Chapter 3: CrossroadsWhat happened? I feel... conscious? But my body was numb. I feel the overwhelming pain palpitating throughout my body. I wanted to groan, even scream. I can't even open my mouth to let it out. Little by little, I try to move my fingers by I can only twitch it at best. So far, so good. I should let go by now, and just let death claim me. But somehow a part of me was still fighting. I was in so much pain, lying on a puddle of my own blood. I guess I was stubborn as I deemed myself to be... As my sense of touch began returning on my fingertips. The palpitating, twitching pain began beating on my nerves like a wild fire spreading through a forest of wick. My vision was too narrow and sight blurry. But I can see my mangled right arm resting beside me. I can still twitch my finger tips on on my battered limb. Suddenly, I noticed the fragmentations that shredded my flesh began... "sinking" into my destroyed limb. It was so blurry but I feel each of the painful shards digging through my grinded flesh. As if... they are all... merging with me. It was indistinguishable, maybe I was hallucinating from the pain, but I can feel it. It feels weird. Seconds later, I try to open my eyes just a little bit. I can still feel my face swollen and numb. It was a blur but I can feel... a familiar and strong presence before me. I try to open my eyes but I didn't have to know who was it. She came for me. Or at least what I think her purpose was, I don't know. My strength began fading again, but this time, I felt contentment yet not complacent. Again, my consciousness drifted off.
-
Boulderdash has finally snapped and transformed. For a superhero, he was absurdly vain about his self-image that he would lash out to anyone who would dare so much as to tamper it in the slightest. This was the reason why he was withheld on any Superhero organizations, and was forced to work on his own. Using his status alone, he built up popularity in his own school to feed is utterly insatiable need for attention. Consolidating considerable amount of influence throughout the campus that he easily trampled rival Nova/Superheroes within the entire student body.
But for how long is he going to keep the torch held up high?
With the sudden arrival of the woman in red, things had gotten blurry for Boulderdash. He did not know who she was, but her presence alone struck deep in his seemingly impenetrable ego. He did not know whether she was a Hero or Villain, but the apparent sense of dread he was feeling speaks in tremendous amount of volumes.
The woman in red turned her attention to the seemingly lifeless Walter.
"...!"
She quickly noticed the poor teen's arm being warped, assimilated by a black matter being formed on the numerous frags lodged into his flesh. The woman in red then noticed one of the shards littered near Walter, the very same foreign object that was being assimilated unto the human's arm.
"..."
The woman in red didn't utter a word, but her soft mumble tells a different tale, as she scanned the shard with her helm's heads up display. It was then she realized that the foreign shard came from her suit or armor or rather used to be. It bore the same composition, down to its basic element.
Not wasting any second, she waved her hand and brought up a small holographic console. She pressed a trifecta combination of keys, and then a small circular device materialized on her palm. She then jabbed the device unto Walter's shoulder on his mangled arm. The device then began to beep to life as it channeled a current of unknown energy unto his arm. It was somehow quelling or suppressing the black matter's assimilation process.
"HEY!"
Boulderdash roared behind the Woman in Red, on the gesture that he was being ignored.
"..."
The woman in red stayed her tongue, not even uttering a word worth hearing. Instead she continue to tend to Walter's condition.
"Oh? Ignoring me, huh? Well then. 'Guess this is just as understandable."
Ticked off, Boulderdash began channeling huge amounts of energy; his arm ringing and vibrating with condensed kinetic energy. Gritting his teeth in pure, unadulterated anger, he was gonna level everything around him.
"Getting in my way-I ought to put you in your-"
Boulderdash winds up his incoming massive attack. But before he could dish it, he felt the mass amount of kinetic energy was snuffed out in an instant.
"What-"
The Woman in Red was standing inches towards him, before he could even blink. Her palm was holding his fist in an eased grip. But the accumulated energy disappeared in an instant.
Before the disgruntled superhero could take another breath, he saw the Woman in Red's palm inching towards his chest. He couldn't react, it was so fast that a second hasn't even past yet. She was going for an attack, but Boulderdash can't react in a split-second. As her palm touched his chest. He suddenly disappeared on the spot. Boulderdash was sent flying through the warehouse.
He was sent flying through five city blocks until he finally plunged through the harbor. With just a slight push, he was sent flying hundreds of kilometers from where he was standing. All that, with one slight tap.
Meanwhile, Boulderdash's unconscious body laid beaten and and trashed on a pile of debris. Like what he did to Thea just a few moments ago. They say that karma can strike you at any time, but it arrived before Boulderdash can even expect it coming; in a form of the Woman in Red. And all it took was one blow to send him flying through a vast distance from where he was standing. Emphasizing the difference in power between the two of them; with the Woman in Red leagues above her... adversary.
Though the distance of Boulderdash's trajectory barely pronounced her strength, the damage dealt to both the environment and to Boulderdash himself spoke volumes. His Nex Frame or suit was completely obliterated with an apparent hand print on his torso.
Now that the nuisance has been dealt with, the Woman in Red turned her attention back at the beaten Walter. His current state was not getting any better. The assimilation has completely mutated his right arm; from human to a technological amalgamation of flesh and steel.
"..."
She let out a soft sigh underneath her visor. It would seem she has no option left. It would seem that she was willing to dismiss this off as an accident, a freak accident at that. So, she laid her arms underneath Walter's body and carefully lifted him up; cradling him safe in her arms.
"Mmmh..."
Walter moaned, a sign of life. He was coming to again.
-
"Ugh..."
After what seemed like a day without consciousness, Walter was finally waking up for the first time in what seemed like hours.
As he come to, he felt as if he was floating from where he was lying lax on. But he brushed it off as maybe a daze of some sort. His eye lids still felt heavy, as if he wanted to snooze but his mind told him not to otherwise.
"What-what-"
Eyes now wide open, Walter was taken aback by everything before him. He was still in the school warehouse but everything, from where he was to the far horizon, was completely enveloped in black and white, a monochrome void. With everything and everyone but him were stuck in suspended animation.
"Is this the after-life...? Am I in Limbo-am I dead?"
Walter asked himself. He was about to panic, but the strange sense of tranquility somehow calmed him down a bit.
As he was about to get up, he noticed that he was actually floating and not just because he was dazed. He was lying down on a transparent holographic slab, mimicking a bed and riddled with glyphs.
"Hawawa-oof!"
Panic began to take hold, with his sudden movement, he fell down where he lied. Hyperventilating and on the brink of a breakdown.
As he lifted his right arm to cup his face, his expression went from bad to worse.
"Aahh! What-what's happening!?"
His right arm was not what it once was. Instead of flesh and bone, it was now more machine made out of black steel plates and dark and red matter-like material. He tried moving his fingers on it and even ran his left hand on it, Surprising enough, this new arm of his felt like a normal arm. It didn't felt like a prosthetic limb of some sort at all.
