Resolute stood up menacingly from where she had landed; the cracks in the pavement beneath her feet were enough proof of her sheer strength.
Daan and Drejo watched in stunned silence as the cloaked figure slowly turned toward them, the shadows clinging to her like a second skin.
Her vanta-black cloak absorbed the meager light from the nearby streetlamps, making it nearly impossible to discern any details about her form.
It was as if she was a hole in reality, impossibly dark, so dark it was hard to sense any depth.
Yet Resolute's presence was overwhelming. Her movements were sharp and calculated. Without a word, she strode toward Daan and Drejo, her footsteps soundless, the only noise coming from the distant hum of Graycloud's energy plant.
She stopped a few feet in front of them, and from within her cloak, Resolute took a tiny black capsule, barely the size of a mint.
With a single click of her fingers, the capsule activated, and the cloak around her body compressed, folding in on itself until it vanished into the capsule entirely.
What stood before them was no longer a cloaked specter but a slim and athletic woman with the body of someone who had been through years of physical training.
She was around 5'7", and her form was sleek, her curves accentuated by her skin-tight bodysuit. The suit seemed impossibly tight, clinging to her body like a second layer of skin just as her cloak did earlier, yet it didn't restrict her movement.
Every shift in her posture was fluid, like a cat. Her chest, though medium-sized, caught Drejo's attention for a split second before he snapped back to reality.
It wasn't just her figure that mesmerized them; it was how she moved with feline grace, a catwalk just as professional models did.
The white utility belt slung around her hips drew attention to the subtle sway of her hips.
The smooth, reflective visor of her motorbike helmet concealed her face, but its glossy surface perfectly reflected Daan and Drejo's faces.
Daan's mind raced, still trying to process what had just happened. Manako had crawled out of a sewer drain and was about to kill them when Uchaina's vigilante fell from the sky and made her run with her tail between her legs.
'I want them... I want them both!' Daan thought to himself as he faked shock.
Drejo, on the other hand, was practically vibrating with excitement, his inner fanboy almost bursting out. He had many chances to see Resolute in action, but this was the first time she saw her so up close and without a fractured rib.
Finally, Resolute spoke, her voice cold and modulated through her helmet. "Names."
Her demand cut through them both like a hot knife on butter, and Daan was too stunned to answer.
His heart raced as his mind scrambled for something to say, but words failed him. His thoughts were still on the ghostly figure that had just vanished into the TV screens; he was dying to get his hands on her...
Drejo, however, wasn't as lost for words. "Uh, I'm Drejo! Drejo Pen! Big fan! Huge fan, you threw me off a 4th floor once!" His voice came out in a nervous rush, and he stuck his hand out awkwardly, though Resolute made no move to shake it.
The man she had just saved from Madako—the worker from the plant—finally gathered himself, his panic receding now that he was no longer in immediate danger. "I-I'm Jhon Mier," he stammered, his voice still shaky from the encounter with the cursed entity.
Resolute ignored Drejo's enthusiastic introduction and focused on Jhon. Her helmet tilted ever so slightly, giving her an air of silent judgment before she wordlessly reached into her utility belt once again.
From the back of her white belt, Resolute took another capsule, larger than the first. She tossed it to the street without hesitation.
A blinding light erupted from the capsule as it hit the pavement, forcing Daan, Drejo, and Jhon to shield their eyes.
All Daan could see for a moment was white, and his heart raced as panic gripped him.
He blinked rapidly, trying to adjust his vision, but when the light finally faded, what stood before them was nothing short of remarkable.
A car had materialized—though calling it a car was an understatement. The vehicle looked more like a small tank, its sleek, all-black exterior absorbing the surrounding light just like Resolute's cloak had.
Its sharp, angular edges made it look intimidating and futuristic, as if it were designed for more than just urban patrols.
Without a word, Resolute gestured toward Jhon, who was still blinking in disbelief. "Get in," she ordered, her tone leaving no room for argument.
Jhon, too terrified to question her, stumbled toward the tank-like vehicle, his legs still shaky from the shock of the night's events.
He climbed inside without hesitation, disappearing into the darkness of the vehicle's interior as if swallowed by the night.
Daan watched Resolute closely, his mind still racing. This woman—this vigilante—was unlike anyone he'd ever seen before; well, it wasn't as if he had seen a lot of big heroes before, but Resolute was special.
Her presence was as intimidating as any hero, yet her methods were unconventional, to say the least; it would be a shame to waste such a talent.
As Resolute moved to leave, Daan felt a surge of desperation. He needed her help.
The system's mission was clear, and he couldn't let her disappear without at least trying to gain her trust.
