Bob gathered the team in a conference room.

“Now that all of you are gathered, it’s time to explain the job. Simply put, you are a frontline response team. When we need something done, you’re the one’s we’re going to send.”

“Question!”

Saydaa raised her hand. Bob let out a sigh.

“Yes?”

“So like, what are we actually going to do?”

“That will depend entirely on the mission. But generally? Combat, or missions where combat is reasonably expected. Particularly combat with supers.”

“Ah, so we’re the muscle? Got it. By the way, what are we actually fighting for? Are we secretly ILS? Secret government agency? Doomsday cult? You still never answered that, you know.”

Arvid crossed his arms and nodded.

“I’d like to know as well. As I said, I’ve heard the ILS pitch many a time. I’ve no desire to find myself in the news.”

Bob shrugged.

“Our goals and organization are need-to-know. But suffice to say you work for me, and I don’t work for anyone. The goal of each mission will be explained in the briefing.”

He turned to look at Arvid.

“And we have no desire to be heroes. Our missions will not be public, your name will not be in the news if we can help it. And we may ask you to do things no hero ever would. Rest assured, the ILS will not have anything to do with us. And probably won’t want to.”

Arvid nodded. Saydaa kicked her feet onto the table and leaned back in her seat.

“Huh, so still dodging the question? Doomsday cult it is. By the way, the bargain breaks if I find out we’re destroying the world or something, just so you know. Definitely falls into the ‘trying to get me killed’ category.”

Kiyosuke scoffed.

“As long as I gain power, I couldn’t care less.”

“I mean, you wouldn’t, but you probably should. All the power in the world won’t matter if you’re dead. And everyone else is. Or maybe you’d like that? You probably would, seeing as how you’re a jerk and all. Boss-man, is he like the apostle of the cult or something? I think I’m out in that case. Ending up like that guy…now that’s a fate worse than death.”

Bob let out a deep sigh.

“I-I’ll do anything you need, Bob-sama!”

“Agreement: Elise is also ready and waiting for orders, Commander Bob.”

“...first things first though, you all need to train. You may be powerful as individuals, but you need to be able to work together.”

Kiyosuke’s eyes narrowed.

“Teams just hold you back.”

Bob let out a sigh and clicked a button. A television screen dropped from the roof, covering one of the walls. Footage appeared on it.

“What is this?”

“Downtown New York. Aurora Legion’s first public appearance. A bunch of kids took on a super over twice their size with superstrength and bulletproof skin. Guess who won?”

Bob pressed a button.

“Abandoned missile silo, Europe. Aurora Legion took on the Atomic Herald, who channeled nuclear power through his own body. Up against a bunch of kids who didn’t know left from right. Guess who won?”

Bob pressed another button.

“Jurassic Cemetery. The Necrosaurus, a master of dark, arcane powers and hordes that threatened the entire world. And as you can see here, personally had the power to move mountains and shake the Earth. Went up against a rag-tag group of heroes none of which came close to his might. Guess who won?”

Bob shut off the television, staring at Kiyosuke.

“I’m not asking you to make friends. I’m not asking any of you to get along. But I am asking you to work together to get jobs done. Because like it or not, heroes work together, and several heroes are harder to beat than one. And you may one day have to fight heroes. So you better be able to work together, or you’ll feature in the video I show to your replacement.”

Kiyosuke frowned but stayed silent. Saydaa yawned.

“Well that’s all well and nice, boss, but what are we actually going to do? Listen to you give speeches? Sit here and watch videos? Actually that sounds pretty good, I’m ok with that.”

“For now, go and get some rest. I’m calling up your drill sergeant, your training begins when she arrives.”

Saydaa raised an eyebrow.

“Drill sergeant?”

Bob smiled.

“Kiyosuke there wants a taste of true power. I’m going to oblige.”

Deep within the Eternal Night Sect, Xiong Huang sat in a pitch black room, legs crossed and eyes closed. She stirred up her anger, her hatred.

It was easy, ever since the attack.

All she had to do was remember that man’s face. The bloody disciples on the floor. The sheer arrogance as he tried to ‘save’ her while covered in the blood of her friends and family.

As long as she had him, she’d never need another source of hate for all eternity. A thousand deaths were too good for him. After all, he…

The image of the wrinkled, smiling face of an old man passed through her mind.

Her eyes shot open. Her heart was pounding, and her stomach dropped. Her eyes started to itch around the edges as the fire in her chest went cold. She felt as if a weight had descended on her head and shoulders, she wanted to close her eyes…

She shook her head. She furrowed her brow, and gathered the heat within her belly, driving it towards her beating heart.

