"Alright!" Tiffany shouted, "If you're going to be ready for when we go toe-to-toe with Robert, Voltrov, Epsilon, and Erica, then you'll have to train to be ready. This goes double for Tridon and Jen."

"Yes ma'am!" They all yell.

"You've all had improved since you arrived here 2 weeks ago. However, paper can't fight back and the last thing you'll be doing is firing a weapon out of cover and stationary. You have to know how to out maneuver around your enemy and fire while on the move." Tiffany pointed to Tridon and ushered him to step in front of her, "You'll go through a set number of training courses over these next few weeks. Hand-to-hand combat training. Knife training. Firearms training and lastly, a full-on weapons course that'll harness what you learn from the other training courses. Tridon, please go through this training course."

"But I've never seen this course before."

"I know. You'll be completing this to the best of your ability. Be on your toes."

"Right."

"Tridon here will set the bar. I expect you 5," Tiffany pointed at Sayori, Monika, Yuri, Natsuki, and Chelsea, "to meet that expectation. Tridon and Jen, I want you to exceed that."

Tridon popped his neck and stood at the starting line. He looked at Tiffany who pointed at the table next to him.

"During each run at this course, you'll be issued a basic 9mm handgun, an SMG, a combat knife, and mock grenades. Tridon."

"I got it." Tridon picked up the handgun and checked the chamber. He loaded the mag and pulled back the slide. He placed the safety on and picked up the SMG.

He jerked the cocking lever back multiple times before putting the mag in. He looked at Tiffany and asked, "Is the MP5 really necessary?"

"I'm trying to set an example Pierce."

"And I don't do SMGs." Tridon unloaded the MP5 and set it back down, "I'm just gonna do this my way. A handgun and a knife." Tridon slammed his hand on the button to begin the timer.

He sprinted through, quickly firing and stabbing each target dummy that popped up. When he got into a tight corridor, he used his knife efficiently and took out any dummy with the knife or his fists and feet.

He ran out and saw a flashbang fly towards him. He slid under it and threw his knife at it to cancel it. He stopped just before he reached the final doorway and shot at the last batch of dummies before running through the finish.

Everyone except Tiffany clapped and cheered as she stared at the time in disbelief. He moved the slide back on his handgun and nodded.

"Like I said, my way." Tridon placed the handgun down and looked at his time, "18 seconds. That's quite the bar to set."

"The record is 24 seconds." Tiffany said in amazement, "You destroyed it."

"It was my pleasure."

"Okay. I at least want you 5 to get just under 60. Jen," Tiffany paused and said, "good luck."

"Really motivational Captain..."

"I guess the best way to go about this is working on you're worst at." Tridon stated, "I can help whoever I can. Just don't bombard me with everything."

"Me first!" Monika, Yuri, and Natsuki shout while grabbing Tridon by his arms.

"Girls," Tridon slipped out of the grasps of the others and said, "we're splitting up into groups based on what each of you need help with."

"So that means," Jen started, "Yuri, Natsuki, and Chelsea will need to work on firearms and hand-to-hand combat. Monika and Sayori will need to work on knife training and a little bit of hand-to-hand combat training. All firearms training will be done by me. Tridon will be head of all combat training."

"So I will help Monika and Sayori first with combat training. You 3 will be with Jen to work on firearms because you 3 definitely need help with that. As for these 2," Tridon looked at Monika and Sayori before sighing, "I just hope the two of you can be able to handle how intense I get."

"I think we can manage." Monika answered while looking at Sayori who shook her head, "No. We probably won't manage."

"Alright," Tiffany interrupted, "disperse and get to work. Remember, you have this one week to show improvements before your real test at the end of the month."


Some time later, Tridon stretched while the girls joined him in their training gear. Which was basically leggings and sports bras. Tridon wore a tank top, shorts and an arm sleeve on his right arm.

He turned around and nodded, "You girls warmed up and ready?"

"Yeah."

Tridon looked over the two and smirked, "You two look nice for training."

"Am I catching your eye Tridon?" Monika cooed.

