“The Uncontrolled, much like monsters, are categorized numerically from 1 to 10—1 being the weakest, and 10 being the absolute strongest. Those between Categories 1 and 3 are classified as Beta Class. Categories 4 through 6 are Alpha Class, and anything from 7 to 10 falls into the Omega Class. Fortunately, humanity has never faced a monster above Category 7, let alone an Uncontrolled above Category 4.”

  General Titan paced the room, his voice booming. “These categories serve as a rough index of a threat's capabilities. The Federation used numbers so that even a layman can grasp how many distinct abilities a target might possess. The most dangerous entity we ever faced was the very first: the Umbralux Draco, a Category EX monster that nearly scoured the planet clean before it was slain by the First Hero...”

  “Yeah, yeah... the 'Great Hero' everyone calls Aegis, title: 'Humanity's Shield'... are these history lessons really necessary?”

  Allen looked over at Shinobi, who was leafing through a stack of documents. Allen’s interruption caused a vein to throb in Titan’s forehead as the General struggled to keep his temper in check.

  “It’s the protocol, Allen,” Shinobi said without looking up. “If you don’t want to listen to Titan, plug your ears and ignore him—just don't blame me when he starts throwing things at you.”

  Allen sighed and shook his head. “In my opinion, listening to this drivel is a waste of time.”

  “Then all you have to do is answer the question I asked weeks ago,” Shinobi countered, finally dropping the papers. “How did you get the staff and the stones?”

  Allen smiled, feigning perfect ignorance. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. They’re just family heirlooms.”

  “Heirlooms don't manifest high-tech combat suits or transform into multi-purpose weaponry,” Shinobi snapped. In the past few days, he had scanned the sapphire, the prism, and the staff. Every result came back the same: ordinary jewelry and a simple wooden stick.

  “What suits? I think you’re seeing things, Shinobi.”

  “Titan... initiate Plan B.”

  At the order, Titan grinned. He turned toward Allen, his massive knuckles cracking like pistol shots.

  “I have nothing against you, General Titan,” Allen said softly. “I’d appreciate it if you didn't do something you might regret.”

  Titan ignored the warning. He flexed his arm, the yellow military shirt shredding under the pressure of his colossal muscles, and lunged. His fist whistled through the air, aimed directly at Allen’s face.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  A massive shockwave of air blasted through the room upon impact. But Titan’s grin vanished. He hadn't hit Allen; he had punched an afterimage.

  “Too slow,” a voice drifted from behind him. “Though I have to admit, that’s impressive power. Worthy of an A-Rank.”

  Allen was standing directly behind Titan. In his left hand, Shinobi caught a fleeting green flash.

  “Let’s do the math,” Shinobi said, narrowing his eyes. “You have a prism, a ruby, and a sapphire. That’s three. You’ve yet to show us the last two: an emerald and a topaz. Which one is in your hand right now?”

  Allen took a couple of steps to his right, checking the clock on the wall. “I believe you’re about to be pushed, General. If I were you, I’d brace myself.”

  The moment the words left his lips, Allen crouched. An enormous backdraft of wind roared from the direction of Titan’s original punch. The localized gale forced both Titan and Shinobi to the floor, sliding them back several inches.

  “Well, gentlemen, this is where I take my leave. I don’t plan on studying things that are of no use to me. See you around.”

  As the air current dispersed, Allen stood up and leaped through the window, leaving Shinobi and Titan alone in the wreckage of the room.

  “Your plan didn't work, Shinobi,” Titan grumbled.

  “Neither did yours.”

  Shinobi’s plan had been to bore Allen with hours of Federation history to catch him off guard and provoke a reaction; Titan, of course, had opted for brute force. Both had failed.

  “Anyway,” Titan added, “according to your brother, there are still two stones Allen hasn't fully revealed.”

  Shinobi nodded. “He hasn't used the Emerald of Truth or the Topaz of Will yet. All we know is that one of those two is enough to bring down a Category 5.”

  They had both read Crimson Shadow’s intel. While it didn't specify which gem was used against the Gigax Leo, it had confirmed the names.

  “So he just used either the emerald or the topaz to dodge me,” Titan said with a smirk. “A fifty-fifty shot. Want to place a bet, Shinobi?”

  Shinobi remained silent, staring out the window, unable to spot Allen.

  “Launch a spy drone,” Shinobi ordered.

  “No need,” Titan said, pulling out a tablet. “He’s got a micro-radar and a mic in his pocket. I planted it on him when he walked in this morning.”

  Shinobi shot Titan a surprised side-eye. Usually, the General was all muscle, but every now and then, he actually used his brain.

  “If you were this diligent with everything, you might actually crack the top fifty of the A-Rank general rankings.”

  Shinobi’s words were sharp. Titan went silent, turning on his heel and storming out of the room. He slammed the door so hard it shattered the frame and fell off its hinges.

  Allen walked the streets, drifting aimlessly. As he turned a corner, he passed an electronics store. He was about to keep walking when a broadcast on the display TVs caught his eye.

  It was footage of his fight from the day before—the encounter with the Uncontrolled in the skyscraper. There he was, in his Knight Style, leaping from the window and sticking the landing.

  “When did they film this?”

  Allen’s hands shook slightly, though his face remained a mask of calm.

  Because of his connection to the Federation and Calibur, his images as Firmament had never gone public. He never imagined they would broadcast his new powers so freely. When the Gigax Leo incident happened and he used the Topaz of Will, the Federation had moved heaven and earth to bury the footage. Now, they were parading him on the news.

  Allen shook his head and kept moving. He needed quiet. He needed a good cup of coffee. He headed for his café.