A week later.
Metropolitan Police Department Shinjuku
In the dimly lit police office, the soft hum of overhead lamps mingled with the occasional rustle of papers. A man sat in a soft leather chair behind a solid oak desk, his silhouette standing out starkly against the warm, diffused light. Two tendrils protruded from his forehead, each ending in fluffy balls that looked like dandelions. These outlandish appendages emitted a soft, ethereal glow, illuminating the document he was reading with a soft, soothing light.
Detective Hiroshi Tanaka was absorbed in his work, his tendrils swaying slightly as he turned the pages. The document contained various reports, each one a piece of the puzzle in the tangled tapestry of his investigation. Just as he was delving into one particularly puzzling paragraph, a heavy knock sounded on the wooden door, breaking the serene silence of the room.
"Come in," Hiroshi called out, his voice steady and calm. The door creaked open, and a woman entered the office. Her black hair was neatly braided into a short ponytail, and one large eye stood out on her face, giving her a cyclopean appearance. She was dressed in professional clothes - a white blouse and a custom-made black skirt - and clutched a file folder in her hands.
"Detective Tanaka, there's an urgent report," she announced, her tone efficient and impassive. Her single eye stared intently at him, reflecting the gravity of the situation.
"Bring it here," Hiroshi replied, gesturing to the table in front of him. His demeanor remained calm, though concern flashed in his eyes.
The woman approached the desk, treading softly with her heels on the polished wooden floor. She placed the folder on his desk, holding up her hand for a moment to emphasize the importance of its contents. "Four days ago, Member of Parliament Kenzo Kitakata was murdered. Today, our investigation has concluded that the Ryuketsu criminal organization has made its way to Japan. The victim was scalped."
Hiroshi's expression darkened, the wrinkles on his face deepening as he digested the information he had received. He had just returned from his honeymoon, and this was his first week on the job. The transition from blissful newlywed to detective embroiled in a high-stakes case was unexpected. He exhaled deeply and sighed, feeling the weight of his responsibilities.
"Well," he said, his voice firm and determined, "these bastards need to be stopped as soon as possible. I'll contact the Heroes Public Safety Commission. You're free to go."
"Yeah, okay," the woman replied, nodding slightly. A hint of relief flashed in her eyes as she turned and walked out of the office, closing the door quietly behind her.
Left alone, Hiroshi opened the folder and began to study the report in detail. The Ryuketsu organization was infamous throughout Asia, a shadowy group of professional assassins whose activities left a trail of horror and bloodshed. Until now, Japan had been spared their atrocities. The report described their operations with clinical precision, noting that the organization was very elusive, mainly due to one of its members possessing the ability to teleport. This ability made them virtually untraceable, allowing them to strike swiftly and disappear without a trace.
Hiroshi narrowed his eyes as he read about their methods. While not all of their victims were scalped, the gruesome act was a chilling sign that marked the most brutal murders. For four years they had operated with impunity in other parts of Asia, during which time their modus operandi had changed and they had gotten rid of such brutalization of their victims, but this incident clearly occurred because of their desire to make a name for themselves. The assassination of Kenzo Kitakata, a prominent political figure, signified a bold and dangerous move by the organization.
The detective's thoughts raced as he considered the implications. The appearance of the Ryuketsu in Japan was a threat not only to individual lives but to the security of the country as a whole. Their ability to evade capture and ruthless efficiency posed a serious problem for law enforcement and the Hero Public Safety Commission. Hiroshi realized that swift and decisive action was necessary to prevent further bloodshed.
He leaned back in his chair, the tendrils on his forehead swaying gently as he considered his next course of action. Contacting the Heroes' Public Security Commission was necessary - they had the resources and experience to deal with such a dire threat. However, Hiroshi also realized that traditional methods might not be enough to deal with an elusive organization like the Ryuketsu. He would have to think outside the box, using his investigative skills and every quirk available to track down and destroy the organization. He sighed heavily realizing the job he had to do.
In one of the gyms in Tokyo.
