Agent Satoshi's golden aura flared brightly. He stood tall and unyielding, his confidence radiating as dozens of golden spears hovered around him, each one crackling with lethal energy. Across from him, Mousa panted heavily, sweat streaming down his face, his grip on his axe firm but his arms trembling slightly. The cuts and bruises on his body were evidence of Satoshi's relentless precision.
"You're slowing down," Satoshi mocked, his voice as sharp as the weapons he wielded. "How much longer do you think you can keep this up, Mousa?"
Mousa spat blood onto the ground, glaring daggers at Satoshi. He growled, forcing himself to stand straighter. "You're nothing but a coward hiding behind tricks."
Satoshi smirked, extending his hand. "Let's test that theory."
With a flick of his wrist, the golden spears shot forward in unison, a blinding wave of death aimed directly at Mousa. He moved instinctively, swinging his axe in wide arcs to deflect as many as he could. The clash of metal against energy rang out, sparks flying as the weapons collided. But there were too many. One spear grazed his shoulder, another sliced his thigh, and a third barely missed his neck as he dove to the side.
"Your reactions are slowing," Satoshi observed, his tone almost bored. "How disappointing. I expected more from someone who claims to protect the weak."
Mousa gritted his teeth, clutching his bleeding shoulder as he got back to his feet. His breaths were ragged, his vision slightly blurred, but his resolve burned brighter than ever. "Keep talking, Satoshi. Maybe if you talk long enough, I'll find an opening to shut you up for good."
Satoshi laughed, a cold, condescending sound. "You still think you have a chance? Let me make this clear." He raised both hands, and the golden spears multiplied, surrounding Mousa in an inescapable cage of shimmering death. "This is the difference between us"
But even as Satoshi spoke, the fight wasn't finished. Despite the overwhelming odds, Mousa's eyes narrowed, and the faintest glimmer of defiance flickered in the depths of his gaze. He wasn't done yet. Not yet.
Suddenly the bandits burst through the rusted doors of the warehouse, the dim light of the setting sun casting long shadows across the chaos within. What they saw stopped them in their tracks.
They saw Mousa who was in the center of the vast, decrepit space, battered and bloodied. His breaths were ragged, and his movements had lost their usual precision. His axe clashed against Agent Satoshi's golden spears. Each swing Mousa took seemed heavier than the last, his strength waning as Satoshi effortlessly deflected his attacks. The agent, by contrast, looked almost untouched, his movements calculated and precise, like a predator playing with its prey.
Jun's eyes widened in disbelief. "Mousa…" she whispered, her voice trembling with a mixture of shock and anger. She could hardly recognize the man who had always stood as their unshakable pillar of strength.
"We can't just stand here and watch him get killed!" Without waiting for a response, Jun darted into the fray, her fists glowing with a faint blue energy.
Shota followed immediately, while Toma grabbed Kazuya by the arm. "Kazuya, Wait." he said firmly, his voice calm but urgent. "You stay here. Use your time ability—anything to give us an opening. Even a fraction of a second could turn the tide. We need every advantage we can get..."
Kazuya hesitated, his hands trembling slightly. "I… I don't know if I can control it well enough."
"You don't have to be perfect," Toma assured him. "Just do your best. That's all we need."
With that, Toma sprinted toward the battle. He joined the fray. Mousa noticed them but decided to focus on the fight.
The abandoned warehouse shook with the intensity of the battle. Mousa charged at Agent Satoshi with his axe, each swing carving through the air with raw power. Shota darted around the battlefield, his speed increasing with every punch he landed on Satoshi's defenses, forcing the agent to divert attention between his attackers. Toma manipulated the metal debris around them, launching jagged shards and bending steel beams to strike Satoshi from multiple angles, while Jun used her enhanced gloves to deliver precise, powerful strikes, testing the limits of Satoshi's defense.
Satoshi, unfazed, stood at the center of the chaos. His golden spears whirled around him in a deadly dance, deflecting attacks with ease. With a flick of his wrist, he sent a barrage of spears toward Mousa and Toma, forcing them to dodge.
