A thick smoke surrounds Hayze and Eve, causing them to lose sight of Jake.

Hayze: (I’ve got a bad feeling about this…)

Eve: *coughing* What’s going on?

Hayze: *coughing* Looks like we’ve been found.

Eve: Already? How did they find us so quickly?

Hayze: I don’t know… but where there’s smoke, there’s-

A loud boom goes off. Hayze jumps on top of Eve and pushes her to the ground.

Hayze: Get down!

A rocket whizzes over their heads, an explosion can be heard in the distance.

Hayze: Are you alr-

Eve: Get off of me!

Eve pushes Hayze off herself.

Eve: I didn’t ask for your help!

Hayze: You didn’t have to.

Eve: *frustrated grunt*

Eve looks at the thick smoke surrounding them.

Eve: Well, what are we going to do now? I can’t see a thing.

Hayze: I’m not sure, but this smoke isn’t a one-way window. They can’t see us.

Eve: Yeah, but I’m sure they can guess where we are.

Hayze: Then why only fire one shot?

Eve: Because… okay, good point.

Hayze: They created this smokescreen from a distance, so they’re not aware of our exact location. So we’re not entirely trapped.

Eve: That’s good, and here I thought we were already screwed.

Hayze: Yeah… (But that brings up a critical question… Why cover us with smoke at all? Was it really just to separate us from Jake? Jake isn’t a threat… why would they…)

Hayze’s eyes widen with realization.

Hayze: We have to clear this smoke.

Hayze’s eyes change to gray. He grabs a tornado dagger from his gauntlet.

Hayze: Get ready to run.

Eve: Woah, I’m sorry, what? You just finished explaining how this smoke provides us cover!

Hayze: Trust me, Eve, if this smoke was giving us any form of an advantage, they wouldn’t have cast it around us in the first place.

Eve scoffs.

Eve: Whatever, but if I get gunned down because of you, I’m gonna be pissed.

Hayze: That’s fine, but when we get out of this alright, I expect a “Thank You.”

Eve: You won’t get one.

Hayze: I’ll take it.

Hayze throws the dagger in the air, the rotation of the blade speeds up until it generates a small tornado, dispelling the smokescreen.

Eve: Okay, now wh-

Hayze: Run!

Suddenly bullets start raining down upon Hayze and Eve, the two immediately start running.

Eve: Remember when we were safe in the smoke? Yeah, me too.

Hayze: Complain later, Eve! Hide!

Hayze and Eve hide behind separate trees, the bullet barrage ends. They catch their breath as Hayze calls the tornado towards himself and retrieves the dagger.

Eve: RUNNING BEHIND SOME TREES WAS YOUR BIG IDEA!

Hayze: We’re still standing, aren’t we?

Eve: THAT’S YOUR STANDARD FOR SUCCESS!

Hayze: Well, it’s a good starting point.

Eve: Whatever… at least the bullets stopped.

Hayze: Yeah… speaking of which...

Hayze narrowly peeks around the tree to see if he can spot anyone.

Hayze: (Where is the follow-up attack? I would have expected an explosive to be fired at us by now, something’s off…)

Gus cowers behind a tree nearby Eve and Hayze.

Gus: (Of course they ran in this direction! Of fucking course! Aaron wouldn’t fire a rocket at them with me being this close… right?)

Far off, Aaron is standing on a tree branch scoped in on Gus.

Aaron: (Goddammit… as much as I want to… I’d rather not have to carry his injured ass around… I guess I’ll have to switch up my game plan and get him out of there.)

A minute passes as Hayze and Eve stay behind their trees.

Eve: Well, genius… What's the plan now?

Hayze: I’m thinking…

Hayze looks down at the dagger.

Hayze: Take this.

Hayze tosses the dagger to Eve.

Eve: Why are you giving me this?

Hayze: It might come in handy later.

Hayze takes out his other dagger.

Hayze: (I hate sitting and waiting on what Aaron will do, but with the limited information available to us, it’s our only option.)

Aaron transforms his arm from a sniper into a flare gun.

Aaron: (This should distract them long enough for Gus to vacate the area, then I’ll hit them with everything I’ve got!)

Aaron aims between the trees that Hayze and Eve are hiding behind.

Aaron: (Sorry, Hayze and Eve, but this is a dog-eat-dog world.)

Suddenly Jake teleports onto the branch and knocks the flare gun upward, causing the flare to shoot into the sky. Hayze, Eve and Gus see it and look confused.

Aaron: Jake! Where the hell did you come from!

Jake: The ground.

Aaron: Well, I know that!

Jake: Then why did you ask?

