The crescent moon heralded the arrival of night, casting its silvery light over the ancient forest. Its cascading beams struggled to penetrate the dense canopy of trees, their leaves forming an intricate, intertwined barrier. The forest floor came alive with bioluminescent organisms, scattering vibrant colors across the grassy earth, creating a picturesque wonderland. In this humid night, the distinct howls of nocturnal beasts echoed.

At this hour, the militia campsite was dimly lit by kerosene lanterns, and only a few soldiers patrolled the perimeter. Those chosen focused mainly on the outcast group, who sat in the open, battling the relentless mosquitoes and the muggy air. The group ate their meager rations in silence, some shedding silent tears as they regretted their decision to embark on this ill-fated journey. From where they sat, they could hear laughter and muffled conversations emanating from the surrounding tents, where the soldiers reveled.

Scott forced a piece of tasteless bread into his mouth, wishing they hadn't been stripped of their belongings. These bastards could have at least left us with our stuff. Eating protein bars is a thousand times better than this garbage. He took a sip from his water bottle, mindful not to consume too much, uncertain if they'd receive more.

As he fiddled with the plastic cap, Scott reflected on how events had strayed far from his expectations, especially considering the sudden manifestation of their superpowers. He looked up at the moon, alone in its splendor.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

Startled, Scott turned to the melodious voice. He sat upright, bewildered. When did she get here?

Jessica smiled and joined him. “Compared to the rest of us, you're handling this better than I thought,” she said, gazing at the starless skies. The blackened skies from the day remained, but somehow the moon's light pierced through.

Chuckling, Jessica turned to Scott. “You know what's funny? My roommate told me it was a dumb idea to come here. She practically begged me to accompany her to Paris instead."

“You can't blame yourself for that. There's no way anyone could have predicted this,” Scott said.

Jessica sighed as she leaned against the tree. “I know. But instead of contending with these lunatics, I'd probably be flying back to the US right now.”

“No,” Scott muttered softly, shaking his head. “You, your roommate, and everyone on that flight would probably be buried at the bottom of the Earth by now.”

Jessica's eyes widened. “What? Where did that come from?”

“Omar and I saw a plane crash earlier today. Remember how we were forced to the ground?” Scott asked.

Jessica nodded; her eyes still wide.

“Now, imagine how frightening it would be on an airplane. Be thankful you didn't go on the trip.”

“Yeah,” Jessica said, her voice barely a whisper as tears streaked down her face again.

If Scott’s words were to be true, it was unlikely she would ever meet her roommate again. She wiped her tears and took a sip from her bottle. She rested her chin on her arms, which lay on her knee.

After a long silence, she finally spoke again. “You're different from what I expected, though.”

“Huh? What does that mean?” Scott asked, his nerves showing as he scratched his neck.

Jessica tilted her head. “I mean, you were always staring at me. To be honest, it did make me uncomfortable in the beginning. But you weren’t like the other assholes who tried to push their luck.”

Scott's smile froze, and he avoided her gaze, wishing the ground would swallow him.

Jessica chuckled when she noticed Scott's reaction. “My opinion changed as time passed. I've seen and met a lot of creeps. If anything, you're just a curious puppy at best. However, you shouldn't stare at people like that.”

“I'm sorry,” Scott whispered, still not meeting her gaze.

“I accept your apology. Buy me a boba tea if we somehow make it out of here,” Jessica said with a cheeky smile before playfully punching Scott's arm. “It doesn't hurt to go up to people and say hi. Let me guess, you were staring because I blew your mind, right?”

Scott's face reddened. His eyes darted between Jessica's smile, the ground, and the moon. He had imagined countless scenarios where he'd confess his feelings for the acting prodigy, but never did he expect to have such a conversation after all that had transpired.

“I-I did have a crush on you, but it wasn't some weird, 'only I can have her' thing,” Scott struggled to explain while Jessica burst out laughing. Several students and soldiers turned toward the duo, though neither group intended to intrude or eavesdrop.

