In a room with a large glass window that revealed a vast area illuminated by massive LED panels, stood Tyx. The room was composed of a metallic material with various structures securing it to the ceiling. He stood, analyzing the nearly rectangular space below, covered in dirt with small mounds and a concrete building at its center, consisting of two floors. Ahead of him, the ground was leveled, forming a large clearing; to the left and right, there were ruins of other structures, mostly concealed by darkness and the small mounds.

  Tyx leaned on the metal railing with his arms, removed the lower part of his mask, and tucked it into a pocket of his trench coat. He pulled up his sleeve to check the digital watch on his right wrist, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly. He then walked toward a table at the center of the room; on it rested a black briefcase.

  As Tyx was about to glance at his watch again, the double doors in the corner of the room opened, and Visionary entered.

  – I thought I’d see Palmeiras win a world championship before seeing you show up late. – Tyx said, hiding his watch with a faint smile. – Glad I was wrong.

  – I had to adjust my schedule to attend; I hadn’t planned on coming before you convinced me. – Visionary replied, moving toward the glass and giving Tyx a puzzled look. – And what is Palmeiras?

  Tyx chuckled to himself as he opened the briefcase. Inside were four single-ear headphones and, beside them, a black square device with small slits and a circle on top. He took out two headphones, placing one in his ear and tossing the other to Visionary, who caught it effortlessly mid-air.

  – Relax, it’s nothing important, just a joke from my homeland. – Tyx said as he placed the square device on the table and pressed the circle for a few seconds. – Anyway, how do you think my boys will do?

  After pressing the circle, the device’s interior began to spin, emitting a light that projected a blue hologram. It displayed the layout of the arena below, as well as images from the cameras positioned throughout.

  – They’ll probably fail. – Visionary replied curtly. – Your team lacks synergy, and only Scarlet Flame knows how to disarm a bomb.

  Tyx moved closer to Visionary; both stood near the glass, but while Tyx observed the arena, Visionary analyzed the hologram.

  – The organization didn’t want to go easy on the kids, did they? – Tyx said, stroking his chin. – I remember in our time, we only had to face another team of trainees.

  Visionary glanced at Tyx briefly before looking at the headphone in his hand.

  – Indeed. One could say things have changed a lot. I wouldn’t say it’s for the worse. – Visionary remarked, tilting his head back slightly. – Now teams can only pass the test if they work together. Previous tests could be completed even with a disjointed team.

  – That’s true. – Tyx said, leaning on the railing again with a faint smile before stepping back and mimicking fighting movements. – If it weren’t for Bobby, we might not have even passed the trial phase! Haha... And to think everyone underestimated him because he had an Alpha stigma; but he sure shut a lot of people up.

  Visionary watched Tyx with a faint smile as the latter exuded excitement, throwing punches in the air while grinning widely.

  – Yeah, I believe our team only worked because of him. – Visionary said, removing his glasses and inspecting them while narrowing his eyes slightly.

  – It wasn’t just him; the truth is we all worked hard to get where we are. – Tyx said, leaning on the railing again with a nostalgic smile.

  – In a way. But you always caused more trouble than you helped. – Visionary remarked, putting his glasses back on and adjusting his hair. – Still, what matters is that it all worked out in the end.

  Tyx remained silent, nodding slightly while displaying a cryptic smile. Then, the LED panels’ brightness intensified, illuminating the large test area as a female voice echoed through the room.

  ‘Attention! Instructors participating in test ETI05, please take your positions. The test will begin in thirty minutes.’

  – Are you sure Bobby is fit to participate? – Tyx asked, clasping one hand over the other and slightly pursing his lips. – I mean, the last time I saw him, he could barely walk.

  – I was the one who reviewed his file when he submitted his application over two years ago. – Visionary replied, placing the headphone in his ear.

  – Two years? And why are you only calling him now? – Tyx asked, clearly displeased.

  Visionary sighed, staring at the arena in silence for a moment; his brows furrowed slightly as he closed his eyes.

  – Let’s just say he can barely use his abilities for more than an hour. – Visionary finally responded, briefly running a hand across his forehead. – Without my intervention, he wouldn’t have been called at all.

  Tyx nodded slightly before breaking into a smile and placing his left hand on Visionary’s shoulder.

  – Glad you did! It’ll be great to see our boy in action again! I can’t wait to talk to him after the test… – Tyx’s voice radiated enthusiasm.

  Visionary remained silent, clenching his hands slightly as he gazed at the arena ahead with an inscrutable expression.

  In a large locker room with two rows of steel lockers, Black and Demian stood apart from each other. Black was closer to the door, while Demian was further away, using the opposite row.

  “Why do they want us to wear these clothes? They’re so tight…”

  Black tried to move his shoulders while wearing a thick jacket but ended up leaving it in the locker along with a protective vest that was inside. He wore a black t-shirt, pants, and boots, tight but flexible clothing.

  Demian appeared wearing the full outfit: protective vest, jacket, t-shirt, pants, and boots. He glanced over his shoulder at Black, who was eyeing the jacket and vest in his locker. Shaking his head slightly, Demian exited the locker room.

  “I won’t be able to focus properly wearing that stuff; this is better.”

  Black finally closed his locker and also headed toward the exit. Upon leaving, he found a rectangular room with several seats fixed to the walls, a few vending machines, and screens mounted above, displaying information about the Acropolis.

