001's mind was ablaze with a fury long forgotten, dredged up by the ghost of an indelible memory. His once cold and composed demeanor was shattered. Muscles bulged under his bruised skin as his clenched fists trembled with rage.
The Nephom roared, a guttural cry that seemed to reverberate through the broken Shibuya. Without hesitation, he charged forward like an unstoppable force, every step quaking the ground beneath him.
The punch he threw was swift, fueled by his unrelenting anger, a blow meant to end everything. But Sei was gone before it could connect. 001's fist collided with empty air, the wind whistling mockingly past it.
Seijuro appeared just outside his reach, the smirk on his face as sharp as a blade. His white hair swayed gently in the aftermath of his evasion, the taunting glint in his eyes like a spark to dry kindling. "Why the sudden tantrum, brute?" Sei's voice was calm, dripping with mockery, each word fanning the flames of 001's rage. "Are you mad because you're losing?"
The Nephom's teeth clenched audibly, veins bulging on his forehead. With a primal snarl, he unleashed a flurry of blows, each one powerful enough to pulverize stone. Yet, Sei danced around them with an almost supernatural grace, his movements fluid and instinctive. He was a breeze, weaving effortlessly through the storm of fists, his body responding before his mind needed to.
"Your anger makes you predictable," Sei mused inwardly, his every dodge an effortless display of precision. "Keep it coming. Makes my job that much easier."
When an opening presented itself, Sei struck. A left kick to the ribs reverberated like thunder against 001's side, followed by a swift gut punch that left the air trembling. A sharp one-two to the Nephom's jaw forced him to stagger, his massive frame quaking from the unrelenting assault.
But Sei didn't stop there. As 001 charged with a vicious uppercut, Sei backstepped, the air from the missed strike ruffling his tattered clothes. Seizing the opportunity, he grabbed the Nephom's outstretched arm. His pupils shrank as a cold, predatory glint took over his gaze. "Gotcha," Sei whispered, his voice colder than ice.
With a sickening snap, Sei twisted 001's arm backward, the sound of breaking bone echoing through the his eyes. 001 let out a roar of agony, but Sei showed no mercy. "No chances. No hesitation." His voice was more a promise than a declaration.
Blow after blow rained down on 001's face like a relentless storm of bullets, Sei's fists moving faster than the eye could follow. The Nephom's face began to swell under the continuous onslaught, his once menacing features now bloodied and bruised. Blood splattered across Sei's knuckles, staining them crimson.
001, even in his agony, couldn't help but think, "How is this human moving like this?" The thought was quickly drowned out by another punch to the jaw.
Yet, beneath Sei's calm exterior, his fists ached from the unyielding hardness of the Nephom's body. "Damn it," Sei thought through gritted teeth, "His face is hard like concrete."
The fight reached a brutal end as Sei delivered a punishing kick to 001's knee, forcing the hulking figure to collapse to the ground. On his knees, 001 wheezed, his breaths labored and shallow.
Sei took a step back, blood dripping from his knuckles. His white hair clung to his sweat-slicked face, his chest heaving. "This ends now," Sei declared, his voice resolute.
Summoning every ounce of strength he had left, Sei pulled his arm back, channeling all his remaining energy into one final punch. Time seemed to slow as his fist arced toward 001's battered face. But just as it was about to connect, Sei froze. His body seized up, trembling violently. Blood trickled from his ears and nose, and a wet cough brought a spray of crimson to his lips.
"Damn it," Sei hissed through clenched teeth, his body collapsing to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut. He gasped for air, his limbs refusing to obey. "Not now… Not yet…"
There's a reason Seijuro doesn't rely on his Shindō power, despite its overwhelming strength. The cost is far too great. Using it forces his body to perform impossible feats, pushing him beyond human limits. It grants him skills and movements that defy Martial Logic, but in return, his body pays the price. He can only maintain his Shindō for around five minutes before his entire system begins to collapse, leaving him immobilized and vulnerable.
The Nephom's eyes narrowed as realization dawned on him. His grimace twisted into a menacing smile. "Your body…" 001's voice was thick with amusement and disbelief. "Your body can't handle your own power." He staggered to his feet, cradling his broken arm, but his grimace only grew wider. "How pathetic!"
Grabbing Sei by the hair, 001 lifted him off the ground with his uninjured arm. Sei hung limp, his body broken but his spirit unyielding. "Tell me, human," 001 growled, his voice low and menacing. "How does it feel to be limited by such a feeble body? I can crush your head if I do wanted to." His bloodied face loomed close, his eyes gleaming with sadistic glee.
Sei's gaze met his captor's without a flicker of fear, though his body refused to not tremble. Blood dripped from his lips as he spat in 001's face, his voice steady and cold. "You don't scare me," he said calmly.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, 001's laughter erupted, a deep, guttural sound that echoed ominously. "You've made a grave mistake, human. Your ignorance will lead to your own downfall."
His grip tightened, and the air grew heavy with the promise of violence. The Nephom's broken arm hung uselessly at his side, but his unbroken spirit radiated a malevolent aura. " I can't kill you, so I'll test off your arms and legs," he snarled, his grin stretching unnaturally wide. "Limb from limb."
