The fight kept going.
Yū and Ren fought side by side, but even with both of them together, they were still outnumbered.
Every time one of them knocked someone down, two more took their place.
From a distance, on top of an old building, Ayato was watching.
He smirked. "See? I told you this would happen."
He pulled out his phone and called someone.
"Hey, my lady. You might wanna come to my location. There's something… interesting happening."
Then he hung up, still watching.
---
Down below, Ren was breathing heavily, bruises covering his face.
Yū was trying his best, but his punches were clumsy, wild, you could see he had no training at all.
Still, something felt different.
Each time he swung, he felt lighter.
Each step he took, faster.
Each hit that landed on him… he was able to dodge.
Ren noticed it too.
"Yū… are you some kind of genius?"
"I—I don't know…" Yū said, panting. "I just… I don't fight before!"
Ren smiled faintly, even in pain. "Idiot. Then guess I'll have to teach you if we get out of here."
But Kaito saw it and that made him furious.
"Tch… you're getting cocky now, huh?" he said, cracking his knuckles.
He stepped forward.
The crowd of bullies moved aside.
Now it was just Kaito, Ren, and Yū.
Kaito wasn't trained in martial arts, but he didn't need to be.
His strength came from experience, street fights, real pain.
And he was learning fast.
Every block, every dodge, every hit he received, he was adapting.
Ren tried to warn Yū. "Careful! He's watching our moves"
Ahh, that's why I don't want to fight this monster, Ren thought.
He'd heard rumors before about someone rising through the ranks, defeating every known bully, learning their fighting styles one by one.
That person was Kaito — The Emulator.
Before Ren could finish, Kaito's fist slammed into his ribs.
Then another to the face.
And another.
Ren hit the ground hard.
"REN!" Yū screamed, charging forward, only to be kicked back by one of Kaito's men.
He could barely move now. His body was shaking, blood running down his arms. He was surrounded by the remaining bullies.
Across from him, Ren was still trying to get up, his face covered in blood, eyes half open.
"Ren… please… just stop," Yū whispered.
But Ren didn't move.
Something snapped inside Yū.
It felt like a heavy chain broke within his chest.
His vision blurred dark.
What? I didn't even die yet… why is the Death Trigger activating? No… I can't lose consciousness now! Yū thought.
Then—
Steam.
Steam started coming out of his body.
His wounds closed in seconds, though the blood stains remained. His breathing steadied, and his eyes glowed faintly before returning to normal.
"What the hell…" one of the bullies muttered.
Before anyone could react, Yū's fist landed.
A single hit, and all of the remaining bully were thrown back like rag dolls.
Kaito took a step back, his grin fading.
And then—
"Hoy, hoy, hoy~"
A familiar voice echoed from above.
Ayato dropped from the ceiling, landing lightly on his feet with a lazy grin.
Who's this guy? And how the hell did he land from that height? Kaito thought.
"What the hell are you?" Kaito said.
"You don't have to know," Ayato replied, his eyes turning sharp. "I don't have business with you."
Kaito froze.
That feeling—
That killing intent—
It was the same fear he used to feel every time his father raised his hand.
What the hell! Why am I feeling this from him? Kaito thought.
He hated that feeling.
"Don't look down on me…" Kaito whispered, then charged forward.
---
Ayato turned to Yū. "You know, it's illegal to use Essence without permission."
Then Ayato noticed Kaito and sighed. "Tch. Annoying."
He was about to raise his hand, but before he could move, Yū grabbed him and pushed both of them aside.
"Are you out of your mind?!" Yū yelled. "You just said it's illegal to use Essence and now you're going to kill him?!"
Ayato blinked, slightly amused. "Oh? So you actually listen, huh?"
Kaito froze mid-step.
"Essence? Wait… are you guys… Supernaturals?!"
Right… that guy, Ren's friend, also got stronger out of nowhere, Kaito thought, looking at Yū.
Ayato looked at Yū blankly.
"…You talk too much. Now he knows. Guess it can't be helped."
Kaito's eyes widened. "Supernaturals aren't supposed to be in District 3! You people belong in District 1 or Star City!"
Then he grinned, crazy excitement flashing in his eyes.
"Well, Fine then! Guess I'll test how strong a 'Supernatural' really is!"
He grabbed a metal bat from the ground, gripping it tight.
Ayato smiled faintly. "You got guts, boy. I thought I'd kill you painlessly, but now… I changed my mind."
Kaito let out a shout and charged, swinging with everything he had.
Ayato raised his right hand, pointing his thumb at his forehead.
"Trigger: Soft Touch."
A burst of invisible energy formed around him, a huge, ghostly hands spreading out in all directions.
Kaito didn't stop. He pressed forward, muscles bulging, veins straining, putting all his strength into that one swing—
"NO! STOP!" Yū shouted.
CRACK!
The bat connected with Ayato's head.
And yet, Ayato didn't flinch.
He didn't even move.
He just smiled.
The ground beneath Ayato split open.
All three of them froze.
What?! Who's this boy? Is he a Supernatural? Ayato thought.
What was that? Did I do that? Kaito thought, confused.
What?! Yū was just in shock.
"You… are you Superhuman or a Supernatural?" Ayato asked.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Kaito replied, still confused. "I don't even know what just happened!"
Then he attacked again each strike heavier, stronger, even though he wasn't using full strength.
"Ahh, I guess you're a Trigger," Ayato said while dodging easily.
"So, what's it gonna be?" Ayato smirked, raising one hand.
He pointed a finger toward the bat's path — and the moment the bat touched it, it flew backward like it had been flicked by something invisible.
Kaito stumbled back, shocked.
The bat just flew away from his hand.
He charged again, but this time, it was different, no ground cracking, no burst of power.
"Ahh, I see. So that's your Trigger," Ayato said, grinning.
---End of Chapter 9---