The image on the light screen shifted once more, pulling the audience from the stifling atmosphere of the Misaka residence to a corner of the city at the onset of night. The narrator's calm, slightly sarcastic voice chimed in at the right moment, setting the stage for the upcoming scene:
(To survive, humans must unite and cooperate, forming larger collectives. This law, through tens of thousands of years of evolution, has been deeply rooted in our genes, becoming an instinct. In the cruel survival environment of the transcendent world, it is natural that numerous alliances, large and small, are formed for survival and profit. The Authorities collectively refer to them as—Battle Gangs.)
The camera focused on a white van slowly driving into an open-air parking lot. A striking logo was spray-painted on the vehicle: a pair of crossed swords encased in a simplified shield outline, with the words "Defense Force" written below. This Battle Gang was quite famous in Neon's transcendent circles, but its composition was extremely special—the vast majority of its members were ordinary people. However, their strength and influence were among the top ranks.
(The Defense Force Battle Gang is an outlier. It is said to have a history of several decades, and its origins have long since blurred, but a dark rumor circulates in the shadows: its original founders were a group of Transcendents who truly held ideals and were dedicated to using their superpowers to protect humanity. Unfortunately, ironically, they were eventually betrayed by some of the "mortals" they protected.)
(Today's Defense Force inherited the legacy left by those murdered Transcendents and, using it as a foundation, has continuously hunted other Transcendents to grow to its current size. They view Transcendents as potential threats and harvestable resources, holding a position that is both cooperative and subtly opposed to The Authorities.)
(The white van drove steadily until it needed to reverse into a parking space, at which point the style suddenly changed. The driver's technique was a disaster; the steering wheel was turned haphazardly. The vehicle was like a clumsy beetle, twisting and turning in front of the parking spot, losing its way as it moved back and forth, simply unable to park smoothly. The harsh sound of tires screeching echoed through the parking lot.
A car behind was blocked, and the driver impatiently poked his head out, shouting, "Hey! Do you know how to drive? If not, get lost! Don't block the way!"
The windows of the white van were tinted dark, making the interior invisible, but the external speaker remained silent. The driver inside seemed to completely ignore the insults, still persistently and clumsily attempting to reverse. After another two minutes of struggling, with a soft "thud," the rear of the van finally hit the back railing, barely managing to park, though it was slanted.
The car driver was clearly still fuming. He intentionally nudged his car forward, blocking half the front of the white van, and continued to mock, "Damn it, your skills are worse than a female driver's! Don't you know a good dog doesn't block the way?"
Before he could finish his sentence, he choked on his words. This was because the driver's door of the white van opened, and the person who jumped out really was a woman.
A well-proportioned young girl with blonde twin-tails. She wore a loose beige trench coat, but beneath the hem and collar, a set of skin-tight combat suits made of an unknown matte black material was faintly visible.
The girl's face was so gloomy it looked like it could drip water, and her azure eyes were filled with hostility.
From the passenger seat, a white-haired young man hurriedly got out of the car, trying to dissuade her: "Miss Shinomiya, please calm down! Don't go looking for trouble!"
But the twin-tailed girl called Shinomiya Kikuru ignored him completely. She walked straight to the car blocking the way, ignoring the driver's face which turned from confusion to deathly pale in an instant. She bent down, reached one hand under the car—and then, under the terrified gazes of a few scattered pedestrians, she actually lifted the car by force and then easily flipped it upside down like she was throwing away trash!
"M-Monster!" The car driver scrambled out of the window of the overturned car, scared out of his wits. He fled in a panic, shouting as he ran.
The white-haired young man pressed his hand to his forehead and sighed helplessly, "Young Mistress... doing this will result in another big fine. The Master will definitely blame us."
Kikorou brushed off non-existent dust from her hands and tilted her chin up willfully. "Shut up, Arashiyama! I'm the captain, just listen to me!"
The white-haired young man named Arashiyama could only nod mechanically, "Yes, yes, whatever you say."
At that moment, the van's side door slid open, and four other well-equipped team members, also wearing black combat suits, filed out. Their movements were efficient, and their eyes were sharp; they were clearly well-trained warriors.
The combat suits they wore were the key to the Defense Force's ability to confront Transcendents, providing powerful defensive capabilities, strength enhancement, and various auxiliary functions.
It was by relying on this transcendent equipment that they, as mere mortals, could hunt Transcendents in this dangerous world, attracting a large number of ordinary people who hungered for power and wealth to join them.
Arashiyama stopped dwelling on the captain's willful behavior. He took out a tablet and quickly briefed the team members on their mission:
"Target: Kuchiba Hiro. A new Transcendent. His abilities are suspected to be animal manipulation and Hardening. He has a record of killing one Level 2 Transcendent and one Level 6 Transcendent; his threat level is rated as high. However, background checks show he was just an ordinary student before, so his practical combat experience should be limited. The objective of this mission is capture; if there's an accident midway, switch directly to elimination. Priority is to obtain information regarding his abilities."
He paused, looked around at the team members, and emphasized, "Don't be careless! The opponent is a true Transcendent, not like us with 'borrowed power.' Usual rules: Number 4, find a high point and establish a sniper position. Everyone else, scatter and guard the exits and the hotel's back door. The target is currently inside this hotel's sanctuary. Once he leaves the safe zone, act immediately. Finish it quickly!"
The team members nodded silently and quickly dispersed, like well-trained hounds, noiselessly melting into the shadows of the parking lot and surrounding buildings. Shinomiya Kikuru cracked her wrists, a smile that was a mix of excitement and cruelty appearing on her face, her gaze tightly locked onto the entrance of the luxury hotel not far away.
And all of this was observed by the crow perched on the streetlight.)
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