Chapter 5: Unlocking Abilities

As the final bell rang, Oscar and Kaito walked out of school, enjoying the warm sun on their faces. Kaito, with a mischievous glint in his eye, turned to Oscar and asked, "Want to see more of my ability?"

Oscar's curiosity was piqued. "Show me."

They made their way to an empty park, where Kaito dropped his bag and focused his energy. His blue eyes glowed with an ethereal light as he raised his hand. The air around him rippled, and a flamboyant chain appeared, followed by a fiery board materializing beneath his feet.

With a grin, Kaito stepped onto the fiery board and soared into the air, performing intricate tricks and stunts with ease. Oscar watched in awe, his eyes wide. "That's cool!" he exclaimed.

As Kaito landed back on the ground, he turned to Oscar with a question. "You're from the Hollow Race, right?"

Oscar's expression turned humorous. "How did you know?"

Kaito smiled. "I'm from the Nile. Your ability is intriguing. What's it called?"

Oscar's eyes sparkled with pride. "I call it Retract. It lets me switch places with someone and take their abilities or techniques."

Kaito's eyes widened. "Terrifying but cool!"

As the sun began to set, Oscar and Kaito parted ways, promising to meet up again soon.

Oscar returned home, where his mom was waiting with a warm smile. "You took your time getting back."

Oscar grinned. "A lot happened."

He headed to his room, put on his headphones, and got lost in thought. Before he knew it, the stars were shining bright outside. He decided to take a walk, enjoying the peaceful night air.

As he strolled, Oscar picked up a rock and tested his Retract ability, switching places with the rock in mid-air. He landed with a soft thud. "Whoa, I can use Retract to relocate with objects too!"

Excited, Oscar focused his energy and thought of the table at school. In an instant, he switched places with the table, finding himself back in the classroom.

Oscar's mind was racing with possibilities. He realized his ability was far more versatile than he thought.

Meanwhile, in a distant part of the city, a mysterious girl with a crimson mask and scarlet hair emerged from the shadows. Clad in a sleek black kimono-like robe, she chased down a group of Rafiens.

With swift precision, she took down the Rafiens, her movements a blur. Her sword flashed in the moonlight, striking true.

As the last Rafien fell, a group of thugs emerged, seeking to take advantage. But the girl was ready. With a fierce cry, she charged forward, her sword slicing through the air.

In seconds, the thugs were defeated, their leader stumbling backward. "I knew it... the Queen of Valhalla..." he whispered, before falling unconscious.

The police arrived, surrounding the area and arresting the thugs. The girl vanished into the shadows.

Far away, Sam sat at home with his niece and nephew, enjoying supper. As they ate, a small, star-shaped object fell from Sam's pocket. His niece's eyes widened.

"What's that, Uncle Sam?"

Sam smiled calmly. "Just a little trinket."

But a fleeting glimmer of concern crossed his face, hinting at secrets.

Mitch, meanwhile, was at home with his uncle, gaming. As the night wore on, Mitch grew tired. As he drifted off, he recalled a childhood memory – a man with a time symbol urging Mitch to move forward.

Mitch's eyes snapped open. He sat up, his heart racing. He looked at the clock and noticed time had paused for 5 minutes. A slow smile spread. "I'm getting better."

With a confident glint, Mitch rewound time by 3 seconds, his movements fluid. He was determined to master his ability.

As the night wore on, Mitch's thoughts turned to his friends. What were they up to? And what lay ahead for them?