Chapter 3: Power-less

I adjusted my wrist, Dimpsy had a mean grip for a small matron, I probably embarrassed myself in front of those people and to think I could convince them to get me to go_ dumb.

The students were out now, I trotted to reach my chambers and encountered a package with my code, ripping it, I pulled out a black suit green tracks, and owl badge. I kicked on my boots, the suit was snug.

"I was starting to like the purple one" I grumbled.

"Well accordingly you should go back"

A girl in a white vest and blue boxer shorts spoke up leaning against the wall, she bumped a machine and it popped out a can of soda which she consumed, and threw it haphazardly.

"Who are you supposed to be?"

The room was in a total bunch with her clothes dangling about.

"Blear"

"Blair?"

Her eyes flashed "No, B-L-E-A-R" she groaned, this must be the millionth_if possible_ time she must be saying this.

I nodded with a smirk on my face "I get that a lot"

"I know you, you're Penumbra! The whole school's been buzzing about you since you defeated Stygian"

She bubbled up and shuffled through the pile to get a poster of a girl with brown strands flowing in the wind, in a purple coat and an even darker purple vest and tights with a purple vitality around her.

"Uhh...thanks_"

"Don't mention it, I made it myself."

She passed it on to me, I dropped it on my floor with shaky hands smiling, she had an undercut and small eyes with olive skin.

"I've got to get to class"

She nodded enthusiastically, I looked around at the mess and blew a breath, moving forward.

The watch indicated that I was having VR-CT

"Level 2"

I walked into a white space where the green faction stayed. They chattered and turned to me with nods of approval, it felt very strange and at the same time motivating.

Blear rushed into the field breathing severely, she was perspiring and received grimaces, she threw out her fingers "Hi. Hey there"

She cleared her throat and straightened out her uniform.

The operators behind the control spoke into the microphone.

"Attention green squad, you'll be obtaining 15 points if you can shut down this session and good luck to you"

I snickered and the lights went off, the expanse radiated a soft red underneath us and we looked around.

Gasps erupted as we floated in the room, all of us were out of control while it developed into an ocean, bubbles escaped my mouth as we saw unusual merpeople.

With the head of snappers and bluish-grey human-like bodies with gills on their sides.

Unlike us, they were very much harmonized to the water.

"How are we supposed to fight these things if we can't even throw a punch?"

I grit my teeth when one screeched hitting me just below my gut, the punch was very physical.

I grunted throwing my fist but the water was a drag, it attacked and I was pretty much spiraling and being dragged around like a ragdoll.

I stopped to look at the others, one managed to throw a punch but his hand got caught in the monster's jaws.

I looked down at a greenish hydro luminescent glowing at the bottom of a rock. Closing my eyes, I flowed with the current and struggled when I needed to get to a current that could steer me lower.

Using my legs to propel me downwards, a merman appeared and growled with its webbed talon on my neck. I paddled my feet and kicked the luminescent till it glid up in the water.

It growled pushing me farther away from the pearl, the luminescent could mean something.

Blear was closest to me, my voice gurgled as I screamed, this dream-like simulation was getting more definitive, I waved my hand hysterically.

Blear gave a thumbs up and battled to catch the pearl floating upwards, she held her breath and caught it in between her hands.

The luminescent intensified and flashed, we plopped on the floor like fish. As soon as we recovered, we heard.

"Congratulations Blear, you have earned 15 points."

Her eyes rounded as if she couldn't believe it and smiled looking into her hands at a switch by the end of the expanse.

A few people wearing white clothes were in there and the anti-grav was deactivated.

The others cursed, annoyed that it didn't occur to them.

The operator took off his mask and it appeared to be her. Dimpsy, I should've known.

"The challenge wasn't to get to the switch, it was adapting to whatever environment we throw you in and it seems like someone's been cheating"

Her eyes landed on me, I scoffed.

"The level of current was put to 52 and you managed to get there at an impeccable amount of time."

Immediately, I knew what she was implying.

"How did you do it Penumbra?" Her eyes were reduced to slits.

The others were staring at me as if they didn't believe me. So much for hero worship.

"It's just like flying"

"Of course_"

"It's not what it sounds like..." I babbled on and she snorted holding on to her helmet.

"Strike two, if you use your powers again then Wayne will decide what's in it for you, and knowing you by your records, you don't want to take that risk. Get to your next classes"

She ordered and marched out with the actors.

...

I kicked out my boot and tossed them into a bin that whirled into a corner. Where was Deux ex Machina when you needed it?.

The room was still in topsy-turvy, Blear dumped a pile of clothes in a slot that rolled in and flashed from the steep crack.

I growled, "Hey, get this place cleaned up, you're dumping your stuff everywhere!"

She winced "I'm sorry, I'm usually very hygienic, I promise." She bowed and stood up straight, the luggage behind her fell over and split open...