Chapter - 8 : Fire Girl! Part - 2

I think I'm in the void again. But strangely, the tension I used to feel isn't there anymore. It's... calm. Too calm. Too strange.

"Oi! Max 2.0! Are you here?" I shout, my voice echoing into the emptiness.

Last time I met him, it was just like this. Maybe he's behind it again.

But... no reply.

"Where'd he go?" I mutter, frowning. "And what was up with that girl?"

I look around, hoping to find a clue, anything that might help. But as always, there's nothing—just endless, empty blackness.

"Tsk, I need to deal with that girl. But how do I get out of this?"

Frustration bubbles up inside me, and I stand still, waiting for something—anything. Maybe Jeniff will come?

"Hmm... a void," I mutter, remembering the principal's words. "She said I had some kind of power... something to do with reality, right? Could this be part of it?"

An idea creeps in. I hesitate. "What if... what if I can consume the void?"

I shake my head, brushing it off. "What am I even thinking? That's impossible."

Suddenly, a bright light flashes—scorching hot. Did I just get out of the void? How?!

The flames grow larger than before, sweat dripping down my face as thick smoke fills the air. I can barely see through it.

"Cough, cough."

It's hard to breathe. I was stuck in the void for a few minutes, but it feels like… hours.

"Haven't the firefighters come yet?!"

Suddenly, I sense something—someone's presence. It runs down my spine like a shockwave.

I look around, but no one's there. Then I look up.

A girl. Black hair, long, flowing in the heat. She looks about my age.

Her whole body is wrapped in flames, the fire swirling around her like it's alive.

My heart races, and a strange feeling creeps in. I've seen weird things lately, but this... this is something else.

I have to stop her. But how? I don't even know if I can. But I feel like I'm the only one who should try.

There's something off about her, like someone else is controlling her.

"You! Are you trying to save me?" she shouts over the roaring flames, her voice cold, distant.

She looks at me—but wait… her eyes. Weren't they brown before? I'm sure they were. Now... they're red. What happened to her?

Should I call Maya? But how?

"Do you even know what's happened to me?!" she yells, anger lacing her voice.

Her hair whips around wildly in the fire. Her hands are hard to see through the flames, but I can tell—that's where the fire is strongest. She's controlling it, isn't she?

"I… I don't know what happened to you, but I can tell—"

The heat spikes, flames flaring up even hotter, pushing me back. It's overwhelming! What should I do?

Why am I even trying this hard for someone I don't know? Maybe it's just my nature—

"Looks like you need help," a voice whispers in my head. It's Max 2.0!

"W-what?! Now?"

"She thinks she's the heroine of some show? How pathetic." His voice is calm, almost amused. "Show her who you really are, Si—"

Before he finishes, the girl attacks—fast. I barely dodge, jumping left, then right, somehow keeping up.

"Oii! Stop!!" I yell, but she doesn't listen.

"Oii! Max!! Do you even know why you're in that void?" Max 2.0 asks, his tone mocking.

"No!" I snap, irritated.

"Huh?! Then... bye!!"

"Wait! You're leaving me here?!" I shout, but he's already gone.

Why was I in that void? Did he do something to me? Or was it the woman's voice?

Can I use my power now? Should I even try?

Water… right? Fire is weak against water. I have to do this!

I need to stop the fire... somehow.

"Alright, random name time! Water Manipulation: Rain!!"

I raise my hand, pointing to the sky, feeling a surge of energy flow through me. Did I just activate my power? Was the void meant for this?

All around me, water bubbles form in the air—hundreds, maybe thousands.

It feels strange, but I'm thrilled to have activated it.

Now, let's make it rain!

The sky darkens, clouds rolling in quickly.

"Crack, boom!!" Thunder roars, shaking the ground. Then the rain starts pouring down.

"Hahaha!! I don't know what this strange feeling is!!"

But as the rain crashes down, soaking everything, the flames don't stop.

I sigh, "I guess rain isn't enough for these wild flames. Then, next…"

She starts throwing flames at me again.

"Oops! It almost touched me!! Oii, you girl, stop!!"

I raise my left hand, creating a wall of water just in time to block her attack. She looks frustrated, her eyes shining bright red.

"You little brat, die!!" Again, she hurls flames at me, destroying my wall of water.

"Hey!! I'm not a little brat!!"

"Then die!!" Her attacks are wilder than before.

Is she just attacking randomly? She seems out of control.

"Oii!! I said I can't die!!" I shout.

"Then shut up, and die!!"

Is she ever going to listen to me?

If I keep dodging without doing anything, nothing's going to happen.

