"Good morning Tokyo. We regret to inform you that the fugitives known as JacQuarius 'Akiba Black Dragon' Kawasaki, Kiyomi Tanaka, and Tela 'The Giant Slayer' Takahashi remain at large, evading our military. The Japanese Government is actively offering rewards for any information leading to their capture. If you possess any knowledge regarding their whereabouts, please contact us at the provided number. Have a pleasant day, Japan!"
The hospital room was filled with an air of tension as the news broadcast ended. Inside, two men and a young woman lay in varying states of injury, wrapped in bandages from head to toe.
Daniel bore the most severe wounds, his condition critical compared to the others.
Selena's injuries were less severe, mainly physical wounds expected to heal with time.
Ian's case was the most baffling—he appeared physically healthy but was deemed "braindead" by medical assessments, his heart inexplicably continuing to beat.
Entering the room with a somber expression, the doctor shook his head in disbelief. "What on earth happened to these young people?" he muttered sadly.
Starting his rounds, the doctor approached Daniel's bedside and began monitoring his vital signs. Looking directly at Daniel, he asked gently, "Good morning, Daniel. Can you hear me? I know it's difficult, but please try to communicate. A nod of your head will suffice if speaking is too challenging."
Indeed, Daniel was now paralyzed, his ability to move and communicate severely compromised. The doctor's concern deepened as he sought to understand the full extent of their conditions.
The doctor found himself in the dark about the circumstances surrounding the injuries of the three patients. Access to their medical records was restricted, marked with a classified designation that kept him from understanding the full extent of their conditions.
"I can't feel anything. Please call my boss. I need to speak with him urgently," Daniel expressed, his voice tinged with sorrow as he struggled to move.
Leaving briefly, the doctor returned with a phone, holding it to Daniel's ear.
"What is it?" came a stern voice from the other end.
"Boss, I apologize for the mission's failure. Please, heal me and give me another chance. I know what went wrong, and I can rectify it," Daniel pleaded.
"No. Stay put and stop bothering me. You haven't faced consequences for your failure yet; consider this the beginning of your punishment. Selena will return to headquarters once she's recovered. As for you, whether you recover or not, you'll stay in the hospital until I decide otherwise. Goodbye," the voice responded coldly before abruptly ending the call.
Daniel lay there, tears staining his face, feeling abandoned at his time of need. Alongside his physical paralysis, thoughts of JacQuarius consumed his mind (no diddy), and questions about the mission's outcome racing through his thoughts.
Why did he lose? Did he even lose at all? His last memory was of JacQuarius falling unconscious. Hadn't he won?
Answers seemed out of reach, but he clung to the notion of "never say never."
Eventually, exhaustion overtook him, and he drifted back to sleep, his body immobile from neck to toe, his mind grappling with unanswered questions.
The Organization HeadQuarters
In an office room, a low-ranking agent approached their boss with a report.
"Boss, I've gathered the details you requested about the Black Dragon. What do you want to know first?" The agent spoke with his head bowed, avoiding direct eye contact.
"His location?" the boss inquired.
"Still unknown. Recent reports indicate that a Dragon-like entity departed from Japan, making it extremely difficult to pinpoint his exact whereabouts. However, we're certain that he has left Japan," the agent replied.
"Ah, it must be Primordial Reaper's doing. This explains everything. The Black Dragon had never shown any inclination to leave Japan until now. He's likely heading to another Primordial Reaper Inheritance. Locate him immediately and maintain surveillance. Anything else?" the boss responded.
"Yes, boss. I have two more updates. Would you prefer the good news or the bad news first?" the agent asked.
"Start with the good news," the boss directed.
"The good news is that we've identified the attack used by JacQuarius—it's called Draconic Annihilation. This technique requires a substantial amount of Heaven Qi to activate and summons an Ancient Dragon Spirit, specifically the Primordial Dragon! Once summoned, it unleashes a devastating meteor attack, we haven't figured out how or how many yet. We're still unraveling the specifics of this technique, but it's far more complex than initially deciphered. This explains why the Primordial Dragon intervened when the FBI attempted to counter the meteor and apprehend the Black Dragon. Without the intervention of those Platinum Rank FBI Agents, Japan could have faced even greater devastation than just the destruction of a single city. We're also investigating his horn artifact, we're extremely worried that if it is elevated to a Sacred Rank Artifact, he could fully summon the Primordial Dragon," the agent explained.
"Interesting. We must reassess our estimation of JacQuarius. It appears Daniel is not his match, at least not yet. He practically defeated all three of them single-handedly. Tela and Kiyomi seem more like liabilities than allies; we should exploit that," the boss analyzed.
"The bad news is that Ian remains brain dead. It would incur significant costs to heal him, beyond the capabilities of conventional doctors. We may need to seek assistance from a Healing-type Cultivator," the agent continued.
"While Ian's condition poses financial challenges, our control over Japan's capital is a substantial achievement and a strategic gain despite the setback. We've already spun the narrative in the media, portraying Daniel as the victor. Our plans for Japan are on track. How are things progressing in the USA?"
Somewhere Far Away
JacQuarius expressed his frustrations openly as he, Kiyomi, and Tela rode Jimmy over an unfamiliar ocean.
"Nigga we're famous! Nigga I'm famous! We're branded as terrorists, fugitives, criminals, mass murderers—every evil label in the book—and I'm loving it!" JacQuarius exclaimed. "I've always been cast as the bad guy my whole life, despite trying to do good. Every positive action I take seems to lead to a negative outcome. I tried to reconcile with Selena, and what happened? I was jumped, my best friend was killed, and Daniel backdoored me. I attempted honesty in court, confessing my crimes, only to be framed and sentenced to death in a rigged trial. Even while serving my sentence honorably, I was falsely accused of murdering my best friend! The world, God, fate, destiny, karma—whatever Supreme being it is—has always painted me as the villain in every scenario!"
Looking skyward, JacQuarius continued, "I'm exhausted by it all. But it's time to embrace the saying, 'if the shoe fits, wear it.' If the world, God, fate, destiny, or whatever supreme being despises me for it, so be it. Because I'm about to give them a reason to truly despise me!"