Chapter 52———SKIRMISH ON!
——————————————————————————
In Reza's house, he lived all by himself cozily from his part-time job at the grocery store in Navotitlan. He almost got robbed on Saturday until he scared them off by telling them that he was from Surwick.
Even hearing the name was blasphemy to the crooks. Which was odd for him, considering that his school bled fine heroes and heroines over the past hundreds of years.
He sluggishly rubbed his eyes before donning his glasses and looking at his alarm clock. Today is the day! Reza thought, exuberant of today's competition.
He jumped in glee for he knew: Today was the start of the three days where the Skirmish took place.
As he got ready, he looked at a family portrait where a younger version of himself was cuddled up with his father and mother. The good times...He thought, reminiscing the good times but didn't let it go to his head. Instead, he made a vow to the portrait. I will make you guys proud once more...I swear...
———8:15 a.m.———
Buses were lining up for each class that was going to participate today.
Each and everyone from Class C-2 arrived in her sports uniform, only this time the entire suit was maroon with golden lines across the suit, and wore their respective masks. Ryoji's mask had horns attached to his mask, Takeo had ice patterns riddled on the dome of his head while Funka was lined up with the same properties of her gauntlets and Marcus had a domino mask.
Just a simple if that.
Everyone was ready for today, even being in the mindset of winner takes all. The winner of the Skirmish will be known to the entire hero community and will be sought by hero-seeking interns to follow in their footsteps, that will mean Ryoji and Akina and everyone else must give it their all. No slacking off today, even Armando Ayala, who had no mask because he believed that heroes shouldn't wear it—Instead, they should embrace their private identities.
He wasn't the sharpest knife in the knife block.
And Akina wore a red scarf around her mouth, something that was with her from the day she was delivered to the Duncannons. She also wore white gloves and good track shoes, all the while making sure her hair was not tickling her eyelashes.
Beri, wearing his hero mask over his track uniform, wondered why Akina wore a scarf as means to hide her identity.
"Is that what you're wearing for the Skirmish?" Beri asked
"This-s is my hidden identity. I don't-t do well with masks that cover my-y entire face and this was-s the only way." Akina explained bashfully as she looked at Cecilia before she put on her mask.
You're also pretty bashful... Beri thought as accidentally poked elbows or shoulders on Tsurugi's metallic elbow who wore a purple visor over his eyes.
Beri only looked back and scoot away awkwardly from Tsurugi. "I'm not gonna bite you, man. Geez." Tsurugi muttered to himself while the action was over there with the Vanguards. "Where's your mask, Haritoka?" Cecilia asked him insincerely, wanting to make him suffer due to his body being an inconvenience to him. Her mask mirrored that of an owl with a sharp beak going downward, her eyes looked sharper under the mask.
Kadoku had no mask, only his purple, draconic face was bare. He did have an excellent-looking mask for everyone, but Kadoku was also pissed at how it broke.
"I ACCIDENTALLY RIPPED IT 'CAUSE OF MY HEAD!!" He blurted out before pointing at his fellow Vanguard companion. "Besides, I will not be asked by you of all people!" He started pointing at the obvious with her design.
"Not even your mask is nice! It's so predictable and redundant cause...YOU'RE AN OWL!!!" He yelled at her, which made a few snickers in delight.
"The fact that it's shaped like something I'd rather not talk about really speaks volumes," Jordyn said outspokenly to him, even one far away could see a vein popping out of his head.
Like Armando, Jordyn wore no mask since the world practically knew who she was. Jordyn was not hiding and her 38K Followers on Instagram knew her true identity.
She even knew the ones that were waiting when she turned eighteen.
"You mean a dill pickle, right?" Taig asked while faking that he was innocent, he just wanted to hear the word that Jordyn was implying since he was not so innocent even Haral thought he was.
I don't think that was the word that Cecilia was going for...But you would get an A for effort... Hrishti thought.