The gym was bustling with life, with men and a couple of girls working out intently. Some were doing abs, others were running on the treadmills, and some were practicing their kicks. Among this crowd, Kaito stood out. Dressed in loose shorts and black compression garments that fit tightly around his torso and arms, his bandaged hands gave him the look of a seasoned fighter.
Kaito walked over to the colossal punching bag, its sheer size made it seem like it was made for titans. He stood in front of it, closing his eyes. His actions seemed strange to outsiders, the guy had chosen a punching bag out of his category, but it was not surprising because they could not see the storm of scarlet energy raging inside his body....
Kaito's quirk gave him incredible power, but using it required complete concentration. Over time, he had partially mastered the art of altering the principle of amplification. Instead of amplifying the strength of his entire body, he amplified different parts of it in different proportions, and different aspects, allowing him to handle the strain more effectively.
Opening his eyes, Kaito fixed his enchanting violet gaze on the black surface of the punching bag. He assumed a fighting stance and threw a punch with his left hand. The bag didn't even move. He followed that up with a punch with his right hand, but the result was the same.
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Unable to calm down, Kaito regained his stance and, concentrating, struck with his left hand. The bag still didn't move. But the next blow with his right hand was different. It pierced the surface of the bag like a spear, causing a loud pop that echoed throughout the hall. The chain holding the sack began to swing violently from side to side.
Kaito followed it up with a medium leg kick that embedded itself into the surface of the sack. A loud thud echoed through the hall, reverberating off the walls.
After thirty minutes of intense training, Kaito took a five-minute break and drank water to regain his strength. He then climbed up onto the bar, balancing on it with his feet. With his eyes closed, red energy enveloped his body as he tried to increase the limit of energy he could concentrate on himself. His feet were glued to the tourniquet thanks to the quirk of telekinesis he had also practiced.
After ten minutes, he jumped off the bar and returned to the punching bag. For the rest of the workout, he continued with unwavering determination. His training was supplemented by a special diet designed to meet the intense physical and mental demands.
The remaining two weeks flew by like a blink of an eye for Kaito in intense training and focused improvement. Every day he pushed the limits of his abilities, honing his skills and strengthening his quirks.
17:00, Tokyo, Skullcrusher Night.
Anthony and his group arrived at an old hangar, its rusted metal facade looming in the soft light of the sun. The building's decrepit exterior hid the pulsing energy that emanated from within. They exchanged impatient glances before swinging open the heavy creaking doors.
Inside, everything was in stark contrast to the dilapidated exterior. The spacious interior was bustling with activity. The odors of sweat, adrenaline, and faint traces of smoke lingered in the air. Dim, flickering lamps hung from the rafters, casting haphazard shadows on the makeshift ring in the center. It was an imposing structure, framed by steel bars and surrounded by a crowd of spectators whose faces reflected anticipation and tension.
They moved on, wading deep through the crowd. The air buzzed with lively chatter and cheers as the fight reached its climax. The atmosphere in the hall was tense.
As they approached the ring, Anthony's gaze drifted to the second-floor balcony. Kaito sat there with a nonchalant look. He reclined on the edge of the sofa, his posture relaxed but commanding, a slight smile playing on his lips as he spoke to the lady beside him.
Her appearance was the epitome of classic beauty, eternally graceful and timeless. Her black hair, smooth and shiny as a raven's wing, framed her refined face, falling in soft waves over her shoulders. Her velvety skin, white as the first snow, was the perfect backdrop for her bright brown eyes, which glowed with a warm light and concealed many secrets. The thin, elegant liner around her eyelids emphasized their mystery. Her lips, full and colored with burgundy lipstick, were as if created to arouse desire and passion. A slight, almost imperceptible smile gave her face a mysterious appeal.
She was wearing a white shirt that fit her slender body perfectly, buttoned to the last button. Her elegant breasts, not huge, but ample, gave her look perfect proportions. She wore a pair of classic milk pants over the shirt, emphasizing her long slender legs, and a brown belt harmoniously completed her elegant look.
