Forge of Steel

Flashback – Teshii's Warning

Sometime before the scavenger hunt, Teshii had gathered the Elements in the safehouse, his usual smirk replaced with a serious expression.

"Alright, listen up," he said, leaning against the table. "We've dealt with some dangerous mutants before, but there's one in particular you all need to watch out for."

Hikaru, arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

Teshii's golden eyes gleamed.

"Bone Weaver."

The room fell silent.

Haruto frowned. "Bone Weaver?"

Teshii nodded. "A mutant with osteokinesis. He can manipulate his own bones—turning them into weapons, shields, and even armor."

Moriya exhaled. "That's… disturbing."

Ikazuchi scoffed. "So what? We've fought tougher guys."

Teshii's smirk returned slightly, but there was a dark edge to it.

"No, Sparky, this guy is different. Bone Weaver doesn't just kill—he studies people. He watches how they move, how they fight… then he adapts."

Reito narrowed his eyes. "How do you know all this?"

Teshii simply grinned.

"I don't know."

Back to the Present

The blacksmith village was in chaos as villagers screamed and ran for cover.

Hikaru and Tetsuya stood across from Bone Weaver, who simply stared at them with cold, lifeless eyes.

Tetsuya's jaw clenched. "It was him."

Hikaru glanced at him. "What?"

Tetsuya's hands tightened into fists.

"He's the one who asked me if I was the Element of Steel earlier."

Hikaru's stomach dropped.

That means he's been hunting the Element of Steel all along…

Bone Weaver slowly raised his arms.

There was a sickening crack as his bones extended outward, forming razor-sharp blade-like protrusions from his forearms.

Then, in a voice devoid of emotion, he spoke.

"Are you stronger than the last one?"

Before Hikaru or Tetsuya could react—

He attacked.

The Battle Begins

Bone Weaver moved like a phantom, his bone blades slicing through the air with deadly precision.

Hikaru barely managed to dodge, feeling the wind from the attack pass inches from his face.

CLANG!

Tetsuya blocked one of the strikes with a thick iron hammer, sparks flying as bone clashed against steel.

He gritted his teeth. "Damn… this guy's fast."

Bone Weaver didn't hesitate.

He spun, his spine extending outward like a whip, striking Tetsuya square in the chest.

BAM!

Tetsuya staggered back, coughing.

Hikaru retaliated, summoning his Element of Light and firing a bright energy blast at Bone Weaver.

But the mutant simply raised his forearm, his bones hardening like armor.

The attack barely scratched him.

Hikaru's eyes widened. "No way—"

Bone Weaver lunged, his sharp ribs extending outward like spears, and aimed straight for Hikaru's chest.

Hikaru barely dodged, but one of the spikes grazed his shoulder, drawing blood.

"Tch!" Hikaru gritted his teeth in pain.

Tetsuya swung his hammer, but Bone Weaver simply dodged effortlessly, twisting his body in an unnatural way.

Bone Weaver tilted his head.

"Too slow."

Then—he countered.

In an instant, his bones retracted, then extended even longer, catching both Hikaru and Tetsuya off guard.

SLASH!

Both of them were sent flying, crashing into a nearby blacksmith station.

Smoke and dust filled the air.

Bone Weaver stood still, watching them struggle to get up.

Then, in his same cold, emotionless tone, he spoke again.

"Disappointing."

Overwhelmed

Hikaru and Tetsuya were pushed to their limits.

Bone Weaver moved like a specter, his skeletal blades slicing through the air with inhuman precision.

Hikaru barely dodged another attack, panting heavily.

Tetsuya swung his hammer, but Bone Weaver twisted unnaturally, dodging the strike with ease.

Bone Weaver's hollow eyes studied them coldly.

"You're both weak," he muttered.

Then—he attacked again.

His ribcage extended, the bones stretching like spears toward them.

Hikaru raised his arms in defense—

BAM!

The impact sent him crashing into a wall.

Tetsuya tried to counter, but Bone Weaver's bone-spiked foot slammed into his chest, knocking him down.

Blood dripped from both of them.

They were losing.

The Villagers Fight Back

Just as Bone Weaver moved in for the final strike, something unexpected happened.

A rock flew through the air, hitting him in the head.

He stopped, turning slowly.

Another rock hit his back.

Then another.

And another.

Hikaru and Tetsuya looked up in shock.

The villagers—the blacksmiths, apprentices, and elders—had returned.

Despite their fear, they refused to run.

One of the blacksmiths shouted, "You think we'll just let you kill one of our own?!"

More tools and weapons were hurled at Bone Weaver—hammers, scraps of metal, broken swords.

Bone Weaver shielded himself, his eyes flashing with irritation.

Hikaru slowly stood up, breathing heavily.

"They're… helping us."

Tetsuya, still on the ground, clenched his fists.

His village was standing against an enemy they had no chance of defeating.

And yet—they fought anyway.

Something stirred deep inside him.

A power he had never felt before.

His heartbeat pounded like a hammer striking an anvil.

The steel in the village—the weapons, the tools, the raw iron—called out to him.

Then—

Everything changed.

Tetsuya Awakens the Element of Steel

A surge of energy erupted from Tetsuya's body.

Hikaru felt the shift immediately.

A powerful, magnetic force pulled toward Tetsuya—the nearby metal rattling and vibrating.

The hammers, swords, and iron pieces rose into the air, floating around him.

Hikaru's eyes widened.

"Is this…?"

Tetsuya slowly stood up, his body glowing with a faint silver aura.

He raised his hand—

And the metal responded.

Weapons flew into his grasp, scraps of iron fused together, forming makeshift armor over his arms.

Tetsuya's expression hardened.

"…So this is the Element of Steel."

Bone Weaver stopped moving.

For the first time—his emotionless expression shifted.

"You… awakened it."

Tetsuya smirked.

"Yeah."

Then—he attacked.

Forge of Steel – Tetsuya's Strongest Attack

Bone Weaver lunged, but this time, it was different.

Tetsuya extended his arm—and the floating metal shot forward, forming a spinning blade that blocked Bone Weaver's strike.

Bone Weaver tried to retreat—but Tetsuya wouldn't let him.

With a flick of his wrist, chains of molten iron wrapped around Bone Weaver's arms and legs, trapping him in place.

Tetsuya took a deep breath.

The steel pulsed with energy, surrounding him like a living force.

Then—he raised both hands.

"Forge of Steel."

The floating weapons, tools, and iron condensed into a massive, spinning drill of pure metal, glowing with power.

With one powerful motion—Tetsuya launched it forward.

The impact was instant.

BOOM!

Bone Weaver was sent crashing through multiple buildings, the ground shaking from the force.

A massive explosion of steel and dust filled the air.

When it cleared—

Bone Weaver was lying in a crater, unconscious.

Hikaru watched in awe.

"…Holy crap."

Tetsuya let out a slow breath, his steel armor fading.

He turned to Hikaru and smirked.

"Guess I win the scavenger hunt."

Hikaru burst out laughing.

"Yeah… I think you did."