Seijuro, even in his weakened state, held his ground. The unspoken battle between their wills continued, each moment dripping with suspense, the weight of the fight pressing down like an oppressive shadow.
Seijuro could do nothing but watch as his vision blurred, his body betraying him. Frustration welled up inside him, and he cursed himself under his breath. "Damn it... Am I really going to lose like this? I didn't even get the chance to properly enroll at the Academy…" His voice was weak, his pride even weaker. His head drooped as despair threatened to consume him. "Am I really so weak that I can't even defeat a basic-level Nephom?"
Then, cutting through the haze, a voice rang out—a voice so powerful, so commanding that it made Seijuro's eyes snap open despite his failing body. It was familiar, unmistakable even in his current state. Straining his eyes, he saw a figure floating amidst the foggy sky, cloaked in the Academy's distinct uniform, accented with regal purple. His heart skipped a beat. Could it really be…?
Before his thoughts could settle, the Nephom, 001, growled and spun around in alarm. "Ryu Takahashi!" the beast roared, his voice trembling with both fury and fear.
"Ryu Taka...hashi?" Seijuro muttered faintly, a flicker of hope sparking in his tone.
The figure in the sky descended, and it was indeed Ryu Takahashi, the renowned Ōmukashi of the Academy. His presence alone carried a weight that seemed to crush the tension in the air. Yet, he wasn't alone.
Beside him stood another figure, cloaked in pristine white robes that contrasted sharply against the gloom of the surroundings. This man had a slim, elongated frame, nearly matching Ryu's height. Beneath the robes was a black student uniform, tailored to perfection. His slicked-back hair, though slightly unkempt, added an air of calculated chaos to his otherwise composed demeanor. The glasses perched on his face gave him an intellectual, almost nerdy appearance, but the massive odachi strapped to his hip told a different story—a deadly one.
Seijuro also noticed, just barely, that the man dressed in the white robes had a Reitō that shines similarily to Ryu.
Not only that but he didn't look Japanese, more American in Seijuro's eyes.
Even 001, for all his ferocity, seemed shaken. His crimson eyes widened in recognition, and he muttered under his breath, "Lucien Graves…?"
Fear overtook the beast. Without hesitation, 001 flung Seijuro's limp body like a discarded toy, smashing him against the crumbling wall of an abandoned building. The Nephom's movements turned frantic, leaping from structure to structure with wild, animalistic desperation, like a cornered predator fleeing its hunter.
"Damned you Ryu Takahashi?! Why now of all times?! And Lucien Graves, the mad scientist?!" The Nephom's panicked thoughts echoed as he darted through the ruins.
Floating calmly in the air, Ryu watched the scene unfold with disinterest. His piercing gaze remained fixed on the fleeing creature. "Your experiment is getting away, Lucien," he said casually, his voice laced with a hint of amusement.
Lucien sighed, brushing off the comment with an air of laziness. "I know, I know… I'm just wondering who in the world woke him up." His tone was dismissive, as if he had better things to do than chase after his own creation.
Ryu's sharp eyes flicked toward him. "Shouldn't you know? You created it, after all. Maybe try keeping your experiments on a tighter leash next time. These students aren't strong enough to handle something like that."
Lucien shrugged, his expression unbothered. "Oh, please. You handled 001 just fine when you were a student, didn't you?"
Ryu thought back at the memory, back to his younger self, more ruthless and merciless. "I just beat it up a little..."
"That's an understatement, you traumatized the poor thing," Lucien muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
Ryu's smirk grew wider. "Maybe you should've made it stronger, then. Would've made for a better challenge."
Lucien shot him a flat look, clearly unimpressed by the jab. He waved it off, turning his attention to Seijuro's motionless body below. "What about him?" he asked. "You know he's seen too much. If word gets out that we're experimenting with Reitōs on Nephoms, it could jeopardize the Academy's reputation."
Ryu floated down slightly, examining Seijuro with a critical eye. His expression softened ever so slightly as he muttered, "He nearly defeated 001. That's impressive for a student who's just enrolling. His Shindō—despite its drawbacks—is remarkable. It could perfectly mirror and counter anything, even other Shindō."
Lucien raised an eyebrow. "And? What's your point?"
Ryu crossed his arms, his gaze thoughtful. "Killing him seems like a waste. Give him a few years, and he might actually be something. What do you think?"
Lucien sighed, clearly uninterested in the debate. "Do whatever you want. You're the 'Unrivaled King,' after all. Who am I to question your decisions? Just know that whatever happens, it's on you."
Ryu chuckled softly, a hint of unsatisfactory in his voice. "Is that really your answer?"
Lucien didn't respond, already turning away. "I'll go handle 001. Enjoy your little project, Ryu." With that, he vanished into thin air, leaving Ryu alone with Seijuro's unconscious form.
Ryu crouched down, studying the battered student with an expression that was hard to read. A faint smirk played on his lips as he murmured, "Now, what should I do with you?"