20: Purely Bad Luck

 "Heath, can we go on a mission?" Pleaded Jay on his knees. "Please?"

 Heath glanced backward in the quiet hallway of their dormitory. "Not in the mood," he replied.

 He got up from his knees, "you're never in the mood!" He whined.

 "Maybe tomorrow," Heath turns away to walk down the hall.

 "You said that yesterday!"

 Heath sighed loudly, his annoyance was apparent in his tone. 

 "Why don't you want to go on a mission?" Jay questioned. "Are you scared?" 

 "Scared?" Heath scoffs.

 "Well, are you?" Jay insisted.

 "Heh..." Heath disappeared from Jay's sight.

Jay clenched his fists in silence. Once again he had been rejected by his assigned partner. He groans aloud and decides, fuck it! I'll just ball by myself. 

 Heath stood on the end of a their dormitory roof, looking out to the distance. Pulling out from thin air wasn't his usual deck, rather it was a card of Carlot. A heart stabbed through by three blades. Heath stares at the card, grinning and crushing the card to small bits and slowly dissipating. Nani o dousuru, Yui?

Nani o dousuru = What do I do?

 Jay rode the elevator down and head to the Beast Threat Correspondence or BTC office. Alone, hands slipped into his pant pockets, gritting his teeth. I wasn't force to retire for this shit.

 Hiro and Kris had just left the BTC office with a dossier to go on a mission to find a small worm beast at the Hursh Super Stadium. An entire soccer team that was practicing suddenly disappeared. Each member of the team, the coaches, everything.

 Hiro holds up his hand onto his chin, "do you think it's going to be a lot of beasts?" He asked.

 "I dunno," Kris shrugged her shoulders. "It didn't say. Either it's a lot of beasts or just one big one."

 "If it was big, wouldn't we see it?" 

 "That's true, we would see it," she raised her head and looked up to the ceiling as she took out her lollipop from her mouth, licking her lips softly.

 "What are you thinking?"

 "You're not anyone important, are you?"

 Hiro felt a little offended but preferred seeking to understand, "what's that supposed to mean?"

 "Apparently... Daniel Fash, Laura Crescent, Nathan Varr, and Victoria Lau had faced people they're not supposed to," she stated. "Both on their first missions," she added.

 "Then no, I'm not," he shook his head, feeling a little easy that that was what she meant. "Are you?" He decides to ask.

 She gaped her mouth and shoved back the lollipop in her mouth, "nope."

 "That's good, right?"

 "In this case, yeah."

 Hiro couldn't help but notice how nonchalant Kris was to the potential danger that lies ahead of them. He wonders whether to pursue his thought. "Were you in a clan of some sort?"

 "I just said I wasn't anyone important."

 "True you said that, but I just wanted to know."

 "Know what?"

 "Aren't you scared!?" Hiro said, his voice a little shaken.

 "No, are you?"

 "Yes!" He shouted. "A whole football team just went poof and you expect me to be fine?"

 "Of course not," she shook her head. "I'm not scared because I don't know what to expect."

 "Isn't it the other way around?"

 "I suppose. I wouldn't be scared of the unknown, rather the anticipation."

 "Are you serious?" Hiro was shaking a little.

 "Apparently, I am."

 "You're way too nonchalant."

"Maybe."

The two made their way out of the office to see Jay, sitting by the doorstep, sulking alone. "You good?" Kris asked.

"I'm bored," Jay let out a defeated sigh.

"Why?" She asked again.

"Heath doesn't want to do any missions, it's been a week already."

"You don't wanna go by yourself?"

"I would," he sighed again. "No, I am," he said with a more firm tone.

"Then?"

"I dunno," he shrugged.

"Come along then."

"Are you serious?"

"Five. Four..."

"Okay, okay!" Jay quickly stood up and joined their party.

She's awfully pushy, Hiro thought silently.

Phew... Another person. I hate fighting with lesser numbers, Kris thought while smiling to herself.

They made their way to the station and took the train directly to the station. Whenever a soccer match is on between two big teams, the stations will be busy. Overflowing with passengers to the point where once people were crowd crushed inside the train. Over a dozen people had died that day.

