Clang!
Nova's metal rod collided with the arm of one of the invaders with a deafening impact. The force rang through the air like struck iron. In the next heartbeat, Nova jumped and twisted midair, his left foot snapping out in a brutal kick that sent the invader hurtling backward and crashing into the sea.
The second invader, still gripping the little girl, froze in disbelief.
Both their suits were powered by Nutrek. A punch from an ordinary person would feel like a breeze to them. Yet this youth had just launched his partner like dead weight. And he wasn't even a Channeler.
Then he felt it.
Nova slowly lifted his head and their eyes met.Nova's eyes were glowing a deep, burning red and the color was intensifying by the second. Looking at this eyes the invader felt cold dread crawled up the his spine.
"Who the hell are you?" Nova didn't answer and slowly stepped forward. But something about his movement felt wrong. Not mechanical. Not human. Like someone or something controlling his body..
The invader's instincts screamed. He turned and sprinted toward the concealed vessel.
"Mmmmph!"
The little girl struggled in his grip, her scream muffled beneath his palm. Though she looked no older than four, fear was written clearly in her eyes. She knew these were bad people. And from the looks of it she Nova was the only one who could save her. But she didn't need to scream as Nova was already moving. He burst forward, closing the distance with terrifying speed.
"What the hell? Are the steroids in the MPU this insane now?" the invader thought in panic. Steroids could enhance strength, yes. But not like this. Not to this level.
Just as the invader reached the concealed spaceship, Nova hurled the metal rod with full strength at the invader.
Swoosh!
The air cracked as it tore forward like a launched spear. The invader sensed danger at the last instant and ducked.
BOOM!
The rod smashed into the ship's control dashboard, glass shattering everywhere. Sparks burst outward, and the vessel flickered violently, its concealment failing completely.
"Hey! Do you know what you've done, punk?!" the invader roared as he turned his head to yell at Nova but—
BOOM!
Nova's fist connected with his jaw in a bone-shattering punch and the invader was sent flying.
"Aahh!"
The little girl was thrown upward as his grip loosened. But Nova moved faster. He caught her safely in his arms. The crimson glow in his eyes flickered, dimming slightly.
"Hurry. Run that way," Nova said, setting her down and pointing toward the direction of the beach. "You'll reach the shore. And next time, stay close to your—"
Before he could finish what he was saying his instincts screamed. Danger. Without hesitation, he grabbed the girl and leapt aside.
BOOM!
The ground where they had been standing exploded into a crater as rocks and debris shot into the air.
Nova turned sharply.
The first invader — the one he had kicked into the sea — stood there soaked but alive, a plasma gun clutched in his hands. His suit glowed faintly as he aimed, rage twisting his face.
"Run!" Nova shouted. And without hesitation rhe girl ran as fast as her tiny legs could carry her at the direction Nova showed her.
The invader's suit flared a dim, deep pink as he charged toward her. Nova stepped in his path. The invader didn't hesitate. He raised the plasma gun and fired.
Nova dodged easily. He couldn't deny it, all the training Noah had put him through wasn't wasted. But something felt off. Even with all that training, a normal human couldn't evade a plasma blast with such ease. Not unless they were a Channeler, gifted with enhanced strength, speed, and agility. But who care as far he could release the anger through the bust of adrenaline or strange power and beat the shit out off this guys nothing else matters.
The invader charged, firing blast after blast at him. Each time, Nova slipped, twisted, or leapt aside effortlessly, like he was playing a game. Frustration crept up the invader's spine. Every shot missed. He got more annoyed as the little girl was getting more and more further away and he couldn't go after her as Nova kept on blocking his path again and again, impossible to trap.
"Ahhhh!" His rage reached its peak. He let out a furious roar, a sound that split the air. The dim, deep pink glow on his suit flared violently. Nutrek surged through his veins like liquid fire, pumping strength into every movement.
Seeing the invader fast approaching Nova didn't worry. Not even a little. Inwardly, he smiled. If the fool kept coming, he would release every ounce of his fury, every cell of his being, onto him. The poor invader was practically going to be Nova's punching bag, and with only one target Nova was perfectly fine with that.
The invader was fast approaching, but Nova remained calm, his mind calculating. Just as the invader closed to within twenty feet, he fired, confident the distance was too short to miss. But Nova sidestepped effortlessly.
Then he turned and ran.
The invader gritted his teeth "Just a coward!" he muttered under his breath as spat, he assumed Nova was fleeing. But when he noticed Nova heading toward their spaceship, a bad feeling crept into his chest and he immediately chased after him.
Nova leapt onto the ship, yanked his metal rod from the damaged dashboard, and spun just in time to block a surprise strike.
Clang!
The second invader — the one Nova had kicked into the sea — stood before him, sword in hand.
"I didn't think you'd be able to sense that attack coming."
"You're a fool for not expecting it," Nova replied coldly.
"You brat!" The invader wasn't clearly expecting Nova to say such a thing and it definitely enraged him.
Swoosh!
The invader swung his sword at Nova's legs, but Nova jumped back, landing lightly on the rocky ground.
The first invader rushed in. Then the second followed.
Two against one.
And somehow, Nova was holding his own. His eyes were no longer glowing crimson. The rage had cooled somewhat. But something still felt wrong.
There was a restraint within him. Like an itch in the middle of his back he couldn't reach. An invisible weight pressing against something inside him. And the longer he fought them, the stronger that sensation became but instead of rage it became little source of strength.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Nova weaved between sword strikes, punches, and plasma blasts from multiple angles. He ducked, twisted, pivoted all while countering with precise strikes that landed on vulnerable points in their armor, sending sharp pain through their bodies.
Both invaders gritted their teeth and lunged simultaneously. They couldn't believe it. Two Nutrek-powered operatives. Struggling against one teenager who even isn't a Channeler.
BOOM!
But Reality hit them hard. So did Nova's metal rod. It slammed into both their stomachs in a single sweeping arc, launching them nearly fifty feet across the rocky terrain.
*Cough. Cough.*
They struggled to breathe, clutching their midsections. The pain was far worse than it should have been.
"What the hell is wrong with this kid?" they both thought. Their suits were fully channeling Nutrek energy. And yet fight felt like child's play to him.
"Dit, I think we should signal the commander. Call in the creatures. This kid turned out to be a pestering mosquito and has the power to back it up too."
"I think so too. The way he's handling us like we're children, despite the Nutrek running in our suits, is getting on my nerves."
One of them tapped the watch on his wrist. Nothing happened. He tapped again then repeatedly still nothing. That's when it hit him. The device was cracked. It must have shattered during the fight, likely when Nova's rod struck it.
"What the hell is that staff made of? It's ridiculously strong. Tim use your comlink to contact the commander for the go-ahead. Mine's broken."
Tim holstered his plasma gun, assuming Nova wouldn't attack while Dit stood facing him. Then, just as he raised his wrist—
Swoosh!
Something tore through the air toward his face.
He jerked aside instinctively. The metal rod skimmed across his mask. Sparks exploded outward as the impact chipped the reinforced glass, revealing part of his dark eye beneath.
"Shit!" he cursed.
If he had reacted half a second slower, it wouldn't have been a chipped visor. It would have been his skull.
Dit sensed the opportunity and charged at Nova, but to his shock, Nova vanished.
In an instant, Nova reappeared in the distance, right where his metal rod was still spinning through the air and caught it with effortless precision. Then he vanished again.
Before Dit could react—
Bang!
With a powerful swing, Nova struck him cleanly, sending Dit hurtling through the air and crashing deep into the sea.