“You ready?” Pang asked. “Or are you gonna need a whole ritual like Deon?”

Lammy wasn’t sure what she meant by ‘ritual,’ and on top of that, he was anything but ready. He’d seen Najinzu at work enough to know what they were about to pit themselves against in this escape—the man could shred them to pieces with those thin, dark knives in seconds.

But then again: he’d also seen Pang in action at the Conscious Competition. She had it all, and plentifully so: immeasurable speed, toughness, resolve, and masterful use of her Manipulator powers. Factoring in Raznizu, despite the unknown severity of his injuries, and Lammy’s own newfound powers, they were loaded with strength.

Even if their adversaries were to force Zayza back into the Dream World, she could fight her way to safety with ease. Lammy recalled how instantly she’d exploded Fewpar’s Dream World body after she remembered all her memories.

Perhaps they really did have a chance.

But in order to do what Pang was asking of him (rather impatiently), Lammy didn’t need assurance. To tap into his power up, he needed stress.

So again, he focused on their current entrapment, along with the sheer danger they were about to invite with their next move.

His chest tightened, constricting his breath. He just wanted to run.

Lammy reluctantly welcomed the anxiety, and called upon his imagining abilities.

As he’d hoped, a familiar warmth filled his head. An orange glow lit up Pang’s eager face, illuminating from his eyes.

“It’s no use,” Raznizu muttered, still barely visible in the shadows across from them.

“Good grief, man. Have a little faith, will ya?” Pang retorted. She returned her attention to Lammy. “I’ve wanted to manipulate something like this for so long…Ready now?”

Hesitantly, Lammy nodded, as did Zayza beside him.

“Alright. Let’s kick some a—Hey!”

Pang’s eyebrows furrowed, and she stared at Lammy strenuously. “Why is it so hard to…Huh? Now my manipulating’s totally gone!”

“As I cautioned, it’s no use,” Raznizu urged once more, this time more pointedly.

Suddenly, the heat in Lammy’s face sucked away. The light from his eyes died out slowly.

“What? I didn’t turn it off…” Lammy stressed. “Why can’t I feel my imagining at all?”

“There’s at least one Dampener among them,” Raznizu explained emptily, cocking his head towards the front of the vehicle.

“Great. Of course there is,” Pang spat. “You couldn’t have mentioned that before we went through all this?!”

“A…Dampener?” Lammy repeated.

“It’s a consciousness type that suppresses other consciousness types,” Zayza elaborated, the bleakness audibly setting in with each word. “If skilled enough, Dampeners can even cancel out consciousness types entirely. Which explains why I went dreamless until I awoke here, instead of staying in the Dream World.”

“So you knew, too?!” Pang puffed.

“I’m sorry…I should have known better,” said Zayza softly. “I suppose I just…had hope.”

“Well you know what? I still do,” Pang declared, yanking at her bindings seemingly for little more than emphasis. “Come on; you’re a princess! Have some spine. We’ll get out of here.”

But nobody replied. Instead their eyes all fell away, their silence saying all. Even though hope was all Lammy wanted, he couldn’t seem to grab at it now.

“We will,” Pang asserted. “Kid, your cousin watched them snatch you up. I know Deon a bit, and I know his teammate as well as myself. No way they’re not headed straight for us as fast as they can, right this second.”

Her words instantly flooded Lammy’s dried-up heart. How could he have forgotten? Deon and Skrili chasing towards them was the last thing he’d seen before going under.

All thirteen years of Lammy’s life, Deon was there, standing him back up, walking him home safely, lifting his spirits.

And when Deon was focused, he was unstoppable.

Pang’s right—he’s coming for us, he thought.

“And my teammate—he’s probably freaking out right now,” Pang said. To Lammy’s surprise, her voice softened to a sweet laugh, a dear fondness in her tone. “Those three don’t mess around. These idiots have no idea what they’re in for.”

“Kotono…Hiroko…” Zayza uttered. “They’re just the same…”

“See? We’re still in this game,” Pang urged them. “All we need is an opening—one opening—to break loose. If we can fend these guys off long enough, our friends will find us. Mark my words.”

In that moment, they all felt the vehicle come to a quick, uneven stop. They slid against the floor awkwardly as a result.

Then, several thuds resounded as doors opened and closed.

“Here they come,” warned Raznizu. “Stay strong, Zayza. I’m sorry I can do little to protect you at the moment. I’ll accept any consequences for my weakness.”

“You know that’s not how I operate,” Zayza replied, trying to calm her nervous breath.

