Kareem chuckled bitterly, "With a vessel as coveted as mine, did you truly believe I would be without enemies?" As their adversaries boarded the boat, Polo, relying on his raw strength, repelled them effortlessly. Norvax, drawing upon his combat skills, dispatched many with precision. Jason, capable of wielding fire, refrained, wary of damaging the boat. Instead, he mirrored Polo's tactics. When the onslaught finally subsided, Kareem announced, "You have arrived.""But," Polo retorted, confusion marring his face, "you mentioned three days?" "Three days have indeed passed," Kareem replied cryptically. Before they could press him further, the boat vanished, leaving them amidst a bustling town in an unfamiliar world.

Upon their arrival in the unfamiliar world, they found themselves on a vast shore. The environment around them looked utterly alien, and the inhabitants, curious about the newcomers, cast probing gazes their way. Their clothing marked them as outlanders, and a tangible discomfort settled among the group. Suddenly, the world around Polo froze, rendering every creature and every ripple of water immobile. But in this stillness, he saw someone familiar — a mirror image of himself, but with a weariness that Polo's current self did not possess. "Why are you here?" the mirrored version asked sharply. "Go back." Polo, taken aback, questioned, "Who are you? Another version of me? Some kind of doppelganger?"The reflection sighed heavily, eyes clouded with an unfathomable sadness. "I am not your doppelganger. I am you, from a path not yet taken. Go back. Finish your studies, earn that master's degree. Leave behind this realm of the supernatural." "But my powers...," Polo tried to interject.Polo's eyes welled up with tears. "Trust me," he whispered, voice breaking, "it's not worth it." And with that, he faded away, leaving the present Polo shaken to his core. After witnessing the bizarre vision, Polo chose to brush it off. The group – comprising Polo, Ethan, Harry, Norvax, Ava, and Jason – made their way into the town. They soon came across a guild where one could purchase a license to hunt creatures. Each member of the group underwent a standard procedure involving an orb. However, when it was Polo's turn, the orb slipped and fell to the ground. An older, gruff-looking man hastily replaced the fallen orb with an antiquated alternative. The counter attendant, seeing Polo's confusion, remarked, "Don't mind him; he always makes a fuss." But the moment Polo touched the replacement orb, he was thrown backward, overwhelmed by an indescribable surge. Regaining his composure, the orb's reading revealed a value of zero, indicating Polo had lost his powers. "I didn't know," the attendant apologized hastily. "Shut up," Polo snapped. He then approached the older man. "Hey! What was in that?" he demanded, despite the man's towering stature. The man took a sip from his drink, replying coolly, "I did warn you."

Blinded by rage, Polo attempted to throw a punch. However, with one swift move, the larger man sent Polo crashing into a nearby cabin. By the time Norvax and the others were poised to retaliate, the mysterious man had vanished. After the shocking event, Norvax, Harry, Ethan, and Jason rushed to Polo's side. They stared in astonishment as Polo effortlessly rose to his feet, entirely unscathed. "How are you feeling?" Norvax asked, voice laced with concern and confusion. Polo laughed, a touch of wonder in his voice. "It's bizarre. I mean, I actually feel fantastic!" He hopped around a little, the buoyancy in his step undeniable. "I might have lost my original power, but this... this feels entirely different. It's overwhelming." Trying to make sense of the situation, Norvax commented, "It's a pity about your original power. What can you do now?"Before Polo could venture a guess, Harry's eyes took on a distant look, "Polo, I've just had a vision. The energy you now harness is magnitudes stronger than anything you've had before." "Seriously? That's insane!" Polo exclaimed, both shocked and thrilled.Ava, bringing them back to the task at hand, said, "Regardless, we need to get our licenses." One by one, they were issued their licenses, each marked with the "Normal Tier" rank.However, when it was Polo's turn, he received a license designating him as "Lowest Tier". The official who handed it out had witnessed Polo's earlier altercation and probably assumed he was weaker. Polo merely shrugged, not letting it dampen his spirits, and the group continued on their journey.

Following their encounter at the licensing guild, rumors about Polo's unique power began to stir throughout the town. One evening, an enigmatic figure, shrouded in shadows, approached the group. He introduced himself as the Guild Master, his body adorned with ancient tattoos, each signifying a distinct power. The Guild Master extended an offer to Polo: if he could defeat one of the Guild's elite creatures in combat, he would assist Polo in comprehending and mastering his newfound ability. But if Polo were to lose, he would be bound in servitude to the Guild. However, Polo interrupted him, fury burning in his eyes which turned pitch black. "YOU!" Polo roared. "YOU HAD ME DETAINED AT THE AIRPORT DURING RAMADAN! I WAS FASTING, AND YOU TREATED MY MEDICINE AS A DRUG, FORCING ME TO DISROBE!" Without warning, Polo's anger exploded into a ferocious punch. Although the Guild Master was formidable, the sheer force of the blow knocked him off his feet.

Rising with difficulty, the Guild Master revealed his power. Tensions escalated rapidly as members of both Polo's team and the Guild readied themselves for a confrontation. "Stand down," Polo ordered his group, mirrored by a similar command from the Guild Master to his own team.

