Despite arriving a little over two hours late to school after taking on 50 gang members, the day proceeds as normal. Well, as normal as it can be. Galivinth's mind dwells on the altercation from hours ago and wonders what even led to such aggression toward him. While swapping out his books for the next class at his locker, he thinks on his recent interactions with others. All that notably stands out is the. mutual disdain he has for the members of the school's 'Betterment Program’, yet he finds it difficult to really believe any of them are colluding with thugs just to harass a single student.
“Wait… The guys with the red uniforms. Did they do it?” He murmurs the question under his breath and to himself, frowning contemplatively. He knows none of them personally, but he also realizes that they TOO began harassing him with that same aggression out of the blue.
“What is even going on these days?”
“Tell me about it. I think the weird rainy weather was a sign of an omen or something.” Kaira suddenly interjects into his solitude and moves to lean against the locker beside Galivinth's while cradling her books like a toddler against her chest.
“Huh? What makes you say that?” Galivinth questions.
“The red light for one. On top of that, we have GODS living among us now. They've been all over the news for a week now.” She informs him. The information brings forth a skeptical scowl upon the half cryonean's face.
“What? Gods?” He arches a brow.
“Eeeeyup… Freakin’ Gods, dude.” She reaffirms.
“That's not–... Who are you even referring to? Gods? As in multiple? Are you referring to P.I.'s as Gods? As in, they're Godly?” Galivinth prods, struggling to even begin to guess what she's mentally picturing.
“No. Like, actual Gods. Olympian Gods, in fact. A bunch of them are living in the US now. You haven't heard anything about it?” She raises a brow at him this time.
“That's insane… And no, not even a little. So, they're real? Does that mean Jesus Christ is real, too? I mean… Of course he is. Why did I even ask that?” Galivinth shakes his head after realizing what left his lips.
“Well, my dad is a firm believer in the Greek Gods. He even told me that he has everything that he does today because of Ares, the God of War. Also says it's why he and my little sister have red eyes. Because he blessed our bloodline or something. It's weird, but I guess he was telling the truth the whole time.
“Why did they suddenly show up out of the blue and come here of all places? Shouldn't they be in… I don't know… Greece?” Galivinth asks.
“A few of them said that they've heard great things about America and wanted to see how mortals were getting along. Kinda’ wonder if they all get instant celebrity status now. Could they make better music than the artists out there today?”
“I think we may have bigger concerns than that, Kaira.” Galivinth comments with a nonchalant stare.
[ Naeth, Mount Heaven Splitter ]
It's near pure chaos and havoc on the battleground of the roofless colosseum. Many students lay in pain on the ground while a dozen or more continue to fight for the flags. Ten minutes is all it took to get to this point and quite honestly, Naeth finds it to be frustrating. His classmates aren't proving to be a reliable bunch at all when it comes to a real skirmish. His plan WAS to crush the first few opponents in a fight and run off with the flags, but he's beginning to realize he has no choice but to compromise and settle.
In the midst of the large group fight between all three schools, Naeth cautiously backs up to where Vance is sitting to recover after taking a mild beating.
“Hey, can you move?” Naeth questions, briefly shifting his eyes downward at an angle at the male beside him.
“Nnnngh… Yeah. Yeah, I can. Just got the wind knocked out of me, is all.” The younger male responds.
“Find your breath quickly and prepare to make yourself useful. Contesting for all three flags is a fool's errand and it's very likely someone else will just take them all if I solely focus on combat.” The cryonean informs.
“Sure, man. Just tell me what you need me to do and I'll do my best.” The seventeen-year-old assures.
“And I fear your best will be nowhere near enough without thrice the effort from my end. Keep your distance and prepare to make a run back to the temple. And… I suppose you should tell the others to do the same.” Naeth instructs.
“You don't have to say it like that, but you got it, man. We'll be ready.”
“I certainly hope so. I'll do my best to stall to give you time.” And with those parting words to his classmate, Naeth begins approaching the heart of combat again. Meanwhile, Vance gets a move on to gather the others as quickly as he can.
