Chapter 14: Once calm. Now a thrill seeker.
June 14th, 2026
"So, tell me your names. Can't challenge people to a… 'spar' without knowing their names, eh?"
Says the tan-skinned man in a blue French maid dress with a smirk.
Still bamboozled by his outfit, Harith eventually snaps out of it.
"My name's Harith. And this guy is called…"
Harith waits for Mutafakir to speak.
"I go by Mutafakir."
"Harith and Mutafakir. My name's Shagahf, pleasure's all mine, yo!"
He extends one huge hand towards Harith first.
"…"
Harith slowly reaches out and shakes hands with Shagahf.
(Holy shit… dude's gonna single-handedly break my hand with his strength!)
Mutafakir reaches out and does the same.
"So, gentlemen."
Unexpectedly, Shagahf's pose straightens, as if he turned into a statue.
"I want you guys to hit me as hard as you both can. At the same time, no holding back."
Harith's shoulders tense.
Mutafakir takes a step back.
"Why would you want us to hurt you?"
"I'll tell you after you finish doing what I asked you. You guys have exactly 10 seconds, starting from now."
Harith gets into a fighting pose and Mutafakir follows his lead.
With a tiny bit of hesitation, both of them start rapidly attacking Shagahf's body.
Harith goes for his torso, and Mutafakir goes for his head.
One weird thing happening is that Shagahf stands perfectly still despite the force of the attacks executed by the both of them.
Orange sparks literally fly out from Shagahf's steel-like body.
Shagahf isn't tanking their punches—he is, in fact, absorbing them.
A barrage of heavy impacts rains down on his body, fists striking his flesh like metal hitting iron.
"Your strongest punch, Mutafakir!"
Harith yells as he charges his fist up with electricity.
Mutafakir's fist lights up with steam and a beautiful, red aura.
Then Harith's fist dives at Shagahf's face from the right side. Mutafakir mirrors Harith, doing the same but targeting the left side of his face.
A flash of blue and red sparks throughout the environment as smoke explodes from the combined impact.
Shagahf disappears in the dense smoke.
Both Harith and Mutafakir pant.
"Huff… huff… puff…"
As the smoke clears, Shagahf is found standing there perfectly still. His pose now shifts into a more relaxed stance.
"Your time's up."
Shagahf stands completely unaffected by Harith and Mutafakir's attacks.
Shagahf clears some imaginary dust off his body.
"Now, I am no magician… but watch this trick."
Shagahf clenches his fists, veins visibly bulging before a massive aura around him roars with pure, dark orange energy.
His veins display dark volcanic trails, as do some strands of his hair.
The orange glow stretches across the street.
Every nearby shadow disappears.
Everyone walking nearby stops to stare at Shagahf.
Shagahf raises his voice due to his loud, roaring aura.
"Now, as I promised, I'll answer your question!"
Harith stares in amazement at his new form.
Mutafakir's anxiety increases; he is visibly sweating.
(That's absolutely bad… this guy isn't just here to kick our asses, but to crush us.)
Meanwhile, Harith's brain short-circuits.
"I tricked the both of you into charging me. My Disposition, 'Hectically Ecstatic,' gives me an ability where I can become a statue for 10 seconds. Any damage taken in that state fills up my excitement."
"But I ought to thank you, gentlemen. Haven't gotten this excited in a blue moon."
"You—?!"
Shagahf lands a single punch on Mutafakir. The punch is so fast that even Mutafakir can't predict it with his own Disposition. He is sent crashing several buildings away.
"Enough talking, chop chop and let's get rollin'."
Shagahf gets into a proper fighting pose.
Harith stops smiling, also getting into a fighting pose. Both of his fists are hissing and spitting with electricity.
"Oi, Mr. Harith."
Shagahf points with his palm upside down.
"Don't go around disappointing me. Especially not after you made me THIS excited."
Shagahf's aura gives one more strong spark, as if supporting his own words.
To be continued…
Character Spotlight:
Shagahf: "A man who wears a maid dress since his job pays a lot, with no shame in public. 'Shame? Pfftt… that's for weaklings'."