Chapter 55

Salem cheered as the others cheered for them, while Isaac looked nervous. But Christine touched his hand to comfort him, while Felicity watched enviously.

"Alright, let us begin! Today's challenge is all about Strength! Two people from each team will be participating. One member, the breaker will be tested on their attack strength. They will have to make their way through walls, each made of different materials. The second member, the carrier, will be test on how much weight they can handle. They'll be carrying body weighs that will weigh them down. But for every wall that is broke, the weights become heavier than before. The carrier must make it to the other side in order to win the match." Said Merlin.

"I guess I'm up." Said Franklin.

"But what will you do?" Violet asked.

"I'll carry the weights." Said Franklin.

"Then who'll be break the walls?" Jasper asked.

"Scar?" Said Marcus.

"It depends. What if they have a wall that has anti magic properties?" Scarlet asked.

"True." Said Marcus.

"And that's why we have you in the team." Said Violet.

"Marcus?" Said Jasper.

"I can probably break them down. But I don't think my fist are durable." Said Marcus.

"Then I'll do it." Said Garry.

"You will?" Marcus asked.

"Yeah. I'm perfect for it! Think about it. I can increase my muscles and my scales can make sure I endure heavy hits. I got this. Well, we got this." Said Garry.

"Hell yeah, man!" Said Franklin.

We see Merlin set up the challenge as he made five long rows of stone walls, that started on one end of the arena grounds to the others side. Merlin then made multiple walls that fit between the rows as they slid in and fill the rows as they all were of different material of wood, rock, metal, stone or other various types of material. Garry and Franklin stepped up for team Salem as Mr. Rosenberg put the body weight on Franklin as it was light for him. For team North Winchester, we see Ms. Del Toro put the body weight on Aiden Kelly as Chase was going to be breaking the walls. Team San Teresa had Mr. Welling put on the body weight on Javier with his magic and Enrique breaking the walls.

"Go Ricky!" Said Alicia.

For Team Thunderbird, we see Ms. Park put on the body weight on Logan Smith and Emma Wong breaking the walls as she used her walking stick to tap the ground. We then see the Headmasters as Merlin was with them as the speaker was a magic clone.

"Do you think your new team will be good enough" Clair asked.

"They're not the best team. But there's something they have that most team lack." Said Merlin.

"And what is that?" Jorge asked.

"I really can't say." Said Merlin.

"Then why did you even bother to say it?" Alastair asked.

"It's something you have to see then tell." Said Merlin.

"Are all students ready!?" Merlin clone asked.

All students stood ready as Merlin swiped his hand downwards as a horn went off.

"GO!" Merlin shouted.

The first wall was a wooden gate door used for medieval times as all teams stood up to first obstacle.

"You got this Garry!" Franklin shouted.

Garry readied his fist as it increased in size, while his knuckles were covered in scales. He swung his fist and broke through the wall like it was nothing.

"One down!" Garry shouted.

We then see Chase of North Winchester summoned a sword and quickly swung in a flash. The wall crumbled into pieces as he scoffed. We see Emma of Team Thunderbird retract her walking stick into a baton and put on the backside of her waist. She then stood in a Kung Fu stance and palm stuck the wall as it broke easily. Enrique of Team San Teresa punched the wall into pieces as well, while the carriers felt the weight get slighter heavier.

"You good Franklin?" Garry asked.

"Yeah, man. Just focus on break walls!" Said Franklin as he gave him the thumbs up.

"You got it!" Said Garry.

The students kept on going as they all kept on breaking walls of stone, metal, wood. The breakers started to feel tired, while carriers were started to move slowly, until all of the students were a quarter ways in the challenge. They soon reached a wall made of about a quarter of a foot of steel as Garry swung his fist and then hurt himself.

"AH! What the hell!? They really hurt!" Garry whimpered.

"You okay?" Franklin asked, chuckled.

"Damn, I guess I'm going to have to step it up." Said Garry.

