Delta Aiken Nomani
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Do what now? Physically, Ash was definitely the weakest person in the room. Still, it was worth an effort. Ash waited a bit for Baylet to do her thing before making an attempt. Getting into a sort of fighting stance that looked like it came out of a bad kung-fu movie, Ash brought a fist back and swung it in a wide circle, hitting Godal’s hand with almost enough force to crush a marshmallow. It was the first time Ash had ever punched anything, usually preferring to evade things and hide.
“…sooo. That probably really sucked…”
Immediately the doubt set back in. These people were much different. They all came from tough backgrounds. They could all fight. And here was Ash, who had never raised a hand against anyone and never used any kind of power consciously. If fighting was the goal here, they were all much to far ahead…
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Install third eye in your face and use it for HILARIOUS SHENANIGANS.
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Lucas mulled things over that night. Some stuff had gone rather well. Some hadn’t. Most notable was that more force had responded than he expected. As silly as it sounds, you never really think that when you summon a monster that it’s going to actually be attacked by other people. The police force was some trouble in that regard. Lucas had made sure to simulate exactly what they’d expect- the foam canisters hitting and exploding. But therein lay the problem- the foam had really kept going and hit buildings and the street. Suspicious, if not for all the chaos around. As it was, the creature was amorphous, so it wasn’t much harm. He’d cleaned up some when he healed the city, and the rest could be chalked up to the foam missing. But next time he would have to be more careful.
He had a few other thoughts too. Perhaps simulating a team in the future would work to his advantage. Knights of the round table or something of the sort. But that would be best if there was something that challenged him other than one of his own illusions. Also, there was a small problem. He couldn’t see from their perspectives. And for his chosen field, vision was very important.
That was a problem that could be taken care of. Lucas pulled a black robe from his closet and heavily remodified his face. Black hair, bright red eyes. A tattoo of a flame under one eye. Then he set out for the Arclight district. There were people there that could whip up exactly the sort of thing he needed.
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Ash had been doing a lot of thinking lately. Thinking about weirdness, in particular. Everyone here seemed to accept their strangeness so easily. Demons, magic… It was all so foreign. At first, it seemed even worse than other schools. Fitting in with these people seemed impossible. But the truth was, this was the only place Ash could be sure it was safe.
And in fact, had ash ever been normal? Perhaps it was time to embrace weirdness. If there was anywhere it was safe to learn to control powers, it was here. These people were less likely to get hurt than average people. Maybe living in fear wasn’t the answer.
And so, filled with an off-putting sense of confidence, Ash walked into the gym. Everyone was talking so casually about people blowing craters in the gym and each other. These were the people ash belonged with? As strange as they all were… It wasn’t so bad.
The confidence fled at an attempt at speech. “Uh… Hey. S-sorry for not, you know. Being around. And stuff.” Ash turned to Godal. “I just needed some time, and… I want to learn about my powers. I’ve been running too long.” Words came easier. “Can I join… Whatever you’re doing?”
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Freedom. What was it? ‘<span style=”color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 15.6000003814697px;”>the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.’ Nothing hindered or restrained X-0. Did that make him a hero? No, this was probably hyperbole. Metaphor. “So we will leave?” X-0 walked toward the door, noting Blues’ hesitation. Being hesitant to leave was most likely a symptom that Blues cared for the people of the city. It was a detail worth noting.</span>
Then he walked through the door.
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“Analysis indicates that harm may come to those outside the city if no one is able to save them. However, the city we preside in presently is also volatile. Leaving it without help could result in civilian deaths.”
X-0 processed this for a moment. Unable to come to a conclusion, it turned to Blues. “What would a ‘hero’ do in this scenario?”
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((Not sure about the facial recognition since his face was modified, but then it was just to make him super sexy, not hide his identity, so maybe it’d still work. Not like he really cares about hiding his secret identity much anyways.))
Okay, yeah, maybe that was a bit much. Lucas let down the heroic posture for a bit and smiled in a more realistic manner, seemingly calm in the sea of cameras. He caught what questions he could and answered them, his voice seeming to resonate just loud enough for everyone nearby to hear, even over the chaos. Who is he? “I’m just a boy with some unusual talents trying to keep people safe.” What are his powers? “I can control light. And I’m pretty good with a sword! But some of my powers are a bit of a surprise.” He winks. Does he know where the monster came from? “This city has a lot of secrets. Perhaps someone sent it out with intents to hurt the city, or maybe it was an experiment gone wrong. I really couldn’t say for sure.” Was he from another dimension? “Um. No. No, I am not from another dimensions. Okaaaay, I think that’s enough questions. Anyone want to see some more of the light show, though?”
