Conscious, Conscientious

Wei leaned back and let out a yawn.

“Huh…maybe I should have told them what time to get back here,” he realized to himself. “I might be here a while.”

He stretched, wiggling his feet as he stared forward into the early morning sky and dewy plains. The breeze was a bit brisker than he’d planned for, up here atop the front gate of Azvaylen’s capital. But at the very least, the sunlight was increasing.

Wei yawned again—but not from tiredness; in fact, he slept soundly the evening before, especially after switching off his communication watch and ordering his team and Azvaylen Generals alike to leave him alone.

‘They escaped’ this and ‘they’re defeating our forces’ that…

Wei had scoffed at it before returning to bed.

Of course Layla and her loyal buddies would attempt escape. They were desperate to save the day—and half of them were frightened children with their lives on the line. Wei couldn’t blame them.

But as he had insisted to Benton before reuniting with his luxurious royal-grade pillow: no matter how hard they fought back, it didn’t really matter.

He always had his last resort, if it would even come to that. Proscious would prevail and come one leap closer to their rise—and most importantly, it was thanks to his leadership.

No…‘leadership’ was a gross word. It was thanks to his power.

He’d earned this day for himself. Even with these slight setbacks, victory would be his. He’d done everything right.

Speaking of those setbacks…well, a few of them…Wei observed.

Five distant figures emerged from the horizon. Wei raised an eyebrow.

Looks like none of them chickened out, he noticed. Commendable. Oh, and they even managed to save that blue-haired girl, huh? Good on them.

Wei smiled as he picked out his favorite: his prisoner’s relative, the white-haired Imaginer.

What will you choose, kid?

Until now, he’d all but convinced himself the Imaginer would concede and agree to join Proscious in exchange for his friends. After catching a glimpse Wei’s powers, the young man had no choice—assuming he believed the terms were legitimate.

And Wei meant precisely what he said: if the Imaginer joined, Wei would simply fake the executions instead to please the population of Azvaylen. With some creative misinformation, that could mend the peoples’ trust after witnessing Irma’s disguise as Layla fall apart before their eyes.

Then, as promised, he would return the Imaginer’s loved ones to him. Simple.

Although, the little Queen probably wouldn’t survive to make the cut. Wei had to complete the experiment with her in the Dreamer Chamber first, after all.

He failed to recall if he’d mentioned that little detail.

But given the presence of the Imaginer’s other four friends, Wei began doubting this would end peacefully. And if that was the case, then they all needed to die.

Regardless, he couldn’t wait for them to get closer. There was something special about that Imaginer kid.

A born-consciousness with a natural blend of powers…he thought fondly.

It was a win either way in his book: if the Imaginer agreed to join Proscious, Wei would provide one more monumental addition to their mission. If he resisted, Wei would still get a glimpse of his impossible, yet natural, abilities one more time.

Heck, maybe I can make him join regardless, he pondered. After all, he needs…he deserves to know…just how unbelievably strong he can become.

Returning from his spiral of inner inspiration, Wei noticed the small fight squad had gained much more ground towards him. They stared almost unblinkingly as they neared.

Yawning once more, Wei gave a wave. No matter what happened next, his boredom would end here.

They all ignored his casual greeting, as expected. The group came to a stop on the stone path far below, and the white-haired Imaginer stood front and center.

Crackles of energy burst out on the ground far below, in front of the gate.

“The Azvaylen Capital is off-limits,” a burly guard warned.

“What is your business here?” demanded the other.

Right…those guys…Wei remembered. Managing a kingdom is kind of a pain…

“Hey! Go find some drunks to arrest or something,” he called down. “I’ll handle these guys. They’re my guests.”

“Sir.”

He heard the gate open and close as the guards wandered off. All the while, the five fighters didn’t avert their stare from him.

Yep…they’re definitely gonna try to fight again, he detected. It’s all in the eyes.

While the Imaginer remained his main focus, he analyzed the others for a moment. After all: this was the bunch of Leaguers that made Irma and Benton actually have to try.

The lanky, emo Illusionist wasn’t much to write home about, though. It was safe to say he was no more different than the typical pro. Wei moved on to the consciousness beside him.

The beloved Predictor, Hiroko Hamasaki…he observed. Now she’s a little more like it—a high potential, and she’s actually reached it. But…that’s the problem: her power ceiling caps out too low to mean anything here.

Her teammate, however…

He eyed the dainty Kotono Inoue.

She might not even HAVE a power ceiling, he pondered, recalling the decimated courtyard she left in her wake without even intending to. Actually…she could prove to be quite fun. If I can push her limits to their end, maybe I can finally test my own…

The blue-haired girl he’d almost killed stood beside Ms. Inoue, now without injury. She seemed to be a Power Rebound—an agile one, too…

…but certainly nothing special.

No—her importance lay elsewhere.

Wei’s eyes finally landed back on the white-haired Imaginer.

She’s the one who makes you tick, he remembered.

The way the Imaginer’s eyes ignited orange when Wei had tossed him the girl’s mangled body sent shivers down his spine.

It clearly wasn’t intentional; it was automatic. It was an emotional response, exactly like Kotono’s Emovert energy.

But instead of generating that same energy, it enabled this young man to imagine what only a master with decades of training could attempt—and do it instantly.

He was more than a consciousness: he was an anomaly.

Proscious needed to study him. They needed to find out why. And for that, the blue-haired girl was the trigger Wei needed to pull.

Wei smiled.

I love this life.

“Hey, good morning,” he called down. “I’m glad you didn’t chicken out.”

No response.

“I get it. I won’t waste any more of your time, kid. Let’s just get right to it: do you agree to my terms?” Wei offered, extending a hand. “Let me guess: ‘I’d never—‘”

“I agree to join Proscious.”

Wei paused, his hand still hanging in place. “…Huh?”

Deon’s face was hard and adamant. “I agree to join Proscious,” he repeated. “Just give Lammy and everyone else back to us.”

Wei’s eyes narrowed, bringing a hand to his chin in contemplation. “Well then…that’s not what I was expecting…” he admitted.

He analyzed the five consciousnesses even closer, and they continued to stare back, unmoving.

“Oh,” he said.

A laugh escaped him. There was no other proper reaction. Cursing to himself, he turned to look behind him. But he knew it would be too late.

