-Two week away from the Mors game -
Ever since we started flying on Bean, his eyes were scanning all over the place. I wondered if he learned a new trick or something.
"Hey Zack, did ya learn something new with your training?" I asked.
He didn't respond immediately, he just continued to stare intensely at the ground.
"You have no idea." He replied.
Soon Bean breached through the clouds, and the small island we had been trashing came into view.
"Yes! It works! I'm a genius!" Zack cheered.
I rolled my eyes.
"What did you figure out? Oh, great Genius."
"My vines! I didn't realize before, but I can feel the terrain around them. So I was testing to see how much of an area I can cover with the island, and from what distance. I can tell when and where people are walking around pretty well."
Zack chuckled and carried a wide grin on his face. There was something off about him lately. He seemed a lot happier than usual.
"That's awesome! That means you don't have to fully rely on Bean for scouting, better yet-"
"We can work together! I can get him an idea of where people are, and get him to get visuals. Maybe I should start adding tech to my stuff like Icarus does."
I blinked a few times.
"Huh, I never thought about that before," I mumbled.
Soon Bean landed and we hopped off. Zack nudged me and held up his hand. Showing off a finger gun with his index finger on fire.
"You should totally get a Glock."
He snickered and started to walk forward.
"That's actually not a bad idea. Maybe I can carry some chemicals on me that reacts to metals differently." I said and followed his lead.
"Yeah, maybe you can ask the dictator for chemical advice."
"Do you mean Val?"
"I bet her name translates to dream smasher in some languages."
I sighed.
"You're so rude."
We continued to walk through the city, and the deeper we delved the more prominent Leo's voice became. Soon we walked in on him yelling at Wiz and Penelope. The two of them looked like they wrestled a bear! Penelope was leaning on her sword for standing support, while Wiz was heaving on the ground.
It hadn't occurred to me just how little I had dealt with the newbies. Leo had really taken charge of watching them.
"Come on! You both can't be this trash! You were under Jormungand! And you were with Sun Wukong!"
"This...this isn't my final trick." Wiz panted out.
"Right!" Penelope yelled.
Zack and I didn't say a word, we just sat back and watched. First, Penelope charged in. Her sword sparked with blue electricity, and so did her armor. She went to strike Leo's head, but he easily dodged and swept her legs from under her. She fell forward onto his back and he just tossed her off onto the ground.
"Your strike was predictable." Leo huffed.
She quickly rolled to her feet and charged back at Leo. That's when Wiz took off with wand in hand. A pinkish-blue glitter came from the tip, and Wiz looked creepily blood lusted.
Leo moved his hand to his mouth, and it looked like he spit something green-up. He blew fire onto the substance and threw it at the two of them. Which exploded on contact and sent them flying back.
However, there was a rainbow line of handkerchiefs attached to Leo's leg now. I looked over and saw Wizs wide open mouth was the source of them. Wiz bit down on it and yanked, tripping Leo and knocking him down.
"Bet you didn't see that coming!" Wiz gargled out.
I looked back to Leo and I saw Penelope leaping into the air with her sword raised. She was gonna skewer him! I moved to stop the match, but ran into an invisible wall!
"Zack! Let me-"
Before I could finish I saw a blinding bright light come from Leo's mouth. I looked away, and when it died down I looked back. And I saw Penelope's blade stabbed into the ground right next to Leo's head.
"Don't get cocky because of one attack," Leo said.
Leo rolled over onto his hands and blasted fire, sending himself flying back. With Wiz Still on the end of the rope! Wiz flung forward at an alarming speed. And crashed into Penelope, while Leo burned off his tie to Wiz and landed.
"Let me show you what happens when you get cocky," Leo said with a chuckle.
He had a sadistic smile on his face and he opened his mouth wide. A bright orange ball of fire appeared. Flames and embers flew off of it like a kindling fire, while the air pressure around it was intense enough to make Leo's hair flail around.
Since when does he have that much power!?
The ball of fire grew smaller and smaller, until it was just the size of a baseball. Then Leo ate it! He whipped his head back and roared. A huge funnel of fire blasted from his lips. Red, white, purple, and yellow, these colors consumed the area and blasted right at the two. I punched down one of Zack's wind walls and stopped. I saw Wiz standing in front of Penelope with his hat out. As if he was absorbing the blast!
He held on as tight as he could, and soon an explosion went off. Which sent the hat flying back. I was surprised that the hat and the others were still in one piece.
I turned back and shoved Zack.
"What the hell man!? That could've been bad!" I yelled.
"You can't coddle them, Stryder. They agreed to train with Leo, so this is what they agreed to."
"So what!? I don't want them to die!"
"Do you really think so little of Leo?" He asked.
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Leo hasn't failed me once, did I really think he'd kill them?
"I...I guess you have a point. I should trust Leo."
Zack nodded and faced the group again.
"Besides, I had Bean there and ready. Just in case." Zack mumbled."So don't feel bad. I was worried too."
I smiled and nodded.
"I shouldn't think so little of you either."
He smiled back and then we both headed into the ring.
"Yo! When did you learn the Kamehameha?" Zack laughed.
Leo turned back to us and rolled his eyes.
"What are you two doing here?" Leo asked dryly.
"Well, Jack suggested we all take a break. Review some of the new stuff we learned. So when the games start we understand how to complement each other." I said.
Leo shrugged and turned back to the two. They were motionless on the ground.
"Hey! Let's pack it up! It's time to have that break I promised you four hours ago!" Leo yelled.
It took a bit, but Wiz finally sat up. The hat that flew off into the sunset was now magically on his head.
"Man! It's really hard to fight without Henry." He grumbled and scratched the back of his head.
"That's why we're doing this," Leo grumbled. "You need to learn to rely on your own abilities too. Especially if they take your hat away."
"Hey Leo, why not let me train Wiz for a bit," Zack spoke up. "I think our abilities are comparable enough, so I can teach him some stuff."
"Sounds reasonable, Stryder, would you mind taking Penelope then?" Leo asked. "I think I've broken the mold enough for you. So you can start forcing on technique and versatility."
I nodded.
"I'd love to, what will you be doing then?" I asked.
"Enjoying silence for a few hours." Leo yawned and started to walk forward. "Plus my flying still needs some work."
I walked past him and over to Penelope.
"Need help?" I inquired.
She reached her hand out to me, and I pulled her up.
"Thank you, I'm sorry, I promise to be a worthy student!" She bowed and almost fell over.
I moved my arm around her and helped her up.
"Hey, don't worry about it." I chuckled.
"How about we each have lunch separately today?" Zack called out. "Then meet up after a week to do the plan. So we can work with our fresh meat better!"
I looked up and nodded.
"Sounds like a plan!" I yelled back, then turned to Penelope. "What's your favorite food? I'll treat us."
She stood up straight and removed her helmet. Letting her sweaty Lavender hair fall down over her face.
"I like Barbecue, is that okay?"
She blew air out and her hair flew in the wind, only to fall back into her face. I laughed and moved it out the way.
"Yeah, that's cool." I chuckled.
"Chuck E Cheese!" Zack and Wiz both cheered.
"What are you? Five?" Leo asked and turned toward the magic duo.
I carried Penelope over and Zack just laughed.
"Awww is wittle Leo Jelly." Zack snickered and patted his head.
Then Leo bit his hand, hard!
"Ah! He bit me! He bit me!"
Zack flung his hand around and Leo eventually let go.
"Don't touch me," Leo grumbled.
"He's so cute when he's agitated.." Penelope mumbled.
Yeah, I can see why Leo wants a break...