(Add to Library—saves lives. Probably.)
Avery vaulted twice—liquid shadow in motion—clearing twenty meters before dropping into the sea of terrified shoppers. She crouched with them, perfectly synchronized to the collective panic.
"Attention all civilians! Stay down and remain calm! PSB Tactical Unit has secured the perimeter!"
She even pressed her forehead to the polished floor for dramatic flair. So satisfying.
Agents poured in. Med-techs triaged. Civilians evacuated. Five minutes later—
"LUSTRA, I turned both of them into mashed vegetables. Why no wish progress?"[No core feedback received from the Primary System]
Tch. So broken bones weren't enough. Must be the kill clause.
"This is a power fantasy," she muttered. "By Chapter Three we're supposed to be knee-deep in vengeance. We're past Chapter Ten and still throttled."
Avery's fingers curled. No one—especially not the PSB—blocks my quarterly goals.
[WARNING] Refrain from killing individuals with deep ties to the original soul.Probability of mission failure if targets expire prematurely: 87 %
Cold clarity sluiced through her veins."Long game, then."
A PSB officer approached. "Ma'am, rise slowly and come with us for questioning."
She stood—grace incarnate. Zero threat signatures.
Interrogation Room – One-way Glass
"Ma'am, injuring Ethan could be self-defense. But why assault Chloe Blake?"
Avery lowered her gaze to the cuffs."I… don't know," she whispered, voice fracturing on cue. "I just… snapped."
Two tears—left eye first, right eye lagging 0.3 s—slipped down flawless cheeks.
"She used her power on me."
Big, watery eyes lifted—0.5 mm pupil contraction behind lowered lashes.
"They're monsters," she breathed. "Since fifteen, Ethan's broken my leg more times than I can count. All for her."
A sniff—just loud enough."Last week they hired someone to kill me. If I hadn't awakened, I'd be in the morgue."
"I moved to Emberfield, changed my name. They still found me."
Her voice vibrated at 7.2 Hz—scientifically proven to trigger protective instincts.Shoulders shook at 0.8-second intervals—optimal distress frequency.
Behind the mirror, agents traded looks. Her file confirmed multiple ER visits for "habitual knee dislocation." Newly minted Esper registration? Verified.
One officer slipped out.
The remaining agent softened, sliding a glass of water across. "We'll check Chloe's ability logs. Just breathe."
Avery accepted the glass, sipping delicately while mapping kill angles in her head.
"LUSTRA, odds they prove Chloe's stunt?"[Chloe Blake – Psionic: Rage Induction | Success rate 92 % on bonded targets]
Ah. Daddy's favorite because she's useful, not sweet.
Avery angled her face toward the mirror, voice trembling one notch higher."Please… I just want to be safe."
[Wish Progress ▮▮▮▮▮▯▯▯▯▯ 10 %][Life Extension Protocol: +182.5 days]
Quarterly goals back on track.