《Dark Hero (Original English Light Novel)》 Bloody Night A massive island sits in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It¡¯s haunted by a dark and dreadful atmosphere. Smoke rises from multiple buildings engulfed by flames. Screams and explosions fill the air as the fire continues to spread. A group of three people launch multiple supernatural attacks causing a massive explosion. They began to stare as the smoke cleared and a dark human shadow emerged. A person in a police uniform appears with a sinister look on his face. He goes to unsheathe his sword on his left hip. Suddenly the officer vanishes and reappears behind the group. Seconds later blood gushes from their bodies as it appears they¡¯ve been slashed. The officer walks away as he waves the blood off his sword and the three fall to the ground and die. In a different part of the city away from the action lies a regular house. A kid the age of eight is staring at a TV while sitting on his moms lap. The TV shows a news channel covering the horrific event taking place across the island. ¡°The raid is getting worse as the night continues. This can only be described as hell. If you¡¯re hearing this then wherever you are please stay indoors until further notice.¡± An explosion booms in the distance and as the reporter looks back the shockwave hits causing the feed to cut off. Fear fills the eight year old boy''s face as he realizes just how bad the situation is. ¡°Mommy, I''m scared.¡± He mutters as tears begin forming on his face. ¡°Don¡¯t worry Yuto, everythings going to be ok. We aren¡¯t in the danger zone. As long as we stay in the house we should be perfectly fine. This has nothing to do with us.¡± Yuto¡¯s dad enters the living room ¡°That''s right Yuto, how about we go play your favorite game?¡± ¡° YAY, mommy do you wanna play with us?¡± ¡°Mommy¡¯s gonna stay here and keep watching TV, go play with your daddy.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Yuki don¡¯t go overboard with Yuto right before bed.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry I won¡¯t, me and Yuto are just gonna have a little fun right Yuto?¡± Yuki¡¯s lips pucker up to the side as he gazes to the left with the obvious expression of a lie. ¡°R-Right.¡± Yuto whispers as he makes the same face. ¡°Uh-huh, you two are awful liars. Whatever, as long as no one gets hurt it¡¯s fine with me.¡± Yuto and Yuki head upstairs with an overjoyed expression. Just as they headed upstairs, a sketchy white van pulled into the driveway. Two people wearing a black hood and pants exited the van. A worried look crossed the face of Yuto¡¯s dad. ¡°Shit¡­I didn¡¯t think he was actually bold enough to go through with it¡± Yuki mumbled with a look of extreme fear. ¡°Yuki, what¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Lira, there''s no time to explain. WE HAVE TO GO NOW¡± Yuki shouts in desperation. ¡°Mommy Daddy what¡¯s wrong.¡± ¡°YUKI!¡± Lira yells with profound confusion ¡°Dammit Lira, just take Yuto and run.¡± Lira grabs Yuto and runs out the back door into the backyard as Yuki follows suit. Suddenly the front door is kicked open and the hooded men enter the house. As they climb the fence and enter the street Yuki pulls out his phone and makes a call. ¡°Why are you calling at a time like this, Yuki.¡± Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. ¡°Shunji I need your help, I got in over my head and now some people are after us.¡± ¡°WHAT! YOU DAMN FOOL, YOU TOLD ME YOU GAVE UP TRYING TO EXPOSE THEM!¡± Shunji shouts in anger ¡°There¡¯s no time for this Shunji, we need your help now.¡± A knife soars in and cuts Yuki¡¯s hand making him drop his phone. ¡°SHIT!¡± ¡°YUKI!¡± The two hooded men slowly walk through the backyard. ¡°They won''t get away,¡± one of them says. They jump over the fence and one prepares to launch an attack. Knives began floating out of his clothes and surrounded his right hand. As he held his hand in the direction of Yuto and his parents the knives shot out at incredible speed and struck Yuki. ¡°AHH!¡± Yuki screams as he falls to the ground. ¡°YUKI NOOO!¡± ¡°DA-DADDY?¡± ¡°K-Keep running¡­..d-don¡¯t¡­look back¡± Yuki groans in agony as he fights to stay alive. Blood begins to fill Yuki¡¯s lungs and mouth. He starts coughing up blood as he reaches his hand toward Yuto and Lira. ¡°Yu-Yuto, Lira, I''m so sorry. The two of you never should¡¯ve been caught up in this. My foolish mistake put this family in jeopardy.¡± Yuki continues to cough up blood and Lira goes to help him. Before Lira could move three knives struck her stomach and she quickly fell to the ground. Blood started leaking from her stomach and dripping off her mouth. ¡°MOMMY NOT YOU TOO!¡± Yuto grabs Lira¡¯s arm and starts pulling. ¡°GET UP, MOMMY PLEASE GET UP!¡± A desperate feeling fills Yuto¡¯s body. His body feels weak as he falls to the ground. Tears start flowing from Yuto¡¯s eyes and the reality of the situation kicks in. He¡¯s lost in a sense of confusion, sadness, and desperation hoping that everything is just a dream but deep down he knows his parents are dying. Lira struggles to stay up as she coughs up a huge amount of blood. Her vision blurs as she musters enough strength to look at Yuto and tell him her final words with a smile. ¡°Yuto, my boy, I love you so much. You have to keep running. Survive this Yuto, and grow up strong. You have so much life left to live, continue living my boy.¡± ¡®Someone please save my dear boy. I don¡¯t care about my life but he doesn¡¯t deserve to die like this.¡¯ Lira falls to the ground and dies. Yuto says nothing as he stares at his parent¡¯s lifeless corps. The two hooded men make their way to Yuto and hover over him. ¡°What should we do with the kid?¡± ¡°No witnesses.¡± The other says as another knife floats to his hand. Out of nowhere a gray haired man in a white shirt and black pants swoops down to Yuto and attacks the hooded man. The hooded man dodges and jumps back. The other hooded man goes in to attack. ¡°Out of the way.¡± A blade of water forms around his hand as he goes for the kill. The gray haired man grabs the hooded man¡¯s hand and runs his hand through the man''s heart. He pulls his hand out of the body and lets the lifeless body fall to the ground. He then looks at the other hooded man with a serious expression. ¡°I¡¯ve done my job, no need to risk my life.¡± The hooded man says as he vanishes from the scene. The gray haired man looks down at Yuto and his dead parents ¡°Damn, I got here as fast as I could but I was too late.¡± ¡°Yuki you fool, look at what you¡¯ve done.¡± He says in his head. ¡°Shu-Shunji, why did this happen?¡± Yuto¡¯s eyes are widened and soulless with a blank facial expression. ¡°Sorry Yuto, your dad got caught up with the wrong people. There¡¯s people in this city that you don¡¯t mess with, powerful and evil people. Your dad was trying to expose one of them and this was the result.¡± The despair on Yuto¡¯s face is slowly overcome by the feeling of rage. As the situation fully processes through Yuto¡¯s head he can''t help but be enraged. He clenches his jaw tight and leans over the ground. ¡°I see, and what would I have to do to take these people down?¡± Yuto groans with rage ¡°It¡¯s not possible, these people are too strong. This kind of thing runs deeper than anyone could ever imagine. The crime on this island is growing and only getting worse.¡± ¡°SO WHAT, I¡¯ve heard that you¡¯re just as strong.¡± In a fit of rage Yuto begins gripping the ground and baring his teeth. The ground starts cracking as Yuto¡¯s fingers pierce the very earth itself. Shunji¡¯s shocked as he witnesses Yuto make a mini crater in the ground. ¡°Train me Shunji, make me strong enough to take them down, I don¡¯t care what it takes.¡± As Shunji gazes at Yuto a dark sky comes into view. Hovering over the island, horrid screams from the raid fill the air along with the sound of the crackling fire. The dark vibe grew worse than before as what could only be described as a nightmare looms over the island. Slowly, the dreadful screams fade away and an eerie silence fills the air. The Beginning Nine years have passed since the murder of Yuto¡¯s parents. The island hasn¡¯t changed one bit, the dreadful atmosphere continues to surround the island. A classroom comes into view as a bell echoes around the building. The students are heading out of the classroom in an orderly manner. A blonde boy with black eyes wearing jeans and a black hoodie stands over his desk as he gazes out of the window with a sharp look on his face. ¡°Tonights the night.¡± A golden blonde haired boy with deep golden eyes approaches him. ¡°Yuto.¡± he says. ¡°Yeah Kuro what''s up.¡± ¡° So I know you¡¯re busy all the time, but Riku planned this big hangout with me, you, and Choji and she really wants you to come this time. She told me to tell you that if you don¡¯t come this time you¡¯re going to face her ¡®wrath.¡¯¡± ¡°Ahah.¡± Yuto sighs. ¡°Lucky for her I actually don¡¯t have anything to do today until tonight. So I might as well hangout with you guys. A look of relief crosses Kuro¡¯s face as he replaces it with a slight smile. ¡°Whew nice, If you said no Riku said I¡¯d also have to face her ¡®wrath¡¯. Whatever that means.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no telling what Riku means by that. Oh I don¡¯t know how long y¡¯all plan to hangout but like I said I do have something to do tonight so I might have to leave early.¡± A beautiful long black haired girl with blue eyes appears in between Yuto and Kuro with a disappointed look on her face. ¡°WHAT!¡± She yells as her voice echoes around the classroom. ¡°YOU DON''T WANNA PARTY ALL NIGHT LONG!¡± She quickly grabs Yuto¡¯s shoulders and starts shaking him with a puppy eyed look. Kuro quickly grabs her and pulls her off Yuto. ¡°C¡¯mon Riku, you know Yuto is always busy. We¡¯re lucky enough that he¡¯s even coming. Hell, besides school it¡¯s been around 3 years since we¡¯ve actually hung out.¡± ¡°I know, I know.¡± Riku pouts ¡°It¡¯s just that my maids said they would prepare some food that¡¯s out of this world! Plus I have 10 different movies setup for us to watch too. Oh and I bought a bunch of games just for tonight because my gut feeling told me that Yuto would say yes. Which of course was right because my gut feeling has never been wrong. Now that I think about it don¡¯t you think it¡¯s weird my gut feeling has never been wrong. Oh speaking of guts theresthishorrormovieiwanttowatchthatapparentlyisreallybloodywithlotsofgutohandand¡­¡­.¡± Yuto and Kuro look at each other and sigh as Riku continues to ramble. ¡°Uh oh, is Riku rambling again.¡± A light brown haired boy says with worry. ¡°Oh Choji thank God you¡¯re here. You¡¯re coming to the hangout as well right. You have to, this is a special day because even Yuto is coming along.¡± Riku insists with a sparkle in her eye. ¡°Oh Yuto¡­Well how can I say no to that. Wait¡­. Uh, Yuto Riku didn¡¯t force you to join us did she. Like with a threat.¡± Riku quickly looks at Yuto with a crazed wide eyed stare as if she¡¯s telling Yuto he better not say yes. ¡°Aheh, no not at all.¡± Yuto sighed, rubbing the back of his head trying not to anger Riku. ¡°Oh yeah, that¡¯s totally convincing.¡± Choji says sarcastically ¡°Enough talk, it¡¯s the start of the weekend so let''s have some FUN!¡± *** ¡°WHAAA¡­RIKU THIS IS YOUR HOUSE!¡± Yuto screams. A mansion bigger than anything Yuto¡¯s seen lays in front of him. It¡¯s surrounded by freshly cut grass and a luxurious fence. On the top of the house is a sign that says ¡®HOSHIGA RESIDENCE.¡¯ As they walk past the gate and through the cement path in front of them, two maids on each side of the front door greet them. One with long brown hair and green eyes and the other with brown skin, pitch black hair, and grayish black eyes. ¡°Welcome everyone, we''ve eagerly awaited your arrival. We hope the four of you have had a great day. We made some delicious food that¡¯s waiting to be eaten.¡± The two maids announced. ¡°Uh, Riku you actually have maids? I thought you were joking. How much money do you have?¡± Yuto asks. ¡°Of course I do silly. Why would I lie about something like that?¡± ¡°Oh yeah that''s right, you¡¯ve never actually been to Riku¡¯s house have you Yuto?¡± Kuro inquires remembering how busy Yuto has been.¡± ¡°Just how rich is Riku?¡± ¡°Eh,She¡¯s WAY too rich for us. She is the mayor¡¯s daughter after all, so that makes her the heir to one of the richest people on the island.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, this was our exact reaction the first time we saw this place as well.¡± Choji says calming Yuto down. ¡°Yeah that¡¯s why I''m so happy he finally has a chance to visit my house. He¡¯s only ever been to your house, Kuro, which isn¡¯t fair.¡± If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Well we¡¯re best friends Riku, so of course he¡¯s been to my house.¡± ¡°Oh is this Yuto? The guy you¡¯ve always wanted to come over for years master Riku.¡± The black haired maid asked. ¡°YEP, oh is dad back?¡± ¡°No, he¡¯s still at his business trip, we were told to tell you there was an unexpected complication that¡¯s causing him to stay longer.¡± ¡°Oh ok. Well anyways lets go in already and PARTY!¡± Yuto, Kuro, Riku, and Choji head into the mansion and begin to party. Time flies by as they eat, make jokes, and play games. It¡¯s now night time and their laughter can still be heard across the mansion. The four of them sit in a circle with food and drinks on their plate. Kuro gets up and sticks his arms out to the side as he sways from left to right. ¡°OH IT¡¯S AN AIRPLANE!¡± Riku shouts ¡°Nope wrong answer, next guess.¡± ¡°Is it a bird?¡± Yuto ask ¡°Wrong again¡± ¡°A FLYING ELEPHANT.¡± Riku desperately yells. Yuto, Kuro, and Choji took a moment to pause and look at Riku with an extreme sense of disappointment. ¡°Oh is it a scarecrow?¡± Choji suggests breaking the silence. ¡°Annnd Choji¡¯s right.¡± ¡°The hell kind of scarecrow moves like that.¡± ¡°The scarecrow I made up Yuto dammit.¡± ¡°Yuto¡¯s just mad because he wasn¡¯t even close at all.¡± ¡°Uh Riku in case you forgot, you said a flying elephant¡­How the hell was I the one who wasn¡¯t close at all.¡± ¡°Yeah whatever¡­Y¡¯all just don¡¯t have my imagination that¡¯s it. Yuto, Kuro, and Choji once again take a moment to pause and look at Riku with disappointment. Yuto looks at his watch and a serious expression takes over his face. He quickly changes back to a slight smile and looks at his friends. ¡°Well guys, I gotta go back home now.¡± ¡°Aw man, but we¡¯re having so much fun. I still have so many things planned tonight. We still have five movies left and we haven¡¯t even had dessert. Mei and Faith can whip up some amazing desserts. Oh yeah I didn¡¯t tell you but Mei is the maid with brown hair and Faith is the one with black hair anyways they make some of the best desserts in the whole Island you know me I love desserts so you can trust me on this you really have to stay Yuto even though we¡¯ve been hanging out for eight hours we¡¯ve only hit the tip of the ice berg there ten more hours of things I have planned andIreallywantyoutostayforthewholethingbecauseitsyourfirsttimeandand¡­.¡± Kuro grabs Riku and covers her mouth to stop her rambling. ¡°Let the man go Riku.¡± Kuro insists ¡°Be careful Yuto, I''m sure you know this city is dangerous. I even heard there¡¯s some kind of black hooded slasher on the loose. So stay safe and try not to get involved in any of that.¡± Yuto takes a glance at Choji and keeps walking. ¡°Aheh of course I won''t Choji.¡± *** The island is surrounded by the dark of night as if it was haunted by an ominous presence. Most of the residents are indoors for their protection. At this time of night, the ones who are active are the criminals polluting the island and the unlucky people who will be their victims. Groups of criminals have flooded the island committing devious acts of violence in their wake. The island is dreadfully quiet, the only sounds that can be heard are the sounds of the unfortunate victims of robbery, assault, and murder. Yuto(V.O.) (CONT¡¯D) "For nine years I''ve trained to become as strong as possible. That night my parents were slaughtered changed me. That night I realized something. This city is at its breaking point. It''s been overrun with crime to the point where most people don¡¯t even go out at night.The police are scared to face the true threats to this city. But I''m not. They don¡¯t Know who I am, they should pray it stays that way. Things have a way of coming back around. It¡¯s time the criminals in this city feel what it¡¯s like to be scared for a change." A group of six people, four boys and two girls walk out of a corner store. The two girls clearly look uncomfortable as if they were forced to join the boys. One of the boys with dark black hair wearing a crimson jacket with black pants appears to be their leader as the other three boys take the girls and follow him into a dark alley with a sinister smile on their face. A hooded person in all black loosley trails the group with his head down from a distance into the alley. As the group goes deeper into the alley the hooded person stops and lifts his head up revealing Yuto¡¯s face. The group comes to a stop deep in the alley. The boys turn around and look at the girls in a sexual manner. The black haired boy in the crimson jacket walks up to the girl with a sinister smile. ¡°Alright, take them off.¡± He demands ¡°P-P-Please d-dont hurt us.¡± One of the girls mutters ¡°There¡¯s nothing to be scared of. As long as you do what we say no one will get hurt. Me and my boys just want to have a good time. I¡¯m sure you two wouldn¡¯t mind that. Don¡¯t y¡¯all want to feel good as well.¡± ¡°N-no, just please leave us alone. We just want to go home so please don¡¯t make us do this.¡± The boy reaches for the girl''s clothes. On top of one of the buildings is Yuto in a cape wearing a black and gray suit looking down at the ongoing scene. He jumps off the roof and crashes down behind the group of boys cracking the ground. The boys turn around and look at Yuto as he gets up revealing his black and gray suit with black boots and armor plating on his wrist. He wears a black belt with a slew of different items and gadgets on it. His menacing muscular appearance is accompanied with his gray knight like mask with a black tinted visor and black hair as dark as night covered by a black hood. The boy in the crimson jacket ignorantly smiles and the man as if he¡¯s unfazed. ¡°Hah, what am I supposed to be scared? Boys¡­ go get that fool.¡± The three boys charge at Yuto and Yuto quickly disposes of the first two by sending each of them flying, the first with a kick and the second with a punch. The third guy was massively bigger and more muscular than the other two. As he goes in to attack, Yuto grabs his shirt with one arm, lifts him up and launches him into the building on the left at a high speed. The boy in the crimson jacket is now completely terrified and slowly backs up as the two girls run away in terror. ¡°W-wh-who the hell are you. D-do-do-do you know who I am.¡± The boy in the crimson jacket asks as his legs began to feel like jelly. Yuto stands still and ominously stares at the boy like a predator stares at its prey. ¡°Do you¡­. Do you know who my father is? He¡¯s Shiro Jiro¡­one of the most dangerous people on this island. I doubt you wanna make enemies with him. So-so how about you kneel and be-be-beg for my forgiveness.¡± Suddenly Yuto vanishes and reappears right in front of the boy with his fist wound up. ¡°You talk too much. Shut up.¡± Yuto asserts in a deep and scary tone. Yuto smashes his fist against the boy''s face and slams him down head first into the ground, shattering the concrete and leaving a crater around the head. The boy now clinging to consciousness with blood leaking from his face groans and looks at Yuto as he walks away. Yuto continues to slowly walk away and eventually disappears right before the boy in the crimson jacket loses consciousness. Rookie Detectives The eerie dark knight continues as police sirens fill the air. In the alley where Yuto was, police have arrived on the scene and are examining the bodies. One officer is examining the body of the boy in the crimson jacket. Two men in black suits, one with short black hair and black eyes and the other with fluffy brown hair and bright brown eyes walk up to the officer and observe the body. ¡°Detectives, we got a call about a disturbance in the area and found this.¡± The black haired detective takes a knee and leans in to get a closer look. ¡°Oh! This is Shou Jiro, he¡¯s been considered off limits due to his connections with the underworld. His dad, Shoma Jiro, is one of the richest people on this island and supplies money to them in exchange for power and protection.¡± ¡°Who would be foolish enough to attack him?¡± The brown haired detective asks. ¡°Don¡¯t know, but it seems we¡¯ve got an interesting case. I get the feeling things are gonna get real complicated real soon Yamato.¡± ¡°Yeah, I have a similar feeling as well Kiria.¡± An ambulance arrives on the scene and two doctors with stretchers come out and load the unconscious bodies. Kiria signals one of them to come over. ¡°Take Shou Jiro and make sure he doesn¡¯t die. Notify me as soon as he wakes up, I need to talk to him and figure out what happened.¡± ¡°Yes Sir.¡± The doctor puts Shou on the stretcher and takes him to the ambulance. The officer gets up off his knee and begins to walk away. Before he leaves, he turns back around to Yamato and Kiria. "Oh detectives, I forgot to mention that the person who gave us the call mentioned two girls running into the street from this alley at the same time the noise was heard." "More than likely tied to this event then. Any information on the girls?" "No sir Detective Kiria. Hell the person who made the call left by the time I showed up. I''ll try and look for them. If I find anything I''ll ket y''all know." The officer walks away from the scene and to the other officers in the area. Yamato takes a look at the crater where Shou¡¯s head was. He gets on a knee and rubs his hand around the crater. ¡°Hmm. Kiria, this doesn¡¯t seem to be caused by any elemental powers. I don¡¯t see any traces at all.¡± ¡°Oh? I was thinking the culprit was an earth user due to their enhanced physical strength but upon closer look it doesn¡¯t seem like it.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­I think these were caused by some sort of physical attack like a punch. Could it be super strength? No, that power is just a myth.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t be able to tell for sure until we know more. It¡¯s safe to say this was caused by a rare ability or as people are calling them now, a non-elemental ability. Regardless Yamato, for now the only thing we can do is wait.¡± *** Daytime finally hits Daimon island and a sense of terrifying peace envelops the atmosphere. Even though it¡¯s morning, police sirens can still be heard from all over the island. The island is lively as its citizens have finally come out of their homes. A massive police station with the words Daimon Island Police Department comes into view. Inside the station, a group of people in suits, three boys and two girls, are eating at what appears to be a cafeteria. The doors to the cafeteria open and Yamato walks inside. ¡°HEY YAMATO, YOU¡¯RE LATE.¡± A beautiful brown haired girl with green eyes yells across the cafeteria. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Yeah Kiara, I was up late because of a call me and Kiria received. I don¡¯t know why but I have a weird feeling about it.¡± Yamato goes up to a section with plates of food on it. He grabs a plate and sits down next to a dark skinned black haired boy with black eyes. ¡°What do you mean by a weird feeling?¡± The boy asked. ¡°I don¡¯t know Kai¡­I can¡¯t really explain it myself. I just have a feeling that things are about to get weird. Like someone¡­no¡­something is coming.¡± ¡°A new criminal?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, only time will tell.¡± A blue haired boy with deep ocean-like blue eyes grabs the bread on Yamato¡¯s plate from across the table. ¡°Yamato, you''re probably overthinking it.¡± ¡°Uh Kenta... I kinda wanted that.¡± ¡°Yeah well I want it more.¡± A white haired boy with shiny silver eyes sits on a chair polishing his sharp silver sword with a black and white handle across from the table where everyone is eating. Kiara turns and look and him in disappointment. ¡°Hibiki, you need to eat some food. You always sit there while we eat.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need to eat, I need to refine my skills. Instead of being here watching you guys eat, I should be training and refining my form. If I had a choice I wouldn¡¯t sit here watching you chipmunks stuff your mouths.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­D-Did you just call me a chipmunk.¡± ¡°Relax Kiara, you know Hibiki¡¯s always like this. Just leave him be.¡± Kenta tells her. Kiara turns away from Hibiki and stuffs her face to deal with the anger. Yamato begins looking around the cafeteria in a confused manner. ¡°Uhh, where¡¯s Ava?¡± A short blue haired girl with deep ocean-like blue eyes emerges from behind Yamato with a depressed expression. ¡°Mmm¡­Yamato, I¡¯ve been right here the whole time. You never even noticed me¡± ¡°Oh well uh, like I said I''m pretty tired so that''s why I didn¡¯t see you.¡± ¡°Uh huh sure.¡± Ava sighs as she sits down and begins eating. ¡°Hey Yamato, what¡¯s it like working with senior detective Kiria?¡± Kiara asked. ¡°Well I can¡¯t make any opinions after only two weeks. But he¡¯s alright. He has this weird vibe around him that I can¡¯t shake off but other than that there¡¯s no problem.¡± ¡°Well you better impress him Yamato. You carry the title of star rookie detective. You have a lot to live up to.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t choose that title myself you know.¡± ¡°Regardless, you still have to exceed expectations. No, we all have to. As you all know, since the blood raid this department has been in shambles. We only have five senior detectives, Kiria Akuma who¡¯s said to be the strongest in the department second to the captain, Kaeya Sakai who¡¯s deductive skills rival the captains, Akira Fujimoto wielder of the sacred spear, Kikyo Tahara the battle healer, and Ayano Yano the water mistress. The six of us were chosen above all other candidates to become rookie detectives. That means there''s only ten detectives to cover all of the island. We have a lot of expectations for us, we can¡¯t just meet those expectations, we have to surpass them.¡± Kenta starts clapping his hands and smiles proudly at Kiara. ¡°Wow Kiara, that was really good.¡± Yamato¡¯s phone starts ringing in his pocket. When he pulls his phone out to see who the caller was , Kiria¡¯s name shows up on his phone. ¡°Oh it¡¯s Kiria sorry I gotta take this.¡± Yamato answers the phone and puts it up to his ear. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Yamato, I just got word that Shou Jiro has woken up. Meet me at Daimon health clinic ASAP.¡± ¡°Yes sir, I''m heading over now.¡± Yamato turns around and looks at the group. ¡°HEY I GOTTA GO, IT¡¯S ABOUT THAT CASE I WAS TALKING ABOUT. WE¡¯RE GOING TO INTERVIEW A WITNESS.¡± ¡°OKAY.¡± Yamato walks out of the police department and heads to his car. He puts two guns into a holster on each side of his hip. With a stern facial expression and glaring eyes he continues to head to his car. ¡°Time to get some answers.¡± Yutos Conflict A big modern house sits on the left side of the island. Inside the house, a TV is playing with the news channel on. A blonde haired blue eyed reporter is covering the events from the previous night. ¡°This is Sierra Reeds coming to you live with coverage over some interesting events last night. In the commons sector of the city, a party led by Shou Jiro, the son of the famous millionaire Shoma Jiro, was beaten up by a mysterious figure. While I can¡¯t give any names, the sources said that as they were about to be assaulted, a quote unquote ¡®black knight-like figure in a cape and hood came crashing down from above.¡¯ As he attacked the group led by Shou Jiro the two were able to escape. Who is this mysterious person and what does he want? Stay tuned for the latest info.¡± In the kitchen of the house, Shunji is cooking a meal for two. Yuto comes down stairs and sits at the table while Shunji continues prepping. ¡°Your first night and you''re already famous. You should be proud.¡± ¡°Very funny, I don¡¯t see the point in targeting some low life like Shou Jiro. This won¡¯t help me find my parents'' killer.¡± ¡°No, but it helps to send a message. For now we don¡¯t know who or where your parent¡¯s killer is. But all it takes is a piece of bread in a pond, and the fish start coming to you.¡± ¡°So by stirring up the underworld I can send them in a panic and have the killer come to me?¡± ¡°Not necessarily. The goal is to attract the famous queen of the underworld, Madam. If you can get the right leverage on her then you hold the power in a negotiation.¡± ¡°So she won¡¯t have a choice but to give us the name and location of the killer. I see.¡± Shunji stares at Yuto in a concerning manner. ¡°Yuto, you¡¯re too focused on the future. What matters right now is the present.¡± ¡°I know, I just want to find the killer. I¡¯m impatient. I¡¯ve completed my training. I should be able to go and find him.¡± ¡°You may have completed your training. But there''s a lot more to this goal than knowing how to fight. For now focus on the present, and the future will arrive quicker.¡± ¡°It¡¯d be a lot better if you could fight by my side, Shunji.¡± ¡°You know my sickness won¡¯t allow me to Yuto.¡± ¡°I know it just¡­you¡¯re a former member of the CIA and an expert in combat. You¡¯d easily take these guys out.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wrong. I may have been strong in my prime, but not strong enough to take on the underworld. That¡¯s why I trained you. So that you could become stronger than I ever could. From the moment I saw you use your powers I knew you could become stronger than me. You have a power that¡¯s considered a myth even among the rarest power users. Your power of super strength could far exceed what anyone would think possible.¡± ¡°Really? It doesn¡¯t feel all that special to me.¡± ¡°Not yet, but I have a feeling that in due time you¡¯ll become the strongest on the island. How you use that strength however¡­ that¡¯s up to you.¡± ¡°And for other news today a warehouse in the business sector was attacked last night.¡± Yuto and Shunji look back at the TV to listen to the news reporter. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°The perpetrator is unknown but this attack seems to be chained to other similar attacks across the sector. The common link between these attacks is that the victims all have radiation burns and were killed by what appears to be radiation poisoning.¡± Shunji looks back at Yuto as he eats his food. ¡°I trained you to take down your parents'' killer. But don¡¯t you think you can do more than that? Have you ever thought of protecting this island the same way your father tried to?¡± ¡°My father tried to protect this island and it got him killed. Why should I follow suit?¡± ¡°Because you''re stronger than your father ever was. You have the power to fight back that your father never had. I may not be your father, but over these nine years I''ve grown to understand you more than you do yourself. I know there¡¯s more to your goal than avenging your parents. You just haven''t figured it out yet.¡± ¡°Why should I risk my neck to protect the same island that raised the killer of my parents?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the island''s fault that your parents were murdered Yuto. But you know that.¡± ¡°And how do you know?¡± ¡°Because I''ve watched over you for years. Everytime you talk about how all you want to do is avenge your parents, you always look conflicted. As if you''re trying to hide what you really feel.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no conflict in me, Shunji. My goals are clear and so is my mind.¡± ¡°You say that but I see so much more. I see a young boy who has a massive journey ahead of him. A boy who¡¯s conflicted between being an avenger or being a protector. Soon you¡¯ll have to choose what you want to do for this island. And at that time, you won¡¯t have the choice to dodge the question.¡± ¡°Maybe so, but when that time comes I''ll decide.¡± ¡°You carry the Sasaki family name just as your father did. He did what he could to help this island. I believe you¡¯ll make the right decision.¡± ¡°Anyways, what''s the plan for tonight? Do I hit the commons sector again?¡± ¡°No. This time we¡¯re hitting a warehouse in the business sector. The underworld has multiple warehouses in three sectors, sector one the commons sector, sector two the business sector, and sector three the medical sector. With sector four being the law sector you can guess why they don¡¯t have one there. Anyways this warehouse is special. It¡¯s one of three major weapons suppliers for the underworld.¡± ¡°I see, we hit this warehouse and the underworld will have no choice but to take the bait. We can send them into a panic.¡± ¡°Well I''m not totally sure how they will react but I''m hoping for something along those lines. There¡¯s more to this plan though. While this warehouse is one of the underworlds major weapons suppliers, it¡¯s also the warehouse run by Shoma Jiro. So even if this doesn¡¯t send the underworld into a panic. It sure will stop Shoma from being able to sleep at night. You¡¯ll have to be careful, Yuto. The police are all over the business sector. One wrong move and there will be trouble.¡± ¡°If I can get evidence linking him to the warehouse and give it to the right person, the police will have no choice but to arrest him.¡± ¡°Careful tho, I don¡¯t know much but the leader of the warehouse is said to be a power user. His identity is unknown, but he¡¯s a trusted bodyguard. Apparently he¡¯s protected countless underworld operations from being attacked.¡± ¡°Damn Shunji, you have so much knowledge about the underworld it¡¯s hard to believe you¡¯re not one of them.¡± ¡°Well while you were busy training for nine years, I was busy teaching you and gathering information about the underworld. You¡¯ll learn how important knowledge is. Regardless of how strong a person is, if you have the right knowledge you can take them out. Their strengths and weaknesses, emotions, the way they operate. All of that contributes to a fight as well. You can¡¯t win without knowing your opponent.¡± ¡°Okay professor, thank you for the lecture.¡± ¡°Well class is dismissed. It''s still early, go rest up and be ready for tonight. Last night was just a test. From here on out things will be getting serious.¡± ¡°You know you don¡¯t have to explain everything to me right? This may come as a surprise but I can understand things as well.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right Yuto, that was a surprise.¡± ¡°Whatever, I''m going back to bed.¡± Yuto walks upstairs and to his room. Shunji continues to drink his coffee and watch TV. ¡°Yuki, this boy reminds me so much of you. He really is a mini you. That¡¯s why I have no doubt the boy will choose the right path. There will be so many challenges in his future. I only hope I can act as a good enough guide for him so he can walk the right path.¡± Shous Interrogation In the medical sector of the island, a massive building with the label Daimon Health Clinic sits in the middle of the sector. Citizens of the island as well as doctors, nurses, and officers can be seen entering and exiting the building. Inside, Yamato is walking through a hallway and heading into a room. When he opens the door, he sees Kiria and a female doctor hovering over Shou Jiro who is resting in a bed. ¡°Oh? Right on time Yamato.¡± ¡°I got here as fast as I could sir.¡± Kiria turns to the doctor and points his finger at the her. ¡°This is the rookie I was assigned. Yamato Fujimura.¡± ¡°Oh, so this is the star detective that''s all the rave? He''s younger than I thought¡± ¡°Nice to meet you ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you too. Alright i¡¯ll head out and let you two get to work." The doctor opens the door and walks away. Kiria pulls out a mini notebook and turns back to Shou preparing to ask him questions as Yamato walks to the bed. ¡°Alright Mr.Jiro i¡¯m detective Kiria, we have some questions for you. First, what were you doing last night in the back alley of the commons sector?¡± Shou looks at Kiria with a hung over expression. ¡°Mmm uhhh, nothing. I was simply going grocery shopping.¡± ¡°Oh? Grocery shopping with two of your buddies and two random girls? Forgive me if that¡¯s hard to believe.¡± ¡°They weren''t random girls, they were my friends.¡± ¡°Right. Two friends who just so happened to be terrified of you.¡± ¡°They¡¯re my girlfriends. We just have an unusual way of playing around.¡± As Shou¡¯s head clears up he begins to become more and more sarcastic. ¡°You know how these things go don¡¯t you? Teens in puberty. Just can¡¯t control ourselves.¡± ¡°Mr.Jiro you seem to be dangerously unaware of the circumstances you¡¯re in.¡± ¡°Uh, and who¡¯re you?¡± ¡°Detective Yamato Fujimura sir. Now back to what I was saying. Do you understand the position you¡¯re in?¡± Shou looks to the side in an attempt to shrug off the question. ¡°I figured. Well let me explain the situation. These two girls, while we don¡¯t know their names, have publicly admitted to being assaulted by you. It¡¯s all over the news. The best thing you can do right now is answer our questions.¡± As Yamato finishes talking Shou begins to break into a sweat. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Pff, ahaha. Oh please, my father is Shoma Jiro. You really think any of what you said matters? We¡¯ve bought out many of your officers, attorney¡¯s, and judges. This will all be swept under the rug in a week.¡± Yamato and Kiria look up at each other and then look back down at Shou. Kiria tears a page from the notebook, crumbles it into a ball and throws it in the trash. He then puts his pen to his notebook and prepares to ask some more questions. ¡°Alright Mr.Jiro, let''s fast forward a bit. When you were in the alley with your ¡®friends¡¯ you were attacked weren''t you?¡± Shou begins to break into a panic as he recalls the events that transpired. ¡°Do you have any clue who attacked you?¡± ¡°Mmmmm. T-That person or whatever that was, was a brutal monster. He completely pulverized my men. One of them was incredibly big and muscular but he threw him like a tennis ball.¡± ¡°Can you recall what this person was wearing or better yet what his powers are?¡± ¡°He had on this black suit. And he had a cape and hood. He also wore this knight like mask and if I remember correctly he had black hair that slightly hung over the mask. As for his powers, I don¡¯t really know. He had incredible strength. I¡¯ve seen earth before users but that wasn¡¯t it. It was like the guy had super strength.¡± Yamato and Kiria exchange a pair of concerned looks. Suddenly the door to the room burst open and a man in a gray suit came barging in. ¡°THAT¡¯S ENOUGH! Shou won¡¯t be saying another word unless I give him permission. Get your dirty paws out of this room.¡± The man declares. ¡°And who are you?¡± Kiria asks. ¡°I¡¯m the Jiro family lawyer. I don¡¯t know what kind of deceptive tricks you hooligans have used but Shou will no longer be answering questions¡­Umm, that means leave. LIKE NOW!¡± Yamato and Kiria begin to leave the room. As they¡¯re walking out, they look back at Shou to see him smiling at them. They close the door and walk through the hallway. ¡°That was pretty good back there Yamato. I¡¯m impressed. But, you messed up on one important thing.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°You dealt Shou our entire hand right off the bat.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t get it. Why was that a bad thing?¡± ¡°Well, when it comes to situations like these you don¡¯t want to give the person everything you have. If you held off on all the information we had and left Shou guessing, he¡¯d be more susceptible to tell us everything. He didn¡¯t know what evidence we had on him or how bad the situation was. His dad can only get him out of so many situations. But by telling him everything it allowed him to relax. Now he knows that the information we have most likely won¡¯t be enough to lock him up.¡± ¡°I see, I thought I did good. But instead I¡¯m the reason we couldn¡¯t get any more information out of him. Damn it, I got cocky.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t stress Yamato. For a rookie that was impressive.¡± Yamato and Kiria continue to exit the building. *** Nightfall once again consumes the island. In the business sector, a group of three men are loading boxes from a warehouse into a truck. ¡°Hey hurry it up we don¡¯t have all day.¡± One of the men in the truck declares. ¡°Hey, give us a break. You know how late it is?¡± ¡°Oh what you wanna go and lay in bed with your mommy. Shit I bet you have a sexy mother, I¡¯d wanna lay in bed with her as well AHAHAHAHA.¡± ¡°Yeah go to hell man. I hate this shit.¡± ¡°Oh cry me a river pussy.¡± Yuto in his black suit is standing atop a roof on a taller building next to the warehouse. Yuto taps the side of his mask in the area around his ear. ¡°Shunji, I''m here. It seems like they¡¯re doing a deal.¡± ¡°Tell me everything.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a lot of heavily armed men. They¡¯re putting some wooden crates into a cargo truck with the label ¡®NH PHARMACEUTICALS¡¯ on the side.¡± ¡°¡®NH PHARMACEUTICALS¡¯ or New Hope Pharmaceuticals is more than likely a front. And seeing as how this warehouse is run by Shoma Jiro, it must be his front.¡± ¡°A pharmaceutical truck in a sketchy warehouse isn¡¯t really the best cover up.¡± ¡°I doubt anyone cares. As long as it¡¯s a truck with a label the police will let it pass. They¡¯ve been bought out.¡± Yuto looks at the top of the warehouse and sees a glass ceiling in the middle of the brick roof. ¡°Shunji, I¡¯m gonna take a closer look.¡± Yuto climbs down the building he was on and leaps across to the roof of the warehouse. He hovers over the glass and looks at the inside of the warehouse. ¡°It¡¯s heavily armed as you said it would be.¡± As Yuto continues to look around, he sees a person in all black with a black jacket who appears to be ordering the bodyguards around.¡± ¡°Shunji, I think I found the power user you were talking about. He¡¯s giving the guards orders and watching the shipments.¡± ¡°Yeah that¡¯s probably him. Alright Yuto hit them hard and fast. Keep it short and as quiet as possible. The last thing you want is a huge gunfight that attracts the police.