Prism was not worried about Ember, not in the least.
If anything, she had already calculated many possible solutions to solve this issue the moment that Ember has stepped, not literally, forward and declared her intent.
Ember was talented, undeniably so. Her flames were refined, her presence intense, and her confidence was unshakable. She was precisely the kind of Entity that Prism needed for her master Lord Cubix's greater design.
But needed was not the same as equal.
Ember was powerful, yes, but still far beneath her. Prism was superior to Ember in every meaning of the word, it's as simple as that. And Prism not only knew this fact, but also had every intention of displaying this to Ember.
And so Prism had already devised several methods to subdue her, persuade her, or even break her pride entirely if necessary. And in the end, Ember would stand beside her.
Prism would present Ember, as well as her object, along with the other three, to her master and fulfill her mission flawlessly. There was no need to think too deeply about it, as it was a simple enough task.
The three remaining Entities, Cream, Aloe, and Gold, hovered in silence. Their geometric forms were faintly shimmering as they observed the tension unfolding with both curiosity and worry.
They were curious to see how their boss, Prism, would handle the situation. But at the same time, they couldn't hide how anxious they felt at the uncertainty of how the situation would conclude.
It made sense in their perspective. After all, none of them had ever seen Ember's abilities.
They had seen Prism's abilities when she created the [Hover], but didn't even know what Ember was capable of.
Still, they couldn't help but worry at the fact that both Ember and Prism radiated the same aura, as if they were equals. At least, that's how it felt to them.
"Are you sure about this?" Gold asked, his golden cube form dimming slightly with concern.
"Boss said she would handle it, so we should believe her." Cream replied.
"I get that, but–"
"Are you implying that you think that Boss is incapable of handling something like this?"
Cream's voice was steady. She was not angry, and most certainly not offended by Gold. In fact, she was just as worried as he was.
Even though Prism had assured her that everything was under control, doubt still gnawed at the edges of her thoughts. Faith and anxiety could coexist, and in her case, they did.
"No… forgive me." Gold said, lowering himself slightly in apology.
Cream felt guilty after hearing how dejected Gold felt. It wasn't as though she had meant what she said to come out like that, her emotions simply got the better of her.
After the exchange, Aloe drifted closer to Cream, who was floating a distance away from Gold who didn't want to anger her anymore than she was.
"You didn't have to be harsh with him." Aloe said calmly.
"I know," Cream exhaled. "I'm just... stressed. What about you? How are you feeling?"
"To be frank… I'm worried." Aloe admitted with a dim glow. "I know that I should trust Boss, but Ember feels… comparable to her. The aura that they exude is similar to one another."
Aloe was perceptive, too perceptive even. Among them, Aloe was the most intuitive when it came to measuring another Entity's presence.
Aloe had sensed it the moment that Ember had arrived, her pressure, as well as her composure. Aloe believed that if Prism and Ember truly fought without restraint, then the outcome would not be as certain as everyone initially assumes.
"Well," Cream said firmly, "I have faith."
"You do? Why?"
"Because Boss said she would handle it, and I trust her."
Even through her anxiety, Cream's conviction burned bright. Prism carried an aura that made belief feel natural, inevitable even.
"I see," Aloe said softly. "Then let's prepare to congratulate her when she wins."
"Mm." Cream pulsed in agreement.
And so, the two Entities drifted back as Prism accepted Ember's provocation. Another Entity joined them soon after their talk finished.
"So, you want to be the leader?" Prism asked.
"I deserve to be the leader." Ember replied without hesitation.
"Is that so?"
"That's right." Ember pulsed with a bright glow, displaying her confidence.
"How arrogant of you."
"It's confidence, not arrogance."
"Is it?"
"Yes."
Prism allowed the conversation to continue on. This wasn't to argue or simply provoke her challenger, but to analyze her instead.
She had learned from her master, Lord Cubix, that judgment made from a single perspective was fragile.
True assessment required observations through multiple angles, subtle testing, as well as deliberate provocation. Every word that Ember spoke revealed something.
Her pride, her impatience, as well as her hunger for acknowledgement.
That, was why Prism rarely misjudged others.
