AN: :D
His frame dwarfed the largest of wrestlers. Unlike Willy Ryser, under his gray suit he consisted of pure muscle resembling dense ore instead of delicate skin. He looked like he could snap a building in half like a twig, and Lincoln could practically see the culmination of years of intense training.
Standing in the broken wall, Dr. Barker couldn't take his eyes off the white-haired criminal. A few seconds passed before the other child with the opposite hair tone took a spot next to Lincoln in the blink of an eye, hands in his pockets nonchalantly. The man was the Chief of Law Enforcement and both a honed Medical Doctor and Attending Physician, passing every course in school with near perfect scores. He was trained to keep a cool head in the worst situations for his fellow officers. Yet, how the two boys looked at him calmly bothered him. They had no idea who he was. They were just cocky and careless outsiders who thought they could get away with just about anything. It was time he correctly introduced himself.
In a blink, the other Big Bosses appeared next to Dr. Barker, all wearing suits fitted for the finest parties. Kean Standing wore a black suit with a tie; the top two buttons were undone messily. Leopold Tate wore a white suit resembling the color of a pristine chef's gear, ironed down to the finest thread. Lastly, Evan Medy stood out with his blinding red suit and yellow bowtie. He stared around his damaged casino in disbelief. Broken machines, cracked walls and floors, the signs of battle were clear.
"Even now, I can't believe my eyes," he muttered. His eyes eventually found their way to the two culprits, Lincoln and Mikey. "What have you done?"
How Evan looked at him with that hurtful expression made Lincoln feel guilty. The man didn't even refer to him by a nickname or his actual name. Only a couple days ago, the two had a blast having a dance battle. He felt happy that day when he made a good friend and knew Evan felt the same way. The way they bonded was forever stitched into his brain.
Melina looked at her Big Boss's hurt look. She can't remember the last time that man looked so down. It made her feel upset. She could still remember the day he found her cheating, counting cards at the casino. He didn't kick her out or yell at her. He found her skills incredible, and the two got closer ever since. She began to work hard and now, as her First Assistant and best friend, nobody else in the city other than her parents cared about her on such a personal level.
"It doesn't matter what they have done," Dr. Barker said with a toothy grin. His voice boomed throughout the large room for all to hear. "Whatever or whoever they are doing this for, we'll find out soon enough either way. What irks me is that even seeing the four of us together, they still look like they're willing to run around doing whatever they please. They are way too calm for a couple of pint brats." He looked over their clothes, seeing the pitch black stealth gear.
Lincoln ignored Dr. Barker and only looked at Evan with sad eyes. It was unfortunate it came to this, but he knew there wasn't a chance he could talk his way out of it. Even the other big bosses, Leopold Tate and Kean Standing, stood with resolve. He didn't know much about them, but if he were to guess, they were the supreme powers for some time now. There was no way the leaders of this city were willing to listen to a random kid from outside.
"What do we do with them?" Leopold asked, turning his eyes to Dr. Barker.
"Isn't it obvious? Beat them to within an inch of their life. Then we can question them however we please. They can rot in my jail cell for all I care."
"You should look to improve your security," Kean said like they were in a business meeting. "Some random powerful kids shouldn't be just waltzing into our city."
"Do you blame me?" Dr. Barker asked his smile not disappearing. "It's not often something like this happens."
"I know." Kean didn't take his eyes off the boys for a second. "It's not your fault. Our city has been free of any threats for years. We got too comfortable."
Leopold nodded. "And with The Other somewhere out there, now there's a possible new threat approaching. We should look to blockade the city from any outsiders."
Dr. Barker chuckled. "Who's to say they aren't from The Other? Look at them. They have no idea they're facing off against the four most powerful people in the entire city."
Lincoln narrowed his eyes, reminding himself that their goal was to stop the iron grip that were the Big Bosses. "We're right here you know. Stop talking like we can't hear you."
Dr. Barker burst out laughing, saying, "You don't deserve my attention boy. It's a damn shame I have to choice."
Lincoln then spoke quietly so only Mikey could hear. "There's a couple ways we can do this."
Mikey looked at him, graciously giving his attention.
"We either work together to take all four of them," he explained, "or we split up to divide it into two one versus two fights."
"One versus two," Mikey responded without hesitation. "I fight better alone." Then, he smiled. "We can see who wins first."
Lincoln smiled at that.
Dr. Barker grinned at them. "What's with those brats? Smiling on the last night of freedom. How annoying."
Then his smile vanished, replaced with an intense glare.
"BY THE ORDER OF FORTUNE CITY'S CHIEF OF POLICE, YOU ARE UNDER ARREST!"
He propelled forward, his giant dress shoe breaking the floor beneath it. Before either of the boys could react, he dashed forward, closing the gap in an instant, and used his large arm to hammer Lincoln. The boy was shocked as he was punted through multiple casino machines before going straight through a concrete wall, continuing through another room and wall straight after. The entire area shook like an earthquake occurred.
Melina gasped as Jackal took her without warning, phasing through the shadow on the ground. The next thing she knew, she was on one of the upper floors of the building. For some reason, she started to believe she had forgotten something. Then it came to her. Shade.
That girl was dangerous. She held an immovable grudge against the city for how it treated her. It was common knowledge for Melina, her fellow First Assistants, and the Big Bosses. When Shade rose to the top with Atlas they all thought she was content with that. It seems not.
She had to tell the Big Bosses that Shade was seen with the two boys. That meant that Atlas was not to be trusted. The girl could have acted without his knowledge, but they couldn't take the risk until that fact was proven. She was about to ask Jackal to take her back down before the whole building quaked again from the start of a fight.
Dr. Barker smirked, rushing after Lincoln. "The city will pay for any damages, go wild!"
Mikey gritted his teeth, looking at the giant holes in the walls created by Lincoln's form. A sweat drop started to trail down the side of his head when he realized the doctor officer hybrid wasn't all talk.
The Big Boss of the food industry knew all too well how a disorganized kitchen could lead to failure. As the Head Chef of multiple restaurants, keeping a level head and control was mandatory. Leopold knew the same applied to Kean's work of construction. Evan was the odd one out among the four. He didn't have as much burden as they did. That wasn't anything to be ashamed of. It was just a simple fact of handling a different kind of business. While there was still some managing to be done, no doubt, there was also the pressure of the people he intended to entertain. They would have to be satisfied by morning and feel they got their money's worth. The chance of disappointing the people who looked up to him was present, and it must have been terrifying. That was the real challenge Evan faced every day.
Making sure his light blond hair and mustache were straightened, Leopold turned to the remaining two as Dr. Barker chased after Lincoln. "Evan, I know you still have uncertainty involving Lincoln. I'll back up Edward. You two, deal with this one."
Kean gave a grunt, and Evan followed suit with a nod shortly afterward. With that, Leopold bolted off at speeds not expected from a chef.
The Big Boss of Construction then turned all his attention to Mikey, who respected the same focus. He made sure his brunnete ponytail was tightened.
"Well," Kean started, sounding lazy like he didn't want to work today. "Let's get this over with."
Mikey looked at the tool the man held in wonder; A giant two-handed pickaxe with one end flat and the other sharp for breaking the toughest minerals. The device wasn't a standard and boring one. It looked more technology than primative. The handle had designated grips at the bottom and top of the hilt. Furthermore, the pickaxe's head wasn't silver like most tools. Instead, it was crystalized dark-purple.
