Chapter 445: Hot On Its Tracks

[Proto Earth 1]

One week later, in a room of a five star hotel, Axel together with the elite members of the organization is currently living in its quarters with nothing to worry, not even their identity and currency of this world at all. After all with Axel's Esper ability to manipulate reality, he could easily reproduce the currency of this world in just a snap of his finger. Alongside it, he could also easily fake their identification and records of this world with no hassle at all. It was like they have won a pottery of some kind.

Since it was easy for them to do all of this, Axel then suggested to make a five star hotel as their base of operation. At first everyone objected and was confused on why he made such decision, but after explaining to them that the best way to stay hidden is by mingling with the crowd, none of them objected any longer, as Lucian begun to quote "Hiding in plain sight".

Whats more, with Axel's ability, they were able to understand the language of this world in just a matter of a second. The reality manipulation of Axel is truly something unimaginable.

This time however, it was then time for them to gather and convene what they had found in regards to their target.

"Alright! What did you guys found out about our target?" Asked by Janus

"I'll go first, all i can say is that... Looks like our target have been busy in this world, he is actually quite well known due to his performance that he did in this place called unranked dungeon... Because of his feat that he had shown, he was highly regarded by all the people in this world as some kind of a rising star" answered by Lucian

"So he has become a person who is idolized by everyone... This is gonna be hard... If it was already tough when he is not known by the masses, it will be even more tough since people idolize him" commented by Janus

"What do you mean tough? I see no difference at all" asked by Tomas

"Dont you understand what he meant? He is trying to imply that it was already tough to subdue him when he was not well known, since people would just ran away from him when he is attacked... But now since he is idolized by the masses, we can assume that he would be protected and help by the people of this world if he were ever attacked" said by Ekaterina in a haughty manner

"Then isnt that simple? We could just kill anyone who tried to protect or help him" argued by Tomas

"We cant do that" said by Lucian

"And why not?" Asked by Tomas

"Because we arent murderers of the masses, but professional killers to kill anyone who is our target" said by Lucian

"You seem to forget, but anyone who tries to help our target are called accomplices and there is no mercy even among accomplices" said by Tomas as he towered over Lucian

In that moment as the tension rises, Madrigal then cuts in as she said.

"Unfortunately taking down those accomplices wouldn't be easy at all, based on what i found, the people of this world has what seems called "the system", with this system even ordinary people could gain ability or power similar or even greater in terms of esper ability of our world, such people are called players.... And apparently in this world, players are the majority of the populace"

"Then isnt that great? We wont feel any guilt if we ever kill them if they attacked us, i call that self defense" said by Tomas

Upon hearing his words, everyone then looked at him weirdly and annoyingly as they cant even reason with such a brick head of a person. It as like, they were talking to a wall. Thankfully Janus quickly caught everyone's attention once more as he heavily implied on what to do and what not to do.

"Everyone should remember! Our only target is no.99 Riruko, Kaido... No one should provoke the players of this world, we know too little about them, it wont be good for us if they took notice of us... We dont know how this world works yet, so its better if we dont catch their attention"

After he said that, he then cleared his throat for a bit, before handing out what he found himself.

"As for me... I found out that he mysteriously appeared in this world at the beginning of the month, the very exact same date when he went missing in our world... What more there are record that he was seen in a academy for quite awhile and is currently living in the house if one of this world inhabitants... Since that is case, we could expect to find him once we found this house"

As Janus said those words, he then pulled out the pictures of the houses Kaido is currently living under, which made everyone nod accordingly. At that moment everyone then understood what to do next, as they all seemed ready hunt down their target.

At the same time at the corner of the room, Axel could be seen watching the group as they plan away while he sips a pine apple juice with ice diamond on his glass.

"Ice diamond" in drinks typically refers to a large, clear, and perfectly formed piece of ice that is used to chill the drink without diluting it too quickly. These ice diamonds are often created using specialized ice molds or machines and are prized for their slow melting properties, which help to keep the drink cold without watering it down excessively.

As he drank this, he then remembers the time when he first confronted Kaido. Because of his pride, he had underestimated Kaido which then resulted in him fleeing away in a copter. Such an event was an embarrassment to his record. Now that he is given a second chance to redeem himself, he then would have to start off their next match up with an even harsher greeting if he wanted to win over him. No matter what, he would be the one who will take Kaido down.

Compared to the past, Axel believed that he is much stronger person than his previous self in terms of utilizing his own Esper power. If one has to compare his current self to his previous self, he was now like a mature person who had underwent many fights and survived them all. As a recap of his ability, reality manipulation is essentially the ability to freely manipulate one's own reality. This involves bending the laws of nature and controlling the very fabric of reality in accordance with one's desires. Examples include manipulating the physical world, altering one's own body, creating and manipulating objects and phenomena, manipulating other people's perceptions, and even manipulating events in space and time. In essence, it is the power to twist and turn reality into whatever shape one likes.

