*"CH XI":
**D:** *"I know Dr. Pill said I'm supposed to be the leader, but truth is, I didn't really know any of you all that well at first. But what I do know... it's enough. I know you all lived together in that cramped room, and we've been getting some so-called 'special' treatment. What surprises me is none of that made you bitter. None of you let it get to you. And that shows me just how big your hearts are-bigger than mine, for sure.*
*So I made a decision. I'm naming Yearwelv as my second partner, someone I trust to guide us all. I know you respect him, and together, we'll make sure to lead us through this. Now, let's go over everyone's powers, keep it short, but let's remind
ourselves of what we're capable of."*
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In a dark room, Dr. Pill stood with Dr. Carla, her face barely visible in the dim light. She spoke to the void in front of her. "We've gathered what we wanted from the seven, and we've confirmed the theory-it's true."
A voice emerged from the shadows, questioning, "Why did you send 23 with them?"
Dr. Pill's voice was steady. "It will be good for them to explore and learn from the best. It'll make them bloom. It's a win-win situation. They get to experience the battlefield, and the fear that holds them back will be gone."
Another voice spoke from the darkness, sharper this time. "Elaborate. There's a higher chance they'll die. So please, explain in more detail. We have all the time in the world."
A third voice, colder, chimed in, "And if your explanation isn't convincing, your position will be.... reconsider
Dr. Pill glanced at Dr. Carla, who stood with five files clutched in her hands. With a deliberate motion, Carla placed the files on the table. A guard, clad in a black helmet emerging from the void, approached. He picked up the files without a word and retreated into the darkness, vanishing as silently as he had arrived.
Dr. Carla spoke up, "As you can see, these are our plans ensuring that the 23 are a hundred percent safe. We will deploy the thoullion soldiers."
One of the voices from the void asked, "What now?"
Dr. Pill replied, "I wasn't the one who named them. I called them Milland soldiers. They are an experiment that succeeded in creating a thousand soldiers capable of unlocking the Illusion ability. They've also developed the power to deactivate the Illusions of others. If there's any risk, they will intervene immediately."
Another voice instructed,go on then "Proceed with your plan," and the room descended into darkness.
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D organized the 23 individuals into 6 teams based on their abilities and addressed the group by saying he doesn't remember everyone's names but grouped them by similarity. He then listed the teams as:
- **Group 1:** Shadow, darkness, manipulation, light, and blast.
- **Group 2:** Voices, dreamwalking, alternate world, fake, imagine, and invisibility.
- **Group 3:** **Teleporter, porta, telekinesis, order, and paralyze.
- **Group 4:** Swords, rocks, lightning, fire, and rain.
- **Support Team:** Perfection, adding, and linking.
- **D's Team:** **Water, imitation, other being, protection,** and **seeing**..
As D was talking, a huge explosion suddenly erupted nearby. D paused for a moment, his expression unwavering. "I guess that's where K is," he said calmly, unfazed by the blast. "We'll wait for him in the middle, setting a trap."
He looked around at the group, continuing with determination. "I've put you into five teams because there are five roads. We'll block each one, forcing him to wait in the center, and then we'll strike-together-to knock him down."
D's voice grew serious as he gave the final warning. "We don't know exactly what his power is, so be careful. Use all your strength, all your abilities, and stay on high alert."
D raised his hand, and a projection of water swirled in front of the group, forming a map of their positions. "If K approaches your road, you'll be ready to either defend or attack. The closest team will lend you two of their members, and the support team will replace them. Any member from other groups with long-range abilities will also assist."
As he spoke, another explosion boomed in the distance, followed by another and then another. D glanced over at April and said calmly, "Do you mind?"
April closed her eyes briefly and said, "Stop." Immediately, the voices from the explosions quieted, though the blasts continued.
D nodded, turning back to the group. "That's all."
He walked over to April and whispered, "Say one final thing to ease them."
K said, "I didn't know someone could be soo blinded by pride."
Zero looked confused.
