b vGRRRRGUUUUU!

Before Axel could respond, a huge claw swiped at his forehead nearly striking him down. Swiftly dodging under it, he landed a spinning kick to the bear’s side sending it rolling across the ground. The next two bears were dealt with in the same matter. Timing his counter with their strikes, he dodged the first bear’s bite and elbowed it in the nose sending it reeling backwards. As for the last bear, he used the bear's swiping claw against itself, transferring all of its weight to his shoulder; he flipped it over his back in a devastating Judo throw.

“Hehe benching 20k came in handy” He thought

GRUUUUUU!!!!

The bears got on back on their feet ready to fight. It seems they weren’t going to go down with just one punch.

“Ok then no holding back this time!” Axel said readying a torrent of water.

As the bears closed in on him he released a huge stream of water sprouting from his hands like a hose.

“Water piston!” He screamed, knocking the bears into the air with the blast.

Gruuuuuu…..

The bears rolled over on their sides incapacitated.

“Haha! You're not getting any nectar outta me!” Axel exclaimed.

“Hehehhe” The colonel laughed as he struck his match. He was far from Axel’s sight now leaning against a tree.

“Don't get ahead of yourself kid” he said to himself. ‘Nautica valleys bears are ferocious creatures, that nectar wasn't just any run of the mill. I had it super concentrated and compressed so it would spread out for miles once the smell was released. Naturally the bees keep them at low concentrations to protect their hive from being spotted, but at the concentration you’re at they’ll be no hiding you! It's been said that Nautica valley is home to over a hundred bears in its 50 square miles, and it’s been about an hour since that shot, I'd say they're closing in on you right around now.”

GRRUURU GROOO GRRR!

Axel spun in a full 360, finding himself surrounded on all sides. There were red coats as far as the eye could see and from the looks of it they weren’t alone. There were more than just bears too this time, coyotes, beavers, as well as the bees he had heard of, were slowly approaching him on the field.

“Heh, it figures,” Axel said, dropping his hands, “I guess I have no choice I'll use it here and now1”

“Good luck kid” The colonel said, slouching against the tree. “While you deal with that, I'm gonna get some rest” He said, closing his eyes.

“Don’t close your eyes yet, you're going to miss the best part” said a voice behind the colonel.

The colonel didn’t even turn around, he knew that spoofy pragmatic voice all too well.

“Heh, I figured you’d show” He said, opening his eyes, “But remember, I'm the law here, interfere and he fails instantly!” The colonel answered.

“He, I have no intention of doing that, I was just a little worried, being as he is the only one who hasn't finished.”

“Hmph that figures, I didn’t think those brats would last very long” Grant chuckled.

“Oh?” O’Brian said placing a hand on his glasses. “I do believe you have the wrong idea, did you really think I would come all this way to represent the losing team?”

The colonel spun around as a burning fury awakened in his eyes.

“That’s impossible! We set out on the basis of not letting anyone pass! This was a scouting mission, we wanted to see what trickery you were up to with these kids!” The colonel exclaimed, grabbing O’Brian by the collar.

“If you did anything to interfere I’ll have the general inform you himself th-“ Grant started

“Wait just one moment” O’Brian said raising a hand “The results of the other matches have nothing to do with this one correct? Have I interfered in this so far?” O’Brian asked

“Not yet anyway!” The colonel grumbled

Suddenly, a harsh wind began to howl, rustling the colonel and O’Brian’s clothes.. The branches of the trees they were sitting under began to bend as the wind whipped through the forest. O’Brian placed one hand on his glasses to hold them down as the strong current passed them.

“WATER LANCE!” Axel screamed in the distance

CRASASHSHSHSH!

The sound of a lightning bolt exploded, followed by a cascade of waves that kept crashing down in succession. A few seconds later, rain fell from the sky hard and fast, drenching their clothes, but then subsided just as quickly as it had come.

“What did that kid just…” The colonel said turning towards the area he had left him.

“He just keeps getting stronger and stronger, Aren’t you glad I introduced you?” Obrian said laughing

“Heh, your telling me there are candidates at this… SCS that are strong enough to enter the gauntlet?” Grant asked.

“Oh yes there incredibly strong! There’s this one student there who says hes going to defeat Darius” O’Brian proclaimed

“Defeat Darius? Hmph! I’ll have to have Seymore test them out! If they’re strong enough to fight against our Captains heck I’ll have no problem sending them to the gauntlet!”