It was nearly impossible for the general answer from the crowd to not be ‘Heck yes’, so after a bit of cheering, Lucas stretched his hands up and released a couple balls of light that soared far up into the sky and exploded into something between fireworks, a laser show, and a disco ball. The lights then formed together into a giant white blade, which slashed through the air before dispersing.
And Lucas had gone with it. He simply vanished, then turned himself into an average looking citizen and made his way home. Safely at home, he dispersed his illusions and flopped into bed.
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(Sorry bout that, then. Never heard of the stuff before. Granted, he’s a much smaller and faster target than the beast, and they weren’t really aiming at him, so he probably wouldn’t be hit.)
Lucas turned to face the camera and pulled his helmet off, revealing the rest of his face. And with a bit of illusory help, what a face it was. He was already a fairly attractive boy, but with his powers active, he was downright beautiful. His medium length blond hair shook out, his eyes glistening as he smiled a smile that, on camera, would get a lot of girls-and maybe a few guys- interested in the news very quickly.
“I am the White Knight. And so long as I’m here, no abomination shall threaten the people of this district. All who try… I shall vanquish by the power of the light!”
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“….wait a minute….what is that?”
That’d be his cue. Jogging a few steps from the alley, Lucas flashed a smile to the camera and aimed the tip of his blade at the creature. A beam of light erupts from it, blasting a hole in the center. The beam explodes from the other side, narrowly missing a news helicopter. Though it doesn’t kill the thing, it certainly gets its attention.
Now to play it out. Can’t make it look too easy. The creature launches a huge tendril at Lucas’ head, and he rolls to the side, coming up with an uppercut slash that lops part of the limb straight off. Hopefully by now the police have stopped shooting foam grenades, but even if one hits Lucas, no one would see it do so. He’d just end up having to take a shower later after he dropped the illusory front. Hundreds of smaller tentacles shoot out at him next, but his sword flashes faster and faster, until it’s too fast for the eye to see, parrying each one and slicing some of them as he runs toward the creature’s core.
As it roars in frustration, Lucas lunges forward and stabs his blade hilt deep in the goop. For a moment there is silence. Nothing happens. Then the creature starts to glow from inside, light streaming from its mouth and eyes. Its skin hardens into a shell of sorts, as if it’s being baked from within. The shell cracks, light pouring from the cracks, and all at once it shatters. Black pieces of darkness dissolve into the night, and Lucas stands, a heroic young boy that risked his life to save a city. “Is everyone alright? Here, Let me fix some of this.”
As Lucas sheathed his blade, a pulse of white energy left it, cleansing the streets of any remaining black goop. Every stone the pulse touched, every crumbled piece of building and wrecked helicopter glowed. Then the pieces flew into their rightful place, the helicopters unbent themselves, and the streets even looked cleaner than before. Then the illusions dropped- all but those of a couple bruises on Lucas’ body, dents in his armor, and anything else needed to keep up appearances.
Now just to wait. Screaming fangirls any minute now, right?
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“Teams would have been nice, but everyone else is gone. Not much strategy, with just the two of us, but… hey.” Ash caught the ball, picked up another, and threw both back. “Why do you think they all fight so much?”
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((Disclaimer: If it isn’t explicitly in my abilities, it’s an illusion.))
Things were quiet indeed in the Green district. It was nice, in a way. But quiet never made anyone famous.
A black mass rose from the street, growing taller until it towered over the houses and apartments, arms long and almost… gelatinous. A long, sinister roar echoed from its dripping mouth.
Lucas waited in a nearby alley, dressed in his super costume- A suit of blinding white armor, complete with helmet and longsword. Now just to wait for people to wake up and freak out at his illusion. From there… well, it’s easy to kill something you created.
What’s the point of creating an illusory monster just to kill it, you say? Simple. Fame. Money. And all the power that came with public opinion…
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What? Oh, of course. I can sign an autograph for a fan.
Lucas Calvor
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1. Name: Lucas Calvor
2. Alias(es): The White Knight
3. Identity: Public
4. Gender: Male
5. Age: 18
6. Appearance:
Armor -The male one. Duh.
7. Abilities:
Illusions: The greatest skill of a secret cult of light mages, this ability allows for the creation and manipulation of what is known as ‘light matter’. The science is rather complex and laid out below, but most practitioners do not know the science of it. Rather, the science was woven into magical knowledge by the first mage, then passed down through the cult. Lucas is no exception; he only knows that he is creating very realistic illusions, not that he is creating or controlling a magically synthesized breed of matter.This matter is very similar to matter, and shares some properties with dark matter- for example, like dark matter, it is still affected by, and affects things by, gravity. Like dark matter, it is intangible to human touch. However, it is unique in that it releases energy that affects the atoms around it. The result is that it retains many properties of matter, while carrying the intangibility of dark matter.
