Chapter 04 –Spirit Punch+Massive Power Unleashed

  No one spoke as they left the alley.

  Ruro stayed pressed against Omitaru’s chest, unusually quiet. Melony kept her head down, her hands clenched tight around her staff. Omitaru’s legs still felt weak, though he forced them to keep moving.

  Maverick led the way without hesitation to an abandoned mini hotel. It had four floors and was still nicely decorated. It was in a different part of the city than even Melony was used to. He called this area the hub, and it was in the northwest corner of town. Here it still looked like a metropolitan area, yet less cared for. It was getting dark outside now, as it was six in the evening. Along the way there, Maverick had discussed with them more about the ways Yucca recruited, yet it seemed to be a partial repeat of what Melony had said.

  The hotel had a blue roof with white walls. The door was made of a metal frame with glass doors. At the back of the hotel was a huge square empty field filled with sand that Maverick said would be their training ground.

  Upon them entering, Maverick began to speak.

  “Untidy yet intact. This area has less clean air, so maybe that’s the reason why it went out of business. The floors here are made out of blue marble and the walls are white.”

  Maverick stopped talking while they looked around.

  “Not normal for a dragon to live inside. Let’s hope he can’t breathe fire. We train here out back for now and sleep on the bottom floor only. Quick exits. If we’re spotted, we move.”

  He finished up.

  He then walked into the right upper-hand corner of the hotel on the side of the wooden stairs that led to the next floor and touched a dusty red wooden piano that was there. The sound of the key resonated grittily yet elegantly.

  Unsure what to do, Omitaru and Melony found a room to store their belongings. After he placed his belongings on his bed, many thoughts occurred to Omitaru. Was Maverick really as smart as he seemed? Omitaru understood they couldn’t leave the city in danger, yet he felt outsmarted by reality in a way. In fact, this was just one city. If Yucca truly had forces spread across the continent or the world, then what good was anything?

  Ruro, who was freely roaming the room now, brushed against Omitaru’s left shoulder. As he did, a thought occurred to Omitaru. He then went and took out his map from his bag.

  There were seven continents in the world. Each had about five major cities, ten secondary cities, and about a hundred towns and villages total, with five to ten major outposts. This continent was in the far northwest and was called Talbeun.

  “If Yucca started on this continent, how long would it take him to gather followers, and how long before he conquered other continents?” Omitaru questioned out loud.

  Ruro suddenly turned toward the doorway.

  “To answer your question, he can conquer the world with just his power alone. His followers are merely powerful distractions,” spoke Maverick.

  Omitaru turned to see Maverick standing at his doorway.

  “What is it you mean?” he asked.

  “Well, rumor is his pneuma, or spirit level as you like to say, is sitting at one hundred thousand and growing every day.”

  Maverick was interrupted by a strong gasp as Omitaru looked distraught. He waited until Omitaru calmed down before continuing.

  “The two we witnessed couldn’t have levels above one thousand. It’s just unlikely.”

  Maverick turned around.

  “I’ve prepped the generator. You should bring your stock of meat to the kitchen area. It’s the first door on the left behind the counter, and obviously not Melony’s room next door,” he said.

  He then walked off.

  Omitaru lowered his head while slightly compressing the map in his hands. He then returned it to his pocket. After doing so, he went over to his bed, where he put his bag and removed the pork and jerky. A thought occurred to him to save it for the road, yet he had spent every bit of his money already.

  Sighing, Omitaru headed toward the door with the food in hand, Ruro following him.

  Upon exiting his room, an open door could be seen to the left, where metal pots and pans could be heard banging. He nimbly moved past Melony’s room without looking through the open doorway and then headed into the kitchen area.

  Melony was there already.

  Before he spoke, the sound of the generator starting kicked in, and the lights came on.

  Omitaru smiled.

  “Looks like I have dinner in hand,” he said.

  Melony giggled. She then turned to face him.

  “You’re terrible at jokes,” she said, smiling. “No punchline. But you make up for it with that beaming personality.”

  She said as she looked into his eyes.

  “Ha ha,” he laughed out loud nervously.

  Ruro imitated it with a soft cackle.

  The kitchen had a sixty-inch gas stove that had six caps that was about ten feet away from the door. There was a long white countertop and serving racks for the food to be placed in when people dined in. It was a bit dirty from lack of use, and prior to Omitaru showing up, Melony had been using a white kitchen rag to swipe dust off.

