Chapter 2: Ambition
As they gathered their meager possessions, Haruto turned to Phinks, his curiosity piqued. "You said you have a place to stay, is it safe?"
Phinks smirked. "Yeah, it's safe. It's a bit of a hidden spot, but it'll be perfect for laying low for a while."
Feitan scowled, still suspicious of Phinks's intentions. "How do we know we can trust you? This could all be a trap."
Phinks scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Look, I wouldn't have jumped in to help you two if I wanted you dead. Besides, you need me. You can't stay here, and you're too injured to fight off anyone else who comes after you."
Haruto, sensing the tension between Feitan and Phinks, stepped in. "Enough," he commanded, his voice carrying the authority of a king. "We will follow you, Phinks. But if you betray us, know that the consequences will be severe."
Phinks raised his hands in mock surrender, a playful grin on his face. "Understood, Your Majesty."
The three boys left the makeshift shelter behind, weaving through the dark and twisting alleyways of Meteor City. As they moved, Haruto couldn't help but feel a growing curiosity towards their new companion. He turned to Phinks, his purple eyes demanding answers.
"Tell me, Phinks, what horrid destiny picked you to be born in Meteor City? How did you end up in a life among the filth and misery of this place?"
Phinks's expression turned somber, the weight of his past evident in his eyes. "I was born here, just like you and Feitan. My family was killed when I was young, and I've been surviving on my own ever since. I've had to learn to fight, to protect myself and take what I need."
Haruto nodded, his expression solemn. "We understand that all too well. We, too, have had to fight to survive in this hellish place."
Feitan's scowl deepened, but he remained silent. He knew that they needed allies to succeed in their ambitious goals, but trusting others didn't come easily to him. As they continued through the dark alleyways, he kept a wary eye on Phinks, ready for any sign of betrayal.
Eventually, they arrived at Phinks's hidden hideout, a small and well-concealed shelter tucked away in a forgotten corner of Meteor City. Inside, it was surprisingly clean and organized, a stark contrast to the chaos and squalor of the city around them.
As they settled in, Haruto continued to question Phinks, seeking to understand the true nature of his new ally. "You said you wish to become the strongest fighter in the world. What drives this ambition?"
Phinks hesitated for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he considered his answer. "Power," he finally replied, his voice firm. "In this world, those with power can control their own destinies. They can take what they want, protect those they care about, and change the world around them. I've seen what happens to those without power, and I refuse to be one of them."
After a bit more talk, Haruto, Feitan, and Phinks began to fall into a routine. Phinks, knowing more about Meteor City than either of the brothers, showed them hidden spots and resources they never knew existed. With his guidance, they found places to steal and scavenge from more easily. They also began learning how to fight more effectively and developed new techniques.
Over the course of two years, the three boys honed their skills and abilities, growing stronger and more formidable each day. Their preternatural perception allowed them to sense danger before it arrived, and their enhanced strength and agility enabled them to overcome obstacles and opponents with ease. They developed immense speed and reflexes, making them nearly impossible to track, while their enhanced stamina, advanced durability, and enhanced endurance allowed them to withstand physical punishment that would break others.
Their time in Meteor City exposed them to a variety of toxins, and they built up an immense poison resistance as a result. They learned to control their muscles and joints, allowing them to move in ways others couldn't, and even developed the ability to extend their nails into claws for close-quarters combat.
Haruto, Feitan, and Phinks became masters of hand-to-hand combat, with each boy developing his own unique fighting style. They learned to enter an "assassin mode," where they could strike with lethal force and precision while remaining virtually undetectable. Their stealth abilities were further refined through the use of techniques like the Rhythm Echo, which allowed them to move in complete silence and create afterimages to confuse their enemies. They became experts at tailing targets, able to follow their quarry without being detected, and mastered the Shadow Step technique, which allowed them to move from one hiding spot to another without being seen.
Over the course of those two years, the bond between Haruto, Feitan, and Phinks grew stronger. Haruto, despite being the youngest, showed an uncanny ability to lead and make decisions, drawing on the innate majesty and ambition that he inherited from Meruem. His natural leadership shone through in a number of critical situations, forcing both Feitan and Phinks to follow his words without question.
One day, the boys were attempting to steal some valuable medical supplies from a corrupt doctor's clinic. They had been planning the heist for days, studying the clinic's security and devising the perfect strategy. Haruto had taken charge of the operation, assigning each of them specific roles and outlining their escape plan.
As they crouched in the shadows, Haruto spoke softly, his voice filled with confidence. "Feitan, you'll sneak in through the back and disable the security system. Phinks, you'll create a distraction out front to draw the guards away. I'll slip inside and grab the supplies."
Feitan nodded, a determined gleam in his grey eyes. "Understood."
Phinks smirked, seemingly unfazed by the danger they were about to face. "Sounds like a plan, boss."
The operation went smoothly at first. Feitan managed to disable the security system without raising an alarm, and Phinks successfully lured the guards away from the clinic. Haruto slipped inside, his movements swift and silent.
As he rummaged through the clinic's stockpile, Haruto found the medical supplies they were after. But he also discovered a small room filled with captives – Meteor City residents who had been taken by the corrupt doctor and used for illegal experiments. Haruto's eyes flashed with anger, and his decision was immediate.
He returned to the boys, his voice filled with determination. "Change of plans. We're going to free those people."
Feitan frowned, irritation flickering across his face. "That wasn't part of the plan, Haruto. We don't have time for this."
Phinks, however, seemed intrigued. "What's the story?"
Haruto explained the situation, his voice tinged with disgust. "The doctor has been kidnapping people from Meteor City and experimenting on them. We can't just leave them to suffer."
Feitan hesitated, his loyalty to Haruto warring with his practical nature. "Fine," he growled, his eyes narrowing. "But we need to be quick."
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone