After she left, I made my way to a bar near Moose's location. Just outside, a vending machine stood crowded with people. I pushed through the throng and grabbed a can of soya. The sweet, fatty flavor eased my nerves instantly.
"Ahh..." I exhaled, savoring it. The taste really hit the spot.
Just as I was getting into it, a loud explosion ripped through the air nearby. I sighed, took a puff, and exhaled a cloud of smoke that hovered around .
Then, I turned into mist and headed straight for the source.
---
Vie slowly opened his eyes. A dark, unfamiliar ceiling with a spinning fan ca into view. Even through the fog of confusion, he knew this wasn't anywhere he recognized.
"Where... am I?" he muttered, scanning the room. A woman entered his line of sight—ginger hair, a curvy figure, long legs. Her beauty struck with such grace and allure it could leave you breathless.
"Rinesse? Is that you?" Vie asked, dazed.
She raised an eyebrow, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "Quite the grand entrance, Vie."
"Sorry about that. Your guys wouldn't listen, so I had to get a little forceful." Vie sat up and leaned back against the couch, rubbing his aching head.
"You haven't changed," she said, crossing one leg over the other. Her skirt was short, and her position revealed just a hint too much.
"Before we talk business, what the hell did you do to ? I was sure I was dead. Bullets shouldn't work on Honors."
"Ordinary bullets, no. But those weren't regular rounds—they used Lern bullets. Now, even ordinary people can kill superhumans."
"That's insane. You'll get yourselves killed. You know Synth won't tolerate weapons like that."
"They already know."
"You an... they *allow* it? Do they even understand what that ans?"
Rinesse tilted her head. "Afraid? For centuries, humans were harmless to Honors. But tis have changed. Even a regular guy can take down a superhuman now."
"But why? Why make weapons that dangerous?"
"Does it matter? It's not like soone's going to shoot *you*. Besides, those guns are expensive. You're not gonna die in so alley," she said, attempting to reassure him.
Vie went quiet. His expression grew uneasy.
"You alright?"
"...Yeah. I'm fine," he said after a pause. "Actually, I'm here to make a deal." He looked at her intently.
"I'm listening."
"I want the Neurosonic Disruptor. Na your price—whatever you want, we'll give it to you."
"*Anything*?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.
Vie nodded.
Rinesse looked away, deep in thought. When she turned back, her gaze was sharp. "I want every scrap of information Synth has on Sunny."
Vie waited for her to elaborate, but silence lingered awkwardly.
"...That's it?"
Rinesse opened her mouth to respond—but the ground suddenly shook. A second later, the wall exploded inward, sending rubble and shrapnel flying.
The blast deafened them. Rinesse dove behind a table, flipping it for cover. Vie stood, using his power to suspend debris in the air, then spun it around himself in defense.
"You safe, Rinesse?" he called out. "You didn't finish your request."
"Can we do this later?!"
"No—I need an answer."
"Fine! You can have it! I want everything Synth knows about Sunny!"
Vie's brow furrowed, about to reply—when people burst into the building. They wore plated armor, and their swords glowed ominously.
"Down," Vie said.
With a flick of his finger, gravity crushed them into the floor, shattering the ground beneath. Dust erupted in waves. He flicked his hand toward Rinesse, condensing the air around her for protection.
Then, using his powers, he floated upward and burst through the roof.
From above, he scanned the surroundings—only to spot a flash of light speeding toward him. He acted instantly, increasing gravity around himself a thousandfold. The light slowed, dimd, and died, revealing an arrow.
His eyes darted across the skyline. On a distant tower stood an old man in light armor.
Vie ford a pistol gesture with his hand. At his fingertip, gravity condensed into a dense, swirling point, pulling the air inward and making his hair whip wildly.
The old man imdiately turned to flee.
"Graviton Beam," Vie muttered—and fired.
The bullet tore through space itself, distorting everything in its path. When it hit, a massive gravity field erupted, crushing everything nearby. Buildings, streets—disintegrated. From above, it looked like a chunk of the world had vanished.
---
By the ti I arrived, I reverted from mist form and quickly scanned the area. Vie hovered above, arm raised—fingers pointed.
No. I *knew* that move.
My eyes widened. He wasn't seriously going to—there were civilians!
This guy's insane.
I had to stop him. I spread smoke across the entire blast radius—if I rembered right, it was five kiloters.
Damn it... Can I cover that much? No. No ti for doubt.
I focused. As the smoke spread, I 'saw' them—more than three hundred flickering blue flas. Lives.
But then... I saw two different ones.
One purple. One orange.
I'd never seen anything like them before. I froze, entranced.
Then it hit .
A heavy dread settled in my chest.
Why?
I turned toward Vie.
He was about to fire.
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