The school hallway pulsed with the usual morning rhythm, but Takuya felt off-kilter. Every step sent a faint ache through his ribs, a souvenir from Garia's relentless training. Even with the Spider X gene, Garia still leaves marks.
He tried to blend into the crowd, hoping no one would notice the subtle discoloration near his temple. He kept his head down, shoulders slightly hunched.
Then a familiar, calm voice cut through the noise.
"Takkun."
He looked up. Ryo Yamada stood there, leaning against a locker. Her yellow eyes, half-lidded as always, scanned his face.
"You look… colorful today."
Takuya felt a flush creep up his neck. She noticed.
"Can I borrow some money?"
Her request was as direct as ever, a jarring shift from her observation. Only Ryo would ask for money right after noticing my bruises.
"Why?" he asked.
"My favorite band has a new album dropping. I absolutely need it." Her tone was flat, unwavering. The album's release was clearly a matter of utmost importance.
He knew her habits.
"Didn't you just get your allowance?"
"I spent it."
"On what?"
"New gear for my bass." She shrugged, no hint of shame.
He sighed. Of course she did.
"No," Takuya said, shaking his head. He tried to sound firm.
This was getting ridiculous. She always did this.
"You are very passionate about your refusal," Ryo observed. Her expression remained unchanged, but a slight tilt of her head suggested amusement. "Perhaps we can consider my request a deep philosophical inquiry into the nature of friendship and economic exchange."
Takuya just looked at her. A small smile, unbidden, touched his lips. Classic Ryo. He understood her strange logic. He always had. Their conversations had a comfortable, sarcastic rhythm.
"What really happened to your face?" Her voice was still calm, but a different note, a quiet curiosity, entered it.
He deflected without missing a beat.
"Motocross practice. Fell during a jump."
She nodded slowly, her yellow eyes unreadable. She walked to a vending machine a few steps away. He heard the clink of coins.
A moment later, she returned. She didn't say anything. She just pressed the icy cold can against the most prominent bruise on his temple.
The cold was a shock, a sharp contrast to the dull ache underneath. But a warmth spread through Takuya, not from the temperature, but from the unexpected gesture. She cares. In her own weird way, she actually cares.
"Thanks, Ryo." He kept his voice low.
They stood there, the silence comfortable. The cold can slowly numbed the bruised skin. He watched the other students move through the hall, a blur of ordinary lives. His own life felt anything but ordinary now.
Ryo broke the quiet.
"That was the last of my money."
Takuya stared at her. She spent her last coins on a cold drink for my bruise? He felt a mix of exasperation and something soft, almost tender. He reached for his wallet.
He pulled out some bills and handed them to her.
A rare, genuine smile touched Ryo's lips. It was small, but it transformed her face.
"See you later, Takkun."
She gave a casual wave, then turned and disappeared into the crowd, her blue hair a flash of color. Takuya watched her go, the soft smile lingering on his face.
* * *
The motocross bike hummed beneath Takuya. He rode toward Garia's place, aiming for another round of training. More bruises, probably. His ribs still ached from yesterday.
A prickle started on the back of his neck.
That feeling again.
It was the Spider-Sense, a weird hum in his head, a vague warning. He eased off the throttle, slowing down. The bike's engine settled into a lower growl.
He scanned the road ahead. Nothing. Just the quiet residential street, houses tucked behind hedges. Trees lined the sidewalk, their leaves rustling.
What is it now?
The feeling wasn't going away. It buzzed, low and persistent, a static electricity against his skin. He hated how unclear it was, like a broken signal. Just tell me what's wrong already.
He gripped the handlebars tighter. This wasn't a trick of his mind. He knew this feeling meant trouble, even if he couldn't pinpoint why.
He pushed the bike onto a smaller side road, the asphalt giving way to a dirt path. The Spider-Sense pulled him, a silent tug toward the deeper woods. He killed the engine, the sudden quiet making the woods feel heavier. He rolled the bike behind a thick cluster of bushes, hiding it well.
He moved on foot, slipping between trees. The forest floor crunched under his sneakers. The hum grew louder. He pushed aside a curtain of leaves.
Then he saw them.
Black armor, red visors. Ninders. A dozen of them. They moved with a jerky, programmed rhythm around a civilian truck. It looked like a delivery vehicle, doors ripped open. Crates lay scattered on the ground.
