Silence filled the cafeteria. Everyone, except Kudos, was completely shocked. Komodo and Seongjin stood gently, staring at each other with determined eyes. Komodo's legs pulsed tightly, muscles compacting with readiness. With a burst of wind and speed, Komodo sprinted forward and in someway seemed to teleport before Seongjin, arm raised and using Quinn's Striking technique. With a suddenly swing the air cut and parted away. Seongjin had shifted sideways and grabbed onto Komodo's side, fingers digging in and holding onto the ribs. Seongjin with one motion leaned back and pulled Komodo with him. Lifting Komodo up and back down hard onto the ground. But Komodo was prepared and was able to squirm his way out from Seongjin's tight grip, he flipped himself around and landed softly on his feet. He then dashed forward, bringing a painful knee kick to Seongjin's face sending him sprawling and tumbling on the floor. As that happened Komodo sprinted forward, teleporting is what it looked like to everyone else, and raising his left leg up to slam down onto Seongjin's body. Seongjin noticed and rolled away, dosing the deadly attack. He got up and narrowly caught a hand strike from Komodo. "D-didn't realize you were the strong, Comrade." Seongjin said, straining to keep Komodo's hand in place. Seongjin was excited, yet a little sad. He didn't want to battle Komodo like this, it would be better if it was in the training grounds.Komodo simply stared at Seongjin, eyes burning with hate and unshedded tears. Seongjin then grabbed Komodo's hand with his left and aimed a one-inch punch at Komodo's chest. The impact was enormous and it sent Komodo crashing into a group of metal tables. The power behind the attack was so much it made a small crater around Seongjin's feet. About the size of a basketball. "That should stop you." Seongjin stated, staring at the unmoving Komodo. Seongjin began to turn around but heard a loud, manical laugh. "You think I'm done? I'm just getting started." Told Komodo, standing up from the floor and dusting himself off. He cracked his neck and back. Within Seongjin's one blink, Komodo had appeared before him fist raised back. The punches came hard and powerful, making a ripple within the air. He decided to take on a different approach when fighting Komodo. But how will he do that? He could use the serum technique, but that would risk Komodo copying it. Then how will he do it? You know what just risk it. He can't copy all techniques. However Seongjin was very much wrong. As Komodo had grabbed onto Seongjin's sides digging and latching onto his ribs. Komodo, with his full might, bent backwards and smashed Seongjin's head into the ground. Seongjin, though taken by surprise, was already getting a counter move. He kicked his legs back and kept his body from being pummeled into the ground. Komodo was surprised and Seongjin took advantage of that. He freed his right arm and grappled onto Komodo's side and sprang forward, smashing Komodo hard onto the ground with a loud, sickening BANG.
The room, was silent. Nobody spoke or said anything. It was so silent that you could only hear the sound of Seongjin's heavy breathing. "D-did Scavenger Seongjin j-just knock out Scavenger Komodo?" A student called out in surprise and very obvious shock. Everyone started to whisper and some even laughed. Then a long, echoing and calm inhale stopped everyone. Even Seongjin scooted back. Komodo, who was presumed to be unconscious and out for the count, had gotten up. His legs pulsing with tensed muscles as they lifted his body up. Standing on the tip of his shoes he leaned forward. The air around him changed. It was getting colder and more tense with anticipation. "That was one strong technique. Never thought I'd see it in person, Seongjin. However, now I'v been pushed far again. This is the second time that's happened. However, I'm glad it was you." Komodo voiced out calmly, breath steady and even. Blood was now slowly tearing down Komodo's mask. "Blood tears?" Seongjin whispered, setting his jaw as he dashed forward hoping to catch Komodo off guard. In one spit moment, ten different attacks volleyed onto Komodo with Seongjin now standing behind him. Seongjin glanced behind him, hands trembling with a half smile appearing on his face. "Y-you. What are you?" Seongjin asked, confused and nervous. Komodo was standing firm, steam emitted from the prior attacks. Not even a scratch was on him. Seongjin turned around to stare at Komodo, but was instantly met with a punch to the face that shifted and shot him towards the floor, cracking the ground. Seongjin was shocked, he couldn't even see Komodo move nor could he react.