In a split instant, the morning chill shifted to scorching heat.

~~~

An explosion rattled the ground under Phillip’s racing steps.

He came to a quick stop, skidding for a moment against the Azvaylen capital’s stone walkway, and checked the sky behind him.

Smoke and dust emerged from behind the city’s buildings, rising in the distance exactly where he’d hoped to find it: above the main gate.

Or at least, what was left of it now.

Locals on their morning commute also paused to take in the ominous sight. With fearful exclamations, they lowered their heads and rushed for the nearest shelter.

Phillip turned and continued his pursuit, his eyes now fixed on the castle. Another blast resounded, and then silence.

Did it work? he asked himself.

He’d checked his work countless times before they set out for the capital at the onset of sunrise. And now, he played it over and over in his mind.

Creating the illusion of himself was the easy part—but crafting walking, blinking versions of Skrili, Deon, Hiroko, and Kotono—and automating all five of them to head for the main gate didn’t come easy.

He hadn’t anticipated Wei would wait for them atop the entrance to the city. So when they caught sight of his silhouette from far across the field, he needed to think fast for this to work.

In a way, Wei’s position made animating the illusions easier, giving less obstacles to navigate. But Phillip needed to add a new command last-second so they would look up high enough at Wei to come across realistic.

Then of course, there were Deon’s lines: “I agree to join Proscious,” and “Just give Lammy and everyone else back to us.”

He couldn’t remember how many times he’d asked Deon to repeat those phrases to him yesterday, but last night, it was enough to make him dream it actually happened.

Hopefully, subjecting himself to the most boisterous, bigmouthed voice he’d ever heard yielded a believable result. Hopefully, it bought Kotono just enough time to get into position and set her aim.

More explosions rumbled from the front gate.

Her energy is boundless…he admired. Keep it up, Kotono. Keep holding him back.

Phillip sped his pace, zooming past buildings. He needed to make her efforts count.

“Heyhey…”

Again Phillip slid to a stop, this time a bit sloppier. He’d navigated to a series of alleys on the far outer rim of the city, its towering western wall only a few buildings to his side. And now that Kotono’s blasts indicated phase one was complete, he’d dismissed his illusions by the gate and shrouded himself in a disguise.

But it appeared none of his elusive efforts mattered. His disguise faded against his will.

Irma stood before him.

With a relaxed smile, she brought her watch close to her face.

“Found one on the west end. I told you I could do it without Naji’s help,” she said into it. “It’s just the illusionist. I got it.”

Despite his determination to stay strong, Phillip reflexively took a step back when Irma’s unconcerned eyes returned to him. Her smile opened up.

“Yes! I’m so glad you’re the one I found. Now I can just get this over with easily and go back to headquarters,” she celebrated.

Phillip strengthened his stance.

In a way, this is what we wanted, he reminded himself. Our next objective is to take out Irma and Benton while Kotono holds back Wei. With them out of the picture, we can all face Wei together.

He prepared his mind.

I can do this. We planned for this scenario, he thought. His heartbeat steadily calmed. Hold on just a little longer, Pang. I’m almost there.

I’ll be the one ‘getting this over with.’

“Okay…you set a trap for Wei so you could flank us and storm the castle?” Irma guessed. “That’s your big plan?”

Phillip didn’t respond. She was close. But the longer she believed he hadn’t hoped to encounter her, the better.

He checked her eyes: one pink, and one yellow.

She’s a Dampener right now, he noticed, recalling his team’s thorough notes from their first encounter with her. No wonder my illusionary mask vanished.

Irma cracked her knuckles.

That means…I have to fight without my powers.

“Okay, end of the road, kid. I wanna make a lasagna tonight but I need time to get my groceries,” said Irma.

Phillip prepared a defensive stance. Hiroko had helped him formulate a strategy for this precise situation; he had to trust and remember that. He briefly reached for his pocket.

No…not yet, he decided. It’s too soon.

Irma leaned forward lazily, but in an instant, she was upon him.

A fist rammed into his gut. The force launched Phillip back immediately: his feet left the ground and he soared through the air before rolling unevenly against the street.

He dug his heels in and launched himself back upwards. With a heaving cough, he returned air to his lungs.

There was nothing he could have done to dodge the blow.

“Still standing? Come one…I was hoping that would be it,” sulked Irma.

Her voice came from behind. Phillip began turning, arms raised protectively, but he kept a fraction of his attention forward: there was a chance she’d switched to Illusionist while he wasn’t looking and threw her voice.

But just as devastatingly as from the first punch, Phillip’s stomach jolted and his body burst back into the air. He crashed onto his back, this time unable to regain his footing.

Irma hadn’t tried to deceive him. She didn’t need to play games.

Phillip spat and raised his head from the stone. Irma stood undefended and impatient, her eyes still pink and yellow.

She’s not going to switch from Dampener on her own, he understood. She wants this over quick, so the less options I have, the better for her. I need to make her believe switching types is her best move.

Phillip sighed to try and calm his already aching body. He looked around: buildings were only a few steps in all directions. The Azvaylen citizens had mostly run for cover after Kotono’s explosions began, but many were likely in these buildings.

