Joshua had gotten himself a new line of work for now. He knew this opportunity would help him leave Caldera soon; he thought this would be a good place to run away too, but they would never let him leave, so increasing funds and making good connections could never hurt him.

Importantly, they had information, and after maybe hours of convincing themselves and Joshua, an agreement was reached. The biggest taboo and elephant in the room was the fate of Miss Zulu, but from what he learned, the reptiles wouldn't kill Miss Zulu. She was their biggest informant, and while their views conflicted, she was free from Calderan rule and did whatever she wanted.

The question arose: who would murder her? Joshua knew the Calderan corps held the most power, and they had actively disliked her; maybe it was them, or maybe he was being lied to too. His mind was filled with thoughts, but he was interrupted by a hand rising into the air.

"Mister, when will you start speaking?” The curly-haired girl said.

"Yes, Hailey, you’re right; I was preoccupied with something else in my mind. Today we will learn about matter.”

The six children sat in an orderly position, but they all looked puzzled by the word matter.

"What matters?” One of the scuffed-up boys said his hair was ruffled from his failed attack on Joshua, and his blue skin had some purple marks. The younger boy next to him looked around the same.

"Well, Mal, "the" matter is everything; everything you know of has atoms, and matter contains atoms, so while matter is everywhere, controlling matter is an entirely different subject. How do you think humanity got so powerful?” Joshua asked.

"Trough matter.” The young blue-skinned boy said the purple boys threw paper at his head, and Joshua glared at them. They immediately retreated and laughed amongst themselves.

"Yes, man, humans learned how to control this essence matter; it makes us cast fire but also builds buildings and powers our robots and technology. There are many different types of matter; some solar systems harvest planets to achieve matter, some go into deep space and get dark matter, and some create their matter using household objects or materials on their respective planets. On this planet, for example, there are surrounding moons without the ability to terraform, but they have materials that humanity harvests and brings back to Caldera.” Joshua explained that he started to write on the board and drew mini-circular planets, as well as the definition of matter and its different types.

Some students wrote it down diligently, while others snickered and joked with one another.

"How about you?” She snarled at the reptile girl; she quickly covered her mouth in embarrassment, and Joshua only smiled back.

"Since I come from.” Joshua paused for a moment as another memory flashed over him when he was once reading and learning about a subject similar to this: "Jom-Suttur, we innately have matter in our bodies from generations of mana consumption, so I can enhance my body to abnormal levels, but with a cost.”

The pencils still kept themselves on the paper, but curiously, Hailey asked, “What is the cost?”

The other children looked at her for a moment before continuing to write their notes. Joshua was about to call her off, but he remembered he wanted to build trust; he did not want to be a bad teacher, bad enough that their trust in him was already low.

"There is a huge downside to my power; maybe you can realize it, but the more I use it, even if it can make me do whatever I want, I become weaker in some way." Joshua laughed.

The kids seemed surprised by this revelation, but before any questions or hands could rise, he put his finger up and waved it in no motion.

"No further questions; I want you guys to open those virtual books to page 222. Today is a learning-only day; combat experience will be tomorrow.” Joshua commanded.

The children followed his order, but they could not help but feel curious about his ability. He walked in between aisles, making sure to confirm they were following instructions. They had noticed everybody in the city was scared of him, avoided him, and avoided the school. Hailey desperately asked to learn more about him, but she was only met with fearful eyes. Joshua seemed like a calm man; humbleness resided over him, but she could never get what everyone was fearful about.

Mal & Man did not hold that curiosity, but they knew more than Hailey, but still not enough. The purple twins, Boo and Bam, did not even care about their teacher, not about learning, but they were the best combatants in the entire class. Prodigies were bred to become warriors for the revolution.

"Failed Experiments,” Prime explained this to Joshua. He was surprised by learning this, but they were failures; all of them were not fit to be perfect warriors of the revolution.

Based on what he saw, he could see why so many of them had many flaws—very obvious flaws that could be taken advantage of in combat. Joshua’s goal was to master their strengths but also take advantage of their faults.

"Today, guys, screw those textbooks and those desks; I have a challenge for you guys,” Joshua ordered.

Everybody's attention immediately centered on Joshua. He held four cards, putting two in his respective pants pocket and the other two sticking to the palm of his hand.

"I want the five of you to take these four cards, one for each of you,” Joshua explained.

"But there’s”

Hailey was cut off by a blitzing attack. She quickly covered her chest with her elbows, taking most of the blast, but she coughed some blood before their bodies were suddenly transferred to an open field.

This place was a dome with trees, and high levels of oxygen made the kids cough. This place felt like the surface, and a realization hit them.

"Are we on the surface?" Lizard Girl asked.

"No, you’re not." A voice echoed, and everybody turned around to see Joshua sitting down on a rock. “Just have your consciousness in an arena, from those brain chips, so we can have an interrupted teaching lesson.”

