Chapter 15

Meanwhile at the Government.

Leya: “Can you believe we spent all day at the pool?”

Arden: “That's not true. We went inside to eat a couple of times.”

Leya: “I think tomorrow we should take a mission.”

Arden: “Why? They didn't give us one... so let's relax.”

Leya: “I know. But it's Nireh's first mission as a Legend. And we should pick it.”

Nireh: “But I haven't trained yet with Nereea.”

Leya: “You could train with us.”

Arden: “That would be interesting.”

Nireh: “Okay... do you know what to do?”

Leya: “It's simple. You just use your power in various ways. To see its strengths and weaknesses.”

Nireh: “I actually want to know what it can do.”

Arden: “Wonderful. Let's change and meet up at training ground three.”

Leya: “In one hour.”

Nireh: “See you there.”

At the training grounds.

Leya: “First, try something simple. Like use your power and move Arden to another place.”

Arden: “Okay. But no weird stuff.”

Nireh: “Don't worry. You will not be naked when I'm done.”

Leya: “Hahaha. Please, don't do that.”

Nireh stops time, takes Arden in his arms and places him closer to Leya. Then frees time.

Arden: “This is insane. I didn't feel anything.”

Leya: “And for me... you just blinked.”

Leya: *What a ridiculous power.*

Nireh: “That was easy. What's next?”

Leya: “Let's see the combat now. You and Arden spar a little... then try to stop time and use it to your advantage.”

Arden: “Okay... I am not disadvantaged at all.”

Leya: “Relax. Nireh will be gentle with your fragile pride.”

They begin to spar. After a few moments, Nireh stops time and positions himself behind him.

Then he pushes him.

Time frees itself.

Nireh: “That was not me.”

Arden: “What do you mean? You pushed me.”

Nireh: “Yes... but I didn't free the time. It... freed itself.”

Nireh: *That was weird.*

Leya: “Hmm... your power might be tied to your intention. When you didn't want to harm him, it worked perfectly. And now... you can't control it?”

Arden: “Let's try again. But now try to stop it then hit me. Not too hard though.”

Nireh: “Very well.”

They begin to spar again. Nireh avoids Arden's punch and tries to stop the time then hit him with his leg. But nothing happens. Arden just blocks and the fight continues.

A few minutes later.

Nireh: “We can stop. I tried many times but it doesn't work.”

Leya: “Are you sure? I didn't see any blinks.”

Nireh: “I am sure. I can't stop it if I try to harm him.”

Leya: “That's interesting.”

Leya: *At least it has some limits.*

Arden: “So you can use it for repositioning and avoiding but not for attacking.”

Nireh: “It would seem so.”

Leya: “What if you both attack at the same time? Arden, hit him with your shock.”

Nireh: “Shock? What do you mean?”

Arden: “Oh yeah... he doesn't know our layer 3 powers yet. I have Shock-waves and she has Titanium Chains.”

Nireh: “That's so cool.”

Leya: “Arden, make sure to use a light one.”

Arden: “I know... don't worry.”

They distance themselves a few meters, then start running towards each other. When Arden shoots his Shock-wave from his palm, Nireh tries to avoid it by jumping over him. But time doesn't stop and he takes the hit from Arden.

Arden: “Are you okay?”

Nireh: “Yeah... just... give me a minute.”

Nireh: *My ears do not like this attack.*

Leya: “You were right. If you want to attack while using it... it won't work.”

Arden: “Still, you can probably avoid any attack. I think it's strong enough.”

Nireh: “Yeah... I just need to get used to it.”

Leya: “Let's do some more exercises. I will join too.”

The rest of the day was spent testing Nireh's power.

Early in the morning, they all gathered in the buffet room.

Arden: “Leya's being late. That's new.”

Leya: “You can't survive one minute without me, huh?”

Arden: “Haha. You're finally here.”

Leya: “I got a mission.”

Nireh: “What mission?”

Leya: “Your first mission as a Legend... will be to check a haunted forest.”

Arden: “Wow... you picked something actually nice.”

Leya: “I always do.”

Nireh: “I have to admit... I didn't expect that.”

Leya: “Haha. Let's go. We have a long road ahead of us.”

Late in the evening.

Arden: “Nice timing. We got here just in time to get scared.”

Nireh: “Isn't it safer to wait until morning?”

Leya: “Oh.. relax. We are Legends... remember?”

Arden: “She's right. I wanna see who's haunting this forest now.”

A bit reluctant, Nireh follows them into the forest. Arden, more confident than ever, leads the team. Slowly, darkness settles in. The air gets colder and night creatures get louder.

Leya: “Arden... wait. We need light.”

Arden: “Just light up a stick with your fire.”

Leya: “No. I have a torch. Just hold on.”

They stop for a moment.

Nireh: “What is that smell?”

Leya: “I thought it came from Arden.”

Nireh: “Haha. No... something is decomposing.”

Leya: “It's probably a dead animal.”

Arden: “Leya, come here with the light.”

Leya: “Why? Are you scared already?”

Arden: “Look at that tree.”

Leya: “Are those... claw marks?”

Nireh: “There are more over there.”

Leya: “And they're getting bigger.”

Arden: “Let's follow them.”

Leya: “I have a bad feeling about this.”

After a few minutes of walking.

Nireh: “Is it just me... or is it getting a little foggy?”