Kean dashed towards Mikey, closing the distance in mere seconds.
The young boy, anticipating him, brought up his long taser baton.
Stopping just short of the kid with a loud stomp that cracked the floor, Kean reeled his pickaxe to the side with both hands.
Mikey held his baton wide and made it block the incoming hit. But that was a mistake.
The boy looked on in shock as the long taser he held cracked all over its surface. Not a moment later, the taser bursted into tiny dust, falling to the floor at his feet.
Gritting his teeth, Mikey leaped back and took some distance.
"Edward was right. You underestimate us too much," Kean said.
Mikey stopped his little retreat and glared at him.
"Every single man-made object ever created started out as base materials. That thing is no different."
"All of them?" Mikey asked before his frown turned into a smirk. He closed his eyes and gave out a single, "Hah."
Kean looked unwavering. "Now if we're talking about something special like 'essence,' then that could be a different story." Kean furrowed his brows. "Or do you think we're still far from being worthy to see your scythe?"
Mikey's smirk grew teeth. "Nah. I've been waiting all this time for people like you. This entire city's been nothing but pathetic jokes. Maybe you can make me stretch a bit."
"Dazzling Divergence!"
Looking up at the voice, Mikey saw Evan high in the air, swiping a leg and shooting a wave of golden stars right toward him.
Gritting his teeth again, Mikey was seconds away from evading the attack, but Kean reacted quicker. He hit the floor with his pickaxe, which made some of the floor come up and knock Mikey towards Evan's move. The boy widened his eyes when it hit.
If there was one word to describe Dr. Barker, it was "aggressive."
Even as he was propelled through multiple walls, Lincoln spotted the officer in full sprint, chasing him with hunger in his eyes.
The boy slammed through one last wall. Stopping himself by skidding on the floor, he was now outside of the building on the empty street.
Dr. Barker's powerful lungs produced a battle cry. The man dashed straight for Lincoln, every single one of his steps cracking the ground like sand on the beach.
Lincoln held up his taser baton. The older man was fast, but it wasn't something he couldn't react to.
The officer smirked. He reeled back an arm and threw a powerful punch forward.
Lincoln dodged the punch in time, and Dr. Barker was wide open. Turning on his taser, he jabbed the man directly in the chest.
He saw the spark of electricity touch the big mass, but Lincoln widened his eyes when it did nothing.
With a large grin, Dr. Barker used his other fist and delivered a solid punch to Lincoln. His fist was large enough to hit half of the minor's body.
Lincoln was punched into a black SUV parked on the side of the road. Wincing at the pressure he felt, he pulled himself off the vehicle just to see Dr. Barker descending towards him from high in the air.
Gasping, he rolled out of the way before two large hands could grab him.
Those hands pierced the side of the SUV, but that wasn't the end. Dr. Barker raised the automobile into the air using his strength and chucked it at Lincoln like a sports ball.
Gritting his teeth, Lincoln dashed to the side to evade the vehicle. He barely had enough time to bring up his arms to block a shoulder bash from the behemoth.
He was launched into the side of another skyscraper at its base, the concrete wall shattering like glass and falling to the streets.
Dr. Barker rushed forward, gearing up another punch.
Lincoln narrowed his eyes and ducked under the giant arm. Then, he jabbed Dr. Barker in the stomach.
He saw with his own eyes how the electrical shock didn't affect the man in the slightest, making him slightly gasp.
The doctor smiled. "You seriously thought bringing a toy was a good plan?" He kneed Lincoln, sending the boy flying down the street.
Lincoln growled and grit his teeth as he tried to gain control of his flailing form, which tumbled through the road, dragging through it. He needed to figure out something fast now that the taser was ineffective.
Mikey landed on the dark roads with a slight backward skid. Looking up, he saw Evan send out more colorful stars with his leg.
Extending an arm to his side, the boy procured a blue orb from his palm. The sphere turned into a staff, and he used it to swat the stars to the side.
Evan kicked down mid-air, pouncing directly at Mikey.
Suddenly, Kean erupted from below the surface directly behind the kid.
The two Big Bosses used their leg and pickaxe, respectively, and aimed for Mikey.
Mikey swerved on his heel, using the two ends of his staff to block the incoming attacks on both sides.
Kean whistled. "Not bad."
Mikey quickly charged and released a powerful burst of blue energy, knocking the two back. He turned to Kean, turning his staff into a scythe and dashing at the man.
Even with the heavy pickaxe weighing him down, Kean blocked all the raining slashes with both his weapon and an arm coated in yellow energy.
The man stalled enough, and Evan approached quickly. With a spin in the air with a stretched leg, he used a downward kick.
Mikey stopped his assault on Kean and used his scythe to block Evan's attempt; the sharp edge of his blade didn't cut through the man's ankle.
Kean immediately struck him with his pickaxe.
The boy growled as the weapon punctured his side. It didn't stay inside him for long when the force of impact sent him barreling to a trailer truck parked on the side of the road.
Meanwhile, far enough from the two big battles, a red-headed girl rushed to the center of the city.
The sky was gray. It was windy.
An adult man in a hoodie walked across the streets of Fortune. His jacket wasn't zipped, showing the fancy gray suit and tie underneath. The hood was pulled over his head, concealing what he looked like to the cameras and eyes of the people. With one hand in a pocket, the other gripped the handle of a plastic basket that had bright purple blankets on top of it. Wrapped in those blankets was a baby, too young to even have hair, oblivious to everything around them as they snored peacefully.
The man stopped in front of a small convenience store, staying still momentarily. A single tear trailed down his cheek, dropping to the floor when it didn't have any more skin to latch on.
He gripped the basket handle tightly, thoughts most likely rushing through his head. Then, he placed the basket in front of the door to the shop, walking off without a word.
Minutes later, the shop owner, an overweight, balding man in a dirty white t-shirt, walked out. He spotted the basket containing the infant instantly.
Shocked momentarily, the man gritted his teeth and grabbed the basket, taking it off his front doorstep. He went over to the neighbouring shop and put it down at their front door.
"Scaring off all the customers," he muttered.
Sometime later, the gray skies started to pour rain. The unbothered baby, once resting, woke up and cried once the first few drops of rainwater hit their face.
A person not too far heard their cries, an elderly woman in ragged brown clothes. She was older than most, closer to the last years of her life, and her eyes seemed locked shut. The lady looked out of place in a pristine city such as this.
With slow, shaky steps, the woman managed to approach the basket. She lifted it and held it under her chest, shielding the baby from the pouring rain.
"There there, sweetie. Don't fret," she said in a gentle but frail voice.
Inside an old alleyway was a door. Through that door led to an old home at the bottom of a big apartment building. The room was small and aged, containing only a couch and a table with a single pot of flowers. There were some picture frames on the brown stained walls, none with people but pastel art. Only one other room connected to it was deeper into the building. It had a small single bed that could only fit one small person. With the lack of a good view, terrible conditions, and no visibility to the public, anyone could afford this room.
The old lady struggled to climb the two steps leading to the door. With a shaky hand, she opened it and walked inside with slow steps.
"Baha!"
A slurring toddler waddled over to her, smiling. The little girl had just begun to walk not too long ago.
The old lady raised a hand, stopping the girl. She wheezed and walked past the confused child, trembling in her steps.