"You think this will be enough?" Satoshi taunted, his voice calm yet chilling. "You're nothing but distractions."
Mousa growled, tightening his grip on his axe. "Distractions? Let's see you call us that when we bring you down!" He lunged forward, his axe glowing faintly as he channeled all his strength into a downward swing. Satoshi sidestepped effortlessly, countering with a golden spear that Mousa narrowly avoided...
Agent Satoshi moved with calculated precision, his golden spears weaving through the air like deadly serpents. Mousa, battered and bruised, swung his axe in a desperate bid to block the incoming strikes. But Satoshi was too fast, too powerful.
With a single devastating blow, Satoshi's golden spear slammed into Mousa's chest, sending him flying across the room. He crashed into a pile of debris, coughing blood as his axe slipped from his grip. "Stay down," Satoshi said coldly, his golden aura intensifying.
"Mousa!" Jun shouted.
Shota then charged at Satoshi, Kazuya saw this and subtly manipulated the flow of time, slowing Satoshi's movements just enough to give Shota an opening.
Shota's first punch landed, the impact reverberating through the warehouse. Shota growled, his fists becoming a blur as he unleashed a relentless barrage of punches. With each strike, his speed increased exponentially, his movements becoming nearly imperceptible.
For the first time, Satoshi looked genuinely surprised. Shota's fists moved with such velocity that they seemed to create afterimages, each punch landing like a hammer. "You've got some skill," Satoshi admitted, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip.
As Satoshi summoned another wave of golden spears to counter, Kazuya's time distortions continued to give Shota brief but critical advantages. Each slowed second allowed Shota to weave through the attacks and land more devastating blows. His speed reached an almost light-like intensity, leaving Satoshi visibly struggling to keep up.
But the tide turned when Aiko appeared.
Her wicked laugh echoed as she leapt into the fray, targeting Kazuya directly. "Having fun playing support?" she sneered, throwing a sharp kick at him.
Kazuya barely managed to block, stumbling back. He immediately tried to use the defensive techniques Shota had taught him, his movements careful and deliberate. But Aiko was relentless, her strikes fast and precise.
"You've got some fight in you," Aiko mocked, throwing a flurry of punches that Kazuya narrowly avoided. "
Toma noticed Kazuya struggling and stepped in, manipulating shards of metal from the debris to intercept Aiko's attacks. "Back off, bitch," Toma growled, sending a metal spike hurtling toward her.
Aiko dodged effortlessly, smirking as she taunted, "Two against one? How charming."
Meanwhile, Shota continued his assault on Satoshi, his fists moving at blinding speeds. But Satoshi's expression shifted, his annoyance giving way to a sinister grin.
"You've had your fun," Satoshi said, his aura flaring as he matched Shota's speed with ease. In a stunning display of power, Satoshi intercepted Shota's punches mid-strike, twisting his movements and countering with brutal precision.
Shota's momentum faltered, his speed no longer an advantage. Satoshi unleashed a flurry of devastating blows. He then kicked Shota away. He landed on the ground motionless.
"Shota!" Jun's scream pierced the air as she and the others froze in shock.
Mousa got up and saw Shota on the ground, he beyond angry, he summon all his power and charged at Agent Satoshi.
Agent Satoshi looked at Mousa and sighed. "Jeez, you're annoying."
Satoshi summoned a gleaming golden spear, its surface radiating with deadly energy, and hurled it toward Mousa with incredible speed. The spear struck true, piercing through him with devastating force. Blood erupted from Mousa's mouth as his body froze in place. In that instant, life left him, and he fell lifelessly
Kazuya saw everything and cried out.
"MOUSAAA!"
-----------
Agent Satoshi's laughter echoed through the hollow expanse of the warehouse, a cruel and mocking sound that cut through the despair. He stood over Mousa's lifeless body, the golden spear still glinting ominously in the dim light.