The timing is rather convenient. The full-blooded cryonean gets back into the action just in time to see two opportunistic students in yellow go for the flags. Just as one of them plucks a pole from the ground and proceeds to hold it horizontally, Naeth swiftly closes in to punt-kick it up and out of the male's grip. As the flagpole goes airborne, Naeth seamlessly raises his arms in a Muay Thai fashion of posturing while his leg bends and remains up instead of touching the ground again. Muay Thai and Taekwondo combine to form an unorthodox flamingo stance, of which he lashes out within with fierce kicks that seem to strike like lightning - the first being a jabbing left foot to the face that causes the male in front of him to stumble back a few feet before Naeth follows up by hopping forward on one leg and elegantly swapping to giving a solid right rising kick to the chin that makes his target backflip and land with a thud.
Though taken aback and left in a state of disbelief, the other student in yellow finally comes to the conclusion of attacking Naeth. Unfortunately, the cryonean puts his inhuman reflexes on display again by seemingly turning and reacting preemptively to not only catch the fist initially thrown for the back of his head, but proceeding to counter by pulling his opponent in and delivering a knee to the gut. When the blow causes his opponent to recoil while holding their stomach, Naeth gives the finishing touch of casually kicking the male off his feet and watching him collapse to the ground with a 'thump’.
Tnk!
The flagpole finally hits the ground and draws Naeth's attention, who then makes his way over to skillfully lift the flag into his hands just by using a single foot. He turns to face Vance afterwards and tosses it over once he spots his classmates.
“Take it and run!” He commands firmly.
“What about you!?” Vance questions after catching the flagpole.
“I'm going to get another one on my own, what else? Now leave or concede you came to be nothing more than a burden.” Neath insists coldly. Though not fond of the cryonean's choice of words, Vance blows air between his teeth and finally obliges.
“Oh, no ya don't!” Jaide exclaims upon laying witness to the Blue Currents students attempting to make off the flag just after knocking out a Red Turtle Dragon student.
“Reikra Shot!” Jaide shouts as he fires a sphere of raw energy from his finger tip like a pistol.
“You won't get that chance!” Naeth declares while sliding in between the projectile and its target, raising his arms within an X formation to block it. It connects with enough of a kick to draw out a grunt from the cryonean, as well as push him back four feet or so.
“Man, you're one stubborn bastard!” Jaide comments while pointing accusingly at Naeth.
“And you've just barely proven yourself to be a slightly bigger pest than the other weaklings here.” Naeth retorts dismissively.
They've just BARELY scratched the surface of one another's potential, but it's true. Interference is the reason why a proper exchange of blows has yet to be entertained between them - little does the cryonean realize that he's dealing with a specimen of Near Peak Human Potential. Since the age of 10, Jaide Yamamoto has been training his body and drawing out his soul essence. Though it's been a struggle, the human teen is capable of lifting 1,800 lbs, running 32mph, and taking a direct hit from a speeding car without suffering fatal harm - feats his dedication to training has given him as a mere normal human being. Likewise, Jaide hasn't a clue what kind of a quality grade species he's bumping heads with. Naeth is capable of NATURALLY lifting 2,600 lbs, running 90mph, and withstanding the impact of two transportation buses combined slamming into him at high speed - which are all improving the more he trains.
*Cryoneans are humanoid beings from a distant planet who are 3x more capable than humankind’s most capable athletes. To put it simply, Naeth falls under the same category of being normal in comparison to his own kind, yet seems Superpowered when comparing him to an Earthling.
Meanwhile, Jaide's capabilities are a result of his growth spurts working hand-in-hand with his Soul Essence! Depending on the level of Soul Essence you've reached, your physical abilities will multiply as your body grows and physically changes. Jaide's first was multiplied by 200% (or x2 if you prefer) once he became the age of 13, and 300% once he became 16! His minimum training in running is why there's such a huge gap, despite it too receiving those same increases.
