The global threat posed by the increasing number of powered individuals globally is prompting international organizations to collaborate on a solution. Beginning next month, the Capability Equality Act will go into effect in forty-seven countries. In order to keep employment opportunities equal and maintain public safety, the use of powers will be illegal in any public space. Dissenters claim this is a violation of human rights, but supporters of the bill argue that it’s best for the safety of all. The aim of this international decree is to lower the rate of crime committed by powered individuals and decrease the racism they experience from employers while also increasing the sense of public safety.– Henley Shaw, 124 Anno Imperi Ortu

Back in the main hall where I had met Dante, I watch as dozens of other students pour out of various hallways. I have no idea when the others had arrived or how they were escorted to their rooms in a way that evaded my knowledge, but that isn’t important. What matters now is that I learn what I can about the competition.

The task is proving to be insurmountable. There are nearly fifty people filtering into the room with me, and more are still walking in. I can’t walk around and ask each to explain their power. If I’m going to be subtle, I have to overhear their conversations or trick them into bringing it up themselves. I doubt the Council will give me time to do that.

I see various groups of friends greeting each other. There aren’t many people I know in the crowd, so I stay hidden. Even if there were acquaintances, I don’t want to spend time talking to people I already know.

“What was that test about?” One of the examinees asks another.

“Well, they just want to make sure we aren’t crazy or power hungry or something,” he responds confidently.

“Not crazy,” a third one interjects. “It’s more a personality thing. Impulse control, ability to deal with tough situations and make quick, rational decisions, things like that.”

Of course they aren’t talking about their powers. The people around me are the best in my school, at least according to the Council. They all seem to know better than to give away their weaknesses.

“I don’t understand why they have a verbal test,” a student in another group complains.

“Right? Obviously if we want this job, we can handle it,” another commiserates. “That was just a bunch of pointless questioning.”

“It wasn’t pointless,” someone from outside their group argues and steps toward them. “It was to test integrity. If you can’t see that, you don’t have it.”

Silently, I slink away from that conversation. I don’t want to get involved in any fighting when I don’t have to. If I’m right about the next phase, perhaps they will make it easier for me. If I’m wrong, I’ll leave them to their own devices. Either way, it’s better if I avoid getting involved.

As I turn to walk away, I bump into Alexis. Her head is turned back and she is looking over her shoulder, but when she runs into me, she quickly redirects her gaze.

“Oh, hey Carson,” she pants. After taking a moment to let the adrenaline fade away, she looks around inquisitively. “How are you here?”

“What?” I ask.

“I mean, no offense, but you have no power. I’m a Class V. Everyone else in this room is at least Class III, but most are II.”

“Oh, yeah,” I acknowledge, looking around the room and nodding. “Yeah. Well, you first.”

“During the chemistry test, I was the catalyst.”

“No way?” I gasp, trying to hide my reaction but failing miserably. I’m impressed. The sniveling girl who had ignored my instructions during Phase 1 seems to have turned around. She recognized her power and used it to her advantage.

“Well, my partner did most of the heavy lifting, but we didn’t check to see if the necessary catalyst was present. I shocked myself, touched the water, and supplied some extra electrons. I didn’t think it was that clever, but I know it wasn’t my performance in Phase 1.”

“I think that’s very clever,” I admit. “I made perfume.”

“You what?” She laughs. When she realizes I’m not joking, she sobers up quickly.

“Yeah, it was a simple reaction, but no one else went for it. I think they appreciated the ingenuity.”

“Mr. Adachi,” a familiar voice greets as a hand clamps around my shoulder. The voice sounds somewhat scolding, and I start to worry. Am I not supposed to be discussing my testing? Turning my eyes, I see Dante standing with a stern expression behind me. “You aren’t here for transesterification. It was quick-witted, but quite a simple reaction. You’re here because you stopped your peers from fighting. You’re here due to the leadership displayed in dodgeball. Don’t belittle yourself, and don’t belittle the Council.”