“Why don’t you go there and see for yourself!” O’Brian mused. “You can evaluate them any way you’d like! I promise you won’t be disappointed”

“Let me guess, you’re going to recruit these new agents under your wing regardless of whether they pass the gauntlet or not?” Grant said.

“Who knows?” O’Brian said lifting up his arms, “I guess you’ll just have to go and see for yourself”

“Riddle me this O’Brian” Grant said “You’re a big shot Agent from SPA hq, Iv read the patents that you have created, frankly there amazing” “You commanded one of the SPA’s greatest research teams and assisted in some of the biggest missions in recent memory. Two months ago when It was announced you were taking over the G.A.T.E.S I didn’t know what to think! So tell me what’s a guy like you doing here on an island playing around with kids?” Grant asked.

“I could tell you everything you know.” O’Brian said. “I could why I’m here, I could tell you why I picked these kids, I could tell you why it is you despise me!” O’Brian laughed. “But until that day comes you honestly wouldn’t even believe me.”

“What day?” Grant grunted.

“The day my plan will have come to fruition… The day of Darius’s defeat.” O’Brian said

“Hmph stop talking nonsense!” “Since when have you cared about defeating Darius!” You’ve always been about your research!”

“Precisely Colonel” O’Brian laughed enthusiastically. “I want to see just how far these children are capable of going!” “The best part is I don’t even have to do anything! All I have to do is watch.”

“GRRRR, I don't trust you for a second! If you're going to try to use these children to form your own task force and overtake the SPA… I'll put an end to you here and now!” The colonel said.

“Wow I’m flattered” O’Brian answered, “For you to think I’m capable of that is one thing, but to use children to do it is another. It seems I was right after all, you do see their potential you just don't want to admit it!”

“DAMN YOU OBRIAN!”

“My work here is done” O’Brian said smiling with satisfaction. “OH. and don’t get any ideas of failing him for no reason, I hear there's a rouge SPA agent creating his own task force in the shadows wouldn’t want him to get a hold of these children….”

“YOU BASTARD!”

“Chow!” O’Brian said vanishing into the trees.

The colonel climbed through the bushes making his way over to Axel to check out the scene. When he returned he came to a scene that looked as if a meteorite had just landed.

There was a huge crater in the ground and tons of square footage of upturned soil. The animals of the forest were soaked in water on the outskirts of the field, completely tranquilized by whatever had hit. Laying down in the center of the crater was Axel completely soaked and exhausted.

The last rays of the sun were now vanishing over the horizon and in the open sky the stars were beginning to appear one by one. As he lay on the ground Axel played with his hands pretending to hold one of the little stars in his hands.

“I wonder if my friends can see this same star I’m looking at” He said

At that moment something clicked. The solution to his problem, maybe…. He wasn't alone after all!

“Alright kid I don't know what kind of stunt you pulled but you somehow you managed to defeat all of those bears” The colonel grumbled lighting a cigar “But go on and get some rest we will continue tomorrow”

“But what about your punches?” Axel asked

“We'll take a break for the night, I don't want to wake up every hour to hit you! That’d suck HAHAH.” “I didn't plan this far ahead and to be honest I didn't think you'd make it!” The colonel laughed.

“Hahah thanks!” Axel said collapsing into the soil.

“You're a tough kid, you’ve proved that, now you've got to survive 3 more punches that is unless you’ve got any leads on what my name was” he grinned.

“I'll have your name by 9 am tomorrow.” Axel said.

“Heh just make sure you don’t oversleep” The colonel said.

“Oh and one more thing! I'm a very heavy sleeper so don't even bother trying to wake me up, it'll be a total waste of time!” The colonel laughed.

“Why would I wake you up? Axel questioned.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“Hmph I dunno just a little disclaimer” the colonel said laying down.

“What are you up-”

SNOOORREEE!

The colonel was already fast asleep laying right there on the soil.

“Hmph” Axel said, laying down beside the colonel.

“Fine I'll just sleep right here, just in case anything happens” Axel said laying down next to him . And after a few moments he was fast asleep.

HMMMMAAAAAA!

HMMAAAAA!

“WOAH” Axel said, jumping up from his sleep. He was in the same spot laying next to the colonel. He couldn’t have been sleeping longer than 30 mins.

HMAAA! HMAAAA!

The voice said again from the distance.

Ignoring the voice Axel reached over and touched the colonel's forehead to check to see if he would notice.”

SNOOORREEE!

No reaction.

As deftly as he could, Axel stuck his hand inside of the colonels jacket pocket and withdrew his wallet. In his wallet Axel found nothing but his SPA Id and credit cards that all had his normal name on it “Colonel Grant” Was the name on all the cards. Disappointed Axel placed the wallet back in his jacket pocket and sighed.

“This guy really did have no intention on passing me…. This entire exam has just been a psychological trip…”

HMMMAMAMAMAMAAAAAAAAAAAA!

The sound was incredibly loud now.

Groaning in dismay, Axel got up and started walking out of the crater. As he reached the outskirts of its radius he poked his head above ground to find out where the horrible sound was coming from.

“What…. WHAT THE HELL IS THAT! He shrieked

An immense creature was walking amongst the unconscious bodies. It was a bear, or at least it looked like a bear, that was almost 4 stories tall! Just its claw could make up the size of the little red ones. It was walking on its hind legs as well, an extremely intimidating sight. It’s huge Maroon body was walking amongst the small bodies trying anxiously to wake them up.

Hearing Axels voice the huge bear turned around eyeing Axel with its black eyes and started running towards him.

AAHHHRHRHRRHRHRHHR! It growled as it raced forward

“YOOOO COLOOLLLELLLL” Axel shouted trying to wake him up.

He shook him and even tried pouring water on him but nothing he did seemed to work.

AAHHHRHRHRRHRHRHHR!! The bear groaned coming to the center of the Crater.

“COOOLLLOOONEELLLL!!!!” Axel yelled, holding the Colonel up and hiding behind his sleeping body

With one swipe of its huge claw, both colonel and Axel were sent spiraling through the air.. They crashed into the trees in the forest as the bear charged on pursuing them with bloodlust.

“Colonel! Are you OK?” Axel yelled, searching for the colonel through the rubble they had landed in. When he finally found the colonel, he was still asleep laying down without a scratch.

AAHHHRHRHRRHRHRHHR! The bear growled just above them. Its breath rattled Axels hair, and the saliva from its mouth splashed on Axels face, drenching him in goop.

“There's no way I'm beating that thing!” Axel said as the bears shadow loomed over him. “This is going to be the longest 8 hours of my life!”

“Yo guys,” Reggie said, meeting up with the gang. “It's been almost a day now…. How do you think Ax is doing?”

“Hmph he probably already lost and is too scared to face us!” Lance barked.

“Not likely, I tried checking his home” 6 answered.

“Hmmmm, why don't we just go check on him!?” Lily asked.

“You heard the rules, no interfering!” We don't wanna get him disqualified!” B said.

“We wouldn't be interrupting if we don't enter the area he's in!” Lily exclaimed.

“Annnddd how are we going to do that Ms. Smarty pants?” B remarked.

“Hahaha leave that to me!” Reggie gloated. “Jeffery!” He called.

“Yes Master what is your wish?” A voice replied from inside his arm.

“Send in a remote sentry looking for any large vibrations there may be in the area! And then get a visual on Axel!”

“Right away master,” the voice replied as a small drone popped out of Reggie’s shoulder rising into the sky.

“He I bet he’s sleeping under a tree somewhere!” Reggie remarked as he watched the drone take off.

Axel was exasperated, as he took shelter under a tree. He had no idea how many hours it had been, but the sun was up now and the great bear was still chasing him. All his attempts to wake the colonel up had failed. He was out of ether and stamina; it was only a matter of time before the bear got him…

His friends they were his only way out of this now.

“YAWWWNNNNNNN” a voice Axel heard from out in the forest.

“The colonel! He’s awake now!” Axel exclaimed.

Axel ran as fast as he could with the giant bear running behind him.

“Colonel you're awake thank god helppppp!”

“Huh? You need help on your exam? Thats not the way this works the colonel said laying back on the ground.”

“EHHH Uh waittt I've got your name!”

The colonel slumped back up giving the boy a weird look.

“Are you sure?” He said readying a punch.

The bear burst through the trees and made a slash for Axel. He jumped over it and landed on the bears shoulders.

“YEH YOUR LAST NAME WAS OSBORNE!” Axel cried.

“Whhhaattt” The colonel said looking up at the huge bear.

