Target!

The theater was eerily silent, its vast interior shrouded in darkness. Dust swirled lazily in the dim glow of the emergency lights, the only real feature in sight being the lonely stage at the center of the room. The air carried a strange, stagnant weight, as if the place had been abandoned long ago.

Sirius stepped forward, his voice echoing slightly. "Nothing's in here."

Zayd followed close behind, frowning as he scanned the empty space. "What, did they forget to set up or something?"

Sirius shrugged. "Maybe."

A thought crossed Zayd's mind, and a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "What if we walk on stage?"

Sirius chuckled. "That sounds about right."

With that, they strode toward the stage, their footsteps tapping softly against the polished floor. But the moment Sirius planted his foot on the wooden planks, a mechanical hiss filled the room.

In an instant, thick glass walls slammed down from above, encasing the stage and cutting Sirius off from Zayd.

Zayd jumped back. "Huh?!"

Sirius exhaled through his nose, unfazed. "I'm trapped. How expected."

Zayd pressed his hands against the glass. "I can still hear you clearly. This can't be that thick."

Sirius studied his surroundings, the sharp gleam of his eyes narrowing. "You probably don't want to be over here anyway. This is definitely a—"

Before he could finish, a flood of lights burst to life, illuminating the stage in a blinding glow. The entire theater groaned as the sound of grinding metal filled the space. From the sides of the stage, dozens of miniature robots scurried forward, their tiny limbs pushing and pulling a massive coliseum backdrop into place.

Then, with an almost theatrical flair, a figure dropped from the ceiling, landing with a metallic clang.

He was roughly the same size as Sirius, his feline-like features accentuated by sleek, robotic plating. His right eye flickered, scanning, processing.

"Bwahaha! This is our first time meeting, player—" His eye pulsed with a red glow as his systems worked to identify the opponent before him. After a second, he spoke again, his voice sharper. "Sirius!"

Sirius crossed his arms. "It's crazy how you didn't know my name."

The cat-like robot shrugged. "Too many players for my poor little memory."

Sirius tilted his head slightly. "So, this is your secret boss battle?"

Tsukuri let out another booming laugh. "Bwahaha, yes it is!"

Behind him, a holographic display flickered into existence, revealing his title:

"Boss: Problem Startin' (Tsukuri)"

Bounty: $200,000

Sirius squinted at the display. "Aren't you a cat? I'd expect you to be 'nya-ing' or meowing."

Tsukuri's mechanical tail swayed. "This cat physique is merely a choice of design."

Sirius scoffed. "Damn, now you're less cool."

Zayd, still behind the glass, cupped his hands around his mouth. "Kick his ass, S.H.!"

Tsukuri pointed at Zayd in mock outrage. "T-Take a seat!"

Zayd sighed, shuffling over to one of the many front-row chairs before plopping down. "Fine, fine."

Tsukuri smirked and folded his arms. "Let the show begin!"

Sirius rolled his shoulders. "Right."

Without hesitation, Tsukuri raised a hand into the air. Instantly, a surge of blue energy particles gravitated toward his palm, swirling and crackling like a storm of raw power. His fist, now glowing with dangerous intensity, clenched tight.

Then, with lightning speed, he lunged forward.

Zayd shot up from his seat. "Transform or something!"

Sirius scowled. "I seriously don't know how to—"

Before he could react, Tsukuri was upon him.

"Target."

The word rang out in an almost robotic monotone, and before Sirius could fully process it, a powerful punch connected with his face, sending him hurtling across the stage. He crashed against the glass wall with a thunderous impact, yet the barrier remained unshattered.

Tsukuri lowered his fist, tilting his head. "You survived that? That punch had enough force to knock the head off a human."

Sirius groaned, shaking his head. "Ugh… goddamn."

A shift occurred. His hair ignited into a deep crimson, his once-focused eyes dulling into an eerie, vacant stare. Slowly, he pushed himself to his feet, rolling his neck with a crack.

"Didn't really feel that."

Zayd's eyes widened. "You're transforming!"

Tsukuri's scanners whirred. "What are you?"

Sirius smirked. "Your destroyer."

Without hesitation, he lunged forward, his fist aiming straight for Tsukuri's chest. The punch landed with a solid thud—yet the robotic boss didn't so much as flinch.

Tsukuri's grin widened. "Bwahaha! This body is invincible!"