“Yes, sir,” I mutter. I don’t know how to respond or even how to feel. I have disappointed the leader of the Council, but it’s also an honor to see his faith in me. Thankfully, I don’t have to deal with my concern for long, because he quickly shifts his attention to Alexis.

“Ms. Powell,” he adds, “you have quite the impressive power. Classes are not a punishment, they are intended to better help understand your power. You have trained a Class V power into something impressive – and particularly useful for Peacekeepers. Don’t diminish that accomplishment.”

“Yes, sir,” she echoes me solemnly. Before either of us can try to say anything further, Dante walks away and begins climbing the staircase. Silence falls over the room as the other students recognize his presence. Looking around, I see the same expression on each of their faces that I had worn when I’d first seen him. Had none of the others met Dante? Maybe they had come in through another entrance and gone straight to their testing rooms.

Dante stops midway up the stairs before turning to face the crowd. From my vantage point, I have no way to accurately gauge how full the room is. I wonder how many people have made it to this stage.

“Greetings, Battle School applicants,” Dante opens theatrically. No one responds, so he narrows his eyebrows and tries again, repeating himself with a grand wave.

“Greetings,” I mutter, joining in the chorus as the others scream out the word. I am having trouble finding the excitement they all seem to possess. This is a completely hopeless endeavor for me – I’ve only made it this far by pure chance.

Fighting off my intermittent lapse in confidence, I keep my gaze focused on Dante. I will not assume anything – perhaps the test is something which I will be able to handle.

“Welcome to the fourth and final phase of Recruitment. I am honored to see all of your faces. You have reached the last test of the most elite school. You are the hopefuls to be the next generation of Peacekeepers.”

This statement elicits a resounding cheer as the students are absorbed into the grandeur of his speech. I find myself anxiously waiting for the next words, so I’m annoyed by their interruption. Nonetheless, I can’t blame them. This is exciting for all of us, and it’s possibly the first time in years that any of them have seen Dante in person.

“Don’t get excited yet,” Dante warns. Holding his hands out, he commands silence. Quickly – impressively so for a group so large – he gets his wish. “There are 64 of you in this room. Each year, we accept 4 new Peacekeepers. Agents are on an as-needed basis and are requested by members of the Council, so you can’t expect those spots. Therefore, I can only guarantee admission to the school to the top four of you. This will be determined by testing the main attribute which we have yet to see. Your ability to hold your own in an altercation.”

An explosion of cheers once again fills the room, but I feel stricken by dread to the core of my heart. I can’t possibly beat anyone in this room in a fight. All I am going to be is an easy win for someone else.

“The tournament,” Dante speaks loudly, once again commanding his authority, “will be broken down into four brackets. You will be split into groups of sixteen. The winner of each bracket earns a spot in Battle School.”

This causes the crowd to break into various murmurs. Voices around me verbalize their complaints, but of course none dare do so loudly enough for Dante to hear.

“That’s not fair.”

“What if all the strong people are in my group?”

“Is it random?”

“Listen,” Dante groans. The murmurs cease. “It will be random, and I assure you this is the most logical way to test each of you. Peacekeepers face issues for which they are unprepared. It’s the nature of the job. They must be ready to face any power of any Class, because anyone can make a mistake. They must also be trained in restraint. If you maim or seriously injure your opponent, you will be disqualified. Now, proceed to the South entrance for your first pairing.”

Without much choice, I move with the crowd as they push their way to the back. I try to fight the flow of motion, but I quickly recognize the inevitability and follow them. When we exit the building, we step onto a large grassy field with an elevated square in the center. A large man stands on the battleground. As I draw closer to him, I recognize Alistair Flynn – the Class I Shifter. I can’t even imagine the extent of his power, and as far as I know he’s never displayed it to the world.