So if one has such power, he or she would be akin to a god, in the matter of how one utilize such power. After all the reason why he lost to Kaido in their previous confrontation, was because he lacks experience, and now that he has it covered, he believe that the result this time would be different.

However there are also danger to such power which often only wields by the gods, the danger of reality manipulation depends on several factors including the extent of the manipulation, the intentions behind it, and the control wielded over the altered reality.

First is unintended Consequences: Reality manipulation can have unforeseen consequences. Altering one aspect of reality could have ripple effects that cascade into other areas, potentially causing harm or chaos. Second is ethical Concerns: The ethical implications of manipulating reality are significant. Who decides what reality should be manipulated and to what end? Manipulating reality without regard for ethical considerations could lead to exploitation, oppression, or violation of individual rights. Third, loss of control: If those with the power to manipulate reality lose control over their abilities or have their intentions corrupted, the results could be catastrophic. Reality manipulation without proper checks and balances could lead to authoritarian control or the imposition of a dystopian reality.

Fourth, psychological impact: Individuals exposed to manipulated realities may suffer psychological harm. If people can no longer trust their perceptions or experiences, it could lead to widespread confusion, anxiety, and a breakdown of social cohesion. Fifth, conflict and instability: Competing interests vying for control over reality manipulation could spark conflicts on a global scale. Nations, organizations, or individuals seeking to assert dominance through manipulation could trigger instability and potentially escalate to warfare. Lastly, existential threats: In extreme cases, reality manipulation could pose existential threats to humanity or even the fabric of reality itself. Tampering with fundamental laws of physics or existential constants could destabilize reality.

All of those are dangers of reality manipulation, however at this point, Axel couldn't care less of anyone's safety. In comparison to other Espers, he himself has no outside connections left, so he has nothing to lose. Plus humanity hasn't really done anything good for him, so why would he care about other people's safety at this moment of time. With that, he silently waited for the right time to strike.

*********

Located in one of the main parks of the city, Kaido can be currently seen looking over the huge lake, as Argos came close to him and somewhat engage in a conversation to him. After all he had been his companion for quite awhile and the reason why the three of the calamity class joined Kaido in his adventure is because his adventure is much more fun than their ordinary life. Revenge? they all don't care for such things, they have lived long enough to not care for that. So in exchange for their long life, a lifetime of bored situation comes along, with that Kaido's spree for revenge which brought them all over the place is like a refresher for them.

"Hey!" greeted by Argos

"Hey!" replied by Kaido

"Its been quite awhile since we talked seriously"

"Your right! the last time i remembered that we talked seriously is such a long time ago in human standards  of time"

"Well what can i say? I'm a man of few words"

"Yes... Yes you are...."

"..... By the way! before we left, we checked up on your parents and your past lover in your world... Their doing okay and they are leaving their best lives... well your past lover is quite popular at her school since she became an idol"

"Ayame became an Idol!?!? A professional Idol?"

"Yes! She is living the life of popularity, plus some good looking guys ask her out no matter where she went whether its her school or workplace... She is really doing well"

"I see... I'm happy for her, what can i say? Ayame is a beautiful woman... i suppose being an idol was her life's original purpose if she hadn't met me"

"I cant say that for sure... anyway your parents believed that they are infertile since they cant bore a child, due to that they always seems out of place whenever they are at home as they felt that they are missing something... at this rate they may decide to adopt a child from the foster homes"

"Parental instincts? that's the only plausible answer i could give why they feel out of place, but if adopting a child in order to fill the hole in their hearts is what needed, then there is no reason to stop them... looks like everyone i left is living their best life"

"Yes! your right! they are living their best life, they are happy... However... are you happy?"

"Me? Of course! I never been happier in my entire life! Its like i'm free"

"Free eh? I think your living in a delusion of your own making Kaido, no matter how you mask your feelings, i'm pretty sure that your just putting up a front... your sad aren't you? after all, you have deep memories with Ayame and your parents and erasing your records in Japan and in their memories must have been a hard choice for you"

"....."

"I know you did it to protect them, but feeling happy at the fact that your alienated with no one to remember you? that's quite a sad scenario, its already a surprise to see that you haven't gone crazy from your own self made isolation, after all based on study humans are sociable creatures"

"I'm really fine, thanks for worrying"

"You know... you always wanted to protect those people who are precious to you, the protector... but haven't you wondered on who would protect you? A protector also needs protection you know... Rely on us Kaido! don't shoulder everything"

Hearing Argos words, Kaido smiled softly, as he took a deep breath before replying with a strained voice.