The three enterer their train, seeing the seats are full, they all stood next to each other. Reaching up for the handle. Kris had to tip toe to even reach the handle.

"Grab on a pole instead?" Hiro suggested.

"Ugh..." Kris groaned as her face shot red. Walking over to the pole next to the door. "This is embarrassing," she said as she pulled her beanie down, covering her eyes.

Kawaii... Hiro thought.

Kawaii = Cute

"No shame in being short, Kris," Jay comforted.

"Yeah, what he said."

"Usai," Kris grumbled.

Usai = Shut it

A few stops later, it was time for them to get off the train and head to the stadium. Already adjacent with the stadium, all they had to do was find the main entrance. The moment they left the station, it was dead quiet. Several police lines were barricading the path heading to the main entrance. There was a police officer, Officer Jess, standing in front of the police line.

"What's this?" Kris asked.

"There's been an emergency, no one's allowed to to enter," Jess replied.

"Is it the missing soccer team?" 

Jess then paused momentarily, and then looked at the three's clothes. "Are you sorcerers from Core Intel?" She asked, presumptuously.

"Yes, we are," Kris replied.

"Follow me," she said as she turned to lift the police line up and let them pass.

Jess lead them to the main entrance and meeting with several other police officers. "Gaki-tachi wa dare?" Officer Kyle asked.

"Karera wa mahoutsukaidesu."

"Sou," he nods. "Naka ni haittekudasai," he ordered politely.

Gaki-tachi wa dare = Who are these brats?

Karera wa mahoutsukaidesu = They're sorcerers

Sou = Ok

Naka ni haittekudasai = Head inside

Jess and Kyle then accompanied Kris, Hiro, and Jay inside the soccer stadium. Entering from down below, to the lockers. They pass through the locker and head up to the field. The field was vast and clear.

"Were they practicing all over the field?" Kris asked.

"As we heard, yes they were."

"Where did you hear it from?"

"I was the one who called it in," Kyle replied.

"Okay, give us a quick rundown."

"I was patrolling here, I went up to the seats to take a break. Saw the team practicing. Doing sprints across the field I then went to lay down for a short moment."

"On the seats?"

"Yes," he nods. "I laid exactly 9.42. When I sat up, it was 9.47, then the whole team was gone. Though at the last moment, I saw like these worm things coming out of the ground, around the center."

"So, what's next?" Kris asked further.

"For the hell of it, I checked down to the lockers, they weren't there. I checked the basement, their bus was still there. So, I looked around, called other people, no one saw the sight of them. So, I called you guys."

Kris walked forward to the field, further away from the group. She used Mana Sense to see any beasts living under the field. Nothing, huh? 

"You two officers should go to the stands and watch from there," she yelled slightly.

"Are you sure?" They asked.

She turns around and nods, "yeah." 

Sprinting across the field called them up? What could it be... Constant ground shaking?

"Anta-tachi, koi"

"Hai, hai," Hiro replies as he and Jay ran up to her.

Anta-tachi, koi = You guys, come here.

Hai = Okay

"What did you find?" Jay asked.

"Nothing yet, but there's something to do with the center of the field."

"You think so?"

"Yeah, the man said that there were worm things at the center."

"What do you think?"

"How do you draw out worms from the ground?" Kris said inquiringly. 

"Uhh... Use food?"

"Exactly."

"So... Are you saying to draw it out?"

"Not exactly," she shook her head. "I don't sense anything below us."

Hiro and Jay looked each other as they use Mana Sense to detect anything. "You're right, there's nothing."

"Yeah, I don't sense anything either."

Kris held up her hand to her chin, sucking on her lollipop intensely. Worm in the center, I'm not sure how big but big enough to capture humans. A lot of them for that matter. He didn't hear them make a sound, so... 

This type of beast must be able to move at super speed. Or it has an effect to put people to sleep. Either way, it'd make it a maniacal. Shit, this is bad. I wanna retreat, but these guys seem somewhat eager. I already embarrassed myself by being too short to reach the fucking handle.

"I think I have bad news," Kris said.

"What is it?" They wondered.

"Would you like to know or not?"

"We would."

