Word Count : 1394

What to expect : This chapter is gonna kinda be comedic. There's also some mild gay flirting sooooooo- yeah- oops made the three Architect's in a relationship. Welp- there will also be other ships, such as the Z.I.T trio and such sooooooo- yeah-

Oops made this chapter mildly gay

Morning training was always fun. Everyone got to test themselves against each other and everyone provided information and their own input to help the others improve. Grian would absolutely call himself an experienced fighter. He was used to using his own skills and talents to get out of sticky situations. He did it all the time back when he was with Sam and Tartarus and even in Evolution before he joined the Hermit Heros. If he were being honest though, the threats when he was with those other two groups weren't really threats. Those "threats" were practically exercise. It was nice to have people whose powers outdid your own since it finally gave him a challenge. Grian was a Watcher, he needed to be challenged.

Grian knew several of the hermits he was with now, could overpower him, out smart him and out play him. So to say the least it was fascinating to learn more of what each of his teammates could do.

Currently, it was Xisuma getting his ass handed to him in a sparring session with False. Now False was a hero to watch out for. Her Amber powers allow her to copy any heroes powers by touching them and she can mimic any action almost perfectly on the first try after seeing someone do a flip or something like that. Grian of course knew what the girl's power could do, he had kept a specific eye on her.

Xisuma was a hero to watch out for just because he had Admin abilities. A power that went unmatched with many and a power that all Watchers completely feared. The reason being is that, with a snap of his fingers XisumaVoid could wipe something's code out of existence entirely. It was horrifying to think about.

After another moment, Grian watched as Xisuma landed with a thud on the ground, lying on his chest. The Admin let out a moan of pain, slowly rolling over so he was on his back. Laughs rose from the spectators of the match "Gah... GG False, GG." Xisuma groaned out, holding up a hand of surrender.

False laughed, walking up to the Admin and helping the man back up to his feet. "Nice try, X." She then turned to the spectators. "Alright, mats free for the next people!" She announced out, walking off the mat with Xisuma at her side, who was massaging the back of his neck with his hand.

The next two sparring partners that walked up were none other than Iskall and Mumbo. The two had been trying their newly learned fighting skills on each other and providing feedback. Well it was more Iskall providing feedback for Mumbo than vice versa.

"So, are we using blunts, sharps, blasts or fists today?" Mumbo asked, rolling up his long white sleeves and adjusting his nice red tie.

Iskall in return started to stretch his arms out. "We used blasts for two weeks straight, let's shake it up. Let's go fists." With that, the brown haired man cracked his knuckles and started to stretch out his neck.

Grian recognized the two's conversation. Blunts were melee weapons such as maces, hammers or staffs. Sharps were melee weapons like swords, spears or tridents. Blasts were either energy blasts from Mumbo or guns for Iskall and finally fists just meant hand to hand combat with nothing else.

"How did I know you were going to say fists, Iskall?" The taller hermit complained, walking up to the middle of the mat.

Iskall met the younger man in the middle, grinning almost from ear to ear. "You just know me too well, bro." He replied back, his grin turning into a smirk as the shorter man of the two looked up and met Mumbo's eyes.

The taller man merely shook his head before getting into a ready stance. Iskall took hold of Mumbo's right forearm and gripped onto it with his left hand, getting ready to hold it down. Mumbo in return took hold of Iskall's right wrist, doing his best to wrap his entire hand around the shorter man's wrist to hold it up. In this sort of position, the two had a chance of holding the other off or trying to pin the other down.

Iskall grinned, his expression appeared calm, focused and mildly cocky. "Ready when you are, Mr. Jumbo."

Mumbo snorted before letting out a scoff. "Shut up dude and go." At those words, the two instantly started to struggle against each other. The taller hermit was trying to pull his right arm away from his opponent to try and take the first strike while Iskall was seemingly trying to accomplish the same thing. After a moment of struggling against each other, Iskall managed to jerk his arm back, causing his taller opponent to lose his footing for a moment. A moment that would cost him.

"Keep your head up, Mumbo!" Grian called out. Even with Grian's heads up, Iskall went and yanked his left hand to the side, throwing his much lighter opponent down with their back to the mat with ease. Without hesitating, Iskall pounced onto Mumbo, pinning the younger Hermits left hand down above his head and using his forearm to push down on the other's windpipe securely. It wasn't to hurt the younger hero, but it was supposed to be enough of a heads up to tell the other that Iskall could block off his breathing.

The taller hermit winced, shutting his eyes tightly as he tried to find any kind of wiggle room to work with. With his opponent giving him no such luxury, Mumbo brought up his free arm and grabbed at the others neck, reaching for a pressure point.

Iskall, of course like many, immediately tried to draw away. He had suspected Mumbo to reach for his forearm to get his forearm off his neck since most people did so they could immediately get rid of the threat to their oxygen supply. Upon feeling Mumbo's fingers push down, Iskall lost his entire grip on the younger hermit. He drew back.

Mumbo instantly used his regained freedom of movement to shove Iskall back. With the stronger hermit now slightly paralyzed, Mumbo jumped back onto his feet, knowing that Iskall wouldn't stay down forever.

Iskall choked ever so slightly before standing back up just as Mumbo did. He got back into his stance, looking at his opponent. "Now that was a dirty move!" He accused.

Mumbo laughed in return. "What? Did you think I was going to let you win that easily, dude?"

"Quit flirting and take a swing at each other!" Grian yelled, watching in amusement as Iskall's face went mildly red.

He saw Mumbo roll his eyes. "Hate you Gri!"

"Love you too, Mumbee!"

After the quick exchange, Mumbo moved up and took a swing at his opponent; who of course effectively blocked with his arm. The two exchanged strikes for awhile before the taller hermit went and roundhouse kicked Iskall to the right. The shorter man stumbled before regaining his balance. "Now that was cold!" He complained, looking at his partner.

Mumbo grinned, looking prideful and cocky. He then stuck his tongue out and blew a raspberry at his opponent, putting his hands up by his head to mimic antlers. Iskall in retaliation immediately tackled the taller man to the mat.

The younger hermit yelped from the action, becoming mildly winded. "Ack... ok I deserved that."

Iskall pinned his opponent's arms down by his head, trapping them down by the wrists. He gave a smirk. "Well, first you let your guard down and second you don't taunt a stronger opponent. That's just asking for a death wish."

"Noted, oh teacher of mine." The younger said sarcastically.

Iskall laughed at the comment before standing up again. He jokingly added to the statement. "You learn quickly, student."

The quick exchange ended and the two walked off, announcing that the mat was now open again for the next pair. They walked over and joined Grian in the stands to spectate as well.