The recruits expected Omega Devia to leave after that.
Most powerful entities did.
They appeared.
Spoke in riddles.
Gave warnings.
Then vanished before anyone could ask meaningful questions.
Omega Devia did the opposite.
It simply walked down from the elevated platform and joined them.
Like a teacher.
Like a guide.
Like a friend.
Which was somehow stranger.
The recruits instinctively parted to make room.
Omega Devia strolled between them casually, hands behind its back.
Its expression was calm.
Patient.
Thoughtful.
As though carefully choosing which truths mattered most.
The yellow-green currents around its body drifted gently through the auditorium.
Not imposing.
Not overwhelming.
Present.
The entity glanced toward the newer recruits.
Then asked a question.
"Do you think the idea of getting superpowers simply by being yourself sounds absurd?"
Silence followed.
A few recruits exchanged glances.
Others looked away.
Timmy scratched his cheek.
Sandra seemed ready to answer immediately.
Adrian got there first.
The former rival folded his arms.
"Yeah."
He shrugged.
"It sounds unrealistic."
Several recruits nodded.
Omega Devia smiled.
"Good."
That answer surprised them.
The entity turned toward Adrian.
"Because it is."
The auditorium became quiet again.
Omega Devia pointed upward.
"That is what Avia is."
Then it pointed toward itself.
"And that is what I am."
Its voice remained calm.
No defensiveness.
No hostility.
Only honesty.
"Power born from identity."
A few Nicronian elders listened carefully.
The recruits leaned closer.
Omega Devia continued.
"The difference is where the burden falls."
It paused.
"Avia demands self-honesty."
Another pause.
"Constantly."
Several people shifted.
Some understood immediately.
Others didn't.
Omega Devia noticed.
"To align with Avia, you must continuously face yourself."
Its eyes moved across the room.
"The truth."
"The ugly parts."
"The contradictions."
"The weaknesses."
"The things you'd rather avoid."
The atmosphere grew slightly heavier.
Many of the recruits remembered their own inner realms.
Their own struggles.
Their own failures.
Omega Devia nodded knowingly.
"That process creates incredible growth."
Then its smile returned.
"But that's not me."
The yellow-green light surrounding it brightened.
"With me, you don't have to remain authentic all the time."
The recruits blinked.
Omega Devia spread its arms.
"No pressure."
"No perfection."
"No constant self-interrogation."
Its grin widened.
"You don't have to win every argument against yourself."
Several recruits visibly relaxed.
Sandra looked like she had just heard wonderful news.
Timmy looked relieved.
Even some of the Nicronian elders appeared more comfortable.
Omega Devia pointed toward itself.
"Just believe in me."
Timmy raised his hand immediately.
Omega Devia pointed at him.
"Yes, Timmy."
The boy lowered his hand awkwardly.
"You know my name?"
Omega Devia blinked.
"Timmy, we literally synchronized."
"Oh."
"Anyway."
Timmy cleared his throat.
"What happens if we don't?"
The room grew attentive.
That was the question.
The important question.
The one everyone wanted answered.
Omega Devia didn't hesitate.
"Your power flickers."
The answer came instantly.
No dodging.
No sugarcoating.
No manipulation.
"That's the tradeoff."
Several recruits straightened.
Omega Devia nodded.
"If you're with me, then you need to commit."
It tapped its chest.
"Not because I demand worship."
The entity visibly shuddered.
"Please don't do that again."
A few recruits laughed.
Omega Devia continued.
"You simply need trust."
Its voice softened.
"If Avia flickers when you betray yourself..."
The yellow-green aura rippled.
"...then I flicker when you doubt me."
Silence.
Not fearful silence.
Thoughtful silence.
Adrian nodded first.
He understood.
The structure made sense.
Sandra immediately brightened.
"Oh!"
She turned toward the other recruits.
"I think this is a win, guys."
Several people laughed.
Sandra pointed dramatically.
"Do you realize what he's saying?"
Nobody answered.
"So we don't have to constantly pressure ourselves?"
Omega Devia pointed at her.
"Correct."
Sandra pointed at herself.
"And we still get powers?"
"Correct."
Sandra pointed both thumbs toward herself.
"I'm sold."
Laughter spread throughout the auditorium.
Fred stepped forward next.
The former friend who once betrayed Jason rubbed the back of his neck.