No, I will not let Komodo harm others for his own sake. Nor will I lay here and lose to pathetically. Seongjin thought, anger rising along with powerful determination. His eye seemed to softly glow blue. Like he had evolved.
Komodo stood, bent down and keeping his fist close to the prior punch he gave Seongjin. Then something amazing happened. Komodo saw Seongjin's eyes widen in anger and determination. To Komodo they seemed to have awakened and shined a soft blue, unnoticeable by anyone but Komodo. "So you do have such an ability. Just like Quinn and Gerald! Amazing!" Komodo thought, excitement and joy rising inside his body. His body was burning with heat and he felt excited. Under the mask a wider then normal smile appeared on his burnt face. Although he didn't really have a smile anymore, but he had to imagine he was smiling. Suddenly Seongjin kicked Komodo in the gut, sending him stumbling backwards but this was enough time to dash behind Komodo. He grabbed onto Komodo's hip and slammed Komodo into the floor. But Komodo noticed this and caught himself by placing his hands on the floor. He then slipped out from Seongjin's grasp and did a sweeping kick. Knocking Seongjin off balance. But Seongjin shifted his body and spun around to aim a kick for Komodo's head. Komodo caught the kick and slammed Seongjin onto the floor, cracks spreading across the impact area.
Quinn and Gerald, who were watching and felt useless in this losing battle suddenly join in. Gerald shouted to everyone. "Everyone spread out to the corners of the room or leave! This fight will become a bloody mess!"
Everyone except Kudos spread out, with some leaving to watch from the glass windows. Quinn charged forward, hands ready in her striking technique. Gerald dashed behind Komodo, a punch ready with full force. Seongjin sprang up, face slightly bloody. He dashed towards Komodo's front point. Komodo stood, joy and excitement boiling over and dripping. Quinn stuck out like a sword and hip, fact and accurate. Gerald's punch moved like a lighting flash, uncontrollable yet powerful. Seongjin spun in the air and aimed a kick to the head. Komodo's eyes looked around in circles, he dodged Quinn's attack. Grabbing her arm and slamming her body into Gerald's punch that sent her flying into Seongjin's kick that hit her sternum and shot her into the ground. Komodo then use Quinn's striking force and caught Gerald's ankle. Komodo then swiped Gerald off his feet and stood up to give a one-inch punch to Gerald's chest. That sent Gerald across the cafeteria and onto a table. Komodo then turned to Seongjin with Gerald's full force punch, while the output wasn't the same it was still a strong technique. Seongjin dodged and gave three consecutive one-inch punch's to Komodo's gut. Komodo only laughed as he struck Seongjin's shoulder, sending pain and a shock wave through Seongjin. Seongjin grunted and grappled onto Komodo's legs, lifting Komodo up and backwards onto the ground. But Komodo stopped himself with his hands and rolls his body forwards, bring Seongjin along with him and slamming him chest first onto the ground. Seongjin let go and pushed himself off the ground backwards. Komodo was faster however and jumped forward. Seongjin didn't have enough time to react and was kicked into the floor, large cracks and even a small crater appeared.
Meanwhile Quinn and Gerald lay, broken and injured. So this is Komodo's true potential.
Quinn lay on the ground, feeling pathetic and angry at herself. "Why. Why am I weakest and the most vulnerable opponent. Why can't I be stronger! Why! Why! I hate it! I'm so weak, even Gerald could beat me. I have to win! No matter what if I'm going to prove that I'm not weak!" Quinn's eye glowed softly green as she got up. An angry frown appearing on her face, definitely wasn't fit for a women so beautiful. Gerald lay, sprawled on the table. "WOW. So that's true strength. That's the power I seek! I seek such strength! I'm tired of being treated like a fool! I'll show them! I'm the best! The strongest!" Gerald sat up, sliding off the table. A stern and frustrated expression appearing on Gerald, yet it had an almost pleased authority to it. Like Gerald wanted this. His eye faintly glowed red.
