Harold met Harvey and Amelia in a restaurant before his fight against Amber and Aiden. As if it was a casual meeting, they scanned the menu given to them by the waiter.

"Hmm, beef Wellington, baked stuffed lobster, roast prime rib...are these the best things our restaurant has today!?" Amelia questioned with annoyance.

"I mean, these look pretty good, though," Harold said.

"Don't mind her. She has expensive taste," Harvey said. "But let's get to business, Harold. You can get rid of our little 'problem,' right?"

"Heh, of course. Have I ever failed you before?" Harold asked with a smug look.

"No, you haven't, which is why I asked you. But I know you tend to play around after debilitating your enemies, so I'm telling you not to this time."

"Urr...I don't play around...that much," Harold stuttered. Meanwhile, Amelia focused on choosing from the range of meals given to her on the menu.

"Even though my brother took her lightly, she still injured him. Besides, she's from the Enlightenment Program. Never play around with any of those guys."

* * *

"What kind of...friend would I be if I abandoned you, even though you accepted me...despite looking down on you the first day...of the Enlightenment Program!?" Aiden loudly questioned as time returned to its present state.

Damn it! The guy is up now! Whenever one goes down, the other one gets up...it's annoying! Harold thought. Not to mention, his fist somehow generated an explosion. It's not too strong but he hits harder now!

"The boss was right, I can't toy with you Enlightenment Program soldiers," Harold said. "I'll stop playing around now!" He declared as he rushed towards Aiden.

Going for the kill, Harold swung the knife across Aiden's fast, but he avoided it by reducing the friction underneath his feet to slide across the ground and getting behind him.

He followed up with a right hook, barely missing Harold as he leaned his head in time. He could feel the air brushing his face as Aiden's fist passed through.

BOOM!

Before Harold could think of counterattacking, another explosion was generated from Aiden's strike, recoiling Harold's body backward. His knife was knocked out of his hand in the process.

Damn it! Again!

Provoking his ire, Harold quickly regained his bearings and engaged Aiden in hand-to-hand combat.

No, he's too injured...he won't win! Amber thought with concerned eyes.

"Aiden! Please...use your energy to run away!" Amber pleaded.

"Ugh, no way!" The adamant Aiden strongly declined once again. As he fought with Harold, he relied heavily on sliding around like an ice skater to avoid several of his attacks. His injured state hindered him from avoiding them all.

He roughly equalized the playing field with his unusual explosive punches. Even though he landed none directly, the concussive force proved to stun Harold, if only for a split second.

"I know...you don't care about...huff, how I acted on the first day...but it doesn't feel right!" Aiden yelled. "I've been training all this--ugh!" Aiden continued before receiving a headbutt, causing him to stagger backward.

"Aiden!!" Amber yelled.

This bastard's strikes aren't as fast as they were before...must be because he's injured! Harold deduced. It won't matter if I'm fast enough to counter...even if your strikes generate explosions!

To create explosions in the air, I generate a lot of friction in my punches. That built-up friction slows down my strikes in return for enhanced striking strength. Aiden ruminated. This bastard must have realized the difference in my combat speed, but I won't falter. I'll save Amber from him!

Aiden took deep breaths before continuing combat with Harold.

"I trained my blessing from a young age...because I wanted to be stronger. That's why I teased you when I saw you struggling on the obstacle course," Aiden continued. "I thought someone weak and never trained...shouldn't be here..."

Although Harold landed a lucky headbutt, it wasn't a walk in the park to land other attacks due to Aiden's evasive skills and the concussive force from his explosive strikes constantly recoiling Harold back.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Harold, however, grew more enraged by the second.

Simultaneously, due to the loud sounds of explosions, curious neighbors opened their doors and windows to see the commotion.

"But seeing how you made friends with everyone...including people like Kreuger...and even me, I quickly understood...that you were never weak. You befriended me even though I acted negatively towards you," Aiden said.

It's embarrassing, but I may have fallen for her personality too. Aiden thought. Which is why I'm pushing myself so much...

"You're... strong...not only physically, but mentally stronger than I am. So as a friend...I'll save you from this murderer!" Aiden declared.

Hearing this, Amber couldn't help but become shaken by Aiden's determination.

Aiden...you're doing so much for me...and I'm not doing anything! Amber thought. Suddenly, her mind recollected the gruesome and gory day of Jack's rampage on her family - where she watched as her family was slain before her eyes.

"SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH!!!" Harold yelled with rage as he delivered two hooks to Aiden's face. In response, Aiden staggered multiple feet before falling onto his knees.