“I…I know, my princess,” he said. “For what it’s worth, it’s wonderful to have you back—the real you.”

Zayza’s wary gaze fell to Lammy, and her green eyes softened. She tried to smile through the clear fear and regret.

“Lammy, I’m s—”

“Raznizu’s right. Stay strong,” Lammy repeated soberly, but warmly.

He had yet to know for sure if Zayza’s reasoning for her actions were true and justified. But for now, he had to hope they were. She was a different Zayza now, but all of their experiences together, all she’d done for him, were still a part of her. He wasn’t ready to let that go just yet.

And so, he chose to try and believe.

Zayza could hear that effort and intent in his voice. A tear fell as she still tried to smile, and she gave a single nod.

“Just one opening…” Pang whispered to them. “If anyone sees one, go for it.”

Lammy gulped.

With a clamoring, metallic creak, bright light flooded in and blinded them all.

“Hey, folks. Hope you enjoyed ‘yer ride,” called in an unfamiliar, booming voice. Though the words came quietly, their deep resonance cut through the air clear and loud.

When Lammy’s eyes adjusted, he squinted towards the end of the opened vehicle to find an enormous man standing there. He was perfectly bald and, for some reason, shirtless, showing off his massive chiseled form. His arm muscles were likely larger than Lammy’s head.

The man’s complexion was oddly grayish and sickly, despite his healthy physical form. Two strange and angled red scars curved down from the top of his head to just under his small dark eyes.

“We haven’t all day,” came a much more familiar rasp.

Najinzu shoved his way in front of the man, peering in with eyes somehow more hateful than usual.

“Yeah, yeah…welp, come on out a’ the van, everyone,” the man sighed.

Najinzu hopped cleanly into the vehicle and seized Zayza by the arm, and then grabbed Lammy. With little to do to fight back, they simply winced as he dragged them outside.

Lammy grunted as Najinzu dropped both of them into the dirt carelessly. Immediately, several flies buzzed past his ears in retreat. Lammy freed his face from the plant it had landed in and looked around: they were somewhere deep within a thick, overgrown forest.

“Shouldn’t you be at least a little happy you finally caught them?” a woman inquired mockingly.

She was standing with arms crossed just beside the bulky dark vehicle—a tall, fit woman glaring down at Lammy and Zayza with teasing eyes, one pink and one yellow. Big, white sunglasses rested atop her head, pushing back her colorful bangs. Her hair—an even mixture of light green, yellow, pink, and black flowed down to her mid back behind her white t-shirt.

Noticing her neon shorts and thin black sandals, Lammy thought she’d fit in much more with Gloat Center attendees than she did with her current colleagues.

“Silence, prosciousness scum,” Najinzu sneered. “If they thought you were the best fit for the mission, they would have assigned you two.”

“Sure. But here we are, adding an extra stop because you couldn’t handle it on your own.”

The giant man emerged from the vehicle with a manly “huff,” carrying both Raznizu and a flailing, fiery Pang on his shoulders.

Watching him exit, Lammy finally noticed the towering wooden wall just beyond the van. It ascended higher than he could see, well beyond the treetops, its design the exact same as the giant walls at the border of Fiction and Fantasy Country.

“She bit me! Left a mark and everything,” the bulky man complained, tossing Raznizu beside Lammy and Zayza but keeping Pang in his grasp.

The woman flung her hands up in frustration at him. “Well maybe it’s because you’re treating her like a freaking prisoner! She’s not a convict like these two. She’s our guest, Benton. Let the poor thing stand, at least.”

“She shouldn’a kept avoidin’ us all those times then,” defended Benton as Pang’s tied-up legs kept kicking at him full-force. “Ah, well. Here you go, girlie. Sorry ‘bout all this.”

He lowered Pang to the ground and lifted a tiny dark device to her hands, then ankles. Instantly, her bindings untied.

Uh…I know we were supposed to look for an opening, Lammy thought, heart racing with anticipation, but that was way too easy.

They’d just unleashed one of the most powerful consciousness fighters he’d ever seen.

Just as he expected, Pang immediately pounced up from the ground and kneed Benton straight in his many toned abs. He had no time to block.

But it didn’t matter: Benton barely reacted. He simply caught Pang by the shoulders and held her there while she kicked and grumbled.

“How about I bind you up and throw you in a river?!” she shouted.

“Aw, come on now, miss. I’m tryin’ to be nice,” Benton said casually.

He tossed her back to the ground. Pang immediately shot back up and looked around at her enemies.

“I’m busting all of us out of here!” she announced violently. “Which one of you morons is the Dampener?!”

