12: It Begins

Dawson saw agents arrive in the garden as he was drinking some drinks Jo made. He was also using his power to help Machi regain the energy he lost fighting Jo. They were like the rest of Academy City, unaware of the dangers about to be faced, leisurely spending their time. Well, Jo and Dawson were. It was a funny sight to see. One of the strongest men in history, had his legs up and drinking an iced drink, while a string of fire ran from his hand to the exhausted child on the floor.

Machi sat up, wondering what he was doing wrong. Sensing ki was a lot harder than he could imagine, but he was taking fewer punches from Jo in the last 3 hours. Taking a break, Jo sensed the arrival of agents as they bypassed the gates and jumped into their backyard.

"Lady Evermore Harkness has requested your presence." The agent was on their knees, not looking to either one. Jo looked at Dawson and he wouldn't move without more information. That's when their phones began vibrating, evacuations to shelters. Panic was ensuing and Dawson and Jo knew it was time they spoke - even if Machi was here or not. Well, right now he was inside, but was able to hear everything.

"What is going on?" Jo asked.

"The Dragur are attacking. Lady Harkness, Lords Hellyer and Hogwood are all heading to the front with Doctor Kalona, Special Agent Nakamura and Anne to target the Black Dragur. I am certain she will need you and you, Josette."

"I can't leave here," Jo said. "Dawson go. Ever is going to need it." Taking the fire user to the meeting spot, Machi arrived back out and looked at Jo for some sort of answer. "Ever is going to be fine. I can't leave because Dawson found-"

Seeing how Machi opened his jacket, Jo was shocked. "What? I'm sorry you are idiots if you're not keeping an eye on this. At all times." Machi scolded. Though not expecting it, Jo seemed like it was OK to be berated by Machi. He had a valid point to which she decided to follow.

"I don't know why they are here. But the lockdown is being initiated. That book can't be sensed by anything or anyone so keep it hidden and get to the shelters." She stressed. Messaging Rocco to arrive at Jo's, since he was at school and Machi was allowed out with the promise he and Kai made, Rocco arrived and noticed the strained look on his best friends face.

His mother, his father figure... he was worried. Giving Rocco the rundown, needless to say, the teleporter was shocked. But trusted him to figure something out.

'You can always read the book.' Carbine said.

'I shouldn't. I can't... it's not mine to read.'

***

Mira watched as her father left her in the hands of basic C-rank agents. She was to look after Ashmire and Seraph Haven citizens. As well as Ban. Her father's guards and Lord Hellyer's guards were protecting the area.

"What about Machi Harkness? Anne has asked what shelter he's in." Someone asked.

"Surely Lady Evermore has her own team around her son." Another suggested. Everyone forewent worrying about the son of the leader and waited for more instructions and news.

That's when an alert went off.

BREAK IN AT NORSE VAULTS

"Now? Of all times?"

***

Evermore saw the notification and hoped it wasn't Freed. "It's not him. Our signals aren't picking up his frequencies." Kai assured. They'd deal with it when this was over. But wondered why, of all times, it was now. Her limiter was placed in that specific vault but other than that, nothing of powerful importance was held there. Dawson arrived at the front then a few minutes later so did Jo. "We can't gage the strength of a Black Dragur. If we are to believe the theory their strength grows exponentially... this battle is going to be tough." Kai announced.

But then he looked at the group.

"Ah, what am I saying?" He mumbled and Anne chuckled.

"So that's the legendary Nakamura." Sunridge's men whispered. "He looks like a kid."

Evermore walked to the one sitting on the rocks and patted his head. "How was Bulara?" Seeing red appear on his cheeks, Zac chuckled at the reaction.

"Fine. Annoying beasts but you know... they are what they are. Sorry I missed your wedding I was having too much fun."

Zac didn't even know how that beast of a kid could be so weak against Evermore. Sometimes the charm of a leader is all it takes.

"They're here," Hogwood announced.

And they didn't know what was going on anymore.

****

Machi was leaving the vault with the limiter in his hand when he used ki and sensed a dark and dangerous enemy. 'The Black Dragur. Why is he here? Machi run!' Carbine yelled in his mind and Rocco quickly grabbed his hand and teleported him out.

Not without Machi marking the spot with a camera and watching his movements. "It's gone. The signal is gone from here." Hearing what that thing said, Rocco wondered what on earth was going on. "Machi... we have to find a shelter," Rocco suggested but realised it was futile.

'He's attracted to the book. Carbine, is it possible to get him into that dimensional space you took me to?' Machi asked.

'Yes. What will you do then?'

"Rocco, get to my mother and tell her 'I'll be bringing her two gifts'."

Seeing what he needed to do, Rocco teleported out of there with everything, leaving Machi to sense the Black Dragur. 'This plan seems so risky.' Carbine decided to now say. 'It's something your father would have done.' Carbine stated, and Machi wondered if there was enough energy within himself with the addition of Carbine's residual energy to execute the plan.

***

Rocco appeared after his max jumps at the battlefield and everyone just stared. "Rocco?! What are you doing here?" Ever asked. "Where's Machi?"

"I have no clue." He handed her the limiter and she was shocked. "He said that this was the only way to survive. Break the limiter." She looked to him in shock, wondering why Machi broke into the vault and more so why he thought she had to break her limiter.

"Evermore, focus." Klaus Sunridge yelled. "We don't know where the Black Dragur is. You can't focus on what your son is doing!"

"Where the hell is it?" Kai asked. In anger, the ruler of Academy City broke her limiter and watched as her watch level increased to match that of her prime power.

"There's a large power source appearing." Kai then revealed. Everyone was on guard and didn't know what the battle before them was going to bring about. The level of destruction, and power, they didn't know if this was going to shape the way they thought about everything.