World Walker and the others headed towards the track that was used for gym. A short distance away, there were 16 students huddled together. Each of their bodies was covered in solid rock, leaving them completely unable to move.
"Stone!" World Walker called out. "I see you've kept them all nice and obedient for us." Stone was a large man that stood 8 feet tall. His body was completely covered in gray stone. It made his body appear like a statue. He stood to the side silently, seemingly unwilling to speak.
"Ms. Willow!" One of the students yelled. "What's going on?"
World Walker took a step forward and nodded towards Mr. Lee. A white barrier covered the students, Mr. Lee, and World Walker.
"Listen up youngsters!" World Walker clapped his hands. "Steam Work Academy and Blood-Lust have come to an agreement. I'm allowed to try to recruit you. In exchange, you will all be guaranteed your safety.
Mr. Sai clenched his fist in anger. He could see Yuki trapped in the center of the students. Several stone spikes were pointing towards her neck. If he had tried to save her, then she would have been killed instantly.
Husky stood out amongst the trapped students. His fat body covered in stone made him look just like a boulder. "Hey!" He yelled. "Why bother doing all this? Nobody is going to join. If you wanted us so badly, then you could have just had Jessica kidnap us. I read about all the sinner groups. I know she can brainwash people."
"Oh?" World Walker smiled. "I'm sure some of these students will be willing to join me. Not everyone came to this academy willingly. As for brainwashing… we could have done that. However, we're not looking to start a full-scale war with Steam Work Academy or the Hunter Association. Neither side would benefit from that. Compromise is the key to getting along!"
Several students were surprised by his answer. Some had been blackmailed into coming to Steam Work Academy, just like Ed. Others were surprised that a sinner would be willing to get along with government entities.
"Now then." World Walker continued. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am the leader of Blood-Lust. We are the largest sinner organization within Steam Work city. We thrive for freedom. We don't care if you murder, pillage, or rape. You can do whatever you want outside of hurting fellow Blood-Lust members. We will protect you when you're in our territory. In exchange, we expect you to protect fellow members. Any questions?"
The students remained silent for a minute. "I'll join!" A voice rang out. The other students turned to look. The one that volunteered was Jarrod. He was tall, wore glasses, and looked ordinary.
"Jarrod!" A girl screamed. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Sorry Liz." Jarrod shook his head. "My power isn't suited for hunters. It belongs in a sinner group."
"Excellent!" World Walker began to clap. He glanced at Stone. Stone nodded and removed the rocks covering the student. Jarrod walked towards World Walker and stood behind him.
"What's your power?" World Walker questioned.
"Lust." Jarrod smiled. "Women go crazy for me when I use my powers."
"Haha!" World Walker laughed. "You're well-suited to our organization then. Your power is even in our name! We might just have to make you our mascot." World Walker turned to look at Liz. "Why don't you join him? You two seem close after all."
Liz was one of the youngest members of the class. She was a 6th grade middle school student. She was short and had black eyes. Her short blond hair had an ugly bowl-cut that didn't suit her.
"I won't go." Liz shook her head. Tears were visible in her eyes. "Jarrod! It's not too late. Don't do this!" Jarrod just stood there quietly. He and Liz grew up together. They were childhood friends. He was a couple years older and lived next door. He wanted her to come with him but knew she wouldn't. So, he chose to remain silent.
"Anyone else?" World Walker smiled. He waited for several minutes, but all the other students remained quiet. "Very well then. I won't force anyone." World Walker leaned on his cane against the ground. He turned to Ms. Willow. "Shall we go to the remaining students? There should still be five more."
"Okay." Ms. Willow nodded. "Three should be in the invention class. The other two should be in the infirmary."
"Alright. Let's head for the infirmary first." World Walker swung his cane in the air and began to walk away. Mr. Lee let him exit through the barrier. "Mr. Lee and Stone will stay here with the hostages. Jarrod. Follow me."
Mr. Sai, Ms. Willow, World Walker, and Jarrod reached the infirmary. "What happened?!" Ms. Willow exclaimed in shock. She had been expecting two injured students. Not three injured students with two of them in severe condition!