“Hmmm a Nautica bear that size?” The colonel thought eyeing the huge monster. “This wasn't part of the plan kid…This must be a rare breed that the other bears get food for… We probably pissed it off… The rumors are true this place is dangerous are true! If a few more of these guys show up even I’ll be in trouble.”

Taking a puff of his cigar the colonel took a step forward. “I can't hold back on this punch” He thought, pulling back his arm.

For a moment the colonels arm began to glow reflecting the sun’s rays into Axels eyes. Blinded he closed his eyes briefly unable to capture what was happening.

“WRONG!” The colonel said striking the bear as well as Axel.

“WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA” Axel said as the two went flying into the forest.

“Jeez… Colonel” Axel said rubbing his head

He had fallen back into the crater he had made earlier lying on top of the bear's stomach. Cowering in fear, he rolled over falling next to the bear coming face to face with its monstrous gaze.

“AAHHHH!!!” Axel screamed, closing his eyes, expecting his face to get torn off by the monstrous beast..

When he opened his eyes he saw that the bear was fully incapacitated, and had had it shoulder completely blown apart by colonels punch.

“Holy shit…. I couldn't even dent that thing… and he took it out in one punch! If I get hit by that I'm as good as….”

All of a sudden Axel felt a change in the atmosphere. It was the same as when PB had came after him. It was the feeling of doom. Peeking up to the top of the crater he saw the colonel eyeing him down intently. The colonel looked completely different now, his avuncular easygoing expression was now a rugged military one. He had taken off his shirt revealing his war torn body and rugged physique. It was a menacing and yet somber look. Like the face of someone who was going to slaughter a lamb or put a dog down.

“I'm sorry kid… I didn't want to put you through this…. But it looks like I overslept…. This is your last chance to give up… or to guess my name right.. We have reached the 24hr mark… He said rolling up his sleeves.

“Colonel…” Axel said struggling to find his words.

“I hear one of your peers is able to make his body into a lead alloy… Well… What If I told you I can make mine… into Titanium!” Grant yelled

In a flash the colonels arm was gleaming in a shiny coating of white metal. It looked nothing like Pbs ugly lead skin. As it gleamed in the sunlight, Axels could see his reflection right back at him as a flow of ether pulsed through the arm giving it a glossy finish. The colonel leaned back to prepare his punch ready to deliver the final blow.

“Any last remarks?” The colonel said. “Now is the time boy”

“Your last name…. It was Osborne.” Axel said looking up to the sky.

“Nope” The colonel answered.

“It was O!” Axel guessed he was backpedaling, trying to get as far away from the colonel as possible.

“Wrong again” The colonel pushing more pressure into the punch ready to deliver it. A huge crater boomed under his feet as the weight from the punch transferred to his back leg.

Using the last of his strength Axel created a 20 ft wall of water around him to protect him from the colonel.

“Your last name it was 0!” Axel exclaimed looking up at sky again clasping his hands together in a silent prayer.

“End of the line kid!” The colonel said, spitting out his cigarette. He closed his eyes as it slowly drifted towards the ground. When the cigarette hit the floor the colonel zipped forward seemingly teleporting to where Axel was standing.

“Titanic Hammer!” The colonel said, firing a blast of metal into Axels gut.

The blast sent shockwaves through Axles body shooting blood flying out of his mouth as he crashed through the trees and across the river into a rock. Losing consciousness he flopped down from the rock and passed out.

The colonel hurriedly rushed to Axel’s position gliding across the water with ease to Axels side.

“Shit… I hope I didn’t kill you kid!!” He said as he rushed.

When he finally made it to Axel’s body he leaned over and examined the damage. His spleen was ruptured and he had broken some ribs but he was still alive, unconsciously laying on the ground.

“Ok” the colonel said, bending over to pick him up. “Let's get you to a-”

Axel’s hands curled up into a fist of spiraling momentum bursting out from his slouched position towards the colonels left cheek.

So caught off guard and so absolutely amazed that the boy was still standing, the Colonel couldn’t react in time to block it. The punch continued to spiral through the air making way for his jaw.

“I… I get it now… hahah…. That why you were so hard on us… you were just like me, a kid from the badlands weren’t you” Axel said, wheezing.

“That's right, so you finally figured it out” the colonel said, lighting a cigarette with Axels fist still in his face.

“So…. That means you didn't have a last name did you” Axel squeaked

“That’s right kid! How in the hell did you figure that out?”

