging from her treatment during her time in Liberty¡¯s cult to her apparent familial relationship with CEO Sonya Chernovna.¡± Sonya¡¯s rolled her eyes. "Saw that coming.¡± ¡°They¡¯re going through her life with a fine toothed comb right now,¡± Marta said with a sigh from within the closet. ¡°She¡¯s a top hero like her friends,¡± Sonya said with a shrug. "It comes with the territory. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll help her through it if she needs me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a doting mother,¡± Marta laughed, coming out of the closet with a designer t-shirt and a comfortable pair of jeans. Sonya huffed then smiled to herself, tilting her head down a bit to hide the flush to her cheeks as her smile widened even more. That was, of course, impossible given her skin tone. Marta was kind enough to say nothing. She was so proud of Cassiopeia, of how much she¡¯d grown, how far she¡¯d come, and the decision she¡¯d made. She only wished she could have been there to hear her say those words to Ishtar herself. She let out a breath and glanced up to meet Marta¡¯s eyes. "Daw... don¡¯t get all teary eyed again,¡± Sonya teased. ¡°Hush you,¡± Marta scolded and started brushing her hair again. ¡°The international community is currently split on Liberty¡¯s fate. The majority are calling for her to be extradited to Japan for the death penalty after sentencing at the International Criminal Court. Others are calling for her to be the first to be subject to a new punishment developed by Russian Post-Pandora researcher Alexi Baev. The procedure would involve the direct implantation of a mana-suppression device into the subject''s spinal column. Rendering them permanently unable to utilize their abilities,¡± the reporter paused. "Some opponents are stating that this procedure is unnecessarily cruel and should be banned.¡± Sonya raised her eyebrows. "That¡¯s... extreme. That didn¡¯t exist in the past timeline.¡± ¡°What do you think?¡± Marta asked, handing Sonya the shirt. She checked it, it was her favorite ¡®SODA¡¯ shirt. Sonya pursed her lips, running her thumbs over the glittery words. "I think it could be abused. Imagine if they just started doing it willy-nilly to anybody they felt was threatening before giving ¡®em a chance,¡± she tilted her head. "The last thing I want is a shortage of light-touched,¡± she pulled the shirt on over her head and turned to the bed. "What about you?¡± Sitting on the bed, her legs and arms crossed, was a woman that looked like a more severe version of herself. Her jaw was sharper and more narrow with harder eyes. Her white hair was cut into a stylish pixie, with emphasized bangs, faded sides, and a slight undercut in the back. Scars adorned her face, muscular arms, and fingers. She was wearing a pair of cargo pants and a no-nonsense tank top. ¡°I have no real preferences about it. I think that Alexi gentleman is going to have a lot of problems in the future, though.¡± Sonya snorted. "Of course you wouldn¡¯t care,¡± she laughed. "How are you liking my handiwork by the way?¡± Ishtar flexed her hands and looked at her arms. "It¡¯s just a Legionnaire with a fancy coat of paint,¡± Ishtar said. "but it will certainly do. I can¡¯t use any of your powers, though.¡± Sonya rolled her eyes. "Endless pragmatism, won¡¯t it be nice to have a little fun at least? Get out a little? Now that Heavenly Legion is a part of you, you can do this whenever you want really.¡± ¡°Fun? What fun can I have?¡± Ishtar asked, squinting at her. "Sonya, I don¡¯t officially exist.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get some papers made up, come up with a name; it¡¯ll be fine! Trust me!¡± she chuckled. "My big sister in the flesh!¡± Ishtar frowned. "Did you have to make the ¡®flesh¡¯ so realistic? I don¡¯t think your Augmented Reality ability was intended to be used this way.¡± Sonya pouted. "You don¡¯t like it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need that!¡± Ishtar barked. Sonya waggled her eyebrows. "I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a certain voyeuristic fallen-great one that would wholeheartedly disagree.¡± Ishtar raised an eyebrow and sighed. "Are you done getting ready yet?¡± she shook her head. "I just don¡¯t understand how a person can take so long to get dressed.¡± Marta and Sonya spoke up simultaneously, their fingers raised and their brows furrowed. "Perfection takes time!¡± Ishtar leaned back, her lips thin and her shoulders up. "F-fine, fine, whatever.¡± Sonya turned back to her vanity and Marta began picking out earrings as Sonya relaxed a little more. She really just wanted to savor this for a bit longer. She knew she didn¡¯t need to get gussied up for her guests but it just felt good after so long. Levi trotted away to hop onto the bed and sit next to Ishtar. ¡°...hosting the contest for the Sapporo memorial statue commission. The Japanese hero has been lauded for his sacrifice to hold Liberty at bay while the rest of the vanguard made their way through her territory. The Japanese Government has announced that he will be posthumously awarded the Supreme Order of the Crysthanamum and that a park will be erected in his honor at the epicenter of the Tokyo blast zone. According to his Will, his assets and any profits made from his name in the future will go to international youth after-school programs. The Japanese Hero Association has stated they will match those donations in perpetuity in honor of the fallen hero.¡± ¡°He was Yakuza before becoming a hero, right?¡± Marta asked. ¡°Mhm, joined young,¡± Sonya nodded. "I wish I¡¯d gotten to know him better.¡± ¡°He was friends with Logan,¡± Marta said sadly. "I hope he¡¯s doing alright. He¡¯s lost two friends now to hero work.¡± ¡°Sapporo. I respect him,¡± Ishtar said quietly, petting Levi who had settled his head in her lap. "He was a remarkable man.¡± ¡°Hero Harbinger and her team are currently at The Hague and will be there for some time. They are expected to receive commendation awards during their stay while Harbinger will be testifying against her throughout the trial. Liberty¡¯s official legal representation has yet to be chosen.¡± ¡°Colin said that he¡¯s pretty sure they¡¯ll have to drag someone in chains to take her case,¡± Sonya laughed. "I don¡¯t blame them,¡± Marta stepped to the side and grabbed a small box of makeup and Sonya took it from her. "Thanks.¡± ¡°Hero Otis, who single-handedly held off Ishtar during the conflict, will also be given accolades. His apparent rivalry with the Queen of Villians has elevated his status, though there have been some questions raised about him hiding his apparent invulnerability. ASTA Corporation, who currently holds his hero contract as part of their guild program, released a statement informing the press that Otis will be holding a press conference in the coming weeks.¡± Marta snorted. "If it weren¡¯t for that invulnerability of his, he¡¯d be long dead by now. Single-handedly, what a joke.¡± ¡°He¡¯s getting stronger somehow,¡± Ishtar pointed out. ¡°We¡¯ll need to talk about what I learned about him soon.¡± Sonya nodded. "We do, but it can wait, I think. We all need some time to relax.¡± ¡°I¡¯m genuinely happy to hear you say that,¡± Ishtar said with a sigh. ¡°It¡¯s really good to see you like this.¡± Sonya reached up and twirled her hair with her finger. "I¡¯ve... got a lot to be thankful for. Still need to introduce you to the friends I made. Wish I could bring them out here like you.¡± Ishtar shrugged. "Perhaps one day.¡± Sonya tugged on her pants and hopped to her feet as the news kept going in the background. She looked herself over in the mirror. ¡°In other news, the Middle East''s diplomatic situation remains tenuous as Spice King Erebus continues to expand his territorial claims. Very few territories in the region remain out of his control and governments in exile have issued complaints to the UN citing Pandora Committee inaction. The Chairwoman of the Pandora Committee, Carla Mint, issued a statement reminding the middle east nations of their refusal of external support after the Queen August incident. The complaining nations have not issued a rebuttal.¡± Sonya whistled. "Ruthless.¡± ¡°She tends to be when you aren¡¯t around,¡± Marta said. "I¡¯ve heard the girl is quite frightening.¡± Sonya smirked. "Damn, I love that woman,¡± she chuckled and wandered over to the door to her bedroom. She could hear faint talking, laughter, shouting, and some playful arguing through it. She ran her fingers over the surface. "They are so noisy.¡± Ishtar stood next to her. "What do you expect? You picked them.¡± Sonya shook her head and laughed. "Can¡¯t argue that,¡± she said and the door slid open. She turned only briefly to check on Levi who had settled onto the bed. The lazy hound probably wasn¡¯t a fan of the big crowd. She shrugged and stepped out into the hall before wandering down towards the outlet. She could see the glass railing that overlooked the living room. The hall around her lit up as she passed, carefully illuminating her path. "Man, Amos did a good job.¡± ¡°Yes, he did. I adore the kitchen,¡± Marta said, cupping her face with a hand and smiling merrily. "Those spherical drones of his are a godsend as well. It¡¯s like having a full staff for the house. There¡¯s significantly more square footage than the old apartment.¡± Ishtar huffed. "At least you make good use of the space. I can appreciate the efficiency.¡± ¡°Luxury is nice, but luxury and utility is better,¡± Sonya said as they exited the hallway. She stepped over to the railing and leaned against it, looking down at the scene below. Four people were sitting on the couch. On the far left was Colin who was laughing, his long brown hair done up in that usual thick braid of his. He was wearing a hoodie that looked just a size too big for him with an ASTA Research logo on the back and a pleated skirt. His usually ruby red eyes were a more natural brown and they twinkled a little as he laughed. Amos was next to Colin, leaning forward and clutching a controller with a focused look on his face. He was in a short-sleeve shirt, a little underdressed for the cool fall night. Sonya wondered with amusement where his warmer top could have gone. He ran his fingers through his messy mop of dark brown hair and scratched at his stubble as something exploded on the screen before him. ¡°Shit! Gia! The hell was that?¡± Gia-Kerauna-was waving her controller around like it did her any good. Her off-gray hair and purple highlights sparkling a bit in the light coming down from above. She was wearing a tight-fitted purple turtleneck that audaciously emphasized her already dramatic figure. Her fingers were covered in rings that glittered and sparkled. She snorted out a laugh. "Get good, Carter!¡± At the end of the couch was Ozzie. The undead manager of the Styx was in his favorite suit and tie, way overdressed for the evening. He¡¯d even brought his cane with him, leaned against his shoulder as he fumbled with the controller. His stitches twisted in consternation as he waved the device about. "Two thousand zombies linked to me and not a single one of them is any good at this damn game! Which one¡¯s the gas button again?¡± The couch was set in the middle of the large living room, the outer walls had been turned opaque to prevent anyone from looking inside. Part of those walls currently had a massive image of four vehicles racing down a rainbow-colored track and bumping into one another. Two were in first and second place, one was trailing at fifth, while another was going the opposite direction in last place. Sonya rest her chin on her palm and turned to look at the wall far to the left where two men stood, talking quietly and sharing drinks. Beyol was dressed in a black turtleneck and simple dark slacks. His black hair was styled to the side instead of just letting it fall around his face, and it looked like he was actually wearing some jewelry, a necklace with a lightning bolt on it. He sipped at a light beer and nodded amicably while his neighbor, Barry, waved his hands about dramatically. Barry stood head and shoulders taller than Beyol, short russet hair styled with a bit of gel. His muscled frame was adorned with a polo and a pair of jeans. He scratched at the faint gill lines on his neck and brought his lager up to his lips, sipping as, to her surprise, the stoic Beyol raised a hand to his mouth and laughed a little, shaking his head at whatever Barry had said. ¡°Ready to go say hello?¡± Marta asked. Sonya turned to look up at her and nodded. She and Ishtar made their way to the stairs as Marta cleared her throat loudly. The reaction was immediate. The game paused on the wall and the four players rose to their feet, turning around and standing as one. Kingshark and Blackrazor pushed off the wall and walked over to join their comrades in a line as Sonya descended the steps. She flushed a little at the serious looks on their faces. Why are they so- ¡°Oh great,¡± Amos said loudly. "There¡¯s two of ¡®em now!¡± The moment of tension broke as Gia burst into laughter and Ozzie hung his head. Barry threw his head back in a guffaw and slapped Beyol on the back who stumbled forward and dropped to a knee. Sonya beamed, That¡¯s more like it. ¡°Hey guys,¡± Sonya said. "Been a while since we were all together.¡± ¡°It¡¯s good to have you back, boss,¡± Amos said with a grin. "Up for a game?¡± Sonya glanced at Ishtar. "Wanna join us? Up to twelve players.¡± Ishtar made a face. "I don¡¯t think...¡± Sonya weaponized her greatest asset, her most powerful, unbeatable, and terrible force. She rounded on Ishtar, leaned forward, and opened her eyes wide as she stuck her lower lip out and pouted. Ishtar winced, stepping back. "Wh-what the hell? Why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°Puh-leeeeese? Big sister?¡± Ishtar looked away, trying to focus on anything but Sonya¡¯s face. She glanced back and Sonya watched in mischievous glee as Ishtar¡¯s defenses crumbled beneath her terrible onslaught. She let out a world-weary sigh. "You¡¯ll have to show me how to play.¡± Sonya hopped down off the last step and threw her hands up. "Yay!¡± she shouted. "Ishtar¡¯s in!¡± She ran past the kitchen and before she bee-lined to the couch she skip-hopped off the ground and practically tackled Barry into a hug. ¡°Thanks for everything, Barry. You really gave it your all.¡± He hugged her back and set her down. "Glad to be of service, boss.¡± She rounded on the others. "That goes for you all too!¡± she said. "Enjoy tonight! We¡¯re gonna relax and take a load off, have some snacks and booze. Soda for me, but you know,¡± she said with a shrug as Marta huffed in displeasure behind her. She rounded on Marta. "I can have snacks! It¡¯s been...¡± she tapped her fingers. "Way too long!¡± Marta hung her head before looking up at Sonya and giving her a resigned smile. "Cola and your favorite chips, miss?¡± Sonya put her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest. "That would be fine.¡± She turned to Ishtar who was looking at all of her subordinates with a strange mix of emotions on her face. Sonya turned to her and held out a hand. "Come on. Let''s do some living. We¡¯ve both got a lot of moping about to make up for.¡± Ishtar chuckled and nodded. "Very well, I can agree to that,¡± she said and took her hand. JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 242 Sonya¡¯s eyes fluttered open wit Sonya¡¯s eyes fluttered open within the vast green expanse of that place within her mind. She looked up at the blue sky and smiled at the clouds swirling about overhead, a pleasant breeze fluttering past her face and throwing her hair about. She reached up and pulled it back, getting idly to her feet as a presence rose up from within her instincts before projecting itself out into the space around her. It collected itself for a moment before taking on the rugged form of Ishtar, her hand on her hip as she glanced around. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful in here,¡± Ishtar said, taking a deep breath of the soothing air. ¡°It¡¯s a shame not all the traits carried over, but I guess that goes without saying,¡± Sonya said as she turned to look towards a humble blue pond off to one side. "Come on, lets sit and talk a while.¡± ¡°Are your friends joining us?¡± Ishtar asked. Sonya chuckled. "I¡¯ll call them over after we catch up.¡± ¡°You could just share your memories with me,¡± Ishtar pointed out. "No need to-¡± Sonya held up a hand and gave her a wry smile. "Maybe, but some things are better talked through, I¡¯ve learned.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve become wise,¡± Ishtar chuckled as they approached the pond. She sat down and glanced up at Sonya with a frown. Sonya looked into the distance wistfully for a moment, reaching up to play with her hair. "Sonya?¡± Sonya let out a breath and sat down as well, stretching out her legs. "I¡¯m fine, I was just thinking that it¡¯s a bit sad that it took me hundreds of years to wrap my head around something so simple,¡± she scratched her nose and flushed. "It¡¯s a little embarrassing.¡± ¡°How... old are you now?¡± ¡°I mean I¡¯m still a-¡± Sonya started to protest before frowning and tilting her head. "I¡¯m... not sure. I was in my thirties near the end of the previous timeline and now I¡¯m back in my twenties physically,¡± she trailed off. "I can¡¯t remember some of the time I lost in Titania¡¯s trap, but from what I understand, at least two or three hundred years went by in the dilation.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t remember?¡± Ishtar asked. ¡°She tortured me for a while,¡± Sonya said, pulling a knee up and resting her arm on it as she played with the water of the pond. "Took my consciousness and let me wander about doing her bidding. Made me do things. Did things to me,¡± she clicked her tongue and hung her head a little. "I... experienced a lot.¡± Ishtar went silent and Sonya gave her a stern look. "Don¡¯t pity me,¡± she said before smiling warmly. "I appreciate it, but don¡¯t, I¡¯m so much stronger now because of it. I won. It was like a crucible for my soul,¡± she reached up and touched her heart, looking down at her hand. "I met people who I bonded with and who¡¯s kindness I can¡¯t possibly repay. I learned that I wanted to live, that I wanted to win, and reap the benefits from it,¡± she laughed. "I learned that I¡¯m a villain at heart as much as I tried so hard to fight it.¡± Ishtar let out a relieved sigh. "Your heart certainly seems clear.¡± ¡°It is,¡± Sonya said with certainty. "In more ways than you know.¡± ¡°Tell me everything,¡± Ishtar said. ¡°Of course.¡± ¨C ¡°She chased him for three days!¡± Sonya laughed, holding her side with one hand and wiping a tear from it. "She was so mad!¡± Ishtar howled with laughter. "What did he do?¡± ¡°Turned into a skink and hid in a log!¡± Sonya cackled. "Oh man!¡± ¡°Having fun?¡± a smooth voice called out from afar. Sonya brightened and turned, hopping to her feet. Her smile widened even more as she saw the three figures approaching and practically jumped for joy. ¡°You really made it! I was kind of worried that it wouldn¡¯t work but you-¡± she dashed across the grass and threw her arms around the trio approaching, pulling them all into a fierce hug. She pulled back and looked them over. The youthful, blonde and blue eyed luxurious Pandora smiled at her with that easy gentleness of hers. She was in a simple white gown that could have been mistaken for a toga. The raven-haired Loki¡¯s orange eyes glittered with mischief as he beamed back at her with pride in his simple black-and-gray leather vest and slacks lined with black feathers. Old Man Set, his shiny bald head and wizened face was crinkled with almost teary-eyed joy. His clothing was simple as well, a yellow-linen tunic and baggy black pants held with a dark cord. They returned the hug once again before she stepped back. ¡°How do you feel?¡± she asked. ¡°Strange,¡± Set said. "We¡¯ve been freed from the simulation Titania created, which means we¡¯re very aware of the truth of our existence. Even if I¡¯d verified it myself before, that place had a way of tricking the mind into dismissing it after a time. Now, it is very clear.¡± Loki shrugged. "Meh, just means we''re something like the old ghosts now.¡± Pandora looked thoughtful. "That¡¯s a good way of putting it. I once got to meet the old ghost of Cronos, he was very roughly mannered. Though I suppose the difference is we¡¯re exclusive to dear Sonya.¡± ¡°Your ancestor was a brute,¡± Set scoffed. ¡°What¡¯s an old ghost?¡± Sonya asked and the three turned to her, she paused and then held up her hands. "Wait, wait, we¡¯ll get to that later. I have someone I want to introduce to you.¡± ¡°We also need to talk about something else, busy lady,¡± Loki said with a grin. "Don¡¯t think we can¡¯t tell what happened to you.¡± She cleared her throat. "R-right. Yeah. I uh... that was a wild day,¡± she said and turned. "We¡¯ll have time to talk, but we operate on real time now and I actually do have to sleep on occasion,¡± she said with a chuckle before turning towards the pond where the solitary Ishtar stood. She admired her beloved sister for a moment before gesturing to her. "This is my sister. The part of me I told you about. Ishtar.¡± Set was the first to move, the old man walking over and extending his hand. She took it, and to both Ishtar and Sonya¡¯s surprise, he brought her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckle once before inclining his head. ¡°It is an honor,¡± he said. ¡°A true legacy spirit engraved into an inscription, and a warrior type from the looks of you! Such a rare and beautiful marvel; it does not happen often. Sonya¡¯s line is eternally blessed now and will be richer for your wisdom when her heir inherits her gift,¡± he took a step back and leaned on his cane, looking her up and down. "You remind me of your namesake when she was young: fierce and proud.¡± Ishtar, for all her cool headed ruthlessness and stoicism, only could blink in shock. ¡°I... don¡¯t know what to say. I will be honest with you sir, I didn¡¯t understand half of that.¡± Sonya raised an eyebrow, she¡¯d never seen Ishtar so polite before. He chuckled. "Say nothing, child, your time is just beginning. I am Set. Feel free to call me Old Man; that¡¯s what the others do,¡± he added with a resigned chuckle. Ishtar looked at Sonya wide-eyed and Sonya grinned back in response. "Yeah, that Set. Don¡¯t worry, I don¡¯t understand half of what the old guy says either. Now, how about I introduce you to the others?¡± ¨C Sonya opened her eyes and slipped out of her lounge chair, rubbing her neck a little. She¡¯d spent a few hours in her mind-space catching up with her friends inside and introducing Ishtar. She still didn¡¯t understand most of what they were talking about, but that didn¡¯t matter. She was just happy that they¡¯d survived the process of consuming Visage of Titania. She looked down at her hand as she wandered through the garden deck outside her penthouse, Levi at her side. The hound had stood guard as she dove into her mind-space, stoically waiting for her to return. He was such a good boy. The pool glittered a bit against the starlight and the numerous flowers present glowed with it. She stopped at one and touched it gently, enjoying the quiet moment. Her senses picked up on the wall sliding open, and she didn¡¯t look up when she felt it was Marta. ¡°I have more guests so late at night?¡± she asked. ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡± Marta said. "Your other guests are all safely tucked away in the guest rooms.¡± Sonya chuckled. "I don¡¯t think that¡¯s really an issue,¡± she said and stood up straight. "See them in, please.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Marta said with a bow and stepped back into the penthouse. Sonya brushed her hair back and turned towards the view of Minneapolis beyond the towering height of ASTA Headquarters. She crossed her arms behind her back and took a deep breath of fresh air as two new presences joined Marta and entered her space. A small gesture sent Levi walking to find a place to relax. ¡°Chairwoman, it¡¯s a bit late, isn¡¯t it? What will people say?¡± she said playfully. ¡°Have a care, Chernovna,¡± came the sharp voice of Chunhua. "You¡¯re addressing the head of the Pandora Committee.¡± Sonya didn¡¯t turn around as she played with her hair, her lips moving together nervously. There was a flutter in her chest as she spoke again. "Black Lotus!¡± she said brightly. "How¡¯s your eye?¡± ¡°That is my business, ma¡¯am, I appreciate you asking, though,¡± Chunhua said. "I am merely here as Chairwoman Mint¡¯s escort. Though I will admit I fail to understand why she picked me specifically for a late night rendezvous.¡± ¡°See what I mean, Chairwoman?¡± Sonya laughed. "People talk.¡± ¡°Sonya, is it really you?¡± Carla finally said, her quiet voice cracking through the air. ¡°Chairwoman, what are you talking-¡± Sonya turned around, the moon shining against her back and tilted her head with a warm smile. "Yes, it''s me.¡± Carla looked so tired. Her usually perfect bob of black hair was disheveled slightly and there were bags under her eyes. Instead of a dignified suit and skirt, she wore jeans and a button-up blouse. That collar around her neck glinting in the light shining down on them, the massive pink gem almost aglow. Carla¡¯s eyes were wide and filled with tears. Sonya held out a hand to her and she ran over, throwing her arms around Sonya¡¯s neck and letting out a wail of a sob. Sonya rest her chin on the woman¡¯s shoulder and held her close. "I missed you too,¡± she said, taking in her scent and not daring to let it wander from her thoughts again. She looked up at the stoic Chunhua who stood with her arms crossed behind her back and one good eye shut. Her ruined eye was hidden behind an eyepatch and part of her hair had been burned away on that side as well. She wore her usual combat robes, her sword at her side. ¡°I¡¯ll let you two catch up,¡± Chunhua said and started to turn. ¡°Black Lotus, look at me,¡± Sonya said from Carla¡¯s shoulder. The hero turned and frowned before opening her eye, that deep dark pupil taking her in. It shrank for a moment, then relaxed as a faint glow washed over it. The hardened act collapsed like a straw house and a thick tear ran down her cheek. She didn¡¯t need the same invitation; she raced across the area and wrapped the two of them in an almost bone crushing hug. Cupping the back of Sonya¡¯s head and holding her tight. She pulled back and looked into Sonya¡¯s eyes. "You...¡± ¡°I want to live,¡± Sonya said with a laugh. "As long as I can and then some. No more running. No more wishing for a bad ending. I¡¯m not going anywhere. I will not abandon you two.¡± Chunhua¡¯s smile was like the last brick in a foundation she didn¡¯t know she¡¯d been building. A confirmation that she hadn¡¯t imagined she required. A final affirmation of everything. She reached for Sonya¡¯s face and searched it for a moment, tracing her calloused finger across Sonya¡¯s cheek. She tilted her head a little. "I...¡± she hesitated and swallowed before pulling back a little, giving Carla an embarrassed smile. Carla chuckled and stepped back, gesturing for her to go on. ¡°Sonya,¡± Chunhua said. "When we last talked. I didn¡¯t know how to feel or where we stood or how to even process you,¡± she reached up and ran her fingers through her hair. "You are so frustrating and manic and dangerous and I...¡± she sighed. "I lost you, again.¡± Sonya opened her mouth to speak but Chunhua held up a hand. "No, listen,¡± she swallowed again. "For a whole month I didn¡¯t know if I would even be able to talk to you again, yet because of our deal I could still look at your face and think about you. Think about you every single day. What I should have said, what I would say if you came back worse or better,¡± she laughed a little hoarsely. "I got to know Ishtar, the real Ishtar, and I understood you more because of it.¡± She stepped forward and took Sonya¡¯s shoulders, the tears still streaming down from her good eye. "Sonya Chernovna, don¡¯t you ever do that to me again. Say that you won¡¯t try to throw your life away either. Promise me. Promise with that mouth that tells no lies and I will...¡± Sonya threw her arms around her neck and kissed her, hard, clinging to her, holding her, desperate to not let go ever, ever again. Not after losing her, not after getting her back. She memorized every bit of that kiss and held it until she could barely breathe. When she pulled away she nearly stumbled and Chunhua caught her by her hand. Sonya¡¯s smile was like the sun. "I promise,¡± she croaked. Sonya held her gaze for a while, just, feeling everything before she turned to a teary-eyed Carla who was smiling and blushing and looking a little frantic when Chunhua turned to her as well. She bubbled out a laugh. "You two are so cute,¡± she said before giving them both a suspicious squint. "You also have some stories to tell me apparently.¡± Chunhua turned to Sonya with surprise in her eyes. "How much does she know?¡± ¡°She found out about the real Ishtar during the month I was away,¡± Sonya said with a chuckle. "As for the past...¡± she nodded slowly and reached out to take Carla¡¯s hand. "...I¡¯m ready to tell you everything.¡± She started to pull on both of them and they looked at one another as she slowly strode backwards towards the penthouse. ¡°But first,¡± Sonya said with a wry smile. "We have catching up to do and I am not going to let either of you rest.¡± The two of them looked at one another again with wide eyes before looking back at her. "Huh?¡± ¨C Breakfast the next morning was awkward and Sonya was loving every moment of it. Chunhua sat at her left with a fork in her hand, chewing quietly and not looking at Gia sitting across from her with a wild grin on her face. Carla was on her right, sipping at a coffee with a decidedly more relaxed expression as she spoke quietly with Colin who seemed only too happy to talk as long as it wasn¡¯t crossing the line of his professional boundaries. Levi was nowhere to be seen, likely napping and avoiding people again. I need to socialize him. ¡°I really wanna spar with you sometime,¡± Gia said eagerly as Chunhua stabbed another sausage that Marta had lovingly crafted. She and Barry had already departed for some romantic time off. "That time in The Hague doesn¡¯t count. I want a real match.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re so eager to get crushed by a hero, I might be inclined to oblige you,¡± Chunhua said with a dangerous tilt of her head. Gia clapped her hands. "Oh! She speaks!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been bothering me all morning,¡± Chunhua said with a grumble. ¡°Well you three kept me up all night!¡± Gia shot back and looked away smugly. "This is just payback.¡± Carla nearly spit out her coffee while Chunhua turned her head away sharply and coughed. Sonya snickered and pat their arms. "Oh don¡¯t be so embarrassed,¡± Sonya laughed. "It was a very important night. Let¡¯s leave it at that Gia, be nice.¡± Gia rolled her eyes before glancing at Sonya who gave her a polite smile. Gia scratched her hair and got to her feet. "Oh... all right, fine. Damn it if you¡¯re not the sweetest damn thing in the world, Boss. A true villain,¡± she grumbled and stretched her arms over her head. "I¡¯ve got guard duty anyway so I¡¯ll let you off the hook this time, Black Lotus.¡± ¡°I¡¯m overjoyed,¡± Chunhua said flatly. "Thank you for your mercy.¡± Gia grinned and nodded with no small amount of pride. "As long as you get it,¡± she said and with a flash vanished into the ceiling. ¡°I never imagined Kerauna was so um...¡± Carla trailed off uncomfortably. ¡°Dim?¡± Chunhua grunted. ¡°Chunhua! Be nice! She¡¯s my friend!¡± Sonya admonished. "Her boyfriend is around here too and he won¡¯t appreciate it very much.¡± ¡°Good! I want a match with that one,¡± Chunhua said. ¡°I would prefer it if our engagement took place at a time that benefitted the Mistress,¡± Beyol¡¯s voice came from the air. ¡°Our fighting now has no net benefit, so it doesn¡¯t interest me.¡± Chunhua looked around. "...where?¡± ¡°In my shadow, babe,¡± Sonya said casually. ¡°He¡¯s my bodyguard when Marta¡¯s not around.¡± Chunhua crossed her arms. "...how long?¡± ¡°I am very prompt,¡± Beyol said and Chunhua clenched her teeth, her face turning a little red. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Black Lotus, your romantic mewlings in the hallway with the Mistress weren¡¯t at all embarrassing to watch.¡± Chunhua hopped to her feet. "That¡¯s it! You and me! Sonya, where¡¯s the training hall in this place, I know you had one-¡± Sonya put a hand on her arm. "Calm down,¡± Sonya said smoothly. "Relax a little. We need to leave for The Hague tomorrow. Just enjoy your time off and don¡¯t get so worked up,¡± she soothed as Carla got up with Colin. ¡°Where are you two off to?¡± ¡°Colin wants to introduce me to Ozzie. Apparently he and I have some things in common. Also, I¡¯m something of a horror movie girl,¡± Carla said with a bit of a blush. "I¡¯ve always wanted to see a real zombie.¡± Sonya raised an eyebrow and turned to exchange a look with Chunhua, who sat down and cleared her throat. Carla put her hands on her hips and gave Sonya a warning look. Sonya held up her hands and laughed. "Alright, sorry, I¡¯m not judging I swear! Just uh... temper your expectations.¡± Carla squinted at her before shrugging and walking away with Colin, talking lightheartedly with him. She turned back to her food as someone entered from the hallway. Chunhua stiffened a little next to her as the newcomer spoke up. "Are you sure about letting everyone hang out?¡± Sonya leaned back on her stool and tilted her head back to look at Ishtar who was leaning against the wall behind her, her arms crossed. She grinned at her. "It¡¯s fiiiine,¡± Sonya said with a laugh. "I trust everyone here and the two of them are above reproach in the Pandora Committee. Don¡¯t worry so much.¡± Ishtar nodded. ¡°Fair enough,¡± she flicked her eyes up and looked at Chunhua, who had turned and gotten to her feet. ¡°Are we even?¡± she asked flatly. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Your mayhem let Kant escape,¡± she said. "Though I will admit that you saved my life with that fruit. I almost didn¡¯t eat it.¡± ¡°Actually... the mayhem was all me,¡± Sonya said with a meek raise of her hand. Chunhua whirled on her, blinked, and then pinched the bridge of her nose. "Of course that nonsense music was you.¡± ¡°Hey! Amos and I worked hard putting that playlist together!¡± Sonya protested. Chunhua chuckled and shook her head before turning back to Ishtar. ¡°We¡¯re even, Ishtar. I won¡¯t let you off easy when we meet in person though, especially with my memories sealed.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have it any other way,¡± Ishtar said with a smirk and pushed off the wall. "I¡¯m going to read; enjoy your breakfast,¡± she said and dipped back into the hallway towards Sonya¡¯s library. Chunhua sat back down. ¡°Seeing her in person is strange,¡± she turned to Sonya. Sonya smiled at her and she watched the woman set the thought aside. Chunhua shifted a bit in her seat and grabbed a mug of coffee from the table, she paused and looked Sonya¡¯s way. ¡°Are you ready for your big return to public life tomorrow? You¡¯re not going to make another scene, are you?¡± Chunhua asked hesitantly. Sonya gasped, affronted, and put her hand over her heart. "Chunhua! It¡¯s me! Of course I¡¯m going to make a scene!¡± Chunhua let out a weary sigh. JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 243 Sonya smirked at the ceiling as Marta fussed over her tie. Humming a little to herself while going over the day''s schedule. She had a lot to do and not much time to do it. It wasn''t as big a deal as it was a return to normalcy. She glanced down and met Marta¡¯s eyes as she pulled back and patted the knot on the tie once. "All good?¡± ¡°You¡¯re never going to learn to do that yourself, are you?¡± Marta asked with a roll of her eyes. ¡°Nope!¡± Sonya laughed and took a step back, looking herself over in the mirror and nodding appreciatively. Back in her all white suit and pink tie. It felt good to be back in her ¡®battle gear¡¯. She tilted her head to the side and activated Regalia briefly. How was your first walk-about outside in your own body? She asked. Ishtar emerged from the ability with a muted flood of awareness, Better than I expected. I enjoyed being able to pick my own food for once, even though that body doesn¡¯t quite need to eat. Thank Marta for me. Sonya wrinkled her nose in amusement, I can¡¯t believe you like black coffee. It¡¯s refined. Sonya shook her head and turned to Marta who arched an eyebrow. "Ishtar says thank you for what you made for her. She loved it.¡± Marta pursed her lips. "Then perhaps she could stop frowning all the time while she¡¯s eating.¡± Sonya tilted her head, Hear that? I will take it under advisement, Ishtar replied after a moment of hesitation, Go on, I¡¯m going to enjoy my nap. Sonya released the ability and she felt Ishtar¡¯s presence fade again. It felt strange to have her other half go so completely silent like that. She remembered being so scared every time she looked in the mirror. Now it felt just a little lonely. She knew she could call Ishtar at any time, but it wasn¡¯t the same and it would take some getting used to. She rubbed her neck and let out a breath. "Let¡¯s get to the portal room,¡± she said lazily. Marta bowed, her hands over her lap. "Of course, ma¡¯am.¡± Sonya turned and walked out the door, pausing long enough to look up at the ceiling. "Kera! Behave while I¡¯m gone!¡± The lights flickered and Sonya snorted, walking out of her room, down to the living room, and out into the entry hall. She stepped out into the atrium. It was a small square space partially inspired by the atrium of Spice King Erebus¡¯ home. A large indoor garden filled with ferns and fountains, the columns holding up the ceiling carved into reliefs of beautiful figures. Sonya crossed the space as the private elevator chimed, stepping inside. Marta joined her and tapped the button for one of the few floors the private elevator had access to. A security measure for herself. As the elevator descended, Marta raised a finger to her ear and nodded. She turned to Sonya; ¡°The portal arch just rose for you.¡± Sonya nodded. "Thank you, Marta.¡± ¡°Euclicia has come herself,¡± Marta added after a pause. Sonya raised an eyebrow. "Interesting.¡± The elevator chimed again and it slowed to a stop on the twenty-second floor. The Portal Chamber. A space that Amos and Euclidia together had designed to be receptive to her abilities and easy to target. Which also means it''s the first place heroes would appear if they happened to raid ASTA Headquarters, Sonya thought with bemusement and stepped out. It was a large chamber taking up most of the twenty-second floor and a small portion of the twenty-third. The room had an atlas dome, made up of numerous arches and supports that created a hexagonal central point. The smooth surfaces and flat-white paint gave it the illusion of being one solid piece. The floor was made up of the same digitized panels that she used in her own home, currently set to ripple in response to footsteps. Sonya walked ahead of Marta, her arms crossed behind her back, towards the small group that had arrived to meet her. There were three of them. Molly aka Euclidia stood at the fore, brown hair and black-orange eyes that shifted with ambient light, like a cat''s-eye gemstone. She was wearing her usual punk-rocker goth getup and smirking confidently. To her left was a beaming Greg, the usual t-shirt and jeans look had finally given way to something a bit nicer. A shiny purple dress shirt and black slacks accompanied by shiny shoes. His brown hair was still just as messy as Molly¡¯s though. His slightly violet eyes twinkled as he waved. The last one, on Molly¡¯s right, was already running in her direction. A flash of blonde hair, glittering blue eyes wet with tears, and that button nose Sonya could never forget. She swept Cassiopeia into a hug and was quickly lifted off the ground. Cass swung her around for a moment, squeezing before setting her down and not letting go. Sonya didn¡¯t either. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you,¡± Sonya murmured and patted the back of the girl¡¯s head. She pulled back and looked her over. "How are you doing? You¡¯ve been the center of attention for a while.¡± Cass scratched her nose. "I¡¯ll... be alright. Though I could use some help navigating this stuff.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my job!¡± Sonya laughed. "Both as the owner of your agency and as your mother, apparently!¡± The girl blushed furiously. "I... Might have gone a bit over-¡± Sonya pinched the girl¡¯s cheek. "I¡¯ll have some papers written up,¡± Sonya said, cutting her off with a grin. "Come on, they¡¯re waiting. We¡¯ll talk more later.¡± Cass¡¯ eyes flashed with a fresh wave of tears accompanied by a big, adorable smile. The young woman nodded sharply. "Right!¡± Sonya patted her arm and walked past, throwing out her arms in greeting. "Molly! You came to pick me up in person! I¡¯m honored!¡± she said and the mythic hero hurried over and clasped her in a friendly hug. She pulled back. "It¡¯s because of Halloway, isn¡¯t it?¡± Molly nodded. "Never found a body despite the mess left behind,¡± she said. "So until we¡¯ve got some confirmation all we can do is be safe with VIPs. Gravy train here and I have been working on countermeasures.¡± No body, that¡¯s troubling. Blackrazor confirmed the kill. Why would the body be missing? Sonya snorted. "Gravy train?¡± she laughed and looked over to a flustered Greg. He gave her an imploring look that screamed, ¡®Help me, she¡¯s crazy¡¯ and she chuckled. "How are you, Greg?¡± He scratched his head. "Hanging in there, Molly has me working my tail off on a big project.¡± ¡°Oh? Got any juicy details for me?¡± Sonya asked. He brightened. "Oh we¡¯re looking into all sorts of things. We think with the combination of my ability and hers-¡± Molly shot him a withering look, and Sonya raised an eyebrow. Molly turned and gave her an apologetic smile. "Sorry Sonya, Classified for the time being. I know you¡¯re an honorary admin or something but...¡± Sonya waved her hands. "Oh no, I get it, it¡¯s fine,¡± she said easily and moved the conversation along. "So what are we looking at?¡± she asked as Cass moved over to stand with her and Marta. ¡°Well she had her initial appearance, I think you guys call it an arraignment, right after getting picked up. Nobody wanted to waste any time, the judges were pretty grumpy about it though,¡± Molly said, scratching at her chin. "The actual confirmation of charges hearing is in about an hour. It¡¯ll be around four in the afternoon over there,¡± she gestured to the portal. "We¡¯ll go through and you can get some seats. Shall we?¡± ¨C It was a media frenzy. Cameras were everywhere and heroes had been dispatched to assist the ICC security force to maintain order. The press were lined up along the entryway to the courthouse, no amount of warnings from every government body and political alliance imaginable could keep them away. Sonya glanced out the window of the armored limousine and narrowed her eyes, searching the faces in the crowd for anyone she could recognize. Name plates popped up but nothing appeared to be out of order. Kant didn¡¯t come, then. Neither did Ito. Liberty¡¯s been abandoned.I was anticipating one of them making a scene, but apparently they¡¯ve learned their lesson. The Limousine stopped and she turned to Cass who was fidgeting with her hands in her lap. She put her hand on the girl¡¯s shoulder and tilted her head down to look up into her eyes. "You ready?¡± Cass took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, mom.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Sonya patted her arm and looked up at the back of Marta¡¯s head in the front passenger seat as she pulled a pair of oversized sunglasses out of her coat, flicking them open with a jerk of her wrist and slipping them on over her new eyes. "Marta?¡± Marta slipped out of the car to the noisy murmurs of the press and more camera flashes. She approached the door and opened it. Sonya turned and slid out with a smug smile on her face as voices rose in the crowd, some already shouting for her attention. She ignored them and turned back to extend a hand to Cass who took it and the chatter grew even louder. A pair of ICC security members and a hero she didn¡¯t recognize hurried over. ¡°Miss Chernovna, your security pass?¡± the hero asked quickly. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her card marked with her mana signature. Marta did the same. The young man examined the cards briefly before nodding and turning to Cass. Sonya held up a hand. "She doesn¡¯t have a card yet,¡± Sonya said gently. "We¡¯ll take her through the usual security channel.¡± The hero shook his head. "That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± he said and turned to call for a female hero who was standing with the rest of the team. "Verity!¡± The brunette woman hurried over, she was dressed in the form-fitting gray of a Pandora exclusive hero. "Who am I checking?¡± He nodded to Cass and she extended a hand. Cass cleared her throat and took it without further prompting. The male hero nodded. "Are you Cassiopeia Hanks?¡± Sonya smirked. "It¡¯s Chernovna, now,¡± She said, loudly enough for the reporters around her to hear. The man looked at her in confusion and she repeated herself patiently. "Her name is Cassiopeia Chernovna. My lawyer is already drawing up the paperwork.¡± As soon as those words escaped her lips the gathered press got even noisier, camera flashes going off. Sonya restrained her self-satisfied grin. Man blinked before nodding. "Forgive my rudeness,¡± he said quickly and turned back to Cass. ¡°Are you Cassiopeia Chernovna?¡± Cass smiled. "Yes.¡± Verity¡¯s eyes shone once and she nodded. "Confirmed.¡± The man let out a breath and took a step back before turning to Sonya. ¡°Her identity has been verified, sorry for the slap-dash check. We¡¯re moving quickly to get you inside and out of this mess, ma¡¯am,¡± he gestured towards the path between the wall of press and onlookers. "Please follow me.¡± He moved quickly, the two ICC security guards joined by a quartet of Pandora Committee soldiers as they were ushered past the rowdy press. Not fast enough to escape pestering questions. "Miss Chernovna, are you fully recovered from your injuries?¡± ¡°Was that confirmation that Harbinger is officially your daughter now?¡± ¡°Are those new eyes? Were they designed by your company?¡± ¡°What are your thoughts on the power suppression surgery as a punishment for Liberty?¡± ¡°What do you expect from the confirmation hearing?¡± Others shouted at Cassiopeia. "Is it true you were tortured by your sister?¡± ¡°What is your relationship to Liberty¡¯s cult now?¡± ¡°Are you inheriting your sister''s assets after her arrest?¡± ¡°Where is your team heading next?¡± ¡°Eyes forward,¡± Sonya said quietly. "Smile, wave, but don¡¯t speak,¡± she added as she followed her own advice, waving at the crowds and grinning for the cameras. Cass did her best but her smile was more than a little nervous. Sonya kept her hand at her daughter¡¯s back as they made their way forward. She felt the girl trembling beneath her palm and very gently urged imperious to brush her with her presence. Not in a hostile way, but in a protective cloak. Cass relaxed and gave her a grateful look, Sonya nodded but didn¡¯t turn her head towards her. She kept her chin up as they approached the doors. ¡°You¡¯re going to be fine,¡± Sonya murmured as they entered. The interior of the International Criminal Court was not some architectural marvel or effort to glorify the legal process. The old rustic architecture of western courtrooms and government buildings had been set aside for a clean rectangular space with three sets of tables, one on each side of the space save for the entry point. Above the courtroom was an observation area behind thick glass where the majority of the observing parties sat. The press were forced to stay in the media rooms outside of the main court area, though they had access to camera feeds. Sonya, Marta, and Cass ascended the steps into the observation room. It was a confirmation hearing so Cassiopeia didn¡¯t need to sit at one of the prosecution tables this time. They found their assigned seats and Sonya took some time to briefly greet some of the others who¡¯d arrived. Mostly representatives of the Pandora Committee she¡¯d already met before and various heroes. There wasn¡¯t enough time to shake everyone¡¯s hand, though, as security quickly called for all parties to be seated. That was when the three judges and the rest of the panel stepped out. Three grim-faced figures sat at the center of the table directly ahead of the observation room while the others filled in the seats at their sides. Next came the prosecution and defense teams, among them was a familiar face. Colin had opted not to lead the prosecution but to offer his support and insight as a representative of a hero-aligned organization. That job had fallen in the hands of a stern looking woman with dark hair and fierce red eyes. She looked like she wouldn¡¯t be out of place with a ruler in her hand, slapping it against her palm. To Sonya¡¯s surprise, the woman was wearing power suppressing cuffs like they were a fashion accessory. She narrowed her eyes and sought the woman¡¯s name. I like her vibe. She glanced towards the defense team and her eyes widened a little in surprise. There were more people there than she was expecting. A few of them looked decidedly unhappy to be in their current role but hid it as best they could. The man at the head of the defense looked confident despite the attention he was getting. A chime sounded and the murmuring went dead silent. The centermost judge spoke. "This Confirmation Hearing for the indictment of Estella Hanks, also known as Liberty, is now in session. Please be silent during the proceedings,¡± he said sharply, his wrinkled features turning hard. "The accused may enter.¡± No one breathed as a door opened beneath the observation room. Two Pandora Committee soldiers, two ICC security guards, and Black Lotus herself marched in with a single figure walking between them. Blonde hair was cut and cleaned, her appearance immaculate at least as far as filth and grime were concerned. She¡¯d been healed as well at some point. Her shoulders though, her posture, everything hung low as she was dragged before the world. Black Lotus stopped in front of the judges, bowed once, then turned to march to the door she¡¯d come in through, standing in front of it and crossing her arms. The guards stood in all four corners of the room, their eyes trained on Liberty as she stood alone. ¡°Estella Hanks. You have been charged by this International Criminal Court with high crimes, war crimes, and crimes against humanity,¡± the centermost judge ground out. The judge to the man¡¯s left spoke next, unlike her wizened counterpart, she was a middle-aged woman with clear eyes and a shock of blonde hair. "The charges are as follows; Thirty-five general counts of War Crimes, five counts of conspiracy to commit crimes against peace and instigate armed conflict, five hundred counts of mass murder-one issued for every hundred deaths in Tokyo...¡± Sonya sat up straight as the charges were read off and she could only imagine the rest of the world doing the same, looking down on the monster who had sneered down at the rest of humanity. JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 244 Sonya crossed her legs and watched as Liberty¡¯s shoulders sagged beneath the gaze of so many. The satisfaction was tantalizing, but she had to control herself. She took a deep breath and checked on Cass. The girl¡¯s fists were clenched, her eyes fixed on the figure standing at the center of the room below. Sonya put a hand on hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze before looking back towards the judge. ¡°In this Confirmation Hearing, the criminal charges have been announced to the defendant,¡± the woman said, her face remarkably impassive despite the massive weight in the room. The third judge, to the left of the old man in the middle, rested his hands on the table in front of him and regarded Liberty without a hint of feeling in his eyes. The cold look almost gave Sonya chills. ¡°How does the defendant plead?¡± Liberty swayed where she stood, her shoulders heaving. She took a single step forward, and in an instant Black Lotus was standing in front of her, sword drawn and at her throat. The four security guards raised their weapons and aimed them at the criminal. Liberty didn¡¯t seem to care or notice. ¡°I am LIBERTY!¡± she bellowed. ¡°I am above the law!¡± she roared. ¡°This court is beneath me!¡± ¡°Very well, the defendant pleads not guilty. I would remind the defendant to remain civil in the courtroom or be found in contempt,¡± the central judge said impassively, cutting her off. ¡°The first hearing of your trial will be in seven days. It is in your interest, this court¡¯s, and that of the world that this trial be as expedient and thorough as possible. Defense and prosecution teams are expected to use this time granted wisely.¡± Sonya¡¯s fingers wrapped around the armrest. She won¡¯t live that long, I¡¯m afraid, Sonya thought. Down below, Liberty didn¡¯t move an inch as Black Lotus bore down on her. ¡°This court is adjourned. Please escort the defendant back to holding,¡± the second judge said, and everyone rose from their seats. Sonya brushed herself off. ¡°Interesting that they have it set up this way,¡± Sonya said and turned to Cass. ¡°You¡¯ll be meeting with the prosecution team after this?¡± Cass nodded. ¡°I got a summons to meet with Miss Firth tomorrow.¡± The scary lady with the suppression cuffs? Sonya thought with bemusement. ¡°Have you spoken to her yet?¡± Cass shook her head as Marta led them out of the viewing room. They made their way into the main hallway, where the few press allowed to interact with those gathered had finally managed to weasel their way inside. The defense and prosecution teams were filing out as well, with one of them splitting off from the pack to come over. Colin was in an immaculate Italian suit and skirt, his favored suitcase in one hand and a pair of glasses over his eyes. He extended a hand, and Sonya clasped it. ¡°Having fun?¡± she asked. He chuckled, ¡°Always. The investigative teams did a lot more digging than I expected; it¡¯s been rather eye-opening.¡± He turned to Cass and gave her arm a squeeze. ¡°Doin¡¯ alright, kid? I¡¯ll have that paperwork done for you tonight.¡± Cass beamed at him, ¡°Thank you, Colin.¡± ¡°Anytime,¡± he said. ¡°We can talk about things over dinner.¡± I can¡¯t wait to hear about what you learned from the investigative team, Sonya thought before spotting the severe Leandra Firth standing with a few members of the press and speaking. She glanced back at Colin. ¡°What''s her deal?¡± Colin turned to look and stiffened before looking back at her with a slightly pensive look. ¡°Uh... I would avoid talking to her, Sonya.¡± Sonya snorted. ¡°What? Is she my type?¡± Colin held a finger up to his lips and widened his eyes a little. ¡°Easy. She¡¯s gunning for you. She thinks-¡± ¡°Sonya Chernovna,¡± a sharp voice interrupted Colin. Sonya glanced up to see the ruthless red eyes and dark hair of Leiandra Firth. She was standing with a hand on her hip and looking Sonya up and down before fixing her with a stare. ¡°It¡¯s no surprise that you came. Looking for more carrion to pick off?¡± Oho, we have a fighter here, don¡¯t we? Sonya thought with amusement. ¡°Leiandra Firth! I was hoping to get a chance to meet you in person. I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t know what carrion you¡¯re referring to, though.¡± Firth cocked an eyebrow before raising a hand to her heart. ¡°Apologies, I was a bit unclear. I¡¯m of course referring to the numerous shell corporations and attached conglomerates that are associated with Liberty¡¯s cult. With your connections, it should be no problem to be first in line to gobble them all up like the other companies that ASTA is made of. What does the core administrative company of ASTA Corporation do again?¡± Cass stiffened next to her, and Colin was about to raise a hand, but Sonya stepped forward, smiling ear to ear. ¡°Wow! I¡¯ve heard a lot of pickup lines before, but this one¡¯s new!¡¯ she said delightedly. ¡°So... dinner at my place or yours?¡± Leiandra tilted her head to the right and smirked. ¡°Your unique talent for putting people off balance and pulling them into your pace won¡¯t work on me, Chernovna. Your proclivities are legendary at this point, and I don¡¯t want to be caught up in the mess that is your relationship with the Chairwoman.¡± Sonya¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver. ¡°Do you have something to say about Chairwoman Mint, Leiandra?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare accuse her of corruption and nepotism,¡± Leiandra said. ¡°Yes, that would be unwise,¡± Sonya retorted with a merry laugh. ¡°You¡¯d be making one hell of an enemy today for no reason!¡± ¡°Nobody wants to go out of their way and make enemies!¡± Leiandra chuckled, her steely eyes not blinking once. ¡°I love your accessories,¡± Sonya said. ¡°They keep me honest,¡± Leiandra clipped back. ¡°It¡¯d be a good look for you.¡± ¡°I never lie,¡± Sonya murmured. ¡°Really? Then how about an interview?¡± Leiandra hissed. ¡°Mom? Are we getting food or what?¡± Cass abruptly called out, cutting into her staring contest with Leiandra. Sonya hadn¡¯t realized that the two of them were practically nose to nose. She leaned back and cleared her throat before smirking at Leiandra. ¡°It was nice meeting you, Prosecutor, but it seems my daughter wants my attention, and it¡¯s been a long day already.¡± Leiandra crossed her arms and glanced towards Cass. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to working with you on your testimony, Miss Hanks,¡± she said with a polite nod. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for everything you¡¯ve gone through. Hopefully we can get you some justice.¡± ¡°It¡¯s Chernovna,¡± Cass said with a bit of edge to her tone. Marta was standing behind her with her usual stoic but serene face betraying nothing. The veins on her neck, on the other hand, told a very different story about Marta¡¯s mood. Cass turned back to Sonya. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Mom.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Sonya said and turned away, ignoring the gawkers as Colin hurried to catch up. He gave her a sidelong look, and she winked at him. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said reassuringly and patted his arm. Though now that we¡¯ve had a public tiff, I can¡¯t just make her disappear later. Oh well. There are ways of dealing with people like her. She glanced at Cass, whose face was a little flushed. She called her ¡®Hanks¡¯ on purpose, after I referred to her as my daughter. Goading me. Well, Miss Firth, it worked. ¨C Sonya sipped her drink and relaxed as the others gathered, her feet up on the long white marble table that stretched down the ominous room. Colin was sitting on her right, and on her left was Ishtar, who sat with her arms crossed and her eyes closed. Cass had returned to where she and the rest of her team were staying. Sonya made sure to send her off with well-wishes for Lillian and the others before opening a portal to the Styx. Now wasn¡¯t the time to have a hero present, and Cass had made her choice. It was the right one, and Sonya fully supported her decision. Barry stepped into the room, his human form looking strange on him now that he¡¯d spent so much time in his monstrous form. He pulled out a chair and sat down with a grunt. ¡°Heard you had a fun time after the hearing,¡± he chuckled, grabbing a plate of food. Sonya smirked. ¡°That woman¡¯s nothing,¡± she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. ¡°It was amusing to get into a pissing contest for a minute, though.¡± Colin sipped at his wine again and raised an eyebrow. ¡°She¡¯ll be coming after you now.¡± ¡°She was coming after me before. Now I know why,¡± Sonya shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ll handle her.¡± Beyol and Gia stepped into the room a moment later, hand in hand, before separating and finding their own seats. Sonya gave the two of them an approving nod as a chime went off in the back of her head. She read the message and gestured, a portal opening in the room and Ozzie stepping through, taking off his hat and inclining his head to her. She returned his nod magnanimously as she opened a second portal, and Amos joined them. The door opened again, and Marta made her way inside, her eyes twinkling a little when she saw Barry. ¡°Everyone¡¯s here,¡± Sonya said quietly before sitting up straight. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since we had one of these meetings. Inner Circle, report.¡± The atmosphere shifted, the air grew cold, and the family turned into a gathering of Supervillains. Kingshark rose first, his skin turning gray and his body bulking out. ¡°Kingshark is here. The seas are mine. I have begun demanding tribute from those wishing to pass through my better-controlled waters.¡± ¡°Well done, your performance during the war was exemplary. Congratulations on becoming a Special-class Supervillain,¡± Sonya said with a motherly smile. ¡°I have rewards planned for you.¡± Kingshark inclined his head. ¡°Thank you for your praise, Mistress,¡± he said and sat down. Kerauna stood up next, her chin tilted up. ¡°Kerauna is here. There were a few holdouts of Liberty¡¯s followers scattered about, new groups born from internet fandoms. They thought if they wished hard enough, they could get her powers going again. I smote them.¡± ¡°You work fast, good job, dear,¡± Sonya said with a nod. Blackrazor followed Kerauna. ¡°Blackrazor is here. The Night Society has begun absorbing the companies that Liberty once used as her allies and is replacing their leadership with our own. They were already crippled by our earlier attacks, so it won¡¯t take long. Ito and Kant remain at large. Craftsman is also in the wind.¡± ¡°Make sure to find them,¡± Sonya said. ¡°What are they calling themselves now?¡± ¡°Doctor Kaidan and Tianmo, respectively,¡± Blackrazor said with a slight bow. ¡°Doctor Kaidan only appeared briefly this morning on security footage outside a bank before vanishing. She gave her name to a police officer before killing him with a hound.¡± He paused, and his expression turned hard. ¡°One more thing. That man, Graff, sends his regards. He says that you and he are even now and he has no interest in joining.¡± ¡°I see, fine, leave him be. I don¡¯t want any quarrel with the Carbon Man,¡± Sonya said after a pause, ¡°Mephisto?¡± Mephisto set his glass down and stood up smoothly. ¡°Mephisto is here. We¡¯ve made inroads with that information you got out of Qilin. I¡¯ll be able to set up a meeting with the larger crime groups and more corrupt government officials in China soon. I can head there in the next few weeks, if you¡¯d like,¡± he said, his eyes glowing red with mirth. ¡°They were only too happy to make contact after your show during the war.¡± Sonya chortled. ¡°Good! Good! That¡¯ll be our first stop then.¡± The others raised their eyebrows, and she held up a hand. ¡°One thing at a time. Technocrat?¡± Technocrat stood up and straightened his lab coat. ¡°Technocrat is here. The Marianas base is almost complete, the fake base in the Alps is done, and I¡¯ve taken the time to put some teams on some rather amusing ¡®supervillainy¡¯ devices for you. Odd request, but they¡¯re having fun with it.¡± Sonya brightened. ¡°A weather machine?¡± Technocrat laughed. ¡°Bit far off from that, but hey, we¡¯ll get there... probably.¡± She fake-pouted and leaned back in her chair. ¡°How about you, Charon?¡± ¡°Charon is here. Profits are through the roof. That war really was the deciding factor as to who runs the villain underworld. Nobody¡¯s gonna question you now. The villains that managed to survive and escape the battle have all been awarded for their participation as promised,¡± Charon said with a grin. ¡°Also, Blight¡¯s hoping to speak soon.¡± ¡°I¡¯m actually hoping to talk to him as well,¡± Sonya said with a nod. ¡°Set up the meeting.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Ishtar finally opened her eyes and glanced towards Sonya. ¡°You think he¡¯s worth bringing into the fold?¡± ¡°Possibly. Depends on how things go with our next target,¡± Sonya said. ¡°And our current target?¡± Ishtar pressed. Sonya smirked. ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re all here,¡± she said and spread her arms grandly. ¡°Let''s talk about slipping into the Pandora Committee¡¯s maximum security prison. We have a Herald to kill.¡± ¨C Liberty sat in her cell, her eyes downcast. Her body ached, but not from any beatings or mistreatment. The guards were shockingly well-behaved. She wouldn¡¯t have treated a prisoner like this, especially a hated enemy. Weak, she thought and then scowled at her emaciated fingers. Damn it, she thought and leaned her head against the wall, looking up at the ceiling. For all her bluster during the confirmation hearing, she had barely enough strength to stand. With the suppression cuffs on and her followers gone, she was weaker than she was when she¡¯d acquired them. Is it because I didn¡¯t maintain my body while I had them? She looked down at her feet. It doesn¡¯t matter. She heard one of the security doors open down the hall and frowned. Isn¡¯t it a little late? A small group of people stopped outside of her cell door, and she looked up at the thick metal barrier, narrowing her eyes. So that¡¯s how it is, she thought. Ishtar wants to kill me herself. Like that man, An Set, and that woman, Queen August. I won¡¯t give her the satisfaction of being afraid- The door opened, and she froze. It wasn¡¯t Ishtar. A pair of glowing blue eyes gleamed in the room as the lights dimmed down to nothing. They seemed to float in the air for a moment as he came into focus. A cold smile spread across a disgustingly perfect face as the author she¡¯d recognized during the battle stepped inside. The two guards that had been stationed outside her cell just stood there as if frozen in time. The Author made a lazy gesture, and the men blinked in confusion before rounding on him. He tapped the air again, and they blinked once before returning to their posts. Jessica strode past them with a lazy smile. A large square box swayed at her side on a handle. The girl looked so different from the runt she used to know, pale, her eyes chilling and filled with bloodlust. With her was a boy with brown hair and glasses who adjusted them before the two obvious minions fell into step at either side of the main intruder. The young man, The Author, strode forward with confident steps before stopping in front of her and grinning. ¡°Hi there! Remember me?¡± JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 245 Liberty met the young man¡¯s cold blue eyes. She¡¯d looked into Ishtar¡¯s eyes, even if they were through her helmet. She¡¯d faced down Ishtar and had felt the tingle of fear. She¡¯d sensed her end coming during the battle and felt afraid. She¡¯d felt the creeping cold and resentment when her sister had looked down on her. Then there was that strange, distant presence that had gripped at her heart near the end of the battle. Those things had made her feel fear. But his eyes, his smile - that was where terror was born. ¡°Author,¡± she breathed. He wrote that guide for me. He¡¯s the one that gave it to Halloway. ¡°Otis, actually,¡± the young man said with a smug smile and stood up. ¡°Future King of the World.¡± Liberty scowled, forcing anger onto her face to hide the trembling in her tired limbs. ¡°Then what does that make me?¡± His smile wavered, and her heart felt a little colder. ¡°You were supposed to be my latest and greatest performance,¡± he sighed. "Ishtar is partially to blame; she interfered, but you,¡± he squatted down, and his hand snapped out, grabbing her by the chin and forcing her to look into his eyes. She tried to bite him, but he just squeezed harder. Her jaw creaked, and she relented. "You didn¡¯t follow instructions.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my life!¡± Liberty growled. He snorted. ¡°You are a thing,¡± he hissed. ¡°You don¡¯t get free will. That¡¯s for your betters.¡± He released her jaw and got to his feet, wiping his hand on his dark blue shirt and examining his fingers as if there had been something disgusting on them. He flicked his eyes towards her. "Oh, you could have been great. If only you¡¯d followed the guide. You went overboard in Japan; I couldn¡¯t ¡®redeem¡¯ you after doing that.¡± He turned away, and Liberty glanced towards his two companions. The young man with the glasses and messy brown hair shifted on his feet. He didn¡¯t seem like much, a coward, but something about him reeked of death. Then there was Jessica. Her dark blue hair had begun undergoing some kind of change, with streaks of white here and there. Her eyes were sunken, and her smile wide and cruel. She looked down at the box that hung by a handle in her grip. Jessica looked down at it as well and met her eyes. Jessica¡¯s smile grew even more delighted. "Wanna see?¡± Something told her that she didn¡¯t want to see what was in that box. She never wanted to see what was in that box. Liberty swallowed hard and looked up at Otis. "What do you want?¡± Otis looked down at her again from over his wrinkled nose and snorted. "One thing at a time,¡± he said and turned to Jessica. "Felwinter, you wanted a word with this trash?¡± Jessica nodded and walked forward as Otis stepped back to lean against one of the walls in the cell. The boy in glasses turned silently and tapped the panel that controlled the door. Liberty¡¯s coffin shut. ¡°Jessica, I-¡± ¡°It¡¯s Felwinter now,¡± the girl said and set the box down at Liberty¡¯s feet, kneeling next to it and brandishing her mad, wicked smile. She ran her fingers over it thoughtfully. "You know, I spent a lot of time thinking about what I was going to bring with me as a present for when I finally saw you again. After you planted that bomb in me, sent me to the camp, and left me for dead during the raid... I just kept thinking, you know?¡± She tilted her head to the right and looked up at the ceiling. "What do I get for the lady who wants nothing?¡± She turned back to the box and stroked it again. "I got you this. All for you.¡± She flicked the clasp at the top of the box, and the four sides of it fell down. Every cell in Liberty¡¯s body screamed. Her mind shuddered. Her heart cracked and imploded. Her spirit died. It was a head - a human head. Phillip¡¯s face twisted in a rictus of terror and pain. Frozen that way in a block of gray ice that billowed with an eerie mist, the fog carrying with it an agonized, endless scream. She could hear him wailing, begging, wallowing in endless torment. Liberty couldn¡¯t take her eyes off of it even as she felt sickness rising in her throat. The last time she¡¯d seen his face so close, they¡¯d been together, alone. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Felwinter asked. "It took me a while to make sure he was making just the right face before I froze him that way.¡± She reached down and ran her fingers along the ice, collecting a bit of that mist around her index finger. It clung to it, and the noise within grew louder, howling. "The mist is his soul, screaming forever. It¡¯s so beautiful,¡± she whispered. "My first work of art.¡± She looked up at Liberty. "Do you want to be my next work of art?¡± Liberty pulled her head back, her chest heaving. "He was your brother!¡± Felwinter¡¯s smile fell. "Funny coming from the bitch who tortured her sister,¡± she snarled and got to her feet. She left the head there. Liberty looked away from it, clenching her teeth even as she felt the last ounce of strength leave her muscles. She couldn¡¯t even hold her head up anymore. She slumped. "Just kill me already.¡± ¡°Not my job,¡± Felwinter giggled. "I¡¯m satisfied, your Majesty,¡± Liberty looked up into Otis¡¯ eyes as he watched her with disdain, that cruel smile twitching slightly as his hand jerked and spasmed. She looked down at his fingers, where sparks of energy were gathering. He took a step forward, and a surge of adrenaline gave her the last moment of struggle before he grabbed her by the face. He forced her to look up and into his eyes. "Now...¡± he whispered. "...Why don¡¯t we have a look at how that ability of yours works?¡± Then the pain started. ¨C Otis stepped away from the smoking, twitching woman. She was barely alive, but that wouldn¡¯t last much longer. He examined his fingers lazily, checking his nails before letting out a breath. He¡¯d explored Felwinter¡¯s stats before, tweaked her attributes and her ability until it became something useful. This was the first time he¡¯d gone in and ripped something out. It was like code but prettier - elegant even - like a carefully crafted work of art and architecture. He could almost compare it to a magnificent cathedral or temple like the ones he¡¯d studied before he became more than a man. It¡¯s like a mosaic; that¡¯s what it is. A combination of many, many parts making up something greater and more beautiful, he thought as he explored what he had learned, committing it to memory. In his mind''s eye he saw a disk of amber-orange light, a curious thing. It was cracked and missing whole portions of it but it was still strangely beautiful. ¡°Did you get it?¡± Felwinter asked. Otis glanced towards her. "It¡¯s mine, but it¡¯s broken, incomplete. I don¡¯t think my ability was designed to extract abilities. That said, I¡¯m closer to understanding how abilities work, what they are. It¡¯s fascinating, Felwinter.¡± ¡°You gonna use it?¡± she pressed. ¡°Not the way she did. It¡¯s better used as a blueprint for something better in the future,¡± he said lazily. "Once I figure out how, of course. If I can manage to get a fraction of her ability, I won¡¯t misuse it like her,¡± he chuckled. "Honestly, I wouldn¡¯t have considered trying to rip it out until I realized that Ishtar was a power thief.¡± ¡°What now?¡± Riot asked, his arms crossed. ¡°Kill her.¡± Felwinter skipped forward with an eager gleam in her eyes. "Don¡¯t mind if I do-¡± ¡°Not. You.¡± Otis growled and turned to Riot. "You. ¡± Riot went pale. "Me?¡± he gasped. "But,¡± he cleared his throat and forced a smile. "Your Majesty, I- I couldn¡¯t. This is something that Felwinter wants, and I wouldn¡¯t dare take it from her.¡± Otis stormed over and grabbed him by the shirt. "I told you,¡± he rumbled, ¡°that you¡¯d get the next one. So do it, Riot.¡± He dragged Riot towards the insensate Liberty and forced him to look at the woman. "Do it. Use your threads and tear the fabric of her karma apart - rip her to shreds, obliterate her, render her down into nothing. Do it, Riot. Do it now.¡± ¡°I-¡± ¡°Do it, or our partnership is done. I¡¯m tired of you waffling about and avoiding the hard stuff. It¡¯s time to commit, Riot. Kill Liberty, or neither of you are leaving this room alive,¡± Otis snarled in his ear. "Do it. DO IT!¡± Riot¡¯s chest heaved, his entire body trembling beneath Otis¡¯ grip. Otis let him go and pushed him towards Liberty. He walked away and stood at the door, his arms crossed, and watched. Riot stood in front of the fallen could-have-been Herald. Kill her and take her place, Otis thought as Riot¡¯s arms rose. The young man was weeping. Felwinter was laughing. Liberty raised her head weakly and looked into his teary eyes. The last dregs of her ferocity dimming into nothing. Glowing multicolored threads began to fall from Riot¡¯s fingertips, hanging there and radiating the lethal power within. Otis clenched his hands around his arms and tilted his head forward. ¡°Do it.¡± Riot attacked, and Otis smiled. Liberty¡¯s scream broke through the night, a final horrendous note. Otis could feel something precious and essential to the world getting torn to pieces, like sensing a crystal glass shatter. Something unforgivable had just been done. The purest essence of agony hung in the air as flickers of rainbow light spread red mist across the rear wall of the cell. When the messy work was done, Otis walked over to pat his newly christened Herald on the shoulder. Tears were streaming down Riot¡¯s face even as a pained smile stretched his lips. ¡°Go with Felwinter and do some more damage for me. Kill a few of the other prisoners,¡± he said. Riot stared at the mess he¡¯d made. "What about you?¡± Otis opened his cheats, went to the item tab, and held out his hand. Instead of his glowing golden sword, a hammer appeared. It looked remarkably like the hammer belonging to another hero. He flicked his eyes towards Riot. "I¡¯m going to punish a cheeky girl who doesn¡¯t know her place.¡± Riot stared at the hammer with cold eyes. "They have truth checkers in the Committee, sir.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Otis said, as he turned the hammer over in his hand. "But how many of the common dregs of society actually trust the Committee¡¯s word on that kind of thing? She¡¯ll be acquitted immediately,¡± he said as he raised the hammer over his head. "But the public will always wonder!¡± He laughed and began to swing. ¨C Sonya nodded along. "Alright, that¡¯s a good enough plan, I think,¡± she said and reached forward to grab her soda, sipping at it a little before setting it down. ¡°Kera will handle the power grid at the prison while Blackrazor and I slip inside. Kingshark¡¯s men will distract the guards. We¡¯ll make our move tomorrow night. Charon, can you have the rest I need prepared by then?¡± The undead supervillian nodded. "It¡¯ll be done.¡± She grinned. "Perfect! Now-¡± Sonya went still. She stared at the window in her HUD for a while, her expression complicated. Her eyes flicked left and right as she read through every single word. She leaned back in her seat and let out a heavy breath, rubbing at her temples. The others looked at her, but she just closed her eyes and shook her head, holding up a hand to forestall their questions. Someone beat me to her, she thought quietly and glanced towards Ishtar, who was frowning. Sonya''s lips twitched, and she chuckled. The anger melted into amusement. Only one person could have pulled that off so quickly. ¡°Otis,¡± she said with a small laugh. "He beat us to Liberty.¡± Everyone stared at her. "You sure?¡± Kingshark asked. She nodded. "I¡¯m sure. Though it looks like I got what credit I needed. My role in her capture was enough.¡± ¡°So you got the improvement to Broker, then?¡± Ishtar asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Sonya said and relaxed a little, a smile on her face. I lost the opportunity to try to force Liberty to give up her ability or at least shake my hand, but I got most of what I wanted. Well played, Otis. Game on. ¡°You don¡¯t seem too upset,¡± Mephisto chuckled. ¡°Why would I be? He saved me the trouble,¡± Sonya laughed and crossed her legs. "Sorry I had to waste your time with preparing that plan, my friends.¡± Charon shrugged. "Hadn¡¯t committed any resources yet, so no harm done. I¡¯ll consider it a nice evening spent with friends.¡± Sonya smiled. "Good! Then, since she¡¯s dealt with, we¡¯ll move on to bigger and better things. I¡¯m not going to let it bother me,¡± she said with a wave of her hand and reached out with her Technopathy. The machines Technocrat had lovingly designed and installed within the room whirred to life, and a black device rose up in the center of the table. It glowed, and soon a projection of the world hovered in the air above it. ¡°My friends,¡± she began. "We¡¯ve been playing in the shadows for a long time. We¡¯ve had a few minor showings: Vegas, The Hague, and something of a lesser debut during the Liberty War. Liberty and An Set were the most volatile of Otis¡¯ possible Heralds. The others are more cunning and less interested in creating international incidents like Liberty did. We¡¯ll have to draw them out, and since at least two of them are heroes. What better way than to cause trouble?¡± She rose to her feet and gestured to the projection. "My friends! We are going on a world tour! A little chaos here, some national treasures stolen there, and a whole lot of overdramatic villainy for the masses to drink right up slathered across the whole mess,¡± she said proudly. "My plan has always been to rally the heroes against me, to force them into a unified front while I cut out the cancers amongst them. Now that Liberty is gone and the underworld has chosen me, it¡¯s time to put my plan into action.¡± ¡°Sounds like a blast!¡± Kerauna laughed as sparks danced around her fingers. ¡°Finally get to play with my new toys,¡± Technocrat chuckled, adjusting the mechanical gauntlets on his hands. ¡°There are more deals to be made. Looking forward to it,¡± Mephisto snickered, his eyes glowing a demonic red. ¡°The seas are going to roil,¡± Kingshark declared, his teeth bared. ¡°The underworld will run wild,¡± Charon hummed, leaning on his cane with a wild grin on his stitched face. ¡°My blades are sharp and eager,¡± Blackrazor hissed, twirling his knives between his fingers. ¡°No one will stand in your way, Milady. I will guarantee that,¡± The Companion chimed in, bowing delicately in her maid gown. Sonya turned to Ishtar, who nodded proudly, a smile on her scarred lips. "You¡¯re ready, dear sister.¡± Sonya turned to her inner circle and raised a fist. ¡°I am Ishtar! The villain who will save this world! And get away with it!