“Tough guy, huh? We'll see how much of a weakling you think I am after I'm done beating you black n’ blue.” Jaide remarks while taking a moment to crack his knuckles, one set after the other.
“You will try, human…” With that exchange of words the two then increase the output of their soul essence to the max, resulting in Jaide operating at 300% while Naeth hits 200%. A magma-like flow of a cyan aura emits around Jaide with an intense presentation, and Naeth's red fiery aura dances like live fire around him - despite one having the appearance of being fierce, both of their auras are more or less equal in size. Their presences grows and it becomes so difficult to ignore, that the other students around them stop what they're doing to lay witness to the staredown that's causing the ground to shudder ever so slightly yet thicken the air like a humid fog, even the teachers from all three schools can feel it.
Within a literal second, upon dashing forward, the two clash and trade blows. Both landing right hook-punches directly to each other's jaw, resulting in a crackle of a sonic boom impact erupting from their combined efforts. However, both are just warming up.
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Their fists withdraw and the two retract into fighting stances. Jaide to a basic brawlers posture of having his fists up and ready without any true form, and Naeth taking up a Muay thai stance, fists up like twin pillars and his right knee bent slightly. There's a brief pause, no more than two and a half seconds, before Naeth takes the lead and advances forward with a spinning right roundhouse kick and follows up with a left whip kick for Jaide's side. The latter easily ducks under the first kick and blocks the second with his bracing right arm. Jaide tries to step forward with a sloppy dempsey roll to go for an uppercut, but finds himself being hit off balance by a swift right kick that collides with his guarding right arm.
“Tch!” The human teen blows air between his teeth as he gets a reality check while a barrage of limber kicks come flying at him at a pace he didn't think was possible for anyone's legs! Duck, high left side block, left mid block, high left side block again, and then a punting right kick aiming for his chin that he barely avoids by leaning his upper body back. Naeth keeps applying pressure while maintaining an advantageous range that's neither too far or too close. All Jaide can seem to do is try his best to avoid any critical hits, especially when those whip-like kicks are beginning to add up and render his arms a bit sore at certain areas. Refusing to be stuck on the defensive, growing awfully fed up with it even, Jaide takes the next opportunity to simultaneously duck and bring his hands together in that same gun-cradling gesture from before.
“Reikra Shot!” He exclaims as he fires off raw Reikra energy at point blank range.
“Thh–!?” Naeth just barely manages to avoid a blast to the face by leaning into the momentum of his last kick to weave out of the way seamlessly. Taken aback and retracting a step in hesitation, Jaide takes that opening to lunge forward with a straight left punch that he pours EVERYTHING into, every ounce of physical strength with a layer of Reikra energy on top.
“Reikra Lance!” Jaide shouts as his glowing fist makes contact with Naeth's blocking arms. The impact of contact is so strong, another shockwave erupts like a dynamite. The force pushes against Naeth's defense and forces him into leaning back involuntarily before the discharge of Reikra energy does the rest and sends him flying 50 yards away. The cryonean ends up tumbling and dribbling along the dirt road in the distance before sliding to a stop that leaves him laying on his back.
The cryonean groans with gritting teeth as he shoots up into a sitting position, examining his own trembling forearms as pain resonates through his muscles and steam fumes from the flesh on the surface. Luckily there's scarring, but it's something he won't forget or forgive any time soon.
