Isaac and Charlotte sat glaring at their son who sat at the other side of the table. Their anger was for no other reason than him getting into a very major fight which ended in a very major event that even local news stations had broadcast during the news, though not in extensive detail.
Fighting one vs ten, Robin proved his strength against his classmates as he had beaten the 9 other lackeys and even despite being a 5 meter tall gorilla, forcing Robin, by insulting him too much, to use his hardening, Marcus was also not exempt from taking some rather heavy injuries.
The fight got so out of hand that the teachers couldn’t stop the fight themselves and only when a nearby vigilante arrived to take care of the problem did it get resolved and Marcus was knocked out while Robin was restrained.
As for injuries to Robin, well there were at most some scraps and scratches from sliding that came from falling or getting hit but it should be known, people with full body rubber powers like Robin have innate blunt force immunity. Even if he is smashed on the ground he will not be injured because his bones and muscles simply bend and contort to absorb.
“Son, what are we going to do with you? We didn’t raise you to be like this.” Isaac said.
“I didn’t start it, Marcus was the one who sneaked an entire pan of dirty kitchen oil just to throw on me. You don’t understand how gross and weird it felt to have that covering you like a slime.” Robin retorted.
“But you didn’t need to throw the first punch. Just tell the teacher and it would have been over.” Charlotte said.
“Right, over.” Robin rolled his eyes, “The kong family would have just said ‘I’m sorry for my son’s actions’, made him say I’m sorry to me and that was the end of that day’s bullying only to get tomorrow's even worse.”
The two parents could only scowl, “But that didn’t mean you could punch him so hard that three of his teeth would break!” Isaac shouted at his son.
Indeed, the fight had been that intense. The first punch had not done that much damage but half way through the fight Marcus insulted Robin for being weak and constantly rebounded his punches with his own. Robin actually activated his hardening at max from his fist to his shoulder which caused his spring loaded arm to punch out with a little more than two times the force punching the giant ape off balance when the two fists connected. Pulling back the arm and jumping at the face of the off balance giant Robin delivered another of the same punches which actually broke three of the fangs on the right side of the face which further drove the ape transformed boy mad.
That was when the vigilante appeared as he caught Robin before he could attack again while he was in the air and falling near some monkey bars, he actually tied up Robin’s arms in a knot before going to knock out the giant ape to make everyone finally calm down.
This caused some damage to the forested area of the playground and Marcus had even pushed a few trees on an angle with roots exposed and danger of collapsing towards the school building. This didn’t even include the ground damage from missed punches from both the giant ape and Robin leaving potholes and fist shaped holes and marks all over.
“At least now they will have to teach that stupid fat monkey to shut up.” Robin said as he remembered how the case had favored him for being the overall bully victims and even though he got suspended for 3 days for throwing the first punch, the Kong family had to actually pay for the repairs of the school grounds and removal of the damaged trees because of their child’s bullying leading up to an ‘unfortunate’ event like this and all the boys would have to go through counseling.
“Just because he did that doesn’t make your part in it anymore correct. As a result, all your games, all your toys are confiscated for a month.” Isaac said.
“Okay.” Robin said without much problem since he didn’t play as much but the next part hit him hard.
“For a month, we will also not take you to the gym and you won’t be allowed in the basement. If you want to exercise you will have to just run. Don’t even think of sneaking in there because we will lock it with the key and everything.” Isaac said.
This, on the other hand, affected the boy who wished to outdo his sister. Having his exercise tools confiscated would put him behind his sister and force him to work much harder to make up the lost time.
“Don’t give me that look, you wanted to be strong but to be strong you need to have responsibility and you clearly don’t so we will monitor you from now on.” Isaac said.
“Monitor? You mean limit my time?!” He asked.
“Of course.”
“Why! If I am limited then I won't be able to grow strong enough to enter heroics before Lola and Shoji!” he said.