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Warehouse Attack The men continue to load the boxes onto the truck. Two men stand in front of the warehouse guarding the entrance with guns. ¡°Hey, you think we¡¯ll get a pay raise after this job?¡± ¡°I hope so, there¡¯s this girl I''m interested in. A real fine piece of work. A viper. But there¡¯s this man she¡¯s been seeing that¡¯s been pissing me off. I mean the guy looks like wet tissue. However¡­ I figure if I get a good raise I can buy her off.¡± ¡°Yeah well good luck with that. I need the money so I can pay my bitch of a wife her child support money. I¡¯m just praying a uh¡­accident happens to her if you know what I mean.¡± ¡°I just hope nothing goes wrong. Last thing I want is to die in a place like this.¡± ¡°Hey, relax man. Do you know what this job is? We¡¯re delivering weapons per Shoma Jiro¡¯s request. Only a fool would attack us.¡± ¡°Like the fool who attacked his son Shou?¡± ¡°Oh, I forgot about that.¡± ¡°It hasn¡¯t gotten popular yet, but i¡¯ve heard that people in the underworld started calling him the black knight. Because that¡¯s what the guys hanging around Shou called him.¡± ¡°Okay first those guys are in jail. How could we know what they called him?¡± ¡°C¡¯mon man you know word moves around fast on this island.¡± ¡°Alright will even if this black knight guy is the real deal, look at how many people we have. I doubt he could take us all on.¡± ¡°Yeah you¡¯re right.¡± The two men fistbump each other while laughing. A clanking sound from the side of the warehouse puts them back on guard. They each exchange looks and lean forward turning their heads to the right to check if they can see anything. ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°How would I know?¡± One of the men puts his hand on the others back and pushes him down the ramp entrance. ¡°Go check it out.¡± ¡°What? Why do I have to check it out?¡± ¡°C¡¯mon man you¡¯re already down there. It¡¯s probably nothing anyway, just go take a quick look.¡± ¡°Alright, fine.¡± The man heads down the ramp and heads into the right alley of the warehouse. He aims his gun forward and looks around. ¡°W-who¡¯s there. S-s-show yourself.¡± A rustling sound startles him and he aims his gun in the direction of the sound. He continues to walk to the source of the sound. As he squints his eyes he sees a dark shadowy figure in the distance. ¡®What the- Aahh.¡± The other man guarding the entrance hears the scream and begins walking down the ramp and into the alley. ¡°Hey. Hey, you there? Is everything ok?¡± He slowly walks into the alley with his gun pointed in front of him. As he¡¯s walking, Yuto is standing behind him like an evil spirit watching its victim. The man stops walking and turns around to see Yuto in the distance. ¡°What the fu-.¡± The man lets off five shots as Yuto dashes toward him and knocks him out. The gunshots alarmed everyone in the warehouse causing them to stop what they were doing and pull out their guns. The man in charge looks at the first three people he sees and points at them. ¡°HEY, you three. Go see what''s going on now.¡± The three men go outside and into the alley. While walking, they spot the unconscious bodies of the other two men. One of the men looks in awe at a gun that has been bent. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. ¡°What the hell?¡± Suddenly Yuto swoops down in between the three men. ¡°HOLY SHIT!¡± One of the men tries to aim his gun at Yuto but Yuto grabs it and sends him flying with a punch. Then, Yuto kicks the guy behind him on the right¡¯s knee. The third guy points his gun to Yuto and Yuto ducks down before the shots go off and uppercuts him. The guy who took a kick to the knee is on the ground trying to crawl away from Yuto. Yuto menacingly walks toward him. ¡°No no no no no please please.¡± Yuto stomps on the man and knocks him out. The people in the warehouse are now on full alert. ¡°WAIT! Don¡¯t go outside.¡± The man in charge declares. ¡°Whoever this is wants us to split up so we can be picked off. Let this person come to us.¡± The men stay in their positions and hold their guns tight as they wait to see what happens. All of a sudden the glass ceiling on the roof shatters and Yuto comes crashing down. Gunshots go off like fireworks and bullets start flying everywhere. Yuto lands down on top of one of the men knocking him out. He bursts towards the closest man and punches him to the ground. Yuto takes cover from the guns behind a pillar. The men keep shooting until they empty their clips. When they try to reload, Yuto takes his grapple gun and shoots it at one of the men, piercing his leg and pulling him forward. Yuto grabs him and launches him at a group of men like a baseball knocking them out. The last two men reload their guns and prepare to fire at Yuto but can¡¯t seem to find him. Yuto reappears behind the two and kicks one of them across the floor. The other one tries to hit Yuto with his gun but Yuto dodges and punches him to the ground. Out of nowhere a lightning bolt hits Yuto sending him flying. The man in charge with a black jacket walks toward Yuto. ¡°Impressive, but I''m not the same as these fools.¡± The man points his right hand at Yuto and shapes it into a gun. Multiple mini lightning bolts form around his wrist. ¡°Lightning bullets.¡± The lightning shot out from around his wrist at Yuto with high speeds like bullets. Yuto quickly runs to the left dodging the bullets. Once the bullets stop, he charges at the man and goes in for a punch. The man jumps in the air dodging the attack. Yuto charges him as he lands going in for a kick. The man blocks the kick but is sent flying into the wall. ¡°Damn you¡¯re strong.¡± ¡°You have no idea.¡± ¡°Oh so he talks. Well if you walk away right now I''ll spare you. I may be in this kinda business but I¡¯m a nice guy at heart.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s the weapons going to?¡± Yuto asks. ¡°Not the talkative type huh. Sorry, it¡¯s against my code to tell you that.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see how long that lasts.¡± Yuto charges in for another punch. The man dodges and tries to grab Yuto with his electric hand. Yuto slaps the hand away and attempts to land a kick. The man grabs Yuto¡¯s leg this time stopping Yuto. Yuto uses the man''s weight to go in the air using him as an anchor and lands a spinning kick sending him flying across the warehouse. ¡°What the hell even is your power? I¡¯ve fought many earth users and their enhanced strength is nothing like your¡¯s. Do you¡­ Have super strength?¡± ¡°Wanna find out?¡± Yuto grabs a giant weapons storage box that is over twice the size of a normal weapons box. With one hand Yuto lifts the weapons box and launches it at the man with incredible speed. ¡°What the hell?¡± The man dives to the left, evading the box. When he gets up on his feet he sees Yuto charging up a deadly punch. Yuto charges up his fist taking the stance of a knight ready to thrust his sword. In an instant he dashes forward appearing right in front of the man''s face. ¡°CURTANA.¡± Yuto launches his fist at the man at a high speed. In a fraction of a second, the man dodged the attack before it hit him. Yuto¡¯s fist connects with the wall blowing away a portion of the warehouse. Yuto looks in the air and sees the man above him. While in the air, the man sticks his left hand out at Yuto. His hand starts to glow blue with lightning. ¡°Hound.¡± Three streams of lightning burst from his hand toward Yuto. He quickly jumps left dodging the attack. When he looks up he sees more mini lightning bolts headed for him. This time Yuto dashes forward evading the bolts and charging the man. Suddenly, he notices the three lightning streams from earlier have turned around and are right behind him. Yuto has no time to dodge and gets hit by the three streams. ¡°AAGGGHH.¡± He screams. Yuto takes a knee as he suffers from the aftershock of the brutal attack. The man walks toward him with his right hand glowing with blue lightning. Yuto goes to grab something on his belt and then grabs the man. The man hits Yuto with his right hand giving him a severe shock. ¡°AAAAGGGGHHHHH.¡± Yuto screams as he falls to the ground unconscious. The sound of police sirens envelop the area. The man hovers over Yuto¡¯s body ready to deliver the killing blow. All of a sudden a honking sound from outside echoes. During the fight, the two men in the truck loaded as many boxes as possible into the cargo container. They signaled to the man with their hands. ¡°HEY COME ON THE POLICE ARE COMING!¡± Yuto gains consciousness and begins to slowly get up. The man smiles and runs to the truck. ¡°Until next time, partner.¡± He gets in the back of the truck and closes the cargo box. The truck drives away as Yuto gets back up. He painfully walks outside and grapples to the top of the nearest building. He watches from the rooftop as the police arrive at the warehouse. As soon as the pain faded, he turned and walked away into the night. Returning Figures In the large basement of Yuto¡¯s house, Shunji is drinking coffee and looking at a computer. The basement is filled with gadgets, computers, camera¡¯s, and more. It''s been cleaned out a turned into an operating center. The basement has a place for computers, a place for Yuto''s suit and gadgets, and a punching bag made of metal. The door to the basement opens and Yuto walks down the stairs. ¡°You took quite the beating.¡± ¡°Yeah, it still stings. Luckily I was able to put a tracker on him.¡± Shunji turns back to his computer and starts typing. Yuto starts undressing from his suit. ¡°He¡¯s still on the move. Looks like he¡¯s heading to the commons sector. Could be where he lives. It¡¯s best to keep tracking him for the night. You should rest up and learn from your loss.¡± ¡°Yeah, no need to rub it.¡± ¡°True, it would seem he did that for me.¡± Shunji gives a slight smirk, making Yuto look away from him. ¡°You know, there¡¯s a great lesson to be learned from getting your ass handed to you like that.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t get my ass handed to me Shunji, it was a close fight.¡± ¡°He had you on the ground like an amphibian. I wouldn¡¯t call that close.¡± ¡°Bit of an exaggeration don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°No, not really.¡± After finally undressing, Yuto begins to head upstairs. ¡°I''m gonna take a nap. I¡¯m tired.¡± ¡°Oh Yuto, remember you have a hangout with your friends later.¡± ¡°No I don¡¯t. I never planned anything like that.¡± ¡°Of course you didn¡¯t. I did. It¡¯ll be good to get your mind off things and be social.¡± ¡°Fine, I don¡¯t feel like arguing anyway.¡± Both Shunji and Yuto head into their rooms and go to sleep. *** Back at the warehouse, Kiria and Yamato along with a swarm of personnel have arrived on the scene. ¡°A second suspicious attack in the span of a day. This is definitely the work of our guy Kiria.¡± As Kiria observes the scene he sees a female doctor assisting a conscious man to the ambulance. ¡°HEY DOCTOR, STOP!¡± The doctor stops and turns to Kiria as he and Yamato walk up to her. ¡°Sir, do you know who did this?¡± Kiria asks. ¡°Who do you think? It was the black knight freak that''s been making headlines. I get this is a world with superpowers and everything, but that was unreal. He was fast, like really fast. We were all taken down within a minute.¡± Kiria signals to the doctor. ¡°Ok you can take him now.¡± The doctor carries the man away. Kiria and Yamato turn towards each other. ¡°Well that confirms it.¡± ¡°Yeah but I don¡¯t get it Kiria. He attacks Shou Jiro and then goes after Shoma Jiro¡¯s warehouse. What¡¯s his agenda? What does he gain from doing this?¡± ¡°I¡¯d say he has a grudge against Shoma. But he¡¯s just a money lender. I doubt there¡¯s anything he could do to spark this kind of reaction.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know much since I''m still new and all. But I can¡¯t shake the feeling that there¡¯s more to this black knight guys agenda than Shoma. I mean yeah a money lender has many connections to the underworld but that¡¯s it. All taking him down would do is upset some powerful people.¡± Coming to a realization, Kiria quickly looks back at Yamato. ¡°Maybe that¡¯s it. Maybe he doesn¡¯t care about Shoma himself, but what taking him down would do.¡± ¡°I¡¯m lost.¡± ¡°Think Yamato, what if his goal has something to do with the deeper parts of the underworld. These people are well-hidden and hard to bring out. So what''s a good way to get them out?¡± ¡°By taking down one of if not their greatest money supplier. Then they¡¯d have to act. They¡¯d have to come out of the shadows.¡± ¡°Correct Yamato. Maybe he-¡± Kiria¡¯s phone starts ringing. He reaches into his pocket and answers the phone. ¡°Hello? Mhm. Already? Alright thanks for letting me know. Yeah bye.¡± ¡°What was that about?¡± ¡°That was my lawyer friend. He just informed me that Shou Jiro has been released.¡± ¡°Released for what?¡± ¡°Who knows. This was bound to happen anyway.¡± Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°You senior detectives have authority over the entire department. How can y¡¯all just let this happen. What about the captain? Why haven¡¯t I seen him recently?¡± ¡°Well first, while we do have the authority, I¡¯m afraid more people are scared of the underworld than us. Main reason being because the underworld will actually kill them. Second, the captain was away at a meeting with the mayor and some others. They''re all coming back in the morning.¡± ¡°Nevermind then.¡± Kiria puts his hand on Yamato''s shoulders as they head to the car. ¡°Rest up Yamato, we¡¯ve got a long day tomorrow.¡± Yamato and Kiria get in the car and drive off. *** The sun beams on daimon island as a new day approaches. At the Hoshiga residence, Riku is sleeping in her room. A loud banging on the door booms across the room. ¡°MASTER RIKU WAKE UP! MASTER RIKU!!¡± Riku begins to slowly wake up with an irritated expression. ¡°Uuhhh, WHAT!¡± ¡°MASTER RIKU YOU NEED TO WAKE UP!¡± Riku gets out of bed and slowly walks to the door rubbing her eyes. When she opens the door a dark skinned black haired maid appears in front of her. ¡°What do you want Faith?¡± ¡°Master Riku, did you forget? Master Haru¡¯s coming back. He¡¯ll be here any moment.¡± ¡°OH CRAP DAD IS COMING BACK. I FORGOT TO CLEAN THE HOUSE!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry master Riku, me and Mei already cleaned the house. You just need to get ready to greet your father. It¡¯s eleven o''clock and you¡¯re just waking up. Unless you want an endless lecture about work ethic you need to hurry up and get moving.¡± ¡°Right! On it!¡± Riku quickly closes the door and starts getting dressed. The front door opens and a tall man with short black hair and brown eyes walks inside. ¡°I¡¯M BACK!¡± Faith and a long brown haired woman with green eyes approach him. ¡°WELCOME BACK MASTER HARU!¡± They simultaneously exclaimed. ¡° Faith, Mei, good to see you! Where¡¯s Riku?¡± Riku comes rushing down the stairs. ¡°Hey Dad! Glad you¡¯re back. How was your trip?¡± ¡°Oh it was annoying. We had to stay an extra two days because people can¡¯t make up their mind. All that just for us to still not come to a decision. Typical politicians. Well I hope you¡¯ve been well. You haven¡¯t torn up the house have you?¡± ¡°Nope. The house is perfectly fine. And no, I didn''t have any parties.¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t lying to me are you?¡± ¡°Uh uh. I¡¯ve done just as you asked.¡± ¡°I hope so.¡± Riku starts getting nervous as Haru continues walking in the house. The maids leave the two to talk to eachother. ¡°Uh Dad. Me and some friends planned on hanging out later today. I figured since you''re back now-¡± ¡°Of course, of course. Go hang out with your friends.¡± ¡°THANKS DAD!¡± Riku walks away and heads to her room. Haru walks towards a window and looks out at the view. ¡°Just like her mother.¡± *** Back at the DIPD, the rookie detectives and senior detectives are gathered in a room. ¡°I get he¡¯s been gone for a while, but why does he want to talk to all of us? Is it something important?¡± ¡°Can you turn your brain on and think for a moment Kiara? First, he still hasn¡¯t given us his inauguration speech because of how busy he¡¯s been. Second, if he¡¯s gathered us all here, of course it¡¯s something important.¡± ¡°Hibiki¡­ You really know how to test my patience don¡¯t you?¡± A brown haired man with green eyes walks up to Kiara and Hibiki. ¡°Whoa, relax you two. No need to take each other''s head off.¡± ¡°Detective Fujimoto, why do I have to be stuck with Hibiki? Everyone else is a two man team except for me, Hibiki, and detective Tahara.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just how the cookie crumbles. Besides y¡¯all two get along rather nicely.¡± ¡°Yeah, no we don¡¯t.¡± An irritated purple haired woman with blue eyes lets out a loud sigh. ¡°CAN Y¡¯ALL SHUT UP? The captains here.¡± "Jeez Ayano, Irritated much?" An old man with gray hair and a dark blue coat with the words ¡°DIPD¡± on the back and ¡°captain¡± on the right chest area walks in the room. ¡°Attention everyone, I''m Captain James Sanders. As you can see I''ve finally returned. Honestly... politics are a nightmare. Anyway, I was supposed to give an inauguration speech to the rookies but it seems it¡¯s too late for that now. That being said, I''ll leave you rookies with a few words. This is not a game. This is not a fantasy. This island is seeping with crime at every corner, every crevice. You will all be challenged in ways you couldn¡¯t possibly imagine. I wish I could say it¡¯s going to be fine. That you don¡¯t have to worry about dying. But that¡¯d be a lie. And I can¡¯t bring myself to give you rookies false hope. Since I took over after the red raids things were never the same. Me and the senior detectives have a massive workload that goes beyond hunting criminals. That¡¯s where you come in. Each of you was hand selected to become a detective. We¡¯ve evaluated your fighting potential, critical thinking, deductive skills, your morals, the way you treat others, hell even your activities when off duty. We believe y¡¯all are the right fit for the job. Due to our workload there will be many times y¡¯all will have to take on cases and work them by yourselves. The senior detectives won¡¯t be there to save the day every time. So be cautious, be aware, make smart decisions, and survive.¡± Yamato and the other rookies stand straight and salute the captain. ¡°YES SIR!¡± The rookies yelled. ¡°Alright well now that that¡¯s out the way. You rookies have each been assigned to a senior detective. Of course you already know that but I have to say this anyway. Detective Yamato Fujimura, you¡¯re with senior detective Kiria Akuma. It seems y¡¯all have already taken the black knight case so continue investigating that. Detective Kenta Mayeda, you¡¯re with senior detective Ayano Yano. I want y¡¯all to investigate a string of killings that¡¯s been happening. Detective Ava Mayeda, you¡¯re with senior detective Akira Fujimoto. I want y¡¯all to hit the streets and see what you can find about the string of killings. Detective Kai Okura, you¡¯re with senior detective Kaeya Sakai. I want y¡¯all to investigate the series of radiation victims. Detectives Kiara Sakurai and Hibiki Hattori, you¡¯re with senior detective Kikyo Tahara. I want y¡¯all on standby until further notice. UNDERSTOOD?¡± ¡°YES SIR!¡± Everyone yelled. ¡°Ok, now that the legal formalities are out the way. You¡¯re dismissed.¡± Everyone splits into their assigned groups and heads out. Yamato with Kiria, Kenta and Ayano, Kai with silver haired and blue eyed Kaeya, Ava with Akira, and Kiara and Hibiki with green haired and green eyed Kikyo. Yamato and Kiria get in a car and drive off. ¡°So Yamato, what do you think about the captain?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m used to hearing him more stern and feeling like he¡¯s watching my every move. But now that I get to hear the real him instead of the him that has a name to keep up, I was honestly surprised. He was more laid back than I thought possible. But maybe that¡¯s a good thing. It gives him more of a personality instead of just a name.¡± Kiria smiles and continues driving. ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°Oh right Yamato I forgot to tell you. We¡¯re heading to Miguel Vazquez¡¯s place.¡± ¡°You mean the Miguel Vazquez that¡¯s one of the rulers of the underworld?¡± ¡°Yeah, him. Every now and then we can get some mutual cooperation. Sadly we can¡¯t arrest him cause of his power and influence. But he knows a lot about the underworld. Especially when it comes to his enemies like madam who''s best supplier is Shoma Jiro. I just hope he feels like helping instead of wanting to kill us.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ I hope so too.¡± Miguel Vazquez In the business sector, Yamato and Kiria have parked at a big fancy restaurant named ¡°Casa de Reyes¡±. The exterior of the restaurant is a shiny black and gold with glass windows. Lights are beaming from inside giving the outside of the restaurant a golden glow. They get out of the car and walk to the building stopping at the front entrance. ¡°This is ¡®Casa de Reyes¡¯ , a fancy Mexican restaurant attended mostly by upper class business people. The restaurant is a front for Miguel Vazquez. It¡¯s also his favorite place, he comes here every day.¡± ¡°Do the people here know this? I doubt they¡¯d wanna eat with one of the underworld''s rulers.¡± ¡°Heh heh. Yamato, don¡¯t go thinking everyone has the same morals as you.¡± Kiria opens the door and walks in with Yamato right behind him. When they walk in, they are greeted with an incredible shining bright atmosphere. The golden lights illuminated the restaurant. The restaurant resembled a palace, from the black and gold tiles to the golden chairs and sofas in front of either a jet black or golden table cloth. Everyone in the building was dressed in high quality dresses and tuxedos. Yamato and Kiria walk to the waitress at the front desk. ¡°Welcome to ¡®Casa de Reyes¡¯ . How may I help you?¡± ¡°We want to talk with Miguel Vazquez.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry who?¡± ¡°Wow, that wasn¡¯t believable at all.¡± ¡°Sir, I-¡± ¡°How about we try again. I¡¯m detective Akuma and this is detective Fujimura. We want to talk with Miguel Vazquez.¡± The waiter nervously points to a table in the back right corner. Kiria and Yamato walk towards the table as they analyze the crowd. ¡°Alright Yamato, let me do all the talking. You just listen.¡± ¡°Yes sir.¡± When they get to the table, they see a muscular man with jet black hair and brownish red eyes with a short stubble beard wearing a short sleeve black and gold button up with black pants talking to two other people. The man has a tattoo of a king''s crown with the word ¡®KING¡¯ under it on the right side of his neck and other tattoos on his arms. He signals the two people he was talking to to leave after seeing Kiria and Yamato. ¡°Well if it isn¡¯t my favorite customer Kiria Akuma. Who¡¯s the kid.?¡± ¡°This is rookie detective Yamato Fujimura. He¡¯s my partner now. Also he¡¯s twenty years old.¡± ¡°So this is the star rookie detective that¡¯s all the rave. You look a bit younger than twenty. Although so does Shou Jiro, but he did turn twenty yesterday. Hilarious isn¡¯t it? The same night he was released he turned twenty.¡± ¡°Are you done with the small talk or did you want us to get a cup of tea as well?¡± Miguel pauses and lets out a tired huff. ¡°I was just holding a conversation. You haven''t changed at all since the last time I saw you. Still have that creepy killer vibe. Speaking of which, how come you haven¡¯t visited me in all this time?¡± ¡°You know why Vazquez.¡± ¡°Damn. Not even calling me by my first name now? That''s harsh.¡± ¡°Do you know anything about a weapons warehouse in the business sector that was attacked?¡± ¡°Oh so that''s what you''re here for. Figures.¡± ¡°So do you know anything?¡± ¡°Oh I do, but I''m sure you remember how this works even after all this time. So, what do I get in return?¡± ¡°How¡¯s a high five sound?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t play with Kiria. You and I both know that you wouldn¡¯t be here if it wasn¡¯t serious. Which means you know as well as I do that something is about to go down. Well¡­ In this case I should say someone. Have a seat you two.¡± Kiria and Yamato look around the restaurant and sit down on the sofa. ¡°See, here''s the thing. There¡¯s more going for me if I don¡¯t help y¡¯all then if I do. So you better have a damn good bargain.¡± Kiria pauses and stares down Miguel. A tense silence surrounds the table with the restaurant noise in the background. Kiria and Miguel exchange stare downs until Kiria finally looks away. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Nevermind then. I¡¯m not doing any favors for you. We¡¯ll go figure it out ourselves.¡± ¡°Hold on, wait.¡± Miguel takes a look at Yamato staring deep into his eyes. ¡°I wanna talk with the boy. After that, I''ll consider a fair arrangement.¡± ¡°No deal. You can talk to me, but he¡¯s off limits.¡± ¡°Wait, Kiria. If this is as serious as you think then i¡¯ll talk with him. This might be our only chance at a lead.¡± ¡°Are you sure Yamato?¡± Yamato looks deep into Kiria¡¯s eyes with a determined expression. He gets up so that Kiria can leave the table. He then sits back down and looks at Miguel. ¡°So, Yamato Fujimura, tell me about yourself.¡± ¡°What do you want to know?¡± ¡°I want to know about you and who you are. See I like to know the people I interact with one a personal level. It makes for good business. So, tell the story however you want.¡± ¡°Since I was a kid I always wanted to protect people. It was my childhood dream. I don¡¯t really have a sad story to tell. My parents were good people with stable jobs. My dad got sick and passed away five years ago. About a year after he passed my Mom and I went to live with the rest of our family. She couldn¡¯t handle the death of my father. It took her some time to get used to it. About another year later I decided to move here after unlocking my powers. As we all know, a person''s power is unlocked at a critical moment in their life called a defining moment. Most of these moments are tragic. To this day I have no idea how I unlocked my powers. It was years after my fathers death so I don''t think that''s the reason but I''m not so sure.¡± ¡°And what is your power?¡± ¡°Wind. I have the power to control the wind. Though control isn¡¯t the best way to put it. I struggle to control my powers. I always overuse them causing massive damage to myself. About half a year into my rookie year as an officer, the DIPD gave me one of their newest test weapons.¡± Yamato pulls out his two guns and puts them on the table. The guns are black with a gray outline. They each have the words ¡°STORMCALLER¡± on the outside with a wind symbol. ¡°These are my main weapons. The guns I call stormcaller¡¯s. As you can see, after some time I was even able to label them with that name. These guns help me control the input and output of my power by harnessing it with a transference device. The power I charge in my hand is immediately transferred into the gun charging it. I can then release either a short or long burst of that power. It wouldn¡¯t be too crazy to say that these are one of the main reasons I had the skill to become a rookie detective. And that¡¯s it, that¡¯s all I have to say. So are you gonna help us?¡± Miguel smirks at Yuto and takes a long look around the restaurant observing the luxurious atmosphere and everyone¡¯s smile. ¡°I built this place from the ground up. Installed my culture into it. ¡®Casa de Reyes¡¯ means king''s home. I¡¯m not a king yet, but I will be. I¡¯ll rule the underworld with an iron fist. But there¡¯s the nasty problem of madam the queen of the underworld and that bastard Phoenix Luciano who people call the true ruler of the underworld. Our three factions rule over the underworld in a power struggle. But that will come to an end one day. Oh sorry, I started rambling. So, what do you think of the king''s home?¡± Yamato observes the restaurant''s dazzling environment. He takes a close look at all the people eating their food and the staff. ¡°Well, since this is your place I''m guessing half of these people, most likely more, are criminals themselves. That makes this place nothing but a pig sty for low lives. A gathering place for criminals like yourselves. It looks peaceful but in reality it¡¯s chaos.¡± ¡°It¡¯s controlled chaos. Trust me there¡¯s a big difference. This island is currently experiencing controlled chaos. Trust me Yamato, you and I should both go to sleep praying that we don¡¯t experience uncontrolled chaos.¡± Yet another tense silence fills the air as Miguel and Yamato exchange looks. ¡°I like you kid. You have a burning passion in your eyes that says you¡¯ll take down anyone in your way. In time you¡¯ll certainly be as much a threat as Kiria is. Well¡­ If you don¡¯t die first that is. OK KIRIA WE¡¯RE DONE.¡± Kiria walks back to the table and sits down. ¡°There¡¯s a new drug hitting the market. This ones supposed to be real nasty. No one knows who the seller is or who he¡¯s working for. Regardless, he''s bad for business. Most drug dealers on this island work for me if they know what¡¯s good for them. And for one to be giving a so called best drug without being recognized by me...It''s a bad look. If I give you the information I have, y¡¯all go and take care of this drug dealer whether it be by arrest or preferably death.¡± ¡°Fine, we can do that. Now what do you know?¡± ¡°Relax Kiria, the warehouse that was attacked was carrying out a weapons transaction. Of course you know that that¡¯s Shoma Jiro¡¯s warehouse and one of three major weapons suppliers. The weapons however, weren¡¯t going to Luciano they were going to madam.¡± ¡°But Shoma mainly supplies Luciano. Is this a betrayal?¡± ¡°Who knows, similar small shipments from Shoma to madam have been occurring as well. It¡¯s one of the main things the underworld¡¯s been talking about. Anyways, madam is known for hiring and contracting people to work for her. That¡¯s her main thing, bounty hunters. No one knows the name of this specific person she hired. All we know is he has lightning powers and goes by the nickname ¡®the cowboy¡¯¡±. ¡°That¡¯s cool and all, but how does this help us?¡± ¡°Well Kiria if you¡¯d just let me finish. Word is she hired the cowboy again for an assassination in the business sector. Some guy named Mark Tilman. That¡¯s all I know. And before you ask how I know all this, I have ears and people everywhere.¡± Kiria signals at Yamato to leave. After they get up Miguel looks at Kiria and gives a gesture for a handshake. Kiria goes and reluctantly shakes his hand. ¡°Pleasure doing business with you detectives.¡± Kiria and Yamato walk away and head to the door. Yamato takes a quick look back at Miguel who¡¯s still staring at them. They finally make it outside and into the parking lot. ¡°The underworld operates at night which means we have until tonight to find Mark. For now let''s go back to the department and make a few calls, see if we can find where he lives or works. I want you to look into this drug dealer guy while I look into Mark.¡± ¡°Yes sir I¡¯ll hit the streets as soon as we get back.¡± Yamato and Kiria get in the car and drive off heading for the department. Daimon 200 year Anniversary At the police department, Yamamoto and Kiria open the two big blue doors at the entrance. As they walk in they¡¯re met with a slew of police officers. Some of them are working at their desks and others are moving around getting papers, and heading out. The gray walls match with the gray desks and blue and black chairs. The walls are filled with different picture frames of various officers over the years. Yamato and Kiria walk through the bright, hardworking atmosphere and head upstairs to a door with the words ¡°Detectives Room¡± on top of it. When they open the door they¡¯re met with a gray and blue room with desks sectioned off for each group. The bright lights illuminate the room in a white glow. The room is mostly empty except for Kiara and senior detective Kikyo who appear to have been having a conversation before Yamato and Kiria walked in. ¡°Alright Yamato, I''ll start making calls. Go ahead and start making a new file for this drug dealer.¡± ¡°Yes sir. After that I¡¯ll hit the streets and see what I can find.¡± ¡°HEY YAMATO, WHAT¡¯S UP!¡± ¡°Hey Kiara, nothing much. Kiria¡¯s following up on a lead we got for the vigilante case. I¡¯m about to make a file for this drug dealer who¡¯s been making a name for himself by giving out some new kind of drug.¡± ¡°Wow y¡¯all have your hands full.¡± ¡°Yeah I know.¡± ¡°Detective Fujimura, it¡¯s so nice to finally be able to talk to you.¡± ¡°Oh detective Tahara, nice to talk to you as well. Please call me Yamato.¡± ¡°Yamato, so how are you? I hope you¡¯ve been living up to your reputation. I remember when we were picking candidates and your name was the main topic.¡± ¡°Ahah, well I''ve been good. As for my reputation, well¡­ I try not to think of it honestly. If I¡¯m out trying to do my job, thinking of what other people think and expect of me will be a pain.¡± ¡°Heh heh, just as I expected of you.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking, where¡¯s Kai? Isn¡¯t he supposed to be with your group?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s complicated.¡± ¡°Complicated? It¡¯s not complicated. That annoying idiot kept getting on my last nerves so I made up some random task for him to do in the science department. I don¡¯t know why he¡¯s been down there for so long but I¡¯m not complaining. It¡¯s all ¡®uh why do I have to sit here with you guys.¡¯ ¡®Uh I need to be out there doing something instead of rotting away with the relief squad.¡¯ Screw him.¡± ¡°Wow Kiara, the amount of passion you had while saying that with no remorse should be documented.¡± ¡°Why would I have any remorse for that fool?¡± Yamato shakes his head at Kiara in disappointment. ¡°Well anyways, I have to file this new case and then hit the streets. Nice talking to the two of you.¡± Yamato walks to his and Kiria¡¯s desk and begins working. *** In the commons sector of Daimon Island, the streets are loaded with civilians walking around to different stores. In the middle of the sidewalk, Yuto is walking towards the corner of the street where Kuro, Choji, and Riku are gathered waiting for him. ¡°Hey Yuto, what''s up?¡± ¡°THERE¡¯S NO WHAT¡¯S UP KURO! Yuto we¡¯ve been waiting forever. How long were you gonna make us wait huh?¡± ¡°Uhh¡­Riku. We¡¯ve been waiting for three minutes.¡± ¡°YEAH AND THAT¡¯S THREE MINUTES TOO LONG! What if we were waiting twenty minutes huh? What then? What about an hour? Or two hours? How about three hours, or four, or five or how ever long we could¡¯ve waited, being on time is important that what my dad taught me and that¡¯s why I¡¯m always early to everything, well not everything there are sometimes when I¡¯m late or maybe more than sometimes butlongstoryshortyouneedtobeontimewiththesethingbecauseitshowscourtesytoyourfriendsandareyoulisteningtomeareyouareyouyoubetternotbeignoringme.¡± Kuro grabs Riku and covers her mouth to stop her from talking. She can still be heard mumbling even through Kuro¡¯s hand. ¡°Well Riku, next time I¡¯ll make sure I¡¯m on time so that it doesn''t trigger your unusually short attention span.¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± Riku folds her arms and turns her head to the side. ¡°Anyways, Riku wanted to go to ¡®AngelWears'' first didn¡¯t you Riku?¡± Riku¡¯s demeanor instantly changes as she becomes filled with excitement and a sparkle lights her eyes. ¡°Yes that¡¯s right Choji. Today¡¯s the two hundred year anniversary of Daimon Island. Because of that, everything''s fifty percent off. AngelWears clothes are notorious for being the top of the line in fashion. They¡¯re incredibly expensive and worn by all of Daimon¡¯s prestigious families. I JUST HAVE TO GET ONE!¡± ¡°So, that¡¯s where we¡¯re headed, Yuto.¡± ¡°Well Choji, who am I to tell Riku no. She¡¯d probably kill me if I said no anyways¡­ I wish I could say I was joking.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the spirit, Yuto. Now then, onward to AngelWears so I can get the best fashion EVER.¡± The group walks across the street going through a large crowd and past different stores. They eventually end up on the same street as AngelWears. This street in particular is heavily crowded. All parking spaces are taken up and there¡¯s a person within half an arms length of each other. ¡°Here we are. This is Angels street, named after AngelWears.¡± ¡°Whoa, the place is so famous it even has a street named after it?¡± ¡°Yeah Yuto, you¡¯d know if you weren¡¯t such a recluse.¡± ¡°What Kuro? I¡¯m not a recluse. I just do most of my activities by myself which happens to preoccupy my day.¡± ¡°HAHAHAH! That has to be the lamest excuse you¡¯ve come up with yet.¡± ¡°You¡¯d know a lot about lame Mr.peed his pants as a fifth grader.¡± Riku and Choji''s eyes immediately widen as they stare at Kuro in disbelief. ¡°Wha- The hell is wrong with you? You think you¡¯re funny Sir.went to summer school three times?¡± Riku and Choji¡¯s wide eyed stare moved to Yuto. ¡°That¡¯s not fair, that was a complicated time in my life.¡± Kuro grabbed Yuto around his neck and pulled him away from Riku and Choji. ¡°You know what¡¯s not fair? You bringing up the time I pissed my pants.¡± ¡°Yeah well if you don¡¯t let me go I¡¯ll tell Riku that you like her.¡± ¡°AHHHH.¡± Kuro immediately lets go of Yuto and gets in his face. ¡°Y-You wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± ¡°Oh I would.¡± ¡°What are you two talking about?¡± ¡°Uh nothing Riku, me and Yuto were just reminiscing that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°WELL REMINISCE ANOTHER DAMN TIME I¡¯VE WAITED LONG ENOUGH!¡± ¡°Yes ma¡¯am.¡± Across the street on the left, the news reporter Sierra Reeds is being recorded with a large line outside a store behind her. The large crowd and booming noises across the area make it hard to hear her. ¡°Well I don¡¯t know if y¡¯all can hear me but that¡¯s it for today. Tune in everyday to get the latest up to date news.¡± She puts her microphone down and the cameraman ends the broadcast. As she looks around the area, she sees Yuto across the street. ¡°Whoa no way. That¡¯s it for today you can go ahead and leave.¡± She tells the cameraman. Sierra scurries across the street avoiding near misses with cars and getting honked at. She makes her way through the crowd and gets to Yuto and his friends. ¡°YUTO! YUTO SASAKI!¡± Yuto turns around to an out of breath Sierra Reeds in front of him. ¡°Sierra Reeds?¡± This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Yep¡­that¡¯s-that¡¯s me. Hold on, let me catch my breath¡­ Okay. Yuto I don¡¯t want to take up much of your time. I just wanted to say that your dad Yuki Sasaki is who inspired me to become a reporter. As a kid I looked up to how he stared danger in the eyes and kept moving forward. He wasn¡¯t scared of what would happen. So when he and your mom died I was shocked.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s inappropriate to talk about his parents and bring up bad memories?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, Kuro. I¡¯m glad my dad inspired you Ms.Reeds.¡± ¡°He did more than just inspire me. He guided me to this path. If it wasn¡¯t for him, I never would¡¯ve made my own reporting channel and got to where I am today. And so, I¡¯ll take the same path he did and brave the danger on this island.¡± ¡°You¡¯d take the same path that got him and my mom killed? Why? Why take a path that you know could and probably will kill you?¡± ¡°Well that¡¯s easy, I¡¯m doing it because if I don''t, no one will. Sometimes the right path isn¡¯t always the easy path. Sometimes, the right path is the tough path. The path everyone is scared to take. The path that many people have already failed. And the path that many people will continue to fail.¡± Yuto looks away and stares into the distance lost in thought. ¡°Well that¡¯s all I wanted to say. Thank you for your time and out of respect for your father, if you need anything I¡¯d be glad to help.¡± Sierra walks off into the crowd. Yuto remains frozen and staring into space as he remembers Shunji¡¯s lecture about the path he will have to choose. Either to take down his parents'' killer and stop being a vigilante. Or to take down his parent¡¯s killer and continue in his dads footsteps protecting the Island. For a brief moment, the outside noise disappeared as a thoughtful silence embraced Yuto¡¯s head. ¡°Yuto? Yuto? Yuto, you okay?¡± Yuto snaps back to reality and the loud noise once again overtakes his ears. ¡°Yeah Kuro I¡¯m good. I was just lost in thought.¡± ¡°So can we finally head in now? I¡¯ve been patiently waiting.¡± ¡°Sorry Riku, yeah lets head in now.¡± *** In another part of the commons sector, Yamato is walking down a street filled with homeless and sketchy people. He approaches a man in a gray coat and taps his shoulder. ¡°Excuse me.¡± ¡°Hmm? Yeah, what do you want?¡± ¡°I¡¯m detective Fujimura of the DIPD. Do you mind if I ask you some questions?¡± ¡°Look man I ain¡¯t do nothing wrong. I¡¯m just enjoying the sunlight.¡± ¡°Then there shouldn¡¯t be a problem should there?¡± The man nervously turns his head away from Yamato. ¡°Y-Yeah, sure man go ahead.¡± ¡°Do you know anything about a new drug that¡¯s popping up?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ A new drug? N-Nah man I don¡¯t know anything. Can I go now?¡± ¡°Really? That was an awful attempt at a lie. You wanna try again or do you wanna come with me down to the department for a full interrogation?¡± ¡°Alright, alright. About a week ago me and some friends were hanging out in an alley. That''s when this weird guy came up to us and asked if we wanted his homemade drug. I refused, but my friends took it. First they started screaming in agony, then within ten minutes they all died. It was like their bodies were burned from the inside out.¡± ¡°Do you know what the guy looked like?¡± ¡°He had on some black pants and a black and green jacket with a black shirt. I was only able to get a glimpse of his face though. Half of it was messed up by some kind of burn or something. Seriously, that''s all I know man.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you report this to the cops?¡± ¡°Oh please like y¡¯all would care.¡± ¡°We would care. We would try to help.¡± ¡°Yeah? Like how y¡¯all helped during the red raid? Slaughtered countless people just cause y¡¯all were scared.¡± ¡°The people who did that are all dead. We''re different from them.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ That¡¯s what they all say. Bye.¡± The man angrily walks away from Yamato. Suddenly, a brown haired blue eyed girl who was walking down the street comes to a stop in front of Yamato. ¡°Yamato?¡± ¡°Sky? What are you doing in a place like this?