Ugh… my body feels so heavy.
I groaned softly as I tried to sit up from my bed. Suddenly, I felt something wet and sticky on top of my blanket.
"Huh? What's this?"
I slowly lifted the blanket—and was completely shocked.
Turns out Aurelia was sleeping soundly, her face drooling all over my shirt!
I was mad, but I couldn't stop laughing.
"You little—! Aurelia! You're drooling on my blanket, and now my shirt's soaked too?!"
Aurelia stirred awake, her mouth still half-covered in drool.
"Hey! How dare you whack my head like that?!"
I smacked her head again with a playful grin.
"Come on, it's morning already!"
She groaned, rubbing her head as she sat up with a yawn.
I walked into the kitchen, stretching a bit.
"I'm gonna make Milo. You want some?"
Still half-asleep, she mumbled, "Yeah, whatever…"
After making the drinks, we sat together in the living room. Out of the blue, I asked,
"Hey, how old are you really, Aurelia? I just turned sixteen."
She gave a smug grin.
"I'm fifteen. Just a year younger than you."
I shook my head.
"Only a year? Not that big of a difference, huh…"
Then she smirked, teasing,
"So, do you have a girlfriend, Hiro?"
I shook my head again.
"Nope."
She laughed, "How long has it been? Come on, think about it."
I held my head like it hurt.
"Ugh… this headache again. Maybe… three years?"
Aurelia tried to hold in her laugh, making that annoying pspsps sound as she giggled.
"Hahahaha…"
Deep down I was annoyed, but I stayed silent.
"Damn you…"
Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
I stood up.
"Yeah, hang on!"
I walked over to the door and slowly opened it.
"Eh? Mizuki? What are you doing here?" I asked, surprised.
Mizuki gave a sweet smile.
"Hey Hiro, just came to check in. I'm doing fine."
From the living room, Aurelia called out, surprised,
"Hey Hiro, who's at the door?"
Still looking at Mizuki, I said,
"Eh? Who's this?" Then opened the door wider to let her in.
Suddenly, from the kitchen, Mada walked in with a slightly annoyed face.
"Hey Hiro, why is there a girl in your house?!"
Mizuki stayed calm and smiled at Mada.
Aurelia gave Mizuki a sharp look, her face slightly red with jealousy, then asked,
"Hey Hiro, who's this short and… flat girl?"
Mada, not wanting to be outdone, also snapped,
"What did you just say about us being flat?!"
Aurelia stared seriously into Mada's eyes.
"What did you mean by that?!"
Both of them turned to me at the same time and asked,
"Hey Hiro, who's the 'flat' girl?"
"Hey Hiro, who's this overly cutesy girl?"
Caught between their voices full of jealousy, I just shook my head and smiled awkwardly.
"Ah, don't fight… I'll explain later."
Mizuki quickly apologized,
"Tch, I guess I should say sorry…"
Aurelia replied smugly,
"Fake cute girls should apologize."
Mizuki shot back in a teasing tone,
"Hey, flat-chest, you really think you're that cute? Huh? You're just… chubby!"
I shook my head and sighed.
"Yeah… guess I'm not that lucky after all…"
Ding dong! The doorbell rang again.
I rushed over to open it.
Standing in front of me was a man in oversized clothes, his face serious and his right hand pointed straight at me. A flaming red aura swirled around his hand like magical fire.
"Huh?! What the hell is this?!" I was shocked—but before I could react, the fire shot toward me—BOOM! I was blown back and slammed into the floor.
Mizuki rushed over to me, panicked.
"Hiro! Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
Aurelia stood with a mix of anger and confusion.
"You… Moruku?! What are you doing here?!"
The man calmly replied,
"I'm here to kill you. Orders from the Magic King."
Still on the floor, I struggled to get up.
"Kill me? Are you serious?!"
The man looked at me with disdain.
"Idiot. I'm here to kill the magic girl, not you."
I stood up quickly and glared.
"You just blew up my house, and now you want to kill this crazy girl? No way I'm letting that happen!"
Suddenly, the man's right finger lit up again with blazing red fire.
"Fine then. Get ready, Moruku!"
He prepared to strike. But I didn't wait—I jumped forward and punched him right in the face!
