Chapter 18

Nireh: “Nereeeaa... are you okay?”

He shouts into the hole.

Norkai: “No answer. Let's go.”

Nireh: “Are you sure you don't wanna stay here?”

Norkai: “I can take care of myself. Don't worry about me.”

Nireh: “Fine. Just... be careful.”

They both jump into the hole.
When they reached the bottom, they saw Nereea listening at a door.

Nereea: “Don't make noise.”

She whispered to them.

Nireh: “Are you okay?”

Nereea: “Yeah. I think nobody's here.”

She then rips the door out of the wall.

Norkai: “You really are strong.”

Nereea: “I know. Come on.”

Behind the door was an illuminated tunnel. As they reached its end, they could hear people talking.

Nereea: “Be careful and keep quiet.”

The tunnel led to a huge cave which was properly equipped to be a hideout.

Norkai: “This looks like a storage room.”

Nereea: “Come here. Quickly, hide behind these barrels.”

The cave was filled with barrels, crates and wooden tables. Several entrances were built into the stone walls, with a big room near the main entrance.

Nireh: “Draviel is most likely in that room.”

Nereea: “These bastards made a proper hideout here. I should have closed it a long time ago.”

Nireh: “You want me to stop time and scout the area?”

Nereea: “It's too dangerous. We don't know how your power fully works.”

Nireh: “Actually... Arden and Leya helped me understand it.”

Nereea: “Really? How does it work then?”

Nireh: “I can stop time but I can't change much. I can reposition and surprise my opponent but if I try to attack or kill someone... it resumes by itself. However... the duration limit is unknown to me.”

Nereea: “That's interesting.”

Nereea: *I can't say the drawbacks surprise me. Even my power has some limitations.*

Nereea: “Very well. But be careful. Don't risk too much.”

Nireh: “Understood. I'm going.”

Norkai: “Take care.”

He stops time. Then proceeds towards the room.

Nireh: *There are so many guys here. At least a dozen. And I bet they're all layer 2. I need to be careful not to have ill intentions towards them.*

He reaches the door. Inside were several fighters as well as Draviel, who was locked in a cell with his head covered.

Nireh: *There he is. I only need the keys now. Hmm... what about this guy's pocket.*

He gently searches his pockets but doesn't find anything.

Nireh: *What about this guy.*

He searches the guard but doesn't find them.

Nireh: *Where the heck are they? Do I need to search everyone?*

As he says that, he notices something on a guard.

Nireh: *There they are. His necklace. But how do I take it? The moment I rip the necklace... time will resume.*

After a few minutes of thinking, he decides to do it.

Nireh: *Well... this is gonna suck. Here we go.*

He quickly snatches the necklace. Time resumes. Everyone sees him. Then he stops the time again.

Nireh: *My heart is racing. Pull it together, Nireh... and get him out of here.*

He unlocks his cell and removes his bag, his handcuffs and the leather strap.

Nireh: *Finally. I wonder how heavy he is.*

While going towards Nereea, he doesn't notice that the barrels are leaking oil. He slips and falls, dropping Draviel as well. Time resumes.

Nireh: *Oh no.*

Guard: “What are they doing there? Get them.”

Nereea teleports at them.

Nereea: “It's fine, Nireh. You did a good job. Let's take them out.”

Draviel: “I'm sorry guys.”

Nereea: “Save it for later. We have work to do now.”

The fight starts. 
Norkai calls upon his rain. Nereea combines her lightning with the water, targeting the guards. But a lightning user counters her with the same attack. Using his Palm Blow, Draviel throws an enemy on the ground. Nereea immediately teleports over and knocks him out.

Nereea: “One down. A lot more to go.”

Draviel: “They don't seem like amateurs.”

Nereea: “I don't care. I'll make them pay for having the nerve to undermine us.”

Meanwhile, a couple of guards surround Norkai. Seeing that, Nireh stops time. He places himself near him, then frees time.

Nireh: “You need some help?”

Norkai: “Show off. Lead the way.”

Using his Tailwind Step, Nireh goes on offense against three opponents. With his movement enhanced, he activates his Enhanced Instinct, then launches towards one of them. Another guard tries to help his friend with a huge fireball directed towards Nireh. Norkai backs him up with his Geysers Overload, deflecting the ball. Nireh then finishes his target with his Whisper Edge technique. Within seconds, the remaining guards get backup from the others.

Norkai: “How are we supposed to win when there are so many of them?”

Nireh: “I'm not sure. I don't like this at all.”

