Arkens and Mr. Damatsu soared through the air, the town rapidly approaching beneath them. Their descent was graceful and controlled, and as soon as their tippy toes brushed against the ground, they wasted no time. In one swift motion, they both shot back into the sky, moving with incredible speed, barely leaving a mark on the earth as they ascended.

"Ebihara, land on the roofs for easier travel; it will also deter any attention drawn to us by possible onlookers. Thankfully, we're too quick for anyone to see anything visibly".

"R-Right! I gotcha!".

They sped through the air, cutting their way across town, with the Takae District now within reach. With one final leap off a high rooftop, they soared, their eyes carefully scanning the streets below for anything suspicious. The deeper they searched, the more unease began to settle into their bodies, a gnawing worry that something was awry.

As they landed softly on another rooftop, the feeling of urgency increased. They looked around frantically, hoping to spot anything, but were only met with silence; the empty night stretched before them, eerily quiet, as if holding its breath. The stillness of the scene only deepened their concern.

"We've arrived. However, I see nothing noteworthy. Whoever may be here is more than likely masking themselves by lowering their power.. This could be since they sensed us getting closer as well".

"So all I have to do is look for them, right? I'll just concentrate and pinpoint where they are".

Arkens closed his eyes, centering his focus on his Sera Energy Detection. His range now spanned most of the town's four districts, stretching further than ever. Yet, despite the vast area he covered, there was nothing. The colossal energy signature that had drawn their concern earlier had seemingly vanished without a trace, leaving Arkens feeling uneasy and frustrated.

"If you're going to look for someone, hiding their presence, decrease your wide view of range and focus solely on the Takae District. This will make it easier in your search; otherwise, you are wasting your time".

Arkens listened carefully to Mr. Damatsu's instructions, shrinking his Sera Energy Detection down to the Takae District alone. With this more focused range, the energy readings became much more precise, and each source of Sera Energy within the area stood out. He gulped, concentrating as he looked at the various forms of energy surrounding them.

Then, something caught his attention. It felt familiar, almost identical to the massive energy signature he had sensed. But this time, it was near, very near. His heart raced as he realized it was moving toward them, descending from above. Before he could react, a loud voice echoed behind them.

Mr. Damatsu's reflexes were instantaneous. He whipped around just in time to see a man standing behind them, one arm extended, palm open, fingers spread wide, and aimed directly at Arkens.

"Where you lookin' kid, pay attention!!".

Mr. Damatsu gritted his teeth, his calm demeanor masking the urgency of his next move. He pushed Arkens out of the man's line of fire in one swift, controlled motion. However, in an unexpected speed display, the stranger's hand shot forward, launching a hook that zipped through the air, attached to a seemingly endless rope spewing from his palm.

Without missing a beat, Mr. Damatsu's body shifted into high gear. His muscles tensed, and he placed himself between Arkens and the attacker in a blur of movement. His arm pulled back, muscles coiling with power, ready to unleash a devastating counterpunch.

"Don't you think you're getting ahead of yourself?!-".

The stranger had no time to process the unfolding situation as he heard a voice full of might. A smug grin spread across his face, but it faltered when his eyes darted to the left. There, already in striking position, stood Mr. Damatsu. The stranger's confidence evaporated as the realization of who he was facing hit him.

Before he could even think to defend himself, Mr. Damatsu's fist connected squarely with his upper chest. The impact force sent the man flying backward, his body rocketing through the air as if weightless. In the wake of the punch, the hook and rope dissolved into black smoke, vanishing as quickly as they had appeared.

"Ebihara?".

Arkens collapsed onto the rooftop, his body trembling as he looked up at Mr. Damatsu. Fear twisted his face, and his chest tightened as his heart pounded in his ears. The weight of the situation bore down on him, and he had never felt such raw bloodlust before. The sheer intensity of danger coursed through his veins, a chilling reminder that someone had just tried to take his life.

Mr. Damatsu stood motionless, his expression unreadable, his eyes hidden behind his dark shades. Without a word, he adjusted them, his stoic gaze briefly meeting Arkens'. Then, without hesitation, he turned back to face the direction where he had sent the would-be killer flying.

"Get your act together. I thought you were prepared to lay your life on the line".

"Or is it now that you've come face to face with killer intent, you are rethinking your decision?".

Arkens slowly adverted his eyes low to the crumbled titles of the broken pieces of the roof. His face was now covered with a light shadow. This was something he wasn't ready for. He bit his bottom lip in disbelief and disappointment.

Arkens slowly averted his gaze, focusing on the shattered tiles across the ruined rooftop. A faint shadow fell over his face, reflecting the turmoil inside him. He wasn't prepared for this, not the bloodlust or the weight of real danger. Disbelief gripped him, and frustration chewed at his chest. He bit down on his bottom lip, the sting of disappointment seeping in as the reality of the situation began to sink deeper.

