The portal crackled with energy as Natsuo and Luci stepped through, emerging into a chaotic scene. Buildings lay in ruins, debris scattered everywhere like the remnants of a forgotten battle. The sky above was dark, heavy with clouds that hinted at a storm on the horizon. Fires burned in the distance, and the sound of clashing swords echoed through the streets as people fought in the ruins.
Natsuo's eyes scanned the area until he spotted something unusual: a man, dressed in a vibrant red suit, standing amidst the chaos, completely unfazed. He wore a katana strapped to his back, and as Natsuo's gaze met his, the man smirked.
The moment their eyes locked, Natsuo's expression soured. "Let's go back," he said, turning toward Luci and the portal they had just exited.
Luci hovered beside him, her single eye widening in confusion. "Wait, what? Why are we leaving already? Aren't we here to take the powers of the 'powerful shitheads' or whatever?" she asked, curiosity evident in her voice.
Natsuo's brow furrowed as he glanced back at the scene before him. "Not here. It would be a waste of time," he muttered, a slight edge of frustration creeping into his tone.
Luci huffed, clearly disappointed. "Well, okay, I guess. You're the boss man with all the knowledge, right?" She rolled her eye as she followed Natsuo toward the portal. Just as they were about to step back through, a voice rang out behind them.
"Hey!! How ya'll doing??" The voice was filled with energy, almost too much. "I'm a guy with a katana! You can call me Flint!" The man in red appeared in front of them in a blur, his katana still sheathed, his eyes alight with excitement.
Natsuo's eyes narrowed slightly in irritation. He hated being interrupted, especially by someone so obnoxious. He tried to ignore the man, but Flint seemed determined to keep his attention. The guy had this odd energy about him—casual yet unpredictable, like a ticking time bomb wrapped in-stupidness.
"Wait, wait, don't just leave me hanging!" Flint continued, stepping closer. "What's the rush? Aren't you here for all the cool fights and badass power grabs? Oh, and before I forget—what's up, readers?" He winked and waved at an invisible audience, his words completely breaking the fourth wall.
Natsuo froze mid-step, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. "Huh… interesting," he muttered, his curiosity piqued. He glanced at Luci, who was equally baffled by the sudden acknowledgment of people who weren't there.
"Oh? You're interested in me now, huh? Well, I guess you just can't help it!" Flint grinned, striking a ridiculous pose. "I mean, look at me—I am pretty hot if I do say so myself. So, what do you think? Should we get a room?"
"Shut up, you stupid old hag," Natsuo snapped, his face twisted in disgust. "I'm not interested in you—I'm interested in your ability to break the fourth wall."
Luci, floating beside him, couldn't help but chuckle. "Hah, that is pretty interesting!" she said, clapping her tiny wings together in delight.
Flint jumped back, putting his hands on top of his head in mock surprise. "OH DAAAMN!! Where did that floating eyeball come from?!" He leaned in closer to Luci, inspecting her like she was some strange artifact.
After a bit of banter between them, Natsuo's patience wore thin. He glanced at Flint "Can I take your power to break the fourth wall?" he asked bluntly.
Before Flint could respond, Luci butted in. "Why are you asking? Just take it!"
Natsuo's eyes darkened, and he used telepathy to speak directly to Luci. "No, this idiot may be annoying, but he has a kind heart. I don't want to take his powers without permission."
Luci blinked in surprise. "Now you use telepathy? Ugh, whatever. I guess that means you still have some emotions left in there, huh?"
Natsuo remained silent for a moment. "Seems so," he murmured.
Flint, overhearing their exchange despite the telepathy, clapped his hands. "WOOOW!! Telepathy! That's a first. I love this little party we've got going on!" He winked at Natsuo. "You know what? I like you, kid. You've got guts, and more importantly, you noticed my awesome fourth-wall-breaking ability. For that, I'll let you have it."
Luci crossed her tiny arms, glaring at Flint. "Let? Let him have it? Natsuo could end you in a blink of an eye, you know that, right?"
Flint waved her off. "Whoa, whoa, there, little eyeball! I didn't mean anything by it. If your 'master' is so tough, why doesn't he just kill me then?"
Natsuo's cold gaze met Flint's eyes. "I don't need to kill you for something this trivial," he said calmly. "But I will fight you—the easy way."
The easy way? Flint's eyes lit up with mischief. "The easy way, huh? I like the sound of that."
Without warning, the air between them exploded with motion. In the span of a single breath, Flint unsheathed his katana, the blade gleaming with a red, fiery aura. He lunged at Natsuo, moving faster than most could see, aiming a strike at Natsuo's chest. But Natsuo was already in motion, his body blurring as he sidestepped the attack, his reflexes heightened by the powers he had copied.
In an instant, Natsuo retaliated, delivering a lightning-fast kick to Flint's midsection. Flint barely managed to block with the flat of his blade, but the force of the blow sent him skidding backward, his boots leaving deep trenches in the ground.
Flint recovered quickly, launching into a series of rapid strikes, his katana slicing through the air with deadly precision. But each strike was met with an equally swift counter from Natsuo, who parried the blade with his own hand, coated in a shimmering barrier of energy. Sparks flew with every clash, lighting up the dim ruins around them.
"You're fast!" Flint grinned, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "But can you keep up with THIS?"
He vanished in a blur, reappearing behind Natsuo in an instant. But before he could strike, Natsuo had already turned, grabbing Flint by the wrist. Time seemed to slow as Natsuo's red eye glowed brightly, multiplying his strength by a trillion.
With a single flick of his wrist, Natsuo sent Flint hurtling through the air. The katana-wielding man crashed into a nearby building, the impact so powerful that the entire structure collapsed in on itself, sending dust and debris flying into the sky.
Natsuo stood still, watching the rubble. "Three seconds," he muttered.
From the ruins, Flint's voice echoed out, muffled by the debris. "DAMN, kid! You pack a punch!" He emerged from the rubble, dusting himself off as if nothing had happened. "I think I'm in love."
Luci floated over to Natsuo, unimpressed. "That's it? I thought you were gonna finish him."
Natsuo shrugged. "No need. He's not a threat."
Flint laughed as he sauntered back over, completely unfazed by the destruction. "I gotta say, that was fun! You're the real deal, kid. And hey, a deal's a deal. You can have my fourth-wall-breaking powers. Just don't go doing anything too crazy with it, alright?"
Natsuo nodded. "Thanks. Now let's get out of here."
As they turned back toward the portal, Flint waved them off with a grin. "Don't be strangers! And hey, if you ever wanna break some more walls, you know where to find me!"
As they stepped through the portal, the chaotic world faded behind them, but Natsuo couldn't shake the feeling that Flint was more than he seemed. For now, though, they had what they came for—and the journey continued.