Benton cracked a smile, born from the rush of knowing something she didn’t. He glanced at the woman. “Hear that, Irma? She wants to know ‘which one.’”

Irma’s initial frustration with him diminished, and she let out a chuckle.

“We don’t have time for your tomfooleries,” Najinzu hissed.

“We’ll just be a sec, little Naji,” Irma promised. “Okay, Ms. Pereo. Why don’t you take a guess? Think you can take us on? We’ll even stop dampening your powers for a bit.”

They’re really asking for it, Lammy thought. He recalled how viciously Pang stood up against opponents much bigger than her. It took Hiroko to take her down, and that was a long, grueling battle.

Pang eyed both of them, seemingly prying for a hint with her Manipulator powers.

Then, having sensed and caught on to her target, she turned and zipped at Irma.

But strangely, Irma didn’t move. Instead, her eyes suddenly rolled back and returned.

As soon as she did this, Pang let out a harsh cry and fell crashing to the ground, clutching her head.

“No…” Zayza uttered beside Lammy.

“What happened?!” Lammy asked in a panic.

“Nice work, Pang, it’s me,” complimented Irma. “But…huh? Something’s super weird now, isn’t it? What did happen?”

Lammy gasped when he realized Irma’s eyes had changed colors. Now instead of pink and yellow, they were green and black.

She smiled, and two red sketches faded into existence floating on both sides of her. They were cartoonish faces, sticking their tongues out at Pang.

Pang stood slowly, taking in the sight. “Wait…you’re an Illusionist? But…I know I sensed Dampener powers from you! What the heck’s going on?!”

“Crazy, right?” Irma laughed. “Where do you sense the Dampener powers coming from, now?”

Again, Pang keeled over with a pained cry, squeezing her forehead. Benton caught Lammy’s attention—he had just pressed shut his eyes and reopened them.

Huffing, Pang stood back up unsteadily. She turned to Benton.

“Now it’s…you?” she gasped. “What is this? Quit messing around!”

She charged Benton once more, disoriented from the pain in her head. He waited playfully for a moment.

“Aaaaaaand, too slow,” he joked, blinking hard again.

With a scream, Pang toppled to the ground, sending dirt and branches into the air. Lammy and Zayza watched on in horror, as Raznizu looked away knowingly.

Pang happened to lock eyes with Lammy and Zayza for a moment. Something like a mixture of determination and embarrassment sunk into her face. Enraged, she forced herself to her hands and knees, shaking.

“Get the idea, yet? It hurts when we switch, doesn’t it?” Benton inquired, stepping close. “It’s probably best you don’t try an’ manipulate our powers.”

“Shut up. I’m taking you out, I swear…” promised Pang.

“Sorry, girlie,” Benton said. He crouched down to her eye level and lifted her chin with his enormous finger, like a bear toying with a mouse. “Guess what type I am, now?”

Pang glared at him in sheer defiance, but her eyes began wavering and her grimacing face relaxed.

“Night-night, kid,” Benton hushed.

Giving no resistance, Pang slumped over, falling into an instant slumber.

Just like that, they defeated the tenacious Pang with almost no effort.

“You’re a spunky one, I’ll give you that,” Benton said, standing back up. “But this ain’t no Consciousness League.”

“She’s not just a pro—she has history,” Irma corrected. “Let’s not mess around with her anymore.”

“Ah, come on. She’s not even close to a match for either of us,” Benton argued.

“That’s not what I mean. She’s an important asset,” Irma reminded him. “They need her in good shape.”

“Yeah, well…that’s true.”

“Are you two finally done?” Najinzu growled. “Let’s get on with this. We’re almost there.”

“Jeesh, what’s your deal?” Irma retorted, arms still crossed. “This mission of yours really messed you two up, you know that? What, you couldn’t handle a princess and a little boy? I mean, just look at him.”

She cocked her head towards the giant fence where the van rested. Lammy hadn’t realized it until now, but someone had been sitting there against the fence this whole time.

Curled up to his knees and staring emptily into nothing, Fewpar sat quietly. He was shivering, scratching away at his black scar-covered neck as it became increasingly red. His hair and clothes, usually tidy, were in disarray, yet he didn’t seem to care anymore.

Fewpar was muttering something to himself repeatedly, but Lammy couldn’t make out what it was.

So she didn’t kill him, Lammy thought. She only kicked him out of the Dream World.

Zayza’s final attack had been so devastating and instantaneous that Lammy had been wondering ever since. Especially after learning the truth about her family, he couldn’t help but assume she may have taken Fewpar’s life, as well.