¡± ¨C Broker, Season 2: Standard of Glory ¨C ¨C Act 1: Rise of Ishtar ¨C ¨C End ¨C JOIN THE DISCORD! Broker Volume 4 Trailer Liberty is dead. Two Heralds of the past timeline have fallen, and Sonya has staked her claim within the realm of the long-lost Great Ones. The world has survived another crisis, but Villains, emboldened by Ishtar¡¯s ascent, have taken a step forward out of the darkness. Crimes are being committed with increasing frequency, groups of villains are targeting dungeons and claiming the rewards inside, and entire nations are struggling to hold onto power. With every attack, the numbers from the mighty first generation of heroes shrink, and the new generation is forced to take on missions they aren¡¯t ready for. With the volatile An Set and the army-building Liberty out of the way, the biggest targets among the previous heralds are all licensed heroes. The scheming Astaroth, the apathetic Qilin, and the turbulent First Wind are all on Sonya¡¯s radar. It¡¯s just a matter of seeing which one bites first. It¡¯s time to stir up some trouble, kick over the hive, and see what comes out. Little does she know that the Vigilantes have grown much faster than anticipated and Mimir is out for blood. Meanwhile, Otis is on the move, seeking glory around every corner and increasing his profile with every dungeon he breaks and villain he brings to justice. The world is watching, and so is the Pandora Committee. The game of chess between Marc Mallory and Sonya Chernovna has officially begun, neither side fully aware of what the other is capable of, and both holding hidden cards. The first moves have been made. Now it¡¯s time to retaliate. A crime wave is about to begin. Game on, Otis. AMA 3 AMA 3 [The stage is empty, there is some light murmuring in the back.] Sonya [Offscreen]: C¡¯moooon! We gotta do it! They will love it! Cass [Offscreen]: This is embarrassing, mom! I look silly! [Sonya steps on stage in designer jeans, tennis shoes, a white turtleneck, and her hair down. She puts her hands on her hips.] Sonya: Young lady! Cass: I¡¯m still technically an adult, you know! And I¡¯m certainly not a dress up doll! Sonya: [raises eyebrows] Cass: Fine! [Cass storms onto the stage in a white suit, and pink tie, her blonde hair pulled back into a no-nonsense ponytail. She is blushing furiously.] Cass: ...this is ridiculous. Sonya: You look fabulous, I bet Alex is losing his mind right now. [taps her chin] I wonder if dressing up like me counts as some kind of k- Cass: MOM! Sonya: [busts out laughing] Okay! Okay! [turns to the camera] Hey, Heroes and Villains and all you wicked things in between. It¡¯s time for an AMA! I¡¯m here with Cass! Cass: [waves uncomfortably] H-hi... Sonya: [holds up a finger] Book 3 is done! We are on our way to the half-way point! This next book¡¯s a big one, lots of things are gonna happen and some big fish finally start making moves. Also, I¡¯m goin¡¯ in like a certain boy in a green jump suit with his weights off. Cass: [blinks] ...did you get that from Marta? Sonya: [grins] Anyway! We¡¯ve got a few questions from Royal Road and Scribblehub. Not as many as usual though. [rubs chin] Well, if you want to ask more I¡¯ll leave things open at the end and I might even sneak into the comments section. Cass: You can¡¯t just break the fourth wall that much! Sonya: Deus ex Machina Cass: [throws up her hands] That¡¯s not how that ability works! Sonya: Ahem! Rekan from Royal Road asks: ¡°What happened to Val. Also, I¡¯m curious as to how Riot can kill using karma, is it like a part of their soul or something?¡± Cass: [sighs] I¡¯ll get the first one. Val didn¡¯t join up with Team Crusader. He¡¯s more of a ¡®do it for the little guy¡¯ type of person and is happy doing Patrol routes in New York. He¡¯s probably flying around there right now. Sonya: As for the second bit... Riot? Riot: [appears] Huh? Oh. This question. [sighs] Karma is like the outer lining or skin of the soul. It¡¯s your identity, connections, memories, all of it. It reflects the soul too, to a degree, which is a sort-of blueprint for who you are. Damaging even the skin of the soul is a violation against nature and it¡¯s pretty-much impossible to heal from. The more karma someone has the more violent the reaction from my threads. It¡¯s like breaking someone down at the molecular level but replace ¡®molecular¡¯ with spiritual. It¡¯s messy. The reason why my ability isn¡¯t Mythic is largely output and... monsters don¡¯t have Karma. I¡¯m useless against them. Cass: That¡¯s... grim. Riot: Tell me about it. Looks like there¡¯s more for me here too. Sonya: Have fun. Riot: Logan427 from Royal Road asks: ¡°Who did you see the golden thread between?¡± Looks like I answered the rest a moment ago. [He rubs his neck] The Golden Thread was between Sonya and the World when I first met her. Sonya: [stares] Riot: I¡¯m... gonna go. [poofs] Cass: [clears her throat] So! Uh! Next question is from THK from Royal Road, they asked; ¡°What are the most obtuse ¡®relatable alternative units¡¯ you can come up with, individually or together? Throw practicality out the window. Sonya: [grins] Marta ¡®harumphs¡¯ per Hijink Cass: ...that one was pretty practical. Sonya: I could do one about p-[beep]? Cass: MOM! Sonya: THK also asks, ¡°Could you lie if you had power sealing cuffs on?¡± [clears throat] Nope! As long as I possess Broker, I cannot lie, regardless of how much Mana I¡¯m cycling. Cass: If only anyone actually knew that who was your enemy, Oh wait. Martin. Sonya: And that¡¯s why I don¡¯t let him talk about me. If he wants to play house, play house. He won¡¯t get anything real done until I ask him a favor. [chuckles] Cass: [shakes her head] ¡°What thoughts/feelings were going through your mind when Ishtar first appeared before you and the group during the Liberty War? Despite knowing Ishtar well beforehand, you seemed even more affected than Lillian by her presence.¡± Sonya: [shifts on her feet] Ahem... um... Sorry about that by the way. Cass: W-well, Mom doubled up Imperious on me as opposed to the others. I knew it was her, obviously, and she wanted a natural reaction. She¡¯d never used it on me before but it was better to play it safe so my personal feelings didn¡¯t override it. It was... terrifying. [she exhales] If you¡¯ve ever looked death in the face, gotten too close to a dangerous wild animal, stood at the edge of a high drop. That gut feeling but multiplied. I was pretty horrified at first and it drew out all my worries about what we were getting into. [sighs] I knew why you had to do it, still sucked though. Sonya: Ice cream later? Cass: ...sounds good. Sonya: [Squints at the screen] Next question is from OBSIDIANxSILVER. Pretty! They ask: ¡°I would like to know what happens to an ability when someone dies?¡± [taps her chin] I might need Ghost-Pandora for this one. Hey! Pan pan! Pandora¡¯s Ghost: [materializes] Yes? Sonya: [points at the screen] Pandora¡¯s Ghost: [reads] That one is quite simple, the initial part anyway. Your hypothesis is correct about recycling, for the time being anyway. I can¡¯t get into more detail than that though, a certain cackling Narrator is preventing further commentary on that portion. As for the rest, Sonya¡¯s copies are entirely new and are not bound by the recycling, neither are any abilities made from them. Only the abilities formed from the Flash or natural awakening count. Once an ability is merged into one of Sonya¡¯s it is off the table. I can say no more. [Vanishes] Sonya: [shrugs] It¡¯s something, right? Though I think that does mean that Firestorm¡¯s ability went back into circulation, Lillian got my copy, which is nice to think about. Cass: He sounded like a great guy. Sonya: [nods] He was. Cass: Aviator43 from Scribblehub asks: ¡°Sonya, how do you stay motivated with the goal of defeating Otis when it seems like he can just shrug off everything you throw at him?¡± Sonya: Rage. Cass: That¡¯s it? Sonya: Well to be more specific, I know that every ability has a weakness. There¡¯s a rule to his power, somewhere, and when I find it. And I will find it. I will [bleeeeeep] his [bleeeepitybleep bleep bleep] inside out and skin [bleeeeeeeeep bleep bleep bleeeeeep] until his ancestors [bleeeep bleep bleeeeeep] rubbing alcohol [beeeeeeepity] with a cheese grater. [exhales] Ah that felt good. Does that answer it, Cass? Cass: [coughs] R-right. Uh. Next question from Aviator43 is... What¡¯s the first gift you¡¯re getting your new daughter? Sonya: We¡¯re coming out with a new concept sports car at ASTA in a few weeks. Mana-based engine. Amos is a hard worker. Don¡¯t forget we make consumer products too. Cass: [Gasps] REALLY? Sonya: [Grins] Lupenthewolf from Scribblehub asks a few questions! ¡°For Ishtar: You and Sonya are finally able to coexist safely, is it everything you wanted?¡± [turns off stage] Hey bookworm! They¡¯re asking for you! Ishtar: [pokes her head out] I was reading. [Scowls at the camera] Yes. It¡¯s quite nice. I don¡¯t have to be conscious in her head when she¡¯s binging all those horrible sweets anymore. [hesitates] Also it is good that she is truly stable, well, as much as Sonya can be. Sonya: Har har. Ishtar: Is this all you needed me for? Sonya: Yes yes, go read your romantasy or whatever. Ishtar: I¡¯m reading informative literature. Sonya: Uhuh, and that stack of books in the spice cabinet is...? Ishtar: [coughs] T-those are Marta¡¯s. [Leaves quickly] Sonya: Sure, sure. Next one from Lupenthewolf is... not a question. ¡°I¡¯m happy you finally have a family that cares about you. No question there, just happy.¡± Cass: [brightens] Thank you, that means a lot. As for your last question, ¡°Sonya, did you ever get that weather machine? And what other crazy super gadgets are your people cooking up?¡± Sonya: [stomps her foot] No I haven¡¯t! I want that thing so bad! [crosses her arms but grins regardless] Actually, I¡¯ve got Amos prepping for Book 4, he¡¯s gonna upgrade a- Colin: [walks in with a suitcase] Did somebody call for a RAFO? Sonya: [groans] Oh come on! I was excited about that one! Colin: As your lawyer, I¡¯d like to remind you that spoilers are bad. Sonya: Fiiiiiine! [Grumbles] There¡¯s actually one here for you, Colin. From BIGLARGEFISH on RoyalRoad. Huh, I¡¯ve seen those words as an Acronym somewhere... anyway. ¡°Colin, What¡¯s the extent of word of power¡¯s vocabulary? Can you just say ¡®no¡¯ and make things not happen? Most importantly of all, what¡¯s your favorite word?¡± Colin: [Tugs at his hair braid] It¡¯s more limited than you might expect. I can¡¯t just ¡°no¡± things away, sorry. Generally it needs to be a Verb or Adjective. Adverbs count, kind of. I can¡¯t say ¡°stone¡± but I can say ¡°petrify¡± for example. As for the latter part of your question... [grins and takes a deep breath]. Sonya: [eyes widen and clamps a hand over Colin¡¯s mouth] Colin! We¡¯re posting this on PG-13 rated sites! Colin: [waggles eyebrows at the camera] Sonya: No means no, you can¡¯t just make people do that with a word. Colin: Says you, Amos loves it. Amos: [off screen] No I don¡¯t! Sonya: Anyway! This one¡¯s for the Inner Circle. [hands on her hips] From Scregg5757 on Scribblehub: ¡°What¡¯s your favorite war crime?¡± Colin: I got this one. Sonya/Cass: [look at one another] Colin: [deep breath] I¡¯m half-Canadian on my mothers side. I get my looks from her, by the way. Cass: [Facepalm] Sonya: Okay! Colin everybody! [whispers] Go away! Colin: [laughs and waves] Bye everybody! [leaves] Cass: Has he gotten wierder? Sonya: No, you just don¡¯t see him as much as I do. Cass: Right. Anyway, we¡¯re gonna bounce back to RoyalRoad next. It¡¯s a... whole lot of questions for Otis. Sonya: [scowls] Alright, fine. Otis! You¡¯re up, asshole. Otis: [steps out onto the stage and flips his hair] I am here. Sonya: [gags] Die in a fire [coughs] I mean, enjoy. Otis: [smirks] The first one is from Jacky DeathBerg on RoyalRoad, Oh. I hear you¡¯re something of a fan from the Author. Hello Jacky. This one¡¯s for you. [reads] ¡°How do you rip powers out? It¡¯s not a part of your menu, I don¡¯t think?¡± [laughs] It¡¯s a combination of cheats called Debug Ability and Edit NPC. I can use it to modify an NPC, open up their source code and extract things. Debug on the other hand can temporarily disable an ability or let me grab it physically. [His hand turns gray] Very handy against petulant lightning rods. Kera: [offscreen] You suck! Otis: [rolls his eyes] Brainless tart. Anyway! ¡°Is it just me, or are you on your way to Claimancy? It¡¯s been noticeable.¡± Claimancy? What¡¯s that? [frowns] The next part of the question is... a request. ¡°Kill yourself ¡®heart¡¯ thank you.¡± [scoffs] I¡¯d just regenerate. [pauses] There''s a part here for you, Chernovna. Sonya: Oh? Otis: What would you do to Riot if you learned about what he¡¯s really been up to? Sonya: Order him killed or do it myself. Otis: Really? That simple? No regrets? Sonya: I think Titania burned those out of me, Otis. Otis: Ah... so the gloves are off in Book 4. Sonya: You have no idea. Colin: [offscreen] Don¡¯t make me come out there! Otis: Anyway, [winks at the screen] Thank you for the questions, Jacky. I¡¯ll remember you. Next one is from Haurum on RoyalRoad. They ask: ¡°How the heck did Otis get so many cheat powers? How did he die in the Previous Timeline?¡± [holds his fingers up to his lips] Not. Telling. You¡¯re going to have to read and find out. Sonya: Please tell me it¡¯s over. Otis: Nope, a few more I¡¯m afraid. [laughs] Gemiae from RoyalRoad asks: ¡°What is the ranking of the Heralds¡¯ strength among eachother?¡± I¡¯ll take it by you meaning the Previous Timeline? That¡¯s quite simple. Majordomo was physically my equal but that¡¯s about it. First Wind was next, then Qilin, Liberty, An Set, Astaroth, and finally Craftsman but his effect was more to enhance the others. Otis: Gemiae also asks, ¡°How much utility does Craftsman provide with his items, and can you provide an example?¡± Quite a bit, actually. Craftsman was able to create magic items with Forge of Hephaestus akin to mythological objects, rather than the technical gadgets that Technocrat makes. He created a battle standard for Liberty that could retain her Laws and could be deployed at will over a significantly larger area. The United Kingdom was bound by her law at one point. Funny. Sonya: Now is it over? Otis: You¡¯re so impatient, Zhyllo from RoyalRoad asks: [pauses] ...hm... Chernovna and... pet? I think? Cover your ears please. Sonya/Cass: Go f- [disappear] Otis: There we go, Zhyllo asks, ¡°Otis, You¡¯re a gamer right? You power seems fairly inspired by it so I¡¯ve gotta ask. What¡¯s your all-time favorite game? I bet it¡¯s an old school RPG, if so, are you the type who¡¯d want it remastered/remade?¡± [chuckles] I love classic RPGs. Zelda, Dragon Quest, games with traversable worlds are my favorites. I like finding all the secrets and side quests before using the rewards to overpower the main questline. [frowns] As for remakes. It should be played the way it was intended, changing something that was already perfect disgusts me. Why should it be made accessible to those who can¡¯t appreciate the original? Otis: [scoffs] With that, I take my leave. Enjoy watching my enemies spin their wheels in the next book. [Laughs and leaves] Sonya/Cass: [reappear] Sonya: ¨Cthen you grab his- Cass: Mom! We¡¯re back, enough girltalk! [beet red] Sonya: Oh! Sorry, [coughs] Looks like the golden toddler is gone, good, good. [squints at the camera] Zhyllo still had another question! This one¡¯s for Kingshark. Hey lover-boy! Quit snogging my maid and get out here! Kingshark: [steps out with a shit-eating grin] Can¡¯t stop won¡¯t stop. Aight, Question for Barry. ¡°Can your power to evolve/change marine life extend to all ocean life?¡± Yes. ¡°If so, have you considered making a bioluminescent ocean garden as a date venue with Marta? Dozens upon dozens of glowing...¡± [blinks] Oh shit, I need to write this down. Sonya! Pen? Sonya: [laughs] I¡¯ll send you a copy of the question in your e-mail. Kingshark: Hey hey! Wingman-lady, you get it. [finger guns at Sonya] You too Zhyllo, thanks a ton! [Leaves] Marta! I got an idea for a date! Cass: He¡¯s adorable. Sonya: I know, right? What¡¯s next? Cass: Let¡¯s see, Bomb-Priestess from RoyalRoad asks a few questions, ¡°Sonya, If [Broker] had other means of being upgraded that wasn¡¯t orchestrating the death of a Herald, that being non-lethatl measures (such as secure imprisonment or successful therapy), would you make use of it or at least try to? If so, would this be for every Herald, or just a few, and if its just a few then who?¡± Sonya: [scratches her chin and frowns] Well.. Technically the notifications just say cutting off their path to being a Pillar of Otis so I think it would work, maybe. I doubt it. Killing them is just more efficient and generally speaking they all ... suck. If the option presented that I could get Craftsman on my side, I would. I think his personality could be curbed a little with some heavy handed attention. Qilin seems like a possibility but the fact is she¡¯s absolutely psychotic underneath all that so that¡¯s a hard pass. First Wind¡¯s just a dick and I promised Blight I¡¯d murder his ass so... also no. [hums] Astaroth is somewhere between a eugenicist, a blue-blood supremist, and probably got the wrong idea out of Animal Farm so big no there. Cass: ...and Majordomo? Sonya: How is that even a question? He killed Chunhua in the last timeline. Of all of them, I want him dead the most. He just hasn¡¯t shown his face, at all. Bastard. Cass: Fair enough. Next one we¡¯re gonna give to Pandora if she¡¯s available. Pandora¡¯s Ghost: [Reappears] I am here, let me see. ¡°Pandora, You gave Otis his ability but we know everyone has an innate ability. What was it and what happened to it?¡± [sighs and shakes her head, snaps her fingers. Sonya and Cass blink and look around] They can¡¯t hear, now. His original ability was Place of Learning. Shame. He discarded it and I put it back into circulation. It ended up in an interesting place. [Snaps her fingers again and she disappears] Sonya: Hey now! [stomps her foot] No fair! Cass: Would you have rathered Colin come out and her not give them anything? Sonya: [pouts] Fine. Next question? Cass: Skip this one to give to the special guest... ¡°What¡¯s your favorite color?¡± Directed to the Heralds and pretty much everyone. Sonya: [brightens] Oh! Mine¡¯s pink! Cass: [deadpan] We know. [smiles] Mine¡¯s yellow. Sonya: I thought it was green. Cass: He isn¡¯t green! Sonya: [Laughs] Here¡¯s a list for you! Handmaiden White Kingshark Maroon Mephisto Baby Blue Technocrat Steel Gray Charon Green Kerauna Black Black Lotus Orange Crusader Red An Set Black Liberty Blue Craftsman Whatever aesthetically compliments my project. First Wind Brown Qilin Green Astaroth Gold or Red Majordomo Sky Blue Cass: ... Craftsman, really? [sighs] The next two questions, one from Bomb-Priestess and one from redun on Scirbblehub are for a special guest! Sonya? Sonya: Give it up for Old Man Set! [claps and steps aside as the old man steps out of a rippling portal and looks around in confusion] Set: ...where do I look? Sonya: [points at the camera] Questions are next to it, there¡¯s a translation for you. Set: [squints and leans on his cane] Ah... I see... ¡°What exactly is Primal Rarity?¡± [coughs and clears his throat] Ahem. Primal is a parallel to Mythic. They¡¯re on the same level for the most part. Primal is ¡®pure¡¯ and something you do not want to acquire if you¡¯re on the path to Claimancy. It makes the process difficult. Primal abilities are unstable like... [snaps his fingers] like an unstable atom. They need additional input to stabilize. The Kerauna girl, hilarious name by the way, she consumed the electrical power of that poor man in The Hague. That is an example of a Primal ability seeking stability. Cass: ...I had no idea. Set: It has effects on the mind as well, [he taps his noggin] Mild, but noticeable. [sighs] The next question, it appears to be the final question of this event, is from Redun. They ask: ¡°For Set, did Osiris really deserve all that? Or is it just all slander?¡± Sonya: [coughs] Set: [frowns] I have read your myths about my extended family. They are hyperbole. My on again off again rivalry with my brother was blown out of proportion. Also, the whole... dismemberment thing? It was a statue made by our mother. We were children, I was jealous. I hid the pieces because I was afraid of punishment. I didn¡¯t actually cut my brother up, madness! He never did let me live it down, he always liked to sneak a jab into one of his poems or songs. [sighs] I miss Osiris. He was so funny. Cass: ...that¡¯s... honestly kind of hilarious that the legend got twisted to that point. Set: Hah! You should hear the truth about Anubis! That party animal was beyond help. He and Dyonisis would get into so much trouble together. Then if you threw Thor into the mix, the heavens themselves would shake. Bah! I should go. [Disappears] Sonya/Cass: [exchange a look] Sonya: W-well then! That¡¯s all the questions we got for the AMA! Cass: I was surprised it went as long as it did, are you still sticking around for the Comments section, Mom?¡± Sonya: For the next few hours, sure, why not? Cass: [shrugs] Alright then, you heard her! Thank you guys so much for submitting your questions. I hope this gave you a lot to think about going into Book 4! We¡¯re almost half-way through Broker, it¡¯s been a crazy ride! Sonya: Can¡¯t wait to hear your thoughts as the adventure continues! [blinks] Oh right! Selfie time! [pulls out her phone and grabs Cass, pulls her coat off her daughter and tugs it on.] Cass: Wait! What- Sonya: Gotta look good for the photo! Smile! Sonya: See you later dears! Thank you for all your support! Chapter 246 PROLOGUE TOK TOKTOK TOK TOKTOKTOK Each step down the stairs echoed in the narrow space as three figures descended into the depths. The walls were damp and gray, blocks of stone stacked upon one another centuries ago. He recognized the style, and could even rattle off when this particular type of subterranean architecture had begun being used in this region. Fun facts. Little details. He ran his fingers over the wall as he descended, brushing against one of the old light fixtures. Iron. Lovingly curved at the neck with a worn, empty slot where the candle would have gone. It had been added over a century after the stairwell itself was built. His eyes drifted away from the architecture to the steps beneath his feet as his thoughts drifted. He¡¯d been in his own head a lot more recently, something he would never admit to those around him. Ever since Vegas, if he was being honest. The guide had been helpful as a tool, but every single time he¡¯d used it to create long-term plans, they¡¯d blown up in his face. Now the guide was lost for the time being, useless to him. All because of her, he thought darkly. I need to start being more careful. Lashing out at the Cassiopeia girl and framing her for Liberty¡¯s murder won¡¯t stick for even a day, and even if it does hurt her reputation, it¡¯s basically me admitting that I did it to Ishtar. His lips twitched up into a smile. But will she do anything about it? Her little spy is so close to Miss Chernovna now. I wonder if that was her plan all along. Is it something I can take advantage of? He rubbed his chin. Perhaps not through her directly, but her friends... maybe. He tilted his head. If she¡¯s a spy for Ishtar, why hasn¡¯t she tried to tell Chernovna that I¡¯m an enemy of the world?Not enough evidence? Perhaps. Was that why it took so long for Sonya to sign me with ASTA? His thoughts trailed off as he alighted on the landing, the long stairwell coming to an end. An old wooden door was the only obstacle between him and his destination. He jerked his chin, and one of the two following him stepped forward. Felwinter, with her blue-black hair and cold, merciless eyes, approached the door with her hands stuffed into her leather jacket. The short pleated skirt, thick leggings, and boots made up the rest of her ensemble. She raised a hand to the door and closed her eyes, a faint whisper reaching his ears. A hissing breath. Murmurs in the dark. ¡°Two souls, as agreed,¡± she said. ¡°Good,¡± he muttered, and turned to his other companion. Riot looked worn down, his eyes sunken and red, faint streaks from tears marring his face. His messy brown hair was even more askew from where he¡¯d pulled at it earlier. He wore a bland white dress shirt and brown slacks, a brown coat over his shoulders to stave off the chill that Felwinter carried everywhere she went. The only thing truly unsettling about the beaten-down Herald was the eerie half-smile that never seemed to go away. Riot¡¯s eyes flicked up and met his own before his head moved, and he stared back. ¡°Yes, Majesty?¡± He asked with a hollow voice that didn¡¯t quite match his rictus facial expression. You killed her a few hours ago. Get over it, he thought dismissively. He was past the stage of breaking Riot down into something he could mold. Now, he needed to piece him back together one step at a time. It wasn¡¯t something as base as compassion that formed his next words, merely fact and method. ¡°You did well. Stay with me. Felwinter will lead us in.¡± Riot held his gaze and slowly nodded. "Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Felwinter.¡± ¡°On it,¡± Felwinter said and reached for the door, pushing it open only to step back as heat radiated out of the door. A flush of hot air that kissed his skin and drew his eyes towards the center of the largely empty room. A rectangular stone chamber made of the same stacked blocks. Five folding chairs were set out. Two were occupied. One by someone he knew, the other by a new face. Doctor Kaidan, once known as Dame Ito, wore a black blouse and a lab coat alongside a pair of black slacks and shiny shoes. The lower half of her face was covered with a partial oni mask that bore its fangs at them as they entered. Her long black hair fluttered a little bit in the sourceless breeze that the heat in the room kicked up. She crossed her legs and rested her hands on her knee. Ito¡¯s ability allowed her to control and modify monsters, twisting them into something different or even enhancing their powers. Otis had run into her during the Liberty War, and she¡¯d fled immediately. She avoided combat whenever possible - something she had in common with her new boss, the woman who sat next to her. Craftsman. Craftsman wore a neat, form-fitting brown suit and black tie. Her tan shoes were shined perfectly. She sat with her feet planted and knees slightly apart, her elbows resting on them as she watched the trio enter. Her long brown hair was styled to the side, like a comb-over, and fell down the right side of her face. Her eyes were the most arresting part of her, though. Two glowing dots of molten lava in her head. She smiled. "Marc Mallory, Otis, the Author.¡± Otis¡¯ lips curled up into an easy smile. "Graham Taylor, Craftsman, you look different from what I expected. I see you did some digging.¡± ¡°So did you. I¡¯m impressed,¡± she said with a chuckle. "Don¡¯t mind this body. Just think of it as a new pair of shoes for me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think of it just that way then,¡± Otis said, committing the information to memory. No wonder she isn¡¯t afraid of meeting me in an isolated place. ¡°What happened to your last set of shoes?¡± ¡°Blackrazor,¡± she said with a growl. So Ishtar knew about me searching for Craftsman as well and made sure to have her pet assassin deal with them. She really does know everything about my original plan, he thought darkly before giving an almost apologetic nod. "I¡¯m afraid that might be my fault.¡± Craftsman tilted her head. "What do you mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to recruit you for a long time. Let¡¯s just say that I once possessed a means to find the perfect people to work alongside me towards my goals,¡± he said. "Ishtar possesses some means to know who I was looking for. She¡¯s already blocked me twice.¡± The artificer raised a hand to her chin and rubbed it, leaning back thoughtfully. "Queen August was a favor for Erebus,¡± Craftsman murmured. "An Set and Liberty?¡± Otis raised his eyebrows. "What brought you to that conclusion, besides the obvious?¡± ¡°An Set could have grown into quite the monster, especially if I had been able to make toys for him. The perfect shock and awe delivery system. Liberty had her cult and a strong following. Her henchmen were a mixed bag of great and terrible, but overall she was someone worth teaming up with. More importantly, if you¡¯d managed to catch her in time, her going Hero would have been a huge boon for you. Too bad she went nuts. I¡¯m guessing she¡¯s dead?¡± Otis smiled. He appreciated how this person thought. The guide wasn¡¯t wrong. ¡°Riot, here, finished her a few hours ago,¡± Otis said, gesturing to his companion. Craftsman nodded appreciatively. "I haven¡¯t heard anything yet. You do good work.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a ghost, so I have the same to say about you,¡± Otis reciprocated. ¡°I have my ways,¡± Craftsman chuckled before her lips fell into a frown. "You¡¯re going after Ishtar.¡± ¡°I have plans beyond Ishtar. She¡¯s my obstacle, not my end goal,¡± Otis said flatly, raising his chin up. "I will be king one day.¡± ¡°Of what?¡± ¡°Everything.¡± Craftsman stared at him for a long time, her eyes twinkling a little as she leaned forward. She rested her elbows on her knees and her chin on her steepled fingers. "You know, if I hadn¡¯t watched that footage of you coming back from a smear on the ground just a few days ago, I would have laughed at that. I believe you.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re in?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the benefits first,¡± Craftsman countered. ¡°I suppose we both knew this would end up being a transaction.¡± ¡°Glad to see there¡¯s someone on this planet with a brain.¡± ¡°Real people are few and far between,¡± Otis agreed and held out his hand, calling up his menu. He pulled up the cheats tab and selected the item cheat. A moment later, an ingot of metal appeared in his hand. It was an odd bluish-white and glowed faintly. He hefted it before tossing it over to Craftsman, who caught it in one hand. She looked down at it, running her fingers over the surface. ¡°Mithril,¡± she murmured reverently. "I thought there were only a few nuggets on Earth, found by chance in Epic dungeons,¡± she looked up at Otis. "How?¡± ¡°I have my ways,¡± Otis said with a grin. Craftsman threw her head back and laughed. "I like you!¡± she said and looked him in the eyes, holding the bar up next to her head. "You help me get the materials I need for my research, and I¡¯ll kill every person on the planet if you ask.¡± Otis smirked. "In that case, I have something I¡¯d like to collaborate with you on.¡± ¨C Two bullets left the chamber soundlessly, the sonic waves absorbing into the strip of paper wrapped around the barrel. The talisman burned away, and he reached into his pocket for another, rewrapping the barrel as the body dropped to the ground. He lowered his weapon and turned his head, glaring down the dark, empty alley as he counted the seconds in the back of his mind. As his count hit zero, a pair stepped into view. The first wore long robes that hung down over his hands. A staff was slung over his shoulders, and he hung his wrists over it as he swayed left and right with a lazy gait. The other was an elderly-looking man in a top hat, walking with easy poise as his cane tapped against the stone of the passage. ¡°That¡¯s all of them,¡± Mimir said, turning his golden eyes towards the hotel leaning over them. He pulled his phone from his coat pocket and checked it. "Hellion is on the move, and Addison is in position.¡± ¡°Finally taking action,¡± the robe-wearing young man said with a yawn. "It¡¯s about time.¡± Mimir frowned at him but didn¡¯t bother putting him in his place. He didn¡¯t have the time for it. He stalked past him as his body seemed to flicker now and then, traversing short distances with a single step. He could see more than he could before - the shortcuts between places and entry points into a place that beggared imagining. He stopped his quick hops at one of the service doors for the hotel and slipped his gun into his coat, pulling a small hammer out. His eyes glowed, and he rapped it once against the deadbolt, right on the spot that gleamed in his vision. The deadbolt cracked, and he pulled the casing from the door, dropping it into a nearby trash can. The actual deadbolt came next, and he pushed the door open, striding inside as the old man,Maximilian, fell into step next to him. It was a luxury hotel, usually one that prided itself on its security and privacy for its guests. Tonight, that reputation would be shattered. He wrinkled his nose a little at the expensive wallpaper and thick carpeting beneath his shoes. It reminded him of Caesar¡¯s Palace. Of Ironsides. ¡°You truly think that girl is someone we need to interrogate?¡± Max asked quietly as the young man in the robes hurried to catch up. Mimir shot him a look. "There¡¯s no other explanation. She¡¯s associated with Ishtar, I know it. If we can get it from her, we can bypass-¡± He coughed and rubbed his throat, grimacing a little as his body tried to choke itself. He glanced back over his shoulder. "Shrine, block the exit.¡± Shrine frowned a little but nodded, turning around and spinning his staff. He slammed it into the ground and held out a hand, muttering something under his breath before a series of paper tags slapped against the walls around the broken door. A barrier of light formed between them, halting anyone from pursuing them from behind. Mimir checked his phone again and frowned. Hellion was calling, which meant the situation had changed. "What¡¯s going on, Hellion?¡± <¡±Cops are on their way to you. Something¡¯s going down at Pandora HQ; alarms are going off.¡±> Mimir frowned. "Alarms?¡± he wondered as he started to turn on his heel, only to freeze in step. His mind went through the possibilities, piecing details together like threads across an evidence board. ¡°Which side?¡± <¡±All over! But it started in the west wing,¡±> Hellion said. Mimir¡¯s eyes glowed brighter. ¡°Liberty¡¯s dead,¡± Mimir said and started walking faster, gesturing to the others. "They think the girl did it. How long do we have?¡± <¡±What? I dunno, two, three minutes?¡±> ¡°Not enough time to grab her,¡± Max said as he hurried to keep up with Mimir. ¡°Yes, but enough to get my eyes on her,¡± Mimir said and added another number to the call. "Change of plans, Major. We¡¯re peeking and dipping.¡± ¡°Got it, I¡¯ll have your escape route ready. Are we leaving town?¡± Addison said quickly. He stopped at the elevator access area and hit the button, one of the sets of doors opening with a chime. He hurried over. "Not yet, but get prepped. We won¡¯t be here for much longer,¡± he said as the doors closed. They ascended, and Mimir checked his gun. It was possible they might have to fight their way out if the Pandora Committee saw them. At least we won¡¯t have to worry about whatever security measures Ishtar has in place. If she pulls something while PC personnel are present, that¡¯ll raise questions. The door opened, and the three men stepped out, rounding the corner before stopping dead in their tracks. He pulled back and pressed himself against the wall. They¡¯re already here. ¡°Hero Harbinger, you¡¯re going to have to come with us. I apologize for waking you, but we need to talk to you at headquarters,¡± a male voice said. ¡°We have a warrant to bring you with us. Please don¡¯t make this difficult.¡± ¡°Hey, hey, relax,¡± a feminine voice replied. "What¡¯s this all about? Can I at least call my mom first?¡± That must be Harbinger. ¡°Easy, guys, back up a bit. We¡¯re not gonna give you trouble,¡± another woman said, this one a bit more brusque compared to the other. ¡°Can I see the warrant?¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± the man said. Mimir pursed his lips and took his chance, popping his head out and around the corner long enough for his golden eyes to fall on two women standing with six armed Pandora Committee soldiers and what appeared to be a hero in costume standing in front of them. His retinas burned, and his power activated. The dark-haired girl with the tattoos flinched and turned, but Mimir was already heading towards the elevator. ¡°I got what we needed. Let¡¯s go.¡± JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 247 It was the dead of night when Sonya stepped through the portal and reached up to toss her hair, shaking it out and letting out a self-satisfied sigh. Liberty was dead. They¡¯d made their plans, her mind was whole, and her heart was set. All she needed to do now was push forward. She stopped in the living room of the hotel suite she¡¯d rented for the trial hearings and rested her hand on her hip before pulling out her phone. Colin and Amos walked in behind her with Marta taking up the rear, Ishtar having dismissed her body and returned to Sonya¡¯s ability. Her shadow billowed once out of the corner of her eye as she set her sunglasses on the counter and checked her messages. Odd. Nothing about Liberty. Carla didn¡¯t even try to notify me. ¡°...It¡¯s a little quiet,¡± she said thoughtfully and glanced towards Amos. He was back in a T-shirt and shorts, his messy brown hair and scruffy face a contrast to Colin¡¯s clean and pretty image. Amos nodded and closed his eyes, jerking his chin left and right for a moment. He opened his eyes, and his lips curled down into a frown. Sonya put away her phone and walked over to the fridge, pulling out a soda and popping it open. She took a sip and turned around to lean against it, fixing him with a stare and waiting for him to speak. ¡°Full communications blackout for the Pandora Committee. The entire situation is being kept under wraps as they investigate directly. I¡¯m still pushing through security; gimme a sec,¡± he said and sat down on the couch. Sonya squinted at the can for a moment and sipped it again. She pulled out her phone and dialed Cass¡¯ number first. <¡±This number is currently out of service. Please try again later,¡±> a pleasant voice said on the other end. Sonya¡¯s eyes narrowed. What the? She dialed out to Lillian¡¯s number. <¡±This number is currently...¡±> The hell? She blinked at her phone and looked over at Amos, whose face was starting to darken. They exchanged a look, and she sipped at her drink, setting it down and focusing on her phone. She dialed out to Alex and then to Snow. When the latter got the same error, she dialed out to Chunhua. <¡±This number...¡±> Sonya hung up and rubbed the bridge of her nose before exhaling. If I go directly to the Pandora Committee without being informed about the situation, they¡¯ll ask how I know. I can¡¯t just march down there. She flicked her eyes towards the door. ¡°Blackrazor, go downstairs and check on my daughter,¡± she commanded, and without a word, the rippling shadow beneath her feet shot towards the door, slipping under it and vanishing from sight. She sipped her drink again and tapped a long nail impatiently against the countertop. She turned to Amos. "Anything?¡± ¡°I think they didn¡¯t appreciate my last couple of hacks,¡± Amos said with a half smile. "They¡¯ve got someone good updating their internal security. I¡¯ll be through soon.¡± She rolled her eyes and chuckled. "Humblebrag,¡± she said and stood up straight, adjusting her tie. She turned to Marta, who was still standing off to the side, waiting patiently for orders. ¡°Go get the car ready. We¡¯ll probably need to move quickly if my gut feeling is any indication.¡± Marta bowed. "Right away,¡± she said and made her way to the door. Sonya turned to Colin, who had taken up a seat at the dining table of their suite and had leaned back in it until it was partially tilted off the floor. He glanced her way, and his brown eyes turned red. "Need me to do something?¡± ¡°Be ready to leave-¡± <¡±Mistress,¡±> Blackrazor¡¯s voice came into her head. She raised a finger to Colin to pause their chat. He got up and grabbed his suitcase, <¡±What happened?¡±> <¡±There are several Pandora Committee soldiers outside of their suite, Mistress,¡±> Blackrazor said. Sonya glanced up at Colin and jerked her chin towards the door. He nodded and hopped to his feet, hurrying out to follow Marta down to the parking garage. <¡±One of them appears to be a scout or sensory-type hero. They turned my way when I was approaching.¡±> Sonya pursed her lips before an idea occurred to her, <¡±Come back. I¡¯ll try something else.¡±> <¡±Yes, Mistress.¡±> Sonya closed her eyes and reached out with her Technopathy - she could literally feel the sluggish, stymied sensation of the restricted internet traffic around her. She shifted away from using that kind of signal and concentrated on another. A single signal similar to her own and Amos¡¯. She touched it gently, feeling for a point of entrance before slipping inside and urging it to simulate a call. A small voice popped into her head a moment later, <¡±H-uh?¡±> <¡±I¡¯m glad Amos was the one who designed your implant. Hello, Snow,¡±> Sonya said, only to be cut off. <¡±Miss Chernovna! Where have you been? We had no way of getting ahold of you, and-¡±> <¡±Calm down, dear. What¡¯s going on?¡±> Sonya said, taking another sip. <¡±A bunch of Pandora troopers showed up a few hours ago and picked up Cass. Lily went with them!¡±> The girl said frantically. <¡±They won¡¯t let us leave the room; otherwise, I would have gone upstairs! I can¡¯t even get a frigging email out. ...Miss Chernovna?¡±> Sonya¡¯s fists clenched at her sides. <¡±I¡¯m here. Did they have a warrant?¡±> <¡±Yes, but Cass has been with us the entire night. There¡¯s no way she did anything!¡±> Sonya closed her eyes. <¡±I¡¯ll take care of it, Snow. You just get some rest,¡±> she said and ended the connection. CRRRK The can crumpled in her grip, the last bit of it spilling onto the ground at her feet. She closed her eyes as white hot-fury burned beneath her skin. It took every ounce of hard-earned self-control to bring herself back from blasting the entire building with Imperious. She reached up and ran her fingers through her hair, searching for patience. She leaned back against the fridge and sorted out her thoughts. Jumping at their throats won¡¯t do me or Cass any good. Should I be patient and wait for them to verify her story with a truth-detecting ability? Her lips thinned. If they were going to do that, she would be back at the hotel room by now. I know Verity is in town. She rubbed her chin and turned to the right. So why? I can understand the communication¡¯s blackout, but why did they block Snow and Alex in their room? She paused. Unless it was to prevent me from learning about the situation before they had time to talk to Cass. But why would they- Firth. Her blood boiled. ¡°Amos,¡± she said evenly, and turned to her friend. ¡°Yeah?¡± he said, looking up from the coffee table that was now adorned with two laptops and three tablets held aloft by small drones. ¡°I want everything on Leiandra Firth,¡± she said as she started marching towards the door. ¡°Her life, her family, her connections, her property, her taxes - everything. I want to know what kind of toilet paper she uses.¡± ¡°On it.¡± ¨C Sonya sat in the car with her legs crossed and her eyes fixed on the window as Marta drove them past the latest blocked street. It seemed like every route to Pandora Headquarters had been blockaded in the aftermath of Liberty¡¯s assassination. More than once they had been turned away by security personnel. On the third attempt, she had Marta park at the barricades, and with a nod to Colin, she got out. The troops at the barricade looked at one another as she drew closer. ¡°M-Miss Chernovna, I¡¯m sorry, but I can¡¯t just open the barricade. We¡¯ve been given orders. No one in. No one out,¡± one of the men said apologetically. She stopped at the barricade and sighed, nodding. "I¡¯m not holding this against you, boys,¡± she said patiently and graced them with an easy smile. "You have a job to do. I get it. But I¡¯ve learned that my daughter is being interviewed without her legal representation, and I can¡¯t have that,¡± she said flatly. "So contact whatever superior you need to. Her lawyer is in the car behind me.¡± The men looked uneasily at one another, and one stepped away, tapping his ear and talking in a low voice. She could hear everything he said, of course, but pretended not to as she approached the barricade. "I hope they¡¯re paying you boys overtime,¡± she said, leaning against the barricade. One of them chuckled. "Salary, ma¡¯am.¡± She nodded. "Right, right, they switched you guys over to salary during the last summit,¡± she said. "I honestly forgot. Wild few weeks for everyone.¡± One of the men chuckled. "It¡¯s not so bad. Overall pay is better for us.¡¯ She stood up straight. "Good! If not, I was going to have a word with-¡± ¡°Miss Chernovna,¡± the man who stepped away called and walked over. He hesitated and rubbed his neck. "We need to go through a few things before-.¡± Sonya tilted her head. "You were asked to stall me.¡± His eyes widened. She smirked and tapped her temple. "Very good eyes,¡± she said. He didn¡¯t need to know that she¡¯d actually listened to the conversation rather than read his lips. She tapped her nails on the barricade and let out a sigh. "That person knows they can¡¯t legally keep me from bringing my daughter her representation, so they want you to do a full screening to stall me,¡± she tapped her nails again before stopping. "Let me be clear. I am not an employee of the Pandora Committee, and neither is Handmaiden.¡± The men looked at one another. ¡°Please don¡¯t make me threaten you, boys. Do the right thing,¡± she urged them. It didn¡¯t take long for the men to move the barricades out of the way and for the car to pass through, making a bee-line for Pandora Headquarters. Sonya kept her smile up even as the irritation mounted. It didn¡¯t burn as hot or as wildly as it had before. She could feel the difference from when she was under the influence of Visage¡¯s side effects. She was angry, but in control, more in control than she¡¯d ever felt, if she was being honest with herself. There was an odd sense of certainty in her chest that felt separate from all of her other emotions. ¡°You good?¡± Colin asked, giving her a worried look. ¡°I¡¯m angry,¡± she said quietly, and looked out the window as they reached the outer walls of the Pandora Committee Headquarters campus. ¡°I¡¯ll feel better once I see Cassiopeia.¡± ¡°She¡¯s a tough girl. She¡¯ll be fine,¡± Colin said and brushed his hair back over his shoulder. "Once I¡¯m in there, she¡¯ll be untouchable.¡± Sonya smiled at him. "I know, as always, I¡¯m so glad I brought you in.¡± He smirked and thumbed his nose. "Can¡¯t imagine my life playing out any different.¡± ¡°Trust me, you don¡¯t want to,¡± Sonya laughed as the car came to a stop, and she slipped out, straightening her tie as several Pandora soldiers came hustling over. Marta stepped out as well, and they stopped in their tracks. Sonya waited for Colin to get out and join her. She looked up at the moon high in the sky and then down at the gathered soldiers before striding forward. ¡°I¡¯m here with legal representation for Cassiopeia Chernovna. Step aside,¡± she called out. ¡°Let her through,¡± a familiar voice chimed in from behind the soldiers. The men stepped aside quickly, revealing the raven-haired prosecutor. Leiandra Firth stood with her arms crossed at her waist and her red eyes glowing brightly in the low light. She wore a severe black jacket and skirt with black hose. Sonya walked towards her. She didn¡¯t stop as she reached the woman and walked past. ¡°Chernovna-¡± ¡°Leiandra,¡± Sonya cut her off with a tone as cold as ice. "We¡¯ll talk later. I care more about my family than entertaining you.¡± Sonya marched past her and kept going, Marta tailing her and Colin as they strode past the gate and towards the main building. ¡°Wait!¡± Leiandra called. Sonya gestured, and she felt Marta stop through her senses, rounding on the woman and standing in front of her as Sonya went inside. There was a flurry of activity in the rotunda as men and women raced this way and that. Soldiers were stationed at every door and passage within the building. She closed her eyes and was about to search the building¡¯s security system for Cass when Leiandra called out to her. ¡°Chernovna, please, just a moment. I can take you to her,¡± she said quickly. Sonya turned and leveled her with a stare. "You?¡± she demanded. "Why should I believe a word you have to say?¡± Firth, now being escorted by a scowling Marta, blinked, clearly shocked by Sonya¡¯s snarl. She cleared her throat and crossed her arms. "You have my word that I¡¯ll-¡± Sonya took a step forward. "I take my word seriously, Firth. I have cultivated it. I take pride in it. I know more than anyone the value of a person¡¯s word. So let me make myself clear. You have done nothing to prove that your word means anything to me,¡± she growled. "Your little snub yesterday? I can let that go. But if you had anything to do with this, if you played some kind of game using my daughter as a piece? If the place you take me to isn¡¯t where she is. There will be consequences.¡± Firth scowled. "I am a prosecutor for the ICC and a lead investigator for the Pandora Committee. You can¡¯t threaten-¡± ¡°Watch me, Firth,¡± Sonya growled before standing up straight and letting out a breath. She adjusted her tie. ¡°Take me to Cassiopeia.¡± The prosecutor held her gaze for a few more heartbeats before nodding and turning, marching to the right and leading the way as personnel raced about to try to get a handle on the growing situation. Liberty¡¯s assassination had thrown the entire headquarters into red alert. Sonya put it out of her mind; her sole focus was making sure nothing untoward had happened to her daughter. They passed through at least two security checks that were quickly bypassed by their ID cards and a word from Leiandra. While it happened, Sonya didn¡¯t miss some of the men quickly moving to the side and calling ahead on their comms. As they resumed their rapid passage through the building, Sonya glanced at Firth¡¯s back. Her shoulders were tight and her fists clenched. ¡°I¡¯m not the only one looking into you, Chernovna,¡± Firth said. Sonya cocked a brow. "Hm?¡± ¡°There are several representatives who like you a lot less than I do,¡± she said. "I didn¡¯t order the blackout.¡± ¡°And the guards at her hotel room?¡± Sonya asked. "If they weren¡¯t there, I would have known about the situation much sooner.¡± Firth stopped and spun, turning an almost horrified look on Sonya. Sonya frowned at her before her eyes widened as well. "You didn¡¯t know.¡± The Prosecutor¡¯s eyes fell, and she turned away. "No, I didn¡¯t.¡± JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 248 Sonya watched Firth¡¯s back as they picked up their pace. The woman¡¯s shoulders were tight, her fists clenched, and her head tilted forward. Sonya had to admit she was starting to understand this person that had positioned herself against her. Firth was an idealist in the most realistic sense. A person she could respect for her commitment to her principles. She had rules, and she never cut corners. That was the impression Sonya got. It¡¯s kind of sad. If Martin had held on to his principles in the same way, the two of them would have been a deadly force working together. Someone shouted behind her, and she glanced back, Marta moving to cover her and Colin. A pair of men in the gray uniforms of the Pandora Committee ran towards them, but their eyes were focused elsewhere. She frowned when she saw the white band around their upper arms emblazoned with a red cross. Medics? Her heart sank, and she spun around. "Marta, clear the way!¡± she barked and picked up her pace, storming past a startled Firth. ¡°Chernovna?¡± ¡°Medics are running the same way we are,¡± Sonya said sharply. ¡°Oh god,¡± Firth gasped, and the sudden intensity of presence that only a Mythic-tier hero could bring to bear crashed into their surroundings. Marta was ahead of the two of them in a flash with a halo of that off-white light around her. She raised her fist. "Move!¡± she barked. "I¡¯m not asking!¡± A few people shouted in confusion before darting out of the way. Sonya hurried after her and glanced at the medics who slowed when they saw her face. She jerked her chin towards Marta. "Go, hurry up!¡± she barked before starting to run as well. Cass, what¡¯s happening to you? She thought and turned to look at Colin, who gave her a meaningful look. What- That¡¯s when it hit her. The deal. The agreement I make with all the members of my Inner Circle to keep my secrets. But she¡¯d never... The anger came back. If they coerced her... There was a pair of guards standing in front of one of the meeting rooms up ahead. Both of them looked very small in front of a glowing Marta. They looked at one another as the Medics raced towards them, not waiting to be allowed inside. They pushed past and into the room, the open door allowing the shouting inside to be heard. ¡°What the hell did you do?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know! Oh my god!¡± Sonya walked past Marta and looked the guard in the eyes. "Are you going to stop us from going in?¡± she asked evenly. ¡°N-no, ma¡¯am,¡± he said quickly, and Sonya glanced over at Colin, who nodded. Firth caught up just as Sonya shoved the doors open and strode inside. The narrow room had a long table in the center surrounded by chairs, many of which had been tossed aside in the utter pandemonium that the room had devolved into. Four men and a woman wearing suits stood at one side arguing with one another. A bit away from them, a young man and woman stood together in the grey uniforms of Committee Heroes. The young man was scowling at the suits, while the girl was crying. Past them, the two medics were crouched in the rear of the room, looking down at something. The suits looked up, and she met their eyes. One of them cleared his throat and started to walk towards the door. ¡°Take another step, and I won¡¯t be friendly,¡± Sonya said with a deadly calm. He bristled, but Marta moved to block his path. Sonya looked up at the medics. "How is she?¡± One of the men looked up at her and let out a relieved sigh. "Alive. Whatever fit she was having has passed, though she¡¯s unconscious.¡± Sonya closed her eyes and nearly stumbled, a hand catching her back. She looked to Firth, who gave her a reassuring nod and chuckled. Strange person, she thought, before turning to Colin. "Go, you know what to do.¡± He nodded and strode around the table to stand with the medics. "Hey, boys,¡± Colin said politely. "I¡¯m the Chernovna family¡¯s legal representative. Allow me to accompany you while we get the young miss of the household somewhere she can rest properly,¡± he said, striking a small pose and smiling brightly as the two men looked at him in surprise. They looked at one another and nodded before working together to pick Cass up. Sonya didn¡¯t move from where she stood as they made their way back around the table. Her eyes were fixed on her daughter¡¯s face. Tears stained her cheeks, her face reddened from being choked out by the deal, and her blonde hair was a mess. Sonya stepped aside to let them pass. She waited until the door shut, her eyes closed as she regained herself. It still felt strange to be so in control of her own emotions. Anger came when it needed to and calm as well. She exhaled through her nostrils. ¡°Sonya, I¡¯ll handle this,¡± Firth said. She didn¡¯t face Firth. "Leiandra, you¡¯ve demonstrated to me that you¡¯re the kind of person who stands on principles. You¡¯ve earned some respect today. Please don¡¯t damage that by saying something stupid,¡± she said. ¡°You have no right to hold us here!¡± one of the men shouted. ¡°Representative Ma, shut up,¡± Sonya growled. "Representative Ileva, Polina, I thought we had a good rapport.¡± The single woman of the group, a pretty face with dark curly hair and darker eyes, stepped forward. "Miss Chernovna, what we were doing was in the best interest of the Committee. You must understand that too much power in one person¡¯s hands is...¡± Sonya rolled her eyes. "All of you, sit.¡± Nobody moved. ¡°Now.¡± Everyone found a seat. Even Leiandra knew better than to ignore her at this juncture. She sat to the left of the head of the table. ¡°Marta, the door,¡± Sonya said and stalked over to the head of the table, pulling the chair out and sitting down. She took a soothing breath and relaxed, turning her attention to the two heroes. She saw their real names over their heads, but she didn¡¯t recognize them. She looked at the girl, who was still in tears, her shoulders heaving. The dark-haired boy looked furious, his fists clenched so tight she imagined his skin tearing. ¡°You two, why don¡¯t you tell me what happened here?¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± Representative Ma barked. Sonya let out a sigh. "Ignore the idiot,¡± she said. "Some people don¡¯t learn.¡± Sonya slowly turned her head in his direction. A thin, balding man in his fifties, Representative Ma was the Pandora rep from China. To his left was the slender and dark-haired Polina Ileva from Russia. Then, there was Dubois of France, a thick-set man with lips that reminded Sonya of a frog. After that, Sowards of Australia, a tan-skinned man with sharp eyes and a permanent scowl, and Suo of Taiwan, a frail man with a bowl cut and thick glasses. She tilted her head to the right and fixed Ma with a stare. "Mister Ma, do you want my attention on you right now? I think you¡¯re at least smart enough to realize that I¡¯m not here to flash my pretty face and make funny jokes.¡± Ma winced and went quiet as Sonya turned back to the young man. "Please, Anton, right?¡± He blinked. "Y-You know my name? I mean-¡± He cleared his throat and shot the representatives a glare before standing and clapping his fist to his chest. "Hero Nietz, Pandora Security Division,¡± he said quickly. "My teammate here, Locke, and I were assisting with securing the building after the incident in lock-up.¡± ¡°Hero Nietz!¡± Dubois hissed. ¡°I already know,¡± Sonya growled. "Let the boy finish.¡± Nietz looked down at the table. "We were informed by Representative Ma that they had secured a suspect and required our help to get answers since Hero Verity was occupied. I was to provide security in case there was trouble, and Locke...¡± He gestured to his blonde friend, who let out another sob and curled in on herself, tugging at her curly hair. ¡°...Locke¡¯s ability allows her to put people into a suggestion-locked state as long as she¡¯s touching them.¡± Sonya leaned back in her seat and stroked the arm of her chair. "Then what?¡± ¡°We were brought in, and I immediately recognized Hero Harbinger. I couldn¡¯t believe it was her, but the representatives were insistent. They told us we¡¯d be stripped of our licenses if we didn¡¯t help them get justice.¡± He closed his eyes before whipping his head up and looking Sonya in the eyes. "I¡¯m fine with that, but Locke is the first person in her family to make real money. She can¡¯t lose her position. So I stayed.¡± She raised her eyebrows. This one¡¯s got spine and morals. Nietz carried on. "We did as instructed, and Locke used her ability on Hero Harbinger.¡± ¡°How was she at the time?¡± Sonya asked. Nietz tilted his chin up. "Compiled without question, but asked that the questions stick to the relevant topics.¡± Sonya glanced at Firth, who¡¯d remained silent this entire time observing the conversation closely. Sonya resisted the urge to smile. Even in a situation like this, huh? She met the young man¡¯s eyes and nodded. "After that?¡± ¡°They asked if she killed Liberty; she answered no. That should have been where it ended, but they insisted on asking more questions. Personal questions about you, ma¡¯am,¡± Nietz said. "She didn¡¯t answer right away, and they started badgering her, asking lots of questions all at once, and then she... collapsed.¡± ¡°Slander!¡± Ma barked and got to his feet. "I don¡¯t need to listen to any more of this nonsense.¡± Sonya ignored him. "Thank you, Nietz,¡± she said and turned to Locke, who was trembling still, but the tears had stopped. She was looking at the table, unable to meet Sonya¡¯s eyes. ¡°Locke?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± the girl whispered. "That¡¯s... never happened before. I didn¡¯t want to do that. But-¡± Sonya sighed and looked to Firth. "Is there any way you can get Verity in here?¡± she asked. ¡°I just sent her a text,¡± Firth said darkly. "She¡¯s been free all evening, by the way.¡± Sonya raised her eyebrows. "Interesting! Did you hear that?¡± Sonya said brightly and turned to those present. "Verity was available! I wonder where the mix-up happened. Certainly it wasn¡¯t a case of willful ignorance, was it?¡± ¡°Sonya,¡± Representative Ileva started in a soothing voice. Sonya put her hands on the table. "You may call me Miss Chernovna or Ma¡¯am, representative. Our relationship isn¡¯t that good,¡± she said patiently. "You may also refrain from patronizing me with any nonsense out of your mouth until Verity arrives. Am I absolutely clear? With that said, what would you like to say, Representative?¡± The Russian shut her mouth. I thought so. Sonya¡¯s phone rang, and she picked it up, flicking it once and answering. "How is she?¡± <¡±She¡¯s awake,¡±> Colin said. <¡±Doesn¡¯t remember much. Apparently one of the two heroes in there has a suggestion ability they were using in place of Verity¡¯s truth detection.¡±> Sonya sighed with relief and sank in her chair, resting her head against the back and staring up at the ceiling. ¡°Can you put her on for me?¡± <¡±Yeah,¡±> Colin said. A moment later, a tired voice came through. <¡±Mom?¡±> Sonya let a genuine smile show as her heart melted into butter. "Hey, how are you feeling?¡± <¡±Tired. My neck hurts. I think- Oh- Sorry,¡±> Cass said wearily. Colin must have warned her not to say too much. Sonya ran her fingers over the table. "Do you need some time off? I¡¯ll call Bluestar,¡± Sonya offered. "What you went through...¡± Cass coughed, <¡±Mom! No, I¡¯m fine! I¡¯ll be okay. I have a job to do, and I can¡¯t just ditch my team...¡±> She trailed off. <¡±...Wait, where¡¯s Lily?¡±> Good question. "I¡¯ll find out, dear, and send her your way. You rest for now and I¡¯ll come check on you once I¡¯m done, alright? I love you.¡± <¡±Okay, love you too, Mom.¡±> Sonya hung up and turned to the suits as a knock came to the door. Sonya glanced back at Marta and nodded. Her friend pulled the door open and revealed a breathless Verity, panting and leaning on her knees as she looked around the room, wide-eyed. ¡°Uh... Miss Firth called?¡± Sonya turned the chair around and brightened. "Hi Verity! Just need your help with something. If you wouldn¡¯t mind?¡± she said and gestured to Nietz. "I just need you to check if that young man there is being honest about his story.¡± Verity looked to Leiandra, who nodded, and she started moving. Sonya turned to the suits. "While she¡¯s listening to Nietz retell his story, why don¡¯t you tell me where Hero Crusader is?¡± ¨C Sonya and Marta arrived at the holding pen. It was one of the rooms the Committee used when processing a freshly arrested villain. The room was made of the same materials as the training facilities that heroes used, which made it very difficult to break out of. Its location was nondescript besides being in the same wing as lock-up. A large metal door embedded in the wall with only a security panel to the right as a way of controlling it. Sonya turned to the security guard, who had accompanied them, and he nodded before holding his badge up to the large metal door. ¡°I¡¯m surprised they¡¯re even using it right now, given the circumstances,¡± Sonya muttered. The door hissed open, and Sonya stepped inside the off-white room. She found Lillian lying on the ground, sound asleep with cuffs on her wrists and ankles. Sonya shook her head. "Get those off of her,¡± she said. ¡°I¡¯ll have to get the keys, ma¡¯am,¡± the guard said. ¡°Marta?¡± Sonya said. Marta walked over, crouched, and tore the cuffs off with her bare hands, tossing the torn metal aside with a look of disgust on her face. The jolt was enough to rouse the girl, who looked up in confusion, blinking bleariness out of her eyes. ¡°What... What happened? Sonya?¡± she mumbled in a daze. Sonya walked over and reached down to help the girl to her feet. "Why don¡¯t you tell me what you last remember, Lily?¡± Lillian furrowed her brows. "Representative Ma said I should grab refreshments for myself and Cass,¡± she said groggily. "I didn¡¯t want to leave her, but Cass said it was fine and the vending machine was right around the corner, so I went. After that, it gets kinda fuzzy. I felt warm all of a sudden, and then nothing.¡± She blinked a few more times and then looked up sharply as the realization dawned on her. "Oh my god, is Cass okay?¡± Sonya sighed and pulled the girl into a hug. "Cass is fine. Thank you for coming with her.¡± ¡°I left her,¡± Lillian mumbled. ¡°You didn¡¯t know,¡± Sonya said and squeezed her once before pulling back and touching her cheek, giving her a reassuring smile. "It¡¯s okay. She¡¯s fine. You¡¯re fine. You two are safe, and that¡¯s all that matters to me right now.¡± Lillian looked down at the ground. ¡°But-¡± ¡°Lillian, just learn from this. Okay? Remember what I taught you? Sometimes people will use means beyond fighting to get what they want. You need to be vigilant,¡± she said. Lillian met her gaze and nodded, her orange eyes glistening a little. Sonya let out a tired breath and looked back at Marta, who was frowning. ¡°Worried about leaving it to Firth?¡± Marta pursed her lips and gave her a wry smile. "I hate it when you do that, Miss.¡± Sonya snorted before walking past her and patting her arm. "It¡¯ll be fine. She may not like me very much, but she¡¯s a woman of principle. You can trust her to do her job.¡± As Sonya walked out the door and crossed her arms behind her back, her lips thinned. Besides, she thought. It¡¯s not like I can¡¯t change up some of our world tour destinations and settle the score myself. There would be hell to pay for this. JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 249 Chapter 249 ¡°What a mess.¡± Sonya pulled her hair back and crossed her arms as she looked down at the crime scene. Blood had stained nearly every surface of the rear of the cell. It was like Liberty had been torn to pieces. There were obvious signs of someone using some sort of large, blunt weapon as well, cracks and divots in the wall and ceiling. She looked down at the hammer on the ground with an evidence tag next to it. It looked a lot like Cassiopeia¡¯s. ¡°A war maul,¡± one of the investigators said, drawing her attention. ¡°Looks a lot like Hero Harbingers, but there are some differences.¡± The investigator was a young man with a comb-over of black hair and cold eyes. He wore the grey uniform of a Committee Hero. He crouched next to the hammer and ran a gloved hand down the shaft. ¡°Wrong color, for one.¡± Sonya¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°They tried to frame her.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± the investigator said and got to his feet. ¡°We have enough footage of Harbinger¡¯s fights that we were able to pick out specific details to identify it.¡± ¡°Chernovna,¡± Leiandra¡¯s voice came from behind her. Sonya didn¡¯t turn around, her eyes fixed on the hammer. ¡°Call me Sonya, Leiandra,¡± she said and nodded to the investigator. ¡°Thank you. My only wish is that you were one of the first on the scene.¡± He gave her a sad smile. ¡°They only call me after the fact usually, ma¡¯am. I¡¯ll see myself out.¡± He got to his feet and walked away as Sonya continued to stare at the hammer. I know you did this, Otis. I don¡¯t know how. Have you already made contact with Craftsman? ¡°Sonya, a moment,¡± Leiandra pressed. Sonya turned to face the red-eyed woman. ¡°You have my attention, Leiandra,¡± she said quietly, her smile not quite meeting her eyes. ¡°There will be an internal investigation concerning the actions of those representatives,¡± she said. ¡°I know you¡¯re angry. I would appreciate it if you didn¡¯t retaliate against them.¡± Sonya raised an eyebrow and cracked a grin. ¡°Oh? And how are you going to show that appreciation, Leiandra?¡± Leiandra frowned. ¡°Please be professional, Sonya. I¡¯ve already told you that won¡¯t work on me.¡± Sonya chuckled. ¡°Killjoy,¡± she said with a shrug and shot the woman a sidelong look before putting her hands in her pockets. ¡°Well?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t make those kinds of deals. I still intend to investigate the methods you used to acquire those companies. I can¡¯t make exceptions,¡± she said with a sigh and shake of her head. ¡°I can tell you care about your people, but-¡± ¡°Leiandra,¡± Sonya said and approached her. She put her hand on the prosecutor¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Listen. People call me the Voice of the Hero Movement because of that day at Congress. I have a pretty good reputation, I know that,¡± she let out a breath. ¡°But I¡¯ll be frank with you. I¡¯m a businesswoman. I don¡¯t do things for free, and I can be ruthless when I need to be. If you¡¯re looking for a nice person in me, you won¡¯t find it. I¡¯m kind to those I care about. That¡¯s it.¡± Leiandra met her eyes. ¡°You¡¯re being very forthcoming.¡± ¡°You earned my respect today,¡± Sonya said, and patted her shoulder. ¡°Nothing more than that.¡± She walked past the woman and out the door. ¡°I¡¯ll have Mister Matthews prepare the documents regarding the purchase of those companies.¡± ¡°Just like that?¡± Sonya snorted. ¡°Of course not. I¡¯ll have him prepare them, but you¡¯ll have to work for it,¡± she said and turned her head back to grin at the woman. ¡°You¡¯re a good prosecutor, right? Prosecute. If you can beat Colin, you can have a peek.¡± She winked at Leiandra and turned away. ¡°Challenge accepted, Sonya.¡± Sonya raised a hand and waved as she walked away. ¨C Sonya met Marta outside of the room where Cass was resting. She met her friend¡¯s gaze and gave her a half smile. ¡°It¡¯s a mess in the cell,¡± she said quietly. ¡°They used a hammer that looks a lot like hers.¡± Marta scowled and glanced back at the door, reaching up to run her fingers through her brown hair. She looked down at the ground and then up at her. ¡°You really think it was him?¡± she murmured. ¡°Fairly certain, but the hammer complicates things,¡± Sonya said and glanced down at her shadow. The silent supervillain within didn¡¯t react, patiently waiting for his next order. She looked up and into Marta¡¯s eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t rule out that Craftsman is involved,¡± she said quietly, and she felt the shadow shift slightly. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, he¡¯ll be far more cautious in the future. The guy¡¯s a coward to begin with, so...¡± ¡°It may be some time before we find him,¡± Marta nodded. ¡°Understood.¡± Sonya glanced at the door. ¡°How is she?¡± ¡°Tired. It was a long day, and she didn¡¯t get a chance to sleep. Then all of this,¡± she said. ¡°Do you want to see her?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Sonya said, and Marta turned to open the door for her. The small room was a break room for Committee personnel that was made up of a quartet of bunks, a small table, and a kitchenette. She found Colin sitting at the table reading over a few documents, while Lillian sat on one of the bunks, her eyes focused on the one across from her. Lillian was the first to look up. She smiled wearily; the bags under her eyes were pronounced. ¡°Hey, boss.¡± ¡°Not your boss,¡± Sonya teased and walked over to peek at Colin¡¯s documents. ¡°Having fun?¡± He looked at her and gave her an impish grin. ¡°Deciding on what kind of lawsuit I want to bring, what I should milk them for, that kind of thing. What do you think? I might be able to make a workplace injury argument if I do some gymnastics,¡± he said and crossed his legs, flicking one of his stiletto-clad feet left and right. ¡°Or maybe...¡± Sonya leaned in and tapped him on the nose. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it during our trip, mm?¡± He met her gaze, and then his eyebrows rose. ¡°Got it,¡± he said easily, and started putting his documents away. ¡°You¡¯re going on a trip?¡± Lillian asked as Marta found a place to sit across from Colin. ¡°See a bit more of the world, that kind of thing. I need to follow up on some business in China,¡± Sonya said offhandedly and leaned against the wall at the entryway. ¡°Why do you ask? Wanna come?¡± Lillian laughed. ¡°No, thank you,¡± she said and looked down at the floor. ¡°I¡¯m so tired. I feel better after what you said earlier, but-¡± She shook her head and ran her fingers through her hair. ¡°I need a break before I jump back in. I don¡¯t know how you do it.¡± Sonya chuckled. ¡°I take breaks too,¡± she said. ¡°Don¡¯t feel bad about being tired, Lillian. You fought in a war a few days ago. If you weren¡¯t tired, I¡¯d be worried,¡± she said and approached her before gesturing at the spot next to her on the bunk. ¡°May I?¡± Lillian nodded and shifted over a little, letting Sonya sit. Sonya gave her a warm smile and patted her back before turning to the girl sleeping soundly across from her. Cass looked just as tired as Lillian, if not more so. She rolled in her sleep, and her eyes fluttered. Sonya tilted her head and smiled as her daughter opened her eyes. ¡°Hey there, sleepyhead,¡± she murmured. Cass smiled drowsily. ¡°Hey, mom.¡± ¡°How are you feeling?¡± ¡°Better,¡± Cass said and rolled onto her back. ¡°That¡¯s a lie. I¡¯m beat.¡± Her lips thinned into a frown as she stared up at the ceiling. ¡°Think I had an illusion broken for me today.¡± Sonya frowned and nodded. ¡°I know,¡± she said and reached out to her. Cass reached back, and Sonya took her hand, giving it a squeeze. ¡°You... know why they picked you up, right?¡± Cass nodded, her throat bobbing. ¡°Yeah,¡± she croaked. ¡°I hated her. But I wanted her to face her crimes. I thought maybe... I don¡¯t know. She¡¯d have some moment of clarity before the end. There was no way she wasn¡¯t getting the death penalty.¡± Sonya leaned forward and held her hand with both of hers, rubbing her palm with her thumbs. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Cass,¡± she said. ¡°You aren¡¯t alone, though. I¡¯m here for you, and so is Lillian. You have a family.¡± Cass'' lips trembled as she stared up at the bunk above her, nodding slowly. Her expression broke as a pained sob rocked its way out of her. She reached up and gripped at her shirt, clutching at her heart. Tears streamed down her face. Sonya slipped off the bunk and pulled the girl she¡¯d taken in as her daughter into an embrace, holding her tight as she wept out all of her grief and pain. ¨C Sonya walked back into the hotel room just as dawn was beginning to break. She wandered over to the couch and nearly threw herself into it before she spotted Amos sound asleep where she¡¯d left him. She let out a whine and trundled over to the recliner, falling into it and letting out a groan, her face pressed into the upholstery. She heard Marta make a disapproving huff, but she paid her no mind, rolling onto her back and kicking out her feet. ¡°I¡¯m gonna have to stay up all day, aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t want your sleep schedule to be completely ruined,¡± Marta said. Sonya puffed out her lips in a pout and turned away, looking out the window. ¡°You think Cass will be okay?¡± ¡°She¡¯s back with her friends now,¡± Marta said. ¡°She¡¯ll be fine. Fortunately, she has a mother with remarkably good instincts. I have your memories from the previous timeline, but I get the feeling you hid something.¡± Sonya rolled her eyes and turned to face Marta. ¡°No, Chunhua and I didn¡¯t have science babies, you weeb.¡± Marta laughed. ¡°You really are back, aren¡¯t you? Calling me a weeb.¡± Sonya sank into the chair. ¡°Yeah,¡± she said. ¡°Feels good to be in control of my emotions. Not just faking it all the time. I think my compulsion to tell the truth was making it harder.¡± ¡°You guys are loud,¡± Amos grumbled, sitting up. ¡°There he is!¡± Sonya cheered. ¡°Lucky bastard, getting to nap.¡± ¡°Not my fault you don¡¯t put me on the field,¡± Amos said with a shrug. ¡°You still want those deets on Firth?¡± Sonya frowned a little and rested her chin on her knuckles, looking off into the rest of the hotel suite. She drummed her fingers on the arm of the chair. ¡°Mm... yes. I think it would be good to know as much as I can about her. Even if I don¡¯t think she¡¯s going to be a huge problem.¡± ¡°She¡¯s tough but fair,¡± Marta agreed. ¡°Good at what she does too,¡± Amos added. ¡°Her trial victory rate is off the charts. Colin¡¯s got a nemesis. Anyway, I¡¯ll send ¡®em over,¡± he said and fell back onto the sofa, looking up at the ceiling and stretching out his legs. He winked at Marta when she gave him a disapproving stare. Sonya shrugged. ¡°As much as this was an interesting road bump, investigating and throwing my weight around won¡¯t do us any good. I¡¯d rather take advantage of our existing plans and use them to exact appropriate vengeance.¡± ¡°Vengeance?¡± Amos asked. ¡°What I miss?¡± A few minutes later, Amos was on his feet, stalking back and forth with his hands in his pockets. ¡°Could use the Night Society and give them the reputation assassination of the century,¡± he grumbled as he fumed. ¡°Cass is a good kid!¡± he barked and rounded on the couch. ¡°Fuckin¡¯ assholes!¡± Sonya laughed. ¡°Calm down, Captain Badass, we¡¯ll get them. Using the Night Society for this isn¡¯t what I have in mind, though. Not personal enough. That said,¡± she grinned. ¡°Those idiots did give me a wonderful idea!¡± Amos and Marta looked at one another uneasily. Marta cleared her throat. ¡°Details?¡± Sonya pouted. ¡°Oh, it won¡¯t be that bad,¡± she said and activated Regalia enough to call Ishtar up to the surface. A moment later, a Legionnaire portal appeared, and one of the statue warriors stepped out, its stature much shorter than the usual imposing height. A faint glow wrapped around its body before it changed to take on the appearance of Ishtar¡¯s new look. Pixie-cut, short white hair with bangs, muscular arms and shoulders covered in scars. ¡°Hey, sis,¡± Sonya said brightly as Ishtar turned to her with a raised eyebrow. ¡°You mind trying to assassinate me?¡± ¨C Sonya yawned noisily as she walked down the hall of the hotel, scratching at her waist. Marta had dozed off, giving her an opportunity to sneak out long enough to make it to the vending machines. She grinned impishly, looking forward to some decent sugary snacks. Nectar and Ambrosia was great for taste, but there was something about binging junk food and getting full on it that was just so satisfying. She hummed to herself, stopping in front of the machine and looking it over. ¡°Mmm... Cola sounds tasty, but man, I need a pick-me-up,¡± she mumbled and waved her card over the reader. I could use Technopathy to just force the machine, but I¡¯m not an asshole, she thought, and tapped the button for the sugariest energy drink she could find. ¡°Now for the snacks...¡± She rubbed her hands together. ¡°Doughnuts.¡± BOOP ¡°Sour candies.¡± BOOP ¡°Are those flavor-stuffed, cherry licorice sticks?¡± She gasped. ¡°I¡¯ll take three!¡± The junk food filled the outlet, and she gathered it all up only for her senses to pick up on someone approaching her from behind. She didn¡¯t look up, piling the snacks into her arms as her Technopathy connected with the security cameras above her. She rolled her eyes. ¡°Hello Martin,¡± she said. ¡°Or is it Mimir now?¡± ¡°You are hard to sneak up on,¡± he said from behind her. She got to her feet, cradling her darling snacks and turning to face him. She brandished an easy smile and then looked down at her snacks again. ¡°Oh, sorry, I¡¯m being rude,¡± she said and adjusted her arms a little until she extended one of her hands in greeting. He looked down at her hand and then up at her, his face deadpan. Her lip twitched. ¡°Spoilsport,¡± she said with a laugh before glancing down at the gun in his hand. She raised her eyebrows pityingly before meeting his eyes. ¡°Really? This is kind of sad.¡± ¡°Sadder than toying with the lives of children?¡± He demanded. She pursed her lips and squinted at him. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Lillian Landrey and Cassiopeia Hanks,¡± he bit out. ¡°Cassiopeia Chernovna,¡± Sonya corrected testily. ¡°Don¡¯t make that mistake again, or this conversation will get a lot less jovial.¡± He frowned and looked down at his gun before looking at her again. She snorted. ¡°Oh, come on,¡± she said. ¡°You know you can¡¯t kill me with that. Even with Pandora-grade munitions.¡± He sighed and put the gun away. ¡°Why did you do it?¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you just use those eyes of yours and find out yourself, smart guy?¡± Sonya teased. ¡°You are impossible to talk to,¡± he growled. ¡°And you need therapy, buddy,¡± she said before shaking her head. ¡°What do you want, Captain Vigilante?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to ask you one last time to give up and turn yourself in,¡± he said. ¡°I know you want to be punished for your crimes, so just get it over with instead of dragging the whole world down with you. There¡¯s a decent person in that crazy head of yours.¡± She barked out a wild laugh. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re about two or three hundred years late, buddy.¡± She ignored the confused look he gave her and went on. ¡°If you¡¯d asked me sooner, I might have even engaged you on the topic.¡± ¡°And now?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to save the world, Mimir, and get away with it,¡± she said with a smug smile. ¡°You aren¡¯t going to stop me. No one will.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see about that,¡± he growled. ¡°Bring it on!¡± She snickered before looking down at her snacks. ¡°Now, if you don¡¯t mind. I want to binge eat all of this. Go away.¡± ¡°Last offer, Chernovna,¡± he growled. ¡°After I leave, I won¡¯t stop hunting you.¡± ¡°More power to you,¡± Sonya said before winking at him. Something sparked in his pocket, and smoke rose from it. ¡°Nice try on the recorder, by the way.. Good attempt. It was even insulated against wireless signals. Took me a second to notice it.¡± He scowled and turned away. ¡°I¡¯ll see you soon, Ishtar.¡± ¡°Looking forward to it, Mimir.¡± Chapter 250 Chapter 250 The train of cars made its way towards the airfield, just outside the Rotterdam Airport. Two were sedans, jet black like the rest of the vehicles, and moving in the center of the motorcade. The others were large black vehicles that were ubiquitous to security teams. Inside the frontmost sedan, Sonya leaned back and crossed her legs, pursing her lips and looking out the window. She pretended not to notice Marta¡¯s irritable look, smirking a little to herself. ¡°You let him leave,¡± Marta sighed. Sonya snorted. "He was so cute. I want to see what he had planned.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Sonya burst into laughter. "He didn¡¯t even try to use his power on me. Man! That was so funny,¡± she cackled and leaned forward. "Oh well,¡± she rested her elbow against the door and glanced at her friend. "Hey, don¡¯t be so grumpy. We¡¯re about to have a whole lot of fun!