The silence felt heavier than the battle.
Ash drifted in the cold wind as Reiji stood in the middle of the scorched street, surrounded by broken pavement and lingering heat. The faint crackle of burning debris filled the air, but the adrenaline had drained from his limbs. His shadow flickered beneath him—still alert, still restless—but he finally let out a breath, one that steamed slightly in the cold night.
The fight had ended. But nothing felt like victory. In the back of his mind, he reflected on the cost—both to the city and to himself. He was powerful now, yes, but at what price?
As he took a few steps forward, his system interface pinged silently.
[Battle Evaluation: Major Conflict – Victory]
[Scorpion Synchronization: 100%]
[Noob Saibot Synchronization: 100%]
[Status: Shadow Arsenal Stabilized]
Reiji narrowed his eyes. That wasn't all.
[Mission Update: Unknown Entity Observing. Tracing… Failed.]
He tensed. Even now, someone—or something—had eyes on him. The system's inability to trace the observer only amplified the unease. He scanned the rooftops instinctively, searching every corner of broken concrete and shattered glass for a hint of movement. But the only thing he saw was smoke curling into the night sky.
A part of him wanted to leap into action again, to find whoever was watching—but exhaustion clung to him like iron chains. His limbs ached, the side of his ribs throbbed, and the back of his neck pulsed with the remnants of strain. The dual template abilities had taken their toll. Despite the fire in his blood, he was only human.
The ground beneath his boots crunched with glass as he made his way toward the epicenter of the clash. Bits of burnt scaffolding and warped metal littered the area like scattered bones. Civilians were being tended to at the perimeter—some bleeding, others sitting in stunned silence, blankets wrapped around their shoulders. Medical bots and pro hero assistants moved swiftly through the chaos, distributing aid.
He had won, but the battle felt like a warning. A calculated test run by someone who now knew exactly what he could do.
A flutter of feathers cut through the air.
"Yo!"
Hawks landed in a crouch beside him, wings folding smoothly as he tossed Reiji a small glass vial filled with glowing blue liquid. "You look like hell, kid. Drink up."
Reiji caught it with a tired smile and downed it in one gulp. A surge of coolness spread through his limbs like a wave of spring water. Some of the ache faded, though not all. It was enough to steady his legs.
"I handled it," he said hoarsely.
"No kidding," Hawks muttered, glancing at the rubble. "Muscular and Moonfish? That's a combo no one should handle alone. Honestly, I thought you'd be in pieces."
Best Jeanist landed a moment later, dusting off his cuffs as he approached the scorched field. His calm presence, polished and deliberate, was a striking contrast to the chaos around him. His eyes scanned the scene with a forensic sharpness that didn't miss a single detail.
"Where's the body?" he asked bluntly.
"They retreated," Reiji answered. "Right after receiving comms. Someone gave the order to pull back."
That got both heroes' attention. Hawks exchanged a grim glance with Jeanist.
"You sure?" Hawks asked, his voice suddenly serious.
"I heard it," Reiji confirmed. "Someone told them to fall back. Clear, direct command."
Edgeshot and Endeavor arrived moments later, their capes fluttering behind them in the wind. Endeavor surveyed the terrain with a professional eye, his gaze lingering on the heat-scored pavement and melted rebar.
"This was too coordinated," Endeavor growled. "These villains aren't random escapees. They're moving with purpose. Tactics."
"Agreed," Edgeshot added with a nod. "We've seen similar attacks reported elsewhere. Always two or three of them—targeting strategic spots, never overstaying. Like they're probing our defenses."
Reiji stepped closer. His face was calm, but his mind raced. "Then there's someone orchestrating all of this. And they're watching. Maybe even learning."
Jeanist nodded. "We need to alert Central. This isn't just chaos. It's the prelude to something bigger."
Hawks studied Reiji carefully. "You okay?"
Reiji gave a nod. "I will be."
But inside, his thoughts churned like a storm. He was starting to feel like a pawn on a larger board—and someone had just moved another piece.
Later that night, Reiji found a quiet alley behind an abandoned building. The moon was half-hidden by storm clouds, casting dim slivers of light between gaps in the concrete. He knelt, letting the silence surround him like a shroud, and opened his system interface.
It glowed brighter than usual—vibrant red and deep purple hues flashing across its surface.
[New Feature Unlocked: Dual Soul Template – Hybrid Mode Initiated]
[Status: Limited-Time Fusion Access Enabled]
He blinked, reading the glowing lines.
A hybrid mode?
He skimmed the description quickly, eyes narrowing in focus.
—Fused abilities of Scorpion and Noob Saibot may now be accessed simultaneously for up to 60 seconds. Cooldown: 5 hours. Overuse may trigger instability.—
A shiver ran down his spine.
This wasn't just power—it was a leap forward. He could fuse the fiery aggression of Scorpion with the cold lethality of Noob Saibot, becoming a walking weapon in battle. The system had never unlocked anything this advanced before. It meant the stakes were rising.
He clenched a fist, watching as a flicker of black flame danced between his fingers—half fire, half shadow. The heat tingled against his skin, while the chill of void pulsed in his palm. The power felt exhilarating and frightening all at once.
And then—
[Alert: System Interference Detected. Enemy Surveillance Level Rising.]
[Advised Action: Remain Unpredictable. Tracking signatures may increase vulnerability.]
His pulse spiked.
He snapped the interface shut and stood quickly, scanning the alley. No rustle of movement. No enemy signature. Just the stillness of night.
But the unease gnawed at him. There was more going on than he could see.
A whisper of shadow curled at his feet in response. Silent. Watching.
Far away, in a subterranean chamber bathed in red light, monitors blinked silently, displaying multiple cityscapes and combat footage. One screen showed a slowed-down clip of Reiji's dual-shadow maneuver—a move that had cleaved through Muscular's attack like paper.
A cloaked figure stood before them. Tubes and cables pulsed behind him like veins. His presence was immense even in stillness.
All For One watched Reiji's battle replay with unnerving calm.
"So he's evolving again," the villain said, fingers steepled beneath the curve of his mask.
Behind him, Shigaraki stood, arms folded, his expression grim.
"He's becoming a problem," Shigaraki muttered. "The system's made him too dangerous."
"No," All For One replied. "He's becoming a key."
His smile stretched beneath the respirator, eyes narrowing behind the lens.
"We'll have to move faster."
He tapped a button on the console. A map flickered into view—red dots pulsing across Japan. One glowed brighter than the rest.
"Let the games begin."
To be continued...
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