Yokai Attack?!

In the quiet solitude of the forest, Aeon stood, his gaze fixed on Nero. Nero is in an intense struggle, his body drenched in sweat as he tries to control his aura. It had been a grueling three hours, and the strain was evident on his face.

Suddenly, the silence is broken by the buzzing of Aeon's phone. Without breaking his gaze from Nero, Aeon reaches in his pocket, pulling out his phone. His voice is curt and commanding as he answers, "Speak!" He listens intently to the voice on the other end, his expression unreadable.

After a moment, he hung up and turned to Nero. "We have work to do. Come with me," he ordered. Nero's eyes snap open, his aura dissipating instantly. He is panting heavily, the exertion of the past few hours catching up to him.

Without waiting for a response, Aeon turned on his heel and began to walk towards the main city. Nero, still panting, hurried to catch up, running to keep pace with Aeon's brisk stride. The forest was left behind them, the city lights beckoning them forward of the bustling city.

As they continued their brisk walk, Nero turned to Aeon, a hint of confusion in his voice. "Where are we going and why are you walking so fast?" he asks. Aeon didn't response to his question. Instead, he gives Nero a different instruction. "Put your hand on my shoulder," he says, his voice steadily.

Nero hesitates for a moment, but then complies, placing his hand on Aeon's shoulder. As soon as he did, the world around them seemed to change. Nero looked around in awe. The crows that had been flying overhead were now frozen in mid-air, their wings spread wide. The people around them, too, were frozen, their movements halted mid-action. It was as if time itself had stopped, leaving them in a world that was eerily still and silent.

Nero's eyes widened in surprise as he realized the extent of Aeon's abilities. "Wait, so your ability is to stop time?" he asked, his voice filled with awe. Aeon, however, chose to ignore his comment. Instead, he instructed Nero to keep quiet, informing him about the urgent call he had received. "There's a yokai in the city causing havoc," he said, his voice stern.

Nero's surprise quickly turned into annoyance. "Wait, no one told me about yokai and stuff," he protested. But Aeon was quick to explain. "That's how rare yokai attacks are. This is the first yokai attack in this city. They are normal humans who are affected by cosmic roots," he said.

Despite his confusion, Nero's determination shone through. "Ok, so we have to stop this yokai stuff. Ok, let's not waste any time," he said, ready to face the challenge. Aeon couldn't help but react with an exaggerated annoyed face. "Really, bro?" he muttered under his breath.

With time still at a standstill, they began to walk, making their way towards the spot where the yokai was wreaking havoc. As they arrived, they saw a sight that left Nero in awe. The yokai was a boar-like creature with a human body, standing at least 8 feet tall. It had a boar face and claws, and it was holding an office man in its grip. Nero watched the spectacular beast, his mind filled with a mix of fear and fascination.

With a determined look on his face, Aeon walked towards the yokai. He reached out and grabbed the office worker who was caught in the creature's grip, pulling him down and gently placing him on the sidewalk. Then, one by one, with Nero's help, he began to evacuate everyone in the vicinity. Men, women, children, even pets - they all were moved to safety, away from the danger of the rampaging yokai.

As the last of the bystanders were moved to safety, Aeon wiped the sweat from his brow. He could feel the strain of his powers, the toll it took on him to stop time not just for himself, but for Nero as well. "I shouldn't have exerted myself," he muttered to himself, feeling the fatigue seeping into his bones. "Stopping time for myself is one thing, but for two of us, it's quite tiring."

With that, he sank down onto the sidewalk, taking a moment to catch his breath. The world around them remained frozen, a silent testament to the power he wielded. 

In the midst of a chaotic battle, Nero watches as Aeon struggles to manipulate time. Nero, confident in his abilities, calls out to Aeon, "Hey, I can handle this. You can resume time." 

Aeon, however, ignores Nero's plea. With a determined look in his eyes, he pulls out a knife from his pocket and begins to approach the Yokai, a monstrous beast they are up against. With each step he takes towards the beast, his breathing becomes heavier, echoing the intensity of the situation.

Suddenly, Aeon loses his concentration. Time, which had been at a standstill, resumes for a few fleeting seconds. Seizing this opportunity, the beast turns around and hurls a nearby car at Aeon. Displaying his agility, Aeon easily dodges the car by moving slightly to the right.

Once again, time starts to slow down. This is another one of Aeon's abilities - to decelerate time. However, this time, even Nero is affected by it. Aeon curses under his breath, "Shit, now even Nero is affected by my ability."

Despite this, Aeon continues his advance towards the beast. From the beast's perspective, Aeon appears to be moving at thrice his normal speed. The battle continues, with the outcome hanging in the balance.

The beast lunged forward, its claws slashing through the air. Aeon, with a casual grace, sidestepped the attack and retaliated, his blade piercing the beast's arm. With a swift motion, he followed through the stab, slashing the arm that was now within his reach.

Nero, a bystander, watched in awe at Aeon's speed and precision. Before he could react, Aeon decapitated the beast, its head tumbling down to the ground. As the head fell, the beast's last thoughts echoed in its mind, 'Today was his birthday... I should have given him this gift...'

The head hit the ground, and the beast's body began to morph back into its human form. It was a middle-aged man in his late thirties, clutching a bag in his hand. Aeon, controlling the flow of time, returned it to its normal pace.

Nero rushed towards the decapitated body, his eyes wide open in shock. The reality of the situation hit him - he might have to kill someone in the future. He glanced at the bag the man was holding. Inside, he found a birthday card and a gift - it was meant for the man's son.

Aeon remained on high alert, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "A yokai attacking this city... someone must have sent it here," he muttered. Nero, clutching the bag, stood next to Aeon. With a cautious voice, Aeon warned, "Stay alert! There is someone else here."

A man emerges from the shadows, his neon yellow dreadlocks catching the faint light. His skin is light, adorned with a star tattoo that graces his face. In his hands, he cradles a guitar, his fingers dancing over the strings with practiced ease. He looks at Aeon and Nero, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "I knew you were perceptive," he said, his voice echoing in the silence. His presence added a new layer of mystery to the unfolding events.