Karma, Zach, and Alexis hide in a building late at night.
Karma: So what’s the plan for tomorrow?
Alexis: Well, we only have one orb left to collect, so we have to find the final machine, grab it, and head to the center as fast as possible. That’s pretty much it.
Karma: What if we can’t find the mach-
Alexis: Karma, don’t do that.
Karma: *grunts* I mean, we only have until sundown tomorrow to finish. We have to ask those questions.
Alexis: We have to? If we can’t find the machine, we fail. That’s it. But I’d like not to think about that.
Karma: I- I don’t think it’s that simple… if we can’t find the machine, maybe we should consider camping out the final tower or try the red orb challenge? I don’t know, I just… I don’t like not having a plan B.
Alexis: I know you don’t, but we’re done if plan A fails. I said it back at the river. This plan is our only option because of our mistakes at the beginning of the exam.
Karma looks concerned.
Zach: (Mistakes we made at the beginning? Yeah… my mistakes… if I had done a better job keeping watch, Alec would have never gotten the drop on us. Then after that, I was utterly useless in the fight…)
Zach clenches his fist.
Karma: You know, Alexis… it’s kind of weird seeing you like this.
Alexis: Huh?
Karma: Just… you’re so serious. I’m used to seeing you much more laid back.
Alexis looks away.
Alexis: Yeah… I’m sorry about that.
Karma: Wh- what? No, it’s okay to be serious.
Alexis: I feel like I’ve been pretty bossy these last couple of days. I don’t get stressed easily, but I let it affect my mood too much when I am.
Karma: Well, we’re all stressed, so don’t worry about it.
Alexis: I know… but that’s no excuse to be a bitch… not to mention I feel responsible for us being in this mess.
Zach stands up emphatically.
Zach: You didn’t do anything wrong, Alexis! You were only injured at the start of the fight because of me! You got hurt because you pushed me out of the way… you bought me a second chance in that fight… and I wasted it...
Alexis stares at Zach.
Alexis: Zach… we all made mistakes in that fight, but I don’t regret stopping you from getting hurt.
Zach is surprised.
Zach: R- Really? Why?
Alexis: Because the thing I truly regret is not finding a way for all of us to have been safe. I threw away the one advantage we had in that fight. We lost because we never fought together. That fight was dictated by him from the start.
Zach is taken aback.
Karma: (Alexis… at the start of this exam, I thought you weren’t taking this seriously. I thought you were just assuming we would pass easily. I see now that I was being a naive fool. Your carefree personality is merely the top layer of who you are. We all took the loss hard, but you took it the hardest…)
The next day, the three of them maneuver through the city, searching for the final white orb machine.
Karma: It’s already well past noon. There are maybe only a few hours left. This isn’t good.
Zach: Yeah… I’m worried...
Alexis: Stay calm, guys. Everything will be fine; we just have to keep moving.
They turn a street corner and spot a machine.
Zach: Look there!
Karma: Is that one we’ve seen already?
Alexis: I don’t think so. Then again, these streets all look the same.
Zach: Well, we might as well go look!
They move into a position closer to the machine. Zach places their supply bag on the ground.
Karma: Ready?
Zach: Yup!
Karma places her hand on Zach’s shoulder.
Karma: Now!
Karma uses her quirk to get them closer to the machine. However, they are suddenly stopped dead in their tracks.
Zach: Wh- what?
Karma: Oh no…
Alexis’ eyes widen.
Alexis: (Dammit, the one time we weren’t careful!)
Sydney: *off screen* Tsunami Cannon!
Alexis turns around to see a burst of water streaming towards her through the alleyway.
Alexis: (Shit!)
The burst slams into Alexis, trapping her inside the current.
Zach and Karma: Alexis!
Sydney walks out of the alleyway laughing.
Sydney: I guess we finally found the runts of the 1-A litter.
Zach: *grunts* What did you say?
Sydney: You heard me.
Sydney streams the water over to where she’s standing and creates a sphere containing Alexis.
Sydney: I didn’t think it would be that easy to trick you.
Zach: Trick? Wait, was this a ruse!
Karma: Yes, Zach...
Sydney walks over, opens their supply bag, and sees nine white orbs.
Sydney: All accounted for, I’ve got the orbs!
Talon: *from afar* Good! Now we can pass this exam!
Talon descends from the sky carrying Scythe Ester and Desiree on his back.
Desiree: We’ve been collecting white orbs just like you, and we noticed how every machine we’ve been to has your team’s orb missing.