“The rules are as follows,” Alistair bellows, skipping the pleasantries afforded by Dante. Everyone spreads out and walks closer to Alistair as he speaks, trying to get a better look at him. “The tournaments will consist of one versus one matches. If you yield or touch the ground outside of the arena, you lose. Any use of power is permitted, but if your opponent is seriously injured, you will be disqualified. The participants of the four brackets are on the walls surrounding the stadium, but your names will be called for your fights. If you choose to search for your name, you may miss the chance to witness a fight with someone in your bracket. Decide which is more advantageous for you. Michael Patterson and Carson Adachi, report to me.”

I’m in the first fight? I can’t imagine this possibly being more humiliating. Disheartened, I climb the stairs and meet Alistair on the stage. A young man meets me, quaking in place. I realize that I’m a Class I, but I don’t understand why he’s afraid. He should know that I have no power.

“Any questions?” Alistair asks.

“No,” I mutter. Michael shakes his head.

“Good,” Alistair nods. Suddenly, he sinks into the ground, disappearing completely. Movement to the side of the stage catches my attention, and I see Alistair begin to reform on the side of the arena. Leaning against one of the pillars on the corner of the stage, he stands before the crowd of students. It appears they have all chosen to watch the competition rather than determine their bracket.

“You can watch,” Alistair informs them. “But you won’t know your future opponents. The strategy is yours. As for those of you fighting, keep this in mind: Show me your full power and you show me your weakness. Hold back and you risk defeat.”

Alistair leaps into the air and the stone of the stage follows behind him. Creating a large pillar, it carries him to the roof of the building where the rest of the Council stands waiting for him. Suddenly, the pillar breaks down and disappears. No, it doesn’t quite disappear. It leaves a thin, barely visible strand connecting him to the arena. This stage is Alistair’s own matter.

Distracted by the realization of Alistair’s amazing power, I don’t notice Michael’s movement until it’s too late. I see him closing in and pulling his arm back for a punch. Instinctively, I cover my face and block his attack. Stunned, I freeze for a moment. I quickly recover and punch his gut. Michael doubles over and falls to the floor, holding his stomach and wailing.

“I yield! I yield!” He screams. Confused, I back up slowly. Can it really be this easy? I don’t understand. Perhaps he simply wasn’t expecting to have to fight at all, but I would have expected a Peacekeeper hopeful to at least be able to take a punch.

“The winner is Carson Adachi,” Alistair announces. “Clear the stage for Alexis Powell and Jacob Newman.”

As I step off the stage, they quickly climb the stairs. The tournament is efficient, I can say that much. By the time I make it back to the crowd, Alistair has already declared the beginning of the battle. I’m torn. I already know Alexis’s power, so I don’t know how much I have to gain from watching their fight. If I look at my bracket, I can see the remaining combatants I may have to face in the coming rounds. However, if Alexis and Jacob are in my bracket, it will be important to watch their fighting styles. The one advantage I have is that my opponent quickly forfeited. Now, not only do I have the opportunity to watch all of the other fighters, the others will not have the chance to study me.

The bracket will narrow my scope. It will tell me on which fighters I should focus. I don’t know which bracket is mine, though, so I may waste time running to the wrong page. Still, the advantage clearly outweighs the disadvantage.

Turning my back on the fight, I race toward the outside edge of the field. I hear gasps and turn my head around. Jacob is already on the floor. Alexis has more control over amperage than I thought.

“Johnathan Haley and Max Farrell,” Alistair calls. Finally, I reach the wall. The top two names are Michael’s and mine. By pure happenstance, I reached the correct bracket. Alexis and Jacob are the next pair, so I already know one other fighter who has moved into the second round. Quickly, I scan the list to make sure these new fighters aren’t present. They must be on another bracket.

