On a completely theoretical level, you could imagine that with pulling power from the device to cut and Magnus pulling power from the device to protect himself we’d be equal.
Anyone who’s ever designed anything knows that’s utter garbage, though.
The amount of power you can get out of sothing depends on where in the system you’re pulling it from, how you’re using that power, what you’re using it on, and too many details to list. With more complicated devices, your access level to the control systems and your level of skill matter, too.
I didn’t have full control of the device or enough power over it to check by thinking, but I knew this: no matter how much control Magnus had, he didn’t fully understand the device.
If he had, I’d have had no chance to cut through.
It wasn’t easy. Not only did I have to channel everything I could pull out of the life support system into my sword, but I had to add more from my personal reserves—which thanks to the power from my future self were higher than ever in my life.
Even then it wasn’t easy. I felt the resistance as my sword hit, but I’d had a plan. Making the assumption of power but minimal skill, I guessed that he might not be able to anticipate how much power he’d need to prevent my cut, but once I attacked, he’d be able to match it. That ant that my best shot would be to hit with overwhelming force and hope to pass through before he figured out what to do.
I threw everything into it and I could feel power pour into the sword.
Worrying that I might not have anything left when I was done, I did it anyway. At first, I had sparks, but no progress. Then I felt the force field vibrate and shatter.
No longer held together, the remnants of the force field exploded in all directions in a series of small explosions that lit up the room, burning the floor, pushing Grandpa backwards. I stepped inside where the shield had been and ran inward toward the throne, thinking that if it did spring back into shape at least I’d be inside.
As I ran, I felt a communication from the device. Not knowing whether it would be an attack or letting know that I had control, I accepted the call.
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It wasn’t either. Spark’s voice sounded in my head, “You told to inform you when your friends arrived and to send them to you. I’m not allowed to send them, but if you open a connection to them, you can pull them here.”
“Hey,” I thought back, “why aren’t you here?”
“It seems that soone doesn’t trust close to the center.”
“Oh,” I thought back.
“Pull them through before it’s impossible,” she said and the connection ended.
Unsure of how to contact rest of the group, I visualized the spot where I stepped through the portal, rembering how I’d opened the portal here.
I couldn’t open into the room. I could feel too many energies and too much interference. I could open up to the countryside near the lake and hope that standing in front of a giant castle in the middle of a countryside would be enough of a clue.
If I were really lucky, maybe they’d even detect my communicator, the old League’s equipnt, or maybe my implant.
Either way, I felt the power going out of . Even though I was using the life support connection to pull more in, I could tell it was a stretch.
At the sa ti, I could feel the portal open and in a shadowy way see them flying through it. I kept it open until the last person crossed and then let go, feeling the fatigue settle in. It felt like the soreness of a five mile run.
As I took a breath, trying to pull in more energy at the sa ti, I realized that the force field was up again, glowing a little brighter than before. It must have happened while I opened the portal.
On the bright side, I was on the inside by about ten feet and only a few feet from the throne. Also, I was alone.
Crap.
At the mont I realized that, our League showed up in my HUD, nas moving from grey to full color—Haley, Daniel, Cassie, Vaughn, Jacklyn, Marcus, and Tiger. Izzy had presumably stayed back at the portal with Amy?
“Nick!” Haley’s voice sounded in my head through my implant. “Are you in the castle and who’s with you?”
“The original League—all of it. Also Ray, Magnus, Jody, and Colette and bunch of True and Cabal people. Most of them are down. Anyone who’s ever been in here is kind of here still, but past versions. Anyone who dies might change the past. Anything you tell them might change the past. It’s ssy. I’m kind of in the middle of it.”
“But you’re in the castle. We’re coming,” she said.
I might have talked more, but then Magnus stepped around the side of the throne, flanked by Ray and Colette.
If Ray wanted one, he had a free shot at Magnus’ kidney, but he wasn’t taking it. He grinned at . It was anybody’s guess what that ant.
Magnus looked up and down, stroking his beard. “You’re here to stop , are you? I’ve had thousands of years to understand what I am. You barely understand anything. What madness has taken you that you think to challenge ? And alone at that.”
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