Before he could gloat further, he was suddenly sent flying across the stage. His metal frame slammed against the glass with a heavy clang, though the barrier remained intact. He wasted no time getting back up, his eyes flashing wildly.

"No damage… but you moved me?!" His fingers flexed in disbelief. "How can a human like you do that? Are you a Syntharc?!"

His scanners ran a second analysis.

"No… you can't be. I don't see a shred of technology in you!"

Zayd furrowed his brow. "No technology?"

Sirius clenched his fists. "I don't know either."

Tsukuri let out a low growl. His fists burned with renewed energy, and he charged forward once more.

"Target."

Sirius ducked, barely avoiding the first swing. But as he moved, he realized something—Tsukuri's fists were tracking him with pinpoint precision.

Does this guy have homing fists?!

With no other choice, Sirius braced himself and blocked. The impact sent shockwaves across the stage, his feet skidding against the wooden floor as he absorbed the force.

Tsukuri narrowed his eyes. "You guys are cheaters, aren't you?!"

Sirius let out a breath, shaking his arms. "Say what you will, man, but I have no idea what I'm doing here!"

In an instant, he blitzed forward, his foot slamming into Tsukuri's chest. The boss was launched across the stage once again.

Tsukuri flailed midair. "Stop doing that! It doesn't even hurt! It's pointless, really."

Sirius smirked. "Yeah, well, fuck you."

A sudden shift in the air made Zayd tense. Tsukuri's entire body began to crackle with energy, blue sparks flickering around his frame. The stage trembled beneath him.

Zayd pointed. "Uh, S.H.? That doesn't look good."

Sirius exhaled. "Yeah, no shit."

Tsukuri's laughter echoed. "Bwahaha! You think you're the only one with power? Witness the true might of a Problem Startin' Boss!"

Zayd leaned forward, eyes wide. "Yo, I think he's about to go nuclear or something!"

Sirius rolled his shoulders, his dead eyes flickering slightly. Gotta think… If I don't even know what I am, I can't fight at full power. But maybe… maybe I don't need to know right now.

Tsukuri vanished in a blur.

He reappeared in front of Sirius, fist raised.

Zayd screamed, "Dodge, dodge, dodge!!!"

But Sirius didn't move.

Instead, he exhaled sharply and braced for impact.

The theater shook as Tsukuri's punch connected—dust rained from the ceiling, and the seats trembled under the force.

But Sirius was still standing.

Zayd gawked. "HOLY SHIT! You tanked that?!"

Sirius smirked. "That's all?"

Tsukuri's robotic eyes twitched. "Impossible!"

Sirius gripped Tsukuri's arm. "My turn."

With a burst of speed, he lifted the boss and slammed him into the stage floor. Wood splintered, sparks burst from Tsukuri's body.

Zayd whistled. "Damn, you're suplexing bosses now?"

Sirius didn't answer. He dashed forward. The fight was far from over.

Tsukuri's legs shook slightly as he slowly pushed himself up from the ground. His mind was racing, trying to make sense of what had just happened. His eyes narrowed as he faced his opponent, heart pounding in his chest.

"Seriously, WHAT ARE YOU?!" Tsukuri's voice trembled with a mixture of frustration and fear.

Before Tsukuri could even brace himself, Sirius' hand shot out, gripping the top of his head with brutal force. In an instant, Sirius slammed him into the ground, Tsukuri's face smashing against the floor with a sickening thud.

"GAH!" The breath was knocked from Tsukuri's lungs as pain rippled through his skull.

Sirius didn't release his grip, keeping his hand pressed firmly on Tsukuri's head, a mocking calmness in his tone.

"Did that one hurt?" His voice was detached, almost clinical.

Tsukuri clenched his teeth, eyes glaring up at Sirius. "My… weak spot!" His voice was strained, filled with a raw kind of desperation.

Zayd, watching from the sidelines, scratched his head. "Why didn't I think of that first, S.H?! He has an invincible BODY, not a head!"

Sirius blinked, the faintest flicker of amusement crossing his features. "So aim for the head? Got it."

Suddenly, electricity crackled in the air, a surge of raw energy that illuminated the stage with a blinding light. For several long seconds, everything was obscured in a flash of brilliance, the very air buzzing with tension.

"S.H, HE MIGHT HAVE ACTUALLY GONE NUCLEAR!" Zayd's voice echoed, but it was lost amidst the overwhelming spectacle of light.

