Dust still hung in the air. The walls of the internet café were cracked, shattered glass scattered everywhere. In front of the building, a group stood. They wore dark armor, each with a three-headed dog emblem on their chests. This was the Cerberus Guild.
One of them stepped forward, smiling condescendingly. "Starting today, every business in this city will be subject to a twenty-five percent monthly tax." He glanced at the damaged building. "If not... we'll level it to the ground."
Mikoto muttered under his breath. "...Tax, you say?"
He stood up.
"The government, thugs... even Hunters like you. You're all the same."
Ana's hand caught his shoulder. She shook her head slightly.
Mikoto looked at her for a moment...
then said nothing.
Beside them, Emily stepped forward. Her aura shifted.
"A low-class guild like yours dares to extort tax from ordinary citizens?"
One of the Cerberus members laughed. "Well, well, well, look at this... two beautiful women working here as internet café operators. Come with us instead, and we can definitely—"
"You bastard!"
Everyone turned.
A man stood among the rubble.
White T-shirt, fur-lined jacket, jeans, a lion necklace. Messy red hair. A keyboard gripped in his hand.
"I was one kill away from a RAMPAGE... and you people ruined it?!"
The Cerberus members laughed. One of them stepped forward.
"Hey, you little—"
BUKH!
A heavy crack rang out, followed by keycaps flying everywhere.
One brutal swing of the keyboard smashed into his jaw. Several of his teeth fell out together with the keyboard's loose keycaps.
Silence.
"Kill him!"
The Cerberus members thrust their hands forward. Magic circles appeared one by one in front of their palms.
The man walked forward casually.
An ice spear shot toward him.
He tilted his head just enough. The spear barely missed his cheek.
A fireball came flying at him.
BOOM!!!
The explosion swallowed his body. Smoke instantly blocked the view.
"Hahaha!!! That's what you get! That's what happens when you dare mess with Cerberus Guild!"
He stepped out of the smoke.
Then ran straight toward the crowd of Cerberus members.
BUKH! CRACK! BRAK!
One after another, they fell. Punches. Elbows. Slams. No magic.
A thunderbolt struck his shoulder and exploded.
He remained standing.
"...That's all?"
Within seconds, every member of Cerberus Guild was sprawled on the ground.
Silence.
He exhaled, then glanced at Mikoto.
"Oi. The internet café can still be used, right?"
Mikoto glanced at the ruined building, then took another piece of sushi.
"...Looks like we'll need to demand compensation for the damage."
The man smiled faintly.
"...Good. Then we're on the same page."
It only stayed quiet for a few seconds before—
"Take everything."
Youhei lifted his chin toward the unconscious bodies of Cerberus Guild.
"Don't leave a single thing behind."
The internet café customers moved immediately, without hesitation. Wallets were snatched. Rings were pulled off. Weapons were taken. Even their expensive-looking shirts and pants were stripped off. One Cerberus member who was still conscious tried to struggle—
"You bastards—that's mine—"
BUKH!
A single kick knocked him unconscious again.
Youhei simply stood there, watching.
On the other side, Emily folded her arms, looking at the scene. Then her gaze shifted to Ana.
"Who is he?"
"...Youhei. He was my classmate in high school."
"A classmate?"
"Yes."
Emily narrowed her eyes.
"Are all of them Awakened?"
"...I have no idea."
Youhei suddenly stopped.
His head turned slightly.
The wind blew softly.
Footsteps could be heard.
Many of them.
The looting stopped at once.
Everyone turned to look.
From the end of the street, another group appeared.
They were larger in number, more organized, and the pressure around them was heavier.
More members of Cerberus Guild.
At the front, a dark-skinned bald man walked forward casually. Metal chains were wrapped around his arms. His smile was wide. His eyes were wild.
"Look who we have here," he said quietly.
His gaze swept over the bodies of his men lying on the ground...
then stopped on Youhei.
"...So it's my old high school junior. The red-haired punk who always acted tough—Youhei."
Youhei fell silent for a moment.
"Who's this bald guy again?"
Someone whispered, "He was our senior back in high school. Essedeu."
"You're still playing gang games?" Youhei said. "Look, fat Bucky's still here, Seth the blond is still following you around. And wow—even Rollins looks older now. Hahahaha!"
Essedeu looked around.
"Then where's that bookworm who used to follow you all the time?"
He looked into the half-destroyed internet café.
"Look! Even that bookworm is still following you! He doesn't even care about this mess and he's still playing games! Hahahahahaha!"
Essedeu's laughter echoed through the area.
Youhei stared at him for a few seconds, then scratched his head slowly.
"...I still can't remember this bald guy."
Silence.
Essedeu's smile froze.
"What?"
Youhei shrugged.
"...Don't remember."
The air changed instantly.
Essedeu's face hardened.
"...You're joking."
Youhei looked at him flatly.
"I can't remember weak people."
The chains around Essedeu's arms trembled.
Clink... clink...
His aura rose, rough and oppressive.
"Fine..."
His voice was low, holding back his anger.
"Then I'll help you remember."
He stepped forward.
"A duel. One on one."
Everyone fell silent.
"The loser... barks like a dog in front of everyone here."
Several people swallowed nervously.
Youhei, however, smiled.
"...That's it?"
He took one step forward.
"All right."
Without hesitation.
Essedeu grinned broadly.
"Good."
Magic circles appeared around him. Fire, lightning, and ice swirled wildly, making the air tremble.
"I'll show you... the difference between an ordinary human and an Awakened."
Youhei just stood there casually.
No aura.
No magic.
He rolled his neck once.
"Use whatever you've got... if it makes you feel stronger."
Silence.
Essedeu's smile vanished.
Behind them, Emily narrowed her eyes.
"...That man is insane."
Ana remained silent, her gaze never leaving Youhei.
Everyone unconsciously stepped back, giving them space.
The wind stopped.
All sound vanished.
Essedeu raised his hand.
The magic circles flared brighter.
The chains around his arms spun faster.
The air trembled.
Youhei leaned forward, shifting his footing, ready.
One second.
Essedeu shot forward.
Youhei moved.
Both of them raised their hands—
and just before their blows collided—
BOOM!!!