The Ninders were loading what looked like computer parts and heavy machinery from the truck into a larger, armored transport. This new vehicle was sleek, dark, and clearly alien.
Iron Cross Army!
A cold fire ignited in his gut. His hands clenched. These were the Iron Cross Army. His father's killers. They were here, in his city, stealing from people, just like Garia said.
The hum of his Spider-Sense became a roar. It wasn't just a warning now. It was a scream of rage. He felt it deep in his bones.
His heart pounded against his ribs. Damn it. I need to move.
A cold, clear voice cut through the air. It was a woman, her tone like polished metal.
"A witness? Ninders. Eliminate him."
Takuya looked up. A tall woman stood by the armored transport. Amazoness. Her silver hair flowed over black armor, and her eyes glowed crimson. They met his own. A predatory smirk touched her lips.
Two Ninders detached from the group. Their red visors locked onto Takuya. They moved fast, a robotic sprint, weapons held ready.
They are coming for me.
The first Ninder reached him, its vibro-blade a blur. Takuya ducked, the blade slicing air where his head had been. He stumbled, feeling a gust of wind. Too close.
He tried to remember Garia's lessons, the flowing movements, the precise strikes. His mind felt like a tangled web.
The second Ninder raised its plasma rifle. A red light gathered at the muzzle.
Takuya dropped, rolling hard to his right. The ground scraped his shoulder.
BLAST!
The energy bolt scorched the tree trunk behind him. Bark exploded, sending splinters flying. A wave of heat washed over him.
This wasn't a sparring match with Garia. This was real. These things weren't holding back. They were killers.
He scrambled back to his feet, adrenaline pumping. His training clicked into place. Focus. Predict. React. He couldn't just dodge. He had to fight back.
Takuya moved. Garia's voice echoed in his head. He remembered the countless repetitions, the way Garia drilled him to use his enhanced speed to get inside an opponent's guard.
He burst forward, a blur of motion. The Ninder spun, but Takuya was already behind it. He drove a focused punch into its back.
CRUNCH
The alloy armor crumpled under his fist. Sparks sprayed from the Ninder's joints. It shuddered, then collapsed, deactivated.
The second Ninder pivoted, its plasma rifle already aiming. A red light gathered at the muzzle.
Too slow.
Takuya anticipated the shot, just like Garia taught him to predict a racer's line on the track. He wasn't aiming to avoid it. He was aiming to disrupt it.
He executed a sweeping kick, a move that Garia had made him practice a hundred times. His foot connected hard with the Ninder's leg, just above the knee joint.
WHAM!
The Ninder toppled, its shot going wide into the trees. It hit the ground with a metallic clatter. Takuya didn't hesitate. He followed with a forceful kick to its chest, aiming for the glowing red core Garia identified as its weak point.
BOOM!
The Ninder exploded in a shower of sparks and black shrapnel. A faint scent of ozone hung in the air.
Takuya stood over the two deactivated Ninders, breathing heavily. Sweat beaded on his forehead from his first time fighting. His heart hammered, a mix of satisfaction and pure, burning rage. He had done it. Garia's training worked.
He looked back towards where the Iron Cross Army had been. The stolen truck, the sleek armored transport, and Amazoness were gone. The entire group had vanished.
What the hell?
The spot where they'd been was empty, just churned earth and scattered leaves. No sound, no engines, no trace of them remained. He strained his enhanced senses, trying to catch any faint hum or distant rumble. The forest was silent, mocking him.
The stolen materials were gone. His chance to confront Amazoness, to make them pay, had vanished with them. A bitter taste filled his mouth.
They just disappeared.
He felt like he was back at the starting line, only this time, the race was over before he could even compete.
He stared at the empty space where the Iron Cross Army had been.
They just got away. Again.
The rage still burned, but a cold certainty settled over it.
He spun around, retracing his steps. He needed to tell Garia.
He needs to know about them.
This wasn't just some random attack. This was bigger. This was Professor Monster's plan unfolding, right here.
He found his motocross bike, hidden among the bushes. He yanked it free, the engine sputtering to life. He didn't waste another second. He shot off, the dirt path a blur beneath his wheels, speeding toward the old house.
***
Advance Chapters on patreon.com/Najicablitz.
Give Powerstone to support this novel. This tells me you like it.