We stared at each other for a couple of seconds, ignoring the battle going on around us, before simultaneously attacking. I fired several dozen energy constructs at Carmen, but she dodged each one gracefully as if dancing. That's fine. I'll just end the fight in the simplest way possible, namely by taking their Light and be done with it.
Without further ado, I began to prepare myself to cover them all at once, while fending off the adaptant and the projectiles Anderson was firing. Except that when I used my E.G.O. ability, I felt resistance. Carmen's whole body shook from the exertion and confronted me, preventing me from taking the Light. So she not only has the ability to create Distortions, but also to control the Light like I do?
I was stronger, and I could even feel myself gradually squeezing through her, but the other Distortions were hovering around like gnats, trying to bite me harder. The rest of my subordinates were tied up in battle and couldn't take on any of my opponents. Still, this girl had brought a lot of dangerous pawns with her.
But while I was concentrating on trying to resolve things quickly, the paladin of our time began to whisper something, then burst into flames and I was enveloped in white flames. My defences were still dealing with the threat, but I should have put out that fire sooner rather than later.
- ...Deliver us from the evil one! Amen! - shouted the fucking paladin, pointing his flaming hands at me.
- Aah!
At that moment, the submissive used her ability again. Concentrating on suppressing the flames and wanting to grab the most beautiful, wonderful and a hundred more epithets, I couldn't react to another blow to the head from the adaptee. I flew a bolide of fire into the nearest wall, smashing through it and stopping only at the next one.
- Oh, come on," I said, setting my jaw and dispelling the flames gnawing at my defences.
I teleported outside, but the welcoming committee was already waiting. The temptress tried to stop me again, with barely noticeable effect, and the priest lunged forward, holding a sword that I grabbed before it slammed into my chest.
Angry as a thousand devils, I threw off the submission. Once free, I grabbed the nasty paladin, who was still trying to tear open my insides. Clenching my fist, I struck at Anderson, using the limb as a focus of destruction and using the three Sins to reinforce it. I almost pierced through his chest, but my arm was stopped simultaneously by the Adaptress, the Submissive, and Carmen herself, biting her lip from the strain. The first through her physical strength, the second through her abilities, and the third by absorbing the Light from two ampoules, locally controlling reality. I was able to punch through the ribs and reach the priest's shrinking heart, but they got in the way again. I felt like a raid boss being slaughtered by a warrior, paladin, sorceress, and bard.
While I was trying to free myself, Carmen knocked away a seriously wounded Anderson. It was about time she did that, because at that moment I sharply threw off my submission. The kickback made the brunette sick, and she fell to the pavement, bleeding from her mouth, nose, and eyes, wheezing. Apparently the poor thing had overworked itself. Doomsday was next. Chained her up and threw her into the wall of the building. I'll deal with her later.
As if this whole situation wasn't enough, I felt a new Distortion appear behind me. But it died quickly enough. Apparently one of my guys managed to deal with it. Something good.Now that it's done, I'd better get it done. And now that the priest will be out of action for a while, the seductress is trying to get her brains together, and the adaptee is trying unsuccessfully to break the chains, it's time for Carmen.
Simultaneously with the energy constructs, I attacked her hand-to-hand. Once again, she dodged with the ease and elegance of a professional dancer. I even admired the way Carmen moved. But the admiration quickly faded. She is my enemy to destroy.
Reed blocked the destruction directed at her, generously defending herself with Light from the supplies she'd brought with her. She was definitely inferior to me, but she was a fast learner. It seemed as if she already knew how to act and was just getting practice. Along with her fighting style, I had certain thoughts about her abilities. And now was a good time to test them out. I won't even try to take the Light again. Not yet. Let's see what else she can do.
But just as I was thinking about it, at the place where Distortion appeared and died, someone awakened E.G.O.. And judging by the look of displeasure on Carmen's face, it wasn't her ward.
Now that we were fighting one-on-one, we could focus all our energies on her. Which I was quick to take advantage of. I used my arms and legs to hit her from the most awkward positions, as well as my energy blades. Carmen responded by shifting a moment before I attacked, keeping up with everything I did. She was able to ramp up her abilities to almost my level. Yeah, that's impressive. At the same time, Distortion responded to every strike with a strike of her own. Her counterattack-based style was quite dangerous, as the girl could clearly see the future. There was no other explanation for the fact that I hadn't been hit even once while having superior capabilities.
