When Alex was introduced to the three teenagers, they had high hopes for him. The fact that he was supposed to be their classmate had greatly surprised them. They wondered if maybe there was something special about Alex, something that set him apart.
However, at this very moment, as they watched Alex move, they began to realize that there was nothing special about him. With this realization, their hopes fell, and they felt a wave of disappointment wash over them.
In contrast, Elder Rooney, Stan, and Peter didn't share the same expression as the teenagers. They had already been informed about Alex's abilities before this began, so the outcome wasn't surprising to them at all.
But the person who was most surprised in the room was Alex himself. He couldn't quite grasp what had just happened. All he knew for sure now was that he was lying flat on his back, staring up at the ceiling. There were circular light bulbs in the ceiling, glowing softly as he blinked in confusion.
'How... How is she so fast? Is this her power—super speed?' Alex wondered, his mind racing.
Although Alex had been thrown hard to the floor, he didn't feel any pain. The strange thing was, despite how Gwen had tossed him, it didn't hurt at all. He quickly realized something.
'It seems like this floor is special,' Alex thought as he lay there. The surface wasn't like any regular floor he'd fallen on before. It was designed in some way to cushion the impact.
But Alex didn't have time to think about the details of the floor any longer. He shook off the lingering thoughts and immediately pushed himself up. His hands pressed against the ground as he quickly shifted from lying on his back to kneeling. Every muscle in his body moved with urgency as he planted one foot firmly on the floor, using it to stand.
He couldn't afford to stay down for long. His legs felt slightly shaky from the impact, but he ignored it, focusing entirely on getting back up.
Gwen, having thrown Alex to the floor, was still standing nearby. As soon as Alex got back on his feet, he didn't hesitate. Without a moment's pause, he dashed toward her, his movement sudden and quicker than before.
"Yes... I'm close," Alex thought, his eyes locked on his hand as he aimed to grab Gwen.
But just as his hand was about to reach her, Gwen's figure flickered, and she vanished from his sight. No, "vanished" wasn't the right word. Her body had moved so fast that she was now far ahead of him, at a speed Alex couldn't fully grasp.
"Damn...!" Alex yelled, frustration flooding his voice.
He didn't stop, though. As he continued to chase her, something clicked in his mind. Alex felt like he was starting to understand what Gwen's power was.
"If she's this fast, then her power must be speed-based. All I have to do is make her waste her energy," Alex thought, formulating a plan. Without wasting any time, he sprinted after Gwen again. Each time, it seemed like she narrowly escaped his grasp.
"Hahaha... Soon, you'll run out of stamina, and I'll catch you!" Alex shouted, his voice loud enough for Gwen to hear, trying to provoke her.
Across the room, Peter leaned in closer to Stan, whispering, "Have you noticed?"
"Noticed what?" Stan asked, his eyes never leaving the fight unfolding in front of him.
"That boy, Alex, has been chasing her for a while now, but he doesn't look like he's slowing down. Isn't that strange for someone who's supposed to be just a regular mortal?" Peter remarked, raising his eyebrows in surprise.
Stan, still focused on the chase, gave a slight nod, "Yeah, that is odd... He should be exhausted by now, but he's not showing any signs of fatigue."
Elder Rooney, who had been keeping his eyes on the fight, chuckled at Peter's statement. Even though Peter had whispered, none of those in the room were ordinary, so everyone could hear him clearly.
"I already told you," Elder Rooney began, "the peace energy in that boy's body has a special effect—the feeling of adaptation. Sooner or later, you'll see it in action."
Peter and Stan exchanged glances before turning their attention back to the ongoing fight. Meanwhile, the two boys standing off to the side were growing bored of watching. To them, it almost seemed like Alex and Gwen were just playing a game of tag, chasing each other in circles.
At the same time, Alex had just said something to Gwen that made her stop for a brief moment. Noticing this, Alex saw his chance. Without wasting a second, he pushed himself forward, dashing toward her with everything he had. In his mind, he believed that if he could just touch her—just land one single hit—it would be enough to turn the tide in his favor.
As he reached her, Alex swung his fist out with determination. 'Sorry. I don't like hitting girls, but since you're a superhuman, I'm sure you can handle this,' he apologized silently in his mind as his fist cut through the air.
His movements were quick and full of intention, every muscle in his arm tightening as he aimed for her. His fist moved with purpose, making it clear that he wasn't holding back this time. He was focused, his eyes locked on her, hoping this strike would land and make an impact.
However, just as Alex's fist was about to make contact, it was blocked. A hand had grabbed it at the last second. Looking up, Alex saw that it was none other than Gwen who had stopped his strike.
"You seriously think I'm only good at speed, don't you?" she said, pushing his fist away with enough force to send Alex tumbling backward.
Alex stumbled but quickly regained his balance, surprised by her strength.
"Mind you," Gwen continued, "I wasn't even using my qi to enhance my speed. What you just saw was my natural speed, without qi. And the strength you felt? That was only half of my natural strength. I didn't want to use my full strength on you, but I guess you deserve something a little more painful."
Before Alex could react, Gwen disappeared from his sight once again, moving at a speed beyond his ability to follow.
Alex, who had managed to stabilize himself, quickly took a defensive stance, his eyes darting around in an attempt to locate her. But no matter where he looked, Gwen was nowhere to be seen.