"No flirting." Tridon quickly responded before walking over to her and whispering, "Not yet anyway." Steam burst out of Monika's ears as she sighed in bliss. Tridon nodded and turned to Sayori, "Since she's in her own fantasy, you and I will start."

"Tridon..."

"What? You need some complimenting too?" Tridon looked at her and said, "You actually look damn hot in that getup."

"N-Not what I was getting at." Even so, Sayori lightly nudged him and said, "Thanks though."

"I know you're nervous about this whole training thing, but trust me. You couldn't have asked for a better teacher. Be glad that I'm your teacher and not Tiff."

"Is she rough?"

"Rough is an understatement." Tridon walked over to the open training area and ushered Sayori to follow him, "Now, hand-to-hand combat is mental and physical. Knowing your target and knowing how and when to strike back."

"What if your target does what you're trying to do, but better?"

"Like I said. It's mental. Outsmart them. Be a step ahead. If they're one step ahead, be 2 steps ahead. Then 3, 4, and so on. The last thing you want to do is panic and let anger take over. From there, your attacks will be sporadic yet predictable. They'll be able to take advantage of everything you do."

"Okay."

"So let's say I throw a jab at you." Tridon threw a lightning quick jab past Sayori's face and said, "Fighting Epsilon means you probably would've been combo'd into oblivion before he smashes your face into the ground."

"Uh..."

"You would need to watch how a person moves in order to know how they'll attack. God gave us two hands and feet, so you'll always be able to find a way to counter an attack. So try and hit me."

"Uh."

"Just do what you normally do when you want to punch me or something."

"I can't punch you unless I have a reason. I can't just punch you for no reason."

"Alright." Tridon leaned forward blew air on her cheek, "Expecting a kiss?"

"I-I..." Sayori tried to say something, but was interrupted by Tridon repeatedly lightly blowing air around her neck and face. Sayori shuttered before screaming, "Get back!" Sayori threw a punch at Tridon that he caught.

Sayori looked at him as he slowly tapped her upper body with his fist, "Like that and that." He moved her arm and stopped his fist right before her chin, "And to end it with a punch to the chin. They stumble back." Sayori moved back while Tridon stepped forward, "Then you palm strike the stomach." Tridon placed his left hand on Sayori's stomach and lightly pushed her, "Sweep." Tridon swept his leg, tripping Sayori, but he quickly slid and next to Sayori and caught her before she hit the ground, "I'd normally continue the beating, but this would give you the basics to it."

"I-I think I got it..."

The two stared at one another. Both of their eyes were glistening while they inched forward. As their faces were just inches apart, Monika cleared her throat from behind them.

"What's going on here?" She probed, "When do I get my turn?"

"Right..."


Moments later, Tridon flipped a knife in his hands while Monika and Sayori had theirs still sheathed, "Okay. Fighting with a knife is slightly more difficult as it can be countered against you."

"So how do we go about using our knives?"

"Knives I think are more situational. Use a knife when you need to. I can use a knife whenever because I'm trained." Tridon faced a training dummy and dragged his knife along it, "When you're trying to kill someone, always go for a lethal strikes. Incapacitation can be done by targeting nerves. Whether you need to kill will be determined by your ROE, or Rules of Engagement. However, I do what's necessary. Whether that means killing or knocking 'em out."

"Tridon," Sayori started, "willingly killing someone is..."

"Hard to think past. I know. What we do in our scenarios isn't what happens in our current reality. A good way to move your mind past the killing is to remember what you're fighting for. It's a basic brainwash technique the military uses in order to make sure their soldiers fight and kill without hesitation."

"Really?"

"It's usually a lot worse, but I always know who I'm fighting for." He pointed at the two of them and added, "You two, the others, and my family. If I hesitate, it'll be the death of me. I keep my mind on what's most important. Still," Tridon looked at the knife in his hand and said, "I know when to kill and when not to. All of you should know that as well." Tridon stabbed his knife in the neck of the target dummy and said on last thing, "Don't get lost in the bloodbath and become a mindless killer. It looks to be what Epsilon has become."