K continued, "Now! you're going to listen to me. You don't even acknowledge the existence of... that thing. But anyway, I'll answer your unsolved question-the one you act like you don't care to know."
first D's plan D decided to set the trap in the center because the Left side of the town was where they all lived-even though it was you who named it 'Left' after all. D knew that if they fought on that side, they would lose. The others would question why they should rescue that place instead of focusing on capturing K. To avoid this distraction, he chose to leave the Left side to be destroyed.
If you're confused by the names and how D and your five brothers know them, it's because back in the room, while you preferred solitude with a grumpy face, no one approached you out of respect. Meanwhile, your brothers stood by as each of the 23 explained their powers. The negative names they used were simply because they didn't understand yet; it was just temporary.
Lastly, the reason you're not in the plan is that they idolize you. If D included you, their focus would shift from defeating the real villain to protecting you. Keeping you out of it ensures they concentrate on the mission at hand.
Zero muttered to K in the lowest volume, "I didn't ask."
K laughed and replied, "I dare you to say it louder so they know their hero is crazy."
After April organized her thoughts, she began, "We will capture K, not just for the village's safety. Honestly, I couldn't care less. They were afraid of us-they should've been. We shouldn't be the ones living in fear. We can destroy them all if we wanted to."
"So let's show K and the village the devil," April continued, her voice steady and cold. "When he laughs, they will have nightmares that last forever." April then looked directly at Zero and said, "We promised to bring K to his knees, begging you for his life" She took one last breath before saying, " lets begin before they think of our ending " At the same moment her speech concluded, the sound of explosions resumed, filling the air with a surge of excitement. The energy was palpable, and everyone sprang to their feet, eager to showcase their abilities.
With a smirk that Zero noticed, D gave the signal, and in an instant, everyone disappeared, leaving Zero standing alone in an eerily quiet place. Just a moment ago, it had felt like a town bombed in a war, full of chaos and noise. Now, all that remained was a strange, unsettling silence.
Zero said, "Stop. I already have so many voices-I don't want you to imitate them too. But you know, K, I wonder if you're really inside my head, or if you just don't understand what's happening and have your own twisted interpretation of the situation."
K stammered, "W... what do you mean?
"Zero laughed, "I'm going crazy anyway. Come walk with me; I have a place I want to visit, and I'll elaborate more."K asked, "Where?"
Zero quickly replied, "My point exactly."
K said, "Anyway, I forgot to tell you why he chose April. But after what she said, I guess you understand."
Zero replied, "I do, but I don't understand her power."
"Of course you don't. You didn't even listen," K said. "She said she can give orders to everything, and it executes. Remember when she was hanging and saw those boxes and keys? She started talking to them, saying things like 'Come, please,' or to the big boxes, 'Be light' or 'Go there.' That's where her power comes from; she thinks it."
Zero felt confused, realizing he didn't remember such a detail. K added, "You were inside your mind more than being outside of it; you didn't even notice I was there."
Zero simply replied, "You're right."
K asked, "You said I have a different interpretation of the situation. What do you mean?"
Zero replied, "I nearly forgot. Look, you should be inside of my brain but you don't know what I think. But like I said, I'll elaborate either way. First, when D smirked, I knew for a fact his goals were all checked off. Then the questions start- bragging about how brilliant they were, but they weren't. My only question is: what does D want to accomplish?
He chose the middle for a reason, and April to speak, to make them feel less afraid of the village. But that wasn't the real issue. Why would they be afraid of something? Being afraid of an ant doesn't make sense. The truth is, they're afraid of themselves, of the monsters that will come out of them. By placing the fight in the middle, he ensures that the Left side will be destroyed. They wouldn't fight there because they would feel responsible for all those deaths, and of course, they would feel good about that since it's the village that made them what they are.
Secondly, April is the only one who hates the village enough. If she said, 'Well, let's rescue it,' they would all agree. That's why D chose her-to help them jump over the obstacle of thinking, 'Are we becoming our biggest fear or not?'