Instead of a mask, she wore heavy makeup to conceal her identity. Hrishti was good in make-up so much that her identity was not going to be figured out by those who wanted to.
Everyone was huddled up to hear the good news about the Skirmish and Brandon was ready to tell them.
"Listen up! This year's Skirmish is in Windvoren, so we're going to take the bus this time around!"
The festival is in Windvoren? How interesting... Ryoji thought as he stepped in and sat alongside Su-Jin on the bus. She got comfortable speaking with him.
Unlike most of the class, Su-Jin's parents were still together and were her actual parents. Which was uncommon, yet very healthy at the same. She wondered why he didn't know where his parents are currently. So she asked in a whisper, finding that question to be a more intimate one. "Ryoji, you never talk about your parents. Do you know where they are?"
"They..." Ryoji was looking for an answer for her while trying to be honest with her a bit. "Are usually working where they kinda don't. I don't know where they are..."
Kadoku also had parents who cared for him despite them being normal and...he wasn't. He loved them and acted differently around them. "Sorry to hear about that, man. Can't believe like you have to live your whole lives not knowing where your moms and pops are..." Kadoku empathized with his polar opposite.
Then he remembered, that Protectors and Vanguards were enemies. Why should he care about the Heart-Bond?
He should care, but what was the point of all? It would have been better if they were friends or had a good impression, but the past is called the past for a reason.
"Whatever. Maybe it's a good thing that your parents don't know about ya."
Just when he seemed like a decent person for once...Still better than me...Ryoji thought while resuming looking at the window as his conversation with Su-Jin was at an end.
Windvoren was the N.U.S.N representative of Germany and was known to be the middle of it all.
Not too much crime occurred there but it wasn't rare either, Windvoren was hardened enough to be not so gullible as the residents of Avignon's most peaceful county Christine. Windvoren's counties were Pfullenfurt, Vilsbüren and Nuremland.
And Nuremland, the biggest county in Windvoren, was where the Skirmish coliseum resided.
Companies were glad to be sponsoring the Skirmish as millions from over the N.U.S.N and some parts of the world were watching these brave, little souls compete in grueling matches to determine which student will become the 2018's Skirmish Winner.
Many think of the Skirmish Festival as a modern-day gladiator slugfest, except with children in Surwick fighting for their future.
This year, however; the pharmaceutical company ZiON was not present for this year's Skirmish due to the Rescue Garden Incident. The publicity almost made Sera blackout before the Skirmish had begun.
Even the Duncannons were able to get seats with the Berunjis. Hiroki Berunji, or Captain Molotov
August and Hiroki have known each other back in their childhood days when August cared about many home runs he could get and Hiroki cared about how to impress a girl with his powers.
Hiroki slapped his hands together and rubbed rather viciously. "I know who's gonna win this year's and it's gonna be Funka!" Hiroki shouted his daughter's name while August shouted his children's names. "Akina and Marcus!"
The two proud fathers looked at one another and thus ignited a rivalry between the two. It was healthy to do this, for fathers to do this every time they disagreed.
"Oh, it's on...My daughter and my son are gonna kick her ass until Funka is gonna be begging her to stop."
"Really? Wait until mine powerbombs the shit of yours!" Hiroki bickered back, pressing his forehead onto August's.
Ehana and Cierra watched their husbands in dismay, seeing how competition can change people.
There goes my husband... Ehana and Cierra shared the same thought, both of them were embarrassed by their husband's little squabble.
—MEANWHILE—
The Coliseum in Nuremland was a sight to behold, able to house 67,000 spectators and there were many facilities and vendors galore.
In one of the secret rooms, there was a meeting between three strong heroes.
Enapay, in his Chief Apex costume, welcomed his best friend New Glory, and an old friend of theirs: Chun-Chun Peach.
