After his raid on Guimarães, Celso's name started to spread beyond the circles of teenage gangs and into the ears of full-fledged criminals. He had gained fame and with fame came attention.
"Boss, our turf is under attack again!"
A lackey ran up to Celso, who was lifting a thug by his leg.
"Goddammit!"
He threw the thug into a wall and followed behind his lackey.
"Can't you guys handle it?"
"Don't be unreasonable, Boss! These are big-time gangsters! We're mostly just used to extorting and harassing others not gang wars like this!"
The lackey held his shoulders.
"Some guys even died yesterday."
"....People die every day. Get a hold of yourself."
Despite turning to a life of crime on a whim, Celso was indeed talented when it came to being a criminal. While the rest of his gang struggled under the attacks of adult criminals, he bloomed in the carnage of his own making.
"Eat shit!"
He roared as he fired overwhelming force from his fist at a car driving towards him. The car was sent flying with its passengers desperately jumping out. As they hit the ground, Celso rushed at them and sent punches their way. They were flung into buildings and through windows.
"Tsk."
Celso clicked his tongue and looked at his fist.
"I still can't release that much force. I know my attacks can be more powerful than this."
A gunshot rang out and pierced through his arm. He spun around and more shots hit him. This time, the bullets bounced off his body and hit the ground. He spotted his attackers hiding in buildings. He kicked off the ground and into the air. He kicked out before clicking his tongue. He flew towards the building and slammed his fists into a wall, shattering it.
"Fuck! Shoo—"
He kicked the nearest thug under the chin. The kick embedded the thug's upper body in the ceiling. Celso charged at the rest, ignoring the bullets bouncing off him. Several minutes later, the building collapsed with screams of anguished being snuffed out.
"Fuck..."
Celso cursed after lifting a large piece of concrete off him.
(I still can't do whatever I want with my powers!)
When Celso leapt into the air, he kicked with the intention to manoeuvre midair towards his target, but failed. When he punched the building, he was aiming to blow it away entirely, but he only destroyed a wall. This was evidence that he couldn't control Impact as he wanted.
(The biggest problem is I still haven't figured out how to make my defence always active beyond my brain and my heart.)
He looked at the wound in his arm. The blood had stained his shirt.
"I gotta get stronger if I'm going to survive!"
As his battle in the criminal underworld waged on, Celso's gang diminished in number. A natural result, as most of them were still young and were afraid of death. Despite this, Celso fought as if he weren't at a disadvantage. He was a one-man army against thugs from all over the Braga District. He soon started to draw the attention of larger gangs in the nearby districts.
"You bastards from Porto got some nerve."
Celso was bathing under the moonlight as he watched the unconscious bodies of several thugs wash down a river.
"Boss, those guys were a part of the Gravediggers, one of the biggest gangs in the Porto District."
A lackey whispered in his ear.
"Yeah, I made sure to get information out of them first."
He smirked.
"I learned something interesting."
The next day, Celso stood on top of a building overseeing a construction site. The name of the company responsible for the project was on display: Carvalho Constructions. He watched the employees work through binoculars while munching on honey-roasted peanuts. His eyes perked up when a black luxurious car pulled up to the site. Men came out and opened the door for a lanky man with pale skin to step out.
"Bingo."
A grin crawled on his face when he spotted the man. He watched as the man walked the site, talking to various people. The grin left Celso's face as he saw a very familiar figure approach the man, his father.
"Well, he always said his boss was scum."
He stood up and walked away. As he walked away, Celso failed to notice his father looking in his direction.
"That idiot..."
Ruben mumbled under his breath.
Hours later, the black luxurious car left the site and drove down the roads of Braga. The man in the back sat in comfort while going through his phone.
"Boss."
"I know."
His driver called out to him and he answered without looking up.
"Looks like he's as reckless as I heard."
The car was stopped and rocked before he looked up. Standing in front of his car was Celso.
"Get out, Joao Carvalho."
Celso smiled as he lifted the car a bit before dropping it.
