Three days have passed since we last saw our heroes. In the meantime, they had been training as hard as they could. Achieving amazing results.

It is now late noon. The guys had taken a break from training and were now at the camp's dining room, where they, along with hundreds of other soldiers, were enjoying their meals.

Alex, Ivan, and Andrew were sitting at the same table. Talking, each about their respective progress and stories.

“ You know guys. I am kinda sad.” Alex confesses.

“ Come on. Not again with Anna.” Ivan says with a sigh.

“ Yes again! We have been training together for three days now, and every time I try to make a move on her, she just pushes me away. And to add insult to injury, she is getting all the more friendly with lady-killer over here.” he says pointing at Ivan.

Ivan blushed a little, something that didn't go unnoticed by Andrew.

“ You are getting the wrong idea. We are definitely getting friendly, but as friends, as soldiers. Nothing more. As for you, she can probably sense your perverseness from a mile away and wants to stay away from you.”

“ That's just mean.”

“ It is the truth. Why do you think that even the maids stay away from you?”

Alex just ignores him.

“ By the way Alex. How about, after we finish our lunch, we go for a sparring. I would like to see your progress.” Andrew suggests.

“ Fine by me. But don't go back crying to your mother after I beat you.”

“ And you don't go back crying to Anna, hoping to get a petting.”

Alex's veins on his forehead show up. Clearly angry with his remark.

“ I can't wait to kick that smile out of your face.”

“ So. How are you guys doing?”

A woman in black outfit comes towards them. Her red, long curly hair behind her back.

" Ohh, hey Mira. Come, take a seat." Alex says, pulling the chair next to him.

But Mira ignores him and goes to the chair opposite to them.

“ So how's training been?”

“ Perfect. I can't wait to show you my results. This time, I am going to beat that gray guy on my own.” Andrew declares.

" His name is Greyo. And I don't think it will be so easy this time. He underestimated you last time, and that cost him the battle. He isn't going to make the same mistake again."

“ But he doesn't know how much I have improved. Don't worry. I am going to crush him.”

“ By the way Mira. This two will be having a spar after lunch.” Ivan says.

“ Really? I will come watch, then. I am interested in your development. Anna is praising you a lot you know.” she says looking at Alex.

“ She is?”

“ Don't get too excited. It is only natural for the teacher to be proud of her student. Her student!” Ivan says, teasing Alex.

“ Did I miss anything?”

“ Nah, it is just their thing. Don't worry about it.”

“ So. We are all gathered here.” A voice is heard from behind them.

“ Anna! Come. Sit down.” Mira invites her. She accepts.

“ So. What's all the fuss about?”

“ These two will be having a spar later.” Mira explains her the situation.

“ I see. You better not lose Alex.”

“ Don't worry. I am going to make you proud. Teacher.” he says with a playful voice.

He notices a slight blush from her.

' Could she be in this whole teacher and student thing?' he wonders.

They finish their lunch quickly and after a couple of minutes digesting it, they head outside, to the training grounds.

“ Are you ready for the ass kicking of your life?” Alex provokes Andrew.

“ It depends. If you mean to give it, then yes.” he answers with a smile.

“ We will see who will be the last one laughing.”

“ Aren't you taking this a bit too seriously?” Mira asks in worry.

“ Don't worry Mira. They are grown men. They know what they are doing.” Ivan settles her. But then realises what he had just said and shouts.

“ Be careful you two! Don't kill each other. And one more thing. Alex! Kick his ass.”

“ Hey. We were training together, you traitor.” Andrew complains.

“ Shut up. You were so annoying and full of yourself.”

“ You mad because you couldn't beat me?”

“ If I had my weapons, you wouldn't be having that smirk now.”

“ You mad bro?”

Ivan lets out a long sigh.

“ I am not going to get triggered by you.”

“ Oh really? Because it seems like”

“ That's enough. Now fight!” Mira shouts, giving the signal for their fight to start.

Alex manifests his sword and charges at Andrew.

Andrew barely dodges him, by sidestepping.

“ Hey! No fair! You have a weapon!”

“ And? Just use yours.”

He says charging in again.

Andrew takes a long breath. He closes his eyes and focuses.

Alex doesn't wait. He turns his blade the other side, the none lethal one, and takes a huge swing at Andrew's ribs.

But he is stopped. Andrew grabs his sword midway. Red aura radiating from his body. Alex can feel the heat coming out of him.

“ If you are going to use your weapon. I am going to use mine.” he says, delivering a punch to his face, sending him flying.

Alex travels through the field and hits a wall. His body then falls on the floor. A huge crack had appeared where he had made contact with.

Sounds of amazement coming from their audience.

“ Is this all you got? I expected more from you.” Andrew taunts him.

Alex lays still on the floor.

" Hey! Are you ok?" Andrew shouts at him while running towards his side.

However, Alex just simply gets up. Showing no signs of being hurt.

" If you think, that that was enough to put me down, then you must have been really slacking off during training."

Andrew laughs.

