Arsenal

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

A younger Arsenal stands in front of Sinclair, both of them standing on an open field just outside of the mansion. Other children and members of Reapers watch both of them as they take on each other, each assuming different battle poses.

"Don't you think the boss is giving this kid a little too much attention?" one member of the audience said.

"Rumors have it that he is the boss's kid, who he had with Miss Raven," another added.

"No way, Miss Raven won't ever fall for such a man."

"But that has to be true because the gap in power between him and his peers is too much for him to win this year's Sparring contest and at the same year of officially becoming an esper. It's just too insane."

"Well, before you guys start spreading false rumors, make sure to notice that The boss's hair is Black, Miss Raven's hair is jet black, and Arsenal's hair is platinum blonde," another said.

"They could've dyed his hair that color also."

"Oh God," she slams her hands into her face.

The match officiating walks towards them.

"Remember this is just a sparring match. The first one to make the other surrender wins."

"Make sure you come at me with all that you've got," Sinclair said. Arsenal nods his head in agreement.

"Fight."

Arsenal dashes at Sinclair with full speed, both of them exchanging blows. Sinclair has a hard time coping with the speed of Arsenal's blows and takes a hit to the midsection, sending him a couple of feet back.

Pyrokinesis; Creation Devastation.

Large pillars of fire erupt from the ground, and Arsenal weaves through the pillars elegantly.

"Gotcha."

Wrath of the Primordial Dragon.

Sinclair shoots a large fire beam at Arsenal from point-blank range.

Sound manipulation; Resonating Barrier.

Arsenal creates a barrier around him, reflecting the attack back at Sinclair, who dodges.

"Woah, is he fighting with the boss on equal footing?"

A young Kael stares at Arsenal, his eyes glowing in admiration.

"Impressive," Sinclair commends him.

"You have to take this seriously if you don't want your ass handed to you, Sinclair," Raven said from the sidelines.

"Easy for you to say."

Arsenal launches sound waves in quick succession at Sinclair, who dodges all of them. He closes the gap between them quickly, landing two solid blows on Arsenal, forcing blood out of his mouth.

"Give up?"

"Not at all."

"Good."

Arsenal dashes at him, his speed surprising everyone. Sinclair couldn't react to his speed, and Arsenal lands multiple blows on Sinclair, each punch making a loud bang upon impact. The last punch sends him crashing into the crowd where Raven stood, his blood-stained clothes torn.

"Sound manipulation; Sonic Fist allows me to land punches that break sound barr…" Arsenal falls on one knee, blood flows down his nose. People quickly circle around him to help him.

"Guess he broke down before you did," Raven said.

"Well, I told him that technique was too dangerous for him to use. It consumes too much psionic energy."

"That kid could surpass you someday."

"That is if he hasn't even surpassed me now. Help me up," he lifts his hands. Raven ignores him and walks away.

Sinclair stares through the window in his office, his mind lost deep in thought, didn't notice the door behind him opening. Two people dressed in all-black combat suits enter his office.

"Boss, they have arrived," one of them said. Sinclair turns to face them.

"Give them a warm welcome and also pass the information to Raven for me."

Arsenal, Kyle, and Lana stand in front of the compound's large gate. Twenty people stand between them and the main compound.

"Guess they were expecting us," Kael said.

"Looks like it."

"Go, I'll take care of them," Kael said.

"Are you sure?" Arsenal asked.

"I gave you a good fight; of course, I can take them on. Don't die before I get there, though."

"Don't let them get past," one of them said.

"Your battle is with me," Kael said, his body covered in electricity.

"Why did you decide to help Kyle? You didn't have to..."

"That's because I want to prove to him that strength isn't all that matters..."

"Come on, sons of bitches."

Arsenal and Lana both race towards the mansion. Arsenal bursts the door open with a sound wave. They both run towards Sinclair's office.

"I was waiting for you," Raven said as she leaned against a wall, her head bent over and eyes closed.

"Raven, this is not your business; get out of the way."

"I am sorry; I can't do that."

"I don't want to hurt you."

"Hurt me? You couldn't even if you tried."

"I'll open a path for you."

Lana walks towards Raven; cold air begins to generate around her hands.

Frost Nova.

A large ice glacier erupts from the ground. Raven jumps backward to avoid the attack, and Arsenal runs behind her.

"I know you are trying to separate us," Lana said.

"Hmm, knowing won't do you any good, girl. For the meantime, entertain me."

Cryokinesis; Yuki Onna.

Cold air surrounds her entire body, slowly forming an ice armor around her. She forms two ice swords and walks confidently at Raven, slowly picking up her pace before breaking into a sprint. Lana leaps into the air; her sword crashes down on Raven's outstretched arms she used to block, shocked that it didn't even scratch her, she threw herself backward.

"My psionics Technopathy isn't actually a combat-type psionic like yours, but it does come in handy."

Tiny bug-like creatures begin to come out of her body and form an armor around her.

"But it allows me to do this. These are nanobots of my own creation; they run solely on my psionic energy. That means I have to constantly be using my psionic energy, but at the same time, they help me repair any damages to my brain whatsoever. What are you going to do now, Lana?"

Arsenal bursts through Sinclair's door into his office.

"Took you long enough," Sinclair said, as he twists and turns on his office chair before finally placing his legs on top of the table.

"That look on your face must have meant that you've heard, huh? The person who killed your parents was me."

"Why? Why did you do it? Why did you pick me up from the street when you put me there in the first place?" he said angrily, his voice shaky.

"So you could kill me? You see, I was just like you. I couldn't remember much of my childhood, but I remember that I suffered from a disease, Houghton's disease. Then I was taken in by Paradise and experimented upon, and was forcefully awakened to be an esper. I was used as a weapon, taking so many lives for this country. I thought I was doing the right thing. Then came the incident with your parents. I saw the same face I am seeing now that night, a face filled with muffled rage. I couldn't bear that guilt I felt that day, so I trained you, and thank God you became a very powerful esper so I can die by your hands."

He slides

 a gun across the table, then opens his arms wide.

"Kill me."