Going over to the couch, she carefully placed the baby basket down.
Waddling over to the couch, the toddler reached up to hold the cushion and climb it like a great mountain. Once up, she knelt and looked at the baby in the basket in wonder.
The baby opened their eyes and looked at her, making noises and reaching out with their tiny hand.
The old lady smiled and lightly grabbed the girl's wrist, guiding her hand to the baby's. In return, the infant held one of her fingers with all their might, cooing at her.
The girl smiled and laughed.
Just then, the woman spotted something in the basket. A small tag was pinned against the purple blanket. It had something written on it.
She smiled. "Shade, meet Ray."
Over the years, Shade and Ray grew up together in that home. They made many memories, learned a significant number of things from the old woman, and cared for each other. As time passed, their age and maturity increased. They learned how to survive in a world that gave very few helping hands, and they started going out to do chores instead of the lady.
A few years after the woman brought Ray home, the tiny home was the same as ever. It might have not looked the greatest, or was the largest, but it was theirs.
The old woman sat in her chair, ever so still; her eyes closed as the room was utterly silent.
The front door suddenly opened, and a girl-boy duo welcomed themselves in.
"Baba, we're back!" Shade shouted, carrying a couple of plastic bags.
Baba didn't open her eyes to look at the two. That didn't stop her from knowing they were both growing a little every day.
"Baba?" Ray walked over to her, placing a hand on hers, which was on the armrest. He bit his nail, a habit he developed recently.
Shade came at the other side, the seven-year-old holding Baba's other hand. Worry started to overcome the two children.
A few silent seconds passed before Baba opened her eyes slowly. Even still, they were barely open.
"W-we're back," Shade said. "We brought food."
Baba made a few silent sounds, then she started to wheeze before it transitioned to coughs.
The two kids widened their eyes, their grips on the old woman's wrinkly hands becoming firm.
When her hacking stopped, she slowly and barely opened her eyes, looking off to the far distance like she could see something no one else could.
Straining a bit, she spoke. "You two are good kids."
"Baba?" Shade wanted to grip her harder but didn't wish to hurt the woman.
She continued. "It's time I told you… Shade. You're parents passed away shortly after you were born."
Shade widened her eyes and listened intently.
"They loved you so much. I know they're watching you grow wherever they are. They must be so proud of you."
Shade said nothing, but her hands started to shake.
"I took you in as your grandmother, and I'm so happy I did. I don't regret it." Baba coughed a bit, startling the two youngins.
The coughs died down, and she spoke again. "Ray."
Ray perked up, stopping his nail biting and replying, "Yeah?"
"I found you on the side of the road in a basket as a baby. I'm sorry to say I don't know who your parents are."
Ray bounced on his heels. "O-okay…"
"Do whatever it takes to live on happily. This is a cruel world filled with wonderful people. Find them. Make friends with them. But most importantly, make sure you have each other. Do your best to stay together no matter what."
Ray looked over to the girl with worry in his eyes. "S-Shade?"
"Shade. Take good care of Ray."
For weeks, the already slow woman was operating slower. Now, it was like all the battery she had left wasn't enough to keep her going. The sight made Shade's lip quiver, and she replied with a shaky voice. "I-I will, Baba! I promise."
A smile crept up on the woman's face. "You may not have any more family. But I know you can find a new one. A great one."
Slowly, she closed her eyes one last time. Her body started to twinkle bright blue, making the two kids gasp before she dissolved into sparkles of Life. It looked almost peaceful as she rose to the air and fading out of existence.
"I love you."
Shade looked up where Baba had left the room, and her thoughts were interrupted by crying.
Turning to the boy, she sadly smiled and hugged him close. "Let's make her happy, Ray," she sobbed, her own tears unable to be locked within. "We'll be fine without you, Baba. You'll see."
Shade was quick on the move as she flew down the streets of Fortune City. She could hear the ensuing battles some blocks down, but she ignored them as her heart raced.
She believed it was just a hallucination earlier when she heard what Atlas said. Why wasn't she told if Ray was so close to being saved? Was it some miracle the other scientists couldn't predict? Was Atlas saving it as a surprise for her? Or was it to ease her worries of potential failure?
As she turned the corner on an intersection, her eyes came across Dr. Barker's building, the largest and most grand hospital in the center of the entire city. It was practically a beacon. And standing right there in front of it was the most important boy in her life.
Ray felt a gust of wind as he looked over to the sidewalk. There he saw her. Unmoving, the girl he cared about most gazed at him wide-eyed.
A few seconds went by before her lip quivered. "Ray… you're healed!"
Ray stared at Shade for a moment in stunned silence. She looked on the verge of breaking down like she couldn't believe what she was seeing. The girl had always tried her best to hide her emotions, but he knew her better than anyone. He could tell when her physical appearance was outright lying.
He rushed forward.
Shade couldn't help herself and mirrored his actions, sprinting towards him to halve the time.
An almighty hug was formed, arms wrapped tight and not daring to unlock. In Shade's head, their grandmother's voice echoed to her.
"Make sure you have each other. Do your best to stay together no matter what."
Neither wanted to let go in dumb fear that this chance won't happen again. While Ray was incredibly happy, the girl was outdoing him. She was a complete mess, sobbing uncontrollably with tears running down her face. Despite her drops wetting Ray's scalp, the boy didn't have a moment where he wished to let go, savouring every millisecond in her body heat.
Atlas watched with a neutral look, staring as the two surrogate siblings embraced each other. The said neutral expression was quickly replaced with a smile. He couldn't deny that it warmed his heart.
Eventually, Share ended the hug and wiped away her cheeks to dry them. She turned to the older man looking on and walked up to him holding Ray to her side, her eyes a little red.
"Thank you," she said. "We owe you everything."
Atlas smiled and shook his head. "No. I simply provided you. You're his true hero."
Shade opened her mouth to speak, but instead chose to silently nod.
The Big Boss's expression then turned serious. "While there's nothing I want more than to let you two properly reconcile, we still have a job to finish."
The girl nodded again, this time with more resolve.
Ray smiled next to her. "Don't worry, Shade! We'll get this done in no time with my new powers!"
"Powers?" Shade turned to him with a bewildered look, then looked to Atlas for answers.
"It seems that the artificial energy you designed came with some incredible upsides," Atlas explained. "From what we can understand, it's like all of that time he spent fighting off his sickness erupted the artificial energy. As if he was training non-stop all that time. That's our theory anyway."
"I see." Shade looked down in thought.
"Come." Atlas began rolling to the front doors. "Let us continue. It's time you two got your deserved seating at the top."
"Wait!" Shade jogged next to him. He didn't stop. "This is the most protected building in the entire city. We're just going to walk in through the front?!"
Atlas only smiled at her, continuing into the building through the automatic front doors.
Ray followed close behind with an energetic skip in his step and outstretched arms. Shade did the same, albeit more cautiously.
The lobby to the hospital police headquarters hybrid was grand with many large potted plants, but no one was around, not even a worker at the front desk. However, this wasn't the heart of the building, so it wasn't surprising to Atlas or Shade. The three reached the nearest elevator, calling it and waiting for it to arrive. It didn't take long for it to do so, showing the lack of traffic upstairs.
Heading inside the elevator, Atlas and Ray went to the corner while Shade went to the buttons. She pressed floor fifty-three, and the elevator did its job.