- And foresight? You're full of surprises," I said, trying to crack her head like a nut with a sly punch. Alas, it failed. And this, despite the fact that I channelled some of my own energy to increase my luck.
- Thank you, but the same could be said for you," Carmen said, smiling as if she were at a dance contest, not in mortal combat.
The conversation didn't stop her from ducking and hitting me with the force of an exploding grenade with her fist. But she couldn't penetrate the energy barrier.
- What are you trying to do?
- I want to save the world," the girl replied, bouncing away from me and letting the energy circuits pass through her body.
- Like the Hydrovans want to save it?
- No...I want to...Save him from you! - she shouted, creating a barrier around herself, as it was impossible to dodge all my attacks this time.
- What nonsense," I said, hitting Carmen with destruction. Her shield disintegrated, but she only suffered minor wounds on her forward-facing arms. - I'm not going to destroy it.
- But you will! - Warp said firmly, leaping past the flying constructs and hitting me in the stomach with an open palm. It made me shake. - You will take from humans a part of their essence, subjugating them to your will, turning humanity into a pale and distorted version of themselves! Your actions lead to a horrible fate for the entire world in many future versions! There is a high probability that something other than what you intend will happen! And I'm not going to sit back and do nothing!
- Bullshit! - I expressed my opinion, hitting Carmen with the energy blade I had created in my hand. Alas, unsuccessfully. - I'm not going to do that! And it's ridiculous to hear speeches about saving the world from a madman!
- To defeat a dragon, you have to become a dragon yourself! - She said, gradually retreating under my pressure and dodging the bullets fired by my contractors.
At that moment, a woman dressed in a futuristic-looking exoskeleton flew into me. She had huge gloves on her hands, which she used to try to stab me. But I just stabbed her with two constructs. Carmen didn't even try to save her companion, as she was busy surviving the hail of energy projectiles.
Well, by the looks of it, the girl doesn't have any more hidden abilities. Then it was time to use her last argument. If she relies so much on foresight, I'll take it. An enforced contract.
But as soon as I used it, a magic circle appeared above us and time stopped. I could only watch what was happening while trying to teleport outside the trap. It took time to trigger the abilities, which froze, so nothing worked. The effect was very tricky, as it froze the book in me. But the mind didn't work, thanks to the resistance.
- Phew, another five and a half seconds and I'd be dead! - Carmen admitted, wiping imaginary sweat from her forehead.
Then she waltzed the adaptant free, breaking the chains that bound her, and healed the remaining supporters. I, on the other hand, struggled to break the stoppage of time. Dahaki's E.P.O.S. helped, but it wasn't moving fast enough. My men must have been partially covered by the spell, too, so they weren't getting much help.
- You know, no matter how hard you try or try hard, in the future I will win," Carmen said suddenly, tidying up her comrades. - This is the inevitable final. Believe me, I don't want to fight, but the possible future is pushing me on this path. And yes, the next thing you say will be, 'You can't stop me.
- You... You... You won't stop me," I said stubbornly, almost overcoming the stoppage of time. My powers were already starting to respond. Just a little more, and I'll break free.
- Ha-ha-ha," the girl laughed softly, helping the pale paladin to stand. - In every scenario, you always speak after I predict your phrases. What is this, childish stubbornness or an inability to accept the future? You don't have to say anything, though, because I know the answer. And yes, the next time we meet, you'll be the one to lose, falling to your knees at the end and losing your last trump card. Oh, I apologise for the spoiler! I hope someone doesn't come running in screaming, "You've ruined everything?! Anyway, forget I said anything, okay?
Picking up the bag with the remaining vials of Light, she headed towards the wall near where the portal hole had appeared, where the Distortions and a few more of their surviving allies had disappeared. As soon as they went in, I finally reset the time stop and looked at the battlefield. The portal had already naturally collapsed, so there was no way to take revenge.
- I speak even after your predictions, because I believe that I create my own destiny, - answered Carmen's question, looking where I saw her at the last moment.