The most basic of these properties is visibility. The atoms of light matter are entirely visible to the electromagnetic spectrum, though they only reflect the energy or let it pass through, rather than absorbing it.
The next is audibility. Though not directly able to emit sound, atoms of light matter can emit an energy that causes nearby atoms to vibrate at a frequency relative to the frequency of energy released.
Touch is a bit of a strange one. Though nothing can come into contact with light matter, it can interfere with nerves in such a way that you feel that you are. It does this by emitting pulses of energy that cause the nerve cells to fire. For example, an illusory steel wall would feel solid to the touch even as you push your hand straight through it. An illusory electric fence would shock you terribly, though you could walk through it if you can ignore the pain.
Smell is also strange. Although the atoms of light matter do not themselves attach to olfactory receptors, they can affect atoms in the air as a sort of catalyst. By forming trace elements in the air into molecules that create smell, light matter can create smell- though these smells are severely limited by the amount of elements available to use. In an environment of pure oxygen, for example, smells could not be formed unless they can be compounded from only oxygen molecules.
Finally, light matter creates a sort of sixth sense by emitting electromagnetic fields and magical energy. An illusory person would have the electrical fields associated with the human brain, and the ‘aura’ associated with life.
Key weaknesses of illusions are that no matter what you perceive, they are intangible. Though it may cause pain to walk through an illusory wall, you’ll be able to do so, and even the pain will subside with time. Also, if Lucas is knocked unconscious, all illusions created by him will vanish on the spot.
Light blasts: Spherical missiles that travel slowly but explode for huge damage.
Light bullets: Tiny spheres of light that do low damage, but many can be fired at once and they travel very quickly.
Light spears: Long, sharp lines of light that do medium damage and pierce through armor.
Light healing: Lucas can heal himself and others. Though he cannot bring people from the dead, he can heal most injuries and diseases. Even inanimate objects can be healed, which is very convenient when his beloved city is damaged in a fight. This is a result of a combination of telekinesis and a purification aspect of light.
Invisibility: Goes along with illusions, but worth specific mention. Grants inability to perceive Lucas or anyone of his choosing by the same manner that illusions makes them perceptible. Just as illusions cannot be felt, though, invisible people can be.
Supernova: A light ability that involves releasing a massive explosion of light from his body (think something on the level of destroying a city block) and teleporting elsewhere. Rarely used due to strain- it makes him exhausted for days- but useful to fake a heroic death.
8. Occupation: Tutor.
9. History: Prefer not to reveal at this point, but I’ll reveal that it involved the cult of light mages mentioned earlier.
10. Personality: A very friendly boy. Exactly the type your mother wants you to be friends with. Altruistic, heroic, powerful, smart, kind… Except for one thing. He’s not. In truth, the White Knight is quite possibly the most deadly villain to walk the streets of Elium yet, for one simple reason. No one will know he’s the villain, if he plays his cards right. Lucas wants nothing less than domination of the city, then the nation, then the world, until everyone is under his spell, and he has fashioned himself into a god of sorts.
11. Alignment: Neutral evil.
Quote: If you can change man’s perception… Paint yourself a hero in their eyes and every hero who contests you a villain… who can ever stop you? Who would want to? Indeed, you could rule the world with an iron fist, and your people would live beneath you in happiness…
Themes: Illusions. A light so bright it blinds those who look at it. The darkest shadows behind the brightest lights.
Edits made to fix the image link and add abilities after I realized multiple powers were allowed.
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X-0 held up a hand, a small 3-D map hovering over it, composed of several thousand nanobots. “This is all areas I have access to and vision of. Your city of insomnia is here.” A large bubble filled with buildings glowed red. “There is another unknown location that is open to my access here.” A vaguely grassy bubble glowed green. “I also have access to a small metal room where I originated, and suspect the existence of another city. Those are all currently known locations.”
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“Didn’t someone explain…? Ah well. Just dodge the balls. Or catch them. And try to hit me!” Ash flung the ball at Umbra, not with super strength or accuracy or anything all that special. Just the strength and accuracy of a person who played the game a lot.
Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to use powers here. Wasn’t the point of coming here to learn to use them?
Yet… the danger. If the powers ballooned out of control… it could destroy the school. Ash could get expelled, or worse at the hands of their crazy principal…