Talon: It was clear that you had amassed quite the collection of white orbs.
Ester: Both of our teams have five whites each, so we’ll all pass this exam with your collection.
Sydney: When we found this machine last night and saw that your orb was still here, we knew that camping it out would be more effective than searching for more orbs ourselves.
Desiree: Right now, you’re trapped inside of my extremely thin glue webbing!
Zach moves his arm and sees the web only once the sunlight reflects off it.
Zach: *grunts*
Karma: So you cowards set up a trap? You really weren’t confident in your ability to defeat us with a man advantage?
Sydney: I have had a ROUGH couple of days, so I was not taking ANY chances.
Talon: WE were not. This is the final day of the exam. Honor isn’t a luxury any of us can afford.
Zach extends his bone claws.
Zach: All fighters should have honor regardless of the scenario! We’re training to become heroes!
Talon puts Ester up to Zach’s neck.
Talon: That may be the case, but for those who don’t pass this exam… we won’t be training to become heroes any longer.
Zach: *grunts* Ever consider that’s part of this test? Seeing who stays true to who they are in the face of expulsion?
Talon is taken aback.
Talon: Well- I-
Sydney: Who cares! Honor? Pfft, try staying honorable when a villain attempts to kill children or burn down buildings! You’re weak if you think honor is something you can keep at all times.
Zach: Tell that to-
Sydney: Actually... that gives me an idea.
Sydney turns their attention to Alexis inside of her water sphere.
Sydney: She’ll be running out of oxygen and need to be removed from the exam for her own safety soon. I'll release her if you give me your word that you won’t follow us while we leave with your orbs.
Zach: What!
Karma: We can’t do that! Without those orbs, we’ll fail!
Sydney: Well then, I guess you’re not “honoring” your teammate by sacrificing her for the betterment of your team.
Zach looks conflicted.
Karma: Zach, don’t fall for it. She’s goading you.
Zach: I know! It just pisses me off! Alexis protected me when I was in trouble! I don't want to leave her hanging now!
Sydney thinks for a moment.
Sydney: Well then, I guess you’re not “honorable,” h-
Desiree: Uh… Sydney?
Sydney: What! I’m in the middle of negotiating!
Desiree: Something is going on with the other girl!
Sydney: Huh?
Sydney looks at Alexis and notices six paper shuriken floating inside the water sphere.
Sydney: What! She’s using her quirk underwater! How!
Suddenly the shurikens detonate, sending water everywhere, creating a smoke cloud and confusion.
Talon: What’s going on!
Talon looks away from Zach, creating an opening for him to grab Ester and knee Talon in the chest.
Talon: AH!
Talon falls to his knees, releasing Ester from his grip. Zach then uses Ester to slice through the webs freeing himself and Karma.
Karma: Nice work, Zach!
Zach: Can’t cage this animal!
Ester: Hey, put me down!
Ester transforms back into her human form and falls on Zach.
Zach: Ow…
Ester: Heh… sorry…
Karma pushes Ester off of Zach and helps him up.
Zach: Thanks.
Karma: Don’t mention it.
Sydney is surrounded by smoke from the explosion.
Sydney: *coughs* Fucking bitch!
Alexis emerges from the smoke lunging at Sydney.
Sydney: Like I’m letting that happen!
Sydney creates a water wall between them. However, Alexis’ lunge was a distraction as origami birds fly past the wall and detonate on Sydney, sending her flying.
Alexis: Pfft, I’m not dumb enough to fall for that.
Sydney: *frustrated grunt*
Desiree fires a glue wad that Alexis barely dodges.
Desiree: Damn! Almost had her!
Sydney gets to her feet.
Sydney: We’ll let Talon and Ester take on those two idiots! She can’t beat both of us!
Alexis: You really are cocky… but I’ve seen you in action. You’re not much.
Sydney: What did you say!
Alexis: Weak and deaf? Tough combo.
Sydney: That’s it! You’re going down!
Sydney forms a vortex of water in the air next to her.
Alexis: (Bingo.)
Sydney: I trapped you with this the first time! Now I think I’ll use it to scrape you against the pavement!
The Vortex fires a continuous burst of water at Alexis.
Sydney: Tsunami Cannon!
Alexis doesn’t flinch as the burst approaches her.
Sydney: (Wh- why is she?)
Suddenly an origami bird flies out from behind Sydney and detonates next to her arm, controlling the burst.
