Off the coast of Japan, Sinvula was cutting through the air like a fighter jet. He was quickly leaving the country's waters after his fight with Kismet. He stopped once he was nearing the Korean Peninsula. He tapped his ear and spoke.
"Kiara, how was the public's reaction to my little skirmish with Kismet?"
"Positive in Kismet's favour for the most part. People are confused about why you retreated, and this confusion has caused speculation and theories to emerge."
"Are you controlling the narrative?"
"Of course. I'm using our technological sector to use bots and abandoned accounts across social media. We're pushing the theory that you retreated because you didn't think you would win. Of course, with how you seemed to always be in control the whole fight, it's a bit hard to convince a lot of people yet. However, as Kismet fights and continues to survive, that theory will gain more and more weight. Soon Heroes and Villains alike will believe the Calamities aren't as invincible as they originally thought and delude themselves in thinking they can take on Iron Rain and the Bellum Company."
"Good job, Kiara. With this, things will truly become interesting in due ti—"
Sinvula was cut off from an alert of another call incoming.
"Kiara, a minute."
He answered the call.
"Amadi."
A stern female voice reached his ears. This voice caused his body to instinctively stiffen.
"Hello, Chinara. How are—"
"Amadi."
"....Yes."
"Care to explain what the hell is going on?"
Back in Japan.
"Injury status?"
Belinha gathered her teammates together to assess their situation.
"Other than the twins, everyone is okay."
Batu responded while stretching his body. The twins were lying on the ground, still unconscious. Belinha placed her hand on them and frowned.
"Fractured ribs, a broken limb each, and damaged organs....He did all that in a mere moment."
She took out a knife and cut the twins in various places.
"The injuries are mostly internal, so I need to make my flames enter them."
The twins' blood ignited into flames that flowed inside them.
"I didn't get to fight with Sinvula that much..."
Impactor mumbled.
"Disappointed?"
Mikel asked while standing next to him.
"Yeah, in myself. Even after training, I can tell he's worlds away in strength."
"Well, we're talking about a man worshipped as a god because of his strength. It won't be easy."
Mikel's eyes were locked on the twins, whose injuries were visibly healing.
"But this is just the beginning, we will definitely reach him."
Hours later, back at Kismet's Base.
"I thought I died..."
Mira let out a sigh of relief while lying on the sofa with her head resting on Bojana's lap.
"The strategy to use other members as the main force was somewhat successful."
Belinha was sitting next to Impactor, who was eating crab legs. She pointed at him with her thumbs.
"Since their interest is mostly on this guy, they'll instinctively let their guards down on the rest, especially the Rookies."
She frowned.
"However, Sinvula powered through even when we got the advantage."
She shook her head.
"We never had the advantage; he was never close to giving it his all and we failed to capitalise on that."
"There's no telling if that will work on Alala, though."
Batu spoke up while sitting with Mikel and Kira.
"She operates differently from the wild spirit Sinvula. She is always on the lookout for tactics and strategies."
"From what we've seen, she's also not the type to mess around like Sinvula does..."
Mikel added. The room became heavy with silence. Their next fight will be an intense one.
"So nothing has changed?"
Impactor broke the silence. He slurped the meat out of the crab legs and smirked.
"All we gotta do is survive. That's the plan from the get-go."
Everyone nodded with a smile.
"Yeah, nothing has changed."
The next day, an explosion rocked the base and forced everyone out of their sleep. They quickly raced outside to see the cause.
"Good morning."
With the sun slowly rising behind her, Alala greeted Kismet with her hand on her hip.
"Come on!"
Belinha exclaimed.
"We just fought yesterday!"
"And you will fight again today. Besides, wouldn't it be better to get the first week out of the way so you can prepare properly?"
"You're talking as if this is a school assignment or something."
"What time?"
Batu asked while trying to calm Belinha down.
"Two hours, Fukui's coast."
Alala said nothing more and blasted off into the sky. Belinha lifted her middle fingers in Alala's direction while cursing.
"....I think the pressure is starting to get to Belinha."