Aaron transforms his arm into an RPG.

Aaron: I’d teleport away now if I were you.

Jake: But I didn’t do what I came here to do.

Aaron: Wait… so you didn’t come up here to save Hayze and Eve?

Jake: They’re still here?

Aaron looks at Jake dumbfounded.

Aaron: *sighs* So why did you come up here?

Jake: Do you have any chicken nuggets? I’m starving.

Jake teleports away as Aaron point-blank fires the rocket annihilating the tree.

Aaron: (Shit! He got away!)

Aaron slams into the ground. Everyone else spots the explosion.

Eve: (What the hell is going on back there!)

Hayze: (Well, that explains where Aaron is… and where Jake was…)

Gus starts running toward the blast.

Gus: Oh, crap! Oh, crap! OH, CRAP!

Eve starts to run after Gus.

Eve: GUS! YOU LITTLE WEASEL DON’T RUN FROM-

Hayze grabs Eve’s arm to hold her back.

Eve: What are you doing?

Hayze: *yelling* Jake! Get over here!

Jake teleports to Hayze and Eve, holding their supply bag.

Jake: You guys wouldn’t happen to have any chicken nuggets, would you?

Hayze takes their orb out of his pocket and holds it out to Eve.

Hayze: You guys get out of here. I’ll hold them back.

Eve: Oh, like hell, we’re running away! We can take these guys!

Hayze: Is this really the battle you want to put all of our chips on the table for?

Eve: Huh?

Hayze: Eve, let’s be honest with ourselves here: we might be the weakest team in this forest, definitely in our class. In conjunction with that, we also lack teamwork and coordination. We’re not ready to risk our chances of passing this exam in a huge fight this early on.

Eve groans, knowing that Hayze is right.

Eve: That may be true, but why are you staying behind? Why not have Jake teleport away with the orb?

Hayze: Because I don’t have faith in Jake to pass this exam on his own if something goes wrong, and that’s not a slight on Jake, none of us can. Therefore, our best move is to have one person stay behind so that if they’re defeated, the team is still strong enough to pass the exam.

Eve: (He’s really thought this through that much in such a short time?) Then why can’t I stay behind and you and Jake leave?

Hayze: Because I have a hunch that Aaron might be angling to fight me. If I lose, he might not chase after you guys. But, if he fights you, he might continue his pursuit.

Eve: You really think he’s that obsessed with fighting you?

Hayze: This is Aaron we’re talking about.

Eve: *sighs* (As much as I hate to admit it… he’s right, we can’t risk everything this soon… our spots in the hero course are on the line…)

Eve looks at Hayze for a moment, then takes the orb.

Eve: Just don’t lose, okay? I really don’t want to be stuck with just Jake for the next couple of days.

Jake: Any nuggets, guys? Any?

Hayze: No promises, Eve. Just don’t come back for me, alright?

Eve: Well, duh, that’s the point of leaving someone behind… but speaking of reuniting, how will you find us again?

Hayze: Use that dagger I gave you.

Eve: Oh… right…

Jake: Are you guys ignoring my pleas for help?

Eve: JUST SHUT UP AND RUN!

Eve and Jake run off; Hayze cracks his knuckles.

Hayze: (Well, Aaron, it looks like this day has come.)

Eve looks over her shoulder at Hayze.

Eve: (Good luck… douchebag.)

Gus runs up to Aaron.

Gus: Aaron, are you alright?

Aaron: Gus? What are you doing here? I told you to stay out on the perimeter!

Gus: You also told me that if an explosion goes off in the area of this particular tree, that means I need to retreat to you.

Aaron: I really wish I wasn’t that specific… Whatever, are Hayze and Eve still behind those trees? We have to continue our assault.

Gus: Yeah, but I’m really confused about why we rushed into this… we were only supposed to be scouting the surrounding area; Lilith is still waiting for us.

Aaron: If we get their orb, we can pass this exam. There’s no reason to wait.

Gus: I understand that, but we didn’t even have a plan ready when we attacked and-

Hayze: *from afar* No plan? So you two really came after us blind and expected an easy victory? I know you’re confident, Aaron, but I didn’t think you were that cocky.

Hayze has arrived.

Aaron: So you know it’s just the two of us now, huh?

Hayze: No, I figured that out when you initially attacked.

Aaron: So you did…

Hayze: I was confused why you didn’t just attack us outright and covered us with a smokescreen instead, but then it hit me: You weren’t at full strength. You wanted to separate our team and target Jake on his own. However, once the smoke engulfed Eve and me, Jake teleported away like a bitch, ruining your “plan” at that point, you fired a rocket into the smoke to keep Eve and me pinned. Am I close?

