[Author Note]
Disc: HrPrTeam
I know this sounds like cap, but I've been busy.
...
Yeah, it's cap, so I gave you a little longer chapter than usual.
__________
X Safehouse: 3rd P.O.V.
Tenkyu, Gaku, Haruma, and Kumanomi, the main members of the anti-Toji organization, sat in a safe house.
The outer members, such as Club Jam, stayed at their own residences until the group found a new place.
Gaku narrowed his eyes at Ando. "We lend you our base and you destroy the entire thing!?"
Ando shrugged. "The JAA found out where you guys were. Had I not been there, you all would've been dead."
He initially asked the group if he could borrow their base to continue working on his experiments since his old lab had been raided.
Since he aided the group of misfits on the island, they agreed. However, it was mostly because he could kill all of them by himself.
If he wanted, he could take over X in minutes.
Luckily for them, the JAA couldn't find out about their operations because they happened to be away from home, but that didn't leave them any less irritated that they needed to find a new base.
If they wanted to be taken seriously, they would need time. The priority was to keep their heads down and work together to become strong enough to oppose the Order.
Tenkyu had a slight smile on his face. "Who cares about some warehouse? The old man has been useful as hell."
One condition for Ando's joining was that he tell the group everything about Toji that he could, given that he was Ando's experiment.
Tenkyu's expression darkened. "It turns out he has no family, but that doesn't mean I can't go after his friends."
Ando looked bored, but the rest of his family looked worried. Like always, he was mentally unstable.
As much as he wanted to, he knew he was outclassed and couldn't take on multiple members of the Order simultaneously, let alone Toji himself.
He spoke to no one. "It's only a matter of time until I take everything away from you, Toji Fushiguro."
...
Order Apartments Gym 1
*bam*
Akira spun and kicked at the side of Rion's head, which her right forearm blocked.
Contrary to her usual cheery expression, Rion was serious. "Stop pulling your attacks, Akira."
Now that she knows how strong Ando is, Rion lifted most of Akira's restrictions. If she wanted to survive, she needed to learn how to kill.
However, there was still one rule in place.
...
'You only take a life in self-defense—or when your family's in trouble.'
...
Rion had to clarify 'trouble' since she pulled a gun on Toji for injuring her after training.
In short, it meant her family's lives were on the line.
Akira had talent, almost as much as Rion, but couldn't utilize it with her current mindset.
It pissed off Rion.
It seemed impossible, but she had a dream.
To create a world of kindness.
And here she was training her niece how to be a professional killer.
Akira's smile turned sad since the last thing she wanted to do was hurt her Aunt after all she's done for her.
After the recent events, everyone wanted to focus on surpassing their previous selves, even if that meant breaking their bodies.
Rion had a two-hour training session with Akira, and Toji watched from the side.
She left the gym with a conflicted expression.
...
Toji and Rion were left alone. They stood there in silence.
Suddenly...
*WOOSH*
Rion disappeared from her previous spot.
*BAM*
She kicked toward Toji's stomach with bright yellow eyes, which was promptly blocked with an X formation.
He smirked as he slid back a few meters due to the force. "Damn, that wasn't too bad."
Ever since she awakened a new version of the Paths, Rion's movements have been unnatural.
She didn't say anything as she pulled out a knife from the back of her pants.
Toji did the same since she was serious about fighting him with everything she had.
*clank*
They clashed blades and held each other's left hands.
She kicked at his...ahem, lower area, which was checked by Toji's leg.
Rion kept the darkened look on her face. "Stop holding back and hit me."
With that statement, she was pushed back due to Toji's physical superiority. Instead of smiling and enjoying a fight, his face turned serious.
It wasn't the time to screw around.
They needed to improve themselves if they wanted to protect their loved ones.
Well, Rion's, but Toji didn't want his only friends to die.
*BAM*
Toji sent an audible punch to Rion's side.
She scrunched over before looking back up and spitting blood to the side. She has learned to ignore pain after many training sessions and growing up as an assassin.
Rion counterattacked with a spinning knife to the side of Toji's head.
He ducked and used his left hand to send a punch to her face.
She tilted her head backward to let the fist fly past her.
Toji's eyes narrowed. 'What the hell, it's like she's a completely different fighter.'
He noted that her movements were like dancing. They seemingly flowed instead of using her usual assassination skills.
Even though she could avoid his punch, she was still left unguarded.
Toji smirked. "Nice moves, Green Hair."
She ignored his comment and kept her focus on her enemy.
Aiming to end the fight, Toji used the knife in his right hand, attempting to stab Rion in a non-lethal spot on her stomach.
However, she grabbed his wrist, stopping the knife inches before her stomach.
It was as if she awakened a sixth sense like Toji.
*bam*
*boom*
She let go of the knife when she received a direct kick to the side, sending her flying into a wall.