"Huh..?"
More curious now than panicked, Walter patted himself all over. Other than the majority of the right side of his torso, he seemed okay.
"Where am I? What happened to me?"
The teen continue to question.
"You survived.",
"What?"
Before he could pick himself up back on his feet, Walter was startled by the sudden appearance of the Woman in Red.
"It's you... from last time."
The teen was quick to recognize her guise. Though he didn't knew her name.
"Who are you? What is this place? What-"
Again, his queries began to flood. The Woman in Red reached out her hand and grabbed Walter's assimilated right arm.
"She feels... warm."
Walter was slightly flushed to have felt her touch for the first time.
"Hmmm..."
Furling her helmet into her suit mechanism, she again revealed her full facial features to Walter. But her glowing complexion and pearlescent hair made it hard for him to recognize her. But it confirms that the Woman in Red was not from their school. She was an entirely different person.
After a brief inspection, the Woman in Red went back to her station, that comprised of multiple floating and transparent consoles and keys. Furiously typing strings of multiple algorithms and data, roughly more than 1000 characters per second.
"Where are you now, is the invisible domain of frozen time. A parallel thread of space. You've been sleeping exactly 72 hours in real time-",
"Wait wait wait! Frozen time? Parallel thread? Three days!?"
As she was entertaining his query one-by-one, he abruptly interrupts. Which made her stop typing and just glare at Walter with a brow raised.
"-sorry.",
Ashamed for butting in, the teen quickly apologized for the rude gesture.
"Anyway, yes, frozen time. Because in this thread of space, the time continuum is void and nil. There is no flow of time here. Thread because even though it looked like it encompasses the entire area, there are still borders. This thread of space is no larger than a normal room."
The Woman in Red did her best to give Walter her explanation whilst typing on her console. Despite her being very occupied at the moment she continued...
"-to get to the point, you being here is the least of your worries. That assimilation or what's left of that arm of your is what you should be worried about."
She said to the teen. Walter inspected his assimilated arm for the second time. Clenching his fist and running his fingers through the flowing red lines that seem to palpitate with an unknown kind of energy; like exposed vectors of blood vessels or nerves.
"What... happened, exactly? To my arm, I mean. Am I-"
Curiosity rang once more. But before he could finish, the Woman in Red threw him an object. Just less than a blink of an eye, suddenly, he caught it in a fraction of a second. Without him even aware of it. Much to his surprise.
With the speed of the object thrown, it could've hit him square on the face. But it didn't thanks to his newly-found reflex; that seem to not in sync with his own perception.
"Recognize that?"
The Woman in Red asked, stopping her commotion completely and turning her attention to Walter. The teen opened his palm and looked closely. It was the missing half of the crest that Richie destroyed. The one he found on the day him and the Woman in Red first met.
"Any Finite or Mortal soul that would touch that would have their flesh seared through the bone."
The Woman in Red added. The sudden statement made the teen to almost drop it.
"What!? But... I don't feel anything. It looks like a plain object to me."
He tried gripping the crest from both hands. But not a slightest prick of heat was felt.
"Exactly the case. This is the first time I've seen the Mantra actually accepting a mortal soul to touch it-let alone assimilate.",
"Mantra?",
"Yes, that's what your arm is. And that's what I am."
Said the Woman in Red. Needless to say, it didn't made any sense at all to Walter.
"What? So you're saying... you're neither Novus nor Human?",
"The Mantra, is a collective entirety of universes beyond. The God Particle, life beyond life, and the building block of the cosmos. Think of it as... technology. Like technology, it has its use but for the highest cause-beyond good and evil. Can be either Sentient or not, but it's very very unpredictable even to me."
She added. Walter did not followed at all. He could only shake his head in response.
From what he understood, basically, his arm was now assimilated as a piece of technology beyond mortal comprehension and has capabilities that can be catastrophic when misused.
"But-what... this... ugh."
He was so confused and flustered to the point where he could even form audible sentences.
"Just put somehow, in some odd method, someone has managed to use the searing fragment, and stab it on your arm. In simple terms, simply put, part of me is now part of you. Now, hold out your arm."
The Woman in Red ordered. It would seem that even that last ditch summary was also in vain because it still made no sense to Walter. It was just too difficult to grasp, given his current state. Giving up on his queries, Walter just did what he was told. He didn't thought that mere mundane questions would enlighten his situation to the slightest.
The Woman in Red seemed more knowledgeable on the matter and his current condition than he was. So instead of obstructing any further, he thought it would be best to let her do the appropriate measures.
She went back to her work station again and typed the few remaining data and algorithms before concluding. From the holographic console, materialized a compact device of compact and complicated technology. About roughly the size of Walter's fist.
She then grabbed his assimilated right arm and slid the device at the back of his palm. The device unfurled to life as it formed protective assembly of plates all over Walter's assimilated arm; similar to how Superheroes form their Nex Frame or suit.
"What's this?",
"The Finite Nullifier. This device should hamper and suppress the assimilation process by 98.5% and completely block it from reaching your brain.",
"That's a pretty effective for a suppression. But what will happen if it fails and the... assimilation reaches my brain?"
Walter followed up. The Woman in Red responded with a brief pause.
"Remember the abomination that I fought when we first met?"
She responded. The response made Walter cast a rather grim look at the Woman in Red.
"...so I'm to be end up like that?"
Just when it could not get any worse. Walter couldn't help but bow his head in negativity.
"Perhaps, that's only one of the many plausible outcomes. But its immediate effect may take hold soon enough, such as unlocking a dormant feat or maybe consume you from the inside-out. Like I said, the Mantra is thoroughly unpredictable."
"That's not very reassuring.",
"I never said it was! Until I deduct the root, you're gonna have to live with it."
The Woman in Red immediately shot him down with a scolding with his rebuttal.
"-sorry."
Embarrassed, dismayed, the teen awkwardly apologized.
"Until I can find a way to extract or stop the assimilation, we can only do so much as to suppress it. We can never tell what it can do, or what the assimilation can consume or accept."
With a swipe of her hand, the Woman in Red swept off her entire work station. She approached Walter and made one last quick inspection of his right arm.
"I would enlighten you further, but 72 hours is long enough for you to stay here in the frozen time continuum. Time for you to go back."
She raised her hand and touched the middle of his forehead with her thumb. It was now due to send Walter off. But before she could proceed, the teen grabbed her arm, startling her a bit.
"Wait."
The two then met each other's eyes. Walter thought to seize the opportunity to know one thing about her before he goes back in real time.
"Will you at least tell me your name? When can I see you again?"
His vision was now slowly blurring. He felt his body floating and being drained of strength. His bodily functions shutting off one-by-one like light bulbs dying off.
