INGENIUM — HOSU (SECTOR 6-E)
Tensei Iida's engines hummed at low idle as he moved through the backstreets, checking every shadow and fire escape.
Hours of searching. Dozens of blocks covered. Still nothing.
'He has to be here somewhere.'
It had been three hours since the operation to find the hero killer began. Unfortunately, three hours in and they had nothing to show for it.
"Ingenium here. Sector 6-E clear. Moving to 6-F. All units, sound off with status updates." He tapped his Comms.
"Skywing, Sector 5-C. Nothing to report."
"Mirage, Sector 7-D. All clear."
"Enigma, Sector 4-A. Clear."
"Torque, Sector 7-B. No—wait."
Tensei slowed. "Torque?"
"Ingenium, this is Torque. Priority alert—Mirage is with me right now. She was attacked and her comm was stolen approximately six, seven minutes ago."
Tensei stopped.
'What?'
"Confirm—Mirage is physically with you *right now*?"
"Affirmative. She's right here."
A cold feeling settled in his gut.
'Seven minutes ago...'
They'd been reporting every two minutes. Protocol.
'Which means—'
"Then who the hell has been responding on her channel for the last seven minutes?"
Silence on the line.
Complete silence.
'They're all realizing it.' Someone had been in their comms. Listening to everything.
"Aw."
Just then, a new unfamiliar voice came through the line with a sigh of disappointment.
"Well, that sucks."
Tensei hit his comm. "Who is this? Identify—"
**CRUNCH.**
Plastic and circuitry crushed.
Static.
Nothing.
Tensei hit the comm again.
"All units, this is Ingenium. Emergency protocol—cease operations immediately. Unknown hostile infiltrated our communications. Do *not* trust any orders unless visually confirmed. Regroup at Rally Point Bravo. *Now.*"
Responses came in quick.
"Copy."
"En route."
"Understood."
Tensei leaped toward the rally point, engines flaring.
'This isn't good.'
An infiltrator. In their network. For at least five minutes.
'What did we say? What positions did we give away?'
And worse—was Stain working alone? Or was this someone else?
He crossed another rooftop, engines kicking as he cleared the alley between buildings.
Then, he felt it.
Right then and there, a heavy, oppressive feeling filled with the intent to kill.
*Danger*
His instincts screamed.
THUD!
His boots hit the next rooftop hard, turning toward the alley below
Dark. Narrow. Empty.
Except it wasn't.
'It's him ..'
Tensei's dropped into the alley below. It was barely wide enough for two people side-by-side. Trash bags lined one wall. A rusted fire escape clung to the other. Thirty meters ahead, the passage bent sharply left.
Tensei slowed as he approached the corner.
Standing at the center was a man wrapped in tattered red cloth and dark, patchwork armor. Bandages covered most of his face, leaving only his eyes visible.
"It's you."
It was the same description giving by the victims.
"Hero Killer." Tensei's fists clenched. "You're under arrest. Drop your weapons and surren—"
WHOOSH!
The blade came before he could finish.
"Shit!"
Tensei jerked sideways. The knife grazed his shoulder plate, sparking off the reinforced material before clattering against the wall.
Turning his gaze, Stain was already pivoting for another strike, using the narrow alley to close in before Tensei could accelerate.
Ingenium fired his engines, leaping backward as a blade slashed past the area he once stood. "Very well. I'll have to take you in by force."
Stain didn't respond. Ingenium landed on his feet, engines thrumming with energy.
"Recipro .. uh"
Tensei's dodged as a second knife sliced past his ribs.
He barely stabilized himself after cancelling his recipro when he was forced to block the third with his gauntlet.
'He's faster than the reports…'
Tensei skidded back, engines whining as he forced space between them. His gauntlet stung from the impact.
Stain advanced without a word.
Tensei kicked his engines again, blasting sideways to reset the distance.
The instant his boots touched down, Stain was already in front of him.
"What—?!"
SQUELCH
Steel punched into Tensei's abdomen, just under the reinforced panel. A hot bloom spread across his side, blood seeping out.
"Ugh .."
