Erica had been enjoying the show Dynames had been putting on. The way he fought and how hard he worked was something of an interest of hers. She knew all too well of the treatment and mindset toward him. Many students felt he was a waste of time and would only lower the schools ratings. The nine boys surrounding him and trying to beat him was nothing new.

Tired of the noise of Dynames getting beat up. She slammed her book down and walked over to where they were. On her way over, she tried to see the best way to go about this. Boredom ruled her, so she decides to entertain herself.

“It is none of my concern what the weak do to each other, but you’re interrupting my reading,” The nine boys finally stopped kicking Dynames and turned their attention to her.

“What do you want girly?” one of the grunts snapped at her. A smile filled her face. She so enjoyed teaching people there place. With a flick of the hair, her eyes narrowed as the words soaked in. An idea formed, She walked right passed all of them as they were not even there.

Dynames ,having been beaten, retreated to the tree while this was going on. She kept her eyes on him but kept her senses high and sharp if the other insects tried anything. Reaching him was easy. A little annoyance filled, which transformed into a heated stared at him. Cuts and bruises were the only noticeable wounds, but even they were light. Not a scratch on him from the bullies but pain in his eyes told her differently. She started to laugh loud. The nine boys all flinched by the sudden laughter.

“You know most friends jump in right away?” said Dynames. She stopped laughing and stared at him. She crouched and met him eye to eye with a hand extended. Dynames reached for it, but her hand went past his and stopped in front of his face. A flicked sent his head into the tree. He fell to the ground. Erica stood back up still facing him.

“I don't help weaklings and I don't remember being your friend,”conviction filed her voice. There it was her terrible persona. She hated herself for it. “I was trying to read and the noise was distracting me. I felt like someone with real strength should stop this before it became pathetic.” Dynames moved his face out of the dirt and moved his head to the side. Groans escaped his mouth

“You really are bad at helping your friends.” He said with a sad look. Her anger flared and she was moving toward him again. While Dynames ran away trying to widen the distance between them.

“See there you go trying to hit me again. You really need to be more honest with yourself. You probably were sick of watching your friend abused so you came to intervene”. He seems to then realize he had teased her to hard. Sweat appear on his neck.

“I think the weed needs to be taught how it should treat a flower.” Erica grabbed his collar and put him against the tree. No matter what she said, she was happy he could see through the facade. At least she hoped her could.

The nine other kids were in complete confusion but the Daniel was anger his prey was getting taken.

“Hey let go of my victim!” Daniel stepped forward and placed his hand on Erica and pulling her away and sent her flying. After she had landed, a looked confused appeared at first then rage set in.

“Oh,” An evil chuckle. A very anger expression crossed her face. It honestly sent chills down Dynames's spine. “You want to fight me you little piss ant.” Rising up. Her hand went up toward the sky.

“Hey, I have a name too!” Daniel said little dejected. He said it in a small voice so no one actually heard him or really cared to.

“Field change.”

A blinding white light shot from the ground. Everyone closed their eyes. When they opened their eyes, the field had become a vast forest with trees close to each other.

They all stood in a patch of the sea of green. Dynames was still against a tree and he seemed a little distress. His eyes like a deer in the headlights and sweat visible on his brow. The nine boys retreated al little and appear to start planning something. Erica, not really caring what they did, stayed on the outside edge of the patch. Her expression was less than pleased.

“Dynames come over here” she called with a hint of anger. Dynames flinched at first but soon did so. He got up and wiped off the dust that had collected on his clothes and walked slowly past the nine boys and next to Erica. She needed to think of a way to demonstrate her power.

“All right Dynames!" Ercia faced him. "Now I want you to take five of them on while I take on the other four!"

“Oh alright.....Wait what?!” the cry came out of his mouth. He was ignored for most of this and now he was being told to fight for no reason.

“WHY do I have to fight five of them?! I don't fight humans I will only fight creatures!” She could not believe this novice talk. This kid just fought with such strength and speed inhuman in fact. Yet he won’t fight humans.

“Are you stupid or something?” She was madder than before. Her face was red. “You have to fight to survive or they will beat you and kill!”