“My friends” Axel said, falling to the ground. “They left a message in the sky I thought it was an O or a 0 at first but it looks like it was supposed to symbolize nothing hahaha ahhh ughhh” Axel laughed grabbing his lungs in pain

“Friends” Colonel said looking up into the sky, “When did you have time to contact them?

“Haha I left a message in the sky that said what this guy’s last name was! Haha I used my water powers to control the clouds.”

“Hahahaahahahhahaha” The colonel laughed. “HAHAHA that’s why you kept looking up to the sky!” The colonel said, grabbing his sides. I thought you were praying!”

“Well I did pray one time…” Axel laughed, closing his eyes.

“I see now what you meant by fighting these types of battles hahaha, oh man you're a trip!” The colonel jived. “In an isolated exam you somehow contacted your friends and won! You are truly something else kid!”

“Yeh haha if only my body hand given out” Axel said with a cough “I wouldaa been the next colonel! No way you were blocking that...”

“No, that isn’t necessary Axel.” The colonel said dismissing him “ I'm convinced, It may not be tomorrow but you'll be the next colonel before you know it! Soon me and O’Brian will be taken orders from you hahahaha!”

“Finally… you called me by my name…” Axel said.

“Anyone who can have a conversation after that punch is no kid” Grant said lighting his cigar

“Haha what did I tell ya Colonel….” Axel said passing out. “I might not see everything you throw at me coming… but I can take anything you can throw at me… No problem.”

A man in a huge trench coat slowly paced down a hallway. It was a large showroom hallway that had green embedded carpets lining its floors and magnificent framed paintings and pictures lining its walls. As the man strode past the frames on the wall his eyes fixated on a single portrait of a deserted island of red sand. Sighing briefly, he continued to the large door at the end of the hallway. The door opened up to a set of stairs leading to the roof of the building. Leaning forward the man spread his arms extending two purple wings from his side and easily made his way, flying to the roof.

As he came out of the roof access door, a downpouring rain soaked his feathers and clothing. Spreading his wings once more he prepared to take flight into the night sky.

“You're going to have to leave earlier than 3 AM if you want to catch me sleeping,” a voice behind him grumbled.

“I made sure to cover my tracks… How How did you know I would be here?” The winged man asked.

“A father who cannot find his son, Is merely a father who is not looking.”

Coming out from the roof access door was an old man hunched over with black feathers all around his neck. He was walking with a cane as he stumbled side to side to meet the purple winged man.

“So you know of my mission then”, the purple winged man answered

“There isn't a piss in this building that I don't know about!” the old man gagged

“I'm going….. To the island again,” the man said.

“I know… I didn't come here to stop you I came here to remind you.”

“Remind me of what?”

“To put all personal affairs aside for this mission.”

“Personal matters…. You don’t think I’d”

“OH I don't think, I know, and don't think because he sent you that your untouchable, all I have to do is make him aware of your situation and this whole thing is a bust!”

“Then… you go…. Maybe you're right... maybe this is too much for me to bear”

“Ahh but you must bear it just like I bore for you and you bear for-“

“That's enough” The purple winged man said softly “… I get it…. Why did you come here you've caused my mind to become clouded.”

“That was my intention” The old man said grinning “It's a long flight there, you will have time to think over what you are going to do and by the time you arrive you will have made amends with yourself and have a clearer mind than you did before. It is better to face your emotions now then to let your ignorance lead you into a desperate situation.”

“So you came to prepare me for what’s to come?”

“Wrong again! I do not know what is to come, otherwise I would go myself, of the two of us you are far more perceptive, I simply came to remind you of what had come to pass as you seem to have forgotten.”

“I... will never forget….”

“ Nor will they… Make sure you remember that when you see them.”

“I'm… I'm going to see them?”

“Yes, I have no doubt about that, it seems SPA Atlantica is readying an assault on Darius. It seems they are recruiting a large number of agents in this year’s Gauntlet.” The old man said shaking his head. “That could make things complicated”.

“I see…” The man said.

Taking a deep breath the purple winged man began preparations for flight expanding his wings outward.

“Once Again… I cannot escape the shadow of your wing even as a grown man.”

“So it shall always be… Don't forget who gave you your wings Raven.”

“I'm naive but I'm no fool …. I will see you in 3 months’ time and if not never again.”

“Godspeed my son” said the old man.

The man once again unfolded his wings and took off into the night sky.

[https://i.imgur.com/tst4yKI.png]