Aaron smiles.

Aaron: You know, Hayze, that’s what I liked about you the first time we met: You’re always able to assess a situation no matter how much pressure you’re under. It’s what helped us pass the entrance exam.

Hayze: Well, after assessing this situation, I realized that Lilith is probably elsewhere with your orb, correct?

Aaron: Mayb-

Gus: Yes.

Aaron stares at Gus.

Aaron: *long sighs* It’s not worth it.

Hayze: If your orb isn’t here, then there’s no reason for us to risk ours. That’s why I sent my team away.

Aaron: Then why are you still here?

Hayze: I know why you came at us so rashly, Aaron: you’ve got a promise to keep.

“ Aaron: I know you’ll get into U.A. based on how we did in our exam, but if I make it in, I look forward to the day we fight each other; it will be a good battle, but trust me, I’ll win. “

Hayze: You never said it, but when we were standing on that third place podium together, I could tell you wished you had gotten your opportunity at the Sports Festival. I know you want your fight during this exam, so I’m here to give it to you.

Gus turns to Aaron.

Gus: Really, man… that’s why you said we “have to attack” when we spotted them? Really?

Aaron: Gus, head back to Lilith and wait for me there.

Gus: What? But it’s 2 on 1. So we can take him down together!

Aaron: That’s not how I want it.

Gus: But, Aaron-

Aaron: Gus, he just said he doesn’t have his orb, and there’s no reason for him to lie about that. I’ll take him down. There’s no reason for both of us to waste our energy on a meaningless fight.

Gus thinks for a moment, then runs off, leaving Hayze and Aaron alone.

Aaron: I’ll admit my pride got in the way here. I’m putting my own interests ahead of my team’s, which isn’t usually my style, but ever since the entrance exam, I’ve wanted to fight you, Hayze. Although, if I’m being honest, I wasn’t exactly sure why. During that speech I gave you, it was just kind of something I said, I didn’t think about saying it, or why I felt the need to say it, I just did. However, after watching your fight against Silver, I realized why I felt the need to fight you myself: we’re opposites.

Hayze: What do you mean by that?

Aaron: You fight using strategy and a more precise fighting style, while I fight using pure force and a more loose style.

Hayze: That is true.

Aaron: I’m not going to pass up my chance to see which of us is stronger.

Hayze: I realized, but I don’t think you’re going to like the answer.

Aaron: Funny, I was just about to say the same thing to you!

Aaron transforms his arm into a rocket launcher. Hayze readies his dagger.

Aaron: Let’s go!

Aaron launches a rocket at Hayze. Hayze immediately throws his dagger, creating a tornado that deflects the missile into a tree.

Hayze: Try using bullets against the wind itself!

The tornado continues its path toward Aaron.

Aaron: With pleasure!

Aaron switches his arm from a rocket launcher to a pistol and fires a single bullet into the eye of the storm. The bullet hits the dagger breaking its rotation and dispelling the tornado. The blade falls into the dirt.

Aaron: How about that-

Aaron notices that Hayze is gone.

Aaron: (Not only did he predict and counter my opening move, but he also was able to distract me long enough to take cover somewhere else… well played, Hayze.)

Hayze has hidden inside of a bush and is peering at Aaron.

Hayze: (He knew to aim for the eye… well played, Aaron.)

Aaron grabs Hayze’s dagger.

Aaron: (I know he's got two of these, so I’ll have to watch out for the other, but for now, I know his arsenal is limited.)

Aaron breaks the dagger and throws the components to his sides.

Aaron: (Giving Hayze time to plan out a strategy is what cost Silver, I won’t let that happen to me.

Aaron surveys his surroundings.

Aaron: (The only problem is I have no idea where he could be… oh well, there’s an easy fix to that.)

Aaron puts his arms together and forms a mortar.

Aaron: Ballistic Bombardment times 5!

Aaron fires off five mortar shells in one direction that rain down into the forest, Causing massive explosions throughout it. None of them hit Hayze.

Hayze: (There’s no way he’s actually doing what I think he’s doing... right?)

Aaron stands up and looks at the destruction he’s caused.

Aaron: Well, he wasn’t to the South, on to the East!

Hayze’s eyes widen.

Hayze: (Shit! He is! And He’s looking in my direction!)

Aaron: Ballistic Bombardment t-

Hayze emerges from the bush and charges at Aaron.

Aaron: (Huh, guess I got lucky.)

Hayze places his left pointer finger in the center of his palm. Wind starts circling around his finger until it forms a perfect circle.

