The Omnipotent System

Chapter 278: Too Much Power

Adams stood where Kieran had been a moment ago. The bridge was empty now. The Core pulsed slow and quiet.

He let out a long sigh. His hand brushed the air once, and it shimmered faintly.

Four shapes appeared. Jack, Jameson, Elamenor, and Erren.

They looked around, confused but calm.

Jack was the first to speak. "Where’s the kid?"

"Gone," Adams said.

Jack frowned. "Gone where?"

Adams didn’t answer. He turned slightly, looking at the Core, then at them again. "You’re all going back."

Elamenor crossed her arms. "Back?"

"Home," Adams said simply. "You’ve done enough. It’s boring here."

Erren tilted her head. "You’re done playing?"

"Yes," Adams said.

Jack stepped forward. "What about Arianna?"

Adams’s gaze lingered for a moment. "She’s staying."

"Here?" Jack asked.

"Yes."

"She’ll hate that," Elamenor said quietly.

Adams looked at her, eyes half-closed. "She’ll like it here."

"Does she know?" Jameson asked.

"She doesn’t need to," Adams said.

Jack muttered something under his breath. "You really don’t change."

Adams ignored him. His eyes were far away again, his mind already somewhere else. "You’ll forget most of this anyway. The world will fix that for you."

Elamenor asked softly, "And him?"

Adams didn’t move. "He’s where he needs to be."

"Is he alive?" Erren asked.

"Yes," Adams said. "For now."

Jack gave a tired laugh. "That’s a hell of a thing to say."

Adams looked at him. "It’s better than most endings."

None of them replied.

Adams lifted his hand. "Goodbye."

The world blinked.

They were gone.

Adams stood alone again, looking at the empty bridge. His fingers twitched once, almost like he was about to reach out to something, but then he dropped his hand.

"Boring," he said quietly.

He turned and walked into the Core.

It folded around him like a curtain closing.

—

Kieran woke up on his back.

He stared at the ceiling. He didn’t recognize it.

His body ached. His throat was dry.

He sat up slowly.

Arianna was there. Sitting across from him, knees drawn to her chest, arms wrapped around them.

They looked at each other for a long time.

Neither spoke.

Kieran rubbed his face with one hand. "You’re here."

"I’m here," she said softly.

He nodded once. "He said you wouldn’t be."

"I told him no."

He almost smiled. "He listened?"

She shook her head. "No."

Kieran leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Where are we?"

"Back," she said.

"Back where?"

"Home," she said quietly. "Or what’s left of it."

He nodded slowly. "Figures."

She watched him. "You look tired."

"I am."

She hesitated. "Did you talk to him?"

"Yeah."

"What did he say?"

Kieran let out a breath. "He said I passed."

Arianna frowned. "Passed what?"

"I don’t know. He said the power’s mine now."

"Yours?"

He nodded. "All of it."

She was quiet for a long moment. "And what are you going to do with it?"

He didn’t answer.

She looked down. "He’s not coming back, is he?"

"No," Kieran said. "He’s done with us."

Arianna closed her eyes. "He always does that."

Kieran looked at her. "He said you’d like it there."

Her eyes opened. "There?"

"Where he is."

She laughed softly, but it wasn’t a happy sound. "He always decides things for me."

Kieran said nothing.

After a while, she asked, "Did you try to fight him?"

Kieran nodded once.

"And?"

"Didn’t work."

"I told you it wouldn’t."

"I know."

They sat in silence again.

Arianna’s voice was small when she finally spoke. "He’s lonely, you know."

"I know."

"He doesn’t know what to do with it."

Kieran looked at the floor. "He called it boredom."

She nodded slowly. "That’s what he calls everything he can’t name."

Kieran looked up at her. "You still care about him."

"He’s my brother."

"Doesn’t change what he’s done."

"No," she said. "But it changes what I feel."

Kieran leaned back. "He said I was the best part of his show."

Arianna’s head turned toward him. "He said that?"

"Yeah."

She looked away. "Then he liked you."

"I don’t want to be liked by him."

"I know."

He ran a hand through his hair. "He said I can fix the world now. Or change it. Or ruin it."

"And will you?"

He didn’t answer right away. "I don’t know."

She nodded. "He always gives people too much power and no instructions."

Kieran’s voice was quiet. "I think that’s the test."

"Everything’s a test to him."

"Yeah."

Arianna stood slowly. "You should rest."

"I can’t."

"Why not?"

"Because I saw something before he sent me back."

Her eyes narrowed. "What?"

He hesitated. "The Core. It wasn’t just him controlling it."

She frowned. "What do you mean?"

"There was another signal," Kieran said. "Something deep. Older. He didn’t see it. Or maybe he did and didn’t care."

Arianna’s voice went quiet. "Something else?"

Kieran nodded. "I think so."

She sat down again, closer this time. "Do you think it’s dangerous?"

"I think it’s awake."

She looked at him. "Then what do we do?"

He met her eyes. "We find it before he does."

Arianna held his gaze. "He’ll come for you."

"I know."

"He won’t be kind this time."

"He’s never been kind."

She didn’t argue.

Kieran stood slowly. "He said he was bored."

"He always is."

"I don’t think that’s true anymore," Kieran said.

Arianna frowned. "Why?"

Kieran looked at her. "Because for the first time, he hesitated."

Arianna’s eyes widened slightly. "When?"

"When I called him lonely."

She said nothing.

Kieran turned away. "He’s watching again."

Arianna’s voice was a whisper. "You can feel it?"

He nodded. "He’s waiting for me to move."

She looked down. "Then move."

He looked back at her. "You coming?"

She nodded. "Always."

He smiled faintly. "Good."

They stood there for a moment, neither speaking.

Then Kieran said quietly, "Arianna."

She looked up. "Yeah?"

"If I fail—"

"You won’t."

"But if I do—"

She stepped closer. "Then I’ll fix it."

Kieran almost laughed. "That sounds familiar."

She smiled. "Someone has to keep you from doing something stupid."

He nodded. "Guess it’s your turn."

She looked at him for a long time. "What did you see in the Core?"

Kieran hesitated. "A reflection."

"Of what?"

"Me."

"And?"

He didn’t answer.

Her voice softened. "Kieran."

He looked at her. "It smiled back."

She went still.

Before she could respond, the floor under them trembled faintly.

Kieran’s wrist burned hot. The black crown symbol flared.

Arianna reached out. "What’s happening?"

He stared at the light crawling up his arm. "He found us."

Her grip tightened on his sleeve. "No—"

The light spread faster.

Kieran’s voice was low. "It’s not him."

Arianna froze. "Then who—"

The air split behind them.

A sound like a whisper and a scream at once filled the space.

Kieran turned slowly.

A figure was stepping through the tear.

Neither of them spoke.

Kieran’s hand reached for hers.

Arianna whispered, "That’s not possible."

Kieran’s eyes didn’t leave the shape coming toward them.

He said quietly, "Yeah. It is."

The light swallowed them both.