Chapter 19 : Unexpected development

[Author note : Sorry guys ! I completely forgot to post yesterday because I decided to change the hour... Usually, I post as soon as I wake up or right after having my breakfast. Anyway, just to let you know that I'll try and post around this time from now on. Nothing else has changed.

In other news, Virtual Order Guardians has been posted, all 6 chapters of it (for now). I have other stories but none that aren't tables and charts heavy, LitRPG-style. I'm pretty sure those will not pair well with Webnovel, and to be honest I'm too lazy to re-write them all right now.

On the other hand, I have other fan-fictions to share. Don't know if I will right now, but if I do, they'll be available for everyone to read.

If you're interested in my stories or want to encourage me, please check out my Patréon : https://www.patréon.com/user?u=66371596 (replace the é by a normal e) or look for Cathbel on their website

KoSP : 2 advanced chapters

The Squib who became Iron Lad... In DC : 3 advanced chapters

AoH : Prologue + 6 chapters (exclusive)

MoH : 8 chapters (exclusive)

VOG : 6 chapters (exclusive)

Enjoy and please tell me what you think of it !]

================

In the office where all hostages were gathered, as well as a couple of bank robbers, the situation suddenly turned… interesting ! As one of them went on to grab the bank manager to take him somewhere else, they heard shouts from a distance. The argument went on for a couple of minutes before the manager and his guard, along with someone that seemed to be in charge of the operation, came back.

« Alright, so… Are you sure you don't want to give us those codes ? » The woman said with a threatening tone.

« I told you : I don't have them ! It's no use trying to threaten me, beat me or anything ! »

« Tut-tut-tut ! » The woman shook her head, false disappointment in her speech as she continued : « That's where I don't believe you, see ? I know for a fact that you do have the codes. Every manager has them. As for threatening you and stuff… I know that you guys have a real interesting incentive to even give your lives to protect them but… Can you live with yourself knowing what might happen to some of your employees ? Or your clients ? »

That's when the situation turned grim… At least, to the other civilians and employees in the bank with Simon. The people keeping them in check suddenly trained their weapons on them ! And not in the 'I'm keeping my eye on you' kind of way but in the 'say the word, boss. I'mma waste 'em !' way.

The leader of the robbers resumed her psychological attack on the manager :

« Ya see… One way or another you'll give me the codes. Whether it's now to prevent the deaths of these people, after you're mentally broken for having forced my hand or even after that, when I take you, the lone survivor, to work on later… We have a… Let's just say, someone who's very good at persuading people. » She walked as she talked before suddenly turning to face the manager and adding : «Oh ! And if you're trying to buy time in the hopes of the authorities bursting in here, that won't work ! We've hired an Illusionist to make it appear as if the bank is closed for plumbing repairs. See ? No one's coming ! »

Simon, who had, at some point, climbed back from his lying position to rest his back against a desk was observing the situation. At this point, the manager's eyes were swimming all over the place. It was true that the man was courageous enough to risk his life… The payday in case of death might have been that good ! However, he didn't seem so sure in involving strangers in his selfishness. Simon, and by extension Crys, found it odd… He came to the assumption that someone from his family, or his lover was present here. Not that it mattered really… He'd probably cave in at this point.

In the end, despite the threats, it seemed things would settle down peacefully. The robbers would get the money and the code - whatever it was ! - and the employees and clients, they'd go home no worse for wear… Well, except for the fear they experienced, that is. That's what Simon thought, until…

« We'd sooner kill everyone here… » A voice suddenly spoke from the office computer's speakers. It was distorted and slightly robotic, but it's tone and inflection, as well as the unrecognizable accent pointed out to the fact that it was a living being. Simon couldn't tell if it was human or Seraf or whatever other species existed on this planet. For all he knew, it might even have been one from another planet… Like him.

The robbers, on the other hand, seemed to recognize the voice. Or at least, they knew of it…

« Shit ! » The robber next to the door swore as he kept his weapons trained on the hostage but glance at their female leader. She took the cue for what it was and immediately ordered :

« Take the hostages and move ! »

Just as they were starting to to file everyone out of the room, the lights flickered before brightening and exploding. As they did, Simon felt energy building from one of the outlets near the door. He pointed at the robber and shouted :

« Careful ! Behind you ! »

It seemed he made in time. Just as he pivoted to look, an arc of lightning shot out almost straight, narrowly missing the dude and scorching the opposite and lit it ablaze. Simon blinked and muttered :

« Why the hell'd I talk ? »

The man he saved was the same one that hit him earlier. He wasn't angry at him or anything since he didn't actually cause him any harm. Not to mention the fact that he did egg the man on… No, the reason why he was weirded out was much simpler : why did he help the robbers ?

Crys supplied him with informations :

« The voice is using the bank's internal system to hack into the computer… It's not possible unless the person behind the hack has access to the internal system. I detect heat fluctuations around most power outlets and anything connected to them. I suggest moving to a room without any. »

Indeed, Simon could also sense those fluctuations. This was a new sense he had developed while training his powers : energy sense. As skills went, this one was straightforward. It helped him in figuring out where energy sources were coming from and he presumed that, in time, he'd even be able to differentiate what those sources were. For anyone else, it could also help them evade dangerous energy outburst but, given his peculiar physique, Simon wasn't afraid of this !

Suddenly, the energy gathered in one point, completely frying the outlet where it did, but as it did, it exited it and swiftly formed a ball of lightning which transformed into a humanoid form… And finally, a blue-haired woman covered in deep blue and sky blue robes with a manic look in her eyes stood there in the room with them.

« Fuck ! » The leader of the robbers swore.

A smirk stretched the Lightning Woman's lips as she said with glee in her voice :

« I've been told I can kill everyone here… In fact, it's highly recommended, so… Die for me. All of you ! »

She started to raise her arms, electricity sparking on her fingertips and gradually building up. Simon could tell that, this woman was the source of an enormous amount of energy. It was safe to say she'd be able to rather easily kill everyone here, despite the robbers equipment and weapons. He sighed and told Crys in a fatalistic way :

« I was really hoping I wouldn't have to intervene. »

As the energy continued gathering in the woman's hands, Simon stood before her with an annoyed expression on his face.