Chapter 60: Replicating An Ability Part II

Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Replicating An Ability Part II

If Ben’s consciousness resembled an ancient mountain range, then Kai’s consciousness could only be described as a natural disaster.

The moment Penelope stepped through the connection, she was greeted by a world of fire.

Flames danced across the horizon.

Volcanoes erupted in the distance.

Molten rivers carved their way through the landscape.

The sky itself burned with shades of crimson and gold.

Everything moved.

Everything changed.

Nothing remained still.

Penelope stared.

Then immediately understood why Kai struggled to sit quietly for longer than five minutes.

His consciousness was exactly like him.

Chaotic.

Loud.

And entirely too energetic.

"Well," she muttered. "That explains a lot."

Somewhere in the distance, a massive pillar of flame exploded into the sky.

She jumped.

Then glared at the heavens.

"Now you’re just showing off."

The fire pillar responded by growing even larger.

Penelope wasn’t sure if that was a coincidence.

Considering this was Kai’s consciousness—

She doubted it.

The Fire Root proved easy to locate.

Unlike Ben’s Earth Pillar, which stood motionless in the center of his consciousness, Kai’s Fire Root refused to stay in one place.

One moment it resembled a blazing phoenix.

The next, it transformed into a burning spear.

Then a wildfire.

Then a blazing tiger.

Then a giant ball of flames racing across the horizon.

It changed constantly.

Never settling.

Never resting.

Much like its owner.

The first day ended in failure.

So did the second.

And the third.

By the end of the first week, Penelope was ready to strangle Kai.

"Stop moving."

Kai blinked. "I haven’t moved."

"You have." She countered.

"I’m standing right here." He responded innocently.

Penelope pointed accusingly. "Your root is moving."

Kai looked personally offended.

"My root has freedom."

"It needs discipline." She said through gritted teeth.

"My root rejects your tyranny." Kai responded.

Ben immediately turned away.

His shoulders shaking.

Erik closed his eyes. Took a deep breath. A very deep breath.

The day had barely started.

Already, he was tired.

Unfortunately, things only became worse.

The Fire Root refused to acknowledge Penelope.

Unlike Ben’s Earth Root, which had responded almost immediately once trust had been established, Kai’s Fire Root seemed determined to test her patience.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Days passed.

No progress.

No breakthrough.

No success.

Just failure.

One afternoon, after another disastrous training session, Penelope finally snapped.

She stared at the dancing Fire Root.

Then narrowed her eyes.

"Enough."

The Fire Root flickered.

Almost as though sensing danger.

Penelope lunged forward.

The flames exploded.

The consciousness trembled.

And before the Fire Root could escape—

She grabbed it.

Outside, Kai immediately doubled over.

"Ow!"

Ben nearly jumped.

"What happened?"

Kai pressed a hand against his chest.

"It feels like somebody punched my soul."

Erik’s eyes narrowed.

Meanwhile, inside the consciousness, Penelope held on desperately.

The Fire Root struggled.

The flames lashed out wildly. Burning her.

Trying to escape.

Trying to break free.

But Penelope refused to let go.

Eventually—

The root surrendered.

A fragment tore free.

Rushing directly into her consciousness.

The moment her eyes opened—

Flames erupted above her palm.

Silence.

Then Kai shouted.

"SHE DID IT!"

For approximately five minutes, everyone celebrated.

Then reality arrived quickly.

The flames she conjured were nothing like the majestic ones Kai wielded.

The copied flames were weak.

Painfully so.

Some times they refused to ignite.

Other times they appeared for only a few seconds before vanishing.

Once, Penelope successfully launched a fireball.

The fireball traveled three feet.

Then died.

Another time, she accidentally set her sleeve on fire.

Kai laughed so hard he fell off a rock.

Penelope threatened violence.

The training continued.

A whole week passed.

Yet no matter how hard she practiced, the Fire Root remained flawed.

It simply wasn’t comparable to her Earth Root.

The difference was obvious.

Even Erik could see it.

One evening, after watching Penelope struggle to maintain a flame smaller than a candle, he finally asked the question.

"What was different?"

Penelope frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"When you copied Ben’s root." His blue eyes remained fixed on the dancing flame. "And when you copied Kai’s."

The training grounds became quiet.

For the first time—

Penelope hesitated. Recalling what could have been different.