"Boss, orders."
"Let's do as the little hothead says."
Joao exited the car with his driver.
"Well, if it isn't the Young Sovereign. It's an honour to—"
Something flashed past Joao's face. He turned his head and a shovel was lodged in the roof of his car.
"I think you know what that shovel signifies."
Celso was all grins.
"That's going to cost a bit to fix."
Joao looked towards his driver.
"Buy a new one later."
"Yes, Boss."
"Wow, the Boss of the infamous Gravediggers sure is rich~!"
Joao faced Celso again with a small smile.
"Are you here to kill me?"
"I don't kill normally, but your gang came at me for no reason. So, I guess I gotta put you in the dirt."
Joao frowned.
"I was told about this, but it seems this is really all a game to you."
"I won't deny that it's fun smacking thugs around."
Celso smirked while Joao sighed and facepalmed.
"And here I thought a genuine gangster stepped on the stage. It's just an empty-headed, reckless brat."
He moved his hand away from his face.
"I'm glad I took steps to make this a lot more serious."
"....What are you talking about?"
"Celso, I'm very aware of who you were before I made a move on you. That includes your familial background."
His father's face flashed in his mind. Joao nodded.
"I know your father works for me."
He showed Celso his phone, on which was a picture of his family home.
"So naturally I know where he lives."
Celso blasted off the ground. The driver stepped between him and Joao and blocked his attack. The air itself shook as the driver stumbled back. He looked at his trembling hands, drenched in cold sweat.
"I see your strength wasn't an exaggeration."
Joao ignored his driver's distress and continued to face Celso, who no longer had a playful air.
"Strength is indeed important, especially in this crime world, but it isn't the only thing."
He smirked.
"Being able to strike fear in the hearts of the strong is more important."
He pointed at Celso.
"From the look on your face, I've succeeded in doing that with you."
"Touch my family and—"
"That's the thing with greenhorns. They're short-sighted."
Joao showed him his phone again after clicking on a video.
"I knew this would happen, so I already made my move."
The video showed his house on fire. Celso's eyes tore open as he tried to process what he was watching.
"If I remember correctly, your house isn't that far away from here."
Joao mercilessly continued with a small smirk.
"This is a live stream. So, if you hurry over, you might be able—"
Before he could finish, Celso left with a boom.
"Kids, they're always so impatient."
He turned to his driver, who fell to his knees with his arms dangling at his side.
"Are they broken?"
"Yes, Boss."
"Really? I've seen you smash cars with your bare fist, so that's impressive."
"Boss...That kid is terrifying."
Joao chuckled.
"I can tell that much despite not being a fighter myself."
He looked in the direction of Celso's home.
"Let's go back and prepare to hunt that monster."
Meanwhile, Celso raced towards his family while cursing repeatedly in his head. He arrived after nearly 30 minutes of nonstop running. The orange light of flames engulfed him as he stood outside his home.
"Fuck!"
He ran towards the entrance and broke the door down with a kick. He was hit with a wave of heat but didn't hesitate to run inside.
"Mamae! Papai! Fatima!"
Celso's voice reverberated through the building as he looked around in panic.
"Are you guys here?! Answer m—"
He felt a blow to the back of his head. He stopped with his head hanging down. Several thugs appeared from the burning rooms with weapons in hand.
"I take it that since you're not afraid of the flames, you guys are either Superhumans or Pseudo-Superhumans."
Celso's chaotic mind suddenly calmed. His mind cleared and his thoughts flowed freely. He looked up with a sharp gaze.
"I'll give you one chance."
He was focused on one task—
"Tell me where my family are."
Eradicate everything that threatens his family.
"Where are they?!"
Roaring in the burning remains of his childhood home, Celso was slamming his fist repeatedly in the face of a man. Around him were dozens of disfigured thugs that were being slowly approached by the flames reflecting Celso's anger.
"I said, where are they?!"
He picked up the man and pushed his back into the flames. The man opened his mouth to scream, but it was plugged by Celso's fist. The man's very soul trembled as he locked eyes with the demon before him.