Curiosity still compels me to look over my shoulder. Johnathan is fast, but he’s not a Runner like Max. Clearly, he has no chance, yet he’s holding his own somehow. He stands in a deep front stance, waiting for Max to attack. When the Runner finally slows down to a more perceptible speed, Johnathan tries a surprise kick. Max slides under Johnathan and jumps to his feet, punching Johnathan in the stomach. Pummeling his opponent with a flurry of punches at super speed, Max quickly wears Johnathan out. The attacks are weak but still enough to push Johnathan to the edge of the ring. Finally, I see Johnathan’s play. He reveals his power early, but it is brilliant. Max doesn’t realize what’s happening until it’s too late, and he continues to slowly push Johnathan back. Johnathan levitates above the ground, still moving back slowly until Max falls from the edge, landing hard on the ground.

Alistair announces the next pair, Phillip Ellison versus Jayden Cameron. Recognizing Phillip’s name, I search my bracket frantically for him. Thankfully, I don’t find it. That’s one of the top tier students about whom I have no need to worry.

On the list, however, I do find Jade Cameron – Jayden’s twin sister – and Danny Cunningham. Hopefully, one of them will eliminate the other before they reach me, because I don’t have much hope of defeating both of them. None of the other names are particularly noticeable to me, and I have no idea who these people are or what their powers may be. I resolve to wait for them to fight and watch them.

I’m glad I checked the brackets. I think the people around me are overconfident, but the fact that none of them have checked gives me a distinct advantage. As round one flies by, I don’t have to pay attention to 64 contestants – I can focus on sixteen. That means, aside from my own, I only have to watch seven fights.

However, I begin to see that most candidates for the Battle School weren’t actually prepared to battle at all. A few contestants put up struggle, but most of the fights are dramatically one-sided. Jade sneakily leads her opponent to the edge before pushing him off, completely circumventing her power. A few more competitors from other brackets go by before I hear names I recognize again.

Marshall and Bryn – two people I’ve never met in school – step to the ring. Bryn prepares for a fight, raising her hands to her face. Marshall, either extremely confident or stupid, adopts a completely relaxed stance. Bryn throws a punch which Marshall dodges, pushing her to the side. He avoids a few more attacks. Finally, Bryn shifts her hand into a rock and fakes a hook. It looks like she’s going to manage to strike Marshall with her other hand, but he intercepts the attack, trapping her in an arm-bar.

“I yield,” Marshall declares loudly, releasing her arm.

“What?” Bryn argues.

“I will not use my power for violence. This is never what I thought PeaceKeeping was about.”

“It’s a test, we have to prove our mettle,” she demands. As Marshall steps of the stage, she continues to scream at him. “Wait! I want to win justly or I don’t want to be here!”

“Marshall has forfeited,” Alistair calls from his seat on the rooftop. “Daniel Cunningham and Roger Wessen.”

As Alistair declares the official beginning of the battle, Danny’s hand becomes a blade. In an instant, Roger’s hands are in the air and he’s stepping off the stage. I knew Danny and Jade would be formidable, but I wouldn’t have expected everyone to make victory so easy for them. I wish I could at least study them a bit before I have to face the next round.

From my bracket, the other three to advance are Kevin Johnson, Dalia McCarthy, and Owen Kline. A Brawn, a Shifter, and a Runner.

“The rules are different for Round 2,” Alistair announces, not giving any of us a moment to breathe or plan. I look toward his perch, but he is nowhere to be found. I see the string which had connected him to the arena shrinking and Alistair appears in the center of the square again.

“Already?” Alexis groans from beside me.

“PeaceKeepers don’t get a break,” Jade snaps.

“Well, maybe infinite stamina is a trait we’ll learn in Battle School,” I quip, rushing to Alexis’s defense for no particular reason besides that I don’t like Jade’s attitude. Jade rolls her eyes and crosses her arms.

“I hope I get to take you out in round 2, Powerless,” she scowls. I want to argue with something witty, but I have no doubt she could. I don’t know her power, but I saw that she ‘s clever and I know she is highly praised at our school. Allowing the argument to die, I shrug and secretly hope I don’t have to face her. Maybe Danny will eliminate her before I have to.