The others who attacked us, as if on command, started to run away in different directions. Naturally, they were not allowed to do so easily. My contractors, among whom there were a couple of people with E.P.O.S.s (all of them were not sent here because it was necessary to keep an eye on the Anomalies, which in the near future could break out of their confinement), began to destroy them with redoubled enthusiasm, and some of the most interesting ones were caught alive. I also intervened, quickly taking out a few of the more powerful ones.
Then we began to clear the area of all traces, as various comrades had already left here. It was urgent to lead all curious Barbarians on a false trail. Having done my part, I left the rest to my subordinates and Benji. I was going to find out the answer to the two eternal Russian questions, namely, who was to blame and what to do.
But I had to postpone the meeting because of covering my tracks. Besides, I needed some time to analyse the new information. At that moment I decided to think over what Carmen had said. She definitely wasn't lying in what she said. My empathy was working at full speed. Or the girl was so masterly in controlling her emotions that I, even having a solid base in feeling "human souls", didn't notice anything suspicious.
And I certainly didn't like it. I was already convinced that Carmen could see the future very well, down to such details as my phrases and actions in battle. And with her words, it was not a pretty picture. So I'm going to lose no matter what I do? And there's also the possibility of negatively affecting the entire Earth? Carmen didn't just believe this outcome. She knew and saw it. That's how I decoded her feelings during the battle.
But then a terrible pain pierced my mind. I felt my E.G.O. begin to break down. Grimacing at the disgusting sensation, I manifested the medallion and saw that a small crack had appeared on one of the rays of the Sun. Except the size didn't matter. E.G.O. was a projection of my mind in turmoil. The last thing I need is to become a Distortion myself, losing my resolve and conviction.
What a dangerous person Carmen is. She practically brought me to my knees with a few sentences. It is necessary to find exactly the right words and get through to the mind of the opponent. After all, what the enemy says will be sifted through a sieve. Can this future be a reality?
- ...Chapter? Head!
- Hm? What is it? - I asked Anna Stone as she approached.
- We've processed the initial information. But you seem to be busy," she suggested, hesitating. - Shall I reschedule the report for another time?
- No, I don't think so. Let's go," I said, getting up from my chair and dematerialising the Star. - By the way, what about the new E.G.O.? During the battle with Reed, I was able to feel its extraction.
- Oh, yeah, about that E.G.O..... - The woman stretched out, experiencing uncharacteristic emotions and stopped talking, walking beside me.
- И? - I hurried up, not understanding the reason of such behaviour.
- The thing is that E.G.O. was awakened in more than one of our guys.
- One of our enemies? Strange, I thought.
- No. It was a civilian who was able to breach the barrier.
- Where'd she come from? There's hardly anyone living here. They picked a quieter neighbourhood specifically for this.
- She was visiting her father's cemetery and decided to walk near the base. As a result, she found herself near our soldier and used an ampoule of Light on herself when she saw one of the mutants use it to distort himself.
- What a story. So she was able to get the E.G.O. and not get Warped?
- I'm surprised at the outcome myself. The girl's a little crazy, but she's got an impressive will," Stone said as we entered one of the halls, where a bunch of people were gathered. They were all around someone and actively discussing something. The woman saw this and shouted. - Okay, what's going on here?!
- Ma'am, we're meeting the new girl! - shouted a man who was in a straight line.
- Where's the new girl? - I asked, looking round.
- Here I am! - heard a high and pathetic maiden's voice from behind the backs of those gathered. - Please love and do not complain!
After a couple of seconds of fiddling in front of me appeared a girl with a height of one and a half metres dressed in an ordinary T-shirt and jeans with trainers. Blonde hair up to her chin, a cute, oval face with some childish delight, a sincere smile, ruddy cheeks, a button nose and big, brown eyes, in which stars were burning. She reminded me of someone, and that someone was a badass.
- Isn't your name Don Quixote by any chance? - I asked her, coming close to her and bowing my head.
- No! My name is Alexandra Bloom! But to be named after such a hero I wouldn't mind! - she replied in a high-pitched voice.
Hmm, she does have a problem with her head. I can feel it clearly. But the main question is whether these problems are dangerous for us?
- Well, hello Alexandra. They call me Head or Boss.
- Nice to meet you, Head! I have already been told about your Great Mission, and I ask you to make me your vassal! - declared the half and half, looking at me with shining eyes of delight.