¡± ¡°Hmph, is that how you talk to someone who hasn¡¯t seen you in two months?¡± ¡°Uh right my bad. Hey Sky it¡¯s been a while hasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Ugh, I guess that¡¯ll do. I¡¯m out doing research for my first report. It¡¯s over the lasting effects of the red raid and how people are still affected. What about you?¡± ¡°Oh I¡¯m just asking around trying to get information about a case. Did you have to pick a dangerous place like this to do your research?¡± ¡°Of course, if I¡¯m not willing to brave danger for my story then that just means I¡¯m not dedicated enough.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ You¡¯re just like your sister.¡± ¡°Well she is my big sister after all. What kind of little sister doesn¡¯t want to be like her big sister? And look at her now, Sierra Reeds, the famous reporter. My sister''s amazing isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Yeah she is. I just wish you would¡¯ve at least had someone with you for protection.¡± ¡°Well¡­ Now I do.¡± ¡°Sky, I can¡¯t. I¡¯m working right now.¡± ¡°PLEEEEASE?¡± ¡°Ok fine just this once.¡± Sky smiles profoundly as she grabs Yamato¡¯s hand and leads him away into the city. *** Yuto and his friends have finally made it to the entrance of AngelWears. When they open the door and walk inside, they are met with an intense and glorious atmosphere. There¡¯s a bright red carpet similar to the ones used for famous models. Every last piece of clothing has the best design with the best fabrics and cloths anyone could imagine. The bright lights give off a vibe similar to a fashion show. Everyone stood at the entrance shocked by the amazing scene. Riku¡¯s eyes have a massive sparkle in them to accompany her happy face. ¡°WOW, IT¡¯S EVEN BETTER THAN I IMAGINED! LOOK AT ALL THE AMAZING CLOTHES! I¡¯VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE!¡± One of the employees comes up to the group with a smile. ¡°Welcome. Is there anything you would like to try on?¡± ¡°EVERYTHING. I WANT TO TRY ON EVERYTHING!¡± ¡°Okay ma¡¯am right this way.¡± The employee shows everyone around the store as they each look at different clothes they took an interest in. After a while, Yuto, Kuro, and Choji sat down on a bench while Riku tried on clothes in the dressing room. Riku walks out of the dressing room in a beautiful shiny black dress with blue lightning bolts on it. Yuto and Choji look in awe at Riku¡¯s beauty. Kuro blushes hard and turns around covering his face with his hands. ¡°Well, how do I look?¡± ¡°You look amazing Riku, like seriously.¡± ¡°Thank you Choji.¡± ¡°Yeah Riku, you look great.¡± ¡°Aww you guys and the best. What about you Kuro? What do you think?¡± ¡°Huh? Uhhh. WOW Riku, y-you¡¯re absolutely beautiful.¡± Riku¡¯s shocked at Kuro¡¯s response. She blushes and quickly goes back into the dressing room. ¡°T-THANK YOU!¡± Kuro becomes frozen with embarrassment and can¡¯t speak. ¡°You know Yuto, you might find this odd but the lightning bolts on that symbol reminded me of a study I read about from the science department.¡± ¡°What study?¡± ¡°Well, it''s interesting. The study was over each individual elemental power. As you know, elemental powers are the most common types of power that people have which is why non elemental powers are called rare powers. Anyways the study was to find any weaknesses in the different elemental types. Of course with elemental powers being common, the only difference is how each individual fights and uses that power. The study suggested that even with the different styles of fighting throughout the world, there might be a common weakness to exploit for each element. The study hit its stride in West Africa where an elemental only tournament was being held for anyone across the world to join. For some reason, most lightning users who lost had a common reason. That reason was that when they fought a close range opponent, the opponent would hit them with a powerful ranged attack out of nowhere and knock them out. So they thought that since lightning is one of the more dominant ranged powers, when they fought a close ranged opponent who they have the advantage over, the close ranged opponent has a eighty percent chance of winning if they wait and pull out an unsuspecting long ranged attack. Sadly the study was proven wrong about a year later and lost all its funding leading to it being scrapped. I know the whole study was a major stretch and in my opinion really dumb but it was interesting for an aspiring science guy like me. Sorry I rambled too much.¡± ¡°No, it''s fine Choji. A ranged attack huh? Interesting.¡± ¡°AHHH WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT! WHY AREN¡¯T YOU TALKING ABOUT HOW AMAZING RIKU LOOKED IN THAT DRESS?¡± ¡°You know Kuro, you really should just go and ask her out.¡± ¡°Oh I should just go and ask her out should I Yuto. Why should I take advice from the least social person in the world?¡± ¡°In the world¡­ Really?¡± ¡°Well Kuro you can¡¯t just keep it hidden from her all your life. You have to tell her eventually.¡± ¡°Yeah Choji but, but. I can¡¯t, not right now.¡± ¡°Okay, but you should soon or else you¡¯ll lose your chance.¡± Riku comes out of the dressing room and selects the clothes she wants to buy. After leaving the store, the group goes around to different places eating candy, desserts, and playing games. It finally gets dark out and the groups say their goodbyes before leaving their separate ways. *** Yamato and Sky have finally finished going around the sector. They stop at the corner of a street and a car stops in front of them. As the window rolls down, Yamato and Sky see Sierra Reeds in the driver''s seat. ¡°Hey sis.¡± ¡°Hey Sky, hey Yamato. I hope you two had fun. I know Sky can be quite troublesome at times.¡± ¡°SIS!!!¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine Ms.Reeds we had fun.¡± Before Sky gets in the car she pulls out her phone, makes a couple of swipes, and puts it in Yamato¡¯s face. ¡°Here, this is my number. You better text and call me once in a while.¡± ¡°Yeah I will.¡± Yamato puts Sky¡¯s number in his phone and Sky gets in the car and leaves. Before he could put it in his pocket, his phone started ringing. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Hey, just making sure you actually put my number in.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t even give me a chance to put your name in the contact.¡± ¡°Opps, well bye then. And don¡¯t you forget to text and call me.¡± ¡°Yeah I will, don¡¯t worry.¡± The phone call ends and once again before he could put his phone in his pocket it starts ringing again. This time it showed Kiria as the caller. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Yamato I found out Mark works at Renewal Infrastructure, a business that takes torn down places and rebuilds them into a new place. Lucky for us he works the overnight shift meaning he¡¯s still there now. Meet me there as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Yes sir, I¡¯m on my way.¡± *** In the bunker of Shunji¡¯s house, Shunji is monitoring the computers. Yuto walks down into the basement and begins suiting up. ¡°How was your day?¡± ¡°It was fun, what¡¯s up with our guy?¡± ¡°The tracker has him heading into the business sector. I can¡¯t even fathom why but it¡¯s time you put a stop to him.¡± ¡°As good as you are at getting information and you can¡¯t find out? Guess I¡¯m not the only one getting my ass handed to me.¡± ¡°Oh very funny. Yuto¡­ This time, don¡¯t lose.¡± ¡°Yeah, I won¡¯t.¡± First Encounter Part 1 Nighttime descends upon the island accompanied with rainfall. The sound of the hard pouring rain echoes across the city. The street lights accompanied with the lightning on hordes of buildings across the island illuminate the night sky. In the business sector of the island a tall partially lit black building with the label ¡°Renewal Infrastructure¡± sits in between an area of multiple buildings. A man in a suit sits at a desk typing on a computer. After a couple seconds, the man turns off the computer and grabs his briefcase getting ready to leave. ¡°Whew, finally done.¡± Yamato and Kiria open the doors in the front entrance. They make their way past the lobby and to the elevators. ¡°Mark is on the fifth floor. We need to make sure he¡¯s safe and secured first. If we can escape then we will. If not, we have to deal with ¡®The Cowboy¡¯ fast.¡± ¡°Yes Sir. If it comes down to it, I¡¯ll make sure Mark is safe while you fight ¡®The Cowboy.¡¯¡± The elevator opens and Yamato and Kiria walk in. Kiria presses the number five for the fifth floor and the elevator closes. ¡°No Yamato, I actually want you to fight ¡®The Cowboy¡¯ while I protect mark.¡± ¡°You want me to fight him?¡± ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s harder to fight and protect someone then it is to just fight. I want to use this chance to gauge your combat skills. So if it comes down to it you fight ¡®The Cowboy¡¯ while I protect mark. Don¡¯t worry, if it gets too bad I¡¯ll step in and help.¡± ¡°You can count on me.¡± The elevator opens and the man in a suit carrying a briefcase appears in front of them with a confused expression. ¡°Oh, excuse me.¡± ¡°Sir, I¡¯m detective Akuma and this is detective Fujimura. We¡¯re looking for a man named Mark Tilman. Would you happen to know if he¡¯s still here?¡± ¡°Yeah he¡¯s still here. That¡¯s me. Did I do something wrong?¡± ¡°Sir, we believe someone is out to kill you.¡± ¡°M-Me? Why me?¡± ¡°Well sir, we were hoping you¡¯d be able to tell us that.¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m just a normal worker here like everyone else.¡± ¡°Really? So the queen of the underworld just put a hit on a normal worker for no reason? Yamato asks. ¡°¡®Madam?'' Dammit!¡± Mark looks down lost in thought. He looks back up to Yamato and Kiria staring at him intensely. ¡°Okay okay, I¡¯ll tell you¡­ I really am just a normal worker. But I¡¯m also a negotiator between the rulers of the underworld. Renewal Infrastructure is critical to the power system in the underworld. Some of the places we tear down and rebuild become territories for the underworld. Due to Luciano, there¡¯s a respected contract system in the underworld. These contacts are the only thing similar to law. They must adhere to the contracts unless they want to face Luciano''s wrath. My job is to work with the boss to negotiate prices and territories with the different rulers. We try to make sure there¡¯s an equal power balance between them. Recently however, Miguel Vazquez pushed me to give him two territories, one of which was ¡®Madam¡¯s¡¯ territory. I really really didn¡¯t want to because I knew what that would mean for me. But Vazquez didn¡¯t give me a choice. I had to give him the territory or else I¡¯d die. Of course ¡®Madam¡¯ doesn¡¯t care about that, these crazy people expect me to die instead of giving up each other''s territories.¡± You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°So that¡¯s how Miguel knew you¡¯d be targeted. Cunning bastard. Yamato, check the windows by the entrance and see if we¡¯re clear to leave.¡± ¡°Yes sir.¡± ¡°P-Please man. You gotta help me. I didn¡¯t have a choice. I don¡¯t want to die.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, saving you is the reason we¡¯re here in the first place.¡± Yamato goes to the windows on the front side of the building and looks down around the area of the entrance. Outside the building, a man in a black jacket and black pants observes the building with ten heavily armed men behind him. ¡°Alright fellas, let''s make this quick. He¡¯s on the fifth floor. We kill the guy and get outta here. Leave no traces behind.¡± ¡°Yes Sir.¡± ¡°Uh sir, we¡¯re getting paid for this right?¡± ¡°Shut up idiot, why would you ask him that right now of all times?¡± ¡°Enough. Yes you¡¯re getting paid. But if you decide to waste anymore of my time I¡¯ll make sure you don¡¯t get outta here alive. Got it?¡± ¡°Yes sir.¡± Yamato heads over to Kiria and a panicked Mark. ¡°Kiria, they¡¯re right outside.¡± ¡°They got here faster than I thought. Mark, do you know if there¡¯s a back exit we can take to escape?¡± ¡°There is but it¡¯s on the first floor. There¡¯s no way we¡¯re getting from the fifth to the first floor without them noticing.¡± ¡°Damn. So the worst case scenario is happening. Alright Yamato, just as we planned you¡¯ll take care of ''The Cowboy'' while I protect Mark.¡± ¡°Yes sir. Should I expect the ¡®Black Knight¡¯ to make an appearance?¡± ¡°There''s a chance he will. We¡¯ll just have to play it by ear.¡± Across Renewal Infrastructure atop a building is Yuto in his ¡°Black Knight¡± suit. He looks down on ¡°The Cowboy¡± and his armed guards as they prepare to enter the building. ¡°Shunji, I''m here. Looks like our guy is already here. He has ten heavily armed men accompanying him.¡± ¡°Alright, play it smart Yuto. We don¡¯t know what his goal is.¡± As Yuto analyzes the building, he sees Yamato, Kiria, and Mark on the fifth floor. They put Mark behind a desk and some metal objects and prepare to fight. Yamato taking out his two guns and Kiria getting in a ready stance. ¡°I see two men in suits with police badges. Safe to say they¡¯re detectives. They seem to be guarding a worker.¡± ¡°That matches with the research I¡¯ve done. Our man goes by the nickname ¡®The Cowboy.'' He¡¯s a bounty hunter for ¡®Madam¡¯ most likely here to kill someone. I¡¯m betting it¡¯s that man the two detectives are guarding. Watch out for those detectives by the way. They¡¯re incredibly strong. You might be able to take on a rookie detective, but you¡¯re no match for a senior detective.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll find the right time to bust in and separate ¡®The Cowboy¡¯ from the fight. If the detectives are as strong as you say then they should be able to handle the armed men.¡± Yuto leaps off the roof with extreme force zooming across the sky and breaking a glass window while landing on the sixth floor. ¡®The Cowboy¡¯ and his men head into the building. Five of them head into the elevator and the other five along with ¡®The Cowboy¡¯ take the stairs. Yamato and Kiria notice the elevator operating and take their stance. ¡°Stay focused Yamato.¡± ¡°Right.¡± The elevator continues to rise as the indicator reads three, four, and five. As the elevator opens, Yamato fires off wind bullets at the armed men as he¡¯s met with an instant downpour of gunfire. He and Kiria dash through the gunfire and take cover at different spots. As Yamato stays behind a pillar, he spots ¡®The Cowboy¡¯ and the other five men. They point their guns at Yamato and Kiria, making them surrender. ¡°Alright fellas, I don¡¯t want this to get messy. Just give us Mark and you can get outta with your lives.¡± Yamato and Kiria exchange quick looks to see what the other is planning. They each prepare to make a move as the armed men hold their fingers tight on the trigger. Above the action, on the sixth floor, Yuto prepares to make his move. He leaps in the air and smashes the floor with his fists crashing down in between Yamato and ¡®The Cowboy¡¯. The smoke and debris cause a distraction for both parties. Yuto uses this distraction to grab ¡®The Cowboy¡¯ and slam him into the floor, shattering the floor and sending them to the fourth level. Yuto and ¡°The Cowboy¡± roll around on the floor before quickly getting up. ¡° I was wondering if you''d show up again. Heh heh, you couldn¡¯t beat me last time we fought Black Knight. And you also won¡¯t beat me this time.¡± ¡°Yeah? Let''s put that theory to the test.¡± First Encounter Part 2 On the fifth floor, Kiria and Mark remain under a constant downpour of gunfire. Kiria, who¡¯s taken cover behind a metal desk, tears one of the legs of the desk off and launches it at one of the gunners with tremendous speed incapacitating him. The gunners now focus their fire solely on Kiria causing him to once again hide behind the desk. Yamato uses the distraction to take a couple of shots at the gunner! He manages to take down two more before he¡¯s met gunfire. He dashes across the room taking cover behind another pillar! Below the gunfire, on the fourth floor, Yuto and ¡®The Cowboy¡¯ face off preparing to fight. ¡°What do ya even want with me anyways? I don¡¯t recall doing anything to attract the attention of someone like you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about what you did. It¡¯s about who you work for.¡± ¡°The queen? I see. What do ya want with her?¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking for a certain person. I believe she might know where he is.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ And by taking me out you believe she¡¯ll talk to you? No¡­ Taking me out won¡¯t do anything, but taking Shoma out on the other hand¡­ Well that just might do it.¡± ¡°You may work for ¡®Madam¡¯, but a lot of your jobs are through Shoma who supplies her money.¡± ¡°How¡¯d you come to that conclusion?¡± ¡°Call it a hunch. That¡¯s why I put a tracker in your jacket.¡± ¡®The Cowboy¡¯ searches his jacket for a tracker. When he finds it, he uses lightning to short circuit the tracker and throws it to the side. ¡°Heh heh¡­ And why do you suppose I¡¯ll give up information on Shoma. That is what you want from me right?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t come across as the extremely loyal type. You come across as cunning and deceitful. I bet you¡¯d sell out Shoma to save your own skin.¡± ¡°Heh heh, can¡¯t say you¡¯re wrong there partner." ¡®The Cowboy¡¯ takes his hood off revealing his stunning black hair with light brown tips and his light brown eyes. ¡°Names Colt Boone, what¡¯s yours?¡± Yuto gives Colt a dead silence, refusing to answer. ¡°No answer huh? I figured as much. Just thought I¡¯d be formal with ya. You seem like a person worth my respect.¡± Mini lightning bolts form around Colt¡¯s wrist as he takes a dual shooting stance aimed at Yuto. ¡°Alright, enough talk. Come at me!¡± Colt fires off the bolts at Yuto making him dash around the floor! When Colt runs out of bolts, Yuto charges at him with a punch! Colt manages to dodge at the last second and follow up with a punch of his own! Yuto swings under the punch dodging it and follows up with a kick sending Colt flying into a pillar! Colt gathers a large amount of lightning in his right hand. He raises his hand and cracks it at Yuto like a whip. ¡°Lightning whip!¡± As Yuto raises his hand to block the attack, the lightning wraps around his forearm, shocking him! He manages to power through the pain and pull the whip along with Colt towards him and land a spinning kick sending Colt crashing into a wall! ¡°Damn, that strength of yours really is no joke... Alright, time to get serious.¡± Colt fires off a lightning bullet from his hand with unreal speed! The bullet strikes Yuto, shocking him and immediately sending him to his knees! ¡°Quickdraw!¡± Colt covers both his hands with lightning and charges at Yuto! As Yuto regains himself, he¡¯s met with a flurry of Colt¡¯s punches! Yuto manages to dodge them and hit back! The two continue to exchange each others punches, dodges, and blocks. During the exchange, Yuto manages to land a devastating uppercut sending Colt flying! While he¡¯s still in the air, Yuto jumps up and hits Colt with a powerful kick, sending him crashing through a pillar and rolling on the ground! As Colt slowly gets up he begins coughing up blood. ¡°Damnit!¡± Yuto slowly approaches the injured Colt. Colt begins to tolerate the pain as he finally stands straight. ¡°Okay, I can¡¯t beat him in close combat. I knew that. But I didn¡¯t think he¡¯d be this good. That strength of his is ridiculous. I¡¯ll have to hit him with something fast and hard.¡± Lightning starts emitting from all over Colt¡¯s body. Colt dashes towards Yuto with lightning speed! Before Yuto can even realize, Colt is right in front of him with a tremendous amount of lightning charged in his hands. Colt takes his two hands shaped like guns and merges them together. ¡°LIGHTNING SHOTGUN!¡± Colt releases the lightning at Yuto causing a massive explosion that sends Yuto zooming into the wall! Yuto loses consciousness for a few seconds before snapping back. The attack leaves Yuto¡¯s entire body in pain as the lightning dissipates from his body. Above them on the fifth floor, the ferocious gunfire continues as if the gunners have unlimited ammo. With both him and Yamato pinned, Kiria decides to act. Suddenly, mini pillars of concrete shoot out from the building''s pillars and hit the gunners! Kiria uses the distraction to launch the desk he took cover behind at the closest five men and then charge at the other three! A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°NOW YAMATO! GO GET ¡®THE COWBOY!¡¯¡± Yamato rushes to the hole created by Yuto and jumps down landing on the fourth floor. He sees the damages caused by Yuto and Colt¡¯s fight as they stare at each other waiting to see who makes the next move. ¡°¡®BLACK KNIGHT¡¯, ¡®COWBOY¡¯, STAND DOWN NOW! THIS IS YOUR ONLY WARNING!¡± Colt looks around assessing the situation. ¡°Damn! This is quite the situation I¡¯m in. I¡¯ve gotta escape now!¡± Suddenly, Colt fires off a quick mini lightning bolt at Yuto with tremendous speed! ¡°Quickdraw!¡± Instantly and with a superhuman reaction, Yamato fires off a wind bullet that meets the lightning bolt midway causing a small explosion! Both Yuto and Colt are too shocked to move. ¡°THE HELL! NO WAY HIS REACTION TIME IS THAT FAST!¡± ¡°Who is this guy? That same attack caught me off guard with no time to react. But he countered it with ease.¡± ¡°Any other bright ideas? Or do y¡¯all surrender?¡± ¡°And just who the hell are you?¡± ¡°Rookie detective Yamato Fujimura. Both you and the ¡®Black Knight¡¯ are under arrest.¡± Shunji, who¡¯s been listening in on the action, attempts to talk to Yuto through the mic in his mask. ¡°Yuto this is bad, if he were any other rookie detective you¡¯d be fine, but he¡¯s the ¡®Star Rookie Detective¡¯ of the DIPD. You need to end things fast. He¡¯s not someone you want to fight with.¡± Yuto stays back and waits for an opening. Suddenly, Colt fires off more lightning bullets at Yamato! This time, Yamato charges at Colt with incredible speed dodging the attack! Colt is completely caught off guard by Yamato''s speed! ¡°THE HELL!¡± Yamato closes the space between him and Colt instantly and attempts to backhand Colt with the bottom of his gun! Colt dodges but is met with a knee to the face by Yamato! Yamato spins around and once again attempts a backhand, this time connecting and sending Colt back! Colt creates a small spark in Yamato¡¯s face, blinding him and allowing Colt to retreat back. Yamato aims his guns at Colt, this time he charges up the shot a couple seconds before firing. ¡°Storm Bolt!¡± A wind bullet fires out at a much faster speed than before! Colt manages a last second dodge as the bullet hits the wall behind him causing an explosion that puts a hole in the wall! Yamato prepares to fire off another shot when suddenly he notices a stream of lightning behind him! He attempts to dodge but is too late as the stream hits him landing a devastating blow! ¡°AHHHH!¡± The attack sends Yamato to his knees, unable to move. When he looks up, he sees the dissipating stream connected to Colts left hand. ¡°Hound!¡± Colt charges lightning in his hands and rushes at the defenseless Yamato! ¡°Now is my chance to take him out!¡± Yuto notices an opening and dashes at Colt with tremendous speed! Colt has no time to react as Yuto appears in front of him with a wound up fist! ¡°CURTANA!¡± Yuto clobbers Colt with a devastating punch, sending Colt straight through the wall and outside the building! Yuto leaps through the hole in the wall and grabs Colt in the air. As they fall from the building, Yuto grabs his grapple and grapples to the roof, sending both him and Colt rolling onto it. Yamato looks out the hole and at the roof. He runs to the stairs and heads to the rooftop. Both Yuto and Colt slowly get up as the damage from their fight begins to kick in. ¡°Damn, he¡¯s amazing at ranged combat and also good at close combat. Even with the strength advantage, how do I beat him?¡± Suddenly, Yuto recalls the time Choji told him about close range fighters beating lightning users with a ranged attack. ¡°Ranged attack huh? It¡¯s worth a shot.¡± Mini lightning bolts form around Colts wrists as he aims his gun shaped hands at Yuto. ¡°Let''s end this ¡®Black Knight!¡¯¡± Colt fires the bolts at Yuto! This time, Yuto guards his body and takes the hit! He then charges at Colt attempting to close the distance! He attacks with a flurry of punches but Colt manages to dodge them and make a small spark blinding Yuto. When Yuto regains his vision, he sees a stream of lightning headed right for him! He manages to run away from the stream but it continues to chase him. Yuto sprints at Colt making him turn off the stream of lightning. Colt quickly fires off a single bolt with tremendous speed! ¡°QUICKDRAW!¡± Yuto leaps high into the air! Colt smirks as he merges his gun shaped hands. ¡°Gotcha¡­ LIGHTNING SHOTGUN!¡± Yuto raises his right leg high and charges it all the way back. ¡°DURENDAL!¡± Yuto kicks in Colt¡¯s direction with extreme force. In that instant, a large pressure of wind slams into Colt ramming him into the roof and smashing it. Yuto lands on the cracked roof and walks towards an immoble Colt. He grabs Colt¡¯s jacket and pulls Colt to his face. ¡°I KNOW YOU HAVE INFORMATION THAT CAN PUT SHOMA JIRO BEHIND BARS EVEN IN THIS CORRUPT SYSTEM! WHAT IS IT! TELL ME!¡± ¡°Alright alright, I give up. I¡¯ll tell you. Shoma keeps a hidden record of all his meetings with anyone related to the underworld. That way he can use it as leverage if he needs. From what I know, he keeps the records in a safe hidden somewhere in his house. If you can find that safe, it¡¯ll have exactly what you need to put him behind bars.¡± ¡°THAT''S ALL? THAT CAN¡¯T BE IT! WHAT ELSE IS THERE! WHAT MORE DO YOU KNOW!¡± ¡°That¡¯s all man really! You don¡¯t understand, those records have everything. He¡¯s asked people to do some crazy jobs that even I''ve had to refuse before. Hell, one time he wanted me to kill this reporter guy and his family at the same time the red raid was going on. I was only thirteen at the time so of course I refused.¡± Yuto pauses as he realizes Colt is talking about his parents. ¡°What? WHY DID HE WANT THEM DEAD!¡± ¡°Dammit I don¡¯t know! It was nine years ago. All I remember is him saying is the reporter was digging too far into an acquaintance and needed to die. That¡¯s all I-¡± Colt passes out before he could say anymore. Yuto lets go of Colt and walks to the edge of the roof preparing to jump off. ¡°HOLD IT!¡± Suddenly Yamato appears from the stairwell with his two guns aimed at Yuto. ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere ¡®Black Knight.¡¯ First Encounter Part 3 On the fifth floor, all the gunners have been taken out by Kiria. He stands over them making sure they¡¯re all taken care of. After making sure, Mark comes out from the barricade in disbelief. ¡°Incredible! You took them all out with your bare hands. You barely even used your powers.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go Mark, I¡¯m taking you outside. Wait for the police there while I wrap things up.¡± ¡°Y-Yes sir, of course.¡± Kiria takes Mark to the stairwell and heads outside. On the rooftop, Yamamoto has Yuto pinned with no escape. Both his guns are locked on Yuto. The rain begins to pour even harder than before as the wind picks up and a strong breeze blows through them. ¡°HANDS ABOVE YOUR HEAD! DON¡¯T MOVE!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not your enemy detective.¡± ¡°Yeah? Forgive me if you don¡¯t come across as a friend.¡± Yamato keeps his guns trained on Yuto as he walks over to Colt¡¯s body. ¡°His name is Colt Boone. He¡¯s a bounty hunter for ¡®Madam¡¯ but mostly works through Shoma Jiro.¡± ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡± ¡°Because my objective doesn¡¯t involve the police. If possible, I¡¯d rather not fight you.¡± ¡°What is your objective then? How does Colt Boone tie into this?¡± ¡°He was never part of the plan. He just happened to be a fortunate encounter that accelerated my real goal. I¡¯m looking for someone who I believe works for ¡®Madam¡¯. Normally she wouldn¡¯t give me the time of day to talk to her, but taking down Shoma may change her mind. She can¡¯t afford to make any big moves right now. So she¡¯d have no choice but to talk.¡± ¡°So Kiria was right. You are trying to attract ¡®Madam¡¯s¡¯ attention.¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct, and with the information Colt provided I can take down Shoma even in a corrupt system like ours.¡± Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°If you have information about Shoma¡¯s criminal activities, hand it over!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do that right now detective, I have to make sure Colt was telling the truth first.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather not have a criminal mess up our best chance at putting Shoma away. So hand it over!¡± ¡°Call me what you want, detective, but I can¡¯t give you this just yet. But there¡¯s no need to be enemies. We can work together and share information.¡± ¡°You want me to work with you? I¡¯ll pass.¡± ¡°Think of the benefit detective. It¡¯s simple, you can get me the information I need and I can get you the information you need. I can do what you can¡¯t, what the law stops you from doing.¡± ¡°The law is what separates us from people like you. Without the law there is no justice. I¡¯m not gonna work with you, now put your hands up and surrender.¡± ¡°I can tell you have a good heart detective. I¡¯ll be waiting for you if you¡¯re ever ready to talk.¡± ¡°HEY!¡± Yuto falls backwards off the roof. When Yamato goes to look down, he sees Yuto land on the ground making a crater. Then Yuto grapples away. Moments later, Kiria arrives at the roof from the stairwell. He instantly notices the rooftops heavy damage as well as Colt¡¯s body beside Yamato. ¡°You beat him?¡± ¡°Not really, I fought him a little but the ¡®Black Knight¡¯ was the one who really beat him. I tried to stop him but he got away.¡± ¡°Did he say anything?¡± ¡°He said he was looking for someone that he believes works for ¡®Madam¡¯, so you were right about that. Not that I know if it¡¯s true or not but he also said that Colt Boone, that¡¯s ¡®The Cowboy''s¡¯ real name, gave him critical information about Shoma that¡¯s enough to get him sent to jail. He got away before I could get anything else.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ So he¡¯s looking for someone who he thinks works for ¡®Madam¡¯? And he has enough information to put Shoma away? Interesting... Well we can worry about that later, right now we need to get Mark out of here and put Mr.Boone in custody.¡± ¡°Yes sir.¡± Yamato takes Colt and follows Kiria downstairs. When they get outside, they¡¯re met with multiple police cars. Yamato gives Colt to one of the officers and gets in another car with Kiria and Mark and they drive off to the ¡®DIPD¡¯. *** On the rooftop of one of Daimons business buildings, Yuto is attempting to contact Shunji. ¡°Shunji, we need to get to that safe now!¡± ¡°I agree, Shoma is currently attending a fundraiser for the island. His house is completely unguarded. If he¡¯s smart, which I¡¯m sure he is, when he finds out about Colt¡¯s arrest he¡¯ll tighten security and we¡¯ll lose our chance to get the safe. Now¡¯s the perfect time.¡± ¡°Right. I¡¯m heading over there now.¡± Secrets In the commons sector of Daimon Island, a massive house lies in front of a forest. All the lights are off as the house remains unguarded. The stormy night continues and thunder booms across the island accompanied with fierce lightning. Across the building, on a rooftop, Yuto analyzes the unguarded house. ¡°Shunji, I¡¯m here. It¡¯s just as you said, completely unguarded.¡± ¡°Good, can you find a way in?¡± ¡°Not unless you count the front door.¡± ¡°Definitely don¡¯t count the front door¡­ Take a look at the back of the house and tell me what you see.¡± Yuto gets to a different vantage point and looks at the back of the house. ¡°Shunji, I see a patio with two glass doors.¡± ¡°The Jiro family is well respected and feared. No one would even think to break into their house. I¡¯m willing to bet twenty bucks they don¡¯t close their back door because they haven¡¯t needed to worry about a break in.¡± Yuto maneuvers his way into the backyard and in front of the glass doors. He turns the handle on one of the doors to see if it¡¯s locked and the door opens. Yuto makes his way into the dark living room. The only source of light is the orange glow from a fireplace. ¡°I owe you twenty bucks.¡± ¡°Nice, a free meal!¡­ Anyway, what do you see?¡± Yuto walks around and analyzes the house. He makes his way past a kitchen and through a hallway on the left. ¡°Not much, just some bedrooms. I¡¯m making my way through a hallway right now.¡± ¡°It obviously won¡¯t be out in the open. It¡¯ll be hidden somewhere only Shoma would know.¡± As Yuto continues walking, he notices a set of stairs leading up to the second story. When he gets up the stairs, he¡¯s met with a large space with three different rooms. Yuto randomly chooses the one in the middle and opens the door. The inside of the room is filled with different trophies and picture frames. He scrounges around the room but can¡¯t find anything. Yuto walks out the room and goes into the room on the left. The inside of this room contains a fancy wooden desk with a black chair along with large picture frames on the wall along with a window and a closet. Yuto once again scrounges around the room pulling out drawers and checking the closet. Right before leaving the room, Yuto fixes his gaze on a large picture of the ¡°Trojan Horse¡± framed on the back wall of the room. Yuto feels around the picture and takes it down revealing a small rectangular digital safe embedded in the wall. ¡°Shunji, I think I found the safe. It¡¯s digital and embedded in the wall.¡± ¡°Digital huh? I don¡¯t suppose we¡¯ll be able to figure out the password will we?¡± ¡°Not unless you want me to have a sleepover here.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ How big is it?¡± ¡°Not too big, Colt Boone said Shoma kept records. But I don¡¯t see how all his records can be in this small safe.¡± ¡°Maybe he has just one device that records everything. In that case¡­ Yuto, you have those small explosives right?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Put one of those on the keypad and detonate it. That should open it so we can see what¡¯s inside. Be quick though, Shoma might not be there but there¡¯s a chance Shou is.¡± Yuto takes one of the mini explosives and puts it on the digital keypad. He locks it in and presses a small button in the middle. After a couple seconds, the explosive detonates and blows the safe wide open. Inside is a small rectangular device. ¡°Shunji, the only thing in there is some kind of small rectangular electronic device. I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s some kind of voice recorder.¡± This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Yuto analyzes the device and sees what looks like a USB on the back of the device. He slides his thumb up the device pushing out the USB. ¡°Shunji, it has a USB on it.¡± ¡°Good! This has to be what we¡¯ve been looking for...¡± ¡°DAD?¡± Suddenly, Shou Jiro makes his way up the stairs wiping his eyes. ¡°Are you finally back? What was that noise?¡± Yuto quickly closes the safe and puts the ¡°Trojan Horse¡± picture frame back up. He closes the door to the room and looks around for a way out. Shou slowly makes his way to the door and knocks on it. ¡°Dad? Are you here?¡± Shou opens the door to the room in perfect order except for the open window. He yawns as he goes to the window and closes it. ¡°Must¡¯ve been the breeze or something.¡± Shou leaves the room and heads back to bed. Across the house on the rooftop of a building, Yuto observes the scene watching Shou go back to bed. ¡°Shunji, I made it out. I¡¯m heading back home now.¡± *** In the basement of Shunji¡¯s house, Shunji awaits Yuto¡¯s return. The basement door opens and Yuto walks in with the recorder. ¡°Here¡¯s the recorder, don¡¯t know how much info is on it though.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen these in the CIA before, they¡¯re small but can hold quite a lot of recordings.¡± Shunji plugs in the USB of the recorder into his computer and starts typing. ¡°Here we go, it¡¯s downloading.¡± After some time, a tab pops up on the computer with different links labeled by dates. ¡°Colt wasn¡¯t lying Yuto, everything is on this device. Just different dates of all his meetings.¡± ¡°Good, Colt said there was a job that Shoma needed done on the same night of the ¡®Red Raid¡¯. That job was to kill a reporter and his family because he got too close to uncovering the truths about an acquaintance.¡± ¡°That¡¯s definitely not a coincidence, that was your dad he was talking about.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m sure of it. See if you can find the exact date of the ¡®Red Raid¡¯.¡± Shunji begins scrolling through the different audio links. After a minute or so of scrolling, he sees a link labeled 02/11/2021. ¡°Here it is¡­ The day Yuki and Lira were killed. Are you sure you want to see this?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no choice, this recording can either help me find who killed my parents or who hired the killer. I have to know!¡± Shunji presses the link and the recording starts playing. The voices are odd and scrambled. ¡°He knows too much¡­ He¡¯s too close to the truth. As much as I hate to say it, I need you to kill him.¡± ¡°Are you sure? It¡¯d be different if the man wasn¡¯t famous. But his death will catch a lot of attention. Also¡­ There¡¯s the history between you two.¡± ¡°Our history isn¡¯t important, he¡¯s dug too deep. Yuki Sasaki has to die!¡± ¡°What about his family?¡± ¡°... K-Kill them too. It¡¯s sad but has to be done. No survivors!¡± ¡°Are you sure? Once again there¡¯s no going back from this. I don¡¯t care about these people but your a different case.¡± ¡°Like I said¡­ It has to be done.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take half the payment now and the rest after the job is done.¡± The recording ends. Yuto and Shunji exchange looks seeing what the other has to say. ¡°Damn it, it''s encrypted! This is exactly what we need.¡± ¡°Hold on Yuto¡­ This one is the day after the raid.¡± Shunji presses on the link right below the previous recording that¡¯s titled 02/12/2021. ¡°DAMN IT! I SAID EVERYONE HAD TO DIE! HOW THE HELL COULD YOUR GUYS KILL THE PARENTS BUT NOT ONE MEASLY KID!¡± ¡°Relax, they said there was an altercation. Some gray haired man saved the kid. Regardless, Yuki Sasaki is dead. The kid poses no threat.¡± ¡°YOU''D BETTER BE RIGHT ABOUT THIS!¡± The recording ends. ¡°Can you undo the encryption?¡± ¡°No, even with all the CIA gear I have I¡¯m not a tech wizard.¡± ¡°So all the useless gear means nothing then.¡± ¡°Well that useless gear just happens to be what I used to make your suit. And lets not forget those gadgets you have as well¡­ Look Yuto, this is only a minor setback. We¡¯re still on track for our goal. You can rest now and in the meantime find out how to undo the encryption.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s just¡­ I didn¡¯t expect things to happen this fast. I want to end things quickly.¡± ¡°I know you do, but patience is everything. Wait, and the time will come for us to make a move again. For now get some rest, you deserve it.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get some rest, Shunji.¡± Kazu Kato Several days have passed since the incident with ¡®The Cowboy¡¯. A beautiful bright blue sky covers the island along with a beaming hot sun. Yamato and Kiara are walking down a bustling street filled with people and the loud sound of honking cars. ¡°So why isn¡¯t Kiria with you?¡± ¡°He¡¯s still managing the situation with Mark Tilman. It wouldn¡¯t be half the hassle it is if it wasn¡¯t for the media. Anything that¡¯s even possibly ¡®Black Knight¡¯ related has them flying in like vultures. That along with Shoma putting out a massive alert for the ¡®Black Knight¡¯.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah I bet that was annoying. I imagine they never gave you a break.¡± Yamato begins vividly remembering a moment when Sky and Sierra Reeds were hounding him for answers. ¡°Yeah¡­ You have no idea.¡± ¡°Oh! Speaking of the ¡®Black Knight¡¯, you got a good look at him right? What was he like?¡± ¡°He¡¯s exactly as described. Fast, strong, relentless, and not to mention intimidating.¡± ¡°Really? I thought someone like him would be crazy.¡± ¡°Well¡­ I don¡¯t know. I have this odd feeling about him that I can¡¯t describe¡­ Oh Kiara, I never said thanks for helping me today.¡± ¡°Of course, I barely get any action anyways. And that goof Hibiki is helping Kenta with the serial killer, I couldn¡¯t be the only rookie doing nothing.¡± ¡°You know, you should try not to talk so bad about Hibiki.¡± ¡°Ugh, it¡¯s not like I want to talk badly about a fellow rookie. He¡¯s just so¡­ Irritating. He won¡¯t shut up about how he should be doing more than what he is.¡± ¡°Heh heh, I can see it now. You and Hibiki will become the best of friends. Supporting each other through thick and thin, always by each other''s side. This could be the start of something amazing.¡± Kiara looks at Yamato enraged by what he said. ¡°UH YEAH MAYBE WHEN PIGS FLY!¡± ¡°Ahaha, I get it, but he is your partner. So maybe just¡­ Try.¡± ¡°Hmph, I¡¯ll consider it. So, where are we going?¡± ¡°Right, I did some digging on this drug dealer me and Kiria are looking for and I found out about a man named Kazu Kato. Apparently he had a run in with a man who had a ¡®nasty burn scar¡¯. That fits the only description I have of the drug dealer. They bought drugs off of him and after about ten minutes the men who took the drugs all burned from the inside and died. This fits all the information we have on the guy. But get this, they went to avenge their men, and during the altercation the guy grabbed one of their arms and the skin of the person he grabbed started burning and melting. They escaped, but ten minutes later that person died. Anyway I was able to get Kato¡¯s address, that¡¯s where we¡¯re headed now.¡± The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. ¡°Whoa¡­ How¡¯d you even get this information.¡± ¡°Well, I heard about the incident from some concerned citizens. After checking it out, I asked around and found out that the area where the incident took place was the same area that Kato hangs around. So I asked around to see if anybody knew about an incident with Kato and someone finally told me that ever since the day of the incident, Kato hasn¡¯t been heard from. I was told to find his men and they should know where Kato is. After digging and digging, I hit up each of their locations one by one and got nothing until I met the survivor. He gave me Kato¡¯s location and here we are.