Leo alerted for the presence of some side troops, probably looking for them. There were at least 10 Nation men, and Leo could sense noticeable essentia levels being emitted by some of them, reaching essentia waves to their proximities.
-This is bad. They have some markers among them. Does any of you use essentia and can't control it?
Jay seems embarrassed and lifts his arm.
-Hmm…I have some problems with it.
-Damn.
The demon reappears, as the timeline froze.
-Yeah, this could be bad. These guys seemed so serious. Huh? Why did I not show up last time? Well I was busy, I also have a life you know. But today I am here so let's make up for the wasted time then. And I guess we could use this as an example for you guys to learn something. So play close attention to this, I made a slideshow and took a lot of effort.
Out of nowhere, the demon gets an old slideshow projector, and blows the dust of it, while turning it on.
-Damn, this thing is old, but I think will get the job done. So today we will learn about classes. So let's take a look at this.
-So, I already told you that when a person is born, there is a chance for to be gained a special essentia ability or to be born without even getting to feel essentia. This way, we can divide the people in two groups: users and non-users.
The images of simple stickmen are put side by side, where the left one is surrounded by an aura.
Non-users make up for 60% of world population, give or take. These people are just normal humans and usually are simple citizens that do farm work and daily community jobs. The Essentia users are humans who can sense and exert essentia, and the jobs suited to them are mostly related to their ability or its use. The Nation, guilds and cities across the world hire or have in their ranks essentia users as battle tools.
For the Essentia users fit for confrontations, categories were created to classify and differ them. This simplifies the Nation and big guilds scouts department when trying to recruit new potential powerhouses or replacements for needed positions on their ranks.
In the projection different types of Essentia abilities are exposed and catalogued, while the demon explains and moves up on the slides.
-The essentia users have two different classification systems: the Nature Essentia Ability Trait (NEAT) and the Fulcrum Overall Class Users System (FOCUS).
As the acronym indicates, the NEAT divides into three separated traits to sort each individual innate essentia ability: Enhancer, Deviant, and Elemental.
Enhancers are prone to have extension of human features, granting them superhuman powers. This includes body modifications like outgrowth of limbs and giantism, or even the addition of other body parts to itself.
Deviants are the most easy essentia users to recognize, as they have abilities were they suffer mutations. An example of that is that monkey guy, Turk.
The last NEAT trait is elemental, where the user has an ability related to forces of nature and other elements. A chill example of that is that ice ability showoff.
The NEAT is a cool approach to evaluate essentia abilities, however not everyone has one even if they can sense or even gather essentia. That's where FOCUS comes in, to arrange them into seven classes: bruisers, conjurers, augmenters, markers, patchers, tamers and switchers.
Bruisers are melee fighters, who can embed their own body and their weapons with essentia fortifying it.
Conjurers are range fighters, who use their unique abilities to launch attacks remotely. Usually are Elementals users, but not entirely.
Augmenters are typically linked to Deviants and Enhancers, who make use of their unique abilities to expand their own body, and are the focal defense member of any composition.
Markers are essentia users who can easily emit essentia waves and receive their feedback, interpreting their results. This is useful to gather information about places, other people locations and for protection. They are also known as trackers or sensors, and are one of the most requested classes of them all.
Patchers are also in big demand. As essentia harms the human body, it can also heal it. This class has to have an extraordinary essentia control to restore physical wounds and repair inner essentia channels. Only geniuses or users with special training since early age are capable of achieving this class.
Tamers are rare and are super volatile. They form a bond with an animal/creature/spirit and can make use of their force and control them. However it's a true risk due to the bond nature, as if the creature has a stronger will it can kill the tamer.
The last class and the most exceptional class are the switchers. The top users of this class can change a battle course just by themselves. They can alter and control at will the environment, time or space.
Unexpectedly, the next slide shows the demon opening up his mouth to try eating a big burger.
-How did this end up here? And who took this photo? This is privacy invasion, what an outrage. But that burger was good though! You know what, I'll go get one right now! See ya.
The little demon leaves without leaving a trace as he passes through the timeline previously frozen. When he disappears, the timeline restarts again.
