Chapter 33 - Final Ultimate Boss Monster - Andromeia

"I'm not the Queen of Tryffyds. I've never been a Tryffyd. Tryffyds are never real, child. I've read that old 1950's book; it's science fiction."

Silence...

I looked at Elisa.

"You and your wild imagination, huh? Khoohk."

"Hey! It's a good hunch! Khoohk! How could I ever know it's not a Tryffyd! Khoohk!"

"Nice try though. By the way, if you cut me down, you'll never stop the other flowers from releasing pollen. As I have said, it's not that convenient like your silly movies. What? Kill one, kill them all? Ridiculous! You see, I'm just their leader. And oh! I almost forgot . If you cut me down, I can grow back again, somewhere in this vast flower field. If you'll use that grass cutter, it would take twenty-four hours just to cut through one-tenth of all the flowers in this place."

Silence...

(Lionel's thoughts: No way... You've got to lying...)

"It's an alien life form, Lionel! Khoohk! Only an alien can do this! Khoohk!!"

"Wrong again, Elisa."

"!!!"

"I'm not an alien."

"Then what on freaking earth are you?!! Khoohk!"

"I'm a Morning Glory Flower, Lionel."

(Lionel's thoughts: What is that?!!)

"I'm sure you do not know, so let me tell you. The Morning Glory is a flower, a special kind of flower. I'm not bragging but, we're the most powerful natural hallucinogen in the world."

"Hallucinogen?!! Khoohk!!"

"Illegal drugs, Lionel. Khoohk."

"Correct, Elisa. For such a young age, you're quite intelligent."

"That thing is dangerous, Lionel. Khoohk. Do not get near to it. Khoohk."

"Give some respect, will you? I'm not a 'thing'. My name is Andromeia. 'Dangerous' is not enough to describe me. I prefer... Super Genius."

Illegal Drugs?! Super Genius?! What are these guys talking about?!!

"Just because you pathetic humans can't see a brain in something doesn't mean we plants are brainless and can't think. Foolish humans! Our brain is evenly spread throughout our bodies! I'M NOW SMARTER THAN YOUR SUPERCOMPUTERS WEAKLINGS!!!"

(Lionel's thoughts: I do not understand any single word this thing just said. But I feel we're in serious trouble right now...)

"Why are you telling this to us? Khoohk."

(Elisa's thoughts: Yeah, that's right. Talk. Talk all you want. You're maybe a super genius, with an ultra-computer capacity, but you'll never defeat wisdom and common sense! Answer our questions! That'll buy me some time to think of a way to defeat you!!!)

"I'm telling you this, because I want you to know that you have no chance of defeating us whatsoever."

Silence...

(Lionel's thoughts: This is dead serious now... And getting out of hand... If what this talking flower says is true, if it's so smart and can grow back somewhere else, how on earth can I destroy this thing?!! I need to distract it's attention and buy Elisa some time to figure this out...)

"I want to know, Andromeia... Khoohk. How do you know our names...? Khoohk."

"Oh, you underestimate me so much, Lionel. It's not only your names... I know everything about you two."

(Lionel's thoughts: No... That's not possible...)

"Do you know the theory of connection? Of course you don't. You didn't go to college. Oh, what am I saying? You didn't even go to school! HA! HA! HA! HA! I'll explain it to you in the easiest manner possible so your puny little brain can understand.

The theory of connection states that... Oh I'm sorry; I'll use 'easier' words. The theory of connection says that every living thing is connected. Living things can sense and feel the other living things' state. They can sense and react, even though they don't have the five senses, to what's happening on another living thing. They may be different or of the same kind, near or far, both can still feel and be affected.

It's a very nice theory, and they should make it a law because it's true. It remained a theory because you humans can't prove it. 'There's no hard scientific evidence' you say. Silly humans, let me prove it to you! You humans became numb as years went by! Desensitized by your 'progress' and folly! You used to feel us and listen to us in the past! You humans used to care for us! But now you cannot hear us anymore! You cannot see us anymore because of your industrial revolution! All you need is logic to prove this theory!

