The two friends stepped back into the train, Lucas carrying the unconscious, bloodied intruder over his shoulder. As they made their way down the aisle, a wave of applause erupted from the other passengers. Their eyes shone with admiration, though a few remained stunned into silence.
Evelyn's gaze flicked toward the guys who had mocked her earlier. Now, they sat stiffly in their seats, avoiding eye contact, suddenly finding the floor incredibly interesting.
Smirking, she turned to Lucas. "So, how was your first heroic experience?" she asked, arching a brow.
Lucas grinned, flexing his arms with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Not bad. Feels good taking down criminals."
Evelyn sighed internally, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. If only he knew how much more complicated things really were.
After handing the intruder over to the heroes and dealing with a swarm of nosy journalists, the two friends parted ways. Lucas, ever the spotlight magnet, entertained the reporters with his version of events, basking in the newfound attention.
Evelyn, on the other hand, wanted nothing to do with it. Ignoring the barrage of questions thrown her way, she slipped away unnoticed, heading straight home without a word. Let Lucas soak up the glory—she had bigger things on her mind.
After countless failed attempts to remove the bracelet, Evelyn finally gave up and collapsed onto her bed with a frustrated sigh. The golden snake coiled around her arm wasn't tight, nor did it cause her any pain, yet it refused to budge.
Staring up at the ceiling, she replayed the moment it appeared, trying to make sense of it. How had it gotten onto her hand in the first place?
Absentmindedly, her fingers traced the smooth, scaled texture of the serpent wrapped around her skin. A shiver ran through her.
"How do I get this off?" she muttered, pushing herself into a sitting position, as if expecting an answer.
The news of Evelyn's heroic act played on the large screen in Victor's office.
Vivian lounged on the couch, hands resting behind her head, legs casually propped up on the sleek glass table. Her expression was unreadable, but her sharp eyes remained fixed on the broadcast.
Behind his desk, Victor watched with a proud smirk. His sixteen-year-old daughter had just taken down a criminal atop a moving train.
Vivian scoffed, breaking the silence. "Where did all those bullets come from? Someone had to be helping her. The Evelyn I know could never pull this off."
"You're the only one who seems to think so," Donovan said as he stepped into the office, eyes fixed on his phone. "Everyone's talking about her. That other kid is getting just as much recognition for his moves."
Vivian shot him an unimpressed glance. "And who exactly told you to come in?" she asked, her tone sharp. To her, Donovan was just a glorified bodyguard—one who also happened to be a hero.
Without looking up, Donovan smirked. "Calm your horses," he said, slipping the phone into his pocket. "There's something your dad needs to handle."
"Whatever. I'll talk to Evelyn myself," Vivian muttered, pushing off the couch just as Donovan handed a file to Victor. Without another word, she strode out of the office, using her wind ability to propel herself toward Evelyn's house.
As she landed gracefully near the entrance, her eyes narrowed at the sight of Evelyn's guards stationed by the door. "What are these fools doing here?" she scoffed.
Stepping forward, she commanded, "Let me in."
The guards didn't budge. One of them spoke firmly, "Miss Evelyn has requested no interruptions."
"Let me in. Now!" Vivian demanded, opening her palm. A small tornado spiraled to life, twisting and churning with growing intensity. Her eyes gleamed with impatience. "Well? Are you going to let me in, or do we have to make this interesting?"
The guards exchanged glances; their expressions unreadable. Then, without hesitation, they raised their assault rifles, aiming directly at her.
"Evelyn's orders," one of them stated coolly. "Use force if necessary."
For a brief moment, shock flickered across Vivian's face before it was quickly replaced by a deep frown. "Why doesn't Evelyn want to see anyone?" she demanded. "What is she doing in there?"
One of the guards responded flatly, "She's sleeping. If you want to see her, come back tomorrow."
Before Vivian could argue, another guard approached the group, eyeing the situation. "What's going on here?" he asked before turning to his colleagues. "Vivian is her sister. Let her in."
The guard crossed his arms and shook his head. "If that's who you are, then there's no way we're letting you in. Evelyn specifically ordered us to keep you out."
The other guard, sensing the tension, sighed and offered a brief apology. "Look, Vivian, these two aren't part of Victor's forces. They're guys Evelyn brought with her. They don't answer to him."
Vivian clenched her jaw, then slowly closed her palm, dispelling the tiny tornado. Without another word, she turned on her heel. "Fine," she said coolly. "I'll be back first thing tomorrow." And with that, she disappeared into the night.
"You two are going to regret this when she talks to the boss," the other guard muttered, shooting them a glare.
Evelyn's guards, unfazed, remained silent and stood firm in their positions. Seeing that they wouldn't budge, he let out a frustrated huff and stalked back to his post.
Inside Evelyn's room, she sat on her bed across from another woman.
"Who was that?" the woman asked, tilting her head toward the door.
