In a blink of an eye, I'm standing right back where I started, breathing in possibly the freshest air on the planet.
"Move!" A light shove is all it takes to push Michael over as I sprint back toward the Central Tower.
"Hey—!" Michael yells back. From his perspective, I suddenly paused mid-sentence and immediately started booking it away from him. "Finish that thought, Renji!"
I finished it ages ago you idiot. I can't help but shake my head at him when a blaring horn shakes me.
Relying on my instinct, I leap over the car, much to the shocked looks of the driver, Michael, and the crowd nearby.
I hear a couple impressed oohs and aahs ripple through the bystanders, but I'm too preoccupied to pay much attention.
"Yo, where are you going!" Michael yells at me one more time before I turn the corner and I'm out of his sight. A part of me wonders if he'll keep trying to catch up to me, all that work just to talk about a girl.
But by my calculations, I have little time to spare even if the extra heroes step in to protect Emi.
—
The vaults are located on the top floor of the tower. Strange design, if I had to critique it, but Feng runs a tight security.
My teeth grind as I think about what the woman said at the end of our last encounter. She probably knew all about this.
"Figures…" I mutter as I quickly approach the base of the tower.
Getting to the top floors would take too long by elevator, or by stair. That leaves only a few options.
A few people glance my way as I get into position. My knees bend strongly as my muscles contract like a spring given wings.
The ground feels like it's about to crack under the strain. A blink is all it takes before the stored force spools outward and I find myself soaring through the air with a grin.
My heart thumps loudly in my chest as nanobots uncoil from the depths of my being and out through my hands and shoes, forming into almost invisible, sharp claws and spikes.
The air rushes as my launch takes me closer to the side of the tower and I feel the immense force of collision when I abruptly slam into the reinforced window, a shocked expression on the face of the janitor inside.
My claws are more flexible than anything, capable of bending and flattening against the glass rather than biting into it. Up close, the spikes aren't blades at all, not really. Each one frays into a spray of soft filaments. They spread out until the last thin pockets of air between the wall and I are squeezed out.
Even then, a jolt of power flows through the swarm in measured pulses. Powerful enough to deepen the connection keeping me from falling to my death. At the same time, the tendrils feel the window's limits, and adjust in real time, preventing any scratches.
"Feng would not like that," I mutter before shooting the janitor a smile and beginning the climb.
I grip the surface tightly, ensuring my stability, before I soar again, denying gravity of its claim on me as I ascend the tower.
—
POV I-Island
A large crowd forms underneath the base of the Central Tower. Just moments ago, the citizens of I-Island were making their way to the main gate leading toward Japan as the announcement of their arrival rang through the city.
Now, a different sight captures them. A young boy, possibly no older than 18, climbing the side of the most prominent building on the planet.
"More like flying…" A man in the crowd scratches the bottom of his chin while his colleagues stare up into the sky, the boy being illuminated by the defense system of the tower.
"He wouldn't be able to fly in this weather," another shouts through the noise. "That's not even considering the helicopters circling him."
"I give him another couple minutes before he's either shot or forced down." An old lady clad in expensive jewelry scoffs as she holds a familiar device up to her eyes, magnifying her sight greatly.
"Haha—! No way they'd shoot him down." The voice speaking is a young man with similar facial features to the old woman. He is also grasping a telescope like device. "Hey, wait a second, I think I fucking know that guy!"
—
{Elsewhere}
"And then when we least expected it, a large gust of wind came out of nowhere and blew his wig off!" Matthew laughs, wiping tears from his eyes while his date snorts and nods thoughtfully.
"Sounds like you and your brother are inseparable." She comments, taking a sip of her water.
"You could say something like that," Matthew replies, suddenly feeling self-conscious about how much he's talked about Mike.
His lips part once more to masterfully change the subject when an abrupt spark flashes past his eyes and his head snaps to the Central Tower.
Pushing off his seat, Matthew rushes to the balcony of the high rise restaurant and stares in disbelief, the wind blowing his hair around messily.
"Hey! What are you looking at—is that a person?!" Avery exclaims, squinting her eyes to get a better look.
"…Yeah," Matthew murmurs, his mouth agape in shock. "Michael says it's Renji."
Avery gives him an odd look, eyes scanning his face before turning back as machines begin to swarm the dark figure in the distance.
"Well, whoever Renji is, it seems like he's just inviting trouble for the entire island to see."
—
POV Renji
The wind surrounding me whispers into my ears, filling it with words of doubt even as I get closer and closer to the top of the tower. That and the annoying buzzing of the tower's defenses keeps me going.
