The cargo plane arrived later that evening, touching down at the military airport specially constructed by the government to receive aircrafts from international and classified bases. At the terminal, the entire special unit stood in formation, eyes fixed on the rear aircraft. The silence was thick as slow, deliberate footsteps echoed from within the plane. Murmurs ran through the ranks "was it true? Has the perfect soldier really been released?
Then, from the shadows of the plane interior, Aota emerged, flanked by heavily armed guards. A commanding voice pieced the air: "salute the former captain." Without hesitation, every soldier raised their hands in respect. Aota scanned the face saluting him, unreadable, distant. He was escorted into an armored vehicle that quickly departed for the military barracks.
Upon arrival, the compound stirred with tension. Officers and members of the special elite team lined the grounds, awaiting his return. General Kuto and Dr.Tristan stepped out of the vehicle first, followed with Aota still in restrained.
Inside the facility, the tech team carefully removed Aota's handcuffs and the mask over his mouth. For the first time in years, Aota flexed his hands and stretched his legs feeling freedom, however limited, once more.
A meal was brought to him. He hesitated for a moment before picking up the spoon. Someone sat across from him. Aota slowly looked up, it was Sylvia, the only person who ever loved him truly for who he truly was. Sylvia watched Aota, as he ate. A gentle smile appeared on her face.
"Hey Sylvia," Aota said, glancing up at her with a warm smile. "It's been a long time." "Aota, I've really missed you." She said with her voice trembling "I never thought you'd be released." Aota reached out and held her hand. "Don't cry Sylvia, I'm here now."
He looked into her eyes and gently wiped her tears away. Meanwhile, outside the room, the rest of the special elite squad waited. Ibol, now second in command after Aota, crossed his arms and muttered. "Sylvia thinks she's the only one who missed Aota...jeez!"
Vecna chuckled. "Well, to be fair, she's been crying over him for the past ten years, It's only right she gets to see him first." Onell added. "We've all missed him, but Sylvia nearly died from the heartbreak. Still...things will change now Aota is back. What worries me is the security around him." He paused, then said more quietly. "Knowing General Kuto, he will find a way to make sure Aota is completely free." The others nodded silently in agreement.
Meanwhile, in the city of Kawasaki, the people had started worshiping their hero after Jake's spectacular and heroic act when the robots went rogue. Yon's family worshiped Jake like a god but for some reason, Jake always dodged them whenever he saw them trying to bow before him.
Nicolas and Yon often laughed whenever they saw Jake running away from their reference. He was served meals in a separate room, but he always escaped to join them at the main table. Jake hated being treated like a god, despite the fact that he possesses god-like abilities.
He often trained alone in the mountains but always returned home before it got late. Zaki had taught him how to control his powers. Jake could create and manipulate all forms of energy: fire, water, lightning, air and earth. He could even generate metallic substances like the katana he formed during his previous battle.
Jake also possessed advanced ninjutsu-like skills. He learned these techniques subconsciously, in his dreams, through a special training dimension Zaki had created, so that Jake could explore the helmet's powers without causing destruction in the real world.
One evening, Jake returned from the mountains. As he entered the room, he found Nicolas, Yon, and the rest of the family gathered in the hall. He walked and asked, "What's all the fuss about?" Nicolas stood up. "Jake, there's a problem." Jake's expression tensed. "What do you mean by problem?" Nicolas hesitated, then replied. "Just before you came in, there was breaking news. They say the Japanese government has brought back the 'Perfect Soldier' to stop the mysterious man who tried to kill civilians."
Jake's brows furrowed. "What do you mean by kill? I didn't kill anyone." Nicolas responded calmly." Apparently, the government sees your interference during the robots attack as suspicious."
"At least.... that's the narrative they're pushing. But the real shocker is they actually brought back the Perfect Soldier...just to stop one man." Jake turned to Yon." Do you have any information about him?" "Yeah just a bit," Yon replied. He was once the strongest soldier in Japan. That's how he earned the title Perfect Soldier. That's all I really know."
Miss Taiku added, "His real name is Aota. He was famous for his unmatched combat skills and ability to evade enemies. He was recruited about 20 years ago when children with natural talents were enlisted into the special forces. He protected the people of Japan..... until things changed. Reports later came that he killed civilians for pleasure. The world branded him a heartless psycho."
Everyone fell silent, reflecting on Miss Taiku's words. Jake finally spoke. "If he's really that powerful , powerful enough to bring him back after all that, then there's a reason. I need to be cautious. If I ever face him in battle....I'll have to be ready." The room fell quiet again. Then Tanpopo breaks the tension with a smile. "Don't worry. We'll all be safe as long as our God is here." Everyone burst into laughter.
