After an hour of experimenting with the energy inside him, Josh came to a realization.
His copied speed ability had already reached Level Three.
Just from practice.
"Great…" he muttered. "Now I need Joe and James for the next test."
He stepped out of the building and headed toward the settlement behind it. He had barely made it halfway when a blur cut him off.
Tom.
He stopped just a couple feet in front of Josh, arms crossed, expression cold.
"I think it's time for you to leave," Tom said. "You're a waste of food and space. Other people actually deserve to be here."
Josh smirked slightly. "Whatever you say, Tom. Where are Joe and James?"
Tom's face twisted in irritation. "Who do you think you are? They're out on a job—and it's my job to make sure you're gone before they get back."
Josh sighed. He didn't feel like dealing with this.
He stepped to the side and tried to walk past him.
Tom wasn't having it.
As Tom reached for the back of Josh's neck—
Josh moved.
In an instant, he activated his speed. Tom's fingers barely brushed him before Josh slipped free, spun around, and threw a quick jab.
Tom barely dodged it, jumping back with wide eyes.
"How did you—?!" he shouted. "I'm going to crush you, you bug!"
Josh's voice stayed calm. "Don't worry about me. Just leave me alone. That's all I want."
Then he pushed more energy into the speed ability.
The power surged.
Beyond Tom's level.
Tom lunged forward—but this time, Josh was faster.
He caught Tom's wrist mid-strike, yanked him forward, and drove a brutal punch into his stomach.
Tom gagged instantly.
A second later, he collapsed—unconscious.
For a moment, everything was silent.
Then Josh started laughing.
Not loudly—but uncontrollably.
"I'm done…" he muttered. "I'm never letting anyone walk over me again."
His expression hardened.
"I'll get stronger. Strong enough to live in peace… with my daughter."
The settlement stretched across a large open lot behind the building.
It wasn't much—but it worked.
RVs were scattered throughout, alongside old party tents, makeshift structures, and salvaged trailers brought in from a nearby park. One trailer had been converted into a medical station. Others served as housing.
Off to one side sat a fire pit, surrounded by roughly forty seats. A central gathering place.
There was even a washing station for clothes, dishes, and basic hygiene.
It wasn't comfortable.
But it was safer than most places left in the world.
And right now, that was enough.
Josh made his usual rounds.
First, the elders.
He made sure they had food—especially Sally, a sixty-year-old woman who had lost her child during Falling Powers. She treated Josh like family, and he returned the kindness in his own quiet way.
After that, he checked on the kids—making sure they had snacks, something to play with, anything to distract them from reality.
Then he helped clean up around the settlement.
Normal things.
Simple things.
Things that almost made the world feel okay again.
About half an hour later, he spotted Tom limping back toward his tent, clutching his stomach.
Josh barely reacted.
Beside him, a small voice spoke up.
"Did karma finally get him?"
Josh glanced down.
Delilah.
Eight years old, messy hair, sharp eyes.
He chuckled. "No. That was me."
Her face lit up. "I knew you were strong."
She had always believed that.
Ever since the beginning.
Back when everything first fell apart, Josh had been heading to work when he saw a house on fire.
Delilah was trapped inside, screaming from a window.
Without thinking, Josh ran forward and told her to jump.
She did.
He caught her.
And from that moment on, she had no one else.
So Josh stayed.
On the way back, a group of men tried to take her.
Josh didn't run.
He fought.
He took the hits, shielded her, and somehow got them both out alive.
It was the one thing he had done right in all the chaos.
They laughed together for a bit, cleaning as they went.
Then Delilah tilted her head, studying him.
"Have you looked in a mirror lately?"
Josh frowned. "No… why?"
"…You should."
A few minutes later, Josh stood in front of a cracked mirror inside the building.
He froze.
Purple streaks ran through his hair.
Faint—but unmistakable.
"What…?"
He reached up, running his fingers through it.
Power.
That was the only explanation.
But he didn't have time to dwell on it.
Too much was happening.
He grabbed a baseball cap and pulled it low, covering the streaks.
That's when he saw them.
Joe and James.
They were returning—along with two others.
Something was wrong.
Their clothes were burned. Torn. Blood-stained.
They looked like they had barely made it back.
Josh rushed over. "What happened?"
Joe exhaled heavily. "The job went bad. Real bad."
"A group in white robes attacked us," James added. "We grabbed what we could and ran. Most didn't make it."
Joe gestured to the two men behind them.
"These are the only survivors."
The first stepped forward. "Ryan. Level Two—wind."
The second nodded. "Ron. Level Four—earth."
Josh smiled and extended his hand. "Josh. Welcome."
As they shook his hand—
He felt it.
Energy.
Flowing into him.
Two new spheres formed inside his core.
Four total now.
But he wasn't finished.
Not even close.
He turned to Joe and James.
"Come here a second."
Before they could react, Josh stepped closer and placed a hand on the back of each of their necks.
The moment he did—
More power surged into him.
James blinked. "What are you doing, weirdo?"
Josh smirked slightly. "We need to talk. Privately."
They started toward the office—
—but before they could make it inside—
A massive boom echoed from the side of the building.
Followed by screams.
Josh's expression changed instantly.
"Something's wrong."
Without hesitation, all three of them turned—
and ran toward the chaos. What could it be? Possibility those who attacked Joe and James.