บท 79: BLACK & WHITE
In the late afternoon, Mai sits in the control room, visibly stressed as she frantically tries to reestablish communication with the others. She sighs, feeling the weight of the situation. Mr. Direct walks in, noticing her distress. "Mai, we need to finalize the project," he reminds her, but his tone softens when he sees the look on her face. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he adds, "Whatever's happened with the others, we'll figure it out once we win Ewan's race. Stay focused for now."
Together, they head to the workshop, where Mai's small robots are busily working on a massive tank-race car hybrid. The sleek but bulky machine gleams under the dim workshop lights, a testament to Mai's engineering skills. She taps a few buttons on her wrist, bringing up a holographic screen. After entering another set of commands, she approaches the tank, where Adam is seated in a power chair, connected by thick energy wires to the tank's core.
"It's time for the first test," Mai says as she watches Adam. She presses a button on her screen, and the lights around the tank flicker on. The chair Adam sits in begins to glow as restraints wrap around his wrists and ankles, securing him while the system hums to life. Energy pulses through the wires as Mai explains, "Now, Adam's magic is going to power this entire tank."
She presses another button, and Adam's magic surges into the chair, fueling the tank with raw magical energy. The entire vehicle hums with power, the vibrations reverberating through the floor. "With Adam's magic as its fuel, this tank is as tough as he is," Mai adds, impressed with the result.
Just then, Grace and Rune enter the workshop. Grace raises an eyebrow at the sight of the massive tank. "How are we supposed to win the race with something this big?" she asks, skeptical.
Mai, unfazed, replies confidently, "This tank's size is exactly what we need to survive the battle that's bound to happen during the race. And don't underestimate it—thanks to Adam's magic, it's incredibly fast. Plus, its firepower is as strong and fast as the magic user powering it—Adam's strength ensures we'll have both speed and firepower on our side."
Moments later, Grace is behind the wheel, driving the tank out to the race tracks. As she navigates the massive machine with ease, she glances over her shoulder to see Adam, his expression bored and unamused. "You could at least try to look interested," Grace says, half-joking. "Winning this race is going to save Ribbon City, you know."
Adam leans back in his seat, letting out a sigh. "I'd much rather just swing my bat and get it over with. But since Ewan can't be beaten in a typical fight, I guess I'll have to sit here and be your magic battery for now."
Grace grins, putting a thumbs-up in the air. "We'd rather have you in the fight, no doubt. But with your magic pool being the biggest, you're our best chance to outpace the other racers. Your magic as our fuel will blow them away."
With that, she shifts the lever into gear, and the tank roars to life. In a flash, the massive vehicle accelerates, moving down the track at blinding speed. Grace can't help but laugh as the huge tank can keep pace with even the top-tier racing cars of the world. "Unbelievable!" she shouts over the roar of the engine, drifting the tank with smooth precision around the sharp curves of the track. The sight of the oversized tank moving so swiftly in such style leaves her buzzing with excitement.
As both sides of the tank open, Rune and Mr. Direct step out onto circular platforms floating beside the massive vehicle, each tethered to the tank by glowing magic ropes. Mai's voice comes through their earpieces, calm but confident. "This is our perfect strategy to win the race," she explains. "Rune, you'll be our offensive attacker, dealing with any racers that pose a threat. Mr. Direct, you'll use your redirection magic to send the competition off track."
Mr. Direct grins, adjusting his stance on the platform. "Never thought I'd be part of something like this," he says. "In a world that's already ended, meeting a group like yours gives me hope. Maybe humanity has a chance after all."
Rune, already in action, summons his platinum butcher blade, its edge gleaming dangerously in the light. As they approach a section of the track, test dummies spring up from the ground, lining the way. Rune moves forward with the platform and with a series of swift, precise slashes, he cuts down the dummies one by one, each move fluid and in style.
Soon after, a line of test cars speeds up next to them, trying to gain ground. Mr. Direct also moves with his platform, effortlessly touching each car. His magic kicks in, and with a flick of his hand, he redirects the vehicles, sending them driving backwards in the opposite direction.
Grace, still at the controls of the tank, watches the spectacle with wide eyes and can't contain her excitement. "Yes! We've got this!" she screams at the top of her lungs, adrenaline surging through her veins as the tank zooms toward the finish line. They blaze past it with exhilarating speed.
As everyone exits the tank, Mai approaches the group, wiping the sweat off her brow but smiling with pride. "I'll also be part of the team," she announces. "I've installed some weapons in the tank that I can control remotely from base, and I'll have my drones in the air, keeping an eye on the other racers and feed you guys updates."