"I will"

After  that, Argos then tapped on his shoulder as he went back in order to join the other three who went with the task of finding Kaido. Now that everyone here is reunited, they have enough power to break through space and navigate their way back through the assistance of Calamity. The reason why they initially had a hard time getting to this worlds, is because this world is literally too far from his home world earth.

However now that Calamity managed to drop some beacon rune's from different world's they have passed through to get here, they can now trace back their steps and back to Kaido's world without much hassle, it is just a matter of when now. All this time Kaido tried his best to find ways to go home, but now that the time has come, he couldn't help but hesitate since he had somewhat grown fond of this world.

In this world he doesn't have to play the bad guy, it was quite a nice world that is somewhat similar to earth, unfortunately this was not his world, so he has to return home. At that time, just as he was thinking on how to say his farewell, a pop up notification suddenly appeared before him, as Lilia had messaged him through her own system towards his replicated system ui made by calamity.

The moment he opened the letter, he eyes then stared shock for a moment, before he showed a slight grin followed by a light laugh. Apparently the letter showed that Lilia was requesting for them to meet up somewhere along the designated location in the system gps, since he was thinking on how to say his goodbyes to her, this was the perfect chance for him to do so. However the way she forwarded this message is somewhat kind a cheeky attitude which made him laugh. After all no one had acted cheeky before him all this time, since everyone he met all recognized him as someone serious. So this kind of attitude was a start.

*********

Sunset, a natural phenomenon that occurs when the sun moves below the horizon, creating a beautiful display of colors in the sky. As the sun descends, it casts its warm golden light across the landscape, creating long shadows and adding a soft glow to everything it touches. Initially, the sky may be painted with vibrant hues of orange, pink, and purple, gradually transitioning into deeper shades of red and crimson as the sun sinks further down. The colors spread across the sky, blending seamlessly with wispy clouds or silhouettes of trees and buildings, creating a breathtaking panorama.

As the sun dips below the horizon, its last rays often create a stunning spectacle known as the "golden hour," where the entire landscape is bathed in a warm, ethereal light. The sky may then fade into hues of deep blues and purples as night begins to settle in. Beyond its visual beauty, sunsets often evoke feelings of tranquility, nostalgia, and awe in those who witness them. They mark the end of the day, offering a moment of reflection and appreciation for the natural wonders of the world.

As this kind of scenery envelopes the whole world, Kaido made his way unto the site which is seemingly like an open balcony park near the City's station tower, which enables a person to view the whole city in a higher plane. This type of park is often dramatized in many dramas back on earth and it is also the place where mutual relationship is established. Which such place filled with people who have their own partner for various reason, Kaido then grew curious on just why Lilia told him to go to such place.

At that moment, when he was thinking about such thing, Lilia tapped Kaido's shoulder, which caused the latter to be shocked and wary as he sprung back in case an unidentified threat ambushed him from behind. This movement clearly shocked Kaido as he always puts his guard up, never did he expect that despite all his radars, someone would still be able to bypass all of them and get close to him to the point that he could get killed.

But as he sprung back in  fright, he then realized that Lilia was the one who tapped him, causing him to be even more wary and confused on how she got close to him, without him even noticing.

"What... What the?!?!?! How?"

As if Lilia understood what he meant by his question, she then laughed a little in a girlish way, as she answered.

"Curious n how i got close to you? That's simple! i actually had a new skill called silent steps... according to the system, i can use this step to bypass any type of radar known to exist, due to that i was able to bypass your guard and tapped you b y the shoulder despite your guard up... pretty amazing skill right?"

"Huh? Um yeah!"

"Hahaha! It wont be long, i will definitely surpass you"

"Silent steps" typically refers to footsteps or movements that are executed quietly, without making any noticeable sound. In general, "silent steps" wouldn't directly relate to radar evasion. Radar systems primarily detect objects by bouncing radio waves off them and analyzing the returning signals. Whether footsteps are silent or not wouldn't typically affect radar detection unless there are specific, highly advanced technologies involved that can detect minute vibrations or disturbances in the environment, which is not common in everyday scenarios.

However, in military contexts or espionage scenarios, there could be advanced technologies designed to detect even the smallest disturbances, including silent footsteps. These might involve highly sensitive seismic sensors or other specialized equipment. In such cases, techniques like moving slowly, distributing weight evenly, or using specialized footwear could potentially reduce the chances of detection, but complete evasion from such advanced detection methods might be challenging.

So bringing it up to such level that it can avoid the radar of Kaido's caliber, one cant help but feel cautious about such skill especially since it can already bypass his guard. As a person with assassins class as profession, Lilia is literally but slowly turning into a monster that even Kaido can't ignore.