Dr. Lysange: I see. I am unsure currently if the mask increased the power output… but the increased pain granted him a unique psychological ability unlike any I saw before. The power of … likely is due to his desire to escape the pain he was in. How, intriguing…

Hiro falls asleep.

--- Chapter 147 ---

Hiro’s eyes begin to open, but quickly shut after the bright light of the sun shined directly in them. He looks around, confused about his surroundings. Wondering how he got there. He looks over at the table and goes to grab the glass of water. But oddly, his hand phases right through it. He looks at his hand in confusion.

Nurse: Oh, you’re awake. You must be a little disoriented. Here, let me grab you water.

The nurse reaches over and her arm also phases through the glass and grabs a second glass behind it. She hands it to him, and he drinks it, eyes wide thinking about what is happening. His eyes gravitate toward the left and see a second nurse, but they look identical. The nurse is frozen in place, mid-step. He spits his water out and asks the nurse if she has a twin. She shakes her head no, and Hiro begins to freak out. He closes his eyes, and takes deep breaths, trying to assess what’s happening. Upon opening his eyes, it was all gone. No twin, no glass of water. Just him, the nurse, and the infirmary. Hiro sighs and lays down. Hiro tries to sleep it off, but right as he does, the door bursts open.

Red: HIROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Hiro: REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED!

Red bounds toward Hiro, tears in his eyes for the reunion.

Red: You were gone for so long! Like, a whole day! Where were you, man?

Hiro: I was… Where was I again?

He tries to think back but his memory is foggy.

Hiro: Yeah I don’t remember.

Red: Well, as long as your back now.

Nurse: I have to go grab something, make sure you stay in bed ok?

Hiro: Ok, I will.

Red and Hiro talk for a while. Elias has been let go the day before. While they are talking, the door opens up, but no one is there. Red is confused, but Hiro is even more confused. Hiro sees a humanoid creature with oddly baggy skin and fur. Like it’s a creature wearing an animal’s skin. It has long sharp nails. It bounds forward and attacks Red. Red isn’t able to see it, and three large slashes appear down his back. He is launched into the wall.

Red: What the hell?!

Hiro: Don’t you see that thing?!

Red: See what?!

Hiro realizes, that ever since he woke up, he was able to see things that weren’t actually there. He considers this may be the same, but then thinks about how this one can interact with physical things.

Hiro: Well I can! There is a monster in front of you!

Red: I see. I don’t know how you can, but you will have to be my eyes, Hiro!

Red lifts his hands forward.

Red: My powers were heavily dampened by that guy, but I can still use my insignia!

The insignia begrudgingly moves into the shape of a sword. The blade not fully forming, and is wispy, like the curling of flames.

Hiro: Red! Dodge to the right!

Red follows Hiros order and dodges an attack. But the beast quickly responds by using its flexibility. It stretches its right leg out and kicks Red, sending him flying again.

Red: Hiro, tell me when he gets close ok.

Hiro: Alright.

Red waits a bit before Hiro tells him he is attacking. Instead of dodging, Red leaps forward into the beast and brings the blade down on its shoulder. But to their surprise, the blade doesn’t penetrate the hide. Red’s eyes go wide, as the creature slashes his stomach, creating deep wounds. Red keeps backing up, and dodging when he can.

Red: Hiro… Same plan, I will have to finish this up quick, I’m not sure if I can keep going much longer.

Hiro: Ok.

Hiro watches the beast walking over to Red, then lunge at him.

Hiro: NOW!

Red focus’s all his power, causing the blade to materialize as his full weapon, and slashes down. He tries to cut right through the beast, but to his dismay, it only cut part of the shoulder, leaving blood dripping off his blade. His weapon loses its form. The beast cries out, before getting on all fours and running away.

Hiro: I think… We won?

Red: What the hell was that thing…

Red holds his wound and sits on the bed.

???: It was a psychic.

Red and Hiro look up at the doorway. There is a kid around their age, with light green hair, and skinny sunglasses. He has a big goofy smile.

Red: Who are you. And how do you know that…

???: The names Kid Enu. And I know because I am a psion.

Red: A psion?

Kid: I see, so you don’t know anything about that. Well, you know the traditional powers like arcanas, visual, etc.?

Red: Yes?

Kid: Well, there is a power known as Psionics. It’s rare, but it’s when a brain becomes awakened. It usually manifests a new ability. And for the most part, only other psychics can see psionic abilities. That's why your friend here could see it.

Hiro: I don’t have psionics.

Kid: Well, yes. Yes, you do. It was probably only a recent awakening. Have you been noticing weird things? Like things that shouldn’t be there but are, or similar?

