Chapter 917: Electrifying Fight
~WHOOOSH!~
Josh didn't waste a second.
With a crackle of energy, he shot forward, his entire body crackling with lightning. His speed was blinding, leaving faint scorch marks in the dirt as he closed the distance between them in a blink.
Rey barely managed to sidestep the first punch, which tore through the air with a resounding crack.
He pivoted, narrowly dodging a follow-up kick that hummed with electricity.
Josh pressed the attack, his movements relentless and precise.
Sparks flew each time his lightning-charged fists struck the ground or whipped through the air.
Rey kept dodging, his expression focused but calm.
"What's the matter, newbie?" Josh taunted, his voice laced with static as he unleashed a flurry of strikes. "Too scared to fight back?"
Rey didn't answer, slipping just out of reach of another electrified blow.
The speed and ferocity of Josh's attacks were undeniable, but Rey wasn't just avoiding the strikes
he was observing.
A sudden burst of lightning surged toward him as Josh extended his palm. Rey leaped back, the bolt grazing the ground where he'd just stood, leaving a smoking scorch mark.
The crowd gasped, murmurs of Josh's strength rippling through them.
"You can't dodge forever!" Josh yelled, rushing forward again.
Rey's eyes narrowed.
As Josh lunged, Rey moved-not away, but into the attack. He sidestepped at the last second, his hand brushing against Josh's lightning-coated arm.
Josh turned, confused. "What are you-"
His words were cut off as Rey's body suddenly erupted with crackling blue energy. Lightning danced across his form, coating him in the same aura that surrounded Josh.
The crowd fell silent, their eyes wide with shock.
Josh froze, his smirk replaced by a look of disbelief. "What the hell?"
Rey smiled, holding up a hand as sparks flickered between his fingers. "Your Skill... it's not bad. Let's see how well you can handle it."
~ZZZTTTZZ!~
*********
The fight shifted instantly.
Josh growled and charged again, but this time, Rey met him head-on.
Their fists collided, sending a surge of lightning outward in a blinding flash.
~PSHIIII!~
The impact created a shockwave that kicked up dirt and forced the onlookers to shield their faces.
Rey moved with a precision that Josh hadn't expected.
Every strike was deliberate, every movement smooth.
He didn't just match Josh's speed and strength-he surpassed it.
Josh threw a lightning-infused kick, aiming for Rey's side, but Rey caught it effortlessly, the sparks harmlessly dissipating against his hand.
"My turn," Rey said, twisting Josh's leg and sending him sprawling to the ground.
Josh scrambled to his feet, his face twisted in frustration. He unleashed a series of bolts, each one crackling with deadly intent. Rey dodged the first few, then raised a hand to catch the next one.
The bolt struck his palm, dissipating as if it were nothing.
"What?!" Josh's voice cracked with disbelief.
Rey tilted his head. "You're too predictable. Your Lightning Manipulation is not bad, but you rely on brute force and speed without strategy. That'll only get you so far."
Josh roared in frustration, his body surging with more power.
He had been going easy on the kid, since he wasn't facing a Monster, but since he had proven that he could handle more, Josh was happy to oblige.
~SWWWWUUUUSSHH!~
The ground beneath him began to scorch as he charged again, his fists crackling with enough energy to light up the clearing.
Rey didn't back down.
He rushed forward as well, their bodies colliding in a dazzling display of sparks and thunder. The air filled with the smell of ozone as their fists and kicks exchanged at lightning speed, each impact sending ripples of energy through the ground.
The crowd watched in stunned silence, their eyes darting back and forth as the two
combatants moved faster than most of them could track.
"Josh is... losing," someone whispered, disbelief heavy in their voice.
"Who is this guy, really?" another muttered.
Josh's attacks grew more frantic, his movements losing their precision as fatigue began to set
in.
Rey, on the other hand, seemed to move with ease, his strikes landing more frequently and
with increasing force.
With a sudden burst of speed, Rey ducked under one of Josh's swings and delivered a
devastating uppercut to his ribs.
Josh staggered back, gasping for air.
Rey didn't let up.
He swept Josh's legs out from under him, then delivered a spinning kick to his chest, sending
him flying out of the circle.