From the sidelines, Aiko leaned against a fractured pillar, her lips curling into a smug smile. She turned her attention to Kazuya, who stood frozen in disbelief. "Oh, Kazuya," she taunted, her voice sweetly venomous, "You really thought Mousa could stand a chance? How adorable."
Jun, trembling, rushed to Mousa's side. She dropped to her knees, her gloved hands trembling as she checked his pulse, desperate for any sign of life. But the truth stared back at her, cold and unforgiving. Tears welled in her eyes as she whispered, "Mousa... no..."
Toma, standing a few feet away, was overcome with rage. His breathing was ragged, and tears streamed uncontrollably down his face. "You... bastard!" he roared, his voice cracking with grief and fury. With a furious wave of his hand, Toma summoned a torrent of metal from every corner of the warehouse and beyond—beams, pipes, shards of steel, and even scraps from the walls tore free and hurtled toward Agent Satoshi in an unstoppable wave.
The storm of metal was immense, a cacophony of screeching and clanging as it rushed toward its target. But Satoshi didn't flinch. With a casual flick of his wrist, a radiant golden barrier materialized, effortlessly deflecting the onslaught. The shards of metal crashed to the ground in a useless heap as Satoshi stepped forward, a wicked grin spreading across his face.
"You know," he said, his tone almost conversational, "you would make a spectacular weapon." His eyes gleamed with an unsettling mixture of fascination and menace.
Toma's anger boiled over. "Shut up!" he screamed, hurling more curses at Satoshi, his voice raw with emotion. But before anyone could react, Satoshi vanished in a blur of speed. The next moment, he was behind Toma, so sudden and silent that it took a heartbeat for the others to realize what had happened.
In Satoshi's hand was a strange, glowing object, pulsing with an eerie light. Toma froze as the object activated, his body stiffening unnaturally. A bright flash enveloped him, and then—he was gone. In his place, a metallic ring fell to the floor with a soft clang, gleaming with an otherworldly glow.
Agent Satoshi bent down and picked up the ring, inspecting it with a satisfied smirk. "Perfect," he murmured, turning it in his fingers. "An Outcast Artifact of unparalleled potential."
Jun and Kazuya stared in horror, their hearts pounding as the weight of what had just happened sank in. Aiko, meanwhile, chuckled from her perch, clearly reveling in their anguish. "Looks like your little team is falling apart," she said, her tone mockingly cheerful.
Jun dashed forward, her fists clenched, rage fueling every step as she charged at Agent Satoshi. But before she could reach him, Aiko stepped into her path, her face a mix of guilt and defiance.
"Get out of my way, traitor!" Jun barked, her voice filled with venom.
Aiko raised her hands defensively, but Jun didn't hesitate. With a swift, calculated move, she ducked under Aiko's weak attempt at blocking and delivered a sharp blow to her stomach, followed by a spinning backhand to her temple. Aiko crumpled to the ground, unconscious.
Jun didn't even glance back. Her focus was locked on Satoshi, who stood calmly, his spear resting on his shoulder, an unsettling smile plastered on his face.
"I'm going to kill you." Jun growled as she launched a flurry of punches and kicks at him, each strike packed with the enhanced power of her gloves.
Satoshi didn't flinch. He moved effortlessly, weaving through her attacks like a ghost, his movements impossibly smooth.
"Is that all you've got?" he taunted, his voice cold and mocking.
"You smug bastard!" Jun snarled, attempting a powerful uppercut, but he sidestepped it with ease.
Satoshi's smile widened. "You have spirit. I'll give you that. But spirit won't save you."
Before Jun could respond, he hurled his spear with great speed. The weapon pierced through the air and struck her side, sending her crashing to the ground. Blood seeped from the wound as Jun gasped in pain, clutching her side. She glared up at Satoshi, her vision blurring, but her defiance remained unbroken.
"You think... I'll ever let scum like you win?" she spat, her voice strained but firm.
Satoshi crouched down a few feet from her, his expression a mix of amusement and disdain. "You're all so stupid. With your strength and fighting ability, you could be easily be a top agent in our organization. But no, you waste it on this nonsense."