Hayze: (A typhoon boom won’t take him out, but it’s a damn good start!)

Aaron transforms his arms from the mortar back to normal.

Aaron: (I’m still not familiar with Hayze’s expanding arsenal of attacks, but I can’t imagine this one will help him dodge bullets!)

Aaron transforms both of his arms into M16s.

Hayze: (Aaron’s not going to make this easy for me.)

Aaron opens fire on Hayze. Hayze quickly slams his palm into the ground, launching himself into the air.

Aaron: (What’s he doing!)

Aaron redirects his fire upward. Hayze grabs a tree branch and flips himself onto it.

Hayze: (He won’t let me get close, and my wind form isn’t great for long-range combat!)

Hayze jumps from tree to tree to avoid Aaron’s barrage.

Hayze: (Aaron’s goal is clear, don’t give me any time to assess the situation, just attack nonstop until I’m defeated. It’s smart, but there’s one fatal flaw.)

Aaron continues firing at Hayze to no avail. His arms start to grow a very slight shade of red.

Aaron: (Shit…)

Aaron ceases fire and transforms his arms back to normal. Hayze stops moving and looks down at Aaron.

Hayze: Getting tired?

Aaron: No, I’m just getting started!

Aaron transforms his arm into a rocket launcher. Hayze creates a typhoon boom in his palm.

Hayze: (I’m only going to get one chance at this!)

Aaron fires the rocket directly at Hayze.

Aaron: Dodge that!

Hayze doesn’t move.

Aaron: (What!)

Hayze stands pat as the rocket gets closer and closer. Then, finally, Hayze winds back his hand.

Hayze: (I need to aim this right.)

Hayze accelerates his hand and slams the typhoon boom into the nose cone of the rocket, reflecting it.

Aaron: (I forgot he could remove air resistance to speed up his movements!)

The rocket explodes into the ground to the left of Aaron. Aaron braces himself as shrapnel from the blast flies at him.

Aaron: You missed!

Hayze: I wasn’t aiming for you!

Aaron: What!

Aaron notices the broken dagger blade is among the shrapnel.

Aaron: (Ah fuck…)

The dagger blade spins into a tornado that slams into Aaron’s chest, sending him flying, skidding against the ground.

Aaron: *groans* The first move is always a fake…

Hayze redirects the tornado to himself and grabs the blade.

Hayze: (Aaron was wise to break the dagger, but he didn’t-)

Suddenly Hayze is shot in the leg, causing him to lose his balance and plummet from the tree.

Hayze: (What!)

Aaron has transformed his arm into a sniper rifle.

Aaron: Pros never fake.

Hayze smashes into the ground.

Hayze: *groans* (Welp… wasn’t expecting that.)

Hayze looks down at his gunshot wound.

Hayze: (And that is going to make this a whole lot harder…)

Aaron kneels down.

Aaron: (With Hayze’s leg injured, it’ll make it harder for him to dodge my attacks. Should I go for the kill now?)

Hayze stands up, using a tree to keep his balance.

Hayze: (I got one big hit off on Aaron, I just need one or two more to take him down. He’s not letting me get close. He saw my battle with Justus first hand; he knows that I could beat him if this turns into a fistfight, so he’s doing everything in his power to keep me away and continue to take potshots at me. I need to close the gap, fast!)

Aaron puts his hands together.

Aaron: (If I miss, then I’m a sitting duck… but if I hit him… I’ll win. Is the risk worth the reward? I can probably beat him anyway, there’s no reason for me to put everything on the line right now.)

Aaron starts to separate his hands but then quickly stops.

Aaron: (No! That’s not how I fight! There’s no guarantee I’ll beat him if I stick to my regular attacks, but there is a guarantee I’ll win if I hit him with my best attack right here and right now!)

Aaron transforms his arms into a Howitzer Cannon.

Aaron: (No regrets, that’s what defines me as a warrior and what will define this battle!)

Hayze grabs the dagger blade off the ground.

Hayze: (Aaron hasn’t attacked again, he’s straying away from his strategy. What is he planning?)

Hayze’s eyes widen as he spots Aaron.

Hayze: (Fuck!)

Hayze ducks behind the tree.

Hayze: (If he fires that… I’m done, no doubt about it!)

Hayze looks down at his leg.

Hayze: (I won’t get far like this… I need a miracle.)

Aaron aims at the tree Hayze is hiding behind.

Aaron: (Damn, he noticed me, oh well, there’s no way he gets out of this!)

Hayze starts sweating.

Hayze: (Shit, I can’t think of anything, I can’t reflect the attack, I can’t dodge it, and I most definitely can’t take it! What do I do? What do I do!)