Pam Liu Dreyfus was a world-renown Meister that was damn good at her job. The natural beauty of her own, she wore a long salmon-colored cheongsam with teal flowers dancing on her dress and usually had her luxurious, hazelnut hair in tight side buns.
Although she was a natural beauty and wore minimal makeup, she was an advocate of beauty products.
"I haven't seen you in a minute, Peach," Enapay said to her warmly, he always had fond memories of her. She was her first kiss. "you still look the same ten years ago."
"That's all from those beauty products that I have been--Ace!" She yelled out the name of New Glory in excitement.
And She was Ace's first girlfriend. It made Ace realize that he had a type for refined and powerful women.
But, those days were over and he was seeing someone else. Hush-hush, as he loved to live his uber-private life. "When are you coming back to Valiance? We need a Meister and you're a pretty good one. The crew would love to have you back. You'll even be a co-leader." He offered her a position even though she didn't want it. "I dunno when I'm coming back," She brushed his offer off, she liked doing modeling and working solo. "I prefer working solo. It keeps me free from your grasp." She remarked sarcastically as New Glory gave her a look of doubt, which was backed up by Enapay asking his best friend.
"I would be asking your former Intern about that instead of Peach. That girl has a knack for being good at pretty much everything she has done."
"Please do. I've always known how to impress people." A young lady came through the door with her boyfriend.
It was Lenora Fuentes or better known by her moniker "Auruma".
Her brown, curly hair was legendary among the superhero community for being a kind big sister to everyone she meets. Her eyes were a mixture of amber and dark brown.
Her smile was always pleasant and never standoffish to those that caught a glimpse of it. Her skin was so moisturized, that she was picking up endorsements for beauty care, and also from athletic wear like Nikes for example.
Surwick knew Lenora for her amazing acumen in everything a Protector should know to do, lightning-speed reactions, and being stylish at kicking ass. She was also the valedictorian for the fourth years. Go figure.
"Lenora Fuentes. My, how you have grown." New Glory beamed upon seeing his former intern and hugging her tightly. He had known her since she was twelve years old when she ran across the Atlantic Ocean just to catch one of his rogues.
The next day, New Glory took her in.
No longer the little girl he had known, she had blossomed where she was almost a woman. She was almost eighteen, yet he remembered how small she was when she interned for him.
"And you're-"
"Neal Herrera. But some people call me Neelix, like from Star Wars. No, shit, Star Trek. It is such an honor meeting you, sir."
New Glory and Chun-Chun Peach are here as the commentators?! Neal was aghast that his favorite hero, New Glory shook his hand
Did it look like I asked where your nickname comes from? Regardless, anyone who's the boyfriend of the great Auruma has my undying respect.
This caramel-skinned man had an athletic feel about him. He was also known for his large afro and didn't seem like he was going to cut it anytime soon, and had some stubble on his chin.
And soon after, Ayari Igarashi came afterward. She was confused as to why they were only three fourth-years this year instead of the usual three classes.
"Ayari Igarashi, Neal Herrera, and Lenora Fuentes, you three will be the only fourth years in this year's Skirmish. So, make your class proud."
Damn.
Okay...What about it?
Just us three?
"Just us three? The whole N.U.S.N cares about us this time around..." Ayari said in a sarcastic tone,
"Nope, apparently Lino wanted the fourth years to focus on their studying. Yet, we knew nothing until this morning. Even Mr. Kresh sounded disappointed that the rest of your classes couldn't join, but we have made a compromise with Lino: To let the three of you represent y'all classes." Chun-Chun Peach stated as New Glory walked in the room a bit since he was upset about the current situation.
Tell me about it. That slick little dog always needs to be seventy-five steps ahead of us...That damn dog always... New Glory thought while he paced himself a bit before stopping to a halt.
"Better do good like you usually do, Fuentes. The school is praying for you to do so." New Glory told them with a serious undertone.
"Like he said," Enapay said while he was confused. "Do your best, kids!"
