The sky was blackened with thick smoke, rising in suffocating plumes from the scorched ruins of Hero Academy's eastern wing.
The acrid scent of burning metal and charred bodies lingered in the air, mixing with the distant wails of sirens and the crackling of still-burning debris.
Fires raged across the field, licking at shattered glass and broken beams, turning the once-pristine institution into a war zone.
From the heavens, a shadow loomed. The rhythmic thrum of helicopter blades sliced through the chaos, sending waves of wind crashing against the smoldering wreckage.
The vehicle descended with mechanical precision, its black frame reflecting the fire's glow like an omen of destruction.
As it landed amidst the devastation, its side doors slid open with an eerily smooth motion.
The first to step out was Butler Jale, clad in his sleek, obsidian-tailored suit, his expression unreadable behind his tinted spectacles.
He adjusted his pristine white gloves before turning to the second figure, the tall man with sharp, intelligent eyes glinting behind his thin-rimmed glasses.
Jale's voice was composed, yet laced with an air of quiet amusement. "Josh," he said, addressing the tall man, "I believe our master would prefer a… thorough assessment of the damage."
A crimson carpet unfurled from the helicopter's interior, rolling down onto the ash-covered ground as the last figure emerged.
Gurakami. The mastermind himself.
The infernal glow of the fires cast sinister shadows across his face, his white hair, slicked back with a practiced elegance, and his beard, groomed with precision.
Clad in a pitch-black business suit tailored to perfection, he exuded an aura of absolute authority.
The faint metallic glint of grenades and firearms strapped to his shoulders and arms only added to his imposing presence.
He took a slow, deliberate inhale from his freshly lit cigar, the ember at its tip flaring to life as his silver eyes surveyed the battlefield before him. A low chuckle rumbled from his throat. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
Through the thick veil of smoke and destruction, Commander Ryuji staggered into view, coughing violently as he emerged from the wreckage.
His once-pristine suit was torn and scorched, his sleeves reduced to tatters.
Blood dripped from a gash on his forehead, trailing down his temple, yet his piercing eyes remained locked forward, seething with fury.
His gaze landed on the helicopter. On him.
Ryuji's breathing was ragged, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. He forced his battered body to keep moving, stepping forward, stumbling once before regaining his footing.
Then, his voice came, low and filled with raw rage. "You…"
Gurakami exhaled a cloud of smoke, his smirk widening.
Meanwhile, deeper within the ruins, Takeru stirred.
Blood trickled down his forehead, his vision hazy as he pushed himself up from the rubble.
The explosion had sent him flying, separating him from his squad. His heart pounded as he surveyed his surroundings, scattered bodies, security torn apart like ragdolls.
Then, voices.
As he stumbled forward, he found two figures standing amidst the chaos, Seiji, with his ever-present lollipop rolling between his lips, and a man Takeru didn't recognize.
But something was off. The stranger's presence felt... familiar. Almost eerily so.
"You… You bastards… You did this?" Takeru's voice cracked with emotion, anger, disbelief, hatred.
Seiji rolled the lollipop in his mouth, tilting his head slightly. "Relax, man. We didn't do all of this… but our master sure is interested in you."
He lifted a single finger, pointing directly at Takeru. "Join us."
Takeru's mind went blank for a moment.
Then, he laughed. A bitter, hollow laugh. "Are you actually insane?" he spat. "You think I'd ever betray Hero Academy for psychopaths like you?"
Seiji sighed dramatically, lowering his finger as if Takeru had just given the most disappointing answer imaginable.
"That's too bad," he murmured, rolling the lollipop to the other side of his mouth. "I really was hoping you'd make the smart choice."
His expression darkened slightly as he took a step forward, the casual smirk never leaving his lips.
But as he did, a memory flickered through his mind, a warning, an order given just hours prior.
Gurakami's voice echoed in his head:
"If he doesn't agree… take him by force. Or kill him."
Seiji's fingers twitched for a brief second before he chuckled, shaking his head. "Well, then… so be it."
Then he paused, as if considering something. His lips curled into a grin.
"Oh, right. Almost forgot," he said, tilting his head toward the silent figure beside him. "Before we beat your ass, let me formally introduce you."
Seiji placed a hand on the man's shoulder. "This here is Kaito Isugami."
Takeru's breath hitched. That name.
Seiji smirked. "Recognize it? You should."
He raised a finger, pointing lazily at Takeru. "That Flame girl fought him Once. Hoshino fought him aswell."
Takeru's mind raced. Twice?
And then it hit him.
Kaito Nakamura. Kaito Sumeragi.
Takeru's eyes widened in shock. "No way…"
Seiji chuckled, clearly enjoying his reaction. "Yeah. Forgot to let you in on the secret. Call him Isugami." Seiji's voice dropped into something far more menacing.
Beside him, the other figure remained eerily silent, Kaito Isugami, or rather, the true Kaito.
His glowing crimson eyes bore down on Takeru, a quiet, suffocating intensity radiating from him.
Seiji tilted his head back toward Takeru. "Guess we'll just have to kill you, then."
Takeru's heart pounded, but fear never took hold. Instead, it was adrenaline. A violent rush of energy surged through his veins as his instincts screamed at him to move.
Not run. Fight.
A grin crept onto his face. "I'd love to see you try." Then, in a burst of motion, he activated his new ability.
[SPEED HACK]
The world slowed around him.
Takeru's body accelerated unnaturally, his muscles responding far beyond human limits. His reflexes sharpened. His perception heightened.
And in the blink of an eye, he was already on top of Seiji, his leg rocketing forward in a brutal high-speed kick aimed straight for his head.
WHAM!!
Seiji barely had time to react. His arm shot up, blocking the attack with his forearm, but the sheer impact of Takeru's enhanced speed sent him skidding backward, dust and debris scattering beneath his feet.
Seiji flexed his arm, a faint red mark appearing where the kick landed. He whistled, impressed. "Not bad." Then, his smirk vanished. "But not enough."
Before Takeru could press his advantage, he felt something behind him.
A presence. A force. A predator. The hair on the back of his neck stood up.
Kaito Isugami was already behind him.
A hand gripped his shirt from behind, and in the next instant, Takeru was yanked into the air, before being slammed into the ground with monstrous strength.
The crater his body left in the pavement spider-webbed outward, the earth trembling from the impact. His ribs screamed in agony.
Takeru coughed violently, but before he could even catch his breath, Isugami snapped his fingers. "Bloodhound."
A sharp, ominous howl filled the air.
Then they came.
Two massive beasts, black, monstrous hounds cloaked in red energy, their snarling maws lined with jagged fangs dripping with hunger.
Their eyes locked onto Takeru like prey.
With unnatural speed, they lunged, their jaws stretching wide.
And then they stopped. Frozen mid-air.
Takeru blinked, chest rising and falling rapidly.
Then, from behind him, a familiar voice rang out, low and gruff. "It ain't fair. Two on one?" A cigar ember flared in the darkness, illuminating the smirking face of Tyuji.
He exhaled a plume of smoke, stepping into the battlefield with a slow, unbothered swagger.
His hands slid into his pockets as he glanced at the two frozen beasts, then at Isugami and Seiji. "Let's make this fair, boys."
Takeru grinned, wiping blood from his mouth. "Now, things are getting interesting."