The toilet flushed, ushering in the click of a closing door.
"Damn it…
I spent the whole night in the bathroom. The monsterification should've happened by now. Damn you, you Monster Association guys, not telling me that the monster cells cause a stomachache. I'll pay you back for this one day."
Sonic crossed the wide, empty room inside the abandoned building he'd chosen as his hideout.
"It's fine… I never intended to join those good-for-nothing monsters anyway. I'll use my power however I see fit, it's not up to others"
He glanced down at the room's corner nearest him. Weapons lay arranged: his ninjato, a backup blade (for when unknown forces knock the ninjato from his grip), rows of kunai, neat lines of throwing stars. Tools of purpose. Tools meant for a sole individual.
"Because Caspian is my only target. Be that as it may… I can feel it… A new power…
My body is certainly transforming. My body is lighter. This feeling, it will take some time until I get used to it.
So this is monsterification?" He raised his palms, an innocent smile gracing his face. "My appearance hasn't c—"
"Yo Sonic, you home?"
My fated rival! You tossed your life away, appearing before me today… As my power now crests heights unknown!
¤ ¤ ¤
Caspian stood in the center of a barren, dilapidated street. Buildings around him loomed cracked and crumbling, not far from the neighborhood he once called home.
Thirty seconds had slipped by since his arrival. He didn't know what the ninja aimed to do, but he'd wait. As he came here today for multiple important reasons.
Foremost, he needed Sonic to burn through his aggression before they could, hopefully, talk.
On the way here, he had debated if his disciple might cause a scene. Fortunately, Genos' love interest had appeared in time. Viewing her purple ninja garb triggered a theory he once heard about Shadow Ring: that she belonged to the 'Abandoned Masses.' Strange… the way she stared at his disciple. Almost like she meant to cull him.
Caspian gave the concern no weight. Plenty of women had tried to cull him before as well. His disciple's fate would land where it needed to.
Next in order for why he showed up here circled back to his 'Ultimate Martial Art.' No point in restricting himself to a narrow scope. Why not gather every ninja technique available? Sonic. Flashy Flash. Empty Void. The Heavenly Ninja Party. Blend those moves with the martial art styles he would gain from the Super Fight tournament — and, well, his excitement sparked, imagining the amalgamation.
He also wanted to watch Bomb and Bang fight. Maybe an opening would appear… After that, he might visit the dojos King went to when he tried to grow stronger. Or not. No need to lock himself on a fixed path. He'd rather stay free, unbound, and open to whatever happened next pertaining to his 'Ultimate Martial Art,' and other sources of divertissement.
Naturally, his ultimate aim was to fight Garou using the 'Ultimate Martial Art.'
But that aim raised a question.
With Garou still gallivanting and the Monster Association no longer around to fuel his rise, what path would he take to reach the top now?
The future holds the answer.
Caspian grinned; after an agonizing minute, his good friend arrived.
"'Wind Blade Kick!'"
¤ ¤ ¤
Sonic plummeted from his hideout's rooftop and somersaulted in rapid bursts, each rotation a blur. Wind curled around him as he built momentum before he snapped his leg downward; driving his heel toward his fulgent-headed opponent.
Alas, Caspian sidestepped one of his signature techniques. Still airborne, Sonic's survival instincts kicked in. His hands shooting between his legs.
By the time he landed, thankfully, his fated rival had already backpedaled a few meters.
Even with the monster cell's massive boost, he still read through my surprise attack!
"Hey, Caspian, why the hell are you even here?"
"…"
Sonic unsheathed his ninjato and pointed it at the far side of the street; where the man stood, arms crossed, wearing an irksome expression.
"Answer me! Why are you standing outside my hideout!?"
"You sent a letter with your address and asked me to come over."
"Oh right, I did that." Sonic cleared his throat. "Whatever. Now that you're here, don't think I'll let you escape."
"Escape…?"
A chill crept down his spine. Caspian's voice came from behind — right as the figure across the street vanished with the wind. An afterimage.
"Sole survivor of the 44th Graduation Class: 'The End.'"
Sonic's fingers tightened around the ninjato's hilt. "How do you know about the 'Village?!'"
"I'm the sole survivor of the 45th Graduation Class: 'The Other End.'"
"Don't screw with me!" He spun, blade slashing through an afterimage.
I can't track him at all. Am I really this slow? Gale Wind's speed doesn't even compare to his. Damn it!
Turning back, he saw Caspian once again across the barren street, arms still crossed.
"I want to help you…"
He froze, unprepared for the words escaping Caspian's mouth.
"…bring your dream to life. To create a new 'Ninja Village' for orphans who endured what you did. In a freer, more open environment."
Sonic forced his face still; relying on his Indomitable Spirit. "You think I'm surprised you knew that?
As my fated rival, it's only natural I studied everything there was to learn about you. My research revealed you possess 'Clairvoyance.'
I refuse your help! I'll achieve my dream alone."
Caspian scrunched his brows.
Haha! I've rattled him!
"I don't get it… if knowing your dream didn't faze you, why the shock when I mentioned the 'Village?' And why did you run the last time we crossed paths back outside my old apartment complex?"
"Bastard!"
He wouldn't tolerate these outlandish assumptions or prodding questions. Time to end this farce.
"'Secret Technique! Four Shadows Burial!'"
Sonic's form split into four streaking afterimages. No one's here to save you this time!
"Die!"
He blurred forward from four impossible to predict angles. "'Scattered Flash Slash!'"
"I see…"
You see your life flashing before your eyes!
In less than a blink, all four blades closed in. Unstoppable. Unavoidable.
"'Serious Series: Serious Side Hops.'"