Later that day, Rowan was quietly following as we returned from school. Tailing behind me like a stalker or someone just mad at me.
I could see the trace of my punch on his delicate face. And honestly, I couldn't help but think that he deserved it. After all, he was the one who first came to me, asking to know how to fight. If he really wanted me to teach him—which I totally wouldn't now—he wouldn't have given me an impression that reminded me how much of a weakling he still was.
"Um...about earlier..."
"Don't apologise." I quickly cut him off. "Honestly, that's the last thing I need to hear from you."
"Um.. okay." He tucked his glasses firmly into his face, his eyes looking downwards every time he spoke.
I would admit that I'd definitely struck a hole in his low self-esteem after I gave him that punch. Especially when that bastard, Julian had just walked out on him afterwards without a word.
Which was the exact reason why I'd insisted that we walk in pairs. Rowan's house—according to him— was nearby, while mine was a bus trip away. And this was me being selfless again, acting as his personal human shield until he got home.
Hopefully, Julian doesn't show up before then—
"Finally, you're here." Most especially, I was definitely not anticipating hearing his voice. "Ren Mora."
I deepened a frown at him. Probably the same frown my parents first gave me when they realised that I didn't have abilities. Julian and his handmen had literally shown up out of nowhere, standing in front of me like a dark band that was about to perform.
"I didn't think you'd be so childish actually to come after me yourself," I said to him. "How in the world did you become the king of such a well-known school?"
Julian didn't immediately reply. And while he was actively still processing his anger, I just stood there, contemplating my next move. One king, four bodyguards. And looking at them, they definitely had abilities too. Plus, Rowan was still with me. He was currently the most vulnerable.
"Should we run?" He asked.
"No. We stay." I replied, now flexing my fists. Besides, one of them had a teleportation ability. Trying to run would've only been a vain move. "What's your ability, Rowan?" I asked, barely looking at him.
"My ability. Um...that's an echo. It makes me replicate the last physical movement or strike that I witness." He said, sounding less proud and more timid about it. "It's useless for my rank though, I can only replicate the moves. But not the force behind it."
"Good."
"What?"
"You wanted me to teach you how to fight, didn't you?" I didn't wait for his response. "Well, here's lesson one. Never hold back against a stronger opponent."
"What are you talking about—"
One of Julian's bodyguards came towards us, his hands outstretched at waist level, crackling with energy. I could already tell that he was an electric guy from his volt-styled hair. And even he was looking less intimidating than the rest of them.
When he was closer, he didn't time out his actions— if time really counted to him— he simply just swerved a shock-charged punch right at my face.
"Duck!" I said as I ducked, and thankfully, Rowan's brain reacted instinctively too. He did the same.
Then he moved backwards, while I continued avoiding the shock guy's punches towards my neck. My jawline. My torso. He wasn't even defending his little scrawny eyes, but I could barely meet them if I was too busy trying to dodge his blows.
"For a right kick, swerve to the left. For a left kick, move to the right. Read hard, memorise movements fast." Despite avoiding a shock wave of punches, I was still managing a quick lecture. "And no matter what, always be prepared to land a punch."
"I think I got it."
"Show me then." I ducked and swerved through the shock guy's arm, then I grabbed him and threw him, Rowan.
Maybe I wasn't expecting much, but I was definitely surprised when Rowan replicated the guy's speed punch and hit him coldly on the nose. For a second, he just rubbed his squelched nose, and in the next, he was staring at Rowan with raging eyes.
That was my opening. I leapt into the air and threw a kick in his back, throwing him off balance. He went down the floor, partly unguarded, partly active. But I didn't plan to wait for a fair fight. I had to finish him now.
And just as I was about to move towards him, something threw me backwards. A force field, surrounding me, trapping me in one place. I tried hitting hard against the barrier but it was too strong to shatter. When I looked towards the rest of the crew, I saw the blonde hair amongst them holding his hands up, definitely the one creating these barriers.
Shock guy was back on his feet, and seeing me trapped in there, he didn't budge. He just smiled. And then, he went after Rowan again, attempting a punch which Rowan dodged.
I figured he was going to be fine as long as the shock guy was only handing out reckless punches. But no, instead, he kicked Rowan's side and sent him to the floor, grovelling. He lifted Rowan back up almost immediately, grabbing him firmly by his collar.
Then with one last personal look... BZZZTTT! The shockwave travelled through Rowan's skin, his body twitching, moving vigorously as he slowly approached the petrification point.
"Let him go, you bastard!" I yelled as loud as I could, but he just ignored me and continued zapping him.
I watched his eyeballs drifting off from his eyes, his expression became sour and wrinkled as they him more.
"He's gonna die!" I yelled in actual panic, banging my hands forcefully against the barrier. "He's gonna actually die!"
And just then, something invisible walloped me, like a force from above that was insistently pushing me to the ground. I tried fighting it, but it was useless. It knocked me down flat on the ground, making me unable to move a bone.
Although my mouth was pretty much heavy to move now, I could still see Rowan being shocked, seeing the shock lines travelling all around his body. He was dead, definitely. And yet, he was still being zapped. Like an animal whose body had been decided to be exploited.
I regretted not telling him to run. No, not that. The whole thing started the other day when I told him to do the things he won't have to apologise for. If only I'd let him apologise, maybe he would have gotten out of this...
"How does it feel now, Ren Mora?" Julian approached me, hands tucked observingly behind his back. "Seeing your own friend get destroyed, it makes you angry, doesn't it?" Then he laughed. "But why, I'm only just getting started. I'll make you pay for all you did to Sancho—"
"JULIAN!!!"
I yelled out his name impulsively, tone laced with pure anger. All I registered afterwards was moving a bit of my fists from concentrated force. And just like that, everything shifted. The invisible force that held me down disappeared. The force field shattered. And the guy who was still trying to hold it up spurted out blood from his mouth.
[Anomaly Identified]
[Title: Nullification]
.
.
.
Extra:
Name: Julian Redgrave
Ability: Gravity Shift
Rank: A
Fortitude: 7.1
.
.
Name: Seth
Ability: Static
Rank: B
Fortitude: 6.7
.
.
Name: Dylan D.T
Ability: Barricade
Rank: B
Fortitude: 6.4
.
.
Name: Ren Mora
Ability: Nullification
Rank: S
Fortitude: 9.2