CHAPTER 13 : STAR OF HOPE

"Dodge!" commanded Kyoko as she and Nasuha were running away. Nasuha looked back with wide eyes, a crocodile-bodied monster with two heads was chasing them, its crocodile tail swung toward Nasuha.Purple lightning surrounded Kyoko, and she quickly grabbed Nasuha and dodged the swing of the crocodile's tail. They were dragged to the side, Nasuha looked terrified and stared at the floor while Kyoko faced the monster before them."I think I understand your problem," sighed Kyoko.The two crocodile heads turned toward them, both having long necks like snakes, with faces resembling Syauqi and Hanna, looking serpent-like."Liar! Liar! Liar!" The tail of the monster had Syahir's head; the monster advanced again toward Kyoko and Nasuha, swinging its tail violently. Kyoko took Nasuha and dodged again, the attack destroyed several rooms on the lower floor of the school."I can't. My stomach... feels heavy..." Nasuha trembled. Kyoko observed her condition and then sighed deeply. The monster turned both its heads toward them, a sinister smile etched on its face."Who are they?" Kyoko asked."They... bullied me... Made my life a nightmare at school. Ruined my relationship with my dad..." Nasuha held her head in both hands, and Kyoko stood in front of her, then raised her right hand forward."You're afraid of them so much that they take on monstrous forms in your mind. Nasuha, you have to fight them; that's the key to controlling my power." Mei's voice echoed. Kyoko's lightning formed into a bow, and she pulled back the string, then a hot arrow was created from her lightning power."Mei, I don't think she can hear you right now!" Kyoko shouted as the monster opened its mouth wide and prepared to pounce on them. Nasuha remained frozen, just bowing her head and holding her head. Kyoko released her lightning arrow, striking the monster and delivering a high voltage shock."That should stop it for a moment. Phew." Kyoko sighed, her fingers that had released the arrow were smoking. Both heads and the tail of the monster fell, unconscious."Nasuha, we don't have much time. I can't kill that thing with my power. Besides, you need to fight it so you can control your power." Kyoko urged."Khai... Help me..." Nasuha pleaded. Kyoko's brow furrowed."Hey! That guy isn't here right now. You can't rely on others to save you all the time. Out there, there are many more terrible people who are going to hurt you, monsters that are going to kill you! If you want to save others, learn to save yourself first." Kyoko gently pulled Nasuha's shirt and looked at her with a stern expression."What do you know? You don't know what I'm going through." Nasuha retorted."That's right. I don't know anything, which is why I can be the one to say this to you. Don't be a coward!" Kyoko said, causing Nasuha to fall silent for a moment."Shhhhh! Where are you going? Nasuhaaaaa!""No oneeee will be on your side!"The monster woke up again, the voices of Syauqi and Hanna sounding mocking and gruff. Nasuha finally stood up, clenched her fists, and looked at the monster."If you hate them, shoot them. Aren't you frustrated? Being weak all this time, being a coward all this time. We all have our own fears; what separates someone is whether they dare to face their fears or continue to be cowards and run away," Kyoko urged. Nasuha aimed both her hands forward and closed her eyes."Star Beam!"Nothing came out.The tail of the monster swung toward them again; Kyoko pushed Nasuha away, and they both ducked to avoid the tail. Several rooms were shattered again, and the building began to shake, nearly collapsing."Raaaarrrghhh!" The relentless swings of the monster's tail targeted Kyoko and Nasuha; they could only dodge while Kyoko countered some attacks using her lightning powers."It's not working! I've faced them already!" Nasuha sighed as she dodged and ran."How would I know! The rules of this dimension aren't clear! There's something we're overlooking!" Kyoko replied before catching Nasuha to avoid a stomp from the monster."Mei, what's wrong!? Her power isn't coming out at all!" Kyoko asked."I wish I knew why. It's hard to probe Nasuha's mind with five other minds I have to control," Mei sighed. In the real