I can’t admit the truth here. I needed to write down these thoughts, for them to exist outside my mind, but they’re too dangerous if even half of my fears are realized. This is all I can ever say. I’m sorry.

Vincent pried his gaze from the man he’d just killed to assess the new threat. Surprisingly, the massive iron gate opened to reveal only a single person. Striding forward lazily was a lanky man dressed in a remarkably ostentation yellow suit. It looked uncomfortably tight, and covered every part of him except for his face, which was split by a massive grin. He was also wearing what looked like welder’s goggles, though Vincent couldn’t be sure.

The man paused his advance and raised his arms out, spinning slowly in place to bask in the adulation of the crowd. Dollar Bill’s voice echoed through the arena once again, “Now that the warm-up is complete, it’s time for the real excitement to begin! Allow me to present the mighty Current! Don’t let his colors fool you, he’s actually the chief enforcer for the Knicks! Too many of you have learned that the hard way over the years.”

Vincent’s eyes narrowed as his KD scanned the man.

Class: Blocked

Rank: Initiate (B)

‘Current’ seemed completely absorbed by the crowd’s attention, and despite wearing a KD-blocker, he even went so far as to reveal the nature of his powers as Vincent watched him, calculating. Bursts of electricity danced across his fingers, and ran across the surface of his yellow suit to the delight of the spectators. Vincent could never understand these supers. Why name yourself after your powers? Why reveal what you’re capable of before a fight even begins?

Had the man used a neutral name, he could have gotten close and surprised Vincent, but now he was already a step behind. Without waiting for the man to decide the fight had started, Vincent moved to the arena wall. He’d already gotten close after chasing down the man with the ruined knee, and refused to waste the opportunity it provided. Electricity was a dangerous power, and one that Vincent hadn’t tested his own abilities against.

When he reached a section of wall that was newer concrete rather than ancient stone, Vincent reached out with his powers, four spectral arms extending. There was no chance Current didn’t know what he was up against, so there was no point hiding it now. Two hands rapidly went to work prying the iron spikes from the wall, while the other two became incorporeal and reached inside.

It was an unusual sensation to feel around inside solid objects, but it was something Vincent had practiced even back on the Farm. Soon he found what he wanted, and he was grateful for the cacophonous roar of the crowd as he ripped several lengths of steel rebar from the wall. Despite some of the spectators actually pointing at Vincent and yelling, Current was only just ending his light show, and finally turning on his opponent.

Too late.

The handfuls of iron spikes were thrown first, both to confuse the foolish super, and distract him. The man’s reflexes were admirable as he threw bolts of electricity at the deadly projectiles, but there were too many to deflect, and the power arced between them. Current had to resort to crouching and covering his face with his arms as several of the now glowing hot chunks of jagged metal crashed into him. They did little damage, however, and the man almost immediately stormed back upward, lightning gathering in his hands.

He had just enough time to notice the half-dozen lengths of rebar flying toward him before he was speared like a fish. The crowd let out a collective groan as the man was impaled in several places at once.

Vincent enjoyed the relative quiet as the spectators seemed to struggle to accept the rapid end to a battle that had never truly started. He strolled across the arena, still holding two pieces of rebar just in case, but saw it was unnecessary when he came close to Current. The man was gasping, and his goggles had flown off as he fell, revealing a disbelieving expression on his uncovered face.

Vincent saw that both the man’s right leg and right arm had been pierced, which weren’t fatal, but a third bar was protruding from Current’s chest, almost certainly having impaled his heart. The assembled gang members still seemed to be holding their collective breath, as if waiting for the man to make some kind of last surprise attack, but he just continued dying at Vincent’s feet.

It was strangely…awkward, and Vincent wondered if he should say something. Would Danny make a joke in this situation? He considered the formula he’d been working on for witticisms. The man was wearing yellow, but there wasn’t much to do with that. The color wasn’t associated with any relevant elements of the situation. Cowardice? Didn’t really apply.

His name was ‘Current’, obviously from electricity, but also to related time measurements. Something about the past? Or maybe the future? Perhaps Vincent could imply that the man should have been paying closer attention, maybe living in the moment? It would be better if he could work in something about electricity as well. Ah!

“Looks like Current was past due for his electric bi–” the ground exploded under him, and Vincent found himself flying through the air before slamming into the arena floor. Pain lanced through his body as he rolled to a stop, and it took all his willpower to force himself back into a crouch. His vision swam as he summoned a hint of his power, holding it just above his body as makeshift armor.