"Stand right at the kick-off line, would you, Jay?" Kris asked.

Jay was confused by her request but does it anyway. "What is it?"

"Do you feel pain when you're absorbing kinetic energy?"

"Kinetic... About fifty percent less."

"Good," Kris smiled as she crushes her lollipop in one bite, pulling out the stick and freezing it. She creates a long staff with a hammer at the end of it. "Brace yourself," she said.

"Wai-"

Kris without warning swung at Jay. His eyes widened as he covers his stomach with his bare hands, the impact would've destroyed a normal person's bones. While Jay didn't feel much pain from the impact, he was actually not feeling much damage, regardless. Hiro just stood there in awe.

My kinetic absorption property is a rare condition according to Kai, I can tell why. No damage until I'm maxed out with energy, then I can just quickly empty it by releasing it in one go or small bursts. He describes it as Overpowered. I'm not sure exactly why Kris is hitting me so much and so hard.

After about a dozen hits of full force slamming, backed with Amplification, Kris was a little drenched in sweat. "Hiro back away," Kris said as she backed away. 

"What? What is it?" Hiro asked as he followed her. 

"Jay, release right at the center," Kris said.

"Hiro, I need you to turn to light and get Jay out of the center the moment the explosion subsides."

"Okay, but why?"

"The worm's gonna come rushing out after the explosion."

Jay lifted his his fists high up in the air and hammered down with both his fists, slamming right to the ground. Sending an explosion that caved in the center of the soccer field. The explosion was loud and bright. After two seconds passed, Hiro turned into a ball of light and travelled to Jay's side. Returning back to his human form then tapped Jay on his shoulder, turning both of them to balls of light. They returned normal at Kris' side. 

"Okay, what did that do?" Jay asked.

"Why so secretive?" Hiro complained a little.

"I don't want to share mere speculations."

"Well, you made me blow up the dirt."

"This place is insured."

"Well, are you gonna answer?"

"Here it comes," Kris felt the ground shake.

Rushing out of the ground was giant worm beast. Around the beast's body was several tendrils that wriggled disgustingly. Hiro gaped his mouth, "that's a big worm!"

"What do we do?" Hiro asked aloud, a little panicked.

"Kill it!" Jay yelled.

Holy fuck! I didn't think it'd be that big! Kris starts sweating.

The diameter of the worm was roughly six meters with its seen length be more than ninety meters. Only partial of its body was above ground. It flopped downwards, slamming into the seats of the stadium. There's lingering ember on the outer layer of its skin. 

That big of an explosion and it seems not hurt as much, Kris noticed. Either it healed or it didn't reach that far down.

"Hiro, job for you."

"A job?" Hiro retorted.

"Cut that worm up."

Hiro moved in front of Kris and glares at her fearful eyes, "I can't!" He yelled. "I don't have a big enough blade."

"I'm not asking you to cut in half, just cut it."

"At least tell him why he's gotta do it, Kris," Jay said.

"I wanna know if this thing can heal naturally."

"I thought beasts can't heal?"

"Just do it would you."

"Fine!"

Hiro turns into light and travels to the big worm which was wriggling around, moving to face him. Fucking hell.

Hiro cut the distance pretty quick, standing on top of the worm. The body of it was squishy and slimy, some weird substance was stuck to his soles. "Kimoi..."

Kimoi = Gross

Hiro conjures Divine Saber, a double bladed staff that cuts like a heated blade. Hiro lifts up the staff and stabs downward to the worm, making it squirm all over the place, Hiro was holding onto his staff as he tried to stab deeper for a better grip. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! This thing's going wild. Hiro struggled to stay still on both his feet, the texture of the worm's body didn't help him have better equilibrium.

Kris and Jay watched from afar, the worm starting to erect its body and fold on itself, ready to roll around in response to the heat coming off the blade. "Hiro! Come back here now!" Kris yelled out.

Hiro pulls his blade out of the worm, leaving a giant hole that oozed purple-colored blood. Hiro then turns into a ball of light and traveled back to the two. "So, what is it?" Hiro asked as after he returned to normal, his staff still in his hand.

"We'll see for now."

