Chereads / ZERO SHIFT / Chapter 24 - CHAPTER 24: High speed pursuit

Chapter 24 - CHAPTER 24: High speed pursuit

It's been one year since Josuke joined Unit Zero, and the team's synergy has grown stronger with every mission. On this particular day, they were chasing a group of devil-possessed bandits wreaking havoc across Central City. The unit was in full pursuit, with Ace driving their armored van a formidable vehicle painted in iron black, equipped to handle rough chases.

Josuke and Hinata were riding a sleek, black bike with large tires for stability at high speeds, Hinata poised behind him, her sniper rifle ready. Beside them on another bike was Arthur, focused and calculating as he pursued the third bandit.

Over the radio, Maya's voice came through their earpieces, calm and commanding: "Remember, these bandits are devil-possessed, giving them enhanced strength and speed. Capture them alive. Headquarters needs answers—find out how they're getting these powers and who's backing them."

"Roger that," came a chorus from the team.

As the bandits split up, Josuke and Hinata took the left route, while Arthur sped to the right. The road was chaotic, and cars were scrambling out of the way. Lily, stationed atop the van, was working hard to clear the route and set up diversions to keep the streets as safe as possible.

Hinata, her sharp blue eyes locked in concentration, aimed her rifle carefully at one of the bandits' tires. With one clean shot, she blew out the tire, causing the bandit's bike to skid off the road. Josuke brought their bike to a halt, allowing him to jump off and tackle the bandit.

Meanwhile, Arthur, with his keen reflexes, smoothly dodged the gunfire coming his way as he closed in on his target. The bandit's bullets whizzed past him, but Arthur, unshaken, accelerated and maneuvered with skill honed over a year of training.

Back with Josuke and Hinata, as the first bandit lay handcuffed, Josuke sensed the second bandit attempting to escape on foot. Recognizing the speed enhancement from the devil possession, Josuke dashed after him, tapping into the speed boost he had trained rigorously with Kyle to master. While the bandit sprinted at an impressive 100 miles per hour, Josuke's devil abilities allowed him to surpass that, hitting 120 miles per hour, and he closed the distance with ease.

With a well-timed leap, Josuke tackled the bandit, subduing him swiftly. Using his quirk-katana, he equipped a disabling collar around the man's neck, ensuring he couldn't access his devil powers to break free.

"Got him," Josuke reported, breathing hard but steady.

Arthur, too, caught his bandit, having outmaneuvered him with ease. Meanwhile, Lily and Ace had already corralled their target, and Lily returned traffic flow to normal, her tech expertise ensuring minimal disruption for the citizens of Central city.

The team regrouped and began their drive back to headquarters, prisoners in tow. Josuke adjusted his ranger outfit—sleek black skintight gear paired with tactical military pants and a fitted jacket, standard for the rangers but customized for each member.

Back at headquarters, they knew they'd be facing debriefing and questioning, but today's mission felt like a win. With each passing day, they were closer to uncovering the truth behind these devil possessions—and the bigger threat lurking in the shadows.