Disclaimer: Characters, settings, names from the cartoon television show 'Steven Universe' are creations and property of Rebecca sugar and Cartoon network. Any Non-steven universe characters, settings, names, Gems, Gem powers, beliefs, mythology are my own creation.
Author's Note: Just Read.
Story Tags: Steven Universe, Lapis Lazuli, OC's, Connie Maheswaran Pearl, Amethyst, Ruby, Sapphire, Bells, Whistles, Citrine, Peridot, Beach City, Gem Powers, Romance, Adventure, Comfort, Destiny.
Music Inspiration: "Running Wild (Jayceeoh Remix)" by Morgan Page
Chapter 27: Student and Teacher
Saturday
May 18, 2016, 8:00 [Morning]
Below The Crystal Temple, Beach City
Walking down the steps of the spiral stairwell that lead down to the very bottom of the temple. Steven walked ahead of Commander Soren who lit the darkened stairwell with a floating ball of blue fire that lit their path. Today Steven wore a Black and pink tracksuit, with a jacket that had a high collar. He wore this suit for the training he was going to undergo under Carlos Montoya.
"Are you certain you wish to release the prisoner, Peridot, Steven." Soren asked Steven, sounding wary.
"I'm sure'th Commander. I mean Peridot can't live in that tiny room all by herself forever, can she."
"Steven, Gems like her and your friends are made in the ground or inside the walls of valleys and oceans. They take several hundred of years to form. and another fifty or seventy five years for their magical cores to come about and stabilize before manifesting their corporeal forms."
"Well she's all grown up, and I wouldn't like to be trapped in a prison cell, would you?"
"I doubt anyone but a senior commander or my goddess could make me their prisoner. But this is your decision, and I will respect it. "
Steven and Soren reached the bottom of the prison rotunda where it was already lit with levitating orbs of light. Steven rushed over to Peridot's Cell and stood a feet away from the red barrier. Peridot was huddled in the corner, hugging her knees close to her chest. She was mumbling unintelligible gibberish to herself.
"Hey Peridot, Peridot...Peridot-" Steven repeated.
Because the barrier was soundproof, Peridot could not hear Steven on the other side. She instead monologued to herself.
"I know what Yellow Diamond said Jasper. But the alternative option was that after we've captured or killed the crystal gems, injectors were to be fired from our dreadnoughts in the coordinates of Planet Earth to restart the Kindergarten program on it. And what about the cluster? There's thousands of them and if by chance their destroyed by the combined forces of earth...there's the Memento Mori; The Crystal Skull."
"Peridot!" Steven shouted, breaking Peridot's monologue.
Soren raised the barrier, letting Steven finally get through to Peridot.
"Yes? did someone say my...You! The Steven. Have you come to release me?"
"yes Peridot, I have. But I need you to make a solemn oath to me, I want you to repeat every word I say back to me. And it has to be sincere."
"Oookay? What is it."
Steven recited to Peridot the oath Sapphire helped him make, Peridot listened to it and raised an eyebrow at some moments and shook her head, chuckling.
"If you don't want to help me Peridot, that's fine. Stay here until the end of the world. Or maybe I should just let Soren take care of you." Steven replied, turning around to walk back up the stairs.
"I hope you used that term Euphemistically Steven. Because I would be more than happy to oblige and take care of Peridot here."
Peridot's smug look vanished and a look of fear came over her, she pulled Steven back over by grabbing him by his wrist.
"Ok I'll make the Oath!"
"I Peridot hereby renounce my allegiance to Home-world and all of its allies. I reject all of it's beliefs, goals, and desire for the conquest and or destruction of planets. Therefore, I Peridot, standing before you, commit myself to protecting beach city and all of planet earth starting today. Always safeguarding it from rogue gems, Home-world gems, corrupted gems and monsters alike. i will take responsibility for my actions and will take course action to correct them and make up for my mistakes. I will strive to become friends with the crystal gems, Lapis, Bells, Citrine, Whistles and Commander Soren. I am accountable to my team. I will obey all orders given to me and I will endeavor to uphold this Oath, from this day until my last."
"Great. Now that we've gotten that out of the way. You're going to need a new...look."
"Come again?" Peridot replied, confused.
"You had a yellow diamond on your suit the last time. I want you to replace that symbol, with this one."
Steven held out his hand and showed Peridot a rose symbol he fashioned out of a piece of wood, that rose out of the palm of his hand. Peridot looked amazed. She wondered how a human could perform such a feat.
"Can you do it Peridot?"