“The first round is generally to sift out the weak. Now, we have our true 32 contestants. We will complete one bracket at a time. If you didn’t check your bracket, you will have no way of knowing when your fights are coming up. If you did, you’ll have time to prepare. Those who aren’t fighting will wait indoors,” Alistair explains. I’m grateful for his extra explanation, but I still feel as though he’s leaving us somewhat in the dark. I wonder if everything about the Council is this unnecessarily mysterious.

Mumbles erupt throughout the crowd. Examinees argue about both the fairness of the system and which bracket will go first. They ask each other who took the time to check the bracket, and I slink away. I don’t want to be pressured to give away my one semblance of an advantage, and I hope the rest of them were too focused on the fighting to notice my departure.

“The first fight of round 2 will be Carson Adachi versus Alexis Powell. The rest of you return indoors and await your summons,” Alistair completes his instructions. I’m not surprised by his statement, but I wish I didn’t have to be the first fighter again. It isn’t likely to change the outcome, I suppose, so I may as well get the fight over with.

Alexis and I climb onto the stage as the rest of the students trudge away with obvious disappointment. Alistair waits for the courtyard to be completely empty before he continues talking.

“Same rules,” he instructs curtly before returning to his seat. When he and the other Council members are situated, he yells, “Go!”

Alexis doesn’t waste any time. She rushes toward me and throws a punch. I duck under it and weave backward. After a few more coordinated punches, she sacrifices form. She throws a barrage of slaps which are impossible for me to dodge.

Raising my hands, I cover my face and try to withstand the pain. Each slap delivers a static shock stronger than the previous. I can’t tire her out. In fact, I think she’s just ramping up her energy until she can incapacitate me without killing me. She’ll manage that soon if I don’t figure something out. Dropping down, I roll over my back shoulder to put distance between us. She charges at me, but I step to the side and push her back, launching her toward the edge of the square. Alexis is able to stabilize herself before falling off the edge. This is my opportunity. I run toward her.

“I’m sorry,” I tell her as I throw a punch to her jaw. I don’t want to hurt her, but this is my only chance. I won’t give it away simply because I have worked with Alexis once before.

As my fist connects with her jaw, I am practically launched backward by the shock. I fall to my back and roll a few feet away, completely out of breath. I should have made the connection that her whole body courses with electricity. Of course it isn’t just her hands.

“Me too,” she replies. Alexis lurches forward, but I roll away. Then, she changes her strategy. She lifts her shirt over her head and tosses it to the ground. Quickly, she unbuttons her pants and removes them. By the time I’m able to gather my bearings and stand, she’s in her underwear. I have no target. Anything I touch will shock me.

She rushes forward again, throwing a punch. Rather than weaving away, I dive to the left to keep as much distance as possible. Rolling, I pop back to my feet. She tries again, but I repeat my evasive maneuver.

I search my mind for a solution as I try to dodge her. She has me on the defensive and I’m definitely the one exhausting more energy. Whatever my power is, I wish it would activate. I won’t last much longer if I can’t find another strategy. Unfortunately, I can’t rely on that power.

When I touched her earlier, I hadn’t been shocked. That must mean that in order for her power to affect me, there has to be skin-to-skin contact. As long as I manage to avoid touching her skin, I think I can circumnavigate her ability.

Alexis approaches me slowly, clearly convinced the her current approach isn’t working. She had thrown her clothes outside off the battle arena. Maybe she didn’t want to trip over them, but it’s more likely she already knows her own weakness. I don’t have much to work with, and I don’t have time if she notices me doing anything.

Backing up, I wait for the perfect moment. Just as she gets almost within range, I roll forward and to the side. As I jump up, I quickly remove my shirt and wrap it around my hand. Alexis turns around quickly, tracking my motion. As she does, I catch her in the stomach with a well-executed punch. Stumbling backward, she almost loses her balance on the edge. I can’t let her recover. I run forward and shove her off with both hands. The shock from my exposed hand knocks me down again, but I’m still in the ring.

