Chapter 33

Struggle-Bus

Where once Stephen was a red headed nerd, lanky and dressed in a t-shirt and shorts, now there was a soldier, right out of some military movie, with a side of anime. His hair had been slicked back, into spikes. He wore a huge suit of body armor, with long arm pieces that gave the illusion that he might have some muscle. Giant combat boots dawned his feet. A beam sword was fastened to his belt and his big sniper rifle hung across his back.

He held his hands out sheepishly moving around to show me. “Well, uhh, how do I look.”

“Because I know you? Goofy as fuck.”

He winced but chuckled. “But if you didn’t know me…?”

“Badass.”

He smiled his biggest grin yet. I wish I could share even half of his enthusiasm, but… it was still cool to see him that happy, not gonna lie.

“Okay, dude, enough." The girl shoved him forward. “Sit, sit!”

I sidestepped to let him pass and he collapsed into the throne. “Fuck this is uncommfortable.”

“Good, use that,” the girl said as she disappeared into the cave. “Think about the discomfort and grimace. Okay, it’s up to you two now, don’t mess this up. Stick to the plan!”

Stephen looked up at me, putting on a fake grimace and I bonked him on the head. He chuckled and faced forward, preparing to put on a show.

Several people were gathered outside the cave, more coming from the horizon. They stared up at Stephen, most with a twinkle of anticipation and wonder.

“Strugglers,” Stephen said, calm and deep, confident, too–completely unlike his normal speaking voice and cadence. “Thank you for coming. I wish you had came when I first put out the call but… you are forgiven. You thought I was a powerless nobody. I hope yesterday I changed your minds.”

Nods and murmurs from the crowd.

“With my own strength I was able to attack the monster. But that will never be enough. We need to attack, together.”

“Our weapons don’t do shit to it!” Someone yelled.

“That’s because divided we are weak. But together… we can take her down.”

The crowd was a buzz with chatter. They weren’t convinced.

“I can train you. I can share my power with you. I’m an Enhancer.”

Enhancement abilities were what our teacher said that some of our abilities would be labeled as. It was the closest we could get to explaining what powers we had and what our teacher was preparing us to do.

“I can tell you aren’t convinced. Allow me to show you what my powers can do.” He snapped his fingers.

I took a deep breath. Here we go.

I stepped from behind the throne, instead standing beside it. I took a bow.

“This is RaeDarz. As you can see, she is brand new to the combat side of the Interverse. With my influence even she can be a force to be reckoned with. Observe.”

He pointed to the boulder that had exploded from the cave at the start of all this craziness. I exited the cave. The crowd parted as I passed, making room for me by the boudler.

Stephen held his hand up, playing like he was exerting his will. “Destroy it.”

I cranked up the device on my hand to the max setting and jumped up on top of the rock. I held my fist above my head, pausing for show, building the drama. Then I let it rip, pounding my fist into the rock, breaking it into bits as easily as crumbling bread.

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There were gasps in the crowd. One girl whistled and clapped.

"This is my power. I can lead us to victory!" Stephen shouted.

“What can you do for us? Why should we help?” One person said.

Someone spoke up faster than Stephen could. “Are you an idiot? If we beat this crazy chick we all get to move on to the tournament. That’s what he can do for us, idiot.”

The person who spoke first ronded on the second speaker and started toward them, readying for a fight.

I started to head over there and break things up before anything got started but Stephen was on it. I saw him focus for a second and then flick his wrist. The angry guy was dragged back.

“Enough!” Stephen yelled. “We can not turn on each other. That’s what will bring about our destruction. Divided we get eaten and crushed by that psycho girl. But together we can take her down and gain entry to the tournament. Surely you guys want that as badly as I do?”

This time there weren’t just murmurs but whole ass shouts of agreement.

“Whose with me!?” Stephen yelled, standing up out of the chair, really getting into it.

The crowd roared in agreement.