Garry's arms were covered in scales as his knuckles were covered in thicker scale armor. Garry started punching the wall multiple times as he was leaving multiple dents as it was slowly bending. Chase returned his sword and then summoned a knight sword, channeled magic to his sword and sliced the wall multiple times. It fell into pieces as Chase looked like he wasn't even trying. Emma touched the wall and then tapped it to hear how thick it was. She then started moving her hands around like flowing water as her life force was moving through her body, until she then stopped and struck the wall many times in different spots. She stopped for a second as the wall immediately had multiple dents made onto it as they one by one appeared quickly. And once the last appeared, the wall broke open as Emma kept on moving with Logan. Enrique saw that it was made of metal as he condensed his sun energy into his hand and punched the wall. His fist were melting the wall open as he tore it up into pieces. They kept on going and going as they all were about 75% done as all carriers were walking slowly and feeling the weight on them. But Aidan from team North Winchester was walking normally as the weight wasn't much for him.

"Oi, Chase! It looks like we're in the lead." Said Aiden.

"Good. These walls are nothing. Though my sword's blade are getting dull. But it doesn't matter. I do have my ace just in case." Said Chase.

We see that Team Thunderbird was in second, San Teresa was in third, while Salem was in last as Garry was having trouble breaking a wall made of ancient ironwood. We see that Garry's scales are breaking off, while Franklin was struggling with the body weights as he was on one knee. The gang watched with concern as Scarlet cheered for them.

"Damn it…I can't break through. Franklin, can you move?" Garry asked.

"Don't worry about me. I got this. I'm right behind you. You got this!" Said Franklin.

"But that's the thing. I don't think I can break through." Said Garry in his mind.

Outside of the arena, we see Deacon watching the tournament from his car as a TV screen of was nearby. He was smoking a cigarette and scoffed at Garry as every saw that he was last place.

"I thought he had more determination than that. What happened to that stubbornness I hate so much. Or are you actually giving up, Garfield?" Deacon thought to himself.

Gina and Mable watched concern as the others were getting far ahead.

"Garry…" Said Mable, worried.

"You can do it, Garry! GO!" Gina shouted.

Garry was panting heavily, hands shaking as they were red and throbbing with pain. Franklin saw he was at his limit as he pushed himself to get close to Garry.

"Hey, Gare. What's the hold up?" Franklin asked.

"I can't break through. This stupid wood is too strong. This was a mistake. I can't do this. I'm worthless right now." Said Garry.

"Well, you wanna switch?" Franklin asked.

"Huh? I'll get smash into the ground if I carry that!" Said Garry.

"Yeah, you're right. But It's all in your head. Don't let your doubt cloud your mind, bro. You can do this! Your family is watching. Even Iris is watching. Are you going to look bad in front of them?" Said Franklin.

"No." Said Garry with slight determination.

"You may think you can't do this, Garry. But you can. You are way capable than you think. I can remember the first days we worked together. You had no self-confidence. And that's okay. But this is your time to shine, Gare." Said Franklin.

"Yeah, but…what I can't?" Garry asked.

"Then it's okay. You tried. But are you okay with that? Are you okay with running away from this challenge? I've seen you beat a lot of challenge with your games. Are you going to let this wall get in your way? Plus, Iris is watching. And just like the rest of us. She's cheering for you, bro!" Said Franklin.

"Garry! You can do this! Said Iris.

"Right…I can't stop now." Said Garry.

"That's right! Don't hold anything back! Show these people who Garry Oswald is!" Said Franklin.

He then clenched his hands as his skin healed, his entire arms were covered in scales again. Garry then swung hard at the ironwood and made it crack a bit. Garry then started to punch it repeatedly as it slowly broke open.

"Thanks, Franklin. And he's right. I'm can't give in now! I can't stand by and do nothing like before. I need to stand my ground and push! PUSH!" Garry thought in his mind.

As he thought to himself, Garry would stand in front of Deacon and let him yell at him and smack him across the face. Garry then broke through the wall as we see that he had change into an offensive look of his Chimera form as his knuckles were covered in thick scale armor, while his entire body changed as well.

"Chimera Form: Armor Breaker!" Said Garry.

Garry then kept on moving to the next wall as he kept on punching, while Franklin couldn't move. But he gave it his all as he slowly moved forward as he pushed himself.

"Damn, I can't let this bring me down either." Said Franklin to himself.

Garry slowly was catching up with the other students, until Chase reached the last wall as it was adamantine. Chase swung his sword but ended up breaking that sword.

"Fucking hell! That sword was expensive. Damn black market blacksmith lied to me." Said Chase.

He then noticed that Enrique and Emma arrived at their adamantine walls. Enrique punched it with sun energy as nothing happened. Emma stuck it a couple of times, but nothing as well. Garry was catching up as he kept on breaking through walls. We see the headmasters surprise as they noticed the walls were adamantine.

