CHAPTER 8: DISTORTION
"And why don't you want to join the specialist forces?" Dexter asked. Marko responded. "It's not like everyone wants to join anyway, as long as I can stay here and protect my home I'm good." Sylvia snorted. "What an half-assed reason to say that." Marko glared at her then turned to face his mother who was staring at him. "I don't want to find my mom or Shayla hurt or the village when I can finally protect them." Shayla lost her composure a bit. "What? Me?!" Market continued. "My whole life people always ignored me, I don't have a father. I'm not strong or smart, I'm just me. And now I can do a whole bunch of things and help people because I want to. If the village protectors did not have me.to help then the life of everyone would have been endangered. I saved them and I will continue doing so." Teresa and Shayla were moved by his words but. Dexter still had a point to relay. "I admire you Marko, I really do." He started in a calm voice. "Let's suppose you face another terror, perhaps a level four and won. Then you fell into coma again because you can't handle your own power, what then if another terror comes during that time? You would not be able to protect your mother or yourself. You have to learn how to control your abilities to become more useful to yourself and this village." Marko could not argue with that part but still he wanted to stay. "Son?" Teresa placed her hand on his shoulder and said in a reassuring voice. "I think you should go with them. You need to control your gifts so you don't keep hurting yourself to save us." Marko responded. "Mom, I can stay here." Shayla cut in. "Don't be dummy, we both know the tall guy has a point. What kind of hero would you be if you kept passing out after every fight." Dexter spoke. "We are in a world where Terrors are always laying waste to humanity, we gifteds are the only light in this world. We are soldiers but it would be fun if he had an actual hero too. Marko Rivers don't wase this opportunity, with you training at the academy there is a bigger chance of saving more lives in future." Marko bowed his head and pondered a bit on joining the gifted academy. "It's true I don't know the first thing about being a gifted but I want to help as many people as I can." Dexter stepped forward. "So you'll accept our invitation?" Marko raised his head and locked eyes with Dexter. "On the conditions that there will be capable gifteds protecting the village in my absence." Taking into account that the village protectors had been done in by the last terror attack. Dexter smiled for the first time. "That can be arranged." Marko smiled back, "Well now that that is sorted I'm starving and mom who is this guy? You seem to know him!" Teresa smiled. "Dexter Knox is your distant cousin." Marko could not contain his joy. "I have a cousin? When? How?" Sylvia stamped her feet on the ground, drawing all their attention to her angry face. "Hey ash head. You know we did not have a proper challenge now." Dexter frowned at her. "Slyvia?" Slyvia responded. "Don't worry Dexter! It's just a light spar, we can choose one of the hills out there. Besides the world of gifteds is a competitive one, if we don't test each other's strength how do we grow. I need to know his real power." Marko shrugged. "Really lady? But I'm sorta low on battery so I might not be as intimidating as I should be." Slyvia smiled deeply. "Don't worry, I'll manage." They left the physician house and relocated to a nearby hilltop that was uninhabited. Marko and Sylvia styood apart from each other. Teresa, Shayla and Dexter stood a bit away. Dexter walked forward. "As per the rules of gifted duels, you have no idea what your opponent's gift is. Remember this is just a light spar, since both parties are ready. You make begin." Sylvia held out her right hand where icicles sytrted to form and a bit later a ice spear hovering there. Marko gulped down. "Now that explains your cold personality." "Ice Spear, 20% charge!" She screamed as she sent the ice spear zooming for his neck. "Woah!!" Marko gasped as he swerved out if the way sharply. Because of his already acquired battle sense and his advanced muscle structure, he had become faster than a normal human. But would it be enough…? "Now let's get serious!" She held out her hand causing hundreds of ice spears to form above her head. "ICE SPEAR RAIN, 40% CHARGE!!" GOLLUM! Marko gulped down as the spears came at him at an impossible to believe speed. "So this is the power of a specialist gifted?" He muttered. "Frightening!" "System! Activated eye of power!" [YOUR BODY IS UNABLE TO HANDLE THE CHOSEN TALENT] "Common!" Marko found no way to avoid the rain of spears. [WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY ANOTHER EYE?] "Um-- yes! Please!" [YOU HAVE ACTIVATED A NEW TALENT] [EYE OF SPACE (WHITE) IS NOW ACTIVE] "Woah!" Marko muttered as his eyes became white and so did his vision. "What's can this eye do?" [YOU CAN NOW DISTORT SPACE AND CAUSE TIME MANIPULATION] "What?" Marko gasped as the number of spears reached him. "What do I do…?" [COMMAND THE SPACE WITH A SINGLE WORD!] "DISTORT!!" On Marko's command the space before him where the spears entered shattered like glass in the air. "What?!" Marko moved his hand slightly to the right causing the hill to shatter to pieces and start to floating away. "Hey!" Slyvia screamed as she floated away. "What's going