Hours passed as everyone got settled at The Vault. Sadiq, in his element, spent his time in the Data Core, Ayah feeding him information, learning the base's systems. He tinkered with the energy weapons, understanding their design. Umar and Nasir sparred in the training room, their enhanced strength and precision making dull thuds and sharp gusts of wind echo through the rock. Ahmad, with G by his side, perfected his flame control, learning to temper its raw power into focused strikes. Reed, exhausted but driven, studied Kane's plans, the mind-chip schematics, and the growing network of Enforcers.
As the sun fell and night sky darkened the Vault, Sadiq called them to the Data Core, his face grim as Ayah's calm voice narrated.
"Scans complete. Nucron signature identified: Fuhad Abdullahi, dubbed by his peers as 'Retro.' Location confirmed: Kwaru Village, Kaduna State."
The main screen displayed satellite images of Kwaru. It was no longer a simple village. A massive, shimmering dome of energy covered it, pulsating with a faint blue light. Around the perimeter, intricate, glowing constructs – digital sentinels – patrolled.
"bro built a kingdom," Umar murmured, his eyes wide.
The screen zoomed in. Inside the dome, life seemed orderly. Villagers moved freely. But the constructs were everywhere: digital barriers, security systems, energy generators. It was a digital utopia, or a gilded cage.
"He's using his power to reshape the entire village," Reed explained, his voice low. "His constructs are protecting them, feeding them, managing everything. He's created his own… digital kingdom."
"He's protecting them from Kane," G stated, his gaze fixed on the screen. "But he's trapped them too."
"more like keeping the whole world away. We need to go there," Ahmad said, his voice firm.
"Find out what he has done. And maybe… help him."
Reed nodded. "The A.I… oh sorry… Ayah has compiled mission parameters. But first, you'll need these."
He led them to the Armory. On display were four sleek, dark combat suits. Not bulky like Kane's Enforcer gear, but form-fitting, minimalist, designed for agility and power. Each suit bore subtle accents matching their Nucron abilities: crimson for Ahmad, a deep blue for Sadiq, a yellow for Umar, and an almost invisible grey for Nasir.
"These suits integrate with your Nucron cells," Reed said.
"They will help balance your abilities, protect you from energy blasts, and regulate your Nuragen output. They also have comms, thermal vision, and a direct link to the A.I…. my apologies, Ayah. she has molded the suits to fit your current power levels, I believe shes on track to making new ones that will adapt as you grow stronger."
Ahmad reached for his, the material cool and light in his hand. He pulled it on. It molded to his body, a second skin. He felt a surge of contained power, a hum of energy ready to be unleashed.
"speaking of power levels, it would fine to integrate Ayah with the system you created with Kane. B level 2 or something like that." he said, admiring his suit.
"already done. I did some tweaking earlier and she has it all registered." Sadiq said.
"yes, I have measured all your power levels and registered them in my databases." Ayah said.
"Sadiq Anka, Hydrokentic. Power level: B level 250. Nasir Hamuje, Aerokeniticist. Power level: B level 250. Umar Okeniyi, Geokenetic. Power level: B level 260. Ahmad Kuso, Pryokenetic. Power level: B level 300." Ayah listed.
Ahmad laughed maniacally, his power level evidently larger than his friends'.
"what are you now feeling like? Oga rest, e no go last." Umar sneered as he grabbed his suit.
The others followed. Sadiq admired the sleek design, Nasir moved with enhanced fluidity, and Umar's bulk filled his suit, making him look even more formidable. They were no longer just boys with powers; they were refined weapons, sharpened for a purpose.
"Good," G said, looking at them with fierce pride. "Now move, I'll be on the comms to guide you through it." he said.
They boarded a stealth dropship, Ayah's voice guiding the automated pilot. The ship sliced through the air, cloaked and silent. Kwaru Village was a few hours' flight.
Mid-flight, Ayah's voice filled the cockpit. "Mutlitple unidentified Nucron signatures spotted nearby with low power levels. Hostile activity taking place"
"Low power? They'll be easy," Umar grunted, flexing his new suit.