Later that night, Tridon sat in his room while looking at his knife. Tiffany stared at him as he did so. Tridon stabbed the knife in his desk and stood up.

"Something bothering you?" Tiffany asked.

"Am I going to become what Epsilon is?"

"What? What made you think that?"

"Episilon seems to just be following orders. Blindly like a mindless slave. I don't see him as that though." Tridon walked over to the mirror in their room and stared into it, "He's become a mindless killing machine. I'm going to become that if I don't change this." Tridon saw his reflection turn into Epsilon and he punched the mirror, shattering it, and cutting his hand severely.

"Tridon..." Tiffany ran over to him and grabbed his hand, "What is wrong with you? Don't say nonsense like that."

"Then promise you won't let me turn into a monster like him."

"I'll do everything I can to make sure you don't turn into Episilon." Tiffany caressed Tridon's hand and led him to his bed, "For now, you need to rest. I'm sure you've had a long day."

"Y-Yeah..." Tiffany helped Tridon lay down, but Tridon stopped her, "I'm 18 Tiff. I can put myself to bed."

"R-Right..."

Tridon put his blanket over himself and turned over on his side to face away from Tiffany. She smiled at him and stood up. She looked towards the door and noticed the girls standing there.

"Can I help you girls?"

"What happened?" Sayori asked, "We all heard the glass breaking. What did he do?"

"Uh," Tiffany looked at Tridon who was already fast asleep, "can we head off somewhere away from the quarters?"

They all nodded and followed Tiffany to their briefing room. Tiffany tapped her chin and sighed. She turned to the girls and they stared at her.

"I uh..." Tiffany scratched her arm and said, "You girls know that I've known Tridon for many years now, right?"

"How long exactly?" Monika asked.

"Erm. Uh. I guess I need to reveal my real age to all of you."

"Real age?" Everyone except Jen ask in unison.

"I'm actually 34 years old and I've known Tridon for 13 years. When I first became a special operator for enigma supervision, he was my first and only target."

"You knew him as long as I have." Sayori mumbled.

"My original boundaries were to watch him from afar. Follow him and make sure he wasn't in danger, but the more I watched him, the more I was interested in him. He was unique."

"Unique how?" Natsuki interrupted.

"He was nice to everyone. Always putting others before himself. No matter what kind of danger it would put him in. He always helped someone."

"Is that so weird?"

"It is for purebred enigmas." Sayori answered, "Most enigmas can't differ themselves from rational and irrational thinking. They act in ways to protect themselves and to only look out for themselves. It's rare for an enigma to openly help others."

"So I stepped past my boundaries and made contact with him. I presented myself as a friend of his mother. It's how I earned his trust so quickly."

"How long until he knew who you really were?" Yuri questioned, "With how intuitive he is, I doubt he was in the dark for long."

"When he first entered middle school is when he said he knew from the beginning, but he didn't care who I really was or what my goal was because he genuinely liked me. So I devoted my life to doing more to protect him. I sort of became like a second older sister to him."

"So why'd he punch the glass?"

"I don't know, but I think he's afraid he'll turn into Epsilon if he keeps going down this path. He doesn't want to become a mindless killing machine that Episilon is."

"But he won't. Right?"

"That's the thing." Tiffany paused and stared at the ground. She said until uttering, "I don't know..."


A/N: I said the serious arc was going to end after just a handful of chapters, but I went ahead and extended so that it can end without needing to pick up again towards the finale. So the chapters leading to the end of this serious arc, er, we'll call this arc: The Enigma Arc. So this arc will lead to Tridon finally getting rid of his powers or will he get rid of his powers? Maybe he loves his powers too much to just take them away. Yes he won't live as an Enigma, but the adventures they go on are stemmed from his powers. Hm, what do you think Tridon will do when he finally gets the choice to give his powers away. Do all of you think he'll keep them, or will he allow both himself and Sayori to finally relieve themselves of their powers? Only I hold the answer to that.