Brandon was breathing heavily as he walked from Starbucks back to his house.

The smell of Selena’s perfume was still in his nose. Even as he walked, he couldn’t toss the image of the girl’s curves out of his mind. She was so cute. Her face...it looked so soft and smooth.

A thought popped into his head. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to spend more time with her...

No! Brandon suddenly paused in his tracks and frowned. Something wasn’t right. He tapped Alpha Interface and whispered an order.

“Scan my body for any sign of foreign substance.”

The result came back quickly.

“There are no hostile foreign substance in your body.”

“But something is wrong with me.” Brandon groaned again. “I am feeling things that I shouldn’t feel…”

“Sir, what you describe match a substance called hormones. According to my information on human biology, it is…”

“Ok ok I know what hormones are! It’s just that...” Brandon bit his lips in both embarrassment and frustration as he slowly continued to walk home. As he moved, he was deep in thoughts.

For the past four years, he didn't have much problem with dealing with girls, mostly because he didn't spend anytime with them at all. He talked to them, sure, but it was always for business. Whenever they started talking about personal matter, he either zoned out or moved onto other things. Selena was the first girl that was attracted to him, and what she did was completely new to him. As inexperienced as he was, it wasn’t a surprise he was attracted to her like a piece of metal to a magnet.

He suddenly closed his fists. No matter what the reason was, he couldn’t let trivial things such as feelings and affection get in his way toward the ultimate goal. Like what he concluded back in the school, his watch carried a sense of responsibility with it, and that responsibility included dealing with those who use this gift for evil. He would never let his own feelings get in the way of that.

But Selena was so cute...

Suddenly, he felt something in front of him. He stopped in his tracks. It was a little boy. He shouldn’t be older than eight.

“Hey! What’s up…” Brandon was about to do the casual greeting when his eyes landed on something in the kid’s hand.

A black handgun.

“Brandon Bai.” The kid spoke with an adorable, childish voice, but its content was more than sufficient to send chills down Brandon’s spine. “I bring a message from the Watcher…”

“What is it?” Brandon asked with his hand on his watch, searching for his tranquilizer. If he could land the shot quick enough…

“You will pay for your treacheries. Your family will be shattered. Your love will be ripped away from you. All the fame and glory you are experiencing will be transformed to hatred and anger.”

The kid’s voice was slow and normal. What he was saying was quite the opposite.

“Well, that’s just cliche…”

Brandon tried to buy some time, but the boy wasn’t leaving open any chances.

As the boy finished, he suddenly raised his handgun to his own head, but Brandon was quicker. Before the kid could pull the trigger, a heavy dose of tranquilizer landed on his neck. His muscles were weakened. His firearm fell out of his hand and onto the ground.

Brandon grinned slightly as he saw the look of relief on the kid’s face. He took a step forward, ready to comfort the innocent child.

“It’s ok. I’ve got you…”

And then the kid exploded.

One second he was fine. The next second a shockwave that came out of nowhere ripped him to a thousand pieces and sent the flesh and blood flying in all directions. There was no warning. Brandon barely saw what happened when he was covered with pieces of a human body.

His tranquilizer gun hit the floor.

Brandon didn't know how he got home.

“He put a bomb in the kid’s body...” He whispered quietly. His eyes were dim. “How could he...why…”

Deep down, he was still trying to make sense of what just happened. Logically, he understood what happened. The so called Watcher used the kid’s explosive end to send a message to him. But emotionally...who the hell would kill a kid in one of the most brutal ways possible just to make a point? Why? For what? Is it worth it?

The last sense of logic with him prompted him to tap the AI interface. Of course, the sound of sirens closing in also helped.

“Alpha, clear the evidence.”

As the Artificial Intelligence went to work, Brandon slowly climbed up the stairs. Jaison didn't bother to come out and greet him, but Brandon no longer paid any attention to these childish grudges. He retreated to his room and collapsed onto his bed. His bloody clothes staining the snow-white sheets. His eyes were shut as his mind worked like a racecar.

A child died. He died right in front of him and there was nothing he could do...the blood...the pieces of flesh flying everywhere…his heart shook at the message the kid brought him. The threat.

If the third watch holder, the Watcher, was willing to do this to a random, innocent kid, what would he do to Brandon’s family. Brandon hasn’t even met or known that watch holder before, but that seemed to only be a one way thing.

With fear and pain comes change.

Brandon’s eyes snapped open again. This time, all the negative emotions were gone. A part of his brain recognized that change must be made, and that was what happened.

The desire for revenge scorched away tears of fear.

The third watch holder, whoever he is, has become a pest of the world.

He needs to be exterminated.

Brandon exited his room with renewed confidence. He quickly found Jaison.

“Something is wrong. There’s a third person with the watch, and for some reason, he wants me dead.”

Jaison looked up at his older brother and smirked.

“It’s just like the movies, right? Whenever a hero uses his power, there will be a villain with similar power. That’s what happened with Flash, Arrow, Iron Man, Captain America…”

“This is not a game!” Brandon cut his brother off loudly. His casualness was starting to be annoying. “Look, I will deal with him, but…”

“Why do you think he wants you dead?”

