The fragmented prism

Special abilities were not simple techniques learned with effort or cultivated through discipline; they were the materialization of a much deeper and more dangerous power. They were abilities of the soul, unique and tremendously powerful, born from the very core of a being's existence, defying logic and physics. They remained latent, like a dormant genome, in a minuscule percentage of living beings and, in an even stranger twist, also in some non-living beings that, somehow, possessed a soul.

So intrinsically tied to their essence, these abilities remained dormant, awaiting any kind of catalyst to awaken. Sometimes, an extraordinary or traumatic event would activate them; other times, they would simply awaken suddenly. And the moment they manifested, their user was able to understand instinctively, through pure intuition, what they could do with their new power. Once activated, they rewrote the rules of reality. These abilities could alter matter, biology, and the perception of others in ways that conventional science considered impossible. But here lay the trap, in every sense of the word. While the power seemed limitless, each soul ability had its own conditions and limitations. They were not tools; they were extensions of the user's soul. Their true limit was not power, but the understanding and creativity of their user, who, depending on their initial intuition, could give the ability a completely different use. A genius could unleash its full potential, while a limited mind could waste an immense power by giving it a simple use.

Special abilities were not something that was acquired; in a mystical and deeply rooted way, they were born directly from the soul of their bearer. It could be said that every soul contained within it a latent ability, a unique seed of power waiting for the right moment to bloom. The relationship between the ability and the soul was one of intrinsic interconnection, an unbreakable bond. The soul, an abstract entity, without form or substance, housed the potential of its power. It was a dormant concept, a voiceless whisper in the echo of existence.

The awakening of one of these abilities was an extraordinary event, a moment of creation and forced manifestation. A catalyst was not a magical tool or a ritual; it was simply the event that provided the necessary pressure, stress, or inspiration to compel the soul to give shape to its power. In that instant, the ability ceased to be a mere potential and became a reality, a physical or conceptual extension of the user's soul. And with the manifestation came the trap. The ability was so interconnected with the soul that any use, any damage, or any corruption of the power could directly affect the well-being of the bearer. It was a tacit pact: the ability gave them a power that defied the gods, but in exchange, the user's soul became its source and, ultimately, its hostage. The ability could not exist without its soul, and the form it took was a reflection of the essence of that very soul. This is why they were such varied, unique, and personal powers; because each was the echo of a distinct soul, manifested in a form as absurd as its very existence.

Gaining or generating a soul ability by will should be impossible. The very nature of these abilities, born from the essence of a soul in a moment of existential pressure, meant they could not be created artificially. However, unexpectedly, an exception arose. Mireya had created his paper men, small shikigamis that danced in the air around him. He had manifested them while hospitalized, in an attempt to vent his frustrations by cursing at trucks. Unbeknownst to him, he mixed his own spiritual and cursed energy with the souls of the dead who haunted the hospital, accidentally creating the shikigamis. He was slow to realize his mistake, and only did so after having created a total of eight of these entities. His creation interested, but did not impress, Echidna at the time, for as a Divinity, she had witnessed something similar in the past.

After all, shikigamis were a well-documented form of conjuration. They were a type of familiar or servant conjured from simple materials like paper, wood, or clay, which obeyed their creator's orders. Their abilities were limited to the power and energy of their bearer or the nature of the material they were made of. They were tools, puppets without a will of their own, created to fulfill a specific task. They were known for their lack of a soul and for being mere projections of their creator's energy. However, throughout history, the art of shikigami creation evolved. In the same way that time and experience polished any craft, this art became more sophisticated. Entire clans specialized in this conjuration, developing unique techniques and perfecting their craft. This specialization led to the creation of all sorts of shikigamis, designed for uses as varied as combat, espionage, protection, or simple messaging.

Among these clans, one rose as the most sinister of all. They were known as the Clan of the Soul's Shadow, a lineage of conjurers who ventured into territory that others had considered forbidden. They dared to manipulate a volatile mixture of cursed and spiritual energy, an art that other clans whispered was blasphemy. But their true innovation resided in the focus of their abilities. While other clans focused on physical force or tactics, the shikigamis of the Clan of the Soul's Shadow had abilities that centered on the soul. The Clan of the Soul's Shadow had developed a terrifying technique, one that transcended the simple creation of servants. They created shikigamis that functioned as parasites, each with a specific function: dog, servant, clown, among many others. These beings would enter the souls of their victims, devouring their consciousness until nothing was left. Immediately thereafter, the shikigami would take over the body, imitating the personality and behavior of the victim, while maintaining its own consciousness and original function. Although they looked like normal humans on the outside, with access to all the memories and abilities of the body they had taken, they were aware that they were shikigamis, masks of flesh and bone, with a unique purpose.