"Easy or not, be careful. Every Nucron is threat, especially to normal humans." G's voice cracked through the comms.
"should we see whats going on?" Sadiq asked.
"I think Retro's issue is more important." Umar said his arms folded.
"true but it won't do anything to us if we just look." Nasir said.
"let's see whats going on." Ahmad commanded. The ship made a turn and hovered over the small town.
People ran franticly as Nucron with a wide range of abilities fired blasts at them, explosions rippled through the town as shops were being looted. It was a crime spree and the whole town was being taken over.
"This one no go last now." Umar stated.
"But it still a problem. Lets go and stop this madness before they go too far. Ayah take us down." Ahmad commanded
The dropship descended, hovering just above the ground in a secluded, rocky gorge. They disembarked, the cool air hitting their faces.
As they moved towards the town, the sounds of distant shouts and crackling energy grew louder. Through the sparse trees, they saw it: a small marketplace, now a scene of chaos. Figures, some with glowing eyes or hands, were ransacking stalls, terrorizing villagers. These were not the disciplined Enforcers of Kane, but crude, opportunistic Nucron bandits.
"(scoffs) criminals," Sadiq observed, his suit's comms feeding him thermal readouts.
"They're are barely C-level. Some look even D-level." he added
"Still too strong for the people," Nasir muttered, seeing a bandit levitate goods from a stall.
Ahmad's eyes narrowed. This was the kind of petty chaos Kane's rise had enabled.
"Then we lets stop them." he said, marching towards the chaos.
They moved in. Ahmad launched a low, controlled burst of flame that melted a bandit's levitated loot, sending it crashing to the ground. The bandit, startled, turned.
"Wetin that now?! who be all this one?!" he yelled, his hands sparking with weak electrical energy.
"Your Papa" Umar retorted, already stomping his foot. A small, precise tremor rippled through the ground, making two bandits stumble and fall, dropping their stolen goods.
The bandits, a motley crew of maybe a dozen, most with rudimentary, uncontrolled powers, turned their attention to the boys. One, with unnaturally strong punches, lunged at Nasir. Nasir, with a fluid movement, dodged, then countered with a swift motion of his hand sent the bandit flying into a few crates.
Sadiq conjured a low, wide sheet of water that swept across the marketplace floor, tripping several bandits and making others slip and slide, disorienting them. Nasir followed, sending a precise gust of wind that snatched weapons from their hands, tossing them far away.
The fight was quick. The bandits, overwhelmed by the boys' enhanced speed, strength, and coordinated powers, were no match. They were used to preying on the weak, not facing trained opposition.
Within minutes, the remaining ones were either knocked unconscious, or sent sprawling into piles by Umar's earth.
The marketplace fell silent, save for the panting of the boys and the frightened murmurs of the villagers.
Ahmad looked at the chaos they had quelled. Stolen goods scattered. Terrified faces. This was the new normal outside Kane's direct influence – petty Nucron crime, unchecked.
"This one small," Umar said, kicking a stunned bandit's foot. "But e plenty for outside."
Nasir nodded, his gaze sweeping the horizon. "If this is how it is outside here… the whole country is in trouble."
Sadiq, kneeling to check a villager who had been knocked down, felt a grim realization. "Retro… he built his sanctuary because of this kind thing."
Ahmad looked back towards the path leading to Kwaru. Retro's dome, visible in the distance, seemed to hum with a different kind of purpose now. Not just a hiding place, but a response.
"We need to get to Retro. But after that…" Ahmad clenched his fist.
"We can't just ignore what Kane has done. We need to clean up these streets. Everywhere."
The easy victory had opened their eyes. The fight for the world was not just against Kane and his Enforcers. It was also against the rising tide of lawlessness that Nucron powers had unleashed. Their purpose, once confined to rescuing G and stopping Kane, had now expanded. They had to step up and save their home and their people. And the work was just beginning.