"You can tell me what's happening, but why are you an eagle?" Ron asked, staring at the raptor's sharp eyes.
"The moment you stepped through that doorway toward Hero Town, you were intercepted," Yardy's voice echoed from the bird. "You were pulled elsewhere."
"So, this isn't Hero Town?"
"Not exactly. Someone diverted the path. My true form can't manifest here, so Dr. Thomas sent me in this guise. He believes this place is a perfect geographical replica of Hero Town, but it's been phased into a pocket dimension. The people you see here... they exist in the real town, too. They're reflections."
Ron nodded grimly. "How do I get out?"
"I think yo—sh—d l—fo—y—r ol—fe—w—wl al—be—hr—" Yardy's voice fractured into static. His physical form began to flicker like a corrupted video file.
"Tell me in one word!" Ron shouted.
"D... A..." Yardy managed, before his presence glitched violently and vanished into thin air.
"DA? Yardy! Where are you?" Ron sighed, his voice echoing in the empty street. "My only hope now is finding that magnifying glass."
He pressed on, entering the building ahead and heading straight for the room marked Z. When he swung the door open, the stench of copper hit him. The room was a graveyard. The 'winners' lay scattered across the floor—all dead, save for a few who were twitching in their final moments.
"I've been waiting."
A man stood at the far end of the room, his back to Ron, staring at a wall of flickering monitors.
"Who are you?" Ron demanded.
"I am called the... what was it? Ah, I've forgotten my own name," the man mused.
"You have no intention of talking, then."
The man tilted his head and rested a silver-topped cane against his shoulder. A thin, sharp smile played on his lips.
"I'll rip the soul out of your chest and ask it instead," Ron growled.
The man finally turned. "There's no need for such theatrics. I am Theo, the Miracle Doer." He spread his arms wide. "I crafted this world and I caged you within it. In this realm, no one defies my miracles."
"All I hear is blathering," Ron said, narrowing his eyes.
"How ungrateful. I am delaying the inevitable: your death."
"You're the ungrateful one," Ron retorted. "I'm the one delaying yours."
Theo let out a theatrical gasp. "Wow! Great dialogue. Truly. But you cannot defeat me. My powers are flawless—even Dr. Thomas doesn't dare mess with me."
Ron's expression shifted into a cold smile. "One thing I learned from Wulkranoth: a human brain can defeat anything, provided it has the will."
Theo's eyes gleamed. He flicked his wrist. "Then let the games begin."
The room didn't just change; it dissolved. The walls stretched and twisted into candy-striped canvas, the floor became sawdust, and the ceiling rose into a massive big-top tent.
"Ladies and Gentlemen! The circus is in session. First game: The Floor is Lava."
As the ground beneath Ron began to glow a hellish purple, a memory of Dr. Thomas surfaced.
"I can copy abilities, but it happens on a whim," Ron had said.
Wulkranoth had nodded slowly. "Your mimicry is far superior to Dream's, but your limitation is your human stamina. For now, you can only use it once. And your nullification? Using both in tandem will drain ninety percent of your energy. Use them wisely."
"How do I trigger it at will?"
"Focus," Wulkranoth had told him. "Think about what you love. What you care about. What you would die to save."
Back in the circus, Ron closed his eyes. I'm getting out of here. I'm going to see Dream and Ines. I'm going to be there for Ai when she's born. He emptied his mind, focusing every ounce of his will on the concept of protection. When he opened his eyes, they weren't black anymore. They were a piercing, royal purple.
"You clearly underestimate me," Ron said.
Theo's smirk faltered. For a terrifying heartbeat, he didn't see Ron. He saw a shadow of Wulkranoth—a titan with purple eyes staring directly into his soul.
[POWER NULLIFICATION ACTIVATED]
[ALL ABILITIES, HACKS, AND BUFFS WITHIN 1KM RADIUS: NULLIFIED]
The circus vanished. The lava turned back into cold floor. The town, the sky, and the "miracles" evaporated, leaving only a vast, empty darkness. The two men stood alone in the void.
"You really are a monster," Theo whispered, his voice trembling. "No wonder they had to kill you."
Ron's eyes widened. "What did you say? Who killed me?"
Theo broke into a manic, high-pitched laugh. "That's not important! Your death is near regardless. No one can save you from what's coming!"
In the blink of an eye, Ron was gone. Theo didn't even see him move. Suddenly, Ron was inches from his face.
So fast... Ron's kick connected with Theo's jaw. The force was so immense the "ground" of the void cracked like glass. Theo tumbled back, his reality shattering.
"Undo this miracle. Now," Ron commanded.
"Or what?" Theo spat, coughing up blood as he struggled to his knees. "Your nullification has a timer. I'll just wait."
Damn you, Rio, Theo thought bitterly. Why did you send me against this freak?
"You're right. It has a timer," Ron said, stepping closer. A purple, ethereal armor began to manifest around his fist. "But I also have Copy. The second my nullification ends, I'll copy your 'Miracles' and beat the hell out of you with your own power. And my copies? They don't have timers."
Theo stared at the armor. He saw the ghost of Wulkranoth standing behind Ron—a presence so vast it felt like it would swallow the world. This guy... if he keeps progressing, he'll surpass even Gudango Gonzalez.
As Ron's fist drew back, Theo cracked. "Fine! Fine, I'll undo it!"
Ron paused, his fist an inch from Theo's nose. That was quick.
He let the man go. A few minutes later, the purple glow in Ron's eyes faded. Theo stood up, dusted off his coat, and performed a hesitant gesture. A golden light enveloped them both.
A heartbeat later, they were standing in front of the building where Emma works.
I did it without DA, Ron thought. He looked at Theo and opened his mouth. "Thanks," Ron said curtly.
Theo nodded, looking exhausted. As he turned to leave, Ron grabbed his shoulder, his grip like a vice.
"One more thing," Ron said, his voice low and dangerous. "What did you mean when you said my death is near?"