Chapter 14: The Prodigy 

Vladimir smiles from cheek to cheek as his eyes glow a bright orange, Blood leaking from his lips covers his teeth. Taking deep breaths Vladimir opens his arms as he stares at Ja, the craving for power that Ja has at first was just a desire now became a craving. But Ja unfazed, seeing Vladimir and feeling his energy skyrocket stared back at him. Feeling uneasy, Slowly losing confidence in himself, Ja hides the pain he's feeling from damage he's taken so far. Yet with everything he feels he closes his eyes,  a weird sensation would be born inside him, quickly looking down at his hands  “I don't know what I just did, but I feel great” he thought to himself as he squeezed his fist, all the doubt he felt, all the fear in his body disappeared. Smiling Ja sets his feet into the ground and pushes himself off the ground, flying at a high speed towards Vladimir, Ja quickly tries to land a sucker punch. Yet Vladimir, Overwhelmed with pride, and courage sees the sucker punch coming and with a quick reaction he blocks the punch. Ja quickly dashing to Vladimir blind spot throws another right hook. “His speed, and power just keep increasing” Vladimir thought to himself as Ja quickly moved all around his blindspots. Blocking more of Ja’s combination of punches Vladimir punches Ja in the chest sending a few feet away, But Ja absorbing the punch lunges back at him. “This strength, and speed isn't connected to his first wall…..He's just adapting to ME!” Vladimir thought to himself as his craving became more and more stronger as the fight  continued with Ja. Throwing left and right hooks, Ja fist begins to charge up again. “OUTPUT!” Ja screamed filled with rage, But Vladimir smiled as they collided fists.“STRONGER CHILD BECOME STRONGER!” he yelled as the impact of the punch sent a shock wave of air through the park. Vladimir would drop his fist, and grab Ja’s arm. Throwing Ja into the sky, Vladimir jumps up higher than him and spikes him down. Ja seeing the spike blocks his hit, but the impact from the hit sends Ja at a high speed towards the ground. Slamming into the ground, Vladimir lands back and instantly punches Ja in the gut. Coughing up blood Vladimir charges his fist again as Ja tries to get footing, but the speed of Vladimir towered over Ja. “OUTPUT!” Yelled Vladimir as the punch made an impact with Ja. A cloud of smoke is made from the dirt and debris that was caused from the impact, but to Vladimir's surprise Arkham has Ja in his arms. “Why do you interrupt me and the child's fight?” Vladimir asked Arkham, but staring at him with determination Arkham pulled out his revolver. “I made a promise I wouldn't kill anyone…..but for you i'll break that promise” he said as he shoots three bullets at Vladimir, but quickly dodging the bullets Vladimir lunges at Arkham, and Ja. “HES MINE” Vladimir yelled as he got close to Ja. Arkham tosses Ja to the side before dodging Vladimir and counters his attack with a sucker punch of his own. Landing the devastating blow it sends Vladimir a few feet away. Arkham then follows up on the punch, and gut checks him. Vladimir in the air gets punched another three times, before getting thrown once again, but right before he makes contact with the floor he sinks in like its water. “Shit he's using his first wall again” Arkham thought to himself, as he quickly punched the ground under him creating a crater. But as Arkham tried to find him, Vladimir fell from the sky slamming into the back of Arkhams head. Slamming face first into the ground, Vladimir stomps his head in the ground. Arkham, pushing up with his arms, quickly turns around to stop Vladimir kicks, but turns to nothing. “Dammit” He thought to himself as he began to get choked from the ground beneath him. “His ability isn't phasing, it's something else '' Arkham thought to himself as he struggled to get Vladimir off him. But out of the corner of his eye he saw Ja running at a full speed. Power surging from Ja stronger than ever before. Leaping into the sky above him Ja charges his punch as he falls towards the ground. “Son of a bitch” Arkham whispered as Vladimirs arms began to sink into the ground, but to his surprise Arkham grabs them from leaving. “You're gonna like this one” Said Arkham as he smiles seeing Ja come full speed towards him. Ja getting closer to make impact with Arkham moves his fist to the right of Arkhams head making impact with the ground shattering it beneath them. 

A few seconds pass as the smoke clears up. Arkham slowly grunts as he cracks his neck and gets up from the ground. “That punch had some kick to it” Said Arkham looking around he looked around to see where he landed, but when he turned back to where he was he saw Ja pale. Rocking back and forth, he dashes over to him, and catches him. “You did good, kid” he said to a tired Ja. Looking up at him Ja, gives him a thumbs up and smiles before passing out. Arkham looking at the smoke clear, Looks over to see Vladimir beat to a pulp taking deep breaths. “Hes…mine” he whispered as Arkham watched. Closing his hands he looked at Arkham, “HES MINE!” He yelled, but Arkham began to laugh. “People like you never seem to disappoint,” he said.  Watching from a distance is Vocex who is badly wounded. “I need to help,” he uttered, but suddenly someone grabbed him. “Hey man, your boss is done,” Ryoshi said with a smile on his face as he put Vocex in a headlock. “Let me go,” Vocex said, struggling to get out of Ryoshis grasp, but ignoring Vocex, Ryoshi watched from a distance. “Show me what you got up your sleeve, Arkham” 

Arkham looking down at his watch, looks back at Vladimir. “You remind me of myself….addicted to the fight, blood, Winning.” Arkham said to him, as he slowly put Ja down. “But we never seem to learn…or at least you didn't ... ..this fight was settled since the beginning” he continued to mock and tease Vladimir. Growing in rage Vladimir grinded his teeth, “YOU KNOW NOTHING OF POWER ... .YOU ARE NOTHING” he yelled as his eye began to glow a bright orange, but Arkham just smiled. “FULL CONTR” Vladimir yelled but would stop mid sentence as a bullet from a rooftop nearby penetrates his head killing him instantly. “Right on time, Morales” Arkham said, 

Morales on the roof looks out of the scope of Arkhams rifles, as smoke leaves the barrel. Making eye contact with Arkham, Morales nods his head signaling them to go. 