*****
«Ice Burst: Beartrap»
Leo tries to entrap all their pursuers before picking the kids once again and leave. But this time, they were expecting it and effortlessly break the ice traps as they surround themselves with essentia. They are not rookies, they are special ops squad, proving it when they could follow Leo's movements.
-I can't sense anyone besides these four. We are in the clear.
-Give up blondie, turn yourself in. It's time to give up. If you don't give more troubles we will do this painlessly.
-You Nation bastards! You think we are scared of you? Leo's gonna destroy you!
-Hey kid, I didn't say anything like that. And I guess you don't have a clue about our situation. Jax is right, I always get myself on situations like this.
The ten men surrounded Leo, who had the three kids on his back. Even though that Leo was not a marker himself, he could clearly read their high essentia levels and bloodthirst pointed to them. Leo breathed out and put down Jay, Kyle and Stacy.
-Kids, I have to fulfill my promise, but I can't fight someone like them with you here. I'll open up a way for you to escape and you have to take it.
-But we can't lea…
-No buts, you have to go. I'll join you when I'm done here.
-You are lying, you don't know that. This is just like Lima.
Leo throw to Jay his hoodie and tactical bag, at the same time he gathered a massive essentia amount, extending his arms and closing his hands together.
-You have my things now, I'll definitely catch up to you. I'll get to you no matter what, so shut up and escape brats. Don't damage my stuff please.
«Ice Burst: Snowstorm»
In a blink of an eye, Leo's essentia dissipated and the clear night environment suddenly become an agitated pale sight as a snowstorm took place. The Nation squad was taken by surprise by it and more stunned they were when Leo move his arms apart, creating pressure enough to open a path for the children pass. Half of the Nation men collapsed with the storm.
-GO NOW!
Jay, Kyle and Stacy try to run through the path created by the snowstorm, however some of the Nation men fight the snowstorm force and were about to catch them.
«Ice Burst: Erupt»
Icicles appear from the ground, slowing them down enough for the others get away, Leo's hoodie disappeared with them. After they were gone, Leo dissipated the snowstorm.
-Nobody told us that we had to go against a switcher.
-Yeah, but he's not yet at a level that we can't handle it. He wasted considerable essentia to make that storm, look at him he's exhausted.
Leo was clearly sweating and trembling. Using that skill drained a lot from him, but was the only way to save the others. Thinking that he got them out of there make him smile.
-I guess that using this skill still takes a huge toll. But now I can focus on you guys, as the kids are safe…huh?
-Did you really think that things would go your way? Sure, we have some useless guys with us, but we are on another level. Hahaha
A sudden cold sweat drop came with a dark thought on Leo's mind. At his point of view he only counted nine enemies, 5 down for the count and 4 standing up.
-Stan got out of the storm as he is a cold weather deviant, he was not gonna be done by your snow show.
Leo tried to get away to catch up with the kids, but the remaining Nation men block him.
-Where were you going? Didn't you hear when we said that we are taking you?
-And why are you concerned with them? Don't you understand your situation? And besides Stan at this time has already caught them, I don't know what the rush.
*****
The little escapees travel across the Serpens city streets, trying to get somewhere safe.
-Jay, slow down. Stacy is getting behind.
-Stacy, we have to get to a safe place. Leo is fighting for us, so we have to be safe by ourselves. We can't continue to be a burden to others.
-Jay, but she's clearly on her last strengths.
Jay stops running and waits for Stacy to catch him and Kyle. She is shivering and panting and falls, immediately sitting down to not give more troubles to them. She clearly couldn't move anymore, Jay noticed the whip marks on her legs, some were bleeding once again. Jay wanted to cry, but was not time for that. He got in one knee and turn his back to Stacy.
-Get on Stacy, I'll carry you.
-But Jay, I don't wanna make you…
-Can you get on already? We have to go. You cannot move with those wounds anymore, don't you trust me to carry you?
-…I trust you.
Stacy seemed embarrassed but she get on Jay's back. As she brace him tightly, Jay also got embarrassed, with Kyle smiling at them.
-What a touching moment, such a fine final moment to have kids.
Behind them, their lonely pursuer, Stan, appeared. A fearsome bearlike face was smiling and craving for blood. Stan with his hands resemble bear claws he jumped to kill them.
-Say nightie night.
The wall behind them was painted in vivid red blood, below the radiant white moonlight.