"I was only doing my job," the Guild Master countered defensively. "Let's settle this elsewhere." Without waiting for a response, he lunged at Polo. However, Polo's newfound speed allowed him to dodge with ease, and the two found themselves engaged in fierce combat, causing massive destruction in their wake. In a last-ditch effort, the Guild Master summoned a mace with a spell, aiming for Polo's head. But again, Polo evaded, utilizing his speed and delivered a near-fatal blow. Defeated and breathless, the Guild Master spoke, "Why are you here? With such tremendous power, who are you?" "I seek Karnox," Polo replied firmly. The Guild Master nodded, "When you face him, be sure to finish the job. And your next stop should be Enerxis." Struggling to his feet, he walked towards the guild, with Polo offering assistance. Upon seeing Polo's low-tier card, the Guild Master replaced it with a special S-tier card, indicating a special class. Polo then updated his team on the events, and together they set their sights on their next destination: Enerxis.

As the pace of their adventures intensified, Polo and the group felt a pressing need to take a step back. Each was grappling with personal challenges: Jason and Ava's relationship was fraying; Ethan, along with his father Norvax, sought solace elsewhere while mourning the loss of a family member; and Polo was on the verge of giving up on the quest. They pledged to each other that they would only regroup when every single member was ready, no matter how many years it might take. Ethan and Norvax, united in their grief, undertook a two-year hiatus, coming back rejuvenated and stronger. Ava and Jason, after their separate one-year sabbaticals, returned matured, with the youthful romance between them having ebbed away. However, Harry, feeling adrift, chose a path of his own and did not return. Meanwhile, Polo vanished for a remarkable 12 years. As time passed, many assumed he had either perished or chosen a different life. But unexpectedly, a changed Polo, now with a robust beard and a more imposing physique, appeared once more. He approached a familiar table where his friends were seated. Norvax, not recognizing him immediately, remarked, “That seats reserved for someone we've long awaited.” With a wry smile, Polo replied, “Missed you too, brother.” As realization struck the group, emotions ran high. Tears, laughter, and stories were exchanged. Polo spoke of his academic pursuits and personal revelations during his long hiatus. They celebrated their reunion, but amidst the joy, Norvax shared a somber observation, "The world you left behind, Polo, has changed." With a depth of understanding in his gaze, Polo responded, “I suspected as much.”

"Have your powers returned?" Norvax inquired, a note of urgency coloring his words. Polo shook his head. "No, they haven't. It's like my original powers have been... replaced, I suppose." Replaced? With what?"  Polo hesitated, as if weighing the credibility of his own words. "Well, it may sound a bit anticlimactic, but I've taken up boxing. The shield, the energy manipulation, all those flashy abilities are gone. Now it's just me and my fists." Norvax stared, his expression a blend of surprise and curiosity. "Boxing? So you've been throwing punches for a living while we thought you were lost?""Exactly," Polo confirmed. "The job market wasn't exactly clamoring for a guy with a mysterious past and a dozen-year gap on his résumé. So I took to the ring. Made decent money, too. But let's be clear: it gave me no special advantage. Everything was won fair and square."

"Do you recall anything from our previous encounters? Death, the Eternals, Enerxis?" Norvax queried, a hint of nostalgia lacing his words.Polo shook his head. "I had almost forgotten all about that, to be honest."At that moment, Jason and Ava re-entered the room, seamlessly joining the conversation as though they'd never left. "Guess what?" Ava began, wearing a bright smile. "I'm a nurse now, and not just an ordinary one. I have healing abilities, so you could say I bring a special touch to the profession. The income isn't too bad either."Jason chimed in, "And I'm an engineer, specializing in both architectural design and boat construction. Fireboy is back, but this time with blueprints."Norvax nodded, visibly impressed. "As for me, I've delved into the world of chemistry. Between formulas and experiments, I've been keeping quite busy."

A mysterious figure materialized in the room, casting an ominous, towering shadow that seemed to swallow the light. Devoid of their former powers, the group recoiled in a mixture of fear and surprise. The shadow spoke in a voice as dark as its form, "Go see the fortune teller named Abdul. Three blocks down the street. He's one of the best." And just as abruptly as it appeared, the figure vanished into the ether. The room was thick with tension, each individual weighed down by their own thoughts and concerns. Polo broke the silence, his voice tinged with exasperation. "Honestly, I'm not interested in any of this anymore."Norvax, sharing his sentiment, responded, "Trust me, brother, the feeling's mutual."Jason, more resigned than resistant, chimed in, "Whatever. I guess we have to see this through."Ava, still visibly shaken, managed only a few words, "No comment. I'm...I'm still scared."As they meandered down the streets, inquiring about Abdul, the faces they encountered were uniformly blank. No one seemed to know this enigmatic figure. However, an elderly man with a flowing beard finally broke the pattern. For the modest price of a meal, he gave them directions to Abdul's residence.Arriving at the house, they knocked on the door, which creaked open of its own accord.