18: Start Running

"Start running," I say, a wide smile going from ear to ear. "You know what happens if I catch you~!"

I slice at my neck with a white plastic knife, then follow up with a series of savage stabbing gestures.

Never has a plastic knife seemed so threatening.

The little girl needs no further motivation to take off running.

"60… 59… 58…" I count down, letting her get a head start and find herself a hiding spot.

With a press of a button, the training officially begins. Large, steel blocks of various sizes, shapes, and heights rumble out of all six sides of this training room, including the ceiling, giving Amelia plenty of places to hide.

The space that is the Villain Association HQ had morphed my clothes back into my usual white suit and plain mask. As for the scampering Amelia, her previous richly embroidered pink dress and feathered, magenta masquerade mask had transformed into similarly colored athletic gear.

"46… 45… 44…" I continue counting, hearing her footsteps echo in the space.

I imagine the approximate strength of Amelia's targets — ehem — bullies. I need to restrict my abilities to something just enough to challenge her past her limits, but no further; otherwise, this training would be over in an instant and not serve as training at all.

This is a strange state… Simultaneously being aware of my current power settings, yet not being aware. I know exactly where she is by default with my usual settings, but I have to separate that in my mind to 'not know' at the same time, and see through that lens.

Of course, I choose not to fly or use any of my usual abilities — simply restricting myself to the basic, slightly enhanced senses that she needs to beat to pass this stage. It's different from simply holding back, as I am fragmenting my consciousness so I 'don't need' to hold back.

Still, Amelia's power level isn't enough to trick her tar— bullies, as I can still sense her vague location on top of hearing her run. Clearly, the noise needs to be worked on.

"18… 17… 16…"

The crystal showed that her main power, inconspicuity, is a weak subclass of perception influencing, rather than a subclass of Struan's undetectability. Meaning, she doesn't actually affect how she looks or sounds like Struan does, but rather how she is experienced by living beings.

She also has the slight ability to reflect people's powers back at them, which is a very, very low subclass of reality warping — the superclass of perception influencing. However, at this level, it is essentially useless, but that's no problem. At most, it can serve as a minor windbreaker or dustshield.

Putting it more simply:

Amelia: Reality Warping >>> Perception influencing > Inconspicuity

Reality Warping >>>> Ability Manipulation > Ability Reflection

Struan: ??? >/> Undetectability > Invisibility > Inconspicuity

??? >/> Ability Copying

Of course, all powers fall under the superclass of omnipotence; though how obtainable that is, is a completely different question.

Hence, Amelia's training — hide from and beat minorly enhanced super senses, by tricking her opponent's senses into overlooking her.

Unfortunately, she currently doesn't have conscious control over her abilities. Luckily, fear is an excellent teacher.

"2… 1… Here I come~!"

I launch forward, the patter of my feet almost silent as I run.

"Are youuuu heeereee~?"

With a swift gesture, I slice through a steel block many times my size with the plastic knife. With a grinding screech, it slides down itself and onto the floor with a deep boom.

"Hehehe!!! I guess nooot~!"

I hear scampering from deeper inside the hall.

"I heeaar youuu~!"

I slice a handful more of blocks on my way to her — the echo of so many falling at once is almost deafening, maximizing her fear factor.

Then — silence.

I stand still, doing absolutely nothing, knowing she is only two blocks away, trembling and maybe crying, doing her best not to be seen or heard.

I take slow, quiet steps towards her, deliberately letting myself just barely be heard if she strains her ears.

Then, it happens. Finally, progress.

I feel her presence blip out. I smile, cheering for her internally.

Still, I'm a bit too close to her for that to be effective. I keep walking towards her, until she has no choice but to run. She knows that I know exactly where she is.

I see her, but not quite. It's almost as if she is behind a series of heat waves distorting her from view as she ducks behind another block. I follow her with my eyes as she weaves behind the obstacles. The further away she gets, the more distorted and blended with her surroundings she appears.

Great! She is making progress much faster than I originally expected. Hiding one's presence is much easier than tricking the sight.

I may even have to step it up a notch, especially while I'm still able to terrify her as easily.

I let her catch her breath and gather some hope. The more hope she gets, the greater the effect when it's shattered. Still, I'll have to be careful not to break her.