  Karoline was wearing the same outfit as the two of them; however, hers was complete and accompanied by a belt with small pouches. She was crouched in front of one of the vending machines. Demian sat in one of the seats, subtly watching Karoline until he noticed Black's presence. He quickly looked away, blushing slightly as he crossed his arms.

  “Was he looking at her…?”

  Black smiled faintly to himself, closing the door behind him as he lightly shook his head.

  – Looks like you’re all set! Here, take this! – Karoline approached with three orange bottles, offering the first one to Black. – To give you that extra boost!

  She said, clenching a fist and playfully showing off her arm muscles. After Black accepted the drink, she pursed her lips into a small smile, nodding enthusiastically with wide eyes.

  “She seems pretty excited; on the other hand, the kid looks like he’d rather be anywhere else. This team doesn’t seem to make any sense…”

  Black watched Karoline as she walked over to Demian and offered him a drink. At first, he shook his head and clicked his tongue, but she insisted, and he eventually accepted, averting his gaze with a disinterested expression.

  “Regardless, I’ll have to manage, even if it means carrying both of them.”

  – Are you ready? The test is about to start. – Karoline asked, turning to Black as she opened her bottle and took a sip.

  Demian approached the two, drinking the energy drink and grimacing slightly at the bitterness while keeping a bit of distance.

  – You said Tyx contacted you. What exactly did he say? – Demian asked, taking another sip of the drink before sticking out his tongue at the taste.

  – He just said he’d get in touch before the test to brief us on our objective. – she replied, finishing her drink and tossing the bottle perfectly into a trash bin near the vending machine.

  She then opened one of the small pouches on her belt and pulled out three single-ear headsets, offering one to each of them.

  – Here, these will let us communicate during the test. They already come with built-in microphones. – she explained, placing the headset in her right ear and tying her hair back into a ponytail with an elastic band from her wrist. – You can press the button to activate the mic; it will deactivate automatically after a few seconds if you stop talking.

  – Alright, nothing too complicated. – Black said, finishing his drink and tossing the bottle into the trash bin before placing the headset in his right ear.

  Demian watched them with his usual deadpan expression after finishing his drink. He then stared at the trash bin and threw the bottle, only for it to hit the rim and fall to the floor with a clatter.

  The two stared at him with half-lidded eyes as he sighed and slowly went to dispose of the bottle properly.

  ‘Can you hear me?’

  All three heard Tyx’s voice through the headset. Karoline looked at Black, who nodded affirmatively.

  – Loud and clear, Mr. Tyx. – Karoline said, pressing the button on her headset.

  – Yeah, I can hear you too, Tyx. – Black echoed, activating the microphone.

  – Either that, or my inner voice suddenly got a lot deeper. – Demian quipped as he discarded the bottle and returned to the group.

  ‘Good. Listen up, as I’m about to brief you on the test: your mission will be a rescue operation. You must locate and extract a hostage. There are four Divergents on site: two identified as combatants, one as a tank, and the last as a specialist.’

  “A hostage rescue? That’s it? Doesn’t seem too different from the other tests Karoline mentioned…”

  Black glanced at the young woman, who seemed focused on Tyx’s explanation.

  ‘The test will be completed if the hostage is successfully rescued. Bonus points will be awarded for neutralizing Divergents and finishing in less time. You’ll fail the test if the hostage sustains significant harm, if the TI team becomes unable to act or surrenders, or if the surprise element is triggered. I’ll send the tactical map to the team leader. With that, good luck to you all.’

  “I thought these tests would be more complex; rescuing a hostage doesn’t seem too hard.”

  Black deactivated his microphone as did the others. He noticed Karoline’s expression turned slightly serious after Tyx’s announcement.

  – What’s wrong? – Black asked the red-haired young woman. – Doesn’t seem like it’ll be too difficult.

  She crossed her arms and bit her lower lip lightly.

  – The problem is that it might be. Usually, Convergents and Divergents teams are evenly matched. But we’re already outnumbered. – she explained, pulling out her EPIC from a pouch to access the transmitted data. – And we don’t even have intel on who we’re facing…

  – Doesn’t it say anything about that in the file? Anything about this “surprise element”? – Black asked, glancing at Karoline’s EPIC.

  – If it did, it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it? – Demian retorted with feigned animosity, his eyes half-lidded.

  Black sighed, pinching his furrowed brow with his fingers.

  – Hey, you two, take a look at this! – Karoline interrupted.

  She quickly pulled out a small black rectangular device with a blue circle on one end and placed it on the floor. Activating the device, it projected a blue holographic image showing a 3D layout of the map where the test would take place.

  – Damn! You have a holographic projector!? – Demian exclaimed excitedly as he approached, running his fingers through the floating model in the air. – Do all heroes get one of these?

  – No, but that doesn’t matter. We need to formulate a plan of action, – Karoline replied, observing the hologram with one hand on her chin. – They gave us access to three cameras to assess the current situation.

  As she spoke, she accessed her EPIC and activated the cameras on the hologram, displaying them for everyone. The images showed three different angles: one was positioned in front of the building, revealing a huge, obese man standing in a clearing. He held a box full of stuffed donuts, eating them one by one. He wore loose black clothing that didn’t cover his entire body, leaving many parts exposed, especially his belly. He also wore a black balaclava that concealed most of his face.

  – Who is this instructor? I’ve never seen him before... – Karoline asked, staring at the images of the large man.

  – I’m pretty sure someone like him would occupy a large space in anyone’s memory... – Demian commented sarcastically, observing the man.

