Raiden, however, had anticipated this moment. He swiftly dropped to the ground and delivered a powerful Mega Kick, propelling himself forward in a burst of speed. In an instant, he reappeared in front of Kaina, his hands already gripping her stomach. With precise timing, he unleashed a double Psyshock that connected squarely.
The psychic force sent Kaina hurtling backward, flung across the arena. Blood spattered as she crashed into the ground, striking it repeatedly until she finally slammed into the opposite wall. The impact shattered the wall, leaving behind a sprawling crack that resembled a spider's web.
Struggling against the debris, Kaina used her strength to pull herself free from the wall. A wry smile crossed her face as she gestured toward Raiden's midsection. Startled, he reached down and found a bullet lodged in his stomach. "Just when?" he asked, touching the wound in disbelief.
"You're still too inexperienced for this, kid. Don't think one punch is all you need when you're utterly tattered," Kaina taunted as she charged at Raiden with full force. Her speed was astonishing—she moved in a blur that made it nearly impossible to track her movements, nearly.
But Raiden was ready. He'd seen her fighting style countless times, and the nature of his Quirk gave him insight into her typical tactics. As he scanned the battlefield, he spotted her at his side, rifle aimed directly at him. Before he could react completely, she fired a shot straight at his face.
Raiden twisted his head back just in time, predicting and dodging the bullet with reflexive precision. In a swift counter, he hurled another Shadow Ball toward her.
Immediately following his attack, he activated Agility once more, pushing his speed to its limit. However, he was cautious not to overextend himself—his body could only handle so much before fatigue set in.
Closing the distance, Raiden transitioned into close combat. He activated Life Dew to mend his injuries and boost his movement. In a flurry of strikes, he interlocked a series of blows, utilizing his five limbs—arms, legs, tail, and even his knees and elbows—to create a nine-limb style that relentlessly pushed Kaina back. For a moment, it seemed he might gain the upper hand.
Then, in one fluid motion, Kaina dropped to one knee and spun on the ground, unleashing a barrage of kicks aimed at Raiden. He countered by blocking, dodging, and darting around her with graceful agility, using the air to his advantage. As he spun through the air to reposition himself and mount a counterattack, he was caught off guard by the sudden appearance of her hand right in his face.
Kaina used her Quirk to propel herself toward Raiden. With one arm, she kicked the ground to gain momentum, and with the other, she grabbed Raiden's head. Harnessing the force of her strike, she slammed him violently to the ground, shattering the surface beneath him. Yet, the boy was not going to fall without a fight.
In that critical moment, Raiden clutched her hand and unleashed a burst of close-range Psyshock using both of his hands. The psychic force crushed part of the very arm she had used to drive him downward. Just as he was about to impact the earth, he activated Zenhead to lessen the damage from Kaina's brutal assault.
The ground beneath him split apart under the force, and simultaneously, Raiden lashed out with his tail, striking her on the back and sending her reeling away. Struggling to rise, he shielded his face as fresh blood began to trickle from his wounds. Kaina, breathing heavily after the impact, gasped for air as the force left her lungs labored and her body trembling.
Before either of them could charge at each other again, the Director of the Bureau stepped forward with a sly smile and clapped his hands.
"Good, that's enough!" he declared, laughing mockingly. "I see the kid has talent. You were right, Kaina-san—you've confirmed my suspicions. Raiden-kun possesses immense potential and has absorbed much of your teachings. He is a wonderful future hero. His strength is impressive, and even when you hold back, he pushes you to your limits. This means you must take him seriously, or you'll end up exactly as you are now, don't you agree?"
The Director's words sent a shiver down Raiden's spine. The thought of working under him was repulsive; Raiden knew all too well who this man was and what he had forced Kaina to do. He held an awful impression of the Director—a truly despicable man. Yet, Raiden understood that he had to keep up appearances. If the plan fell apart, Kaina would never be free.
Raiden activated Life Dew to heal both himself and Kaina simultaneously. As he concentrated, the Bureau Director approached with that unsettling, creepy smile—the very same that had sent shivers down Raiden's spine the first time they met.
"Creep," Raiden mentally muttered to Kaina. She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and silently agreed.
"Yeah, I felt it too," Kaina replied softly. "Sometimes he seems more like a villain than the ones we fight. But now, don't show your disgust. You have to act like a good kid. Otherwise, he won't take you on board. He wants a tool—someone who won't defy him. Sure, he values talent, but above all, he demands obedience."
Before they could respond, the Director spoke up in a measured tone.
"Raiden-kun, I must say you're impressive. The last kids I saw with such promise were Kaina-san and Keigo-kun. It's been a while since I witnessed such potential. Come with me—I have something to show you." His smile deepened as he spoke, and Raiden felt another chill race down his spine.
They walked together back to the Director's office while a few others headed toward the arena to repair the damage.
The silence was heavy as they moved forward. Raiden maintained his transformed state for two reasons: in this form, he was naturally more stoic and serious, and his imposing appearance—standing at least 15 centimeters taller than both Kaina and the Director—lent him an odd sense of security in this unexpected situation.
Upon entering the office, Raiden immediately noticed the changes. The furniture had been replaced, and new paintings now decorated the room. He raised an eyebrow at the expensive makeover but kept his thoughts to himself. The Director broke the silence.
"I like changing the decor from time to time," he said casually. "But don't worry—I'm not using the contributors' money. Everything comes out of my own pocket." He then led them to his desk and invited both Raiden and Kaina to sit down.