His first thought was that Current had somehow lured him into a trap, but the man’s body had been brutalized, and there was no question he was dead. Laughter ran out from all around him, and Dollar Bill’s voice scratched through the speakers a moment later.

“Well, it seems that Current may have underestimated young Master Villari, but Underdog has clearly avoided that mistake!” As if on queue, a mass of stone and earth burst from the ground a dozen paces from Vincent, then fell away to reveal a dark skinned woman of average height, wearing filthy camo gear. “Can we get a warm welcome for the chief enforcer of the Rangers, Underdoooooog!”

The crowd erupted even louder than they had for Current, but the woman gave no indication that she even heard them, her eyes locked on Vincent. Her whole body was pasted with dirt, and even her hair stuck out in every direction, like crude, muddy dreadlocks. When she spoke, it was loud enough only for Vincent. “Thank you for eliminating Current. He was an irritating little prick, but I couldn’t kill him without our gangs going to war.”

Vincent managed to stand, only glancing down at himself quickly enough to confirm that, while he was bleeding in several places and his clothes were badly torn, nothing seemed life-threatening. Regretting the foolishness that had left him an easy target, he sent a green spectral arm lancing toward the woman without wasting another moment. She took the time to smirk before disappearing into the ground as if it were liquid beneath her.

Vincent ignored his pain as he moved cautiously around the arena, looking for any sign of his opponent’s movements. His KD hadn’t had time to scan her, but he was generally aware of what earth-based powers could do, and he knew he was ill-suited for this match. Likely she could feel or sense the vibrations of his footsteps, and she’d already proven that she could burst from the ground at remarkable speeds.

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Vincent’s mind worked as he scanned the arena for something to even the odds, but Underdog clearly meant to end the match quickly. This time she rose up behind him, and he could feel jagged stone scraping along his armor and even digging shallow cuts into his back slightly as she did.

Hoping her momentum would send up her skyward and leave her vulnerable, Vincent’s Phantasmal arms shot out as he spun around. He had just enough time to note that her lower legs were set in anchors of earth and rock, which quickly yanked her back downward as the green arms lanced harmlessly over her disappearing head.

Vincent decided on a tactic of constant, erratic movement as he formulated a plan, hoping to at least deny the woman an optimal angle of attack. Underdog responded by remaining underground, but sending out wave after wave of pointed stalagmites from all around him as he ran. Some he managed to dodge, but others drew even more blood as he rolled and leaped around the arena.

The crowd was now laughing and jeering as Vincent desperately suffered injury after injury while his opponent was untouchable beneath his feet. He was losing considerable blood now, and moved more slowly by the moment. A pivotal moment came when Underdog suddenly changed tactics, and the waves of piercing attacks were abruptly replaced by several massive waves of rock crashing into him, impossible to dodge.

Vincent found himself curled up on ground, his head spinning as he desperately tried to grasp at his waning power. “Pathetic,” a voice whispered from all around him. Throughout the battle, Vincent had struggled for any way to find his opponent. He’d tried running around the arena and adjusting his positioning, hoping to triangulate where she was based on the limits of her powers, but it hadn’t worked.

Finally he was left in his current state, an exhausted, bloody mess on the ground. Vincent could feel the rough, wet sand against his face as he struggled to breathe, fearing any moment that a final stone spike would lance through him. Underdog spoke again, and he hesitantly opened one eye.

“I’d hoped for more than this from Verdicus’ supposed champion. You’ve made quite the little name for yourself sneaking around the city, choosing the weakest of us to lord over with your measly power,” she had revealed herself at last, and she walked toward him, arms held to her side as the earth rose up and formed into deadly spikes and bludgeons.

“You should have learned your lesson when the Eraser slapped you down, kid. Guess I’ll have to be your new teacher,” she finished, clearly savoring the moment as the crowd chanted her name between shouts of murderous encouragement.

Vincent, however, smiled. “You’ve already been a great teacher,” he said, and Underdog tilted her head in confusion.

“Those are your last words? What the hell–” her voice cut off as spectral arms burst from the ground all around her, striking like vipers. This final gamble had already been a bigger risk than Vincent would have liked, and so he wasted no time. As two Phantasmal hands gripped her outstretched arms, two more went for the kill, one disappearing into her chest, another into her skull.