Ms. Willow rushed towards Ed and Jake. A white light surrounded them. Time slowly reversed, but their injuries didn't heal! "It's not working!" She screamed.
"Looks like we got here too late." Mr. Sai shook his head. "This probably already happened before World Walker arrived.
"Oh?" World Walker smiled. "How interesting. Looks like I caused some additional trouble." He rubbed his chin. "I can't fix this issue, but I'll do what I can." World Walker walked towards Ed and Jake. He opened a cap on his cane and poured a pink liquid on Ed's head and Jake's back. The wounds started to scab. However, they did not completely heal. Ed had a large scar on his face. Jake had a large scar on his back.
"What did you do?" Mr. Sai asked.
"It's a potion our alchemist makes." World Walker answered. "It speeds up the healing process. It won't get rid of the scars though. They'll just have to live with it. We should be able to wake them up now."
Mr. Sai nodded. He walked towards Ed, Jake, and Mordy. He woke them up one by one. Both Ed and Mordy glared at Jake. Jake ignored them and looked at World Walker.
"Hello!" World Walker gave an elegant bow. He repeated his recruitment speech he had given the other students.
"I'll join. My power is acid." Mordy joined without hesitation. He walked to stand next to Jarrod.
"You!" Ms. Willow exclaimed in surprise. "Why?!" She hadn't been surprised by Jarrod turning traitor, but Mordy was a good student. He even joined the academy willingly.
"Excellent!" World Walker smiled. He looked at Jake with expectation visible in his eyes. "How about you?"
Jake closed his eyes and crossed his arms. He stood silently for several seconds while thinking. He opened them and spoke, "I don't care about freedom. I want power. Can you make me stronger than Mr. Sai?"
World Walker frowned and shook his head. "Mr. Sai is the strongest esper in the world. I can tie him down with proper planning, but to make somebody else stronger than him? I'm afraid my organization is not capable of that."
"Then I won't join." Jake responded. He walked right past World Walker and the others. He left the infirmary without looking back.
"Well then…" World Walker grinned. "I thought he would be interested. What about you Ed?"
Ed frowned, "I already turned you down once and you tried to forcefully recruit me."
"Right." World Walker nodded. "I was informed by Jessica. She tried brainwashing you. However, I also know the government blackmailed you. If you join, then I can guarantee she won't dare to harm you."
Ed shook his head. "I'm not willing. I don't trust you."
"Hold that thought!" World Walker held up a hand. "I know your father is on his way to Steam Work city. An esper by the name of Chopper just finished negotiating for his release. I have men on standby in Miami. If you join, then I can guarantee his safety. You also have my word that I won't harm him if you refuse. This is my show of sincerity to recruit you!"
Ms. Willow frowned. "You didn't push this hard for the other students. Why are you trying to get Ed so much?"
"Haha!" World Walker laughed. "Do you think I'm not aware of anything? Invention espers are far more valuable than the rest. Of course I'd try to recruit Ed. Besides…" He glanced at Ed's missing arm and scarred face. "It seems to me you're not taking very good care of your students."
"You!" Ms. Willow yelled. "Ed. Don't listen to him!"
Ed closed his eyes. His thoughts were thrown into confusion. Why did he join the academy? He was blackmailed. What did he desire most? Strength, research, inventing, and freedom. As long as his father was safe, then there was nothing forcing him to stay here.
Ed opened his eyes and spoke. "Can you give me the research materials and supplies I need for my inventions?"
"Of course!" World Walker nodded. "That's the entire point of invention espers! It would be a waste if we didn't provide you help. Of course, you'll be expected to provide gear and help Blood-Lust in exchange. We won't interfere with anything else you want to do!"
"I'll join." Ed nodded. "Contingent on my father being safely rescued. I also don't want him to know I joined a sinner group. Let me meet with him once. Then give him a new identity and place him in a different city. If you can do all that, then we have a deal."
