Linsley took the lead, his mind racing through their next steps.
The facility was falling apart around them, and alarms blared through the corridors.
Scientists and guards scrambled in a panic, trying to contain the chaos. But Linsley knew they had no chance of stopping what was happening.
His hand tingled slightly from using his Real Fantasy gift earlier to knock Ted out. It had worked, but the implications of his ability were already sinking in.
The power to bring fantasy into reality wasn't just useful—it was limitless, provided he had the imagination and control to wield it. But now wasn't the time to ponder its potential.
"Follow me," Linsley said, heading toward a nearby exit he had noticed earlier. "We need to get out before the whole place comes down."
They moved quickly through the collapsing facility, dodging falling debris and navigating around the chaos. The metallic halls shook with the force of Ted's earlier outburst, and the damage was spreading rapidly.
As they approached the exit, Linsley's senses heightened. His instincts screamed at him that this wasn't over yet—that someone or something was still standing in their way.
As they rushed through the final corridor, the cold night air just within reach, Linsley and Lucy felt a momentary surge of hope. Freedom was just ahead.
But that hope was shattered when a man in a lab coat stepped into their path.
He adjusted his glasses with a calm, cold expression, seemingly unfazed by the chaos around them. His presence was different—controlled, confident. It was as if he had been expecting this exact situation.
"A bunch of kids get some powers and suddenly think they can take on the entire world?" the man scoffed, his voice laced with disdain.
Universal Key (Gold), a talent from his god simulation, wasn't bound by the rules of this world.
The man's Eye of Sealing might be able to lock away their Flux and Gifts, but Linsley had a way to unlock anything. It was time to test the limits of his simulation talent.
He closed his eyes briefly, visualizing the seal around his Flux as a locked door, and then willed his Universal Key to turn the lock.
He felt a sudden surge as his Flux broke free, flowing back into his body. His Gift, Real Fantasy, reignited inside him like a dormant flame coming to life.
The man in the lab coat faltered, his smirk fading into confusion. "What...? How...?"
Linsley smiled, his eyes glowing with renewed confidence. "You can seal my power, but I can unlock it just as easily."
The surprise in the man's expression deepened as Lucy's transformation resumed, her dark, feathered wings spreading out once more. The swirling dark mist of Flux reappeared around her, stronger than ever.
The man took a step back. "Impossible! I sealed you!"
"You did," Linsley said calmly, stepping forward. "But I have my own ways of undoing seals."
The man gritted his teeth, his eyes flashing as he attempted to seal them again. His gaze focused intensely on Linsley and Lucy, but with every new seal, Linsley simply unlocked it using his Universal Key.
Frustration etched itself onto the man's face. "No one can undo the Eye of Sealing!"
"Then I'm not just anyone," Linsley replied, unflinching.
Each time the man tried to bind their powers, Linsley released them effortlessly, as if undoing the lock on a door.
The man cursed under his breath. "Damn you kids! Do you really think you can take on the entire world just because you've gained some powers?"