As was to be expected, the invention of such a technique caused the Clan of the Soul's Shadow to be quickly marginalized by the other clans. They were viewed with contempt and fear, and the murkiest rumors about their rituals began to circulate the world. Their reputation became so infamous that no one dared to approach them or do business with their members. Cornered and rejected by society, and with their resources running out, the clan leaders made a desperate decision to ensure their survival. They formed alliances with the scum of the world, with the people of the criminal underworld. Now, their terrifying abilities were not at the service of ancestral rituals, but of the worst people in society. It was thanks to the knowledge Echidna remembered about the Clan of the Soul's Shadow that she was able to analyze the event she had witnessed, gaining a certain understanding of what the abilities or uses of those eight shikigamis might be. Although for most their existence was a mystery, Echidna could intuit the terrifying nature of their power. However, despite her vast wisdom, she never expected the decision her companion made.

Against all logic, Mireya, after hearing Echidna's hypothesis about the parasitic nature of the shikigamis' abilities and understanding their possible nature, made an absurd decision.

"Can't I let myself be possessed?"

<".........">

That response left Echidna dumbfounded, as after all, doing such a thing was the equivalent of taking an unnecessary risk for no reason.

<".... I think you should reconsider that decision.">

"No problem, because after all, I trust my babies."

<".......">

"Come on~"

That response left Echidna speechless, who, incredulous, could only watch as the eight floating paper men launched themselves at him after hearing his call.

The eight floating paper men launched themselves at him, not as parasites, but with the enthusiasm of those returning home. One by one, they entered his body without the slightest resistance. In any other circumstance, a normal soul would have rejected, attacked, or destroyed the invaders, but Mireya's soul was unique. Not only did it not repel them, but it peacefully assimilated them. It was an unprecedented situation. The shikigamis, which had been created with spiritual and cursed energy, became part of Mireya's soul. But, as they joined, the essence of the parasites became imbued with Mireya's energies. They fused and mutated, bathing in a storm of divine energy and magical girl magic, energies that not even the Clan of the Soul's Shadow had been able to mix with spiritual and cursed energy. The auras of the four types of energy united in a whirlwind, completely transforming the existence of the shikigamis and the soul that welcomed them. This gave rise to an unexpected result that amazed Echidna.

After all, the creation of a soul ability for Mireya, a power born from the cohesion of being, should have been impossible. His soul, broken and fragmented by past events, lacked the foundation to manifest such an intrinsic power. But the shikigamis became the glue that united it. Their parasitic essences, with their predefined functions, acted as a scaffolding, an internal structure that held the fragments of Mireya's soul together. And it was then, at the climax of the phenomenon, that the four energies bombarded the fusion. There was no destruction, but forging. The energies became a crucible, fusing the fragmented soul with the parasitic essences into a unique whole, a complete soul. This process, which should not have existed, gave Mireya what he never had: a solid foundation for his latent power to flourish.

The culmination of that process of impossible creation gave rise to a soul ability that, during the last week, both Echidna and Mireya dedicated themselves to testing, trying to understand the capacities of that power which they named.

"{Prism of the Eighth Purity}"

At that moment, a voice that mixed a feminine melody with a masculine echo resonated in the air, and the paper men materialized at the magical girl's back, bathed in a boreal rainbow aura. The sound of the two tones resonated at the same time, pronouncing the word that made terror seize all those present.

"....."

A threat much deeper than the original chaos became palpable, and Vespira, feeling it, knew there was no time to lose. She could not allow that manifestation of power to continue. She gathered all her strength; her three scorpion tails entwined, making them rotate at high speed while she concentrated corrosive venom on the tip, creating an acidic drill.

"..."