  At this moment, Ruro started blowing wind to help with the dust removal.

  Down in the basement, having gotten the backup generator to start, Maverick was now fidgeting with a water pump. This hotel had its own water tank, and it would fill up with filtered rainwater that could be used in emergencies.

  “This dang on switch is rusted!” he said aloud as he tugged and pulled downward to try to get it on.

  In this moment, a bright gray light surrounded his body as he began to focus. The light flickered and danced around him as he activated his power carefully to turn on the pump.

  “Muscles… up!” he said.

  Creak!

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  As he slowly and gently pulled, the switch began to move.

  Click!!

  Finally, after a short exhausting moment, the switch turned on. The light then faded quickly. Maverick steadied himself with one hand on the switch, exhaling through his teeth.

  “That’s enough,” he muttered. “I won’t waste my time and energy on pride.”

  Back upstairs, Omitaru was unwrapping the meat on the countertop as Melony and Ruro watched. A sudden rush of water from the sink startled them, and they turned around in fear, thinking they’d been found. Upon seeing the sink, they relaxed. They even looked at each other and exchanged a giggle.

  Omitaru then took the rag to the sink to run water on it.

  Melony had brought her bag into the kitchen and had noticed that Omitaru was struggling to prepare the meat, so she decided to take over.

  “Let me prepare the meat,” she said.

  Omitaru nodded.

  “Ok then,” he said.

  Melony then reached into her bag that was on the countertop and took out the scissors and cut the vacuum-sealed wrapping on the meat. She then stopped and looked at Omitaru.

  “I’ll prepare the pork to cook, ration, and season it properly and save the rest along with the jerky for later. You and Ruro can maybe clean off a table for us to dine at.”

  Omitaru nodded at this.

  “Thanks, I was struggling with that,” he said.

  He then turned off the sink, grabbed the rag, and walked past the countertop.

  “Omitaru…”

  Omitaru stopped at his name being called.

  “Yes, what is it?”

  Melony smiled lightly.

  “Don’t you feel it? There seems to be something strange yet familiar about Maverick. It’s like he knows something yet isn’t quite sure,” she said.

  Omitaru rubbed the back of his head.

  “He is kind of strange, yet I don’t get what you mean. Maverick is Maverick to me,” he said.

  Melony blushed softly.

  “It’s nothing. Carry on. I’m sorry!”

  Omitaru smiled.

  “Don’t worry, he’s trustworthy.”

  After he finished speaking, he went over to the first table. It had five black chairs around it.

  This is perfect, he thought to himself.

  He then began cleaning the cherrywood table.

  A sound at the door came, and Maverick walked in.

  “You two have already started. Great. I can kick back and relax now,” he said as he moved toward the table Omitaru was cleaning.

  Ruro had gotten into Melony’s bag and was munching away at the reserve flowers.

  A sweet, savory smell filled the air of the meat being softly heated, causing Omitaru’s and Maverick’s stomachs to grumble.

  “Where’d you learn to cook like that?” Maverick asked Melony.

  Melony giggled.

  “My mom taught me, since my father disappeared before I was even born,” she said.

  “What kind of man is that? To run away from responsibilities? What of your parents, Omitaru?”

  Omitaru looked up from the table at Maverick.

  “My parents are well and back in my hometown, Celera,” he said.

  Maverick nodded.

  He then reached into his pocket and took out a flask. Omitaru watched him gulp it down quickly and then exhale out in relief.

  Melony gasped yet remained silent, causing Omitaru, Maverick, and Ruro to focus on her. It appeared that she had noticed the initials C.F. and M.F. carved into the side of the flask.

  “It’s just water!” Maverick said.

  “No, it’s nothing!” responded Melony.

  “Mhhmmm,” said Omitaru and Maverick together.

  Omitaru had finished cleaning the table now. He placed the rag on the back of one of the empty chairs and then sat down.

  “Food will be ready in about another three minutes,” she said.

  “Great, I’m starving!” said Omitaru and Maverick together.

  They then looked at each other and laughed.

  Ruro was sitting on the countertop with his belly poking out. A whisk of cool wind came out of his breath as he belched. It appeared he was full and ready to sleep now.

  Omitaru had not forgotten her reaction to the initials, as he had noticed it too. He couldn’t help but think that these two were connected in some type of way, yet he chose not to pry.

