Ryo's red eyes locked onto the stranger's easy green gaze. The man stood casually with hands in the pockets of his suit.
But Ryo hadn't heard him. Theres no footsteps, no sound, no hint of killing intent.
Every instinct said danger, telling him this guy was no ordinary enemy.
Ryo stood still, the loose hospital gown flapping around his slim body. His muscles tensed, but his face stayed calm, unreadable.
[ALERT: NO HOSTILITY DETECTED. CAUTION ADVISED.]
The system's voice rang in his mind.
Ryo's lips twitched into a small smirk as his eyes narrowing. "The Agency? What's that supposed to mean? And who the hell are you, buddy?"
The man's grin grew with a spark of amusement in his eyes that sent a chill through Ryo. "Straight to the point, huh? I like that." His voice was smooth, too relaxed. "Codename Jack. Second Division Representative, Union Operations Bureau. Folks call us the Agency. We're Mercenaries, basically. Cleaning up messes for the right price."
Ryo tilted his head. "Union….? The fuck is that shit?"
Jack laughed as he stepped closer. "You don't talk like some eighteen-year-old kid. More like a man who's seen everything's in the life."
He stopped close, green eyes shining with curiosity. "So, what are you, Ryo Veskar? Spectra's report was… let's say, intriguing. A nobody orphan who turned a gang hideout to ash. Survived a shotgun to the face. You're agency's first failed task in years."
Ryo's frown deepened with a flash of confusion. "Spectra? Who the hell's that?"
Jack's laugh was low, almost mocking, as he slipped off his suit jacket and tossed it over the railing. "Guess we'll find out the fun way." He rolled up his sleeves, showing lean, strong forearms, and loosened his tie with a dramatic flair. "No paperwork, no backup. Just you and me, kid."
Ryo didn't budge, his barefoot stance firm despite the silly hospital gown. His red eyes gleamed with a dangerous excitement. "You looking for a fight?"
Jack cracked his neck, his grin sharpening. "Can you keep up?"
Then a familiar fire woke up in Ryo's chest. The thrill of a fight, the only thing that made his blood hum. His lips curled into a slow smile. "Hope you don't break too easy, buddy."
Jack's chuckled as his body settling into a loose, ready stance. "Hope you don't end up back in that coma, kid."
With a low hum, strange blue light glowed under Jack's skin, veins shining like electric circuits. Sparks snapped along his arms, energy coiling like a storm.
Ryo's eyes widened. "Magic?" he muttered.
Before he could think, Jack vanished in a blur of blue—
CRACK!
The air split as Jack reappeared, his fist wrapped in lightning, aiming for Ryo's chest. Instinct kicked in; Ryo twisted aside, the punch grazing his shoulder as it hit the rooftop. Concrete burst, chunks flying, leaving a smoking hole where Ryo had been.
Ryo slid back, his grin wild with adrenaline pumping. "That's more like it!" he said with buzzing excitement.
Orange flames burst along his arms, his body glowing with heat from for mana. The air shimmered around him, warped by the fire.
[ALERT: HOST VESSEL AT LIMITED MANA CAPACITY. BASIC MAGIC ADVISED.]
"Shut it," Ryo growled, brushing off the system's warning.
[ (・_・;) ]
Jack's eyes narrowed, tracking Ryo's moves. "Not bad for a hospital escapee." He raised a hand, lightning sparking between his fingers. "Let's see if you can fight as she said."
Ryo vanished in a burst of flame, the rooftop burning black where he'd stood. Jack spun as he scanned the haze of heat and smoke. A flicker behind him. He turned, but Ryo was gone.
Another flash—Ryo appeared inches from Jack's face, with his fist raised like a blazing orange comet. "Burn," he snarled as he swung.
Jack's expression stayed cool. His lightning-clad hand caught Ryo's fist in a tight grip. The clash sent a shockwave, cracking the concrete under them. Sparks and flames fought, hissing like angry beasts.
Ryo gritted his teeth, pushing against Jack's grip. "This damn body's too weak," he hissed in frustration.