"Get up. I'm not going to allow you to coerce your way out cowardly. You promised to protect everyone close to you, even utter strangers".

"I thought you said you'd protect your family and friends! You promised to keep Target safe, didn't you? Or was that just a lie to make yourself feel better about this so-called 'heroism'?!".

"This isn't a game. I'm betting everything on you and your future. But if you want one, you have to carve it out with your own two hands! So, what will it be? Dying or dying with a fight?!".

Arkens slammed his hand onto the cracked rooftop tile beneath him, his body trembling under fear. His mind raced, struggling to come to terms with the looming reality of death and pain. Flashes of the suffering his loved ones and thousands more would endure if he didn't act played vividly in his thoughts.

He slowly raised one leg, planting it firmly on the ground. Every movement felt like an agonizing battle; his entire body screamed to give up and run. But he couldn't. He wouldn't. Forcing himself through the waves of fear, he rose to his feet, his body trembling, drenched in sweat. His eyes were strained, his mouth quivering as he fought the urge to collapse.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

His legs shook uncontrollably, but even so, he stood defiant despite the overwhelming pressure crashing down on him.

"I ain't gonna lie, I'm scared half to death.. I can't even stand..!".

"But.. I'm sorry for almost chickening out, old man Damatsu!-".

Mr. Damatsu remained silent, his gaze fixed in the enemy's direction. Though Arkens couldn't see it, a faint smile tugged at the corner of Mr. Damatsu's lips. But the moment was brief; his smile vanished as soon as the stranger emerged from the shadows of an alleyway, hands casually tucked into his pockets.

The man's appearance became clearer under the light. He seemed older, perhaps in his early thirties, with a scruffy beard and short, messy hair sticking out at odd angles. His sharp, dark eyes gave him a hardened look. His outfit was simple yet rugged: a black shirt beneath a dark beige leather jacket, fur lining the collar. He wore plain black jeans and matching shoes, completing the unassuming but dangerous aura he carried.

"Strange.. I could've sworn I'd be dead by now.. Hmm.. now that I'm taking a closer look, you don't look so good, Kojima!".

"Is that an arm sling?! And your Sera Energy is next to zero.. Zero?-".

A sinister smirk spread across his face as he glared at them, the realization dawning on him one that Mr. Damatsu had already anticipated.

"Ebihara, this is where you stand. Your qualification test begins now. Defeat him alone, and I'll continue to train you, or we'll both die, including everyone you care for".

"By myself, huh?.. Would you be surprised to hear that I had a feeling you'd say that?".

Arkens slapped both hands against his face, forcing himself to focus. He inhaled deeply, steadying his nerves, then exhaled slowly before leaping off the roof and landing on the empty street below. Now, standing face-to-face with the invader, Arkens could feel the moment's weight. Though some distance remained between them, their eyes locked in a tense stare. The man's lips curled into a devilish smirk, his confidence unwavering.

"You're a baby. I can't believe the Kojima Damatsu "The Mercenary" was subjected to a protection job, and here I find him practically a cripple with a baby in his arms".

"It's laughable that you think you can beat me. I can tell your level of training is that of a beginner, so get off your high horse!".

Arkens became serious, and despite his many uncontrollable emotions, he couldn't show them to his enemy.

"It's not a matter of thinking I can beat you, a must. So even though I am inexperienced compared to you, I've got no choice but to kick your ass!".

"Then let's see you try, yeah?!".

With blinding speed, the stranger raised both arms, his palms and fingers splayed wide. In an instant, two hooks shot out, their velocity startling Arkens. His instincts kicked in, and he crossed his arms into an X shape, focusing his Sera Energy in a desperate attempt to power up and brace for impact.

The hooks whizzed past him, piercing through the house behind where Mr. Damatsu stood. They latched onto the walls inside, and the stranger wasted no time, using the anchored hooks to propel himself forward. In one fluid motion, he reeled himself in, closing the distance between him and Arkens in a flash. Before Arkens could react, a powerful kick slammed into his side, the force so devastating it sent him flying upward into the sky, his body rocketing like a ragdoll.

"NGH- AHH!".

As unfortunate as the situation seemed, it gave Arkens enough time to activate his empowered state. His body began to glow faintly as his Sera Energy surged, but he started to descend before he could fully stabilize. The rushing winds roared past him as he plummeted rapidly toward the ground, a house directly in his line of impact.

Meanwhile, Mr. Damatsu remained calm. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a strange device, its surface sleek and unfamiliar. A bright violet light erupted with a single push of a button, engulfing the entire Takae District. The light vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving the air still again.

