At some point, the Lore, Gina and Jade exchanged excited glances before darting toward a shop with a sleek neon sign proclaiming, "Ageless Skin—Turn Back Time!" Their muffled giggles trailed behind them like a ribbon, leaving the four of us standing awkwardly in the crowded aisle.
Alex glanced at the sign, then back at the girls disappearing through the doorway. "De-aging skin? Seriously? We''re barely out of our teens."
I shrugged, watching the shop’s polished door close. "Guess flawless isn’t flawless enough."
Besides, powers that could meddle with time, even on a minor scale, weren’t exactly common or cheap. People with such meta abilities were highly sought after, and were in demand everywhere.
Vinico raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "You realize that’s gotta cost a fortune, right? Time meta nature aren’t exactly something you pick up at a dollar store."
"Or trust to strangers," Henry added, though my tone was more amused than judgmental. The idea of tweaking time—even in something as small as rejuvenating skin—always felt like walking on the edge of a cliff. "You think they''re really using meta powers in there? Or is it just overpriced face cream with fancy branding?"
Alex chuckled softly, hands stuffed into his jacket pockets. "Women’s mysteries," he muttered, a bemused grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Trying to make sense of their logic is a fool’s errand. Let ''em have their fun."
"Should we wait for them?" Henry asked, glancing toward the entrance.
"No way," Vinico replied, turning on his heel. "We’ll probably be here an hour if we do. Let’s keep moving."
The decision was unanimous. As we merged back into the throng of people. The sheer number of attendees made it impossible to visit every stall, so we became selective, only stopping at displays that truly caught our interest. I''d even abandoned my earlier notion of setting up my own stall for fortune reading. I was sure, if we roamed a little more, we would be able to find many who could do the same. Whereas, mine meta nature wasn’t even actual fortune reading.
“Thought you were gonna run your little fortune-telling act,” Henry said, smirking as we passed a booth covered in tarot cards and crystal balls.
I gave a small laugh. “Yeah, no. My ‘act’ wouldn’t stand a chance here. Besides, this crowd has everything. Somewhere around here, I bet there’s someone who could probably tell you what you’re gonna eat for dinner tomorrow.”
“Meta psychics ruin all the fun,” Alex joked.
Vinico stopped suddenly, his attention caught by a shimmering display of levitating orbs. “Now this is cool,” he said, stepping closer to get a better look.
We lingered for a moment, watching the vendor explain how the glowing spheres reacted to touch.
As we stepped into another stall, I was hit by something entirely unexpected. The small, dimly lit booth seemed alive with a symphony of instrumental music that somehow resonated with... us. It took me a moment to process the realization, but when I did, it hit like a lightning bolt—I wasn’t just hearing the music; I could feel it, them. The cacophony of our mixed emotions filled the small space. Henry''s music came out like a heavy metal guitar, probably reflecting his annoyance at the girls abandoning us. Alex was producing something close to a jazz saxophone. Meanwhile, my own sound seemed to be coming from piano keys.
“Uh, does anyone else hear this?” Alex asked, his voice low but tinged with curiosity.
“Yeah,” I said slowly, tilting my head as the layered noises began to settle into focus. “And it’s… us. I can hear you guys.”
For a moment, the cacophony was overwhelming. Vinico sounded like a relentless drumbeat, loud and pulsing.
“Why do I sound like I’m in a mosh pit?” Henry muttered, crossing his arms. His guitar wailed louder, like it was annoyed at his annoyance.
“Figures you''d be the metalhead,” Alex quipped.
Meanwhile, Vinico was grinning ear to ear, tapping his foot in time with his steady drumbeat. “Guys, this is amazing. I’m a drum! I’m literally a drum!” His rhythm sped up with his excitement, the thudding beats filling the small room.
A soft laugh from the corner broke our growing chaos. We turned to see a young woman with bright green hair sitting on a beanbag, her legs crossed and a knowing smile on her face. “Most people run right back out when they hear their emotions,” she said, her voice carrying an amused lilt. “I keep the booth small for that reason—too much noise scares them off.”
Henry raised an eyebrow, his guitar screeching in protest. “Yeah, well, I’m about five seconds away from joining them.”
