The pair of tear – filled eyes were impossible to mistaken. A familiar sensation of guilt wafted his entire mind as Noel drubbed himself over a single realization: that he killed another one.

That he sent them… to their deaths…

But what caused this? What led to this...bloody stump

The bloodied ‘object’ in question thrown at a disgusted Rise…

Was Leos’s head.

Out of fear, Rise dropped his former friend’s head and skidded back. Noel was trying to calm his body before it hyperventilates. Slow breathing did the trick, and right on time too: because immediately after he took his final breath, he dodged. Following this swerve to the right, a collective of small metallic objects pierced the air where he was just standing.

He only had enough time to watch their afterimages strike his own once an ominous foreboding told him it was time to dodge. He jumped backwards, and THIS time did a series of quick-paced back flips while a single metal shrapnel embedded itself into his previous position.

...So precise! On TOP of that, they were so fast! He could barely react in time – and that’s a major accomplishment when one considers the fact that although his reaction speed was honed delicately by the Malieranos...he's only twelve!

Noel’s top ‘speed’ is still increasing, and the same can be said about his reactionary capabilities. However! Just considering his reaction timing to attacks he can’t see, this particular trait of his is some levels above even his current top speed! He has no trouble dodging unsuspecting bullets fired at point blank range, counterattacking at the last moment - less than a second before the opponent’s attack lands on him or embarrassing moderate super-speed specialists who only focus on that specific power, thanks to his OWN super-speed!

More importantly, though: Noel couldn’t concentrate. He had JUST been talking to Leos! They 'just' finished completing a series of interruptions and were on their way to settling a matter both desperately desired peace from – the truth about Watts’s island!

He just...sent Oliviera away with Leos to find help...and then this happens?

...Speaking of which, where IS Oliviera? Did she become a head too?

Other than these thoughts: there was the matter of this ‘unknown person’ and their skills! Sure, Noel faced much worse during missions, but that was when he was fully equipped and prepared for battle.

At the moment, he only had a school uniform that oddly resembled a referee’s pattern...and it was torn!

Sure he held onto a couple of hidden needles, but...

Maybe the shock of seeing that somebody who he was trying to protect could die so easily, affected him much greater than even he himself understood, but he was starting to feel overwhelmed before the next battle even began.

Noel couldn’t help but worry.

What kind of crazy strength is being used to throw those shiny needles?? Is the force that sent these weapons flying, even a type of super-strength? If not, then what caused them to fly so precisely…? How does he plan on retaliating against their combined counter attack… now that his position has been properly exposed? It just doesn’t make any sense...is he that confident?

Rise manifested an air of of melancholy – this scene was all too familiar for him. He stared at the petrified head for a few seconds before bending down and shutting both eyelids. As he did so, the held back teardrops fell for one final time and hit the grass that acted as their body-less companion’s bedding.

Perhaps his final bedding.

He followed up with this farewell act by glancing in the direction of his fellow survivor – that half-pint who didn’t seem to know the meaning of “DEATH” whether it was to spikes, scalpels, clawed strikes or speed-blitzing blows…

...Even unwanted remarks and hateful threats coming from a majority of the freshman student body couldn’t deter him!

Yet – what he was witnessing right now, was Noel, holding his shoulders, then roughly throwing both arms down. Lifting them up again, before forcing them down once more. He repeated this action for a bit before feeling Rise’s gaze.

Maybe it was peer pressure. Or a fierce and abrupt reminder from that cold – steely gaze that this was NOT the time for a mental breakdown...but his arms stopped hugging, and his hands stopped their shaking nigh - instantaneously.

{Phew. Calm..Let’s just calm down now.}

.

.

.

Noel: “Haah. Okay. I’m ready! Let’s find out who’s the bastard behind this whole mess, and...decide whether or not I should kill them.”

Rise didn’t wish to waste anymore time. He sniffed the air while rising from the soft soil, and closed his eyes before trying again. It was as if his nose could smell the horror surrounding, meaning there was quite a lot to process. He learned of the current state Oliviera was in, How the people inside of the dorm were faring – as well as the exact number of people that infiltrated this 'location’, and their general whereabouts.

Rise: “It looks like that girl is...well, she’s alive somehow, but she ain’t moving.”

Noel: “...Why are you telling me this—wait! How in the world do you know that?!?

*Looks around*

I don’t see her!”

Rise: “*Sniff* *Sniff

...I never said that I SAW her… *Sniff* *Sniff*

I… I smell her.”

Noel: “… *Sniff – Sniff*

…Are you messing with me..? *Sniff* Blegh – all I smell is blood and… and *looks down at Leos’s head* and death…”

Noel berated Rise for an explanation, who was busy walking around the site to smell the air better.

Rise: “ Shhh!