“Congratulations, Mr. Adachi,” Alistair calls from above. “Please inform Jade and Bryn that they’re next.”

Standing up, I nod slowly. Everything is so brief and brusque with him. Maybe that’s just Alistair’s personality and it isn’t the Council being secretive. Dante doesn’t seem to be quite as short in his conversations.

“Are you too injured to leave?” Alistair asks.

“No, sir,” I call back. Embarrassed, I walk back to the room. Exhaling deeply, I push open the doors. Somehow, I’ve made it to round 3 without using a power. It’s only going to get more difficult from here, but this is an accomplishment in which I can take pride.

“Bryn, Jade, they have asked for the two of you.”

“Looks like we’re in the same bracket, Powerless,” Jade taunts. Strolling away confidently, she bursts through the door. I cling to the slight hope that Bryn will win. That miniscule chance is shattered within sixty seconds, when Jade returns and sends Danny and Owen outside.

I’m quickly running out of time. Round 3 is approaching, and it’s clear that my fight will be with someone strong. I will have to use my power. However, I don’t see how it’s possible when I have no idea what it is. I can’t expect it to happen, let alone formulate a plan around it.

I know most of the powers of the people I’m facing. Jade is the only wild card, so I have to hope that she faces Danny next round. Of course, I doubt fighting Danny in the finals would be any better for me.

That train of thought proves useless, so I shake the thoughts from my head. I can’t accept a defeatist mindset– I’ve come too far. There is a way I can beat each of them – there has to be.

I’m distracted from my thoughts when, to no one’s surprise, Danny returns. He sends forward Kevin and Dalia.

Thinking back to the times my power has activated throughout the day, I try to find any clue of how it may be triggered. At first, it was related to adrenaline. In the locker room, though, I was cleaning my face. It seems like whatever is happening to me is locked behind a dam and I found a leak in it. Somehow, I have to break it down and release the torrential flood of power which has hidden within me for my entire life.

Those thoughts are nice – comforting, even. I can’t deny that. However, they are also completely useless. If it were adrenaline, I’m sure something would have triggered another outburst. Maybe it wasn’t the adrenaline, then. Maybe it was the determination. I knew I couldn’t lose to Lance.

“I asked if I could go again,” Dalia announces arrogantly as she walks back into the room. “So Danny, we’re up. The first match of round three.”

Ignoring them, I continue trying to work through my power. I may be on the verge of something. Something feels right, but I just can’t explain it. It’s as if my body and mind are finally agreeing for the first time.

Danny nonchalantly strolls back into the room. Now that everyone knows the bracket, it’s clear who’s next. With a sigh, I stand and walk toward the door.

“Tell you what, Powerless,” Jade taunts as we walk toward the stage. My blood is beginning to boil. I’m so sick of being insulted, especially by this complete stranger. I’m annoyed that my category has been used as an insult. Couldn’t the Council have come up with something – anything­ – else? “If you surrender…”

“Shut up,” I spit, as I step onto the stage.

“What?” She laughs.

“Shut up. I’m not going to surrender. Give it the best you have, because I’m not holding back.”

“Go,” Alistair bellows.

“If you insist,” Jade smirks. If there’s anything I’ve learned about people through my life, it’s that I can’t judge them based on looks. Jade, for example, is petite. Her long flowing brown hair and gentle eyes hide a sinister hatred. More importantly, her short frame with no visible muscle is also incredibly misleading.

Before I can process what happened, I’m soaring through the air. I land on the stage, barely able to stop my momentum before I fall off. Jade jumps twenty feet into the air and lands beside me, driving her fist into the stone of the stage. It cracks and pieces fly off.

I can’t help but offer a quick glance to Alistair. Is his skill of alteration of matter so great that he’s actually created parts of himself which can break off without pain? Is he simply altering the stage to appear as though pieces have been destroyed? Either way, his power is baffling.