But obviously, a great damage had still been done.

Najinzu shot Zayza a glare and spat on the ground. She averted her eyes for just a moment, but forced herself to look back with certainty, and little remorse.

“Your execution awaits, girl,” Najinzu threatened. He turned to Benton and Irma. “Enough toying around. Let’s be off.”

Lammy watched hopelessly as Benton leaned down and scooped up the motionless Pang, tossing her on his shoulder both swiftly and gently. He spotted Lammy’s worrying gaze and paused.

“Oh, don’t worry ‘bout her. She’s just nappin’,” he said. “I’ll wake her up when we’re done with y’all.”

He stepped over and lifted Raznizu, who grunted from his wounds, while Najinzu once again retrieved Lammy and Zayza. Dangling from his arms, they exchanged wordless glances.

Was it finally over?

Najinzu abruptly spat in disgust after a fly nearly zipped into his mouth.

“Will you hurry up? I’m sick of this hideous Country,” he demanded.

Irma shook her head with a brief laugh. She approached the endless fence and pulled something out from her shorts: a slim dark handle.

“Watch out, Few-Few,” she warned.

But Fewpar didn’t move or respond.

Shrugging, Irma pressed something on the handle. A short blade sprung from it—but it wasn’t metal. In fact, Lammy had no idea what material it could be. But he knew he’d seen something just like it before.

Its infinite colors were brilliant even under the daylight, identical to the Worldline they passed through to get from Fantasy Country to Fiction Country. But unlike the flowing nature of the Worldline glow, the light and shape of this blade was still and sharp—like it had been captured, frozen in time.

Irma raised the knife to the fence. The blade passed straight through the wood as if it weren’t there, making no sound. With ease, she cut open a tall and round hole.

She stepped out of the way while the severed wood fell flat onto the forest ground, thumping just beside the unfazed Fewpar. Pure darkness waited just beyond the door Irma had created—but then the endless, mystical Worldline colors flooded in, filling the void.

“You…created a Worldline?” Raznizu muttered.

“I just cut through the border. So I guess you can say that,” Irma confirmed. “See? Proscious can do some cool things—I don’t get why you guys don’t trust us. Anyway…”

She stepped forward into the light, and vanished.

At last, Fewpar stirred. He stood silently, turned, and entered behind her.

Najinzu and Benton followed, and Lammy felt nothing as the massless light enveloped him.

Now, suddenly, the air was colder. Lammy struggled to observe his new surroundings while hunched over in Najinzu’s arm, but he found they now stood in a grassy field—an incredibly familiar one. The fence was in place just as before, and just as endless, on the opposite side now.

Colors were bolder, brighter, and more vivid here. Everyone’s appearances followed suit: their eyes seemed larger, and their hair was sharper. Lammy had to blink to allow the sudden shift in intensity to adjust.

Between the hilly grand field, the towering fence, and the change in this reality’s color palette, he recognized exactly where they were now: back in Fantasy Country, just outside the Fantasy-Fiction Country border.

But the grand entrance and line of consciousnesses to the true Worldline were nowhere in sight. In fact, there was no path, and no travelers as far as he could see. Clearly, this was far off of the main trail.

Lammy flinched in discomfort when Irma rolled her eyes into her head again, bringing them back rapidly. Now, her eyes were blue and orange. She blinked, and her pupils vanished as she looked around at something that wasn’t there.

“Oh hey, looks like we’ve got good timing,” she observed. She nodded in response to something. “Got it.”

Blinking again, her pupils returned, along with her focus on her present surroundings.

“We have to report to the main balcony with Zayza and the kid,” she shared with her cohorts. “The Queen is requesting us. Your turn, normies.”

“Very well,” Najinzu said. “Fewpar.”

Fewpar seemed not to need prompting: he’d already retrieved a glowing blue stone from his pocket. “Stand close,” he muttered lowly in between utterances to himself.

Najinzu, Benton, and Irma gathered nearer. Now Lammy and Zayza could see Pang’s dangling arms and red hair, and just past her, the grimacing Raznizu.

To both of their surprise, a smile shaped Raznizu’s tired eye.

“Fear not,” he whispered to them. “There’s still hope.”

Something about his tone gave Lammy shivers once more. It wasn’t an empty encouragement or consolation…it was simple honesty.

He knew something they didn’t.

Ignoring Raznizu, Fewpar lifted the stone to the sky.

“Finally,” he said, “it ends.”

Blue light overtook everything, and they all disappeared from the field.