“Axel Cmon Bro! You've gotta tell us all about it!” Regi shouted.

The group of 6 were walking down the hall, shoulder to shoulder around Axel.

“All about what exactly?” Axel said playing with the spikes in his hair.

“Exactly what kind of training did you get out there?” Regi asked

“Yeh and that tatoo! Where did you get it!” B said

“Oh that’s easy, I went to train the same place I got the tattoo.” Axel explained

“Where’s that?” Lily asked

“ Ritgers island coliseum!” Axel said.

Confused looks passed through the group of friends. B’s hair became frazzled, extending towards the ceiling like she had been hit by a jolt of electricity.

“What are you out of your mind! You went to Ritgers by yourself!” She exclaimed.

“Relax B I already told you I knew someone from there! I was accompanied by my older brother!” Axel said.

“What? You didn’t tell us you have an older brother?” Lily said.

“Yeh, he’s usually not around, he’s a big contender at the coliseum, and he fights almost every night, He usually doesn’t have time to come home.” Axel explained

“I see, so that’s the older gentlemen with the air bike I presume.” Lance said scratching his chin

“Yeh, his name is Vincent!” Axel said laughing “If you call him the older gentleman he'll probably put you in a headlock!”

“Hmph I'd like to see him try.” Lance scoffed.

“Lance, I know I joke around, but I'm serious when I say this.” Axel said taking in a breath.

“My brother is nothing like me, He’s 100x stronger than me! He could fight all 6 of us without breaking a sweat.”

“What? Are you serious!” Lance exclaimed, "This guy's been trained by someone that strong?"

“Yeh, I've never seen him at full power, but the way he moves… The only other person I've seen move like that is Obrian!"

“What!? Are you kidding, he was trained by someone of Obrian's level? Just how strong has he become?” Lance thought

“Regi’s already met him, Ill introduce you all to him when I get the chance, I don't know how but he says he'll be at the tournament you know the gauntlet. He said he’d be there cheering me on in the seat closest to the action and there would be no way I could miss him!

“OH” 6 said excited. "I’m looking forward to it! Do you think he will train me too!”

“Sorry my brother is a HORRIBLE TRAINER, haha! You're better off sticking with the SPA!” Axel laughed

“What? But you just spent a whole month with him? Are you saying it was a waste of time!?” Lily asked

“No.. He actually happens to be the best brother in the world, so it made up for it!” Axel said

“HUHH? I don’t get it?” Regi said scratching his head.

“You wouldn’t” Axel said laughing. “It's a bro thing!”

“WELL WELLL WELL LOOK WHO’s walking and talking!” A loud voice erupted from down the hall

Axel looked up to see PB standing in front of him, livid and agitated as ever.

“This son of a bitch!” Axel thought

Axel made a fist, causing his knuckles to pop, and for a second gave Pb the same look he had before smashing his face across a cliff.

“I’m stronger now… With my power I could easily defeat him… If I wanted to I could destroy-” He thought.

Letting out a long sigh, he released his clenched fist as well as his thoughts of twisted metal.

“I don’t have time for you PB.” He said plainly.

“WHAT?” Pb blurted in disbelief “Jeff do you hear this bs?” Pb said turning to him “He thinks cuz he got a new haircut that he can just ignore me now?”

“Uhhh PB” J said.

“WHAAT? Pb answered

“Uhhhh… Axel isn't standing there anymore.”

“Huh” said Pb turning again to the front of the hall. No one was there. “That son of a-”

Spinning around, he saw Axel and company disappearing into the next room.

“I'LL GET HIM FOR THIS!” PB grumbled loudly

“Take it easy man, remember where we are.” J said “Let's hit him with a locker room surprise, like usual, later.”

“Yeh! Sounds good to me!” Pb said walking away.

“Hey Axel” 6 said standing next to him “You sure about this?”

“Yeh I'm not worried at all.” Axel answered plainly.

“My bro taught me something while I was at Ritgers. Everywhere you look there were killers, gang members, and criminals as far as they eye can see. Isolated on an island where the SPA never goes, there was literally nothing stopping them from coming up and murdering you!” Axel said

“The whole time I was there… I was terrified I was gonna get mugged, robbed, or killed, and my bro… he just stood there and smiled."

“In dangerous places like this it's really easy simple to survive. If you don’t go looking for trouble you won't find it! Just keep moving forward and focus on where you're going. Don't stop to talk. Don't make eye contact, and above all don't look scared or lost. That’s what designates an easy target!"

“But wait bro… what If I am scared and lost?”

“As long as you don’t let your enemy know you’ll be fine! They may try to hassle you. But if you stand your ground and keep moving forward, you’ll see how quickly they'll lose interest.”

“What? That actually works?” Axel said scratching his head

“People on these streets do this for a living. Trust me, the last thing you want is to be hassled. That's also the same thing going through their mind. They only want opponents who don’t fight back.”

“What? So their just as afraid as I am? So why do it?”

“Because their fear of being seen as weak is even bigger than their fear of dying.”

“To them if they don’t come off as aggressive, they run the risk of being taking advantage of, its kill or be killed for them.”

“Uhhh Ax” 6 said scratching his head “I don't think that applies here…”

“Don't worry 6, I’ve seen some of the most notorious criminals on this island! A locker room bully is no big deal.”