"Soon, I will come find you. My nam...-is-A-th-a-"
Before Walter could hear her name, his hearing was already dulled. He only heard very vague syllables. The rest were indistinguishable and muffled echoes.
"Atha..."
He muttered as his consciousness again faded. But unlike the last time, it wasn't as discomforting.
-
"Ah!"
Walter felt a sudden jolt as he woke up, in a snap. He sat up gasping for air. As if he was pulled out of safety from drowning.
He then patted himself all over. He was still in one piece. His new right arm was still present, he wished that moment that it had been all a bad dream.
"What time is-oh!"
As he was about to reach for his watch, the device on his new arm flashed an intricate holographic console around his arm, similar to Atha's workstation. It flashed a holo-watch set in real time.
"8:01 pm... talk about convenience."
Walter thought in amazement as he interacted with the console. It seem that it wasn't built just to suppress he assimilation but also comes with an advanced personal holo-console too.
"This is nice and all but how am I gonna explain this to my par-ah!"
Again, the device triggered its function, catching him off-guard once again. The plates and the complicated frame of his new arm compacted, furled and reassembled themselves to form a simulated human flesh. With the daunting black coat faded into a different color, matching his own skin complexion. Although, the red lines were still visible and some parts untouched.
"She was right. It IS unpredictable."
Walter finally picked himself up. He was unconscious for 3 days in frozen time. But it was only a minute passed in the real world.
The teen walked 3 steps forward, and he stumbled upon his bag. Now torn and worn because of the ensued disaster earlier. He opened his torn bag and found his notebook, thankfully unscathed. He salvaged what's left of his things and laid out his torn bag. He then pulled out both of his shoelaces off his footwear and tied it to the worn bag, creating a make-shift knapsack.
As he was trying to recall his whereabouts prior to meeting Atha, the Woman in Red, or at least from what he heard her name was, a thought struck him like a brick.
"Oh my god, Thea!"
Walter immediately bolted off to the pile of debris, and quickly dug through the rubble with his bare hands.
"Thea! Thea..!"
He yelled as he cleared one debris at a time. As he went on, he finally found Thea; buried and pinned beneath massive crates. Without hesitation, and with zero effort at all, he lifted the massive crates and threw them aside. These massive crates were 10 times heavier than him yet he just lifted them off like they were cardboard boxes.
He did not noticed nor paid attention to what he just did. His mindset at the time was to get Thea to safety.
"Thea? Thea! Hey! Wake up!"
Walter elevated her body and checked her pulse and breathing. She was out cold and covered in bruises, but she was still breathing. Not before long, police and ambulance sirens were heard, approaching from the distance.
"Hold on, Thea."
Carefully, he carried the unconscious red-head in his arms. He quickly rushed outside to meet with the paramedics and authorities gathering outside the warehouse. The medics on the scene quickly took Thea on a stretcher and prepared her to be boarded on the ambulance.
After a brief questioning by the authorities on the scene, Walter followed the ambulance to the hospital, as they rushed Thea on the emergency room.
The teen anxiously waited in the hospital hallway as the doctors worked on Thea's immediate care.
An hour passed, the attending doctors finally emerged out of the room, concluding their treatment procedure. One of them went to Walter, since he came in with the red-head.
"Is she gonna be okay, doc?",
"She sustained serious injury, fragmented ribs and a broken arm at first. But thanks to her Nexus energy, it repaired most of the damage and dire injury she sustained."
The doctor stated as she looked at her papers. Walter sighed with relief, happy that Thea's gonna be okay.
"You're with her, right? Does she have family members or relatives to contact to?"
The doctor asked the teen. He couldn't recall that she had relatives or guardian present at the moment.
"I... don't know. She's new in town. Is she gonna be fine?"
"-she a novus?"
He hesitated for a brief moment when he heard the question. But he wasn't gonna deny Thea her privileges, didn't matter where she was born or grew up, she is a novus to him.
"I-yes! She is. I can vouch for her."
He stuttered a bit, but subtle enough not to be noticed by the doctor. The doctor then looked at him with her brow raised and a slight smirk.
"So... are you perchance, her lover~?"
Asked the doctor as she rested her hands on her hips, looking at Walter with a snide expression.
"Wha-wha-what?! No! No-I mean she is beautifu-I mean, no I-argh!"
Walter found himself thoroughly flustered and stuttering, stumbling through his words. Much to the amusement of the doctor.
"Hmhmhm... Oh relax, kid. I'm just teasing you. But I can tell, you went to all sorts of trouble just to help her. That is so sweet~"
She commended the teen for his effort. Walter could not respond properly, he was still blushing like a ripe tomato.
"Back on the matter, yes, she'll be fine. She would need plenty of rest. Exhausting that much Nexus energy has fatigued her.",
"Thank you, doc.",
"You are welcome, prince charming~",
"Please, stop..."
After concluding with his meeting with the attending doctor, the teen then peeped through the glass slot of the door to see Thea resting soundly. He could only sigh as he cast a worried look on her.
The night was getting late, Walter picked up what's left of his things and head on home. On the way back, he could only think of visiting her tomorrow night or after class.
He may have been alone at school and social life, but Thea was alone all her life. He thought she could use some company.
-
As he reached his house, Walter's head bumped the top of the doorway.
"Ow! What the hell?"
It immediately bothered Walter, wasn't the door way taller than he was? He checked to see if there's an elevated step that he did not noticed, if his shoes' sole was thick or something. None of the given were found. His height definitely increased. Before he could bother with the issue further, as he stepped inside, he heard a very familiar call.
"Walty-kins? Is that you?"
A gentle and motherly voice was heard across the living room.
"Yeah! I'm home, mom!"
He responded. As he stepped in further, two weary and familiar faces welcomed him. A beautiful buxom lady and a stern-looking gentleman. The lady gave him a big hug while the gentleman crossed his arms while staring daggers at him.
"Mom, Dad...",
"Don't 'Mom, Dad...' me, young man. Where have you been?"
Walter's dad sounded a bit furious. He has once again went home pass curfew time.
"Oh hush, dear! Our little boy is tired.",
"Mom...",
"You keep doting him like that, he's gonna be spoiled!"
Before any more statement thrown, Walter went to the sofa and sat down.
"I'm sorry, just came from the hospital-",
"What!? What happened? Oh goodness did you get in a fight again? Were you injured? Sick?",
"Sweetie, please let the man finish talking."
A typical scenario on the Olven household. Usually, Walter's parents are always assuming the what, where and why of everything he has been doing. Since he was their only child, both his parents dote him like no tomorrow. Making it hard for Walter to even open up to them.
"No, no! Friend of mine got injured on a crossfire between some superhero and villain. I helped rush her to the hospital."
Walter explained. Though made up, it would be for the best. After all, if he reveals everything that had transpired, they might go ballistic beyond reason.
"Wait, did you say... 'her'?"
His mother gasped. The couple looked at each other in both excitement and shock.