"Kanzaki Renji, you have broken multiple laws in the span of only a few seconds!" A loud speaker blasts through the air, coming from one of the helicopters behind me. "Unsuction yourself from the tower and all can be forgiven, at most you'll be sent to prison for a short period of time!"
Without wasting a second, I leap again, successfully moving twice as far as my previous jump.
"No can do!" I yell out, knowing that a certain someone would be able to hear me. "I need to get into that vault Feng, and you know why! Or maybe you don't—either way you can't stop me!"
My claws grip tightly into the sparkling surface of the tower, the light from the moon casting down on me like a figure from a movie while multiple brighter lights shine from the front of the helicopters. Man, it must look like hell from down there.
"Kanzaki Renji! You are under arrest. Officially entering restricted areas has forced our hand. Stop climbing and allow yourself to be apprehended or we will open fire!"
"Hahaha!" A laugh escapes me, taunting both the guns aimed at me and the woman seated contently on the 43rd Floor.
"Shoot all you want!" I take another leap, twisting around mid-air to give the cameras two offense fingers that I know would probably only make her laugh. "There's no stopping me!"
In response, the elementary guns begin to fire up just as I turn around. To prevent any serious damage, I let my nanobots unfurl from the small of my back, forming a shell like structure.
*Rrrat-tat-tat-tat-tat*
The feeling of bullets against my back is almost like a massage as I keep climbing up, nearing the vaults.
—
POV I-Island
Screams echo at the base of the tower as the defense bots begin shooting at the climbing figure. But they quickly begin to die down as the boy doesn't slow his pace. No, it's more like he's doubled his pace, having felt the pressure of a million pairs of eyes on him.
"…Kanzaki Renji?" A young boy in the crowd asks, gesturing at the King Kong like figure. "Is that his name?"
Renji's name resounds through the streets of I-Island. Half the spectators cheering for him as he leaps from window to window, the other half covering their eyes in disbelief but still peeking through their fingers.
—
"Even if nothing comes out of this moment, at least it's good entertainment." An old man leans back in his chair, seated calmly in his office. The light show reaches him just a fraction ahead of the others at the Central Tower, letting him savor the spectacle. Below, a luxurious hotel spreads out, its gold accents gleaming against royal blue furnishings.
"Shall we support him, sir?" The butler pours the old man a glass of wine, keeping his gaze stationed on the helicopters.
Swishing the wine around, the old man pauses before shaking his head. "No, he will have to finish this himself."
"Although," The man mutters, tilting his head in thought. "It's a different story if he can make it out alive."
"Understood." The butler nods, turning away to clean up and exit.
Once the assistant leaves, the old man lets out a sharp exhale, looking up all the while. "You're playing a dangerous game, Kanzaki."
—
"He's playing a stupid game, Melissa!" Matthew yells into the phone while running out the restaurant, Avery right on his heel.
"Melissa?!" Avery exclaims, a look of disbelief on her face. "Who is Melissa!?"
Ignoring the screaming girl and opting to explain later, Matthew keeps sprinting toward the tower.
"There has to be something you can do!"
"I've already tried my Dad," Melissa responds, a hint of frustration in her voice. "Did you think I was just going to let those idiots shoot at Renji?"
"No, but—"
"No 'but's!" Melissa shouts loudly, forcing Matthew to fling his phone away from his ear lest he get some kind of injury.
"I've tried everything!" Melissa yells, softer this time. "There's only so much that my Dad can do to help, he doesn't have jurisdiction over our defenses!"
Matthew pauses, letting the words sync in as a deep regret wells inside. "Sorry, Melissa." He apologizes with a sigh, having to speak louder when he nears the growing audience. "I just wish there was more we could do."
"Me too," She replies, watching the news channel with a worried look. "Me too…"
—
POV Renji
It's getting harder to breathe now. Sure, I'm getting shot at while trying to climb one of new World Wonders, but that's just another day for Kanzaki Renji, right?
My eyes light up as I reach the optimal height. There's a small reinforced window on this particular floor, smaller than other windows of the lower floors.
A grin spreads across my face even as the clock ticks down to Emi's demise. Just the final few steps now.
In response to my emotions my feet plant firmly against the side of the tower while the wind swishes around me violently. Pointing my finger at the window, I trace a clear rectangle as the extended claw shifts to become an oscillating blade capable of penetration.
It only takes a few breaths before I wind back my arm and successfully punch through the glass. I move to take a step inside when a nasty sound whirs into existence behind me.