When the light cleared, the stage was eerily still. Nothing had changed. The air was thick with anticipation. Sirius' eyes glowed faintly, an unnatural blue hue washing over them.

"That wasn't him. That was me," Sirius said, his tone steady.

Tsukuri's face twisted in confusion, his mind struggling to keep up. "I am so confused right now!"

Sirius gave him a deadpan look, unfazed. "I am too, talking robot cat mascot."

Tsukuri couldn't help but scoff. "You bring up a fair point."

In a swift, fluid motion, Tsukuri managed to wriggle out of Sirius's grasp. He darted to the opposite side of the stage, his body moving with frantic speed.

"Wait, what? What did you do?" Zayd's voice cut through the air, confusion evident in every word.

Sirius looked down, eyes narrowing as a strange sensation flooded his senses. From his point of view, he saw arrows materialize in the air, each one pointing toward Tsukuri's head. A voice rang in his ears, a cold, mechanical sound.

"Target."

Sirius's brow furrowed. "I'm seeing arrows, and hearing that target thing."

Zayd's eyes widened in recognition. "So it wasn't just me hearing that!"

Tsukuri's face broke into a wide grin. "Bwahaha, yes! That's one of my wonderful Problem Starting abilities! It lets me auto-lock my attacks onto my targets for a guaranteed hit."

Sirius tilted his head slightly. "So you could also see weak points?"

Tsukuri's laugh faltered. "What, no!"

Sirius pressed, the mystery deepening. "Then why is mine different?"

Tsukuri's expression shifted into one of frustration. "I should not be helping you right now! Not witness your demise!" His words were charged with a bitter sense of defiance as he gathered energy into his fist and charged forward, eyes burning with intent.

Sirius stood his ground, his mind racing. Wait, I know something now...

His body surged with energy in response. His fist crackled to life, a familiar power coursing through him. Before Tsukuri could reach him, Sirius's exo-suit materialized around him, almost brand new. The metallic armor gleamed, shifting like liquid as it formed around his body.

Tsukuri's eyes widened in disbelief. "What the—!"

Sirius didn't waste a second. As Tsukuri's fist flew toward him, Sirius's own fist met it with devastating force. He struck Tsukuri square in the face, the impact so powerful that Tsukuri's head was sent flying from his body, hurtling through the air. Glass shattered around them, the sound of cracking echoing in the room.

Tsukuri's body exploded in a violent burst of energy, scattering into pieces. A hologram blinked into existence above Sirius's wristband, announcing the successful takedown and displaying a bounty of $200,000.

"S.H! WHAT THE HELL!" Zayd's voice was loud, incredulous.

But Tsukuri's severed head, seemingly unfazed, extended mechanical propellers from its sides. "You beat me this time around, but I will beat you the next time! Later, fools!" His voice carried a finality as he soared out of the open window, leaving the chaos behind him.

Zayd couldn't contain himself. "S.H, you look straight out of Power Rangers!"

Sirius's voice was dry, a hint of exasperation in his tone. "Kamen Rider."

Zayd grinned. "Super Sentai!"

Sirius turned, his eyes narrowing. "I will come over there and snap your neck myself."

Zayd smirked, undeterred. "Kamen Rider!"

The glass walls of the stage suddenly dropped, and Sirius began to walk toward Zayd, his steps deliberate.

Zayd's eyes widened at the sight of the suit still visible in the shadows of the stage. "You have a whole suit and helmet now!"

Sirius hesitated, his voice faltering for a moment. "Y-Yeah, it's weird."

Zayd squinted, his mind racing. "It looks familiar actually…"

Sirius glanced away, clearly uncomfortable. "Uh, no. It's nothing. Totally a piece of the 6-star tech."

Zayd raised an eyebrow, but didn't press further. "Speaking of, I have theories for what you can do!"

Sirius's eyes flickered with interest. "I'm listening."

Zayd grinned, clearly excited by his own idea. "You touched Tsukuri, right? And you caused that big burst of light, right?"

Sirius nodded. "Mhm."

Zayd's eyes sparkled with realization. "What if your ability is to copy tech?"

Sirius's expression shifted. "You might be onto something."

Zayd continued, voice rising with enthusiasm. "I mean, think about it! You copied both Tsukuri's target-lock ability and his energy-charging thing! But your versions are different. So I think that not only do you have the ability to copy other people's abilities, but you give yourself a weird variant of their abilities!"