“I know you're with Ethan. So, I won't get any strange ideas,” Scott said with his head lowered, embarrassed like he'd never been before.

“I know you guys had a disagreement earlier, but Ethan's a really good guy, really,” Jessica emphasized. However, she could tell from Scott's eyes he didn't believe her. “I'm serious. I know he hangs out with jerks like Coady and Josh, but he's nothing like them.” She paused, glancing at the tent where the other students stayed. “Those guys were planning on hazing you a bit yesterday. But it was Ethan that stopped them. He hates bullying. To be honest, he was even the one that convinced me you're not a creep or a potential stalker.”

I can't believe he looked out for me when I've been a total jerk to him, he thought.

Jessica stretched her arms and continued; her curiosity apparent. “I know I shouldn't be saying this, but why do you have such a high envy stat?”

Although she didn't know the exact values, she suspected it was high enough to make Costa wary.

Scott sighed, realizing there was no point in hiding it any longer. Now, the woman he admired was questioning the very source of his shame.

“You don't have to say anything. I was only curious. It's not like—”

Scott interjected, “There's no point hiding it now.” He sighed again and met Jessica's curious eyes. “Ever since I was young, I was always good at running and using my hands. I worked as an assistant in my dad's workshop for a couple of years, and I was quite good with a hammer. However, my talents couldn't compare with the other boys who were clearly superior and frankly more dedicated. I gave up after a while, deciding to focus on athletics instead.”

Scott twisted his lips to the side as memories of his younger days flashed through his mind. “I wasn't great at first, but the more I practiced, the better I became. Before long, I was winning individual competitions. That soon turned to school competitions. Things moved crazily fast to the extent I was being scouted during my junior year in high school.”

Scott let out another sigh, a wry smile playing on his lips. “I got into what I thought was a minor accident. Turned out I tore my anterior cruciate ligament. The surgery went well, and my recovery was smooth. But being sidelined for so many months, especially in the competitive running scene, I knew I stood no chance when I returned. Those who were once behind me had long caught up and even surpassed me, and that's without even considering the emergence of new talents.”

An awkward silence settled between them as Scott fiddled with the cork of his bottle.

“I'm sorry that happened to you,” Jessica said, breaking the silence.

“Thanks, but it's okay,” Scott said, forcing a smile.

Jessica reached out and took his hand. “No, giving up on your dreams must have hurt. I can't even begin to imagine what you went through.”

“T-Thanks,” Scott stammered as Jessica released his hand. He knew he was partly to blame for giving up too easily, but he couldn't bring himself to explain that neither of those dreams truly belonged to him.

Jessica leaned against the tree again, using the bottom of her bottle to tap the ground. “I guess it's my turn now.”

“Nah, you don't have to. I only shared mine just because.” Scott meant every word. Jessica was perfect in his heart, and he didn't want to hear anything that would change that.

“No, it's fine. I'll feel like an asshole if I don't.” She continued hitting the bottle on the ground while taking a deep breath. “No one would believe me, but I used to be overweight as a child. Not because I loved to eat or anything like that. Rather, my...” Jessica paused again; the constant bottle taps ceased as she took in another deep breath. “My mother hated the fact that I ruined her body and beauty. Then, there was also the fact that she felt threatened by me. She forced me to eat anything that would make me gain weight. Whether I cried or felt sick didn't matter. She would only stop when I had finished my daily rations. She would force me to eat even more if I had bad grades, or if I dared to hang out with the other kids. Mind you, she also enrolled me in pageants every six months. Simply just to bask in other mothers making fun of me. Naturally, she never took me there herself. It was always Steven.”

Jessica paused again, chuckling as she tapped the ground one more time.

Scott blinked multiple times; his ears perked up. Holy crap. What kind of person treats their kid like that? Wait, where was your dad when all this was happening?