Hiro: I guess I have…

Kid: Exactly, your a Psychic now! Congrats!

Hiro: Thanks?

Kid: Your welcome!

Red: Wait, you said he is a Psychic, but you’re a Psion. Is there a difference?

Kid: Yes. Psychics are simply those who have awakened their minds and have a Psionic ability. Psions however are people born with an unusual aptitude for Psionics. Watch, now you see me.

Suddenly Kid vanishes.

Kid: Now you don’t.

Kid reappears behind Red.

Kid: But only when we want you to.

Red: I see, so your body takes the properties of Psionics. Does that mean anyone can show off their psionics to normal people?

Kid: Yes, but no one really will. It’s much easier to fight someone who can’t see your attacks, y’know?

Red: Right. So you have a psionic ability?

Kid: Sure do!

Red: Can I see it? I don’t know what they look like.

Kid: Nope! Tis a secret!

Red: I see. Then I want to ask. Do you know why that beast attacked us?

Kid: Hm, probably because it’s in a gang.

Hiro: That bear thing was in a gang?

Kid: Well, it wasn’t actually a bear. Psionics can manifest in many ways, but only humanoid races can unlock them.

Hiro: Oh, ok. Then why would a gang be attacking us?

Kid: How am I supposed to know? Maybe cause you have psionics, and they don’t want others with it to be against them. Or maybe it’s ‘cause you’re new? All I know is they have psionics, so you could be screwed.

Red: …

Kid: However, I will say something else about Psions. Psions have the power to give people the ‘sight’.

Red: The sight?

Kid: Yes, the ability to see psionic abilities.

Red: Can you give it to me?

Kid: Sure, on one condition, you join my gang.

Red: Hm, before we do. I must ask, why are you being so nice to us.

Kid: Because I and you are similar. We were both thrown in jail because of King Arthur.

Red: Oh. Why did he send you here?

Kid: I stole his shit.

Red: Like, what kind of stuff?

Kid: No like, his actual shit.

Red looks at him disgusted.

Red: R-really?

Kid: No I’m fucking with you.

Red: Thank god.

Kid: Well, kinda. I was at his castle, staying in a guest room, and I was feeling a little klepto. So, I looked around the room, and everything was welded to the ground. Except for the toilet, so I unscrewed it and took it with me. There wasn’t anything it, but it was solid gold. He caught me though because apparently, stealing something from a guest room is illegal.

Red: Yeah, honestly I have no comment on that.

Kid: Fair enough, so you wanna join?

Red looks over at Hiro, and Hiro nods.

Red: Alright, we will join.

Kid: Nice! Glad to have you aboard. Now let’s give you the sight.

Kid makes a weird face, and it sounds like he is hacking up a loogie before he spits it in red’s eyes.

Red: G-gross!

Red wipes his eyes but notices an aura Kid now.

Kid: Eh? How is it? I have bestowed up you, the sight!

Red: I wish you would have told me how it’s given beforehand!

Kid: Eh, be grateful. Now you won’t die from things you can’t even see.

Red: Fair enough. Is there anyone else in your gang?

Kid: Yup, one more. Junos, get in here!

A boy with jeans and a black jacket walks in. His hair is a light purple, and he walks in a powerful demeanor.

Junos: Yo.

Kid: He’s pretty quiet, but he can hold his own in a fight. He isn’t a psychic, but he does have the sight. Now that you’re a part of us, I can give you our protection.

***

Much later in the evening, the beast returns to its cell. In the room, there are several others, six including the beast. The beast’s claws retract, and it looks up into the sky. It grabs its own mouth and begins to force it open. The jaw unhinges, as the skin slides off, exposing a man in his underwear. The suit disappears, and he walks over to a seat and sits down. A girl walks over and begins to sew the wound back together with a special thread. Suddenly, a horrifying figure appears. The legs are solid human-shaped but instead made of a white glossy substance. The upper body is that of a human skeleton, with elongated canine teeth, and a black thorny crown. It begins to speak and its voice is the same as the deep voice from the basement. When it speaks, its jaw is unmoving.

???: Were you, successful.

Beast: No, he managed to pierce my suit.

???: So, he was on the ropes, and you left because you were injured.

The man’s eyes narrow, obviously peeved.

???: You will kill him by tomorrow. Or you will be more injured than just a simple cut on your shoulder.

Beast: Right, but sir, I must ask why you want me to kill the boy.

???: I don’t pay you to ask questions. Do as your told, or perish.

Beast: Yes sir. He will be dead.