“Oh, come on,” Vinico said, his drumbeats shifting into a snappy cadence. “This is awesome! We’re like a band. Can you make us harmonize or something?”
The green-haired woman shook her head, still grinning. “It doesn’t work like that. The instruments pick themselves, based on your personality and emotions. I just help people hear what’s already inside.”
Alex’s saxophone let out a long, mellow note as he tilted his head thoughtfully. “So, if I… changed my mood, the music would change too?”
“Exactly,” she said. “Go ahead. Try it.”
We all exchanged glances, then set about experimenting like kids in a playground. Henry closed his eyes, muttering under his breath. His guitar briefly softened into a slower rhythm but quickly ramped back up into aggressive riffs.
“Nope,” he said with a shrug. “Still annoyed.”
We spent the next several minutes trying to “compose” ourselves, trying to change our moods to see how it affected the music, but eventually gave up and left.
There were many mysteries to be solved on the way.
The convention kept us guessing with every turn. One corner featured a small stage where a dainty woman stood, her posture confident and her voice sharp as she called out to passersby. “Step right up! Think you can take me on?” A flash of light erupted from her hands, forming into a glowing sword that she twirled effortlessly. The crowd gasped as the blade morphed into a massive war hammer mid-spin. Someone in the audience let out an impressed whistle.
A young man, clearly eager to prove himself, stepped forward. “Alright, let’s see what you’ve got.”
Grinning, the woman conjured two smaller blades, tossing one to him as if daring him to try. The fight that followed was fast and flashy, her ability to conjure and manipulate weapons of light drawing cheers with every move. Even though she clearly held back, she disarmed her opponent within seconds, earning a round of applause from the growing audience.
We wandered on and found an older man in his sixties nearby offering a completely different kind of experience. A sign in front of him read: “Speak with Your Pets—Find Out What They’re Thinking!” It was fascinating and entertaining in equal measure.
We watched as a middle-aged woman leaned forward, clutching her purse tightly while a small chihuahua perched on her lap. “I’m just curious if he’s happy,” she said nervously.
The man nodded with a serene smile and closed his eyes. A moment later, his voice changed, adopting a higher, slightly yippy tone. “I hate the sweater. No more sweaters.”
The crowd chuckled, but the woman’s face turned crimson. “Oh. Um. Anything else?”
“More chicken. Less kibble,” the man said, still channeling the dog. “And maybe—stop yelling at the TV. It’s loud.”
The woman laughed awkwardly, clearly unsure whether to be amused or embarrassed, before thanking the man and hurrying away.
“That’s... both awesome and horrifying,” Henry muttered. “Imagine finding out your dog hates you.”
We didn’t linger long, though I pocketed the man’s card before moving on. My collection of business cards was growing rapidly. In another stall, a man helped people smell any fragrance they could imagine. Perfume from a forgotten memory, the scent of rain on Mars—anything. The possibilities of these niche powers amazed me.
But the most practical and intriguing meta nature I encountered belonged to a kind-looking woman in her seventies.
Her talent? Editing habits.
With just a touch, she could remove or instill behaviors effortlessly. Smokers, drinkers, procrastinators—it didn’t matter. She helped others free of charge. People sat with her for a moment, and she’d “edit” their routines as if they were lines of code. Watching her work was mesmerizing. A man walked away muttering in awe, his face a mixture of disbelief and hope, while the next in line—a woman clutching a coffee cup—fidgeted with nervous anticipation.
“This is serious high-level meta stuff,” I whispered. “Imagine how much someone could charge for that.”
Alex nodded. “Especially if habits influence how people use their powers. This is next-level practical.”
The constant line outside her stall wasn’t surprising at all. People were clearly desperate to change their lives, and she offered them an easy way to do it. For the first time, we decided to stop and give it a try ourselves.
Alex went first. Always the practical one, he approached her with confidence. “I want to stop procrastinating,” he said, then hesitated. “And... I need to be more disciplined with my combat training. Can you make that a habit?”
The woman nodded, her expression warm and understanding. “That’s a great choice,” she said, gesturing for him to sit. A faint glow flickered in her eyes as she touched his hand. Alex’s face tensed briefly, as if he’d felt a static shock, before relaxing.