Evelyn leaned back slightly. "That must've been Vivian," she replied. "My sister."
"You told me to meet you at Heroic Heights. Why come here?" Evelyn asked, narrowing her eyes.
"I'm still surprised it's you, Diana."
Diana, still dressed in her crisp blue office shirt and black skirt, rose from Evelyn's bed. "Because you don't have time," she said firmly. "If you're heading to Phantom Edge tomorrow, you need to take care of what Adea asked today."
She crossed her arms and continued, "I've arranged a meeting between Victor and a minor gang leader in the west—anonymously, of course. That means his office is empty right now."
Diana met Evelyn's gaze with a determined expression.
"This is our chance."
Evelyn shook her head. "I'm not going to Phantom Edge," she assured Diana. "And as for the objective, my soldier will handle it. They'll rescue the people."
Diana raised an eyebrow. "How? How would your soldier even get access to Victor's office?"
A knowing smile spread across Evelyn's face. She leaned forward, her voice dropping to a confident whisper. "My soldier doesn't need to access anything."
Diana's confusion deepened, but before she could question further, Evelyn continued. "When I summoned Adea and Lyra at the Forbidden Island, I realized something—there's no limit to how many soldiers I can summon." She exhaled, fingers tapping against her knee. "The only problem is my stamina. The more I summon, the worse the aftereffects—the exhaustion can be brutal."
Diana crossed her arms, processing Evelyn's words. "So, what's your plan?"
Evelyn's smirk widened. "I just need to make sure I don't pass out before the job's done."
She turned to Diana; her expression thoughtful. "Do you know when I first summoned my three soldiers?"
Diana shook her head.
A small smile played on Evelyn's lips as she answered her own question. "I was five years old." Her gaze darkened. "And even then, it almost killed me."
Diana's eyes widened slightly, but Evelyn continued. "At that same age, I tried summoning more soldiers beyond those three. That's when I assumed three was my limit." She leaned back, exhaling. "But it seems I was wrong."
She then smirked, a glint of excitement flickering in her eyes. "And tomorrow, Victor is going to give me a serum—one that will allow me to share my gift with my soldiers." A chuckle escaped her lips as she imagined the possibilities. "Just think about it, Diana. Hundreds of gifted soldiers under my command."
Diana's breath hitched as she processed Evelyn's words. She wasn't just planning to change the game—she was planning to rewrite the entire rulebook.
Diana pushed her thoughts aside and focused on the present. With curiosity in her voice, she asked, "So, how many soldiers can you summon now?"
Evelyn shrugged. "I started training when I was eight, so… maybe more than I can even imagine." Her tone was calm, but a flicker of excitement gleamed in her eyes.
She then took a deep breath and glanced at Diana. "Step back."
Diana obeyed without question.
Evelyn closed her eyes, clasping her hands together. A familiar sensation washed over her as her mind drifted. Slowly, she felt herself slipping away, her consciousness pulling her into another realm.
When she opened her eyes again, she was back in the dome.
Evelyn's eyes widened in surprise. "I thought this realm was a result of the serum," she muttered. Shrugging, she added, "I haven't been here since I was five, so I wouldn't have known what had changed."
Taking a deep breath, she settled into a meditative position, clasping her hands together once more. "Time to see some improvements."
Closing her eyes, Evelyn focused, calling upon her soldiers to wake up. A faint sensation brushed against her hand, but she ignored it, staying concentrated.
Then, the sound of footsteps echoed through the dome. One by one, her soldiers materialized, marching into formation. A smile crept onto her face.
But something was different. More footsteps followed—more than she expected. Yet, unlike before, she felt nothing. No exhaustion, no strain. It was as if she could keep summoning indefinitely without consequence.
Her heart raced. Just how far could she go?
Two minutes passed, and Evelyn decided she had summoned enough. In her mind, she estimated around fifty soldiers—perhaps a few more.
But as she opened her eyes, what she saw left her breathless.
Thousands—maybe tens of thousands—of armed soldiers stood in perfect formation around her, stretching as far as the eye could see. The sheer scale of it made her stomach drop.
Before she could react, a sudden movement on her arm made her flinch. Her gaze snapped downward—her snake bracelet had transformed into a living serpent, its golden scales gleaming under the dome's ethereal light.
Adea's voice resonated through the space, smooth and unwavering.
"Athena's blessings are yours."
The snake slithered up her arm, its touch neither cold nor threatening. Then, without pain, it merged into her skin. A dark, intricate tattoo of a serpent coiled around her hand, marking the spot where it had disappeared.
Evelyn's breath hitched. Whatever had just happened… she knew she wasn't the same anymore.
"Wow…" Evelyn breathed, turning in a slow circle as she took in the sheer number of soldiers surrounding her. Each one stood tall, armed and ready, but what caught her attention most were the ones dressed in suits—holding laptops.
She blinked. Laptops?