Seongjin's eye glowed blue as he kept his calm and determined gaze. He stood up from the ground, body and clothes ripped as blood softly leaked off of him. The trio took off their coats. Komodo stood in the middle of the three. Like a triangle. Three different people with different meanings. Komodo's eye glowed faintly white. All their muscles tensed up and bulged, making their frames seem larger than before. Kudos, watching from a certain point, was greatly entertained by this. He could see the giant glow. Only the awakened could see it. The new found strength within them was evident and almost symbolic.
Komodo looked around. Muscles tensed up and ready for battle. The trio stared at Komodo, exceptingly. Seongjin stared intensely at Komodo, senses hightened and alert. Seongjin eyes were wide open, he was on high alert and so were the other two. Even Kudos, whom was higher then them, was semiconscious alert. Silence had filled the room, anticipation was off the charts. Even the shaking breath of some other students were heard.
The cafeteria was wide and open. About a mile long and a mile wide. The each person within the triangle formation was about a thousand feet away within the wide Cafeteria. Quinn was left corner, Gerald right corner and Seongjin was top. Everyone stared, almost nobody blinked. Seongjin watched, eyeing Komodo's every twitch and tensed up muscle. Then, out of nowhere. *Woosh* Komodo appeared before Seongjin, a powerful knee kick aimed at Seongjin's face. "W-what the?" Seongjin muttered as the attack seemed to slowly come closer. He ducked down and just barely dodged the attack. The air breezed past him and many students could feel it from where they were standing at the end of the cafeteria room. Seongjin knew, if that attack hit him. He wouldn't have died. Looking up he saw Komodo had his leg raised high up in the air. Seongjin dodged by rolling to the side, Komodo's attack had smashed the floor beneath him, creating a large dent as large as the circular tables. Seongjin was finally able to take action as he sprinted forward, to everyone it like he just appeared. Seongjin tried to give a round house kick but Komodo simply caught the leg and pulled Seongjin forward. Seongjin raised his arms and felt a strong punched that collided with his arms. The attack pushed Seongjin back. Quinn appeared before Seongjin, using her legs to strike down Komodo's oncoming hand strike. Gerald dashed around Komodo and punched his side, this made Komodo stumble and turn around to swipe at Gerald. Gerald raise his left arm and blocked the attack, pain shot through Gerald's arm like he was being hit by a large hammer. Gerald grabbed onto Komodo's arm and slammed it against his knee. The bone shattering injury shocked everyone, except Kudos. Komodo looked at the broken arm, stared at it and then laughed. He then grabbed Gerald by the throat and slammed his body onto the floor. Komodo then stepped sideways, dodging a swift attack from Quinn. Komodo then slightly turned and punched her Stomach with his broken arm. Blood spewed out, but Komodo didn't care. He dashed forward and seeming appeared beside Seongjin, kicking him in the ribs than grabbing Seongjin's arm and pullling him forward. Komodo then elbowed Seongjin's ribs, breaking two and cracking the rest. Gerald got up and dashed forward. Komodo noticed and also dashed towards Gerald, but Seongjin and Quinn held him firmly. Komodo looked at the two, then at the on coming Gerald. Gerald's roar of triumph echoed throughout the room as he brought upon Komodo a knee kick, then planting his feet and punching Komodo's chest then swiftly uppercutted Komodo's jaw.
