As the wind shredded dust and debris across the terminal, Wade—the purple-haired soldier—opened his eyes slowly.

  “No…” he muttered, clutching the girl protectively.

  A cough broke the silence. “You guys owe me big time.”

  They looked up to see Elijah standing beneath the sunlight streaming through a massive hole in the ceiling. Behind him, Eddy sat trembling and half-naked.

  “I don’t know what just happened, but that was awesome,” Eddy said.

  Wade swatted dust away from his face. As he looked Elijah up and down, he asked, “Who are you?”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Elijah said, lifting Eddy upright.

  The airport terminal spun as Eddy’s vision cleared. He glanced at Wade. “Wade, you should’ve seen it. It all happened so fast—”

  As he blabbered on, a slight breeze blew through, silencing him.

  “You could’ve left my shirt, at least!” Eddy hugged his chest, turning away.

  Elijah’s face remained calm. He turned to the boy slowly and, in a soft, faint voice, whispered, “I also could’ve just let you blow up!”

  “Huh?” Eddy looked perplexed, standing hunched over.

  A scowl grew over Elijah’s face. “I said you’re an ungrateful little shit!” he yelled.

  The two began to argue back and forth until Savannah stepped forward. “Sorry, but... what happened? I thought that once something glows—”

  Elijah looked at her.

  She said she was a pacifist, and given the nature of her powers, she probably knows next to nothing about how they work.

  “I’m guessing,” he said in his usual laid-back tone,

  “Your ability spreads explosions one at a time, like an explosive game of tag. Touch one thing, and it jumps to the next. However, for some reason, if I were to hold two items at the same time, only one would catch this explosive glow. So, to save him, I tore away what was infected and threw it at the roof.”

  Wade interjected, “You make it sound simple, but that level of precision—and the way you moved—”

  Elijah shrugged. “I took a gamble and got lucky.”

  The girl stepped toward him, her voice trembling. “Thank you. If I’d killed him… I don’t know how I’d live with myself.”

  Elijah nodded before quickly pulling her to the side. “I’ll just borrow her for a second.”

  I wasn’t able to get rid of Jack,

  Elijah thought,

  But I’ll be damned if I let him get what he wants.

  They began whispering. Wade watched them, studying Elijah.

  Impressive agility, speed, and quick decision-making. The last of these only comes from years of training.

  Wade then turned to his side. “Eddy, who is this guy? You know him?”

  “Never seen him before in my life,” Eddy gleefully replied.

  Just then, the Captain strode in. “Good work containing the threat, Wade. I’ll take it from here.” His gaze then flicked to Elijah.

  Who the hell is this guy?

  “Sir,” Wade said, “actually, he’s the one who saved us.”

  “What?”

  He must’ve been that white burst that flashed in front of me.

  The Captain narrowed his eyes.

  Muscles hidden beneath a baggy jacket—scars, too. Depth perception is incredibly sharp, even with one eye. He’s obviously not a hero or with the F.F.H. A hidden rogue, maybe?

  He turned to Elijah. “Apologies. Good work. Once I settle things here, I’d like to—”

  “Yeah, don’t worry about it,” Elijah said quickly, already walking away.

  The Captain blinked. “Did he just ?”

  “This guy’s nuts,” Eddy whispered. Wade elbowed him to be quiet.

  Clenching his fist, the Captain raised his voice. “Hey! When F.F.H. personnel are talking to you, you shut up and give them respect. Now stay there!”

  Elijah stopped, slightly biting his lip.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  It would’ve been quick, easy—like putting a hole in a snowball.

  He turned back, smiling at the Captain.

  As they locked eyes, both he and the Captain had the same thought:

  Asshole.

  The Captain turned to Savannah.

  “Now, this is the second time—”

  “I agree to be tried in New Sentinel,” she cut him off.

  The Captain froze. “What?”

  “I said I’ll be tried in New Sentinel.”