“What about Ruth?” Charlotte suddenly asked, noticing something off with his words.
“What is the point of comparing myself to the prodigy sister now? She was recruited by a Braveman who will definitely make her a strong person, why would I, a boy with such a huge weakness, compare myself to such a prodege.” Robin spat out.
The two parents felt sick to their stomach after seeing the hard work of their daughter to have a rival-like relationship with her brother crumble at the first instance.
“You shouldn’t think like that about your sister. Didn’t she get an opportunity, you should be happy for her.” Isaac said, frankly very angry at the selfishness of his son.
“Happy? Why would I be happy when my entire life, from now on, will be compared to a stronger twin sister. Actually I don’t even care anymore.” Robin said and got up. “I don’t care what they say, I will become a strong and really loved hero, even more than captain stretch but I won't turn away people with big weaknesses like him without at least trying to find a cure.” Robin said.
Walking to his room where his posters and items were.
The parents looked at each other but a sound from his room made them suddenly run over only to discover him ripping all his posters of Captain Stretch with clear hate and breaking the toys of the captain that filled the shelves of his side.
The three younger siblings came over but were sent away by their parents who could only watch, Charlotte in tears, at her son’s problem.
“Don’t cry… we will take him to see a psychologist, this is already beyond what we can do for him, we need help.” Isaac said sadness deep in his voice.
***
“So you want to make a Heroic Company that works… to find the hidden features of powers?” Shoji asked, confused.
“That’s right but not completely. I want to make a heroics company to help any person who wants to do more with their abilities but is blocked by so-called weaknesses that can possibly be resolved as well as find special features in abilities.” Robin explained after meeting his friends and telling him his new motivation.
“But… isn’t that stupid and hard?” Shoji asked.
To his question, Robin just looked at Lola, specifically behind the now very pale girl as she sat with five demons instead of one. Lily floated in the air as if sitting, next to her was a similarly big girl with human colored skin wearing a very tight and skimpy swimsuit with two bat wings on her lower back and a tail with two small horns on her head. After that was what could be described as a bull calf sitting on its hind legs with an oversized wooden club on its back with dark brown fur and two short horns that seem to have just broken the skin. Fourth was a six armed red skin boy who was dressed like an indian monk and last was a red skinned samurai dressed boy with a strangely long nose and two backwards pointed fangs coming out the corner of his lips and a tanto on his side, a short japanese styled sword.
These four new demons were Yez, a succubus, Broncos, a minotaur, Ruruk, an Asura and Galman, a tengu. Each of them are only a short distance away in strength from Lily in her true form and power, though she holds the edge because of the small growth she has had thanks to Lola.
“Ah, I see.” Shoji muttered.
“Yeah, that is what I mean.” Robin said.
“What are you guys talking about?” Lola said, confused.
“I was using you as an example. Originally you were regarded as one of the lowest ranking demon powers but as soon as you obtained enough life force, you gained five almost equally strong demons, even if they are still weak in their current size and form.” Robin said.
“Oh, I see. Well your ambition just means you will be a power researcher. Aren’t there tons of those?” She asked.
Robin snorted, “Yeah there are but all of them work for high end power users, they don’t care about the lower class and don’t try to make things for them to surpass their deficiencies.” Robin said.
This wasn’t without basis, he had actually looked through the net about this fact and how almost 90% of researchers focused on the high end market while the rest of the 10% worked on the middle end market. No one actually did anything for the common ability owners even if they are the biggest market.
“So what are your plans? I mean, this isn’t just a game, this is pretty much a life goal decision.” Shoji said.
“I know and I made it already. I don’t want to be a selfish ‘high end’ hero who just works while ignoring those below me. Even if I don't become a hero, I at least will make my name known as someone who helped many people surpass their deficiencies.” he said.
The two smiled before laughing.
“What is so funny!” Robin said.
“Well to get any credibility, you need to surpass your own don’t you?” Shoji said, after his laughing died down.