- Hmm, well, have you been told about your duties? - I checked with Alexandra just in case.
- Yes Boss, - answered one of my subordinates, who was standing here. - I was just the first one to meet the little one....
- Kham-kham! - the girl coughed in a deliberately rough voice.
- ...And explained to her the ins and outs," John finished, ignoring the innuendo.
- Is that so?
- It's just as the brave Esquire said! - Alexandra confirmed importantly, nodding her head.
- Good. Then let you take the oath of allegiance now and later we'll test your abilities, - I told her, slightly paraphrasing the name of the Contract.
The girl shook with anticipation after my words. Having quickly performed the ceremony, I left her in the care of my senior comrades and headed for the meeting room. Anna and I were already waiting there.
The report took almost an hour. If briefly, it turns out the following picture. All the attackers (except for three Distortions, whose names and surnames we finally learnt) were recruited from all over the world. For example, one mutant from Russia that could become intangible (like Kitty Pryde). Among this motley assemblage were mercenaries, mages, villains, and human-he from all corners of our planet. Some of them had been in New York for a long time, almost immediately after Carmen's Distortion. This contingent was lured in with carrots or sticks. Some with both. And a few days ago, they were all given a quick workout by a submissive named Megan Young. And while her abilities didn't work very well on me, because of the difference in potential, they worked just fine on the weaker ones. My subordinates didn't understand how they could have been assembled with such useful abilities until I told them about Carmen's power. With this piece of the puzzle, everything fell into place.
Eventually, we were able to roughly recreate the course of events. Carmen and Co., with the help of several cloaking abilities were able to get close to the base, after which the area was covered with the familiar time stop, which does not work on the invaders. Next, the mutant from Russia using her abilities, grabbed a few associates and moved them inside the buildings. There they hacked into the energy fields, having contracted a mage, a mutant and one invention of a local evil genius.
As a result, when the time blockage was broken, they found themselves inside, along with Carmen. The attempt to destroy the Light went nowhere. It was clear now that Reed had simply used her powers and prevented the explosion from happening. While she was outfitting the vault, the rest of the gang was cheerfully attacking the base from the outside, keeping my guys on their toes. I know what happened next.
No wonder the girl was able to do such a good job with the ability to see the future. And this ability is still tricky, allowing not just to see some event, but whether to have tactical foresight, in the manner of the Jedi, or to observe a huge number of probabilities at the same time. And I'm not exactly visible to the local seers. Some don't see me at all. And yet Reed knows my every move. Like a Dark Souls player who's memorised the boss's attack pattern. Except I have a lot more different attacks and variations of them! I mean, how much time and effort did I have to put in to get to this level...?Backtracking.
- A lot of heh-heh. For the sake of this battle, I spent a lot of time and effort...'' Carmen replied to one of the allies brought in from the battlefield.
Right now, she was in a terrible state. Despite the fact that in the face of her main opponent the girl was braving, in reality, the battle had almost ended in a horrible death for her. Her body and soul were trivially unprepared to allow so much Light to pass through her. As a result, Carmen was now leaning against the wall of her shelter, while one of the mutants, Alexander Anderson and Aurora, pale from blood loss, were treating her.
Reed looked rather unrepresentable. Greyish skin that was peeling off along with the flesh, revealing yellow bones, blood running from her nose, eyes and ears, hair that had lost its former lustre and colour, a body that had lost almost a fifth of its weight... As Kyle would have said if he'd been here, she'd have been more beautiful in her coffin.
- Why are you doing this, Holy Virgin?! - Alexander questioned, devoting all his energies to Carmen's treatment. He himself was barely on his feet after Star's attack, but he was stubbornly trying to help Reed.
- It was so hah, necessary..." she whispered, smiling weakly. Right now, that smile that gave the man a peaceful smile was like the glow of a fading fire. And it frightened him.
- You don't have to," Aurora objected angrily, concentrating on the healing spells. - You were very rash! There was another, calmer way!
- It's too long and too unreliable," Carmen disagreed, slowly transforming back into a healthy, young girl.
- Nonsense! That's what you and I are for, to set the unreliable path on the right track. Star couldn't defeat Tchalla, Von Doom and Nemore at the same time! That trio of proud fool rulers would have rolled over our enemy.
