15

The shiny metal scalpel cut through a layer of flash with ease, as if realizing what's going on, it began to cry before regenerating back as if nothing had happened. Doctor Garaki look at the success with glee.

"Step one, complete."

He looked at the grey arm with pride and anger. He glares at a specific direction, certain not to make the same mistake again.

Doctor Garaki look at the growing brain within a tube, it was still very small, give it a few months and it will grow fully. And by then, hopefully, it will be ready to take out the failure.

Johnny and Mocha stare at his insane grin. They growled and ran off with their stubby feet, ignored by Doctor Garaki.

They waddle in a room and look at their Alpha muttering to himself while massaging his head. Johnny and Mocha hop on his lap at the same time and get their head rubbed by Ichiji.

Ichiji hears them growl happily below him and can't help but ease up. He was in a dilemma. Though it wouldn't have mattered now, he still felt worry.

He understood clearly, he can get their loyalty by giving them what they want.

Dabi would be loyal if he can secure him a route to be the Greatest Todoroki, which wouldn't be hard as long they change society. Putting their name in history. If that ain't greatness he doesn't know what is.

Stain, is especially easy since his goal is basically the same as his.

The Shounenka would've been easy if Shujinko weren't so surprisingly cunning and intelligent. Because safety, can never be secured.

Unlike others whose desperation can blind them, Shujinko, will know when to pull out. Not to mention, he had some sort of prejudice against him.

How is he supposed to secure his loyalty?

Truly, it is better to be feared than to be loved.

He can go through Kihon and Shuyo but they're a tight family, it will never work. Perhaps he shouldn't be so worried, but one must always keep their guard against an opportunist.

Ichiji looks at his two little pets who were frozen as if dead, sitting there calmly. Ichiji wishes that they could be as simple as these two, not like it will be good, but certainly will make things easier.

A certain book in the corner caught his eyes, indulging him in a sense of nostalgia. It was his only source of entertainment but nowadays, the outside world was more interesting.

A warp gate forms beside the book, in which Ichiji's hand came out and reaches for it. Ichiji habitually holds the book gently and open it, reading from chapter one.

Despite it being about two months since he last read the book, Ichiji still remembered every word. As he read chapter after chapter, he began to realize something each great leader of the past, Lu Bu, Qin Shi Huang, Gilgamesh, etc. They were able to have millions under them yet most were loyal to them. Why is that?

Because they have faith.

The difference between his group and their army is that they are aware of the true capabilities of their leader. Those leaders had made a name for themselves before their armies were formed, making those under them feel reverence for them, gaining true loyalty.

Did they even feel respect for him?

"Ughhhhh."

Ichiji groan as a headache approach, he frowned and scratch his head. Sometimes he wonders, why despite having no clear leader they still forced the role on him.

Unknown to him, Ichiji is respected, not as much as other great leaders, but still respected. Even Dabi and Stain felt that way. There's a reason all respect him and subconsciously see him as the leader.

Despite his strength, Ichiji is very kind. Comfort, food and security were all set up mostly by Ichiji without expecting any return. He makes it out of his way to make the best for his allies. But most of all, he doesn't let his kindness, his sense of justice or his bias to blind his judgement.

Everyone is on fair ground under his eyes.

But what causes them to not have full loyalty, was their cautiousness. It is way too easy to ack kind in the underworld, the worst is the one that appears the kindest. They will repay it back with their service, but unless his kindness was proven to be genuine, only then will their loyalty begin to grow.

It was really that simple, in this modern world.

But since the book was so outdated, Ichiji was thinking about how to show his greatness? Thinking of how to show off his might so that they may feel some faith in him.

The problem got him so frustrated, that he decide to take a walk outside in the middle of the day. He tapped Mocha and soon liquid leaked out of its body before forming another him. Ichiji then told johnny to roar like crazy when Doctor Garaki is coming.

The nomus nodded and watch Ichiji as he warp off.

The moment he steps out, he felt blinded by the blazing and clear sun. It was still summer, being July the 20th. As he looked down at the city of Hosu, Ichiji felt depressed by the sun, reminding him of that helpless situation.

And he jumps off across buildings to buildings, ignoring some pedestrians that notice him. Thankfully, he was wearing a mask.

...

A little girl with white hair and red eyes were finding herself confused by the many alleyways and corners. Footsteps can be heard not long from where she was. She nervously holds on to her wrist, feeling the many layers of bandages on her skin.

How?

How?

How did she mess up so much?

She swore she remembered the route!

Hearing the footstep coming closer, she decided to sprint in a random direction. This was the furthest she had ever made it, she doesn't even care if she was caught.

What can they do?

Kill her again?

She didn't stop her little feet no matter what. Turning left or right, everything just looks the same. Eventually, she found herself cornered.

She would've run back in the previous direction but the dreaded footstep came again. She felt that the light in her eyes had disappeared as she cradle into a ball in the corner of the wall. Shutting her eyes tight.

As the footsteps came closer, the more her heart cracked.

Then she felt her head being touched so carefully, and heard an unfamiliar but gentle voice,

"What are you doing here, kid?

Eri looks up and sees a man with black hair as dark as the night and eyes as blue as the gentlest stream. She saw his eyes widen a bit before returning even gentler as he reach out his hand, Eri felt terrified of his touch.

She then felt the touch. She felt weird, as tears came out of her eyes. She felt difficulty in breathing due to her sobbing.

She never felt so much love from a touch.

Her cheek was gently caressed by Ichiji which transition into ahead pat. He was more gentle with the child than his favourite book, because Ichiji felt that this girl was even more delicate.

Seeing the sobbing kid, it reminded him of the previous one, hurting him slightly. Ichiji felt something in his instinct and pull her into a hug.

Ichiji didn't understand what's going on for a kid to feel so much relief from a stranger, but knew it was not something good.

And it was answered as he heard a deep voice calling out which shook Eri.

"Eri, what are you doing?"

Ichiji noticed the flinch and with no hesitation, put Eri in a protective hug while releasing his full murder intent worth hundreds of direct death under his hands (Thanks to other Nomus) at the voice.

Keeping Eri warm while the outside freezing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

New week, let's maintain our 30 power stones. Let's do it!

And don't forget to review!