On the ride up, Atlas said, "There might be some guards up ahead. Edward Barker is most likely looking to take Lincoln and Mikey without help from his officers, but they would still be on standby for backup. He might have a hot head, but he isn't stupid enough to leave his base unattended."
"Doesn't matter." Ray shrugged. "With both me and Shade working together again, we can do anything!"
Shade giggled, pulling him into a side hug. Though uncertainty still clouded her mind.
The doors to the elevator opened, and there was a single man in uniform slouching against the hallway's wall. It took a second for him to process them, but when he did, he panicked and nearly dropped the flashlight in his hand.
"Ray."
It all happened in a single second after Atlas spoke. The boy jumped in the air and against the wall at the back of the elevator. His body glowed purple, and he propelled straight into the guard head-first, covering the distance almost instantly.
The gust of wind from him blew onto Shade before she even had the chance to register what had happened. She stared at Ray in complete shock.
Atlas was surprised the elevator didn't break. "Incredible isn't it?" he said, "There's still so much mystery to the capabilities of energy."
The way Ray moved was energetic, just like a little boy should be, Shade thought. He looked more alive. Too different from the Ray she had gotten used to over the years, barely able to move around without tiring himself. He looked more like a kid his age should, eager to run around wild to his heart's content. She nearly broke down again.
Suddenly, an alarm shouted throughout the hallway, and red lights started flashing at every corner of the ceiling. Ray covered his ears.
Atlas looked over to the guard that Ray immediately defeated; the man managed to hit the button on his radio with the last of his strength before he passed out.
"A mild annoyance." He frowned before giving a small smile. "But as Ray said, now that you two are on the field together again, it'll be hard to stop us."
Shade snapped out of her shocked state and chuckled. "Yeah…"
"Me as well, I suppose." Atlas went forward with his wheelchair.
The evacuated city folk were gathered in various designated zones managed by the police. Most of them shouted demands for answers of why they were forced to leave their homes and businesses, hugging their children tight.
The line of officers tried to settle down and control the crowds as best they could, but soon it would be easier than ever when a large quake that shook the ground beneath their feet shut them right up.
Dr. Barker jumped to a lamp post with a resounding slam. Gripping it, he ripped it out of the ground like a vegetable, spun around for momentum, and threw it at Lincoln.
The boy widened his eyes, getting hit by the extended object and being sent into the side of a building, its debris falling on top of him.
"You always overdo things."
Dr. Barker looked over to Leopold Tate, who calmly walked up next to him.
He smiled in response. "The city will pay for everything."
"Of course." The chef flicked his arm, and a kitchen knife sheathed from his white suit's sleeve.
Dr. Barker's gaze returned to the pile of debris Lincoln was in while Leopold did his work. The boy was climbing out of it.
"Here."
The officer took the bowl Leopold handed to him. There were some cooked peppers in a broth.
As Lincoln stepped back onto the street with a breath of fresh air, he looked up and turned stunned when he noticed Dr. Barker was gulping down some enchanted food.
The moment the chief finished the last portion of the peppers, he disappeared beside Leopold in a flash, the bowl floating in the air.
Lincoln felt pressure all over when a giant fist struck him. Dr. Barker stood in front of him with a cruel toothy grin.
The boy barely saw it, but he knew what happened. Dr. Barker wasn't invisible. He was fast.
He skidded across the street as the doctor chased him at speeds that surpassed a rocket. Widening his eyes, Lincoln raised his hands and blocked a couple of punches. He was shocked when he felt the pressure despite blocking them. Then, Dr. Barker swung his forearm like a bat, knocking him away into a small office building and out the other end.
Lincoln grunted and landed in the middle of an intersection. He felt massive energy above him and bent his head, seeing with horrified eyes as Dr. Barker slammed down with a foot glowing dark gray. The young figure barely managed to dodge and watched as all four intersected roads cracked. He wondered if the trained officer was looking to kill or if he really measured his power in a way that made him confident he would survive.
Before Lincoln could think of anything, Leopold appeared atop a nearby roof and tossed something green at Dr. Barker. The large man opened his maw wide and ate it in one full swing. The white-haired boy recognized the green stuff was akin to spinach, making his stomach drop.
Dr. Barker's red energy surged as the child predicted, and Lincoln gasped.
The effect from the peppers was gone, so the man was slower overall as he rushed toward Lincoln. The boy knew, however, that if he was hit by even one of these enhanced attacks, he was done for, whether he blocked or not.
He barely scraped past a quadruple of quick but giant jabs. Gritting his teeth, he backpedaled and made some considerable distance between them.
Dr. Barker laughed. "Running away are we?!" Then, with a cracking step, he pounced forward, his eyes aimed directly at Lincoln.
Lincoln raised a finger
He created a giant white energy ball at the tip of his finger, throwing it at the charging man with a flick. "Meteor Impact!"
Dr. Barker didn't seem to care, stampeding through the gigantic energy blast with his shoulder, not slowing down.
Lincoln gritted his teeth. "How about this?" He raised a finger again, and another—more extensive and more dense—energy ball was procured.
He flicked his finger. "Planet Impact!"
Dr. Barker widened his eyes this time when he headed straight into the attack. He grunted when it exploded, slowing down a bit.
"I have to take these two seriously." Lincoln thought as he raised his hands. "Especially with a numbers disadvantage. Dr. Barker doesn't seem to have any ranged abilities. Maybe I can use that."
Putting his hands together, he charged some energy, his palms aimed at the officer.
Jumping back, he yelled, "Planet Cannon!" firing a sizable white beam.
It was a direct hit, but Dr. Barker stood his ground, pushing against the beam even though it encompassed his entire body.
Leopold looked on with clenched teeth. "This young lad still had this much fight left in him?"
A couple of blocks away, Mikey pulled himself out of some rubble. Reaching into his hoodie pocket, he pulled out a granola bar and unwrapped it. Eating it with a couple of bites, the snack repaired the wound at the side of his stomach. He'd have to thank Shade later.
Looking at the two Big Bosses he faced, he pulled out his scythe again.
"My current strength should be enough," he said.
The two adults stared at him dumbfounded.
"Still underestimating us?" Kean asked with a bored look. "Or do you overestimate yourself?"
"Nah," Mikey replied with a serious look. "It won't sit right with me if I use more than I need. That's all."
Kean scoffed and rushed forward while Evan narrowed his eyes. With his giant pickaxe, he slashed sideways and the kid used his upper arm to block.
"Huh?!" The man faltered, looking shocked when he saw his attack didn't damage the boy.
Mikey chuckled and slashed at Kean, forcing the man to dash back and evade it.
While he traveled backward, he thought, "What's going on? Why is he tougher all of a sudden? That should have broken his arm at the very least."
In a shroud of blue energy, Mikey rushed toward Kean, saying, "A pickaxe is just an inferior scythe."
Before he could reach it, however, Evan kicked some more vibrant stars at him.
Stopping in his tracks, Mikey used his sharp weapon to cut away at the.
From above, Kean swung his pickaxe with a yell.
Mikey brought his scythe up to counter it.
The two weapons clashed momentarily, both users straining to push forward. Shockingly, Mikey seemed to have the upper hand, having the edge on the old adult.
Evan slammed a foot on the ground, yelling, "Party Floor!"
Mikey noticed the ground started to shake. The road right below him began to crack and glow in various colors.