Sydney: (WHAT!)
The water burst is thrown off course and suddenly is heading in Desiree’s direction.
Desiree: Oh crap…
The burst slams into Desiree and sends her flying into the building knocking her out cold.
Sydney: DAMMIT!
Talon, Ester, Karma, and Zach are distracted by this event.
Talon: Dammit, Sydney! Friendly Fire!
Sydney: I CAN SEE THAT BIRD BRAIN! I DIDN’T MEAN TO DO IT!
Alexis runs between everyone and grabs the machine's white orb, triggering its alarm.
Alexis: Come on, guys! We’ve gotta make a run for it!
Zach: R- right!
Karma: I’m right behind you!
Karma accelerates and grabs their supply bag containing the rest of their orbs. The three start running as fast as they can.
Talon: Dammit!
Ester transforms into scythe form; Talon grabs her and flies after the three of them.
Sydney: Hey, wait for me!
Sydney starts running but stops and looks at Desiree.
Sydney: (Whatever, every girl for herself.)
Sydney resumes running.
Sydney: (I’m not failing this exam because of those two morons!)
Zach looks back at Talon and Ester flying behind them.
Zach: He’s gaining on us guys!
Alexis: It’s okay! We just have to get to the center!
Zach: Yeah! But that’s pretty far off. He’s not going to be behind us for that long!
Karma: And while Zach and I’s foot wounds have healed, they’re still not 100%! We can’t just keep running!
Alexis thinks for a moment.
Alexis: (Damn… this isn’t good, we’re not going to make it with them on our tail and if we lose just one of these orbs, it’s all over!)
Suddenly they all slip and fall. Alexis is barely able to hold on to the orb.
Karma: Wh- what was that!
Zach: The ground is super cold!
Alexis realizes.
Alexis: Don’t tell me!
She looks up to see Filip, Charlotte, and Ryan.
Filip: You’ve found yourselves on top of a sheet of my black ice!
Charlotte: Hand over the orbs now!
Ryan: We won’t take no for an answer!
They all stare at the three of them.
Karma: /Do you remember what any of them can do?/
Zach: /Nope, especially not that other guy…/
Ryan: HEY! I CAN HEAR YOU!
Talon, Ester, and Sydney arrive.
Talon: Filip, Charlotte, and Ryan! You’re still not finished?
Filip: Hey, we can say the same about you guys! In fact, I think we’re the one four groups left…
Sydney: That means it’s between us to decide who passes and fails.
Seth: *amplified from afar* Hey, don't forget about us!
All nine look up at a nearby rooftop and see Seth, Mike, and Reed. Seth is talking into Mike’s head to project his voice.
Seth: *amplified* We’re still here too!
Reed: Yeah! And we’re going to show you why you shouldn’t forget about us!
Everyone ignores them and goes back to what they were focusing on.
Seth: WHAT THE FUCK!
Reed: WE’RE NOT THAT FORGETTABLE!
Seth: RESPECT US!
Alexis, Zach, and Karma get to their feet despite the slippery black ice coating the ground beneath them. They look around at the nine enemies surrounding them.
Karma: This isn’t good…
Alexis: We can’t take on all nine of them at once.
Zach: No… we can’t… but maybe…
Karma and Alexis both look at Zach.
Alexis: If you have a plan, say it.
Karma: Yeah, we don’t have many options left.
Zach: Karma… if you use your Slipstream Acceleration thing… How close could you get to the center?
Karma: I could cut the distance in half, but I’d be out of commission for the rest of the exam.
Alexis: What are you getting at Zach?
Zach: If you take Alexis and the orbs using your move, she could run the rest of the way without any of these guys stopping her.
Alexis and Karma are both surprised by Zach’s proposition.
Alexis: And what about you?
Zach: I’ll hold them off.
Karma: By yourself! There’s no way!
Alexis: Yeah, Zach, I know you’re tough, but nine against one? You can’t handle that. Once they beat you, a nine-man charge will be in my direction, and I don’t know if I’ll reach the tower in time.
Zach: Guys, do you see any other way?
Alexis and Karma don’t have a response to that.
Zach: Three on nine isn’t going to be much better, but this way gives us a slim chance to still pass. I didn’t do enough when we fought Alec, and that’s been racking my brain ever since. This is my chance. I won’t let any of them get past me!
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Alexis and Karma both think for a moment.
