Dave stood atop the tallest building in New Loriah, his gaze set on the sprawling cityscape below. His senses were heightened, and a faint hum of energy coursed through his veins, alerting him to the presence of his target. Somewhere within the urban jungle below was Keldren, a Rank A superhuman known for his destructive power. But to Dave, he was simply a stepping stone on his path to strength.
"Bella, pinpoint Keldren's exact location," Dave commanded, his voice calm but edged with excitement.
Bella's voice, cheerful as ever, chimed in his ear. "Already done, Dave! He's near the central plaza. Lots of people around too. It's almost like he's inviting a crowd for his little show. Should I set up a betting pool? My money's on you, but you never know. He might surprise us!"
Dave rolled his eyes. "Focus, Bella. I need to handle this without anyone getting caught in the crossfire."
"Aww, you're no fun," Bella teased, but quickly switched to a more serious tone. "Fine, fine. I'll highlight a location far from the city where you can go wild without worrying about casualties."
With a smirk, Dave activated his teleportation ability, his body shimmering for a split second before he reappeared in mid-air above the bustling plaza. Keldren stood below, unaware of his sudden arrival, his imposing figure radiating a menacing aura. The enemy superhuman was a brute of a man, his muscular frame packed with sheer strength, making him look like a force of nature. His powers over the elements allowed him to summon storms, control winds, and crush opponents with raw power.
"Alright, time to get his attention," Dave whispered, his body tensing in preparation.
In a flash, Dave vanished, reappearing directly behind Keldren. With a burst of speed, he delivered a powerful kick—one that utilized his teleportation to displace both himself and his target at the same time. The impact of the kick sent Keldren hurtling through space, a shocked look on his face as his surroundings warped and changed. In less than a heartbeat, they both materialized at a remote, desolate area far from the city—a barren wasteland where they could battle without holding back.
Keldren staggered, his eyes widening in confusion as he took in the new location. "What the—how did we get here?" he growled, spinning around to face Dave.
Dave appeared in front of him, his stance relaxed but his gaze sharp. "You're in my domain now, Keldren. Away from the city, away from the people. Just you and me."
Keldren snarled, raising his hands as the ground beneath him rumbled. Massive chunks of earth rose into the air, circling him like a storm of debris. "You think you can handle me? I'll crush you into dust!"
Dave's grin widened. "You're welcome to try."
Keldren launched the debris at Dave with a flick of his wrist, the chunks of earth soaring toward him like deadly projectiles. But Dave was already on the move. With a blink, he teleported behind Keldren again, narrowly avoiding the attack. He didn't waste any time—using his matter control, he manipulated the earth and rock around Keldren, encasing him in a tight cocoon.
But Keldren's strength was immense. With a roar, he shattered the cocoon, sending sharp fragments flying in all directions. Dave teleported once more, evading the deadly shards with ease. Reappearing at a safe distance, he raised his hand and concentrated. The shards halted in mid-air, vibrating under the influence of his matter control.
"What the—?!" Keldren's eyes widened as he watched the shards, which he had just sent flying, reverse direction and zoom straight back at him.
The shards struck Keldren with tremendous force, cutting into his skin and drawing blood. He roared in fury, his body crackling with electric energy as he called upon his powers. Bolts of lightning arced from his hands, sizzling toward Dave with blinding speed.
But Dave teleported again, his movements fluid and almost instantaneous. He danced around Keldren's attacks, his teleportation combined with his agility making him an elusive target. With each teleport, he closed the distance, his presence a blur of motion that left Keldren struggling to keep up.
"Damn you!" Keldren bellowed, swinging a massive fist that would have flattened Dave—if he had been there. Dave materialized above Keldren's head, his hand glowing with concentrated matter energy.
"Let's see how you handle this," Dave murmured, and with a downward thrust, he sent a wave of compressed matter crashing down on Keldren. The ground shook violently, a massive crater forming beneath the enemy superhuman as he was driven into the earth.
Keldren coughed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. But his eyes were alight with rage. "You… have two abilities?"
Dave smirked, his voice dripping with confidence. "What, did you think I'd only bring one trick to this fight?"
Keldren struggled to his feet, but his movements were sluggish. "You think that's enough to beat me? I'm an A-Rank! You're just a nobody playing hero!"
"Then let me show you what this 'nobody' can really do."
Dave's body shimmered as he teleported again, this time directly behind Keldren. He grabbed Keldren's arm, his grip tightening with an iron strength. Before Keldren could react, Dave focused his matter control ability into his hand, amplifying his power.
With a surge of force, Dave twisted and pulled. Keldren's arm gave way, the bone snapping like a twig. A howl of pain tore from Keldren's throat as his arm was cleaved from his body, blood spraying into the air.
Dave released the severed limb, letting it fall to the ground. Keldren stumbled forward, clutching at his bleeding shoulder, his face twisted in shock and agony.
"Now," Dave said softly, stepping closer to the wounded superhuman. "You're going to tell me everything you know. Every secret, every bit of information you have… starting with why you were so eager to show off in the city."
Keldren tried to respond, but before he could form any words, Dave's eyes glowed with a subtle, eerie light. He activated his Mind Control ability, his willpower pressing down on Keldren's already fragile mental state.
"Speak," Dave commanded, his voice echoing with power.
Keldren's resistance crumbled under the pressure, his gaze turning blank as the Mind Control took hold.
"Good," Dave whispered, a triumphant smile forming on his lips. "Now let's see what you've been hiding."