He continues by keeping them at distance with Crosswind, two powerful slashes of wind that intersect with each other, creating projectiles with eruption on impact. Focusing on those guards, Nireh gets attacked from a blind spot by a lightning user.

Norkai: “Nireh, watch out.”

He stops time, then moves into a safer area. Frees time.

Draviel: “Aaah... I got hit.”

Nireh: “I'm sorry. I didn't know where the attack was going.”

Nireh: *Dammit. I need to be more careful.*

Meanwhile, Nereea is pinned down.

Nereea: “Are you okay, Draviel?”

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

She uses her lightning affinity and the layer 2 power, Fast Regeneration, to take out a few but her energy is going down fast. Two wind users are coordinating against her, knowing wind is the best counter against her lightning. One of them keeps her at distance with heavy wind blows while the other one uses wind-infused knives to try to strike her. This forces her to stay in a defensive position, since she has to be careful not to let Draviel get hit as well. Every time she tries to teleport and get the advantage, the enemies rotate between themselves, in order to face the ones who are countering her. Meanwhile, some of them attack only Draviel, forcing her to keep an eye on him as well. Nireh stops time and positions himself near her.

Nireh: “How are you holding up?”

Nereea: “Not great. I'm using my powers way too much. I don't know how much I can keep going.”

She starts using Lightning Nails, one of her signature moves, launching projectiles towards the guards. Nireh backs her up with his Crescent Rush. Surprised by their combination and timing, they try to flee, but Draviel pulls them back with his Wind's Pull, and they get hit.

Nereea: “Nicely played, boys.”

On the other side of the battlefield, Norkai is fighting a fire user. The guard keeps him on defense with continuous fire attacks, forcing him to stand still with his Water Shield raised.
Nireh stops time and moves him in a safe area.

Norkai: “Where am I?”

Nireh: “I used my power to move you. You are safe.”

Norkai: “Oh... okay.”

Norkai: *I didn't feel anything. What a ridiculous power.*

Nereea gets surrounded. Multiple guards target her. Nireh stops time and repositions her.
Draviel gets rushed by several enemies. Nireh stops time and gets him out of danger.
Norkai gets trapped. Nireh stops time again and moves him to safety.

Nireh: *This is insane. I don't know how many times I can do this.*

Draviel: “Things are looking rough. They know our attacks now.”

Nereea: “I know. It's hard now even for me to take them out.”

A fighter wielding wind-infused nunchucks keeps Nireh busy, deflecting most of his attacks. At the same time several guards are focusing on Norkai.

Nireh: *I need to help Norkai. I'm just wasting my time with this opponent.*

He stops time. Then moves Norkai again. Frees time.

Norkai: “What? You moved me again? I was ready to counter them with my Geysers Overload.”

Nireh: “I'm sorry. I thought you needed help.”

Norkai: “I can handle myself. Just be careful when you use the Time Stop.”

Nireh: “Got it.”

Nireh: *Knowing when to use this power... is something tricky. Even if I can help them, that doesn't mean they need my help.*

Guard 2: “Did you hear that? That guy can stop the time?”

Guard 3: “Earlier I missed one of them... he disappeared. It must have been his power.”

Guard 4: “But how are we still alive if he can do that?”

Guard 3: “It has some sort of limit. Whatever it is... we can figure him out.”

Guard 4: “The numbers are on our side. Spread the word. Make everyone aware of his power and let's counter it.”

Guard 2: “Understood. On my way.”

As Nireh is fighting the guards with his brother, he sees from the corner of his eye that a guard is flanking Draviel. Immediately, he stops time and places him in a safe spot.

Nireh: “Are you okay, Draviel?”

Draviel: “I've been better. Don't worry.”

Nereea: “He is exhausted. I need to get him out of here.”

Draviel: “I'm fine. Just keep going.”

A guard rushes him from behind with his sword.

Nireh stops time immediately.

Nireh: *Nooo... the sword clipped him. I need to take care of the wound. When I free the time, blood will come out. Dammit. I wasn't fast enough.*

He treats the wound and frees time.

Draviel: “Aaahh... I got hit.”

Nireh: “I saw him too late. I'm sorry, Draviel.”

Nereea: “You're going home now.”

Draviel: “Fine... I guess I can't help much in my current state.”

Nereea: “Nireh, I'll get him out of here. Be careful until I come back.”

Nireh: “Understood. Take care, Draviel.”

Draviel: “You too. When I see you again... I wanna hear you won this fight.”