"Yeah. I think I can do that, I'm going to need some privacy though. You two mind?"
Steven giggled and turned around to go wait in the stairwell. But the commander did not turn. "I mind. You think I care what you have under those garbs. You change in front of me." The commander told her coldly.
Peridot looked angrily and embarrassingly to her side, blushing as she raised her shirt over her head and hair. throwing the shirt off to the side. She grabbed the waist of her her prison pants, pulled them down and stepped out of them. Peridot covered her chest with her left forearm and herself down there, with her right hand. She closed her eyes, then changed her body into light before retreating into her gemstone.
The commander waited in the same spot for over ten minutes before Peridot started to reform. "Steven!" Commander Soren called out loudly.
Steven came running down the stairs, jumping off from the last third stair step and on to the floor. He joined the tall commander and watched Peridot reform. First her body of light manifested, then her limbs sprouted out from their respective locations. Then the rest of her features appeared.
Peridot fell down on her hands and knees, and rose herself back up to her feet. Steven smiled happily with stars in his eyes. Peridot's new attires was comprised of a Black Roman knit crop top with open shoulders. A pair of black high waisted button up leggings. On the center of her crop top was a green rose symbol. On her feet she sported green low heel buckle strap boots. And lastly, on her hands were green fingerless gloves.
Steven shook his balled up hands and arms up and down, smiling and excited for Peridot to regain her center and begin speaking. Peridot opened her eyes and placed her hands on her hips.
"Well, will this outfit suffice Steven."
"Yes! Wow you look completely different than before. Actually I thought you might have been half robot, because of those things you wore on your arms and legs. You look more...natural, beautiful even."
Steven gave her a cheery thumbs up. Peridot blushed and fluttered her eyes, she immediately crossed her arms over her chest and looked away from Steven, with a chin raised up proudly.
"Yeah well...don't get used to it."
"Listen Peridot, you might have noticed my training gear."
"Not really. To me you apes all wear the same garbs. The only thing different Is the color and material used to make them. Why do you ask?"
"Well there's another hybrid like me. His name's Carlos and he's Pearl boyfriend." Steven shared.
"Pearl and a human hybrid? AHAHAHAHAHA! Wow. It appears Gems on this planet fancy the companionship of you carbon based apes. so typical of pearls. When they lose their purpose or leader, they jump into the arms of someone else who can replace them."
"Hey! I'm one of those carbo...bake apes. And Carlos is a pretty nice guy. He makes Pearl happy, and he wants to train me in how to master all of my Gem powers. So don't make fun of him."
"Yes my...Leader."
"Call me Steven. C'mon, you're coming with me."
"Just one more minute Steven. I need to place something over Peridot. Steven here might trust you, but I still hold my suspicions about you. Hold still."
Soren walked and approached Peridot, standing only inches away from her. Peridot felt so small in his presence. She looked up and saw Soren's arms hovering over her, creating a shadow over her. Soren kept his black gauntlet covered hands over Peridot's head in a semi clasped position for only a few seconds.
"There. This will allow me to keep an eye on you." Soren told her.
Steven watched Soren step back and spotted a floating eyeball covered in blue fire. "Eww. Its like something out of a scary movie."
"If you try to leave, escape or go back on your oath and harm The shield of humanity, this will restrain you and break you. Go, get out of here."
Steven grabbed Peridot's hand and lead her up the stairs. "Hey Peridot, can you use your gem as a flashlight, it's kind of dark."
"Yeah, but I can see just fine in the dark. My visor is equipped with high caliber night vision."
Steven's Beach House
8:25 [Morning]
Walking up the long spiral stairs, Steven and Peridot walked up into the beach house. Steven and Peridot walked into the lounge with Lapis sitting on the couch and Sapphire and Ruby hanging out in the kitchen area. Sapphire sat down on chair stool, Ruby sat on the edge of the kitchen counter-top, swinging her feet back and forth. They all turned and looked over to Steven and Peridot come marching up from entrance to The Rotunda.
Ruby stopped swinging her feet and jumped off the kitchen counter and stared at Peridot who followed closely behind Steven. Peridot looked around and saw the daggers being stared directly at her from Lapis, Sapphire and Ruby.
"What are you stupid clods looking at, I know you're not looking at me." Peridot grumbled lowly to herself.
"Here Peridot, you can sit right here next to me. Excuse me while I get a bowl and milk to make some cereal."
while Steven walked off to grab a bowl from the plate rack, and some milk from the refrigerator. Lapis stood up from the couch she was sitting on and walked over to the kitchen counter, and leaned back on it next to Peridot. Sapphire and Ruby walked around to the other side of the counter, staring directly at Peridot.
