Chapter 61

VIRTUALLY UNSTOPPABLE

Oceanwide Plaza Tower 1, Downtown Los Angeles, California, United States

You did it, Emperor said with relief in her mind.

She glanced over her shoulder at the hovering dragon, stationed dutifully by the open area. Barely, but mercifully, I figured out how to break free.

Now break that, he said, nodding ahead and directing his gaze up.

Gen turned, looking toward the ceiling. She saw what Emperor was referring to. High above where the false ceiling was supposed to be, there were beams. Attached to the bottom of one was a large black box with strobing lights running across it. That was exactly how Alicia had described the hub.

It’s too high for me to reach, Gen said, looking around for something long.

And it’s too central for me to get to or blast it with fire, Emperor stated.

Gen studied the pieces of equipment abandoned on the floor, but none of it would extend high enough to reach the hub, broadcasting the virtual reality. And they were running out of time before it tried to suck her back into another false experience. She had to figure out something and quickly.

Alicia said I couldn’t use magic, but are we sure? she questioned, her pulse racing.

It’s not worth the risk, Emperor answered. It could backfire, she said. It could make it so that the virtual reality is overly powerful and something you can’t break free of.

Gen nodded. Yeah, magitech has its temperamental nature.

But you have something magical that you could use, Emperor said with sudden excitement, like an idea just occurred to him.

Gen knew exactly what he meant at once. Her eyes widened with eagerness as she dug into her pocket and withdrew Bellumferrum. The small black cube looked so unsuspecting in her fingers. Effortlessly, she communicated her intentions to it, telling the Weapon of War that she wanted to destroy the hub as efficiently and quickly as possible.

Like a dutiful ally, the obsidian cube covered in runes transformed at once, growing large and into an odd shape. However, Gen’s hands rearranged until she was holding what Bellumferrum silently told her was a crossbow.

Perfect, Emperor said in her head. Now aim and shoot.

Although Gen hadn’t fired one of these weapons before, she had some insights on how to use it based on the brief instructions that Bellumferrum communicated to her effortlessly using their psychic link. She did as she’d been told by the Weapon of War and her dragon and aimed the crossbow at the large black box. Drew in a breath and then pulled the trigger as she let out the air in her lungs.

The bolt carefully set into the crossbow’s flight groove released. It spiraled through the air, hitting the hub with an intense force. The sharp point of the bolt pierced the black box, sticking into it deeply. At first nothing happened and Gen prepared to fire the crossbow again. However, she didn’t know how to reload it.

But then, as the worry attempted to consume her, the lights on the hub flickered and disappeared. Then sparks flew from the top of the box, making Gen shield her head from the falling embers. That was followed by a crackle and then a loud pop and smoke. And Gen knew that Bellumferrum had done the trick. She realized that she shouldn’t have doubted the Weapon of War. Of course it knew what it had to become to efficiently and quickly destroy the hub.

You’ve done it, Emperor rejoiced. Now you know what’s next?

Gen nodded, watching as Bellumferrum became its usual form once more—a small unassuming cube.

Yes, it’s time to bring justice to the City of Los Angeles before it’s too late, Gen said, glancing toward the stairs that would take her to the top of the building. It’s time to stop Charlie Sloane and his attempts at control.