“What?”

“Why do you think that third person is targeting you?”

Brandon took a deep breath. That was a good question. “Maybe he wants our watches.”

“Or maybe he thinks you’re a threat.” Jaison stared at Brandon in inquisition. “Either way, whatever the reason is, how did he locate you?”

It didn't take Brandon long to find out what the loose end was.

“Henry! Henry Dirvin! He has seen my face! I wiped his memories, but…”

But if the third watcher has similar technologies as he does, retrieving those memories wouldn’t be much of a problem.

Brandon snapped out Alpha and issued an order. Within moments, it returned with bad news.

“Dirvin’s dead. Medical examiner reports says his brain is completely fried. The third watch holder, the one who refers to himself as the Watcher, must’ve gotten my identity from him. That’s how he knew where to send his mercenaries.”

“You know, none of this would have happened if you could’ve finished him off. Make it look like an accident. I don’t think that Watcher guy can make the dead talk, assuming he does notice your little operation.” Jaison said thoughtfully. A hint of anger was in his voice. He tapped his finger on his chin and turned back to Brandon.

“Of course, there is no way the great Brandon Bai would listen to the opinion of his little brother. You always know best, don’t you?”

“What do you mean?” Brandon groaned impatiently. He already has too much on his plate to do this.

“Would it have killed you to tell me what you’re planning before you go on an operation all by yourself?” Jaison’s tone got more aggressive. “Does it bother you that much to ask for help?”

“I don’t have time for this.” Brandon tapped his watch and extracted a red cube. “This is the best defensive measure I found in my watch. Theoretically it is impenetrable as long as the energy is sufficient. Take this and stay with mom and dad. Keep them safe. The Watcher might want to target my family.”

“So you have been exploring your watch.” Jaison smirked again as he casually took over the cube. “And you prohibited me to do that. How nice of you.” He saw Brandon leaving. “And where do you think you’re going?”

“Chicago City. My AI picked up a lead. Hopefully, I can track it back to the Watcher.”

“And then?” Jaison frowned. “Are you going to give him a lecture and let him go?”

Brandon didn't answer that question.

The Hellfire gang was just one of the dozens of gangs in Chicago City. They were involved in all sorts of illegal activities, be it drug dealing, murdering, or human trafficking. The CPD has deployed multiple attacks, but the gang has managed to evade the brunt of the forces with multiple secret hideouts.

If that was it, Brandon wouldn’t mind them. Perhaps he would take them out when he has time, but normally, it’s the job of the CPD.

But things took a 540 degree turn when Alpha detected a change in leadership in the gang that took the form of an armored white figure ripping the head off of the former leader of the gang. It happened to be captured by a security camera, which Alpha got into.

Brandon didn't know if the Watcher was just careless or if he wanted Brandon to find that lead on purpose, but he had no other choice but to pursue down this path. Right now, the Watcher is in the dark and he’s in the open. He had to take back some control.

The north side of Chicago was the most chaotic part of the city. Even the police wouldn’t dare to venture in there alone. At least half the population were armed, and half of those people were mentally and physically ready to shoot someone. It was also the home of countless gangs that vary in size.

Brandon slowly walked toward a warehouse. He knew it was the regular base of operation of the Hellfire gang. As he moved, his eyes landed on a corner. A couple of days ago, a headless body was lying there.

Suddenly, two men came up to Brandon and stopped him. They were the very definition of gang hitmen. Firearms in pockets. Tattoos. Muscles. Arrogant smiles.

“You lost, kid? This is not a place for a kid like you.” One of them lifted his clothes, revealing a revolver in his belt.

“Oh please.” Brandon tilted his head. He didn't want to waste time with pawns like these two. He was here for the big fish. “Last warning. Step aside.”

The two men exchanged a look like they heard something funny. The first man turned back. His smile was wider.

“Do you know who we work for? We work for the Hellfire! Now,” He pulled that revolver out and waved it. “I was going to just let you go, but now, I want to rob you. Empty your pockets before I change my mind and decide to leave a few marks on your face.”

“Yeah, no.” Brandon shrugged before warping the armor onto him. He raised his energy pistol and shot both thugs in the leg.

“What? Sir? I’m sorry...I’m sorry! Please forgive me!”

Surprisingly, the moment they saw Brandon’s armor, both men started crying and begging for mercy. Brandon suddenly remembered one very important thing: these men have never seen the face of the Watcher. The armors in the watches were uniform. In other words, they took Brandon to be their new leader.

Taking over a gang isn’t a simple task. The Watcher must have shed a lot of blood. The former leader may just be one of the victims. There was no way the gang members dared to resist after seeing the terrifying white armor.

The boy wanted to kick himself. This wasn’t even that difficult to deduce, but he still failed. What he saw with the kid, the fear and anger it implemented in him, was causing him to make rash decisions without thinking them through. The desire for vengeance has overridden his cautious nature.

He wasn’t in his best situation right now. The wisest choice would be pulling back, but…

He took another step forward. His decision was clear.

No retreat.

“I am not your leader. I’m just someone who wants him dead. Now tell me all you know about him.”