Sirius chuckled darkly. "You know what's funny?"

Zayd looked over, intrigued. "What?"

Sirius grinned, the weight of his realization sinking in. "I think you're definitely right. So I'm both freakishly strong, and I can copy shit? I think we're winning ourselves a death game, Zayd!"

With that, Sirius's suit evaporated in a flash, leaving him back in his normal state. He exhaled, the tension momentarily lifting.

Zayd, still reeling from the implications, shot him a questioning look. "Did you ever learn how to transform?"

Sirius shook his head. "I think it's just when I feel in danger. Those are the only two times it activated."

Zayd tilted his head, considering. "But wait, if you ARE the weapon, why don't you have all of this passively?"

Sirius's eyes darkened, a hint of uncertainty flickering in his gaze. "Don't know, really."

Zayd's voice dropped with determination. "Well, I'll figure it out!"

Sirius smirked, shaking his head. "I'm sure you will."

The two of them started to exit the theater, the sounds of their footsteps echoing in the now-empty room.

Meanwhile, high above, in a quiet, dimly lit room, Tetsuya watched the leaderboard intently. His expression remained eerily neutral as his fingers tapped against the desk in rhythmic succession. Sirius held second place, a bounty of $200,550 flashing beside his name. The first place spot was claimed by someone named Paloma Quispe, her bounty sitting comfortably at $550,000.

"Well, what do you know… they're actually finding ways to kill these things." Tetsuya's voice was soft, a hint of amusement dancing in the undertones.

Alex, seated beside him, looked up, the words sharp in his mouth. "You brought some real monstahs into this game."

Tetsuya's fingers slowed, his gaze not leaving the screen. "An unexpected development."

Alex cocked his head, curiosity piqued. "Where's ya brothah?"

Tetsuya's eyes flickered with something unreadable. "I sent him hunting. A little sport of his own. It's important that he finds his own entertainment."

Alex chuckled darkly. "Sounds like a good time."

Tetsuya's voice grew colder, calculating. "You know, someday, I may send you out for a task as well."

Alex raised an eyebrow, amused. "Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of a bodyguard?"

Tetsuya's lips twitched ever so slightly, a faint smirk pulling at his face. "Protection is hardly an issue. You're here as additional leverage." His tone was measured, precise—there was no warmth in his words.

Alex laughed, a wicked edge to his voice. "At least ya upfront about it."

Before Tetsuya could respond, a live call suddenly interrupted the silence. On the screen before them, Tsukuri's severed head appeared, floating in midair. His eyes were wide, still animated despite his current state.

"Bad news," Tsukuri said, his voice sounding oddly chipper.

Tetsuya's gaze remained fixed, his face unreadable. "I see. Someone defeated you."

Tsukuri's head bobbed. "Oh, absolutely! And this guy—he can transform, boss. Crazy strength."

Tetsuya's fingers froze mid-tap. His breath caught, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. "You have footage, I assume."

A hologram appeared, showing Sirius in his transformed state, clad in his now-familiar exo-suit.

Both Tetsuya and Alex spoke in unison. "Xaldris?"

Tetsuya's fingers twitched, pausing as he processed the implications of what he was seeing. Slowly, he exhaled, his mind clearly working through the weight of the situation.

"Ah, Alex… so you recognize that name as well?"

Alex leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. "Yeah. He was on the news not too long ago. Didn't he die in an explosion?"

Tetsuya's voice was cold, detached. "So I believed. He perished in my teacher's lab."

Tsukuri chimed in from the feed. "He was muttering something about '6-star cybernetics.'"

The room fell into silence, the weight of the words settling heavily between them. Tetsuya's posture didn't shift, but there was a flicker of recognition in his eyes, something buried beneath the calm exterior.

Tetsuya's voice came out quietly, almost to himself. "... No. No, that's impossible."

Alex raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Hm?"

Tetsuya's lips curled into a faint, controlled smile—too slight to be anything but dangerous. "Nothing. Nothing at all." His tone was eerily calm, as though the revelation was already being folded into his grander design. "Fly back. It's time I… refined the difficulty curve."

Tsukuri's voice came through, now tinged with urgency. "Aye aye!" The call abruptly cut off.

Tetsuya leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly, savoring the moment. "And Alex… find Xaldris. Or, as he's calling himself now… Sirius Ariti."