Meba shuffles back after Easton's punch. He spits, wipes his cheek and stares at Easton.

Kiran's mouth gapes wide open. "Why did he punch him??"

Easton looks at his hand. "Why did that feel so weak? It's like… my muscles aren't functioning like I want them to." He opens and closes his hand slowly. A maniacal laughter takes him away from his thoughts.

"…ahahahahahAHAHAHAHAH"

Meba is staring up at the sky with his hand over the side of his face where he got hit. He keeps laughing.

"This is so perfect! I have more than enough reason to teach this trash a lesson. And even better… I'll use it as a learning experience for these other newborns to never cross Empiric! They won't dare speak up! I couldn't have asked for a better opportunity! Thank the OmniOne!"

Meba puts his hand back into his pocket. "That was a nice punch you have there. I prefer kicks myself."

A kick is suddenly sent towards Easton's face. He manages to get his arms up to block it. However, just as quick as the first kick came, Meba spins and lands a second kick on Easton's side.

"MMPH!"

Easton travels a metre in the air before crashing hard on the ground.

Meba throws 2 more air kicks before bringing his leg back.

"I'm surprised you blocked the first kick. Must have some training in blocking your head huh? You probably expected me to attack there. That is quite some battle IQ," he steps forward towards Easton, "Unfortunately, you're still a red rank."

Easton holds his side. "Dam that hurts! That second kick came way too fast… I thought he would go for my gut again on the second kick."

"I don't want the other newborns to look away."

"Yes, sir Meba."

The 1 goon places the wooden cage down and removes all the wooden bars. Each goon respectively sits behind Kiran and Garnett and makes them watch.

"Hey! Let go!"

"Do not touch me!"

"Quiet!" shouts Meba

The 2 newborns immediately listen. Meba turns his head back to Easton and watches as he gets back up to his feet.

"That's it. Get up. One kick isn't enough to teach a lesson."

He sees the red-rank struggle.

"What? Did it hurt? I didn't even use that much force. Such a weakling."

Easton grinds his teeth and lifts his head.

"I am not weak."

"You sure seem weak!" Meba emphasises his words with another kick towards his target's chest. A big smile is on his face.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

"URGH!" Easton lifts his arms to block again. Meba gets close to him while he is off balance, and knee strikes Easton's gut. He falls to his knees and coughs. Meba laughs again.

The 2 goons holding the other newborns talk nonchalantly.

"There he goes again."

"What do you expect? I hear everyone who works under Meba fights him first to establish order."

"Yeah, I know. And with his gift, it makes a fight unfair."

The 2 newborns watch in horror as their new guild member hunches on the ground yet again. The man causing the pain laughs while he talks.

"Heh heh. What's the matter? I thought you said you aren't weak!"

"Shut up! It's only cause-" Easton screams while looking up, but a boot hits under his chin and he falls backwards.

Meba has his leg in the air. "Do not speak to your superior in that tone."

Garnett tries to look away when Easton is kicked again, but the goon makes him face forward.

"No looking away. Meba said so."

Kiran tries to wriggle out of the goon's grip holding him. "Let go! This isn't right!"

"Stop with your squirming, you runt!" The goon grips Kiran's head and slams his face on the ground. The goon turns it so Kiran can see everything. He struggles to turn the red ranks head.

"Geez! This kid is putting up a fight. Is Meba's gift not working right?"

"This one seems to be as still as a mouse. He can watch clearly what will happen if he ever decides to double-cross us."

Meba brings his leg down. "Ready to keep your mouth shut?"

Easton spits to the side. He takes a deep breath and stands up, much easier than before. His legs still wobble a bit.

"Don't act so tough. My body feels weird. That's the only reason you're landing shots."

"Heh heh. Really? How sad for you. Unfortunately, every advantage someone has in this world is used to its fullest!"

Meba kicks forward. Instead of blocking, Easton parries the kick with his right hand by pushing it out of the way. Easton jabs his left arm towards Meba's head. Meba easily dodges it as he twirls on his other foot.

"Haha! I'll make sure to get him good for acting so- what?!"

A fist is heading straight towards Meba's face. Meba removes his hand from his pocket and catches the fist in his palm right before it hits him. A loud smack escapes when Meba catches it.

"… That hurt my hand."

Easton tries to pull away. His arm doesn't move an inch, no matter how hard he struggles. "I can't move!"

Meba holds his grip. The muscles on his forearm tighten.

"You dare hurt my hand YOU RED-RANK!"

Meba kicks up. Easton nearly dodges it moving his head as the boot grazes his cheek. The kick comes back down onto Easton's shoulder. The pain shoots through his body. Meba twists the red rank's arm and throws him a distance into a tree back first.

"AUGH!"

Easton sits against the tree and holds his arm tightly. "S-S***! My shoulder... That last kick hurt."

Meba walks towards Easton while staring at his hand.

"So… a faint followed by a right hook? My my…" Meba grabs his head. "That type of battle IQ is not something that red ranks should possess."

Meba towers over Easton, staring at the tanned-skinned boy through his fingers.

"I have made my decision…" Meba looks up to the sky. "… Red ranks. The worst trash is known to walk on Arkodian soil. People who can't use even a basic gift!"

He looks back down to Easton.

"You are even of less value than farm animals. At least they provide food!"

He extends his hand forward.

"Let me show you what it looks like to be truly blessed by the OmniOne. This…"

A white substance oozes from Meba's fingers.

"Methyl phenobarbital creation. Commonly known as Mebaral. Isn't it beautiful? You see, I can help people. I CAN DO SOMETHING. What can you do? Clean my ass? That's about all you're worth for."

Meba raises his hand in the air.

"I'll aim for the vein in your neck. Make my gift spread through your body immediately. It will be much more effective than your digestive system."

A wide wicked smile is on Meba's face. "Let's see if my training to inject has paid off!"

More of the white substance coats over his fingers. "Mebaral creation…" Meba pulls his elbow back.

The 2 goons snicker as they watch their boss.

"Meba really loves his monologues huh?"

"Yeah. Especially when he is about to kill someone."

Both newborns freeze.

"Kill?" Kiran's body trembles on the ground, much more than Garnett's.

"K-Kiran… what is the matter?"

Muffled sounds travel through Kiran's ear.

"Kill? Is he going to kill Easton? Why? Is it because of what he said? Or his punch? I mean… the bald man punched Easton first."

Kiran's fingers dig into the ground. "N-No…"

Kiran can see the bald man pulling his arm back. In his mind, he sees the image of a snake ready to strike a rat.

"No! Get up Kiran! Get up!"

Kiran's vision changes. Pitch black and pure white. He sees human figures where the bald man and Easton are. These figures are pitch black. The space around them is pure white. More black streaks are in Kiran's vision as well.

The standing black figure's arm is raised in the air. Although slowly, the arm is travelling towards the sitting black figure.

"Don't stop chasing Kiran."

A faint voice speaks. Kiran's breathing slows down.

"Huh? Who said that?"

"Don't stop chasing the light!"

"Chase the light? What? I don't… I don't know what that means."

The figure's arm is getting closer and closer to the other one sitting.

"No! Stop!"

Meba's hand pierces forward.

"Mebaral creation: Fatal Injection!"

Kiran's body starts to feel weightless.

"Don't stop chasing the light Kiran!"

OmniOne Fourth Law: "In Body And Soul, Thy Gift Shall Strengthen, Once Thou Desire Has Manifested."