  – No unnecessary comments, please! – Karoline replied, rolling her eyes slightly. – We shouldn’t underestimate him; we don’t know what his abilities are, but he’s probably the tank.

  – I can handle him, – Black stated firmly and objectively.

  – And how do you know? You don’t even know what he does... – Demian retorted, wrinkling his nose and lifting his chin. – Don’t be stupid; our goal is just to rescue the hostage, not to fight unnecessarily.

  – And you think they’ll just let us walk in and accomplish our goal? – Black questioned, leaning forward slightly with a smirk. – Didn’t you hear there are two combatants and a tank? Clearly, there’ll be some fighting involved.

  – Oh, sure, now you’re an expert on everything, huh? Earlier, you didn’t even seem to know what those designations meant... – Demian replied mockingly.

  – Isn’t it self-explanatory? What do you think a combatant does, or a tank? – Black retorted, raising his voice.

  – Guys! – Karoline intervened, stepping between them. – Focus! The last thing we need is to argue with each other!

  – Tell that to the pea brain here who thinks he can solve everything by fighting, – Demian said, looking away with a sarcastic smile. – Bet he’s just like a damn rabid animal, always trying to attack people...

  “Son of a bitch...”

  Black’s expression showed genuine anger as he clenched his fists and stepped toward Demian, who took a step back to retreat. However, before he could reach the messy-haired youth, Karoline placed herself in his path, pressing her hands against his chest and struggling to hold him back.

  – Enough! Calm down, both of you! – Karoline yelled through clenched teeth, barely managing to keep Black at bay.

  – I’m calm; it’s the animal over here who isn’t... – Demian backed off another step but was quickly cut off.

  – Demian! Shut your mouth! – Karoline snapped, looking at him firmly. – You said you’d cooperate, so please!

  Demian clicked his tongue, looking away and crossing his arms. Black also stepped back, turning his back and running a hand through his hair.

  Silence filled the room for a moment. Karoline regained her composure, placing a hand lightly on her forehead before looking at them both.

  – Can we continue? – she asked, crossing her arms. – Let’s focus on our objective, alright!?

  Both nodded subtly before stepping back toward the hologram.

  – Great! Now, moving on... – Karoline began but was interrupted.

  – Wait... – Demian spoke, staring at the hologram.

  – What now...? – Karoline asked, closing her eyes and pursing her lips.

  – Uh... Someone’s coming out of the building... – Demian pointed to the camera view behind the building.

  The second camera showed the back of the structure, where there was only one entrance and no windows. Now, a medium-sized, slender man, dressed similarly to the large man out front, stood guarding the entrance. He leaned against the doorway, scanning the surroundings. The third camera showed only a panoramic view of the area, revealing no further clues about the other divergents’ positions.

  – Who is this instructor? Can you recognize him? – Black asked, stepping closer to get a better look.

  – Not sure... – Karoline replied, also approaching the displayed image. – Could be Elastic? Maybe Sonido... It’s hard to tell; there are many instructors with that build.

  – Great, we don’t even know who we’re up against... – Demian muttered, scratching the back of his head and closing his eyes.

  Suddenly, a loud siren echoed throughout the area, and a double gate opened at the far end of the room. Then, a female voice announced:

  ‘The ETI05 test will commence in exactly five minutes. The team must proceed to the testing area through the main gate and wait for the start signal. You have a total of one hour to complete the test. Good luck!’

  – Please, let’s work together! You don’t need to be friends, but I need us to act as a team! – Karoline said, looking seriously at Black and Demian while gathering the equipment from the floor. – Let’s proceed cautiously and try to gather more intel once we’re in the field, alright?

  Both initially exchanged glances but eventually nodded. The three then proceeded through the double gate into a corridor made entirely of metal, leading to another set of double doors that opened to reveal the sandy testing grounds.

  “I’m not a rabid animal... I don’t want to hurt others...”

  Black stared at the floor as he walked through the dark corridor, clenching his fists tightly.

  “I need to think about something else...”

  – Do you know how big the Acropolis is? I mean, it even has a testing area... – Black asked, his voice slightly strained as he walked toward the light at the end of the corridor.

  – Is that really a question to ask now? Didn’t our LEADER tell us to focus on the test? – Demian retorted provocatively.

  – I believe few people truly know how deep the Acropolis goes. But yes, it’s quite extensive. After all, this isn’t the only testing area... – Karoline answered, glancing slightly over her shoulder while leading the way. – Now let’s stay focused on the test, okay?

  Black merely nodded as the light grew closer and closer. Finally, they crossed through the double doors.

  His eyes slowly adjusted to the expansive space, and the smell of dirt filled his nostrils. The lavender scent was gone; he was in a new environment now. Several floodlights brightly illuminated the center, leaving the edges shrouded in shadows. The structure was barely visible; window frames and its upper extremity could be seen due to the small hills concealing it.

  Black looked around; the arena was enormous, with various metallic installations in the upper sections. Glass panels and large screens displayed a timer counting down from sixty seconds.

  Clenching his fists, Black focused intently on the platforms ahead. Finally, the siren blared, and the screens began their countdown.

  The three of them entered the northeastern area of the testing grounds, where the lighting was dim. Most of the light came from the center, which reflected onto the surrounding areas. They were near a zone concealed by a few mounds of dirt but could see the front of the structure.

  Karoline led the group, Demian stayed on the left, and Black took position on the right. After the three entered, the gate behind them shut with a resounding clang.

  – So, what’s the plan? – Demian asked.

