The Zero Countdown

Chapter 26: Newfound goal

"Let's get this over with. We should sleep early as we're exhausted, physically and mentally."

Elyon casually saddled himself on the sofa. Brina served him a glass of water and handed it to him since she's getting one for herself anyways.

Both of the pair returned to their lodgings in the Silverfolsage Hotel according to what they agreed.

They specifically all stayed in Elora and Ruther's room so they can look out after one another, otherwise spending in a separate place calls for an act of distrust that might cause internal strife, which Brina thought based on the future she already had seen.

"So, what happened to him? He's suddenly aloof and cold now. Did something change his outward manners?"

Elora's confused about how fast Elyon went from an indecisive fellow to a stern guy who efficiently discerns the importance of time more than what they could have comprehended.

Little did they know he experienced a thousand years of recollections in mere seconds. His values drastically altered, so too his goals and objectives as he remain still in the game.

"Forget him. Reality struck his head so hard he recently realized how serious the Zero Countdown really is, after all, this is what we get for agreeing with a demon's will."

Brina reasoned out. She clearly has an idea of what made Elyon awaken his independent choices, but she keeps important details to herself for her to take an extra step above everyone else.

The tension between them became rather stiff, Ruther noticed the things Elyon have fetched and placed on an available table, inspecting whether it's worth the risk of taking such a thing over the chance of them getting sent to jail.

"He brought a puny little lavender along the way, I can understand since they smell nice. But what's with this stupid-looking doll? You guys were almost chased by the police because—"

With Ruther ridiculing the doll by seizing the toy's ears and spinning it around like a disposable trinket, his awareness spike adrenaline upon unexpectedly hearing a c*****g g*n behind.

"Bring Dionsy down at once. I don't want to tell anyone I killed a man because of the doll you called stupid." Elyon couldn't forgive anyone who attempt to disvalue Madela's precious friend.

They could think he has lost his sanity for getting triggered for a trivial object, but for him, he knew that the doll is Madela's everything amidst the hopelessness she endured. It's the only proof of her strength for overcoming a wall she alone can't climb.

"I'd bring that doll if I were you." Brina even warned Ruther of the consequences if he continued disrespecting the toy not knowing where it came from.

He looked at Elora first, she nodded and gestured to not play with fire so he slowly lowered his hand and place the doll on the table safe and sound.

"Alright, chill. You can just say it's an important thing. No need to aim a g*n at anyone in a crucial time." Ruther isn't afraid of any firearms. He's considering what's the best course of action to bring Elora away from any danger lurking around them.

"Fair enough." Elyon took the doll and kept it near the sofa where he comfortably hunched after running past four avenues. He's merely showing he will pull the trigger if they go against him, after all, he can alter the time above their head in his will.

"I'll apologize for Ruther's inconsiderate action, Elyon. But now's not the time to bicker among ourselves. Let's exchange information for now, and tell us how you somehow conquered the Time Keeper you speak in greater detail." Elora suggested and they all agreed in stillness.

As Elyon isn't in the mood for a talk, Brina further filled Elora and Ruther with the events concerning Madela, the true Time Keeper, and how they somehow miraculously defeated her dominion over the repeating moment.

"But Elyon said earlier that she willingly gave her life. Do you know the reason why she easily gave up? We could have abducted her and made use of her power since theoretically—"

Elora ceased her advice when Brina tapped her shoulder and shook her head, implying the answer she's delving into has obvious connections to her drastic change in his overall behavior.

"Technically, we were stuck for countless years inside her world but we would never know because we're one of the possible iterations of ourselves. Regardless of the possibility, you're implying, killing the Time Keeper is the only choice we can take to overcome the broken reality. This reality we are living is now our world, the order is in effect, and moving forward is our clear intention."

Clearing any misunderstanding that could arise questions, Brina covered any misconception in her statement so far, as well as elucidating the choices rather than the outcome itself.

She also wanted the Time Keeper dead since it's the only Fantasm Ability that completely devoid her ability, Fortune Teller, except Favio's power. The manipulation of time alone redirects the arrow of time and thus, distorts the result she can observe in the future.

"As for what happened on our side... We did a reconnaissance pertaining to our second problem besides Favio, the Bearer of Fantasm Ability: Psychic Insight. Since you guys eliminated the Time Keeper, that's actually a big achievement so far, which diminished a little burden on our back."

Elora started telling their findings, including their next target amongst the remaining 7 Fantasms including themselves.

