Inside the city's grand conference room, the atmosphere was tense. Around the circular table sat Kojin and several of the city's most influential superiors who were old, atleast most of them. The room, usually quiet and composed, buzzed with unease.
Lady Rimeta, a composed woman of 29 with sharp eyes a mild smile and a colder tone than most, stood up.
"I say we must put that boy away at once," she declared. "This city is under attack because that monstrosity is still alive!"
Another superior, Sir Welf(49) nodded in agreement.
"She's right. That child is from the demon clan—a bloodline feared across nations during wartime. Their power is unmatched, and their mere existence brings calamity. Its almost a joy that their entire nation along with the continent itself got wiped away."
Critulous, a grizzled warrior from the Attack Clan, leaned forward. His voice was rough, worn with battle and years of suspicion.
"If we're not careful... that boy will destroy the world. Even without his demonic powers, he's strong enough to be ranked C-class. If he goes full demon... well, none of us would survive. You can make an argument that the other prologue we have can put up a fight to stop him, but it would come at a cost."
Kojin sighed and stood slowly.
"I've had enough of this," he said calmly, yet firmly. "I understand your fear—believe me, I do. Alex is a threat... but he is also a ray of hope."
The room fell silent.
Kojin continued, "You all seem to forget—Alex is the grandson of Ranpo the Iron Gallant. That name alone strikes fear into those who hear it. No one in their right mind would dare touch him."
Lady Rimeta scoffed.
"That doesn't change the fact that he's still a worldwide threat! If no one dares to touch him, then why hasn't Ranpo come to save him yet?"
Kojin narrowed his eyes. "Because Ranpo isn't even aware Alex has been kidnapped. He'd go on a full on rampage."
She folded her arms. "Then let's not forget—Alex is the main reason the Dark Sign Organization is attacking this city. Their objectives are clear, they want something powerful, a powerful source of energy."
"I know that," Kojin replied. "That's why I've already sent some of our strongest fighters to handle the situation."
Critulous shook his head.
"If that boy survives all this... there's no doubt he'll cause even greater destruction in the future. And his growth is fast and sharp. We all saw how he defeated Mori in the second round of the assassination exams. That Mori kid was supposed to be our brightest and most skilled young minds."
Kojin didn't respond immediately. Instead, he thought to himself:
"Alex... I hope you and the others are okay."
He clenched his fist under the table.
"These superiors... they're nothing but old geezers clinging to power, too scared to let go. Except for Rimeta... she's the only one willing to speak without fear. But even still, she has her own goal. And it's a very selfish and terrifying one.!"
Meanwhile — Deep in the Forest
CLANG—ZAP—BOOM!
Mori and Tenko moved at incredible speeds, clashing beneath the dense canopy. Tenko launched a barrage of attacks using her sword, unleashing waves of elemental energy faster than the eye could see.
Mori, his expression focused and unrelenting, dodged with growing speed, using his technique:
Steel Breaker.
Each incoming slash was met with perfectly timed counters—his fists glowing faintly as they shattered energy waves with precision. Each wave of Tenko's attacks was shattering and slicing through trees and the ground.
Tenko, unfazed, conjured a crackling Lightning Spear and hurled it at Mori. "Alright. Let's see how well you handle this one!"
"Steel Breaker—Stage Two!" he yelled, catching the spear mid-air.
With one powerful motion, he spun and threw it back. The lightning flew back at rika at a greater speed faster than lightning while obliterating trees with its flight.
BOOM!
A deafening explosion erupted as smoke and debris clouded the forest around them. Mori fell to one knee, panting.
"God, I hope I never have to fight like that again..."
Suddenly, a sword shot through the smoke—slash!—cutting his cheek.
Tenko burst through the haze, eyes glowing red, speed blitzed Mori and kicked him so hard he blasted through dozens of trees. As Mori struggled to rise, he looked up in shock. "Shit! That kicked was powerful. How did she survive that lightning I through back at her?!"
Tenko hovered in the air, crimson energy spiraling around her, barely clothed under a veil of smoke. Her red eyes glared.
"If you've got any technique that'll keep you alive... now's the time to use it.". Mori had a look of difficulty showing on his face "God, if there's a time I need you, it's now!" He thought to himself.
Elsewhere—Baraka vs. Takashi
The battlefield trembled beneath the fury of their clash.
