What we can do together

Before they left, Kazen turned to Scar.

“I’m sorry you didn’t have time for some character moments, it's all my fault, but do you think you can protect here while we are gone?”

“Whatever.”

With the answer, the six of them went away. They ran to the forest in the direction with more destruction, where they were sure the enemies would be.

“Kazen and Salazar working side by side. I bet you are excited by that.” Said Loretta, but Kazen’s expression was just of focus and anger.

“Normally yes, but not this time. Are you ready?”

Both Loretta and Salazar confirmed while the kids seemed to be a little lost. The veteran trio entered their Third Releases. Loretta got blue hair and scales, growing on her arms. Even focused on the mission, Kazen couldn’t prevent himself from thinking she was beautiful.

The veterans accelerated too fast for the kids to keep up which was what they wanted, to reach the villains and provoke them before the other errived.

“Kazen, do you think you can hold your fires and explosions? I don’t want the whole forest to burn.” Asked Salazar.

“I’ll do my best.”

They soon arrived at the enemies, not giving them time to react. Kazen scratched Adhesit’s back with his claws, Loretta summoned water whips holding Perdita e Salazar grabbed Defec.

“You don’t know when to stop, do you?”

Adhesit was the first one to go on his Third Release, starting to exchange attacks with Kazen. The other two soon followed, escaping the grasps of Loretta and Salazar.

Kazen’s team were on the advantage. Kazen was stronger than Adhesit, while Salazar had more experience than Defect and Loretta had more self-control than Perdita.

“We don’t need to play along, use the stars!” Ordered Adhesit.

Holding the Lightning Star, Adhesit summoned what looked like an electric dragon that started to follow Kazen at an extreme speed, the man had to put all his strength in run away or he would be hit.

With the Wind Star, Defect created the infinity whirlwind, locking Salazar away and Perdita with the Rock Star made a ton of rocks to crush Loretta, the woman made a water sphere around her, holding the rocks, but if she stopped for even a moment she would be crushed.

When the three adults were dealing with the attacks, Fulgor and others arrived, all in their second releases.

“We have to do this!” Said the boy and they went to the attack.

Fulgor tried an electric punch, but Adhesit dodged, retaliating with his claws, making a bunch of scratches on the boy.

“When I was in high school, I was already stronger than you are now.”

Lapis shot the black dense rock at Perdita that defended with her giant rock gloves and lunched a rock drill at Lapis.

“Your form is so ugly; you are not cute as myself.”

Auron and Defect were making a wind dance, trying to hit one another circling in the air.

“Your movements are not optimized, I would say that you are only using 62% of your capacities, but my 89% at the moment are still not ideal.”

By having wings and not a turtle shell, Defect had the advantage, finally hitting the boy and throwing him in the ground.

The kids could see the effects of the elemental stars in their allies, unable to help them.

“They are too strong.” Commented Auron.

“We can’t even go to the Third Release.” Continued Lapis.

Fulgor was the first one to get up, with sparks flying from his eyes.

“We can’t stop here, Kazen, Loretta and even Salazar are counting on us.”

The trio were surrounded by the villains. Ahdesit was standing in a branch up in a tree.

“You can just die now.”

A sphere of blue electricity formed on Adhesit’s hand, and he threw it at the trio on the ground, raising a cloud of smoke.

“Pathetic, let’s kill the other three and go on our way.”

When he turned, a yellow lightning came from the smoke, hitting Adhesit on the back and throwing him off the branch. The smoke cleared and they all could see Fulgor, with his tail and fur on his arms, but also with the yellow stripes on the rest of the body, revealing his Third Release.

“We are not going to lose to a stupid old man who goes to high schools beating up children, you are pathetic.”

Adhesit became furious, but he was not the first to act, Defec flew to Fulgor with wind blades circling his arms like saws. Before he could hit him a wind shield formed, stopping his movement.

“If you are too worried about being perfect you may not notice what is right in front of you.” Said Auron with the arrows in his arms and under his eyes and turtle shell in his back.

“Die, die, die!” Screamed Perdita throwing a bunch of drill rocks to Fulgor. Lapis put her own body on the way, but she resisted the strikes.

“I have been where you are, you don’t need to fall on your own insecurities. There is a bright world outside.” Said Lapis to Perdita.

She had her armored body, but around her eyes, hands and feet were black.

“You three reached the Third Release? No matter, we still are going to kill you.”

Adhesit jumped to Fulgor and the three fights began. Even in their Third Releases the adult enemies were still stronger, however they were not as determined in their fights.

Defect was faster and threw more attacks than Auron, who used his shell to defend. At each attack Defect got more nervous, with his hair getting messy and his eyes red.

“Your moves are not even close to perfection! And look at what you are doing! My own attacks are not optimal and that is your fault!”

“I’m already perfect the way I am. I have friends that love me, something you clearly don’t. When you learn your lesson, maybe we can also be friends.”

Auron entered his shell, using the winds to spin at an impressive speed, going at Defect with all his strength. The attack hit and Defect fell unconscious.

On the other side of the combat, Lapis and Perdita punched each other. The impacts made the whole ground shake. Perdita was stronger, but her attacks were without focus, like she was a kid on a tantrum.

“Why is someone so ugly like yourself able to do that?”

“That is really sad. I guess what you need is a warm hug and someone to tell you everything is going to be ok. I hope you find the help you need someday.”

Lapis held the two giant rock gloves and summoned a new black rock from the ground, kicking right at Perdita’s chest, who was thrown away.

Between these two fights, Adhesit attacked Fulgor relentlessly, both with his claws and thunder. The boy could not attack back or even defend properly but he always got up to continue the fight.

“Why don’t you stay down?” Shouted Adhesit.

“I told you I will not lose to someone so pathetic that can’t even walk a path to the future. The future is mine to do whatever I want, and, at this moment, I want to defeat you.”

He released all electricity he could, expanding an electric dome that hit Adhesit directly. The man started to shake with the electricity coursing through his body, until his body fell.

The attacks from the elemental stars stopped right when all the kids lost their consciousness, completely exhausted, but winners of their fights.