world, she appeared sweaty and flushed. Chyou sat nearby, wiping Mei's sweat and placing a cold pad on her forehead.Back to the Mind Dimension,The monster in Nasuha's dimension stopped attacking. Nasuha took the opportunity to aim both her hands forward, wanting to use Star Beam again, but nothing came out. She gritted her teeth and then bowed her head in defeat."I don't understand at all... Why am I useless? I can't even release this power. I thought something would change? That I could be someone useful? I'm stupid! I'm utterly useless." Nasuha looked at her palms, clenched them tightly until her long nails dug into her skin, causing blood to flow."Nasuha, don't give up," Mei urged."Enough already. I don't want to do this anymore. I give up... I just want to lock myself away so I don't bother anyone anymore." The faces of Khairul and Ehsan played in Nasuha's mind, and the monster in front of her moved again, its two heads wrapping around Nasuha, a sinister smile etched on their faces."Really... A worthless girl like you...""Indeed... not worthy of anything... good..." whispered the heads of Syauqi and Hanna in their monstrous forms, their eyes fixated on Nasuha, seemingly enjoying her misery. Kyoko watched from afar, sighing deeply."Just get her out of the Mind Dimension for now. She can't do it, Mei. If she gets too stressed, I'm afraid she might become a Stray," Kyoko said, looking up at the sky, where Mei and Rose appeared giant from Kyoko's perspective."Khairul has successfully controlled his power. He accepted the will, remember what Sui'ra said, Mutant Cells have their own characteristics; they are living microorganisms as well. Respond to your will, Nasuha," Mei instructed. Nasuha sat weakly, with the heads of Syauqi, Hanna, and Syahir whispering harsh words in her ears. Her eyes were vacant, devoid of emotion...I should have just jumped that day...I shouldn't have even met you, Khai.Why do I hope so much? Every time I think something will change, I'm always hit by reality.I'm just so useless..."What happened in the past? You can't do anything about it anymore. Khairul, you have a reason now; don't die, you want to protect Nasuha, right?""Huh?" Nasuha looked up as Khalid's voice echoed. Khairul's Mind Dimension appeared in the sky above Nasuha's Mind Dimension."You're right. I can't die again; Nasuha asked me not to die again. That's why I'm alive now." Khairul seemed to be gazing at Nasuha, their eyes meeting."Do you really love her, Nasuha?""Maybe.""Hah... haha..." Nasuha smiled and then chuckled softly, tears streaming down her face. Slowly, she stood up again while Kyoko crossed her arms and exhaled deeply."Oh... to be young and in love, that's enough, huh?" Kyoko sighed."Wh-who do you think you are...?""Liar! Liar! Liar!""Weak! All of this is your fault!"The whispers of the monsters didn't stop, and Nasuha covered her ears and eyes, taking a deep breath. Suddenly, the clouds obscuring Nasuha's Mind Dimension scattered, revealing a sky adorned with stars."Mom! I want to see Ms. Star!"When I was little, I loved that cartoon. Ms. Star was beautiful; I adored her, her powers all shone brightly. I loved watching it when I was a child.I want to be stronger... I don't want to be a coward anymore.You made a promise, right, Nasuha? He's your Mantis, and you will be Ms. Star for him..."Look at my light! Under this dark sky, I will shine it with hope! No evil will go unnoticed; I will bring justice!" Nasuha soared into the air, beams of light from the stars shining down on her, her entire outfit glowing. Her short hair lengthened, glowing at the tips.When she opened her eyes, the same light illuminated them. A glowing star symbol appeared on Nasuha's chest."Power similar to Khalid's, huh? Bringing fiction into reality..." Kyoko remarked.The monster resumed its attack, swinging both heads at Nasuha, but she held both heads with her glowing palms empowered by her abilities."I hate your face, Syauqi! Not even my type!" Nasuha lifted the monster, spinning it and throwing it toward the school building, causing it to collapse.Her hands aimed again at the monster, which was weakened under the debris."And, Hanna... I don't give a damn about your boyfriend!" Nasuha