Chapter 32: Jailbirds

Following a quick healing spell from Riveria, where the elf offered handfuls of unwanted scoldings, Hit trudged over to the main tent. The large structure had been erected in preparation for the squad's arrival and was bustling with activity. Camp morale had skyrocketed, and Loki familia members flittered about, enjoying their short break.

Hit drew a few glances as he approached the immense dome; people were starting to realise just how abnormal his strength was. The tent was encircled in gold bunting and was topped with a Loki familia flag. The dancing clown symbol fluttered in the wind, as if it were dancing. Hit pushed open the wooden door, an oddity for such a structure.

Upon entry, Hit scoured the room with his gaze, and was greeted by a relatively grand space. Red, blue, and yellow carpets lined the ground, weaved with spiralling gold designs. Chairs and tables were neatly lain at the borders of the room, where individuals sat scribbling away. At the centre of the room, Finn sat on a wooden box, elevated by a platform, and was surrounded by his fellow executives. Two individuals rested on their knees at the centre of the room, gagged and chained: they were the suspects that Hit had taken in.

Hit marched up and stood to their side. As soon as the two grovelling worms noticed him, their eyes widened in terror, and their bodies trembled.

Finn blinked and followed their gaze and was surprised to see Hit. The boy was so quiet when he moved, even managing to sneak up on such experienced commanders. Although, the troubling news was weighing heavily on their minds. "That is the strongest reaction we have coaxed from them yet... You must have left quite the impression, Hit."

Hit raised his head to meet the pallum's, noticing that the rest of the assembly were in an incredibly sombre mood. "And yet, they remain silent. Do you recognise their symbols?"

Finn nodded, gravely, and picked up a piece of paper. Another member of the familia had transcribed the scribbles, which saved Finn from having to handle rotting remains. "Unfortunately, I do. These symbols were frequently observed within Evilus bases, particularly surrounding ritual sites..."

The captain stared at the potential evilus members with revulsion and hate. "Either these are true members of the insidious group, or just pitiful fools hiding behind its name."

The pallum sighed to calm down and smiled cordially at Hit. "Now that you're here, Hit, how do you think we should proceed?"

Finn was out of options. Soon, he would have to temporarily part with the suspects. They had attempted to remove their gags; however, the woman had instantly tried to bite her tongue, and the man had remained completely still, staring off into space. Hit had finally managed to elicit a response from them.

Hit looked down, between the two individuals, and made a conclusion. "The woman is useless, too far gone. Let me try the man."

Finn nodded, but was not about to give the boy free reign. It bothered him how Hit had obviously tortured the two; what had the boy experienced to become someone to resort to that? "I will allow it. However, you are not to harm them."

Hit huffed and walked over to the coward. 'Then this will be a waste of time...'

Hit tore the man's rope gag, which had been reapplied in case he also resorted to suicide. Brown eyes flickered between fear and despair. "I-I can't, I j-just can't..."

Hit rolled his eyes, not seeing what he could do to persuade him. He turned around and addressed Finn. "Have you identified them?"

The pallum nodded, reading over another sheet of information. "Yes, they're members of a wanted band of thieves: Hugo and Naga. We should be able to locate any living family members once we reach the surface."

Hit's eyes twinkled and he turned to the newly named Hugo. "That settles it, then. Do not bother confessing, Hugo. I will simply perform my tactics on your family and friends."

Hugo's jaw trembled and he stared upwards in disbelief. He spoke in a desperate whimper. "Y-you're an adventurer. You wouldn't!".

Hit drew closer, as he had during his previous questioning session, and fixed the man with a terrifying glare. "I will resort to anything to accomplish my task. Your loved one's suffering will be on your hands."

Tears dripped from Hugo's eyes, as the man gripped his palms, until they bled. Finally, his expression of anguish fell into acceptance, and he sagged in place.

"...The bags were for a t-test. I had to prove my w-worth as a team member. Only by committing the worst sin, would I g-gain entry, and pay my d-debt. Evilus members were supposed to m-meet the day you caught us, to bolster our n-numbers. The symbols... verify authenticity. "

Gasps rang out throughout the tent, aghast at the terrifying prospect of Evilus' return. Hit pressed on, to the most important query. "Where is your meeting place?"

Hugo became incredibly distressed then, and fell over, chains clinking. His face was pale, and eyes open and unblinking. His body trembled as he repeated a mantra. "They'll kill them... They'll kill them... they'll kill them...They'll kill them..."

