________________________________________________________

!ERROR! REPAIR NEEDED. LV2 DEVICE REQUIRED.

Skill List:

Kanji (lv0): Aspect of Energy: Electricity, Thermal.

{Skill points: !ERROR!}

[Full destructive power limit: Village]

Skills: [1. Infuse/Absorb] [2. Energy travel] [3. Energy trail] [4. Energy bolt] [5. Energy wave] [6. Energy blade] [7. Energy shield] [8. Energy dual conduit] [9. Energy healing]

Inventory: Geographic sphere, mechanical soap, spyware device, tungsten-infused nanotech silver chain, tech tablet (Portal) (Hide, Input, Output, Convert, Compress), night vision goggles.

Claire (lv0): Aspect of Creation

Skills: [1. Create (Slots: 5)]

Inventory: Black cloak, crossbow, crossbow bolt (modified with rotatenium), ammo pouch, Fanfics, mechanical soap, a spyglass.

David (lv0): Aspect of Form

{Skill points: !ERROR!}

[Range limit: Self]

Skills: [1. Expand (x2)] [2. Spikefacation] [3. Delay (1-10s)] [4. Shieldfacation] [5. Trigger] [6. Transform pattern Wave] [7. Net Transform] [8. Whip transform] [9. Blend around]

Inventory: Iron bat, AK -47, mechanical soap.

Amelia (lv0): Aspect of Reality

{Skill points: !ERROR!}

[Attack type: illusion] [Attack range: x3 field of view]

Skills: [1. Third-person vision] [2. Blurring Mirage] [3. Double] [4. Connect] [5. Vision Swap] [6. Disguise] [7. Flash Mirage] [8. False movement] [9. False Touch]

Inventory: Frying Pan, knife, mechanical soap.

Sarah (lv0): Aspect of Fiction

[Skill access: 1 skill for each item] [Conjured item 1]

Inventory: Mechanical soap, Nezha’s leopard bag (Nezha’s ring), a shovel.

Noah (lv0): Aspect of Emotion

Skills: [Emotion infusion] (Emotional requirement: High)

Inventory: Gilded axe, mechanical soap, a sharpening stone.

Diana (lv0): Aspect of Law

{Laws unlocked: Law of Friction} {Limit: Only manipulate small values}

Inventory: Mechanical soap, a pickaxe.

Adrian (lv0): Aspect of Knowledge.

{Connected Minds} {Info Extraction} [Limit: half of basic info}]

Inventory: Mechanical soap. rope.

Azan (lv0): Aspect of Change.

{Limitation: 1. Follow under the concept “change” only. 2. Changes under other aspects require hand holding.}

Change slot: 1

Inventory: Metal suitcase.

Mina (lv0): Aspect of Time

{Limitations: 4 skills (Currently).}

Skills (!ERROR!) (Auto Input Activated): |1. Aging| |2. Time Exchange|

Inventory: A machete.

________________________________________________________

A young lady dozes within her pod unaffected by the air seeping in as her pod opens. A hand reaches out and...

?? "Wah! What's going-

She raises her head and sees a familiar face.

?? "Relax Mina, it's okay. You just passed out yesterday because of your trypophobia."

Mina "Oh... gosh. My head is a bit dizzy. So... what did I miss, Azzy?"

Azan "Okay... let's start from when you passed out....."

He tells her all the interactions between Gwen and the group during the previous day.

Mina "Um... what? I don't get it."

She gave him a confused look and stuck her legs out of them out. Mina's feet touch the ground and she jolts at how strange it felt.

Azan "Ok, you don't need to know much about the scientific side of things. Just know that she created the dimension we were in. But you don't have to worry. it's a good thing she destroyed it."

Mina "I can understand that much for sure. Golly, glad that place is gone!"

Mina stretches her arm out and looks around the room. Her body shivers from the freezing air. She tries to warm herself up by hugging herself.

Azan smiles and grabs a coat lying near her cryopod.

Azan "Here, wear this. Gwen was nice enough to put one of these near each of the cryopods."

Mina "Thank you, Azzy!"