I climb shakily to my feet and try to catch my breath. Jade walks toward me with a dainty gait and a deadly smile.

“You know, Coby Aldred hasn’t chosen his successor yet,” Jade informs me, biding her time as if she has no fear in the world. “If being the strongest and the smartest Brawn in school wasn’t enough to get me noticed, maybe defeating a Class I will be.”

“I’m gonna be honest, I don’t like your odds,” I laugh. I see her weakness. I see it in her because I see it in myself. She’s proud, and she always wants more. She will make a mistake; it’s a matter of when rather than if. In the interest of moving forward the timeline, I decide to spur her on a bit.

“Oh?” She spits. When she nears me, she reaches for me and I push away before she can get a grip. Reaching again, she grabs the air. I see frustration growing on her face. That will be her downfall. I’ll prove that regardless of might, my will is stronger.

She stomps on the ground, breaking the platform beneath me. As the cracks spread, I stumble forward, landing directly in her arms. This is not great.

Jade holds me with one arm and punches my cheek with the other. I feel blood dripping from my nose, but she punches again. Disoriented, I begin to wonder if this school is even worthwhile. My lifelong dream definitely hasn’t been to be a PeaceKeeper. Still, I have a duty to keep someone like her from taking the job. I don’t know how a power-hungry person passed Phase 3, but if the Council fails to stop her then I will.

Of course, my motives aren’t entirely selfless. I can’t wait to see the look on her face when I take her down a notch. I want her to know that I’m not only smarter – I’m more powerful than she is. I’ll take her comments and turn them on her. Now, all I have to do is find the way. She punches me again, making that goal increasingly difficult.

“Throw him from the arena or face disqualification,” Alistair groans, clearly disappointed in both of us.

“Out of the ring?” I cough. “She can’t. Why do you think she’s holding me here.”

“Can’t?” She growls. Before following Alistair’s instructions, she spits on my face. Her grip loosens ever so slightly, but that’s all I need. I push her arm toward me, tricking her into resisting by pulling away. In her momentary lapse, I drive the blade of my foot into her shin. As she stumbles backward, I punch her in the jaw. Before she can recover, I follow up with an uppercut. Maybe the delirium is setting in, but I am starting to think it’s possible that I win this. I push her back to the end of the arena before she finally catches my punch.

“I. Could. Break. You.” She threatens, pushing me backward. If I resist, the bones in my arm will shatter. She doesn’t seem to care about disqualification. Tripping, I fall backward. Jade straddles me, pinning me to the ground.

I’m helpless. She doesn’t weigh much, but her force is outstanding. I hate the word, but she’s right. I’m powerless. I can’t struggle against her. I’m at the mercy of the Council’s intervention.

Jade draws her hand back to punch me in the face. I won’t yield. I have been defeated, but I will not admit it. I’ll take whatever consequences that brings. I won’t allow her the satisfaction.

Desperately, I block her punch with my hands. I see her straining, but I manage to hold back her attack. Her fist presses toward my open hands, but she can’t seem to reach them. Finally, I see my power. I can generate force fields.

No, that feels wrong. I don’t know what, but a piece of myself tells me to stop thinking that way. Maybe I’m searching too desperately for an explanation in the realm of possibility. What’s been happening to me has clearly already broken out of that domain.

So I’ll try. I picture the dam breaking. All of that energy surges from me, rushing to the palms of my hands. Thrusting them forward, I push her fists back. Jade flies off me, colliding with the wall on the other side of the courtyard. Struggling, I stand to my feet.

“Congratulations, Mr. Adachi,” Alistair cheers, appearing in front of me. For the first time, I hear a hint of joy in his voice. “Dante noticed something at the dodgeball game. It seems he was right. There is something special about you. Nonetheless, you’re not prepared for another match. I’ll allow the other brackets to proceed while you rest. Your fight will end round four.”

“Cool,” I respond sleepily. The next words come out as a slur, and suddenly the floor comes up to meet my face.