Youssef opened the door to see what was happening outside and found that the room service staff had accidentally broken some dishes in the hallway. 

- Perfect timing to break some dishes... 

His words were interrupted by a woman screaming and pointing at him, saying, "Y-your eye, are you okay?" 

Youssef closed the door and said, "This is exactly why I have to wear these damn lenses." 

Ali (without malice): "Your glowing eyes make you look more like a vampire than Dracula himself." 

Ahmed: "What do we do now? What’s the plan?" 

Youssef: "Nothing. We were waiting for you to guide us, but all we found was another fool." 

Maryam: "It seems the people we’re looking for will come to us anyway. We can use this time to train, at least. We could also try going to Atlantis again if no one finds us." 

Youssef: "I won’t be part of that. There’s definitely something better to do. We can try confronting the Masked One ourselves." 

Ali: "Did you know you can hit him as much as you want if you’re his trainer? Of course, within the training framework." 

Youssef: "Agreed. We can start now if you want." 

Ahmed: "W-what?!" 

Ali: "Don’t worry, I’ll stop him before you die." 

Maryam: "Then let’s start tomorrow. We’ll train at the deserted beach in the morning. It’s a suitable place. We can use our full strength there without harming anyone. Plus, we can monitor Atlantis’s movements from there." 

Ahmed: "Alright, can you leave me alone now? I need some time to process the mess I’m in." 

Ali: "Yeah, we got carried away and forgot that this is all new to you. Speaking of which, we’re missing someone with green eyes to complete our team. We already have blue and red eyes, we just need 'Sugar mug' " 

Everyone stared at Ali in disbelief. Ahmed then said, "Ali, I want to sleep. Please." 

Youssef: "I think the biggest thing I learned from the teacher was sheer stupidity." 

Maryam: "Alright, that’s enough for today. Let’s go before we drive this poor guy insane." 

Everyone left, leaving Ahmed drowning in unanswered questions once again: Who is the Masked One? Why did he get the crystal piece differently than the others? Where did Omar go? Did he really die? How did their teacher know he would form this team before he even decided to? Was what happened to him on the beach a reaction from Atlantis because they were planning to go there? And how would Atlantis even know they were planning that? Why hasn’t Atlantis done anything yet after revealing its existence? 

Countless other questions swirled in his mind with no logical answers, and he eventually fell asleep from exhaustion. 

Ahmed woke up to Ali shaking him in his room. 

- "W-what? How did you get in here? What magical power did you use this time?" 

- "I didn’t use any powers. I entered through the balcony—your room is next to mine." 

- "That’s not normal either. Why didn’t you just knock?" 

- "I knocked seventy times, but you didn’t answer, so I had to do this." 

- "Where are the others?" 

- "Waiting for us in the hotel lobby." 

Maryam opened the door and said, "Why did you take so long?" Then she looked at Ahmed and asked, "Aren’t you excited to test your powers?" 

Ahmed: "Don’t you know what privacy is? How did you open the door?" 

Maryam: "I opened it with my power. I told you I can control solid objects. We don’t have time for this nonsense. We need to train you quickly if you want to stay alive." 

Ahmed: "Fine, get out of my room so I can change. Or can you see through walls too?" 

Ali (theoretically): "We could, but definitely not clearly." 

Ahmed (interrupting): "Just get out before I lose my mind." 

Ali: "Alright, don’t be so grumpy. You haven’t even done anything yet." 

They left, finally giving him space to change. 

As he dressed, Ahmed muttered to himself, "They’re crazier than I expected. But I’ll have to put up with it for now. Whatever saved me when that ship crashed when I was a kid doesn’t seem to be working anymore. I need to learn how to use my new powers." 

He joined them, and they all headed to the deserted beach. 

The beach was ordinary but surrounded by rocks and small hills, with a few rundown boats scattered around. 

Maryam began speaking: "Alright, trainee. We’ve decided to split your training into three parts. First, your unique ability. I’ll train you on that. Second, controlling your King’s Gear in general—Ali will handle that. And finally, Youssef will train you in combat." 

Ahmed: "I object to the last part." 

Maryam: "No time for objections. He’s the best fighter among us, and you need to learn from him before that rabbit shows up again." 

