Inevitable clash.

The record that had long seemed impervious to any challenge had, at last, been decisively shattered, and it was an individual entirely unfamiliar to the gathered crowd, a complete stranger clad in a voluminous sweatshirt, who had achieved this remarkable feat. The identity of this mysterious person remained concealed, obscured by the thick, puffy sweatshirt and the hood that shrouded their face, rendering their countenance entirely inscrutable. However, gauging solely from the imposing stature of this enigmatic figure, the onlookers could only conjecture that this performer was likely a teenager.

This unexpected turn of events undoubtedly inflicted a blow to some fragile egos among the bystanders, yet none among them mustered the courage to approach the enigmatic figure who continued to maintain an unwavering posture. At this particular moment, the intricate details of the figure's path to reaching this pinnacle of achievement held little significance for the assembled crowd, for even if they harbored any curiosity, none dared to voice their inquiries.

After a brief period of stillness, the figure beneath the hood eventually directed its gaze towards the score prominently displayed on the board. Rocky, who had been an anonymous observer in the crowd, found his thoughts in a tumultuous swirl as he witnessed this pivotal moment. 'Until that fateful night, my prior scores had consistently fallen short of this illustrious threshold,' Rocky pondered inwardly, his emotions roiling beneath the surface as he tightened his grip upon his clenched fist.

The enigma concealed within the hoodie was none other than Rocky himself. He had resorted to this clever disguise during the daytime to evade unwelcome attention and preserve his anonymity among the throngs of onlookers.

"Alright, alright... It appears we have a champion in our midst, unless any of you wish to set a fresh record, you are free to depart!" Lin positioned himself ahead of the rest and waved them off.

None among them dared to step ahead. The task of surpassing the previous achievement had proven insurmountable, despite their unwavering efforts, repeated again and again.

How could they hope to conquer the new challenge when they hadn't cracked the old one? Their sole recourse was to exit and return to their regular workout routine.

Yet, as the crowd dispersed, Lin turned his attention to the newcomers who had managed to best the record. To his astonishment, he found an empty space – the new record-breaker had vanished into thin air.

Meanwhile, striding down the street with his face downturned and a hoodie concealing his features, there was Rocky. He did his utmost to evade the attention of onlookers.

He wasn't particularly well-known or anything of the sort. In fact, he could easily uncover his head, and no one would be able to recognize him. However, it seemed like he was hiding primarily because of his unusual eyes.

It's not an everyday occurrence to encounter someone with a red pupil while the rest of their eyes appear murky in color.

He walked down a dimly lit street with a dead-end wall on one side. Before long, someone else entered the scene, taking cautious steps as if expecting an imminent attack.

Rocky didn't turn around to face the newcomer and inquired, "What is it that you want?"

"It's you, isn't it? The one who set that record," Lin replied, taking a step closer, away from the view of the street.

"I'm not interested. You can keep the reward if you'd like," Rocky responded. "Now, please leave and stop following me," he added.

However, Lin remained still, unmoving even an inch from his spot.

"I said leave!" Rocky bellowed, shifting his gaze back towards Lin with his bone-chilling eyes.

Yet, as Rocky's eyes revealed their menacing hue, a grin crept onto Lin's face. He began advancing toward Rocky, using his hand to sweep back his mohawk hair.

'What's he up to? Shouldn't he be trembling with fear?' Rocky wondered, perplexed by Lin's composure and his audacious approach.

"I am Lin. I perform..."

"I don't care who you are!" Rocky shouted, darting forward and delivering a forceful kick aimed at Lin's chest, propelling him backward, nearly onto the main road.

'Darn it... There's a good reason that kid had a high score in the first place,' Lin contemplated, rising and sensing the ache throbbing within his chest. That recent kick had been potent, inflicting some internal damage.

Suddenly, a ring on his finger began to radiate a faint green pulse. Lin felt the pain quickly receding as he regained his footing.

He refrained from rushing immediately into the array, taking a moment to contemplate the emptiness that greeted him there. Lifting his gaze upwards, he beheld a mysterious figure gazing down at him from the building's summit.

"I'm oblivious to your identity and your motives for trailing me," Rocky stated firmly. "If necessary, I won't hesitate to eliminate you. Maintain your distance," he warned before disappearing from Lin's view.

Lin, however, wasn't prepared to let Rocky slip away so easily. He mumbled a few words, crouched low, and then catapulted into the air. His leap defied human capabilities, defying gravity as he soared to the height of a two-story building. He landed precisely where Rocky had stood moments before.

"Swift," he pondered, curious about the young man's vanishing act. Lin initiated a pursuit, silently darting from one building to another. Yet, after conducting several searches, he eventually halted.

"He must have outpaced me," Lin reasoned, concluding his chase. "In any case, I pray our paths never cross again," he muttered to himself before descending back into his array.

While observing from a considerable distance, there were two individuals who had been discreetly tailing after Rocky for an extended period of time, their hidden presence unbeknownst to their target.

"What are your thoughts on this situation?" inquired one of the men, breaking the silence that had enveloped them.

"It appears highly probable that this trail may inevitably lead to a confrontation," replied the other sagaciously. "If the Mohawk faction decides to pursue the young lad, sooner or later, when an exceptional individual takes action, we shall find ourselves entangled in a battle to claim ownership."

"Should we then consider silencing him preemptively?" ventured the third member of their covert assembly.

"Engaging him in combat is no trivial endeavor, I can assure you of that," the other asserted with a touch of certainty. "That ring upon his hand, if my conjecture holds true, signifies an artifact of formidable power. Given the reputation of the Mohawks, it is safe to assume that it ranks among the upper echelons."

Having absorbed this elucidation from his companion, the inquirer nodded thoughtfully, a shared understanding passing silently between them.

"In all my time residing within this city," the initial speaker grumbled, his frustration palpable. His sentiment resonated with his companion, who silently shared in his exasperation, though regrettably, they found themselves powerless to change their predicament.

Meanwhile, Lin had just returned to the gym, and as he stepped outside, his eyes were immediately drawn to a sleek, obsidian SUV gleaming under the sunlight. Approaching the vehicle, he entered to find Hilton occupying the front seat, a lengthy cigarette perched between the man's lips, exuding an air of nonchalance that belied the gravity of the situation.

"So," Hilton inquired, his tone filled with curiosity, "did the boy make his appearance?"

"Not only did he grace us with his presence," Lin began, his voice tinged with unease, "but another remarkable individual emerged as well. This city, is becoming increasingly unsettling."

Perplexed, Hilton questioned further, his gaze fixed on Lin through the rearview mirror as he lit a cigarette. "Could you elaborate on this new extraordinary?"

In response, Lin proceeded to recount the events of his morning and the extraordinary encounters he had experienced.

"But this defies logic," Hilton countered, visibly puzzled. "The reports explicitly stated that only one extraordinary entity had been discovered."

He reminisced on the information provided by their informant before they embarked on their mission, emphasizing that they were only informed about a single extraordinary, not two.

Lin offered a plausible explanation, stating, "That's precisely why it's confounding. It's either we were misinformed, or, upon our arrival, another extraordinary phenomenon had surfaced. This would account for the discrepancy."

Hilton inquired about Roy's whereabouts, concerned about their missing comrade.

"We've received no word from him," Lin admitted, his expression troubled.

Hilton made a decision. "Very well. Since we lack substantial information about this new extraordinary, we'll adhere to our original plan. If fate conspires to bring us face-to-face with this enigmatic figure, then we can include it in our investigation."

With their course of action determined, Hilton gave the signal, and the car seamlessly blended into the bustling city streets, disappearing from view.

*****

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