Peridot sat very formally on the stool chair, her hands clasped together and forearms resting on the counter-top. She stared at her hands, trying hard not to make eye contact with either of the gems pretty much staring her down. All she heard was Steven humming to himself and clatter of a spoon being placed in a bowl.
Five pair of eyes staring at her wasn't enough, Lion jumped out of a portal looking all wet. He shook wildly, sending sprinkles of water all over the floor. In his jaws was a large fat fish. He dropped the flopping creature on the floor and tore away at it, chewing and swallowing chunks of flesh.
"What are you doing here." Lapis coldly asked Peridot.
"Steven set me free. I'm part of the team now."
"Team? Hah hah What kind of team only has one person in it." Ruby asked in a snarky tone.
"I am a crystal G-"
"You're not a member of the Crystal Gems." Sapphire chimed in, sounding calm yet cold too.
"Steven said I was. You got a problem with me then take it up with-"
"But I do have a problem with that. And I have a problem with you." Ruby declared. She jumped on top of the counter, pointing her finger at Peridot.
"Get your stubby little finger away from my fa-"
"Or else what!" Ruby shouted, cutting Peridot's statement in half.
Lion finished finally stripping off all the meat from the fish and gnawed on the skeleton.
"Ruby, Sapphire and Lapis, stop bullying Peridot."
"Did you forget what her partner did to us Steven! Jasper forced me and Sapphire to retreat back into our gemstones."
"I remember. I haven't forgotten." Steven told Ruby.
Peridot covered her mouth and stifled a laugh from escaping.
"But she's changed, she swore an oath to me. Remember Peridot." Steven asked her, he walked over to the table counter with a bowl of cereal in hand.
"Yes my leader Steven, I remember the oath. I took it only twenty five minutes ago."
Lapis walked over and stood next to Steven to voice her concern and disapproval over the decision to make Peridot part of the team., Steven lifted his spoon full of cereal and milk and brought it into his mouth.
"Steven, reconsider this decision over please. She's said very terrible things about you and your friends. She's swore her life to Yellow Diamond while on Homeworld."
"Hey. I'm right here, I can hear everything you're saying."
"I'm not talking to you, shut up." Lapis snapped back at Peridot.
Steven pulled Lapis in closer to him with an arm around her back and finished chewing on his cereal. Lapis regained her cool and placed an arm around Stevens neck. Steven banged on the counter, trying to hurry his chewing. Steven chewed, then swallowed.
"I know what Jasper did to Garnet. I know that they imprisoned you. Jasper hurt my face and tricked you into fusing with her. Maybe it's my mom's side, but I can't stay mad at people who I feel deserve a second chance. Peridot might be a homeworld gem, but she's different. maybe she can lose her attitude. But she's ok, I just know it. Besides, when Jasper returns with who knows what, do we really want to be divided or united?"
Ruby felt defeated but did not show it. She jumped off the counter and walked out of the beach house with Sapphire.
"It sure feels like there are several different factions in this small army of yours Steven."
"How do you mean Peridot?"
"you and Lapis seem close, gross. I side with you. Those two runts clearly don't like me, as does lapis. Pearl and this carlos you told me about. Soren hates me. And that...that creature over there and it's fish dinner."
"Aw that's just lion. He loves everyone, let's see if he likes you. Lion come over here!"
"Steven please No!" Peridot cried out.
Lion rose up to his feet and spit the fish skeleton out of his mouth and walked over to Steven. Lion stopped before Steven, placed his chin down on Steven's lap and licked his lips. Steven brushed his hands on the sides of lion's face and through his light pink mane. Lion noticed Peridot and walked past Steven and approached her. Peridot froze up on her chair and tried not to move. Lion stood up on his hind legs, rested his front paws on Peridot's back and sniffed her hair and side of her face.
Peridot giggled but covered her mouth with her hands. Lion's wet nose and hot breathing tickled her in places she never knew she was ticklish in. Lion sniffed around her back and nipped her.
"YEOOW!" Peridot screamed in pain. Lion jumped back and growled. Steven concentrated and created a wooden pole that rose out of the wooden floorboard. It fired chains of of hardened Blackwood that formed a collar that clicked around Lion.
Peridot rubbed her back and watched with wide eyes at the display of elemental power from Steven.
"No Lion! Bad lion, that's a bad lion. Peridot's a friend now."
"Did you just generate lumber and made it stretch out of this floor?"