Sitting on the black couch, they watched an unusual fight. The battlefield was a huge ring-fenced with a high net, it looked imposing and very strong. The floor of the ring was made of dark gray concrete. The whole ring was filled with many bubbles, 10-20 centimeters in diameter. One of the fighters created them, or rather he turned into them. A rather unusual quirk, watching the fight Kaito roughly understood the essence of his ability, he can turn parts of his body into bubbles, they are stronger than usual but still quite easy to destroy. But if that were all it was it would be a garbage ability, but he has one feature that makes his quirk a pretty powerful and useful tool.
The specialty of his ability is its incredible regeneration. Each bubble can divide, meaning that if any bubble bursts or the user's body is injured, the bubbles can create new ones, repairing the damage. Using this, the man is able to instantly repair damage during combat, it's like an infinite healing. This ability is especially useful in this fight, as he is fighting against a fighter whose quirk is the long blades he creates from his hands. Multiple cuts, and severed body parts, regenerate almost immediately.
But every ability has a drawback.
Bubbles fission rather slowly, which is why he filled the arena with them from the start.
The man with long blades sticking out of his fingers swooped down on his foe while throwing sprawling blows, trying to destroy some of the bubbles. The guy tries to dodge and block the blows, but he's not very good at it. His hands are constantly getting cut, and regenerate immediately.
“Would you like to cancel the fight?” The woman addressed Kaito, her voice soft but insistent.
“Huh?” Kaito glanced at her, then back at the ring.
“You have plans for your life. There's no reason to take such a risk,”
Kaito continued to stare silently toward the ring.
“Why did you agree to this?” The woman didn't back down, her gaze never letting him go.
Kaito sighed, his shoulders slumping slightly.
“Because I intend to win”
“For what? This isn't child's play, there's maiming and killing.”
"Yeah, I know."
She sighed heavily "I don't understand, what exactly is driving you?"
At that moment, the final chord struck in the arena. The man with the blades in his hands suddenly cut off his opponent's hands, and in the next moment, having made a U-turn, struck a sweeping blow on his throat. The guy's head colorfully flew off his shoulders, his body breathlessly fell like a mannequin. The expected outcome - the guy couldn't attack the enemy, and his defense wasn't infinite.
Kaito watched the scene with equanimity, his eyes narrowed only slightly.
"If you're allowed to take cheese from someone and you're confident in your abilities, why not take it?" he said finally, turning to the woman.
"Confidence doesn't always mean success."
"Yes, but fear of failure shouldn't be a reason to give up on your goals."
The woman smiled and chuckled slightly, her eyes softening.
"Huh," she shook her head. "You remind me of a couple of people I know. Confident, and willing to go to any lengths for their goals. But... rarely do they succeed."
She rose from the couch, her movements light and graceful.
"Well, thank you."
Kaito looked at her puzzled, "For what?"
“For the easy money. I bet a large sum against you" Her eyes flashed with mockery.
Kaito only grinned at that.
"Good luck to you" she added, disappearing into the crowd of people hidden behind masks.
Kaito was alone, his thoughts focused on the fight ahead. The fire of determination burned in his eyes, and nothing could stop him.
34 minutes later
A loud male voice came out of the speakers, "Ladies and gentlemen, the key moment of the evening has arrived! The very moment for which many of you have come to this arena tonight - Skullcrusher Night! We present to you the main event, which promises to be a true test of strength and willpower. The first fighter is Invincible, he has a great score – 8 wins, 0 loses, and all 8 being early victories! The second one is a true monster, the indomitable force of nature, the fearsome and merciless Beastpunch! He has an incredible score – 43 wins, 2 losses, and 33 early victories."
The crowd roared, raising energy and excitement, filling the space between the spectators and the fighters.
"Get ready for a spectacle you won't forget! Tonight, this arena will decide the fate of who goes to the Isle of Carnage gridiron."
The noise increased, with people shouting, cheering, and whistling as the commentator finished his opening statement.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the main fight of the Skullcrusher Night!"