Not here, he thought. I need to survive these hits just a little bit longer…

“You can just surrender, you know,” Irma said. “I don’t have anything to prove here. We can just get on with our lives as usual—well, I can.”

“No.”

Irma smiled. “He finally speaks,” she announced. “Fine then, don’t blame me for what happens to you. You chose this fight.”

Phillip stepped backwards once more, reaching an intersection between this back road and another larger one. At the end of the wider street, a father and mother ushered their three children in a hurry. One child turned to gape at the rising smoke in the distance.

Not here, Phillip repeated to himself.

Catching his footing, he turned and dashed further down the back road, away from Irma.

“Huh? You like, just said you don’t surrender!” Irma called after him. Her voice grew distant: she wasn’t following. And yet, her long, sluggish groan was loud enough to echo clearly against the walls. “UGH…I’m super not in the mood for this right now…”

As Phillip quickly realized, her laziness had no influence on her ability. He transitioned streets just in time to find her flying kick swinging right past his head: in seconds, she’d already closed in on him.

Phillip attempted to speed his pace, but he knew it wouldn’t be enough. He needed to get to a better spot faster. With a jump, he sent all his weight towards the nearest wall. He pushed off towards another, and then used the momentum to force himself higher into the air.

He flipped masterfully before touching down atop a roof. A gathering of birds flapped and retreated in protest.

Thanks to the cluster of buildings in this area of the city, the collection of roofs practically created a second floor. And without any taller structures nearby aside from the kingdom’s outer wall, this new space was open.

This is my chance, he thought.

A blur ascended straight up from the ground below. Irma touched down effortlessly on a roof only a couple houses away. She crossed her arms.

“Are we fighting or playing tag?” she complained. “If you can’t handle me, just accept the inevitable and give up.”

“I won’t,” Phillip promised.

His stubbornness elicited another groan from Irma. As he hoped, she assumed the offensive again.

She soared across the buildings towards him, requiring only a single step on each roof. Phillip waited until she was midair just before his building, and then he took a leap towards another. Irma redirected with ease and continued her rapid hunt.

The pattern continued: any time she grew close enough, Phillip waited until she was airborne and shifted directions. She still gained with every second, but it took much longer than down on the street.

“You’re being such a punk! You know it’s over!” Irma exclaimed.

Phillip kept moving. He just had to find the right spot.

There: only three more roofs away, a wider street separated a row of buildings by more than a quick jump.

That was it.

He sped towards his new goal, and thrust himself into a desperate leap. The large street passed by far underneath him: a miscalculation from this high could mean his death.

But he touched down on the opposite roof and rolled to a safe stop, gasping for air.

There was no time to recover, however: Phillip turned, and found Irma about to attempt the same daring leap.

No fear haunted her eyes as she took to the air, her attention unyieldingly on him.

Now.

Phillip dug into his pocket and pulled out a cube made of stone.

Deon…Kotono…Hiroko…I’m counting on you, he prayed.

He lifted the cube back, aimed, and threw it with all his might at Irma.

Unable to redirect herself in midair, all she could do was twist to the side. But the cube still bumped her arm.

That was all Phillip needed.

Gold light burst out in beams from all corners of the cube. It spun rapidly. Then, with Irma still close, it burst into a booming explosion.

The blast launched Irma whirling out of the air with a shout. She fell out of Phillip’s view, but he knew with that momentum she’d crashed hard against the solid road.

He hurried to his feet and beheld the aftermath from the corner of the roof.

Irma lay scratched up against the front of a building, soot staining her clothes on the side where the cube had combusted. But she propped herself upwards by the arms, completely alert.

In fact, her eyes were wide.

She suddenly ignored Phillip’s existence, reaching desperately for her legs.

“No, no, please…” she muttered.

Her hand landed tenderly on one leg, then the other. Color returned to her face as she made them both move.

Then all at once, her poise resurfaced and she raised her pink and yellow eyes up to Phillip. Remnants of gold light trickled down from the sky around them both.

“Wait—‘the heck was that?!” Irma demanded. “I’m totally blocking your powers right now, I know it! And—I thought you were an Illusionist!”

Finally, Phillip’s patience had begun paying off. Hiroko’s plan was working.

For the first time since the fight began, he felt the advantage shift in his favor.

He clenched his fists, glaring down at Irma unafraid.

“Return Pang back to me,” he threatened. “Now.”

His confidence seemed to yield the opposite effect he’d expected: Irma’s expression relaxed, now distracted with a new revelation. Then, her smile returned.

“Oh…right…” she uttered. “Pang Pereo’s your teammate. You followed us here specifically for her, huh?”

Irma stood, stretching her limbs and neck as if to resume a workout. “Well this is pretty awkward now,” she added.

Phillip’s jaw tightened. “What…what are you talking about?” he demanded. “Bring me Pang now!”

“Sorry, I really can’t,” Irma said with a shrug. “You’re way too late: Pang’s not here anymore.”