Moruku cried out in pain. Aurelia saw it and shouted,
"Nice one, Hiro!"
Then she turned to me with a pout,
"Wait, did you just call me crazy?! What did you mean by that, Hiro?!"
Mizuki let out a small giggle.
Aurelia snapped,
"Hey! What are you laughing at, you cheap-looking girl?!"
Mizuki was stunned.
"Wait, cheap-looking?! What did you just say?!"
I quickly interrupted,
"Hey, focus up! We've got a real enemy here!"
Moruku slowly stood up from the roof of the house across the street.
"Tch…" he grumbled, rising to his full height like a villain who just respawned from a failed boss fight.
Then, without warning, he raised one hand and shouted dramatically:
"Magic spell, one two three—cats on the run! Let my muscles grow strong, hirr!!"
Hiro, Mizuki, and Aurelia all stood there in silence.
They simply stared at him like they were watching a clown crash a serious stage play.
Aurelia leaned toward Hiro with a deadpan expression and whispered,
"Uh… is that really his magic chant?"
Even Mizuki couldn't hold it in.
"Hey, flat-chest, I swear I've never heard a spell like that. Is this magic or a rejected nursery rhyme?"
Moruku's face flushed crimson in shame.
"Shut up, all of you!!!" he roared, biting his lower lip in frustration.
Then, pointing at them, his aura flared with anger.
"Tch… I'll kill you all, especially you, filthy girl! I won't let the three of you live!"
But Hiro just stood at the front of the house, hands tucked casually in his pockets, completely unfazed.
"Sigh… First thing in the morning, and I'm already stuck fighting some wannabe wizard with a clown complex…"
Suddenly…
"OI, HIRO!!"
A loud voice echoed from down the street.
Hiro turned around, blinking in surprise.
That voice—wait a second...
"Satou… Akira… Hanako??"
The three of them were sprinting toward the scene from the main road, like they were starring in Fast & Furious: High School Edition.
Satou raised an eyebrow and called out with a weird look on his face.
"Bro, what are you guys doing? Filming a movie or something? It's literally morning and y'all are already starting a street brawl? Too much drama, man."
Akira was already laughing, pointing straight at Moruku.
"Oi, look at that guy! Old man standing on a rooftop like a mental patient!"
Up on the roof, Moruku stood frozen. His face had darkened, as if his soul had taken critical emotional damage.
He muttered to himself through gritted teeth,
"Tch… damn it… why the hell am I doing this crap? Freakin' hell… and now a bunch of new lunatics show up too…"
Akira kept going, smirking.
"He really looks like a bad guy from a cheap anime. But what's up with his outfit? Torn shirt, wild hair… He looks like a mental patient who escaped the hospital. Hahahaha!"
Mizuki was already laughing uncontrollably, nearly doubling over. Aurelia had to cover her mouth to stop herself from bursting, but she still commented dryly,
"Yup. Definitely not a villain. Just a certified lunatic. There's a difference."
Moruku's face turned crimson, veins popping on his forehead. He couldn't take it anymore.
"SHUT UP, YOU DAMN BRATS!!!!"
His voice roared so loud that birds perched on the nearby electric pole scattered in panic.
But the group? They just laughed harder—like they were watching a clown trying to rage-quit a circus performance.
Moruku had had enough.
With a furious snarl, he launched himself off the rooftop like a seasoned ninja from some forgotten war.
"BOOM! CAT PUNCH!!!" he roared, his right fist igniting in crimson flames as it rocketed straight toward Akira.
The rest of us—Mizuki, Satou, Aurelia, Hanako, and I—just stood there, dumbfounded.
"HAAAA?! Cat Punch?!"
Akira, however, remained completely unfazed. With an expression that screamed ugh, not this again, he lifted his hand lazily. His eyes glowed a cold, eerie violet.
"Telekinesis: Activate."
ZAAAP!
In an instant, Moruku froze mid-air—his body suspended, twitching as if caught in invisible chains.
"WHAT IS THIS?! WHAT DID YOU DO?!" Moruku's eyes widened in shock and panic.
Akira gave a wicked little grin.
"You wanna punch a cat? Alright then… feel this."
BAM!
Moruku was slammed hard to the left.
BOOM!
Then flung brutally to the right.
DOOM!
And finally—smashed into the ground with crushing force.
