The sirens were still wailing when a new presence hit the street like a hammer.
The crowd outside the cordoned-off street buzzed and gasped as a young lady arrived in a blur of speed and muscle. Her white hair whipped behind her, long rabbit-like ears twitching atop her head as she scanned the scene with her sharp crimson eyes.
She didn't need an introduction. Everyone knew the pro hero
"Mirko!!" someone in the crowd squealed.
"She's actually here!?"
"Did you see her thighs? She's so ripped!"
"I want my head crushed between those thighs."
"She's gonna fight Black Leopard!"
Ignoring the chatter, Mirko landed next to the nearest cluster of stunned officers. Her presence was electric.
"What happened?" she snapped, already moving.
One officer saluted out of reflex. "Villain attack, ma'am. A-class criminal known as Black Leopard. He ambushed a student, we think it was a hostage situation. He took off into the alleys."
Mirko's gaze sharpened. "Why didn't you follow him?"
"He threatened to kill the hostage if we did. We were just trying to avoid casualties until backup-"
"Not blaming you," Mirko interrupted, voice calm but iron-edged. "But if he thinks I'm gonna sit here waiting for orders, he's dumber than he looks."
"But Maam, the hostage."
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it." Mirko replied.
She dropped low to the pavement, one long leg extended, and touched her gloved fingers to the ground.
The world dulled around her. Her rabbit ears twitched, filtering noise. Heartbeats. Footsteps. Distant wind through alley grates. But there was something faint, erratic, the rush of someone leaping from rooftop to rooftop.
A little east of here.
She smirked.
"Gotcha."
In an instant, she was off blurring forward in a powerful leap that cracked the pavement beneath her boots, launching herself like a missile down the street and into the winding alleyways.
"Black Leopard, huh?" she muttered as she moved. "You better be fun."
Behind her, the crowd screamed in awe.
The officers just exchanged nervous looks.
None of them needed to say it.
If anyone could catch that monster… it was Rabbit Hero: Mirko
–
The city receded behind them as the villain dashed into the woods on the outskirts, laughter bouncing off the trees like a distorted symphony.
"Hah! So easy, too easy!" Black Leopard cackled, golden eyes flashing in the shadows. "No heroes, no chase, just a good ol' walk through the trees. This was almost too easy."
Natsu dangled limply over his shoulder, but his eyes were wide open, sharp, with one of his hands covering his mouth to prevent his laughter.
The villain's grip had loosened. Just a bit.
That was all he needed.
In a blur, Natsu twisted his body with sudden force, planting both hands against the villain's back and kicking off like a spring. He flipped over, landing on his feet in the dirt, and immediately spun with the momentum to grab the villain by the wrist and hurl him over his shoulder.
Black Leopard slammed into a tree, bark exploding off the trunk.
"What the-?!" the villain grunted, stunned more by the surprise than the impact.
Natsu didn't give him time to think. He dropped into a low stance, one hand raised in defense, the other at his side. His eyes burned.
The villain slowly got to his feet, brushing bark off his trench coat, his animalistic eyes narrowing.
"Well now… that wasn't very hostage-like."
He cracked his neck. "Guess I don't need you anymore."
With a blur of movement, he lunged, claws flashing as he dashed through the brush with deadly speed.
Natsu saw it in the villain's form. This wasn't a feral berserker. The crazy guy knew how to fight.
He's trained… not just instinctive. He recognized a few martial arts stances. Gray used similar techniques during their spar.
Natsu didn't move an inch until the last possible moment, then in a shocking show of speed, grabbed the villain's palm, forcing it to stop an inch away from his eye. His hand was steaming, causing the villain to yell out in pain.
"AaaAAAAGH!"
Black Leopard roared out, forcing his palm out and retreating backwards.
Natsu's eyes widened in excitement. He grinned.
"Looks like you're actually strong. I'm getting fired up!"
Black Leopard burst forward, closing the distance between them in an instant. His clawed fist drove into Natsu's face with devastating speed. The impact shattered the ground behind him. Dust swallowed the scene.
Natsu staggered within the crater. Blood ran from the corner of his mouth. He wiped it off, slow and deliberate, then clenched his burning fist.
"Fire Dragon Iron Fist."
His arm ignited and he struck forward, driving a blow into Black Leopard's jaw. Flesh met flame, and the villain's body recoiled under the weight of the hit. He slid back, claws digging trenches in the ground. His eyes widened. The hit wasn't just powerful, it was overwhelming.
'What the fuck. Who is this brat!' Black Leopard thought. What kind of kid was this? Was this a hero in disguise? A thousand questions ran through his mind.
Natsu rolled his neck and breathed hard. 'Another villain with tough skin. Ugh.'
Black Leopard almost coughed up blood in anger. The attack that launched him several feet wasn't enough for the brat?!! He rushed forward and launched a hammer strike from above.
Natsu braced, arms crossed. The ground gave way beneath him. His heels sank into the dirt. The pressure was immense, and his arms felt like they were shaking, Natsu grit his teeth and endured it. He used the chance and drove a fist into Black Leopard's gut. The villain snarled and fired back with a right hook. Natsu's head snapped to the side. He spat more blood but didn't fall. He looked at the villain with a wide grin, a small amount of blood leaking from the side of his mouth.
'This is it!' Natsu thought. 'Now this would be a fun fight.'
A shiver went up Black Leopard's spine. For a brief instant, he saw a giant beast in front of him. He blinked and the vision was gone.
Natsu surged forward. "Getting distracted in a fight. What an amateur."
"Fire Dragon Sword Horn!"
Flames swirled around him as he rammed into Black Leopard's stomach. The villain grunted but retaliated instantly with a slash. Natsu flipped over the incoming claws, twisting midair. His heel came down on the back of the opponent's skull.
"Fire Dragon Talon."
The villain gritted his teeth and swung his leg in a low kick. Natsu jumped over it, landed, and launched another talon directly into his face.
Black Leopard stumbled, stunned. His vision blurred. The rhythm was slipping away. Natsu had already read through everything. His attacks were being countered.
"He's dissected my entire style… in just a few attacks…is he a human or monster" the vision from earlier played in his mind.
Flames surged again.
"Fire Dragon Wing Attack!"
The wave of heat knocked Black Leopard off his feet. He hit the ground hard and slid back, claws scraping for control. Smoke rose from his body. His breath was heavy. His muscles trembled.
Then he laughed.
The laughter echoed, low and savage. His animal instincts were screaming at him. This opponent was too dangerous. He roared.
His body began to swell until he was nearly fifty percent larger than he was before. Muscles hardened. Veins surfaced. His claws sharpened and lengthened into prepared weapons. His eyes glowed with a red gleam.
"Die brat!!"