Mr. Direct, still buzzing from the test drive, wraps Mai in a hug. "I've never met someone so smart and talented," he says warmly. Grace, just as excited, hugs Mai too, practically bouncing on her feet.
Mr. Direct then turns to Grace with a smile. "You're the driver, so leave everything else to us. Rune and I will handle the other racers. You just focus on getting us across that finish line." Grace cheers, breaking into a spontaneous dance alongside Rune, celebrating with the other survivors in the camp, their spirits lifted by the successful test.
As the celebration unfolds, Mai notices Adam standing alone, leaning on the side of the tank, lost in his thoughts. She walks over to him, tilting her head slightly as she asks, "So, how are you feeling after the test drive? Think your magic pool will hold out for the race?"
Adam nods, his expression unreadable. "My magic pool should be more than enough," he replies, looking up at her. Then, after a pause, he adds, "I'm surprised to see you using magic. You've been training and researching a lot these past months."
Mai's smile grows wider. "Yeah, I've been training hard. I only awakened a small bit of my magic a few months ago, but I did everything I could to combine it with the tech I've been working on my whole life." She looks back at the tank with a glint of pride in her eyes. "It's all about pushing to our limits and becoming a Star just like you, right?"
Adam smirks slightly, but before anyone can say another word, the entire building begins to shake alittle. The sudden tremor causes everyone to pause and look around, startled by the unexpected movement.
Mai glances toward the source of the shaking and mutters, "It must be coming from the sewers... I hope everyone down there is going to be okay."
Adam stands up, brushing off the dust that had fallen on him from the ceiling. "They'll be fine," he says confidently. "Megan and Kiren are with them." His tone is calm, but there's an edge of impatience as he adds, "We should focus on our mission instead. I want to get this over with already."
Mai watches him as he walks away, noticing a flicker of anger on his face. "You're in a hurry to get to Nemura City," she observes.
Adam doesn't turn back, but his voice is sharp. "I've got other business to handle there," he says, leaving no room for further discussion as he heads out, his footsteps heavy with the weight of whatever is brewing inside him.
Meanwhile in the sewers, the intense battle between Megan and Henry rages on. Their magic clashes repeatedly, each strike sending shockwaves through the crumbling sewers. With a quick and precise slash of her light-infused blade, Megan sends Henry crashing across the sewer floor, his body skidding to a halt.
Grunting, Henry pushes himself up, his one seagull wing twitching in agitation. He glares at Megan, and with a twisted smirk, he raises his hand. Thousands of monster rats pour out from his palm, swirling into a vicious tornado that encircles Megan.
"Jean's still resisting," Henry growls, his voice thick with frustration. "He's holding me back. I'm not at full strength."
As the rat tornado intensifies around Megan, suddenly, the swarm is consumed by a massive slime monster that appears out of nowhere. The rats dissolve into nothingness within the slime, which then shrinks back into its small form and lands gently on Megan's shoulder.
"Thanks, Huey," Megan says to the slime creature, giving it a small nod of gratitude.
Before Henry can react, Megan moves with lightning speed, slicing off his wing cleanly. Henry stumbles back, wincing as glowing light magic spikes materialize behind him. With a flick of her hand, Megan detonates them, and they explode in radiant bursts, causing Henry to stagger.
With a quick motion, Megan casts another spell, and white vines of light wrap around Henry, restraining him in place. He struggles against the binding magic, his eyes blazing with fury. "I should've turned you into a monster too!" he shouts. "Respecting Luka's choice was a mistake!"
Megan remains calm, and as she casts another spell, small white dust particles are released from the vines and settle onto Henry's face. His furious expression softens as the dust takes effect, slowly causing him to become drowsy.
"I'll save you, Jean," Megan says softly, watching as Henry begins to succumb to the spell, his resistance fading as the magic pulls him into a deep, enchanted sleep.
Megan steps closer to Henry's unconscious body, placing her hand gently on his chest. She closes her eyes and begins to cast the spell she learned during her time inside Huey. The familiar warmth of magic courses through her as her soul transfers into Jean's body. When she opens her eyes, she finds herself in Jean's realm of darkness.
Around her, the environment is cold and oppressive. Megan looks up and sees towering, chained creatures—a giant monkey, a sea gull, a hippo, and a dog—all thrashing against their restraints. Their initial growls are deep and menacing, but Megan raises her hand and summons her light magic, its gentle glow calming them. Slowly, the oppressive darkness begins to lift, and the entire realm brightens under the influence of her magic.