“ It seems you have gotten tougher.” he says, raising his arms, getting into fighting position.

Alex points his sword towards him. Which starts radiating a white light.

“ If you are going to use your ability, then it is only fair I do the same.”

“ Be my guest.” he says tempting him to attack.

Alex accepts, charging in, his sword raised, ready to strike.

Andrew moves in as well. Charging in, meeting Alex, still in the middle of his attack. Delivering a quick punch to his stomach.

Alex stops in his tracks. Bending over, holding his stomach.

Andrew takes advantage of that, going for his face.

But, Alex blocks it. Parrying it and then slashing him in the stomach.

Taken by surprise, due to Alex huge increase in reaction speed, he has no time to react. It hits him clean at the ribs. He gasps and falls to the ground. Saliva splattering.

Alex stands above him, proud of his achievement. His sword was turned around. So, he hit him with the bland side?

“ That's it. You lost. If I hadn't turned it the other way, you would have been dead.” he announces with a smirk.

“ Oh really? Well then. Why don't you try it then?”

“ What do you mean?”

Andrew, however, doesn't answer his question. He instead stands up and grabs the sword by the blade.

" Hey! What are you doing? This is dangerous." Alex shouts. He tries to pull it back, but he just puts more strength into it. His grip is too strong.

" You know, heat is more amazing than I thought at the beginning. You see, because of the rapid movement of the molecules, stronger forces are created between them. All this energy has to be released somewhere. And it just comes out of my body, acting like some sort of armor. Did I say it correctly, Ivan?"

" Yes, you did. Its name is Heat Armor. Now focus on the fight.” Ivan says in annoyance.

He then turns towards Alex once again.

" I see. I told you didn't I? That it was useful. But, you better not underestimate me." And as he was saying that, his white blade becomes even brighter, its density increasing.

Blood splatters from where Andrew was touching it. He quickly pulls his hand back. Looking at the blade, he can see that it had sharpened, now blood dripping from where his hand was, just moments ago.

“ See. I can... cut you.” he says.

“ This is going to be interesting.” Andrew replies with an excited smile. “ I think you are worthy of being the first opponent to try it on. Get ready. I am going to show you my new technique.”

He puts his hands to his side and getting into a horse stance. He closes his eyes and starts taking deep breaths. In a moment the air around him begins to change. It becomes thicker and visible. It seems like a light mist has surrounded him.

Alex realises that it was air, that when heated changes density, and in contrast with the normal air around him, becoming visible.

“ So. What do you think about my new ability? I think I am going to call it Overheat. How does it sound?”

“ It sounds cool, none the least. But is it useful?”

“ Ooohh. Most definitely yes.”

“ Let me guess. Physical power up?”

“ N...no...” he says looking away.

“ I see. It is a simple power boost then.” Andrew looks angry, that he saw through his new technique so easily.

“ Don't be angry. It seems like both of our new moves are power boosts.” Alex says.

He looks at him in wonder, to what he meant by that.

Alex brings his sword in front of him, again. He focuses and then takes a battle position. The white aura from the sword, start crawling up to the rest of his body. Soon he was covered by an armor-like white aura.

“ But that's!” Mira says in shock. She then looks at Anna. “ Don't tell me he has already learned the Red Drive?”

Anna, with a light laugh, says. " He has. I was his teacher after all. Although I have to give him credit. He is a fast learner."

“ That's his ability after all. If he can't do even that then.” Ivan remarks.

“ This is Anna's ability, Red Drive. But since it is no longer red I am going to rename it to White Drive!” Alex says.

“ I see we are both good at naming things.” Andrew jokes.

“ Definitely agree with you on that one. See, Red Drive is a power-up ability. It increases the physical attributes of the person using it.”

“ Ohh yes. I remember Anna explaining it to as.”

“ Good. Mine is exactly the same, but white.”

“ You are so unique.”

“ Don't mock me! So? What's the deal with your ability?”

" Almost the same as yours. But mine has the heat aspect in it, alongside the power up part. That's all."

“ I see. So you have a time limit as well?”

“ Yes.”

“ That makes thing easier.” He says getting ready to attack.

Andrew mimics him. Raising his hands.

They look into each other's eyes. Then, they both simultaneously charge at each other.

However, before they could come in contact the ground shakes, and a huge wall of dirt rises between them, separating the arena in two.

The two guys, both look at Mira.

“ That is enough. I told you to be careful. I am ending this right now!”

“ You can't do that!” Andrew complains.

" Yes, I can. I am the leader here and whatever I say happens. You are going to hurt each other"

Andrew hisses in anger but finally, let's go.

" We are careful you know, though." He says.

“ Please understand me. What if one of you got hurt? And what if we get a mission regarding Greyo? What will we do then.”

“ Fine. I get it.”

" Great. Now let's go treat your hand. You are hurt."

“ It is only a scratch.”

“ Which might get infected. Let's go.”

And with that, their sparring was over. After that, they went to the hospital inside the camp, where they treated Andrew's wound.