“Hmph, as if I don't know that. Even so, that will take a lot of time so I want to start my studies now.” he said.
“And how, oh great researcher?” Lola said.
“I want to learn about energy users.” He said looking at Lola.
“Energy users?” the two said together.
“That is how I categorized Lola’s power. She uses Life Force, there are tons of energy like mana, chi and others well known but I personally don’t know about them. What is it like, how does it feel, how do you use it!” Robin asked, bombarding the girl.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“Okay okay! One question at a time!” she said and scratched her head.
She had never thought about it because it always felt natural, because of this when it was made apparent, she actually personally didn’t know much about her own energy. She began to move her energy while paying attention and began to describe it to Robin while Lily was the one who explained the uses of the life force which the demons are the ones who use it instead of Lola herself.
“I see, so you are something like a familiar master. Your energy can’t be directly used by yourself but has to be channeled.” Robin said his conclusion and nodded. “Great!” he said.
“Are you going to ask about psychics?” Shoji asked.
“Eventually, I want to go through one type of power at a time and make an organized formatting that we can work from. There are too many powers and the organization of them is too chaotic so we should build our own system for ourselves.” he said.
“Where are you going to learn more?” Lola asked.
Robin grinned, “Ever heard of the Institute of Power Disabilities?” he asked.
Both of them shook their heads.
“Well it’s a place that is like a hospital or a clinic for people whose abilities are actually disabilities making them too weak to take care of themselves and live a normal life. I found the site last year when I was researching how to overcome my weakness and this place seemed to work on such projects to reduce the effects of ability based illnesses.” he explained.
“How come we never heard of this place?” Shoji asked.
“Because it is very poor. It is like an elderly home and is government run but with low funding meaning they can take care of people but their research is very slow paced.” He said.
“I see. If it had more funding there would definitely be many more people who would know about it.” Shoji nodded. “Do they allow visits?” he asked.
“They do actually. Anyone willing to spend time and not cause trouble for the patients are welcome just like in elderly homes.” he said.
“Where is it?” Lola asked what might have been the most important question.
“There is a branch in pretty much all large cities. A lot of them actually, not just one. If we can get one of our parents to drive us we can go there and maybe learn from these sick people a bit about their powers without making everyone feel strange unlike asking our classmates.” Robin said.
“I see. That makes sense. Well if your parents allow it, I can have my driver give us a lift after school.” Shoji said.
“Heh, hurray for rich friends.” Robin joked, making Shoji roll his eyes before they all laugh.
The three children took the time during the playground to contact their parents to get permission to go to the institute as well as contact the nearest one after finding it on their phones and getting the number and seeing the information. With all set and done, they finally went once school was out.
Even though the institute was thought to be impressive by the children, they were shocked to find that it was actually a bit decrepit and looked like a poorly maintained elderly home. Even though it was like that the outside had a number of people walking or in a wheelchair.
“I never thought there were so many deficient powers.” Lola whispered to her friends.
They were looking in shock at the number. Some mutations like an overgrown limb or distorted bodies because of malformation. Some people were covered in strange growths and more.
As they entered, a nurse was waiting, “Hello, are you the children that called to visit this morning?” she asked.
“Yes ma’am, I hope we aren’t getting in the way.” Robin said with a small bow.
“Oh no, please, we have far too few visitors besides the families of the patients themselves. It is nice to see such young children interested in visiting the sick.” she said.
“Um… miss, is there anyone here that uses any special ‘energy’?” Robin asked.
“Energy?” the woman was confused.
“Like mana, life force, chi.” Robin complimented.
“Ah, yes we have a few.” She nodded. She led the children to the second floor where they saw the people laid down.
“Um… exactly why are they sick?” Lola asked curiously.
“It is a very specific illness. We call it energy deficiency. We really have no way to resolve it.” She said with a tired sigh. “Room 205 is the most unique of the energy deficiency patients. He produces objects that make his energy.” she said.