Hit gritted his teeth. So close, yet so far. 'Tch. A mental block? Or has he simply gone insane? They must have a hostage or brainwashed him.'

The former assassin got back up, disappointment clear on his face. Finn seemed eerily happy and addressed their newest rookie. "I suppose that's everything we can do, down here at least. Anyway, you sure are one scary guy, Hit!"

All joviality left his person, as Finn turned to the adventurers working around the periphery of the tent. "Take them away and leave us."

Once the secretaries and bookkeepers had scurried off, and prisoners were hauled to their cells, Finn spoke to Hit. "I assume those were merely empty threats? You aren't going to hunt down any innocent people, are you now?"

Hit scoffed at the idea, and did not back down, despite the sudden harsh atmosphere. "Obviously not. The other members of their group however..."

Finn narrowed his eyes at Hit's cryptic comment. "That is not our jurisdiction, Hit. We must work with the Ganesha familia in situations like these."

Hit blinked, remembering the idiot who traipsed after him on his first day in Orario. 'Those clowns? Fantastic... Nothing will come of this then...'

Hit nodded, although was not very enthusiastic.

Finn smiled at him, losing his abrasive attitude. "Good! Now, since they were found in Rivira, they will now fall under their jurisdiction. Any prisoners will have to stay confined there for a set amount of time: likely a week. It's a shame, that you did not deliver them there to begin with..."

Hit quirked a brow, not understanding why the seemingly intelligent man would do such a foolish thing. "Pointless, and a security risk. Those wastrels cannot be trusted with anything."

Finn huffed and gave Hit an understanding look. "I agree that it is an undesirable outcome, but it is for the best. We have to maintain strong ties with Rivira, since they are our sole means of trade and support down here. The town has always been a shady area, with ancient ties to dead organisations and civilisations. Unfortunately, they are quite biased, and don't want to change their founder's vision. I assure you, though, they are good people."

Hit crossed his arms and looked out of a nearby window. "That is not my impression of them so far. Perhaps those two will 'break out' and disappear mysteriously…"

Finn narrowed his eyes, catching on to Hit's intentions. "No, Hit. This is a direct order, not a suggestion. Do not interfere with those prisoners, until Rivira gives us the okay. Do I make myself clear?"

Hit gave out an emotionless response. "Crystal."

Finn seemed satisfied and nodded. "Now then, that's all settled. Thank you for your help, Hit. You really have gone above and beyond! We'll take care of everything from now, though. Go, and rest for now. We will be leaving in four days since we still need to send runners to the surface. Some of our members have been poisoned badly by the monsters. Make sure you have all your belongings ready, by then."

Hit was not quite ready to leave and voiced his disagreement. "I will remain here for a short while longer and shall resurface at a later time. It will give me the chance to monitor the town."

Finn crossed his arms and looked at Hit, sternly. Given his height, it was not very intimidating. Although, if Tione was present, she would have sprung at the pallum. "You don't have any ulterior motives, do you?"

Hit shook his head, not willing to return to the surface yet. He still felt there was something left to accomplish. "I have genuinely enjoyed my time here and would have remained regardless."

Finn nodded, pleased that Hit was expressing himself more now. It was a wonder how the boy could have enjoyed these past two weeks, almost always alone. "Request granted. Although, if I hear any complaints from Rivira, you will be in serious trouble, mister."

Hit turned around and walked away from the gathering, scoffing at the idea of being caught by those layabouts. "They will not notice my presence. My focus will be on the Goliath."

Gareth spluttered, woken from his relaxing daze. "Oh, for Pete's sake! Not that again, lad!"

Hit smirked, out of view, and exited through the door.

...

The executives huffed and shook their heads, good naturedly, as the door shut, leaving behind only senior members.

Finn was a little concerned, well-aware of Hit's tenacity. "He's not actually going to fight it, is he?"

Gareth shook his head, recognising the boy's curiosity rather than mad desperation. "No, the lad honestly seems curious about it, and the dungeon as a whole. Besides, we'll still be 'ere when it spawns next."

Riveria smiled softly, remembering their few magic lessons. Hit had opened up a little more after each one. "Curiosity seems to shine through his emotionless mask. He's obviously hiding quite a harsh past, based on this brief interrogation."

The atmosphere was dampened as they were reminded of Hit's harsh threats against the prisoners. How could the young boy be so intimidating? Finn sighed, sad that yet another child could not have a pleasant upbringing. "Yes... It is a past that I cannot seem to elucidate, no matter how hard I look..."