The six children were ready to react at any moment; their feet shifted in certain ways in a reactive stance.

"Be ready,” Boo said seriously, but Bam only smiled crazily, frantically shaking his leg.

Mal and Man watched nervously for Joshua’s next move, while Hailey and CC (the lizard girl) made sure to adjust their stance for where he could come next.

For a moment, he disappeared, and behind Hailey was Joshua, grinning crazily at her.

"One leg to the back,” he said before punching her to the ground with a huge burst of energy.

For a second, Hailey's entire world turned black before she came back right to the center of the arena once more to see a frantic group running recklessly and being attacked from all directions. She looked upwards to a timer of four hours and a list of what would happen if they could not pass this test—permanent expulsion.

"HEY, WHAT THE HELL?" She called out, but a flash appeared behind her, and CC spawned back into the arena, panting heavily.

"How can we even grab those cards?" She questioned, There's only four cards, meaning two cards are gone.

"He's testing us; he can't just expel us.” Hailey gulped. "Come, let’s go to the woods; we’ll make a plan to take him down.”

The two of them punished themselves with their legs and jumped into the tree. They started jumping from branch to branch when they realized they ended up right back at the field.

"Oh no, this is an infinity arena." Hailey continued to curse, mumbling.

CC started to take a breath, letting out heavy breaths. She wiped her forehead, and Hailey started to scout out the area.

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"I cannot find him or the class,” Hailey examined.

"Mal and Man disappeared also; they’re going to make a plan also; I expect Boo and Bam to be fighting him; if they're anybody who could react to those types of attacks, it would be them, especially if they combine.”

Hailey was hit then with a realization. Combination, a special ability for these hybrid users, and the goals of these experimental breeding programs. It was an act where a singular consciousness could separate into two bodies and combine into one, coming from the whiptail lizard.

Boo was a more technique-related fighter, while Bam was a more rage-filled monster who attacked recklessly. The problem was that at the time they were supposed to be combined as clones themselves, but their clone counterpart was supposed to be a smart version of them, leading to Man & Mal, but evident of their blue skin, they were not a match, leaving a quadruple who were only able to combine with their twin.

"Combination, do you think that is matter-based?”

"I wouldn't be surprised.” CC replied, controlling her breath, “I learned about matter a while ago, and it can maybe help insert genes; it could explain the four of their abilities.”

Hailey and CC were outliers; they were unable to combine, not with each other; they never tried, but even if they were expected to do so, there would be no way that they could; they were too far apart.

The two of them gathered their breath and made a plan, talking and waiting for around two hours. The clock ticked down as they heard battles from everywhere in multiple directions.

An explosion then spread throughout the arena, and Joshua appeared in front of them in the center of the arena. Hailey and CC covered their ears and crouched, hidden in the branches.

CC was correct; Boo and Bam had just combined, but they were heavily scarred; many slash attacks cut through their skin. Their combined form looked muscular with a high stature. They still had their purplish hair and their eyes, but their bodies were hulk-like, like a beast.

"Come on, you guys are pushing yourselves on me for no reason.” Joshua thought, but as he was speaking, a fist rushed at him, but he dodged seamlessly to the side.

More punches were thrown, but Joshua just dove and jumped, and at some moments he would break a sweat when a punch would come close, and he would have to use his body to dodge or use his hands to swat away their hands.

"As I was saying.” Joshua said, continuously dodging, “You're rushing too much; of course, you will be damaged by my attacks.” Joshua sighed.

His fist balled, and he crashed it right into their ribs, and they coughed blood violently, falling to their knees and grabbing at their stomachs. Joshua winced as he crouched himself.

"You okay? I think I may have gone too." He was cut off by the blue beast, who grabbed his hand and was ready to toss him. They were also bulky in size, like the purple ones, but they had glasses on, and they felt less attributed to combat.

Joshua twisted his hand and enhanced his wrist, flipping the purple body onto the blood. A huge amount of dust appeared, and appearing from it was an unscathed Joshua yawning at the attempted plan.

"YOU IDIOT.” The blue combination screamed, and I told you to also use your legs.

"BUDDYI WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU USE YOUR LEGS ALSO.” The purple twins fought back; they started grabbing at their heads, leaving Joshua to sit on the grass, his palm on his face tired of this experiment.

"How the hell could we get those cards?” CC muttered, thinking.

Hailey's plan had been growing the entire time, and she nodded to Hailey.

"No way will I.” CC understood immediately.

"You have to; we’ll both get a card, trust me.” Hailey pleaded.

CC paused for a moment and sighed.

"Fine, but if I die, I’ll blame you,” CC replied before her legs got into a pounce, ready to surprise and attack Joshua.