Hayze takes a deep breath and closes his eyes.

Hayze: (Calm down. Panicking doesn’t solve anything. Every puzzle has a solution, I just need to find it.)

Aaron takes a deep breath and closes his eyes.

Aaron: (Keep calm. This is war, and in every war, the guy with the bigger gun wins!)

Hayze’s eyes open.

Hayze: (I’ve got it!)

Hayze creates a typhoon boom in his hand.

Aaron: Howitzer Burst!

Aaron fires the cannon, the blast soars toward Hayze.

Aaron: (Checkmate.)

The blast annihilates every tree in its path until eventually subsiding. Smoke and fire coat the path of destruction made by the explosion.

Aaron: That should do it. Good fight, Hayze.

Aaron looks down at the Howitzer Cannon, which is red.

Aaron: (Good thing I defeated him without overusing my arms. Now, which direction did Gus g-)

Suddenly Aaron hears a faint noise.

Aaron: (What’s that?)

Suddenly a tornado emerges from the smoke and careens toward Aaron. Aaron’s eyes widen.

Aaron: (What!)

The tornado slams directly into Aaron and sends him flying through the air.

Aaron: (How did he survive that!)

Hayze emerges from the top of the smokescreen, gliding through the air with a typhoon boom in hand.

“ Adrian: If you were to jump off this mountain, you’d be able to fly by controlling the flow of the wind that your falling body is generating, but if you land, then you wouldn't be able to do that anymore because you aren’t falling. “ - Chapter 45

Hayze: (Thanks, Adrian, I owe you one!)

Hayze glides directly towards Aaron.

Aaron: No! I won’t let you win!

Aaron transforms his arms from the Howitzer Cannon into M16s.

Hayze: (I thought he couldn’t use his arms again this quickly after using Howitzer Burst! Don’t tell me he pulled that off using sheer willpower!)

Aaron opens fire on Hayze.

Hayze: Nice try, Aaron! But you’re not the only one with an ace in the hole!

Hayze directs the tornado into the barrage of bullets sending each bullet flying in random directions, 2 hit Hayze in the left shoulder and right forearm, 1 hits Aaron in the chest, cutting off his barrage.

Aaron: (Shit!)

Hayze creates a second typhoon boom in his other hand and glides next to Aaron. The two make eye contact.

Aaron: (Good game.)

Hayze slams his right palm into Aaron’s chest.

Hayze: Typhoon Boom!

Aaron smashes into the ground at full force but remains conscious. Hayze careens straight for Aaron and winds back his left palm.

Aaron: *groans*

Hayze collides his left palm into Aaron’s chest.

Hayze: Times Two!

The force of the attack craters in the ground and incapacitates Aaron completely. Hayze is breathing heavily, sweating profusely, and bleeding from multiple gunshot wounds.

Hayze: Damn… that was tough.

He steps off of Aaron and takes a few steps before falling to his knees and subsequently sitting on the ground.

Hayze: (I knew it would take a lot to bring Aaron down… but I didn’t think he’d be able to take a tornado to the chest, a gunshot, and two typhoon booms and still be conscious.)

Hayze assesses his own injuries. His eyes revert to normal.

Hayze: I’ll be able to heal these wounds, but given my lack of energy… It'll be a while.

Aaron: *coughs* So… how did you do it?

Hayze: Huh?

Aaron: How did you get out of the way of my Howitzer Burst?

Hayze: *laughs* Although I survived that, you nearly had me. With my mobility limited, you went for a move you thought would hit me, and it was a good one. During my internship, I was taught about how I can control the airflow around my body, allowing me to control my fall and glide through the air. I used my typhoon boom attack to launch myself in the air before you fired your blast, dodging from above.

Aaron smiles.

Aaron: I should have expected that, just like when I first met you, I underestimated you.

Hayze: I’m surprised you’re so calm about losing.

Aaron: Nah, I’m pissed, but I’m glad I went down on my terms, I took a risk to try and win the battle, and it didn’t pay off. It’s better than going down playing it safe.

Hayze: You know, Aaron, that’s what I like about you: You have your code, and you stick to it, no matter what. It’s admirable.

Aaron: *laughs* Thanks.

Hayze slowly gets to his feet.

Hayze: Alright, well, this was fun, but now I have to go get scolded by Eve.

Hayze starts to limp off.

Aaron: Hey, Hayze.

Hayze: Huh?

Aaron: Don’t fail this exam. I’m going to be pissed if we can’t have a rematch.

Hayze smiles.

Hayze: You too, Aaron, you too.