For some reason, everyone is obsessed with me. You might think it's to help them focus on the mission, but the real reason is that when D approached her, he told her to add that last part to shift their thinking from that terrifying thought of change to remorse. 'We should avenge Zero,' and that made their minds go blank, thinking only about how to avenge me."
K replied, "I forgot how much you like to yap. But how did you know April is the biggest hater of the village? And second, how do you know D told April to add that part?"
Zero responded, "First, back in the room, when April talked about her story, everyone felt anger or discomfort; they all rearranged their seating. Her notes and her story alone showed how deeply she felt. Secondly, it's just a hunch."
K said, "You're crazy, you know that?"Zero replied, "Agreed."
K asked, "Zero, why do you pretend like you're not seeing that thing?"
Zero paused for a moment before responding, "We've arrived."
Zero looked at the house and said, "That's my house."
K, confused, asked, "Didn't you say you got kicked out? Why did you come back?"
Zero replied, "I don't know. But everything inside and outside my body is itching for me to leave, and there's this feeling that makes my heart heavy. I don't understand if it's because it wants me to leave or if it's pulling me in."
Zero continued, "But for the first time ever, I'll go against the gravity that pulls you down harder than the Earth's-more than just a headache. But I guess I don't care anymore to think about them."
He took one last breath and hesitated as he stepped toward the house. Step by step, uncertainty gripped him until he stood in front of the door.
"Yeah, I get it," Zero said impatiently, taking another breath before finally going inside.
"An empty house... no,
"let me"
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An empty house that never experienced life. Darkness scattered everywhere. I can't believe I actually lived here one day. I don't even know how to describe this lost piece of my heart-it doesn't exist, but somehow, it still impacts me in ways I can't ignore."
i noticed a red liquid sprayed in different places. "Wait, isn't that blood? Did something happen.
"Should I care or not? What is the feeling I'm supposed to have right now?"
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K asked, "What is happening?"
Zero shook his head slightly. "I don't know, K."
As they walked deeper into the room, Zero's eyes fell on a table with four chairs. Two of them were reserved-one for Dr. Pill and the other for Carla. Confused, he muttered, "What are they doing here?"
What made it even stranger was the feeling that they couldn't see him. He reached out to touch them, but his hand passed right through them as if they weren't there.
Zero sat in one of the empty chairs, and K sat in the other, silently observing the scene.
K asked, "What is happening?"
Zero replied, "I don't know."
Meanwhile, on the other side of the village, the 29 were setting up their plan, with Yearwelv developing it even further. Beyond that, Dr. Pill and Dr. Carla were holding an urgent meeting.
Someone stood up and said, "I object to the termination of the Seven. They are more developed and control their powers far beyond anyone else. Their abilities are more useful and powerful than the 23 combined."
Another person stood up, adding, "They've never failed a single mission we've sent them on. They're the highest stealth force humanity has ever seen. And what will you do about Zero? The only reason he's still in the facility is because of them-their devotion to him is unwavering."
Dr. Pill calmly responded, "I understand your frustrations, but we haven't learned anything from the Seven. They never liked to talk or share their experiences. On the other hand, the 23 have been open, constantly talking, sleeping in one room, discussing their stories. Through that, we noticed patterns in their abilities. But when the Seven finally spoke, they made us doubt ourselves, causing hesitation to take anything we learn as concrete evidence."
Dr. Pill leaned forward and continued, "I'll give you some examples so you can understand even more."
Dr. Pill continued, "I'll try to make this as simple as possible. Imagine a lot of children, mistreated, with their hands tied and chained. At the time, to endure the unbearable torture, they tried to find a door, something-anything-to make it easier. Even if it didn't change their reality, they convinced themselves they could bear it, just to survive.
One child looked into the dark room and saw how the darkness swallowed objects, hiding them until the light returned. So, he thought, 'What if the darkness could swallow me too, make me invisible?' And that was how the void manifested.
Another looked at the objects consumed by the darkness and imagined, 'What if I could become like them-disappear for a little while? Would I still feel anything then?' And that's how invisibility was born.
