Kade had finally reached the desert, a major landmark in his adventure, as it represented the start of the final stint. It has been six whole months since he inherited Timestep, he'd gained almost a thousand new abilities since then. Most were useless as they all were niche and had steep learning curves, so he continued to rely predominantly on Timestep.
However that ability had a limit.
That aside he had gained a useful utility ability that was essentially a map like that of a video game: i.e it remembers where the user has been and portrays it clearly like a map within his head. This ability seemed to have been in circulation on Planet 888 for a long while, as it had almost filled out the whole planet.
Kade believes he is only 2 months walk away from the interstellar port on Planet 888.
Kade's worth is currently about $22 million, the old man he killed had been worth a lot. Since then, Kade has only earned about $500. He has no idea how much it costs to get off the planet, neither did the old man.
However the expectation was that it would be much more than $22 million. After all, what 12-and-a-half year old truely knows the scale of money?
The sun begins to rise on the distance horizon. Kade flicks his ragdolled coat over himself, not wishing to feel the worst of the heat and wind.
'Ack, it's going to be a long day.'
***
Part way through the day, sometime after lunchtime, Kade could see the silhouette of a person in the distance, atop the dune he is currently climbing…
The figure has goggles over top of a sack that he wears on his head. The figure is dark skinned and shirtless, holding his shirt in one hand, along with a pair of knives - one knife in each hand. His bottom half boasts a pair of black combat pants and a solid pair of hiking boots.
Kade approaches the figure carefully with his own weapon unsheathed, ready to react without delay.
Kade recognises this person.
"Is it really you, Scorcher?" Kade asks him.
"Hell yeah! That's me. Fuck I don't think I've ever seen someone your age actually alive on this planet. You must be barely 12!" Scorcher replies.
"I'm nearly 13 actually!"
"That's beside the point, hah! How much are you worth? I don't have time to talk to fans, I have people to kill y'know… Including YOU."
"Fan? No, I am much superior to you, I am worth over $22 million and I could kill you in an instant."
"Ahahaha chillax, I was joking. On my soul I don't kill kids… anymore. Take my word for it. I had a little brother your age once."
"Anymore? So it's true then? That rumour?" Kade asks.
The old man had told Kade that if he ever met a darkskinned man who wore a sack over his head and a pair of goggles that he was to run for his life.
There was a well known rumour (and a demolished hospital as proof) that a man fitting this description had used an explosive ability to heartlessly blow up a hospital. Thus, he inherited several thousand people's worth's and abilities. He further earned himself quite the reputation and the nickname 'Scorcher'.
This is who Kade is face to face with.
"Ahah, yeah I did that. But in my defence I was young and desperate to survive." Scorcher raises his arms as though being held guilty at gunpoint.
"Well, fair play. I'd have done the same if I wasn't happy with my abilities. Say, can you be my teacher? Who better than the top dog Scorcher himself?" Kade is really hopeful that scorcher accepts, because Kade relies too much on his abilities to kill. Rather than technique. Timestep in particular is very draining and certainly has its flaws. It won't be reliable in long battles and Kade knows it.
He needs some techniques and martial training to back up his abilities.
"Since you remind me of my little bro, then sure." Scorcher shrugs. "I'll take ya under my wing."
Kade changes his direction, walking with Scorcher instead of towards the interstellar port. The young boy is beaming. 'This is the best thing ever! I'm the sole student of Scorcher, he's basically a planet-wide celebrity!'
***
'I'm sure Scorcher knows how much an interstellar ticket costs, I'll have to ask him sometime.' Kade thinks to himself.
"Hey kid, are you really worth 22 million dollars?"
"You don't believe me?"
"Not one bit, show me your engravings then I'll believe you."
Feeling a little upset over Scorcher's lack of belief, Kade rolls up his sleeve to reveal the engravings on his forearm.
By some man-made system known as 'The Disposal Planet System' these engravings accurately tell the worth of their person. They update instantly after each kill, too.
Kade's engravings read 22,133,901. He looks at Scorchers bare arms, reading that the famed Scorcher, the most famous killer on Planet 888 is worth a measly $13,058.62.
"Holy shit you weren't lying! AHAHAH! Oh my GOSH! This is a miracle! Hallelujah! Praise be to God allmighty!" Scorcher exclaims, his face is estatic and he is jumping with joy. He zips around the dunes using several of his abilities.
"Right kid, turn around we are going back towards the interstellar port!"
"Huh, why?" Kade doesn't understand.
"Because you're worth enough for about 6 tickets to the best planet in the galaxy!"
Kade's Jaw drops.