The Phantom Riser

CHAPTER FORTY - ENEMIES OR ENEMIES

“You’re joking right?” Victor asked. Convince Jovak to let them go? Really? They would have a better chance of running away than convincing him to let them go. Did Kiro hit his head or something?

“For starters, we’ll have to try to talk to him.”

“It’ll definitely not work.”

“I know. But I need to, still. When it fails, and yes, I know it will, then we proceed to attack. And for that, I have just the thing.”

***

Jovak was already conjuring up another portal when Kiro and his team appeared before him. He was astounded by the courage they displayed… and the sheer stupidity. “It might have been difficult, but I’m sure you know you have a better chance at running away. Why did you come back?” he asked.

“To talk. If you are willing to listen, that is,” Kiro said. He knew how this was going to play out. As did everyone else that was present. But what they couldn’t have known were the exact words that Jovak would respond with.

“You had your chance, Phantom Riser,” Kiro and Jovak said concurrently. Jovak’s eyes narrowed a bit, but he wasn’t too surprised. “Is this one of your tricks?” they said concurrently once again. Jovak took a step backward this time. He was aware that Kiro had a special ability that made him know things that others didn’t. But he could never pin it down. At first, he thought it was the power to see the future, but his sponsor quickly rubbished the idea. He felt it might have been mind-reading; which was very unlikely, considering his origin and the immense difference in their levels. Everyone knew the Kiro had no sponsor, but that could be a lie too. And he wouldn’t be surprised. Maybe he was a good guesser? No. no one could accurately guess what someone else would say, twice!

“Will you listen to me now?” Kiro asked. It was at that moment that his teammates understood what Kiro’s approach would be. Jovak had relaxed a bit. He was willing to listen. “Thank you. I’m sure you know that I know things that most people don’t, Riser and non-Risers alike. So, believe me when I tell you that I am not the enemy. Not now and definitely not in the future.”

“Then join me. Prove to me that we are allies,” Jovak said. He was willing to put asides their differences if his initial objective was met. Having Kiro meant having the Ascient and all his other seemingly useful teammates. Even Kiro himself was seeming like a useful ally. “Well, what are you waiting for? If I am to believe what you just said, then prove it,” he reiterated when he noticed Kiro’s hesitation.

“It won’t work,” Kiro said blatantly.

Jovak was triggered by his response. Who was he to think he could order him around? “And why is that, the one who knows all?”

“Because we’ve tried this before. In a different universe. And it turned out badly,” he replied.

“Are you making a fool of me? Just because you know a few things and guessed a few things doesn’t give you the authority to tell me I can and cannot do. I, Jovak refuse to accept that!”

And there you have it. Negotiations failed. Well, not like they didn’t all see it coming. Kiro looked to his side as a gesture to Lucas. Lucas nodded in response, understanding fully what was expected of him.

“If you knew you weren’t ready to join me, you shouldn’t have come here at all. I won’t let you go otherwise. But I’m sure you already knew that,” Jovak said as he readied himself to attack. Isaac already got the idea and was warming up as well.

“Now!” Kiro beckoned. At that moment, Theodore teleported with Lucas and Olivia. Kiro had no intention of getting them involved in their fight. If they all left at once, Jovak was sure to follow. As long as he stayed behind with Victor and Karenia, Jovak had no reason to follow the others. They would contain him there and then. Isaac wasted no time in going all out.

***

System Update

Isaac Wayne

Special Skill Activated: Surge; the user emits a large amount of energy that wipes out a specific radius.

Range: 100m

Usage: 2 times

***

It was always terrifying to see. Victor might have exhausted his fire cloak, but he wasted no time in retaliating.

***

System Update

Victor Vaneki

Skill move: Flare; it releases a great amount of fire in form of an explosion.

***

A feeling of rendezvous as their abilities clashed again one more time. And eve more familiar as Jovak used a certain skill once more. But unknown to him, Kiro had just the thing for him.

***

System Update

Jovak Leonard

Skill Move: One; absorbs all energy around the user and compresses it into a small sphere.

***

Jovak absorbed all the energy into one tiny, compressed energy sphere. But before he could move a step forward, Karenia was already in frenzy mode. She moved to cover the distance in one move.

***

System Update

Kiro Ner

Skill move: Mini Kaleidoscopic Prism; User traps a small item in a refractive cage.

Active time: 00:30

***

Jovak opted to slam Karenia with this compressed mass of energy, but Kiro encompassed in with his prism. Suddenly, Karenia had the advantage. Jovak was wide open. His counterattack had failed and she could take him out in one strike. Or at least do as much damage as she could. Kiro moved the prism as high in the sky. He knew that his prism wouldn’t hold that amount of condensed energy for too long. And he was right. It exploded just seconds after being released in the air, creating an intense amount of shockwave. The explosion was so distracting, that he didn’t notice Karenia had been flung over to his side. Jovak had skillfully evaded her attack and with just one super-powered punch, sent her flying all the way back.

Kiro was perplexed when he noticed Karenia. “You’re right. He’s stronger and faster than me even in my frenzy mode. Your plan A didn’t work. Let’s not waste any more time,” she said.

“A few seconds. That’s all,” he said to her. He encompassed himself and Victor in a force field sphere. In an instant, the sphere began to glow. This time, Jovak and Isaac were genuinely worried. Isaac sought to shake them up by shooting lasers at them. There was little to nothing that Karenia could do about it. Or so he thought.

***

System Update

Karenia Zari

Skill Move: Bang; creates a powerful soundwave by the mere clapping of hands. It is especially useful for dispelling concentrated energies.

***

Jovak was impressed to see her used an ability that he himself acknowledged as useful. But she would have to do more than that.

***

System Update

Jovak Leonard

Skill Move: Heaven’s gaze; creates a powerful illusion simply by making eye contact with the enemy.

***

It only took mere seconds to break Karenia down completely. Jova0k closed the space between them in an instant, but before he could attack, he is forced back by a giant root that attacked him from below him. The sphere opened to reveal a raging Victor. “You have some nerve, Riser,” he said with an echo.

***

System Update

Victor Vaneki

Special Skill move: Sage