Lou's week-long grounding had finally ended, and he wasted no time in reaching for the house phone to call Nate. The past week had been a prison of boredom and solitude, with no Nate, no Roxy, and no way to test his powers. This one-week punishment was more severe than he expected. He even had to read books to overcome his boredom... The last time Lou did this was when he was a child and had just learned to read.

"Hey, Lou! Freedom at last, huh? I called you but your mother said you were grounded." Nate's voice buzzed with energy, a welcome contrast to Lou's recent monotony.

"Yep, finally," Lou said, unable to suppress a grin. "Get over here. I’ve got a lot to tell you."

"On my way. Captain Nate, ready for teleportation!" Nate's mock-serious tone made Lou chuckle. Maybe the Power of Cringe would be a better fit for Nate, Lou thought.

True to his word, Nate was at Lou’s doorstep in seconds. Lou opened the door to find Nate grinning widely, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Man, it's good to see you," Lou said, pulling Nate into a quick, brotherly hug. "Come on in."

They settled into the living room, and Lou's sanctuary turned into confinement. Nate plopped down on the couch, looking expectantly at Lou.

"Alright, spill. What's been going on? And what’s the deal with this detention?""

Lou sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It was a mess. Derek started provoking me, and I just... lost it. I used my powers and ended up getting suspended."

Nate's eyebrows shot up. "Derek? That douchebag again?. You finally beat him, huh? What exactly happened? Give me all the details!"

Lou recounted the fight, detailing Derek’s taunts, the surge of adrenaline, and the loss of control. Nate listened intently, his usual playfulness giving way to concern.

"The thing is... I couldn't even beat Derek without making him cringe," Lou admitted, frustration evident in his voice. "Even though I raised my stats so much..."

Nate leaned forward, his expression serious. "Even though you have increased your stats, you have no fighting experience. That guy is a bully who fights with people all day long. But it is not considered ethical for someone with power to beat someone without power. Otherwise, I would have sent Derek to the North Pole for you by now. "

"I know that I don't have any fighting experience... And that’s why I need your help. Oh! I forgot to tell you that Mrs. Acare's offered to help with the Dojo Hunt, but I need to train, to get better at fighting without relying on my Cringe Power."

Nate grinned, giving Lou a playful punch on the shoulder. "You know I'm in. And it is great to hear that Mrs Acare will help us with a roadmap. But tell me, why don't you want to use your cringe power?

"Using the Power of Cringe in a fight seems very impractical... Although it makes my job much easier, my main goal is to increase my stats as much as possible and win the fights without the help of the cringe power."

"I don't know, man... It seems to me that you're forcing yourself into a disadvantaged situation... Maybe you'll change your mind after getting beaten enough by me. Anyways... Didn't you have a chance to talk to Roxy this week? Maybe Aunt Julia made an exception about Roxy, huh?

Lou laughed, shaking his head. "No, man. They don't know about her yet... And, speaking of Roxy, we’ve got the school ball coming up. Our first real date."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Nate raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in his eye. "A real date, huh? About time. You nervous?"

"A little," Lou admitted. "But mostly excited. Just need to make sure I’m not a complete disaster by then."

They both laughed, the tension easing as they slipped back into their usual banter. The weight of the past week started to lift, replaced by the familiar comfort of their friendship.

"So, about that training," Lou said, his tone turning serious again. "I’ve redistributed my stat points. I’m stronger and faster now. I want to see how it plays out in our fights."

Nate nodded, a determined look on his face. "Then let’s get started. I’m ready when you are."

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Lou and Nate faced off in the backyard, transforming the familiar space into a battleground for Lou's newfound determination. The air was heavy with expectation as Lou could feel a drumbeat in his chest.

Nate rubbed his hands together, cracked his knuckles, and, with a wink of his eye and glints of excitement in it, replied, "Alright, Lou, show me what you got."

Lou drew a centering breath, and his body coursed anew with fresh strength and agility. "Ready when you are, Nate."