"...yeah?",
"Ooohoho! Did you hear that, sweetie? Our boy's dating!",
"So who's the lucky girl? Oh, my little Walty-kins is now a man!",
"What!? Oh no... not you guys too!"
Walter groaned as he cupped his face with his palm. He should've figured that they would de-rail the conversation sooner or later. The conversation went on for quite some time, until it was finally time to call it a night.
"Good night, dear!",
"Alright, mom!"
Removing his polo and shirt, Walter hastily flopped his body on the bed. It really has been a long day. Probably the longest day of his life so far.
He stared dead at the ceiling, as he thought about the events that had happened on this day.
"I lost Ailana's card after all that. Maybe I'll just talk to her about it tomorrow."
He thought to himself. Even after the incident, he had hoped that Ailana's card would still be somewhere in the warehouse. But no use on dwelling on it now.
"...I should also pay Thea a visit. She could use some company. I should get some bouquet on mom's flower shop to help her get better, cheer her up."
He observed his right arm again, still assuming a pseudo-disguise. Although he was looking at his new arm, his mind was being flooded with thoughts about Thea.
"Why do they even think that we're together? I mean... she is pretty, smart and she looks adorable without he glass-"
Before he could finish the thought, his face lit bright red again. He was so flustered that he smothered his face with his pillow. As if to hide his embarrassing expression to someone.
"Aaaarrrgghh... jeeeez! What the hell am I saying!?"
Walter screamed while being muffled by his pillow. Strongly denying what he was feeling at the moment. He smiled at the warm thought. After all, even before that incident with Richie Marcus, he had originally planned to talk to her again. He hoped that she won't be as hostile as last time, now that he has mustered up some confidence and courage to talk to her.
With his priority set for tomorrow, he slowly drifted off to sleep.
-
The alarm clock rings but the sun's rays were nowhere to be found. Cold but not damp, enough to pin a person comfortably on his bed. It was a rainy morning of 7 am.
As Walter slowly opened his eyes, he felt as if his body was being fueled with energy, invigorated by a well-rested sleep. Though still in just woken up, he felt strangely energetic.
He was still in a mood to snooze but he couldn't. He picked up his shirt and stood in front of the mirror. His eyes were suddenly sprang wide open with disbelief.
"Holy..."
Before he could pull down his shirt, he noticed a drastic change in his physique. From flabby and out of shape, to chiselled and super toned. Clad with lean muscles like that of a greek colossus or a model, or even an Olympic athlete.
He scratched his eyes as he did a double take in front of the mirror. He immediately darted towards his bathroom and furiously splashed his face with running water, trying to make sure that he was wide awake.
He grabbed his towel and just as he washed his face, he thoroughly wiped it as if he's smudging his face off. Walter once again stood before the mirror, it was no daze nor dream, nor hallucination. His physique was ripped.
"But how..."
He was speechless. He noticed that the red lines on his right arm now drew across his body. But not as worse as his right arm, must be a residual assimilation.
It may have been suppressed but the small percentage was enough for it to persist. He panicked at first, but after taking one good look at it, it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. He didn't feel any pain nor discomfort, other than being conscious about his new body morph.
"Hmm..."
The curious teen tried flexing a bit, and poking his muscles. They were solid as steel. Pectorals, lats, abdomen, shoulders, not a trace of fat was pinched. It would seem the assimilation has drastically accelerated his metabolism and muscle growth in one night.
"...I think I can get used to this."
He uttered as he continued flexing, curiosity turned pride. Suddenly, he was startled by a knock on his door.
"Walty-kins! It's almost 8! Are you awake?"
Walter's mother called from the other side of the door. The teen hurriedly rushed to his closet to grab some fresh clothes.
"Y-yeah! Just a minute!"
He hurriedly put on his school uniform and fixed his short do.
"Are you alright in there, dear?"
His mother continue to ask him on the other side of the door. It looked like a minute more and she would make her way in by unlocking the door. Walter now found his polo a bit tighter on the chest area due to his bulging pectorals. It felt like his polo shrunk after the change.
As soon as he put on his shoes, he made his way out. Once out, he gave his mom a quick peck on the cheek as a morning gesture, and rushed on the dinner table.
"Breakfast first, dear!"
She nagged. It was 7:40 am already, it would take him an hour to wait for the sky tram, so he was on the rush.
As he reached the table, he took his plate of bacon and eggs with toast and wrapped the sunny-side up with the strips of bacon, then downed it with one gulp. Walter left the toast hanging on his mouth as he slung his knapsack over his shoulder.
"Bye Mom-!",
"Please, take care!"
Before he could hear his mother's response, Walter was long gone.
-
As he rushed his way towards the sky tram station, his attention was at the holo-watch projected on his wrist. It was 7:43 am, all he could think about was how late is he gonna be when he arrives at school.
"-oof!"
Walter's body suddenly bumped on what seemed to be a solid wall.
"What?"
He was about to apologize when he was struck with disbelief. He was already in front of his school, the thing that he bumped to earlier was one of the pillars of the entrance gate to the campus.
"D-did it change address, or..."
Walter looked around, he was utterly flabbergasted that he was attracting some attention of other students passing by him.
"No, no... same street, same uniforms, same name- this is my school!"
He thought to himself, confused. He looked at his holo-watch and it was only 3 seconds passed. How did he get there so fast that it seemed like only a few steps since he left his house?
Much less arrive exactly in front of the school. And it was not like the way from his house to York State University was in a linear direction.
It would seem that he just traveled so fast that his perception lagged before it can even process. Before he could pry any further, the school bell rang and it was time for class.
-
In class, during the teacher's lecture, almost half of the class' attention were being directed at Walter. Most of them were awe-stricken by the ongoing commotion. Even Ailana, whom was present and sitting beside Walter, was speechless to what she was witnessing.
Soon the entire class' attention was now at the intriguing commotion at Walter's desk. It didn't took long before the teacher finally notice it.
"What's going there?!"
The teacher yelled at the class. He noticed the center of the commotion was point towards Walter Olven.
"Mr. Olven! What is going o-ah!"
Before he could give the teen an earful, the teacher found himself shocked.
On his desk, Walter was flipping pages and writing important notes at a lightning-fast pace at the same time. It was so fast that it was like watching an enactment of how a supercomputer process a load of data in a short span of time.
As he finished two large textbooks, he finally noticed the attention directed at him.
"...what?"
Baffled, he asked his classmates. The air was filled with uncomfortable silence, as they all stared at him like they are staring at a new museum exhibit or attraction.
"What!?"
He asked again, now more annoyed by the excessive attention. With that, the class seem to snap out of their trance-like stare. The class resumed as normal.
-
Throughout the class hours, it had been rather uncomfortable for Walter. He could feel as if his classmates were catching glances at him, on and off. He was used to being teased around, but this was different. Regardless to say, it scares him a bit.