Ryoshi looks up as Vladimir falls to the ground and smiles. “Son of bitch, he tricked him” He thought to himself as a portal opened behind him, and Ryoshi pulled Vocex through. But as he is dragged Vocex reaches out to Vladimir as a tear runs down his eye. As the portal began to close the last thing Vocex saw was Arkham standing there with a smile on his face. “ I'm gonna kill you” Vocex thought to himself. 

Arkham, picking up Ja, begins to walk away from the battle but is stopped by police. “FREEZE!” The police officers yelled, but Arkham, ignoring the police, slowly picked up his hat and put it on. Turning to them he smirks, “A lot of chaos is happening in this city…..and I'M the least of your priorities” he said before leaving the scene in a blink of an eye. The officers' eyes widened as a strong breeze flew past them as they lost sight of Arkham. “What is happening to this city?” an officer whispered, as he looked around seeing the damage that was done at the park, and seeing people wounded. 

“This kid surprised me ... .He's far stronger than any other kid I've seen.” Arkham said as he got closer to Bashirus hideout. Dashing through the door, Arkham sees everyone banged up. Ronin sitting on a table looks at Ja passed out, and quickly calls his Katana to his hand and points it at Arkham. “What you do” He said to Arkham, but seeing Ronin in a weakened state Arkham walked past him. “He's drained, Vladimir's second wall absorbed his energy…shit I barely made it out with any left.” he said as he laid Ja down on the table. Bashiru without a second thought begins to tend to Ja, While Arkham walks over to Morales who's sitting on the couch. “Where’s the one you saved?” he asked Morales as Arkham reached over, and grabbed himself a glass of whiskey. “He hasn't come out of the bathroom since we got back,” Morales replied. Arkham sitting next to Morales smacks his lips, “You would think the little shit would be grateful” he said to Morales. “Well his brother was killed so he hasn't had the best time.” Morales replied to Arkhams remarks. Widening his eyes Arkham takes a sip from his whiskey, “Ah hell he should be alright….he has them now” he said, Morales grabbing a cigarette lights it as he leaned back on the couch. “The boys almost died today…they are not ready to go out on missions like that” he said to Arkham, but Arkham just smiled. “That boy right there kept up with a strong mother fucker….he might be ready but when he is, He is gonna be a problem” he said as they both looked at Ja, who was still getting treated. “Yeah same thing with Ronin, if it wasn't for him I wouldn't be here” Morales said as they both took deep breaths. “I know why Inori left you incharge of these boys ... .You got this Morales” Arkham says as he finishes his drink. Getting up, he does a quick stretch before heading to the door, but right before he left Ja barely waking up leaned over to see him. “Hey Arkham…..see you around” Ja said to him. Looking back at Ja, Arkham tilted his hat, “Counting on it” he said right as he closed the door. Walking towards the lab is Tess, and Merissa. “Are they ok!” Tess asks nervously, but Arkham smiles. “Of course, you'll probably cheer up the mood” he said to her before walking away. 

Leaping onto a roof, Arkham dashes away into the night. “See you around..huh” Arkham repeated to himself as he leaped from building to building. “That kid is something else '' he thought to himself as he landed onto a high building looking down on the battle that he just had with Vladimir. Cop cars surrounded the area, as nearby civilians all tried to get a peak. Looking through his sniper Arkham observed Vladimirs body. “Why isn't he disintegrating?” he questioned, as the cops put his body into the back of an ambulance. “I was thinking the same thing, '' Ryoshi said as they both pulled out pistols and aimed it at each other. “Ryoshi…” Arkham said as they both stood at a stand still. “What are you doing here?” Arkham asked in a serious tone, but Ryoshi put his gun down and smiled. “Can’t see an old friend?”  he said jokingly, but Arkham continued to aim at him. “Look sorry for what I did to the brat, but it's better than flat out killing him” Ryoshi jokingly says. “What. are. you. doing here?” Arkham asks again but Ryoshi tilts his head, and smirks. “Trying to see why you've been in town this long…but it seems I already got that answer…Those boys' ' he said as he put his hands in his pockets, and looked over the roof. “But i'm not here to fight or kill i'm actually considering this as a friendly courtesy…My boss has been talking about this date” he said as he flicked a piece of paper to him. Arkham catching the paper looks down at the date, “Is this a joke, this date is six years from now.” he said but Ryoshi's charismatic personality faded away. “He keeps saying the name Azazel…..and that his full attack on the world is gonna start” He said as Arkham looked back at him. “Whenever he says that name he gets scared ... .So me being smart I figured this Azazel is no joke” Ryoshi continued to say, But Arkham throws the paper away. “Why tell me this?” Arkham asked, but Ryoshi turns to Arkham “Helping out an old friend” he said before disappearing in a blink of an eye.  Arkham looking around doesn’t feel Roshi's presence anymore. “6 years this must be a mistake” Arkham thought to himself as he looked over the roof. “And who the hell is Azazel” 

End of chapter 14