Sofia watched from the background, her curly hair framing her face as she chuckled at the ongoing game . Her curly hair danced around her face, framing her features with a sense of playful elegance. With brown skin adorned with freckles that seemed to sprinkle across her cheeks like stardust, she radiated an undeniable warmth and charm.
Sofia possessed a youthful energy that shone through her bright orange eyes, sparkling with curiosity and amusement. Her long, cascading curls swayed with each chuckle that escaped her lips, a visual symphony of joy
"How many times are you gonna lose in a row, Adamus?" she teased, her laughter infectious. "I've never seen you beat Dylan."
Adamus shot back, a mix of frustration and jest in his tone. "I would never give up," he retorted, a competitive spark in his eyes. "You want a piece of this? We can go right now. I've got a couple of quarters left. We can keep playing."
Sofía grinned, her playful demeanor adding to the banter. "Oh, you're on," she replied, stepping forward to join the game. "Let's see if I can break your winning streak, Dylan."
As Adamus, Sofía, and Dylan laughed and enjoyed their time together, their merriment was abruptly interrupted by a loud bang. They turned around, their jovial expressions fading as the front door of the arcade swung open aggressively.
Three men entered, clad in black suits with dark glasses, their demeanor exuding an air of authority akin to the Mafia. The first man spoke, his voice firm and commanding. "Where is Mr. George?"
Sofía's expression shifted, her nerves palpable as she glanced back at Adamus and Dylan. "I'll be right back," she murmured, her voice tinged with apprehension. "I have to handle this."
With determined steps, she approached the Mafia-like figures, her posture tense yet resolute. Meanwhile, Adamus and Dylan remained rooted to the spot, their expressions a mix of nervousness, confusion, and concern, silently watching Sofía's brave approach.
Sofía walked briskly behind the counter, her heart pounding with trepidation. "I'm sorry, my father isn't here," she began, her voice trembling slightly. "He's in the hospital right now. He won't be back for a little while..."
But before she could finish, Mafia Guy Two slammed his hand on the counter, his expression hardened. "We don't care what your excuse is," he interrupted sternly. "You guys are $3000 short."
Sofía's eyes widened in fear, her voice faltering as she stammered, "I'm sorry, it's just... business has been hard. My dad has been in the hospital for a while now, and I have to do all this by myself..."
Mafia Guy One interjected, his tone menacing. "We had a deal. You pay us, and we make sure that nothing happens to your arcade store." He exchanged a knowing glance with Mafia Guy Three, who responded with a subtle nod.
As the tension in the arcade reached a fever pitch, Mafia Guy Three stepped forward, his menacing presence casting a shadow over the room. His skin was a sickly shade of green, rough and scaly like the hide of a reptile, with patches of dried, cracked scales covering his arms and face. His eyes gleamed with a sinister yellow hue, slitted like those of a predatory lizard, and his nostrils flared with each ragged breath.glinting in the dim light of the arcade, while his tongue flicked out with a sinister hiss, forked like that of a serpent.
With a swift motion, he aimed the acidic stream at one of the arcade machines, the corrosive substance melting through the metal and plastic with alarming speed. The acid cause a small explosion.
The machine sizzled and smoked, its once vibrant colors now marred by the destructive force of the acid. Sofía gasped in horror as she backed away, her hands trembling as she watched the destruction unfold before her.
Just moments before, Adamus and Dylan had been watching from a table, their eyes on the sharp-dressed men cornering Sofía.
"I don't know, Adamus," Dylan began, his voice tinged with concern. "It seems sketchy. I think we should leave."
Before Adamus could respond, a sudden explosion rocked the arcade as one of the RK machines burst into flames. Dylan's eyes widened in alarm as he turned to Adamus. "Let's get outta here," he urged urgently.
But Adamus shook his head, determination etched on his features. "No, we can't leave without Sofía," he insisted, his voice resolute.
Dylan hesitated, his gaze flickering back to the chaos unfolding near the counter. "I don't think they're gonna hurt her," he reasoned, his voice strained with uncertainty. "They're just trying to scare her."