¡± Marta¡¯s frown wavered, and she huffed again, looking away and clearing her throat. "You¡¯re ridiculous. Are you really going that far?¡± ¡°Colin¡¯s already set up the meeting,¡± Sonya said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "It¡¯s not like I¡¯m short on manpower.¡± Marta tilted her head. "You¡¯re thinking of integrating the cult into your latest purchase?¡± ¡°Them, and some of Barry¡¯s crew,¡± Sonya said with a shrug. "We¡¯ll have enough room.¡± The car came to a stop, and Marta rolled her eyes, slipping out and walking around to open the door for Sonya. Sonya plucked her sunglasses out of her storage and flicked them open, sliding them over her eyes as she slipped out of the car with the help of an offered hand from Marta. She beamed and struck a pose, her hands on her hips as she walked out to peer at the plane she¡¯d been using ever since Vegas. Amos put a lot of work into it. She turned to the leading vehicles. A dozen men in the gray uniforms and body armor of Pandora Security poured out and scattered, quickly taking a survey of the area as the doors to the other sedan opened and closed. Sonya threw her hair back and turned with a smug smile to face Leiandra and Chunhua. Leiandra was in her usual red suit and skirt. Chunhua was in her combat robes. There was a pensive look on her face as she stared off into space, her dark eyes not as hard as they usually were. ¡°Gonna miss me?¡± Sonya asked, leaning forward to look Chunhua in the eyes. Chunhua straightened and cleared her throat. "I think I¡¯ll be fine, Sonya.¡± Sonya pouted. "Oh? It was that bad, huh?¡± Chunhua flushed, her eyes widening. "Sonya!¡± Sonya giggled. "Oh, come on, I¡¯m teasing,¡± she said, waving her hand playfully and walking up to rest her hands on Chunhua¡¯s robes. She tugged at the collar a little bit to straighten it. She looked down for a moment before flicking her eyes up at her. Her gaze lingered on her eyepatch. "Be safe,¡± she said, running her thumb up and down the hem. ¡°Give Carla my love when you see her.¡± Chunhua¡¯s exasperation faded. "You aren¡¯t going to do that yourself?¡± Sonya chuckled. "She¡¯s pretty busy right now.¡± Chunhua took her hand and squeezed it. Sonya felt her heart skip a beat at the possessive gesture. She¡¯d been taking the more aggressive role for so long she¡¯d forgotten what that felt like. She missed the calluses. ¡°Are you really okay?¡± she asked quietly. Sonya flicked her eyes towards Leiandra, whose scowl had turned curious. Sonya sighed and looked up into Chunhua¡¯s eyes. "You are...¡± She trailed off and bit her lip before cocking an eyebrow. "I¡¯m not going anywhere, love. I promised. You know how I feel about my word.¡± Chunhua nodded and gave her hand one more squeeze. "Sonya Chernovna never lies and always keeps her word,¡± Chunhua said and leaned forward. They shared a little kiss before Sonya took a step back and cleared her throat. If she lingered any longer, she wasn¡¯t going to be able to tear herself away. She turned to Leiandra, who was even more stone-faced than usual. ¡°Your poker face is incredible, and that¡¯s saying something,¡± Sonya said and turned away. "Thank you for accompanying me out here, Miss Firth.¡± ¡°You really don¡¯t plan to stay any longer?¡± Leiandra asked. ¡°Do you want me to?¡± Sonya asked. ¡°Heavens no,¡± Leiandra growled. "Please leave this country.¡± Sonya laughed. "Okay! Bye!¡± She crowed and turned on her heel, raising a hand and making a quick ¡®round up¡¯ gesture. ¡°Alright people, I don¡¯t like pissing off air traffic control, so we¡¯re on the clock! Let''s pack up and get outta here. Don¡¯t want to make Prosecutor Firth any more flustered than she already is!¡± ¡°Go to hell, Chernovna!¡± Firth called after her. ¡°See you there, Firth!¡± Sonya called back without turning as Marta fell into step with her. She checked her clock on her HUD. Alrighty, time for the show to start. She shot a look towards Marta, who kept her expression as calm and reserved as usual despite what they had planned. Ahh... you really are born to be an actress, she thought as she turned towards the aircraft. Three... two... one... BOOOM! The shockwave took Sonya off her feet, and she had to let herself fall hard. The rough part was the single piece of shrapnel that hit her in the side, digging into her kidney. She gasped as Marta threw herself on top of her while the private jet went up in flames. Shouts rang out, and then there was shooting. A pair of hands grabbed Sonya and started to pull her back and away from the ruined aircraft while her ears rang. The smell of smoke, burning fuel, and the heat of the flames beat against her skin as her eyes finally refocused on Chunhua¡¯s face. Chunhua¡¯s brows were furrowed more in confusion than anything else. Sonya¡¯s eyes fluttered as she cast her senses out, checking for Firth¡¯s location before giving Chunhua an impish smile. "Play along. This is nothing,¡± she whispered and jerked her chin towards the action behind her. Understanding bloomed in Chunhua¡¯s good eye, and she let Sonya go with the faintest nod, turning around and drawing her sword. Sonya slid back a bit and sat up, resting her back against the car to get a better view. Above the ruined plane, a single figure floated in the air in gleaming white armor and glowing draconic wings. No pressure rippled off of her, nor did she start throwing spears of light around, but the look was good enough. Illusions are the best. ¡°Ishtar!¡± Chunhua bellowed. "You court death!¡± Get this woman an Oscar. Ishtar¡¯s laugh rang out over the roar of automatic gunfire. The Committee-issued munitions weren¡¯t quite enough to penetrate the marble body hidden beneath the illusion. It made it look like they were bouncing off her armor. ¡°I came to say hello ,and look what I found: an infestation of pests!¡± Ishtar shouted. "You heroes are pathetic, and the Pandora Committee can¡¯t even keep one prisoner safe. Disappointing.¡± ¡°Is that an admission of guilt?¡± Leiandra shouted as she waved for the soldiers to stop firing. ¡°Take it however you want,¡± Ishtar barked back before turning to look directly at Sonya. "My focus is Chernovna. Normally, I¡¯d let one of my precious villains handle something like this,¡± she whipped her hand out and pointed at Sonya. "You have something I want, Chernovna. Something that doesn¡¯t belong to you. You¡¯ve worn out your welcome in my world as well. Consider this my greeting to you and a warning of what¡¯s to come.¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t going anywhere near her,¡± Chunhua snarled, while Handmaiden moved into position a short distance away, her knees bent and her fists clenched. She was ready to launch herself at Ishtar at a moment''s notice. ¡°If you were afraid to fight, you should have brought the rest of your goons. Where¡¯d you send them, Queen of Villains?¡± For a while, nobody moved. Sonya watched the drama with her best pained expression of stoic concern. In reality, she was on the verge of a fit of giggles. The whole play had turned out far better than she could have imagined. Her sister was really good at improvising. She watched Ishtar turn her head to look at Marta and then look back at Chunhua. She tilted her head up and started to rise in the air. Sonya concentrated on making the wings flap from where she sat. Making the motions look clean was harder than it looked. Chunhua stood up straighter and brandished her sword. ¡°Hoping your display during the war would intimidate us?¡± she bellowed. ¡°You¡¯re still recovering, aren¡¯t you? We¡¯re right outside The Hague. Euclidia will have an army here in a moment''s notice.¡± An awkward silence followed. Sonya was going to bust a gut. Ishtar barked out a laugh. ¡°Look who¡¯s barking now,¡± she called down and waved a dismissive hand. ¡°Trust me on this, Black Lotus, when I want you to die, you will die. You and everyone you know. It will be on my terms and on my stage,¡± she said with a predatory tilt of her head. Sonya licked her lips. Okay, now for the tricky part. She set her jaw and activated Imperious, blasting it out as wide as she could and tuning it so it seemed like it was coming from everywhere. It wasn¡¯t energy intensive, but it wasn¡¯t the usual way she did things. Even so, it was effective enough. The gathered security, Chunhua, Marta, and even Leiandra, dropped to a knee beneath the titanic weight. I¡¯m gonna have to apologize for this later, Sonya thought as Ishtar raised her head high. ¡°A stage just like Vegas. Have you forgotten how I thrashed you then? Nothing will change,¡± Ishtar called before turning away. ¡°Farewell, little heroes.¡± With that, she darted away, using the Legionnaire body¡¯s capacity for flight to carry her off at a rapid pace. Sonya did her best to keep a straight face as she held her side, releasing Imperious. Everyone let out gasps of relief and staggered to their feet, while Chunhua and Marta hurried over to her side. Leiandra looked at them in disbelief, her face pale. ¡°What are you doing? You need to pursue her! She clearly doesn¡¯t want a fight with both of you!¡± Chunhua rounded on her. "We have bigger concerns! We need to get Sonya to a hospital!¡± she shouted and turned to Marta, who nodded. The both of them worked together to lift Sonya and lay her out flat on the ground. Sonya forced out a cough and gripped at her side. It hurt like hell, but it wasn¡¯t anything near what she¡¯d experienced before. Even so, she needed to ham it up a little, so she grimaced and squeezed her eyes shut. ¡°Just... get me a healer,¡± Sonya wheezed. ¡°Ma¡¯am, you shouldn¡¯t depend on healers. Natural recovery is-¡± Marta started, and Sonya cut her off with a frown, forcing herself to sit up. ¡°No!¡± she barked. "Get me a healer and call a press conference,¡± she wheezed before turning to look at Leiandra square in her red eyes. "I have a message for Ishtar.¡± And... scene. Good job, everybody. ¨C The noise outside the small room was anything but ordinary. Dozens of reporters who had been camped out for the Liberty trial were now piling in after word spread about Ishtar¡¯s attack on the ASTA CEO¡¯s private jet. Sonya adjusted the new coat and shirt she was wearing. The bloodstained ones had already been tossed out. She kept her expression focused, her eyes hard. A few feet away, Euclidia sat in one of the small chairs with a thoughtful expression on her face. She looked as she always did, a spunky Euro-goth with short brown hair and wild glowing eyes. ¡°Thank you for agreeing to this,¡± Sonya said. The hero shrugged. "I don¡¯t mind! You¡¯re Chuchu¡¯s friend after all, right?¡± She said brightly and kicked her feet. "Kinda ballsy to do this though. You really sure?¡± Sonya chuckled. "I¡¯m sure,¡± she said with a nod. Euclidia shook her head. "There would be plenty who want to back you up, but the Committee needs boots on the ground right now,¡± she said with a sigh. "After everything, their image took a bit of a hit. You hear about the Middle East?¡± Sonya nodded. "Spice King Erebus hasn¡¯t been subtle in his conquests.¡± ¡°He calls himself Gilded King Erebus now,¡± Euclidia said with a roll of her eyes. "Villains, am I right?¡± Sonya laughed. "They are an interesting group, aren¡¯t they?¡± Inwardly, Sonya cringed a little. Come on, Erebus, be more creative than that. I expect more from you. At least the heroes are going to give him a wide berth with how much ground he¡¯s covered. Nobody knows how to deal with him, and that¡¯s fine by me. I like my money safe. ¡°Miss Chernovna, they¡¯re ready,¡± Marta said, stepping into the room with her usual serene grace. Sonya gave Euclidia a pleasant wave and turned to her friend, walking past her and patting her on the arm as she stepped onto the stage to a flurry of camera flashes and shouts. Sonya couldn¡¯t help but smile a little at the attention. She loved it. ¡°Miss Chernovna! Miss Chernovna!¡± ¡°A question, please!¡± Sonya ignored them and made her way over to the podium, turning dramatically and placing her hands on it. She reached up after surveying the room and pulled her sunglasses off, revealing her new eyes. A few people had spotted them while they were at the International Criminal Court, but this was the first time she was showing them off so publicly. She cracked a grin, and everyone quieted down. "Hey everyone, it¡¯s been a while,¡± she said. "Anything interesting happen since last time?¡± The gathered reporters laughed. ¡°I know, me too,¡± she quipped, and they laughed again. "Met someone pretty famous today! You guys have heard of Ishtar, right?¡± She clicked her tongue and leaned on the podium, scanning the audience for a moment before her merry expression slipped into something a bit more serious. ¡°I¡¯m a businesswoman,¡± she said. "I make weapons and make money off of it,¡± she waved a hand. "Yeah, yeah, we do all those fancy luxury goods and...¡± She trailed off and pointed at one of the reporters. "I love your watch. That one of mine?¡± The reporter, a middle-aged man with short, dark hair, looked at his wrist and back up at her, nodding with a bit of surprise on his face. ¡°Thanks for your business,¡± she said with a laugh. "Anyway, the point is, there are some people who may not like what I do for a living. Case in point, grumpy lady blows up my private jet,¡± she shook her head with exasperation, acting as if it was a mild inconvenience. "Someone doesn¡¯t like fancy shoes.¡± The reporters¡¯ laughs were a bit uncomfortable this time. That¡¯s fine. You can be scared of Ishtar all you want. I prefer it that way, she thought before leaning forward. "Let me be clear about something,¡± she added. "ASTA¡¯s main business is supporting heroes, and it¡¯s a good living, but it¡¯s not without its risks. That won¡¯t stop me, though,¡± she tapped her finger on the podium, emphasizing her next words. "This world needs heroes - well-equipped ones, well-supported ones. The Pandora Committee is a UN organization. They aren¡¯t for profit. They need outside support to make what they do happen.¡± She turned to one of the cameras and fixed it with a stare. "If you have a problem with that, Ishtar. Do something about it,¡± she challenged. "I¡¯m announcing that I will be going on a world tour over the next few months to visit nations around the world and find the best of the best to sponsor across our fragile blue ball. Individual sponsorships to help foster the heroes who will stand up and fight the good fight.¡± She leaned forward and glared at the camera as the camera flashes increased and voices started to rise up amongst the crowd of reporters, many of them getting on their phones. ¡°You don¡¯t scare me,¡± she declared. "Crusader and her team went from studying in a camp to standing up to Liberty during the war. Harbinger fought her toe-to-toe. Otis fought you directly,¡± she said. "And I¡¯m going to make more like them.¡± She stood up straight and looked at the reporters. ¡°I¡¯ll be releasing my itinerary to the public so that the nations I¡¯m visiting will be ready. I hope to see some promising young heroes when I visit. Thank you for your time.¡± With that, she made her way off the stage to the shouts of reporters and camera flashes, her smile growing wider and wider. Alright, the stage is set. Let the games begin. Chapter 251 Chapter 251 The sunlight was quite harsh as it beat down upon the Australian port. The archway that rose up out of it drew some eyes, but only a few stayed long enough to watch who¡¯d come out. Euclidia¡¯s portals weren¡¯t seen every day, but they¡¯d been seen on television and occasionally around the country enough that it wasn¡¯t cause for overexcitement. The only question on the minds of those present was whether or not it was some VIP or a Hero coming to deal with a situation they were unaware of. Sonya stepped through the portal with a hop and a skip, humming to herself as her eyes adjusted to the sunlight. It was hot compared to The Hague. She slipped her sunglasses on and turned, her hand on her hip as Marta passed through with Amos in tow. A few people pulled out their phones to start recording, and Sonya gave them a merry wave while the portal slid back down into the ground. ¡°Gotta love social media,¡± Sonya snickered. ¡°I kinda want to check out the reactions to the press conference,¡± she murmured before dismissing it. ¡°I can wait.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so hot here,¡± Amos grumbled. ¡°Why am I here again?¡± Sonya pouted at him. ¡°How long¡¯s it been since it was just the three of us, mm?¡± He picked at his ear. ¡°Yeah, yeah, but I¡¯ve got projects to work on. You built me that glorious lab back at headquarters and I¡¯m on the other side of the planet from it- Ow!¡± He rubbed his arm, frowning at where Marta had elbowed him. He looked back at her and found her standing demurely as always with a single standard-sized suitcase hanging from her fingers. He looked at Sonya in exasperation and pointed at Marta, who shook her head, but otherwise seemed unbothered by his tantrum. Sonya just shrugged consolingly at him and he groaned. ¡°Great to be back on the field, really is. So, where to, boss?¡± Sonya turned on the spot, holding her hand over her eyes playfully and pointed down the long strip of road towards a massive pier that stretched out hundreds of feet into the ocean. Alongside it was a cruise ship. A massive cruise ship. ¡°What the hell is that?¡± Amos breathed. ¡°A cruise ship,¡± Marta said. He rounded on her. ¡°I know it¡¯s a damn-¡± ¡°The Idol Class of cruise ships was originally designed back in aught sixteen,¡± Sonya said as she started walking towards the distant pier, hands in her pockets. ¡°They take about two years to build from steel cutting to departure from their shipyard. At about twelve hundred feet long and a capacity for over seven thousand passengers and twenty-five hundred crew, it is only a bit smaller than the Titan Class cargo ships. The Idol is the largest cruise ship in the world and there are only eight of them.¡± Amos fell into step next to her while Marta arrived at her usual walking distance. ¡°You did your research.¡± ¡°Of course I did,¡± Sonya said and reached into her pocket, plucking out a hair tie and binding it up to give her neck a little air. Amos wasn¡¯t wrong about the heat. ¡°I want that one.¡± Amos burst out laughing. ¡°Nice! I can dig it.¡± ¡°I still think it''s overindulgent,¡± Marta said. Sonya snorted. ¡°Never said I was planning on buying it at full price.¡± Amos rolled his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯ll be that easy to-¡± POP! Sonya created a handful of blueberries in her palm and popped one into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully as Amos stared at them. He looked up at her, squinted, then snorted again and shoved his hands into his pockets. ¡°Oh man, I am going to enjoy this. Been forever since I watched you work someone.¡± ¡°You make it sound gross,¡± she shot. ¡°You¡¯re gross,¡± he shot back. ¡°Children,¡± Marta grumbled. Sonya was about to return fire when a limousine pulled up along the road ahead of them. Sonya grinned in self-satisfaction as two men stepped out of the front of the vehicle. She glanced down the road towards the pier. They still had a bit of a way to go before they arrived. This works, she thought as the two men approached. One of them was the usual bodyguard type - black suit, earpiece, and frowning a lot. The other was a slightly portly man in a tan suit. He approached quickly and held out a hand in greeting. ¡°Sonya Chernovna!¡± he panted. ¡°Dwight Pranth!¡± she crowed and returned the gesture. He took it quickly and gave it a brief shake while she analyzed him. A unique one! Been a while since I got fresh product. Dwight dabbed his forehead with a handkerchief as he shook her hand. ¡°Miss Chernovna, would you perhaps like a ride to your destination?¡± he asked with an awkward smile. ¡°I apologize for meeting you like this, but we weren¡¯t expecting your visit to be so, er...¡± She laughed. ¡°I do have a bit of a flair for the dramatic. That would be lovely. Is your boss waiting for us?¡± His lip twitched. ¡°Mister Cameron is a busy man, Miss Chernovna, and we only heard from your lawyer just a few hours ago. These things take time,¡± he cleared his throat. ¡°May I ask for a bit more information about the purchase you¡¯re wanting to make?¡± Sent his lackey to feel me out before meeting, coward. Sonya¡¯s smile didn¡¯t meet her eyes. ¡°Why don¡¯t we get somewhere with some air conditioning, first. My friends and I are a bit warm.¡± The man¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change much, but it was enough to show that he wasn¡¯t happy with her answer. He turned and gestured to the limousine before moving quickly to fall into step with the big guy who was apparently his bodyguard. Marta and Amos quickly joined her as she followed him. ¡°Keep an eye on their communications, Amos,¡± she said quietly. ¡°On it,¡± he said. Sonya¡¯s phone rang while they walked and she checked it, shrugging and answering it. ¡°Bluestar, darling, how are you?¡± she crowed, gesturing to Marta to take a leading position. Marta moved ahead and walked in front of her. <¡±Well, all things considered, glad to have my heroes back from that mess in The Hague,¡±> the guildmaster said over the phone. <¡±You know how to put on a show.¡±> ¡°It¡¯s a talent,¡± Sonya chuckled. <¡±You¡¯re really going on that tour?¡±> ¡°Mhm,¡± Sonya said idly. ¡°Working on the means now, actually.¡± <¡±I won¡¯t keep you. Just wanted to inform you that I¡¯ll be sitting down to talk to Otis about him keeping his ability¡¯s functions under wraps like that. There¡¯s also the Ishtar thing. I¡¯m not happy,¡±> she said. <¡±Did you know about his invulnerability?¡±> ¡°I don¡¯t know the full specs of his abilities,¡± Sonya said flatly. ¡°I couldn¡¯t say where they begin or end. I¡¯m guessing he¡¯s wanting to go back on assignments already? We have a mandatory cool-down period after battles involving killing.¡± <¡±That¡¯s why I¡¯m having this talk with him,¡±> Bluestar said with a sigh. <¡±I¡¯m thinking of putting him on an investigation if he¡¯s so insistent. There¡¯s an old case at a hospital near here from just around the time of the flash that might keep him busy for a while. Nothing wild, but definitely a good distraction. With his personality I expect he won¡¯t let it go.¡±> Sonya smirked. ¡°That might be best. I appreciate your work as always,¡± she said and glanced up to meet Marta¡¯s expectant gaze as her maid opened the door to the limousine for her. She raised an eyebrow and Marta nodded as Amos slipped inside. ¡°I have to go. Give everyone my love.¡± <¡±Will do. Talk to you later, Sonya.¡±> ¡°Bye,¡± Sonya said and slipped into the limo with a chuckle. ¡°Busy, busy, busy! Always got something going on. You know the feeling, don¡¯t you Mister Cameron?¡± she mused as she turned off her phone and placed her hands on her lap, looking up at Dwight and the rail-thin old man next to him. Brian Cameron, President and CEO of the Throne Polynesian Group. His wrinkled face had been smoothed numerous times through various cosmetic surgeries, his white hair thick and wavy, and his blue eyes were sharp as blades. ¡°You knew I was here,¡± Brian said with a huff, Dwight shifting uneasily next to him. ¡°I figured you of all people would have an inkling of what I was after. With that, you¡¯d of course come personally to discuss,¡± she said with an easy smile. ¡°Though, I¡¯ll admit the biggest hint was the limo, no offense Mister Pranth.¡± Pranth blinked in confusion while Sonya held Brian¡¯s gaze. The old man stared hard until finally cracking a smile. ¡°You are a scary lady,¡± he said with a laugh. ¡°Why don¡¯t we clear the air. What are you after, Miss Chernovna?¡± She pursed her lips and pointed out the window towards the Idol. ¡°That,¡± she said. ¡°And please, call me Sonya.¡± ¨C Sonya stepped onto the deck of the Idol and let out an appreciative whistle. It looked more like a land-based resort than a vessel intended for the ocean. Swooping lines and curves of the deck-level buildings with that clean, white, modern aesthetic that she liked so much. There was even a park and garden! The pool had been designed to look like a beach, sand and all, with a wave generator to add to the luxury of it all. She hummed to herself a little while exchanging a look with Amos, who was suddenly looking very thoughtful. <¡±You have ideas?¡±> she asked through Technopathy. <¡±So many. I could turn this thing into a fortress,¡±> he said. <¡±I get why you brought me now. I have the best boss. I¡¯m like a kid in a candy store.¡±> <¡±Start linking up with the ship¡¯s controls and deal with the cameras, this shouldn¡¯t take long,¡±> she said before exhaling with satisfaction and turning towards Brian. ¡°It is a beautiful ship, Brian. A marvel of engineering. You should be proud.¡± He cleared his throat and looked around the deck with a small smile on his face. ¡°I had a role in the design process,¡± he admitted. ¡°My work these days may be that of a businessman first and foremost, but I still enjoy practicing my art when I can.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a shipwright?¡± ¡°A designer,¡± he corrected with a chuckle before turning to her seriously. ¡°This is not an inexpensive vessel. Even for someone of your means.¡± ¡°I¡¯m prepared to talk things through,¡± she said simply and gestured to Marta who walked over with the suitcase and handed it off to her. ¡°Shall we sit?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want a tour?¡± he asked. ¡°I did a virtual tour before making my decision and had someone I trust have a look around the one currently based in Miami,¡± she said before nodding to Amos, who was standing off to the side with his eyes unfocused as he swept his gaze over everything. ¡°His opinion is the most important here though, and he¡¯s quite enthusiastic.¡± Brian raised an eyebrow. ¡°Amos Carter?¡± She grinned. ¡°Well?¡± He huffed out a breath. ¡°Let¡¯s talk,¡± he said and gestured for her to follow him. Sonya nodded to Marta, who moved to stand with Amos as she went to talk with the CEO privately. They didn¡¯t have to go very far. There were no vacationers on the ship at the time and the crew was minimal in the off-season. They went into the lounge that looked out onto the beach-pool and found a table. She sat down and set the suitcase on the floor next to her. ¡°I should caution you, Miss Chernovna, this isn¡¯t a deal that I can simply make on the fly. I need the consent of the board to go through with it, even if you have something that we can all agree on adding to sweeten the pot,¡± he gestured out the window. ¡°This ship cost two billion to build, a quarter of that to outfit, and its overall estimated earnings value is significant.¡± ¡°Oh, I know,¡± Sonya said with a nod. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t have come if I didn¡¯t think I had something you wanted beyond money.¡± He leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms. ¡°Then it''s time you show me what¡¯s in that suitcase.¡± She laughed. ¡°I love it when the people I do business with are straightforward. Mind games are tiring,¡± she said and reached down for the suitcase, picking it up and setting it on the table. Her senses picked up on the surveillance system across the ship as it shut down and she opened the case, pulling out the first item of interest. A small stack of papers that she set on the table and turned around before pushing them in his direction. He eyed them briefly. ¡°Blank contracts?¡± ¡°Look closely,¡± she said. He leaned forward with a frown before his eyes went wide and he snatched the papers up, flipping through them before looking up at her in shock. ¡°There are... eight of them.¡± She nodded. That¡¯s right, Awakening Contracts, all for you and your friends Brian. I considered offering youth, but a sudden change like that could raise flags after meeting me. It¡¯s better this way. If you prove useful later, I¡¯ll extend the offer as Ishtar. ¡°How? Aren¡¯t you enemies?¡± he asked and set the documents down. ¡°She doesn¡¯t care who buys her products as long as they¡¯re paid for,¡± Sonya said. ¡°Even so,¡± he breathed. ¡°Getting in contact and getting so many. Did you use an intermediary? She tried to assassinate you yesterday.¡± She gave him a placating look. ¡°Brian, a girl has to have some secrets. Don¡¯t be pushy.¡± He blinked a few times before clearing his throat and laughing. ¡°Right, I apologize. I underestimated you. Eight awakening contracts, the older versions from what I can see. I hear the new ones have more strings than just a Non-Disclosure.¡± Old version, ha! I had these written up by Colin in the hotel room, she thought with amusement. ¡°Do you think this will smooth things over with the board?¡± she asked. ¡°Certainly,¡± he said, eyeing the documents with no small amount of greed. ¡°Most of us are unawakened and we can auction off what¡¯s left.¡± Now, let''s try something new out. She shrugged. ¡°Do what you want with them,¡± she said. ¡°Though I¡¯d appreciate it if you and those who sign those documents make a policy of using these abilities responsibly. I am in the business of making heroes, after all.¡± He looked up at her and shrugged. ¡°Of course, of course, nothing to worry about there, Sonya. I also want to assure you that the board and I will keep the origins of these a closely guarded secret.¡± I¡¯m sure you will once we shake hands. Her lips curled up into a smile. ¡°I appreciate it,¡± she said and closed the suitcase, setting it aside and leaning forward to look him in the eyes. ¡°Now let''s talk numbers.¡± Chapter 252 Through the power of the Astral Eye, Sonya could witness things from far away. She¡¯d intentionally only used it a few times. She wasn¡¯t sure if it had made her uncomfortable in the past or if she had been simply too stuck in her own head to take advantage of it, but she had no such compunctions now. Her lips spread into a smile as her mind''s eye traveled past the boundaries of her physical body and arrived elsewhere. Her gaze opened within a small space - the rear of a limousine. Brian Cameron sat back in his seat, holding the small envelope that contained the contracts she¡¯d sold to him in his lap. He was running his hands over them almost lovingly. It kinda made her skin crawl a little bit. Across from him, the slightly portly Dwight dabbed his head with a handkerchief and glanced out the window. His lips moved and her cybernetic brain did the rest, tracing the movements and reading them in an instant. ¡°Are you sure about selling the Idol Isla to her?¡± he asked hesitantly. ¡°The board won¡¯t be happy about making an agreement like that without them. Not only that, she dismissed the staging crew.¡± Brian snorted. ¡°What does it matter if she wants to waste money? She paid more than enough,¡± he said with a sneer. ¡°What¡¯s in here is worth far more than all that and we can just move the staging crew to another project.¡± How callous, Brian. I almost feel bad for those people. I don¡¯t want your people on my ship, though, Sonya thought. At least that construction ability of yours is interesting. ¡°Without even a base crew, she won¡¯t be able to get the vessel out of the harbor,¡± Dwight said with a sigh and a shake of his head. ¡°This is why I can¡¯t stand new money. They never think.¡± ¡°Not our problem,¡± Brian said with a shrug. ¡°Once she realizes she can¡¯t operate it without a skilled crew, I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll get bored. We¡¯ll buy it from her at a used-item price and have made a profit, the board won¡¯t complain at all after that. She¡¯s cunning but young and a bit too-¡± FWOOOOOOOT The two men spun as the cruise ship docked at a distance from their window blew its horn and began to move. Sonya felt it shift beneath her as the engines went to work. Dwight was staring with horror on his face. ¡°I thought you said she wouldn¡¯t be able to get it to move!¡± Brian¡¯s eyes went wide and Sonya cut the connection, a satisfied smile on her face. ¡°That¡¯s what you get for underestimating me, Brian,¡± she said. ¡°Enjoy those contracts. I really do hope they smooth things over with your board of directors, or you¡¯re in a whole lot of trouble.¡± She stretched her legs out over the lounge chair set along the side of the artificial beach on the deck of the ship. She¡¯d changed into a swimsuit, sarong, wide-brimmed hat, and her favorite sunglasses. She reached for a can of soda in the chest of ice to her side and opened it with a crack, slipping a straw in and sipping merrily. <¡±How are the ship¡¯s systems?¡±> Amos¡¯ voice popped into her head. <¡±Amazing. Brian might be a bit of a tool, but he knows quality. The ship definitely needs a decent number of people to keep it working around the clock, but the engines and auto pilot are all fully computerized,¡±> he said. <¡±Where do you want to go?¡±> <¡±Out to sea for now,¡±> Sonya said. <¡±Then we¡¯ll call in the ¡®crew¡¯.¡±> <¡±As you wish!¡±> She sipped her drink again as the sound of hurried footsteps came from around the central building of the cruise ship. Footsteps moving at superhuman speed. She turned and raised an eyebrow as Marta slid to a stop at the edge of the pool, kicking up a wind with her momentum. She zipped over to Sonya and came to a complete stop, her eyes sparkling. Sonya tilted her head and grinned as Marta practically bounced up and down. ¡°What did you find?¡± ¡°Theater. Movie Theater,¡± Marta said eagerly. ¡°Please? Please, please, please?¡± Sonya laughed. ¡°Work it out with Amos. Have fun!¡± she said and waved her hand. Marta squealed and darted away again, rounding the corner like a rocket. Sonya shook her head and sipped at her drink again. ¡°She¡¯s so cute when it''s just us,¡± she said and let out a relaxed sigh, stretching her arms over her head. ¡°Sun feels nice! I could get used to this.¡± Having fun? Ishtar¡¯s voice rose up from her instincts. ¡°Sure am. Want to join me?¡± I don¡¯t think that marble body of mine is any good for swimming, Ishtar said. I do have some reading I want to do, so I might sunbathe a little. ¡°You? Relax?¡± Sonya snickered. Well, I figured I might try it since I don¡¯t have to worry as much about a certain silly girl I know, Ishtar countered as a Legionnaire portal opened to Sonya¡¯s right, a marble statue of just over average human height stepping out. The air around it flickered for a moment before it took on the appearance of a woman that could have been related to Sonya. Short white hair and chilly eyes accompanied a muscular frame covered in scars. She was dressed this time in a set of black swim tank top and trunks. She rolled her neck and looked down at Sonya. ¡°I have catching up to do, if you recall?¡± ¡°So you do,¡± Sonya said and lay back onto the lounge chair as Ishtar sat down on the neighboring chair. ¡°My books?¡± Ishtar asked and Sonya gestured, blue sparkles condensed on Ishtar¡¯s chair and took the form of a pile of books. She looked them over. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°What are you reading all those for anyway?¡± Sonya asked, rolling onto her side and resting her chin on her palm. ¡°You¡¯ve been doing nothing but consume books since the after-party.¡± Ishtar... hesitated? No, not just that, she blushed. Sonya sat up. What¡¯s this? What¡¯s this? ¡°It¡¯s... um...¡± Ishtar cleared her throat and looked away. ¡°Something I need to do for the future.¡± Sonya leaned forward. ¡°Oh no, I¡¯m not letting you get away with just that, not after that reaction! What¡¯s going on? Tell me! Oh my god are you studying poetry to write something for Pandora? Oh that¡¯s so cute!¡± Ishtar looked at her goggle-eyed. ¡°Sonya! I¡¯ve told you before, there¡¯s nothing going on there! She¡¯s just... persistent!¡± she sighed as Sonya¡¯s eyes only sparkled more. ¡°Don¡¯t...¡± she closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. She peeked just as Sonya hopped off her seat and got closer. She had to know now. She needed to know. Ishtar let out a weary sigh. ¡°Well? Tell me!¡± Sonya pleaded. Ishtar looked away again and reached up to play with her hair, tugging at it absently as she stared off towards the widening sea. They were almost out of the harbor now. ¡°I¡¯m researching a name. For myself,¡± she said and looked down at the book in her hands, ¡°You said you would help make documents. I wanted to pick my name for when the time comes. I thought it might be fun.¡± If Sonya was capable of tears or contracting diabetes, she would be suffering from both right now. She held her hands over her mouth as she admired the adorable look on her big sister¡¯s face. She never, ever imagined that Ishtar would be capable of being embarrassed and cute at the same time. She couldn¡¯t help herself, she tackled Ishtar and clung to her. ¡°You are so cute! I can¡¯t wait to hear what you pick! Do you have any ideas yet? Oh, we should have a party when you pick one!¡± Ishtar tried to pry her off. ¡°I am not cute!¡± she barked. ¡°Get off of me, you madwoman!¡± ¡°No!¡± Sonya laughed. ¡°Tell me more!¡± They wrestled for a minute before Ishtar somehow managed to end up with her head in Sonya¡¯s lap. Sonya hummed to herself, playing with her hair and trying to make little braids in the spots where it was long. ¡°I didn¡¯t think I would have this chance,¡± Ishtar said quietly. ¡°Mm?¡± ¡°To be able to go out and be my own person,¡± she said. ¡°I still don¡¯t experience things the same way I would with a real body, but it¡¯s close.¡± ¡°You wanted this?¡± Sonya asked quietly, tying off another braid. ¡°Yeah,¡± Ishtar said. ¡°A little. In those moments where I thought it might be nice to stick around.¡± ¡°We¡¯re stuck together now,¡± Sonya said softly. ¡°And according to Old Man Set, you¡¯ll be around even after I¡¯m gone if I have any kids or something.¡± Ishtar¡¯s expression turned complicated before she nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll look after them, just like I looked after you.¡± ¡°So lots of snarky backseat driving?¡± Sonya teased. Ishtar laughed. ¡°If that¡¯s what it takes to make sure they live up to their mother¡¯s example, yes.¡± ¡°I wonder how that works,¡± Sonya said and made another braid/ ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time to visit Loki and the others for a little while. We¡¯ll have time out here on the ocean.¡± ¡°Set has a lot he wants to teach you,¡± Ishtar said/ ¡°You should definitely make time.¡± ¡°You guys are talking while I¡¯m busy?¡± Sonya asked. ¡°Some,¡± Ishtar said. A chime rang out in Sonya¡¯s head and she glanced up towards the water. It was perfect, smooth, and blue. It went on forever. <¡±Amos?¡±> <¡±We are out of range. No pursuers, no observers. I¡¯ve done a sensory sweep of the ship as well. We are in the clear,¡±> he said. She smiled and patted Ishtar¡¯s shoulder. Her sister sat up and turned to her, the braids pointing out humorously on one side of her head. Sonya snickered and Ishtar scowled at her before rolling her eyes and smiling. Sonya got to her feet. <¡±Let our first group know it''s time. Apologize to Marta, and have her come join me,¡±> she said and sauntered away from the pool to the dining pavilion. The large room was empty, the tables still being stored elsewhere until the ship was ready to sail. She held up both arms and closed her eyes. Her mind touched on one set of coordinates and she gently tugged, pulling her attention back to where she was now. She languidly spread her arms and felt the portal begin to form. It spread wider and wider until it was almost fifty feet wide and eight feet tall. Her eyes opened slowly and she let out a misty breath, rolling her neck and standing proudly as shapes began to form in its rippling depths. A woman in a white gown was the first to pass through, followed by a young man in a mix of modern combat armor and martial arts robes. Sonya brightened and spread her arms out wide in greeting. ¡°Setsuna! Shuta! Welcome to the Idol of Venus,¡± she said brightly as the two cultists approached, glancing around in shock. More of the cult came through, dozens of them all staring gobsmacked at their surroundings. Sonya grinned as the last of them passed through and the room was crowded. She gestured and the portal closed. Kato Setsuna was a woman with a mature frame. Long black hair that shone in the lights above. She wore simple clothes and carried herself with an air of dignity. Her son, Kato Shuta, was dark-haired like his mother, but his face and appearance was far more fierce than dignified. Sonya stepped up and met the two as they approached. She pulled Setsuna into an embrace before turning to pat Shuta on the arm. ¡°Good to see you two.¡± ¡°We are relieved to see you in good health as well,¡± Shuta said with a half bow. ¡°Your recovery is nothing short of miraculous.¡± Sonya laughed and held a hand to her cheek, waving the comment off. ¡°Oh! You¡¯ll make me blush!¡± ¡°True blessing,¡± Setsuna said quietly, keeping her words short so that her ability didn¡¯t break them up and scramble them as she tried to articulate herself. Sonya turned and gestured to the massive window overlooking the deck behind her. ¡°What do you think? I promised your people a home and a way for you to work for me. This is what I¡¯ve come up with. This way you¡¯ll be able to travel with me and assist me in the future.¡± Shuta looked nervous, glancing around and turning his eyes on the throng behind him. He cleared his throat. ¡°Are you sure we will be of any use? I don¡¯t know how many of us are familiar with assisting in operating this sort of ship.¡± Sonya shrugged. ¡°No worries, Amos will help with that. He¡¯s already familiarized himself with the ship¡¯s inner workings and should be making up tutorials to help your people learn what jobs they need to. If any of them do happen to have experience, have them step up and we¡¯ll put them in leadership positions.¡± The two cultists glanced at one another and nodded. Shuta bowed to Sonya and turned to address the group. While he did, Sonya heard the door to the room open and watched Marta step in with her usual stoic poise. She strode towards her and came to a stop at Sonya¡¯s side. ¡°Hope I didn¡¯t interrupt anything,¡± Sonya murmured apologetically. ¡°I¡¯m still deciding what to watch,¡± Marta said quietly and winked at her surreptitiously. Sonya snorted and turned to a thoughtful looking Setsuna. ¡°Something on your mind?¡± Sonya asked with a tilt of her head. ¡°Excuse,¡± Setsuna said with a short bow and turned to gesture to a small gathering on one side of the crowd. They immediately turned and made their way over. Like Setsuna they were all wearing white robes, but they had pink veils over their faces. Sonya quirked an eyebrow and couldn¡¯t help but appreciate the shapes she saw. Why didn¡¯t I see these girls back at the Children of Dawn base in Japan? Were they hiding? Marta cleared her throat and she whipped her head back to see her friend¡¯s disapproving look. ¡°What?¡± Sonya snickered. ¡°Hmph,¡± Marta rumbled. ¡°Like I¡¯m not gonna appreciate artwork when it¡¯s presented,¡± Sonya said with a roll of her eyes and then abruptly cut herself off and turned to face Setsuna and the - she counted them - eight women. ¡°And who are these ladies?¡± ¡°Handmaids,¡± Setsuna said. ¡°Attendants, mine. Now, yours.¡± Sonya had to restrain a cough of surprise, she held up her hands. ¡°Setsuna, that¡¯s very kind! Don¡¯t you need them though?¡± ¡°Anymore. Not leader,¡± Setsuna said with a patient smile. Sonya pursed her lips and hesitated before glancing back at Marta, expecting more disapproval. Instead she saw the woman¡¯s eyes sparkling. Sonya squinted at her and raised an eyebrow, ¡°Marta... you good?¡± she asked. ¡°Head maid,¡± Marta murmured. ¡°Head. Maid.¡± Sonya closed her eyes and nodded. Of course, she thought before letting out a sigh and shaking her head,.¡°Alright, you girls can work with Marta here. She¡¯s in charge of you.¡± They all bowed as one and Sonya scratched the back of her head before looking up at an expectant Setsuna. ¡°Come on, let me show you around. Amos will help Shuta get the cult settled in. After that, we¡¯ll call in the rest of my people,¡± she turned away and started walking, a grin spreading on her face. ¡°It¡¯s time for all my forces to gather.¡± JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 253 Chapter 253 For a moment there was darkness. Then light came down from above atop a single figure, a woman in a black and red dress, her hands resting atop a microphone. She swayed as the piano started to play and she opened her eyes. A cruel red gleaming in the shadows cast by her jet black hair. ¡°You think you¡¯re a king, you think you¡¯re a god,¡± she sang, a wicked smile stretching across her lips. ¡°A shining knight,¡± she pointed towards the camera and gestured up and down. ¡°With that perfect bod,¡± she turned her hand over and curled her finger. ¡°Gather ¡®em up, your world wreckers,¡± she crooned as the song stalled and her eyes flashed bright. ¡°I¡¯m playing chess, you¡¯re playing checkers.¡± She threw her head back and let out a peal of wicked laughter and the crowd went wild and she threw her hands up into the air as the song cut out. ¡°Sup bitches and bros and non-binary hoes! Villains of all shapes and sizes! Monsters and mutants, weirdos and outcasts! Welcome to the Styx!¡± She leaned forward with a sinister glare. ¡°I hope you paid your toll.¡± TE-NE-BRA! TE-NE-BRA! TE-NE-BRA! ¡°That¡¯s right babes! It¡¯s your favorite idol and Pandora Committee approved supervillain!¡± she shouted and plucked her mic off the stand and started walking. ¡°First couple of lines of my next single. What¡¯d you think?¡± she called and pointed her mic out towards the crowd. It roared in response while she cupped her ear. ¡°Yeah? I like it too!¡± She struck a pose. ¡°Been a while! I¡¯ve been a little busy lately on my tour, causing a bit of grief for Liberty. Anybody catch the trial on TV?¡± she barked out a laugh. ¡°I don¡¯t think we¡¯re gonna be seeing much more of it! That bitch is dead!¡± More cheering from the crowd and she whipped her hair back. ¡°Thought she could lord over us, throwin¡¯ her weight around like some kinda queen,¡± she tapped her nose and winked. ¡°I think we all know who the real queen is in the underworld, don¡¯t we?¡± ISH-TAR! ISH-TAR! ISH-TAR! ISH-TAR! ¡°The head bitch in charge, that¡¯s right!¡± she laughed before leaning forward enough to show off a bit, sweeping her gaze over the darkened crowd. ¡°Wanna know a secret? I¡¯ve got a message from the queen herself. She¡¯s pretty happy about how things went with the Liberty bounties. You guys raised some hell, didn¡¯t ya? Those of you with the skill to get away with it.¡± The crowd roared and she stood up. ¡°Yeah, if you can¡¯t tough it out against a couple heroes, do you even deserve to be called a villain? What¡¯s a little risk,¡± she held up and rubbed her thumb and forefinger together, ¡°If the pay is good?¡± One guy in the crowd threw his hands up. ¡°WOO! BOUNTIES! LETS GO!¡± She pointed at him. ¡°This guy gets it!¡± she laughed and walked back over to the mic stand. ¡°We¡¯ve been havin¡¯ a lot of fun raising hell and taking what we want, but you know what the heroes have that we don¡¯t?¡± she asked. ¡°What they¡¯ve been keeping from us? Those greedy governments and heroes sitting on their pile of treasures?¡± Her tone went serious. ¡°Dungeons.¡± The room went quiet and she sneered. ¡°Dungeons have monsters inside, monster corpses worth quite a bit, magic metals, materials, and most importantly, the magic tools dropped by the bosses,¡± she said. ¡°I think we can all agree that the heroes have hoarded the good stuff for long enough. That shit should be ours!¡± The crowd exploded and she laughed again. ¡°Yeah yeah yeah! We¡¯ll bust in if we have to, fuck them! Take what we want!¡± she shouted before turning around as a screen lit up behind her. ¡°Ishtar has issued bounties on dungeons all over the world! Limited time offer! Raise some hell, Villains and make some cash!¡± The screen turned off and Sonya pulled back in her chair with a smirk. ¡°She¡¯s a damn good spokesperson. Should invite her to hang out more,¡± she said absently, playing with her hair before getting to her feet. The Captain''s cabin was basically a small luxury apartment with a clear view of the sea. She watched the waves churn for a moment as she let her mind continue to work. The ideas are coming so much easier these days. It¡¯s like everything¡¯s just so clear to me now, she stood up and ran her finger down the smooth glass of the window. I can see the path. New addition to the plan? Ishtar asked from the back of her head. Sonya smirked. Not really, more like another angle I hadn¡¯t considered that just dawned on me, she thought and dialed out with a thought. A moment later a man answered. <¡°Chernovna?¡±> ¡°Representative, how are things at home?¡± she said smoothly. <¡°Would be nice if I could get you in to talk a little with Congress,¡±> he said awkwardly. <¡°Some of them are a little concerned about your popularity these days.¡±> She snorted. They think I answer to them, cute, she snickered. ¡°I¡¯ll worry about it some other time. I have a request, if you don¡¯t mind.¡± <¡°From you? Got something interesting planned?¡±> he asked. ¡°I do, actually. I¡¯d like you to make a push for me to get International Hero protection during my trip,¡± she said. ¡°Think you can manage it?¡± <¡±I assume you don¡¯t want to be on the record as requesting it?¡±> he asked. ¡°No,¡± she said. ¡°Make it seem like the US Government is concerned for my safety. I¡¯ll be putting up some resistance to it on my end for a while until I cave.¡± <¡±Interesting. I¡¯ll make it happen,¡±> he said. ¡°Thank you,¡± she purred and looked out the window. ¡°How¡¯s your father?¡± <¡±Much better, thanks to you.¡±> She nodded to herself. ¡°That¡¯s really good to hear. Have a wonderful evening, on me. I¡¯ll send you a car.¡± <¡±You as well, Mistress.¡±> She hung up and traced a circle with her fingertip on the window, letting the thoughts come and go before she turned around and started walking to the door. Going for blood are you? Ishtar asked and she grinned. This is going to be so much fun. ¨C Sonya gestured and the doorway-sized portal appeared before increasing slightly in size. It flickered on the inside, changing to several different places before becoming indistinct and blurry inside as always. She clenched her fist and the portal stabilized and she crossed her arms behind her back. On her left was Marta in her usual gown, and on her right was Setsuna, who had changed into a sundress with a wide brimmed hat. The air stilled. Then the procession began. The end of a black cane gilded with gold stretched through the portal before a man in an elegant black and gold suit stepped through. His skin was pallid and gray, discolored in places and covered in stitches. His hands were blood red with long wicked nails. He had a crazed grin on his face emphasized by one eye slightly larger than the other. Charon reached up and ran his cruel fingers through his black and white hair before turning and holding out a hand to the portal. A woman¡¯s hand adorned with long metallic black nails reached out and took his hand. He pulled and Tenebra stepped through in the same black and red gothic dress she¡¯d been wearing during her performance. She looked up and her eyes widened when her gaze landed on Sonya, her mouth opening as the wheels turned. Then her smile turned wild, she curtsied and stepped to the side with her boss. Next through the portal was the huge muscular man in a polo and thick chain necklace. He had a brand new watch on his wrist and wore fitted slacks that ended in shiny shoes. He thumbed his nose and smirked in Sonya¡¯s direction before glancing at Marta and shooting her a wink. He stepped to the side as several others followed him. A man in a black shirt and tan pants with a short beard and a long thickly-stitched scar on the side of his head. After him was a gruff looking man with a tan complexion and stern eyes. Then there was a wiry man with black hair and pale skin, who kept glancing around the room as if looking for a way out. Finally, a steely-eyed man with brown hair and a baseball cap strode through in a flak jacket and denim jeans. The five men, Kingshark, Stitches, Haus, Wake, and Trigger all nodded to Sonya and moved to the side. She tilted her chin up and felt the next group pass through. The first was a handsome young man of Asian descent with short black hair and a perpetual scowl. He wore a black collared shirt and slacks. His hands were stuffed into his pockets as he turned to wait for the next person. A woman with gray hair and purple highlights, she had a dramatic figure that would have put her on the cover of magazines if she didn¡¯t have a penchant for electrocution. Behind Blackrazor and Kerauna, another pair appeared. The first was a buff middle-aged man with a grim face and scars all over his face and hands. He wore a carefully fitted suit that was clearly made to make him look even bigger. After him was a woman in a silver gown and tan skin, her glowing yellow eyes swept over her surroundings thoughtfully before she quirked her lips into a smile. The two of them first nodded to Blackrazor before all four bowed to Sonya and stepped aside. Next came a person who would have thrown almost anyone for a loop with their appearance if everyone here didn¡¯t know him already. He was a pretty thing with a slightly pale face and brilliant red eyes, his brown hair tied into a thick braid that hung over his shoulder. He wore a suit coat and black skirt over black hose and heels. In his hand was a suitcase that he set to the side before turning to await his traveling companion. Another young man with brown hair stepped out, his eyes were hard and glowed a brilliant green. He wore a simple white shirt and brown pants as he leaned on a cane in a way that said it was more out of habit than necessity. Mephisto and Blight turned and bowed to Sonya while she raised her hand and dismissed the portal. Out of the corner of her eye, a door opened to the room and Amos stepped out with his hands on his hips, walking over to join the large group. Sonya held up her hands in greeting. ¡°My Inner Circle and their subordinates have all gathered!¡± The majority of them save for one all bowed again in unison. ¡°Greetings to the Queen of Villains!¡± She turned to Blight with a smile. ¡°And we also have a special guest. Glad to have you, Blight.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve been in Australia,¡± he said. ¡°Even if we¡¯re in open water. Thank you for having me, Ishtar.¡± Sonya glanced at Mephisto. ¡°All contracts have been signed by the new visitors?¡± ¡°Yes, Mistress, all bases are covered as requested,¡± he said with a wicked smile and held up the suitcase. She nodded. ¡°Excellent work as always, Mephisto,¡± she said before gesturing to those gathered. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re all very excited to get down to business. Most of you know the plan and the improvements I¡¯ve made. It all begins here in Australia,¡± she said. ¡°The people of Australia know that I am on the hunt for the next great hero out of this country. While the world watches, we will strike.¡± Kingshark slammed his fist into his palm. ¡°And while the little villains are causing trouble in dungeons all over the world, we¡¯re gonna hit the big ones.¡± She laughed. ¡°Damn right. We are here to raid the Lake Eyre Epic dungeon and take its resources and its reward treasure out from beneath the noses of the heroes,¡± she said. ¡°While we¡¯re at it, we¡¯ll ruin Representative Sowards and send him to an early grave. He made a fatal error in crossing me,¡± she paused and chuckled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll handle him personally. Focus on enjoying yourselves as we get the mayhem going.¡± ¡°So who gets to try to knock you off first, boss?¡± Kera asked. Sonya laughed. ¡°Would you like to?¡± Kera blinked and hesitated a little. Sonya met her eyes and smirked a little. Yes, Ishtar told me about your little encounter, she thought with amusement. You hated me so much you tried to put me down in my hospital bed. I suppose I don¡¯t blame you. Kera cleared her throat and shrugged noncommittally. ¡°I couldn¡¯t take the first round. I¡¯m more of a final act kinda girl after all,¡± she said with a flip of her hair. Aww, she feels bad, Sonya thought. Don¡¯t be too hard on her, Ishtar chimed in, rising up from her instincts. She¡¯s a good girl and quite loyal now. ¡°I¡¯ll take the first round,¡± Kingshark said, holding up a hand. ¡°You sure?¡± Sonya asked. ¡°You know what that means, right?¡± He glanced at Marta and coughed a little before laughing. ¡°Honestly? We¡¯ve talked about wanting to see what would happen for a while.¡± Sonya turned a surprised look to Marta, whose usual stoic demeanor during these meetings broke into a playful grin. ¡°Just think of it as foreplay.¡± Sonya pulled her head back with a gasp. ¡°Who are you and what have you done with my head maid?¡± ¡°Head maid?¡± Mephisto chimed in. Sonya froze and cleared her throat, looking around awkwardly. ¡°Uh...¡± she shrugged. ¡°I... got a few more recently?¡± The main members of her Inner Circle all burst into laughter, while the newcomers, the unnamed pair next to Blackrazor as well as Tenebra and Blight, all looked around in confusion. Blight tilted his head and squinted at her. ¡°So this is the real Ishtar, with all the pomp and ceremony set aside?¡± Sonya shrugged. ¡°This is it! The world¡¯s greatest villain in the flesh,¡± she said with a dramatic bow and stood up straight. ¡°I think you¡¯re well aware of why I more than deserve the reputation.¡± Blight snorted. ¡°One woman pulling the strings of both sides like a maestro. If I wasn¡¯t already impressed with your power from what I saw from the footage of the war,¡± he shook his head. ¡°Your sheer audacity is mind boggling.¡± Sonya grinned. ¡°Just wait till you see how I plan on keeping my promise to you.¡± He brightened. ¡°Is that why I¡¯m here?¡± She nodded and turned to the others. ¡°Most of you already know, but for those of you who don¡¯t, I have a goal, and to achieve that goal I need to eliminate a very specific group of people as a precursor to what comes next,¡± she said before tilting her chin up high. ¡°Today we begin the operation to slay the International Hero, First Wind,¡± she announced. ¡°Get some rest. We¡¯re gonna be busy in a few days.¡± Chapter 254 Chapter 254 Sonya spent a little time chatting with some of the members of her Inner Circle before sending them off to explore the ship and set themselves up. She made sure to tell them to maintain their public persona¡¯s while on the ship and keep their power usage to a minimum. For all the world, they would appear as a party of wealthy friends she¡¯d brought onto her ship for her world tour. Which wasn¡¯t too far from the truth. She watched Blight, Charon and Tenebra leave and glanced to the right towards the last remaining party. Beyol stood in his usual stoic silence, his cold eyes fixed on her. Her eyes drifted past his face towards the other two with him. The big man with scars and the tan woman with yellow eyes. She looked back to Beyol and turned fully to face them, her arms behind her back. ¡°Are you going to introduce me?¡± Beyol stepped forward and raised his hand to his heart before bowing at the waist, the other two followed suit, replicating his poise. ¡°Headmaster Blackrazor greets the Mistress. This is Provost Maler and First Dean Chamak. They are my immediate subordinates in the Night Society.¡± She tilted her chin up. ¡°You rarely introduce me to your people, dear.¡± Beyol kept his eyes on the ground, his bow solid. ¡°This operation goes beyond the scope of any previous one, and I believe it is the opening move of your greater plan. As such, I have decided to leave nothing to chance.¡± Her eyes flashed. ¡°I¡¯m pleased with your decisiveness, Blackrazor. You three may relax,¡± she said, her chest swelling with approval. She turned her mechanical eyes towards the other two. ¡°Maler and Chamak, Painter and Shine. As I understand it, the leadership are all specialists. Tell me what you bring to the table.¡± The three of them stood up straight and the gruff looking man stepped forward. ¡°My ability is Color Theory, Mistress,¡± he said in a deep chest rattling voice, his eyes glimmered with rainbow lights. ¡°Paint and other applications of color, when handled by me, gain various effects. I am Heroic-tier,¡± his grim face turned a bit wicked. ¡°As for my specialty, I craft Serial Killers.¡± Her eyebrows rose. ¡°You craft them?¡± ¡°Yes, Mistress,¡± he rumbled. ¡°I perform elaborate ritualistic killings according to a methodology I design. This is in order to conceal the primary target or create circumstances that will lead my target to exposing themselves. I design my killers around a particular individual in order for them to ultimately take the fall once the crimes are ¡®solved¡¯,¡± he explained. He didn¡¯t even blink as he laid out his style of killing. The Night Society truly is built different, Sonya thought with a raised eyebrow. ¡°Nefarious. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet a skilled planner like yourself,¡± she said and extended her hand for him to shake. He took it with a nod. She turned to the woman. ¡°And you are?¡± ¡°Chamak, Mistress,¡± she said with a sweet smile that was laced with ice. ¡°I perform magic utilizing yellow light, Citrine,¡± she said and Sonya had to restrain herself from grabbing the woman¡¯s hand. Chamak inclined her head. ¡°My ability is most proficient in illusion and the warping of perspective. As an Assassin, I am most proficient in corporate aggression and sabotage leading into hostile takeovers concealed as simple business. I am also adept at creating nuanced shell companies.¡± Sonya¡¯s brows rose even higher and she looked at Beyol. ¡°You brought out the big guns, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°All is for your success, Mistress,¡± Beyol said with a stoic nod. She barked out a laugh. ¡°Your loyalty never ceases to astound me!¡± She extended a hand to Chamak. ¡°Well met.¡± The woman took her hand delicately. ¡°It is an honor to meet you face to face,¡± she said before adding. ¡°I hope this does not come across as sycophantic, but knowing it is you behind the mask of Ishtar is nothing short of revolutionary. I feel like I am a student standing before a grandmaster of my own craft.¡± I like this one, Sonya thought with a smirk before analyzing her as well. She let the woman¡¯s hand go. ¡°You and I will have opportunities to talk, I¡¯m sure,¡± she said before gesturing to the door. ¡°Why don¡¯t you all relax for a while. Enjoy the sun. It¡¯s quite nice, even this time of year.¡± The three of them bowed again before making their way out. Sonya watched them go until the door shut, leaving her alone. Her lips curled up into a smile and she held out her hand, a sparkling sphere of yellow light appearing over her palm as she drew Citrine Sorceress from her warehouse. And there¡¯s another one for the collection. Four of seven I¡¯m assuming. I should make arrangements to run into Mimir¡¯s little friend soon so I can grab hers. ¨C The Idol of Venus pulled into view of Sydney Harbor just a day later, taking a leisurely course around the southern part of Australia while Sonya¡¯s people settled in on the ship. She spent that time working out her plans for testing the Australian heroes and deciding which one she would pick for her sponsorship. She stood at the window of her office on the ship and peered out towards the city beyond while Ishtar reclined in the office chair behind her. ¡°You really don¡¯t think there are enough high-level heroes?¡± Ishtar asked. Sonya shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve pushed the balance towards the villains a little too hard during my blue period,¡± she said with a small smirk. ¡°Blue period!¡± Ishtar laughed. ¡°Not a bad name for it. You say that, but you¡¯re also orchestrating all those dungeon raids.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just to get the heroes motivated,¡± Sonya said. ¡°There needs to be a balance between their attention to the villains and the dungeons.¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t giving them a chance to see one another as enemies,¡± Ishtar nodded. ¡°Right,¡± Sonya said. ¡°The trick here is not creating any one villain or group that could start a war like Liberty or Otis in the past.¡± ¡°Erebus.¡± Sonya nodded. ¡°He¡¯s gotten a little too big for his britches,¡± she said thoughtfully. ¡°I could leverage him with the soul contract to get him to calm down, but that would create antagonism between us. He¡¯s a smart man, he¡¯ll look for loopholes and find ways to undermine me if I do that,¡± she turned back to Ishtar. ¡°Anything interesting on the news?¡± Ishtar turned the computer and tapped a few keys before pulling back. ¡°Have a look.¡± An anchor appeared on the screen next to a box that said ¡®Villains on the Move?¡¯ in big red letters. She glanced at the collar of his shirt and the inconspicuous pin on his lapel. Sonya smirked and the man started talking. ¡°Numerous reports around the globe have surfaced of active villains going dark or being spotted in population centers outside of their usual territory. A reliable source connected with the villains has indicated that a bounty has been issued by Ishtar on dungeons worldwide.¡± Sonya snickered. ¡°Anonymous source my ass.¡± Ishtar laughed. ¡°Your club leaders have been doing a lot of recruiting.¡± The anchor disappeared and footage of Carla talking with a small group of heroes appeared in his place. Sonya smiled a little. She¡¯s looking good. ¡°Pandora Committee Chairwoman Carla Mint has already issued orders to guilds worldwide to begin monitoring activity around their assigned dungeons. Private Sector guilds as well as National guilds continue to respond well to her leadership. Over the past two days, Chairwoman Mint has been the spearhead of a corruption purge within the global organization after the still unsolved assassination of Liberty in her own cell,¡± the anchor continued as Carla continued speaking with the heroes. They came clean? Not surprising that Carla would shoot for brutal transparency. ¡°A number of PC representatives have already been brought up on corruption charges within the organization and impeachment votes are being scheduled. There are currently no reports on which representatives have been accused. However, an insider reported that a group of representatives arrested Hero Harbinger of the United States and interrogated her. According to the insider, the interrogation nearly caused the promising young hero to lose her life,¡± the anchor continued. ¡°Hero Harbinger is reported to be in good health as protests break out over her treatment in the United States.¡± Sonya raised her eyebrows. ¡°Uh... that wasn¡¯t me.¡± Ishtar nodded. ¡°I figured. This was a few hours ago. Have you gotten any calls?¡± Sonya checked her phone, but there were no relevant messages, just the usual texts from her friends and lovers. She slipped her phone back in her pocket and crossed her arms. ¡°If the Committee isn¡¯t complaining about it to me, then it must be someone in the Committee pulling this.¡± ¡°If those representatives start disappearing,¡± Ishtar mused, ¡°After this report it will be pretty obvious it¡¯s you retaliating.¡± Sonya pursed her lips. ¡°Leiandra Firth. Couldn¡¯t get my word on not retaliating so she decided to try to push me into a corner,¡± she smirked. ¡°Two can play at this game.¡± Ishtar grinned. ¡°Create a forest to hide the trees in?¡± ¡°We did just meet a specialist in that,¡± Sonya agreed. ¡°The next few months are going to be utter mayhem,¡± Ishtar said and got to her feet. ¡°If this doesn¡¯t rally the heroes, I don¡¯t know what will.¡± ¡°One can only hope,¡± Sonya said. ¡°The biggest blow will come later.¡± ¡°Are you sure about that part of the plan? It¡¯s a tremendous risk. It could backfire, especially with Colin here on the ship,¡± Ishtar pointed out. ¡°I¡¯m actually counting on that part,¡± Sonya snickered. ¨C Sydney was absolutely beautiful and the Sydney Football Stadium was as magnificent as the images online would suggest. Charon had been kind enough to provide a speedboat to take them from the Idol of Venus to the port where one of his taxis were waiting. From there, it was a quick shot to one of the luxury hotels and then to the suburb where the holding company branch that managed it was headquartered. The massive insurance company had only been too happy to loan the stadium to her for the event with the promise of plenty of money coming in as well as good press for supporting the Hero Movement. That inevitably led her to be standing in the main viewing box of the stadium, overlooking it while Amos was on the ground directing ASTA personnel and his dolls in the overhaul of the grassy stadium into something that could be utilized for her purposes. Watching humanoid robots and civilian workers teaming up to build what amounted to a battle arena was nothing short of fantastical and she enjoyed every moment of it. What she enjoyed even more, though, was the presence of the very uncomfortable looking man standing next to her. ¡°Doctor Carter certainly has a lot of tricks under his sleeves,¡± Representative Sowards said hesitantly. His permanent scowl made his otherwise nervous and sweaty face look constipated. ¡°You have no idea,¡± Sonya said smugly before glancing back at Marta. Her maid was as stoic as ever though she had a bit of tension in her shoulders. ¡°You good?¡± Marta cleared her throat. ¡°Just looking forward to the event, ma¡¯am,¡± Marta said easily. ¡°Excited, are you?¡± she asked. ¡°Something I¡¯ve wanted to experience for a while,¡± Marta said without missing a beat. ¡°Are you two talking about the competition?¡± Sowards asked and flinched when Sonya shot him a look. He relaxed a little when her stare turned into an easy smile. ¡°Of-of course you are.¡± Sonya just hummed noncommittally. ¡°How is the Australian government reacting to my impromptu party?¡± The man who had played a part in torturing her daughter wrung his hands, ¡°They¡¯re of course supportive, Miss Chernovna. One of their own getting such a unique sponsorship is very desirable. Though I am a little confused about the special reward that was promised as part of the sponsorship.¡± Haven¡¯t you learned your lesson, idiot? Sonya thought. She shrugged instead of snapping at him though. ¡°You¡¯ll just have to wait and see. Handmaiden here will be providing the demonstration.¡± He gave Marta a sidelong look before clearing his throat again and turning his scowling face towards the field. ¡°Do you really intend to have light-touched fight one another in a crowded stadium?¡± Sonya barked out a laugh. ¡°Why not?¡± She rested her hands on her hips. ¡°Throwing them at dungeons won¡¯t provide any entertainment value, and I don¡¯t think the public will be satisfied with my choices unless it¡¯s something they can see for themselves.¡± ¡°Will the public care that much?¡± Sowards pressed. ¡°Don¡¯t be pushy, Sowards,¡± she warned him with a cold stare. ¡°You¡¯ll learn what you need to learn when it¡¯s time. If you have a hero that you¡¯re favoring, I suggest you get them involved. That is the only tantalizing hint I will give you. Pushing your luck with me is unwise right now.¡± He froze and turned away, swallowing hard. ¡°U-understood.¡± Two sharp knocks came to the door of the viewing box. That¡¯s the clear signal from the security team. She turned her technopathy towards the cameras outside the viewing box. Her eyes narrowed a little. ¡°Enter.¡± A pair of security guards wearing the black and white ASTA uniforms and combat armor walked in with a brown haired young man between them. She turned around and fixed the boy with a stare. She hadn¡¯t expected to see him at all, especially after what had happened in The Hague. She crossed her arms and looked at her security guards. ¡°Explain.¡± ¡°We found him poking around outside. When we caught him, he immediately surrendered and asked to see you. We checked him for weapons; he¡¯s clean. He even volunteered to wear power suppressors,¡± one guard said quickly, indicating the bands around the young man¡¯s wrists. ¡°Get those off of him,¡± Sonya said with a frown and the two guards hurried to take them off while she looked the boy in his bright brown eyes. ¡°Hero Nietz, what on earth are you doing here? Shouldn¡¯t you be back in The Netherlands?¡± The young hero straightened his back a little and returned her stare. ¡°I took a leave of absence after I saw your press conference, ma¡¯am,¡± he said quickly. Sonya narrowed her eyes. ¡°You want to participate? You aren¡¯t an Australian hero.¡± ¡°Your invitation was for all heroes, ma¡¯am,¡± he replied. ¡°Bold,¡± Sonya said and tilted her head. ¡°You think you can take advantage of my wording to get your foot in the door?¡± He held his ground, setting his jaw. ¡°If I have to.¡± ¡°Why?¡± she asked. ¡°You¡¯re personal security for a VIP hero and associated with Euclidia. What use could you possibly have for my sponsorship? You have thirty seconds before I send you back.¡± He didn¡¯t even blink. ¡°I want to join the International Team. I¡¯m a growth-type hero, but I need to be on the field in order to grow. The Security Team is holding me back. I¡¯m not strong enough yet,¡± he said quickly. ¡°I¡¯ll participate in every round if I have to, but I need your sponsorship so I can have a better chance of being picked during the next selection.¡± ¡°And why do you need to join the International Team all of a sudden?¡± He hesitated and she narrowed her eyes, he cleared his throat. ¡°Solo Internationals get to pick their support staff,¡± he said and shot a glare towards Representative Sowards. ¡°I have a friend who needs my help.¡± Chapter 255 Sonya and Nietz stared one another down as the Representative shifted back a few paces, looking between them. Sonya ignored the idiot, her focus on the young hero. He certainly has balls, she thought. She was surprised by the lengths the guy was willing to go to help someone he considered a friend. There was no doubt in her mind that the person was Locke, though she was a bit surprised that she needed any help at all. It seemed to her that it was fairly cut and dry as to who was truly at fault in the whole scenario. Unless the representatives decided to try to throw the poor girl under the bus, she reasoned. To Sonya¡¯s estimations, what had happened back at The Hague likely traumatized the young hero. Even if she had obeyed the commands of the wayward representatives, it had been under a form of duress, so she couldn¡¯t hold it against her. All she had done, technically, was put a hand on Cass, who had been willing to submit to such questioning in the moment. The representatives had chosen to take things too far. She tilted her head to the right. But they want to push some of the blame off on a light-touched in hopes of easing their own problems. She sighed. I should have expected this. ¡°Very-¡± ¡°Now just one moment!¡± Sowards cut in, finally putting a bit of force behind his quivering voice. Sonya blinked and turned to him, dumbstruck. Is this guy suicidal? ¡°I can¡¯t condone this,¡± Sowards barked, pointing his finger at Nietz. ¡°This event was scheduled for the heroes of Australia and at most, the heroes in neighboring countries. Anton Hosk is Polish! If he wants to participate in one of your competitions, he can do it at the European one!¡± Sonya kept staring at him. This guy is actually digging his own grave, right in front of me. Where¡¯s his shovel? Did he bring it? ¡°While this may be a private competition, it is being held at the permission and blessing of the Australian government. This is exactly one of our concerns about you, Miss Chernovna. You throw your weight around too willfully!¡± he rambled on. Where he suddenly got his courage from, Sonya wasn¡¯t sure. Oh... he brought an excavator! Sonya realized. He turned to Sonya, huffing out a breath and crossing his arms before meeting her eyes. He froze. Going a little pale beneath her stare. She just smiled at him. ¡°So you¡¯re making the rules for my competition now, Mister Sowards? Is that how it is? I didn¡¯t know!¡± she laughed and clapped the side of her head. ¡°When did the memo go out? I must have missed it!¡± He wilted a little. ¡°Miss Chernovna, please be reasonable.¡± ¡°Reasonable!¡± Sonya barked out a laugh and turned to Marta who was still standing there. She¡¯d gone very still but her face was still placid and calm. Sonya jerked her thumb towards Sowards and threw up her hands. ¡°I must be misunderstanding what the word reasonable means. Maybe he can explain it to us?¡± she suggested before her eyes widened and she slapped her fist to her palm. ¡°Oh, I know!¡± Marta inclined her head. ¡°Please, do enlighten me, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Well first, how about we have a nice cozy meeting in one of the offices here? We could get some refreshments delivered by Hero Nietz here! I do hope he comes back!¡± Sonya started. Sowards winced. Sonya held up a finger. ¡°Then while we wait, we can talk a little about how words work! Though, maybe we should make sure to get everything clearly from him. Do you have any ideas?¡± Sowards took a step back. Marta inclined her head. ¡°Perhaps there¡¯s someone out there with an ability that can help Mister Sowards explain the word ¡®reasonable¡¯ to us in a clear way, Mistress. Unfiltered and honest, of course.¡± Sowards shrank. Sonya turned to Sowards with a huge smile. ¡°What do you think, Representative? Doesn¡¯t that sound like a fun time?¡± she asked brightly. ¡°A lively language debate!¡± He pulled at his collar. ¡°Puh-perhaps I was a bit hasty, Miss Chernovna,¡± he said quickly. ¡°I¡¯d like to withdraw my previous statement and encourage the young man to of course participate. I¡¯ll even smooth things over with the Australian authority as a gesture to hopefully ease some tension after that... erm... incident at The Hague,¡± he said. She brightened. ¡°It¡¯s certainly a gesture!¡± she said. ¡°You can go ahead and throw in accommodations for the young man and I want a pair of executive transport helicopters as well.¡± ¡°T-to borrow?¡± he asked, sweat beading on his temple as a vein pulsed. Her expression fell a little. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± He cleared his throat. ¡°R-right, of course!¡± he said hurriedly before turning to Nietz and giving him a half nod. ¡°Good luck on the competition, young man,¡± he added before hurrying towards the door. ¡°Mister Sowards,¡± Sonya said, her tone icy as she looked out the window. Amos¡¯ team was setting panels of pale-white metal atop the grass now and installing some kind of equipment along the rim. He paused at the door. ¡°Yes, Miss Chernovna?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have Colin formally codify the rules of the competition tonight. I hope there won¡¯t be any concerns or protests,¡± she said. ¡°I-I¡¯ll let my superiors know!¡± he stammered and hurried out the door past a gobsmacked Nietz. Animal, she snarled inwardly before turning back to Nietz with a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°I just used capital on you, Nietz. You implied you¡¯d be willing to try again at the other rounds if you don¡¯t succeed here. I¡¯m telling you that if you don¡¯t place in at least the top half of the bracket for this first round, I will personally contact Chairwoman Mint and ask her to have you brought back. This isn¡¯t negotiable.¡± He returned her stare and tried to steel himself. She watched his shoulders square a little as he worked up his courage. He truly has spine. I kind of want to give him a sponsorship now and cut out the middle-man, but it¡¯ll be interesting to see how far he goes. Is he really doing this just for a friend? Going that far, it¡¯s hard to believe. He shot his hand out for her to shake. ¡°I won¡¯t let you down, ma¡¯am.¡± She raised her eyebrows and took his hand. ¡°Good luck tomorrow, hero.¡± Analyze. Oh ho ho ho! What is this?! She pulled her hand away and rested it on her hip with an easy smile as he nodded to her and saw himself out. She watched his back for several moments before looking down at her hand and flexing her fingers. Marta leaned in next to her. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°He¡¯s immune, like Otis,¡± Sonya said thoughtfully. ¡°No, that¡¯s not right. Otis was simply ¡®Immune¡¯. Nietz was immune to abilities that copy or duplicate his ability.¡± Marta whistled and looked at the door appreciatively. ¡°His ability is on the Pandora Committee record.¡± Sonya nodded. ¡°Have Amos do some digging when he has time. That boy is now officially on my radar.¡± ¨C Sonya sipped at a can of soda through a straw as she looked out the window of the helicopter that Representative Sowards had so kindly donated to her for her use. She¡¯d have to give it a new paint job at some point and let Amos play with it, but it would do for now. She smirked and tilted her sunglasses down as the helicopter began its approach of the stadium. Crowds had already gathered around the stadium. News crews, and anyone who could get a ticket was already pouring into the seats. Sonya wanted to turn this into a spectacle with as many witnesses as possible. It would be the same for the other events around the world. Heroes from guilds would be in attendance, and their guildmasters wouldn¡¯t want to miss it either. Tons of powerful heroes showing up instead of being out on patrol. Of course, they¡¯ll have to make a choice between guarding the local dungeons from my villains too. They won¡¯t have time to protect an isolated dungeon like the Lake Eyre dungeon, she thought. No one will be able to say I wasn¡¯t here, especially with me providing commentary. Now all I have to do is give the signal and wait for the good news from Blackrazor and the others. You could have me do the commentary, Ishtar pointed out. And miss a chance to proctor my own fighting tournament? Marta would kill me for throwing this chance out! Sonya thought. I¡¯ll dip during the next one in China. I¡¯ve got extra business there anyway. Very well, Ishtar chuckled and slipped back into her ability. Sonya watched the stands continue to fill with satisfaction. ¡°It looks great, Amos,¡± she said as she swept her gaze over the arena he¡¯d built in less than a day. Amos didn¡¯t immediately respond and she turned to look at him; he was barely containing his laughter, his face turning red. She grinned and nodded at the helicopter around them. ¡°You like it?