But to Ailana, her attention was glued to Walter through and through. She noticed the changes he had underwent, from his outlook to his mannerisms. She was curious otherwise. Curiosity turned to admiration. And there was no doubt about it, she thinks Walter had finally became a Novus like her.
And just the other day, from her assessment, he was crooked, awkwards and a bit of a klutz. Not that she did mind, she found it endearing at most. But now he was straight, fierce and charming in a way.
After class, Ailana hurriedly packed her things on her locker. She then hurriedly went towards Walter's locker, see if he was still there. But as she close in, she was forcefully bumped by two hooligans making their way also towards him.
"Ow! Hey!"
She grunted as these hooligans just bumped and ignored her like she was a nobody. She was about to tell them off, but the two had already initiated conversation with Walter. In which the teen completely ignored the two. It was Chipper and Brute.
Walter was about to wrap up, his senses then suddenly sent out a danger signal. He sensed two presences, familiar ones at that, approaching him. Normally, he would hurry about his business. But for some reason, he felt calm and... indifferent.
Just as he stood up to close his locker, the locker door was slammed shut by Brute; a supposed primer for his daily beating. But instead of taking it, he ignored it like it was supposed to happen.
He turned around, and threw his padlock up and over his shoulder without looking.
"Yeowch!"
The padlock hit Chipper's head and slid through the lock on the tiny slot of his locker door. It was a one out of a thousand probability to pull off something like that, yet Walter just did it naturally.
The teen continue to ignore the two bullies, and held his bouquet meant for Thea close to him. The two hooligans didn't like this, not one bit.
"Why you smug little-rrgh! Hrgh!"
Chipper quickly reached out his hand to grab him and force him to turn around. But he didn't budge one inch and just kept walking on a normal pace. He couldn't even anchor him to stop, he was being dragged by the seemingly unstoppable momentum by Walter.
"Don't just stand there! Help me, you dolt!"
Yelling at Brute, both bullies grabbed Walter by the shoulder. But even at their full effort, they couldn't hamper his pace, nor stop him. It was like trying to stop a very slow-moving train by hand.
The students gathered around them, watched in amusement as the two bullies fail in every effort exerted. It was like watching a funny video on the internet right in front of you.
Grumbling in frustration, Brute picked up a chair from a nearby classroom and barreled at Walter in full speed.
"Ou' the way!"
He roared as he close in. Chipper quickly moved out of the way. The onlookers quickly steered clear too. Things were about to get ugly.
"Arrgh...!"
The two bullies were sent flying backwards. As the chair made contact with Walter's back, instead of breaking or bending, the chair and Brute himself was blown away by the same amount of force and momentum he applied. The supposed impact was redirected and repelled.
The impact incapacitated both Chipper and Brute. Walter then finally stopped on his tracks and looked at both of his bullies, with eyes looking down on them like he was looking at littered gutter trash.
With his newly-found power, Walter not only changed physically but mentally and emotionally as well.
"If you're thinking of putting me to the ground like you guys always do, then let that speak for itself. I was always helpless, now, I have the means to go up against it. I would return the favor but seeing you like that is enough. Unless you two want a further demonstration?"
Walter said with a stern stance and with an aura of intimidation.
"I'm not one to rub it on your faces. But the sooner you accept reality, the better we can move on. Otherwise, keep trying.",
"...wait!"
As Walter was about to go on his way, he paused as he heard Chipper called him.
"There's no denying it, with your power-you r-eally are the one who beat Richie."
Chipper struggled to even stand up straight. The impact really did a number on them, despite Walter not even lifting a finger. He did not object to the claim that he was responsible for beating up Richie either.
"...but you don't get it... word of Richie Marcus' defeat had already reached the entire school... They have already made their move."
The bruised bully added, he was about to regain his footing but he suddenly fell down on his knees. Walter's curiosity was piqued as Chipper mentioned 'they'.
"'They'?",
"The Nova Reform... The underground school administration. Wanna know why we ordinary citizens are allowed to go to school? It's because Richie fought for our rights to attend the same school as the nova. He was the only brave enough to go up against them... and he chose to rule the school to keep both us and the nova in check."
Chipper continued, crawling to the nearby locker to prop himself up.
Ailana was also still present at the scene. though at the distance. While the teen novus was now intrigued by this group.
"Nova Reform? What're you talking about?",
"I don't know much about them personally, but from what Richie told us, they are a group of elitist nova, who once attempted to reform our curriculum exclusive to the nova only. Richie was the only one who stood against them and won. That's how he became a full-fledged superhero."
Although in a dull and hopeless tone, he continued his story.
"...that's how he protected the integrity of the school. He kept us all in line, humans and nova-"
Chipper looked at Walter with his teary eyes and a scorned look, he stood up once again and limped himself towards him.
"-without Richie, we're prey out in the open! That's what you did!"
He then grabbed Walter by the scuff of his collar that he ripped on his buttons.
Meanwhile, from the crowd, a tall and slender figure made her way through. This silhouette towered over every person she loomed over. As this figure passed through Ailana, she felt a tingling and frightening aura. Ailana couldn't even flinch, she was frozen in fear.
"-you endangered us! That's what you did! *You're* the one who needs a reality che-AAAAAGGGHHH!"
Before Chipper could utter another word, his neck was suddenly coiled by a long and scaly tail. With zero effort, he was thrown by this tail away from Walter.
"I think he already covered the introduction. Sloppy, but I'll accept it."
A sultry tone spoke from the crowd. The silhouette emerged and made herself seen.
This silhouette wore a power-dress blazer and a pencil skirt, signify that she was one of the upper class students; had a very statuesque figure, taller than Walter and everybody else present. She has a fair complexion with a long braided blonde hair. Her reptilian tail slowly being retracted from her back.
Walter's expression didn't flinched, but he recognized this lady. She was listed on his notebook as one of the Nova enrolled on his school.
"Siegra Nidhogg, also known as Wyva the Dragoness."
The teen novus stated her name and her superhero designation.
"Ah... how flattering to be recognized. Charmed. I suppose those flowers are for me?"
The sultry lady giggled, flattered by his gesture. Thinking the bouquet was for her. She walked towards Walter. Ailana hurriedly pushed her way towards the front of the crowd. Just in case things get out of hand, she'll be ready to jump on Walter's aid.
Siegra drew her face closer, and smelled the sweet and soothing fragrance of Walter's bouquet. Whilst also sniffing the teen very subtly. Tulips all laced together with lavender. He was intent on bringing roses, but his mother personally picked it for him.
"What do you want?"
Walter asked, he was getting impatient as he had places to be. So he cut to the chase.
"Mhm... Well as that low-life's been saying, unfortunate news of Mr. Marcus' defeat as reached our attention."
