The Zero Countdown

Chapter 11: Flower

Only eight players remain, four of them formed a group and despite how armed they are in facing the CEO of Goldenfang, only one of them realized the threat he impose.

The Fantasm Ability Elyon possesses predicts the most natural occurrence at the end of the mortal's journey.

Meanwhile, death is believed by many religious groups and divisions that the soul parts from the body a reminder that humanity is fragile and ephemeral, lasting for as long as the earth can sustain the way it lives.

This means no matter how strong, smart, and brave anyone becomes, they'd eventually meet their maker.

Elyon's ability can tell when their life expectancy goes to zero, except Favio's ability: Invincibility so powerful it denied the death sentence of a Fate Weaver.

What he beheld before the man amongst men above his head wasn't the countdown of his death; it was the sign of infamy to which he can never die. How his ability failing to grasp Favio's abyss is far from what he had visualized, indicating his ability has its boundary as he speculated.

"This is bad, very bad... I have a theory of how his life was on the side of infinity, but we're running out of time. You know that more than I do, Brina." Elora checks the surroundings, resolving whether there could be an ambush or an assault as they are open in the public space ideal for combat.

"She's right. Merely dawdling here could cost a precious second. We should get going and view the situation in much clearer light." Brina agreed, wasting time should be the least they should do before an upcoming fight.

"Alright! Buck up, Elyon. Immortal or not, we aren't gonna give him an easy win. For now, we should split into two groups. I'll go with Ruther, and you Brina, take care of Elyon. Both of you have a higher survival rate when teamed up. We'll return to our hotel room every 12 midnight so we can share information, understood?"

What Elora proposed was a reconnaissance of the sort, gathering data amongst people and finding out the remaining Fantasm is their top priority. Since her ability allows them to determine the identity of any Fantasm, she concluded the best strategy is to know their enemy so they can allocate their force efficiently as it should.

"O-Okay..." Elyon's transparently not in a proper mental state to fight. Even so, going onwards is their only option. They are basically dealing with the unknown, their worries should be the Fantasms hiding amongst the people living in the city, waiting for the chance to strike.

"Hey, Elyon, we all have problems and difficulties we must face. Perfection was the last thing that got caught from the edge when God showered us our blessings. But remember this, once you fail to protect her, I'll kill you with my own hands."

Ruther held Elora's hands and dragged her to the corner across the street, parting with their ways so they can fulfill the task they should accomplish as a team.

"He's a good guy. I like how he doesn't rely on his name just so he could protect his lover. So I'll no longer hamper our team just because of some numerical values!"

All of a sudden, he acts like he's regained his high sports yet deep within his eyes lies the colorless trepidation of death.

Taking his statement as his decision to move forward, Brina nodded and said, "Good. Now, as far as we know, all of us four in the team, Favio, and the guy who has Void Passage are the abilities we unveiled for now. It means there are still 3 Fantasms we haven't met."

"Does that mean our most probable target is the guy that walks through walls since we already are aware of him?" Elyon's spitting blind guess.

"No. Quite the opposite I may say." Brina brushes a few leaves that got on her head falling from the tree's crown above them. They began strolling around the park as if they were just there for the fun when they are already taking the important step towards the victory they pursue.

"Do you mean..." His eyebrows meet, he exactly thought of what Brina was about to say.

"Whatever you were about to say is correct. Is it plagiarism if I saw it from the future and said it myself? Anyways, our optimal option is to find someone aside from Favio and the wall guy and bring them down."

Brina skimmed from the immediate future and an Elyon from a different entanglement suggested they'd go for the unknown than what they are already aware of. In this way, they can have more data of their enemies and they can retreat using their abilities afterward.

"That's the problem, we have no clue who they are. Can't you look into the future and find out who are the 3 Fantasms we have known yet?" He's practically taking Brina's ability to its fullest form. Though, as what he expected, she shook her head as things from the physical world differs from that of their imagination.

"You oughta should not read too much science fiction. Future isn't what you think of, it's blurry and full of changes. If I have an analogy for it..."