With a solid push, he forced Kean back long enough to slap a palm on the ground and shout, "Energy Base!"
A square platform of his hardened blue energy was created beneath his feet. Seconds later, Evan's attack erupted the ground, but Mikey's energy absorbed the impact. Still, the boy recognized the ability as powerful.
Evan didn't waste a second, dashing forward with a glowing kick.
Mikey, looking to slice his leg off with his scythe, froze in confusion for a moment when his weapon was forced down by Kean's pickaxe.
But then the young kid smiled, reaching with his free hand and catching Evan's leg.
Evan opened his mouth in shock, saying, "What?!" He didn't know how the boy grabbed his leg like that. It should have been too dangerous for such a feat. The star gritted his teeth, trying to pull his leg out of Mikey's grasp.
The boy didn't give him that chance, using his grip to swing Evan into Kean.
The construction worker instead caught Evan and used the momentum to spin him around again, empowering the entertainer's kick as it collided with Mikey's blocking forearm.
The child was thrown into the side of a building, grunting as he appeared to crash through the other end. Landing on the street below, the two Big Bosses dashed far on both of his sides.
To his left, Evan slammed a foot on the ground. "Party floor!"
On the opposite side at his right, Kean struck the road with his pickaxe, making the street, buildings, and lampposts all crack and cave in. "Country Razing!"
A tidal wave of debris threatened Mikey from above, and below, the ground was being shattered faster with Kean's assistance, quickening Evan's move. In response, the boy waved both hands around him in a circular motion.
The Big Bosses saw him get hit by their combined attack, the debris from below crashing down and the ground exploding into wonderful bright colors, making dust and rubble flying everywhere.
When the air settled, they were both shocked to see a blue sphere protecting Mikey.
The two of them rushed the sole warrior.
Mikey splayed his hands, shouting, "Hissatsu Tengi: Power Chamber!"
His words didn't frighten the Big Bosses, as they didn't stop. Blue hardened energy enveloped Mikey before expanding into a cube; the walls headed straight for the two adults.
They stuck forward against the wall with their feet and pickaxe each. But to their surprise, they fazed right through the walls.
Mikey jumped up, escaping the room of energy and leaving the two inside. They both tried to jump after him, but the ceiling stopped them this time.
"Such developed hardened energy? Outstanding." Kean said, landing. He became irritated. "If only this weren't essence…"
Mikey landed on the street beside them, staring at them while they readied another attack.
Kean struck the wall with his pickaxe and Evan with the tip of his shoe; their energy sparked against Mikey's.
The owner of the box watched as his ability started to crack. He smiled.
"It wouldn't be fun otherwise."
Raising a hand, Mikey said one word.
"Purge."
The box glowed and exploded with the two leaders inside, blowing smoke across the street and blinding Mikey's sight. Thankfully for him, he could still sense them inside.
As impatient as he was, Mikey waved a strong hand in front of him, creating a slight wind current and blowing the smoke away. From there, he could see his two opponents scratched here and there, but otherwise, fine.
He smiled once again at their standing forms. "Finally, people that are actually fun."
Lincoln continued to push Dr. Barker back using his powerful energy beam.
The doctor strained as he tried with his might to push forward. If he let up now, he would be pushed too far back, giving Lincoln the needed space.
Suddenly, Leopold quickly engaged Lincoln from the side with a kitchen knife in hand.
Lincoln dodged the stab from the sharp tool, forcing his beam to end.
The chef didn't let up there, proceeding to slash at Lincoln like he was attempting to dice him. He didn't want the boy to assume he couldn't fight because he was a chef.
He pressured Lincoln enough for Dr. Barker to rush forward. However, the boy caught him in his vision and took a couple of quick leaps back to gain some space.
As Lincoln began charging more energy in his palms, Leopold pulled out some leg meat in a flash of his white energy. His hands were quick to work, using his energy to cook the meat in seconds and cutting it into smaller pieces. He tossed it to Dr. Barker, and the man ate it all in one fell swoop. He immediately charged toward Lincoln.
"Planet Cannon!"
Lincoln fired his beam straight at Dr. Barker, but to his shock, the man didn't slow down when the beam hit his large body.
"The meat from a tyrant bull is special indeed," Leopold said, crossing his arms.
Gritting his teeth, Lincoln charged more energy in his palms, and with a burst of power, the beam enlarged.
"Star Cannon!"
Even then, when the increased energy reached Dr. Barker, the man only smirked as his sprint wasn't slowed.
Lincoln widened his eyes when the Big Boss closed the distance in seconds, punching him with his enormous fist down the street.
The boy tumbled and rolled, managing to steady himself and slide to a halt. He felt pressure all over his body and he reached into one of the stealth suit's pockets. Pulling out a granola bar, he ate it swiftly and the bruises around his body healed up.
A drop of sweat trailed down the side of his head as he started to rack his brain. If this continued for any longer, he was done for.
As Dr. Barker prepared for another charge, Lincoln tightened his fists.
"I have no choice…" he said, standing straight.
Dr. Barker rushed forward with a dirty smirk, his steps creating small craters on the street.
Lincoln was moments away from charging his energy, but then, abruptly…
"Hold up!"
A yellow energy blast shot down in front of Dr. Barker's route and exploded, causing the man to pause.
"Who's that?!" the doctor asked in anger.
Lincoln and Leopold also turned their heads and saw a familiar blond head on top of one of the broken shops.
"Yo!" The man did a finger nod to everyone, jumping down and landing next to Lincoln.
"I-it's you!" Lincoln said, racking his brain for the man's name. "Terry!"
"What's up?" he said with a smile. "I was just wondering what the commotion was."
Dr. Barker huffed. "It's none of your concern, Shipman."
Terry turned to the officer, knowing he couldn't trust that guy who was eager for battle. He recognized the man was like a sporadic bomb, say or do the wrong thing, and he would be on you in a second.
"All I can see is two of this city's most powerful leaders ganging up on a kid," Terry said, his eyes not resting for a second.
"Are you going to stand in my way?" Dr. Barker said with a smile that shouted he was completely fine with Terry joining the fray.
"Terry," Lincoln started worryingly, "they're really tough."
At that, Terry gave Lincoln a cheeky smile.
Transitioning to Mikey, there were a couple of newcomers standing beside him.
"I don't need your help," he told the young adults calmly.
A girl with her hand on her hip turned her head to him, the soft black ponytail she owned dangling. "We know."
The guy beside her with crossed arms turned, his messy brown hair threatening to tickle his eyes. "You already proved you can hold them back on your own."
"I can do more than just that," the kid mumbled.
The girl gave a toothy grin. "Even so, wouldn't you rather speed things up?"
Kean frowned at the two. "You're going to help him," he surmised. The man could tell they had never met before by the way they spoke to each other. "Why?"
Terry took a confident, tall stance as he exchanged gazes with Dr. Barker. Both of them shared the same look, which lacked fear.
"The way you treated the tournament participants rubbed me the wrong way," he admitted.
Dr. Barker huffed. "It's business. You knew what you were getting into."
"That might be so." Terry shrugged. "But I can't help but feel the way I do."
"Wait, Terry!" Lincoln stepped forward so he was in front of the blond.
Terry put two fists on his sides, saying, "I was watching you go at it for a couple of minutes. You're amazing, kid. I would just get in the way if I joined up front, so I'll back you up instead."
Dr. Barker chuckled. "Idiot."