“All done,” she said with a reassuring smile. “You’ll feel the urge to act on tasks immediately, and training will become part of your natural rhythm. Just remember—it might feel a little intense at first as your mind adjusts.”
Alex stood, stretching his shoulders as if testing the results. “That was fast,” he muttered, then nodded to us. “I like it. Your turn, Vin.”
Vinico stepped up next, grinning but clearly a little nervous. “Uh... okay, so, I kinda need help with... uh, being more responsible with money?”
That earned a round of snickers from the rest of us.
“Wow,” Alex teased. “It only took a meta genius for you to admit that.”
Vinico glared . “I’m serious, man. I just... forget stuff, you know? Like, rent’s due, and I’m out buying the new hyperspace game.”
The woman chuckled softly, her touch light as she reached for his hand. “Don’t worry, this one’s simple.” A flicker of light, a faint hum, and it was done. “You’ll find yourself thinking twice before spending, and budgeting will feel almost second nature now.”
Vinico let out a low whistle as he stood. “This is gonna freak out my landlord,” he said, grinning. “But thanks.”
Then it was Henry’s turn, and he surprised us all.
He hesitated at first, his hand hovering over the table as if unsure. Finally, he sighed. “I... want to cut back on reading.”
The rest of us froze, staring at him.
“Reading?” Vinico blurted out. “Why the hell would you want to do that?”
Henry shrugged, avoiding our gazes. “It’s getting in the way,” he admitted. “I’ll pick up a book and lose hours, sometimes entire days. It’s not productive anymore—it’s a distraction.”
The woman nodded without judgment. “Balance is important,” she said, her voice calm. She placed her hand lightly over his. “I’ll reduce the urge, but you’ll still find joy in it when you choose to do it.”
Henry nodded, his face unreadable. “Thanks,” he muttered, stepping back as if retreating from the attention.
Finally, all eyes turned to me.
“What about you?” Alex asked, grinning. “Gonna edit yourself too?”
I shook my head, chuckling. “Not today. I’m fine being my own chaotic mess, thanks.”
There was no way I’d let anyone with mind-related powers get near my head. Just the thought made my stomach tighten. I already felt uneasy about Henry’s meta nature, the way he could split his consciousness and attach fragments of it to other people’s thoughts. Even if I wasn''t sure he could actually read minds that way. The odds seemed low, but even a slim chance wasn’t worth the risk.
The encounter at the habit-editing booth brought all my anxieties to the surface. How had I overlooked something so vital? My knowledge of future events wasn’t just information—it was a weapon. A loaded gun. And in the wrong hands, it could wreak havoc.
I''d been foolish not to prioritize this concern earlier.
Usually meta-natures that directly involved mind reading were incredibly rare—so rare, in fact, that those who possessed them usually kept their abilities hidden, knowing full well the chaos they’d cause if discovered. But that didn’t mean I was safe. Plenty of other mind-related powers existed. Henry was proof of that. Some could accelerate thought speed, enter dreams, or—worst of all—manipulate memories. And that was just what I knew about. Who knew what other mind metas lurked out there, their abilities undefined or undiscovered?
The more I thought about it, the more I realized how exposed I was.
I glanced back at the habit-editing booth, watching yet another satisfied customer walk away, their expression hopeful and relieved. For a moment, I considered the possibility. Was there a habit that could help me protect my thoughts? Some kind of mental discipline to shield my mind?
The idea was tempting, but my rational side quickly dismissed it. Habits could help mask emotions or maybe sharpen focus, but they weren’t a fix for something as complex as mental shielding. Besides, overthinking was already second nature to me. If anything, that habit had only slowed me down, trapping me in loops of doubt and procrastination. No, this wasn’t a problem I could solve with quick fixes.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.
I needed something more. Something stronger.
If I truly wanted a definite solution, I would need to seek out someone with a meta nature belonging to the Magical type Hive, or Unique Magical meta nature. These metahumans could potentially solve my problem, perhaps with something like a mind shield spell—or its equivalent in their terms. And then there was the question of trust. If I found someone capable of shielding my mind, how could I be sure they wouldn’t just use their powers against me? I shook my head, trying to push the paranoia aside. There was no way around it—this was something I’d have to address. I couldn’t afford to leave my mind vulnerable, not when the stakes were so high.