Once they were seated, the Director leaned forward and asked in a flat tone, "Now, let's talk. First, Raiden-kun, do you know why you're here?" His smile remained fixed on his lips.
"Yes, sir—more or less," Raiden replied.
"Kaina-san mentioned that, given my personality and how I've performed over the last few months, I might one day be part of the Bureau and contribute to society in ways beyond what a regular hero can."
Though still transformed, Raiden knew that out of respect he should revert to his normal state, and doing so might even help with the current mission. Yet he couldn't bring himself to undo his form; in it, he felt safer and more in control.
"Correct," the Director agreed, leaning back in his chair and tilting his head slightly as if nothing in the world mattered.
"But do you understand what she meant by helping society in ways that other heroes cannot?"
"Not completely," Raiden admitted. "She said there are missions that only the Bureau can handle." His tone carried both curiosity and a hint of apprehension.
"Exactly," the Director continued, his voice was relaxed but it was weird that at the same time carried a hint of autority.
"Based on my assessment, you have the potential to join the Bureau in the foreseeable future. In fact, we might even assign you some training right here. This semester, you are expected to obtain your provisional hero license, and at that point, you should be ready to work with us. But first, you must understand precisely what our work entails and what our role is." With that, the Director picked up a small control device and switched on the television mounted behind him.
The screen flickered to life, displaying an archive about a hero—no, an ex-hero, as the document indicated. Without a moment's hesitation, the Director leaned forward and said, "What I'm about to tell you is strictly confidential. Even though you are a student, you are now entrusted with a secret. If you ever leak this information, you will face severe consequences, understood?"
Raiden nodded silently, his expression serious as he listened. The Director continued, "We are a governmental agency dedicated to maintaining balance and security. Our principal mission is to oversee the heroes and regulate the entities that assign Quirk licenses for specific tasks. As you have already experienced, a hero's work ranges from routine patrols to combating terrorist-scale menaces. They are among the very few—aside from elite military forces—who are permitted to use their Quirks in combat."
At that moment, the Director pressed a button on the control. The screen changed, showing footage of the ex-hero from the archive breaking into a store and stealing money. The video revealed even darker details: the man had employed extreme force on the people present, leaving them all… dead. The harsh reality of the Bureau's work, and the dangerous world that Raiden was being drawn into, became painfully clear.
"Our mission is not only to arrest those who break the law but also to prevent events like these from ever happening," the Director explained, his tone firm yet laced with urgency. "We operate as a secret organization, controlling the hero society and managing their image.
Imagine if the public learned of these incidents—chaos would follow. Trust in our heroes would crumble, and even the best among them would be unable to carry out their duties."
He paused, his eyes scanning Raiden eyes. "Think of us as society's safeguard. We handle the darkest parts of this world, often bypassing regular channels to act quickly. In our line of work, we not only deal with rogue heroes but also confront the worst villains—the ones that ordinary heroes cannot handle."
At that moment, he pressed a button, and the screen changed once again. This time, it displayed a series of haunting images: multiple bodies crucified, both children and adults. Raiden's eyes widened in shock; he had never imagined seeing a six-year-old child displayed in such a gruesome manner.
The Director's voice softened with a trace of fake sorrow as he continued, "This is the work of a serial killer. When Quirks first appeared, the hero career soared, but along with it emerged a darker side—serial killers and psychopaths hiding within society. Now, empowered by their abilities, they feel more compelled, more confident, to act. Over the years, crime rates have increased not only in Japan but around the world."
He sighed deeply, though his smirk betrayed a hint of pride amid the grim subject. "This man, the one responsible for these atrocities, we call him 'The Fanatic.' Before we managed to capture him, he left behind thirty bodies to bury and shattered thirty families who lost at least two of their loved ones. His Quirk allows him to transform any organic matter into wood, crafting crude structures from it—even using people as raw material. Each cross in his twisted display was made from the remains of those very families, with at least one victim represented in every crucifix."
The gruesome details made Raiden flinch, his transformed features contorting into an expression of grim disbelief. Even in his current state, the horror of such acts struck him deeply—a cruelty on par with the sinister experiments he had heard about from the Evolver's lab. Both were monstrous in their own ways.
"Monsters," Raiden muttered aloud, the word heavy with revulsion.
"Yes, monsters indeed," the Director agreed, with again, a fake concern.
"And, although it pains me to admit it, there are more at large than we have managed to capture so far. We have multiple agents spread across Japan, searching tirelessly for them. And this, kid, is only the tip of the iceberg. Technically, our duty is to ensure the safety of Japan and its citizens. In exchange, we find ourselves undertaking dangerous missions and delving into the darkest corners of society. So tell me, are you sure you want to work with us?"
At that moment, Raiden deactivated his transformation, revealing his true self—a boy whose refined appearance now contrasted sharply with the intensity of the conversation.
His gray hair, interwoven with purple threads, and his striking purple eyes met the Director's gaze. Despite not trusting the man, Raiden knew, thanks to Kaina's teachings, that the best way to handle him for now was with honesty.
"Yes, I'm ready"
end of the chapter.
Hello everyone, sorry for the delay. It was a tough week, and I didn't have time to post or write. But here's the new chapter for the start of the week!
Enjoy, and thank you so much for your incredible support, especially the power stones despite the lack of updates. It really means a lot.