She puts it on and starts walking to the other cryopods. She looks inside the ones closest to hers, it seems everyone is still asleep. Then her eyes focus on the two cryopods placed in the far left corner of the room. They appear to be empty, so she curiously marches over there. Azan follows right behind her.

Mina "These two are empty!"

Azan "Right, Kanji told me that he and Claire had some business to deal with inside his portal. I didn't know what that meant and wasn't paying much attention. The next thing I knew... they were gone. I didn't even see the portal-

A portal cracks open between Claire and Kanji's cryopod. Two individuals step out and become startled when they see Azan and Mina.

Kanji "Oh... Umm... I see that you're both awake."

Azan "Suspicious. What were you two doing in there?"

Claire "We were just... interrogating. Yeah! Interrogating someone!"

Mina "But Claire. Why are you and Kanji sweaty? And why is your hair so messy?!"

Claire "Umm... we were exercising. Also, I didn't know torturing someone would be hella stressful."

Azan "Wait, you guys were torturing someone! Is it that cultist girl? What method did you use?"

Kanji "Well, let's just say that she was quite ticklish."

Azan "Ah, got it! So what info did you get?"

Kanji "Barely! Someone wiped her memories. It was a complete waste of time. Oh, one more thing. Claire wants to give you guys something."

She hands each of them a mechanical soap.

Azan "Is this a kind of tradition?"

Kanji "Nah, we just got into the habit. That's all."

Suddenly an alarm goes off.

All the cryopods open up and the other wielders emerge and they all gather around Kanji with sleepy faces.

Hiss.

The sound of gas comes from the door behind and gears begin to turn, opening to the world outside. A beautiful sight of the tropical island is right before their eyes.

They aren't so sleepy anymore.

Stunned by the view, they couldn't muster a single word. The group steps out to calm and a refreshing gust of air and finds themselves at ease. They are standing on a cliff overseeing a clear crystal blue lake.

The sounds of rushing waters catch their attention, so they look to the right to see a huge waterfall just a few steps away.

Dave "Guys... this is so beautiful, man. It can a grown man cry, bro."

Diana "Shut it, Icarus. You're ruining the moment."

?? "You know. I'm really happy everyone likes it. This island cost me 50 million dollars you know."

They look back and see that someone is standing on top of the room. What they find stranger is that there is nothing else there but that single room.

This puzzles them, but then their eyes revert toward the girl sitting on top of the structure. She hops off to greet her friends.

Gwen "Looks like everyone's vital is 100 percent stable. Whew! The procedure went well."

Kanji "Gwen, how did we get here? Like to this island... Wait, scratch that. I think I know the answer."

He jumps to where she was sitting and sees a familiar technology attached to it.

Kanji "This is my teleporter! I see that you used it to transfer everyone to your privately owned island. Also, where is this place anyway?! I can't find it on any geological records."

Gwen "Sorry, but I can't disclose the location, and as for why you can't find it. I am the only one in the whole world who knows about it since I made it with my own two hands. Well, plus The Terraformer Delux ERX 450 and the number of resources needed. Thank you, Britain for inventing such an astonishing technology."

Kanji "What do you even do here?"

Gwen "To relax of course. Which is why we are all here today."

Kanji "Relax? We can't relax! We are on the run! Remember! And soon they will find us-

He sees Gwen giving him a smug look.

Kanji "Y-You did something. Didn't you? No, it can't be! Did you somehow manage to stop them from tracking us?!"

Gwen "Yep, I figured that just observing you guys, wouldn't help everyone that much. So I started theorizing how they could possibly track everyone's location. And I landed on the simple answer of infrared signatures. They were tracking you guys down using the patterns in which your temperature shifts. Hence, I took the liberty to come up with a solution."

Kanji "What did you do exactly?"

Gwen "Yesterday, while you were all sleeping. I tinkered around with everyone's temperatures. Then I used your original inferred signatures and create decoys, placing them all over the globe."

Dave "Bruh, you did that while we were sleeping? Kinda creepy, dude."

Kanji "True, but I have to be honest. It is much appreciated. We actually have time to relax now. The question is for how long."

