"This is crazy!" Aric screamed in agony, veins bulging ominously across his body.
His skin was starting to crack, and the Novas System seemed determined to keep him conscious, forcing him to endure every ounce of pain.
C99 was helpless. "Aric..." she said, her voice tinged with desperation.
Unbeknownst to them, a pair of eyes watched Aric's torment from behind a cluster of trees. The observer was a sweet-looking girl.
Despite her innocent appearance, she moved with an unsettling confidence through the dense, monster-infested forest.
The area around the lake was surrounded by a dense forest teeming with creatures. Aric's screams echoed through the trees, but to any passerby, they would blend with the cries of the forest's many dangers.
It was strange that this girl, seemingly alone, showed no fear and moved freely through the forest.
*
"What exactly happened?!" Elis demanded, her voice sharp as she confronted the Zenith officers at Disaster Shelter 05.
The officers trembled, trying to contain their fear. Normally, Elis was generous with smiles and polite in her speech, but today she was furious.
No one could blame her. She had just lost Aric, and Ryan was still unconscious in the hospital. Challenges kept piling up, and while many other lives had been lost, none compared to the lives of her children.
Mr. Roshi and Mrs. Bulma, mustering their courage, approached Elis. "I'm sorry, ma'am but I can explain what happened," said Mr. Roshi.
Elis looked directly into Mr. Roshi's eyes, signaling him to begin. The Zenith officers were equally anxious to hear his explanation.
Since Elis arrived, they could not explain anything to her, and their silence only fueled her anger.
The security cameras had stopped working as soon as the enemies began attacking the shelter, leaving the officers with little to explain.
Fortunately, Mr. Roshi stepped in and this was able to calm her. Before he could begin, David and Eliza arrived, having just finished their duties.
"Elis, what happened?" David asked, his voice filled with concern as he looked at Elis's distressed face.
"Mr. Roshi was about to tell us... about Aric," replied Elis, her voice trembling.
David and Eliza exchanged puzzled looks. "What had happened to Aric?"
"Actually..." Mr. Roshi began, recounting the events from the beginning starting from the moment Aric took on the monsters. He also explained how Aric had bravely jumped into an unknown portal.
Mr. Roshi told them that the portal served as a gateway for monsters and four masked and hooded enemies. As Aric was struck by a lightning spear thrown by one of the enemies, it seemed like all hope was lost. "I believe their target was Aric."
"What do you mean?" asked one of the Zenith officers, struggling to follow the explanation.
"The masked enemies with the letters G and I quickly jumped in as if chasing Aric. Meanwhile, H pulled J, whom Aric had defeated, and they also left through the portal," Mr. Roshi continued.
"Wait... Aric defeated monsters? He doesn't have any powers," Elis interjected, her disbelief evident.
She knew her son well. Aric was just an ordinary human. He wasn't like the others in their family.
"Impossible. We all saw what happened, ma'am. Aric shouted several attack names," Mr. Roshi said before turning to his wife, "Do you remember what he shouted?" Mr. Roshi asked Mrs. Bulma.
Mrs. Bulma, taken aback by the sudden question, stammered, "Err... Arr... If I'm not mistaken, something like Cyclone Blades and Tornado... No. Cyclone Dragons."
"That's right! I'm sure about the dragon because we all saw two dragons appear before us," Mr. Roshi confirmed.
"Cy-cy-clone Dragon?!" Eliza shouted, shocked by what she had heard.
She turned to Elis, "Mom! Isn't that your technique? How did Aric know it?"
Elis struggled to process what she had just heard. She couldn't deny that it was her technique. However, the technique was a closely guarded family secret, known only to a few. She was the sole heir to that legacy.
"How did Aric know?" muttered Elis.
"That is a technique passed down in my family, and only those at the Supreme Novas rank can use it," Elis stated, her voice laced with confusion and a hint of awe.
"If Mr. Roshi and Mrs. Bulma can describe it, then Aric must have used that power. But..." Eliza paused, "When did Aric awaken his power?"
The room fell silent as everyone reached the same unsettling conclusion: Aric might have been hiding his abilities all along.
The implications of Eliza's earlier statement weighed heavily on their minds. The technique Aric had displayed was one only Supreme Novas could perform.
Did this mean Aric had already surpassed his older brother Ryan, who was merely at the Vanguard Nova rank? Was Aric a genius beyond their comprehension?
A collective shiver ran through the onlookers as they stared at the Valen family, realizing that yet another prodigious talent had emerged from their ranks.
'Another monster in the house, it seems,' they thought.
Among them, only David remained composed, though he struggled to suppress a smile. 'Iker was right. The power Aric has inherited is extraordinary,' David mused.
He pondered the nature of the entity known as C99, the being responsible for bringing the Novas System. 'What exactly is this entity?' he wondered, eager to unravel the mystery and learn more.
"But... Aric's location is still unknown. If he went through that portal, he must be in the enemy territory," Elis said anxiously.
David, who had been silent until now, walked slowly toward Elis. He gently embraced her and said, "Be patient. I'm sure he's smart and used the space-time tunnel to escape before reaching the exit."
Eliza interjected, "Isn't that more complicated? He could end up anywhere or even travel through time!"
The Zenith officers nodded in agreement with Eliza's concern. David responded with a reassuring smile.
"Aric has a big secret that he'll share when he returns. So, we all don't need to worry," he said confidently.
"What secret?" Elis asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty. The events of the past few days had been overwhelming and difficult for her to process.