Pure terror, joy, anger and fear filled many. Komodo's body went limp, falling onto his knees and collapsing onto the floor, unconscious. The battle was over. The trio had won. Gerald stood over Komodo's body. "Take that you wannabe Machine!" Gerald said, breathing heavily. Cracked ribs, arms and legs Gerald stood calmly. He also fell unconscious. Seongjin had already fallen unconscious and Quinn was the only one to stand back up off the floor. "Such a resistant man. Hitting a women and stealing my technique. Such a brute." She muttered angrily with spite. But her face changed as she sat down on her legs next to Komodo. "Thank you for awakening my latent spirit, but don't think that changes everything." Quinn added with a smirk. Her white hair falling onto Komodo's unconscious masked face. She then stood up, glancing around with a firm gaze. "Second in command, Katie. Come help me take them to the nursery." Quinn ordered as her eyes landed on the blond giant. Katie obeyed, standing up from her seat and walking over to help carry Gerald and Komodo. Quinn hoisted up Seongjin onto her back and they both walked out of the cafeteria. Jack and Jake sat, speechless. Utterly and completely stunned. Jack's eyes become dull as he felt pathetic and useless. Jake didn't know what to say, actually he couldn't form words. "What just happened? It looked like they were just teleporting before each other and clashing fists. It seemed like Komodo was winning but then suddenly the three of them started to become stronger and faster then before. That shouldn't even be possible for a human! Wait, is it? I'v heard people talking about how they got this strong determination or will. Then they suddenly grow stronger and faster." Jake thought, still shocked by what he just saw. Kudos walked towards the center of the cafeteria. "Alright! Show's over. Clean up this mess and make sure to also clean up after yourselves. Right now it's grown quiet late, so just head towards your dorm rooms and sleep." Kudos ordered as he checked his watch. It was now 6:00 o'clock. That entire fight lasted hours. Kudos wasn't mad, in fact it was opposite. He enjoyed the deadly battle and was completely satisfied with the results. It made him feel young again. Made him feel like he was in his prime again.
Later, after everyone cleaned up and started heading for their dorms. Jack and Jake was moving through the curving hallway. While they were still shocked, the sudden surprise had slowly evened out. Then the two boys had reached their room, slowly taking the crippled Jack up the stairs and then finding the keys. They unclocked the bland door and entered the room. It was surprising large. About 600 hundred by 700 hundred feet. Just enough for two people or more. Jake helped Jack onto his bed in a far corner of the room, it had a bathroom on the right and a closet on the left with a Tv and counter. It was very much a comfy room. "Thanks man." Jack said as he pulled the covers over his body. Jake only nodded and slowly left the room. "I'll go check up on my sister and Macy." Jake said coldly, like a small light had escaped him. Jack understood as he felt the same way. Jake then left the room.
When Jake left the dorm room, going down the black stairwell and heading down into the small clearing. He turned right and walked down the long hallway. Jake looked around, it was dark but not enough you couldn't see. He was bit annoyed but carried on. As he walked down he say the dim lights of the nurses office. Upon looking inside, he saw the large line of empty beds and area's with equipment next to them. Jake gulped down the sense of unease, however he kept walking. Looking for a specific bed. Finally after minutes of carefully searching he found Macy, with Amy sitting beside her in a chair. "Amy? You okay?" Jake asked calmly, he could tell his sister had been crying. Amy looked up and saw her brother. Instantly she ran over and hugged him. "Oh! Jake! Please tell me Macy will be okay!" Amy wailed, sadness and confusion streamed down her cheeks. Jake hugged her back and comforted her. "Calm yourself, Amy. Macy will be just fine, so don't worry." Jake said, hoping that will calm down her water bucket filling sister. He shifted over to sit down, bring Amy with him. They sat at the bedside of Macy's unconscious body. Jake looked around, then upon finding a lantern, turned the knob and dimly lit up the small space. Jake then suddenly heard a cough next to Amy and turned his head. He found himself staring at the trio commanders. Quinn, Gerald and Seongjin. "We give our condolences to your friend. We are glad she's still alive." Seongjin said calmly, his voice filled with regret and sorrow but with new found confidence. Jake only nodded his answer. "However, we need to talk to you about something." Gerald said, taking out a small flask and taking a swig. "We need you and your friends to join Komodo's second war team." Quinn said, her expression stern and unyielding. Jake was shocked by the news. "W-what? What happened to the previous war team?" Jake asked, nervous about the answer. Quinn sighed heavily, hoping Jake didn't ask such a question. "The previous war team has been defeated