Chapter 19: It’s time to escape,,

They now knew how terrifying their enemies truly were. Everyone stood at the edge of the cliff, their eyes fixed on the horror unfolding in Sosa. A massive eye loomed in the sky, staring down with an intent to destroy—far beyond anything they could comprehend. Even though they were miles away from the city, the sense of fear and terror was undeniable. It felt as though the very air around them was suffocating, pressing down on their chests. Suddenly the eye looked at their direction which made everyone more terrified.

"W-What the hell is that?" Saul stuttered, unable to grasp the enormity of what was happening. His voice trembled, but no one answered. They were all too paralyzed by the overwhelming dread.

Suddenly, the once fresh air turned heavy, as if the atmosphere itself had shifted. Kaede's gaze flicked to Freed, a frown tugging at her lips. She could sense it—the dominions knew where they were. They had been discovered. The danger was no longer a distant threat.

"Ready the Humvee as quickly as possible. We need to leave, now," Kaede commanded, her voice firm despite the fear gripping her. Freed exchanged a glance with Lux, and they both nodded in unison. Without wasting a moment, they sprinted toward the Humvee.

Haruka, still standing in shock, felt the ground beneath her tremble uncontrollably. The shaking was intense, unnerving, as if the earth itself was reacting to the terror in the distance. She turned her gaze back toward Sammu, her eyes widening in horror. What she saw defied logic. The entire city of Sammu was transforming before her eyes.

The buildings shifted, rising up as if they were parts of a monstrous form. The roads twisted and merged into a massive body, while bridges became arms, and houses reformed into colossal legs. The transformation was happening at a terrifying speed, so vast that they had to crane their necks to take in the sheer size of it.

The city was no longer a city. It had become a living, breathing monster.

With a deafening roar, the newly formed creature let out a sound so powerful it stirred the air, creating a violent typhoon-like gust that threatened to blow them away. The force of the wind was overwhelming, and everyone shielded themselves, barely managing to stay on their feet.

Just when it seemed like they were about to be consumed by the storm, the sound of the Humvee’s engine reached their ears. Kaede snapped out of her stupor, her petrified body springing into action.

"GET INSIDE!" she shouted, her voice hoarse but commanding.

The Humvee skidded to a stop in front of them, and without hesitation, they scrambled inside. Haruka, ever vigilant, climbed onto the rooftop of the vehicle, ready to defend them if necessary.

As the Humvee sped off, the monstrous creature continued to grow larger, its terrifying presence still looming in the distance. They had to get away. And fast.

As the monster grew larger, its massive hand swung toward the Humvee, its sheer size too great for them to dodge. Ai, along with everyone else in the car, felt a deep wave of fear. Freed gritted his teeth, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. The car wasn’t fast enough to avoid the incoming attack.

“ARE YOU SERIOUS?!” he bellowed in frustration, his voice tinged with panic.

Haruka, on the other hand, frowned, her gaze locked on the approaching threat. She knew it was impossible for the Humvee to outrun the strike. Without hesitation, she extended her hand into the air, focusing her energy. The massive hand halted mid-swing, frozen in place. She gripped it with telekinetic force, and with a snap, the hand cracked and tore apart into pieces.

Kaede opened the window, her voice laced with worry as she called out, “ARE YOU OKAY?!”

“I’M FINE!” Haruka shouted back, her voice strained but resolute. “Tell Freed not to worry about the attack—he needs to focus on what’s ahead of us!”

The air around them howled, whipping their hair wildly in all directions. Kaede nodded, understanding the urgency.

But the torn hand began to regenerate, reforming with unnatural speed. Without warning, it swung at them again, and Haruka repeated her earlier move. She extended her arm, her concentration intense, and the monstrous hand once again snapped into pieces under her telekinetic grip.

The tension in the air was palpable. Haruka gasped, feeling the immense pressure building, but her eyes remained locked with determination.

Suddenly, a shift in the sky caught her attention. The massive eye above them grew even larger, materializing through the very fabric of the atmosphere. The once blue sky now turned crimson red, an unnatural hue that sent a shiver down Haruka’s spine. Her eyes widened in shock, the suddenness of it all too much to process. The eye locked onto her, its gaze burning with an intensity that felt almost personal.

“Haruka,” the intimidating voice boomed, echoing in the intense surroundings as if it were coming from everywhere and nowhere at once. It spoke her name, and she could feel the weight of its recognition.

“Come back to me,” the voice continued, chilling in its command. “You are my greatest creation. I made you from my flesh and blood. I replicated my mind and soul inside of you. My emotions, my personality, my feelings—they are all within you. You are a part of me that I have lost. Come back to me now.”

The voice was terrifying, a mixture of temptation and fury. It sent waves of dread through the group, especially Ai, who nearly lost consciousness from the pressure. She clutched the seat, her breathing shallow as she closed her eyes, trying to block out the oppressive force.

But Haruka refused to yield. She glared at the sky, ignoring the voice that tried to worm its way into her mind. She clenched her fists, pushing aside the overwhelming weight of its words. With a focused effort, she reached out with her telekinesis, aiming for the eye itself. But as soon as her power touched it, it evaporated into nothingness, like trying to grasp smoke. Haruka’s eyes widened in disbelief.

She bit her lip, frustration rising within her.

“SHUT UP!!” she screamed, her voice filled with defiance. “I AM ME! I AM MY OWN SELF, AND NO ONE CAN EVER JUDGE ME FOR WHO I AM! NO ONE IN THIS WORLD IS THE SAME AS ME! MY EXISTENCE IS NOT A REPLICATION OF YOU!”

The eye roared in anger, its voice shaking the very air. “You rebellious child of mine!” it bellowed, its fury reaching a fever pitch. The monstrous creature below them also roared, its massive mouth opening wide. From within its throat, a beam of pure energy began to form, gathering with terrifying speed.

Haruka knew she couldn’t stop the beam on her own. The energy building in the creature’s mouth was too much for her to handle. But then, just as the beam was about to fire, a sudden text box appeared in her vision.

Warning: You have been granted a special ability. Choose 2 out of 3 options:

A. Air Manipulation
B. Spectral Reign
C. Energy Rebirth

Haruka’s anxiety began to fade as she read the options. The moment she saw the text box, she felt a flicker of hope. She took a deep breath, her mind racing through the choices. Her decision was swift.

“I choose Air Manipulation,” she murmured, her voice filled with resolve. “That ability will protect us from the beam. And I choose Energy Rebirth. I’ll need the energy to sustain myself after using so much power.”

Her words echoed in her mind as the energy surged through her body. The power flooded her veins, a torrent of raw force that made her feel as though she could shatter the very air around her. As the monster’s mouth released the tremendous beam, Haruka’s hands clenched into fists, her body radiating with newfound strength.

She focused all her energy on the air surrounding the beam, manipulating it with precision. The air around the beam began to warp, creating a vacuum that sucked the destructive force inward. The beam destabilized, its power turning on itself. With a deafening explosion, the mouth of the giant monster shattered, sending shockwaves through its body.

But the creature didn’t fall. It stood tall, its regenerative abilities kicking in almost immediately. Its massive form began to heal, but Haruka could see the damage—it had been severely weakened, though it wasn’t finished yet.