Terry smiled at the large man, "You're looking back at my performance in the tournament, yeah? Well, it wasn't fair. I was facing off against a lady. I didn't want to singe her hair."
Lincoln took in his words before asking, "What about Kenner?"
His smile somehow grew wider. "Oh! That guy! He's a cool dude, bro!"
Leopold's expression turned sour. "They were talking more than fighting during their match."
Lincoln raised a brow and smiled at Terry in bafflement. "Seriously?"
"Put your trust in me and fight that big guy. I got your back." Terry readied himself, his palms beginning to spark with blond energy.
Lincoln stared at him, his look neutral. He didn't want this guy to put his life on the line for him, but he was confident. In any case, he would be in the back and simply supporting him.
The white-haired child smiled. "Alright."
He turned to face Dr. Barker once more. It was silent, and even though there was a fair distance between them, it was all a facade. Either of them could close that distance in seconds if they chose to.
The winds of the streets blew, making some thrown-away flyers tumble. That alone couldn't break the intense atmosphere as Lincoln got in a low stance, ready to quickly move at any moment. Dr. Barker stood straight, looking confident with a huge grin. Terry prepared himself, knowing he would have to shoot something in less than a minute. On standby, Leopold elegantly used sharpening steel to ready his kitchen knife.
A stronger-than-normal gust of wind blew from the officer to the child. Then, as if horns suddenly blew, Lincoln took off in a sprint straight towards Dr. Barker.
With short battle cries, Lincoln threw a couple of punches at Dr. Barker. That trained man was fast for his size, but Lincoln kept up with him.
After Edward tried delivering his own and the brat dodged them effortlessly, he quickly realized something that shook him to the bone for the first time. Lincoln could outspeed him.
The boy gave a fist directly to his chin, making his head buckle upwards.
Leopold was moments away from creating a dish, but then, coming from Terry's direction, a flying energy blast whirled.
The chef lifted an arm to block but was utterly baffled when he felt the energy stun him. That was impossible! While he wasn't as large as Dr. Barker, he knew he could handle any standard stun gun or tazer. The four of them were all relative in power.
Terry smiled, amused by Leopold's reaction. There was no way the man knew how well-honed his energy was to be able to stun the most savage creatures.
"You're Mikey, right?" the girl asked. "I'm Stacey."
The guy flicked his head up. "Tristen."
Mikey, taken aback by the sudden introduction, sputtered, "H-hi…"
The two newest participants turned to their opponents.
"We'll handle the clown," Stacey informed. "You get that other guy."
"Let's go," Tristen said.
That was their only warning, and the two rushed forward at super high speeds, shocking Evan, who didn't expect that. The two attacked the entertainer, who managed to hold their many punches and kicks off spectacularly. It wasn't until the last kick from Tristen caught him in the chest did the fight fly further away.
"I wish I won the draw," Stacey whined as she and Tristen chased after the man. "I would have loved to fight against Kenner."
"I told you and Terry we should have all signed up," her friend said matter-of-factly.
"But I didn't want to fight you guys!"
As their fight went elsewhere, it left Mikey and Kean staring at one another.
The boy kept his focus on the construction artist. Now in a one vs. one, he was correct to be confident.
Kean braced himself, gripping his pickaxe tighter. He was also confident, but he wouldn't lie and say it was impossible to be defeated. This kid was indeed something special.
Mikey procured his energy scythe, the weapon cracking powerfully. He aimed the sharp end of it at the Big Boss.
Terry kept Leopold at bay with his unique energy blasts forcing the man into a pattern of dodging. He got a few hits, angering the Big Boss and baiting him into chasing the outsider. This was just what his goal was, to take half of the heat off of the kid.
Giant clouds of dust blew upwards across the street every second. Lincoln kept being the aggressor against Dr. Barker, throwing punches and kicks while dodging the fists bigger than his body.
While most of his attacks were considered annoying, the real damage came from Lincoln passing both large appendages and getting him in the chin or midsection. He would have to do a lot more to knock the big guy out.
Dr. Barker grunted. He shouldn't have let the boy get momentum on him like that. He was careless and needed to remind himself that Lincoln was no ordinary child.
He jumped up past the roofs of the low buildings, one of his fists glowing in grey energy.
"Life Incarceration!"
He dropped like a heavy weight, and Lincoln widened his eyes, dodging the dangerous ability. The surrounding area cracked like brittle stone when the doctor collided with the ground. Not just the street floor but also the buildings, vehicles, machines, and everything else.
With that devastating attack dodged, Lincoln dashed to him, throwing a kick to Dr. Barker's chest.
Shaking it off, the officer made a fist and slammed down. In retaliation, Lincoln slammed his own fist against it.
The two fists of different sizes clashed, and the formidable force sent shockwaves around them, sending the broken parked vehicles flying into the sides of buildings. Sparks of energy surged as the two fighters struggled against one another. Even below wasn't safe from their power struggle, as a crater was created.
Dr. Barker smirked down at the boy. "You've got respectable guts trying to go against my strength!"
Lincoln smiled back. "Nah, I've got you right where I want you."
The man turned surprised.
Loaded with intense energy, Lincoln's free hand rose, revealing a charge in the shape of a sphere. Aiming at the giant's stomach, he shot a large white beam.
Dr. Barker yelled out in rage as he was blasted high before proceeding to crash land directly on his back, creating a large crater like he was a meteorite. The man coughed up some spit due to the hard landing.
The large foyer on the fifty-third floor had dozens of unconscious adult guards.
Atlas rolled through them like he was swimming in a pond filled with seaweed. He went over to the middle of the room, where Ray stood proud.
"Nicely done," Atlas said, touching the child's shoulder. He received a grin in response.
Abruptly, the elevator chimed, and two new contenders entered the room. While Ray didn't know the two at all, Atlas recognized both of them.
A gentle but mature female voice spoke. "Two certain boys are running around causing havoc. Meanwhile we have intruders in the most protected building in Fortune."
Atlas nodded his head at Edward's gray-haired first assistant. "Lenora."
"It's quite odd, Atlas." She turned her head to the old man standing next to her. "Don't you think, Wom?"
Wom furrowed his brows. Ever since he heard Lincoln was battling the Big Bosses, including his newest boss, he wanted to go down there and speak with him. Something must have been wrong in all of this. The boy he met at the tournament didn't seem the type to do this for laughs or wicked purposes. To his dismay, he was forced to stay in Dr. Barker's hospital once the alarm went off.
Lenora continued. "Are they working for you? Or are they independent? Either way, you're using both of them as a diversion."
A couple of rooms over, Shade was in the middle of planting the EMP. She could hear their voices echo down the hall.
Atlas spoke, making Ray turn his head to him. "Have you come to apprehend us? If not, could you move aside kindly please? We will be needing that elevator."
"Could it be…" Lenora stared intently at Atlas. "You're after Fortune's Key Card?"
Wom turned to her with a questioning look.
Ray asked Atlas, "What's that?"
The woman continued. "Fortune's Key Card is a powerful object protected by the entire city. More specifically, the five pillars."
"Five pillars?" Wom asked.
"The Big Boss buildings."
Wom widened his eyes. "And those kids were seen sneaking around inside one of them."
"Exactly. Dr. Barker and myself won't take the risk of that being a mere coincidence. You need access from all five Big Bosses to obtain it. But I'm sure there are other ways."