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ Amazing work as usual Yamato.¡± ¡°Thanks Kiara¡­ Anyway this guy is a drug dealer who works for Miguel, so we need to be careful.¡± ¡°Gotcha.¡± Yamato and Kiara come to a stop at an eerie, torn down apartment. They make their way up a flight of stairs and stop at one of the doors. Yamato opens the door and he and Kiara walk inside. Inside, a man with brown hair and a fuzzy beard sits on a torn down bed in a messy room with his gun pointed at the two. Yamato takes out both his guns and Kiara takes out hers. ¡°I heard someone was looking for me. What do you want?¡± ¡°Kazu Kato, right? I¡¯m detective Fujimura and this is detective Sakurai. We just have a couple questions we want to ask.¡± ¡°Sir, there¡¯s no need for hostility. We aren¡¯t here to arrest you.¡± Kazu puts his gun away as Yamato and Kiara follow suit. ¡°Okay, then what are you here for?¡± ¡°Does a drug dealer with a burn scar on his face ring a bell?¡± ¡°... Yeah, it does. He¡¯s the reason the only people I called friends are gone.¡± ¡°We just want to know any information regarding his whereabouts.¡± ¡°Ahaha, oh please, you think if I knew where he was I¡¯d be here right now? I have no clue where he is. The guy covers his tracks better than anyone I¡¯ve seen.¡± ¡°Nothing? Not even a clue?¡± ¡°Like I said, nothing at all. Now leave.¡± Yamato and Kiara turn around and head to the door. Just before they head out, Kiara turns around and goes up to Kazu. ¡°What about something he said. Did he say anything that seemed unusual? Anything to to give us a hint like a motive?¡± ¡°Huh, you know there was one thing. He said that he¡¯d get revenge for the sins of the past. For the ones that betrayed him long ago. I have no idea what it means though.¡± ¡°Thank you sir.¡± Yamato and Kiara head out of the apartment. They walk down the stairs and stop in front of the apartment. ¡°Sins of the past? What could that mean?¡± Kiara asks. ¡°I don¡¯t know. My guess is something bad happened to him that made him like this. I don¡¯t think this guy¡¯s a drug dealer at all.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a hunch. But I think he¡¯s giving out drugs as a front. Maybe like a test or something before he attempts his real goal.¡± ¡°Like he¡¯s testing out his drug to get the perfect solution?¡± ¡°Yeah, something like that. And if I¡¯m right, this guy could be a lot more trouble than I originally thought.¡± Chiori Hirayama Part 1 At Daimon high school, students swarm over every inch of the building as morning classes start. Yuto walks into class and is instantly met with awkward stares from Kuro, Riku, and Choji. ¡°Yuto where the hell have you been? You weren¡¯t answering any of my calls or texts.¡± ¡°My bad Kuro, I haven¡¯t been feeling good lately. I could barely even muster the strength to get out of bed.¡± ¡°Oh are you fine now? Do you need my medical expertise! I may not look it but I¡¯m very knowledgeable when it comes to these things.¡± ¡°Uh Riku¡­ You¡¯d probably only make Yuto worse.¡± ¡°Wha- screw you Kuro, I was being serious. Anyways I¡¯m glad you¡¯re okay Yuto.¡± ¡°Yeah, heh heh, with all the action lately like the ¡®Black Knight¡¯, the serial killings, and the radiation victims, one of us thought you were dead.¡± Choji says sarcastically looking at Riku. ¡°Agh! Be¡­ Quiet¡­ CHOJI!¡± Rikus says flustered. ¡°ALL RIGHT CLASS, EVERYONE TAKE A SEAT!¡± Everyone makes their way to their seat and awaits the teacher''s instruction. ¡°Okay class, today we¡¯ll be focusing on the quadratic equation. I hope you have your notes from last class, you¡¯re gonna need them.¡± Yuto turns to Kuro on his right and taps his shoulder. ¡°Can you lend me your notes so I can copy them?¡± ¡°Yeah I¡¯ll hand them to you after class. I can catch you up on everything you missed as well.¡± ¡°Oh oh I can help!¡± ¡°Oh please Riku the last thing he needs is your help.¡± ¡°Agh! Choji¡­ that¡¯s two strikes now.¡± ¡°AHEM!¡± The four quickly sit straight in their seats and lock their gaze on the teacher with a nervous sweat. ¡°Please refrain from talking while I am. Oh, Yuto? I didn¡¯t know you were back. Good, you have a lot of work you need to catch up on.¡± Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. ¡°Yay, I can¡¯t wait.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t try to be sarcastic with me. You all know there is a huge punishment for missing class time.¡± ¡°But sir, I was sick.¡± ¡°Yeah, sick for five days without a note huh? And I won the lottery yesterday.¡± After some time, the bell rings and class eventually ends. Everyone gets up and prepares to leave for their next class. A beautiful redheaded girl with long thick curly hair, faint red eyes, and glasses is surrounded by two boys at her desk. ¡°LEAVE ME ALONE! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY NO!¡± ¡°FUCK YOU BITCH!¡± The two boys hurry and leave. The girl quickly packs her backpack and storms out of the room. ¡°Who was that? I¡¯ve never seen her before.¡± ¡°Yeah Yuto, that''d be because you¡¯ve missed the entire week. She¡¯s a new student who started class here this week. Her name is Chiori Hirayama, you may not have heard of her but she actually has quite the reputation. She¡¯s a one of a kind tech specialist. She¡¯s won many awards for youth tech companies and already has job offers from some of the best tech businesses and offers from prestige colleges all over the island and the world. Hell, if she wanted, she could leave the island and go to college or work on the mainland in an instant. Truly one of a kind.¡± ¡°So she¡¯s good with tech huh? Interesting.¡± *** At Shunji¡¯s house, Yuto opens the door and walks in. Shunji is lying down watching a movie in the living room while eating popcorn. ¡°How was school?¡± ¡°It was good like usual. Although I¡¯m gonna have to study with Kuro since one of my teachers wants to be so strict.¡± ¡°Well, you did miss four days.¡± ¡°Yeah but I told him I was sick.¡± ¡°What and you thought he¡¯d believe that. Maybe he would if you had a note that officially said you were sick but nooo, don¡¯t do what Shunji tells you right?¡± ¡°Yeah yeah¡­ Hey, have you heard of Chiori Hirayama?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t say I have.¡± ¡°Can you do some research on her? I want to know more about her.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ I knew I¡¯d eventually have this conversation with you.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Look Yuto, when you¡¯re interested in a girl, it¡¯s best to actually talk to her instead of creeping around for all her information. I get you¡¯ve never really had a chance to gain experience, but I thought you¡¯d at least realize that much.¡± "Damnit Shunji!¡­ That¡¯s not why I¡¯m asking! I heard she was insanely good with tech, I just want to know exactly how good she is. If she really does have the skills everyone else thinks she has, then she might be able to break the encryption on the recorder.¡± ¡°Oh I see. Are you fine with involving a random girl into this?¡± ¡°If she does prove to be the real deal, I¡¯ll just have her break the encryption and she¡¯ll never hear from me again. I don¡¯t plan on involving anyone else into this Shunji.¡± ¡°Good, well it¡¯s a long shot but it might be our only shot. With Shoma pressing harder on the press and the police saying the ¡®Black Knight¡¯ broke into his house which is true I guess, things are bound to get ugly. We need to get him arrested and fast.¡± ¡°And we¡¯ll know more about the truth of my parents death.¡± Uncovering the Serial Killer In the commons sector of Daimon Island, Kenta and Hibiki are walking on a busy street. The loud honking of cars and swarms of people are accompanied by a bright fire hot sun. Kenta and Hibiki head into a small restaurant named ¡°Famous Burgers¡±. The restaurant has red and blue sofa seating with brown tables and a bar in the back. ¡°Alright, let''s go find her and make her talk.¡± ¡°Whoa whoa Hibiki, you¡¯re way too hot headed. How about we follow my lead on this okay. Just keep an eye on me and if anything goes wrong you step in.¡± ¡°We know what she¡¯s done, what¡¯s the point. Let¡¯s just arrest her and get this over with.¡± ¡°Heh heh, seriously how were you even picked to be a detective? Look, it¡¯s best for all of us if we don¡¯t cause such a big commotion in this small restaurant. Besides, we don¡¯t know her story. All we¡¯ve done is put some pieces together and came to an estimated guess.¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll follow your lead.¡± ¡°There we go. All right, go have a seat somewhere and let me talk to her.¡± Hibiki goes and sits at the bar seating of the restaurant. Kenta approaches a black haired girl with yellow eyes and sits down across from her. ¡°Excuse me ma¡¯am, I don''t mean to bother you. I¡¯m detective Mayeda of the DIPD. I just wanted to ask you a couple questions regarding the murder of Tracy Jenner.¡± ¡°Oh-oh yes. She was my best friend.¡± ¡°Just to make sure, I am speaking to Rei Sawa correct?¡± ¡°Yes, that''s me. Are you really a detective? You seem kinda young.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a rookie detective, we¡¯re all young. But back to the point, you were the last one to see her alive, yes?¡± ¡°Y-Yes that¡¯s right, well there was a hour gap between that and her death so it¡¯s not for certain.¡± ¡°Right, and an estimated hour later she was found dead and said to be a victim of the serial killings going around. She didn¡¯t tell you where she was going?¡± ¡°N-no, I just thought she was going home.¡± ¡°I find that hard to believe. I mean her body wasn¡¯t found even remotely close to her house. On top of that her mother said she never saw Tracy come home. She was worried sick. You were the last to see her and you¡¯re her best friend as well. And she just¡­ Didn¡¯t tell you where she was going.¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t know what you want me to say! She came to my house to hang out. Then she left to go somewhere and I went to go see my boyfriend.¡± ¡°Oh I¡¯m glad you brought that up, it was my next point. We talked to some of your other friends and they said ever since you got with your boyfriend Ryota Shima, you¡¯ve been acting strange. You¡¯re jumpy all the time as if you¡¯re constantly in fear.¡± ¡°M-My f-friends like to¡­ Over exaggerate things. They were probably being sarcastic.¡± ¡°Oh of course, I get that. However Mr.Shima here has previously been arrested for attempted murder. But the victim came out and said that the entire case was a lie... Now this is just speculation, but I think your boyfriend is the serial killer we¡¯ve been looking for. He¡¯s been murdering people and racking up a body count that¡¯s hit seven and could keep going. For whatever reason, he killed your best friend Tracy Jenner. I also think you know about it, but he¡¯s threatening you and forcing you to keep it a secret.¡± Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Rei quickly gets up and slams her hands on the table making a sound loud enough to get the attention of everyone in the restaurant. ¡°ENOUGH! YOU DON¡¯T KNOW WHAT YOU¡¯RE TALKING ABOUT! YOU SOUND CRAZY! I DON¡¯T HAVE TO LISTEN TO THIS!¡± Rei storms over to the restaurant doors. Kenta gets up and quickly follows her. Hibiki gets out of his seat and gets ready to stop Rei. Before he could make a move, Kenta signals him to stop as he follows Rei outside. ¡°Ms.Sawa please wait! We can help you. Don¡¯t you want to be free from him?¡± Rei stops walking and turns around to Kenta with a nervous look. ¡°I-I can¡¯t be free of him. He¡¯ll kill my family.¡± ¡°Ms.Sawa, I promise you nothing will happen to your family. We just need you to come with us to the precinct.¡± ¡°Us?¡± Rei notices Hibiki standing in the distance observing the conversation. ¡°Is he one of your detective buddies as well?¡± Hibiki approaches Rei and stands next to Kenta. ¡°Ma¡¯am I¡¯m detective Hattori. Look he¡¯s right, all you need to do is go to the precinct with us. You¡¯ll be safe there. Then give us Ryota¡¯s location and we¡¯ll handle it.¡± Rei pauses and thinks about the offer. After a while, tears suddenly begin to stream out of her eyes. ¡°P-Please, Please help me. I¡¯ll do whatever you want. Just please get rid of him.¡± Kenta puts his arm around Rei¡¯s shoulder to comfort her. ¡°You have our word ma¡¯am.¡± *** Afternoon arrives in Daimon Island. The sun is beginning to set as the temperature gets cooler. The terror of the night slowly approaches accompanied with a warm mild breeze. After an exhausting day, Yamato and Kiara approach the police station. Kiara snaps her finger in front of Yamato who appears to be lost in a deep thought. ¡°Yamato! Yamato! HELLOOO!¡± ¡°Oh! Sorry Kiara, I was just thinking about something.¡± ¡°Thinking about?...¡± ¡°When me and Kiria first got this case, we were told that this drug dealer was taking away business because of his high end drugs. But I doubt drugs that kill you in ten minutes would make a lot of money.¡± ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure myself. But something tells me we were too late to the investigation. Whatever he¡¯s trying to do, he¡¯s close. And we¡¯re too late to the party. I think if I try to look more into encounters further back instead of more recently I can find something.¡± Yamato and Kiara open the door to the station and walk in. Inside, all the rookie detectives are gearing up and getting ready for something big. ¡°You¡¯re late Yamato. We almost started without y¡¯all.¡± ¡°Kenta? What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Me and Hibiki were investigating a lead on the serial killer. We think we have the killer''s next target. All rookie detectives have been tasked with the capture of the murder suspect Ryota Shima. This is our first big test by the senior detectives.¡± Captain Sanders walks into the main area with the senior detectives behind him. The rookies stop what they¡¯re doing and focus their attention on the captain. ¡°Listen up, rookies! This will be your first of many tests to come. You¡¯re to arrest the murder suspect Ryota Shima and prevent the murder of his next target, Kory Grove. Yamato, Kiara, I understand y¡¯all arrived late but I expect both of y¡¯all to be ready.¡± ¡°YES SIR!¡± They both yelled. ¡°Good, best of luck rookies. LET JUSTICE PREVAIL!¡± ¡°YES SIR!!¡± Chiori Hirayama Part 2 In the basement of Shunji¡¯s house, Shunji¡¯s locked in on his computer looking for information on Chiori Hirayama. Yuto walks down into the basement to see how Shunji¡¯s doing. ¡°Anything?¡± ¡°Quite a lot actually, everything you heard was true. Awards from Daimon Technology Institution, Harvest, everything. She¡¯s really good.¡± ¡°You think she¡¯ll help with our problem?¡± ¡°That depends. Can she help us, yes. But can you get her to want to help us though?¡± Yuto takes a moment to think about the situation. ¡°Look Yuto, not that this is a bad plan, but there¡¯s too much risk here. There¡¯s nothing to say that she¡¯ll help a wanted vigilante. Also with how good she is, there¡¯s a chance she could track us down and expose us. I don¡¯t think it¡¯s worth the risk.¡± ¡°I know Shunji, but when I looked at her¡­ Something drew me in. I can¡¯t explain it but it was like I was looking at my past self. That same desperate feeling to want to do something, but not have power to. Call it what you want, but I¡¯ve got to give her a chance.¡± ¡°Alright fine, just know I don¡¯t condone any of this.¡± Shunji¡¯s starts typing on his computer. After several seconds, he points to the screen to show Yuto something. ¡°This is where she lives, 1302 Holly street.¡± ¡°Thank you Shunji.¡± Yuto puts the rest of his suit on and grabs the recorder as he leaves. *** In the commons sector of Daimon Island, Yuto observes a small house from the rooftop of a building. Nightfall now approached accompanied with a howling wind like that of wolves. Yuto observes Chiori through a window of the house with an illuminated city in front of him. She¡¯s wearing pajamas and has her hair down while brushing her teeth. She leaves the bathroom and heads out of her room. After several minutes pass, her bedroom door opens and she walks back in. ¡°Yeah Yeah mom I know, I¡¯ll make sure to-¡± As she looks up, she¡¯s met with Yuto¡¯s terrifying figure. She looks behind him and sees her window open and wind blowing through it. As she continues to observe Yuto and look deep into his mask, she breaks into a terrified sweat as her eyes widen and heart races. ¡°Don¡¯t yell, it¡¯ll cause a problem for both of us.¡±A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. ¡°Wh-what do you want? Please don¡¯t kill me! P-please please please!¡± ¡°Calm down, I¡¯m not gonna kill you.¡± ¡°T-t-then what do you want?¡± ¡°I need help, and I heard that my problem is your area of expertise.¡± ¡°What?¡± Yuto pulls out the recorder and shows it to Chiori. ¡°This is an advanced recorder. There¡¯s something I need on this, but all the recordings are encrypted. Can you break the encryption?¡± ¡°W-why? What¡¯s on it?¡± ¡°Does it matter?¡± ¡°Y-yes it does. I¡¯m not gonna help you if it means someone dies.¡± ¡°I see, no one''s dying. This recorder has what¡¯s needed to take down the corrupt Shoma Jiro.¡± ¡°Shoma Jiro? S-so he wasn''t lying. You did break into his house and try to kill him and his son.¡± ¡°Is that what he says? It¡¯s only somewhat true. I broke into his house to get this recorder. But he wasn¡¯t at his house and his son was asleep.¡± ¡°W-why should I b-believe you?¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t, whether you choose to is entirely up to you. But I¡¯ve seen that look in your eyes before. You¡¯re brave, the way you¡¯ve carried yourself in this conversation proves that. But you also feel like there¡¯s something you can do to help this city don¡¯t you? You just don¡¯t know what it is yet. So what if this is it.¡± ¡°So you want to help this island?¡± Yuto takes a long pause for several seconds. He turns his head away from Chiori and looks out the window. ¡°No¡­ I don¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Then what do you want to do?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, just know that for right now the part of my goal that I need to accomplish will help this island¡­ I¡¯ve given you enough information, will you help this Island or let it rot. It¡¯s your choice.¡± Chiori takes a moment to consider the offer. She looks deep into Yuto¡¯s mask. She can¡¯t see anything except a pitch black void. She hesitates, but eventually reaches out her hand. ¡°There¡¯s so much corruption on this Island it¡¯s not even funny. I love this island and its people. You¡¯re right, I¡¯ve always wanted to do something but I¡¯ve never had the power to do it. I don¡¯t know why, but for some reason I trust you. So hand me the recorder and I¡¯ll break the encryption.¡± Yuto hands the recorder to Chiori. ¡°How will I be able to contact you when it¡¯s done?¡± ¡°How long will it take?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t have all my equipment so maybe two days.¡± ¡°Two days from now at seven p.m., leave the recorder at Recreation Park under the middle red bench next to the playground. Make sure it¡¯s concealed. I¡¯ll grab it later.¡± ¡°What if someone takes it?¡± ¡°They won''t, seven is when the park closes on the weekend. The police will escort everyone out of the park at that time. They are supposed to check the park after, but they don''t do their jobs.¡± ¡°Mmm¡­ Ok, I¡¯ll do it.¡± Chiori turns around and puts the recorder inside one of her drawers inside her dresser. When she turns back around, Yuto is gone and nowhere to be seen. She pokes her head out her window to find him but can¡¯t. She then closes her window and lays down in her bed as she stares at the wall lost in a deep thought with a nervous look. Rookies VS. Killer Part 1 The night sky looms over Daimon Island, the winds howl grows louder by the minute. In the commons sector of the island, the rookie detectives approach an ominous house by the woods. A faint glow comes from a light inside the house. The rookie detectives stay at a distance to discuss their plan. ¡°All right guys, what¡¯s the plan?¡± Kenta asks. ¡°Let¡¯s charge in and take him down before he can react.¡± ¡°Wow, that is a horrible plan Hibiki. Do us a favor and stay out of this discussion.¡± ¡°Whatever Kai.¡± ¡°Anyone else? Yamato?¡± Kenta asks again. ¡°Hm? I say we let Kiara come up with the plan.¡± ¡°Huh? Why me Yamato?¡± ¡°Because you''re probably the smartest one out of all of us.¡± ¡°I agree, You should lead us Kiara.¡± Ava says. ¡°Ok fine, let me think¡­ Ok, so we know the target is Mira Worthy and she¡¯s in that house right now. First, we have to get her to safety. Having to protect her during a fight probably wouldn¡¯t be the position for us. Me, Yamato, and Kenta will secure Mira and make sure she¡¯s safe. Hibiki and Kai, I want y¡¯all to stay close and barge in if anything goes wrong or if you see Ryota make a move. Ava, take your sniper and get to a location you won¡¯t be spotted in. I want you to provide supporting fire during the altercation. Ok, I think that¡¯s good. Anyone object?¡­ Ok let''s go!¡± Everyone goes and takes their positions. Yamato, Kiara, and Kenta head to the front door. Hibiki and Kai take a position by the woods that gives them a full view of the house. Ava takes a position on the top of a shack on the side of the house. Yamato, Kiara, and Kenta make their way to the front door. Kiara knocks on the door three times. After waiting a minute, she knocks on the door three times once again. Yet again no one answers. Kiara knocks on the door a third time. ¡°Ma¡¯am? DIPD, WE BELIEVE SOMEONE IS AFTER YOUR LIFE!¡± ¡°HUH? UHHH, OKAY COMING!¡± A rustling can be heard coming from the house as the three wait outside. The door opens and a beautiful girl with reddish brown hair and dark brown eyes appears. ¡°Are you Mira Worthy?¡± Kiara asks. ¡°Y-yes that¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am do you mind if we come in?¡± ¡°Oh not at all, please come in.¡± The three walk in and Mira closes the door. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking, are your parents here?¡± ¡°No, some kind of meeting for the science department. Who are y¡¯all?¡± ¡°I¡¯m detective Kiara Sakurai, these two are detectives Yamato Fujimura, and Kenta Mayeda.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Oh wow! The star rookie detective is at my house?¡± ¡°Nice to meet you Ms.Worthy.¡± ¡°N-nice to meet you too detective Fujimura.¡± ¡°Really, nothing for me huh?¡± Kenta asks. ¡°Kenta, now is not the time!¡± Kiara mutters. ¡°Anyways, like we said we believe someone is after your life.¡± ¡°Why would someone be after me? I didn¡¯t do anything.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t have to ma¡¯am, this person is the serial killer that¡¯s been going around. As far as we know, he¡¯s been targeting and killing random innocent girls.¡± Mira suddenly breaks into a panicked sweat. Her eyes widen as her heart drops making her knees feel like jelly. ¡°T-t-the serial killer is after m-m-me? WHY? WHAT DID I DO? I HAVEN¡¯T DONE ANYTHING TO DESERVE THIS! P-PLEASE NO? I DON''T WANNA DIE I DON¡¯T WANNA DIE I DON¡¯T WANNA DIE!¡± Mira continues to yell and break down as the reality of the situation kicks in. ¡°MA¡¯AM PLEASE CALM DOWN.¡± Yamato shouts. Yamato grabs her shoulders and holds her tight to stop her shaking. ¡°You can trust us to handle this situation. We need to get you to safety first.¡± Mira swipes Yamato¡¯s arms away. ¡°H-HOW DO YOU KNOW? Y¡¯ALL ARE JUST ROOKIE DETECTIVES! I WANT THE SENIOR DETECTIVES TO COME HERE!¡± ¡°Look ma¡¯am, I completely understand how you feel.¡± Kenta says. ¡°Do you? Because y¡¯all don¡¯t seem worried at all.¡± ¡°Exactly, that¡¯s why you shouldn¡¯t be worried. The fact that we¡¯re calm means we know we can handle the situation. You should be happy, if we were worried that would mean we weren¡¯t sure if we could handle things.¡± ¡°I-I guess you¡¯re right.¡± Mira takes a deep breath and calms herself. ¡°Ok, what do I do?¡± "Follow our instructions a we''ll get you to safety." Kiara instructs. Kiara continues talking to Mira. Yamato pulls Kenta to the side to discuss with him. "Damn Kenta, you''re good at that." "What, you mean the way I calmed her down? Oh, it''s nothing. I''m a natural at it, you''ll learn it one day Yamato." "Yeah... Natural my ass." *** In the woods on the side of the house opposite from Ava, Hibiki and Kai continue to look out for Ryota. Hibiki is sitting down with his back on a tree and eyes closed. ¡°Dammit Hibiki, focus. What if Ryota comes and catches those three off guard?¡± ¡°Oh please, I know you won¡¯t let that happen. I¡¯m bored, let me know when you see Ryota.¡± ¡°Seriously, how the hell did he get selected to become a detective?¡± Kai notices an ominous tall figure approaching the house. He throws a hefty stick at Hibiki¡¯s head, shocking him awake as he gets up. ¡°The hell? What was that for?¡± ¡°Shut up! Look, I think that¡¯s Ryota.¡± Hibiki looks at the house and sees the ominous figure standing outside the house. ¡°Yeah that¡¯s gotta be him, no one else should be here at this time of night. How long are we supposed to wait before we rush him?¡± ¡°Well for one we don¡¯t even know if it¡¯s him. Two, knowing you I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re willing to wait at all. Guess you don¡¯t think Kiara¡¯s all that bad after all huh?¡± ¡°Shut up and answer the question.¡± ¡°We wait for him to make a move. With Mira in there and likely her parents, any wrong move could be bad. Just wait for me to make a move and then follow.¡± ¡°All right.¡± *** On top of the shack on the opposite side of the house. Ava locks her scope on the ominous figure. She waits for the action to begin. Rookies VS. Killer Part 2 The dark night continues as the wind picks up. The ominous figure continues to lurk outside the house. Yamato spots the figure through the window. After finishing her conversation with Mira, Kiara walks to Kenta and signals Yamato to come over. ¡°I¡¯ll take Ms.Worthy and get out of here. Hopefully I can make it back before Ryota gets here.¡± Yamato walks up to the two to interrupt the conversation. ¡°Too late Kiara. He¡¯s already here.¡± ¡°Damn, I didn¡¯t think he¡¯d be here already.¡± ¡°So what now?¡± Kenta asks. ¡°Umm! Excuse me! There¡¯s a back entrance right there.¡± Mira points to the door behind her. Kiara slaps her head, disappointed that she never noticed the door. ¡°How did I not- Whatever that doesn''t matter.¡± ¡°Kiara, take Mira and go. Me and Kenta will stay and fight. No offense but we¡¯ll need all the fighting power we can get.¡± ¡°Yeah no problem, don¡¯t you guys die on me.¡± ¡°Oh please, we won¡¯t die to a guy like that. He won¡¯t know what hit him.¡± Kenta says with a smile. Kiara grabs Mira and heads out the back door. Yamato and Kenta give each other a quick look and prepare to fight. The figure begins inching closer to the front door. Before it gets there, the door opens and Yamato and Kenta walk out. The figure stops and pauses, confused by what''s going on. ¡°Hey mister serial killer. Sorry, your target isn¡¯t here. Hopefully me and Mr.Star won''t disappoint you.¡± ¡°Mr.Star? Really Kenta?¡± ¡°And the hell are you two?¡± ¡°I¡¯m detective Fujimura and this is detective Mayeda. We¡¯re only going to ask this once. Surrender and let us arrest you.¡± The ominous figure takes off its cloak revealing a silver haired man with white eyes and a sinister expression. His black pants and white and black shirt accompany his moderate physique. His horrid smile and soulless eyes put Yamato and Kenta on edge. His bloodlust thickens the air around him. ¡°O-okay. Well he¡¯s younger than I thought.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what you''re focused on right now Kenta? Not his creepy face and bloodlust?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Mira Worthy?¡± ¡°Who? Sorry, I haven''t heard of the person before.¡± Yamato says. ¡°That right?¡± ¡°Yeah, are you Ryota Shima.¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. ¡°Yeah as a matter of fact I am.¡± As Yamato locks eyes with Ryota, he slowly pulls out his two guns. *** Over by the woods, Kai and Hibiki assess the situation looking for an opening. ¡°Damn Kai, what the hell are we waiting for?¡± ¡°Now¡¯s not a good time. We need to catch him off guard.¡± *** Tension rises at the front of the house. Yamato and Kenta wait for Ryota to make a move. Ryota gives each of them a quick look and smiles. Suddenly Ryota forms a spear of wind in his right hand and launches it at Yamato faster then he could react! Before the spear hits Yamato, a blade of water slashes it causing it to explode into a gust of wind! In front of Yamato, Kenta holds a water blade in hand with his sights locked on Ryota. Kenta dashes towards Ryota and attempts to slash him! Ryota dodges and flies into the air. As he¡¯s hovering above, he creates multiple wind spears and launches them at Kenta with furious speed. Yamato fires wind bullets at the spears causing them to explode midair. ¡°Damn, he can fly? How¡¯s that fair?¡± Kenta complains. ¡°Have fun trying to cut me while I¡¯m up here.¡± ¡°Kenta, can you do any ranged attacks?¡± ¡°Only one, and I¡¯m not that good at it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll distract him. Get your attack ready so we can catch him off guard.¡± Yamato fires a fury of shots at Ryota, but Ryota effortlessly dodges as he flies around. After dodging the last shot, Ryota launches a fury of wind spears at Yamato! Yamato runs to the side to dodge but isn¡¯t faster than the attacks. He stops and fires at the spears hitting each one head on! A massive gust of wind comes from the collision causing Yamato to lose his balance. Before Yamato could recollect himself, Ryota appears right behind him and bashes him with a powerful kick that sends Yamato sliding on the ground! As he¡¯s sliding, he turns to Ryota and fires at him causing Ryota to fly up and dodge the bullets. ¡°NOW KENTA!¡± Ryota quickly looks at Kenta who¡¯s finished charging his attack. ¡°Here we go¡­ AQUA WAVE!¡± Kenta slashes through the air at high speed as a wave of water comes from his sword. Ryota manages to quickly dodge the projectile but the attack cuts his face. ¡°TOO SLOW!¡± Ryota notices both Yamato and Kenta smiling. Suddenly, a bullet flies through the air and goes straight through Ryota¡¯s left arm. ¡°What the hell?¡± ¡°HIBIKI NOW!¡± Kai and Hibiki come out from the woods! Kai stomps on the ground causing a block of rock and ground to launch upwards! He jumps in the air and hits the block, sending it flying at high speed straight at Ryota. Still shocked from the bullet he took, Ryota has no time to dodge and gets slammed by the block sending him crashing to the ground. As he gets up, Hibiki charges at him with high speed and his sword out! ¡°DAMN YOU!¡± Ryota creates a thick wall of wind in front of him to block the attack! ¡°Not good enough!¡± Hibiki cuts through the wall of air and continues his slash at Ryota! Ryota manages to quickly dodge by the skin of his teeth. The four rookies regroup while Ava stays hidden. Ryota stays at a distance observing the situation the rookies have him in. ¡°Five of them huh? And one has a sniper. How annoying!¡± ¡°Do you understand the position you¡¯re in? It¡¯s over, give it up. We have an amazing sniper locked on you, one wrong move and you¡¯re done.¡± In the distance, Ava smirks as she continues to lock her sniper on Ryota. ¡°I disagree detective Fujimura. I may be cornered, but don¡¯t think that me having a messed up arm means I¡¯m not stronger than y¡¯all.¡± ¡°Really? Well go ahead and show us what you mean.¡± ¡°I intend to.¡± Rookies VS. Killer Part 3 The windy night continues as the fierce battle unfolds. Away from the battle, past the woods, in an empty street, Kiara and Mira stand by a police car. Kiara turns the car''s siren on and opens the door to let Mira in. ¡°Do you know the way to the DIPD?¡± ¡°Yeah I think so, I-I''ve been there before.¡± ¡°Good, drive over there and when you are there tell them I sent you.¡± ¡°Y-you want me to drive a police car?¡± ¡°Yeah, trust me it¡¯s not as hard as it seems. I¡¯d drive you there myself but they need me back there. Since Ryota will be busy with us, you''ll be safe driving back.¡± ¡°Okay! Umm¡­ Please be safe, and thank you for everything.¡± ¡°Thanks now hurry and get to the DIPD.¡± *** In the basement of Shunji¡¯s house, Yuto and Shunji are discussing their next move. ¡°There¡¯s not really anything we can do right now, Yuto. We just have to wait and hope Chiori really does help us.¡± ¡°We could at least hit one of ¡®Madam¡¯s¡¯ operations. Let her know we¡¯re still looking for her.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, it might be an unnecessary risk... How about you try to help that detective, Sasaki?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°To have leverage. If you have something he needs, he¡¯ll be more willing to help you. We didn¡¯t plan for it, but his help could greatly accelerate our goal.¡± ¡°Yeah, but how could I help him?¡± ¡°I heard that he was looking for some drug dealer. Apparently he¡¯s been giving people lethal drugs that kill them by radiation.¡± ¡°Radiation? Like the radiation victims that¡¯ve been popping up?¡± ¡°Yeah they''re most likely connected. If we can find something out that they don¡¯t know, he might be more willing to help us.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I guess it¡¯s worth a shot.¡± *** Back at the house by the woods, the battle heats up. The ground destroyed by stray attacks. The wind continues to blow harder and harder reaching an unnatural state. ¡°DAMN! WHAT THE HELL IS WITH WIND?¡± Kai shouts barely able to hear his voice. Suddenly, a wind spear heads straight for Kai! Caught off guard by the wind, Kai doesn¡¯t notice the spear headed right for him. Kenta and Hibiki manage to notice the spear but are too far from Kai to help. ¡°KAI, LOOK OUT!¡± They shout. Just then, a wind bullet meets the spear head on causing an explosion of wind! Kai looks around and sees Yamato with his guns out. ¡°DON¡¯T GET DISTRACTED KAI!¡±This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Yamato looks at Ryota who¡¯s seemingly unaffected by the unnatural wind. ¡°HE¡¯S CAUSING THE WIND TO GET LIKE THIS.¡± The other three look at Yamato, shocked by what he said. They then take a look at Ryota and notice how he¡¯s not bothered by the wind. ¡°DAMN, HE¡¯S REALLY CAUSING ALL THIS? THAT¡¯S CRAZY. I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT WE NEED TO CALL A SENIOR FOR BACKUP.¡± ¡°WHAT? HELL NO KAI, WE CAN TAKE THIS GUY. LOOK AT HIM HE¡¯S ONLY GOT ONE USABLE ARM.¡± ¡°DAMMIT HIBIKI NOW¡¯S NOT THE TIME FOR EGO.¡± ¡°STILL DON¡¯T FEEL LIKE HANDING ME MIRA?¡± ¡°WHY THE HELL DO YOU EVEN WANT TO KILL HER?¡± Yamato asks. ¡°HMMM¡­ WHAT DOES IT MATTER? I CAN KILL WHOEVER I WANT WHENEVER I WANT.¡± ¡°I¡¯M NOT GONNA EVEN BEGIN TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND THAT REASONING.¡± ¡°HOW ABOUT THIS THEN, IF YOU GIVE ME MIRA I¡¯LL LET YOU ALL LIVE. FAIR¡¯S FAIR AND I THINK THAT¡¯S FAIR ENOUGH.¡± ¡°YEAH? I¡¯LL GIVE HER TO YOU IF YOU CAN GET ME A SIT DOWN WITH A FAIRY.¡± ¡°VERY FUNNY DETECTIVE.¡± ¡°THANKS.¡± Ryota looks around as if he¡¯s looking for something. ¡°Where the hell is that sniper? I need to take that person out now.¡± After some time, Ryota finally decides to make his move. Hordes of mini wind spears form above his head aimed at all four of the detectives. Kenta looks in awe of the sheer amount of spears aimed at them. ¡°WHOA, YOU¡¯RE KIDDING!¡± ¡°EVERYONE GET BEHIND ME!¡± Kai shouts. Yamato, Kenta, and Hibiki frightfully rush to get behind Kai! Kai focuses and creates a thick wall of earth to shield them from the attack. The onslaught begins as the spears rain down on the rookies! The spears crash down on the thick wall of earth as it slowly penetrates it. Kai attempts to rebuild the wall as it gets destroyed but to no avail. The wall eventually starts to crack until it finally breaks. ¡°BRACE YOURSELF!¡± Kai screams as the wall breaks. The rookies brace for impact as they¡¯re met with the onslaught of spears! A cloud of smoke rises from the destructive power of the attack. As the smoke clears, the rookies remain standing. Their clothes torn and bodies beaten and bloodied from the onslaught. ¡°OH? SO Y¡¯ALL MANAGED TO SURVIVE THAT HUH? MAYBE KILLING YOU FOUR WILL BE MORE FUN THAN I THOUGHT. ¡®But first there¡¯s the sniper to take care of.¡¯¡± Ryota launches a wind spear at the rookies, Yamato quickly fires back colliding with the spear halfway. Suddenly, Kai creates mini masses of earth and launches them at Ryota! Ryota drops down to the ground avoiding the attack. As soon as he lands, Kenat and Hibiki charge Ryota with their swords! Ryota blocks Hibiki¡¯s attack and swiftly dodges Kenta¡¯s. The rookies eyes widen as Ava now has a perfect opportunity to take a shot. ¡°TAKE THE SHOT AVA!¡± Yamato thinks. ¡°End this sis!¡± Kenta thinks. Suddenly, a bullet comes flying across the street and straight at Ryota! Yamato and Kenta''s faces drop and break into a sweat as they notice Ryota¡¯s smile. Ryota swiftly dodges the bullet while suffering a slight cut. ¡°So that where the sniper is.¡± Kenta and Yamato¡¯s expressions get even worse as they realize the situation they''re in. Kai and Hibiki¡¯s faces also drop as they too realize what¡¯s going on. ¡°IT¡¯S A TRAP!¡± They yell inside their heads. Ryota instantly takes off into the air and heads in the direction the shot was fired. ¡°DAMMIT!¡± Yamato yells. ¡°DON¡¯T YOU TOUCH MY SISTER YOU BASTARD! I¡¯LL KILL YOU!¡± Kenta yells in fury. The rookies sprint as fast as they can to try and catch up but Ryota¡¯s too fast for them! Ava notices the situation she¡¯s in and attempts to run. Ryota forms a wind spear in his hand and throws it at an incredible speed. ¡°KILLING SPEAR!¡± With her back turned, Ava fails to notice the attack as it pierces her stomach and goes right through her! The rookies break into a cold sweat as Ava¡¯s body slides off the roof of the shack and onto the ground. Her body lays on the cold grass. The pool of blood coming from her wound paints the grass in an eerie bloody red. Rookies VS. Killer Part 4 Ava lays motionless on the ground, blood spilling from her body. The rookies stand over her body speechless. Kenta¡¯s body desperately shakes uncontrollably. He grits his teeth and clenches his fist so hard he starts bleeding. Rage fills his body like water in a glass. Ryota smiles as he hovers above the shocked rookies. ¡°WELL THAT TAKES CARE OF THAT. NONE OF THIS WOULD¡¯VE HAPPENED IF Y¡¯ALL GAVE ME MIRA. I HAVE A NICE LITTLE STREAK OF CONSECUTIVE DAYS WITH A KILL. SINCE I CAN¡¯T KILL MIRA I HAD TO KILL SOMEONE TO KEEP THE STREAK ALIVE. YOU SHOULD BE GRATEFUL, THAT GIRL DIED HELPLING ME MAKE HISTORY. NOW IF Y¡¯ALL WILL LET ME, I NEED TO TAKE HER BODY WITH ME AND TURN IT INTO THE RIGHT PEOPLE SO I CAN RECORD MY KILL FOR TODAY.¡± Just like Kenta, rage fills the other rookies as well. Yamato manages to snap himself back and notices the other rookie''s anger. ¡°I KNOW HOW Y¡¯ALL FEEL, BUT WE NEED TO STAY FOCUSED. THE LAST THING WE NEED IS FOR US TO-¡± ¡°YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL? THAT RIGHT? SO WAS AVA YOUR SISTER TOO OR SOMETHING?¡± ¡°KENTA¡­¡± ¡°I THOUGHT SO, YOU DON¡¯T KNOW HOW I FEEL. SO DON¡¯T PRETEND TO KNOW.¡± Kai puts his hand of Kenta¡¯s shoulder in an attempt to calm him down. ¡°KENTA CALM DOWN, HE¡¯S JUST TRYNA KEEP US FOCUSED.¡± Kenta aggressively shrugs off Kai¡¯s hand and gives him and Yamato a foul look. ¡°THE HELL OFF ME!¡± ¡°GUY¡¯S NOWS NOT THE TIME TO BE FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER. WE STILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH RYOTA.¡± Hibiki shouts. ¡°WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO KEEP HIM ON THE GROUND! WELL¡­ ANY IDEAS?¡± Yamato asks. ¡°YEAH¡­ STAY OUT OF MY WAY!¡± Kenta walks up to Ryota to face him alone but Yamato walks up with him. ¡°KENTA, I DON¡¯T CARE HOW MAD YOU ARE. YOU¡¯RE NOT FIGHTING HIM ALONE.¡± ¡°FINE THEN, TRY TO KEEP UP.¡± Yamato and Kenta rush Ryota. Yamato fires shots slightly above Ryota¡¯s head making him inch closer to the ground until Kenta can finally attack. As the battle commences, Hibiki and Kai stay back near Ava¡¯s body. They both appear more damaged from Ryota¡¯s onslaught of attacks than Yamato and Kenta. ¡°You¡¯re not gonna help them out?¡± Kai asks. ¡°Egh¡­ As much as I want to, I¡¯m too hurt from that attack to help.¡± ¡°Same here, hell I can barely muster the strength to stand up. I think I took the brunt of the attack. I¡¯m surprised someone as hot headed as you can admit he¡¯s too hurt to fight.¡± ¡°Shut up Kai. Just keep watching in case we have to do something.¡± In the distance, Kiara comes running down the street. Cold from running in the windy air, she arrives panting and out of breath. Her body feels numb and her legs like noodles. She regroups with the other rookies and notices Ava¡¯s motionless body. ¡°WHA-WHAT HAPPENED?¡± ¡°AVA TOOK A HIT RIGHT THROUGH HER STOMACH, DO YOU THINK YOU CAN HELP HER?¡± Kai asks. ¡°I¡¯LL SEE BUT WHAT ABOUT YOU TWO?¡± ¡°WELL I¡¯D BE LYING IF I SAID WE¡¯RE FINE, BUT AVA NEEDS HELP FIRST. PLEASE GO SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO.¡±If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°LET ME CHECK.¡± Kiara goes down to Ava¡¯s body to check the damage. Focused on the battle, Yamato and Kenta fail to notice Kiara¡¯s appearance. However, Ryota appears confused by Kiara¡¯s sudden appearance. ¡°The hell? There¡¯s a sixth one? What¡¯s she doing?¡± Suddenly, wind bullets come flying at Ryota making him drop to the ground! As soon as he lands, Kenta rushes him with a fury of attacks! Kenta¡¯s attacks are fast and aggressive, filled with rage. Ryota blocks them all and manages to land some attacks on Kenta! Kenta appears unfazed as he lets himself take damage to continue his attacks. ¡°Damn, do you not care about your body? You said something about a sister, I''m guessing that¡¯s the girl I just killed. So what, do you have a death wish now that your sister is dead.¡± ¡°Keep talking while you can, because you won¡¯t get the chance to after I kill you.¡± Yamato notices Kenta¡¯s new expression. Kenta¡¯s eyes are narrowed and pupils soulless. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen Kenta like this. Yeah his sister might be dead, but he¡¯s like a completely different person.¡± Back by Ava¡¯s body, Hibiki and Kai wait for several seconds to see what Kiara says. Finally, Kiara finishes examining Ava¡¯s body. ¡°DON¡¯T WORRY, I CAN SAVE HER! I NEED Y¡¯ALL TO COVER ME.