"Hmph! So you used a Silencer, huh? I should remember to bring some after I kill the baby and you!".

The stranger darted off in the direction Arkens had been launched, moving at speed so fast he was a blur. Meanwhile, Arkens slammed into the concrete street, skidding across the ground and tearing up the road beneath him, his body leaving a long, jagged trail. His momentum only stopped when he crashed into a house, the impact crushing the wall behind him. Pain shot through his body, but he forced himself to move, picking himself up with a groan.

Off in the distance, he saw the madman barreling toward him. Arkens staggered to his feet and bolted to the front of the house, steeling himself for the next attack.

The stranger's laughter echoed as he raised one arm and fired another hook. It shot forward with blinding speed, striking Arkens in his lower body, just above his stomach. The force drove the hook deep, its rope searing through Arkens as it anchored into the wall behind him. The stranger fired a second hook from his other hand, but it missed Arkens, embedding itself into the house wall behind him.

"You idiot!!! HAHAHAHA, you aren't fast enough to dodge my hooks and not tough enough to tank it; your Sera Energy is that of a baby!".

Reeling from the pain, Arkens' face twisted into a furious scowl. His hand gripped the rope that had pierced through his body, and with a surge of strength, he yanked it hard, pulling the stranger toward him. The move was so unexpected that the stranger's eyes widened in shock. He hadn't imagined someone he saw as weak, almost like an infant, could counter with such force.

The stranger's body was flung forward, propelled uncontrollably toward Arkens. Panicking, he attempted to deactivate his ability, hoping to release the rope and break free. But it was too late, and his momentum was already sealed.

"You may be faster and stronger, but I'm more determined! That I can't lose to you!!!".

Arkens clenched his fist, his whole body fueled by raw determination and fury. With a quick, decisive step forward, he drove his fist into the man's face, his eyes blazing with anger. But he wasn't done. With a roar, Arkens unleashed even more of his power, using the momentum to slam the man into the ground. The force of the impact was immense, creating a massive crater as the ground beneath them cracked and shattered.

The stranger's eyes glazed over, turning a vacant, glossy white. Arkens stood over him, his chest heaving with heavy breaths, his fist still buried in the man's face. But just for a split second, the stranger's eyes flickered back to life. Color returned, and they darted up to meet Arkens' gaze.

In that instant, Arkens' heart sank.

"He's still..!-".

The stranger swiftly moved before Arkens could finish his sentence, pushing Arkens' arm aside with his free hand. In one quick motion, he raised his upper body and drove his head forward, delivering a brutal, point-blank headbutt that staggered Arkens. Seizing the opportunity, the stranger followed up with a rapid leg sweep, knocking Arkens off his feet.

But before Arkens could hit the ground, the stranger grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, pulling him in close. With a fierce punch to the face, he sent Arkens crashing through another wall. This time, the impact didn't send him far. The man's face was left with a deep fist print on his face, blood streaming from the corner of his mouth. Despite the pain, he furiously smirked, spitting blood onto the floor.

"Hehe.. You only hit me once, and I'm this hurt? Not bad, for a beginner. My name is Genju.. And yours?".

Arkens, escaping from the rubble, picked himself up from the debris, feeling the exhaustion kick in; he sure expended a lot of energy in taking his hook attack and punching him. But he wasn't feeling ready to quit now of all time.

"Ahh..haa..mnuhm..haa..haa.. Arkens..".

"Well, be glad you know the name of your executioner. Not many had such the privilege!"

The moment the stranger moved, Arkens reacted instinctively. They leaped toward each other, fists extended, and their punches connected simultaneously, slamming into each other's faces. The impact sent them both stumbling back, pain surging through their bodies. But without hesitation, they rushed at each other again, exchanging a flurry of punches and kicks with brutal speed.

Arkens realized they were too close to the people's homes as the fight raged. Though much of the destruction was unintentional, he had to move the battle away. Spotting an opportunity, he baited the stranger when Genju swung a left punch; Arkens quickly stepped in, locking Genju's arms with his own. Arkens twisted his body in one swift motion and shoulder-threw Genju away from the houses, sending him crashing onto the open road.

Arkens leaped high into the air, ascending rapidly before plummeting back toward the ground with his hands clasped together. His arms swung above his head and behind his back, gathering momentum as he aimed to smash his combined fists down onto Genju's body with devastating force.

Genju, seeing the attack but with no time to dodge, acted quickly. He stretched his arms, firing two hook shots latched onto nearby walls. The hooks automatically reeled him away just in time, narrowly dodging the blow. Arkens' fists slammed into the ground with tremendous impact, unleashing an explosion of force that sent a shockwave rippling outward, shaking the surroundings.

"D-Damn it! I almost had em!".