"For that... Only he can reveal it. He will come back to us," David replied, extending his palm as a gesture of reassurance.
A metal beetle moved up David's palm and transformed into a sleek device. "Look," he said, holding it up.
Everyone leaned in, curiosity and concern etched on their faces, but none of them understood the display. David grinned, maintaining his composure. "This is Aric's status and tracker. The light green color indicates that he's okay."
"Where is he?!" Elis demanded, her voice strained with worry.
David hesitated only a moment. "The system is still gathering sufficient data. I'll head there as soon as I get a strong enough signal," he replied smoothly.
The group admired David's calm and resourcefulness, though he knew it was all a ruse. In reality, he had no idea about Aric's condition or whereabouts. He had indeed placed status readers and trackers on his family members, but the system had failed to read Aric's.
The only plausible explanation he could think of was time travel. Despite this uncertainty, he was confident Aric would be safe, based on glimpses he had seen through Iker's power.
"Alright. Let's head home first," David said, his voice gentle but firm.
Elis nodded, still visibly worried. David turned to address the Zenith officers present. "Thank you for all your efforts. The Zenith Union has prepared rewards based on your contributions."
He continued, "Mr. Roshi, Mrs. Bulma, Zenith will ensure you and the other survivors are safely returned home."
Despite his considerable powers, David chose not to align himself with any Union or the Valen Family. He preferred his independence, as did Elis, who often assisted various Unions without binding herself to any.
One of the Zenith officers stepped forward, "Alright, Sir David. Thank you for your contributions. It seems we will need your power again to restore this city."
Rumera City had suffered severe destruction. Countless lives and properties were lost, and many Novas, especially those serving the Zenith Union, had perished.
David was determined to ensure they received proper recognition and their families the necessary compensation and assistance to rebuild their lives.
"It seems there's a lot of work to do," he said, surveying the devastation with a heavy heart but a determined spirit.
*
"H, any updates on the boy's location?" Cat asked, her voice uncharacteristically subdued.
Before her, stood Leo, a member of the elite Zodiac Squad, whose rank eclipsed both the Animal Squad and the Alphabet Squad. Identifying them was easy; their masks bore the symbols of the zodiac.
Aside from Leo, in the organization, there were several other Zodiac Squad members, each possessing strength comparable to Elite Novas. Within the Novas System, their levels ranged from 71 to 80.
"I'm afraid no," H replied calmly.
H's composure in the presence of Cat and the Animal Squad, especially before Leo of the Zodiac Squad, was unique. Rumors suggested H possessed strength and capabilities on par with or even surpassing the Zodiac Squad.
"Ha. So, your power isn't that great after all," Cat taunted.
H remained unflustered, unfazed by Cat's provocation. However, her squad mates in the Alphabet Squad were all trying their best not to get on the nerves of anyone present.
"Quiet! I called for a discussion, not a fight," Leo rebuked, his muscular frame radiating a terrifying aura. His immense strength was the cornerstone of his position in the Zodiac Squad.
"What do you think caused your tracker power to fail, H?" Leo asked, his tone uncharacteristically respectful.
"To this day, I've had no issues embedding my tracker's electrical current into the bodies of injured enemies. In this case, I suspect he might have escaped through a space-time tunnel," H replied.
They were confident in their conclusion because no one at the endpoint had seen Aric emerge. It was the only logical possibility.
"You mean..." Leo began.
"Correct. He's not in the same space and time as us," H interjected, cutting him off.
Those observing H dare to interrupt Leo felt a pang of anxiety, anticipating the consequences.
"Ah, don't lie, H. If you fail, just admit it. We don't need to waste time on your excuses. Time travel? I have more important matters to attend to," Cat taunted.
"Enough!" Leo snapped. "Don't push it, Cat. I've been patient, but you've crossed the line too many times. This is your final warning!"
Leo stood, pointing a finger at Cat. "I don't care who you think you are. If you disrespect me again, I'll handle you personally."
The aura emanating from Leo was menacing, causing G, I, and J, who were also in the room, to feel suffocated.
"Hmmph!" Cat responded, standing up abruptly and leaving the room without seeking Leo's permission.
Everyone present was stunned. Leo, typically respectful toward H, was powerless against Cat.
Who was really in charge here? Who exactly were Cat and H?
"Alright, let's end this meeting," Leo said, his tone final. "Thank you, H, for your report. Inform me immediately if there are any updates."
H nodded and exited the room, leaving G, I, and J in shock at H's nonchalant demeanor.
"Good thing I didn't mess with H," J muttered, visibly relieved.
G and I nodded in agreement, grateful they hadn't been punished for the mission's failure.
Leo dismissed the three of them, then sat back and removed his mask.
His face was that of a bearded man with a vertical scar over his left eye. His muscular build and gray hair added to his imposing presence.
"Who are you, Aric Valen? What secrets does the Valen family hold?" Leo pondered for a long time before putting his mask back on and stepping out. His mission was far from over.
*
"You're finally awake," C99's voice greeted Aric as he opened his eyes.
"Where am I?" Aric asked, sitting up slowly and looking around. He found himself in a dense forest.
Sunlight filtered through the foliage, touching his face. It was vastly different from the urban environment of Rumera City. Here, everything felt fresh and vibrant.
"You're in the Tongass Forest," C99 replied.
"Tongass Forest? In which territory?" Aric asked, his knowledge of geography rusty.
"The United States of America," C99 answered briefly.
END OF CHAPTER 17 - TIME TRAVEL