Anzu’s piercing words pulsed through me as I burst around, swinging my sword with all my force only for him to lift up his arm and block my sword seamlessly, shattering it into thousands of pieces, the same he done earlier to Anthony.

My eyes widened as Anzu blitzed his arm forward and unleashed a powerful jab into my face, sending me falling back. Blood spurted from my nose as I fell onto the ground, rolling backwards before springing up best I could onto my feet. I glanced around rapidly looking for Anzu who had already lunged forward to me and shot his leg round into the side of chest which again sent me flying across the murky ground.

The initial impact from slamming into the floor slightly winded me as I held my stomach trying to get back to my feet to catch my breath. Anzu however, didn’t even let me rest for a second as he continued his relentless thrashing. Continuously hurling vicious blows into me, his quick and heavy punches threw me around as he continued to lash into me.

My nose bled and my lip had burst as Anzu continued to drive kicks and punches straight through me. I fell back as Anzu stopped for a moment, catching my hand before I hit the ground and staring deep into my cut ridden face as blood dripped from the many slits that he opened after pummelling me.

My head throbbed as I felt my blood pump heavily through my veins. I felt parts of my body go numb as others started twitching as my body was riddled with pain.

After staring at me for a few moments Anzu pulled me forward and threw his left leg around into the side of my head I just managed to block with my right arm but it still wasn’t enough to sustain his immense power as I was catapulted across the ground, kicking up grass and mud as I slid my way into a decaying wall which collapsed a little as I smacked into it.

As I faded in and out of consciousness, I watched Anzu approach me menacingly as he steadily took one step after another.

“It’s a shame how weak you are.” Said Anzu as he took out a throwing knife that was concealed under his suit jacket.

“Now.” He announced with a devilish smile plastered on his face as he lifted the knife and prepared to throw it, only to be halted by raged screaming off in the distance.

We both turned our heads to see Anthony viciously staring at Anzu.

“I’d like to kill you in peace after you wasted so much of my time. So, it seems your death can wait.” Said Anzu as I drifted off, watching him turn to face Anthony before finally blacking out.

---

As I stared at Anzu towering over Shay, anger filled through me. I felt it, my power surging as I stomped towards Anzu and took out a throwing knife concealed under my uniform from my belt.

As I got within 5 meters of Anzu I lunged forward and swung the knife at him, holding it in the reverse grip as my hand flew past Anzu’s face, centimetres away from scraping through his cheek as he leaned back quickly dodging my attack.

I pulled my arm back around to go for a stab at Anzu however, Anzu quickly grabbed my forearm before I could get close enough to impale him. Anzu looked down at me with a slight impressed look on his face.

“You’re not only faster than before but you’re stronger. Interesting…” He said as he swiftly lunged his elbow forward into my face causing my nose to spurt blood. I was pushed back by the attack and in no time Anzu swung his leg around at my head and sent my flying off into some rubble around 15 meters away.

The air was silent for a second as the rocks rolled onto one another after being disturbed leaving a light rumbling sound echo through the quiet air.

“Now, that’s out the way.” Said Anzu, turning back to Shay.

Anzu lifted his arm one more time to slice up Shay only to hear the movement of rocks behind him. Bewildered by this, Anzu shot around as he watched me dash at him from out of the rubble.

Anzu almost tripped back as I lunged at him and swung my knife at him. Anzu was able to dodge my first swing and just like before I swing my arm back to stab Anzu who was jumping around sporadically, dodging my oncoming attacks.

I continued to swing relentlessly at Anzu who was slowly being pushed back towards the tree line. Just as Anzu looked back and was distracted by how little distance he had left; I took the opportunity to strike and stab my knife straight into him. I yelled as I squinted my eyes and hurled myself towards Anzu as I felt my blade pierce through him. I peered up with a malicious grin on my face only to be utterly gobsmacked when one of the stone pillars that was littered around the ruins sat straight in front of me.

“W- what!” I yelled as I stumbled for a moment losing grip of my knife as it jammed itself in the pillar.

In my moment of confusion, I felt a piercing stabbing pain strike my right shoulder as I was hit in the back by Anzu’s throwing knife. I fell onto the pillar for support as I struggled to comprehend what had happened.

“You gave me a little surprise there.” Exclaimed Anzu menacingly strolling over to me.

“I didn’t expect you to get such a boost in speed and power out of nowhere, especially with all those wounds.” He chuckled as he walked round to my side and struck me in the face with his fist, sending me rocketing across the ground.

