A Suspicious Attack

Meanwhile, Hayato was back on the streets. The cold air nipped at his face as he moved swiftly through alleyways and rooftops, blending into the shadows. His enhanced senses were on high alert, and his eyes scanned every corner for signs of trouble.

"Sid," Hayato said, speaking into his earpiece. "Anything on your end?"

"Nothing so far," Sid replied. "It's quiet tonight. Too quiet, honestly."

Hayato frowned. "That's never a good sign."

"Nope," Sid agreed. "But hey, how's the arm?"

Hayato flexed his left arm, now out of its sling but still a bit stiff. "Getting better. Still not at full strength, though."

"Don't push it," Sid said. "We can't afford to have you out of commission again."

Hayato chuckled lightly. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."

Suddenly, Sid's voice turned sharp. "Hold up. Got something. A group of suspicious individuals heading into a warehouse on 8th Street."

"On it," Hayato said, changing direction.

"Be careful," Sid added.

"Always am," Hayato replied, a small smile tugging at his lips.

---

A Crime in Progress

Back at the warehouse on 8th Street, Hayato crept closer, his body tense with anticipation. Through the cracked windows, he could see a group of men unloading crates. Their movements were hurried, and the way they constantly glanced over their shoulders screamed of guilt.

"Sid, I've got eyes on them," Hayato whispered.

"Good," Sid replied. "What are they carrying?"

"Can't tell from here," Hayato said. "I'm moving in."

"Wait—" Sid began, but Hayato had already cut the connection.

Sliding into the warehouse, Hayato moved silently, sticking to the shadows. His heightened senses picked up snippets of conversation, enough to confirm that these men were trafficking something illegal.

Hayato stepped into the open, his voice cutting through the clamor of activity. "You've had a busy night. Why don't we call it quits?"

The men froze, turning to face him. The leader, a burly man with a scar running down his face, sneered. "Who's this kid? Another wannabe hero?"

"I'm not just a wannabe," Hayato said, his stance firm. "I'm the guy who's shutting this operation down."

The scarred man laughed, signaling to his crew. "Take care of him."

---

The first man charged at Hayato with a metal pipe. Hayato ducked under the swing, sweeping the man's legs out from under him with a swift kick. He spun to face the next attacker, blocking a punch and countering with a blow to the ribs that sent the man stumbling.

Two more rushed him simultaneously. Hayato leaped into the air, flipping over their heads and landing behind them. A quick elbow strike and a kick to the back sent them sprawling.

"Is that all you've got?" Hayato taunted, wiping a small streak of blood from his lip.

The scarred leader growled, pulling a handgun from his belt. But before he could fire, a loud thud reverberated through the warehouse, followed by a low, guttural growl.

"What the hell was that?" one of the criminals whispered, his voice trembling.

The ground shook slightly, and another thud followed, louder this time.

"Sid, are you hearing this?" Hayato asked, his voice tense.

"Yeah," Sid said, his voice crackling through the earpiece. "And I don't like it. Something's coming."

---

The wall of the warehouse exploded inward, sending debris flying in all directions. Hayato shielded his face as a deafening roar filled the space. When the dust cleared, a massive creature stood before them.

It was like a rhino, but far more menacing. Its skin was a dark, metallic gray, with jagged spikes protruding from its back. Its glowing red eyes scanned the room, and its large, serrated horn gleamed under the dim warehouse lights.

"What the—" Hayato began, but the beast charged before he could finish.

The shockwave from its impact sent everyone flying. Hayato slammed into a stack of crates, the wind knocked out of him. The criminals scrambled to their feet, some attempting to flee, but the beast swung its head, sending crates and men flying like toys.

---

Hayato forced himself to his feet, his body aching. "Sid, there's a problem. A big one."

"I noticed," Sid replied, his voice laced with urgency. "That thing's giving off some weird energy readings. Be careful!"

The beast turned its attention to Hayato, its nostrils flaring as it pawed the ground. It charged again, and Hayato barely managed to dive out of the way. The ground cracked beneath its weight, the force of its movement causing another shockwave.

Hayato looked around for anything he could use. His Hatsu flickered to life, his body taking on a faint glow as he tapped into his enhanced reflexes. He darted toward the beast, aiming for its side.

With a burst of speed, he leaped onto its back, avoiding the spikes as he grabbed hold of its neck. The beast roared, thrashing wildly to throw him off.

"Come on," Hayato muttered, gripping tightly. "Let's see what you've got."

The beast reared back, slamming itself into a support beam. The impact sent a jolt of pain through Hayato's body, but he held on.

---

As the beast prepared for another charge, Hayato spotted an exposed area on its neck, just below the spikes. Summoning all his strength, he concentrated his energy into a single strike.

He launched himself off the beast's back, flipping in midair and driving his fist into the vulnerable spot. A surge of energy burst forth, and the beast let out a deafening roar before collapsing to the ground.

Hayato landed on his feet, panting heavily.

"Hayato!" Sid's voice came through the earpiece. "Are you okay?"

"I've been better," Hayato admitted, glancing at the unconscious creature. "But the problem's taken care of."

"What was that thing?" Sid asked.

"No idea," Hayato said, his eyes narrowing. "But I don't think it's the last we'll see of something like it."

As the sound of approaching sirens filled the air, Hayato slipped into the shadows, disappearing into the night.

---

Later that night, as Remond lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, he couldn't shake the feeling that his life was on the verge of a significant change.

Innes's words echoed in his mind, challenging him to reevaluate his choices. And for the first time, he wondered if running from his potential was truly the right path.

For now, the answer eluded him. But deep down, he knew that he couldn't avoid it forever.