“HEY! HOW'S THAT FOR ‘'WEAK’, HUH!?” Jaide smugly shouts out to the cryonean. Suddenly, there's a spike of rage latching onto Naeth's better judgment. He rises to his feet and extends his right arm out, silently aiming his point and middle finger at the abnormal student in yellow. What transpires next is a transition into moving his hands in a stirring motion. His left swirls above his right as he postures them like claws, mixing an invisible batter with slow care. A sight that makes Jaide raise a brow in confusion. However, above, an artificial dark cloud begins taking form and growing. Naeth continues that motion for a total of 12 seconds before he finally finishes. And and when he does, he abruptly flings his left hand upward in the opposite direction to point toward the sky, and as if on command, unnatural blue lightning strikes down from above and makes contact with Naeth's fingertips, enveloping his entire arm in hyper-aggressive electricity that buzzes endlessly. Just until he finally turns, stomps a foot forward, and shoots the strongest projectile variant of his lightning magic toward Jaide - one that's a vibrant shade of purple. The speed is immeasurable and it's size is half the size of a standard car in width and 40 yards in length. It's far too fast to react to, so it's a good thing it's nothing more than a scare tactic and display of potent magic. That blast of lightning zips past the students and punctures right through the stone bleachers without hindrance as it goes on to cut through the forest area in the distance and leave the mountain itself. The destruction it leaves behind is a massive gap that divides the stone structure and a wide linear of the forest torn away.
“There's a valley of difference between you and I… Look carefully before you ‘challenge the impossible’!”
“This… this guy is freakin’ insane!” Jaide remarks within the confines of his thoughts.
[ Elsewhere On Mount Heaven Splitter ]
The Blue Current students are JUST arriving at the bridge leading to their school when they hear that deafening eruption of lightning shooting through the air.
“What the heck was THAT!?” Vance questions while turning around to look back. It takes a few seconds, but he eventually notices that there's someone behind them, who's also curious enough to look toward the direction the sound came from.
“Sounded like… thunder? But that sounded like it was coming from ground level. Maybe it was a cannon?” Samantha theorizes.
“Who in their right mind would shoot a cannon here!? Weren't we supposed to avoid killing each other?” Romundo questions with a skeptical look.
“Guys, I think we have company, by the way.” Vance while pointing a finger at the individual standing at the center of the bridge. A male of Asian descent with a lean figure adorned by a red robe-like shirt that has its sleeves rolled up just above his elbows and is held in place by a white sash snugly tied around his waist. His pants are loose and black and on his feet are socks and a pair of kung-fu shoes, while a pair of wristbands decorate his forearms.
“That was pretty strange, huh? And to think I was so sure there'd be no one interesting here… Maybe I should've stayed behind.” The stranger comments, musing more so to himself than anyone else as he rubs the back of his head.
“We were followed? I thought for sure we were in the clear.” Samantha comments.
“Doesn't matter now. He's here now and there might be more on the way, so we gotta send this guy packing or help him find a nice place to nap on the ground!” Vance sets the group's priorities as he clenches the flagpole within his hands. Acknowledging there's legitimacy behind his words, his five classmates all take up a fighting stance.
“Ah, no worries. No one else knows I'm here.” The adolescent stranger informs while waving a hand dismissively at the thought.
“It's just me and I alone. No one else from my neck of the mountain is coming here.” He adds to give reassurance.
“Unfortunate for you, huh?” Romundo rhetorically asks a mere second before conjuring the lime-green mist-like aura of his soul essence to the surface of his body and charging the lonesome Red Turtle Dragon student down. Within a swift exchange, Romundo's fist gets caught and his momentum is used to effortlessly lift and toss him overhead where he eventually lands with a heavy thud on the opposite end of the bridge.
“He's strong, even without soul essence. We should overwhelm him with numbers!” Samantha suggests.
“Definitely… Get him!” And with those concurring words, three more rush the opposing student down. Yet, the display isn't reassuring at all. The strange weaves with minimum movement and blocks a handful of attacks with hands that move like bullets. Not a strain or change of expression on his stoic face occurs, either. He flips one onto their back upon catching a fist, ducking under a kick and using his shoulder to pancake flip the next one right onto the previous Blue Current student, and finally gracefully spin to a side to avoid a jab while simultaneously gripping the next one's shirt and tossing her into the waist-deep body of water beside the bridge.
Now, all there's left is Vance himself.
“So, what will YOU do?” The stranger questions.
[Galivinth / School 45 Minutes Later]
“Aww come on!” A familiar voice expressing frustration alongside the sound of metal rattling from around the corner draws Galivinth's attention. Curious, he heads around to see none other than the dual-colored hair goth kid, Mitchel, seeming to be struggling with his locker.
