New York's night was calm, streetlights casting long shadows. May, munching stolen chips, trailed James. "So, what're we waiting for?" She kicked a pebble. "No thieves in days. Maybe I should enroll in school."
James, hands in pockets, scanned the quiet streets. "Enemies don't send invites."
"Gimme a hint! Evil organization, alien invasion, bank robbers?" May griped.
The sky split with a black rift!
Crack!
Two shadows crashed down, cracking asphalt, dust rising. "As you wished," James shrugged.
May's spider-sense screamed. She backflipped, striking a pose. "What?!"
In the dust, two red eyes glowed. "Didn't expect a spider totem so soon," a male voice rasped, bloodthirsty. "And a fresh one," a female voice purred.
May paled. "Inheritors?!"
Dust cleared, revealing a tall man in a black cape, pale skin etched with red runes, and a woman in a tight suit, bone spikes at her fingertips—Karn and Brix, the Inheritors' deadliest hunters.
Karn licked his lips. "Little spider, your blood smells special."
Brix eyed James. "This one's no totem."
James stayed casual. "Just you two?"
Karn sneered. "Enough for you."
Bang! Bang!
Two impacts rang out!
Karn and Brix didn't see James move before pain exploded in their guts, sending them crashing through buildings!
May's jaw dropped. "Holy shit!"
From the rubble, Karn roared, wounds healing visibly. "What are you?!"
Brix leaped out, bone spikes lengthening. "I want a taste of his blood!"
James tilted his head. "Back off, May."
May blinked, but two shadows tore through the air! Karn's claws aimed for James's throat, Brix's spikes for his heart.
"Too slow."
James blurred. Karn's claws froze, Brix's spikes halted midair.
He appeared behind them, grabbing their heads.
Boom!
Their faces smashed into the ground, the shockwave shattering street glass!
May covered her ears. "That's Superman for you!"
James lifted a bloodied Karn. "This is the Inheritors' level?"
Karn's eyes showed fear. "Impossible! A human can't—"
"Who said I'm human?" James smiled, slamming Brix down, snapping her bones.
May winced. "They dead?"
"Not yet." James released them, their bodies regenerating. "Inheritors draw from higher-dimensional energy."
As if on cue, three more figures dropped from the rift: bulkier Solus, spear-wielding Morlun, and metal-clad Daemos.
May's communicator fell. "The whole family bucket's here."
Solus locked onto James. "You hurt my children?"
James's armor formed silently. May grabbed her communicator. "Russell! Suit or no suit, we're screwed!"
At home, Russell, in his new suit, stared at the buzzing device. "Huh?!"
James waved calmly, snapping his fingers.
Crack!
The Mirror Dimension reformed, folding the street into an infinite battlefield. The Inheritors smirked.
"Kamar-Taj tricks," Solus scoffed, cracking his knuckles. "Think we haven't killed mages?"
James smiled, raising a glowing hand. "Good-Evil Split."
Buzz!
Black-white energy swept the space! Each Inheritor split into a shadow, a gentle version of themselves appearing beside them.
"What is this?!" Karn gaped at his peaceful clone, smiling serenely.
Good-Brix touched her spikes curiously. "Wow, these are cool."
May conjured popcorn, sitting on a floating rock. "Showtime!"
Chaos erupted.
"Kill them!" Solus charged James, but Good-Solus grabbed his waist. "Violence isn't the answer! Let's talk!"
"Get off, you weak fake!" Solus roared.
Karn wrestled his clone, who blocked his strikes. "Calm down! Your anger's from childhood trauma!"
Brix's Good-clone braided her hair with spikes. "Your style's too fierce. Try pigtails?"
"I'll rip your mouth off!" Brix screamed.
May laughed, spilling popcorn. "They're fighting themselves! Better than TV!"
James sipped an iced cola. "This splits their opposing natures. Good clones match their strength, but…"
"Full of lectures!" May pointed.
Morlun was pinned by his Good-clone, preaching, "Your hunting obsession's from daddy issues."
"I'll kill you!" Morlun's spear shook.
Daemos's metal shell was painted pink by his Good-clone. "Such a warm color!"
Solus broke free, roaring, "Ignore the fakes! Kill the human!"
The Inheritors surged, only to be tackled by their Good-clones!
"You can't hurt others!"
"Violence breeds violence!"
"Let's resolve this with love!"
-----------------------------------------
50 chapters in advance on my patreon.
Chûnin-Rank Plan: Read 20 chapters in advance + free waifu.
Jônin-Rank Plan: Read 30 chapters in advance + 10 waifu
Hokage-Rank Plan: Read 40 Chapters in advence
patreon.com/The_Fool007