prodigy
A military plane cut through the cold night sky, carrying the newest member of the Yeager Force. Rex Jones, just fifteen years old and the youngest ever to join, polished his sword with determination. Many believed he was destined to become an elite force member due to his exceptional skills. Suddenly, his hologram communicator beeped. Rex glanced at the display and saw his father, Adam Jones. He pressed the button to answer.
“Rex, are you crazy? Why are you accepting this mission? Is it worth the risk for a special forces promotion?” Adam’s voice was filled with concern.
Rex remained silent and ended the call. The pilot’s voice came over the intercom. “We’ll arrive in ten minutes.” Rex finished polishing his sword, sheathed it, and prepared to disembark.
When the plane landed, Rex stepped out and took in his surroundings. He noticed a faint red line leading to a mine shaft elevator and followed it. As the elevator descended, Rex emerged into a cavern filled with ancient structures, gripping his sword tightly.
A giant Yeager with red eyes and blue skin turned to face him. The creature unleashed a powerful beam from its mouth. Rex leaped into the air, dodging the attack, and slashed at the Yeager’s arm, severing it. The arm regenerated instantly, and the Yeager formed another beam in its hand. Rex dodged again, landing and parrying the Yeager’s charge before cutting its face. The Yeager vanished and reappeared in front of Rex, grabbing him by the neck and lifting him. Rex struggled, glaring at the creature as it began to glow with a red light.
Rex jolted awake in his bed, disoriented. “Why did I dream about that mission? It’s been four months,” he thought. He dressed in his uniform, which displayed the number 3 on his shoulder, and strapped his sword to his side. Heading to his father’s study, he knocked on the door.
“Hello, Father. What are you doing?” Rex asked.
Adam, turning from his desk, smiled. “Oh, hey Rex. Just finishing up some paperwork.” His shoulder bore the number 1. “So, you’ve been promoted to special forces rank 3,” Adam said.
“It doesn’t mean much. It just gives me more access at headquarters,” Rex replied.
“You’ve become quite boring lately,” Adam commented.
Rex remained silent. “Mother should be making a fuss by now. Where is she?” he asked.
“She’s in Egypt, evacuating people,” Adam said.
“Egypt? I thought the Yeagers took over that area thirty years ago,” Rex said.
“Yes, but Cairo was still standing. Now, your mom, Sally, is getting people out of there,” Adam explained. His pad buzzed, and he activated the hologram. “I’ve been assigned a mission. It seems something happened in Russia,” Adam said. He revealed a report on the hologram. “300 students died in a high school last night,” he added. He stood up. “Rex, come with me. Let’s head to Russia.”
Rex sighed. “Fine, let’s go.” Adam smiled. They left the office and entered the next room, where a machine with a circular ring awaited. Rex inserted the mission log into a computer, and the ring began to glow. “Ready?” Adam asked. Rex nodded, and they both stepped through.
Arriving in Russia, they found themselves in front of the school. Soldiers greeted them.
“It’s them, special rank 3 and 1, Rex and Adam,” one soldier said.
“He looks like a kid. How is he higher ranked than me?” another soldier muttered. Rex overheard and looked at them, but said nothing.
As Rex scanned the area, he saw members blocking the school entrance. A woman suddenly broke through, running to Adam. “Please, keep my daughter safe! She hasn’t come home since last night!” she pleaded, tears streaming down her face.
Adam’s expression remained stern. “We don’t know what we’re about to face,” he said. He turned to the soldiers. “Escort her out of the restricted zone and give her something to calm down.”
The soldiers complied, and Adam turned to Rex. “See, son, you don’t make promises in this line of work. Trust me, I made that mistake once, and I regret it.”
Rex noticed the frustration in Adam’s eyes but chose not to respond. “Let’s get going,” Rex said. They proceeded to the school entrance, where they were greeted by Daisy Ivanov, the eighth-ranked member of the special forces.
“Daisy, what are you doing here?” Adam asked.
“I need you to see something. I don’t know what it is,” Daisy replied.
“Show me,” Adam said. They followed her into a classroom, where Rex was hit by the horrific sight of dead bodies and pools of blood. “300 students died horrible deaths,” Daisy said.
“So, Yeagers did this?” Rex asked.
“No. A Yeager didn’t cause this,” Daisy said.
“Then why should we care? We deal with Yeagers, not human murders. Let the police handle this,” Rex said, his voice empty of emotion. Daisy shivered.
“Let me finish,” Daisy said.
“The students weren’t murdered by someone. They were killed each other,” she revealed. Rex and Adam were shocked.
“A Yeager’s abilities could do this,” Rex said.
“Yes, and this Yeager isn’t ordinary. It’s a high-rank Yeager,” Adam explained.
“Which explains the flux energy,” Daisy added. “It controlled the students, making them kill each other.”
“But why didn’t it eat them? If I were a Yeager, I’d eat them immediately,” Rex said.
“That’s why we’re here. Follow me,” Daisy said. They left the classroom and went upstairs to another room. Inside, Rex recoiled at the sight of a girl pinned to the wall, missing legs, organs, and eyes. Words on the wall read: “We live for her glory.”
“It’s a message. The Yeager wants to show it will do anything for Luna,” Adam said. They heard a clicking noise. “It’s watching us,” Rex said.
“Yeah,” Adam confirmed.
“Let me handle this,” Daisy said.
“No, I will,” Rex said. He charged at the wall, drawing his sword, and struck it. The wall shattered, revealing the Yeager behind it. The creature lunged at Rex, but he swiftly decapitated it. The body fell to the ground.
Adam and Daisy approached the Yeager. Daisy noticed the high school uniform. “We need to get out of here,” she said. Adam contacted the team. “Get everyone out now!” he ordered.
The ground rumbled as hundreds of Yeagers charged at them. Rex, Adam, and Daisy leaped out of the window. Adam and Daisy prepared to fight, but Rex said, “Leave this to me.”
The 300 Yeagers advanced. Rex focused, invoking his “Flame Style: Burning Wildfire” technique. Giant flames erupted from his sword, engulfing the Yeagers.
“He has incredible flux energy,” Daisy marveled.
“I know. That’s why he’s a prodigy,” Adam said.
Flux energy is a universal force harnessed through a serum, allowing humans to break natural laws. Yeagers, once human, have abilities that defy physics and reality. But some humans can achieve similar feats.
As the Yeagers burn, the woman from earlier approaches Adam. “My daughter, where is she?” she demanded.
Adam didn’t respond. Rex stepped forward. “She was forced to become a Yeager. I ended her suffering. She can rest in peace now.” The woman glared at him with disgust before leaving. Rex reflected on his past as a Yeager, haunted by memories.