That’s right. That’s why. She would hate him. Until the day she died, which would never come, she would hate him. She would channel this hate, and destroy all before her. And she would never let anything like this…

“What if I said I trusted you to come?”

Her eyes shot open once more. Her heart pounded in her chest once more.

A fool.

A complete fool.

After all, she was the leader of an evil sect. He dared to manipulate her? Use her to destroy his enemies? She very nearly didn’t go. She thought of intentionally striking somewhere else first, delaying the retribution, just to put that insolent fool in his place.

“Why so surprised? I’ve thought of you as a friend from the beginning, you know. If evil cultivators are allowed such things.”

No, you fool. 'Evil' cultivators are allowed anything they have the power to take. It’s that they did not require such things. They had no friends because they chose not to. They defied the heavens themselves by naught but their own strength and ambition. They knew the truth. Those who rely on others are weak, and a cultivator such as herself had no weakness. Her power was the proof, only the strong could endure the tribulations of the heavens.

So why did her heart pound? Why did her stomach drop when she thought she might’ve been late?

Why did she go?

And why did her heart jump to her throat when she imagined what might have happened?

Xiong Huang gasped, clutching her chest, sweat forming on her brow. She shook her head again, narrowing her eyes. She pounded her fist on the floor, listening to the wood crack underneath her.

This was so annoying.

She stood up. Great. Just great. Now she couldn’t even cultivate. Did she even need to? Was there even a realm beyond this?

Whatever, it was time to hit something.

The disciple outside her door jumped as she slammed it open.

“M-Mistress…t-this one greets the Mistress. I-Is your cultivation concluded already?”

“Assemble the inner and core disciples. I would train pointers with them.”

The blood drained from the man’s face.

“W-We are h-honored, Mistress. I-I shall gather them at once.”

“See that you do. I’ll be waiting for your return.”

“Y-Yes…o-of course…”

A few minutes later, Xiong Huang let out a sigh.

Weak.

Disappointing.

The entire might of the sect and they couldn’t even distract her. What was even the point of this? All because of that stupid, no good, idiotic…

Xiong Huang jumped as her phone rang.

“Bob!”

“Ouch…did something happen, Xiong Huang?”

“Did something happen? Did something happen?!”

“Yes?”

She let out a deep sigh.

“No, nothing happened. Why are you calling?”

“A favor.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“Bob…I’ve been thinking. I think you’ve had enough favors at this point. I’ve done everything you’ve asked. Destroyed all your foes. Provided you your army. I’d say we’re even now, so no more favors. We’re done.”

“Then I’ll pay you.”

“You think you can just…”

“The Scroll of Demonic Binding.”

“...what?”

“The Scroll of Demonic Binding.”

“You have the Scroll of Demonic Binding?!”

“Yes.”

“And you’re offering it to an evil sect?”

“I’m offering it to you.”

There it was. Her stomach dropped. Her heart pounded in her chest. She shook her head and narrowed her eyes. It wasn’t important.

What was important was the freaking Scroll of Demonic Binding in the hands of a mere mortal man.

“...what’s the job?”

“Training. I have a team, I want you to whip them into shape.”

“...Bob, we’ve been over this. Taking on disciples is not a favor. And I don’t let outsiders into the sect.”

“They don’t need to be taught cultivation, they have their own power.”

“Then what the heck do you want me to teach?”

“What they need is enough experience and teamwork to survive in the field. You’ve spent longer than anyone in the field working with people you didn’t like. And you’ve trained an entire army of people to do likewise.”

Xiong Huang let out a sigh and held her forehead.

“...if you don’t want to, I’ll find someone else.”

“As if there’s anyone else when you’re asking me. I’ll be there, you better have that scroll.”

“We’re ready for you anytime.”

Xiong Huang tried to hang up the call only to find Bob already had. She closed her eyes as a vein bulged in her forehead. She turned to the head disciple groaning on the ground.

“I’ll be out for a while. And I expect a better showing when I return.”

“Yes…Mistress…”

Xiong Huang landed at the facility. Bob was waiting for her. Her stomach dropped again but she ignored it, circulating her qi to calm her body. A mere organ could not dictate the path of one who defied the heavens.

“Hello Xiong Huang.”

“The scroll.”

She held out her hand. Bob reached into his pocket and placed the scroll in her hand.

“...You’re not worried I’ll just leave now that I have what I want?”

