Kuro stood at the center of the destruction, the wreckage of Akihabara stretching out in all directions. The remains of the titan were long gone, disintegrated into blue static, but the scars of the battle lingered everywhere. Buildings that once towered over the bustling district were now heaps of rubble. Streets that had been lined with neon lights and advertisements were cracked, their remnants flickering weakly as glitch energy still rippled through the air.
He took a deep breath, inhaling the sharp scent of dust and electrical discharge, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. This was it. This was what the world was meant to be, chaotic, wild, a playground where the strong ruled, and the weak were left scrambling in the dirt.
"Everything's falling apart… and I love it," Kuro muttered to himself, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.
As he walked through the ruins, the faint crackling of glitch energy in the distance caught his attention. It was subtle but distinct, a sound he had become attuned to since gaining his powers. His fingers twitched with excitement, the blue static still dancing along his skin from the earlier fight. He could feel the pull of the energy in the air, and the thrill of it sent a jolt through him.
But just as Kuro prepared to investigate the source of the glitch, a sleek black car came to a stop at the edge of the district, its arrival almost silent against the backdrop of destruction. Kuro turned his head slightly, his eyes narrowing in curiosity as the door opened, and a woman stepped out.
She was tall, with a sharp, confident stride, and her presence commanded immediate attention. She wore a tight, tactical suit that emphasized her athletic build, her long, raven-black hair flowing behind her like a shadow. Her gaze was sharp, intelligent, and calculating, and Kuro could see the faint glimmer of a government insignia on her shoulder. She didn't look like the type who had come to clean up after the destruction. No, she looked like someone with a mission.
"Who the hell are you?" Kuro asked, his grin returning as he sized her up.
The woman stopped a few feet away from him, her piercing eyes locking onto his. "Kuro Kobayashi, right?" Her voice was calm, controlled, and unwavering. "I've been sent to deal with you."
Kuro raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest. "Deal with me? You and what army?"
The woman didn't flinch. Instead, she smiled, just a little. "No army. Just me. My name's Sayuri Nakamura. I specialize in cases like yours."
Kuro's grin widened at her boldness. He liked this already. Most people ran from him or begged for mercy. But this one? She wasn't afraid. And that intrigued him.
"You're not like the others they've sent," Kuro said, his tone laced with amusement. "So, what's the plan, Sayuri? You here to take me in? Stop me from leveling the rest of the city?"
Sayuri's eyes flicked over the destruction surrounding them before meeting his gaze again. "You've made quite the mess here, Kuro. But no, I'm not here to stop you. Not yet, anyway."
"Oh?" Kuro took a step closer, his curiosity piqued. "So what do you want?"
Sayuri's expression remained calm, unreadable. "I want to offer you a deal. Work with me, and maybe you won't have to worry about the government breathing down your neck. Or…" Her eyes flashed with warning. "You can keep playing your games and see how long you last before they send someone less willing to negotiate."
Kuro chuckled, shaking his head. "A deal, huh? You really think you can keep me in line?"
Before Sayuri could respond, a low, rumbling growl echoed through the ruins. Kuro's body tensed as his senses kicked into high gear, his attention snapping toward the source of the sound. Emerging from the shadows of a collapsed building was a large, glitching wolf-like creature. Its fur shimmered with static, its eyes glowing a deep, electric blue as it prowled toward them.
The beast was massive, easily the size of a small car, its sharp claws scraping against the broken pavement with every step. Its eyes locked onto Kuro, and for a moment, there was an understanding between them, a recognition of power. Kuro could feel the raw glitch energy radiating from the creature, its very presence resonating with his own abilities.
Sayuri took a cautious step back, her hand moving to the holster at her side, but Kuro raised a hand, signaling her to stop. "Hold on," he said, his voice filled with excitement. "This one's mine."
Kuro's eyes gleamed with excitement as the wolf-like creature prowled closer, its glitching fur crackling with blue energy. He could feel the power radiating from it, pulsing in time with the glitch energy that flowed through his own body. This wasn't just a beast, it was something more, something connected to the rift just like him. And the idea of controlling it sent a thrill through him.
Sayuri, still standing a few feet behind him, watched cautiously, her hand hovering near her weapon. "Kuro, that thing's dangerous. You should take it down before it tears you apart."
But Kuro just grinned, stepping forward with confidence. "Dangerous?" he said, his voice low and almost teasing. "Nah. This one's different. I can feel it."
