The crowd had already evacuated the mall. Lock and Kyoka Jiro were among the last to leave, walking beside the mall supervisor, who nervously discussed compensation — negligence, emotional damage, and mental distress.
Since Kyoka was the victim, everyone's attention centered on her. No one noticed when Lock quietly slowed his pace and drifted a few steps behind.
His gaze shifted toward the cordoned-off entrance ahead, where yellow tape and security guards blocked access.
No Entry!
The bold warning only seemed to attract more attention. Curious onlookers clustered near the barricade, craning their necks to see what was happening inside.
From the distance came the wail of sirens — police cars, getting closer.
"Sorry," Lock murmured, his hands pressing against the ground as he looked at Kyoka's back.
If he disappeared without saying anything, she'd definitely worry.
But that new side mission, and the A-rank lottery reward that came with it… he couldn't pass that up.
The falling ornament incident had taught him something crucial — strength meant everything.
In this world, where Quirks reshaped the laws of nature, the rise of crime had followed naturally. And lurking beneath the surface, the darkness of All For One writhed and waited, ready to shatter the fragile peace.
A peace maintained by just one man — All Might, the "Symbol of Peace."
Lock clenched his fists. If not for people like him, this world's calm would have already crumbled.
Still, the fact remained — peace built on one man's strength was never true peace.
Now that Lock possessed the movement magic once used by Jet from Fairy Tail — High Speed — he was confident he could slip away unnoticed.
"High Speed," he whispered.
A glowing blue magic circle appeared beneath his feet, faint light swirling around his boots.
With a rush of wind, Lock vanished from sight — gone in an instant.
By the time Kyoka turned, startled by the sudden breeze, her childhood friend was already gone.
The escalators were shut down. Lock's footsteps echoed sharply across the empty mall as he ascended, the sound bouncing off the walls.
Where was the villain?
There was no clear hint, but judging from where the decoration had fallen, the source of the disturbance had to be on the top floor.
As Lock climbed, a faint cry for help reached his ears.
"System space," he muttered.
Saving Kyoka had earned him one B-rank lottery draw — and whatever was waiting above would determine whether he'd need to fight again.
If he drew offensive magic, he might actually stand a chance.
But if it turned out to be something purely supportive like High Speed, he could only stand by and watch.
"Use the B-rank lottery!" he commanded.
[Initiating B-rank lottery… Congratulations, Host! You've obtained the magic "Water Lock," used by Juvia Lockser!]
[Water Lock — water-type magic that consumes internal magic power to create a sphere of water, trapping the target within.]
As the draw completed, Lock's mind was suddenly filled with experience — countless memories and sensations that weren't his own. The graceful motions of spellcasting, the surge of flowing magic, the fluid precision of battle — all of it poured into his consciousness like a river.
They belonged to Juvia Lockser, the Rain Woman of Fairy Tail.
Not her love for Gray, thankfully — but her deep mastery over water magic.
Once a member of the Phantom Lord Guild's Element Four, Juvia later joined Fairy Tail, where she became one of its strongest mages. She could command water freely — even transform her body into it — and her very presence made it rain.
Lock's lips curved slightly. "Water Lock, huh? Didn't expect that one… but at least it's combat-capable."
He returned to the real world and moved forward again.
"Help!"
The cry echoed more clearly now from the escalator landing above. Lock broke into a sprint, rushing toward the sound, and froze when he reached the top.
The entire upper floor was scorched black. Flames licked the air, smoke curling through the shattered remains of storefronts.
At the center of the destruction stood a bird-headed man, his body wreathed in fire, with two blazing wings spread behind him. In one hand, he held a middle-aged man by the throat, lifting him effortlessly off the ground.
It wasn't a metaphor — the villain truly had the head of a bird.
Like Tokoyami Fumikage, whose Quirk gave him a crow's head, this man's mutation had shaped his appearance completely.
Lock scanned the scene — scorched jewelry counters, molten glass, scattered gemstones.
Judging by the layout, this had been a jewelry floor. But the bird-man wasn't stealing anything.
He wasn't after money.
Several civilians huddled in the corners, trembling in fear. They'd been caught in the chaos, unable to escape — and now could only pray for rescue from the police or Pro Heroes.
"Flamingo Hero, stop!" a hoarse voice shouted. "Do you even realize what you're doing? This is a crime!"
Lock turned toward the sound. A battered figure struggled to his feet — a man in a fire-resistant suit, helmet, and gas mask, with twin water pumps mounted on his arms.
Lock recognized him instantly.
Fire Buster- A rescue-type Pro Hero known for his excellence in firefighting operations.
Lock had seen him on TV before, saving civilians from burning buildings with his high-pressure water Quirk.
Even he was barely standing now, his suit scorched and cracked.
Which could only mean one thing — the flaming bird-man wasn't just any villain.
"…A Pro Hero turned villain?" Lock muttered, eyes narrowing. "What's his goal here…?"
The heat rippled through the air. Flames coiled tighter around the bird-man's wings, and the trapped civilians whimpered in terror.
Lock took a steadying breath and stepped forward, ready to test the power of his new magic.
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