The trio sat in stunned silence, the weight of confusion and shock hanging heavy in the air. Why had the general come to see them? Did their predicament just escalate? As they waited anxiously for General Steel, every heartbeat felt like a countdown to an unfolding disaster.Heavy footsteps echoed down the corridor, growing louder with each passing second until the door swung open, revealing General Steel. She stood before them, a menacing figure like that of a gremlin, ready to seize their very souls. With a wicked smirk curving her lips, she shattered the uncomfortable silence that enveloped the cell.“Well, well, well! Jax’s friends, aren’t you?” she taunted, her eyes glinting as they all nodded in response.“Yes, General,” came their unison reply, more a reflex than a choice.“Excellent. Let’s cut to the chase,” she said, circling them like a predator assessing its prey. “I’m sure you’re aware that Jax possesses powers far beyond the ordinary. But right now…” She paused, dramatica

“Bro, did you see that? Did you just unlock something incredible?” Noa asked, still baffled over Bart’s defense. Bart stood, his lips twitching. It should have been a thing of victory, but then his best male friend tried to kill him. Such had never happened in the whole of the seven years that they’ve been together. Yes, they've had a series of disagreements, but not to the extent of choking the other or attempting. “Can you do something for me, skinny legs? Don't tell anyone—not even Corra,” Bart ordered, and Noa looked away, his eyes rolling. “Okay, but... even Jax felt the surge, you were invincible. If that is your superpower, then you have unlocked superstrength,” Noa excitedly analyzed as Bart threw a pillow at him, pissed at Noa for simply being excited about him. “Can you just quit it? We are not okay, stop trying to make things look like we aren't dealing with a problem that we can't escape,” Bart said, frustration lacing his tone as Noa patiently took the pillow f

“What the hell are you going to do? Fight the General?” Bart exclaimed to Noa, despite his own painful condition. He sat on the ground, grimacing, but it was clear that the intensity of the situation was still to unfold.“Bart, what happened?” Corra questioned, glancing anxiously at Jax. “What—”“All you had to do was lie again? Why trick me? I never wanted to meet—”“Oh, drop it, Jax. Doesn’t it feel good to always play the hero?” Bart nearly shouted, holding his side. He winced, each painful breath hinting at potential consequences. “You saved my life back there. If they had not tricked you, I could have died…” His voice grew softer, each word weighed down by pain.Jax exhaled deeply, the weight of regret hanging in the air. “I was only angry, that’s all. You all betrayed me to secure your freedom, didn’t you?” His tone was resolute, but uncertainty loomed.“Maybe now isn’t the best time—”“Or maybe it’s the perfect time, Corra. We need to talk about this if we’re going to either st

“Jax, you can't just—”“I said what I said, and that's final,” Jax insisted, the tension palpable in the moment. He left the study room as the other three exchanged confused glances. “What is he doing?” Noa asked, his brows furrowed and his lips twitching nervously. “I have no idea,” Corra snapped as they followed him out of the study room, making their way to the field where an urgent assembly was being held leaving behind the unconscious boy. …The field smelled of metal work and a stash of intoxicating dust, with mechanisms whirring and humming in the distance by the tall warehouses that stood. Every student's heart thumped vigorously in their chest; the tension was suffocating. Cold sweat rolled down their faces, and their jaws tightened with every jarring word that came from General Steel. “One roaming culprit has drawn our attention. The unnatural death of a C3 student with honor, Rochester Pan has left us—me—on the brink of losing my temper,” she roared. Her face was a

“Noa!” Corra snapped as Jax and Bart shifted their condescending gazes to Noa who only wore a nervous smile. Head boy Prescott gave a tight smile, observing the boys who were, no doubt, jealous of her choice. “Alright then! Angel? Take your minion with you to Team A and you both move to Team B!” Prescott ordered as they all split but Prescott’s gaze was repeatedly on Corra until he was distracted by his colleague. When the students grouped themselves into equal halves as the tutor had demanded, the field instantly became silent as the tutor climbed the scaffold; his demeanor commanded stillness. “Alright, Zetas! Here's what we will do. Starting point is going to be simple, at least, it is a headstart of your career in this academy…” Agent Voss began in an authoritative tone that reached each curious ear.“I have two tasks for each team. So, this is the first task…” Agent Voss began as he tapped on a gadget linked behind his ear and a hologram appeared a few inches above his head,