“Really, I never heard of a power like that.” Robin said and was very curious.
“Well I am sure he will be happy to get some visits after so long. You can go right in.” She said.
The children thanked her and knocked on the door before opening.
“Hello? Who are you?” a young man laid down on the bed and around him floated small stones.
The three children introduced themselves.
“Nice to meet you children, do I know you from somewhere?” he asked, confused.
“No sir, you see we were curious about the institute but we also have other goals.” Robin said and began to explain his ambition to the man.
“Oh, that is quite the dream child. It is nice to meet such a person in my life.” He smiled.
“So, what is your power, sir.” Lola asked.
“Hmm… Well, I call them telekinetic stones. They are very lightweight rocks my body produces inside my body that I cough up. They produce an unknown energy that my body lives off.” he said.
“Unknown? Don’t we have very advanced energy detection technology?” Shoji asked, surprised.
“The energy is just too thin.” the man replied.
“Sir, how does your body survive off energy? I thought the body made its own energy.” Robin said.
The man smiled, “Tell me children, do you have biology class yet?” he asked.
The children shook their heads. “Alright, do you have a piece of paper?” he asked. Shoji nodded and quickly pulled out a notebook and pencil before handing it to the man who took it and skillfully began to draw for about a minute and showed it to the children. “Here children, this is a very basic diagram of our bodies cells. In the middle is the nucleus which has all our DNA which makes each of us who we are. Now the part that makes energy for the body is a very very special cellular structure called the mitochondria. It is special because in the entire cell, it is the only structure that has its own DNA completely separate from the cell. This is purely inherited from the mother. Anyways, this is what produces energy but for me, I don’t have mitochondria. From birth I have always coughed up these stones that constantly produced energy. When I was a baby, my parents said that almost every hour I would cough up a small pebble. When I was 1 that reduced to 1 a day, at 5 I only produced one a week. I am 25 and the last time I produced a stone was 2 years ago. The stones I have can’t produce the energy I need and doctors fear that I might even have organ failure.” he smiled wryly as he explained his illness.
“Have you ever tried to do anything with the energy?” Robin asked.
“Of course, these small stones are very versatile but they are too light. Also I wanted to be a hero but I couldn't exercise without being extremely exhausted with my energy drying up quickly.” He replied.
The three kids had a hard expression but Robin stepped close, “Can I touch one of them.” He asked.
“Sure.”
One of the stones floated over and Robin took it and he felt a warmth from it unlike he ever felt. It isn’t the type of heat warmth but an energetic warmth.
“It looks like a stone fragment.” Robin suddenly said and tilted his head, “Is it possible to combine it?” he asked.
“Combine?” the man tilted his head.
“Well these look like fragments, is it possible to push them hard enough against other fragments to make one whole and see if they produce more energy when together?” Robin asked.
The man held his chin before pulling two stones from a box nearby and in front of himself he began to push them together with his mental order but nothing changed for a whole minute when the man gave up.
“No, nothing changes.” he said.
“Hmm.” Robin let go of the stone on the bed and thought deeply. This was what he wanted to do to help so he was thinking very deeply when he thought of something. “Can you directly control that energy?” Robin asked.
“Yes. I don’t have much but I can directly control it.” He said.
“Then why not try to push the stones together with your mind but also use your energy to compress them together.” he said.
Maybe because he was just humoring the children, he followed along and made the two stones press against each other and flowed a small amount of energy but amazingly they released a lot of energy to reject the energy making the man frown. He took a lot of energy and pressed hard against the rejecting force. Slowly a weak capsule of energy formed as leaks appeared and slowly sealed and pushed closer and when the push force surpassed the rejection force it suddenly reversed as all that energy suddenly got sucked up and the two stones began to shine as they liquified and began to spin rapidly merging before releasing a small cloud of smelly smoke returning to a size similar to before and formed a perfectly round spherical stone that dropped down on the bed as soon as it solidified.
