A flashback flickered.
Rizu stood in a garden behind the Magic Academy. Master Demetrius faced him, hands behind his back.
"Now you need to master this technique of body control," the Master said.
Rizu frowned. "It's… really scary, though."
Demetrius chuckled softly.
"Imagine controlling everything around this world. Entering people's minds. Creating a world where everything bends to your thoughts."
He turned to look at Rizu, his eyes glowing faintly blue.
"It is the hardest of techniques—but fruitful. Only those who understand the balance of mind and body can wield it."
"Control… everything," Rizu whispered.
His eyes shimmered like stars.
---
Kapela was still flying midair from Rizu's last punch—when everything suddenly went black.
She blinked, opening her eyes again.
Now she was standing on a metro platform.
A sign beside her read "Shahdara."
"What… is this place?" she muttered, looking around. "Where am I?"
The distant roar of metal grew louder.
A metro train appeared from the tunnel, screeching to a halt. The doors slid open with a hiss.
Kapela's voice trembled.
"I've never seen anything like this…"
"Oh, it's a metro station," came a familiar voice beside her. "You probably haven't seen one before." Rizu appeared suddenly putting his hand on her shoulder.
She turned—just in time to take a punch straight to the face.
THWACK!
She flew backward, crashing onto the top of the metro as it began to move.
"Ugh…" she groaned, standing up.
She looked toward the platform.
Rizu wasn't there.
"Show yourself, coward!"
"As you wish."
The air rippled.
Several solid blocks of energy gathered in midair, merging and forming a humanoid shape—until Rizu's body appeared, complete.
"You can't win," Rizu said calmly. "This world runs on my imagination."
He clenched his fists.
His arms stretched long like elastic, his hands growing large enough to crush a human.
"I'm not scared of you!" Kapela shouted, charging forward.
"Some people never learn," Rizu said, smirking.
His giant hands grabbed her easily.
"Let me go, you monster!" she yelled, struggling.
"Monster?"
Rizu leaned in closer, his neck stretching unnaturally.
"Look who's talking."
His head grew massive, his jaw unhinging wide.
Kapela's eyes widened.
"You're kidding me…"
"Bon appétit," Rizu whispered.
He shoved her into his mouth.
Everything went black again.
---
When Kapela opened her eyes this time, she was underwater.
"What…?" she gasped, bubbles escaping her mouth.
She looked down and saw a cracked mirror lying on the ocean floor.
She swam closer—and froze.
In the reflection, she was no longer herself.
She was a green fish.
"Am I dead? Is this a dream? What's happening!?" she said with a scared look on her face.
Then, behind her reflection, another appeared—a massive green shark.
Its eyes gleamed.
And it looked eerily like Rizu.
"You…?" Kapela stammered.
"Yeah, it's me, darling," the shark said with Rizu's voice, swimming toward her.
"No! Stay away!" she screamed, darting through the water. "What have you done to me!?"
Rizu chuckled, chasing after her.
"Just accept your defeat!"
He lunged forward and swallowed her whole.
"Even if it's imaginary," his voice echoed,
"you'll still feel the pain every time you die."
---
Kapela opened her eyes again.
This time she was in a forest.
But the world wasn't normal.
Everything—trees, rocks, even the ground—was made of cubes.
She looked down and gasped.
Even her body was block-shaped.
"What the hell!?"
She looked up—and saw Rizu floating in midair, looking down at her.
"You bastard!" she yelled, trying to jump—but her body fell backward instead.
"Sorry, darling," Rizu said smugly. "You can't fly. I'm in creative mode. You're not."
He pointed at her.
Stone blocks appeared around her, stacking higher and higher until they formed walls trapping her in a pit.
Rizu snapped his fingers.
A bucket of glowing lava appeared in his hand.
"Take me out of here, you little shit!" Kapela screamed. "Then you'll see my wrath!"
"It might be painful," Rizu said softly, "but I'm sure you can endure it. You're a strong one."
He tilted the bucket.
Lava poured down.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
She screamed as it burned through her skin.
The lava didn't stop—flowing endlessly like a nightmare.
Rizu stared, frowning slightly.
"Maybe I've gone too far…"
Her screams faded.
The world turned black again.
---
Kapela opened her eyes.
Now she stood on a battlefield.
Explosions echoed. Soldiers ran past with rifles. Smoke filled the air.
She turned—and froze.
Rizu stood in front of her, holding an AK-47.
"Listen," he said coldly.
"Rizu…?" she whispered.
He aimed the gun at her.
"You'll regret the pain you gave me."
She took a cautious step forward.
RATATATAT!
Bullets tore into the ground near her feet.
"Stop right there," Rizu said firmly. "I don't want to hurt you anymore."
He lowered the weapon and extended his free hand.
"Come with me. Let's go back… but promise me you'll accept your defeat when we return."
Kapela hesitated.
Then, slowly, she nodded.
"I promise."
She took his hand.
Rizu smiled faintly.
"You're not as annoying as I thought."
Then—
Pain shot through his arm.
"AAAAAARGHHH!" he screamed. "What the—!?"
Kapela's grin twisted.
"I remember now… you said this world runs on your imagination."
She clenched her fist.
"Let's see what happens when I use mine!"
Her muscles bulged.
Her body grew in size—massive and monstrous again.
Rizu tried to bend and hold his gun—
But too late.
BAM!
Her punch sent him flying, crashing into a tree trunk.
Rizu groaned, blood dripping from his lips.
"I shouldn't… have shown mercy…"
He placed his palms on the ground.
His own muscles expanded, veins coming out.
Both of them charged forward.
Rizu threw a punch—
Kapela dodged and struck back, slamming her fist into his stomach.
Blood spattered from his mouth.
A huge crack appeared in the sky.
Kapela smirked.
But Rizu countered with an uppercut to her face, sending her stumbling back.
Another crack split the heavens.
Kapela snarled and kneed Rizu between the legs.
"AAAW!" he screamed. "That's cheating, you bitch!"
He fell to his knees.
Kapela came from behind and wrapped her arms around his neck, choking him.
"EEEEUUUUGH!" Rizu gasped.
The sky shattered—fractures spreading like glass.
Then—
Everything went dark again.
---
Rizu opened his eyes.
He was inside an old wooden house.
He looked down.
His body was translucent.
Ghostly.
"Am I… dead?" he whispered.
A scream made him look up.
A green-haired woman sat on a birthing stool, sweating and crying in agony.
A lizard-faced midwife stood beside her, massaging her stomach with oil.
"It's time," the midwife said.
"AHHHHH!" the woman screamed, gripping the hands of a man standing beside her.
"Just a little more, Bella," the man said, holding her tight. "Our child is about to be born into this world!"
Rizu froze, eyes wide.
"What the hell…?"
He covered his face with both hands.
"Holy moly…"