### Chapter 4: The Truth Confronts
Lia's eyes were fixed on Lady Vex, her presence charged with a manipulative energy that made her want to retreat. However, the determination not to let injustice prevail fueled her courage. Arthur, at her side, seemed equally resolute, his fervent glow defying the villain's coldness.
"You have no idea what you are up against," Lady Vex said, her lips curled into a sinister smile. "The world you wish to destroy is sustained by the worship of those who believe in heroism. Now, lose yourselves in the shadow of what you truly are."
One of the security guards stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Lia and Arthur, who were bracing themselves for the worst. Lia took a deep breath, her mind racing with possibilities as, in a quick gesture, she hid the documents under the table.
"We have no time to argue with you," Lia replied, each word heavy with the urgency of the situation. "Let's show the city what's going on in this place." Without hesitation, she turned to the control panel, ready to start the live broadcast. But before she could press the button, Lady Vex raised her hand, making the energy in the room tense like a wire about to snap. "I won't let you do this," Lady Vex said, the sweetness in her voice replaced by a dark tone. "You're not the only one with abilities, my dear." Then, like a flash of lightning, Lady Vex struck, her power of mental manipulation manifesting in a wave of energy. Lia felt a pressure on her mind, as if invisible hands were pushing at her emotions and thoughts, trying to distract and destabilize her. "Concentrate!" Arthur shouted, pushing himself in front of Lia. "Your tricks won't work!" The connection between Lia and Arthur was unbreakable, and she took a deep breath, using her strength to push away Lady Vex's influence. With a firm gesture, she encased the metal around the room in a protective shield, a barrier of protection that pulsed with her energy.
The creation of a sudden wave of metal caused the villain to flinch slightly, surprise written all over her face. "Impressive. But you can't stop us alone."
"I'm not alone," Lia said, finding strength in Arthur's presence. They were on the same page, and the spark of rebellion she had ignited had grown stronger.
"An act of bravery, but far from enough," Lady Vex said, smiling again. "Those who light the path of heroism will not be diminished by mere insurgents."
The guards, ready to act, were instructed to approach. But Lia quickly turned to the control panel, the characters of the broadcast file still flashing in front of her. If they could just access it, they could make a difference.
"Arthur, we need time. Divert their attention!"
He waved, and then decided to attack. Using his holograms, he created duplicates of himself that spread across the room, confusing the security guards. One of them turned to the real Arthur, but he had already darted off to reassemble the circuits.
"You must hurry, Lia, let's see how they handle this!" Arthur shouted, as the glowing holograms danced and the security guards panicked, not knowing who to focus on.
Lia felt a surge of hope. If they did this in a coordinated fashion, they might have a chance! She dove into the panel, frantically typing in a code to access the live feed. Everything seemed to line up: the party, the Captain's speech, the lies that were about to be exposed.
The monitor flashed into a clear image of the party, highlighting Captain Virtue in a majestic pose, now oblivious to the real battle going on around him. Lia then found the live broadcast button. She settled into a comfortable position, her finger hesitating for a moment over the button. At that moment, Lady Vex's psychic pressure intensified, like a cloak of shadows trying to suffocate her will. "Do you really think the people will believe you? They need heroes, not an uprising!" "They need truth," Lia replied, her voice firm. "And we will show them!" With a decisive movement, she pressed the button. Images of the classified documents began to unfold on the screen, revealing the dark secrets the superheroes were trying to hide. The data on manipulation and control, on the atrocities committed in the name of "security." "What… what's going on?" said one of the security guards, distracted by the screen, while Arthur took the opportunity to knock the next one down, creating more chaos.
The images began to resonate throughout the gala, and guests began to stop and stare, confused and alarmed. The applause that had previously filled the room turned to silence of fear as the truth began to seep into people's minds.
"You can't do this!" Lady Vex shouted, her expression changing from confidence to despair. "VYou won't make it!"
"Yes, we will," Lia said, her heart pounding with each word. Adrenaline surged through her, fueling her determination. The shadows were fading, and the lights of truth began to shine on the way.
The tension had reached its peak, but amidst the chaos, the revolution was in full swing. Lia "Ferro" Campos and Artur "Trickster" Mendes were about to change everything, and the city of Neo-Light would never be the same again. The flame of rebellion was beginning to burn, and the fight for freedom and justice had finally begun.