City border, full of trees.
The woods were thick near the edge of town. Sunlight barely pierced through the dense canopy, casting shifting shadows across the uneven ground. The air smelled of damp earth and pine, the only sounds the rustling of leaves and the occasional snap of a twig underfoot.
"Stop running away!" the bald guy said as he chased his target through the trees. His heavy footsteps crushed fallen branches, his breathing steady despite the exertion. Daniel followed close behind him, his eyes locked onto their fleeing prey. "Don't make it harder than it needs to be!"
The guy with the scar glanced back but didn't listen. Sweat dripped down his face as he kept running between the trunks, pushing himself. His breaths came in sharp gasps, but he didn't slow down.
"Damn! I don't want to use it, but you force me to!" the bald guy yelled in frustration. His patience had worn thin, his hands clenching into fists.
He swung his arm sharply toward his target. A huge blast of wind suddenly appeared, hitting the scarred guy square in the back and knocking him off his feet. The force sent him tumbling forward, dirt and leaves spraying up around him.
The bald guy punched the air twice more, sending powerful gusts. The wind slammed into trees and undergrowth, creating a dense, swirling wall of air blocking the path behind his fallen target. Branches snapped under the unnatural gale, the barrier sealing off any escape.
"Hah, you can't run away anymore," the bald guy said, catching his breath. A satisfied smirk tugged at his lips as he watched his trapped opponent.
His target quickly scrambled up. Without hesitation, he slammed his hands onto the ground, and a thick wall of earth and rock erupted upwards. Dirt sprayed as the barrier formed, sturdy and tall. He ducked behind it for cover.
"Interesting. So, we're similar," the bald guy observed, readying himself. His stance widened, arms lifting as wind began to gather around them again. "We're both Element Manipulators."
While the bald guy and his target prepared to fight each other, Daniel looked back over his shoulder, sensing something. His eyes narrowed, his detection ability flaring with sudden urgency.
Using his detection power, Daniel noticed a group of people getting rapidly closer to his location. His breath hitched—they were moving fast, too fast.
No, worse than that. His power showed him some of them were also chasing after his other teammates – the dark-skinned guy and the one with the hat. The realization sent a jolt of panic through him.
"They're not just bystanders? Dammit!" he cursed under his breath. His fingers twitched, mind racing for a solution.
Daniel hurriedly dug his old flip phone out of his pocket, fingers fumbling to open it. The plastic casing felt slippery in his sweaty grip.
But then suddenly, Noah appeared right in front of him. Daniel gasped, utterly shocked. His detection power had completely failed to warn him. He never expected anyone to sneak up on him like this, leaving him wide open and vulnerable.
"Sorry, but no spoilers for the other group," Noah said calmly. There was no malice in his tone, just simple fact. He easily snatched the phone from Daniel's hand and vanished in a flicker.
"Hey!" Daniel yelled uselessly at the empty air where Noah had stood. His outstretched hand closed around nothing, frustration boiling in his chest.
Even after the teleport, Daniel could still detect Noah's whereabouts nearby. He took a shaky breath, trying to calm down. Noah hadn't teleported far. He could try to confront him again, but...
Daniel gulped. His detection screamed a warning. There were more people closing in fast. Three more, to be precise. His side were badly outnumbered. He had to make a decision, and fast. His pulse pounded in his ears.
Meanwhile, Noah leaned back casually against a thick tree trunk. He flipped open Daniel's phone, checking it. The screen cast a faint glow on his face as he scrolled through the contents.
"Noah!" Asher called out, running towards him with Owen and Ridley. Leaves and twigs crunched under their hurried steps.
"Oh, hey," Noah said without looking up. His voice was as relaxed as if they'd just met for a casual stroll. "So you guys finally decided to show up?"
"Oh, shut up! We can't teleport like you!" Owen grumbled, his face flushed with frustration. His fists clenched at his sides, impatient energy radiating off him.
"Fair," Noah grinned, snapping the phone shut. "They're over there." He pointed deeper into the woods, towards where Daniel and the bald guy were.
"So you still haven't eliminated them?" Ridley asked, stopping next to Noah. His sharp eyes scanned the trees ahead, already assessing the situation.
"Not yet. I figured you guys wanted to join the party too," Noah said. He held up the stolen phone. "I just made sure they can't get in contact with each other. Unfortunately, the phone was clean. No useful info inside it."
"That's to be expected," Ridley said, scanning the trees ahead.
On Daniel's side, he had already made his choice. He turned and ran towards his teammate near the earth wall. His legs burned with the effort, but fear drove him forward.
"Brad!" he yelled to the bald guy. "Forget about him! Let's run from here!"
"What? What are you talking about?" the bald guy said, turning away from the earth wall, looking confused.
"There's no time!" Daniel shouted desperately. "We need to go--"
"Found you! Grah!" Owen burst from the trees and immediately launched a huge punch straight into Daniel's face. The impact sent Daniel flying backwards. He hit the ground hard and lay still, limbs splayed unnaturally.
Owen's fist was now darkened and metallic, looking super hard and durable.
"Oh, he can transform into metal?" Noah said, watching from behind the trees. His eyebrows lifted slightly in mild interest.
"Right," Ridley confirmed, standing beside him. "His power was called [Skin of Steel]. Remember when you stabbed him with a pen? His pride was actually more hurt than the actual wound. It must be so frustrating for him to get hurt so easily despite having that kind of body."
"Aha, so that's why," Noah smirked in understanding. His arms crossed loosely over his chest, the picture of relaxed amusement.
"Uh, are we not going to help?" Asher asked them, sounding concerned. His gaze flicked between Owen and the others, uncertainty in his voice.
"Relax," Ridley said, keeping his eyes on Owen and Brad. "That Daniel guy was more of a support type, right? With that one got a clean hit on the face, I doubt he can get up again. So if it's one on one, Owen can handle it himself."
"True," Noah agreed. "And I doubt he will appreciate my help anyway."
"I guess so, but... What about the other guy? The one hiding behind that wall?" Asher said, pointing towards the earth barrier. The wall stood firm, no movement visible behind it.
"Good question," Noah said, glanced at that direction. His fingers tapped idly against his arm, considering.
"Oi, you who hide behind the wall!" Ridley called out loudly. His voice carried easily through the trees, sharp and commanding. "You better stay there and don't bother their fight, or else I will come personally for you!"
The guy Asher mentioned stayed completely still behind his earth wall, not moving or responding. If he was breathing heavily or preparing something, there was no sign of it.
On the other side, Owen and the bald guy stared intently at each other across the small clearing. The air between them crackled with tension, both fighters sizing the other up.
The bald guy, Brad, glanced quickly at Daniel, who lay unmoving on the ground to the side. His jaw tightened, but he didn't let his focus waver for long. He then snapped his fierce gaze back to Owen.
"I think I know you," the bald guy said, his voice low and steady. His stance was solid, feet planted firmly on the forest floor. "You're part of Joker Roulette, I presume."
"Haha, didn't expect you to know, but yeah!" Owen said, cracking his metallic knuckles with a sharp sound. The metallic clink echoed slightly in the quiet woods. "Feel the honor to be crushed by me!"
"I politely decline," the bald guy replied flatly. His expression didn't change, but his arms tensed, ready to strike.
He raised his arms, summoning a swirling vortex of huge wind around his fists. The gale howled as it gathered force, leaves and debris lifting into the air around him.
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