For Meatball’s exercise, it was a bit harder because there was no one with abilities similar to his powers at all.
In the end, they got a wind elementalist, Eagle, and the earth elementalist, Mao, to help out.
They were the people they trusted who had skills that could, in a sense, mimic Meatball’s to a degree.
Mao was unaware of what he was getting into. He was called in to help train the ’younger generation’, having no idea who it would be and why they were doing it in the bunkers at all.
He did not know the trainee remained a baby, and that the ability was something he had never seen before!
On the other hand, Eagle was privy to it because he practically lived with them during the Cold Wave. Along with the other people, he, too, was one of those who had panic attacks because of the babies every so often.
Mao’s eyes twitched when he entered the bunker and saw Lady Althea, Captain, Pepper and Gideon, as well as Eagle. At first, he remained confused, because other than the baby girl, there was no young person there.
"The child I will teach..." he started, wondering if the student remained late or something. Eagle smirked and pointed above him.
It remained none other than Baby Meatball, swimming around the bunker’s built-in sentry. He seemed to be playing with the built-in crossbow, seemingly wanting to chew on it.
"This..." Mao gaped. Wait, wait, wait. A baby remained floating? How? Why?
He remained pulled back to the present by a pat on the shoulder. "Be sure to catch him."
"What?"
Eagle just shrugged, as if he already said the instructions and Mao had no choice but to follow through. He looked up and his stomach flipped when he absorbed just how high the child was and what could happen if he fell.
Fortunately, Mao was a soldier with great mental fortitude, and he eventually pushed the questions aside to focus on the actual mission.
With a smile, he raised his hand, waving at the baby. "Meatball! Our adorable and awesome Little Meatball! Uncle Mao has a snack!"
"Snaku?" Little boy sparkled and immediately dropped down like an anchor.
Mao gasped and extended his arm. Fortunately, the baby didn’t add beyond his weight and just dropped with his normal weight; otherwise Mao could get a bit sore.
With the baby on hand, he was given a rough orientation on what he had to do. He was still shocked, but he was a professional, so he calmed down somehow. However, every so often, he would ask: "How?"
"We know it’s not normal Mao."
"Ah, yes, sure."
Mao cleared his throat and went to another side while carrying the baby. He then handed him over to Eagle. "Baby Meatball... watch uncle Mao, okay?"
He stood a few meters in front and started to show his abilities.
The floor of the bunker was reinforced concrete already, so he naturally wouldn’t try to use his ability on it. Instead, he just took a bit of soil he had in space. He always kept a cubic foot of soil in his space for emergencies. He controlled them so they’d wrap on his legs and arms.
Mao was in charge of teaching Meatball how to control the weight. In his case, he would show this by adding soil or controlling it as such. This required immense control and mana, but fortunately, Mao had a high level of power and control.
It took a while, and the baby was so easily distracted that a single lesson could take an hour. No one showed anger, though they would get a bit stern when Meatball was being too playful.
The lessons took hours, with the babies feeling impatient every so often, having to eat snacks, take naps, and the adults patiently waited for them.
It took about a week before the basic instructions could be followed, which was already impressive considering they were literal babies.
Galleon nodded and stood at the side. This was the chance, he had a feeling pepper would do it this time! (Before this, Pepper wouldn’t even bother using her ability. Even if she did, it was not to the dummies.)
Lately, she had started blinking closer and closer to the dummies, which gave him hope.
All the adults cheered, hoping for a success story today!
"Go, Baby Pepper!"
"Do it, Pepper, GoGogo!"
"Remember, the blue one is an ally, the red one is an enemy!"
"Teleport in the arm of the blue one! Avoid the red one! Remember! Remember!"
The baby stared at them for a while, and then at the dummies. She was sucking on her pacifier, her large blue eyes seeming deep in thought.
The adults continued to cheer, encouraging her to finally do the test.
Whoosh!
And it happened without warning, and a blink later, the baby was indeed on the dummies! Specifically, the red one, and she landed right on his head.
"..." Baby, please don’t deliver yourself to the enemy...

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