Chapter 100: The World of Ability Users Unveiled

Morning air carried a slight chill. In the courtyard, Yahageshii was already drenched in sweat, his movements a struggle as he tried to digest Elder Kasamaki's words from the night before. Every punch he threw was effortlessly blocked by Harutemi, who, despite her own exertion, wore a triumphant grin that only grew with each victory.

"Hah! Yahageshii, this is the difference between us!" Harutemi taunted, wiping sweat from her brow, her voice dripping with mockery.

Yahageshii clenched his fists tighter, his frustration simmering in silence.

The morning's routine was abruptly interrupted by a startled cry that shattered the tranquility.

"The weather's gone crazy!" Yuko burst into the courtyard, urgency etched on her face.

Everyone halted their activities, their attention drawn to her. Even William furrowed his brows, a rare trace of unease crossing his usually composed face.

"What kind of change?" Yahageshii grumbled, irritated. "It's a perfectly fine morning—how bad could it be?"

Ignoring his complaints, Yuko stormed into the house and activated the large screen. The bright display caught everyone's attention, and they followed her inside, their curiosity piqued.

"What's going on?" Yame couldn't help but ask. "Yuko, what happened?"

"Quiet. Watch," Yuko snapped, her tone sharp as she pointed at the screen.

On the display, a man with a metallic mask dominated the frame, his eyes cold and piercing, his mouth curled into a subtle, mocking smile. In the corner of the screen, a label read: Watcher 20.

Yahageshii opened his mouth to speak but was immediately silenced by Yuko's withering glare. He reluctantly swallowed his words, his eyes glued to the screen.

"Greetings, citizens of the world," Watcher 20 began, his tone steady yet laced with an unspoken menace. "We are the Ability Users, members of an organization known as 'Watchers.' Our purpose is to safeguard world peace and order."

His words hung in the air, each syllable deliberate. The man paused as if to gauge the audience's reaction before continuing, his voice calm but firm.

"Some of you may doubt the existence of Ability Users or question our motives. That's fine. For those skeptics, I present to you a piece of undeniable truth."

The screen transitioned to a video clip, the shaky footage taken from a school rooftop's surveillance camera. In it, Watcher 20 stood near the edge, seemingly observing the campus below. Suddenly, a teenage boy charged at him, throwing a punch without hesitation.

"That's me?" Yahageshii muttered in disbelief, staring at the screen.

The video continued. Shingin and Ryuosho joined the fray, the three of them launching a coordinated assault on Watcher 20. The chaos escalated: rooftop railings buckled, nearby structures bore the scars of the battle, and debris rained down, narrowly missing fleeing students.

The video ended abruptly, the screen cutting back to Watcher 20's composed visage.

"You've seen the footage," he said, his voice steady. "That day, I was merely observing the campus, ensuring its safety. But these students?" His lips twisted into a scornful smirk. "They thought their powers granted them the right to destroy without consequence. Their recklessness endangered not just the school but innocent lives as well."

The screen's lower edge filled with a stream of live comments:

"Is this real?!""That's my kid's school! So it was their fault!""Ability Users are terrifying. Look at the destruction they caused!""Who are these kids? Why haven't they been arrested?"

Yahageshii's fists trembled, veins bulging as he seethed. He slammed the table, his anger erupting. "These idiots don't know a damn thing! That bastard provoked us first—"

"Shut up!" Rayl barked, pinning Yahageshii with a stern glare. "Shouting won't change anything. Control yourself."

Watcher 20's voice continued, unyielding. "...We will demonstrate through our actions that power does not equate to destruction. Strength belongs to those who wield it responsibly."

The screen shifted to satellite imagery of a region experiencing an unexpected and intense downpour. Torrential rain flooded streets, and the water continued to rise. A new flurry of comments appeared:

"This is happening right now where I live!""I was tracking the weather—clear skies, then bam, a storm out of nowhere!""This isn't normal. This is them."

Yuko's face tightened as she absorbed the escalating reactions. Beside her, William's expression darkened, his mind clearly racing.

The scene shifted again. Watcher 20 stood in a bustling city square, raising a single hand. The previously sunny sky darkened, clouds churning ominously as though stirred by an unseen hand. A crack of lightning split the air, striking a nearby tree and reducing it to splinters.

Panicked onlookers scattered, their screams echoing. Watcher 20 turned to one of them—a middle-aged man—and beckoned. "You. Come here."

The man hesitated, his finger pointing to himself. "M-me?"

"Yes, you."

A mere gesture from Watcher 20 caused the man to rise into the air, suspended as if held by invisible strings. Dangling several feet above the ground, he flailed helplessly.

"This… I'm flying! No, wait—this is real! This isn't fake!" the man shouted, his voice trembling with terror.

The screen returned to Watcher 20's cold gaze. "We reveal ourselves not out of pride, but necessity. Lawless Ability Users grow bolder, threatening the balance we protect. Today marks the beginning of a new era—one where order reigns supreme."

With that, the broadcast ended.

Silence filled the room. Yahageshii's body trembled with rage as he clenched his fists tighter, his knuckles white.

William finally broke the quiet. "This is the response we've been anticipating." His tone was calm but heavy, as if weighing the gravity of what lay ahead.

Rayl stood, his voice steady yet sharp. "They've started their move. Now it's our turn to act."