¡± A sigh of relief comes across Hibiki and Kai as Kiara starts her procedure. She puts her hands over the hole in Ava¡¯s chest and releases a green aura. Back at the battle against Ryota, Yamato and Kenta struggle to keep up. They¡¯ve managed to keep Ryota on the ground but can¡¯t seem to hit him. Ryota swiftly dodges all of their attacks while slashing and cutting them at the same time. ¡°GIVE IT UP. YOU TWO CAN¡¯T WIN.¡± ¡°YEAH? WE¡¯LL SEE ABOUT THAT!¡± Kenta rushes Ryota with all the speed he has left, he takes his sword and lunges for a thrusting attack! Ryota backs up just enough to get away. ¡°I GOTCHU! AQUA JAVELIN!¡± Suddenly, Kenta¡¯s water blade rapidly extends and pierces Ryota¡¯s right leg! ¡°AGH!¡± Ryota tries to limp away from Kenta as Kenta slowly walks towards Ryota. ¡°DON¡¯T RUN NOW! LIKE I SAID, I¡¯M GONNA KILL YOU.¡± Kenta rapidly approaches Ryota. ¡°DIE YOU BASTARD!¡± Kai holds his sword overhead and prepares to land the killing blow! Just then, a smile crosses Ryota¡¯s face. Yamato notices the smile and breaks into a panicked sweat. ¡°KENTA WAIT!¡± Ryota quickly forms a wind spear and plunges it into Kenta¡¯s left leg! ¡°AGHHH!¡± Ryota flies into the air right above Kenta and lands a brutal devastating kick on Kenta¡¯s neck, sending him flying and knocking him out! ¡°KENTA!¡± Kai and Hibiki scream. Yamato turns to Kai and Hibiki and finally notices Kiara. ¡°Kiara? When did she get here? No, this is good. If she¡¯s doing what I think she is then Ava might be alright!¡± Ryota observes Kiara and her hand placement. ¡°The hell is she doing? Wait! Don¡¯t tell me she¡¯s a healer! She¡¯s trying to heal that other girl? I thought I killed her! I WON¡¯T LET YOU HEAL HER!¡± Yamato notices Ryota¡¯s plan and rushes to Kiara. Kai and Hibiki also notice but are too damaged to move. ¡°DAMMIT!¡± Ryota forms a wind spear and launches it at high speed aimed straight for Kiara! Yamato¡¯s too slow to catch up. Kiara notices the attack but doesn¡¯t have time to react as it quickly approaches her. She closes her eyes as the spear strikes and blood splatter on her face! Confused, she opens her eyes to see Hibiki who stepped in front of her to take the attack. ¡°HIBIKI!¡± Hibiki looks back at Kiara with a mouthful of blood as he struggles to maintain consciousness. Yamato and Kai are speechless. ¡°Agh! A-are you okay¡­ Kiara?¡± ¡°D-DAMMIT HIBIKI! WHY? ALL THE TIMES WE ARGUE JUST FOR YOU TO DO THIS?¡± ¡°W-well, we may argue a lot, and we may hate each other''s guts, but I still consider all of you my friends. And I¡¯ll die for my friends.¡± ¡°Hibiki¡­¡± Hibiki falls to the ground and loses consciousness. Ryota forms another spear in his hand and prepares to launch it. This time, a wind bullet hits Ryota causing the spear to dissipate. Ryota annoyingly looks at Yamato. ¡°NOT AGAIN RYOTA! YOU HAVEN''T WON YET! I¡¯LL TAKE YOU ON BY MYSELF IF I HAVE TO!.¡± Yamatos Stand The howling wind continues to echo as the long night goes on. Yamato and Ryota face off with the injured rookies watching. Just as they get ready to fight, Kenta gains consciousness after the devastating kick he took. ¡°The hell? What¡¯s going on?¡± He looks over in the direction of Yamato and Ryota. ¡°Yamato! I have to go help him!¡± Kenta tries to get up but is unable to move. He then takes a look in the direction of Ava and see¡¯s Kiara, Kai and Hibiki. ¡°Kiara? When did she get here? Wait! If she¡¯s doing what I think she¡¯s doing, then Ava might still be alive!¡± Kiara puts her hand on Hibiki¡¯s wound and begins healing him. Hibiki grabs Kiara¡¯s hand and points to Ava. ¡°¡±I¡¯ve already taken care of Ava, she¡¯ll make a full recovery. Now let me heal you!¡± Hibiki smiles as he lets go and loses consciousness. ¡°HAHAHA! YOU¡¯RE GONNA TAKE ME ON BY YOURSELF? YOU COULDN¡¯T EVEN BEAT ME WITH ALL OF Y¡¯ALL TOGETHER.¡± ¡°YEAH? WELL I¡¯M THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN FIGHT SO IT¡¯S NOT LIKE I HAVE MUCH OF A CHOICE.¡± ¡°YOU PUT ON A TOUGH FACE, BUT DEEP DOWN YOU CAN¡¯T BACK IT UP. YOU DON¡¯T HAVE THE STRENGTH TO. HELL, YOU¡¯RE A WIND USER WHO CAN¡¯T EVEN FLY OR GLIDE. PATHETIC!¡± ¡°ARE YOU DONE?¡± ¡°HMPH! YEAH¡­ LET¡¯S GET THIS OVER WITH!¡± Ryota forms a wind spear and launches it at Yamato! Yamato counters by firing two wind bullets right behind each other! The first bullet collides with the spear creating a windy explosion. The second bullet passes through and heads straight for Ryota catching him off guar!. The bullet strikes Ryota causing him to lose his balance and fall! As he tries to fly up, Yamato fires bullets right at Ryota¡¯s head causing him to go back down. Yamato then rushes Ryota and attempts a backhand hit with the hilt of his gun which Ryota stops! Yamato kicks Ryota back to create distance between them. He then fires off a barrage of shots at Ryota! Ryota attempts to fly up and dodge the attack but is met with wind bullets causing him to go back down where Yamato appears and sends him flying with a kick. The rookies watch in awe as Yamato appears to be an even match with Ryota. Yamato manages to keep Ryota on the ground by firing shots an inch above his head. Everytime Ryota attacks, Yamato counters and hits back. Kiara, Hibiki, and Kai are speechless as the even battle continues. ¡°Whoa! Since when was Yamato this strong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just his strength Kiara.¡± ¡°What do you mean Kai?¡± ¡°The way he¡¯s fighting¡­ It¡¯s as if he¡¯s been analyzing Ryota¡¯s skills and fighting style throughout the entire battle. This entire time Yamato has been figuring out Ryota¡¯s strengths and weaknesses. He realized that by keeping Ryota on the ground, he has a better chance of winning. By firing shots right above his head, Ryota has no choice but to stay on the ground to avoid getting hit.¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°Wow! Amazing Yamato!¡± Yamato continues the fight, he manages where Ryota goes and appears in full control of the battle. The star rookie finally shows off his true skill as he puts Ryota into a corner. Everytime Ryota attempts to fly, Yamato fires right above his head to keep him on the ground and hit him with a flurry of close ranged attacks. Kenta, who¡¯s also watching the battle, is shocked with his eyes wide open. He¡¯s in complete disbelief by the show Yamato¡¯s putting on. ¡°Yamato¡­ You really are amazing.¡± ¡°DAMMIT! YOU THINK YOU CAN BEAT ME? SOMEONE LIKE YOU?¡± ¡°WELL I NEVER SAID I COULDN¡¯T.¡± Yamato looks around at the injured rookies as he decides what to do next. ¡°LET¡¯S MAKE A DEAL. YOU LEAVE US ALONE, AND I¡¯LL LET YOU LEAVE.¡± ¡°HAHAHA, YOU THINK I¡¯M THAT STUPID?¡± ¡°LOOK AROUND, IT¡¯S YOU¡¯RE BEST OPTION.¡± ¡°AND WHY WOULD YOU LET ME LEAVE?¡± ¡°WELL, I¡¯M NOT TOO SURE I CAN BEAT YOU. I¡¯D RATHER ME AND MY FRIENDS GET OUT OF HERE ALIVE.¡± ¡°AND IF YOU CAN¡¯T BEAT ME WHY WOULD I LEAVE?¡± ¡°BECAUSE I MAY NOT WIN, BUT I¡¯LL MAKE SURE TO DRAIN YOUR STAMINA SO OUR BACKUP WHO ARE ON THEIR WAY CAN FINISH YOU OFF.¡± ¡°HEH, I¡¯M CALLING YOUR BLUFF. THERE¡¯S NO BACKUP.¡± ¡°YOU¡¯RE ALLOWED TO BELIEVE WHATEVER YOU WANT. THE TWO OPTIONS I GAVE YOU ARE THE ONLY TWO WAYS I¡¯LL ALLOW THIS TO END. YOUR CHOICE.¡± Ryota takes some time to think about his choice. ¡°FINE, I GUESS I¡¯LL LEAVE Y¡¯ALL ALONE FOR NOW.¡± ¡°I¡¯M GLAD YOU SAID FOR NOW, BECAUSE I PROMISE I¡¯LL COME LOOKING FOR YOU.¡± ¡°HAHA, I¡¯M SURE WE¡¯LL MEET AGAIN DETECTIVE. WE WERE BOUND TO MEET ANYWAY, IT JUST HAPPENED EARLIER THAN EXPECTED. I CAN¡¯T WAIT TO KILL YOU!¡± ¡°WAIT, WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE WERE BOUND TO MEET?¡± ¡°TILL NEXT TIME DETECTIVE!¡± Ryota flies up and away from the scene out of view. The strong winds that accompanied Ryota''s presence also disappear. Yamato walks over to Kiara, Hibiki, and Kai. ¡°How¡¯s Hibiki and Ava?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve healed Ava and I¡¯m working on Hibiki. They¡¯ll make a full recovery.¡± ¡°Yamato, when did you call for backup?¡± Kai asks Suddenly, Yamato falls to the ground, almost passing out. ¡°I didn¡¯t, I just had to hope he¡¯d take the bluff. Truth is I¡¯m too worn out to fight. The battle was already over, I could barely even stand.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­ Aheh, well it worked.¡± Kenta slowly walks up to the group. ¡°Damn Yamato, that was amazing.¡± ¡°Heh, thanks Kenta.¡± ¡°Look, I¡¯m sorry about all that that happened when I was mad. I lost myself, it¡¯s my fault.¡± ¡°If it was my sister, I¡¯d have reacted the same way Kenta.¡± ¡°Thanks Yamato.¡± ¡°Yeah, now how do we actually get backup to us?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry guys! If I remember correctly, the seniors said that after a certain amount of time they¡¯d come down and help us. We can just wait for them.¡± ¡°Welp that settles that, guess we just sit back and wait unless one of yall have a problem with that.¡± The rookies all shake their head as they can finally smile with a sigh of relief as the battle has now ended. Aftermath Some time after the battle, the rookies are all gathered in the department. Each of them bandaged and tired. They each are conversing with their seniors about the battle. Kenta appears to be getting chewed out by his senior, detective Ayano Yano. ¡°YOU IDIOT! I CAN¡¯T BELIEVE YOU LASHED OUT IN ANGER LIKE THAT!¡± ¡°Sorry detective Yano, I just couldn¡¯t control myself. But hey, at least give me credit for finding the guy.¡± ¡°Oh please, you had lackluster evidence at best. You don¡¯t get credit for taking a lucky guess and being right.¡± ¡°I just can¡¯t win can I?¡± Senior detective Kikyo Tahara talks with Kiara and Hibiki about the incident. ¡°Good job Kiara, you managed to keep everyone alive. At the end of the day, that¡¯s all I could ask for.¡± ¡°Thank you ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°And you Hibiki, even though you and Kiara don¡¯t get along, you risked your life for her. I knew there was more to you than that cold exterior.¡± ¡°¡­ Uh, t-thank you ma¡¯am!¡± ¡°Heh heh, did you blush Hibiki?¡± ¡°Shut up Kiara.¡± Senior detective Akira Fujimoto talks with Ava about the incident. ¡°I¡¯m just glad you¡¯re okay.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not okay. I feel like I could¡¯ve done more.¡± ¡°Heh, at the end of the day that¡¯s how everyone feels. You did what you could and survived. That¡¯s always a good thing.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ Thanks detective Fujimoto.¡± Senior detective Kaeya Sakai talks with Kai about the incident. ¡°Seems like if it wasn¡¯t for you, they would¡¯ve died a lot earlier.¡± ¡°Yeah, but I barley got to help out.¡± ¡°Yeah, it was pitiful. You barley did anything.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s what you¡¯re thinking right? Then next time, do better. And keep doing better and better until you know that you¡¯ve given everything you''ve got.¡± ¡°YES SIR!¡± Senior detective Kiria Akuma talks to Yamato about the incident. ¡°Good job Yamato, you perfectly analyzed your opponent and protected all the rookies.¡± Yamato ignores Kiara as he appears to be lost in heavy thought. ¡°What¡¯s up? Something bothering you?¡± ¡°Yeah. Ryota said I was bound to meet him anyway.¡± ¡°Bound to?¡± ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t know what he meant by that but I think there¡¯s more to him and this case then he lets on. I need to find him again quick.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s look into it first chance we get. For now you should go home and get some rest.¡± ¡°Yeah, okay.¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Captain James Sanders gets up out of his seat. The seniors and rookies get silent as they listen to hear what James has to say. ¡°All right everybody, while we didn¡¯t get the serial killer Ryota Shima, the rookies still got invaluable experience for these situations. The rookies are also still alive. I say that''s a win. Now everyone go home and rest, we¡¯re gonna have a long day with the media being around us like vultures.¡± Everyone leaves the department and heads home. *** The sun rises on Daimon island, word about the incident with Ryota Shima has spread around. The DIPD is covered with many different kinds of media personnel. Sierra and Ski reeds have the main coverage over the incident. ¡°Good morning people of Daimon, it¡¯s Sierra Reeds on RMN coming to you live about an incident that occured last night. At about ten thirty at night, DIPD sent their rookie detectives to arrest the infamous serial killer whose name we now know is Ryota Shima. The rookies were trusted to take down Mr.Shima but instead failed resulting in an injured Ryota Shima running around as well as two hospitalized rookies. I¡¯m standing outside of the DIPD to get some answers on what exactly the DIPD plans to do.¡± Captain Sanders walks out the building and gets flooded with reporters, Sierra Reeds included. In the distance, away from the media, Yamato and Kiara are talking to each other. ¡°Are you sure it¡¯s even possible?¡± Kiara asks. ¡°I can¡¯t say I¡¯m confident, but I think it¡¯s possible.¡± Kiara takes a quick look at Captain Sanders and chuckles. ¡°I¡¯d sure hate to be in Captain Sanders'' shoes.¡± Yamato takes a quick look at Captain Sanders and sees Ski Reeds. He immediately breaks into a sweat and grabs Kiara to move out of view. Ski manages to catch a quick glimpse of Yamato and walks toward his direction. ¡°What the hell Yamato!¡± ¡°SHHH! I just saw Ski.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Ski Reeds from RMN.¡± ¡°Oh the little sister of Sierra Reeds? So what?¡± ¡°Ever since she found out about last night, she¡¯s been blowing up my phone trying to get an interview.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know y¡¯all knew each other. Heh heh, is she your girlfriend?¡± ¡°What no! We¡¯re just good friends, but she¡¯s been really annoying and honestly a pain.¡± Suddenly, a hand grabs Yamato¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Annoying and a pain huh?¡± ¡°Agh, uh, h-hey Ski. I wasn¡¯t talking about you, you know?¡± ¡°No you definitely were talking about her Yamato.¡± ¡°Wha- Kiara, you¡¯re supposed to be on my side.¡± ¡°Says who? Nice to meet you Ms.Reeds, I¡¯m detective Sakurai.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you too. Please, call me Ski.¡± ¡°Then call me Kiara.¡± ¡°What were you two talking about? Was it about last night? Tell me everything? What happened? Are the other rookies okay?¡± ¡°You see what I mean Kiara?¡± ¡°Ahaha, look Ski, we¡¯re not allowed to say anything. Just know that we¡¯d all be dead if it wasn¡¯t for Yamato here. He really showed us why he¡¯s the ¡®Star Rookie Detective¡¯.¡± Ski pauses and looks at Yamato in awe with a smile on her face. ¡°Wow Yamato! You¡¯re amazing just like I thought.¡± ¡°Thanks. What we were talking about was a way for me to fly.¡± ¡°Fly?¡± ¡°Yeah, I can¡¯t tell you much, but that battle really made me start thinking about it.¡± ¡°Yep, the problem is, Yamato¡¯s guns only have a limited output. And Yamato can already barely control his powers. One time when he tried to increase the maximum output he almost blew his guns up.¡± After listening to Kiara¡¯s explanation, Ski takes a moment to pause before here eyes widen as if a lightbulb turned on in her head. ¡°There might be a fix to that.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Yamato asks. ¡°Yeah, your guns were created in the science department right? Specifically Daimon Tech which provides for the DIPD right.¡± ¡°How do you-¡± ¡°Oh please, everyone who¡¯s researched you knows about your guns and where they were created. Plus you were the one who told me about those guns, but you seem to have forgotten that. Anyway, go over to Daimon Tech and see if they can upgrade your guns so you can fly. It¡¯s worth a shot right?¡± ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right, Ski. Thank you!¡± ¡°Yeah no problem, I should head back now before Sierra gets suspicious. I know you don¡¯t want her to question you and all. You¡¯re lucky we know each other or that¡¯s exactly what I would''ve done. Good luck Yamato. AND ANSWER YOU DAMN PHONE NEXT TIME I WANT TO TALK!¡± ¡°Aheh, sorry Ski, I will next time.¡± Ski leaves Yamato and Kiara and heads back to Sierra who¡¯s still talking to Captain Sanders. ¡°Well I guess I¡¯m off to Daimon Tech.¡± ¡°Alright, bye Yamato. And stop giving Ski the cold shoulder, y¡¯all two would make the perfect couple.¡± Yamato sighs as Kiara walks away. He then walks to his car and heads for Daimon Tech. The Medical Sector The warm day continues in Daimon island. In the middle of the city, a police car drives through the streets of Daimon. It passes a sign labeled ¡®Medical Sector¡¯. This sector of the island is different from the others. It¡¯s filled with massive buildings of different shapes and sizes. Some are labeled as laboratories while others are labeled as hospitals. The car makes its way through the giant building and parks at a building labeled ¡®Daimon Tech¡¯. The car door opens and Yamato gets out of the car. He heads into the building and is met with an unreal scene. Inside the building, there are multiple rooms with people in lab coats working at or on desks and trays carrying a variety of different experiments. The machines inside the rooms assist the people in lab coats with whatever experiment they''re working on. The bright white and blue building has several floors filled with different people working on different experiments. ¡°Whoa!¡± Yamato continues walking into the building and to the front desk. At the front desk, a beautiful woman is there to greet him. ¡°Hello! How can we help you Detective Fujimura?¡± ¡°Oh? You know me?¡± ¡°Of course, who doesn¡¯t know the famous ¡®Star Rookie Detective¡¯?¡± ¡°Ah, right. Well I¡¯m here to see if I can get my guns upgraded. A friend told me that since they were made here, this is the place I should go to if I want them upgraded.¡± ¡°Upgraded huh? I¡¯m not sure how much help we can be. You see, the creator of those guns, John Wright, passed away about a year after making them.¡± ¡°Oh, I see. ¡®I guess Ski forgot to tell me that.¡¯¡± ¡°However his son Jace Wright works here part time. I can¡¯t say how much help he¡¯d be but he¡¯s incredibly smart.¡± ¡°Ok, I guess it¡¯s worth a shot.¡± ¡°He¡¯s on the 8th floor in room 820. I¡¯ll give him a call and let him know you¡¯re coming.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Yamato walks to the elevator and presses the button for the eighth floor. The elevator closes and begins ascending. After some time, the elevator stops and opens up to the eighth floor. Yamato follows the signs and makes his way through the halls and to room 820. When he opens it, he¡¯s immediately met with a young red haired boy with yellow eyes. ¡°OH MY GOSH IT¡¯S ACTUALLY THE YAMATO FUJIMURA! I thought this was some kind of prank.¡± ¡°Uh¡­ Are you¡­ Jace Wright?¡± ¡°Yeah that¡¯s me, sorry for popping up on you like that. I got a little excited.¡± ¡°A little?¡± ¡°Heh heh. Oh, come on in.¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Yamato walks into the big room filled with different machines and equipment. ¡°This is your room?¡± ¡°Yeah, well more specifically it was my dads before he passed away. The people here let me work in this room for some reason.¡± ¡°I see, this room is more of an engineering room. What¡¯s a place like this doing in a tech facility?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the same reason why the science laboratories are in the medical sector. The island is too small. There¡¯s no space for multiple engineering buildings just like how there¡¯s no space for a fifth sector called the science sector. Luckily my dad was a good enough engineer to be able to work for this place as long as he created and fixed their equipment.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°So, what can I help you with?¡± ¡°I want to upgrade my guns.¡± ¡°Oh the stormcallers, one of my dads favorite works.¡± ¡°Yeah, I was thinking of a way to fly like other wind users. However, I¡¯m bad at controlling my powers which is why I need these guns. So I started thinking, what if I could shoot out a burst of wind from these guns that can allow me to fly. The only problem is this gun can¡¯t handle the amount of output I need to fly.¡± ¡°Ah I see, so you want to know if you can upgrade your guns to allow you to use a higher controlled output.¡± ¡°Yeah pretty much.¡± ¡°It sounds simple enough. All I should have to do is calibrate the input and output enhancers on the transfer device to allow for a stronger input and output. I¡¯d also have to allow for a constant state of flow if you want to be in the air for more than a couple seconds. Then I can replace the old limiter with a new limiter so your guns won¡¯t break.¡± Yamato looks at Jace with a blank face confused by every word that was just uttered. Jace takes a quick look at Yamato and sighs. ¡°Ahehe, sorry. I was thinking out loud. Give me the guns and I¡¯ll see what I can do. I don¡¯t know how long it will take or if it¡¯s possible, but try to stay out of trouble until then.¡± Yamato hands Jace the guns. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll try.¡± ¡°Oh, let me get your number so I can call you when I¡¯m done.¡± Yamato pulls out his phone and shows his number to Jace. Jace puts the guns down and adds Yamato¡¯s number in his phone. ¡°Alright Detective Fujimura, I¡¯ll let you know what happens.¡± ¡°Thank you Jace.¡± Yamato heads out of Jace¡¯s room and Jace gets to work. *** In the basement of Shunji¡¯s house, Shunji works on his computer while Yuto punches a metal reinforced punching bag. ¡°You should save that energy for when it matters.¡± ¡°I know, I¡¯m just making sure I¡¯m ready when the time comes.¡± ¡°Well until then, I got your leverage for that Detective Fujimura.¡± ¡°You do?¡± ¡°Yeah, that killer, Ryota Shima, he¡¯s been hiding it well but I think he¡¯s working with whoever is causing the radiation killings.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Look at this Yuto, all of Shima¡¯s targets have been the sons and daughters of the heads of science laboratories. The same laboratories that the radiation victim¡¯s worked for.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a coincidence is it.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t be, it¡¯s just too specific. This is big, it could be the missing link they need to find Shima¡¯s and this radiation killer.¡± ¡°And it¡¯s the perfect leverage to have Detective Fujimura help me.¡± ¡°Yeah, now we just continue to be patient. Wait until tomorrow night, hopefully Chiori does her part.¡± ¡°And then it¡¯s finally time for the real hunt to begin.¡± Secrets Revealed A day has passed, and the moment for Chiori to fulfill her promise has arrived. A sleek black car comes to a stop near the edge of an empty park. A person in all black, wearing a hoodie, steps out of the passenger side of the car. The person walks into the park and heads to a set of benches near the middle, next to a playground. The person grabs a small purple bag under a red bench and heads back into the black car. Inside the car, Shunji sits behind the wheel curiously. Next to him, the person removes the hood, revealing Yuto. ¡°You think she actually did it?" Shunji asks. ¡°I don¡¯t know. We¡¯ll only find out after we play it." Yuto opens the purple bag and pulls out the recorder. Taped to the recorder is a piece of paper with a handwritten note that reads, ¡°YOU¡¯RE WELCOME.¡± ¡°Aheh, yeah, Shunji, I think she did it.¡± *** Shunji and Yuto make it back to the house and head into the basement. Inside the basement, the two get ready to listen to the voice recordings. ¡°Well, this moment came sooner than we thought." ¡°No backing out now, Shunji. We¡¯re all in." ¡°Hah, like I¡¯d ever back out.¡± ¡°Well, first, let¡¯s see if she actually broke the encryption.¡± Shunji plugs the recorder¡¯s USB into the computer and presses on a random recording. The recording starts, and the voices are no longer muffled and static. ¡°Damn, she really did do it.¡± ¡°I knew I was right to trust her." Shunji stops the current recording and scrolls down until he finds the recording labeled 02/11/2021 and presses play. The recording starts, and Shunji and Yuto lean in to listen to the uncovered voice. As the recording continues, Shunji and Yuto¡¯s eyes widen as they realize whose voice it is. ¡°That voice, it can''t be! Is that Mayor Hosiga?¡± ¡°No! That can¡¯t be, Shunji. He wouldn¡¯t do that! He stepped in and helped me get back up after my parents¡¯ death. Him and my dad were good friends! He wouldn¡¯t!¡±Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. ¡°I know how you feel, Yuto, but that voice... that¡¯s him." ¡°Why the hell would he want to kill my parents?¡± ¡°It was your dad. In the recording, he¡¯s talking about your dad. He was digging too deep into the underworld. I remember there was a time I told him to stop, and I thought he actually listened to me for once. But then I got the call a year later, during the Red Raid, that he needed help. I didn¡¯t know he was looking into Haru Hoshiga.¡± ¡°Then we go and confront him! Make him talk!¡± ¡°No, Yuto, it won¡¯t be that simple.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°For one, we don¡¯t even know what Yuri had on Haru. We can¡¯t go barging in blindly and expect to get anything done. Two, even with the evidence we have now, the corruption and power that the underworld holds is too much. They¡¯d easily be able to get Haru out of any situation. If he¡¯s as corrupt as it seems¡ªprobably worse¡ªhe likely has deep ties to the underworld that can keep him safe. We need something that¡¯s one hundred percent definitive, or else it won¡¯t matter. Take Shou Jiro, for example. Those girls anonymously admitted to the public that he was attempting to rape them, and he was freed the next day without the media saying a word.¡± ¡°...So what do we do?¡± ¡°Here¡¯s the plan.¡± *** Yuto stands in front of the DIPD in a black hoodie and pants. He heads into the building and walks heads to the room labeled ¡°Citizen Service.¡± ¡°First, I¡¯ll save the files of Shoma and Haru talking about killing your parents and then delete them from the recorder. We don¡¯t want even the smallest clue coming back to hurt us.¡± As Yuto heads into the room, he stops in front of the fire alarm and pulls down the level. The alarm goes off, and everyone evacuates the building. Yuto sneakily heads further into the building without drawing suspicion. ¡°Second, take the recorder and place it on Detective Yamato Fujimura¡¯s desk. In order to do that you¡¯ll have to sneak into the DIPD and pull the fire alarm. The department is less guarded at night due to most of the patrol and detectives being out handling crimes. The only problem is the captain of the DIPD James Sanders. Lucky for us today is his day off. Make your way into the detective room and leave the recorder along with a locator beacon on his desk.¡± Yuto sneakily makes his way into the detective room and looks around for Yamato¡¯s desk. After finding the desk with Yamato¡¯s name tag, Yuto places the recorder, a small rectangular black device, and a paper note on the desk and scurries out the DIPD and away from the scene. ¡°After that, it shouldn¡¯t take long for the DIPD to realize they actually have enough solidified evidence for an arrest. They should arrest him early in the day. Then that should attract the queen''s attention and finally give us a chance to talk to her. Remember Shoma has been giving her more and more money. Without his support, she¡¯ll lose significant amount of power. But because the tensions between the rulers of the underworld, she won¡¯t have the time to focus on you. That should make it so that hopefully she¡¯ll try and give us what we want as long as we leave her alone.¡± *** Yuto makes it back into the house where Shunji waits for him. ¡°How¡¯d it go?¡± ¡°Good, I put everything on his desk.¡± ¡°Alright, now we just wait till morning.¡± Changing Tides The sun rises over Daimon Island, casting a dim light over the bleak city. Inside the DIPD, Yamato stares at the recorder and device Yuto left on his desk. He picks up the note Yuto left for him and reads it: ¡°This recorder has enough to take down Shoma. The smaller device is a locator beacon. When one of us presses it, it¡¯ll point right to the other. Use it or don¡¯t, but I¡¯ll need your help for my goal, and you¡¯ll need mine for Ryota and the radiation victims.¡± Kenta walks up to Yamato, curious to see what he¡¯s reading. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Kenta asks. ¡°It¡¯s the ¡®Black Knight.¡¯¡± Suddenly, the other rookies gather around Yamato, intrigued by what he said. ¡°For real? This was really from him?¡± Kiara asks. ¡°I mean, it isn¡¯t signed, but I know it¡¯s him.¡± ¡°What does he want?¡± Hibiki asks. ¡°He left me a recorder and a note saying the recorder holds enough information to take down Shoma Jiro,¡± Yamato explains, carefully leaving out any mention of the locator beacon. ¡°WAIT, WHAT? REALLY?¡± ¡°AHH! DAMMIT, KAI, STOP YELLING!¡± ¡°Sorry, Kiara.¡± ¡°Wait. Why you? What makes him feel like he can trust you?¡± Ava asks. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say he trusts me, but ever since we met, he¡¯s felt like we could both use each other to achieve our goals.¡± ¡°But why?¡± ¡°C¡¯mon, sis, stop asking him so many questions,¡± Kenta says. ¡°Tch, I was just curious, Kenta.¡± This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. ¡°The hell''s with the attitude? I was just saying lay off.¡± ¡°For some reason, you think I¡¯m obligated to listen to you.¡± ¡°Oh, excuuuse me! I just figured a little sister would listen to her big brother.¡± ¡°Hmm, whatever.¡± ¡°Anyway, what¡¯s the other thing, Yamato?¡± Kiara asks. ¡°Oh, this? It¡¯s nothing.¡± Suddenly, the senior detectives barge into the room. As they walk in, Yamato quickly crumples up the note and slides it into his desk drawer, along with the locator beacon. Kiara notices Yamato¡¯s suspicious action but keeps quiet. ¡°The hell was all that noise a couple of moments ago?¡± Senior Detective Yano asks. ¡°What¡¯re y¡¯all doing?¡± Senior Detective Fujimoto adds. The rookies slowly look toward Yamato, breaking into a slight sweat. With everyone''s gaze fixed on him, Yamato fills in the senior detectives on the situation. ¡°This is really supposed to be enough to take down Shoma?¡± Kiria asks. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I haven¡¯t listened to it yet.¡± ¡°Well, let¡¯s listen to it then,¡± Detective Sakai says. * In the commons sector of Daimon Island, a massive house stands in front of a forest. A swarm of police cars and officers surround the building. The senior and rookie detectives stand outside as Kiria and Yamato walk toward the front door. Before they can knock, the door swings open, revealing Shou Jiro. ¡°WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?¡± Yamato pushes Shou aside and continues walking with Kiria. ¡°Shut the hell up, Shou!¡± Kiria and Yamato step into the living room, where Shoma Jiro sits, patiently waiting for them. ¡°Ah, detectives. I take it y¡¯all have finally captured the vigilante?¡± ¡°No, we got something even better,¡± Kiria says. ¡°Which is?¡± Yamato steps behind Shoma and clamps handcuffs onto his wrists. ¡°The hell is this? I¡¯ve done nothing wrong.¡± ¡°We listened to the voice recordings, you bastard. You¡¯re done.¡± Yamato finishes securing the handcuffs. ¡°Shoma Jiro, you¡¯re under arrest for¡­ everything.¡± Yamato and Kiria walk out of the house as Shou Jiro furiously shouts at them. The detectives and officers stand frozen, their gazes fixed on Yamato and Kiria as they quietly load Shoma into the back of the police car. The air is thick with tension. The detectives and officers comprehend the gravity of the situation. This is not just another arrest. This is the moment everything on the island begins to change. Nine Year Vengeance: Killer Revealed A massive crowd of reporters, news crews, and curious citizens floods outside the DIPD, creating a chaotic swarm of flashing cameras and urgent chatter. Inside the department, the rookie detectives stand by the window, observing the restless crowd through the glass. ¡°They¡¯re like insects around a trash can,¡± Hibiki says. ¡°Ahaha, that was a good one, Hibiki,¡± Kenta says with a grin. ¡°Uh, can you two be serious for one moment?¡± ¡°C¡¯mon, Kiara, what¡¯s wrong with laughing once in a while?¡± ¡°If it was only once in a while, I wouldn¡¯t be mad, but you¡¯re always so laid back, Kenta.¡± ¡°She¡¯s right, brother. You need to take things seriously for once and shut the hell up.¡± Kenta sighs and drops his head in a depressed manner. Yamato looks around and sees Captain Sanders walking toward the crowd. ¡°Look, Captain Sanders is out there.¡± Outside the DIPD, Captain Sanders approaches the crowd. In front of the crowd, Sierra Reeds is live reporting on the scene. ¡°Good afternoon, Daimon Island. This is Sierra Reeds reporting live at the DIPD after something big went down early this morning. If you don¡¯t know, this morning, the DIPD placed famous billionaire Shoma Jiro under arrest. The charges are as follows: money laundering, racketeering, conspiracy with the underworld, providing support to criminal organizations, solicitation for murder, and accessory to murder. Captain James Sanders is here to shed some light on the situation. Good afternoon, Captain Sanders. Can you shed light on the situation following billionaire Shoma Jiro¡¯s arrest?¡± ¡°Yes, early this morning, we received an anonymous tip that leaked information tying Shoma Jiro to multiple crimes. After carefully examining the tip and confirming it, we decided it was enough evidence to arrest Shoma Jiro on multiple counts.¡± ¡°And did this ¡®anonymous tip¡¯ happen to come from the vigilante that still has yet to be caught?¡± ¡°Well¡­ it was anonymous, so I wouldn¡¯t know. That¡¯s all I have to share at the moment.¡± Captain Sanders turns and walks back into the DIPD. Sierra tries to follow him, but the officers stop her. ¡°Hey, rookies,¡± Captain Sanders says as he walks into the department. ¡°Captain Sanders, what¡¯d you tell them?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Yamato. I didn¡¯t say anything about the Black Knight. For better or worse, I think it¡¯s our best bet to keep that a secret. You rookies are done, by the way. Today, the senior detectives will take over all the duties, even yours.¡± ¡°Why? We can handle it.¡± ¡°I know you all can, Kiara, but right now the situation is too tense.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± *** In the living room of Shunji¡¯s house, Shunji and Yuto are watching the news broadcast at the DIPD. ¡°Phase 1 complete.¡± ¡°Yeah? Now how do we get into contact with Madam?¡±If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°I¡¯m hoping she¡¯s the one who will try to reach out.¡± ¡°So you mean to tell me this entire time you were banking on her finding a way to contact us?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± ¡°Shunji, what the hell?¡± ¡°Relax, we¡¯ll figure it out.¡± ¡°We better. Or all this was for nothing.¡± ¡°We will. And we¡¯ll make sure of it by continuing to apply pressure. You up for taking down some more of her people?¡± ¡°What do you got?¡± ¡°My network picked up some chatter about a big move Madam¡¯s planning tonight. A lot of her people are gathering in this sector near an abandoned warehouse by the Blackstreet railroad.¡± ¡°The same night Shoma gets arrested? What¡¯s her play?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know, but with the event that happened today, it¡¯s something big.¡± ¡°Then let''s put a stop to those plans.¡± *** A dark night looms over Daimon Island. The black clouds and white stars decorate the sky. Near the edge of a railroad, a torn-down and crumbling building stands silent. Inside, Yuto stands alone in the middle of the building in his vigilante suit. ¡°Shunji, there''s no one here.¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be right. This is the exact location.¡± ¡°Apparently not.¡± Suddenly, a phone resting on a dusty desk starts ringing. Yuto picks up the phone and answers it. ¡°So you¡¯re the Black Knight? The description fits the bill,¡± the person on the other side of the phone says in a woman¡¯s voice. ¡°Are you Madam?¡± ¡°Yes, some call me that. You¡¯ve been testing my limits for a while now, so I figured I¡¯d give you what you want.¡± ¡°You know what I want.¡± ¡°Yes, I do. I heard all from Colt Boone. Well, not directly, of course. That¡¯s why I set this trap for you. And before you ask, I figured out you were getting information about me through the whispers of the people who work for the three rulers. It¡¯s impressive, but it also leads to situations like these where I was easily able to lay a trap. You could be dead right now if I wanted.¡± ¡°Then why aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you like to know? Now then, you wanted information about someone who you believe works for me?¡± ¡°The person I¡¯m after is most likely a hitman. Other people in the past were killed in similar manners¡ªpeople who could threaten the underworld if they were still alive.¡± ¡°Okay, I guess that¡¯s enough of a reason.¡± ¡°The person I¡¯m after is most likely a hitman. Other people in the past were killed in similar manners. People who could threaten the underworld if they were still alive.¡± ¡°Okay, I guess that¡¯s enough of a reason.¡± ¡°The person I¡¯m after is most likely a hitman. Other people in the past were killed in similar manners¡ªpeople who could threaten the underworld if they were still alive.¡± ¡°Okay, I guess that¡¯s enough of a reason.¡± ¡°The person I¡¯m looking for most likely has weapon control powers. He lifts knives into the air and launches them at people.¡± ¡°Knives, you say? I know who you¡¯re talking about. But I won¡¯t give up his information unless you promise you won¡¯t mess with me again. I have enough to deal with as it is.¡± ¡°Give me the information first, and I¡¯ll decide.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not the one in control here. Remember, I could easily have you killed, whether or not it makes things harder for me because I¡¯ll lose resources.¡± ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t do anything to you in the foreseeable future.¡± ¡°Hmph, foreseeable future. That¡¯s good. Fine, then I¡¯ll tell you what I know. There¡¯s only one person I know who used knives. Back then, he was a young prodigy who could kill no matter the target. But he retired years ago because he was done with all the fighting and killing. His name is Kairo Arasaki. That¡¯s who you¡¯re looking for.¡± ¡°How can I trust you?¡± ¡°Trust me? Don¡¯t make me laugh. I don¡¯t want you to trust me, but just know the consequences of what happens if you decide to try me again. Destroy the phone.¡± The call ends with a quiet click. Yuto looks at the phone for a moment before firmly pressing it in his hand. The phone cracks and squishes under the pressure. Yuto throws the phone to the side. ¡°Do you believe her?¡± Shunji asks Yuto through the mic. ¡°No, but it¡¯s not like we have much of a choice. We got our guy; it¡¯s time to hunt him down.¡± Deal In The Dark Nightfall lingers over Daimon Island, casting an ominous shadow across the land. An ordinary house sits quietly in the middle of a neighborhood, blending seamlessly with its surroundings. Inside, in a modest bedroom, Yamato sits at a desk, going through his notes. Suddenly, a beeping sound comes from a drawer beneath the desk. Yamato opens the drawer and retrieves the small rectangular device Yuto had given him. The beeping device displays a small map with a blue dot and a red dot. An arrow extends from the blue dot, pointing directly toward the red dot. Yamato hesitates momentarily but ultimately grabs the device and leaves his house. *** In a dark, ominous alleyway on the island, Yuto waits patiently in the center, clad in his vigilante suit. After a while, the sound of footsteps, accompanied by a steady beeping, echoes through the alley. Yuto turns to see Yamato slowly approaching him as the beeping fades away. ¡°So, you decided to come after all, Detective?¡± ¡°What¡¯s to say I¡¯m not here to arrest you?¡± ¡°And I¡¯m supposed to believe you came here to take me on without your guns?¡± ¡°Okay... fair point. The only reason I¡¯m here is because of what you said in that note ¡ª that I¡¯ll need your help for Ryota and the radiation victims. What do you know that I don¡¯t?¡± ¡°I figured that would intrigue you enough to meet me. Honestly, the fact that I know more than you about something I¡¯m not even interested in is sad. Is the DIPD even doing their job?¡±Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°We¡¯re busy every day. There¡¯s not a lot of time to focus on one case, even with the addition of us rookies. Now, can we get to the real reason we¡¯re here, or do you want to do a welfare check as well?¡± ¡°I do have information on Ryota and the radiation victims, but I need you to do something for me first.¡± ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t that convenient? Let me guess ¡ª I help you first, and then you¡¯ll tell me what I want?¡± ¡°Correct.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ no offense, but I don¡¯t trust a word you say. Why should I?¡± ¡°You shouldn¡¯t. But the fact is, you¡¯re already here.¡± ¡°Okay, fair point again. What do you want?¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking for a person named Kairo Arasaki. He¡¯s a hitman for Madam.¡± ¡°And why are you looking for him?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Detective. I just need any known locations. You give me that, and I¡¯ll tell you what I know.¡± Yamato stares deep into Yuto¡¯s mask, hesitating to give a response. ¡°The DIPD is in a chokehold right now. I can¡¯t say whether or not I trust you. But I need to start taking chances if I want to get things done. Fine, I¡¯ll see what I can find. But even if I can¡¯t find much, I still expect you to tell me what you know.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine with me. There¡¯s a red button on the side of the GPS tracker. Press it, and it¡¯ll take me right to you. Don¡¯t bother using it to find me ¡ª only the person who presses the button can be tracked.¡± Yuto takes off into the night and gradually disappears. Yamato stares into the dark city, uneasy about what just occurred. After a moment, he walks into the city and vanishes into the shadows. Kairos Whereabouts A new day dawns on Daimon Island. In the commons sector, at ¡®Casa De Reyes,¡¯ Miguel is seated at a table in the back, savoring a fresh drink while soaking in the vibrant atmosphere of the restaurant. As his eyes wander aimlessly, he notices Yamato approaching the waitress at the front. After a brief exchange, the waitress glances in Miguel¡¯s direction. Curious, Miguel signals to the waitress to allow Yamato to join him. Yamato weaves his way through the restaurant and sits down across from Miguel. ¡°Detective Fujimura!¡± Miguel greets with a sly, intrigued smile. ¡°To what do I owe the pleasure?¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking for someone, and I don¡¯t have much time. I was hoping you¡¯d help me,¡± Yamato replies. ¡°And Kiria let you come all by yourself?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my day off. He doesn¡¯t know I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Ahaha, how bold of you. Alright, Detective, why should I help you? What do I gain out of this?¡± ¡°The drug dealer you wanted us to find... There¡¯s clearly more to him than you¡¯re letting on.¡± ¡°Him, huh?¡± Miguel raises an eyebrow. ¡°We¡¯ll stop hunting him down unless you help me,¡± Yamato presses. Miguel smirks. ¡°I get he¡¯s desperate, but this is a terrible bluff¡­ Though I suppose there¡¯s no harm in indulging him just this once. Fine, Detective, I¡¯ll help you.¡± ¡°You will?¡± Yamato asks, surprised. ¡°That¡¯s what I said, didn¡¯t I? Now, who is this person you¡¯re looking for?¡± ¡°What do you want in return?¡± For a moment, Miguel pauses, a devious smile forming on his lips. ¡°Who is this person you¡¯re after, Detective?¡± Yamato hesitates, uneasy about what he¡¯s stepping into. Ultimately, he chooses to press forward. ¡°His name is Kairo Arasaki, a hitman for Madam. Since you seem to know everything about Madam for whatever reason, I figured you might know something about him.¡± ¡°I do¡­ For one, he¡¯s no longer working with Madam. He left the business a couple of years ago.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Not sure. Word is, he didn¡¯t want to kill anymore. Which is ironic for someone who was once Madam¡¯s child prodigy.¡± ¡°Child prodigy?¡± Yamato asks, leaning in. ¡°Yeah. He got his start in the hitman trade as a young teen. It didn¡¯t take long for everyone to recognize his talent.¡± ¡°Do you know if he¡¯s killed anyone important? Someone whose relatives might come back for revenge?¡± ¡°Heh, he¡¯s killed so many people he¡¯s probably lost count. You could say practically everyone he¡¯s killed was ¡®important'' in their own way. Anyway, I assume you want his location?¡± ¡°Yes. Can you get it for me?¡± Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.¡°I can. In fact, I already have it.¡± ¡°You do?¡± ¡°4921 Hollow Lane. That¡¯s where he¡¯s been hiding out. When I first heard he left, I had my best people tail him and track down this information.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m supposed to believe you just remembered that off the top of your head?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say off the top of my head. I have a photographic memory, Detective. I can recall things like this as if I¡¯d written them down.¡± ¡°Well, I guess I have no choice but to believe you.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking, Detective¡­ why are you so interested in this guy?¡± ¡°I do mind. Goodbye.¡± ¡°Heh, later, Detective.¡± Yamato rises from the table and exits the restaurant, his unease growing with every step. The weight of his decisions begins to bear down as the day moves forward. *** Night envelopes Daimon Island. Yamato finds himself back in the same ominous alley where he had spoken with Yuto before. He checks the GPS tracker clipped to his side, fiddling with it impatiently. ¡°Is this thing even working? He should be here by now,¡± he mutters to himself. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoes from the darkness ahead. Seconds later, Yuto appears from the shadows in his vigilante suit. ¡°What took you so long?¡± Yamato asks, trying to mask his frustration. ¡°I had to make sure this wasn¡¯t a trap. Did you find Kairo¡¯s location?¡± ¡°Yeah. Kairo Arasaki¡¯s last known location is 4921 Hollow Lane. Whether the information is accurate or not, I can¡¯t say. But I¡¯ve done my part. Now, it¡¯s your turn. Tell me what you know about Ryota and the radiation victims. Is he the one behind the radiation attacks too?" Yuto shakes his head. ¡°No. But he is working with whoever the attacker is.¡± ¡°Working with him?¡± ¡°The DIPD hasn¡¯t pieced it together, but every one of Ryota¡¯s victims has something in common¡ªthey¡¯re all sons and daughters of the heads of science laboratories. The same laboratories where the radiation victims worked. That can¡¯t be a coincidence.¡± ¡°I doubt it is.¡± ¡°If you can find Ryota, you¡¯ll likely find whoever¡¯s behind the radiation attacks, too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s solid information,¡± Yamato admits, ¡°but it doesn¡¯t get me any closer to finding Ryota. I still don¡¯t know where he is.¡± ¡°You should already know how to find him, Detective,¡± Yuto responds. ¡°How?¡± ¡°What does it take to catch a fish?¡± ¡°A good bait?¡± Yamato answers cautiously. Before Yamato can press further, Yuto grapples away, disappearing into the night without another word. Yamato contemplates his next move, the weight of these events growing heavier by the moment. A Time Before Despair 9 Years Earlier In a small, ordinary house, Yuto sits in the corner of a living room, tears streaming down his face. A blonde-haired man with brown eyes approaches him and gently places a hand on his shoulder. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Yuto?¡± Yuto sniffles before collecting himself. ¡°It¡¯s those bullies. They keep messing with me. I want to fight back, but they said they would kill me.¡± ¡°Did they, now? Yuto, as long as you¡¯re scared, they¡¯ll keep bullying you. You have to show them how strong you are.¡± ¡°But¡­ even though I want to fight back, I¡¯m not strong. I don¡¯t know how to fight. I don¡¯t have any strength. I hate that. Why can¡¯t I be strong? Why can¡¯t I have the power to fight back?¡± Suddenly, a black-haired woman with deep golden eyes comes down the stairs. ¡°Did those bullies hurt you Yuto?¡± ¡°No, mommy, but they scare me.¡± ¡°Well I¡¯ll make sure they¡¯re dealt with.¡± ¡°But, I want to be strong enough to handle them myself. AHH WHY AM I SO WEAK? WHY CAN¡¯T I BE STRONG? IT¡¯S NOT FAIR.¡± ¡°Oh, Yuto, don¡¯t you remember your favorite show, The Brave Knight?¡± ¡°Of course, I do, Mommy!¡± ¡°And do you remember what The Brave Knight said about strength?¡± Yuto¡¯s mom clears her throat and gets ready to perform her best Brave Knight impression. ¡°Harken, young one! Strength is not just for knights or those who fight with swords. Thou dost not need to be a warrior to be strong. A strong soul is one who keepeth trying, even when things are hard. ''Tis someone who never giveth up, no matter how tough the path may be. And sometimes, true strength is standing up for what is good and right, even when it seemeth scary or trouble may come. That, dear child, is what it means to be strong!¡±Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Yuto¡¯s dad stands up and joins his mom, helping her with his own Brave Knight impression. ¡°Be strong, young one, in the way that feels right for you. Strength isn¡¯t just about muscles; it¡¯s about trying your best and not giving up. Remember, you only fail if you stop trying, so keep going no matter what!¡± they both say simultaneously. ¡°But¡­ those bullies are also strong in their own way. I don¡¯t want to be like them.¡± Yuto¡¯s dad places a hand on Yuto¡¯s shoulder and kneels in front of him. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Lira, I got this,¡± he tells Yuto¡¯s mom. ¡°Okay, Yuki.¡± Lira walks away, leaving Yuki and Yuto to talk alone. ¡°Yuto, there¡¯s not much difference between good people and bad people. The difference is small, but it¡¯s still there. That difference is what they won¡¯t do versus what they will do. There¡¯s a line bad people cross that separates them from good people.¡± ¡°You mean¡­ killing?¡± ¡°No, not necessarily. Killing isn¡¯t always bad. Sometimes, people have no choice. But a bad person would kill as their first instinct. A good person will use all other options before they have to kill. And even when they do kill, unlike a bad person, a good person will regret it.¡± ¡°Ohhh! I see now, Daddy. In that case, I¡¯ll make sure to become as strong as possible!¡± Yuki chuckles and smiles proudly at Yuto. ¡°That¡¯s my boy!¡± *** An ominous veil of darkness surrounds Yuto. When it disappears, Yuto finds himself standing on a dark street in the dead of night. To his left, his parents'' bloodied bodies lay lifeless. ¡°M-Mommy? D-Daddy?¡± Yuto looks up and sees two figures cloaked in shadow. ¡°No survivors,¡± one of the silhouettes says. Suddenly, the other silhouette charges toward Yuto. ¡°AHHH, NO! PLEASE DON¡¯T!¡± *** 9 Years Later Present Day A pitch-black night swallows the sky of Daimon Island. Yuto stands in front of the apartment complex, his vigilante suit blending into the darkness. The gray armor plates across his chest and limbs shine faintly under the dim light, his black hood and cape flow in the night breeze. His fists tremble with rage as he glares ahead, his body tense and ready to strike. ¡°Shunji, I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Alright, Yuto. Be careful, there are other people around. If he does turn out to be the one who killed Yuki and Lira, what will you do? Remember, the choice is yours, whether you¡¯ll be like your dad or just another criminal.¡± Yuto pauses for a moment, his rage rising slowly but surely. ¡°I¡¯ll do what I must!¡± (K)Night of Revenge Part 1 The night over Daimon Island grows darker with each passing minute. Outside a massive apartment complex, Yuto stands still, his vigilante suit blending with the shadows. His fists clench as fury boils inside him. He climbs the stairs and stops in front of a door labeled 4921. The door is cracked open. Yuto slowly pushes it the rest of the way and steps inside. The air feels stale, and the light reveals a man slouched in the room with messy brown hair, lifeless black eyes, and an unkempt beard. He sits at a table in the middle of the living room. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you. Madam told me you were coming.¡± The man says in a calm, cold voice. ¡°Kairo Arasaki?¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s me.¡± ¡°I was under the impression you quit working for Madam.¡± ¡°Yeah, doesn¡¯t mean she can¡¯t talk to me though. Well, I¡¯m here, just like you wanted. But what exactly was it that you wanted anyway? To kill me?¡± ¡°If I have to.¡± ¡°Oh I see, you must¡¯ve come here expecting a fight then. But I¡¯m done fighting, I haven''t done it in years. And I don¡¯t want to have to today.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because, I want out of that life. I was forced into it as a kid, had no money, no nothing. Only way for me to even consider living was for me to start killing. So I did, and made a living doing it. But I¡¯m not that desperate anymore, I know the things I¡¯ve done are wrong. I¡¯ve¡­ Killed lots of people who didn¡¯t deserve to die.¡± ¡°Yeah, you have.¡± ¡°Like I said, I know this isn¡¯t what you were expecting. You expected a fight.¡± He gestures to the chair across from him. ¡°Come, sit down.¡± ¡°Do you think what you¡¯re doing will make up for all the people you¡¯ve killed?¡± ¡°Of course not, I¡¯m not stupid. I¡¯m not trying to atone or any bs like that. I just don¡¯t want to kill anymore.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you turn yourself in?¡±Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Heh, I still want to live my life. And I only recently started actually living life like how I was supposed to. I¡¯m not going to prison, sorry if you had any plans on taking me there.¡± ¡°What is this? You set up this meeting for a reason didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yeah, I was hoping that after a talk you¡¯d let me go. I¡¯ve done bad things in the past, but that''s over with now. I don¡¯t want to fight you if I don¡¯t have to.¡± ¡°Do you know all the trouble I went through to find you? And you think a sad story will stop me?¡± ¡°Well, let me just summarize it then. When I was a kid my parents both got sick from malnourishment and died. I was all by myself on an island full of demons.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not the only person who¡¯s been through something like that. What makes you special.¡± ¡°What makes me special is what also made my life the way it is. I eventually discovered I could control weapons without touching them. A rare power that was later named weapon control. Sadly, that discovery led to the underworld finding me. I ended up having to come to a decision, either to join the underworld and make enough money to survive and more, or stay where I was and soon end up like my parents.¡± ¡°And you chose to be a killer?¡± ¡°Put yourself in my shoes, I didn¡¯t have a choice. While I regret killing, I don¡¯t regret my choice. Am I still the demon you think I am? I¡¯m no longer Kairo Arasaki the underworld hitman and madam¡¯s prodigy. I¡¯m just¡­ Kairo Arasaki. That¡¯s it.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the point?¡± ¡°There wasn¡¯t any point, I¡¯m just hoping you can sympathize with me.¡± Yuto stares into Kairo¡¯s cold eyes, angered by Kairo''s attempt to be the victim. Yuto''s rage boils, his body ready to explode with anger. Those words of regret only served to fuel his anger to the boiling point. ¡°I don¡¯t, and I¡¯m still taking you down.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a shame.¡± "Suddenly, a gunshot booms as Yuto stumbles backward, clutching his gut!" Under the table, a hidden holster had been strapped with a loaded gun. Kairo gets up and heads to the door while Yuto writhes in agony. "Yuto? YUTO WHAT HAPPENED!" Shunji shouts through the mic. ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m not going to jail, I only recently got the chance to live my life. I¡¯m not giving that up without a fight. And I also don¡¯t plan on dying in case that¡¯s what you were planning. You¡¯ll never find me again.¡± Kairo walks out the door as Yuto attempts to muster the strength to get up. Suddenly, flashes of Yuto¡¯s parents along with their deaths play in Yuto¡¯s head. An unfathomable amount of rage surges through Yuto giving him the strength to get up. Kairo walks through the apartment''s parking lot and heads for his car. Suddenly, Yuto leaps through the air and lands right behind Yuto. Surprised, Kairo quickly turns around, his face in complete shock. ¡°H-how the hell?¡± Kairo says flabbergasted. Yuto clenches his fist so tight he starts bleeding within his gloves. ¡°I was hoping you¡¯d fight back, this makes things easier.¡± Yuto says, completely overtaken by rage. (K)Night of Revenge Part 2 Yuto stands face to face with Kairo, his breath slow and uneven. He presses his hand against the gunshot wound to keep it from bleeding. The sting of the bullet is still fresh as Yuto tries to power through the pain, forcing himself to stay up. As Yuto locked his gaze on Kairo, the sharp pain in his side faded, replaced by an overwhelming rage. Shunji attempts to speak to Yuto through the mic. ¡°Yuto, you have to stand down! You''re too injured to fight. Yuto? Do you hear me?¡± Yuto¡¯s focus narrowed entirely on Kairo, drowning out Shunji¡¯s voice as if it were background noise. Kairo¡¯s face goes from frightened to relieved as he sees Yuto¡¯s attempt to power through the pain. ¡°I commend your resilience, but you''re in no condition to fight. You should leave while you still have the chance.¡± Yuto¡¯s vision burned red. He stands silent, ignoring Kairo as he waits for him to make the next move. ¡°Fine then, it¡¯s a good thing I came prepared.¡± Knives start to float out from inside Kairo¡¯s coat, pulling Yuto¡¯s mind back to the memories of his parents'' death. Without warning, one of the knives shot toward Yuto with blinding speed! He dodge just in time, but the blade grazed his right shoulder, leaving a shallow cut. Yuto immediately dashes at Kairo and closes the gap in an instant! Yuto goes in to punch Kairo but surprisingly Kairo manages to hold his own. A heated exchange of punches, kicks, and dodges began. Finally, Yuto manages to land a punch that sends Kairo flying across the parking lot.Kairo gets up, his arm heavily bruised from a single punch. ¡°What... what is that strength?!¡± Kairo throws three knives straight at Yuto while guiding the knife Yuto had dodged earlier to curve around toward his back catching Yuto in a pincer attack! Yuto swings his metal-plated arm across his front, deflecting the incoming knives! But the blade from behind found its mark, embedding itself deep into his back shoulder. ¡°AGHHH!¡± Yuto screamed as the knife dug into his shoulder. Yuto grabs the knife and yanks it out without hesitation. Kairo takes out a knife from his back pocket and dashes straight at Yuto! He takes his knife with a reverse grip and stabs downward heading for Yuto¡¯s injured side. Yuto grabs Kairo¡¯s arm with his opposite hand, stopping the attack. Kairo follows up with a powerful kick sending Yuto flying across a car. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it *** In a neighborhood far away from the action, an ordinary house site quietly in the middle. Inside, Yamato is laying in bed staring at the wall, lost in a deep thought. The choices he¡¯s made weigh heavy on him as he clashes with his conscience. After several seconds, Yamato grabs his phone and makes a call. ¡°Yes, Daimon PD? I¡¯d like to report a situation at 4921 Hollow Lane.¡± *** The battle between Yuto and Kairo continues in the parking lot. Police sirens wail in the distance. Yuto and Kairo continue to exchange attacks. Kairo takes out five more knives from the back and floats them over his head. Suddenly, a fury of knives shoots straight at Yuto! Rather than dodging, Yuto plants his feet firmly and pulls his fist back. ??As the knives closed in, Yuto punched with all his might, his punch obliterating every blade in a single blow. The force of his strike tore through the air, sending a gust of wind ripping outward. ¡°CURTANA!!¡± Left with only one knife, Kairo begins to panic as he realizes just how much he underestimated his foe. Yuto¡¯s breathing is heavy, a normal person would¡¯ve passed out or died by now. But he¡¯s still standing, with only the thought of taking down his parents'' killer keeping him up. Yuto charges in and furiously attacks Kairo. Kairo dodged and counterattacked with all his strength, but Yuto¡¯s sheer ferocity overwhelmed him blow by blow. With each punch, kick, dodge, block, and counter, Yuto¡¯s attacks grow stronger and faster, each destroying Kairo¡¯s body and slamming him into the cars! Yuto strikes ruthlessly, using enough force to ravage Kairo¡¯s body without sending Kairo flying with his strength! The rage built up in Yuto for nine years is finally unleashed. Kairo tries to get some distance between him and Yuto but Yuto won¡¯t allow it, quickly closing in on Kairo without fail and sending him through the parking lot. ¡°Is that all you got? I¡¯m not done yet, not even close.¡± Kario struggles to get up, his body beaten and destroyed. The relentless figure of Yuto continues to pursue him ruthlessly. ¡°D-damn him! He¡¯s purposely holding back so he doesn¡¯t send me flying with all his strength. The hell! Is he some kind of demon?¡± While Kairo fought to stay conscious, Yuto advanced slowly, his eyes locked onto his prey like a predator closing in for the kill. ¡°I¡¯d be able to beat him if I was still as strong as I was back then. Damn, this peacefulness has made me weak. I¡¯ve got to get out of here.¡± Yuto continues to slowly walk toward Kairo like a predator, his rage intensifying with every step. ¡°You¡¯re probably planning on escaping, don¡¯t bother, I won¡¯t let you get away. I¡¯ll hunt you down all over the city if I have to.¡± Kairo carefully takes his time to plan an escape. The ever-haunting figure of ¡®The Black Knight¡¯ looms closer. Its cape sways through the air as it menacingly approaches, threatening to ruin Kairo. (K)Night of Revenge Part 3 The sound of police sirens screams through the night air, growing louder by the second as they begin to approach Yuto and Kairo¡¯s battle. In the parking lot, now heavily damaged from the battle, Yuto has Kairo on the ropes, with no way out. He hovers over Kairo¡¯s beaten body, preparing to land the final blow. Behind his back, Kairo snaps his last knife in half, making sure Yuto doesn¡¯t notice. ¡°Well get on with it.¡± Kairo says luring Yuto into whatever plan he has. Yuto firmly takes his stance, winding back his fist as much as possible. Before he could make a move, Kario quickly gets up and attempts to slash Yuto¡¯s throat! Yuto quickly evades but loses balance! As the knife crosses Yuto¡¯s eye, he notices that the blade had been cut in half. Suddenly, the other half of the knife comes from behind Yuto and cuts deep into his gunshot wound from earlier! ¡°AAGGHHHH!!!¡± Yuto screams in agony as the already painful wound becomes unbearable. Taking advantage of the situation, Kairo kicks Yuto in the same area, sending Yuto flying into a car. While Yuto struggles to get up, Kairo slowly limps to the nearest car he can find. He smashes the window of the red car and forces himself in. Yuto remains on top of a car, heavily injured. Kairo pulls out the car''s plastic panel and grabs the ignition wires. He cuts the two wires he needs with the half of the knife still in his hand. Sparks flash as he twists them together and the car engine begins to roar. Yuto still writhes in pain, he tries to get up, but the pain is unbearable. The dark red car Kairo hotwired quickly pulls out of the parking lot while bumping other cars. Finally, Yuto gets off the car and limps toward a dark gray motorcycle. ¡°Shunji? Are you there?¡± Yuto asks, his voice rough and low. ¡°Dammit Yuto, my heart¡¯s been racing listening to this fight! Are you okay? I heard you screaming.¡± ¡°Do you know how to hotwire a motorcycle?¡± Yuto asks, ignoring Shunji¡¯s question. ¡°You¡¯re in no condition to fight, I can tell by the way you can barely even speak. If he got away just let him go.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ not an option, I won¡¯t let him get away even if it kills me. NOW DO YOU KNOW HOW TO HOTWIRE A MOTORCYCLE!?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ I do.¡± The police finally arrive on the scene, a herd of frightened civilians are gathered around the area. The officers get out and attempt to direct the crowd away from any potential danger. Suddenly, a dark red car comes zooming across them and heads straight for the streets! The officers, shocked by the sudden scare, rush to their cars to pursue. Moments later, Yuto comes zooming through on a dark grey motorcycle in hot pursuit of the car! The police get in their car and start their sirens as the chase begins.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. In the speeding red car, Kairo looks at his rear view mirror and sees Yuto in hot pursuit a couple of cars behind. ¡°Damn, he just doesn''t give up!¡± Kario zooms through the streets, passing and evading multiple cars! Yuto still remains in pursuit, zooming past and evading cars as well, refusing to let Kairo get away! The police sirens grow louder as more police join the chase. Kairo takes a turn onto a highway and speeds up even more, his speedometer reading one hundred and forty miles per hour. Yuto matches that speed going one hundred and forty miles per hour as well. The two zoomed over the bridge, the roar of their engines echoing across the open water below! Yuto¡¯s cape whips through the roaring air as the chase spirals into chaos! The sound of sirens and car horns boom through the highway. Kairo takes another quick look in the rearview mirror. This time, he doesn¡¯t see Yuto riding the motorcycle; instead, he sees a black, demon-like silhouette on the motorcycle in pursuit! His wild swerving portrays his growing panic. He takes the last half of his knife and reaches his hand out the window. Channeling his powers, he sends the knife flying behind him, its blade spinning with deadly accuracy as it shears off a fragment of Yuto¡¯s mask, exposing part of the reflective eyeshield! The black, demon-like silhouette remains chasing, its speed growing faster by the second! Kairo begins to panic even more, his breath shaky and driving wild! Yuto closely approaches Kairo¡¯s car, now side by side. Yuto takes out a small, circular black device from his belt and throws it at Kairo¡¯s rear tire. Suddenly, a small explosion goes off on the tire causing Kairo¡¯s car to flip into the air! While in the air, Kairo is flung through the broken window and slings across the highway! The car crashes into the ground and bursts into flames! The cars across the highway immediately come to a stop. Kairo crawls across the ground in agony. He turns around and sees Yuto slowly walking towards him. Yuto¡¯s cape sways through the wind as he slowly approaches Kairo. Kairo can no longer move, the pain unbearable. Yuto approaches Kairo and hovers over him, revealing Yuto¡¯s horrifying, soulless left eye behind the mask. Yuto decides what to do with Kairo, his breath slow and weak, the police slowly approaching. Vivid memories of Yuto¡¯s parents flash through his mind. He remembers his dads words about what makes good people different from bad people. Kairo''s eyes slowly close as he loses consciousness. Yuto stares into the bright white stars, he recollects himself and suppresses his anger as he knows what he must do. Yuto gets back on the stolen gray motorcycle and speeds off into the distance, letting the police take Kairo. *** Outside Shunji¡¯s house, Yuto limps to the doorstep, struggling to maintain consciousness. ¡°Sh- Shunji, I¡¯m here.¡± Yuto says, his body weak and legs like noodles. The door opens and Shunji quickly grabs Yuto. ¡°Yuto!!¡± Shunji says, relieved. He takes Yuto down to the basement and clears off a table with different kinds of equipment. He lays Yuto on the table and examines the wound. ¡°Yuto¡­ Did you?...¡± ¡°I-I didn''t kill him Shunji¡­ I¡­ I didn¡¯t¡­ Kill him¡­¡± Yuto finally loses consciousness. Shunji quietly admires Yuto and begins to treat Yuto¡¯s wounds. Sudden Death The sun shines on Daimon Island, beams spilling over every corner. Days have passed since Yuto¡¯s fight with Kairo. The aftermath of that night has faded, and the island is quiet once again. In Shunji¡¯s house, Yuto lies in bed, still recovering from his wound. Shunji walks into the room to check on him. ¡°You seem to be recovering faster than usual,¡± he says, with relief. ¡°Power users heal faster than normal people because of our enhanced bodies. That¡¯s probably why,¡± Yuto replies. ¡°You still need to stay in bed for a couple more days.¡± Shunji watches Yuto silently for a moment, his face nervous and uneasy. ¡°Yuto¡­ do you know what you¡¯re going to do now? Is it over?¡± Yuto turns his head and stares at the ceiling, his thoughts swirling in his mind. ¡°That night, when I fought Kairo¡­ it opened my eyes. I realized there¡¯s more to avenging my parents than taking down Kairo. Kairo was only a pawn, a tool used by the real culprits behind my parents¡¯ deaths, the mayor and the underworld. I want to take down Mayor Hoshiga, but I can¡¯t do that without dismantling the underworld. That¡¯s where he gets his power. He hired killers from Shoma Jiro, and those killers worked for Madam.¡± ¡°What about Riku? Do you still want to be friends with her?¡± Shunji asks carefully. ¡°Riku isn¡¯t responsible for her father¡¯s actions. I¡¯m positive she doesn¡¯t even know what Mayor Hoshiga is doing behind closed doors. She¡¯s also my friend. I don¡¯t hate her.¡± ¡°It¡¯s going to be a long and tough journey. Hate and anger will only carry you so far,¡± Shunji warns. ¡°I know¡­ When I was standing over Kairo, I wanted to kill him and satisfy my rage. But then I remembered something my dad said years ago, and in that moment, all my anger disappeared. I knew I was more than just anger and hate. I knew I had the potential to be different, to bring change to this island the way my father tried. And no matter how much I wanted to, I couldn¡¯t kill just to satisfy my hate. That¡¯s how I¡¯d become the very thing I hated. I know now that I¡¯m more than that. I¡¯ll prove to this island that there¡¯s still a chance for redemption. I have to let my hate go. That¡¯s the only way I¡¯ll become something strong enough to take down the underworld¡­ a ¡®Black Knight.¡¯¡± This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Yuto remembers the ¡®Brave Knight¡¯ show he loved as a kid. Flashes on the knight went through his head. It¡¯s armor and design is similar to Yuto¡¯s vigilante suit. Shunji looks at Yuto, pride flickering at how Yuto has changed. But before he can say anything, both of their attentions shift to the TV in the corner of the room. Onscreen, Sierra Reeds of RMN is covering yet another major event on the island. She stands with a crowd of media outside the entrance to a large building. ¡°This is Sierra Reeds of RMN, coming to you live from the Daimon Island Precinct, where Shoma Jiro has just been found guilty on all accounts. He¡¯ll be escorted out by the police at any moment,¡± she announces. The doors of the precinct swing open, and Shoma Jiro appears in handcuffs, accompanied by his son, Shou Jiro. Senior detectives Kiria and Kaeya lead the escort, followed by rookie detectives Kai, Hibiki, and Ava, as well as other officers. Sierra Reeds and a crowd of reporters surge forward, shouting questions and jostling for position. Officers bark orders at the crowd, urging them to clear a path, as people push and shove each other to get closer. ¡°MR. JIRO! MR. JIRO!¡± Sierra calls out, standing firm with her microphone extended, trying to avoid the chaos. Shoma, noticing the respect in Sierra¡¯s composed demeanor, turns to face her. He walks over to her microphone, his expression sharp but calm. ¡°Mr. Jiro, with everything happening in Daimon, it seems like the underworld of this island is about to come under attack. Is there anything you¡¯d like to say before you go to jail? Anything that might help us stand against the underworld?¡± Sierra asks clearly, her voice steady and professional. Shoma leans into the microphone, but before he can answer, a sudden gunshot pierces the air. The bullet rips through his head, and his body collapses instantly to the ground as the crowd erupts into chaos. ¡°FATHER!¡± Shou screams desperately. ¡°NOOOOOO! FATHER, NOOOOO!¡± Senior Detective Kaeya grabs Shou, dragging him to cover, while the rest of the crowd scatters in panic. People flood the street, halting cars and triggering a frenzy of honking horns. Shoma lies lifeless on the ground, blood pooling beneath his head. The scene devolves into chaos, officers shouting, reporters scrambling, and screams echoing through the streets. Atsuki Nishima A haunting dark night enshrouds Daimon Island, as though grasped by an unrelenting hand of darkness. The island sits unnaturally still, tension so thick it could be cut with a knife. Across the streets, public televisions replay the breaking news of Shoma¡¯s death, casting an unnerving glow on the silent island. In his house, Yamato sits hunched at his desk, papers scattered in a chaotic mess. His eyes dart between notes as he rifles frantically through his investigation records. ¡°Okay, a drug dealer who gives out drugs that kill people through radiation. He¡¯s also the most likely suspect in the radiation killings. And to top it all off, he has a damn serial killer working for him. Dammit¡­ I¡¯m lost.¡± Slamming a hand to his forehead, Yamato rubs his scalp in frustration. He leans back in his chair, the weight of the case pressing heavily on his mind, his hands clutching his head as he digs deep for a connection. Then, suddenly, his eyes widened, a spark reigniting his focus. He rapidly shifts the papers until he finds the one he¡¯s searching for. Fumbling for his phone, he dials a number, puts it on speaker, and waits. A voice answers quickly, upbeat and familiar. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s up, Yamato?¡± ¡°Ski, I need your help with a case I¡¯m working on.¡± ¡°Oh? You need my help?¡± Ski says, clearly excited. ¡°How can I help?¡± ¡°I''m tracking a drug dealer who¡¯s likely behind the radiation deaths. I just remembered something while reviewing my notes. I questioned a guy named Kazu Kato, who said the dealer mentioned something about ¡®revenge for the sins of the past.¡¯ I started thinking,a guy with a horrible burn covering half his face, someone who kills people with radiation but somehow leaves no trace of where the radiation comes from. What if something happened to him radiation related that caused him to unlock his powers? A person can only unlock their powers if they have a defining moment, a moment of extreme anger, sadness, or something like that.¡± Ski¡¯s voice grows serious. ¡°You think something traumatic involving radiation triggered his abilities?¡± ¡°Exactly. And you know a lot about crazy things that have happened on this island. Anything come to mind?¡± There¡¯s a quick moment of silence as Ski takes time to think.¡°Actually, yeah. Oh my gosh, how has everybody missed this?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Have you heard of the famous scientists Hideo and Aiko Nishima?¡± ¡°Yeah, a little. Didn¡¯t they cause that radiation plant explosion a few years back?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s what we were told, but I always suspected the story was incomplete. Here¡¯s the thing, during that explosion, Hideo, Aiko, and their daughter, Emi Nishima, were all found dead near the plant. Their bodies were melted beyond recognition from the radiation. But here¡¯s the catch: their son, Atsuki Nishima¡­ his body was never found. Officially, they said it was entirely disintegrated, but¡­¡± ¡°You think it¡¯s possible he survived?¡± Yamato interjects. ¡°If Atsuki had a defining moment during that explosion, then yeah, it¡¯s possible. He could¡¯ve developed radiation immunity and powers, but not before getting half his face burned.¡± ¡°Damn. That¡¯s gotta be our guy,¡± Yamato mutters in realization. ¡°Thanks, Ski.¡± ¡°Yamato...¡± Ski hesitates for a moment, her tone uneasy. ¡°There¡¯s something else.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Today is the anniversary of that explosion. It happened exactly five years ago, tonight.¡± Yamato¡¯s eyes widen, pieces clicking into place like jagged puzzle fragments. ¡°¡®Revenge for the sins of the past.¡¯ Revenge for his family. But who¡¯s he targeting?¡± ¡°The mayor, Yamato!¡± Ski answers, almost shouting. ¡°The mayor was the first to publicly blame the Nishimas for the explosion. He destroyed their reputation. Now, they¡¯re despised by the entire island. If Atsuki¡¯s after anyone, it¡¯s him.¡± ¡°DAMMIT! I¡¯VE GOTTA GO!¡± ¡°But you don¡¯t have your stormcallers back yet!¡± Ski protests. ¡°I know, but I still have to go.¡± Yamato hangs up abruptly and sprints to his car. Without hesitation, he starts the engine and speeds off into the deserted streets. *** At the grand Hoshiga estate, Mei, one of the family maids, hums quietly as she finishes some late-night cleaning. Soft footsteps carry her to the front door as a faint knock echoes through the quiet hall. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Mei calls out, her voice steady but curious. As she cracks the door open, the muted glow from the moonlight reveals a dark, hooded figure. Her breath catches in her throat as fear takes hold. Before she can react, there¡¯s a sudden, sickening thump of something heavy crashing onto the floor and the sharp sound of breaking glass echoes through the house. Upstairs, Riku quickly wakes up, startled by the sound.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Hello? Dad? Faith? Mei?¡± she calls out, her voice uncertain. Still in her pajamas, Riku climbs out of bed and tentatively steps into the darkened hallway. She glances around, searching for signs of life. As she reaches the living room, she spots her father, Haru Hoshiga, standing frozen alongside Faith, the other maid, both of them staring toward the front door. ¡°Dad? Faith?¡± Riku asks, confused. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°RIKU, STAY BACK!¡± Faith cries out desperately. Alarmed, Riku flinches as she turns toward the source of their fear. Her heart pounds, her body trembling as her gaze locks onto the figure standing in front of them. Before her is a man, young but menacing, barely older than herself. His face is marred by a vulgar burn scar covering half of it, and his black hair is streaked with hints of an unnatural green. One of his eyes is black as night, while the other, on the scarred side, is a soulless, milky white. Dressed in a black and green shirt, black pants, and a black lab coat, the man radiates an unsettling aura of madness. His devious, twisted grin sends a chill through the room. In his left arm, he holds Mei, his grip tight as she struggles futilely. In his right hand, he presses a gun firmly to her head. ¡°Oh! Nice of you to join us, Riku Hoshiga, we¡¯re just having a friendly chat, nothing to worry about.¡± Riku takes a small step back, her body trembling with fear. The man grips Mei tighter, pressing the gun harder against her head. ¡°DON¡¯T!... Why leave? That¡¯s hardly how you treat a guest... IS IT?!¡± ¡°Wh-What do you want?¡± Riku stammers. ¡°Oh, what an amazing question!¡± The man chuckles, his tone dripping with mockery. ¡°Me and your father were just talking about that, weren¡¯t we¡­ Mr. Mayor?¡± ¡°You¡¯re insane,¡± Mayor Hoshiga snaps. ¡°I AGREE! Because that¡¯s what you turned me into!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°Is that right? So the Nishima family doesn¡¯t ring a bell?¡± ¡°Nishima?¡± The mayor freezes, his body begins to tremble, and his breathing grows erratic. ¡°No... No, it can¡¯t be. Are... Are you?¡± ¡°YES! THAT¡¯S EXACTLY WHO I AM!. You should know how much trouble you¡¯re in now, huh, MR. MAYOR?!¡± Mayor Hoshiga stares at the ground, breaking into a cold sweat. He doesn¡¯t respond, but his silence says it all. His heart pounds in his chest, the full reality of the situation sinking in. ¡°D-dad?¡± Riku looks at him nervously, her voice trembling with concern. ¡°What¡¯s he talking about?¡± The mayor¡¯s frightened eyes snap to Riku¡¯s. He opens his mouth as if to speak, but no words come out. He stays silent, consumed by guilt and fear. ¡°TELL HER!¡± Nishima commands. ¡°TELL HER exactly what I¡¯m talking about.¡± Before the mayor can answer, heavy footsteps echo from the doorway. Yamato steps into the wide-open entrance, his gun raised and fixed on Nishima. ¡°DIPD! Let her go!¡± Nishima tilts his head and smirks. ¡°OH! LOOK AT THIS! The star rookie detective of this ACCURSED island.¡± ¡°Are you Atsuki Nishima?¡± Yamato asks. ¡°Yeah. That¡¯s me. Just call me Nishima.¡± Mayor Hoshiga collapses to his knees, desperation etched across his face. ¡°It... It really is you?!¡± ¡°THAT¡¯S RIGHT!!¡± Nishima shouts, his voice booming. He glares at Yamato. ¡°Detective Fujimura, if you knew everything I know about this man, you wouldn¡¯t be protecting him.¡± Yamat remains calm, though his grip tightens on the gun. ¡°What I do know is that you¡¯ve murdered multiple people using radiation and that you¡¯re working with Ryota Shima, a known serial killer. You¡¯re dangerous, Nishima, and you need to be stopped.¡± Nishima lets out a low, humorless laugh. ¡°So you even know about Ryota, huh? Damn, you¡¯re good. With everything going on in this horrid island, I figured the cops would be too busy to notice me. Guess I underestimated y¡¯all.¡± ¡°Not entirely.¡± Nishima glances at Yamato¡¯s gun and begins to laugh hysterically. ¡°AHAHA! A simple pistol? Oh, come on. Those aren¡¯t even your famous stormcallers. Hell, do you even know how to use that thing?¡± ¡°Only one way to find out.¡± ¡°Just let me kill him, the man deserves it anyway. You¡¯d know if you weren¡¯t so blind.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not letting you kill anyone else,¡± Yamato replies firmly. ¡°FINE! I¡¯ve got bigger plans anyway. I¡¯ll just save our dear mayor for later.¡± Nishima points his gun at Yamato, but before he can fire, Yamato darts back behind the front door, using it as cover. Gunshots echo through the house, the sharp cracks of Nishima¡¯s weapon ringing in Riku¡¯s ears. She screams in terror, clutching her hands to her chest. Amid the chaos, Nishima rips off one of his gloves with his teeth and grabs Mei by the throat with his bare hand. Mei gasps before falling to the ground, coughing violently, her throat burning. Faith rushes to check on her, panicked. The gunfire briefly pauses as Yamato steps back into view, aiming his pistol at Nishima. The two stand locked in a standoff, circling each other carefully. Yamato maneuvers to keep his body between Nishima and the Hoshigas. ¡°You know,¡± Nishima sneers, reaching into his pocket. ¡°This has been fun,¡± He pulls out a small, black-and-green circular device, his grin widening. ¡°This is just a prototype, but let¡¯s see how it does.¡± He presses a button, and the device begins beeping ominously. He throws it into the middle of the room, right between Faith, Riku, and the mayor. ¡°GO FETCH, DETECTIVE!¡± Nishima taunts. Yamato sprints forward, grabbing the device and tossing it to the second floor just before it explodes. A deafening blast shakes the house, sending everyone sprawling to the floor. Green mist pours from the device, spreading through the air. Yamato struggles to get to his feet, his vision blurry from the shockwave. Through his haze, he sees Nishima grab a screaming Riku. She thrashes, trying to escape, but Nishima¡¯s grip is unrelenting. Yamato tries to crawl toward them, desperation fueling his movement, but his body refuses to cooperate. He can only watch helplessly as Nishima drags Riku outside and throws her into his car. Sirens wail in the distance, their noise growing louder as they approach the scene. But by the time they arrive, Nishima and Riku are gone. Crisis The dim sun shone over the ominous island. At Shunji¡¯s house, Yuto lay asleep in the bedroom, still recovering from his wounds. Beside him, his phone buzzed and rang loudly, over and over again, breaking the silence. Eventually, the ringing woke Yuto up. He groaned and slowly rolled over, reaching for the phone. The caller ID displayed Kuro¡¯s name. ¡°Hm¡­ Yeah, Kuro, what¡¯s up?¡± Yuto mumbled groggily as he answered. ¡°YUTO! I KNOW YOU¡¯VE BEEN REALLY SICK AND ALL, BUT HAVE YOU HEARD WHAT HAPPENED TO RIKU?¡± Kuro¡¯s frantic voice exploded through the phone. ¡°No? What happened?¡± ¡°LAST NIGHT, SOME LUNATIC ABDUCTED HER!¡± Yuto bolted upright in bed, his heart pounding. The pain in his wound now felt almost irrelevant. ¡°WAIT, WHAT?!¡± ¡°GO LOOK, IT¡¯S ALL OVER THE NEWS!