{ Galivinth }
Gray clouds gather above and combine into a mass of fluff with no visible end or beginning, and what accompanies it this fresh new morning is the foretelling gentle crackle of an incoming drizzle. Galivinth is minutes within his walk to school, hurrying along to beat the first drop of rain. However, this trip doesn't grant him a peaceful venture. At his next turn of a corner leading to an intersection that he needs to cross, a peculiar view greets his sights. Thugs. Hooligans in street clothes and identical black leather jackets that all have a decal on the back - PoPPeRs in bold italic white letters that cradle underneath an image of a skull with glaring red eyes. It wouldn't have been such a big deal, but there's more than a dozen of them. Somewhere between 17 and 22, loitering around on the two corners up ahead. The sight makes Galivinth uneasy enough to slow his steps to an almost reluctant pace, but he does his best to push his rising insecurity down and keep trucking on. He means to pass while keeping his head down. After all, he's got no business with them at all. With inner reassuring thoughts playing in his mind, he approaches the traffic light post and pushes the button to manipulate the light to change and give him the sign to safely cross.
“Hey, broddie…” A male's voice calls out calmly before the half-cryonean teen suddenly feels a hand on his shoulder. The mocha-skin youth turns his head and sets his twin moon eyes upon a 6’4 feet tall young man with a red scarf around his neck, a bat resting over his shoulder, and a leather jacket upon his person.
“You LOOK familiar. What's your name, my man?” The stranger asks, causing Galivinth to shoot him a look of confusion. There was nothing remotely familiar about the guy. Soon, several more of the gang members move closer to listen in on the inquiry, of which Galivinth notices immediately.
[Meanwhile On Mount Heaven Splitter / 10 minutes later]
“Huh. It's starting to rain…” A student of the Blue Currents dojo comments while sitting at the steps of the temple, now holding his hand out and palm upward after feeling a drip atop of his forehead. Surely enough, another tiny drop splatters on contact with his body.
“Yeah, it is. Which means it's time for me to head back inside. You coming, Romundo?” His female peer, another student, asks.
“No. My gut is telling me to pay attention to this one. Something is coming.” The bulky, yet muscle riddled male responds as he folds his broad arms as he closes his eyes in solemn thought.
“Dude, the flag game doesn't start for like, another four hours.” The female responds while arching a judgmental brow.
“No, that's not what I'm talking about. This rain… Something is riding its coattails and preparing to make its presence known any minute now. I'm just not sure what it is yet…”
“Yeeeeeeeaaah, okay. You have fun getting wet, then.” The tomboyish young woman responds as she turns and heads back inside. Romundo opens his eyes and stares nonchalantly at the ground. The timing is quite impeccable, because seconds of him doing so he catches the unnatural illumination of a red light briefly flashing around him when a crackle roars through the air. He looks up with a frown, not minding the pitter patter of raindrops hitting against his face that follows.
“What is this bad juju I'm feeling, I wonder.”
[Back With Galivinth / Another 10 Minutes Later]
Galivinth skids around a corner in his moment of running to get away from his pursuers, taking a detour that only puts him further away from the school. He runs down the long stretch of a block, passing residents out and about with umbrellas and apparel meant to shield against the rain. To his left across the street are three courts that are divided by gates - steel structures with obscuring tarps on them. Seeing it as an ideal place to hide, the teen makes the swift decision to cut hard to the opposite sidewalk and enter through a doorway of the basketball court with haste. He turns and presses his back against the gate and waits. Within seconds several sports cars and an army of gang members in leather jackets coming turn that same corner. The large group slows down while scanning around for their target, but it's quickly changed when the gang simply asks a member of the neighborhood about spotting someone recently. Oblivious to Galivinth, he's on their turf and one of the locals has JUST given away his position.
The myriad of indistinguishable footsteps reaches Galivinth's ears and it makes his heart skip a beat. What really accelerates his anxiety is when the gang comes barging in through that same doorway of the gate.
“Here the little punk is!” One of them shouts before incoherent chatter fills the air as they close in on the teen who's backing away. All it takes is looking back once and seeing that there's no other means of exiting for Galivinth to accept the confrontation.