"Hm... Psychic? So you already know the identity of the bearer perhaps?" Brina wondered. Her face was still glued on her smartphone's screen despite sharing a substantial discussion.

"Her name's Samantha Madden. She's a student just like you and is working a part-time job at a nearby fast-food restaurant as a cashier."

Elora heard the microwave beeping so she took out the instant pizza they're all having as dinner for that night. They mostly choose instant food as sustenance, since cooking something nutritious is inefficient as they are mostly lacking in time.

Plus, they are considering when an enemy will strike, and the last thing they'd want to happen is getting caught alive while having a hotpot together.

The four of them snatched a slice of their dinner and ate their fill, after all, an empty stomach could deter their performance and survival at once.

"So you two engaged a fight with Samantha then?" Brina guessed. She shamelessly grabbed the last slice as Elora preps the second box into the microwave because she's still famished, and she can tell the rest are on the same boat.

"Not really," Ruther answered.

"Then how come you learned about her ability? Isn't Elora's Truth Foresight needed a certain range for her to determine the Fantasm Ability of a player?" Brina poured water into her glass and drank in straight fast.

"Well, our encounter is kinda odd. I was actually craving for fries at that time and we came to the nearest fast-food restaurant we can find only to find out the server I'm talking to is a Fantasm." Elora served them the second box of pizza, and Brina was the first to get a slice she even juggled the piece in her hands because it's still piping hot.

"Does she know you're a Fantasm yourself?" Elyon asked just to show he's immersed in their exchange.

"Not really. She basically doesn't know since she didn't react when we ordered. And as for how we know her name, well, we can see from her nameplate, but Ruther did his thing and secretly extracted confidential data from that restaurant's computer system, including her address and actual name."

Elora brought out the bottle of wine she's keeping cold in the fridge, along with a wine glass from the shelves above the sink; she's planning to get drunk even though they should be resting for tomorrow.

"That's a nice and fearsome hacking skill you have," Elyon commented.

"Yeah. It's really nice to hear that from a guy that pointed a g*n at me." Ruther glared at him sharply. He acknowledged that their earlier trifle was his fault but yet can't forgive him for trying to take his head with him.

That's why Elora yanked his hotheaded lover and saddled him between his lap, serving a cold glass of wine to let him cool off.

"Guys, enough is enough. And as for you Elyon, never let anger define your actions. Overconfidence always ends badly. It's true Ruther here didn't understand the significance of the things you brought, but is really worth someone's life? Think again."

And Elora entered between them, dispersing the ongoing tension and distrust, dousing the reign of resentment before it burns the camaraderie they established.

The mere fact at least four Fantasms agreed to team up together until they defeated Favio and the rest is an occurrence the Unknown Entity didn't anticipate, for he or she clearly desired chaos in exchange for a false hope they are all striving to attain.

"I apologize for losing my cool. That isn't like me at all." Elyon confessed his wrong.

"I... I'm sorry for disgracing that doll. If trampling on that small toy is what I have done, I'm no different than my father, which I don't like at all when I think about it."

Ruther's pretty lightweight. The redness spread on his cheeks and him getting slightly drunk somehow worded out his mistake.

Amidst the melodramatic setting taking over the room, Brina chuckles with slices of pizza both in her hands.

"What a jest. Is this how adults handle their mistakes? You guys are something."

Being the youngest among the group, Brina can't help but get goosebumps from their speech. She knew adults had a lot going on in their heads, but she's rather impressed they can actually get soft sometimes.

"Silence. Youth these days doesn't know when to shut their mouth." Elyon provokes her.

"What? Do I hear a yapping old man from the background?" Brina silenced him real hard he filled his glass with the wine Elora and Ruther were enjoying.

"Alright, alright. Cease the childish remarks. Going back to Samantha, I am certain she's keeping tabs on the people around her since she's counting the people who ordered in her line and possibly remembering their faces." Elora pivots their topic and resumed discussing what they should do.

"Hm... The fact she can work in public and in a fast-food restaurant signifies she's confident in her ability. Psychic ability is quite overpowered in fiction so we should be careful." Elyon mentioned. The rest agreed with a nod.

"So our goal tomorrow is pretty simple. Gather further information and corner her. When the time comes, we will strike."

Now that they have a newfound goal to accomplish, their team spent the night in a blast and relished the lasting enjoyment before their relaxation time runs out.