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Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: Gigingirls & Boboiboy

The world the girls described was one of normality shattered by wonder. They were the Gigingirls—a tight-knit group of seven friends bound by the simple, powerful bonds of childhood. Lyra, the cheerful spark; Artemis, the serious strategist; Tiama, the gentle heart; Flamme, the impulsive firebrand; Friya, the cool-headed realist; Flora, the shy bloom; and Alexandrite, the mischievous prankster. They had grown up together, their lives intertwined since their earliest memories.

The catalyst was a meteor shower. At eleven years old, they witnessed seven distinct rays of light streak away from the main shower and crash nearby. Driven by a shared, irresistible curiosity, they investigated and found the source: seven orbs of incredible power. Upon touching them, their lives were forever changed. Lyra was chosen by Voltrabot, its crimson lightning coursing through her. Artemis bonded with Tempestbot, the storm becoming her to command. Tiama felt the solid strength of Crystalbot, the earth itself answering her call. Flamme embraced the roaring inferno of Novabot. Friya was selected by the serene, absolute cold of Blizzardbot. Flora found a friend in Junglebot, the flora of the world blooming at her touch. Alexandrite was illuminated by the brilliant, logical light of Gammabot.

Their new lives as heroines began almost immediately with the arrival of E Dada, a Power Sphere huntress. Their relationship was a complex dance of conflict and reluctant alliance, fighting her one day and joining forces with her against greater threats the next. When they were fifteen, they met Captain Reiza of SAGOPS—Search And Guard Over Power Spheres. After a humbling defeat that showcased their raw potential, Reiza offered them a place in the organization. They accepted, trading their ordinary lives for a cosmic calling, traveling the universe to protect the Power Spheres from those who would misuse them.

They fought, they grew, they experienced loss and triumph. And then came the mission for Voidbot, a sphere of nothingness. After battling through rivals, they reached it, only for its defense mechanism to activate—a dimensional rift of unimaginable power. They struggled against the pull, but it was futile. The vortex of space-time tore them apart, hurling each girl into a separate, unknown world, scattering the Gigingirls across the multiverse.

As the girls finished their stories, their gazes settled on the young men before them. The same unspoken question was in all their eyes, echoing across seven realities: "That's our past. What about you?"

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Ragnar listened to Lyra's tale of friendship and cosmic duty, a strange sense of dissonance settling over him. When she finished, he was silent for a long time, his ruby eyes distant. Finally, he looked at her, his decision made. "I am not entirely human," he stated, his voice devoid of shame or pride, simply stating a fact. "Or rather, I was not human. In my true nature, I am a consciousness born inside Voltrabot." He saw her eyes widen, but he continued, relentless. "And so are the others. Tempestbot. Crystalbot. Novabot. Blizzardbot. Junglebot. Gammabot. We are all manifestations of the power inside them."

Noctus looked away from Artemis, up at the stars he could no longer navigate. "We awakened when the first masters made contact with us," he began, his voice carrying the echo of ancient memories. "Voltra was Satriantar Ratna. I, Tempest, was Princess Kuputeri. Crystal was Hang Kasa. Nova was Warmaster Pyrapi. Blizzard was Mas Mawais. Jungle was King Balakung. And Gamma was Retak'ka." He glanced back at her. "They were unaware of our existence, but we knew them. At that time, they were known as Elemental Masters, although they mostly operated independently and sometimes had contact with each other."

Gaiard returned to his seat, the plush sofa groaning under his weight. His voice was slow, heavy with the weight of history. "Everything was normal until Retak'ka," he rumbled. "Driven mad by his desire for power, he aimed for the power of the other Masters. They fought, but that thirst… it pushed him too far." He listed the names like graves on a battlefield. "One by one, they fell: Balakung, Kuputeri, Pyrapi, Mawais, Ratna. And his ultimate target was Hang Kasa, who was once his sworn brother." He clenched his fist. "In that final battle, Hang Kasa used Ochobot, the last Power Sphere created, which carried the power to absorb and transfer power, absorbing the six powers that Retak'ka had, along with his own power."

Ignis met Flamme's bewildered gaze. "After that," he continued the story, "we were sucked into Ochobot and fell into a deep sleep. After more than 100 years, we were awakened one by one, but not in seven separate individuals." He tapped his own chest. "We awoke in a single human. An 11-year-old boy named Boboiboy. He happened upon Ochobot and was given power by the Sphere. We awakened, but our power was not complete—perhaps a defense mechanism for his body. Our power was limited to a mere 10%."

Friz took a slow sip of his now-cold coffee, the bitter taste fitting the tale. "We clung to an emotional aspect of Boboiboy," he explained to Friya, his tone analytical. "Connecting with that emotional fragment, from which our personalities were formed. Thunderstorm is cold and lonely. Cyclone is cheerful and rebellious. Earthquake is serious and responsible. Blaze is energetic and mischievous. I, then Ice, am lazy and easy-going. Thorn is childish and naive. Solar is smart and arrogant." A faint, self-deprecating smile appeared. "Boboiboy's life was our life, and we ourselves did not expect that we would be influenced by him so much."

Heim leaned against a giant tree, his expression thoughtful as he spoke to Flora. "He fought, learned, and experienced many moments, and we always accompanied him, understanding better than anyone everything he felt. We were together for so long that we unconsciously became him without knowing it. And at the age of 15, Boboiboy joined TAPOPS, Tracker And Protector Of Power Spheres, just like your SAGOPS organization. He went into space, searching for and protecting the Power Spheres scattered throughout the universe. In the process, he fought countless powerful enemies, and at the same time, he also exploited 100% of our power, not to mention more than that. He even opened up power that we ourselves did not know we had, power so great that it affected the multiverse."

Alstar turned fully to face Alexandrite, the digital wind ruffling his hair. "But holding such great power means that his body had also reached its limit," he said, his voice the calm eye of the storm. "He could still maintain his form because we restrained our power, as well as his own will forcing himself not to crumble." He looked towards the virtual sky. "On that fateful day, he was tasked with retrieving the Aetherbot. However, before he could retrieve it, the Aetherbot activated, creating a dimensional rift, pulling him inside. We, the elemental fragments, tried to hold on." His voice softened almost imperceptibly. "But perhaps realizing that he no longer had the strength, or having accepted to give up, Boboiboy let himself go. He let us be pulled out. And before we were completely pulled away, he said that he was too tired. He wanted to rest, and hoped that we would live a new life. A life that belonged to us alone, not tied to him or anyone else."

In seven separate worlds, the stories concluded. Ragnar, Noctus, Gaiard, Ignis, Friz, Heim, and Alstar—each one ended their narrative with the same quiet, definitive sentence, a closing chapter on a shared past and the opening of an uncertain future.

"...Then, I was pulled into this world, carrying Boboiboy's wish, starting the journey to find my own life. Everything after that, you know."

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