“Fine… Fine! C'mon, then!” The half cryonean shouts as he shrugs his book bag and hoody off, tossing both far off to the side against the gate afterwards.
[ Back At Mount Heaven Splitter / 1 Hour Later ]
{ Naeth }
Naeth arrives at the martial arts school to join the other members in the morning group cardio exercise. Normally, he wouldn't bother showing up without his cousin, but the motivating exception is his desire to be there when the Flag War Campaign begins. His unusual presence doesn't go unnoticed by the others, either.
“Oh hey, Naeth! Didn't expect to see you here so early during the weekdays.” His classmate, Samantha, comments as the group prepares to head outside for a jog around the mountain.
“Then you should've known better. I'm here to participate on behalf of the school and claim total victory.” He responds, then takes a moment to roll his shoulders several times while rotating neck to pop a few lazy bones.
“Your cousin didn't want to join you? I don't see him around.” She adds, prying further.
“He's attending academic classes at the moment, but he too shall be participating whenever he can.” Naeth assures.
“Man, seeing you kinda’ into this flag game is rubbing off on me. I think I'm getting pumped!” A male classmate, Vance, chimes in enthusiastically while clenching his hands into fist.
“Do what you want, but avoid getting in my way. I'm not looking to babysit any slackers during such a crucial start.” Naeth responds.
“Come on, don't be like that. We're all here for a reason and any one of us could be just as capable as you!” Vance assures.
“Yeah, he's right. Even if you're set on being stubbornly picky on who you want to rely on, at least try to remember that it's a competition between teams, Naeth.” Samantha advises.
“I know nothing of anyone's capabilities besides myself and Galivinth. If any of you wish to prove that you stand above the uninspired and weak, then you'll have to show me. Pity and enthusiasm won't mean anything if you can't keep up.” Naeth informs bluntly.
“Alright, everyone! Let's get a move on! Time for the daily jog.” Joey Dawson announces to the students.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
[ Galivinth / 10 minutes later ]
The amount of thugs coming at him is unfathomable and there's no telling how much longer Galivinth can keep fending them off after an hour's worth of time. The youth is soaking wet and huffing air in his state of exhaustion. His blue T-shirt is damp and vaguely dirty from the dirt and shoe prints that's on the verge of washing off. His mildly long hair clings to his face and obscures his vision a little more than usual as he prepares to deal with the next wave of gang members.
“How… how many more!?” Galivinth exclaims in frustration, straining himself to speak as he deflects an incoming punch by swatting the back of his hand against his attacker's forearm and counterattacks with a swift combination of jabbing pokes to the torso before finishing it off with a shoving kick that sends the next guy falling near the pile of his writhing companions on the ground. Several more thugs rush at him while a fourth circles around at a distance. The half-cryonean does what he can to quickly take down the closest, that being the one approaching from the front, with a series of white flashes that come from him landing a quick session of dual finger pokes and a thrusting palm that pushes the male far away. He goes on to just barely catch a fist flying at him from the right before twisting the male's arm to an uncomfortable position to restrain him and then swiftly delivers a kick to the pectoral region that sends the one to his left side flying back and hitting against the gate. However, he fails to notice the last one.
‘CLING!’
“GUH!?” The sound of a metal pipe bouncing off the back of Galivinth's skull rings out as he loses his footing and collapses forward upon his hands and knees. His genetic makeup naturally makes him tough, but the slither of protection of having his soul essence, operating at 140%, may have been the only thing preventing that blow from busting his head open and drawing blood. With his momentum stopped cold and exhaustion creeping to the forefront, he sluggishly tries to pull himself together. Sadly, he's far too slow and a punting kick to the face knocks him over onto his side.
“You are one tough little bastard, you know that? But there's just no beating overwhelming numbers, kid. Hold ‘me up for me.” The thug holding the pipe like a bat comments before instructing one of his peers for a helping hand. Two of them come storming over to pick Galivinth up and position him into a kneeling posture while restraining his arms. The one with the pipe in hand closes in just close enough to where he can lift the weapon and press it against the teens cheek.
“How ya feeling now, my man? I might forgive ya for all the trouble you gave us if you apologize.” The punkish thug smugly speaks.