“Everything okay?” Galivinth asks while approaching the other.
“Huh? Oh, hey. Yeah, everything's cool except this freakin’ lock.” Mitchell responds, emphasizing his closing words with an aggressive swat at the lock holding his locker shut.
“My book for my next class is in there, but I think I ended up swapping keys with one of my other friends by accident.”
“Kinda’ a weird thing to get mixed up, isn't it?”
“Yeah, yeah. Dumb as hell, but we were goofing around while talking about our DND sessions. We got too in character and were pretending to sword fight with random objects.” The goth admits while averting his eyes and adjusting to lean against the locker with his arms lifting to cross.
“Ah. Sounds like fun. But. What are you gonna do? I can try and break it open if you want.” Galivinth offers.
“Nah, it ain't THAT dire. I'll just text my bud and tell him to get a pass to the bathroom and bring me my key.” Mitchel responds. A look of concern takes form upon the half-cryonean's face.
“The orderlies won't let you just stand out here, you know?”
“True, but fuck them, man. I'll hide out in the bathroom if I need to.”
“HEY! I heard that! Conspiring disobedience and expressing blatant disrespect won't get you any leniency. Especially when you're ALSO late for class.” A feminine voice interjects and draws the two boys’ attention. They both turn to see the familiar female orderly from weeks ago shooting them a glare as she approaches.
“Tch. Whatever, man. I don't really care what you uppity losers take offense to.” Mitchel retorts with a look of bored disdain.
“Dude, relax…” Galivinth advises and gives a light bump of his arm.
“Too late for that. The Red Pyramid enforcers have been discussing how to deal with unruly students like you two.” She comments only for a fourth voice to intervene.
“That we have, that we have. I was going to make changes over time, but it seems excessive liberty has made some of you… Proud. And quite frankly, I'm getting a little sick of it.” Seth adds as he comes strolling over with another orderly at his flank. His tone calm, his lips bearing a subtle smile that belies his scheming nature, and his eyes on the two students late to class. Mitchel's brows twitch a bit as discomfort seeps in upon seeing Seth.
“This school was just fine before you guys showed up. Why'd you have to bring all this bullshit here?” Mitchel questions.
“It's merely an evolution in quality, and someone commissioned it. You wouldn't be wrong to say that it's forced, but neither is it 'bad’ or ‘'unreasonable’. I've been tasked with helping one of the poorest schools in one of the most terrible neighborhoods you can find in the ghettos of America. Of course, there are far worse schools and districts, and of course I had more options. I came here – chose to help this school, in order to elevate it out of the kindness of my firm, but fair heart.. You wouldn't know it, but the school has brought new books, new desks, and even new lunchroom tables. Next year we're hoping to implement uniforms for students. More regulations, too! The GPA here is rather slacking, so there's also academic programs on the way.” Seth explains.
“That all sounds good and well, but there's something you're hiding. Surely you don't think that we've already forgotten your abuse of power? I don't know where you came from, but it's more than a little odd that we were brushed off after reporting you to the staff…” Galivinth comments with visible skepticism on his face.
“Yeah! What's up with that!?” Mitchel chimes in.
“You call it ‘'abuse of power’, I call it ‘'constructive social engineering’. I'm sure you two aren't strangers to discipline. In fact?” Seth pauses briefly as additional members of the Red Pyramid orderlies arrive on the scene. Seven more in total.
“Oh, perfect timing! Because you two are long overdue for another correction. If my members would be so kind…” And with those concluding words, Seth's subordinates retrieve their clubs from their holsters and close in on the two teens.
“Goddamn it…”, Mitchel utters under his breath as he braces for what's coming. In fact, he's the first chosen between the two of them that an orderly lunges at to take a swing. The gothic teen raises his arms in a defensive manner, but the blow never makes it to him.
“I'm not letting that happen again.” Galivinth declares with a scowl and a calm tone of voice. Mitchel lowers his arms and opens his eyes to see Galivinth's hand holding the orderly's club within its palm a short distance from his face.