Riveria cupped her chin, confused at Hit's mysterious nature. "There's nothing? Surely, there must be an identification form of some sort, used upon entry to the city?"

Finn shook his head, as no such document existed. "No. It's as if he's a ghost, one that did not exist prior to arriving at Orario. He used a merchant's pass to enter the city, which could have been acquired from anywhere. I'm certain that Hit isn't his real name."

Riveria furrowed her brows at the pallum. "That cannot be. Loki herself can attest to that."

Finn sent the elf a smirk, pleased that he had outsmarted her for once. "I agree that he believes that Hit is his name, which demonstrates one blinding limitation of the Gods. If someone truly believes that something is so, it will be detected as a truth."

His companions gasped, remembering that a God's power was not infallible, nor always applicable to every situation. Riveria frowned, pitying the boy. "Perhaps he has buried his past, behind him."

Unaware of people jumping to conclusions about them, Hit went back to his daily routine. He had had his fill of dungeon dives and relaxed in a faraway pool.

As darkness fell across the land, and dots of fire light burned across the plains, Hit traipsed towards the camp. He noticed that there was a greater abundance of fireflies dancing in the air, emitting faint blue glows, likely attracted to the increased human activity.

'Why am I doing this? Have I grown a soft spot for these people?'

There was no real reason why he should meet the girl, but something compelled him all the same. Spending such a long time amongst a group of people, wasn't as unpleasant as Hit first thought. His gaze was drawn to a slender woman, standing off to the side, on a nearby hill. Her blond hair, and white casual dress, twinkled in the twilight. She stared upwards towards the crystalline ceiling, which illuminated a contemplative face. Ais Wallenstein twitched a little as someone seemed to sneak up to her location. "How...are you so quiet...?"

Hit replied from her side, following her gaze upwards. Blue pulses of light were reflected in his red pools. "You're simply not perceptive enough."

The young girl pouted, but was nevertheless pleased to see her newest friend again. They continued to stare up, enjoying each other's company. Hit glanced at the girl, who seemed to appear less lost, as if she now had a purpose. "You seem more confident."

Ais smiled lightly, seeing a group of fireflies dancing together, forming interwoven designs of blue shimmers. "Yes... I learned a lot about myself during this dive... It is all thanks to my friends..." Golden hair waved in the breeze as Ais turned to face Hit, grateful expression adorning her face. "... which includes you, Hit..."

Hit stood stunned by the casual declaration, but soon recovered. Ais carried on, looking a little sullen.

"...You always fight alone... What drives you? Is it hate?" Part of Ais selfishly hoped it to be the case, for if not, she might be reaching her peak. After all, she could never be a hero. Yet, what could be described as such?

Hero: A legendary state of being that everyone once strived to be in this world. Someone who is admired for their courage, and self-sacrifice. It was a state that Ais believed she could never achieve. Her revenge-driven goal, of defeating the one-eyed black dragon, did not fit such a noble person. Her heart was being eaten away by a black flame, fuelled by hatred of all monster kind. Only her friends, and the pure hearted Bell Cranel, could soothe its blaze. She was so, so afraid that the white-haired boy would step down her path, to self-destruction. Yet he hadn't... After his legendary battle against the minotaur, his heart shone more brightly than ever, stoking a different flame within her. What flame kindled within Hit, she wondered...

Hit quirked a brow, but answered truthfully. "I fight to grow stronger. That is all."

Ais was not satisfied with such a brief comment and drew closer to the silent boy. "Truly? Please... I would like to know."

Hit stared at the determined girl, but ultimately relented. Ais' unusual fierceness earned her a gleam into Hit's true self. He huffed and stared back at the night sky. "In the past, I did not see reason in pushing myself. There was no one beyond my power, and my only purpose was to accomplish my... tasks. However, meeting someone who could prove a challenge to me, showed me that there are no limits to a warrior's strength. Since then, I made leaps previously thought to be impossible, and life became more fulfilling. You should always be evolving to reach new heights. I'm looking for what lies beyond strength... and how to live a life that I can be proud of."

'Well... the gods of destruction were always above me... However, fighting against them isn't a trivial matter. You do not simply ask for a spar and expect to live through the experience...'

Ais' mouth parted in surprise, and her eyes sparkled in delight. Hit's soul sparkled in a beautiful purple glow. He was not bound by revenge or hate; he sought out a goal beyond such petty matters. "That is... the longest I have heard you speak...Your goal is noble."

Hit crossed his arms and faced away from his oddly talkative companion. "Hmph. I speak when necessary."