Every blow they exchanged tore up the earth, shattered trees, and cracked the ground. Takashi launched a punch, but Baraka blocked it with his summoned Rock Hammer—only for Takashi to enlarge his metal fists and shatter it instantly.
Takashi roared and unleashed a flurry of strikes, his fists a blur.
Bang! Boom! Smash!
Each hit broke the ground beneath Baraka, who was unable to react.
"RAAH!" Takashi screamed, morphing his fist into a hammer and smashing Baraka through two massive trees.
As Baraka lay bloodied, coughing, his vision blurred. "Jesus Christ! That blow hit hard.!", he thought to himself. Takashi didn't stop—he rushed at Baraka, slammed him into trees, then smashed rocks into his body. Baraka was in straight pain. His eyes were almost white, and he had blood droplets coming from his mouth.
Memories flickered before Baraka's eyes: being bullied, ignored, shunned by children... and then—Alex's smiling face. That one friend who accepted him.
"If someone ever accepts you for who you are, protect them with your life."
His father's lasts words echoed in his head.
As Takashi prepared the final blow "NOW GET CRUSHED AND DIE!" Takashi yelled out, Baraka roared with a huge burst of white energy and grabbed his arm.
CRACK!!
With newfound strengt glowing on Baraka's body, he launched a devastating punch—BOOM!—sending Takashi flying. "YOU GET CRUSHED!"he exclaimed.
Slowly walking toward him, blood dripping, Baraka growled, "You made a big mistake..."
Takashi scoffed, "Stop the drama." He shot giant rods at Baraka at full power and speed. Each of those rods he was shooting were crushing down trees.
But a massive white energy burst erupted from Baraka. His eyes glowed with rage as rocks surged around his body, forming a colossal armor.
Takashi stepped back in shock "Hold on. What?". He kept on shooting out huge rods at once "DONT GET SO COCKY!" he yelled in anger as he shot more giant rods. This time, with more speed and power.
Baraka advanced at full speed, dodging every incoming projectile with newfound speed. He pounded Takashi with rapid, unstoppable blows. Smashing him through trees and rocks.
Baraka grabbed Takashi's head and smashed it against the trees, again and again.
Then—
SLAM!
A final punch sent Takashi flying once more.
Takashi tried to fight back, shaping his metal fist into an axe and striking Baraka's armor—no effect.
"You just don't get it, do you?" Baraka said. Takashi gasped with terror in his eyes.
"You already lost."
He summoned a giant rock hammer three times the strength of his original hammer and brought it down with brutal force—BOOOOOOM!
All the trees around them were obliterated in a blast of sheer power. Takashi yelled in pain as he wad being crushed by an unstoppable force.
As the smoke cleared, Takashi lay unconscious. A part of his body gor crushed.
Baraka's armor crumbled. He staggered and fell to his knees.
"Damn, where did all that power come from? Whatever. Alex... I just wanted to see you again. I hope you're okay."
His vision faded.
"Fuck. Did I use too much energy? Am i going to die? Fuck it all. I wish I could've lived long enough to see you become a lord... Alex."
He collapsed.
Kinto vs. Rika
Fists flew. Wind roared.
Kinto and Rika clashed, their speed blurring the world around them.
Rika summoned air fists, hurling them at high speeds.
Kinto narrowed his eyes. "I know how fast they are... I can counter it."
He hurled a pack of explosives at her attacks.
BOOM—BOOM—CRACK!
As the smoke began to clear, a violent gust blew everything away.
Rika stepped forward, wind swirling around her. "If you're that smart... then this shouldn't be a problem," she said with a smirk.
Kinto clicked his tongue.
"She's faster now... even faster than sound by 10 times. Blocking that won't be easy. Right now I have enough power to move almost a hundred times that of sound. But if I do that, she'll just increase her speed too. As she is, she's just cocky, her arrogance wouldn't let her realise her true strength. That gives me the edge." A small smirk appeared on his face and disappeared immediately.
With a frustrated yell, he pulled out more explosives from his pouch.
"WHY does something bad always happen the moment I figure out a way to win!?"
He lit the explosives, eyes narrowing.
"Get out of the way, Rika!"
Rika had an excited smirk on her face "BRING IT ON! BRING IT ON! I CANT WAIT TO TEAR YOU APART AND KILL YOU!"
TO BE CONTINUED