Warming Up

Sun: "How about an air race?"

D: "Do you want me to take it easy, young master?"

I giggle and smirk at him.

Sun: "What, you think you're faster than us? I'm kidding, just do your best."

D: "I didn't realize how rude that sounded. I apologize, young master."

Sun: "Nah, I was joking. You can call me Sun and my sister Nebula."

Nebula: "Yes, you don't have to be so polite, D."

She's wearing the black wizard uniform and hat she uses when she fights.

D: "If that's your order, I will call you by your names from now on."

Sun: "That's not an order. Just see us a friend, okay?"

D stares at us in surprise. He looks around and sees the monster audience watching us and cheering.

D: "Understood, Sun."

Sun: "Now, where would be a good checkpoint? How about that island?"

I point to a distant floating island, similar to ours.

Nebula: "The ninja family? I'm not sure they like us."

Sun: "Nah, they're just shy. Besides, we go and come back right after."

...their daughter would make the perfect wife. Wait, why am I acting like a degenerate now? Sun wasn't like that. But I'm not really him...

D: "Understood. So, should we land there before returning, or just fly away when we're close enough?"

Sun: "Actually, I think it's best not to touch their property."

...I forgot how paranoid they are...

Sun: "Then, shall we go? Can you count down, Nebula?"

Nebula: "Sure! I'll shoot a fireball. When it explodes, we go."

She points her hand forward and launches a small fireball. When halfway to the other island, it explodes, releasing a massive shockwave, but not large enough to affect us. I start running until I reach the edge of our island and then I jump really far. I look down and shiver runs down my spine.

Oh my God, I don't really know how to fly...

As if by natural instinct, fire begins to form beneath my feet. Then, an explosion launches me forward. It's a bit disorienting at first, but I get the gist and manage to control the trail of fire, flying like a certain armored billionaire.

Sun: "Yes! I'm flying!"

This is scary, but really cool at the same time!

D and Nebula pass me.

Damn, they're fast.

Nebula flies like a bullet, with a shield protecting her body. D, well, flies like a dragon.

What am I waiting for? I'm not the protagonist for nothing!

I let out another blast, propelling myself farther away. I almost reach Nebula, but my speed remains constant.

I shouldn't push myself so hard. I just woke up from a coma.

D, who is already ahead of us, wraps his wings around his body and begins to spin. His speed increases dramatically.

Sun: "Now that's a real bullet!"

When nearing the other island, he begins to curve his trajectory back. It's a very wide curve, because of his speed.

Nebula continues flying until she's very close to the island. Then, she breaks her shield and stops instantly. As she falls, she turns around and starts flying again, this time toward our island.

Hey, that's a shortcut! I guess my brakes aren't as refined as hers...

I point my palms forward and release sparks of fire, which grow until they propel me backward. I do the same with my feet and begin to slow down. Then my speed increases again, in the opposite direction.

After landing on our island, I had trouble staying upright as my final speed was a bit higher than I expected.

It's like a parachute... We think we're slow enough when we hit the ground, but our eyes deceive us.

D: "Congratulations, Sun, Nebula. That was a wonderful race."

Sun: "Keep saying that and you'll make me feel like a real competitor. It took me twice as long as you to finish."

D: "Hey, your body isn't in perfect condition yet. And I'm a dragon, my flying speed is above average."

Sun: "Then how is Nebula so fast?"

Nebula: "Me? I-It's nothing..."

She blushes at me for some reason.

Nebula: "...I have to use mana and magical residue for my spells, so in short flights I have an advantage."

Sun: "It's not like I don't get tired as easily as you. Well, you two did great. How about we fight a little now?"

D: "A fight? I'm afraid I don't know how helpful I could be in that regard..."

Sun: "Are you saying you're too strong for us? Don't worry, Nebula can heal us. Besides, we don't need killing intent to fight. It's just sport."

D: "But then, Nebula would have to stay out of the fight. Healing spells are expensive."

Nebula: "How about you two get started? I can go after you're done."

We prepare ourselves. Nebula launches a fireball into the sky. I look at D, waiting for his first move as we wait for the sound of the explosion.

Sun: "D, since you're stronger than me, I won't take it easy."

D: "Then I will consider you a worthy opponent."

The fireball explodes. I run towards D and throw a kick. He blocks my leg with his wing, releasing a powerful shockwave that disorients me. He spits fire in my face. I punch him in the stomach, creating a massive explosion that sends him flying away from the island.

Good thing fire is my specialty. But I have to focus my strength on my legs. They're my strongest limbs.

D stops in midair, flapping his wings. Then he flies over our island and breathes blue fire, which freezes everything it touches. I jump out of the way. He wraps his wings around his body and flies at an astonishing speed. He hits me like a bullet and drags my body along the ground, piercing the island. I feel my entire body tremble from the impact.

Sun: "Alright, time out!"

I reach my legs for his wings and push his body hard enough to send him back into the sky. I fly back to the island, feeling hurt. Nebula heals me.

D: "I may have miscalculated my strength, young master."

Sun: "No, it's alright. If you had used your full strength, you would have killed me. You calculated perfectly."

D: "Thank you for your understanding, Sun."

Sun: "Nebula, are you good to go? I'm sorry you wasted your mana on me. Now you're at a disadvantage."

Nebula: "N-Nothing like that, brother! I always keep plenty of mana for emergencies."

Sun: "I know. But this isn't an emergency, so please ask me to stop if you're hurt."

She blushes at me again. We prepare ourselves. She fires another fireball into the sky. The moment it explodes, I rush toward her, throwing several punches, blocked by a magical shield. She touches my chest and teleports me into the sky. She launches several fireballs and icicles. I swing my leg, unleashing several explosions that destroy the projectiles.

I propel myself down with both hands and feet. I land on my feet with a explosion. Due to her shield, Nebula doesn't move. I throw a kick, which she blocks with her arm. I leap up and use my other leg to push her off, sending her hurtling toward the castle, crashing through the building and landing on the other side of the island. I arrive there shortly after.

Phew, she's still intact...

She punches the ground, and spikes begin to rise. I dodge some and kick others. When I'm close enough, I throw a punch. She grabs my arm with one hand and touches my stomach with her palm, aiming upward. This releases a massive explosion that ripples into the sky. I'm launched into the air, until I manage to stay aloft. I stare at the landscape, terrified.

If she had aimed for the island, that explosion would have destroyed it...