Perhaps there might be someone at this very event with the kind of meta nature I’m looking for. A smile crept onto my face, unbidden. The SuperNot Convention was known for showcasing a wide variety of niche and unique abilities—if there was ever a place to find someone with a mind-shielding or related power, this had to be it.
Out of nowhere, Jade appeared beside me, her silver eyes gleaming like polished coins that made my smirk freeze in place. She didn’t say anything at first, just stared, her gaze sharp yet unreadable.
For a moment, the buzz of the convention, the chatter of the crowd—it all faded as her gaze locked onto mine. There was something unsettling about that look, like her eyes were speaking in a language only I could hear. For a brief moment, it felt as though I had mind-reading powers, as though her curiosity had written itself across her face in neon letters. She didn’t need to say a word; I already knew she had questions.
“What’s with the smirk?” she finally asked, breaking the spell. “Did you come up with something brilliant?”
Her voice carried a teasing edge, the way she leaned in, waiting for my response. I glanced over my shoulder. The rest of the group had caught up but hadn’t noticed us lingering behind. They were chatting, completely absorbed in their own conversation. That little detail gave me a sinking feeling: Jade might’ve used her meta nature to nudge things in her favor. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but I’d known her long enough to recognize her tactics. She never did enjoy being the center of scrutiny.
“Maybe,” I replied, forcing a calm smile as I turned back to her.
She held my gaze, unblinking, the small beauty mark beneath her right eye, on her nose and last one of hr left cheek caught my attention. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen it, but somehow it felt faded, like my brain had decided to catalog every detail about her at that moment.
“We have to find a magician,” I added after a beat.
Her smirk widened, amusement flickering in her silver eyes. “Why do I feel like you’ve got a hundred thoughts running through your head right now, and not a single one’s finished?”
Maybe she was the one with mind-reading powers. I couldn’t help but feel like the arrogant dragon standing beside me had seen through me completely. Rich coming from her though—this arrogant dragon with her mountain of secret responsibilities.
She''d been getting bolder lately, more unrestrained. Perhaps I need to teach this arrogant dragon a lesson someday. Cutting her imaginary horns might do the trick, I thought mischievously.
But before I could act on the thought—or say something witty to take control of the moment—Jade leaned in, her breath warm against my ear. She whispered something, her voice so low I almost missed it. Whatever she said left me stunned for a moment, my feet rooted to the spot. By the time my brain caught up, she had straightened, her expression utterly casual, as though she hadn’t just pulled the rug out from under me.
I sighed, shaking my head as she sauntered off to join the group. Where did she learn to push my buttons like that?
Watching her retreat, I couldn’t decide whether to be irritated or impressed.
Meanwhile, “I don’t see any changes,” Vinico said, his tone dripping with skepticism as he eyed the girls critically. “How do you even justify spending so much money on a useless procedure?”
Gina didn’t even hesitate. Her gaze snapped to him like a whip, and her words followed suit. “That’s why girls don’t like you.”
Vinico huffed, crossing his arms with a scowl but offering no rebuttal. It wasn’t like him to stay quiet, but Gina’s retort had clearly hit its mark. Meanwhile, Alex and the rest of the group had moved on, chatting casually as if nothing had happened. With the tension defused, we resumed wandering through the convention, the endless variety of quirky meta natures and creative stalls keeping us entertained.
We paused to watch a young man in the center of a small, irritated crowd. His meta nature had transformed the floor around him into a slick, frictionless patch, like an invisible ice rink without the ice. People slipped and stumbled, their grumbles of annoyance far outweighing any amazement.
“Useful in a fight, maybe,” Alex mused, watching someone awkwardly flail their arms before landing hard on their backside.
“Or if you’re an aspiring mall hazard,” Henry added.
Another stall featured a room where a dramatic breeze would blow through, perfectly styling your hair as if you were in a movie.
Further along, a man with a voice that could rival a megaphone was entertaining a group of onlookers. His meta nature made him narrate his every action.
“HE STRAIGHTENS HIS SHIRT, TRYING TO PROJECT CONFIDENCE IN THE FACE OF AWKWARD GIGGLING!” he bellowed, earning more laughter from the crowd.
