As the phoenix gracefully descended onto the grassy turf in front of the Megumi castle, its wings folded elegantly against its fiery feathers, Scarlett and Akashi prepared to dismount. The surrounding landscape seemed to bow in reverence to their arrival, the air heavy with anticipation.
Four guards, clad in gleaming metallic armour reminiscent of futuristic knights, stood at attention before the gates of the Megumi castle. Each guard bore intricate designs etched into their armour, glowing softly with a faint blue hue that spoke of advanced technology. Their helmets obscured their faces, lending an aura of mystery to their presence.
As Scarlett and Akashi approached, the guards stepped forward in unison, their movements precise and calculated. With a synchronised motion, they raised their hands in a gesture of respect, their gauntleted fists clenched in salute.
"Greetings, Captain of the 5th Division, Scarlett Hyolgun," they intoned in unison, their voices muffled by their helmets but dripping with deference and respect.
Scarlett acknowledged their greeting with a nod of her head, her expression composed and authoritative. She wasted no time in issuing her commands, her voice cutting through the air with authority.
"Get the Hadalite ready," she commanded, her tone firm and unwavering. The guards snapped to attention, their movements swift and efficient as they turned to carry out her orders.
With the guards now in motion, Scarlett turned her attention back to Akashi, her gaze lingering on him for a moment before she spoke.
"We have business to attend to," she said, her voice low but brimming with determination.
Outside the imposing gates of the Megumi castle, Scarlett and Akashi stood in anticipation, their eyes trained on the entrance as they awaited the return of the knights. The air was charged with a sense of anticipation, the weight of their mission hanging heavy upon their shoulders.
Moments later, the knights emerged from the castle, pushing a cart before them. Upon the cart sat a large cyan-coloured crystal ball, its surface smooth and flawless, reflecting the light in a mesmerising dance of colours. As the knights approached, Scarlett turned to Akashi with a nod, indicating that it was his turn.
"Go ahead, Akashi," Scarlett said, gesturing towards the crystal ball. "It's time for you to undergo the Hadalite test."
Akashi's brow furrowed in confusion as he regarded the strange stone before him. "What is this?" he asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
Scarlett regarded him with a patient expression before explaining. "This is the Hadalite," she began. "It's one of the first technological advancements developed by the early generations of quirk users. It has the ability to measure one's power level and classify them into different classes."
She continued, her tone matter-of-fact as she outlined the rankings. "Those with a power level between 500 and 400 are classified as D class, 399 to 300 as C class, 299 to 200 as B class, 199 to 100 as A class, and 99 to 0 as S class."
Scarlett paused for a moment before revealing her own ranking. "As of my recent results, I have 47 points, which places me in the S class."
Akashi nodded, absorbing the information with a sense of understanding. It came as no surprise to him that Scarlett held such a high ranking, considering her status as a captain among the Executioners. With a newfound clarity, he approached the Hadalite, ready to uncover the truth of his own power.
As Akashi approached the crystal, he turned to Scarlett with a puzzled expression. "What now?"
Scarlett motioned for him to place his hand on the smooth surface of the crystal. "Just let the Hadalite do its work," she replied.
Following her instructions, Akashi rested his hand on the crystal, and it immediately sprung to life, emitting a soft glow as it began its analysis. For a few tense seconds, they waited in silence, anticipation hanging thick in the air.
Unexpectedly, the Hadalite spoke, its voice strangely childlike. "Analysing... Analysing... Ah! The results are in!"
The tension in the room seemed to escalate as the Hadalite paused for dramatic effect. Scarlett watched with amusement, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
Finally, the Hadalite announced, "Akashi's power level... is 1000!"
The soldiers surrounding them gasped in disbelief, murmurs of astonishment rippling through the crowd. Scarlett burst into laughter, her amusement evident.
"No one should be surprised," Akashi interjected dryly, "I've said it before. I'm quirkless."
Scarlett's laughter only intensified at his remark, seemingly unconcerned with the unexpected result. It appeared that her sole purpose in using the Hadalite was to confirm Akashi's quirkless status, and she had achieved just that.
Scarlett's laughter subsided, replaced by a thoughtful expression as she regarded Akashi. "Akashi, you truly are an enigma. If you're truly as powerless as you claim to be, then why would such a formidable adversary as the High Grade Monster overlook someone as seemingly insignificant as yourself? It's quite the puzzle, isn't it?"
Akashi's response was measured, his voice steady as he replied, "Only God knows." It was a cryptic answer, hinting at depths of knowledge and experience beyond what Scarlett could comprehend. With those words, he chose to keep his true nature veiled, allowing the enigma surrounding him to persist a while longer.