Karma: (Zach’s right… What other choice do we have? But to deliberately take myself out of the exam? It’s daunting…)
Alexis: (I’d say we should switch places, but Zach’s feet aren’t 100%, he wouldn’t be as fast as me… It’s risky, but we don’t have the luxury of playing it safe.)
Alexis looks at Zach.
Alexis: (If just one of them got past him… it could all be over… unless.)
Sydney looks at Talon.
Sydney: What are you waiting for? Aren’t you going to attack? We’re kind of just letting them strategize.
Talon: We don’t have much choice. The victors of this battle are going to be the last ones standing. So making the first move could be costly.
Sydney: Okay, but if everyone thinks that, then nobody will make a move.
Talon: I know, but that’s the price we pay for being strategic.
Sydney: *grunts* Whatever, they’ve got 15 seconds until I-
Talon: Something is going on!
Sydney looks over at Zach, Alexis, and Karma and sees that Karma has her hand on Alexis’ shoulder.
Sydney: (What is she-)
Karma: Slipstream Acceleration!
Suddenly Karma and Alexis disappear, leaving Zach with the supply bag.
Sydney: Woah! Where did they go!
Talon: They didn’t just abandon their teammate… Did they?
Filip and Charlotte both look confused.
Filip: Was that a ploy to get away with the orbs?
Charlotte: I’m not sure, but that one still has the bag.
Filip: Yeah… they need that to carry the orbs. Imagine lugging ten of those in your hands?
Ryan: That’s nearly impossible.
Reed, Seth, and Mike have come down to the street.
Reed: They must have left to go complete the red orb challenge after realizing that their chances of leaving here with the orbs were low.
Seth: Yeah, and they left this guy behind to try and stop us from passing!
Sydney steps forward.
Sydney: We see through your little plan. You want us to chase after your two teammates thinking they have the orbs when you really have them, and once we leave you alone, you’ll take the scenic route to pass the exam!
Talon: You made a fatal mistake hanging on to the bag. It makes your ruse obvious.
Zach gulps.
Reed: You’re not leaving with those orbs!
Filip: We won’t be denied.
Sydney: Fork ‘em over.
Zach looks around at his bleak situation holding the supply bag tightly.
Zach: (This exam… passing it means we get to continue our training towards becoming heroes, but failing means we’re done, our careers are over before they even started...)
Zach looks up at the orangy sky.
Zach: (Here, I am surrounded on all sides by enemies. This moment could be the deciding factor in my time as a hero trainee. It’s funny how life has a way of coming full circle… because the moment I committed to becoming a hero was eerily similar.)
A flashback begins. Zach and five other guys are looking menacingly at Alden.
Alden: P- p- please don’t hurt me! I’m fragile!
The leader of Zach’s gang punches his palm.
Leader: Well, nerd, you’re going to have to fork over your lunch money.
Alden: I- I- I-
Leader: Today, junior!
Alden: I can’t! My parents don’t give me lunch money!
Leader: Yeah, right! I know you’re lying! How else are you going to eat!
Alden: I eat my fingernails!
Leader: Don’t joke around with me!
The leader sucker punches Alden in the stomach.
Alden: *pained grunt* Ow…
Alden keels over, holding his stomach area in pain. The leader starts walking away.
Leader: Alright, boys, teach him a lesson!
The leader snaps his fingers. Zach and the other three guys all start walking toward Alden. Zach extends his claws.
Zach: You’re going to pay for wasting our time, loser!
Alden: No, please! I swear! My parents don’t trust me enough to give me money! Last time I spent it on hair products!
The three guys start kicking Alden over and over again.
Alden: AHHHHHH!
Gang Member 1: Zach! Start peeling off his fingernails!
Gang Member 2: Yeah, we’ll make his garbage quirk even more garbage!
Gang Member 3: That’ll show him!
Zach: Right!
Alden: Please, no! I just got them manicured!
Zach grabs Alden’s hand and begins using his bone claws to slowly peel off Alden’s fingernail.
Alden: AHHHHHHH!
Suddenly a loud alarm goes off. The guys stop kicking Alden, and Zach lets his hand go.
Gang Member 1: Oh, man! We were just starting to have fun!
Gang Member 2: Yeah, Zach, you should have been faster!
Gang Member 3: Yeah!
Zach: Buzz off. You guys shouldn’t have been kicking him so much! I couldn’t hold him still!
A teacher walks up to them, holding a stopwatch.
Teacher: Alright, guys, your five minutes are up. You’ve gotta be more efficient next time.
