Second Reality: Surge of Power

Chapter XXI. A God's bargain

"Level up? Like in a video game?" Faul's eyes lit up in a way the kids had never seen before.

"I wouldn't know if it's similar to that. I have never played one before." Hook chuckled.

"Yes... sort of." Watch explained. "All this time training with us, you have gathered experience, trained your side abilities, your strength, speed, durability, but your main ability is harder to enhance. In the midst of battle, you use them more, but going out and looking for trouble is unwise. Not to mention it could take months or even years to level up that way. Since it all depends on the intensity and the frequency of battles."

"And what if we battled you every day as intensely as we can."

"First of all, we have a limit too. The six of us would need to battle two of you each, daily. And even if that was an option it would still take months." Hook chimed in.

"So, if that's not an option either, how will we level up?" Sun looked disappointed.

"That's what they are working on." Hook answered pointing at his friends as they prepared something. "But before we get there, I have one question for all of you and I need honest answers." The kids looked at Hook with anticipation. Hook's usual wide grin was swapped with a more reserved smile. One with purpose behind it. "What is your deepest desire?"

"What?" The kids raised their eyebrows.

"It is not a trick question. You are all motivated by desire. A goal to achieve. You need to visualize what it is so that you can work for it with all your heart. Now come! Say it! I won't judge you." Hook eagerly awaited the first child to speak up, but they stood there in silence waiting for someone else to talk. "If you don't have the courage to shout your dreams out loud, why are you dreaming at all?" This question sunk deep into the kid's heart but was quickly undercut by the next sentence from Hook. "I want to be a fishing champion!" The kids took a step back surprised. Some of them were holding in laughter as they heard the bulky man's confession. "But with my strength I snap the rod in half in my excitement every time a fish bites. So, my dream is to have an unbreakable fishing rod." The whole class understood what he meant. It is no shame to have a small dream as long as you are proud of it.

Vhiz stepped forward. He hesitated for a second before speaking up. "I want my parents to get back together... But...only if they wanted to."

Hook nodded accepting the boy's statement.

"Mine is a bit more selfish, but I want to be a world-renowned football player." Sun rubbed his neck in embarrassment.

"I want to be there for my brother as he becomes a great footballer." Luna smiled at him.

"You should have your own dream!" Sun teased his sister.

"As long as the people important to me are there I have everything I need." She whispered to her brother.

Ginna excitedly wrote something on her board. "I want to be a dancer on a big stage!"

"I want my parents to have no financial problems." Niel said embarrassed looking away from the others.

"I want to see the world." Taran answered with more emotion on his face than ever before.

"I want to have a lot of friends!" Marco looked around at his classmates. " A lot more!"

"We're not enough!? Jeez!" Iiwa chuckled, then let out a tired sigh. "I sort of got what I wanted already. I always wanted to fly!" She smiled, her eyes following the clouds. "But maybe if I could ask for a bit more... I want to fly together with my friends." She smiled at the others stopping her gaze on Luna.