¡± He couldn¡¯t contain it any longer, he burst into uproarious laughter and kicked his feet. ¡°You are a fucking crazy person!¡± he howled, doubling over and holding himself. ¡°Two multi-million dollar helicopters! What is wrong with you?¡± His laughter was infectious. ¡°You should have seen his face! I swear he was going to shit himself right then and there!¡± ¡°The man does look like he¡¯s in dire need of a laxative. I kept calling him Representative Stool in my head,¡± Marta chimed in from across from them. The two of them blinked and looked at Marta in shock. She stared back at them. Silence held for a few seconds as all three of them squeezed their mouths shut and tried, really tried, to stop themselves. Then they all broke down into teary-eyed laughter kicking and howling in the back of the helicopter as the carefully masked zombie pilot brought them in for a landing. When they finally caught their breath, the helicopter had stopped. ¡°You¡¯re not done with him yet, are you?¡± Amos asked as the warning chime rang, telling them that it wasn¡¯t safe to disembark just yet. ¡°Hell no!¡± Sonya laughed. ¡°I¡¯m going to bleed him dry and leave his corpse for the rats.¡± ¡°Good,¡± he said seriously. ¡°Nobody touches the Young Miss and gets away with it. Do they not get that because you adopted her, she''s the heir to ASTA as well? Heck, it wouldn¡¯t be a leap to say she¡¯s the Chairwoman¡¯s family too.¡± Sonya pursed her lips. ¡°Oh, right.¡± Amos and Marta squinted at her. ¡°Did... that not occur to you, ma¡¯am?¡± Marta asked. ¡°She seriously didn¡¯t think about that?¡± Amos added. Sonya threw up her hands. ¡°I can¡¯t think of everything! At least I remembered to notify Bluestar and Evergreen last night or they would have killed me over what¡¯s coming up!¡± ¡°You thought of fleecing Representative Stool for two helicopters,¡± Amos said as the pilot stepped out of the helicopter and hurried around to open it up. Its helmet covered its disfigured features as the crowd outside roared even above the sound of the vehicles engines. Sonya crossed her arms and pouted. ¡°Representative Stool really picked well though. Gotta give him some credit. He could have gone with something cheap,¡± Marta added with a serious nod while the door opened and the pilot held out a hand for Sonya to take. She took it and slipped out with Amos and Marta behind her. The pilot inclined his head once and hurried back to the cockpit as Sonya took it all in. They were standing on the central ring, a raised platform made entirely out of training room materials to protect the ground from damage. It wouldn¡¯t hold up from an all out strike from a Mythic or powerful Heroic, but it was sufficient for something like this. Beyond it, the rest of the stadium¡¯s field was covered in thinner sheets of the material to block stray attacks. Around the outer edge of the reinforced battlefield were dozens of obelisk-like pylons installed at various intervals. Amos¡¯ spherical drones floated through the air, some with cameras and others seemingly unadorned. Sonya looked up at the crowd. Over forty thousand people gathered to watch young heroes compete for a chance to have her sponsor them. The feeling of power was a little overwhelming, even with all her abilities. Her hair whipped around her head, her tie flapping in the wind kicked up by the helicopter as it started to rise back into the air as the crowd grew louder and louder. She gestured to Amos, and he handed her an earpiece that she slipped on and pulled the tiny microphone out to her jaw. She turned and looked up to watch the helicopter leave before striding out to the center of the arena and threw her arms open wide. ¡°Hello Sydney!¡± The response was deafening. It was the first time she had to tune down her own senses; fortunately she could, perks of a mostly cybernetic body. Even so, she felt the vibration of it in her bones. ¡°Welcome to the Sydney Arena! I hope you didn¡¯t come to see a football match! We¡¯ve got something a bit different planned!¡± she laughed as Amos and Marta took their positions on either side of her. ¡°Today, you will get to see for yourselves just the kinds of powers and amazing feats these young heroes are capable of! Heroes that have taken that mantle to protect you in this world that has changed so very much.¡± She grinned and raised a hand, snapping her fingers. The unadorned drones spread out at Amos¡¯ command and projections blasted out of them. Holography brought screens to life at every corner of the stadium to give those up high a better view of the action. Across the screens words appeared... ¡°This is the first ASTA Sponsorship Competition!¡± The crowd roared again and she basked in it, grinning ear to ear as she turned in a circle and raised her hands to the crowd, urging them into a near frenzy before bringing her hands back down. ¡°Now, you all know that there¡¯s sponsorships on the line here. But it¡¯s more than that!¡± She held up three fingers. ¡°Third place in this competition is a lump sum sponsorship award of one million dollars,¡± she said before lowering a finger. ¡°Second place is one of the special sponsorships I¡¯ve offered.¡± She lowered the last finger and looked directly into the drone hovering over her face so she could meet the eyes of everyone present. ¡°First place is a special sponsorship and a very special prize that I¡¯ve been keeping under wraps. For that, I¡¯ll be needing the help of the lovely Handmaiden and the incomparable Doctor Amos Carter.¡± The crowd went quiet as Sonya stepped back a few paces and connected to her technopathy, sending out the go signal to the dungeon team. JOIN THE DISCORD! Volume 2 Opening Overhaul Hey everybody, I''ve been working hard in the background to keep improving the story. With the edits in progress for Book 2 it was finally time to knock out the last chunk of larger modifications (outside of grammatical fixes with my editor) I wanted to make to ensure that it shined. As such, I''ve finally updated the beginning of the book to balance everything out and make sure that Sonya gets the focus that she deserves. Lillian''s initial story is obviously still there, however I have written four new chapters that will become numbered chapters in the official release (I will be listing them as Prologues here). They will not be from her POV. Other than that the affected chapters will be some of the chapters in the range of 91-99. Some will remain unchanged but several will have modified scenes featuring Sonya as the POV rather than Lillian. These chapters have already been modified. As an aside I am also looking into moving the position of the first Lillian side-story and renaming it Camp 1. I''d love to hear feedback on these new updates! Thanks again for reading Broker, heroes and villains. It''s thanks to you that I''m able to continue to do this full time. I want to make this series the best it can be, so here''s my latest effort. Be kind to one another, Derelict Presence Chapter 256 Sonya took a relaxed pose and gave her friends the spotlight, letting her eyes drift over the crowd a little. She already saw a few interesting faces among them, though the most notable were the ones in the front row. At least four guildmasters from across Australia and a dozen or so from neighboring countries. Looks like everyone wants a piece of the pie. Her lips curled into a devious smile. I wonder how many of them I can shake hands with before this is all done. I¡¯m already planning on greeting all the contestants. Inside her own mind she was practically drooling. Heheheheh! I burned out most of my warehouse to create my new Regalia. They¡¯re just bringing me a fresh restock on a silver platter. What was I thinking, coasting like that for a year? This is so much fun! Ishtar sighed. Ahead of her, Amos stepped into the fore. He still seemed a bit awkward on his feet with all those people staring at him, but it was better than when he¡¯d presented his Nobel speech. He cleared his throat and scratched the back of his head before raising a hand to everyone in greeting. ¡°Yo, I¡¯m Amos,¡± he started. ¡°Not good at these, so, uh...¡± He scratched his nose and shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m just gonna get on with it.¡± He reached into his coat pocket and pulled an object out. It looked a lot like the disks in Sonya¡¯s warehouse. She¡¯d made sure for him to design it just right. It was actually just a heavily refined mana crystal that had been recolored through a treatment process and made to glow a whole lot. After pumping it with a whole bunch of Sonya¡¯s mana to the point that it was nearly unstable, it definitely gave off a palpable feel. Sonya tilted her head forward. Just say it exactly like I told you. Shame I can¡¯t do it myself. Amos held it up. ¡°This is an object that was acquired by ASTA through great expense,¡± he said. ¡°It came with several others like it. I have been studying it for some time, and I made a discovery. With a bit of work, this object could be refined and turned into a single-use item capable of doing something incredible.¡± He paused for dramatic effect. ¡°A second ability awakening.¡± Immediately the silence in the stadium turned into an uproar. Sonya grinned as a few of the guildmasters got to their feet. One of them raised both hands and clapped hard, sending out a shockwave of sound that silenced the crowd. Sonya raised her eyebrows and looked at him as she whistled appreciatively. ¡°That¡¯s one hell of a claim!¡± Dominic shouted from the stands for all to hear. ¡°Do you have any proof? The only person anyone knows of in this world who can do something like that is Ishtar, and she¡¯s a Villain!¡± This guy has some lungs on him, shit, Sonya thought, deadpan. More people shouted as well, throwing their fists up in accusation. It wasn¡¯t hard to believe they would react this way, and Sonya didn¡¯t mind, though she did grimace a little bit at his words. Ah, guess that cat is out of the bag. The Pandora Committee has been trying really hard to suppress the knowledge that I can grant people abilities. Now everyone knows. She tilted her head thoughtfully. I¡¯m not really sure if that¡¯s a good or bad thing. Oh well, I¡¯ll take advantage of it eventually anyway. Sonya held up a hand. ¡°Why would we make a statement like that without proof?¡± Sonya asked. The Guildmaster scowled at her. ¡°I did hear that Ishtar said you had something that she coveted,¡± he shouted. ¡°I still expect proof of this!¡± ¡°And that¡¯s why Handmaiden is here,¡± Amos cut back in, drawing the attention to himself and the serene maid standing next to him. He gestured to her as the stands went quiet again. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re all familiar with the footage of Handmaiden¡¯s exploits, so they don¡¯t need an introduction.¡± FWOOM! Handmaiden¡¯s gown fluttered, and her hair rose up as a white glow radiated from her body. She raised her chin up, and her very presence washed out over the crowd. Courageous, righteous, forgiving, and self-assured, like a champion standing over you with a shield at the ready. It was comforting, if a bit intimidating. Sonya smirked. Here comes the big reveal. ¡°Now you can see the results of the use of one of these items,¡± Amos said. Marta¡¯s shoulders clenched, and she took a step forward, her eyes fixed in concentration as her skin began to glow in places. Pale, pearlescent scales began to slip out across her skin as her fingers extended and changed into claws. The scales grew across her neck and over her chin as a long, thin tail stretched out beneath her gown and whipped against the ground with a crash. She threw her head back in a roar, and a gout of bluish-white flame erupted from her lips. Her presence turned harsher; a guardian beast more than an armor-wearing champion. The crowd was on their feet as the transformation ended, and Marta stood in her new form. That true dragon ability I got from Drastic really meshed well with Baldur¡¯s Body. Lookin¡¯ good, Marta! Sonya thought with appreciation. She almost feels like a Herald. I doubt An Set in his wild form from Vegas would be a match for her. Amos put his hands on his hips and puffed his chest out, slipping the fake stone into his coat again. ¡°Need there be any more debate?¡± he called out. Sonya was giddy. This is so much fun. All I need to do to make some powerful new heroes is have them sign a contract to go with the stone. It¡¯ll stipulate that they have to break the stone to get their new awakening. In reality, it¡¯ll be an investment with sanctions hidden behind a mountain of Colin¡¯s best legalese. I can¡¯t wait- A sudden flash of movement, and Guildmaster Olsten was on the stage with them. He was a tall, muscular man with strawberry blonde hair styled up and a thick jacket on his shoulders. Dark denim jeans and boots gave him a ¡®bad-boy¡¯ look that made her stomach churn a little. ¡°Chernovna, hand over those stones to the Accel Association Guilds, and we can work out a deal for a joint venture. We have more than five promising Heroics already and one Mythic. I myself am a Mythic. Don¡¯t waste your time with this long-winded competition,¡± he said, holding his hand out. Sonya just stared at him, wide-eyed, her head cocked to the left. ¡°Are you... ruining my fun?¡± He jerked his head back in surprise at her before frowning and taking a step forward while the crowd shouted obscenities and boos at him from the stands. He snarled and looked up. ¡°QUIET! This is none of your business! If you want to get involved, have the strength to do so!¡± he roared before turning back to Sonya. Sonya met his gaze with a flat look and let out a little Imperious. ¡°I suggest you head back to the stands, Guildmaster. I won¡¯t ask twice.¡± He snorted. ¡°Miss Chernovna, you¡¯re an influential woman and the Voice of the Hero Movement, so I¡¯m willing to be fair in our dealings. Don¡¯t insult me, though. If I have to, I will take-¡± BOOM! He was off the ground in an instant, his legs coming out from beneath him as a scale-covered fist drove into his gut and sent him crashing into the stage. Blood erupted from his mouth as his body bounced off the hard surface, and he was driven down again with yet another blow, then a third, before he finally stopped bouncing. Marta whipped her tail around his neck and lifted him into the air before sending him hurtling towards his spot in the stands, where he lay there. Sonya pursed her lips for a half second as everyone stared. Finally, she spoke up. ¡°Can someone check and make sure he isn¡¯t dead?¡± she called. One of the other guildmasters hurried over and examined him before raising his hand in a thumbs-up. Sonya let out a sigh of relief and gave Marta a sidelong look. Marta looked away with a huff, her face a little red. Overdid it there a little, but it¡¯s okay since he¡¯s alive, she thought before clearing her throat. ¡°The Accel Association Guilds are disqualified,¡± she said as someone helped Guildmaster Olsten to a sitting position. ¡°Direct interference with the event and attempting to undermine its integrity.¡± She crossed her arms behind her back. ¡°If there¡¯s anyone who would like to question this decision, please step forward, and you can ask Handmaiden all about it,¡± she added with a wicked grin. Nobody said anything. She clapped her hands together. ¡°Great!¡± she crowed. ¡°Now that we¡¯re all on the same page here, I¡¯ll let you all know that I¡¯ve set aside five grand prizes for this event. I¡¯ve already decided to allow any hero who wants to participate to participate so long as they abide by the rules. If you have the means to travel to the other locations once this event is over, you may certainly try again!¡± People will interpret that as I have more of those things at my disposal and that I¡¯m holding onto them for my guilds. With this event, I am going to settle a lot of problems that I left simmering during my moping about, she thought viciously. I¡¯ll create new powerhouses, get more powers for my warehouse, get treasures and resources from the dungeons, clean out the corruption in the Pandora Committee, rally more heroes against Ishtar, draw my enemies out of hiding, and perhaps kill a Herald or two. All in one fell swoop, Ishtar agreed. She basked in the cheers of the crowd and stepped to the fore, shaking Amos¡¯ hand while Marta reverted to her normal appearance. She gave her friend a quick handshake too before gesturing to the crowd. ¡°Now! I¡¯m sure you¡¯re all tired of waiting through the pre-game show. Even if it was a bit more exciting than we had been expecting!¡± A rumble of laughter went through the stadium. ¡°So without further ado, besides the disqualified parties, I¡¯d like for the young heroes who wish to participate to make themselves known!¡± she called. ¡°If you¡¯re in the stands, don¡¯t be shy! Come on down and stand in the area around the main arena!¡± A veritable wave of people poured down from the stands as nearly two thousand young men and women descended. All shapes, sizes, and ages of people appeared. Anyone capable of awakening their abilities wanted to give it a shot. Sonya nodded to Amos, and he took a step back, making a grabbing gesture and flexing his arm up. His eyes glowed for a half second before several of the unadorned spheres in the air opened, spinning about and sweeping the area in red light. ¡°Two thousand three hundred and five,¡± Amos said and rested a hand on his hip. As expected, Sonya thought. Far too many for me to shake hands with, and most of them probably don¡¯t have abilities that would be of any real value to me. I¡¯m guessing less than a quarter of them are Epic or better. Most are Rare. She held up a finger. ¡°The first round is quite simple. This will be a battle royale! The devices that Amos just activated will track the number of you still standing as well as your actions. Once the number of participants has been trimmed down, we will move on to the next stage. Don¡¯t waste your energy here!¡± she called before gesturing to Marta. Marta stepped forward and spoke up. ¡°There are some rules. Killing is absolutely not tolerated. Murder is murder and will be treated as such and will result in an immediate disqualification and arrest. We are monitoring you,¡± she shouted, her voice carrying loud and clear like a clarion call. Every young hero present turned to look up at her and swallowed as she raised her fist. ¡°I will personally handle subduing anyone who breaches that rule.¡± Marta crossed her arms. ¡°If you manage to eliminate ten other participants, you will get a green mark. You will know it when you see it. Those with green marks may come up to the main stage here.¡± Amos chimed in next. ¡°The obelisks around the arena will project a protective barrier I have developed to keep the audience safe. It is by no means indestructible, though. Excessive power use will not be tolerated. Not only will it put the audience in danger, but it will also risk creating a mana storm that may overload any nearby dungeons. The Australian State Guilds are on standby to help maintain the local dungeons, so no worries there.¡± He pointed at the crowd of hopefuls. ¡°That being said! You can bet there will be monster formations during this fight. If you see a monster take shape, you target it first. I will know if you ignore a monster in favor of trying to win. You are heroes. Act like it!¡± Sonya gestured to the gathered heroes. ¡°I wish you all luck!¡± she called. ¡°The first round will begin momentarily.¡± With that, the three of them departed the stage, walking through the crowd of eager-looking heroes and passing through the door to one of the passages that would give them access to the main viewing box. She spotted a splash of red at the end of the hallway, and her lip twitched. She glanced at Marta. ¡°You know what to do,¡± she said. Marta bowed quickly and turned back to the arena to find a place to observe from afar. Sonya turned back and met the red eyes of the woman standing at the end of the hallway. She smirked and walked past Leiandra. ¡°We keep meeting like this, and people will talk, Leiandra.¡± ¡°I heard you fleeced Representative Sowards,¡± Leiandra growled as Sonya kept walking, making a line towards the elevator. ¡°Are you satisfied now?¡± The elevator doors opened, and Sonya stepped inside, turning to face the woman with a grin. ¡°You tell me,¡± she teased just before the doors shut in the woman¡¯s face. ¡°She¡¯s getting nosier and nosier,¡± Amos commented. Sonya shrugged. ¡°All we can do is wait and see what she does. If I have to deal with her, I will, but not until it¡¯s absolutely necessary. Eliminating her would cause more problems than it would fix,¡± she said as the door opened and she stepped into the nondescript upper hall of the arena. She stopped next to the doors to the main viewing booth and turned to face him with a smirk. ¡°So let¡¯s take our time and enjoy ourselves. This is only the first round, and I have a lot more up my sleeve for what¡¯s to come,¡± she said. He grinned at her. ¡°Working for you is always a blast, boss,¡± he laughed and reached into his pocket, plucking out the fake stone. ¡°Genius, by the way.¡± Sonya snickered and opened the doors, revealing two empty chairs and the viewing booth beyond. They entered, cackling, as the crowd beyond waited for the show. JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 257 Sonya hopped over one of the two chairs in the observation room while Amos slipped into his own chair. He waved a hand and various screens came online, images of the arena from every angle as well as a constant stream of data. She eyed it briefly before deciding she¡¯d rather not have anything to do with it and focused on having a good time. A few clicks sounded in her ear as Amos put on the finishing touches. He glanced her way and raised three fingers, two, one. Sonya leaned forward, ¡°Hello, Darlings! Sonya here! We¡¯re back and ready to get this party started! For those of you who are at home, I¡¯d like to welcome you again and please take a moment to look at the rules panning over the screen right now!¡± On one of the screens she watched Marta settle into the seat that had been vacated by Guildmaster-what¡¯s-his-name after he and his people had been disqualified for being chumps. The two Guildmasters on either side of her looked more than a little nervous, and her friend seemed incredibly pleased by it. She waved to the camera as Sonya made sure to focus on her for a moment. ¡°As a reminder to the participants, we can intervene to pull someone out of a dangerous spot but risks are unavoidable, you signed a waiver when you decided to participate!¡± Her smile turned bright and innocent, ¡°So don¡¯t forget! If you go overboard and kill somebody, Handmaiden will drag you off, kick your ass, and I will litigate you into the next century! If you think the rules don¡¯t apply to you, call my bluff!¡± The crowd around Marta all went stone-faced, and Sonya had the pleasure of watching the heroes on the field go a little pale while Marta grinned and brandished a fist. Sonya leaned back in her seat and crossed her legs. ¡°So without further ado! Let¡¯s start the timer!¡± Amos gestured and one of the screens floating above the arena turned into a sixty second countdown. The excitement was practically bubbling under her skin. Ever since the War with Liberty and her little play-commentary while watching Barry kick the snot out of Otis, she¡¯d been thinking about this. Not that she wanted Otis playing in here. The last thing she wanted was him getting any more famous. ¡°Got a lot of promising players here today, huh Doctor Carter?¡± she said, her voice carrying over the stadium. ¡°Quite a few actually,¡± Amos replied and panned the camera over a young man with orange-gold hair standing in the northeast side. He was wearing a plain white dress shirt and black slacks making him look like he¡¯d come for an interview rather than a fight. His arms were crossed and his eyes were closed. ¡°That¡¯s Hero Sol from Newcastle. The only Mythic here at the competition, and according to the comments on the live stream, a favorite to win.¡± His ability has something to do with sunlight, right? This could be interesting. Her eyes scanned the crowd and she saw Nietz standing on the opposite side of the field surrounded by a bunch of irritated looking young men and women. They were glowering more at his grayscale armor than Nietz himself. Probably aren¡¯t happy that a Pandora Committee hero decided to participate. I¡¯m surprised they let him wear his armor. Oh well, if he can¡¯t make it through that he¡¯s out. She paused. I still want to figure out his ability though. He¡¯s the only other person besides Otis who has been immune to Broker. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll see!¡± Sonya replied, getting her head back into the moment. ¡°Looks like Glint and Armory made it as well!¡± The camera panned to a pair of heroes, a man and a woman standing next to each other and waving to the crowd. Both had dark hair and complexions with tattoos on their arms. Both of them wore simple tank-tops and cargo pants with practical shoes for moving around quickly. ¡°The twins are pretty famous here in Australia,¡± Amos commented. ¡°Their teamwork is something to really pay attention to!¡± ¡°Oh? Have you heard things?¡± Sonya asked. ¡°Their first mission was in a Rare dungeon only four months ago; they cleared it out on their own,¡± Amos said. ¡°A force to be reckoned with.¡± ¡°But there can only be one winner!¡± Sonya chimed in with a laugh as the timer hit three seconds. She leaned forward and planted her hands on the console. ¡°Let¡¯s get this battle royale going!¡± BWEEEEEE! The crowd exploded into shouts and cheers as the buzzer went off, but that paled in comparison to the sudden outbreak of violence in the arena. Powers went off immediately, abilities of so many different varieties that it was basically a kaleidoscope of color. The biggest show off was Sol, who released a flash of sunlight around himself and blinded anyone who was too close. ¡°There he goes! Sol is starting off with immediate crowd control to establish a little territory!¡± He darted from his spot and with a flicker of movement sent twelve people to the ground in a series of sharp jabs. Immediately, a green light shone down on him and the crowd lost its mind. He turned away from his victims and took a single step before flickering again, several tiny bursts of sunlight creating a trail between where he started and the stage where he landed, and stood with his arms crossed behind his back. ¡°Look at that!¡± Amos called. ¡°Twelve already down and Sol has claimed the first spot in the next round. Don¡¯t worry, folks. ASTA Medic-Dolls will be there momentarily to retrieve those who¡¯ve been knocked out.¡± As soon as he said it, one of the doors usually set aside for a sports team opened and several silver-bodied robots raced out, leaping over the fighting heroes and landing amongst the defeated ones. More had already begun moving into the fray, avoiding attacks and retrieving others who¡¯d been downed. It was absolute pandemonium. ¡°A little bit of shameless advertising folks!¡± Sonya laughed as two more green columns appeared over the field. ¡°There¡¯s Glint and Armory!¡± she crowed as the twin heroes stood back to back, Glint holding a floating mirror between his hands and Armory wielding what looked like a pair of eighties-style rayguns in her hands. They turned and sauntered through the mayhem, most quickly avoiding the pair as they approached the center. That was when a new sound went off. BRRRRZZT! Sonya whirled and the camera panned to a red-haired young man in a set of combat gear holding another hero by the shirt with his fist raised. It was starting to crackle with tiny bolts of electricity. His target was already limp. Sonya got to her feet, but before she could even say anything, the two had been separated, and it hadn¡¯t been by Marta. Nietz drove his foot into the side of the red-head¡¯s face and kicked off just as Marta landed and grabbed the offender. She held up a hand and her voice carried over the stadium. ¡°Disqualified! Attempted a lethal blow!¡± Sonya disabled the microphone for a moment and glanced at Amos. ¡°Next time let''s give points for saves to encourage that kind of thing,¡± she said quickly. He nodded. ¡°Got it, I¡¯ll let Colin know.¡± Sonya reactivated her mic. ¡°A heroic save from Pandora Hero Nietz!¡± she called. ¡°Well done!¡± The entire stadium paused for only a few seconds as they watched Marta drag the now unconscious red-head off before the fighting resumed in earnest. The intensity of some of the attacks going around had visibly diminished. Sonya smirked. It took someone actually getting caught for them to really let it sink in. Some people take multiple lessons to learn, she thought as she scanned the growing fight. More green flashes were coming down and more were being dragged off to be treated by Amos¡¯ dolls. Above the fighting, the screen that had shown the countdown now read with a number that was plummeting rapidly. It had already reached just over a thousand when another green light flashed. She shook her head wryly and leaned back. It¡¯s hard to commentate on so much going on, she thought. It¡¯s a hell of a lot of fun to watch though. There were elementalists, psychics, magic users, and martial artists. There were those with weapons and those without, young heroes using esoteric powers and even those who were using simple physical prowess while avoiding using their powers all together. All of them seemed to be employing different strategies as they carved their way towards being one of the last two hundred standing. ¨C Nietz ducked beneath another swing. The big guy in front of him was wielding what could only be described as a literal column of stone. He could feel the wind pass over his head as he dove forward and drove his fist up and into the big guy¡¯s gut. He winced when the guy didn¡¯t even budge and he threw himself down and to the right, rolling out of the way when the column came straight down to where he had been standing. That was close, he thought only for his body to bend in half as the column hit him in the side. He felt his ability absorb most of the blow but the rest of it transferred through. He coughed and hit the ground before quickly getting to his feet and turning to face the big guy again. The hulk of a hero was grinning ear to ear. ¡°Just one more and I¡¯m in the next round, Pandora Boy!¡± he shouted. Tch, this guy isn¡¯t even winded, Nietz thought. What¡¯s the point of being able to take a hit if I can¡¯t dish it back out? A bang rang out behind him and he felt something pelt him in the back of the head. He blinked and frowned while the big man tilted his head in confusion. An audible gasp went through the part of the crowd closest to them. Nietz glanced over his shoulder to see another hero standing there with a wide-eyed expression, a smoking pistol in his hand. Nietz raised an eyebrow. ¡°Did you... just shoot me?¡± Nietz asked. BRRR- Before the disqualification could even play out, he whirled and grabbed the guy by the wrist, knocking the weapon out of his hand before pulling him down and driving his knee up into the guy¡¯s gut. He brought his elbow down next onto the back of his neck and pushed him aside. -RZZT ¡°We¡¯re gonna count that one. Looks like Hero Nietz might very well be bulletproof!¡± Sonya Chernovna¡¯s voice carried over the field as Handmaiden landed next to him. Her aura was so strong it made him want to back away, but he held his ground as she fixed him with a stare, looked him up and down once, before shrugging and grabbing the gunman. ¡°Use of Live Rounds! Disqualified!¡± Handmaiden shouted and darted away. Nietz scratched the back of his head and turned back to the big guy with the column. I¡¯m so glad we spent time making me immune to bullets during basic training, he thought before looking the big guy in the eyes and raising his fists. ¡°That¡¯s nine for me now too,¡± he panted and wiped a bit of sweat from his lips. ¡°Ready to keep going?¡± The big guy grinned, ¡°I take it back, I like you! You¡¯re funny! I¡¯m Pillar!¡± Nietz returned his grin. Creative name, don¡¯t exactly blame him though. ¡°Wanna go take someone else out and meet later?¡± he asked. The big guy tilted his head thoughtfully and then threw his head back with an even bigger laugh. ¡°Sure!¡± He shouted and immediately turned away, ¡°See you in the next round Pandora Boy!¡± Nietz didn¡¯t immediately turn away from him, hopping back a few paces while keeping his eyes on his surroundings. Only when the big guy started swinging at a surprised group of fighters did he shift his attention. I¡¯m not an idiot, he thought just as a sword came swinging towards his shoulder. It struck and started to dig into flesh before he pulled his body out of the way and it slid off his skin, his ability dispersing the damage. The swordsman with long blue-green hair and a pretty-boy face stared at him in disbelief as he reared his fist back. ¡°Hey! Thanks!¡± he said brightly and drove his fist between the swordsman¡¯s eyes. He glanced down at his arm as green light shone down on him and flexed his fingers. That¡¯ll take a little bit to heal but it was strong enough to cut my skin, it won¡¯t get me next time, he thought happily and turned to the stage to start running when another hero in a hood dashed past him and slapped him once in the chest. He furrowed his brows. Huh? He pulled his head back as yet another fighter with a baseball bat looking weapon dashed past him as well and struck the hood-wearing hero who went down in a heap, cradling the back of his head. ¡°What the hell? I saw you tank that Pillar guy¡¯s hit!¡± the hooded kid shouted. ¡°Why didn¡¯t it work?¡± Nietz brightened, ¡°Oh!¡± he laughed. ¡°One-off powers like that only work on me once!¡± he chuckled and started walking. ¡°Someone¡¯s already tried to copy me before!¡± He pushed his way through the rest of the crowd and hopped onto the stage, rubbing his injured arm. He was already a little out of breath from all of this and he had no idea how fast things would progress from here. More green lights were starting to shine down as the fighting was ebbing into the final phases. He scratched his head and looked around. ¡°I¡¯m kinda surprised nobody¡¯s gotten killed.¡± ¡°Hero Nietz?¡± A chilly voice called out from behind him. He turned and met the faintly glowing eyes of the guy who had to be Hero Sol. Nietz tensed a little, but relaxed when the guy extended a hand in greeting. Nietz glanced around at the others who¡¯d made it to the stage and most of them were frowning at him or glaring at Sol. He took Sol¡¯s hand and shook it. ¡°That¡¯s me, what can I do for you?¡± ¡°Hero Fizz is one of my guild mates. You saved his life earlier, and I wanted to thank you,¡± Sol said. Nietz''s eyes widened a little. He was so used to most Mythics being self-important assholes or distant forces of nature that he was a little shocked for a heartbeat. He smiled back at the man. ¡°No problem. It¡¯s what we do, right?¡± he said with a shrug. ¡°Shame I didn¡¯t do it faster. I would have liked to have gotten a point out of it too.¡± The glowy-eyed Sol chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re a blunt man. I hope you make it to the finals.¡± Nietz grinned. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 258 Chapter 258 Representative Craig Sowards was not a man who was used to failure. Not because he was spoiled, no. On the contrary, he had dragged his way through the dirt and muck of politics to get where he was. Bowing and scraping to those above him and holding those below him to account in order to get his way. He knew that made him a sycophant, but he didn¡¯t really care if people saw him that way. A little bit of cowardice was healthy; it meant you had survival instincts. As someone who had been a dreg before rising to the heights of power, he respected those who had done the same for themselves. What was important, though, was to follow the proper order of such things. Ascents took time. He had never seen a meteoric rise that didn¡¯t end with that same meteor crashing back down and exploding on everyone around it. Impatience was a recipe for failure, and reaching for a station you didn¡¯t earn was a good way to get yourself killed. He had earned his position, the power at his disposal. Sonya Chernovna had not. And yet that woman has me by the throat! He thought furiously as the crowd roared around him. He¡¯d taken up one of the front-row VIP spots that had been freed up during the subsequent matches as guildmasters and supporters retreated with the loss of their chosen champions. First the botched interrogation of Harbinger. Then the follow-up investigation. They¡¯re investigating me! After all I¡¯ve done for them! TWING! He flinched when the clash of steel on steel rang out through the arena. Two figures collided atop the central platform, and Sowards turned his attention to them. Both Finch and Adder were Australian heroes, Heroic-tier, and full of potential. The powers that hovered above him were putting on a lot of pressure to have him ensure, somehow, that the top three prizes of the Australian event were cornered by national heroes. His fingers twitched in his lap as the frustration built in his gut. How the hell am I supposed to do that? Every time I try to talk to Chernovna, it feels like I¡¯m one wrong word away from being eaten by some beast. ¡°Finch and Adder are in a deadlock! It¡¯s anyone¡¯s guess who will come out on top!¡± Chernovna¡¯s voice carried over the stands. He scowled up at the holographic display floating near his portion of the stands. The ring of swords brought his attention back to the fight where the pair of sword-wielding heroes ruthlessly clashed. The force they were putting out was far more significant than what any one hero was willing to throw around during the preliminaries. Adder is private sector, so it would be preferable if Finch won in my case, though either winning would be nice, generally speaking. He let out a sigh and slumped in his seat. There was no point dwelling on it at the moment since he couldn¡¯t get a word in with Chernovna to help him fix the matches. This is all Ma¡¯s fault. I¡¯ll kill that son of a bitch for bringing me into this mess. Finch, a hero in combat robes not dissimilar to Black Lotus¡¯, darted low with her sword angled up at her side. Ahead of her, Adder, wearing something closer to modern combat armor, raised his weapon over his head in preparation to block her attack. At the last second, Finch dipped so low she was nearly touching the ground before she impossibly changed direction, sweeping her sword across her field of view in an arc. Adder¡¯s swing came back down in response, an illusory afterimage of a snake following his strike down with him. The crowd was on its feet. Light flashed between them, and for a moment, vision was lost. ¡°This might be it, folks!¡± Chernovna roared. ¡°Who will stay standing after this-¡± The illumination faded, and Finch was on her back, her sword cast to the side while Adder pointed down at her chin with his weapon. She held up her hands. ¡°It¡¯s over! Adder advances!¡± Medical dolls and a few men in uniform hurried out to retrieve the two heroes, while Sowards rubbed the bridge of his nose. He got to his feet only for a hand to touch his shoulder. He turned irritably towards the woman he¡¯d been sitting next to and trying not to think about. Alyssa Quint was the Guildmaster of the Quint Pharma Guild, an unimportant figure in the grand scheme of things, but in this case the proud superior of Adder. She grinned at him and gave him a wink. ¡°Looking good for us lowly private sector folks.¡± He scoffed. ¡°As long as Australia leads in this event, it makes no difference.¡± ¡°Sure, sure,¡± she laughed and stood up to clap for her subordinate hero. Sowards stalked out of the stands, seething as he ignored the pair of Committee handlers who followed him from a safe distance. I hope they don¡¯t think they¡¯re being subtle, he thought. They were the first thing he had looked for after the mess at The Hague. Their presence had confirmed that the investigation was quite serious. There would be no escape if they decided to bring him in. Though it also doubles as security in case Chernovna decides to retaliate. He huffed as he made it past the seating. It would be a half hour before the next match, and he really didn¡¯t want to spend it sitting next to that gloating bitch. He instead slipped past the public area and approached a checkpoint at a pair of double doors. A pair of guards were standing on either side wearing black and white post-Pandora paramilitary gear. Each of them carried automatic weapons and wore masks to cover their faces. The ASTA logo on their chests made his stomach churn. These people are better equipped than some Pandora front-line soldiers, he thought irritably. What private citizen needs a personal goddamn army anyway? He set his irritation aside when he stopped in front of them and flashed his VIP pass. They took a longer-than-necessary look at the pass before handing it back. It took them another minute before they nodded and let him through. I bet that was on your order as well, Chernovna... Anything to slight me. He ran his fingers through his short hair and stepped through the doors into the short hall that led into one of the locker rooms. Another less than friendly pair of guards checked his pass a second time before he was finally allowed in to see the heroes he was supposed to be representing. The locker room was a high-end lounge with lines of chairs and comfortable seating alongside numerous options for warming up and passing time before a match. A few young heroes were off playing pool, while others were sitting in a circle and talking with one another. He scanned the space and spotted a few familiar faces, though he was only interested in one in particular. He found Sol standing near the back talking quietly with Nietz and the enormous fellow who went by Pillar. He raised a hand to draw Sol¡¯s attention, and the young man glanced his way before turning back to Nietz and shaking his hand. The two men exchanged a few more words before Sol made his way over, while Nietz scowled at Sowards. Don¡¯t blame me for your friend¡¯s misfortune. Politics isn¡¯t fair; get used to it, brat. You¡¯re the reason there¡¯s so much competition now. If anyone should be angry, it should be me. ¡°Mister Sowards,¡± Sol said and held out a hand. ¡°Hero Sol, how are you feeling?¡± Sowards asked with an easily plastered smile. ¡°Bright and sunny,¡± Sol said with a grin. Sowards forced a laugh. ¡°Hah! Very good. I¡¯m glad to see you in good spirits. You¡¯ve got a lot of competition.¡± ¡°More than I was expecting, but it isn¡¯t a problem, sir,¡± Sol said with a shrug. ¡°I¡¯ll win that first prize.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just glad Miss Chernovna decided to limit participants to recent camp graduates. It would have been unfortunate if an international hero suddenly showed up,¡± Sowards agreed. ¡°So you don¡¯t expect much difficulty?¡± ¡°Not at all. I¡¯m more interested in who will take second,¡± he said thoughtfully. ¡°Oh? Something you gathered from your conversation with Hero Nietz?¡± Sowards asked pointedly, glancing towards the young man, who was now fully engaged in lively conversation with the giant next to him. ¡°Nietz won¡¯t win this one, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking. Even he doubts it,¡± Sol said with a shrug and a small smile. ¡°From what I¡¯ve learned, though, he should do well in the subsequent competitions if he decides to participate.¡± ¡°He shared a lot with you then,¡± Sowards pressed. Is that boy talking about sensitive Pandora topics in a locker room? Perhaps I can leverage that and get him barred. ¡°Not much. He¡¯s surprisingly tight-lipped for someone so talkative. He¡¯s more enthusiastic about the abilities of others than his own. We¡¯ve also been talking about the local restaurant scene; he¡¯s something of a foodie,¡± Sol said with a shrug. Sowards raised an eyebrow, but before he could ask anything more, a chime rang over their heads. ¡°Hero Sol, please report to the arena gate. Hero Sol, please report to the arena gate.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my cue. Thanks for coming by, Representative!¡± he said brightly, and patted Soward¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I have a competition to win for our home,¡± he added before walking past him and out the door. Sowards watched him go before turning back to find Nietz standing where Sol had been. Sowards nearly jumped out of his skin. ¡°H-hero Nietz!¡± ¡°Representative,¡± Nietz grunted, his eyes hard. ¡°Is there something I can help you with, boy?¡± ¡°Just figured I¡¯d greet a Pandora rep since he came by,¡± Nietz said. ¡°Make sure he knew I was aware of him. It¡¯d be rude not to.¡± Sowards narrowed his eyes. ¡°Are you threatening me, Hero Nietz?¡± Nietz¡¯ expression brightened. ¡°Of course not! I wouldn¡¯t sink so low as to use threats to get what I want out of people,¡± he brought his fist to his chest proudly. ¡°A Hero demonstrates integrity.¡± Sowards¡¯ eye twitched, but he kept his mouth shut. He wasn¡¯t going to engage this boy on the topic when he knew he was just dragging him for the pressure applied to convince Locke to take action against Harbinger. Sowards shook his head. ¡°Good luck with your matches, Nietz.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t need it,¡± Nietz said. ¡°Just need patience. I¡¯ll get there.¡± Sowards turned away. ¡°Of course,¡± he growled and made his way out of the locker room. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± he said as he walked down the hall. ¡°Hero Nietz is going to be an issue. He¡¯ll be at your competition next. Do something about it. My hands are tied trying to deal with Chernovna.¡± The swift response that followed made him frown, but he just let it go. He hung up the phone and glanced down the hall only to pause when he saw something strange. It looked like a hound, but it was white. He felt like he¡¯d seen it before, but he wasn¡¯t quite sure. The creature lingered only for a moment before, with a purple flicker, it was gone. He rubbed his eyes and blinked, looking around. Nothing. Am I seeing things? He sighed and glanced down at his phone again. The clock said it was about time to return to his seat, but he had the sudden urge to head home. None of these matches are really important anyway, he thought. The top sixteen is the bigger concern. I¡¯ll just head home. ¡ª Sowards owned a modest mansion in Sydney and chose to stay there rather than anywhere else. It wasn¡¯t especially luxurious compared to some of the other Pandora Representatives¡¯ homes, but it was comfortable in all the ways that mattered to him. Most importantly, it was secure and far away from the stresses of his work. On the way over, he¡¯d received a call from the Committee telling him to get in contact with Chernovna over security concerns. The American Representative was throwing a fit about her not having an official bodyguard beyond Handmaiden. Since a new ASTA liaison still hadn¡¯t been selected and he was the nearest person, they¡¯d chosen him. He¡¯d tried to point out their poor relationship, but apparently the Chairwoman wasn¡¯t interested in common sense. He rubbed his temples as he got out of his car and made his way to the door. One thing after another, he grumbled as he put in the passcode and wandered into the living room. ¡°Sophie!¡± he called. ¡°I¡¯m home!¡± Silence followed. He frowned. Where¡¯d she go? We had dinner plans. His phone chimed, and he checked it, expecting a message from his wife, and instead saw another scathing rebuke from his superiors in the Sydney office about Finch¡¯s loss. They were still fuming over the helicopters. If I hadn¡¯t placated that maniac, she would have done something drastic; I know it. There¡¯s nothing stopping her from going over the heads of the investigative team. Not with her blasted connections. If she keeps pushing me for things, she¡¯ll ruin me! He seethed and slammed the phone down on the counter with a snarl before marching over to the kitchen counter. ¡°Sophie! Are you here?¡± he shouted again. ¡°Your wife is asleep, Representative.¡± He felt all the blood drain out of his face as an etheric voice that echoed strangely in his head filled his ears. He whirled on the spot, pressing his back against the counter as he looked into a pair of eyes that looked like pink flames flickering and rising from the front of a silver-white helmet. That helmet was accompanied by a suit of armor made of the same eerie material that seemed to glow in the dim light of his living room. The figure¡¯s odd, luminescent hair floated in an unseen wind. He felt a lump form in his throat as terror gripped his chest. ¡°I-Ishtar?¡± he squeaked. ¡°Wh-wh-what do you want? Why-¡± Ishtar¡¯s eyes flashed, and it suddenly felt like he had a blade to his throat even if she hadn¡¯t moved an inch. The pressure weighed down on his shoulders until he hit the ground, his knees flaring up with fresh pain. Where are those damn Committee handlers? What good are they if they don¡¯t catch something like this? She floated. Literally floated. Over to him before she was only a foot away. She looked down at him like a boot over an ant. A goddess. Blue light flickered over her palm, and a roll of paper appeared in it, accompanied by two other objects. She turned it over, and it unfurled. His terrified mind took several seconds to realize that he was looking at a contract. Not just any contract. An awakening contract. The provisions and demands were steep. He swallowed hard and looked at the other two things. A black business card and... ¡°Wh-what?¡± he breathed, his guts turning to ice. A blueprint of the Sydney Arena. He looked past it towards the supervillain. ¡°W-what do you want me to do?¡± he asked, only to immediately understand. He reached up for the contract with shaky fingers. ¡°Y-you want me to kill Chernovna?¡± Ishtar didn¡¯t answer him. She didn¡¯t need to. Her little show at The Hague was answer enough. If he failed, she¡¯d kill him anyway. Pleasing the supervillain was his only way to survive now. ¡°I¡¯ll need a pen.¡± Chapter 259 Chapter 259 There were at least a thousand other things Leiandra Firth could think of doing right now that were more productive than what she was currently doing. She¡¯d come here only briefly to observe Chernovna and warn her about harassing Sowards before returning to The Hague. The CEO¡¯s antics had been reserved, especially after Leiandra had arranged for the leak that would pressure her into avoiding direct reprisals against the Representatives that had harmed Cassiopeia. Getting permission to do that had taken more capital than I care to admit. Things seemed to be getting worse. The attacks on dungeons around the world were intensifying, with villains coming out of the woodwork. Ishtar¡¯s little stunt at The Hague had put the Pandora Committee on red alert. The Chairwoman was already on the warpath, purging corrupt elements in the Committee. Now it was like the chaotic early days. To make matters worse, representatives on the investigation list were starting to die. Officially, Chernovna wasn¡¯t on the list since there wasn¡¯t any hard evidence of her business practices being illegal. Leiandra had no doubt they were, however, and Ishtar¡¯s threat had made it clear that she was a target. The American Representative was apoplectic over Sowards¡¯ refusal to meet with Chernovna about getting new security. He¡¯d apparently spoken with the head of security and refused before going dark. At least we know he¡¯s just at home with his phone off. Spineless bastard. Leiandra, for her part, had been on a plane getting ready to take off for the Netherlands. The Portal Network was tied up sending heroes this way and that to deal with the growing mess with the dungeons, so she had to travel like a normal person. This left her in a prime position to receive a phone call asking her to take a helicopter out to Sonya Chernovna¡¯s fancy new boat and ask her directly about the Committee¡¯s security concerns. Part of her resented the abrupt change in plans. She had cases to work on, not just Chernovna¡¯s. However, there was another part of her that was eager. According to observers, Chernovna¡¯s boat was surrounded by drones that were creating some kind of strange privacy screen around the entire ship. It made it impossible to see what was happening on deck, which made it rather suspicious. The privacy screens weren¡¯t perfect, though, and the observers did add that there were more people on the ship than expected. When did she have time to bring a crew in? Did she get help from Euclidia? I¡¯ll have to press her when I get back to Headquarters, Leiandra thought as the helicopter came in for a landing. She uncrossed her legs and checked her power-suppressing cuffs, making sure they were set so that she could access the toggle if need be. She hated using her powers, not out of a dislike for abilities, but out of a professional sense of standard. Any information gathered through the use of her ability was ultimately inadmissible. Only lie-detecting powers were an agreed-upon legal function as far as the Committee was concerned, and thus her powers were useless to her except in cases of self-defense. The pilot opened the door, and she stepped out onto the helicopter pad set onto the bow of the ship. Two other helicopters were present, both of them executive-class. The ones Sonya fleeced from Sowards. ¡°Leiandra! Welcome to the Idol of Venus!¡± Leiandra turned to see Sonya in a bikini and sarong approaching with Handmaiden in tow as always. The generally unassuming woman was in her maid dress sans her usual gauntlets. With the two of them were two more women in similar maid outfits, who stood with Handmaiden in what appeared to be a subordinate position. That¡¯s new, Leiandra thought before turning to Sonya, who had extended her hand in greeting. Leiandra frowned at her. ¡°Let¡¯s make this brief, Sonya. I have no intention of-¡± ¡°Oh pish-posh!¡± Sonya laughed, waving a dismissive hand. ¡°You came all the way out here and just want to pack up and go after a quick word? Come on, don¡¯t be a stranger!¡± She¡¯s saying that she has nothing to hide, Leiandra thought. We¡¯ll see about that. ¡°Fine,¡± Leiandra said, trying to sound put upon. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind seeing the sights.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you wouldn¡¯t,¡± Sonya tittered. ¡°Did you bring any bags?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine! We¡¯ll get you an outfit from my collection,¡± Sonya elated, and squinted at her. ¡°Hm... or maybe from Carla¡¯s.¡± Leiandra raised an eyebrow before realizing where the woman was looking and crossed her arms. ¡°Sonya.¡± ¡°Leiandra.¡± ¡°Are you twelve?¡± ¡°Closer to three hundred, actually,¡± Sonya said, and Leiandra rolled her eyes at the impossible woman. ¡°How about a drink?¡± ¡°Fine. Then we actually have to talk,¡± Leiandra said. ¡°Alright, alright,¡± Sonya sing-songed and turned away. ¡°Marta, would you and the others kindly get something set up for our guest and myself? Go for a red theme; she seems to like that color.¡± ¡°Right away,¡± Handmaiden said with a short bow and nodded to her two companions before they hurried off towards the stairs leading down towards the deck of the ship. Leiandra watched them go before glancing around. She spotted several of the mysterious privacy drones floating around the ship in what looked like a steady orbit. Occasionally, one would dip down and be replaced by another from somewhere she couldn¡¯t see. They need to recharge on occasion. So there are periodic openings. Good to know. ¡°Twelve-hour intervals. They went up in a wave, so they go down one after another,¡± Sonya said lazily as they started walking. ¡°It takes about thirty seconds for the replacement to get into position.¡± Leiandra shot her a sidelong look. She really wants me to believe that she has nothing to hide. ¡°I hear you spawned a crew out of nowhere,¡± Leiandra commented when they reached the stairs, walking down alongside the perpetually amused-looking Chernovna. ¡°Where exactly did they all come from?¡± ¡°Most of them are Japanese, sourced from a friend and brought over at night,¡± Sonya said dismissively. ¡°You must have some very good observers.¡± Leiandra considered her for a moment. It wasn¡¯t an unreasonable statement. To be honest, it was very realistic that she could have shipped some people in under the cover of darkness. Paid off someone at the Japanese port authority to let a boat come out off the record and drop them off. Not an insurmountable distance either. Everything you say is reasonable. You¡¯ve made a point of emphasizing that you don¡¯t lie outwardly. Even Black Lotus says so. All that means is that you are very good at obfuscating facts with wordplay. She paused. Does that mean Black Lotus is in on whatever you¡¯re up to? ¡°This is the main deck!¡± Sonya announced, cutting into her thoughts and gesturing to the simulated beach and wave pool. There were about six or seven people milling about in crisp white uniforms. Here and there a spherical drone would float by and hover over one of the workers. The voice of Colin Matthews would come out and provide input on what they were doing before floating off again. ¡°Most of the crew is actually relatively new to working on a ship this large, so Amos was kind enough to set his drones up with tutorials.¡± ¡°Why not crew it with his dolls in that case?¡± Leiandra asked. ¡°A good question!¡± Sonya laughed. ¡°I like people.¡± ¡°You like people, that¡¯s it?¡± Sonya shrugged. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with a personal touch?¡± Avoiding a direct answer with a question again, another topic to take note of. There¡¯s something about her crew she¡¯s not telling me, Leiandra observed as they passed the wave pool. Nearby there were several tables and lounge chairs set out. Most of them were empty, but she did spot Colin Matthews and Doctor Carter sitting on one, speaking in low tones and laughing. I¡¯d heard rumors, but... ¡°Oh yeah, it¡¯s exactly what you¡¯re thinking,¡± Sonya snickered. ¡°Hi, boys! Having fun?¡± Colin raised a hand and waved back at them, while Amos shot them a thumbs-up. Leiandra gave her professional rival an awkward wave before looking back at Sonya, who paid her no mind as they drew closer to what looked like a dining pavilion. ¡°Sonya, why don¡¯t we get the main reason for my visit out of the way if you¡¯re going to insist on playing host?¡± Sonya didn¡¯t look up at her. ¡°Sure, shoot.¡± ¡°The American Representative is asking that we send an international hero to help protect you during these events you¡¯re hosting. That challenge you issued has put an even bigger target on your head, and then you...¡± She trailed off with a sigh. ¡°...Awakening tokens. Really?¡± Sonya chuckled. ¡°Good times.¡± ¡°Is this a game to you?¡± ¡°Kind of,¡± Sonya admitted. ¡°I have my reasons for the way I do things, Leiandra.¡± ¡°The Committee is suggesting Black Lotus come and be your backup security,¡± Leiandra drew the conversation back on topic. ¡°You two are obviously familiar with one another, so it shouldn¡¯t be a burden for you-¡± ¡°Nah,¡± Sonya said with a shrug. ¡°Chunhua¡¯s talents are better used elsewhere, clearing high-tier dungeons and dealing with villains. She can watch my ass on her vacation days.¡± ¡°Then who?¡± Leiandra demanded, ignoring the sordid comment. ¡°I¡¯m not worried about my security,¡± Sonya said. ¡°Have you not seen the ASTA Security forces at the Sydney Arena?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve seen your private army,¡± Leiandra said. ¡°See? I¡¯m covered.¡± ¡°Even if Ishtar tries attacking you again?¡± Leiandra asked and got a shrug for her effort. She shook her head; she¡¯d figured it would end like this. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll tell them you said no. If something happens, though, they might just force the issue.¡± ¡°If they want to send me someone that bad, they can, but I get to choose who they send,¡± Sonya said flatly as they reached the door of the dining pavilion. Inside, Leiandra could see a single table set in the center of the large room with a red tablecloth and mood lighting. There was even a bloody candle in the middle. Leiandra¡¯s eye would have twitched if it wasn¡¯t for the sudden seriousness on Sonya¡¯s face. Her eyes were hard as ice, and her tone was just as chilly. ¡°Only if something comes up,¡± she added. ¡°Believe it or not, I actually care about the Pandora Committee¡¯s work and don¡¯t like wasting their resources for no reason.¡± It was hard to believe that she was some secretly corrupt element when she got like this, but performances wouldn¡¯t sway Leiandra from her investigation. Sonya didn¡¯t say anything more as they passed inside and approached the table. Sonya made an effort to pull the seat out for her, which was more an attempt at getting under her skin. Leiandra countered by accepting it without question and sitting down, which earned her a confused half-grin from Sonya. You aren¡¯t the only one who can play games, she thought as a young man stepped out of the back in a suit. He had bowl-cut brown hair, steady eyes, and was leaning on a cane. He looks familiar, but I can¡¯t place it. Strange. ¡°For the ladies, might I recommend tonight¡¯s special? The new chef is quite proud of his tataki,¡± the young man said. ¡°That sounds lovely, thank you,¡± Sonya said easily and handed the menu back without even looking. ¡°The chef can pair it with whatever wine he thinks is best. Is that okay with you, Leiandra?¡± Leiandra pulled her eyes away from the waiter¡¯s face and let out a breath. I don¡¯t think I¡¯m getting any more information out of this visit. I should just be satisfied with what I¡¯ve learned. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s fine.¡± ¡ª KSSS! ¡°She looked right at him!¡± Sonya snickered as the news played in the background. ¡°Blight was cracking up! Oh, that¡¯s funny.¡± ¡°Another independent dungeon was hit today in the Congo as villain activity worldwide continues to escalate. Experts are warning of the possibility of a global crime wave. Pandora Committee officials have indicated that although the situation is becoming more serious, villains have focused their attention on clearing dungeons and pulled much of their activity away from populated areas. Civilians should still be on the lookout for suspicious activity wherever they are,¡± the reporter said. Sonya sipped at the freshly opened can and leaned back in her chair as the stars glittered overhead. ¡°The First Day of the Australian ASTA Sponsorship Competition concluded just a few hours ago. Over two thousand light-touched registered to participate, with only two hundred remaining after the preliminary battle royale. Despite the fierce fighting, there were no permanent injuries among the participants and no fatalities. After the preliminaries, several rounds of simultaneous one-on-one matches were held between the participants throughout the day. Only sixteen participants remain, with Hero Sol the projected victor,¡± the reporter went on. Sonya put down her drink and rested her chin on her knuckles as the shadows danced around her. She glanced up at them and smiled. ¡°Hello, dear,¡± she murmured. ¡°Reporting in?¡± The shadows congealed into a single point before taking the shape of Beyol, who offered her a bow. ¡°We have made significant progress, Mistress. The dungeon is made up of several layers, and it will take time to clear it out logistically. As far as the monsters are concerned, it is no trouble at all,¡± the dark-haired youth said before glancing up and meeting her eyes. ¡°How are things on your end?¡± She grinned at him and tilted her head. ¡°Was that... informality?¡± she asked. His eyes widened, and she reached out to tap him on the nose. ¡°Boop!¡± she laughed. ¡°Relax, I¡¯m teasing you,¡± she said and ruffled his hair before leaning back. ¡°You¡¯re allowed to be a little informal when it¡¯s just us.¡± He stood up straight and cleared his throat while brushing his hair back into place. ¡°Kera suggested I try it out,¡± he murmured behind his hand, looking away. She brightened and hopped out of her chair, picking him up and giving him a great big squeeze. She sometimes forgot how strong she was. ¡°You are so cute!¡± she laughed and pulled back a bit, smiling warmly. ¡°Beyol, I¡¯m happy. I feel good. Better than I¡¯ve been in a long frickin¡¯ time,¡± she laughed before setting the frazzled supervillain down, returning to her seat, and letting out a sigh. ¡°Are you being good to Kera?¡± He was straightening his coat out when she said it, and he looked up at her in surprise. ¡°Um... I don¡¯t know-¡± She gave him a flat look. ¡°Yes, you do. You were dense for a while, but you¡¯re not a child,¡± she said. He cleared his throat again and nodded. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s... nice.¡± She looked towards the window again. ¡°Good. Now go on back. Thank you for your report, Blackrazor.¡± He bowed and dissolved into the floor, vanishing into the shadows. His presence disappeared a moment later, and she was alone. She picked up her drink again and sipped at it, savoring the bubbles and sweetness. Other villains have wine and fancy liquors, but a bubbly cola is all I need, she chuckled and set it down before shutting off the stream. She stretched and checked the clock on her HUD. ¡°Oh shit! Marta¡¯s waiting for me.¡± Side Story – Team Crusader 1 Side Story ¨C Team Crusader 1 POP! POPOPOPOP! The rhythmic sound of gunfire carried over the hill, followed by shouts. A roar broke through the noise. Crusader pushed her legs harder, the strain falling away as gold washed across her body. She could already see which direction she needed to move in. Al was in position, and she followed him. Without a word between them, she felt a hand the size of the hood of a car scoop her up and launch her the rest of the way. She crested the hill with her sword over her head as the fighting came into view. A dozen men backed up slowly as a creature that looked like something between a bull, a goat, and a steam engine ambled forward. Its armored body shrugged off the gunfire. Al let out a screech, and the bull flinched, whipping its head up and pausing instead of breaking into a wild charge that would have trampled the soldiers. That was its final mistake. A flicker of gold and the sound of metal cleaving metal, and Crusader rose to her feet. She turned and held her hand out towards the men, and her flames did the rest. Exhausted eyes turned clear, and several of them sagged with relief. She turned and called back towards the hill. ¡°I got it!¡± BLF slid to a stop at the top of the hill and looked down at her, hands on his knees. He was putting on a good face, but they¡¯d been going for hours already. He¡¯s already wiped out, poor guy, she thought. I know he and Snow think they¡¯re falling behind, but... she sighed inwardly. At least we agreed to pair off like this to keep things balanced. BLF wiped his chin. ¡°We gotta head back! There¡¯s a few more heading east, according to Snow!¡± She adjusted her breastplate and nodded. ¡°Right,¡± she turned to the soldiers. ¡°Are you guys good?¡± The man she assumed was their commanding officer snapped a quick salute. ¡°We can handle the lesser ones. Keep moving, hero, and thank you.¡± She nodded and got back to work. The decisive battle wasn¡¯t the end of the Liberty War. Remnants of the cult still existed even if the individual that gave them their strength was gone. The dungeons that had burst as a result of the fighting and Liberty¡¯s machinations had spewed out hundreds of monsters into the surrounding area. Crusader and her team had enjoyed a small respite after going to The Hague. They¡¯d needed some air, but they also had a job to do. So when the call came for heroes to assist in the cleanup, they answered. After crossing the distance from the first hill to the east, she and BLF stopped to survey what was happening. She snorted and shook her head. ¡°I think they¡¯ve got this,¡± she said and sat down to catch her breath and watch. BLF chuckled and joined her. Down below, where a farm had been annihilated by the monsters, a maze had sprung up from the ground. The earth itself extended from the ground and formed an interconnecting labyrinth of rocky walls. Monsters ran this way and that through the confusing passages, herded by translucent specters of sound and visible light. Every now and then they would come in contact with the towering horned figure in armor that stalked the maze, and that would be the end of them. In other parts of the maze, soldiers had set up small kill zones where they mowed down anything that came within range. ¡°That new feature is nuts,¡± BLF said thoughtfully, reaching up to scratch at his scraggly blonde hair. He let out a heavy sigh and turned her way. ¡°We¡¯ve been at this for a week now.¡± She nodded slowly, watching her friends clean up the last of the monsters. ¡°Yeah, I think it''s time to move on. The higher-level monsters are either gone or being dealt with by the other cleanup teams. It¡¯s just the grunt mobs left. We should head back to New York soon.¡± He let out a groan of relief and fell onto his back. ¡°Thank you, Al! You are the best!¡± The hawk in question swooped in and landed on her shoulder, letting out a screech as she looked down at him with amusement. ¡°Who said it was Al¡¯s decision?¡± He held up a finger. ¡°He talks to the birds for you,¡± he held up a second finger, ¡°they tell him how we¡¯re doing,¡± he held up a third finger, ¡°he tells you how we¡¯re doing,¡± he held up a fourth finger, ¡°you listen to what he says,¡± he extended his thumb, ¡°you¡¯re the team lead. Ergo, if you say we¡¯re done, then that means Al says we¡¯re done.¡± She burst into laughter. ¡°Should we be called Team Alphonse instead? I was hoping for a name change.¡± He turned and gave her a deadpan look. ¡°Hell no. The bird can¡¯t handle the press, and I¡¯m better looking than you. If we changed to Team Alphonse, I¡¯d be handling all the talking.¡± She sighed dramatically. ¡°Well, excuse me for not being able to teach Al to talk.¡± The hawk screeched again, and she looked up at him. ¡°This is your fault.¡± The ground shuddered, and they turned back to see the maze descending into the earth. The churned soil settled as the soldiers approached and spoke briefly with Harbinger and Snow. After a few moments, the pair were heading back up the hill. Crusader smiled at them. ¡°You two are getting good at that!¡± Harbinger huffed and puffed as she marched up to her, glancing at BLF and giving him a cute little wave. ¡°Would have been faster if you¡¯d joined in! Hit me with some of the good stuff.¡± Crusader gestured, and gold fire washed over her and Snow for good measure. The two of them groaned and sat down on the grass. Crusader shook her head. ¡°You guys were doing just fine.¡± A faint static filled the air, and Snow chimed in. ¡°I need a bath and a nap. Controlling that many complex illusions for hours is tiring.¡± ¡°Al says we¡¯re done,¡± BLF said. ¡°Off duty.¡± Harbinger flopped onto the ground before crashing down on BLF¡¯s chest. He let out a groan of pain but didn¡¯t say a word. ¡°Thank goodness. You¡¯re the best, Al.¡± Crusader crossed her arms. ¡°Seriously, when did it become a thing that I took orders from Al?¡± Her team just laughed. ¨C The return flight from where they¡¯d been stationed in Alabama back to New York was blessedly uneventful. It was disappointing that they couldn¡¯t take a portal back, but Euclidia¡¯s focus was almost entirely on moving responders around to deal with villain attacks on dungeons. Things had been getting progressively worse all over, and more heroes were being pulled off their normal duties to help stem the tide. To add to their frustrations, they¡¯d been told that a small number of protesters and counter-protesters had gathered at the airport they were set to land at. Snow wasn¡¯t happy. ¡°I just want to go one day without firing my brain on all cylinders,¡± she complained through her usual haze of static. ¡°Creating illusions to cover all four of us in a crowded area filled with tech is going to be a pain.¡± ¡°We just gotta make it to the car,¡± Alex pointed out, trying to look positive. Lillian knew he was raging on the inside, though. If Cass didn¡¯t look like she was about to cry if things got worse, he would have exploded, she thought. He blew out a breath. ¡°No worries, Snow. You¡¯ve got this.¡± ¡°Says you,¡± Snow grumbled. Lillian glanced towards Cass, who wasn¡¯t speaking much as she leaned forward in her seat, her hands clasped together. She had a pretty good idea of what was going through her head. Not only had they become famous from the War and from what happened at The Hague, but they¡¯d also gained a bit of infamy for some people. Not everyone could accept the Pandora Committee¡¯s official statement that Cass wasn¡¯t responsible for Liberty¡¯s death even after those asshole representatives and Verity had cleared things up. Someone had planted a hammer that looked a lot like the one Cass could summon at the scene, and no amount of her dismissing and summoning the thing would shake the trolls and conspiracy theorists. ¡°It¡¯s just a small number of really loud and really dumb people,¡± Lillian said, putting a hand on her shoulder. ¡°We know the truth, and so does most of the world.¡± Cass nodded but said nothing, twirling her thumbs and scowling at the floor. Lillian squeezed Cass¡¯ shoulder and glanced at the others, who looked equally upset. They just wanted to go home for a little while, but it felt like they would have to walk on eggshells while they were there. It would be hard to do patrol work when people were acting like this, even if the majority were receptive to them. They all knew it only took one bad lead for someone to get hurt. The plane landed, and when they got off, they found John and Val waiting for them. The bland-faced John was in a suit emblazoned with the guild logo. Val was in a t-shirt, jeans, and elbow pads. He waved energetically at them and hurried over, throwing himself into a forward tackle and nearly bowling Alex over. ¡°Hey guys! Welcome back!¡± Lillian smiled. ¡°Hey, Val. How¡¯s patrolling?¡± He shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s slowed down now that most of the heroes are back. Was exciting for a while there, though.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t doubt it,¡± she said and glanced towards John. He looked more sour than usual. She shot Val a sideways look. ¡°I don¡¯t suppose he looks mad because he messed up a sandwich?¡± Val made a face. ¡°John doesn¡¯t mess up sandwiches.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Cass finally said, coming out of her mood. ¡°He¡¯s upset that he has to send you all back out,¡± Val said, looking disappointed as well. ¡°Oh, by the way, Bluestar gave him the Vice Guildmaster job. He¡¯ll be your point of contact for what¡¯s next.¡± Team Crusader exchanged a look as John approached, adjusting his tie and forcing a half smile onto his dour face. They all wanted to congratulate him but were dreading what he had to say. He seemed to pick up on it because he ripped the bandage off quickly. ¡°With the rising villain attacks, there¡¯s been a shortage in key areas. You¡¯re being redeployed for...¡± he hesitated, ¡°...a Dharan tour. Ultimately, it¡¯s your choice. You can refuse, however...¡± he trailed off again and looked at Cass. ¡°It might be wise.¡± Lillian looked at her team. They were tired, but they were good at what they did and committed to the job. Laying low wouldn¡¯t be a bad thing either, and it was just a culling tour. Snow stood up a bit straighter, and Alex nodded. Cass hung her head for a heartbeat before looking up and meeting her gaze with her own fierce look. Lillian nodded back to her. ¡°We¡¯ll go.¡± John sighed. ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll arrange for the portal.¡± - The break conference room in the staging building outside of the Dharan Exclusion Zone was unsurprisingly humble. A single long wooden table and chairs were set alongside a kitchenette. Lillian barely paid any attention to it even as Snow fiddled with one of the chairs, probably carving something on it. She looked down at the briefing pamphlet while John explained what they were going into. The newly-minted Vice Guildmaster had only been Bluestar¡¯s assistant for a little while, but he had earned her regard quickly. His blunt demeanor, in contrast to Bluestar¡¯s more gentle-but-firm approach, created just the right kind of back-and-forth for the guild. He adjusted his tie again and closed the pamphlet himself. ¡°...and that¡¯s everything,¡± he said. ¡°As I said at the beginning of the briefing, Dharan is a unique place. The dungeon break has been going on for a long time, and the monsters have evolved and grown since the initial blast. The respawn rate is also significantly higher. We believe it has something to do with the local geography. Mana clouds build up against the Himalayas and double back down below. Your job is not to clear the break, just to cull the monster population in the outer ring. Any questions?¡± Alex grunted as he rested his head against Cass¡¯ while she flipped through the pamphlet thoughtfully. ¡°Why doesn¡¯t a Mythic or two go in there and deal with it?¡± ¡°The last attempt was by Heroes Qilin and First Wind. They went in about as far as the edge of the central region before the sheer volume of monsters forced them out. They aren¡¯t invincible,¡± John said. ¡°We would need a large strike force to push all the way in, and that many heroes can¡¯t be spared right now.¡± ¡°Ishtar,¡± Lillian growled. ¡°This is her fault.¡± John nodded. ¡°Actually, yes, more or less. We got word that she put out a bounty on dungeons recently, and we believe she wants her villains to clear dungeons rather than take control of them for resources to humiliate the Pandora Committee.¡± ¡°First she tries to blow Sonya up, and now this,¡± Alex grumbled, sitting up straight. Cass pulled off of him and frowned a little before looking back at her book. ¡°That lady is getting out of hand. I say we take the fight to that maniac.¡± He pushed back in his chair and crossed his arms. ¡°Seriously, who in their right mind would work for someone like that?¡± John raised an eyebrow. ¡°Do you have a strategy to take down the Queen of Villains, BLF? You were lucky you survived running into her during the war.¡± Cass scoffed, her eyes fixed on the table. She clenched her hands together. ¡°She nearly killed Snow. I wouldn¡¯t call that lucky.¡± Snow shifted in her seat and looked away. Lillian reached under the table and grabbed her hand, squeezing the momentary shakes away. She knew that Snow was still a little traumatized by whatever that ability Ishtar had used was. She wasn¡¯t a forward fighter, and getting hit by something like that couldn¡¯t have been easy. Alex raised a finger and tapped the table, leaning forward. ¡°That¡¯s another thing,¡± he said. ¡°Has anyone here noticed she doesn¡¯t seem to ¡®like¡¯ killing heroes? She lets us go a lot.¡± ¡°It¡¯s psychological warfare,¡± John said flatly. ¡°Let¡¯s not get off topic. You have a job to do here. ASTA is handling the political and public-relations situation back at home. By the time you¡¯re done with your tour, things should be more comfortable.¡± Cass sighed. ¡°Sorry, guys.¡± Snow clicked her tongue, and static preceded her words. ¡°Don¡¯t you go apologizing for shit that isn¡¯t your fault,¡± she clipped. ¡°If an asshole wants to believe the sky is falling, the world is flat, and there are gremlins in his socks, there¡¯s not much you can do about that. Whoever decided to pick you to frame for the whole fiasco is the real problem, and if I had my way, I¡¯d fry his brain for it.¡± John sighed. ¡°While I wholeheartedly agree with the sentiment and wish I could do something similar with my knives, can we not vocally express the desire to commit acts bordering on villainous activity during a meeting of heroes, please?¡± Snow winced. ¡°Sorry.¡± John gave her a rare smile. ¡°It was a slip of the tongue, of course.¡± Lillian got to her feet. ¡°We should do an initial foray and get an idea of what we¡¯re really dealing with. Pamphlets are good and all, but the longer we¡¯re in here, the less time someone¡¯s out there keeping that population down.¡± John¡¯s expression turned grave, and he nodded. ¡°Good luck.¡± Chapter 260 Sonya yawned as she stepped out of the car. ¡°That¡¯s what I get for agreeing to a binge with Marta in the middle of the night. That show was like one long trip,¡± she mumbled before turning around and resting her hand on the top of the vehicle. The window rolled down and the zombie looked up at her. ¡°Thanks for the ride.¡± The zombie shrugged and Charon¡¯s voice echoed out from within. ¡°You¡¯re the boss. Shouldn¡¯t you be getting more sleep in the middle of a big plan, though?¡± Sonya laughed. ¡°I slept plenty, You think I can¡¯t handle something like this?¡± Charon snorted. ¡°Hardly. I¡¯ll see you back on the ship.¡± She patted the top of the taxi and stepped away as he drove off. Sonya reached into her coat and pulled out her sunglasses, slipping them on over her eyes. She whistled to herself while she walked down the alley, hands in her pockets. She sensed the CCTV cameras around her and shut them down one at a time, reaching into their connected hardware and gutting the systems. Her smile widened when she felt movement around her. It was broad daylight. That just made it more fun. ¡°Not a smart place to get dropped off, Chernovna,¡± a voice rumbled out. ¡°That taxi looked pretty sketchy too.¡± Sonya brightened. ¡°Oh, I love this trope!¡± She tittered out a laugh and turned around, hands in her pockets. Five men stepped into the alley behind her, blocking her exit. ¡°You boys following little old me?¡± ¡°We saw you get into that taxi and figured we¡¯d tail you,¡± one of the men said with a shrug. He was a burly guy, and the eyepatch was a nice touch. He followed up by pulling a gun out. ¡°Nobody knows you¡¯re here, I¡¯m guessing. Not even your pet meat grinder, Handmaiden.¡± Sonya¡¯s eyebrows rose and she pursed her lips, looking like a curious feline. ¡°Does the same happen to go for you? Are you the boss here?¡± He scowled, clearly confused. ¡°...And if I said yes?¡± She clapped her hands. ¡°Then that makes things easy for me! You were planning to break into the secure storage beneath the arena, right?¡± she asked. He stiffened. ¡°How did you...