Chapter XVI

An unknown power

When the girls left the village, the rest of the group divided into teams and started their training. One of these unfortunate souls was Terry who had to use all his energy on evading the oncoming attacks from Ken.

“Please for the love of all that is holy, let me rest Ken! I cannot keep this up much longer.” Terry pleaded with his sparring partner, but Ken was focusing on the other two sparring. Hook and Ren. What a waste! Ken thought to himself.

Hook threw an uppercut at Ren who felt he had no time to evade, thus he crossed his arms in defense.

“Again! As I said, you should focus on dodging. Someone with your build needs to be swift to conserve energy.” Hook instructed the skinny boy.

“If I keep my distance, I can’t hit you.” Ren muttered just loud enough for Hook to hear.

“Right now, it’s not about hitting. It’s about learning to use dodging as a weapon.” Hooks answer left Ren confused, so the man continued. “Every time you dodge an attack, your enemy exerts more energy than you do. They have to target you, pour power into the attack, and pull back their fist and get ready for your counterattack. Meanwhile you just get out of the way. This stacks. After a while your enemy is exhausted and only then will you attack.”

“That’s not how Niel or Ken fights.”

“Because they are different. You could put them up against a brick wall and after five minutes they would find a reason to punch it.”

Ren stared at him silently for a second before charging at him to attack. Hook dodged quickly and grabbed his arm.

“Tell me, Ren! Why are you on edge?” Hook interrogated the boy with growing frustration.

“Because I need to be good at this!” Ren kicked himself off of Hook’s body and dashed away from him. "Maybe if I improve here..." Ren remembered the interaction he had with the psychiatrist earlier that day.

"It will carry over to the real world?" Hook finished Ren's sentence.

Ren nodded silently at Hook's observation.

"Listen Ren... you have talent! The time we fought you showed me potential to be something great. But if you constantly fight yourself, every battle you have in the future will be a two on one."

"You're saying I shouldn't fight until I am "fixed"? Until I get an approval from that shrink?" Ren degraded Dr Ottoman in a sudden fit of rage.

"That's not what I meant exactly." Hook lowered himself to be at eye-level with him.

"But what if it's the other way around? What if I overcome something great here and it makes me feel better about myself?"

"That is a possibility but be careful! You might head into an altercation looking for a solution, but only finding trouble." Hook warned Ren, whose expression hardened by those words. “Now let’s switch!” Hook turned to Terry and Ken, who immediately stopped their fight.

“Thank God! Now for some tamed training with master Hook.” Terry let out a relieved sigh.

“Ken! You come out! Ren you go and spar with Terry. “Hook signaled to the excited boy.

Ren jumped in the ring with a determined seriousness in his eyes.

Why does life punish me with these two? Terry realized he would not get the rest he thought he would.

Meanwhile Blitz was training Vhiz, Sun, and Faul.

“Alright! Listen up kids! Today we’ll continue our speed training.” Blitz lined the kids up in front of him. “Speed is essential in a battle! Speed will help you evade, get to safety, get reinforcements, relay a message across long distances. The list goes on.”

As Blitz explained and walked back and forth Vhiz was using his powers to message the other two with his mind. Why would we need that when I can talk through my mind?

“Because Vhiz…” Blitz turned to the boy with annoyance. “Right now, you cannot choose who receives the message. Currently your power is a hindrance, rather than a tool." Blitz scolded the trouble-maker.

“Damn it! I thought I learned how to exclude people!” Vhiz said disappointed.

“Hey Blitz sir!” Sun stood closer to his teacher.

“Just Blitz! The sir makes me sound like an old geezer.”

“Yesterday I remembered something about the day we got our powers…” Sun's expression was disturbed as he explained what was on his mind.

Blitz let go of the playful smile as the look on his face went serious. “What was it?”

“I heard a voice. Unlike anything I ever heard. It was calling out for me.” Sun continued with a quiver in his voice.

“So soon… I need to talk to Hook.” Realizing what this was, Blitz turned around to look for Hook.

“You know what this is? I need answers! It promised things, talked about rewards…” Sun grabbed his arm, preventing him from going.

“Wait for a second Sun I’ll just talk to Hook and we’ll explain everything.”

Blitz ran past Medicin's group in a hurry, but something behind him exploded almost knocking him off his feet.

All of them ran to Med’s group where the dust was slowly settling. Marco and Taran were just getting up from the ground, while Med was gawking at Niel, whose arm was elbow deep in the ground.

“What just happened?” Hook asked as he arrived.