“Then I guess I die” She slapped him hard a crossed the face. He fell to the ground. Placing his hand on his cheek

“I won't allow any weed to die so sadly in front of me!” It happened again she wanted to express more feeling but she always said the opposite. Even in this dangerous situation.

“Do you have any desire to save your own life or hold any value to it?” sadness in her voice.

“I’m afraid you’re talking to a wall on that subject.” Called a voice from above. She looked up to see Rick sitting on a limb in the tree playing with leaves. How long had he been there? She hadn't felt his presence that whole time.

“I'd have to say he is quite stubborn when it comes to that,” said Rick, who decided to be cool and let some leaves free and jumped down from the tree. He landed quite well and stood next to Dynames.

He looked at her then back at the group of guys. He affords his hand to Dynames to help him up. She couldn't read him. He seemed so carefree all the time yet right now she should feel something from him but has no idea what it could be.

Daniel, who had been sitting quietly, had had enough. He sent three of them around the side while the other four went toward them. While they were distracted by the first group, he would split them up and take Dynames himself! He pointed to two men and told them to draw the arrow and fire. They drew bows and aimed their arrows.

Rick almost didn’t have to time to react. The arrows were going for Dynames's neck.

He shoved Dynames into Erica saving them. But Dynames's necklace had to take the arrow; severing the chain letting the pendant fly away. He turned his attention to the other guys, unaware that the other group had jumped out from behind and planted a club to Dynames’s head sending him flying away from Erica.

He got caught off guard. He should have stepped in earlier. Why did he have to show off and try and enter like that? Erica who had just realized what was going. Jumped to her feet and threw herself into his back to make it so they were back to back.

“Hey, do you have a plan? She whispered. He looked at her seeing she didn't seem to have one. He let out a sigh.

“No I don’t” zero enthusiasm in his voice.

“If only we had someone useful we wouldn't have this problem.” Her remark struck a nerve. Was she trying to piss him off?

As they spoke, the men who had come from behind retreated back to the group. Daniel sent four of his grunts to surround them. He seemed confident his plan would work. He wore a disgustingly happy smile.

Rick still needed to make a plan if they were going to win against nine of them. He thought for several seconds. Rick let out another sigh. He reached into his leather jacket to grab some beats. He looked at them for a while.

“Hey, I need you to distract these four for a bit,” Rick said He looked at Erica. I need at least five minutes. If that too hard for the student body prez. I guess I can find another way”.

He could see his plan worked. Her eyes seemed all too eager to beat some punks. She placed her hand on his chest and looked straight at him. She smiled then pushed him away. He fell on his butt. She walked into the middle of the four guys.

“ I don't think I have had the opportunity to give my name boys,” said with a smile. “MY name is Erica....”

“No one cares about your name, you crazy bitch!” the grunt on the right said. “ I am sick of this.” Rick knew all too well you don't talk like that to her. “I am done waiting for the boss!”

“Armament: right arm.” He jumped up while a light covered his right arm. The light faded revealing a black glove that was covered in black plating. After reaching the apex of his jump, he fell toward Erica. Blue light flew from the base of the glove sending him down faster.

What should have left a crater in the ground never made contact with anything. Erica lets a smile go. When he reaches within a distance, a black substance flew from the ground forming an arch blocking the punch all too effortlessly. His face said it all. His amazement and confusion. The black material grabbed his arm and held him there.

“Strider,” she said.

“What?” the grunt yelled down.

“My names is Erica...Strider”. Rick could feel the guys shiver from where he was.

The name itself wasn’t much but the reputation with it was everything. Erica Strider was also known as the black princess. She wields black sand that followed her every command. A genuinely terrifying mix with her current personality. The fact that she became the student body prez, which marks the strongest student is impressive.

He could tell the battle would shift in their favor for now. Erica threw the guy toward a tree and set the sand in a defensive pose. He had to come up with a plan to get the other five involved. He was interrupted by needles passing close to his face.

He fell back and jumps away from the tree. He looked around trying to find the source. Then a few needles dug into his back.A cry escaped his lips. The pain was light, but it was nibbling away his strength.