Before he could stop himself, Daan activated [Normalize]. "It is normal for you to trust me," he said, his voice steady despite his heart beating as fast as possible.
The moment the words left his mouth, a sharp pain shot through his chest, making him double over.
He coughed violently, the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth as he spat a crimson droplet onto the floor just outside Jhon's apartment.
Daan raced to explain this when a System notification popped up before him.
[Using [Normalize] on a person causes a strain on the user's body; if the target's core personality or values go against the [Normalization], or the target's mental fortitude is too strong, the user will suffer severe damages]
[Due to this being the first time the user misused the ability, and the system didn't adequately explain the skill, the system will spare the user's life]
"Shit, man!" Drejo exclaimed, rushing to his side, his usual bravery replaced with concern. "You okay, bro?" Drejo asked, ignoring what Daan had just said to Resolute.
But before Drejo could help him, Resolute moved faster than either of them could react.
In a blur, she pushed Drejo aside and grabbed Daan by the collar, yanking him up with surprising strength.
Her grip was firm, and her visor hovered inches from his face, reflecting his pale, sweat-soaked expression.
For a moment, Daan thought she would toss him aside like a ragdoll, but then something shifted. Her visor tilted slightly as if she were studying him, and for the first time, Daan remembered to check the stats hovering above her head.
[Kista Maso (24), Interest: (1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8), Lewdness: (9...10...11...12...), Difficulty: (S+++...S++...S+...A+...A-...), No Taren.]
Her interest was rising—FAST, too fast even for Daan's taste.
Resolute said nothing as she tossed Daan into the vehicle next to Jhon.
Daan's head spun as he landed awkwardly in the passenger seat, his vision swimming from the strain of using his ability.
The last thing he saw before losing consciousness was the back of Resolute's helmet as she climbed into the driver's seat. The car roared to life, its engine growling like a predator on the hunt. The city's streets blurred into darkness as they sped away, Drejo's shouts fading into the distance.
Resolute gripped the wheel tighter, her knuckles white as she tried to keep the car on the road.
But the heat building inside her made focusing a nightmare. Sweat slicked her palms, and her heart raced as if she'd run a marathon.
Worst of all, the warmth between her legs refused to go away, making her shift uncomfortably in the seat.
"Plushy," she muttered, glancing at the dashboard where the holographic teddy bear appeared.
The little bear blinked at her with those familiar button eyes, its cheery voice entirely out of sync with the chaos she felt. "Yes, Kista? What can I help you with?"
Kista clenched her jaw, swerving slightly as she tried to steer straight. "Something's wrong. I'm hot, my heart's going nuts, and—" She cut herself off, feeling the words 'I'm fucking horny stick in her throat.' "—I feel weird," she finished, frustrated.
Plushy tilted its plushy little head. "Weird? Hmm, let me process... Elevated heart rate, sweating, discomfort... Well, these symptoms are a bit vague."
'No shit,' Kista thought, "That's not surprising," She muttered, shaking her head as she veered around a corner too fast, tires screeching. "Run a full body scan. Now."
The scanner in the cockpit hummed to life, casting a soft blue light over her. She squirmed in the seat, biting her lip as the warmth spread across her body. Every bump on the road only made it worse, the fabric of her suit clinging too tight to her skin.
The scan finished with a soft beep, and Plushy wiggled its little arms. "Kista, physically, you're in peak human condition. No injuries, no illnesses."
Kista gritted her teeth. "What is the nature of my situation?" Why do I feel like I'm burning up?"
Plushy's button eyes blinked innocently. "Your body temperature is elevated... particularly in three areas: your head, chest, and—uh, your... lower regions."
Kista groaned, slamming her palm against the wheel. "I know that, Plushy. I need to know why."
Plushy's cheery tone didn't falter. "Well, based on the data... you might be experiencing something quite normal! Something people call... love."
The words hit Kista harder than anything she had experienced in her life, and a villain had once thrown a six-story building at her. 'The fuck?' she thought, but remained silent, her eyes widening as she almost swerved into a mailbox.
Plushy nodded enthusiastically. "Yep! Because of your... um, 'isolated lifestyle,' the feelings seem to be hitting you harder than usual. Think of it like sensory overload."
Kista's grip tightened on the wheel. "You're telling me... I'm acting like this because I like someone?"
Plushy gave a cheerful giggle. "Exactly! Isn't that adorable?"
Kista muttered a string of curses under her breath, pressing her thighs together in frustration. "This is bullshit," she hissed, gripping the wheel so hard it bent slightly.
But deep down, she knew Plushy wasn't wrong. And that only pissed her off more.