"This still feels like a cult."
The room froze.
Omega Devia froze.
Fred immediately panicked.
"Oh no."
Omega Devia raised an eyebrow.
Fred swallowed.
"The good kind?"
The entity nodded.
"Acceptable."
The tension instantly dissolved.
Even Manu laughed.
Fred sighed in relief.
Adrian folded his arms.
"I like that it has strengths and weaknesses."
He looked directly at Omega Devia.
"I can follow a system that admits its flaws."
Omega Devia snapped its fingers.
"Exactly."
Its smile widened.
"You understand."
Then the entity's expression became slightly more serious.
"And if your doubts remain..."
The recruits grew attentive.
Omega Devia pointed toward the deeper sections of Flex City.
Toward something hidden.
Something ancient.
Something important.
"Then you come with me."
Its voice echoed slightly.
"Into the Well."
Several recruits blinked.
Timmy immediately raised his hand.
"The what now?"
Jason burst out laughing.
"Oh no."
He stepped forward.
"He's talking about the Well."
His dramatic tone made several recruits nervous.
Timmy immediately regretted asking.
Jason widened his eyes.
"Oooooo."
"Jason."
"It exposes your inner realm."
"Jason."
"It drags out your trauma."
"Jason."
"It reveals every hidden thought you've ever—"
"JASON."
The auditorium exploded with laughter.
Jason held up both hands.
"Okay, okay."
Omega Devia pinched the bridge of its nose.
"I swear he does this every generation."
More laughter followed.
The entity sighed.
Then turned back toward the recruits.
"The Well isn't punishment."
Its voice became gentle.
"It exists for evolution."
The room settled.
Omega Devia pointed toward its own chest.
"When we enter the Well together..."
Yellow-green light rippled across the floor.
"...we journey through your inner realm."
The recruits listened carefully.
"We find the source of your doubt."
"The source of your fear."
"The source of your resistance."
Its eyes softened.
"And when you finally understand it..."
The aura around the recruits trembled slightly.
"...you synchronize with me more deeply."
A pause.
Then a smile.
"I call that Evolution."
Fred swallowed.
Only mildly terrified now.
"So after that..."
He hesitated.
"I wouldn't doubt you anymore?"
Omega Devia shrugged.
"Probably."
The answer shocked everyone.
"What?"
Omega Devia laughed.
"People are complicated."
Several elites immediately nodded.
Jair stepped forward.
"See?"
He pointed at the recruits.
"That's what we thought too."
The newer recruits stared.
Jair scratched his head.
"But some people synchronized immediately."
He pointed toward Androsha.
"Others took forever."
He pointed toward himself.
"Some never stopped questioning."
He pointed toward Banjo.
Banjo looked offended.
"Hey."
Jair grinned.
"My point stands."
More laughter followed.
Omega Devia nodded.
"Doubt isn't evil."
Its gaze drifted toward Banjo.
"Sometimes it simply means you're thinking."
That earned a small smile from him.
Then Omega Devia addressed another concern.
"Oh."
The entity raised a finger.
"One more thing."
Everyone looked up.
"Flex City exists outside conventional time."
Several recruits froze.
Adrian immediately narrowed his eyes.
"Meaning?"
Omega Devia grinned.
"Time doesn't behave properly here."
Adrian's eyes widened.
"So my mom wouldn't know?"
"Exactly."
The entire auditorium erupted.
Some recruits cheered.
Others looked relieved.
One Nicronian actually started laughing.
Sandra nearly cried from happiness.
"This place is amazing."
Omega Devia chuckled.
The Nicronian elders exchanged glances.
Different glances.
Quieter ones.
Reflective ones.
And for the first time since arriving...
many of them felt something uncomfortable.
Guilt.
Not because Androsha had been wrong.
Quite the opposite.
She had been right.
Painfully right.
All those years.
All those arguments.
All those warnings.
All those conversations they had dismissed.
The young Nicronian girl had seen something they refused to acknowledge.
And perhaps the most painful realization of all wasn't that they had rejected Androsha.
It wasn't even that they had joined Omega Devia.
It was the possibility that Banjo's question had been correct.
They had been loyal to Airious.
They had respected the Airiens.
They had honored the traditions.
But deep down...
they had never truly devoted themselves to Avia.
And somehow that truth stung far more than any accusation ever could. :::