“HE WAVES AT THE CUTE GIRL WHO TOTALLY ISN’T INTO HIM,” he added, gesturing to someone in the audience.
The girl in question laughed and waved back, looking more amused than uncomfortable. Despite his humor, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for him. Imagine narrating your entire life out loud without a choice. It would be exhausting.
We moved on, passing stalls that ranged from surprisingly practical to utterly absurd. One featured someone whose meta nature created perfectly symmetrical foam art in coffee cups. Another allowed visitors to hear faint whispers of conversations happening miles away—though the accuracy seemed questionable.
As we explored, I began to notice a pattern. Many of these meta natures, while fascinating, were minor, even trivial. Some felt like novelties, fun for a laugh or a quick demonstration, but not much else. Others seemed like burdens masquerading as gifts—abilities that would make life harder rather than easier.
Like the woman whose voice echoed three seconds after she spoke, even in spaces where echoes shouldn’t exist. Or the man demonstrating his power to hypnotize people into wiggling their eyebrows back at him—a trick that only worked if they were already looking at him. And then there were the meta natures that felt more like curses. One person’s power was to adjust the temperature of any room, but only to make it slightly uncomfortable for themselves. Another could conjure paperclips in endless quantities—a skill useful only in extremely niche emergencies.
The more I saw, the more a quiet sense of gratitude settled over me. I didn’t say it out loud, but it struck me how fortunate I was to have abilities that could influence my fate. They weren’t flashy or simple to use, but they mattered. They gave me control.
For the first time, I appreciated just how lucky I was.
Eventually, we arrived at a stall that drew my attention like a magnet. Behind a simple wooden table stood a man with a neatly trimmed white beard, his demeanor calm and assured. Laid out before him was an assortment of candies that, at first glance, seemed deceptively ordinary—brightly colored pieces that wouldn’t look out of place in a corner shop. But his explanations painted a far more fascinating picture.
“This pink one,” he began, holding up a small, jewel-like candy, “will let you relive the happiest moments of your life. Taste it, and for a brief time, those memories will feel as vivid and real as the present.”
I leaned in, intrigued, as he placed a black-and-white swirled candy on the table, handling it as if it were a rare artifact. “These,” he continued, his voice steady and deliberate, “are what I call ‘Truth and Lie’ candies. One forces you to speak only the truth for an hour, no matter how painful or inconvenient. The other? Lies only.”
A ripple of fascination ran through me. Around us, the crowd murmured, a few onlookers leaning closer to hear his every word.
The man reached for a ruby-red candy next, holding it up between his fingers. “This one,” he said, his tone softer, “will bring tears. A flood of them. Not from sadness, but release—a way to confront emotions you’ve been avoiding.”
He set the red candy down and moved to a shimmering blue one. “The blue helps you forget your problems, just for a little while. A temporary reprieve, like the calm before the storm.” His hand lingered over a gray piece next. “And this one? It will make you fearless. Completely unshakable. But be careful—fear is there for a reason.”
I listened intently, captivated by his descriptions. Each candy seemed to tap into human emotions and experiences in a profound way. His meta nature must be related to emotion and chemistry, I thought, marveling at the combination of creativity and practicality. It was another one of the most unique and useful meta natures I’d seen today
Though, the candies weren’t exactly cheap. The Truth and Lie candies, in particular, came at a steep price. I hesitated for a moment, running through the scenarios where such powers might come in handy. How often do you need pure truth—or pure deception? Still, I knew opportunities like this didn’t come often. Carefully, I selected a small assortment of the more useful ones: a few pink candies for their ability to unlock joy, a red one for emotional release, and, after some internal debate, a Truth and a Lie candy.
As I tucked the candies into my growing bag of trinkets, I realized how much I’d already collected. The convention was turning out to be more rewarding than I’d anticipated.
However, suddenly, chaos erupted around us. People screamed, shoving and stumbling like a stampeding herd.
The energy was frantic, almost feral. Without thinking, I grabbed Jade’s hand, pulling her close and positioning myself in front of her. “Stay behind me,” I said sharply, my voice low but firm. Whatever was causing this uproar had turned the crowd into a herd of mad bulls, and we couldn’t afford to get caught in the frenzy.