Nate wasted no time. With a flicker, he teleported behind Lou, aiming a swift kick at his back. Lou barely managed to evade the blow, rolling aside and springing to his feet. Enhanced by his new dexterity, Lou's movements felt fluid and precise, as if the world had slowed down around him.

"Nice reflexes," Nate acknowledged, materializing a few feet away. "But you'll need more than that to keep up with me."

Lou narrowed his eyes, focusing on Nate. He knew his cousin's teleportation was his greatest weapon, allowing him to strike from anywhere and effortlessly evade counterattacks. Lou had to anticipate Nate's movements, predict his next strike.

Nate vanished again, reappearing on Lou's left with a flurry of punches. Lou parried as best he could, blocking some blows and absorbing others. Each impact resonated through his body, a reminder that despite his improved stats, Nate's experience still gave him a significant edge.

"Come on, Lou! Is that all you've got?" Nate taunted, teleporting behind Lou to deliver a powerful kick. Lou stumbled forward, the wind knocked out of him.

Lou spun around, blindly swinging a fist, but only connected with air. Nate's laughter echoed in his ears. "Use your power now... I'm tired of sweeping the floor with you."

Gritting his teeth, Lou tried to calm his racing mind. He remembered how Darius the Unifier and his men fought. He decided to change his approach. He focused on sensing the subtle shifts in the air, the faint sounds of Nate's movements.

When Nate teleported again, appearing directly in front of Lou, Lou anticipated the move, sidestepped, and delivered a swift elbow to Nate's ribs. Nate grunted in surprise, disappearing before Lou could follow up.

"Not bad," Nate admitted, rubbing his side. "But can you keep it up?"

The sparring continued, Nate teleporting around Lou, striking from various angles. Lou's enhanced dexterity allowed him to dodge and parry more effectively, but Nate's teleportation kept him on the defensive. Every time Lou thought he had a rhythm, Nate would change his pattern, keeping him guessing.

Lou connected with a few more, but Nate's came harder and more often. Lou fell to his knees after one particularly stiff punch to the midsection, gasping for air. Nate offered him a hand up.

"You're doing better, but this is not enough... You need to put everything you've got into it. The opponents you will encounter in the dojos will not hesitate to use their gifts... you can be sure of that." Nate said.

He wiped away the beads of sweat on his brow and became frustrated. "I should not need to have my Cringe Power; I want to be strong without it."

Nate sighed, shaking his head. "I get it, but you need to find a balance. Your power is a part of you. Ignoring it won't make you stronger; learning to use it wisely will."

Lou nodded, still catching his breath. "Let's go again. I need to get this right."

They reset, and the sparring continued, day after day for a week. Each session pushed Lou to his limits, forcing him to adapt and learn. Despite the bruises and exhaustion, he could feel himself improving. Nate's teleportation was relentless, but Lou's growing strength and speed began to narrow the gap.

After fifty grueling matches, Nate had won forty-eight. Lou had only managed to secure two victories, a testament to the challenge he had set for himself.

One evening, as the sun set, casting long shadows across the backyard, Nate put a hand on Lou's shoulder. "Lou, you've made incredible progress. But you need to stop holding back. Your Cringe Power is a part of you, and you need to embrace it. It's not a weakness, it's a strength."

"You might be right," Lou countered, a determined glint in his eyes, "but I beat you twice without using any of my powers. Once I level up and increase my stats even more, you won't stand a chance."

Nate offered a resigned look. "Whatever, man. You do you."

Despite his bravado, Lou knew deep down that Nate was right. But he didn't want to win fights by humiliating himself in front of thousands of people. The image of Darius and his men, fighting with honor and skill, had left a lasting impression on him.

Attempting to change the subject, Lou said, "Well then, we're heading back to school tomorrow and getting our roadmap for the Dojo Hunt from Mrs. Acare, right?"

Nate simply replied, "Sure." His tone was flat, a stark contrast to his usual exuberance. Lou could tell that Nate was disappointed by his stubbornness, but he couldn't bring himself to admit it yet. He needed to prove to himself, and to Nate, that he could succeed without relying on his Cringe Power. The Dojo Hunt would be the ultimate opportunity for this.