Jack's grin was maddeningly calm. "Kid, you're warming up or something?"
Then some organe circle formed under his feet. Before he could look down, a ring of fire exploded from the ground, swallowing Jack in a pillar of flame.
The blast shook the rooftop. Ryo leapt back, landing lightly with a proud smirk. "Got you."
A voice cut through the flames. "Not quite."
Ryo spun, eyes wide. Jack stood behind without any damage, his body glowing with lightning.
His lightning fist slammed into his chest before Ryo could react.
He flew back, skidding across the rooftop with embers and sparks trailing. Pain burned his chest, but he pushed himself up while coughing.
"Nice shot," he said, flames sparking around his fists. His crimson eyes blazing with wrath towards him.
Jack blurred forward with to punch again, but Ryo was quicker. He caught Jack's wrist mid-swing.
"My turn," he growled. A fire blast erupted from his palm, hitting Jack's chest and sending him sliding toward the rooftop's edge.
Jack dug his fett in to stopping just before falling from edge.
As he regained his stance, he looked up. His green eyes narrowed as he noticed Ryo was gone.
He looked around and he was nowhere to be seen.
Then he looked up, surprise flashing across his face to see Ryo dropping like a meteor, his leg wrapped in blazing orange, aiming for Jack's head.
Jack dove aside at the last second and Ryo's leg slammed into the rooftop with a shaking *BOOM*.
The impact smashed the concrete, tiles breaking like glass. As the smoke cleared, Jack Ryo standing tall in the wreckage, mocking smirk on his lips. "Slippery, aren't you?"
Jack wiped blood from his cheek and his wild grin sharpened. "You're not half bad, kid. Woke up from a coma and already throwing meteors? Gotta say, I'm impressed."
Ryo cracked his burning knuckles. "Impressed? I'm just getting started."
"Then let's stop playing tag." Jack said as lightning surged around him, blue arcs snapping wildly from his body with electric shrieks.
Ryo's flames roared higher, wrapping him in a fiery glow that scorched the ground.
"Now," Ryo said with a bold challenge, "let's see what you're made of."
They charged, two streaks of fire and lightning crashing with earth-shaking force. Their fists pulled back, power building into one massive strike—
A figure appeared between them.
A tall blonde woman stood there like she just teleported. She's wearing a tailored black suit with thin pinstripes, perfectly fitted to her athletic figure. With quick, precise moves, she grabbed Ryo's burning fist in one hand and Jack's sparking punch in the other. The ground shook from the shockwave and cracks spread under her feet, but she didn't even blink.
In one smooth motion, she twisted her wrists, throwing both men apart like they were nothing.
Ryo slid across the concrete, his bare feet scraping as he caught himself. Jack rolled into a crouch, sparks flying from his hands.
Her sharp blue eyes, framed by sleek glasses, scanned them with annoyance.
"Are you two morons trying to broadcast magic to everyone in Arora City?" Her voice was irritated. "This little pissing contest of yours just lit up every scanner from here to the Citadel District."
Ryo stood up, his red eyes narrowing as he brushed ash from his torn hospital gown. His smirk stayed, but a spark of curiosity flashed in his gaze. "And who the hell are you, lady?"
Jack stood, dusting off his suit with a dramatic sigh.
"Spectra, darling, your timing's as impeccable as ever." He cracked his neck, green eyes shining with amusement. "But did you have to ruin the fun? I was just getting to know our boy here."
Spectra's glare could've stopped a storm. She fixed her glasses with a sharp flick, showing her irritation clearly. "Fun? You call turning this rooftop into a warzone fun? The Agency's got enough heat without you two idiots." She pointed at Ryo, her voice turning cold. "And you, kid. Can you at least fight wearing decent attire? You're practically naked here."
Ryo glanced down at his gown, seeing her point. His flames flashed at his fingers before fading.
Jack whistled low as he leaned against the railing. "Kid's got fire as you said." He looked at Spectra, his tone playful but respectful. "So, what's the play? We recruiting him?"