Eric left for the interview. D and Nathan decided to tune in. they told themselves it was to support eric and get their stories straight, but really it was so they had more material to use to make fun of eric.

Eric sat down and put his signature smile on.

The interviewer spoke. “You did quite well against beam. How do you feel about your odds of victory in the finals?”

Eric smiled. “I feel pretty confident about my chances.”

The interviewer looked at eric with a look of guilt. “Some of our viewers have asked us to ask you some questions if you wouldn’t mind.”

Eric nodded. “Of course, anything I can do to help.”

The interviewer picked up the first question card. “This was our most frequently asked question. “Why haven’t you spared any of your competitors?”

Eric knew that this question would come. “The answer to that is simple. I looked into their records and found that not even one of my opponents had spared their opponents in their previous fights. Why should I offer them the mercy they refuse to offer others? I am a firm believer in the golden rule.”

The interviewer nodded. “Then will you spare your next opponent? Their name is Zeus, but their stage name is Raijin.”

Eric’s smile twitched. He had forgotten that he was to face z in the next fight. “I hate to speak as if I have already won, but in the event, I win, I intend to spare them. If you look at the previous battles, they have spared all their opponents, which I respect. But again, I need to win first before thinking about what to do in victory.”

The interviewer nodded. “What an honorable decision. The next question is this: what do you intend to do after building the school?”

Eric's fake smile slightly flickered into a genuine one for a brief moment. “I was planning to save enough money to rebuild the local homeless shelter. It will take a few years, but what’s one man’s effort compared to the health and well-being of hundreds?”

Eric laughed brightly.

The interviewer smiled and pulled out another card. “I think you will be happy to hear that the people agree. The third most asked question was: “do you plan on accepting donations to your cause?”

Eric put on his most convincing surprised look. “Well, I mean, I wouldn’t turn down help if offered, but I don't want anyone to give more than they can afford. If you all truly wish to help, I will have Nathan set up a website.”

Eric stood up and bowed toward the camera. “I thank you for your support. Every day I am surprised by the kindness of my fellow man.”

The interview continued, but no more important questions were asked.

D and Nathan looked at each other.

Nathan chuckled. “No matter how often I see it, I can’t get used to it, like watching a shark save a baby. I better go set up the website. D you look into Raijin if we need to devise a plan for eric to both win and spare him? We’ll need to start immediately.”

D nodded. “Way ahead of you. I've already looked into him. I’ll be honest I think we might be fucked. Their power is insane.”

Nathan sighed. “Fine, I’ll outsource the website to a friend of mine. What's their power?”

D sighed. “They can turn into lightning. Purposely and reflexively.”

Nathan looked exasperated. “What the actual fuck does that even mean.”

“It means that he can choose to turn into a bolt of lightning, or if he gets hit, his body will reflexively turn into lightning, meaning not only does your fist go right through him, leaving him undamaged, but it also electrocutes you. To top it all off, he has lightning-speed reaction times.”

Nathan sighs. “How do we win then?”

D shakes his head. “If my theory is correct, the issue isn't winning. It’s making sure eric's powers aren’t revealed in the process.”

Nathan looks confused. “What do you mean.”

D explains. “I think Eric's power is energy absorption or nullification. If he touches Raijin, there’s a good possibility that Raijin will straight up vanish. I have a counter plan. What if eric loses? Think about it. People are already more than willing to donate to his cause, so even if he loses, he can still build his empire. It might make even more people donate if he loses heroically.”

Nathan nods. “It sounds good.”

Just as they finish their plan, the television suddenly turns on. It's the same show but with Raijin in the seat.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

The interviewer spoke. “How do you feel about your opponent’s earlier statements?”

Z smiled. In contrast to eric, z’s smile felt genuine. “I have great respect for my opponent. Which is why I forfeit.” the crowd gasped, and the interviewer looked shocked.

“Please explain.”

Z grinned. “I come from a wealthy family and have a strong power, ill have dozens of chances to join the colosseum, and I do not need the reward money. In Fact, I intend to donate 3 million dollars to the effort. I have lived a life of great luxury, and I have also seen the casual bigotry of high society. I wish to help fight against that and, hopefully, in some small way, pay back all the kindness I have been shown.”

Nathan and d looked at each other. “That works.”

Eric arrived a short while later and met up with D and Nathan.

“Sorry for springing the creation of the website on you. I didn't think I would get so much goodwill until after I built the school.” eric said.

Nathan gave Eric the rundown of what happened.

Eric was pleased and surprised. “I think I may have found a business partner. Nathan, please contact that resistance group. I will meet with the man who runs the underground circuit in a few days. Have the website up by next month. I plan on laundering the money by making it look like anonymous donations. As for d, I want to test your hypothesis. I’ll meet you at your house in an hour.”

Nathan and D nod.

As eric leaves the colosseum, he bumps into Z.

