Episode 10: The Pursuit

Talent Reborn – Season 2

Episode 10: The Pursuit

The roar of engines echoed through the dense forest.

Haruto's heart pounded as he tightened his grip on Renji's shoulders. More vehicles were closing in. Their escape was far from over.

"Hold on!" Renji shouted as he twisted the throttle, pushing the motorcycle to its limit. The tires skidded on the damp earth, kicking up mud and leaves.

Behind them, two black SUVs tore through the trees, headlights piercing the darkness like hungry wolves.

Haruto clenched his fists. "They're not giving up!"

"Of course not," Renji gritted his teeth. "They can't afford to lose you."*

Haruto knew he was valuable to the organization, but he didn't know why. That was the scariest part.

The road ahead split into two paths.

"Left or right?" Renji called.

Haruto's instincts kicked in. His eyes scanned the terrain, memorizing the trees, the angles, the slopes. He copied the calculation skills of a professional racer he had once watched during a hospital event.

"Right!"

Renji didn't hesitate—he veered right, taking the steeper, rockier path.

One SUV tried to follow. It was a mistake.

The vehicle's tires lost grip on the uneven ground, spinning out of control before crashing into a ditch.

"One down!" Renji smirked.

The second SUV, however, was still behind them.

"They're too close!" Haruto shouted, glancing back. The SUV was gaining. The tinted window rolled down—

A gun barrel emerged.

"Shit!" Renji swerved violently as gunfire rang out. Bullets ripped through the air, one grazing Haruto's sleeve.

"We can't keep this up!" Haruto yelled.

"Then we don't!" Renji suddenly slammed the brakes.

The abrupt stop sent Haruto flying forward, but he managed to twist mid-air and land into a roll.

The SUV driver wasn't so lucky. Expecting to ram the bike, they miscalculated. The sudden lack of a target caused them to oversteer—the vehicle veered off-course and slammed into a tree.

The front crumpled.

Steam hissed from the hood.

For a moment, silence.

Then—the door opened.

A man stepped out.

Tall. Broad-shouldered. A scar ran down his jaw. His piercing green eyes locked onto Haruto.

"You're making this difficult," the man said, cracking his knuckles. "But it's over now."*

Haruto's breath hitched.

This guy… wasn't normal.

The man moved fast.

Before Haruto could react, a fist shot toward his face.

He barely dodged. The sheer force of the punch shattered the bark of the tree behind him.

"What the—" Haruto's eyes widened. This guy wasn't just strong.

He was enhanced.

"Who the hell are you?" Haruto demanded.

The man smirked. "You can call me Reiner. And you?" His green eyes gleamed. "You're an experiment gone wrong."*

Haruto's mind raced. Another talent user?

He didn't have time to process. Reiner lunged again, this time faster. Haruto copied the reflexes of a martial artist he had observed once—but it wasn't enough.

A brutal kick slammed into his ribs.

Pain exploded in his side as he was sent tumbling.

"Damn it—"

Renji drew a knife, ready to intervene. But Reiner's gaze snapped to him, his smirk widening.

"I wouldn't."*

Haruto coughed, forcing himself to stand. He wiped the blood from his lips.

Reiner cracked his neck. "You're tough, I'll give you that. But you're not strong enough."*

Haruto took a shaky breath. Copying skills wasn't enough this time.

He needed to think.

Reiner charged again, his fists aiming to end the fight.

Haruto watched closely. He wasn't just fast. His movements were precise. Controlled. Too controlled.

Haruto's eyes narrowed. He was mimicking a style.

And if he was mimicking a style…

That meant he could be countered.

Haruto let Reiner get close. Closer. He shifted his stance—this time, not just dodging.

Reading.

Reiner's punch came—Haruto twisted at the last second, grabbing his wrist and redirecting the force.

Reiner's own momentum betrayed him.

He staggered. Just for a second.

But it was enough.

Haruto delivered a precise counter-blow to Reiner's exposed ribs. The man let out a grunt of pain, stumbling back.

Renji saw the opportunity.

He grabbed a flare gun from his bike and fired it directly at Reiner's face.

A blinding flash erupted.

"Agh!" Reiner recoiled, momentarily disoriented.

"Now!" Renji shouted.

Haruto didn't waste time. He leapt onto the motorcycle as Renji revved the engine.

The last thing he saw was Reiner's furious glare as they sped away.

But as they vanished into the night, Haruto couldn't shake the feeling.

That wasn't the last time they'd see Reiner.

And next time…

He might not be so lucky.

To Be Continued…