Chapter 205. Ice cream tastes better with kisses
Tyler felt something strange—like a pulse from the sky itself. His head snapped up, eyes narrowing as he peered outside, sensing something powerful approaching.
"What happened?" Lily asked, noticing his sudden shift.
"Something is coming," Tyler said, looking at the sky.
"I don’t see anything," Lily followed his gaze but saw only the endless stretch of clouds.
Before Tyler could respond, a golden light shot down from the sky, piercing through the clouds like a lance of pure energy. It entered his body in a flash. Tyler’s eyes widened as his entire body tensed, his breath catching in his throat. The golden light seemed to flood his veins with energy, overwhelming him. His consciousness wavered, and before he knew it, his legs buckled. He collapsed onto the tram floor.
In that moment, something else appeared—a black-and-white grid of squares under him, only visible for a second before vanishing. It was so fleeting that anyone watching might have doubted they saw anything at all.
"Tyler!" Lily’s voice was sharp, filled with concern as she rushed to his side, shaking his shoulder lightly. The others soon followed, surrounding him.
Tyler’s eyes fluttered open a few minutes later, his body still feeling the residual tingle from the golden light. The worried faces of his crew came into focus. Lily, Mathilda, Darla, Astrid, and Zuzia were all leaning in, their expressions filled with anxiety.
"What... happened?" Mathilda asked, kneeling next to him.
"I’m fine," Tyler lied, sitting up slowly, though he felt anything but normal. "Something strange just happened. One of my abilities... it’s been upgraded."
"Upgraded?" Lily asked, her eyes narrowing. She’d seen Tyler use his Chess Spell before, so she accepted his explanation. But still doubt lingered inside her.