“Let go!” The attacker demands while struggling to pull the weapon free.
“Fine.” Is all the half cryonean says as he obliges. When he does, that same uniform wearing individual then takes a swing at him. An attempt Galivinth brushes off by swiftly swatting a hand against the other's forearm and repelling it away, then retaliates against by giving that trusty dual finger jab of his at the male's chest. A flash of light briefly shines on impact and the orderly collapses onto the floor, gasping and panting as if he just ran half a mile without stopping. A display Seth raises a curious brow at, and one the other members don't take kindly to at all. In the next instance, the rest rush at him with the intent of overwhelming him with their numbers, but like flies, they all end up dropping one after another as Galivinth easily gives the bunch similar treatments to the first of them who fell at his touch. Within seconds, all that's left standing among them is Seth and the female orderly who found them in the hallway first.
“Dude… What the f– That was wicked… How'd you do that?” Mitchel questions in awe as he looks at the uniform wearing bunch groaning and writhing on the marble floor.
“Uhh… Practice.” Galivinth answers with a shrug of his shoulders. It's then the sound of applauding grabs their attention, and over they see Seth is the one giving the standing ovation.
“Astounding…! You've really changed over a single month. I don't know if you were just hiding the fact that you're able to fight or you've been getting some killer lessons from an amazing teacher, but I never expected you could do this!” Seth comments, now putting an end to his clapping.
“And to think, I thought you were just taking alternative routes to get to school. I'm dying to see just how far this display of competence goes…” He adds while giving a big mischievous grin.
“Wait, what did you mean by that first part?” Galivinth furrows his brows while giving a suspicious look.
“Doesn't matter. Defend yourself…” Seth commands as he takes a few steps closer and seamlessly transitions into taking a fighter's posture - boxing style, Low Hand Guard, to be precise. His right hand forming a fist he holds up near his jaw, his left arm hangs low with its elbow slightly bent, and his right foot taking the lead in front of his left.
Seeing this, Galivinth extends his hands outward in front of him with his fingers also stretching, spreads his legs two feet apart with slightly bent knees, and then proceeds to inhale a deep breath. During his intake of oxygen, he simultaneously draws his hands toward his own chest, rotates his wrists to flip his hands, and concludes by extending his left arm out while drawing his right hand high beside his face at the level of his temple - both hands have their fingers bent in a claw-like fashion.
The two stare one another down for a few silent seconds and until Seth does the unexpected. A purple fog begins emitting from Seth and spreading until it's thick enough to be three times the size of his body, and the presence of it makes Galivinth gasp softly while his brow twitches from that smothering aura. His reaction doesn't go unnoticed either.
“You can see it now, can't you?” Seth questions while arching a brow. The only response he gets is Galivinth drawing out his own Soul Essence at the highest output he can manage. x2.0 (200%). Just a notch short below the x3.0 output coming from Seth.
“Ha. You can, you can. Good! As a heads up, only because I know you've a high tolerance for pain, I wasn't using my Soul Essence that day.” He admits out of the blue. It takes a short moment, but the realization of what that explanation entails eventually dawns on Galivinth and a touch of fear creeps in.
“I'm also a P.I. I'm nothing particularly special, but I'm a level 1 in Strength & Reflexes. I'm not gloating, of course. I just want you to keep that in mind.” Seth concludes with that lingering evil grin.
{ “Power Inheritor”, or “P.I.” for short, are people who were born with identical powers to their predecessor(s) within their shared bloodline. Sometimes it's of the same level of capability, occasionally lesser, and rarely greater. In addition, there's categories and tiers to these powers. Physical, Energy Manipulation, and Psyche-powered. Each of these have sub groups of their own, but a good means to generalize powers. The tiers of capability vary - some capable of lifting buses with their bare hands, some able to drain nuclear energy, and others holding the ability to dislodge apartment buildings from the ground with their mind alone. Even so, there's always a chance you'll find someone capable of doing far more or fairly less in this world! }