Then, as if recollecting something, her eyes widened.

"I forced it."

Silence.

Kai stopped laughing.

Ben looked thoughtful.

Erik remained expressionless.

Yet somehow—

The atmosphere changed.

"You forced it?" Kai asked incredulously.

"Yes, I remember clutching on to it. It wouldn’t stop jumping around. Which, by the way, you might ADHD. At least, your fire root does." Penelope stated as she crossed her arms defensively.

"What do you mean you forced it? Like you took it?" Erik asked, just to make sure.

"Yes, I held it down and took it." Penelope repeated.

Kai gasped. Pointed a finger at her and said in a trembling voice. "That’s assault. Brother, tell her! She Ability-Assaulted me."

"Stop joking around Kai." Erik said firmly. Then turned to Penelope and said "So, you ripped it off of it?"

Penelope thought for a moment and nodded. "Sort of."

Erik had a pensive look on his face. Turned to Kai and said "Let her try again."

Kai groaned. "Again!!!?"

"Again." Erik nodded.

Kai grimaced. "Again?!"

"Again." Erik repeated.

The training grounds fell silent.

Penelope closed her eyes and immediately established the familiar connection. She knew better than to stall for time. Commander Erik did not like games.

This time, entering Kai’s consciousness proved effortless.

There was no resistance.

No barriers.

No discomfort.

The fiery world welcomed her almost immediately.

The volcanoes still erupted in the distance.

The molten rivers still flowed.

The blazing sky remained as loud and dramatic as its owner.

Yet something felt different.

The Fire Root wasn’t running.

It wasn’t transforming.

It wasn’t trying to escape.

Instead, it hovered quietly in the center of the world.

Waiting. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

Penelope blinked.

Then immediately became suspicious.

"Why is it behaving?"

Outside, Kai looked offended.

"What do you mean behaving?"

"It knows what it did." Ben stated.

Kai gasped.

"My root would never."

"It absolutely would." Penelope responded.

"It takes after its wielder." Erik concluded.

"Exactly."

Kai paused.

Then pointed at himself proudly.

"Thank you."

Penelope’s eye twitched.

Some battles weren’t worth fighting.

Ignoring him, she approached the Fire Root once more.

This time, she didn’t chase it.

Didn’t grab it.

Didn’t force it.

She simply stopped in front of it. Releasing the stolen flame from her conscious and letting it return to the fire root.

For a moment, neither moved. Then, Kai’s fire root began swaying. As if excited to be reunited with a long lost son.

Then, remembering Ben’s Earth Root, Penelope slowly extended her hand.

"Can I borrow your power?"

The Fire Root flickered.

A pulse of warmth spread throughout the fiery world.

Then—

A small flame detached itself from the larger root.

Floating toward her.

Not ripped away.

Not stolen.

Given.

Penelope’s eyes widened.

The tiny flame returned to her palm.

The moment it touched her consciousness, she felt the difference.

It was stronger.

Far stronger.

The connection felt complete.

Natural.

As though the power had always belonged there.

Outside, Penelope’s eyes snapped open.

Flames immediately erupted around her hand.

Everyone froze.

The fire burned bright.

Steady.

Controlled.

The heat radiating from it was completely different from before.

Even Kai’s expression changed.

"Whoa."

Ben immediately stood up.

"That’s not the same."

"It isn’t." Penelope whispered.

She could feel it.

The difference was obvious.

The previous fire had felt unstable.

Incomplete.

Like a damaged tool.

This flame felt alive.

Responsive.

Whole.

Erik’s eyes narrowed.

"Try the fireball."

Penelope nodded.

She raised her hand and concentrated.

The flames gathered instantly.

Compressing.

Condensing.

Forming a sphere the size of a basketball.

A moment later, she released it.

The fireball shot across the training grounds.

It traveled twenty meters before exploding against a stone target.

Boom.

Fragments scattered everywhere.

Silence followed.

Then Kai immediately pointed at the destroyed target.

"See?!"

"My fire is amazing!"

Ben rolled his eyes.

"You didn’t do that."

"I inspired it."

"That’s not how that works."

"It absolutely is."

Nobody listened to him.

Their attention remained fixed on the smoking remains of the target.

Because all of them immediately realized something important.

The Earth Root had been given.

The Fire Root had been taken.

And perhaps—

That difference mattered more than they realized.