"Where did you get those?" Alastair asked.

"They're almost the real thing. I made them artificially with my magic. Though, not the real material. It is the closest in how unbreakable it is." Said Merlin.

"But the real questions is if they're able to break through." Said Clair.

"This is going to be a close one." Said Jorge.

Chase scoffed at the wall, but then summoned a knight sword that glowed with light magic. He grabbed it from the handle as he charged up its energy into the blade.

"Wait, that looks like…" Said Yuko.

"It's not Excalibur. He carries the sword that was in the stone that King Arthur drew to be king. It was stolen long again. I guess he somehow found it. Though not as strong, it does has power." Said Isaac.

We then see Emma channeling her life energy throughout her body as it was forming an eastern dragon from her heat energy. Enrique charged up his energy into his fists they heated up with intensity. Garry soon made it to the wall and punched it. But he noticed how hard it was as his punches didn't do anything at all. But he then kept on punching the wall, while his fist were already bleeding. Until Chase swung his sword down, Emma swung her fist as well as Enrique as all of their attacks broke through the walls. We then see the carriers charge forwards as Aidan reached the end first. Then it was Javier of team San Teresa and then Logan of Thunderbird. The horns went off to signal the end of the challenge as Garry stopped he didn't leave a scratch at all. He turn back to normal and then saw Franklin a few of yards behind him as the weigh was too much for him.

"Franklin!" Garry shouted as he ran to him.

The people supporting Salem were silent, while the others schools cheered. Marcus and the others were starting to feel the gap between them and the other students. The points showed on the screen as Salem was in the lead with 11 points, San Teresa and North Winchester were tied with 10 points and Thunderbird was in last with 9 points. Garry and Franklin were disappointed in themselves as Franklin was able to get back up again. Garry helped him up as they both walked back over as Valerie was watching from her lab, worried about Franklin. Even Leilani and Fredrick were watching as well as they were watching from the crowd. Chase walked back with a smirk on his face, chuckled to himself.

"What's so funny?" Aidan asked.

"It looks like things are going to get easier. Our victory is inevitable." Said Chase.

It would be later the gang were in their locker room as Garry and Franklin were sitting and feeling down. Scarlet was comforting Franklin, while Iris was sitting next to Garry as the others were nearby.

"It's okay guys. We still have other three more challenges left." Said Scarlet.

"Yeah, but the other teams have caught up." Said Garry.

"We weren't prepared. Even after all that training we did." Said Franklin.

"Come on, guys. Don't beat yourselves up." Said Jasper.

"He's right, guys. Marcus, say something to them." Said Violet.

"Um…uh…" Said Marcus as he had no words.

"Oh my god, you suck at this." Said Violet.

"Shut up! It's my first day! Look, don't worry about. The fact that you all did you're best is what matters to me. I'm proud of you guys for doing. But This means after this challenge and here on out. We can't offered to let the other teams have the upper hand. Do whatever it takes to win. Am I right, gang!?" Said Marcus.

"Oh, I like this side of you." Said Violet.

"Do you have always have to make this weird?" Said Marcus.

"Yes." Violet replied.

"But you're right. Thanks, Marcus." Said Franklin as they butted fist.

"Garry…" Said Iris.

"I'm fine. Plus, these are elite students from other schools. So not to brag or anything. But we did pretty okay." Said Garry.

"That's my dude!" Said Franklin as he slapped him in the back.

"Ah! C'mon, man. Not too hard." Said Garry.

They all got their spirits lift up again, while we see them leave as they were walking together. Iris was walking casually with the gang. Until she bumped into someone as she quickly turned to apologize.

"I'm sorry." Said Iris.

But she immediately had shocked look on her face as it was Kanika staring at her with evil smirk on her face.

"It's been a while, slave." Said Kanika.

She then walked away from Iris as she tried running after, but quickly lost her to the crowd. We then see Kanika with Adriana, outside of Salem's campus on a tall nearby building. Adriana had made a magic clone of Kanika as Kanika couldn't stop laughing to herself.

"Was it that funny?" Adriana asked.

"No, it's just her face was so priceless! That low class whore has always irritated me. And it's nice to see that she's happy with her friends. But I'll be even better once I take away everything she loves again." Said Kanika.