The Phantom of New York

Reunite

"Did you need something Wells, you hardly ever have enough free time to wander around the school for fun," Phelps questioned.

"Zane. How is he doing?"

Phelps laughed, "Well currently he is destroying my entire class. He is extremely ruthless, isn't he? I mean, he's not even holding back."

"Oh really? I didn't think he would be like that. Is something wrong Anastasia, you haven't left yet?" Wells stated.

Anastasia appeared again, she had annoyance plastered across her face.

"It infuriates me to no end that you can both detect me when I'm in a different dimension."

Wells shrugged his shoulders without an answer. Anastasia walked towards the wall, staring through the wall, she was watching Zane. She smiled.

"You are correct Wells; He isn't like this. Ever since the day he was forced to annihilate an army, Zane despises fighting at his full strength. Dr. Ajax realized this and quickly took advantage of it. He hoped to break Zane and try to achieve a higher stage mask. But it didn't work. Zane was already broken on the inside. He was completely broken. Time has seemingly slowly healed his wounds, but it still curses him."

"Then why? Why is he fighting them, and why did he eradicate Ajax's Lab with his Stage 3 mask," Wells questioned, feeling drastically confused.

Anastasia smirked slightly," So that was him. But Wells, think about it. Who caused him all that pain? Zane would only break his self-imposed rule for one person. The last time I spoke to him, he left me with a message:

"Our time together grows short, soon we'll be separated, likely forever. So, I want to promise you something before that happens. I swear, I will get revenge for all of us. Even if it cost me my life. Ajax and his entire corporation will be destroyed."

"He always was dramatic, that is a guarantee," Anastasia sighed.

"You two seem...close, to say the least. Were you two in a past relationship or something?" Wells questioned.

Anastasia stared up at the ceiling, "No, nothing like that. Just two beings destined with the same fate."

"Don't tell me..."

"Code-D3. Demon 3."

"No way. This entire time..," Wells was so baffled he could barely form words.

Anastasia turned around and walked into the kitchen and made herself a cup of coffee. Phelps was staring at her, looking more worried than confused.

"You haven't answered why Zane isn't holding back on Faitingubīsuto. Is something bad happening? Has this Dr. Ajax done something to them?" Phelps questioned.

Anastasia laughed," No, it's nothing to worry about. It was just me controlling his emotions."

Wells and Phelps looked completely dumbfounded. As they stared at her, Wells couldn't help but grin.

"Not only is this Code-P's first day of attendance, but it is also the day we learn our best student is also a subject of Dr. Ajax. This day seemingly gets more and more interesting by the minute," Wells exclaimed.

Phelps was ignoring Wells, his eye glowing blue to signify he was watching Zane fight.

"Anastasia, can you please stop Zane before he cripples Jamie?" Phelps asked, beginning to grow nervous.

"Oh sure, whatever," Anastasia said, waving her hand to summon the harp.

"Serenade of the Depths: Cancel," Anastasia muttered, brushing her hand across the strings of the harp.

Back inside the training room

Four people were now on the ground unconscious. Austin, Brysen, Ben, and the previously unnamed Chris were on the ground, leaving Jamie and Shawn the only ones left. Shawn had jumped onto a shelf and was waiting, while Jamie and Zane were in hand-to-hand combat. Zane kicked his leg out, catching the unexpecting Jamie. He fell to the ground and Zane jumped on top, holding him down. Jamie struggled to get up but was barely able to move. Staring into Zane's blank eyes, he pondered what caused Zane to obtain such overwhelming power. From behind, Shawn dropped back to the ground while Zane was distracted.

"This may be cheating, but damn do I want to destroy this little shadow star," Shawn said, activating an armband he had grabbed from the shelf. He lifted his sleeve and slung the armband along his shoulder. After the armband was placed on, he fixed his sleeve to hide the armband. Shawn clenched his fist, he took a deep breath and walked closer to Jamie and Zane.

"Go ahead Shawn," Jamie muttered, struggling to talk with Zane crushing his legs.

"Wolf's Claw," Shawn said, breathing out.

A spiritual wolf's arm appeared along Shawn's arm. He lifted it, but before he could attack Zane, the sound of a harp rang throughout the room. The wolf claw disappeared along with Zane's blank expression. Emotion and sentience flooded back into Zane, causing his grip to loosen and allow Jamie to escape. Along with the harp sound, both Wells and Phelps appeared inside the room. Wells walked over to Zane and helped him up while Phelps stared at his unconscious students with a perplexed look.

"What terrifying power. He managed to subdue almost the entire team without difficulty. Why did Dr. Ajax need to create such a powerful weapon?" Phelps thought to himself.

After a few minutes had passed by, Ben was the first to wake up. He looked around and when he saw Zane looking fairly unfazed, he couldn't help but laugh.

"I guess even Jamie and Shawn couldn't beat you, this utter defeat surely was unexpected. Welcome to the team Zane, I gladly welcome you and the others won't have a choice," Ben said.

Zane nodded his head in thanks, but in his head, he had no idea what Ben was talking about. The last thing he remembered was dodging Brysen's attack before he blanked out. When he had seen the passed out bodies of everyone, he worried an attack had occurred. But Ben's jovial attitude disproved this theory. Zane looked at Wells for guidance, but he was busy casting healing magic along with Phelps. Zane sighed, his first day at school was already beginning to seem chaotic. As he remembered lunch was next hour, he began to relax. But then he remembered what was scheduled for his lunch. The exam for his magic potential.

As if on queue, Wells popped up behind Zane and poked his shoulder. Zane turned around to see Wells holding a school-issued armband. Wells had found the armband next to Shawn and remembered that Zane was missing one, a truly convenient outcome for Wells. Zane quickly rolled up his sleeve and attached it to his arm. He felt the armband form the magic connection with his potential, which was very weak and fragile from the Human Mask.

On the other side of the room, the other members of Faitingubīsuto were finally beginning to awaken. Shawn stared at Zane in frustration, but later turned away and Jamie struck a conversation with him. After everyone had awakened and been healed, Phelps stood in front of the crowd. He cleared his throat.

"To start, I must say it is surprising that one shadow star managed to beat my entire team. This is also extremely disappointing. I spend almost all my off-time training this team, and to see such an utter defeat is well... strange," Phelps lectured.

Shawn instantly responded with an excuse," Hey, well it's not our fault. He's a transfer student and must have cheated. I mean, let's be honest, he survived one of Jamie's ancient chops. No one has ever managed to do that. I guarantee he must have used magic to defeat us, there is no other way."

Wells snickered," I don't think you should be talking Shawn, Mr. Wolf's claw over here."

Jamie laughed at the quip, while Shawn glared at Wells. As everyone laughed, Austin slowly raised his hand to ask a question. Phelps noticed and gave a notion of a nod to signify a go-ahead for Austin to ask away. Austin took the notion and turned towards Zane.