As the realm transforms, Megan spots Henry suspended high above in a magic sphere. He floats ominously, while near by Jean and Kayla, trapped in their own spheres, are bound tightly by black chains that pulsate with dark energy. Megan frowns, her eyes narrowing at the sight of the chains restricting her friends.
Suddenly, a flood of monster rats emerges from the depths of the darkness, pouring towards her in a relentless wave. Megan, undeterred, waves her hand, releasing the giant creatures from their chains. The massive beasts roar in freedom, charging at the swarm of rats, crushing them beneath their powerful limbs.
Megan swiftly deflects the incoming rats with pulses of light magic, her glowing aura acting as a shield. She activates her wind magic, summoning a powerful gust to propel herself upward with lightning speed. Bouncing from platforms of rats, she ascends toward the magic spheres.
Megan reaches for Jean's sphere, but before she can make contact, a massive rat emerges from the shadows, swallowing the magic sphere containing Jean whole. Her eyes widen in shock, but she quickly refocuses, knowing there's no time to waste. She turns toward the other sphere, the one holding Kayla, and with a quick blast of her light magic, she shatters it, freeing Kayla from her confinement.
Kayla wakes up abruptly, her first word a desperate cry: "Jean!" Her voice pierces the air, and the giant rat, which had consumed Jean's sphere, writhes in pain at the sound of his name. Realizing this, Megan summons her strength and launches herself at the massive creature, crashing into its giant body with tremendous force. Using her magic as a guide, she tunnels toward the swallowed sphere, pressing her hand against it. The sphere glows brightly for a moment before exploding in radiant light, disintegrating the giant rat from the inside out.
As the rat dissolves into magical particles, Megan cradles Jean's unconscious form, trying to wake him. "Jean, wake up!" she pleads, shaking him gently. Before she can do more, the realm rumbles with heavy impacts. Megan looks up in horror to see Henry, viciously assaulting the giant beasts—each of them recoiling from his brutal strikes. His rats gather around him, and with a sinister smirk, Henry lands in front of Megan.
Without a word, Henry casts a dark spell, causing chains of shadow to wrap around Megan, Kayla, Jean, and the giant beasts, binding them all. But Megan stands defiantly, her eyes gleaming with light. She straightens, brushing off the dark chains like they were nothing. "I'm already bound by my own chains," she says, her voice firm. "Yours hold no power over me."
As she steps forward, Henry's chains decay and crumble around her. Undeterred, Megan summons a sphere of pure light magic and hurls it at Henry with all her might. The light sphere slams into Henry's chest, causing him to let out an agonized scream. The magic of the spell begins to tear at Henry, pulling him away from Jean's realm, trying to sever the deep connection between the two.
Henry clutches his chest, his expression twisted in pain. "I've come too far for it to end like this!" he snarls, his voice ragged. "This will never be over!" His sinister laugh echoes through the realm as black magic begins to ooze from his chest, purging the light magic ball from his body. The dark energy swirls around him, forming a protective black sphere that encloses him completely.
Megan casts another spell at the black sphere, but it bounces off, barely leaving a mark. She clenches her fists in frustration. Suddenly, Jean stirs beside her and rises to his feet. His eyes meet Megan's, filled with gratitude. "Thank you, Megan," he says, tears brimming. "I have to be stronger than Henry... to keep him at bay."
Jean steps forward and commands the hippo beast. With a tremendous roar, the hippo devours the black sphere containing Henry, swallowing the darkness whole. One by one, the other beasts follow suit, each consuming the next until only the monkey beast remains. The once-massive creatures shrink in size as the power of Henry's magic dissipates. The monkey, now much smaller, approaches Kayla and gently takes her hand. Kayla smiles, her gaze filled with warmth as she turns toward Megan and Jean.
Megan's soul returns to her body, her eyes opening slowly to the scene around her. Henry's form has shifted back into Jean, and she catches him just as he collapses from exhaustion. Her light magic fades, and the sewers grow quieter, illuminated only by the soft light filtering through the cracks above.
As Megan cradles Jean, she gazes upward toward the light and speaks softly, "We all need to get stronger, not just for ourselves, but for the stories we still have to tell. Everyone has a story to write... a path to follow, and an ending to reach."
With those words, she closes her eyes, her thoughts at peace for the moment. Michael moves around, checking on the others, ensuring everyone is safe. The battle was over, but the journey ahead was far from complete.
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