“If you say so…” 6 said slowly following Axel

As soon as Axel opened the door PB was standing on the other side, standing by his locker

“Iv got you now you son of a bitch!” PB said charging towards Axel

Reaching for his collar in an effort to pin him against the door, Pb lunged for his throat.

Axel smiled confidently as PB became inches from his face and swiftly ducked under him and evading his tackle.

PB, unable to stop his momentum, went flying into a pile of dirty towels in the locker room, causing the room to erupt in laughter.

“Yo PB if you needed a towel all you had to do was ask man? No need to go searching through the dirty ones!” Reggei said laughing.

Axel, paying no attention took, off his sweater and pants and began changing

“SHUT YOUR MOUTH!” PB said emerging from the pile of dirty towels covered in rags “I'll teach you to mock me!” He said charging at Axel.

Axel now fully changed completely ignored the hulking PB charging towards him.

As Pb came inches from his right shoulder he swung open his gym locker smashing it into PB’s face.

Pbs pupils began to spin as he stumbled around in a dazed stupor. After a few seconds of drifting he collapsed on the ground.

Axel, alarmed by the sound of the crash, looked down at PB.

“PB what are you doing on the floor? I already told you I don't have time to play with you today!” He said shaking his head.

Closing his door he got fully clothed and walked towards the door to the field.

Reggei, Lance, and 6 all exchanged looks in the locker room as everyone laughed at the dizzy PB on the ground.

Lance smiled and gripped his fist. “What a difference a month can make huh?” he said as he walked outside. “The exams are soon, I can't wait to see what the new Ax can do” He said smiling warmly

“Yeh” said Regi laughing, “I can't wait to see what the new Lance can do either, I don't think I've ever seen you look so passionate about something.”

Lance let go of his fist and straightened out his posture into more of a relaxed look. He slowly rolled his shoulders back and tugged on the ends of his shirt.

“Hmph! I don’t do passionate.” He said, walking away, as his usual inexpressive self.

“ALRIGHTY BOYS AND GIRLS! ITS THE MOMENT YOU HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR! ITS FINALLY MY MOMENT TO …. I mean uhh YOUR MOMENT TO SHINE!” Mr Johnson gloriously boasted at the top of his lungs

"ITS TIME FOR THE FIRST PART OF THE SPA EXAM!!!" “

“YEEHHH”

“WOHOOO”

“Arriving in the next ten minutes will be a colonel of the SPA and a few lieutenants under his command! I’m sure you all know! But just as a reminder that’s 3 ranks higher than this exam will grant you! And 1 rank short of the highest S.P.A RANK!! So make sure to address him with some respect! I won’t have the embarrassment of O’Brian’s arrival repeated here today!"

“So… Colonel is 4 ranks higher… “Lance thought pensively. “I’m closer than I thought.”

WOP! WOP! WOP! WOP!

The sound of a whirling set of heavy metal blades came from above them. The air in the field became to whip around in a vicious circle, blowing and whipping around in the students faces.

“Ok that must be them now!” Mr Johnson shouted looking overhead.

Coming down from the air was a small helicopter. Landing in the center of the field, 6 men got out, lead by an old man with a scar over the temple of his right eye.

As the lead man stepped out from the copter, he peered into the crowd of students with an arrogant scowl.

"You sure this is the right place?" He grumbled standing at the top of the ramp extending out from the copter.

"Yes This is the SCS sir, can't you see the flag?" An agent with glasses said while stepping out beside him.

The old man dropped his head and gritted his teeth.

"Let me get this straight..." The man said squeezing a small silver putty in his hand.

"Darius... took over another precinct last week right?"

"Yes...."

"Crime in lower Atlantica is up 50% right?"

"Yes..."

"And I've got a mountain of Paperwork about people complaining that our agents ain't good enough right?"

"Well... I suppose so... I've never seen your-"

"Godddamnit Simone! That was a retorical question!" The colonel said shoving the agent out of the way.

"but my name is actually Seymore..." Seymore squeaked out.

"I've got all of that bullshit to deal with, and O'brian sends me out here personally to deal with a bunch a kids?"

Squeezing as hard as he could, the colonel snapped the putty in half, causing the other half to tumble towards the ground.

"Colonel!" Seymore yelled

Using his heel, The Colonel kicked the putty back into the air, bringing it to his eye level. With all his strength, he punched the putty, sending shockwaves through its surface. The putty flowed around his arm like a liquid. A huge gust of air from the punch whisked over the entire school, knocking Mr. Johnson off of his feet.

As the putty coated his arm, it bubbled and hissed. Steam from the friction of his punch radiated an extreme amount of heat. Taking a cigar from his jacket, the colonel rubbed it softly on his metalic arm, igniting it.

"Just... who the hell is that guy?" Axel thought bewildered. " And why does he seem so... fimiliar?"

Lance Lily and the others, looked on in silent awe.

" A guy like him can cause a tornado with one punch... and a guy like O'brian can move at the speed of electricity... Do I have to be stronger than them to beat Darius?" Axel thought

"O'brian you son of a bitch! Is this what you meant by the future of the SPA! What the hell are you playing at!" The colonel thought "You can call the Master General or the President for all I care! Im not going to let a single one of these kids into the gauntlet!" He thought as veins popped up around his eyes.

"Colonel! You cant just stand there we have to do the ceremony!" Seymore said egging him on.

"Heh" The colonel said puffing up a ring of smoke. "Live and let die."