Atop a nearby building, a pair were watching the spectacle unfold. The man constantly dug into a bag of chips, chomping down on them every few seconds. His hand scooped into the bag over and over, but the contents didn’t seem to get any lower.

“Can you quit it with the chips!” A woman exclaimed.

“Why though?” He asks.
She slowly turns to him.

“Because it’s irritating. We’re supposed to be checking for any Codexes that pass by, not stuffing our faces!” She exclaims.

He takes a bite of one more chip, and she snatches the bag and tosses it off the roof. 

“Noooooooo! That was a rare flavor!” He exclaims.

“Don’t care. We’ve got work to do. There’s another group coming through, looks like they just got done fighting a character.” She explains.

“Oh, so it’s time then?” He asks.

“No, we’re gonna sit up here and watch. OF COURSE WE’RE GOING DIPSHIT!” She nearly shouts.

“I hope you know you’re the rudest person I’ve ever met.” He says.

“And you’re the dumbest I’ve ever met.” She shoots back

The pair leave the rooftop through a door, meanwhile, Raiah hooks the jumper cables to his back as his body arches in immense pain.

“Augh! Ahhhhhh! Arrrrrgggggggh!” He shouted violently as he and Web Boy were electrocuted together. Raiah nearly fell over watching them writhe with pain. After almost minutes of being electrocuted, the shaking began to cease as Buffalo fell over onto the concrete. A loud thud resounded as Raiah, Velle, and Dante watched his still body. Raiah placed her hand on her chest as she sighed in relief. Velle walked over to her and slapped her in the back.

“Good thinking!” Velle exclaims. “You weren’t the Valedictorian for nothing!”

“I don’t think that has anything to do with it…” She mutters. “But it’s finally over!”

“It wasn’t a bad plan,” Dante says.

“I agree!” Web boy shouts from beneath Buffalo. He raises the giant off of himself and climbs out of the crater. His mask and clothes are torn, revealing parts of his face and body. Mud was caked onto the back of his clothes which were spared from the brunt of the beating.

“I’d say we came out of this pretty good!” He exclaims.

“I’d say you need to go to the hospital,” Dante says.

“This much damage is normal.” Web Boy states.

“So you normally get your ass kicked?” Dante asks with a smug grin.

Web Boy hangs his head. Before walking closer to them. 

“Tell ya what, as thanks for helping me out, take this.” Web Boy holds out his hand and three small orbs appear on his palm. Raiah catches a glimpse of them and points to the one on the outer edge.
“Vee you should take this one.” She says.

“Gotcha.” Velle grabs the one she specifies and is enveloped in a veil of words, each about the ability she gained, before flowing into her arm. She grins at the ability displayed on her page. A three-star ability that increases strength. She walks over to one of the cars and raises it from the front above her head.

“I’m lifting cars now!” Velle shouts excitedly.

“Which one should I pick?” Dante asks.

Raiah points to the one in the middle.

“Are you sure?” He asks.

“Yeah, it's the best ability.” She says. 

Dante picks the ability and it flows into him as well. He immediately checks and then angrily grits his teeth. He points his finger at Raiah.

“Best ability my foot! This just tells me how I should’ve dodged after getting hit!” Dante exclaims.

Raiah backs away a bit.

“I-I’m telling the truth!” She says. “I-It’s a bit quirky, but it’s stronger than you think!”

“Then what’s this other ability?” He asks as a vein appears on his forehead.

“T-that one enhances agility.” She says.

“Then why did you give me the hindsight ability?!” He exclaims, throwing his arms to his sides.

While Dante was angry at Raiah, the last ability returned to Web Boy.

“Sadly, you don’t have space for this one.” He says.

“I did fill my page earlier today.” She thinks.
Buffalo’s long horns begin to glow before breaking off and flying over to Raiah.

“Woah,” Velle says, raising and lowering a car quickly. 

“M-must be from the ability I got earlier.” She says, holding onto the thick horns.

“Those are pretty strong horns, Bison used it to pierce a tank last time we fought.” Web Boy says. He pulls out a small card, causing Buffalo to be engulfed in light, then was sucked into it. “I gotta bounce, I need a change of clothes, thanks for the help, O good citizens!”

