The cool night air pressed down on Shinjuku like a velvet shroud. Neon lights shimmered off rain-slicked pavement, casting a kaleidoscope of colors across the rooftop where Hiruzen, Emma, and Jonathan crouched in tense silence.

  "MAN," Jonathan muttered, shifting restlessly, "we've been up here for, like, five hours. I’m stiff, starving, and seriously reconsidering my life choices."

  Emma rolled her eyes and elbowed him. "Suck it up. We’re not here for your comfort. This intel could decide the fate of Chikara Academy."

  Hiruzen adjusted the radar scanner in his hand, eyes narrowing. "Movement. North quadrant. Five targets, closing fast. Gear up."

  Jonathan cracked his knuckles, a grin slowly spreading across his face. "Finally. Let’s show 'em what we’re made of."

  Meanwhile…

  The bandits advanced through the alleys like wraiths. Rain dripped from fire escapes and awnings as five figures darted through the gloom.

  Taser led the group, sparks dancing along his fingertips. "We’re almost there. A&M wants that data intact. We’re in, out, paid. Simple."

  Aqua moved with unsettling grace beside him, her long blue hair flowing like water in motion. "Still don’t get why the richest corp in the world needs school data."

  Rika scoffed behind her. "Maybe if you paid attention in school instead of playing mermaid, you’d know."

  Aqua’s eyes glinted. "Say that again. I dare you."

  "Quiet," Taser snapped. "We’re not here for drama. Focus."

  They rounded a corner—and stopped dead.

  Three figures stood in their path, lit by the glow of streetlamps: Hiruzen at the center, ice in his stance and gaze. Emma, calm and resolute. Jonathan, grinning like a maniac.

  "Looks like the Chikara cleanup crew showed up," Taser said with a smirk.

  Hiruzen stepped forward. "You’re after classified Academy data. Why? What’s A&M planning?"

  Taser shrugged. "Wouldn’t you like to know."

  If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  But then—

  "YOU! HIRUZEN!"

  Rika pushed past her team, fury blazing in her eyes. "You’ve got some nerve showing your face here!"

  Hiruzen blinked, then recognition dawned. "Rika. You're the one I fought during my placement trial, right? Why are you with them?

  "SHUT UP! I’ll—!"

  Taser yanked her back by the collar. "Control yourself. We’re not here for vendettas."

  Rika hissed, but nodded. "Fine. But once we win, he’s mine."

  Taser rolled his neck, electricity flaring. "We’ll see. Aqua, take the fast one. Rika, handle the girl. I’ve got ice-boy.

  Without warning, Taser lunged, his fists cracking with electric fury. The first punch slammed into Hiruzen’s chest, then a second—each hit building voltage.

  Crack—ZAP! Crack—ZAP!

  Hiruzen grunted, muscles seizing. "Damn… electricity’s locking my nerves..."

  Taser grinned. "What’s wrong, freezing up already?"

  "Screw this!" Hiruzen roared.

  He slammed his palms together, encasing his limbs in jagged armor of reinforced ice. A broadsword formed in one hand, a shield in the other.

  He lunged, blade arcing—but Taser ducked under and flashed behind him.

  “Too slow!”

  Before the hit could land, Hiruzen blasted a torrent of ice from his feet, launching himself into the air. From above, he spun and rained down dozens of ice spears like a frozen meteor storm.

  Taser raised a hand to block, but a few spears pierced deep into his shoulder and leg.

  "Tch—damn brat…"

  He staggered, then growled. "Didn’t want to use this yet..."

  Electricity surged around him, lightning whipping through the air.

  Hiruzen raised his blade. "Come on then. Let’s finish this."

  "LIGHTNING SHOT—SEVENTY PERCENT!"

  "GLACIAL SURGE!"

  The two attacks met with a deafening roar. Blue-white frost collided with blazing yellow arcs of lightning. The shockwave shattered windows for blocks.

  As the dust settled, both combatants stood—barely.

  Taser dropped to one knee, frostbite spreading up his arm. "Not bad, kid..."

  Hiruzen, bleeding from the mouth, his arms trembling, smirked. "Not so bad yourself... old man."

  Aqua hovered above a swirling vortex of water, sculpting a hydra with three writhing heads.

  "Drown, you hyperactive twit!"

  "You talk too much!" Jonathan yelled, dashing through the hydra’s strikes. With every step, his body gleamed—energy building.

  His ability: Kinetic Charge. Every movement stores force. The more he moves, the harder he hits.

  He cartwheeled between snapping jaws, ran up walls, ricocheted off lampposts.

  "Three more seconds… two…"

  He vanished.

  Aqua gasped. "Wha—?!"

  He reappeared inches from her face. "SUPER AWESOME JONATHAN ONE SHOT—ULTIMATE STRIKE!"

  His fist connected.

  Aqua was sent flying across the plaza, crashing into a newsstand and slumping unconscious.

  Jonathan stretched. "Whew. I should name that punch something cooler. Maybe 'Hydra Buster'? No? Too much?"

  Wind howled around the rooftop as Rika conjured massive gales, slicing steel vents apart with razor-force.

  Emma, calm, stood with her eyes closed.

  Rika sneered. "What’s wrong? Scared of a little breeze?"

  "No," Emma said simply. "Calculating angles."

  She vanished into light.

  Rika blinked. "What?!"

  Emma reappeared behind her and fired a burst of pure light into Rika’s back, launching her into the rooftop antenna.

  Rika staggered. "You… you think that’s enough?!"

  She screamed, unleashing a typhoon. Emma was caught mid-movement, flung into the sky.

  From below, Hiruzen and Jonathan reacted instantly.

  "She’s trapped in the vortex!" Jonathan yelled.

  "Split duty. I’ll freeze the air pressure!"

  "I’ll run counter to reverse the flow!"

  Jonathan took off like a rocket, spinning against the hurricane’s direction. Meanwhile, Hiruzen summoned a cold front, dropping the surrounding temperature to destabilize the air currents.

  In seconds, the wind collapsed. Emma landed gently, light cushioning her fall.

  Taser emerged from the smoke, carrying Aqua over his shoulder. He stared at Rika, who was still trying to stand.

  "Rika. Enough. Let’s go."

  "NO! I have to—!"

  He sucker-punched her, rendering her unconscious.

  Jonathan blinked. "Damn. Brutal."

  Taser’s eyes met Hiruzen’s. "This isn’t over."

  He vanished into the shadows.

  Emma rubbed her shoulder. "That was a mess."

  Jonathan nodded. "Reito’s gonna have a heart attack."

  Hiruzen looked out over the skyline, eyes narrowing. "Next time, they won’t get away."

  End Chapter.