Nireh: “I'll do my best.”

Nireh: *It will take a miracle for that to happen. Nereea was right... this mission is too dangerous for us.*

Norkai: “Nireh, I need some help.”

For a few moments the boys are facing all the remaining guards.

Nireh: “Just stay in defense until Nereea comes back.”

Norkai: “I don't think we have a choice anyway.”

Nireh: “Use your Wave Shield and I will use my Cyclone Disperse to redirect the attacks.”

Guard: “They are alone now. Take them out quickly.”

Guard 2: “Show no mercy.”

The guards charge their finisher moves. Nireh panics and stops time.

Nireh: *This will exhaust me, but I have no choice. I need to avoid their attacks or we're dead.*

He changes his position and his brother's several times.

When the assault stops, a guard sees them and quickly launches a waterfall attack. Norkai uses his Wave Shield to stop it. Another guard launches a series of lightning bolts towards Norkai. Nireh redirects them with his Cyclone Disperse. A fire user starts launching fireballs towards them. Nireh stops time and moves again to a safer place.

Nireh: “This is hopeless.”

Norkai: “Yeah... I got hit.”

Nireh: “Dammit. Are you okay?”

Nireh: *I didn't even see that.*

Nereea: “Okay boys, I'm back.”

Nireh: “I think we should retreat. Norkai was hit and I am exhausted.”

Nereea: “You want me to leave them unpunished after what they did to Draviel?”

Nireh: “I don't like it either. But we have no choice.”

Nereea: “It's not enough, Nireh. After I finish here... I'm going straight for Sevren.”

Nireh: “I'm sorry Nereea... but we can't do it today. They know how to counter my Time Stop power.”

Nereea: “Dammit. Are you sure about that?”

Nireh: “Yeah... they attack free areas preemptively. I can't position you guys in a safe place for long. They figured it out somehow.”

Nereea: “Ohh... alright then. Let's get out of here.”

Guard Leader: “You're not going anywhere. I just came back.”

Nereea: “You? What are you doing here? I thought we banished you years ago.”

Guard Leader: “You did. But Sevren was kind enough to give me a second chance. What have you done with Velmir? We were supposed to meet after he saw you?”

Nereea: “I don't know what you're talking about.”

She gives him a large smirk.

Guard Leader: “You bitch. What have you done with him? I'll kill you right now.”

Nereea: “Nireh... I'm sorry. But before we go... I'm gonna teach this monster a lesson.”

Nireh: “Are you sure? I don't think you can fight a Legend in your condition.”

Nereea: “Don't worry about that. Just keep yourself and your brother safe.”

Nireh: *We don't have time for this. We're exhausted. What is she trying to do now?*

She raises her right hand. Sparkles of lightning start to emerge from her fingers. Then she teleports.

Norkai: “Where did she go?”

On a very high mountain, a huge bolt of lightning strikes her hand, recharging her powers. The pain is great, but she can survive thanks to her layer 2 power.

Guard Leader: “I guess she got scared of me. Hahaha. Finish them boys.”

Nereea: “It's time for you to die.”

Nireh: “You're back. What happened?”

Nereea: “I've got a little power up.”

Guard Leader: “I couldn't care less. Stop stalling and let's end this.”

He starts the fight by launching his octopus tentacles towards her.

Nireh: *So that's what she meant by monster.*

She dodges. Then touches the tentacles with her lightning-charged hand. He takes the full hit. Nothing happens. Lightning is his affinity as well.

Guard Leader: “That's not gonna work on me.”

They continue with hand-to-hand combat. Nereea teleports behind him. As she is about to hit him, he bends his body unusually hard and she misses him, revealing his layer 2 power, Increased Flexibility. Then he launches multiple tentacles towards her. She retreats by jumping back. Then she uses her Lightning Nails and overwhelms him with many projectiles. But she can't land a clean hit. The guard dodges with his layer 2 ability and uses his tentacles as a shield.

Guard Leader: “Is that all you got?”

Nereea: “I'm sick of you. This ends now.”

By charging her feet with lightning and making herself very light, she uses her signature move, Lightning's Revenge. Frightened by what is about to happen, the guard begins a series of tentacle attacks.

Guard Leader: “Don't let her get to me.”

The rest of the guards begin launching a series of affinity attacks against her.

Nereea evades all of them. At a very high speed she closes the gap in seconds. Before he can dodge, she hits him straight into his chest with her feet. The enemy explodes.