"Combo Hentakan Jiwa: Akira Style!!!"
SMACK! SMACK! SMACK! SMACK!
Moruku was tossed around like a dodgeball in a middle school tournament, bouncing off walls, ground, and air with no mercy. The front wall of a nearby house even cracked from the impact.
Aurelia was already jumping in place, fist-pumping in the air.
"GO AKIRA GO! MAKE HIM EAT DIRT!"
Mizuki was holding her stomach, laughing so hard she could barely breathe.
"Didn't think Akira had this violent side… I kinda like it!"
Satou clapped slowly, shaking his head with a half-smile.
"Poor old man… But damn, that was satisfying."
And Hanako? Still calm as ever, sipping a carton of tea that nobody even noticed her pull out.
Like this was all just a normal Tuesday morning.
Akira was still going at it—slamming Moruku into the ground repeatedly. The earth shook like a mini earthquake every time Moruku's body hit the pavement.
"BOOM! BANG! CRAKK!"
It was chaos. Until suddenly—
"HEY AKIRA! MAYBE YOU SHOULD STOP!!" I shouted, my voice sharp with concern.
Akira paused mid-swing, looking at me with a blank face.
"Huh? Why? I'm on a roll here."
I pointed frantically toward the house next door—the one with a half-collapsed wall.
"Dude, look at the neighbor's house! They're literally watching us—with brooms… and cameras!"
We all turned.
Yup. There they were.
A whole family standing outside, wide-eyed. The dad held a broom like a weapon, and the kid? Yeah, he was filming everything on his phone.
"Papa… is that a monster or a superhero?" the kid asked innocently.
Akira immediately froze in place and dropped Moruku, who now looked like a lifeless ragdoll.
Aurelia suddenly popped up beside us, her hair shimmering with sparkles like she just stepped out of a magical girl anime.
"Don't worry! I can fix the house with my magic~!"
She swirled her hand dramatically toward the destroyed wall.
"Restoration Spell: HOME SWEET HOME~!"
BZZZZZT!
In an instant, the house was not only repaired, but it looked better than before—fresh paint, polished tiles, and even a row of colorful flowers blooming in front.
Hanako blinked, genuinely stunned.
"Wait… what kind of spell is that? Home renovation magic?"
Satou turned to me, brows raised.
"Hey Hiro… who's this short girl? She's cute, but… kinda looks like she popped out of a kids' anime."
Akira chimed in, still catching his breath.
"Yeah seriously… she's got that full isekai main character vibe going on."
I scratched the back of my head, awkward.
"Uhh… this is Aurelia. She's a mage. From… somewhere. I dunno. But she's helped us a lot."
Aurelia flashed a peace sign, grinning proudly.
"Hi hi! I'm Aurelia Lun! Don't underestimate me just 'cause I'm short!"
Satou and Akira glanced at each other.
"Totally an OP character."
[Inside Hiro's House]
They were all gathered in the cramped living room. Some took the sofa, while others sat cross-legged on the floor. In one corner of the room, Moruku—still unconscious and freshly battered—was tied up with Aurelia's magic tape, left like discarded laundry in the corner.
Satou crunched on a biscuit he found in Hiro's kitchen.
"Not bad… But seriously, Hiro, no air-cond?"
"Satou, can we focus for once?" Hiro sighed, exasperated.
He turned toward Aurelia, who sat calmly on a small cushion, legs neatly tucked beneath her.
"Alright. Can you tell us what's really going on, Aurelia?"
A moment of silence passed before the girl finally spoke, her voice quiet… but resolute.
"My real name is… Aurelia Lun Arselia."
"I'm from a world of magic. A realm you guys can't enter just by wishing for it."
Akira leaned against the wall, raising an eyebrow.
"Oooh. So you really are an isekai character."
Aurelia gave him a sharp side-eye.
"That guy earlier—his name's Moruku. He's a 12th-rank Enforcer. He was sent to capture me."
"Capture you?" Hiro frowned. "Why?"
Aurelia looked down, clutching the hem of her robe tightly.
"Because… they want to turn me into a weapon."
The room fell into silence.
Hanako whispered, her voice barely audible.
"A weapon…?"
Aurelia nodded.
