A Student’s Vendetta

While Matteo is pinned by layered spells, I move in. I cloak myself in mist as I weaken him from below with Blackout threading through the ground. Hit-and-run, wear him down. Matteo cuts himself free with his technique; I tail him fast. Together with Keiji’s magic, we keep squeezing his space.

Matteo smashes the floor beneath him to open a pocket. By the time I reach it, he’s gone—vanished. He bursts out from behind a building and lunges at Keiji first. Keiji shields with earth, but it’s useless; the punch passes through and cracks him in the face. Keiji’s the first to fall. While Bastian and I keep Matteo pressured, Linda works to heal Keiji—yet without Keiji’s mist, our containment suffers.

I square up with Matteo in a straight fist fight and bring up my Blackout Armor. Every punch he throws, I either block or slip. Bastian hammers him with nonstop fireballs; Keiji recovers and pins Matteo with earth, rooting him in place.

I unload a barrage. Each blow lands heavy; blood spits from Matteo’s mouth. I pause for a heartbeat.

Matteo: “What’s wrong, not going to keep going?”

In a low, threatening voice:

Kiyoshi: “Don’t worry… I’m going to pound you into the ground.”

I sheath my fists in Blackout; this time my strikes are faster and harder. Bastian scorches Matteo’s back with a breath of flame, and I smash him fast enough to shut down his regeneration. His torso is riddled with holes—the core is clear. I seize it in my hand.

Kiyoshi: “This is the end. Any last words?”

Matteo: “No last words… but there is one thing I’m glad I did.”

Kiyoshi: “And what’s that?”

Matteo: “Training you. You’ve really grown strong. I hope, in your war against the aliens, you—”

I don’t let him finish. I crush the core. Matteo starts to melt. I turn and walk toward the helicopters like nothing happened.

Linda: “Captain, are you alright?”

Kiyoshi: “Perfectly fine.”

Maybe I cut him off because I didn’t want to hear it. After we wipe out the remaining cultists, we head back to base. Looks like everyone completed their missions. Ellie walks up to me.

Ellie: “You ran into Matteo, didn’t you?”
Kiyoshi: “Yes.”
Ellie: “You killed him, I assume.”
Kiyoshi: “Yes.”

Ellie’s eyes gloss over; Matteo was one of the closest to her. She can’t forgive herself for giving the kill order. But I forgive. I’m not that weak—
for my revenge, I’d cast aside even my humanity.

Kiyoshi: “Commander, if you’d like, take a few days off. My team and I will personally handle base security.”

Ellie: “Not a bad idea… I’ll think about it.”

If Ellie keeps moving in this state, we’re in trouble. If I have to, I’ll seize command by force.

A few days later, Ellie takes a week’s leave and heads home. She hands authority to Caitlyn for that week.

Caitlyn leaves defense to me and my team and continues training the students. While I’m lecturing on structural weak points in our buildings and how to reinforce them—boom—an explosion from the training hall.

When I arrive, Rory and Kelvin are in a spar that’s gone too far. I ask a bystander:

Kiyoshi: “What’s going on here?”

Student: “Kiyoshi, Rory and Kelvin got into a shouting match. Commander Caitlyn stepped out over a document issue. Nobody’s here to stop them, so… we’re just watching.”

Kiyoshi: “Alright, I’ll handle it.”

I raise my voice:

Kiyoshi: “HEY! Enough, you two. This is a training hall, not a street fight.”

Rory: “Just because you’re Black doesn’t mean you get to strut around. You don’t give me orders.”

He charges. I wrap Rory in Blackout, lock his magic, and front-kick him in the face—out cold. Then I turn to Kelvin.

Kiyoshi: “You going to keep this up?”

Kelvin: “No. I’m sorry for fighting.”

Kiyoshi: “Don’t apologize to me.”

After breaking it up, I head to the lab. I’d given Professor Hugh the blue liquid to analyze; time to hear results. Inside, everyone looks stunned.

Kiyoshi: “Professor Hugh, what happened? What shocked you?”

Hugh: “Kiyoshi… it’s refined alien blood.”

Where the hell are these cultists getting this stuff?

Kiyoshi: “From exactly where? Can you trace it?”