Ais was not finished and continued asking questions, eager to learn more. "You... and Bell... what makes you so special…?"

Hit quirked a brow, confused at what made Bell and him similar. The boy was a quick learner, nothing more. "I naturally grow stronger at a faster rate. As for Bell, why do you think he is special?

'He is growing quickly, yes; however, that is not unusual for beginners. The last time I saw the brat, he was severely wounded.'

Ais tilted her head, surprised that Hit had not heard the news yet. Gossip had spread through the camp like wildfire. "He... levelled up..."

Hit nearly collapsed at the casual comment, one that was utterly unbelievable. 'Huh!?'

Ais didn't notice the uncharacteristically shaken boy, and carried on, looking awed at her own tale. "...we watched him... battle and defeat a minotaur, singlehandedly... it inspired us all..."

Hit coughed and thought back to the awkward boy.

'Well, well. Looks like I misjudged the kid. That must be how he injured himself during my descent. I, of all people, should know to expect the unexpected. As I thought, levelling up requires you to exceed your limits. Someone's actual proficiency, and time spent as an adventurer, is likely less of a requirement. Hmph, well done kid.'

He was drawn back from his musings, as Ais stared at him for a worryingly long time. They were both unaware of many social customs, so Hit was not offended. "You will have to ask him yourself. I remain at level 1."

Ais shook her head. Level 1? He was already far beyond that... His experience seemed to somehow exceed all of theirs. She decided not to press him further, and instead went for an indirect approach. "...What new techniques have you developed?"

Hit's mouth tightened into a thin line, at the blunt question. Even he could understand what she was aiming for. '... this girl. I suppose I can indulge her curiosity. Although, none of my advice will be specific, or useful to her.'

"I have learned how to use the terrain to my own advantage, and pit a monster's own strength against them. I have also been fighting in a manner that is more instinctual. Although the apotheosis will likely forever be beyond me..."

This was quite a brief summary of Hit's advancements, but he obviously would not describe Subliminal Time Skipping, nor the use of platforms while skipping time. He did not even bother to allude to Tides of Time... The girl would likely pester him about gaining skills so easily. It was not set in stone that it would even work, yet Hit's strong conviction simply did not consider the possibility of failure.

Ais tilted her head, forcing golden locks to cascade down. "...You cannot use it?"

Hit huffed in disappointment. There were very few things that he viewed as beyond him. "No, and I severely doubt any of you could either. Only someone who can separate their mind and body could hope to achieve such a divine technique."

Ultra instinct: where the user severs their own consciousness from their mortal form, allowing it to dodge and attack subconsciously. Hit simply could not fathom how it could be done. So much thought went into every one of his actions, another manner in which he over relied on Time Skips.

Ais' eyes widened at the mention of the gods. What was Hit talking about? "…Divine?"

Hit discarded the topic with a shake of his head. He was beginning to grow tired and took a step away. "It does not matter. I'll see you later..."

Ais stepped after him with a determined expression. "Wait... I want to try meditating again..." She had undergone a harrowing event and felt more confident in herself and her bonds than ever before.

Hit took in her strong intent, and got into his meditative stance, resting on the soft grass below. "Fine. Let's see what you can do, little one."

Ais pouted at the jab, referring to her inability to transmit a proper mental image. She entered an equally perfect sitting stance and closed her eyes.

The two warriors sat for some time, heartbeats matching perfectly. Winds swept through the grassy fields, providing a soothing background noise. Finally, Ais linked to Hit's mind, and cast the best projection that she could. The world fell into darkness as time lost all meaning...

An infinite void swirled around the girl, vast purple nebulas and dust clouds forming kaleidoscopic matrices across the horizon. Stars glimmered at all corners of her vision, reflecting as sparkles in her eyes. Ais looked down, only to be met with similar sights; she could not tell up from down or feel any breeze at all. Panic was starting to take hold as Ais began to hyperventilate.

"I see that you have finally succeeded. Although, you still seem too small." A familiar voice sounded from behind her, startling the confused girl. Up until now, Hit had merely commented on her projections, they had not truly linked.

Ais would have ordinarily pouted, but the alien surroundings filled her with dread and a feeling of helplessness. "W-where are we?"

Hit took a few steps towards the girl, not understanding why she was acting so strangely. "Since I created the stage, I chose outer space."

Ais' vision darted around, worry not assuaged. She whirred around to face her strangely serene teacher. "O-outer space…? What do you mean? Where are we standing?"

Hit huffed, finally realising what was wrong. "Huff. I forgot. You people are not used to this..."