Gwen "Approximately, four to five days at most. We have plenty of time. Oh, if any of the girls are planning to swim. I got these."

She puts out a couple of bathing suits. The girls are shocked, seeing how skimpy the swimsuits are.

Sarah "Ah, fuck no! Nah uh! You ain't catching me wearing that shit."

She begins undressing.

Noah "Woah. Wha... what?" "Wait, Sarah! What are you doing?!"

Sarah "What's wrong? It's ok, Noah. I'm wearing a white tank top and grey shorts underneath my normal clothes."

Diana "Holy shit! You got the same brand. Nice!"

They fistbump. Dave scratches his head at this sight.

Dave "Wouldn't wearing those make you more transparent in the water?"

Diana "Sorry to burst your bubble, Icarus. But these babies are ultra waterproof! Even putting these babies at the bottom of the sea for three days wouldn't make them wet!"

Sarah "Hey, let's see who can get to the bottom of the waterfall first!"

Diana "Oh, you're on! Sarah!"

The two race each other to the waterfall and jump to the lake below.

Noah "Guys, wait up!" "Dammit. I hope the others won't judge me on my shorts."

They see that he is wearing green Hawaiin shorts underneath.

Dave "Aw, that's awesome! Dude! Nice pants! But are you sure that's a good idea?!"

Noah follows after Sarah and Diana by leaping from the cliff directly. While he is falling, he yells

Noah "They're multipurpose!!!....."

Kanji "It appears that everyone here doesn't have a bathing suit underneath. Fortunately, I have some dark blue swimming shorts for the guys. Though, I'm gonna warn you. These shorts will make you fly through the waters, so try your best to control your speed."

He hands out them. The girls look at Gwen. After a moment of awkward silence, someone steps forward.

Claire "Fine! I'll choose one. I'm not afraid!"

Amelia "Yeah! Me too lass."

Mina "Yeah, it can't be that bad!"

Gwen "That's spirit!"

They enter back into the room and change into their swimsuits. Claire nervously steps out with Gwen who pushes her. Her swimsuit is orange while Gwen's is purple. Next is Mina in a white swimsuit and Amelia with a light grey one.

The boys try their best not to stare, except Dave. They meet up and prepare to go down to the lake. But then-

Kanji "You... you guys go on ahead. I... I need some time to think about some... disruptions in my head."

Claire "Kaney. Is something wrong?"

Kanji "No, it's ok. Just go."

Kanji walks away toward a higher cliff further on the right. Claire rejects his request and follows after him.

Gwen "Hey, wait up! I'm going as well!"

Gwen runs after them.

Dave "Yo, where are they going, bros?... Nah, we should leave them be. let's go down, dudes!"

Dave sprints and springs off the waterfall. While on his way down, Dave performs 5 backflips before diving perfectly into the water. The other tries to copy what he was doing with no luck and falls flat first on the water.

Sa/No/Di/Dave "Ouch! That gonna stink!"

They all laugh and start playing around in the water. Sarah and Noah dive underwater to look for fish and other animals. Adrian and Amelia dive, but they look for interesting pebbles. Dave challenges Diana to a swimming race.

He lost and ends up wearing a dunce hat made by Sarah, Diana, and Noah. They constructed it using nearby leaves and twigs.

Dave "Aw man, this fucking sucks! This is the Biggest L of my life. Am I right... chat?"

He looks back and sees that his drone is gone. The realization kicks in.

Dave "Ummm, guys. Where's my drone?! Fuck! Did I forget it and it was destroyed in Gwen's dimension?! Fuck!"

Diana "Yep. Don't worry, Icarus. With that drone gone, maybe you would grow a brain cell or two."

Dave "What did you say?! Humph! Says the gorilla that didn't want to listen to Gwen's explanation yesterday!"

Diana "Are you fucking deaf?! I legit said that I heard the conversation from back there! Sure, I didn't understand most of it! But what about you?! Did you even get any of that?! I'm pretty sure you didn't understand a damn thing but stayed to listen anyway to fuel your fake ass "Cool Persona"."