"Is it that hard?"

"It's like looking into the reflection of the sea and expect seeing something at the bottom of the ocean floor. Sometimes it's clear, sometimes it's fading, but every use exhausts my body, which means even I have a limit." Brina confessed. Elyon now understands why she's keeping a few painkillers and capsules in her pocket; to mend the effects of her ability and realize her potential.

"Then we're still clueless. Striding around the city is like asking for the other Fantasm to kill us." Elyon mentioned. The mere fact they are outside in the open already puts their lives on the line, though the way Brina looked at the skies as if a bulb popped over her head indicates she has a lead.

"There is a certain Fantasm Ability that completely counters our prediction powers as far as I remember. And I think I know where the holder is based on the fragments of my memories." Her frowns while scrolling on her notes tell uncertainty, yet she's a little skeptical whether the path laid ahead of her would work out.

"We should go then. I'll follow you and assure you no one's tailing around."

It was then Elyon places his g*n in his right pocket so he can get it out and strike back when push comes to shove. Protecting her is his current priority. Gaining the courage he once lost, he looked above her head and read she isn't going to die on that day, putting his throbbing heart at ease.

And just as how she followed the desired outcome that is to her liking, she commenced going on the way that directs her to the Fantasm she specifically needed to defeat out of the rest of them.

Keeping their footsteps at the fourth avenue from where they came from, crossing the intersection and slipping amidst the seas of people who always had obeyed their monotonous daily lives.

Until Brina and Elyon had a break at a small wooden bench beside an old-fashion flower shop located in front of the crossroads.

"Ah... Why I'm having a migraine at all times? I'll wait here for a moment. The Fantasm in question should be inside that flower shop. Set aside those who are going to enter and focus your attention on the people who are already inside."

She slouches on the bench and took heavy breathes, she's smacking her face and forcibly turning up her senses expecting it would work out.

"Do you need water or something?" Elyon was worried about her. But she pushed him aside and acted tough as she had always done.

"At least do your job first before you bother me. I am the insight of the future, and you discern when it will come. You should be more confident as you are the core of our entire plan." Brina even had the time to boost Elyon's lost self-esteem. It was effective for an emotionally-sensitive guy like him.

He clenches his hands and nodded saying, "Just be here okay? I'll be back."

The chimes hanging on the door ringing from being opened marks his arrival inside the flower shop. What greeted Elyon was the sweet fragrance of the budding blossoms, an abundance of various roses, tulips, camelia, and various more are growing at the vases and the ledges on the wall in perfect condition.

However, before he appreciates the glamour of the blooming buds, Elyon immediately scans the vicinity and looked at 3 noteworthy individuals within the premises.

The first that he noticed was the male customer who's intently choosing between a rose and a camellia, thus he assumed the guy must be picking something for his lover or his significant loved ones.

The second suspect he was eyeing was the teenage high schooler the same age as Brina. She's sitting on the polka-dotted tiled floor below, admiring the little sprouts developing in a wide spherical ceramic vase placed at the left corner of the shop.

Last but not least, Elyon could never overlook the elegant woman sitting behind the counter. She's comfortably reading a book on her stool, her long hair sways like that of elegant petals, and she unexpectedly closed and hid the thing that was in her hands as soon as Elyon approaches her first as the main suspect he deems as a Fantasm.

"Welcome to Hestia Flower Shop! What might I help you today? If you are looking for a bouquet in your marriage, we have what you needed!"

The woman acted enthusiastically and all, but Elyon caught her crooking her smile for some reason. His suspicion pushes him into thinking she's hiding something.

"Are you the owner of the shop? Can I ask for a recommendation on what bouquet I should get for someone important?" Elyon courtesy played out the lies he conceived out of the blue.

"Yes, I am! If it's a bouquet you're looking for, you came to the right person."

A clouded perception lies dormant ahead, Elyon can't exactly tell who was the Fantasm and not. All he knew is that amongst 3 of them, he should kill one to survive.