  – First, we need to secure the area and gather intel. After that, we’ll form an action plan. – Karoline replied, stepping closer to them. – Black, you’ll stay in the center. Keep an eye on the guy in the clearing and alert us if he makes any moves.

  – Got it…– Black nodded, his gaze fixed on the distant structure.

  – Try to stay hidden behind those small mounds. You need to be in position to support any of us if needed. – Karoline instructed, pointing at some mounds facing the central structure. – Demian, you’ll take the left and let us know if there’s an opening at the rear.

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  Demian simply nodded, glancing toward his assigned path.

  – I’ll head to the right and try to identify the instructors. Once we have more information, we’ll devise our strategy. – Karoline concluded, placing a hand in the center and glancing at the other two.

  – Is this really necessary? – Demian asked, visibly uncomfortable.

  – What’s this? – Black raised an eyebrow.

  – Just a good luck ritual. – Karoline said with a confident smile. – Put your hand over mine.

  “A good luck ritual… That’s new…”

  Black decided to place his hand over Karoline’s, and after some hesitation, Demian did too. However, instead of stacking his hand, he kept it close. Karoline quickly grabbed it with her free hand and placed it on the pile.

  – One, two, three... To victory! – Karoline exclaimed, raising their hands with a determined smile. – Remember to report everything through the earpieces. Let’s move!

  Each went their way. Black crept toward a dirt mound in front of the structure. Demian headed left, shrouded by the shadows of the surrounding hills. Karoline took the right, moving carefully and avoiding detection as she advanced for a better view of the area.

  Black moved slowly; the ground was mostly dirt, with shards of glass scattered around. He tread cautiously, avoiding unnecessary noise. Upon reaching the top of the mound, he lay flat and observed the clearing ahead. The enormous man was still there, eating a cream-filled donut and glancing around. Next to him, an empty box of donuts lay discarded on the ground.

  – I’ve got a visual on the center. The big guy seems distracted, eating…– Black whispered, pressing the earpiece.

  Karoline heard Black’s voice through her earpiece as she moved behind some concrete debris on the right.

  – If I’d known, I would’ve brought a pizza to bribe him…– Demian said, sneaking through an open area littered with broken concrete. He peeked through what appeared to be a window, its glass shattered in half.

  – Focus! Let’s stay on task. What do you see, Demian? – Karoline replied, irritation clear in her voice.

  ‘Yeah, yeah… Well, I don’t see anything unusual, just…’

  Mid-sentence, a scream echoed across the arena.

  – Demian!? What happened!? – Karoline asked, trying to see where Demian had gone, but the hills and structure blocked her view.

  “That idiot’s already been caught…”

  – I’m checking it out. – Black said, preparing to move, but Demian’s voice returned through the earpiece.

  – I’m fine…– Demian replied, his voice still shaken. – But I think I saw a ghost again... There was a reflection of someone in the glass…

  Black sighed, closing his eyes before returning his focus to the structure’s front. He noticed the large man glancing toward Demian’s direction.

  – Congratulations, you just gave away your position… – Black muttered, leaning forward for a better view. – What do we do, Karoline?

  Karoline’s eyes widened in realization as she glanced at a few glass shards on the ground and noticed a reflection of an eye that quickly vanished.

  Before she could speak, rapid footsteps approached her position. Turning toward the sound, she saw two figures mere meters away. They moved swiftly and executed synchronized side kicks.

  Karoline barely had time to shield her head with her arms. One kick aimed at her head was deflected, while the other struck her torso, sending her flying several meters. She landed on her back, the impact sliding her slightly across the ground. Using the momentum, she rolled backward, supporting herself with her hands, and, though crouched, faced her attackers head-on. Her pupils shimmered intensely, her brows furrowed, and her teeth clenched. Flames burst around her body but quickly subsided, remaining as a controlled aura.

  – Well, well, well…

  – Look what we’ve got here…

  The two men spoke in unison, their voices eerily identical.

  Finally, a third figure appeared between them.

  – Convergents…

  The last man spoke as he approached calmly, unconcerned. All three were pale-skinned with long black hair tied in ponytails. They wore black suits, dress pants, and formal shoes. Their good looks were evident, and they sported confident smiles behind dark sunglasses.

  Karoline observed the three with her teeth slightly clenched, standing up while keeping the fire burning only in her fists.

  – You didn’t even bother to put on a mask to hide your identity!? I know I don’t need to deal with your copies; if you’re knocked out, they’ll disappear! – Karoline said with a faint smile on her face as she watched the three individuals.

  – I refuse to hide this handsome face from the world, my dear. – replied only the man in the center, while the other two struck stylish poses, flashing charming smiles.

  The young woman merely rolled her eyes, assuming a fighting stance with both fists in front of her face.

  – So, wearing glasses to hide which one’s the original? Don’t you think the darkness will hinder you? – Karoline teased with a faint smile.

  – No problem, princess; the glow of your flames lights my way! – the man in the center responded once more.

  At that moment, the two by his sides rushed toward Karoline, running swiftly and in sync.

  Seeing their movement, Karoline used her flames to propel herself into a backward leap. The flames she launched lingered, forming a wall of fire in front of her as a barrier to her opponents.

  When she landed on the ground a few meters away, she clasped her hands together, opened them, and aimed toward the wall of flames. From her palms, a projectile the size of a ball was fired. The fireball shot forward quickly, and as it passed through the wall of flames, the fire converged in a circular shape, creating an even larger projectile that struck the man in the center, causing an explosion of flames and setting him ablaze.