“Sorry…” Galivinth begins, still panting for air as he looks up at the male. Somehow grinning despite the shift in the situation.
“My head was still spinning a little from that hit… What did you say again?” Galivinth asks innocently. Unamused, the thug with the pipe draws back the weapon with the intent of batting the teens head off.
[ Mount Heaven Splitter / 30 Minutes Later ]
With the jog at its conclusion and the students now residing inside the temple to rest while passing the time, Naeth keeps his heart pumping by doing push-ups. In the midst of so, he somehow attracts a small crowd over to his general area like moths to a fire.
“It's crazy how much stamina you have… Do you ever get tired?” Samantha questions.
“Of course I do… But you're assuming I'm like anyone else you know in your life.” The full-blooded cryonean answers, pausing briefly between his sentences to dip down and lift himself again.
“Your arrogance is just as mind-blowing as your freakish strength. Are you SURE you're not a P.I.?” Victoria questions, arching a brow as she lifts the bottle of water in her grasp to her lips for a swig.
“I am absolutely sure of that. I already told you… I'm. Not. Human.” Naeth stoically reminds them all.
“Well yeah, but I thought you were just… you know, just saying it just to say it. To sound cool. If you're not human, then what are you?” Vance asks this time, grinning in amusement.
“Cryonean.” Naeth answers.
“What's that? A zodiac sign?” Vance chuckles softly. The others are just as confused by the answer.
“No… I'm what you – this ENTIRE planet actually - would consider an extraterrestrial being… An alien from space, if you will.” Naeth shares with them. For a brief moment, silence claims the dojo room as the cryonean nears his 100th push-up.
“Get the fuck out of here with that. There's no way that's true.” Victoria is the one to break the haunting quietness.
“It is.” Naeth casually assures.
“For real?” Vance asks.
“Yes.”
“For real, for real?”
“Yes… For real, for real.” Naeth confirms with a roll of his eyes. Meanwhile out in the rainy weather, there's another violent crackle of intense red lightning, and this one strikes the very top of the mountain. It delivers a being of wickedness to that very surface - one who didn't come from the heavens, but by way of Hell's influence seeping out into the world of the living. A being who lost his humanity in countless years of harboring animosity while burning in the unforgiving depths of the restless pit of sinners. It's only after this distorted shell of a man arrives does the weather finally begin to simmer.
[ Galivinth / 45 Minutes Later ]
After obliviously taking on what accumulated to be a little over 50 members of a big gang and resting for fifteen minutes, Galivinth finally makes his way to school with his possessions. When he arrives, the sky is finally clear enough to see blue above and for the sun to beam down. He enters the building while looking a total mess, and barely seconds of him.doing so, an orderly confronts him.
“You're late.” A female’s voice informs him, drawing his attention.
“Yeah, sorry. I–” He begins his attempt at explaining, but she's not entertaining it.
“Don't care, truancy isn't tolerated. You're getting a strike on your record. Wind up getting two more and you'll be slapped with detention. Now hurry up and get to class, Galivinth.” She coldly cuts in and goes on her way, leaving the male alone in his solitude. He sighs heavily and obliges the demand with dragging feet.
[ Naeth / Mount Heaven Splitter ]
It's just three minutes remaining until noon finally strikes and Naeth is preparing to brute force his way through anything that might occur in the moment. Presently, he's at the colosseum from yesterday and peering from behind the tall stone structure that makes up the bleacher that surrounds the middle where the pillars of fire are beginning to dwindle.
“Naeth!” A voice calls out to him within a whisper. The cryonean arches a brow and looks over his shoulder to see five students from his school cautiously gathering at his location. A sight that makes him frown in mild annoyance.
“It's nearly time. Be quiet, avoid distracting me, and prepare to move if you're here to help.” Naeth instructs before returning his attention toward the flag, and when he does, his eyes go a tad wide. A student from one of the other schools is suddenly descending down the bleachers to make his way toward the spacious center. He proceeds to walk up and stare at the trio flags. He's a youth who stands at 5’9 feet tall, a lean physique, fair skin, bouncy raven-black hair. His complexion is fair, his eyes a dark gray color, and his bright yellow gi pants give away that he's from the Cloudy Lightning school. The rest of his attire consists of a forest-green t-shirt, dark blue wristbands, and a pair of vibrant green converse sneakers.