"There's too much magic energy inside me. But it's unstable. Dangerous. The World Magic Council knows what I'm capable of. They plan to manipulate that power… and reshape me into a living tool of destruction."
"To use against humans?" Hiro's voice trembled slightly.
"They're more than willing," Aurelia muttered, lifting her face. Her eyes blazed with long-suppressed fury.
"They've already started. I escaped before the procedure could begin. But now… they're sending elite agents like Moruku to drag me back—dead or alive."
Everyone exchanged tense glances—Satou, Akira, Hanako… no one spoke.
Until Hiro finally broke the silence. His tone was calm, but his eyes held unwavering determination.
"Then we'll help you."
Aurelia blinked, stunned.
"Huh…?"
"We're already involved. And besides…" Hiro chuckled softly. "You did save my neighbor's house back there. We're not about to let you face all this alone."
Akira raised a thumbs-up.
"Yeah. Plus, you're cute. No way we're leaving you behind."
SMACK!
Hanako slapped Akira square on the back of the head.
"STOP BEING WEIRD, YOU DUMMY!"
[Sudden Teleportation at Hiro's House]
Wuuuuumm!!
A glowing magic circle burst into life on the living room floor—spinning with violet and cerulean light. The pressure that followed was suffocating, as if the air had turned heavy with dread.
"EH?!" Satou yelped, leaping behind the sofa.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!"
BOOM!
A man stepped out from the circle, cloaked in sleek black-and-silver armor. His crimson eyes gleamed like burning embers, and his hair writhed like smoke from scorched steel.
"Regiel von Scythe. Magic Enforcer, Tier 29… has arrived."
Aurelia's face drained of all color.
"Regiel?! No… they sent him too?!"
"RUN! BACKYARD—NOW!" Hiro barked, not wasting a second.
They didn't question him.
With a flick of his hand, Akira used his telekinesis to blast the back door open. They all sprinted through—leaving poor Moruku still tied up and unconscious on the living room floor.
---
[Backyard of Hiro's House]
Satou gasped, holding his side.
"Oi, Hiro! Why are we running?! We're all strong, aren't we? You took down Kazuki before!"
Hiro panted, still catching his breath.
"Idiot! I just bought a new TV! You want to see it blasted into space?!"
The group paused.
Hanako sighed, rubbing her temple.
"Sometimes… your logic is truly depressing."
Aurelia gripped the sleeve of Hiro's shirt tightly, her voice trembling.
"Regiel isn't just anyone. He's a cold-blooded executioner… and the most violent enforcer the council has. If we fight him here, it's not just your TV—your whole neighborhood's going down."
Satou turned to Hanako.
"Okay, genius. You're the tactician. What's the plan?"
Hanako jolted, caught off guard.
"E-Eh?! Me?! I-I wasn't ready—I only have some half-baked drafts in my head—"
Hiro gently placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled.
"It's okay. We trust you. Right, guys?"
Satou and Akira raised their hands in unison.
"Aye aye, captain!"
Hanako took a deep breath. Her eyes sharpened—glimmering with sudden clarity.
"Alright… here's the plan—"
[Regiel & Moruku – The Bizarre Duo in Motion]
Regiel stood tall in the middle of Hiro's living room, glaring at Moruku, who was still lying on the floor like a taped-up human sushi roll.
"Oi, fatty. What are you doing on the floor like some worn-out carpet?" Regiel scoffed, wearing a disgusted expression.
Moruku grunted through his nose.
"Mmmrrghhh—mmph!!"
Regiel raised an eyebrow.
"Idiot... who slapped tape on your mouth?"
With a lazy sigh, Regiel ripped the tape off.
"THEY RAN TO THE PARK! HURRY UP AND UNTIE ME!!" Moruku screamed in frustration.
Regiel rolled his eyes.
"Why should I help you? Aren't you a level twelve magic enforcer or something?"
Moruku wriggled like a worm in hot water.
"I know where they are! I can lead the way! Hurry up and untie me before I—before I kill you!"
(Though it sounded like a weak threat, Regiel nodded anyway.)
With a snap of his fingers, the ropes vanished.
"If you're lying, I'll chop off your head and sell it on the black market," Regiel said flatly.
Moruku flashed a confident grin, even though his knees were still trembling.