  He screamed in pain, prompting Karoline to show concern. She quickly clenched her hand, extinguishing the flames on his body. The man in the center fell to his knees, charred, and soon began laughing hysterically.

  – You should worry more about yourself, princess; after all, the only thing hot here is me...

  He made poses while kneeling as the other two copies stopped to applaud him. However, the young woman, now wearing an expression of disgust, snapped her fingers, reigniting the small flames still on the man’s clothes. They engulfed him again, reducing him to nothing but gray sludge on the ground.

  As he melted, the other two quickly charged at Karoline, aligning so perfectly and moving so in sync that, from her perspective, it looked like a single person was running. She fired another fireball, and just before it hit its target, they both dodged, one to each side, while a third appeared, leaping over the projectile with a confident smile. The projectile exploded behind them as they struck stylish poses for Karoline.

  She observed the situation with clenched teeth, realizing her opponents now surrounded her and were preparing to launch another attack.

  Black noticed the fiery explosion in the direction Karoline had gone. He quickly stood to try to get a better view of what was happening.

  – Not the brightest idea to walk straight into danger through the front door, don’t you think? But I was already wondering how long you’d stay lying there. – teased the massive man as he finished eating his last donut.

  Standing tall, he faced Black, who now moved closer to the clearing and into the light, touching the earpiece in his ear and speaking briefly:

  – I’ll make this quick and come help you guys soon...

  – Confident, huh? What makes you think this will be quick? – said the large man, cleaning his right hand and face with a napkin before pocketing it.

  – You don’t want to fight me, big guy. – Black said as he positioned himself near the man.

  – Oh, I think I do. – the large man replied, staring into Black’s eyes.

  The two faced off. The man was only a few inches taller than Black, but his figure was undeniably more imposing.

  – Yellow eyes... So you’re a Gamma and have reached Absolute Apex...?

  – I’d explain, but I’m short on time and patience. – Black replied with a serious look before giving a faint smile. – But relax; I’ll go easy on you...

  Black prepared to throw a punch with his right fist. He assumed a combat stance and struck, only for the blow to be abruptly stopped by the man’s right hand. The impact produced a loud sound that echoed through the surroundings. Black looked at him in surprise, noticing the man’s pupils glowing red and his body beginning to transform, all his fat was converting into muscle.

  Black quickly tried to pull his hand away, but the man’s grip was too strong to break.

  – Let me teach you something... In a real fight, the first to fall is usually the one who underestimates their opponent! – the man said, raising his voice as he spoke.

  He prepared a strike and delivered it with his left hand, open, hitting Black’s torso. Black staggered back, dazed, coughing heavily while clutching his torso and kneeling from the pain.

  The large man took a deep breath, his lips trembling slightly as he exhaled. He looked at Black, who was slowly trying to rise despite the pain.

  – It’s been a while... – the man muttered to himself while performing small hops, showing surprising agility before heading toward Black.

  – Relax, kid; I hit your liver! You might be the toughest in the world, but if you know where to hit, even a mountain can fall! Hahaha!

  He approached Black, who was on one knee, supporting himself with one hand on the ground while the other clutched the spot he had been struck. The man leaned down, gripping Black by the shoulder with his right hand...

  – You’re going to learn that in a fight, everyone knows how to hit; but few know how to take a hit...

  As he spoke and tried to lift Black, the latter quickly planted his feet on the ground and used the momentum to headbutt the man squarely in the face.

  The man slowly backed away, lowering his head before spitting some blood onto the ground. He pointed a finger at Black, now standing with labored breathing.

  – Good... Good... Haha... – said the man, blocking one nostril and blowing blood from the other. – You know, kid? It’s been ages since I’ve been in a fight... Oh, how I’ve missed this!

  He spoke with a mix of seriousness and euphoria in his eyes. His pupils glowed even brighter, and his muscles became more defined as a grin formed on his face. Black also looked at him seriously, assuming a fighting stance with his arms up in front of his face as he took a deep breath.

  – What’s your name, kid?

  – I don’t remember... So just call me Black.

  Black caught his breath, positioning his feet and staring at the enormous man, who let out a hearty laugh.

  – I’m Bobby; it’s a pleasure, Black. – the massive man said, rolling his shoulders. – But now, I’m the Crusher once again…

  The Crusher adopted a combat stance similar to the young man before him, but with open hands. The intimidating air of his words was palpable, though it didn’t seem to faze Black.

  They stared at each other for a few seconds, fully focused, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. After a deep breath, the Crusher rushed forward into the fight. Black reacted swiftly and moved to meet him.

  When they were face-to-face, the Crusher feinted with his body and delivered a strike with his left hand. However, Black anticipated the move, blocking the attack with his right forearm. Black then attempted a straight punch with his left fist, but the Crusher intercepted it.

  – You’re clearly not used to throwing punches with your left hand. – the Crusher said, letting out a faint smile as Black showed a frustrated expression.

  The Crusher slid his hand along Black’s left fist, grabbed his wrist, and placed a foot behind Black’s left leg before shoving his chest, sending him to the ground.

  Demian watched the entire fight from a distance, impressed by the sounds of the blows clashing.

  – No way these guys are actually that strong... – he whispered to himself, running his hands over his face. – I need to focus! If those two are busy, I’ll rescue the hostages.

  – Isn’t that a bit of a cowardly move on your part? Your friend might need help.

