Inside a quiet apartment building in New York…
Natasha Romanoff sat at a small table with a laptop open in front of her.
Several files were displayed on the screen.
Surveillance footage.
Police reports.
Security camera images.
All of them connected to the same person.
Arata.
But there was one problem.
He didn't exist.
Natasha leaned back in her chair, her expression thoughtful.
"No records… no history… no identity."
She sighed softly.
"That's impossible."
Across the room, the television played a news broadcast quietly.
But Natasha's focus remained on the laptop screen.
Every database she accessed showed the same result.
Nothing.
She tapped the keyboard again, searching deeper.
Immigration records.
Medical records.
School records.
Again—
Nothing.
Natasha rubbed her forehead slightly.
"It's like he appeared out of thin air."
Her communicator suddenly beeped.
She pressed the small device in her ear.
"Romanoff."
Nick Fury's voice came through immediately.
"Any progress?"
Natasha glanced at the screen again.
"None."
She paused before continuing.
"He's not in any database on Earth."
There was a moment of silence on the other end.
Then Fury spoke again.
"That's exactly what worries me."
Natasha crossed her arms.
"What do you think he is?"
Fury answered calmly.
"Something new."
Natasha looked at one of the paused images on the screen.
It showed Arata standing calmly in the alley.
Shadows moving around him like living creatures.
"He's powerful."
She continued quietly.
"But he doesn't behave like a villain."
Fury chuckled lightly.
"Most villains don't think they're villains."
Natasha smirked slightly.
"Fair point."
She leaned forward again.
"What are the orders?"
Fury didn't hesitate.
"Observation only."
Natasha raised an eyebrow.
"No contact?"
"Not yet."
Fury's voice became more serious.
"Until we understand what he can do."
Natasha nodded slowly.
"Understood."
The call ended.
Natasha closed the laptop halfway.
Her mind replayed the moment from earlier that morning.
The invisible pressure spreading through the city.
That strange aura.
She had fought many dangerous enemies before.
But this felt different.
More primal.
Almost… supernatural.
Natasha stood up and walked toward the window.
From her apartment, the New York skyline stretched endlessly.
Somewhere out there…
Arata was moving through the city.
She smiled slightly.
"You're a mystery, Arata."
Her green eyes sparkled with curiosity.
"But every mystery has an answer."
Meanwhile…
On the rooftop of another building several blocks away…
Arata sat casually on the edge, watching the city below.
The wind moved gently around him.
His Demon Sense quietly scanned the area.
People.
Cars.
Small animals.
Every living presence felt clear in his mind.
'My senses are improving.'
He looked at his hand again.
Dark energy flickered around his fingers.
The power inside him was slowly growing stronger.
Then suddenly—
His Demon Sense reacted again.
A familiar presence was approaching quickly.
Arata smiled faintly.
'Looks like the cat returned.'
A shadow suddenly dropped from the rooftop above.
Felicia Hardy landed gracefully beside him.
Her silver hair moved with the wind.
She leaned against the rooftop railing casually.
"Fancy meeting you again, shadow boy."
Arata glanced at her.
"You follow me often?"
Felicia laughed softly.
"Please."
She crossed her arms.
"I was just curious."
She looked at him carefully.
Her playful smile slowly returned.
"You disappeared last night."
She leaned closer.
"Most men don't vanish like ghosts."
Arata chuckled quietly.
"Maybe I'm not most men."
Felicia's eyes sparkled.
"Oh, I already figured that part out."
For a moment they simply stared at each other.
The tension in the air was strange.
Not hostile.
But definitely interesting.
Felicia twirled a strand of her hair lazily.
"So tell me something."
Her voice dropped slightly.
"What exactly are you?"
Arata smiled.
But instead of answering…
He stood up and stepped toward the shadow behind him.
'Shadow Movement.'
His body dissolved into darkness.
And vanished.
Felicia blinked in surprise.
She looked around the empty rooftop.
Then she laughed.
"Okay…"
She placed her hands on her hips.
"Now you're just showing off."
But her smile only grew wider.
"This is getting fun."