“Now, that’s finally over…” Exhaled Anzu as he put his hands in his pockets and made his way back to Shay.

I lay on the ground watching Anzu approach Shay, pain throbbed around my body as I felt my blood boil and pulse more and more, feeling more and more powered up as cuts all around my body stung from being doused in dirt.

I shakily took to my feet one last time as I gazed upon Anzu who froze up as he heard me approaching him. This was the last time I would be able to stand; I felt my legs wobble beneath me as an electrifying pain zipped through my body.

He slowly turned to face me as I stiffly pulled the throwing knife from my shoulder and wielded it in my right hand.

Anzu chuckled as he muttered: “I’m ready now, it won’t go the same as last time.” All the while he took a fighting stance and readied himself for my oncoming attack.

I lunged forward like before and dashed at Anzu who swiftly launched himself in the air, completely dodging my attack.

“As I thought, once again, you’re faster than before.” He said as he spun down onto the ground.

“But it seems you’re on your last legs.” Muttered Anzu exhaling quickly.

I turned to attack him again however, he had already lunged forward and stuck his foot in front of mine while he grabbed my right arm and hand and flipped me round onto my back, into the ground. All the while disarming me.

“Now that I’m not underestimating you, there is no way for you to hit me.” Remarked Anzu cockily.

Anger shot through me as I ran at Anzu punching at him mercilessly as he once again launched himself in the air, dodging my attacks. As Anzu jumped around through the air I began punching the ground beneath him creating shock waves and disturbing the ground.

“Trying to make me fall as I land by disturbing the ground, huh?” Spouted Anzu as he chuckled at me.

I ferociously continued smashing the ground as Anzu evaded each and every blow.

“You’re getting desperate now! My reality is untouchable, only I am able to reach out and manipulate it.” Exclaimed Anzu before unleashing a devastating kick to my head, once again sending me plummeting into the dirt.

“It seems you won’t be saving anyone today, Mr Hero of the people.” Muttered Anzu as he once again turned to finish off Shay.

I lay limp in between rocks on the muddy ground as I watched Anzu slowly approach Shay. Was it true? Could no one reach him? Was I destined to fail my whole life?

Was Shay going to die? Due to my inability to do anything…

==================================================================================

Anthony Droad aged 13, living in the sunny suburbs of Civewood, a moderately large village far away from Aero City.

Living with both of his parents and at the time going under a different name, Anthony had a happy life. He went to school, had plenty of friends and was vastly popular with almost everyone in his village.

All his life Anthony had been praised as a wonder child, being able to hunt bears, fish and other assortments of animals off in the forest and river near the village. Anthony was able to do all this on his own without anyone teaching him.

He even helped push for festivals and performances in the village with the help from his father who was high up in the villages council to cheer people up when hunting season wasn’t very good or crops didn’t grow very well. Because of this the village was hailed as an extremely happy place and it was all thanks to Anthony.

He was able to collect water for farmers and gardeners from the lake on sunny days which lead to the trees and bushes which scattered the streets of his village, turning it into a popular attraction and turned Civewood into a major trading city.

Thanks to Anthony pushing festivals and helping farmers he was able to turn Civewood into a thriving village. His efforts led him to the title: Hero of the people.

One day however, while Anthony was coming home from school, unknown soldiers attacked and ravaged his village, either murdering families or herding them up into wagons pulled by horses to sell them as slaves at the capital. At the time, Anthony didn’t understand that all this was happening because the village mayor didn’t pay tax to the neighbouring cities. Which called for them to take action.

Anthony raced home through the gloomy streets as his eyes darted around, staring at the screaming bloodbath that was taking place around him. He watched as his neighbours and friends were mauled to death in the middle of the street and women were lined up into carriages screaming their lungs out for their families.

As he finally made it onto his street, gasping for air as he panted, staring at his mother and father being dragged out of their front garden towards a rickety old wooden wagon by two soldiers.

Ingulfed with rage, Anthony charged the two soldiers with all his might, letting out a splitting scream as the soldiers turned their attention to him. However, only being 13, he was easily kicked away by one of the soldiers as they chuckled to one another.

Anthony’s mother shrieked for him to run as one of the soldiers lunged forward and thrashed him into their garden wall. Anthony bled from his head as he tried to gasp for air but his stomach felt hot as he struggled on the ground all while the soldiers laughed maniacally at him and his mother continued to let out a bellowing cry.