Stephen grinned. “Fantastic. Then we have to expand our reach. We must unite the other Strugglers! Reach out, spread the word! I can not do any of this without your help!”

The crowd cheered.

“I took the liberty of recording the blow I matched with the monster. Take it, send it out to everyone not gathered here. Convince them. I’m relying on you.”

I went in my menu and sent out the video to everyone who had sent us messages yesterday who, if my head count was right, had all shown up today.

After that, things moved quickly. We planted the seed and all we had to do was sit back as our army of strugglers watered and spread our influence further.

Stat gains came in from that first gathering of the Strugglers:

[ Level up! You have earned experience from your Partner Perk!

> Confidence: 4 -> 5

> Persuasion: 10 -> 11

> Sweet Talking: 8 -> 9 ]

Wow, three whole levels from three different Stats. Wasn't I just a huge and important member of this Partnership? I didn't even want to ask how much Stephen's went up. And Angelia's had to be through the roof already.

But it was kind of nice not having to do much anymore. Stephen was the face, Angelia was the brains, and I guess I was the brawn and, at least for now, there wasn't much to hit. Our training progressed nicely as we took more and more of the Userbase under our wing. Stephen and I continued to advance to heavier levitation targets until, finally, on the third day:

"Fantastic work you two!" Kenzo exclaimed. "Are you ready to learn what I've been preparing you for?"

"Yes!" We both exclaimed.

"The levitation is actually not what we are going to use."

"What!?" Stephen exclaimed. "What have we been doing all this for then?"

Kenzo laughed. "Calm down, calm down. It's all been important. We have been growing the amount of energy you have access to and you've been honing your abilities to focus and control your energy. All very important. But, starting tomorrow, I'm going to teach you the next step. How to use others' energy."

Stephen and I shared a look.

"You're going to teach us how to steal people's mental powers?" I asked, totally confused. "We've been gathering everyone just to use them as vampiric batteries?"

"Nothing so dark as that. They will be willing participants. They will be lending their power to create a weapon that can strike at the heart of the beast."

Stephen looked at me, a nerdy gleam in his eye as he whispered, "Spirit bomb."

I laughed because I pictured the exact same thing.

"So, what do we do? How do we learn it?" Stephen asked, vibrating the couch with his excitement.

Kenzo winked. "Tomorrow."

We both groaned.

"You can't tell us now?" I begged.

"You both really lose track of time when you come here, huh?" Kenzo said.

Before I could say anything a notification popped in my vision, going over Kenzo's grinning face.

[ It is time to face the Horror! Ten seconds until match start. ]

"Ohhh," I said. "Not enough time. Got you."

"Good luck you two!" The last we saw of the room was Kenzo waving, sending us off to meet our Struggler Army.

Unbelievably, we spawned pretty close to the cave. We could see Angelia, somehow already inside, waving for us to hurry. People were gathering. The monster was far in the distance, rampaging against… something.

"Think we will get them all today?" Stephen had already changed into his outfit since the last time I looked at him which completely startled me.

But it was a good idea. I equipped my fishbowl.

"Seems likely. Just don't screw it up." I play shoved him and ran on ahead before he could respond.

He chuckled and followed, taking one last running leap into the chair as I took up my spot behind it.

"How many are supposed to show up?" I asked.

Angelia's eyes were in her menu. "Ninety-two!" She exclaimed. "Almost everyone."

As the crowd gathered, people appearing in swarms, I focused on that number. Ninety-two… One hundred Users. Minus the monster girl, minus me, Stephen, Angelia… that left a four person gap. Who could they—

"Oh fuck," I said.

Stephen looked back at me. "What's wrong Darce?"

"We forgot about something," I said. "The last four Users. They're—"

“Hold it!” A gruff voice cut through the crowd.

A mass of black pushed its way through the crowd until it emerged, revealing the four remaining Users not on our side. All decked out in skull masks.

Yep, the prodigal sons had returned.