Haruka walked beside Kara, his expression neutral as they left the stunned crowd behind. He could feel her gaze upon him, the unspoken questions hanging in the air.
"I don't understand," Kara said, her brow furrowed. "Just a few days ago, you were struggling against those bullies, and now you're... you're taking them down like it's nothing."
Haruka shrugged, keeping his gaze fixed ahead. "I've been working out," he replied, his tone casual.
Kara frowned, unconvinced. "That's not possible. You were just discharged from the hospital a few weeks ago. There's no way you could have gained that kind of strength and skill in such a short time."
Haruka stays quiet, his thoughts swirling. He can't exactly tell Kara the truth - that he has superhuman powers.
Kara eyes him, concerned. "Haruka, are you taking anything? Some kind of drugs?"
"No, of course not," Haruka replied quickly, shaking his head. "I'm not taking any drugs." The words came out more defensive than he intended.
Kara eyed him skeptically, her lips pursed. "Really? Because this kind of sudden change just doesn't add up." She paused, her gaze searching his face. "What's really going on, Haruka?"
Haruka hesitated, his mind racing to come up with a plausible explanation. He couldn't tell Kara the truth, not yet. "I'm just... very talented," he said, forcing a lighthearted chuckle. "You know, hidden depths and all that."
Haruka felt a wave of relief wash over him as Kara's demeanor shifted. She bumped his shoulder playfully, her earlier skepticism melting away.
"Oh, shut up," Kara teased, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. Haruka couldn't help but chuckle, the tension between them dissipating.
They both knew that Russell, Davis, and Ethan would think twice about messing with them from now on. Haruka felt a surge of pride, knowing that he could protect Kara and himself. As they walked, their laughter echoed down the empty street, a shared moment of levity amidst the uncertainty.
Haruka waves goodbye to Kara, watching as she disappears down the street. A small smile tugs at the corners of his lips, his earlier encounter with the bullies still fresh in his mind.
"Well, I better get home," Kara calls over her shoulder. "See you tomorrow, Haruka."
Haruka nods, his gaze following her until she turns the corner. With a deep breath, he sets off towards the city, his steps purposeful.
Haruka arrives at the bustling city, his gaze scanning the streets for any signs of criminal activity. The weight of his mission to destroy three criminal hideouts rests heavily on his mind, and he knows that finding them won't be an easy task.
Haruka furrows his brow as he turns to the floating blue screen. "Ada, open up the system shop. I need to see what I can get."
The holographic interface appears, and Haruka starts scrolling through the options, his eyes scanning the different items and abilities he can redeem.
[Points: 100
Riders:
Ohma Zi-O - 1,000,000,000
Zi-O - 150,000
Decade - 100,000
Build - 60,000
Wizard - 50,000
Drive - 40,000
Kabuto - 35,000
…
RideMachine/Items
Denliner - 1,000,000
Time Mazine - 1,000,000
Castle Doran - 100,000
Revolgarry - 10,000
Hardmammother - 10,000
…]
Haruka frowns as he surveys the shop's inventory. The prices are astronomical, far beyond his meager 100 points. "The shop is really expensive...Can I even buy anything here?" he mutters, discouragement weighing on him.
He turns to Ada, the AI interface. "Ada, can I even buy anything?"
"Yes, Host," Ada replies. "Would you like to see the items you can afford?"
Haruka nods. "Yes, please."
[Points: 100
Takacandroid - 1
Takocandroid - 1
Battacandroid - 1
Toracandroid - 1
Denkiunagicandroid - 1
Gorillacandroid - 1
Kujyakucandroid - 1
Pteracandroid - 1
Torikeracandroid - 1]
Haruka studies the floating blue screen, his eyes scanning the list of Candroid options. "The Candroids... these could help me find those criminals," he murmurs to himself.
Deciding on the Takacandroid, he reaches out and redeems one. A small, red soda can-like object appears in his hand. Haruka inspects it for a moment, then pulls the tab. With a whirring sound, the can unfolds and transforms into a sleek, mechanical eagle.
The robotic bird spreads its metallic wings, its glowing eyes fixed on Haruka. "Alright, little guy," he says, a hint of determination in his voice. "Time to put you to work."
Haruka watched as the sleek, robotic bird unfurled its metallic wings, its glowing eyes fixed on him. Taking a deep breath, he addressed the Takacandroid.