"I assure you, Chief Apex. We'll make the school very proud." Lenora assured the N0.2 Hero while cracking her hands together.
You're right about that, kiddo. Do your magic!
New Glory was proud of her.
One of the only people that he could be proud of.
———10:00 a.m———
Few more minutes until they announced the start of the Skirmish officially. Every student was prepared for this.
Cecilia could see her brother's gaze from a far distance while Akina saw him as well.
"Is that your-r brother?" Akina questioned her classmate (also fellow crush) about how they stared at each other while from the distance.
It creeped her out.
Why is she still staring at him like that? Akina was weirded out by it all. That's not a good relationship between them at all...
"Yeah. Doesn't seem like it? All that power.." She murmured that last part of her saying.
It prompts Akina to ask what she said. "Can-n you repeat that last part?" Akina asked kindly, grabbing her arm slightly to let her know it was okay.
Cecilia let out another sigh before clarifying that last part. "He's really powerful, Akina. He may be powerful, but he is no hero. Stay far away from him." She warned her, needing the need to do as she was beginning to care about Akina.
He's watching me...My older brother, the Pale Rider has traveled all the way from Rovaniemi? He's really desperate...
Her brother was a hulking man whose upper body was covered in large, thick icicles.
His face was resembling not a human, but a skeletal skull of a deer where the hair was nothing but ice on the skull and dead-set eyes that were a pale yellow. His chest was bare and only wore raggedy, long pants blacker than coal. He was a ghastly fellow and terrified anyone who looked upon him, even some believed that he was an actual Satanist.
That made Cecilia detest him because it was the only rumor about him remotely unbelievable.
He sat high in the nosebleeds by himself due to his Innate ability to produce the cold whenever he went.
It made him inhuman.
He loved being inhuman to the utmost.
The price of ambition runs steeply for those who dare to pay for it and Eerikki Harmaajärvi was more than happy to pay...
The fanfare was all around the coliseum, ears from the competitors were roaring in excitement as New Glory fell from the blue sky and landed on his own two feet with Chun-Chun Peach on his back. They yelled even more as Ace Almásy, once a timid little kid who wept when people cheered loved it when people were cheering for him.
That was the best Superhero landing I've ever seen.
Everyone shared that thought, for it was perfect.
"ARE YOU ALL READY?!" New Glory knew how to the crowd excited about a competition that originated with gladiators giving their life away for the crowd.
Then Peach made them yell even louder. "I KNOW I'M READY FOR THIS YEAR'S SKIRMISH!" People loved it when there was a female commentator that knew how to do their jobs correctly.
New Glory then explained "This competition will last up to three days! On the third day, there will be a champion! However, the Skirmish is not known to be easy on its combatants. No, this year will be tough and it will test your might!!" He looked directly at Akina and Ryoji as he continued announcing
"C-1, Class of the Griffons is here!!"
People cheered thunderingly for the Griffons, it made Su-Jin feel sick to her stomach of some of the Griffons were pathetic compared to them.
And C-2, Class of the Salamanders joins in the fray as well!!" At least the Salamanders were announced by Peach, which was met with less inspirit than before. "Until then, be strong for this year's Skirmish! As three days will bring you to the edge of hypegasm!!" Peach said, trying to contain her giggling under control with Ace rolling his eyes.
Bro, she can't say Hypegasm! There are kids here! Marcus thought while blushing slightly at Chun-Chun Peach.
"Three days?" A girl complained from the crowd, but her complaint was unheard of by the students from C-1 and C-2. "What about the ones that aren't from C-1 or C-2? What about u—"
"Shut yo bitch-ass up!" Trevor Hirsch barked at the girl by shoving her away aside like a ragdoll.
Trevor was an unpleasant person, but he knew shoving her was unneeded. Yet, it brought a smile to his face. To conceal his identity, he wore a moretta mask since he thought it would fit with his long horns.
Damn. Those thighs are really definite... Dakarai thought while having another nosebleed before being punched in the liver by Beri.
