"Where should we do it?"
Sypher looked over the digital map on the screen and was pondering alongside me.
"I have sent Caner to scout some spot that would not be easily detected, and then we can set it up there."
Days or weeks have passed since we have finished our study. Surprisingly, we don't need the mana generator anymore. The sapling that my mom has been taking care of turned out to be a Life Tree.
The mana that the tree emits is still not sufficient, but with three mages, the overall ambient mana is enough.
I have also been training Beverly's friend to control his powers. It's more of a precaution. It will be bad if ended up exploding because of the lack of control.
After all these years…
"What are you staring at me for?" In a contorted face, Sypher rolled her eyes.
"Nothing." I fixed my eyes away from her.
"Sure, bud. It was like yesterday when you rejected me, and now your eyes are drooling over my body. How indecent." She said in a mocking voice.
"You're welcome to think what you want."
Maybe I will go scout someplace as well—it'd be better in a less developed country, "I'll go out for a bit."
"Sure, Mr. Indecisive."
I pouted. That was somewhat of a critical hit.
A trace of black smoke was left behind as I teleported to a different place.
I clenched my fist as I have now, with the help of Caner gained my full powers back.
Currently, I am standing in the middle of the sea. "This could work…but it's too open."
The sound of burning charcoal was left behind as I again teleported.
Desert?
Crackle
"Forest? That might cause a forest fire."
Crackle
After teleporting a couple of times, I stumbled upon a Rocky Mountain. It was tall enough that clouds were obscuring the view of those below, but some caves will hide us from those prying from above.
"This is it then. Hmmmm?"
As I landed at the peak, I couldn't help but notice that my mana was filling up faster than normal.
"Odd."
'Caner, I have found a spot, help me gather all the stuff and Sypher.'
"…"
'Leave Sypher.' I made a last-minute decision.
…
After gathering all the pieces of equipment, I asked Caner.
"Do we need the kid?"
"I doubt we do. The mana here is surprisingly thick…where are we anyway?"
"Some mountain on an Island near the Philippines."
"Oh, it's like we continued our cruise. Only Sypher is not here."
I squinted, "Mhm. Let's not risk her."
"Right." Caner coughed.
Putting everything together, we now have a twenty-foot-tall machine that sort of resembles a dahlia flower.
"Put your hand on that socket, and then pour mana—"
Ring Ring Ring
Before we could proceed, my phone rang.
The whispering cold breeze of the mountains also stopped, and we heard footprints.
"Veil," I said.
He nodded and I answered the phone. It was Sypher.
"What? I'm sorry but we can't risk you—"
"It's not that. I already knew you wouldn't; there are…people here in your house. They have weapons…and are asking a bunch of questions I don't know."
'Shit.'
"Who are they?"
"I don't know, they're not giving me any clue either. They don't seem to be hostile either.."
In the background of the call, I heard someone.
"Is that Mr. Kolin Evashpheare? Can we talk to him?"
As I heard that, a person came into the cave we were in.
He was wearing a tribe-like attire. Reds with brown and green patterns. On his head were feathers wrapped with a red cloth.
I looked toward Caner, and he nodded. The person who came in didn't seem to notice our presence.
There were also blades alongside his hips. They look like machetes.
"We should pause. I will go check out what's happening at home." I told Caner, "Stay here for a while so the spell keeps active."
Crackle
I warped just a couple of blocks away from home and walked the rest of the distance. It might seem like the surroundings were normal, but as soon as I stepped inside the village, I felt multiple eyes watching me.
"There's quite a lot of them."
Who are they? And why did they come to my house?
It did not take long before I was again standing in front of my house. There weren't any vehicles around, surprisingly. It was like they intentionally hid them.
I walked inside, and greeting me was Sypher…a middle-aged man in military uniform, and a young teen with a face mask on.
"Mr. Eva—"
"What do you want?"
Military. So they have found out then. It took them faster than I thought.
The man, after hearing my crass response, stood straighter, "You may or may not be aware. But one of our satellites spotted something."
He looked straight into my eyes, unfazed.
"I am aware." I simply said as I made my way inside my house, "Invite them in, Sypher."
We took place inside the living room, but the conversation was not initiated. We were simply staring at each other, while the teen stood behind the man in the uniform.
"My name's Ross, Seargent of the Space Forces. I am also one of the leading figures in the Secret Service." He revealed, his facade held up tight.
"Kolin Evaspheare."
He nodded as if he already knew, and was just trying to confirm.
"Getting straight to the point, you—whatever you are—are a threat." Although no trace of malice could be detected, the message was clear.