As the soldiers continued poking fun at him Anthony shot up and lunged his fist into the soldier’s face and sent him falling over into the middle of the road. It was at this moment that Anthony’s ability first awakened. As the second soldier let go of his parents and approached Anthony, he leaped around and pummelled the soldier into the ground mercilessly until his parents grabbed him and dashed out of the village, dodging other soldiers best they could.

Anthony’s ability: The more damage he sustains, the stronger and faster he becomes.

Anthony fled the village with his parents, leaving the rest of his friends, family and those who trusted him to die or be sold off as slaves. This alone tormented Anthony day in and day out, knowing he couldn’t save them and meet their expectations of him.

After that event, Anthony would become a wanted criminal across each kingdom as his self defence on the soldiers became a national headline of “Boy assaults two soldiers under routine check-up.”

Each kingdoms government would twist Anthony’s story and turn the public against him as Anthony’s life as the Hero of the people quickly turned upside down as his reputation he had built up his entire life as someone who helped those in need was twisted into a ferocious fiend who terrorises the public.

This warped Anthony’s mind and created a hatred for people in his mind. He didn’t want to spend time with anyone apart from his parents. For 4 years Anthony would live like this, hiding in the forests on the outskirts of Aero city for the entire time he spent wanted.

He lived in solitude in a forest that was deep in the mountains, away from everyone else. He lived in a cosy wooden cottage with his mother and father. They grew crops and gathered water from the nearby stream that ran down the mountain.

One day while Anthony was tending to his crops a young girl, around 18 or 19 approached him.

“Hello.” She said gleefully to Anthony who was startled at her sudden appearance as he hadn’t spoken to anyone in 4 years apart from his family.

“Are you shy?” She asked smiling at him with her white hair flowing gracefully in the wind.

“Uh, no. I just haven’t spoken to anyone in a while.” Responded Anthony who was still moderately startled by her.

“My name’s Serina.” She said giggling at Anthony who responded with his name too.

“What are you doing all the way up here?” Asked Serina as she watched Anthony tend to his crops.

“I’m, uh…” He muttered as he gazed down into the muddy earth.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to tell.” Said Serina as she walked over to the wooden fence surrounding the crops and sat up on it.

“I ran away from home.” Said Serina. “My parents were too strict, so I thought I’d just run off into the mountains on my own.” She said giggling.

Anthony looked up at her with a plain expression.

“You don’t talk much do you?” Laughed Serina.

“I um…” He muttered. “I’ll get in trouble by my parents if they see me talking to you.” He exclaimed.

Serina peered on at him in slight confusion. “I see, your parents are strict too, huh? I know how it feels.”

“They’ll be back soon.” Murmured Anthony as he stared off into the forest watching for his parents.

“Ah I see. Where are they now?” She replied.

“Off getting water from the stream.”

“Well, can I come see you tomorrow?” Asked Serina as Anthony’s eyes slightly widened, and a small smile lit up his face.

“Sure.” He said as smiled gleefully, this was the first time he had felt happiness in 4 years. His dark world of misery had been evaporated by one girl. Anthony finally felt like he could talk to someone other than his parents. He felt like maybe, his life could continue.

Anthony went to bed that night without telling his parents about the beautiful girl he had met earlier that day as he was enwrapped with happiness, cosying up in his bed, thinking about tomorrow. He gracefully drifted off into a sweet sleep as he felt his gloomy world disperse and his world brighten as one bright light shone like a star in the darkness.

Anthony awoke the next day to chilling shrieks and cries from his mother as loud bang erupted from his living room. Anthony blasted out to see soldiers fully decked out in armour dragging his parents out of their rooms.

The soldiers grabbed Anthony as he too was forcefully ripped from his happy world and back into despair. As he was pulled outside, he saw Serina wearing a gold and white uniform as she stood next to a tall muscular man wearing the same uniform.

Anthony screamed her name as she coldly stared at him, destroying what was left of his spirit as he felt his body turn numb and weak. Anthony felt betrayed, his newfound “friend” had lied to him. His heart shattered into millions of pieces as he was taken into the city and locked up for days on end.

Finally, someone came to Anthony after he was left to rot in his cell for weeks. Anthony hoped for good news as he peered at the guard with gleaming eyes, just hoping for any slither good news only to be shot down as the man opened his mouth.

“The council as spoken. As punishment for Anthony Droad’s crimes against the government. The higher ups believe it is only fair that you are subjugated to witnessing the horror of your own parents being mauled to death.”

Anthony shook uncontrollably as the guard’s words exited his mouth and pierced Anthony’s mind like thousands of daggers. He gasped for air as his final speck of hope that kept him going broke down and left him wailing in tears as he completely shattered into pieces.