on here? You can manipulate space?" Marko's hair danced in waves, even he was surprised by this new ability. And it was limitless too. "System how do I put everything back together?" [RESET!] "RESET!" On command the fragmented spaces started to fly back to their original position and becoming a complete hill again. Sylvia collapsed on the ground with her hair scattered over her face, her glass spears all shattered on the ground. The faces of everyone filled with bewilderment. "Whoa?" Marko exclaimed as his hair died down and his eye colour returned. "That was freaky." [3 MONTHS HAS BEEN DEDUCTED FROM YOUR LIFESPAN] "Whoa!" He said with a sigh. Sylvia hissed as she rose to her feet. "Can you stop saying that, it's annoying." Marko watched her walk past him saying nothing till she reached Dexter. "Kid's okay. I think he'll do great." Dexter smiled. "Having two gifts huh? It's not uncommon but it's rare too!" Teresa also smiled. Shayla sighed. "Hey, do you want to become a menace by blowing up everything ya see? You big dimwitty hero!" Marko turned at her and said. "Oh sorry! I guess I really do need to control my gifts a bit more." "A bit more? More like a more, more control there." She screamed back as they walked down the hill. "Sheesh! I said I'm sorry!" Marko complained. Shayla lashed out again at him. "Don't sheesh me young man." "Shaddup!!" Marko cried. "I'm hungry!"… In the deepest regions of the earth was a dark cave filled with a number of shiny crystals on the roof. The surrounds of the cave were filled with over three trillion Terrors. In the heart of the cave were six high pillars set above the greatest darkness of an endless pit. On this six pillars were six thrones, seated there were the strongest Terror in the world. The only reason humanity still existed was because they had no interest in purging it. "So we are all here and accounted for!" Said a dark skinned female wearing an ash coloured dress. "I am Hempholm, the immortal time!" The next person that spoke was a white skinned male wearing a black suit and a gold crown seated on his head. "I am Kigraal, the immortal wind!" "WHAT NONSENSE!!" Boomed a third figure who was a huge towering figure with skin rippling with pure muscles. "I HATON, THE IMMORTAL HATE WAS HAVING A GOOD TIME AT THE DEPTHS BELOW ONLY TO HAVE MY TIME DISRUPT BY THIS MEETING!!" Hempholm cut in. "Haton, the immortal hate. We all know that this is our first meeting since the great purge a millenia ago." "WHY HAVE WE BEEN SUMMONED THEN?!" He boomed in annoyance. Hempholm continued. "We are the highest level of Terrors, the highest species. Each controlling a primordial power, a limitless power incomparable in this world. We have been summoned by out god to finish his will and purge the vile human race from the face of the world. It is our holy calling!" The bottom of the pit rumbled as a huge eye appeared there. They all bowed down in reverence to it and chanting. "Our god has returned to us!! What is your command!?" "PURGE THE WORLD!! DESTROY HUMANITY MY CHILDREN!!" "NOTHING IN THIS WORLD WILL STAND OUT MIGHT!"CHAPTER 9: ARRIVAL AT THE GIFTED ACADEMY Marko puffed as he alighted from the carriage. His boots giving rise to a puff of smoke, he stretched his body to relieve it from the many cramps it had suffered on the long journey. He had left his home three days earlier, embarking on the journey to better control his gift and master it. His mother, Shayal, he had vowed to return stronger. Staring at the huge castle before him covering a big space and encompassed by green gardens, a number of pristine fountains. The windows from top to bottom made of glass and shimmering with cascading fractures of light. The sky above flocking with different species of birds he never knew existed. For someone who had never seen anything as such in his village he marvelled and ran towards the wide open golden gates, eyes blooming with youthful vigor. "Woohoo! Academy here I cooome!!" Dexter grabbed him by the collar and raised him off the ground with ease. "For someone who seemed
CHAPTER 10: REVELATION Marko's eyes sprung open. "Where am I?" He asked the old man with long grey hair before him. He had a beard that seemed to go down a long way. Spectacles of two semicircle lenses sat atop the fringe of his nose. He wore a silver robe with gold lines and the crest of the gifted academy on it. On his head was nestled an awkward looking hat. "I am Headmaster Havadr Damocles of the Gifted Academy and this is office", the old man's voice was agee and we'll mannered. His gold eyes observed Marko to be a strong mannered and kind hearted boy, even his face looked like a cute baby that had just been born. But the other… was a brute, delinquent, bad egg, problem child. "WHAT!! YOU JUST WOKE UP YA DUMBSHIT LOSER, I'VE BEEN AWAKE FOR AGES!" Ted screamed as he snarled at Marko with his sharp pointy teeth that could be mistaken for a demon. "Even with the healing factor he still woke up before me?" Marko thought. "Just how thick is his hea
