Johnathan followed Lord Symvasi to the elevator, where they were met by a Royal who seemed to know Symvasi quite well despite the fact that Symvasi had been hiding within the Lord Ruler's shadow.
"Where's Wren?" The Royal asked. Johnathan did find it strange that Symvasi had let Wren go even though he knew what he wanted.
"He's going to destroy the dome for us." Symvasi said, "Best we get to safety before that happens."
"Huh. How?" The Royal said. "I thought he was under the effect of your ability." He pressed the buttons on the elevators, a combination of floors, then pulled out a small section of the wall right under the buttons, revealing a new floor button. He pressed it and the elevator started descending. Johnathan didn't know what was going on, but it became very clear that Symvasi wasn't taking him to see the Lord Ruler.
"Indirectly so." Symvasi said. "He'll probably amp himself up by overdosing with the serums he took and blow Imperium with his biggest explosion."
The Royal scratched his chin, nodding. "I see… He aims to destroy Imperium while indirectly killing Anna inside. Smart." Along with everyone else inside, Johnathan thought. There was no way Wren would do that. Would he?
"The explosion will trigger a chain reaction." Symvasi said. "The result will be big enough to wipe out all of High Tier. Hundreds will die. More will be injured. But in the end, New Miami will be no more. The Lord Ruler will be no more. Wren thought to betray us, but little does he know that this futile attempt to keep us from the Lord Ruler's secret will have been for naught."
Johnathan couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was this really Symvasi talking? One of the Lord Ruler's closest Royal Knights? "Excuse my rudeness, lord Symvasi." He said. "But if that you're saying is true, why take me with you? Why tell me?"
"Tell you?" Symvasi chuckled. "I'm telling you anything. Don't get the wrong idea, boy, I was simply talking to a colleague of mine and I care not whether you hear or not."
"I don't understand."
"All you need to understand is that you are our prisoner. And soon, you will give us all we need to know to continue the Lord Ruler's research after he's gone."
After he's gone? Johnathan thought. They are convinced that the Lord Ruler will die then? And what could Johnathan possibly give that'll help 'them', whoever 'they' were. And how will they survive an explosion that was bound to destroy an entire district.
As if to answer Johnathan's question, the elevator opened revealing a dark hallway. Symvasi and the Royal walked out, Symvasi ordering Johnathan to follow, the Royal raising a hand. He opened his palm and it began to glow, illuminating the hall. Or what used to be one. The floor and walls were cracked, the walls in particular were broken in some parts, holes opened that led to darkness. They walked through it, turning right, then left. The place was like a maze. They came upon an open room, and huddled inside were a dozen or so Royals. Like the hallway, this room was in ruin, piles of rubble scattered about.
Johnathan was about to ask where they were, then he remembered. While working for Lady Ada, he learned that right under Imperium, well below ground, there used to be a laboratory. The laboratory where she and the Lord Ruler were experimented upon during their teen years. Johnathan remembered watching Lady Ada's memory as the Lord Ruler and a handful of other kids destroyed it, then built Imperium over it.
Amongst the Royals huddled in the forgotten lab room, Johnathan recognized her immediately. Lady Ada was sitting by the corner, sobbing.
***
Rain fell over New Miami, relentlessly so, threatening to drown the city. The rain clouds didn't look like they'll be relenting anytime soon either, almost no daylight could get through, covering the city in a dark haze. William felt a bit cold as the rain drops drenched his clothes, and if it wasn't for his Aura keeping his temperature regulated, warming his body to protect it from the cold, or from catching a cold, he would've been shivering now. From where he stood, atop the roof of Imperium, he had wide view of New Miami. The buildings, taller in High Tier district, with a many big houses sprinkled in between. He looked up, and through the clouds, Lunam was still visible. A colossal ball of golden fire, like a mini sun, visible only to his eyes since he could see Aura, and Lunam was Aura itself. For a moment he remembered that strange dream he had, where a faceless stranger appeared to him calling himself Lunam. It had spoken with many voices, and had offered William Ascension, whatever that meant. William had refused. He wondered now if it really was Lunam, and if it was, did he make the wrong choice? Perhaps that ascension would've helped him deal with Lord Ruler.
He shrugged, putting that aside. More important matters demanded his attention now. He looked down. The fight at Imperial Square was coming to end, and from what he could gather, Spectre was losing. More Royals had joined the fighting. Beating Heimdal had done nothing. Less than a handful of golden flames burned in Specter's favor now. Thankfully, Orion was one of those. Fuck. William didn't want to admit it, but it seemed that Spectre had lost today. His friend was fighting as best he could, but his Aura was almost spent.
"Congratulations." The voice came from behind William. A voice he recognized. A voice he had been expecting when he ran up Imperium to get here. He turned, stepping down from the edge of the rooftop to greet his expected guest.
The Lord Ruler clapped a few times, a smile on his old face. He wore his white suite in the Royal fashion, soaked now because of the rain. He pulled out the handgun that had had William wondering why he carried it in the first place, at least until he learned what his ability was.