As if reading Scott's thoughts, Jessica spoke again. “I'm sure you're probably wondering where my dad was while all this was happening.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Scott bashfully nodded. Jessica laughed again, but there was nothing cheerful about it. “Well, I never met him, and I don't even want to. The son of a bitch disappeared the moment he knocked her up. For my mom, I was her only avenue to punish him. I won't bore you with my childhood trauma, my therapist got to eat, you know.”

Jessica laughed again, punching Scott's arm. “What? Don't feel sorry for me, okay?”

“I won't. But I sincerely wished you hadn't grown up that way,” Scott said. He couldn't tell if Jessica's smile was genuine. Someone with a past like that was bound to have some deep-rooted insecurities. However, her past did nothing to change his perception of the woman. If anything, it only raised it.

“To be honest, I didn't expect I was going to share that with you of all people, no offense.”

“None taken. I understand what you mean,” Scott said. He hesitated for a moment while clearing his throat. “So, does Ethan know?”

A wry smile graced Jessica's lips as she cocked her head backward, staring at the moon. “He knows I used to be overweight. But I haven't told him about my mom yet, and it looks like I won't get the chance to.”

“Don't say that. We still have three days to save our asses,” Scott said, though his demeanor wasn't as convincing as his words.

Jessica only smiled. While she hoped for a miracle, she had already prepared her mind for the inevitable. After all, none of them knew how to improve or devalue a stat.

“It might potentially be for only three days, but we should be friends,” Jessica said, her eyes still focused on the starless skies.

“Yeah, sure. Let's do that,” Scott said.

Side Quest: Complete the first baptism – will begin in 5 minutes!

Scott sat upright, staring at the message. He glanced at Jessica, and she too, stared at the floating panel. In fact, everyone in the camp, no matter where they were, had received the message.

“What's going to happen this time?” Jessica muttered in a daze.

“I'm not sure, but we should prepare ourselves. It seems like the others are coming,” Scott said, glancing at Costa's tent. He extended a hand to help Jessica to her feet as several flashlights pierced the darkness, revealing the camp. Simultaneously, bestial roars echoed across the Amazon, adding to the soldiers' frustrations.

Costa emerged from his tent, clad in just pants, boots, and a mesh camouflage tank top. “Gather everyone, now!” he barked, strapping his holster to his leg. Soldiers and students quickly assembled, awaiting their commander's orders.

The roars grew even louder, and the thunder and lightning intensified.

The first baptism is about to start. But what could all this mean? Costa stared at the timer, which counted down rapidly.

He turned to his men. “Kill anyone who flees.”

Shouts of acknowledgment filled the air. The commander nodded, his gaze shifting to Scott's group. “Change of plans. You all will be responsible for embarking on his baptism first.”

Scott's expression darkened, mirroring the concern etched on his classmates' faces. He cast a worried glance at Omar, who was being held back by Alex, Ethan, and a few others.

That caveman better not do something stupid. If one of us must die, I prefer it's me, Scott thought to himself.

“Don't do anything stupid. I won't die even if I'm killed, okay?” Scott mouthed, speaking in a way only Omar would understand.

“I'll expose your browser history if you even think of dying. Try me and see,” Omar responded, his tense face relaxing slightly.

“Stay away from my PC, asshole,” Scott retorted, a faint smile playing at his lips. He turned his attention back to the timer. “Only fifty seconds left,” he muttered. “If this were an anime or something, this would be the time the main characters would get their power-up.”

Then, he looked at Jessica. She stared intently at Ethan, her face reflecting sadness and resignation.

Scott turned to Omar again. “Tell my parents I love them when you get out of here. You'll always be my bro." He smiled, trying to keep his emotions in check.

“Tell them yourself man. We’re all getting out of here together,” Omar responded, stifling his tears.