Should I attack too? I guess I should.

Okk then, now let's change the game a bit.

Let's her bring down to ground..

"Opps.. Perfect landing!"

Creating some water pressure, I leap towards her..

"You little brat!! Look where you're standing!"

"Hmm? at your head."

"Don't act like it's nothing!!"she yells.

"Then go down, now…!!" I jump behind her, using a brust of pressure to kick her down.

"Hahaha!!"

"Ouch! You little brat, how could you kick a lady?!"

"Nothing matters in love and war!!" I declare, landing perfectly on my feet, a smirk stretching across my face.

"Now, I just need to knock you down, little girl!!" I mock, my heart racing with adrenaline.

She looks frustrated, her fiery hair flickering wildly in the heat.

But before she can react, I shout, "Oii, don't forget to look behind your back!!"

With a swift motion, I dart behind her, leaving a shimmering afterimage in my wake, the water shimmering like a mirage.

"You little—"

Before she can finish her thought, I trap her in a large water bubble.

"Don't waste your breath talking," I say, my voice steady as I focus on maintaining the bubble.

What is this strange feeling I'm getting now? I come here to stop her… but..but.. I'm enjoying this!!.

She struggle, her voice raising in fury. "You!!...you..little brat!!" her anger is paipable, a flame of its own.

Is this really so easy? I just capture her so quickly after just activating my power. Is my power really that strong?

"You little brat!!" Her anger intensifies, I feel the heat rising around the bubble. With a sudden brust, she escapes, the water eploding outward.

"You little brat!!! I'm not letting you live!!"

"ohh—okk!"

I can feel her power is rising, increasing 2x, no 4x…

"Now let's just the finish the game" I think, bracing myself for what's to come.

"You little brat, why are you smilling?!! I'm going to kill you!!"

"What? I'm smiling?" I touch my lips, realizing there's a grin on my face—an uncertain smile, something that feels... wrong. Like Max 2.0.

"Let's play!!" I say, excitement bubbling in my voice.

As I look at her, I see the change immediately. Her fiery confidence fades. The fierce anger in her eyes dulls, replaced by something else—fear. Her face goes pale.

Is she... scared? What could have frightened her so suddenly?

The flames around her weaken for a moment, flickering in the wind, as if even her power is faltering.

"G-Go… Go away!! You demon!!" She yells, her voice is trembling with fear.

Is she scared of me? I've turned the game around.

"Okay, do you surrender? If you do–"

Suddenly she burst into flames, aiming at me, "hahaha– you die, little brat!!"

"Oii, I said stop calling me little brat!"

I dodge behind her, catching her off guard.

With a swift movement, I knock her down at the neck.

She feels down in the ground.

"Look, now it's over" I say, my voice firm.

But instead of defiance,

"...you… you don't know anything about me" she whispers.

I hear sob, The girl is crying. Didn't I just knock her down? Why is she crying?

"Yeah.. I don't know anything about you, not even your name" I admit honestly.

"Then… then… why did you come in my way?!!" She yells, turning to face me, her eyes was wet.

"Because I think it's wrong to harm others," I reply, my voice steady.

"Then… why does he… he always harm us?"

He? Who? I don't ask her. I remain silent, processing her words.

"He always comes… and does… that?"

What does she mean by "that"? I still stay silent.

"Tell me, what should I do?!" She cries, her tears streaming down her cheeks, each sob breaking my heart.

"Yeah, I know you've faced many problems… but—"

"But what?!" She interrupts, her voice rising in frustration.

"Oii, don't cut me off,"

"I'm saying that even if you've faced many problems, don't give up yet. I can tell you this because I understand," I continue, trying to convey my sincerity.

"Ridiculous," she murmurs, shaking her head like my words are silly.

"What?!!" I say, surprised by her reaction.

She laughs, "Haha, you're funny, little kid!" She stands up, her fiery spirit coming back.

"I'm not a little kid!! I'm your age!!" I argue, feeling my cheeks get warm.

"But you look like a kid, and you're shorter than me," she says, a playful smile on her face.

"No! It's just that you're taller than me!! And I'm 5.6!" I reply, trying to stand my ground.

"Ahaha, sorry, sorry…" she giggles, and the tension between us changes as we laugh.

"By the way, can I ask you something?" I ask, feeling curious.

"Yeah, little kid?" she answers, teasing me.

"What do you mean by 'that'?" I ask, my brow furrowing.

"Ahaha, that's why you're a little kid!" she laughs, patting my head.

I sigh, thinking, but now everything should go back to normal, right? Right?

....

-to be continued...