“I am just as clueless as you. His fist just suddenly fell to the ground.” Medicin said confused by the scene.

“I’d guess it’s his power finally activating.” Watch crossed his arms looking at Niel struggling on the ground.

“I cannot get my hand out of the ground! It hurts like hell!” Niel groaned in pain.

“I’d say we leave him there. He might grow into a tree.” Ken mocked his suffering classmate. Niel looked up to Ken furiously.

“It’s no use, it’s pulling me down!” Niel’s arm sank even deeper in the ground.

“Niel! Remember how you felt before you activated it! Before you were an overhuman!” Hook instructed him with the hope that it would help.

Ren ran there and tried to pull his fist out of the ground. “Wait Ren! Don’t touch him! We don’t know what his power is!” Hook warned him but Ren grabbed Niel’s arm and pulled him. Nothing happened, so Hook finally walked up to help them. He also grabbed his arm and pulled as hard as he could.

“I feel something changing!” Niel moaned as he finally felt some kind of release. But the pulling feeling did not end. It just changed direction where Ren and Hook were pulling from. All three of them flew across the sky, dragged by Niel’s fist.

“What the hell is this Niel!” Hook screamed as wind blew into his eyes.

“Like I have any idea!”

Finally, they landed in a field with Hook shielding their landing with his body.

“Are you kids alright?” Hook released his squeeze on them.

“Aside from flying a mile…sure…” Ren panted exhausted.

“I’m not a good judge of distance but it feels like more than one mile. We're almost out of Younen” Hook said as he looked back at the way they flew from.

“How is your fist Niel?” They both looked at Niel who was shaking his arm around.

“It seems fine…” Niel answered ashamed for his incompetence.

“Come! We’ll have to run back!” Ren lent a hand to his friend. Niel’s sigh was followed by a weak smile as he accepted the help from his friend.

By the time the boys got back Ren and Niel were wheezing as sweat poured down their face. While Hook was spry as always.

“How are you still this energetic?” Ren asked looking at their trainer panting.

“I start every morning with a light jog of twenty kilometers!”

But their chatting was cut short by the scene that welcomed them as they arrived.

The girls got back from their arduous journey. Iiwa was still holding her wounded shoulder, Ginna’s head had been bandaged and some of the blood was visible on her arm through the torn sweater where Pearl's bullet hit. As Niel saw this he squeezed his fist which plummeted in the ground again. Niel’s frustration grew as he could not even approach Ginna to check on her.

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“Damn you! Just turn off!” Blood pooled in his mouth as he grit his teeth in anger.

Ginna ran over to him and squatted down next to him. “Niel! Are you alright?” The innocent curiosity in her round hazel eyes pushed Niel’s soul deeper than his fist. She might’ve been there for support, but right no Niel only felt humiliation.

“Step away Ginna! I can’t control my powers.” Niel looked at her friend concerned. Then reached out towards the arm and smiled at him. “What are you talking about? Just pull it out.” Ginna’s words rang in Niels ears like a wakeup call. He felt his fist lighten and as she held her forearm gently his fist came out of the ground.

“How?” Niel looked at her baffled.

“I only realized my weakness the second time I used my powers. My healing is automatic. As soon as I touch a wound, I heal it. It actually takes an effort not to heal someone. So, I thought your power could be similar. You need to focus on not activating it.”

“That is awesome!” Ren chimed in. “Like how eagles flex a muscle to open their talo-“ His trivia was cut short by Hook dragging him away.

“You should learn when to leave two people alone.”

“But…” Ren muttered as he looked back at Niel and Ginna sharing a smile. He no longer wanted to interrupt them.

Iiwa and Luna were sitting under a tree as the group surrounded them. Iiwa even after Ginna’s healing had a hard time standing up. All the energy it took to close the wound, not only exhausted Ginna, but also Iiwa.

“So, what exactly happened?” Hook asked as he arrived with Ren.

“Hooded ones in Sam’s bar. by the time the fight ended the place looked like a warzone.” Sledge explained. She refused to be healed after the fight, as the most important thing was for the kids to be alright. Bruises all over her body, with blood dried into her clothes, she stood as a monolith to the brutality of the Ever Family.

“I’ve never seen you in this sort of condition!”

“You looked worse after Ken went berserk.” Sledge tried to chuckle through the pain. “But the most important thing is, we all got out in one piece. And with some valuable information.” Sledge changed her tone to a more serious one and explained what Chainsmoker told her.

“So, we have a murder mystery to solve. But what’s in it for us?” Watch asked with his hands in his pockets.

