All one hundred and forty-four teenagers gathered around the holo-sphere and waited for the battle to start.

  “I can't believe Jett said that.” Mac tried breaking the ice, but it didn't work. No one said a word. The countdown began.

  Ten.

  Nine.

  Eight.

  Seven.

  MASON'S POV

  I strapped my gloves on and folded my fists. The gloves emitted their signature light and powered on.

  Six.

  I rolled my neck once. Jett stood opposite me, wearing a menacing look.

  Five.

  “Let's get this over with,” Jett said as we both waited for the match to start.

  Four.

  “What's the hurry?” I grinned.

  Three.

  He glared at me. Silent.

  Two.

  One.

  The second the countdown hit zero, I knew I couldn’t slack, and I was right.

  A sharp beep echoed—and he vanished.

  “Shit—!”

  I barely raised my guard before the wind screamed past me. A blur skimmed my left, something just out of range. My heart jumped, but I didn’t flinch. I spun and caught a glimpse of him skidding behind a tree, already repositioning.

  This was his power: pure speed, at a freak level. It’s not teleportation or warping. Jett’s just stupidly fast.

  He doesn’t need super strength, fireballs, or laser eyes. His insane speed is enough for him.

  He appeared again, low and fast like a bolt off the ground, driving a punch into my ribs. I blocked it—barely—but the shock still rattled my bones. I slid back, boots scraping bark and metal.

  He blitzed out.

  I ducked as he zipped overhead, landed behind me with that annoying soft thud. I turned just in time to catch his palm tapping my chest like, boop, you’re dead.

  “Still got that slow reaction, Mason,” he called, tone light but eyes sharp.

  I grinned. “Still talk too much.”

  He blurred again.

  This time, I didn’t wait.

  I lunged forward, fist cocked. If I could predict his path—cut off the angle—

  But he sidestepped it clean, ducked, and tapped my stomach with two fingers. A feint. Could’ve been a blade. Could’ve ended the fight.

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  He raised his leg, but I dodged it. He landed and tried boxing, but I deflected the punches. He turned it up a notch, and I couldn't keep up.

  “Fuck…” I saw his uppercut too late, and my jaw got rocked. He turned around and kicked me in the ribs.

  I stumbled back, chest heaving. Sweat clung to my temple.

  “Not doing so hot are you?” Jett’s voice rang out. I couldn't see him. No, he didn't want me to see him.

  I lowered into stance.

  “Alright,” I muttered, more to myself than to him. “Let’s get serious then.”

  LEVI’S POV

  Everyone else leaned in like it was life or death. Keisha’s fists were locked tight. Liv didn't even blink. Not once.

  I looked over to the holo-sphere and sighed.

  It looked like Jett had the upper hand, but it was only temporary. No one else seemed to see it, though; Mason wasn’t panicking.

  Every slip, every miss, every stupid-looking stumble — he was feeling Jett out.

  Jett didn’t see it. He was cocky, speeding up, pushing harder. Little cracks starting to show. A step too far here. A swing too heavy there. He was pissed off, and it was leaking into everything.

  Mason was definitely still on the losing end. But not by much. Jett wasn't winning this fight. He always underestimated Mason… and he's about to get hit with a dose of reality.

  MASON’S POV

  I moved left, digging my heel into the ground and pivoting just a second before the blur of motion cracked past where my head had been.

  I'd dodged it!!

  Another flash came at me, aimed at my side. Jett’s eyes were locked, calculating and confident.

  I didn’t block. I moved.

  Twisted just enough that his fist grazed fabric. My counter came in half a second later—just a glancing jab to the shoulder—but it landed.

  He stumbled a step.

  First contact.

  And for a second—just a flicker—I saw it in his eyes.

  Surprise.

  “Tag…” I grinned breathlessly. “I got you.”

  He smirked. “Oh really?” he zigzagged around the forest, and I backed up.

  He adjusted faster than I would have liked. Back to circling, weight light on his toes. I wasn’t going to win this head-on. Not with speed. Not yet.

  I had to bait him, just a little… so I dropped my guard.

  A small opening on my left. Not obvious—but obvious enough for someone like Jett to see it.

  And take it.

  He vanished again, flickering like a bad hologram, and reappeared at my side. But behind me…

  “Oh, shi—”

  He'd already drawn his blade, and my reaction time was too slow.

  I turned—but too late.

  My breath hitched as I staggered; I turned to my side and saw my jacket turn darker in my lower abdomen.

  He stabbed me! He actually stabbed me!

  “Damn, Jett—!”

  He spun the dagger once in his hand and stepped back, just enough space between us for a breath.

  “You wanted me serious,” he said flatly. “Here I am.”

  “Are you fucking serious?” I yelled at him. “Do you know how long it takes to wash this shit?”

  “The heck?”

  “Yeah, this is white, bro! Not that tacky red you've got on you!” I yelled.

  “Screw you, Mason! You're more worried about your jacket?” Jett shouted.

  “No shit! I washed this last month, and thanks to you, I've got to wash it again!”

  “A month?! That's messed up.” Jett sheathed his blade. “No wonder you stink!”

  “Shut up!” I shouted and held the wound. The cells were already healing themselves. “You better hope this thing washes off!”

  “And if it doesn't?” Jett grinned. “You gonna cry?”

  I glared at him.

  LEVI’S POV

  “Those two idiots…” Liv sighed. “He's more concerned about his jacket than his injury… am I right, Kei?”

  Keisha mumbled something. I looked at her. “Keisha?”

  “HE HASN'T WASHED HIS JACKET SINCE LAST MONTH?!!!” she yelled. “I KNEW HIS ROOM SMELT WORSE!!” Then she yelled Mason's name loudly at the holo sphere.

  I'm pretty sure he heard it. I winced as she yelled.