Ahmed: "Fine. Which part do we start with?" 

Maryam: "First, we need to identify your unique ability." 

Ahmed: "How will you do that?" 

Maryam: "Unique abilities manifest naturally when your powers are agitated—like when you’re scared or angry, especially right after gaining your powers, since you can’t control them yet. In that state, your Gear uses your abilities randomly to defend you." 

Ahmed: "So you’re saying I need to get extremely angry for my powers to manifest and defend me randomly... and in that moment, you’ll observe what my ability is?" 

Before he could finish, Youssef punched him hard in the stomach, sending him flying toward the rocks with enough force to shatter some small rocks before he crashed into a larger one. 

Youssef: "Yes, exactly. That’s the plan." 

Maryam: "You could’ve at least warned him." 

Youssef: "Where’s the fun in that? Don’t worry, his broken bones will heal, and now he’s as angry as a gorilla. Isn’t that what you wanted?" 

Maryam: "Well, yes, but... never mind." 

As expected, Ahmed’s body began to glow, and the wind started shifting erratically. 

Ali: "So he can control the wind, as we thought." 

Ahmed stood up, furious: "Damn you, you bastard!" 

He charged at Youssef, trying to punch him, but Youssef easily dodged and threw him toward the sea. 

Youssef: "Like I said, angry as a gorilla." 

All the water from the beach gathered into one massive wave and flooded the shore, but the three jumped high to avoid it. 

Maryam: "Looks like he can control water too." 

Ali: "Do you think the high waves that sank the ship were caused by him first activating his powers?" 

Maryam: "It’s possible." 

The waves washed Ahmed back onto the shore, where he finally calmed down. 

Ahmed, lying on the sand: "What now?" 

Ali: "We’ll start training you to control your Gear. That’ll prevent you from entering that agitated state again, it’s dangerous for people around you." 

Ahmed stood up: "So I’ll be training with you?" 

Ali: "Yes. I’ll explain everything we know about the King’s Gear and how it works. First, when the Gear enters a host’s body, it alters their physiology, making them stronger and more adaptable to the Gear. That’s why it’s so painful the first time." 

Ahmed: "It felt like every cell in my body was exploding." 

Ali: "Second, the Gear doesn’t just dissolve into your body. It crystallizes near your heart. Third, the Gear isn’t just a superpower; it’s a complex system we can’t control directly. That’s why there’s an operating system inside each Gear to help you manage it." 

Ahmed: "An OS, like in computers?" 

Ali: "Yes, something like that. It usually takes a human form in our imagination." 

Ahmed: "You mean that person I saw in my dream?" 

Ali: "What did he look like?" 

Ahmed: "A person glowing blue like me when I lose control, sitting on a large throne with a broken cage next to him." 

Maryam: "I see that cage too." 

Ali: "I don’t know what the cage is, but the rest matches our system. You need to improve your communication with it. That’s the key to mastering your powers." 

Ahmed: "I thought the King’s Gear was some mythical or magical weapon, but this system makes it seem like advanced technology." 

Ali: "You’re a man of science. How can you believe in fantasy powers?"

Ahmed: "Of course not! It’s just that I’m surrounded by people who control elements like cartoon characters. Elemental powers are mythical and unscientific. I only believe in facts." 

Ali: "You’re partly right. Our powers are psychic. The writer could’ve at least given me a better power." 

Ahmed: "What are you talking about?" 

Maryam: "Don’t mind him. He sometimes acts like we’re in a drama." 

Ahmed: "When I first met you, I thought you and Ali were sane, but over time, I realized you’re all crazy." 

Maryam: "And what did I do?!" 

Ahmed: "Just the way you act so naturally around their weirdness makes you just as strange." 

Maryam took a deep breath and said, "Anyway, I have a logical explanation for why our powers resemble mythical elemental abilities. If the King’s Gear is an ancient weapon, like the legend of Atlantis, it would’ve inspired myths about it and Atlantis—which turned out to be real. In short, science first, then myth." 

Ahmed: "The egg came before the chicken. That makes more sense. We should run experiments to understand what we’re really doing when we use our abilities. I need to approach this more scientifically." 

Ali: "You’re not going anywhere until I finish my lecture." 

Ahmed: "Fine. Go on." 