After Aota's return to Japan, he focused solely on training on his body structure and enhancing his physical strength. The other soldiers treated him like a hero. They bow whenever they pass by him, bowing, after all, being a sign of respect in Japanese culture. During one of Aota's training daily sessions, the guards convened a private meeting with General Kuto. The head of the security unit along with two other guards, joined him at the strategy room.
The Chief security officer spoke first. "Sir... it's been nearly a month since we came from the U.S. All we've done so far is cheer on his workouts, as if we're here to be his audience. Our job was supposed to be helping him complete the mission, to stop this mysterious figure of yours.
He paused, then added, "And honestly, we haven't seen any signs of this so-called supernatural threat." General Kuto smirked. "Ah...my apologies for making the Special Tech Unit worry. He leaned forward slightly, with his voice low but firm" You see, I've been planning to let Aota face the mysterious man, but there's one problem?" The chief guard asked, clearly agitated, "What's the problem, General? Just say it and we will follow through."
Kuto's smirk darkened into a sinister grin. "It involves you....agreeing to my new terms." "What do you mean?" The chief guard asked. General Kuto leaned forward, his expression cold. "All you have to do is.... exchange your life for Aota to complete the mission." The chief guard's eyes widened." I don't understand what you mean by exchange?"
Kuto stood and began pacing. "Let me make it simple for you. Aota is going to undergo sessions where we will be testing our new technology on him. With you men constantly around him, it's impossible to proceed. We have neutralized the helmet activation code, so even if you die or the government won't be alerted."
He looked the guard straight in the eyes." The only thing left for you to do.... is fight for your survival." The room felt silent. After a long pause, the chief guard finally spoke." You really are a clever monster, General. But we have no choice, do we? If we fight, we can't possibly take down 1,000 special forces stationed here."
Kuto's smile darkened. "Excellent decision, Chief. You know I've always admired men who die with honour. Fighting for dignity is the most respectful way to fall."
"You're the true monster here," the chief said. "Not the one you pretended to be back in the States. So tell me, who will we be fighting?" General Kuto chuckled. "The duel will begin tomorrow. Let your fellow guards know, so they can prepare." The guards left his office, knowing that their fate had been sealed.
The next day, the guards quietly selected their champions for the duel. Aota noticed something strange, there was no guard monitoring him. Suspicious, he stepped out and heard noise echoing from a deeper hallway. Following the sound, he came upon a crowd of soldiers shouting and gathering near the training field. High above them, General Kuto sat on a balcony chair, basking in the morning sunlight. Aota approached him. "General Kuto, what's going on here?" "This battle will determine your freedom, Aota, " Aota replied. "What do you mean by freedom?"
"The guards have agreed to a battle. The winner takes all. If they win, they walk away with their lives with you under their protection. If they lose....they die. It's a death match." Aota clinched his fists." I knew you were plotting something dark." Kuto grinned "You know me too well, Aota. Haha!" Aota looked over the battleground. The first guard stepped into the field, rifle in hand.
Cheers erupted as the special elite squad entered. Ibol, second-in-command of the elite team, walked onto the field wearing combat gear and holding a rifle. He called out." I hope you know the rules, there's no turning back once this begins."
The guard responded. "No need for explanations. It's a fight to the death." Ibol smiled. "Great then let's begin. "The battle began with gunfire. Bullets ricocheted off their armor, but neither man fell. As their ammo depleted, both charged, using their rifles as melee weapons.
The guard swung first, but Ibol dodged with graceful precision. The guard then pulled out a hidden knife embedded in the rifle and lunged. Ibol narrowly evaded the blade, twisted the rifle from his hands, and flung it aside.
They clashed in brutal hand-to-hand combat. A blur of fists followed. Ibol launched a flurry of attacks; the guard blocked and countered. Then the tide shifted. The guard unleashed devastating combo punches to Ibol's chest, kicks to his head, but Ibol didn't flinch.
Panting, the guard stepped back. "What the hell? You haven't even budged. What the heck are you? "Ibol slowly turned his head and replied calmly," I thought your punches were hard. I was mistaken." Infuriated, the guard reassembled his weapon into a spear and charged, spinning it with deadly force.
Ibol evaded swiftly, weaving through attacks. Smoke filled the arena ,blinding to most ,but not to the elite unit, Aota, or General Kuto. They watched it all. Suddenly, Ibol seized the spear mid-swing, jumped, and snapped part of the shaft with his foot.
Then with explosive force, he kicked the guard straight in the abdomen, sending him flying through the air and crashing at the far end of the hall. Coughing blood, the guard tried to rise.
"How... How did you break my spear? It's a special elite weapon, made with one of the strongest metals on earth!" Ibol smirked." I admire your skills, so I'll tell you. As a child, I trained by breaking metals. I failed terribly. Every bone in my body shattered. But through technology, I rebuilt myself. I practiced 735 times. My skull alone was crushed and replaced 355 times. My body eventually adapted. And Aota, the man you're watching...he broke more metals than me, without a single fracture. Enough with the chit-chatting."