Another child noticed the thin light casting shadows. In the midst of his pain, he looked at his shadow and thought, 'If I became like my shadow, maybe I wouldn't feel anything.' And that's how the power of shadow was born.
One time, they all got scared because of the lightning in the sky. But one of them fell in love with it. When he saw the lightning, he thought, 'If I could be like this powerful force, maybe nothing could touch me-maybe I wouldn't feel anything.' And so, lightning became his power.
Then, during one of their torture sessions, it began to rain, and for some reason, the tormentors paused. One of them thought, 'What if the rain fell every day? Maybe the pain would stop for good.' And that's how the power of rain came to be."
Dr. Pill paused, gathering his thoughts before continuing, "I know this is a lot to process, but I'll keep it short and focus on the oddities.
The sun-rising, blinding-nearly caused one child to lose his sight. He thought, 'If I could harness that, nobody could look at me to hurt me,' and that's how 'blast' came to be.
Another child fixated on a sword. He thought, 'If I had many of these, I could protect everyone around me,' and that's how his power-swords-manifested.
For the one we call 'Perfection,' it was different. When her hand was severed, all she could think about was being flawless, perfect to her perfection was grow back her hand-so that she'd never be vulnerable again. That's why her power manifested as the pursuit of absolute perfection.
The boy we call 'Portal' stared at a buried body. He thought, 'If I could create a hole to get inside, maybe I could find peace, like them.' But at the time, he didn't fully understand death.
'Alternate World' is self-explanatory. Then there are 'Fake' and 'Imagine,' which are similar but different. 'Fake' involves imagining something happening to another person, while 'Imagine' is more practical-manifesting physical objects, like a staircase to climb."
Dr. Pill sighed deeply, then moved on to the more unusual cases. "Now, let's talk about the odd ones: 'Rocks,' 'Linking,' 'Paralyze,' and 'Dreamwalking.'
'Linking' is peculiar. This child didn't just focus on his own pain-he saw the suffering of everyone around him, which made his own torment even worse. He thought, 'What if I could take away everyone's pain, including mine?' or maybe that large rock could bear it instead.
'Dreamwalking' is the result of a terrible combination of 'Alternate World,' 'Fake,' and 'Imagine,' but it stands apart. This child, after enduring relentless torture, would black out and escape into a dream. It was so vivid, so peaceful, that it didn't match the horror around him. His first thought was, 'What if my dreams could come true? It would put everyone at ease.' But the problem is, he can't control what his dreams will be. That's why we call it 'Dreamwalking.'
Now, to the two most tragic cases. 'Rocks' and 'Paralyze.'
For 'Rocks,' a boy managed to escape with a young girl who he started calling his sister. They found themselves in a vast desert. Unfortunately, a group of five villagers-witch hunters-spotted them. They separated the two. The boy received a brutal punch that drove him into the ground,
Dr. Pill's voice cracked as she continued, "He watched helplessly as they attacked her. Her screams for help-'Brother, help me!'-were like knives, tearing at him. He was desperate, his hands digging frantically through the sand, hoping to find something, anything, to fight back. But there was nothing. The more he dug, the more his mind unraveled. Every time he heard the sound of a blow landing on her, his heart raced, his hands moved faster, but still... there were no rocks."
Dr. Pill paused, allowing the weight of the story to settle in. "Then... it happened. A spray of liquid hit his face. He froze, his hands trembling, and when he looked up... he saw it. Blood. His sister... wasn't screaming anymore. She was still. Lifeless."
He shook his head, his eyes distant. "The men stood, wiping the blood from their shirts, their brutal work done. They walked away as if nothing had happened. The boy ran to her side, crying, but it was too late. In that moment, his grief and rage reached their peak. He imagined having rocks, endless rocks to crush them, to make them pay. And that... that's when his power first manifested. We think he was the first to develop his abilities."
Dr. Pill took a deep breath, concluding the story with a dark truth. "We found the bodies of those five men later, their heads smashed in.