"me? Oh yeah, it's one of my gem powers. Lapis trained me for a while in learning how to use it more prefes...presi...uh, Lapis a little help."
"More Proficiently, Steven." Lapis said.
"Right, Proficiently." Steven repeated.
Commander Soren walked up into the lounge area, catching everyone's attention. "Hey Soren!" Steven greeted.
"Shield of Humanity. Everybody. Good earth morning to all."
"Good morning Commander." Sapphire said from the kitchen.
"Good morning sapphire, ruby, Lapis. Lion and...Peridot. Excuse me."
"Where you going?" Steven inquired.
"I'm heading over to Admiral Bell's home, Casa cookie cat is what I believe you called it. I'm just going over to share my ideas for the anointing tonight."
"Anointing? For who?" Peridot asked Soren, confused and lost.
"A family from mars came down here, just like Soren. And the baby is a black cat with a gemstone on his throat. His mommy is a gem and his daddy is a tall cat, JUST LIKE COOKIE CAT!"
"Just like who? Did you say a gem mother?"
"What the shield of humanity is saying Peridot, is that a family came down to earth from the red planet. The family is comprised of a native martian and a Gem. The gem was with child and birthed it on her way to this planet. I saved her and was given the distinct honor of anointing their hybrid child by the parents. Steven, train well, train hard."
Soren walked out of the beach house and flew off around to the side of the cliff.
Amethyst came running out of the temple and looked around frantically, "Did you guys see Soren? I heard him talking."
"Yeah you just missed him. He went off to talk to Bells about tonight." Lapis told Amethyst, "Thank you Blueberry." Amethyst replied.
9:10 [Morning]
Minutes after Amethyst had left, Pearl and Carlos finally arrive. Pearl walked inside of the beach house after Carlos did. Carlos was wearing a similar track suit as Steven was, except it was green with white stripe lines. Pearl wore the same clothes she had on when she went out on a date with Carlos, and apparently spending the night at his place. She waltzed inside laughing, carrying her heels in hand.
"Carlos you really are full of jokes. How did the last one go again? Oh, 'A pun, a play on words and a limerick walk into a bar. No joke.' The joke wasn't there because it was busy parking the car. Hah hah hah."
After catching her breath and her laughter dying down, Pearl noticed her group of friends that were gathered in the kitchen area of the beach house. Pearl noticed Steven, Lion, Lapis, Sapphire and Ruby. But there was another extra body in that group, someone lime green in color.
"Is that...is that Peridot?" Pearl asked.
"Hello Pearl." Peridot said very casually.
"Steven! Who let here out! I demand ot know right now."
"Pearl i's ok, it was me." Steven asnwered her.
"Wha- what? Why!"
Steven hopped off his chair and walked over to pearl, he took pearl's hand in his and turned around to speak to everyone in attendance.
"When Jasper comes back to Earth. Who do you think she's going to come back with? Or with what. She might come with an army, she might come with a small team. She might even come with Yellow diamond. When that day comes, do we really want to be fighting with each other? Jasper and home-world won't have to kill us because we would already have done that for them. I released Peridot because I believe in second chances.
Lapis fought with my mother when they first met. I know, because Lapis told me. But my mom never hated her after their fight. Do you want to fight Peridot, Pearl? Do you think Mom would have wanted that. I'm not saying you have to forgive Peridot for everything she's done and was a part of, but can we start by getting along with each other, please."
Pearl looked defeated and lowered her gaze down at her pale feet. She turned to Carlos who walked over to her and held her in his arms. "Steven's right darling," Carlos whispered in Pearl's ear, "I know I haven't officially stated it to everyone. But consider me now part of Steven's Army. I may not be completely Gem like the rest of you, but I have years and experience under my belt with my Gem powers. And starting today, Steven's going to learn new techniques and applications when utilizing his gem powers."
Pearl stepped forward to share something with the group also. "Other than Garnet who knew very well what was going on between me and Carlos, I just want to come forward to everyone and say that me and Carlos are...dating."
"That's a light way of putting it." Ruby said in derision.
"I think it's great you two can look past each others differences and still love each other. Relationships take work and commitment for them to work and last."
"Thank you Sapphire, that was very nice of you." Pearl replied.
"Ok Steven, time to go. Me and pearl came across Soren outside. He told us Peridot here was going to join us, is she spectating."
"Yes I will Hybrid. If what I saw Steven do to stop that beast from mauling me, then I'm eager to see what you can do."
"Well I don't want to keep you waiting then. Steven, c'mon and bring your friend too."
