The old rusty doors to the factory towered over us like we were ants in the grass. We both looked over to each, then back to the doors. This was actually real, we were really going to go after the leader of the red steel gang. We were really about to do this. Were we ready for this? What if we get jumped by more members? Can I even dodge more than one gunshot at a time? I can't get cold feet now, this maybe our only opportunity to-. My thoughts came to a screeching halt as I felt a hand rest on my shoulder. I turned to see Zack giving me a confident smile, I knew exactly what he meant by that look. I needed to relax.

I took a deep breath and slowly put my hands on the old rusty doors, pushing them open. We were greeted by a rush of cold air that carried the aroma of cigarettes and alcohol, and the smell only grew stronger as we began to walk further inside. There was a huge litter of construction equipment inside the building, metal beams, heavy machinery. Maybe it was an old assembly factory? It reminded me of one of those horror movie scenes, were the stupid teens walked into an obvious trap and got themselves killed. Definitely don't know how that feels...

"Oooh, I can't wait to roast this guy's nuts on an open fire!" Zack cheered as he erupted his hands into flames. Followed up by a daunting super villain laugh.

He was the last person who needed to control fire...

"Shut up you idiot! He might have more goons in here." I whispered to him.

"Dude, we literally have superpowers. You just weaved a bullet and now we're taking down a gang leader. Loosen up!" He cheered smacking my back.

I was about to throttle him, but out the corner of my eye, I saw a steel beam whizzing our way, seemingly outta thin air! I shoved Zack out of the way and dived to the ground just barely dodging it. I rolled to my feet, hunched down behind a machine. I looked behind me and saw the steel beam lodged into the floor, that was almost our heads. As I started to think of a new battle strategy I heard someone clapping, I looked up and saw a dark figure walking toward us with a bunch of machines and tools floating around them.

"Zack!-"

"I'm on it!"

The room became illuminated with a green flare coming from Zack's fire, and the figure became completely visible. It was a man with tannish skin and dreads, he had a red bandana on his head with a blue jean jacket on. There was an odd dragon tattoo coiled around his face. I was beginning to get nervous. The reality of this situation just hit me, he must be a gifted. I focused on the steel beams and equipment floating around him.

I assumed it was telekinesis or possibly metal bending, or maybe gravity. Regardless he has to be a noob just like us, he probably can't control it that well yet. I at least knew mine would activate in dangerous situations, my best bet would be to rush him head-on.

"Zack cover me!" I yelled charging in.

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"Don't hog the beating!" Zack complained as I ran.

The machines and beams started flying toward me fast. I jumped and weaved the oncoming onslaught. My parkour and freerunning hobby was really paying off. Zack was shooting fireballs at flying objects coming my way. Missing most, but he was try- Oh crap! Suddenly one of Zacks fireballs was inches away from making me barbecue. I leaped out the way and rolled behind a machine.

"My bad!" Zack called out.

Really! He almost roasts me alive and all he can say is 'my bad'? I let go of the thought and looked back at my target. He seemed to notice me and immediately sent more equipment my way. I vaulted over a machine for cover as the equipment rammed against it. I took off at top speed toward him again. This time getting a good rhythm with his attack pattern, I was reading him like a book.

As I got closer to him I could see the panic in his eyes. Then Whoosh! The wooden planks from all around started flying toward me. There were just too many of them, I couldn't dodge them all. I guarded myself the best I could putting my arms up to protect my head. I guess the metal bending idea was out now. I was slammed back bouncing off the floor and skidded back toward Zack.

My forearms stung from the hit but I pushed myself back up. I honestly felt fine, but there was a problem here. He is much better than I anticipated. However I couldn't help but smile. I was excited, eager to keep going. This is what a fight among gifted felt like, It felt like electricity coursing through my veins.

"Who the hell are you two! Bunch of kids got powers too?" He snarled.

I faced him with a wicked grin on my face. I pulled the collar of my shirt down and showed him the mark on my chest.

"That's right! You controlled this city for far too long. It's time to bring you to justice!" I yelled to him, but he just laughed at me.

"Kid I'm the fucking leader of the red steel gang. I am the damn law!"

"It's over! Today is the day the law catches up to you!" I yelled charging toward him again, Zack following behind me this time.

The guy had more equipment sent our way and I prepared myself. I was a bit worried about Zack. He couldn't see things like my gift allowed me to. So I made my maneuvers easy for him to follow dodging the equipment.

When we got closer to him he pulled a gun from his pants and shot rapidly at us in a frenzy. I dodged the bullets pushing forward and rammed my fist into his face with all the force I had. He flew backward as Zack followed up from behind and shot a fireball at him the size of a basketball. I dove to the side to get out the way as it exploded on contact blasting him back, leaving ember trails of his flames behind. He crashed into the side of a conveyor belt leaving a huge dent in the machine. I stared in awe at his slumped over lifeless body which dragged me out of my rush. Did, did we just kill him? Was he de-

Then my words were lost in the wind as the man slowly struggled to his feet, and he stood right up. (As if he wasn't just nuked halfway across the room into a conveyor belt.) He should be dead or at least have broken most of his bones from a blast like that. I guess that's the "upgrades" they were talking about.

" EAT THIS LOSER!"

Zack immediately started blasting him rapidly with mini fireballs. A lot of them flew in every other direction but the ones that hit knocked him back down hard to the ground. Then like an army of bees, they piled upon him until BOOM! They all exploded. There was silence for a moment as we both waited to see if he would get back up from that. Did we actually win? Or is he gonna get back up for round two?

"Good job my children, you've gained an upgrade by defeating Joe Libro. The cops have been alerted and your DNA evidence shall be erased, and so shall the memories of the trials outside." I knew this voice clearly, it was the Goddesses. Before I could even speak we began to see this blue glittering all around us. It quickly consumed everything, and it all turned white. When things were visible again we were in the middle of the woods. I guess that was it then, we had won.