¡± One of the men glanced his way. ¡°I think this is a trap, boss.¡± The boss rounded on him. ¡°No shit it¡¯s a trap, you-¡± SPLOK! Blood splattered against the boss¡¯ face. He froze and turned slowly to look at the obliterated body of the man that had been standing at his left. He trembled and looked around. Sonya watched the wheels turn in his head as he tried to figure out where the attack had come from before finally looking at her. One of the guys was still looking around. ¡°You said she was alone!¡± ¡°She is alone!¡± the leader barked and pointed his gun at Sonya. Sonya smiled at him and jerked her chin, drawing Magnus¡¯ power from her warehouse. The guns leaped from their hands and dissolved into blue motes of light when they touched her palm. One of the men turned to run, while the leader held out his hand, a sphere of light forming in front of it. It shot towards her as she switched abilities out from her warehouse, a disk of metal appearing between her and her attacker while she released a sharp blast of Imperious on the fleeing goon, sending him to the ground in a lifeless heap, the killing intent enough to stop his heart. The bolt bounced back, and the leader could only blink in confusion at his missing hand. He dropped to the ground as she slowly approached. A pair of knives appeared between her fingers, and she threw them with a flick of her wrist, putting down the remaining two. She stopped over the trembling leader as he gasped and heaved, but no sound came from his lips. Her eyes glowed as she came to a stop over him and smiled. ¡°Nobody ruins my fun. Why don¡¯t you tell me which guild hired you, and I¡¯ll make this quick.¡± A minute later, she walked out of the alley with an illusory appearance wrapped around her. She went for her past timeline look, black hair and blue eyes. It felt a little odd wearing it. Not that it triggered her; in fact, it was the opposite. She didn¡¯t feel bad seeing that face in a mirror anymore. She scanned the area. ¡°Hmm... That was a good playtest, but I still have an hour to kill. What to do... hello. ¡± She cracked a grin and made her way towards a pretty pair standing in front of a nearby shop. ¨C Sonya slipped into her seat in the viewer¡¯s box as the energy in the stadium intensified. Each moment seemed like another step closer to an explosion. The top sixteen had been found from the two thousand plus that had come for the chance at greatness. She crossed her legs and looked down upon the arena with a smile as the bracket appeared in her HUD. She flicked a few names around and repositioned them. This should be interesting... Let''s see how you do. She was, of course, thinking about the bold little hero whose actions had changed the entire atmosphere of her competition. Originally, she had only been planning to accept local heroes and a few outliers. Nietz had opened the floodgates. Her Night Society spies and club agents were reporting that the other nations on her list of scheduled visits were frantically getting ready for a far more significant deluge of visitors than the Australia competition. This had also created more work for her, so she would have to come up with more interesting ways to narrow down the list of participants for the subsequent rounds. The result? She really, really, wanted to bully Nietz. If he wants to be an international hero so bad, let him prove it, she thought coolly. He¡¯s already gotten into the top portion of the competition, so I¡¯ll keep my word about letting him try again. Her lips curled up into a wicked smile. But that¡¯s as far as you go here, young man. ¡°You¡¯re doing that creepy grin again,¡± Amos said next to her. She glanced towards him with a pout. ¡°It¡¯s not creepy, it¡¯s villainous,¡± she corrected him. He rolled his eyes. ¡°Uhuh, sure, sure.¡± He tapped his neck. ¡°You got a little something...¡± She chuckled and wiped the lipstick off with a handkerchief before dematerializing it. She exchanged a wry look with Amos before gesturing at the screen. The rearranged bracket was sent into the system Amos had designed. He sat up a little bit and looked her way with raised eyebrows. She shrugged and he shook his head. ¡°I take it back, that was a villainous grin.¡± ¡°Told you so,¡± she said smugly and leaned back in her seat. ¡°Also, I want to hire an announcer for this. It was fun hosting it the first time, but I want to join the others for a dungeon run on one of these trips,¡± she said. ¡°When I¡¯m not doing that...¡± she trailed off, ¡°just watching will be nice.¡± ¡°Sitting in luxury while the world spins in your palm?¡± he asked. ¡°Bingo.¡± ¡°Well,¡± he said with a shrug as his eyes refocused and got back on topic. ¡°You¡¯d be interested to know that the remainder of the two hundred that didn¡¯t make it to the finals have sponsorships already lined up from other companies.¡± ¡°A positive side-effect,¡± Sonya said with a nod. He turned to her with a grin. ¡°Pleased with your haul?¡± She snickered and held up her hand, a ball of sunlight forming over her palm that she crushed shortly afterward to disperse it. She slipped Heart of Sol back into her warehouse and crossed her legs smugly. ¡°I¡¯ve already more or less recovered everything I lost from creating my new Regalia ability, around two hundred new powers to give and take as I please,¡± she chuckled as she glanced down towards the stands. ¡°They were only too happy to shake my hand after the preliminaries, though I still couldn¡¯t get Nietz¡¯s ability.¡± ¡°You said he¡¯s immune somehow? Do you want to have the people he fought interviewed?¡± he asked. ¡°I could pull up the records of the fight and figure out who came in contact with him. Someone might have noticed something.¡± She tapped the arm of her chair with a manicured finger. ¡°I might have you do that,¡± she said thoughtfully. ¡°I tried to connect to the Pandora records, but his file was sealed, and I don¡¯t have clearance. Their security is far better than before, and I can¡¯t just go ask Carla every time I want details on a hero,¡± she said with a sigh. ¡°Especially with the Committee on high alert.¡± She laughed. ¡°Carla¡¯s taking my mischief surprisingly well.¡± He rubbed his chin. ¡°I¡¯ll make the arrangements for interviews then. You really think his ability will give you a clue about Otis?¡± She shrugged. ¡°Maybe. Otis is the only other person who I know of who is immune to Analyze. I didn¡¯t try to make a deal with Nietz, so I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s completely immune to Broker or not.¡± ¡°Speaking of making deals,¡± he said, looking up at the ceiling and trying to look innocent. ¡°Beside¡¯s Sol¡¯s power, did you get anything worthwhile out of this batch?¡± She raised an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯ve owed you a present for a while Amos, I haven¡¯t forgotten,¡± she said before reclining as well. ¡°It¡¯s hard to pick something worthy of you though.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know whether to be sad or honored you said that,¡± he said. ¡°Relish the praise,¡± she teased. He threw up his hands as if in prayer. ¡°Oh glorious Ishtar! Thank you for your never ending rain of affirmations! They will surely get me to the end of my journey!¡± He held his hands to his heart. ¡°Oh, if only I had a way to repay you for-¡± ¡°Which one do you want?¡± she asked with a roll of her eyes. He scratched his nose a little and flushed. ¡°You think I could get a couple?¡± he asked, looking away. ¡°I need to hold onto the good ones so I have options to give the winners of the competition, Amos,¡± she said, crossing her arms and fixing him with a stare. ¡°Boo!¡± ¡°Did you just boo me?¡± ¡°Boo! Hiss!¡± She stared at him, and he turned over to stare right back at her. They held one another¡¯s gaze. Neither of them blinked for over a minute before they both burst into a fit of laughter. Sonya glanced down at the bracket. ¡°How about War Chest to start you off?¡± He looked at it as well and pursed his lips. ¡°War Chest?¡± he asked. ¡°Armory¡¯s ability,¡± she said. She didn¡¯t bother pulling it out of her warehouse since it was essentially an inventory power that needed to be cultivated. As soon as she put it back in, it would reset to its undeveloped state. She knew enough from the initial use of the ability and its instincts to understand the basics. ¡°Heroic,¡± she elaborated ¡°It can integrate schematics of weaponry both real and fictional and create usable versions of them temporarily.¡± He whistled. ¡°That¡¯s how she had those oldies-style ray guns, right?¡± Sonya nodded. ¡°Why don¡¯t we watch how she does here, hmm?¡± ¡°Good idea,¡± he said and checked the clock on the dashboard. ¡°How far ahead do you have this thing planned?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already decided on the victors and their places,¡± Sonya said with a shrug. She¡¯d set things up based on her personal observations during the previous day¡¯s fights. The rest of the world would see an exciting competition, but as far as she was concerned, she had already decided on the three she wanted to win and where they¡¯d end up in the rankings. The trick was arranging it so it looked good. He squinted a little before glancing her way. ¡°That¡¯s an interesting pair-up in the semi-finals. You think that kind of trick will work though?¡± Sonya rubbed her chin thoughtfully. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll see. Either way, I get two solid people to sponsor, and create a powerful hero out of it.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a word for that,¡± Amos commented as the timer ticked down. ¡°Xanatos Gambit?¡± She grinned. ¡°A man after my own heart.¡± ¨C Leiandra sat in the stands and checked her phone. The new bracket was starting to load up. Chernovna seemed to have it in her head that it was more entertaining to broadcast the final line-up at the very last minute. She glanced around herself and saw almost the entirety of the crowd animatedly pointing at their phones and talking amongst themselves. I keep getting the feeling that this is all one big stage play to her.I don¡¯t like it. What is she up to? She glanced back down at her phone and saw the bracket finally load up. She flipped through it idly before pausing and flipping through it again. Her eyes narrowed. Wait a minute. She looked up at the arena as two faces appeared in the air. ¡°The top sixteen have been decided!¡± Sonya¡¯s voice came over the speakers. ¡°It¡¯s time to see who will stand above the rest and earn the grand prize! First up, Hero Nietz versus Hero Sol!¡± Leiandra¡¯s mouth fell open. You have to be shitting me. Is she that petty? The two heroes stepped out onto the arena to the roar of the crowd. Most of those present were stomping their feet and chanting Sol¡¯s name. The Mythic hero raised a hand to wave at those cheering for him before approaching Nietz. The two shook hands briefly and spoke for a few heartbeats. Nietz actually laughed and clapped Sol on the shoulder before taking a few steps back and getting to his ready position. ¡°Such good sportsmanship between our competitors, friendship born through competition!¡± Sonya¡¯s voice carried out. ¡°There can be only one winner, though!¡± We all know who it¡¯s going to be. Quit showboating. Leiandra crossed her arms and leaned back as the countdown from ten began. The buzzer rang out, and there was a flash of brilliant sunlight from the field. Leiandra closed her eyes and shook her head as Sonya shouted something ridiculous about ¡®going all in from the start.¡¯ That was when a gasp ran through the crowd, and Leiandra opened her eyes. Nietz was still standing, he¡¯d moved out of the way, though he was holding his side and smoke was rising off of him. Leiandra blinked. Impressive. Nietz held up a hand and the buzzer rang out. The crowd roared. ¡°Hero Nietz surrenders! Sol advances to the next round!¡± He has enough sense to know when he¡¯s beaten, at least, Leiandra thought as the medical dolls hurried out to help him off the stage. Sol followed them, talking with Nietz the rest of the way out. Leiandra couldn¡¯t help but smile a little. It was examples like that, acts of true bonds between heroes, that would bring the rest of the hero community together. The rivalries were strong amongst many guilds, but she could see that it could be turned into something positive. She glanced up at the announcer box and the white-haired imp barely visible within. Is that your angle? She turned her attention to the floating screens as the next matchup was chosen from the pairs on the bracket. ¡°Next up! Pillar versus Armory!¡± The brutish-looking Pillar marched out to a roar of his fans, one fist raised over his head. The giant hunk of stone he used as a weapon was already conjured up and slung over his shoulder. The petite Armory was completely unarmed, but that was part of her skillset. She used her unassuming appearance and storage-like ability to her advantage against villains and more intelligent monsters. A true talent and another obvious victor. She glowered at the announcer box again and got to her feet as the countdown started. You¡¯re being a little too heavy-handed, Chernovna. I think we need to have another talk, she growled inwardly as the buzzer rang, and the sounds of a dozen tiny rockets launching was overwhelmed by the cheers of the audience. The explosions that followed signalled the end of Pillar¡¯s bid for the gold. ¡°Armory advances!¡± JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 261 Sonya stood at the doors to the announcer¡¯s booth as she flicked through her HUD. Another report from Blackrazor with an update on their progress. They were preparing to hit the dungeon boss. As soon as that happened, people were going to notice. She replied with brief instructions to hold off for just a little longer. A good plan is flexible to a little fine tuning on the fly, she thought wryly. She took an easy breath into her lungs, savoring it for a moment before letting it go. She needed to focus on what was to come. All the pieces are in place, Sis. The first stage of the plan is ready. It¡¯s time to pull the trigger. It¡¯s so nice of the Pandora Committee to send me just the person I need to tie it off with a pretty bow. You should get Carla a fruit basket. Ishtar said wryly. She tells jokes now! Sonya chuckled before letting out a breath. I really need to reward my people more. A luxury cruise ship to stay on is nice, but it¡¯s time for some real gifts. She thought and turned back to the doors of the announcer¡¯s booth. The doors opened and the guards exited, passing her by. She slipped past them and settled back into her seat and crossed her legs. She glanced towards Amos who was looking thoughtful. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± He pursed his lips. ¡°I wonder how War Chest would synchronize with my other abilities if we made it into a merger.¡± Sonya sat up. ¡°You want it to be a merger? You? Really?¡± He grumbled. ¡°What¡¯s there to be surprised about?¡± he asked and waved around himself. ¡°Sure, I can build pretty much anything I want for you and take over an entire cruise ship or a building. Let¡¯s be real, though, in a fight I¡¯ll get wasted by a Rare let alone an Epic if they try hard enough. My toys will keep me alive for a while, but I¡¯m no match for the rest of the Inner Circle.¡± She watched the look in his eyes. He had been there with her right from the start, one of her closest friends. Their initial relationship hadn¡¯t exactly been great. She had basically kidnapped him and extorted an employment contract out of him. Though, to be fair, she¡¯d done that for pretty much everyone but Marta who worked for her now. Even recruiting Charon had been something between a negotiation and a scam. Even so, Amos¡¯ loyalty had gone beyond anything she¡¯d ever imagined. After Florence he had thrown himself into working for her. He¡¯d designed her armor, her helmet - every technological trick she had was owed to him. The Carter Radar had saved millions if not billions of lives and had been the foundation of the Heroing Industry. Without it, tracking dungeons and their states was impossible. Amos Carter was indispensable. I owe you big, buddy, she thought warmly and looked out towards the stands where people were getting up to move around in the break between fights. She ran her thumb down the arm of her chair in thought before looking over at him again. Her thoughts drifted to one of her core abilities. The mysterious Deus Ex Machina. It gave her insight into how abilities worked together and how to merge them. So far she had only really tried to use it for herself and had avoided activating it directly while outside of her warehouse since her initial tests. The instincts that came off the ability were nonsensical and gave her basically nothing to work with as far as its use was concerned. ¡°I¡¯ll spend some time in the warehouse with DeM,¡± she said after a long pause. ¡°See if I can¡¯t put something extra special together for you. You deserve it, man. It might take me a bit, though.¡± She glanced his way and saw his big eyes sparkling back at her, tears welling in them. She wrinkled her nose and leaned back a bit. ¡°The hell?¡± He hopped off the chair and scooted up to her. ¡°You do love me, don¡¯t you, boss?¡± Her expression went deadpan. ¡°Idiot, of course I do,¡± she grunted and rubbed her nose, smirking a little as her face warmed. ¡°Dumbass,¡± she said and tapped her knuckles against his chest. ¡°I owe you my life, Amos,¡± she looked up at his face that had suddenly gone serious and smiled. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t be here today without you. The world wouldn¡¯t, to be honest. I bet I could pull some serious world karma for you if I wanted.¡± It was his turn to look embarrassed. He cleared his throat and rubbed his neck while shoving a hand in his pocket. ¡°Well, shit. You think so?¡± She snorted and shrugged. ¡°Just a guess. Making a worldpact takes either a huge sacrifice or one metric shitload of karma,¡± she said. ¡°I don¡¯t even know what I¡¯d do for you with it or how it really works. I just kinda ran on instinct and sheer guts when I did it to make Regalia.¡± He laughed. ¡°That sounds like you. Recklessly playing with powers you don¡¯t understand and forcing them to do what you want.¡± She let out a breath and glanced back at the stadium. It looked like people were starting to come back for the next match. She played with her hair a bit as her thoughts drifted and she looked his way again. ¡°Playing things out like this feels good, right. I think I might be doing a little less of the reckless stuff, going forwards. That didn¡¯t get me anywhere Amos. Not really. It got us through some tough spots, but let¡¯s be real...¡± she trailed off, ¡°...a lot of it was luck. I need to stack the deck if I want to win going forwards. This isn¡¯t a few months after the flash. The world has adapted.¡± He sat back down in his seat and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m glad to finally hear you say that. I was pretty pissed after the whole Seattle thing.¡± ¡°I heard. You let Ishtar have it,¡± Sonya murmured. ¡°I wanted to confront you about it after the war,¡± he said quietly. ¡°But after seeing you so in control, so you, the past couple of days I¡¯ve seen you more energetic and just better than even when I met you,¡± he looked back at her. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to ruin the moment.¡± She shrugged. ¡°What can I say? I¡¯m the best.¡± He laughed. ¡°You really promise?¡± ¡°I promised something similar to Chunhua,¡± Sonya said. ¡°I don¡¯t mind making it to you too. I won¡¯t ruin myself like that again. But that means I need your help to make sure I don¡¯t have to do anything that crazy.¡± He smiled. ¡°It¡¯s a deal, boss,¡± he said and rubbed his nose awkwardly before clearing his throat. ¡°N-now let¡¯s cut the sappy shit, yeah? We¡¯ve got a tournament to-¡± he paused and frowned, turning his head to look back at the door leading out of the commenters box. ¡°Visitor coming up.¡± She turned and looked back as well. ¡°Let me guess,¡± she said. ¡°Firth?¡± ¡°Firth.¡± ¨C Leiandra tapped her finger on the rail inside the elevator, glancing towards the two heavily armed ASTA guards. There are more of them today. Did something come up? She frowned at their weapons before glancing towards their belts. A pair of silver cuffs hang from each belt. They looked like ordinary handcuffs and were just about as thick, but she could see the hints of electrical components inside. A new model of suppression cuff? When did she release those? She wrinkled her nose before shaking her head. I can¡¯t fault her for keeping the best stuff for her people. The least she could do is offer to sell it to the Committee, though. The elevator chimed, and she hesitated only for a moment before stepping out. She frowned at the woman waiting for her. Sonya Chernovna stood there with that insufferable smug grin on her face. The woman was as irritatingly pretty as ever, her paper-white skin literally sparkled and her white hair seemed to flow just right down her shoulders. She was wearing her usual white suit and pink tie, though she¡¯d switched out for a black shirt beneath it rather than the usual all-white ensemble. Why the color change? It was her eyes that were the most arresting, though. The original versions had made her seem inhuman in a way. Uncanny and untouchable. The new ones made her look almost normal despite the ever-present glow. Approachable. Something about that fact made it unsettling, nefarious. She held the woman¡¯s gaze as the doors shut behind her, the guards leaving with the elevator. ¡°Leiandra,¡± Sonya purred. ¡°You keep coming to visit me. I¡¯m flattered, but I already have two women in my life.¡± I¡¯m starting to wonder if she ever shuts that off or if it¡¯s her default setting, Leiandra thought dryly as she crossed her arms and stepped forward. ¡°Sonya,¡± Leiandra said, not batting an eye. ¡°We need to talk about the tournament bracket.¡± Sonya¡¯s lips curled upwards. ¡°Oh? I¡¯m afraid the bracket is already set in stone. Whatever could be the problem?¡± Leiandra¡¯s eye twitched. Playing innocent. ¡°To start things off, you didn¡¯t have to bully Nietz like that.¡± Sonya raised her eyebrows. ¡°I¡¯ve agreed to let Hero Nietz try his hand again at the next competition, but he is the reason my workload increased so much. You¡¯ll have to forgive me for being a little petty,¡± she said with a shrug. ¡°You aren¡¯t denying it?¡± Leiandra asked. ¡°Why should I? I didn¡¯t put any provisions in the rules that said I couldn¡¯t arrange the matches for maximum excitement,¡± Sonya said. ¡°This isn¡¯t about excitement,¡± Leiandra scoffed. ¡°You and I both know what¡¯s going to happen during the match with Sol and Glint.¡± Sonya shoved her hands into her pockets and swayed back and forth like a kid who¡¯d just gotten caught with her hands in the cookie jar. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°Glint uses mirrors,¡± Leiandra said flatly. ¡°Sol is powerful, but it¡¯s very likely that Glint will scoop the win out from beneath him by sheer counter strategy. After that, the finals will feature both Glint and Armory. The twins. First and Second prize include your special sponsorship. You¡¯ll get two young, talented heroes to sponsor who already work well together.¡± ¡°That would be the optimal outcome, yes,¡± Sonya said without blinking. ¡°Well reasoned, Leiandra.¡± Leiandra crossed her arms. Sonya was being far too forthcoming about this. It was true that there were no rules that said she couldn¡¯t do what she¡¯d done, but it was still dishonest. That said, dishonesty wasn¡¯t illegal, and Sonya had said it herself that she wasn¡¯t a good person. Still, it seems strange to me that she would intentionally arrange to have Sol get pushed out of an opportunity for the top spot. Sonya let out a sigh. ¡°Do you want to come inside, Leiandra? I have a match to watch.¡± The Prosecutor considered her for a moment before nodding. She needed to think a little longer; she felt like the reasoning was a bit more obvious than she realized. Sonya smiled and turned away, sauntering back into the room. She watched Sonya slip into one of the two main seats in the announcer booth. Carter was already energetically commenting on the next match. She looked back to Sonya, who was reclining with her feet up on the console, a can of soda in her right hand and what looked like a bag of popcorn in her left. Where did she...? ¡°Want some?¡± Sonya asked brightly, glancing back at her and extending the bag. Leiandra gave her a deadpan look before glancing down again at the offered food. She reached out and snatched up a few pieces, earning a smug grin from Sonya. She popped them into her mouth and chewed. Her brows furrowed. ¡°This is good,¡± Leiandra murmured. It was just popcorn, but it was the freshest and savoriest popcorn she¡¯d ever had. ¡°What brand is it?¡± ¡°Ambrosia,¡± Sonya said playfully and tossed one into the air, catching it in her mouth. Leiandra rolled her eyes. ¡°Fine, don¡¯t tell me.¡± She leaned back in her seat and turned to one of the monitors to watch the current match play itself out. Glint quickly dealt with his opponent, using his mirrors like spinning saw blades to corner them. Leiandra watched him move and thought back to the match with Nietz and Sol. Glint has exceptional versatility with his ability; it¡¯s a shame that it didn¡¯t turn out to be Mythic. He would have done very well as an International. Leiandra furrowed her brows before pulling out her phone and accessing the Committee database. Most of the files were locked, but basic information was available to her. She did a quick filter search and looked up again at the back of Sonya¡¯s head. There are only four active Mythics in Australia right now since that reckless jackass First Wind went International. That¡¯s a very small amount for such a large nation. A roar rose from the crowd down below as the hero facing Glint hopped over a pair of spinning disks only to get caught by a third mirror that slammed into him like a wall. He was sent hurtling from the arena and out of bounds. ¡°And that¡¯s it! Glint advances!¡± Amos shouted. I¡¯m missing a key piece of information here. It¡¯s somehow related to why Sonya would pick a Heroic over a Mythic. She froze, her eyes going wide. It can¡¯t be. ¡°Sonya,¡± she called, and the CEO hopped up, turning around in her seat and looking down at Leiandra with a bright and merry smile. ¡°Yeeees?¡± she sing-songed. Leiandra glanced towards Amos and the microphone. Sonya followed her gaze thoughtfully and cleared her throat, drawing the scientist¡¯s attention. She made a slicing gesture with her hand, and he cut his mic. Leiandra leaned forward. ¡°Be honest with me,¡± she said flatly. ¡°You know that your grand prize trinket could guarantee a Heroic crossing into Mythic, don¡¯t you? That¡¯s why you are pushing Sol out so he can stay and serve as a hero in his homeland while you raise up either Armory or Glint. He can be the hero First Wind could never be.¡± Sonya stared at her for a long time, her eyes actually wide with surprise. She blinked a few times and looked at Amos before looking back. The mischievous CEO¡¯s eyes softened and her smile relaxed. ¡°Sol already has an unparalleled ability. He¡¯ll go far once he gets a handle on it and become one of the greats; I don¡¯t doubt it,¡± she said. ¡°Someone who can traverse his homeland in an instant with enough training. With what Australia has, isn¡¯t it better that way?¡± Sonya hugged the back of the chair and rested her chin on her arm, holding Leiandra¡¯s gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t you remember what I said during the press conference?¡± Leiandra¡¯s heart thumped, just once, as the woman she thought was merely out for herself showed a new side. ¡°You said you¡¯d make more like them. The heroes that fought Liberty.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to keep my word,¡± Sonya said with a chuckle. ¡°Even if I have to be a little sneaky about it.¡± Leandra leaned back in her seat with a breath as Sonya sat back down and popped another kernel of popcorn into her mouth. She chewed noisily before speaking again. ¡°You know, Leiandra. You really are a scary lady. I am impressed.¡± JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 262 The cracked window shuddered as the breeze rushed through it. Bits of debris scattered about the room jostled now and then while the building creaked. Steel pillars held up the rusted ceiling, bits of the sheet metal above worn down by the elements and revealing the stars twinkling in the sky. The faint light provided a bare minimum illumination that shone down on the remnants of abandoned furniture. A pair of boots crunched against glass as he walked into the room, stopping in front of a worn couch. He sat down, reaching into the backpack laying on the couch and pulled out a bottle of beer. A shrill sound broke the muted atmosphere, and the top of the bottle slid off of the bottle to shatter on the ground. He took a long gulp and pulled out his phone, tapping it a few times. He set the bottle down and reached into the backpack again, retrieving a small projector that he set up on the ground at his feet. It hissed to life and the large brick wall turned into one big image of an arena bathed in light. He sipped his beer again while the sound kicked in. ¡°Next up! Armory versus Hao for a spot in the Final Match!¡± the voice of Amos Carter came out of his phone. ¡°In a wild turn of events, Armory¡¯s brother, Glint, is in the very next match! Could we see the twins take one another on for the grand prize?¡± He snorted. ¡°Like a Heroic could beat a Mythic. It¡¯ll be Armory against Sol. That mirror bitch will get his ass melted.¡± The crowd roared through the speakers and his lips formed a line. Kinda shit that only the brats are allowed to participate. That should be me on stage, winnin¡¯ that first prize for home. A second awakening, huh? Fuck those losers, I want one. His phone rang and he scowled, the image on the projection turning to that of the face of his handler. The guy had a thick black beard and old man eyes. He sighed and tapped the phone to answer the call. ¡°What?¡± he demanded. ¡°I¡¯m watchin¡¯ the game, man. Imma little busy.¡± ¡°First Wind,¡± the gravelly voice came back. ¡°You¡¯re done, then?¡± ¡°Yeah, ¡®mdone,¡± he slurred. ¡°The villains putta fight, but it ain¡¯t no problem for me. They made a mess, though,¡± he chuckled and sipped at his beer. ¡°Gonna have to send a fuckin¡¯ nuke to beat this dero.¡± ¡°They made a mess?¡± his handler asked. He frowned, leaning forward a little and setting his bottle on the ground. ¡°Yeah. Izzat a problem, mate?¡± he asked evenly. ¡°Want me to swing by Sydney and we can yak? Face to face? I can be there in a few hours if¡¯n you like.¡± There was a long pause. ¡°No, that won¡¯t be necessary. I¡¯ll make sure the media knows the villains were at fault for the damages...¡± the old man trailed off. ¡°Spit it out.¡± ¡°Prosecutor Firth is here in Sydney. She¡¯s ostensibly here to deal with Chernovna, but she has visited my office at least once to ask about you,¡± his handler said. He groaned. He was already sobering up. ¡°Man! Everybody¡¯s havin¡¯ fun back at home, and I¡¯m in this shit hole. You got anything closer to Australia?¡± ¡°I¡¯m more concerned about her questions, Luca.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t give a shit about Firth. She¡¯s a chicken shit who didn¡¯t have the ovaries to go pro and join us Internationals,¡± Luca snarled and threw his bottle at the wall. ¡°It ain¡¯t my fault she¡¯s gotta compensate for being a coward by bothering the rest of us with her bullshit rules.¡± ¡°Are you drinking?¡± ¡°The fuck do you care?¡± Luca grunted. ¡°Just do your job and get rid of her, and I¡¯ll do my job. Now, do you got another assignment for me or not?¡± ¡°Well... it¡¯s not flashy.¡± ¡°Not interested.¡± ¡°Hold on,¡± his handler said. ¡°It¡¯ll get you close to the ASTA events.¡± ¡°Oh? I¡¯m listening,¡± he said, grabbing another bottle and sheering it open. There was a pause on the phone call as the shrill sound probably wasn¡¯t fun listening to on the other end. ¡°Speak up, man, I ain¡¯t got all day. I¡¯m missing the match.¡± ¡°The US Rep wants an International to bodyguard Chernovna. She¡¯s pushing back right now, but all evidence is pointing towards something going down at the event. We¡¯re letting it play out to see if one of Ishtar¡¯s people makes a move,¡± his handler said. ¡°If she¡¯s really targeting Chernovna, we want at least one powerhouse ready to take her people down.¡± Luca grinned. ¡°How many of us are signed up?¡± ¡°A few - Qilin is on the short list. You want in?¡± ¡°Put me in, coach,¡± Luca chuckled. ¡°Make sure to get me at the top of the list, if you can. You¡¯re buddies with the US Rep, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do.¡± ¡°Great. Fuck off,¡± Luca grunted and hung up. The static image of his handlers face flickered before turning back to the competition. It was a panning shot of an empty arena with the words ¡®Armory Advances¡¯ at the bottom. Luca spat and threw his fresh bottle of beer at the wall. ¡°Shit, I missed it. Droggo fuck wouldn¡¯t shut up.¡± He got to his feet and wandered to the door leading out of the abandoned building while he waited, pushing it open and stepping outside. The breeze washed over his face, and he took it in while he leaned on the balcony railing. Beyond it was a scene of utter devastation. A small town that had once been the home of factories and people was reduced to nothing but scraps and rubble. The jungle beyond it was upturned and ruined, swaths of precious rainforest despoiled. He grinned. ¡°Let¡¯s see you beat my storms now, Ishtar.¡± ¡ª Sonya closed her eyes and watched the hallway cameras through her technopathy. The medical dolls were taking Hao off to be cleaned up and treated. With Da-Som on the scene, it wouldn¡¯t be more than a few minutes before he was back on his feet. The fight had been short and vicious, with Hao demonstrating some interesting attacks. He¡¯s a cultivator. I should look into putting him in contact with Chunhua. I wonder if she still wants to try awakening people with that trick she and Ishtar worked out. She smirked. Maybe she can start her own sect like in those novels. That would be cool. Sonya paused and furrowed her brows. Wait... is that how it worked in the Great One¡¯s era? I didn¡¯t really get into those details with Ghost Pandora or the trio in my mindscape, but it¡¯s entirely possible. If that¡¯s the case... She rubbed her chin thoughtfully as Hao disappeared into the treatment room. Were abilities taught back then? Passed down? Her eyes widened. Is that why Broker reacted so strangely when I made that deal with Erebus? When she met Spice King Erebus in the past, he had made a deal with her to ensure that his powers would be passed down to his son, Saleh, in the case of his death. Sonya had been fascinated that Broker had not only responded well to the deal, but even streamlined it. It seems like something an Arbiter would be asked to assist with, now that I¡¯m thinking about it. How curious. ¡°...Sol versus Glint! This is the match that will decide the pair up for the finals, folks! With everything on the line, both Heroes are ready to pull out all the stops. After this, there will be a final match to decide third place!¡± Amos¡¯ voice drew her out of her thoughts, and she sat up to watch. Glint and Sol stepped up onto the field and shook hands briefly before going over to their respective starting positions. She sensed Leiandra lean forward with interest as the Mythic and Heroic faced one another. When the buzzer sounded, the action was fast. Sol threw out both hands in a lightning fast movement and bolts of light erupted from them. He was already on the move, doing his short distance teleports when the bolts struck a pair of floating metal disks and reflected out to dissipate against the barrier set up around the stands. Sol reappeared at Glint¡¯s side and threw a glowing fist forward just as another disk appeared in his path. The disk was... strange. There was an eerie feeling to it that she recognized. She¡¯d felt that odd feeling only once before. It feels like... Qilin?Why? Her eyes went wide. This kid! Sol smashed the mirror as Glint leaped away. That odd feeling rippled out for a moment and seemed to hang in the air as Sol moved to pursue only to trip over his feet. He hit the ground hard and scrambled to move as two metal disks spun towards him like buzz saws. He rolled out of the way only for one to catch him on the sleeve, pinning him. The feeling faded. Seven seconds. The misfortune lasted for seven seconds. BRRZZZZ! Sol¡¯s hand was in the air with the sign of surrender, a spinning blade an inch from his nose. ¡°WHAT AN UPSET!¡± Amos shouted. ¡°Sol has given up the fight! What on Earth was that strange thing Glint pulled off there! Either way, it doesn¡¯t matter! Glint goes on to the finals! The twins will have their one-on-one match!¡±. The crowd roared, the stadium quite literally shaking beneath the reaction to the surprise turn-around. Sonya crossed her arms and glanced towards Amos, who nodded. He¡¯d inform Hao of who he was going up against next. The match had been shorter than expected, but that was fine; Da-Som was good at his job. ¡°Was that... luck manipulation?¡± Leiandra asked, genuinely shocked. ¡°Seven seconds of bad luck,¡± Amos commented. ¡°That¡¯s one nasty trick to keep in your pocket.¡± ¡°Does it only affect movement, though?¡± Sonya asked thoughtfully. ¡°If so, then I wonder about Glint¡¯s ability to handle his sister. Those rockets won¡¯t get bounced away by his mirrors.¡± Leiandra hummed. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Amos stiffened and turned to Sonya. ¡°Hao just threw the match. He doesn¡¯t think he has a chance against Sol.¡± Sonya pursed her lips before letting out a popping sigh. ¡°Alright, that¡¯s his choice. Shame. I wanted to see more of him. I was considering getting him in touch with Chunhua, but if he doesn¡¯t have the spine to-¡± ¡°Is it cowardice to back out of an obvious losing battle?¡± Leiandra asked her. ¡°I think he¡¯s just being smart and not wasting his time and that of the audience.¡± Sonya glanced back at the Prosecutor and gave her an assessing look. She grinned at the woman before settling back into her seat. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll hook him up.¡± ¡°Glint and Armory are ready,¡± Amos said. Sonya slid forward with a grin, tapping the microphone. Then it¡¯s time for the real show to begin. ¨C Sowards twitched in his seat, clenching his fists and forcing himself to relax. His knee bounced, his nerves getting the better of him. Politics was one thing. He could keep his cool in that sort of setting, but this was not something he had any frame of reference to begin to manage. He rubbed his thumb into his palm to calm himself and shot a glance at the guildmasters, who were waiting patiently. None of them looked his way. Sonya¡¯s voice came over the speakers. ¡°I have some news, folks. Hero Hao has decided to forfeit the third place match. We are moving straight into the finals.¡± There were some raised voices of discontent, but more people were cheering that the final match was on its way. People wanted to see the twins duke it out. Sowards already knew how it would go. Armory was a powerful combatant, but her win-lose rate against her brother during training was a pretty clear indicator. Glint would come out on top. He shook his head and checked his phone. It was blowing up with messages from his superiors, who were furious about Sol¡¯s defeat. It¡¯s not my problem anymore, he thought with a growl and shut it off, getting to his feet. I have a new boss. He pushed out of the stands and made his way back into the hallway, turning towards those same doors where the ASTA guards were standing. This time, though, they let him pass without issue. Ishtar really does have people in ASTA already. That¡¯s terrifying, he thought as he entered the hall and walked past the locker room, making way to the stairs that led further beneath the arena. There, beneath the ground, was the safe room. The crowd roared overhead and he heard Chernovna¡¯s distant voice. Enjoy this while it lasts, bitch. You¡¯re dead today. The security guards in front of the safe room let him pass, and he slipped inside. He took a breath and felt the sensation of mana suffusing his body. It was exhilarating. It made him feel invincible. To think the light-touched got to experience this all the time. He grinned to himself; the price paid on the contract was worth the feeling of power running through his veins. He stopped in the heavily armored room and surveyed the group of grizzled men and women sitting on the couches inside. Criminals and killers. Sowards thumbed the business card in his pocket. I can¡¯t believe how easy it was. Her network is amazing. One call and all these killers are at my disposal. Charon and the underworld, huh? Maybe going villain won¡¯t be so bad. A new ladder to climb without the nonsense of the Committee. The buzzer rang in the distance, barely audible through the ground and thick walls. Muffled cheers and then a new sound ¨C a vibration in the air. A heaviness followed by an itching inside of his skull. It seemed to know him and pulled back mercifully. The ground shook and alarms started to blare. ROOOAAAAHHHHHHH! ¡ª For the sake of the performance, Sonya had told Kingshark not to filter her and Amos out from his initial mental attack. She¡¯d never experienced the full blunt force of his presence before, but the itching and pressure inside of her head was something she¡¯d never forget. She felt something wet drip down her lips as sirens blared and a pre-recorded alert filled the arena. ¡°Intense Mana Reaction detected! This is a Carter Radar alert! Please remain calm. Heroes are being dispatched. Intense Mana Reaction detected! This is-¡± Shouts were filling the stadium, and Sonya slumped a little bit as she reached up for her ear. Damn he¡¯s not holding back. ¡°Marta?¡± she croaked. ¡°If you wouldn¡¯t mind?¡± She felt Marta unleash herself, her own presence a courageous balm that ferociously battered away the madness of Kingshark¡¯s will. The shouting in the stadium eased almost immediately as the strong sense of protection and fierce determination replaced it. Sonya gasped when the pressure eased and got to her feet, going to check on Amos. He looked up at her with a weak frown, and she nodded at him before turning to Leiandra. The Prosecutor was wide-eyed and her hand had moved down to her suppression cuffs, thumb over the release. ¡°You alright?¡± Sonya asked. ¡°What was that?¡± Leiandra gasped. ¡°I think-¡± H E R O E S ! The voice was like a thunderclap coming from the direction of the sea. K I N G S H A R K I S H E R E ! F A C E M E! Sonya gave her best approximation of a smirk and wince. ¡°Looks like we have our answer,¡± she said as the doors to the booth opened and her security hurried in. She turned to them. ¡°Get the prosecutor downstairs,¡± she ordered. ¡°I¡¯ll be right down.¡± For the first time, she saw shock on Leiandra¡¯s face as the guards helped her to her feet. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just seeing Handmaiden off. Go. We¡¯ll be right there. Amos knows a few tricks.¡± Leiandra held her gaze, scowling, but nodded and turned away. ¡°You aren¡¯t rejecting security after this, Chernovna. We are having another conversation. Understood?¡± Sonya nodded. ¡°Have it your way,¡± she said and followed them out into the hall. The security team took Leiandra. She turned to Leiandra and held her gaze for a heartbeat before the doors shut. She shoved her hands into her pockets. ¡°Amos, you know what to do,¡± she said. He nodded and hurried off while she waited. The sound of footsteps approaching spawned a grin on her face. ¡°Nervous?¡± she called and turned to see Marta hustling towards her down the hall. Marta stopped a few feet away and frowned at her. ¡°I hate how you read me like that sometimes,¡± Marta grumbled, her cheeks red. ¡°No you don¡¯t,¡± Sonya laughed. Marta smiled and nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Sonya reached out and touched her friend over the heart, looking up into her eyes. ¡°I have something for you. Don¡¯t tell Amos, or he might get mad. I¡¯m still working on his.¡± Marta blinked at her. ¡°What are you-¡± Sonya closed her eyes and let the investment go through. She could have made a deal out of it, but she didn¡¯t want to stress Marta¡¯s body or take the extra time. She pulled her hand away and tilted her chin up. ¡°Don¡¯t use it today; you¡¯ll have time to master it in the future. It should round out your build.¡± Marta paused and looked down, then up at her. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I wanted to give you a gift first,¡± Sonya said with a shrug before reaching out to squeeze her beloved friend on the arm. ¡°Congratulations, Marta.¡± Marta¡¯s eyes went wide, her face the picture of shock before it relaxed into a smile that shone like the setting sun. Warm, dazzling, and so unbelievably full of joy. That smile made everything all the more worth doing. ¡°Thanks, Sonya.¡± JOIN THE DISCORD! Side Story – Marta 3 While Sonya was away setting the stage for dealing with Representative Sowards, Marta had other things to occupy her time. She¡¯d pouted a little over being excluded from going with her friend and lady, but she knew that there were some things Sonya preferred to do alone. At least she was better now, far better than she had been in a long time. Marta smiled a little to herself as the maids that Setsuna had passed over to her worked their way through Sonya¡¯s living space on the Idol of Venus. ¡°You look tired, ma¡¯am,¡± one of them said with a delicate bow. The auburn-haired young woman was smaller than a few of her companions but was more dedicated to her work as a result. It¡¯s a good thing this earpiece comes with a translator, Marta thought idly. I can¡¯t believe I never bothered to pick up Japanese. I¡¯ll do that soon. ¡°Have you completed your chores, Nagisa?¡± she asked patiently rather than answering the question. The girl bowed. ¡°Yes ma¡¯am. Shall I prepare some tea?¡± I could use a break, Marta thought. But what I really need is some fresh air. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± she said and nodded to the others. ¡°Assist them in finishing up what¡¯s necessary before taking your dinner. Good work, girls. I¡¯m looking forward to working with you more in the future.¡± The maids present all turned quickly and returned the sentiment as Marta made her way to the room Sonya had set aside for her personally. She ran her fingers along the desk filled with notebooks and schedules. Her lip twitched in amusement. Not that my lady ever sticks to her schedules. She chuckled and shook her head before going to change. Just a sundress should be fine to walk around the deck for a bit. Her eyes sparkled. After that, I¡¯ll finally commandeer the theatre for some binging! She hummed merrily to herself and swapped into the simple white sundress with faint yellow flowers adding a delicate effect to it. She drifted out from the captain¡¯s suite and onto the deck after that, taking a deep breath of the sea breeze while she descended the stairs. Laughter and conversation hung in the air. Members of the cult, the Inner Circle, and agents of her lady¡¯s power all gathered in one place as she put her first grand scheme into motion. It was exciting to see her finally throw herself into her role. A chime of a laugh rang out and she glanced over to spot Setsuna sitting near the wave pool. She looked like she was engaged in lively conversation. Not a lot of people can keep a conversation going with her because of her ability¡¯s drawback. Who... Her eyebrow arched as the man she was speaking with turned a bit more. Da-Som? Marta¡¯s lips pursed and she shook her head. Interesting. I should tell Sonya the gossip when she- Marta stopped right at the bottom of the stairs. She saw the sea, the ocean glittering beneath the setting sun. The light danced for what looked like miles across its surface. Beautiful... she breathed. The wind picked up and tousled her hair as her eyes turned to the person leaning against the rail and staring out at the same view. Big as a bear, broad shoulders and strong back relaxed over his powerful arms. His short black hair was as messy as ever, those beady gray eyes looked almost serene from where she stood. He really is just like the sea, isn¡¯t he? She drifted closer and stopped at his side. ¡°Pretty, ain¡¯t it?¡± Barry asked. ¡°Yes,¡± she mused. ¡°We¡¯re gonna have a match tomorrow ¡®n we¡¯re standin¡¯ here talkin¡¯ bout the view,¡± he chortled. ¡°What kinda nonsense is that?¡± She shot him a sideways look. ¡°Nervous I¡¯ll make you look like a fool?¡± He threw his head back and laughed. ¡°Oho! Thinkin¡¯ you got my number, huh?¡± ¡°Maybe,¡± she said and rested her hand on the rail next to his elbow. Her heart felt tight and relaxed all at the same time. The wind blew again and her hair fluttered into her face. She reached up to brush it away when a powerful hand scooped her hair back and tied it into a simple loop, letting it fall to her shoulder. She looked up into his face and he grinned that toothy grin of his; those razor sharp teeth didn¡¯t seem so scary to her as they did the first time she¡¯d seen them. ¡°There ya go.¡± She returned his smile before reaching up to brush a finger across the thick chain he always wore around his neck. ¡°You¡¯re still wearing this?¡± He glanced at her finger and then huffed out a breath. ¡°I never told you?¡± ¡°No,¡± she said thoughtfully. ¡°It looks like an old bike chain.¡± ¡°It is,¡± he said. ¡°My sister¡¯s.¡± He glanced towards the ocean. ¡°She ain¡¯t around no more. Hit by a car on the west side. She snuck out to ride her bike back when I was a brat. I forgot to put the chain on that day.¡± Her hand froze, and she looked up into that serene face. It was hard to imagine that he was the brash man that they had confronted while trying to recruit Amos. It was even harder to imagine that he was the furious demon that had rained hell upon Liberty¡¯s compounds such a short time ago. He was a man who could call whales and beasts of the deep to his aid, had armies of fish men at his beck and call, and could make the very ocean churn if he so desired. Yet right now he was just... Barry. A man who didn¡¯t like pity. ¡°A reminder to not make that kind of mistake again. You lost your way for a while,¡± she said and looked back out to the water. ¡°But you¡¯re a great man now. I¡¯m sure she¡¯d be proud.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± he said. ¡°I think so too. King of the Sea.¡± ¡°You think you¡¯re Posiedon?¡± she asked, leaning against his shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s a pretty bold claim.¡± ¡°Poseidon ain¡¯t got nothin on Barry Logan,¡± he chortled. ¡°Great One or whatever he wanted to call ¡®imself.¡± ¡°You really are something else,¡± she sighed with a wry shake of her head. They fell into a comfortable silence for a while, watching the sun dip lower and lower. The ocean was ablaze at this point. He shifted a little bit before speaking again. ¡°You know, if I¡¯m the sea, you¡¯re like the sun in the sky. Yeah?¡± he said. ¡°Brilliant, beautiful, and bright.¡± She frowned. ¡°I¡¯m flattered, but I don¡¯t know if I like that analogy,¡± she said. ¡°The sea and sun are so far apart.¡± He snorted. ¡°What¡¯re you talkin¡¯ about?¡± he asked and pointed towards the sunset, while resting a hand on her shoulder. She followed his hand and looked at the lights again, her eyes going wide as the next words came, ¡°They look pretty close to me.¡± She looked up at him. ¡°Barry, I-¡± He didn¡¯t stop looking at the sunset. ¡°I wanna make a bet with you, Marta.¡± ¡°A bet?¡± she asked, her eyes running down the shape of his jaw and the lines of his gills. They were permanent rather than the other parts of his transformation. ¡°What kind of bet?¡± ¡°Tomorrow we¡¯re gonna put on a big show. Handmaiden versus Kingshark. Gotta make it look good, really sell the boss¡¯ power and make the heroes feel good about themselves, yeah?¡± He clicked his tongue. ¡°She¡¯s really plannin¡¯ every angle,¡± he mused before leaning forward a bit and grinning. ¡°Well, I¡¯m gonna get the most coverage tomorrow.¡± ¡°You¡¯re betting on who gets the most news coverage?¡± she asked with a laugh. ¡°Are you serious?¡± He stood up straight. ¡°I¡¯m dead serious!¡± he said and turned to her. ¡°More serious than I¡¯ve ever been about anything.¡± She met his eyes and saw something that made her chest tighten a little. A tiny fear that had always been there in the back of her mind. His hand rose to her cheek, so big it nearly enveloped one side of her head. She leaned into the warmth of it even as her eyes flicked away. ¡°What are we betting?¡± she asked. He tilted her head up a bit and she forced herself to meet his eyes again. They were so stone cold serious it was a little shocking. She reached up to put her hand over his. ¡°If I win, I want to be the man to lift the Companion¡¯s veil,¡± he said. Her fingers wrapped around his and she reached out with her other hand to grasp at his shirt. ¡°So you¡¯re leaving it up to a bet, then? So I can¡¯t come up with another excuse? What if I win?¡± she asked without breaking eye contact. ¡°What do I win?¡± ¡°You¡¯re leavin¡¯ it up to me?¡± he asked. ¡°It better be good,¡± she shot back. ¡°If you win,¡± he said. ¡°Then you¡¯ll have tamed the sea.¡± JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 263 It was a quick flight from the ground level of the arena to the roof. Marta¡¯s wings carried her with very little effort, and she alighted on the slightly curved metal surface with barely a sound. She folded her wings around her against the wind that buffeted her face, her eyes fixed on the shape in the distance. A titanic figure stood in the water just inside the harbor. The small houses in the mile between her and the water seemed so tiny by comparison. It looked like he could just reach down and pluck one up with his bare hands. He wasn¡¯t nearly that big, but the illusion was strong. She watched him for a heartbeat, her hair fluttering around her. Her lips pulled in as she settled the butterflies in her stomach. For all Sonya¡¯s bluster and whimsy in the past couple of days, she couldn¡¯t erase the trauma and tragedy that defined her very being. Who she was and what she was here to do. The jokes, the wisecracks, the mischievous villainous grins, and the wicked plans - they all had a purpose. Marta realized in that moment that part of what had changed in Sonya was a separation between end and process. It was her goal, but it didn¡¯t rule her anymore. Marta still thought about it, though. Why she was doing what she was doing. What the point of this fight was. A distraction for the dungeon raid team? Yes. A display of her power to show off a bit to the world? Yes. The first of several reminders of Ishtar¡¯s might? Yes. More important than all of those was what this fight would mean for the heroes of the world. People were scared. The balance between the Heroes and Villains was firmly leaning down towards Ishtar. The scale needed to be reset in a very public way. That was Marta¡¯s job here. To crystallize in the hearts and minds of humanity that the heroes were not on the back foot. Even if it was a performance, it was a crucial one. And I am so goddamn nervous, she thought with a shaky laugh as the man she loved threw his head back and roared with such tremendous force that the air quaked. She spread her wings. I suppose I shouldn¡¯t keep him waiting any longer. The white glow spread across her skin. Her fingers extended into claws, and her powerful body was coated in scales. She held her head high as her wings flapped and she rose from the top of the stadium roof. The sun beat down on her, and she felt its rays in her flesh. The power that Sonya had invested in her was already acting passively. She¡¯d promised not to use it during this fight, but that didn¡¯t mean she couldn¡¯t enjoy the side benefits. She rose up higher and higher, gleaming with the intensity of Baldur¡¯s heroic spirit, and launched. It was just over one mile between her position and the water. About two miles to where Barry stood. Accelerating too much might do harm to her surroundings, and Barry wasn¡¯t moving a whole lot yet, so she didn¡¯t overdo it. Even so, it would only take two minutes to reach him. Long enough to sort out her feelings and- <¡±Handmaiden! This is Guildmaster Quint! I just received word that the Committee is calling in Internationals to help,¡±> came a voice through her earpiece. She smiled and reached up to tap her earpiece, pulling the mic down to her throat to switch it over so she could speak even with the wind rushing past her. <¡±That won¡¯t be necessary, Guildmaster. Tell the Committee to stand down.¡±> <¡±You¡¯re joking. That¡¯s Kingshark out there! It won¡¯t take more than ten minutes to-¡±> <¡±Ten minutes we don¡¯t have,¡±> Marta said gently. <¡±I am a Hero, Guildmaster. I won¡¯t stand idle. I can handle him. Just because they¡¯re the villains doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re stronger than us.¡±> <¡±Now¡¯s not the time to prove a point, Handmaiden!¡±> <¡±I disagree.¡±> She snapped to a stop, hovering in the air over the water. Her wings spread wide as her glow blasted out from her body. She swept her presence over everything, buffeting the madness inherent in Kingshark¡¯s power. She pushed it away and raised her chin to look down at him. He looked up at her. A behemoth tall enough to stand freely in the water of the harbor. His face was a mask of horror, tendrils forming an eerie beard beneath a bald head and burning red eyes. His charcoal black flesh glittered with the moisture of the sea around him. <¡±Now is the perfect time.¡±> She tapped her earpiece and disabled it. She didn¡¯t need any distractions. It was only the two of them now. She kept her expression stoic and firm, while his eyes smoldered with barely contained rage. Yet she knew the man behind the madness, knew what he was thinking, and knew how nervous he was too. Anyone else would see a nightmare. She saw a king. H A N D M A I D E N! A L O N E? His voice was like a concussive wave. She knew everyone for miles could hear him. The dread that each syllable inspired was enough to make a normal person weep. Marta straightened her back and looked him in the eyes. She drew in a breath, and, with the strength given to her by her new draconic ability, she blasted her voice out in response so that those who heard him could hear her. ¡°KINGSHARK!¡± she shouted like a clap of thunder. ¡°JUST ONE HERO IS ENOUGH!¡± The air stilled, and Kingshark¡¯s shoulders started to tremble. He threw his head back and laughed. H A! H A! H A! His head whipped forward as a fresh wave of malice billowed from him. S H O W M E! For those standing by. For those watching from afar. For the camera crews and bystanders bearing witness to two peak Mythics about to clash. It was like a sight from an old story. A dark beast from the sea, its body the color of the cold, unforgiving depths, reached up towards a small, brilliant spark of light in the form of a maiden. One man took a photograph that would become legendary. The sea coiled up around Kingshark¡¯s body and lashed out in her direction. She jerked to the side, avoiding the whips of icy water, and dove towards him. One tendril of water changed course to strike her across the chest, and she whipped her scaled arm out, swatting it away. Heat burned beneath her scales and vaporized the water before he could take hold of it. She was only a few dozen feet from his face when his palms came next. They slammed into her from both sides as she pulled her wings around her like a second layer of armor. She heard his chest rumble with a chuckle before she threw her arms out with a grunt, slamming her fists into his palms. His hands parted, and she freed herself. The king of the sea took a step back, and she charged, fist clenched. There was no force on Earth that could stop Handmaiden¡¯s opening blitz. It was her signature. She drove her fist into the side of his massive head, and he stumbled, letting out a roar of pain. One of the tendrils that made up his beard whipped towards her, and she flapped her wings, shooting into the sky before launching herself right back down. Heroic Strength had been an excellent power to start with. With Euclidia¡¯s help, she had been able to take advantage of acceleration to devastating effect against An Set. Now she had wings and the strength of a dragon on top of it. He turned to look up at her, and his own titanic fist came up to meet hers. They clashed, and the shockwave sounded like a clap of thunder. She was lighter than he was, though, and while he only shifted his weight, she was sent hurtling back up into the sky. She caught herself in midair and let the light build around her body. She could feel the presence of those watching her, Baldur¡¯s Body sensing their hearts. He spread his hands out, and the sea churned. Show me everything you have! she thought. I want to see it all! BOOM! She launched with enough immediate acceleration to break the sound barrier. Water rushed up to meet her, but she blasted right through it, her arm outstretched. She collided with him and pulled him down with her. The clothesline to end all clotheslines. She felt his weight give way to her force, and he hit the water with a roar and a splash. Her foot touched the water, though, and that was all it took for him to turn the tables back. She felt it grab hold of her and pull her under. The sea felt like a living thing as it fell under his will. Thick, malleable, substantial. It crushed in on her with a pressure reserved for the deepest reaches. She felt one of her scales creak and gritted her teeth. Her muscles groaned and her bones screamed, but her regeneration fought back against it, keeping her alive as the water spun her around and churned, trying to keep her from focusing long enough to escape. She pushed back, straining against the weight of the ocean and his will. She could see his eyes in the depths just beyond the bubbles and foam. I S T H A T A L L? Not by a long shot. She touched on her instincts. The depths of her new draconic power. It was a facet she hadn¡¯t delved into yet, but if there was anything that could give her more strength, this was it. She closed her eyes as the water pressure tried to crush her and changed. She felt it in her bones first. They felt denser, heavier, stronger. She felt her sense of self shift. She grew and grew and grew. Her senses exploded with new information, an understanding of the world around her that her humble human mind could not have grasped. Yet, as her head stretched, her jaws grew stronger, and her teeth grew longer, she claimed dominion over her surroundings just as he did. It was a bestial power, but there was something more to it. A pride, a dignity, an innate instinct to stand tall. She already understood it. Marta had always been fierce. Proud. She enjoyed presenting a silent dignity while concealing ferocity beneath it. She¡¯d only had this power for a short time, but it felt like her very soul simply understood it. She had the spirit of Baldur but the heart of a Dragon. ROOOOOAAAAAARRRR! The sea exploded as she burst out of it, a mountain of scales and muscle and teeth. Pearlescent scales glittered in the sunlight as she flapped her true wings for the first time and roared. Kingshark exploded from the sea in response, and for a brief moment, his eyes went wide. She bared her teeth at him, and her jaw opened, a terrible fire burning inside of her. The air stilled, and with a flash of light, a concentrated ray of heat and power blasted down towards him and struck him dead center. It didn¡¯t penetrate, but it lifted him up and sent his mass across the water like a skipping stone. He was on his feet in an instant, bellowing with fury as he raised his arms, and the water level of the entire bay dipped. A tidal wave. She snapped her jaws and charged, claws extended, as he rapidly built a wave that was coming closer and closer to being large enough to wipe out a significant portion of the harbor. Tentacles rose up from the sea to grab her, and she dove between them, sweeping left and right with mighty flaps of her wings. He opened his mouth and released a terrible shriek that would have obliterated the mind of a lesser being. She just powered through and struck. Her teeth dug into his neck as her claws dug into his face. Her tail whipped down and clashed against the tendrils of his beard as he tried to fight her off. She pushed and threw him back into the tidal wave that he had formed. The water rushed around them in a roaring deluge, the tidal wave collapsing with it. His hands snapped up and grabbed hold of her, pulling her off and throwing her off. She caught herself in the air and dove right back down. H A N D M A I D E N! He bellowed and clapped his hands together, another blast to send her away. She diverted, changing direction midair and sweeping around him to release another, albeit weaker, blast of energy from her jaws. He swept towards her and gestured, the water coming up from the sea like pressure cannons. One struck her in the side, and she picked up speed, diving into a barrel roll as a trio of shots flashed past her. Another blast from her jaws strafed across his legs, and yet another across his midsection. He howled, and the sea churned again. Let the whole world see it. Our dance. Even if no one else knows the truth about why. Tentacles and blasts of water from the sea. Shrieks of madness and chaos from his lips. His massive hands reached for her. It was nothing short of a real-life bullet hell. Cuts formed on her body that even her powerful scales could not fully protect her from. One wound after another. Pain that faded as flesh knit itself back together. Yet, even as she pushed herself to her limits, she felt that spirit building in her chest. She knew that heroes were now watching her close by. Their sense of purpose, their pride, added fuel to the flame. A clap of his hands sent her flying back, and she righted herself. Their eyes met. He pulled his arms back, and the water rose around him, curling together and condensing into a tighter and tighter shape. She drew in a lungful of air, her clawed hands tightening into fists as she put every ounce of built-up strength into it. Pressure built. Power soared. Mana seethed in the air, crackling, almost visible, storming. She threw her head forward as his hands stretched out. Let them all see. BOOOOOM! The sun had been close to setting. Yet now it seemed like it was midday. When the mist faded, Kingshark stood in the water with a hole in his side. Marta felt the blood dripping from her wound in her stomach. They held one another¡¯s gaze until, with a growl, Kingshark sank into the water and disappeared. His presence left with him. Marta threw her head back as her heart trembled in her chest and roared out her very soul to the world. JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 264 While the world outside shook, Leiandra stumbled out of the elevator. One of Sonya¡¯s armed security guards caught her and helped her steady herself. She nodded to him briefly as he turned and began leading her towards a side hallway. She grabbed him by the arm and turned back to the elevator. ¡°Wait, give her a moment to come down. We need to make sure¨C¡± ¡°Miss Chernovna gave us an order to get you somewhere safe, ma¡¯am,¡± the guard said sharply through the vocalizer built into his helmet, the nearly opaque faceplate revealing just enough of his face to make him distinguishable from the others. ¡°Apologies, ma¡¯am, but her orders trump her own safety. That¡¯s how this works.¡± Leiandra was taken aback. ¡°Excuse me?¡± she demanded. ¡°You¡¯re her security team! How can her orders be more important than her security?¡± ¡°Because we trust her, ma¡¯am. If she says she¡¯ll be fine, she¡¯ll be fine,¡± the guard shot back. ¡°She¡¯s not as helpless as you might suspect.¡± Leiandra scowled, but the other guard stepped up behind her and nodded. The building trembled as a roar shook everything. She looked up at the ceiling and let out a sigh. ¡°Fine,¡± she muttered before checking the elevator one last time. The number was already rising towards the level Sonya was on. It wouldn¡¯t be long before it picked her up. She could try to press for time, but there was no point in arguing. They¡¯d drag her if she held off any longer. She started walking, grumbling under her breath about that stubborn woman. Why does she need to see Handmaiden off anyway? she thought irritably as they entered one of the side halls leading towards the stairs down to the safe room. ¡°How many safe rooms are there?¡± she asked, glancing towards the doors to the locker rooms as she walked. ¡°If you¡¯re concerned about the participants in the locker rooms, the locker rooms double as safe rooms and are sealed automatically,¡± the guard explained. ¡°The walls are reinforced.¡± She huffed. ¡°Fine,¡± she grumbled as they reached the steps. A door slammed open behind them, and she whirled in time to see Sonya running through. Leiandra let out a sigh of relief. ¡°There you are!¡± she growled. ¡°What took you so long?¡± Sonya hustled over and slid to a stop, panting. ¡°Couldn¡¯t send her off without a word, could I?¡± The CEO chuckled and straightened her hair with a flip, smirking. ¡°You look surprisingly relieved to see me.¡± Leiandra¡¯s nostrils flared. ¡°I don¡¯t want you dead, you idiot!¡± she snarled. ¡°I just want you to own your shit and do your job in a legal and moral way. What about that is so difficult to understand?¡± It was Sonya¡¯s turn to look a little taken aback. Her smile turned almost... sad? She smiled and patted Leiandra¡¯s arm before walking past her with a chuckle. ¡°Never change, Leiandra,¡± she said and started down the stairs with a light hum and a skip to her step. Leiandra watched her back, frowning a little. What was that? she thought as she tried to recontextualize every interaction she¡¯d had with the woman so far. That one moment seemed more genuine than all the other wisecracks, jokes, and acts of mischief. She looked back as one of the guards put a hand on her shoulder, and she nodded, hustling down to walk with Sonya. The CEO kept her eyes forward, a smug smile on her face, but her eyes seemed steadier than usual. ¡°You seem calm.¡± ¡°I believe in Marta,¡± Sonya said without missing a beat. ¡°She can take him.¡± ¡°Kingshark? One-on-one?¡± Leiandra countered. ¡°No offense to Handmaiden, but that¡¯s a bit of a stretch. He crossed the planet in a day and slaughtered tens of hundreds of members of Liberty¡¯s cult, destroying a small town¡¯s worth of property.¡± Sonya turned to meet her eyes. ¡°And?¡± she asked. ¡°How do First Wind¡¯s collateral damage figures look?¡± Leiandra paused and thought it over as they reached the bottom of the steps. The two escorts hurried back up. She¡¯s right. The Committee declared Kingshark a Special-class villain because of his blitz attacks, but they were all carefully timed. He is powerful in his favored terrain, but... is he really all that different from any other high-end Mythic when you boil it down? She pressed her lips together hard. If any Mythic could be that strong, then... Sonya came to a sudden stop, and Leiandra shook herself from her thoughts. She looked at the CEO, who was eyeing the pair of guards at the door with a puzzled expression before shrugging a little. Leiandra looked at them, but they didn¡¯t look any different than the others to her. Same uniform, as far as I can tell. Sonya started walking again, smiling ear to ear, and extended a hand to the guard on the left. ¡°You must be new!¡± she said brightly. New? Then it hit her. Sonya can see their names! She doesn¡¯t recognize them. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± the guard said. ¡°Please get inside, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Interesting!¡± Sonya said brightly as the door opened. Leiandra looked past her and saw nothing. Just a large room with some couches. She exchanged a look with the CEO, who snickered. ¡°Those really are some nice cuffs you¡¯ve got there, Leiandra. Are they ASTA brand?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Leiandra looked down at her suppression cuffs as Sonya walked inside. ¡°Yes,¡± she said hesitantly. ¡°Your company is the only one that makes any good ones. Why do you-¡± A strong hand grabbed Leiandra by the arm, and she was pulled away before she could even turn her head. She watched a group of thugs grab Sonya as well. They¡¯d been hiding at either side of the door. A trap! She reached down for her suppression cuff. ¡°Bind her arms first,¡± a familiar voice came, and one of the men behind her grabbed her other hand, pulling it away from her cuff. Shit! She looked up and around the plain-looking safe room as her arms were painfully wrenched behind her back. A zip tie was wrapped around her wrists, followed by another to reinforce it before she was forced to the ground. Her heart was racing. Sonya was already on the ground when she saw the rear of the room bend. It twisted and rippled before shattering like glass, revealing a slightly longer room and several more armed men standing around the speaker. ¡°Sowards!¡± she snarled. ¡°What the hell? You sniveling little shit!¡± The rail-thin man had his hands in his pockets. His foot tapped rapidly against the ground as he looked between her and Sonya with a wild look in his eyes. He pulled one hand out of his pocket, and she saw it was trembling as he slapped the side of his head in shock. ¡°She was right! It went down exactly like she said! That¡¯s crazy!¡± he laughed. ¡°This couldn¡¯t have gone better! Both of them at the same time! I can¡¯t believe it!¡± ¡®She¡¯? Leiandra narrowed her eyes as a bad feeling coiled in her gut. Her mind was already coming to a conclusion that she didn¡¯t want to consider. ¡°Sowards,¡± she breathed. ¡°You didn¡¯t.¡± He cackled and raised a hand; the air shimmered and shards of glass formed around him like a hundred tiny blades. He twitched his finger, and they twirled before floating into the air above them and spreading out. ¡°You tell me, what didn¡¯t I do?¡± he asked coldly. ¡°You made a deal with Ishtar, you bastard!¡± she snarled, her burning stare fixed on him as one of the men behind her grabbed her and dragged her to the center of the room and set her down with Sonya at her left. She checked on the CEO and found her staring flatly at Sowards without a flicker in her mute expression. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Sonya just blinked and shrugged without saying anything. Leiandra looked back at Sowards, who was looking down at them from over his nose, his smile cruel. ¡°The Voice of the Hero Movement and the Fanatic Inquisitor of the Pandora Committee. Both at the same time, at my mercy.¡± He let out a long sigh. ¡°Oh, I should have switched sides a long time ago. It feels so good.¡± Leiandra flinched at the nickname, and he snorted. ¡°You don¡¯t have a lot of fans back home, do you, Miss Firth? Sonya here may be a little shady, but at least people like her,¡± Sowards snarled, crouching down to look her in the eyes. ¡°How does it feel knowing that most heroes hate your guts?¡± ¡°At least I¡¯m not a pathetic coward who couldn¡¯t take the heat and turned to the devil herself to-¡± The side of her face and her nose exploded with pain as he struck her. She pressed her lips together as a trickle of blood dripped down onto her thigh. She stared him dead in the eyes, and he flicked his wrist, a blade of glass falling into his grip. He held it out and pressed it beneath her chin. ¡°Want to say that again, Firth?¡± he asked, his pupils going small with warning. She clenched her teeth and tried to move her fingers closer to the release, but a hand reached down and grabbed her by her hair. She grunted and forced herself to stay as still as possible, the instinct to jerk her head forward nearly killing her. Sowards barked out a laugh and tapped the blade of glass up against her chin. ¡°Whoops! That would have been bad, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a piece of shit, Sowards.¡± ¡°And you don¡¯t know how to play the game, Leiandra.¡± She spat at him, only for the bloody glob to slap against a pane of glass between them. He stifled a laugh and turned away, going to squat down in front of Sonya. Leiandra tried to pull herself away from the man holding her in place, but she could only watch. Sonya just stared forward, her face unconcerned. ¡°You look confident as always, smug bitch,¡± Sowards growled. ¡°Nobody¡¯s coming to save you.¡± Sonya shrugged. ¡°If that¡¯s what you think.¡± Sowards looked up at the door. ¡°You¡¯re dead, Chernovna, and so is your bodyguard. That¡¯s Kingshark out there. Get with the program. The villains have the advantage. Every one of them is worth at least two heroes of the same tier. Ishtar¡¯s Inner Circle? They¡¯re monsters beyond our imagination.¡± Leiandra pulled against the grip on her head. ¡°Handmaiden can handle him alone, and with other heroes he-¡± ¡°Shut your fucking mouth! I¡¯m not talking to you!¡± Sowards snapped and whipped his hand out, a sharp flash of pain spreading across Leiandra¡¯s arm. She gasped and looked down to see blood freely streaming down from her shoulder. Sowards turned back to Sonya. ¡°Well? Anything to say? You usually know just what to say, Chernovna. You were full of it back at The Hague. No self-righteousness in you now?¡± Sonya smirked at him and shrugged. He scowled. ¡°I¡¯ll have you know I¡¯m going for that bitch Carla Mint after I¡¯m through with you.¡± Leiandra watched Sonya¡¯s face, but it really didn¡¯t change. How is she so calm? Why? ¡°Sonya, he¡¯s going to kill you!¡± she shouted. Sowards turned to shout when Sonya pointed at him with a confused expression on her face. She pointed at herself next and then burst into laughter. The hand holding Leiandra¡¯s head loosened its grip a little as Sowards slowly turned his head to stare at Sonya¡¯s hand. The entire room went very, very still. Sonya just blinked and looked down at her wrist. ¡°Oh, was uh... was that not supposed to come off?¡± she asked and held up the remains of the zip tie. Sowards stumbled back in surprise. ¡°What the fuck?!¡± Sonya held out her wrists. ¡°Here! Try again!¡± she offered with a bright smile. He leaned in towards her, a vein pulsing in his temple. ¡°Why the hell would I do that if you¡¯ve already broken out once?¡± She leaned away from him and covered her nose. ¡°Sheesh, I was just offering. It sounded like you weren¡¯t done monologuing yet. Isn¡¯t it rude to interrupt a villain mid-monologue?¡± she asked and turned to Leiandra, who couldn¡¯t believe what she was seeing. Sonya jerked her thumb towards Sowards. ¡°Get a load of this guy,¡± she said and waved her hand. ¡°His breath reeks.¡± Leiandra¡¯s head was spinning while Sowards¡¯ eye was twitching. ¡°How did you do that?¡± he demanded. Sonya made a frustrated expression. ¡°Weren¡¯t you there for the Darksider¡¯s raid on HQ?¡± Sonya asked with a frown. ¡°Also, I¡¯m pretty sure you were part of the camp instructor subcommittee.¡± Understanding ripped through Leiandra¡¯s mind. No wonder she was so calm. She was confident in handling herself in a situation like this. She trained heroes in hand-to-hand combat. A bunch of thugs were nothing to her. She glanced up at the shards of glass hanging in the air over them. But can she handle that? Sonya didn¡¯t move to get up as Sowards watched her with a cautious eye. The thugs around them were all reaching for their weapons as the man stood up straighter and straightened his tie. The vein was still pulsing in the side of his head. ¡°At least you know better than to make any other moves. I¡¯ll shred you to pieces, Chernovna.¡± Sonya snorted. ¡°Do it then.¡± Sowards bared his teeth. ¡°I¡¯ll do it when I decide to!¡± The building shook, and Sonya glanced up. ¡°Better hurry. Sounds like the fight is wrapping up. If Handmaiden wins, she¡¯ll be a lot harder to deal with than me.¡± ¡°Sonya!¡± Leiandra shouted. ¡°Are you insane?¡± What is wrong with her? Sonya side-eyed her. ¡°What? He¡¯s a pussy.¡± ¡°I will kill you!¡± Sowards bellowed, holding out his hands. ¡°I¡¯m waiting!¡± ¡°AAAHHHH!¡± Sowards shrieked, and... nothing happened. He waved his arms. His eyes twitched. He looked down at his hands and then up at the ceiling. The shards of glass flickered and destabilized, a few popping into glittering dust. His chest was heaving. ¡°What the hell?¡± he demanded. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with my powers? She should be dead!¡± He really tried to kill her, Leiandra thought before looking at Sonya, who was staring at him without a care in the world. How did she do that? Did she break his concentration on his ability or something? If he just recently got it, he must be unused to using it. Ingenious, if a bit reckless. Sonya¡¯s calm slipped into an almost pitying expression. ¡°Performance issues, Sowards? Sorry, but we don¡¯t have pills for that yet.¡± Leiandra¡¯s eyes bulged. Soward¡¯s right eye, on the other hand, literally turned red as a blood vessel popped. He staggered. ¡°CHERNOVNA!¡± he shrieked and rounded on one of the thugs. ¡°Give me a fucking gun!¡± Leiandra tried to get to her feet. There was nothing Sonya could do about a bullet. She had to do something. She pulled hard against the grip on her head as Sonya looked towards Leiandra with a smug smile. ¡°Peaches.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Click. Mana flooded into Leiandra¡¯s body. The instincts of her ability roared to the surface. Her awareness spread across the room. Every object in the room was suddenly in her reach. The sudden deluge of sense took her off-guard for only a heartbeat as Sowards rounded on Sonya and pointed the gun in her direction. He pulled the trigger as Leiandra tilted her head forward. Power burned behind her eyes. She didn¡¯t have time to think it through. She only had time to act and put a proven threat down. The next moment, Sowards was dead on the ground, with a bullet hole in his head. JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 265 After Sowards died, it didn¡¯t take much convincing for the thugs he¡¯d hired to surrender. It wasn¡¯t very long after that Leiandra found herself sitting on a couch in the safe room, staring down at the floor. She¡¯d refused medical attention. She didn¡¯t need it. All she could do was stare at the spot where Sowards had fallen. She felt sick, her entire body itching with pins and needles of numb sensation. She clenched her teeth and leaned forward, resting her head between her knees as she tried to take steady breaths. Something fell over her shoulders, and she flinched, reaching to grab at it. A blanket? She looked up and met Sonya¡¯s eyes. Her expression was softer than usual. She looked down at the ground and swallowed hard. ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°You reached for it when you felt threatened. If your ability didn¡¯t have combat potential, you wouldn¡¯t have done that,¡± Sonya said calmly. ¡°You stopped him.¡± Leiandra clicked her tongue. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t pressured him before all this happened, then-¡± ¡°Then what?¡± Sonya asked, tilting her head. ¡°Then he boils over later? He was still under investigation, Leiandra. It would have happened eventually.¡± Leiandra ground her teeth but said nothing. She was right. Forcing Sowards to make a move sooner rather than later was better. He had accepted the offer from Ishtar and likely would have regardless of whether or not Sonya had messed with him. She closed her eyes and sighed, looking back at that bloody spot and wincing. Her stomach churned again. ¡°First time killing someone?¡± Sonya asked. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t hold it in, then. I¡¯ll get you a bucket,¡± Sonya said and turned away, walking to one of the cubbies in the safe room. Leiandra looked up and watched her back as she reached in and pulled out a few things. She glanced towards the door where a pair of ASTA security guards were standing. The ones that had betrayed them had been arrested. She saw Sonya¡¯s heels before a bucket landed on the ground at her feet. Leiandra tilted her head up and looked into the CEO¡¯s eyes. Her expression was unmoving. ¡°How many have you...¡± Sonya frowned. Leiandra nodded. ¡°Not something anyone wants to talk about,¡± she sighed and reached for the bucket. A few minutes later, she was drinking from a bottle of water and wiping the tears from her face. She coughed and hung her head as Sonya rubbed her back. ¡°I¡¯m not built for this kind of thing. I fight with words and within the framework of the law. That''s why I didn¡¯t go for my license.¡± ¡°A year ago I would have accused you of being a coward,¡± Sonya said next to her. Leiandra chuckled. ¡°And now?¡± ¡°You¡¯re still a wimp,¡± Sonya quipped. Leiandra stared at her before bursting into laughter. ¡°You¡¯re a cruel person.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been called worse,¡± Sonya said with a sigh and leaned back on the couch before looking at the door. ¡°I¡¯m very proud of her.¡± ¡°Handmaiden?¡± ¡°Yeah. She did a marvelous job. The world won¡¯t forget what happened out there.¡± Leiandra considered her for a long time. ¡°Is this whole world tour really about passing around a couple reawakening tokens?¡± she asked. Sonya gave her a mischievous side-eye. ¡°Not in the least.¡± Leiandra snorted and got shakily to her feet. Sonya hopped up and almost looked like she was about to fret when Leiandra waved her away. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she muttered before looking the CEO dead in the eyes. ¡°Sonya, I don¡¯t approve of how you do things sometimes. I think that you¡¯re hiding the fact that you are some kind of criminal.¡± Sonya put her hands in her pockets and raised her eyebrows. ¡°Oh?¡± The prosecutor let out a breath. ¡°But...¡± she shook her head. ¡°I think I¡¯ve started to understand why. I don¡¯t agree with your methods, but I can see the goal, and it¡¯s a good one.¡± ¡°Does that mean you¡¯re going to go easy on me?¡± Sonya asked with a grin. ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Leiandra laughed. ¡°I am going to make sure you answer for your crimes, whatever they are. You won¡¯t get away with it.¡± Sonya grinned. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll see.¡± Leiandra looked past the CEO towards the door behind her and frowned. ¡°Yeah, but in the meantime, until I catch you,¡± she turned to hold the woman¡¯s gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t stop.¡± Sonya raised her eyebrows in surprise before letting out a small laugh and clapping Leiandra on the arm. She turned away and walked to the door. It hissed open, and they were greeted by Handmaiden¡¯s stoic face. Sonya turned around and crossed her arms, raising her chin up. ¡°Have the Committee send me a list of their picks for watching me on my little adventure,¡± she said and held up two fingers. ¡°I¡¯ll take two.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll let them know.¡± She paused before taking a step forward. ¡°Um... may I ask something?¡± Sonya glanced up over her shoulder at Handmaiden before shrugging and looking back. ¡°Sure.¡± Leiandra¡¯s hands twitched once before she looked back at the bloodstain on the floor. ¡°Does it...get better?¡± ¡°No.¡± Leiandra¡¯s shoulders sagged. ¡°You¡¯ll see his face every day,¡± Sonya said. ¡°You¡¯ll think about it. Wonder what you could have done differently. It will gnaw at you,¡± she sighed. ¡°But that¡¯s the weight of a life. It¡¯s up to you to be strong enough to carry it.¡± Leiandra looked back up to see Sonya turn away and raise her hand in farewell. ¡°So you¡¯ll be just fine, Leiandra. Get some rest.¡± As she watched Sonya leave, Leiandra couldn¡¯t help but see a mountain resting on that woman¡¯s unwavering shoulders. Just how many lives are weighing you down, Sonya Chernovna? ¡ª Sonya glanced up at Marta as they walked down the hall towards the elevator. Her friend looked back at her and met her eyes before looking away. ¡°What?¡± Marta asked. Sonya grinned at her. ¡°So do you have a date set?¡± she asked. Marta¡¯s face turned red, and she frowned. ¡°Sonya, we haven¡¯t had any time to talk since the fight.¡± ¡°Aww, gimme something to work with! Do you need someone to officiate?¡± She gasped and clapped her hands. ¡°We could have Colin do it!¡± ¡°Colin is neither a priest nor a judge,¡± Marta pointed out as they reached the elevator. She tapped the button, and the two of them entered when it chimed, setting the destination for the top floor. Sonya watched her friend frown. ¡°Where did Amos run off to in all the excitement?¡± ¡°Oh, he slipped away to record your fight,¡± Sonya said and leaned against the inner rail of the elevator, humming to herself while she reached into her warehouse. She plucked her latest contractual acquisition out and grinned, a shard of glass appearing over her palm. She spun it lazily in the air before dismissing it. Stripping powers upon death is a handy little clause to include. Thanks for the idea, Colin. Though that does give me some other ideas I hadn¡¯t even considered before. When I get back, I need to sit down with Charon. I just had an amazing business idea. Broker, it¡¯s time to put you to work! ¡°Hoo hoo!¡± she cheered. So much time wasted last year, but I¡¯ll make up for it! She snickered before checking on Marta, who was frowning. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t be like that. Think of it like a home movie. A couple¡¯s dance!¡± Marta crossed her arms. ¡°Hmph.¡± Sonya looked up into her friend''s face, grinning ear to ear. Marta did her best - Sonya could see it - but she couldn''t contain it for long. She broke into a wide and goofy smile as they neared the top floor. ¡°I¡¯m getting married!¡± ¡°You¡¯re getting married!¡± The two of them burst into noisy elation as the door chimed and opened. The guy standing on the other side of the door took a step back. ¡°Sheesh! You could knock out someone''s hearing with that.¡± The two women turned to Amos, who was standing in the doorway, picking at his ear. They all stood in silence for a moment before he shot her a thumbs-up and a grin. ¡°It just vanished from the map. Mission accomplished. They¡¯re already heading back.¡± Sonya tilted her chin up. ¡°Then we¡¯re almost done here,¡± she said proudly. ¡°Good work, Doctor.¡± He stepped onto the elevator with them, and Marta hit the button again to send them back down. She turned to Amos, who was looking thoughtfully into the distance. ¡°Have they noticed yet?¡± ¡°Just did,¡± Amos said. ¡°The Pandora Committee just released an internal alert about the Lake Eyre dungeon vanishing. The local guildmasters are racing there right now.¡± Sonya rubbed her hands together. ¡°Then it''s time to wrap up and run for it!¡± ¡ª Qilin stepped out of the archway at the spot where the Lake Eyre dungeon had been, her lips forming a thin line. She turned in a complete circle and channeled her power. The details were all present, but it felt like specifics were missing. She couldn¡¯t identify exactly who was involved, and that meant that she wouldn¡¯t be able to bring misfortune to bear against them. Even so, she had a pretty good idea. Not that it changes matters, she thought lazily. I want a word with her anyway. It was nice while the terms of our deal lasted, but now they¡¯ve expired. I need to renew it. Hopefully she likes what I have to offer. Her fingers twitched a little. Just one month with the thrill of a mortal¡¯s luck was exhilarating. I need more. How could anyone live with this banality? ¡°Hero Qilin!¡± a voice called out to her from behind. She frowned and turned with a long, suffering sigh towards the trio of heroes that landed. All lower Mythic-tier. The three top guildmasters in Australia. So weak. How boring. I hope they don¡¯t make this a hassle. I want to go find Ishtar. ¡°Can I help you?¡± she asked. ¡°Did you see who did this? They couldn¡¯t have gone far,¡± one asked quickly, marching towards her and nodding to the spot where the gate had been at the edge of the large lake. ¡°That dungeon was a national strategic resource. This is a serious issue.¡± Mundane problems. Why should I care about something like that? Solve it yourself. Dungeons appear every day. Just go find another one, idiot. ¡°No,¡± she said and gestured to the spot where the portal was. The footprints simply vanished at some point. She could sense that an intense flow of mana had been drawn near the spot where they¡¯d disappeared but really couldn¡¯t be bothered to point that out. What good would it do her? ¡°They¡¯ve long since gone. One of them must have some manner of transportation ability.¡± The guildmaster scowled and pointed at her. ¡°You must have something! You¡¯re an international hero! They say your senses are better than anyone else¡¯s!¡± Tedious. Another one of them stepped forward. ¡°Hey! He asked you a question! Just because you¡¯re-¡± She turned her head slowly towards the latest speaker and frowned, looking the woman dead in the eyes. She held her gaze until the woman withered a bit, taking a step back. Qilin shook her head and turned away. ¡°So boring,¡± she sighed and reached up to tap her earpiece. ¡°Euclidia, get me out of here. My guess is that Kingshark¡¯s attack on the ASTA competition was a cover for Ishtar¡¯s real goal of sending the rest of her men to take this dungeon. They¡¯ve already left.¡± I suspect Blackrazor and that lightning user, Kerauna. Mephisto had some strength to him too, from what I could sense, though he was a coward. She paused and frowned. She hadn¡¯t thought about Mephisto since her deal with Ishtar, his face fading into the background of her mind. He was largely unimportant to her in that context, so she hadn¡¯t bothered considering him since then. Yet now his face bothered her. Where do I know him from? ¡°Already? Alright, I¡¯ll get the gate up in a sec!¡± Euclidia said into her ear. Qilin ignored the white noise of protests behind her as her thoughts churned. She had been so elated to have her luck ability bound back then that it hadn¡¯t quite sunk in as to who she had met that day. He¡¯d appeared a bit different - the eye color was off, and his presence was strangely distorted to make it distracting - but there was no mistaking it. She brought his face up front and center in her mind''s eye. Colin Matthews, the lawyer who had appeared during the Liberty hearing. He is Mephisto. Her lazy thoughts trailed off as she idly stared at the spot where the dungeon portal had been. A thrill went up her spine. Her heart skipped a beat. Colin Matthews is Mephisto! she thought as her eyes went a little wide. She reached up and touched her cheek, a bit of warmth there. But if he is Mephisto, then- Her thoughts whirled with the possibilities, Qilin¡¯s Wisdom putting the pieces together. It¡¯s a completely insane conclusion, but no other answer makes sense! Who else would be able to pull it off? Interesting! So very interesting! Why is she doing it? She swallowed hard. Does it even matter? Finally, something entertaining in this boring world. Do I interfere? No. Why ruin a good thing? She chewed on her thumbnail as a drop of sweat trickled down her temple. Regardless, I know where to find you now, Ishtar! She tapped her earpiece again. ¡°Change of plans, Euclidia. Is the awards ceremony still ongoing?¡± she asked. ¡°For the ASTA Competition? No, it¡¯s been delayed till tomorrow. You wanna head over there? Nothing worth looking at, really. Kingshark has already buggered off,¡± Euclidia said. Quite the contrary, something very interesting is going on over there. Something able to finally soothe my boredom. I can go right to the source, she thought delightedly. ¡°Yes,¡± she said, her heart pounding. ¡°Has the Committee convinced Chernovna to accept a security detail yet?¡± There was a long pause before Euclidia spoke up. ¡°Actually, yeah. Prosecutor Firth just confirmed she¡¯s requesting two Internationals to watch her back for the remainder of her tour. Apparently that¡¯s her stipulation to accept. You want to do that? You¡¯re bored all the time as it is. Babysitter doesn¡¯t exactly sound like your thing,¡± Euclidia said dismissively. ¡°First Wind¡¯s on the top of the bodyguard list too. I know how you feel about him.¡± The guildmasters were shouting at her now. She resisted the urge to kill them. Dealing with Luca is a small price to pay for this, she reasoned. ¡°I think I¡¯ll go anyway. Call it a gut feeling,¡± Qilin said. ¡°I will go speak with her in person and make sure I¡¯m one of the two.¡± ¡°...Okay! If you¡¯re sure.¡± Euclidia said hesitantly. ¡°Portal up in five, pretty lady!¡± Qilin hung up and reached up to clutch at her chest. She knew something no one else knew. It was so obvious in retrospect, but the truth made the world seem so much more interesting. Sharing that truth would spoil everything. She had to keep it to herself. She had to be on the front row to see more. Her body trembled as a smile she hadn¡¯t made since she was a child spread across her face. Sonya Chernovna is Ishtar. JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 266 Sonya pursed her lips and pouted. At least this gives you time to make things a little more elaborate, Ishtar pointed out. Sonya crossed her arms and shrugged, watching the crews work on setting up the awards stage. It would be a quick ceremony since Sonya had no intention of publicly distributing the so-called ¡®second awakening tokens.¡¯ She would pull Glint into a private meeting and go through the process there. She¡¯d done something similar for Lillian before, so she wasn¡¯t expecting a particularly difficult process. Just have him sign the ludicrously overwritten contract Colin had prepared that included the stipulations for the awakening process. Technically, signing the contract would grant the ability immediately, but she would have it sanctioned behind the act of breaking the token to make it look like it was the token that provided the effect. Sneaky? Yes. But after a tiny bit of memory tweaking, and once Glint went public about his experience, then that would be that. Most people would be convinced. Not everyone, but there were always contrarians out there. She clicked her tongue. I just wanted to be done with this country already. I love Australia, don¡¯t get me wrong, but the next stop calls. Ishtar chuckled. You sure you don¡¯t want to hold off till the end for Representative Ma? Sonya smirked. He¡¯s the ringleader of what happened to Cass as far as I understand it. While it would be poetic, I have a larger perspective to consider. Besides, with the proximity, Suo will come to Beijing as well. Having Taiwan be one of your destinations would be a little obvious too, wouldn¡¯t it? Ishtar agreed. Right... Sonya trailed off and frowned, squeezing her arms a little while she fixed her eyes on the teams and dolls working, distracting herself a little. Thinking about the stop after that? Sonya snorted and shook her head but said nothing. I can¡¯t read your mind anymore, little sister, Ishtar said. It¡¯s okay to be nervous. You¡¯re in control now. Emotions are normal. Sonya let out a sigh. I don¡¯t even remember Murmansk. You don¡¯t have to choose it as your destination, Ishtar reminded her. You barely have any ties to that place. Sonya shook her head. I need to see it at least once. Dismissing it for as long as I have is unhealthy, and... I¡¯ve had Blackrazor doing some digging. She hesitated when Ishtar didn¡¯t speak. Yury and Irina Chernovna are alive and have returned to their roots. You still have something there? Sonya scoffed. Hardly, but there¡¯s something, I think. I feel it, a karmic bond that needs to be severed once and for all.I need to look them in the eyes one more time. That could do more harm than good, Ishtar pointed out. I¡¯ve learned that sometimes healing hurts, Sonya countered. Very well, Murmansk it is. After that is Berlin, right? Yeah, going to Paris, like Taiwan, would be a little too obvious. While I want to see what Astaroth is up to, I have other priorities and I can use the Night Society and Mimir for now, Sonya replied. Dubois won¡¯t be able to resist. He¡¯s a greedy bastard. Though after the rest of his compatriots are dead, he may very well bring Astaroth with him for protection. You¡¯re his match in a fight, Ishtar said. I wouldn¡¯t worry too much. Sonya nodded. Right. Her phone rang, and she slipped it from her pocket, glancing at the caller ID and raising an eyebrow. Interesting. She smiled and answered it. ¡°Brent! How are you? It¡¯s been a while!¡± she said enthusiastically, turning away from the window and stepping out through the doors of the commentator¡¯s box. Marta was standing outside. She winked at her and leaned against the door. ¡°Sonya, you¡¯ve been busy,¡± the CEO of Marion Heroics said. ¡°Oh, you know, idle hands. I¡¯m like a short guy from an early aught cul-de-sac,¡± she laughed and got a sidelong look from Marta. ¡°Oh, come on,¡± she hissed. ¡°You¡¯ve seen- Really?¡± ¡°I do hear you like candy,¡± Brent chimed in. Sonya threw up her hands. ¡°Thank you! Someone gets it!¡± ¡°Though your ideas don¡¯t seem to blow up in your face,¡± Brent added. ¡°I¡¯m here with Adam.¡± Sonya¡¯s lips curled up into a smile. ¡°Adam Frask is with you?¡± she said brightly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so? I wouldn¡¯t have dragged this out nearly as much.¡± Brent scoffed, and the sound on the other end changed a bit. ¡°Hi, Sonya!¡± Adam, the CEO of Forge Tactical, called out. ¡°Hi Adam! How¡¯s your sister doing?¡± she asked. ¡°Twins, right?¡± ¡°Michael and Haley,¡± Adam confirmed. ¡°Those are wonderful names. What can I do for you guys?¡± she asked, glancing up at the elevator when the numbers above the door started to go down. She raised an eyebrow and glanced at Marta, who frowned a little. Odd, there shouldn¡¯t be anyone else coming up here right now. All the work is downstairs. Security didn¡¯t contact me either. ¡°We¡¯d like to give you a hand,¡± Adam said, ¡°If you¡¯re open to it.¡± ¡°Oh? What do you have in mind?¡± she asked. ¡°We¡¯re aware you can¡¯t change the grand prize now - it wouldn¡¯t be fair to Glint and the others. The two of us came up with a more performative idea. Something that might help streamline the qualifying rounds with the deluge of participants you¡¯re going to have,¡± Adam explained. ¡°I hear the numbers for Beijing are quite high.¡± I was going to hold qualification matches in isolated spots throughout the city, Sonya thought. If they have a better suggestion, I say we take advantage, Ishtar advised. ¡°I¡¯m listening,¡± Sonya said, glancing again at the elevator that had reached the bottom floor. Marta had turned away and was speaking into her earpiece and walking towards the doors. ¡°Dharan,¡± Brent chimed in with a smile in his voice. ¡°After the tragedy in Tokyo, it¡¯s been pretty much confirmed how dungeon breaks are shut down. While there are tens of thousands of monsters in the wasteland, they¡¯re all Uncommon-tier at best. Only the boss itself seems to be an outlier.¡± Sonya frowned. ¡°That¡¯s putting the participants in danger.¡± ¡°They¡¯re licensed heroes,¡± Brent countered. ¡°We know the risks. If we aren¡¯t willing to face a little danger to get stronger, then what¡¯s the point? This shouldn¡¯t be about entertainment. We should be accomplishing something while we fight for the gold.¡± ¡°We?¡± she brightened. ¡°You didn¡¯t!¡± ¡°I took what you had to say to heart, you were right. I¡¯m a member of the guild I sponsor now. I go on missions on occasion,¡± Brent said. ¡°It¡¯s the right thing to do with this power.¡± Sonya hummed thoughtfully. ¡°That¡¯s something I¡¯ll need to clear with the Committee. A few heavily controlled free-for-alls is one thing, but clearing Dharan is a whole other story.¡± ¡°We understand,¡± Adam said. ¡°We are simply suggesting it as a way of handling all of the qualifiers all at once. Participants can have their monster kills, saves, and participation tallied.¡± It would be a good way to bring the heroes together even more, Ishtar added. Though it would steal time from the Inner Circle¡¯s raiding window. Sonya considered it. They¡¯re already going to be watching the high-end dungeons after Lake Eyre anyway. It doesn¡¯t change much, logistically speaking. Agreed. ¡°Color me interested,¡± Sonya said brightly as the elevator chimed. ¡°I¡¯ll speak to Carla and-¡± She froze. Her heart caught in her chest. This was not the plan. An Asian woman with black hair in a bun and wearing a green cheongsam stepped out of the elevator. Her cold eyes swept over her surroundings for a heartbeat before turning to face Marta. Qilin! What is she doing here? I was going to request her later, once I had a controlled environment to meet her in. I¡¯m not ready to talk to her yet! She clicked her tongue. Is this her luck manipulation at work? ¡°Sonya? You alright?¡± Adam asked. ¡°I just got a surprise visitor,¡± Sonya said hesitantly as Marta and Qilin spoke. Qilin glanced her way once before looking away quickly. Sonya narrowed her eyes until Marta turned and gave her a thumbs-up before gesturing to continue her call. The hell? She¡¯s letting me finish? Alright, neat I guess. ¡°Nevermind, where was I? Oh! I¡¯ll speak with Carla and see if we can¡¯t get something worked out. We¡¯ll have to coordinate with Euclidia as well. How do you want to handle scoring?¡± ¡°Those drones Amos used during the battle royale were pretty good,¡± Brent said. ¡°Just in case, though, we have our own systems we can use. I¡¯m guessing it won¡¯t be hard for Amos to integrate everything?¡± Sonya smirked and turned away from the Herald. ¡°Sounds like you want to show off some of your new toys too.¡± ¡°Gotta get something out of this besides a bit of branding,¡± Adam laughed. ¡°Thanks for working with us, Sonya,¡± Brent added. ¡°Thank you for your service, Brent. It¡¯s a marvelous idea,¡± she said. ¡°Now, I really have to go. There¡¯s a rather famous international hero waiting to talk to me.¡± ¡°Right, talk to you soon.¡± She hung up the phone and turned back to Qilin, who was throwing furtive glances her way. She kept shifting here and there, even going as far as to take a half-step back when Sonya started walking towards her. What the hell is this reaction? Sonya wondered as Marta came to meet her. She met her friend''s gaze, and Marta just shrugged. ¡°She says she¡¯s here about the bodyguard spots,¡± Marta said. ¡°She came on her own?¡± Sonya murmured and looked past Marta towards the strangely shy-looking monstrosity masquerading as a person. It was hard to reconcile her memories of the cruel and lazy Qilin from the previous timeline with this demure creature in front of her. She pushed her senses forward a little and tried to get an idea of her state of mind through her vitals. It¡¯s not something she did often since it still required a bit of focus, but in this case she really needed more information. The heart rate, body heat levels, heat map, respiration rate - they all painted a very strange picture. A very excited picture. Is this bitch horny?What the fuck is happening right now? I... am at a complete loss, Ishtar said as the elevator started moving again. What now? Sonya looked up at Marta with wide eyes. ¡°What is happening?¡± she hissed, stretching out the last word for emphasis. Marta just shook her head, and Sonya ran her fingers through her hair. Fine, I can¡¯t leave her standing there forever. Might as well put on a good show, she thought and walked over to the woman. Her entire body was on pins and needles with the instinctive desire to rip Qilin¡¯s throat out the moment she got within arm¡¯s reach. Unlike the other Heralds, Qilin didn¡¯t actively engage in cruelty and violence unless she was ordered to do so. However, when she did, the levels of brutality and malice she could bring to the table were incomprehensible. Her fortune manipulation alone was one of the tools Otis likely used to undermine the efforts of the Heroes during the war in the previous timeline. That memory did not match up at all with what she was seeing. She knew the kind of presence that Qilin possessed - it had nearly traumatized Colin, yet all Sonya saw was a young woman practically fluttering her eyelashes at her. She cleared her throat. ¡°Hero Qilin!¡± she said brightly and extended a hand. ¡°I¡¯m honestly surprised to see you here.¡± Qilin looked at her hand like a deer in headlights. ¡°Oh, I wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± she said bashfully and pulled back a bit from Sonya¡¯s extended hand, bowing at her waist a little. ¡°I apologize for the abrupt visit, but I could not wait to see you face-to-face.¡± My brain hurts, Sonya thought. I have a bad feeling, Ishtar said. Be careful. Something¡¯s not right. You think? Why would she go out of her way to do anything or be polite for that matter? The only thing she cares about is things that interest her, that alleviate her boredom. Sonya thought quickly. I could maybe see her feeling excited about meeting Ishtar since she¡¯s the cure for what ails her, but- Oh no. What? Ishtar asked urgently. She saw Colin¡¯s face, Sonya said. He was at the Liberty hearing. Sonya met the Herald¡¯s flushed gaze. The woman¡¯s eyes were practically sparkling, and she was panting. It was incredibly uncomfortable to see. There was only one logical conclusion to come to. She knows. She took a deep breath to control her panic. She suspects, at the very least, suspects enough to be certain. Do I kill her here? Can I with her fortune manipulation unsanctioned? The thoughts moved so fast through her brain only a few seconds passed between Qilin¡¯s words and Sonya¡¯s carefully constructed and relaxed smile. ¡°You¡¯ve caught me off guard,¡± Sonya chuckled. ¡°You wanted to talk about the bodyguard gig, then? Why don¡¯t we sit down and-¡± DING! Sonya sought patience and turned to the doors of the elevator as they opened a second time and immediately felt like her head was going to explode. Her stress levels spiked through the roof. For all of her careful planning and orchestrating to make sure this very scenario happened, she wanted this to happen when she wanted it to happen. What she realized she hadn¡¯t accounted for was two very impatient Heralds that would act on their own if they wanted something badly enough. A tan-skinned man with short, wavy hair in cargo shorts, a floral print shirt, and sandals stepped out of the elevator. He reeked of beer and smoke from a fire. ¡°Well, shit,¡± he grunted, shoving his hands into his pockets. ¡°Qilin¡¯s already here!¡± Qilin¡¯s expression fell into something that looked much more like what Sonya recognized - cold, imposing, and utterly unwilling to put up with anything that inconvenienced her. She turned to First Wind and frowned. ¡°You.¡± ¡°Me!¡± he laughed. ¡°Still got a spot open, boss lady? My guy put me at the top of the list, but when I didn¡¯t hear back I just came over.¡± Sonya¡¯s eye twitched as she laughed. ¡°Ha ha! First Wind in person! Believe it or not, I was actually planning on calling the both of you for the spots,¡± she chuckled. ¡°I was just expecting to have everything wrapped up here before I brought you in.¡± He waved a dismissive hand and stepped up to stand next to a disgusted-looking Qilin. ¡°Eh, no worries, I¡¯m here now, so you got the best there is,¡± he said and turned his head towards Marta. ¡°Sup gorgeous.¡± Marta crossed her arms at Sonya¡¯s side. ¡°Charmed,¡± she growled. He sneered at her before turning to Sonya, who decided to just roll with it. She¡¯d make him pay for making eyes at Marta later anyway and, technically, this was all according to plan. Just a bit pushed up on the timetable. She brandished her best smile and held out her hand. ¡°Why don¡¯t we all sit down and talk about expectations, mm? I¡¯ll get the Chairwoman on the line to make sure everything¡¯s on the level.¡± First Wind barked out a laugh. ¡°Works for me!¡± he said. ¡°Lookin¡¯ forward to showin¡¯ ya what this derro can do,¡± he chortled and snatched her hand up in his. Sonya blinked. Marta froze. Even Qilin stared in surprise. Uh... Analyze? HUH?! JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 267 For the first time in a while, Sonya was speechless. It just... worked. She had to force herself to casually let go of First Wind¡¯s hand and keep that easy smile on her face, or she might just break character. She could sense Qilin¡¯s eyes on her too, which made the whole situation that much more batty. It hadn¡¯t even been a fight. One simple gesture and she had a copy of a Herald¡¯s power. It was galling that she hadn¡¯t even tried to shake hands with the buffoon before this point. I¡¯m not going to believe it until I try it out. Focus, Sonya, Ishtar reminded her. Right, right, not out of the woods, she agreed. Sonya rested her hands on her hips. ¡°How about I order something to eat while we talk, mm? I need to be here a bit longer since I¡¯m Doctor Carter¡¯s ride back to my ship.¡± First Wind rubbed his hands together. ¡°Lunch with three gorgeous ladies? Sold.¡± Qilin¡¯s eyes closed with what looked like an effort to find peace. ¡°Can you please take your role seriously for once?¡± He clicked his tongue and shoved his hands into his pockets, leaning forward to look in Qilin¡¯s face. ¡°I don¡¯t wanna hear that kinda thing from you. Don¡¯t get me started on our last assignment.¡± Qilin looked away sharply. ¡°You had it handled.¡± He snorted. ¡°Cuz I settle my shit,¡± he said dismissively before turning to look at Sonya. ¡°Do you really even need two of us guarding you? I¡¯m here,¡± he said with a cocky shrug. ¡°Between me and Captain Kick-ass next to you, doesn¡¯t seem like you have much to worry about. Hell, let Handmaiden take a vacation or something. I got this.¡± Sonya raised her eyebrows. This guy has one hell of an ego. She smirked at him. ¡°Consider it a vanity play on my part, if you like,¡± she said lazily. ¡°The Pandora Committee insisted that I have security, so I asked for two of you.¡± First Wind sneered. ¡°I was your first pick, right?¡± Sonya watched Qilin¡¯s very small reaction. The Herald was trying her best not to show any shifts in expression with First Wind around, but that question got a sharp look at him out of her as well as a furtive glance in her direction. She really doesn¡¯t like him. Interesting. They¡¯ve worked together before, but this seems a bit more personal. I can use this. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m lying either, she thought mischievously. ¡°Actually, yes.¡± The two of them froze, First Wind actually blinking in surprise. ¡°Wait, really?¡± Qilin narrowed her eyes. ¡°Him? You are aware you¡¯re talking about this fool, yes?¡± First Wind cocked his head and looked at Qilin again. ¡°Watch it. A few trips around the park doesn¡¯t get you a free pass, babe.¡± Qilin crossed her arms. ¡°You think far too highly of yourself, Luca.¡± His eyes widened. ¡°Bitch, we¡¯re in public. I don¡¯t do that kinda shit to you.¡± Putting my plan into action might be a bit easier than I thought, Sonya mused before gesturing down the hall past the commentator¡¯s box. ¡°You were my second choice, Qilin. You are aware that you have something of a lackadaisical reputation, right?¡± Sonya said casually and turned away. ¡°Come along and let''s sit.¡± Qilin sighed behind her while First Wind snickered. Sonya rolled her eyes as Marta fell into step next to her. She kept her expression as neutral as possible while they walked. On the inside, though, her smile was nothing short of demonic. A bit of a timetable push, but everything is going according to plan. Don¡¯t you worry, Heralds, I will make sure to give you plenty to do while you¡¯re on this assignment. Enjoy it, because one of you isn¡¯t walking away from it alive. As for the other? I¡¯ll bide my time. ¡ª Dinner with First Wind and Qilin had been nothing short of awkward. The two of them bickered constantly, and Sonya began to suspect that First Wind¡¯s occasional remarks in his counterpart''s direction were more than just bluster. They had a relationship, perhaps even an on-again-off-again. Currently they were very much off, from what Sonya could tell. At any rate, it¡¯s something I can take advantage of when the time comes, she thought. First Wind is difficult to control and manage, but Qilin seems to be sensitive about my opinion. I¡¯ll build their resentment up. The helicopter ride over to the Idol of Venus that followed wasn¡¯t particularly eventful, and it was well past sundown when they landed and disembarked. The members of the Inner Circle on board had already taken steps to conceal themselves in one way or another, so she had nothing to worry about on that front. She gave them a general tour of the facilities before they finally stopped on the deck near the wave pool. ¡°That¡¯s pretty much everything. Make yourselves at home,¡± Sonya said. ¡°I¡¯m going to get in touch with Chairwoman Mint now.¡± First Wind was looking around with a mixture of wonder and no small amount of envy. Greed glittered in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m gonna enjoy this gig. I think I might take a dip.¡± Qilin stepped past him with a scoff. ¡°Miss Chernovna, might I have a word in private?¡± she asked before glancing over her shoulder with a sour look. ¡°Preferably somewhere without an air current?¡± The Australian International whipped his head in her direction and scowled. ¡°Hey! What¡¯s that mean?¡± Sonya laughed. Watching her browbeat him was a delight. ¡°Certainly, Qilin. Come with me, and we can chat a bit. Let me just get this text out really quick,¡± she said and made her way back towards the dining pavilion with Qilin and Handmaiden in tow. She gave her friend a look before sending her on her way to check in with the other members of the Inner Circle. If Qilin wanted to make a violent move, she would have by now. A lazy creature like her doesn¡¯t like waiting for very long for anything. Sonya remained silent while she tapped out a quick message on her phone to Carla. The phone chimed immediately afterwards. Sonya smirked and hammered out a reply. The next message came after a slightly longer pause. Sonya frowned. Another long pause. The next message was a bunch of garbled text followed by <... I¡¯ll be there!> Sonya put away her phone. ¡°She¡¯s so cute,¡± she hummed to herself as they entered the dining pavilion. It was full of tables now that the crew had adjusted to life on the ship a little more. A few people were eating while others were coming and going. She waved at some of them and was pleased to see they¡¯d internalized her decree about not treating her with reverence while she had guests. They waved back, and she led Qilin towards one of the private dining spaces. ¡°I know you¡¯re not hungry,¡± Sonya said casually when they stepped into the room, not looking back at the Herald. ¡°But would you like a drink?¡± ¡°No, thank you,¡± Qilin said evenly. Pressure filled the air, and Sonya raised her eyebrows. She turned back to look into Qilin¡¯s glowing green eyes as the Herald¡¯s hair started to float around her. She tilted her head to the right. ¡°Then what can I do for you, hero?¡± Qilin tilted her head forward and looked Sonya in the eyes. ¡°You didn¡¯t even flinch.¡± Sonya shrugged. ¡°It seems like we¡¯re past performances, aren¡¯t we?¡± Her eyes went hard. ¡°I don¡¯t like repeating myself, little hero.¡± Those last few words made the hero tense, her eyes widening while confirmation flickered in them. The hero relaxed a little, the pressure ebbing and her hair stopped fluttering around her. She cleared her throat. ¡°I want to renew my deal. I think my silence will be sufficient as payment.¡± Sonya grinned. ¡°Let me call my lawyer.¡± ¡ª Nietz sat in the grass, staring out at the moonlit water. He hadn¡¯t moved since watching the fight between Handmaiden and Kingshark. His thoughts were a jumble. He had known, of course, that Mythic-tier light-touched were powerful. Yet seeing it in recordings and witnessing it firsthand were two very different experiences. He would be the first to admit that he had an easily bruised ego. He was self-aware enough to accept that about himself. There were some things in life that you couldn¡¯t build an immunity to, even with a power like his. He sighed and looked down at his phone for the hundredth time. The photo on the lock screen was a selfie of himself, Hammond, and Locke. A picture taken on their first day of camp. Locke was grinning ear to ear. Hammond was still having a hard time with making a facial expression beyond mind-numbing embarrassment. And I still have that goofy grin on my face, he thought with a sigh. He rested his head against the phone and closed his eyes. Come on, Anton. He rallied himself and unlocked his phone, dialing out. <¡±Anton?¡±> ¡°Hey, Locke, yeah, it¡¯s me,¡± he said quietly. <¡±Are you okay? You didn¡¯t get hurt while you were there, did you?¡±> she asked. He snorted and glanced down at the parts of his body that were still healing. The bandages on them were hidden by his clothes. ¡°It wasn¡¯t bad. Just a couple cuts and scrapes.¡± <¡±You¡¯re bad at lying.¡±> she chided him. <¡±Go see a healer.¡±> He shook his head. ¡°You know I can¡¯t do that.¡± <¡±If something happens to you while you¡¯re doing this, I don¡¯t know if I...¡±> she trailed off. He forced himself not to sigh. That was the last thing she needed to hear right now. At least she sounded stronger than the last time they spoke. Watching her power do that to someone had been deeply traumatizing. It would take a while for her to reconcile the realization with her feelings, let alone find a new way forward as a hero. At least she hasn¡¯t given up on that yet. I won¡¯t let her. She deserves better than the shitstorm the Representatives dumped on her. <¡±Anton? Are you okay?¡±> she asked again. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± he said. ¡°Just sitting here and looking at the sea. Sowards is dead.¡± <¡±Dead?¡±> ¡°Yeah. He tried to assassinate Miss Chernovna, from what I hear,¡± he said. ¡°I don¡¯t know the details, but he ended up in a coroner¡¯s van. Got a text about it from a friend I made here at the competition.¡± He paused. ¡°I didn¡¯t win this round. I¡¯m sorry, Locke.¡± <¡±You don¡¯t have to do this, Anton.¡±> ¡°Yeah, I do,¡± he shot back. <¡±Your ability only works if your body uses its natural healing. You don¡¯t have a regeneration function. Eventually you¡¯re going to find someone way stronger than you, and then what are you going to do?¡±> she asked. <¡±You¡¯re going to get yourself killed!¡±> ¡°I need to do this. I can¡¯t stop now,¡± he said. ¡°I even got Miss Chernovna¡¯s permission to participate in the next round.¡± <¡±Anton...¡±> ¡°Locke!¡± he sighed. ¡°Fii, listen to me. I¡¯m doing this. Not just for you, though, so don¡¯t put that on yourself. I know you are. I want to be the best hero I can be. Whatever it takes. That means I need to step beyond what I¡¯ve been doing. I can¡¯t just go back.¡± <¡±I believe in you,¡±> she said after a long pause. <¡±Just come back from this in one piece.¡±> He smiled and glanced up at the water, watching it shimmer for a bit. He looked down at the phone in his hand. ¡°I won¡¯t let you down,¡± he said before hanging up. If it kept going any longer, she was going to say something that he wasn¡¯t ready to hear her say. He wasn¡¯t stupid. He knew. He felt the same way. He rested his head against his phone and schooled his emotions. ¡°Only the powerful heroes have the right to enjoy things like that,¡± he muttered to himself. ¡°You aren¡¯t there yet, Nietz.¡± He got to his feet and put his phone away, walking down the slope towards the harbor. A few hundred feet and he was standing at the rail. He could still feel the tremors of the two Mythics¡¯ powers in the air. An echo of their presence. He wondered how long it would last and if people would just have to get used to the sensation of courage and madness clashing at this very spot. He rubbed his neck and shook his head. I passed her test; I got a top spot in this round. I should be satisfied. I can learn from this and prepare for next time. He pressed his lips together hard, restraining his frustration. But can I win next time? Do I have enough time to get stronger? He looked down at his hands. What¡¯s the point of a growth-type power if it barely works? He sighed and leaned on the rail, glaring at the ocean. Could I be as strong as Handmaiden in two years? That¡¯s how long it took her to get to that point, right? He cursed under his breath and closed his eyes. ¡°Fuck.¡± He pushed off the rail and stalked away, hands in his pockets as he wandered back into town. He let his thoughts drift, trying to get back to his good humor. Endless positivity had always been his thing, but after what had happened back at The Hague, he just couldn¡¯t shake that heavy feeling in his chest. He turned a corner and stopped against a wall to relax. I should get back to the hotel. ¡°My, my, what¡¯s this?¡± Bloodlust. Nietz froze. His heart leapt into his throat. A horrible feeling worked its way through his guts. The voice had been positively bone-chilling. Not a rasp or hiss, but a casual, easy-going timbre. There was an undercurrent beneath it, though. One that made his entire body go rigid. Sweat dripped down his brows as he slowly turned his head to look down the alley. A pair of glowing eyes lurking in the dark stared back. ¡°I come looking for some fresh upgrades, and look what I find!¡± the merry voice said. It sounded American. New York, maybe? ¡°I think I¡¯ve heard of you, brat. You were in the top twenty. Very nice!¡± The clack of dress shoes against pavement filled the empty alley as a man with gray skin stepped into the moonlight. His face was stitched together, off color in some places. His hair was mostly white with strands of black mixed in. He wore the most cosplay-looking black and red suit he¡¯d ever seen. Like something out of a fantasy game. Yet for this guy, it just worked. Mist billowed out of the stranger¡¯s mouth as he tilted his head to the right, looking Nietz up and down while he twirled a cane between his fingers. ¡°You got some real bad luck, hero. I just got back from a long trip, and I¡¯m feeling peckish.¡± JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 268 Nietz took a step back in the alley, not daring to look over his shoulder. He kept his eyes firmly on the ghoulish man in front of him. The villain stopped spinning his cane and rested it on the ground, tapping blood-red fingers on the skull at the top. ¡°Who are you?¡± Nietz demanded. ¡°You have to know that this city is filled with heroes right now. If you make any kind of big moves-¡± The dapper ghoul grinned at him, showing off white pointed teeth. ¡°Hey! I¡¯m offended!¡± he declared, raising a hand to his heart. Nietz blinked. ¡°Um... no. Sorry. I really don¡¯t know who you are.¡± The ghoul stared back at him. ¡°Wait, really?¡± ¡°Yes, really,¡± Nietz replied impatiently, not really sure why the tone of the conversation kept rising and falling. Is this guy trying to put me off balance by acting like this? That must be it, he thought and clenched his fists. Raising them up in a defensive posture. The ghoul clicked his tongue and sighed, standing up straight and scratching at his brow with the end of his cane. He squinted into the distance, distracted. ¡°I guess that¡¯s the consequence for staying under the radar-¡± Nietz moved, throwing himself forward with as much force as he could muster. He drove his fist up towards the man¡¯s jaw. He had to at least stun him or throw him off balance so he could escape. Something about this guy set off every instinct to flee, but he knew better than to turn and simply run away. There was no escaping. Not without putting up something of a fight. Just as his fist connected, fresh pain exploded in his gut. He gasped, his eyes nearly popping out of his skull as he collapsed to the ground. I didn¡¯t see him move! What is with this strength? He looked up into a pair of glowing red eyes. The ghoul whipped the cane back down, and it stopped an inch over Nietz¡¯s face. The air pressure sent dust and trash around them fluttering away. The ghoul smirked. ¡°Allow me to introduce myself. I am Charon. You might¡¯ve heard of Tenebra. She¡¯s one of mine.¡± He said the last word with a vicious smile; his teeth looked like pointed tombstones. As in one of the Top Ten? That Tenebra? He¡¯s her boss? He would have doubted it if he hadn¡¯t just been laid flat in an instant. What the hell is with all these monsters showing up? The ghoul placed his cane against Nietz¡¯s chin. ¡°Sorry, brat, but after my little trip, I learned a few things about my build. I need to diversify. I hear you¡¯re pretty durable. You wouldn¡¯t mind losing an eye or something, would you?¡± This guy is insane! What is he going on about? Think, Anton! Tenebra is wanted for her connection to the underworld. If he¡¯s her boss, then... maybe... ¡°Wait!¡± Nietz nearly shouted, surprising Charon. ¡°Please. I want to talk to Ishtar.¡± Charon narrowed his eyes. ¡°You? What makes you think you¡¯re worthy?¡± the ghoulish man snarled. Yes! He does know her! ¡°Not just anyone-¡± ¡°I want to make a deal!¡± Nietz interrupted. ¡°She does those, right?¡± Charon¡¯s eyebrows rose, and the twisted, maniacal smile on his face made Nietz¡¯s gut churn. A black tongue licked over those blade-like teeth. ¡°A deal, huh? Alright! Now we¡¯re talking!¡± ¡ª The office that Sonya used as her lair was dark as she wound down for the night. The excitement of the day had left her a little tired despite her monstrous body. She sipped at a drink and listened to the world news, barely paying attention. Her thoughts were on Qilin. I didn¡¯t get to shake her hand again, but that¡¯s okay. Fortunately, Colin was available to write up a fresh contract. I didn¡¯t want her to know about Broker anyway. She¡¯s holding out on me by using her silence as payment, but that¡¯s fine. I can get more out of her next month. She snorted. Just one hit of the good stuff, and she¡¯s already hooked. So short-sighted for a woman with a Qilin¡¯s wisdom. I need to be careful not to come on too strong, though, otherwise that wisdom of hers will see right through me. ¡°No need to rush,¡± she said to herself. ¡°All in good time.¡± She sipped her drink as the monitor to her left changed and red words stretched across it. ¡°Breaking news out of Tuscany,¡± the reporter said, sounding a little excited. Sonya tilted her head towards the screen as the reporter disappeared and the image changed to that of a firefighter standing in the midst of a crowd of reporters with a dazed look on his face. The words ¡®Delayed Awakening?¡¯ panned across the bottom of the screen. Sonya spat out her drink and sat up straight as a thrill went up her spine. She coughed. ¡°W-what?¡± she blurted and spun completely towards the computer. ¡°A local firefighter, confirmed unawakened by his team and previous testing, displayed light-touched abilities this evening during a call. Dante Gessi, thirty-four, produced flame retardant foam from his hands that saved his life and the life of one of his fellow firefighters when the blaze suddenly intensified,¡± the reporter continued. ¡°The local Pandora agent is currently interviewing Gessi about his experience.¡± ¡°Ishtar!¡± she shouted and tapped the key to rewind the stream. The door swung open to her office, and Ishtar hurried inside, followed quickly by Marta, whose fists were already growing scales. They looked around in confusion as Sonya gestured to the screen. ¡°You need to see this! Now!¡± she said quickly and backed up for the two of them to hurry over. She hit play again, and the three of them all sat in stunned silence for a moment. ¡°I thought only new adults could awaken now,¡± Marta murmured. ¡°That was my understanding,¡± Ishtar said and glanced at Sonya. ¡°What does this mean?¡± A somber presence washed over them, and Ishtar¡¯s expression turned stony. Marta shifted and raised her fists only for Ishtar to wave her down. Sonya frowned. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you have an explanation for this...¡± she trailed off and turned to the semi-translucent figure that had appeared in the corner of her office. A beautiful woman with blonde hair and ocean-blue eyes, she wore white robes and had a terribly sad smile on her face. Motherly but weary. ¡°...Pandora?¡± Out of the corner of Sonya¡¯s eye, Marta stiffened a little bit. Ishtar crossed her arms defensively as the Old Ghost ¨C that¡¯s what Sonya knew to refer to her as now ¨C drifted further into the room. Her body started to glow slightly. ¡°I¡¯ve kept my distance for a while, but I think we need to have a talk about what you¡¯ve set into motion, Sonya.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Pandora gave her a patient look. ¡°You.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t-¡± she paused and furrowed her brows. Memory caught up to her. The breathtaking moments after reawakening from being trapped within Titania¡¯s power. Her deal with the world, the reforging of her abilities. The warnings that were given. ¡°The White Seal.¡± Pandora nodded. Ishtar frowned. ¡°White Seal?¡± Sonya rubbed her neck. ¡°You didn¡¯t have access to the HUD while I was doing the deal to merge you with my abilities,¡± she said. ¡°I got quite a few warnings about the consequences of what I was doing. Something about it breaking something called the ¡®White Seal of Awakenings¡¯ or whatever,¡± she explained awkwardly. Ishtar scowled at her, and Sonya just shrugged. ¡°I was prepared to deal with any consequence if it meant helping you, Sis. I don¡¯t regret it.¡± Ishtar rolled her eyes and shook her head before shooting a glance towards Pandora, who smiled at her a little too wide. Sonya cleared her throat. ¡°You two can make eyes at one another later,¡± she said before remembering. ¡°Oh! Pandora, this is Marta Daphne. She¡¯s my dear friend and confidante.¡± Marta, who was standing there a little stunned, offered a curtsy to the dead Great One. ¡°It¡¯s... an honor to meet you,¡± she said in her best butler-maid tone. ¡°I¡¯ve watched you for a while, Miss Daphne. You are a remarkable woman,¡± Pandora said softly as she floated up a bit higher and seemed to recline on the air. ¡°Your love for your lady runs quite deep. Does she know about Vegas?¡± Marta¡¯s eyes went wide. ¡°You-¡± Sonya turned to her. ¡°Oh?¡± Marta flushed. ¡°It was in the heat of the moment,¡± she mumbled. Pandora laughed before turning serious. ¡°Back on topic,¡± she said. Sonya looked up at her and frowned. She had a feeling she knew where this was going, but that didn¡¯t make it any less nerve-wracking. She needed to hear it to confirm her suspicions. ¡°When I made my choice so many years ago, I knew it would be a long time before mana returned to the world,¡± Pandora said. ¡°I had to take into consideration just how much the world would forget, how unprepared it would be for what was to come. I got some insight from the Oracle of Delphi and... a dear friend.¡± ¡°Loki? I figured you two would hook up,¡± Sonya asked. Pandora blinked, then slowly turned her head to Sonya. ¡°Excuse me?¡± Sonya shrugged and put on her best smug grin. ¡°I know a lot. We¡¯ll talk more later.¡± Pandora stared at her for several seconds before slowly resuming. ¡°...Yes, we will be doing that,¡± she said hesitantly and shot Ishtar a surreptitious look. Ishtar didn¡¯t even blink, her expression still flat. ¡°Anyway,¡± she said. ¡°Yes, I spoke with the Oracle and Loki about what was to come and what decisions would be best to make. If Earth became as it was in our time all at once, humanity would not be able to survive. It would destroy itself.¡± ¡°Managed that even without whatever you did,¡± Sonya grunted. Pandora¡¯s eyes flashed with terrible fury for just a moment. ¡°Otis. Yes.¡± Marta raised a hand. ¡°I¡¯m not even going to get into the fact that Loki is real, because you are,¡± Marta said quickly. ¡°But you know about what-¡± she gestured to Sonya, ¡°-what happened before?¡± ¡°My memories of that timeline merged when the regression took place,¡± Pandora said. ¡°Just a few moments after the flash, unfortunately. Only after Otis had acquired his powers and left.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Marta said, looking flummoxed. ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Pandora said. ¡°May I continue?¡± Sonya shrugged, and the Old Ghost gave her a flat look before sighing. ¡°Humanity would have torn itself apart if things were completely as they were in my time,¡± Pandora said. ¡°So I chose to slowly ease the world back into how it naturally was. The true state of the world and the cosmos as a whole. I created the Seals as part of the worldpact I made to cut Earth off from mana and contain it in my ability.¡± Sonya raised an eyebrow. ¡°Wait, you sanctioned Earth?¡± Pandora nodded. ¡°Yes, just like you sanctioned Lillian Landrey¡¯s abilities to unlock over time, I sanctioned the fundamental underpinnings of reality and natural laws.¡± Sonya had to sit after that. ¡°Holy shit.¡± ¡°For a brief moment, I was granted power far beyond my rank among the Great Ones and used it as best I could,¡± Pandora said. ¡°Such power is far beyond the scope of achievement within any natural lifetime. If your concerns are about someone like Otis achieving that rank, you need not worry. It is very unlikely to happen before you kill him.¡± Sonya felt a little better, but that also meant it wasn¡¯t impossible. She shuddered at the thought. Pandora continued with her explanation. ¡°I formed several seals, the first of which was the White Seal of Awakenings. I restricted awakenings to a random number of people across the planet the moment mana was released. After that, only children who reached adulthood after the flash would experience awakening.¡± She raised a finger. ¡°This was, of course, to allow the first generation to guide the new generation going forwards. However, this is not natural,¡± she explained. ¡°Awakening should be able to happen to anyone under the right conditions or with the right training and education.¡± Sonya let out a breath. ¡°Alright, so we¡¯re in that phase now then, is what you¡¯re saying?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Was it the deal I made that did it? I don¡¯t understand how you could have predicted something like that, even with an oracle¡¯s help,¡± Sonya said. Pandora shook her head. ¡°It wasn¡¯t the worldpact you made, Sonya. No, you achieved something that shouldn¡¯t have happened for another decade or so. You are a Claimant.¡± Marta looked at Sonya while Ishtar rubbed her face. Sonya let out a breath. ¡°I¡¯ve been informed that the first step to joining the club of the Great Ones is to ¡®stake a claim,¡¯ though I haven¡¯t had the full introductory course. I can do that later while I¡¯m resting.¡± Pandora gave her a suspicious look. ¡°We definitely have a lot to talk about.¡± ¡°Yes, we do,¡± Sonya laughed. ¡°So I staked a claim.¡± ¡°Wait-wait-wait, you¡¯re a god?¡± Marta asked. Sonya winced as Pandora¡¯s expression turned stormy. ¡°No,¡± Sonya said carefully. ¡°And they don¡¯t like that word,¡± she added with a calculated smile at Pandora. ¡°But if, for conversation''s sake, Pandora would be willing to tolerate using that terminology...¡± she trailed off invitingly. Pandora¡¯s frown eased a little, and she shook her head. ¡°Closer to one of your mythological heroes such as Perseus,¡± she said with a wave of her hand. ¡°Not quite a, er...¡± She looked disgusted. ¡°Demigod, but close. The point is that I set the condition to be when a Claimant rose out of the many, many awakened across the world. Someone with enough power but who also met the requirements to cross the threshold.¡± ¡°Not quite sure what those are, by the way,¡± Sonya said. ¡°I just kinda did a thing.¡± Pandora gave her another flat look - she was getting lots of those today. ¡°A Claimant is someone who has achieved an initial enlightenment of sorts. Their vision of themselves, their mental state, their understanding of their powers, their personal philosophy ¨C all of these things crystalize into a claim they stake on the world and mana itself. This does not come easily and requires tribulation, introspection, and training.¡± ¡°Or about two to three hundred years trapped in a magic prison,¡± Sonya muttered irritably. ¡°Every time you open your mouth in this conversation,¡± Pandora said, ¡°I get more and more concerned.¡± ¡°It¡¯s part of who I am,¡± Sonya laughed. Pandora looked to Marta and Ishtar, who both nodded. The Old Ghost shook her head. ¡°The point is, you¡¯ve become a Claimant, and your abilities are starting to crystallize and become refined as a result. Personalized. The amount of Mana you can draw upon has increased significantly.¡± ¡°Not precisely more powerful, then,¡± Sonya pressed. ¡°There is no tier above Mythic when it comes to abilities. The stages past the threshold are about you as a person. Your friend Kerauna is on a unique path, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re referring to. That is not something I can advise upon. Even my Grandfather did not attempt to tread that route,¡± Pandora said. Zeus. We¡¯re actually talking about Zeus as a person in a conversation. I live a weird life, Sonya thought with a chuckle, only to get a frown from Pandora. ¡°So what do we do?¡± ¡°Nothing,¡± Pandora said. ¡°You deal with the consequences and continue to help guide humanity towards the future. It is one of the reasons I chose...¡± She let out a sigh. ¡°It was what I was hoping for with Marc Mallory.¡± Sonya frowned but said nothing. She really didn¡¯t want to kick her while she was down over the guy. She liked Pandora, both the one living in her inner world and the one outside. She¡¯d suffered a lot throughout time and was not remembered with kindness. She¡¯d been there to watch the world end too, and she¡¯d been a helpless ghost. That was more than enough punishment as far as Sonya was concerned. ¡°I said I¡¯d deal with it,¡± Sonya said with her hands on her hips. ¡°So I¡¯ll deal with it. No worries.¡± ¡°Ever confident,¡± Pandora chuckled. ¡°I am who I am,¡± Sonya chirped and reclined in her chair. ¡°So the world is about to go crazier than I planned, big deal. I¡¯m already turning it on its head, what¡¯s a little more?¡± She glanced at her sister and best friend. ¡°I¡¯ve got a team to back me up.¡± Marta and Ishtar nodded in solidarity, and she looked back up at Pandora with a savage grin. ¡°So don¡¯t you worry about a thing, Pandora. I¡¯ll be the one to bring Otis to his knees and save the world.¡± JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 269 The shirt was Lucci, from the Mikayla Summer collection, and made of silk with patterns along the collar and down the placket. It shone a bit in the light beating down from overhead. The slacks were from the same collection, perfectly fitted to add a layer of dignity and gravitas with each step. The shoes were leather, shiny, and black. He adjusted the gold cufflinks at his wrists and smiled to himself. There was something so satisfying about a perfectly tailored set of clothes. He stepped out from his bedroom and onto the mezzanine, looking over the large living area below. Just past it was a massive window that made up a full portion of the wall. Beyond it, the New York skyline. His lip twitched, and he gripped the railing. The view was nice, but it didn¡¯t change the coiling snake of fury that kept writhing in his gut. Miss Chernovna was hosting a tournament, and the members of the ASTA Guilds were forbidden from participating. So what if we¡¯re already sponsored? he thought sourly. Something like that is the perfect way to earn some renown. He shook it off and turned his thoughts elsewhere. Riot better have some news about this assignment Bluestar gave us. ¡°I¡¯m getting tired of waiting,¡± Otis said to himself before looking down to see a head of black hair streaked with blue. The girl it was attached to was lying down on his new sofa, relaxed, her eyes closed and a smile on her face. She wore a large set of headphones over her ears and was flicking her toes to a beat he couldn¡¯t hear. He shook his head and walked down the mezzanine towards the stairs. ¡°Felwinter.¡± She sat up and pulled her headset back behind her ear, looking up at him with those beautifully cold eyes. ¡°You finally up?¡± she asked. ¡°Mm.¡± He nodded. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I slept somewhere appropriate. Wanted to enjoy it.¡± ¡°Restless already?¡± she asked with a smirk. He scowled. ¡°As a matter of fact, yes,¡± he said flatly and continued descending the stairs. ¡°Where¡¯s Riot?¡± ¡°In the library,¡± she said with a shrug, pointing towards a large sliding barn door that was hanging from one of the walls bordering the living room. ¡°This is a nice place. How¡¯d you get it?¡± ¡°Someone who used to work for me owned it,¡± Otis said dryly. ¡°I had him discreetly take it off the market before he died. He arranged for me to purchase it once I made it here.¡± She grinned. ¡°You killed him?¡± He shook his head as he made it to the foot of the steps and began walking towards the door to the library. ¡°No, that was Ishtar,¡± he said, and the temperature around him dropped a few degrees. His jaw set as his hands balled into fists. The memory of Kingshark throwing him around like a ragdoll was mortifying. Falling behind her in the race towards divinity was even worse. He clenched his teeth before searching for calm. I need to hold my temper. I chose skills over anonymity, he thought, and managed to push the feelings aside. He stopped at the door and threw it to the side, Felwinter hopping to her feet and making her way over to stand next to him. She gave him a quizzical look, and he smirked at her. ¡°It feels like she¡¯s been trying to get in my way since the day of the flash. She¡¯s become my main obstacle.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an understatement. She tried to kill your golden goose,¡± Felwinter joked, earning her a glare from Otis. She held her hands up. ¡°Sorry.¡± He sniffed and forced out a laugh, finding his good humor. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Chernovna¡¯s alive, and that¡¯s all that matters. Our sponsor is clearly a survivor,¡± he said coolly before stepping into the library. It was a large space with rows of bookshelves blocking off direct line of sight to the entrance to the room. The lights in the library were softer than in the rest of the house, a measure to make reading more comfortable, he guessed. ¡°Riot! Did you find anything interesting for us?¡± he asked aloud. The first response he got was the sound of clattering and a chair moving quickly. He stepped past a bookshelf and found Riot standing next to a reading table, his glasses askew and his hair a mess. ¡°Napping?¡± Riot nodded quickly and fixed his hair, straightening his glasses over sunken eyes. ¡°Yes,¡± he said, ¡°I finished researching that assignment from the Guildmaster, sir.¡± Otis beamed at Riot. ¡°Riot! You don¡¯t need to be so formal! We¡¯re friends, aren¡¯t we?¡± He laughed and walked over to clap Riot on the arms. ¡°Come on, you aren¡¯t like those lesser things out there. You¡¯re better, that¡¯s why I picked you! The man who killed Liberty,¡± Otis said warmly, his smile unbroken even as his next words came out like a whip crack. ¡°Say it.¡± Riot¡¯s pupils shrank a little, his throat bobbing. He held Otis¡¯ gaze and seemed to visibly shrink while he stood there. He cleared his throat. ¡°Otis, I think the details will interest you,¡± Riot said quickly, his voice trembling a little. Felwinter chuckled at him, and he shot her a withering look. Otis ignored the exchange, his smile widening even more. ¡°Do tell!¡± Riot looked back at him. ¡°There¡¯s a hospital between here and Bridgeport,¡± he began and pulled out his phone, tapping a few things before turning it around to show Otis. ¡°Strange goings-on, even for this post-flash world. People lose track of time while inside, working for days without knowing and dropping dead. It happens sporadically, so it''s hard to pin down the cause.¡± ¡°Light-touched serial killer?¡± Otis asked, flipping through the information that Riot provided him. The guy was right, this was very interesting. Reports of hallucinations and monster attacks, but no damage to body or property. Nothing. ¡°Illusions? Very interesting.¡± ¡°Sounds like fun,¡± Felwinter said. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t any other hero picked it up?¡± ¡°Not enough evidence to tie it to actual light-touched activity, and the Carter readings of the building have remained the same since the flash. A little high, but nothing that would cause regular monster formations or a dungeon,¡± Riot said. ¡°A hot zone,¡± Otis said with amusement. ¡°Let¡¯s check it out.¡± ¨C The main lobby of the hospital was just as busy as any other. People were coming and going, mostly visitors, though there appeared to be a few patients milling about. Otis scanned the area with his eyes and his senses, his lip twitching upward just a bit more. My, my, the air here is very thick. He flexed his fingers and tried to draw some of it in. It doesn¡¯t feel quite right, like it isn¡¯t mine. It feels like a dungeon. He frowned. That won¡¯t do at all. ¡°You feel that?¡± Felwinter murmured. ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve stepped into someone else''s territory,¡± Otis said thoughtfully. ¡°The karmic threads here are all jumbled. There are so many lives connected I can¡¯t make heads or tails of where things start and end,¡± Riot murmured, turning in a circle before facing Otis. ¡°I¡¯ll focus on supporting you two unless I see something that stands out.¡± Otis nodded. ¡°Good,¡± he said as a man in a suit hurried in their direction, his hand outstretched. Otis turned merrily to him and extended his own hand. ¡°You must be Doctor Fenwick!¡± he said as he shook the man¡¯s hand. Fenwick was an athletically built man who could be described as conventionally attractive if you discounted the dark circles under his eyes and the pallor of his skin. He cleared his throat and nodded. ¡°You¡¯re the heroes the ASTA guild sent?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, I am Otis,¡± Otis said, extricating his hand from the man¡¯s grip. He turned to Felwinter and Riot to conceal wiping his hand off on his slacks. ¡°And these are my teammates, Felwinter and Riot,¡± he introduced them before turning back to the man. ¡°I know you¡¯re a busy man, Doctor, so why don¡¯t you direct us to where the strangeness normally happens, and we¡¯ll get out of your way.¡± Fenwick nodded as a chime rang out. Otis glanced up at the ceiling and then back to Fenwick. ¡°Duty calls?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m afraid,¡± he said quickly. ¡°You¡¯re looking for the Grayson Extended Care Ward.¡± Otis gave him a winning smile. ¡°Thank you, Doctor,¡± he said, and the man hurried away. Otis resisted the urge to scowl at the man as he turned towards the wall where a map and directory of the hospital were on display. Get your filthy sweat all over my hand, will you? he thought irritably before exchanging a look with a weary-looking Riot. He scoffed and shook his head. ¡°We¡¯re going,¡± he commanded and was pleased not to hear a sigh of relief from Riot. ¡°Nice,¡± Felwinter hissed and started towards the elevator. Before she reached it, Otis snatched her wrist, and she turned back to look at him with a frown. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Stairs,¡± Otis said. ¡°Let¡¯s avoid enclosed spaces where lots of mana can congregate for now.¡± She considered him. ¡°Good point. I hate stairs, though.¡± ¡°So do I, but we have a job to do,¡± he said dismissively. ¡°Might as well do it right.¡± Exceptional work means more fame. More fame means increasing my level. His renown had been growing, albeit too slowly for his liking. He hadn¡¯t even leveled up once since coming back from the war. He needed to do something big, and a case going this far back was just the thing. They found the stairwell fairly quickly and ascended without incident, making their way up to the fourth floor where a sign hung indicating the area they were entering was the Grayson Extended Care Ward. Unlike the rest of the hospital that seemed to buzz with activity, the hallway that they stepped into was quiet as a tomb. Only the occasional beeping of one machine or another somewhere in the distance broke up the unearthly silence. Otis peered through the open door and crossed his arms. Something feels ...off. Even as his senses told him nothing was amiss, he activated his Immunity cheat with a gesture and stepped inside as a young woman stepped out of one of the many rooms lining the hall. She was rail thin with bright green eyes and brown hair pulled back into a severe ponytail. She looked tired, her eyes sunken deep as she wrung her hands and walked towards the nurses¡¯ station, not even giving them a second glance. Next to him, Felwinter yawned and walked ahead with Riot. Otis followed close behind as he cast his senses about him. Nothing. Just more of that ever-present energy. He glanced at Riot¡¯s back. I am liking this less and less, he thought as he joined them at the counter. The woman looked up with a tired smile, her badge indicating she was Nurse June Royce. He eyed her fingers. She¡¯d been biting her nails. He looked back into her eyes as she scanned their faces in turn. Above their heads, the lights flickered, but she paid it no mind. ¡°Welcome to the Extended Care Ward, I¡¯m June,¡± she said. ¡°And you must be the heroes they called in.¡± Introductions were quick and then they were given something of an orientation, which took half an hour, much to Otis¡¯ chagrin. Nurse Royce was pleasant enough, to his sensibilities, if a bit vapid. She seemed to grow distant now and then as they spoke before snapping back to the conversation. She explained what kind of patients were treated at the ward, those dealing with everything from long-term recovery to coma. What was most intriguing to Otis was her reactions to their questions about the unusual activity. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I haven¡¯t seen anything like that,¡± June said apologetically. ¡°The only excitement, if you could call it that, has been the incident with Doctor Grayson,¡± she said with a bit of sadness. Riot raised his hand to his lips and exhaled through his nose before clearing his throat. ¡°Sorry, late night,¡± he said politely. She smiled at him. ¡°I know that feeling. There are some cots in the room back there if you need some rest,¡± she said, gesturing to the door behind the nurses station. Otis watched her face, his eyes narrowing at the look of longing in her eyes as she stared at the door before turning back to them. Otis crossed his arms. ¡°Who was this Doctor Grayson? What happened?¡± He¡¯d already heard the basics from Riot on the way over, but a fresh perspective would be valuable. External information was generally incomplete - something he¡¯d learned in his years cooped up doing research. She let out a sigh. ¡°He was attacked by a patient suffering from delusions,¡± she said. ¡°If you believe it will help you, he died in that room over there,¡± she said and pointed down the hallway. ¡°Room four forty-nine.¡± Riot glanced at Otis and nodded at him while Otis brandished another brilliant smile at the woman. ¡°We¡¯ll check around and try not to disturb the patients,¡± he said. She returned his smile with a tired one of her own and nodded, dipping her head back down over her paperwork without another word. The three of them turned away, Otis rubbing at his eyes. He frowned a little. ¡°Such a comfortable bed, for all the sleep I got,¡± he muttered irritably. They passed a few doors, and the lights flickered again. He glanced up at them and frowned. ¡°That¡¯s what happens when you don¡¯t have a good partner,¡± Felwinter said offhandedly. ¡°You know, I-¡± ¡°Not interested,¡± Otis said flatly and gestured to the lightbulbs above them. ¡°Give me a boost.¡± Felwinter cleared her throat and nodded, crouching down and placing her hands on the floor. Ice began to form beneath his feet. It slowly began to rise, growing thicker and taller until he was within arm¡¯s reach of the bulbs. He placed his hand on one and felt the energy running through it. His nostrils flared as he concentrated and turned his ability towards identifying the object. It was something he was experimenting with since his guide function was currently lost to him. He pulled his hand away, and Felwinter lowered him to the ground. ¡°The lightbulbs are working fine. Nothing wrong with the electrical wiring either,¡± he said, turning to look down the hall they had come down. Something moved just out of his sight and into one of the rooms near the stair doors. It was big. His lips twisted. ¡°Illusion?¡± he muttered and shook his head before glancing at Riot. ¡°Did you see...¡± he trailed off. Riot was yawning and staring at the door to room four forty-nine, a thoughtful expression on his face. Otis felt a thrill go up his spine, and he turned to Felwinter, who was leaning against the wall, her eyes shut. Otis clenched his fists. That¡¯s impossible. I have Immunity on. I turned it on when we entered the... ward. His hands fell to his sides, and he looked towards the part of the hallway where the figure had been. He turned to the nurses¡¯ station only to see June was gone. He turned back to his New Heralds. Gone. ¡°Mister Mallory!¡± a harsh voice barked out, and he was suddenly inundated with sensation. He could smell cut grass, sweat, and fresh air; he could feel the wind on his face. He blinked a few times and spun in a circle. He was outside. He looked to the source of the voice and saw a man standing on the back of a pickup truck. He wore a gray uniform. A police uniform. ¡°What the hell are you doin¡¯ boy?¡± the man barked. Otis¡¯ lips curled up in rage and disgust. Who does this ant think he is, speaking to me that way? He opened his hand to call his sword, and... nothing happened. He blinked and reached up to his throat, his chest starting to pound, a thudding in his ears. Mana Suppression Collar, he realized before looking down at himself. He wore a crusty, hideous orange jumpsuit. There were black letters emblazoned on the chest: INMATE. It reeked to high heaven. ¡°Inmate?¡± he breathed before looking up at the man, who had hopped off his truck and was stalking towards Otis with a hateful scowl. ¡°You just gonna ignore me, insect?¡± the man growled. ¡°I¡¯m talkin¡¯ to you.¡± Otis showed his teeth. ¡°What did you call me?¡± he demanded. The big man got in his face. ¡°Insect. Subhuman. Thing,¡± he bit out the words one after another. ¡°You¡¯re lucky they even let you volunteer for community service.¡± Nausea rushed up Otis¡¯ throat. ¡°Volunteer?¡± he breathed. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s right. You¡¯re here of your own free will. Too late to back out now. Now get to picking,¡± the officer said coldly. ¡°You¡¯re handing out food at a shelter next.¡± Otis¡¯ eyes widened as something raw, primal, and instinctive roared within him. He kicked back with all his mental might at what he was seeing. This was wrong. He was above everything and everyone. He did not serve. He did not cater. He was the man who would burn this world to the ground. It was his plaything. The big man stood over Otis, a sneer on his face. ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± he demanded. ¡°Too good for community service now? Get to work, you little shit.¡± Otis stared at him, disbelieving. No, he snarled. No, this isn¡¯t right. You can¡¯t keep me here. No one owns me, he thought as the big guy reached for his hip, grabbing a nightstick. Otis¡¯ blood boiled in his veins. ¡°Listen here, you insignificant cretin,¡± Otis snarled and snapped his hands out to grab the officer by the throat, squeezing down. The officer gasped, and he shoved the man to the ground with a laugh. ¡°I¡¯m going to peel your skin from your bones,¡± Otis hissed as he reached up with one hand, the other still pressing down on the officer¡¯s larynx, and pressed his thumbnail against the officer¡¯s forehead. ¡°Try not to pass out.¡± Mist roiled up around him, and the world gave way beneath his feet. He stumbled forward, crashing into a wall and staggering to his feet. He coughed, bent over as the hospital hallway came back into focus. He shuddered and looked around. Felwinter and Riot were gone. Otis clenched his jaw. Where the hell are they? he thought, turning around in a circle. The air still felt heavy and oppressive as before. There was an odd tang in the air too, like blood. His lips curled into a scowl, and he stalked towards one end of the hall, stopping when the lights flickered. He glanced up at them irritably. How much of this is even real? That was a hallucination earlier. Is this one as well? The anger bubbled up. The domain extends to the entrance of the hospital, not just this particular ward. It¡¯s merely concentrated here, he thought and rolled his neck, loosening himself up. He passed a few more doors in the eerie dark before glancing back over his shoulder. I don¡¯t hear the medical equipment anymore. The lights flickered again, and a shape moved out from within one of the doors. The lights flickered irregularly once more. It looked like a human corpse that had been broken and twisted, its limbs bent to press against the ground like a quadruped. Its head was split open down the middle, revealing rows upon rows of pointed spikes that could be teeth. Otis¡¯ frown deepened, and he held out his hand, his sword appearing in it. The creature let out a discordant shriek of pain and rage that echoed through the hall before charging at him. He stepped forward with callous focus, whipping his arm once before stepping past it. He glanced over his shoulder as it fell to the ground in pieces, blood spilling across the tile floor. It¡¯s real, he thought. Not a lurker or a hound, though. He clenched his fists and flicked his gaze around his surroundings before opening his menu and activating his physical enhancement cheats one after another. This has to be a dungeon. Where¡¯s the portal? Why does it look like this? Something clicked noisily above his head, and he looked up to see another split-head maw reaching down towards him. He snarled and stepped away, whipping his sword out to cut the thing¡¯s head off. It fell to the ground with a thud. He kicked it for good measure, sending it hurtling towards the far end of the ward hallway. It crashed into the door to the stairwell, which gave way, and it kept tumbling out. I¡¯ve had enough, he thought before shoving his hand out to the air and making a claw gesture with his fingers. No matter. It should work as well inside as outside, he thought. ¡°What?!¡± Otis shouted just as something came charging at him from behind. He threw himself forward, sensing the incoming attack. He rolled and landed, spinning about just in time to hold his sword up and brace it with his palm. A powerful blow struck his weapon with enough force to embed his knee and feet into the tile beneath him. Above him was a thing in white scrubs, its faceless head the shape of some kind of wooden board, and grotesque muscle bulging beneath the thin clothes. In its hand was a pick hammer, the blunt end pushing down hard on his gleaming golden sword. He snarled and pushed back, shoving the creature off its feet. He lunged, a shout rising from his throat, only to swing through thin air. He stumbled forward onto glossy white marble. ¡°What now?¡± he spat and turned only to freeze in place at what he saw. His lips turned down, his nostrils flared, and his eyes went wide. ¡°YOU!¡± he bellowed at the woman in white armor that stood no more than twenty feet away atop the disk of white marble floating in an endless void. He pointed his weapon at her. ¡°ISHTAR!¡± JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 270 It was sunny in the food court thanks to the large skylight. Just another day doing a little bit of people-watching. A few notes were already scribbled down on the notebook. That woman was probably having an affair. That girl was doing her best to keep her smoking habit from her father. Those two were secretly dating. He wrote everything down but kept the names out of it. It was better that way; he didn¡¯t want to get in trouble. He was just trying to learn. Another step on his path to joining the BAU. That was his dream, now more so than ever. Ordinary criminals were interesting. Supervillains were fascinating. Ollie set down his pen and reached for the small pile of fries at his side, and his hand froze. His brows furrowed. Something¡¯s wrong. He felt a chill run up his spine. Where was I just a moment ago? Why can¡¯t I remember? ¡°Hey! Is that Ollie?¡± The chill turned into a spark of fear. He turned his head just in time to see an arm as thick as a small tree limb pass him and snatch his notebook off the table. He reached for it, horrified. ¡°Wait! No!¡± he gasped. ¡°That¡¯s private!