"You beat Heimdal."The old ruler said, "I honestly didn't think it was possible to overcome the ability to see the future. But you, William, you found a way. Granted, your… unique ability helped. But I'm sure you already know, it changes nothing. Spectre wasn't going to succeed. You knew that. They knew that. I cannot be overthrown. Their rebellion had always been in vain, though they had come close to dealing a decent blow to my Royal Knights."
All true. William hated to admit it, but it was true. The Lord Ruler couldn't be overthrown, that was a fact. Rebellion was nothing but a fool's errand.
But Spectre's aim was never to overthrow him, at least not in the sense he thought of. William could see a group of golden fires of ignited Aura a few floors below him. Likely the room where Anna was. Where the people serving as Aura batteries were. Question was, how to get there.
"It seems that the fight is almost over." The Lord Ruler had walked to the edge of the room and was looking down. His Aura was ignited. It resembled his sister's, in a way. It was similar in the fact it was ever changing, much like William. Like a fingerprint that never stopped shaping itself. "I hope they had their fun."
"Help me understand." William said. "Why let it happen?"
"Oh?"
"You could've prevented the fight, used your ability to stop Spectre before getting here. Yet you not only let us fight, but allowed Ada to use her ability to amplify our Auras, giving us a better change. But since the outcome was to be the same, why let it happen?"
The Lord Ruler turned, smiling, and shrugged. "Why not? It has been a long time since my Royals had had a proper fight. It does good to to fight once in a while. Hopefully they'll stop seeking meaningless fights amongst themselves and have Commoners sent to hospitals." He paused, looking William in the eyes. "I do not condone bullying amongst the Royal, despite what you might think.
"Yet you let them go about destroying properties, injuring Commoners, without consequence."
"There are consequences for injuring Commoners." The Lord Ruler said. "Though I grant that they aren't as sever as they should. When I created the dome, and brought about the Royal Hierarchy System, I meant for everyone to be a Royal. That's my goal here, Mr. Dia. All I want is for everyone to be a Royal. To build a world where everyone has access to Aura, to abilities. Can you imagine what kind of world that would be?"
"In other words, you seek to undo Lunam's Law." William laughed. "For someone your age, you dream as a child."
"Not undo it." The Lord Ruler said, ignoring William's jab. "Simply bypass it. With your help."
***
Wren made it to lobby and made his way to the exit. Three Royals were at the doors looking outside.
"I still can't believe he beat Heimdal." One of them said, a middle aged woman.
"It's not like it mattered." The Royal standing opposite her said. "Spectre's done for. Only three are left standing."
"That woman with the water ability is stronger than I thought."
"Only because Lady Ada amplified her ability."
"...still."
Wren walked up to the doors and looked around Imperial Square expecting William to be amongst the remaining Spectre's members, but he wasn't anywhere. He turned back to the three Royals.
"Where's the Copycat?" He asked them.
The middle aged woman spoke first. "We saw him run up Imperium."
"Run up Imperium?" Wren said.
"Yeah," The second Royal nodded. "Must've copied an ability that let him run up walls. He's probably at the top by now."
"Why did he do that thought?" The woman said. "I mean if he meant to run away, I think he got the direction wrong."
Wren guessed that he means to draw out the Lord Ruler. It won't matter though, he won't beat him like he did Heimdal. So much for that idea, Wren thought. He was going to give William his Amp serum, as well as the one he took from Johnathan, but that was out of the question now. What does he do now?
Wren started pacing. Time was running out. Spectre had to succeed today. It was either to day or never. The dome had to be destroyed today. William won't be able to do, none of Spectre's members could. Johnathan was out for the count as well. And Wren… He couldn't hard Anna because of that damned Symvasi's ability.
But he didn't have to. The idea was obvious once Wren through about it. He didn't have to aim his attack at Anna to kill her. He pulled out both of the syringes from his pocket and injected himself with the serums. The first injection made him feel like a king, his Aura flared within him, power surging and cursing through his body. The second injection made him feel like a god. He felt like he could open a hole in the moon.
He walked out of Imperium, slowing opening the door, walking past the Royals who had remain speechless after watching him amplify his ability beyond what was possible. It had happened before, overdosing of Amp Serum. A Royal had burst into pieces because his body couldn't handle that amount of Aura all at once. In fact, Wren felt like his body would burst any moment now. His body felt powerful, true, but also heavy.
Rain fell on him as he walked out. He could barely feel it, the rain drops. He didn't even feel cold after his clothes became drenched, wet with water. Still, this was he last chance. He only idea. It would kill a few hundred people, but it had to be done. The dome had to be destroyed.
"I'm sorry, my Lady." He whispered into the rain, looking up at Imperium. He raised both his hands, summoning every ounce of power he could, using all of his Aura to create his last Aura animal. A bird. Large as a house. No. It had to be bigger, the explosion had to be big enough to destroy Imperium.
The Aura bird spread its wings, batting the rain away, then began to fly upwards. Thud. As it ascended, each beat of its wings sent a shockwave, shattering Imperium's windows, glass falling. Thud. It flew higher and higher, under Wren's control. Thud. It needed to reach the top before he had to detonate it. Hopefully the explosion will be enough to take out the dome.