¡± Without wasting a second, Yuto grabbed the remote from his nightstand and turned on the TV. Onscreen was a breaking news broadcast. Sierra Reeds stood outside the Hoshiga residence with a tense expression. Behind her, shattered windows and officers swarming the scene painted a grim picture. People in white hazmat suits moved in and out of the house. ¡°People of Daimon,¡± Sierra began, her voice strained, ¡°this is Sierra Reeds, reporting live with¡­ awful news. If you¡¯re just joining us, last night, Mayor Hoshiga¡¯s home was broken into in what can only be described as a horrifying attack. The intruder murdered one of their maids, Mei Inoue. Her throat was completely burned from the inside out by radiation. That¡¯s right, radiation. Authorities have confirmed this is the same individual responsible for the recent string of radiation-based murders. But that¡¯s not all. During the incident, there was an altercation between the intruder and ¡®Star Rookie Detective¡¯ Yamato Fujimura. The intruder used what witnesses are calling a ¡®radiation bomb,¡¯ which left Detective Fujimura, Mayor Hoshiga, and another maid, Faith Ashford, unconscious. And during that time¡­ During that time, Riku Hoshiga, the Mayor¡¯s daughter, was abducted.¡± Yuto sat frozen. His mind raced as his eyes stayed glued to the TV. His grip on the phone tightened. ¡°Kuro¡­ I¡¯ll call you back,¡± he muttered before hanging up. He threw off his blanket and leapt out of bed, adrenaline pushing through the remnants of his pain. Racing downstairs, he found Shunji in the living room, his attention fixated on the TV. ¡°SHUNJI!¡± ¡°I know,¡± Shunji replied, pointing at the screen. The broadcast continued onscreen. Sierra Reeds¡¯ face had grown even graver since her last update. ¡°We¡¯ve just received an anonymous video, likely sent by the intruder himself. I warn everyone watching, this footage has not been reviewed, and we have no idea what we¡¯re about to see.¡± The news cut to a shaky video. Atsuki Nishima appeared onscreen, grinning sinisterly. His wild, uneven hair framed his scornful face, his smile dripping with malice. ¡°HELLO, CITIZENS OF DAIMON! I¡¯m Atsuki Nishima, that¡¯s right, the dead son of those HATED scientists from five years ago. You can call me Nishima. Bet you all thought I died, huh? Well, surprise¡­ I¡¯M STILL ALIVE! And I¡¯m here to take revenge on every last one of you who BETRAYED me and my family. Oh, but don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s not fully your fault.¡± He chuckled bitterly. ¡°No, your precious MAYOR lied to you. He fed you a FAKE TRUTH, and you all swallowed it whole like the fools you are.¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Nishima¡¯s eyes became wider and wilder with every word. His breathing grew erratic, each inhale sharp and unnerving. ¡°BUT! I¡¯m not entirely heartless, I¡¯ll give you all a CHANCE at redemption. SOMETHING MY FAMILY WAS NEVER ALLOWED!¡± The camera shifted, and Nishima held it to reveal Riku tied to a chair, her body limp, with a blindfold over her eyes. ¡°This is Riku Hoshiga,¡± Nishima said mockingly, like he was presenting a prize. ¡°The esteemed Mayor¡¯s daughter has had a very, very bad day. And trust me¡­ it¡¯ll only get worse.¡± He turned the camera back to his crazed face. ¡°I¡¯m going to take my revenge on this island. BUT, you people are lucky, like I said I¡¯m giving your mayor one chance. One chance to set things right. Here¡¯s the deal.¡± Nishima leaned closer to the lens as his voice dropped into a chilling tone. ¡°I¡¯ve placed five bombs throughout the science laboratories in the medical sector. Each of them is loaded with concentrated radiation. Relax, don¡¯t panic¡­ shutting them down is easy. All your mayor has to do is tell the TRUTH, confess what REALLY happened the night my family was TAKEN FROM ME. After he confesses, he must turn himself in to me at a location I¡¯ll reveal. If he doesn¡¯t¡­¡± Nishima paused before exploding into manic laughter. ¡°BOOOOM! AHAHAHAHAHAHA! YOU HAVE TWO DAYS!¡± The video ended abruptly, leaving chilling silence in its wake. --- In the heart of Daimon¡¯s medical sector, Yamato Fujimura sat in a hospital bed at the Daimon Health Center. He was watching the same broadcast as it unfolded on a nearby TV. Around him, the other rookie detectives sat in tense silence. ¡°Damn, Yamato,¡± Hibiki muttered after a moment of reflection. ¡°You really should¡¯ve called for backup.¡± ¡°Oh, give him a break, Hibiki,¡± Kiara cut in. ¡°He was going off a hunch. He didn¡¯t know for sure what would happen.¡± ¡°Thanks, Kiara, but Hibiki¡¯s right, I should¡¯ve called for backup. I just¡­ I got so obsessed with solving the case that I didn¡¯t even think. That was my mistake.¡± Kiara¡¯s face softened. ¡°Yamato¡­¡± Before she could say more, a doctor walked hurriedly into the room, carrying a clipboard stacked with papers. ¡°Alright, Detective Fujimura,¡± the doctor began, looking over his notes. ¡°Because you managed to throw the bomb far enough, you, Mayor Hoshiga, and Faith Ashford were only exposed to minimal radiation. Physically, you¡¯re all fine for now. Barring any long-term complications, like cancer in the far future, you should recover completely.¡± Yamato nodded solemnly. ¡°What about the other maid¡­ the blonde one?¡± he asked hesitantly. The doctor paused, setting his clipboard against his chest. ¡°...She didn¡¯t make it. Mei Inoue¡¯s throat was burned from the inside out. There was nothing anyone could do. She¡­ she died very painfully. While this doesn¡¯t help, I can at least tell you that her blood will be used to make a cure. The scientists are saying they should have it done in a day or two.¡± Yamato¡¯s chest tightened as flashes of the encounter surged through his mind, Nishima removing his glove and wrapping his hand around her throat. ¡°His hands,¡± Yamato muttered under his breath, his voice low but tense. ¡°What?¡± Kenta asked, breaking the silence. ¡°I think he gives off huge amounts of radiation to whatever he touches. That maid started violently coughing immediately after Nishima¡¯s hands touched her throat.¡± ¡°Well, that explains a lot.¡± Yamato gets up out of his bed, determined to find answers. ¡°Yamato, where are you going?¡± Kiara asks. ¡°To find Nishima.¡± He replies, his eyes sharp and determined. ¡°How, we have no leads, not even a clue where he¡¯s hiding.¡± Yamato remembers the time when Yuto told him Ryota Shima works for Nishima. ¡°I think I might.¡± ¡°What?¡± Suddenly, Yamato¡¯s phone starts ringing, the caller is Jace Wright. ¡°Kiara, Kenta, come with me. The rest of you need to help the senior detectives. Let¡¯s hope my good fortune hasn¡¯t run out yet.¡± Yamato says as he exits the room along with the other rookies. Stormcallers 2nd Edition A shroud of despair looms over the Island. The medical sector booms with chaos, screams and horns echoed as evacuations took place. At Daimon Tech, Yamato, Kiara, and Kenta walked briskly into room 820. Inside, Jace Wright sat at a computer, two guns resting on the desk beside him. ¡°Oh, Yamato! You¡¯re finally here,¡± Jace said, glancing up. ¡°I¡¯ve got your guns waiting for¡ªuh, whoa, rookie detectives Kiara and Kenta? No way!¡± Kiara stepped forward with a grin. ¡°Oh, you already know us? That makes this easier. Nice to meet you!¡± ¡°What¡¯s up!¡± Kenta added with a wide smile. Jace grabbed the two guns beside him and stood, walking towards Yamato with a proud smile. ¡°I call these¡­ Stormcallers, second edition,¡± he explained, handing the guns over to Yamato. ¡°The transference device, which needs a cooler name, has been upgraded. I also added an advanced power stabilizer system that lets you perfectly balance the energy flow between the two guns. Now you can pump out more wind power for stronger attacks, and you should be able to fly now with the right consistent output.¡± Yamato¡¯s eyes lit up as he inspected the weapons. ¡°Damn! Jace, this is amazing. Thanks!¡± Jace shrugged, though it was clear he was proud of his work. ¡°Yeah, well, it took way longer than I thought. But hey, it¡¯s worth it.¡± ¡°You should get out of this sector, Jace,¡± Yamato said suddenly, his tone serious. ¡°With everything going on, there¡¯s no telling what¡¯s coming in two days.¡± Jace nodded slowly, his usual confidence faltering for a moment. ¡°Yeah, I know. But there¡¯s still work to do here. We¡¯ve got two days to evacuate, which should be enough time, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not as much time as you think,¡± Kiara interrupted, her voice sharp and steady. ¡°We¡¯ve got to move the residents, the sick, and some people can¡¯t even be moved without risking their lives. Nishima¡¯s taking advantage of the overcrowded medical sector, and realistically, it¡¯d take at least two and a half days to evacuate this one sector. That doesn¡¯t even account for the spillover into the others. He¡¯s giving us false hope with this ¡®two days¡¯ timeline.¡± Jace¡¯s calm demeanor flickered, replaced by a worried expression. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Yeah, well¡­ I¡¯m counting on the police to stop Nishima,¡± Jace said, forcing a confident tone. Then his face lit up with an idea. ¡°Oh, that reminds me! I still need to teach you how to properly use those guns!¡± Before Jace could say another word, Yamato, Kiara, and Kenta all bolted for the door. ¡°Sorry, no time for that!¡± Yamato said over his shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll figure it out on my own. Thanks, bye!¡± ¡°WAIT!¡± Jace yelled, reaching a hand after them. He sighed, then muttered to himself, ¡°Man, I made this cool instruction guide for nothing.¡± *** In the basement of Shunji¡¯s house, Yamato and Shunji are glued to the computer screen. Shunji clicks through files and websites, hunting for any clue about Nishima¡¯s whereabouts. On the corner of the screen is a picture showed Riku tied to a chair, blindfolded. The background was dim, behind her is a worn down gray wall. ¡°Damn! We¡¯re not finding a thing,¡± Yuto hissed, slamming his hand against the desk in frustration. ¡°Where the hell could he be hiding?¡± Shunji leaned back, thinking. ¡°We¡¯re not looking hard enough. A guy like Nishima, with his history, he has to be somewhere symbolic. Maybe someplace connected to his family...¡± Yuto¡¯s eyes widened as an idea struck him. ¡°Wait. Was there somewhere his parents worked before the radiation lab? They couldn¡¯t have been there their entire lives.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right!¡± Shunji¡¯s fingers flew over the keyboard. ¡°Before the lab, there was another place. Their work together started there, it¡¯s where they met.¡± After a moment, Shunji froze, then leaned closer to the screen. ¡°Red Oak Laboratory. It was located on Red Oaks Street. This lab isn¡¯t in the medical sector, it¡¯s actually here in the commons sector. The lab was supposed to be moved into the medical sector but got abandoned instead. And look at this¡­¡± His eyes narrowed. ¡°The place was never demolished.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good enough for me. I¡¯m heading there now.¡± Yuto stood determined. ¡°Wait, Yuto!¡± Shunji called after him. ¡°What, Shunji? There¡¯s no time, I have to go get Riku!¡± ¡°I know,¡± Shunji said firmly, standing. ¡°Which is why this is the perfect time to give you a gift I¡¯ve been holding onto.¡± ¡°A gift?¡± Yuto asked. ¡°Follow me.¡± They climbed the stairs to the garage. A tarp covered something medium-sized in the center of the room. With a quick motion, Shunji yanked the tarp away, revealing a sleek, black motorcycle with gray highlights that gleamed under the lights. ¡°This should help you get around the city faster,¡± Shunji said, smiling. ¡°Wow! Thanks, Shunji!¡± Shunji gave him a firm nod. ¡°Yeah. Now, give Nishima hell.¡± ¡°I will.¡± Nightmares of The Past In a dark, worn-down building, Riku sits tied to a chair with ropes, blindfolded. Her body trembles with fear as a cold sweat drips down her face. Suddenly, a door creakes open to her right, and a dim light spilled into the room. ¡°Hmmm! Hello? Who¡¯s there? Please help me!¡± Riku called out in desperation. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! It¡¯s me! Haha!¡± A figure slowly stepped into view. It was Nishima. His face was sharp and wild, with a smile as sinister as a demon''s. ¡°W-what do you want with me?¡± ¡°You?¡± Nishima grabbed her face tightly, his glove digging into her cheeks. ¡°I don¡¯t want anything from you¡­ Well, not directly.¡± His grin widened. ¡°I just want your BASTARD OF A FATHER to come clean. To finally admit how he lied to the island and DRAGGED MY FAMILY''S NAME THROUGH THE DIRT!¡± He abruptly released her face, and Riku gasped for air. ¡°What happened? What¡­ really happened to your family?¡± Riku asked, her voice trembling but tinged with curiosity. ¡°WHAT AN AMAZING QUESTION! I¡¯ll tell you the truth. That way, you¡¯ll understand just how evil your father really is.¡± His grin stretched wider, brimming with malice. --- 5 Years Ago A building named Nova Nuclear Facility stood tall in the medical sector of Daimon Island. Its massive white structure loomed over the surrounding buildings like a giant. Inside, hordes of scientists worked tirelessly on various experiments. In the center of the facility stood a towering generator, rising five floors high, with teams of researchers working on it at various levels. On the top floor of the facility, a large observation room overlooked the generator below. Two scientists stood inside the room. One was a woman with silcky black hair and sharp blue eyes, wearing a long white lab coat. Beside her was a man with brown hair, a fuzzy beard, and tired black eyes who also wore a white lab coat. Behind them, two children darted around the room, laughing and chasing each other. A young teen with black hair and dark eyes, and a little girl with light brown hair and bright blue eyes. ¡°Haha! You can¡¯t catch me!¡± the little girl taunted, scurrying around the room. ¡°Playing a game of chase, are we?¡± the brown-haired man asks, smiling warmly. The boy paused, turning to the man with a dramatic sigh. ¡°Yeah, Dad. Emi¡¯s got way too much energy.¡± ¡°Ahaha¡± the woman chimed in with a bright grin, ¡°thankfully she has such a good younger brother to keep up with her.¡± ¡°YEAH! ATSUKI¡¯S THE BEST!¡± Emi cheered. Suddenly, the door to the observation room burst open. A younger version of Mayor Hoshiga strode into the room, dressed sharply in a suit. ¡°Hideo, Aiko. I trust everything is going as planned.¡± Hideo stepped forward. ¡°Mayor Hoshiga? We weren¡¯t aware you¡¯d be visiting today.¡± ¡°I had some free time. I thought I¡¯d stop by to see the progress myself.¡± ¡°I see. Well, Aiko and I have been working nonstop. We¡¯ve already managed to create one full capsule of compressed radiation. It¡¯s undergoing examination now. If this works, it could unlock endless possibilities for both the medical and industrial fields.¡± Mayor Hoshiga peered through the window at the massive generator below, watching the bustling scientists with interest. ¡°Can you compress the radiation further?¡± ¡°No, sir! Absolutely not!¡± Aiko stepped forward quickly, her tone firm. ¡°This level of compression is already dangerous. If we push it any further, there¡¯s no telling what could happen.¡± ¡°Yes, but if you could pull it off¡­ The advancements we¡¯d make could surpass anything imaginable.¡± ¡°Yes, but it¡¯s too dangerous!¡± Aiko repeated with a frustrated edge. ¡°You two are the best radiation scientists on this island. I picked y¡¯all because I knew you were capable. But if you don¡¯t follow through¡­ Well, you can kiss your jobs goodbye.¡± Without waiting for a reply, he turned on his heel and headed for the door. On his way out, his eyes caught on Atsuki and Emi, who had frozen in place under his gaze. He gave them a brief smile, a quick wave, and then disappeared through the doorway. Aiko turned to Hideo, her face furrowed with worry. ¡°We can¡¯t do this, Hideo. It¡¯s too dangerous.¡± ¡°I know, but if we don¡¯t¡­ we¡¯re done. We won¡¯t have the money to take care of the kids.¡± He glanced at Atsuki and Emi, their laughter now a distant memory. Aiko and Hideo exchanged a look, a deep concern passing silently between them. --- The Next Day Morning broke on Daimon Island, and the streets bustled with life. Atsuki and Emi walked together, backpacks slung over their shoulders. ¡°Hey, Atsuki! Can we stop by Mom and Dad¡¯s work real quick?¡±If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°They told us not to go there today. We should probably listen to them. It sounded important.¡± ¡°Yeah, but I got them a really super cool gift!¡± Emi grinned mischievously. ¡°Oh yeah? What¡¯d you get them?" ¡°Uh uh! Nope, not telling!¡± Emi stuck out her tongue. ¡°It¡¯s a secret.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s a surprise for Mom and Dad, there¡¯s no harm in telling me.¡± ¡°Nope, nope, nope!¡± Emi shook her head quickly. Her grin widened as she clasped her hands together. ¡°Please, Atsuki? Pretty please? I wanna give it to them now!¡± She ended her plea with wide puppy-dog eyes. Atsuki sighed, caving almost immediately. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°YAY! YOU¡¯RE THE BEST, ATSUKI!¡± Back at the Nova Nuclear Facility, Aiko and Hideo stood in the observation room once again, their faces pale with unease. Below them, scientists operated the massive generator cautiously. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t do this.¡± Aiko¡¯s voice was thin. ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice, Aiko.¡± He stepped toward the control panel, his hand hovering over a slider. With a reluctant exhale, he pushed the lever forward. ¡°All right¡­ compressing it further!¡± he called out. The scientists below immediately backed away from the generator, their movements hurried. A deep rumble filled the room as the machine roared to life. The sound grew louder, deafening. A green light began swirling within the massive core, growing brighter with every passing second. Suddenly, Atsuki and Emi burst into the room, beaming with excitement. Aiko and Hideo¡¯s faces shift from nervous to full-on panic as they whip around to face the children. ¡°KIDS! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!¡± Aiko shouts desperately, her heart pounding as fear overtakes her. ¡°We wanted to surprise you!¡± ¡°GET OUT OF HERE NOW!¡± Hideo yells, his voice booming with fury and alarm. Atsuki freezes, his face shifting to confusion and fear. ¡°Dad? What¡¯s going on?¡± But before Hideo can respond, the building begins to rumble. A loud beeping noise echoes through the room, piercing through the quiet hum of machinery. The ground beneath them shakes violently, throwing Aiko and Hideo to their knees. The tremors grow stronger by the second as the blaring alarm intensifies. ¡°NO!¡± Hideo shouts, scrambling to his feet. His mind races, years of emergency training kicking in, but dread weighs him down. He lunges toward Atsuki, shielding his son with his body. A massive explosion tears through the facility, sending fire and green smoke roaring into the air. The force is deafening, a sonic wave that ripples throughout the medical sector. A portion the building collapses in an instant, and the streets tremble under its weight. Inside, Atsuki is slammed backward by the blast. His head strikes the floor hard, and everything goes black. When Atsuki comes to, the first thing he feels is the unbearable weight of something pressing down on him. His vision is blurry, his head ringing with pain. Slowly, he manages to push the heavy body off to his right. It¡¯s his father. Hideo¡¯s body is melted beyond recognition, his skin fused with the charred remains of his lab coat. A sickening green substance burns away chunks of what used to be his face. Atsuki lets out a blood-curdling scream. ¡°AGGHHHH! AGHHHHH!¡± His mind claws for its next thought, its next breath, but all he can see is ruin. He twists to his left and freezes in horror. There, lying motionless, are his mother and Emi. Their bodies are in the same state, their skin melted, their clothing fused with blackened flesh. Emi¡¯s tiny frame is burnt into the floor, her once-bright presence now swallowed in the horror. ¡°Mom? Emi?¡± Atsuki¡¯s voice is small and frightened ¡°No¡­ NO!¡± The sight claws at his mind, shattering what little resolve he has. He tries to crawl closer, but the pain in his body flares, his face is burning, the searing agony of a green substance corroding half of it. He screams again, a sound so raw and visceral it echoes through the remains of the room. ¡°AAAGHHH! AAAHHHHH!¡± Suddenly, Atsuki¡¯s own body begins to glow with a faint green light. It grows stronger, pulsing deeper, as if something inside him is igniting. Slowly, the pain subsides. His screams die down as numbness washes over him. Looking down at his arms, he notices his skin shimmering faintly, the green light seeping into it like vapor. But his mind isn¡¯t focused on that, his gaze drifts back to the melted corpses of his family. ¡°Mom¡­ Emi¡­ Dad¡­¡± A strange numbness overtakes him, but it does nothing to stop the weight bearing down on him. His eyes widen. His heart races. His breath grows erratic. ¡°AAAAHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHHHH!¡± Outside, the facility is in ruins. A mass of green smoke rises from the medical sector of Daimon Island, blotting out the sun. Police gather on the streets, forming a blockade around the chaos. Within the wreckage, Atsuki stumbles through the devastation. The elevator is destroyed, so he weaves his way down through hallways filled with burnt corpses. Their faces are frozen in fear, their bodies contorted in the final moments of agony. The world is quiet except for Atsuki¡¯s shallow breathing. When he finally emerges outside, even more melted corpses litter the streets. The smell of burnt flesh is unbearable, but his numbed senses barely register it. He continues walking aimlessly, his mind hollow, surrounded by death. --- Present Day Riku sits bound to the chair, her face pale with terror, sweat soaking her skin. Her breathing is shallow and uneven, and her heart feels like it might burst. ¡°And that,¡± Nishima says, his voice venomous, ¡°is the truth of what happened that night.¡± He glares at her, anger radiating off him like heat. ¡°Your father lied to the entire island. He claimed that my parents were the greedy ones. That they pushed the project too far. He pinned it all on them to SAVE HIS OWN DAMN CAREER AND LEFT MY FAMILY RUINED!¡± Riku¡¯s mouth is dry, her lips trembling. ¡°But why¡­ what does that have to do with me? Why do you want to kill me?¡± ¡°You.¡± Nishima leans closer to her, his wild smile returning. ¡°Your father¡¯s the reason my parents and sister are dead. He dragged my family¡¯s name through the dirt. Now, I¡¯ll make him feel what I felt. You¡¯ll share the same fate as Emi.¡± His eyes gleam with cruel satisfaction. ¡°Please!¡± Riku pleads, her voice frantic. ¡°Please don¡¯t do this! I didn¡¯t do anything to you!¡± Nishima ignores her desperation. Walking behind the chair, he begins dragging her across the room. ¡°QUIET NOW! We have places to be.¡± ¡°LET ME GO! PLEASE LET ME GO!¡± Riku thrashes and kicks, her screams echoing through the empty building. Nishima doesn''t stop. He drags her into the darkness, her body struggling helplessly against the bindings. Her cries fade as the shadows swallow them both. Confrontation Part 1 The night sky covered Daimon Island in a thick shroud of despair. In the medical sector, chaos erupted. Screams pierced the air, and sirens blared from every direction echoing through the swirling storm of desperation. The senior detectives scrambled to maintain order while overseeing the evacuation. Police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks flooded the streets. At the DIPD, a fleet of police cars fought through a mob of protesters and media. The angry crowd pressed forward, their voices roaring as the vehicles came to a stop in front of the station entrance. Rookie detectives Kai, Ava, and Hibiki stepped out alongside Mayor Haru Hoshiga. Accompanying them is a team of officers. The protesters¡¯ shouts erupted, their fury like wildfire. Signs bearing slogans such as ¡°Two Lives or Hundreds?¡± waved violently above their heads. Over the noise, a chant echoed, growing louder with every passing second. ¡°TELL THE TRUTH! TELL THE TRUTH!¡± Wasting no time, the rookies rushed the mayor inside and sealed the doors behind them. ¡°DAMN! IT¡¯S A MESS OUT THERE!¡± Kai exclaimed, his voice still raised over the chants and chaos outside. ¡°Don¡¯t let your guard down,¡± Ava said calmly, her sniper rifle firm in hand. ¡°We don¡¯t know what these people, or Nishima, might try next.¡± Hibiki nodded, his hand brushing the hilt of his sword. ¡°Agreed. It¡¯s bad now, but I have the feeling it¡¯ll only get worse. The seniors are focused on escorting civilians and tracking Nishima¡¯s bombs. That leaves the three of us to secure the mayor. Yamato, Kenta, and Kiara are probably hunting Nishima as we speak. We just have to protect the mayor until this is over.¡± Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°OH, COME ON!¡± Mayor Hoshiga burst out in frustration. ¡°You expect me to feel safe with a bunch of rookies protecting me? This has to be a joke!¡± The rookies turned to him, leveling him with sharp, unimpressed glares. ¡°NO IT¡¯S NOT,¡± Captain James Sanders barked as he descended the staircase, his commanding presence cutting through the tension. ¡°Our rookies are more than capable of handling the tasks we give them. If you¡¯ve got a problem with it, feel free to take a stroll outside and let the crowd protect you.¡± ¡°WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU¡¯RE TALKING TO?¡± Mayor Hoshiga snapped, his voice rising. ¡°I was under the impression I was talking to Mayor Haru Hoshiga. Unless I¡¯m mistaken, that would be you right?¡± Grinding his teeth, the mayo said nothing further. *** Atop a nearby rooftop overlooking the city, Yuto crouched in his vigilante suit. His sharp gaze locked onto a worn down, abandoned building in the distance.The windows were dusty and dark, some cracked and others shattered. Chunks of brick had fallen away, leaving jagged holes in the walls. An ominous aura surrounds it, as if it were haunted by spirits of the dead. What stood out most was the group of armed guards stationed around the building. ¡°Shunji, I¡¯m at the building,¡± Yuto muttered into his earpiece. ¡°How the hell does Nishima have armed men? He doesn¡¯t work for or with the underworld. How can he have this kind of manpower?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Shunji admitted, his tone tense. ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware Nishima had any armed men at his disposal. Though we don¡¯t really know much about him. Be careful, he''s already more dangerous than we anticipated.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Yuto murmured softly, pulling back from the rooftop¡¯s edge to assess the situation further. ¡°I¡¯ll have to approach this more carefully than planned.¡± Yuto took a breath, his thoughts steady as he got ready to move. ¡°Hold on, Riku. I¡¯m coming for you!¡± He muttered in his head, determined to rescue Riku. Confrontation Part 2 The chaos of the night continued to spread as Nishima¡¯s threat loomed over Daimon Island. In the medical sector, Yamato, Kenta, and Kiara fought their way through an endless sea of panicked citizens. The sounds of desperate screams and honking horns were deafening, drowning out even their own thoughts. The crowd pressed in around them so tightly, they could barely move their arms. ¡°DAMMIT!¡± Kiara shouted, frustration sharp in her voice as she struggled to push forward. ¡°WE¡¯VE BEEN STUCK HERE FOR HOURS!¡± ¡°ALL BECAUSE A CERTAIN SOMEONE NEEDED TO GRAB HIS GUNS!¡± Kenta jabbed. ¡°I CAN¡¯T FIGHT WITHOUT THEM!¡± Yamato fired back. ¡°SORRY FOR WANTING TO BE USEFUL!¡± ¡°WHATEVER! JUST KEEP PUSHING,¡± Kiara ordered, gritting her teeth as the rookies pressed on through the swarm of terrified civilians. *** On the outskirts of the commons sector stood an abandoned building, its structure crumbling and lifeless. Shattered windows, cracked walls, and years of decay gave it the haunted feeling of a place long forgotten. Armed guards patrolled every side, their automatic weapons gleaming under the dim glow of streetlights. Two guards turned around a corner, their footsteps careful and measured. A sudden thud, followed by the faint rustle of a cape, caught their attention. They froze, scanning the shadows with their weapons raised. Slowly, they moved closer to the source of the sound, their grips tightening on their guns. As they approached, a shadowy figure emerged from the darkness, Yuto. Before they could react, he moved with lightning speed. A loud thud rang out, followed by the crack of a gunshot. The sound drew the attention of the remaining guards. Five of them sprinted toward the commotion, around the corner with their weapons ready. They stopped dead in their tracks when they found the other two guards unconscious on the ground. ¡°What the hell?¡± one of them whispered nervously, his hands trembling on his gun. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Before an answer came, Yuto appeared behind them like a phantom. With one punch, he rendered all five guards unconscious. Yuto walked calmly toward the entrance, his cape swaying in the wind. At the door, he paused briefly before stepping inside. The building greeted him with a suffocating darkness, its cracked walls and scattered debris painted with decay. An oppressive, heavy aura hung in the air, as though the building itself was alive with malice. Yuto moved through the interior. Dust-covered lab equipment lined the walls. Spiderwebs stretched across desks and machines. Yuto looked around, but saw nothing. The building was empty. ¡°Shunji, there¡¯s no one here,¡± Yuto murmured through his earpiece. ¡°Were we wrong to think Nishima would be here?¡± ¡°NO,¡± a voice suddenly rang out from the shadows, loud and clear. Yuto spun around, his sight locking onto a figure emerging from the darkness. The figure stepped into the dim light, slowly shedding its silhouette to reveal Nishima. ¡°You weren¡¯t wrong,¡± Nishima said, a sly grin twisting his face. ¡°Though I must admit, I was expecting one of those pesky rookies to stumble into my trap. Imagine my surprise when the infamous vigilante shows up instead.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Riku?¡± Yuto asked, sharp and direct. ¡°Straight to the point, huh? Tell me, why do you even care about that girl? What does she have to do with you or whatever your goals are? Oh! Or is it that you¡¯ve decided to play hero and actually save this GODFORSAKEN ISLAND?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the girl, Nishima?¡± Yuto repeated coldly, ignoring the taunts. ¡°¡®What girl?¡¯¡± Nishima mocked, his grin widening. ¡°There¡¯s no one here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here to play games, Nishima.¡± Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°AND NEITHER AM I,¡± Nishima snapped, his tone shifting to anger. ¡°My plan had been progressing perfectly, until that annoying rookie interfered.Thankfully it was only a minor setback. And I¡¯ll make sure there aren¡¯t any others. So, ¡®Black Knight,¡¯ you¡¯ve got two options. Leave now while you still can, or become nothing more than a footnote in my revenge.¡± "You¡¯re trying to turn the people on this island against the mayor. But it won¡¯t be as easy as you think. You can rile them up, get them angry at him, but that¡¯s as far as it¡¯ll go.¡± Nishima chuckled. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m well aware. But with a little help, I think I¡¯ll manage.¡± ¡°Help?¡± Yuto¡¯s eyes narrowed. Nishima¡¯s smile twisted into something sinister. ¡°You think I¡¯ve been doing all this alone? Did you forget about the men you just dealt with outside? I couldn¡¯t do this by myself. That¡¯s where my drugs came in.¡± ¡°Your drugs killed people. How did that help you?¡± Nishima erupted with laughter, the sound manic and unhinged. ¡°Do you really think that¡¯s all I made? Of course not! Killing a bunch of addicts wouldn¡¯t accomplish much. I managed to take a good percentage of Miguel Vazquezes money. You know, the guy who makes a living off his system of drug dealers. I couldn¡¯t do that if everyone I gave the drug to died. So, I created a second drug. One that doesn¡¯t kill. He leaned forward, his crazed eyes reflecting an almost animalistic frenzy. ¡°But every good thing has its price. I mixed obscene amounts of addictive chemicals into the formula, heroin, PCP, barbiturates, and some of my own special concoctions. Just a single drop could hook even the strongest mind. I passed it out around the city, giving it to anyone who fit the profile.¡± Nishima paused as a twisted grin spread across his face. ¡°And the withdrawal symptoms? OUT OF THIS WORLD. Those people will quite literally lose their minds if I don¡¯t supply them with more. THEY HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO WORK FOR ME!¡± His voice rose with every word, his laughter echoing through the empty building. ¡°You think the people of this island won¡¯t bring me the mayor? You¡¯re half-right. They don¡¯t have the guts to go after him. But it only takes one spark. One of my little addicted puppets to ignite the fire. And the rest? They¡¯ll come running." Yuto clenched his fist tightly, anger surging within him like a wildfire. ¡°I¡¯ve heard enough!¡± In the blink of an eye, Yuto dashed toward Nishima, closing the distance before Nishima could even react. His fist connected with Nishima¡¯s face in a devastating blow, sending him crashing through a thick wall. On the other side of the wreckage, Nishima groaned as he slowly pulled himself to his feet. Blood dripped down his face as he wiped it with his hand, a twisted grin spreading across his lips. ¡°Damn,¡± Nishima muttered, almost impressed. ¡°You hit a lot harder than I thought.¡± Yuto advanced steadily, his piercing gaze locked on Nishima. Without hesitation, he threw another punch. This time, however, Nishima saw it coming. He swiftly dodged the attack and drove his knee into Yuto¡¯s gut. ¡°Didn¡¯t think I could fight, huh?¡± Nishima sneered, his voice dripping with mockery. ¡°Let¡¯s see how good you really are.¡± Yuto didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he charged again, his movements quick and precise. He swung a powerful punch, but Nishima ducked under it just in time. Yuto followed up with a second swing, once again, Nishima dodged it perfectly. This time, Yuto unleashed a kick, catching Nishima off guard and sending him tumbling across the ground. Before Nishima could recover, Yuto was already on him. He grabbed Nishima with one hand, easily lifting him off the ground like he weighed nothing. ¡°WHERE¡¯S RIKU?! I¡¯M DONE PLAYING GAMES!¡± Despite the situation, Nishima¡¯s lips curled into a sinister grin. His hand gripped Yuto¡¯s arm tightly, and his eyes glinted with malice. ¡°Why so angry?¡± Nishima taunted, his voice calm and venomous. He grabbed a small packet strapped to his wrist, revealing a hidden syringe. "Maybe this will help with that rage of yours!¡± Before Yuto could react, Nishima plunged the syringe into a weak spot on Yuto¡¯s wrist, where his suit had no armor. The needle pierced through easily, injecting its contents into Yuto¡¯s bloodstream. Yuto cried out in pain and immediately dropped Nishima, staggering back as a strange sensation overtook him. His vision blurred, his body rapidly heated up, and his entire body began to quake uncontrollably. He tried to steady himself, but his legs buckled like they had turned to jelly. Nishima stepped back, smirking coldly as he watched Yuto writhe on the ground. ¡°I did warn you, didn¡¯t I, ¡®Black Knight? I¡¯d love to stay and chat, but I must get going. Oh, and about those withdrawal symptoms, they¡¯ll kick in within the day. Trust me, they¡¯re far worse than anything I described earlier.¡± Yuto reached out weakly, his fingers clawing at the ground as he tried in vain to pull himself up. His body felt like it was on fire, his muscles completely drained of strength. He could barely breathe as his vision darkened further with every passing second. Nishima strode past him, calm and unfazed as he disappeared into the shadows. Yuto¡¯s blurred gaze followed him, but his body refused to move. The searing heat in his chest intensified, and his mind spiraled into oblivion as consciousness slipped from his grasp. ¡°Yuto?Yuto?¡± Shunji cried out through the mic. Finally, Yuto¡¯s body went limp, collapsing fully to the floor as he succumbed to darkness. Dark Hour Part 1 A dim sun rises over Daimon Island, a hopeless glow. Today is the final chance to stop Nishima. In the basement of Shunji¡¯s house, Yuto lies motionless on a table, his vigilante suit removed. Slowly, he begins to regain consciousness. A familiar voice calls his name. ¡°Yuto. Yuto, wake up.¡± Groaning softly, Yuto¡¯s eyes open. Standing over him is Shunji, who has been tending to him through the night. ¡°Shunji?¡± Yuto mutters, his senses sluggish as they begin to return. ¡°What time is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s twelve p.m.,¡± Shunji answers. ¡°We¡¯ve got twelve hours left to rescue Riku and stop Nishima.¡± ¡°What¡­ happened to me?¡± ¡°Nishima drugged you,¡± Shunji explains as he hands Yuto a cup of water. ¡°Here, this has a hydration tablet and electrolyte powder. It¡¯ll help wake you up.¡± Yuto takes the cup and chugs it without hesitation. The effects are immediate, his body snaps back into focus. His senses sharpen, his mind clears, and his strength begins to return. He climbs off the table, standing a little unsteadily but determined. ¡°I gave you a highly concentrated dose of Narcan,¡± Shunji continues, watching Yuto carefully. ¡°It¡¯ll stop the worst of the withdrawal symptoms, but it¡¯s only temporary. You can thank the CIA for that.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you think they¡¯ll get suspicious with all this equipment we¡¯re using?¡± ¡°Probably, but I was one of their most valued agents. They¡¯ll turn a blind eye as long as I¡¯m overseeing it. But listen, right now, walking is the most you¡¯ll be able to handle. You don¡¯t have much strength yet.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good enough, I have to get back out there and find Riku.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still too weak. The dose slowed the symptoms for now, but you need more time to recover. You¡¯ll be strong enough by tonight.¡± ¡°I can move, that¡¯s good enough for me. Hand me one of the burner phones you stashed.¡± ¡°What are you planning?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t beat Nishima on my own, I¡¯ll need backup.¡± *** In the medical sector, the chaos is still present, though not as loud as the day before. The screams and honking horns have softened, and while the crowd of citizens remains, it¡¯s noticeably smaller. Police officers continue guiding the overflow into different sectors. At the police border surrounding the area, Yamato, Kiara, and Kenta finally emerge from the crowd, exhausted but relieved. ¡°FINALLY,¡± Kiara exclaims, letting out a deep sigh of relief. ¡°Only took half the damn day,¡± Kenta mutters sarcastically. ¡°And all because¡ª¡± ¡°Shut the hell up, Kenta,¡± Yamato snaps, cutting him off. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that same joke for the past couple of hours.¡± ¡°Alright, alright.¡± ¡°So¡­ what¡¯s our next move, Yamato?¡± Kiara asks, clearly eager to get back into action. Yamato hesitates. ¡°Honestly? I have no idea.¡± ¡°You¡¯re joking.¡± ¡°Kinda,¡± Yamato admits with a shrug. ¡°I want to go after Ryota Shima, but I¡¯ll need the right bait to lure him out.¡± ¡°RYOTA?!¡± Kiara shouts, her frustration bubbling over. ¡°YAMATO, WE DON¡¯T HAVE TIME FOR WHATEVER PERSONAL VENDETTA THIS IS!¡± ¡°This isn¡¯t a personal vendetta, Ryota¡¯s been working with Nishima. If anyone knows where Nishima is, it¡¯s him.¡± ¡°And just how do you know that?¡± Kenta asks, genuinely curious. ¡°All of Ryota¡¯s recent targets have been the children of scientists linked to those radiation labs. The same ones tied to the victims.¡± ¡°Wait, really? How did we miss that?¡± Kenta asks, surprised. ¡°Because we¡¯ve been drowning in other problems,¡± Kiara says, raising an eyebrow at Yamato. ¡°So how did you have time to figure it out?¡± Before Yamato can answer, a beeping sound comes from his belt. The noise draws the attention of both Kiara and Kenta. Yamato pulls a small black device off his belt and looks at the screen. On it, a marked location begins blinking. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Kiara asks, suspicion creeping into her voice. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Yamato sighs, realizing he has no choice but to explain. ¡°Guess there¡¯s no hiding it now. Follow me.¡± He approaches one of the officers guarding the border and flashes his badge. ¡°Detective Yamato Fujimura. I need access to one of these cars.¡± The officer hesitates only briefly before nodding and handing him a set of keys. Yamato gestures for Kiara and Kenta to follow as they climb into the car and speed off into the twisting streets of Daimon Island. *** In a wide, dark alleyway, Yuto leans against his sleek black and gray motorcycle. Clad once again in his vigilante suit, he waits silently, his presence blending into the shadows. Despite his weakened body, his alert stance remains unwavering. Before long, headlights pierce the darkness as a police car pulls into the alleyway. It comes to a stop, and the doors swing open. Out step Yamato, Kiara, and Kenta. ¡°You brought company,¡± Yuto says sharply, his tone guarded as he observes the trio. Without warning, Kenta summons a blade of water, brandishing it with a determined stance. Kiara follows suit, unholstering her gun and aiming it squarely at Yuto. Beads of sweat form on their foreheads as their hands tighten on their weapons. ¡°Hands up!¡± Kiara commands, her voice firm. ¡°You¡¯re under arrest!¡± Yuto doesn¡¯t flinch. He stares at them with the same steady calm, unfazed by the rookies¡¯ threats. ¡°Kiara. Kenta. Stand down,¡± Yamato says, attempting to defuse the tension. ¡°Nobody¡¯s getting arrested right now.¡± ¡°Ugh! What the hell, Yamato,¡± Kiara said, her tone a mix of frustration and disappointment. ¡°I had my suspicions, but I can¡¯t believe you two are actually working together.¡± ¡°We¡¯re not partners,¡± Yuto interjected. ¡°More like¡­ mutual interests. I can help you.¡± ¡°Yeah, I think I¡¯ll take my chances with you in cuffs,¡± Kenta shot back, his voice laced with sarcasm. Yamato glanced at Yuto, noticing his sluggish movements and weak voice. ¡°Are you okay? You don¡¯t seem like yourself.¡± Yuto hesitated for a moment before responding. ¡°Last night, I confronted Nishima.¡± The three rookies¡¯ eyes lit up instantly. ¡°What happened?¡± Yamato asked, his curiosity piqued. ¡°He got away,¡± Yuto admitted, his voice firm but strained. ¡°But not before drugging me.