¡± A pair of hands grabbed him by the shoulders and pushed him into his seat as a boy his age sneered down at him. He had short, brown hair and beady eyes that made his head look big. His thick neck bulged as he laughed. ¡°What the fuck?¡± the guy said, flipping through the pages. ¡°Are you spying on people?¡± ¡°I¡¯m learning about people!¡± Ollie protested, trying to pull himself from his chair, but the hands on his shoulders forced him back down. The panic rose in his chest. Something was very wrong, but he couldn¡¯t put his finger on it. ¡°It¡¯s for college! Please, Patrick, just put it down!¡± ¡°College boy! You?¡± Patrick laughed. ¡°Maybe a community school or something.¡± Patrick leaned down to get to his eye level. ¡°You¡¯re learning about people, huh? Gonna be some kind of detective?¡± Ollie shrank a little. ¡°Yeah, sort of?¡± ¡°Alright! Tell me something about me, and maybe I¡¯ll give this back!¡± Patrick said, waving the notebook in Ollie¡¯s face. ¡°Come on, man. Gimme something good.¡± The young men behind Ollie laughed. He turned frantically towards anyone nearby, but nobody paid what was happening any mind. Even the security guard looked away. Patrick was a big guy, so it was understandable, nobody wanted to make him angry. He looked back at Patrick and swallowed. They went to the same high school; he knew him. He¡¯d seen him often throughout the day-to-day. He had plenty of observations, but... ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± Ollie said, trying to shrink even more into the seat. ¡°Please don¡¯t make me.¡± Patrick frowned. ¡°What? You think there¡¯s something wrong with me?¡± he demanded and grabbed Ollie by the collar. ¡°Spit it out, you little shit.¡± Ollie winced. ¡°You¡¯re probably g-¡± The fist nearly caved in the side of his face. He was on the ground in a heap as three young men crowded around him. He tasted blood. His head spun. He looked up into those beady eyes and saw something. Threads. Threads bounced off of them to the surroundings, to other people, connected by so many different colors. He felt something enter him, burning in his chest. Patrick sneered, and all Ollie wished was that they¡¯d stop bullying him and bully someone else. They resent each other too, right? He could tell. So why didn¡¯t they beat each other up? WHAM! Blood splattered across Ollie¡¯s face, but it wasn¡¯t his own. WHAM! A shout rang out. More shouting. Feet trampled over him, and he heard a scream. Angry cries sounded around him. He covered his head and looked around as everyone in the food court started to attack one another. Did... did I do that? he thought. Wait. No! He got to his feet. ¡°Stop!¡± he shouted. ¡°Please stop!¡± They didn¡¯t stop. The little sparks of hatred and irritation, jealousy and malice, tiny bits of resentment blew up into a conflagration that sent everyone around him into a frenzy of rage. He hid under the table and covered his head again, tears streaming down his bludgeoned face. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault. It¡¯s not my fault. It¡¯s not my fault.¡± It¡¯s not your fault. You can start your life with the guild with your head held high. The memory of those words cut through the panic. Ollie looked up, wide-eyed, and saw a pale woman. She was tiny, with white hair and pink glowing eyes. She held out her hand, and a gentle smile crossed her face. She was familiar to him - his savior, his shining beacon of light, the Golden Thread. He scrambled to his feet and reached for her. It¡¯s not my- Ollie opened his eyes, and he was back at the table, the pen in his hand. His heart was pounding in his chest. His breaths came in rapid gasps as people walked by. ¡°Hey! Is that Ollie?¡± He experienced everything again in a haze. Fear. Confusion. Panic. A rush of power. Violence. Discord. Ollie was beneath the table again, tears in his eyes as the mayhem resumed. There she was again, reaching for him. He threw himself towards her and caught her hand, and his eyes opened. He was standing on a stage. His head was spinning. That woman was in front of him again with a card in her hand. He knew that card. His Hero License. ¡°Congratulations on becoming a hero,¡± Sonya said with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you.¡± Her lip twitched in amusement. ¡°Are you sure about that codename, Riot?¡± The words came out of his mouth against his will. ¡°I¡¯m owning it now. It¡¯ll remind me to be more careful in the future.¡± Relief flushed through him, pride. That same pride he had when he spoke those words the first time. He smiled back at her and looked down at his license, and it nearly slipped from his fingers. Blood dripped from his hands and stained the card red. He staggered backwards with a shriek and looked around. Eyes were on him. So many eyes. Judging him. Wait! It¡¯s not my fault! he pleaded. The words wouldn¡¯t come out of his mouth. It¡¯s part of the plan! I didn¡¯t have a choice! He told me to! A hand landed on his shoulder again, and he spun around and looked into a pair of glowing blue eyes. Otis smiled at him and gripped him tightly. ¡°See? You could use a little more blood under those nails of yours,¡± Otis said, grinning ear to ear as he gestured around himself. Ollie stepped back out of his grip and looked around. They were in a warehouse. There were bodies everywhere. Torn apart. Ollie reached up to his face and tugged at his hair. ¡°No! No, no, no!¡± Otis laughed. ¡°Oh, come on! How many people have you helped me kill, Riot? How many? It¡¯s all on you, buddy!¡± They weren¡¯t strangers'' faces. Lillian was on the ground. Cassiopeia. Alex. Val. Miss Carla. Miss Chernovna. Bodies everywhere. Blood everywhere. Limbs everywhere. Ripped, not cut. Shorn apart as if they¡¯d been pulled at by a giant. He looked down at his bloodstained hands and heaved at the sight of the threads trailing from his fingertips. He fell to his knees as his heart caved in. ¡°No, no, no, no! You¡¯re wrong! I¡¯m doing this to stop you!¡± he shrieked. ¡°Sacrifices are-¡± A hand grabbed him by the hair and wrenched his head up. He looked into the twisted smiling face of Otis. ¡°Are what? Necessary? Really?¡± he asked coldly. ¡°You¡¯re so full of shit, Riot.¡± ¡°My name is Ollie Anders!¡± Ollie shouted back. ¡°Hardly,¡± Otis refuted, shaking his head. ¡°Ollie Anders died in that food court.¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°Then what about this one?¡± Ollie was standing again. His head was spinning. Everything felt like cotton. He could barely breathe, barely think. Where was he? Who? He blinked and looked down, meeting the cold blue eyes of a woman staring up at him from the floor of a prison cell. He looked down at his hands again. The blood was still there. He hiccuped as an arm wrapped around his shoulder. He slowly turned his head to see Otis again. ¡°It¡¯s time to commit, Riot. Kill Liberty.¡± Kill... Liberty? She¡¯s defenseless. She isn¡¯t even my enemy. She¡¯s a criminal, yes, but isn¡¯t letting her see trial enough? There isn¡¯t even a benefit to killing her. He swallowed. What am I even doing here? ¡°Do it.¡± I can¡¯t do this. Can I? I¡¯ve already done it so many times. ¡°DO IT!¡± This is wrong. This isn¡¯t helping the plan at all. This is just murder. ¡°DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!¡± Ollie cracked under the pressure. He choked out a sob, and his hands moved. The first thread struck Liberty, and he felt it, a profound wrongness that went down to the very soul. The very make-up of her body tore, and she screamed, her limb parting from her shoulder like torn paper. This was a sin. A crime against nature. He wept as the threads whipped about, rendering her down into nothing. When it was over, he was swaying on his feet, his face damp with sweat, sprayed blood, and tears. Otis¡¯ hand landed on his shoulder again and gave him a firm squeeze of support. Ollie flinched, and, suddenly, a fist drove into his gut. He doubled over in pain as his world spun again. He was on his feet once more, looking down at Liberty. ¡°It¡¯s time to commit, Riot. Kill Liberty.¡± Tears, screams, and pain filled his ears. His heart cried out. His mind and soul begged him to stop. A fist drove into his stomach again, and Ollie was standing in front of Liberty once more. ¡°It¡¯s time to commit.¡± Tears. Screams. Pain. His eyes opened again, and it wasn¡¯t Liberty chained to the wall. It was Cassiopeia. He felt numb. Confused. Otis threw his arm around his shoulder and grinned at him. ¡°It¡¯s time to commit, Riot.¡± Lillian this time. His heart cracked. ¡°It¡¯s time to commit, Riot.¡± John was chained next. He choked. ¡°It¡¯s time to commit, Riot.¡± Again and again and again. Over and over and over. The same faces, his friends, people he cared about, were torn to pieces at his hand. He stopped fighting it. By the end he stood in numb silence as he looked down at a new face. A single tear going down his right cheek. His left eye was dry and cold. His lips twitched as Sonya smiled at him from where she was chained. She sighed at him. ¡°Ollie, doesn¡¯t that just mean you went through all that for the right reasons?¡± she asked. ¡°I let you down,¡± he mumbled. ¡°You let everyone down,¡± Sonya snarled. ¡°Riot.¡± His lips twitched again, and a smile cracked his face. ¡°Did I?¡± Riot asked. ¡°Or was it all doomed from the start? Otis says humans are pointless things. They just die. Isn¡¯t that funny, Sonya?¡± He croaked out a laugh. ¡°It¡¯s funny! With all their connections to one another, they always turn on each other. I can see how close they are, but they just... tear each other apart at the drop of a hat!¡± His words were tumbling out in a helpless, infuriated wail. "What''s the point in saving them?!¡± He sobbed out a chuckle and hung his head before slowly raising it again and looking her in the eyes. ¡°It¡¯s time to commit, Riot,¡± he burbled as the threads fell from his fingers. ¡°Otis was right.¡± Sonya tilted her head in confusion as he stared back at her. He could see her threads. They looked off. Connected to the world around her rather than reaching out towards people. How could someone so great be so terribly flawed? He¡¯d idolized her, pretended not to see those blood-red threads, that wickedness. Now, it was all he could see. Humans really are pointless things if even the greatest among them is so terrible. His lips curled into a smile as that single stream of tears continued from his right eye. It would never stop, ever. ¡°You really are just so... human,¡± he snarled. Dawning shock bloomed on the thing¡¯s face as he struck. ¨C If there was one thing that Felwinter was accustomed to, it was nightmares. She knew how they felt. She understood the taste of the terror that tried to worm into her mind. Vivid dreams were just another part of her life. She¡¯d stared into the abyss for a long time. Right into the same cruel eyes that were looking down at her as she lay on the ground, her arms tied behind her back. She could see Phillip¡¯s face, his smile, and the leering gazes of those gathered around him. It was so terrifying she wanted to cry. She wondered why, then, that she felt something else bubble up in her chest as Phillip knelt down to grab her chin. Then she remembered, and it made her want to giggle. ¡°You¡¯re not getting away this time,¡± he hissed. ¡°I think everyone¡¯s-¡± She couldn¡¯t hold it in any longer. She snorted out a laugh, and his eyes narrowed. He snatched her face up with one hand and squeezed down on her jaw. It hurt, but it was nothing compared to what Otis had put her through before. Phillip gave a slight smile that seemed bereft of feeling, and she felt herself start to doze. The confusion came next as her vision swam and her mind cleared enough to see Otis standing over her. She looked around, her heart racing for a moment as she took in her surroundings. It was the inside of a cave, the same one he''d experimented on those things in. ¡°Wow,¡± she murmured. ¡°This is really good.¡± ¡°Felwinter,¡± Otis growled. ¡°Did I give you permission to speak?¡± She lazily turned to look at him and felt a chill go down her spine as he reached towards her. Discordant thoughts bounded about in her head like ringing wind chimes. She felt the fear. The terror. Her body remembered the pain of what he put her through to change her power into what it was now. Emotion. Deep, thrumming, powerful emotion. It poured and poured into that empty hole in her chest. Her gut twisted as a nervous laugh cracked out past her lips. ¡°Wow!¡± she laughed. ¡°That one lasted a while!¡± Otis¡¯ hand snapped out and wrapped around her neck. She stared up at him with wide, manic eyes. ¡°How long can you keep this up?¡± she asked. Otis frowned. ¡°I think you¡¯re well aware of what I¡¯m capable of, Felwinter,¡± he said darkly. ¡°Your usefulness to me is at an end. You¡¯re better off as scrap to be used later.¡± Her head lolled away and looked off to the cave wall. ¡°You must be doing a number on Riot,¡± she paused and frowned. ¡°I wonder how His Majesty is doing,¡± she snickered. His hand squeezed down, and she choked, coughing out a laugh as the world around her flickered and changed once more. She was tied to the tree again. Otis was there, ready to rip the bomb out of her guts. He scowled at her, and the fear came back. Her mind screamed at her to beg for mercy. Every animal instinct told her that she was confronting the end of her life. Yet all those emotions did was sink down into that hole all over again. Otis¡¯ lips curled in disgust. ¡°You act like you¡¯re enjoying yourself.¡± She barked out a noisy laugh, patches of ice forming beneath her eyes and along her cheeks. ¡°Am I?¡± she hiccupped. ¡°Fuck no, I¡¯m terrified,¡± she half-laughed, half-sobbed. Her body trembled as the horrified emotions were consumed inside of her, that hollow, hungry feeling growing deeper and deeper. She tilted her head and looked him square in the eyes as he approached her. Cold fingers touched her abdomen, and she looked down to see him prepare to remove the bomb all over again. He looked up from the spot to her face and smiled. She sneered back. ¡°When I get out of this, whoever you are, I am going to tear your soul out and-¡± That was when the agony began. JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 271 Otis hadn¡¯t fully internalized just how much of a change she had gone through when she had one-upped him on the path to divinity. Her armor was more elegant than the machined look that it had in the original images circulating of her. It wasn¡¯t dissimilar to some kind of medieval armor now. Gleaming white-silver plates covered her entire body with only a hint of black peeking through at the joints. The sleek look was accompanied by her ferocious new helm. Originally, it had reminded him of something a DJ would wear. Now it was more angular, the flat faceplate molded slightly to emphasize the pink flames burning out of its eye sockets. He¡¯d fought her once. He knew her strength, her aura, her presence. Domineering and prescient, like a ruler looking down at him with disappointment. The feeling galled him, but he stayed his hand for a moment even as the rage boiled in his brain. He wasn¡¯t a fool. She was powerful, intelligent, and had orchestrated the fall of An Set, and he had no doubt of her role in Liberty¡¯s defeat as well. He¡¯d heard the stories. Fought her personally. He knew her mischief and her wrath. He balled his free hand into a fist and clenched it tight, a bead of sweat drawing down his neck. Can I win in a dungeon? ¡°Look at this coward,¡± Ishtar sing-songed, floating towards him with a languid motion. Her voice had an etheric quality to it as opposed to that rasp it had before. It seemed to echo and hang in the air. She crossed her legs and floated in the air after getting a bit closer. She laughed. ¡°You¡¯re shaking like a leaf!¡± ¡°Is this you? Another one of your abilities?¡± he demanded, gesturing around himself. ¡°Who can say?¡± The supervillain snickered. ¡°I¡¯m certainly not going to explain myself to you, Otis. Especially after how disappointing you¡¯ve become,¡± she sighed, and her glowing eyes flashed. ¡°You were far more threatening hiding in the shadows. Now that you¡¯re in the light, you can be seen for what you really are. A sniveling child play-acting as a man. Fool¡¯s gold built on lies.¡± His nostrils flared, but he held his ground, his fingers tightening around the grip of his weapon. ¡°You have no idea what I¡¯m capable of,¡± he said. ¡°Your abilities are based on video game logic,¡± she said flatly, taking a sauntering step forward. ¡°You follow a guide that tells you what to do. You can¡¯t make any real decisions for yourself,¡± she continued as she drew closer. He felt his instincts scream at him to step back. His eyes bulged as her rasping words rattled around in his head. ¡°You cheat. Literally. It¡¯s so pathetic I want to cry. You¡¯ve leaned on those cheats for so long you barely understand how your ability works.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve taken step-¡± ¡°You¡¯ve taken steps to overcome it. You¡¯ve started training. It¡¯s adorable but too little, too late. Now we¡¯re face-to-face, and I know your limits, Marc. I know where the boundaries of your immortality end. Do you want me to tell you?¡± she asked with an icy cruelty that sent ripples through the air. She tilted her head to the right as she got within striking range. ¡°Or do you want to test and see if you¡¯ll survive this fight?¡± His hands shook, a tiny part of him quaking. He nearly lost his grip on his weapon as the woman drew in close enough that he could see his reflection in her helmet. ¡°Still human after all the atrocities,¡± she teased. ¡°What are you after?¡± he snarled. ¡°Haven¡¯t you been watching the news?¡± she asked, sashaying backwards with a cruel laugh. ¡°I want to rule this world. I want order. If that means I have to play nice on occasion, I will. You, on the other hand. You want to destroy the world, purge it and wipe it clean. I can¡¯t have that,¡± she tapped the chin of her helmet. ¡°But I could make use of you instead of wiping you off the face of the Earth.¡± His lips curled. ¡°...Make use?¡± She whipped her helmet towards him. ¡°Of course! I am a dealmaker, after all, but you knew that already.¡± She held out a hand. ¡°What do you say, Otis? Serve me, and I¡¯ll put your abilities to proper use. Make something of you instead of the pathetic, aimless mess you are. How can a thing like you become the monster that ends the world? Be a good boy, and I might even show you how to take the next step.¡± Temptation was blown away by indignation. ¡°Thing?¡± he snarled. ¡°A tool in service to my new world order. You can¡¯t beat me. You won¡¯t achieve your dream. You¡¯ll die here if you don¡¯t agree. So capitulate, make it easy on yourself, surrender, give up,¡± she said, extending her hand to him. She was suddenly closer, her blazing, hot-pink eyes boring down on him with ruthless malice. ¡°You¡¯ll make a good poster boy when I put you to work in service of my world peace.¡± This. Was a nightmare. This was every fear he¡¯d ever held. Every terror he could imagine. Becoming weak again. Being at someone else''s mercy. Being told that he would serve the species he had written off. Capitulating to lesser life forms. A cold feeling wormed its way through his guts. His mind spun. He tried to search for a way out. His eyes flitted towards his surroundings. A vast void spread out beyond the marble platform. They were in some hidden space within the dungeon. He hadn¡¯t felt this vulnerable in so long. His hands shook as his sword lowered to his side. He could live if he just gave up. If he put aside his dreams of deification, of being the end. Of being the protagonist of this world¡¯s final great story. She might even let him taste a piece of his dream if he just obeyed. The words wriggled their way into his mind like whispers. You aren¡¯t special. You aren¡¯t powerful. You¡¯re a failure. You walked into a trap like a fool. The guide thought for you, and now you don¡¯t even have it anymore. You are just an instrument without a player. You don¡¯t matter. He stared into his terrified reflection in her helmet. Was that really the face of a world killer? His jaw shook. No. The word was like a glacier that sprouted in his mind and gut, the mass pushing through the whispers. The rage and terror, the sense of ineptness, the impotent feeling that suffused his very being began to crack under the weight of something else: pure ego. His mind shuddered as a tear welled in one eye and dripped down his face. If I didn¡¯t matter, why are you so dead set on stopping me? It¡¯s not me who should be afraid. It¡¯s you. His expression eased, horror replaced with a placid smile. The smile widened as light returned to his blue eyes, a glow that burned to life in his reflection. He took his fears and crushed them into powder. He consumed them. Devoured them. Ate them and feasted upon the icy chill that ran through his veins. It gave him clarity. Ahh... this must be what Felwinter feels like. Amazing. He drank it in. How had he forgotten what it felt like? Had he been pretending to be what he wasn¡¯t for so long that he¡¯d forgotten? Some would call him a villain. Some would call him a hero. Others would worship at his feet. Yet the only thing that mattered to him was that he was the center of this story. This was supposed to be fun. When had he started to take it so seriously? This was his world, his game to play. Ah, Ishtar¡¯s words before An Set blew himself up. They scared me. I couldn¡¯t admit it before. He flicked his glowing blue eyes up at her. These are all of my fears manifested as one. I know where I am. I¡¯m in a nightmare. A waking nightmare. A nightmare so real it¡¯s taken control of a dungeon. Even so, they are what they are. His lip twitched. ¡°Your power is so amusing,¡± he said pleasantly, his cold smile reflecting back at him. ¡°You seemed adamant about my services. You must need my help, whoever you are.¡± The nightmare Ishtar took a step back. ¡°You¡¯re... awake?¡± He bared his perfect white teeth at her. ¡°Yes. More awake than I¡¯ve been in a long, long time. What a convenient way to go through therapy. More people should try this kind of thing,¡± he said with a laugh. Nightmare Ishtar flickered and buzzed like she was an image with poor signal. ¡°How?¡± ¡°You laid it on a little too thick,¡± he said. ¡°Your earlier stuff was good work, but then you had to go and pummel away at my psyche. Subtlety is better. You must be desperate. Are you stuck in here too?¡± Her eyes narrowed behind the helmet, but she said nothing. His head tilted sharply, and he fixed her with a stare, his smile widening. ¡°To start, I would appreciate it if you stopped rooting around in my head. It¡¯s impolite. You know what I do to the impolite, don¡¯t you?¡± For a moment a young woman stood in front of him, a teenager, barely older than Riot or Felwinter. She wore a white gown, and her black hair fell around her face as her haunted eyes stared at him. Flat and gray. She was pretty but in a hollow way. Like a horror monster that crawled its way out of a well. ¡°I can¡¯t let you leave,¡± she said, her voice weak and tired compared to the domineering voice of Ishtar. ¡°Because you can¡¯t defend yourself out there?¡± Otis said with an easy smile. The girl hesitated. ¡°What do you want?¡± I knew it. ¡°In exchange for your life?¡± he laughed. ¡°Give me your best offer. One way or another, I¡¯m getting out. If I tear my way out by force, who knows what will happen? I assume you figured out how to turn yourself into the anchor monster here? You want me to close the dungeon without killing you, right?¡± Her flat expression turned hard. ¡°I can be useful,¡± she stated, as if the very idea she wasn¡¯t was an affront. ¡°In fact, I already have been if that crybaby is any indication. I just want out of here.¡± He raised an eyebrow but didn¡¯t comment. ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± he hissed, flexing his fingers, sparks dancing around them as the world around him began to shift. She closed her eyes and faded away, leaving him alone. He smiled and flexed his power. A power that he would master. A power that was his, that belonged to him and would obey. He felt his instincts shift at the core of his being, a change taking place as the words appeared in front of him: His smile was nothing short of insane. ¡ª Otis awoke in the real world, his eyes taking a moment to refocus while he got to his feet. He panned his gaze to the right and spotted the nurse who had first met them sitting with a vapid expression on her face, drool dripping from her lip. Weak little creature, crushed after so long under the weight of the nightmare. He turned away from the uninteresting parasite and focused on two people he actually appreciated. Felwinter was sitting against a wall and glowering as her senses came back to her. He walked over. ¡°Enjoy your dream?¡± he asked. She flicked her eyes up towards him and sneered back. ¡°Not my favorite.¡± He chuckled and turned to look at Riot but found him already walking away, moving through the door that led into room four forty-nine. Otis moved after him and heard a squeak of pain. He stopped at the threshold and found Riot standing there, his hand around the throat of that same young woman he¡¯d seen in the nightmare. He was lifting her off her hospital bed with his left hand, while the fingers on his right hand started to glow. The girl just hung limply in his grip. She was still alive, but she wasn¡¯t fighting back. She looked at Otis with cold, flat eyes as her face started to change color. Otis let her suffer for a few more heartbeats before speaking. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Riot. Put her down. I want her alive.¡± Riot dropped her without a second thought, and his hands fell to his sides. My, my, It looks like she wasn¡¯t joking. What did she put this guy through? Otis wondered as Riot turned to face him. A single tear streamed down the right side of Riot¡¯s face as he smiled at Otis. ¡°Works for me,¡± Riot said merrily even as his voice trembled. His face was a two-sided mask of mirth and misery. Otis approved of this change. He grinned back at his Herald, ¡°I¡¯m afraid so, Riot. You¡¯ll have to take your anger out on someone else,¡± he explained as Felwinter stepped up behind him. He glanced over his shoulder at the fury in her eyes that was focused on the young woman. ¡°This means both of you.¡± The girl rumbled out a faint cough and shot a sidelong look at Felwinter. ¡°Lunatic.¡± Otis turned to look at her. ¡°And I¡¯m still deciding what to do with you.¡± She turned her head to return his stare without an ounce of guilt on her face. Her lips twitched, and the air seemed to chill a little. ¡°So, when do you kill me?¡± ¡°Depends on my mood. I might not,¡± Otis pointed out as he walked inside. He gestured to Felwinter, who moved to the opposite side of the bed from Riot, and the two of them looked down at her. She sat on the bed, unmoved by their approach. ¡°You see, we have a bit of a problem,¡± he said and rested a hand on his hip. ¡°You dug a little too deep there. I¡¯m trying to decide whether or not that usefulness you implied you had outweighs knowing something you shouldn¡¯t.¡± Her expressionless face twitched into a slight frown. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Answers,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m very curious about you.¡± He gestured to Riot. ¡°Find her chart.¡± Riot nodded and searched the room for a moment before finding a clipboard lying on a counter covered in dust. He wiped it off and read it over briefly before looking up at Otis. ¡°Comatose patient, the date reads the same as the flash. Age...¡± Riot¡¯s shaky voice trailed off, and he barked out an eerie laugh. ¡°Fifteen?¡± Exactly as I thought, he mused and looked back at the girl. ¡°It¡¯s been two years. When¡¯s your birthday?¡± ¡°December Twentieth,¡± she murmured, and Riot nodded to confirm it with what he saw on the chart. Otis exchanged a look with his Heralds. Felwinter was the first to speak. ¡°That can¡¯t be right,¡± she said thoughtfully. ¡°She¡¯s got a few more weeks before she should show signs of awakening, let alone a case file spanning the past two years.¡± Otis grinned and gestured to the young woman dramatically. ¡°And yet here she is, a Mythic no less, based on the power we encountered. Something¡¯s changed.¡± She gave him a dreary scowl. ¡°Did you get the answers you wanted? Did I pass your test?¡± ¡°As a matter of fact, yes,¡± he said. ¡°How much do you remember of our encounter in that dream?¡± ¡°Everything,¡± she said and didn¡¯t even blink at the tension rising from Riot and Felwinter. She shrugged her shoulders, and her frown turned into a small smile. ¡°No hard feelings?¡± she asked. Riot and Felwinter both stared daggers in her direction but didn¡¯t dare say a word with Otis watching. He grinned. She enjoyed it, he thought before whistling in appreciation. ¡°Well, I certainly could use someone with your talents. Searching a person¡¯s memories through their nightmares could come in handy,¡± he said. ¡°I already agreed,¡± she muttered and looked him in the eyes. ¡°I know better than anyone what you¡¯re capable of. I won¡¯t say a word.¡± His smile grew wide. ¡°Good... Now, why don¡¯t you introduce yourself to your new peers? I¡¯m sure you have a few good ideas for a name after rooting around in my head.¡± The stony-faced girl stared back at him, not breaking eye contact. ¡°My name is Amy Dala. You may address me as Melinoe?, Herald of Otis.¡± JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 272 The old theme park was a ruin now. The Ferris wheel had collapsed over the arcade, bits of twisted steel scattered across the main thoroughfare. The remains of one of the roller coasters were strewn over the old log flume, the statue of the lumberjack crushed by one of the remaining cars. The smell of smoke permeated everything, mixing with the scent of blood and an odd tang that hinted of ozone. It was a scene of utter devastation. He shot a look towards Nate, the field producer. The muscular man was leaning over a folding table where a few computers had been set up beneath the production tent. Nate looked up from the screen and held his fingers up before beginning to count down. Five, four, three, two, one. A man¡¯s voice popped into his earpiece. <¡±...and now we head over to southern Tennessee with Jay Cash. Hey, Jay, that¡¯s one heck of a mess. What are we seeing?¡±> Jay raised his microphone a little. ¡°Well, Randy, I¡¯m standing here at the site of the defunct Sonnyworld, where a dungeon had formed shortly after the Liberty War,¡± he said. ¡°Just a few hours ago a group of villains calling themselves the ¡®Cryptids¡¯ attacked the dungeon while it was being assessed by a Pandora scouting crew. According to what we know, the fight was pushed out of the dungeon and into the park.¡± He turned and gestured around himself. ¡°You can see the aftermath.¡± ¡°What happened to the Cryptids?¡± Randy asked into his earpiece. ¡°The Pandora official here at the scene has informed us that three of the five members of the Cryptids were arrested by the scouts that held their ground and the responding heroes that arrived shortly thereafter,¡± Jay said before turning his eyes towards another man standing off to the side and watching him carefully. He met the man¡¯s eyes and restrained the urge to smile. ¡°Agent Lindt is actually here with us right now. Let me see if I can get a word with him.¡± Jay heard a small chuckle in his earpiece as he made an inviting gesture towards the official, who scowled openly at him. A moment later, they were standing side-to-side, with Agent Lindt doing his best to keep a straight face. ¡°Agent Lindt, thank you for taking the time to talk to us!¡± Lindt, a man in his mid-thirties with brown hair tied neatly in a ponytail and a carefully styled beard, gave his best diplomatic smile. ¡°Always a pleasure, Jay,¡± he said. ¡°Any chance we can know which heroes intervened to save the day?¡± Jay asked. ¡°It¡¯s a small mixed team of Liberty War veterans and heroes from the Tennessee and Mississippi guilds,¡± Lindt said. ¡°For operational security reasons, I can¡¯t disclose who is who. I hope you understand.¡± Jay raised an eyebrow. ¡°It¡¯s a shame we don¡¯t have anyone to thank for holding down the fort for us. How long is their tour here going to be?¡± he asked. ¡°A few weeks before they get cycled out for the next group,¡± Lindt said. ¡°I can¡¯t be specific. We¡¯re coordinating with the Governor to make sure that all bases are covered while the team patrols and hunts for the remaining monsters from the dungeon break.¡± Jay straightened a little, catching onto a juicy tidbit. ¡°Coordinating with the Governor? The last report said that the Pandora Committee rejected support from the Tennessee National Guard. Has that changed?¡± Lindt¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but his body language shifted slightly. ¡°While the National Guard is a valued and important part of the United States¡¯ homeland defense, and they have made strides in anti-monster preparedness with post-Pandora munitions, this is a matter that involves villains and monsters far stronger than hounds and lurkers,¡± Lindt said carefully. ¡°As such, the bulk of the forces here are Pandora soldiers.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t had any problems with using foreign soldiers to occupy land on US soil?¡± Jay asked pointedly and got a cough in his earpiece. He wasn¡¯t going to relent, though. ¡°And is there any truth to the rumors that the towns and cities here and abroad that were destroyed during the conflict are currently being converted into Pandora bases?¡± Lindt¡¯s body language turned even more guarded even as he laughed. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s a bit above my pay grade to have any solid information for you. I do want to remind you that the Pandora Committee is a neutral, UN-aligned organization. It¡¯s a peacekeeping body that has bylaws about impinging on sovereignty.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be more accurate to say that the UN is Pandora Committee aligned-¡± He was cut off as a chime rang in his ear, letting him know that headquarters had moved on to a new topic and they were no longer live. He scoffed and lowered his microphone while Lidnt glared at him. He shrugged good-naturedly at the guy only to get a cold shoulder as the man walked away. Jay rolled his eyes. ¡°So much for transparency.¡± ¡°Went in a little hot there, Jay?¡± Nate called over to him. Jay walked over and set his mic down next to the computer. ¡°Oh please, that was nothing,¡± he said and squinted at the screen. ¡°What are the execs saying?¡± he asked and looked back at Nate. Nate was a big guy who would have fit in without issue at a professional wrestling event. His nearly bald head was covered in a thin layer of black hair, and his chin was shaved to a nearly shiny clean. Nate clicked his tongue. ¡°Mikey loved every second of it. So despite pissing off the Pandora official who¡¯s in charge of our security, it looks like you might just be getting that next big gig.¡± Jay grinned. ¡°It¡¯s all about asking the right questions, man,¡± he said and clapped Nate on the shoulder. ¡°Lunch ready?¡± The producer checked his watch. ¡°It¡¯s gonna be crowded over at that tent. Might want to wait.¡± Jay shrugged and turned away with a smirk. ¡°I¡¯ll bring something back for you,¡± he said and wandered off from the production tent towards the small town of tents, RVs, and trailers that were set up around the area. He walked past one of the metal trailers and checked himself in the reflection. Jeffrey ¡°Jay¡± Cash was a good-looking guy, not a model by any stretch of the imagination, but he was confident in his looks. He had long, strawberry-blonde hair pulled back into a lazy ponytail and a narrow face. His eyes were a deep brown, almost black, that clashed pretty sharply with his gregarious demeanor. He left his reflection behind and wandered towards the crowded center of the tent village, hands in his pockets as he eyed the cluster of people and fell into the flow. One step forward, another to the left, two steps to the right, pivot, a step forward, sidestep, and one more step forward. He stopped in front of the table and smiled at the woman standing across from him, who was frantically trying to keep up with orders with the rest of her team. She turned to him and blinked with surprise. ¡°Ah! I didn¡¯t see you there!¡± He grinned. ¡°No biggie,¡± he said and snatched up a pair of pre-wrapped trays. ¡°One for the boss,¡± he said and took a lazy step back before she even had a chance to respond. He was out of the crowd and walking back towards the producer¡¯s tent before anyone even realized he was there. Some light-touched could fly. Others could throw flames from their hands or even impose their will on the force of gravity. Jay? Jay could always find the path to his destination. It wasn¡¯t a matter of luck or manipulating one force or another. It was all about timing and control over his body. Hitting every green light? Piece of cake. Making his way through a crowd? Child¡¯s play. With deft hands and a keen eye, he was like a ghost. Jay set the trays down on the table next to Nate¡¯s computer, and the producer looked up at him in surprise. ¡°You¡¯re back already?¡± Jay shrugged. ¡°Wasn¡¯t that busy.¡± Nate squinted at him and looked towards the crowd. ¡°Uh-huh, that¡¯s cheating, Jay.¡± ¡°Nobody noticed.¡± Jay said with a smirk. ¡°Alright, fine, thanks for the food, man. I¡¯ve got some good news to wrap up your day,¡± he said and picked one of the trays up, unwrapping it. ¡°Oh, meatballs. Nice.¡± Jay picked up his own tray and peered beneath the foil. He¡¯d eat later. ¡°What¡¯s the big news?¡± ¡°Execs got some inside information about the next set of preliminaries for the ASTA thing,¡± Nate said. ¡°You''re going. Looks like pissing off Lindt paid off, Mister Cash.¡± Foil crinkled as Jay went still and looked up to meet a smiling Nate¡¯s eyes. He set the tray down and crossed his arms, glancing around surreptitiously to make sure nobody was listening in. ¡°Where am I going?¡± he asked. Nate leaned in. ¡°Dharan. Chernovna¡¯s got something big planned.¡± Jay whistled appreciatively and plucked his tray off the table, raising it up a bit in a faux toast. ¡°You¡¯re the best, Nate. Drinks tonight?¡± ¡°Sounds good. Take a load off, I got work to do,¡± the producer agreed. ¡°Will do,¡± Jay said and walked away, making for the small cluster of trailers that were designated for their broadcast company. A nervous thrill ran through him as he walked, his eyes fixed on one trailer in particular. He was suddenly hyper-aware of the phone in his pocket. He needed to make a call before he did anything else. His easy smile slipped into a blank expression as he pushed unnecessary and damning thoughts out. In this new world, it was dangerous to focus on the wrong thing at the wrong time. He arrived at the door to his trailer and unlocked it quickly, pushing down on the handle. He paused when the door didn¡¯t open right away. It felt heavy. His stony expression went almost brittle, and he swallowed before putting a bit more strength into it and the door gave way. It felt like it weighed over a hundred pounds. He stepped inside and moved to shut the door only for it to become weightless again. He felt a bead of sweat drip down his brow as he locked the door. The snarky remark he had in mind died as he considered how to present himself. Old habits from a life as a con man and pickpocket roared up into his thoughts. He cleared his throat and set the food on the counter before making his way through the door that split the trailer in half. While the previous space was basically a cramped lounge and kitchenette, this new space was a mixture of bedroom and office. The floor beneath him creaked slightly, and he looked to the desk where a man was waiting for him. He was old, probably in his sixties or seventies, his skin pale and wrinkled. His sharp eyes were set deep into his face and gleamed with keen intellect. He wore a dapper suit and top hat to cover his wispy white hair. The feature that drew Jay¡¯s attention the most, though, was the cane the man was leaning on. The metal floor beneath it bowed slightly under it. Jay cleared his throat. ¡°I hope you weren¡¯t waiting long, sir.¡± Maximilian chortled. ¡°Hardly, son. A few hours in a nice trailer like this is good for these old bones. I got a nice rest.¡± Jay nodded. ¡°Good to hear. I got the gig at the ASTA event.¡± The old man grinned. ¡°Then you have a call to make.¡± Jay reached for his pocket, and the old man held up his hand. ¡°No, no,¡± he said. ¡°That¡¯s too insecure. I was sent to facilitate a different form of communication.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know you had that kind of ability,¡± Jay said, his habitual curiosity getting the better of him before he could shut his mouth. ¡°I don¡¯t!¡± Maximilian laughed and rose to his feet with an easy movement that belied his age. He stepped to the side and gestured to the desk. ¡°Sit down.¡± Jay nodded and walked over to the desk, pulling out the chair and sitting down while Maximilian reached into his coat and pulled out a pouch and what looked like a memo pad. The old man flipped through the memo pad and mumbled to himself before approaching the desk and opening up the pouch. He started to sprinkle a fine powder onto the desk that glittered with what looked like metal flakes that Jay didn¡¯t immediately recognize. The powder was drawn into a circle with a number of odd lines and symbols. They were unlike anything he¡¯d ever seen, and he¡¯d done a little reading up on the occult in high school. ¡°What is this?¡± Jay asked as the old man took off his hat and reached into it. ¡°Magic,¡± Maximilian said and plucked a glass sphere from within the hat. He placed it in the center of the circle. ¡°An ability?¡± Jay pressed. ¡°No,¡± Maximilian said with a chuckle and met Jay¡¯s eyes. ¡°Son, he sees the world very differently from the rest of us. With that comes knowledge and truths that we can only begin to imagine and comprehend. Just roll with it.¡± Jay swallowed hard and looked down at the sphere of glass as Maximilian checked his notes. He mumbled something before pulling a match from his pocket, lighting it, and touching the dust. It ignited immediately, and Jay nearly pulled back before the flames vanished and turned into glowing lines of light that rose off the table and spun. They collapsed inward before slamming into the glass ball. The ball began to glow. Jay felt a thrill spiderwalk its way up his spine. A golden eye appeared in it. ¡°Drifter,¡± a hard voice said. ¡°You have a report for me?¡± Mimir. I thought I might be reporting to The Major or something, but... He realized he was still holding his breath and coughed, nodding quickly. ¡°Yes, sir, I do. I got the gig for the ASTA Competition. They¡¯re sending me to Dharan.¡± The glowing eye went still for a moment before the voice came again. ¡°I see. She¡¯s going to use clearing the break as the preliminaries for her game. Follow through. I will send Max with you. He knows what he needs to do. Do your job and continue with your role - undermine the Committee and ASTA. Make sure the public is asking questions.¡± Jay nodded quickly. ¡°Is there anything else?¡± ¡°I may have you take on a more active role for this,¡± Mimir said. ¡°Remain flexible. You¡¯ve done good work so far. Keep it up, Vigilante.¡± ¡°I would have gone villain if it wasn¡¯t for you guys,¡± Jay said. ¡°I won¡¯t let you down.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t. Good luck, Drifter.¡± JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 273 What is that stupid boy doing here? Sonya stood in front of the two-way mirror and frowned. She had not planned on slipping out that evening. Her intention had been to take a little time for herself and relax. She even had some shows queued up that she had fallen terribly behind on. She let out a sigh and slumped her shoulders in a pout. ¡°Do you have any idea how much processing power I use to filter out spoilers for War Games when I¡¯m browsing the internet?¡± she asked the room. She turned around and met Charon¡¯s red eyes. He was lounging on the couch across from her, smoking a cigar and grinning back at her. ¡°Can¡¯t you just watch them while you¡¯re walking around or something?¡± he asked. ¡°That brain of yours can do some crazy shit.¡± Sonya crossed her arms. ¡°It¡¯s the principle!¡± He barked out a laugh. ¡°Just say you wanted to watch it in your new personal movie theater instead of beating around the bush.¡± She rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips. ¡°Fine. I¡¯d rather be watching it on my fancy, new, multi-billion-dollar boat, which, by the way, I have spent less time on than you guys. And you¡¯ve been in a dungeon for half a week!¡± Charon laughed again. ¡°So did you want me to not tell you that he was asking for you?¡± She scoffed. ¡°Hell no,¡± she said. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t miss this for the world. I just want you to understand where I¡¯m coming from when I go in there.¡± She glanced around the room while he chuckled. They were in what looked like something between a lounge and a locker room. A place where people could observe what was going on in the room on the other side of the two-way mirror. It made her think of a police station, but that clearly wasn¡¯t it. She turned her attention to the sole door leading out of the space other than the one next to the mirror and pursed her lips. ¡°You had me teleport to this room; what¡¯s out there?¡± she asked, jerking her chin towards the door. He glanced at it. ¡°Hum? Oh, this is a branch of the Styx here in Sydney,¡± he said with a lazy wave of his hand. ¡°The room¡¯s soundproofed, otherwise the noise from the club would be deafening.¡± She chuckled. ¡°He must have been really confused when you brought him here.¡± Charon snorted. ¡°You can say that again.¡± She turned back to the door next to the mirror. ¡°Let¡¯s see what this kid wants.¡± Ishtar? I am here. Sonya raised her hand up and reached past her face, gripping the air before pulling back down with a single breath. The air stilled for a heartbeat before she felt power rush through her veins and into her muscles and bones. A glittering fog of infinitesimally small motes of light spread across her skin until the armor took shape. She raised her head up and basked in it as she felt Ishtar¡¯s mind settle in beside her own. She opened her eyes behind the helmet and exhaled, the air chilling around her. She turned her head towards Charon. ¡°Enjoy the show.¡± He raised his cane in salute, and she smirked before opening the door and stepping through with a low-level burst of Imperious for good measure. She raised her chin up and looked down at the young man who had nearly risen from his seat at the cheap card table. Nietz slumped back instead and stared up at her with wide eyes. Sonya strode across the room to stand over him. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be here, little hero,¡± she said sharply. He winced and looked down at his hands. ¡°I didn¡¯t have a choice.¡± She floated a few inches off the ground and drifted to the right, gliding behind him. ¡°Lie. There are always choices. It¡¯s just that there¡¯s an obvious path of least resistance among them.¡± She didn¡¯t even have to look at him to feel him shrink a little more before he rallied himself. She could hear his teeth grit and feel the tension in his muscles. She could sense his heartbeat. She continued her circuit around the table as he pushed himself to lean forward and stare at her. ¡°If I want to achieve my goals, this is the best option,¡± he said firmly. ¡°There¡¯s someone I need to protect, and to do that I need to be the best I can possibly be.¡± ¡°Why should I care?¡± Sonya asked, examining the claws on her gauntlets and not bothering to look at him. ¡°In what universe does helping you net me any sort of gain?¡± He pressed his lips together and leaned back, glowering at her, but said nothing. She raised her eyebrows behind her helmet and slowed a little to look at him. ¡°Hoh? Nothing to say? You came all this way without a plan?¡± she demanded and tilted her head forward to look him in the eyes. ¡°Did you ask for me as a way of getting out of being killed by Charon? Coward.¡± He sprang to his feet and slammed his fist into the table, crushing it. ¡°I won¡¯t be called a coward by a monster like you that pulls everyone¡¯s strings!¡± he shouted. ¡°I came here to make a deal to get stronger so I can take people like you down!¡± Sonya blinked, stunned for a moment. The audacity of this boy, Ishtar commented. I like him. Let¡¯s test him a bit. I want to see how strong that heart of his really is, Sonya agreed, and with only a flicker of movement, was before him. She shut down the lights in the room and grabbed him by the face. He didn¡¯t even have time to react before chains of hardened light grabbed him by the arms. She squeezed and felt his jaw creak beneath her grip. ¡°Watch your tone,¡± she hissed. ¡°You forget where you are, little hero.¡± He returned her stare, wide-eyed but unblinking. Cowed but unbroken, good. He nodded, and she tilted her head to the right and drew in closer, letting Imperious leak out to pound on his spirit a little bit. ¡°You came here, demanded an audience with me,¡± she hissed. Her etheric voice, echoing with both her and Ishtar¡¯s tones, radiated through the room. ¡°You, who aren¡¯t even a proper hero. Just a glorified security guard,¡± her eyes flashed. ¡°That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve done my research on you.¡± He opened his mouth to retort, but she squeezed again. ¡°I didn¡¯t give you permission to speak! Know your place!¡± she snarled. ¡°You came here with the express intent to make a deal for power so that you could use it against my beloved villains? Is that what I¡¯m hearing?¡± He returned her stare but said nothing. She smiled behind her helmet. ¡°He learns quickly!¡± she chuckled. ¡°Speak.¡± He bared his teeth. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The answer is no.¡± He blinked. ¡°No?¡± he demanded, pulling his chin out of her grip. ¡°Why not? I heard you would make deals with anyone! I need this!¡± She swatted him across the face and sent him to the ground. He scrambled back up, but she planted her boot on his chest and pushed him back down. She leaned down and conjured up a khopesh of hardened light and placed it beneath his chin. ¡°You need to understand that you are nothing compared to the resources at my disposal. What could you possibly offer me that would even make this conversation worth my time? Come back when you become International or something. You¡¯re pathetic.¡± He flinched and looked away. ¡°Struck a nerve, did I?¡± she hissed. ¡°Let¡¯s see...¡± she hummed. ¡°Anton Hosk. Ability Unknown, but it seems to be some manner of defensive power. Renders you resistant to all sorts of things. Curious,¡± she murmured. He tensed again and tried to rise, but she pushed down hard enough to force the air out of him. He gasped and coughed. ¡°Pandora Security. You left abruptly to participate in Chernovna¡¯s competition. I wonder why. What would motivate a man who has a comfortable job out of harm''s way to suddenly push for a sponsorship?¡± He glared at her, and she snorted. ¡°Was my jab about making International a hit too close to home?¡± she asked. He did his best to keep his face still, but he wasn¡¯t good enough to escape her eyes and observational abilities. A tiny twitch of his lips, a rise in temperature on his face, an increase in heart rate. ¡°Ahh... I was right. Again, though, why? What is there to gain?¡± ¡°I want to be a better hero-¡± ¡°DO NOT LIE TO ME!¡± she bellowed and the room shook. He looked away, and this time she saw his brave facade crack a little bit. You aren¡¯t going to be getting anything from me beating around the bush and hiding things. If you have a wish, you must be upfront. You¡¯re going to give him what he wants? Ishtar asked. If there¡¯s a decent benefit for me and he holds his own here, I don¡¯t see why not. I¡¯m not going to coddle him if that¡¯s what you¡¯re asking, Sonya replied. We¡¯re of the same mind, then. True-spirited heroes are hard to come by. Ishtar said. ¡°I have a friend who needs my help,¡± he said quietly. ¡°Hero Locke was relieved of her position and blacklisted by those bastard Representatives.¡± I knew it, Sonya thought smugly. ¡°You want her on your support staff,¡± Sonya said. ¡°Yes,¡± he admitted. ¡°Then you need to win this competition?¡± she pressed. ¡°Yes.¡± She drew the khopesh back and pulled her foot off of him. ¡°And how far are you willing to go to achieve that goal, hero?¡± she asked. He glared at her. ¡°I won¡¯t spy for you, if that¡¯s what you¡¯re suggesting. I¡¯m not a traitor.¡± She tilted her chin up and looked down on him. ¡°And what if I decide that is exactly what I want out of you?¡± ¡°Then just kill me already,¡± he growled. ¡°I won¡¯t compromise who I am. I want to be the best I can be. I¡¯m willing to make a deal, but I¡¯m not willing to sell out the other heroes.¡± She scoffed and brandished her weapon casually. ¡°You seem to think you have a lot of say here. That¡¯s quite the delusion, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°If you really wanted me gone,¡± he growled, ¡°you would have killed me already. I do have something that you want, don¡¯t I?¡± Sonya cocked her head to the right. Smart boy. Too smart for his own good in some ways. I wonder what manner of power he wants. He¡¯s intelligent enough to understand that if we give him something flashy, it¡¯ll be obvious he made a deal, and not only will he be disqualified, he¡¯ll lose his license, perhaps even go to prison. Why take the risk? Ishtar wondered. Love, I¡¯m guessing. Hmph, of course, Ishtar grunted. He¡¯s a strapping young man, it isn¡¯t that much of a surprise, Sonya teased. Don¡¯t be such a Grumpy Gus, love is a respectable motivator in my opinion. Let¡¯s just get to the point, Ishtar said. Fine, fine, Sonya chuckled. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell me what you want, little hero, and we will see if what you have is payment enough for your heart¡¯s desire,¡± she hissed, and with a wave of her hand the lights came back on and the restraints vanished from his arms. He sat there for a heartbeat before getting to his feet, rubbing his wrists, and watching her warily. She drifted into the air and floated around him, watching him carefully as the wheels turned in his head. He didn¡¯t so much as move, cautious of angering her again. ¡°I need an ability that will improve my natural regeneration. Something to heal my wounds quickly. As long as it does that, I¡¯ll take the lowest tier you have to offer.¡± There were a couple of abilities with that function in the batch you got from the preliminary winners, Ishtar said. I could spare one, but why bother? He¡¯s already caused me enough trouble and doesn¡¯t strike me as the type to change sides even if I crushed his spirit right here, Sonya replied. It¡¯s better that I deny him and send him on his way. I say feel him out, Ishtar suggested. You have something in mind? Sonya asked. Just a working theory, Ishtar said. He has a defensive ability but needs regeneration. Why? Interesting, maybe there¡¯s more to it, Sonya agreed. Fine, we¡¯ll let this play out. ¡°I happen to have a few lying around,¡± Sonya said absently while she pretended to check her nails. She flicked her head in his direction and fixed him with a stare. ¡°Why regeneration?¡± He scowled before sighing. ¡°My ability adapts my body to the damage I¡¯ve sustained. It¡¯s a growth-type, but it only improves once I¡¯ve fully healed from an injury.¡± Oh my! Now that is a catch! Sonya and Ishtar thought simultaneously. Such an ability would be invaluable, even if it was undeveloped when she got a copy of it. Given its nature, it was probably in the Rare or Epic-tier. A power like that could push her body or that of one of the members of her Inner Circle to the next level. The ideas swirled in her head as she regarded him. ¡°Give me your offer.¡± ¡°If you can give out abilities, you can take them, right?¡± he asked, and Sonya shifted a bit to focus on him even more. He raised his hand to his chest. ¡°If something happens to me. Take mine. It¡¯s yours the moment I die.¡± Sonya blinked in disbelief. ¡°That is... something I can make happen,¡± she admitted. ¡°But did you really just ask for a deferred payment?¡± she asked. ¡°Do you really have no shame?¡± He stepped forward and clenched his fists, returning her stare with his own. ¡°If my shame is all I have to give up to become the best hero I can be, then I¡¯ll toss it aside in a heartbeat. If I can save one more life, help one more person, and all I have to do is humiliate myself? So be it.¡± I don¡¯t think this is just about his love for Locke, Ishtar said thoughtfully. I think he might actually be one of the good ones. Where the hell was this ray of sunshine in the previous timeline? Sonya wondered before lowering her legs back towards the ground and drifting towards him. ¡°I won¡¯t accept a deferred payment, but the fate of your ability after your death can remain on the table.¡± He frowned. ¡°What do you want?¡± Sonya leaned in close and took his chin in her hand. ¡°I want a copy of your ability, to start.¡± His eyes went wide. ¡°You can do that?¡± Then he paled. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving here alive now, am I? Not without a deal.¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid so,¡± Sonya agreed with a melodramatic nod. ¡°You¡¯ll have to agree to remain silent about the nature of my ability. Which, by the way, creates binding deals. You won¡¯t be able to break the terms even if you wanted to.¡± He clenched his fists. ¡°So that¡¯s how it works.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Sonya said. ¡°So? What are you going to do?¡± ¡°You want two copies of my ability,¡± he ground out. ¡°I want to add some terms.¡± She scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m listening. Don¡¯t push your luck, though.¡± ¡°When I die, if you encounter Heroes Locke and Hammond, spare them,¡± he said quietly. Sonya kept her emotions in check. ¡°Very well then-¡± He stepped forward and spoke quickly. ¡°And I want you to agree to not kill me the moment the deal is struck. The binding nature of the contract goes both ways, right? If I die, I want to be standing on my feet as a hero.¡± Sonya frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t push it, hero.¡± He scoffed. ¡°Push it? It was a long shot of me getting out of here alive to begin with! Charon¡¯s still out there,¡± he nodded at the door before looking back at her. ¡°And you could probably splatter me with a punch. I figure if I¡¯m going to flip a coin, at least make sure it doesn¡¯t bite my friends and I in the ass if I get tails.¡± Sonya couldn¡¯t help herself. She threw her head back and laughed. It was a stringent laugh, a mixture of delight and frustration. He was the kind of hero she wanted to see in them all. He had the stuff to be like one of the greats. He even had the flexibility that Lillian lacked. He¡¯s asking for a lot, Ishtar commented. Broker will cry foul if I¡¯m giving too much, Sonya said and reached into her warehouse. She plucked out an Uncommon-tier regenerative ability that one of the participants in the prelims had. He said he¡¯d take the lowest tier we had. Ah, didn¡¯t that person have two abilities like Amos? Ishtar asked. Yeah, shame their combat power was only Epic and they got knocked out in the first round, Sonya said. I¡¯m already sparing his life and that of his friends; he¡¯s getting a bargain. How do you want to do this? Ishtar asked. I figured I¡¯d merge it in; it¡¯s easier that way, and I¡¯m curious about the results. Either way, I¡¯m getting it back when he dies, Sonya said. I can give him some time to enjoy it for now. ¡°You may leave this place alive, little hero. I will not pursue you for a year.¡± She leaned in close, ¡°But if you interfere with me during that time or prove yourself a liar and commit an act of villainy, I will end you.¡± I can always pull strings to prevent him from going on missions related to me for the year as long as he behaves himself. ¡°Fine,¡± he snarled. She raised a finger. ¡°I¡¯m not done. You¡¯re making a deal with me, little hero. You¡¯ve crossed a line. If you come to me again, if you give into that temptation, I will have a blank check on you. This clause is for keeps.¡± I only agreed to not hurt your little friends after you die. They¡¯re fair game right now. If I need to, I will drag them in and force you into a deal. Don¡¯t think you can beat the dealmaker, brat. A good thread to pull on if he becomes famous, Ishtar pointed out. And if a certain asshole takes an interest in him. If he wins the competition, he¡¯ll become my sponsee. I won¡¯t have him fall into Otis¡¯ clutches, Sonya agreed. His expression went stony, and his eyes hardened. ¡°Challenge accepted. The next time we see one another, I¡¯ll bring you in.¡± She straightened with a cold laugh. ¡°We will see, won''t we?¡± This is going to hurt a lot,¡± she said. He scowled. ¡°That¡¯s a small price to pay.¡± ¡°Pragmatic, good,¡± she said and held out her hand. ¡°Let¡¯s make a deal, little hero.¡± He looked at her clawed gauntlet and swallowed hard before reaching out and taking her hand. She tried analyzing him again for shits and giggles and found that he was still very much immune. She wouldn¡¯t be able to copy it until the deal went through. Looks good so far. Yeah, yeah, I know. The hell? What do you mean it¡¯s not enough? Two copies of a growth-type, even if one is deferred, is quite valuable, Ishtar chimed in. Even so, I¡¯m sparing three lives along with it? Was he lying to me about the nature of his power, or is he ignorant of it? How curious. Is it because of how it adapts to things? This is troublesome, Sonya grumbled. Agreed, Ishtar said. A Heroic-tier regenerative ability. Do you have one? One, Sonya said begrudgingly. I was planning to give it to Amos. Now I¡¯ll have to rethink that build I had in mind for him. Such is the life of a power broker, Ishtar chuckled. Har har, Sonya grumbled good-naturedly and reached into her warehouse as Nietz stared at her awkwardly. ¡°I am balancing the agreement,¡± Sonya explained. ¡°It seems your ability is more valuable than I anticipated. This won¡¯t take long.¡± She sighed inwardly. It¡¯s hard to find abilities that are pure variants, like this one and Heroic Strength. Shame I¡¯m using it up like this. Proceed. Sonya felt the power leave her warehouse as the charge ran down her arm. She watched his face as it suddenly paled, his eyes bulging and his throat bobbing. He staggered back and broke contact with her, letting out a cry of pain. He dropped to his knees as she stood over him. ¡°Endure it. You got what you asked for. Now you have to live with it.¡± JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 274 Sonya blew bubbles into her drink as she stared out the window, lost in thought. The sound drew the attention of a few of those sitting around her, but she paid it no mind. It was her dining pavilion, after all. She could do whatever she wanted. Besides, of course, kill the two people sitting just a few seats away from her. As much as she wanted to. She really wanted to. It would be so easy to just do it. She flicked her eyes towards Qilin, who was sitting quietly with a cup of coffee and staring daggers across the table. Next to her was the insufferable First Wind, who was slouching in his seat and basking in the sun coming through the glass. She looked to her right as the awkward atmosphere intensified and met the eyes of her latest guest and the target of Qilin¡¯s incomprehensible ire, the Chairwoman of the Pandora Committee herself. Carla was smiling at Sonya in that ¡®you dug this hole for yourself¡¯ sort of way that made Sonya want to do unspeakable things to her. She blew a few more bubbles to chase off that particular instinct as her attention drifted to the fourth attachment to her increasingly large guest list. Nietz sat with his eyes fixed firmly on the table in front of him and his hands in his lap as a tiny bead of sweat trickled down his temple. Not more than ten hours before, she had been nearly standing on top of the youth and verbally ripping him apart. She¡¯d been in full regalia, of course, so he had no idea he was sitting a few seats away from the same person. Only two people at the table knew she was Ishtar: Carla and Qilin, and both of them were keen on keeping the secret. That still didn¡¯t change the fact that she did not want him there. Her gut told her he was a source of trouble. Still annoyed about his ability? Ishtar asked. Sonya kept her poker face as she sighed inwardly. I¡¯m more shocked than anything. Evolutionary is basically useless at first sniff. It doesn¡¯t do anything right out the gate, you have to get hurt or find an evolutionary imperative in order to make any use of it. Its instincts are so vague that it¡¯s impossible to figure out exactly how to make it adapt. It explains his desperate need for a regenerative ability, though, Ishtar pointed out. Yes, but it also says a lot that the brat is bulletproof, Sonya said. How many times has that kid been shot? Hm, good point. Would you consider that self-destructive or masochism? Ishtar wondered. I consider it trouble, Sonya shot back. I don¡¯t want him on my ship. You know what Carla is going to ask. Are you going to say no to her? Ishtar asked. Sonya blew a few more bubbles before grunting and leaning back in her seat. She crossed her legs and let her smile come back. No point in getting bent out of shape over it. She could figure out a way to keep him from causing too many problems. Not that I can kill him now, she reminded herself. ¡°Well! This is interesting,¡± she said playfully and tilted her head towards Carla. ¡°Latte, darling?¡± Carla chuckled. ¡°That would be wonderful, Sonya.¡± ¡°Great!¡± Sonya said and pulled out her phone, tapping a few screens and setting it down. ¡°Amos has turned this ship into a playground equal to the beach house,¡± Sonya explained. ¡°The menu is on an app.¡± ¡°Convenient,¡± Carla said thoughtfully, not breaking eye contact. ¡°Sonya... we need to talk about it.¡± Sonya crossed her arms. ¡°But I don¡¯t wanna!¡± ¡°Sonya,¡± Carla pressed and raised her eyebrows. ¡°He doesn¡¯t have a way to get to Dharan with Euclidia as busy as she is. Adam and Brent¡¯s suggestion was overwhelmingly accepted by the Committee, so we¡¯re committed now. You agreed to let him participate in the next round. This is on you.¡± Sonya scoffed. ¡°What¡¯s got Molly so occupied anyway?¡± Sonya complained. ¡°I know the villains causing trouble in the dungeons are an issue, but she can¡¯t be that busy.¡± Carla sighed. ¡°She¡¯s had a pet project she was working on with Gravitic for a while that she¡¯d put aside for the Liberty War. Now that it¡¯s over, she won¡¯t take any more time off of it. Not even Chunhua could convince her to delay it any longer.¡± ¡°Oh yeah,¡± First Wind said. ¡°She was bitching on and on about it the other day. She wants to get into some rooms or something.¡± Qilin shook her head. ¡°The Backrooms, you idiot.¡± ¡°Hey! Name-callin¡¯ in front of the Chairwoman?¡± he shot back. ¡°It¡¯s not name-calling,¡± Qilin said patiently. ¡°If it is a proven fact.¡± ¡°Qilin, be nice,¡± Carla reprimanded her patiently. The International-class hero actually scoffed and went back to her coffee, staring hard at the side of Carla¡¯s head while First Wind turned away with a grumble. Sonya, on the other hand, was more fixated on what was said. Euclidia wants to get into the Backrooms? That¡¯s troubling. She reflected on her teleportation ability and considered the strange liminal space as a target, confirming that she still had a connection to it since she¡¯d been there once before. I¡¯m not sure I want the heroes getting there just yet, especially after I rebuilt that bridge and reactivated the portal. You and I both know what that place really was, Ishtar said. We need to speak with Loki about it if we want to know how much risk is involved in the heroes getting there. You¡¯re right, no use worrying about it right now, Sonya agreed. I can plan around it and throw some wrenches in to delay her a little bit until we¡¯re certain. It shouldn¡¯t take too much effort. Good plan. ¡°Sonya,¡± Carla cut into her thoughts. ¡°I¡¯d like you to let Hero Nietz stay on the ship with you. He¡¯s an experienced security specialist. You can keep him close at hand in places where Qilin and First Wind¡¯s high profile could cause trouble.¡± Sonya let out a long, overdramatic sigh that Carla clearly knew was just an exaggeration based on her grin. ¡°And how does Hero Nietz feel about this arrangement?¡± Sonya asked the young man, fixing him with a stare. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be training? I¡¯m sure there are dungeons here in Australia that the guilds would let you use, and you could use the money earned there to get a flight to Dharan.¡± Sonya sipped noisily at her drink while Nietz looked up at her, and she earned a reproachful look from Carla for her trouble. She set the drink back down and waited for him to speak. My browbeating last night must have given him a lot to think about. He¡¯s not as brash as usual. ¡°My ability is adaptation,¡± he said after a long pause. ¡°I developed a new function recently after hitting a wall. All I need is a small space to make use of it and some basic training equipment. I¡¯ll sleep in the training area if I have to. I won¡¯t be a bother.¡± So that¡¯s how you¡¯re going to excuse it, Sonya thought with amusement. Fine, five points to Nietz for a good story. She clicked her tongue a few times before pulling out her phone and tapping out a quick text to Amos. She couldn¡¯t use her HUD to text in this company, obviously. He responded immediately, and she set the phone down on the table before crossing her arms. ¡°Alright, there¡¯s a room available that Doctor Carter can have his dolls convert for your use by tomorrow morning. You may stay on my ship as a guest. I am undecided about keeping you on as part of my security detail,¡± she said flatly. ¡°I already have Qilin and First Wind.¡± She turned to Carla and smiled at her. ¡°I don¡¯t trust him yet, love.¡± Carla shrugged. ¡°I think that¡¯s good enough for now,¡± she said and turned to Nietz. Nietz got quickly to his feet and bowed at the waist. ¡°Thank you so much, Miss Chernovna. I promise I won¡¯t be a bother. Thank you for all the help you¡¯ve given me so far.¡± Carla winced, and even Qilin¡¯s eyes flickered with momentary tension. First Wind was oblivious until Sonya tapped her nail hard on the table. ¡°I take promises very seriously, Hero Nietz. Don¡¯t break your word with me.¡± He straightened and met her eyes, swallowing once. ¡°I understand, ma¡¯am.¡± She glanced at Carla, who mouthed a ¡®thank you¡¯ to her. Sonya graced her with a smile and got to her feet. ¡°Now, if we¡¯re done here, I have an award ceremony scheduled for this afternoon, and I really want to be ready for it. Marta¡¯s picking out some outfits right now for me,¡± she said before turning back to Carla. ¡°Are you coming?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll watch the ceremony here. I want to enjoy the facilities while I can,¡± she said with a chuckle. ¡°I¡¯ll see you tonight.¡± First Wind whistled, and Sonya forced herself to ignore him, only to be immediately rewarded by Qilin, who elbowed him. The two bickered as Sonya waved to her lover and the aspiring International sitting next to her before making her way towards the rear of the dining pavilion. As she did, she stopped at one of the tables a few spots away and put her hand on the back of one of the chairs. ¡°Enjoying your breakfast, boys?¡± she asked the three men sitting at the table. Barry, Colin, and Beyol looked up at her from where they¡¯d been quietly eating whilst eavesdropping and monitoring Qilin and First Wind. Beyol was wearing the same face he¡¯d worn when he¡¯d visited ASTA headquarters months before, Barry had never shown his real face in public as Kingshark, and Colin was a known entity. The lawyer was the first to smirk at her and raise a glass of orange juice in toast. ¡°Having a blast, boss. Off to get gussied up for the party?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the plan,¡± Sonya said with a wink. He¡¯s doing a great job despite Qilin¡¯s presence. Masterful actor as always. ¡°Don¡¯t let us keep you,¡± Barry grunted. ¡°I¡¯ve got bacon for days here, and I¡¯m gonna enjoy it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m wary of overeating,¡± Beyol mumbled into a six-layer stack of pancakes. ¡°I have a date tonight.¡± He looked up at the others, who were all staring at him, and furrowed his brows. ¡°What? Did I say something wrong?¡± Sonya¡¯s eyes fluttered before she shook her head and waved at them. ¡°Talk to you later, guys.¡± Qilin and First Wind followed her all the way to the captain''s quarters after that. Qilin looked contemplative, while First Wind seemed intent on touching every surface he came across with the curiosity of a toddler. She half expected him to start tilting paintings on the wall just to annoy someone. Fortunately, he had at least some measure of self-control that prevented him from finding an early grave at Marta¡¯s hands. When they arrived at the doors, Sonya turned and put her hands on her hips. ¡°First Wind, you can stay here.¡± ¡°What? Why?¡± he asked. ¡°I¡¯ve gotta guard you at all times.¡± ¡°You are not watching me dress,¡± Sonya said flatly. ¡°Stay put.¡± How did Otis tolerate this guy? I know Otis well enough to know he would have killed him for half the nonsense he¡¯s said and done already. She dismissed the thought before stepping through the door and leaving the unhappy First Wind behind. The door hissed shut behind her, and she spotted Marta standing next to the bed with her hands politely folded at her waist, clothes already laid out. ¡°Welcome, my lady,¡± Marta said. ¡°I have your attire for the evening prepared.¡± ¡°Always can count on you, Marta,¡± Sonya said with a sigh and pulled her t-shirt off, tossing it to Marta, who caught it deftly. Sonya snatched up the blouse set aside and looked to the window for a moment before speaking, ¡°Are you happy with your deal, Qilin?¡± she asked after a heartbeat. ¡°The room is sealed, speak freely.¡± Qilin didn¡¯t say a word for a few heartbeats, and Sonya looked back at her with raised eyebrows. She was looking away, red in the face. Sonya blinked a few times. No... she thought. You can¡¯t be serious. She¡¯s... is it because I¡¯m Ishtar that she¡¯s like this? Oh lord. ¡°I couldn¡¯t be happier,¡± Qilin said quietly, her monotone a mismatch for her flustered appearance. Sonya pursed her lips and buttoned up her shirt. ¡°You¡¯re a grown woman, Qilin. I¡¯m just changing. Quit acting like a frisky teenager.¡± Qilin twitched and looked back at her, clenching her fists. ¡°Right,¡± she trailed off before speaking again. ¡°I have a question.¡± ¡°I may or may not answer it,¡± Sonya said with a lazy sigh and took a pair of cufflinks from Marta. Qilin frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not a weakling like Hero Nietz,¡± Qilin reminded her. Sonya stopped in the middle of adjusting her cuffs and looked over her shoulder, meeting the Herald¡¯s eyes. ¡°Let¡¯s make something clear, Qilin. You know something that you shouldn¡¯t. You¡¯ve made a deal to keep it a secret, so I¡¯m not worried about you squealing.¡± She paused to let the words hang before continuing. ¡°I am also not concerned about you in general. You are alive because I permit it and for no other reason. Do not take my forbearance as license.¡± Qilin shuddered before nodding. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Ask your question.¡± ¡°Those three men at the table,¡± Qilin said. ¡°I know Matthews, but the other two were not immediately familiar. Yet my wisdom told me that they were very dangerous. Were they-¡± ¡°That¡¯s all you need to know,¡± Sonya said as she adjusted her belt and fixed the buttons on her vest. Marta was going for a flashier look this time. Black with silver trim. ¡°Great picks, Marta.¡± ¡°My pleasure, ma¡¯am,¡± Marta said. Sonya turned to Qilin as she pulled her coat on and pulled her hair out, letting it fall down her shoulders and back. ¡°You just need to focus on playing bodyguard, Qilin. I trust you know better than to interfere with my plans when the time comes?¡± ¡°I will neither hinder nor help you,¡± Qilin said, her usual reserve returning as she crossed her arms. ¡°My sole interest is to watch.¡± ¡°Then watch away,¡± Sonya said and walked past her. ¡°If you¡¯re looking for entertainment, you¡¯ve found it. As long as you stick to that, I¡¯ll keep renewing our deal, and you can keep experiencing life without guardrails, just like you wanted.¡± Sonya felt the woman¡¯s eyes on her back and resisted the urge to shudder in revulsion. She sent a text to Marta through her technopathy as she approached the door and opened it, finding First Wind lazily leaning against the far wall. The response came only a heartbeat later. JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 275 Sonya shook Glint¡¯s hand as the crowd roared. Despite the vicious battle just a day before, the stands were packed. It helped that many of those in observation were licensed heroes, of course. Glint was dressed in a suit rather than his hero gear. It looked good, but she made a mental note to fit him in something Lucci brand as soon as she had the opportunity. He was her sponsee now. Glint was a few inches taller than her with short, dark hair and sharp eyes that were almost silver in color. He had a rakish, severe appearance that undercut the brightness of his smile a little bit. ¡°Congratulations, Glint, on making first place. We¡¯ll handle the distribution of the awakening token somewhere secure,¡± Sonya said. ¡°I want you to get started on mastering whatever you get as soon as possible.¡± He nodded. ¡°Thank you for the opportunity, Miss Chernovna.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t thank me!¡± Sonya laughed. ¡°You proved that the barrier between Mythic and Heroic can very much be crossed. Well done.¡± She turned to Armory and Sol, who were standing off to the side. Armory had a severe appearance like her brother, but it was offset by her long, straight hair and confident stance. She beamed at her brother despite having been bested by him in the final round. ¡°Congratulations to the two of you as well. The world is a better place with young heroes like you in it,¡± she said and focused on the orange-gold-haired young man who had found himself in third place. ¡°Sol, I know you¡¯re probably disappointed, but I believe that you¡¯ll make your way to the ranks of the Internationals on your own. Focus on growing here and being one of the leaders to raise the next generation of powerhouses,¡± she said. Sol cracked a smile that shone as bright as his powers. ¡°I¡¯m not disappointed,¡± he said with a laugh. ¡°If that token of yours is as great as you say, then Australia will have another Mythic to be proud of. I couldn¡¯t be happier.¡± He shoved his hands into his pockets and nodded to Glint. ¡°Congratulations, Hero.¡± Glint walked over and shook his hand while Sonya¡¯s eyes lingered on the solar hero. That young man is going to be one hell of a Guildmaster. Yes, Ishtar agreed. It does seem like that¡¯s his destiny. He certainly has the stuff. She turned to the crowd, and her voice spread across the stadium. ¡°Thank you all for coming and for hanging in there despite the excitement there at the end!¡± She laughed and put her hands on her hips. ¡°As you can see, the villains aren¡¯t the only ones who have strength! We can stand on our own just as well!¡± she called and raised a fist. ¡°Let¡¯s thank our brave heroes for their service!¡± The roar in response was deafening. She smiled to herself and turned to nod at Glint and Armory, who were staring in awe at the rowdy crowd. ¡°Come along, we¡¯ve got some paperwork to do. Then we can celebrate!¡± ¡ª The paperwork for Glint was nothing short of smoke and mirrors. Colin had created the most contrived and confusing hunk of legalese that Sonya had ever seen. It contained all of the formal details of how Glint¡¯s sponsorship would work, of course, and at first glance there was very little that seemed out of place. However, there were numerous sections scattered throughout that were interconnected via references and clauses that, when separated and combined, created the most important part of the contract. The scattered tidbits stipulated that Sonya was obligated to provide the so-called ¡®token¡¯ to Glint and that upon breaking it he would receive an ability from her warehouse. The act of breaking the token would be the ¡®trigger¡¯ for the deal. Like a pre-deal sanction. In short, an illusion to disguise a power-granting broker deal. To cover all of her bases, she¡¯d had Colin write up an official version of the contract that was much clearer and killed significantly fewer trees than the one Glint was currently sifting through with a bewildered look on his face. She¡¯d give it to him later. You¡¯re gaslighting the poor boy, Ishtar laughed. Is it really gaslighting when I¡¯m giving him money, benefits, and power? Sonya asked. Yes, Ishtar chuckled. Though I doubt he¡¯ll complain. They were currently occupying one of the offices belonging to the Pandora Committee branch office here in Sydney. It wasn¡¯t an overly large room, consisting of a single large desk, two couches, and a coffee table set between them. Sonya was sitting on the couch with Marta standing behind her as usual. First Wind and Qilin were sitting opposite her on the other couch, while Armory, who had signed her overly thick contract already, was on Sonya¡¯s left, watching her brother with pride. With his and his sister¡¯s victory and the promise of an ASTA sponsorship, Glint and Armory had tendered their resignations to their home guild. According to Carla, Glint was already being added to the list of possible selections to join the International Heroes by the upper echelons of the Committee. It wasn¡¯t surprising, though she did find it a little annoying that they were already eager to poach someone she¡¯d just taken in. They should be giving that attention to Lillian, she thought irritably. Her association with Cassiopeia is controversial in the Committee right now, Ishtar reminded her. Even if your daughter was proven innocent, that doesn¡¯t change that getting involved with her resulted in a hellstorm of investigations. Asinine, Sonya grumbled. But that¡¯s politics for you. ¡°Alright, signed,¡± Glint said quietly and looked up at Sonya with anticipation in his eyes. Across from her, First Wind scoffed. ¡°Still don¡¯t get how a Mythic lost like that. I¡¯ve got half a mind to knock Sol around a bit for screwing up like that.