***
"You need my help?" William said. "How can 'I' help 'you' bypass Lunam's Law." Lunam's Law was like Lunam itself, unbreakable. Unchangeable. Impossible.
"With your cooperation, we can use your Aura to synthesize and new type of serum." The Lord Ruler said. "In fact, I've already synthesize it. In combination with yours and my sister's Aura, I have created Serum-X. It gives Commoners abilities."
"What?" But that Impossible. William understood turning ones Aura into a serum to affect others ability. Like That Liang guy's dampening serum, that used an electric based ability to shock people when they tried to ignite their Aura. Or Lada Ada's amp-serum, to amplify other's ability. Or the worse one yet, the serum created using the Lord Ruler's own ability. The ability nullifying serum. But a serum to give others ability. "That's impossible."
"No. Though it is rather complicated to create. It requires the combination of multiple Auras, multiple abilities." The Lord Ruler pointed at William. "But its your Aura that's the key to all of it. Your Aura that allows the copying of abilities." He raised a hand at William. "Join me, William, join me and we'll create a world where everyone can have the luxury of having an ability, despite Lunam's Law. Join me, and I'll let all of Sprecter's member's go. I'll give them another chance to join the Royal ranks. All except one, of course."
"Who?"
"The one who betrayed you. I still need to make an example of this rebellion, you must understand. I can't have another rebel group forming in the future and hinder my advancements."
William remained quite for a long moment. He certainly didn't care about Hendrick. The Lord Ruler's offer was tempting indeed. But it wouldn't be what Claudia would've wanted. "My sister, she-"
"I'll be making her a Royal Knight." The Lord Ruler interjected. "She is strong. Her ability is quite powerful. With her amongst my Knights, no one will dare threaten rebellion again."
"And if I refuse?" William asked.
The Lord Ruler raised his gun and pointed at him. "Then I'll have to take you by force, and I'll have to make example of all of Spectre's members. Including your sister." As if the threat wasn't enough with words, William felt the fires of his Aura sudden go out, like a candle's flame being snuff out. A wave cold assault him and he started to shiver. Now he the raindrops, the wetness of his clothes, and the cold. What a scary ability, William thought. To be able to nullify other's. He could no longer see the Lord Ruler's Aura, or any Aura for that matter. "What do you say, William?" The Lord Ruler said.
What choice did he have? It wasn't even a choice. It was an ultimatum. And no way in hell will he willingly join the Lord Ruler.
Thud.
What was that?
Thud.
William looked around for the sound but saw nothing.
Thud.
Then with the back of his eyes he noticed it. Large golden wings flapping, a massive bird made of Aura rose to the rooftop. William was hit with a wave of deja'vu. He's seen that bird before. In fact, he vaguely remembered being here, at this roof. The rain falling, a old man wearing a white suit standing in front of him saying something.
"What is the meaning of this?" The Lord Ruler said. He shot the bird twice but it had no effect. William knew what it was now. This had to be that Royal's ability. Wren's. But if that was the case, then that bird was a moving bomb. And that bird was massive, its wings opened wide and folded its winds, covering the rooftop. William heard the Lord Ruler laugh, a crazed laughed. William understood what it meant. What Wren meant to do. Spectre was going to win today, although the casualties will be in a hundreds.
"I can't believe this." The Lord Ruler said, still laughing. "The bastard is willing to kill hundreds just to take me out. Hahahahaha."
William dropped to his knees. Guess this was it then. Once that bird detonates, he'll be dead. Hopefully, Claudia is still far enough from Imperium. He ran his fingers through his wrist, filling the silver bracelet. A gift from Jill. Well, from her daughter, but it always made him think of Jill. She was going to be the last thing in his mind.
***
Jake had seen it first, pointing. Claudia and the others, looked, even Obex and the Royals. They had paused their fighting to stare at the giant bird flying up Imperium. Claudia recognized it for what it was. She had fought Wren before.
"It's going to explode." Claudia warned everyone.
"I think we're far away from it, right?" Zale said.
Claudia doubted it. "If Wren's aim is what I think it is, and with the size of that bird, we won't be safe here. Not entirely.
Obex ran up to the group. "Hopefully, this will be enough." He activated his ability to creat a buried around them, a golden bubble of Aura that protected them from the rain.
"Can it hold?" Zale asked.
"It fucking better."
***
She appeared out of thin air, near William. The girl reached for the silver bracelet around his wrist, and wrapped her hand around it, grabbing his arm. She took one look at the Lord Ruler, then looked at William. "This better work."
"What? Who-" Then he wasn't at the rooftop anymore. In fact it was far from it. It took him a second to reorient himself. He was about to speak again when the ground shook. The explosion was larger than what he'd anticipated. Though he was outside the city, sitting atop a hillside, he could see it. To the west.
The girl stood next to him, hands on her waist. "I can't believe that actually worked."
William was too stunned to say anything. He just kept staring at the giant mushroom of smoke forming in the middle of New Miami.