"C'mon Peridot. And Lion, sorry about that. I can't have you biting members of the Crystal Gems." Steven undid the wooden chain and collar around Lion's neck and kissed him on his head.
On their way out, Pearl grabbed Peridot's wrist, stopping her from stepping out through the front door.
"If you some much as try something with Steven or Carlos, I don't care what Steven or Soren says. I will crush you and turn you into dust."
"There is nothing you can do or say to me to make me feel fear that I didn't already experience on Home-world. Now get your hand off of me, you human loving Gem."
Peridot pulled her wrist out of Pearl's hold and walked out of the beach house. Before walking down the stairs, Peridot turned around and stuck her tongue out at pearl and pulled her eyelid also. Pearl balled up her hands into fists and went over to strangle peridot, that is until Commander Soren appeared outside of the front door from black smoke.
He walked inside with Admiral Bells and Amethyst by his side.
"While Carlos trains Steven and Peridot joining them. I want to assemble small teams to help me destroy ancient home-world communication sites located on this planet. Even without gems manning them, they can be controlled through long range signals. What they control are ancient vast bases of mind operated Gem warriors."
"What are you talking about Soren, all the gems on this planet died during the war for this planet's survival. There are no vast bases of mind controlled gem warriors."
"Let me tell you something about your beloved past leader, Rose Quartz. She was a noble on Home-world, in line to become Rose Diamond. Secret information provided to me by my mother and ex leader, yellow diamond. Said that when Rose came down to earth, she was provided with a legion of specially created warriors to conquer this planet that she could control telepathically It was a secret to great for any common worker or scientist gem to know."
"Why should I or any of us believe that pile of pig swallow." Pearl asked him.
"In the case that Rose was defeated or turned her back on the mission, a home-world warship could come in close enough to the planet earth and send a signal to one of the communication towers and activate them. Warrior gems are made to be tough, resilient and do not go down easily. There easy work for me, but for the rest of you; I doubt you could keep them from destroying Beach City in less than half a day. If you don't believe me pearl, I'll take you to see them.
Here's how the teams are going to be made up. Ruby, Sapphire, and Admiral Bells will be team one. Admiral Bells is "War chief" or Squad Leader. You all will head to the first location to destroy the first ancient communication tower. Amethyst, Lapis and Pearl you're all going to help me destroy an ancient un-summoned army in the second location. I'm War Chief of my squad. Lets head out."
Emerald Hills, Beach City
12:00 [Afternoon]
Sitting on a log watching and memorizing everything that she was seeing. Peridot watched Steven running around the forest with a severed tree trunk he carried on his shoulders. Peridot might not have had her artificial fingers with her that allowed her to bring up a holographic interface, but her visor provided her with a HUD or 'Heads up Display' that showed her information and data. It could also store, calculate and translate data from existing compiled data on earth.
Presently Peridot's visor calculated how much weight Steven was carrying. "Amazing, Steven is carrying nearly one ton on his bare shoulders. The most fit human body with training can only lift about 600 pounds. The world's strongest man on this planet pulled a 100 ton airplane, so I suppose it's not all that impressive."
running alongside Steven, Carlos spoke to him about the purpose of this training and the many more to come.
"Right now Steven, running and supporting this very heavy tree trunk has two purposes. Performing magical abilities like surrounding yourself with your gem aura or summoning your weapons takes a toll on our lungs and stamina. Running and increasing our lung capacity extends the time we can keep our gem auras going before succumbing to fatigue. Lifting heavy things and doing some strength training specializes in the use of resistance to induce muscular contractions that builds strength, anaerobic endurance and size of skeletal muscles.
When we perform elemental abilities Steven, whether its generating or manipulating fire, water, air, earth or whatever. Our gems utilize the strength in our muscles and current endurance levels to make that possible. That's why if you ever overdo it with your Arborkinesis, you're going to feel tired in your muscles first. Okay Steven, stop and drop the tree trunk."
Steven skidded to a stop, and launched the tree trunk in front of him. The tree trunk collided with other standing trees and knocked those down or snapped them in half. Steven placed his hands on his hips and breathed in and out relatively quick. He tied his track jacket around his waist, leaving on only his black tank top.
After catching his breath, Steven grinned at Carlos who was also taking off his track jacket. "Steven, when I first met Commander Soren, I, like everyone else was pretty surprised when you came into view from the side of the cliff in a giant 40 foot wooden golem."
"Oh that, I call that one Arbor Method, Giant Wooden Steven. It's my strongest Defensive and Offensive move right now. Lapis helped me create it."