"Ack!" Josh hit the ground hard, his body skidding to a stop.
For a moment, the clearing was silent, save for the faint crackle of dissipating lightning.
Rey stood at the center of the circle, his body still glowing faintly with electricity. He glanced
down at his sparking hands, then let the energy fade away.
Turning to the stunned crowd, he flashed them a confident smile.
"So," he said, his voice light but carrying an edge of challenge. "Who wants to fight me
next?"
No one spoke.
Tess stepped forward and took Rey's hand, much to Josh's dismay, and raised it into the air
with a bright smile on her face.
"Looks like we have a winner... Rey!"
********
The group gathered inside the shelter's main room, the tension from the fight still lingering
in the air. Rey sat among them, his posture relaxed but his mind racing. The group eyed him with a mix of curiosity, wariness, and grudging respect.
Even Josh, sitting with an ice pack pressed against the bruise on his face, stole the occasional
glance at Rey, his earlier skepticism muted after his defeat.
Tess leaned forward, her eyes narrowing slightly as she spoke.
"Alright, Rey. It's time we cleared the air. We want to know the truth about your ability. But
first, we'll keep our end of the bargain and tell you about ours."
Rey tilted his head, feigning indifference. "Fair enough. Let's start with you all, then."
The group exchanged glances, and one by one, they began revealing their Special Abilities.
First up was Mia, a slim woman with dark hair tied back in a braid.
She extended her hand, and her fingers began to glow faintly. With a flick of her wrist, a
barrier of translucent light shimmered into existence before her.
"I can create barriers," she explained. "They're not indestructible, but they're strong enough
to block most physical and energy-based attacks."
Next was Leon, a burly man with a permanent scowl. He clenched his fists, and his skin
hardened into something resembling rock.
"My body can turn into stone," he grunted. "Good for taking hits and smashing things."
One by one, the rest of the group showcased their abilities.
Elise could manipulate water, drawing moisture from the air or nearby sources.
Marco had enhanced reflexes, allowing him to move and react at incredible speeds.
Sarah could emit bursts of sound waves, strong enough to disorient or even knock back
opponents.
Andrew could manipulate shadows, bending them to his will for attacks or stealth.
Josh, of course, had Lightning Manipulation, which everyone was already familiar with. As the displays continued, Rey watched with keen interest, silently assessing each ability. His eyes flicked toward Tess, who remained silent throughout, her expression unreadable.
Finally, all eyes turned to her.
"Tess?" Mia prompted.
Tess sighed, standing up. "Alright. My turn."
She raised her hand, pointing at Rey.
In an instant, the world shifted.
One moment Rey was sitting in his chair, and the next, he found himself standing several feet
away, in the exact spot where Tess had been.
He blinked, disoriented for only a fraction of a second.
Tess now occupied his former seat, her arms crossed as she leaned back casually.
"My ability allows me to close the distance between two points," she explained. "I can move
objects or myself from one place to another almost instantaneously. It's not true
teleportation, but it's close enough."
Rey grinned, impressed despite himself. "That's... not bad."
Tess raised an eyebrow.
"Not bad? Careful, Rey. You're in no position to critique just yet."
He chuckled, leaning against the table. "Fair enough. Can you do it again?" Tess nodded, her eyes narrowing slightly in concentration. A moment later, their positions swapped again, leaving Rey standing near the far wall while Tess resumed her seat.
He let out a low whistle. "Impressive. So, what Tier is that skill? And what Level are you?"
The room fell silent.
Rey's grin faded as he looked around. Tess's brow furrowed, and the others exchanged confused glances.
"Tier? Level?" Tess asked, her tone cautious.
Josh snorted, still rubbing his bruise. "What are you talking about? You mean like a video
game or something?"
Rey blinked, realization dawning on him. "You mean... you don't know?"
"Know what?" Marco asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
Rey hesitated, his mind racing.
"They don't know about the System? How is that possible?' He had assumed everyone on Earth had
been integrated into the same framework he had experienced in H'Trae, but it seemed that
wasn't the case.
'Is it because Earth just got exposed to Mana? Whatever the case is, I can't bring up the fact
that I can Level Up... at least not yet.'
He still had much more to observe, after all.