I jabbed in the air before releasing a series of roundhouse kicks and different types of punches. I ended the combo with a sidekick. I inhaled before returning to a causal position. It was now my third day of training, the first two were to increase my hand-to-hand skills, and yesterday was to test my reflex and reaction time. All those times, I was without my superpowers. It felt strange without them.
Aside from the pangs of hunger, the other thing I was feeling was a sense of weight. In other words, my body felt heavy, like my clothes were somehow made of iron. Weighing me down so I don't fly off. Sure, it was a little weird to say that, after I only had these powers for a little over a month. But, right that power felt like it completed me.
Why did I ramble to myself with all these details? Well, it's because yesterday, that heavy weight on my body slowly became easier. Did that mean I got stronger? Was I strong enough to take on Arc and potentially the SURVIVOR worst-case scenario? I didn't know, but what I do know it feels good using my powers again.
Gavin allowed me to eat my dinner yesterday and today's breakfast. Now I am back to full power! I smirked as I watched my palms covered by cosmic red lightning. Gavin walked up to me, yawning.
"Alright, what's the plan today?" I asked.
"In the last three days, you covered the basics. I won't baby you, you're not the level of an elite fighter, but enough for you to not fight like a bum out there."
"Thanks?"
He rubbed his tired eyes. What would I be tired of? Aside from our sparring sessions, which shouldn't be tiring at all, since the dude's got the stamina of a stallion.
"What's got you looking like that?"
He rotates his shoulder while cracking his neck, a thing he seems to like doing for some reason.
"Training, my butt off. I'm nowhere near my prime, but I should make Arc a little worried."
I frowned. "I thought we agreed that I'll be going alone in this fight with you as my navigator."
I've already discussed this with him. Aside from being my guide and advisor, he would not be going on the field with me. Not because he's weak, but right now, I'm the only one capable enough to beat them, though without Gavin as my chair. I'm now a bit worried about taking them all by myself. That's why Gavin is to stay and give me advice while I take on the Arc and his cronies. Not only that, I'm worried for Gavin.
Imagining him getting beaten down or killed. I just can't risk that, with me, I could heal or tank anything they throw at me.
"It's fine, besides, you need someone to rescue you when things get hairy."
"But-"
"Listen, kid. I know what you're thinking. But I'll be fine. I'm a super soldier after all."
I didn't say anything, instead my brow furrowing, while my brain started to come up with some ideas to change his mind. Gavin, seeing my reaction, sighed irritably.
"If it makes you feel better, I'll still just chill in my seat while you bust some heads. I'll be just there when things get icy."
I grumbled, not liking it. But feeling better that Gavin agreed to stay and be my advisor. The only thing I need to do is to do this properly, so that way Gavin and Emily won't fight on my behalf.
"Okay, now that's out of the way, today we'll be working on special attacks."
I blinked, before blinking again. I stared at him, waiting for the punchline, for him to burst out laughing at my reaction before telling me my real training for today. But that look, he was serious. I slowly shake my head.
"Are you joking?" I snort.
"What? Are you going to teach me how to fire a kamehameha or whatever it's called?" I joked, but his face remained calm.
My eyes became wide. "You're serious..."
I soon then scoffed at Gavin, clearly watching anime and reading manga, with the additional fact that he's having old man mental problems that are causing him to say the most out there things.
"Come on, that's only in fiction, there is no way 'Special Attacks' would apply to real life."
"That's rich coming from a ten-year-old Superman knock-off."
Well, he got me there.
"Okay, fair. But I don't know, Gavin. Do I really need that kind of thing with all the powers I have, and how would it even work?"
"There's another thing you need to work on: you lack creativity."
I raised a brow, and I asked what he meant. Gavin didn't say anything at first, instead kneeling down before punching the ground, which shattered the concrete. He pulled out the largest piece, showing it to me.
"This is a rock."
"...Yeah, I know?"
"But in a fight, how would I use this in a fight?"
"W-well you could throw them at people?"
"And?"
"And, then...what?"
Gavin tosses the rock to his other hand. "Well..."
He paced around me. "I could use this as a bludgeoning weapon at close range or..."
He suddenly crushed the rock, turning it into smaller rocks or dust. Before I could react, he flung at my eyes, which caused me to yelp and stumble, feeling a small tingling at my eyeballs. Not enough to cause pain but certainly discomforting.
"What was that for!?" I shout, rubbing my eyes before glaring at him.
"...I could do that to blind enemies. All that from just a simple rock. You have a lot of powerful abilities, sure, but the problems there are still limited. You don't have any powers for good crowd control, you can't hypnotize someone, you can't be stealthy and some other stuff."
Yeah, I think I can get what he's saying. But at the same I was still very much confused, probably sensing my still lack of understanding, Gavin sighed.
"Ben, you already have a special move, not an attack, but it's something that makes up your lack of stealth abilities."
My eyes widen in realization. "You mean my invisibility ability?"
"Yes, you're able to go invisible not through a different powerset, by using what you already have and applying it differently. Here, let me show the true power of a special attack."
Gavin took several steps back, cracking his knuckles. His eyes glared at the ground.
"Aside from enhancing my body, senses and healing. The super soldier didn't give me extra abilities, at least not like yours. I can't set myself on fire or suddenly increase my strength by screaming, but I can do this..."
Gavin took a deep breath, holding his right fist to his side and bending the elbow; meanwhile, his other arm was tucked by his chin. Then, to my absolute bewilderment, he started to spin around, going around in circles slowly. I would have burst out laughing if it wasn't for the intense focus on his face. Then he started to spin faster, and in front of my eyes, the fist he held up caught on fire. At this point, Gavin's body looks like a small tornado with his flaming fist outlining his spin.
"Flame Impact!"
He slammed his fist to the ground, which resulted in a powerful shockwave which sent chunks of concrete everywhere. It was rough to make me stumble a little, my eyes shot wide open, not caring about the heavy rocks that fell on my head. Once the dust clears, it shows Gavin exhaling as he removes his fist from the massive crater he created. His right fist was emitting hot steam and was a bit red, but other than that, there were no visible burns. He looks at me, smirking at my reaction.
"W-what was that? You didn't tell me you can create fire out of your hands!"
He shakes his head, chuckling.
"Well, yes and no. I can't create fire, but if I can move fast enough, my fist could light up the atmosphere around my fist. Not only is my punch more devastating, but it also does additional fire damage."
I gulped, and a mix of nervousness and excitement filled me. So, this is what a special move or attack is. It's meant to do more damage or make you do something you wouldn't normally do. If Gavin, who didn't have true superpowers, could do that? Then what can I do with mine?
"Alright, Gavin, I see the appeal. Let's do this."