He picked up the broken spear, raised it high, and hurled it like a missile. The spear struck with brutal speed, too fast to see, impaling the guard and slamming him to the ground. Ibol walked up slowly. The guard, writhing, tried to speak. "Your will is strong," Ibol said, his tone calm.
"Tell me your name before I finish this." The guard coughed blood. "You're a monster... I'm Corney Hills." Ibol nodded. "I'm Ibol." He launched a flurry of punches too fast to block. Then, he jumped, spun midair, and delivered a crushing kick to Coney's head. The guard collapsed, this time, unmoving.
Ibol pressed a button on his belt. It clicked open, revealing two blades that detached and slid into his hands. General Kuto's voice echoed from above. "Team Japan, you may change your fighter, if you wish." Sylvia stepped forward.
"If Ibol wants to fight, let him. It saves our strength for what's ahead." The chief guard looked at his men. "If you think dying here ends your life, remember, every battlefield carries death. Whether you die now or later, the outcome is the same."
One of the guards stood defiantly. "Chief, save the speech. Corney died for a reason, and we'll fight for the same. "He drew his rifle, then disassembled it into a sword and rushed toward Ibol. Ibol sprinted to meet him. Mid-run, he leapt, planted a foot on the guard's face, and flipped to the far end of the hall. The guard, furious, adjusted his direction and attacked with rage.
Their blades clashed, lightning-fast. Then, Ibol paused. The guard staggered. Blood oozed from his shoulder. "What did you do....? " His right arm began to peel apart. Ibol had sliced it piece by piece, faster than the eye could follow. The guard collapsed, screaming.
Ibol leapt and decapitated him mid-scream. Fear swept the hall. The remaining guards hesitated, terrified. One by one, they met the same fate."Hey, Ibol, or whatever your name is!" the chief guard shouted. "You think you can kill all my men?"
Ibol stepped forward. "Then face me yourself. I'll let you see your own head before I remove it."The chief exploded with fury. He stepped in, wielding a sword and a gun.
Their fight was vicious, faster, more brutal. The chief was no ordinary soldier, he struck hard and smart. But Ibol was relentless. He began to blur again, moving at superhuman speed. Then he grabbed both wrists. "You're strong, Chief. But your skills don't match Corney's."With a single motion, Ibol slashed through both his wrists and sliced his neck clean.
The Chief fell. Ibol stood over him in silence. "Hills... was the one I respected." He then turned his face to Corney's body. "When the new world comes, I'll return your badge to your family." General Kuto rose. "And the winner is... Team Japan!" Silence.
The performance was terrifying. But then, applause. The soldiers clapped hesitantly at first, then louder, honoring Ibol's savage skill. One by one, they filed out, shaken.
Only Aota, General Kuto, and the elite team remained. Kuto walked over to Aota. "Now... you're finally free. "In a quiet moment, Sylvia smiled and waved at Aota from below. "Can we have dinner in my room," she asked softly, her smile warm. Before Aota could respond, General Kuto interjected. "Sylvia, I know you're eager to celebrate with Aota for his liberty, but the real battle still lies ahead. He's our key to winning what comes next."
He glanced at Aota. "Until then, save the lovebird romance for later." Aota gave a slight smirk. "Sorry to disappoint you, Sylvia.... but the real celebration begins when we create the new world, with our own hands." Everyone nodded in solemn agreement. General Kuto turned to Aota. "Come with me." Aota followed, leaving the rest of the elite team behind the hall. Sylvia stood silently, eyes fixed on the doorway Aota disappeared through, her expression dimming.
Unexpectedly, Iruka, the quietest member of the team, spoke." Sylvia.... don't lose heart. Things will change. Eventually." Nia blinked and tapped him on the head." When did you start caring for Sylvia?" She started chasing him around playfully as the others laughed. Ibol sighed, watching them, "Playing like kids...."he muttered, a faint grin struggling at his lips.
General Kuto took Aota to the Tech Research Facility, to begin the synchronization process with the Tech Helmet. The final fusion of the helmet and Aota would mark the beginning of something unimaginable.
Later, Kuto returned to the elite unit's chamber. As he entered, every member rose to their feet, the moment they felt his presence. He raised a hand. "Sit down." He commanded. The room felt silent. Every gaze fixed on him.
"Aota will be synced with the power from the Nexus gem and the helmet. In one week's time, he will become our ultimate weapon." He paused voice deepening. "In that time, we prepare to launch our final assault on the so-called Kawasaki Ninja and finish him off for good." A unified cry
echoed through the hall. "Yes, Sir! "