With a speed that only desperation can grant, she launched herself forward. Her most powerful attack, a whirlwind of dark energy that fused with the acidic drill of her tails, a relentless thrust aimed directly at the magical girl's heart. The multicolored light of the aurora bathed everything, but Vespira did not stop, feeling that a single impact would be enough to destroy the core of that threat.

(¡CLANG!)

"¡?!"

But just as her attack was inches away, a sound resonated throughout the entire area, a metallic and abrupt sound, like an object violently hitting a wall.

"Oh, come on! Do you think a simple attack would be enough to break our defense? You should have tried harder."

The aurora light vanished, revealing a prismatic energy barrier that had blocked Vespira's attack. The sphere that received it was formed by the eight shikigamis, who were holding hands in a circle around him, with a multicolored aura glowing from their core.

"First manifestation: Barrier."

With a voice that mixed a masculine and childlike tone while also resonating with a mature and playful feminine tone, he responded with amusement.

"Now... entertain us."

After those words, the magical girl snapped his fingers with a dry sound, his smile becoming even wider, like that of a snake about to devour its prey.

"Third manifestation: Saw."

Instantly, the eight shikigamis abandoned their formation. They divided into four groups of two, spinning at a dizzying speed while a multicolored light coated them. In a blink, they transformed into four circular energy saws, gleaming and deadly, each one pulsating with the combined power of an amalgam of energies.

(¡Sliiiice!)

The whirring of the saws filled the air, a sharp, sizzling sound that promised a quick end.

"!!"

Vespira, still dazed by the barrier, reacted out of pure instinct. One of the saws launched toward her, and Vespira could barely lift her central tail to defend herself. The contact was a mistake.

(¡¡Sliiiice!!)

"?!"

The sharp energy disk sank into her tail with terrifying ease.

(¡CRUNCH!)

The pain was sharp, but Vespira didn't stop to scream. With a desperate movement, she tore herself away from the saw and watched, horrified, as her tail detached from her body and fell to the ground with a dull thud, leaving a trail of dark blood and venom. The cut was surgical, perfect, as if it had never been there. The saw continued its trajectory as if nothing had happened.

In an instant, the other three saws launched at her, forcing her to retreat. Her mind worked at a frantic speed, but her body couldn't keep up.

(¡GRRRRIND!)

She moved, but the saws were faster. She jumped onto the wall, and one of the saws followed her, cutting through the concrete as if it were butter.

(¡SCREEECH!)

Vespira tried to run along the ceiling, but another saw came up to intercept her, cutting a ventilation duct that fell to the floor with a crash. The metallic pieces split in two upon contact with the energy disk. There was no longer a pattern to the attack, only a calculated fury.

With only two of her remaining tails, Vespira defended herself from the attacks coming from all directions, dodging, deflecting, and doing what she could to survive the onslaught. She crashed into a column, which was cut through in an instant by one of the saws. Her body now moved on instinct, trying to predict the next move of the saws, but the mind of her opponent was an enigma. It was a game for them, and she was the toy.

"Beep, beep, beep"

"Beep, beep, beep"

"Beep, beep, beep"

While the saws relentlessly besieged her, the remaining drones, which until that moment had avoided the fray, pulled back. They moved in a circular pattern, preparing for a coordinated and omnidirectional attack. But before they could attack, the magical girl snapped his fingers again. With a joyful, almost musical hum, his dual voice resonated with a new command.

"Fourth manifestation: Impact."

The saws, which were chasing Vespira, stopped abruptly. They shed their circular form, dividing back into the eight shikigamis. Enveloped in a boreal rainbow aura, they launched in all directions, attacking all the drones at the same time with a mortal precision.

"Now!"

Vespira saw her opportunity. With her opponent's attention divided, she launched forward at maximum speed. This was her moment, the instant of victory. But as she approached, a diabolical, cold, and hissing whisper resonated in her ears.

"{Emotional Resonance: Kaelen Mode}"

In that instant, the magical girl underwent a transformation. His hair grew at an unnatural speed, reaching to cover his back. The whites of his eyes turned black, as dark as the abyss. And a thorny crown, composed of an unknown and shadowy material, manifested in his hair.

In that moment, Vespira's attack stopped dead. Her body froze in the air, paralyzed by a sharp pain that ran from her head to her tails. It was an agony that made her writhe without being able to move. In that moment, now transformed, she saw the smile of that magical girl...