The timer reached zero, and a deafening chime reverberated through the area. Lightning and thunder shook the earth, threatening to engulf it in an electrical inferno. Cracks marred the skies, and the heavens unleashed a torrent of viscous, amethyst rain. Earthquakes rocked continents, and the seas surged toward the skies, conquering new lands. Lightning and thunder shredded the earth, obliterating everything in their path.

Side Quest: Complete the first baptism – started! Mana points unlocked!

A fiery cyclone, shooting lightning bolts, raced toward the basecamp. Sturdy trees took to the skies, shattering into splinters as they went their way. Students and soldiers fled in all directions, desperate to escape the impending disaster.

“We need to get the hell out of here!” Scott screamed, but his voice was nearly drowned out by the chaos. However, Jessica remained motionless. “What's wrong with you?” He grabbed her by the arms, but she remained unresponsive, her eyes distant as the purple rain streamed down her face.

Scott turned to Omar and the others, hoping they would assist him. But to his shock, Omar, Ethan, Alex, Coady, Nicole, Josh, Heather, and Dustin all stared blankly, seemingly entranced.

What's happening with them? He wondered.

Scott tried again, but no matter what he did, Jessica wouldn't move. He raised his head, staring at the approaching typhoon. “Why are they like this?” Only Scott and the group of motionless students remained on the campsite; everyone else had fled for their lives.

A thought occurred to Scott. Could it be they're gaining special stats from the baptism?

The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. However, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy that he wasn't one of them.

“Now isn't the time for jealousy. I need to protect them or wake them up. They won't survive the cyclone.” Scott gathered his resolve.

“Ugh… my head. Where am I?” Jessica finally spoke, massaging her temples.

Scott rushed to her side, concerned. “Finally, you're awake. We need to get out of here now. Help me with the others. They haven’t—”

But Jessica interjected, her voice filled with anger. “Get off.” She yanked her hand away from Scott's grasp.

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to touch you without your consent. I was just worried,” Scott said, concerned with Jessica’s spiteful gaze.

Jessica's fury flared. “Get the hell away from me!” Her bloodshot eyes met Scott's, and she looked at him with murderous disgust.

Scott took a step back, bewildered. What's wrong with her? Has the rain affected her?

Fearing for Omar and the others, Scott cautiously approached them. “Omar are you okay?” he called out, tapping his friend's shoulders. “Hey, man. Can you hear me?”

Omar blinked several times, massaging his temples. “That voice… Scott?”

“Yeah, it's me. What the hell happened to you guys? I was…” Before he could finish, a fist landed on Scott's face, sending him to the ground.

Scott winced, clutching his bleeding nose. “Coady? What the hell, man?”

Coady glared at Scott, his lips tightly clenched, as if restraining himself from attacking again.

“You broke my damn nose. What did I do to you?” Scott demanded; his voice strained.

“Shut up!” Nicole lunged at the man, delivering a flurry of kicks to his ribs. She only stopped when the man lay motionless on the ground.

“Nikki, that's enough,” Ethan intervened, holding back the enraged woman. “If you go any further, you will kill him.”

“But how can we just let him be? After all he did?” The brown-eyed woman turned her fierce gaze back to Scott, who was barely moving. Her eyes revealed her frustration. “Damn the consequences. I won't let this bastard get away with what he did.” She raised her legs to strike again.

“P-Please, I'm so-sorry,” Scott begged, his voice barely audible. He tried to raise his hand in a plea, but his body wouldn't obey. His pitiful state only seemed to enrage Nicole further.

“Go to hell.” She dropped her leg, her anger unabated. But Ethan stepped in, displaying superhuman strength as he lifted the petite woman before her feet could connect with Scott's head.

“You can't kill him. Stop this now,” Ethan insisted, his stern gaze locked on Nicole. Her rage turned to frustration, and she sobbed.

“Even now you're still supporting—” Nicole began, but Ethan's grip tightened around her arm.

“Don't you dare play that card. Do you know how much I suffered because of him? Why can't you think about the bigger picture? Use your head for once in your life!”