The lady circled Walter as if she was sniffing him of traces of fear, like a curious predator who wandered into a new prey. Eyeing him from head to toe while wearing that venomously sadistic and subtle smile.
"I'm here to personally extend our... gratitude and invitation to the one responsible. I can feel potential oozing within you, a promising and fitting member to our... mhmhm... social club."
Siegra coyly said. Her aura was intimidating yet seductive at the same time. She then pulled out a calling card from her breast pocket and offered it to the teen.
"You don't have to answer right away. Please, think it through and meet us to your own convenience. You are a valuable asset after all, you deserve it."
The Nova Reform was considerate enough to give Walter his convenience. Especially to a newly-awoken novus. As she began to walk away, concluding her business...
"-and if I refuse?"
Walter suddenly felt a brush of wind in front of him. Siegra suddenly appeared in front of him, with her claws and scaled hand pointing at his head. The claws extended slowly from her hand as if it was growing from the root.
"-then you'll make one powerful enemy, Mr. Olven."
The dragon lady hissed. Ailana was about to jump in, but her instinct halted her to do so. She was still frozen in place with fear. She would use her powers to retaliate for Walter but her lack of composure at the moment made her unable to do so.
"Like I said, answer us in your own convenience. Be thankful that we are civil and plenty considerate. Because once civility is out of the picture, we will hound any obstacle indiscriminately. To the depths of hell if needed be."
She finally eased her stance, and whipped her hand back. Retracting her claws and reverting her scale-clad hand to normal.
"I just saved you from a poor decision, Mr. Olven. I hope you use your time wisely to think as many times as you want. We are after all... Superheroes."
Walking away one last time, Siegra bid her farewell to Walter, with an invitation, a laugh and a warning. The teen kept silent, unfazed and looked at the calling card as he too walked away.
The onlookers resumed their business, and the hall was busy once again. Ailana spaced out in shock to what just transpired. Unlike Walter, she was thoroughly intimidated by Siegra that she was just paralyzed.
"Ah! Walter!"
Finally coming to her senses, she gave chase to Walter, whom was already making his way out to the campus grounds. But with the thick flow of the crowd, it was already too late. He disappeared from the crowd.
-
From the entrance of the campus, two notable individuals stood watch. They both closely every student that came out of the gate.
One was the belt-clad jacket teen, the one who confronted Thea, a few days ago. And the other, a short girl.
The short girl was a fair-skinned girl with orange eyes and long, dark velvet hair worn in pigtails located on her side burns, held by hair that has been knotted. It has a few black clasps and a pink gradience nearing the bottom. She wears a very small black tube top under an opened white jacket with a bright orange, black, and white tie. She also wears a pair of pleated shorts worn with a pair of thin black suspenders, and open to reveal her orange underwear, and also black fingerless gloves over a pair of orange and black sleeves, matching socks, black shoes and a pair of black leg warmers with buckles on them.
"Neh! Neh! Are you sure he's gonna come out soon? I'm getting hungry."
The short girl grumbled as she held her hands at the back of her head while leaning on the wall. She had been growing a bit impatient, maybe because they have been standing there for quite some time.
"No doubt. We were in the same class. He should be out any minute."
Said the black-jacket teen, unlike the short girl, was patiently waiting and eyeing everyone that comes out of the gate.
"Mmmf... Why do I have to be in this? Couldn't you just approached him when you guys stepped out of the classroom?"
The girl groaned, puffing her cheeks like a meat bun. She casted a rather bored expression to her companion.
"Jeez... You're the one who said to meet him personally as, the club president. Act like it for once.",
"Mmmmh? I said that? Oh right."
Scratching her nose to her companion's lecture, the short girl's pout grew increasingly insipid... and cute. Much to her companion's dismay.
"Ah! Is that him?!"
Her expression lit up as she spotted their target. It was Walter, whom was now in a hurry.
"Yes, that's him.",
"Oooyy!"
The two called out for his attention, but all in vain as he was already too far for him to hear them.
"Jeez... I know he's the main character of the story and he needs to be in the next scene or plot point. But come on!"
The short girl let out a small rant as both her and her companion raced through to catch up with Walter. Determined that they somehow reach him.
-
With the weather still cloudy, it was impossible to tell that the sun had already set. It was already past 6 pm in the afternoon. Thea, who just woke up a few hours ago, her eyes lingered upon the glass windows.
She had been like this ever since she woke up. No gifts, no messages of good will, no visitors, Thea was lonely ever since she had been admitted into the hospital. There were occasional visits from nurse and doctors to monitor her condition, but none of them even spoken to her.
The result of the incident, caused Thea's complexion to turn from tan to pale. She used up a good volume of her nexus energy just to repair her injuries and mend her wounds. Her red hair now faded into a fuchsia and her body thinner. It would take a long while for her recover.
Thea had no recollection of what happened after she got pummeled by Richie Marcus in the warehouse incident. She did remember Walter begging for her safety, but was harmed in process.
As the rain began to pour, so did her tears. She may be a stubborn woman, but she yearned for someone, anyone to come visit her. Despite her stone-faced expression, sadness welled up inside her. The twinge in her chest felt like her heart was shriveling into a raisin. She always knew everyone that came to care about her were either harmed or killed.
"That idiot..."
She muttered, thinking about the teen who had to stand up for her.
"He should've just stayed away."
She grabbed the pillow behind her and embraced it tight. Her watery eyes now soaking the pillow.
"I left Point Lookout, so that I could have a chance of a new life here in the Metro Zone. But all I did was endanger others..."
Thea was bothered that Walter might be in a life-threatening condition right now, thanks to Richie Marcus' beating. All the pain and suffering he was experiencing now was because of her.
"...they were right. I'm no novus, I bring only suffering wherever I go. I'm just an anomalus. No one would would ever dare to care for-"
Thea was then startled as she noticed someone was at the door. She saw a person with his face hidden behind the flowers from the glass slot of the door. As this person opened the door, he revealed his face to her.
"Y-you!"
Much to her surprise, it was Walter. Holding a basket of fruits and a beautiful bouquet of flowers. The sight itself seem to left her speechless.
"Hi!"
Walter greeted her with a wide grin on his face.
"May I?",
"Uh-"
She tried to prompt a response, but it never came. Thea was at a disbelief. The teen placed the fruit basket beside her bed. He pulled the nearby chair and sat beside Thea.
"Here, this is for you. My mother owns a flower shop and she hand-picked them for me. I don't know what to get for you so... yeah."
Walter handed the bouquet to her, to which she accepted in return. Her eyes were now welled up in tears. But instead of sadness, she felt warmth, she was happy.
"...tulips. It's been so long since I last saw one. Th-Thank you, I guess."
Thea didn't know what was the appropriate response. She did not expected Walter himself would be here safe and sound, much less even visiting her. She kept her head down the entire time, hiding her flushed face, shy to even make eye contact with him.