The boy swept his hands and the world shifted. A white, marbled floor materialised below the two combatants, providing Ais with a stable footing. "Better?"

Ais nodded, tapping her shoes on the ground. She was still not certain of their safety, gingerly glancing around. Hit began walking towards the girl, hands stuffed away. He could have projected an image of his former self, but that would likely have ruined Ais' experience. "Ignore your doubts. Overcome your fears."

Hit abruptly entered his serious stance and ran at the girl, determination fuelling his charge. "Focus only on the battle."

Ais followed his orders and entered her battle trance. Her hand reached for her belt, and drew her sword, desperate, which materialised into place, upon her plea.

It was just in time, as Ais barely managed to block a sudden punch from Hit. The attack had materialised into position, with her strained reflexes, and subconscious intuition, acting as her shield. 'How is he so fast!?'

Ais wasted no time and kicked at the boy's legs, attempting to floor him. Her reward was a powerful punch to the jaw, and purple light show, which sent the dazed girl skidding away. Hit's shout brought her back to reality. "Adapt as you fight!"

Frayed nerves worked overtime to detect the faintest shockwaves and swishes of clothing. Desperate was swung valiantly, blocking a barrage of punches and kicks. This didn't make sense!? How was Hit so much stronger?

The tables were beginning to turn as Ais managed to perfectly block and counter the attacks, grazing the vanishing boy. Hit's 'teleportation' ability had evolved, and he was a nightmare to fight against, but she was still stronger! Even within this world between worlds, she was evolving to new attacks.

"Khaa!?" Suddenly, an invisible force struck Ais' shoulder, forcing her body to sway back. This was different than the previous blows: it struck over a larger area and there was absolutely no warning of its imminent approach. Ais gritted her teeth as she felt incredible pain. This impossible phenomenon was followed by an equally painful punch from Hit, which seemed to somehow reverberate in a series of shockwaves.

Ais stabbed out, desperately, but her sword met thin air. Another invisible projectile struck her outstretched arm, which caused her body to spiral to the right.

"Ghaa!?" Spittle flew as Hit slammed into Ais' back. The strike was slightly lessened, as Ais had chosen to project her armour, likely seen as intrinsic to her being. Ais' vision swam as galaxies spun in the alien purple glow, that shot out of her abdomen. Hit's ever-present scowl bore down on her. "Watch your back."

The girl spun around, uncharacteristically baring her teeth. It seems that Ais had been backed into a corner, surrounded by a cacophony of unknowns. She could not tell how long the battle had raged, nor separate heaven from earth. Alien worlds flashed by, and her stress exploded. The only object that drew her attention was her opponent, who sweated a little.

The marbled battlefield shattered as Ais crashed ahead, using her full strength. Instinctively, she pushed her weapon forward, green spiralling enchant magic swirling around her. Ais' pupils were completely vacant, leaving behind a furious countenance of legendary proportions. Hit's eyes widened as the meteoric attack caught him completely off guard, barely having time to shield his core. Ais rocketed forwards, screaming out to the stars.

«Lil Rafaga!»

**BOOM**

Purple void lost all colour, and a spiralling black and white orb of destruction detonated, with Hit at its epicentre. The white spheroid continued to expand, at the speed of sound, and vaporised the entire battlefield, leaving Ais completely alone amongst the twinkling lights...

"Huff"

"Huff"

"Huff"

The girl breathed heavily for a few moments, recovering from her panic. Her golden pupils returned and shrunk to fine points as she realised her fatal error. Perfectly maintained golden locks frayed, as the girl whipped her head around, searching for her friend. Her heart ached, filled with terror, upon realising she just killed him, completely losing control of herself.

"No...NO!... NOOOOOO!"

Grass. Trees. Fireflies. Wind. Sensations coursed through the girl as she found herself back on the 18th floor, sitting in a meditate stance. She stared at Hit, gobsmacked.

Her teacher, who should have been dead, sighed and admitted defeat. "Huff... You are the victor. Good work."

'That's the understatement of the millennium. The entire stage, along with me, were completely obliterated.'

Hit thought about imposing his full will on the plane, but decided against it. Demolishing the girl, using otherworldly powers, would not be very productive to either of them. It was still useful to test out a trial version of his time release, which managed to catch the girl completely off guard several times. It was weaker than it should have been though, since he was trying to mimic the sensation of utilising time energy, rather than ki. One might wonder, how it was possible for him to use a technique he never previously had, in this new body. Principally, image training allowed the user to utilise novel techniques, freed from the limitations of their body.