Leaning back onto my sofa, I took a sip of the tea Sypher brought, "I am aware."
"I'm glad you—'
"But. Even If I decide to go against you, you can't do anything."
A slight twitch leaked through his hard facade, but it was enough.
"There are more threatening problems, sergeant, and I am not one of them."
"How can we be sure?"
"Because I would've done what you fear years ago, and I didn't. Your world is far too useless to be paid attention to."
"'Your world?' Are you suggesting that you are not of this world?" He eyed me suspiciously.
"Take it as you want, I don't care. Also, there's no use surrounding this entire suburb with soldiers."
'Back to his calm self again, huh?' I thought as his face visibly contorted into forced tranquility.
"I see. However, our commander insists that we take you to our base. What do you say?" His eyes never left my own, but the cold sweat on his brows gave his emotions away.
What are these goons up to now? This would delay my plans…" I thought hard and ultimately decided.
"I say let's go."
The sergeant nodded and glanced at the kid behind him. The teenager then rushed outside, and I sensed him preparing a vehicle—what? How is there a vehicle there—invisibility?
I looked at the sergeant, only to find his face riddled with amusement.
"You're more advanced than I thought." Quipping, I took a leather jacket hanging on a clothing rack.
"Science."
"Figured that enough."
The kid made a car appear out of nowhere. It was a gray-black military jeep.
"After you," said the sergeant and I nodded.
We rode the jeep and took off.
"You're more compliant than I expected."
"I have time to spare," Although I truly don't.
"Good. This might take a while after all."
Not long after, we arrived at the base. But it caught me off guard after we stopped at the entrance. Instead of the gate opening, the ground started to sink, and we arrived at an underground tunnel.
"Sergeant, you sure you're not trying to imprison me?" I jested.
He chuckled, "No, this is a precaution…and where we test newly made weapons."
At that remark, I squinted my eyes.
"Are you perhaps curious about my abilities?"
He shrugged, "Who wouldn't be?"
The tunnel opened up to a wide, gym-like area. But it was ginormous. Huge aircraft and tanks were parked, and you could look up at the ceiling like you were looking up in the sky.
"This country is secretive, I should say." I held up my hand to squint, trying to gauge how tall the ceiling was.
"Naturally," He smirked.
He walked passed me and trodded towards a group of uniformed soldiers as he firmly saluted to what I assume was the general.
"Good. Shall we proceed?"
'Proceed?' I was fishy.
"Yes." The sergeant nodded and he turned to me, "I apologize for not informing you."
Creak
A large gate opened up to my right, and out of it was…a robot. Or a mech?
"This, Mr. Evashpheare—"
"Kolin."
"—Is our latest military weapon. In short, you're gonna fight it.
"How troublesome, sergeant," I said, but I began to stretch anyway. Let's play the main character for once, "Ready when you are."
As I said that, the mech—twice the size of a regular human barreled towards me. Every limb and movement mimics the human body—albeit more balanced. And heavy.
"Sorry, sergeant, it's too slow—" I swallowed what I was about to say as the mech suddenly blinked away—arriving just a second later on my side.
'The invisibility trick!'
I ducked, making sure my stance was wide for balance. I proceeded to strike the knee joints. To my surprise, however, it kicked—using my gathered momentum to its advantage.
I took the hit, grunting more in surprise than in pain. I was still standing albeit I slid far away from my opponent.
Taking a glance at the general, I chuckled. "You've cooked up something delicious here."
"Why, thank you."
"Well then, thanks for the food!" I smiled, tipping my toes to the unrivaled power of my manifestation.
Not even in a blink of an eye, I was already standing behind the robot. Tinge of smoke was coming out of my pores. And then I punched, my stance relaxed and untroubled.
There was no sound to the strike. But it emitted black smoke, blocking the view of the spectators.
"Hey Sarge, anyone inside this thing?"
"N-no, it's a drone type."
"Good."
I opened a wide stance, rushing to the robot. It'd be boring to not give them a bit of a show.
The robot was about 11 feet tall. I jumped high enough to kick its supposed face. It shook a bit, but it didn't buckle down from the attack.
'Oh.'
Stretching my arms, I clapped as hard as I could—well, I did hold back a bit. The remaining smoke cleared, and a gust of wind stronger than a tornado blew.
"It's quite the durable one, eh?"
In its 'stomach' was a gaping hole that looked like it was stabbed with a sword. But other than a few small dents and scratches, it was still intact. '
Turning my head to the side, I was met with surprised, scared, and bewildered faces—the general and the sarge though, calm.
"Now, shall we talk?"