shouted, light swirling and gathering in her palms."Star Beam!" The beam of light finally burst forth from Nasuha's palms, hitting the monster directly, driving it into the ground and dragging it away, launching the creature far off.Nasuha soared in the air, her glowing hair blowing in the wind along with her attire. She looked magnificent."How does it feel, Ms. Star?" Kyoko asked."I can't really explain it. But I feel this power. The energy of light surrounds my body. I can move it, control it, and release it." Nasuha replied, moving her hands, producing small bursts of light followed by tiny stars."That's your Mutant power; when you use it, you become Ms. Star," Kyoko explained. Nasuha smiled and then looked at Kyoko."Thank you for helping me.""Don't mention it. This is just the first phase of training. You really think you can control your power, but can you truly use it in battle and work with your teammates?" Kyoko questioned. Nasuha paused for a moment, descending slowly from the sky and landing on the ground.The light surrounding her body faded, and her long hair returned to its short length. Nasuha clenched her fists and smiled again."You've successfully completed the first phase of your training. Congratulations, Khairul and Nasuha. Now you understand the basics of recognizing and controlling your power; it feels like you were born with that power, right? But in reality, you're not..." Mei explained, bringing Khairul and Nasuha's Mind Dimensions closer together, merging them into one dimension.Now, the Mind Dimension transformed into a highway with cars scattered everywhere and damaged roads. Khairul and Nasuha stood nearby while Khalid and Kyoko faced them."Nasuha... Are you okay?" Khairul asked."I'm okay," Nasuha replied, nodding slowly. Khairul then looked toward Khalid and Kyoko, where Khalid was leaning on his sword, and Kyoko was gathering lightning around her hands."For the second phase, your training is to fight using your powers. This is the long phase. Can you handle two Mutants who can control their powers? Can you work together to fight the Strays? This is your real challenge; can you control your desires?" Mei's eyes opened in the real world. Chyou fed her some water and checked her temperature. It had reached 38 degrees Celsius. Mei exhaled deeply and closed her eyes again."We can't show any mercy anymore. In the battle between you and the Strays, it's a fight for survival. The Strays have lost their humanity; their Mutant Cells have fully taken over their brains. They won't show any mercy, so we can't give you even a single chance," Khalid explained, pointing his sword at Khairul and Nasuha."I have no problem. I can let out my frustration after you see something you shouldn't have in my mind." Khalid clenched both his hands, and two blades emerged from his arms, a small smile on his face."This fight isn't personal, Nasuha. Think of it as practice; I won't bully you," Kyoko added, lightning swirling around her body and hands."I won't show any weaknesses again either." Nasuha's eyes glowed, and luminous hair sprouted from behind her as she slowly began to fly into the air.Khalid struck first, charging toward Khairul with his sword swinging. Khairul parried, their faces facing each other. Khalid's expression was hidden behind his mask, while Khairul's fierce face was clearly visible.Khalid unleashed a barrage of attacks toward Khairul. Despite wearing heavy armor, he moved quickly. Khairul blocked everything, but he suffered a scratch on his leg; Khairul's blade could only graze Khalid's armor."Is that all you've got, Khairul!?" Khalid's heavy sword swing pushed Khairul back."You're hiding behind your armor!" Khairul shouted angrily."The enemies out there won't even think about fighting a fair match. You know that yourself; you always fight fairly or just to win!?" Khalid jumped, forcing Khairul to parry his attack and preventing him from moving by pressing his sword against Khairul's blade."You won't truly die in the Mind Dimension. I'll kill you until you can kill me," Khalid said."It turns out you have a bad side too, hero," Khairul replied with a bitter smile."I'm still human, Khairul... There's darkness in my heart too," Khalid responded.