Dave "At least, I'm consistent with being Cool. Unlike someone who claimed to want to keep the "order" of the group together. But is the one starting the fight."

Diana "Why you littl-

Sarah, Noah, and Adrian stop Diana while the rest pull back Dave. They soon calm down

Azan "Can't you guys stop fighting... FOR FIVE MINUTES?! Gwen wanted this time for us to relax. Does this look like "relaxing" to you?"

Di/Dave "No..."

The group gathers in a circle after the conflict dies down.

Amelia "You know now that I think about it. This feels so unreal to me. Like a bloody fever dream."

Mina "How so? Is that a good thing?"

Amelia "Of course, it's a good thing. I mean like we were just a bunch of teens chatting and playing with each other online for years. One day, we meet up just like that! Well, besides the whole being chased by an army of aliens and cultists ruled by an alien Hitler. It's almost like-

Dave "Destiny, right. Like we are destined to be together, bro."

Mina "That's the sweetest thing, I ever heard."

Adrian "Yeah. However, sadly I feel like some of us feel more distant than others."

They at him, baffled by his assertion.

Diana "Oh, is that so? Wimp. Please, explain."

Adrian "That was a bit... rude... but ok. I meant those three."

Amelia "Oh that makes a lot more sense since they met each other way before meeting any of us."

Azan "Yeah, they seem so close... like too close. But I don't know how they could get along. Seeing this their personalities."

Mina "I don't know, I think they get along perfectly! I once scroll back through the old chat log when there were just those three. There were lots of arguments all of which were between Kanji and Gwen since they have opposite scientific spectrums, but the arguments tend to lower when Claire got into the mix. I guess her positivity and creative nature acted like a rope between their relationships."

Dave "So like a threesome."

Amelia "Eww! Dave!!"

She hits him on the side of his arm.

Dave "Ow! Ok, there was a bit Weirdchamp of me lol."

Sarah "I wonder what those three are doing right now."

On a higher cliff lies a small oak tree, it has a small hole in its trunk and most of its leaves are nearly gone. However, The cliff's view will never wither, it is absolutely gorgeous and feels everlasting. Like it could be here until the end of time,

The entirety of the island can be seen from this cliff.

Kanji walks to the edge and sits with his legs sticking off, he is entranced by the beauty of the sunrise.

Kanji "Such a magnificent view... will I ever get to experience this again after my journey? No, it is very unlikely. Though, I do wonder what this place's called."

He hears footsteps from behind him but doesn't turn around. Instead, he smiles.

Gwen "This island is called Loner's paradise, as for this cliff..."

She sits down to his right.

Gwen "... is called Loner's Peak."

Kanji "Is it called that because a lonely person usually comes here to relax? Are you said "lonely person"?"

Gwen "What do you thin-

The sound of running footsteps quickly approached two wielders. A pair of arms reach out and hug them from the back, nearly tipping all three off the cliff.

Gwen "Claire, what the hell?!"

Claire "Oops! Sorry, I was too excited! You both... aren't mad are you?"

The two laugh and hug her.

Kanji "Of course, not. We would never stay mad at you."

They go back into sitting position. Kanji in the middle, Claire on the left, and Gwen on the right.

A moment of stillness, while they enjoy the cool breeze passing through them.

Gwen and Claire look at Kanji, they can tell something is wrong.

Gwen "Kanji. Is there something wrong? You know you can tell us."

Kanji "... perhaps. Let me ask you one thing. Am I a bad leader?"

Cl/Gwen "Of course, not!"

Gwen "Everyone's alive to this point. Why are you worried?"

Kanji "Because everyone got hurt! It must have been painfully. Amelia lost her eyes and many of us suffered lots of injuries. If only I could've come up with better plans or better orders to give! I knew I was never meant to be a commander! I was always a lone soldier!! My tactics in the war were for naught, utterly useless to our current circumstances!!!-

Gwen "Kanji. Those tactics, you came up with them. But you're one the ones orchestrating them. Is that why you think you're not a good leader?"

He nods. She put her hands on his shoulders.