"Where is my family?!"
Celso slammed the man on the floor before stomping on his chest. Cracking noises came from the man's body.
"They're at your father's workplace!"
The man shouted as he felt his chest caving in.
"Who's there?"
Celso increased the pressure.
"Your mother and sister!"
"And my father?"
"I don't know! We weren't able to find him in time!"
The man spoke as fast as he could in desperation.
"I see."
Celso pushed his foot down and cracks reached his ears. He kicked the screaming man into the flames and left the burning house.
"Hey, someone is coming out!"
People had gathered outside his home, but that didn't concern him. He rushed past neighbours and police without stopping. He jumped and kicked the air to move faster. No matter how many times he failed to stay in the air and fell, he continued to push forward. Before he knew it, he was at the construction site. There were men in suits all over the site. Celso didn't think and moved.
"He's here!"
The men moved to stop him. Celso clenched his fists and threw a barrage of punches, each one stronger than the last. Explosions rang out at the construction site as he forced his way through. Broken bodies flew through the air as he ran. He blasted away tractors, cranes, bulldozers, and anything that crossed his path.
Celso was a one-man orchestra of violence.
"Mae! Fatima!"
He roared with his fist and body drenched in blood; both his and his enemies'. He entered the building that was under construction and travelled up the floors, eradicating anyone he came across. He no longer thought about anything; he just attacked anything that stood between him and his family. People were blasted out of the building by the second, like a scene out of a cartoon. Less than 5 minutes later, Celso had reached the top, where he spotted two muscular men standing behind his mother and sister.
"Celso!"
His sister called for him when he appeared.
"Stop right there, Brat."
The men pressed guns to his family's heads.
"I can't believe you made it already and look at all that blood. You're a true mons—"
Celso vanished and popped up between the men.
"Wha?!"
Before they could react, powerful blows hit their faces. They flew in separate directions. Celso kicked the air and went for the one closest to the edge.
"Shit! This bastard's too fas—"
Celso hit him with an uppercut before a kick to the temple. The man was blasted off the roof with his eyes rolled to the back of his head. Gunshots rang out and hit Celso's body. He turned around to the other man.
"Tsk!"
The man threw his guns away and his fists started glowing.
"Alright! I'll use my powe—"
Celso popped up and slammed his fist in his stomach.
"H-How can he move so—"
Celso fired a storm of attacks at him. Punches, kicks, palms, even headbutts. He attacked without care or mercy. The man's figure was quickly stained red as Celso tore him apart.
"Celso!"
He only stopped when his mother and sister held onto him.
"That's enough. We're safe."
They hung onto him as tight as they could while Celso's hand was around the man's throat. He dropped the man before falling to his knees, breathing heavily.
"Celso, are you okay?"
His mother stooped down and rubbed his back, but Celso quickly stood up.
"I have to go."
"Where?"
"To kill Joao Carvalho."
"That won't be necessary."
Celso turned his head. There, his father was holding a bloodied figure. He threw the figure at his feet and Celso saw who it was.
"Carvalho...."
He looked at his father, who wore a deadpan face.
"So, how's the thug life?"
"....You beat the Gravediggers?"
"Eradicate would be a better word."
Ruben kicked Carvalho, who groaned in pain.
"How did you know?"
"Old connections."
Ruben walked up to Celso.
"So, how's the thug life? Not too fun once people you care about get targeted, right?"
Celso looked at Ruben for a bit before he started to walk away. Ruben pulled him back and flattened him with a punch.
"You can't even take a blue collar's punch and you're going around acting like you're king."
Celso struggled to his feet and pounced at Ruben, who sidestepped him and hit him in the gut. Celso fell to his knees and started coughing.
"Is this what the Young Sovereign amounts to? They just give anybody rep these days."
Celso was on all fours, trying to catch his breath.
"Tell me, Celso."
Ruben stooped down in front of him.
"How's the thug life? Worth dying for? Is a little cash worth putting your mother and sister in danger?"