Adamus listened intently as Dylan continued, his words sinking in. "I recognize them. They're part of the Snake Mafia," Dylan explained grimly. "In the small section of City C that we live in, there are a lot of Super gangs, and these are one of them. They go around collecting money for protection from them." As the chaos unfolded before him, Adamus whispered to himself, a sense of urgency coursing through him. "Anytime now. This is the time for you to start working, crystal. I'm counting on you, Mani Padme crystal."
Turning around, Adamus realized Dylan was no longer by his side. A pang of disappointment swept over him. "Damn, bro, you really gonna leave me?" he thought to himself, feeling a twinge of abandonment.
Adamus stood up and walked toward the conflict, his resolve firm. "Hey, you guys," he called out with newfound confidence. "She says she doesn't have the money. So maybe you should leave."
Mafia Guy Two chuckled condescendingly. "Kid, get outta here. This has got nothing to do with you."
Adamus's response was unwavering. "If you mess with one of my friends, you gotta mess with me."
Mafia Guy One demanded the $3000 as Adamus stood his ground. "OK, I will. I have the $3000 in my pocket right now," Adamus replied calmly, his hand hovering near his pocket.
Sofía interjected, her voice trembling with worry. "You don't have to do that, Adamus. I promise I will pay you back."
But Adamus was resolute. As Mafia Guy One advanced toward him, Adamus feigned compliance, playing with his pocket. Then, with speed, he withdrew his hand and delivered a powerful punch to the man's face. With all his force behind it, the blow sent Mafia Guy One staggering backward, his body crumpling as he fell to the ground, knocked out cold.
With a triumphant stance, Adamus raised his leg and placed his foot atop Mafia Guy One, asserting his dominance over the fallen foe. A smirk played on his lips as he extended his hand, fingers curled into a fist, exuding an air of confidence.
"You guys need to pay me for protection," he declared, his voice laced with amusement. "Let me guess the only one here with superpowers is that guy over there who spits acid. You, Lizard Mouth. You'd be the first one I take down."
The mafia members exchanged uneasy glances. The one he'd just called Lizard Mouth bristled, his face twisting with anger. "Who you calling Lizard Mouth?" he snapped.
Before they could react further, Adamus let out a taunting laugh.
"Get your acid ready to kill this kid," Mafia Guy Two muttered under his breath, his tone dripping with menace.
Unfazed, Adamus issued a warning of his own. "I have to warn you guys," he began, his tone tinged with a hint of menace. "I'm a trained fighter, and I'm pretty fast. My sprint speed is around 27.8 miles per hour."
He then turned his attention to the third mafia member, his gaze steady and unwavering. "And you, Lizard Mouth," he taunted, "your acid may be deadly, but it looks too slow to catch me. Come at me."
The lizard man's eyes flared with rage. "Don't call me Lizard Mouth!" he shouted, his voice cracking with fury. "We're gonna kill you, kid!"
With a guttural yell, Lizard Mouth unleashed a torrent of acid in Adamus's direction. Adamus sprang into action, his speed blurring his form. In one fluid burst of agility, he dashed straight toward the attack, sliding effortlessly beneath the sizzling stream and emerging unscathed on the other side. Landing gracefully in front of Lizard Mouth, Adamus flashed a confident smirk.
"I told you I'm pretty fast," he quipped, his voice tinged with triumph.
Without missing a beat, Adamus delivered a swift punch to Lizard Mouth's face, followed by a powerful blow to his stomach. Lizard Mouth scoffed, taunting, "You hit like a girl."
Adamus's response was swift and decisive. "No, I just don't have powers," he retorted. With a fluid motion, he leaped into the air, executing a spinning roundhouse kick aimed squarely at Lizard Mouth's neck. The impact sent Lizard Mouth crashing to the ground, incapacitated.
"I don't kick like a girl," Adamus declared, his confidence unwavering.
But before he could savor his victory, the second Mafia member lunged forward, grabbing hold of Adamus. With a sudden twist, they both tumbled out of the arcade, crashing onto the streets below. The impact knocked the air out of Adamus, but he knew he had to act fast.
As they landed in a heap on the pavement, Adamus felt the weight of his assailant pressing down on him. but his focus was on breaking free. With a surge of determination, he regained his bearings.
Pushing against the ground with all his strength, Adamus managed to twist his body to the side, breaking the hold of the mafia thug. Now in control, he scrambled to his feet, ready to retaliate.
