Zeki was at the top of one of São Paulo's skyscrapers, the cool morning breeze brushing against his face. The city stretched out below him, and his mind was already thinking about starting his training for the Rank D Challenge. He needed to be at his best, and that was the perfect place to grow stronger.
Suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the silence—someone shouting absurdly loud from down below.
"HEY, ZEKIIII!" Gustavo shouted, his voice echoing with his usual energy. "COME DOWN HERE!"
Zeki turned, looking down in disbelief that Gustavo's shout had reached him all the way up there.
Zeki thought about shouting back, but decided against it. He grabbed his coat and jumped off the building. As he neared the ground, he used his powers to levitate and landed smoothly, meeting Gustavo and Bia right in front of him.
Gustavo quickly showed his phone, where the Rank D Challenge announcement was displayed. He looked extremely excited.
"Are you going to participate?" Gustavo asked.
"Of course I am," Zeki replied with a nod. "It's a good opportunity to rank up."
"I KNEW IT!" Gustavo exclaimed, jumping with excitement. "This is awesome! Now we'll finally get to fight for real! I'll show you who's the best!"
Zeki watched Gustavo's enthusiasm, which was nothing unusual for someone like him. The idea of having a chance to fight each other, without the distractions of monsters or gangs, was indeed something he was also looking forward to. Bia, standing beside Gustavo, also seemed excited, although she tried to hide it.
"How about we go grab something to eat, since Zeki is paying?"
Zeki turned to her, staring. "What do you mean by that?"
Bia muttered, "Stop being dramatic. You're richer than us, it shouldn't be a problem for you."
Zeki looked at her for a few seconds and sighed calmly.
"Come on, Bia, stop being rude. You're always complaining about me, but you're not exactly a great example either, missy!" Gustavo exclaimed, rolling his eyes. "So, do you have Isadora's contact?"
"To be honest, I don't have anyone's contact," Zeki replied calmly. "But I'll get yours later."
"Alright then... but why?" Bia asked, with a relieved smile on her face.
"Why didn't you tell me that before?..." Gustavo started, surprised, since he didn't know that. "Ah, never mind. Zeki, did you see there will be both fighting and racing? I'm good at both! You won't stand a chance! Last time we only tied because our fight was interrupted."
"It wasn't a tie at all. I was clearly going to win," Zeki replied, a competitive glint in his eyes. "But I'm looking forward to fighting you, Gustavo."
Suddenly, Bia's phone vibrated. She picked it up, and her eyes widened. "It's Isadora!"
Zeki noticed. "What a coincidence."
Bia nodded, slightly embarrassed. "Yeah… she said she wanted to know more about you. And about the challenge."
"And what does she want now?" Gustavo muttered.
"She's asking where we are," Bia replied, already typing. "I'll send our location. She said she'll be here soon."
As soon as Bia sent the message, both Zeki's and Gustavo's phones vibrated almost at the same time. It was a guild notification. Zeki opened his. It was a mission.
Urgent Mission: Police Assistance – Criminal Gang with Abilities (Rank D Classification)
Gustavo read his, confusion written all over his face. "What? A mission? Now? Seriously, does everything we do together have to get interrupted like this?"
"It's a guild mission, Gustavo," Zeki explained, his voice serious. "As registered hunters, we are required to accept it. Especially us, Rank D. The guild barely notices us, so we need to prove ourselves. It's our responsibility to assist the police against gangs with powers."
Gustavo sighed in frustration, but Zeki's logic was undeniable. "What a pain! Right when we were about to train!"
"I'll stay," Bia said firmly. "Isadora is coming, and someone needs to explain the situation. Besides, I want to do something other than just fight. You two can go. I'll handle things here."
Zeki nodded. "Alright. Bia, tell Isadora that Gustavo and I are busy. And if she wants, she can join us later. Gustavo, let's go. We can't waste time."
Still grumbling, Gustavo followed Zeki, leaving Bia behind to wait for Isadora, as they headed off for yet another confrontation in the streets of São Paulo. The Rank D Challenge could wait—the call of duty could not.