….
[One Week Later | Evening]
….
"Cheers! Cheers! Cheers!"
The room echoed with vibrant celebration, the air thick with excitement.
It was exactly one week after the entrance exam, result day and the grand opening of Jin-Ho's restaurant, the Fairy Cafe.
Though technically, the results weren't out yet. If they were, this wouldn't be 'calm' - it would be complete chaos.
"Why so grumpy, Toya? Lighten up!" Jin-Ho draped his arm around Toya's shoulders, teasing him with a playful grin.
Toya remained stoic, arms folded despite Jin-Ho's jest.
"If anyone saw you like this, Boss, they would think you were drunk when all you are sipping is juice." Giran chuckled, lifting his beer glass with mischievous glints in his eyes.
Stain joined in with a smirk. "Perhaps it's time you joined us for a real drink, boss." He said that knowing full well Jin-Ho would never touch alcohol.
"Yeah, let's toast to the boss!" Jin eagerly chimed in.
Keigo offered a more cautious perspective. "Let's keep your bad habits to yourselves and not spread them like a disease."
"I was about to say that..." Toya interjected, a playful glint in his eye, wondering if Keigo was trying to one-up him in front of the boss.
Though Toya's demeanor remained composed, beneath the surface, nerves churned. It wasn't about whether he would make the cut, it was about whether he would hit the mark he had set for himself.
The rest of the Fairy team wasn't concerned. After all, Toya was strong, really strong.
As the party continued, Jin-Ho offered a suggestion with a wink. "Hey Toya, if you are so keen on scoring points, why don't you help out around the cafe?"
"Did you forget I have school to attend?" Toya couldn't resist a smug grin. Being the youngest, he had always shouldered the burden of chores, but now, with the perfect opportunity to pass them off, he wasn't about to miss it.
"No problem." Jin-Ho replied agreeably.
Just as Toya's victory smile began to spread, Jin-Ho added. "You can help out after school and on Sundays."
Toya's expression soured instantly. "You sneaky boss."
But Jin-Ho wasn't finished. With a mischievous twinkle in his eye, he turned to the rest of the team. "What are you all laughing about? You will be taking turns too..."
The laughter died down as realization sank in, prompting Toya to burst into hysterical laughter.
"Hahaha... That's what you ge—"
Toya's laughter abruptly halted.
A sudden gust of wind tore through the room with devastating force, slamming into them and stealing their breath.
Despite the windows and doors being securely shut, the air crackled with energy. A small hole now marred one of the panes, just large enough for a bullet to pass through.
But it wasn't the bullet that had caused the wind.
It was the man himself.
Before them stood a figure with blond hair billowing like golden flames caught in a tempest, standing directly in front of Toya when he clearly hadn't been there a second ago.
Everyone froze, hearts racing.
"Are you okay, Toya?" Jin-Ho asked, concern tingeing his voice yet softened by a bright smile.
Then his gaze hardened as he turned toward the small hole created by the bullet.
His rage erupted like a blazing inferno.
His eyes blazed with an intensity that sent shivers down their spines as he revealed a purple bullet clenched in his fist, smoke trailing behind it, evidence of the speed at which it had traveled.
Before Jin-Ho leapt into action, he muttered something under his breath, barely audible.
In the next second, his already bright golden yellow skin turned even more bright. His pupils disappeared, his hair stood on end. Bulging veins covered his body.
With a swift movement, he launched himself forward, shattering the floor and window frame as he vanished.
The aftermath left the room in disarray, as if a tornado had torn through their midst.
"Did he just say 'The Gate of View'?" Giran's voice trembled with disbelief as he surveyed the destruction.
Toya nodded slowly, mind still reeling.
Stain's voice cut through the silence like a knife, devoid of remorse. "Someone is going to die today."
His words hung heavy in the air, echoed by the chilling expressions mirrored on each face.
"I haven't seen him this angry in a while." Giran mumbled anxiously as they peered at the shattered remains of their once-calm haven.
"Giran, I think you need to look at this..." Keigo said, picking up the 'bullet' that had been fired at them.
"What is it?" Giran was startled by Keigo's serious tone.
"I don't think it can be called a 'bullet.'" Stain said, taking it from Keigo's hand.
Examining it closely, Stain inspected the object as the others watched intently.
It had a purple hue, its texture more fibrous than metallic.
"...A hair." Stain muttered, realization dawning.
Assassination attempt? He deduced.
"Toya, Keigo - you stay here. Others, get ready. We are moving." Giran began organizing their response.
….
"Who the hell was that..."
Jin-Ho's voice boomed as he hung suspended mid-air, rage coursing through his veins.
Had it not been for his heightened senses, disaster would have struck. If he had been even a second later, Toya would be dead, leaving him staring helplessly at a lifeless body.
The mere thought sent fury surging through him.
From instinct alone, he estimated the projectile had traveled over a kilometer. He had already pinpointed the enemy's location.
The technique he had just used was [OX Talisman - Eight Inner Gates], most of his teammates were already aware of it. Those who weren't, now were. They simply assumed it was his second quirk.
He had never intended to hide this ability anyway.
The risk of opening the gates had decreased significantly because of his level, but only until The Gate of Limit, the fifth gate. Just now, he had directly opened the Gate of View, the sixth gate.
◤-----------------------◥
「Skills:」
[Talisman Arts] Lv. 5 → 7 (Proficiency 03 %)
[Telekinesis] Lv. 5 → 7 (Proficiency 19 %)
[Jackie Chan Martial Arts] Lv. 5 → 7 (Proficiency 11%)
[Super Human Strength] Lv. 4 → 6 (Proficiency 73 %)
◣-----------------------◢
Unfortunately, he lacked pain nullification, so he simply gritted his teeth and endured the excruciating sensation of his skin continuously tearing apart.
Regardless of his fury, Jin-Ho remained vigilant.
Using the Ox Talisman and telekinesis, he maintained his position in the air while continuing to move.
"How arrogant..." He could sense another projectile about to leave the barrel, this time aimed at him.
"...And here it is."
With a nonchalant flick of his hand, Jin-Ho caught the projectile effortlessly.
He had caught the first one when he was only in the Gate of Limit. Now, with his current gate active, he could simply let them hit him. It wouldn't hurt more than a mosquito bite.
But his pride wouldn't allow it. The thought of giving his enemy any satisfaction irked him.
Instinctively, he traced the trajectory back to its origin, pinpointing the building, floor, and even the specific room from where the shot had been fired.
Without hesitation, he blasted through the glass window and made a dramatic entrance.
"You should have fled the moment you missed your first shot."
Jin-Ho declared, his voice ringing with authority as he surveyed the room–
"Now you are dead meat."
….
.
[To be continued….]
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