With a deft judo throw, he took advantage of his opponent's momentum. Stepping forward, Adamus positioned himself beside the thug, his right hand gripping the collar of the thug's shirt. With a swift motion, he dropped his hips and twisted, using the assailant's own force against him.
In a blur of motion, Adamus pivoted on his left foot, sweeping his right leg behind the thug's legs. At the same time, he pulled sharply on the thug's collar, driving him over his hip and onto the unforgiving pavement.
The thug hit the ground with a thud, his body skidding slightly before coming to a halt. Adamus stood over him, breathing heavily but victorious. The adrenaline surged through his veins as he scanned the area for any more threats.
As Adamus glanced up, his heart racing with adrenaline, he found himself faced with a dire predicament. The first Mafia member, gun drawn, leveled it directly at him with a chilling question hanging in the air: "So, kid, you're fast. But are you faster than a bullet?"
Adamus felt the weight of the situation pressing down on him. His mind raced as he tried to think of a way out, but the cold metal of the gun stared back at him, mocking his martial arts skills.
"Heh, your martial arts is not gonna protect you from this bullet," the thug sneered, his finger tightening on the trigger.
Just as despair began to settle in, a voice cut through the tension like a knife. Sofía rushed out of the store, screaming, her words desperate and pleading.
"Please stop! I promise. By the end of the week, I will have all the money ready for you guys. Just don't kill my friends," she cried, tears rushing down her face.
Adamus's heart sank at the sight of Sofía's distress. He knew he had to act fast, not just for himself, but for her and their friends.
The Mafia guy slowly starts to put his gun down, but before he can fully lower it, Lizard Mouth appears, his face bruised and menacing. "No, before we leave, let me get a couple punches in," he growls.
The Mafia guy hesitates for a moment, then nods. "Just teach him a lesson. Don't kill him," he orders, his gun now pointed back at Adamus. "Kid, if you move, I'm gonna shoot you."
Adamus braces himself as Lizard Mouth charges, fists flying. The first punch snaps his head to the side, pain exploding across his cheek. Before he can recover, another slams into his ribs, driving the air from his lungs.
Blow after blow rains down, each strike reverberating through his body like a hammer. Blood fills his mouth, his vision swims, and his legs threaten to buckle. Lizard Mouth's laughter echoes as the relentless punches drive Adamus to the brink, but he grits his teeth, refusing to fall.
Sofía watches, tears streaming down her face, her hands clenched into fists of frustration and fear. She screams, "Stop it!" But her plea seems to fall on deaf ears as Lizard Mouth continues his brutal assault on Adamus.
Then, suddenly, as if by some miracle, Lizard Mouth stops punching Adamus and backs off slowly. Adamus, still dazed and bleeding, looks up at Lizard Mouth, his expression a mixture of confusion and relief. "So, you're done?" he manages to say through gritted teeth. But then Adamus notices something strange. He sees a movement in the shadows on the ground a flicker of movement that catches his eye. His heart skips a beat as he realizes what it is.
Is that OmniMorph, the number 3rd hero? Part of the Big Three named "The Omega Force"? Adamus wonders to himself, a mix of disbelief and hope flooding his thoughts..
OmniMorph stepped forward, his red cape billowing behind him in the cool night breeze. His gaze was steady and unyielding as he surveyed the scene before him.
"Enough," he said, his voice calm but carrying the weight of command.
Adamus's eyes widened, taking in the imposing figure. OmniMorph's long, silky black hair flowed down to his shoulders, catching the faint glint of streetlights. His Brazilian heritage was evident in the subtle cadence of his accent, each word deliberate and clear.
His suit a bold blend of black and white clung to his form like sculpted armor, its sleek design radiating both agility and power. Around each wrist gleamed a high-tech golden bracelet, intricate and pulsing faintly with hidden energy. The red cape at his back shifted with every movement, a regal slash of color against the night.
Dylan stands beside him, his stance strong and protective. He locks eyes with Adamus. Adamus tells Dylan, "I thought you left me for a second there."
Dylan responds, his voice filled with reassurance, "No, bro. I left to go grab a superhero. I used my superhero insurance. It's the last one I got, since I'm an A-ranked citizen."
OmniMorph turns to Dylan, his expression curious. "So, citizen, why did you call me here?" he asks.
