The Gifted (Txt x Itzy)

七十七

The fifteen immediately split up into different groups, displaying their skills as they readied and tensed.

Ryujin exhaled slowly, "We're outnumbered, so we need a plan."
"Yes, can anyone come up with one in around sixteen seconds?" Kai asked.

"Forget that. Just stop them, don't kill, just wound or disable."

"Gotcha."

(I am going to call the fifteen letters A to O, because I don't have names for them and let's face it, it would be easier to follow. Also, that sounds like what the ten would call them so they can figure them out)

A was obviously a teleporter, she was meek but nimble, darting around and popping up randomly to shove them to the ground. Taehyun had trouble pinpointing her location but Jisu simply adjusted the gravity strength around the fifteen and watched as they floated up.

B had a ugly scowl on his face as his tan flesh morphed into silvery smooth metal. He shot towards them at blinding speed, the gravity hold Jisu had doing nothing, he was really heavy.

C seemed to be the girl from just now, playing more passive as she slipped through the soil and jumped out to dodge their haphazard attacks and frenzied shouting, leaving vines and clumps of soil in her wake.

D pulled water from the air swiftly, the liquid solidifying into ice that aimed at the ten like bullets, a terrible reminder. "Why can't you do that?" Kai yelled at Taehyun as the other countered by turning the ice back into water. "Don't blame me," Taehyun grumbled, "It's hard to handle all four elements." D's motions were smooth and fluid, she attacked and retreated like the waves of the sea.

Like a light show, E released dozens of blinding lasers, that cut through tree branches, startling birds, and could have decapitated the ten if not for their deft reflexes.

Those fifteen gifteds were crafty, trying to pull them apart and lure them away, to divide and conquer.

Yeji decided to focus on the more irritating gifteds, such as F who swung logs and branches at them with his telekinesis. The boy scowled in annoyance as Yeji's gift took a toll on him, his muscles softening and his large frame shrinking slightly.

The remaining nine had an assortment of minor but pesky gifts, shadows darling their vision and scorching hot electricity zapping at their skin.

"Why do they even want to kill us so bad?" Yuna muttered under her breath.

Yeonjun was very unwilling to use his gift, simply avoiding flying debris and strings of curses carefully. "No offense, Yeonjun, but now is a terrible time to be conscious about your gift!" Taehyun bit at him, chest heaving and looking strained.

Soobin and Beomgyu were having a hard time, seeing as it was hard to latch onto anyone of the fifteen fast and furious gifteds.

Chaeryeong struggled with the lack of glass, only able to work with her tiny glass pendant that she surprisingly has not lost since the start. But to much of their surprise, she slowly manipulated the little thing as it twisted and moved like a strange jellyfish, and grew larger and larger until she had a whole shield-shaped piece of glass before her, almost the size of a television screen. Her eyes gleamed white for a second, before she turned her attention to the enemy gifteds, her shield breaking into smaller, still deadly pieces. Soon she turned her attention to the clump of gifteds who were before her, who eyed the glass nervously. The crystal clear pieces shot towards them, pinning them to the trees or the ground, some missing the flesh but mere centimetres.

Like the idiot he was, Taehyun was trying to take three of them at one shot. Obviously, he was unable to keep track of all three of them who surrounded him from the front, back and side, only managing to shoot a blast of strong air or summon up the earth to protect himself from their blows. Eventually he let his guard down and was blasted head on in the gut with brilliant blue electricity, the girl looking triumphant as her fingers smoked. By then, the three managed to push Taehyun further from his friends, effectively isolating him.

But the twins had noticed the tactic, and ran to his side, concerned.

Managing a pained grimace, Taehyun choked out, "You can borrow my powers for a bit. I won't be using it for a while." Beomgyu and Soobin mirrored a look of caution, before they rested their hands on Taehyun's shoulders and closed their eyes in concentration. They stood shakily, and Taehyun's body relaxed, leaning against a solid tree stump and taking slow deep breaths. "Have fun, I guess," Taehyun laughed lightly.

Soobin tested out his fire, amazed at the softball-sized flame he procured, way bigger than any fire that Taehyun had ever created.

Beomgyu allowed the air to swirl and dance around him, the only indication that it was there was the whooshing noise as his hair rustled and the leaves that were yanked and puppetted around.

The twins faced the other gifteds, whose faces had a variety of emotions, frustration, fear, anticipation. "Let's do this," Soobin smiled at his brother and they shot forward, water leaping and earth soaring. Their five opponents defended and attacked, some were encased in cocoons of the different elements while some were thrown into the air or implanted into the ground.

The most terrifying sight was the white glowing eyes of the twins, not even blinking as the gifteds cried in terror or groaned in agony. Despite only having had the power for a short period of time and had the opportunity to test it once (which was quite some time ago), they had mastered the elements way faster and more powerful than Taehyun ever had.

Yeji and Yeonjun came running, thinking that they needed help, but the twins were surrounded by five unconscious bodies, their eyes twinkling despite their heaving chests and sweaty foreheads.

"Nice job, you two," Taehyun chuckled, trying to prop himself up. Yeonjun hurried to the injured boy's side, while Yeji smiled at the twins, but the smile faded as they staggered and swayed.
"You guys good?" She asked, and Beomgyu shrugged, "Yeah, it's just the side effect of our gift, the exhaustion and-"

"The need to sleep?" Taehyun interrupted, having perked up and feeling a lot better. The three exchanged tender smiles before Yeonjun sighed, to Taehyun "Let's get you back to base."

-

They gathered before their tents, in a circle, all unable to speak.

"Okay," Jisu let out a nervous long breath, "So...who's leaving?" Everyone stayed silent for a bit, before Taehyun raised his hand carefully. Kai followed suit, unable to meet Yuna's eyes. But most unexpectedly, Yeji and Chaeryeong raised their hands in unison.

"Wait, why-" Yeonjun started but Yeji's face washed over with a mixture of sadness and longing. "It's...it's not that I don't love you, or any of you, it's just," Yeji squeezed her arms gently, and managed to choke out, "I really miss my family. I miss my home." Yeonjun looked so crestfallen, but Chaeryeong interrupted, "I feel the same way too. I've dropped everything to come here, but I want to go back. I'm sorry, but that's my final decision."

Taehyun gave a crooked smile, explaining next,"I'm tired of this life. I have an old family friend I can go to, I have money and stuff to survive. Maybe I'll come visit, but for now, this place isn't where I want to be."

Kai was the last one, still silent and studying the cracked ground, then he finally spoke. "I want one more shot at my old life. Bond with my parents. Use my gift less. Make more friends. Live a real, true life," His eyes were pleading for them to understand. Yuna's eyes glistened with tears, but she gave a nod; she understood.

"Okay..." Jisu took another shaky breath, "Okay. At least...at least we have some time to say-" Her voice broke, and Chaeryeong grasped her hand, "We'll have time to say goodbye."

AN: extra long chapter because the gifted is ending soon!