Leya: “It's not just you. The forest is also quieter now.”

Arden: “Come on guys. It's probably just a big bear. Don't be so scared.”

Raindrop: “Nireh! What are you doing here?”

He stops time.

Nireh: “Raindrop... you scared me to death. What are you doing here?”

Raindrop: “You need to get out of this forest. Now!”

Nireh: “What? Why?”

Suddenly, three red claws attack him from the fog.

Raindrop: “Watch out.”

She pushes him at the last second.

Nireh: “Aahhh... my arm. What was that?”

Nireh: *I thought I stopped time.*

Raindrop: “It seems your Time Stop does not affect creatures from my world.”

Nireh: “Your world? I thought only fairies are not affected.”

They begin to hear scratches on the ground.

Raindrop: “He's coming again. Be careful!”

As she said that the claws approach Nireh at an incredible speed. But this time... at the last second, Raindrop opens a portal right in front of them.

Raindrop: “Are you okay?”

Nireh: “Yeah... you saved me just in time. Did you see those claws?”

Raindrop: “It's a werewolf, Nireh.”

Nireh: “A what? Why is he here?”

Raindrop: “It doesn't matter. You are marked and wounded. I need to heal you before he comes back.”

Nireh: “Marked? That's why it feels like it's burning?”

Raindrop: “Yes. Let me see it.”

She tears off his sleeve. Then, pointing her palm at the wound, she begins to heal him.

Nireh: “Hmm... what are you doing? This feels weird.”

Raindrop: “I know. But this wound is not normal. It needs special healing. Just stay still.”

Using her magic powers, she heals him in a hurry.

Nireh: *I'm starting to feel her magic through my arm. It feels... oddly good.*

Nireh: “How did he get into our world?”

Raindrop: “Mean fairies... they are looking to cause trouble. From what I've heard... it's an ancient, powerful creature who teamed up with another werewolf, and together they killed an Elemental Nymph. It was an incredibly rare event. Only he survived, but he had to eat parts of her so he could regenerate. Which was incredibly painful since her body was imbued with lightning. And now... his claws are covered in Crimson Lightning.”

Nireh: “Are you saying that three Legends can't beat him?”

Raindrop: “I don't know. But... your wound is healed. I just...”

Nireh: “Raindrop, are you okay?”

Nireh: *She's about to faint. I think she used all her energy.*

Nireh: “Stay with me. I can't protect you if you faint. Do you hear me?”

He shouts at her.

Raindrop: “You need...”

Slowly raising her right hand, she opens a portal... and faints.

Nireh: “Raindrop! Raindrop!”

Nireh: *Dammit. I can't leave her here. Should I put her in that portal? But where does it go? I have no choice. I can barely protect myself.*

He takes her gently off the ground and puts her in the portal, which closes immediately. 
Then, a frightening howl reaches him.

Nireh: “Oh no. He's back.”

He resumes time.

Nireh: “Leya, quickly create a big fire around us.”

Leya: “Why? We only need a torch.”

Nireh: “Just do it fast.”

The howling starts again. He approaches with high speed. They can hear the trees breaking as he gets closer.

Leya: “What the hell was that?”

Arden: “Quickly, Leya! The fire!”

She surrounds them with a big circling fire. Just in time. The werewolf is there. They can hear his breath even if they can't see him. The fog and darkness completely mask him.

Arden: “What is that sound?”

Nireh: “It's a werewolf. But not from our world.”

Leya: “How do you know that?”

Nireh: “It doesn't matter. We need to kill him... before he kills us.”

Arden: “Why don't you just stop time and handle him?”

Nireh: “I tried. It doesn't work.”

Leya: “What do you mean it doesn't work?”

Nireh: “I told you. He is not from our world.”

Arden: “So what are we going to do now?”

The werewolf starts running. He is circling the fire and howls at the same time.

Leya: “What is he doing?”

Leya: *I've never been so scared in my life.*

Nireh: “I think we don't have much time.”

Arden: “Great. So, what's the plan?”

Nireh: “We have no choice but to trap him.”

Arden: “And how are we going to do that?”

Nireh: “I'll bait. You hit him with a strong shockwave, then Leya restrains him... and I'll finish him.”

Leya: “That plan sounds simple... but one mistake and one of us dies.”

Nireh: “I know. So, let's get it right.”

Arden: “I believe in you guys.”

After calming his breathing, Nireh jumps out of the fire and starts running. The werewolf follows him immediately. Using all his speed, he takes a curve back towards the fire. The werewolf quickly closes in. Then he jumps at Nireh with his claws. From his left side, Arden hits him with a powerful shockwave, and he falls violently. Suddenly, chains from the ground begin to hold him. Then Nireh rushes him with his Whisper Edge, coating his katana with an extremely thin layer of compressed wind, slashing his throat cleanly. The creature's body fades into the wind.

Leya: “I can't believe it worked.”

Leya: *What a crazy creature. My heart needs to calm down.*

Arden: “Hahaha. We showed him what Legends can do.”

The cold air was lifting.

Nireh: “That was too close. Good job, guys.”

Leya: “Let's go home.”

Arden: “Did you like your first mission, Nireh?”

Nireh: “Not really.”

Nireh: *I hope Raindrop is okay.*

Arden: “Hahaha. Now you know how it feels to be a Legend.”