“This Turtle guy wasn’t a big shot, but for some reason cleaners are still investigating his murder, while the hooded ones are acting like he never even existed. I smell a conspiracy.”

“It could be interesting... but the murder happened a month ago. I doubt that even Watch's eyes could see something new." Medicin said skeptically.

"We can only tell if we go there." Blitz suggested excitedly.

"Alright! But we had enough adventures today. Tomorrow we’ll look for clues in the forest.” Hook exclaimed to everyone. “Now… and I cannot believe I say this… I think we should end the training a bit early.”

“Did you hit your head or something?”

“I know, it doesn't sound like me! But today was eventful enough and resting is a crucial part of training.” Hook explained while looking at Sledge sitting there wounded. No one objected, especially the kids, so they made their way home.

The kids left the second reality. After Ren respectfully waited for Niel and Ginna to say goodbye to each other, he walked up to his friend. “Everything’s alright?” Ren approached his friend with a warm smile.

“Did you see the bandage on her forehead?” Niel murmured looking empty at Ren. “It must’ve hurt. She didn’t tell me who did it, no matter how many times I asked.” As Niel talked he choked on his words, but all Ren could do is let him finish speaking. “I don’t want to see her like that ever again! So go home without me. I’m going to the school gym to train.”

“I could come with you as a workout buddy.”

“No Ren… I want to be alone for a while.” Niel's expression was a storm of anger, disappointment, and determination. Ren first couldn’t hide the concern he had for his friend, but he forced an understanding smile on his face.

“Alright… just don’t push yourself too far.” Ren said goodbye to his friend and went home.

Niel walked back into the school and past the only security guard the place had. He was an old man with a big bushy mustache, though his occupation was janitor, he liked sleeping in his padded old swivel chair so much he often just stayed in school for the night. The school cut cost on a janitor/guard so they let him stay in. Needless to say, he was in a deep slumber, thus he took no notice of Niel walking past him.

As Niel entered the gym, his mind couldn’t escape the vision of Ginna’s wound. As she flinched from pain when the skin on her forehead moved when she raised her eyebrows. Or how in a spot a slight pink discoloration was visible, as blood was slowly soaking through the white fabric. He was stunned by the view that only started to weigh on him now that he was alone. Almost alone. He looked up as a sharp clanking sound disturbed him. Someone else was in the gym. Ken stared at him from the other side of the room.

“What are you doing here Aries?” Ken interrogated him.

“Well, this is a gym, so I give you three guesses.” Niel said sarcastically as he stretched his arms.

“What? Did seeing Ginna like that make you this anxious?” Ken tried to provoke his rival.

“Leave it Leonnas! You cannot make me angry right now. I am here to get stronger, just don't stand in my way, or I'll have to beat you senseless.”

“Big words from someone who’s an anchor. Not like I’d have any fun beating someone who cannot even use his power.”

“That's a nice excuse. You're just afraid that I'd beat you.”

“Just shut up and train! That's why both of us are here!"

Niel let out a grunt in agreement, and silence fell on the gym.

As an hour went by the two boys had no words for each other. Just displeased looks and occasional growls like two stray dogs kept in one cage.

“And what’s you motivation for training? Luna?” Niel broke the silence.

“Yeah… she wasn’t hurt, but the way she looked at Iiwa since they came back… It seems they became good friends. And if she is angry for someone being hurt, I am angry.”

“Yeah, I saw them too. Weird how quick you can make friends with someone.”

A silence that was a second too long was broken by Ken. “Don’t get your hopes up Aries! We won’t be friends after this!”

“Like I care asshole!” Niel flipped him off.

Ken's tone softened as he looked away from his rival. “Anyway… won’t your parents miss you? You usually help around the house after school.”

Niel almost took it as an insult, but he realized it was an honest question as he searched for Ken's averted gaze. “I might get some harsh words from dad but that doesn’t matter right now. And you? Your mom could need your help.”

“She’s fine without me. By this time, she’s usually fast asleep hugging an empty bottle.” Ken's voice was cold, as he stared at the dumbbells on the ground.

“Why do you hate Ren?” Niel switched topic quickly. Ken’s unusually calm demeanor switched to his more recognizable mug.

Niel's sudden question disturbed Ken. His expression went back to the usual with a hint of regret in his eyes. “You should focus on training Niel. That’s what both of us are here for, after all.” Ken turned away from the conversation. No more words were said that day among the boys.