  “You’ll need a lawyer. The charges are—”

  “That’s fine. Given how valuable Level 2s are, I’m sure one of the sponsors in the F.F.H. will be more than willing to pay.”

  The Captain ground his teeth, looking at Elijah.

  Damn him. The bastard got to her.

  Exhaling, he softly, begrudgingly told her.

  “Fine. You’ll be taken on the first flight to New Sentinel. However, given your level of power, you’re required to take power-dampening pills and stay within the confines of this airport until then. Is that understood?”

  “Yes,” she said excitedly, smiling faintly at Elijah.

  Well, don’t make it obvious,

  Elijah thought.

  Not that it makes any difference.

  The Captain, still speaking to Savannah, stared at Elijah, who stood with arms folded, seemingly lost in thought.

  The captain pointed to the officers standing by. “Wait there with them.”

  Sensing the tension, Savannah opened her mouth, wanting to speak, but struggling to find the words. She stood there panicking before hurriedly pulling up her hoodie and walking away.

  Wade started, “Sir, about Eddy—”

  “Get out of here, Wade!” the Captain abruptly shouted, marching toward Elijah.

  “Yes, sir.” Wade quickly shepherded Eddy away. Before leaving, Wade gave Elijah a long look.

  I don’t know what you’re planning, but be careful—you’re pushing it.

  Elijah nodded to him as the Captain stepped in front of him.

  With the two of them now alone, the Captain leaned in close. “What happened with the girl—that was your doing, wasn’t it?”

  Elijah’s face remained still. “I got no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Hmph, I promise you this—if someone who so much as looks like you gets in my way again, I’ll use every applicable resource in my arsenal to find you and make you pay for it.”

  The Captain’s mask retracted, revealing his face. He then pulled a cigarette from a cartridge on his armored suit.

  “Now you have my permission to leave.”

  He clicked a button on the cigarette and began to inhale.

  Elijah took a step forward, but then suddenly, he stopped—his expression hardening as he tilted his head back.

  “All debts will be paid, Jack. Remember that.”

  His expression then returned to normal as he strode off, hands in his pockets.

  The Captain’s eyes lifted, but he said nothing.

  As smoke drifted into the air, a green light flashed on his left wrist.

  Near the barracks, the remaining people whispered. “What happened?” “Are they letting her go?” “Why’s that kid half-naked?”

  Pierce spotted Wade, Eddy, and the girl retreating.

  “Thank God he’s alright. I thought he was done for. But—” His eyes locked onto Elijah. “—It’s him again.”

  Suddenly, a shriek tore through the air. “Oh my God—it’s him! Amp!”

  A shadow climbed through the torn ceiling as cheers rose from the crowd. “Amp! Amp! Amp!”

  Descending as if walking down stairs made of air, the superhero named Amp landed in a gleaming, navy-blue armored suit.

  He wore white boots and a white cape; on his shoulders were white spirals—a reference to his ability to release sonic screams powerful enough to rip mountains apart.

  Amp waved at the crowd and then turned to the Captain.

  “Sorry, I had to stop a car chase on the way here. What happened? Where’s the threat?”

  The Captain’s wrist buzzed. A scan appeared:

  [NEO SCAN COMPLETE]

  Base Power: Level 1–2

  Drawbacks: Headache, nausea, chronic tears, arrhythmia

  Warning: Extended Use = Death

  Evaluation: Overall Level 0

  Overhearing the scan, Amp raised his brow. “A Zero did this?”

  “No, but he did get in my way—” the Captain said, glaring at Elijah.

  “—This damage was caused by a Level 2 girl who lost control.”

  “Level 2? But if that’s the case, there should be more damage.”

  “Apparently, that man arrived just in time and directed the majority of the blast away. But given this reading, I think it’s more likely she doesn’t know how to use her powers correctly.

  With the right guidance, she would’ve been our family’s biggest asset—” The Captain grunted.

  “But that’s in the past now. You can get out of here; you’re no longer needed.”

  Amp’s breath slightly halted.