A quick activation of my Quirk shows me a more specialized defense bot springing to life. Who would've thought I-Island would use even more of its precious resources to kill a young teenage boy?
Either way, the question leaves my mind as quickly as it came, opting to focus on the device threatening my life first.
"I could take that," I surmise with a shrug. From what I can see, its just a stronger version of the previous guys that were shooting at me.
With that out of the way, I return back to my origin and fully take a step inside the vault floor when the impact from the bot's canister hits my back and a short hiss is all the warning I get before a stark green liquid splashes out in a large radius, finding ways around my shield and striking the exposed parts of my skin like a living snake.
Immediately, my hair begins to sizzle and the skin on my back begins to strip off painfully as the acid takes precedence over the recuperating abilities of my technology.
The shell on my back sinks into my skin in response, attempting to make up for the sudden lack of natural protection. At the same time, the nanobots on my hands and feet act even faster, firing up a protocol to protect my head from the insidious acid.
"Haha," I laugh despite the pain, briefly falling to one knee before continuing the trek forward through the dark corridor.
"You've outdone yourself, Feng," I praise with gritted teeth, feeling the acid run through my skin and into my muscles, causing an even sharper pain to seize me.
The moment lasts only a millisecond when the highly concentrated nanobots in the internals of my body take over and respond quicker than any other option at my disposal.
Still, the rapidity of the interaction does nothing to the stabbing sensation. It feels like Chinese acupuncture gone wrong, torturing every inch of my flesh.
I stagger forward, taking note of the strange lack of shots and any other defensive measurements coming my way. Each step sends another scream through my nerves, settling into a deep, heavy kind of hurt that refuses to let go.
My breathing comes out uneven, hot and ragged. It's been ages since I've felt like this. Is this what it feels like to die?
An exasperated breath is all I hear in response to my internal question. Don't be melodramatic, Renji. Who says you're actually dying?
No, the only fear I hold in my chest is the fear of letting her die. Of not doing everything in my power to save her…Emi is family, all I have left.
My gaze hones in on my surrounding, at the end of the hall stands a menacing vault door.
I straighten despite the protest screaming through my body. The scorched skin across my back tightening as I roll my shoulders.
A cacophony of noises resound from the metal framing as the program tries to make sense of my presence. The light above the door begins to brighten up to a dangerous red when it doesn't recognize me.
"Execute Order 66." I command once I near the door.
Almost instantaneously, a bell chimes and the light flashes a brilliant green when the door slides open smoothly.
"*Bzzt*—Welcome, Emperor Palpatine." The speaker plays as I walk in, trudging along as if I were an old man.
A chuckle escapes my lips at the absurdity of the situation, but it's soon replaced by an unwavering confidence as the fact comes to mind that I've bested the fool.
The lights flicker on through the massive vault, detailing much smaller storage systems littered about in a colosseum like pattern.
Walking up the steps to the front of the walls, I place my palm on the elevated cabinet, prompting it to click unlocked.
I pull the door open, grasping the device tightly in my hands.
"Sorry, David," I mutter in a low voice, firmly clasping the Quirk Amplification Device on my head. "It'll all make sense soon."
The device stretches onto my face, its pointed blue tips resting on my forehead. A pale blue liquid surges through the circuitry, powering it up as I flinch in pain from the pieces digging into my skull.
"Hoo~" I breathe steadily, the sudden rush forcing me to sit down on the steps, resting my back on the cabinet door.
"I'm coming, Emi." I say confidently despite the strange droop in my eyes.
I tilt my head up at the bright ceiling, the constant piercing light diminishing my faith as my voice wavers. "…Please work."
—
[Hosu City, Japan]
POV Emi
"Thank you for shopping with us!"
"Thank you!" I reply on the way out the store, flashing the clerk a bright smile.
Exiting through the doors, I breathe in deeply, savoring the night air. Spending money buying new clothes sure is a good way to brighten the mood!
My thoughts shift to my future plans and all the work I have to get done…all that work…
"No, Emi!" I whisper hurriedly, shaking my head briefly. "Now's not the time, work comes later!"
Normally, a few passersby would give me pointed looks at the outburst, but there are too many people roaming around for any one person to be paying attention to me. How lucky!
Walking toward a food stand, I hum along the way, wondering what else I should eat before heading home. It's not often I get to go out like this, I gotta savor it.
"I'll have some takoyaki please!" I request.
"One second, miss." The vendor responds, currently preoccupied with another customer. "I'll be with you shortly."
