Lindworm

"Kill?" Threya asked.

Virus nodded.

"My first battle with a monster!" Louisa exclaimed.

"I won't be that useful in the fight, apart from providing support." Sanji said.

"Yeah we already know that." Troy said. "So what's the plan, Virus?"

"I'm just here to make sure none of you guys die. The rest is up to you."

A moment of silence.

"Does that mean we're on our own?" Amanda asked, on the verge of tears.

"We can handle this! Right, number one?" Louisa asked.

Number one?

–Damn. If not for my strength, I'd never be respected.–

"I'm not taking any chances." Troy said, looking at his team, Team 7.

His uncle had made sure he took leadership courses, and read on every known ability in the galaxy. Even though powers were different, they were just variations of the originals: flight, super strength, super speed, energy manipulation, elementals, and so on.

At first glance, he knew the roles they would all play depending on the situation.

Amanda was small, but she was a cardinal threat level Hero. But she lacked any battle experience. Being a support type would be best, at least for now. Sanji's role was clear already. Threya was something like a wildcard. He and Louisa would be at the forefront. It was almost perfect. It would have been perfect if any one of them had any battle experience. But like this any small mistake could cost them their lives. Not his, though. He was confident that even if he couldn't beat this creature, he could escape.

"Sanji. Stay out of sight and pay attention to the battle. Threya would be beside you. Tell her everything you hear. Threya, relay all the information through telepathy. Amanda, protect them. Leave the rest to me and Louisa."

A moment of silence.

"Good job, kid. Now if you'll excuse me, I'll watch from a distance." Virus said.

Before anyone could say anything else, Virus jumped from the ground to a tree, and vanished into the surrounding greenery.

Troy pulled out the holographic map of the place.

According to satellite imagery, there were at least three tunnels that led underground. Meaning there were three exits. But he and Louisa were the only heavy hitters. And he had to protect her. This was why he liked working alone. If it was just him, he'd just go in, charging and breaking everything with brute force.

Louisa could use her quakes to break the tunnel…

"No. My ability comes with a sensory perception. This cave is very sturdy."

Impressive. So she could also sense the cave?

He had used his spatial awareness skill to know where the cave exactly was, and there were actually four exits. He had also noticed hundreds of life forms. But only three were strong enough to pose a threat to him. That could mean this was probably a breeding ground for those monsters.

He pointed at the map and made everyone take positions. Sanji and Threya were behind a large bush. Amanda was above them, on a tree, with orders to blast anything that attacks them. Threya and Sanji were in her care. The pressure of that kind of responsibility was getting to her, but Troy assured her that it wouldn't be that hard.

"I believe in you, kid."

Amanda looked away, blushing. Someone believed in her.

It was surprisingly easy to get them all to follow his orders. Was it because they were nervous, or his strength? Or maybe his leadership courses were paying off?

"Let's go, Louisa. Stay behind me and do your thing. Don't worry about me."

"Really? My ability would make you unbalanced, and you might fall."

"Don't worry. My ability is gravity manipulation. I'll be fine."

Louisa nodded.

Time to put his atom manipulation to test. He hadn't used it in a real battle before, but he had practiced enough to know how it works. The first stage of atom manipulation he had mastered was the manipulation of his own body. He could pack his atoms tighter, making him sturdier and stronger. He could also space them apart, making him more agile and adding to his dexterity. But according to Uncle Chris, that was just the tip of the iceberg.

"Go!"

Troy burst out of the forest, Louisa right behind him. He had widened the space between the atoms in his body, making him as light as a feather. He basically glided across the ground, making his way to the cave. It was probably natural, but the exits weren't. They were unnaturally wide.

When he was in range, he tightly packed the atoms in his body, and punched one of the cave entrances. It was sturdy, but the combination of Troy's artificial super strength and the gravity weighing on it, the entrance stood no chance. It crumbled instantly.

"Troy, something is coming out of the cave exit behind you, and fast!!" Threya screamed in his head.

He saw as the creature emerged from the cave. It was a giant snake probably thirty meters long. It had two long arms, and that was it. No other limbs decorated its body. Just two arms.

"Louisa!"

Louisa raised her right leg high above her head, and performed an ax kick. Everywhere began shaking like crazy. This kind of earthquake was too much. Maybe she was too nervous to control herself. But it wasn't an issue. Troy was constantly shifting his center of gravity. To others it seemed like he was rooted to the ground, but he was in constant work. Although he rooted himself to the ground with gravity, it was still not enough.

Due to the earthquake, the creature had a hard time pinning the position of Troy. So it did something Troy didn't consider. It went straight for Louisa.