Jun laughed bitterly, blood trailing from the corner of her mouth. "I'd rather die than join monsters like you."
Satoshi's smirk returned. "Suit yourself."
His gaze shifted, locking onto Kazuya, who was standing a few meters away, his body tense, his eyes wide with fury and fear.
"Oh..." Satoshi said, standing and brushing nonexistent dust off his coat. "You must be the one I've been hearing so much about. The boy with time manipulation."
Kazuya took a shaky step back, his hands clenching into fists. "Leave her alone..." he said, his voice trembling but firm.
Satoshi chuckled darkly. "Oh, I'm not done yet. Not by a long shot."
--------
Kazuya's heart raced as Agent Satoshi took slow, deliberate steps toward him, his wicked smile sending chills down Kazuya's spine. Without thinking, Kazuya turned and bolted, his feet pounding against the ruined ground.
"Run all you like, boy!" Satoshi's voice boomed, filled with mocking amusement. "You can't outrun fate!"
Kazuya glanced back and saw Satoshi closing the distance with ease, his laughter echoing ominously.
"Leave him alone!" Jun's voice rang out, strained but defiant as she struggled to lift herself from the ground. "You'll have to go through me first!"
Satoshi didn't even spare her a glance. "You're in no condition to make threats." He scoffed, his gaze never leaving Kazuya.
And he was right after a few moments, Jun fell to the ground.
"Kazuya," Agent Satoshi continued, his voice colder now, "You are one of the reason the earth is in danger. Do you not see it? Your power—your very existence—is a threat. If you ever learn to control your abilities, this world won't stand a chance. That's why you must be dealt with."
Satoshi raised his hand, and a brilliant golden spear materialized, glowing with deadly energy.
Suddenly Satoshi was punched with earth-shattering force. He staggered back, his grin faltering for the first time.
It was Shota.
The usually boxer stood firm, his fists clenched, his glare icy and unyielding. he signed to Kazuya, Run. Now.
Kazuya froze, his mind racing. "No! I can't leave you all here!"
Jun the shouted through the chaos, "Kazuya! Snap out of it and GO!"
Kazuya's gaze darted to the shelter's exit. Standing there were Miss Akane, Jin, and Roku, frantically waving him over.
"Kazuya, please!" Miss Akane cried, her voice breaking.
But Kazuya hesitated. His heart screamed at him to stay, to fight, to save his friends. He turned back just in time to see Satoshi rise to his feet, his expression dark and murderous.
"You're going to regret that." Satoshi hissed. He summoned a dozen golden spears and hurled them with deadly precision.
Shota braced himself. The spears struck him, one after another, piercing his body. Blood pooled beneath him, but he didn't fall. He stood tall, his body trembling but his resolve unbroken.
"Shota!" Kazuya cried out, tears streaming down his face.
Still, Shota turned toward Kazuya, his eyes were softening.
Kazuya's breath hitched as Shota, for the first time, forced himself to speak. His voice was hoarse and barely audible, but the words were clear: "Go."
Kazuya's heart shattered. The sound of Shota's voice, though weak, carried a weight of reassurance.
"Shota…" Kazuya whispered, his knees buckling.
Satoshi sneered, summoning another spear. "How touching." He hurled it with terrifying force, and it struck Shota square in the chest.
Roku grabbed Kazuya from behind, dragging him away as Kazuya screamed. "No! Let me go! We can still save them! Please!"
As Roku pulled him closer to the exit, Kazuya caught one last glimpse: Jun lying on the ground, Toma turned into a artifact, Shota pierced with golden spears, and Mousa's lifeless body sprawled nearby.
Kazuya's tears blurred his vision as Satoshi delivered the final blow to Shota. A haunting silence followed, broken only by Kazuya's cries of anguish.
------
Kazuya thrashed in Roku's grip, tears streaming down his face, his cries filled with despair. "Let me go! I can't leave them! Please!"
Roku held him tightly, his own face grim but resolute. "Stop it, Kazuya! We can't do anything for them right now! If you go back, you'll die too!"
