Determination’s Strength

In the rich neighborhood, Jaden was there with a stern face because of what he was seeing, he wanted to curse out loud, because that was too much for the same day.

If bad luck had a face, it would probably look like Jaden's. The HOUM from earlier wasn't alone anymore, and the other one looked a bit stronger. Plus, it was almost invisible, but there was indeed a vertical white mark on its forehead.

'Now there are two of them. Can I make it out of this?' Jaden thought

'As if I could make it out when there was only one.' He let out a sigh in his head, maybe he had a little hope, but now it was all shattered.

'Anyway, it doesn't matter. I'm not fighting out of fear of dying but out of respect for the dead. If I leave, I don't know what they'll do to her body.' Jaden's thoughts where full of determination, there was no fear, no regret, just determination.

Right after this thought, he turned his gaze towards Madame Aiko's lifeless body, and his eyes hardened immediately.

''You damn HOUM, if you think I'm going to die so easily...'' Jaden exclaimed before taking in and exhaling a deep breath.

'That's it; now I'm delivering superhero lines. I must be losing it.' he thought, leaving a sad smile.

'Why is that other one poking its eye?'

'I... I spoke to the one that hit me.'

'Keep moving, bro! I'm not here. But whatever happens, I have to stay alive for Madame Aiko… until the CREDHOS arrive.' Did he really want to stay alive for her, or was it just a reason he got because he just didn't want to die?

Humans are truly special, they always found a way to lie themselves – greater god, the next generation or even peace, all of that are just reason to do what they think should be done.

Jaden was attracted by something else though.

'Am I dreaming, or am I playing the hero?' he was there trying to help Madame Aiko, and there were two monsters in front of him, but he chose to fight instead of running, thus was he dreaming or was he playing the hero?

'Neither of the two, well, I think. No, I know I'm not a hero.' He answered his own question.

A hero is never halfway a hero. A hero isn't someone who saves their loved ones or their city. A hero is someone who saves the world.

''Although I'm not a hero, I don't want to lose – Like everyone else, I hate that. So damn HOUM, I'm going to win!'' Jaden shouted out loud, and he felt better, he wanted that.

And then he came to a realization. In fact, if everyone wants to win, then these HOUMS probably want to as well. So it probably doesn't just depend on desire, you can't want all you want, but if you don't have the tools, it will just stay that – the need. Although that plays a significant role, because you have to want something to get it… most of the time.

''Hey, HOUMS! I don't know if you can hear me, but this fight isn't just about strength; it's also about willpower. So, may the strongest will win!''

The new HOUM initiated hostilities, launching a series of punches and kicks.

'I feel more and more capable of defeating him. He's strong, skilled, but a bit repetitive.' Jaden thought.

Suddenly, he broke out in a cold sweat. There was a sense of unease in his head, even though he was the one setting the tempo of the fight.

But things never go as planned, especially when your face reflects bad luck.

'Huh? What's... what's happening?'

He crossed his arms in front of him to protect himself just as his hands were in position. He received a punch that sent him flying to the other side, at least 5 meters (about 16 feet) from where he had been.

It was the attack of the HOUM who had so far been watching.

'Hey, that was a tough one.' Jaden reacted, feeling a slight pain in his organs. His arms where the punch landed were all red.

'What are these reactions?' he wondered. 'It's like I have a self-defense mechanism. First, the HOUM coming from behind, and now this.'

There's something to be proud of; with this ability, he could dodge any surprise attacks, provided he was fast enough.

'The thing with abilities is that there's always a certain condition.' Jaden cursed in his mind and he was right.

If Jaden wasn't trained enough, he wouldn't have had a fast enough reaction, let alone the idea to cross his hands in front of him to block the blow. A lot of training and battle experience, that what was needed for that ability.

'Wait! It's another one, another HOUM! Hey, that's cheating!' He thought it was the HOUM he had been fighting with, but no, he couldn't help but shout in his head.

He was already struggling with the new one, and now the old one came to the rescue, what would be his fate?

'I'll just have to increase my thirst for victory, but still...'

'Fight fairly, HOUMS!' Yeah, even if they are monsters, they have to have at least one thing not like-monster – honor by example.

Human are not monster but they have at least more than one thing not like-human, more like-monster.

Jaden was not worried though, there was something inside him preventing him from being so. He wanted it to be just the way it was, he wanted to fight until he can no more.

He was in a trance-like state; right now, all that mattered to him was the brawl, all he wanted to do was fight again and again. He felt something very exciting rising within him.

'I think I'm in ecstasy.'

At that moment, he took a leap, and his speed had almost doubled. He gained so much height that it was hard to believe a man could jump so high, a normal man, of course.

His fist was clenched, his face indifferent; all that mattered were his opponents. The world around him ceased to exist; there was only him and the HOUMS, no house, no noise, nothing.

Once in front of the HOUM, he unleashed everything on its face. He was so fast that the targeted HOUM couldn't keep up. He punched it in the stomach, causing it to bend forward toward his face. As if he expected this reaction, Jaden immediately delivered a direct blow to its face, sending the HOUM about 7 feet (2 meters) from his position, its face displaying its anatomy.

There were little sparks of violet flames in his hands, like violet lightning, Jaden didn't mind it, he just began to run toward the HOUM again. However, during his run, he had to shift to his right. The second opponent had attacked from behind.

Who said they would take turns? Who were they? Monsters! Honor had nothing to do with them; all that mattered was killing, nothing else.

'I didn't expect you to spare me.' Jaden thought before kicking the HOUM's thigh, causing it to lose balance. Jaden took advantage of this moment to deliver a brutal punch to the HOUM's stomach. Then he grabbed its right hand with his left hand before hitting it with his right fist to the face. He followed up with a spinning back kick, jumping in the air while turning and striking the HOUM's face with the sole of his left foot.

The blow was so violent that the HOUM was at least 3 meters (about 21 feet) from his position. Once the Houm could be seem, there was no longer a head in his body and there were parts in his body that looked… old. The HOUM was dead.

''And one less.'' murmured Jaden.

After watching him kill this HOUM, it seemed that he now had the upper hand. However, he looked like someone who had lifted kilos and kilos all day long. Just fighting this HOUM had drained him completely.

He was exhausted, and the HOUM he had just killed was the weaker of the two, the old one.