"Don't look at me like that, damn it... I'm being serious."
---
[At the Park Behind the House]
Regiel and Moruku arrived first. Moruku stood with his hands on his hips and yelled out,
"Oi! You naughty brats! Come out now! Don't make me play cops and robbers with you!"
The sky was turning dark. A chilling wind swept through the park, carrying a thickening aura of magic.
Suddenly, Satou's voice echoed from behind a large tree,
"Who are you calling a brat? I'm older than your girlfriend, bro!"
Regiel gave a faint smile.
"Oh... there you are. Ready to die?"
Moruku pointed furiously at the tree and shouted,
"You! Telekinesis guy! You're the one who threw me earlier, weren't you?! My back still hurts!"
Akira replied with a cold smirk,
"You want payback... or a back massage?"
Regiel extended his hand, and the entire park began to tremble.
The real battle was about to begin.
Moruku shouted,
"Hey, you naughty kids! Come out! Don't make me play 'cops and robbers' with you!"
The dusk was growing darker, and the magical aura thickened in the air.
Suddenly, Satou's voice rang out from atop a tree,
"Who's the kid? I'm older than your girlfriend, you know!"
Moruku pointed at Akira, who looked a bit unsteady on his feet.
"Hey, Akira? Why are you swaying like that? Got caught?"
Akira scratched his head, looking serious but flustered.
"Tch… Yeah, I got caught! I'll come out first. Hiro, you be the bait!"
Hiro was shocked,
"What?! Me? Why me?"
Moruku shrugged,
"Because you're the perfect target. Plus, your house will get destroyed if you don't come out."
Satou growled,
"Exactly! If you keep hiding, it's your house that'll suffer. Don't like that? Then come out!"
Hiro could only shake his head and mutter softly,
"You idiots…"
---
[From Hiro's perspective]
Inside, I was terrified, but I had no other choice.
"If I fail, my house gets wrecked. But I don't have powers like them…"
I took a deep breath,
"Alright, I'll be the bait. Hope I don't die like trash…"
They all ran at full speed.
"Faster! Hurry up!" Moruku shouted from behind, chasing after them.
Hiro didn't hesitate. He launched a powerful punch.
"Hah!" The blow aimed straight at Regiel, but Regiel swiftly dodged.
Regiel raised his palm, and suddenly, a surge of magical energy gathered.
"Magic!" A wave-shaped magical attack slammed toward Hiro's ribs.
Boom! Hiro staggered and coughed violently, the pain sharp and fierce. The attack reminded him of Jeison — a powerful strike surrounded by a dark aura.
But Hiro was quick. Without delay, he unleashed his secret skill: Invisible Strike.
In the blink of an eye, the punch flew through the air and landed squarely on Regiel's face.
Regiel screamed in pain,
"Arghhh! You dirty trick!"
"Hey, like that old man is chasing us!" Satou laughed, teasing Moruku.
"Chase all you want! Tch, you jerk!" Moruku shot back seriously, still chasing from behind.
Hiro paused briefly and looked back.
"What's your name, kid?" Regiel asked, emerging from the shadows.
"Me? I'm Hiro, just a poor unlucky kid," Hiro answered weakly.
Regiel smirked cruelly.
"Alright then," he said, leaping forward and swinging an attack.
Hiro didn't run. He used his Imagination Punch — a strike stronger and faster than Regiel's attack.
The two attacks collided, each striking the other's face.
But strangely, Regiel seemed to be in more pain than Hiro, clutching his struck face.
"Hah! You actually hurt me, kid!"
"Hey old man! You're really strong!" Hiro shouted, wiping blood from his lip.
Regiel frowned.
"Tch, I'm only twenty, alright?"
Suddenly Regiel raised his hand to the sky and shouted,
"Ancient earth, awaken your titan — Terra Genesis!!"
The ground trembled. Cracks appeared all around. A colossal creature made of earth slowly rose — its eyes glowing green, body like a moving mountain.
Hiro gasped.
"Titan…" he whispered. But then a confident smile spread across his face.
"Alright, if you can summon a titan, I can stir up some chaos too..."
He lifted his right hand, aura blazing.
"Combined Skill — Elemental Imagine: Total Cataclysm!!"
