Chpater 11

As Keagan approached the rooftop, the familiar scent of vehicle exhaust filled the air, reminding him of the bustling city below. He spotted Dante, slouched over the railings and gazing down at the city with a calm demeanor. Though Dante seemed aware of Keagan's presence, he made no effort to acknowledge him or turn his head. Keagan understood the unspoken signs and decided not to disturb him.

Leaning against the doorway that led back into the building, Keagan observed the cityscape, waiting for the rest of the squad to arrive—time seemed to stretch as they remained in this silent stalemate. But soon, the atmosphere shifted with the arrival of Lily, whose vibrant energy breathed life into the surroundings.

Lily bounded onto the rooftop, her infectious enthusiasm lighting up the space. She greeted Keagan with a cheerful smile, bringing some much-needed warmth to the otherwise subdued atmosphere. Keagan couldn't help but feel a sense of relief as he exchanged greetings with Lily, grateful for her presence and the energy she brought to their squad.

Dante finally turned his attention towards him, his expression unreadable. His stoic demeanor contrasted sharply with Lily's lively spirit. Keagan couldn't help but wonder what thoughts were running through Dante's mind as he observed the world below.

As Lily skipped over to Dante, she planted a brief yet affectionate kiss on his cheek, followed by a warm embrace. She greeted him with bubbly enthusiasm, but Dante's response was subdued, returning the hug without any outstanding retort. Keagan couldn't help but be puzzled by the stark contrast between Lily's vivacious nature and Dante's seemingly aloof demeanor. It was as if Dante wore a wolf's skin, projecting a particular image to the public while hiding his true self beneath. Keagan decided not to delve deeper into it and accept the dynamic as it was.

Lily then turned her attention to Keagan, her eyes filled with excitement. Her excitement was palpable as she gushed, "Keagan, I can't believe you made it to the news! You're becoming a celebrity in the hero world! It must be such a blast going through this experience I can't even imagine it."

Keagan's face lit up with a mixture of pride and gratitude. "Thank you,” he said, trying not to come off as arrogant,” I never expected all this attention, but I'm glad to be a part of the team. After all it was a team effort."

Dante turned his gaze towards Keagan. There was a flicker of emotion in his eyes, subtle but unmistakable. "You did well out there," he said in his typically understated manner. "But don't let it get to your head."

Keagan chuckled, feeling a surge of rivalry brewing between them. Just as their stalemate grew in intensity the two goofy brothers Leo and Max arrived, jumping over the railing and sending gravel chips lying in Dante’s and Keagan's way. They greeted everyone with loud hellos and a burst of energy as they walked over and dapped up everyone.

“Where’s the rest of the crew?” Max asked

Keagan noticed the growing silence and shrugged as he answered, “I don't know, I thought I was going to be the late one,” he said, forcing a slight laugh out of him.

“You'll get used to it here man, when people say the meeting is at this time they really mean 2 hours after the estimated time,” Leo joked.

Keagan couldn't help but join in the laughter, appreciating Leo's lightheartedness. He was starting to see the charm in this squad, each member bringing their unique personality to the table.

Dante, who had been observing the interaction chimed in with his dry wit, "You’re all a bunch of lazy deadbeats"

Lily playfully nudged Dante. "Come on, Dante, loosen up a bit. We're here to have fun too, you know."

Dante shrugged nonchalantly, "If you wanted to have fun you could’ve joined the circus."

The banter continued as Leo and Max regaled everyone with their latest escapades, injecting the atmosphere with their infectious energy. Keagan found himself laughing freely, feeling a sense of camaraderie and warmth in the company of his new squadmates.

Emberlyn and Whiplash finally arrived, and the rest of the squad turned their attention to listen to the briefing. Keagan could sense the gravity of the moment as Whiplash addressed the team.

"Okay, sorry for the delay, but I am here now. For today's training, we are going to focus on individual skill levels. Please, can everyone report their current level so that I can hand out the drills to work on and report back to the central hub," Whiplash said, his voice accompanied by a hoarse whistling, a sign of his old age catching up to him?

The squad members pulled up their displays from their hero suits, and one by one, they read out their current rankings and attributes. The readings were disappointingly low, except for Dante, who was on the cusp of breaking into the B-rank. His ranking was 11,382, the lowest of the low, showcasing the scarcity of ranked superheroes compared to the unranked ones. To be ranked was truly an honor and privilege, reserved for the most skillful and promising individuals. The rest of the squad reported their low attributes, all of them unranked.

"Okay, and Spectral Guardian, as it stands, you are not at the capacity to train with us at the moment," Whiplash stated, his gaze fixed on Keagan. The entire squad was taken aback, their expressions filled with surprise, but Keagan was the most bewildered of them all.

"What do you mean?" Keagan asked, his confusion evident.

"What I mean is, I received a report from the central hub, and you currently rank as a B-ranked hero. It's just that your display has some sort of error and can't show your ranking and class. But you are not the caliber of hero to do C-class training drills," Whiplash explained. The revelation left everyone shocked, their attention now focused on Keagan, awaiting answers. But he stood there, overwhelmed and speechless, still grappling with the sudden revelation.

"So, you mean to tell me that you have been a B-rank all this time and never told us?" Emberlyn questioned, her voice laced with a hint of offense.

"Quiet down! I already said his display doesn't allow him to see his true ranking, so he doesn't know," Whiplash intervened, sensing the brewing storm of interrogative questions from his squadmates. Keagan stood there, looking like he wasn't prepared to face the onslaught of inquiries. After all, he was new to all of this and had no idea what was happening.

"As I said, your current ranking does not allow you to join in on c-class training. So, I have assigned a B-class task for you, and you alone. You have to complete it before the day ends," Whiplash announced his tone firm.

"The rest of you, let's get moving. You know where the training facility is. I'll meet you there in five minutes. There's something I want to discuss with Spectral Guardian first," he added, throwing a commanding look at the abrasive teens who had been eyeing Keagan aggressively, seemingly ready to engage in a verbal confrontation.

Whiplash waited for the rest of the squad to disappear, and then he turned to Keagan, his tone and demeanor becoming more direct.

"Listen, kid. I know you said you're new to this and all, but your stats and rankings suggest otherwise. You already possess the physical capabilities of a high-ranked B-class hero and have unlocked B-tier powers. Are you really a rookie at this?" Whiplash questioned, his voice filled with a mix of confrontation and curiosity. He didn't want to come off as too aggressive but wanted to get to the bottom of Keagan's abilities.

Keagan, with a bewildered yet honest expression, looked back at Whiplash. "Yesterday was my first time doing this hero thing, I swear," he replied, emphasizing his innocence.

Whiplash took a moment to digest Keagan's words, contemplating the situation. "Well, I believe you, kid. I once met a guy as gifted as you. We were on the same rookie squad back in the day, and within months, he went from an unranked rookie to being the current number 3 ranked hero worldwide. Even in his old age, no one has managed to dethrone him from the third spot. He held the number one spot for decades before age caught up with him," Whiplash recounted, a sense of awe and nostalgia evident in his voice. "What I'm trying to say is, you have the capacity to reach those levels. Sooner or later, people will take notice, and higher-ranked squads will come knocking. I have some B-ranked squads already offering to recruit you. I can only reply to them in your words and terms. So, what's it going to be? Are you going to stay with your current squad, or should I give you a list of the squads bidding for you?"

Keagan was still reeling from the weight of the decision. It was a tough choice to make on the spot, and he needed time to think it over. But Whiplash was waiting for a definitive answer, and Keagan knew he had to give him one. After a moment of contemplation, he made up his mind and turned to face Whiplash, ready to give his reply.