CHAPTER 11: COBALT BLUE Marko and Ted were filled in on the rules of the academy and it's setting. They were both informed that they were joining the first year at the middle of the semester. They would be forced to catch up with the others from the very first day. Dexter Knox ushered them down the halls after being excused from the headmaster, taking them down a long hall. Marko was lost in thought for a while Ted oogled every artifact, statue and painting in the castle. "Um, Dexter was all the headmaster told us true?" He spoke softly amd in a polite manner. "About us being the last line of defense humanity has?" Dexter tried to keep his eyes on Ted as they continued. "Without a doubt it is. But keep your head high, your are strong in terms of power, precision and stamina but you are not quite on the first years level." Ted stopped before a huge glass window and looked down at the huge training field below where a number of gifteds displayed their skill
CHAPTER 12: ULTIMATE BRAWLER SHOWDOWN Selena chuckled lightly as she raised her hand to her forehead and pushed the strands of hair from her face. With it came a sudden personality change. Her eyes flooded with deep killing intent as her smile faded. "Very well then, it's been a while since we crushed some impertinent newbies." Ted cracked his knuckles and snarled again. "I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS." Marko felt a bit at ease with Ted taking the charge, even if he was a hothead he was strong but the problem was the girl. Ted had trained himself without any external help from anyone, emerging as a prodigy but the academy had tutors with the same powers as them. WHOOSH ! Marko was startled as all the Cobalt Blue members started to flock over like insects drawn to the light. "What ! This doesn't seem fair !" "HEY SCRUB ! REMEMBER WHAT MR BEARDED GLASSES SAID ?!" Ted said in a confident stance, his palms generating black smoke. "YOU CAN'T
CHAPTER 13: FLAMING FIST !! "FLAMING FIST!" Rings of flame coiled around Ted's clenched fist that reached her face. Again she side steped and slapped him on the face. He stumbled backwards unevenly. "How is it that you can see my attacks coming, HUH ?!" Selena smiled jovially as she opened her eyes. "In addition to enhanced physical capabilities and endurance gifteds normally have there is a power only those who have attained the peak of their gifts can master. We call it aura manifestation." Ted responded gruffly. "WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THIS ?!" Selena answered him in a threatening tone. "For a buffoon like you who is over reliant on your gift and brute force you are pretty easy to read. I haven't even used my gift yet, how pitiful." "WHAT !?" "YOU BITCH, YOU BETTER BE READY FOR TH--" STEP ! STEP ! "Huu !" Marko huffed out as he walked forward. "Pardon me for intruding." Marko could not have someone soiling his frie
CHAPTER 14: THE BOY WHO KEEPS GETTING STRONGER (1) Marko dashed through the air like one with the wind aiming to close the gap in the least possible time. [You Have Activated Eye Of Power] [You Can Now Utilize Infinite Strength] Selena could not help but but gasp in shock. "This kid, how the hell is he so fast?" Ted who had firsthand seen the full might of Marko's power easily shook off his wonder effect and moved to attack a still dumbfounded Selena with one of his flame bomb attacks. "JUST WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING AT BITCH !! I'M YOUR OPPONENT !" Selena shook herself back to reality and evaded the flame ball hurtling past her head yet her eyes dared not stray far from the overwhelming figure approaching he-- FWOOM !! Marko appeared before her looking a ghost put of thin air. His hair danced in waves with crackles of electricity his eyes empty and his face carrying the strong visage of a domineering figure. For a moment Selena was forced
CHAPTER 15: THE BOY WHO KEEPS GETTING STRONGER PT (2) Selena watched Marko standing idly like a log of wood. A thought crossed her mind on what he was thinking at the moment. In truth, this physical strength was astounding but brute strength alone was wasted against Terrors which could think and act individually. A slight smile drew itself on her face almost barely noticeable. She could see herself in him. Because of her gigantification gift she had also been overly dependent on her brute strength from start. She easily dominated most of the first years earning her the name the Giantess. It was after she met her mentor, Valtor Rose. He was a senior who had taught her not to just rely on brute strength. Compared to the specialist force he could be said to rival them. He taught her the secret to fully utilize gifts in a gifteds body. Only a handful of gifteds get it in their first year causing them to repeat, she would have stopped her dangerous experiment if the
CHAPTER 16: TWO OF A KIND UNCOMMON DUOS KAPOW !! [Optimizing Power Flow] [Success] [Your Body Compatibility With The System Has Risen To 75%] [Your Body Compatibility With The System Has Risen To 100%] FWISH !! "Haa~" he exhaled as hot hair expended from his body. He could feel a shift in his body something was different, calmer. [You Body Has Become Lighter And More Durable] CLENCH !! He gripped his hand tighter and observed it. "Everything ting feels much clearer,y body can clearly feel everything pulsing through it. Every fibre and muscle can release more of my power." It was then it became clear to him, how she could withstand all of Ted's earlier attacks. At first a gifted would only use the part of their body where their powers came from and not actually integrate with the force within. Through careful understanding and practice one had to just simply maintain the flow through the body constantly furer enhancing th