After a few seconds of watching the worm wriggle in agony, it stopped and the bleeding stopped. "It healed," Kris mentioned.

"Okay, so how do we stop something like that?"

"Worms naturally heal, so I don't know."

"Does this look like a worm to you?"

"Yes?" Jay replied. "I mean, like it's not natural, sure but..."

"This beast has evolved, healing wasn't ever supposed to be an option for these creatures... So I'm not sure."

"Evolved...?" Kris starts to think.

If it heals, we need more than a fatal blow, we need an instant kill. Light, Cold, Heat... Burning it is a no go, might set the entire stadium on fire. Cutting it in half would be possible, but what if the worm grows from both ends, like a flatworm? Then...

"You two!" She called."

"What?"

"Which of you can punch through something like a house on a building?"

"I can generate enough power for that."

"Can you do it, Hiro?"

"I need to charge up first."

"How long?"

"Fifteen seconds."

"Can you charge up multiple spells at once?"

"Yes, I can."

"Good," She nods. "Okay here's the plan..."

It was a very risky plan, but it was for sure going to work. According to Kris, at least. She was fairly confident in it.

Hiro turned himself and Jay back to light and went to the front of the worm's head. "Okay, let's hope this works," Jay said as he bursts flames from his body. His high temperature body attracted the worm. The worm flipped to their direction and they started running away.

Hiro held Jay's hand, tightly, as they ran together. Hiro channeled Light Amplification through himself and Jay, Synergizing. They ran, sixty kilometers an hour, the worm, chasing them at fifty kilometers an hour. The worm's mouth gaped open, revealing hair-like teeth. As the two ran, the worm slithered out of the hole, meter by meter until every single bit of it was out of the ground.

Jay and Hiro notices that the worm was completely emerged, "Kris!! It's out!!" The two yelled aloud.

Kris was hiding the stands and dropped down to the field, running over to the worm and placing her hand gently on the worm's skin. "Killing Frost!" She uttered loudly, freezing the worm from that point, spreading around its body thoroughly and to the grass floor. In a few seconds, the worm was completely frozen stuck.

Hiro stopped running and turned around at the worm, already fully charged he threw a straight punch to its frozen mouth, shattering the worm to icicles. Afterwards, the three regrouped.

"Otsukare anta-tachi," Kris winked at the two.

"Ne, otsukare," Hiro gave a thumbs-up. 

"Where are the missing people though?"

"Eaten, probably," a foreign voice spoke near them.

Otsukare anta tachi = good work, you guys

The three were immediately alerted and looked at the source of the voice. A man with a dark grey hair, a white shirt, with a purple hoodie tied around his waist. Long baggy pants.

"Uhh... Who are you?" Kris asked.

"Shino Hinora."

"Hinora... Lik-"

"Yes," Shino cuts her off. "Like Hinora Kai," he rolled his eyes, fairly annoyed.

"Shino...?" Jay leans to the two, "I've never heard of him."

"Neither," the two shook their heads.

"Ugh..." He groaned, "being young is annoying."

"Dude, you look twenty-eight," Jay retorted.

"WHAT!?" He screamed. "I'm twenty-one!!" He claims angrily.

"Okay, but besides that... Why are you here?" Hiro asked.

"This was my mission," he clarifies.

"Killing the worm?"

"Yes," he nodded.

"Well, you're late," Kris replied, annoyed.

"No, I let you kill it."

"You're telling me, you could've killed this thing the whole time!?" Her voice raised.

"I wanted to see how you three would react."

"And!?"

"The girl is mostly the thinker, you two are good executioners."

"Thanks?" She replied sarcastically.

"I'm actually impressed you could kill it, this thing would be equal to something like a level 30 or something. Catching it by surprise was definitely a good idea."

"What the hell was that thing? Just a regular beast? It had no mana."

"Yes, it didn't," Shino nods. "Regular beasts are children of Hyurin, Goddess of Calamity. This one was just an independent space worm."

"Sorry, a what now?"

"Space Worms are multiversal creatures that travel between universes via underground tunnel system. I've been tracking it down for a week now. I had just finished closing all of its systems down."

"Sure, whatever that means," none of them understood what Shino had said.