He slapped Celso's head.
"Come on, talk."
"Fuck you."
Celso pounced and grabbed his collar.
"What's wrong with wanting money?! What's wrong with not wanting to bow to others weaker than you?!"
"Nothing's wrong with that. It's the way you go about it that is the problem."
Ruben pushed him off and stood up.
"I'm not trying to preach because I have the higher moral ground, Celso. I'm talking from experience. Everything you've done, I've done it. I've lived the life you talked about and it took a lot to leave it all behind."
He picked Celso by his collar.
"But in the end, the trouble to live a clean and boring life was worth it, because I was able to get a family I love dearly out of it. You also had this."
He forced Celso to look at his mother and sister.
"Yet, you almost lost it by following in your stupid old man's footsteps."
Martha and Fatima wore faces stained with worry. These faces caused pain in Celso's chest, which made him attempt to look away.
"No."
Ruben wouldn't let him.
"Face your reality like the man you told yourself you were. Acknowledge what you risked for your selfish whims."
Celso looked at his mother and sister for a long time until his vision became blurry. Tears formed in his eyes and flowed down his cheeks.
"Hey, Young Sovereign. Gangsters don't cry."
"Shut up. This isn't because of you."
Celso spoke with a hoarse voice.
"I'm just glad that you guys are safe."
He burst into tears and started bawling without care. Ruben let him go and he fell to his knees. Martha and Fatima hugged him while crying as well.
"I'm so glad! I'm so glad you guys are okay!"
Celso cried the loudest while Ruben watched them with a small smile. He then slowly walked over to a beaten Carvalho and whispered in his ear. Carvalho's body stiffened.
"I-I'm sorry! Please don't get that guy involved! I didn't know you knew each other!"
"As long as you and your associates stay away from my family, everything will be okay."
"I promise! I swear on my life!"
Carvalho shouted while bowing.
"Who did you tell him you knew?"
Celso asked after wiping the tears from his eyes.
"Just old connections. Speaking of..."
Ruben looked at Celso with an apologetic expression.
"I had to make a deal."
"I'm going to juvey?!"
Celso shouted in shock.
"Yeah, you did a lot of illegal stuff, so it's to be expected."
Ruben said while wearing a bitter smile.
"But don't worry. You're a minor, so you won't be there for long. Maybe 3 or 4 years."
"Four years?!"
"Hey, it would be longer if I didn't use my connections and made a deal."
Ruben picked up Carvalho.
"I give them this guy and evidence to convict him and his gang and you'll be free before you're 20. Sweet deal, right?"
"Come again?"
Carvalho couldn't believe his ears. He and Celso looked at each other in shock. Ruben smirked.
"I told you, a life of crime isn't worth it."
"I ended up spending four years in lock up, but I learned a lot of stuff about myself while in there."
Present time. Celso spoke with a smile while standing in front of Ruben.
"I learned I'm not cut out to be a leader. That's why I have no problem following Belinha's lead."
His smile grew soft as he looked at his father's figure.
"I also learned that it's better to earn an honest living no matter how hard it is."
"....I see. So my lesson pushed you to become a Hero."
"I might be a soldier, but I'm no Hero and will never be."
Celso placed his hand on his father's shoulder.
"You who gave everything for his family and continues to do so is a Hero, at least to Impactor."
Celso's smile brightened up.
"You're not a failure because an accident took your leg. You're a great father and I wanted to repay such a father no matter what. Even if it makes you worry."
He pointed at Ruben's metallic leg.
"I'll fight god himself if it makes your life even a little bit better, because you deserve it."
Ruben looked at his son in silence for a while before smiling.
"When you say it like that, it's hard to stay mad."
"I'm a good son after all."
"Don't push your luck."
The two burst out laughing in the hall. After a while, Ruben stretched his hand out.
"Welcome back, Son."
Celso took it.
"Thanks, Papai."
"But seriously. Impactor? Really?"
"What are you talking about? It's genius."