"That's so cool! What does it do?" Ray asked.
"That information is highly confidential. Even people such as myself and Dr. Barker shouldn't know about it."
Ray's expression faltered. "So you're not going to tell us?"
"I'll tell you."
Atlas spoke up, silencing everyone. When no one dared to interrupt him, he continued.
"The key card is able to let one control the entire city, because once you put it into a system, you're able to access everything. It's considered a rumor in the city, but it's entirely true. This city is over reliant on technology. That same technology is its biggest flaw. With the key card, I would have control of every device in the entire city. All of the resources, wealth, and power. I could adjust anyone's life in an instant. A homeless person could become rich in a matter of seconds, an owner of a renowned business could lose everything by the time he blinked. I could track anybody in the city down to every step they took. I could make the economy crash with a snap. Even the other Big Bosses wouldn't be safe."
Lenora frowned. "But why do you need such a thing? You already have a spot at the top of Fortune."
"It's time for the ones at the bottom to stop being trampled."
Lenora turned to the young voice, seeing the red-haired girl she recognized all too well. "Shade?"
"You all sat at the top for so long, ignoring everyone who struggled at your trash cans like they were trash themselves." Shade glared at the ground, remembering every day she had spent with Ray on the streets since Baba passed away. They couldn't even stay in the same home she owned with the little money she had. not because of the expenses, but because every single day would remind them of that lovely mother. Even that woman, that kind, gentle caring mother, was given a terrible hand by society. "It's time for things to change. This city will no longer step on those who don't have anything."
Atlas nodded. "The other Big Bosses have been neglectful long enough. Soon, they will lose all leverage on the city, giving us the opportunity to become their true leaders and make it a better place for all to live. Once they lose everything, the people of the city won't have a choice but to allow us to be their sole leaders. They might not be pleased with such a large change at first, but things will adjust over time. They'll come to see that even large changes can be for the better."
"I'm still curious." Lenora frowned at Atlas. "How are you so confident about the key card's power? Unless my memory isn't right, you only arrived in this city a month ago."
Atlas looked down before laughing. It startled Shade, who was never accustomed to her Big Boss doing more than an amusing smile.
Calming himself, he explained. "I lived in a time where it was common knowledge."
"That's simply impossible," Lenora said. "That would be too long ago. Just who are you—Atlas?" The doctor narrowed her eyes.
"A simple man with ambitions." Atlas was growing bored of this conversation. "Move aside, please."
Lenora gazed at him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Eventually, she sighed. "I know there's not much we can do to stop you, seeing the mess you made on our floors and the fact that I'm just a simple doctor."
Everyone in the room but the innocent Ray knew she wasn't finished.
"But—as Edward's first assistant, mentor, and friend—I will stand my ground even though I cannot fight."
Wom widened his eyes. "Madam?"
Atlas looked at her, his eyes softening with pity. "I admire your loyalty to that man." He looked over to Wom, who was worried for his co-worker.
"Then how about this. Ray will face Mr. Ishii. If he wins, we'll leave without issue."
Lenora narrowed her eyes. She knew she couldn't trust that promise, but she had no choice, and Atlas knew that. "Alright."
Ray beamed, stepping up in front of the other two.
"Have fun," Atlas said with a small smile.
Shade grew troubled at the thought of Ray fighting Wom Ishii. While she and the boy cared for most of the trained guards on the floor, this old warrior was a different tale. He wasn't just trained like any ordinary soldier. Wom held years of practice and standards from his homeland and it was ingrained into his bones. She was familiar with Fable Country. If the books were honest, everyone born and raised had their skills of battle polished with routine every day.
On top of that, this elderly man had the experience to back it up. She was well aware he was holding back in the tournament against Lincoln. The time ran out before either of them started trying. She was sure this was why Atlas and Edward didn't plan on him having another fight and instead chose Lincoln, who was young and more unknown. Atlas took the gamble and went straight for Lincoln and Mikey, the two having the most questionable potential out of all the participants.
Atlas looked over at her, seeing her worried expression. He gave her a reassuring smile.
Lincoln kept advancing on Dr. Barker. He threw blows as the two flew across the road faster than the cars driving. Every time the large officer tried his own attack, the boy used his small frame to his advantage, evading all of his punches and kicks. It was irritating for one and scary for the other.
With a growl, Dr. Barker swung his entire arm towards Lincoln, but the white-haired child ducked under it, then proceeded to elbow him in the chest, knocking him into the wall of a nearby shop.
Lincoln dashed to him, not letting the man rest, dodging a kick and delivering a knee to the man's jaw.
Behind him, Kean skidded to a halt on the street. Mikey appeared out of nowhere, giving a few slashes with his scythe. The Big Boss could defend against all of them, so the boy kicked his pickaxe to the side and winded up for a significant slash. Kean gritted his teeth and took a small dash backward. Mikey followed suit.
Terry kept firing blasts at Leopold nonstop, who did all he could to dodge them. The chef didn't even have time to make himself something to increase his speed. Knowing he was only being stalled, it made the chef bitter. He tried to hide in an alleyway, but Terry wasn't slow and kept up with him. The small corridor between buildings was a mistake. With less room, it was more complicated than before to dodge Terry's blasts, and the Big Boss of the Food Industry was caught by one of them, stunning him for a second.
A second was all Terry needed. He rushed forward, and with both hands, he shot an electrifying beam.
"HISSATSU TENGI: SHOCK CAGE!"
The beam connected to Leopold, and Terry's blond sparking energy encompassed the man and restrained him. Both of them strained as Leopold used all of his strength to try and get out of this predicament.
Stacey and Tristen kept Evan's focus on them, pressuring the man into merely defending himself by breakdancing to dodge their punches.
The pony-tailed girl left Tristen's side, jumping up to a building for height. Putting her fists together, she aimed both at Evan.
With a cry, she fired two shots of pink energy which took the form of glowing fists.
Evan tried to dodge, but Tristen was quicker, getting behind and holding him still through his armpits.
With gritted teeth, the entertainer twisted his hips and took the other man with him, making Tristen the target of the blasts. This forced his captor to push himself off quickly. Now free, Evan flipped to the side, doing a handstand and narrowingly avoiding the attack.
Sprinting to Dr. Barker, Lincoln fired a couple of quick energy blasts at him. The man swerved to the side for one of them and batted the other with a backhanded fist. By the time he did that, Lincoln was in his face, giving him a punch directly on his cheek.
Dr. Barker growled and threw a punch, but Lincoln jumped over it and threw a fast blast at his face, which hit, making him recoil backward.
Lincoln flew forward with a burst of white energy. Using his arms to brace, he pushed Dr. Barker across the street.
The adult smirked, making Lincoln widen his eyes. He grabbed Lincoln with his giant arms, trapping the boy in his hold and stopping his push. With an iron grip on him, the doctor jumped up high in the air and flipped over.
"JUDGEMENT DECREE!"
Dr. Barker zoomed back down, shrouded in his red energy. Using that momentum, he slammed Lincoln down on the streets below, making a large cloud of dust.
A few seconds passed before a couple of energy shots hit Dr. Barker in the chest, making him stumble back.
When he collected himself, he looked on and saw Lincoln step forward. The boy was covered in bruises that leaked from his Life, but the Chief was no better himself.
Dr. Barker smiled before bursting out laughing and making Lincoln soften his features.