{ Jaide (Jai-day) Yamamoto }
Realizing that there's no time to spare observing, Naeth brings forth his soul essence at an output of 150% and emerges from the corner he's been hiding behind to rush down the middle. However, he's not the only one with that same idea - students from the Red Turtle Dragon school also move in with haste.
Lounging forward with a far-carrying leap, Naeth zeroes in on the lonesome male, twisting partial mid-air to deliver a flying swiping kick.
“Huh? D'ack!?” His target in green and yellow manages to react in time to simultaneously bring forth his soul essence and raise his arms in parallel fashion to block the attack. Even so, the force is so strong it's more than enough to send the male flying off his feet and crashing onto a seat upon the bleacher. Quick to shift his focus, Naeth then turns to confront the other three on the scene. Before any of them can even grace one of the flags, the cryonean runs and seamlessly transitions into sliding toward them to close off the distance. He uses the momentum to swiftly soccer kick one student's feet from underneath them, then spins his body clockwise to deliver a thrusting kick to the chest to send the next one flying onto the bleacher, as well. The last of the three in red lunges in to confront Naeth with a roundhouse kick to the face, but a quick raise of his forearm blocks and stops that leg dead in its tracks. After one attack fails, the student in red follows up with a flurry of snake-like strikes aiming for various spots on Naeth's torso. Those too are dealt with, this time either by the cryonean reacting fast enough to sway his body out of the way or knocking them off course by colliding his palms with the male's wrists. Soon Naeth takes his turn with a single finger jab to the center of the other's torso, sending the male stumbling backwards.
The one on the ground rises up with the intent of landing a sneak attack by way of rising while spinning to deliver a swiping kick to the cryonean's body. Reflexes far better than they are naturally, the cryonean is able to catch that kick with an arm. It's that moment that the one he supposedly shoved away rushes forward to intervene. However, the guy doesn't even get to cock his fist properly before a sudden burst of red energy explodes from where he was struck by Naeth and it sends him flying back onto the ground - simultaneously, Naeth delivers a counter kick to the male he's got a hold of and sends him tumbling violently yards away.
“Naeth, look out!” Someone tries to warn him.
“Reikra Shot!” A second voice exclaims. The cryonean turns around in time to see a purple-ish white tennis ball-sized sphere of energy flying at him before it makes a harsh impact with his chest and sends him landing on his back. Taken by surprise, the cryonean props himself up on his elbow and looks down to see smoke rising from where he was shot by that blast of energy. Then his eyes shift toward the one responsible for the attack.
“Packs a punch, huh? Saw that little trick you pulled on that guy and figured you wouldn't mind if I showed ja’ a trick or two of my own.” The male in the forest green shirt and yellow gi pants comments while smugly aiming his point and middle fingers at Naeth like a gun.
“Good work, Jaide! Hold 'em off while we get the flags!” One of the others from the Cloudy Lightning school instructs as four more begin descending down from the stone bleacher to go for the flags. Seeing this, Naeth peeps his next attack by gathering Cryonean Magic energy into his right hand and left foot.
“As if I'd just let you! Win-Di-Oh!” Naeth exclaims just as he rises with a swiping kick that discharges a powerful tier-3 wind spell that knocks the students off their feet easily. From one thing to the next, Naeth spins once more and jabs his right fist toward Jaide.
“Ligh-to!” He exclaims and sends out a tier-1 bolt of thin purple lightning at his target. However, the male just barely reacts in time to duck with a heavy lean to avoid it.
“Woah!? Man, that's crazy! And here I thought you had to do Ninjutsu hand signs to conjure elements!” Jaide comments with a toothy grin as he brings his hands together, posturing them as if he's mindful holding a loaded gun.
“This oughta’ be interesting… Heh.”
“We'll see just how interesting you find being overwhelmed in magic and physical strength.” Naeth vaguely threatens as he preps a set of lightning spells around his hands. It's then that his classmates finally find the nerve to move in and help him.
“We got your back, Naeth!” Vance shouts as he and four others rush over to provide some support.