Then, suddenly, a powerful blow landed on his leg, causing him to cry out in pain. The force of the hit was so intense that it knocked him off balance, sending him crashing to the ground. His leg throbbed with a sharp, burning pain, and he gritted his teeth, trying to push through it.
Stan watched the scene unfold with an urge to intervene, but Elder Rooney stopped him with a gentle yet firm hand on his shoulder.
"You don't need to intervene, Stan. This is all part of his training," Elder Rooney explained. "Besides, this is exactly what he needs to activate his ability."
Stan hesitated for a moment, his instincts screaming to step in, but he eventually took a step back, trusting Elder Rooney's judgment.
Meanwhile, Alex was writhing on the ground, every inch of his body consumed by pain. Just as he tried to catch his breath, he felt a sudden force lifting him by the neck.
Despite being slightly taller than Gwen, Alex found himself helpless as she hoisted him off the ground by his shirt, ensuring that his feet dangled mid-air, unable to find any support.
Desperately, Alex started to hit and kick Gwen, but his efforts seemed futile. She stood there, unwavering, absorbing each blow with an unyielding resolve.
"Do you still think speed is my only ability?" Gwen taunted, her eyes locking onto Alex's with an almost predatory gaze.
At that moment, Alex began to struggle for air, realizing that Gwen's grip on his neck was tighter than he expected. It was a grip that threatened to close off every gasp he tried to take, leaving him to fight against the encroaching darkness.
Seeing this, Stan was about to call off the fight, but Elder Rooney raised a hand and stopped him.
"It's coming. Give it more time," he said in a calm, yet firm tone.
Meanwhile, Alex, standing in the middle of the chaos, felt something strange building inside him. At first, he didn't understand what was happening, but he could sense it. It was bubbling up, like energy ready to burst, and the pain that had been tearing through his body began to fade, becoming numb.
Without thinking, Alex raised his hand high above his head, his eyes locked on Gwen. Then, with all his might, he swung it down, aiming straight for her arm.
His hand collided with her wrist, and for a brief moment, Gwen's grip weakened. Alex felt the pressure around him ease, just slightly. Seizing the chance, he drove his foot hard into her side with a swift kick. The force of the blow sent her stumbling, and finally, he broke free from her hold.
Alex immediately bent over, gasping for breath. His chest heaved, and he scrambled for air, his lungs burning as he tried to recover from the sudden rush of energy.
On the other side of the clearing, Gwen had stepped back, clutching her arm, her expression frozen in disbelief. She stared at her hand, flexing her fingers, trying to make sense of what had just happened.
"That strength... it's not normal," she muttered under her breath. "Is he... a Paragon already?" The thought raced through her mind, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Meanwhile, the two boys standing off to the side, Stan and Peter, watched in stunned silence. They could feel the tension shifting, the atmosphere growing thicker, as if something far bigger than the fight was about to unfold.
Stan exchanged a quick glance with Peter before both of them turned toward Elder Rooney, silently demanding answers.
Elder Rooney, noticing their confused looks, reached into his robes and pulled out the ancient Pendragon knowledge book. Holding it in one hand, the scales on the cover shimmered faintly as a soft glow surrounded it. He opened the pages with slow, deliberate movements, flipping to a passage that seemed relevant.
"What that boy just used," Elder Rooney began, his voice low and steady, "is something those who wield peace energy call the 'reflections effect.'"
Stan and Peter leaned in, listening closely as the elder continued.
"This effect allows someone to store the impact of hits they take. Those stored hits can be sent back to their attacker with the same force." He paused for a moment, making sure the information was sinking in. "But there is a limit," he added, "a limit to how many hits one can store at any given time."
Stan and Peter's eyes widened as they processed the explanation. If Alex had the ability to reflect Gwen's attacks back at her, then he was no longer the underdog in this fight. He might even have an advantage now.
The two boys glanced at each other, both realizing the implications at the same moment.
"Does that mean... he's even with Gwen now?" Peter whispered, though the excitement in his voice was clear.
Stan didn't respond, his eyes still fixed on the battle ahead, but the corners of his mouth twitched upward ever so slightly. He knew this fight had just taken a new turn, and there was no telling how it would end.
Meanwhile, Alex had just gotten up from the floor, wiping dust off his clothes. He turned his gaze towards Gwen, a grin slowly spreading across his face.
"I hit you. Doesn't that mean you lose?" he asked, his tone light, almost teasing.
Gwen's eyes narrowed, and she gritted her teeth in frustration. Without a word, she dashed forward, her movements much quicker than before. In just a few seconds, she closed the distance between them, her fist flying straight towards Alex. She struck him hard across the stomach, the impact pushing Alex backward.
Alex bent over slightly as the punch hit him, his body reacting to the blow. But then, something strange caught his attention.
'That punch... I can tell it's stronger than the kick she gave me earlier,' Alex thought, his mind racing. 'So why isn't it painful? Why didn't I get knocked down or thrown back?'
As these thoughts swirled in his head, he felt a familiar sensation bubbling up inside him again. The same strange energy he'd felt earlier began to rise, filling his body. It was powerful, surging through him, yet strangely calming.
'That power... it's back,' Alex realized, his eyes glinting with newfound confidence. He straightened up, staring at Gwen with a knowing smile spreading across his face.