- I've seen that option, and I don't like it. It's too difficult to control the actions of these, as you put it, proud fools. The option that follows now will be much simpler and quicker. Besides, it's the only time we could have used the time, because soon the Star would have fitted a proper defence without our interference.
- You're so stubborn," Aurora said. - And now I had to intervene. And in a few days I'll have to use up my strength again. I'm not fully recovered yet, you know? You'll be alone and you won't be able to rely on my strength.
- I'm sorry, but this will all be repaid in the future," Carmen promised. She was almost cured by now. - And I'm not alone. Thank you very much, mates. But I did miscalculate a little bit.
- You seriously downplayed the extent of your miscalculation," Aurora said with a snort, sitting down on the air as if in a chair. It was a trick she had managed to pull off with magic. - And the enemy now had a new and powerful pawn.
- I played a gambit. Sacrifice a little to gain more. This little girl who's become a Star is irrelevant. I've got someone who can take her down. What are you so angry about? You saw what would happen.
- I saw it, but I hoped to the last minute you wouldn't confront me so openly. And my knowing what's going to happen doesn't mean I don't want to belt you on the arse! - Aurora admitted grudgingly, flashing her violet eyes.
- And what are our next steps? - Megan asked, interrupting the fortune tellers after she had cleaned her face of blood.
- Next we should gather the whole team, to fight our enemy and slowly hone our own strength. I don't think you're under any illusions that we can't take on this raid boss. He has his own supporters who are as powerful as his lord.
- Huh, he didn't even try to fight me properly! - Lillian exclaimed cockily, folding her arms under her chest. - What kind of strength is there? Just boring!
- Because he wanted to finish you off in one blow, to keep you from adapting," Carmen said, wagging a finger at her ally. - And he almost succeeded.
- I actually adapted to his chains and barrier, even if not by much! Next time I'll be even tougher, and I'll take him down properly!
- You'll have a different opponent," Reed objected, sitting down in the chair Alexander had brought and giving the man a grateful smile. - Well, we'll rest for a while, and then we'll get back to work on joining the ranks of our group.
- By the way, we should think of a name for it," Megan said, snuggling into the arms of one of the mutants.
- Let's call it Contrast*," Carmen said at once. - After all, we're opposing the Star organisation.
Everyone was silent for a while, thinking about their own things, until Aurora took the floor:
- And yet you have an amazing ability to see the future dear. You can even see our enemy quite well. It's very difficult for me.
- It's not easy for me either," she said absent-mindedly, looking away. Or perhaps she was now looking at the probabilities of the future. Who knows. - The Dark Star is practically invisible. In order to accurately predict his actions, I had to get in the way and interact with him myself. You could say I was watching him through me. By focusing on my own future, I was able to see, for example, deaths from an invisible enemy. And of the creatures I know of, there is only one such thing. Concentrating on these moments, I managed to gradually, at the cost of huge mental, time and energy costs to see his actions. But only if they are directly related to me and preferably in my presence. If he does something that affects me, then I can barely see the result of that action.
- Yeah, that's pretty accurate. My predictions about the enemy are not that accurate," Aurora admitted, wiggling her foot seductively.
- I had to pay for it by not being able to see the future after victory. But that doesn't matter. I'll be able to see those events with my own eyes, as I wanted," she said with a dreamy smile, closing her eyelids.
- Believe me, that future will be wonderful," Aurora assured her and got up from her improvised "chair". - Well, I would be glad to sit with you some more, but there is much to prepare for Star's next step. After all, now he will stop defending and go on the offensive. Before that, we need to regain our strength and make some arrangements with the right minds.
- Yes, of course. Thank you for your help," Carmen thanked her sincerely, standing up and coming close to the woman.
- You're welcome, dear. And please be careful," Aurora asked, putting her hands on Reed's shoulders. - You're the only one who can beat him. If anything happens to you, it will all be for nothing.
- Whatever you say, Mummy," she said ironically.
- Oh, I should give you a belt. Well, goodbye, guys.
And under the answering farewells, she created a teleport window to some room filled with occult objects, where she disappeared.
- I don't like this witch," Alexander said, who had not yet fully recovered from the aftermath of the battle.