Dr. Pill sighed heavily, her voice quieter now as she began the next story. "And that brings us to Paralyzed. At first glance, you might think it's self-explanatory, but... no. It's far darker than that. She spoke about a routine-how she had learned to endure the torture, become numb to the daily suffering. But then... things changed. they started to use their hands."
"It terrified her. One of the men, noticing him doing that perv action,'he said she's already cursed, continue .' She understood he was trying to offer some twisted version of comfort, but it made no sense to her. It never did."
Dr. Pill's tone darkened further. "But despite his words, the touches continued. She never got used to them. And then... one day, he became more greedy. For the first time, she completely freaked out. when one day He began undoing his pants as he stepped closer. She screamed-over and over, 'Stop! Stop!' She focused everything she had in that moment on making him stop."
SHe looked down, her voice heavy with sorrow. "She never finished telling us what happened after that. But that's pearlized...
Dr. Pill concluded, "You're all probably wondering what the point of this information is, especially when it's too much to absorb in one go. But that's exactly the point. We've had so much information that we could work with, and that's when the theory of illusion first appeared. Then came the Seven-more competent than anyone, able to wield their powers to the fullest-yet they were a contradiction that gave us nothing but headaches. They were the reason the illusion theory got rejected because they didn't fit the mold. They barely talked, and when they did, it was so little we couldn't build any solid theories from it.
What I mean is, the power of fire was calm, while water became angry easily. Invisibility, instead of being withdrawn, was the first to step in. The shadow was the role model, while the one connected to light-the one supposed to be full of energy-was the most closed-off and least adventurous. It didn't make sense, and it was driving us crazy.
The theory we had was twofold. Step one was about understanding their outward personas. Step two was the realization that their subconscious minds tried to align with that perception. For instance, when the lightning-user saw electricity, his powers upgraded subconsciously as he associated them physically. But the Seven? They remained a mystery. Until what D said yesterday gave us a key insight: they had emotions, but they overcame them when stronger feelings took over. That made them mentally stable, allowing them to master their powers without further growth.
So, the mystery is solved. The Seven won't improve any further. We don't even fully understand the origin of their powers-we only know how they work. And because of that, we can't allow the Seven to make us doubt ourselves. We can't let them go unchecked.
Thank you for listening. I know I've spoken a lot, but this information is vital and should not be overlooked."
Zero stared at the stone figures of Dr. Pill and Dr. Carla, their faces slowly losing definition until they were just vague shapes. It felt strange.
"Yeah, that's pretty weird," K said, glancing over at Zero. "But why can't we hear or see how the others are reacting?"
Zero continued. "I mean, the two who stood up before Dr. Pill, before she answered their doubts..."
"What are you talking about?" K asked, looking puzzled.
"I really hoped I'd hear their answers, not just Dr. Pill talking," Zero said.
K frowned, shaking his head. "For the last time, what are you talking about? It was Dr. Pill talking! I didn't even see Dr. Carla move."
Zero hesitated, then replied, "What I do get now is how their powers work. But she didn't say anything about protection, imitation, adding, seeing, telekinesis, voices, other being, or manipulation."
K tried to wrap his mind around it. "I think she was just trying to keep it short. Even though she said a lot, she didn't really go into detail..."
Suddenly, a voice came from behind Zero, laced with irritation. "What the hell are you doing, mistake?"
Zero turned around quickly, his calm expression shifting to anger and then to disdain within seconds. He didn't speak; his piercing gaze was enough.
The man spoke again, his voice dripping with contempt. "Answer me, you disgrace! Do you want us to get cursed?"
Inside, Zero's thoughts collided like rivals, each fighting for dominance, searching for the right response. But everything came to a halt when he noticed the old man's tear-streaked face. It was shocking to see someone like him show such raw emotion.
"Cursed?" the man said, his voice trembling. "You're the reason I...ki...my own mother! I should have listened to her! You all should have died long ago... The sisters should have died too. They were cursed!"
Zero struggled to comprehend the chaos unfolding before him. His thoughts felt scattered, like pieces of a shattered puzzle. "What are you... What did you do?
To be continued.....