and captured by a different country. We need them back cause they have very valuable information that needs to be transported to our client. Nobody else wanted to join this operation, we've tried asking but to no avail. So right now you, your sister and two friends are the only people left for this mission." Quinn said, leaning back in her seat as she stared coldly at Jake. With wasn't a request, but an order. "Okay. But we have no experience or knowledge! We can't even fight very well!" Jake exclaimed loudly, suddenly scared to take on this mission. "We'd train you all as per Komodo's wishes. Who knows, may you'll get stronger." Seongjin answered calmly, keeping a collective expression. Jake thought about it, Amy glanced at him. Amy then spoke up. "I agree to this. I despise myself for feeling like I can't do anything. I was always considered the weakest of my group, no matter what I did I couldn't change that fact. Hearing this made me more determined to become on par with them." Amy declared, her words caught Gerald by surprise. "Oh? You want strength?" Gerald mused, which was replied by Quinn poking his sore arm. "Never mind him. We can definitely make that happen. As long as everyone within your group knows and agrees. We'll take you in." Seongjin spoke again, slightly happy that they agreed and didn't have to agure about it. "Oh. I guess nobody told you this. But we have a combat ranking system. To start you four off, you at forth gen level. Which basically means 'weak' in a more subtle sense. Then the rest is simple. Do sparing matches within the training course and win. To get to level three you must win against 20 people. Second level is beating 50 people, first is beating 140 and zero is beating close to a thousand or higher." Quinn stated, standing up and walking away towards the end of the nursery room. Seongjin did the same and Gerald followed. "Yes ma'am!" Amy called back, saluting as she watched them disappear in the darkness. Jake instantly turned to Amy. "Are you out of your mind! We could get killed!" Jake asked in outrage and confusion. Amy simply looked at him with calm eyes. "Well I'm definitely within my mind. And yes I'm aware that we could die. But think about the positive things, we could make it out and maybe become better fighters. Plus, this will be the best way to become stronger! Just think about it. We came to this school to find Komodo, we found him and joined this school. He needs us, Jake. The least we could do is help him." Amy said, slightly annoyed by her brothers protest. She placed a gently hand on Jake, giving him a determined smile that showed she wasn't backing down from this. Jake didn't respond to this. He knew why his sister wanted this as she had just explained to him moments ago. But he didn't want to place Amy in danger with the risk of death! But Jake knew, he will never be able to talk her out of anything once she set her mind on it. "Alright, fine. It's not like we have a choice. Let's just try to be safe, okay?" Jake said, smiling softly as he leaned back in his chair. Amy could only smile wider in joy. "Of course." Amy replied.
Somewhere within the nursery office, a opened and dark room with a dimly lit light, three people sat on three cushions with small knee height tables. At the end of the room lay a figure, sitting upright in a firm posture. "Komodo. Are you feeling any better?" Seongjin asked, his fist clenched slightly. Komodo, wearing his standard white mask, looked at him. For a minute, he didn't respond. "The docter's said I had several broken ribs, a fractured spine and a broken jaw. Plus the arm." Komodo stated, staring at the three. "That just proves how capable you all are in technique and strength." Komodo continued, his voice slightly raspy and rough.
While the praise was comforting, it didn't help the situation. "Komodo, your second war team was captured and your sending your own friends? Why?" Seongjin asked, slightly confused but also frustrated. Komodo tilted his head slightly, very much in deep thought. "I will show them the cruelty of this world and it's people. We are not nearly as terrible as the people outside. To endure the hardships of war you must face almost certain death." Komodo said, leaning back on the nursery bed. Seongjin didn't say anything for he knew what Komodo was true. Quinn glanced up at Komodo. "Dear Komodo. Is there a reason you specifically chose your friends?" Quinn asked, curious about the answer Komodo would give her. Komodo turned slightly to look at her. "Yes. There is a very good reason. The two boys and I have some unfinished business with each other. I need for them to understand why they are here and what they are fighting for. It's either to get revenge on me or to save others for the sake of peace." Komodo stated, lifting his right arm to adjust the cast on his left arm. Gerald was slightly amused when he heard the word revenge but didn't take Komodo on that subject. However Gerald was curious about one thing. "Hey, Komodo. This might sound rude and all. But what's with the mask? I know it's metal but you make it look like a paper mask from a store." Gerald asked nonchalantly, not arrogantly but curiously.