Bojana mumbled.
"Can't blame her for how everything is going."
Mikel added.
"I kinda like her like this. She's funny."
Impactor was all laughs.
Fukui, Japan. Kismet arrived at the coast on time. They were greeted by Alala, who was standing on the beach looking at the ocean.
"So, how was it fighting Sinvula?"
She asked without looking in their direction.
"He just messed around."
Impactor answered before anyone else.
"I see, then he worked as a good warm-up."
She turned her head towards them.
"I'll be different."
Kismet's faces hardened as they readied themselves. Alala turned towards them and pulled her sabre from its sheath.
"Shall we?"
She stepped forward and swung her sword. Mikel leapt forward with a laser gathering in his hand. Red lines covered the surroundings as he formed a laser blade. He swung his blade down as explosions engulfed them. A giant beam cut through the flames and rushed at Alala. She casually lifted her sabre and blocked it. Belinha flew out of the flames and attacked her flank with a burst of blood flames. Alala casually swung her hand to the side. Overwhelming force clashed with and halted the flames before they reached her. Belinha circled around and attacked from her back. Simultaneously, Impactor and Batu attacked from the front.
"All of this is a distraction."
Alala mumbled as her eyes went to the ground. She stabbed her sabre in the ground and it exploded. Belinha and the others retreated. The dust settled and Alala's sabre was clashing with Kira, who was underneath her. His blade arms were crossed in front of his chest to protect his heart. A shadow moved towards her. Alala spun around and with a flash, a blade reached her neck.
*Clang*
A metallic noise resounded as she locked eyes with Mira.
"Get off my brother!"
She roared and Alala leapt back. The collar of her uniform fell off and a small cut appeared on her neck.
(She cut through Shield? It wasn't Tank, but that is still impressive.)
She had no time to think. Five giant mud golems appeared from the ground, wielding weapons. They attacked in unison. She swung her sword in a circle and the golems were cut in two.
"Hm?"
However, their attacks didn't stop. Alala leapt over their attack.
"Impact!"
Impactor flew at her with a powerful right. She was sent flying towards the sea, where Batu was standing on the water's surface waiting. He stepped on the surface and the water rose in front of him like a sheet of plywood. He punched the water sheet.
"Heavy!"
The water sheet flew at Alala. She twisted her body in the air and swung her sabre. The water shattered like glass before returning to liquid. Alala blinked and more water sheets were flying her way. Batu was sending a barrage of water sheets at her with punches. Alala smiled under her mask. She sheathed her sabre and threw a storm of punches. The sheets shattered and water danced in the air. The water droplets reflected the excitement in her eyes hidden behind her mask.
"Let's take this up a notch, Number 7!"
She shouted with excitement and threw a punch with so much force it parted the sea and revealed the ocean floor. Batu was hit by this force and propelled into the sky.
"Ugh!"
His body cried out in pain. He blinked and Alala was above him. She punched him in the stomach and forced him towards the water. He hit the water as she chased him. With his consciousness fading, he screamed in his head.
(Harden!)
Alala dove at the water at full force. A loud thud resounded as the water's surface cracked apart like a frozen lake.
(Shit!)
Alala cursed as a wave of pain flowed over her.
(I really always let my guard down at the worst times.)
Alala sank under the water and found herself surrounded by orbs of light. Mikel appeared above the water using his laser to keep himself in the air. He snapped his fingers and the orbs fired powerful lasers at Alala from every direction. The ocean lit up a violent red before a massive explosion erupted.
"Will Batu be alright?"
Back on land, Impactor asked Belinha while they watched water raining down over the ocean.
"Bojana?"
Belinha didn't answer and called out to Bojana, whose hand was on the ground.
"I got him."
As Bojana answered, Batu was pulled to the shore by a mud tentacle.
"Batu, you alive?"
Batu weakly lifted his hand and showed Belinha a thumbs-up.
"Good, then—"
Belinha was cut off by something hitting the beach. Mikel laid out on the beach with his blood staining the sand. Alala landed next to him. Her clothes had burns on them and a small crack in her mask.