He looked up into a tree to see a new grunt standing there. He was like a ninja from the way he looked to the way he stood. What a bother. I have to fight a weirdo who thinks he's a ninja.

He looked over at Erica, who was currently delivering the two grunts their asses on a silver platter. The third and four keeping their distance. He pulled out the needles suppressing a scream.

At this rate, he was going to have to try to fight. Rick was hoping the others would worry about her and leave him alone. He should have known better. More needles landed nearby. This guy just would not stay still. His speed and accuracy became a pain. He kept pressing me with the needles and making him wear himself out. It was working, his breath was coming in rapid gasps.

“Do you give up already”? Said the grunt having a fun laugh at Rick’s expense. It was high-pitched laughs that everyone wanted to stop. He was nothing more than a nuisance.

“Alright” yelled Rick. He slapped himself in the face with both hands. Rick placed the headphones on his head. He began to focus having not used his power in a while. He would have preferred not to use it. His thought was interrupted by more needles. Rick jumped away, but his back collided with a tree. He was in a corner,

The fake ninja was all too happy about him being trapped. The ground was filled with his needles and Rick’s movements were slowing down. The fake jumped from the tree to the open ground. The fake ninja looked like a bear that had trapped his prey.

“So, I have a question ninja-boy,” said Rick.

“Oh what would that be?” said the ninja

“Can it be my turn now?” Rick placed a smile on his face and rubbed the back of his head.

“I mean not to be rude, but I have been on the defensive for a while, so are we good with a change?” The fake ninja was surprised and looked at him as if he was an idiot.

“Are you stupid or something!” It felt like a statement more than a question. “This is a fight you don't ask turns to attack” anger in his voice.

“I have had enough of you!” He jumped back into the tree and in his hand he held silk or something. With a slight tug the string gave way. On the tree near him, there were paper bombs that began to ignite.

“Oh shit”

The explosion filled the area where they were fighting. The ninja stood on the branch laugh to his heart’s content. After the smoke clear there was nothing, but a crater where Rick had stood. The ninja began to turn away. After his laughter had quieted he began to return to the other battle. He placed his hand on the tree to shove off.

A needle pierced his hand pinning it to the tree. The ninja searched everywhere for the source but to no avail.

“You know it's not nice to try and kill people,” said Rick who stood on a branch far behind him. He could see the shock and surprise on the ninja's face.

“How did you dodge that?” the ninja asked.

“Well, I can't say I avoided it altogether. My jacket got a little scorched.” Rick pulled up the back showing the burned back.

Rick jumped toward the ninja. Who quickly pulled the needle out of his hand and threw it at him. But the second it would have made contact nothing was there.

A needle then pierced the ninja's shoulder making him throw himself against the tree to prevent further attacks.

Next one struck his knee making him fall from the tree. He landed hard on the ground. He tried his best to stand but the needle Rick threw had severed his nerves and tendons.

The ninja seemed to be in a state of dismay trying to find a way to win. He removed both the needles and tried to move. He fell and tried desperately to move.

Rick seeing this as the fight was over moved closer out of the shadows of the trees. He moved slowly just in case this was a trap. Well within arm’s reach. He stopped, the ninja had ceased. The body went up in a ball of smoke

He jumped back and searched the outline of the trees.

“Alright I give you credit for the for the surprise attack” called the ninja hidden somewhere in the trees. "But no ninja falls for the same thing twice."

The voice kept change for one place to the next. Rick knew he could no longer trust his ears.

The needles fell from above. Rick fell back to dodging them. The ninja came from behind with a knife. He did a one-eighty turning to meet him. He raised his hand snapping his fingers.

The knife shattered to pieces. The ninja held his hand. He pulled a cord with his free hand launching needles from all sides. Rick snapped both hands stopping all of them in a second. It rained needles.

The ninja came swing with his unhurt hand. His fist came hurtling for Rick's face. He had vanished. The ninja paralyzed, was met with a downward kick the back of the head. Rick landed trying his best to mind the needles.

He picked one up and jammed it into the ninja's free hand. His screams fill the forest.

“Good you’re the real one.” Said Rick. “Now it's your turn or do you want to surrender now?” He remained unmoved.