"Play nice, Berunji. After all, this is a competition..."
"Ayari?! What're you doing here?" Funka asked her friend while embracing her quickly. "Skirmish time baby, and there are only three of us Fourth-Years this time around."
"Silverion and Auruma?!" Ryoji, in his dumb kid persona, blurted out the hero identities of Lenora and Neal. He could feel Igneus slapping his forehead in pure shock as to how everyone could see Ryoji's facade.
"Kid," Lenora shook Akina's and Ryoji's hands first before the rest of the group. "Just call me Lenora. And that right there is my boyfriend Neal."
Reza was crushed, for he had harbored a crush on her for some time now before learning the truth: She had someone even though everyone else knew.
"And today's honored speaker is none other than...Funka Berunji!" New Glory trumpeted while waiting for the speaker to snatch the microphone from his gloved hands.
What? Funka muttered to herself, Ayari playfully shoved her to the podium before running off so that her little friend doesn't Alright then...Here it goes... Funka thought as she kindly grabbed the microphone from him.
She tapped the microphone to see if it was going to screech yet it didn't. Funka wanted to get to the point since all of this was obtuse for her. Why did she need to be the one to speak on the behalf of everyone? "Make no mistake: I will win it all. With or without any help." Funka declared to the N.U.S.N, her pink pupils grew sharper and her posture became rigid and tall as she walked away into the crowd. A thousand eyes stared at her, amazed at how the thirteen-year-old could be so arrogant in their eyes.
For Funka, she was confident that she will be the Victor of the Skirmish.
"That's my little girl!" Hiroki said, proud of his daughter.
Funki just made everyone her enemy, even us. What is she trying to do? Akina worried herself where Cecilia did not care about the whole speech, her eyes were on the prize while Eerikki was still gazing down
You better do good...You little pest... His immense hatred of his sister could be felt from a mile away. She was all to blame.
Wow...Girl's full of hot air. New Glory thought, impressed by how the little girl did not doubt herself. Funka Berunji had no care in the world.
Suddenly, the earth shook violently and a large tree pierced the heaven's candle, the leaves that fell were iridescent; This was no ordinary tree.
This was the eighth wonder of the world. "Wow," Sanda gasped as his mask was simply electrifying the audience because of the LED goggles that he wore where his pupils were pixelated. "That's a big tree." His hero name was Shock Value, as he took inspiration from when Funka called him that back when the Reapers attacked. He enjoyed it much so on that day, he decided that Shock Value will be his hero name until death strikes him right in the heart.
"Da." Sasha agreed with him, her powers were active as a way to conceal her identity. She was stressing out from all of this commotion and this was the only way she knew how. Her hero name was Blu. It was simple and unoriginal, yet she liked it. She came up with it on the fly.
"Holy shit, you're telling me that we're gonna be going all the way to the top of the tree?" Trevor Hirsch, who asked his superior. He always followed Kori and knew when he had an answer for him.
He silently nodded to Trevor, he paid no attention to him. Never did in the first place.
As long as we show that C-2 is inferior to the Griffons, I don't mind what obstacle we have to face...Kori thought to himself, wearing only a white bandanna and a black cap.
"Watch as we're going to be the ones that turn the tables. The Salamanders are gonna remember why we got wings and they don't..." Kori said to his "friend" while Funka stared intensely at the
That tree has to be bigger than any building that I saw...Funka's fear of heights was starting to crush her to death metaphorically before Ryoji came up to her.
"That's a massive tree over there..."He said to her, which made her roll her eyes in spite. Just hearing his voice made her heart beat faster with rage.
"I don't have a fear of heights if that's what you implying..." She seethed, her forehead started to heat up from the anger she had for Ryoji. She did not want him to win this whole thing because he was a Heart-Bond.