Leader: Sorry about that, teach, we’ll get him better tomorrow, right Zach?
Zach: Y- yeah!
The leader stares at Zach for a moment.
Alden: *groans* Help me…
Alden is lying on the ground, beaten and bloody, seeking help.
Teacher: Alden, walk it off. We don’t take kindly to drama queens here.
Alden: *groans*
Teacher: THAT’S IT DETENTION FOR YOU!
Alden: What! WHY!
Teacher: Because I said so!
The leader walks up to Zach.
Leader: Zach, may I speak with you in private.
Zach: Huh? Yes, boss!
The leader of Zach’s gang and Zach meet on the roof of their school.
Zach: Not to question your ideas, sir, but did we really need to have this conversation on the roof?
Leader: I noticed you hesitated when I asked you a question. You want to be a member of the “Beat the Shit out of Alden gang,” right?
Zach: Of course I do! You’re the most brutal gang around, and being a part of you guys shows how tough I am!
Leader: Good answer, but we don’t just take any old joe schmoe into our ranks, we need somebody who is already tough on their own, and we can make ‘em better. So that’s why I need you to do something for me.
Zach: Anything for the gang, sir!
The leader gets up close to Zach.
Leader: Get on your knees and beg.
Zach is shocked.
Zach: Wh- wh- I uh.
Leader: I see, so you’re not really as committed to the gang as you say you are. That’s a shame.
The leader turns around and starts walking away.
Zach: No, no! Wait! I am! I am!
The leader stops.
Leader: Then beg.
Zach promptly gets on his knees and bows to the leader.
Zach: Please let me be in the gang! Please!
The leader turns around and looks down at Zach.
Leader: Pfft, you aren’t tough.
Zach looks up at the leader, confused.
Leader: You really think a tough guy would beg to be included? You’re just some weakling looking to camouflage himself among a bunch of tough guys.
Zach: I- I-
The leader walks away.
Leader: Pathetic people like you don’t deserve to be treated as anything other than garbage.
The leader exits the roof, leaving Zach clouded in self-doubt.
Zach: Wh- what does he mean? I’m tough! Why doesn’t he think I am!
Zach slams his fist against the ground.
Zach: I tried my hardest to be included! They’re the toughest guys around! If I’m not one of them, how am I supposed to know that not a weakling like he says I am!
Zach slams his fist again.
Zach: DAMMIT!
Later, Zach walks home through the city after school with his head held low.
Zach: (I guess it’s back to the drawing board, huh? Maybe I should try beating up Alden more? No… anybody could do that…)
Zach looks up and sees a pair of heroes showing their quirks to some kids.
Hero 1: And now watch as my bubbles burst into rainbows!
Kid 1: That’s so cool!
Kid 2: Do it again!
Hero 2: Oh, you think that’s cool! Well, watch me lift this car with just my pinky!
Kid 1: Wow! You’re so strong!
Kid 2: I wish I could be as strong as you someday!
Kid 3: Hey, that’s my mom’s car!
Zach looks angry.
Zach: Pfft (Stupid heroes… they think that they're strong just because they wear tights and masks! If you want to be a tough guy, you’ve gotta show it by winning as many fights as possible! The more wins, the stronger you are! Heroes don’t do that! Instead, they go around saving people and entertaining children! It’s a waste of time. Those kids shouldn’t admire his strength; they should laugh at his stupidity!)
Zach’s phone vibrates.
Zach: Huh?
Zach takes out his phone and looks at it. He received a text from an unknown number saying: “Turn around.” Zach looks over his shoulder and sees a masked and hooded figure standing in an alleyway.
Zach: Wh-
He receives a second text: “Let’s fight… if you’re not chicken…”
Zach: Oh, I’m not!
Zach starts running towards the hooded figure, who starts running down the alley.
Zach: Come back here, coward!
Zach turns the alleyway corner and chases the figure into a dirty slum under a highway.
Zach: Hey! Stop there!
The figure stops, as does Zach, who subsequently extends his claws.
Zach: You wanna fight! Then let’s fight!
The figure starts laughing.
Zach: Huh? What’s so funny!
The figure takes off his mask, revealing himself to be Alden.
Alden: Revenge! That’s what’s funny!
Zach starts leaving.
Zach: Not interested.
Alden: WHAT! NO! DON’T JUST LEAVE!
Suddenly Zach is surrounded by five other masked and cloaked people.
