The light bulbs in the room flickered, screaming to be changed. There were four men sitting around a table in the center of the room with a table lamp to rectify the faulty one above.
"I'm tellin' ya, we shoulda kept that boy. You seen how strong that small fella was? 'Course, he didn't show nothin', but you can just tell he's even stronger than most special beings."
"No, I didn't sign up for all them guilt trippin', Stevo. Talmbout we coulda kept him. How could we keep a boy who could kill us any moment? Also, have you seen his arrogance? He looks like someone who wants to be kept? Take a cold sip right there, Stevo!"
"Don't care 'bout none o' that. I'm too stoned to give a f--k. We got the money. Let's get outta this shithole by morning."
"Oh, I miss that adorable lad. He shoulda said goodbye."
"Not his fault you were sleeping like a knocked-out pig. Told me to give you a hug from him, but there's no way I'm doing that."
"Oh, where will I ever find you, my old-time friend? I dream of you from the start of the day till its end. I never get up because I cry endlessly in my bed..."
"I'm really gonna hurt Phil if nobody stops this poetry nonsense!"
"I'm up for you, Phil! Talk your shit, heh!"
"...My friend of inestimable value. If only I knew where you are, I'd smash the door and burst into the room..."
BANG!
The door of the single room came crashing down with a loud, deafening thud. Standing in the doorway was Eric's dark figure silhouetted by the lightning flashing violently in the sky.
The four men scattered in different directions, frightened beyond their wits. 24-Savage scrambled about, searching for his favorite defensive weapon — a sledgehammer — but in the process, he knocked out the lamp on the table. Now the room was dark, save for the dim, flickering light from the bulb on the ceiling. Every man chose his corner, shivering uncontrollably with fear. Phil was sobbing rather too loud for someone trying to hide from an unknown intruder.
"Wow, man! I always knew you lot were weaklings, down to the marrow, but I didn't expect to have get level of cowardice from you. I guess my entrance was badass. The lightning was in co-op with me to add more effect, huh?"
"Wait... Eric?!" Phil screamed in delight.
"That's right, beast Phil. And I've got something for you," Eric announced, finally stepping away from the door into the dim light in the room. He threw a small plasma gun at Phil's trembling feet. "I took them from the dead spies that I ratted out of the abandoned air field. They're dead, so they don't need guns. That's for you, Phil. I know you're a strong beast, but a better attack range has its benefits."
Phil made a sobbing sound as he picked the plasma gun up and admired it like a shiny toy, his tears flowing continuously. "I always knew you'd come back."
Eric picked up a fast movement behind him. 24-Savage was onto him with a reckless face of pure frustration and with his sledgehammer held up high. The rash attack was too fast for any normal being to evade at that short notice and little space. But Eric, being insanely sensitive and even more insanely fast, simply stepped out of the way swiftly to his side. The hammer came crashing down after hitting thin air, and it kept going down, till it smashed the floorboards to splinters. 24-Savage also went tumbling with it due to the energy he'd put on that attack.
Without even looking back at the 24, the clumsy assailant, Eric deftly jumped on the center table and cleared his throat like he was about to address his subordinates at work.
"I'll just cut to the chase here. I'm here for the bag that was with me when you scum did the lame ass kidnapping. In that bag are the most important things I own. Let's not make this difficult for anyone. I have a revolution to plan."
"There's nothin' here, psycho. Get the hell outta here!", 24 yelled with a swollen mouth.
"I'm not done talking," Eric continued. "I'm not in a playful mood this time, guys. It's hard to explain to you lot, but if you end up getting killed by me because of your deception, I won't even feel remorseful about it even if I want to. Don't mess with me tonight. The role has been reversed. I might be your kidnapper."
To add weight to his words, Eric conjured up a medium fireball, following the instructions from the system. The crimson glow from it threatened from left to right and back.
Let's see if you won't bow this time.
"Alright, I'm done with all that bullshit. 24, where the f--k you put the damn bag?" Stevo yelled at 24-Savage, the fallen guy still struggling on the floor.
"F--king speak up before he burns us to death," G-Lock added.
"Shut the hell up! He won't do shit. I don't know where the bag's at!"
Still won't fold, huh? Guess I have to go all out on this one. Time to stop playing nice.
Eric jumped off the table and walked menacingly towards 24-Savage, his fireballs growing bigger and brighter and more intense with each step and toss.
24 doesn't seem like someone who would fold if I have to take his friends hostage to threaten him. So, I'm going to him instead. The others don't have an idea where the bag is.
I hope I'm right... No, I know I'm right.
Whoosh!
The fireball cut through the air at such amazing speed, hitting and knocking 24-Savage out of his legs as he was about standing back up. The spherical fireball, upon impact, exploded with a loud pop before dispersing and dying down.
"Aaaargh!!" 24-Savage screamed in pain while clutching his scalded leg.