“Guess I may have hit you too hard. Well, I hope you have sweet dreams ninja boy” A something green fell out of the grunts pocket. He moved to grab it. It was a fifty dollar bill.

So, they are being paid to do this huh. There are some sick people out there. He found that ironic and laugh a little. Letting the wind take the dirty money.

Rick moved sluggishly toward Erica. His vision blurred. Using his power recklessly is not a good idea. Rick rested on a tree; He stared across the field at Erica.

She had just finished blocking the four grunt's attacks. Erica looked like she was having a little too much fun. She threw one of the guys against a tree and sent black arrow out toward all of them.

Rick took off his beats letting them rest on his neck and looked around again. The field was in ruins. Trees were everywhere. There was a new crater and a lot of blood to clean up.

He got the feeling something was wrong. Dynames was still on the other side unconscious. Most of the blood was from him. He seemed to be taking his sweet time in waking up.

A breeze came through the trees. Followed by an enormous ominous force. His breath slow and his heart skip a beat. Rick looked everywhere, but could not find the source.

He snapped to his senses without finding the source. The battle had turned bad. One of the grunts fighting Erica threw something into her arm. She looked like she was now in a pickle.

He hit himself. He finally figured it out why this was bothering him. Of course, that knew who she was. They didn’t give a damn about Dynames. Erica was the real target. Now they were trying for her now. Why would the waste such a chance when there target was down? Or their real plan was to get Erica out in the open.

He must have paid the other ones to get Dynames and me out of the way. This way he would have nine against one. The bastard, he must be playing to take her out.

He had to think. The best thing to do was to use the needles still lodged in his back.Pain erupted in his back as he dislodged them. Three in total. Not nearly enough to do damage.

Erica

Erica had faced multiple enemies before, but never had she been at such a disadvantage. She had literally been forced to a knee. She needed to end it. But the thing they threw was draining her. She felt her vision blur.

She struggles to just stay still. The sand put itself in a sphere shape for defensive. The three guys kept their distance and fired magic missiles at her. She managed to get one out of the way at least. She needs to create an open to get them. The grunt with the armament had rejoined the other three making it harder for her.

She noticed Rick laying in the outline of the shadows. He seemed to be trying, but was clearly out of energy. He flashed her hand signs. She struggled to translate.

I will create the opening you use it. After reading, she gave a silent nodded.

After she had finished translating, she nodded in understanding. Rick ran out toward the middle. With his beats on, he boosted with magic toward them. Shattering their formation. She changed the sphere into whips and start lashing out toward them she sent the first two into trees. Leaving the armament bastard.

She hoped they were done. She was exhausted, but still continued the attack. She sent the sand rushing toward the armament bastard. Who was having a standoff with Rick? He failed to notice and took the hit. The grunt fell back a few feet. Rick fell back on his butt. She was confused.

After closer look she noticed needles holes in his left arm and both his legs. He had been fighting like that this time huh. She had a renewed respect for him.

Their plan would have worked if they had only they had check the grunt with the beefed up right arm. He rose quietly and placed himself in her blind spot. He cast his armament magic and launched himself at her.

She tried the barrier but her magic was weak the sand was too slow. He broke through. Bloodlust in his eyes.

She readied her attack. She heard something in the distance behind her. She felt her chances of win wane even more. The archers had moved behind her and were readying arrows.

She only had seconds. Rick was too tired from his fight. She could only stop one of them. The arrows were released. The guy was in range of her. She was paralyzed in her fear. Only one thought occupied her mind.

Will i lose here? She placed the barrier behind her. She, at least, wanted to lose facing her opponent. She closed her eyes. She hoped defeat would come quickly.

She felt a strong gust of wind. She heard a crash. She waited for the pain. Yet nothing. She opened her eyes. Only to see something unbelievable.

The grunt who charged her had his head smashed into the ground, but that didn't matter. The person standing over him was.....Dynames. The sudden wind blew ruffling his shirt, but his gazed didn’t waver from the bullies. Erica being behind him could not see the see the difference in his eyes. The man before her was different than the one she knew.