章 21: The Limit of Control

POV Inspector ???:

The inspector's hurried steps echoed through the sterile, concrete-white corridor, bathed in a brightness emanating from the strips of lights seamlessly embedded into the walls.

His breath came in ragged gasps, and beads of sweat glistened on his forehead as he pressed on, running down the seemingly infinite expanse of seamless corridors. Along the walls stood dozens of sturdy metallic doors.

'Which idiot came up with this procedure!'

After a momentary pause to catch his breath, he came to a halt before one particular door. Within seconds, a radiant beam of light enveloped his face, accompanied by the mechanical feminine voice.

"Identification complete... Authentication confirmed... Authorization level deemed sufficient..."

The doors glided open noiselessly, unveiling a dimly lit command center.

Within its confines, several figures donning police coats were gathered around a shining projection table, serving as the room's sole source of illumination. The soft glow from the projection table cast intriguing shadows across their faces, fully focused on their tasks while uttering commands to the radio.

"We have the location. The unit three is ready to be dispatched."

His voice resounded with urgency as he yelled at them, "Stop! Abort the mission!"

'It looks like I have arrived just on time.'

As he stepped into the room, all eyes immediately turned toward him. Confusion and shock painted their faces, but it swiftly transformed into a surprise as they recognized his identity. In unison, they saluted him before springing into action.

"Yes, inspector!"

"To the commandos three. Here is the command seven. Abort the strike."

With a subtle yet intense display of anger and displeasure, the young detective woman turned her gaze toward him.

"Sir, what is the meaning of this? There is a life in danger! We can get those criminals!"

'Ohh, young and eager to save lives.' Even though he admired her zeal for justice and work, he wouldn't relent in his pursuit, even if he had to use his authority to the fullest.

"Nonsense, there is no danger—she is a ransom hostage. They will not kill her so easily."

The young blonde detective didn't relent, "Sir, I still don't understand what are you trying to do by interrupting my operation. We had it all under control."

"I am taking over this operation. From now on, this is my operation."

With a confident smile, the inspector took measured steps, hands folded behind his back, and approached the projection table. This was the moment he had been waiting for, his golden opportunity to finally catch her.

'Let's see if she will fall for the bait. Will she come?'

POV Tia:

In the vastness of a spherical chamber, Tia stood alone, surrounded by absolute darkness and silence. The chamber seemed entirely cut off from the outside world, isolating her completely. With eyes closed, she concentrated on the ten metal balls, the size of an apple, each orbiting around her like miniature moons.

She didn't even know how long she was there—the time seemingly dragging for an eternity, the silence and lack of light slowly nibbling on her mind. The only connection she had to reality was through her touch and the sensation of manipulating the metal balls with her mind.

'I should intensify... I feel like this time I will do better.'

As her mental bubble expanded, Tia became acutely aware of the cold copper surface beneath her, the metallic walls, and the ceiling of the chamber. Determination fueled her as she grasped two more balls, sending them soaring from the floor to join the others in their perfect orbits around her.

With each additional ball, the strain on her mind intensified. She pushed herself, focusing on every movement, slowly increasing their speed. As her concentration deepened, her brain seemed to ignite with pulsating waves of heat coursing down her spine and through her fingertips.

Thirteen and then fourteen balls rose into the air, joining the mesmerizing dance around her. The heat in her head surged, turning into a subtle ache. The balls trembled slightly, but Tia steadied her thoughts, refusing to succumb to the pain. She expertly stabilized all of them on their orbits, her mind leaping between them, continuously adjusting their angles and velocities.

She could focus only for a fraction of a second on each before being forced to move to another one, her concentration reaching its peak,

'This is still not my limit.' Despite her fear and aversion to pain, Tia was determined to push her powers to their absolute limits.

As the fifteenth and sixteenth balls rose to join the others. The intensity of heat and pulsations in her head grew, accompanied by the persistent, weak throbbing pain. Her mind continually switched between the threads of thoughts, ensuring that all the balls remained in their orbits.

It wasn't merely a strain on her powers; it was a true test of her mental fortitude and control. Keeping so many flying objects precisely in check demanded a level of focus and precision she had never experienced before with her telekinesis.

Summoning her resolve, Tia flicked her fingers to lift two more balls, but this time the pain struck her like a searing hot knife to her forehead. Instantly, her mind turned blurry as she struggled to maintain control over all of them.

<Basic Telekinesis V (53%)> --> 54%

Despite her unwavering determination, it felt as though she was trying to stop a sinking boat with countless holes, and she had only a cup to bail out the water.

With great effort, she managed to keep most of the balls in their orbits, but at last, one deviated from its intended path, crashing violently into the chamber walls with a shattering bang that startled her.

"Ahhh!" She gasped, feeling an electric jolt shoot through her neck. In frustration, she clutched the metal collar around it, hating the ridiculous concept of being shocked every time she made a mistake.

In an abrupt and startling moment, another ball hurtled out of control, sending a fresh wave of shock coursing through her body, threatening to bring her to her knees. Despite this, she gathered her composure, clenched her teeth, and resolutely maintained the trembling balls in their designated orbits.

'That sadist... but I can still see how this could work. Losing control over my powers due to some pain could cost me my life out there.'

She panted in relief as the pain subsided, 'This should be enough to know my limit without using my second brain synapse.'

Remarkably, the excruciating pain in her mind began to subside as nine balls relinquished her direct control and autonomously orbited around her.

Previously, she had struggled, her thoughts frantically leaping from one ball to another, striving to correct their paths. But now, a newfound clarity emerged as a second thread of thought emerged, independently managing the assigned balls with remarkable efficiency.

Feeling the difference encouraged her as nine additional balls levitated into the air, seamlessly integrating into the swirling hurricane of steel.

The rapid rotation of the balls generated a refreshing coolness, soothing her once-overheated mind. Nevertheless, the pain started to creep back as she continued to manipulate the entire ensemble of spheres.

'So twenty-five is my current limit when going all out.'

Suddenly, the familiar voice broke her out of her concentration, but she still managed to keep all the balls in their places, "There is going on something that might interest you."

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