Curious, she strode toward them. "When did laptops become weapons?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
One of the suited soldiers stepped forward, his expression calm and composed. "Those of us in suits specialize in advanced technology," he explained. "We have the ability to hack and control any system at will."
Evelyn narrowed her eyes. "Even without Wi-Fi?"
The soldier gave a knowing smirk. "Even without Wi-Fi."
"If you have this ability, I wonder what the others can do," Evelyn mused, curiosity sparking in her eyes as she walked toward another group of soldiers.
These ones were clad in black suits, armed with sleek assault rifles. She stopped before them and crossed her arms. "And what about you?"
One of the soldiers stepped forward. "Our bullets seek their targets no matter where they are," he stated with unwavering confidence.
Evelyn let out a dramatic sigh. "Doesn't that make my gift useless, then?" she whined, pouting slightly.
The soldier remained unfazed. "We can switch to standard rifles if that's what you prefer."
Evelyn waved a hand dismissively. "No, no—don't hold back on my account. Just do what you're best at."
A soldier in a crisp white suit stepped forward and addressed Evelyn. "You may ask me anything, and I will provide you with an answer."
Evelyn arched a brow and gestured toward his group. "And them?"
"They specialize in gathering and analyzing information. Any knowledge you seek about Athena's blessings will be provided by us," he assured her.
Evelyn nodded in approval. "Good to know."
For a moment, her mind swirled with all the possibilities—what she could accomplish with this army. The sheer power at her fingertips was exhilarating. But then, reality crashed back in. She had a mission. There were people who needed her help.
Shaking off the distraction, she turned back to the white-suited soldier. "Follow me," she commanded, about to summon more troops.
Before she could, the soldier raised a hand. "Any instructions should be given to me. I will dispatch the soldiers myself into the real world."
Evelyn blinked in surprise but quickly understood. With a deep breath, she let go of the dome's reality and returned to the waking world. As her eyes fluttered open, the white-suited soldier now stood beside her bed.
Diana glanced between Evelyn and the newly summoned soldier, barely suppressing a chuckle. "I'm sorry, but… just one? You were just—" She stopped herself, shaking her head. "You know what? Never mind. Complete the task, and we'll talk again." Before Evelyn could respond, Diana vanished.
The white-suited soldier turned to Evelyn. "Would you like me to punish the rude lady?" he asked, his voice eerily calm.
"What? No!" Evelyn shot him a look of disbelief. Leaning forward, she studied him. "I want to see what you're really capable of."
She briefed him on Adea's request, detailing the mission and providing Victor's office location. "Make sure the soldiers aren't seen," she added firmly.
The soldier inclined his head slightly. "You won't be disappointed." Without another word, he turned and exited the room.
Evelyn had barely collapsed into a peaceful sleep when the next morning's commotion jolted her awake. Groggily, she sat up, listening to the heated voices outside her house.
Rushing to check, she found Vivian locked in a tense standoff with her guards.
"What's your problem?" Evelyn asked, crossing her arms.
Vivian, spotting her, took the opportunity to step forward, assuming she could finally get past the guards. However, they moved to block her once more. Huffing in frustration, she turned to Evelyn. "Can I come in?"
Evelyn studied her sister, already realizing what this was about—this was when Vivian would bring up Phantom Edge.
"Wait outside," Evelyn instructed before disappearing back inside. She quickly washed her face and slipped into fresh clothes from her closet.
Emerging from her room, Evelyn wore a fitted brown shirt paired with sleek black trousers. As she stepped forward, she glanced back at the white-suited soldier and gestured for him to follow.
"Come with me, Sebastian," she said.
The soldier tilted his head slightly. "Who?"
"You," Evelyn replied smoothly. "From now on, I'm calling you Sebastian."
He accepted the name without question as she continued, "Get my car ready, but I need to reach Victor's office fast."
With a nod, Sebastian exited the house to carry out her command.
Vivian, arms crossed, arched a brow. "And why exactly are you in such a hurry to get to Victor's office?"
Vivian offered, "I could carry you to the office instead of dragging Sebastian along."
Evelyn scoffed. "Really? I'd rather sprint all the way there."
Without waiting for a response, she stepped outside, with Vivian trailing behind.
As they reached the car, Vivian tried again. "I wanted to talk about what happened yesterday."
"Let's save that for later," Evelyn replied, sliding into the back seat. Holding the door open, she glanced at Vivian. "Well? Are you getting in, or are you planning to fly after me like a tornado?"
"I have important things to do," Vivian said, slamming the door shut before launching into the air.
"And there she goes," Evelyn muttered, watching her disappear into the sky.
The ride to the office was smooth, with no traffic to slow them down. Upon arrival, Evelyn noticed the eerie stillness of the building—quieter than she had expected. Then again, it made sense. Keeping people against their will wasn't exactly legal, and Victor would undoubtedly try to handle it discreetly.