  – He’s not my friend; he said he could handle the big guy. So I’ll stick to the plan and save the innocent. – Demian continued muttering to himself.

  – And you think it’ll be that easy…?

  – Well, judging by the explosion over there, Miss Perfection’s probably dealing with more than one opponent, and Angry Chad is drawing attention out front… – Demian murmured. – So my chances of sneaking in and rescuing the hostages are higher than if I try helping them.

  – Are you sure about that?

  – Of course! Do you think I’m stupid or something…?– Demian whispered indignantly.

  But he widened his eyes, slowly turning to see who was whispering in his ear. When he turned, he saw a pale figure wearing a balaclava right next to his shoulder. This made him let out a scream that echoed throughout the arena; everyone paused for a moment to look before resuming their actions.

  The figure behind Demian launched a kick at him, but Demian managed to dodge it, falling to the ground and quickly getting back up while grabbing a rock. His attacker observed him, keeping the leg used for the kick raised. Demian regained his footing, hiding the hand holding the rock.

  – For an out-of-shape brat, you’ve got decent reflexes. – the man said with a tired voice.

  – You need to work on your compliments, but thanks anyway. – Demian replied, slightly frightened but wearing an awkward smile.

  – You really think that little rock is going to do anything? Seriously? Let me show you something that’ll really scare you. – the lanky man said, lowering his leg.

  From the man’s pupils, two orange lights glowed, and two black blades slowly formed in his hands, long enough to touch the ground.

  – You’re not seriously planning to use blades against a teenager, are you…? – Demian asked, taking a step back, his eyes wide with fear.

  – Don’t worry; I didn’t sharpen them. But they can still break a few bones when they hit you. – the man replied, stepping toward Demian.

  – You’ve got to be kidding me! – Demian said, wearing a nervous smile.

  The man simply smiled, holding the blades in his hands.

  – You should know they call me the Night Maker. Let me give you a demonstration of one of my creations…– As the man advanced toward Demian, he suddenly flinched. – Urgh…

  He was interrupted by the sand the young man had thrown into his face. Dropping the blades, the man pulled off his balaclava to clear his eyes and nose. He had pale skin, a gaunt face, and long hair. Slowly, he opened his eyes.

  – Damn it! – Looking ahead, he realized the young man was no longer there. – Where did that brat go!?

  ‘Hey, baby bro, did a sidekick just outsmart you and get the upper hand?’

  The tired, raspy female voice chuckled faintly over the Night Maker’s earpiece.

  – His stigma didn’t glow! And I’m sure he grabbed a rock, not sand! – he explained into the earpiece while still wiping his face. – If he thinks he’ll get far, he’s one naive kid!

  ‘He’s running toward our base. After him, baby bro! And try not to lose to a sidekick again…’

  The voice taunted lightly through the earpiece.

  – Shut up! I was joking when I said I’d break his bones. Now I’m making it a reality. – the Night Maker replied through gritted teeth, assuming an uncomfortable posture. – And I’ve told you: don’t call me that while we’re working; it’s embarrassing…

  ‘Okay, baby bro…’

  The Night Maker sighed, picking up the blades from the ground and heading toward the building.

  Karoline was now surrounded by flames. She dodged a kick from one of the figures wearing glasses and unleashed a small burst of fire, setting her opponent ablaze. The young woman was breathing heavily, observing the clones around her.

  – Don’t tell me you’re getting tired?

  The two remaining figures asked in unison. Suddenly, another appeared behind the one on the right, forming a trio again.

  "It must be just a flash in the pan!" said the third figure.

  The young woman watched, teeth clenched, as the three began circling her again.

  – You’re not really here, are you? – Karoline questioned, pausing and abandoning her combat stance for a moment.

  All three stopped upon hearing her statement and started laughing in unison.

  – Very perceptive

  – of you

  – princess.

  they responded, now stationary, watching the girl.

  – Looks like I’ll have to go through all three of you to get to him, huh? – Karoline said, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.

  The fire that had been contained in her hands began to surround her entire body, creating a whirlwind of flames around her.

  – Wow!

  – Suddenly

  – decided to heat things up?

  The three asked, preparing to attack.

  – Now I don’t need to hold back since I know these are just clones. – The young woman said with a serious tone.

  She quickly opened her eyes, and her pupils sparkled so intensely they seemed to shine like stars. The whirlwind of fire formed into a sphere around her, slowly enveloping her body. The flames didn’t burn her clothes, but they gave them a reddish hue. Her hair appeared to transform into fire, burning through the hair tie, now loose with some strands rising like flames. She looked at her three opponents, her pupils shimmering more brightly than before. The young woman raised her hand, pointing a confident finger.

  – Let’s see how fast you can multiply.

  – So cocky, you...

  In the middle of the man’s sentence, Karoline surged forward with astonishing speed, using the flames as propulsion and leaving a fiery trail in her wake. When she reached the face of her opponent, a fireball formed in her fist and struck him along with the punch. The man was thrown several meters, and upon hitting the ground, dragged by the force of the blow, a small red explosion occurred, consuming him entirely and leaving only a scorched mark on the ground as the flames flared up and vanished.

  The young woman turned to face the two remaining individuals, who gritted their teeth and quickly created another clone before charging at her. One ran to the left, another to the right, and the third through the center. Karoline ran normally toward the one in the center, but suddenly used her propulsion to dart toward the one on the left. He attempted to strike her with a kick, but she was faster, grabbing his leg and spinning him with the momentum of the flames before hurling him toward the one advancing in the center.

