True Defeat

Getting off from the back of the truck. I was greeted by a serene quiet environment. I never knew fresh air would be this good. 

The Russian soldier followed behind me. He still had his gun pointed at the back of my head. He said in a fierce tone, "Don't do anything funny. Remember you are still in our custody."

I took a step up front, and another soldier mutter with wide open eyes, "Wow! Look at those trees. There are twice as tall as the Empire State Building (1)."

"You are right!" The youngest of the group energetically states. However, a second later his expression turned dull, "Why is there no grass on the ground? What kind of plantation… is this?"

That maybe true, but that is far from what moves me. 

"Ahh!!" An olive skinned soldier shrieked, with his hands behind the back of his head, "What the hell is this waterfall?!!!"

Everyone turned to look at the direction the truck had come from. A soundless gigantic waterfall stood there. No one could tell where it started or where it was going, in both length and width. 

It looked like a veil that marked the beginning of the world. 

Thud—! 

The Russian soldier lifelessly fell to the ground, "How did our truck manage to pass through that? Just where are we?"

I just took chewing gum, from the sweets I managed to snick in my uniform a few days ago, 'It would be bothersome to travel with this hopeless guys.'

Using this chance I muttered in a dilute tone, "We are… 17.7 light years away from the Earth."

Hearing my voice, the soldiers expressions turn even more solemn. Two of them even fainted. It was a natural reaction. It would take the fastest airship on Earth over 60 years to travel such a distance. 

The youngest asked with a made up smile, "You… Are kidding, right…?"

I replied with a grave expression on my face, "Does it look like I am kidding to you?"

An olive skinned soldier rushed over to my position and firmly grabbed my collar. His face was contorted in rage, "How do you know that?! It's impossible to calculate that much distance by head! You ar—!"

I spit chewing gum into his big mouth, leaving him clutching his own neck. His teeth were rotten, I couldn't stand them. 

"It started when I was a kid, but after every mile I happen to click my tongue. 100, 524, 493, 881, 439 times I clicked my tongue."

The soldiers looked at me with admiration in their eyes. 

"Wow! As expected from the only human from Earth with superpowers."

"He might even help us find a way back."

Listening to their words made me crave something sweet. I took a lollipop and put it in my mouth and walked up front with my hands in my pockets. 

"From now own, you are on your own."

Two more soldiers fainted, and their expression turned even more gloom. One of the three black Americans among them called out, "Are you just going to abandon us?! You are supposes to be Earth's Hero!!"

When did he ever see a hero in an inmate's uniform?

"There is something you all should know?" I turned my head to face the sun at its zenith. I felt bitter that my saliva turned into fire and melted the lollipop I was eating whole. 

Just because we are members of the same species, doesn't mean I should help you. I can spend the entire day with you, but that doesn't mean I like you. I'm not the kind of guy who enjoys being messed up with other people."

I continued to walk towards the trees before me. From a single glance. I could tell that this place was free from all those dangerous gases. 

A smile formed on my average face, as I thought of those soldiers. How can they believe that a person can click their tongue once after walking every mile? I just picked 17.7 light years to scare them. Even mentalist can't calculate such a distance by head alone.

For a few minutes it was only my footsteps making sounds, until a deep male voice came from behind me, 

"Most people out there are having troubles in their lives even without any incidents happening." 

I could sense malice from the voice. Turning my left hand into fire. I attacked where the person's head was supposed to be, but he touched my hand without getting burnt.

The emotionless voice continues, "But people like you are the ones who make their lives' hell. Why did you bother coming to Ablauf? Give up, I have already killed your pathetic friends near the entrance."

My interest in the person behind me grew. However, my brows knot up into a frown. This man has a near sub-zero breath, similar to that of the polar easterlies(2). 

He is someone who can use the ability to control ice. I can tell that much from my feet, which are frozen to the ground. 

My head turned back in curiosity, to look at the other person with superpowers besides me. 

He has light skin and is 3 meters tall at most, two fifths taller than me. His square shaped face has fewer wrinkles and brought out his piercing gray eyes. 

He has a black cap written 'Defense Forces' that hid his short, straight gray hair. He is putting on a fancy military uniform, written 'Russ N'Dowa' on his left pocket. 

"Tsk!"

Clicking my tongue in frustration. I separated my left hand into tiny flames and I broke away from his grip. My legs instantly turned into a roaring fire. 

Turning around, I threw a kick at his face, "First flaming kick: Mawashi Geri!"

Bam—! 

The monstrous man caught my left foot, like it was a twig. 

Russ said in an apathetic voice, "Useless. Your ability is quite interesting. It turns your whole body into fire, but that's only that. You will never survive in this world with such skills."

"Darn it!" I cursed. This guy might kill me if I don't do something! 

I tried to turn my leg into smaller particles. However, Russ quickly caught on. He increased his grip and threw me towards a tree. 

Boom—! 

I knocked one tree down, as a bucket load of blood came from my mouth. Pain was now the rhythm of my body. 

"!"

My body froze in fear. A pair of deep gray eyes were an inch away from my face, "As I said before, you will never beat me with such dismal skills."

"Firefly!" 

I turned my body into small spikes made of fire and charged at Russ. Before I could do anything, Russ froze me back to normal.

Silent footsteps came towards my direction, "I was bitten by the cold night spider. In exchange for my eyesight, I can turn things around me into ice."

He is my real opposite. I can turn myself into fire, yet he can turn things around him into ice. Such an ability should have a rage. 

There is no point in staying here… 

My legs turned into rocket boosters, "First Flaming Kick: Art of the runaway ninja!"

I didn't even have a second to escape, as Russ' elephant sized hand grabbed on to my face and smashed me to the ground like a mosquito. 

Bam—! 

"Urgh!" I groaned, as a few drops of blood escaped my mouth. It was like the devil was gripping my face. 

If I don't beg for my life, I might really die! 

Russ states with his cold eyes glaring at me, "Do you see it now… The difference in our strength. I don't even need to use my ability to kill a firefly like you."

Tears were forming in my eyes and my hands wobbly went in the air, "I… Surrender. Please don't kill me."

Damn it! I hate begging! It brings bitter memories! 

"…" 

"I said, I–"

"I heard that." The blind man cut me off, "I thought you would put up a fight like the other three other worlders, I picked up today."

Who the hell are those idiots!? Only morons would try to fight a disaster like him! And it hurts even more that I am one of those idiots… 

"You clearly said…" I coughed up a little blood, my insides were in pain, "That I can't beat you, no matter… what trick I tried."

It's true, if I keep on fighting now. I will only put my life at risk. He is a freak of nature. The moment he lives me unguarded, I will try to run away. Nevertheless, that sounds suicidal. All his senses all heightened thanks to losing his eyesight. 

"Clever, aren't we?" He let go of my face, and used great stone cuffs on my hand, "Don't even think about breaking free. I will personally kill you, if you do so."

'I would have ninety-nine lives to do something that crazy.'

I didn't move from the ground and the blind man let me be, as he talked on his phone, "I have caught another runt. Bring over the truck."

"Yes, deputy General Sir!" I was able to hear that unspecific voice. 

He hung up on his call and glared at me with a furious expression, "Why do you fools even try so hard? You disgust me. I will make sure you won't be to make it into Galactic Prison."

I didn't know what grudge he had with me, but I marked something in my mind. 

'Russ N'Dowa, I will murder you!'

_____

1- Empire State Building — one of the tallest building in the USA with a height of 1, 250 feet ( 76 meters). The trees are not twice it's size, but somewhat in between. 

2 — Polar easterlies — the coldest winds on Earth that come from the East.