Web Boy jumps into the air, landing on the side of a building before running up it and jumping over the roof.

“I know one of the abilities you got lets you see what skills a character has, but, what does the other do, again?” Velle questions.

“A-any enemy that’s defeated, has to give me some kind of reward.” She says.

“So it’s like getting loot from a boss, except from everyone?” Dante asks.

“Exactly!” Raiah beams.

Raiah opens the pages on her arm and pushes the horns into them. Underneath her phrases, they occupy a small space underneath in the shape of horns.

“We learned a lot from the Nurse,” Velle says.

“Being able to store up to five items, is convenient,” Raiah says.

“There’s no way you’re storing much in that fanny pack you’ve got. So lame.” Dante rolls his eyes. “So what’s next? Find more characters to learn from.” Dante asks.

“Nope! Have a chat with us.” A feminine voice speaks.

Dante’s eyes dart around looking for the source of the voice. Velle stands atop a car, looking around, but spots nothing. A shadow passes overhead as a woman lands on a car adjacent to Velle. A man walks in carrying a bag of blue bag of chips.

“Who are you?” Velle questions.

“Prepare for trouble.” The woman says.

“Angh Magh Id Duggle!” The man says with his mouth full.

“If you don’t take those chips out of your mouth this instant! You ruined our grand opener you swine!” She shouts.

Velle looks to Raiah.

“Are these two also…” She begins.

“I know what characters they’re quoting but these are frauds. I don’t even need my ability to tell me they aren’t characters.” Raiah says with disappointment in her voice.

“How rude! You don’t even know the first thing about us!” The woman shouts.

“Tch.” Raiah turns her head and sucks her teeth.

“I swear you’re all a bunch of nerds.” Dante sighs. 

“Don’t you dare click your teeth at me missy! And whose rude little brother is this?!” She shouts. “We’re here to gather as many codexes as possible. Our boss wants to collaborate.”

“Who the hell is your boss?” Dante questions.

“And what does working with him entail?” Velle asks.

“Sharing information in exchange for a safe place to stay. Working together to defeat whatever those gods throw at us.”

“If a place to stay is all you’re offering then, I think we’re good.” Velle hops down from the car.

“We already have a pretty good method going, so yeah, buzz off,” Dante says.

“W-what’s your name?” Raiah asks.

The woman hops off the car and walks over to Raiah, handing her a business card.

“Miranda Wrights, former investigator.” She says. “If you three change your mind, the address is on the back of the card.”

She walks past Dante and Raiah to her partner. The trio watches until they eventually turn a corner.

“I think we’ve done enough for one day.” Velle stifles a yawn.

“Yeah, it’s been pretty hectic.” Raiah agreed.

“Then let's head home, yeah?” Dante suggests.

The trio took the path back home, cutting through the streets going past the school, and up the block. They pass the crashed bus and continue down the block.

“I can’t wait to lay in my bed….!” Raiah exclaims.

“You’re telling me….” Velle states.

Raiah reaches into her pocket to pull out her keys but drops them onto the sidewalk. Her eyes gaze up at the house, slowly glazed over and glossy as tears begin to form. Velle and Dante both stare with jaws practically at the concrete. Raiah drops to her knees as she stares. A giant rock the size of a small building was lodged directly into the building. It was so deeply impacted into the house, it was as if it was thrown.

“T-this can’t be right,” Raiah says.

She struggles to her feet and runs back down the block. She then turns around and begins counting each of the houses.

“All the houses on this block look the same Rai, so here's how you can tell which one is ours. Let's count together! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6! If you hit 7, you’ve gone too far!” Raiah counts along with the memory of her father, and the result remains the same, even a few times after counting. On her third attempt, Velle grabs her by the hand.

“Rai… I’m sorry.” Velle says.

“This can’t be right…” Raiah says as she hangs her head.

Velle pulls Raiah close and wraps her arms around her.

“I know how much your dad’s house meant to you. It’s gonna be okay.” Velle states.

Raiah struggles to accept the reality before her, but the tears come down like pouring rain as she sobs quietly, under the setting sun.