Stella stared in disbelief at the bank, now engulfed in what looked like flames. "It can't be, what just happened?" she asked, puzzled.
Terry, who stood next to her, explained, "Cole just pulled off the merge in reality technique, that's what happened. If you don't understand."
"I know what it is," Stella said quickly. "But Cole never mentioned he could do it. How can he? We don't even know what that reality construct can do."
The bank's form seemed altered, more ominous and unsettling. "Yeah," Terry added, "he should have taken three years to master both the construct reality and merge in realities. Maybe he's just more talented than you expected."
"No, I mean, he doesn't share much about himself. And now, a complete merge in reality?" Stella continued, still shocked.
"Why does it bother you so much, Stella?" Terry prodded.
"It's not that it's bothering me—just, oh, shut up. You know what I mean. He has the entire bank in his own innate dimension. Since it's a merge in reality, the people inside will still be there, caught in his technique. If it's not done right, they could be hurt," Stella explained, her eyes fixed on the fiery scene.
"Yeah, let's just hope it's perfect. He wouldn't have used it if it wasn't, right? Did you consider that, Stella?" Terry reasoned.
"Terry, I need you to be quiet now. Let's just hope he doesn't mess this up," Stella said, watching anxiously.
Meanwhile, in Madrid, confusion reigned. The bank was surrounded by police and onlookers. It looked as if it was on fire, but strangely, it wasn't burning.
"What is this? We can't see what's inside, and the fire team said it doesn't feel like fire. It's something else," one police officer told another. "One of them went in and appeared on the other side of the bank. It's like it's there, but also not there."
The Izigans are up to something again," the second police officer said as he looked over the last footage captured before the camera went blank. "Just before everything disappeared, a robbery was starting. Someone was forcing another person to the ground. But then, it all changed. Now, with the bank looking like it's on fire, we can't do anything."
"What do you think is happening inside there now?" asked the first policeman.
"I haven't got a clue, but it's the Izigans; they always know what to do," the second policeman replied, shaking his head.
Inside the bank, chaos had erupted. The would-be robbers stared in horror at the shifting scene around them. As they pointed their guns forward, they faced shadowy figures with glowing red eyes, emerging from a backdrop that had turned entirely red, as if they were in hell itself. The bank's patrons had transformed into similar dark silhouettes, adding to the surreal atmosphere.
"What is this? It feels like... what in the world?" exclaimed one of the robbers, bewildered and scared.
As they fired their guns, the bullets harmlessly passed through the ghostly figures. Confused and frightened, the robbers began to shoot wildly, their panic increasing with every echoing sound.
Meanwhile, below the bank, in what was supposed to be the safe room, a different reality unfolded. As they opened the door, instead of finding safety, they stepped into a landscape under a crimson sky, standing on red rocks surrounded by towering black figures. Far in the distance, a massive rocky throne carved into the environment loomed over the scene, and on it sat Cole.
Just as the robbers raised their weapons to fire at him, numerous hands emerged from the ground, gripping them and forcing them onto their knees. Cole then appeared before them, his presence commanding and intimidating.
"Who is your leader, and why are you after the pure cosmic energy core? I won't ask again," Cole demanded, his voice echoing powerfully around the eerie landscape.
The only female among the robbers stared defiantly at Cole. "We are not allowed to say that. There is nothing you can do to us that would make us talk. So, this is the power of the Izigans in Galaixia," she said with a sneer.
Cole returned her look with a cunning smile. "If you think what you're seeing here is the full extent of the Izigans' power, you are mistaken. You wouldn't get to see our true powers. Besides, I don't need you to tell me anything—I have the ability to tap into someone's mind to access their memories and emotions. I haven't tested it yet, so I do not know the effects on the victim."
Without another word, Cole placed his hand on her head, his fingers digging slightly into her scalp. He squinted as images began to flicker before his eyes, moving deeper to find what he was looking for. But just as he was about to reach the crucial memory, he found himself transported to another place—a landscape with a dark sky, dry land, and leafless trees. A dark smoke in human form approached him.
"I can't do anything," Cole muttered, dropping to his knees as the figure neared him. His eyes began to close, but just as the dark figure was about to touch him, his eyes snapped open, glowing red. He was pulled back through countless realities until he collapsed on the ground of the bank.
"Argh," he groaned, feeling the impact of the ordeal.
"Someone is blocking your memories, someone is preventing me from seeing that part of your mind," he gasped, struggling to regain his composure.
"What is it? Didn't find what you are looking for? You can't overpower him. You all are too weak compared to him. You Izigans don't know what's coming. Don't think you're saving the world with all your cursed powers," the girl taunted.
"Keep quiet," Cole snapped, and the growing hands extended, covering their entire bodies until they froze, unable to move or speak.
Meanwhile, in the main open space of the bank where the robbery was initially set to occur, the remaining robbers panicked as they ran at the black figures. Suddenly, many hands emerged from the ground beneath each of them. The hands pulled them to the ground, rendering them immobile. They tried to scream, but the hands covered their mouths, silencing them completely.
Suddenly, the bank returned to normal. The red flames disappeared, leaving everyone stunned and standing, seemingly unharmed. Some people were near the robbers, who lay on the floor, immobilized, clutching their heads as if held by an invisible force. It became clear that the people in the bank had been the dark figures in the constructed reality, which explained their random positions throughout the building.
Confused, the patrons tried to piece together the events. One moment they were standing, and the next, they found themselves inexplicably back on their feet. Without waiting to understand more, they all rushed out of the bank, screaming, followed by the bank staff.
Cole walked calmly towards the incapacitated robbers, his demeanor unshaken by the chaos. Little John approached him, recognition dawning.
"It was you, wasn't it?" John asked, looking up at Cole with a mix of awe and relief.
"Thank you," he said, then hurried out of the bank to join his mother and brother.
Stella's voice came through the earpiece Cole was wearing. "Cole, what happened there? You used cosmic energy on those people; I hope they're okay."
"If your camera is working, you'd see they're all running outside unharmed. And it looks like we have a new recruit for The-void. This new guy is an enigma, but I'll look into it more—it could mean something important. And don't worry, I have all the culprits tied up," Cole responded.
"Cole, I need you to pause the mission for now. Return to Galaxia. We'll continue this later. Ariana is still investigating the alien ship remains in Saudi Arabia. She might get some useful information there."
"Alright, I'm on my way," Cole replied as he ended the communication with Stella.
"This week is going to be one of a kind," Cole muttered to himself as he looked around the now silent bank. "I just hope the council doesn't make any rash decisions this time." Cole said to himself.