- This witch, as you put it, showed me the future and gave me the opportunity to defeat our enemy in the end. Believe me, she is on our side.
- And yet she reeks of danger. We shouldn't trust her.
- I've seen the future, and she always helps.
- Listen, Carmen, you and she know the conversation ahead of time, don't you? - Lillian asked, sitting down on the floor in the lotus position.
- Yes," she confirmed with a smile.
- So why do you talk at all, at least to each other? You already know what you're going to say.
- Because we're human," Carmen answered, shrugging her shoulders. - And people communicate mostly with words. And we like it that way. That's it. There's no other transcendent** reason.
- It's kind of down-to-earth," White said.
- It is what it is. All right, folks, let's get some rest. We should be quiet for the next few days anyway. We did a good job today, we were able to get things on the right track and plant the seed of the right thoughts in the enemy....
End of retreat.
- Yeah. All right, my honourable men. Let's, since we have a new E.G.O. user, check its capabilities and then we will deal with the final solution of the problem, - I said to my subordinates after the end of the report.
We again went to the hall where Alexandra was. There I asked Anna and the new girl to spar. Naturally the people present were very interested, so the training room was completely packed.
The ladies stood opposite each other and summoned their E.G.O.'s. Anna had the same armour, and Alexandra had a long, ornamented spear with a wide blade, like a slingshot or a Japanese yari. It was obvious that the girl was not used to fighting with such weapons, but due to her inbuilt knowledge of how to use her E.G.O., she was able to use it well. Moreover, with each passing second she was getting stronger, faster, stronger, and so on. That was her ability. The longer the fight goes on, the more she gains the strength to win. Simple, but tasteful. But there's one thing. The power is saved up as long as the girl herself is sure she's right and her resolve is at the right level. That is, if she thinks her actions are unfair, all the "stats" evaporate. And as I learnt a little later, it takes something incredible to shake Bloom's resolve.
That's why when she started pushing Anna around, I stopped the fight. I didn't want the authority of the head of the fighting wing to be shaken by losing to a civilian girl. And you can not explain to everyone that it does not matter who is a civilian and who is not. Because against the "crowbar" in the hands of Alexandra almost no reception. Anna could win either in the beginning, or releasing all the damage received into Alexandra, thus with a high probability of killing her. Naturally both were unnecessary.
After sparring, I decided to talk to the girl alone. She told me her story, which clarified some of her behaviour. She had indeed had a phase shift on the subject of Justice (definitely not the worst case scenario). It started after her father died, and getting E.G.O. only made it worse. She saw it as a sign that it was time to bring justice to the masses, as her father had willed. I think, if not for the case with her parent, perhaps Alexandra would have been an ordinary person, just with a keen sense of justice. But it turned out like this, and the embedded worldview became an anchor that prevented her from going to all the wrongs.
In general, even though the girl was a bit of a problem, but her strength did not detract from it. So after a heart-to-heart talk, I sent her to get a full set of implants and knowledge base. I also had her get a spear trainer. That's a good idea. After training, Alexandra should be placed in a squad with someone of my men who will be able to curb her impulses. At least the most harmful and destructive ones.
Bloom herself was motivated to the max. In addition to the global goal, I promised to find everyone involved in her father's accusations. This was to the girl's liking, and with the enthusiasm of an armoured train rushing at full speed, she went to the medical wing for operations.
I, having given all the orders necessary for the moment, sat down to consider what had happened. What that poisonous snake said was still echoing in my head. And it was really eating away at me. Anyway, I was getting a little down. Yeah.
But I couldn't be melancholy for long. I've got a prince of a super-advanced country in my custody. And I'd better get to work on him before the Wakandians gather a larger army to free him. But first things first.
As the great classic said: Enough of this! They thought they had outplayed me and destroyed me? I will destroy them!
- Miss Stone, I addressed Anna before teleporting to Africa. - While I'm gone, prepare your personnel to carry out the hunt.
- Who? - she asked in surprise.
- The prophets...
Commentary on Chapter 46. A word is sharper than a sword
** Contrast - a sharply defined opposite.
** Transcendence - a philosophical concept meaning that which is fundamentally inaccessible to experiential cognition, beyond the limits of sense experience.
***
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