Hugh: “We already did. Their supply chain runs off remains from the last war and alien tech.”

Kiyoshi: “So someone’s supplying them.”

Hugh: “Absolutely. Otherwise access should be impossible.”

Kiyoshi: “Who do you think it is?”

Hugh: “All bodies and relics were transferred to Base D and locked away. I don’t know the exact location—that’s classified. But it’s almost certainly someone at Base D. If they know the location, their rank is high—might even be Black.”

Most Black-rank soldiers are at Base D, if I remember right. My team might not be enough; going alone is stupid. For now, my hands are tied.

While I’m stewing in the lab, the Black I saw in the briefing—Magnus Drake—walks in.

Magnus: “Kiyoshi, you look deep in thought.”

Kiyoshi: “We found a few leads on the blue serum, but we don’t have the manpower. We’re stuck waiting.”

Magnus: “Base D, right? I’m suspicious of them too. If you want, Victor, you, and I can go together.”

The unstoppable lineup I was hoping for.

Kiyoshi: “I’m in.”

I pack my katana, armor, and gear. Magnus and I head to the airport; we link up with Victor and fly to Base D. Before leaving I warn my team: “No incidents at the base. Stay sharp.”

Base D is in central South America—Brazil. We land in Brasília. They must’ve been notified—soldiers and a car are waiting. We drive to the base gates.

At the gate, Base D’s Chief Commander Jose Luiz greets us.

Jose: “Welcome. Good to have you.”

Victor steps forward.
Victor: “Good to see you, Jose.”

Seems Victor doesn’t like Jose.

Victor: “Where are the remains from the last war?”

Jose: “I’m sorry. I can’t say.”

Victor’s face tightens.
Victor: “Why not?”

Jose: “Because you’re not important enough to need to know.”

Victor: “So you want me to make you tell me.”

As Victor readies his technique, five soldiers with Black armbands appear.

Jose: “Five on three. Maybe forget the fight; no need to brawl each other here.”

Victor: “You think the five of them can stand against me?”

Jose: “Not only stand—they might beat you.”

Victor smiles, all contempt.
Victor: “The idea that these talentless five could stop me is hilarious. How do you manage to be this naive?”

One soldier snaps and lunges; as his punch heads for Victor’s face, its vector shifts mid-air. In the same beat, Victor drives a heavy punch into the man’s jaw and blasts him into the gate. Out cold.

Victor, eyes cold with anger:
Victor: “Idiots like you are the first to die in war—just so you know. Now give me a good reason not to carve through all of you. I’ll find those bodies by force if I have to—keep that in mind.”

Jose: “I’ll make you regret this.”

Victor: “Oh yeah? Try me.”

Jose plus five Blacks. All of them look… off. At least Victor dropped one; down a man already.

Just as it’s about to blow up, a helicopter drops in beside us. A man in his forties steps out: short blond hair, blue eyes, average height, average build. Everyone snaps to attention. I don’t know who he is or what to do. He walks up to me.

“What’s your name?” he asks. I tell him.
“Nice to meet you, Kiyoshi. I’m Adem Ali; Marshal.”

I snap to attention and apologize. His tone is calm; he seems decent.

Adem: “What are you fighting about here?”

Jose: “Sir, Victor tried to enter a restricted area; we were stopping him.”

Adem: “Alright. I’m giving permission. Show them.”

We walk to the remains. The door only opens by fingerprint; Jose scans in, and we enter. The stench is awful—they hand us masks. The bodies look untouched. I search for traces of magic; nothing.

Victor: “Forget it, Kiyoshi. Looks like we won’t find what we want. I don’t feel like staying here any longer.”

Kiyoshi: “Alright. Your call.”

As we leave Base D, Jose flashes us a mocking grin. He’s definitely hiding something, but for now we withdraw and wait for the right moment. Magnus taps my shoulder.

Magnus: “I planted a hidden camera in the morgue. We’ll stay here a few more days.”

Kiyoshi: “Got it. Let’s get a hotel.”

While we’re unpacking, Magnus shouts:

Magnus: “The morgue door—opening!”

Victor: “Who’s going in? Let’s see…”

Watching the feed, I can’t believe what I’m seeing.