*Sniff* *Sniff*

Not this way…

*Sniff* *Sniff*

...Not over here either!

*Sniff* ……! Aha!

.

.

.

*Huff* *Huff*

Phew… Found ya!!”

The floor seemed to cry every time he retook his steps. After stabilizing his pose: Rise crouched into a four-limbed stance that strongly resembles a jaguar ready to pounce.

Finally he continued pouring as much energy as he could muster into his calves before next concentrating his entire body weight down there.

*Boom!*

A powerful jump shook the ground. Where he once stood, the grassy soil now formed a crater. His body darted through the air at a speed faster than while he was running – meaning now he was actually FASTER than Nathan!

…

And while Noel was still pondering whether he should follow behind Rise…

Blood splattered through the path Rise entered, and his body came flying back. Once it hit the ground, another crater formed, except this one was much larger in diameter than the previous. Cracks spider webbed outward from the crater as his body dug deeper, before continuing on with its backwards charge and forming a long path that managed to break through the crater’s edge.

This allowed one to see just how much stronger the opposition’s counter attack was in comparison to Rise’s feral pounce – where he took advantage of both his enhanced speed AND enhanced strength. Every single action and reaction served as important information to Noel. Even the most minute details discovered on their opponent can become the key difference between life and death.

1: “As I was saying. I’ve eliminated 1, no...

2 of the children. I’ve made contact with two more. Unfortunately, these two kids managed to do 4 in! Yeah.

Thanks 6. Please restore him back to fighting strength. Thanks.”

…

What exactly happened to Oliviera and Leos?

Oliviera was growing weary.

She honestly couldn’t be blamed – her body just wasn’t built for all the running she’s been doing today It’s a complete miracle that her legs haven’t already turned into mush from the forceful exercise.

Oliviera: “ HEH~ HEH~ HEH~ That stupid Noel...making me do this... HEH~ kind of work!

.

.

.

AHHH!!

I want a hot tub!!

I want my spa!!

I want CHARLESTON! WAAAH!”

Leos: “...You know –”

Oliviera: “And THEN Alyandrea has the AUDACITY to ask me to ‘WORK OUT’ with everyone...HMPH! Fat chance of THAT happening.”

Leos: “...Maybe you SHOULD run more. You know, it’ll get easier if you continue doing it every day. Even a little helps, what matters is repetition-”

Oliviera: “Repetition my aunt Talula! I ain’t running everyday I didn’t come to this smelly school to be treated like… like I’m in BOOTCAMP! I came here to support my BAE’S!!!”

Leos: “Well, you should still try to lose w…

.

.

Hey. Isn’t that a...a person..?”

1: ”6. I placed you on the boy’s team because it’s harder to predict what the Principal’s granddaughter is capable of, compared to Elijah. He lost his powers. Even if he tries to manifest them, he isn’t a match for ‘5’.

But that monster girl, even with most of her strength sealed, as per the rules of the school, we can’t underestimate what damage she can deal. For that reason only, I don’t want you near her...You are our entire group’s life-line. Without you, we’ll be doomed to lose every mission as difficult as this one. Oh, and I just started losing ‘4’s’ life signature. Prepare to send support when I ask for it. Don’t want to heal him just to lose him again. Wait for my signal.”

Oliviera: “Oh – Oh my leechums! Oh my adorable leechums it’s A HUMAN!! Finally no more runninh! HE-MPH!”

Leos: “SHHH! Idiot!! did you FORGET what Noel said about the adults?! HOW could that guy get so far in with a HERO this close by?? I REFUSE to believe that guy has no tracking ability.”

Oliviera: “Pfft! Screw what he says, should I just keep running then?! My legs can’t move anymore!! ‘Sides *Sniff* If he had a tracking power, why are we still observing him WITHOUT GETTING CAUGHT?!

Leos: “Obviously-!

…

.

.

Hmm, you’re right. Maybe he just-”

*Crrrack*

He never got to finish that sentence of his. Oliviera was busy mulling over her options and thinking about taking the opportunity to beg that random guy for help when something cold smashed itself against her neck. She didn’t understand what was going on.

Not as she flew through the air.

Not as she wound up crashing into some trees.

And not as everything in her sight went black, or when everything audible to her rapidly grew muffled – before completely drowning out into complete silence.

Leos didn’t have a chance to scream before his throat was crushed. And only received a cold apology, along with a brief statement about not liking jobs involving kids, before he felt every ounce of pain that came with having his head strenuously torn off from his neck.

1: “Ah...I always hate this feeling. I’ll light a candle in a church for ya kid – I promise.

...Huh?

Why is my hammer cracked? Is that fat girl’s neck really that hard?

.

.

no signs of life. Seems troublesome so I’ll collect hers later.”

---