MIND GAMES: Guild Tryouts

Chapter 4

"Is there a problem?" Helmet mumbles.

—Jay tenses up and realizes why all of these players were freaking out. Helmet was in the main lobby, trying to leave the stadium. They must've seen him coming and blocked the exit so they could talk to him or get a picture. The crowd seems to exemplify Jay's concern as he contemplates it.

"Can I get a picture?"

"Add me to your friend list!"

Jay continues studying the situation when Helmet repeats his question.

"Hey pal, is all of this you're doing?"

"W-what? N-no! I was just t-trying to leave as well and I got trapped in the crowd! I pushed my way out and then ran into you!" Jay says.

Suddenly, two familiar faces burst out of the crowd into the pocket Jay and Helmet were in. Ivy and Axel are instantly tense as well when they enter Helmet's presence.

"Jay!"

"There you are!!"

Helmet looks over to Axel and Ivy, and points at them with his right index finger, raised high. The glare in his helmet shifted to the top as he lowered his head.

"So this is *ALL* of your faults?"

Axel and Ivy shoot back in surprise and shock. They had no idea what he was talking about.

"N-no! They're just my friends! We were just leaving as well!" Jay explains, trying to calm Helmet down.

Helmet looks over from Jay and acknowledges Axel and Ivy. The two nod their heads in agreement with what Jay had just said. Helmet—who had just undone one of his handguns safety's—clicked it back into safety. Jay and his friends sigh.

"That so? Figures... you guys look pretty new to the game anyways." Helmet says, almost trying to get a reaction out of them.

For a second there was a long undelayed pause. All three friends look at each other.

'WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!'

'WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!'

'WHAT IS THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!'

Axel steps towards Helmet with a fire in his eyes.

"Hey, big shot! Lemme show you how 'new' I am! *ASPECT ON*!"

As Axel says this his, gauntlets start to glow. The fire in his eyes begins to spread towards his hands. A large flame explodes out of each of his palms, shooting upwards and resting upon entering the scene. The flames were a mix of red and orange, which seemed to match his hair in some ways. Axel looks towards Helmet, and without skipping a beat, clenches his right fist and thrusts it towards the figure. As the punch is thrown, the fire around his gauntlet is sent forwards, in the shape of a fist.

"*Fire Fist!*" Axel announces.

As the projectile shoots to Helmet, he doesn't instantly move away. He looked at it like he knew where and when the attack was going to be thrown.

'This is even faster than that Dillan kid's move... interesting...' Helmet thinks.

Before Helmet was given a moment to move out of the way, an amalgamation of tree branches and fauna blocked the path in front of him. For the first time today, Helmet is surprised, but at the same time seems to know this would happen. Jay looks on as this happens, being right behind Helmet.

"*Bark Block!* Ivy announces.

The branches block the fire attack, sending ash and charred wood in several directions in an explosive impact. Axel looks stunned and looks to his left at Ivy.