Phoniex Part 3

Having five different superpowers is a fancy way of saying I'm at 20% at any given time. That was way before the power fluctuations, though, so 20 can turn to a five or ten fast. Which means every move has to get planned accordingly and decisively. And as much I hate sense mode, I knew I had to use it. Sense mode is kind of like going to a packed death metal concert.

If you don't brace yourself for absolute craziness, then you're in for an overload. But, despite lacking power, it more than made up for it in terms of versatility. The electromagnetic spectrum, chemicals, vibrations in the immediate vicinity hell, even life signs are visible to me, getting more intense the closer I look.

However, bask too long in that sensory information, and you can quickly lose yourself in it, leaving you stunned or overwhelmed in the middle of the battlefield. Which means I have to devote everything to my target.

Once again, I used the three principles in my mind, and thankfully I was once again lucky. At once, my balance on the police car was far more perilous, but I didn't focus on the chilling wind but instead on the upgraded truck. I've met the mayor's daughter before, so I recognized her life sign in the front of the car; however, what was even more surprising was my enemy's life signs.

The difference in auras was like comparing a toy poodle to a freaking Doberman. I got confused for a second till I noticed the black vials in a pocketed black sash around the waist of my wolf friend. The main symbol on said sash was a wolf face with outstretched electricity and black wings. It took a second to recognize the drug, but I realized this fight would be a lot harder once I did.

A couple of drugs manipulate powers, but if I had money, I bet this was the latest one that has made its home in Krimo: Rev. Short for revved up, and depending on how much they've taken, it is talking may not be an option. However, before I could even think of that as an option, that man's words ringed in my head.

"You can't save what's already broken, Omna, just like how you can't save them."

Those words fueled my resolve even more, as I know now more than ever that no matter the cost, I had to try. Because no matter what this superhuman society throws at us, we're still all human. We all get angry, get scared, hate, and make mistakes which is why we deserve the chance to fall and rise, just like a phoenix.

And like the mighty bird itself, I flapped over amidst a barrage of covering fire. The wolf-like man dodged the shots like it was a game, all while preparing another thunderous sonic blast. Instinctively I signaled Girder to brace himself as I used what little power I had to re-enter flight mode and build up the power like a rocket.

Girder's car spiraled through the air but remained steady as I, unfortunately, was also sent flailing through the air. I was again about to lose composure for a second but instead used the insane strategy as an advantage, flapping through the flailing in periodic bursts that let me pick up speed and spin.

The world around me spun like a metal top, most people wouldn't be able to tell left and right, but I'm not most people. So, like a hawk, I kept my eyes on the prize. Once in range, I kick flipped back into a steady glide as we came face to face. However, I was a tick faster, tying up the world man in a powerful headlock that diverts the blast towards the sky above.

Before I could even think of using it to my advantage, the wolfman already recovered, pushing me off and separating us both with his longer reach. We both shared the same breath of relief as we collected ourselves amongst the blurring surroundings and thunderous wind.

"I'm all for talking, but maybe we can do that without hurting our boys in blue!"

"Well, I might as well give them something to fear, right?! They want the monster, and I'll happily give it to him!" he said with a crazed expression.

"No one likes to feel fear; it just happens in this city. And I bet if we call this thing off and just talk, we give them less reason to."

"And why the hell would I do that?"

"Because their words don't define you, and your actions don't have to either," I said wholeheartedly.

A quiet silence enveloped the roaring vehicle. From there, I scanned his face and tried to see it the second he gave up and thought it through. But then again, when was the last time I've ever seen that face?

A year, maybe two, hell, maybe 10? Either way, it seems like forever ago when I showed someone a better path. So much so I recognized the millisecond when someone decided words won't have any power. The wolf's face grew hungrier and more vicious in an instant, human-like hatred mixed in with predatory intent to the point where my aura got seriously challenged.

"Here's the thing, though lady, I spent almost my entire life in cages, and I'm not going to wait around in another one," he said with his many scars showing as he closed in with vicious intent.

Like a leveled spear, the wolfman closed his claws and aimed them at my head at breakneck speed. From there, I realized just how cornered I was. Not only do I have to keep myself balanced, but I also have to move sluggishly even to keep up consciously. So do I run the risk and change modes? No, not when I don't know what I'm going to get. Which means I have to rely on flight modes' best and brightest aspects.

The stance is almost always the most critical aspect of most attacks, like punches and kicks. Without that, even a hit truly has no real power. But if you're not limited to the ground and can generate your torque and "surface," then your attacks become limitless. That freedom is what I counted on here as I jumped to the left, and before I even touched back down on the vehicle, I unleashed a backspin kick to his head.

The blow carried through and staggered, but it still has no effect even with the mode's added striking power. Which means I had to try and get risky. The wolfman attempted to do a large sweep in anger, but I decided to levitate myself parallel to the ground and engaged in a significant sweeping motion. Then, with the beast now completely in mid-air, I unleashed the fastest torque I could muster.

Like a rocket, I tore through the top of the trailer like it was wet tissue paper. I put in just enough restraint to keep us from falling through. As we subtly bounced upon the landing, I tried to close in with an upcoming volley. But before my fist could even connect, my dominant right arm got restricted.

With the power of a deranged rubber band, the tendril quickly grows taunt. And before I could even counterattack, the tendril started to light up like a taser, lighting up the dark trailer just enough to see a flashing image of the same pocketed black sash. Reflexively I tried to counterattack, but I was far too late as I got shocked out of the truck.

Thousands of crippling volts hit my entire body like a whip, leaving me utterly limp as time slowed down to a painful crawl along my descent. Before gravity took a complete hold over my body, Grider came in with the save, adjusting the speed and angle of the hovercar just enough to catch me without the breaking of bones.

Still, all that got left was a numbing pain as soon my eyes readjusted to see my final opponent. Like a solar eclipse, the figure's presence seemed to block out the entire sun itself as from the sky above; they made her presence known with those large black archangel-like wings of theirs.

As both a statement and an attack, those same wings livened up in a light purple glow as the feathers peeled off their body until they formed into a giant glowing form of the earlier wolf symbol. Then, with one subtle snap of their fingers, the "M" instantly dispersed into a storm of Explosive quills detonating against every hovercraft insight.

They were strong yet precise, instantly destroying the thrusters of every vehicle, forcing us all into a perilous free fall from dozens of feet up. Even though the rushing wind, my tired body tried to respond. Flight, speed, strength, I called upon any damn mode that could help us. But instead, it only answered back in aching throbs, jutting out bulging out in muscles and short jolts of electricity.

A slight hint of blood got coughed up in the struggle, realizing now all too well that the three principles meant jack shit. Because even after years of daring heroics, even though I try to hide it all through the jokes and smiles: I just don't want to die. And that fear petrified me so much that I traveled back in time to the same powerless victim I once was, or more accurately still am.

The foolish girl who got punished for trying, attempting to make this world at least a little bit fairer, a little more human in a world of the inhuman; however, before I could die with that mistake, I was saved at the last minute by my hero.