Meanwhile as the Five Champions were driving out of the Village the figure of a man appeared on the side of the road. Walking towards Younen with a small bird on his shoulder. As their car passed by the man, they all shared a look of suspicion with the man. What Hook and his friends focused on was the stranger's weird eyes. No pupils, completely orange with a cloudy hue over it. They didn’t need to know who he was, because they knew what he was.

And the stranger walked onward.

Later in Puppet’s lair…

“Sir! Anvil, Chainsmoker and Pearl just arrived. It seems they have-“ Wellit’s speech was disturbed by the presence of someone else in the room.

“Wellit! Please greet our guest accordingly. She will be staying here for a while.” Puppet said with a confident but formal tone as he kept his eyes on the woman. Wellit quickly dropped on his knees averting his gaze from the young woman’s.

“Welcome to our hideout! I am Wellit! Please give me the privilege of introducing yourself!” Wellit reached out with his palm facing upwards to the woman.

“Hmph! It seems you trained your puppies well. At least when it comes to greeting.” The woman got up from her chair and took the hand of Wellit helping him stand up. “Tell me soldier. This Anvil you talk about… he is the one who made a major blunder with the orphanage, right?”

“Yes…”

“Yes, what?”

“Yes ma’am!”

The woman let a coy smile show on her face before walking past Wellit. “Where will I find Anvil?”

“In the infirmary, ma’am. He had an altercation in Uradoori.”

“This man keeps on disappointing.” She grabbed the doorknob, but before she left Puppet shouted after her.

“Please be gentle with him. He is a capable fighter and a good soldier.”

“Then he could manage fighting with one hand from now on.” She said leaving the room.

As she left the room Wellit turned to his master concerned. “What are we to do Master?”

“Right now, we play along. She is not a foe we can just overpower…” Puppet collected himself adjusting his tie. “The didn’t send just anybody. She is Sofi Nobel. She has been on the promotional waiting list for a couple of months now, to be promoted from rank blue to rank purple!”

Meanwhile Sofi reached the infirmary. Anvil was sitting on the side of a bed holding his head. A nurse was writing a note about his injuries, but all she had to write was a small bruise on his forehead. Sofi approached him and waved to the nurse to leave.

“You reek of alcohol! Stand up soldier.” Anvil slowly turned his gaze to the woman, and as he realized the rank, he was facing he jumped up straightening his posture. He towered over the woman who didn’t even reach his chest.

“Ma’am! I apologize for my behavior! I loathe my failure with the orphanage, and I knew I disappointed my master!”

“And you go and drink yourself shitfaced? I heard enough excuses… I have just one question for you.” Anvil swallowed big as he felt the pressure of someone superior to him. “When you set the building on fire, which hand did you use to light the match?”

“I’m sorry? What?”

“Or lighter, or whatever you used to burn it down.”

Anvil slowly raised his right hand. Which was quickly grabbed by Sofi.

Chainsmoker and Pearl walked in on them with Anvil kneeling on the ground groaning, having his forearm squeezed by Sofi. “But he’s solid iron, down to his bone… What is she?”

“Kneel you dimwits!” Wellit ordered the two of them in the presence of Sofi.

“Are you sure your arm isn’t made of butter?”

“I’m sorry Mistress! I strive to do better!”

“I’m sorry! I try! I strive!” She mocked Anvil’s plea. “Every failure says the same thing and expects one more chance. But what are you willing to sacrifice for another chance?”

“Everything!” As Anvil said that, Sofi’s hold loosened. She slowly traced her hand from Anvil’s forearm up his wrist and to his hand.

“Everything? Really?” She linked her fingers with his and squatted down in front of him. “That is a big promise soldier. Let me take you up on that offer.” She stood up slowly releasing every finger on Anvils hand until she was only holding his index finger. As she let go of that one the room went silent for a second. Anvil squeezed his index finger in agony.

“What did you do?”

“I lit the fuse!” She said letting out a devilish smile while walking out of the room. Anvil’s index finger caught fire slowly burning down like a fuse.

“Please! Make it stop! I am ready to be better! Please!” With every plea his finger burned down until it reached his hand.

“I’d look for cover if I were you.” She advised Wellit and the others as she walked past them. The three of them jumped behind the door from the explosion that rocked the hideout. Chainsmoker opened the door to the infirmary to the guttural screams of Anvil as he held the stump where his hand used to be.

“Oh and answering your request, Wellit… my codename is Firecracker.” She looked at the man who was stunned by the scene of their toughest teammate lying on the ground.

“I hope my welcome wasn’t too harsh. I am here to collaborate with you after all!” Firecracker chuckled into the shadows where she knew Puppet was hiding.