As it turned out, the councils had swung his story even further and announced that Anthony had murdered the two soldiers in front of their friends and so it was only right for them to do the same to him. However, this was not the case and both soldiers were perfectly fine a few weeks after the incident and even given new identities and paid off by the council not to say a word.

However, the council didn’t care for this, all they wanted was to make an example of him.

Anthony was chained up and forced to watch as his parents were mauled to death, their blood splattered onto him as he sat screaming in front of them. Once they were completely mushed by the soldiers and their maces, they let rabid dogs into the room where they feasted upon his parents’ dead bodies. Anthony still being forced to watch as the remnants of his parents were scattered across the room in pieces.

Anthony was sentenced to life in prison where he would be left to live the rest of his days thinking about all the horrible things that had befallen him. Anthony sat for months in darkness where he was fed revolting meals and left on his own to stare at walls his whole life.

It wasn’t until a man appeared in front of Anthony’s cell and opened it to greet him.

“Anthony Droad?” Asked the deep voice as Anthony slowly turned around to see a tall imposing man tower over him. This man spoke to Anthony and explained that he wanted to give him the opportunity to start a new life.

Anthony now knows this man as Diablo who was originally tasked with capturing Anthony. Diablo was often given reports detailing Anthony’s actions and came to the conclusion that he had a latent ability to increase his power and speed the more damage he takes.

Diablo saw promise in Anthony and took him under his wing, giving him a new name, life and allowed him to exist in the world as if nothing had happened. Only if he helped the guards with special tasks and missions.

Anthony obliged with the request and accompanied Diablo on a multitude of missions. However, when Anthony accompanied Diablo, he couldn’t help but see the man who helped capture him and allowed his parents to be slaughtered right in front of his eyes.

Anthony hated accompanying Diablo and wished for his death. Anthony also wished for Serina’s death by his hands and would spend his time training for when he met her again. He wouldn’t let her die any other way other than by him.

Anthony felt purpose fulfil him and with this he grew stronger mentally. His mental scaring from his younger years, going from being loved by everyone around you to the complete opposite, seeing so much death and destruction around you, seeing those you loved being massacred allowed him to enhance his ability and grow stronger as a person to avenge his past.

==================================================================================

Thinking through my past allowed me to overcome my mental barrier. Anzu had pushed me past my limit and allowed me to stand one more time.

“YOU!” I yelled at Anzu who was once again moments away from ending Shay.

Anzu turned sharply as he gazed in my direction.

I hesitated for a moment before finally pulling myself together and charging at Anzu as my body began to feel an exhilarating pain.

I threw my fist at Anzu who dodged the same way as before by lunging into the air at an insane speed. I yelled at the top of my lungs and bashed by my hands into the ground sending shock waves through the earth around us as I unsettled the ground.

“That again? It didn’t work the first time so what makes you think it’ll work now.” Chuckled Anzu as he dived around dodging each of my attacks.

I carried on smashing my fists into the ground, upsetting the ground beneath us as I slowly began running out of steam.

“I’ll admit, an ability that increases your strength and speed immensely the more damage you take is pretty incredible. It’s a shame you’re too weak to handle using it effectively.” Spouted Anzu as he let out a flurry of punches onto me, sending me into the ground one last time.

I lay on the ground, feeling paralyzed as I continued slamming my fists into the ground repeatedly one after another as I furiously yelled with all my might.

“Now you’ve just lost it, holding all that power has made you go insane. Mentally you lost.” Muttered Anzu as he watched on in disgust at my absurd continuous slamming.

---

As I slowly came to, the first thing I saw was Anzu turning to face me and feeling the shockwaves vibrate the ground.

“Look at your friend Shay. He’s a complete mess.” Announced Anzu as he looked down to me.

“He’s a lost cause, not only have I defeated him physically, but I’ve also defeated him mentally.” Said Anzu smiling maliciously.

“And I had really been hoping you would be more impressive than that.” Announced Anzu as he slowly charged up a plasma energy ball.

“Sorry, the only thing you’ll be hoping for is to make it out of here alive.” Said a deep and imposing voice from behind Anzu.

Anzu shot still for a second before slowly stuttering around to face the source of the disembodied voice.

“Anthony wasn’t slamming the ground for no reason.” I muttered.

“He isn’t so weak as to give up like that…”

“The real reason…”

“Was to get his attention.” I murmured as Anzu continued to peer behind him.

“Mentally, you lost.” I exclaimed as Anzu finally turned to face Diablos intimidating presence.