The 4 of them stood together, watching as a huge fireball began to descend. Even before it reached the floor, its heat had begun to vaporize buildings.
"First, rescue the citizens," Aiden yelled. Without even waiting, he moved.
Muscles constricted and bulged on his legs as he enhanced them. In one forceful leap, the earth beneath him cracked. He shot into the sky like a bullet, only coming to a stop above a skyscraper.
Everything appeared like insects from his view, making it hard to tell between humans and buildings.
The enhancement in his legs was removed, and he channeled it into his eyes.
Everything appeared bigger and clearer from his point of view.
"Morgan, there are 3 humans trapped under the building 5 blocks from you," Aiden said.
Morgan heard this and nodded. The usual playful expression had been exchanged with one of seriousness.
Without hesitation, he darted.
Unlike Morgan, who received the command without shock, Xavier was briefly scared when he heard the voice in his head.
"Don't be scared, it is just one of the functions of the kinetic suits; it links everyone wearing the same receptors together," Jordan explained silently beside him.
"Thank you."
"Jordan, there is a shelter opposite you. Go to that place, so you will be able to move citizens there later," Aiden instructed.
Jordan moved immediately, running at top speed in the opposite direction.
"What about me?" Xavier asked, noticing that Aiden had not told him anything.
"I don't know what your skill is, and even you are not sure of how to use it, so I can't tell you what to do," Aiden explained in a cold voice.
It felt like the concept of jokes and unseriousness had been stripped away from his being. All his words since he entered the simulation had been straightforward.
"I can still help, see," Xavier demonstrated, making a slight push with his hand. A collapsing building was held before falling with lesser force.
Aiden narrowed his eyes. 'I thought he only awakened his skill earlier today, how can he already control it?' The question gnawed at Aiden's mind.
"Join Morgan in rescuing the citizens. I will direct you," Aiden said without hesitation. Although he was curious, he still gave the order. There was no time for overthinking on the battlefield.
Xavier nodded and dashed. His speed was slower than the rest of his mates, but it was expected. Unlike them, who have been training their physical strength, he has only been a hero for less than 12 hours.
"Left," Aiden's voice rang in his ear.
It was different from the time when they all heard the same thing. This time around, the command was targeted at one person: Xavier.
Xavier heeded, and without question, he steered left.
There, he saw a child trapped under a car, legs crushed under the heavy weight.
A shiver passed through Xavier's spine at the sight. Something stirred in his stomach as he saw the blood that stained the floor around the child.
The child's tears made it even more unbearable. He felt it, the water that touched his bare skin.
Unconsciously, tears began to drop from Xavier's eyes.
"Xavier, move away," Aiden screamed. This time, the voice did not come from his head; it was behind him.
Before he could turn back, he saw a fist shooting forward in a blur.
Blood splattered, turning Xavier's suit red.
"Never lose concentration, you can be killed at any time," Aiden warned.
Xavier looked up and saw that the girl was no longer there. She was the one Aiden had killed with a pinch just now.
In her hand was a shrapnel.
The bizarre sight made Xavier's eyes dampen. The girl he was just pitying was killed.
"Why did she try to kill me? I thought she was a civilian," Xavier asked, his eyes soaked with tears.
"Obviously, she is one of the villains, not like it was stated that there was only one villain," Aiden muttered, his eyes scanning everywhere.
"I told you, you are not ready yet." That was what he said, then he leaped away, returning to his previous position as he continued his supervision, giving instructions when necessary, and aiding when necessary.
Xavier stood rooted where he was, his tears soaking up the floor. He was not used to the sight, killing children, getting soaked in blood; it all felt distant.
The mission continued as Morgan rescued citizens and Jordan transported them to safety. At first, it seemed easy, too easy for something that was meant to be challenging even for 4 people.
Then it struck. As the last citizen was saved, the fireball villain struck.
The massive fireball that was being charged shrank to a bullet-sized flame. Without even stopping, it shot forward. Faster than sound could even travel, it appeared before Aiden.
Aiden, sensing the imminent danger even before it happened, quickly channeled all his enhancement into his flesh.
A wild explosion erupted as the bullet hit Aiden. The entire building collapsed, reducing it to a pile of brick.
With its fall, Aiden plummeted to the ground, his back breaking all tiles that stood in the path of his descent.
As his body collided with the ground, a shockwave erupted. Dust rose, making the entire area hazy.
As the dust came down, Aiden's body was revealed. Blood trickled down the side of his mouth, his suit was torn, and his eyes were half closed.
At a glance, one could tell that all his bones were broken.
'I hate the realism of this simulator,' he joked.
"Are you okay?" Morgan was the first to ask.
"Yeah, just come get me," Aiden replied.
"Alright, I am comi…" Morgan's voice trailed off.
"What the hell happened?" Aiden muttered.
"Don't worry, I will be there soon…" Jordan's voice also trailed off.
"Fuck, we've been ambushed," Aiden's silent curse came.
"What of Xavier?"
Xavier was currently lying on the floor, a woman standing in front of him.
A twisted grin spread across her lips as she stared at Xavier's broken body.
"All your friends are going to die," she said, not bothered that Xavier could not even listen to her.
Just as the woman raised her hand to finish him, a green glow erupted from Xavier. Its light was blinding, but invisible to the outside eyes. Only Xavier saw it.