Don't you humans have the common sense and the five senses? Or have you forgotten to use them? Think, see, hear, smell, taste, touch, and you will think, see, hear, smell, taste, touch, and feel the other living beings' current state. That's not all! Don't you know that we plants and animals have the sixth sense? You call it defense mechanism or animal instinct, our uncanny ability to feel and flee from an impending calamity, or an advanced knowledge that there's an incoming disaster while you humans are still figuring things out, doing an evacuation when it's already to late. You guys are so pathetic. There! Theory of Connection: Proven! Now, it's the Law of Connection!"

Silence...

(Lionel thoughts: I don't know how to respond to that...)

"I mastered and used the law of connection to know both of you. Elisa, I learned everything about you through your parents. I can't get my pollens into you because of that pesky mask, so I collected all your information from them. And you, Lionel, ah yes, I know everything about you. I know you very, very well... Even your little fantasy adventure..."

"My dream world...? Khoohk."

" Oh... Dream world is such a low word! WHAT I'VE DONE IS FAR GREATER THAN THAT!!! THINK HARD!!! YOU!!! AND EVERYONE IN THIS COUNTRY FINALLY ACHIEVED WHAT THEY WANTED!!! Their goals! Their ambition! Their so called dream! I GAVE IT ALL!!! People slay and wage war against one another to get what they want! And yet they wish for world peace! HYPOCRITES!!! BUT ONLY I, ANDROMEIA, GAVE THEM BOTH!!! I created what humans could never achieve!!! I CREATED UTOPIA!!!"

Silence...

"Nah, I'm just kidding. But seriously, 'Dream World' is so corny! 'Deception,' 'False Reality,' 'Cloaked Nightmare,' 'Illusion,' or a 'World of Lies' is much better! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! Sigh... You know, you make me laugh, Lionel. It's a 'Dream world'! It's 'your' Dream world for crying out loud! You can have everything you could possibly think of! Everything you want! But no! YOU'RE SO PATHETIC, EVEN YOUR DREAM WORLD'S A CLICHE!!! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA! THE LINES! THE STORY! THE QUEST! THE BATTLES! THE GIRL! THE SCENES! THIS PART IS A COPY FROM A CARTOON! THAT PART IS A COPY FROM A COIN OPERATED ARCADE GAME!!! IT'S ALL SO GENERIC! SO USED UP!!! CAN'T YOU THINK OF SOMETHING ORIGINAL?!! OH!!! YOUR BRAIN DOESN'T HAVE THE CAPACITY TO THAT!!! YOUR DREAM WORLD IS SO DULL!!! IT'S BORING!!!! I ALMOST FELL ASLEEP!!! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!!!"

(Elisa's thoughts: The way it speaks... It's sudden mood and personality changes... This thing's a pure psychopath...)

I looked at Lionel... Khoohk.

He lost his grip on the grass cutter... Khoohk.

He then sank to his knees... Khoohk. His eyes stared at the ground... Khoohk.

(Elisa's thoughts: I'm so sorry Lionel... I can't do anything to defend you... Khoohk, I need more time to figure this out...)

"By the way Lionel, Elisa is wrong. Kaoru is real. She's the popular star student of a private school you're trespassing to. She's super cute and she's your crush, so predictable. I'm telling this to you, Lionel because... She's under my influence and I can torment her with endless nightmares! HA! HA! HA! HA! HA!!!"

"ANDROMEIA!!! Khoohk!"

"So! The brave Elisa speaks! What is it darling?"

(Elisa's thoughts: Keep your calm. Don't fall for her mockery!)

"I want to know how you came to be! Khoohk!"

"Hmmm...? Historical analysis? To find my weakness? I see, very clever indeed. But your efforts are futile. I have no weaknesses, none. To prove it to you, I'll tell you my origin story. :)"