“Ethan, that's enough,” Omar's voice interrupted the confrontation. He loomed over the struggling pair, his impassive eyes shifting between Scott, Nicole, and Ethan. “You're hurting her; please let her go.”

Ethan heeded Omar's words, relaxing his grip. Nicole stepped away, tears of anger and frustration in her eyes. With a clear path to Scott, Omar slowly approached the nearly unconscious student.

“O-Omar, what the hell is going on?” Scott's voice quivered as he attempted to speak. He tried to raise his hand but couldn't. His vision was clear, but he felt as if a stranger stood before him. The warmth and playfulness he associated with Omar had disappeared, replaced by a chilling emptiness.

Omar knelt beside Scott, tousling his hair while gently wiping the blood from Scott's nose. “Hey, caveman, how have you been?”

Scott shuddered, struggling to stay conscious. Omar's words filled his heart with sadness, and he was certain the Omar before him wasn't the one he knew. “Who are you?”

You have awakened several Abnormal stats!

Omar took a moment to glance at the system window before refocusing on Scott. “I'm Omar, but not just the one you know. It's the same for the rest of them.”

Scott fought to keep his eyes open, not wanting to faint when so much was at stake. “W-What did you do to my friend?”

Omar sighed. “I know you must feel aggrieved and confused about why this is happening. It's a long story, but, in simple terms, you will commit a lot of heinous crimes a couple of years from now. There isn't anyone here you haven't wronged with your actions.” Omar paused, his gaze shifting to Jessica a few feet away. “A lifetime of repentance isn't enough to atone for what you did."

Scott's mind swirled with questions. Are they from the future? What kind of person did I become for them to hate me this much? And why would I hurt Jessica of all people?

He lowered his gaze, meeting Omar's eyes. “W-Why should I pay for the crimes I know nothing about? The me you know and the me of now are different people.” Scott coughed, forcing himself to remain awake. “Y-You guys are from the future, right? Then, you can help me change. Please, Omar.”

Omar interjected, shaking his head. “This isn't the first, second, or third time we've had this discussion, but I’m hoping it will be the last time.”

“W-W-What?” Scott's lips quivered, and his chest tightened.

“I hate to say it, but that lunatic, Costa, was right all along. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. I'm sorry, Scott, but for humanity's sake, we won't allow you to enter the Tower of Champions this time.” Omar stood up, his expression remaining unyielding. “Not killing you instantly is the final mercy we can grant you.”

Omar turned to Jessica, and the two exchanged a knowing nod. Jessica began to chant inaudible words while making intricate hand movements.

“W-W-Wait, Omar. This doesn't make sense. Please don't do this to...” Scott's plea was cut short.

A brilliant light descended from the heavens, enveloping Scott before he could even scream. Then, it vanished, leaving nothing behind.

Jessica fell to her knees, vomiting blood. Omar rushed to her side, and the rest of the group joined them.

He gently cradled her in his arms, his gaze filled with concern. “Jess, are you all right?”

“I'll be okay. It's the backlash from using the spell. I'll recover once we return to the Tower of Champions.” She closed her eyes, nestling against him.

“How’s she?” Ethan inquired.

“She only fell asleep. She'll be as good as new once we return,” Omar reassured the group, his focus on the resting woman.

“Are you sure that weasel won't find a way into the tower somehow?” Alex voiced his concern.

Everyone turned their attention to Alex.

“She sent him to the place where the intruders first appeared. That place is already a wasteland and will be consumed in a day or two. It's impossible for him to escape, especially in his current state. Scott is no longer our problem.”

“Then, I think it's time we meet up with the others,” Nicole suggested, massaging her sore wrists.

“Yeah,” Coady agreed with a nod. “The Tower of Champions will be opening soon. There's a lot we need to prepare for.”

“This time, humanity will not be defeated,” Omar declared while taking one final look at the abandoned camp.

The group unleashed their superhuman speed and raced directly toward the cyclone, heading in the opposite direction.