"I'LL KILL YOU! DAMN BASTARD!!!" Harold yelled as he ran at him with yet another knife from his overcoat. However, his legs suddenly slid, causing him to fall while running and landing on his face.

"What the!?" Harold uttered. "How did I freaking trip!?" He questioned as he looked over to Aiden, who had placed both hands on the ground.

This bastard! He did something! Harold quickly deduced. In his anger, he tried to pull himself up with his arms, but immediately, his hands slid across the ground and caused him to fall again. Holy shit...I'm going to kill these damn bitches!

C'mon, Amber...I can't do this alone...it's your turn! Aiden thought.

Once again, Harold tried to pull himself up and got to his knees without falling over again.

"Once I get up...it's o--"

BOOM!

Suddenly in a yellow blur, Amber rushed up and delivered a spin kick right to the temple of Harold's dome.

Harold felt a sharp pain at the side of his head while his vision blurred. He quickly fell over from the strike.

Shit...this is bad. Did I...get hit in the temple? Harold wondered as he was in a delirious state.

"Aiden, thank you for that," Amber said. "That meant a lot to me."

With a smile, Aiden responded, "I'm glad you understand. Now, let's take down this guy!" Simultaneously, the delirious Harold slowly attempted to stand back up.

"Yeah!" Amber agreed before dashing towards Harold, whose delirious state made him open for any attack.

Attack Amber did as she performed several powerful jabs to Harold's chest. The blows were strong enough that her fist slightly sank into his chest with every attack.

"Guh!" Harold uttered as blood came from his mouth. Simultaneously, Aiden supported Amber by delivering an explosion-generated kick to the right side of Harold's face, sending him meters away.

I have to be careful not to damage any property with these strikes... Aiden thought.

After being tossed away from the kick, Harold regained his composure. With his anger, he was able to power through the concussion he sustained from Amber's kick to his weak spot.

Amber also continued towards him.

"Damn it! Why are you guys still fighting!?" The injured Harold angrily questioned before running at Amber. Mid-run, however, his foot slid, causing him to fall.

While he fell, Harold could only look to the perpetrator - Aiden, who once again placed his hands on the ground. Aiden also gazed at him with a sly smirk.

Basta--

Harold fell right into Amber's fist, and she then followed up with a combo of right hooks. Amid her combo, blood flew left and right from Harold's mouth. Suddenly, Amber hopped behind him and put him in a hold.

Shit, I'm going...to lose...at this rate... Harold realized. Why is she...holding me...?

He inadvertently answered his question as Harold noticed Aiden charging up while performing multiple 360-degree rotations with his right arm.

I create explosions when the air becomes heated with enough friction. So, the more friction I have, the stronger the explosion! Aiden thought as he continued to rotate his arm.

Right before he approached them, Amber tossed Harold towards Aiden. He stopped rotating before connecting his right fist to Harold's chest.

BOOOM!!!

A much larger explosion was generated, and Harold got sent flying tens of meters away. With screams of pain, Harold violently bounced, even on his head, across the ground before finally crashing into a brick wall.

"We can't stop here. We must ensure he's defeated!" Aiden stated.

"Yeah! One more attack!" Amber suggested. "We'll use everything!"

This...woman isn't supposed...to be this strong...Even if she has help... Harold thought as he coughed up blood violently. The burns on his skin and clothing, along with the extensive bruises on his face, indicated that he was on his last legs. I need to...hide. I need to...get a surprise attack on them!

Maybe due to his battered and delirious state, Harold failed to realize Amber and Aiden's charge. By the time he did, it was too late.

In a blur, they appeared inches from his face. With unhinged expressions, they had clenched fists, ready to strike him.

I'm f*cked... Harold thought as he could only watch with an expression of resignation as Aiden's fist, which steamed as the air heated from his friction, and Amber's intensely glowing fist, honed in on his chin.

BAM!

Both soldiers synchronously landed an uppercut to his chin, breaking apart some of Harold's teeth. It wasn't over, as their strikes engulfed Harold in an unusually golden explosion. It's as if Amber's yellow light was infused with Aiden's explosion due to their synchronized attack.

Harold was sent super high before loudly crashing back to the ground. He was laid out and unresponsive.

"Huff, Huff, We...did it..." Amber said as they both fell over.

"Yeah, we did..." Aiden agreed.

Due to overexerting themselves and their injuries, Amber and Aiden lost their consciousness.

Simultaneously, concerned civilians approached their bodies.

"What the hell was the noise-- Oh my god! Are those soldiers!?" A civilian questioned. "What happened to them!?"

"Quick! Call the police!" Another one suggested.

Although they lost consciousness, the soldiers no longer had to worry as Harold was defeated. It was finally over.