Almost two weeks have passed since Theo passed the test, and he still hasn't returned home. Vice-captain Alexander keeps assuring Thalia that everything is alright, but she can't help but worry. Theo is not like her; he tends to be mentally weak when provoked in combat. She has heard that he has been training with the Captain every day. In all honesty, she has been struggling with her own training as well. The Vice-captain has been mercilessly pushing her to improve her aura control over the past few weeks.
Whenever Thalia does see Theo, he is always covered in bandages. He insists he is fine, but it's hard for her to believe him. What could they possibly be doing that causes him to appear injured every day? Her concern goes beyond just worry—Theo has been acting differently since his full transformation two weeks ago.
This brings to mind the first time she discovered Theo's unique bloodline trait. Thalia sits down on her bed and closes her eyes, allowing the memories of that surreal experience to surface.
Since they were young, Theo has always been a huge crybaby. Despite this, he was always sweet to everyone, which more than made up for it in her eyes. She used to see her brother as a fragile porcelain piece that she would display on a shelf. That was, of course, before someone decided to break him while she was away. A group of kids had been bullying him every day, playing games like "three punches" or "Scorpios and contractors." They always made Theo play the Scorpio, giving themselves an excuse to hit or throw things at him, knowing he wouldn't complain.
However, one day, something unexpected happened. An older boy named Kenny had often come around their condominium and would mess with Thalia when they were little. At first, he would do things like tickling her or poking her, which she found annoying. One day, while they were all outside their aunt's condo, they were playing rock, paper, scissors as well as a game called "Punch, Block, and Break."
The only way to win is to punch your opponent three times. The game idea is simple: it's similar to rock-paper-scissors, but with a twist. In this game, players start by saying "punch," "block," or "break," and then they yell out "shoot." Once they do, they must call out one of the three options: Punch, Block, or Break. The concept revolves around battle strategy. Although players can always choose to yell out "punch," both will lose if their opponent also yells "punch."
In this game, there are specific rules for counterattacks:
1. If you shout "Block" when your opponent shouts "Punch," you get one free counterattack, resulting in a punch.
2. If both you and your opponent shout "Block," it results in a draw.
3. If you shout "Break" and your opponent shouts "Block," your punch automatically lands, breaking your opponent's guard.
4. However, if you shout "Break" and your opponent shouts "Punch," you will automatically get hit.
The game consists of five rounds, and the objective is to be the first to win three rounds. If neither player reaches three wins, both players lose.
It was one of Thalia's favorite games, especially because Kenny never won—until that day. Kenny was thrilled to receive his three punches. Meanwhile, Theo was on his way down to inform Thalia that dinner was ready. Just as he reached the bottom of the stairs, he saw Kenny punch her twice. Without thinking, Theo dashed down the stairs and jumped over the railing, arriving just in time to witness Kenny land a third punch hard enough to knock Thalia to the ground. She rubbed her arm in pain.
Theo yelled out and tackled Kenny, their combined force sending them crashing onto the pavement.
"What the heck? Are you crazy?" Kenny exclaimed, surprised by Theo's strength. Under normal circumstances, there was no way that little Theo—who was nearly two feet shorter and almost sixty pounds lighter than Kenny—should have been able to tackle him. It seemed impossible since Kenny was nearly five years older.
"No one hurts my sister. I will kill you!" Theo screamed out in a voice deeper than his own.
Theo had grown nearly three inches taller, and his body seemed more muscular. His skin had taken on a dark, demon-like red hue. All the hair on his head stood up like fine needles. Thalia couldn't believe her eyes. Her sweet younger brother was gone. The only thing left was a monster that vaguely resembled her baby brother. His soft grayish-green eyes were replaced with red eyes filled to the brim with bloodlust.
In his new enraged state, Theo grabbed the boy by the leg, lifting him into the air. Kenny began screaming for help, while Thalia was so scared that she shook with fear. To snap herself out of the grip that fear had on her, she bit her tongue until it bled. Gathering her courage, she pushed herself off the concrete, regained her balance, and charged at Theo with all her might. She grabbed his newly enlarged muscular leg, which pulsated with power. Thalia attempted to put his leg in a grip using the Krav Maga that her Tia had taught her. This move would have stopped an opponent three times her size dead in their tracks. However, Theo was now much larger and had become nothing more than a minor annoyance.
"Get off, tiny woman, before I smash you too! " he says in a deep, grumbled voice.
He lifted his leg and slammed it into the ground, creating a small crater. Thalia nearly passed out from the shock of the impact. Theo extended his leg, pulling it back for a kick. "Let's go, Thalia. It's okay. Just get out of here," Kenny cried out, tears welling up in his eyes as he hung upside down by his leg.
"No, I won't leave you. I won't leave either of you. Not until my idiotic little brother snaps out of it." The commotion brought people outside of their condominiums and gathered around the kids. Kenny's mother came out screaming to put him down. She grabbed a broom and started wailing on Theo's side.
"Put them down, monster! Before I get mad."
Unphased by her threats, he backhands the woman, sending her flying. Theo laughed in his disturbing new voice. "Pesky woman."
A bright flash of white light appeared above them. The woman froze mid-descent, preventing her from hitting the monorail pole she was inevitably sailing toward. She was now hovering feet off the ground in a suspended state, surrounded by a white aura. She was eventually released gently to the ground.
"That is enough! You have had your fun, demon. Now return to your cell." A woman's voice boomed above them.
Thalia knew exactly whose voice it was, and hearing it instantly quelled all the fear building in her heart. She released Theo's leg and stumbled backward, falling to the ground. Thalia burst into tears.
"Tia you have to help Theo, I don't know what's wrong. He is no longer himself." Thalia had never been a crybaby. She was always a tough child, determined not to shy away from adversity. However, witnessing her baby brother's transformation into a monster was too much to bear.