The rhythmic thud of Kael's fists hitting the reinforced punching bag echoed through the basement. The space had become something of a second home, tucked beneath Aunt Nari's house — compact, but carefully set up for Kael's solo training.
Weights were racked against one wall. A worn notebook sat open on a nearby bench, filled with diagrams and notes for future maneuver combinations and Quirk synergy patterns. Sweat dampened Kael's training shirt, but his breath stayed steady, focused.
Then the door creaked.
Kael turned mid-combo, expecting Aunt Nari or maybe even Hana.
Instead, standing in the doorway with a half-grin and wind-ruffled hair, was Voidflare.
"…Hey, kid."
Kael blinked. "You're-you're back?"
Voidflare stepped inside, his boots soft against the padded flooring. "Got back an hour ago. Thought I'd drop by and check in on you. How's everything been since I've left?
Kael cracked a smile. "Pretty normal. Nothings been happening lately."
They walked up to each other without another word and exchanged a quick, simple handshake.
Voidflare let out a low chuckle. "You've gotten stronger. I can tell. Some new Quirks maybe? Hopefully you got a few that could allow you to land a hit on me for once."
Kael shrugged with a light laugh. "You always exaggerate. You're not untouchable."
"Yeah, maybe not, but to you, I am."
Voidflare then looked around the room. "Yumi and her mom sends their love. Speaking of Yumi, I'll tell you something… she's gotten stronger. A lot stronger. Still room for improvement of course, but man, you'd be surprised with how far she's come."
"Good to hear," Kael said. "Wouldn't want her slacking off anyway. Rather she be stronger than me than stuck at the same power level for the last three years."
Voidflare nodded. "How about we keep this reunion going? Come to the agency with me. It's been too long since we sparred. Wanna see much stronger you've gotten."
Kael's eyes lit up. "Yeah. I'm in."
Voidflare's agency towered at the edge of city. Sleek architecture, its logo gleamed above glass doors. Inside, pros and sidekicks moved with purpose, acknowledging Voidflare as he passed with Kael at his side.
Kael met a few of them in passing: Crimson Gale, a wind-type hero with a booming voice and even bigger presence; Tetherline, who manipulated steel cords with ballet-like precision; and Navi, a sensory-type sidekick who offered Kael an energy bar with a grin.
"Voidflare's kid?" she asked.
"Protégé," he corrected with a nod.
Voidflare led Kael to a private combat chamber. Thick barriers surrounded the room, glowing faintly with reinforcement seals.
"Let's see what you've really learned," Voidflare said, cracking his neck. "Use everything."
Kael nodded, stance dropping into a low guard.
The Sparring Match Began.
Voidflare rushed in first, flames trailing from his boots in a controlled burst. Kael Flashstepped to the side, barely visible, reappearing in a crouch.
He launched a tendrils erupting from his shadow, snaking forward. Voidflare dodged mid-air, flipping as a blast of fire countered the tendrils. Kael rolled under the heatwave, landing and slamming a fist down.
From his palm, Kinetic Forge activated.
The ground beneath Voidflare rippled — a kinetic pulse erupted upward, like a geyser of compressed force. It knocked Voidflare off balance for a moment.
'Kept this hidden, even from him,' Kael thought to himself.
Kael vanished again in a Flashstep, then reappeared behind Voidflare and launched a mid-air kick. Voidflare twisted, catching the strike in his palm, fire exploding between them.
Kael grunted and fell back, tapping into Smokescreen. A thick, churning fog swallowed the room in seconds. Voices echoed. Heat blurred direction. Footsteps vanished.
Then, tendrils struck again — this time, one managed to wrap around Voidflare's wrist.
"Nice trick," Voidflare said, yanking forward. Kael stumbled and was slowly being dragged into Voidflare range of attack. However, Kael infused Darkbind with the Kinetic energy stored inside himself, causing Voidflares arms to blowback.
Seizing this opportunity, Kael quickly latched Darkbinds onto two pillars out to side of him. He infused his legs with kinetic force, jumped back at a high rate of speed, and landed on a wall. He then launched off that wall, with his fist out, going directly for Voidflares gut.
All of this happened in the span of about two seconds since Voidflare was blownback by the kinetic force from Kaels tendrils wrapped around his wrist.
'Ive got you..' Kael thought to himself, knowing there was no possible way for him to dodge this. Voidflare was a bit stunned by his performance. He didn't expect Kael to transfer the kinetic force through Darkbinds tendrils.
He didn't anticipate that. 'You smart little…' Voidflare grinned as he rolled into a carwheel, backfliped and landed on his feet.