Ais stuttered, cold sweat dashing down her body. She prostrated herself, not knowing what else to do. "I-I'm so, so sorry. I lost control. Y-you, I killed you..."

Hit looked down at the dishevelled girl, slightly amused by her strange behaviour. Although, he maintained his serious attitude. "Killed me? What are you talking about?"

Ais raised her body to look her friend in the eyes, feeling quite guilty. "...My attack... it destroyed you... I was completely alone, in the darkness... it was terrifying."

Hit cupped his chin, not understanding why she was so worked up. Unbeknownst to Hit, galaxy shaking battles in space were incredibly stressful for the average person. "Hm. That stage felt natural to me; however, I see now that it could be distressing. Apologies. Rest assured, any injuries, or even deaths, that take place there, are not real."

Ais steadily recovered and began to relax her tense muscles. She held her head low, glum. "I see... Even still, I'm sorry..."

Hit furrowed his brows and lashed out. "Stop apologising and stop doubting yourself."

Ais' head shot up, as she glanced back at the boy, cautiously.

"You have gained an incredibly powerful technique today. Hold your head high, knowing that you gave it your all." Hit stared down at her, slightly less harshly; he was proud in his young pupil.

Ais smiled a little, almost all of her stress leaking away. Curiosity became the dominant emotion now. "Thank you, Hit... During our... spar... you were so much stronger... How?"

Hit was quite surprised by the comment. Hadn't the girl realised why?

"Stronger? You may believe that to be the case, but it is you who was weaker there. You were steadily growing in power or projecting more of your true strength as the battle raged on. Keep practicing, you are far stronger than you believe."

Hit scoffed internally. That battle was really just Hit messing around against a weakened Ais: an imminently exploding bomb. Once she projected some of her actual power, Hit was blown to pieces. Ouch, by the way.

Ais collapsed down, onto her back, mentally exhausted. Hit had treated that cosmic death battle as if it was nothing. Sure, no one got permanently injured, but it felt so real.

Hit got up and glanced around, noticing that many of the torchlights had dimmed. "Using image training, you can train anywhere, against any opponent. Use it wisely, to develop new techniques and strategies. Do not hold back, and use your full strength, as you did during the final strike. You can even project other people, and even monsters, as long as your mental clarity and awareness are high enough."

Ais furrowed her brows, determination booming through her. She was going to master image training, no matter what. She bounced up and bowed to her newly appointed mentor. "I will... thank you so much, Hit."

The boy nodded and proceeded to walk off, away from the campsite.

Ais tilted her head, but realised that he likely had a base elsewhere. "Goodnight..."

Hit stopped, and turned around slightly, with a small smirk. "Goodnight, bomb girl."

Ais pouted, as she watched Hit disappear into the shadows, hoping that wasn't going to be her new nickname.

The next day passed rather peacefully for Hit, who had slept near his usual location, near a nearby lake. He had made sure not to clamber up to his tree base, as he did not want to alert any nosy adventurers that he was hoarding treasures there. Hit was not going to underestimate their perceptiveness again. It was the correct move, as the Hiryute sisters spent a large portion of the day trying to chase him down, initially out of curiosity, which evolved into a game of tag; it was good practice for his agility. The only time he had climbed the great tree, was to use its limbs as a diving board. The male adventurers had been quite surprised when the 'mortar' had plummeted down in the middle of their relaxing swim. Gareth's booming laughter had sounded out, as Bete had become quite a soggy dog in the aftermath. The werewolf had attempted to pulverise the boy, but it was difficult to catch someone who disappeared under the waters and instantly reappeared elsewhere.

Hit had also had another successful image training session with Ais. This time, he had projected an exact replica of the Loki familia training ground and helped her acclimatise to the new technique. Ais was awed at how it came so naturally to her teacher, who refused to explain how he learned to perform the ability. Thankfully, there were no explosions from Ais this time; although, repeatedly being referred to as bomber, bomb girl, explody, sparky, and little bang, certainly made the girl waver a little.

It was incredible how versatile image training was. Prior to the tournament of power, Goku and Gohan had undergone an image battle as Krillin and Basil, to determine how well the monk would do. They had only needed to observe Basil's fighting style once, for them to be able to project his body and ki attacks perfectly, even when they could not sense them. Sadly, despite Krillin's superior strategy, he fell short in terms of raw power, and was reduced to dust.

Following their training, Hit retired for the night, completely unaware that he would be receiving visitors the next day...

Author's Notes

Noooooooo… Hit died… story over :(