A Storm (2)

Akira takes a moment for a slow count of the still-standing beasts.

"Eleven orcs remain, excluding the one i killed that target Hiro."

He steps forward, his fingers quiver, and in one swift movement, he summons his Panthoblade-the sword materializes in his hand, faintly shimmering.

He sends it spinning, his eyes tracing the deadly edge.

The rest of STARS would definitely think that some sort of advanced, summoning magic was being pulled off if they were there to witness it, but to Akira, it's just one easy, convenient thing-one he earned in the last dungeon he raided after he levels up.

*Flashback.*

He remembered the feeling of leveling up back in a dungeon, the strength coursing through his veins while he beat down those monsters..

Finally, when the dust had settled, up flashed the system notification before him, bringing with it a new ability unlocked:

"Status Update"

[Congratulations you have leveled up.]

[+5 Stat Points awarded.]

[Perfected Symmetry in effect. Allocating stat points equally across all attributes.]

[Since the user has reached the necessary level the new option "Inventory" will be unlocked]

[New Option Unlocked]

[Inventory]

Capacity: 10 slots

Description: Grants the user access to a magical space to store and retrieve up to 10 items instantly. Extremely useful for carrying equipment, weapons, and essential items on demand.

"This is fucking dope"

A faint smile had crept onto Akira's face while he read the details.

Inventory was a restricted but powerful tool-a magical space that allowed him to store and summon up to ten items whenever the need arose.

This wasn't anything like that spell or flashy trick from the other STARS.

Subtle, efficient, and all his own.

Akira to himself, in the dungeon

"It is sure to be useful."

*End of Flashback.*

Now Akira twists the Panthoblade in his hand. His gaze once more swings to the orc beasts, and his face seizes in a dark smile.

Akira thinks as he fixes his gaze at the monsters

"Time to finish this"

Without another thought, he launches himself forward.

Akira narrows his gaze, focusing on what's left of the orcs.

In the blink of an eye, his wrist flicks faster than can be caught, his hand clamping down hard onto his Panthoblade as he launches himself towards the nearest Orc.

A blur of motion, Akira cuts down the first with a clean, precise strike blood sprays through the air, the creature falls to the ground before its brain even realized it's dead.

"One down"

In one swift movement, he launches himself without wasting a single moment at the other Orc.

His blade rips into the Orc in an instant.

The beast had no chance.

"Two down"

Other Orc charged him with a guttural roar, swinging some crude club in his direction. Akira does not even bat an eye.

With one leap, he lands square on the neck of the creature, slicing it open with brutal efficiency. Before the beast could collapse, he's in movement, his eyes scanning for his next target.

This time, Akira uses the White lighting his attribute surging inside him-a power he had come to master over the last two months.

He sends a surging arc of it directly forward, reducing two orcs to instant smoldering ash, which floated in the air as Akira watched, a hint of satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.

"Four down."

"Seven left."

He does not even break a sweat, dancing between the remaining Orcs like a ghost, making swift and quick strikes, hacking the legs from under them, cutting their arms off, beheading them in swift mercy.

Efficient, ruthless, each kill was a testament to his skill and how stronger he has grown wielding complete control over his power.

Finally, now just one Orc is remaining.

It lets out a shrill shriek so deafeningly loud that the other humans, covering their ears, stumble about in agony, eardrums bleeding.

Akira watches unaffected, his instincts warning him that yet another presence had simply been out of sight behind some building.

A hulking figure stepped into view, towering well over the other orcs, larger and more fearsome-the Borzug Orc.

"Ah,"

Akira murmurs as a trace of a smirk to cross his features.

"It's hasn't been long since i saw one like you?"

"Did you miss me that much gorilla?"

But the smirk is then replaced by a cold, calculating glare

"But i don't have time to play with you."

With a swift motion, he flings his Panthoblade at the neck of the last remaining orc.

The blade bites well, and the creature folds onto the ground with a gurgling sound. In the same tempo, Akira shifted his position, eyes fixed on the raised huge axe of the Borzug , ready to squash him.

The Borzug swings his axe in a thunderous arc but Akira is faster. In an instant burst of velocity, he flashes forwards and reemerges behind the monster in the fraction of a moment it took him to pass, before refocusing the white lightning and unleashing another storm of crackling energy, every bolt piercing through and branding a smoldering wound in the monster's flesh.

It lets out one final, agonised roar and then falls, its enormous body twitching once more before lying still.

Akira looks on at the smoldering corpse his gaze catches the streak of blood wiped across his cheek.

"I said-I don't have time to waste with this."

The street, once filled with chaos and bloodshed, is now silent.

The shattered bricks and splintered wood of what remains from the monstrous attack are cast about the street.

Hiro approaches, his eyes filled with wonder and gratitude, as he sees Akira standing strong and unshaken amidst the destruction.

Hiro sounds astonished in his voice.

"I...I don't believe it, Akira."

"That power...you really awakened didn't you?"

Akira nodded his face calm yet burning with intensity.

"Yeah"

"It is real as you see now."

"But this gate was D-Rank it was one of the lowest levels."

He looks around, his gaze sweeping across the ruined street and the eerie silence that has seized it. 

Akira - "They where just some minor pests."

Hiro still in awe, nodding to analyze Akira's expression

"Minor pests, huh?"

"I mean, I'd be dead if you hadn't been here."

"Thanks, Akira."

Akira turns to Hiro.

"Forget it, Hiro."

"You are the real hero"

"You did great protecting that girl most wouldn't have reacted leaving her behind."

"But Akira..." 

Akira raised his voice stopping Hiro for contiune any further.

"Just don't be reckless anymore."

"You are the true hero you fool , If you hadn't run to protect that little girl i wouldn't have bothered to even move let alone save the people , because the exp i gain from D-Rank dungeons now is too little for me to level up so they should be thankful to you" - Akira thought.

One final glance is cast down the street, in the direction of his grandmother's house. 

Akira turning to look back at Hiro.

"I really need to go now."

"Here is my number if anything happens don't mind to call me any time"

He gives Hiro a brief nod then turns away. As he walks down the street, his figure fades almost as if he was never there.

As the last faint echoes of the battle die, night descends heavily upon the scene.

Hiro stands by the wreckage still shook but his mind racing with how he will protect Akira's secret.

He's barely caught his breath when the unmistakable sound of boots hitting pavement draws his attention.

A team of operatives from T.E.R.R.A.

"Oh fuck" Hiro muttered