Gwen "Nonsense! Being a good leader isn't always about planning or giving orders for others to obey. It is about the trust between the leader and subordinates. The power to believe in others' capabilities. It is a two-way relationship, the soldiers can't just rely solely on the general and the general can't rely solely on the soldiers. So you should feel no shame in what you were doing! In fact, I think you did the best you could!"

Claire taps his other shoulder and joins the conversation.

Claire "Yeah, a good leader can also just be someone brave, kind, inspiring, calm, and protective of his or her peers! Acting as a beacon of hope and keeping everyone happy and determined. A person who solves others' issues and defends them from harm. This is my ideal leader, exactly just like you. But seeing you worry like this... will make the rest of us feel less hopeful."

Kanji "I... I don't know what to say. Thank you, girls. Hearing this, I feel a lot more at ease. Perhaps, I'll just do what's best and make sure everyone is safe. I promise you that!"

They smile and hug each other while looking out at the view.

A few minutes pass.

Kanji "Since my worries are gone. Do you guys want to go back to the others?"

Claire "Nah. Not yet. We finally have time for just the three of us."

Gwen "True, and I have a lot of questions I would like to ask you."

Kanji "Oh, go ahead. I don't mind answering them."

Gwen "Ummm, this AN fellow. Is he or she still there?"

Kanji "No, AN isn't responding. Something must've happened on their end which is most likely the reason that sent us inside your dimension in the first place."

Gwen "... that's too bad. I was hoping to ask them about interspecies breeding."

Claire "Ew, Gwennn! Why would you want to know that lol?"

Gwen "Because I'm a biologist. It is in my interest to learn about this sort of thing. Also, do you guys still have the arm? You know the one you cut off from that Castastrian. I wasn't looking during that time."

Kanji "Ah shit! I forgot to pick it up!"

Gwen ~sighs~, disappointed about missing such an opportunity.

Kanji "Gwen, where is Izzybot?"

Gwen "Izzybot is currently surveying the entire island. She will be back here around sundown."

Claire "Wait, she can fly! Like a helicopter!"

Gwen "Yes, but not like a helicopter. She spins a bunch of fibrous roots into wings to flap herself through the air."

Kanji "I still don't how she can move and extend her body mass. There must be something you haven't told us."

Gwen "Fine, I'll spill it. Claire, you want to listen to this too?"

Claire "Yes, of course. Even though I'm not a scientist, I still find the way you two talk very entertaining despite not knowing most of it lol."

Gwen "Alright, I'll begin with Izzybot's ability to grow her body mass. You see I did some extensive research into Germmany's ability to change its DNA. It took a very long time, but today I manage to finally store the secret of this phenomenon inside a code. I then integrate it into Izzybot and it worked."

Kanji "Can you explain the secret in more detail?"

Gwen "Okay. So you know that Germmany was created using a bunch of different meats which also meant that it was intelligent. But what you don't know is that it also granted Germmany a higher degree of control over its own body. Down to cellular level! Using a mix of body movement and vibration in its body caused not only its cell structure but also its DNA to change drastically."

Kanji "I see, but rapid growth doesn't explain Izzybot's complex movement."

Gwen "Yeah, that was when I turned to bio-engineering. I tried to install the cells of a Peregrine falcon, but her body rejects it completely which lead me back to the drawing board. Eventually, I came up with an idea. I take samples of Izzybot's cells to test their properties, the extraction was very difficult since messing up would cause the cells to die. After succeeding, I tried putting them on a Peregine falcon's wings, but nothing happened. It was very upsetting."

Claire "Ummm... Gwen... where did you get those wings? Don't tell me you killed a poor bird?!"

Gwen "What? No, of course not! I got it from a dead one that was on Amazon. Anyway, while I was not looking, a single normal morpharabot somehow made contact with the wings. Something miraculous happened! I saw a pair of wings made of roots and branches flapping about my room. Though I have to admit, it was rather hard catching them. When I did, however, I immediately gave it to Izzybot and the wings begin the seep into her like quicksand. I then took another sample of her cells and saw that there were two types. I named them Morphix A cell for Alpha and Morphix B cell for Beta. The morphix A cell is Izzybot's original cell while the morphix B cell belongs to the modified animal part. The morphix B cell always obeys the morphix A cell control, giving Izzybot the full ability of the animal."

