The jewelry store was in ruins. Shattered glass crunched under Lu Shueng's boots as he loomed over the battered vigilante. Hayato's breaths came in ragged gasps, his body screaming in agony. Every muscle ached, and his vision blurred with crimson streaks.
"Still breathing, huh?" Lu Shueng chuckled darkly, crossing his arms. "You're tougher than I expected, but this is the end of the line for you, little hero."
Hayato tried to push himself up, his gloved hand trembling as it braced against the floor. Blood dripped from a cut above his brow, mixing with the debris around him. He could hear Sid's panicked voice crackling through his earpiece, but the words were a distant hum in his haze of pain.
---
In a dimly lit workshop across town, Sid sat hunched over his computer, his eyes glued to the live surveillance feed. The screen displayed the brutal scene unfolding in the jewelry store, and his heart raced as he watched Hayato struggle to stand.
"Hayato! Get out of there!" Sid yelled, his voice shaking. "You can't take him on alone!"
But there was no response, only the sound of labored breathing from Hayato's end.
Sid's fingers danced across the keyboard as he tried to think of a way to help. His mind was a whirlwind of fear and frustration. "This is my fault," he muttered. "I should've made better gear. I should've... I should've done something!"
He slammed his fist against the desk, tears welling in his eyes. "Come on, Hayato... don't die on me."
---
Meanwhile, outside the store, Remond crouched behind a parked car, peering through the shattered windows. The sight inside made his stomach churn. The vigilante, barely recognizable under the blood and grime, was lying motionless as the towering figure of Lu Shueng taunted him.
"Is that... Hayato?" Remond whispered to himself, doubt gnawing at him. He couldn't be sure, but something about the vigilante's build and movements struck a chord of familiarity.
The news report played in his mind, along with Yuki's worried words. If there was even a chance that it was Hayato, he couldn't stand by.
Taking a deep breath, Remond whispered, "I don't know if it's you, Hayato, but I'm not letting anyone die tonight."
He sprinted toward the store, leaping through the broken window and landing with a roll. The sound drew Lu Shueng's attention, and the criminal turned with a raised brow.
"Well, what do we have here?" Lu Shueng sneered, cracking his knuckles. "Another wannabe hero?"
Remond clenched his fists, his body tense as he faced the imposing man. "I'm not here to play hero," he said, his voice steady. "I'm here to stop you."
Lu Shueng laughed, a deep, menacing sound. "You're either brave or stupid, kid. Either way, you're going down."
---
The fight began in an instant, Lu Shueng charging at Remond with blinding speed. Remond barely managed to dodge the first strike, the sheer force of the punch sending a display case shattering behind him.
Remond's mind raced as he tried to analyze his opponent. "He's fast. Too fast," he thought. "I need to be smarter, not stronger." For a moment he thought to use his powers still he suppressed that idea as didn't wanted to blow his secret.
Lu Shueng didn't give him time to think. He unleashed a flurry of attacks, each one faster and more brutal than the last. Remond ducked, weaved, and blocked as best he could, but he was quickly being overwhelmed.
A powerful kick caught him in the ribs, sending him crashing into a wall. Pain exploded through his side as he coughed, struggling to catch his breath.
"Is that all you've got?" Lu Shueng mocked, his eyes gleaming with sadistic glee.
Remond wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, his mind flashing back to his training with Master Ho Dieng. The old man's voice echoed in his memory: "A true fighter doesn't just react; he adapts."
Gritting his teeth, Remond pushed himself to his feet. "Alright," he muttered. "Let's see how you handle this."
He shifted his stance, focusing on Lu Shueng's movements. This time, when the criminal attacked, Remond sidestepped with precision, landing a counterpunch that caught Lu Shueng off guard.
Lu Shueng stumbled back, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. "Not bad, kid," he admitted. "But don't think you can keep up with me."
The fight resumed, but this time, Remond was on the offensive. His strikes were faster, more calculated, and he began to match Lu Shueng's speed. The room echoed with the sound of fists and feet colliding, each blow sending shockwaves through the air.
---
In Sid's Workshop
Suddenly, Sid's eyes widened as he noticed a figure dart into the store. The camera's angle wasn't perfect, but Sid could see someone engaging Lu Shueng. At first, he assumed it was another vigilante or perhaps the police.
But then the figure moved into the light for a moment, and Sid froze.
"Wait... is that... Remond?!" he exclaimed, nearly falling out of his chair. His mind raced, trying to piece together how Remond could be there.
"No way," Sid muttered, his hands trembling as he zoomed in on the feed. "What is he doing there? How does he even know about this?"
As the fight escalated, Sid watched in disbelief as Remond held his own against Lu Shueng. When Remond made the bold move to rescue Hayato, Sid nearly jumped out of his seat.
"Remond, you crazy idiot!" Sid shouted at the screen. "You're going to get yourself killed!"
---
As the fight raged on, Remond's eyes darted to the fallen vigilante. Hayato was barely conscious, his body limp and broken.
"I can't keep this up," Remond thought, his breaths coming in heavy gasps. "I need to get him out of here."
Seizing an opening, Remond delivered a powerful kick to Lu Shueng's chest, sending the man stumbling backward. Without wasting a second, he dashed to Hayato's side, crouching down to lift him.
"Come on," he muttered, slinging Hayato's arm over his shoulder. "You're not dying on my watch."
Lu Shueng recovered quickly, his face contorted with rage. "You're not going anywhere!" he roared, charging at them.
Remond grabbed a shard of glass from the ground and hurled it at a nearby fire alarm. The piercing sound filled the air as water rained down from the sprinklers, creating a chaotic distraction.
Using the momentary confusion, Remond bolted toward the back exit, dragging Hayato with him. Lu Shueng shouted in frustration, but the sound of approaching sirens forced him to retreat.
---
When the feed finally cut off as Remond and Hayato escaped into the shadows, Sid sat there in stunned silence. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion and fear.
"This changes everything," he whispered, staring blankly at the now-static screen. "How am I supposed to explain this to Remond now?"
---
Outside the store, Remond stumbled into a dark alley, his body screaming in protest. He gently lowered Hayato to the ground, leaning him against the wall.
"Hey," Remond said, shaking him lightly. "Stay with me. You're going to be okay."
Hayato's eyes fluttered open, and for a brief moment, Remond saw a flicker of recognition. But before he could say anything, Hayato passed out again, his body succumbing to exhaustion.
The sound of sirens grew louder, and Remond knew they had to move. Taking a deep breath, he hoisted Hayato onto his back and disappeared into the shadows, leaving the chaos of the jewelry store behind.
As they vanished into the night, one thought echoed in Remond's mind:
"What were you really thinking idiots?"