BOOOOM!!! 💥🔥🌪️💧
Explosions of fire, lightning, storm, and water collided straight at the titan and Regiel, causing a massive blast that shook the entire garden.
The titan tried to shield Regiel with its massive body, but Hiro's combined power was overwhelming.
Thick dust filled the air. Hiro stood, panting.
"Damn… this kid… not an ordinary kid," Regiel muttered from the rubble, lying down with half-closed eyes.
Hiro smirked.
"Heh… your titan's already asleep?"
Hiro wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Alright… looks like I need to hurry to the store," he muttered as he started running.
Suddenly—BAM!
He bumped into someone around the corner.
"Eh! Sorry, I didn't mean to—"
Hiro froze. The woman in front of him stared with sharp eyes.
"Toba Sayaka?" Hiro said in surprise.
She rolled her eyes and took a step back.
"Hmph. Hiro… so we meet again."
Hiro raised his hands nervously.
"Eh, eh, sorry Toba… I'm busy right now. We can fight another time, okay?"
Toba clenched her fist.
"Come on, let's fight again! I'm not satisfied yet!"
But Hiro was already turning away, running fast while shouting,
"Wait for next time! My life is more important right now!!"
Toba stood still, her hair blowing in the wind.
"…Still the same unlucky kid as before."
Hiro dashed toward the mart, his breath ragged.
Tch! I just wanted to save the world a little, why is this girl suddenly chasing me?!
Suddenly, a voice shouted from behind:
"Hiro! Wait for me!"
"EH?!" Hiro turned around — it was Toba Sayaka running after him, her face serious and determined.
WHAT'S UP WITH THIS GIRL?! DOES SHE REALLY WANT TO FIGHT AGAIN?!
Hiro bolted like a madman, panicked.
"What's wrong with her… HAAH HAAH… I can't breathe!" Hiro yelled, zigzagging to dodge Sayaka.
---
[Scene – Satou vs Moruku]
Elsewhere, Moruku was still chasing Satou and Akira.
"Wait, you naughty kids!!"
Suddenly, Satou stopped in the middle of the road.
"Tch… why did you stop?" Akira asked.
Satou gave Moruku a sharp glance. A sly smile curved on his lips.
"Heh… I'm done running. Time to upgrade."
He clenched his fist.
✨ "Archetype Override: Upgrade." ✨
Blue light exploded from Satou's body. In an instant, his aura shifted—more focused, denser.
"I've copied your power, Moruku. And I've 'upgraded' it."
Moruku's eyes widened.
"What?!"
Satou smiled confidently.
"When I copy someone's power, I understand how it works. And when I understand... I can alter its components, turning it into a stronger version."
Moruku stood tall, sweat dripping down his forehead.
"The skill you used earlier… Cat Punch, right?"
Satou chuckled softly, gripping his fist tightly.
"Heh. I've upgraded your skill…"
A thick blue aura began to envelop his hand.
"So now—Tiger Punch!"
Moruku managed to shout,
"You can copy magic too?! No way—!"
Satou vanished from sight, moving at lightning speed. In the blink of an eye—
💥 BOOM! 💥
The tiger's punch struck Moruku's face, the air itself trembling.
Moruku was thrown several meters back, lying there with his eyes spinning.
"ARGHH… damn it… why does his version hurt more than mine…"
Satou walked calmly forward, wiping his hand as if nothing had happened.
"Cute cat. Tiger… predator. Upgrade, bro."
Hiro was just about to dash toward the mart. His breath was ragged, and his heart pounded like a war drum.
"Phew... almost got caught by Toba back there. Thank go—"
TSSSSHHH!!
A dark magical aura suddenly burst open behind Satou. A swirling portal shimmered into existence, crackling with violet and blue light. Wind surged outward, leaves spinning into the air around them.
Hiro froze mid-step.
"Huh?! What now? A new enemy?!"
Satou slowly turned his head, frowning.
"Tch... I don't think this one's from our world."
Footsteps echoed… clack… clack…
From within the portal, a girl emerged. Her long silver hair flowed like moonlight, her golden eyes sharp and piercing. She wore a mage-like robe embroidered with strange glowing runes on her sleeve.
She stood emotionless, calmly staring at Hiro and Satou.
> "Code 113: Target 'Aurelia' identified. Orders — retrieve alive."