“Guys!” Vinico’s voice rose above the noise, somehow cutting through the commotion. He was glued to his phone screen, his expression a mix of awe and wild excitement. “Crown! The Crown is coming!” he yelled, waving his phone in the air as if it were proof. “There’s news he’ll be passing through in just a few minutes!”
His words hit the crowd like a spark to dry tinder. The already chaotic scene exploded into a fever pitch. People shoved harder, pushed faster, desperate to get closer to wherever Crown might appear. The madness was almost contagious. Even Jade, usually the picture of composure, squeezed my hand tighter, her eyes bright with anticipation.
I glanced at her, surprised to see such uncharacteristic excitement. So, even Jade wasn’t immune to the allure of the Crown. Well, if she wanted to see him, we''d have to move forward.
But my own feelings were far more tempered. Crown was no stranger to me. I’d seen him in action before, fought in the same space as him, and even helped him indirectly during a particularly… eventful situation in the past cycles. I knew what he was capable of. He wasn’t just a superhero—he was a legend, an extremely powerful, dangerously so, and not someone I could look up to with the same enthusiasm as everyone else.
Still, Alex nodded sharply. “Let’s move! If we don’t get to the front before he arrives, we might miss him entirely—he won’t stay long.”
I gritted my teeth, exasperation bubbling under the surface. But with Jade’s hand grounding me, and the rest of the group charging ahead, I wasn’t about to be left behind. Together, we plunged into the fray, pushing our way through the crush of bodies.
The hall was devolving into outright chaos. People shouted over one another, elbows jabbed and fists flew, while sporadic flashes of meta abilities lit up the room like a storm breaking loose. Sparks danced through the air, and somewhere to my right, a burst of flame briefly lit the crowd before vanishing.
Someone nearby threw their hands up, and for a moment, the air was filled with floating bubbles. Beautiful but completely impractical, they popped harmlessly against the faces of the jostling crowd. A little further ahead, I saw a man whose skin shimmered like glass, his entire body reflective as if he’d been dipped in chrome. He glared at anyone who bumped into him, but his power seemed purely cosmetic—it didn’t stop people from elbowing him out of the way.
On the other side of the hall, a woman waved her hands and created tiny puddles on the floor. People slipped and stumbled, their tempers flaring, and a man cursed loudly as he went down hard. "Seriously, stop doing that!" he yelled, his voice almost drowned out by the din.
A guy to my left stretched his arm, pointing dramatically at the sky as if commanding lightning to strike. Instead, he emitted a faint, underwhelming spark that fizzled out before anyone noticed. He looked at his hand, disappointed, and quickly melted back into the crowd. Ahead of us, a young girl with wide eyes and a panicked expression unintentionally released a plume of glitter from her hands. It coated her and everyone nearby in a shimmering mess. Someone sneezed violently in reaction, their power sending out a gust of wind that knocked over several people and stalls nearby.
“Are you seeing this?” Alex yelled over the chaos, trying to dodge a low-flying shoe that had been launched by what I assumed was a poorly aimed telekinesis attempt.
A woman with brightly colored hair stood atop a bench, shouting directions like a conductor. “TO THE LEFT!” she screamed, thrusting her arms forward, but her power only made everyone within a ten-foot radius feel an uncontrollable itch on their necks. The discomfort sent a ripple of shivers through the crowd as people scratched furiously and cursed under their breath.
Not far from her, a man closed his eyes and raised his arms in concentration, apparently conjuring a storm of… small feathers? They swirled weakly in the air before falling like snow, causing confusion more than anything. I nearly tripped when a guy ahead of me inadvertently made the ground under him sticky, his shoes practically glued in place. He stumbled, pulling his foot free with a loud, wet noise, leaving the rest of us to awkwardly navigate the sticky spot.
Despite the chaos, a few met antures stood out as genuinely useful. I spotted a man who seemed to glide through the crowd effortlessly, his meta nature letting him pass through small gaps without touching anyone. Another woman had a subtle calming aura, and those who brushed past her seemed to relax momentarily, their frantic energy replaced by quiet determination.
My pulse quickened as I let my meta nature take over. My vision shifted, and the world around me morphed into Likeness. I could see the knots of resistance where the crowd was densest, the turbulent swirls of movement where people shoved and stumbled. But there were also clear spaces, faint but navigable, paths that cut through the chaos.