"You're not bad at all kid! I have half the mind to invite you to join my ranks!"
Lincoln chuckled. "I'll have to pass on that."
"That's too bad."
Both of them readied themselves, knowing the fight wouldn't end until one of them fell.
Suddenly, both of them felt a powerful shockwave coming from the North. Following that, they heard a deafening sound that sounded like a monster was released to devour the city. Widening their eyes, they looked over from where the demonic sound came from to see Dr. Barker's hospital, where all of the lights in the building shut off.
"What?!" The man yelled in shock. He jumped onto an electric station roof for a better look just to see the other Big Boss buildings be rid of their power as well.
Evan Medy widened his eyes as he took on the spectacle in a stunned state. "What just happened?!"
Stacey and Tristen were confused.
"S-should we ask Mikey if that was his doing?" Stacey asked.
Leopold Tate gasped and stared in disbelief as his restaurant in the distance went from a shining beacon to a dark spire. "What is this?"
Terry didn't know what to make of it either.
Even the calm and collected Kean Standing clenched his teeth and widened his eyes. "I-impossible. Our backup generators aren't turning on either?!"
The ones inside those buildings, which included the First Assistants, Jackal, Willy, and Kenner, all had the same reaction of confusion, wondering why everything turned off.
Dr. Barker turned to Lincoln and shouted, "What did you do?!"
Of course, Lincoln knew what it was but kept his mouth shut.
Gritting his teeth, Dr. Barker did something he never thought he would have and took off in a sprint, stopping the fight and running to his base of operations.
Lincoln took off in pursuit.
At that moment, the Big Bosses and First Assistants felt their stomachs drop when a realization hit them. Whether weakened, busy, or in the middle of a fight, everyone confused their opponents or co-workers and started to race towards the central building in Fortune. Fortune's Base of Emergencies. In other words, Dr. Barker's headquarters.
Weak on the floor, Wom looked up at Lenora, who had her hands on his chest, both glowing a clam green. The large foyer was dark with the lights off, and they couldn't even take the elevator down due to the loss of power.
"I apologize."
Lenora shook her head. "You did your best. I never knew Atlas had such a powerful child with him. It looks like this city will be changing after all."
With no electricity or natural light seeping through the windows, the barracks stationed in the basement were completely dark. Atlas's wheelchair held a bright light as he led Shade and Ray through the dark rooms filled with various equipment such as armor, uniforms, medical tools, and other things suited for both a hospital and headquarters.
"If I remember correctly…" Atlas rolled to an array of lockers. "Ray, destroy the wall here, if you will."
"Kay Kay! Stand back!" Ray stretched his legs before dashing forward in a ball of purple energy. He shot straight into the wall beside Atlas and made a large hole. The Big Boss shielded his eyes from the dust.
Shade trotted over next to Atlas, and the two of them peered through the hole. Together they saw a hidden set of stairs heading down.
They both raised their heads suddenly when they sensed enormous energy approaching insanely quick.
"They're coming," Shade deducted.
Atlas nodded and said, "However, they're too late to stop us." And he rolled through the hole to get to the staircase. His wheelchair had excellent traction with these gravitational wheels Shade designed, so he wouldn't roll down uncontrollably.
Shade followed close behind, and the three of them descended quickly. The stairs took a 180-degree turn at the halfway point. The darkened journey took them down somewhere around thirty meters deep. Luckily they had flashlights.
Eventually, the three saw a soft blue glow coming from the bottom of the steps. Looking closer, they saw the source was coming from within a room.
They reached the bottom, and an open stone doorway invited them in.
Atlas was the first to enter, then followed by Shade and Ray. The man widened his eyes.
The room had a circle pattern on the floor, with multiple support pillars circling near the edge of the room. In the middle was a stand, and floating right above it was a small white card with a thick gold line going down on one side.
"Incredible…" Atlas said with a smile. It was like he didn't know for sure if it existed.
Rolling towards the key card, Shade and Ray followed close behind and looked around. The room was akin to an ancient temple. The support looked aged but still held firm, and above wasn't sanded or flattened; it was rocky and natural. The room smelt a little odd, but nothing too distracting.
Altas reached for the key card. Surrounding the artifact was a mysterious blue sphere protecting it from greedy claws.
Smiling, he reached over to the sphere and grabbed it. If the power to the Big Boss buildings were still on, it would have singed his fingers off right there. The dangerous current was strong enough to damage even the likes of Dr. Barker. But since the power was turned off…
He squeezed against the sphere, and it shattered like thin glass.
His smile getting more comprehensive, he grabbed the key card gently, like it was delicate, and brought it up to look at closer.
After admiring it for a second, Ray also said, "Woah! This is what that lady was talking about?"
Atlas chuckled. "Yes." He rolled over to Shade and handed it to her. "I'm certain you know what to do with it."
Shade took the key card with a hesitant nod and looked it over. Through her eyes, she didn't notice a modern way to see what information it held, but she already had some ideas springing up in her brain.
"Now then." Atlas turned back to the steps. "I think it's time I lent a hand."
At the front of Edward Barker's headquarters, the man who owned the large building was moments away from charging through his front door.
In an instant, Lincoln appeared in front of him with a sphere of energy charged in his palms, blocking his path.
Edward barred his teeth and didn't stop, but Lincoln fired a large beam at him, pushing him back past the sidewalk and onto the street.
Dr. Barker gestured with his entire arm. "Get out of my way!"
Kean sprinted to his side, and Mikey appeared next to Lincoln.
"Who put you up to this?!" Kean yelled. "You don't know what could happen!"
Terry, Stacey, and Tristen all took their viewings at a distance across the street. Neither knew why the power went out in those giant buildings, and they weren't oblivious to the dread that came on the Big Boss's features.
The other two Big Bosses appeared next to their allies in a blink.
"Lincoln!" Evan pleaded with frightened eyes, "Please, you must stop whatever you're doing right now, darling!"
Lincoln widened his eyes. He didn't know what Evan was so worried about, whether it was the power and money or something else, but to see not just him but the other Big Bosses so anxious made him worry as well. It was odd.
"Leopold!" Dr. Barker yelled. "Get me something made, NOW!"
Leopold did as told without hesitation, and before Lincoln or Mikey could stop him, he cooked some tyrant bull meat with his energy, not even wasting time to cut it.
Edward engulfed the entire thing, including the bone, and the moment he swallowed, he gave out a battle cry, flared with powerful red energy, and charged forward.
Both boys tried to stop him, but their fists and energy scythe bounced off the man's skin like rubber toys. To their shock, Dr. Barker barreled past them, heading straight for the front door.
Right then, a single figure rolled out the front of his building.
Dr. Barker's eyes narrowed, and he glared death at Atlas. Continuing his charge, he yelled and aimed straight for his fellow Big Boss.
Atlas sat there, oddly calm.
He closed his eyes.
The enraged behemoth closed in on him, moments away from touching.
He snapped them open.
His eyes now glowed dark purple as a powerful force that was nearly invisible came out of them.
Dr. Barker was enraged one second, then the next, he instantly stopped and crashed on the ground unconscious.
The unknown power passed Lincoln and Mikey, seemingly ignoring them, and the three shocked Big Bosses standing behind didn't have time to run.
They all dropped to the floor, completely knocked out.
AN: Well, we finally hit 100k words, and this story isn't even close to being completed.