¡± Sonya frowned at him. ¡°Have a care, would you?¡± He met her eyes and shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m just sayin¡¯,¡± he excused himself, ¡°that token would be mine if you¡¯d let some of us from the first generation play.¡± ¡°And that was the reason why I arranged the rules the way I did. This is for the next generation to rise and stand on the level of your generation,¡± she said flatly. He grunted and looked away, leaning towards Qilin to say something in her ear. Qilin was sitting with her signature bored look, her eyes distant as she zoned out from the conversation entirely. She flinched and looked his way in disgust before crossing her arms and turning fully away from him. Sonya watched First Wind¡¯s dejected expression and promised herself she¡¯d drag his suffering out as long as possible. She turned back to Glint, who was frowning. ¡°Ignore him,¡± Sonya said and rose, gesturing to Marta. Marta stepped around the couch with a suitcase gripped in her hands. She set it down on the desk, and Sonya took a heartbeat to look back at Qilin. She met the Herald¡¯s eyes and gave her a look. Do something about him. If he interrupts, we¡¯re going to have a problem. Qilin didn¡¯t need to be a mind reader to understand clearly. She frowned hard but turned to face First Wind and brandished a tiny smile in his direction. That was enough to get the idiot¡¯s full attention. Sonya rolled her eyes and turned back to Glint, reaching down to open up the suitcase with the faint whirr of the motorized lock. There, sitting on a pillow of velvet, was a glowing disk about the size and shape of a hockey puck. ¡°Take it,¡± she instructed the breathless young hero. Glint swallowed hard and nodded, picking up the item and clutching it hard in his hand. ¡°I just break it?¡± he asked. ¡°A quick warning before you do,¡± Sonya said. ¡°This will probably hurt.¡± Glint glanced up at Marta, who was, for all Glint knew, the sole recipient of such a gift. Marta nodded. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s painful. Try to stay conscious as long as you can. I suggest doing it while you¡¯re sitting down.¡± While Qilin distracted First Wind so he didn¡¯t interrupt, Glint sat down in the chair. Armory quickly got to her feet to watch and arrived just in time for the noisy crack of glass as the disk shattered in Glint¡¯s hand. Sonya let her core ability do the rest. For the first time in a while, Deus Ex Machina was activated. Instinct guided her choice, and the deal was completed. It only took a heartbeat. Interesting choices, Sonya thought. I¡¯m glad I shook that sucker¡¯s hand back when we were buying the Idol. The other one is from one of the brats who made it to the top two hundred, right? Ishtar asked. Yes, Sonya confirmed. I- Light bloomed in the room, blinding everyone but Sonya, whose eyes immediately adjusted. She watched Glint slump in the chair, his body twitching with the convulsions that usually came with a merger. She hadn¡¯t watched one this intense in a while. Though everyone I help merge abilities for is already pretty used to the process at this point, she reminded herself as Glint¡¯s skin began to change to an off-gray color before turning back. He stiffened and gasped, his entire body becoming transparent before he was abruptly in two places at once. He and the chair now occupied spots to the left and right of the desk respectively. Both copies were twitching and groaning in stereo now. ¡°Is he okay?¡± Armory gasped. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°His ability is awakening. It¡¯s not a fun process,¡± Marta said. Sonya sensed Qilin and First Wind on their feet behind her but paid them no mind as the two copies flickered before slamming back together at the center with the sound of shattering glass. For a brief moment, Glint lay there, his entire body slowly turning black as his pained eyes glowed with a deep red heat. Then he blinked, and his body turned back to normal. He gasped and heaved once only for Marta to appear next to him with a trash can. Sonya didn¡¯t blink as he retched. Was that obsidian? Yes, I think so, Ishtar mused. An interesting result. Tephrakinesis is ash manipulation. What role did Surge play? An enhancer? Possibly, I¡¯m still getting used to ability math, Sonya said. Please don¡¯t call it that, Ishtar complained. But that¡¯s what it is! Success! Sonya crowed inwardly as Glint sat up and wiped his lips. He looked physically exhausted, though his eyes told a different story. There was a fresh ferocity there. He looked down at his hands and clenched his fists. ¡°This feels amazing,¡± he breathed. ¡°There¡¯s so many functions. The instincts are still settling. I can barely make heads or tails of it.¡± ¡°Welcome to the realm of Mythics,¡± Sonya said brightly. ¡°We¡¯ll have to confirm it officially with a mana reader, but I think it¡¯d be enough to ask the other Mythics in the room if it was a success.¡± Marta nodded while Sonya turned to look at Qilin and First Wind. Qilin had a rare expression of shock on her face, her wide eyes fixed on Glint. Meanwhile, First Wind¡¯s eyes glittered with something darker. Greed and envy. He clenched his fists before turning away and walking out of the room. ¡°Yeah, welcome to the club, kid,¡± he grunted as he shut the door behind him. Sonya resisted the urge to smirk. That¡¯s right, you bastard, stew on it. I¡¯m going to humiliate you over and over before this is done. When you finally snap, I¡¯ll make sure the whole world sees you for what you really are. The world will scorn you right before the end. She shot a look towards Qilin, who met her gaze and looked away. ¡°Yes,¡± she said quietly. ¡°The boy is a Mythic now.¡± Sonya brightened and clapped her hands. She pirouetted to face the still stunned Glint and put her hands on her hips, puffing out her chest with pride. ¡°Wonderful! Now how about we all celebrate? Who likes steak?¡± ¡ª First Wind didn¡¯t want to admit it, but he¡¯d been shaken by what he had sensed. Qilin liked to make fun of him for being a bit of an idiot. He knew that he wasn¡¯t as book smart as other people or as socially aware. He didn¡¯t care much about that. All he cared about was talent, and he had that in spades. He had been raised knowing that he was talented, a star athlete. Yet that upbringing came with the knowledge that talent was useless without skill. Skill only came with practice. When the flash had come and his powers awoke, he knew he¡¯d been given a new talent to hone. He had tirelessly worked to refine it, make it his. Reveling in the experience of growing all over again after thinking he¡¯d reached his peak in his youth. Another mountain to climb. Every new act of wanton destruction was another chance to experience his power and learn new ways to use it. An opportunity to push himself, to earn power. What he saw in that room was nothing short of galling. That brat had been given a talent. Given a power that he could enjoy honing and making his own. Not only that, but First Wind could feel the ability already inside Glint¡¯s body literally merge with the new power that had been bestowed upon him. It had grown and advanced into something entirely new. Of all the things he had seen in the two years since the flash, that had been the most mind-blowing experience of his life. He wanted to feel it too. He wanted to experience it. It isn¡¯t fair. Just because I¡¯m a few years older, I can¡¯t participate? Bullshit! He snarled, clenching his fists as he paced in the break room he had found to seethe in. If I had one of those tokens, I would have two talents! Or one even greater one! He imagined it, getting the chance to explore and develop a talent like that all over again. To feel that sense of accomplishment. I need to make Chernovna give me one, he thought. I have to have one. He paced, clenching and unclenching his fists as stationary, cups, and trays rattled and danced across the counters around him. Ishtar¡¯s after her, I¡¯ll use that. All I need to do is get Qilin to fuck off for a little while. I¡¯ll get Chernovna alone and force her to agree. He grinned. Yeah, that¡¯ll work. JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 276 There were many things that Sonya¡¯s body didn¡¯t need to do anymore. Eating was more of a hobby these days, as her bones were entirely metal and her muscles were basically supported by mana from her Heavenly Jade Heart. She still wasn¡¯t entirely sure whether or not the ¡®heart¡¯ was metaphorical since she could still feel her own pulse. Staying hydrated was also not much of an issue. She could go for days if she wanted, probably even weeks. Yet the biggest change was sleep. After Nick died, she¡¯d fallen apart at the seams, her mind splintering and her emotional state dragging her down into a near-perpetual state of weariness. She¡¯d slept a lot during that time and had felt refreshed when she made it through a night without nightmares. It wasn¡¯t until she had cleared her head and truly wrested control of her heart and mind back that she had noticed it: she didn¡¯t need to sleep at all anymore. Her cybernetic brain kept her thoughts orderly and processed the information that normally one slept to deal with in real time. In fact, it was a little shocking to notice that she was sharper after several days of non-stop consciousness than sleeping. Every day her mind was clearer, more honed, and that was one of the few things about herself left that truly scared her. The covers shifted next to her, and she felt a hand slide down her arm, fingers tangling between hers. ¡°So it¡¯s been three days?¡± Carla asked. Sonya nodded. ¡°It¡¯s not a bad feeling,¡± she admitted, ¡°but I can¡¯t really tell if I like it or not. I¡¯m not sure what to make of it.¡± ¡°What did Ishtar say?¡± Sonya turned to look at the beautiful woman leaning into her shoulder. The sheets were wrapped around her shoulders, and all that Sonya could see of her was her face and that collar around her neck - platinum with a thumb-sized pink diamond hanging from it. In retrospect, the gesture had been a little cringy, but she didn¡¯t regret it like some of the other things she had done during her ¡®blue period.¡¯ Carla was always a stabilizing force whenever she was present and someone willing to listen. Just because she was over her depression didn¡¯t mean that the things Sonya did didn¡¯t make her feel. Sonya scoffed. ¡°My sister said that I should test and see if there was a limit to it when I wasn¡¯t in the midst of a plan.¡± Carla chuckled. ¡°Pragmatic as always.¡± Sonya ran her thumb over Carla¡¯s knuckle. ¡°You got to know her without me around. I didn¡¯t get to ask you what it was like.¡± ¡°Ishtar,¡± Carla began, her expression turning thoughtful, ¡°is charming in her own way...¡± She trailed off and tapped her lips with a finger. ¡°She was like a very smart child. Brilliant, but had no idea what to do with her emotions. It was as if she didn¡¯t have an emotional foundation to work with, just the mind of a schemer. Ruthless, but almost... cute when she expressed herself.¡± Sonya barked out a laugh. ¡°I think you¡¯re the only person on earth who has the guts to call Ishtar cute.¡± Carla snickered. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure Chunhua thought the same thing.¡± ¡°I sincerely doubt that,¡± Sonya said. ¡°They hate each other.¡± ¡°I wonder why? Both of them care about you,¡± Carla said with a frown. Sonya kissed her temple. ¡°That¡¯s exactly why. Both see one another as my biggest problem.¡± Carla¡¯s frown deepened before she nodded with resignation. ¡°That makes sense.¡± She stretched out languidly and flopped back onto the pillow before staring up at the ceiling. ¡°So not sleeping is making you sharper,¡± she said and rolled onto her side. ¡°I wonder if abandoning sleep is part of the process.¡± ¡°Process of what?¡± Sonya asked. ¡°Becoming more than human,¡± Carla said with a shrug. ¡°Something greater.¡± Sonya met her eyes and held them for a heartbeat before falling back and staring up at the ceiling as well. ¡°I¡¯m ready to fight this war of mine,¡± she said with a sigh. ¡°But I don¡¯t think I¡¯m ready to stop being human. Not yet.¡± Carla pushed herself up a little and grinned down at her, the bob of her hair falling down around her face. ¡°Then I¡¯ll help you get some sleep.¡± ¨C Nietz¡¯s new room was less of a living space and more of a modified dojo. The area actually dedicated to where he would eat and sleep barely made up a tenth of the overall footprint. It was more like a bunk cubby and kitchenette combo crammed into the rear of the room with an attached washroom that had just enough space to get in and out of the facilities within. The rest was dedicated to a part-gymnasium part-sparring floor combo. The various pieces of workout gear looked familiar, but their designs screamed post-Pandora tomfoolery. Doctor Carter is a bit of a legend when it comes to inventing random things. I guess I shouldn¡¯t be surprised he whipped up some weights. Nietz thought as he tossed his duffle onto the ground and walked over to a tablet on the wall. For ordering food and sundries, temperature control, and... What¡¯s ADCS? He tapped the word on the touch screen, and a menu appeared. There were faces of several people he knew either personally or by some degree of separation. One of the faces was Sonya Chernovna herself. ¡°...Close combat?¡± He shrugged and tapped her face, and it asked for a difficulty level. He licked his lips as he realized what the thing was. It was some sort of combat simulator. Fancy as hell. Was this Sonya¡¯s doing, or did Doctor Carter get carried away? He scratched his head. Easy, Medium, Hard, and... Full? He glanced around; nobody was watching as far as he knew, and he didn¡¯t see any cameras in the room. How bad could it be? I heard she was good with a knife or something. He tapped ¡®Full,¡¯ and a warning alerted him that the simulation was hard-coded for non-lethal combat. He chuckled and confirmed it, and another notice told him to proceed to the open area in the room. He walked over as a faint chime rang above him followed, by a feminine voice. The voice sounded familiar, but he couldn¡¯t put his finger on it. Across from him a wall opened and a doll stepped out. It looked just like the ones that had run around carrying injured heroes during the preliminaries but shinier. A silver mannequin with glowing blue eyes strode confidently onto the mat across from him. It was holding what looked like a combat knife in its right hand. The blade didn¡¯t seem all that sharp, though. Blunted for training. The mannequin walked rigidly to its starting position before immediately relaxing into a confident slouch. Both arms hung at its sides as its head tilted to the right, turning a little to look at him with one eye. That¡¯s eerie. Oh, we¡¯re starting now! he thought and got into his own posture, raising his fists. <..one. Begin!> The doll was just... gone. It took his brain a split second to process that it had dove low and darted towards him with speed comparable to a professional sprinter. He looked down in time to see it plant its hand on the ground. He shifted his weight backwards, preparing to avoid the sweep at his legs, only for it to push up into a full handstand and bring its heel down on top of his head. The blunt force wasn¡¯t enough to get through his resistances, but it was enough to surprise him. His eyes flicked to the left as the leg twisted against his face. He ignored it and raised his arm to block the follow-up heel as it spun on the handstand. He pushed back, and the doll responded, pushing off the ground into a flip that brought the tip of its foot up towards his chin. He threw his head back to avoid the strike. He didn¡¯t even have time to think or plan a response, only time to move as the doll landed and darted towards his right, its right hand whipping out. He caught the glint out of the corner of his eye and turned instead to block his left side. The knife had changed hands. When- A metallic hand grabbed him by the shirt, an ankle wrapped around his own, and he was on the ground a moment later. The breath was pushed from his lungs as his eyes fluttered. He felt something hard press against his throat and went still. The pleasant voice announced, and the doll hopped off of him. He closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. ¡°That was... humiliating.¡± ¡°Her fightin¡¯ style¡¯s all about deception, ain¡¯t it?¡± a slurred voice cut into his thoughts. Nietz scowled at the ceiling before sitting up to look at the person who had invaded his space. The scowl turned to shock when he saw First Wind leaning against the doorframe with a grin on his face. ¡°Got your ass kicked, didn¡¯t ya, derro?¡± Nietz scrambled to his feet. ¡°Hero First Wind!¡± he blurted. ¡°I- what- why?¡± The International-class Hero walked in with his hands in his pockets and a slight sway to his step. He¡¯d clearly been drinking. ¡°Couldn¡¯t sleep, so I figgurt I¡¯d come check out the guy who can simultaneously intrigue and annoy the piss out of the Voice,¡± he slurred before coming to a stop a few feet away from Nietz, looking him in the eyes. He reeks of beer. What the hell? This is worse than back at Headquarters. Is this what he¡¯s like without supervision? First Wind grinned. ¡°Not bad, mate. You got good instincts, but yer body can¡¯t keep up.¡± Despite knowing better than to challenge the International, Nietz¡¯s pride chafed at the comment. ¡°You think you can do better?¡± First Wind shrugged. ¡°Sure, I could do it sloshed.¡± Aren¡¯t you sloshed now? ¡°Reset it,¡± First Wind commanded. ¡°I¡¯ll show¡¯ya. No powers even.¡± Nietz frowned but nodded. He walked over to the panel and tapped a few times before the pleasant voice came back. Nietz leaned against the wall next to the tablet with a frown and watched the drunk hero stretch his arms and roll his shoulders. He bounced on the balls of his feet a few times before nodding to the doll that had returned to the lazy stance from before. ¡°Speed, flexibility, trickery, sleight of hand,¡± First Wind said. ¡°She¡¯s fast and can do splits for days. Pro knife fighter. Moment she got the first hit¡¯n you were done, mate.¡± Nietz crossed his arms. ¡°Is she really that good?¡± ¡°Nah,¡± First Wind said as the timer started. He tilted his chin up and looked down at the doll as he extended a hand, palm up in an inviting gesture. <...one.> Instead of waiting and letting the doll come as his posture had suggested, First Wind launched himself forward with a barking laugh. The doll moved just as fast, this time darting to the right while remaining low to the ground. Nietz saw the knife change hands this time with a single flick of a wrist before the doll lunged at First Wind¡¯s side, planting a hand on the ground and diving into a sweeping kick. First Wind fell. Then something happened that Nietz couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of. As First Wind fell, he let his body get carried by the movement of the doll¡¯s kick and turned his body to fall back-first towards the ground. His hand snapped out and grabbed the knife-wielding wrist before he practically did an alligator roll in midair. He wrenched the doll with him and slammed it into the ground with enough force to knock a human being out before hitting the mat himself. First Wind performed a quick kip-up and landed on his feet, brushing himself off before turning a smug smile on Nietz. Nietz looked down at the beaten doll that was slowly rising to return to the waiting position and back up at First Wind. He looked at the exercise equipment and swallowed hard. With the new regeneration, feature I should be able to make some real progress with the equipment, but I need more. He looked back to First Wind. The worst he can say is no. ¡°Teach me,¡± he said quickly. First Wind picked at his ear. ¡°Sure.¡± Nietz blinked. ¡°Wh- really?¡± First Wind shrugged. ¡°What else am I gonna do for the next couple weeks? Get picked at by Song Xi?¡± he asked with a yawn before walking towards the door. ¡°We start tomorrow.¡± Training from an International Hero! This is it! He clenched his fists. ¡°Thank you!¡± he said. I don¡¯t really care that he has a bad reputation. He knows how to fight, and that¡¯s what matters. If he¡¯s willing to help, I¡¯m willing to listen. Nietz didn¡¯t see the dark smile that spread across the hero''s face. ¨C Sonya came out of her shower the next morning in a t-shirt and swim trunks. She wasn¡¯t interested in going fashionista for a lazy day. With everything over in Australia and all boxes checked off as far as her plan was concerned, she was looking forward to chilling out on the way to the Bay of Bengal and their next stop on the tour. That would be the staging ground for the Dharan event and the China competition. There were some dungeons in that area she was interested in as well that she could hit in the meantime and get more resources. Despite the anticipation, sea travel took time, and there were heroes around the world now racing to prepare for the qualifier in Dharan. There would be even more after Glint made his first public appearance as a newly minted Mythic. It¡¯s going to take about twenty to thirty days to take this big ol¡¯ ship to the Bay, she thought as she brushed her hair over her ear, lost in thought. Plenty of time to square away a few things. She glanced up and spotted Carla sitting on the bed with her legs crossed. Her hands were on her knees, and her eyes were closed. Sonya raised an eyebrow, only for her eyes to widen a little as she sensed mana move through Carla¡¯s body. She blinked and eyed Carla¡¯s nametag. It only took a few seconds to realize what she was seeing. ¡°Spending more time with Chunhua? I¡¯m jealous.¡± Carla snorted out a laugh. ¡°Good morning to you too,¡± she said. ¡°Yes. Chunhua taught me a few things and helped me prime my meridians. I can¡¯t pull mana in - she says that¡¯s a more advanced technique to accomplish through pure meditation - but I can use what¡¯s already in me.¡± ¡°And you have it in you?¡± Sonya asked. ¡°Everyone does, according to Chunhua,¡± Carla said. ¡°Huh,¡± Sonya said thoughtfully. ¡°Is-¡± ¡°-she doing this for other people? Yes,¡± Carla asked for her with a laugh. ¡°Chunhua wants to build a school to start training people in her style. She thinks she can actually pass down her ability with enough effort, though it¡¯s just a theory. She¡¯s only taking unawakened students right now to prove the concept.¡± Based on something Set said during my last visit to my inner world, I don¡¯t think it¡¯s just a theory, Sonya thought before sitting on the bed. ¡°You know I could just awaken your ability for you now. You¡¯ve seen the news, right? People are just awakening on their own now.¡± Carla nodded. ¡°I have, but I don¡¯t want you to do that for me. This feels right.¡± Sonya smirked. ¡°Badass Chairwoman wants to do it herself.¡± ¡°Damn right,¡± Carla nodded and slipped off the bed. She walked towards the wardrobe where Marta had already distributed her clothes. ¡°Though, I wouldn¡¯t mind you finally telling me that little tidbit you¡¯ve known since we first met.¡± Sonya blanched and cleared her throat. ¡°Ah, right,¡± she rubbed her neck. ¡°That.¡± Sonya hadn¡¯t thought about her first and very hostile encounter with Carla in a long, long time. She¡¯d shaken the woman¡¯s hand, of course, and acquired a copy of her innate ability: Toxic Blood. Shortly after that, she had used it and Autarch of Shadow to turn Park Beyol into the supervillain Blackrazor. She considered weaseling her way around the topic but decided, for once, she wouldn¡¯t play coy. She sighed. ¡°It¡¯s called Toxic Blood. I¡¯ve already given it to someone - Blackrazor.¡± Carla paused halfway through lifting a t-shirt out of the drawer and glanced back at her. ¡°My blood is toxic?¡± ¡°It will be, I¡¯m guessing. Once you awaken,¡± Sonya said. Carla frowned and looked down at the shirt. She rubbed her thumb over the fabric before pulling it on over her head. ¡°Sounds useful.¡± Sonya raised a brow. ¡°Not the reaction I was expecting.¡± Carla put her hand on her hip and turned to face her. ¡°I¡¯m not the woman you met back then either. I¡¯m not afraid to admit I can be a little toxic if I need to be.¡± JOIN THE DISCORD! Chapter 277 Chapter 277 Sonya wandered down the hall with Carla next to her, their arms locked. She¡¯d dismissed Qilin for the time being. There was no need to have her lurking around all the time, and frankly it made her uncomfortable. It was becoming increasingly obvious that Qilin had some kind of fixation on her because of her dual identity. The last thing she wanted was for Qilin to see the person that the two of them were off to see now. That would make things even worse. Her phone buzzed as they approached the room, and she paused to slip it out. She had a filter set to block notifications from all but the most important topics. Bluestar? Odd. She flicked her phone open and glanced at the message. Carla leaned into her and rested her chin on Sonya¡¯s shoulder to read along. Sonya glanced her way and smirked before reading it herself. Sonya frowned. Not a surprise he¡¯s making a big deal about it. Sonya hammered out a quick response. The response came almost immediately. Sonya¡¯s brows furrowed and warning bells rang in her head. She glanced up at the door they were approaching before looking back down at the phone screen. Sonya closed her phone and sighed. ¡°I knew it. I had a feeling with Riot and Felwinter, but I¡¯m certain now,¡± she said and rubbed her head, leaning against Carla, who patted her back. ¡°He¡¯s given up on gathering the old Heralds and is making a new crew. This girl is probably a new recruit for him. I¡¯m worried about her family, if that¡¯s the case.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say Riot was one of the good ones?¡± Carla said. Sonya¡¯s heart sank. ¡°I did. I thought he was. Riot hasn¡¯t said anything about Otis since they started working together, though. I¡¯ve had Amos monitoring his computer just in case, but his notes on Otis have been slowly drying up,¡± she scratched her head in exasperation. ¡°I can¡¯t pull strings for everyone at once. Riot has to make his own decisions.¡± ¡°It''s hard to believe Otis is so bad,¡± Carla said. ¡°He seems so heroic on camera.¡± ¡°And that¡¯s the problem,¡± Sonya agreed. ¡°Regardless, the deal with Pandora was to take down the old Heralds to upgrade Broker. I can¡¯t stop now. I need to deal with them first. As long as Otis stays with the ASTA guild, though, I can keep an eye on him and his new team.¡± ¡°Is that why you gave a tacit approval?¡± Carla asked. Sonya nodded. ¡°If we don¡¯t take her in, then Otis will build her up on the side, out of sight,¡± she slipped her phone into her pocket and took a deep breath. No point in worrying about it. She had Otis under observation and already knew the two he was hanging around with. This just played into her existing strategy. Though now I need to finally rip off the bandaid and examine Karmic Threads. Something about that ability makes me queasy though. I¡¯m wary about trying to merge it. She smirked. Oh well. Just another part of our game, right Otis? I¡¯ll counter every move you make. Just keep struggling until you slip up; one of these days I¡¯ll learn what your weakness is. They stepped into the room and found two women sitting inside surrounded by books that were stacked up nearly to the ceiling. It was a small room that probably had served as a minor office or storage room but now only had a table and a few chairs to decorate it. Marta was sitting on one side of the table with a book in her hand and her eyes fixed on the pages. On the other was Ishtar in her Legionnaire body, quietly flipping through the pages of a book with a title in Russian. ¡°You know Russian now?¡± Sonya asked. Ishtar blinked and looked up before breaking into an easy smirk. ¡°I also know Ukrainian. Still working on Polish,¡± she said and got to her feet after setting the book down. She tilted her chin up and looked down her nose. ¡°Chairwoman.¡± ¡°Ishtar,¡± Carla said quietly. ¡°That¡¯s... quite a look you¡¯ve chosen for yourself.¡± Ishtar put a scarred hand on her hip and shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m partial to it,¡± she said. ¡°I am afraid that you will have to settle for just one sister, though.¡± Sonya turned and coughed out a laugh while Carla started to fret. ¡°N-no that¡¯s not- I- oh my god!¡± Marta, off to the side, had raised her book in front of her face to conceal her own amusement. Carla turned to Sonya and pouted at her. ¡°Sonya! You know that wasn¡¯t what I meant!¡± ¡°I know! I know!¡± Sonya laughed. ¡°She¡¯s teasing you.¡± ¡°She can do that?¡± Carla asked in honest confusion. Sonya nearly doubled over with laughter as Ishtar took her turn to look flabbergasted. Marta dropped her book and howled as well, nearly falling off of her chair. After a few seconds of mirth, Sonya stood up and calmed herself, meeting her sister¡¯s furious eyes with a wink. She looked up at Carla and squeezed her arm. ¡°I¡¯m back, and her sense of humor came with me,¡± she said and looked back at Ishtar. ¡°Go easy on her, will you?¡± Ishtar shrugged. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t I bully the Chairwoman of the Pandora Committee?¡± she asked offhandedly before sitting back down. ¡°I¡¯ll behave.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Sonya said. ¡°How are things going?¡± Ishtar frowned. ¡°This isn¡¯t an easy thing to decide on,¡± she said, running her fingers over the books. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Carla asked, walking over to the table and picking up a book. ¡°She¡¯s deciding on a name for herself,¡± Sonya said before Ishtar could weasel her way out. Carla nearly dropped her own book before turning to Sonya, her eyes wide. She¡¯s so cute when she¡¯s like this. I feel kind of smug knowing that the Pandora Committee doesn¡¯t get to see this side of her, she thought merrily. Carla ran her hands over the books and then looked up at Ishtar. ¡°May I help?¡± Ishtar looked taken aback. She looked up at Sonya, who shrugged. ¡°I¡¯ve got business with the Inner Circle. Probably not a good idea to bring the Chairwoman with me to meet with them.¡± Ishtar considered her for a moment before nodding. ¡°Very well. I don¡¯t mind. Any news?¡± ¡°Otis picked up a new Herald, and I¡¯m confident now that he¡¯s building a new team rather than hunting for the old ones,¡± Sonya said bluntly. ¡°Felwinter and Riot are definitely on that list. I didn¡¯t want to believe it, but I can¡¯t dismiss it any longer.¡± Marta¡¯s smile fell, and Ishtar looked thoughtful. Ishtar leaned back in her seat with a breath and eyed Sonya. ¡°As long as they stay under observation, it won¡¯t be a problem. You¡¯ll have to finally pull Karmic Threads out and study it, though. Did you make sure to have this new Herald added to the ASTA guild?¡± Sonya chuckled. ¡°You know me so well.¡± Ishtar nodded with approval. ¡°Good. I suggest sending the recruit to the next hero camp even if they demonstrate themselves well in the meantime. Get an unfiltered picture of their abilities through the eyes of the instructors.¡± ¡°Otis won¡¯t like that,¡± Sonya said with a smirk. ¡°Good,¡± Ishtar agreed and then picked up her book. ¡°Now go away, I¡¯m busy.¡± ¡°Boo, my sister is mean,¡± Sonya complained and turned to Marta. ¡°Did you hear that? She¡¯s kicking me out! On my ship!¡± Marta put on her best poker face and shrugged. ¡°She is the big sister. That has to count for something.¡± Sonya huffed. ¡°I¡¯m older than her!¡± ¡°Since when was that relevant?¡± Marta asked with a coy smile. ¡°Carla!¡± Sonya protested. Carla, who had already sat down and was picking through books, didn¡¯t look up. ¡°Darling, don¡¯t you have business to attend to anyway?¡± Sonya slouched. ¡°I am the only supervillain who gets bullied by her people like this, I swear!¡± she whined before she sighed out a chuckle. ¡°Have fun you guys. I¡¯m off,¡± she said and made her way out the door with a wave. ¡ª Sonya only stopped briefly on the deck when she spotted Qilin lounging next to the wave pool where Glint and Armory were enjoying their time off. The brother-sister hero duo wouldn¡¯t be going back onto active duty until Glint had fully mastered his abilities, and Sonya didn¡¯t want him waiting things out in Australia. It was better to let him relax a bit and enjoy the benefits of her sponsorship while he could until she threw him at one challenge after another. He wasn¡¯t a major piece for her to work with, but another powerful hero was good for the world and that was all that mattered. Qilin, on the other hand, looked just about as bored as anyone could possibly be but brightened the moment their eyes met. It made Sonya sick. Their interaction was brief, fortunately, as Sonya excused herself as quickly as she could. The one useful tidbit she got out of the woman was that First Wind was now below deck with Nietz. Apparently he had taken a fresh interest in the young man and was helping him with fighting techniques in the dojo Amos had prepared. I was under the impression he looked down on lower-tier people. Does he know about Nietz¡¯s growth ability? Curious. I¡¯ll have to monitor their training as well. Ah... so much to do, she thought as she descended the steps into the stern of the ship. She passed the members of the crew, who waved to her on occasion, until she arrived at one of the rear storage compartments. The heavy doors had been reinforced and layers of security added to control who came and went through them. For her, though, it only took a gesture for the massive doors to part and reveal the playground on the other side. Playground was the only word Sonya could think of to describe the mix of lounge, dining, and entertainment center that had been crafted by Amos¡¯ dolls. There was everything from televisions with game systems attached, a sports bar, and even a small mini-golf course. Charon himself was standing atop the green with a putter in his hands and glanced up when she entered. ¡°There she is!¡± he called out and the others scattered around the room looked up. Soon, the present members of her Inner Circle gathered around her while the doors shut. She spread her arms out in greeting. ¡°You guys did great! Fabulous job.¡± Kera, who had been sitting at the bar with Blackrazor, grinned wildly. ¡°Oh, it was a blast. Can¡¯t believe you missed out. I knew an Epic dungeon was just what we needed!¡± She made a few quick fighting poses. ¡°I was like, Blam! Pow! Bzzap! Fried me some bird people. Smelled like chicken.¡± Blackrazor nodded mutely next to her. ¡°It was a good experience, Mistress.¡± Kingshark grunted. ¡°Shame I missed it.¡± Kera turned to him. ¡°Excuse the fuck me? You got to be on TV! Full on brawl!¡± She whipped her head to Sonya. ¡°My turn next!¡± Sonya chortled. ¡°Sure, sure, you can run wild next.¡± ¡°Hell yes!¡± Kera laughed and did a quick dance. After that, she turned and darted towards one of the many couches, hopping over it and landing with a grunt. She threw her hand up and waved at them. ¡°Welp, you guys are gonna talk business or some shit, so I¡¯m out. Not my thing. Have fun!¡± Sonya shook her head and looked up at Kingshark. ¡°Congratulations,¡± she said with a small smile. He flushed and rubbed his neck. ¡°Thanks boss.¡± Sonya put her hands on her hips. ¡°Now! Kera¡¯s right. We have business! Tell me about the haul. What did we get? What was the clear reward?¡± ¡°I can answer that.¡± It was a new voice. Sonya blinked and turned to see a muscular middle-aged man in a compression shirt walking over with a white-furred hound monster in step with him. He was wearing cargo pants, flip-flops, and had his black hair styled in a neat comb-over beneath a baseball cap. It was a ridiculous look. More importantly... ¡°Who the hell are you?¡± she demanded and looked at the hound. ¡°Levi-¡± Just before she barked an order to have her familiar pin the man, Kingshark burst into laughter. ¡°Well, it definitely works, that¡¯s for sure!¡± She turned and scowled at him. He smirked. ¡°Easy, boss, no need to sic Killer there on poor Colin.¡± Sonya blanched. ¡°Colin?¡± She turned back to the man, who reached up and plucked the hat off his head. His body flickered and shrank until it turned back into his usual petite, effeminate appearance, usual outfit and all. He struck a quick pose before turning and kneeling next to the Hound, scratching under Levi¡¯s chin before pointing to Sonya with a chuckle. Levi bounded away before sliding to a stop at Sonya¡¯s feet and sitting down, raising its dignified head to look her in the eyes. Sonya scoffed and shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s one hell of a toy you got there, Colin,¡± she said and knelt down to Levi. ¡°Good boy! Did you enjoy your hunt with my friends?¡± The hound huffed once, dismissive as always, but she saw that tail wagging. She rubbed his sides as Colin approached and presented her with what had to be the ugliest top hat she had ever seen in her entire life. The majority of the hat was a dark red-purple color with faded spots and patches all over it. The stitching was green, and there was a huge orange feather sticking out the band. She took it from him and wrinkled her nose. ¡°Wow, this is...¡± ¡°Hideous, yeah?¡± Colin chuckled. ¡°But we agreed it''s a perfect fit for me.¡± ¡°I ain¡¯t wearing that shit!¡± Kera shouted from the couch. ¡°Fuckin¡¯ ugly ass thing thinks it can change my pretty face.¡± Sonya turned it over in her hand. ¡°So... it¡¯s a disguise? Seems a bit of a let-down for an Epic dungeon reward.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s more than that,¡± Colin said with his usual mischievous grin. ¡°Flip it over, and you¡¯ll understand.¡± She raised an eyebrow, and turned the hat over, peering inside. There was a white patch there with some scratches on it that looked almost like letters. They blurred for a moment before changing into more familiar text. She blinked. ¡°What the fuck?¡± she breathed. ¡°I know right?¡± Colin laughed. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the name of that ability you gave Marta?¡± She spun the hat between her fingers and frowned. ¡°More importantly, Arsene Lupin is a modern fictional character,¡± she said thoughtfully. ¡°How?¡± She had tacitly accepted modern characters being represented in abilities back in the previous timeline, but after all she¡¯d seen and experienced, it raised a lot of questions. She knew that figures like Zeus and Loki were clearly real people at one point. Where did that put this guy, though? What did it mean? She ran her thumbs over the rim of the hat before glancing up at Kingshark. He nodded. ¡°So is Cthulhu.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Every time I think I¡¯ve got things figured out, another mystery pops up,¡± she said and handed the hat back to Colin. He took it gratefully. ¡°The others are right. Your identity is a big hole in our strategy. No offense.¡± He chuckled and twirled the hat before plopping it onto his head. ¡°None taken. This is perfect.¡± With that, he simply tipped the hat and began to change. Chapter 278 Sonya stroked Levi¡¯s fur as she sat on the couch and listened to the others talk about their experiences in the Epic dungeon. She¡¯d been in a few herself back in her first go-around, but it was always interesting hearing the details of the spaces above Rare. It brought her back, if she was being honest with herself. The higher-tier dungeons were one of the few places where she felt she shone back in the past. Even with an Uncommon-tier ability, she had developed the survival skills to scout ahead of the heroes going in. ¡°The puzzles weren¡¯t that bad,¡± Charon pointed out. ¡°Most of us are smart enough to deal with them.¡± He leaned forward on his cane and shot Kera a grin. ¡°Most of us.¡± Kera scowled at him. ¡°Wanna get fried, leather boy?¡± She raised a hand, and sparks danced on her fingertips. ¡°Been thinking about swapping out to a new main body,¡± he shot back. ¡°You can certainly try to facilitate.¡± Sonya rolled her eyes. ¡°Ladies, you¡¯re both pretty.¡± The two of them looked up at her in shock as Colin and Kingshark laughed. Blackrazor walked over from the sports bar with a fizzy pink drink in his hand. He passed it off to her, and she took it with a grateful smile. ¡°Thank you, dear,¡± she said and sipped it. ¡°You learned the recipe from that girl in The Hague?¡± she asked. He nodded. ¡°Yes. You mentioned it in passing once,¡± he said. Sonya snorted and looked at Kera. ¡°Watch out, your man is becoming a charmer.¡± Kera grinned. ¡°Who do you think taught him?¡± ¡°Oh ho ho ho!¡± Kingshark chortled. ¡°Hades be whipped-¡± He was cut off as Blackrazor appeared behind him with a knife to his throat. The pale-faced young man was grinning bloodthirst. The sitting Kingshark tilted his head up and met his gaze, an equally savage look on his face. Sonya pursed her lips and scanned the others'' faces. It was clear to her that without Marta around to play mother, they were a bunch of wild children. That said, she had to admit her blood was usually burning hot after a good dungeon run. She sighed wistfully and looked down at a content Levi, scratching beneath his chin. They aren¡¯t ready for a Heroic or Mythic dungeon, though. Not yet. Not by a long shot. ¡°You alright, boss?¡± Colin asked. She looked up and saw their faces. All of them looked at her with concern. My sweet little manic family, she thought and barked out a laugh. ¡°Better than fine. Just thinking about challenges in the future. We¡¯ve got the odds stacked against us, even if we¡¯re this strong.¡± She patted Levi¡¯s head and leaned forward a bit. ¡°To stay on topic: Epic dungeons are an important milestone. They¡¯re dangerous and have some unusual mechanics to them but ultimately behave like the dungeons below them.¡± The others grew serious and moved back to their seats. Blackrazor hopped into the spot next to Kingshark and gave him a surreptitious fist-bump before focusing on her. She pretended not to notice. Charon¡¯s thin fingers tapped on the skull of his cane as he eyed her with interest. ¡°Intel from the previous timeline?¡± Sonya nodded. ¡°And intel from the current one,¡± she said gravely. ¡°It¡¯s about time I told you about a discovery of mine. Recent events have pushed a particular problem up a few notches on my list, and we need to be ready for the not too distant future.¡± ¡°Current one?¡± Colin asked. ¡°Amos has the entire planet covered at this point with the radar. There aren¡¯t any Heroic dungeons yet.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not talking about a Heroic dungeon,¡± Sonya said flatly, meeting his eyes. Everyone went quiet as she collected herself. ¡°This happened right before Liberty¡¯s raid on the hero camp,¡± she said and began to tell her story. As she went on, the others grew more and more alert, their eyes widening as she described the zombie-like creature that had fought her toe-to-toe. When she got to the bridge, the portal, and the city beyond it, a few of them were on their feet. Kingshark was pacing, while Blackrazor stared at the floor in serious thought. Charon looked shellshocked, and Kera was practically jittering with excitement. Colin, though, held her gaze. ¡°Olympus doesn¡¯t exist,¡± he said simply. Sonya shook her head. ¡°Not anymore, no. It''s safe to say that when Pandora stripped the world of mana, all that remained of the civilization of the Great Ones went with it. Here on Earth, that is.¡± Blackrazor looked up. ¡°I recall a story that you told us that you got from Black Lotus,¡± he said evenly. ¡°A vision of the past, I suspect. The Asgardians retreated into a ¡®mystic place.¡¯¡± Sonya nodded. ¡°Good memory. Yes, I suspect they called dungeons that. The Backrooms are what amounts to a Mythic Dungeon, but somehow it still exists and has remained stable.¡± ¡°Are they still alive, you think?¡± Kingshark asked. Sonya shook her head. ¡°Given the condition of the place, I doubt it. However, I think you all understand what it means that the structure itself is still there,¡± she said and met all of their eyes in turn and then pointed to the baseball cap on Colin¡¯s head. ¡°There won¡¯t be just one treasure like that hat.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying our trips into the Epic dungeons aren¡¯t just about stealing the treasures inside for ourselves,¡± Kera said as she lounged on the furthest couch, kicking her feet in the air. ¡°This is practice.¡± ¡°I¡¯m stronger than I was then,¡± Sonya said, ¡°but even so, just one of the dregs of that place gave me a hard time. I can¡¯t even imagine the kind of fight we¡¯ll be in for further inside. We aren¡¯t ready. No one on Earth is. As he is now, even Otis would just be a perpetual smear there until he slithered his way out.¡± The door opened to the lounge, and Amos strode inside with his hands stuffed into his lab coat. Sonya looked up at him, and he grinned. ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean the heroes won¡¯t try and get themselves killed. Euclidia is trying to get in, isn¡¯t she?¡± Sonya nodded. ¡°I suspect her reasoning is to figure out the science behind portals so she can make a permanent network.¡± The Backrooms weren¡¯t just a dungeon. Anyone who possessed an ability that allowed direct teleportation without a specific medium knew this instinctively the moment they teleported for the first time. It was a sort of rite of passage to have a vision of the mysterious place when they had their first time. In that moment, one became aware that teleportation was nothing more than a rapid transit through the Backrooms as the medium. Without the Backrooms, teleportation was impossible. ¡°Ambitious,¡± Amos chortled. ¡°Makes me want to beat her to the punch.¡± She smirked at him. ¡°I figured you might say that. Cutting her off by making our own commercial portal network will dishearten her a bit, hopefully. I like Molly, but I can¡¯t have her pulling a dangerous thread like that just yet. I can send you there with your gear.¡± ¡°A wise plan, but it would be imprudent to send Technocrat alone into such a place. He is no fighter,¡± Blackrazor said evenly. ¡°One of us will have to go with him, at the very least. That may cut into our forces here.¡± Sonya shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t have that,¡± she said. ¡°I need the rest of you here. The plan to deal with First Wind and Qilin is still ongoing.¡± Colin stood up. ¡°But-¡± Sonya held up her hand. ¡°I understand,¡± she said. ¡°Which is why I will be needing some time with dear Amos here to give him his just rewards for all of his hard work. He¡¯s earned more than just a few new toys to play with.¡± Colin visibly relaxed and sat back down. ¡°Alright, I¡¯d be happier if he had someone else with him, though.¡± She glanced up at Amos, who looked heart-warmed by his boyfriend''s sentiment, and smiled. They were sweet. She slid to her feet. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve got a plan.¡± ¨C The cargo hold was not far from the Inner Circle¡¯s lounge. It was segmented into multiple spaces of varying degrees of security. Most of it was dedicated to supplies and food for the crew and those onboard, as well as the building materials that Amos was slowly siphoning into the place with the help of her portals. He had several ongoing projects on the ship that, thanks to his dolls, were being worked on even as they stood together in the most secure part of the area. Levi had positioned himself at the door and was sitting and observing; the lazy hound didn¡¯t like moving around very much. Sonya whistled appreciatively as she looked over the piles of mana crystals, strange shimmering logs, and mounds of off-color ores neatly arranged around the room. She took a moment to walk around and identified a few of them. ¡°Ironwood,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I handled any of it. My knife had an ironwood handle back in the previous timeline.¡± She stopped next to the ore. ¡°Cold iron, mostly,¡± she said and knelt down, picking up a particularly large bluish-white lump. ¡°Mithril,¡± she murmured and looked up at Amos. ¡°I know it¡¯s asking a lot since it''s so rare, but...¡± Amos was standing in the center of the room with a relaxed look on his face. He shrugged with his hands still in his coat pockets. ¡°Sure. What do you want made?¡± ¡°The blade was mithril,¡± she said quietly. ¡°I can give you the design.¡± ¡°Nostalgic?¡± he asked. ¡°Yeah,¡± she said and rolled the lump over in her hand. ¡°It was a dear friend. Saved my life many times. The last time I saw it, I was pressing it against Otis¡¯ throat as he died.¡± ¡°You watched him die? You never mentioned that,¡± Amos said. ¡°It¡¯s my darkest memory,¡± Sonya said and stood up, walking over to him and putting the ore in his hand. ¡°Everyone else on Earth was dead by that point. It was just him and me. Looking back, he was dying from internal injuries, I¡¯m guessing. I don¡¯t know why he wasn¡¯t regenerating anymore.¡± Amos sighed. ¡°And the only way to test that is to recreate the circumstances,¡± he said with a shrug and shook his head. ¡°I get why you didn¡¯t bring it up. Still, it¡¯s information I could work with, at least to help you theorize.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let it distract you too much; Otis isn¡¯t my immediate concern. Just part of the final hurdle,¡± she said evenly. ¡°More importantly, we need to talk about your powers.¡± Amos stiffened. ¡°You¡¯ve been doing a lot of thinking, it sounds like,¡± he said, meeting her eyes. ¡°Yeah. I have some ideas. My instincts are telling me that I need you to feel them out. Let¡¯s sit down,¡± she said and dropped to the floor, crossing her legs and holding out a hand. ¡°Join me?¡± He swallowed and sat down across from her, taking her hand. She closed her eyes and let her mind drift back into the space of her ability. Unlike her inner mindscape, where Loki and the others existed, the warehouse did not feel ¡®real.¡¯ There was no flow of air or sense of time in that place. Just a vague existence. She still didn¡¯t fully understand its true nature, but she had to accept that it wasn¡¯t part of the usual set of abilities that belonged to an Arbiter. That fact alone led her to an uncomfortable conclusion about what it was and why her ability wasn¡¯t called ¡®Arbiter.¡¯ It was something she would have to confront the ghost of Pandora about eventually. Regardless, it served her well. She looked around the heavily stocked ¡®shelves¡¯ of the mysterious place. One round of the competition had given her so much to work with now. It gave her other ideas, thoughts about how she could capitalize on the windfall. Those ideas would have to wait for now; she had a dear friend to reward after two years of tireless service. Sonya reached out to the space and drew the strange disks that represented abilities to her hand. There were two immediately present that she thought of when she considered Amos and his powers. She allowed herself to relax and activated Deus Ex Machina. It triggered on its own to nudge me along with Glint, but I want to give this a more personal touch, she thought as the strange sensations of the ability swept over her. Despite being hers, the power was still an enigma. It triggered on its own most of the time, and when she did activate it as a test, nothing really seemed to happen. This time, things were a little different. She felt a tug at her senses, faint but urgent. Her eyes drifted towards one of the shelves. A single red disk lay there, still, and, if it were possible, gathering dust. Karmic Threads was Riot¡¯s ability, and it was a power that she had avoided playing with. Her gut told her it was a line she shouldn¡¯t cross, that fiddling with karma was dangerous in more ways than one. Here I am thinking that, yet I left that boy to his own devices. I should have dealt with him sooner. I let my bleeding heart guide me to a poor decision after losing Nick. The urging intensified, and she held out her hand. The disk floated to her. Why now? She wondered but got no insight from the ability. She chuckled. And with Ishtar playing with books, I¡¯m all alone with my thoughts. She twirled the disk. Why am I so afraid of you? Is it the moral consequence of playing with karma? Is this a line that shouldn¡¯t be crossed? She snorted derisively. Or is that just the last bits of Farsight chafing against the villain I¡¯ve become? She set her jaw and crushed those doubts into powder. If this will help him, then so be it. I¡¯ll cross that line for my friends if it means they¡¯ll see the end of this with me. I¡¯ll take whatever power I can get, she thought. Not Regalia, not Cybernetic Paragon, not Will of the Architect, not Divine Legion. The ability that formed the umbrella above them all was proposed as a party to the merger. Greedy, aren¡¯t you? she thought with amusement. Just like me. Alright, enjoy your feast. The red disk cracked, fizzled, and faded into a cloud of dust. She didn¡¯t feel the change right away. It was less of a sense of power than an expansion of her senses. An awareness that eased seamlessly into her mind, accompanying her other attributes and spreading through them. It was like pouring cool water over her mind that filled her up. A sense of wholeness, completeness. A missing piece of a puzzle. The instincts flared, and she knew. Her eyes opened within the space, and she took it all in. Rainbow threads like bolts of lightning dancing between the hundreds of disks. Connections she hadn¡¯t seen before. Insights, ideas, and underpinning concepts. Her powerful brain parsed through them as she gestured languidly to the first two she had thought of. One red disk, one purple. They floated over her right hand. She turned to her left hand, and two more disks appeared. Both of them were red and vaguely transparent compared to the solid ones around her. I like this feature, very nice, she thought. Let''s give it a test run. Telekinesis was from one of the heroes who had made it to the top two hundred. She¡¯d figured it would go well with Technopathy, but it seemed that it was better served to pair up with his other ability. Good stuff. Now what to add... She let the ability spread throughout the warehouse and felt her body jerk, even in the real world. She sensed a connection form between her and Amos as those multicolored threads rushed out of her with greater intensity. The threads danced between the items in the warehouse, ricocheting like tiny bolts of electricity before more and more began to glow. That one provides strength. Endurance there. Two have underpinning concepts that provide regeneration. That one would work well for assisting War Chest. The ideas kept coming, thoughts like wildfire, her brain working harder than it had in a long time. She could almost hear the ticking sound that her eyes once made when she pushed herself. It was a strain, but it was worth it. She coughed and vaguely heard Amos ask if she was okay. She forced her body to nod as she concentrated harder. Deus Ex Machina is still pretty rough on the system. It''s wild to experience all my abilities acting in concert, though. Intellect, cybernetic brain, DeM, everything. It¡¯s kind of exhilarating! List them. She felt instincts well up in her for a moment, and she got the gist of what Digital Ghost was about. It was a pseudo-immortality that gave the user the ability to seamlessly control technology on a level that Technopathy couldn¡¯t begin to touch. Amos and the internet would become one and the same. The instincts for this one seemed to revolve around creating things from existing matter based on a pattern in mind. It still possessed the features of Technopathy and his intellect but used War Chest as a foundation to create what amounted to a Mythic-tier 3D printer out of him. It didn¡¯t change his body very much and was close to her Architect power. Sonya nearly laughed. DeM had managed to recreate her own cybernetic power perfectly. She could basically pass it down to him if she wanted. He definitely wouldn¡¯t have a hard time surviving with it, but she wasn¡¯t sure that was the best choice for him. She considered the three choices for a few moments. Each had their benefits but also their drawbacks. Ultimately, she frowned a little. It didn¡¯t seem like enough to give him for everything he¡¯d done and accomplished for her. Just one of them wasn¡¯t good enough. Was the karma between them that little? That¡¯s something to think about - karma is the currency of Broker Deals. I should have realized that sooner. With the threads as part of my ability, I should be able to quantify it. She concentrated on Broker. Explain, What¡¯s the hold up? Souls retain their karmic debt from the previous timeline? She blanched. Is that because of me? Now hang on a second, he may have been kind of a dick in the past timeline, but he wasn¡¯t that bad! Why didn¡¯t this happen with Colin? Has he already paid his debts? She remembered he was just part of the problem overall, another corrupt businessman. It was part of the reason why she bullied him a little when they first met. He wasn¡¯t an agent of Otis like Colin had been. Maybe he had done something in the past timeline she wasn¡¯t aware of. It didn¡¯t matter. She frowned. He¡¯s earned his pass as far as I¡¯m concerned. Screw off with that bullshit. For him? Yes, she thought without hesitation. Huh? An orange disk launched off one of the shelves and floated in front of her. Her eyes widened as she recognized it as one she had never dared touch. It gleamed as the simulation of mergers went through. Dozens of powers merging together before slamming into it as the new core. An illusory orange disk appeared, crackling and popping with power as golden light shone out from within it. Her breath caught as the instincts of the new power rose up in her. It was perfect. Her eyes opened, and she met his concerned gaze. ¡°How does becoming a walking apocalypse sound?¡± she asked with a grin. Side-Story: Amos 3 Amos had experienced a lot of strange things since the flash. He had awakened his first ability and suffered through the head trip of his mind expanding. Then his world became even more complicated as a particular local crime boss metaphorically put his boot on Amos¡¯ neck. After that, Amos met Sonya for the first time, and at first he really thought his life was over. Instead, she¡¯d opened his eyes and awakened his technopathy. She¡¯d given him the foundation to build himself back up on. Put him in the position to meet the love of his life. All with the shake of a hand. He looked down at her outstretched fingers, her glittering skin faint in the low light of the storage room. He looked back up at her and saw the smile in her eyes. ¡°How does becoming a walking apocalypse sound?¡± she asked with that mischievous grin he knew all too well. It was like she had just thought of a joke that she wasn¡¯t going to tell until just the right moment. A whimsy that would have made him hesitate two years ago. He knew her better now, though. Far better. He¡¯d seen her at her worst. He¡¯d seen her collapse under the weight of everything she¡¯d taken onto herself. He¡¯d seen her build herself back up and become the person standing in front of him. Someone he knew could take the whole world for a ride and get away with it. Someone he trusted. Amos Carter didn¡¯t hesitate when Sonya Chernovna grinned like that. He snapped his hand out and grabbed hers. ¡°I figured Charon was enough apocalypse for you.¡± She laughed and shrugged. ¡°What''s one more, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a deal,¡± he said, and the strangeness began. The first thing that he felt was a sudden awareness of something that was a part of him, separate from him, and inside of him all at the same time. In the brief millisecond it took for his mind to process the information, he initially settled on ¡®Amos-ness.¡¯ Then he realized it was something far more significant, something that called a lot of things into question for him while answering many, many more. He could feel his own soul, sense it, like something substantive that had been digitized within the core of his being. A ghost that made up who he was. Then the next eureka moment came. He was his soul. Not in any metaphorical or metaphysical sense. He and his soul were one being now; the change had been so sudden he hadn¡¯t even felt it. He was simply aware that the body he resided within was nothing more than an extension of the will cradled within. The feeling shook him to his core as more changes came. He could feel his body breaking down and changing in a ripple, his skin shuddering like a disturbed pond. Every cell, every molecule, all of them an individual Amos, yet not. He staggered and nearly fell before Sonya caught him. His senses were in overdrive, every sound processing faster than a human brain could ever comprehend. The details were compounded, condensed, extrapolated, and translated into meaning in the blink of an eye. He gripped Sonya¡¯s hand as the instincts came next. A collection of powers brought together and combined into one complete form. A merger of features and functions. Somehow he even knew their names, the individual parts, and the strategy she¡¯d used to make them. He gasped as she pulled him to his feet, only for him to understand that breathing was just an involuntary reflex now. Meaningless. My lungs aren¡¯t... lungs? ¡°You alright?¡± she asked, and her voice rang about in his head. ¡°I¡¯m... good lord, Sonya,¡± he babbled, clutching at the side of his head. ¡°Is this how you hear?¡± She hesitated. ¡°Pretty close, I imagine.¡± ¡°How do you not have a perpetual headache? Shit!¡± he coughed and pulled away, forcing himself to stay standing. He stopped and looked at his fingers. They were trembling, but not with feeling or emotion. He could sense them, his new instincts making sense of the incomprehensible nature of what he had become. Gray Goo. Neumann¡¯s Cataclysm. He swallowed and looked up at her. ¡°You weren¡¯t joking about turning me into a walking apocalypse.¡± She stepped back from him and gave him an encouraging gesture. ¡°How is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a little more complicated than the name implies,¡± he said thoughtfully, letting the inborn details guide him for a heartbeat. Fascinating. The ability is transcribed onto my soul, I think. It''s still too much information to take in all at once. Is that a structure? Are abilities something that have building blocks? What am I- He shook his head. Focus. You can explore the nuances later. He took a deep breath and walked over to the pile of metals. He reached down and plucked up a lump of what looked like iron. It was the earliest metal found in Common and Uncommon-tier dungeons. At some point he¡¯d started calling it ¡°cold iron¡± out of habit, and the name stuck. He clutched the lump in his grip. He felt he could examine it with far more precision if he wanted, but the bare-bones detail was sufficient. He crushed it. The feeling of strength came so naturally the motion almost startled him as the lumps of metal were absorbed into his skin. The rock clattered to the ground, filtered out until nothing remained. Every cell studied it. No, every nanite. His body learned the metal, down to the very base molecular structure. Ah, mana isn¡¯t just something that helps create the circumstances that form the metal; it makes up part of its molecular structure. Interesting. He turned to Sonya, who was watching him with curiosity. ¡°First step is learn the material,¡± he explained. Sonya raised her eyebrows. ¡°And the second?¡± He threw his hand out towards an empty wooden crate in the room, and his limb changed, stretching until it became a thin spear of rippling, unidentifiable material. It pierced the wood and spread across it like a plague, consuming it before his limb retracted and his hand took shape again. The crate was gone, and he felt... fuller. He closed his eyes and let the change happen. Sonya let out a gasp of surprise, and he looked down at his body. It had taken on that silvery-white metal sheen of refined Cold Iron, the same material he made most everything out of. He flexed his fingers experimentally. ¡°No loss in flexibility, nice.¡± ¡°So you convert matter,¡± Sonya said thoughtfully. ¡°Basically. I need a blueprint and substance to work with,¡± he said. ¡°This is amazing.¡± ¡°What does it feel like?¡± she asked. He looked up at her and chuckled, scratching the back of his head. ¡°You mean being an amalgamated mass of nanites rather than an organic living being?¡± He scratched his nose and shrugged. ¡°I think my brain is compensating for it, or my soul, rather. I don¡¯t really notice much of a difference.¡± He squinted. ¡°That¡¯s something I¡¯m going to have to wrestle with for a bit.¡± Another idea occurred to him. ¡°So-¡± He held up his hand. ¡°One sec. Sorry, Sonya,¡± he said and concentrated. He felt his link to the computers on the ship and enjoyed the rush of syncing up as usual. His senses spread throughout the ship for a moment before he pulled back and focused on the core servers. Yes. Another rush; this time it felt like a tug on his soul. A tiny piece of it peeled away before whisking off through his connection to the server. He felt the spot like a raw wound that would need to take some time to recover. It was a dull ache, cold and deep. He let out a sigh and turned his focus back on her, breaking the connection. The lights flickered for just a moment before settling. Sonya looked up. ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°I backed myself up into the Idol,¡± he said casually. ¡°I¡¯ll be able to keep helping on the ship that way, even if I¡¯m away.¡± He hesitated. ¡°Oh, and if something happens to me, I think I can just... come back? I won¡¯t have any memories of what happened after the backup, though.¡± Sonya stared at him for several moments before bursting into laughter. ¡°I think I¡¯ve created a monster.¡± He threw his head back and laughed. ¡°Yeah, maybe!¡± he said. ¡°But what Supervillain is complete without their monstrous mad scientist?¡± He shoved his hands into his coat pockets. ¡°Thanks, Sonya. With this, I feel like I can be of just as much help as the others.¡± She tilted her head. ¡°Were you really worried about that?¡± He snorted. ¡°Hardly. None of them know the first thing about how their gear works,¡± he said with a wave of his hand. She crossed her arms and gave him an impatient look. He cringed and met her eyes sheepishly. ¡°Okay, maybe a little.¡± ¡°If I didn¡¯t trust you as much, even more than anyone else, do you think I¡¯d be sending you to the Backrooms?¡± she asked. Got me there, he thought and flushed a little. It was odd knowing the nanites were simulating his embarrassment. It was all he could do to change the subject. ¡°Speaking of which,¡± he said quickly, ¡°I need to do my rounds before leaving.¡± She shook her head wryly. ¡°Go on,¡± she said and waved towards the door. ¡°I¡¯ll get the portal ready.¡± Amos was almost to the door when he stopped and looked back at her. He squared his shoulders and cleared his throat. ¡°Hey, Supervillain Ishtar.¡± ¡°Yes, Technocrat?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let you down.¡± Chapter 279 In the days since she¡¯d sent a newly minted Mythic Amos off to the Backrooms, Sonya had kept herself busy. Planning multiple raids and schemes at the same time wasn¡¯t a walk in the park. Even so, she had her Inner Circle to rely on to get things done. The Night Society was spread across the globe. Spies worked their way into the companies that had been a problem in the previous timeline. Villains that were too small to be a genuine concern but an issue enough to go against her ¡®orderly¡¯ image were assassinated. Information was gathered, blackmail prepared, any leverage she could get when it became necessary. It spread them thin, but it would be worth it in the end. As for Kingshark¡¯s army, they were causing their own kind of trouble. Fishmen waylaid transport routes and demanded fees for safe passage. To the shock of the companies involved, they were charged based on the weights of their shipments. Anyone who didn¡¯t pay, paid in goods and were returned to where their journeys had started. Keeping killing to a minimum helped spread the story. All the while; dungeons all over were being hit by Villains eager to cash in on her bounty. The Heroes were spread thin, forced to coordinate and work together to manage the growing problem. You¡¯re a little tired today, Ishtar commented. Just from all the walking, Sonya said dismissively. I need to get some new heels. The couch was comfortable, at least; there were less comfortable surfaces to sit on while watching the news. The company, on the other hand, was far less so. Sonya leaned forward and pressed her hands together in front of her mouth as she watched what was playing out on the television. She did her best to ignore the odd couple of Qilin on her left and Colin on her right. Neither of them made eye contact with one another, nor did they show any sign of relaxing in the presence of the other. She pushed the sensory input that was reading their emotional states out of her mind as a small group of heroes engaged a dangerous man on a Sydney street. Brian Cameron, the CEO of Throne Polynesian Group, was standing on the steps of a large building with both hands extended towards his surroundings. Rebar, concrete - materials from every object within his line of sight - broke and rose from the ground before racing towards his outstretched palms. The materials collided with each other and damn near melded together. In a matter of moments, what could only be described as a ¡®street golem¡¯ stomped towards the trio moving to engage him. ¡°...it¡¯s unknown when Mister Cameron awakened his abilities, but we do know that the altercation involved a recent rare acquisition of his. The violence that followed led to the heroes being called in to...¡± The reporter rambled on while Sonya watched Brian move. His actions were jerky, twitchy, like a man not used to moving in his own body. The golem, on the other hand, moved so naturally it bordered on triggering an uncanny valley feeling. It charged at the first hero, swatting them aside as the second pulled back and conjured a halo of glowing arrows around their body that they sent hurtling towards their enemy. Sonya flicked her gaze towards the third hero on the screen. Sol¡¯s hands were both extended, and light was gathering around his fingertips. He was shouting something, though the camera wasn¡¯t close enough to pick up audio. She read his lips and raised an eyebrow. ¡°He¡¯s asking for Cameron to surrender.¡± ¡°Waste of time,¡± Qilin said. ¡°Mm,¡± Sonya nodded. ¡°That look in Cameron¡¯s eyes is familiar.¡± To her right, Colin leaned forward a bit and scowled. ¡°That looks like Pandora Sickness. The guy is off his rocker.¡± Sonya nodded again. ¡°Disappointing, I figured his mind was strong enough to handle awakening a new power,¡± she said and shook her head. ¡°At least I get a good view of how his ability works.¡± After making our deal, I hadn¡¯t bothered pulling it out. ¡®Construction¡¯ seemed rather dull, but perhaps I could make use of it, she thought as the arrow-wielding hero pushed the golem back. The other one that had been swatted away was now moving to engage Cameron directly. ¡°He isn¡¯t defenseless, fool.¡± Cameron¡¯s body twitched, and he raised an arm. A piece of twisted metal erupted from the ground and nearly impaled the hero, who dodged just in time. Sonya leaned back in her seat just in time for the golem to go down under the arrow wielder¡¯s onslaught. Sol was still charging up. ¡°He¡¯s not even responding to Sol. Pathetic,¡± Sonya said with a shrug and turned to Colin. ¡°Anything else on worth watching?¡± Colin checked his phone. ¡°Actually, speak of the devil, there¡¯s another fight on the American news right now. One of my contacts says it might interest you.¡± Sonya eyed him. ¡°Did... did you really just say ¡®speak of the devil¡¯ out loud?¡± she asked. He stared back at her without blinking. ¡°You¡¯re damn right I did.¡± The two of them burst into laughter only to go quiet as Qilin cleared her throat. Sonya turned towards the woman on borrowed time and raised an eyebrow. Qilin merely nodded towards the screen, and Sonya glanced back. Cameron was creating a sphere of materials around his body to protect himself from what was coming next. The light on Sol¡¯s hands was intensifying. Sonya gestured to the screen. I warned you, Cameron. The gathered materials collapsed. Light flared. A ray of heat intended to cut through the material and subdue the Villain was now streaking across the space towards a powerless man staring in confusion at his hands. To Sonya¡¯s mind it happened in slow motion. The footage cut just in time, and the reporter appeared on the screen. Sonya smirked and leaned back in her seat. ¡°Switch to that other ongoing fight, Colin.¡± Sonya ignored the look Qilin gave her from the side. She still wasn¡¯t entirely sure what was going on in the crazy woman¡¯s head, but she had enough of an idea to know that showing off a little of what she was capable of without context would only benefit her. Colin just whistled appreciatively and grabbed the remote, tabbing over to a new scene. It was a familiar-looking cityscape. Sonya glanced down at the words on the bottom of the screen and narrowed her eyes. ¡®VILLAIN ATTACK ON NEW YORK DUNGEON HAS ENDED¡¯ ¡°That was quick,¡± Colin mumbled. Sonya leaned forward and clenched her jaw. How much do you want to bet? I refuse to put money on something so obvious, Ishtar shot back. He appeared on the screen. Perfect punchable face, bright blue eyes, and golden hair coiffed like it was sculpted from stone. He wasn¡¯t in his usual fancy dress shirt and slacks but was instead in full hero gear. It had nauseated her when the order came in to ASTA to have it made. She honestly had forgotten to check up on it. To think it¡¯s done already. The design was a blue high-collar jumpsuit designed to evoke the look of a military dress uniform. Over it were gold-tinted plates of post-Pandora metals and a cloak-cape that hung over his shoulders. The fabric glimmered slightly in the sunlight beating down on him. Otis. Behind him were Felwinter and Riot. Felwinter¡¯s hero gear was far more casual-looking, a plated leather jacket and jeans made to handle the rigors of combat. There were black gauntlets on her hands that radiated an eerie mist. It looked nothing like her powers from when she had come to the camp. Sonya had seen them, of course, during the final exam, but it still made her wonder just what had happened to alter her ability so much. Does Otis¡¯ ability suite have another feature I¡¯m not aware of? What theme does it follow? I know he doesn¡¯t copy powers, so what is it? What did you do? She flicked her eyes towards Riot and felt her heart sink a little bit. She really had hoped he would somehow hang in there. It was a naive hope and one that had grown in her during the darkest period of her life, but it seemed like his heart was in the right place. Now he stood behind Otis with a smirk on his face and a single stream of tears cascading down his right cheek. His outfit was colorful, reminding her of a hippie smock complete with audacious necklaces. ¡°These Villains were no threat!¡± Otis said proudly. ¡°They might be acting bolder now because of Ishtar, but they couldn¡¯t live up to the hype! If you want to cause trouble in New York, do a little grinding first!¡± A nearby crowd cheered as he raised a fist. ¡°Ishtar! I hope you can hear this! New York is under my protection!¡± Sonya frowned even harder. Why is he grandstanding like that? Yes, he was quite famous in the previous timeline, but he preferred to keep his face hidden. He did try to go for the kill with Liberty with a camera crew, if you recall, Ishtar pointed out. Sonya leaned back and crossed her arms. That¡¯s my point, though. That kind of fame wasn¡¯t his thing in the past. He emphasized the mystique of the Faceless Hero. I thought it was Nameless, Ishtar chuckled. It was interchangeable, Sonya quipped. I can¡¯t believe I didn¡¯t realize how dim this guy is. Regardless, you¡¯re right that he is taking things in a new direction. It¡¯s possible he is branching out in a different way than last time. Don¡¯t underestimate him, Sonya, just because he is a fool. You said it yourself, didn¡¯t you? Sonya set her jaw. Even a fool can learn if they live long enough. Yes. ¡°Is that man not one of your sponsored Heroes?¡± Qilin asked. Sonya nearly jumped but managed to school herself, glancing towards the Herald and keeping her expression steady. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s Otis.¡± A man I will never let you meet. ¡°You detest him, though?¡± Qilin questioned, tilting her head a little before looking at the screen where Otis was raising his hands to the cheers of the crowd. A few reporters were trying to get some questions in. Sonya felt bad for Bluestar having to deal with the bastard. Sonya looked away from the screen and back at her. It seemed that even her excellent poker face couldn¡¯t defend against a Qilin¡¯s wisdom. ¡°You¡¯ve seen the recording of our fight,¡± Sonya said flatly, crossing her arms. ¡°What more do you need to know?¡± ¡°There is a history there that I am not seeing. Curious,¡± Qilin murmured as Sonya met Colin¡¯s eyes. She sent him a quick text with Technopathy. Colin¡¯s phone buzzed, and he got up to walk to the nearby counter and grab a snack. Sonya pretended not to listen to Qilin¡¯s muttering as she focused on the TV. The interviewers were asking all sorts of questions, some quite pointed. She smirked when one put a mic up to Otis¡¯ face. ¡°Do you have any comments on why you kept your invulnerability hidden up until now?¡± Otis grinned at the camera. ¡°It certainly surprised the Villains, didn¡¯t it?¡± he said before holding up his hands. ¡°That¡¯s all the questions for now! My team and I need to get back to our patrol!¡± The camera pulled back to the reporter who had questioned him. ¡°Right off of an arrest and back to work, Hero Otis is certainly picking up the slack as his peers from Hero Crusader¡¯s team are in Dharan. Does New York have a new champion?¡± Sonya¡¯s HUD flickered. She pursed her lips as heavy breathing caught her attention. She closed her eyes and sought patience before turning to look at a flushed Qilin. ¡°Is this all for him?¡± Qilin asked, wide-eyed as she played with her hair. Her eyes were fixed on the television. Sonya repressed the urge to vomit and looked back to the screen. Her luck is locked. It would be so easy... Sonya, her end has to be of use to you. I know how you feel about waste; you¡¯ll regret it if you kill her right now. Also, the cover-up would be a pain. ¡°If you want to keep interacting with me,¡± Sonya said evenly, ¡°do not interact with him.¡± ¡°Very well,¡± Qilin said without hesitation. At least she¡¯s desperate to stay close to me. Not my favorite kind of obedience, though, and most certainly not from her, she thought with distaste. A useful carrot to dangle in front of her. It¡¯s not like you haven¡¯t used your allure to get your way before, Ishtar said. Rationally, it isn¡¯t a terrible idea. However, the very thought of even flirting with her makes me ill. At least consider it, Ishtar pressed. Whatever it takes, yes? Sonya squinted at the TV and forced herself not to respond. She grabbed the remote and changed the channel, flipping a few times and distracting herself with the flickering images while Ishtar continued to talk. I¡¯ll drop it for now, Ishtar conceded. Tomorrow we need to spend some time in your inner world. It¡¯s time to do a little training. That boy is training his body with First Wind. You should hone yourself as well. Our new powers are great, but mastering them is a whole different matter. Also, Set has agreed to explain how to move past the Claimant stage. Sonya paused, hitting the channel button one more time. She was about to respond when a new image appeared on the screen. It was a podium set up in front of a large crowd of people. Blue, white, and red flags were hanging on either side of it as a man leaned forward against it. He was thin and rakish-looking in that ¡®a little too handsome to be real¡¯ kind of way. His dark eyes twinkled as he spoke, and Sonya shot to her feet. Qilin jerked away, and Colin nearly spilled the pile of snacks he brought over. ¡°Our France has seen more than its fair share of heartache after the flash. Monsters plagued us for weeks, and great Paris was subjected to a terrible outbreak as we reeled from the changes. The Heroes of France have taken a stand to return stability to you, the people,¡± Lucian Ducast, Astaroth the Herald, said into the microphone. ¡°It is unfortunate, then, that the current party seems hell-bent on suppressing the rise of Heroes and, by extension, your chances at greater stability and safety!¡± The crowd roared as he raised his hand to his heart and inclined his head. ¡°As a Hero, it has been my pleasure to defend you, the people, on the streets. Now I intend to defend you all in the halls of power.¡± Sonya clenched her fists and shot a mental text to Blackrazor. <¡±I need a sitrep in France, now!¡±> ¡°It is with no small amount of consideration that I, Lucian Ducast, step down as Vice Guild Master of the Paris State Guild to announce my candidacy for President of our beloved France. With the endorsement of our newly formed Illuminated Party, I will carry our nation into a glorious future!¡± As the crowd roared, Sonya set her jaw. She took a steadying breath and walked out of the room. What are you going to do? Ishtar asked. Nothing for now. I can¡¯t have the Night Society stretch itself any thinner than it already is. A sitrep is the best I can ask of them, Sonya thought. We stick to the plan. When the time comes, I¡¯ll deal with Astaroth personally. And Mimir? Sonya stopped as the door shut behind her, and her expression went dark. I had hoped he was wise enough to see the danger of Lucian Ducast, but clearly he has reassessed his priorities. He thinks he is acting with impunity, but the next time I see a Vigilante, I will make it very clear how wrong he is.