Underdog’s eyes widened as she felt her heart burst in her chest, but any further reaction was cut off as her brain was ravaged by Vincent’s second attack. The shaped earth and stone fell to the ground in heaps as the crowd was silenced yet again by the unexpected display, and Vincent slowly regained his feet as the woman collapsed.

He was panting, and blood was running from countless injuries. Once again he knew he’d only survived thanks to luck. He’d tried reaching for her subtly with his spectral arms through the fight, but there was simply too much room for her to hide. Baiting her, and hoping that the desire to execute him in front of the assembled gangs would be enough for her to reveal herself had been the best Vincent could come up with.

The crowd was back to roaring, again a mix of cheers for the general bloodshed, and boos for his continued survival. Vincent walked forward to look down on the body of Underdog. She really had taught him something. Sending his arms underground in their incorporeal state, mimicking her own fighting style was a genuinely useful tactic, and one he’d have scars to remind himself of.

Noticing Dollar Bill stepping toward the edge of the owners box and reaching for the microphone, Vincent sighed as he considered there was somehow still another round to go. He was distracted, however, as a strange feeling rose up inside him, and he collapsed to one knee. His body seemed to tighten and tense, his muscles feeling like they were straining against some terrible weight. Then his ocular KD flashed a welcome message.

Initiate level 5 reached.

Physical and Mental abilities have improved.

Maximum Energy reserves have increased.

New Ability has Manifested: Apparition

The pain passed quickly, and Vincent was extraordinarily grateful to find that it left a small burst of new energy in its place. His wounds were unchanged, and he still felt half-dead, but he suspected he’d need every drop of power he had for whatever his final challenge would be. Slowly he regained his feet, realizing that Dollar Bill had been speaking for some time.

“Well, it looks like he hasn’t died yet, ladies and gentlemen! Young Master Villari appears to have survived the first two rounds of the Trial of the Pit!” The crowd cheered at that, and Vincent wondered if they’d cheer at anything the powerful gang leader would say. Or perhaps they know what’s coming next, he considered with dissatisfaction.

“That means it’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for!” Dollar Bill said, and the speakers were barely louder than the crowd’s wild roars. What could they be so excited for? Dollar Bill had assured him that he wouldn’t allow the other gangs to put forward anyone more powerful than a low end Reactive rank. Was there some champion of that level that the crowd expected to see?

Vincent was hastily trying to access his new ability when the truth became clear, and he realized his mistake. Dollar Bill was taking off his simple business suit, loosening his tie as some unseen helper pulled his jacket off. He was grinning that diamond smile right at Vincent as he did so.

The man had said he wouldn’t let the other gangs send in anyone more powerful. He hadn’t restricted himself.

The shirt was unbuttoned next as the showman made a meal out of the process, allowing the crowd’s excitement to grow with the anticipation. Vincent found that he couldn’t look away as the unusual super’s gleaming body was slowly revealed. Impossibly, he did appear to be made entirely of gemstones. The waves of red rubies rolled across a body of diamonds, and even half-blinded by the arena spotlights, Vincent was forced to admit Dollar Bill was a remarkable sight.

The gang leader grabbed the microphone once more when he was down to just a pair of red underwear. “I think our poor Master Villari might be realizing he’s made a mistake, my friends!” Laughter rang out across the arena, and Vincent realized he’d let his mouth hang open and his posture droop. He forced himself straight, knowing that however the night ended, this was how the gangs and villains would remember him.

“Fear not, Villari, no one expects you to beat me the way you did these other, unworthy champions. I don’t often step into the ring, and I’m not a man to rule by might.” More scattered laughter at that. “We’ll keep this sporting. If you can survive in the arena against me for three minutes, then whatever is left of you is free to leave. Victorious.” Even through the distortion of the arena speakers, Vincent could hear the amusement in that last word.

Without further pageantry, Dollar Bill leaped into the arena, his shining body slamming into the ground with surprising force, a cloud of sand and dust bursting outward. He spoke again, though only Vincent would be able to hear over the crowd. “You understand why this needs to happen, don’t you Villari? The gangs need to see that I punish weakness. And should you survive, they’ll never see you as weak again. I’m doing you a favor.”

“I don’t think Robert will see it that way,” Vincent answered, and he was pleased to see the man’s face twitch slightly.

“I may lose Maria over this, and maybe even end up taking a long walk across the bottom of the bay, but that won’t change what happens here. Your three minutes start now, Villair. Run.”

Vincent ran.