"Here, let me."
Walter then put the bouquet into the bedside vase. As he sat down again, an awkward silence ensued once again. Just like the first time they met. All the courage Walter thought he mustered since yesterday seemed to have diminished.
"So-",
"Why are you here?"
Before Walter could finally broke the ice, Thea asked the first question. Her expression seemed to went back into a blank slate.
"Why did you have to stand up for me? I saw what happened to you. Why did you have to be so stupid and tried to save me?"
Thea pressed her questions unto him. She didn't sound angry or anything, but she asked nonetheless. Walter bowed his head and kept silent.
"You heard them. I'm an anomalus. I hurt people, everyone that sympathizes with me suffers and di-",
"No."
Walter stopped her before she could continue her self-deprecation. Regardless that did not stopped Thea from questioning him.
"Why? You don't even know me! What I have been through or what hellhole I've been in! What? Because you want me to owe you my life? Is that it?"
She was now questioning Walter's motive on standing up for her. Walter stood up from his seat and peered through the window. He wasn't looking at something, just blankly stared at the gradient of yellow and orange that painted the sunset sky.
"I'll be honest with you, I don't even know. Really. I thought at first because of the matter of Ailana. But when I saw you all lied there defenseless, I couldn't help myself."
Walter stated as he lifted and looked at his right arm.
"If it was about Ailana then I would have complied to his demands in a snap. But I couldn't just leave you like that. Yes, there were no means yet to separate anomalus from the novus other than place of origin. Yes, I didn't know you well enough, and yes, I didn't know what you have been through-"
He turned to face Thea again, with a sincere smile on his face.
"But I know what it means to be pushed around and stepped on. That's reason enough that Richie was in the wrong."
He continued his statement. Thea just stared at him with a surprised look, she was at a disbelief to what she was hearing from Walter at the moment. She would stop him there, but she felt somehow... moved.
"-and I genuinely think, you're a nice person."
Slightly flushed, Walter had to look away whilst scratching his nose as he said that. Thea's gasped in reaction, her face went bright red as she heard that compliment. She bowed her head and forcefully restrain herself from smiling. Drew her face to her knees.
"So uh... Yeah that's about it. I don't really see a supervillain nor superhero when I see you. Just a normal girl. Besides, the only person who knows who you truly are is you yourself. Life is life, and you're still you. And from a different person's perspective, you're too far from being a villain, inside and out. That is if you count me. It doesn't matter what people say about you, what's important is what you want to do.",
"Walter..."
Shyly, her lips slowly curled into a smile. Eyes swimming left and right, catching quick glances if he was looking at her. The tension was at its peak, the two couldn't even glance at each other. Another moment of awkward silence ensued.
Walter didn't knew one thing about cheering others up but he just empathized with Thea and tell what's on his mind. But for Thea, his statement was heartfelt, she could feel her cheeks warm up.
"Well, I'll just leave the homework here."
Walter decided to wrap up his business there. Since he had already said what he wanted to say. He opened his knapsack and placed the homework notes beside the flower vase.
"Well if you don't have anything else to say, then I'll just-",
"-ah!"
Before Walter could step, he paused and noticed that Thea was about to say something. His attention focused only to her.
"I-I love them."
Thea finally spoke, but in a hesitant manner.
"Huh?",
"The tulips! I mean. Th-thank you.",
"Well you gotta thank my mother for that, she's the one who insisted on tulips.",
"But you did thought of giving me a bouquet right? S-so thank you."
Still flushed, Thea thought it would be appropriate to at least give Walter some gratitude for his effort on giving her the flowers, and bringing her the homework she was supposed to take. So when she comes back from the hospital, she'll just submit it to their homeroom advisor.
"You're welcome."
Walter gave her a warm smile once again. A reciprocate appreciation from him to her.
"A-Actually... I'm gonna need help on the homework. S-so i-if you have to go-I mean, if you feel like it. C-can we study together?"
Thea twitching whilst looking away from Walter, hiding her extremely flushed expression from him. She couldn't stop her words from trembling.
"I-I mean, if you just feel like it. Or maybe... visit me again t-tomorrow. Not like I'm gonna be l-lonely or anything..."
Pressing her fingers together, her back turned and stumbling through her words. She openly asked a favor for Walter. The teen just smiled, pulled back the chair and sat back down with Thea.
"I'd be happy to."
He replied, now feeling comfortable that Thea now accepts him.
"A-Are you sure? Well if you're just s-saying that because-",
"I promise."
Walter said with reassurance. With such conviction and truthfulness. Thea did not expect that response at all. As if it was this was her first time hearing that word.
Promise. The word sounded fragile to her, and yet when Walter said it, she felt like she could count on him.
"Eh? You... You promise..? I mean, y-you better! Hmph! If you're lying I-I... I-",
She did not intend to, but as soon as she accidentally made eye contact with him, she immediately looked away. Catching a glimpse of Walter's smile, plunged her deeper into an awkward position.
"Heh heh..."
A quiet chuckle escaped Walter's breath.
"Wha... Why are you laughing?"
Thea glared at him with a pout. He avoided looking at her pout directly as it looked too adorable to be taken seriously.
"Nothing... Nothing! Heh... Well, we better get started.",
"Hmph!"
Not dilly-dallying anymore, and out of words to say, Thea quickly grabbed the homework notes and just went on with their homework. Both her and Walter helping each other out.
Almost two hours passed, Thea and Walter's study time had gone smoothly. There were instances where they would occasionally break away from studying to make small talk but it was productive nonetheless. Both of them bid their farewells with Walter promising to visit her again. She did not need ask, he was planning to visit her again.
With her prognosis, Thea was not going to leave the hospital any time soon, she needed about 3 days max to recover her strength before taking up daily activities again. After Walter left, she stood by the window, her expression was brighter than the one she had a few moments ago. For the first time, she felt content, happy that there was someone who genuinely cared for her. She did not notice it but her faced was flushed with crimson the entire time, with one hand resting on her cheek.
Needless to say, even though she was still up and denial about it, Thea looked forward on Walter's next visit.
Same case with Walter, he left the establishment with the same feeling and anticipation as Thea. He felt despite their still awkward disposition to one another, he was comfortable being with her.
Once in a while, he would catch glances of her smile while they were studying. Of course, she would immediately avert it every time she catches him. But there was one thing made up in his heart and in his mind, now that he has the power and the means, he would gladly protect that smile with his life. After all, if he could protect her, then he could also protect everyone from any thing.
-
As Walter was almost out of the hospital grounds, he suddenly spotted two imposing figures standing by the tree near the entryway.
Who were they? The first question that came up his mind. Walter could only guess that they're from the Nova Reform, came to watch over him. A short girl of 5 feet, 5 inches, and a jacket-clad boy.