"It's a very impressive method Steven, but, sometimes going big is not only counterproductive its also dangerous. Lapis is a full gem. she does not have muscles, breathes air or needs time to recuperate after a battle or training. She, like pearl and every gem is born with an innate knowledge on how to use their powers and abilities. They can overdo it because they won't get tired or die from overexertion. We, as human-gem hybrids can die if try to go to big or too long.
It might take a bit longer for me to die, given how much time I've put into my own training. But I never try to over due it. Ok, we've covered super speed plus super strength. 2000 pounds seems to be your current weight capacity. Now we're going to work on your endurance. endurance if you don't know what it means Steven, is how long someone can go without rest, food or water. And what better way to test than with a sparring match. First we spar in our primary stages."
Steven breathed in and out, then was surrounded by his flaming pink aura which flared up instantaneously around him. Carlos nodded and smiled excitedly at his mentee. his own Olive green aura manifested around him, twisting around like a dust devil. By height comparison, Steven's Gem aura extended at least five feet tall. Carlos's aura extended to at least nine feet tall. Experience showed in their respective auras.
"Remember Steven, this is a sparring match. Show me everything my pearl and Lapis lazuli has taught you. When I push into my secondary stage, so must you. And from there, onto our tertiary stage. Its in your tertiary stage where you must achieve mastery before stepping into your master gem form. Ok Steven, Let's do this!"
Peridot searched the area for Steven and Carlos who seemed to have disappeared. She searched for them using the thermograph option in her visor. She looked past the tree with X-ray overlaid and spotted two sources of immense energy zipping around the forest.
"Huh? That can't be them, must be two Corrupted-"
BOOM THOOM BOOM BOOM THOOM
A series of powerful bursts of air blew through the forest from the places the loud booms were coming from. Peridot was blown off from the log she was sitting on and held on to it as she waited for the bursts of air to stop blowing through the forest.
"Are those bursts of air coming from those two? This can't be...possible! How can two hybrids be producing this level of chaos from simple training!" she shouted out.
"Arbor Method, Shielding hands!" Steven said quickly.
Two car sized wooden hands sprouted out from the ground, each on his sides that clasped together and shielded Steven. Carlos was punching left and right and creating vacuum streams of super pressurized air that quickly stripped away at the sturdy and thick wooden hand shields Steven erected around him. From within his quickly weakening wooden shield, Steven raised several hedge wall all around the forest.
From the hedge walls, Several large Wooden fists fired out of them like rockets towards Carlos.
"Diverting my attention from you Steven, very good.' Carlos complimented Steven, but the wooden hands stood acted as nothing more than diversions than actual threats for Carlos. He fired a vacuum of pressurized air at each fist flying towards him, completely obliterating them one by one. He had to dodge and jump a few times to avoid being hit by a few speedy ones though.
With the last of the wooden fists taken care of, Carlos looked around for Steven who took this time to hide.
"Steven where are Yo-"
WHACK
"ARGH!" Carlos grunted out loud and in pain. Steven dashed out from the trunk of a tree covered from head to toe in Wooden Armor. His hands/ fists were covered in large accentuated wooden like gloves.
Steven pulled back his right arm and punched Carlos in his stomach. left and right, Steven machined gunned one punch after another. Carlos grabbed steven's left wrist and twirled him around, spinning violently fast and releasing him, sending his flying and crashing through one tree after another.
"My god...i expected something amazing from him, but he's quickly exceeding all of my preconceived expectations. He's serious about this, as expected."
Resting on a pile of downed trees, Steven's wooden helm unfolded itself and revealed Steven's face. His pupils swirled around his eyes, he placed his hands on the side of his face and blinked.
"Ouch. I'm wearing this wooden armor, but I still felt each tree I crashed through along the way. Carlos is amazing, wait what is this feeling? Do I like battling? I feel excited for some reason."
"Steven! You're not dead are you!?" Steven heard Carlos call out to him from the distance.
"Noo!"
"Good. I'm pushing into my secondary stage, don't give up yet. Keep soldiering on."
"Right, just keep Soldiering on Steven. Here I come Carlos!" Steven replied back.
His fixed the damages sustained to his wooden armor and infused more wood, making it bulkier and taller. His gem aura fired up even more wilder. In addition to his two arms, another pair of arms arms grew out from his aura, his left arm wielding Rose's sword and the right wielding her shield.
Steven stood up and rushed over to meet Carlos, ready to go pound for pound.
Continued in Chapter 28.