The room was lavish.
Decorated with furnitures that would cost thousands maybe even millions. The large bed is big enough to fit over three adult males while the bookshelves are filled with the newest edition of comic books and figurines of every Supersuryas.
On the walls, the posters of every movies from the previous Supersuryas are plastered all over.
Such scene, is enough to make anyone gasped in astonishment.
However, others would be even more astonished if they see the owner of this room.
A crisp sound resounded.
What followed soon is a stern voice," Young master, your calculations is wrong."
2x² + 5x − 3 = 0
"Listen," the tutor said, voice filled with patient as he explained despite the coldness of his voice. "This is an additional-mathematics question. We solve quadratics either by factorising or the formula. Factorising is quicker when it works cleanly."
He folded the paper, pointing a formula to the boy.
"First, multiply the coefficient of x² by the constant: 2 × (−3) = −6. We need two integers whose product is −6 and whose sum is the middle coefficient, +5."
"What pair multiplies to −6 and adds to +5?" The boy fidgeted; the butler smiled once, faint. "Six and negative one. 6 × (−1) = −6, and 6 + (−1) = 5."
The butler starts explaining slowly. His voice was calm now, patiently guiding the young boy.
The boy blinked, then scrunched his face as if trying to remember where a memory had slipped. "So… not three?" he asked.
"Not three." The butler straightened and, with a small yet elegant flicked of his wrist produced a tiny ruler and underlined the correct answers on the page. "Try writing the factors down neatly next time. Mathematics cares about signs as much as it cares about numbers."
The boy pushed the paper back. Then, with the solemnity of someone conceding defeat and accepting a new toy, picked up his pencil and wrote, carefully this time:
`x = 1/2, x = −3`
"Wrong," A cold voice interrupted.
In the cold desert of Samara, the night had already settled in. However, the training for him had only started.
"Your stance, riddled with flaws that even an amateur can easily breakthrough them."
The boy gritted his teeth, unwilling to accept the criticism.
Bam!
The boy's fist struck the nearby boulder.
His arm was instantly buried into the boulder. Webs like cracks appear all over.
The boy glared at the man.
Clearly, his pride had took a massive hit from his criticism.
And he is also making a point.
His mere physical strength is enough.
The man replies with a snort.
"Legs too wide. Arms too stiff. Your weight is scattered. Do you know what that means?"
The boy shook his head.
"It means a single push…" The man pressed one finger against the boy's shoulder, and with the smallest nudge, the boy stumbled back, sand scattering beneath his heels. "…and you're already on the ground."
The boy gritted his teeth, cheeks flushing.
"Listen carefully." The man crouched, tracing a circle into the sand. "Every style has its root. Every root has its flaw. You must learn them, master them."
He shifted into a low stance, his movements precise. "Silat." His feet glided in the sand, hands cutting sharp arcs. "It teaches you to flow, to use angles, to destroy balance. But many who practice it forget—if your flow is interrupted, if your footing is gone—your dance becomes stumbling." He stamped his foot, sending up a puff of dust.
He straightened, then drew his arms close, elbows tucked. His hands moved like a flurry of darts. "Wing Chun. Fast, close, efficient. Traps and centerline control. But it lives and dies in close quarters. Against a longer reach, or on open ground like this desert, its strength becomes its cage."
The man pivoted, his whole body twisting as his elbow shot out. His knee drove upward, stopping just short of the boy's ribs. "Muay Thai. The art of eight limbs. Brutal and direct. Knees, elbows, shins, fists. In the ring, it's a king. Out here?" He tapped the boy's chest lightly. "If you don't condition your body, every strike you throw is a strike you suffer. Muay Thai builds weapons, but it also makes you dependent on endurance."
Finally, he drew his fists up, one guarding his chin, the other hovering near his cheek. He bounced lightly, shifting weight between his feet, each step measured. "Boxing. Clean footwork. Guarding your head. Power through the hips and shoulders. But boxing… forgets the rest of the body. No kicks, no knees. A boxer who cannot close the gap against a kicker is nothing but a heavy bag waiting to be torn open."
The boy's eyes widened as he watched the transitions, the desert wind tugging at his hair.
"Do you see now?" the man asked, his shadow long and sharp in the late sun. "Each style is a blade. Sharp, but limited, much like your physical strength. Master them and you'll become the greatest weapon those warlords ever seen.