¡± ¡°I thought Nishima¡¯s drugs killed the users,¡± Kiara said skeptically. ¡°How are you alive right now?¡± ¡°Nishima made a second drug,¡± Yuto explained. ¡°This one doesn¡¯t kill. It¡¯s a mix of highly addictive substances. It gets people so hooked that the withdrawal symptoms make them lose their minds. He¡¯s been using it to create an army of people who are completely dependent on his drugs just to survive.¡± ¡°Damn¡­ How evil can one guy get?¡± Yamato paused, watching Yuto closely. ¡°So, are you good to go?¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± Yuto admitted. ¡°I¡¯ve managed to suppress the effects for now, but I won¡¯t fully recover my strength until tonight.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Kiara cut in, stepping closer and pulling out a pair of handcuffs. ¡°That means we can arrest you easily.¡± She approached Yuto, but Yamato quickly stepped between them, blocking her path. ¡°We need his help, Kiara,¡± he said, his tone calm but firm. ¡°NO!¡± Kiara¡¯s refusal was instant and loud, her frustration boiling over. ¡°I¡¯m not working with a criminal!¡± ¡°This ¡®criminal¡¯ has already given you more useful information than you¡¯ve been able to figure out in an entire day,¡± Yuto shot back, his voice firm despite his weakened state. ¡°You¡¯ll need my help if you want to stop Nishima.¡± ¡°He¡¯s right, Kiara,¡± Kenta admitted reluctantly, sighing as reality sank in. ¡°He already knows more than we do. Plus, he and Yamato are the only ones who¡¯ve managed to track Nishima down so far. We need him.¡± ¡°You too, Kenta?¡± Kiara said, her voice laced with both disappointment and disbelief. Yamato placed a hand on her shoulder, trying to reason with her. ¡°Kiara, we have to. You know it¡¯s the only way.¡± Kiara stood frozen for a moment, taking a long, tense pause to think about what to do. Finally, she let out a frustrated sigh. ¡°Fine, but just this once.¡± Yamato turned back around to face Yuto. ¡°So, what did you call us here for?¡± ¡°I want you to find and take down Ryota Shima,¡± Yuto explained. ¡°He¡¯s our only lead on Nishima¡¯s plans and where he might be.¡± ¡°We had the same idea,¡± Yamato admitted. ¡°But I¡¯m still not sure what you meant when you said we¡¯d need ¡®bait.¡¯¡± ¡°Ryota¡¯s a troubled man,¡± Yuto said. ¡°Most serial killers are. But even the darkest people usually have someone they care about, someone who brings a little bit of light into their lives. My guess is, Ryota has someone like that. I was hoping you¡¯d have an idea of who it might be.¡± The three rookies fell silent, each taking a moment to think. ¡°Rei Sawa,¡± Kenta said, breaking the quiet. ¡°Ryota Shima¡¯s girlfriend. Both his parents are dead, and from what we know, he doesn¡¯t have any close family or friends. It has to be her.¡± ¡°And you want to drag her into this?¡± Kiara interrupted, her voice sharp. ¡°We don¡¯t have a choice,¡± Kenta said plainly. ¡°It¡¯s our only shot. Either we do this¡­ or we do nothing at all.¡± Yuto reached into a pouch on his belt and pulled out a small burner phone. ¡°Here,¡± he said, handing the phone to Yamato. ¡°After you¡¯ve dealt with Ryota and gotten Nishima¡¯s location, call the number on this phone. It¡¯s the only number saved on it. Give me the location, and we¡¯ll take Nishima down together.¡± Yamato nodded, slipping the phone into his pocket. ¡°Alright. We¡¯d better get moving.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Kiara said abruptly, stepping toward Yuto. ¡°Do you have a knife?¡± She extended her hand expectantly. Yuto silently pulled a knife from his belt and handed it to her. ¡°Give me your hand,¡± she demanded, reaching toward him. ¡°I¡¯m not about to team up with you, but if I can get a blood sample from someone who was recently drugged, the medical sector might be able to find a cure. Assuming there¡¯s anyone left to help, that is.¡± Yuto hesitated for a moment but then extended his hand. Kiara gently held his wrist and made a small cut, careful not to go too deep. She tore a strip of cloth from her clothing and dabbed it against the wound to soak up the blood. Without another word, Yuto climbed on his motorcycle, revving the engine before speeding off into the city. The three rookies piled into Yamato¡¯s car and headed off as well, the weight of their mission weighing heavily on each of them. They were determined, desperate to finally put an end to Nishima¡¯s reign of terror. Dark Hour Part 2 In an unassuming neighborhood, Yamato and Kenta approached an ordinary house. ¡°You think Kiara will help them find a cure?¡± Kenta asked. ¡°Maybe. The doctor said the medical sector¡¯s already working on one. With the ¡®Black Knight¡¯s¡¯ blood sample, it might speed things up.¡± ¡°Yeah? Well, good luck to her.¡± When they reached the door, Yamato knocked three times. They waited in silence until the door opened, revealing an adult woman. ¡°Ms. Sawa?¡± Yamato asked. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me. How can I help you?¡± ¡°We need to talk to your daughter, Rei.¡± ¡°No,¡± she said firmly. Her tone was sharp and unwavering. ¡°Anything involving Rei has to do with that serial killer, doesn¡¯t it? I won¡¯t let her near that man again.¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am, please,¡± Kenta stepped forward, his voice calm but urgent. ¡°She¡¯s our only hope to save the island.¡± ¡°No!¡± she snapped, her frustration clear. ¡°Mom?¡± A voice called out from further inside the house. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Nothing, sweetie, just go back to¡ª¡± ¡°Ma¡¯am,¡± Yamato interrupted, his sharp eyes focused past her. ¡°Are you Rei Sawa?¡± Footsteps echoed as the girl emerged into view, her curiosity piqued. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me,¡± she said, stepping forward. She took a quick look at Kenta and immediately recognized him. ¡°Oh, Detective Mayeda?¡± ¡°Yo, what¡¯s up?¡± Kenta greeted casually. ¡°What do you need me for?¡± Rei asked, folding her arms. Yamato didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°I¡¯ll be straight with you. We need you as bait to lure out Ryota Shima. He¡¯s our only lead on Nishima. Once we have him, we might be able to take Nishima down.¡± ¡°Absolutely not!¡± her mother protested, her voice rising with indignation. ¡°Mom,¡± Rei cut in, her voice steady and resolute. ¡°I have to do this. Not just for the island, but so I can finally stop looking over my shoulder because of Ryota.¡± Her mother froze, locking eyes with her daughter. Rei¡¯s determination was clear, and for a moment, the tension thickened in the air. Finally, the woman sighed, defeated. ¡°Fine,¡± she said coldly. ¡°But you¡¯d better not let her get hurt. Not a single scratch, you hear?¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am,¡± Kenta said, nodding sincerely. With that, Rei grabbed her things and followed Yamato and Kenta out to the waiting police car. As the car rumbled down the street, Rei broke the silence. ¡°So, what exactly do you need me to do?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple,¡± Kenta explained. ¡°You call him. Tell him you¡¯re scared and need to meet up. Hopefully, he¡¯ll come running.¡± Rei raised an eyebrow. ¡°That¡¯s a horrible plan.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Yamato admitted, glancing at her through the rearview mirror. ¡°But it¡¯s the only plan we¡¯ve got.¡± *** At the DIPD, protests raged on. Signs waved high, and angry shouts filled the air. Amidst the chaos, a jittery man approached the building¡¯s entrance. ¡°More... more,¡± he muttered under his breath. His hands shook violently, and his eyes were wild, like a rabid animal. ¡°I NEED MORE!¡± Suddenly, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a grenade. With a deranged grin, he yanked the pin and hurled it over the crowd. The grenade flew through the air, crashing through a window before detonating. The deafening explosion rattled the building, silencing the crowd for a split second. Then, chaos erupted. The protesters roared louder, their anger boiling over as they surged toward the police barricades. Inside, rookies Kai, Ava, and Hibiki stood guard, monitoring Mayor Hoshiga and Captain Sanders from a safe distance. ¡°WHAT THE HELL?¡± Mayor Hoshiga yelled, his face pale with fear. ¡°A grenade? A damn grenade? And you expect me to feel safe here?!¡± ¡°Right now, this is probably the safest place for you,¡± Captain Sanders replied, his tone even despite the tension. ¡°Still, we¡¯d better prepare for the worst.¡± ¡°Oh, fantastic,¡± Kai muttered sarcastically. ¡°Relax, Kai,¡± Hibiki said with a smirk. ¡°We¡¯ve got this.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Ava added, her expression calm but confident. ¡°We can handle this.¡± *** Meanwhile, at a warehouse in the Commons Sector, Rei sat alone in the hollow, empty space. She wrapped her arms around her knees, trying to stay calm. Somewhere behind a stack of equipment, Yamato and Kenta waited in the shadows, staying alert. ¡°Is this actually going to work?¡± Kenta asked in a whisper. ¡°Shh,¡± Yamato hissed. ¡°Someone¡¯s coming.¡± A hooded figure stepped into the warehouse and hurried toward Rei. ¡°Rei!¡± the man called out, his voice filled with relief. Reaching her, he crouched down to help her to her feet. ¡°I¡¯m so glad you¡¯re okay.¡± ¡°Ryota,¡± Rei whimpered, tears welling up as she played the part of a scared girl. ¡°I-I didn¡¯t know what to do. With everything happening in the city, I was so scared!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he reassured her, pulling her close. ¡°You¡¯re safe with me now.¡± ¡°ISN¡¯T THAT IRONIC!¡± Yamato¡¯s voice boomed across the warehouse. He and Kenta stepped out from their hiding spots, weapons drawn. Ryota¡¯s eyes widened in fury as realization dawned on him. ¡°She¡¯s supposed to feel safe with a serial killer protecting her?¡± Yamato jeered. ¡°Detectives,¡± Ryota growled, his voice dripping with malice. Shoving Rei aside, he spun to face them. ¡°YOU SET ME UP!¡± ¡°You¡¯ve got bigger problems, Ryota,¡± Kenta said coldly, raising his water blade. ¡°We know you¡¯ve been working with Nishima. What¡¯s his plan? Where is he?¡± For a moment, Ryota stood still. Then, his lips curled into a twisted grin, and a deranged laugh bubbled up from his throat. ¡°Ahaha! You¡¯ll have to beat the answer out of me!¡± ¡°Well,¡± Yamato said, smirking as he gripped his stormcallers. ¡°That was sort of the plan.¡± As the tension escalated, Rei scrambled to safety while Yamato and Kenta readied themselves for the fight. Dark Hour Part 3 A quiet chaos loomed over Daimon, the air thick with tension. In the medical sector, the evacuation had settled down, leaving behind only small crowds. Police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks weaved their way into the sector. Around the laboratories, senior detectives and bomb squads worked tirelessly, searching every corner for the bombs. Inside one of the laboratories, senior detective Kiria took down a group of armed guards. He moved through the lab, scanning every inch for anything suspicious. To his right, a door caught his eye. It stood out to him, almost calling his attention. He approached it, pulled it open, and was met with a massive, circular black device blinking with a timer on its surface. ¡°OVER HERE!¡± Kiria shouted, calling out to the nearby bomb squad. Four officers rushed over and immediately got to work on the bomb. After a few moments, one of them turned to Kiria to report. ¡°Sir, the bombs are wired to an interlocked system. If we disable one, the others will detonate. The only way to disarm them is to disable them all at the exact same time.¡± Kiria nodded grimly. "Alright, I''ll let the others know." He pulled out his phone without hesitation and dialed. *** Meanwhile, Yamato and Kenta stood face to face with Ryota. The air was heavy with tension, and Ryota¡¯s crazed grin only made it worse. ¡°You couldn¡¯t beat me with all six of your little friends,¡± Ryota sneered. ¡°I¡¯ll make quick work of you two.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome to try,¡± Yamato said, his voice steady and unwavering. ¡°Yeah,¡± Kenta added, gripping his sword tightly. ¡°I still owe you for my sister.¡± Ryota¡¯s grin twisted as he formed a wind spear in his hand and darted toward Yamato with lightning speed! But just before he could land the attack, Kenta stepped in, intercepting him with his sword. The two clashed for a moment before jumping back to create space. As soon as Ryota moved back, Yamato raised his guns and fired off wind bullets with rapid precision! Ryota darted to the side to dodge the attack, but Kenta anticipated the move and matched his speed, closing the gap in an instant! The two exchanged a furious series of attacks, strikes clashing again and again, before breaking away. ¡°Heh.¡± Ryota smirked, annoyed but no less confident. ¡°Is that all you¡¯ve got? Pathetic. Let me end this now.¡± Behind him, multiple wind spears began to form, swirling violently in the air! The sight sent a chill through the rookies, reminding them of their last fight. ¡°Here they come!¡± Kenta warned as Ryota launched the spears. But this time, Yamato wasn¡¯t about to let history repeat itself. Without thinking, he instinctively charged a massive amount of wind energy into one of his guns and fired. The wind blast collided with the spears in midair, creating a shockwave that blew through the entire warehouse! Everyone froze, their eyes fixated on Yamato in stunned silence. ¡°Damn,¡± Yamato muttered, looking at his gun in disbelief. ¡°Jace did a hell of a job.¡± Kenta grinned, glancing back at Ryota. "Heh. Nice shot, Yamato. Let¡¯s keep it up.¡± Ryota, visibly frustrated, clenched his fists. ¡°DON¡¯T MESS WITH ME!¡± he roared. With a burst of speed, Ryota rushed straight at Yamato, faster than Kenta could react! ¡°YAMATO!¡± Kenta shouted in desperation as he tried to close the distance. But Yamato didn¡¯t flinch. He stood firm, calmly charging his Stormcallers. At the last moment, right as Ryota was about to strike, Yamato fired his guns downward, sending a powerful gust of wind that launched him into the air! ¡°What?!¡± Ryota exclaimed, skidding to a stop. ¡°I thought you couldn¡¯t fly!¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay to be wrong,¡± Yamato smirked, hovering for a brief moment before his guns sputtered out and sent him crashing back to the ground. ¡°Ouch,¡± he groaned, picking himself up. ¡°Guess that drained all the wind they had stored. That must¡¯ve been what Jace meant when he said I needed a constant flow.¡± Taking advantage of the moment, Kenta rushed Ryota with superhuman speed! Seeing him charge, Ryota jumped into the air to dodge. only to be met by Yamato, who used his guns to dive down with a spinning kick that sent Ryota crashing into a wall! Kenta pressed the attack, moving faster than ever before. He leaped at Ryota, sword in hand. ¡°AQUA SLASH!¡± Ryota reacted just in time, raising his arms to block the attack. While he managed to avoid a fatal hit, the blade cut into his right shoulder, blood spilling from the wound! ¡°AGH!¡± Ryota cried out in pain, clutching his arm. ¡°DAMMIT! ENOUGH!¡± His voice echoed through the warehouse as a spiraling gust of hot wind erupted around him, making the air sharp and suffocating. Equipment flew in every direction, slamming into walls and shattering on the floor.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience. Yamato and Kenta braced themselves, shielding their faces from the wind. ¡°We need to move this outside,¡± Kenta said, his eyes darting to Rei, who trembled in the corner. ¡°We¡¯ll lose our advantage, but at least Rei will be safe.¡± ¡°Good call,¡± Yamato agreed. ¡°Let¡¯s do it.¡± Charging up his Stormcallers, Yamato unleashed a burst of wind that launched him forward! He closed the gap in an instant, grabbing Ryota and dragging him outside. Both of them crashed to the ground in a heap! ¡°DAMN YOU!¡± Ryota growled as he scrambled back to his feet. From inside the warehouse, Kenta dashed toward Ryota, moving to finish the fight! He and Ryota clashed in a flurry of attacks, their speed and strength colliding with incredible force. But Ryota managed to catch Kenta with a kick, sending him flying across the dirt! Yamato rushed to his side. ¡°You okay?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m fine,¡± Kenta said, slowly getting up. ¡°It¡¯s just like last time. We need a new approach.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Yamato replied, helping Kenta to his feet, a grin spreading across his face. ¡°I think I¡¯m getting the hang of these new Stormcallers. It¡¯s time we go all out.¡± Kenta smirked, nodding in agreement. ¡°I¡¯m with you.¡± ¡°BRING IT, DETECTIVES!¡± Ryota roared from above, wind swirling around him as he floated in the air, ready for battle. With a wicked grin, Ryota summoned a massive storm of wind spears, more than double what the rookies had faced before! ¡°RAIN OF DEATH!¡± Kenta gripped his sword tightly, slashing and blocking as best as he could! Each deflected spear left him more battered and bloody, but he pressed on. Meanwhile, Yamato burst through the air, weaving between the spears with precision! Though he dodged most of them, some cut deep into his skin as he surged forward. He grits his teeth and presses on, colliding with Ryota in the air! ¡°GO TO HELL!¡± Yamato shouted as he drove his elbow hard into Ryota¡¯s stomach, sending him reeling backward! Without missing a beat, Yamato propelled himself forward again, headbutting Ryota with such force that it left his head bleeding. As blood trickled down his forehead, Yamato rose above Ryota in the air and delivered a spinning windmill kick that slammed him into the ground below. ¡°NOW, KENTA!¡± Yamato yelled. Kenta dashed forward with lightning speed, tearing through the air! By the time Ryota saw him coming, it was too late! ¡°AQUA STYLE: TIDAL WAVE!¡± A massive surge of water spiraled around Kenta¡¯s blade as he landed a devastating strike on Ryota! The impact sent Ryota tumbling across the ground, his body battered and bloodied! But Ryota forced himself back to his feet, blood dripping from his wounds. His crazed grin remained as he started laughing hysterically. ¡°AHAHAHA! IS THAT ALL YOU¡¯VE GOT?!¡± ¡°NO!¡± Yamato shouted from the air. Twin gusts of wind swirled around his guns as he charged them up. ¡°Man, I really hope you survive this...¡± He aimed both guns at Ryota. ¡°WIND CANNON!¡± A blast of wind erupted from Yamato¡¯s Stormcallers, crashing into Ryota before he could even react. The explosion was deafening, shaking the ground as a cloud of smoke filled the area. Yamato landed and regrouped with Kenta, watching the smoke anxiously. When it finally cleared, Ryota lays motionless in a crater, unable to move. Yamato and Kenta approached slowly, still on guard. ¡°Did you kill him?¡± Kenta asked with mock sarcasm. ¡°I hope not,¡± Yamato replied. Suddenly, Ryota coughed, his body twitching weakly. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he glared at the two detectives. ¡°D-Damn you two¡­¡± he muttered. ¡°Where¡¯s Nishima? What¡¯s he planning?¡± Yamato demanded. ¡°I¡¯m not telling y¡¯all shit,¡± Ryota spat defiantly. ¡°Why are you so loyal to Nishima? Why won¡¯t you give him up?¡± Ryota gave a bitter laugh, his eyes filled with disdain. ¡°Heh¡­ I¡¯m not loyal to that devil. I just hate y¡¯all.¡± ¡°Oh, well isn¡¯t that just perfect,¡± Kenta said, rolling his eyes. ¡°What now?¡± Before Yamato could respond, Rei stepped out of the warehouse and cautiously approached Ryota. ¡°Ryota...¡± she said softly. ¡°Please, just tell them.¡± ¡°Why the hell would I listen to you?¡± Ryota snapped. Rei looked him in the eye, her voice trembling. ¡°Because I know you still care about me. And while I can¡¯t forgive you for everything you¡¯ve done¡­ if you ever cared about me, even a little, could you do this one last thing for me?¡± Ryota was silent for a long moment, staring into Rei¡¯s frightened eyes. He exhaled sharply. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll tell you.¡± He shifted his gaze to Yamato and Kenta. ¡°Nishima¡¯s using the evacuation of the medical sector to sneak in unnoticed. He¡¯s headed for Crystalfall Laboratory. That¡¯s where they ¡®replaced¡¯ his parents, under orders from Mayor Hoshiga. I¡¯d bet he¡¯s already there with the girl he abducted. He plans to kill the Hoshigas there. It¡¯s a small lab, no one would think to look for him there. And no, there aren¡¯t any bombs there. I don¡¯t know where the bombs are, but it¡¯s definitely not there.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Yamato asked skeptically. ¡°He didn¡¯t tell me directly,¡± Ryota admitted. ¡°But I¡¯m not dumb enough to work with someone like him without digging up some dirt.¡± Kenta groaned in frustration. ¡°Damn, we have to head back to the medical sector?¡± ¡°Kenta, take Rei and Ryota back to the DIPD. Leave Nishima to me.¡± ¡°What? You can¡¯t do this alone.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll get there faster if I go alone, I can fly. Besides, I won¡¯t be alone.¡± Yamato hesitated before pulling out a burner phone. ¡°I need to make a call.¡± Kenta frowned. ¡°Are you sure you want his help?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have a choice.¡± Kenta sighed. ¡°Alright. Good luck, Yamato.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Kenta helped Rei into the car and dragged Ryota in after her. As the vehicle drove off, Yamato brought the burner phone to his ear. *** Meanwhile, in the basement of Shunji¡¯s house, Yuto prepared himself. He put on his gear, top, gloves, bottom, and mask, his strength finally returned just in time. He flexed his hands, ready for the mission ahead. Beside him, a black phone began to ring. He picked it up and answered. Dark Hour Part 4 Night falls over Daimon Island. The final hours of Nishima¡¯s threat loom heavy over the uneasy citizens. At the DIPD headquarters, the protests outside have reached their boiling point. The crowd pushes past the barriers, shoving officers aside as they bang on the doors, their chants echoing through the streets. ¡°GIVE US THE MAYOR!¡± the crowd roared in unison. Inside, Kai, Ava, and Hibiki stood near the windows, observing the chaos with growing unease. ¡°Welp,¡± Hibiki said, pushing his chair back and stretching. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re doing something.¡± ¡°Relax, Hibiki,¡± Captain Sanders said, stepping into the room with his usual calm authority. ¡°I¡¯ve got this.¡± Without hesitation, Captain Sanders pushed open the front door and walked directly into the mob. The buzzing crowd hushed slightly, watching as Sierra Reeds, with her microphone in hand, approached him quickly. ¡°Captain Sanders,¡± Sierra said, her tone sharp and expectant. ¡°Do you have anything to say to the people of Daimon during this desperate time?¡± ¡°Yes, I do,¡± he said, his voice steady and confident. Turning to address the crowd, he raised his hand. ¡°People of Daimon,¡± Sanders began. ¡°In our darkest hour, we cannot afford to be divided. That¡¯s what the enemy wants, chaos among ourselves. Instead, we must stand as one. We must support each other, no matter how angry or desperate we feel. That¡¯s the only way we survive this. We fight as one, and if it¡¯s fated, we lose as one. His words silenced the crowd. Hundreds of eyes locked on him, the chaos melting into quiet respect. Sanders took a final glance at them before turning and walking back inside without another word. When he walks back in, the rookies are there to greet him. ¡°Amazing, Captain!¡± Avav says, her eyes wide with awe. Suddenly, the crowd erupts into cheers again, their attention shifting to the doors. Kenta strides in, carrying a knocked-out Ryota in handcuffs, with Rei following behind. ¡°Yo, guys,¡± Kenta says casually. ¡°What¡¯d I miss?¡± *** At the border of the medical sector, the evacuation continued smoother now as the final waves of citizens made their way to safety. Ski Reeds stood with her camera rolling, recording the scene of controlled chaos. Just then, a soft swishing noise caught her attention. She turned and looked up just in time to see Yamato soaring overhead with his guns holstered, flying deeper into the sector. ¡°Yamato?¡± she murmured in surprise. Before she could process what she¡¯d seen, Yuto blazed past the crowd on his black and gray motorcycle, moving too fast for anyone to stop him. His cape rippled in the wind, flowing like a shadow as he disappeared into the sector. This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. The two met up moments later outside a building labeled "Crystalfall Laboratory." The structure, three stories high, gleamed white and blue, sparkling faintly in the moonlight like crystals. Yuto and Yamato surveyed the area, assessing their options. ¡°Hmm, a little less guarded than I expected,¡± Yamato muttered, his breath ragged as he fought through the pain from his previous battle. ¡°He¡¯s probably got the inside secured,¡± Yuto replied, stepping off his motorcycle. ¡°If he stationed men outside, it¡¯d draw too much attention.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ that makes sense.¡± Yamato nodded, but his body betrayed him, trembling slightly as exhaustion took hold. ¡°The senior detectives are working on the bombs. All we have to do is take out Nishima.¡± Yuto glanced at Yamato, his sharp eyes noticing how weak the younger detective had become. ¡°I¡¯ll deal with Nishima,¡± Yuto said firmly. ¡°You go find Riku.¡± ¡°What? No way. You¡¯ll need my help!¡± ¡°You¡¯re barely standing,¡± Yuto countered. ¡°You won¡¯t last long if you push yourself. And don¡¯t forget,I''m on borrowed time too. The withdrawal symptoms from Nishima¡¯s drug will hit me soon enough.¡± ¡°Then why not let me help?¡± Yamato protested. ¡°Because if this goes south, Riku has to be secured,¡± Yuto said, his voice level but firm. ¡°If I fail, or if the bombs detonate, Riku has to survive. The senior detectives can handle the rest.¡± Yamato clenched his fists, reluctant but understanding. ¡°Fine,¡± he said after a pause. ¡°I¡¯ll let Riku know we¡¯re here. She¡¯s not a fighter, but any backup is good. Plus there might be a chance they finished working on a cure. But you better take him down.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the plan,¡± Yuto said as he walked toward the building''s entrance. ¡°Nishima¡¯s probably on the top floor. Wait for me to clear the guards before you move in.¡± ¡°Right!¡± *** On the third floor of Crystalfall Laboratory, armed guards filled every corner of the room, patrolling with their rifles at the ready. The floor was sectioned off by thick walls, forcing narrow lines of sight and limiting entrances. ¡°Just one more hour,¡± one of the guards said casually, fidgeting with his weapon. ¡°Then I can get more of that stuff.¡± ¡°Shut it,¡± another snapped. ¡°Anything could happen. One of those damn detectives could crash in here at any moment.¡± ¡°Oh, please,¡± another guard added from the back. ¡°You¡¯re not actually scared of that Black Knight nonsense, are you? That encounter was just a coincidence.¡± The group chuckled nervously, until the shatter of glass silenced them all. Without warning, Yuto burst through the window, crashing into the room like a storm! Gunfire erupted instantly, bullets flying as the guards scrambled to take him out. But Yuto was faster. He dove into a guard, wrenching the weapon from his hands, and sent the man flying into a cluster of others with a devastating punch. The remaining guards turned their fire on him, but Yuto moved like a blur, ducking and weaving between bullets! He struck with brutal precision, taking out multiple guards simultaneously before grabbing another and hurling him across the room. One guard rushed Yuto from behind, but he turned, grabbed the man by his collar, and slammed him into the wall with such force that it collapsed into the adjacent room, taking another group of guards with it. As the chaos continued, Yuto methodically dismantled the guards, leaving them with no chance to regroup. In mere moments, the last guard fell, unconscious to the floor. The room fell silent, save for the sound of Yuto catching his breath. Yuto turned toward a door leading to the final section of the floor. He pushed it open and stepped inside. There, standing by the window, was Nishima. His silhouette was framed by the moonlight as he stared out into the night, turning only slightly as Yuto entered. ¡°It¡¯s over, Nishima!¡± Yuto growled. ¡°This ends now!¡± Nishima smirked, finally turning to face him. ¡°I agree, ¡®Black Knight.¡¯ THIS IS THE END!¡± Dark Hour Part 5 Tension hangs over Daimon Island, thick enough to cut with a knife. Yuto and Nishima prepare to face off as the final hour of Nishima¡¯s threat approaches. Nishima¡¯s appearance is almost unchanged, except for the line of small pouches clipped to his waist. Nishima glares at Yuto, a sly but irritated grin on his face. ¡°You¡¯re annoyingly persistent, like some kind of bad cold. What the hell do you even want with me? Are you really here to help this island?¡± ¡°I want to take down the underworld and if I can in the process, show the island that not everything is hopeless.¡± ¡°BUT IT IS! THAT¡¯S WHAT YOU DON¡¯T UNDERSTAND!¡± Nishima snaps, his voice rising. ¡°My family was loved by this island, but then they turned on us. THEY TREATED US LIKE GARBAGE, all because of the lies of one corrupt politician!¡± ¡°This island has its flaws,¡± Yuto replies firmly. ¡°I won¡¯t argue with that. But that doesn¡¯t mean you should punish everyone. There are still good people here.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t get it, do you? Do you know what it¡¯s like? To have the island you love be the reason your family was taken from you? Wait until that happens to you, and then you¡¯ll be just like me.¡± Memories of Yuto¡¯s parents flash through his mind, the ache of their loss cutting deeper every time. He clenches his fists. ¡°No¡­ I wouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°You¡¯re such a fool, ¡®Black Knight.¡¯ Why waste your time trying to help something that doesn¡¯t want to be helped?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that my goal is to help the island. It¡¯d just be nice if it ends up happening,¡± Yuto answers sharply. Nishima grits his teeth, his frustration with Yuto boiling over. His hand hovers over one of the pouches on his waist. ¡°Fine. Be stubborn, then.¡± Nishima yanks out a small black-and-green cylindrical device from the pouch! ¡°THEN YOU CAN GO TO HELL WITH THIS STUPID ISLAND!¡± With a flick of his wrist, Nishima hurls the device toward Yuto! Yuto sidesteps it easily, but Nishima breaks into a maniacal grin! The device explodes, blasting out a green gas and knocking Yuto backward with brute force! Yuto scrambles to his feet, but Nishima doesn¡¯t waste a moment. Pulling out a knife, he charges at Yuto with a flurry of wild slashes! Yuto moves swiftly, dodging every strike! ¡°DAMN YOU!¡± Nishima shouts, his attacks growing more ferocious. Seizing the opportunity, Yuto grabs Nishima¡¯s arm mid-swing and drives his knee into Nishima¡¯s stomach! The impact drives the air out of Nishima, and Yuto follows up with a hard punch to his face, sending him crashing into a nearby wall! ¡°You can¡¯t beat me,¡± Yuto says with calm confidence. ¡°DON¡¯T GET COCKY!¡± Nishima growls, staggering to his feet. He pulls four more small devices from his pouches and hurls them at Yuto! Reacting quickly, Yuto swings his cape in front of him, using it as a shield. He twists his body sideways to brace against the blast. Four deafening explosions rip through the room, shaking the walls and shattering glass! ¡°HE¡¯S DEAD!¡± Nishima yells, grinning through his labored breaths. But through the rising smoke, a silhouette moves. Suddenly, Yuto bursts from the haze, moving like lightning. He lunges at Nishima with an overwhelming speed. ¡°CURTANA IMPACT!¡± Yuto¡¯s voice rings out as he delivers a devastating uppercut. The blow sends Nishima rocketing through the ceiling and onto the rooftop. Nishima lands with a thud. His body is bloodied and battered, barely able to move. *** Meanwhile, on the building¡¯s first floor, Yamato took down a group of armed guards as he continues his search for Riku. The guards lie scattered around him as he continues his search for Riku. ¡°Doesn¡¯t look like she¡¯s here,¡± Yamato mutters, scanning the wreckage. Spotting a staircase to his right, he starts climbing. At the top, he stops dead in his tracks. A heavily armed group of guards stands in front of a doorway, their weapons ready. Yamato narrows his eyes, confident the door leads to Riku. ¡°Bingo,¡± he whispers, charging wind energy into his stormcallers. In one quick motion, Yamato steps into view and releases a powerful gust of wind. The blast crashes into the guards, knocking over half of them to the ground. The remaining guards fire back, but Yamato moves swiftly, picking them off one by one with pinpoint-accurate wind bullets. Once the room is clear, Yamato strides toward the door. He kicks it open to find Riku tied to a chair, her arms bound and a blindfold covering her eyes. ¡°W-Who¡¯s there?¡± Riku stammers, her voice trembling with fear. ¡°I¡¯m Detective Fujimura,¡± Yamato says, keeping his voice steady. ¡°You¡¯re safe now.¡± Yamato unties her ropes and removes the blindfold. The moment her eyes meet his, Riku bursts into tears, throwing her arms around him. ¡°Thank you so much!¡± she sobs. ¡°Yeah, now let¡¯s get you out of here.¡± Yamato stands, helping Riku to her feet. But as he glances up, his chest tightens. An armed guard stands at the doorway, gun raised and aimed directly at Riku. Without thinking, Yamato steps in front of her. ¡°D-DAMN YOU!¡± the guard shouts, his voice echoing through the room. The deafening crack of a gunshot rings out. *** Back on the rooftop, Yuto leaps up through the hole in the ceiling, landing in front of Nishima¡¯s broken body. ¡°It¡¯s over, Nishima! Give it up!¡± Yuto commands, his voice firm. But suddenly, a dizzy sensation hits him like a brick wall! His body goes numb as his vision blurs. His chest feels scorching hot, and he drops to the ground in agony. His breathing becomes erratic as his heart races out of control. ¡°AHAHAHA! FINALLY!¡± Nishima¡¯s laugh cuts through the haze. ¡°I KNEW IT! YOU COULD ONLY DELAY THE EFFECTS OF THE DRUG FOR SO LONG. THE WITHDRAWAL WAS INEVITABLE!¡± Nishima slowly gets to his feet, towering over Yuto¡¯s writhing body. Yuto weakly reaches out, his will to fight still strong, but his strength betrays him. Nishima pulls off his gloves with his teeth and grips Yuto¡¯s outstretched arm! A wicked grin twists his bloodied face.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°You know what¡¯s crazy about my power?¡± Nishima smirks as his bare hand melts through Yuto¡¯s armor. ¡°My body doesn¡¯t just give off concentrated radiation to whatever it touches, well besides clothes for some reason, it melts everything.¡± Nishima¡¯s hand slowly melts through Yuto¡¯s armor, burning his skin underneath! ¡°AGGGHHHHH!¡± Yuto screams in agony. ¡°AHAHAHA! DOES IT BURN?! TRUST ME, YOU HAVEN¡¯T FELT THE WORST OF IT YET!¡± Nishima lets go of Yuto and starts kicking him in the stomach with all his fury! As Yuto gasps for air, Nishima grabs him by the neck! His burning hand presses against Yuto¡¯s throat, making him writhe in pain! ¡°You know what I always wondered?¡± Nishima says, tightening his grip. ¡°Why none of you questioned the radiation drugs that killed anyone who used them. Maybe you all just thought I was crazy. Fair take.¡± Yuto struggles, trying to loosen Nishima¡¯s hold, but it¡¯s no use. ¡°But I had a reason,¡± Nishima continues, his voice dripping with malice. ¡°Those drugs were created directly from the radiation emitted by my hands. I wanted to test how much was needed to make the mayor¡¯s death as slow and painful as possible. Sadly, he isn¡¯t here right now. SO I¡¯LL JUST HAVE TO SETTLE FOR YOU!¡± Nishima presses harder, choking the life out of Yuto. His hold is firm, and Yuto is too weak to fight back. ¡°It¡¯s about time,¡± Nishima mutters, standing over Yuto. ¡°I didn¡¯t get the mayor, but at least I¡¯ll get to see the fireworks. You thought you could help this island? Now watch as it explodes!¡± He looks out at the city, waiting for the bombs to go off. Seconds pass, nothing happens. A heavy silence fills the air. ¡°What¡­ WHAT?! NO! NO! NO! THE BOMBS WERE DISABLED?¡± *** Meanwhile, in the medical sector, senior detective Kiria stands in a laboratory, waiting for news from the bomb squad. One of the officers approaches him quickly. ¡°Sir! We¡¯ve disabled the bombs and will have them disposed of shortly.¡± ¡°Good work.¡± ¡°Thank you, sir, but the real thanks go to you and the senior detectives. Without you, I don¡¯t know what would¡¯ve happened.¡± The officer moves to help the others gather the bombs, leaving Kiria to watch in silent relief. *** Back on the rooftop, Nishima glares at the city, pure frustration twisting his face. His anger boils over, and he drops his guard for just a moment. With the last of his strength, Yuto gets to his feet and throws a powerful punch, landing it square on Nishima¡¯s face! Nishima crumples to the ground, unconscious! The fight is over. *** On the second floor, Yamato opens his eyes, catching his breath. He turns to see Kiara standing behind him, holding her gun. She¡¯s the one who fired the shot that took down the guard aiming at Riku. ¡°You guys okay?¡± Kiara asks, walking toward them. ¡°Whew,¡± Yamato sighs, relieved. ¡°I knew it was a good idea to let you know where we were.¡± ¡°Hmph,¡± Kiara pouts. ¡°Of course it was.¡± ¡°Kiara, take Riku and get her out of here. I¡¯m finishing this.¡± Yamato starts to head toward the stairs. ¡°Wait,¡± Kiara says, stepping in front of him. She reaches into her pocket and pulls out three syringes, holding them out to Yamato. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± he asks, taking them. ¡°The blood sample helped. We still need time to create a cure for the people exposed long-term, but this will help anyone with just one or two doses of the drug.¡± ¡°Kiara¡­¡± ¡°I may not like that vigilante, but I¡¯m not heartless. I don¡¯t want anyone to die today.¡± Kiara crosses her arms. ¡°Out of respect for you, I won¡¯t push for his arrest, but I will report this. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Yamato smiles faintly. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I get it. Thanks.¡± ¡°... Oh, and let me explain the syringes. The white one is for the drug. The blue ones are for radiation. The scientists took Nishima¡¯s radiation into account and made something to counter it.¡± She looks him over. ¡°I knew you were exposed to his radiation, and I brought another one for your ¡®friend¡¯ just in case.¡± ¡°Wait, where¡¯d you find scientists willing to stay and make these?¡± ¡°There were a few who stayed behind to help despite the danger. Luckily, I found them fast and got to work.¡± ¡°Nice, well thanks for everything. I should get going.¡± Kiara nods. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll take Riku from here.¡± Yamato heads up the stairs while Kiara leads Riku to safety. *** On the rooftop, Yuto is on the ground, writhing in pain. The withdrawal symptoms are hitting him hard, leaving him too weak to move. ¡°Shunji,¡± Yuto whispers into the mic in his mask, his voice faint and trembling. ¡°Thank you¡­ for everything.¡± ¡°NO!¡± Shunji shouts desperately. ¡°KEEP FIGHTING, YUTO!¡± Suddenly, Yamato leaps up through the hole left in the rooftop from earlier. He rushes over to Yuto and quickly injects him with two of the syringes. A few tense moments pass before Yuto finally snaps back. Slowly, he rises to his feet, his strength returning. ¡°Nice timing,¡± Yuto mutters, still catching his breath. ¡°Kiara did most of the work, she helped the scientists come up with a cure. It¡¯ll take time, but you don¡¯t have to worry about the drug¡¯s effects, or the radiation anymore.¡± Yuto nods. ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± The two stand side by side for a moment, staring out into the night sky. ¡°It¡¯s finally over,¡± Yamato says with a quiet, relieved sigh. ¡°For now,¡± Yuto replies. ¡°But something tells me there¡¯s more trouble coming for this island.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°There¡¯s still the underworld to deal with. And Nishima¡­ There are too many unanswered questions about him.¡± ¡°Like what?¡± ¡°For one, how could he have hidden himself for so long without anyone noticing? It¡¯s not like he was some random person no one knew. I¡¯m sure he had outside help, I just don¡¯t know who it was from. And two, some of those armed men he had were skilled. Way more skilled than some druggie off the street. Someone supplied him with those men, probably mixed them in with the addicts so we wouldn¡¯t notice.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Yamato says, nodding slightly. ¡°You¡¯re right. There¡¯s still a lot more to uncover¡­ So, what will you do now?¡± ¡°For now, I¡¯ll keep attacking the underworld. I¡¯m confident that¡¯ll keep me moving in the right direction.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll probably cross paths again, then,¡± Yamato replies, his tone thoughtful. ¡°But will it be as friends, or enemies?¡± ¡°Whatever the situation calls for,¡± Yuto answers calmly. ¡°Well, that¡¯s comforting¡­ I guess.¡± Yamato glances around as the sound of police sirens grows louder, their approach imminent. ¡°You should go. The police will be here any minute. And¡­ thanks for trying to be a hero and all. We needed that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a hero,¡± Yuto says, walking toward the edge of the rooftop. He pauses for a moment. ¡°But hopefully... I can be the reason there are heroes.¡± Yuto leaps off the roof, firing his grapple. He glides down through the night, landing softly before taking off into the distance. He disappears into the shadows, headed for his motorcycle. *** The chaos on Daimon Island is finally over. The streets have calmed, and the crowd outside the DIPD has dispersed. Inside, Riku has been reunited with Mayor Hoshiga. Her maid, Faith, and Kuro arrive at the precinct to see her, relief written all over their faces. Meanwhile, Yamato stands in front of the senior detectives, enduring a well-deserved scolding for his reckless actions. Kiara stands nearby, nodding along with every word, her arms crossed with satisfaction. *** In a small house in the Commons Sector, Chiori Hirayama sits behind a desk in her quiet bedroom. Her computer glows softly on the desk, displaying a blurry photo of "The Black Knight" taken and shared by the media. Chiori¡¯s eyes remain locked on the screen. She clicks through a folder on her computer, eventually opening another file. A school photo of Yuto Sasaki appears on the monitor. ¡°Yuto Sasaki¡­¡± she murmurs under her breath, her expression unreadable as she stares at the picture.