The creature growled again, its massive paws crushing the debris beneath it as it inched closer. Its glowing eyes were locked onto Kuro, and for a moment, the two stared each other down. There was something primal in the way the beast moved, a predator's grace that made it clear this wasn't some mindless glitch-monster.
Kuro extended his hand, letting the blue glitch energy crackle between his fingers. The wolf-like beast hesitated, its growling softening as it watched the energy dance between Kuro's hands. There was a connection there, something raw and powerful that Kuro could feel growing stronger. It was almost like the beast recognized him, recognized the glitch energy that flowed through him, and was drawn to it.
"You feel it too, don't you?" Kuro whispered, his voice barely audible over the static hum in the air. "This world's falling apart, and we're the ones who get to take control."
The beast growled again, but this time, it didn't lunge. Instead, it circled Kuro, its eyes never leaving him as it moved. Kuro stood his ground, keeping his hand outstretched, the blue energy pulsing gently from his fingertips. He could sense the beast's hesitation, its wariness, but he could also feel its curiosity.
"Come on," Kuro murmured, his grin widening. "You know you want to."
The air between them seemed to pulse with energy, the glitch static intensifying as Kuro focused his power. Slowly, the beast stopped circling, its growls fading into a low rumble as it lowered its head, inching closer to Kuro's hand. There was a brief moment of tension, a split second where Kuro could feel the creature's wild energy pushing against his control, but he didn't back down.
With a slow, deliberate movement, Kuro placed his hand on the beast's massive head. The connection was immediate. Blue glitch energy flared between them, crackling in the air like electricity. Kuro could feel the power of the beast coursing through him, merging with his own glitch abilities, and for a moment, the world seemed to blur at the edges.
The beast lowered its head further, a sign of submission, its massive body stilling as the energy between them stabilized. Kuro's grin grew wider, his excitement palpable as he realized what had just happened.
"That's right," he said softly, his hand still resting on the creature's head. "You're mine now."
Behind him, Sayuri finally let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. She lowered her hand from her weapon, her eyes narrowing slightly as she watched Kuro with a mix of awe and suspicion. He had done it. He had tamed the beast, something she hadn't expected, and something that intrigued her more than she cared to admit.
"What the hell was that?" she asked, her voice low and careful. "How did you do that?"
Kuro glanced over his shoulder at her, his grin still firmly in place. "I told you, I'm not just about blowing things up. I've got other talents too." He turned back to the creature, running his hand along its sleek, glitching fur. "And now, I've got a new friend."
The beast, now fully under Kuro's control, let out a low growl, but it was no longer threatening. It was almost... content. Kuro could feel the bond between them solidifying, and he knew this wasn't just some random glitch-beast. This creature had potential, real power, and it was his to command.
"I think I'll call you Fang," Kuro said, his voice filled with satisfaction. "Yeah, that fits."
Sayuri took a few cautious steps forward, her eyes never leaving Fang. "That's impressive," she admitted, though her tone remained guarded. "But it doesn't change what's coming. The government's not going to let you run free, Kuro. Not with what you can do."
Kuro chuckled, still petting Fang as he turned to face her fully. "Let them come. With Fang by my side, I'm not worried about whatever they throw at me."
Sayuri raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "You think one beast is going to be enough to stop them?"
Kuro's grin widened even further. "One? This is just the start. There's a whole world of these creatures out there, just waiting for me to take control. And once I do... nothing's going to stop me."
Sayuri's eyes narrowed, but she didn't respond immediately. Instead, she studied Kuro, taking in his confidence, his arrogance, and the raw power he now wielded with Fang at his side. There was something dangerous about him, something that made her both wary and intrigued.
"Maybe you're right," she said after a long pause. "But that doesn't mean you don't need help. The rift is still open, and more creatures like Fang are coming. Bigger, stronger ones. You're going to need someone who understands what's really going on."
Kuro looked at her, his grin never fading. "And that someone is you, I'm guessing?"
Sayuri nodded, her expression serious. "I'm offering you a deal. You let me help you navigate this chaos, and in return, I'll make sure the government stays off your back. You're powerful, Kuro, but you're not invincible. Not yet."
Kuro considered her offer for a moment, his gaze flicking between Sayuri and Fang. He didn't trust her, not fully, but he couldn't deny that she had connections, knowledge he didn't have. And having someone on the inside could be useful. Very useful.
"Alright," Kuro said finally, his voice casual but firm. "You've got yourself a deal. But remember, if you try anything, Fang and I won't hesitate to turn on you."
Sayuri's lips curved into a small, knowing smile. "I wouldn't expect anything less."