We're on a quest to reach 10 Power Stones! When we get there, I'll unlock a special bonus chapter just for you! If you liked this chapter, please cast your vote and let's hit that goal together! The path ahead is long and filled with challenges—but your Power Stone vote can light the way. If you want to see what happens next in Kiro's journey, please lend your support and keep the story alive.
The Strongest Transcendent In History Is The Strongest
Chapter 14: New Foe
Katsume bursts onto the scene, only to be met with the unsettling sight of my unconscious body sprawled on the ground. Panic flickers in her eyes as she takes in the desolate surroundings, noticing the significant crater that marks the spot where chaos must have unfolded moments before. "What on Earth happened here?" she breathes out in shock, her voice laced with concern and confusion.
Meanwhile, I remain oblivious, lost in a state of unconsciousness, unaware of her presence or the myriad of questions swirling in her mind.
With a determination stemming from concern and urgency, Katsume approaches my motionless form. After a brief moment's hesitation, she manages to hoist me onto her shoulder with surprising ease, then, spotting the hooded figure nearby, she drags him along, defying the odds as her resolve hardens.
When I finally rouse from my stupor, my surroundings blur into focus, and I utter the disoriented question, "Where am I?"
"Ah, you're awake! Good to have you back," Katsume replies, her voice now calm and reassuring. A wave of warmth washes over me as she envelops me into a tight, comforting embrace, flooding my senses with a sense of safety amidst the chaos.
Still grappling with confusion, I ask, "What happened to the hooded figure?"
With a steady gaze, Katsume replies, "I took him in for questioning; we needed to find out what he knows."
"And the bandit? What happened to him?" I inquire, heart racing as I consider the implications.
Katsume shrugs indifferently, "Who knows? He probably bought himself some time to escape while we were busy. We only managed to capture this one."
"Oh," I respond casually, feeling a strange mix of admiration for her strength and trepidation over our precarious situation. "Where is he now?"
Katsume gestures downwards with her hand, a hint of authority in her voice. "He's downstairs at the moment."
"Then take me to him," I say, a sense of urgency igniting within me.
"Let's head out, then," she replies calmly, already moving with purpose. "Very well, follow me."
I trail behind her, uncertainty and curiosity battling for dominance in my mind.
At last, we come to a stop outside a door. "We're here," she announces, her tone steady as she reaches for the handle.
As she pushes the door open, revealing the dimly lit room within, I am met with a startling sight. The hooded figure lies chained inside, a smirk plastered on his face, as if this whole ordeal is merely a game to him. "Well, well, it's been a while," he comments casually, his voice dripping with faux nonchalance.
In a startling display of aggression, Katsume seizes the mysterious man with one hand and thrusts his head forcefully against the wall, her voice low and menacing as she demands, "Who sent you?"
With a glimmer of defiance in his eyes, the hooded figure grins wider, teasingly replying, "And if I don't?"
Without hesitation, Katsume slams his head against the wall once more, leaning closer to whisper threateningly in his ear.
To my surprise, the hooded man's demeanor shifts; his eyes widen in alarm. "Alright, alright! I'll talk, I'll talk!" he concedes in a frightened tone.
"Interesting," I muse aloud, curiosity piqued. "What did you say to him?"
Katsume shakes her head slightly, her expression remaining calm yet weary. "You don't want to know," she replies, casting a brief glance at me that sends a shiver down my spine.
Noting her stern demeanor, I mentally remind myself: Do not get on her bad side; she's terrifying when she means business.
Katsume's annoyance permeates the air as she turns back to the hooded figure, demanding, "Tell me who sent you."
"Alright, alright! The buyer sent us," he stammers, clearly panicking now. "He promised he'd pay us if I could get the bandit back to headquarters, which I did. And I'm sure he'll send someone for me too; he doesn't take kindly to anyone uncovering information about him."
In a fit of frustration, Katsume slams his head against the wall again, demanding with a fierce intensity, "Tell me his name, now!"
With a resigned sigh escaping his lips, the hooded man pleads, "Fine, just let me go! His name is Tomerarenai. That's all I know, I swear!"
Katsume finally releases him, a look of grim satisfaction on her face. "Good," she responds, stepping back.
But just as we pause to absorb this revelation, a figure bursts onto the scene, dramatically shattering the tranquility. A young man with striking bright yellow hair and piercing silver-blue eyes strides in confidently, dressed in a neat school uniform topped off with grey pants. "Hey! I'm Hiruinonai, and I'm here for him," he declares boldly, pointing at the mysterious hooded man. Dust swirls around him from his explosive entry, and he coughs slightly from the debris.
Casually, I mutter, "Guess you need to be taught a lesson," moving forward, ready for confrontation.
However, before I can reach the hooded figure, Katsume's hand suddenly presses against my chest, halting me. "No. This is my fight; you stay back and watch," she states firmly, her expression resolute.
I nod, taking a step back, fully prepared to comply, saying, "Alright then, I'll just watch from the sidelines."
Katsume, her patience evidently wearing thin, adds with annoyance, "You'll have to take him by force."
Hiruinonai crosses his arms casually, a smirk playing on his lips as he responds, "I thought you'd be more willing to negotiate?"
Katsume shoots him a dismissive glance, replying coolly, "And what exactly can you offer? From where I stand, you have nothing of value."
Unfazed, Hiruinonai flashes a charming smile. "Well, we won't have to kill you, of course; that's my offer."
Katsume remains uninterested, shaking her head defiantly. "Yeah… not happening. You'll have to take him by force."
"Then by force it is," Hiruinonai proclaims, a challenge igniting in his tone as he motions towards me. "Come at me, you two."
Preparing myself for whatever might come next, I step forward, fists clenched and ready. "Very well, then. Let's see what you've got," I declare, determination coursing through my veins as the tension in the room escalates, signaling that the battle ahead is inevitable.
To be continued...