The boy swallowed hard, then slowly adjusted his stance, legs closer, arms looser, his breath steady.
The man gave the faintest smile. "Better. Now… again. Show me what you've learned. And remember, this world doesn't forgive weakness."
"Oi Karen! Are you there!" Makoto's shout suddenly cut Karen off his thoughts.
Karen immediately halted his steps, luckily saving himself from falling off the edge of the building.
"Whew, that was close." Makoto landed right next to him.
The two are currently on their way to accomplish the mission that Makoto had just received. Unexpectedly Karen's mind had gone off, thinking back to a distant memory.
"You've just suffered from overusing your Aspect. Are you sure you are in a good shape?" Makoto frowned.
"I'm just using my physical strength." Karen shrugged him off, jumping down from the tall building
The white haired boy landed on the floor of a lower building. He landed on the rooftop before dashing forward.
Behind him, Makoto landed on the rooftop using his Aspect to slow down his falling.
Along their journey, the neon lights from signs and even the lights from the floating holographic sign boards signaled that they had arrived at the outskirts of Uppercity.
"What do you mean you are just using your physical strength?" Makoto appeared right beside the white haired boy, running alongside him.
Karen's speed was astonishing.
Almost as fast as a person with a speed Aspect.
Karen ignored him.
The white haired boy once more jumps down from the building, this time using a nearby pipe to slide down across the wall.
Makoto followed behind him, jumping from one balcony to another.
Karen's foot landed on the ground.
Behind him, Makoto landed on top of a huge trash can.
Swoosh!
Makoto jumped out of the trash clan.
Luckily, the trash can had been cleaned for the day and its already night. Though the stench was still unbearable.
Karen glanced at him and shook his head.
Ignoring the redhead, the white haired boy walked out if the alleyway. The moment the lights of neons from the streets outside loomed over him, his body had already completely transformed to match the appearance of Elijah Wood.
Black hair, average look and stature and freckles on his cheeks. The only difference is that he is slightly short while his 'Elijah Wood' appearance looks like an adult.
The two stopped on a zebra crossing, waiting for the street light to turn red.
In the distance, the sound of truck can be heard.
Their target has arrived.
The two sat in silence, waiting for the truck to arrive.
Around them, there are already a crowd forming wanting to cross the road.
"Are you sure you are alright?" Makoto whispers.
"The chocolate bar was enough for me to fight for a few more hours." Karen reply.
"If something bad happens, then everything will be on you." Makoto gritted his teeth, "I've just known him for a two nights and he's already bringing me enough trouble." He mutters under his we.
Karen merely rolled his eyes.
[ Bubblia and her new sidekick, Whiterraform are dangerous.]
The holographic screen up above is broadcasting an interview with none other than Captain Valor.
"Captain Valor. Can you tell us more about the recent fight of the Ascengers and the villainess Bubblia and her newest accomplish, Whiterraform?"
Captain Valor, coldly spoke, "Bubblia and her newest accomplish Whiterraform have collided to cause chaos just today."
"Together, they've had wreaked havoc over Undercity just this morning. If it weren't for us, none of the civilians there would have had survived!"
In the crowd, the people murmurs amongst themselves.
Makoto narrowed his eyes, amused.
Karen's clenched his fist. However in the next moment, his fist loosened.
A child standing not far away glanced at the black haired boy before turning to the picture being shown on the holographic screen.
The boy tugged his mother's sleeve, pointing to the two youts standing just by his side.
His mother was too busy with her phone, not noticing the boy's reaction.
Karen glanced at the boy. He reached out his hand from his pocket and pulls out a candy. He handed the candy to boy before putting his finger on his own lips.
"But there is a footage of a person suspected to be Whiterraform saving the civilians injured."
"Saving the civilians? Are we sure it's not AI generated?"
Karen's eye twitched in annoyance.
Makoto behind him sniffled a chuckle.
The boy blinked.
Some of the people on the street finally stopped walking to look up.
"With the advancement of today's technology, just creating a video of Supersurya himself comitting crime is possible." Captain Valor said sternly.
"They are criminals, villains, no in between. And every criminals need to be put to stop no matter what."
Ding!
The floating traffic light finally turns red.
Just at this moment, a truck came to a stop right before them.
Their target has arrived.