  The one thrown rolled briefly across the ground before quickly getting back up with the help of the central attacker, but both found Karoline already preparing another attack as she sped toward them like a missile.

  Karoline screamed as she unleashed a blow with her flame-engulfed right fist. Her single punch went through both individuals’ stomachs. Moments after the impact, they were incinerated.

  She stood still, her clenched fist raised in the air where the two clones had been seconds ago. Slowly, Karoline turned to face the last remaining clone, her face serious. He stood with wide eyes and slightly open mouth but soon smirked.

  – I must admit, I underestimated you. I thought you couldn’t fight on equal terms. – The man said, maintaining his composure as he removed his glasses, letting them fall to the ground, revealing his brown, unlit eyes.

  – But now that you know you can go all out, I won’t hold back anymore. My real self is in the building. – He continued, pointing behind him toward the structure.

  – Let’s make this more interesting; just a fight like this is boring. I’ll tell you the game’s rules: I can’t create more than three clones at a time, so these three you saw are my entire contingent. – He said, gesturing to where the other two had been.

  – So here’s the deal: I’ll create just two more clones, and if you destroy them, I’ll surrender. Otherwise, I’ll finish you off.

  The real man was inside the building, sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, speaking the same words his clone was saying to Karoline. Beside him sat a pale, thin woman on the floor with a mirror in front of her, her orange-glowing pupils shimmering. The woman had long black hair, and her tired expression gave her an uninviting appearance. She wore a white dress that showed her body was slim and uncurved, making her look like a teenager due to her size and build.

  – You seem to be enjoying this with Karoline... – The woman said in a tired, slightly raspy voice, looking at the man beside her, who completely ignored her.

  He cracked his joints and adjusted his hair while continuing his monologue to Karoline, who observed attentively.

  The real man paused for a brief moment, taking a deep breath before opening his eyes. His pupils glowed yellow as a confident smile spread across his face while his clone mirrored his movements.

  – Princess, it’s showtime!

  After his declaration, he charged toward the girl, but this time he went alone, without creating more clones.

  Karoline didn’t hesitate and propelled herself forward, aiming a rapid punch with her flaming right fist at his face. Moments before impact, the clone’s head almost instantly liquefied. The young woman stumbled slightly, expecting resistance, but her attack passed through her opponent. Then she was struck in the stomach by a punch from the headless clone. Moving at such high speed, the blow hurt more than usual, making her close her eyes in pain and lose concentration, extinguishing the reddish flames around her body.

  She spat saliva from the impact but quickly grabbed her attacker’s arm. The flames reignited around her, now as ordinary fire spreading across her body. She anticipated resistance, but he merely grabbed her to restrict her movement. The young woman increased the flames’ temperature further. As he melted, the man kept smiling.

  – You’ve taken down one; two more to go. – The melting clone said as two figures advanced toward Karoline from behind, landing synchronized kicks on her back, sending her skidding across the ground and dissipating part of the flames around her.

  She rolled on the ground with the melted clone clinging to her body before turning to face the two remaining attackers, charging toward her in perfect unison.

  She stood still, bracing her arms in a combat stance. The two clones were close to each other, advancing toward her. Then, she decided to deliver a horizontal kick, and as she did, flames erupted, igniting her front in a wave of fire. One clone stopped instantly, while the other propelled himself over the rapidly advancing flames. Before being hit, the clone on the ground liquefied, escaping the fire.

  Karoline noticed that one clone was airborne and quickly pointed her hand, focusing the flames to unleash a blaze. However, as the fire shot toward him, she spotted a figure charging from the smoke left by the massive wave of fire.

  – Surprise!

  The clone emerged, delivering a spinning kick that struck the girl’s hand. Before she could react with the other hand, the airborne clone descended and struck her face with a punch, knocking her to the ground. In response, she used flames in their direction, attempting to hit them and propel herself away.

  She was dragged along the ground until she reached a certain distance. The young woman got up, panting, blood dripping from her lips, her eyes fixed straight ahead. Her vision revealed one clone standing with crossed arms and the other leaning on him, resting his elbow on his shoulder.

  – Do you think she’s okay?

  – She doesn’t look okay at all.

  The two clones spoke to each other, smiling.

  – I’m going to make you swallow that stupid grin! – Karoline said, wiping the blood off with the back of her hand.

  – I can’t wait to see you try. – the clones responded in unison.

  Karoline took a deep breath, watching the two clones as they walked toward her.

  "Why can't I land a hit on him!?"

  In front of the building, Black threw a right punch at the Crusher, who moved to the right of the young man. When the punch was thrown, Bobby deflected the attack with his left hand, redirecting it and then hitting Black in the face with his right. Black stepped back but quickly returned to face his opponent with clenched teeth.

  – I have to admit, kid, you're tough; but I can tell you've never fought someone of equal strength. – explained the Crusher while maintaining his stance.

  “Shut the hell up!”

  Black wore a furious expression; his fists were trembling with frustration.

  – If you keep that mindset during a fight, you'll almost always be at a disadvantage. Because you're not just facing your opponent, you're facing yourself. – said the Crusher, preparing for another assault. – It might not seem like it, but a fight isn’t just about strength; you have to think, too. Fighting is like life: it might seem like the strongest wins, but in reality, the winner is the one who can adapt the most to the situation.

