A man was walking through a dark alley, his hands deep in his pocket, and each step more showy than it was meant to be.
His face was twisted in a scowl, his eyes staring straight ahead as he transversed the strange place.
It was a common tactic used by people when they found themselves in odd situations. Pretend to act tough, and just maybe problems would avoid you.
But anyone with just a little bit of experience knew how to easily spot out pretenders like him.
Thankfully, he was lucky. Today, all unsavory men wre out and about, partying through the night.
The night was filled with a variety of sounds.
There was the sound of rats ruffling through garbage, stray cats pouncing to catch them, and music… loud, booming music accompanied by a wave of drunken cheers coming from a building ahead.
That was his target.
The man continued walking until he arrived at the front of a large double door, guarded by two hefty men.
Although they both wore suits, the man could still see the contours of their muscles as they pushed against the fabric.
They glared at him from underneath their sun glasses, and lifted a hand to stop him, their faces twisting in a scowl.
"Get out!"
They didn't bother to ask who he was, they didn't care to know why he was here and they sure as hell didn't care if he had anything important to say.
But this was a club…
Why then would bouncers turn down a person in such a hostile manner?
It was simple, this was no ordinary club.
In the entirety of Musutafu city, this was known to be one of the top clubs for villains. Inside it were dozens of high profile individuals, people the hero public safety commission would kill to have in their clutches.
But this man was not a known villain, nor was a famed hero.
He was a nobody, at least in their eyes.
"Hey, are you fucking dead?"
One of the guards took a threatening step towards him, his fist already raised when the man pulled out a golden coin from his pocket and lifted it to his face.
The coin looked was shining and smooth, and atop it was a craving symbolizing what looked like a sleeping lizard.
It was the symbol of the group running this club, Salamander.
"I'm here to see Slime."
The guards shared a look, their expressions immediately changing, then they pulled the door open.
"Right this way…."
•••
The bar smelled of smoke, alcohol and sweat. Dozens of bodies were swaying to the flow of the music, the overhead light bathing the entire club in a dark shade of blue.
The man did not stop, he kept walking until he had passed every single one of them, the guards leading him to a door at a less noisy part of the club.
They gave the door a firm knock, before disappearing, leaving him in front of it.
Click!
With a muffled sound, the door was pushed open.
Standing at the other end was a large man with dark grey hair, intense eyes and several gold rings lining his fingers like war medals.
There was also the tail part of a large salamander tattoo peaking out of his shirt to wrap itself around his neck.
There was a woman in his arms who had all his attention, but when the man saw him, he let go of her and grabbed both his shoulders.
"Gege, little bro! What are you doing here?! Kekeke."
Gege looked to the side, tears welling up in his ashen eyes. "Big bro… it's been so long."
•••
In the secret underground gym of Blood Reign's secret hideout, Kyle was standing in front of Sakura, who had a concerned look on her face.
"Hit me…" Kyle said, lifting his hands to defend himself.
"We'll, if you say so…"
Vwooosh!
Sakura hurled the first fire ball, and it whistled through the air like a shooting star, bringing a wave searing heat.
Kyle's hand suddenly began to glow a bright red glow, and then just as the fire came, he cleaved it right at the center, sending the two large balls of fire exploding on the wall behind him.
Then lifted his hand and smirked.
'Even after striking head on, it still managed to injure me?'
His hands were steamy, and had nasty burn marks which were already healing rapidly.
"Alright then…"
They was an audible screech, like metal being grinded against stone, and then Kyke' skin began to glow like polished marble, a light red tint painting his skin.
[Hardening]
He wanted to see just how destructive her quirk was at her current level, so that he could gauge just how much stronger she could potentially get.
To do that, Kyle could not just slice through the flames alone. He needed to experience the blast, the punch and clap back from the impact, and then bask in the agony of the burning fire.
'I swear… I'm not a masochist.'
As Kyle braced himself for the next attack, Himiko watched him, her eyes filled with concern.
"Are you going to take it head on?"
She already knew that he could regenerate since she could heal as well, and Kyle's regeneration was indeed faster than hers.
But…
It was bound to hurt, really badly…
From where she sat, she could feel the intensity of the heat.
"Don't worry about me." Kyle smiled. "I'm going to use my quirk to block it."
She nodded and threw some popcorn into her. "Alright then, Sakura, full power!"
Kyle blinked. 'What sort of girl asks someone to attack her man while smiling?'
Then again, she was on point.
"Hit me with everything you've got."
Sakura nodded.
"Alright then…"
Sweat was dripping down the side of her face as she lifted her hands, her jaws clenched as multiple flaming balls appeared in the air above her.
Kyle stared at the fiery sight and lifted up his hands for defence.
And then the storm of fire descended.
BOOOM!!
The first blast was like bathing in scalding hot water, the second was like laying your hand on the stove.
But the third…
It sent him to hell and back.
The fire bubbled like liquid fire, licking every single part of his upper body as it washed over him.
Even with his feet firmly planted, he was pushed back a step, a thick black groove appearing due to his melting shoes.
And then came the fourth, fifth… sixed…
And finally, the seventh ball of fire. This one, even hotter than the rest, crashed into him like a bomb, nearly elevating him from the floor.
Kyle's hair fluttered back from the intensity of the attack, and his muscles quaked, and then the fire burned away, leaving Kyle still standing within it.
Most of his shirt had been reduced to ash, leaving his perfectly chilled chest in full display, and his trousers were burnt in many areas as well.
Himiko grabbed a hand full of popcorn and began eating. "The fan device in this show is crazy…" She muttered, her eyes glinting with mischief.
Meanwhile, Kyle shook his arms, sending the left over sooth that had once been his chair tumbling to the ground.
"That should be enough…"
Kyle stared at his arms and smirked.
Even with hardening.
His arm was still slightly bruised.