"Ed!" Ms. Willow screamed. "Are you crazy?! These people tried to brainwash you! How can you trust them?!"
"Trust them?" Ed looked at Ms. Willow and shook his head. "I don't trust them. However, I don't trust the government either. You guaranteed our identities would be protected, but all of us have already been exposed. Also, both groups tried to force me to join. The methods are different, but the results are the same. Now that I've been given an actual choice... I'll naturally choose whichever place suits me more."
Ed walked next to Jarrod and Mordy. The group left the infirmary and headed for the invention class. There were two espers left for potential recruitment. World Walker repeated his speech. Dexter and Flair both declined the offer. They looked at Ed with disappointment.
The group returned to where the students, Stone, and Mr. Lee were. "Well that's everything." World Walker smiled. "Three students total. One combat type, one invention type, and one support type. I'm quite satisfied with the results."
World Walker pointed at the air with his cane. A blackhole slowly expanded. A group of sinners could be seen on the other side. "We'll be taking our leave now." World Walker bowed. Jarrod and Mordy walked through the portal. Ed took a step towards it.
"Ed!" A voice screamed.
Ed turned around and saw Jake glaring at him. Jake's eyes were red, and his body was covered in flames. "Are you just going to run away?!" He screamed. "Every time we fought, you never once backed down! I kicked your ass every time. I stole your stuff. Not once did you ever run away! You fought back like a man! You didn't take shit from anybody even if you knew the consequences!"
Ed's eyes widened in surprise. 'Who would have thought that Jake would try to stop me? Did a screw in his head go loose or something?' Ed shook his head. "I'm not running away. This is the better place for me."
"Bullshit!" Jake screamed. "You're a nerd. The sinners will devour you. You belong in a dark room with a bunch of other losers, playing with your stupid steam toys! You're scared! You're hoping they'll just let you tinker with your toys and never enter actual combat! You're fooling yourself!"
Ed's left hand shook. "What do you care?!" He screamed. "Weren't you just telling me you don't care about anything! You're going to get stronger and kill the Flame Nightmare, right? Why should you care what the hell I do?"
Jake went silent for a moment. He looked down while shaking. He clenched his fist and glared Ed in the eyes. "I can't do it alone Ed!" Jake clenched his teeth in anger. Struggling to get out the words caught in his throat. "I need help. I've seen what Mr. Sai can do. Even he can't kill a nightmare…"
"You think I can make a difference?!" Ed sneered. "I'm just a weakling. What can I possibly do to a nightmare?"
"You're wrong!" Jake yelled. "Your inventions can help! I've seen what you can do. You turned useless scrap into amazing things even without powers. Your inventions will become even better in the future! We went to a trash school that couldn't teach worth a damn! Despite that, you still excelled! I was jealous, and I respected that! I still respect that even now."
"Then why did you almost kill me in the infirmary?" Ed questioned. "Why give me this scar? Was that all so I could help you?!" Ed yelled in anger.
"Okay boys!" World walker clapped his hands. "That's enough of that. I can't keep this portal open forever." He wrapped an arm around Ed's shoulder and smiled. "Let's get going, shall we?"
Stone had already entered the portal. Only Ed, Mr. Lee, and World Walker remained. The trio walked towards the portal.
Swoosh! A sound ripped through the air. A line of flames appeared in front of the portal. "I'm not finished yet!" Jake screamed. He glared at Ed. "You held a fucking knife to my throat. I attacked you out of anger! As for the scar… I wanted to motivate you. To get revenge on me you'd have to surpass me. I had no plans of letting you catch up to me. If the day ever came that you could beat me, then the chances of a nightmare being defeated would be that much higher!" Jake knelt on the ground and placed two hands on the ground. "Ed! I know we can do it! We can kill a nightmare!" He stared directly into Ed's eyes. "They destroyed our home! Everything is ruined! Help me Ed." Tears appeared in his eyes. His hoarse voice rang out, "I'm begging you Ed!"
Ed frowned. He glanced back and forth between Jake and the portal. Indecision was evident in his eyes.