Chapter 3 - Revenge

Jason stood on the balcony, cloaked in the obscurity of darkness, perched upon the second level of the school library. From this vantage point, he silently observed his classmates returning from the Gap, their figures passing beneath him. The library, conveniently situated on their route from the spaceport to the dormitories, had become the most efficient path for their return. Remaining concealed in the shadows, Jason kept his distance from the balcony's edge, he would only emerge into the light when his killer showed themselves.

Talon, positioned at the balcony's edge as the lookout, stood vigilant, his watchful gaze a silent sentinel. For now, he remained invisible to all but Jason, presenting no imminent threat that might raise the alarm. As moments stretched into minutes, the majority of Jason's classmates traversed the space below, leaving only a solitary figure to approach. Just as Jason began to doubt his adversary's chosen path, they emerged.

"Now!" bellowed Malcolm.

In response, Jason emerged from the darkness, revealing his face to his killer. His killer, who stood below him stopped in their tracks and looked upwards. Their face lit up with a smirk, consequently changing their route and began to climb the stairs to the second story of the library.

"Alright! They took the bait. Let's go!" Urged Malcolm.

Jason began to move as planned and left the library through the upstairs door, travelling down an adjacent hall. In the dimly lit hallway, he stood outside one of the classrooms, anticipation coursing through his veins as he awaited the arrival of his killer.

"Jason. Stop running, we need to talk," called the killer.

With measured composure, Jason entered the dimly lit classroom, positioning himself on the far side and assuming an air of casual indifference. His heart raced, but he concealed his anxiety, drawing strength from the seven gods that surrounded him, ready to intervene should the need arise. A moment later his killer entered the room. Malcolm had chosen this classroom because of its secluded location and dull lights. Any advantage that Jason now had, Malcolm wanted to make sure his enemy didn't realise until it was too late.

"So, how did you survive your trip?" Asked the killer, standing on the opposite side of the room to Jason.

"With some luck," replied Jason nonchalantly, not wanting to give too much away.

"You have left me with a conundrum; now that you know my secret, I can't let you live. I assume you won't travel with me at hyperspeed again, so we will have to do this the old-fashioned way," taunted the killer.

"I don't know your secret, and even if I did, I thought we were friends. I wouldn't betray you," Jason replied, his words sincere, not having the slightest idea what they were talking about.

"You're a liar, Jason! I know you're a liar, and you are going to tell everybody," the killer exclaimed, growing visibly agitated as they advanced toward Jason, who had intentionally backed himself into a corner.

"Something is off," warned Malcolm. "They feel more powerful than a regular person."

"You can't stop me with your meagre F-class power. Prepare to die," declared the killer, slowly closing the gap.

"Bring it on," Jason replied.

For the first time, Jason found confidence in himself, disregarding Malcolm's caution and goading the killer to approach. As the killer drew nearer, Jason poised himself to defend. The F class power he had obtained earlier today at the Gap was called pinky strength. His smallest fingers were double their normal strength, quite useless in most situations. Jason remained silent, calm, and self-assured, awaiting Malcolm's signal, determined to act at the precise moment. The killer reached for Jason and grabbed his shirt and pulled him close. There they stood face to face. Jason pleaded internally for Malcolm to give him the signal, if it wasn't soon he would surely jump the gun.

"What are your final words?" the killer demanded, their face contorted with rage.

As the killer reached for their waist, a subtle green glow emanated from it.

"Now!" Malcolm shouted.

"Revenge is sweet!" Jason yelled.

With both fists clenched, Jason struck the killer in the abdomen. The killer released Jason's shirt, flew backwards a few metres, landing heavily on the hardwood floor, instantly curling over in pain. Jason rushed at the killer, striking them square in the back with a kick.

"That is leaving me for dead," seethed Jason.

He continued his assault, kicking the killer once more, each blow a testament to his anger and betrayal.

"That was for making me say goodbye to my other friends," Jason spat, his fury unbridled.

Finally, he prepared for a decisive kick to the killer's face.

"And this! This is for the betrayal you showed me!" Jason screamed, louder than he ever thought he could.

Jason kicked at the killers face with all his might, if he killed them he didn't care, at least he would never have to see them again. As his foot neared its target, it inexplicably stopped short. Jason was stunned, realising that the killer had deployed a barrier. He locked eyes with the killer, who wore a sinister smirk. Suddenly, a shockwave erupted from the barrier, knocking Jason backward and onto his face before he could react. He slammed his head hard against the wood floor, causing blood to stream from his now broken nose. Struggling to regain his composure, Jason found himself vulnerable as the killer, already on their feet, drove their foot into his back, pinning him to the floor.

"That is some impressive and unexpected strength you have there," the killer remarked. "You really caught me off guard. Kudos to you. But did you really think you could beat me?" questioned the killer, picking up their foot and stomping down on Jason's back once more.

"This is bad. Diana intervene, Now!" Malcolm instructed hurriedly.

Diana nodded with acceptance. The Armoured knight rushed at the killer, materialising and running at them, ready to tackle them to the ground. However, a figure clad in samurai armour appeared between them, wielding a katana and shielding the killer from Diana's assault.

"Well, this is most unexpected," the killer remarked, turning Jason onto his stomach with a swift kick.

As Diana staggered from the kick, the samurai attacked her, diverting her attention. Jason's six remaining gods charged but each was engaged with opposing demonic guardians.

Then, Malcolm spoke words that Jason had not anticipated hearing so soon.

"They are the Black Hole Demons, the seven sins of the Ancients, Jason's arch-nemesis."

"Brilliant deduction, short one," the killer sneered, pushing down on Jason's rib-cage, breaking his ribs and sapping all his strength.

"Now die," declared the killer.

Due to Jason's weakened state, each of the gods began to falter. Jason was on his own and in trouble, was he going to be killed for real this time? The killer pulled a blade from their waist, it was clear green and glowing, almost like it was made of a bright uranium glass. They plunged the blade into Jason's chest, piercing his heart, causing blood to gush out like a crimson fountain. Just as the killer prepared to remove the blade and strike again, a door slammed down the hallway.

In his weakened and dying state he could see his gods had disappeared, leaving him with only his killer and their seven demons. A woman dressed in a flowing purple gown stepped forward.

"Master, we must leave; someone is coming," she said.

"Alright, let's go," replied the killer.

Jason's final sight before succumbing to darkness was his killer, departing through the window, their face filled with twisted satisfaction as he lay dying on the classroom floor.