Satou raised his hand, blue aura flaring.
"Oi, mysterious lady… if you mess with my buddy, prepare yourself—for the Winged Thunder Dragon Tiger Punch!"
The girl smiled slightly for the first time.
> "Tiger punch? Intriguing."
Suddenly, Toba appeared beside Hiro, still gasping for breath.
"Hey Hiro! Who's that girl now? We just escaped one, and another shows up?!"
Hiro raised both hands in panic.
"What?! How should I know?! I'm just as confused as you are!"
The sorceress stepped forward with unwavering confidence. Her golden eyes glowed coldly, her aura pressing down on the entire area. Her voice was calm—yet as sharp as a freshly-forged blade.
> "My name is Selene Arkwright. Rank Fifty Sorceress. And Aurelia... belongs to us."
Hiro immediately grabbed Aurelia's hand tightly. His heart trembled. He knew—if she fell into their hands, the world wouldn't survive. She'd become a weapon of destruction... not a person.
In his heart, he swore:
> If that's what they're after…
I'll destroy everything to stop it. No matter the cost.
He took a step forward, staring Selene straight in the eye, unshaken.
Behind him, Satou gulped.
> "F-Fifty?! Man... feels like we just skipped to the final boss fight…"
But Hiro, arms crossed and voice steady, replied coolly:
> "Tch. Rank fifty, rank five hundred... I don't care."
Selene halted. Her brow twitched.
> "What?"
Hiro continued, his tone growing bolder:
> "Because level doesn't decide fate.
And I'll still punch you if you mess with my friends."
In an instant, Selene's eyes gleamed like a full moon. Lunar aura wrapped around her body.
> "Insolent worm... How dare a weak human speak to me like that…"
She raised her hand to the sky. Black clouds spiraled rapidly above. Wind howled. From the churning heavens, the moon emerged—glowing pale violet, like the eye of a death god.
> "🌙 Moon Invocation: Silent Eradication."
Silence—then BOOOOM!!
A worn-down building behind them vanished instantly. Not destroyed. Not exploded. Gone. No rubble, no smoke. Just scorched earth and a faint wisp of steam.
Everyone froze.
Hiro slowly whispered to Satou.
> "…Satou. I think... we should run."
Satou gave a slight smile, eyes blazing with fire.
> "No, Hiro.
Now it's my turn to hit back."
Satou wiped the blood from the corner of his lips, chuckling.
> "Okay... she's strong. Really strong.
But I've still got one more move.
Tiger Fist... Version Two."
He cracked his knuckles, took a deep breath—and lightning began crackling around his fists. The ground trembled beneath his feet.
> "RAAARGH!! TIGER FIST: THUNDER-HORNED STRIKE—!!!"
With a roar, Satou vanished, reappearing mid-air right in front of Selene. His fist blazed like a comet.
BOOOM!!
His punch collided—
CLANG!!
Blocked. Again. With just one finger.
Satou's eyes widened.
> "Are you serious?! AGAIN?!"
Selene's cold smile returned.
> "Foolish."
With a wave of her hand—BAAM!!
Satou was sent flying through two abandoned stalls, tumbling like a ragdoll.
Hiro rushed forward. "SATOU!!"
Satou groaned from the ground. "I'm good... I think. Internal bleeding? Minor."
He slowly stood up. "I'm not done yet. Tiger Fist Version 2.5…? Maybe?"
But suddenly—
The sky turned red.
A low rumble echoed. Black lightning danced in the clouds.
Everyone turned.
From the shadows stepped a tall figure in a black cloak, his face hidden behind a metallic mask shaped like a shattered clock.
His voice was deep, echoing unnaturally—like multiple people speaking at once.
> "Selene Arkwright… You were not authorized to act."
Selene's eyes sharpened. "You… Kael?!"
The figure—Kael—strode forward, stepping between Selene and Hiro.
His presence was suffocating. Darker. Colder. Far more menacing than hers.
> "This mission is over.
The target… will be transferred to me."
Satou, still half-conscious, whispered to Hiro.
> "Bro… we just fought a final boss.
Who the hell brought the DLC expansion early?!"
Hiro stared at Kael, fists clenched.
This… was no ordinary enemy.
This was something else entirely.