By this point, the two conjoined twins had ended their argument and looked at Joshua, who smiled; his hands remained in his pocket.

"You sissies are too weak.” Joshua laughed, irking the two twins.

CC's punching energy was slowly filling up, looking at the perfect opportunity to pounce at Joshua. The two combinations rushed at Joshua with their fists but failed miserably; they tried to come back, but Joshua just hopped back twice, laughing at their attempts.

Then CC jumped, and she was right to land on Joshua. She thought she had him when Joshua turned around every so slightly as his eyes glared at her. She hesitated, and Joshua grabbed her head and smashed it into the floor.

Hailey cursed, thinking CC was going to be a goner and would respawn soon. The timer had turned down to two hours so quickly that it never felt like it. Hailey gulped when she realized CC was still moving, and she held a card in her hand. She smiled and then disappeared from the battlefield.

Hailey took advantage of the confused Joshua for a moment and shot an arrow, hitting right through Joshua's palm as he winced in pain. Then Hailey started to retract the rope connected to the arrow. Joshua noticed this and then started to hold onto the rip, trying to rip it off him.

What he forgot to account for were the blue and purple combinations rushing at him. He dodged out of the way of their attacks as he pounced left and right, trying to rip the rope out of his palm.

The purple combo then dove low and tried to sweep his leg. Joshua jumped in the air, and before he realized he had made a mistake and laughed, the blue combo fist rushed straight at him, sending him flying, leaving Hailey able to retract the arrow back to her, receiving a card, and then slowly disappearing from the battlefield.

Joshua grabbed his wrist, facing the two combos, and when he laughed, his eyes crazed in madness.

"I got played by children.” He said hysterically, “WILL YOU GUYS SHOW ME THE SAME?"

Then, for a moment, a memory flashed in front of him.

He rushed into battle, no longer relaxed, ready to dominate this battle. His fists struck in a flash. The two bodies were lucky they were durable, or else they would've tripped very easily from the force of his attacks. They were sent launching across the arena, but they had no opportunity to even take a breath as a barrage of attacks was released on them.

"STOP, STOP, PLEASE.” The blue twins pleaded.

Joshua was too hysterical to listen to them, and he pummeled the twins until their bodies disappeared. The purple bomb watched in horror as Joshua’s energy was released violently. He walked slowly, every stop pounding the arena, when a memory crashed into him.

–

Joshua's entire vision changed to a battlefield. In front of him was a young boy who looked like him and his small dagger. Joshua laughed and pointed at him without any thought. It seemed Joshua could only view this memory and not make changes.

The kid stayed silent as Joshua's point of view continued to mock him.

"You're so weak; this is not even a competition." Joshua’s view was slandered while laughing.

The adults did not laugh; they only quietly observed the two of them battling. From the sidelines, Joshua quickly rushed into battle.

The two of them exchanged blows, swiping away each other's hands. Joshua held no weapon and was dominating the boy the entire fight and toying with him, mocking his every attack.

Joshua tried to scream, but he was silent. He tried to hold back his words, but they uttered them anyway. He was unable to say anything and silent tears left his eyes as he beat on the other kid. Blood ran across his entire face as Joshua’s body entered a rage, for no reason.

His fists were scarred and hurting, but his eyes were in a rage. Maybe it was the kids' nervousness that angered him, the desire for a worthy fight, or maybe the other child said something to him. He was just beating himself up.

Then everything turned black, leaving Joshua silently surprised, his jaw open as he pounded his head into the floor.

"WHY, WHY DID YOU DO THAT?" He screamed.

Memories from his battle with Commander Zi also flashed. His ability turned on, and he went too far, causing all of this destruction.

A person of light appeared before him, but Joshua still had his head tucked in. He looked up with teary eyes at the figure of gold, which offered his hand to him.

Joshua did not accept his hand and still drowned in his sorrow.

"Do I deserve forgiveness?" Joshua asked tearfully, wiping his eyes.

The figure just kept offering his hand, and Joshua just talked back in a rage, “TELL ME!”

The figure still held his hand open, offering to make him stand up, but Joshua's ignorance stood in the way. He had already fallen too much into despair when suddenly the figure jerked him upwards, and he took a close look at his face.

It was him, but he was smiling and pulling him into a hug, and then Joshua woke up. His students were on guard as two reptilian officers performed CPR on him. His students looked fearful of him with scared eyes.

He remembered the pain he caused him; while it was not true pain, it still felt real to those children. He had acted too brash, and he was acting too weak. His eyes glowed slightly, and the guns powered slightly.

Prime appeared from the crowd and waved their guns away, crouching down to Joshua, examining him, his eyes similar to his, filled with rage, but not towards him, just a fire burning in his eyes.

Joshua just chuckled at this sight, knowing he had found somebody like him, and closed his eyes back, stretching his arms out wide and smiling.