Zach: Huh? Who are these guys?
Alden: They’re my posse! I figured since you like to fight with unfair numbers, so should I!
Zach: Posse?
Alden: Now! Roll Call!
The first masked man rips off his mask and cloak, revealing he has lobster claws for hands.
Carl: My name is Carl Claws! My quirk is lobster claws! My hands are lobster claws!
The second masked man rips off his mask and cloak, revealing he has an umbrella on his head.
Jay: My name is Rainy Day Jay! My quirk lets me shield my head from the rain!
The third masked man rips off his mask and cloak, revealing he has buck teeth.
Bucky: My name is Bucky Bucks! My quirk gives me big buck teeth!
The fourth masked man rips off his mask and cloak, revealing he has glasses.
Sammy: My name is Sammy Specs! My quirk gives me lousy eyesight!
The fifth masked man rips off his mask and cloak, revealing he has no arms or legs.
Mat: My name is Mat!
Mat flops against the floor.
Mat: Ouch…
Zach is dumbfounded.
Alden: That’s right! Cower in fear!
Alden and his gang all start laughing.
Zach: How… how did that last guy even work…
Alden: This is my crew! We’ve trained and fought together for years! They’re like my brothers. We share a bond that can never be broken! And now it’s time for you to feel what it’s like to be ganged up on by a REAL group of tough guys!
Alden’s Gang: YEAH!
Zach gets a look of realization.
Zach: (Wait a second… tough? Alden’s the weakest guy I know… but being surrounded by a bunch of people on the same side as him makes him feel strong… that’s… that’s exactly what I was doing…)
Alden: Get him!
Rainy Day Jay charges at Zach.
Zach: (I wasn’t tough because I was with them… I just was using them to feel that way…)
Zach nonchalantly grabs and snaps Jay’s umbrella off of his head.
Jay: AHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Jay falls to the ground screaming in agonizing pain.
Zach: (But then… How can I become strong on my own…)
Alden: JAY! NOOOO! Carl! Bucky! Get him!
Carl and Bucky: Right!
Carl and Bucky both charge Zach.
Zach: (I mean… I’ve always said that winning is the most important thing…)
Zach again nonchalantly dodges Carl’s claw and Buck’s bite.
Carl and Bucky: Huh!
Zach punches Bucky in the mouth, shattering his buck teeth.
Bucky: AHHH!
Alden: BUCKY!
Zach breaks both of Carl’s wrists.
Carl: AHHHHH!
Alden: CARL!
Carl and Bucky both fall to the ground, writhing in pain.
Alden: Sammy!
Zach breaks Sammy’s glasses.
Sammy: AHHHHH!
Sammy falls to the ground writhing in pain.
Alden: He… he didn’t even hit you!
Sammy passes out from blood loss.
Alden: WHAT! M- m- m- Mat!
Alden sees that Zach is using Mat to wipe his shoes.
Mat: AHHH! WHY ARE YOU WEARING CLEATS!
Zach: (But beating up on these weaklings doesn’t make me feel tough…)
Alden looks around at his fallen and defeated gang members.
Alden: N- N- NOOOOO!
Zach looks at Alden, who immediately pisses himself out of fear.
Zach: (Maybe… maybe… I’m wrong… maybe wins aren’t the only thing it takes to be considered strong.)
Zach turns around and starts leaving, sparing Alden.
Alden: *sobs*
Zach walks through the alleyway back onto the street, and the heroes from earlier walk by him.
Zach: (If I could beat those heroes… then I’d really be considered tough. So, I guess it’s more about the quality of the win than the quantity.) Hey heroes, there was a fight down this alleyway. Some of the guys involved are hurt.
Hero 1: Really?
Hero 2: Thanks for letting us know!
The heroes run down the alleyway towards Alden and his gang.
Hero 1: Jesus Christ! What happened here!
Hero 2: All of them hurt badly except the one with wet pants!
Hero 1 tends to the wounded, and Hero 2 runs over to Alden.
Hero 2: Who did this?
Alden: Uh… I- I-
Hero 1: it must have been someone mighty!
Alden: It was me! I did it!
Hero 2 stares at Alden.
Hero 2: You did this?
Alden: Yup, they jumped me and tried to rob me! But I fought them all off! There was also a little girl here they were trying to rape! I told her to run to safety while I held them off! I hope she’s alright!
Hero 2: So these boys are robbers and rapists?
Alden: They also used a slur against her!