I simply nod, licking my list as I imagine just how good this takoyaki will taste. "I bet Renji would like this. Actually…maybe I should force him to make some for me?"
*CRASH*
At the sudden noise I whip around when a scream tears through the street, a spark of adrenaline rushing through my system at the slightest hint of danger. Yamamoto would always laugh at me for being jumpy, but he would be jump too if he saw what's happening.
A grotesque creature is flapping its wings, causing a rush of air to fly by, flinging my hair up like a cat on edge. In it's claws a young woman flails about, her sides being squeezed tightly as her face grows red, gasping for air.
Behind the creature, two more land nearby, one with similar features of wings and the other with sharp appendages.
The flying one looks at the girl again, tilting its head as if searching for something before ultimately dropping her onto the ground in a subtle thud that's muffled beneath the chaos.
The creature looks around, scanning the crowd before settling on me, a hint of recognition behind it's creepy, unblinking eyes.
A surge of adrenaline fills my body and I flip around, having to steady myself when someone runs by me, almost knocking me over.
What is happening?! My head is screaming at me to run, even if I'm not that athletic. Anything is better than being mauled by one of those monsters.
I sprint by those more frozen in fear than I, sparing them a pitiful glance. There's nothing I can do to help, I remind myself again and again.
I flick my head back and stagger when I see all three of the creatures bounding straight for me, ignoring the other citizens crawling about.
Before they get too close, a blur of color slams into the street in front of me, cracking concrete and sending a shockwave up my legs. I shriek and skid to a stop, my shoes squealing as I stumble backward.
Three—heroes?—stand in front of me. They're a clumsy group, their stances all uneven. One of them shouts at the others to leave.
"Civilians, evacuate!" someone yells. "We've contacted HQ for reinforcements!"
Relief punches through my chest so hard it almost hurts. I turn and again, heart hammering at a million beats per second. It looks like these guys aren't as uncoordinated as I thought!
Behind me, a coarse screech bounces off the walls in an incessant ring.
I'm not sure how long I run. My feet pattering against the ground as I escape. The street seems to stretch on for miles, everything narrowing in like a tunnel.
I don't even have time to scream before the ground shakes again and something crashes down in front of me, forcing me to slide to a stop.
Nearly tripping over my own feet, I watch a massive shadow rise through the dust, blocking the streetlights. Wings beat multiple times, sending trash and decorations skittering around while whipping my hair up again. The flying monster straightens slowly, its talons scraping against the ground.
What the—
I stagger backward and suddenly find the world spinning as my heel catches on a crack in the road. I fall hard onto my hands, the impact scraping the skin of my palms. At the same time, my shopping bags tear from fingers as clothes spill out uselessly.
I scramble up, my breath hitching when I turn back the way I came.
But then I see them, just barely making them out. One is sprawled face down unmoving. Another is slumped against the front of a store, his helmet cracked and chest heaving shallowly. The one who shouted orders earlier is on his knees coughing, one arm bent at an angle that just screams emergency.
And that's not even the worst—
The wiry one moves like a broken marionette, joints bending where they shouldn't as its bladed forearms gleam in the moonlight. They shriek agains the pavement as it launches forward, sparks trailing behind it.
Straight at me!
My body locks up. I can't breathe, can't think. Every instinct screams run but my legs refuse to listen. A part of me knows that there's no making out of this alive. I've already tried to run and look how that worked out. Three heroes heavily injured or dead.
I squeeze my eyes shut, throwing my arms up over my head as the screech of bladed arms grows nearer and I brace for impact.
Please.
Anything.
Anyone.
Just not like this.
—
A careening sound pierces my ears before the blade does, echoing in awkward waves that sound like it shouldn't exist in the air.
It pulses a few more times, almost like a comforting hug.
The strike that should have killed me never comes, and I open my eyes shakily, peering through the gaps in my arms in surprise.
In the place where the monster once ran is a bright blue smudge, pressed into the pavement, the only sign that the creature ever existed.
Spinning around, the only thing that remains of the flying one is the blue dust lifting into the air, following the wind's path.
My heart keeps hammering in my chest, unsure if the danger is truly gone. But everything I can see points to safety. There's no monsters nearby, no screams except the ones far away, and even those are sparse. The wind is the only thing that's really causing any noise in this area.
I let out a deep sated sigh, shoulders dropping abruptly as the adrenaline in my body fades.
My eyes grow heavy and I only have the clarity of mind to lay down before everything fades to black.