Strange Talent

"Dude, you're not about to flash me, are you?" Ethan recoiled, half choking on his drink as Ned fidgeted nervously.

Ned gave him a sheepish look. "Look, man, it's not like that! I swear. But... I awakened a weird talent. I didn't want to tell anyone, but since you're my bro..."

Ethan leaned back, crossing his arms. "Go on then. What's the deal?"

Ned scratched the back of his head, avoiding eye contact. "Alright, uh... so, certain parts of my body can, uh... become harder than steel."

"Bro, you mean that part?!" Ethan almost spit out his drink, laughing uncontrollably. "You're telling me your talent is morning wood on steroids? What, are you gonna join a circus?"

"Hey, don't mock me! I'm serious," Ned said, his face turning bright red. "I tested it with a knife, and it didn't even leave a scratch."

"Wait... seriously?" Ethan stopped laughing, eyeing Ned suspiciously.

"Yeah. I mean, I've got indestructible skin, but only in... certain places," Ned admitted, clearly embarrassed. "It's not exactly combat-ready, right?"

Ethan shook his head, still smirking. "Man, you've got a legendary talent in the wrong category. But hey, maybe you can channel that hardness elsewhere."

Ned blinked. "You think I can... transfer it?"

"Worth a shot," Ethan said with a shrug. "Imagine if you could harden your fists or something. That'd turn your useless talent into a real weapon."

Ned's eyes lit up. "You might be onto something!"

He clenched his fists, concentrating. Moments later, his right hand shimmered with a diamond-like sheen. He stared at it in awe. "Holy crap... it worked! Ethan, you're a genius!"

"Let's test it." Ethan raised his fist. "Ready?"

Ned hesitated but nodded. "Go for it."

BAM!

Ethan's punch sent Ned crashing to the floor, creating a crater in the hotel's marble tiles.

"Dude, what the hell was that?!" Ned groaned, holding his throbbing arm. "You're packing way too much power!"

Ethan winced, realizing he had underestimated his own strength. "Uh... sorry about that. You good?"

Ned looked at his fist, flexing his fingers. "Yeah... my hand's fine. The floor, though? Not so much."

The commotion attracted the attention of their classmates.

"Ned, what just happened?!"

"Did you break the floor? Is that... a talent?"

"Wait, you've awakened too? Is it a combat talent?"

Ned straightened up, a proud smirk on his face. "That's right! I've got a combat talent—Iron Fists! Pretty impressive, huh?"

He grabbed a nearby steak knife from a table and dramatically stabbed his hardened fist. The knife bent, leaving his hand unscathed.

The crowd gasped in astonishment. Even Ged, who had been watching from a distance, looked surprised. He hadn't expected Ned to awaken a talent that was actually useful.

"Hmm... that's at least a C-tier talent," Ged muttered to himself. "Maybe even B-tier..."

Ged's calculating gaze lingered on Ned. Despite their rivalry, Ged saw an opportunity. His family's corporation could benefit from someone with Ned's newfound strength. Putting on his best business face, he approached.

"Ned," Ged began smoothly, "I'd like to invite you to join our company. You'll be well compensated, of course. Anything Ethan gets, I'll make sure you get too."

The room went silent. Everyone stared at Ned with envy.

"Whoa... does that mean he'll get a Ferrari like Ethan's?"

"Man, if I had awakened a talent like that, I'd be set for life."

Ned blinked, caught off guard by Ged's offer. He glanced at Ethan, clearly unsure.

Ethan chuckled. "Don't look at me, dude. It's your decision."

Ned thought for a moment, then broke into a grin. "Thanks for the offer, Ged, but I think I'll stick with Ethan. We've got plans to make it big, right?"

Ethan froze. "Wait, what plans? I don't remember agreeing to this."

Ged's expression darkened, his pride wounded. He muttered under his breath before turning on his heel and storming off.

"Great," Ethan sighed. "Now he hates me even more."

Ned threw an arm around Ethan's shoulders. "Relax, man! We're gonna conquer the world together."

"Yeah, sure," Ethan muttered. "Just try not to get us killed."

Before he could say more, a terrified scream echoed through the banquet hall.

"Mutated creature! There's a mutated creature in the building!"

The room fell into chaos. People screamed and scrambled as heavy footsteps echoed from the corridor outside. The ground shook slightly, and a deep growl rumbled through the air.

Ethan's eyes narrowed. "Looks like the night just got a lot more interesting."