As the glow subsided, the blinded people opened their eyes to find the stone there. The man was pale but he was the one with the strongest heart beats as he carefully picked up the stone feeling the gentle warmth seep into his body with much higher quality.
“Urg!” he groaned and grabbed his stomach as he felt the energy rapidly funnel to his stomach and gather many small shards that floated around and formed a stone which was quickly shot out and he coughed up a stone almost at once.
The new shard was like the old one.
“This…” the man said in shock as he held the stone in his hand as tears began to form. “I-I found it! My cure!” he began to scream loudly and even began to cry, making some nurse enter who asked what happened.
Shoji explained to them leaving them all shocked before she ran out and after a little while, she returned with an item.
“Mr Johns, can I see that stone?” She asked and took it when he let go. She placed it at the lense and activated the machine. “The energy purity is higher and not as thin but it is still too thin to determine the true energy.” she said.
“Then we can resolve that.” the man said, excited as he took two more stones and began to process once more, excited to finally find out what his power truly is and cure himself. After making another combined stone he took the first stone, each stone in one hand. His face was covered in sweat already so he rested up first.
They stayed for about half an hour when he finally felt he had enough energy and he made the two round stones press together as the energy flowed out of his hand.
The rejection force was much stronger this time and much more taxing for him but still not enough that he couldn’t do it and after ten minutes he finally pushed back the force and all the energy was pulled in. The two round stones melted and merged into one mass that formed into a larger orb but began to compress as dark smoke flowed out before solidifying into an even larger stone that fell down on the man’s lap.
He was breathing heavily but when he felt the weight of the stone, his right hand touched it and he felt an amazing energy rush up his arm. It felt like electricity and magma suddenly pulsing through his body, one going to his brain and the other his heart. His hand was trapped to the stone but he only felt better and better.
His pale face returned to its healthy natural color after a few minutes and soon even those around them began to hear a strong heartbeat as they saw his chest faintly glow before it began to spread to his body slowly.
It lasted five minutes before the glow subsided and he opened his eyes but with it was a very strong energy and he instantly threw off the covers and jumped up to his feet while holding the stone.
“I-I have the energy to walk! I feel so good right now!” he said with tears in his eyes.
He soon collapsed to his knees in tears of happiness that his problem was cured. He wouldn’t be trapped in a bed and wouldn’t have to fear that he would run out of energy.
“Thank you! Thank you!” he began to say to Robin who had humored him and had resolved his life's biggest problem.
“Mr. Johns, can I see the stone?” The nurse asked.
“Of course!” he said excitedly.
They tested again and finally the energy was revealed, making the nurse shocked. “Amazing! This is World Power! Direct World power is being produced to power your body Mr Johns! This is amazing, if this keeps getting purer and purer, you could become incredibly powerful!” she said.
“What is world power?” Robin asked, confused at the unknown term.
“World power is a special power which exists in planets and celestial bodies. Having world power means you have the energy of a planet which is incredibly strong. That said, powers that use world power are pretty rare.” she said.
“Wow! Amazing sir, you not only cured your problem but you might even grow up to become a hero if you train.” Robin said.
Mr Johns shook his head though, “Although it is all children's dreams, I have given up a long time because training as a child is an important factor that makes heroes. I never trained during that time. Actually, I studied to be a teacher but fell ill after college before I could get a job. Now I will fulfil my studies and become one of the best teachers I can.” he said with a smile. “Thank you, I never gave you my name, it is Denis Johns. I am in your debt, if you ever need anything, anything really, please don’t be afraid to call.” He said and took his phone and gave his number to the children.
He would stay a couple more days as he merged his stones and recovered completely but for Robin, he was the happiest that he could help someone even worse off than him for the first time. He hoped this was the first of many times he could help people like Denis. It filled him with desire to follow the path he had picked.