Z smiles at him. “It's good to meet now that we aren’t competing.”

Eric tries to put on a professional-sounding voice. “Allow me to thank you for your generous-”

Z flicks his arm. “Don't go all corporate on me. You might be able to trick the masses, but you can’t fool me. I can tell you hate that “messiah.” schtick.”

Eric was surprised. “Am I that easily read?”

Z shakes his head. “Nah, I’m just really smart.”

Eric chuckled. “Then tell me, smart guy, why would you donate so much money if you knew I was faking.”

Z smiles slyly. “Because I know a business opportunity when I see it. Let me join your merry little band. I promise that I can make it worth your while.”

Eric knew Z was referring to money but blushed hard anyway due to the implication.

Eric grinned. “Fine. Do you want to join? Then let me tell you the truth.”

Eric knew telling Z everything was probably a bad idea, but eric was weak against cute boys.

By the time eric arrived at D’s place, he had fully laid out the truth about everything from beginning to end.

Z looked angry. “I knew that maxwell power was a piece of shit after he cut my family out of the business but to think it went this deep.”

Eric looked confused. “What do you mean?”

Z explained. “My family used to be the ones who powered the world during the golden age. After the war, he cut us out and hired fire users to replace us. My family is still wealthy, but our money is running out.”

Eric replied. “When I take control of his company, I’ll cut you and your family in.”

Z smiled. “While I appreciate the thought, aren't you a little too confident? Your father currently rules the world for all intents and purposes.”

Eric smiled and pointed toward the starry night sky. “With all the billions of worlds out there, is ruling only one all that impressive?” eric spoke with a conviction that Z quite liked.

They walked inside D’s place.

D greeted eric and looked confused. “Eric, why is he here?”

Eric smiled. “He’s a part of the crew now. I told him everything.”

D looked at eric judgmentally. “Did you decide that because you thought it was best, or were you thinking with your other he-” eric crushed D’s head before he could finish.

Eric smiled at z. “Haha, don't listen to him he’s just a joker. How about we meet up in a week to talk strategy?”

Z smiled at him, confused. “Uhh, sure. I know D’s immortal, but will he be okay?”

Eric nodded vigorously. “Believe me, he’s been through worse.”

Z left, and D regenerated.

D looked at him smugly. “Should I buy condoms for your strategy meeting?”

Eric looked at D with fury. “D, I could beat your ass before I got powers.”

D nodded. “Fair point. Speaking of powers, let us see how they work.”

Over the next few hours D used every type of energy he knew existed. From electricity to radiation, Eric was able to absorb it all.

Then D had an idea.

“Close your eyes and feel the energy as it is absorbed.”

Eric closed his eyes as D hit eric with a bat. The bat stopped the moment it made contact. Eric felt the energy flow from his skin into the base of his stomach.

“I felt the energy. Now what?”

“Try to imagine the energy flowing into your arm.” eric felt the energy flow into his arm as he struck the ground. Instantly the whole room shook.

“That was the kinetic energy you absorbed by falling to the ground combined with the energy of my attacks.”

Eric smiled. “Let me try something.”

Eric felt the other energies. Each of them had a different color. He allowed the bright red energy to flow into his arm, and suddenly a laser shot from it. When he used the orange energy, a pillar of fire flew from his arm. When he used the blue energy, a bolt of lightning shot from his hand. The green energy was invisible radiation. He looked for more energy but found nothing.

D quickly spoke. “It seems you’ve run out of energy. Good thing, too. I don't think my house could have taken much more.

Eric looked around at the nearly destroyed house. “My bad, D. I’ll pay for the damages.”

D laughed. “Eric, I have healing blood, and I sell a gallon of it once every ten years. I have plenty of money, don't worry about it. The more pressing issue is how we hide this during the gladiator battles.”

Eric smiled. “I have an idea. Hit me again in the chest.”

D did as requested.

Eric suppressed his power and took the punch.

This time, however, the punch wasn’t stopped, and 3 of erics ribs were broken.

D quickly healed eric. “What did you do.”

Eric smiled. “I suppressed my power. I forgot how hard you can hit.”

D chuckled. “You're the first person to make that mistake and live to tell the tale.”

Eric practiced using his powers with D for the next two days. Toward the end of the second day, Eric got a call from Nathan.

“I’ve called to let you know two things. The first is that The website is up, but we currently don't have any money to launder through it.”

Eric smiled. “Don't worry about that. I was just about to go solve that problem.”

Nathan continued. “Good. The second thing I wanted to tell you is that I set up a meeting with the resistance. The meeting is in a week. Also, Z has given us another donation of 3 million dollars. I took the liberty of contacting a construction company and pulling a few strings in the mayor’s office. The school should begin construction sometime next month.”

Eric grinned even wider. “Excellent job. You’ve done your part, and now I’ll do mine.”