The Phantom Riser

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE - HUNTED (3)

The map guided them to the meeting point for the test, but that was about it. Unlike the map that Kiro and his team had retrieved, it didn’t show the position of others. Only the position of objects. This meant that they were down to using their primary senses to watch out for enemies. Kiro for one was by far the most conscious of this fact. He kept on looking at everyone and everything. He was anything but relaxed. They passed a few other district teams but they were all too cautious to even approach Kiro and his team. News of their exploits had traveled far. “Kiro, relax. You’re creating enemies where there are none,” Karenia said.

Kiro sighed. It was the first test that he was truly doing for the first time so he was quite worried. And a familiar unwanted face showed up. Group of faces actually. Jovak, Isaac, Nami, and Leroy walked across them. It felt like they had taken a different route to avoid traveling with Kiro and his team but fate brought them together. If the map could have shown the position of people, they would have definitely avoided it as well. But it was too late for that. Their paths had already crossed and it was up to him to handle it from there. Karenia waved at them as they tried to pretend not to notice them. When they still didn’t react, she kept yelling Jovak’s name. When his frustration peaked, he finally walked their way.

Victor made a face at her as she beckoned on their frenemies. Their truce was a temporary one. But at the moment they had absolutely no reason to fight. There was nothing to gain. So, both parties were forced to a truce once more. But Karenia bore no resentment towards them for the sole reason that they fought with them when everything was at stake. That sole reason was enough for Karenia to extend a welcoming hand. But she also knew better than to assume they were allies. She knew how quickly they could turn the tables on them if it suited them. But at that moment, they weren’t enemies.

Jovak reluctantly came over to their side. Nami and Leroy seemed to care less about them. They had no reason to like or hate them. And since they weren’t in the fight with the Ranger, they didn’t know what it felt like to ally with Kiro and his team. So, they had no reason to be particularly friendly with them. Plus, they only attacked them on Jovak’s orders, so no reason to hate them either. The only one who was smiling among them all was Karenia. “You’re looking well, Jovak,” she said.

Jovak gave her face that screamed that he could care less what she thought. His gaze went straight to Kiro. Before meeting them, he had made Victor; the Ascient his target. But now, the only one worthy of a rival to him was Kiro; the Phantom Riser. And it was a rivalry he wouldn’t let go of until he destroys him. “Make sure you all pass. The one who will defeat you is me, Phantom Riser,” he said, pointing a finger at Kiro.

Kiro grinned in excitement from his challenge. “I look forward to it, but I wouldn’t keep my hopes up either,” Kiro retorted. Jovak chuckled upon hearing Kiro’s response. He knew well that that wasn’t an empty threat. He left without saying another word or sparing them a sight. Isaac nodded respectfully as they left. They were his opponents, but the ordeals they went through together earned them his respect.

“Do you think we’ll have to fight them again?” Victor asked. It would be very troublesome if they were condemned to just blocking Jovak’s attacks.

“It’s very unlikely. Jovak wants to take us on under fairer circumstances. So, we should be safe from his trouble,” Kiro said. To his surprised, they all heaved a sigh of relief. Why? Did they think that Jovak was the only threat that they had to worry about? Yes, he was dangerous, but they were taking the other Riser too lightly. “You seem to be forgetting that there will be a lot of other troublesome Risers in other districts. Remember that they also passed their own tests,” Kiro said.

“Yes, yes. You’ve said this like a thousand times already. We get it Kiro, we’ll always keep our guard up. Alright by you?” Victor asked.

Kiro sighed. He truly hoped they understood all he had said. There was a large possibility that they would be separated from each other. The plan was to first try to find one another. He did not doubt that they could handle their own in the event of a fight. But if they were to take it with levity. It could come back to haunt them.

***

Isaac stared at Jovak for some time. he was expecting him to at least say something but he remained adamant. Finally, Isaac broke the silence himself. “Why didn’t you say anything to them? We fought together. Shouldn’t we be allies now?” Isaac asked. He looked to Nami and Leroy but they shrugged away from the debate. “You can’t avoid this topic. You know that we owe them, right? Yes, they were the reason we were in that trouble in the first place, but we got out alive because of them,” he added.

“I don’t deny that fact. In the same way, they cannot deny the fact that we helped them as well. Even though in the end, our help turned out to be useless. But I know for sure that there are times when we will need to assist them, and them us. Like this test. Our district must come out tops. Noah wants that. But most importantly, I must finish tops as well. As must you three as well. Keep that in mind. The only one that gets to lay a finger on them is us,” Jovak said.