Hero 2: And racists! Oh man, they’re going away for a long time!
Jay: Alden… you… bastard…
Jay passes out.
Hero 2: How does he know your name?
Alden: Lucky guess?
Hero 2: Well works for me. Let’s get the police over here!
Hero 1: Right!
Zach is walking home.
Zach: (Toughness is measured based on the playing field you’re fighting on. If I want to be tough, I need to fight on as even terms as possible… it’s the honorable way to fight!)
Zach has a moment of realization.
Zach: (It’s the heroic way to fight! From this moment forth… I will fight with honor!)
The flashback ends.
Zach: (Honor… it’s the thing that makes a hero a hero. I thought heroes were dumb for always playing on a level playing field and never beating on a weak opponent for fun, but that fight made me realize that if I want to be the strong and tough person I’ve always aspired to be, I have to start doing just that! That’s why I became a hero: fighting and acting with honor!)
Talon flies at Zach.
Talon: Give us those orbs!
Zach: Never!
Zach’s bone tail emerges and snatches Talon out of the air.
Talon: Let me go!
Filip: I got you, Talon!
Filip places his hands on the ground and sends a wave of black ice glaciers in Zach’s direction.
Filip: You’re going down!
Zach slams Talon into the ground causing it to collapse and drop Talon and Ester into the sewers. The force of the impact launches Zach into the air and over the glaciers as he careens toward Filip.
Filip: Woah!
Ryan: Don’t worry, I’ve got it!
Ryan transforms his arms into a green gooey substance and uses them to create a wall in front of Charlotte, Filip, and himself. Zach flies right into the goo trapping his claws and himself.
Zach: What!
Ryan: You’ve never seen my quirk in action before. Allow me to introduce it to you!
Ryan transforms his entire body besides his head into green goo and splashes on the ground like a puddle. This frees Zach’s claws but traps his feet.
Ryan: My quirk is gooey! I can transform my whole body besides my head into extremely sticky goo!
Zach: Damn!
Charlotte approaches Zach. She grabs Zach’s arms and restrains him. A tube in Charlotte’s forearm starts to fill with a shiny substance.
Zach: Ah shoot!
Charlotte: Just hold still while I drain you of all of your energy.
Zach: *frustrated grunt*
Zach tries to break free, but Charlotte’s grip is tight.
Seth: Man, they’re doing an excellent job with him.
Mike: Yeah! I wish we were able to do good things like that!
Reed: Hey, idiots! Look!
Zach’s supply bag is sitting out in the open.
Reed: The dumbass left the bag! Let’s get those orbs!
Seth and Mike: Right!
The three of them start running towards the bag before getting nailed by a Tsunami Cannon.
Seth and Mike: *gargle*
Reed: NOOOO!
Sydney channels the water into a single sphere containing all three of them.
Sydney: You three really think you deserve those orbs more than me? You’re foolish.
Seth and Mike: *drowning noises*
Reed: Do you have any other attack! Seriously this is like the only one you use!
Sydney shrinks the sphere.
Reed: *distorted* Damn you!
Sydney starts walking towards the bag.
Sydney: I’ll be taking these orbs now.
Charlotte’s energy tubes are nearly half full, and Zach’s ability to struggle is waning.
Charlotte: That’s right, accept your defeat.
Zach’s eyes are fluttering.
Zach: (No… I need to keep… fighting… a real hero wouldn’t lose this fast!)
Zach tries to move his feet, but Ryan’s gooey body is too strong.
Zach: (Dang! That’s not going to work… or is it?)
Zach starts fidgeting his foot.
Ryan: (Huh? What’s he up to?)
Suddenly Zach rips his foot out of his shoe and kicks Charlotte off of himself.
Ryan: Woah! That’s what!
Zach frees his other foot from his shoe and leaps away from Ryan.
Charlotte: Damn, whatever, I still have enough energy to wipe you out!
Charlotte points her palm at Zach.
Charlotte: Take this!
Charlotte shoots an energy beam at Zach. However, he dodges out of the way, and the beam hits one of Filip’s glaciers from earlier and reflects back at her, zapping her in the chest.
Charlotte: AHH!
Ryan: I thought you were supposed to be one of the smart girls!
Filip: Whatever! I’ll take him out!
Zach looks back at the glacier that reflected Charlotte’s beam.
Zach: Huh… I didn’t even mean for that to happen.
Suddenly Zach’s entire body, excluding his head, gets encased in black ice.
Zach: No!