Kael, who was about a foot away from his face now, smirked as he saw the look of defeat on Voidflares face.
Or so.
He thought.
"You've come a long way." Voidflare cocked his left arm back like he was throwing a punch. A miniature explosion went off from his elbow.
BLAMM!
The next thing Kael knew, he was slumped in the middle of rubble on the other side of the room, a trail of blood slowly racing down his forehead. Dazed and a little confused, Kael had no idea what just happned. It was instant.
It was like once he blinked, he teleported into the wall. How could something move so fast?
"Are you okay?" Voidflare walked up on him, extending his hand. "Didn't expect that did you? Yeah, I know, I know. Im great."
"I can keep going," Kael said, groaning and shaking.
Voidflare raised a brow. "Can you now? Sure, you can heal yourself, but your already exhausted and drained. Try doing it and im certain you'll pass out."
Kael smirked, then sighed. "Alright, you win. I admit defeat."
"That's what I thought." Kael took his hand and Voidflare helped him up off his feet. Voidflare helped him to the medical support room and the doctors healed and fixed him up.
Later, they sat near the locker bay, sipping water. Voidflare wiped a streak of sweat from his jaw.
"You've grown a lot," he said. "Not just in power. You're sharper. More versatile. Guess I really am a good teacher, huh?"
Kael looked down for a second. "You are. Hey, what was that thing you did at the end? I couldn't see it clearly."
"Hm? Oh, this?" He showed Kael a small spark coming from his elbow. "It's a flame compressed and reshaped into an active explosive that can be set off in just the right spots on my body to give me a quick increase in strength and speed. In this case, I used it on my elbow to give me a stronger and faster punch. Only downside though is that its hard to control, so I have to wait for the person to damn near be face to face with me to get a guaranteed hit in."
"I see. I should've known you could do something like that. Even though I've studied your quirk through and through, and watched most of all your fights, I've never seen you do anything like that."
"Wow, Im honored that your such a fan of me." Voidflare teased him a bit. "But the reason you've never seen me do it is because I've recently learned this technique. From Yumi actually."
Kael looked up, his eyes illuminating. "Yumi taught you that move? Fare play.."
"Yeah, she did. Said that when we're flying, we're always porpulsed off the ground. Why don't take that little propulsion and use it for small increase in physical strength."
"She learned how to fly?"
"Learning, yeah. Got multiple videos of her crashing into trees. Ah, speaking of videos."
Voidflare pulled out his phone, and went to his photos. He then selecteded a video and showed Kael. He saw Yumi setting up a camera in her room, showing herself.
Kaels heart began thumping as he saw her. She looked a little more mature and refined. He never saw her in that way before.
'Was she always so…cute?' Kael thought as he took the phone and listened.
'Hey dummy. Dad said he's leaving soon, so he wanted me to record a video to send back to you, soooo yeah! Uhm, everythings fine over here. Moms teaching has really paid off. Look!'
She clasped her hands together and started grunting. A bright light shined and her hands slowly came apart, revealing a teddy bear in a tuxedo suit.
"What the.."
'Yeah, I know! Im cool right?! I can create things… from thin air if I focus hard enough. Isn't that super cool! Heheheh, you wish you could do that..'
Kael looked at Voidflare in awe. He looked back tilting his head and shrugging.
"Yeah, I was amazed too. But hey! She's my daughter. Of course she can do something as amazing as this."
"No, but,— even you can't do this. Not even her own mother. This is an entirely new revelation. Wow…"
'But well, that's all I wanted to say. Erm, keep getting stronger, okay? Don't let my awesome and cool power distract you. Remember, we're gonna be the best Heroes together, side by side. Even if I am a little stronger than you..'
She walked over to the camera and smooched the screen.
'P.S. I see amazing heroes, like everyday. And even made a bunch of new friends! Don't worry, they aren't as cool as you are, heheh. Talk to you later, okay? Byeeee'
She made a funny face before she ended the recording. Kael gave the phone back to Voidflare, a bright smile formed on Kaels face.
" Never seen you this happen before.."
Kael shook his head. "She's amazing. Strong, kind, funny. Just makes me wish I could move forward in time to see her."
"Ah, young love. Tell you what, Five days a week, every other week, for the next two years. Me and you in this gym, practicing, teaching you hero fundamentals and training with you. Let's make you a strong man for her to depend on. What do you say?"
"What… do I say?"
Kael stood up, turned around towards Voidflare and extended his hand.
"Let do this."
…