Dylan replies without hesitation, "My friend was getting jumped. Can you stop it?"
OmniMorph considers this for a moment before responding, "What rank citizen is your friend?"
Adamus, feeling a surge of frustration, yells out, "I'm a C rank, but I don't need your help!"
OmniMorph's gaze shifts to Adamus, his tone firm. "It doesn't matter. I'm not going to help a low-ranked citizen. I'm an S rank superhero. I only help A rank citizens and higher."
As OmniMorph delivers his verdict, the group of mafia members, along with Lizardmouth, leave, their threats hanging in the air. "We'll be back tomorrow," one of them sneers, a menacing grin etched on his face.
Seeing the mafia members depart, Adamus feels a mix of relief and frustration. Despite their departure, he knows they'll have to face them again soon.
OmniMorph turns to Dylan. "This still counts as a point from your insurance," he says, his voice holding a hint of sympathy.
Dylan nods, understanding. "Thanks, OmniMorph. I appreciate it."
With that, OmniMorph nods once more, then takes to the sky, his cape trailing behind him. Adamus watches him go, a sense of admiration mixed with disappointment lingering in his heart.
Turning to Dylan, Adamus offers a weary smile. "Thanks for trying, man," he says, grateful for his friend's efforts.
Dylan returns the smile, his eyes reflecting determination. "We'll figure something out, bro. We always do."
Dylan, Adamus, and Sofia all gathered together in a conversation after the chaos. Adamus laughs out loud, "I guess that Om Mani Padme Hum Crystal didn't work."
Dylan joins in the laughter. "Yes, you're gonna be taking a serious dump."
Sofia, looking puzzled, asks, "So what are you guys talking about? But anyways, please don't get involved with my problems."
Adamus responds reassuringly, "Don't worry. I will get you that money. I promise. But talking about eating and money..."
Adamus, "Are you trying to take us out to eat?"
To which Dylan replies, "Sure, where do you wanna go?"
Sofia chimes in excitedly, "Let's get chicken!"
"I love chicken," Sofia adds with a grin.
Dylan's expression shifts to confusion. "I never had chicken before. It's for low-class citizens. That's what my father always told me."
Adamus and Sofia exchange surprised glances. Sofia then reassures him, "Dylan, chicken is delicious! It's not about class, it's about taste. Trust me, you'll love it."
Dylan hesitates for a moment before nodding. "Okay, let's give it a try then."
With their plans set, the trio heads off in search of a chicken restaurant, ready to enjoy a meal together and put the chaos of the day behind them.
They gather together and talk in Dylan's car while eating the chicken. With a giant smile on his face and a piece of chicken in his hand, Dylan exclaims, "I think this is the greatest thing I have ever eaten in my life."
Adamus and Sofia laugh, and Adamus says, "I told you."
Dylan continues, his enthusiasm evident. "My father always told me to do everything at 100%. When you work, work. When you laugh, laugh. When you eat, eat like it's your last meal."
Adamus raises an eyebrow. "What are you trying to get at?"
But Dylan continues, undeterred. "But he always told me not to eat chicken. Our family worked too hard, my mom starting off as F-rank citizens, and the hard work my dad endured to improve our situation. He said we should have higher standards for ourselves." Dylan chuckles. "He was so wrong. This is delicious."
Sofia smiles warmly at Dylan. "Your father may have had good intentions, but sometimes you just need to enjoy the simple pleasures in life."
Dylan nods in agreement, savoring another bite of chicken. "You're right, Sofia. And right now, this chicken is the best thing I've ever tasted."
Adamus interjects, "Isn't your dad running for president?"
Dylan responds confidently, "Yes, and I think he's gonna win."
Then after they get done eat Dylan dropping Sofia off at home, Dylan parks in front of Adamus house. He turns to Adamus with a concerned look. "Okay, Adamus. I'll see you tomorrow at school. I hope you get better from those bruises. Don't be so hasty to risk your life for other people, bro. I know you want to be a hero and everything, but the fact is, you don't have powers. You almost died out there."
Adamus responds with a smile on his face. "I will always help my friends, Dylan. Okay. I'll see you tomorrow," he says as they shake hands.
Dylan watches Adamus walk towards his house before driving off, feeling a mix of worry and admiration for his friend.