Battle for leader Part two

Theo: There are two minutes on the clock. You must disarm the bombs before time runs out. Your time starts… now!

Decibolt (thinking): We don’t have bombs like these in the Realm of Crystals… What am I supposed to do?

Kira (thinking): This is a Level 3 task—disarming these will be a breeze.

Decibolt (thinking): Hmm, Kira is opening the bomb casing… I’ll do the same.

Kira (thinking as she works): This is a pulse bomb. I just have to cut this… switch that… and—done.

Decibolt (thinking): So many wires… which one do I cut? In those old Earth shows, it’s always the red wire, but… there’s no red wire. I’ll just cut them all. (He snips all the wires. The bomb starts beeping rapidly—then explodes in his face with a harmless but messy flash.)

Kira: Ha!

Theo (trying not to laugh): Kira wins by default.

Decibolt: That’s not fair! There are no bombs in the Crystal Realm—how was I supposed to know how to disarm them?

Kira: No need to cry about it.

Meanwhile, at Villain Society Headquarters…

Radiax was chained to a cold metal wall, arms suspended. The V.L. paced in front of him, boots echoing on the floor.

V.L.: I gave you one mission, Radiax—one simple mission. And you let a child walk away with victory.

Radiax (muttering): You didn’t defeat him either…

V.L. (turning sharply, his face inches from Radiax): Do you know what I do to failures? (Radiax’s heart pounds. He braces himself, saying nothing.)

V.L.: I show them… no mercy. (Dark energy crackles in his hand—black lightning infused with corrupted power.)

V.L.:Underworld Surge! (A violent blast of lightning rips through Radiax. His body convulses, chains clattering. His scream fills the chamber. When it ends, his head slumps forward. The V.L. looks down at him without pity.)

V.L.: Now that that’s settled, we need a formidable villain to deal with this nuisance. Suggestions?

Radiax (weakly): Sh… should it be a crystal holder… or non-crystal holder?

V.L.: We can’t risk losing any crystal objects. A non-crystal holder, then.

Radiax: Send… Sand Tomb.

V.L.: Nuclei!

Nuclei: Yes, boss? (He approaches from around the corner.)

V.L.: Bring me the one they call Sand Tomb.

One minute later…

Sand Tomb: You called?

V.L.: Get ready. Tomorrow, you fight two holders of crystal objects. You must retrieve them. Failure… is not an option.

Sand Tomb: Roger.

11:30 PM – Training Chamber 4

Theo: Time for Round 3. Bulbe—you know what to do.

Bulbe: Techno-create! (Three VR headsets materialize.)

Theo: These will transport your minds into a digital dimension where you can battle all-out.

Kira: So… that’s the next challenge.

Decibolt: Challenge? For me, it’s a walk in the crystal garden.

Theo: Alright—put on your headsets.

They don the headsets and instantly find themselves in a digital arena—a fighting ring surrounded by cheering digital spectators. Theo is in the commentator’s seat. Kira and Decibolt face off from opposite sides.

Theo: Are you ready for the biggest fight of your lives?

Spectators: Yeah!

Theo: I can’t hear you!

Spectators: YEAH!!!

Theo: Alright then… Hajime!

Decibolt: Sonic Disc! (He propels himself into the air with a sonic blast, merging two blasts into a spinning, razor-sharp disc. He hurls it at Kira.)

Kira: Is that all? (She dodges effortlessly.)

Decibolt: You underestimate my power.

Kira: I’ll show you power! (She rips chunks of the ring floor and hurls them at him.)

Decibolt: That’s it? Throwing stuff? (He dodges—then notices Kira suddenly at his side.)

Decibolt: H–how did you get there?!

Kira: Kinetic Punch! (Though her fist doesn’t touch him, the force slams into Decibolt, knocking him to the ground.)

Theo: What an epic display of power! These two are legendary fighters!

Kira: I used my molecular kinesis to amplify the force of my punch. You underestimate me. (She leaps back.)

Kira: Kinetic Punch Barrage! (A flurry of invisible-force punches rains toward him.)

Decibolt: Sonic Shield! (Rippling waves form a barrier, though it slowly pushes him toward the edge.)

Kira: I can do this all day.

Theo: Is this the end of the match, or will Decibolt turn it around?

Decibolt (Smirks):Hmm

Kira:What’s that smirk for?

Decibolt: I didn’t think you’d be this strong. Guess I’ll take you seriously. (He blasts sonic waves from his feet, hovering above the ground.)

Decibolt: Gigantic Sonic Disc! (He creates a disc 100 times faster and stronger than before.)

Kira: Aura—activate! (Her molecular kinesis pushes back against the disc.)

Theo: The whole ring is shaking!

Decibolt: Triple Sonic Blast! (Blasts from his hands and mouth drive the disc forward.)

Theo: Both fighters are giving it their all! Who will win?!

Kira: Let’s finish this! Full Body Repulsion! (The force explodes outward—everything is repelled. Decibolt is sent flying. Kira leaps, grabs him by the neck, and throws him out of the ring.)

Theo: Kira wins!

11:45 PM – Back in Chamber 4 (They remove the VR headsets.)

Kira: You were right, Decibolt—we’re not on equal footing… I’m way ahead of you! HA! I WON!

Decibolt: Yeah, yeah… you won. I lost.

Kira: You didn’t walk in that crystal garden—you ran for your life before I beat you up.

Decibolt: I get it. Quit bragging.

Kira: Fine. I’ll go do my morning training.

Decibolt: And I’ll train Theo. But first—what even are your powers?

Theo: Allow me to explain…

Two minutes later.

Hakim: You must be one weird guy to have a power like that.

Kira: Believe me, you don’t know the half of it.

Hakim: Didn’t you say you had something to do?

Kira: I’m going, I’m going.

Hakim: Now… let’s activate your Chosen One perks. As you know, the Chosen One has enhanced physical abilities plus one extra power.

Theo: Yeah.

Hakim: First, you have to learn how to trigger it. It usually activates when the holder’s is in danger, but you can’t rely on that. Try saying:Activate the power of the Chosen One.

Theo (timidly): Activate the power of the Chosen One…

Hakim: Louder. Confident.

Theo:Activate the power of the Chosen One!!! (His eyes flicker, and the C.O. emblem glows—then fades. Theo pants.)

Decibolt: Not bad. With more training, you’ll master it.