"Not bad, not bad at all."
She applauded them as they looked at her.
"The team coordination, the strategies, the ability to think on your feet....to think you all would show so much growth in such a short time. It's far better than when you send Impactor at me in a suicide charge."
She slowly walked towards them.
"As I thought, I can enjoy myself."
She vanished and Impactor kicked off the ground. He threw a kick and it clashed with her fist. She grabbed his leg and threw him into the air. A hailstorm of bullets flew at her as the twins fired from their gun limbs. She vanished and reappeared above them. Kira pulled Mira out of the way while turning his arm into a shield. Alala's fist hit his shield and burst through it. Kira opened his mouth and fired a rocket from it. An explosion swallowed him and Alala.
"Kira!"
Mira shouted while rushing to back him up. Alala flew at her and punched at her face. She moved her head out of the way, but was lifted off the ground by a gut punch. She glanced over Alala's shoulder and saw Kira spread out on the floor. She gritted her teeth and grabbed Alala's arm and swung her head back. She hit Alala with a deafening headbutt. Alala's mask cracked open. Just as it started to fall, time froze for everyone except Alala. She mumbled under her breath with her eyes glowing. A bright light flashed.
In the Japanese airspace, there were hundreds of satellites with their cameras focused on Japan. A bright light flew from the surface and engulfed these satellites. When the light faded, the satellites vanished without a trace.
Back on the surface, Alala's mask hit the ground. Before Mira could see her face, her vision was dyed in red. She was swallowed up by a pillar of flames. She fell to her knees unconscious.
"Ohhh!"
Impactor flew at her, roaring at the top of his lungs. She looked towards him and her face reflected in his eyes. Alala silently chopped her hand down.
"Huh?"
Red invaded his vision. A burning sensation spread across his chest as red liquid floated in front of him. In this liquid, he could see the image of a large wound across his torso. He flew at her as his blood stained the earth. He still clenched his fist determined to fight. He threw a punch at her face, but his fist only hit air. He crashed on the ground with blood still pouring. His blood ignited and turned into flames. He looked towards Belinha, who raised her hand in his direction. His body then sank into a mud puddle and disappeared. He reappeared between Belinha and Bojana.
"Thanks."
He got up and faced Alala with them. She walked towards them with her face bare. Beauty was the last thing they thought of when they saw her face. The dread chill running through their spines didn't give them the luxury of admiring such things. Alala's face was devoid of emotion, but her eyes were in turmoil.
(It's her face....We saw her face!)
Belinha immediately recognised the situation they were in.
(She's going to kill us!)
"......"
Alala silently walked towards them with lifeless steps.
"Times up, Alala."
She was only stopped when Sinvula appeared and blocked her path. She looked beyond him and at Impactor and the others. He brought his face back into her line of sight.
"We made an agreement."
"...My face."
"I understand, but it's on you for not wearing a stronger mask. Besides..."
He pointed at the sky.
"You destroyed the satellites already. So no one knows other than those here. I'm sure they won't be foolish enough to blab to anyone....Right?"
Belinha and Bojana nodded behind him. As for Impactor—
"I ain't no snitch."
He responded in such a way.
"See?"
Alala frowned. Seeing this, he sighed and faced Kismet. He smiled and waved his hand. With a swoosh, his hair, covering half his face, fell and hit the ground. Eyes widened as they saw him, even Alala. He looked at them with a confident grin before turning to face Alala.
"Feel better now?"
She looked at him in silence for a while before nodding.
"Good. Then, let's go before the GHF panics and sends people to come check everything out."
Alala nodded again before taking off to the skies. Sinvula smiled as he watched her leave. He then turned around and faced Kismet.
"You guys did well to survive the first week. I'm proud of you."
He floated off the ground as he waved at them.
"With that, see you next week."
He blasted off into the distance, leaving Kismet confused and terrified. Belinha subconsciously spoke while trying to process what she just witnessed.
"....Sinvula and Alala are Amadi Albrecht and Hiraya Del Rosario?"