"Can you back it up?" Prism asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Prove to me that you're worthy of taking my position."
Ember felt the trap. Indeed, she could sense it.
Something about this feels wrong…
But her pride silenced the caution.
"How?"
"Best me."
"Excuse me? What do you mean?"
"If you defeat me, the position, as well as everything that comes with it, is all yours." Prism clarified with a subtle pulse of excitement.
Prism was not boasting, not at all. She had simply deduced that nothing would tempt Ember more than legitimacy. Hence why she made such an offer.
"Are you serious?" Ember asked, wanting to verify Prism's words.
"Do I sound like I'm joking?" Prism shot back. The casual way in which she did angered Ember a bit.
Their pressures expanded simultaneously.
The collision sent ripples through the air. Cream and Aloe trembled under the force until Gold expanded his faces outward and activated his object.
"Shield!" he shouted.
A massive oval outward curved shield formed in front of them, its golden surfaces layered thick with condensed energy.
The [Hover], that Prism had constructed for travel, began cracking under the pressure, fractures of light spiderwebbing across its structure.
Gold's shield, however, did not waver. In fact, the shield grew sturdier in proportion to the pressure attempting to crush it.
"Fine," Ember said, reducing the pressure first. "I accept your proposal."
"Good." Prism replied, also reducing her pressure. "Now then, do your best to entertain me." she pulsed once.
Ember's object ignited into existence. "You wanted to see it, right? Well, here it is! This is [Inferno]!"
"Show me."
"I'll hold back a bit. I wouldn't want to hurt you too badly." Ember's nonexistent lips curved into a wry smile.
A condensed sphere of flame formed and launched immediately towards Prism.
It vanished inches before making contact with her.
What?! Well, it would be disappointing if she couldn't handle at least that much. Ember thought to herself.
"Not bad," Prism said. "That said, I'm sure that you can do better than this. Well?"
"Tsk." Ember clicked her nonexistent tongue. "Why you."
Ember attacked once more.
Multiple colossal flame spheres materialized, surrounding Prism in a blazing ring.
Interesting. Still, it's lacking refinement. Prism thought.
"Let's see you handle this!"
The spheres all converged on Prism.
The explosion swallowed Prism in a storm of fire and light. Heat surged outward violently, even going as far as rattling Gold's shield. The surrounding space itself seemed to warp under the strain.
"Hooold oooonn!" Gold shouted, his shield groaning.
And then, something happened to it, something that Gold himself hadn't intended.
The shield absorbed the immense amount of energy and began warping. It stretched and folded backwards, encompassing all three Entities within a golden sphere.
As for why this happened, it wasn't the shield trying to protect Gold. Rather, Gold's mind had subconsciously upgraded his shield into a barrier.
Of course, Gold's mind, at this point, was blurry and on the way to becoming blank. It seems as though the task, of his subconsciousness overriding his normal consciousness, was too taxing on his mental fortitude.
For nearly a full minute, the inferno raged. And when it faded, silence followed after.
"Where's... boss... lady?" Gold asked, trembling violently as his mind struggled just to keep him conscious.
"Please be careful," Aloe drifted closer to him, lights pulsing in worry. "you seem hurt."
"You don't worry about her." Cream said confidently.
The smoke cleared, and a silhouette hovered, seemingly untouched.
It was Prism.
And indeed, there wasn't a scorch mark that marred her surface.
"That was better than the first one." she said calmly. "Still though, it's insufficient."
"It's the boss lady!" Gold mused, his mind having finally stabilized.
"She's okay." Aloe voiced with a bright glow.
"See, I told you not to worry." Cream added, her glow relaxed.
Relief flooded all of them.
Aloe watched intently. I thought that they were equal… but it seems as though I was wrong.
Although Aloe had made an incorrect assessment of Prism's overall strength, it was a mistake that Aloe was happy to have made.
Ember stared in disbelief. Impossible! This can't be happening! I know that attack connected, so why?
"If that is all," Prism continued, "then you should now understand the gap between us."
"How?" Ember demanded. "How are you doing this?!"
"There's no point in telling you." she responded coldy.
"What?!" Ember muttered, clearly confused by Prism's unexpected response.