Ali: "The last thing I’ll tell you is the stages of controlling the King’s Gear. So far, we know three stages. The first and weakest is the agitated state. It’s exhausting, and you can’t control your powers. Entering this state means you’re still weak. The second is the normal state, like you are now. Here, you’re physically stronger than before gaining powers and can control your unique ability. Finally, the focused state, where you concentrate your power in a specific body part, like your fist for powerful strikes or your legs for high jumps or speed. In short, this is the strongest state we’ve achieved, but it requires good communication with the system and is also very draining." 

Ahmed: "I’ve seen the first two states, but not the last. Can you show me?" 

Ali extended his right arm, and glowing lines appeared from his chest to his fingertips. 

Ali: "The third state looks like this." 

Ahmed: "Alright, how do I communicate with the system?" 

Ali: "First, you need to be completely calm and imagine reaching the system. That usually works at the beginning." 

Ahmed tried for two hours but failed. Youssef lost patience and asked, "How did you meet the system the first time?" 

Ahmed: "I was unconscious and met him in..." 

Before he could finish, Youssef pulled out a gun and shot Ahmed in the head, knocking him to the ground as everyone stared in shock. 

Maryam: "I won’t ask why you did that, but where did you get a gun, and why carry it when we have superpowers?!" 

Youssef: "We don’t know what we’ll face. We need to be prepared for anything." 

Ahmed indeed returned to the dark place where he’d first met the system and found the same person. 

System: "Congratulations on returning." 

- "So how do I control my powers to become as strong as them?" 

- "Start by removing that bracelet from your arm." 

- "What does that have to do with anything?" 

System: "Don’t play dumb. We both know it’s not an ordinary bracelet. It’s no longer enough to protect you, Those with Gears can hurt you anyway. Now, it’s only interfering with our connection and darkening this place. It’s much brighter here without it." 

- "Since you know my secret, do you also know what this bracelet is? I’ve always wanted to find out." 

- "You fool, it’s obvious that black gem isn’t ordinary. It’s also a Gear, but not a King’s Gear. It’s called the Devil’s..." 

Ahmed woke up to Youssef’s voice: "Time’s up. His body finally rejected the bullet!" 

Ahmed stood up, brushing sand off his clothes. 

Maryam: "Did you meet him?" 

Ahmed (distracted): "Y-yes, I did." 

Maryam: "What did he say?" 

Ahmed: "He told me how to improve my connection with him and stuff." 

Ali: "You seem troubled." 

Ahmed: "I’m not. I just couldn’t finish the conversation, so I didn’t understand everything."

Youssef: "I have more bullets if you want to continue your chat. But as you know, these aren’t free." 

Ahmed: "Right. How dare you shoot me?" 

Youssef: "What’s the problem? Your body regenerates, and you’ll be fine. Is this how you thank me?" 

Ahmed: "It still hurts a lot. What’s next?" 

Ali and Maryam smiled knowingly, and Youssef snapped his fingers: "I’m next." 

Nothing important happened in this part of the training. You can imagine it, but I don’t recommend it because it was extremely painful. 

When they returned to the hotel, the receptionist told Ahmed that someone had called multiple times. He then remembered losing his phone, passport, and credit cards when the sea swallowed them. 

- "Damn these rapid events made me forget I lost those important things. My father must be worried—he’s probably the one who called." 

He dialed the number, and it was indeed his father. 

"Hello, Dad. I’m so sorry—" 

- "I’ve been calling for days with no answer. It took me time to find your hotel. Stay put and don’t do anything crazy until I get there." 

- "You’re coming? But you’re a busy businessman—don’t trouble yourself. I’m fine. Your work needs you." 

- "My work is none of your concern. I’ve already booked a flight and will arrive in two days. My assistant can manage without me." 

- "B-but—" 

- "No buts. I’ll come and see what mess you’ve gotten into face-to-face. Glad you’re okay. Don’t do anything stupid until I arrive. Goodbye." 

His father hung up. 

- "God... damn it. I thought he’d let me do what I wanted after talking about my destiny, but it seems he can’t stop himself from controlling me. Him coming here will be worse for him than for me." 

Maryam: "Can’t you talk to him again?"

Ahmed: "It won’t help. Once he decides something, he does it."