Toji thought to himself, surprised at how light his body felt. 'Damn, I feel great. I originally didn't know how to get stronger, but the rules of this world change things. When I cleared my thoughts, it felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders. Not only that, but every time I've fought after that moment, I know I'm becoming faster, stronger, and more skilled. I've finally got my ticket to becoming stronger.'
In his original world, mentality was a main factor in how strong someone could become. Toji was limited when he doubted himself, Megumi could unlock a Domain Expansion, and Yuji could surpass his limits tenfold.
Now that the world's rules had changed and he had a clear mind, he had limitless potential.
The fight was over, and she lost.
Rather than being unconscious, she sat on the ground and looked at the ceiling, lost in her thoughts. 'I'm still not stronger than that freak. My friend nearly died because I wasn't there for him.'
Rion was in a rough mental state. She couldn't do anything to help Sakamoto. The most she could do was watch as he was half-dead in a hospital. Even if she confronted Ando, it wouldn't change anything.
Her expression softened.
She moved her gaze toward Toji, who was walking over to her with a neutral expression. 'Toji Fushiguro, a man with an unknown past. He's a bum, has a shitty attitude, and is a pain in the ass, but even so...'
Despite how he acted, Toji has always been there for her. Well, after she got him off his ass when she caught him gambling.
Rion huffed a laugh.
Toji noted the change in the atmosphere around Rion.
He thought to himself with a small smile. 'Looks like she's doing better.'
Until now, her old personality seemed to be gone.
After he realized what he was doing, Toji narrowed his eyes and his smile vanished. 'Wait, am I...happy?'
Toji stopped before her, and they stood still, staring at each other.
'She's not bad.'
'He's not bad.'
Rion spoke with a genuine smile. "Hey..."
...
With Nagumo and Shishiba
Like Rion before, Nagumo wasn't in a cheery mood, and now he had been ordered to find out about Kindaka's and Satoru's whereabouts.
He was indifferent to Kindaka, so he didn't care much. He was more focused on the person who injured his friend.
Currently, he was taking out his frustration on a drug ring.
*splat*
He cut his last target in half with his briefcase, which transformed into a set of knives.
His eyes were hollow as he thought about Sakamoto being injured by a mostly unknown enemy.
Nagumo was the weakest of the four assassins, but that didn't stop him from becoming one of the strongest members of the Order.
After Sakamoto left and Takamura was out of commission, Nagumo was only beaten by Rion in the Order.
Shishiba spoke from the entrance to the room with a nonchalant expression. "Could've left a few to get intel."
Nagumo shot him a look that caused Shishiba to recoil slightly.
Since there was a lack of high-profile jobs, Nagumo went with Shishiba to take care of the problem.
Ultimately, they still needed to find out their true target's whereabouts.
They had a job to do.
...
With Kindaka
While being hunted, the assassins and ex-chairman gathered allies and resources to fight back against Sei.
Their allies consisted mostly of mid-tier assassins who worked with Soichi and weren't part of the conspiracy to overthrow him.
They did a lot of background checking to ensure there weren't any spies. They had already killed more than ten people who tried to infiltrate their group.
Their group was called the New Order.
Kindaka and Satoru would train the assassins to become strong enough to rival members of the Order.
While most were average assassins, a few members stood out.
Kindaka looked over the group and smirked at an older woman. "Well, well, well. It's been a while."
Etsuko Satoda smiled. "It has, but we have to meet again under such unfortunate circumstances."
Another stand-out individual was a man with a film reel scarf.
Kanaguri had stars in his eyes. "This plot is going to be glorious!"
The last person was hidden in the shadows. He was by far the most interesting person in the group.
Kamihate shuddered and whispered to himself. "Why am I even here?"
Now that their forces were all together, the New Order was developed.
1. Kindaka
2. Satoru Yotsumura
3. Etsuko Satoda
4. Kanguri
5. Kamihate
For a total of five Order-level assassins. However, the current Order would be problematic given who they are.
1. Takamura
2. Rion Akao
3. Yoichi Nagumo
4. Shishiba
5. Hyo
6. Torres
They were outnumbered, but they still had time to develop.
...
Order Apartments: Toji P.O.V.
Damn, it's already midnight.
I lie back on the bed and look at the ceiling.
This is pretty nice.
Ever since I got here, I haven't been truly happy, but after looking at myself and changing the person I once was, I'm starting to feel fulfilled.
Maybe this is the reason I was brought to this world.
To change myself to become better. Better than the man I used to be.
The piece of shit.
But now, I can actually say that I'm doing pretty well.
It's strange. I've been in this situation before, but it feels different.
I glance to my left and see Rion peacefully asleep, a satisfied and genuine smile on her face, sharing the same bed as me.
...
...
...
At least I'm not going to be on the couch anymore.