“If I thought you’d do that, I wouldn’t have told you about I had it.”

She closed her eyes. The vein bulged in her forehead.

“...let’s just get this over with. Where are the pathetic worms for me to beat?”

“...I’d prefer them in one-piece. We have a sparring room this way.”

Xiong Huang nodded and the pair headed off, walking in silence.

“This is our teacher?”

In the training, Saydaa raised an eyebrow. Kiyosuke scoffed.

“She looks barely older than us.”

Saydaa pointed towards Arvid.

“Maybe even younger in some cases.”

Xiong Huang crossed her arms and let out a sigh. Great. A bunch of brats who couldn’t see Mount Tai.

And then Arvid took a step forward.

“Hail, fairest of maidens! This one is Arvid, and I am delighted to meet you. I hope we can get to know one another through our time together.”

Xiong Huang’s eyes shot open and she turned her head.

“Bob.”

Bob had a hand covering his face.

“Alive please. Preferably no permanent damage.”

Xiong Huang opened her mouth.

“Including mental.”

She let out a sigh and then motioned for the boy to approach.

“Come, and let me give you my greetings, big guy.”

Arvid smiled and strode to her. He flashed a grin at the others and then turned back to her…

And found a finger in front of his face, held back by a thumb.

Xiong Huang flicked.

CRASH!

Arvid was gone. The other teens’ eyes widened as they turned their heads. Bob let out a groan.

There was hole straight through the wall of the training room. The same wall Saydaa’s full might had barely stripped a single layer off of.

“Kiyosuke, remember when I said I'd show you power you couldn’t dream of?”

Kiyosuke slowly nodded.

“You’re looking at it.”

Xiong Huang scoffed.

“You think that’s power? I don’t even accept inner disciples if they can’t do that much. Don’t insult me, Bob.”

Xiong Huang released an ounce of her intent. The very air shook, the earth rumbled. All the teens cried out as they slammed into the ground.

“None of you, with all your might combined, could lay a single finger upon the very bottom of my toes, even if I bent over backwards to go easy on you. It takes all my self-control not to destroy you with my mere presence. Power? Hah. What I possess is nothing as worthless as power. What I possess is the very heavens themselves. I hold the secrets of eternal life, and the very Earth itself bows at my command. That is who stands before you. See that you do not forget it.”

Xiong Huang took a glance at Bob as she said this. He simply stood, unreadable as always.

Annoying.

Xiong Huang released her intent and the kids stood to their feet on shaky legs.

Saydaa rubbed her head.

“What the heck…”

Nana continued to tremble silently, holding herself.

Elise’s core and eyes glowed.

“Status Report: Scanning for damage. Running threat calculation…error, threat could not be adequately calculated. Emergency Warning: Commander Bob, I recommend immediate withdrawal.”

Kiyosuke smirked.

“So this is what it means to be strong.”

They heard a groan, and turned to the side. Arvid stumbled through the hole in the wall, rubbing his forehead.

“...my apologies, mighty one. I was not aware I was speaking to a divine.”

Xiong Huang sneered at him.

“Because you’re not. I’m the one who surpassed them.”

Arvid’s eyes widened but he gulped and nodded.

Meanwhile Bob rubbed his chin.

“What do you say to a little wager, Xiong Huang?”

“Oh? What kind of wager?”

“Bend over backwards to go easy on them. Beat my team with the minimum possible force you can.”

The edge of Xiong Huang’s mouth curled up.

“Interesting. And what do you intend to wager?”

“If we win, you train them for free.”

“And when you lose?”

Bob took out a small package and unwrapped it. Xiong Huang let out a curse.

“A Thousand-Year-Old Flame Ginseng? Where in all the heavens and the earth do you find this stuff, Bob?”

“This one? Chinatown.”

“Seriously?!”

Bob simply smiled.

“The shop owner thought he was ripping me off with spoiled produce.”

Xiong Huong mumbled some more curses, then took position in the center of the room. She held out a hand, lifting a single finger.

“One finger. I don’t move from this spot. I don’t use any other part of my body. No external qi. They land a single hit anywhere besides that finger, it’s your win. They even touch anywhere besides that finger, even the slightest graze upon my robes, it’s their win.”

Kiyosuke’s eyes narrowed. Saydaa gulped. Arvid nodded, eyes focused on Xiong Huang. Nana continued to tremble. Elise turned to Bob.

Bob nodded.

“All right everyone. Show her what you can do.”

Xiong Huang grinned.

“And try not to die.”