“This way!” I shouted, leading the group through the least resistant route.
Just then, “Stay still!” Lore’s commanding voice rang out from directly behind me, cutting through the chaos like a blade. The words hit with an almost physical force, sharp and undeniable.
And then—everything stopped.
It was as if an invisible hand had seized the entire world mid-motion. People froze where they stood, mid-shove, mid-yell. Sparks of light and flickers of meta abilities fizzled out, leaving nothing but silence. Even the air seemed to hold its breath.
For a moment, I could only stare, wide-eyed, at the scene around me. A woman stood frozen mid-fall, her arms outstretched, a look of terror locked on her face. To my left, a glowing orb hung in the air, its light dimming as it hovered, trapped in time.
Lore stepped forward, her face tight with frustration, her silver-white hair catching the stillness like it had been painted into the moment. She glanced at me, her eyes narrowing. “Move now. My energy is draining fast.”
Her tone snapped us all out of our daze. I grabbed Jade’s hand again and pushed forward. Lore’s power rippled outward like an invisible tide, and I could feel it—a tangible pressure in the air. It wasn’t just stopping people; it was suppressing everything. The weight of her words bore down on the entire event ground like a storm cloud ready to burst. As we moved through the eerie silence, I noticed the edges of her domain starting to crack as people could slightly move their eyes and mouths. A levitating man twitched, his toes brushing the ground. A nearby flame reignited briefly before sputtering out again. It wasn’t just the strain on Lore—it was the resistance from the metas around us. The abilities of thousands weren’t going to stay subdued forever.
“Lore, how far does this thing go?” Vinico asked, his voice hushed as if he didn’t want to disturb the silence.
“Half the grounds,” she replied tersely, beads of sweat forming on her temple. “Maybe more, if they don’t push back too hard.”
“Half?” Jade echoed, her tone a mix of awe and disbelief. “That’s... insane.”
“Focus,” Lore snapped, her voice trembling slightly. She gritted her teeth, her frustration bleeding into her expression. “Seven seconds is all I’ve got. Move before it breaks.”
The scale of her power was staggering. This was a firsthand demonstration of Lore Lovelace Unique meta nature. If she had used this power on me, I doubted I’d be able to escape; unless, of course, I used intangibility. Besides, her ability was already remarkable at this age, and as she aged and trained further, it would only grow stronger.
“I can''t hold on any more,” Lore muttered.
And then, exactly seven seconds after it began, the frozen “bubble” shattered.
The noise was deafening as the crowd surged back to life. People stumbled, gasping for air like they’d been suffocating. A few fell to the ground, clutching their chests, while others stood frozen—not by Lore’s power this time, but by sheer terror. The crowd hesitated, stunned and wary. Fights and flares of meta abilities ceased entirely, as though an unspoken rule had just been established: don’t anger the invisible demon.
It wasn’t just fear—it was the primal realization that they’d brushed up against something far beyond their understanding. The kind of power that could strip away control of your own body.
“Exact seven seconds…” I murmured under my breath, more to myself than anyone else.
Lore, meanwhile, staggered slightly, catching herself against Alex’s shoulder. She looked pale, her breathing labored, but her eyes remained sharp. “Next time, don’t make me use that,” she muttered, glaring at Vinico, who raised his hands defensively.
“Hey, don’t look at me!” he said. “You’re the one who decided to drop the ultimate crowd control!”
“I didn’t have a choice,” she shot back, straightening herself. “These Supers in security duty are utterly useless. One more fireball thrown my way, and someone was going to get flattened.”
Jade exhaled slowly, her grip on my hand finally relaxing. “That was... intense.”
“Intense?” Vinico said, still catching his breath. “That was terrifying. She basically froze thousands of metas for seven seconds. Seven seconds that felt like an eternity.”
If she uses her ability on a single person, I thought, analyzing, she could easily trap them for a few hours or maybe more... I concluded.
This wasn’t something any random superhero or even rigorously trained could achieve. She wasn’t just exceptional. She was an absolute force of nature.
I couldn’t help but wonder: Is everyone at Beyonder’s Academy like this?