One Week Time Skip

One Week Later

A week had passed since the fight at the dojo, and in that time, Remond had pushed himself to the limit. Every day was a battle—against exhaustion, against frustration, against the growing power within him that he struggled to control.

He trained relentlessly, fine-tuning his Hatsu, learning how to better absorb kinetic energy, and most importantly, mastering Mod 2nd—a technique that allowed him to store and release energy in a controlled burst, rather than all at once.

Sid had also been hard at work. With a week of sleepless nights and trial-and-error engineering, he had designed new combat gear specifically to support Remond's powers.

Now, Remond wasn't fighting alone.

He had officially joined forces with Hayato—the Night Walker, as some were beginning to call him.

Together, they moved in the shadows, keeping a close watch on the city, ready to act at a moment's notice.

But the city was quiet. Too quiet.

And that made Sid uneasy.

---

Sid's Search for Answers

While Remond and Hayato trained and patrolled the streets, Sid spent his nights diving deeper into the darkest corners of the internet, searching for anything related to the Axiom Syndicate.

He scoured encrypted forums, black-market databases, and even the dark web, but the information was scattered—hints and whispers, nothing concrete.

The Axiom Syndicate was careful. Almost too careful.

Then, one night, while he sat in his cluttered workshop, sipping on an energy drink, something unusual happened.

His mind had been drifting, lost in thought, wondering why things had been so quiet lately. No major crimes. No Syndicate activity. Just… silence.

That's when he absentmindedly picked up a call.

The moment he did, a deep, rough voice crackled through the receiver.

"We got the stuff. Be there in fifteen."

Sid's eyes widened. A drug deal.

The voice continued, oblivious to the fact that they weren't speaking to the intended recipient.

"Make sure you ain't followed. The boss don't want no surprises."

The call ended.

Sid stared at his phone for a moment before snapping out of his daze. He immediately grabbed his radio.

"Hayato, Remond—we got a lead. Meet me at the docks."

---

The Raid at the Docks

The cold night air was thick with the scent of salt and rust as Remond and Hayato crouched behind a stack of shipping containers.

In the distance, a group of men stood in a dimly lit area, exchanging briefcases and packages.

Hayato narrowed his eyes. "Looks like the real deal."

Remond cracked his knuckles. "Then let's crash the party."

With a quick nod, the two moved.

Hayato was a shadow—silent, fast. He took out the first guard with a swift strike to the neck before vanishing into the darkness.

Remond, on the other hand, was pure force. He leaped down from the container above, slamming into the ground and sending a shockwave through the pavement. The men barely had time to react before he was on them, fists glowing with stored energy.

Chaos erupted.

Gunshots rang out, but Hayato was too fast, weaving through the shadows, disarming and incapacitating enemies before they could even aim properly.

Remond absorbed bullets as they struck his body, using the stored energy to unleash devastating blows that sent his opponents flying.

Within minutes, the docks were silent. The deal was over.

Sid arrived just in time to see the last thug hit the ground. He smirked. "You guys work fast."

Remond stretched his arms. "Had to burn off some energy."

Hayato adjusted his gloves. "So, did we get anything useful?"

Sid knelt beside an unconscious dealer and pulled a small USB drive from his pocket. "Let's find out."

---

While the city's underbelly remained active, life for others had settled into a more familiar rhythm.

Yuki had managed to find balance—dividing her time between school, her job, and visiting her grandfather in the hospital. She buried herself in routine, doing everything she could to keep moving forward.

Meanwhile, Innes had taken a different approach.

She had launched her own online news site, focusing primarily on crime reports. The city's masked vigilantes had become a hot topic, and she wasn't afraid to praise the two heroes who were keeping the streets safe.

Though many viewed them as dangerous criminals, she knew better.

She especially knew Remond better.

That's why, despite all the rumors, she started spending more time with him at school.

---

One afternoon, Innes found Remond sitting alone on the school rooftop, staring off into the distance. She walked over, leaning against the railing beside him.

"You should stop brooding so much," she said, half-teasing.

Remond sighed. "Not brooding. Just… thinking."

Innes smirked. "That's what all brooding guys say."

He glanced at her. "What do you want, Innes?"

She shrugged. "Just checking on you."

He turned away. "I'm fine."

She rolled her eyes. "You're not."

Silence stretched between them for a moment.

Finally, Innes spoke again, her tone softer. "I know what it's like, you know. To lose someone and feel like you have to carry the weight of it forever."

Remond tensed.

Innes continued. "People at school keep talking about us, you know? Saying things."

"I know."

"And you care about that?"

Remond exhaled. "I don't want you getting dragged into this mess."

Innes smirked. "Too late. Besides, I don't care what people think. I do what I want."

He shook his head. "It's dangerous."

"Remond," she said, her voice firm. "I'm not stupid. I know what I'm getting into. But I also know you."

She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "You need people who understand. And like it or not, I'm not going anywhere."

Remond looked at her, truly looked at her. For once, he didn't have a response.

Innes grinned. "See? No argument. That means I win."

He chuckled. "Guess you do."

She leaned back against the railing, satisfied. "Now, tell me more about your crazy night job. The internet is dying for an update."

Remond smirked. "You're impossible."

"And you're predictable. Now, spill."

To be continued…