Filip: Gotcha!
Sydney looks inside the supply bag and grabs an orb.
Sydney: Huh?
The “orb” is exceptionally light.
Sydney: Wh- what is this!
Sydney tears the “orb” up, revealing it is made of paper.
Sydney: ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME!
Sydney grabs more “orbs” out of the bag and rips them up.
Sydney: THEY’RE ALL FAKE!
Filip, Zach, Ryan, and Charlotte hear Sydney.
Ryan: Wh- what?
Sydney: He doesn’t have the stupid orbs! The time girl must have used her quirk to grab all of the orbs out of the bag and quickly replace them!
Filip: Are you kidding me!
Sydney: This guy must have stayed behind to buy them some time to get away!
Charlotte: They must be carrying the orbs by hand without the bag! That’s way too much weight! They couldn’t have gotten far!
Filip helps Charlotte up.
Charlotte: Let’s go!
Filip: Right!
Charlotte, Filip, and Ryan start running in the tower's direction.
Sydney: Don’t you even think about getting those orbs! They’re mine!
Sydney begins chasing after them, releasing Reed, Seth, and Mike from their water prison.
Reed: We can’t let her get away!
Reed deploys two of the drones on his back. They fly after Sydney and grab her by the arms, hoisting her in the air.
Sydney: PUT ME DOWN, YOU FREAKS!
Reed: Oh, what’s that? Princess Sydney is making demands?
Seth: Looks like it.
Sydney: YOU IDIOTS! I’LL KILL YOU!
Reed: We’re done with you, Sydney! There’s no way that all of us are passing this exam so we can finally treat you the way you treat us!
Mike: Yeah! No more insults or being threatened!
Reed: It’s time for you to taste your own medicine!
Sydney: PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANT!
Seth: Oh, you want down? Hear that, Reed? The princess wants to go down.
Reed: I think I know where we should put her.
Reed flies the drones over the pit Zach created into the sewer.
Sydney: DON’T YOU DARE! I SWEAR TO YOU, I’LL-
Reed drops Sydney into the sewage.
Sydney: AHHHHHHHHH!
Reed turns to Seth.
Reed: Now come on! We need to catch up with those girls!
Mike and Seth: Right!
Mike, Seth, and Reed depart.
Zach: (They’re all gone… phew…)
A few seconds pass, and Alexis walks out of a nearby alleyway.
Alexis: The plan worked to perfection.
Zach: Yeah… but I’m tapped out. I’m freezing, injured, and sapped for all my energy.
Alexis walks over to Zach.
Alexis: That’s alright. I’ll complete the exam for you, for all of us.
A flashback begins. Zach, Karma, and Alexis are discussing their plan. This is moments before Karma uses slipstream acceleration.
Alexis: I have an idea for how to deceive them.
Zach: Huh?
Karma: Deceive?
Alexis: If we leave with the bag, it’ll be obvious that we took the orbs, so they’ll ignore Zach and chase after us. But if we leave the bag, there’s no way I’ll be able to lug 10 of those orbs by myself.
Karma: Ugh, you’re right, that’s a big problem.
Alexis: That’s why we need to trick them. Karma, instead of using Slipstream Acceleration to transport us far away, you’ll only take us down a nearby alleyway.
Karma: Alright… What else?
Alexis: Because we’re traveling a short distance, we’ll have time to do things at lightspeed, like transport all of the orbs out of the bag and replace them with paper fakes. They’ll see that Zach still has the bag and know that the orbs have to still be inside, or at the very least, they’ll feel compelled to check. After they defeat Zach and see they’ve been duped, they’ll start chasing after Karma and me believing we can’t be far off. However, I’ll be safely waiting in the alley for my moment to grab the bag, fill it back up with the orbs, and run to the tower in a less direct route.
The flashback ends.
Alexis: Rest well, Zach. You and Karma will probably get taken to the infirmary after I leave.
Zach: I’m just glad I put up a good fight before losing… but I’m more glad I was able to help us pass the exam.
Alexis smiles.
Alexis: Me too.
Alexis grabs the bag and runs back to the alleyway where Karma lies unconscious next to a dumpster. Alexis opens the dumpster revealing the ten white orbs.
Alexis: (This exam was anything but easy… but I’m glad to say that we will not be left behind…)
Later as the sunsets. Alexis reaches the tower.
Alexis: (Just in the nick of time…)
Alexis walks through the doors.
Alexis: (This exam is over.)