  The Crusher made some small alternating hops as he advanced toward the young man, quickly shifting to the right and left. Black tried to keep up by retreating and observing Bobby’s movements, who seemed to be preparing a strike with his left hand while watching the young man’s reaction. When Black tried to use his dominant arm to defend the blow, he dropped his guard and was hit square in the face by Bobby’s left fist. The young man staggered back and then became enraged, yelling as he charged at Bobby with the intention of grabbing him. When he did, Bobby shook his head in denial and struck Black with knee strikes; when Black released him, Bobby delivered another right punch to the young man’s face, sending him crashing to the ground, where he stayed for a moment.

  – A great man once said: "Be like water; be flexible. Learn, adapt, and overcome”; remember that, kid.

  The gleam in Bobby’s eyes faded as he took a deep breath. His muscles began to revert back to fat, and he touched his stomach with an agonized expression, turning his back to Black.

  “No... I can't lose!”

  – Hey! – Black yelled as he slowly got up.

  Bobby wore a slight smile amid the pain before swallowing deeply and returning to his neutral expression.

  “I need to become a Convergent!”

  – This isn't over yet; you haven't won! – Black shouted, tearing his shirt. He was sweating and breathing heavily. – If you think I’m just going to accept defeat, you're gravely mistaken!

  Bobby glared at the young man, clenching his teeth as his pupils once again flickered, and the fat on his body turned back into muscle.

  “Only then can I save her!”

  – I won’t give up! – The dull yellow in Black's eyes turned vivid for a moment. – I’ll never give up!

  – I like your determination, kid. But as long as you don’t realize your anger is taking over the fight, you’ll keep losing to me and to yourself. – Bobby said, as Black remained with clenched teeth, tightening his fists.

  “What does this guy think he knows about me!?”

  – Why do you speak like you know me? Fuck off! – Black shouted, looking at his hands, covered in sand from the ground where he had fallen. – Don’t come lecturing me with that ridiculous talk! Believe me, I have plenty of reasons to be pissed!

  Bobby simply watched Black, who was still agitated, staring at the ground.

  – I’m alone, trapped in a world I don’t know, when I should be somewhere else! I feel like I have no control over my damn life!

  He continued his rant, tightening his fists and looking again at the man in front of him with a frustrated look.

  – And you think you're the only one who faces hardships in life, kid!? – Bobby stared at Black with a stern expression. – We all have our struggles. What matters is that you have your life; if you’re alive, then thank God, get up, and overcome the obstacles!

  Black looked at Bobby, opening his fists for a moment and closing his mouth without showing his teeth anymore.

  – A long time ago, I was debilitated; I couldn’t even walk. I couldn’t use my abilities anymore, and I lost my ground. – Bobby said, staring into Black’s eyes. – Do you know what the worst part of it all was? The hatred!

  Black breathed deeply, listening to every word coming from Bobby’s mouth.

  – I hated everything; I hated life, I hated the world because I couldn’t even clean my own shit by myself! – Bobby said, his voice slightly choked. – I was nothing without my abilities, but I realized that anger didn’t fix anything; it only made me more resentful.

  – And what did you do? – Black asked, his eyes sharp, almost as if pleading for guidance. – Why does everything I do seem to lead nowhere?

  – I accepted that I can’t change the past, but I realized that, little by little, thinking clearly and with determination, I could change my future, – Bobby replied with a reassuring smile.

  “He’s right. If I just keep going with anger, I won’t be able to make the right decisions.”

  Black remained thoughtful, staring at his sand-covered hands.

  “Even under pressure, I need to be able to control my mind. I can’t get more lost than I already am...”

  He first closed his eyes, then showed a face that was no longer angry but serious, positioning his arms and focusing his gaze.

  “I need to be like water...”

  Black adjusted his stance, firmly grounding his feet, took a deep breath, and then exhaled completely, nodding his head in resolve.

  – That's what I'm talking about, kid!

  Bobby raised his arms and charged just as he had done before. Black waited for the attack, holding his stance and staying perfectly still. Bobby prepared to strike with his right fist, studying the boy's reaction as Black stared directly into his eyes. Unable to predict Black's movements, Bobby followed through with his punch. Black remained almost motionless, and when he was sure of his opponent's strike, he executed a move similar to Bobby’s earlier one. He deflected the blow and used the applied force to redirect it before landing two quick strikes: one punch to Bobby's face, causing him to step back, and another punch that nearly hit him squarely, though Bobby managed to pull back just in time.

  – Learn, adapt, and overcome. – Black said, watching as Bobby got up, holding his face and spitting a bit of blood.

  – Damn, kid! You pack one hell of a punch! Hahaha! – Bobby exclaimed, holding his jaw and trying to muster a smile. – Now I won’t hold back; show me what you’ve got!

  Bobby stomped on the ground with force, the glint in his eyes growing brighter. He held back a roar as he performed the action, his muscles swelling and becoming more defined. Black watched calmly, his eyes fixed on his opponent.

  Bobby brought his arms together in front of his body, restraining his roar until it burst forth like a furious bellow as he spread his arms wide at the precise moment. His shirt tore apart from the muscular expansion, and his breathing became slightly irregular. He seemed focused on maintaining that form, clenching his teeth until he finally exhaled deeply and relaxed. Bobby had grown about ten centimeters taller, and his muscles were massive. Slowly, he removed his mask, revealing his neatly trimmed blond hair and scruffy beard. A confident smile appeared on his face as sweat dripped down his body.

  – Let’s go! – he shouted, assuming his combat stance as Black nodded in acknowledgment.

  Then, both charged at each other, their escalating cries echoing throughout the arena.