“Dad, no–!” Guy called out just as his father moved. 

I should have known he’d go for my throat. At least I wasn’t dangling by my feet off the floor, a feat he could have done in his sleep I bet. 

A tugging sensation on my backside told me another battle was taking place. Our tails were locked in on each other, clashing like snakes hoping to coil the other to death.

Lungs burning, I refused to give him the satisfaction of hearing me scream. 

“Your death will bring about a new era for our people. Take pride in knowing you’ve finally done something right.” His smile was wicked and predatory—the same smile hundreds of other villains wore as they thought they had me cornered.

But cornering me is a big mistake because that's when I get nasty.

If I could breathe then this would be much more satisfying. I spit in his eye with what moisture I could draw up. He recoiled, loosening his grip on my throat as he wiped away at his face.

“Gah! You little bitch!”

He tossed me. I thought I’d hit a wall but Guy managed to catch me even though he was across the room mere moments ago. Could his powers be changing?

“So much for not worrying about him.” I joked, getting back up on my feet.

“Maybe if you didn’t ragebait him he might not have turned on you so fast!” Guy chastised me.

“Rupert, leave her be! She’s–”

All I saw was her face turning the opposite direction, a red hand print placed upon her bone thin cheek. But the sound? That smack was so loud and the force behind it so powerful, it shattered any nearby glass.

Guys nostrils flared and his body briefly glowed. He was on his father faster than I could follow. Speed, strength, it all felt like he was a proper Guy Dynamo again. 

“I told you what would happen if you touched her again!” He roared, pouring out all the rage he’d swallowed over the years.

[CLASS CHANGE:WEAK DRAGON→SUPERHERO.]

The words appeared in brackets above his head as he threw rapid fire punches at his father. Rupert just stood there, blocking each hit with his own tail, arms crossed. Fuck. It was like watching an evil version of me go to work. How many times had I done that same pose—like I was above putting my hands on someone.

Maybe that statue was an accurate representation of me—no. I can’t think that way.

My tail tapped my shoulder and pointed at Guy's head, then at my head.

“His class? What about it?” A frown followed by a pair of thick eyebrows suggested I was missing something simple.

Oh.

“My class! Fuck, okay.” I’ve just been using vacuum constantly but I had a class upgrade, I should have some new abilities.

Think, think, think Sapph.

Guys body bounced against the floor, his head cracked the ground sending debris flying. A heavy groan escaped him. He needs me!

[Class Abilities: Vacuum. Recycle level 2. Slow Regen. Refurbish. Item Based:Insight. Purification Breath]

Insight? 

The goggles on my head…I nearly forgot them. Pulling them down, I could see tiny red fissures all over Rupert's body. Weak points perhaps? If that's the case, there's only one way to find out.

I dashed forward and threw myself over Guy, shielding him from Rupert's tail stabbing through my shoulder and into the ground. His eyes grew wide and he shook his head.

“What the hell are you doing?! He’s going to kill you.”

“Sorry, instincts took over. Don’t worry, he missed anything vital…I think.” The arm attached to my injured shoulder turned cold, growing numb fast.

So much for not hitting anything vital. I coughed up crimson spit, tasting copper on my teeth. Shit, this isn’t good. Wyatt was right: I’m not a superhero anymore. I popped off, talked too big and now I’m facing the consequences.

But it shouldn’t be others having to suffer for me or with me for my mistake. Come to think of it, I shouldn’t be making that many mistakes anyway. I clean up messes–

The desk, still in tatters, was at Rupert's immediate right. I was still wearing the goggles…A plan started forming on the whiteboard in my head. I could work with that–even with a bum arm. Groaning, I stood up and held my wound.

“Guy, work with me.” I didn’t need to see him, I could feel him by my side. It's been so long since I fought side by side with someone I could trust.

“Whats the plan?” He cracked his knuckles and nostalgia hit me like a truck.

“Vacuum!” I inhaled anything not nailed down and not bigger than an oil drum, desk included, storing everything into my void. Going with my gut, I aimed my mouth at Rupert with only one thought on my mind: hit those fissures. 

“Purification Breath!”

Glass, wood, any kind of debris I’d picked up shot back at him full force—pinning him to the wall. Rupert screamed in agony as shards of glass ripped into the cracks beneath his scales. His tail couldn’t catch it all but he damn sure tried and that left him open.

“Guy, go!” He rushed in and landed another barrage of punches. This time Rupert couldn’t block it all. When his guard was finally opened, Guy knocked him through the damn building with one solid uppercut.

But that wasn’t enough to take him out. 

Rupert stood back up, flames licking out from his mouth as he roared loud enough to wake the city. His jaw began to split in two and for the first time in a long time, I quaked in my soggy boots. I’d never seen any other dragons shift forms like me but I know what it looks like when I see it. It's always a gamble too, when you let the beast out. 

You never know when it’ll refuse to give up control.

“Enough!” Valeria hollered, stepping in front of Rupert. He stayed behind her but his eyes never left us.

“Mom–”

“Guy, go. Take Sapphyra with you, she’s upset your father enough.”

Guys eyes widened, he shook his head, trying to stay respectful but it was written all over his face. 

“Yes ma’am.” He turned his back on his parents and wandered over to my side, helping me walk through the door. I leaned on him but I was already healing–even my bleeding had stopped.

“I’m sorry about that. It was stupid of me to act like I still had any authority.” I admitted, lowering my voice so only he could hear.

“Never apologize for following your instincts. My father is a bully and you stand up to bullies–despite the bullshit they tried to feed us about your legacy.” 

He was taking me towards the wall but I didn’t dismiss his words.

“Wait…you know about my history?”

He smirked, eyes on the road ahead.

“Of course I do. And hold on tight cus’ I’m gonna take you to the others who know it too.”