Norkai: “That was so cool.”

Nireh: “What did you do to him?”

Nireh: *I should seriously be careful how I speak with her.*

Nereea: “I gave him enough lightning to light up an entire village.”

Nereea: *But now I'm really tired. We need to get out of here.*

She falls to the ground.

Nireh: “Nereea... are you okay?”

Nireh: *She must be exhausted.*

Nereea: “Yeah... let's leave.”

Guard: “Don't let them get away.”

Nireh: “Wait for us outside. I'll take Norkai.”

Nereea: “Very well.”

She teleports away, and Nireh stops time. Then he grabs Norkai and moves towards the exit.

Nireh: *I feel so tired. And Norkai... is so heavy. I can feel my strength fading away.*

In a few minutes, they are outside.

Nereea: “Are you okay? You seem extremely exhausted.”

Nereea: *Using his power for so long... I'm not even surprised.*

Nireh: “I'll be fine. Let's continue.”

Norkai: “Let me carry you this time. I'm not nearly as tired as you are.”

Sevren: “You're not going anywhere, boy.”

Accompanied by another handful of fighters, including two Legends, he is waiting for them.

Nereea: “You bastard. What are you doing here?”

Sevren: “You think you can break into my hideout, mess things up and then just walk away?”

Nereea: “You son of a bitch. I would kill you right now if I weren't so tired.”

Sevren: “I bet you would try. However, still fail. Just like you've failed to catch me all this time. How does it feel to be a failure?”

Mr. Arvenor: “You tell me, Sevren.”

He turns around.

Sevren: “What... what are you doing here?”

Surrounded by at least ten Legends, he finally catches him in the act.

Mr. Arvenor: “You think you could fool me by sending that rat to distract me? I saw Gredik's intentions miles away.”

Sevren: “I see. So... now is the part when we all kill each other? Because I will not surrender.”

Mr. Arvenor: “You are lucky that I value life. Especially the lives of your men. So, I'm gonna give you one chance.”

Nereea: “What are you doing? Let's finish them now. This is our chance.”

Mr. Arvenor: “I'm speaking now, Nereea.”

Nereea: “Yes, sir. My apologies.”

Norkai: “Are you going to let this murder get away? I thought Legends are smarter than this.”

Mr. Arvenor: “My dear boy, there are a lot of things that you don't know. But for now... you need to trust me.”

Nireh: “Why is everyone so scared of him?”

He whispers to Nereea.

Nereea: “You don't know? Why am I surprised? Let me tell you why... Mr. Arvenor's layer 3 power is an invisible shield that cancels the layer 3 powers of any other Legend. Not only that, but the shield has some secrets that nobody knows about. He is probably the worst enemy to have in a close range fight. You understand now?”

Nireh: “Are you saying... that my Time Stop never affected him?”

Nereea: “That's correct. He knew every time you used your power.”

Nireh: *I can't believe this.*

Nireh: “Why didn't you tell me sooner?”

Nereea: “Because you were being tested, Nireh. To see what kind of Legend you are.”

Nireh: “I... understand... but I don't like it. Are there any other secrets like that?”

Nireh: *I need to be careful from now on. I never expected Mr. Arvenor to have such power.*

Nereea: “Relax. Everyone went through that test.”

Mr. Arvenor: “So... you are going to take your men and leave towards Thoros. If I ever see you in Yllera, I'll kill you myself. Is that clear to you?”

Sevren: “Crystal clear. You win this time. I'll see you later, Nereea.”

Sevren: *I can't believe this old fool played me like that.*

Within minutes, the area is cleared.

Mr. Arvenor: “I'm sorry I've used you like that, Nireh. But I needed that bastard to be caught in action.”

Nireh: “I don't understand. Draviel wasn't in danger?”

Mr. Arvenor: “Of course he was. And that was the plan. To give them some bait and see if they'll take it. As soon as he captured him, we only needed him to be here, for everyone to see it. Now no Legend in the village can back him up anymore. Or they go down with him.”

Norkai: “But why not kill him now?”

Mr. Arvenor: “Because if we kill him... his boss will bring another headache in our way. At least this one, we know how to handle. You understand now?”

Norkai: “A little bit. But it's still confusing.”

Nereea: “I would have killed him without hesitation.”

Mr. Arvenor: “Some day when you'll be in my place... you will have the chance to make that decision.”

Nereea: “Sir... I... thank you.”

Mr. Arvenor: “Now, let's get out of here. I want something to drink.”

To be continued.