"Alright, little guy, I need you to do me a favor. Fly around the city and see if you can spot any criminal activity for me. I'll be right here waiting."
The Takacandroid let out a chirping sound, as if acknowledging his instructions, before taking to the air in a blur of motion. Haruka watched as it soared effortlessly between the towering skyscrapers, its keen eyes scanning the streets below.
Haruka stood patiently, his fingers drumming against his leg as he waited for the Takacandroid's return. The weight of his mission weighed heavily on his mind - he needed to find those criminal hideouts and put a stop to their activities. With the Candroid's help, he might just have a chance.
After a few tense minutes, the Takacandroid swooped down, its metallic wings folding as it landed gracefully in front of Haruka. The bird let out a series of chirps and beeps, as if trying to communicate what it had found.
Haruka leaned in, his brow furrowed in concentration. "What is it, boy? Did you find something?"
The Takacandroid chirped again, then took off, darting down the street. Haruka didn't hesitate - he quickly activated the Amazon Driver, feeling the familiar surge of power as he transformed into Amazon Omega.
With a determined nod, Haruka took off, chasing after the Takacandroid as it led him through the winding city streets. His heart raced with a mixture of excitement and trepidation, but he knew he had to see this through. Lives were at stake, and he couldn't afford to fail.
Haruka arrived on the scene to see a group of thugs surrounding a homeless man, kicking and shoving him. Without hesitation, Haruka leapt down from the rooftop, his Amazon Omega suit shimmering as he landed between the assailants and their victim.
"Leave him alone," Haruka growled, his voice distorted by the suit's speakers.
The thugs turned, momentarily stunned by the sudden appearance of the towering, reptilian-like figure. One of them, a burly man with a tattooed neck, sneered and stepped forward.
"Who the hell are you?" the thug spat.
Haruka clenched his fists, his enhanced muscles rippling beneath the armor. "Your worst nightmare," he declared, his tone laced with resolve.
The thug laughed, a mocking sound that grated on Haruka's nerves. "You think you're some kind of hero, huh? Well, we don't take kindly to freaks in costumes around here."
With a swift motion, the thug swung a metal pipe at Haruka's head. Reacting instinctively, Haruka caught the pipe mid-swing, his grip crushing the metal like it was paper.
The thug's eyes widened in shock, and Haruka used the man's momentary hesitation to land a powerful punch to his midsection. The thug doubled over, the wind knocked out of him, and Haruka turned his attention to the rest of the group.
The other thugs, seeing their leader crumple, hesitated, unsure of how to proceed. Haruka seized the opportunity, lashing out with a flurry of strikes, his enhanced speed and strength overwhelming the criminals.
One by one, the thugs fell, their cries of pain echoing through the alleyway. Haruka moved with precision, his movements fluid and efficient, each blow calculated to incapacitate rather than kill.
As the last thug collapsed, Haruka turned his attention to the homeless man, who had been watching the confrontation with a mixture of fear and awe.
"Are you alright?" Haruka asked, his voice softer now, the distortion fading.
The homeless man nodded, his eyes wide. "Y-yes, I'm fine. Thank you, uh... whoever you are."
Haruka extended a hand, helping the man to his feet. "I'm here to help," he said simply, his gaze sweeping over the unconscious thugs.
The homeless man followed Haruka's line of sight, a look of relief washing over his features. "Thank you, really. I don't know what they would have done to me if you hadn't shown up."
Haruka nodded, already turning to leave. "Stay safe," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of concern.
As Haruka prepared to take his leave, the sound of sirens in the distance caught his attention. Knowing the authorities would soon arrive, he quickly leapt back onto the rooftop, disappearing into the shadows.
Haruka landed on a rooftop, the Takacandroid floating beside him. He turned to the mechanical bird, a hint of a smile on his lips.
"Good work, little guy," Haruka said, his voice tinged with a rare warmth. The Takacandroid let out a series of chirps, as if acknowledging the praise. Haruka reached out, gently running his fingers along the Candroid's metallic frame. "This is just the start. With your help, I'll find those criminals and put an end to their activities."
The Takacandroid bobbed in the air, its wings rustling softly. Haruka's gaze hardened with determination as he scanned the cityscape, already plotting his next move.
///
Give Power Stones so I can continue to write this story. If it does not gain any interest, I will drop it.
Advance chapters on my P@tE0N Najicablitz.