"Trust me, Berunji. It is better to have some fear than no fear at all. It makes a man go stupid and makes him plunge to his death...Take it from me." Ryoji said sorrowfully, wishing that he had the feeling of fear as he believed it made anyone living and worth fighting for.
Take it from me? What were you going to school for? The Xavier Institute? She thought deeply, reflecting on his words before snapping out of it as everyone was preparing to get a head start ahead of the others.
"For the first part of the challenge, our competitors must race to the top to get a little prize! Everything is hush-hush, so I can't say what it is, but it is an amazing reward!" Peach told as New Glory took over with the countdown.
"5..." New Glory started the countdown, this was not the time to be dilly dally they said.
"4..." Only one will finish this entire competition and become the Victor of this race.
Only one.
"3..." Akina's heart was racing with adrenaline, a hormone that she needed to quell down or else.
"2..." Ryoji was determined to stay in the limelight, no matter if he has to fight his friends to get the Number One Spot.
"1.."
"SKIRMISH ON!!" New Glory and Chun-Chun Peach shouted out in unison, making the students run towards the goal.
The crowd roared in excitement as everyone was rushing to get first place.
Only Akina was the only one jogging until she started to catch up with the running crowd. She was potentially the fastest there, minus Lenora of course.
Everyone is trying to make it to the top to reach the buzzer like America Ninja Warrior, but that's only the part of it that people understand. There are traps everywhere and requirements to get in the top 28...
I haven't even told my brother about this...
Now she went at her normal speed, or abnormal speed to say the least.
I feel sorry that they're so competitive. Thank you, Ryoji, for telling me this. I've done nothing to
I will get far in the Skirmish!
Why the hell isn't she running as her life depends on it? What she does know that I don't? Regis thought while he kept on running with his spectral weapons.
———Track 52 Ended———
CHARACTER PROFILE:
SURWICK STUDENT: LENORA FUENTES (17)
LADY OF THE GOLDEN WIND
BIRTHDAY: 5/16
HEIGHT: 5'7"
LIKES: History, Her uniform
DISLIKES: Nothing really
THE INSIDE STORY:
She doesn't really like interviews, but I managed to get one with her.
She was chosen by Surwick due to her high intellect, high proficiency, and her amazing thinking process. Lino was glad to consider her into the school and has never had any regrets since then.
She may be the only person on campus that has no skeletons in their closet. She can easily make friends and people trust her as she holds no acrimony with anyone. One time there was a Daemon that was wreaking havoc in Yorkney, She manage to de-escalate the situation and it made the Daemon leave.
Her kindness and resilience will be shown throughout the story of Corheim.
CHARACTER PROFILE:
SURWICK STUDENT: NEAL "NEELIX" HERRERA (17)
LORD OF THE SILVER SQUALLS
BIRTHDAY: 6-12
HEIGHT: 5'7.5"
LIKES: Lenora, Star Wars, Chili Dogs
DISLIKES: Star Trek
THE INSIDE STORY:
Neal is the optimistic yet simple boyfriend of Lenora, as well as her battle partner. While she can run at the speed of light, Neil can slow time. However, his powers can break the space-time continuum, so he has to be extremely careful about how he controls his powers. Lenora, on the other hand, uses her powers daily even when not fighting crime.
He always hated his nickname but he lets it slide when someone doesn't know about his dislike of his nickname
CHARACTER PROFILE:
HERO: CHUN-CHUN PEACH (29)
THE MEISTER
BIRTHDAY: 11-23
HEIGHT: 5'9"
LIKES: Modeling, Video Games
DISLIKES: Trashy people, environment with horrible lightning
THE INSIDE STORY:
A Meister who's damn good at her job, Pam Liu Dreyfus is a Surwick alum who holds the old beliefs that Lino once taught.
If word gets out of what Lino is doing currently, she will be the first to put an end to it with law enforcement.
Not *that* enforcement.
Liken her name after Princess Peach and Chun-Li, two of her favorite fictional ladies in pop culture.