"Figure it out yourself. Perhaps then you'll prove to be entertaining."
The battle had ended the moment Ember failed to understand what happened. No, this was never a battle to begin with.
Prism can control her presence with extreme precision.
As such, she can expand it, suppress it, as well as divide it at will. By projecting a false presence identical to her own while concealing her true position, Prism allowed attacks to pass harmlessly through illusions.
Ember had been striking phantoms this whole time.
Even if Ember discovered this, Prism had already calculated other additional countermeasures to implement just in case.
With that said, the outcome was simply predetermined.
"What makes you think this is over?" Ember snapped.
Her pride simply wouldn't let her kneel.
She had always been superior, always dominant. She had never once lost. Even now, the idea of defeat never even crossed her mind.
"If you cannot even perceive how I avoided your attacks," Prism said coldly, "then you cannot win. It is as simple as that."
Ember pulsed with frustration. She knew that Prism was right, but surrender tasted worse than defeat.
Prism decided then.
She would not merely win, no. She would engrave the simple fact of inferiority into Ember's very core.
Multiple Prisms materialized around her.
"What?!"
Ember attempted to generate hundreds of flame spheres, buy they extinguished at formation.
"How are you doing this?!" she demanded.
"If you cannot deduce something this basic," Prism replied, "then that is simply your limit."
The words struck her harder than any attack that Prism had yet to throw.
Prism then calmly explained how she manipulated layered presences and pressure differentials to destabilize Ember's combustion field before their ignition.
It was a demonstration of absolute control.
Even knowing the method, Ember realized that she couldn't or rather, didn't have a way counter it.
"So," Prism started, "what will you do now?"
Prism was finished playing.
"…Fine," Ember said bitterly. "You are better than me."
"I'm glad that we could reach a conclu–"
"for now," Ember cut in again.
Prism dismissed all of her clones.
It was her victory.
Cream floated closer. "Again with the interruptions." she started.
"It's fine Cream, please relax." Prism said, not wanting a fight to break out. She turned her attention back to Ember. "The offer still stands, if you want to join us."
"Be grateful that Boss is still willing to accept you even after all you did." Cream added with a single pulse.
"You will not be leader, I hope you know that." Aloe said calmly. "Given the fact that you failed and all."
Gold wobbled proudly, still recovering from his earlier overexertion. "Just so you know, I outrank you."
Ember burned with humiliation.
She is superior to me, that much is clear. If I follow her, then maybe I can grow stronger. Stronger than what I am now, and eventually stringer than her. "Since you insist, then I'll gladly join you in your mission."
"I don't think so!"
"If you're not going to be respectful to Boss..."
"Then you don't get to join in on her her mission."
All three of them challenged Ember to respect Prism. Ember stared at Prism, who turned her attention towards nothing in particular to ignore her in return.
I wonder... Prism thought to herself.
She wanted to see just how Ember would react in this situation. And so, Ember was left with no other choice but to reluctantly follow the conditions foeced on her.
"I would appreciate joining you in your mission…" she gazed at the trio, then back at Prism. "...please."
"Welcome aboard." Aloe said gently.
"Know your place." Cream added.
"That's right!" Gold beamed.
"I... I understand." Ember replied.
"We are glad to have you along with use. Now then, let us depart." Prism commanded.
"Uhm, Boss..." Cream said hesitantly.
"What is it?" Prism turned to her.
Prism followed her gaze, only to see that the [Hover] had nearly disintegrated from all the damage it took. In fact, parts of it were dissipating into energy particles.
"Sorry." Ember apologized, feeling slightly guilty. "But it's not entirely my fault." she reasoned.
She wasn't wrong, but the others simply weren't having any of it.
"And who was it that challenged the boss?" Aloe asked pointedly.
"…." Ember remained quiet, unable to come with an argument. No, Ember chose to remain quiet so as to not antagonize the three of them any more than what she already had.
"Do not worry about it." Prism said. "I intended to improve it anyway. This just gives me an excuse to do so."
Ember glanced at Prism one last time. Defeat still stung, indeed it did. But beneath it…
Lay a spark of ambition.
And Prism noticed it. Good.
Growth required pressure. And she had only just begun shaping Ember.