Miss Akane stood a few feet away, her trembling hands raised as she focused on activating her teleportation ability. Her lips quivered, and her eyes glistened with unshed tears as she avoided looking back at the battlefield behind them.
The faint glow of her power began to envelop the group, but it flickered slightly, her emotions making it harder to concentrate. "Hold him still, Roku!" she choked out, her voice trembling. "I need a moment—just a moment!"
"Miss Akane, we don't have time!" Roku shouted, adjusting his grip on Kazuya as he continued to struggle.
Miss Akane's hands flicked in a desperate movement, and a surge of power erupted around them. The glow became blinding, and in an instant, they disappeared.
As Agent Satoshi was done with Shota, he noticed that Kazuya escaped.
His face twisted in fury, his voice booming with rage. "Cowards! You think you can run from me? This isn't over!"
He clenched his fists, glaring at the spot where they had vanished. His anger simmered as he muttered to himself, "I'll find you. Kazuya...."
---------
Kazuya, Miss Akane, Jin and Roku stood in a small, dimly lit cave surrounded by jagged rocks. The air was heavy, suffused with grief and silence. Kazuya sat on his knees, his body trembling as tears streamed uncontrollably down his face. His sobs echoed softly against the cave walls.
Miss Akane clutched her daughter close, her tears falling silently as she buried her face in the child's hair. Her daughter, still too young to understand the full weight of what had happened, looked up at her with wide, frightened eyes.
Jin and Roku leaned against the cold stone wall, their faces grim and pale. Neither spoke a word; the gravity of the events had stolen their voices.
Suddenly, Kazuya's sobbing stopped. He lifted his head, his face still wet with tears, but his expression twisted into something darker—something menacing.
"I'll kill them," he whispered, his voice low and trembling with fury.
Miss Akane froze, looking at him through tear-blurred eyes. "Kazuya..."
He slammed his fist against the ground, the sheer force causing the entire cave to quake violently. Dust and loose pebbles rained down from above as the others flinched.
"I'LL KILL THEM ALL!" he screamed, his voice filled with rage. The air around him seemed to grow heavy, oppressive, as if his emotions were affecting the very fabric of reality.
Jin and Roku exchanged uneasy glances, the usual calm on their faces replaced with concern. Even Miss Akane's daughter whimpered, clutching her mother tightly.
Kazuya stood, his white hair disheveled and his eyes filled with a fiery determination. "The Temporal Order… the Chrono Reapers… every single one of them. I will eradicate them all."
The dark energy radiating from him caused the ground beneath his feet to crack. His voice dropped into a tone colder than ice. "They'll pay for what they've done. For all the lives they've taken.... They'll suffer."
Miss Akane stepped forward, her voice trembling. "Kazuya, please... this isn't the way—"
He spun to face her, his expression so dark it made her take a step back. "Isn't the way? Look around, Akane! They destroyed everything! They murdered innocent people, including our friends. You expect me to sit back and forgive them?"
Roku put a hand on Kazuya's shoulder, trying to calm him. "Kazuya, we understand how you feel, but you need to—"
"Understand?" Kazuya growled, shrugging off Roku's hand. "Do you, Roku? Did you lose your family twice? Did you stand powerless as the people you cared about were slaughtered right in front of you?"
Roku clenched his fists but said nothing.
The cave grew silent, save for Kazuya's heavy breathing. The others could feel the weight of his words, his grief, and his rage.
Miss Akane wiped her tears, forcing her voice to steady. "Kazuya… if you let this hatred consume you, you'll become just like them."
Kazuya turned to her, his expression softening slightly but still cold. "Maybe that's what it takes. Maybe to destroy monsters, you need to become one."
His words sent a chill through the group. Even Jin, stoic as always, shifted uncomfortably.
Kazuya's fists clenched tightly as he turned away from them, staring at the dark mouth of the cave. "This isn't over. Not until they've all paid for what they've done."
The group stood in uneasy silence, the flickering shadows on the walls reflecting their turmoil. None of them dared to challenge Kazuya