As the two individuals spotted Walter, he stopped and crossed his arms and slightly tilted his head. With his newly-acquired powers, he could sense Nexus Energy resonating within them, these two were nova, there was no doubt about it. He asserted his presence and asked.
"And you guys are?"
Walter raised his brow, casted a rather laid-back yet annoyed expression. No beating around the bush, he wanted to get it over with.
"WALTER OLDEN!"
The girl shouted with all her spirit. The teen's expression then changed from annoyed to straight up weirded-out. Her spirit, not to mention her mispronouncing Walter's surname, had completely taken him by surprise.
The jacket-clad teen leaned over her ear and whispered something at this girl's ear. The girl's eyes snapped open, as if realizing something important.
"What? Oh... *ehem* WALTER OLVEN!"
Like an actor being told off by the director, she re-did her opening spiel again.
"We've heard your recent exploits and deeds!"
Feet apart, straight posture, and chest puffed, she once again delivered her over-the-top line.
"The SA Brigade is here! To invite YOU, promising individual!"
She thrusted her finger forward, pointing at Walter. Hers was flowing with energy with every word that poured from her lips. She has the energy of an entire cheerleading team. And she said SA Brigade, a different club apparently.
"SA Brigade?"
Walter asked the energetic girl. He had assumed that they were from the Nova Reform, but he didn't knew that there was another club that has novus as its members.
"I'm glad you asked! SA Brigade or as I like to call it, SUPER AWESOME Brigade! Because everyone in it, like me, are Super Awesome!"
Aaanndd... Just like that, the club's integrity was out the window. The girl's companion could only pinch his forehead and shake his head in embarrassment.
Walter could only empathize with the jacket-clad boy, it was somehow embarrassing for him too. He began to regret his earlier question. Nonetheless, this girl was unfazed by the uncouth reactions and continued.
"Oh! Ore wa Kuromé Hinokami! Sanjou!"
クロメ
The girl spoke in a foreign tongue. It was then Walter recognized her, and her companion.
Kuromé Hinokami, Japanese-American student, third year. She was a former PR Officer of the student council last year, and former Pep squad captain. Hence her pronounced persona and charisma. As embarrassing to admit it himself, Walter had a crush on her at one point. But he did not knew that she was a novus too until now.
And the jacket-clad boy was, Kurszt Schwarz. He was one of the two nova in his class other than Richie Marcus. But unlike Richie, he was not as active and he always keeps to himself. Born of german descent, he was also known by the name of Ironclad. With his Nexus Energy, he can summon various melee weapons at will. Word has it that he was once a normal, a superhero with no powers, and was Gray Knight's sidekick.
Walter knew the gist of their backgrounds, but he didn't knew that they were in a club together. He also knew nothing of this 'SA Brigade'. Kuromé stood in attention and looked at Walter with a big smile, as if waiting for him to inquire.
"I might regret asking this but, what do you guys do in your... club?"
Hesitant, Walter asked anyway. Kuromé eased up her stance and seemed mellowed a bit. She casted an honest look directly at him.
"We are fairly new club. And we mediate relations between nova and non-nova student relations by helping both sides whatever we can."
The girl stated in a direct manner. Walter was surprised to hear this, he did not expect such noble intentions. He would call them out, but he saw Kuromé's gaze, it was true-to-heart and earnest. Unlike the Nova Reform, who used intimidation in attempt to persuade him, the SA Brigade used more amicable means and a convincing objective.
He was interested to the least at the SA Brigade, but he was not ready to give a concrete answer yet.
"Well color me interes-",
"Not so fast!"
Just as he was about to express his thoughts on the invitation, Kurszt cut him off. Stepping forward to face Walter.
"I can see you are interested, but the question is, are you a friend or foe?"
He asked the teen, it almost sounded like a threat. It was the same question he asked when he confronted Thea a few days ago. Walter tilted his head once again, not taking his question kindly.
"Wait, you're inviting me to join, yet you're questioning me?"
Walter was baffled, annoyed was more like it. They had the gall to invite him then question him at the same time.
"Justice is our goal. But so you know, each person has his and her own sense of Justice. Does your own match ours? Is yours about helping people even without power? Or is yours defined by one?"
Kurszt then raised his arm aloft, in a flash, a blade materialized on his grasp with a glint of black and gold. He was raring for a fight. Hinokami would stop him but she chose not to, still wearing that big smile and bright expression.
"Gomenasai, but in the SA Brigade, every member has a say and do. It's our first step to our goal. If we can't help ourselves then we can't help anyone."
Hinokami was not entirely opposed of the notion. Her statement reminded Walter of his newly-found reason to fight for, to protect someone's smile and happiness is to protect others' too. Walter was about to protest, but he swallowed his words before he could manage. He just silently agreed.
"Kuromé."
As Kurszt called his companion, she nodded in response and stood back. She balled up her fist and then began channeling her nexus. A velvet aura enveloped her entire body, spheres of light rose and fade around her. She focused and then released her welled up energy.
Virtua Field
With a swipe of her hand, the entire environment in a gradient blanket of purple. The ground was replaced by series of grid tiles. It was like being in an un-rendered video game. It was also quite obvious that they were not at the hospital anymore. It was like a pocket dimension. This was just a fraction of Kuromé's ability, The Virtua Force.
"Don't worry, I have set you guys up a battleground. My domain should be more than enough.",
"Hmph... Show off as always, Hinokami."
Kurszt sighed, scratching his head. Even though this was only a fraction, he still thought that she was going overboard with this. Kuromé could only respond with a giggle. With their battlefield set, the jacket-clad boy swung his sword across, drawing a line boundary between him and Walter.
"My question earlier can only be answered through action. I challenge you to cross this line and land a single hit to me. Whatever your means is up to you, and how shall you do it will help me see what would be your sense of Justice."
He stated. Pointing his blade to him, Walter haven't actually seen him action, but if he recalls correctly, Kurszt is adept, if not a master of melee weaponry and martial arts, a result of his training under Gray Knight's tutelage before he became a novus. He can't afford to underestimate him. He preferred not to use his newly found powers, but he hasn't have much of a choice.
"Very well, then this'll have to do."
Walter put down his bag away from him and rolled up his short sleeve on his right arm. Red glowing lines began to drew themselves his right arm, changing its color from flesh to black. The armor plates decompressing and unfurling, his arm then crackled with red lightning; similar to how Atha, the Woman in Red, manifest her power. He did not know how will he use the Mantra for this, but it's better than just charging head-on.
"...!"
Kurszt was taken aback when Walter had revealed his right arm's true form. As he felt the tremendous pressure resonated on his arm, his senses screamed, it felt foreboding. Hinokami, however, was ecstatic when she saw it. She could not contain her excitement, words escape her lips.
"Uho! This is gonna be a challenge to be remembered! Maybe in the next chapte-"
To Be continued...