  A moment later, Melony came to the table with three bowls that she had found and cleaned in the kitchen. Omitaru’s and Maverick’s bowls contained twelve ounces, while Melony’s contained eight.

  They ate in silence, yet they were satisfied with what they had.

  After the meal, they drank as much water as they could and went straight to bed. Sleep did not come easily for Omitaru.

  He had miscalculated. The food supply wasn’t enough.

  Maverick had offered his portion, but they refused. Pride won where hunger should have. Melony and Omitaru left the kitchen in silence, heads down, words few. Maverick stayed behind long after they were gone, seated at the table as if waiting for something to change.

  Something had to be done. They had no food and no funds.

  Maverick had even admitted, too casually, that he had spent his money at the bar. Omitaru rolled his eyes and looked away. He considered suggesting that Maverick find work, but he didn’t know his past and felt ashamed for even thinking it. Besides, if Maverick worked, who would train them?

  That left him. And Melony.

  He could hunt, but with Yucca’s men active, it would be dangerous. Melony suggested picking berries in the morning while training continued. She said it quietly, knowing she lacked the power the others had. Maverick rejected the idea immediately and insisted she train as well.

  That stayed with Omitaru.

  So did Melony’s silence. She had been deeply upset, not just by the hunger, but by the false hope the meal had promised.

  Morning would be here soon.

  Omitaru looked at his hand and activated his power, a tiny ball of white light forming around his fist. His stomach groaned in protest. He knew his abilities consumed a great deal of energy, and he had little mastery over them. Still, his Spirit Punch, as he had begun to call it, would become the foundation of his strength.

  He smiled, knowing Maverick and Melony were in for something special tomorrow. More than that, so was he.

  Yawning, Omitaru stretched. Ruro was curled up beside him as he lay on his right side. Breathing in deeply, he finally relaxed and closed his eyes.

  Ring! Ring! The next morning, the sound of the clock tower ringing loudly sent surges through Omitaru’s body. Ruro reacted in shock as well, jumping into the air like a scared cat.

  “Calm down, Ruro. It’s just the city’s clock tower!” Omitaru sleepily said.

  He then sat up and yawned as he stretched his arms upward.

  Bang! Bang!

  A knock at the door caused the rear-facing Omitaru to turn his body around quickly.

  “Oh, hi Melony! You’re up early,” he said.

  Within moments of him speaking, Maverick showed up with many bags under his eyes.

  Guess I’m not the only one who had a hard time sleeping, Omitaru thought to himself.

  “Up and at ’em, Omitaru. We start training now. Melony, can you prepare whatever we have left to eat for breakfast?” Maverick said.

  Melony nodded and then strolled off.

  Ruro perched on Omitaru’s right shoulder as he stood up. Grabbing his bag, he removed his white-sheathed white sword.

  “Are you ready?”

  Omitaru nodded seriously.

  “Great! It’s warm, so let’s head out before the heat gets here.”

  Omitaru followed Maverick to a door behind the stairway that led outside.

  “I have been up all night setting up targets to test your abilities. Melony will train with us as well; however, it’s our duty to protect her also, as she’s our best cook and doctor right now.”

  Omitaru nodded in agreement at Maverick.

  Outside, there were about two hundred wooden statues lined up across the field. They were arranged in rows of ten. Each statue was carved in the rough shape of a humanoid figure, stiff and featureless, like mannequins frozen in place. Plain white cloaks draped over their bodies, hanging straight down without a ripple.

  Omitaru looked at them, unease creeping into his chest.

  “Are you wanting me to fight those?” Omitaru asked.

  “That is correct,” Maverick said.“They may look simple, but don’t underestimate them.”.

  Omitaru looked to the right at Maverick, past Ruro, who then leaped off his shoulder.

  “Pek,” said Ruro.

  “What do you mean?” Omitaru asked.

  “Just take a shot at one,” Maverick said.

  Omitaru nodded and then walked up to the first statue closest to the last. Putting his sword on his back, he lifted his fist and took a deep breath as silence set in.

  “Spirit Punch,” he said quickly.

  A white ball of light surrounded his fist and then turned into a comet-like shape as his fist went forward, releasing his muscle strength without much effort.

  Boom!

  Upon contact, a huge explosion occurred, sending the statue and all others in that row into the air at supersonic speed with a display of fireworks going off.

  Maverick’s eyes widened, and the air went silent.

  What… was… that? he thought to himself, his jaw dropped.