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Chapter 135 - A New Purpose

Genos launched himself away. The forest clearing offered only a few gnarled trees and jutting roots as cover, scattered across a bed of dead leaves and moss.

He had no data on this type of battle strategy. Not from that ninja.

"Sonic, you'd go this far just to assassinate me?"

"My name… isn't Sonic." A woman's voice slipped out.

His eyes narrowed, studying the individual leaned up against a tree. "Can you prove it?"

"I… you already felt the 'proof,' didn't you? From your reaction, this Sonic should be a man, yes?"

"Irrelevant." He scoffed. "You ninjas will use any method. But fine. I'll play along." In a flash, he appeared at her side and yanked off her headpiece before she could react.

Wide, startled dark eyes met his. A young woman stared back, cheeks flushed, black hair tied in short twin ponytails.

Genos handed the headpiece back. "I apologize. I was mistaken. Goodbye." He turned and walked away.

Now that he confirmed this wasn't Sonic, his tension rose. That meant the letter was real. His master faced real danger; corruption could overtake him at any second!

"Wait!" she shouted.

Genos frowned and said, "I've already apologized and have forgiven you for wasting my time. Don't squander the second chance at life you received here today."

She dropped her headpiece and drew her ninjato, gripping it in both hands. "Now that you've seen my face and assaulted my body… I must kill you."

"'Assaulted your body?' Pure drivel. It is a privilege for your meager chest to be graced by I, 'Demon Cyborg's' hands."

"…"

¤ ¤ ¤

"'The power to live life as you please.'

How do you expect to do so with your inadequate capabilities?"

"Shut up!" Sonic charged. "'Heavy Sonic Fist Barrage!'"

A torrential rain of fists closed in. Afterimages stacked like waves crashing over one another in a storm surge. Each punch aimed dead-center, screaming toward his face and chest.

Caspian raised one finger. The edge of his nail deflected the first strike, then the next… presenting a perfect opportunity to let his mind wander.

The ninja's strength surprised him. It matched what he saw when Sonic and Flashy Flash fought. But how did he reach this level?

They'd only fought twice prior to today; far less than the thirteen encounters by this point in the original timeline.

He even promptly recovered after the shockwave from the side hops struck him. Although the attack didn't aim to incapacitate. Still, with Sonic's strength already at this level, it brought one of Caspian's plans closer to completion.

Sonic clicked his tongue, leapt back, then bolted straight up the wall of the nearest building. Halfway to the roof, he launched backward into a spin and soared high above the empty street.

"'Exploding Shuriken Ferocious Barrage!'"

An aerial bombardment of 'Homing Exploding Shuriken' raced down, each spinning with clear, nefarious intent.

Caspian pointed the same finger upward and summoned a large 'Hyperspace Gate,' swallowing up the bombardment and dumping them into outer space.

"Ready to talk?"

Sonic landed on the pavement, breath ragged. "I—I won't accept your help!"

"Fine. We can shelve that for now. I'm forming a group, and I want you to join."

"Join your group? Heroes? I will never play that little game: 'Let's pretend to fight for justice.'"

"Not heroes. And in return for joining, I'll train you until you surpass Flashy Flash. Because as you are now… you don't come close."

Sonic unsheathed his ninjato again. "Don't speak his name in my presence. Or offer to make me your disciple like that cyborg!" He vanished in a sharp burst of wind and fury — his blade glimmering in the sunlight as he closed the distance.

He let out a breath; calm, resigned. This clash had only one outcome.

Bang

Caspian looked down at the Sonic-shaped crater carved deep into the pavement.

"Think it over," he said. "I'll be waiting... my good friend."

¤ ¤ ¤

Sweat poured down Shadow Ring's face. Swing after swing missed the cyborg. His strength sat far beyond her reach, but she had no other choice.

Her pride as a member of the 'Abandoned Masses' and as a woman had taken too many blows to ignore.

Assuming she could swallow her pride, if she failed to end him here, then once he learned of her hero identity — if he hadn't already — and reported her to the Hero Association, the mission would fail outright. Failing to neutralize a self-imposed target is also considered a failure. And the 'Abandoned Masses' did not tolerate failure. They culled anyone who failed. No exceptions.

Ultimately, she could only blame her own ignorance and weakness.

She bit her lip and lunged again. Leaves scattered underfoot as she tore across the mossy ground. Genos leaned back, letting her blade cut through the empty air.

"Give up."

"Shut up! Why have you stopped fighting back?" She twisted her stance, dragging the blade low in a sweeping arc. "Because you learned I'm a woman!?"

Genos caught her wrist, ripped the ninjato from her grip, and flung her aside. Her body smashed into the ground hard, pain blooming in her ribs as she skidded to a stop beside a fallen log.

He barely tried... Shame burned hotter than the ache.

Shadow Ring pushed herself up, unsteady but defiant, while blood trickled from her lip. "I can't defeat you… my mission is a failure should my identity come to light. So take responsibility and kill me."

"You value death more than life? Fool."

"I value purpose," she stated. "And I lost mine the moment I lost this fight."

Genos tossed the ninjato to her feet and walked off. "Then find a new purpose."

Shadow Ring stared at the blade lying at her feet and then up at his disappearing back.

A new purpose…

She bent down, fingers hovering over the hilt as reality closed in. No orders waited. No comrades. No path forward. Only failure. Only death. For the 'Dowager' knows all.

Her hand closed around the hilt the moment she gave herself a new purpose.

If you won't take responsibility… then I'll follow you. Until you do — or until the 'Masses' catch up to me.

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