Tensei staggered, grabbing the attacker's wrist on instinct. Stain twisted free with almost casual efficiency, stepping back just far enough that the blade slid cleanly out. It had only been ten seconds at most.
THUD!
Ingenium retreated while clutching his wounded side. Eyes never leaving the opponent. Stain watched him quietly, head tilting as if assessing a malfunctioning machine.
"You heroes," he said. The voice was low, and sounded somewhat annoyed. "Always louder than you are competent."
He dragged the flat of the stained blade across his bandages, then lifted it toward his face.
"This is Ingenium. Code red, I found ...".
The blood touched the Hero killer's tongue. And for Ingenium, everything stopped.
Tensei's knees buckled instantly, the weight of his own body crashing down on him as if gravity had doubled.
"—rrgh…!" His fingers spasmed. His engines sputtered out, coughing blue sparks before dying entirely. The pain in his abdomen flared white-hot, but he couldn't move a muscle. "Paralysis .."
"Struggling won't work."
The sound of footsteps fell into his ears, until he could see the Hero killer's feet right in front of his face.
"A weak type. I suppose that suits your… reputation."
He flicked the blade, scattering droplets of red against the alley walk.
"How Pathetic."
Tensei gritted his teeth. "Pathetic?"
"Your earlier statements to take me in by force. Without the ability to back it up. Coming alone against me. ... Was it arrogance or pride?"
Veins appeared on his forehead.
"This has nothing to do with pride criminal scum. You will pay for the things you've ..."
Ingenium stiffened. A wave of cold killing intent slammed intent him, halting his breath.
'This .. what is this ..'
Stain's eyes grew cold.
"The turbo hero Ingenium ... So easily scared against said criminal scum. How disappointing ..."
"Your engines. Your speed. Your name. All wasted."
Tensei's vision blurred. Not from blood loss—fear.
"You don't get the right to say that!"
"I think I do. Heroes like you, cling to a title without embodying the ideal. You wear the symbol but don't bear the burden."
His eyes narrowed, raising his katana.
"You disgust me." His eyes settled on the lower waist. He would reclaim the title hero from this Fraud.
Tensei gritted his teeth and pushed. Unfortunately, his body refused to obey him.
'Move. Please… move!'
Stain raised the blade.
TING!
Something sharp cut the air. Stain jerked sideways, instincts reacting before thought. He twisted, batting it aside with the flat of his sword while ripping a throwing knife from his belt and hurling it upward in one motion.
CLANG.
The knife spun through the air—caught mid-flight by a gloved hand.
'He dodged that huh?'
More shot towards him. Stain leaped backwards, weapons embedding into his previous position.
A figure dropped into the alley from above, landing between Stain and Ingenium with a quiet thud. Black clothing. Silver hair. Dark mask covering the lower half of his face.
"Phew. That was a close call." The figure spun the knife and tossed it aside. It clattered against the pavement.
"I almost didn't make it."
Ingenium's eyes widened.
Someone had come to save him?
'Is he a pro?'
He examined the look. There was a green vest over dark clothing, fingerless gloves, and combat boots. And ... Weapons? 'Are those kitchen knives?'
His thoughts shifted.
'Forget that. His costume doesn't really look like one of a Pro's. Plus I've never seen or heard of someone like him before. Meaning he's either a unknown pro or ...'
"You." He called out with difficulty.
"Huh?"
"I don't know who you are, but you can't be here. It's too dangerous."
Tensei's eyes turned to Stain.
"He can paralyze you with a single cut. Don't attack him. He only wants me. Save yourself."
Stain's eyes narrowed.
'Self sacrifice ..' He snorted, reassessing this false hero. 'At least he's not that far gone. Leaving him alive to spread the word will be good enough.'
The new arrival didn't move.
"Didn't you hear me? Go and get help. Don't worry about me."
"Um, thanks, but I'm not here for you."
The masked man uttered without looking back.
"Huh?"
Tensei was stunned. Wasn't he here to ..
"Hello Stain."
Ignoring Ingenium, the masked man clasped his fists together, focusing on The Hero Killer.
"I've been dying to meet you."
__
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