  Really letting that promotion get to your head, huh? Still… this Zero he’s talking about… if it’s true, he might be—

  Amp turned toward the crowd, but as he did, he caught Elijah glaring at him. Suddenly, Amp clutched his head, wobbling slightly.

  “Amp?” the Captain asked.

  “I’m fine,” Amp growled, straightening and lifting off the ground.

  “Do me a favor and run a background check on that guy.”

  “What? Why? He’s just a Zero.”

  “I know, but something’s off about him. Call it a veteran’s intuition.” He saluted before blasting off, the crowd roaring as he tore through the sky.

  The Captain watched him, thinking,

  He’s becoming more and more unruly. It’s best I inform the General, let him handle it when we get to New Sentinel.

  As the cheers quieted, Pierce handed Eddy a spare shirt. Excited, Eddy exclaimed, “Man, how lucky are we? Amp’s escorting us to New Sentinel. A top-50 hero!”

  “Relax,” Pierce said with a grumble. “He just got placed in there. He could fall out just as quickly as he came in. Anyway, you should be on your knees, thanking Wade for saving you.”

  “But Wade didn’t save me.”

  Pierce frowned. “What?”

  “It was that guy—” Eddy pointed at Elijah, who was walking out with Jakob.

  “—It all happened so fast. Just as my jacket and gloves were about to explode, he suddenly appeared. In less than a second, he ripped off my clothes and threw them in the air.”

  Pierce shook his head. “But he’s a Zero. That shouldn’t be possible…”

  “I know, but he did it,” Eddy whispered. “Look, I know you guys think I’m a conspiracy theorist, but this time, this may actually be it. That guy may actually be a Warbreaker.”

  Meanwhile, outside the airport, Jakob and Elijah were talking.

  “That was unusually sloppy,” Jakob commented.

  “Yeah, I know,” Elijah replied.

  “You nearly threw away all our years of training.”

  “Yeah, but I didn’t,” Elijah snapped. “Now, can you put the needle away?”

  As Jakob walked behind Elijah, he had been discreetly holding a syringe filled with purple liquid.

  “If you were calm and rational, I couldn’t have snuck up behind you like that.”

  “I am calm,” Elijah said in a gravelly whisper. He deeply inhaled and exhaled, pulling out his phone. “See.”

  [Current Heart Rate: 50 bpm]

  Jakob put away the syringe.

  His impulsivity is still too high. Perhaps this is too soon.

  “Jakob, I’m ready—” Elijah said.

  Jakob raised his brow.

  “—I’ve lived with you for years. I can tell what you’re thinking. I was just aggravated… I nearly had Jack right within my grasp.”

  “Was it guilt?”

  “No, I didn't get the option to.”

  Elijah’s voice leveled as he replayed the moment.

  As the glow from Eddy’s clothes reached its peak, Elijah had headed toward both Eddy and the Captain. He had raised his hand, fingers shaped like a blade. But as he was about to make contact, an eerie feeling grabbed hold.

  Wait… something’s not right.

  His eyes had pinballed around the area until he saw it: the six-foot-four soldier staring right at him.

  He couldn’t tell if the man just happened to be looking or if he’d been watching him all along.

  Deciding to play it safe, Elijah had pulled back and saved Eddy instead.

  Exhaling, Elijah added, “Amp arriving was just the icing on the vomit-filled cake.”

  They took a few steps in silence.

  “Understood. You’ve convinced me,” Jakob said. “We’ll come back later today when the heat’s died down.”

  “I accept your apology.”

  “What apology?”

  Elijah sighed. “Nothing. It was a joke.”

  Jakob continued forward without responding, and Elijah straggled behind him.

  With hands behind his head, he thought to himself.

  That was too close. All my years of soul-wrenching training and sacrifice—almost thrown away by a split-second mistake.

  He caught sight of a rabid raccoon fighting in an alleyway.

  The real threat here is Amp. A decade later, and he looks like he’s on the verge of destroying both Heaven and Hell, everybody else be damned.