Run

Akira seeing the powerful returner at the front door, had a whirlpool of questions stirring in his mind. Each quickly revealing its own truth, while opening the path to many more possibilities, all equally as horrifying as the other.

"Hm? Who are you supposed to be?"

'Why!? Why is Rank 2 Ryujin right here???'

It made sense really, the Returners were created and managed by the Unison council, so it only made sense for their strongest members to be guarding their greatest secret, or even their greatest weakness. But if that was the case, if the unison council was their enemy, would that make rank 2 and 1 Blacklight's enemy's too?

'But that still doesn't explain it?? Why is he at some random orphanage?? Are there cameras hidden around here? Have we been observed this whole time?? No.. that could be true but that isn't it.. the children??'

"Hey!? Are you ignoring me??"

'Does that mean Shinomiya is in danger?? Has she been caught already?? Is Ryujin going to capture us too?? Beating him is already impossible, this guy is way stronger than Xander... What do I do??'

He was so drowned in his own thoughts, that it hadn't occurred to him that Ryujin was talking to him. It felt as if he had infinite time to think, and that everything which was happening outside of his interference, simply did not exist.

And then a single thought crossed his mind.

'Ryujin was someone Lebanon looked up to the most even if he was only number 2... he was a hero that would win through any means.. a cheat, but the bravest person with a heart of gold.. and yet.. he's walked past all of that.. he's witnessed all the death in here, and he's still tolerating its existence?? He's more than strong enough to free this place, and yet he still chose to work under them?'

He was then struck by a realisation.

Rank 2.. No.. this scumbag was no different than the Black bone gang which had harassed that Elderly women earlier, this scumbag was no different than the unison council which had trapped all the people in this place... this scumbag was no different than the Oni mask who had killed his mother.

Although Akira had never liked watching the Returner battles, he always had some sort of respect for the man, but right this instant, he had betrayed all of that.

Rank 2 was a Returner of deceit and lies. Although he was a hero on the surface, he was truly the biggest piece of shit. This was the conclusion that Akira had reached.

"You.. How could Lebanon admire someone like you!???"

"Who?"

In an instant, Ryujin quickly noticed that Akira was about to try and fight him, however, his Aether senses showed that Akira possessed almost no Aether so he was certainly no borrower. He quickly came to the conclusion that Akira wasn't a threat, and would rather throw a counter attack if Akira really did try something. He wouldn't even need to enhance himself with Aether to do it!

[Black Beast Manifestation: Right Talon]

A strange black and red substance emerged from Akira's right hand, quickly transforming into the savage blade of Syn's right talon. With speed that Ryujin was not prepared for, Akira thrusted the weapon forwards, right into his chest.

The force from the blow sent the Rank 2 Returner flying back, crashing into the ground. He quickly recovered enough to look up, only to see Akira jumping at him while swinging his blade once more. This time Ryujin weaved out of the way as well dashing back, creating distance between the two.

"What the hell is your problem!? I sense 2 extra people in that building... did you take them hostage?? If you did, I'll kill you!"

Surprisingly, he coughed out some blood which dripped onto the floor. In the several milliseconds between Akira's attack making contact with his chest, Ryujin quickly fortified himself with Aether, but...

'I wasn't able to circulate it fast enough so I still took some damage... that thing.. is it an Aether beast? But it has no Aether? Those Union bastards are performing another freaky experiment aren't they?'

Akira was a little hesitant to continue this battle, but very quickly his rage put an end to any rational thoughts. He needed to kill Ryujin, right here, right now while he still had the chance. Unfortunately for him though, that chance had long since past.

'First.. I'll slow him down!'

He stretched out his left hand towards Ryujin, causing two long tentacles of black and red shadows to shoot towards him. Although they couldn't hurt him, Akira intended to wrap Ryujin with them to hold him down.

Ryujin then vanished in front of Akira, surprising him greatly before the Returner appeared right in front of him again, this time with the distance between the two closed.

Ryujin already had his right arm raised, using it to grab the top of Akira's head and smash it into the earth, creating a miniature crater for him.

'That wasn't enough to kill him, but it should've knocked him out. I'll question him along with his friends inside my home.'

That was what Ryujin hoped for, but [Curing] wouldn't make things so easy. Black shadows quickly wrapped around each of the man's legs, surprising him too. He didn't want to touch them if possible, out of caution for whatever effects they could've had.

Akira looked up at him, his face covered in his own blood. Although the wound had already closed, the blood which escaped coated his face making it seem as if he was a demon. But what really paralysed Ryujin, wasn't the bindings on his legs, but the look into his eyes which Akira gave him.

They were full of intense hatred.

All of which was directed right at him.

Not long after, Akira hurriedly got up and swung his right fist like an upper cut, smashing the right talon into Ryujin's jaw. Of course, it instantly shattered against his body without even grazing his skin, yet even then, Akira did not give up.

He then winded up the left arm, and threw it right at Ryujin while screaming at the top of his lungs, but the Returner simply caught the punch in the palm of his hand.

Then with his free hand, Ryujin backhanded Akira sending him flying just as he had earlier, this time with adjusted strength to make up for Akira's superhuman physicality.

This time, the slap knocked Akira out as it rattled his brain in his skull. A brutal red mark was left on right cheek with even blood seeping out of it, as well as his mouth, but those quickly healed.

Ryujin looked for a moment at the boy with pity, before turning back to the orphanage. There, he saw a familiar women waiting there for him.

It was Thea.

"Sis.. your okay? What's going on??"

Rather than getting an answer back, he was met with a slipper instantly being thrown at him. He managed to duck under the first, but a second one ended up hitting him right in the face.

"Are you stupid!?? Why are you attacking my guest!??"

"Guest!? That asshole attacked me first!"

From behind Thea, Min-Su quickly appeared and saw her arguing with Ryujin. He was shocked that he was here at first, but those emotions quickly disappeared once he saw Akira badly beaten on the ground.

He quickly ran over too him, and then started to pick him up and carry him on his back while making a panicked expression.

"Hey, kid! You better not do anything rash, or I'll—"

The second he raised his hand, a torrent of Ice instantly flew at him. It was no small amount either as a huge wall, roughly the size of a small building quickly grew in between the two. Rough spikes continued to grow out from it, threating to poke holes in the Returner.

"You think this can stop me!??"

With just a single fist charged with Aether, the Returner punched the wall of ice spikes, breaking it in one hit without damaging his own body.

A blast of cold air from the impact, radiated across the city streets as fragments of ice scattered everywhere.

Once it all cleared the 2 had already disappeared. Ryujin could still sense Min-Su's Aether but struggled to grasp Akira's weakening one.

Just before he could chase after them, Thea's voice called out to him,

"You better not follow them, the two of us need to talk first."

He suddenly flinched as he turned around to look at the girl. He then said very nervously,

"Can this wait? I need to catch those two—"

But Thea Quickly cut him off.

"N.O.W."