Claire "Oh! Oh, Let me have a guess! You have more than just that one. Right?!"

Gwen "That's correct! I have six actually. A peregrine falcon's wings. A gorilla's arms. A spider's legs. A sailfish's fins and bill. An armadillo's shell. And the teeth of a conodont."

Claire "Wow, that's awesome! It's like you're prepared for anything."

Kanji "Yeah, almost like you knew that our journey would come."

Gwen "Yes, obviously because I trusted my dreams. In turn, I prepared."

Kanji "What are your dreams anyway?"

Gwen "Well, for starters. I have your information. A giant Hercules beetle made of water. And I think I saw you but you're inside a rainbow crystal."

Kanji "Ok, that's a bit odd. But not very useful in our current situation."

Gwen "I agree, but I still find them worrisome so I made preparations anyway. Oh... Kanji... I believe you forgot to give me and two other people a certain "chip"."

Kanji "Oh, right! Damn, why do I keep forgetting? I'm so stupid!"

Claire "Oh, come on now! This shows that you're a normal human being, Kaney. It's okay to sometimes forget.

Gwen "Claire is right I for one have forgotten a lot of tasks in past. No need to fret over it."

Kanji "Haha. Alright, no more whiny Kanji. Let's get this over with."

He pulls out his tablet and takes out the syringe. Gwen puts out her right hand and Kanji inject the chip into it.

Gwen "Oh, nice. This is really nice. I wonder if I can put Izzybot in it."

Kanji stands and begins heading back to the others.

Kanji "I think it's time to head back now. I have to give the other two to Azan and Mina."

Gwen "We catch up a bit later. I have something to tell Claire."

Kanji gives a thumbs up and continues walking down.

Gw/Claire "..."

They stare at each other awkwardly, tension is building up.

Gwen "Claire... you love him. Don't you?"

Claire "Wha-wha-what?! No, I just... well I... just like him as a friend!"

Gwen "Gwen... it's ok. I can tell by your body language and the way you talk to him. You love... you love him very much. Don't you?"

Claire puts her fingers together, she is blushing heavily.

Claire "Ma-ma-maybe."

Gwen "Don't worry. I love him too."

Claire "WHAT?!"

Gwen "You find this surprising? Well, I can see why. Me and him always argued a lot in the past which I am aware of. But deep down I love him with all my heart! Being a genius is quite lonely, and it is hard to find someone who shares the same burden! So when I knew of him, my heart beats fast like it is calling out to my soul mate..."

Claire "Er... I-

Gwen "... Claire, I know. Two best friends loving the same guy. Only in a perfect world that both of us can have him. So from today toward... I see you as my rival in this battle of love! Let's have a fair and clean match!"

Gwen reaches her out for a handshake, and Claire nervously accepts the gesture.

Claire "Sure. Good luck." "Holy fuck! Shit! Why did it have to be like this?! A deadly love triangle. Oh no, if she finds out... No, I will never let that happen! But she's my best friend. What should I do?! Help me, Kaney!"

They let their hand go. Gwen feels something in her hands. It's a mechanical soap.

Gwen "What's this now? You know rivals don't give each other gifts."

Claire "But Gwen, we are still friends. Aren't we?"

Gwen "I... sorry. I've gotten a bit carried away."

The two clumsily hug each other.

Inside of the trunk of the oat tree, lies a recorder. He heard everything.

Kanji is quite troubled by this outcome and immediately orders the recorder to silently self-destruct.

Kanji "Damn damn damn! Why?! This is bad! I... I guess I have no choice. Sorry, Claire. For the sake of keeping this group intact, I will only see you as a friend from now on. Consider this an unofficial breakup."

Sadden, Kanji walks to the waterfall and jumps down.

The remaining leaves of the oak tree wither away and their remains scatter throughout the island.

(to be continued)